The definition of Christian Love

  The definition of Christian Love.

The apostle Paul writes,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered,

 it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

 But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

These are the words of the Apostle Paul. They are the definition of Christian love. For someone to call themselves a Christian and not follow this definition of love, is at the very least a slap in the face to God.

If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you showing this kind of love to God, your family, your neighbour, and even your enemy?

Please think about it.

Aliens

  Aliens

The apostle Peter states,

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:11,12.

If you are a true Christian, you represent God and the kingdom of Heaven. You are in the world but not a citizen of the world. You are a citizen of Heaven and thus living as an alien in this world.

Sadly particularly for individuals living here in North America they see themselves as a Canadian or American first and a Christian second, or worse they equate their earthly citizenship with being Christian.

For me it is of prime importance that we who call ourselves Christians. True followers of Christ Jesus, remember we are citizens of heaven. As such we must remember to represent God in the best possible way.

Please think about it.

Declaring His Praises

 Declaring His Praises

The Psalmist writes,

"Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD 

who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary

 and praise the LORD. 

                                               Psalm 134:1,2.

From what I’ve read this Psalm is written to those who serve The Lord, the Levitical workers and priests. 

The apostle Peter stats

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1Peter 2:9.

So as believers in Christ Jesus we should be praising God.

Are you taking time at the very least each day to praise The LORD?

Please think about it.

Go Proclaim

  Go Proclaim 

Jesus said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the whole world around them is the duty of all who claim to be Christians. Of all who claim to be true followers of Christ Jesus.

Jesus saying this was not New Testament thing. The Psalmist writes,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations,

 his marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                                       Psalm 96:1-3.

Thus my question to you is are you telling those around you about Jesus? Are you proclaiming Gods salvation at the very least to your family, friends and neighbours?

Please think about it.

A Longing

  A Longing

The Psalmist writes,

“As the deer pants for streams of water, 

so my soul pants for you, O God.”

                                                      Psalm 42:1 

Have you ever been out on a very hot summers day and find you want a drink of water. You long for a drink of cool clear water. But not just a drink. You want to just gulp a full glass or more to quench your thirst.

This is how it should be for those who believe in God. We need to be so thirsty for the truths God gives us in the Scriptures, that we long to have a deep spiritual drink.

Is this you today?

Why not take time today to pray and read the Bible. Asking God to show you the spiritual truth that are within it and how they relate to you.

Please think about it.

A duty to God

 A duty to God

The apostle Paul writes,

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."  2 Corinthians 5:20.

It is important that all who call themselves true followers of Christ Jesus. Realize that we are Gods representative to the world around us. Through our words and deeds people will judge not only us but God.

It is therefor of paramount importance that we represent God in the best possible light. 

Awhile ago there was a popular thing among young adults in particular. They would wear a bracelet that said WWJD (What would Jesus do). This is something we need to think about when we interact with the people around us.

We need to remember the words of Jesus when He said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

If we remember this statement alone it will show people that we care about them and may just reach them for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Please think about it.

You, your child, and God

  You, your child and God

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

                                                         Proverbs 22:6.

If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Are you teaching your child to follow Christ?

By that I don’t mean forcing your faith on your child. When someone does this it has been my experience that the child will rebel and turn away from God.

Training a child in the way they should go is a combination of things. First and foremost is living your faith in front of them. Your child sees everything you are doing. As a result if you are not living what you are teaching them verbally, they wont believe a word you say about your faith.

Thus the question becomes; Are you teaching your child about Christ Jesus in word and in deed?

Please think about it.

Listen you Rich

  Listen you Rich

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  

You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James 5:1-6.

Let me make this statement first. Being rich is not a sin. It’s how you treat your wealth and what you do with it that it the problem. The Apostle Paul wrote,

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10.

All too often those who are wealthy take advantage of the poor and helpless. They pay poor wages, and expect loyalty.

In the book of James those who take advantage of the ordinary worker and the poor are warned that God will one day judge them. And this judgement will be far more harsh than any earthly court can impose. 

Thus my question to you who are wealthy. You who run companies big and small is; What will God say to you when you stand before Him? How will God judge you?

Please think about it.

Be Open Handed

 Be open handed.

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

Some time ago I heard a politician we should make all those on welfare go out and get a job. I heard of one recently in the United States who wanted to eliminate social assistance.

All of this is easy to say if you’re wealthy. However there are many people in this world who either are working a jobs that pay below poverty line wages. People who have illnesses and cannot work. People who are mentally ill. And there are refugees who are not allowed to work.

Over the years I’ve met many people who live below the poverty line. I’ve met people who are on some kind of social assistance. From listening to them by far the majority of them would rather have meaningful employment with a living wage.

God loves the poor. God has made it clear that those who can should help the poor in the book of Leviticus we read,

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19: 9,10.

Later on in Leviticus we read

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' " Leviticus 23:22.

This is a command from God. It was God’s way in ancient Israel of providing for the poor.

In the Talmud we read,

"Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

Thus my question to you is; If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you do what you can to help the poor around you?

Please think about it.

God at the Centre

  God at the centre 

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

On Christmas day I was reminded of this scripture and how I fell short. Three of us had gone to a restaurant for Christmas dinner. The meal came and I forgot to say grace. The family behind us however did and I was impressed. That brief prayer they spoke witnessed to those around them.

If we claim to be believers in Christ Jesus God should be the centre of our lives. People should know we are Christians by our actions. 

Francis of Assisi made two important statements,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

And

"The deeds you do may be 

the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                            Francis of Assisi.

The world is watching us. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to make Him so much a part of our lives that we worship and serve Him in a way that glorifies Him all the time without even thinking about it.

  Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Are you doing what is right?

  Are you doing what is right?

In the book of James we read,

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right."James 2:8.

That being said James goes on to say,

“But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” James 2:9.

Two phrases that are polar opposites. 

Christians are to love our neighbours as our self. While being warned that we are not to show favouritism especially toward the rich. Both rich and poor are to be considered equals. 

One commentary I read said, 

“Favouritism toward the rich breaks the Old Testament commands to treat he poor equitably (Lev.19:15; Deut. 16:19; Job 34:19) and a serious transgression of God’s law.

So how do you treat the poor?

When you see a homeless person on the street or in refugee camps do you consider them equal?

If so what are you doing to help them?

Remember it was Jesus who said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

Please think about it.

A Question answered

 A Question Answered

"With what shall I come before the Lord,

and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my first born for my transgressions,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice and to love kindness

and to walk humbly with your God?" 

                                                   Micah 6:6-8 (ESV).

The apostle Paul states,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9 

We cannot live a life good enough to enter heaven. All the burnt offerings are insufficient to truly cover our sins. That is why God reached down to us through His one and Only Son Jesus Christ. 

It is only through the grace of God that we are saved.

The apostle Peter telling us,

Peter said,

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Acts 2:21

The apostle Paul making it clear,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:9-13.

Do you believe in God? 

Do you believe in the saving grace that comes through belief in Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.