Praise be to God

Praise be to God
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” 1Peter 1:3-4.
As believers in Christ Jesus we can praise God for the new hope He as given us through Christ Jesus. We can say with the psalmist,

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness;

 come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God.

 It is he who made us, 

and we are his; 

we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

                                                                            Psalm 100.

Can you do this?
Please think about it.

Everything is meaningless?

Everything is meaningless?
In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,
“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 labour. 
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.
If there is no God then the above statement is true.”everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind;...”
Some atheist say when we die we will live on in the memories of others. A statement that is not completely true. Perhaps if we have made a great discovery we may be remembered in some history book. But most of us will be forgotten within a generation or so.
Ask yourself, where was your great, great, great grandmother or father born? What was the colour of their eyes? What was their favourite piece of music? Where is their grave? What was their greatest achievement? Few people can answer these questions.
So my question to anyone who does not believe in God is where is the purpose in life if we are forgotten within a few generations? If all our achievements are only remembered in some dusty history book?
The way I see it without God life is meaningless. God’s existence makes life worthwhile. God gives us something to look forward to when this life is over.
The writer of Ecclesiastes comes to this conclusion,
“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 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 statement of Jesus if right and I believe it is, is God’s offer to each individual of eternal life with Him. While at the same time giving a warning to all who would not believe of the consequences of unbelief.
It is a statement that all who hear about Jesus must consider carefully.
Please think about it.

The Bulwark

The Bulwark
The Psalmist writes,

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. 

It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations." 

                                                                                Psalm 100

The Bible is written to believers. It therefor does not debate the existence of God. Believers know that God exists. Believers also recognize that there is a need for God within our society.
Abba Hillel Silver at the height of world war two wrote,
"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.
Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.
History has shown us that when people turn from the basic principles God has laid down for mankind society suffers. We only have to look at world war two to see this. Hitler and his henchmen had no fear of God. They turned away from God and lived by their own rules. The result was world war two, the worst conflict in human history with upwards of 60,000,000 men, women, and children killed senselessly.
The same thing is happening today. There are nations around the world that do not recognize God or His moral code. They say that say they are free yet persecute, imprison or murder, not only Christians but anyone that disagrees with them. There are many terrorist groups around the world that are murdering people. Some even having the audacity to say they are doing it in the name of God.
That being said on the streets of the cities of western democracies there are men and women murdering others daily. Men and women who do recognize God or the moral code He has laid down.
The murdering aside. There are many more things happening that are against God’s laws.
The apostle Paul wrote,
"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.
This is happening today and society is the worse for it.
As a believer in Christ Jesus I believe it is the obligation of every Christian to present the gospel message of unconditional love to all people. For I believe it is this message and this message alone that can change people for the better.
Please think about it.

Consider this

Consider this.
Jesus Prayed,
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me....  
“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  
I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:20,21,25,26,
Prior to this John records Jesus as saying,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34,35.
The Christian life is all about Love. All those who believe in Christ Jesus must love and show that love to all those around them, family, friend, and foe alike.
It is by this love that the world will know that we are of God 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.” 1John 4:7,8.
Francis of Assisi wrote this prayer. A prayer every Christian should think about praying in all sincerity. He 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

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus,....
Please think about it.

The Christian and Love

The Christian and 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 neighbour as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40
He 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
So what is true Christian love? The apostle Paul tells us,

“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.

This to me is the definition of true Christian love. You cannot be a Christian and not believe this.
As Christians. As true believers in Christ Jesus we must love like this. The Apostle John tells us,
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.  If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  1 John 4:11-16.
Please think about it.

Would you?

Would you?
The apostle Paul writes,
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5,6.
Are you wise when you deal with those around you, especially when it comes to your faith. I have found over the decades that I have been a Christian that there are many claiming to be Christians who are not wise.
They are as one friend aptly put it “bible thumpers”. They point out the sins of the world. They point to groups they disagree with and call them sinners. Worse still they try to take away or restrict the rights of some groups they disagree with. This should not be so.
Screaming and yelling at people telling them they are sinners is a waste of time. It will only push people away from God. Trying to restrict or take away rights of those you disagree with will push them away from Christ closing all dialogue completely. Not only that it may lead to a backlash that will cause the rights of Christians to be restricted.
No one wants to be told they are a sinner. And frankly I don’t believe it is our job as believers in Christ Jesus to tell people they are sinners. That is the job of the Holy spirit.
Billy Graham the American evangelist once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                                  Billy Graham.

Another American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo.
The apostle Paul tells us,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:12.
It is the job of believers in Christ Jesus to present the gospel to anyone who will listen. Jesus 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.
Jesus told us,
"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.
We as believers in Christ Jesus need to remember this.
Think of it this way 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.
If someone came to you and tried to restrict your rights, or told you bluntly you were wrong and they were right and wouldn’t listen to your explanation, would you listen to that person. Probably not.
Thus we as Christians are called to present what we believe and not to judge anyone, especially when it comes to where anyone will spend eternity.
Please think about it.

In spirit and in truth

In spirit and in truth
Jesus said,

“Yet a time is coming and has now come 

when the true worshipers will worship the Father

 in spirit and truth, 

for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  

God is spirit, 

and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” 

                                                                                     John 4:23-24.

If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus, do you worship God in spirit and in truth.
There are many people in churches today who do not worship God in spirit an in truth. To them going to church is part of their culture. They go because their parents went. They go because their friends are there. They go because they like the music and the warm fuzzy feeling they get when they sing. The list goes on and on. The truth is that there are dozens of reasons to go to church. All of which are good.
That being said God does not want people to simply come to church because it makes them feel good, or because it’s a social thing. God wants worshippers who worship Him in spirit and in truth.
If you go to church. If you claim to be a Christian. Are you worshipping God in spirit and in truth?
Please think about it.

Do Not

Do not
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
These are the words of Jesus not mine. As Christians we cannot afford to judge people. We must love people.
The late American evangelist Billy Graham said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love, 

                              Billy Graham

James the half brother of Jesus said,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
The American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr., said,

Love is the only force capable 

of transforming an enemy into friend. 

                                            Martin Luther King, Jr.

We as believer in Christ Jesus are the representatives of Christ in this world. As a result we must love, God, our neighbour, our family and our enemy.
We must do this because the eternal resting place of someone we meet might depend on our actions.
If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus...
Please think about this. 

Every Day

Every day
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.

The other day I found a couple of interesting quotes. One from Lenny Bruce said,

“Every day people are straying away from the church

 and going back to God. Really.” 

                                      Lenny Bruce, "Religions Inc."

The other is from an unknown author it states,

I believe in God; I just don't trust anyone who works for him.”

                                                                               Author Unknown

I have met many people who truly believe in God but are turned off by the people who supposedly serve Him. It’s sad but there are many claiming to be Christians who are not. Jesus 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 Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, I believe we must be careful to present the gospel of Christ in the way He would want us to do so. That being in a nonjudgmental, loving way.
We have no right to judge another human being, especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity.
We do have the right to judge anyone who claims to be a Christian but only with respect to the doctrine they are teaching. 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.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Christians need to remember this. Do you remember this when you interact with others?
Please think about it.

Lost Value?

Lost Value?
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, 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.
I look around the “Christian world” here in North America and sadly see people claiming to be Christians be they in the pulpit, or in the pew that don’t regard the kingdom of heaven as treasure, or fine pearls.
If they did regard the kingdom of God and God’s word as something precious they would not mix their faith with anything else.
For me a good example of this is when Christians mix politics and their faith. Jesus and his disciples never mixed politics with their faith. They focussed on presenting the gospel of Salvation nothing else.
Mixing anything with your faith dilutes it. Particularly politics. As some one once said, “mixing politics with faith is like mixing water and gasoline. The gasoline is unusable, the water undrinkable and the whole mixture explosive. 
This however is happening particularly it seem among evangelicals. This should not be so.
That being said it is not just the mixing of faith and politics. It is also mixing their faith with secular values. For example men and women calling themselves Christian leaders telling those who believe in them that if they give so much money usually to their ministry, God will bless them ten, fifty even a hundred fold.  Such people treat God as a “spiritual sugar daddy” willing to give them what they want.
My bible tells me,
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
I firmly believe that we are in a time here in North America with all our freedoms are cheapening the gospel message by linking it to politics and secular values.
Many leaders in the North American church and many in the pews are doing what the apostle Paul said would happen in his letter to Timothy.
“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 believe we are in a time when the Christians of every stripe need to look at what they believe.
We as believers in Christ Jesus need to Pray, turn to the word of God, and ask God to show us where we are going wrong.
We need to heed the words of God in Chronicles that says,
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.
People within particularly the Evangelical church, are fond of saying we need revival.
    Revival however starts from within. It is messy and controversial as every leader of every revival from the days of Martin Luther to present day knows. But it is necessary if the church is to function as God wants it to function. That being the winning souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

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.