Why do you believe

 Why do you believe

The apostle Paul writes,

"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."  2 Timothy 2:15.

To many believers do not know why they believe what they believe. Rather they simply trust the pastor, evangelist, or teacher they are listening to at a given time.

There is nothing wrong with questioning a pastor, evangelist, or Bible teacher about their beliefs and how they back those beliefs with Scripture.

An honest Bible teacher will always be willing to tell you how he come to believe what he does. 

That being said I firmly believe that individual Christian have a duty to study the Bible for themselves. Praying and asking God to show them the meaning of what they are studying.

So my question to you dear reader is, 

Do you study the scriptures for yourself or do you solely rely on the people you are listening to?

Please think about it.

In whom or what

 In whom or what

In Psalm twenty we read,

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                      Psalm 20:7

The in Psalm we read,

"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.

So where is your trust?

We living in the twenty-first century may not trust in chariots or horses but most certainly do have the twenty-first century equivalent. Those being money, and material possessions.

Now there is nothing wrong with having material possessions or being wealthy. The problem comes when those things become more important in your life than God.

The apostle Paul said,

"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.

Notice Paul states it is the “love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”.

A true believer in Christ Jesus is called to love God. 

         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." Matthew 22:36-38.

So if you consider yourself to be a Christian in whom or what do you trust?

Please think about it.

A Note from the Apostle Peter

 A note from the Apostle Peter

The apostle Peter states,

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.  2 Peter 3:13,14.

Are you doing your best to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God?

Someone has said Christianity is a religion of rules. Of do’s and do nots. Rules that are hard to follow.

While it is true we are called to live a good moral life. Any rules Christians have to follow are no more constraining than following the rules of a given sport.

In order for the sport to be fair and safe for all. One must follow the rules. Something sportsmen and women do without even thinking. They just come naturally to them.

For Christians it’s the same. God has set before us a set of moral and ethical rules that if followed will lead to a good life. Such rules become natural to follow for those who read the Bible and interact with other Christians.

Peter knew that we don’t always follow Gods rules correctly. That we sometimes fall short of what God wants to be. And God knows this also.

That’s why Peter said “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God”

And for those times we fall. The times we sin we can go to God in prayer and ask forgiveness. The apostle John writing, 

"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 if you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God?

Please think about it.

Peacemaker

 Peacemaker

Jesus said,

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." 

                                                                                                           Matthew 5:9.

Are you a peace maker? And by that I don’t mean some diplomat that tries to bring peace to some war.

You can be a peace maker right in your own country, town or neighbourhood.

I find particularly in the current political climate here in North America. Christians, at least those calling themselves Christians, are looked at war mongers. While they may not be starting a physical war between nations. They by their actions are causing rifts between Christians and everyone else.

Sadly many calling themselves Christians are getting involved with politics. Something a Christian should never get involved with. Someone has said,

“Combining religion and politics is like combining water and gasoline. The water is undrinkable. The gasoline unusable. And the whole thing is explosive.”

Many Christians are using politics to try and stop anything they disagree with. They believe the lie that Canada and the United States are built on Christian values.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Canada and the United States are secular democracies. They are as culturally as diverse as the Roman empire.

I’m sure when the apostle Paul walked into Athens he could have yelled “you heathen God is going to send you to hell!” But he didn’t instead after being invited by the Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers to speak at the Areopagus he said,

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you." Acts 17:22,23.

Paul and all the other apostles never tried to restrict the rights of others. Paul even tells us to, 

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,  to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:1,2.

Paul and the apostles knew that by trying to restrict the beliefs and lifestyles of those they disagree with could backfire and cause their faith to be restricted.

If we are to be true Christians in 2024 we need to live at peace with those around us. We need to extend the hand of friendship and present our beliefs not force our beliefs on others. 

      We need to listen to them. To treat them as equals. For it’s only in doing this will we win souls for Christ.

There is a phrase the late American evangelist Billy Graham said. He said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                                 Billy Graham

It is only by doing this we will be called Peacemakers and be called sons of God.

Please think about it.

The Psalmist call

 The Psalmist call

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.

I don’t think this portion of scripture needs much interpretation. It tells you how to live a God fearing life.

Keep your tongue from evil.

Don’t tell lies.

Turn from evil and do good.

Seek peace and pursue it.

Advice that if followed by more people the world would be a better place to live.

Do you live the way the Psalmist is telling us here in Psalm 34:11-14?

Please think about it.

Using your gifts

 Using your gifts

The apostle Peter wrote,

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10.

Do you use the gifts you have received for God? Do you believe you have any gifts God can use?

Sadly there are many within the church who don’t think they have any gifts God can use. Which is sad because if you are willing God will use you for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

I knew a young woman named Sharon who thought she had no gifts. She came from a poor background. People in the small town where she lived looked down on her and her family.

She wasn’t well educated. She certainly couldn’t preach from the pulpit. She didn’t communicate things well and she was “socially awkward”. Unsure how to act in certain circumstances. 

When I met her she was sweeping floors and cleaning tables at a Christian coffee shop outreach where I was performing.

Long story short. Within two years of my meeting her we were married and we were living along way away from here home town, where people didn’t know her.

Our marriage changed her life in many ways. We got involved with a good church, where she became a volunteer librarian. Additionally we hosted a bible study in our apartment.

During those early years we also moved around quite a bit before a series of events brought us to a small Canadian city where we settled down and joined a church.

Again Sharon volunteered as a librarian. At the same time she got involved with various Christian women’s groups both with our church and outside.

At the same time we opened our house particularly on holidays. We’d invite people who were going to spent the holidays alone to come. An event Sharon liked hosting.

Now Sharon never became a great preacher, teacher, or evangelist and her name will one day be lost to history. Still that doesn’t matter. She is known to God and she gave what she had for God to use and he did.

When she passed away after a long illness over a hundred people came to her funeral. All of whom had been touched by her life in one way or another.

Sharon had always called herself “ordinary”. With very little for God us use. Yet she gave what she had and blessed many by doing so.

So my point here is if God can use Sharon a poor girl from a small Canadian village. He can use you. You may not become a world renowned evangelist. But then very few who work for the Lord are.

The important thing is, as the apostle Peter wrote,

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, 

faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 

                                                                                                   1 Peter 4:10.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

A note from John and Paul

  A note from John and Paul

The apostle John writes,

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” 1John 1:5,6.

If you are a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus will walk in the light. 

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.

It is by the fruit of Spirit that people will know someone is Christian.

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

gentleness 

self-control. 

There are no laws against these attributes.

So if you claim to be a Christian do people see these attributes in your life?

Think about it.

I will hope in Him

  I will hope in Him

In the book of Job we read,

“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in him;

 I will surely defend my ways to his face.” 

                                                                      Job 13:15.

The story of Job is fascinating. Job lost everything. Yet he could say “though He slay me, Yet will I hope in him”

I wonder how many calling themselves Christians today, if put in the same circumstances of Job could say the same.

I particularly think of those calling themselves Christians in North America with all it’s freedoms. A place that enjoys freedoms that are the envy of the world. Where fear of persecution is minimal.

Could Christians in Canada and the United States if they lost everything say as Job did,

“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in him.”

Could you say this?

Please think about it.

Evaluate

  Evaluate

The psalmist writes,

"On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, 

I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you; 

your right hand upholds me." 

                                        Psalm 63:6-8.

Do you remember God as you lay on your bed? 

Is God your help in all situations?

Do you sing praises to God?

Do you cling to God?

Can you see how God has looked after you throughout your life?

Why not take some time now to look at your life and your relationship with God. Take time to evaluate Gods place in your life.

Please think about it.

Do people see these in you?

Do people see these in you/

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.” Colossians 3:12.

These are attributes of a Christian,

Compassion

Kindness

Humility

Gentleness

Patience

If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus do people see these attributes in your life?

Please think about it.

Enter into His gates

  Enter into His gates,

The Psalmist writes,

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to [God] and praise his name." 

                                                               Psalm 100:4.

I think it is important for all who believe in Christ Jesus to give thanks and praise to the Lord at all times. We need to in good times cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving and praise. We need for lack of a better term, make a habit to thank and praise The Lord in all sincerity daily.

I believe we need to end all our prayer sessions with at the very least a few words of thanksgiving to God.

This way when we go through hard times we are in the habit of thanking God for being with us as we go through those bad times.

I remember when my late wife, who had suffered for sometime was quite literally in her final hours of life. The family gathered around her and along with our pastor she, and we, prayed and then sang amazing grace. Then for then next few hours until she passed we listened to praise music. I firmly believe she entered into the presence of God praising His name.

My wife could praise God for two reasons. First she truly loved her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

And secondly throughout her life she had got into the habit of praising God no matter what she was going through.

When the day comes that you enter the gates of heaven and stand in the courts of God what will you be doing?

Please think about it.

The Great Equalizer

 The Great Equalizer 

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“People are destined to die once, 

and after that to face judgment.”

                                                    Hebrews 9:27

Someone has said death is the great equalizer. Which is true. One day the richest man alive and the poorest man alive will die and stand before God.

The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us about that day. Saying,

"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.

How will God judge you? Will you enter Heaven?

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

Sin separates us from God. Which means if there is sin in our life we will not get to heaven. That being said. The apostle John states,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

The apostle Paul states,

“...(We) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:24.

And in John’s gospel we read,

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36.

As Christians we believe you cannot work your way to Heaven. It is by believing in the saving grace of God that comes through Christ Jesus. Believing that He died for your sins.

In the book of Ephesians we read,

"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.

Jesus speaking of himself said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

  Thus the choice is yours. 

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of all who believe in Him or not?

Please think about it.