The World is Watching

  The world is watching.

The apostle Paul writes,

“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 3:17.

There is an important truth to be learned here. As Christians we are ambassadors for Christ Jesus. Everything in word and in deed is to be done in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.It is through the lense of our words and deeds that the world sees Jesus. Francis of Assisi wrote, 

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                 Francis of Assisi.

If you claim to be a Christian your words and deeds are the sermon people sees and hears twenty-four seven.

Thus my question to you is; What is your sermon telling those around you about Christ?

Please think about it.

Hearts not in it

  Hearts not in it.

Jesus said,

“He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:    “‘These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”  Mark 7:6,7.

Question; Do you truly love God. Is your heart truly in your worship of God, or are you just going through the motions of worshipping God?

It’s easy to treat coming to church like attending a pep rally. Those who attend know how to act and know what to say and when to say it. Many come for the music, simply because it makes them feel good. Or to be socialise with friends. It has nothing to do with truly honouring God with their whole heart. 

If we are truly to be believers of Christ Jesus we need to make sure we are committed to Christ. We need to be like the Psalmist who states,

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:5,6.

Question is this you?

Please think about it.

Remember the height

 Remember the height

The apostle Paul writes,

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10.

Quite often I think Christians forget this scripture. 

“We are God’s workmanship” 

“We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,

“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.

I agree with him. Sadly especially here in Canada and the United States non-Christians know more about what Christians are against than the good works they do. To some portions of society Christians are little more than hypocritical bigots who wish to restrict their freedoms.

This should not be so. 

 Evangelical Christianity in North America has sadly become political. A religious shell of what it once was. As such while they may think they are doing good they are not. The good works God intended them to do are not done.

The church in North America needs to heed the warning Jesus gave to the church at Ephesus when he said,

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.   Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelations 2:4,5.

Please think about it.

Admit it or not

 Admit it or not

Isaiah the prophet stated,

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:6-8

An anonymous author wrote,

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

“How many anvils have you had,” said I,

“To wear and bater all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”

And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                         Anonymous  

For centuries those who oppose God. Those who say God dose not exist have said the Bible message will ultimately fade away. Yet it has not. In fact those who believe in the Bible. Those who believe in Christ Jesus, are growing in number.

At the very beginning of the Christian movement two of Jesus’ disciples were on trial for preaching in his name when a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up and said,

“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:39.

I truly believe Gamaliel was right. Jesus and all he taught is of God as is the Bible. And those who are fighting against it are fighting God. Whether they want to admit it or not.

Please think about it.

What?

  What?

Jesus said,

“Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  

He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21.

Now let me say there is nothing wrong with being wealthy. It’s the value you put on your wealth and what you do with it that can cause problems.

The apostle Paul tells 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.

We must never put our money our earthly possessions ahead of our faith in God. Anything that is put ahead of God is an idol.

We must also remember that the Christian life is one of service. Service to God and to our fellow man.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.”  Francis of Assisi.

So what have you given to God? Your time and talents? Your money? Your love? 

What have you done for your fellow man? Shown your love? Helped someone in need? What?

When you stand before God what will he say about your life here on this earth?

Please think about it.

An Instrument

  An Instrument

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.

As Christians we must remember these words of Jesus. Jesus came to save the world not condemn it. Jesus came to show the Love of God to all mankind. Thus as Christians, as servants of God we must remember we are to love unconditionally. 

For me our actions as believers in Christ Jesus is summed up in the words of Francis of Assisi who said,

“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 we as believers follow this advice from Francis of Assisi people will see our love not only for God, but for them. Making it possible for us to win souls for Christ.

Please think about it.

Let

  Let

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

I think if people know you’re a Christian they tend to think that what you do is reflective of Jesus whether you want them to do so or not. 

Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                        Francis of Assisi

As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus we need to heed the words of the apostle Paul to the Colossians. Let Christs peace rule our hearts. Let the word of Christ dwell in our hearts richly. And whatever we do in word and in deed do in the name of Christ. 

For it is only when we do this that people will be attracted to Christ and the eternal life he offers us.

Please think about it.

Nothing

 Nothing

The apostle Paul writes,

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38,39.

The apostle Paul is right in saying the above. For those who truly believe in Christ Jesus. For those who truly believe in God, nothing including death will ever separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

Evil men may try to destroy those who love God. But they cannot destroy Gods love for his people. Simply because they cannot destroy God.

Quite the contrary in the book of Ecclesiastes we read a warning to all people. Especially those who would try to fight God and his people. 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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

Please think about it.

The Lord is

  The Lord is

The psalmist writes,

"I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. 

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, 

my stronghold." 

                                Psalm 18:1,2.

I write these blogs primarily to believers. Thus I would ask the question of those believers who are reading this is The Lord truly;

your Strength,

your Rock,

your Fortress,

your Deliverer,

your Shield,

your Salvation,

your Stronghold,

Or are the things of this world more important?

Please think about it. 

Are you willing?

  Are you willing?

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  

Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

Are you willing to follow Jesus? Be careful how you answer that question. 

Jesus makes it clear what is expected of a true follower of him. In the words of Jesus, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Now that may not mean we will suffer for believing in Jesus but in may. There are millions of believers in Christ Jesus around the world today that are being persecuted, physically attacked, having their homes destroyed, put in jail and even murdered. All because they believe in Christ Jesus.

What amazes me about those persecuted Christians is that they continue to believe despite living in areas where they could suffer and die for believing. They are not ashamed of the being associated with Jesus. They are an example to all of us who live in freedom in the western democracies.

If you are reading this blog and live in the western democracies ask yourself, Am I willing to take up my cross and follow Jesus? Am I willing to suffer and possibly die for Jesus sake?

Please think about it.

Post script.

If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, remember those brothers and sisters in the Lord, who are suffering persecution. Brothers and sisters in the Lord  who live in dangerous neighbourhoods where being a Christian can get you beaten up, kidnapped, or tortured.  Brothers and sisters who are in prison and labour camps around the world for simply following Christ Jesus.

It is Possible

  It is Possible

The apostle Paul writes,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18.

Never have these words meant so much as today. There is a lot of unrest in our world today. Hatred and violence it seems dominate the news. We even hear those espousing to be Christians proclaiming hate. This should not be so.

The key I believe to living at peace with those around us whether we agree with them or not it the love of Christ. Unconditional love. 

The apostle Paul defines love this way,

“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 we as believers in Christ Jesus put the Love of God into practice into our daily lives, then it is possible for us to live at peace with those around us.

So the question becomes; Are you showing the love of Christ to those around you?

Please think about it. 

The Christian Pledge

  The Christian Pledge

For sometime I have watched with disgust men and women particularly during the recent American election demeaning others, yelling racial slurs, and openly lying about those who oppose them. 

What makes it worse for me is that men and women calling themselves Christians. Some calling themselves Christian leaders, have supported those who have done this. 

Not only that in the time since the U. S. election I have not heard of one Christian leaders or other Christian apologizing for those negative actions. Actions that are far from the Christian ethic of love and peace.

Thus I wrote the following I’m simply calling “The Christian Pledge”, hoping at least in a small way it would help Christians think about their obligation as believers in Christ Jesus.

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” 

                                                              Matthew 7:12.

Thus as a believer in Christ Jesus,

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

Never, Never, Never! To attack anyone...

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, 

their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

To uphold the dignity of all whom I come in contact with.

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

Please don’t just think about it. Do it!