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.

A cup of cold water

 A cup of cold water

In the book of Philippians we read,

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

 but also to the interests of others.” 

                                                       Philippians 2:4

Christianity is very much a faith of serving, serving both God and those around you. In the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

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." James 14-17.

In Leviticus we read,

"If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you." Leviticus 25:35.

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11.

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17.

The book of Proverbs even says,

"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge." Proverbs 29:7.

So what are the rights of the poor. It’s my opinion as a believer in Christ Jesus that the rights of the poor are basic human rights we all deserve, food, clothing, housing, and good medical care. 

There are a myriad of reasons a person is poor that should not be our concern. What should concern us the most as believers is that we do what we can to help them. Even if that’s just giving them a few coins out of our pocket or for that matter a cup of cold water.

After all Jesus said,

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42.

Please think about it.

What do you do?

  What do you do?

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

While it is true that a person is saved by faith. That faith should inspire us to do good works. In the book of James we read,

“As the body without the spirit is dead, 

so faith without deeds is dead” 

                                              James 2:26.

Christianity is very much a faith of deeds. Works done in the name of Jesus. We as Christians are called to do what we can when we can to help others.

There’s a interesting quote from the Talmud that I think is applicable to Christians it states,

“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

As Christians we are called to show Gods love to the world. To make the world a household of love.

What do you do for the poor and needy around you?

Please think about it.

But is it foolishness?

 But is it foolishness?

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

The idea of the God who made the universe and everything in it entering His creation to die on a cross for the sins of mankind can seem foolish. But is it?

If we who believe in Christ Jesus are correct in our belief that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God in the flesh. That he not only died for the sins of all who believe in Him, but rose again, walked briefly on the earth and ascended to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God. From where He will one day judge the all the peoples of the earth. 

If we are mistaken in our beliefs. Then those who do not believe as we do have nothing to worry about. 

On the other hand if we are right then there is a lot for everyone to think about.

The bottom line here is God gave everyone who is living and has ever lived the freedom to choose what they do and believe.

Thus it is up to each individual to decide if Christ Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of all who believe in Him or not.

What do you believe?

Please think about it.

Quite a day

  Quite the Day

In the book of Revelations we read,

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. 

They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  

And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."  Revelations 7:9,10. 

This is part of what the apostle John seen as recorded in the book of Revelations. It is a day that will one day come to pass. And when it happens it will be quite a day.

Believers from every nation, tribe, people and language will stand before the throne of God and give him praise.

But if we are true believers in Christ Jesus we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to praise God. We can do it right now. We simply have to lift our voices and praise God. 

The Psalmist states,

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

Why not take a bit of time right now and Praise The LORD?

Please think about it.

Do you truly believe?

 Do you truly believe?

Jesus said,

“God is spirit, 

and his worshippers 

must worship in spirit and in truth."

                                                         John 4:24.

I think it’s very easy to intellectually say there is a God. But just acknowledging there is a God is not enough. The ancient Greeks believed in gods. They built magnificent temples to them.

The ancient Greek gods however were simply inanimate stone sculptures. They had no spirit.

The apostle Paul upon being asked by Epicurean and Stoic philosophers to tell them about his beliefs 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. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:22-31

So do you truly believe in God? 

Do you worship Him in spirit and in truth?

Please think about it.

Your foundation

 Your foundation 

Jesus said,

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 24-27.

If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus is your life truly built on His teachings? Do you truly put all your trust in God?

When you go through hard times who do you run to first? 

Matthew’s gospel tells this story of a rich young man who came to Christ,

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.

This man although he believed there was a God. Was not willing to give up all his wealth and trust God to supply his needs. His house was not built upon the Rock but on the sand that was his possessions. Something that can easily be lost.

Now there is nothing wrong with being wealthy. But we should not put our trust in that wealth because it can easily be taken away.

We should place all our trust in God. The rock that cannot be shaken.

The apostle Peter wrote,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you" 1Peter 1:3-4

So where is your faith? In your material possessions or in God?

Please think about it.

Incredible

  Incredible 

In the book of Genesis we read,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  Genesis 1:1

Within the Christian community there is the debate whether God created the heavens and the earth in six twenty-four hour days, or over billions of years. 

The fact is it doesn’t matter on iota when it comes to where a person will spend eternity. God is God, and could created the universe and everything in it in whatever length a time He wanted.

What amazes me as a believer in Christ Jesus however, is when I look at the above photograph taken by NASA’s voyager space craft (from a distance of 3,700,000,000 miles.) Is that God chose to come and live with us on that seemingly insignificant space rock He created. 

And His reason for coming? 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." John 3:16,17.

Do you believe in Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of all who put their trust in Him?

Please think about it.

Jesus knows

  Jesus Knows

The apostle John writes,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

          He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

The apostle John in a nutshell makes it clear that Jesus whom he calls “The Word” made all things. In other words Jesus is the creator of the universe.

He also makes it clear that this same Jesus who made to universe and everything in it became flesh. Became a man.

By becoming a man Jesus went on to experience everything that a human being could experience. He experienced the mundane things like rain against His face. The smell of a dusty road. The heat of the sun.

He knew what it was like to go to a wedding and other special events. He knew what it was like to have close family and friends. He I’m sure experienced the good times in life.

At the same time He knew what it was like to be mistreated. Beaten and ultimately being hung on a cross for a crime he didn’t commit.

As a result when we stand before Him. We can never say “you don’t know what it is to be human” because he does.

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe Jesus is God in the flesh?

Please think about it.

If you confess

 If you confess

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

What the apostle Paul wrote here is I believe self explanatory. 

If we confess Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead. You will be saved.”

So the question becomes do you believe this?

Please think about it.

If we are wrong

 If we are wrong

In the book of Lamentations we read,

"The LORD is my portion" says my soul, 

"therefore I will hope in Him" 

                                             Lamentations 3:24

According to the Oxford dictionary one definition of portion is a persons destiny. 

So is God your destiny? As you go through life do you see your ultimate destiny as being with God?

Are you sure you will be with God in eternity?

As Christians we believe what the apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

We believe what the writer of the book of Hebrews states,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

"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

We believe in what the apostle Paul said as recorded in the book of Acts,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...” Acts 16 30,31a.

As believers in Christ Jesus we believe the words of Jesus who said,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6.

If we who believe in Christ Jesus are wrong there is no need to be worried. If on the other hand we are right. There is a lot to at the very least think about.

Please think about it.