The Christian Life

The Christian life
The apostle Paul writes,
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
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.  
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:18-25.
If you are claiming to be a follower of Jesus Christ are you measuring up to what the apostle Paul is saying here?
As believers in Christ we are called to live to a higher standard.
If we are living up to the Christ’s standard we are obeying Jesus who 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. 
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus who told us to

“So in everything,

 do to others

 what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 

Matthew 7:12.

If we are truly following the teachings of Christ we will exhibit the fruits of the spirit that the apostle Paul mentions.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control...”  Galatians  5: 22,23a
If we are truly followers of Jesus we will be acting like the apostle Peter states
“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 we are truly following Christ we will obey the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,

“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

Thus the question becomes, are you truly honouring God by your words and deeds?
Please think about it.

Live such good Lives

Live such good lives
The apostle Paul writes,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”Titus 3:1,2.
To the Romans Paul writes,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,

 live at peace with everyone.” 

                                     Romans 12:18.

We as Christians are called to live as good citizens.
1/To be subject to the rulers and authorities.
2/To do whatever is good,
3/ To slander no one,
4/ To be peaceable and considerate,
5/ To show true humility toward all men.
The apostle Paul and indeed all of the apostles lived in one of the greatest empires the world has ever known. Not only that it was as multicultural if not more than any nation in the world today.
Additionally it had many, many customs and practices that the apostles and in particular Jewish believers would disagree with.
Paul would have encountered temples to hundreds of gods. He would have seen temple prostitutes in some cities. The Roman emperor was seen as a god to be worshipped. People died in the coliseums throughout the empire as a form of sport. The list goes on and on. Yet through all of this he said,  
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities...”
As Christians we are to do our best to be subject to rulers and authorities. The early believers did. We know this because Piliny the Younger Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor a non-Christian writing to Emperor Trajan wrote,
"They (Christians) 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 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...”Piliny the younger
The only time they didn’t was when asked not to worship Christ or to bow down to other gods. Actions which in some cases cost them their lives.
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.
My question for you is, If you consider yourself a Christian are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord.

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

 praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

 praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                                         Psalm 150

Do you praise the Lord? In my youth I was part of a gospel group. We weren’t well known but we were good. We traveled around our province presenting the gospel message through the use of drama, music and dance.
We found that some more conservative churches found our contemporary style and in particular our dance routines not in keeping with how they felt one should praise the Lord. Something we respected.
 Psalm 150 however states,

“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

 praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals.”

                                                    Psalm 150:3-5.

Back then as now, when well meaning Christians tell me we should be praising the Lord using the hymn book. When they do  I ask them the question, “what hymns do you sing? Do you sing Amazing Grace?” inevitably they say yes. To which I inform them that in it’s day Amazing Grace and indeed all the songs in the traditional hymn book were contemporary.
That one day the contemporary praise music we play today will more than likely be considered traditional.
My point being, it doesn’t matter how you praise the Lord be it with traditional music, contemporary music, with dance, drama, the spoken word or with instruments.
The important thing is to praise God from your heart.
Please think about it. 

Rest for your Soul

Rest for your soul
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.
The other day my wife and I attended an event near to where we live. We’d attended the same event a year earlier. This time however security was much higher. The result no doubt of events thousands of miles from where we were, the Manchester, and London attacks. Where misguided individuals murdered innocent men women and children.
The two incidents as tragic as they were are a symbol of our times and not limited to terrorism.
If statistics are correct more people died because of gun violence in the United States in the first part of this year 2017 than because of all violent crimes in all of the United Kingdom in the previous two years. Including terrorism. According to Gun Violence Archives. Org. 6,453 people have died in the United States because of gun violence between January and June of this year 2017.
While the United states can arguably be said to be the most violent of all western nations it is not alone. Violent crime, murders, robberies, sexual assaults and other vicious crimes are everyday occurrences in every country.
The people who commit such crimes have little or no fear of reprisal. Jail terms, even the death penalty means nothing to them.
And while I firmly believe Christianity has the answer to the problem. I believe many calling themselves Christians have become of no effect. They have become “religious”. That is to say, they know what to say and how to act in church and around other Christians. But they are really just a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
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.” Matthew 5:13.
Many claiming to be Christian have lost their saltiness. They have turned the truths Jesus and the apostles taught into religious do’s and don’t. Even worse they do not put into effect the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in their lives.
In many cases those claiming to be Christians are religious copies of the world and people want nothing to do with it. People especially young people are looking for more.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist 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
In 1958 John B. Harrington wrote a book called "Essentials in Christian Faith" it could have been written yesterday. 
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948. It states,
"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."
  The people who join terrorist groups, and inner city gangs are looking for meaning in life. They are longing to belong. They are longing for love and acceptance of others. For purpose in life.
Sadly most of the time they are not finding it in the one spot they should be finding it, the Gospel of Christ.
They are not finding it because those calling themselves Christians are not living a Christian life and lifestyle.
 Those in the world are looking at many calling themselves Christians and saying to themselves “I live a better life morally and ethically than they do. Why should I become a Christian?”
As Christians we need to be looking carefully at our life and lifestyle. Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

 Francis of Assisi

Francis also reminds us,

“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

At the start of this article I quoted Jesus as saying,
“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.
I know I, and other followers of Christ like me have found those words to be true. However those seeking rest for their soul will never find it if those calling themselves Christians are not living it.
Please think about it.

About Judgement

About Judgment
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.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
The Apostle Paul writes,

“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.

It is very easy to judge someone. Christians however according to Jesus, James and the apostle Paul are not to judge anyone. Especially those outside the church. And we are only allowed to judge those inside the church to see if they are teaching sound doctrine. If they are not we are to expel them from the church.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love,”

                 Billy Graham

Another American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
That all, means all of us, Popes, pastors, evangelist, people sitting in the pew, political leaders, men and women on the street. All have sinned. The apostle John however tells us,
“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.
As Christians we must remember we are sinners saved by the grace of God. We have no right to judge another human being.
We do however have an obligation before God to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen to us. Something we can only do if we are not judging people. The writer of Hebrews reminds us,
“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.
Please think about it.

We Must Love

 We Must Love
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.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Earlier in Matthew’s gospel Jesus is recorded as saying,
“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,...” Matthew 5:43,44
We must love. We must love God, our neighbour even our enemy. It is a commandment from God. The apostle Paul even defines what Christian love is when he wrote,

“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.

If we claim to be believers in Christ we must love unconditionally. God requires that of us. The apostle John writes,
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.....  
We love because he first loved us.  
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:7-11, 19-21.
Nothing could be more clear. We as believers in Christ we must love unconditionally.
Please think about it.

A Faith Thing

A Faith Thing
The writer of Genesis states,

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

The Bible does not debate the existence of God. After all it was written to believers. The Bible simply says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. It by default acknowledges the existence of God and leaves it up to the reader to decide for themselves.
Thomas Aquinas said,
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” Thomas Aquinas.
I think what Thomas Aquinas said is very true in the day and age in which we live. Just a quick glance around the internet proves there are many people who believe in God without reservation. Likewise there are many who no matter what you say to them, they will not believe in God.
I believe in God because I cannot believe that the short span of years we live in this physical world is all there is. At the same time I do not have blind faith in God. I believe as the Psalmist states,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 

Their voice goes out into all the earth, 

their words to the ends of the world. 

Psalm 19:1-4

I believe in a world, in a universe, that was perfectly created to sustain life as we know it.
    From the smallest subatomic particle to the most massive galaxy all work in harmony to created life as we know it.
I believe the writer of Hebrews who said,
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:3.
This I admit is very much an act of faith on my part, which makes me no different than any scientist and particularly theoretical physicist. Men and women who postulate a theory from what they see around them, then believe by faith their science is correct.
Men and women such as Einstein, who had faith his theories were correct all his life, some of which were not proven until after his death.  
Thus it is with God. If we look around we can see God’s handiwork within creation. We can because of the perfection of the universe and everything in it postulate accurately that God exists.
Ultimately however I admit it comes down to a 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.
Thus the question come down to do you the reader. Do you believe in God?
Please think about it.

A Warning

A Warning
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James5:1-6.
Here is a warning to the rich and those in power, politicians etc. God will one day judge you. You may get away with oppressing the poor and doing wrong in this life. However God will one day judge you.
Jesus said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46.
I believe those who have wealth and power have an obligation to help the poor and oppressed. I believe no matter who we are rich or not so rich we have an obligation to help anyone we can.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“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.
I believe Campolo is correct. We should be caring for the sick, feeding the hungry and standing up for the oppressed. Not only that we should be telling our politicians and those in power to do this also. For this is not only the Christian thing to do, but the humane thing to do.
The writer of Ecclesiastes warns,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Question: When you personally stand before God what will he say to you?
Please think about it.

Become Wheat

Become Wheat
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4
The apostle Peter warned,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves. We should also do our best to become apart of a good bible believing church congregation.
Michael Flynn observed,
“Jesus said the weeds would grow with the wheat until the Judgement," Dietrich answered, "so one finds both good men and bad in the Church. By our fruits we will be known, not by what name we have called ourselves. I have come to believe that there is more grace in becoming wheat than there is in pulling weeds.” Michael Flynn, 
I like Flynn’s statement
“I have come to believe that there is more grace in becoming wheat than there is in pulling weeds.”
We can as believers wanting to make sure the truth is spoken in the name of Jesus, jump up and down, yell and criticize those we believe are not presenting the word of God correctly. That however will just wear us out and produce nothing.
There will always be false teachers in the church. And while we need to be aware of them. Even following what the Apostle Paul tells us to “....“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Cornithians 5:13b. We should not engage in witch hunts. Such things do not produce followers of Christ.
We need as Flynn put it to become wheat. Producing good spiritual food for those around us. We need to do as Paul writing to Timothy said,
“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. 2Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it.

Faith and Works

Faith and Works
James the half brother of Jesus 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 do live in our deeds. Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

                                        Francis of Assisi.

If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ, people are watching you. They see everything you do whether you realize it or not. Christians cannot do things half heartedly. We cannot see people in need and not do what we can to help.
James tells us
“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?”  
As Christians we are called to love our neighbour whoever they may be and that means at times doing what we can to help those in physical need around us. 
Luke’s gospel records this incident between Jesus and an expert in the Law.
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 
He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  
So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  
The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37.
Please think about it

Have You?

Have You?
Jesus told this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31.
There is an interesting quote I like from the Talmud a Jewish book that lines up perfectly with this parable. It states,
“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
God is exists whether you believe in him or not, and He will hold you accountable for your actions. The writer of Ecclesiastes telling us.
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
The question is how will you fare when you stand before Him?
What the Talmud and Jesus are expressing is a simple universal truth. We as human being should be showing unconditional love and compassion for our fellow man. We should be helping those in need in whatever way we are able. After all if you were in need of help of any kind would you not want help?
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12 
This is a universal truth irrespective of what you believe.
Especially if you claim to be a follower of Christ, do you follow this truth?
Please think about it.

A Special Day

A special Day
Jesus said to his disciples,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
What Jesus spoke about here actually occurred fifty days after Easter Sunday according to tradition. Within Christian circles it is called Pentecost Sunday or Whitsunday. It is the time when Christians celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit,
The book of Acts tells us,
“When the day of Pentecost came, they (the followers of Jesus) were all together in one place.  
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  
When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.  
Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?  
Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome  (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”  
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Acts 2:1-12.
Interestingly enough this occurred on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. The time when the Jews celebrate God giving them The Law (the Torah) and when they celebrate the wheat harvest. It was a time when Jews from all over the world made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
If you think about it this was the ideal time to launch the church. To present the salvation message to the people. And God did this in miraculous fashion scripture telling us,
“All of them (the followers of Jesus) were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  
When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.”
An incredible event that caused people to ask,
“Brothers, what shall we do?” 
Allowing the Apostle Peter to reply, 
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39.
And the promise dear reader is for you.
Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
The apostle John tells us,
“If we confess our sins, he (Jesus) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10
The apostle John also writes of Jesus,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
Thus the choice dear reader is yours. Will you believe in Jesus?
  Please think about it.