To dwell in the house of God

 To dwell in the house of God

The Psalmist writes,

"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4.

If you claim to be a Christian do you seek to dwell in the house of the Lord forever?

Can you say with the Psalmist,

“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.

Please think about it.

Enter His gates

  Enter 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

If you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, take some time right now to praise the Lord. To give thanks to God for all that He has given you.

Please do not just think about it. Do it.

A Christian is

  A Christian is

The apostle Paul writes,

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."  2 Corinthians 5:20.

The Oxford dictionary defines ambassador as “a diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country.”

That is who the apostle Paul is calling us. We are Christ’s representatives on this earth.

St. Augustine wrote,

"A Christian is: a mind through which 

Christ thinks, a heart through which

Christ loves, a voice through which

Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps" 

                                                                             St. Augustine.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you doing this?

Please think about it. 

The Universe was designed

  The Universe was designed. 

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

I like this portion of scripture. It points us to the heavens. The heavens that when studied correctly show how the universe and everything in it was formed by God.

Stephen Hawking said,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking.

Hawking also said,

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

The fact is the Universe was created and designed. And it’s design points us to God.

Please think about it.

Will you give praise?

  Will you give praise?

The Psalmist writes,

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

 I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." 

                                                                         Psalm 9:1,2.

Today in the beginning of a new year. As believers in Christ Jesus, let us take time to praise God. 

In Psalm 150 we read,

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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus will you take time right now to give praises to the Lord God Almighty?

Please think about it.

Believing in God

 Believing in God

“You will seek me and find me 

when you seek me with all your heart.” 

                                                           Jeremiah 29:13

As the old year passes away. I firmly believe that all people need to take some time to seek out the truth about God and what He means to them.

For me I have no doubt that God exists and will show Himself to all those who earnestly seek Him. True this takes a leap of faith but that’s what God requires.

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

Faith defined as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope 

for and certain of what we do not see."  

                                                                 Hebrews 11:1.

I think God requires us to have faith because people who have faith in anything are the strongest of believers. People who would literally go to the grave for what they believe in.

So my question to you dear reader is... Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Are you talking about Jesus?

  Are you talking about Jesus?

The Psalmist writes,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." Psalm 96:10-13.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing what the Psalmist is telling us to do?

Are you saying to those around you “the LORD reigns” and that He will one day judge all people with equity?

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

"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.

As believers in Christ Jesus it is important that we tell the world about the saving grace that come from God through Christ Jesus. That they need to call on the name of Jesus. 

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.

So if you claim to be a Christian are you telling those around you about Jesus?

Please think about it.

What are you declaring?

 What are you declaring

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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you praising God and declaring His name among the nations. Are you telling of God’s marvellous deeds to the people around you? Are you declaring God's name to those around you?

Please think about it.

Your Help

 Your help

The Psalmist states,

"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.

The Psalmist here shows his devotion to God. From what we read God permeates through his life. He thinks of God in the night. He knows where his help comes from. 

In Psalm 121 the Psalmist states,

“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. 

As believers in Christ Jesus we know our help comes from the LORD.

Do you?

Where does your help come from?

Please think about it.

In Word and deed

 In word and deed

    In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk to them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 

This to me is saying clearly that God should be the centre of our lives. That it is our obligation to God to teach our faith to our Children.

The Talmud states,

Whoever teaches his son teaches not alone his son

 but also his son's son, and so on to the end of generations. 

                                                                                   The Talmud 

We should not only be telling our Children about our faith but we should be living our faith before them.

Our Children do see our every move therefor we have a duty to them to live our faith in word and in deed.

The apostle Paul writes,

"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 3:17.

Do your words and deeds reflect that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Do you know the Lord?

  Do you know the Lord?

In the Gospel of Luke we read this annunciation to the Shepherds,

"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord." 

                               Luke 2:11

This is the reason that Jesus came to this earth. To save all who would believe in Him from their sins.

Near the end of Luke’s gospel we read, of this interaction between Jesus and the two men who were crucified with Him. Luke records,

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

The criminal that believed in Jesus, did what we all must do I’m sure without any prompting. He confessed his sins directly to Jesus and asked Him to remember him when he entered His kingdom.

This man had no chance to do any good works as his life would soon be over. 

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

In the book of Romans Paul states,

"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."  Romans 10:9-11.

That criminal probably as his last act in this world did all that the apostle Paul states we must do. He accepted the free gift of God’s grace by confessing Jesus is Lord. 

He put his trust in Christ and thus would be with Jesus in Heaven.

Do you know the Lord? 

Please think about it.

The Confession

  The Confession

Luke’s Gospel records,

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.

Simeon here makes it clear that Jesus is the Saviour and he doesn’t keep quiet about it. He takes the baby Jesus into his arms and states,

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel”

Luke’s gospel goes on to record,

"There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.  

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke2:36-38.

Both Anna and Simeon were devoted believers. Both believed this baby Jesus to be the Saviour, The Messiah. 

Today is December 25th the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The question thus becomes do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of all who would believe in Him? 

Please think about it.