To those in the West

 To those in the west

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.” Mark 8:34.

I firmly believe that we who believe in Christ Jesus living in the western democracies don’t fully comprehend this statement. With all of our freedoms we fail to realize that the cost of following Christ can and is extreme for those in countries where the freedom to worship God is prohibited. Where worshipping God can get you and your family sent to jail or labour camps.

Even in some democracies in the world where Christianity is a minority faith. Believing in Christ can lead to persecution. Persecution that can force a believer to leave his or her home village or town, get dismissed from their job, and in some cases lead to their families breaking ties with them.

As a result we living in the west fail to count the cost of following Christ.   

As a result we quite often take our faith in Christ too lightly to the point at times we place God of second or third priority in our life.

Quiet often choosing to do other things ahead of serving and worshipping God.

Some believers even going as far as hiding their faith from their co-workers or employers.

To those in the west I would remind them of the words of Jesus who said,

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32,33.

So to those reading this who are living in the democratic and free democracies of the west do you admit to those around you, you are a believer in Christ Jesus?

Have you counted the cost of following Christ?

Do you put God ahead of all things in your life?

Please think about it.

Who do you associate with?

  Who do you associate with?

The apostle Paul writes,

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—  not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.  

But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-11.

I find it interesting here that believers in Christ Jesus are allowed to associate with sexually immoral people, greedy, swindlers, idolaters. Who are outside the Church. Yet are not allowed to even eat with those who claim to be Christians and are sexually, immoral, greedy, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards and swindler.

I think the reason is strait forward. Those who call themselves Christians and are sexually immoral people, greedy, swindlers, idolaters, are not true Christians.

In the book of Galatians we read,

“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.

As Christians especially those of us who live in North America we need to truly ask ourselves are we associating with those who call themselves Christians who are not?

Who do you associate with?

Please think about it. 

Keeping the Royal Law

 Keeping 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.

Are you doing right? 

Are you loving your neighbour as yourself?

I firmly believe it is the duty of a true believer in Christ Jesus to love those around them in the same way Jesus did, unconditionally.

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.

So are you loving your neighbour as yourself?

Please think about it.

Treat others the same way

 Treat others the same way

Jesus said,

"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." Luke 6:31.

The meaning of this portion of Scripture is self explanatory. Treat others the way you want them to treat you. 

In Matthews gospel we see Jesus as saying it this way,

"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.

If you call yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Jesus Christ you should be doing so.

So the question becomes do you treat others the way you want to be treated?

Please think about it.

About your attitude

  About Your Attitude

In the book of Philippians we read,

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:3-8.

Why do you do what you do?

Many people do what they do out of selfish ambition. They do things for the glory it gives them. They like waving and saying “look at me! Look how important I am!” All they are looking out for is themselves.

A true leader knows how to lift up those who are under him or her.  A good leader is in affect the servant of those under them.

This is especially so in the Church. Leaders need to look to the interests of those they are interacting with. As the apostle Paul states,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

Do you humble yourself, considering others better than yourself?

Please think about it.

Live a life worthy of The Lord

  Live a life worthy of The Lord 

The apostle Paul writes,

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,” Colossians 1:10.

Do you live a life worthy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

No believer is perfect. We all fall short of what God wants for our life from time to time. The key however is, if we’ve sinned or fallen short of Gods expectations for our life, is to pray and ask His forgiveness.

The other thing that is important is to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us live a life worthy of our Lord.

It is also important to pray for other believers. Every believer from your pastor, church leaders and teachers, to those believers sitting in the pews each Sunday.

Additionally it is important that we pray and study scripture so that we know just how to live a life worthy of our Lord.

Take a few minutes to take stock of your life. Ask yourself am I doing my best to live a life worthy of Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Get Wisdom

  Get wisdom

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.

What is wisdom? Here’s one definition I believe sums wisdom up, 

“the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight.”

When it comes to being a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. We need to ask God to give us wisdom in all situations in life.

One of the best ways is to pray and study the scriptures, not just read them. Pray and ask God to show you the truths held within the Bible. At the same time look at what various people in the Bible did. How they overcome problems.

Question... Do you ask God to give you wisdom, especially when dealing with other people?

Why not take some time right now to pray and ask God for wisdom.

            Please think about it.

Let's Rejoice!

  Let's rejoice!

The Psalmist writes,

"Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; 

let the people of Zion be glad in their King. 

Let them praise his name with dancing 

and make music to him with tambourine and harp. 

For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

he crowns the humble with salvation. 

Let the saints rejoice in this honour 

and sing for joy on their beds." 

                                                Psalm 149:2-5.

What the psalmist is saying here is clear. We are to rejoice in our maker, be glad in our KING.

We are to praise God with dancing, music, with the tambourine and harp and with dancing.

The psalmist reminds us that The LORD delights in His people.

Telling us to rejoice in Gods honour and sing for joy in our beds.

Question,... If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus do you take time during the day to praise God openly?

Please think about it.

Sing to the Lord a new Song

 Sing to the Lord a new Song

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 marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                                Psalm 96:1-3.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Christians need to praise the LORD. To proclaim His salvation day after day.

Just how do we do it?

Francis of Assisi said,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                            Francis of Assisi.

Francis of Assisi also warned,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                Francis of Assisi.

Please think about it.

Praise God before the gods

  Praise God before the gods

The Psalmist writes,

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

At first glance this verse seems to be an unnecessary statement in the twenty-first century. After all there are no “gods” in this century.

Quite the contrary there are as probably as many gods in 2024AD as there were in 2024BC. 

The thing is while the gods that were in 2024BC have faded into history. There has arisen new gods in 2024AD. Things that we may not realize we hold to be gods. A god by my way of thinking is anything we put our trust in blindly or otherwise. One of the most obvious ones being money and our material possessions. Other things might be religious or political leaders. Again people we follow blindly or otherwise.

Such gods can easily trick us into following them. By the promise of wealth or health or even prestige and social standing.

As believers in the One True God it is important for us to keep our eyes on Him. Not only that but openly praise the LORD with our whole heart publicly, in word and in deed.

We need to in a loving manner tell the world around us that we serve the LORD God Almighty.

If you consider yourself a Christian. Do you praise God publicly in word and deed?

Please think about it.

A question asked

 A question asked.

In the book of James we read,

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14.

Is there a meaning to life? 

Is this life we are living all there is?

Is the sole duty of men and women to have children then die?

Paul Gauguin asked,

“Where Do we Come From? What Are We? Where Are we Going?”

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 1:14

The writer of Ecclesiastes however comes to the conclusion,

"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.

Martin Luther King jr. prayed to God saying,

“Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

Whether we want to admit it or not. Life does go on into eternity and what we do here in this life determines where we will stay in eternity.

The book of Acts record this incident in the apostle Paul’s life,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:30,31.

Question. Do you know where you will spend eternity?

                 Do you believe in God?

                          Do you believe in the Salvation that comes through the Lord Jesus?

Please think about it.

Are you a Dorcas?

 Are you a Dorcas?

In the book of Acts we read,

"Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity." Acts 9:36.

Do you do good works without being prompted? 

Many within the church have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour then stopped. Being quite satisfied with being saved. 

God however doesn’t want us to be satisfied with just being saved. He wants us to reach out in love through good works to those around us. James writes,

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

    If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17.

So is your faith alive or dead?

Our faith should spur us on to good deeds. We should want to help those who are in need of help. I firmly believe that we have an obligation to God to help people to the extent that we are able. Even if it’s just giving a few coins to a homeless person begging on the street.

So what good works and acts of charity have you done recently?

Please think about it.