Why would Jesus?

Why would Jesus?
Jesus said,
“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?
“We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”  John 10:24-33.
Jesus was an intelligent man. He a Jew, knew the laws and traditions of the Jews. He knew that claiming to be God was punishable by death. Yet made the claim.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity made this observation saying,
“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.
Belief that Jesus is God is the corner stone of Christianity. To some this may seem unbelievable but it never the less what Christians believe.
It is something we Christians present to those around us and leave it to the individual to believe or not believe.
Thus dear reader the choice is yours. All I would ask before you make your decision is to at least read the New Testament and learn for yourself what those who knew Jesus thought about him.
Please think about it. 

Perhaps it is hard and that's why?

Perhaps it is hard and that’s why?

“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.

I’ve always contended that scientist especially those who deal in the theoretical science. Men like Eienstein or Stephen Hawking have one thing in common with Christians.  That being faith.
Eienstein after looking at the world around him predicted things that were not proven until after his death. And I am assuming now that Stephen Hawking has passed away there are things he predicted that are yet to be proven.
Thus it is for those who truly believe in Christ Jesus. We look at the Bible and the world around us and come to the conclusion that God exists and that He in the form of Jesus Christ entered the world he created.
What we believe does I will admit take a great deal of faith. A faith that most certainly will not be rewarded until we die. Never-the-less it is what we believe and ask others to believe.
   To have faith in something that you cannot physically see I admit is a very hard thing. But perhaps that is the point. God want’s true believers and true believers, men and women of faith are defined by the writer of Hebrews when he said,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                       Hebrews 11:1.

Please think about it.

Who Never Wept

Who never wept
The Evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote,

“A Jesus who never wept could never wipe away my tears.”

                                                                  Charles H. Spurgeon.

I believe God in his wisdom went out of his way to show his love to not only mankind as a whole but to each person.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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.
Christians believe that Jesus is God incarnate. Some who disagree with this say why would God possibly enter the world He created. After all He is all powerful, almighty and all knowing.
I think the answer has two parts.
1/ He entered the world to first and foremost show in human terms how far He would go to point mankind to Himself.
2/ I believe in entering the world He created, God left no doubt that he did in fact understand the human condition.
We can never stand before God on judgement day and say, “you do not know what it is like to be human because you only have ever been almighty. And while you are all knowing you have no first hand knowledge, what it is to be human with all the frailties and temptations that a mere mortal has.
We cannot say this because God through Jesus became a man and experienced all it was to be a man.
Jesus was born to parents of low birth so he understood what it was to be the average person. Jesus entered this world as a new born baby. He lived as a toddler, a teenager and an adult.
In his life he experienced everything from the mundane things of life such as the wind, the rain, even the hot sun and the cold.
Jesus had friends. He attended at least one wedding that we know of and probably attended other events. He drank wine.
Jesus did in fact weep at the death of his friend Lazarus John’ gospel noting,
“Jesus Wept” John 11:35.
Jesus interacted with everyone from Roman soldiers, to Samaritans, to tax collectors, to religious leaders and others.
He demonstrated compassion toward people by healing them.
Jesus also knew what it was to have enemies. To be accused of a committing a crime he didn’t commit. To be beaten and put to death in a most hideous way.
Thus when we stand before God on Judgement day we can never say to him you do not understand, because he does.
Not only that he let himself go through everything because he loved us.
The apostle Paul telling 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 5:6-8.
The Gospel of John quotes Jesus speaking of himself, 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.
In a nutshell God through Jesus went out of His way to be able to rightly judge all who stand before Him on Judgement day. And, to make it as easy as possible for mankind to get to heaven.
Please think about it.

Rest

Rest
Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.”  

                                   Matthew 11:28.

Are you at peace? Are you at rest?
In our fast paced society here in North America I find quite often people do not have peace and rest seems elusive. We live in a twenty-four/seven society. That offers little in the way of rest.
We live in a materialistic society that tells us we have to have the latest greatest gadget. The latest designer clothing. Many in our society seem to think that if we don’t have the latest greatest “things” we are in someway missing out.
Many people strive for the so called “American dream” only to find it is an empty hollow shell of a promise.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
Material things may make life easier and there is nothing wrong with having nice things. They however don’t necessarily make your life fulfilling. In the end materialism with all its seeming perks often leaves a person empty.
Ultimately the writer of Ecclesiastes after a long examination of the things around him concludes by saying,
“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.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Jesus also said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Thomas Aquinas wrote,
“If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.” Thomas Aquinas.
For me personally I have indeed found a deep peace in Jesus Christ that I have never found in this world.
That being said each individual must decide what they want out of life. The temporary satisfaction that comes from the materialism of this world. OR the eternal rest, peace and eternal life that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Please think about it.

Christian living

Christian living
Just what is it to be Christian? Here in a rather large nutshell are some basic statements from the Bible that I believe Christians should be obeying.
The apostle Paul tells us the fruits of the Spirit of God are,
“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.
These are Christian attributes.
Key to Christian belief is Love. A Christian must love. 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
Earlier in Matthews gospel Jesus is quoted saying,
“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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47.
The apostle Paul defines Christian love when he writes,

“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.

A Christian also has no right to Judge those outside their faith. Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul stating,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13.
Note here the apostle Paul also reminds Christians to keep their own house in order so to speak. He reminds us that while we are not to judge those outside the church. We are allowed to judge those inside the church. There is I believe a caveat however. We have no right to judge where anyone will spend eternity.
What Paul is saying here I believe is we are allowed to judge those who claim to be Christians with respect to what they believe and are teaching. To ensure they are teaching sound doctrine. As Billy Graham the great American Evangelist stated,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,

 God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

                               Billy Graham

Christians are also to sit down with sinners and others like Jesus did. Matthew’s gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
The apostle Paul tells Christians,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18,
The apostle Peter reminds 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.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:1.
Jesus saying
“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.

A Need

A Need
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.
The English, American evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said,
"I doubt if 5% of professing Christians in America are born again--and that's true of England!” Leonard Ravenhill.
I think he may be right especially among those who claim to be Evangelical Christians.
I think part of the problem is Christianity in America in particular has become part of the culture. American and to a lesser degree Canadian evangelicals have slipped into the false belief that their countries are, or at least once were Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Christianity is a part of the culture of America and Canada but only a part. The majority of people in North America do not go to church once a month, or even once a year, let alone participate in a church congregation.
Even among those who go to Church one has to ask the question are they truly Christians. As someone has said
“Going to church and reading the Bible does not make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage and reading an auto repair manual makes you a car.”
I hear constantly from evangelicals in particular who say, “I read my Bible everyday.” But to quote Ravenhill again,

“People say, "I read my Bible everyday", 

but when was time last time they studied it?” 

                                             Leonard Ravenhill

Within Christianity today there is a dire need to turn back to the Bible and study it. To read the Bible and understand what it is to be a Christian.
We need to get away from this foolish notion that any nation on the face of the earth is Christian. The apostle Peter said Christians were a Holy nation. He did not say not an earthly nation. Peter said,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
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.
I firmly believe that if Christians want to reach the world for Christ they first need to turn back to the Bible and study what it means to be Christian. Otherwise they will never reach anyone.
Please think about it.

Luke 6:31

Luke 6:31
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
The other day I, a Christian for over forty years now, was disgusted to see people claiming to be Christians protesting at a gay pride event. These people if they are indeed Christians at all, will never win a soul for Christ by such actions.
It is certain Jesus and his disciples would never have participated in such a protest.
The apostle Paul said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. 
That “all” however means every person on the planet including those who were protesting.
    It is my opinion anyone who calls themselves Christians and protests, against another group that is not trying to restrict the rights of others, or doing injury, mentally, or physical, to others is wrong. They are not showing love.
It has been my experience over the years that people who call themselves Christians and protest against others are the first to shout foul against anyone who would protest against them.
Yet if they are following the word of God, are they not, by protesting against others, opening the door wide for others to protest against them.
Was it not Jesus who 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
So in protesting against anyone you are saying they can protest against you.
Rather than protesting against anyone would it not be better to invite them to church?
      Would it not be better to get to know these people as individuals?
       Would it not be better to sit down talk with them, and exchange views?
      Jesus would have. Jesus had no problem sitting down with people considered sinners.
Matthews gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
The late American Evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,

 God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,” 

                             Billy Graham.

If you claim to be a Christian you need to remember this.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Please think about it.

Attributes

Attributes
The apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus states,
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
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.  
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."Galatians 5:19-25.
Put briefly the apostle Paul defines the attributes of a Christian life. He states,

“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control....”

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are these the attributes those around you see?
Please think carefully about it.

God's Grace and Love

God’s Grace and Love
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.
Jesus referring to 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,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
Christians believe that we are all sinners and that sin separates us from God. That is why Jesus came to this earth to demonstrate God’s love for us. To show us in human terms how far God would go to reconcile each individual to himself.
C. S. Lewis stated,
“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.
Christians believe it is by the grace of God, through faith in Him, that we get to heaven,
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

Christians believe the words of the Apostle John who wrote,

“If we confess our sins, 

he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins 

and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  

                                        1 John 1:9.

Please think about it.

A Radical Belief

A Radical Belief
The Apostle Paul writes,
“...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:10,11.
Bible scholars note that the early church preached what for the time was a radical and dangerous confession. That being their belief that “Jesus is Lord”.
In the Roman empire at that time Caesar was considered lord. Saying that Jesus was equal to and even greater than Caesar was an affront to Caesar’s power. Yet the early church put this belief unwaveringly at the centre of their beliefs.
The same is true today. Christians the world over believe Jesus is Lord of all. That He is indeed God incarnate. The writer of Hebrews makes this abundantly clear saying.
“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 1:3.
The apostle John referring to Jesus as the word “The Word” writes,
“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.
C. S. Lewis noted,
“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.
Please think about it. 

Gasoline and Water

Gasoline and Water

“Mixing religion and politics

 is like mixing water and gasoline.

 The gasoline is unusable. 

The water undrinkable. 

And the whole mixture explosive.” 

                                        Author unknown.

What I want to say here is we should never mix our faith with secular politics. Neither Jesus nor his disciples did. They didn’t even have the right to vote.
No political party on this earth is Christians or completely supports Christian values.
While I believe every Christian after praying about it, should in a democracy exercise their right to vote, and if they feel God’s leading run for political office.  I still feel Christians should still not mix secular politics with their faith.
The job of the Christian is to do God’s work. 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.
Our job as believers in Christ Jesus is to tell the world of the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ. Something that can be hindered when mixed with politics.
Our faith should also cause us to do good works. James the half brother of Jesus said
“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.
The apostle Peter tells us,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
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.
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to remember we are what Peter calls, “royal priesthood”, and get rid of the secular baggage the church has picked up through the centuries.
We need to be presenting the good news of Jesus Christ to all who will listen. To do our best to help the poor, and sick among us.
We need to put into practice the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,

“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.

Hell in a Handbarrow

Hell in a Handbarrow
Some time ago I came across a book by John B. Harrington called Essentials in Christian Faith published in 1958. After reading it I realized it could have been written yesterday, it’s message was,... is, that relevant.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico published in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
   “A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
   Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
   Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. 
Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage.”
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4
This is happening today.
As I look around the world today it is easy to look a the various terrorist groups who claim to be acting in the name of their faith when they are not. They are simply evil men who attach religious names to themselves to try an justify what they are doing.
That being said I as a Christian, am more concerned about those who would call themselves Christians who are not. They may go to church, and spout large amounts of scripture. They may even be under the misconception that they are Christian but are not.
After all Jesus did say,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
“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 7:21-23.
Even a quick look at what tries to pass as Evangelical Christianity in many parts of North America where I live tells the world around them that it is simply a religious moniker. These people live “religious lives”. Not Christian lives.
Paul Gallico points out what many in the world are truly looking for. He states,
"...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.”
I have met many in the LBGTQ community and among other groups, over the years that see those claiming to be Christians as bigots who persecute them. People who would try to take away their rights and freedoms granted to them not only by the government but by God.
And God does grant everyone the freedom to do as they wish. Which includes everything from living the way they wish to whether or not they believe in Him.
Gallico goes on to point out.
   “Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. 
Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Gallico like many people today are truly looking for rest for their souls. Something this materialistic world we live in does not offer. Something Jesus offers. Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
This is something no one will ever see from some who call themselves Christians because many calling themselves Christians are not. They are religious people who have put themselves in the position of judge and jury for those around them.
Jesus said,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
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
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,

 God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,” 

                           Billy Graham.

The writer of Hebrews states,

“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.

Jesus Can

Jesus Can
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.  
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.   
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
The apostle Paul here notes that what Christians believe seems like foolishness. After all we believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. That he came to earth to point mankind to heaven. Not only that he did so by allowing himself to be crucified. To be put to death in a most hideous way.
This to man’s way of thinking could be considered ludicrous. Yet Christians the world over believe this.
Such belief to my way of thinking is for many a stumbling block to their belief in Christ.     It takes a great deal of faith to believe that Jesus is God incarnate. That he allowed himself to die on the cross. That he descended into hell, rose from the dead, walked briefly on the earth again, before ascending into heaven.
I think of it this way. First of all God does not do things man’s way.
I look at it like this.
Jesus in coming to earth experienced everything a mortal man experienced. Everything from the mundane, like the smell of dust on a road, the feeling of rain on your face.
Jesus knew what it was like to have friends, to attend weddings and other events. Jesus interacted with everyone from religious leaders, to tax collectors, to lepers, to prostitutes, Roman soldiers and more.
Jesus also knew what it was to be abandoned by friends on the worst day of his life. To suffer a merciless beating and be put to death for a crime that even the Roman Governor said he was not guilty of. 
In the brief thirty-three years he was on this earth he experienced the full range of things that could happen to anyone.
Thus when we stand before Him on judgement day we can never say “you didn’t know what it was like to be a mere mortal”, because He does.
That is apart from the fact that Jesus is God, is why he can rightly judge mankind, because he does understand what it is to be mortal.
Please think about it. 

A matter of Faith

A Matter of Faith
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

No one can or should even try to force anyone to believe in anyone or anything. Trying to force someone to believe in something produces false faith.
False faith is useless. Something God certainly dose not want from anyone.
I believe in order to have faith in God or for that matter anything one needs to look at the evidence. That to my way of thinking is why God inspired the Bible to be written.
The writers present the truth about God and ask the individual to believe them, or not.
The Bible however does not stop there. It encourages the reader to look around them. The Psalmist writing,

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

                                                Psalm 19:1

The Psalmist encourages the reader to look at the world around them and see how perfectly made it is. From the greatest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle, all are arranged perfectly for life to exist as we know it. Showing a divine creator.
I firmly believe science done right will ultimately show the there is a creator behind it all.
That being said it still comes down to faith. Believers in God are in many ways like a scientist. A scientist postulates a theory from what he sees and has faith in that theory until it is proved or disproved.
Albert Einstein is a classic example. Some of his theories were never proven to be correct until after his death yet he believed they were right.
So it is with a Christian we believe we are right in our belief in God and Jesus Christ, even though we will never prove it for certain until the day we stand before God after our death. That faith however costs us nothing.
I like what Blaise Pascal said of faith in God. He wrote,
“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.

Post 1716

Post 1716
The other day it was pointed out to me that over the four plus years I’ve been writing my various blogs I’ve written 1715 of them. Put in perspective if they were weekly sermons it would have been 32 years of them.
My soul purpose in writing them is to tell anyone who will take the time to read them about my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I do not expect everyone who reads them to agree with what I say. All I ask is that they at least take time to consider what I have expressed.
The way I see it Jesus is the most important person that ever lived. Napoleon the late emperor of France said of Jesus,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
Jesus is extraordinary because he is the Son of God. He is God incarnate. The Apostles Creed while not written by an apostle of Jesus expresses the core beliefs of all who would call themselves Christians it sates,
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.
The apostel John writes,
“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.
As strange and bizarre as it may seem to people, I and an estimated three billion Christian in the world today believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. The Saviour of the world. Who will one day judge each and every individual.
The apostle John quotes Jesus speaking of him self, 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
The choice therefor is yours the reader. Is Jesus the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, or is he not. Please take time to read the New Testament and see what the early believers in Christ believed for yourself.
For I believe what C. S. Lewis once said about Jesus,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

A Note to the 21st Century Church

A note to the 21st Century Church
Think about this...
Jesus and his disciples,
• Never Voted.
• Never Protested.
• Never judged anyone outside their own faith.
Yet they within a century they had spread the Good News of the Love of Jesus Christ throughout the known world.
They did so by,
• Presenting the Love of God to their neighbours and enemies alike.
• Showing Love and Mercy to all those they came in contact with.
• Living as far as possible at peace with those around them.
The disciples put into action the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18.
And the words writer of Hebrews,
“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.
They followed the teaching of the Apostle Peter who wrote,
“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.
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century, are you doing this?
Please think about it.

A Universal Principle for Living (Love)

A Universal Principle for Living (Love).

The writer of Proverbs states,

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 

                                                                                             Proverbs 3:3,4.

The American civil right leader Martin Luther King Jr. said,
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
During the height of world war two Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.”
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon
I truly believe our faith in God should result in us showing unconditional love for those around us. Our neighbours, our families, Our friends, even our enemies.
Love is a universal truth that Atheist and men and women with Faith in God can agree is good for both individuals and society as a whole.
The apostle Paul defines love this way,

“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

There is a famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that I believes says it all. Especially if one calls themselves a believer in Christ. It states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

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

Please think about it.

Christian Principle #7 (Trust in the Lord)

Christian Principles #7 (Trust in the Lord)
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.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew 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.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work.
Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought they’d work out.
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.
And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.
So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for Living #6 (Flee Evil)

Christian Principles for living #6 (Flee evil)
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22.
The Psalmist tells us,
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. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.
Do you flee evil?
As believers in Christ Jesus we should. That’s not to say we cannot talk to someone who just might be a sinner. That would be wrong. After all Jesus sat with people the religious men of his day deemed sinners.
Marks gospel records,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16,17.
It is the job of a believer in Christ Jesus to point sinners to God. After all the apostle Paul said,
“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.
As Paul noted we are all sinners. The only difference between a believer in Christ Jesus and a sinner is we have had our sins forgiven by the grace of God “through the redemption that  came by Christ Jesus.”
Non-Christians however should be able to look at our life and see that we do our best not to take part in anything sinful. We shouldn’t have to tell them. Our actions should be enough.
So the question becomes, If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to flee evil, to live a life free of sin?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for Living #5 (At Peace with God)

Christian Principles for Living #5 (At Peace with God)
The apostle Peter writing to Christians reminds believers that Jesus will one day return and this earth will pass away. That He will come quickly when we are least expecting it. Therefor we need to be at peace with God. Peter writes,
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
    That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  2 Peter 3:10-14.
As believers we many times fall short of what God wants for our lives. It is however incumbent upon us as soon as we realize we have made a mistake to ask God’s forgiveness.
As believers we truly need to look at our lives from time to time and ask ourselves am I truly living a life that is glorifying God?
Am I truly at peace with God?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for Living #4 (Live at Peace with those around you)

Christian Principles for living #4 (Live at Peace with those around you)
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
The Apostle Peter tells believers in Christ Jesus,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
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.
Believers in Christ Jesus are called to live a good and peaceful life. A life of holiness.
As believers in Christ we need to take a look at the actions of Jesus and the apostles. They never spoke out against anyone outside their faith. They never protested for any reason. They did as far as was possible live at peace with those around them. They lived a life of love.
In doing so they opened up doors to talk with other groups throughout the known world. As a result in just over a century, Christianity had spread throughout the known world.
These men and women by living a peaceful loving life stood in the Areopagus in Athens and spoke to the learned men and women there. They spoke with politicians, soldiers, tax collectors, and people of every strata of society from slaves to rulers.
This is what we in the twenty-first century church need to do. Are you?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for Living #3 Christian Attributes

Christian Principles for living #3 Christian attributes
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 for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings.
That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.
Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?
Please think about it.

Christian Principle for Living #2 Deeds

Christian Principles for Living #2 Deeds
James the half brother of Jesus states,
“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.
Jesus made this clear when he 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.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you putting your faith into action?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles for Living #1 Love

Christian Principles for Living #1 Love
There are some very important precepts within Christianity that all true believers in Christ Jesus I believe must be following. The first is Love.
Jesus said when asked the question,
“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
Earlier in Matthews gospel we hear Jesus taking this concept of love one step further. 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.
When it comes to Love the Apostle Paul made clear what Christian Love should be. 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.

What these Scriptures from the New Testament say needs no interpretation. They make clear that believers in Christ Jesus should love unconditionally, God, their neighbour, and even their enemy. And The should be praying for those who persecute them.
If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you show this kind of Love to those around you?
Please think about it. 

Lunatic or Saviour?

Lunatic or Saviour?
John’s gospel records this interaction between Jesus and his disciples,
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  
If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.  John 14:5-11.
This if you think about it is quite the extraordinary statement. Jesus makes two statements that if not true makes him a lunatic. He states,
1. “I am the way the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.”
2.  “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.”
What Jesus is saying is He is divine. He is God incarnate. The way to Heaven.
 C. S. Lewis said it best in his book Mere Christianity when he wrote,
“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.
This is the choice the writers of the New Testament lay out before the whole world. Either Jesus is God incarnate, the Saviour of mankind, or he is not. The choice is yours.
Please think about it.