Is your life an instrument ?

  Is your life an instrument?

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.” Psalm 138:1.

I live in Canada a country with incredible freedoms. It is also like most countries full of “gods”. We in the twenty-first century may not call them gods but they are. 

The way I see it a god can be anything we put our unwavering trust in. 

In Luke’s Gospel we read,

"And he (Jesus) told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  

He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:16-21.

This man in the parable made his possessions his god. He was relying on them to provide for him in the years ahead. They however proved to be an empty god.

On the day he passed from this life all that he had in this world was worthless. 

I believe it is important as a believer in Christ Jesus to openly worship God. That doesn’t mean we should go yelling His name from the roof tops, as good an idea as it might be. Instead however we should be worshipping God in word and deeds.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." 

                                                                              Francis of Assisi

So is your life an instrument of Gods Love?

Please think about it.

Of Note

 Of Note

Jesus said,

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44-45.

Here’s a warning to Christians but in general to all who have the ability to help the poor. Jesus makes it clear helping the poor is part of serving God.

It has always been my belief that if you are a true Christian you cannot turn away from the needs of the poor.

Our faith in Christ Jesus compels us to help anyone we can.

Please think about it.

Lending to The Lord

 Lending to The Lord

In the book of Proverbs we read,

 “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17.

I think individuals have to be careful here. I’ve heard people say “well I’m giving to the poor so God will bless me two, four, ten times what I give. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When we give we should remember the words of Jesus who said,

"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4.

We must give secretly first of all. Not only that I firmly believe we must give with a good conscience not expecting any return on what we give. We must give because we want to, because we believe it is the right thing. With no expectation of reward.

So, why do you give?

Please think about it. 

A righteous man knows

  A righteous man knows

In the book of proverbs we read,

"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge." Proverbs 29:7.

I don’t think you can be a true Christian if you don’t know the rights of the poor. 

All to often I’ve heard both from outside and inside the church people who call the poor lazy. This is not the case. There are a lot of reasons someone is poor. These range from mental health issues, to lack of education, drug addiction, to poor choices in life. The list of why a person is poor is seemingly endless. 

Never-the-less the poor have rights. Even someone who is not a Christian has to agree that everyone on the planet has basic human rights. The right to enough food. The right to fresh water. The right to a safe home. The right to good medical care.

I believe that people who deny these basic human rights will one day answer to God for their actions, especially those with political power who have the ability to provide these things.

I think it is therefor imperative that we as Christians. We as believers in Christ Jesus, do all we can to help the poor.

If you consider yourself a Christian are you doing what you can to help the poor?

When was the last time you seen a homeless person on the street and at least slipped them some of your spare change?

Please think about it.

The poor and you

  The poor and you

In the book of Leviticus we read,

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.” Leviticus 25:35.

Simply put. God cares for the poor and wants to use us to help those who are “Poor and cannot maintain himself...”

In Deuteronomy we read, “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.

We are to support the poor if we are able. That’s not to say the poor should not do anything to help themselves. They should. That being said people are poor for a myriad of reasons. Mental health problems, lack of education, poor paying jobs, addiction problems the list goes on and on.

As individuals we may not be able to help a great deal but we can all give to food banks and agencies that support the poor.

Also helping the poor doesn't just end with the individual. As Christians we should be contacting our government leaders. Telling them to help the poor by raising the minimum wage, building affordable housing, offering educational opportunities. 

Please think about it.

In a gentle and respectful manner

  In a gentle and respectful manner

The apostle Peter writes,

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15,16.

I am against the fire and brimstone preachers. I am against those who would as someone has said “scare them out of hell and into heaven”.

I say this because many non-Christians first of all do not believe in Hell. Secondly most non-Christians would tell you that they are a good person and therefore believe they are going to heaven.

That’s why we should at any given time be prepared to tell people what we believe and why we believe it. While at the same time respecting what they believe.

God gave each and every person a free will to do and believe what they wish. That freedom extends to not believing what Christians believe. Each individual has the right to even believe God does not exist.

The bottom line however for a Christian is that when asked about our faith we be ready and willing to tell people about it in a gentle and respectful manner.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

That they may glorify God

 That they may glorify God

The apostle Paul writes,

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.  1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Here the apostle Paul tells us to make requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for everyone. For kings and those in authority.

Note here Paul dose not say pray and expect the governments agree with us. Remember we live in a largely non-Christian world. The governments of this world are for the most part secular or have as their base other faiths. There are no Christian governments in the world today.

The best I believe Christians can hope for is to live at peace with them. To live quiet lives of godliness and holiness so that we can present our beliefs to others.

The apostle Peter tells us,

“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.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Correctly handling

  Correctly handling

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.

So the question is are you doing your best to present the word of God correctly?

Do you question the preachers, evangelist, or teachers you listen to?

Do you take their word that what they are saying is correct, inerrant? 

I firmly believe that there is only one way to know if what we are presenting as Gods word is correct and that is by prayer, bible study, and having a multitude of council.

We need not only to listen to those we agree with us but to listen to those we disagree with. When someone disagrees with what we believe we need to ask ourselves “why to they believe that way” “am I right in my beliefs or are they?”

We need also to gather around us study bibles. We also need study books that agree and disagree with what we believe. Again asking the question, is what I believe right or wrong?

But above all we need to realize the only true source of all Christian knowledge comes from the Bible and anyone who dose not agree with it is not a Christian.

So are you studying the Bible? 

Are you doing your best to correctly handle the word of God?

Please think about it.

Did we not?

 Did we not?

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:21-23.

Will you hear these words? Will the pastor, evangelist, or teacher you listen to and follow hear these words?

Jesus is saying here there will be many who stand before Him on judgement day who claim to have performed miracles. Who claim to have prophesied. Men and women who at first glance by the average person may have seemed to do many things for God but are not Christians.

Such people can I believe mislead people. Leading them away from God. The apostle Paul writing,

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.

This is happening today. That is why all who claim to be Christians. All who claim to be followers of Christ Jesus need to study the scriptures for themselves. Need to pray and seek God guiding. Asking God to reveal truth to them.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

To be taken to heart

  To be taken to heart.

The apostle Paul Wrote

"Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honour one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, 

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, 

but be willing to associate with people of low position. 

Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

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

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                        Romans 12:9-18.

This to me is self explanatory. Something every one who calls themselves a Christian needs to take to heart.

Please think about it. 

Acceptable

  Acceptable.

The Psalmist writes,

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14.

We need to be concerned about what God thinks about our comments. We need to remember,

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body,

 but it makes great boasts. 

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."  

                                                                                         James 3:5.

Our words can hurt and I believe God is listening carefully to what we say. Words can raise a person up. At the same time however they can destroy a person. Many people have been pushed to suicide by hurtful words.

That is why we need to be careful about what we say. 

We need to remember what Jesus 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.

This is especially true when we speak. We need to be aware of the fact that our words can hurt quite often more than a physical injury.

Take a moment to think about the words you said to others. Do they build up or tear down?

Ask yourself are my words and the meditations of my heart acceptable to God?

Please think about it.

Nothing can separate us

  Nothing can separate us

The apostle Paul writes,

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38,39

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you agree with this statement. You should, because it’s true.

No matter where we go or what happens to us be it good or bad the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus is with us.

Many despots and evil governments have tried to separate God from His followers but to no avail.

In the book of acts we read of 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. Gamaliel 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.

Since the day Gamaliel spoke those words two thousand years have passed and the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus has spread around the world. Today in excess of three billion people believe in Christ and are willing to die for Him.

I think this proves that the apostle Paul is right. Nothing can separate a true believer in Christ Jesus from the Love of God.

Please think about it.