Advice from the apostle Paul

  Advice from the apostle Paul

Writing to Timothy the apostle Paul 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.” 2Timothy 2:15.

This is all God asks of any Christian to do their best to present yourself to God as one of His workmen who correctly handles the truth of the Gospel.

As believers in Christ Jesus, we are Gods ambassadors. The apostle Paul writing,

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

   We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.  2 Corinthians 5:18-20.

As Christians we have an obligation to present God in the best possible light. It’s that simple. We must not force our faith on anyone. Rather we must present what we believe in word and deed to those around us and let them decide for themselves if they wish to have Christ as part of their life.

Please think about it.

I believe. Do you believe?

  I Believe...Do you believe?

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.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.

Do I as a Christian believe in foolishness? Some people would say I do. After all I believe in Jesus Christ, who I believe is God incarnate. God in the flesh. 

I believe what the Apostles Creed while not written by one of Christs apostles states,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

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

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

I also believe the words of Jesus who speaking about 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.

If I am wrong in my beliefs then I have nothing to fear for I will have lived a good life. If on the other hand I am right. Those who do not believe as I do have a lot to think about.

Please think about it.

Will you get to heaven?

  Will you get to heaven?

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,

“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8.

Will you get to heaven? The apostle Paul alluding to heaven saying says there is a crown of righteousness waiting for him awarded to him by The Lord Himself.

Not only that Paul goes on to note that all who have longed for Christs appearing will also get one. 

When it comes to getting to heaven Christians believe its simple if we truly believe on The Lord Jesus Christ we shall get to heaven. 

The apostle Paul writing, 

"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. 

So the question becomes dear reader. Do you truly believe in God and the Saving Grace that comes from Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Everyone with Breath

  Everyone with breath

The Psalmist writes,

“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.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus, a Christian when was the last time you personally praised The Lord? 

By this I don’t mean just listening to praise music in your home or car. I mean you taking time to sing praises to God. 

You don’t have to be a good singer or be able to sing in tune. You just need to lift your voice and sing Gods praises. Even if that’s just speaking the words.

Why not take some time now to praise God?

Please think about it.

There are moral absolutes

  There are Moral Absolutes 

The Psalmist writes,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 111:10.

Whether we like to admit it there are moral absolutes in this world. Most prominent among them is the ten commandments. Listed in Exodus 20:6-17. Put simply they say,

1/You shall have no other gods before Me.

2/You shall make no idols.

3/You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4/Keep the Sabbath day holy.

5/Honour your father and your mother.

6/You shall not murder.

7/You shall not commit adultery.

8/You shall not steal.

9/You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

10/You shall not covet.

These are at the very least what God expects individuals to live up to. That being said the more we read the Bible the more we find what God requires of us.

Are you following Gods precepts?

  Please think about it.

A Sermon

   A Sermon

Every now and then I like to present a sermon spoken by one of Christs apostles. Today is one of those days. It is Pauls sermon to the Athenians. The book of acts records,

"So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."  

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

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." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others”Acts 17:17-34

Paul here was talking about Jesus I believe in a way that was not judgmental. A way that caught the interest of those around him, specifically Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. That’s why they invited him to speak about Jesus.

At the end of his sermon people took three distinct stances. Some sneered, others wanted to hear more and some believed. 

I believe if we correctly present the gospel today people will divide in to these three groups.

Please think about it.  

A Hard thing for Some

  A hard thing for some

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see."  

                                                                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.

Faith in anything can be a hard thing. Yet scientist do it all the time. They see something is happening and come up with a theory as to what is causing it. Many such theorise are not solved in the scientist life time. Even Einstein went to the grave having some of what he postulated unproven. Still he knew from what was happing that his theory was correct.

It’s the same with those who believe in God. The Psalmist states,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                 Psalm 19:1

Robert Brault stated.

"God left so many fingerprints at the scene of Creation that you wonder — does He want to be found, or does He want to be stopped?" Robert Brault.

We only have to look around us to see Gods handiwork. The universe from the greatest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle are mathematically perfect. Arranged in such away that life as we know it can exist.

This tells me there is a Creator God who made it all.

Still that being said it requires faith to believe this, and that is for many a hard thing.

Please think about it. 

So you Know?

  Do you know?

In Proverbs

Those who trust in their riches will fall, 

but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

                                                               Proverbs 11:28

The Psalmist writes,

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." 

                                                                            Psalm 20:7.

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....

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 16:19-21,24.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future

 to a known God." 

                                  C. S. Lewis

Thus my question to you the reader is do you know the God of the writer of Proverbs, Psalms? Do you truly know Jesus?

If not why not take some time to read the New Testament and see what those who knew Him best said about Him.

Please think about it.

Who do you believe in?

 Who do you believe in?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

As Christians we believe you cannot live a life good enough to enter heaven. That being said we believe that Jesus paid the price for our sins when he died on the cross. But Jesus did not stay in the grave. He rose again to life. He walked briefly on the earth, was seen and spoken to by some of His followers before being taken up to Heaven.

The apostle Paul believed this telling us that anyone who truly believes that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead they will get to heaven.

Thus all who read about Jesus must decide for themselves if what the apostle Paul and all the other disciples said about Jesus is true. 

So the question is. Do you believe Jesus Lord Saviour of all who would believe in Him or not.

Please think about it

What the apostle Peter believed

  What the Apostle Peter Believed.

The Apostle Peter wrote,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you" 1Peter 1:3-4.

The apostle Peter one of the men closest to Jesus during His life on this earth truly believed that all who believed in Jesus has a new birth a living hope that came from the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Peter believed that all who believe in Jesus has an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for us.

Thus my question to you is; Do you believe this? Do you have an inheritance waiting for you in Heaven?

Please think about it.

The Key

  The Key

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

Here in a nutshell is why Jesus came to earth. He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world. 

Jesus came to give each and every individual a Choice. You can either choose to follow Jesus and accept the salvation He offers or you can reject that offer of salvation. 

If Christians are wrong about this choice there is no need to be afraid. If on the other hand Christians are right about this. Then at the very least everyone has at the very least a lot to consider.

Please think about it.  

Why do Christians Preach?

  Why do Christians Preach?

Jesus said,

“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.

People have asked me why Christians want to tell the world about Jesus. Well the words of Jesus here recorded in Matthew 133:44-46 says it all.

Christian believe that having a personal relationship with Christ Jesus is the most important thing in their lives and they want to introduce those around them to this belief. A belief they believe has eternal consequences.

So do you believe Jesus is the one and only Son of God, Saviour of all who would put their trust in Him?

Please think about it.

Have you heard The Song?

  Have you heard The Song?

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

                                                                   Psalm 19:1

There are many around that say God does not exist. That is their choice and I respect that.     That being said I do believe in God. I believe that God made the universe and everything in it. 

I believe it because looking at the science of the universe I see a universe that is perfectly designed so that life as we know it exists. Something I cannot believe happened purely by chance.

I believe we don't have to see God to know He exists.

There is a beautiful work written by Ben Zion Bokser that states,

“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.

I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child's eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.

I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.

I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.

I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.” Ben Zion Bokser.

Have you heard this song?

Do you believe God exists?

Please think about it.

Are you?

  Are you?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; 

cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honour one another above yourselves.” 

                                                          Romans 12:9,10.

Here is another must for Christians for those who believe in Christ Jesus. 

1/ Our love must be sincere at all times.

2/We must hate evil in all its forms. 

3/We must cling to what is good.

4/We must be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

5/We must honour others above ourselves.

Perhaps a sixth point would be to pray and ask God to show us what is good and what is evil, because it seems to me that Christians at times fail to see what is right and wrong.

Never has this been more important that in 2023. We have seen last year, in both North America and around the world evil rise. Not only that evil is rising under the guise of doing right. 

As I looked at the so called freedom convoy here in Canada and the make America great again in the United States. I see people who espouse to be Christian, fooled into thinking what these groups are doing is right.

But are they. 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.

Think about this. Do you honestly believe that those involved with the freedom convoy or make America great again would allow others to protest against them?

Do you honestly believe that those people who want to take away the right to same sex marriage, a right given them by a duly elected secular government would bow down and accept their rights being taken away.

When Jesus made the statement,

"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.

He didn’t say you had to always agree with the people around you. What He made clear was treat other people the way you wish to be treated.

So are you doing this?

Are these things active in your life?

1/ Sincere love at all times.

2/ hating evil in all its forms. 

3/Cling to what is good.

4/Devoted to one another in brotherly love.

5/Honouring others above ourselves.

Please think about it.

The definition of Christian Love

  The definition of Christian Love.

The apostle Paul 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.

These are the words of the Apostle Paul. They are the definition of Christian love. For someone to call themselves a Christian and not follow this definition of love, is at the very least a slap in the face to God.

If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus are you showing this kind of love to God, your family, your neighbour, and even your enemy?

Please think about it.

Aliens

  Aliens

The apostle Peter states,

"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 are a true Christian, you represent God and the kingdom of Heaven. You are in the world but not a citizen of the world. You are a citizen of Heaven and thus living as an alien in this world.

Sadly particularly for individuals living here in North America they see themselves as a Canadian or American first and a Christian second, or worse they equate their earthly citizenship with being Christian.

For me it is of prime importance that we who call ourselves Christians. True followers of Christ Jesus, remember we are citizens of heaven. As such we must remember to represent God in the best possible way.

Please think about it.

Declaring His Praises

  Declaring His Praises

The Psalmist writes,

"Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD 

who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary

 and praise the LORD. 

                                               Psalm 134:1,2.

From what I’ve read this Psalm is written to those who serve The Lord, the Levitical workers and priests. 

The apostle Peter stats

"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. 1Peter 2:9.

So as believers in Christ Jesus we should be praising God.

Are you taking time at the very least each day to praise The LORD?

Please think about it.

Go Proclaim

  Go Proclaim 

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.

To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the whole world around them is the duty of all who claim to be Christians. Of all who claim to be true followers of Christ Jesus.

Jesus saying this was not New Testament thing. The Psalmist writes,

"Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations,

 his marvellous deeds among all peoples." 

                                                                       Psalm 96:1-3.

Thus my question to you is are you telling those around you about Jesus? Are you proclaiming Gods salvation at the very least to your family, friends and neighbours?

Please think about it.

A Longing

  A Longing

The Psalmist writes,

“As the deer pants for streams of water, 

so my soul pants for you, O God.”

                                                      Psalm 42:1 

Have you ever been out on a very hot summers day and find you want a drink of water. You long for a drink of cool clear water. But not just a drink. You want to just gulp a full glass or more to quench your thirst.

This is how it should be for those who believe in God. We need to be so thirsty for the truths God gives us in the Scriptures, that we long to have a deep spiritual drink.

Is this you today?

Why not take time today to pray and read the Bible. Asking God to show you the spiritual truth that are within it and how they relate to you.

Please think about it.

A duty to God

  A duty to God

The apostle Paul writes,

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."  2 Corinthians 5:20.

It is important that all who call themselves true followers of Christ Jesus. Realize that we are Gods representative to the world around us. Through our words and deeds people will judge not only us but God.

It is therefor of paramount importance that we represent God in the best possible light. 

Awhile ago there was a popular thing among young adults in particular. They would wear a bracelet that said WWJD (What would Jesus do). This is something we need to think about when we interact with the people around us.

We need to remember the words of Jesus when 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.

If we remember this statement alone it will show people that we care about them and may just reach them for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Please think about it.

You your child and God

  You, your child and God

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

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

                                                         Proverbs 22:6.

If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Are you teaching your child to follow Christ?

By that I don’t mean forcing your faith on your child. When someone does this it has been my experience that the child will rebel and turn away from God.

Training a child in the way they should go is a combination of things. First and foremost is living your faith in front of them. Your child sees everything you are doing. As a result if you are not living what you are teaching them verbally, they wont believe a word you say about your faith.

Thus the question becomes; Are you teaching your child about Christ Jesus in word and in deed?

Please think about it.

Listen you Rich

  Listen you Rich

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  

You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James 5:1-6.

Let me make this statement first. Being rich is not a sin. It’s how you treat your wealth and what you do with it that it the problem. The Apostle Paul wrote,

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10.

All too often those who are wealthy take advantage of the poor and helpless. They pay poor wages, and expect loyalty.

In the book of James those who take advantage of the ordinary worker and the poor are warned that God will one day judge them. And this judgement will be far more harsh than any earthly court can impose. 

Thus my question to you who are wealthy. You who run companies big and small is; What will God say to you when you stand before Him? How will God judge you?

Please think about it.

Be Openhanded

 Be open handed.

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

Some time ago I heard a politician we should make all those on welfare go out and get a job. I heard of one recently in the United States who wanted to eliminate social assistance.

All of this is easy to say if you’re wealthy. However there are many people in this world who either are working a jobs that pay below poverty line wages. People who have illnesses and cannot work. People who are mentally ill. And there are refugees who are not allowed to work.

Over the years I’ve met many people who live below the poverty line. I’ve met people who are on some kind of social assistance. From listening to them by far the majority of them would rather have meaningful employment with a living wage.

God loves the poor. God has made it clear that those who can should help the poor in the book of Leviticus we read,

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19: 9,10.

Later on in Leviticus we read

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' " Leviticus 23:22.

This is a command from God. It was God’s way in ancient Israel of providing for the poor.

In the Talmud we read,

"Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

Thus my question to you is; If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you do what you can to help the poor around you?

Please think about it.

God at the Centre

  God at the centre 

“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.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

On Christmas day I was reminded of this scripture and how I fell short. Three of us had gone to a restaurant for Christmas dinner. The meal came and I forgot to say grace. The family behind us however did and I was impressed. That brief prayer they spoke witnessed to those around them.

If we claim to be believers in Christ Jesus God should be the centre of our lives. People should know we are Christians by our actions. 

Francis of Assisi made two important statements,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

And

"The deeds you do may be 

the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                            Francis of Assisi.

The world is watching us. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to make Him so much a part of our lives that we worship and serve Him in a way that glorifies Him all the time without even thinking about it.

  Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Are you doing what is right?

  Are you doing what is right?

In the book of James we read,

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right."James 2:8.

That being said James goes on to say,

“But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” James 2:9.

Two phrases that are polar opposites. 

Christians are to love our neighbours as our self. While being warned that we are not to show favouritism especially toward the rich. Both rich and poor are to be considered equals. 

One commentary I read said, 

“Favouritism toward the rich breaks the Old Testament commands to treat he poor equitably (Lev.19:15; Deut. 16:19; Job 34:19) and a serious transgression of God’s law.

So how do you treat the poor?

When you see a homeless person on the street or in refugee camps do you consider them equal?

If so what are you doing to help them?

Remember it was 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.

Please think about it.

A Question Answered

 A Question Answered

"With what shall I come before the Lord,

and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my first born for my transgressions,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice and to love kindness

and to walk humbly with your God?" 

                                                   Micah 6:6-8 (ESV).

The apostle Paul states,

“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 

We cannot live a life good enough to enter heaven. All the burnt offerings are insufficient to truly cover our sins. That is why God reached down to us through His one and Only Son Jesus Christ. 

It is only through the grace of God that we are saved.

The apostle Peter telling us,

Peter said,

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Acts 2:21

The apostle Paul making it clear,

"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.

Do you believe in God? 

Do you believe in the saving grace that comes through belief in Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Praise be to God

  Praise be to God

The apostle Peter writes,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you” 1Peter 1:3-4.

I am a Christian. I make no excuses. I believe the Bible and all that is said in it. I believe in Jesus and the fact that He paid the price for my sins on the cross. Thus I can say with the apostle Peter,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you” 1Peter 1:3-4.

Can you say this?

Please think about it.

Why He Came

 Why He Came

The Apostle John referring to Jesus as "the Word", states,

"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.

Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate.

We believe that by becoming flesh. By coming into this world as a child. Jesus experienced first hand what it was to be human. Jesus understood what it was to grow up in an average family. He attended parties, had friends. He even experienced what it was like to walk in the rain. Feel the sun on his face. 

Further more he knew what it was like to suffer at the hands of evil men and die in an horrendous way on a Roman cross.

But death did not hold him scripture tells us he rose again walked on the earth for awhile before ascending to heaven where He will one day judge the world.  

Thus when anyone stands before God on the day of judgement they can never say you don’t know what it is like to be human, because He does.

The New Testament is clear as to why Jesus came into this world. The apostle John writing, 

"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.

Thus the question remains; Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

A Mans Ways

  A mans ways

The writer of Proverbs states,

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and he examines all his paths." 

                                                        Proverbs 5:21.

That says it all. God knows about everything we do and why we do it. 

Question:

When God examines your ways, what will He say?

Please think about it.

You and Mercy

 You and Mercy

In the book of James we read,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  

because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.

Do you judge people? Do you show mercy towards people especially those you disagree with. Do you judge someone begging for money on the street or those with a different lifestyle, or faith than yours?

You should not be. Jesus made it perfectly clear saying,

"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.

I like what 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.

For me one of the best ways I’ve found to be merciful to others is share to Gospel message, along with doing what I can to help those in physical needs.

So are you truly showing mercy to those around you?

Please think about it.

A Need to

A need to

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O LORD, 

with all my heart; before the "gods" 

I will sing your praise.”

                                        Psalm 138:1.

I believe more than ever those who believe in God. Those who believe in Christ Jesus need to be seen to Praise God.

We as believers need to be lifting up Gods name and telling those around us of His love and compassion.

We need to be saying to the world,

“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.

Please if you claim to be a Christian, think about it. 

Your Future

  Your Future 

The apostle Paul writes,

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known" 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Ancient mirrors were made from polished metal such as bronze as a result your reflection was very dim. Viewable but cloudy.

Paul uses this analogy to tell his readers that at the moment when it comes to heaven we see it dimly. We know it’s there and the scriptures in human terms explains what heaven is like. It is however a shadowy depiction of what it really is.

It is not until we finally get to heaven that we will fully see it in all its magnificence. 

The question however is, is heaven in your future?

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.

Jesus also said,

..."I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6.

This is what Christians believe. This is what true followers of Christ Jesus believe. 

If we are wrong then no one needs to worry. If on the other hand we are right then at the very least people should be very concerned.

Please think about it.