Your Treasure

Your Treasure
“Then he (Jesus) said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  
He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  
And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 
“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21.
I know many men who work long and hard for the so called “American dream” and there is nothing wrong with having riches in their place. However when those riches begin to take first place in your life there can be problems. the apostle Paul points out,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
If we concentrate so much on becoming wealthy in this world and neglect our spiritual life with God we will enter heaven, if we enter heaven at all, spiritually broke.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:26.
Wealth in this world is meaningless. It is only what we do for Christ that will last.
Look around at some of the wealthiest men that have ever lived. Their riches are still in this world in the hands of others. Their names even lost to eternity. After all how many people remember the who the richest men of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were. They are gone known only to God, judged by Him.
Yet millions remember the apostles Peter, Paul, and  John, the prophets Isaiah, and Jeremiah as well as Moses. People even remember a poor old woman who gave two small coins to the service of God, centuries, millenniums, after their death. All of these people were faithful servants of God.
Jesus said,
“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.
As I said there is nothing wrong with material wealth in its place. There are many faithful servants of God who are wealthy and do His work.
However material wealth should never have first place in your life. In a choice between material wealth and serving God. God must always come first.
Jesus said,
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Matthew 8:36.
To the Christian I would ask where is your treasure?
I also know there are some who are reading this that say there is no God. Therefore I can do what I like in this world. After all I can’t take it with me. That’s their choice. However I would ask them to consider this statement by Peter John Kreeft who said,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches, look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value” Peter John Kreeft ph.d.
For me personally knowing  God, knowing that there is a place in heaven waiting for me gives me hope. Serving God enriches my life and gives me peace no matter what I am going through.
I have found the words of Jesus to be true when he said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Someone said,
“No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.” Author Unknown.
This I have found is a true statement.
Please take some time to at least read the New Testament for yourself and see what God offers you.
Please think about it.

The Lukewarm Church

The lukewarm church
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true describe, the ruler of God’s creation.  
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.  
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:14-22.
Here we have what Christ describes as a lukewarm church. One that is neither hot or cold. This the church at Laodicea was wealthy materially and they it seems to equate material wealth with spiritual wealth. They felt they needed nothing.
Christ however describes them as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” spiritually.
There are many churches like this today. I think of the false doctrine circulating referred to as the “name it claim it” some at the extreme edge of this doctrine go as far as saying if you are not healthy, and wealthy you are sinning. They are completely wrong.
As Christians we need to be careful that we do not get sucked into such doctrines. We need to make sure we do not especially become lukewarm thinking we have “made it” spiritually.
Just because the congregation we attend it is growing doesn’t necessarily mean we have made it. Just because we feel we fully understand the word of God and are working for Christ doesn’t mean we are not lukewarm.
As Christians we should be growing everyday. We need to be studying the word of God not just at church but in our home also.
We need to realize that when we go off track God will quiet often correct us as any loving father would correct a wayward child.
We need to follow the council of Christ who said to the Laodicean church
“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”
We can only do this if we truly love God. We should be like anyone who is in love wanting to spend all our time with the person we are in love with.
This is the secret of becoming on fire for Christ.
Take a few minutes to reflect on you life for Christ. Take a look at the church congregation you attend is it lukewarm, or is it on fire for Christ?
Please think about it. 

Wake up

Wake up!

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: 
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:1-6
To me when I see the church in Sardis I see a church that has fallen asleep. They may have a reputation for being alive but they are not.
 They have rested if you will on the works they have done in the past. Even though the work they have to do for Christ is still unfinished. Many churches have become social clubs. Where people come to feel good and spend time with friends.
They have a lot of activities going on but they are not reaching out to the lost souls around them. The work of evangelism they are suppose to be doing is not complete.
You can see their unfinished works in the decrease of their congregations.
Matthew’s gospel tells us,
“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.
There is however hope in what Christ tells the church at Sardis.
Christ tells churches like Sardis that there are those within them that have not let Him down That the are doing God’s work.
To those people Jesus says they will walk with Him in heaven in robs of white. White being the symbol of purity.
We as believers in Christ should be examining not only our own life but the church congregation we are part of. We should be asking the question, Am I and the church congregation I am part of doing all we can for Christ?
Is the church I attend truly alive and doing God’s will?
Please think about it.

Christians and compromise

Christians and compromise

“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.  
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.  
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelations 2:12-17.
Here we have a church that compromised.
While Jesus compliments them on being true and not renouncing their faith in days of persecution in which Antipas was martyred. By the time this was written to the church in Pergamum they had started to compromise. They were compromising with the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans heretical teachings of the day. Some in the church were also practising sexual immorality.
As Christians we have a clear moral code and set of teachings laid down by God, taught to us by Jesus and the writings of the apostles. To stray from those teachings is to put us contrary to God’s will.
We cannot be Christians and only believe what we want in the New Testament. We must believe all of it. Not only that we must practice our faith the way God intended us to practice it. That is why we must be constantly studying the scriptures, praying and asking God to show us what He wants for our lives.
Today there are many church congregations, denominations, and individuals calling themselves Christians who are compromising their faith. They are combining it with other beliefs and practices. This should not be so.
Each person who claims to be Christian needs to be looking at themselves and asking themselves “Am I truly practising my faith in a way that is acceptable to God?”.
How are you practising your faith?
Please think about it? 

Christian...lost your first love?

Christian,... lost your first love?

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands:  
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelations 2:1-7
The Church at Ephesus. Here Jesus gives them both encouragement and a warning. He points out that they “cannot tolerate wicked men”. That they have tested people claiming to be apostles and found them to be false. That they have endured hardship and not grown weary. All good and positive things.
He even points out that they hate the practices of the Nicolations a heretical group of the day.
 Jesus however points out that “You have forsaken your first love”
The first love of the church should always be God. Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
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.”  Matthew 22:36-38.
 As Christians we should always be aware of this. It is very easy in this world with everything that is contrary to Christian moral teaching and beliefs to wander away from God.
We may think we are doing God’s will but the reality of the situation we are not. Remember Jesus gave the church a job. He said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
Thus the job of the church is to make disciples of all nations, and teach all that Jesus taught to them.
Sadly many in the Church especially here in North America are becoming religious versions of the world.
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.” Billy Graham
We here in North America have incredible freedoms. However many claiming to be Christians use those freedoms to demonstrate and protest against anything they disagree with. This should not be so.
If we are true to our first love, God. We should be making disciples. We should be teaching them how to live Godly lives. Not protesting.
Unfortunately here in North America Christians, especially evangelical Christians, are known for what they are against. Not for what they are for.
With all the demonstrations “against things” those calling themselves Christians do, the message of Salvation is lost.
Modern day Christians here in North America I’m sure dislike many things God dislikes and that is a good thing. Unfortunately they show this dislike by judging those they disagree with. Something only God can do.
If we claim to be Christian we need to be looking at our actions and our lifestyle and asking ourselves are we still true to our first love? Are we conducting our lives in a manner that God would approve of?
Please think about it. 

Know Peace

Know Peace
“Peace is not the absence of affliction, but the presence of God.”Author Unknown.
Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Matthew 11:28-30.

Knowing Jesus as one’s Saviour does indeed give us peace, as anyone who has undergone persecution or health issues can tell you.
Someone once said,
“No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.” Author Unknown.
This is true. I have found it in my life and Christians the world over will tell you they too have found it to be true.
In my life I have undergone many tragedies but through it all God has been there for me. He has indeed been a Rock in times of trouble.
The writer of proverbs writes,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him,

 and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5,6.

The Psalmist writes

The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, 

He restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for You are with me; 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

 and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

                                                                                                    Psalm 23

Never was there a truer statement. With Christ in your life you can go through anything. In Acts chapter sixteen we here of Paul and Silas being dragged before a magistrate. The were beaten then placed into jail. Acts 16:25 records
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
They were praying and singing hymns to God despite being in chains in jail, in a very difficult circumstance.
I hope as Christians we never have to be in such a circumstance. Never the less in whatever situation we are in I would hope you as a Christian can sing praises to God.
Please think about it. 

Prayer, God and the Christian

Prayer, God and the Christian

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, 

but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”  

Søren Kierkegaard

Payer is where we show our need of God. Where we show our faith. What we call the Lords prayer is really what some call the disciples prayer. It is a good example of how we should pray. It states.

“ ‘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

1/ The prayer starts by acknowledging our Heavenly Father the creator of the Universe.
    It acknowledges the holiness of God.
2/ It makes it clear that the one praying wants God’s will to be done on earth as in       heaven. Without conditions, even if we don’t like it.
This was something Jesus acknowledge prior to his crucifixion. Jesus said,

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; 

yet not my will, 

but yours be done.”  

                                                                        Luke 22:42.
3/ The prayer asks God to give us “our daily bread”. Our physical needs for that day.
4/ Then the prayer states,

“Forgive us our debts, 

as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Notice it asks God to forgive our debts “as we have forgiven our debtors”
Jesus elaborates on this saying,

“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 6:14,15.
5/ The prayer asks God to

“And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from the evil one.”

In all it is a prayer telling God we love and praise Him. Asking Him to forgive us of our sin. While at the same time telling God we sincerely need Him to guide, protect us and provide for us.
Sadly too many calling themselves Christians when they pray don’t acknowledge their need for God. They pray amiss. The majority of the prayer is asking God for things they don’t need. They ask God to do what they want they treat God like a servant.
Harry Emerson Fosdick said,

“God is not a cosmic bellboy 

for whom we can press a button to get things done.” 

James the half brother of Christ states,
“You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.  
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.  
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?  
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:2-10.
As Christians that last line is important,
“Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Please take time today to take stock of how you pray and how you treat God. Do you treat him as Harry Fosdick said “a cosmic bellboy” or do you bow humbly before him and say to him as Jesus did,

“not my will but yours be done”

Please think about it.

Christ's Ambassadors

Christ’s Ambassadors
“My home is in Heaven. I'm just travelling through this world.” Billy Graham 
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.
If there is one thing the Christian must remember is we are a holy nation. We are Christ’s representatives on this earth.
As Christ’s representatives we must live a life that is acceptable to God and show those around us the love of God.
We must as the apostle Peter states,
“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.”
The writer of Hebrews make a clear statement as to what Christians are to do saying,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

 Hebrews 12:14.

That means doing our best to live a life that show love and understanding to all men even our enemy.
There is a very famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that I believe we need to take to heart as Christians it states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
As Christian travellers through this world this is what we should be doing. Living a life of faith, understanding and Love. Love as defined by the apostle Paul who said,

“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....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                       1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Please if you consider yourself a Christian please look at your life and ask yourself am I living a life acceptable to God. A life that is holy. For as the writer of Hebrews states,

“Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Please think about it.

Christians, do not Judtge

Christian, do not Judge
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”Tony Campolo.
What he said is not new 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 said,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? 

Are you not to judge those inside? 

1 Corinthians 5:12.

I find it interesting that the only time Christians can judge anyone according to scripture is if they are Christians.
Someone outside may not agree with our morals and teachings and because of the freedoms God gave to them they have the right to do as they wish.
It is different with those who claim to be Christians. If someone claims to be Christians they then must agree to live by the moral standards and agree with the all the basics teaching other Christians believe.
If they do not then according to the apostle Paul, Christians can expel those who do not live up to the moral code expected by the Bible. Those also who are teaching false doctrine can be expelled from the congregation of believers.
Christians need the right to judge other Christians because there has been from the very start of the church those claiming to be Christians that are not. The apostle Paul stating,
“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.
When it comes to the rest of the world we are to do as Jesus said,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

This is the duty of the Christian to take the salvation message of Jesus to the whole world and teach them all that Jesus taught them.
Dear Christian are you doing this or are you spending time judging the world?
Please think about it.

Because

Because

Because...

“He (God) first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

I will...love God

Because...

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him should not perish 

but have everlasting life.”  

John 3:16

I will...love God

Because... 

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, 

that you love one another; as I have loved you,

 that you also love one another.  

By this shall all know that you are My disciples.  

If you have love for one another."  

John 13:34,35

I will...love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because

Jesus “...you shall love the LORD your God 

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: 

“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

I will love.

Because...

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, 

and pray for those who spitefully use you.”   

Luke 6:27,28

I will...love my enemies, bless those who curse me, and pray for those who spitefully us me.

Because...

The Bible says, “Love suffers long and is kind: 

love does not envy; loves does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, 

is not provoked, thinks no evil; 

does not rejoice in iniquity, 

but rejoices in the truth; 

bears all things; believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things. 

 I Corinthians 13:4-7 

I will...I will love.

Because...

The Bible says, “Now abides faith, hope and love, 

these three; 

but the greatest of these is love.  1

 Corinthians 13:13

I will...Have faith and hope in God and I will Love all people unconditionally.

Because 

The Bible says  ...by grace you have been saved through faith, 

and not of yourselves; 

it is a gift of God, not of works; lest anyone should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8,9

I in accepting Gods Grace have a home in heaven with God...

Do you?

     Please think about it

The Christian Lifestyle

The Christian Lifestyle

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

” Proverbs 3:3,4

The writer of Hebrews wrote,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.

” Hebrews 12:14.

The apostle Paul wrote,

But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, joy, peace, patience, 

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law.  

Galatians 5:22,23.

As Christians we have an obligation to be doing what the above scriptures are telling us to do. People need to see our lives filled with love for all people even our enemies.
Unfortunately way to many people claiming to be Christians do not exhibit these attributes toward others. They have become bad religious copies of the world.
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”Billy Graham. 
This should not be so.
Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.

If you claim to be Christian take some time to assess your life, lifestyle and actions toward those around you. Ask yourself, What is my sermon telling the those around me about me. About Christ.
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” 

Colossians 2:9.

There is a uniqueness in Christian belief that is in no other faith anywhere in the world. We Christians believe that Jesus is God. That God through His One and Only Son, Jesus entered the world to point each and every person to Heaven. That God became a man.
The writers of the New Testament do not debate this point. The apostle John recording Jesus as saying,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

John 14:6.

That is a pretty definitive statement.
The Writer of Hebrews states,

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times 

and in various ways, 

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, 

whom he appointed heir of all things, 

and through whom he made the universe.  

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory 

and the exact representation of his being, 

sustaining all things by his powerful word. 

After he had provided purification for sins, 

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” 

Hebrews 1:1-3.

The writer make a pretty clear statement that Jesus made the universe.
1/That Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory.
2/The exact representation of his being.
3/That he sustains all things through his powerful word.
4/That He provided purification for sins.
I know it sounds farfetched even the apostle Paul noted,

“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

Unfortunately man tries to make God conform to his way of thinking. He says God should do things their way.
Even when Jesus was on the cross there were those who scoffed at him and would not believe who he was unless he came down from the cross.
At the crucifixion of Jesus we have essentially the choices all people must who hear the story of Jesus must make. We have in microcosm how people react to Jesus,
Luke’s gospel records,
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.  
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.  
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43.
As we look at crucifixion we see several things happening.
1/ Jesus praying to God and asking God to forgive those who are crucifying.
2/ People doubters in the crowd sneered at Jesus wanting to see Him save himself. 
3/ The soldiers mocked Him and like some in the crowd demand Jesus save himself.
4/ One of the Criminals being crucified with him hurled insults at Him and said “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
5/ The other criminal did what we all must do to enter heaven. He believed Jesus was all He said He was by faith. He then confessed that he was guilty of his sins. Then asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom.
6/ Jesus told that criminal that he would be with Him in paradise that day.
This is how it is in the world today. Some people do not believe Jesus is who he says he is. Some demand signs from Him. Others mock Jesus and those who believe in Him.
Then there are those who believe Jesus is all He said He is. The Son of God, the Saviour of mankind.
You dear reader have a choice today. You can act like the crowd the soldiers and the one criminal and doubt Jesus. You can ask for signs showing who Jesus truly is.
The other option is you can believe Jesus is The Son of God the Saviour of mankind. You confess your sins to Him and accept Jesus into your life by faith.
This is a choice each individual hearing about Jesus must make.
C. S. Lewis said
“He (Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
He also said,
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
The choice is yours.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it.