A Principle of the Christian life

  A Principle of the Christian life.

Jesus said,

"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.

Are you quick to judge people?

Do you judge people in a negative way simply because they disagree with you or have a lifestyle you disagree with?

If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus you shouldn’t be. Jesus makes that clear here in Matthew 7:1,2.

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.

Think of it this way. When you judge others your are giving them the right to judge you the same way.

So the question becomes, are you judging or loving others? Even those you disagree with or have a lifestyle you disagree with?

Please think about it.

Forgive us our sins

  Forgive us our sins,

Jesus taught,

“Forgive us our sins, 

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.' "

                                                             Luke 11:4.

As Christians we should forgive those who sinned against us. Likewise we should be calling on God to forgive our sins daily.

We should also be asking God to lead us away from any temptation that comes our way.

Question.

Are you going to God daily and confessing your sins to Him?

Do you forgive those who sin against you?

Do you ask God to lead you away from any temptation that comes your way?

Please think about it.

Give us this day our daily bread

  Give us this day our daily bread

In the Lords prayer we read,

“Give us each day our daily bread.” Luke 11:3.

Question.

Do you ask God each day to supply your daily needs?

Do you ask God to supply the daily needs of others around the world?

Please think about it.

Reverence for God

  Reverence for God

Jesus said,

"He said to them, "When you pray, say: 

" ‘Father, hallowed be your name,..."  

                                                       Luke 11:12a

Jesus teaches us to honour God as holy. We as believers must never get into the trap of treating God as anything less. 

Sadly over the years I’ve seen people approach God in a very flippant way. Taking God for granted or treating Him like a servant or supernatural banker.

We should never fall into this trap.

While God wants us to have a personal relationship with us. We must never forget that He is the Lord God Almighty. Who deserves to be honoured at all times.

Question. How do you approach God? Do you tread God with the reverence He deserves?

Please think about it. 

Take it to heart

 Take it to heart

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”   Deuteronomy 11:13-21.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to take this portion of Scripture to heart. We need to present the gospel message to our children in word and deed. We need to take the word of God seriously and show in word and in deed that we truly love God with all our heart and mind and soul. 

Question. Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Hate evil Cling to what is good

 Hate evil Cling to what is good

The apostle Paul writes,

"Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; 

cling to what is good.”

                               Romans 12:9.

I live in Canada but I see what is happening in the United States and cringe. I see that people calling themselves Christians supporting people who are obviously doing evil. And sadly it is slipping over the border. 

Christians should be looking to God. Because God is the absolute judge of what constitutes good and evil.

The apostle Paul writes,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18.

  Paul also wrote,

"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" 1Timothy 2:1-3.

And remember this Paul wrote these words under the Emperor Nero who would eventually put him to death.

As Christians we are called to pray for our leaders not take sides in politics.

Someone has said “Mixing Politics and Religion is like mixing gasoline and water. The gasoline is unusable and the water undrinkable. 

We are called to call on God for wisdom. To live good lives. The apostle Peter stating, 

"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.

Sadly many calling themselves Christians are not following these words of Peter.

The late American Evangelist Billy Graham 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.

Those words are as true today as the were the day Billy Graham said them.

Thus the question becomes; If you consider yourself a Christian, are you truly following what is good or are you choosing to follow evil?

Please think about it.

I you really keep the Royal Law

  If you really keep the royal law

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.

If you are a Christian are you doing this. By this I mean showing Christian love as defined by the apostle Paul,

"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 truly the Love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Be wise in the way you act

  Be wise in the way you act

In the book of Colossians we read,

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  

         Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:5,6.

One thing I find many Christians are not good at is being wise with regards to non-Christians.

Many Christians don’t communicate the gospel correctly. Rather than being graceful toward the non-Christian, they tend to want to force their faith on others.

We need to remember what Jesus said,

"Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31.

We need to think would I want someone to present their faith to me the way I am presenting mine to them?

Spent a few minutes in prayer asking God if you are presenting the gospel message in the right way?

Please think about it.

Devote yourself to prayer

  Devote yourself to prayer

In the book of Colossians we read,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians  4:2.

Here’s a question for anyone who claims to be a Christian. Do you devote some of your time each day to prayer.

Think of it this way,

God gives you 1440 minutes in a day

Sleep takes up about 448 minutes,

Work and travelling to and from work takes up about 600minutes,

You are left with  360 minutes for yourself.

Are you willing to tithe some of those minutes.

Just 36 of them with God?

Are you willing to spend just 2.5% 

of all the minutes in a day God give you, 

with Him?

Please think about it.

Advice from Proverbs

 Advice from Proverbs

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Get wisdom, get understanding; 

do not forget my words or swerve from them. 

Do not forsake wisdom, 

and she will protect you;

 love her, 

and she will watch over you. 

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. 

Though it cost all you have, 

get understanding. 

Esteem her, 

and she will exalt you; 

embrace her, 

and she will honour you. 

She will set a garland of grace on your head 

and present you with a crown of splendour." 

                                                                  Proverbs 4:5-9.

Sadly too many people who claim to be Christians do not follow the advice here in Proverbs 4:5-9.

Their wisdom and understanding comes from the world around them. 

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus, we should be looking to the scriptures for wisdom and understanding.

Thus the question become are you living by the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of God?

Please think about it.

My help comes from The Lord

  My help comes from The Lord. 

The Psalmist states,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.”

                                                  Psalm 121:1,2.

If you consider yourself a Christian, do you rely on your own strength to get you through from day to day? Do you only go to God when things start getting hard? When there is a crisis in your life?

As believers in Christ Jesus we should be looking each day to God to direct our paths. To show us what is right in His sight.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Say to the world

  Say to the world

The Psalmist states,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." 

The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; 

He will judge the peoples with equity. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, 

let the earth be glad; 

let the sea resound, 

and all that is in it; 

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. 

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 

they will sing before the LORD, 

for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. 

He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." 

                                                                                                       Psalm 96:10-13. 

It is the Christians duty to say to the nations “The LORD reigns”.

It is the Christians duty to warn the world that God will one day judge the earth.

But note it is not the Christians duty to force our faith or try to have the government legislate our faith or any part of that faith on anyone.

Once people are presented with the Gospel of Christ it is up to them to decide if what they are hearing is true. 

As 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.

Please think about it.