Fix your eyes on what is unseen

  Fix your eyes on what is unseen.

The apostle Paul writes,

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

This is a very hard thing to do especially in the materialistic society that we in North America live in. Sadly for many if they can’t see it, feel it, or taste it, it doesn’t exist.

What Paul is asking his readers is to have faith. The book of Hebrews telling us,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  

This is what the ancients were commended for." Hebrews 11:1,2.

The writer of Hebrews going on to say,

“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.

Thus my questions, to you; Is your eyes fixed on what is unseen? Is your eyes fixed on God?

Please think about it.

The first and greatest

 The first and greatest 

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

The way I see it if you claim to be a Christian you must love unconditionally family friend and foe alike.

The apostle Paul defining what Christian love is when he wrote,

“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.

So my question to you if you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus, is this the kind of love you show to others?

Please think about it.

A Duty

  A Duty

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 read this is we have a duty before God to treat others with the respect we expect from them.

We do not have the right to do as we wish. 

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.  

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”Matthew 5:43-46.

Throughout the New Testament in particular we see again and again that we as individuals are to put others ahead of ourselves.

We are called to Love our family, friends and foe alike, unconditionally.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Live as Children of The Light.

 Live as Children of The light

The apostle Paul writes,

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)” Ephesians 5:8,9.

Are you a child of the light? When someone looks at your life do they see goodness, righteousness and truth?

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians states,

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us....”  2 Corinthians 5:20a.

An ambassador is a countries or kings representative in another country. It is through the lense of that ambassadors life that people see the king or country.

Thus people will see Jesus through anyone who calls themself a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus.

So what are your words and deeds telling the world around you about Jesus?

Does you life consist of goodness, righteousness truth and the unconditional love of Christ Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Love in a Covid World

  Love in a Covid world

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2.

Do you walk in Love? 

Jesus by going to the cross for us showed what true love is. Would you be willing to go that far?

The apostle Paul speaking of love wrote,

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, 

always perseveres...”

                                              1Corinthians 13:7.

What does this mean in a Covid world? I think the answer is simple be it in a Covid world or otherwise. It means that we must do our best to preserve the lives of those around us. If that means socially distancing or staying at home we must do so.

Please think about it.

Show Respect

 Show respect

The apostle Peter wrote,

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king.” 1Peter 2:13-17.

Before I proceed let me preface this. I believe it is every Christians duty to present to Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen to us. It is only when governments or other groups stop us from doing this we have the right to protest.

That being said in this Covid crisis we are in here in North America I believe as long as there is a way for us to meet be it on line or in socially distancing situations we have no reason to protest against the government. Quite the contrary we should be obeying the temporary restrictions place on us.

The apostle Peter makes it clear, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors,...”.

It can’t be any clearer than that. 

Yes for the short term we may have to be creative in the way we meet. But we can still meet. And who knows by being creative in how and where we worship we may just further the cause of Christ.

Please think about it.

You did it to God

 You did it to God

Jesus said,

“The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”Matthew 25:40.

Here in North America we without realizing it live in a selfish society. A society were “my rights” trump your rights. Sadly this has entered the church.

If this pandemic has showed us one thing it is that there are large numbers of people who think of themselves first and forget about others. People who claim “their rights” are being trampled on because the government is following sound scientific advice and putting temporary restrictions on what we can do in order to protect the whole population.

One verse from scripture I’ve heard tossed about by some Christians is Hebrews 10:25,

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”Hebrews 10:25. 

Those who say we must obey this are right. But the government is not stopping us from meeting together. It’s just asking us to do it in another way. On line, in smaller socially distance groups.

When the author of Hebrews penned the words “let us not give up meeting together...” he never said how we were to meet. He could never have imagined the ways we in the twenty-first century could meet.

I admit that meeting on zoom or even meeting socially distanced does not feel the same but we are still meeting and glorifying God.

Not only that we in obeying the Covid restrictions are protecting those most vulnerable to the illness. Thus I believe we who obey the Covid restrictions and look to helping the most vulnerable in our society will one day hear the words of Jesus who said,

 “The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”Matthew 25:40.

Please think about it.

Some Forgotten truths

  Some forgotten truths

Jesus said,

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17. 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1.

I have watched over the years the way particularly evangelical Christian groups here in North America seem to forget the above scriptures. Sadly they are quick to point out the faults of others. Quick to judge where others will spend eternity. 

Judging others, particularly where they are going to spend eternity is not the job of a Christian. 

Gods purpose in sending Jesus to this earth was “to save the world through him.” 

As Billy Graham the late American evangelist put it,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                               Billy Graham

As believers in Christ Jesus we have an obligation to love those around us. To show family, friend and foe alike to heaven.

Thus my questions to you;

          If you consider yourself a Christian are you judging or loving others? 

Are you through your words and deeds pointing people to Christ or pushing them away?

Please think about it.

What the apostle Paul believed

 What the Apostle Paul believed

The Apostle Paul writes,

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:9-13.

The apostle Paul leaves nothing to doubt about how he believes we get to heaven. He states, if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead we will be saved.

Paul does not believe we are saved by works. He believes we are saved by faith. Salvation being a gift from God. Paul notes,

“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.

Thus my question to you, Do you believe Jesus is Lord, the Saviour of mankind?

Please think about it.

A Radical Statement

 A Radical Statement

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:5,6.

These are Pauls words not mine. What he states here however is a cornerstone of Christian belief. Jesus is the one mediator between God and men. Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all men. 

In order to be a Christian you must believe this.

Jesus himself states,

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

What Paul and Jesus said are radical statements that if false no one has anything to worry about. However if they are true, as I believe they are, those who do not believe what is said here have a great deal to think about.

Thus my question to you; who do you believe Jesus is?

        Please think about it.

Are you doing this?

 Are you doing this?

Jesus said,

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  

The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  

The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 

“ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 

“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 

“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 

 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13

     Someone once told me the whole meaning of this parable in two words, “be prepared.” They were right.

We do not know the hour or the time Jesus will return and we do not know the hour of our death. Thus we should be ready at all times to meet God no matter how we meet Him. 

Being prepared is a personal thing. No one else can prepare for us. We need to be in that personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We need to have confessed our sins to Him and allowed him to come into our lives as Lord and Saviour. Our lives need to be dedicated to the Lord.

We need to be studying the scriptures and witnessing to the lost. 

Jesus said

“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 28:19-20.

This is the lot of the Christian, to tell the world about God’s love. To tell the world of the salvation that can only come through Christ Jesus. To teach the new converts all Jesus has taught us to until He returns in His Glory.

Are you doing this?

Are you prepared to meet God?

Think about it.

The spectrum of hearers

  The spectrum of hearers 

Matthews gospel records Jesus as saying,

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  

He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:1-9.  

         Jesus then gave this interpretation to the parable,

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23.

What Jesus is saying here is happening today. There are those who hears the message but fails to fully understand it and quickly falls away without trying to look deeper.

There are others who receive the word out of the emotion of the moment only to fall away when the emotion dies off.

Then there are those who receive the word but have a lot of earthly baggage. They fall pray to the worries of the world. And fall away as their worries in this world take precedent over the word of God.

Then there are those who truly believe who go forth and take the gospel to those around them producing more believers.

Where are you in this spectrum of hearers of the word?

Think about it.