Abstain from sinful desires

Abstain from sinful desires

The apostle Peter writes,
“Dear friends, 
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
                                                                              1 Peter 2:11,12.
Are you living good moral lives before people?
I hear many both inside and outside the media claiming to be Christians. Yet when you listen to what they say they come across as judgmental even bigoted in what they say. They even call on politicians to restrict the rights of groups they don’t agree with.  If we are truly Christians we shouldn’t be doing this.
I’ve heard Christians applauding the fact that some African nation is placing homosexuals in prison. This should not be so.
Here in North America homosexuality is a hot button issue among Christians. There are groups calling themselves Christians who would restrict the rights of homosexuals simply because they disagree with them. This should not be so. Simply because we live in a free and democratic secular society. A secular democracy that affords we Christians the right to worship as we see fit.
As such we Christians should support the rights of others to have the freedom to act and worship as they wish, even if we disagree with them.
There are a lot of things I’m sure the apostles seen in their travels around the Roman empire that they disagreed with. Yet they didn’t sign petitions and send them to the Emperor demanding the practices stop.
We in North America and the western countries of the world are blessed to live in free and democratic secular democracies. The freedoms those democracies gave us has enabled the Gospel message to travel around the world.
Sadly some Christian groups are using that freedom to curse others. We cannot use that freedom to curse others. To try and restrict the rights of others. The apostle Paul writes,
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse....  
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  
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.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 
                                                              Romans 12:14,17-21
Look at what Paul says,

“Bless and do not curse.”

“Do not repay evil for evil”

“Do what is right in the eyes of everyone”

“Live at peace with everyone”

“Do not take revenge.”

“Feed your enemy”

“Overcome evil with good.”

This is what a Christian should be doing not yelling at the top of their lungs “you are wrong and we are right” or “you’re going to hell”
We should not be trying to restrict the rights of those we disagree with. Quite the contrary we should be doing our best to promote the rights and freedoms of others. In doing so we are also promoting our own rights and freedoms. As well as building bridges between ourselves and those we disagree with.
The late reverend Martin Luther King jr. at the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960's in the United States said,
"We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more  than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen."
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is a teaching from the Jewish Talmud that I believe is perfectly in line with Christian teaching it says,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                                                   The Talmud.
One day even Christians will be called before God to account for our actions on this earth.  I think the above question from the Talmud might well be one of the questions God asks.
So what will your answer be to the question,
“have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
Please think about it.

Of God

Of God

A couple of Jesus’ disciples shortly after his death who had been warned by the religious leadership not to preach about Jesus were caught doing so. They were brought before the leaders and the book of acts records what happened,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
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 5:28-39
I believe Gamaliel got it right. The message of Salvation through Jesus Christ has been around now for over two thousand years. It’s message of love for God, one’s fellow man and one’s enemies is still going strong.
It’s message that there is salvation in no one other than Jesus Christ is still as strong as ever.
An anonymous poet wrote,

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

“How many anvils have you had,” said I,

“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”

And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                                                          Anonymous
Isaiah the prophet wrote,
“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass ,and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” 
                                                                                                                  Isaiah 40:6-8.
I believe the words of Jesus who 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
God gave man a choice. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of the World or not. The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

What to do

What to do

"Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  
All these are the beginning of birth pains. 
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” 
                   Matthew 24:4-9.
I don’t know when Jesus will return to this earth no one does. Anyone who says they do are deluding themselves.
I see in the media many preachers that are trying to predict when Christ will return.
They look at every minute bit of scripture and say it could be soon. Perhaps they are right perhaps not. I believe that Christ will one day return to this earth. When I haven’t a clue.
I look to the above quoted scripture Matthew 24:4-9 and can see these things happening now. Christians all over the world are being persecuted. We Christians are now the most persecuted group in the world.
Christians are being put to death for simply being Christians.
There are wars all over the place and there are people trying to deceive the individual Christian into believing wrong things.
Still a look back at history shows this kind of thing has been happening for centuries. It just seems that now in the twenty-first century it is happening globally on an industrial scale. But then it must have seemed like that to those living under the Nazis in Europe during world war two.
The question however still remains. If we are in the end times what should we as Christians be doing?
The answer comes from Matthew when he records Jesus as speaking to his disciples and saying,
“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.
Put as simply as it can be. If we are indeed in the end times we should be evangelizing and evangelizing with more fervour than ever before. We should be making disciples.
There is nothing we can do to change the inevitable Christ will return to judge the world that is a fact the Bible makes abundantly clear.
There is one thing we can do. That is lead those who do not know Christ, those who are heading to a Christless eternity, to Christ.
The purpose of the Church from the day it started is to the present day is as Jesus said,
“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 28:19, 20
Our job in the last days is not to try and pin point the exact hour Christ will return. Our job is to reach out to the lost with the Love of God. To make disciples and teach them all we know about Christ and God.
Please think about it.

A Fierce light

A fierce light

“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
A fierce light shines on the Christian. If we truly believe the words of Jesus who 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.
Jesus who also 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.
Then our message is the single most important message the world must be given.
We cannot take out faith lightly. We must do the work of God. We must continue the work of Jesus and his disciples. We must reach out in what ever way we can.
The apostle Peter wrote,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                                     1 Peter 2:9-12.
Please think about it

To Christians

To Christians

Every now and then I believe Christians need a simple message direct from the scriptures. This is one of those times.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                                            1 Peter 2:9-12.
The second message is from James the brother of Christ leader of the council at Jerusalem. He writes,
“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. 
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 2:14-20.
Simply put Christianity is very much a faith of Love in Action.
Dear Christian brother and sister, please think carefully about what Peter and James wrote.

Eight point three percent

Eight point three percent


“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 
Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” 
                                                                                           Psalm 116:1,2
Do you pray?
  Prayer put simply is talking to God.
However it’s more than giving a shopping list to God. Saying I want this, I want that.
In Hebrew the word for prayer is tefilah. Simple put it means petition, worship thanksgiving, praise, confession as well as having communion with God.
Someone has said,
“Prayer, therefore, is an introspective process that helps us examine ourselves, judge situations, differentiate between right and wrong, clarify our relationship with God, and decide on a course of action.”
Sadly in the electronic age we live in, people are finding less and less time to pray. We live in a world that never seems to stop. A world that demands more and more of our time. Never the less we need to stop.
We need to take time to pray. To quiet our minds and commune with God. To receive His wisdom and express our thoughts to him.
Here is something to think about,

Thirty six minutes

Thirty-six minutes

God gives you 1440 minutes in a day

Sleep takes up 448 minutes,

Work and travelling to and from work takes up 600minutes,

You are left with  360 minutes for yourself.

Are you willing to tithe some of those minutes.

Just 36 of them with God?

Are you willing to spend just 2.5% of all the minutes in a day 

God give you, with Him?

On Sunday God still gives you one thousand four hundred forty minutes.

Sleep again takes up four hundred forty-eight.

But work for most people is not a factor.

So are you willing to give God

One hundred Twenty of those minutes?

Are you willing to rise as you would for work

And go to church?

Giving back in praise and worship to God

Eight point three percent of what God gave you?

Christian giving

On giving

The Apostle James wrote,
“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. 
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 2:14-20.
There are approximately 2000 scriptures commanding us to look after the poor.
As Christians we are called to help the poor in what ever way we can even if it’s only giving a glass of water.
Christians are one of the largest contributors to helping the needy. However there is much we can learn from our Jewish friends. Who for centuries have been among the largest contributors to helping the poor irrespective of their faith.
The Talmud tells this story,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                      The Talmud.
The concept of dealing honourably and fairly with one’s fellow man is a Christian concept also. We are called not to judge our fellow man but to show love and understanding to those around us.
The Talmud also tells this story,
“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.
Another concept Christians can understand.
There is however one other interesting concept from Judaism that Christians should latch on to. Its called Tzedakah
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah. It comes from a Jewish website,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
The Obligation of Tzedakah
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedakah is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance ot tzedakah in Jewish thought. Tzedakah is one of the three acts that gain us forgiveness from our sins. The High Holiday liturgy repeated states that G-d has inscribed a judgement against all who have sinned, but teshuvah (repentance) tefila (prayer) and tzedakah can alleviate the decree.
According to Jewish law, we are requiered to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes. Taxes themselves do not fulfill our obligation to give tzedakah even though a significant proportion of tax revenues in America and many other countries are used to provide for the poor and needy. Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence my give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden.
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles; contrary to popular belief, Jew do not just care for our own. Quite the contrary a study of reported in the Jewish journal indicated that Jewish ‘mega-donors’ (who give more than $10 million a year to charity found that only 6% if their mega-dollars went to specifically Jewish causes.
Judaism acknowledges that many people who ask for charity have no genuine need. In fact, the Talmud suggest that this is a good thing: if all people who asked for charity have no were in genuine Need we would be subjected to punishment for G-d for refusing anyone who asked. The existence of frauds diminishes our liability for failing to give to all who ask. Because we have some legitimate basis for doubting a beggar’s sincerity. It is permissible to investigate the legitimacy of charity before donating to it.
We have an obligation to avoid becoming in need of Tzedakah. A person should take any work available, even if he thinks it is beneath his dignity to avoid become a public charge.
However, if a person is truly in need and has no way of obtaining money on his own he should not feel embarrassed to accept tzedakah. No person should feel to proud to take money from others. In fact it is considered a transgression to refuse tzedakah. One source says that to make yourself suffer by refusing to accept tzedakah is equivalent to shedding your own blood.
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:

Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, but giving cheerfully,

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours

Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.

Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.

Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 

As Christians the above is something we should consider. It is perfectly in line with Christian belief. Think about it.

Something to think about Christian

Something to think about Christian

My wife a former church librarian and ultimate book worm never one to turn down books of any description received a box of books some time ago. In it was one book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency and courage."
Another Paul, the apostle Paul, writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 
                                                                                         2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
Note Gallico states"...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.”
We only have to look within so called Christian history at the crusades to see misguided men charging off in a so called holy war to kill and defeat the so called pagan to see what Gallico deplores.
We can point at I.S. and other terrorist groups around the world today and see what Gallico is talking about.
We can also see it more subtly in the words and deeds of some evangelist and preachers in the media today in the west. Men and women who heap judgment on those whom they disagree with instead of showing love.
What Gallico wants is true Christianity. People who practice, Love of God, Love for our neighbour, love for our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
Francis of Assisi said it best.
“Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.”
We as Christians need to show the world around us the true meaning of what it is to be a Christian.
We need to live a life acceptable to God a life which others will see and want to emulate.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”
                      Matthew 5:13-16
Paul Gallico and may others in this world are looking for what Christ offers. We as Christians need to be living a life so close to God that these people without us even saying a word will see what we have and want it.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                       1 Peter 2:9-12.
Please think about it.

Questions for Christians Only

Questions for Christians Only
If you’ve been a Christian for sometime these questions will be far from profound. However from time to time I believe Christians should ask themselves such basic questions as these as a reminder of our duty to Christ.
1/ Are you doing your best for God?
Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 
                                                                            2 Timothy 2:15
2/ Are you confessing your sins to Christ?
We all sin, not even Christians are perfect. From time to time we all need to go directly to God in prayer and confess our sins to Him.
The Apostle John writes,
“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.
3/ Are you doing your best to live at peace with those around you?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone....
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”   
                                                                 Romans 12:18,20,21
4/ Do you truly Love God, your neighbour, your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                      Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said,
“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?  
Matthew 5:43-46
5/ Do you judge others especially those outside the church?
Jesus said,
“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.” 
            Matthew 7:1,2
The apostle Paul wrote,
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                      1 Corinthians 5:12,13
6/ Are you living a life acceptable to God?
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
                                              1 Peter 2:9,10 
"Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’" 
                                                                                       1 Peter 2:9-12.
Think about it.

Be Prepared

Keep a watch
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  
The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 
“ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 
“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” 
                                                                                                  Matthew 25:1-13
Here is a simple parable with a simple meaning for all Christians. Be prepared because we do not know when Christ will return.
I have heard many throughout the years say that means we should study Revelations because the time is short and Christ return in imminent. That might be true, and there is nothing wrong with studying Revelations. The problem is many are studying Revelations to see if they can pin point the hour when Christ returns.
The hour when Christ returns is immaterial to the Christian walk. The key in the above parable is ‘BE PREPARED’
All to many Christians are not prepared. They are not studying the word of God they are not praying, they are not reaching out to the lost. There lives are not wholly committed to Christ.
As believers in Christ we must be doing what He commanded us to do. To go and reach the lost. To teach new converts all that is written in the scriptures.
In John’s gospel Jesus tells this parable,
“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.  
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.  
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.  
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labour.” 
                                                John 4:35-38.
We as Christians in the twenty-first century stand on the shoulders of millions of other Christians that have gone before us. The Gospel of Christ has now reached every corner of the world.
The fields of the world are ready for harvest all we need to do is have the will to reach out and harvest.
As Christians in the twenty-first century we in deed need to be ready for the coming of Christ because he is nearer now than ever before.
As a result we need to work all the harder to bring souls into the kingdom. Are you?
Please think about it.

It's about Life

It’s about life

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 
John 10:10
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 
John 11:25,26

I’ve heard a lot of people over the years say they live far better lives than some Christians they know. That may be true because Christians like everyone else in this world are far from perfect. As someone has said “Christians are not perfect they are with God’s help, simply progressing.”
C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 
                                             C.S. Lewis.
When we accept Christ as our Saviour God begins a work in our lives. He if we let Him works to make us better each day.
That however is only half the story. By accepting Christ into our life we receive Eternal Life with God.
I as all Christians do, and the majority of people in the world today, I believe, life does not end with the grave.
If I am right which I believe I am, then the question becomes where will you spend eternity.
I have heard many people say “well if my good out weighs my bad then I’ll get to heaven.”
Christians don’t see it that way. 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
We believe the words of Paul to the Ephesians who said,
“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.
Salvation, eternal life with God is a free gift to all who will receive it.
Christians believe that God reached down to mankind by sending his one and only son Jesus Christ to this world to show how much he loved us.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8.
I know it sounds odd, even foolish that God would sent His one and only son to die for us but it is what we Christians believe.
Again to quote the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian church. 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.  
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 
1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
God does not always work in ways man would consider logical. God does things his way and asks man to have faith in Him.
That’s why I think some believe that Christians preaching Christ crucified dying and ascending to sit at the right hand of God is foolishness.
For the Christian this however is the pillar of our faith and God wants us to walk by faith.
The writer of Hebrews states,
‘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
Defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                         Hebrews 11:1.
Eternal life with God is as simple as believing in Jesus. Believing that He is God’s One and Only Son. That He came into this world to die for your sins. Then asking Him into your heart and life.
A prayer as simple as this,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe in you. I believe that Jesus is your One and Only Son. That He came to earth to die for my sins.
Please forgive my sins and come into my heart and life today.
In Jesus name I pray.
                 Amen
Please think about it.

Three wise men

Three wise men and Christ
I could write books on what Christians should do but the three men I quote below tells us in a nutshell how Christians should act with respect to the world around them.
If we follow what they say we can reach the world for Christ.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” 
Francis of Assisi
Several centuries later the American evangelist Tony Campolo wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
Before them all however the brother of our Lord Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem council wrote,
“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. 
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 2:14-20.
As Christians we need to be reaching out to all people in every strata of life, from the very poor to the very rich with the love of God.
When it comes to the poor we need to be doing all we can to help them in a material way as well as a spiritual way.
When it comes to those who have plenty or even have great riches, we need to show them they have a spiritual need also. That while there is nothing wrong with being rich in this world. The riches of this world cannot be taken with them when they leave. Only what is done for Christ will last.
All men and women everywhere need to know God loves them and it is our duty as Christians to deliver that message.
Please think about it.