Of importance to God

  Of Importance to God

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1

On February 14, 1990, NASA at a distance of 6 billion kilometres (3.7 billion miles) had the Voyager 1 space probe take a picture of the Solar system. It showed earth as a pail blue dot smaller than the head of a pin. 

Looking at it we see just how small earth is in the universe. Within the vastness of the universe it seems insignificant. Yet it is everything to those of us who live on it.

Some have said there may be more planets out there in the vastness of the universe that have life. While that may be true such planets are too far away from us to communicate with or to help us in anyway.

It is our planet and our planet alone that is important to us. We have no other place in the universe to live. 

We must also remember that we on this pail blue dot is of importance to God and we who live here. For the Bible which God  has inspired is directed at us. With the sole purpose of pointing us to God. Making it clear in a nutshell the choice we have.

In the gospel of John Jesus is recorded 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

So what do you believe?

Please think about it.

No fear in love

 No fear in love,

In 1John we read,

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

“We love because he (Jesus) first loved us.  

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”1John 4:18-21.

So the question becomes do you love your brother? 

In 1Corinthians we read what true Christian love is. It states,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered,

 it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13. 

Is this the kind of love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Scripture to live by #2

 Scripture to live by #2

A word from the apostle Peter,

"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.

As I posted in my previous blog Christians are live at peace with the world around us. Peter tell us that we are “aliens and strangers” in this world and as such we are to live good lives within the society God has place us in.

In the book of Galatians we read what a good life is. It states,

"But of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians5:22,23.

When people see the fruit of your spirit what do they see?

Please think about it.

A scripture to live by

  A Scripture to live by

The apostle Paul writes,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:18-21. 

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you follow this scripture?

Do you do your best to live at peace with those around you?

Do you feed your enemy?

Do you as far as is possible live at peace around you?

Do you do your best to overcome evil with good?

Please think about it.

Christians believe

 Christians believe.

In the gospel of John we read.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

In a nutshell I believe Jesus is God incarnate Saviour of all who believe in him. What I believe is stated in the Apostles Creed that while not written by an Apostle states what I and the majority of Christians believe. It states,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God's on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

The duty of a Christian

  The duty of a Christian

In Matthews Gospel we read,

“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.

Sometimes I think we as Christians put to many labels on who we are. Some say their a Baptist. Some an Anglican. Others Mennonite. Some call themselves evangelical.

The truth is a Christian is evangelical by nature. As we read above in Matthew 28:18-20 believers in Christ Jesus are to go into the world and tell anyone who will listen to them about what they believe.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Confess

  Confess 

In the book of Romans 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.

Is this you? Do you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in you heart God raised him from the dead? Do you trust Jesus?

We who live in the twenty-first century have never seen Jesus in the flesh, nor seen his Myricales. For us it’s a purely faith thing. We either believe or we don’t.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.... 

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 11:1,6.

So where is your faith?

Please think about it.