Rest in Jesus

  Rest in Jesus.

In the gospel of Matthew we read Jesus saying,

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

Today is the last day of the year of our Lord 2023. It has been a year of trials for my family and I. A year that proves what Jesus said in the scripture verses quoted above is true.

I cannot imagine going through what I have gone through without Jesus. Without the ability to turn to God in prayer and see those prayers answered. 

Question: Do you know God? Have you received the Saving Grace offered to all who believe in Christ Jesus?

The early apostles certainly did. And even though they were beaten, stoned, put in prison and even put to death they still believed.

Here’s a challenge for you if you have never accepted Christ into your life.

Take some time this coming year to read the New Testament and see what the early church and the apostles believed. Then decide for yourself if it is true or false.

Please think about it.

In the House of Mourning

 In the House of Mourning

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. 

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.

The writer of Ecclesiastes is telling us that ultimately all of the things we do on this earth is meaningless. All that we have “toiled to achieve” is meaningless. It’s meaningless because we will leave them in this world when we depart to stand before God.

Later on he writes,

"The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning,

 but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure."

                                                                             Ecclesiastes 7:4.

At first glance this statement seems unusual, but think about it. We will one day die. All of our possessions will be passed on to others while we will stand before God. Our only possessions being the words and deeds we did in this world.

Thus we should always keep in the back of our mind what we will take with us when we stand to be judged by God.

As a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. I firmly believe the most important thing we can do in this world is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul writing,

"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. Romans 10:9,10.

Do you believe in The Lord Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

What fruit are you eating?

  What fruit are you eating?

In proverbs we read,

“The tongue has the power of life and death, 

and those who love it will eat its fruit.” 

                                                              Proverbs 18:21

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 

                                                               Proverbs 12:18

In the book of James we read,

“Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, 

but it makes great boasts. 

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”  

                                                                                      James 3:5.

Simply put what we say and do can cause great harm or great good. And we will be judged not only by God but by those around us.

So the message is be careful when you speak. For you will eat the words that come out of your mouth.

Remember what the writer of Proverbs said,

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,

 and discerning if he holds his tongue." 

                                                             Proverbs 17:28.

Please think about it.

Turn from evil and do good

  Turn from evil and do good

The Psalmist states,

"Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." 

                                                                          Psalm 34:11-14.

Do the words written by the Psalmist above reflect your life? 

Please take time to pray and ask God to show you the truth about your life. 

And if you find anything wrong do as the Psalmist states,

“Turn form evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

Please think about it.

Words from Colossians

  Words from Colossians.

In the book or Colossians we read this, 

“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 3:16,17.

As Christians we are called to study the Scriptures, the word of God and put them in practice in our lives. We should not see the Bible as a text book telling us what we should and should not do. 

We need to daily put what God is saying to us in the scriptures in to actions. We need to help one another as brothers and sisters in Christ to live good lives based on scripture.

We need to sing praises, hymns and spiritual songs to God. And we need to do it all with gratitude for all God has done for us.

Furthermore when we do good deeds we need to do them in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Giving thanks to God the Father.

Question?

Do you do this in your daily life?

Please think about it.

God of my Salvation

  God is my Salvation

Isaiah the Prophet states,

"Behold, God is my salvation; 

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation."

with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  

And will say in that day:

Give thanks to the Lord call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously

let this be made known in all the earth.

Shout and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, 

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

                                                                      Isaiah 12:2-6.

Can you say God is your salvation?

Do you believe the words of the apostle Peter who speaking about Jesus said,

"He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11,12.

If so will you take some time right now to praise God for all He as done for you and brought you through?

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

Simeon said it.

  Simeon said it.

In Luke’s gospel we read,

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.

This is who Jesus is. As Simeon put it,

“...a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Jesus himself 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

The apostle Peter when standing before the religious leaders, who could have punished them for what they believed and said. Boldly spoke of Jesus this way,

"He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11,12.

Jesus is the Son of God. Saviour of each individual who would put their trust in Him.

Would you take time to at least read the New Testament and see what the early church believed about Him?

Would you accept Jesus into your life this day?

         Please think about it.

The Most Momentous day in History

  The most Momentous day in History

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  

And everyone went to his own town to register. 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7.

Believe it or not the most momentous day in human history was not when man stepped on the moon but when God entered the world he created.

I firmly believe that God came into the world to show how much he loved us. At the same time I believe God in his wisdom came to earth so that no one standing before him on judgement day could say God did not understand what it was to be a man.

Yes I believe God is all knowing and before coming to this earth I’m sure he understood what it was like to be a man. But in coming to the earth he leaves no doubt that He understands what it is to be a man.

Jesus experienced what it was like to be a child and play. He understood what it was like to be a refugee. His parents having to flee with him to Egypt to prevent Herod killing him. 

Jesus I’m sure understood the mundane things of everyday living. Smelling the air after a rain storm. Having his feet dusty. Even getting something in his eye.

He also attended weddings and I’m sure other social events. He knew what it was to have a friend die.

At the same time he experienced the worst mankind had to offer. Being accused falsely of a crime. Being brutally beaten and put to death in the most horrendous way.

He also conquered death and the grave by resurrecting from the grave.

And why did He do this? Because He love each individual and wanted them to go to heaven.

Jesus talking about Himself 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.  

C. S. Lewis aptly noted,

"He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less." C.S. Lewis.

So the question becomes; 

Do you believe in Christ Jesus?

 Do you believe He came into this world so that by accepting His sacrifice you will go to heaven? 

Please think about it.

Something Incredible

 Something incredible 

       The Gospel of Luke records,

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:26-33.

Here Luke records the most momentous day in human history. Mary was about to give birth to the Son of the Most High God, Jesus.

It must have been an overwhelming experience for Mary. At the same time Mary’s faith in God must have been incredibly deep for God to choose her out of all the women in Israel.

The other aspect is. Luke asks his readers to believe what at first glance seems an incredible story.

Luke here doesn’t leave room for debate. Whether it is true or not. He and the other apostles certainly believed it to be true as dose every Christian even today.

That being said, every person when confronted with this statement of Luke’s must decide for him or herself if it is true.

Did God use a Virgin from a small Galilean village to bring His One and Only Son into the world or not?

What do you believe?

Please think about it.

You are Grass

  You are Grass

"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.

Lets face it the one thing everyone on the face of the earth can agree on is that we will not get out of this life alive. Ultimately we will all pass into eternity.

Thus the question is where will you spend eternity?

We are eternal beings living in a body that will one day turn to dust. While our soul. That essence that is you will live on through eternity.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. stated in one of his speeches,

“Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

Which again begs the question if Dr. King was right. Where will you spend eternity?

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.” John 3:16

Jesus also issued a warning,

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 17.

The choice given to you by God is to believe in Christ Jesus or not. 

Thus I would say to you before you decide. At least read the New Testament and see for yourself what those who knew Jesus believed Him to be.

Please think about it.

The Purpose of Jesus' Ministry

  The Purpose of Jesus’ Ministry

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.

It is universally believed by Christians that Isaiah the prophet here is speaking about Jesus. His words giving us the purpose of Christ’s ministry.

Jesus speaking of himself stating,

"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. 

The apostle Paul stating,

"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.” Romans 10:9,10.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Trust Him or not?

 Trust Him or not?

In the Gospel of John we read 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.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

Jesus here is speaking about himself. He is speaking plainly. He tell us that He came into the world to save the world. To save individuals from sin. From Hell.

I think it would be wrong of Jesus not to warn people of what will happen if they don’t believe in Him.

The choice however is up to each individual. The question we must ask ourselves is;

Do I believe that Jesus is The Son of God. Saviour of all who put their trust in Him or not?

Please think about it.