Trust with all your heart

 Trust with all your heart

The writer of Proverbs tells us,

"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.

To be a Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus we must put our faith firmly in God. The writer of Hebrews telling us,

"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.

This does not necessarily mean that we will receive our rewards in this world. Certainly the patriarchs mentioned in Hebrews did not see the fruition of their faith in their lifetime. Still they did receive their reward in heaven.

The apostle Paul said,

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28.

One commentator stating,

"God weaves everything together for good for his children, The "good" in this contexts does not refer to earthly comfort, but conformity to Christ, closer fellowship with God, bearing good fruit for the kingdom, and final glorification," Thomas R. Schriner.

Ultimately as we put our trust in God. We are showing others our faith and where their faith should be. 

Ultimately we need to...

"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.

Are you?

Please think about it.

Christians and those in authority

 Christians and those in authority

The apostle Paul writes,

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  

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 2:1-6.

Here the apostle Paul tells us to make requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for everyone. For kings and those in authority.

Note here Paul dose not say pray and expect the governments agree with us. Remember we like Paul live in a largely non-Christian world. A multicultural world filled with many gods.    The governments of this world are for the most part secular. There are no Christian governments in the world today. Nor are there any nations based strictly on Christian principles.

The best I believe Christians can hope for is to live at peace with them. To live quiet lives of godliness and holiness so that we can present our beliefs to others.

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.

Again knowing what you know as a Christian would you not want people praying for you if you were in a position of authority?

Please think about it.

Christians duty to the poor

 Christians duty to the poor

In the book of Leviticus we read,

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19: 9,10.

The Jews have a concept known as "Tzedakah". That I believe lines up perfectly with Christian belief. 

I got the following definition of Tzadakah from a Jewish website it states, 

"Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word "charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.

The word "tzedakah" is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due."

According to Jewish scholars there are various levels of Tzedakah,

Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, but giving cheerfully,

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows yours

Giving when you know and the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know yours.

Giving when neither party knows the other's identity.

Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 

This lines up with Jesus who 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.' 

"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 25:34-46.

Providing food, shelter, medical aid and even a job for the needy is simply providing basic human right. Providing what everyone on this earth should have access to.

Also in providing these basic human rights in the name of Jesus, to someone opens a door to tell them about the saving grace that comes from Christ Jesus.

If you were hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothing, sick or in prison I'm sure you would appreciate any help that comes your way.

It comes down to

"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.

Gods instrument

 Gods instrument

In the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:14-20.

There are many Christians who will tell you, you are saved by faith. That is true. However James here make it clear our faith needs to be accompanied by works. Good deeds.    If we indeed have true faith in Jesus it well spur us on to good deeds. Simply believing in God should never be enough for the believer in Christ Jesus. We need to put our faith into action.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, harmony;

Where there is error, truth;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                                   Francis of Assisi

When people look at you are they seeing as an instrument of Gods Love?

Please think about it.

Fruits of a Christian

 Fruits of a Christian

The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,

“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.

Here is a simple test a check list, to see if anyone calling themselves a Christian is actually a Christian. Are they exhibiting the fruits of the spirit?  

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

gentleness, 

self-control.

Ask yourself am I exhibiting the fruits of the spirit in my life at all times? 

Please think about it.

Abstain from sinful desires

  Abstain from sinful desires.

The apostle Peter telling us.

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

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 2:9-12.

We must remember that as Peter tells us we are “aliens and strangers in this world” Thus we must do our best to, as Peter tells us “to abstain from sinful desires”. 

We must live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse us of doing wrong, they may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

When people look at you what do they see?

Do you do your best to abstain from sinful desires? 

Please think about it.

Wants one to help the other

  Wants one to help the other

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.

The Bible is full of admonitions to the believer to help those in need. 

Now while the Talmud is not a Christian book. It states something that is in line with scripture. It states,

“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

Are you making the world around you a household of Love?

Please think about it.