Having faith in Jesus

  Having faith in Jesus

"Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29.

Here is a blessing from Jesus to all who have not physically seen him, yet still believe he is who he claimed to be through faith.

Faith being defined in Hebrews as

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  

This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1,2

In Hebrews 11 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

Hebrews goes on to say,

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:8,9.

These men born long before Jesus came to earth did not see him physically yet chose to follow Gods leading by faith.

And so it should be to day. We although we have not physically seen Jesus are called to believe in him.

Thus the question becomes do you believe by faith in Jesus?

Please think about it.

Gentle and Respectfully

 Gently and Respectfully 

The apostle Peter writes,

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15,16.

I am against the fire and brimstone preachers. I am against those who would as someone has said “scare them out of hell and into heaven”. I’m also against those claiming to be Christians forcing their faith on others.

I say this because many non-Christians first of all do not believe in Hell. Secondly most non-Christians would tell you that they are a good person better than some they see going to church, and as such believe they are going to heaven.

That’s why we as true followers of Christ Jesus should at any given time be prepared to tell people what we believe and why we believe it. While at the same time respecting what they believe.

God gave each and every person a free will to do and believe what they wish. That freedom extends to not believing what Christians believe. Each individual has the right to even believe God does not exist.

The bottom line however for a Christian is that when asked about our faith we should be ready and willing to tell people about it in a gentle and respectful manner. In the most simplistic manner quoting John 3:16-18

“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

Telling people they are saved by the grace of God. Simply by having faith in Christ Jesus the one and Only Son of God.

The apostle Paul writing

“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.  

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10

Noting that Christians believe God reached down in the form of His One and Only Son Christ Jesus.

“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.

God examines our path

  God examines our path

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

and he examines all his paths." 

                                                         Proverbs 5:21.

C. S. Lewis said,

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.

I believe it doesn't matter who you are, or whether you believe in God or not, everything you do is done in front of God. He examines your paths. He knows why you do what you do. The Psalmist wrote,

"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.

The way I read what the Psalmist is saying is God knows us right down to our genetic code. That is why he has the right to judge us, because in knowing our genetic code he knows why we do what we do.

That being said our genetic code only accounts for part of what we do. In creating man God gave each individual complete freedom do believe and do as they like.

It is in how we exercise this freedom, that God will hold us accountable for. Should we choose to murder, steal, or do anything that is contrary to what God wants, we will, if we are unrepentant be punished by God.

If on the other hand we do as God wishes us to do, we will go to be with Him in heaven.

I also believe God made it as simple as possible for us to go to heaven. He in the form of his one and only Son Jesus entered this world to point us to heaven. The writer of Hebrews stating,

     In Hebrews we read,

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  

“The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3.

God understands that man is far from perfect. That every person that is living or has ever lived falls short of his ideals. That man sins. Sin is falling short of God's ideal for ones life.

Thus God reaches down in grace. The apostle Paul writing,

"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

In Romans Paul writes,

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

The Apostle Paul tells us,

"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.  Romans 10: 9,10.

Please think about it.

How to follow Christ if you consider yourself a Christian

 How to follow Christ if you consider yourself a Christian

In Matthews gospel we read,

  “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.  Matthew 22:36-38

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

                                                                                  Matthew 22:36-40

In Matthews gospel we read,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  

  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47

In 1 Corinthians we read,

“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 says,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”Matthew 7:1,2

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians writes,

“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.

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13

Ultimately it comes down to

“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 you consider yourself a Christian are you obeying what is said here?

Please think about it.

The Bulwark of a Just Society

 The Bulwark of a Just Society

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.” Abba Hillel Silver.

When God is forgotten by society, society runs the risk of falling apart. While God in creating man gave him complete freedom to do as he wished. He, I believe placed in mans heart rules to live by. Devine rules that allow a free society to function well. Those divine rules in a nutshell being the ten commandments.

When man disobeys those rules and refuses to believe in God, or fear God, society can fall apart. We only have to look at Nazi Germany in the 1930's and during world war two to see this in its extreme. 

Hitler and his supporters did not fear God. Instead they lived by their own rules that led to the death of millions of men women and children in the death camps. In a world war that claimed in excess of fifty-six million people, soldiers and civilians.

The same is true on a smaller scale around the world today with respect to terrorist groups. Most do not fear God. Some even have the twisted belief they are doing God’s work. 

Throughout our society we see murderers, rapist, thieves and others who commit crimes who do not give God a second thought. 

Whether mankind wants to admit it or not. Mankind needs God and the basic set of rules for living life to it’s fullest. Mankind needs to acknowledge that the writer of Ecclesiastes is right when he said,

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

Please think about it.

God will make us good

  God will make us good

The apostle Paul wrote,

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4,5

To the Ephesians Paul wrote,

“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 wrote,

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."  C.S. Lewis.

From a Christian stand point we cannot live lives good enough to get to heaven. That being said, God understood this and sent Jesus Christ to save us. 

The apostle Paul wrote,

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

Paul stating,

"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.

Thus my question to you the reader; do you believe this?

Please think about it.

To Love

  To Love             

  Jesus when asked

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: 

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: 

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

                                                                                     Matthew 22:36-40

Jesus also said,

“You have heard that it was said, 

‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...” 

                                                                                                        Matthew 5:43,44

The apostle Paul defined love as,

“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

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

                                                                      Hebrews 12:14

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.

Francis of Assisi wrote a prayer all Christians need to take to heart. He wrote,

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                                           The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.

The late American Evangelist Billy Graham said,

It is the Holy Spirits job to Convict, 

God's job to judge 

and my job to love, 

Billy Graham

If you claim to be a Christian, are you truly loving unconditionally, those around you?

Please think about it.

A time to give thanks

 A time to give thanks

“Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, 

and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good 

and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues 

through all generations.” 

                                        Psalm 100:2-5

Both in Canada and the united states we celebrate a day of thanksgiving in October and November respectively. That being said we should I believe set more time during not only the year but each week, to thank God for all He has done for us.

As a Christian I praise God for all He has done for me. My life has not been a constant high. Even the American Evangelist Billy Graham said,

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham.

Still in Good times and in bad times God has always been there for me. Helping me thorough the bad times. Giving me peace knowing that no matter what I am going thorough He is with me.

I as a Christian can honestly say with the Psalmist,

“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

Can you?

Please think about it.

Which path?

 Which path?

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.

We as Christians believe that Jesus is the way to heaven. That He is the narrow gate. Jesus saying,

"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

In Mark’s Gospel Jesus is recorded as saying,

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:34-36.

Not all roads lead to heaven. There are many well worn paths that people have been misled into following. Paths that look right but ultimately lead to sorrow. While there is only one  path leading us to heaven and eternal life with God.  The path that leads through Christ Jesus.

So the question becomes, What path are you on, the one that seems to offer all you’ve ever wanted, yet leads to destruction or the path that goes through Jesus and lets you enter heaven?

Please think about it.

What to do

 What to do

In the book of Micah we read,

 “He (God) 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 6:8.

If you call yourself a Christian do you do what Micah is saying here? 

Do you... “do justice”

“love kindness”

“walk humbly with your God”?

In the book of Colossians we read.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  Colossians 3:12

So if you consider yourself a Christian, do you “clothe yourself in...

Compassion

Kindness

Humility

Gentleness

Patience

Please think about it.

Points to a Creator God

  Points to a Creator God.

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.

Voltaire wrote,  

"To believe in God is impossible 

not to believe in Him is absurd."

                                                     Voltaire.

Blaise Pascal wrote,

Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists. Blaise Pascal.

I firmly believe God does not want blind faith. The Psalmist tells us,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                 Psalm 19:1

The way I see things, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest Galaxy, all are arranged in such a way to make life as we know it exist.

Modern science is proving there is a 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." Dr. Arno Penzias

Even Stephan Hawking one of the greatest minds in science of the twentieth century who  was not a Christian admitted,

"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,"

Hugh Ross a pastor and Astrophysicists wrote,

The entity that brought the universe into existence must be the master of all space time matter and energy. 

This entity must be powerful enough to make space time at will and to exquisitely fine tune an untold number of cosmic Characteristics. More than 200 (800 characteristics have since been discovered)  have been discovered so far. The probability of all these know parameters randomly coming together would be one chance in 10215 a probability so incredibly tiny that statistically speaking is impossible. This probability is becoming more remote with every scientific discovery. 

Such a high degree of design demonstrates that this entity must be a personal being with an amazing creativity with wisdom power care and love to a degree far beyond human capabilities.

He has fine tuned the galaxy the solar system and planet earth so that spiritual life can be fused with physical life..... in this one small space for one brief span on our time line" Dr. Huge Ross.

So what do you believe?

Please think about it. 

Jesus' call

 Jesus' Call

The call of Jesus is

"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.

Jesus offers peace for one's soul. 

Christians believe there is a God who loves us and offers us eternal life with Him in heaven. 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.

The Christian believes God reached down through Jesus Christ to mankind to show him the way to heaven. That it is by the grace of God we get to heaven. The apostle Paul stating,

"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

Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,

"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 defined as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see." 

                                                            Hebrews 11:1.

That being said the choice is always up to you. 

Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Saviour of all who believe in him

  Saviour of all who believe in him

The gospel of John records this incident between Jesus and some people gathered in the temple,

“Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.  

“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  

I and the Father are one.

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?

“We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”  John 10:24-33

C. S. Lewis wrote,

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Those who were about to stone Jesus to death were doing so because they believed he was committing blasphemy. Something that carried the death penalty under the laws of the day. 

Jesus knew of these laws yet he chose to tell the truth. He was and is the Son of God. God incarnate, Saviour of all who believe in Him.

The choice those men had was to believe Jesus was God incarnate. Saviour of all who believed in him is the same choice we have today.

Blaise Pascal put it this way,

Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists. Blaise Pascal.

Please think about it.

In Peace

 In  peace

The apostle Paul writes,

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,   who gave himself as a ransom for all men the testimony given in its proper time. 1Timothy 2:1-6

Here Paul tells Christians to pray make intercession and thanksgiving for everyone. Paul even notes we should pray for those in authority that we may live in peace. That such a thing pleases God.

Paul notes there is but one God and Mediator between God and men Christ Jesus. That Jesus that gave himself a ransom for all men.

C. S. Lewis notes,

“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.

Jesus died for all men. That is why Christians need to pray for our leaders. To pray that we can live in peace. For it is in times of peace that the gospel of Christ can spread the fastest. 

Christianity is not a faith that promotes conflict. Quite the opposite the early church founders all talked about living in peace with all people. 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.

To be a Christian we can do nothing less.

We are to pray for our leaders, both those inside and outside the church. We are to pray for our secular political leaders and for all those around us no matter who they are in the church or on the streets around us. 

The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

If you claim to be a Christian this is what you should be doing.

Please think about it.

Why not take time

Praise the Lord more often

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.

I am a believer in Christ Jesus. I believe that He is God incarnate, God in the flesh. The saviour of all who believe in him. 

I also think (myself included) that those who believe in God don’t worship Him enough for all he has done for us.

Many Christians put on worship music in the car or in their house but they listen to it rather than use it to personally praise God. The only time they truly praise God is once a week in Church.

If you consider yourself a true believer in God, in Christ Jesus, why not take sometime right now to praise and worship God from your heart.

Please think about it.

A great Teacher

  A Great Teacher

In the Gospel of John, 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

Jesus said,

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.

Making yourself equal to God by saying “I and the Father are one”. Was in the Jewish faith of the day blasphemy and could get you stoned to death.

I like what C. S. Lewis said about Jesus

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 

I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. 

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. 

You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

So who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

On the topic of God

On the topic of God

In the book of Genesis we read, 

“In the beginning God created 

the heavens and the Earth” 

Genesis 1:1. 

        Then essentially leaves the reader to decide for themselves.

Charles Spurgeon once said, 

       “The Bible does not need to be defended any more than a caged lion needs to be defended. All we need to do is let it out of its cage, and it will defend itself.” Charles Spurgeon 

What I find is most people who do not believe the Bible have not read it. Those who have read it and don’t believe it, all too often have read it with their minds already made up.

What I would suggest to anyone especially if you have not read the Bible is to read it for themselves. Then talk to people who believe in the Bible. To go to a Church and ask the pastor to explain what he believes and why. I always suggest going to a Mennonite Brethren or Baptist churches around the world as they are well rooted in their beliefs.

  There are also some excellent teachers that you can go to on the internet. William Lane Craig explains the existence of God very well. He has numerous videos on Youtube. As does Hugh Ross. Hugh Ross is a pastor and Astrophysicist. He is especially good at explaining the creation of the world and showing how it lines up with the Bible.

The key however here, is don’t go by what others say about the Bible. Take time to at least read the New Testament. Read what the first century Christians believed about Jesus. What Christians today believe about Jesus. Then decide for yourself.

Please think about it.

Are you the Light?

  Are you the light?

          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.

When people look at you do they see the light of God in your life?

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                                 Francis of Assisi

Are you reflecting the light of God to the world around you? Do they see the fruit of the spirit in your life. The fruit described in Galatians, 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22,23.

Please think about it.

A Little Foolishness

 A little foolishness 

The apostle John writes,

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1John 4:10.

In John’s Gospel we read,

"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.

God loves all mankind. He loves us so much that he gave us a freewill to do as we please. That includes not believing in God.

That being said He loved us so much He sent Christ Jesus. His One and Only Son to die for our sins. To die for the sins of all who believe in Him.

I know for many this seems foolish. Even the apostle Paul said,

"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." 1Corinthians 1:18.

Blaise Pascal wrote,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

Thus the question becomes where will you place your bet?

Think about it.

I will exalt you

  I will exalt you

The Psalmist writes,

“You are my God, and I will give you thanks; 

you are my God, and I will exalt you. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 

his love endures forever.” 

                                                     Psalm 118:28,29

Here is something all Christians are called to do, give thanks and exalt God for His everlasting Love. 

That praise should in my mind not be incumbent on what God has done for us. We should do it simply because He is God Almighty Creator of heaven and earth.

 So do you do this?

Please think about it.