Do not forget

  Do not forget

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Do not forget to do good and to share with others, 

for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

                                                                        Hebrews 13:16.

The late civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. said,

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is,

 'What are you doing for others?'”

                                                               Martin Luther King, Jr.

The American evangelist Tony Campolo said,

"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change." Tony Campolo.

So if you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. What are you doing to help others?

Please think about it.

Could you give your wealth up?

  Could you give your wealth up?

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.

Now there is nothing wrong with being wealthy. Scripture clearly states it is, the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil.

Money has it’s place in our lives. But it should never be first place. It especially should never be put ahead of God in our lives.

Matthew’s gospel records this incident between a rich young man and Jesus. It states,

"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 neighbor 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.

Would you be willing to give up all your wealth to serve Christ?

Please think about it.

A duty of the rich

  A duty of the rich

Jesus told this parable,

"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.

Here we see the consequences of not helping the poor. I think the rich man here may not of even thought that God would hold him accountable for his actions in this world. That’s if he even thought of God at all. He was too busy enjoying his wealth and all it could buy him.

Sadly for him he realized too late that not helping the poor had eternal consequences. 

This parable is one of many warnings that scripture gives to those who are blessed with an abundance of things in this world.

If you are blessed with abundance do you share some of it with the poor?

Please think about it. 

A Clear Warning

  A clear warning

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.

Here is a clear warning to those with wealth to teat the poor and those who work for them honestly and fairly.

Now there’s nothing wrong with being wealthy. Scripture states,

"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.

As true Christians. As true believers in Christ Jesus, we should not put money first in our life. Doing the work of the Lord should be first. Part of that work is providing what we can for the poor. That also means that if we are in business we need to give those who work for us a living wage. One that keeps the worker well above the poverty line.

If you are wealthy, if you are in business, do you do what you can for the poor? 

Do you provide a living wage and good working conditions to those who work for you?

Please think about it.

Leave some for the poor

  Leave some for 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.

I am told there are over 2000 verses in scripture that pertain to providing for the poor. 

God cares for the poor and expects us to also care for them.

There’s a quote from the Talmud that I like. It states,

“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.

One of the ways we show that we love someone is when we are willing to give some of our wealth to help them.

Do you share some of what you have with the poor be it through giving to a good charitable cause, your church or other organizations that help the poor?

When you see a homeless person on the street do you give him or her even a few loose coins you may have in your pocket?

Please think about it.

Will not be answered

 Will not be answered

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor 

will himself call out and not be answered." 

                                                                   Proverbs 21:13.

I firmly believe that it is the duty of those who have been blessed with wealth to help the poor. We should never turn our ear away from those in need.

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.

In the book of James we read,

"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." James 2:15-17

If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you helping the poor in someway? 

Please think about it.

With Actions

  With actions

The apostle John writes,

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.... 

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:11,17,18.

As believers in Christ Jesus we have a duty to help those in need. We need to do what we can to help those we can help. Not helping is not an option. 

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Consider what you can do to help those in need. Even if it’s just donating your money or time to an organization or Church that is helping those in need. 

Please think about it.

Who is Jesus Christ?

 Who is Jesus Christ?

In the Gospel of Matthew we read this conversation between Jesus and the apostle Peter,

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16: 15-17.

Here in Peter clearly states who he believes Jesus to be, “the Christ, the Son of the Living God”.

Over and over again the New Testament makes it clear that Jesus is The Son of God. This is unique to Christianity. No other religion in the world claims that their founder is the Son of God.

Thus the way I see it, either Jesus is the Son of God. Or the New Testament is wrong and the apostles and those who believed in Jesus were deceived.

The question is do you believe that the Apostles and all who believed in Jesus mentioned in the Bible were right to believe Jesus is the Son of God or not.

Please think about it. 

The Apostle Paul's belief

  The apostle Paul’s Belief

In the book of Acts we read what the apostle Paul said to those assembled at the Areopagus in Athens. Paul said,

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:22-31.

This is what the apostle Paul truly believed. It is what all true believers in Christ Jesus believe today.

The Choice however is up to you the reader. Do you believe what Paul said or not?

Please think about it.

If Christ is not raised.

  If Christ is not raised.

The apostle Paul writes,

"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 1Corinthians 15:12-14.

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is one of the cornerstone beliefs of Christianity. In the Apostle Paul’s day as today there are those who said there was no resurrection. To which Paul points out if there is no resurrection then Christ did not rise and our faith is useless.

The fact however is Jesus did rise from the grave, conquering sin and death. To sit at the right hand of the God the Father.

What do you believe?

Please think about it.

If you believe

 If you believe

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.

Anyone be they Jew or non-Jew can get to heaven according to the apostle Paul. And the way to Heaven according to the apostle Paul is,

“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.”

These are the words of the apostle Paul not mine. This belief is the foundation of Christianity.

We Christians do not believe that your good works alone will get you into heaven. We firmly believe it is by the grace of God that we enter heaven. The apostle Paul saying,

"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.

Salvation is a free gift of God to all who truly believe in Christ Jesus.

If we Christians are wrong about this then no one has to fear. However if we are right, then there is much to think about.

Please thing about it.

Enter through the Narrow Gate

  Enter through the Narrow Gate,

Jesus said,

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13,14.

As a Christian. As a follower of Christ Jesus. I believe the path to heaven is narrow. I believe that there is only one path to heaven. Jesus said,

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

I know there are many people in this world that will disagree with me. Many believe there are many ways to heaven. Which is fine. Everyone has the right to believe what they want to believe.

Likewise I believe God will judge everyone justly by what they know of Him. 

That being said. If I am wrong in my beliefs then no one needs to worry. 

On the other hand if I am right then at the very least those who hear about the saving grace that come from God through Christ Jesus, have a lot to think about.

Please think about it.

Give thanks to GOD

   Give thanks to GOD

“Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: 

"His love endures forever."

                                               Psalm 118:1-4.

If you are a true believer in God. If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus the above quote from Psalms 118 is something your should do every day.

Are you?

Please think about it.

Against such there is no law

  Against such there is no law

In the book of Galatians we read,

“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 

Here we see defined the sinful nature and the Fruit of the Spirit. It is given to us so that we as true Christians. As true followers of Christ Jesus can tell right from wrong. It is in effect a black and white template for us to judge what is right and wrong.

Here’s a checklist for those who claim to be true followers of Jesus,

The fruit of the Spirit is,

Love 

Joy

Peace, 

Patience,

Kindness,

Goodness, 

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

Self-control.

And as the writer points out there is no law against showing these attributes.

Are you showing the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit?

Please think about it.

Love as defined by the apostle Paul

  Love as defined by the apostle Paul

The apostle Paul 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 13:1-8a,13.

For me what the apostle Paul wrote here is strait forward. It defines Christian love. This how a Christian is suppose to Love. As God loved us, unconditionally.

Are you loving this way?

Please think about it.

God and your neighbour

 God and your neighbour

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.

Jesus couldn’t have been more to the point. Loving God with all your heart and soul and mind. Is the greatest commandment. We should be loving God so much that we are willing to go to the grave for Him.

The second greatest commandment as Jesus points out is love your neighbour as yourself.

Thus the question arrises.

Do you truly Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and do you truly love your neighbour as yourself?

Please think about it.

"How to know children of God

  How to know Children of God

The Apostle John writes,

“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.” 1John 3:10.

Here is a simple test to see who is a Christian. John states, “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.”

Do you know anyone who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus and does not do what is right? 

Do any of the pastors, evangelist, politicians that you support fail to do right?

As believers in Christ Jesus. As Christs representatives on this earth we have a moral duty to do right at all times. As well as loving our neighbour the way God does, unconditionally.

Do you and those you support do this?

Please think about it.

If You

  If you

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

If you found something of great importance to mankind. Something that would change lives. Would you not want to share it?

That is what we as Christians, as true followers in Christ Jesus believe we have. We believe: 

Jesus is the Son of God

The Saviour of all who believe in Him.

We believe He gave his life for the sins we committed.

The Apostle Paul states,

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

As believers in Christ Jesus we believe you cannot be good enough to stand before a Holy God. The simple fact being we are far from perfect and sin. Sin meaning falling short of Gods ideal for our life.

Thus Jesus speaking of Himself said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

All it takes on our part is to believe Jesus paid the price for our sins. Then confess those sins to Jesus.

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.

It all comes down to what 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.

Please think about it.

Who's your friend, Who's your master?

  Who’s your friend, Who’s your master?

In the book of James we read,

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4.

As believers in Christ Jesus we have two choices. We can follow Jesus putting our faith completely in God. Or we can chose to turn from God and follow the world. We can’t have both at the same time.

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.

My point here is we must put our faith in God ahead of the things in this world. That’s not to say we should retreat into our church buildings or have only Christian friends. The apostle Paul points out,

"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.”1 Corinthians 5:9-10.

Even Jesus sat with sinners in the gospel of Mark we read,

“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.

If we truly believe in Christ Jesus. We will put our faith completely in God letting God direct our paths. Letting God open doors for us to work for Him.

So who’s your friend?

Who’s your Master?

Please think about it.

Where will you spend eternity?

 Where will you spend eternity?

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:13,14.

We don’t know what will happen to us tomorrow or for that matter in the next moments of our life. Whether we will live or die. But we can know were we will spend eternity.

In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul writes,

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 apostle John writes,

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12,13.

Do you truly believe in The Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you know where you will spend eternity?

Please think about it. 

Asking God

  Asking God

In the book of James we read,

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3.

I’ve met many who claim to be Christians who ask God for everything and anything they can think about. They ask God for a big house, fancy car, money. The list goes on and on.

There are even evangelist, Pastors, and others claiming to be Christians who say give to God (quite often meaning their ministry) and He will give you much more than you ever give to Him. 

Sadly many are mislead to give more than they can afford. Resulting in financial hardship for the giver.

The apostle Paul states, 

“And my God shall supply all your need 

according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”

                                                             Philippians:4:19

The key words here being “...your needs”.

You may want a huge multimillion dollar home with a Rolls Royce in the driveway and a huge bank account. But do you really need it?

Take a look at what James writes again,

"When you ask, you do not receive, 

because you ask with wrong motives, 

that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3

When you ask God for something is it what you need?

Please think about it.

Quick to listen Slow to anger

  Quick to listen Slow to anger

In the book of James we read,

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19,20.

Life can get “messy” at times. Quite often we find ourselves frustrated at someone or something. It’s easy to lash out in anger at someone who criticizes us or when things don’t go our way. But as James writes “...man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires”.

If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus, whether you like it or not people around you are watching you. Thus the need for those who believe in Christ to again as James states, “be slow to speak and slow to become angry”. Which for many of us can be hard.

Thus the need for us to get in the habit of praying. The apostle Paul reminding us to,

"Pray continually" 

                                          1Thessalonians 5:17.

I believe we should commit everything to prayer everything from the most mundane things in life to the most traumatic.

I believe that when we get into the habit of praying and asking for Gods wisdom and direction before we take action and listen for His guidance, we will be slow to anger. That anger inside us will turn into love and produce the righteous life God desires.

Are you slow to anger?

Before you act especially in anger, do you pray and take the situation you are in to God?

Please think about it.

Seeking Good

  Seeking Good

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.”

                                                         Amos 5:14

In the book of Amos God sends Amos to tell Judah that they were being Judged for their idolatry. Their covenantal unfaithfulness. Lack of social economic justice. Perversion of the law and sexual immorality. Along with oppression of the poor.

The simple message God gave to Amos back then is still relevant today. Our society and indeed many calling themselves Christians are committing the same sins Judah was back then.

Anyone claiming to be a true follower of Christ Jesus need to examine their life. They need to be asking themselves “Am I standing up for social and economic justice?” 

They need to ask themselves am I perverting the law and committing sexual immorality?

Am I oppressing the poor?

Not only should they be asking themselves these questions, but they need to ask themselves are the people I support be it pastors, evangelist, priests, or politicians doing things that God does not approve of?

Thus my question to you, Are you seeking good and not evil?

Please think about it. 

Do you take time?

  Do you take time?

The apostle Paul wrote,

“With one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:6.

Do you glorify God in word and deed?

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon

 some persons will hear today" 

                                               Francis of Assisi.

When people look at your life do they see you honouring God without you saying a thing?

Do you take time each day to pray and praise God rather than always asking Him for something?

Does the Church you attend and the Christian friends you have join together and praise God?

Can you take a few minutes right now to say with the Psalmist,

“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

Please think 

Do you confess your sins?

  Do you confess your sins?

The Psalmist writes,

“I acknowledged my sin to you.”

                                                  Psalm 32:5

So my question to you dear reader is do you acknowledge your sins to God? When you realize you have fallen short of what God wants for your life, do you confess your sin to God?

The apostle John writes,

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

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

The apostle Paul reminds us that Jesus took our sins upon Him. Paul states,

"For our sake he (Jesus) made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,

"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.

Redemption for our sins happens when we confess our sins to God and accept the saving grace that comes through Chris Jesus.

So, do you confess your sins to God?

Please think about it.

Are you bringing hope?

  Are you bringing hope?

The Prophet Isaiah wrote,

"You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" Isaiah 40:9.

The prophet Isaiah was speaking to the people of God during the time of their exile. During uncertain times. His call was a call of encouragement.

Today we live in uncertain times. Wars, political crisis, terrorism, even global warming just to mention a few.

That being said we as believers in Christ Jesus have good news for the world. The salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."1Timothy 1:15,16.

If you claim to be a true follower in Christ Jesus, are you telling the world about the hope that can only come through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Who is your Rock?

  Who is your Rock?

                 The Psalmist writes,

“For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, 

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”

                                                                       Psalm 62:1,2 (ESV).

Do you take time just to be quiet and seek God’s will?

Is God truly your rock and salvation?

Is God your fortress?

When trouble strikes where do you go for help?

Is your faith built on the Rock?

Jesus told this parable,

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 24-27.

Do you put the teachings of Jesus into practice?

Please think about it.

Can you say

   Can you say

The Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.”

                                                      Psalm 121:1,2.

When you need help where do you turn for it? When things are going wrong do you turn to God first?

For me as a believer in Christ Jesus it is comforting to know that when I need help I can turn to God the “Maker of heaven and earth”.

While things in life may not turn out the way we want them. God is still there for us. There to comfort us through the hard times of life. And there to rejoice with us through good times in life. So can you say with the Psalmist,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth."

                                                      Psalm 121:1,2.

Please think about it.

Proclaiming His Name

  Proclaiming His Name.

Isaiah the prophet writes,

"Behold, God is my salvation; 

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation."

"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  

And will say in that day:

Give thanks to the Lord call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted." 

                                                         Isaiah 12:2-4

Can you say “God is my Salvation”?

Can you say “The LORD GOD is my strength and my song”?

Can you say, “He has become my salvation”?

From personal experience I know that God is my Salvation my strength and it’s a wonderful feeling. And it gets better!

In the book of Acts we read this interaction between Paul, Silas and their jailor,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:30,31.

I know my family is saved. I know both my children are saved. Both are serving the Lord in their own way as is my daughter in law. 

I know my late wife is with the Lord. Some of her last words were “I just want to be with Jesus”. 

All of this come to be, because both my wife and I believed in “The Lord Jesus” while still in our early twenties before we met each other.

And while we are not household names. Just a small family who love The Lord. We have had the privilege of proclaiming the Love of Christ and the Salvation He offers both in word and in deed to all we come in contact with. 

And if we can do it anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ can do it also.

If you consider yourself a Christian, A true believer in Christ Jesus. Are you proclaiming the Salvation that comes through Christ in word and in deed to the world around you?

Please think about it.

Acknowledge sin

  Acknowledge sin

The Psalmist writes,

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you 

and did not cover up my iniquity. 

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"

 and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” 

                                                                Psalm 32:5

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

Sin separates us from God. But scripture tells us that if we confess our sins God will forgive us our sins. But God doesn’t stop there the apostle Paul reminds us,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

Writing to the Corinthians Paul states,

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

It was for us. You and me, that Christ died on the cross.

The apostle John writes,

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

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

Thus the choice is ours.

Are you willing to confess your sins directly to God in prayer or not?

Please think about it.