Which Description

 Which description 

"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:7-10.

Here is a simple test of to determine who is of God and who is not of God. You will know them by their actions,

The apostle Paul writes,

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

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 5:19-23.

Which description fits you and the pastors, evangelist and politicians you listen to?

Please think about it.

 Over Nothing

In the book of Job we read,

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; 

he suspends the earth over nothing." 

                                                      Job 26:7.

I like this observation of Job. He, an ancient man, looks into the heavens and observes the earth is suspended over nothing.

The Psalmist writes,

“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.

In the book of Genesis we read,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                                                            Genesis 1:1

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics states,

“Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural’) plan.”

Even Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century said,

"It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us,"  Stephen Hawking 

God not only makes his presence known not just in the Bible but in the mathematical perfection of the Universe. For me you can’t look upon the universe and all it’s glory and say there is no creator behind it.

Do you believe God created the heavens and the earth.

Please think about it.

Outward Appearance

 Outward Appearance

In the book of 1 Samuel we read,

“People look at the outward appearance, 

but the Lord looks at the heart.”

                                                    1 Samuel 16:7.

God said this in connection with David the youngest of Jesse's eight sons. Samuel had seen the oldest son and thought because of his outward appearance he had to be the next king of Israel.

God however knew David’s heart and that he was the one best qualified to rule.

The Psalmist writes,

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16.

This is why I believe only God can truly judge us righteously, because only God knows why we are the way we are.

It is not the Christians job to judge, especially those outside of the Church. That is God’s Job. The apostle Paul writing,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”  1 Corinthians 5:12.

Do you judge people by their outward appearance?

Please think about it

You will seek me and find me

 You will seek me and find me

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

                                                                                                          Jeremiah 29:13.

I think the one reason people do not find God is because they aren’t looking for Him with their whole heart.

Someone has said,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God 

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

                                                                       Author Unknown.

To find God we have to believe He exists.

In Hebrews we read,

"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.

And God doesn’t expect blind faith. The Psalmist states,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                Psalm 19:1.

I firmly believe science done right can prove the existence of God.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan."

William Philips said,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it"William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicist.

Werner Heisenberg said,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics, Nobel prize in physics.

Do you believe God exists?

Please think about it.

You and your wealth

You and your wealth

Matthews gospel tells of this interaction between Jesus and a rich man.

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.

Let me say something first. There is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s the emphasis you put on your wealth that matters.

Jesus specifically states,

"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." Matthew 16:19-21.

It is easy if we are wealthy to put our trust in our wealth and leave God out of the equation. This is what was happening with the rich man who approached Jesus. 

The man believed in God. He followed the religious rules all good things. But his trust was not in God. It was in his material possessions. When Jesus asked him to give away his wealth he couldn’t. 

The apostle Paul warns,

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10.

Where do you stand when it comes to your money or your faith?

God may never ask you to give away all your money, but if he does ask you, would you be willing to give it all away?

Please think about it.

Reflecting Gods Light

 Reflecting Gods Light

Jesus said,

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:16.

The apostle Peter writes,

"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.

This is something we a believers need to take to heart. The world is looking at us and it is through the lense of our words and deeds that people will see God and Christ Jesus.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                        Francis of Assisi.

Our lives should reflect the Love of God at all times. We should be loving those around us the way God loves us, unconditionally. We should be exhibiting what the apostle Paul calls the fruit of the spirit,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...." Galatians 5:22, 23b.

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus what do people see when they look at your words and deeds?

Do you show the fruit of the Spirit to those around you?

Do you truly reflect the Light of God to those around you?

Please think about it.

Time to praise God

 Time to praise God

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                                      Psalm 150

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to take time each day to Praise God not just listen to prerecorded praise music. We need to participate in worship. 

Prerecorded music is good but we should be taking time to use our voice to praise God. The psalmist tells us to praise God with instruments and dancing.

Do you do this?

Why or why not?

Please think about it.

The Shepherd of your life

 The Shepherd of your life

The Psalmist writes,

“The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” 

                                                                                        Psalm 23.

One of the thing I like about being a believer in Christ Jesus is having God as my Shepherd. He is someone who protects me. He is there for me even in my darkest moments in life. Additionally He is there in the high points of my life and everything in between. 

Henry William Baker penned this poem,

“The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.”

                                                Henry William Baker

Is God the Shepherd of your life?

The duty of a believer

The duty of a believer

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 marvelous deeds among all peoples.” 

                                                        Psalm 96:1-3

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                        Francis of Assisi.

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.

It is the duty of all who believe in Christ Jesus to tell those around them about God and the Salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.

I firmly believe when we do this we must do so in a respectful and loving manner. You will not win souls for Christ if you are forcing your faith on someone. Forcing your faith on someone will turn them away from God.

The apostle Paul speaking to the Athenian set the example for us. He was asked not by Christians and Jews to speak at the Areopagus but the Epicureans and Stoic philosophers. Were he trying to force his faith on them he would not have been asked to speak.

How do you present the gospel message to those around you? Do you argue and try and force your beliefs on them. OR do you simply present the gospel message and let them decide for themselves whether or not to believe what you said is true.

Please think about it. 

I Believe Jesus is the Christ.

 I Believe Jesus is the Christ

In John’s gospel we read,

"Jesus said to her (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

So what does truly believing that Jesus is “the Christ the Son of God”

The apostles creed while not written by an apostle of Christ puts in a nutshell what Christians believe. It states,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God's on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Study for yourself

 Studying for yourself

The apostle Peter writes,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3. 

This is happening today. That is why as true believers in Christ Jesus we need to be not just reading the Bible but studying it. That we may know what we believe and why we believe it.

Sadly many within the Christian community believe everything that is being said from a preacher, evangelist or teacher. Their belief is since this person is in the position they are in they must be teaching the scriptures correctly. Or the preacher is saying the things they want to hear and thus follow him or her.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"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.

As Christians we have the right to judge others who claim to be Christians to see if they are teaching scripture correctly. The apostle Paul stating,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

But in order to know if someone is not teaching the word of God correctly like I said we must study the Scriptures for ourselves. 

Do you spend time regularly studying the Bible yourself?

Please think about it.

In everything you do

 In everything you do

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

Put this way in the year 2021 this means;

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

          Please think about it