He who truly seeks finds

He who truly seeks finds

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; 

knock and the door will be opened to you.  

For everyone who asks receives;

 he who seeks finds; 

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” 

                                                         Matthew 7:7,8.

I believe those words of Jesus quoted above, especially when it comes to God. I believe that anyone who is truly looking for God will find Him.
The thing is many who do not believe in God, have either not looked for Him, or simply conclude that since they can’t physically see God he doesn’t exist.
C. S. Lewis said,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.”  C. S. Lewis.
We must be searching for God in order to find him. If we simply say I can’t see God therefor he doesn’t exist. Then we will never find God. We must have faith that God exists in order to find God.
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

The question is do you have faith that God exists?
Ben Zion Bokser wrote,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.” Ben Zion Bokser
Thus the choice is yours.
Do you believe in God or not?
Only you can decide.
Please think about it.

Do you Love?

Do you 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
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
       But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
The apostle Paul defined 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.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus do you truly love? Do you love unconditionally?
Can you pray this prayer written by Francis of Assisi and mean it,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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;

And 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

Please think about it.

The Christian Ethic

The Christian Ethic
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 apostle Peter writes,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12.
Piliny the younger writing to the Roman Emperor said of the early Christians he examined,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to 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.
It seems the early believers in Christ Jesus lived good lives. They were known for their good behavior. The book of acts speaking of the early believers in Christ, records,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47.
We as believers in Christ Jesus are known by our deeds be they good or bad. It is also through our words and deeds that others will see Christ Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon said,
“The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! “You are the light of the world.”” Charles H. Spurgeon.
It is therefore to my way of thinking imperative that we as believers in Christ Jesus live as good a life as possible, that we may point people to Christ and the eternal life He offers.
Daily we should remember the words of Francis of Assisi who said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                       Francis of Assisi.

Please think about it.

A Word of Warning

A Word of 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.” James 5:1-6.
This warning is to the rich and powerful to be honest and fair in all their dealings. It is a reminder that while you may get away with doing wrong in this world you will not in the next.
Jesus told this story,
“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.
As I have said many times in my blogs there is nothing wrong with being rich and powerful. It is what you do with your wealth and power that can cause problems. The apostle Paul telling us,
“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.
Paul also warns,
“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.
All of what the apostle Paul described is happening today.
While there are many with wealth and power who do a lot of good. There are many more who do just the opposite. Thus the warning to be honest or face God’s judgement.
All of that being said the warnings in these scriptures are not just limited to the wealthy and powerful. It is a call to every individual to deal fairly and honestly with all whom they deal with.
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.
Thus the question becomes. Are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Consequences

Consequences 
The Bible states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It has no need to, it is written to believers in God.
Now I know there are people in the world that say there is no God. That is their opinion and I respect that. That being said, just because someone doesn’t believe in God doesn’t mean God doesn’t exist.
I believe the flaw in atheism is that the atheist put themselves in the role of god. They can’t see God so they say he doesn’t exist. But just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
In order to be absolutely sure God does not exist one must know all things and have been everywhere, including beyond the grave. These are attributes of God. Thus the atheist in saying categorically there is no God, he is saying he is god.
No man is god. Man are mortal and fallible. Men make mistakes. Quite often in life we must act in faith because we do not always have the answers. Thus it is with God. We must act in faith. We act in faith saying God does not exist, or we act in faith and say God does exist.
Either way to my mind our decision as to whether God exist or not has eternal consequences.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

You and Money

You and Money
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Now let me make one thing clear here the apostle Paul writes,
“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.
It is the “love of money” that causes us problems. It is the priority we put on money,  what we do with it, and how we acquire it that causes the problems. Money in and of itself is not evil.
Money should never come before God.
Money should never take center stage in our lives.
Matthew’s gospel tells this story about a rich young man and Jesus. Matthew records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthew 19:16-22.
This man apparently at least on an intellectual level believed in God. However he didn’t seem to want to trust God. He had more faith in his wealth than in God.
Thus the question becomes if you claim to believe in God. If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus. Where do you place your trust?
Please think about it.

God to me

God to me
Over the years people have asked me what is the most important thing in my life? I tell them God. For God has truly blessed me. While at the same time been with me through some of the hardest days of my life.
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it agai+n, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.
My belief in God is precious to me. That’s why I wish to do my best to represent Him in all I do. Especially when I present the Bible to anyone.
I believe it is of paramount that when I read the Bible I interpret it the right way. The way God intended.
It is easy to take portions of the Bible out of context and make it say what you want it to say. This however is wrong. One must do ones best to interpret the Bible correctly. Taking each word and verse in its proper context.
I firmly believe we should not only be reading the bible but we should be reading about the history and culture of Israel. The culture in which the Bible was written
It is far too easy to read the Bible and place our own cultural norms on it. This should not be so. 
The Bible was written I believe to show man what God expects of him and to point individuals to heaven.
If we misinterpret the Bible we run the risk of pointing both ourselves and others in the wrong direction. This can have eternal consequences.
Thus the question becomes.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus is God precious to you? 

Are you doing everything you can to interpret the Bible correctly?

Or

Are you twisting the scriptures to suit your own beliefs?

Please think about it.

My Belief

My Belief

Is man but an atom in space?

A mist in time?

A moment in eternity?

What is your life?

Your life or mine?

What of the life of a man?

What is the sum total of Life?

Is it a collection of bobbles bangles and beads.

A collection of artifacts past to the next generation?

Is all there is to life,

A gathering of things.

That you never can keep?

Is it a mans... 

A Woman’s duty,

to procreate,

Train the next generation,

then pass into oblivion?

Or

is life more?

Is life Eternal?

Destined to continue on through endless days?

At a place of our own choosing?

I believe you have a choice.

Jesus said,

“For God so loved the world 

that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish 

but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe stands condemned already 

because he has not believed in the name 

of God’s one and only Son”.

                                           John 3:16-18.

This is what I believe.

What do you believe?

Please think about it.

No right

No right
The Psalmist writes,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
This is one of my favourite scripture quotes. It tells me God has known me from the moment of conception.
It tells me I am unique and wonderfully made.
Above all it tells me God knows why I am the way I am. Something no individual in this world can say. Thus to my way of thinking no one has the right to judge me. Nor do I have the right to judge anyone else. Even 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.
As a believer in Christ Jesus I take Jesus admonition not to judge others to heart, for the simple reason I have no idea what makes a person the way they are.
My job as a believer in Christ is to 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
Matthews gospel also records Jesus 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.
This is what I as a believer in Christ Jesus must do, love unconditionally.
Billy Graham perhaps one of the greatest evangelist at least of my generation said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                       Billy Graham.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you truly love?
Please think about it.

Your Choice

Your Choice
The New Testament writers record Jesus as saying some remarkable things. Things that if true have eternal consequences. John’s gospel records 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.
There are many in the world today that say there are a lot of ways to heaven or that you can work your way to heaven. Saying if your good deeds out weigh your bad deeds you will get to heaven. Christians do not believe that.
We Christians believe that you get to heaven by the grace of God. The apostle Paul stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
That gift we believe is Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul telling us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
God through the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus offered us eternal life with Him in heaven.
Jesus speaking of himself is quoted by the apostle John as saying,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
The apostle John also noting the reward for believing in Christ Jesus. Stating,
“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.
Is all of this difficult to believe? In a word yes. Even the apostle Paul wrote,
“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.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
And, it is exactly this that each individual when presented with the message of Jesus Christ must decide for themselves.
Is the message of Christ Jesus foolishness or is it the truth that leads to eternal life with God?
It is a decision only you can make. It is potentially the most important decision you will make in your life.
C. S. Lewis 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.
Thus the choice is yours.
Please think about it.

The way it's preached

The way it’s preached
Jesus 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.
Here are perhaps the two best known bible verses, yet many Christian do not understand what is being said.
Jesus states,
“God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son”
Then Jesus notes
“God did not sent his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Sadly many calling themselves Christians here in North America where I live miss this last point. That Jesus came to save the world not condemn it.
Too many people calling themselves Christians heap judgement on the people they are speaking to.
Billy Graham the late American Evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,”

                            Billy Graham.

We as believers in Christ Jesus are called to love the world. To, in love, point the world to the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus not to judge people in any way.
Another evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote,
“We are not responsible to God for the soul that are saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for the way in which we preach it” Charles H. Spurgeon.
You will not win a soul for Christ if you are judging an individuals actions, their faith, or their lifestyle.
You can only win a soul by following the example of Jesus. By showing unconditional Love.
Please think about it.  

If He never wept

If He never wept
The gospel of John records,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ”John 1:1-4,14.
John referring to Jesus as “The Word” makes it clear that, Jesus made all things. Jesus is God. The creator of the universe.
This is a fundamental Christian belief.
John also points out,
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
That God in the form of Jesus entered the world he created.
This to is a fundamental Christian belief. Which is to non-Christians perhaps one of the most perplexing beliefs Christians have.
Many would ask why would God enter the world He created? After all God is all knowing and all powerful why would he need to enter the world?
I think the answer is simple. To be completely fair to man.
Any Christian will tell you that Jesus came into the world to save the world. To point man to God. To pay the price of man’s sins.
That being said the late evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote,
“A Jesus who never wept could never wipe away my tears.”Charles H. Spurgeon.
Through Jesus God experienced all there was to be human. Everything from the mundane day to day things like the smell of dust, to the rain falling, to the feeling of the sun beating down on a hot day. To having friends, to the death of a friend, to having enemies, to being flogged and put to death innocently. Jesus run the complete gamut of what it was to be human.
Thus he knows what you are going through and the call of Jesus to each and every individual 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.
Question, Are you weary and burdened?
Why not consider looking to Jesus. Take time to read the New Testament and see for yourself what those early believers in Jesus had to say about him.
Please think about it.