Running for the Crown

  Running for The Crown

The writer of Proverbs states,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."Proverbs 3:5,6.

We may not know what life has in store for us. We may go through many trials, tribulations and temptations but through it all we must trust God.

The apostle Paul equates our life in Christ as running a race. He states,

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."  1Corinthians 9:24,25.

Are you racing for the crown of life Jesus offers?

Please think about it.

Do you truly have faith in God?

 Do you truly have faith in God?

 The Psalmist writes,

 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23.

  Is the Lord truly the shepherd of your life or, do you only give intellectual consent to his existence?

  Many people say they believe in God but they do not truly trust in Him? Do they truly have faith in Him?

  I had one pastor that came from the so called bible belt states, in the United States, that note that it was hard in some areas to tell if people truly had faith in God. Whether a person had truly given their life to Christ.

  It was hard because going to church was part of the culture. People simply went to church on a Sunday and said they were Christian because it was the thing to do. These people knew what he called “church speak”. They knew what to say, how to say it, when to say it and how they were expected to act.

  I see it with politicians in the United States in particular. They say “God bless America” they even go to church while in office. Presidents and politicians attend Prayer breakfasts and other religious things yet are they truly saved?

  I have a feeling there are many people who go to church, perhaps even the majority in some areas of the world, that say they believe in God. That say they believe in Jesus, that are not going to heaven because  they have not truly made Jesus the Lord of their life.

  Following God is truly an act of faith, and while many may think they have faith in God. What they really have is the intellectually belief that God exists. Which is far different from faith. 

Thus the question becomes do you truly have faith in God and do you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God Saviour of all put their trust in Him.

Please think about it.

There is a Lord God Almighty

  There is a Lord God Almighty

The Psalmist writes,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." 

                                                                                       Psalm 19:1-3.

I have heard it said we live in the “goldilocks zone” in the universe. The one place where life as we know it can exist. 

Even Stephen Hawing arguably one of the greatest scientific minds of the twentieth century noted,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking.

Louis Pasteur said,

“A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him... The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed by the work of the Creator" Louis Pasteur.

There are many notable scientist that believe in God,

William Philips Nobel prize winner in Physics stated,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it" William Philips

Werner Heisenberg, father of Quantum Mechanics, a Nobel prize winner in Physics stated,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg.

I believe there is a Lord God Almighty. Creator of the universe. I also believe that science done correctly will prove that.

Please think about it.

Anyway you can

Anyway you can

The Psalmist writes,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.”

                                       Psalm 150.

Why not take a few minutes now and praise The LORD anyway you can?

Please think about it.

God has your back

 God has your back

The Psalmist writes,

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:7-10.

Someone once said no matter where we go “God has our back”. The above quote from Psalm 139 certainly backs that statement up.

For me personally through the years God has shown this to be true. In my darkest hours and in times of my greatest happiness I have always known God is with me.

If you haven’t already done so. Why not take some time right now to ask God to come into your life and guide you?

Please think about it.

To be Praised

  To be praised

The Psalmist writes,

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

Some one once told me the intent of this verse from Psalm 113 is simple. God is to be praised everywhere.

I firmly believe this is true. Today around the world there are billions of Christians who are praising The Lord God Almighty. It may be quietly in a secret house church. In a country where Christians are persecuted. It may be in a prison cell. OR it may be in churches on the streets and in the media of the free nations of the world.

No matter where Christians are. They will find a way to praise the Lord today and every day.

If you are a Christian that lives in the free democracies of the world don’t just praise God. Take time to ask God to protect and give wisdom to those around the world who are persecuted for being Christians and must worship and praise Him in secret.

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

Can you say this?

 Can you say this?

The Psalmist writes

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." 

                                                                                         Psalm 119:9-16

if you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus, take sometime to read the above quote from Psalm 119. Then ask yourself am I honestly living out what this is saying?

Please think about it.

With my whole heart

With my whole heart"

The Psalmist writes,

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name,” 

O Most High. 

                                   Psalm 9:1,2.

From looking around various media posts. I sometimes think that all non-Christians when it comes to Christians is negative things. 

There is a lot of things that Christians seem to be pointing to that they see is wrong. And by Christian standards there is a lot of sin in the world.

That being said it is not up to a Christian to judge the world. That is Gods job. Christians are to present the Love of God and the Salvation message to the world.

One way we can do this is to praise God publicly. Telling the world about the wonders of God.

Please think about it.

Guide me

 Guide me

The Psalmist writes,

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4,5.

This to me is my prayer. As a believer in Christ Jesus, a believer in God, I want to know His ways. I want to know Gods truths. I want to follow God to the best of my ability.

This I believe should be what all believers in Christ Jesus wants.

As believers our hope should be in God our Saviour not only all day long but every day we live on this earth.

Question; Is your trust truly in God? Do you ask God to show you His ways and guide your paths?

Please think about it.

Look to The Lord

  Look to The Lord

In the book of 1Chronicels we read,

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

                                                                            1 Chronicles 16:11

Billy Graham the late American evangelist wrote,

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus, we need to look to The Lord not just daily but sometimes hourly or even minute by minute.

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.

We may not understand what is happening to us or why it is happening, but we have a God to whom we can cling to. A God whom we can look to, to get us through any trial that may come our way.

But only if we truly trust Him completely.

Please think about it.

Showing Pity

  Showing pity

The apostle John writes,

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.... 

"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 3:11,17,18.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus and have what you need for a comfortable life. Do you show pity on those who do not? 

In the book of Proverbs we have this warning, 

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor 

will himself call out and not be answered." 

                                                                       Proverbs 21:13.

So when you see someone on the street in need. OR know of someone who has a roof over their head but lacks the finances to get enough food, do you do what you can to help them?

Please think about it.

Presenting the gospel in Athens

Presenting the gospel in Athens

For me the greatest sermon ever spoken was by the Apostle Paul in Athens. Where he was invited by Epicureans and Stoic Philosophers, NOT other believer or other Jews. To present what he believed at the Areopagus.

This incident in Pauls life shows first of all how believers in Christ Jesus should present the gospel. In a non-threatening, non-judgmental way. If Paul had been doing it any other way he would most likely not have been invited. 

Instead he met the those seated in the Areopagus where they were at and presented the gospel message.

The book of Acts records,

"So he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."  

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others

Acts 17:17-34

Note her that some “sneered” not believing is raising from the dead. Some wanted to hear more. And some became believers.

Is this what happens when you present the gospel message to those around you?

Please think about it.