In the good and in the bad

 In the good and the bad

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me; 

let us exalt his name together." 

                                        Psalm 34:1-3.

If nothing else the New Testament shows Jesus and his apostles experienced all that it is to be human. They attended weddings. The followed the rules set down in the Torah. They interacted with people of all walks of life.

They were also beaten, thrown in prison all but one dying for their faith. Yet through all of this they praised God. They praised him not only in the good times, but after they’d been beaten and while they were in prison.

They praised God because they knew that even in their darkest hour God was with them. 

How about you; do you praise God in the good times and in the bad?

Please think about it.

Spurred on

Spurred on

Jesus said,

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 

"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:34-40

While our faith saves us. We are called to do more. As the above words of Jesus notes. 

In the book of James we read,

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:20.

Our faith must spur us on to do good deeds.

So the question becomes. If you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus. Is your faith spurring you on to do good works?

Please think about it.

With Equity

 With Equity

In proverbs we read,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." Proverbs 96:10.

I like this portion of scripture. It tells me God is fair and just. That he will judge all people equally. God does not play favourites.

The reason God can do this is because he knows us intimately.

The Psalmist writing,

"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.

In Ecclesiastes we are warned,

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

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

That being said God does not leave us to our own devises, because he knows we cannot live a life good enough to get to heaven. Thus He sent Jesus. 

The apostle Paul writing,

“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. 

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  

For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  

Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11.

Have you received by faith the salvation God offers through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

Test Everything

 Test everything

“Test everything. Hold on to the good.” 

                                                    1Thessalonians 5:15.

As Christians we are called to test everything. We should never follow by blind faith. We need to look at what is being taught. We need to question the pastor or evangelist that is speaking to see if he or she is properly teaching the word of God.

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

We need to question anyone calling themselves a Christian leader to see if they are correctly handling the word of God. There is nothing wrong in doing this. The apostle Paul writing,

"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.

Do you from time to time question the pastors, and evangelist you follow to see if they are teaching the word of God correctly?

Please think about it.