Be Holy

Be Holy
The apostle Peter writes,
“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.
Do you have a reverent fear of God? I believe everyone should, especially those who claim to be Christians.
Peter here tells believers to “be holy in all you do”.
He notes that,
“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”
As believers in Christ Jesus we must remember that we are God’s representatives on this earth. That God will hold us up to His standards not the standards of man.
I believe the words of Jesus when he said,
“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 7:22,23.
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to take stock of our lives. We need to pray sincerely and ask God what needs changing in our lives. Where have we fallen short.
In praying we need to be open to God. We cannot pray with the intention that we know what needs to be changed because we don’t. We cannot afford to listen to ourselves. We must listen to God and do what he tells us to do.
We must remember the words of the apostle Peter who said,
"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.
Please if you consider yourself a Christian, Think about it.

True Love Defined

True Love Defined
Have you ever wondered what true love is? What God considers true Love?
The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians wrote what I believe is the ultimate definition of true love.
All I would ask of you the reader, is to ask yourself, if this is the kind of love you show to others?
The apostle Paul writes,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 
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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.  
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Corinthians 13:1-13.
Please think about it.

A warning from The Word

A Warning from The Word
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.
Jesus tells 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.
What Jesus said is true. There are many people today who like the rich man in the story live only for today. They have no fear of God’s judgement. Thus they do what they want as long as it benefits them.
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.
Ultimately every individual will stand before God to give account of their life. The question is; how will God judge you?
To my way of thinking every individual no matter their status in this life should live according to what 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 way I see it if more people followed these words of Jesus, the world would be a better place.
Please think about it.

Stranger than fiction

Stranger than fiction
The Apostle John writes,
“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.
Someone once said to me, “sometimes you just have to admit that truth is stranger than fiction.”
They were right especially when it comes to God.
As a Christian I believe in God. Not only that I believe God in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus Christ entered the world that He created to show each person the way to heaven.
Deep down I think everyone believes there is a God. Even Atheists.
C. S. Lewis said,

"Atheist express their rage against God 

although in their view He does not exist" 

                                                               C. S. Lewis.

My answer to anyone who gets upset with me for speaking about my belief in God is simple. “If God does not exist why get upset. Something that does not exist cannot hurt you.”
God however does exist.
Werner Heisenberg the father of Quantum Mechanics and winner of the noble prize in physics said,
“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,
but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg.
The Psalmist writes,

“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.

We only have to look at the world around us. Everything from the largest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle is designed to allow life as we know it to exist. This tells me there is a Creator God behind it all.
The apostle John who not only believed in God but knew Jesus personally speaking of Jesus, said,
“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 
This gives life meaning to me.
The choice however is yours.
Please think about it. 

The Absence of Love

The absence of Love
The apostle John wrote,

“Whoever does not love does not know God, 

because God is love.” 

                              1 John 4:8

Some people who don’t believe in God have made the statement that if God created everything He also created evil.
I believe God did in fact create everything including man to which he gave a freewill. He however did not create evil.
Albert Einstein is accredited with saying,

“Does cold exist?

In fact, cold does not exist.

 According to the laws of Physics, 

what we consider cold 

is in reality the absence of heat.

Does darkness exist?

Darkness does not exist either. 

Darkness is in reality the absence of light. 

 Light we can study, but not darkness.

Evil does not exist.

 It is just like darkness and cold. 

God did not create evil.

Evil is the result of what happens 

when man does not have God's love present in his heart. 

                                                                            Albert Einstein (1879-1959)  

Please think about it.

You will find Him

You will find Him
In the book of Deuteronomy we read.
“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Deuteronomy 4:29.
When someone tells me they don’t believe in God, or God doesn’t exist. I ask the question; have you truly searched for God?
Most people I know who don’t believe in God have not truly read the Bible. Either that or they’ve made up their mind that, since they can’t see or touch God physically he doesn’t exist.
C. S. Lewis said,
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
Blaise Pascal said,
“Belief (in God) 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
Pascal also wrote,
“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” Blaise Pascal.
It is my hope that for you the reader there is enough light in your faith to see God.
That being said, what I would say to anyone who does not believe in God, is give God a chance to reach out to you. Read the Bible particularly the New Testament. Read it with an open mind. Praying asking God to show Himself to you.
It can’t hurt.
Please think about it.

Within you

Within you,
In the Gospel of Luke we read,
“Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,' or ‘There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."Luke 17:20,21.
Now while I firmly believe Jesus will come to this earth one day to judge the world and to rule the nations of the world. I also believe what Jesus said here.
“...the kingdom of God is within you.”
The apostle Paul writing
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  2 Corinthians 5:17.
If our commitment to Christ Jesus is true then we do become a new creation. We look at people from the point of view of Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul writes,
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” 2 Corinthians 5:16.
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. 1John 4:7-10.
It is my belief if someone is a believer in Christ Jesus they will show what the apostle Paul calls the fruit of the spirt. Paul writing,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23 
So my question to you the reader. If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus are you exhibiting the fruits of the spirit? Are you truly showing unconditional love to those around you?
Please think about it.

The Law of the Lord

The Law of the Lord
The Psalmist writes,

The law of the Lord is Perfect; 

it gives new strength.

The commands of the Lord are trustworthy,

giving wisdom to those who lack it.

The laws of the Lord are right,

and those who obey them are happy.

The commands of the Lord are just

and give understanding to the mind.

Reverence for the Lord is good'

it will continue for ever.

The judgements of the Lord are just;

they are always fair.

They are more desirable than the finest gold;

they are sweeter than the purest honey.

They give knowledge to me, your servant;

I am rewarded for obeying them. 

                                                                  Psalm 19:7-11 (good news bible).

The Bible is a book not just for yesterday but for today. Within its pages lie truths and wisdom that are universal. Here in Psalm 19:7-11 the psalmist tells us Gods word,
1. Gives us strength.
2. Gives wisdom to those who lack it.
3. The Law of the Lord is right and those who obey them are happy.
4. God’s commandments are just and give understanding to the mind.
5. Reverence for the Lord is a good thing.
6. God’s judgements are just and always fair.
7. All of these things are more desirable than the finest gold.
Jesus said,
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.
I firmly believe that God must come first in our lives. That we should seek His face and seek our His wisdom for living on a daily basis.
In order to do that we must Pray and Study the Bible daily. For in doing so God will show himself to us and grant to us the wisdom we need for each day.
Please think about it.

God

God
The Prophet Isaiah writes,

"Do you not know? 

Have you not heard?

 The Lord is everlasting God, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He will not grow tiered or weary,

 and his understanding no one can fathom.”

                                                              Isaiah 40:28.

God exists I have no doubt about that. And frankly I don’t debate His existence or that He created the universe and everything in it.
The Psalmist writes,

"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

For me it doesn’t make any difference if God made the heavens in six twenty-four hour days or started it all with the big bang and let it develop over billions of years. The numbers mean nothing. God is almighty and could have done it either way.
The fact however that the Earth is in the perfect position in the universe to sustain life as we know it tells me there is a Creator God behind it all.
Still the Bible is a book of faith not science and we must always remember that.
Galileo Galilei said,

“The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, 

not the way the heavens go.”

                                       Galileo Galilei.

He is right. The purpose of the Bible is to show people how to get to heaven. The writers of the Bible were believers and accepted by faith, without question the existence of God.
The apostle John writes,
"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.
What John here is asking those who believe in God (or for that matter those who do not believe in God) is to, by faith, believe that the God who created the universe and everything in it, entered it in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus Christ. Who’s purpose was and still is today to offer forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
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
Thus my question to you the reader; Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Saviour of Mankind?
Please think about it.

In full View

In full View
In the book of Proverbs we read,

“For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and he examines all his paths.” 

                                           Proverbs 5:21.

Here is something even Christians seem to forget many times. We fail to remember that God is watching us.
I firmly believe that if we remembered this more often Christians would not say and do many of the things they do.
That’s not to say God is ready to bash us with a big stick every time we do something He disapproves of. Quite the contrary God is a loving God, who cares for us.
In Deuteronomy we read,
"For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath." Deuteronomy 4:31.
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. 1John 4:7-10.
Sin is falling short of God’s ideal for your life. Sin is doing things wrong deliberately and refusing to admit to those sins before God.
God give everyone a lifetime to come to repentance. To admit we are sinners and turn to him. The apostle John stating,
"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.
The apostle Peter writes,
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.
Thus my question to you, especially if you are a believer in Christ Jesus; Have you any unrepentant sin in your life?
Please think about it.

Do your pray for

Do you pray for
Jesus 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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Matthew 5:43-45.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  
This is good, and pleases God our Saviour,  who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."  1Timothy 2:1-4.
Someone once said to me “why should I pray for a dictator who brings hardship on people? Why should I pray for rulers that live unethical lives? Leaders who are immoral?
Especially why should I pray for my enemies?
Paul makes it clear why we should pray for those in authority. He states, “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives” When we live peaceful and quiet lives it is easier to spread the gospel.
We should also be praying for the salvation of our political leadership.
As for praying for our enemies. We should be praying for their salvation. That God will change their heart. That they would let us live our lives in peace.
The apostle Paul writing about Jesus said,
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:9-11.
Every leader of every country like every other person that has ever lived will one day bow before Jesus and confess that He is Lord.
Every leader, as will every person will be judged by God for their deeds in this life. 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.
As Christians we have a duty to tell the world about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. That extends to all walks of life from the poorest person living on the street, to the richest man in the world, to all those in authority over us.
Thus my question to you the reader. If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus;
Do you pray for your political leaders?
Do you pray for your boss at work?
Do you pray for your enemy?
Do you pray for peace and freedom that the gospel of Christ may spread more easily?
Please think about it.

One Law Giver

One Law Giver
James the half brother of Jesus said,
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbour?” James 4:10-12.
James here makes it clear we are not to sit in judgement of anyone. He makes it clear that there is “only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.” that person being God.
The reason we have no right to judge someone, particularly when it comes to where they will spend eternity, is we do not know why a person is the way they are. We do not know what is truly on a persons heart.
Jesus himself 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.
Judgement is a two edged sword. If we pass judgment on others we are giving them the right to judge us. After all Jesus told us,
“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 you believe what Jesus is saying. In judging someone you are giving them the right to judge you.
Please think about it.