Are you doing right?

  Are you doing right?

In the book of James we read,

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right.” James 2:8.

The way I see this its cut and dry. We must love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We must treat our neighbour the way we want to be treated.

It all coming back to the words of Jesus who 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.

So are you doing right? Are you loving others in the same way as you love yourself?

Please think about it.

How would you answer?

  How would you answer?

Jesus said,

"Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31

This is a verse of scripture that even non-Christians know. Even though they may not know where the quote originates. 

In Matthews gospel we read that Jesus says it this way,

"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.

Do you treat people the way you want to be treated?

The Talmud while a Jewish book, and not Christian has many truths Christians can agree with. The following is one quote,

"When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, "Have you believed in God?"  Or "Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  "He is asked: "have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?" The Talmud.

Think about it when you stand before God He wont have to ask you if you believe in him. Your standing right in front of him. As for praying and observing the ritual; Those things have their place but the most important thing is “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow man”. And I think God while He knows the answer, just might offer you a chance to explain your actions. He just may want to hear what your honest assessment of your interaction with your fellow man is.

If you are dealing honourably with your fellow man you are showing the love of God in word and in deed. If you are not perhaps you are not a true believer in Christ Jesus. 

The apostle John wrote,

"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." 1 John 4:7,8.

So when you stand before God how would you answer the question if God asked,

"have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?" 

Please think about it.

Poor and Needy

  Poor and needy

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

“If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour… Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:7, 11.

Jesus said,

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 

"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:34-40.

Helping the poor and needy is a common theme throughout the scriptures.

Now works alone will not save us. Our salvation comes through faith in Christ Jesus. That being said our faith should spur us on to do good works.

Question; If you consider yourself a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus is your faith spurring you on to do good works?

Please think about it.

Evildoers

 Evildoers

Jesus said,

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

"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 7:21-23.

Now I write these blogs several weeks in advance. That being said, as I write this there is an outcry that will not go away nor should it go away soon. It’s about what amounts to genocide conducted by the Roman Catholic church here in Canada. 

This is a church organization that claims to be Christian. With a Pope who is known for his good works among the poor. Yet it will not offer a sincere apology or reach into it’s coffers and live up to the agreement they made to pay indigenous people compensation for what happened.

All that aside one has to wonder about the teacher, men and women who directly run those schools. Are these people truly Christian? From their actions I think not. 

I also think unless those who are still alive and committed these atrocities fail to repent, they will ultimately be judged by God and hear the words “away from me you evildoers”. 

Please think about it.

Dear Friend

 Dear Friends

The apostle John writes,

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1John 3:17,18

Actions mean a lot. Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today" 

                                                         Francis of Assisi.

As Christians like it or not we will be judged by those around us by what we do and say. It’s as they say, “very easy to talk the talk but much harder to walk the walk”. And we as Christians are called to walk as Jesus walked. Love and act as Jesus did.

If it’s within our power to help anyone we should. Even something as simple giving a cold bottle of water to someone on the street helps. If you can’t do that consider contributing to a food bank, or a reputable charity that helps the poor. 

Please think about it.

Accept one another

  Accept one another

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”Romans 15:7.

Back in the late sixties and early seventies I was part of a movement within the church called “Jesus freaks” essentially the hippy movement of church. The movement brought many young people, teens and such into the church. People within the movement met in small groups in houses generally. 

It was a group that accepted you at face value. If you said you believed in Jesus they believed you. They without probably knowing it at the time lived what Paul was saying in Romans 15:7.

At a time when the traditional church expected you to come to church in your “Sunday best” suits and ties for the gentlemen. Conservative dresses for women. Short hair for the men.  You could come as you are. Tee shirts and jeans, mini skirts, long hair. All that was important was that you came to worship in spirit in truth.

Worship consisted of lively music, in both the folk, rock and traditional genres. Music was made on whatever was available guitars, piano, tamborine  or anything that could make a joyful noise to the Lord. Even dance that at the time was taboo in many churches.

There were sadly, many church congregations that turned their back on us. I think those churches lost a lot by not welcoming us. While those who welcomed us were blessed.

While the church has come a long way since then. There is much that can be learned from what happened back then.

I think it serves as a reminder to churches today that we must embrace those who are “different”, or “out side the norm” for lack of a better description. 

It all comes down 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.

Which I believe means meeting people where they are at, showing them the Love of Jesus and teaching them all Jesus has taught us.

Please think about it.

In who do you place your faith ?

  In whom do you place your faith?

In the book of Chronicles we read,

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”1 Chronicles 16:11.

Do you look to the Lord and His strength? OR Do you rely on your own strength?

I think for most people especially here in North America where materialism is rampant, it can be hard to look to God for all our needs.

In the book of Matthew we read,

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honour your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.

I think at times whether we have great wealth or not we need to ask ourselves the question. Am I relying on God or my own strength to get me through life?

Certainly the man that approached Jesus was relying on his wealth. His faith was in his wealth and not in God.

Thus the question becomes, In whom or what do you place your faith?

Please think about it.

Are you Ephesus?

  Are you Ephesus ?

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:  

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

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.  

But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  Revelations 2:1-7.

It is said each church represented in the book or Revelations can refer to a church, a church denomination or even a person in the present day.

Here while the Lord comments on their deeds and hard work. That they have not tolerated wicked men. And that they have hated the practices of the Nicolaitans an heretical group. The Lord also notes,

• “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”. 

Some scholars note that this could mean that they have lost their love of God, of Christ. Some have even said they have lost their love of each other. While others say they have lost their love of both.

Either way The Lord makes it clear if they don’t repent they will loose their status before God.

As individuals we need to look at ourselves; Is God truly my first love? Do I truly love those around me. Family, friends, and foe alike?

Do I need to repent?

Do you?

Please think about it.

There are lots of ways

  There are lots of ways

In the book of James we read,

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”James 2:14-17.

Are you following this portion of Scripture? 

There are lots of ways to follow it. Give to a good charitable organization. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, a food bank or other charity that is helping the poor.

Why not take some time right now to pray and ask God how you can help the poor.

Please think about it. 

Remember these things

 Remember these things

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.

Here ultimately is what Christians are called to do. To tell the world about Christ Jesus. To go and make disciple of all nation.

The only way we are going to be able to do this is to remember three things...

1/ Do not judge anyone no matter who they are. What they believe or their way of life.

2/ Love unconditionally.

3/ do as 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 final thing we need to remember are also the words of Jesus who 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.

Please think about it.

Do your best

  Do your best

The Psalmist writes,

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, 

for I have put my trust in you. 

Show me the way I should go, 

for to you I lift up my soul." 

                                                    Psalm 143:8.

Is this your prayer? Do you ask the Lord to show His love toward you? Do you ask the Lord to show you the direction you are to go? Do you daily lift your soul to God?

As believers we need to seek God every day. We can only do this by going to Him in prayer and studying the scriptures.

The apostle Paul states,

"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.

Is this what you are doing? 

Please think about it.

Speak up

 Speak up

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, 

for the rights of all who are destitute. 

Speak up and judge fairly; 

defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

                                                                Proverbs 31:8,9.

Now I live in Canada. I see everyday what is happening in North America and if there are questions I would ask those who espouse to be Christians particularly Evangelical Christians in the United States is; 

Do you speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves?

Do you speak up for the rights of the destitute? 

Do you defend the rights of the poor?

I say this because if you are not, you are not, obeying God. The words above from Proverbs 31:8,9 are Gods words not mine.

There has been a lot of political turmoil in the United states over the last four years and sadly Christians have been caught up in it. 

If there is a positive note coming out of it, it is that truth is coming out as to who is truly following the word of God and who is not.

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.

 Campolo is right. The evangelical community in North America needs to become more biblical. 

In the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14:17.

Jesus said,

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42.

As Christians we are not called to get involved with politics. We are called to present the love of God to anyone who will listen to us.

We are to present that love in both word and deed. 

Are you speaking up for those who are in need?

Please think about it.