Let the morning bring

 Let the morning bring

The Psalmist writes,

“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

for in you I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul.” 

                                          Psalm 143:8.

No matter the circumstance we find ourselves in each morning. It is good to hear of God’s steadfast love. It is Good no matter where we find ourselves to know God is there for us. 

At the same time we should call on God each morning to show us the way we should be going. To direct us throughout the day, the week and beyond.

The Psalmist stating, 

“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.

Does you help truly come from The LORD, Maker of heaven and earth?

Please think about it.

Do Good and Share

  Do good and share

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Do not forget to do good and to share with others,

 for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

                                                 Hebrews 13:16.

This is what pleases God. To do good and share with others. So the simple question is, If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you do good and share what you have with others?

Please think about it.

A Prayer for Guidance

  A Prayer for guidance. 

The Psalmist writes,

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;

 may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."  

                                                              Psalm 143:10.

This is what all believers should be asking of God each day. 

The Christian life is one of constant learning. We will never this side of heaven truly know everything there is to know about God.

The Christian life is one of approaching God each day and asking Him to show us His will for our life for that day and for the days to come. Asking God’s Spirit to guide us.

If you consider your self a true believer in Christ Jesus do you approach God each day asking Him to teach you what His will is for your life for the day ahead? Do you ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Please think about it.

Your way or Gods way?

  Your way or Gods way?

The Psalmist states,

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4,5.

This is good advice. Advice many people do not listen to. As someone has said,

“Most people wish to serve God —

 but only in an advisory capacity.” 

                                                Author Unknown

I would say that the majority of people in the world today want to get to heaven. But sadly they want to do it there way.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to pray and study the scriptures. We need to take time to learn just what God wants for our life. And how He wants us to accomplish that goal.

We need to learn the way God works. For it is only in doing things God’s way that we will get to heaven. 

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“So, as the Holy Spirit says:" Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 

That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' 

 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.” Hebrews 3:7-11.

Where do you stand? Are you willing humble yourself before God. Study the scriptures and see how God does things or do you insist on following your own path.

When you are considering this remember what we read in Proverbs.

“There is a way that seems right ot a man, 

but its end is the way of death.”

                                                               Proverbs 14:12.

Please think about it.

Is God your Strength?

 Is God your Strength?

The Psalmist writes,

"I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1,2.

Do you love the LORD?

Is God, your, rock, your fortress, your deliverer. The rock in which you take refuge?

Is God the first person you go to in time of trouble?

Are you willing to trust God with your life?

Take a few minutes to assess your relationship with God. Ask yourself can I say with the Psalmist, 

"I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1,2.

Please think about it.

What The Lord requires of believers

  What the Lord requires of believers

The Prophet Micah states,

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

Micah here makes it clear what God requires of all who believe in him.

We are to...

do justice,

love kindness,

walk humbly with God.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are these three halmarks of a believer part of your life?

Please think about it.

Giving you all

  Giving your all

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13.

The apostle Paul makes it clear 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”.

These words may seem easy to follow but they for many can be hard words to follow. 

Believing Jesus is God incarnate and believing He rose from the grave seems to many people strange. Even the apostle Paul notes,

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.

I firmly believe God did it this way because those who truly believe in anything will literally go to the grave for what they believe. Which is the kind of people God wants.

The Christian life is not all smooth sailing. From it’s beginnings in Israel to present day there are those who have persecuted, imprisoned, and put Christians to death for what they believe. 

Yet even knowing they could face persecution, imprisonment, and death, the true believer in Christ Jesus does not shrink away from telling those around them what they believe.

The apostle Paul states what true Christians believe. Saying,

"For to me, to live is Christ 

and to die is gain." 

                                Philippians 1:21.

If you claim to be a true believer in Christ Jesus are you willing to give your all for what you believe?

Please think about it. 

Sons of God through faith

  Sons of God through faith

The apostle Paul writes,

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Gal 3:26,27.

One commentary I read said,

“The Greek word huioi (sons) is a legal term used in the adoption and inheritance laws of first century Rome. As used by Paul here and elsewhere in his letter this term refers to the status of all Christians, both men and women, who having been adopted into God’s family, now enjoy all the privileges, obligations, an inheritance rights of God’s children.”

So what the apostle Paul is making clear is that all who put their faith in Christ Jesus are children of God.

This is a great honour. Something no one asked for, but never-the-less God through Christ Jesus offers us.

The apostle John stating,

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12,13.

Are you willing to accept the saving grace that comes from God through Jesus?

Please think about it. 

The LORD gives and The LORD takes away.

 The LORD gives and The LORD takes away

In the book of Job we read,

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return . The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:20,21.

Job in rapid succession had faced massive personal loss including his family. Yet Job while grieving did not place the blame on God. Rather he blessed the name of the Lord.

We all have problems. We all have times of grief. It’s just a part of life. Still it’s not easy going through troubled times.

In those times it is easy to turn to God and say “why me?”.

Job here however gives us an example to follow. Despite losing everything he still worships God. Knowing that all he has comes from God. Knowing that even in times of trouble God is there for us.

Job knew that he came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing.

He also knew that by being faithful to God in good and bad times he will ultimately receive his reward.

How about you? 

Do you worship God in the good times and in the bad times.

Please think about it.

We must look at their life

  We must look at their life

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

I live in North America were many say they are Christians but they are not. This I know can be confusing for non-Christians. After all anyone calling themselves a Christian is a Christian to them.

At the same time I believe there are many calling themselves Christian who are misled by the pastor, evangelist or teacher they are following. Something that can have eternal consequences.

I believe the best way to tell a true Christian is to look at their life and lifestyle.

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. 

I firmly believe that we should not believe someone is a Christian simply because they say they are. We must look at their life. We must look to see if they exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Please think about it.

What can I do?

  What can I do?

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.

There is nowhere to run from God. Which ultimately means that God can and does guide us no matter where we are. If we are willing.

I know in the good times it’s easy to follow God. However it is in the bad times that we see the true believer shine.

When bad times hit we have too choices. 

One call out to God and ask Him why are you in the position you are in and complain about your circumstances saying “why me Lord?”

The other choice is to call of God and ask Him to be with you, guiding, directing and comforting you. Saying “what do you want me to do Lord?” Or, “What do you want me to learn today?”

When you go through hard times in life what do you do?

Please think about it.

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.