“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
Christians here are told not to judge others. We are not to judge especially hypocritically.
This is not the same as discernment.
I’ve heard people say well you shouldn’t judge what the priest, minister or evangelist says because it’s judging. Not so.
There is nothing wrong with questioning the teachings of anyone ministering the word of God, be they a Sunday School or Bible study teacher or a pastor or evangelist.
This is discernment.
When we question what we are being taught this is a good thing it helps us get to the truth of the matter.
An honest teacher of the Bible will not object to being questioned about his or her teaching.
What Jesus is telling us here is not to judge other people be they Christians or non-Christians for what they are.
We cannot tell what is in someone’s heart.
All Christians grow in the Lord at different rates and it is up to the Holy Spirit to convict someone of any wrong they are doing.
When it comes to non-Christians this is especially true. Judging them may very well turn them away from God.
The Talmud tells a story about Abraham it goes like this,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door.
That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?
The Talmud
Judging someone is dangerous. What Jesus says is true,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
People around us are aware of what we do and say. They are aware of our short comings If we judge them they are going to judge us in the same way.
The classic example I use when I teach is that of someone saying a homosexual is sinning and holding it up as some kind of “special sin.”
It is not the Christians place to judge sin. That is God’s no one else’s. Only he knows the heart and mind of anyone.
The job of the Christian, the only Job of the Christian is to present the Gospel to anyone who will listen and let God do the rest.
Think about it.
Friday 28 February 2014
Thursday 27 February 2014
Don't Worry
Don’t worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34.
Here in Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus gives us some sound advise about worry. He basically is saying that we shouldn’t worry.
That we should put our trust in God for the things we need.
Paul states,
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
God knows what we can handle and what we need.
Back about twenty years or more ago now I was commuting over a hundred kilometers one way to work.
We were always short of money, but we never missed a meal.
On one occasion I needed some money for gasoline for my truck to get me to work where I could get my paycheck.
I didn’t know how I was going to get it. It was Sunday morning and I had to be at work for eleven o clock that night. All we could do was trust in the Lord.
At church one of the secretaries said “someone left this envelope for you.” she didn’t say who it was but in it was twenty dollars. More than enough to buy the fuel I needed for the round trip.
God had provided.
Such things are common place in our lives. God does truly provide what we need.
He does so for all believers who trust in him.
The important thing is to trust Him.
Think about it.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34.
Here in Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus gives us some sound advise about worry. He basically is saying that we shouldn’t worry.
That we should put our trust in God for the things we need.
Paul states,
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
God knows what we can handle and what we need.
Back about twenty years or more ago now I was commuting over a hundred kilometers one way to work.
We were always short of money, but we never missed a meal.
On one occasion I needed some money for gasoline for my truck to get me to work where I could get my paycheck.
I didn’t know how I was going to get it. It was Sunday morning and I had to be at work for eleven o clock that night. All we could do was trust in the Lord.
At church one of the secretaries said “someone left this envelope for you.” she didn’t say who it was but in it was twenty dollars. More than enough to buy the fuel I needed for the round trip.
God had provided.
Such things are common place in our lives. God does truly provide what we need.
He does so for all believers who trust in him.
The important thing is to trust Him.
Think about it.
Wednesday 26 February 2014
You Can't Serve God and Money
You can’t serve God and money
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
Matthew 6:19-24.
Here Jesus is talking about greed. Money and riches in themselves are not bad. The church needs wealthy people to help in the spread of the gospel.
It’s what you do with your money. Don’t hoard it for the sake of hoarding it.
There’s a very famous story of a miserly woman in the late eighteen hundreds. She had substantial wealth enough to pay doctors to help her sick son. Yet the son died because she didn’t want to pay out the money and was looking for a charity hospital to help him and save her money.
While this is an extreme case it is what Jesus is talking about.
Some people put their trust entirely in money. Proud they are self sufficient. Thus quite often they miss the blessings of God.
You can always tell where a persons heart is.
Over the years that I’ve been in church work I’ve met people that are earning an excellent base wage but work long hours of overtime to get the extra they want to buy a new toy, be it a $500 dollar cell phone, half million dollar house or a fancy car.
They work so much they can’t enjoy their toys.
While they claim to love God they are so absorbed in making money that they don’t have time to serve Him.
I think it will be interesting to see how big their house is in heaven.
Jesus made it clear “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
We all need money but my cousin use to say “you can’t go anywhere without it. But you can’t take it when you go.”
We all as Christians need to take a long hard look at were our treasure is. Is it hear on earth or is it in heaven?
Do we really need all the toys of this world?
Or could our time be better spent serving God even if it’s only in a small way.
Think about it?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
Matthew 6:19-24.
Here Jesus is talking about greed. Money and riches in themselves are not bad. The church needs wealthy people to help in the spread of the gospel.
It’s what you do with your money. Don’t hoard it for the sake of hoarding it.
There’s a very famous story of a miserly woman in the late eighteen hundreds. She had substantial wealth enough to pay doctors to help her sick son. Yet the son died because she didn’t want to pay out the money and was looking for a charity hospital to help him and save her money.
While this is an extreme case it is what Jesus is talking about.
Some people put their trust entirely in money. Proud they are self sufficient. Thus quite often they miss the blessings of God.
You can always tell where a persons heart is.
Over the years that I’ve been in church work I’ve met people that are earning an excellent base wage but work long hours of overtime to get the extra they want to buy a new toy, be it a $500 dollar cell phone, half million dollar house or a fancy car.
They work so much they can’t enjoy their toys.
While they claim to love God they are so absorbed in making money that they don’t have time to serve Him.
I think it will be interesting to see how big their house is in heaven.
Jesus made it clear “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”
We all need money but my cousin use to say “you can’t go anywhere without it. But you can’t take it when you go.”
We all as Christians need to take a long hard look at were our treasure is. Is it hear on earth or is it in heaven?
Do we really need all the toys of this world?
Or could our time be better spent serving God even if it’s only in a small way.
Think about it?
Tuesday 25 February 2014
Fasting
Fasting
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18.
Do you fast? I think if it is possible for us to fast we need to every now and then. Our Church calls for a week of fasting at the beginning of every year. This is to draw closer to the Lord and see what direction he wants us to go in for the coming year.
I think we should also consider fasting when we are about to make a major decision in our lives.
We need to pray and fast and seek the Lords direction in our lives.
Here in Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus tells us how to fast.
We need to do it privately not making a fuss. We need to do it in such a way as people for the most part don’t know we are doing it.
That way we will receive an answer from the Lord.
Think about it.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18.
Do you fast? I think if it is possible for us to fast we need to every now and then. Our Church calls for a week of fasting at the beginning of every year. This is to draw closer to the Lord and see what direction he wants us to go in for the coming year.
I think we should also consider fasting when we are about to make a major decision in our lives.
We need to pray and fast and seek the Lords direction in our lives.
Here in Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus tells us how to fast.
We need to do it privately not making a fuss. We need to do it in such a way as people for the most part don’t know we are doing it.
That way we will receive an answer from the Lord.
Think about it.
Monday 24 February 2014
How to Pray
How to Pray
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:9-15
The Lords prayer or as some commentaries put it the “Disciples prayer”.
In all there are six petitions the first three to God and the second toward our fellow man.
1/ We give God the glory acknowledging Him as holy.
2/ We ask that His Kingdom come.
We know that His Kingdom already exists what it mean hear is that God’s kingdom become more of a reality in our lives and on earth.
3/ Your will be done.
We are asking that God’ will be done here on Earth as it is in heaven.
4/ Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our debtors.
In Christian life it is important for us to forgive. We are told even to forgive our enemies. And are asking God that by the same amount we forgive others to forgive us.
5/ Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
This is something we need to think about carefully. We are tempted and tried daily and it is important that we enlist Gods help to help us avoid the temptations and avoid the devil himself.
6/ Forgiveness of Sins.
It is as I have already stated that we forgive others or God will not forgive our sins.
Take a few minutes and think about this prayer. Do you pray in like manner?
Think about it?
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:9-15
The Lords prayer or as some commentaries put it the “Disciples prayer”.
In all there are six petitions the first three to God and the second toward our fellow man.
1/ We give God the glory acknowledging Him as holy.
2/ We ask that His Kingdom come.
We know that His Kingdom already exists what it mean hear is that God’s kingdom become more of a reality in our lives and on earth.
3/ Your will be done.
We are asking that God’ will be done here on Earth as it is in heaven.
4/ Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our debtors.
In Christian life it is important for us to forgive. We are told even to forgive our enemies. And are asking God that by the same amount we forgive others to forgive us.
5/ Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
This is something we need to think about carefully. We are tempted and tried daily and it is important that we enlist Gods help to help us avoid the temptations and avoid the devil himself.
6/ Forgiveness of Sins.
It is as I have already stated that we forgive others or God will not forgive our sins.
Take a few minutes and think about this prayer. Do you pray in like manner?
Think about it?
Sunday 23 February 2014
How to Pray
How not to pray.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8
Her Jesus tells us how not to pray.
1/ Don’t pray to be seen by man. To have men say “look at the prayer warrior.”
I know people who in church like to pray “in tongues” out loud.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.”
1 Corinthians 14:27,28.
This is not what Jesus had in mind when he wanted people to pray.
2/ We should pray in private with the door closed.
Now this does not preclude praying in church but it should be in a known language and appropriate to what is happening.
3/ Avoid constant repetition. Don’t babble on that’s what the pagans did.
Jesus points out that God knows what you need before you ask.
Payer is thus an act of faith. Even though God knows what we need he wants us to act in faith and ask Him for our needs in our own language.
Because as the writer of Hebrews notes,
“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.
Think about it.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8
Her Jesus tells us how not to pray.
1/ Don’t pray to be seen by man. To have men say “look at the prayer warrior.”
I know people who in church like to pray “in tongues” out loud.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.”
1 Corinthians 14:27,28.
This is not what Jesus had in mind when he wanted people to pray.
2/ We should pray in private with the door closed.
Now this does not preclude praying in church but it should be in a known language and appropriate to what is happening.
3/ Avoid constant repetition. Don’t babble on that’s what the pagans did.
Jesus points out that God knows what you need before you ask.
Payer is thus an act of faith. Even though God knows what we need he wants us to act in faith and ask Him for our needs in our own language.
Because as the writer of Hebrews notes,
“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.
Think about it.
Saturday 22 February 2014
Hey got'a love those enemies
Hey got’a love those enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48
It’s easy to love lovable people, family friends even acquaintances, particularly if they have never wronged you.
But it takes something else to love an enemy. Someone who has wronged you. When I was a young Christian we use to say to those who did wrong to us, “Lord love them with a brick.” WE WERE WRONG!
Back when I was a young Christian, back in the 1970's (yes I’m that ancient), there was two people that use to drive me crazy at work.
Both hated the fact that I was a Christian. One was the son of a Baptist minister that was in a state of total rebellion against everything his parents believed.
The other was a mean character who was into the martial arts and simply didn’t like Christians.
I suffered a fair bit of abuse from them for several years. I thought of leaving the job because of it. It was only the good pay and benefits that kept me there.
But God told me to pray about those two men.
I didn’t know what to say so I simply said Lord please change them. It was a prayer I said often over the period of some months.
One day the son of the Baptist preacher went on vacation. He hitchhiked down to the southern states and back.
On his way back he was mugged and it almost cost him his life.
The incident became a turning point in his life and he gave himself to the Lord accepting Jesus as his saviour.
I could tell the moment he returned to work he was changed. He came over to me and apologised for what he’d done to me.
The other person met a girl he liked. She introduced him to Christ and he accepted Jesus as his saviour.
The change was instantaneous and he came to me and apologised to me for what he’d done.
Both these men went on to bible school and to pastor churches.
It was quite a lesson for me as a young Christian one I have never forgot.
Question when was the last time you prayed for your enemies?
Think about it.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48
It’s easy to love lovable people, family friends even acquaintances, particularly if they have never wronged you.
But it takes something else to love an enemy. Someone who has wronged you. When I was a young Christian we use to say to those who did wrong to us, “Lord love them with a brick.” WE WERE WRONG!
Back when I was a young Christian, back in the 1970's (yes I’m that ancient), there was two people that use to drive me crazy at work.
Both hated the fact that I was a Christian. One was the son of a Baptist minister that was in a state of total rebellion against everything his parents believed.
The other was a mean character who was into the martial arts and simply didn’t like Christians.
I suffered a fair bit of abuse from them for several years. I thought of leaving the job because of it. It was only the good pay and benefits that kept me there.
But God told me to pray about those two men.
I didn’t know what to say so I simply said Lord please change them. It was a prayer I said often over the period of some months.
One day the son of the Baptist preacher went on vacation. He hitchhiked down to the southern states and back.
On his way back he was mugged and it almost cost him his life.
The incident became a turning point in his life and he gave himself to the Lord accepting Jesus as his saviour.
I could tell the moment he returned to work he was changed. He came over to me and apologised for what he’d done to me.
The other person met a girl he liked. She introduced him to Christ and he accepted Jesus as his saviour.
The change was instantaneous and he came to me and apologised to me for what he’d done.
Both these men went on to bible school and to pastor churches.
It was quite a lesson for me as a young Christian one I have never forgot.
Question when was the last time you prayed for your enemies?
Think about it.
Friday 21 February 2014
On Telling the Truth
Truth
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:33-37
Simply put Jesus is saying here. You have no need to take an oath. You must always speak the truth.
It’s interesting to note that early Christians practised this.
Piliny the Younger Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor writing to Emperor Trajan wrote,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind..."
Although Piliny uses the term solemn oath Piliny is speaking in Roman terms, it simply means they promise never to do wicked deeds, commit fraud, theft, adultery or falsify their word.
This is what it should be like for Christians today.
When we stand before magistrates we should not sware an oath but our words should be one hundred percent truthful.
Believe it or not it works.
A young man I know took his fathers car out to of all things a youth meeting at the church. After it ended he and another friend decided to race each other down a main street.
It was raining and at the last minute he decided that he wanted to turn into a hamburger place.
The car slipped and ended up wrapping itself around a light pole.
No one was hurt but the car was a right off.
When the police came he told the truth. The officer was amazed.
He was charged with careless driving and had to face his father about the car.
His father much to his relief didn’t lecture him but made him pay for the car.
Incredibly there was a car for sale for five hundred dollars just a few houses down from where he lived. He bought it and it required no work to become road worthy. The person was simply selling it because of it’s age.
On top of all of this he received a letter from the crown prosecutor, stating that due to lack of evidence the police were dropping the charge.
Some say the young man should have had to face the judge. But I know this boy he’d learned his lesson and has never done anything like that in the fifteen years since it happened.
You see he was my son. Only sixteen at the time.
We had always taught him to tell the truth even if it was to his detriment. And I believe God honoured him that day.
The five hundred dollars he paid for the car was all his savings at the time and he did learn his lesson.
Him losing his driving licence, paying a fine or having to pay higher insurance rates would not have achieved any better of a result.
Additionally the police officer said to me that he was amazed at the boy’s honesty. That he could have simply said he lost control in the rain and it would have been believable and most likely no charges would have been laid.
Still he chose to tell the truth and as a result was a witness to the officer.
Do you tell even when it’s to your detriment?
Think about it.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:33-37
Simply put Jesus is saying here. You have no need to take an oath. You must always speak the truth.
It’s interesting to note that early Christians practised this.
Piliny the Younger Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor writing to Emperor Trajan wrote,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind..."
Although Piliny uses the term solemn oath Piliny is speaking in Roman terms, it simply means they promise never to do wicked deeds, commit fraud, theft, adultery or falsify their word.
This is what it should be like for Christians today.
When we stand before magistrates we should not sware an oath but our words should be one hundred percent truthful.
Believe it or not it works.
A young man I know took his fathers car out to of all things a youth meeting at the church. After it ended he and another friend decided to race each other down a main street.
It was raining and at the last minute he decided that he wanted to turn into a hamburger place.
The car slipped and ended up wrapping itself around a light pole.
No one was hurt but the car was a right off.
When the police came he told the truth. The officer was amazed.
He was charged with careless driving and had to face his father about the car.
His father much to his relief didn’t lecture him but made him pay for the car.
Incredibly there was a car for sale for five hundred dollars just a few houses down from where he lived. He bought it and it required no work to become road worthy. The person was simply selling it because of it’s age.
On top of all of this he received a letter from the crown prosecutor, stating that due to lack of evidence the police were dropping the charge.
Some say the young man should have had to face the judge. But I know this boy he’d learned his lesson and has never done anything like that in the fifteen years since it happened.
You see he was my son. Only sixteen at the time.
We had always taught him to tell the truth even if it was to his detriment. And I believe God honoured him that day.
The five hundred dollars he paid for the car was all his savings at the time and he did learn his lesson.
Him losing his driving licence, paying a fine or having to pay higher insurance rates would not have achieved any better of a result.
Additionally the police officer said to me that he was amazed at the boy’s honesty. That he could have simply said he lost control in the rain and it would have been believable and most likely no charges would have been laid.
Still he chose to tell the truth and as a result was a witness to the officer.
Do you tell even when it’s to your detriment?
Think about it.
Thursday 20 February 2014
Divorce
Divorce
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery”
Matthew 5:31,32.
Here is a scripture that some people point to and say no divorce in any situation.
Jesus uses this it is believed to point out that the practices of the teachers of the law were wrong.
They would allow a man to divorce his wife if she displeased him even for something as simple as burning his food. This is not what God intended.
Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Ephesians 5:25.
Husbands are called to love and cherish their wives.
I’ve heard some ministers say a wife should stay with her husband even in an abusive situation this is totally wrong.
Look at what Paul says again.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25.
A husband should give his entire life for his wife. Not abuse her.
Abuse in my opinion is violation of the marriage covenant. She is not his servant but his help mate. His equal partner under God.
Any man that abuses a woman is not a Christian. He is not living in accordance to scripture.
It is the place of a man to love his wife. The apostle Paul giving us a description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”
1Corinthians 13:4-8a.
Corinthians 13:4-8 needs to be everyone’s definition of love. It should be the bench mark that we use when measuring if we truly love.
Think about it.
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery”
Matthew 5:31,32.
Here is a scripture that some people point to and say no divorce in any situation.
Jesus uses this it is believed to point out that the practices of the teachers of the law were wrong.
They would allow a man to divorce his wife if she displeased him even for something as simple as burning his food. This is not what God intended.
Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Ephesians 5:25.
Husbands are called to love and cherish their wives.
I’ve heard some ministers say a wife should stay with her husband even in an abusive situation this is totally wrong.
Look at what Paul says again.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25.
A husband should give his entire life for his wife. Not abuse her.
Abuse in my opinion is violation of the marriage covenant. She is not his servant but his help mate. His equal partner under God.
Any man that abuses a woman is not a Christian. He is not living in accordance to scripture.
It is the place of a man to love his wife. The apostle Paul giving us a description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”
1Corinthians 13:4-8a.
Corinthians 13:4-8 needs to be everyone’s definition of love. It should be the bench mark that we use when measuring if we truly love.
Think about it.
Wednesday 19 February 2014
Helping the Poor
Helping the poor
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4
The Talmud tells a story that goes like this,
“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.”
We as Christians need to, I believe, look at how we see those in need. We need to reach out to them and help them in any way that we can.
Christian businessmen and women need to look at what they are paying their employees and ask themselves is this enough for them to live on. Could I live on the wages and benefits I pay my employees?
We as Christians should be leading the way in benevolence. The Jews have a word for it its called Tzedakah.
Philip Bernstein explains it this way,
“If there is one area that identifies and unites Jews, no matter what their personal beliefs and practices, it is Tzedakah. Tzedakah is more that charity or philanthropy, noble as they are, more than man’s humanity to man, exalted as that is, more truly it is righteousness and justice. Without these qualities civilization would perish.
It is the highest ideal in Jewish teaching—for it is the highest application of Jewish ethical values. It is Judaism in action—and Judaism is inherently and deeply a religion of action, a way of life, a way of living.”
Jews are encouraged to give ten percent of their income to helping the poor. Even someone who is poor themselves is asked to give although they may give less than ten percent.
And there is an admonishing not to give so much as for you to become a burden on society yourself.
One Jewish teacher gave the levels of Tzedakah
1.Giving begrudgingly
2.Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3.Giving after being asked
4.Giving before being asked
5.Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6.Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7.Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant
I think the above list is something Christians need to look at carefully. Christianity came from Judaism. We share common values. I believe the spirit of Tzedakah should be one of them.
Think about it.
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4
The Talmud tells a story that goes like this,
“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.”
We as Christians need to, I believe, look at how we see those in need. We need to reach out to them and help them in any way that we can.
Christian businessmen and women need to look at what they are paying their employees and ask themselves is this enough for them to live on. Could I live on the wages and benefits I pay my employees?
We as Christians should be leading the way in benevolence. The Jews have a word for it its called Tzedakah.
Philip Bernstein explains it this way,
“If there is one area that identifies and unites Jews, no matter what their personal beliefs and practices, it is Tzedakah. Tzedakah is more that charity or philanthropy, noble as they are, more than man’s humanity to man, exalted as that is, more truly it is righteousness and justice. Without these qualities civilization would perish.
It is the highest ideal in Jewish teaching—for it is the highest application of Jewish ethical values. It is Judaism in action—and Judaism is inherently and deeply a religion of action, a way of life, a way of living.”
Jews are encouraged to give ten percent of their income to helping the poor. Even someone who is poor themselves is asked to give although they may give less than ten percent.
And there is an admonishing not to give so much as for you to become a burden on society yourself.
One Jewish teacher gave the levels of Tzedakah
1.Giving begrudgingly
2.Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3.Giving after being asked
4.Giving before being asked
5.Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6.Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7.Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant
I think the above list is something Christians need to look at carefully. Christianity came from Judaism. We share common values. I believe the spirit of Tzedakah should be one of them.
Think about it.
Tuesday 18 February 2014
Reconciliation
Reconciliation
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
Matthew 5:21-26
What Jesus is saying here is make things right.
Paul writes,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Romans 12:18,19
It is imperative that we do our best to make things right with those we have wronged. It is the only way we can truly witness to them.
Someone who even perceives that we have wronged them will hold a grudge. Will at times take us to court. And we run the potential of being thrown in jail for our misdeeds.
We must go to them and do all that is possible to correct the problem.
If we refuse to make things right to our brother then how can we possibly expect God to for give us.
We must avoid anger that only exasperates the problem and forgive those who angers us or has done things against us.
In the Lords prayer Jesus says,
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12.
We are under an obligation to correct any wrong we have done and to forgive those who have wronged us no matter what it is.
Only then can we go before the alter of God and give our gifts to Him.
Think about it.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
Matthew 5:21-26
What Jesus is saying here is make things right.
Paul writes,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Romans 12:18,19
It is imperative that we do our best to make things right with those we have wronged. It is the only way we can truly witness to them.
Someone who even perceives that we have wronged them will hold a grudge. Will at times take us to court. And we run the potential of being thrown in jail for our misdeeds.
We must go to them and do all that is possible to correct the problem.
If we refuse to make things right to our brother then how can we possibly expect God to for give us.
We must avoid anger that only exasperates the problem and forgive those who angers us or has done things against us.
In the Lords prayer Jesus says,
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12.
We are under an obligation to correct any wrong we have done and to forgive those who have wronged us no matter what it is.
Only then can we go before the alter of God and give our gifts to Him.
Think about it.
Monday 17 February 2014
The Law and Jesus
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:17-20.
Jesus did not come to abolish the laws God set out. He come to fulfil them.
The law shows us what it right and wrong. All civilized societies need a code of conduct. And Jesus makes it clear that, that code set down by God for all mankind will stay in place.
He never came to change it. However Jesus does reconcile us to the law. Should we fall short and break even the smallest part of the law, which all of us do from time to time, (it’s called sinning) all we have to do is confess that sin and Jesus will forgive our sins.
Jesus in this passage also calls us to be more righteous than the Pharisees. We should not just be doing God’s will outwardly.
What we do for God should not just be a facade. We should be making Jesus Lord of our heart and be pleasing to Him both inwardly as well as on the outside.
Our life both public and private should be in line with God’s will.
It should exceed anything that the world has.
Think about it.
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