Faith and Sight

  Faith and Sight

The apostle Paul writes,

“We live by faith, not by sight.” 

                                                 2 Corinthians 5:7.

The Christian life is very much a life of faith. The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                            Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

 and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                      Hebrews 11:6.

Acting in faith is not exclusively a Christian thing or for that matter a religious thing. Scientist act on faith all the time. Scientist look at the world around them and make hypophysis. They state because of what they see certain things must be true. 

Einstein was one such scientist he made predictions that were not proven until long after he died. Predictions he believed by faith all his life. He believed them because he had evaluated what he seen and established for himself that what he believed is true.

Thus it is with Christians we look at the world around us, the heavens above. We see how perfectly constructed it is and see the hand of God. The Psalmist saying,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language 

where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                       Psalm 19:1-3.

Please think about it.

Mercy and Judgement

 Mercy and Judgement

In the book of James we read,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.

Do you judge people? Do you show mercy towards people especially those you disagree with. Do you judge someone begging for money on the street or those with a different lifestyle, or faith than yours?

You should not be. Jesus made it perfectly clear saying,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."Matthew 7:1,2.

I like what the late American evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                                         Billy Graham.

So are you truly showing mercy to those around you?

Please think about it.

The Christian and Mercy

  The Christian and Mercy

Jesus said,

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36.

I am not a fan of the so called “hellfire and brimstone” preachers. I find their tactics may work well among believers. Although that’s up for debate.

That being said I believe the most unmerciful act a Christian can do is telling someone they are on the way to Hell.

Billy Graham once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                              Billy Graham.

Another American Evangelist Tony Campolo said,

"We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do." Tony Campolo.

If you claim to be a Christian do you show mercy to those your witnessing to?

By showing mercy I mean presenting the Salvation message of Christ Jesus in a positive and precise way without judgement?

Please think about it.

Loving God

  Loving God

Jeremiah the prophet wrote, 

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, 

and I will listen to you. 

You will seek me and find me

 when you seek me with all your heart.” 

                                                                 Jeremiah 29:12,13.

The trouble in twenty-first century North America at least is that many if not most people are not seeking God.

God to many is irrelevant in modern society. Making it worse are high profile preachers and evangelist claiming to be Christians who are not. 

For those of us who truly do love God however no greater love could we have. Raphael Simon wrote,

"To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek him, the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement." Raphael Simon.

Thus the challenge to those of us who truly love and serve God is to reach out to a lost and dying world with the life changing love of Christ Jesus.

If you truly love God. If you truly love Christ Jesus, are you reaching out to those around you with the Love of Christ?

Are people around you seeing God’s love in action in your life without you saying a word?

Please think about it.

Unforgiveness

 Unforgiveness 

Jesus in what is commonly known as the Lord Prayer said,

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors..... 

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, 

your heavenly Father will also forgive you

 But if you do not forgive men their sins, 

your Father will not forgive your sins.”

                                                      Matthew 6:12,14,15.

Forgiveness is one of those things that can be hard to do. Yet we must. 

C. S. Lewis wrote,

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable 

because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." 

                                                                                  C.S. Lewis.

Truth is if you have unforgiveness in your heart. You don’t have peace. And that can tear you up inside. It may even be bad for your health. There are individuals who have many people who have passed through their lives and offended them. Men and women whom they need to forgive.

Forgiving someone who has wronged you can be difficult but we must do it. We must forgive. It’s a commandment from Jesus.

If you consider yourself a Christians a follower of Christ Jesus, do you harbour unforgiveness in your heart for anyone?

If so take a moment to ask God to forgive you. And even if you can’t meet with the person who has wronged you, take time to pray and ask God to accept your prayer for forgiveness. 

Please don’t just think about it. Do it.

Seek

 Seek

"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."  Deuteronomy 4:29.

I like this quote. It’s by an unknown author it states,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God 

for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” 

                                                                                Author Unknown.

Put simply if you’re not looking for God. You will not find Him. For many people if their minds are made up about anything. All the good arguments in the world will not convince them otherwise.

What I would ask anyone reading this is at least keep an open mind. If you don’t believe in God. Take time to read at least the New Testament. Look at what the men and women who knew Jesus thought about Him.

Be willing to change what you believe.

Please think about it.

The Stone Rejected

 The Stone Rejected?

The Apostle Peter speaking of Jesus said,

"He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11,12.

People throughout the centuries have rejected Jesus. As a group we Christians. We who chose to follow Jesus have been persecuted by individuals and governments who simply disagree with us. Men and women, political and religious leaders who want to see an end to Christianity. Today thousands of Christians are in prison for simply believing in Christ. But no matter what they do Christianity continues. 

Napoleon Bonaparte, former Emperor of France said,

"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? 

My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power."

"I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him."

"I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary."                                                                                                                      Napoleon Bonaparte,

In the early days of the apostles not long after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Two of His disciples were put on trial and witnessed to their persecutors. The men presiding over their case wanted to put them to death. The Book of Acts however records what a Pharisee named Gamaliel said,

“A Pharisee named Gamaliel a teacher of the Law an honoured man, standing before the Sanhedrin as they were presiding over the trial of two of Christ's apostles said,

"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38,39.

I put before you that Christianity is of God for it has lasted for over two thousand years despite people trying to destroy it.

Please think about it.

The Power of God

  The power of God

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.

The religious and political leaders who were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus refused to believe He was who he claimed to be. The Son of God, Saviour of mankind.

They thought putting Jesus to death would end everything when in fact it was the start of everything. For the grave did not hold Jesus. Jesus rose from the grave.

The cross was the starting point of a movement that today has in around three billion people. The largest faith group in the world.

Many today however still look on the story of Jesus as foolishness. Which is their choice. What I would ask however is, that before you make your final decision, at least take time to read at the very least the New Testament. Read and see for yourself what those who knew Him believed Him to be.

Please think about it.

He has set a day

  He has set a day

In the book of Acts we read the apostle Paul speaking about Jesus as saying,

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:30,31.

Billy Graham the late American evangelist once said,

The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... 

But there will come a time when it will be too late for you. 

                                                                                  Billy Graham.

Whether you believe the Bible or not, is your choice but my advice to you would be make sure you are truly certain that you are right.

Blaise Pascal wrote,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

Please think about it.

When all has been heard

  When all has been heard

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

One day we will be standing before God. At that time every deed will come to light. Everything we have done wrong. All our sins will be there to be judged.

I think if we are honest with ourselves we will admit that we cannot live a life good enough to stand before God.

That being said, Jesus offers us away. The apostle John speaking of Jesus writes,

 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

Thus the question becomes; have you confessed your sins directly to Jesus?

Please think about it.

Does your life reflect

  Does your life reflect

Matthew’s gospel records

 “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 neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

Does your life reflect what Jesus is saying here?

Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?

Do you love your neighbour as yourself?

Please think about it.

Sing

  Sing

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.

This is what we as Christians are called to do. 

To sing the praises to God. 

To proclaim His salvation day after day.

To declare His glory among the nations.

To tell of His marvellous deeds to all people.

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.

As Christians we are all missionaries. We may not go far from home. But we can tell of the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus in our neighbourhood and to our friends, families and foes alike.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.