The Lamb of God

 The Lamb of God

John the Baptist upon seeing Jesus said,

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29.

The apostle John writes,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9.

If you think about it you the scripture quoted above has a great deal to say who Jesus is. It says that Jesus takes away the sin of the world. 

That if we confess our sin to Jesus He will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

This is something only God can do. 

In fact in John’s gospel we read of this incident in the life of Jesus. John records,

"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.  

Those who were not believers in Jesus were ready to put Him to death for claiming to be God, which was the penalty for such a thing at the time.

Jesus however never denied His claim despite knowing that it could mean death.

Thus the way I see it Jesus is indeed the Son of God, God incarnate, who forgives sin or He is a lying, and along with his disciples have created the biggest lie in all history.

What do you think?

Please think about it.

But they who wait for the LORD

  But they who wait for the LORD

The Prophet Isaiah states,

“Even youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted

But they who wait for the LORD Shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary’

they shall walk and not faint.”

                                                     Isaiah 40:30,31

Life can be hard. All kinds of things hit us. Things that could quite easily knock us off our feet, leaving us exhausted both physically and spiritually.

That being said for those who truly know Christ as their Saviour have help in getting through the rough times. 

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.

If you consider yourself a Christian do you put your trust in Christ both in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it.

A Personal Note

 A personal note

The Psalmist writes,

“I will say of the LORD, 

"He is my refuge and my fortress,

 my God, in whom I trust." 

                                                  Psalm 91:2.

In whom do you trust?

I think this is an important question everyone who claims to be a true follower of Christ Jesus needs to answer.

For me personally this year has been a year of drastic change. I recently lost my wife of forty-five years. She had been ill for several years and we knew it was simply a matter of time before she would pass away.

On the last day of her life, while in the ICU unit at the hospital although in pain she was very lucid knowing what was happing around her. 

We talked about various things. When the medical staff told me there was nothing more they could do for her, I told her and asked her if she was ready to pass. She gave me a weak smile and said “I just want to be with Jesus”.

With that we called the family and the doctors took her off life support. Our pastor arrived, then we, and she, sang amazing grace. We prayed. And as a family we sat by her bed until she passed to the arms of her Lord and Savour Jesus Christ. 

For me it was by far the worst day of my entire life. I can honestly say that although I had a chance to say goodby and knew she was now at peace free of the pain she’d been going through for several years. It was the hardest day of my life.

That being said she showed me that day the extent of her faith in Christ. She had known Christ as her Saviour for close to fifty years. The Lord was her fortress. Her God in whom she trusted.

Later that night when I was completely alone for perhaps the first time in forty-five plus years I cried it seemed oceans of tears. 

But I too knew Christ as my Saviour. I knew God was indeed my fortress. I had spent a lifetime laying that foundation. I knew I could trust God to do the right thing. And in my time of grief God was there to comfort and assure me everything would be fine.

The right thing for my wife was to enter an eternity with Him. The right thing for me was to seek God out and see how I could serve Him more.

Interestingly, several things have happened since my wife’s passing. Doors have opened for me to serve God in more ways.

My question to you however is whom do you trust. Can you say with the Psalmist,

"I will say of the LORD, 

"He is my refuge and my fortress,

 my God, in whom I trust." 

                                                  Psalm 91:2.

Please think about it.

What is faith?

  What is faith?

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

“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.

God wants us to have faith in Him but not necessarily blind faith.

Robert Brault said,

"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,

The Psalmist wrote,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                               Psalm 19:1

Werner Heisenberg wrote,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics.

But believing in something we can’t see is for many a very hard thing to do. Which perhaps is why God asks us to have faith in Him.

Please think about it.

Pray for the 365 million

 Pray for the 365 million

The apostle Paul writes,

"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 serve a God who calls all people from every nation to trust in Him by faith. He simply asks that we truly believe with our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with our mouth to those around us that “Jesus is Lord” we will be saved and enter heaven.

That being said, God understands that it is not safe to confess Jesus as Lord in some parts of the world. 

Paul and the other apostles certainly knew what it was like to be persecuted for their faith. They were thrown in prison, tortured, beaten, stoned, crucified, among other things. Yet they still confessed Jesus as Lord.

I firmly believe in places where Christians are persecuted they need to pray and ask for Gods protection. They need to ask God for wisdom in how to spread the gospel and who to talk to.

As for we who live in areas that are free from persecution. We need to remember our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith. Additionally we need to hold our persecuted brothers and sisters up in prayer before God. And do all we can to help them.

According to one British parliament report in 2023 “Around 365 million Christians are subject to "high levels of persecution and discrimination"

If you claim to be a true Christian are you at the very least praying for your persecuted brothers and sisters in the Lord?

Praying and doing what we can to help persecuted Christians in the world should not be something we simply think about. 

We need to at the very least pray!

Please pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

We are grass

  We are all grass

    "A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" 

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:6-8.

We are fragile even if we are in good health are bodies are fragile. A simple fall as we walk along the road can kill us.

All of our institutions everything man has created is fragile. Just take a look Pompeii everything gone in an instant when a volcano erupted. The grandeur of one of the greatest civilizations in history, Rome. Nothing more than ruins. 

Governments and institutions of every kind have faded into obscurity.

Yet through it all God’s word is still standing.

Also still there the call to people everywhere that God loves them. Jesus speaking of Himself saying,

"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.

Have you put your trust in God? Do you believe Jesus when he said,

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

Please think about it.

This very night

 This very night

Jesus told this story,

“And he (Jesus) told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  

He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:16-21.

Here is a simple question to Christians. Are you rich toward God?

Now there’s nothing wrong with being wealthy. Many wealthy people throughout the years have helped spread the gospel message.

The problem comes when you put your trust in your wealth. 

You don’t know if you will live to see the next moment let alone the next day or year. Thus we should have our lives right before God at all times. 

We need to accept the gift of salvation that comes from God through Jesus Christ. We need to confess our sins directly to God. The apostle John stating, 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

So my question to you is... have you confessed your sin to God and accepted the salvation God offers through Christ Jesus? 

Jesus speaking of himself stating, 

"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.

Please think about it.

Don't pray like the Hypocrites

 Don't pray like the Hypocrites

In Colossians we read,

“Devote yourselves to prayer.”

                                                Colossians 4:2.

I think for many Christians prayer is a hard thing to do. They worry they may be doing it wrongly, or asking to much of God, or not asking for the right things. Added to that we may not always see the results of our prayers right away.

For that matter we may not see the results of our prayers this side of heaven. Still we are called to to devote ourselves to prayer.

Luke’s gospel tells us, 

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

                                                                                Luke 5:16

Jesus gave us instruction on how to pray Matthew records, 

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

"This, then, is how you should pray: " ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread. 

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'  

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Matthew 6:5-14.

So if you claim to be a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you pray as Jesus taught us to pray?

Please think about it.

How do you treat non-believers

  How do you treat non-believers?

 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.

We as mere mortals do not have all the facts. We do not know why a person is like they are. Only God knows that. That's why we must show love and not judge in anyway those around us. There are only two reasons we should judge another person. For our own safety, and to see it they are teaching God’s word correctly.

The apostle Paul states,

“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

You cannot win a soul for Christ if you judge them. Our Job is not to judge them it’s to love them.

The late evangelist Billy Graham once wisely said,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                                   Billy Graham.

How do you treat non-believers?

Please think about it.

Who's Jesus to you?

  Who's Jesus to you?

"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.

Let me make things clear. I am a Christian. I am not an Anglican-Christian, a Catholic-Christian, a Lutheran-Christian,. I am not Evangelical-Christian, a Baptist-Christian, a Pentecostal-Christian  or any other hyphenated Christian and I am most certainly not a Christian nationalist. I am a Christian.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour of Mankind, God incarnate. I believe Christians by default must be evangelical in nature. They must present to the world the  God's Love and Saving Grace that comes through Jesus Christ. 

This may not go over well with some people but then everyone has the right to disagree with me. Everyone has the right to choose whether the message true Christians present to the world is true. 

Who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

The centre of your life

   The centre of your life

“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.

The way I see this portion of scripture in a nutshell is make God the centre of your life. It’s really that simple.

Read the scriptures, pray, love your family, friends and foe alike as God loves them “unconditionally”.

So the question becomes, Are you doing this?

         Are you making God the centre of your life?

Please think about it.

Whatever you do

  Whatever you do.

In Colossians we read,

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17.

As believers we are called to, in word and deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Do you do this?

Please think about it.

What really matters

  What really matters.

In 1Corinthians we read,

"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.  My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.  

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:3-5. 

What the apostle Paul is saying here is it doesn’t matter who in this world judges you. What ultimately matters is God’s judgement. For it is God who will determine where you will spend eternity.

Question, When you stand before God what will He say to you?

Please think about it.

Which description

  Which description 

"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:7-10.

Here is a simple test of to determine who is of God and who is not of God. You will know them by their actions,

The apostle Paul writes,

“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."Galatians 5:19-23.

Which description fits you and the pastors, evangelist and politicians you listen to?

Please think about it.

Over Nothing

  Over Nothing

In the book of Job we read,

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; 

he suspends the earth over nothing." 

                                                      Job 26:7.

I like this observation of Job. He, an ancient man, looks into the heavens and observes the earth is suspended over nothing.

The Psalmist writes,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” Psalm 19:1-3.

In the book of Genesis we read,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                                                            Genesis 1:1

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics states,

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

Even Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century said,

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

God not only makes his presence known not just in the Bible but in the mathematical perfection of the Universe. For me you can’t look upon the universe and all it’s glory and say there is no creator behind it.

Do you believe God created the heavens and the earth.

Please think about it.

Outward Appearance

  Outward Appearance

In the book of 1 Samuel we read,

“People look at the outward appearance, 

but the Lord looks at the heart.”

                                                    1 Samuel 16:7.

God said this in connection with David the youngest of Jesse's eight sons. Samuel had seen the oldest son and thought because of his outward appearance he had to be the next king of Israel.

God however knew David’s heart and that he was the one best qualified to rule.

The Psalmist writes,

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16.

This is why I believe only God can truly judge us righteously, because only God knows why we are the way we are.

It is not the Christians job to judge, especially those outside of the Church. That is God’s Job. The apostle Paul writing,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”  1 Corinthians 5:12.

Do you judge people by their outward appearance?

Please think about it

You will seek me and find me

  You will seek me and find me

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

                                                                                                          Jeremiah 29:13.

I think the one reason people do not find God is because they aren’t looking for Him with their whole heart.

Someone has said,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God 

for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” 

                                                                       Author Unknown.

To find God we have to believe He exists.

In Hebrews we read,

"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.

And God doesn’t expect blind faith. The Psalmist states,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                Psalm 19:1.

I firmly believe science done right can prove the existence of God.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

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

William Philips said,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it"William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicist.

Werner Heisenberg said,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics, Nobel prize in physics.

Do you believe God exists?

Please think about it.

You and your wealth

 You and your wealth

Matthews gospel tells of this interaction between Jesus and a rich man.

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.

Let me say something first. There is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s the emphasis you put on your wealth that matters.

Jesus specifically states,

"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 16:19-21.

It is easy if we are wealthy to put our trust in our wealth and leave God out of the equation. This is what was happening with the rich man who approached Jesus. 

The man believed in God. He followed the religious rules all good things. But his trust was not in God. It was in his material possessions. When Jesus asked him to give away his wealth he couldn’t. 

The apostle Paul warns,

"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.

Where do you stand when it comes to your money or your faith?

God may never ask you to give away all your money, but if he does ask you, would you be willing to give it all away?

Please think about it.

Reflecting Gods Light

  Reflecting Gods Light

Jesus said,

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:16.

The apostle Peter writes,

"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.

This is something we a believers need to take to heart. The world is looking at us and it is through the lense of our words and deeds that people will see God and Christ Jesus.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                        Francis of Assisi.

Our lives should reflect the Love of God at all times. We should be loving those around us the way God loves us, unconditionally. We should be exhibiting what the apostle Paul calls the fruit of the spirit,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...." Galatians 5:22, 23b.

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus what do people see when they look at your words and deeds?

Do you show the fruit of the Spirit to those around you?

Do you truly reflect the Light of God to those around you?

Please think about it.

Time to praise God

  Time to praise God

“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

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to take time each day to Praise God not just listen to prerecorded praise music. We need to participate in worship. 

Prerecorded music is good but we should be taking time to use our voice to praise God. The psalmist tells us to praise God with instruments and dancing.

Do you do this?

Why or why not?

Please think about it.

The Shepherd

 The Shepherd

The Psalmist writes,

“The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” 

                                                                                        Psalm 23.

One of the thing I like about being a believer in Christ Jesus is having God as my Shepherd. He is someone who protects me. He is there for me even in my darkest moments in life. Additionally He is there in the high points of my life and everything in between. 

Henry William Baker penned this poem,

“The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.”

                                                Henry William Baker

Is God the Shepherd of your life?

The duty of a believer

 The duty of a believer

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 marvelous deeds among all peoples.” 

                                                        Psalm 96:1-3

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                        Francis of Assisi.

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.

It is the duty of all who believe in Christ Jesus to tell those around them about God and the Salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.

I firmly believe when we do this we must do so in a respectful and loving manner. You will not win souls for Christ if you are forcing your faith on someone. Forcing your faith on someone will turn them away from God.

The apostle Paul speaking to the Athenian set the example for us. He was asked not by Christians and Jews to speak at the Areopagus but the Epicureans and Stoic philosophers. Were he trying to force his faith on them he would not have been asked to speak.

How do you present the gospel message to those around you? Do you argue and try and force your beliefs on them. OR do you simply present the gospel message and let them decide for themselves whether or not to believe what you said is true.

Please think about it. 

I believe Jesus is the Christ

  I Believe Jesus is the Christ

In John’s gospel we read,

"Jesus said to her (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

So what does truly believing that Jesus is “the Christ the Son of God”

The apostles creed while not written by an apostle of Christ puts in a nutshell what Christians believe. It 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.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Studying for yourself

  Studying for yourself

The apostle Peter writes,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3. 

This is happening today. That is why as true believers in Christ Jesus we need to be not just reading the Bible but studying it. That we may know what we believe and why we believe it.

Sadly many within the Christian community believe everything that is being said from a preacher, evangelist or teacher. Their belief is since this person is in the position they are in they must be teaching the scriptures correctly. Or the preacher is saying the things they want to hear and thus follow him or her.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"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.

As Christians we have the right to judge others who claim to be Christians to see if they are teaching scripture correctly. 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." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

But in order to know if someone is not teaching the word of God correctly like I said we must study the Scriptures for ourselves. 

Do you spend time regularly studying the Bible yourself?

Please think about it.

In everything you do

 In everything you do

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

Put this way in the year 2021 this means;

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

          Please think about it

On giving to the poor

 On giving to the poor.

Jesus told this story,

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

"He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,  

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

" ‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:19-31

There are over 2000 verses in the Bible that call us to respond to the needs of the poor.

Here in the above scripture Jesus issues a warning to those who have a lot in this world. Simply put they should be helping to poor. Not simply because it is the right thing to do but it is the humane thing to do. AND, it is what God requires of those who have much.

The Talmud gives this story,

“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.

Are you in a position to help the poor. Even if it’s only giving someone begging on the street your pocket change?

Please think about it.

Giving with a cheerful heart

   Giving with a cheerful heart

In the book of proverbs we read,

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9.

I believe that we as true believers in Christ Jesus, must do what we can to help the poor. Even if it’s just giving a homeless person begging on the street some of our pocket change.

When giving to the homeless especially we should never have a question why the person is asking for money. We should never say to ourselves that he or she will only spend it on drugs of alcohol. That is between them and God. 

Additionally when we give it should never be with the intent that God will give us even more back.

Nor should we give begrudgingly. The apostle Paul writes,

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7.

This should be true with all our giving. We as believers should determine what we are comfortable giving and give with a cheerful heart.

Please think about it.

Both in word and in deed

  Both in word and in deed

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

C.S. Lewis said,

"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.

A Christian accepts the fact that he or she is a sinner. One who falls short of God’s ideal. One who cannot work his or her way to heaven.

A Christians is one who accepts the saving grace of Christ Jesus who died for our sins. That we might get to heaven.

A Christian believes what the apostle Paul said, when he wrote,

“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.

A Christian is one who understands that they are Christ’s ambassadors in this world and who’s job it is to tell the world of the love and saving grace that comes through belief in Christ Jesus.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus do you believe this?

Do you tell the world about the Love of God and the Saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus both in word and in deed?

Please think about

Preserved, Restored, Pardoned

  Preserved, Restored, Pardoned..."

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee." Deuteronomy 15:15.

I believe it's at St. Mary Woolnoth  an Anglican church in the City of London, that there is a plaque with the words,

 "John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy."

Newton was a slave trader who helped himself to the female slaves. He was a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.

He came to Christ on March 10, 1748 while steering a near foundering ship in a storm. 

Newton would go on to be the curate at a church in Olney, Buckinghamshire. Along with William Cowper write the Olney Hymns (1779) Two hundred eighty of which he wrote including the hymn Amazing grace.

In 1787 he with William Wilberforce founded the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Speaking out against the evil that was the slave trade. Even writing a book Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade. He would testify against slavery to parliament. Living long enough to see slavery abolished.

It would be easy for us in the twenty-first century to say “well I’m not a bad as Newton” and that might be so. But the apostle Paul wrote,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

Little sins or big sins or anything in between separates us from God. Sin is falling short of God’s ideal for our life. The apostle John stating.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

Do you believe that you are a sinner falling short of God’s ideal. Do you believe the words of Jesus who 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.

Can you say as John Newton said,

“...by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned...”

Please think about it.

Loving as God Loves

  Loving as God loves.

The apostle John wrote,

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

 God is love. 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

                                                                          1John 4:16

Love is a very important part of the Christian life. In order to truly be a Christian you must love unconditionally.

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 neighbour as yourself.'  

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

The apostle Paul defines true Christian 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.

Jesus speaking to his disciples said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

The apostle John states,

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1John 4:20,21.

So the question becomes, If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Do you love God, your family, friends, and foes unconditionally?

Please think about it.

What do they read?

  What do they read?

Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven Matthew 5:14-16.

Charles H Spurgeon said,

"The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! "You are the light of the world." Charles H. Spurgeon.

“You are the light of the world” said Jesus to His followers. So if you are a follower of Jesus; When the world reads your words and deeds what do they see?

Please think about it.