As a Christian

As a Christian
Jesus when asked,

“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

As a Christian

You must do this.

“You have heard that it was said,

 ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  

But I tell you: Love your enemies 

and pray for those who persecute you,...”

 Matthew 5:43,44

As a Christian 

you must do this.

The apostle Paul tells us,

“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

As a Christian 

you must love like this.

Jesus said,

“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

As a Christian 

you must do this.

The writer of Hebrews tells Christians,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14

As a Christian 

you cannot afford to do less.

Please think about it.

Cleansing the Temple

Cleansing the temple
“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  
“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’’” Matthew 21:12,13.
Here Jesus is cleansing the temple. At that time there were money changers exchanging coins with  pagan symbols on them for coins with acceptable symbols on them that would be used in the temple. In doing so they were charging a premium. There were those also who sold doves at top prices all inside the temple. The people doing this were doing it for pure profit with wrong motives. They were essentially taking true believers money for wrong reasons. This should not have been so. The chief priests and scribes should have seen this and done something about it but didn’t. Thus Jesus became very angry and drove out those who bought and sold.
Someone once noted to me rightly, that such a thing is happening today, especially it seems among those who call themselves evangelical Christians here in North America.
There are those who from their pulpit in the media and elsewhere that are selling lotions, potions, how to books, and other things that are little more than secular products, that may or may not work, with Christian sounding names attached, at a premium price.
There are those out there promising Christians God will give them a high return for there money if they give to their ministry, as if God is some kind of cosmic banker providing super interest on their money. This should not be so. That is not the purpose of the Church.
Jesus said,
“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.
This is the sole purpose of the church. To make disciple of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. To teach those converts all Jesus taught until the day he returns.
As I write this A. D. 2016 has but a few days to go. Let us take stock of what we as Christians are doing. Let us resolve to do as Jesus said,
“...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 28:19,20.
Please think about it.

You Decide

You Decide
The Gospel of Matthew states,
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.  
If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 
“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.  
They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.  
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” 
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 
“Hosanna in the highest!” 
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11.
Here we have Jesus entering Jerusalem. Those who were following him praising him as he entered the city proclaiming him to be the Son of David. It made such a stir in the city that those in the city asked who Jesus was. To which came the reply “the prophet form Nazareth in Galilee”
In entering Jerusalem as he did Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of Zechariah.

“Say to the Daughter of Zion, 

‘See, your king comes to you,

 gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt,

 the foal of a donkey.’ ”.

Zechariah 9:9

But Jesus did not enter the city on a horse of war. He entered on a beast of burden. Something that would have more than likely been non-threatening to the Roman authorities.
However his entry did create a stir. Those who followed Jesus that day called out,

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 

“Hosanna in the highest!” 

This is something the followers of Jesus are calling out to the world today. They are honouring Jesus with their praise.
To this day believers in Jesus believe what the writer of Hebrews states,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
In doing so Christians are saying to the world you must decide just who Jesus is.
Please think about it.

The Greatest

The Greatest
Jesus said,
“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28.
Man’s way is not God’s way. Within our society those in power tend to tell people what to do. They do not serve those under them. Rather those under them serve them. That is that way it’s been throughout history.
Christian belief however tells us that if you wish to be great in the kingdom of God you must be a servant to all.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honor one another above yourselves.  

Romans 12:9,10

Please think about it.

Belongs to Them

Belongs to them,
Matthew’s gospel tells us,
“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  
When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15.
Here the people brought their children for Jesus to bless. Those who did this were most likely believers in God. They seen in Jesus at the very least a man of God and desired to have him bless their children.
I firmly believe it is incumbent on every person who believes in Christ, who believe in God the creator of heaven and earth, to bring up their children in their faith. The book of proverbs tells us.

“Train a child in the way he should go,

 and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

Proverbs 22:6.

The book of Deuteronomy states,

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today 

are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. 

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, 

when you lie down and when you get up.  

Tie them as symbols on your hands 

and bind them on your foreheads.  

Write them on the doorframes of your houses 

and on your gates. 

                                                                                    Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
As Christians we must live our faith in full view of our Children.
Joshua Loth Liebman wrote,
“Give your children unconditional love, a love that is not dependent on report cards, clean hands, or popularity.
  Give your children a sense of your whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance of their human frailties as well as their abilities and virtues.  
Give your children your permission to grow up to make their own lives independent of you.  
Give them a sense of truth; make them aware of themselves as citizens of a universe in which there are many obstacles as well as fulfilments.  
Bestow upon your child the blessings of your faith.  
These are the laws of honouring your son and your daughter.  Out of these laws will be built the Declaration of Independence for the coming generation, a spiritual and emotional independence that, in turn, will make the world free, democratic, safe, creative”.  Joshua Loth Liebman.
Please think about it.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness
Matthew’s gospel
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  
As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 
“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’  
The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.  
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’  
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18: 21-35.
Here Peter asks a simple question as to how many times should we forgive sins, to which Jesus states, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Jesus here is not telling Peter to simply forgive 490 times, but rather times without number.
He then tells the story of a servant that had a very large debt forgiven by his master who then turns around and fails to forgive a fellow servant of his debt. Having the man thrown into prison.
When the master found how the servant had treated the other servant with complete lack  of love and mercy, he then ordered the other to be thrown in jail, for failure to forgive.
Being a Christian is all about relationships, and love. Our relationship to God and those around us. Our love for God and those around us.
The Talmud while not a Christian book was written to those who believe in God. It tells this story that is very much relevant to Christians and others, it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?” The Talmud
Like it or not God will judge us on how we treated our fellow men.
    James the half brother of Jesus states,
“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.
As Christians we are called to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us. To show mercy and love.
C. S. Lewis noted,

"To be a Christian means 

to forgive the inexcusable 

because God has forgiven 

the inexcusable in you.” 

C.S. Lewis

Martin Luther King jr. the American civil rights leader said,
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Please think about it.

The Peace of Christmas

       May all who reads this today, Christmas day 2016, truly find the hope, peace and everlasting life with God, that Jesus brings to all who would believe in Him.
May you with the like Simeon be able to say
“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 2:30-32
May you be able to rejoice with the Psalmist who wrote,

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

Yours in Christ, 

Neal W.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?
For most people here in North America where I live and indeed in the western nations of the world. Christmas is a family time. A time to show our love and to exchange gifts as a token of that love.
We think of Christmas trees, Father Christmas and good food.
When we think of the religious aspect of Christmas we think of the traditional concept of the baby Jesus laying in a manger. His parents Mary and Joseph along with the shepherds and the wise men standing around. A beautiful and quaint scene. That for many has great meaning.
But just who is this Jesus who’s birth we celebrate?
Luke’s gospel tells us,
“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.
The apostle John’s gospel speaking in spiritually puts it this way,
“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.
Jesus is more than that baby lying in a manger. More than a good man or great moral teacher. John the Baptist said of Jesus,
...“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
The writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 
In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” 
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Hebrews 1:1-9.
Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. He came to this earth with one purpose to show how far God would go to reconcile man to himself.
God knew man could not live a life holy enough to stand before him. Man by his nature sins. Sin is falling short of what God wants for our life. Even the best of people do things wrong and fall short of what God would want for them. That’s why God in the form of Jesus came to this world to offer us hope. The apostle Paul writing,
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:5-8.
God truly love each and every individual that is why he came. To offer each individual eternal life with him.
The apostle John says of Jesus,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
Are you a child of God?
Do you believe Jesus is the one and only Son of God, the Saviour of Mankind?
Please think about it.

Faith

Faith
Matthew’s Gospel records,
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 
He called a little child and had him stand among them.  
And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:1-5.
What is true greatness? According to Jesus, someone who is truly great is someone who humbles themselves like a child. That’s not to say we are to check our brain at the door so to speak when we choose to believe in God.
Quite the contrary. Becoming humble as a child means accepting things we may not fully understand by faith and acting on that faith. While at the same time asking questions that help us understand and strengthen our faith.
A Child is by nature inquisitive. Children accept what is told to them by adults in good faith. while still asking a lot of questions that they may fully know the truth.
The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope

 for and certain of what we do not see.”  

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is taking the first step 

even when you don't see the whole staircase.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Taking that first step of faith can take a lot of courage. However as someone who has taken that step I can testify that the rewards are worth it. Something I would urge everyone to consider doing.
Please think about it.

Who do you say I am?

Who do you say I am?
Matthew’s gospel records,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  Matthew 16: 13-17.
Here is a question for the ages. Just who is Jesus? It is a question Jesus asked of his disciples it is a question each individual in the world that hears about Jesus must answer.
The apostle Peter answered.
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”
Today in 2016 people have varying opinions as to who Jesus is. Some atheist go as far as saying he is myth. Some say he is a good man. A great moral teacher. While his followers say he is the Christ. The Messiah. The Son of the living God. Saviour of mankind.
I believe if we truly want to know who Jesus is we must be sincerely looking for him. The reason many people fail to find who Jesus truly is, is because they are not truly looking for Him. Yet He is there waiting for us to reach out to him.
The Apostle Paul speaking to people who were searching for meaning in life stood in the Areopagus in Athens and said,
“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.” Acts 17:22-31.
Of those who listened to Paul that day. Some did not believe what he said, some wanted to hear more, while others believed.
The same thing happens today among people who hear about Jesus.
Some do not believe who he is.
Some want to know more about Him.
While some believe Jesus, is, “the Son of the living God”
In which group are you?
Please think about it.

Unclean?

Unclean?

“Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand.  
What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ ”.... 
“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?  
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’  
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  
These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ ” Matthew 15: 10,11, 17-20.
Here Jesus had just criticized the Pharisees for missing the spirit of the law. He noted that they are in essence very legalistic. Interpreting the laws in a very strict manner that takes away from the spirit of the law.
In this situation the religious leaders had criticized Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands before they eat.
Jesus noted that this is a minor thing. It’s not the physical things. The things that go into a mans body that make the him unclean as a person. It is what is in a persons heart.
As citizens of the twenty-first century we are bombarded with millions of bits of information both good bad and neutral. It is up to us as individuals to decide what is good or bad.
    As Christians we have a moral code laid down by God himself by which we must judge that information. That moral code in it’s simplest form being the ten commandments.
The apostle Peter however tells Christians,
“His (Christ’s) divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:3-8.
Please think about it.

A Treasure

A Treasure
Jesus told this parable,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.
As Christians we believe that we have the most important thing in the history of the world to tell people about, Jesus Christ. A treasure of great value.
A treasure we feel it would be morally wrong to not tell people about.
That message is about Jesus and the salvation only he can bring.
Jesus 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

Jesus speaking of 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.

The apostle Paul wrote,
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:5-8.
The apostle Paul reminds us,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

 not by works, so that no one can boast.”  

 Ephesians 2:8,9.

It is by the grace of God that we enter heaven through faith in God and saving Grace of Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“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

Faith defined as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

 Hebrews 11:1

If we Christians are wrong we have lost nothing. By living according to the teachings of Jesus. We have lived at the very least a good life.
Blaise Pascal said,

“Belief is a wise wager. 

Granted that faith cannot be proved, 

what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? 

If you gain, you gain all; 

if you lose, you lose nothing. 

Wager, then, without hesitation, 

that He exists.” 

Blaise Pascal.

Please think about it.

Where do you stand

Where do you stand?

Jesus told this parable,
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  

As he was scattering the seed, 

some fell along the path, 

and the birds came and ate it up.  

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. 

It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, 

and they withered because they had no root. 

Other seed fell among thorns, 

which grew up and choked the plants.  

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—

a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  

He who has ears, let him hear.” 

Matthew 13:3-9.

Jesus interprets the parable saying,

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom 

and does not understand it, 

the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

This is the seed sown along the path.  

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places 

is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. 

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word,

 he quickly falls away. 

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns 

is the man who hears the word, 

but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, 

making it unfruitful.  

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil 

is the man who hears the word and understands it. 

He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” 

Matthew 13: 18-23

Here is an illustration I have found to be true in my years as a Christian. The Gospel message about Jesus is being sown, spread throughout our society, our world.
1/ There are those who hear about it but have closed minds they are if you will like the hard packed surface of the road. The message of the gospel is presented but they don’t want to listen to it. They dismiss it without thought.
2/ Then there are those who listen to the message about Jesus and for a brief time believe. They may very quickly become involved in the Church but because they have never bothered to put down roots. To build a strong foundation for their faith. They eventually wander away from the faith.
3/ Then there are those who hear the word of God but their faith is lacking. They let the worries of life and temptations of the world take over their faith. taking them away from God.
4/ Finally there are those who willingly accept the gospel message. Those who are truly looking for spiritual meaning and peace in life.
These people take the word of God to heart. They study the scriptures. They learn all they can about Jesus and God.  They are true believers. Men and women of faith who no matter what happens their faith is not shaken.
My question to you is where do you stand with respect to Jesus, with respect to God?
Please think about it. 

Some are not

Some are not
Jesus told this parable,
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.  
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30.
Believe it or not there are men and women in the world today who claim to be Christian but are not. There are pastors, evangelist, teachers and others in the Media within denominations, and within individual church congregations who are not Christians.
Jesus said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, 

‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, 

and in your name drive out demons 

and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. 

Away from me, you evildoers!’”

 Matthew 7:22,23.

 Just because someone has a pulpit in the media or in a church be it large or small. Just because someone goes to church and is active in a church congregation of denomination does not mean they are Christians.
The Church has been around for a long time it has sadly picked up a lot of baggage. There are men and women claiming to be Christians who are deceiving many. Some are taking advantage of people both spiritually and financially.
The apostle Paul tells us,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,

 they will gather around them a great number of teachers

 to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth

 and turn aside to myths.” 

2Timothy 4:3,4.

This is happening now in our day.
Equally however there are I believe far more honest, good and faithful servants of God within the twenty-first century church than there are bad people.
However the key to anyone who supports a ministry, preacher or evangelist is to constantly be on guard. To study the scriptures for yourself.
Make sure what is being preached to you is taken in context and not being twisted to forward an agenda of the one speaking.
God will one day judge those who claim to be Christians and are not. The key for now for Christians is to follow the advice of the apostle Paul who wrote,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

 a workman who does not need to be ashamed

 and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  

2 Timothy 2:15

It is advice I would also give to non-Christians. Reading the Bible and learning what it says cannot hurt. At the very least you will learn what Christians believe and be able to decide for yourself if you believe what is being said.
Please think about it.

Children of God

Children of God,
Matthew’s Gospel records,
“While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.  
Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  
Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50.
The apostle John speaking of Jesus and those who would believe in Jesus, in his Gospel states,

“Yet to all who received him, 

to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God—  

children born not of natural descent, 

nor of human decision or a husband’s will, 

but born of God. 

John 1:12, 13.

This is a key belief of Christians. We believe that by accepting by faith Jesus into our hearts and lives we become Children of God.
The Apostle Paul states,

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,  

for all of you who were baptized into Christ

 have clothed yourselves with Christ.  

There is neither 

Jew nor Greek, 

slave nor free, 

male nor female, 

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

Galatians 3:26-28.

As a Christian I take this seriously. As believer in Christ, I and all who call themselves Christians must at all times bring glory to God.
The writer of Hebrews telling Christians,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14.

Please think about it.

Hallmarks of a Believer

Hallmarks of a Believer
Jesus said,
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37.
Jesus here is talking about the Pharisees. The religious leaders of his day who were not teaching the scriptures correctly. Who were misusing them twisting them to say what they wanted. These men believed in God yet failed to do what was right according to the scriptures.
There is an interesting quote I like from the Talmud spoken to believers in God. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?” The Talmud
We will all one day stand before God irrespective of who we are.
Christians believe what the apostle Paul says,
“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.
While this is a true statement. Christians are called to do much more. Our faith as Christians must spur us on to do good works. That is trait of a true Christian.  Jesus 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
The apostle James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“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.
It seems from these scriptures and others that one of the hallmarks of a true Christian, a true believer is someone who’s faith causes them to want to do good works.
Doses yours?
Please think about it.

Your Decision

Your decision
“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.  
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12: 30-32.
Here is a controversial topic in Christian circles, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. It is according to Jesus the only sin that will not be forgiven. There are many thoughts as to what it is among Christian theologians and denominations.
One explanation that I can accept personally is “sin which will not be forgiven is the stubborn refusal to heed the Holy Spirit’s conviction about your sin and accept the forgiveness that Christ offers.”
The apostle Paul states,

“for all have sinned

 and fall short of the glory of God,...”

Romans 3:23,

Christians believe we all have sinned, the pope, evangelist, pastors, teachers, the person in the pew and the person on the street, everyone. It is the Holy Spirit’s Job to convict individuals of their sin.
Billy Graham the American evangelist states,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

Billy Graham.

The apostle John writes,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
Sin is falling short of God’s ideals for our lives. It is failure to follow God’s laws. Something we all from time to time do. Sin separates us from God.
God in His wisdom knows this that is why he sent Jesus to die for our sins. The apostle Paul explains,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11
Jesus paid the price for our sins. The sins of each individual. C. S. Lewis notes,

“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.

That is the amazing fact about Jesus. He paid the price for each of us as individuals. For each person who would believe in him.
Jesus speaking of 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.  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.
The apostle Paul tells us,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God—  

not by works, so that no one can boast.”

 Ephesians 2:8,9.

It is by God’s grace we get to heaven. Accepting the saving grace of God is an act of faith on the part of the individual. The writer of Hebrews tells 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

It is up to you the individual to believe this or not.
I as a Christian believe that when the message of Christ is presented in spirit and truth to anyone the Holy Spirit is there to show the person what is right and wrong.
That being said when God created mankind he did not create robots he created individuals with complete freedom. Freedom do whatever they wished and believe what ever they wish.
Thus the decision is up to you the reader. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of mankind?
Are you in faith willing to confess your sins directly to God? Are you willing to accept the saving grace God offers through Jesus and to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
Please think about it.

On Jesus

On Jesus
Matthews gospel records,
“Going on from that place, he (Jesus) went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they (the Pharisees) asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?  
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 
Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.  
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.” 
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was.  
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 
In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:9-21.
It seems here that the Pharisees seem to concluded Jesus was trying to overthrow the mosaic system. Although Jesus said,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  Matthew 5:17,18.
God’s laws are universal and eternal. Jesus did not come to change them in any way.
The Pharisees however  interpreted the law very strictly as a result many times this conflicted with the spirit of the law.
For example here with the healing of the mans hand. The Pharisees viewed even the healing of someone on the Sabbath to be work. Thus it was not permitted.
They failed to see that the law against working on the Sabbath was not intended to prevent the doing of good works. Particularly when it comes to healing of someone and especially when God gets the glory.
This according to one commentator I read, is the point in the ministry of Jesus that opposition by the religious establishment starts to grow. Matthew Nothing,
“...But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.” 
Matthew tells us that aware of what the Pharisees were doing, Jesus rather than fight with them, withdrew to a safer place. Where he continued to minister and heal people.
Matthew points out that this is in keeping with the prophesy of Isaiah
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 
In his name the nations will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:1-4)
Matthew points out that Isaiah the prophet predicted that the Messiah would be someone the nations of the world will put their hope in. In other words non-Jews, the gentile world.
This is happening around the world today. People in nations around the world, Christians, see Jesus as the Jewish Messiah the one who came through the linage of Abraham Isaac and Jacob to reconcile mankind to God.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
If Jesus is not the Messiah and Christians have it wrong, which I do not think we do. Christians are doing no harm.
Christians in following the teachings of Jesus to love God, your neighbours, even your enemies are doing good.
In following the teachings of Jesus to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations teaching them to believe in the one true God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a good and noble thing. One I am sure will please God.
Please think about it. 

Jesus and You

Jesus and You
Matthews gospel records,
“At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  
Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Matthew 11:25,26.
Many wise and intelligent men and women around the world do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That Jesus is God incarnate. They quite often say “why would God choose to come into his creation” or “Why would God want to send His Son to die for those he created? It doesn’t make sense.”
I as a Christian believe anyone who thinks that way is putting God in a box. They are defining God by human standards. God is not obligated to do things the way man thinks He should.
In the gospel of John Jesus is recorded as saying,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me,  but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” John 10:24-32
Jesus claims to be one with God. God incarnate. He tells the crowd he is one with God. Something considered blasphemy in his day. Something that was punishable by death. In fact John records that the people he spoke to wanted to stone him for what he had said.
Jesus was aware of that claiming to be one with God could have got him put to death. Yet he still claimed to be one with God.  He did so because it was true, whether the people he spoke to believed it or not.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity states,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
The claims of Jesus are admittedly hard to accept. The apostle Paul even said,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 
Simply put as I said, God does not do things the way man thinks he should do things.
God could have come with his angels and shown himself to all mankind at the same time. But God knows that would not make true followers. True followers are those who believe in Him even if they have not seen Him the writer of Hebrews stating,

“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

As Jesus said,
“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
Sometimes we have to be like little children who accept things by faith. Something we as adults many times find hard to do.
God loves His creation. God loves each individual and wants us to truly believe in Him. That is why God came to earth in the form of Jesus, His one and Only Son.
C. S. Lewis points out.
“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.
Yes it defies mans logic. But God is not man. God wants men and women who have faith in Him because God knows people of faith are the strongest of followers.
Thus the question is, do you believe in God?
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of mankind?
Please think about it.