Do your best

  Do your best

The apostle Paul writes,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15.

If you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you following this advice from the apostle Paul?

Take a few minutes to look at your life as a Christian. Are you letting Evangelist, pastors, and teachers tell you what is in the Bible? Are you letting them interpret the Bible for you? OR are you taking time to pray and study the Bible for yourself?

I know it can be a daunting task. But if you pray asking for God’s guidance and use a good study Bible, you can learn the truths within the Bible. You can learn what it is to be a Christian.

Please think about it.

If Possible

 If Possible

The apostle Paul wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                           Romans 12:18.

Do you live at peace with those around you? If you don’t and you consider yourself a Christian you should. For it is only by living at peace with those around you that doors will open for you to witness to those around you.

Christians are not called to be confrontational with their faith. Our job is to tell the world about Jesus and the salvation he offers all who would believe in.

And the best way to do this is by following the words of 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.

You can't earn it

  You can’t earn it

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

When it comes to getting into heaven we cannot boast. We cannot say “look at the good works I did. That is what got me to heaven.” We cannot say this because it is not true. It is through the grace of God we get to heaven. It is through believing in Christ Jesus. 

On the day Jesus was crucified Luke’s gospel records,

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

The one criminal who obviously had no chance to do good works. Admitted that he’d sinned and was being punished justly for what he did. Believed Jesus was who he said he was and confessed his sin to Jesus. Prompting Jesus to say “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”

This is something we all must do.

Please think about it.

As Scarlet

  As Scarlet

Isaiah the prophet states.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

As Christians we believe that you cannot work your way to heaven. There will always be some sin left in your life no matter how hard you try to get the sin out of your life.

As Christians we believe that God fully understood this. Thus God sent His on and Only Son to earth to pay the price for our sins. The apostle Paul explaines,

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."  1 Timothy 1:15,16.

Jesus speaking of himself told of his primary purpose in coming to earth when He said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.

At the same time Jesus issued a warning saying,

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:18.

Ultimately this is what I a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus believes. If I am wrong no one has any reason to worry. If I am right then at the very least each person who hears about Jesus has a lot to think about.

Please think about it.

A Prayer for Believers

  My Prayer for believers

The Psalmist writes,

“May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, 

bless you from Zion.” 

                                    Psalm 134:3.

It is my hope that no matter were you are in the world. If you are a believer in Christ Jesus God will bless you richly today. Amen

False Pastors Evangelist and Teachers

 False pastors, evangelist, and teachers

The apostle Peter warns,

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping" 2 Peter 2:1-3.

There are a lot of false teachers. Men and women claiming to be Christians but are not. These false teachers can be hard to spot, especially in this multi media world we live in.

That is why we should be on guard. 

Sadly there are many calling themselves Christian evangelist, and pastors that are preaching to people what they want to hear.  After all who wouldn’t want to hear that by giving money to a ministry would yield ten, or a hundred fold?

Who doesn’t want to hear that by praying a certain way you will be healed or be freed from suffering.

But this is not the gospel Jesus preached. Jesus said,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

We must always remember trouble will come in many forms in this world. That being said as the psalmist referring to God states,

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4.

Please think about it.

Loves the only way

 Loves the only way 

Matthew gospel records, Jesus being asked,

 ..."Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

                                                                                                         Matthew 22:37-40.

The late Martin Luther King jr said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                             Martin Luther King, Jr.

So the question becomes Do you love as Jesus loved, family, friend and foe alike?

Please think about it.

Pure Love

  Pure 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.

This is a definition of love believe all people everywhere irrespective of their faith can agree with. Paul here describes Love in its purest form.

It is the Love God shows toward each individual. It is the kind of Love anyone calling themselves a Christian should be showing to those around them.

If you consider yourself a Christian. Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Your life your Sermon

  Your life Your Sermon

The Apostle Peter states,

"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.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

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 2:9-12.

Are you living the best life you can. Francis of Assisi wrote two profound statements. He said,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                                     Francis of Assisi

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

                                                     Francis of Assisi.

When people see your life. What Sermon are they seeing?

Please think about it.

Christ through you

  Christ through you

The apostle Paul tells us,

"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

                                                                  1Corinthians 4:1,2 

If you consider yourself a follower of Christ consider this. We are "stewards of the Mysteries of God" AND "it is required in stewards that one be found faithful".

A steward in Paul's day was someone who looked after his masters estate and possessions. Joseph was Potiphar's steward. He was expected to handle Potiphars estate wisely for his master. It was an very important positions. 

According to Paul we are stewards of Christ. As such we have a very important position. We are Christ's representatives on this earth. It is through us the people around us will see Christ. We cannot afford to be bad stewards.

When People see your life do they see Christ reflected in it.?

Please think about it.

The Radiance

  The Radiance 

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  Hebrews 1:3.

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear who he believes Jesus is. He is the exact representation of God. The one who provides purification for sins.

This is what all the apostles of Christ believed. 

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Simply knowing is not enough

  Simply knowing is not enough

Peter said,

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

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.  Romans 10: 9,10.

Over the years I’ve found that there are many calling themselves Christians who are not. They may think they are but they are not. Some consider themselves Christians because they grew up going to Church. Some think because they grew up in a conservative part of the United States they’re Christians. Others firmly believe that because their grandfather, great grandfather and great, great grandfather were Christians they are too. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

You can memorize the Bible from back to front and not be a Christians. You can call on the name of Jesus a million times and not be saved.

In order to be saved you must with your whole heart believe Jesus is the Son of God. The Savour of all who believe in him. You must as Jesus put it,

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."Mark 8:34.

So are you willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

Please think about it.