Now Listen

  Now Listen

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  

You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James 5:1-6.

Now there’s nothing wrong with being wealthy. Having wealth is not a sin. What you do with that wealth and what emphasis you put on that wealth is what can get you into trouble with God.

James here warns the rich to be honest and fair with those that work for them and do business with them. 

If they don’t their wealth will not protect them from God’s judgement.

When you deal with others, do you deal fairly?

Please think about it.

About grass

  About Grass

Isaiah the prophet writes,

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” 

Isaiah 40:6-8.

There’s a poem that goes like this,

“Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I,

"To wear and bater all these hammers so?"

"Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.”

                                                                    Anonymous.

Throughout the centuries many have tried to destroy God’s word. They have tried by force to turn people away from God. They have tried to suppress the word of God. None have been successful. None will ever be. 

 All those who have ever done anything against the word of God are like Isaiah said,

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them”

God’s word lasts forever. 

Please think about it.

Where does your help come from?

   Where does your help come from?

The Psalmist writes,

"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.

Where does your help come from? Do you rely on your wealth? Your family and friends? Your government? Your Lawyer? Your doctor?

While all of these things can help us. Ultimately all of them will fail us eventually. Ultimately we will find we need God.

It is to God we need to be turning every day of our lives. Thanking Him for life and what we have. 

Please think about it.

He Crowns the Humble

  He Crowns the Humble

The Psalmist writes,

“For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

he crowns the humble with salvation.” 

                                                          Psalm 149:4

I think our road to salvation begins when we admit to ourselves that we cannot work our way to heaven. When we humble ourselves before God and say I cannot do it alone. I cannot be good enough to enter Heaven without God. 

The apostle Paul writes,

"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. 

Are you trying in your own strength to be good enough to get into heaven?

If so you’ll never be good enough to get into heaven. 

The apostle Paul writes,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

                                                                     Romans 5:8.

Why not accept the fact that Christ died for your sins. The apostle John wrote,

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

So will you humble yourself before God today, confess your sins directly to God, and accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour today.

Please think about it.

Who's you god?

 Who's your god?

In the book of Exodus we read,

"And God spoke all these words: 

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

"You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:1-3.

Do you have any gods other than the Lord God Almighty?

Many in this day and age tend to have gods. They it may be materialism, a particular religious leader. A political leader. All are false gods leading to destruction.

 God alone wants us to worship Him. There is no gray area. We are to worship The Lord God Almighty. If anyone or anything becomes more important in your life than God you could be heading to Hell.

Please think about it.

A Peacemaker

  A Peacemaker

The apostle Paul writes,

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace 

and to mutual edification.” 

                                        Romans 14:19.

At the end of your life will people call you a peace maker? 

Do you do your best to live at peace with those around you?

Jesus said,

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9.

So are you a peacemaker?

Please think about it.

A recipe for a good life

  A recipe for a good life

The Psalmist writes,

“Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life 

and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it. 

                                           Psalm 34:11-14.

Is this you? 

Do you desire to see many good days? 

When people see your words and deeds do they see someone who fears The Lord. Who keeps your tongue from evil and speaking lies?

Do you do good and seek peace?

Please think about it.

Let Love and Faithfulness never leave you

  Let Love and Faithfulness never leave you

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favour and a good name

 in the sight of God and man."

                                                      Proverbs 3:3,4

If we truly show the love of God to those around us people will notice and as the writer of proverbs states, “...You will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man”.

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians tells us what true love is when he 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.

Is this the kind of love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Things to do

 Things to do

In the book of Chronicles we read,

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. 

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 

Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced,...” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

Do you do this?

Do you sing praises to The Lord? 

Do you tell those around you what God has done?

Do you rejoice in knowing The Lord and all He has done for you?

Do you remember wonders, miracles and judgements He has pronounced? 

Please think about it.

Do you let God

  Do you let God

The Psalmist writes,

Where can I go from your Spirit? 

Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there your hand will guide me, 

your right hand will hold me fast. 

                                                    Psalm 139:7-10.

Simply put, God is always there for us no matter where we go. We cannot run from God. God is everywhere.

No matter what trouble we are in God will hold our hand through it. God will lead us all we have to do is ask Him.

In good times or in bad do you ask God to hold your hand? 

Do you let God lead you, or do you try to lead God? 

Please think about it.

Do you pray?

Do you pray?

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” 1Timothy 2:1-3.

If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus do you do what the apostle Paul is saying here? 

Do you pray and intercede for those around you?

Do you thank God for all He has done for you?

Do you pray for all those in authority?

Do you pray that we as believers can live in peace?

If not you should. 

Please think about it.       

You are a Branch

  You are a branch

Jesus said,

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  

If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. " John 15:4-6.

As Christians, believers in Christ Jesus it is imperative that we draw and stay close to God. Unless we seek out God in prayer and by studying His word we run the risk of falling

away. That’s why it is important for us to meet with other believers either in Church, house fellowships or wherever believers meet.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.     Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:22,23.

Please think about it.