We are responsible

 We are responsible

Jesus said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Charles H. Spurgeon said,

"We are not responsible to God for the soul that are saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for the way in which we preach it" Charles H. Spurgeon.

As true believers in Christ we are responsible to present the gospel of Christ Jesus in word and in deed. 

Francis of Assisi noted,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                              Francis of Assisi.

Whether you like it or not. If you claim to be a Christian, people are not just listening to your words but looking at your life. 

You are Christ’s representative on this earth and it is through the lense of your words and deeds that people will see Christ.

To quote Francis of Assisi again,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                              Francis of Assisi.

Thus the question becomes, If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus, what are your words and deeds telling people about God?

Please think about it.

Where does your strength come from?

 Where does your help come from?

“Look to the Lord and his strength; 

seek his face always.”

                                                  1 Chronicles 16:11

Throughout our lives we all face battles both physical, emotional, and spiritual but through it all we need to look to the Lord.

It’s easy in times of trouble to say “why me” and to complain about the trouble we are in. Leaving God out of the situation. This should not be so.

We need to make God such an integral part of our lives that when we suddenly find ourselves in trouble it is to Him that we turn.

We need to be able to say as the Psalmist writes,

"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.

Where does your help come from?

Please think about it.

A holy and godly life

 A holy and godly life

Jesus speaking about His return said,

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:44.

The apostle Peter explains,

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.    That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  

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 3:14.

The warning to all believers is to live “holy and godly lives”.

As mere mortals we can never live perfect lives. God knows this. That’s why He sent Jesus to die for our sins.

At the same time however if you have accepted Jesus into your heart you should with Gods help do all you can to live a life pleasing to God. So that when Christ returns you will be with Him.

Are you doing your best to live a holy and godly life?

Please think about it.

No one no thing

No one can nothing can

The apostle Paul writes,

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."— Romans 8:38–39.

The apostle Paul is right. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ever since the inception of Christianity there have been religious and political leaders as well as people claiming to be intellectuals that have predicted the end of Christianity. 

Likewise Christians have been arrested, tortured, and murdered for simply believing in Christ Jesus. Yet true believers in Christ Jesus still believe in Him.

In the book of acts we read, a Pharisee named Gamaliel a teacher of the Law an honoured man, standing before the Sanhedrin as they were presiding over the trial of Christ's apostles said,

"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38,39.

I think that the fact Christianity is still adding followers to this day, proves that it is of God. 

What do you think?

Please think about it.

Necessary or Unnecessary

 Necessary or Unnecessary 

Jesus said,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7,8.

Here I believe Jesus is talking about spiritual things. He is saying that anyone who is truly seeking answers about God, God will provide them with answers. If they knock (pray earnestly) the door of knowledge will open to Gods throne room.

        Sadly many do not get answers to their prayers because they ask amiss. They ask for material things money etc.

In the book of James we read,

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3.

As believers in Christ Jesus we should always look to what is motivating our prayers. While there are times when we need to ask God for our material needs. We should always question our motives. Looking to see if what we are asking for lines up with what we truly need.

When you ask God for things do you ask Him for necessary or unnecessary things?

Please think about it.

Every knee will bow

 Every knee will bow

The Psalmist wrote,

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well." Psalm 139:14.

If for nothing else we as believers in Christ Jesus need to praise God because we are “fearfully and wonderfully” made.

Martin Luther King jr. once said,

“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.

We are in nature but we live above nature.... help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

We are created to live on through eternity. And I know this. In the book of Philippians we read,

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11.

On that day when every knee will bow to Jesus, where will you be?

Please think about it.

The Corner Stone of Christian belief

 The Corner stone of Christian belief

The apostle Paul writes,

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man." 1Corinthians 15:17-21.

The apostle Paul here notes the importance of Christ being raised from the dead. No other faith that I know of claims their founder raised from the dead. 

Christ raising from the dead after dying for our sins is the corner stone of the Christian faith. Without Christ rising from the dead our faith is meaningless. The hope we have in Christ for forgiveness of our sins is false hope.

The fact however as Paul noted is “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (died).”

When Paul preached about the resurrection from the dead in Athens the reaction I believe is typical of how it is received by people in general.

The book of acts states,

"When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others". Acts 17:32-34.

Thus the question becomes do you believe Christ died for our sins and rose again. Going on to ascend to heaven to be with God the Father?

Please think about it.

Do the work of an evangelist

 Do the work of an evangelist

The apostle Paul writes,

“Keep your head in all situations, 

endure hardship

 do the work of an evangelist.”

                                                        2 Timothy 4:5.

I was until my retirement a professional clown. One day I commented that an evangelist was someone who wears a red nose and tells people about Jesus. My point being anyone can do the job of an evangelist.

When I taught Sunday school. I use to tell ten year olds that they could be evangelist. I noted they may not know a lot of scripture but they could invite people to Sunday school or church, where others could tell those people about Jesus.

As believers in Christ Jesus we have an obligation to God to tell others of the saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus.

It may not always be easy. In some parts of the world when a person becomes a Christian their family rejects them. Some even have to move away from the villages or towns where they were born. Some are even put in prison or suffer physical abuse.

For those of us who live in the western democracies telling people about Jesus may be easier, but may also mean being rejected by family and friends.

Still we are called to do the work of an evangelist in word and in deed.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" Romans 12:1.

Do you do the work of an evangelist?

         Is your life a living sacrifice to God?

Please think about it.

More Blessed

 More blessed.

In the book of acts we read,

    “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35.

A young girl by the name of Anne Frank who was in hiding from the Nazi’s in the Netherlands during world war two wrote,

"Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don't lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!" Anne Frank.

What Anne is saying here is so true. In giving of our time, even our money to helping others may not get us huge monetary rewards. But the emotional rewards we get are incredible.

Anne is right the world would be a better place if everyone would just say a kind word of encouragement the world would be a better place.

Giving is an important part of the Christian life. In the book of James we read,

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:15-20.

The bottom line for a believer in Christ Jesus is that our faith should spur us to do good deeds to help others. To give to the extent that we can, of ourselves and our resources to help others.

Please think about it.

Committing your life to God

Committing your life to God.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are not to conform to the ways of this world. 

Instead our live should become a “living sacrifice”. Our commitment to God should be a complete commitment God. . Our lives should reflect the love of God in word and in deed. 

Christianity is not just a religion. It is a way of life. When you let Christ into your life. Your life begins to change. It may be a slow change at first. But the more we study the scriptures the more our life will change for the better.

The more we study the scriptures the more we can discern the will of God.

Question, have you presented your body as a living sacrifice to God?

Have you committed your whole life to God?

Please think about it.

God will Prevail

 God will prevail

The Psalmist writes,

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10.

We live in a 24/7 world. A world that seems to travel at a terrific pace. As we look around we see a world in turmoil. A world where evil seems to prevail. Wars, terrorism, corrupt politicians, dictators, and much more seem to abound. It’s easy to get discouraged. 

Still we have a hope. The writer of Ecclesiastes telling us,

"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.

God will ultimately prevail. The apostle Paul noting,

"It is written: " ‘As surely as I live,' says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " Romans 14:11.

Please think about it.

Gentleness and Respect

 Gentleness and respect

The apostle Peter tells us,

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15,16.

This is what Christians must do. We must be prepared to tell people why we believe in Christ Jesus, why we believe in God.

Not only that we must do so with gentleness and respect. We must never force our beliefs on anyone. We must respect the person even if we disagree with them. 

Presenting our hope in Christ Jesus in a gentle way with respect will most of the time win the respect of those we are talking to. Making it easier to present our hope in Christ Jesus.

When you talk to others about your faith, do you present it in a gentle way, respecting the person you are talking to?

Please think about it.