Your Shepherd

Your Shepherd
The Psalmist writes,

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

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

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

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

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

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

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

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

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

                                                                                   Psalm 23.

Question: If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus is the Lord truly the shepherd of your life?
The English evangelist Leonard Ravenhill commenting of faith said,

“F. A. I.T. H. As children in England we used to say:

 Forsaking 

All            

I                

Take           

Him.         

                                       Leonard Ravenhill.             

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus do you truly put all your faith in Him?
Is Jesus truly the Shepherd of your life?
Do you truly follow the teachings of Jesus OR are they mixed with the teachings of man?
Please think about it.

Delight in the Law of the Lord

Delight in the Law of The Lord
The Psalmist writes,

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night.” 

                                                          Psalm 1:1,2.

The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you delight in the law of the Lord? Do you abstain from “sinful desires”?
Do you live a good life?
Francis of Assis wrote,

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon

 some persons will hear today” 

                                                    Francis of Assisi.

What will your deeds,... “your Sermon”, tell those around you about you. About Christ.
Please think about it.

Where is your Faith

Where is your Faith?
The Psalmist writes,

“Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.” 

                                             Psalm 46:10.

I as a believer in Christ Jesus believe one day every individual will meet God. That one day God will appear and judge mankind. I believe the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
The way I see it at this moment God is giving you the reader, and everyone who hears the Gospel message the chance to go to heaven.
I believe that getting to heaven is very much an act of faith. The apostle Paul writing,

“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

The writer of Hebrews telling 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.  

The writer of Hebrews defining faith this way,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                          Hebrews 11:1.

I believe God wanted us to believe in Him by faith, not because it was easy but because it is hard.
It is difficult for most people to believe in someone they cannot see, feel or hear. But God knows those who truly have faith in someone will keep that faith until their dying day.
So the question is, Where is your faith?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God
The Psalmist writes,

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 

                                                              Psalm 14:1

The apostle Paul writes,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
Blaise Pascal wrote,
“It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist.” Blaise Pascal.
Pascal also noted,
“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” Blaise Pascal.
So where do you stand? Do you believe in God or not?
I for one believe in God. I believe the Psalmist got it right when he said,

“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.” 

                                                                             Psalm 19:1-3.

I look at the ordered universe we live in. Everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is in perfect harmony allowing life as we know it to exist. This to me, tells me there is a divine creator at work. I cannot believe our universe just assembled itself purely by chance.
Still I respect the view of those who would disagree with me.
That being said, I would ask the question to anyone who doesn’t believe there is a God, are you beyond a shadow of a doubt certain God does not exist?
I ask because I believe that what you believe about God will determine where you will spend eternity. 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.  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 however whether to believe in Jesus, whether to believe in God or not is entirely up to you the individual.
What I would ask if you do not believe in God, is with an open mind, you at least take some time to read at least the New Testament and see what it says.
Please think about it.

Just as there will be

Just as there will be
The apostle Peter wrote,
“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.” 2Peter2:1,2.
Someone once said to me if you want to find “juicy scandal” just look in the church. Sadly I think they are right. I think also when someone does things wrong that claim to be Christians be they in the pulpit or in the pew it comes across something far worse than if a non-christian did it. After all do not Christians claim the moral high road?
Peter warns there will be individuals who are false teachers. Teachers who introduce heresies. Who deny the sovereignty of Jesus. Who bring “bring the way of truth into disrepute”.
Sadly this happens a lot and Christians of every strip do not do a good job of policing themselves.
The apostle Paul tells Christians,
“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.
Now there is a wide range of interpretation when it comes to the scriptures and there is nothing wrong with that. That being said however we as believers in Christ Jesus must at times stand up against anyone who is bringing the teachings of Christ into disrepute.
Francis of Assis said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                      Francis of Assisi

The world is watching Christians. Thus we must do all we can to live a life that reflects the love and teachings of Christ.
Please think about it. 

Do your Best

Do your Best
The Apostle Paul writes,
“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.
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.
As believers in Christ Jesus we are called to present our beliefs, the teachings of Jesus correctly.
At the same time the apostle Peter reminds us we are,
1/ “a royal priesthood a holy nation belonging to God”
2/ That we are to declare the praises of God and Christ Jesus.
3/ That we are to abstain from sinful desires,
4/ That we are to live good lives among nonbelievers.
The reason for all of this according to Peter is,
“That though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1Peter 2:12b.
Question, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?
John’s Gospel records this conversation between Martha and Jesus,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
Thus the question becomes do you believe Martha?
Martha new Jesus personally as did the apostle John. If Jesus was not the Messiah, the Christ why would Martha lie? If John did not agree Jesus was the Christ, why would he record in his gospel Martha’s conversation with Jesus.
The bottom line is all the gospel writers believed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Christ. Saviour of mankind.
If this is not true then the New Testament is frankly one of the biggest lies perpetuated on mankind, because today three billion plus people believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of mankind.
That being said the answer to the question who is Jesus, is up to you. For each individual must decide who they think Jesus is.
So dear reader Who is Jesus?
Please think about it.

The Narrow Gate

The Narrow Gate
Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. 

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, 

and many enter through it.  

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, 

and only a few find it. 

                              Matthew 7:13.14.

If there is one thing that believers in Christ Jesus believe in, that is controversial, it is a statement the apostle John records as Jesus saying to his disciples,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
This is a no compromise statement saying Jesus is the way to heaven.
Earlier in John’s Gospel he records Jesus speaking of himself 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.
This is what believers in Christ Jesus believe. He is the way to heaven period.
Many in this world say there are many ways to heaven. If they are right then a believer in Christ has nothing to fear, because Jesus is most definitely one of those ways.
On the other hand if what Christians believe is correct and Jesus is indeed the only way to heaven then those who have been presented with the gospel message and disagree with it, have a lot worry about.
Please think about it.

Unless

Unless
The Psalmist writes,

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain....”

                                                                                       Psalm 127:1a.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus, do you let God build your house?
Jesus said,
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27.
Sadly not everyone who claims to be a believer in Christ builds their house on teachings of Christ. Instead they base what they believe on the teachings and interpretations of various preachers and evangelist.
Now for the most part I think preachers and evangelist around the world are in general good men and women who do their best to present the gospel message truthfully. They base what they teach on the teachings of Jesus.
Still however there are many both in the pulpit and in the pew claiming to be followers of Jesus who do not follow the teaching of Christ.
The apostle Paul warns
“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.
I firmly believe we as individual believers in Christ need to be careful who we listen to. We have an obligation at the very least to ourselves to make sure the ministers and evangelist we are listening to are truly teaching the word of God.
We have an obligation to ourselves to make sure that we are building our spiritual house on the teachings of Jesus.
We have this obligation, because what we believe, will ultimately determine where we will spent eternity.
Please think about it. 

Instrument of Peace

Instrument of Peace
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:15-17.
Question is what the apostle Paul saying true about you?
Does the peace of Christ rule in your heart?
When you do things both in word and deed, do you do it in the name of Christ?
As Christians we do need to live our lives differently. People should know we are believers in Christ Jesus by our life and life style without us saying a word.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“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

Can you truly say and mean what Francis of Assisi wrote?
Please think about it.

Wise Words

Wise Words
Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Charles H. Spurgeon wrote,
“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
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                   Francis of Assisi.

What are your words and deeds telling the world around you about your faith in Christ Jesus?
Please think about it.

How we preach it

How we preach it
The apostle Paul writes,
“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 late evangelist Charles H. 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.
Put simply Spurgeon is saying we must preach the gospel message truthfully.
We should never take what it says out of context.
We should never twist what it says to make it say what we believe or want to believe.
So the question becomes,
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you presenting the gospel message correctly?
Please think about it.