Christian fruit

 Christian fruit,

In the book of Galatians we read,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22,23.

These are Christian attributes. They are what we as Christians should be showing to the world.

If we are doing so people will be attracted to us. Which give us an opportunity to see share our faith with them.

When people look at your life do they see these attributes?

Please think about it.

Christian love defined

 Christian love defined

Jesus when 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 neighbor as yourself.'  

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

But just what is Christian love? 

The apostle Paul defines Christian love this way,

"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

Is this the kind of love you show to others family, friend and foe alike?

Please think about it.

At Peace

   At Peace

The apostle Paul wrote,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  

                                                                                                         Romans 12:18.

It is essential for Christians to do their best to live at peace with all people. The best way for the Gospel of Christ to spread is during a time of peace.

That doesn’t mean compromising our faith. It means presenting our beliefs to people and letting them decide for themselves if what we are saying is correct.

Living at peace with those around us means not protesting against anyone or the government unless they are trying to take our rights to freedom of belief or trying to restrict the rights of other law abiding people.

It comes down to 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.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

A Lesson from the Christs Crucifixion

  A Lesson from Christ’s Crucifixion

Luke’s Gospel records this as happening when Jesus was crucified,

“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 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.

This is what the thief on the cross did when he was dying on the cross next to Jesus. He in the only way he knew how to, confessed his sins and believed that Jesus was Lord. 

Causing Jesus to tell him he would be in paradise (Heaven).

Getting to heaven is really that simple. Confess your sins to God, and believe that Jesus is God’s Son the way to heaven.

So what do you believe?

Is Jesus the Son of God, The Saviour of mankind?

Is Jesus your saviour?

Please think about it.

Giving to the poor

  Giving to 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.

God care for the poor. Within the scriptures there are over 2000 verses that deal with helping the poor.

Question are you doing what you can to help the poor where you live? Do you give a few at least a few coins to those begging on the street? Do you donate to a food bank?

Please think about it.

How are you presenting the gospel of Christ?

  How are you presenting the Gospel of Christ?

Jesus said,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:7.

The American evangelist Tony Campolo wrote,

“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.

I firmly believe that if you judge people you will never win a soul for Christ. If you are judging a person they quite often will push back against what you are saying. They especially, if they think you are judging them incorrectly, will build a wall between you and them. They will stop listening to you.

Our job as Christians is to show the love of God to all we meet. We are to present the gospel message politely and lovingly. Then let the individual decide for themselves if what you say is true.

If you consider yourself a Christian how are you presenting the gospel of Christ?

Please think about it. 

Who'd you trust?

  Who’d you trust?

In Proverbs

Those who trust in their riches will fall, 

but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

                                                               Proverbs 11:28

The Psalmist writes,

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                            Psalm 20:7.

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 16:19-21,24.

So here is a simple question to anyone who calls themselves a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus.

In what or in whom do you put your trust?

Please think about it.

Believe in God or not

 Believe in God or not.

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"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." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

Believing in God is a choice. When God created the world and everything in it. God gave man a freewill to believe what he wants to. That includes not believing in God. 

The thing is whether you believe in God or not. God exists and will one day judge justly each individual who has ever lived. Ecclesiastes tells us this.

Jesus confirms this,

"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.  

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 3:16-18.

Thus the question becomes do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Clothe yourself

  Clothe yourself

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you. In the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Reflecting Christ.

  Reflecting Christ.

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

The late English evangelist Charles Spurgeon said,

"O Christian people, be holy, for Christ is holy. Do not pollute that holy Name wherewith you are named. Let your family life, your personal life, your business life, be as holy as Christ your Lord would have it to be."  Charles H. Spurgeon.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                              Francis of Assisi.

Whether you like it or not if you claim to be Christian a follower of Christ Jesus. It is through the lense of your words and deeds that people will see Christ.

Thus the need for each individual to take a look at their life from time to time. To take a look at what they are doing and what the say. For what we say and do has the potential for eternal consequences.

Each believer in Christ Jesus is Christ’s representative on this earth. Thus the need for a holy life.

Living a holy life does not mean constantly preaching, or as one of my pastors said, “becoming so heavenly minded you are no earthly good.”

The world wants to see Christians who are real and genuine. Who are truly living out their faith.

Billy Graham once said,

"Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them." Billy Graham.

Sadly he’s right. Many calling themselves Christians outside of Church cannot be distinguished from those who are not Christians.

 Thus my question to anyone reading this who claims to be a Christian. Is your words and deeds outside the Church reflecting properly reflecting the Christ?

Please think about it.

A Sermon from the apostle Paul

  A sermon from the apostle Paul?

Perhaps one of the best sermons in Christian history is recorded in the book of acts. It is spoken by the apostle Paul. It is short and to the point. It was spoken to non-believers in Athens. 

    It places before the reader the choice we Christians believe every man and woman on this earth must make.

The book of Acts records,

“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  

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.” 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. Acts 17:17-34

When Paul finished his speech, some believed him, some did not, and some wanted to know more.

In which group are you?

Please think about it.

Taking faith for granted

  Taken faith  for granted?

    Jesus said,

   “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.  

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  

Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”   Mark 8:34-38.

Here is a clear statement of what it is to be a Christian. Jesus makes it abundantly clear that we must be willing to take up our cross and follow Him. 

The cross is a symbol of suffering and pain. We must be aware that as Christians we may have to suffer and die for our faith. We must take this into account when we decide to accept Christ into our lives.

Jesus also makes it clear that, “...whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” 

As Christians I am convinced we cannot lose. While we may go through much suffering and pain be it simply from health problem or persecution from our enemies we still win.

I am reminded of a sixteen year old Christian boy who was told to renounce his faith in Christ by the terrorist group IS or die. He refused and was murdered.

This is the kind of thing we as Christians must be willing to do for the sake of the gospel. 

Those of us who live in the democracies of the west enjoy incredible freedoms. Sometimes I believe we take our faith too much for granted.

We in the west can pop into a church without fear anytime in any city, town or village. We can worship without fear. That’s why I think we all to often put a golf game or football or dance classes ahead of our service to God. We forget how costly our faith is.

Are you taking your faith for granted?

Please think about it.