Not Clever Stories

Not clever stories
The apostle Peter writes,
“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  
We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” 2 Peter 1:16-18.
I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for over forty years now. In that time I have heard people say God does not exist. People have told me Jesus is a myth. Some while admitting Jesus lived said he was no more than a good man.
Nothing could be further from the fact. Jesus is real. He is everything Christians believe him to be, the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, God incarnate.
If Jesus is simply a man then the apostles and Jesus himself have created the greatest lie in history.
C. S. Lewis in he book Mere Christianity said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.
That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. 
You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. 
You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Thus the question becomes. Who do you think Jesus is.
Please think about it.

Sound Advice

Sound Advice
The apostle Peter writes,
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12.
Here to my mind is some good and logical advice to all who would believe in Christ Jesus. Peter tells us,
1. Live in harmony with one another,
2. Love as brothers,
3. Be compassionate and humble
4. Do not repay evil with evil, insult with insult, but with blessing.
5. Keep your tongue from evil speech.
6. Seek peace and pursue it.
Peter then adds a seventh point, “the eyes of the Lord are no the righteous and he ears are attentive t their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Even if you are not a believer in Christ Jesus. Living your life by these ideals is a good way to live your life.
Please think about it.

Live as Freemen

Live as Freemen
The apostle Peter writes,
"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.1 Peter 2:13-17
When it comes to telling believers in Christ Jesus how they should act the apostle Peter here makes is simple.
1/ Live as free men
2/ Do not use your freedom to cover up evil
3/ Show proper respect to everyone
4/ Love the brotherhood of believers,
5/ Fear God
6/ Honour the king
Believers in Christ are called to be model citizens. It is that simple. In doing so we can better show the love of God to those around us.
We are to live as free men. Which means we can do as we wish. However that being said Peter warns us “do not use your freedom to cover up evil”.
Believers in Christ should not have anything to do with evil in any form.
We must show respect for everyone. That means we must respect those with whom we disagree be it their way of life, their lifestyle, their politics, or their religious beliefs.
Showing you respect someone can open dialogue and the opportunity to express your beliefs to them.
We are to love the brotherhood of believers. While we may have minor differences in with other believers in Christ we must still love them.
We must fear God. That doesn’t necessarily mean be afraid of God but rather have a healthy respect for Him as the almighty creator of the heavens and the earth. Who ultimately will determine our fate.
We must honour the king which means we must honour those who rule. We may not agree with all they do but we must honour the position they are in.
That being said many Christian teachers would put a caveat on this. When the government starts acting immorally by preventing people from worshipping. When the government starts putting people in prison without a fair trial or murdering them simply because they disagree with them,  Christians are called to stand up.
The prime example of this is Nazi Germany when Hitler and his henchmen put their political opponents along with Jews and others in concentration camps.
They were doing evil plain and simple. Believers in Christ cannot have anything to do with evil.
Still if our political leadership is acting in a responsible manner and not deliberately hurting anyone, even if we disagree with some of the laws they may pass we must honour them.
So what I would ask is take a second look at the list above, 
1/ Live as free men
2/ Do not use your freedom to cover up evil
3/ Show proper respect to everyone
4/ Love the brotherhood of believers,
5/ Fear God
6/ Honour the king
Ask yourself are you doing these things?
Please think about it.

As Believers in Christ

As Believer in Christ
The apostle Peter writing to believers in Christ Jesus states,
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 
Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  1 Peter 1:15-17.
Peter later 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 you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus you MUST REMEMBER that you are Christ’s representative on this earth. That people can and do see Jesus through your words and deeds. You cannot do anything lightly. If you do, your actions could have eternal consequences.
Some time ago now there was a thing that went through the church particularly among teens. It was wrist band that had the letters W. W. J. D. for What Would Jesus do.
If we claim to be believers in Christ Jesus we need to take stock of our lives. We need to pray and ask God to show us where we fall short in serving Him. We need to ask God if we have are prejudice in any way toward anyone.
Jesus showed no prejudice. He talked to a Samaritan woman (John 4:6-26). Jews of the day were not to have contact with Samaritans yet Jesus did.
He was accused of sitting with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:23-32) which he did.
Jesus and his disciples were willing to sit down and present the gospel to anyone who would listen irrespective of who they are and without judging them. Are you?
Here’s something to think about if you profess to be a follower of Christ Jesus.
1/ If you met a rich man dressed in a nice suit would you be willing to tell him about Jesus? Would the congregation you attend let him in and be willing to tell him about Jesus?
2/ If you met a person living on the street who was dirty and unkempt who perhaps had a strong body odour, or reeking of alcohol, would you be willing to speak to him or her about Jesus without judging them. Would you be willing to offer some help to them?
Would the congregation you attend let them in, offer them help, and be willing to present the gospel message to them without judging them?
3/ If you met two men holding hands obviously enamoured with one another, would you be willing to witness to them without judging them?
Would they be welcome in the congregation you attend if they showed up holding hands? Would the congregation you attend pass judgement on them?
As believers in Christ Jesus we must remember that we are “aliens and strangers in the world”. That we are to,
“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.” 1Peter 2:12
We must remember above all that it is not our job to judge the world. The Apostle Paul said,
“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.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13.
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 job of all believers in Christ Jesus is to love the world in the same way God did. To present the gospel message to anyone who will listen irrespective of who they are without judging them.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and 

my job to love,” 

                         Billy Graham.

The apostle Paul defining Christian love as,

“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.

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.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus then you are continuing the work of Jesus. That being to save the world. Not to judge it.
Believers in Christ Jesus are indeed a citizen of Heaven working in a foreign land seeking to save the lost.
Is this what you are doing?
Please think about it.

An Inheritance

An Inheritance
The apostle Peter writes,
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5.
Peter speaking to believers in Christ Jesus tells us that God through Jesus Christ has “given us new birth into a living hope...”. That He has given us “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade...”
Jesus himself 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. Matthew 6:19-21.
Question. Where is your treasure?
This world we live in is finite. It had a beginning and it will have an end. As does our lives. Our lives begin at conception and end a hand full of years later. As a result all we have inherited from others or accumulated on our own is left behind. All our possessions “but dust in the wind” if you will.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
Ecclesiastes gives this advice as relevant to day as the day it was written.
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
The apostle Paul speaking to the Athenians said of Jesus,
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30,31
Do you believe in God? Do you have a healthy respect for God? Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour?
If you were to pass into eternity today and called to stand before God. Would you meet Jesus as your Saviour or your judge?
C. S. Lewis said,
“He 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.
Jesus did indeed die for you. In doing so God has offered you and each individual who would believe in Him a living hope. As the apostle Peter said,
“In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you...”1Peter 1:3a,4.
Please think about it.

Do

Do
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” James 5:7,8  
James here is calling on all believers in Christ Jesus to be faithful and stand firm in what they believe.
The writer of Hebrews defines faith this way,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and 

certain of what we do not see.”  

                                              Hebrews 11:1.

There are many in the world today who do not believe in God. Some would go as far as saying because Jesus has not returned to earth yet, what he said was not true.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“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.

God in his wisdom wants followers who have faith in Him no matter the situation.
It is my observation that those who have faith in someone or something, are the strongest followers. A true believer in a cause or an individual will follow their beliefs to the grave.
God in His wisdom has chosen to take the gospel message around the world through human means. Doing so takes a long time. God however is not constrained by time. Additionally God’s wisdom is greater than man’s wisdom. He knows exactly when is right to present the Salvation message, not only mankind in general, but for each individual.
C. S. Lewis speaking about Jesus said,
“He 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.
God knows when it is the right time to present the gospel message to individuals. Thus in every generation around the world he has sent people to present the salvation message to that generation.
As for when Jesus will return, the advice of James is,
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains” James 5:7.
Jesus himself told his followers,
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36.
As believers in Christ we should not worry when Jesus will be returning. It is irrelevant to our duty as believers in Christ. Our duty to Christ was set out by Jesus when 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.
Question, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus are you doing your best to respectfully present the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ to the world around you?
Please think about it.

To those in Power

To those in power
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.” James 5:1-6.
When I read this I am reminded of a parable Jesus spoke. Jesus said,
“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.
The way I see this is it is a warning to all those not just own businesses but to anyone in power. especially political power.
Political power is the ultimate power because a politician has the ability to change the lives of those they govern for the good or the bad.
The warning is here make sure if you have the power over anyone that you do all in your power to do good for those under you. As 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. 
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
Please think about it.

A Choice

A Choice
James the half brother states,
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  
As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:13-17. 
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.
We as they say are mere mortals. Our life in this world begins at conception and ends a handful of years later. We do not know how long we will live, nor can we predict the future.
The only thing that is certain is one day we will enter eternity. At that time we will stand before God whether you believe in him or not.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?” Tony Campolo.
Will you?
The cry of Jesus to all humanity is,
“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.
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.
Ultimately the choice is up to you the individual. You can believe Jesus is all he said he is, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind or you can reject him.
When God created mankind, He did not make robots that would always do what he wanted them to do without thinking.
Quite the opposite. God created each individual with a freewill to do as he or she wished. That freewill extends to believing in Him or not. Thus you have the right to say God doesn’t exist.
That being said, Blaise Pascal wrote,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists. Blaise Pascal.
Please think about it.

Who is wise?

Who is wise?
James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  
Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  
Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18.
James here contrasts earthly wisdom with Heavenly wisdom. He notes that bitterness and selfish ambition do not come from God.
Wisdom that comes from God is “pure peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
Individuals who possess this kind of wisdom according to James, “sow in peace and raise a harvest of righteousness.” 
If we claim to be believers in Christ Jesus then we must take a look at our lives. We must take a look at our actions and see if we are exhibiting wisdom from God.
If we are not then we need to make the changes immediately.
We must cry out to God in prayer, and ask Him to show us what we must do to live a life as close as possible to the ideal life He would have us live.
Please think about it.

Watch what you say

Watch what you say
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.  
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:2-10
   In a nutshell James states watch what you say. Your tongue can get you into trouble. All of us know this. There have been time in all our lives I’m certain when we have said the wrong thing at the wrong time and got ourselves in trouble.
In my previous blog post I noted James as saying,
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” James 1:19.
As Christians we are ambassadors for Christ Jesus. We are His representatives on this earth therefore we should be careful about everything we do. Especially about what we say.
As believers in Christ Jesus we have an important responsibility given to us by Jesus himself, Jesus telling 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
It is because of this command that we must control our tongue. It is because of this command that we must be careful as to what we say.
As someone has said
“A spotlight is on the life of anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. People see Jesus through the lense of our life. Our words and deeds can just as easily bring a soul to Christ Jesus as turn them away.”
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus take time to look at your words and deeds today. Are they pointing someone to Jesus or turning them away?
Please think about it?

Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger

Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:19-22.
Here is something all Christians should think about. In my previous blog post I wrote about our faith needing to spur us to action. Such as feed the hungry, care for the sick, stand up for the oppressed.
As followers of Christ we must put our faith into action. At the same time we need to look inside ourselves. We need to ask God where we fall short. To show us how we can live better lives for Him.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”Billy Graham.
Billy Graham also said,
“Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.” Billy Graham.
We as believers in Christ Jesus need to be careful as to who we listen to and what we do. It is very easy to let the ways of the world slip into our lives. It is very easy to mix secular values with Christian values. We must be aware of this.
To prevent mixing the worlds values with the values of our faith it is important that we pray daily and as often as we can. To spend time studying the Bible daily.
It is imperative we learn as much about the teaching of Jesus and the apostles as possible. For it only in doing so that we will be able to represent Christ Jesus in the proper way.
Please think about it.

Of Faith and Deeds

Of Faith and Deeds
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 I write this January 1st 2018 is upon us. As a result I thought it appropriate that I write a little about the Christian life.
To be a Christian means more than believing by faith in Jesus Christ. It means more than evangelizing.
Being a follower of Jesus Christ is a way of life. As a follower of Christ we should be putting our faith in action.
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.
There is a famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that reads,

“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.

If you consider yourself a follower of Christ Jesus are you an instrument of God’s Peace? Are you showing God’s Love?
Please think about it.