Think carefully

  Think carefully

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

"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.

The Psalmist writes,

“Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

“let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.” Psalm 96:10-13. 

Winston Churchill said,

“I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.” Winston Churchill

Are you prepared to meet your maker? Are you ready to meet God? Because God is always prepared to meet you. How will you feel when you meet God?

The late American evangelist Tony Campolo wrote,

“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this  when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?” Tony Campolo.

Please think carefully about it.

What is unseen is eternal

 What is unseen is eternal

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

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.  

This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1,2.

We are called to believe by faith God exists.

The writer of Hebrews stating,

"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.

The faith we are called to have is not blind faith. In the book of Psalms we read,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1.

Even science is proving God exists. Scientist say we live in the perfect place in the universe that allows for life as we know it exists.

  Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr Arno Penzias

Even Stephen Hawing arguably one of the greatest minds of the last century and as far as I know an atheist said,

“It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us,”

Werner Heisenberg states, 

“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 father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics

So do you have faith there is a God?

Please think about it.

All the laws hang on these two

 All the laws hang on these two

In Matthews gospel we read, the Pharisees saying to Jesus,

“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. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

Do you love? Do you love the way Christians are called to love? 

In 1Corinthians we read,

"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

So after reading 1 Corinthians 13 would you say this is the way you love?

Please think about it.

Are you making disciples?

 Are you making disciples ?

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37.

In the book of James we read,

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:12,13.

We are Christ’s ambassadors in this world. And Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”John 3:17

The job of a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus is not to judge people. But to make disciple of all nations.

Jesus stating,

"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.

Question: Are you judging those around you, or presenting the word of God to them? Are you making disciples?

Please think about it.

Of deeds and faith

 Of deeds and faith

“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.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are called to help those in need. I like what the Talmud a Jewish book 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.

We need to do our best to help those in need. Be it giving to a reputable charity or even giving a handful of change to someone begging on the street.

We should never judge the poor because we don’t know how or why they are poor. We should never judge a homeless person on the street saying to ourselves that the money we give him or her will be spent on drugs or alcohol. That’s not our place. We should give without judgment.

Tony Campolo wrote,

"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change." Tony Campolo.

So my question to you dear reader is, do you help the poor?

Please think about it.

With thanksgiving in your heart

  With thanksgiving in your heart

The Psalmist writes,

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4,5.

There is a song we use to sing. Called He has made me glad by Leona Von Brethorst based on Psalm 100:4 and 118:24. The word are,

“I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this a day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad.” Leona Von Brethorst.

Do you take time during your busy day. To enter in to the courts of God with thanksgiving in your heart?

Please think about it, 

In whom you hope

  In whom you hope.

In Psalms we read,

"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.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus do you go to the Lord and as him to teach his path? Do you ask him to guide you in his truth? Do you ask God to teach you what he wants to do in your life?

Is God truly your Saviour in whom you hope?

Please think about it.