To be Christian
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:1,2.
I write today directly at Christians particularly those in North America and the west in general. I write with the hope they will look at their life and actions. That they will assess what they are doing and if necessary make a change.
Billy Graham once said,
“Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.”
Billy Graham
Jesus set the standard high for Christians. 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.
Jesus did not stop there however He said,
“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.
He 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.
Question: Would you die for an ungodly person, for a sinner? Jesus did. The apostle Paul writes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
This is how far we could be called to go. Think about it.
There are Christians around the world being persecuted and put to death for their faith. One figure I read was a Christian dies every seven minutes somewhere in the world for their faith. They are dying because they are presenting the word of God to the people around them. Christians are going to prison for witnessing for Christ.
Christians in many parts of the world do not have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Yet many that would call themselves Christians especially here in North America would squander that right and bring God’s name into disrepute.
I think of something I heard about in the United States where a person who had a business did not want to serve as they put it “homosexuals” as it was against their belief. I ask the question would they discriminate against, adulterers, or convicted thieves?
Jesus didn’t. Jesus died beside a thief. Jesus sat and ate with tax collectors and spoke with a Samaritan woman all considered sinners of his day and spoken against by the religious leaders of his day.
As Christians we must as the Psalmist say’s
“...delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:2.
But while we must delight in the law of the Lord we cannot use it to discriminate against anyone we interact with in this world.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24.
That “all have sinned” meant “ALL” you, me, and everyone who has ever lived. As a Christian we know we are save by the grace of God. However how can we reach the world if we discriminate who we associate with. Who works in our businesses, or buys from us.
Remember,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
Billy Graham said,
“Racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, or hatred of anyone with different beliefs has no place in the human mind or heart.”
Billy Graham.
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.
Jesus showed that love of God by associating with everyone whether they were considered a sinner or not. Jesus did not pick and choose who he associated with because of his religious beliefs. Him sitting with the Samaritan woman and the tax collectors proved that. Jesus showed unconditional love to all.
As Christians we need to practice true Christian Love. Paul defined this when writing to the Corinthians. He wrote,
“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.
Are people seeing this kind of Love in you?
Please think about it.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:1,2.
I write today directly at Christians particularly those in North America and the west in general. I write with the hope they will look at their life and actions. That they will assess what they are doing and if necessary make a change.
Billy Graham once said,
“Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.”
Billy Graham
Jesus set the standard high for Christians. 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.
Jesus did not stop there however He said,
“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.
He 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.
Question: Would you die for an ungodly person, for a sinner? Jesus did. The apostle Paul writes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
This is how far we could be called to go. Think about it.
There are Christians around the world being persecuted and put to death for their faith. One figure I read was a Christian dies every seven minutes somewhere in the world for their faith. They are dying because they are presenting the word of God to the people around them. Christians are going to prison for witnessing for Christ.
Christians in many parts of the world do not have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Yet many that would call themselves Christians especially here in North America would squander that right and bring God’s name into disrepute.
I think of something I heard about in the United States where a person who had a business did not want to serve as they put it “homosexuals” as it was against their belief. I ask the question would they discriminate against, adulterers, or convicted thieves?
Jesus didn’t. Jesus died beside a thief. Jesus sat and ate with tax collectors and spoke with a Samaritan woman all considered sinners of his day and spoken against by the religious leaders of his day.
As Christians we must as the Psalmist say’s
“...delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:2.
But while we must delight in the law of the Lord we cannot use it to discriminate against anyone we interact with in this world.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24.
That “all have sinned” meant “ALL” you, me, and everyone who has ever lived. As a Christian we know we are save by the grace of God. However how can we reach the world if we discriminate who we associate with. Who works in our businesses, or buys from us.
Remember,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
Billy Graham said,
“Racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, or hatred of anyone with different beliefs has no place in the human mind or heart.”
Billy Graham.
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.
Jesus showed that love of God by associating with everyone whether they were considered a sinner or not. Jesus did not pick and choose who he associated with because of his religious beliefs. Him sitting with the Samaritan woman and the tax collectors proved that. Jesus showed unconditional love to all.
As Christians we need to practice true Christian Love. Paul defined this when writing to the Corinthians. He wrote,
“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.
Are people seeing this kind of Love in you?
Please think about it.
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