Is this you?

  Is this you?

Jesus told this parable,

"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 

   I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 

"They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 

"He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:41-46.

This is a very simple question. Are you one of the people Christ describes here?

Are you doing what you can to help those less fortunate around you?

How can you help those less fortunate around you?

Please think about it.

The Sower

 The sower

“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 seldom interpreted his parables but he does this one and as he does it better than me thus I give you his interpretation,

“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.

This interpretation is very typical of what happens in our churches 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. 

 With respect

The apostle Peter states,

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"1 Peter 3:15.

First of all I think many Christians are not prepared to give and answer to people asking them why they believe in Christ Jesus. They seem to have the attitude “the bible says it I believe it” or such and such a pastor or evangelist says it so I believe it. Which is not an answer to non-believers.

Another thing many calling themselves Christians fail to do is present the gospel message with gentleness and respect. The result it is to turn people away from Christ.

We must respect others. We must respect those of different faiths and lifestyles. We should never demonstrate against them or speak disparagingly against them, or judge them.

We must 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.

Please think about it.

Planted by the water

Planted by the water

The Psalmist writes,

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:1-3.

As Christians we need to take a close look at our lives. Are we living a life God would be please with or not?

Dear reader do you “delight in the law of the LORD?”

Do you live good lives?

The apostle Peter tells us,

"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 2:11,12

If you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus are you truly doing this?

 Known by

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

The apostle Paul makes it clear how people will know we are true believers in Christ Jesus. Showing the fruits of the spirit is one of those ways.

Too many non-believers today in North America know Christians for what they are against. Rather than what they are for. 

The reason is simple they have gone their own way. They have let secularism seep into their belief system. They demonstrate against anything or anyone that opposes them.

This is not what Jesus and the disciples did. They didn’t protest against Rome or the religious leaders of their day.

Instead they kept to the script so to speak. They presented the Love of God that comes through Christ Jesus. They presented the Grace of God and Salvation that comes through Christ Jesus. And they did it in a loving peaceful way. They exhibited the fruits of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and self-control. 

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

A Note from the apostle Paul

  A note from the apostle Paul

The apostle Paul writes,

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  

Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  

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 4:2-6.

Paul here makes it clear what a Christians is suppose to do. 

Be devoted to prayer, 

Be wise in the way we act with non-Christians, 

Make the most of every opportunity to tell people about Jesus,

Let our conversations be full of grace ( grace defined as, courteous good will... attractive qualities or behaviour).

These are all things within a Christians life that will attract people to Christ.

Thus my question to you; If you consider yourself a Christian are you doing what the apostle Paul is saying here?

Please think about it.

The name of the Lord

 The name of the Lord.

In the book of Exodus we read,

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7.

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

In the new testament when Jesus is asked the question,

"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." Matthew 22:36,37,38.

We must never take the Lords name in vain. We must never use Gods name in a wrong manner.

We must remember what the Psalmist tells us,

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." Psalm 113:3.

And what Job states,

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

 may the name of the Lord be praised.” 

                                                                   Job 1:21.

God is sovereign. He is Lord over all the earth. The writer of Ecclesiastes warning us,

"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.

Please think about it.

Live as free men and women

 Live as free man and women

The apostle Peter writes,

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." 1Peter 2:16.

Peter here tells us to live as free men. 

Being free does not mean we can do anything we wish. Freedom has limitations. 

True freedom is a compromise.

It is the freedom to do as you wish. While at the same time allowing others the freedom to do as they wish, without causing harm to anyone.

For the Christian. For followers of Christ Jesus this means we can live as servants of God. It means we can present our beliefs to others and allow them to decide for themselves if they believe what we say or not.

Freedom for the Christian. For believers in Christ Jesus means we must keep our own house in order. The apostle Paul telling us,

"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.

The apostle Peter telling us,

"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 2:11,12.

This is what it is to live as free men and women of Christ.

Please think about it.

The reason for Jesus

 The reason for Jesus

John’s gospel records Jesus as saying,

"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.

This is the reason Jesus came into this world to save the world. It is what Christians all over the world must tell those around them.

The apostle Paul states,

"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.

At first glance this statement seems simple enough. Believe in Jesus and you shall go to heaven.

Believing in someone. Having faith in someone. Especially someone you cannot see is a very difficult thing for some people. Yet the Bible calls us to have faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

"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 question to you. Do you have faith in God? 

Do you believe Jesus when He said,

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

Please think about it.

Trust

Trust

In Proverbs

Those who trust in their riches will fall, 

but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

                                                               Proverbs 11:28

The Psalmist writes,

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                            Psalm 20:7.

Where is your trust. In material possessions or in God? 

Now there’s nothing wrong with having a lot of possessions or being wealthy it’s what value we place in them. It’s what place they occupy in our life. Do we put our trust in what we have rather than God.

The apostle Paul warned,

"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.

Thus I ask you the question do you love money more than God?

In whom do you place your trust?

Please think about it.

A duty we cannot do if...

 A duty we cannot do if...

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.

Have you ever judged a person? 

I was once in a car with a person driving in the downtown of our city while stopped at a crosswalk a shabbily dressed man half walked half saggared in front of our car. All the while talking incoherently.

The person with me commented “drunk and its only nine in the morning.” 

It turned out, I found out later that this man had an illness that prevented him from walking and speaking normally. Further more he was mentally ill. The person I was with had judged him wrongly.

This is one reason I’m sure Jesus told us not to judge anyone. We have no idea why a person is the way they are.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

The reason we can judge those within the church is simple. They claim to be followers of Christ and thus we have the right to check whether or not they are proclaiming the word of God correctly. Whether or not they are living a Godly life. If they are not we can expel them from the church.

That being said whether a person is in the church or not we have no right to say where they will spend eternity.

The duty of the church is simple. Jesus telling us,

"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.

This is a duty we cannot do if we are judging those outside the church.

Please think about it.

A warning to believers

 A Warning to believers

In the book of James we read,

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,...” James 2:12

The writer of Ecclesiastes issues a warning to believers also,

"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.

Sadly where I live in North America these scriptures are many times forgotten of ignored.

While or faith may save us. Our faith in Christ Jesus should transform our lives. The apostle Paul writing,

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  

  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1,2.

Thus I have these questions to anyone who considers themselves a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus;

Is your life truly transformed? Are you doing Gods will or following your own?

Are you speaking and acting as someone who is going to be judged by the law that gives freedom?

Please think about it.