Believers in Christ are to...

  Believers in Christ are to....

In the book of Colossians we read,

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17.

Here is a list of what true Christians. True believers in Christ Jesus should be doing.

We are to:

Clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Forgive whatever grievances we have with one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgives us.

We are to love.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in our hearts.

Let the word of Christ dwell richly in us.

We are to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.

We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

We are to sing with gratitude in our hearts to God.

We are to do all this in word and in deed, to God in the name of the                     Lord Jesus.

So here’s a simple question:

So if you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you doing what is listed above?

Please think about it.

Our focus

  Our focus

The apostle Paul writes,

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  Galatians 2:20.

In this statement the apostle Paul makes it clear that once we have accepted Christ as our saviour it is no longer we who live but Christ in us.

Upon accepting Christ into our lives our focus should change form ourselves and what is good for us. To one of doing the will of Christ.

If we claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus we should be studying the scriptures to see what God requires of us. 

We must do this in order to grow in Christ Jesus. To become Christ like. Because wether we like it or not when we claim to be a Christian people will look at our lives and judge Christ by our words and deeds. As Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                             Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Remember

  Remember

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3.

We who live in the western democracies quite often forget our brothers and sisters who a being persecuted around the world.

According to a United Kingdom house of commons report in 2023, 365 million Christians are “subject to high levels of persecution and discrimination this compared to 340 million in 2021. 

That is 1in 7 Christians are persecuted, worldwide, including 1 in 5 in Africa and 1 in 7 in Asia in 2023, compared to 1in 8 world wide in 2021.

As believers world wide we have an option at the very least to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world.  At the same time we should consider helping support organizations that are helping the persecuted such as Open Doors Canada and Global Christian relief in the United States.

If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you at least pray for the persecuted and imprisoned Christians around the world?

Please don’t just think about praying for those being persecuted and imprisoned PRAY for them.

When people see you

  When people see you.

Jesus said,

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 

"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:34-40.

This is a follow up to the blog I posted yesterday about helping the refugees, innocent men women and children. Here Jesus tells us that in helping the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, those in need of clothing, the sick and those in prison. We are helping Him. Jesus saying,

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40.

While it is true that having faith in saving grace offered by God saves us. Our faith should spur us on to doing more. In the book of James we read,

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17.

When people see your life do they see you as a follower of Christ Jesus. A person who does what you can to help those in need?

Please think about it.

Who welcomes

  Who welcomes 

Jesus said,

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me” Mark 9:37.

When I read this I cannot help thinking of all the child refugees and their parents that are fleeing war and bad situations in their homeland. Innocent people who only want to live in peace. And while I get the need for border security. I also think we as Christians need to do what is right. We should not be getting political and demanding the borders be closed and legitimate refugees sent back to unsafe conditions.

We should however be doing all we can to help those refugees both before they reach our borders and at our borders. 

Having said that there are many Christian organizations that are doing just that. As true believers in Christ Jesus we may not be able to go to the refugees but we can contribute to those organizations that are doing their best to help those in need both outside our borders and inside.

Remember the words of Jesus I quoted above,

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not be but him to sent me” Mark 9:37.

In helping the innocent men women and children in the name of Christ we are receiving not just Christ but God the creator of the universe and everything in it.

Will you do what you can today to receive those in need?

Please think about it.

Instructions from Psalms and Proverbs

  Instruction from Psalms and Proverbs

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.

Here the Psalmist gives good simple advice. If you desire to see good days, you should...

Keep you tongue form evil.

Keep you lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good.

Seek peace and pursue it.

If you consider yourself a true Christian you need to follow this instruction from the Psalmist. An other thing we need to put in to action is along with what the Psalmist is saying is from the book of proverbs that states,

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name

 in the sight of God and man.”

                                            Proverbs 3:3,4

Please think about it.

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.