Are you?

  Are you?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; 

cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honour one another above yourselves.” 

                                                          Romans 12:9,10.

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

1/ Our love must be sincere at all times.

2/We must hate evil in all its forms. 

3/We must cling to what is good.

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

5/We must honour others above ourselves.

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

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

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

But are they. Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

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

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

When Jesus made the statement,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12.

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

So are you doing this?

Are these things active in your life?

1/ Sincere love at all times.

2/ hating evil in all its forms. 

3/Cling to what is good.

4/Devoted to one another in brotherly love.

5/Honouring others above ourselves.

Please think about it.

Are you?

  Are you?

Obadiah the prophet issues a warning,

“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your head.” Obadiah 1:15.

The apostle Paul after telling the Athenians about Jesus said,

“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 17:30,31.

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“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.

I have no doubt that one day God will judge the world but at this moment in time everyone living on this earth has a choice to make.

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 apostle Peter said,

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2:21

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.

Thus my question to you the reader; Do you believe what is written above and if so are you willing to put your trust in Jesus?

Please think about it.

Are You?

   Are you?

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.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4.

Two questions: 1/ Are you following these two teachings of Jesus and the apostle Paul?

                2/ Are the pastors, priests, politicians, or other leaders you follow doing what Jesus and Paul said?

Please think about it.

Are You?

Are You?
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" 1 Peter 2:9.
Here the apostle Peter makes it clear that we as believers in Christ Jesus are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, belonging to God. Who’s purpose is to declare the praises of God.
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.
This is the duty of everyone who believes in Jesus. To make disciples. It’s cut and dry. To teach those new disciples all the scriptures tell us about Jesus.
 There are no gray areas about what Christians are to do. We are to present the gospel of Christ to anyone who will listen to us.
If you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus are you truly declaring the praises of God to those around you?
Please think about it.

Are you?

Are you?
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.

Sadly from my perch here in Canada I see many Christians who are not following what the writer of Hebrews is saying here.
Many are mixing their faith with politics something Jesus and the apostles never did. Many are speaking out against any group they disagree with. In some cases they are even trying to remove or restrict the rights of others given to them by a lawfully elected government.
Doing this is not an act of holiness. Nor is it living at peace with all men.
When we try to restrict the rights of others. We are turning them against us. 
If we as Christians as followers of Christ Jesus truly believe the words of Jesus when he said,
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31.(NASB).
Then by trying to restrict the rights of others we are saying to them they have the right to do that to us.
Sadly here in North America where I live and particularly in the United States people like to say “I have my rights” “I have the right to do as I wish”.
That may be so. But doing as ‘you’ wish may not win souls for Christ. In fact it might do just the opposite.
The apostle Peter reminds us,
"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.
Living good lives among none believers means living with people who’s belief system or way of life may be different from our own. It may be living with a government who gives rights to those with whom we disagree.
Certainly the apostle Paul, all the disciples and even Jesus lived in a world in which the government gave rights to those with whom they disagreed.
Paul for example went to Corinth a city know for it’s temple prostitutes and other abhorrent lifestyles. He stood in the Areopagus in Athens and preached the word of God. A city that had temples to dozen of Gods that Paul would have thought appalling. Yet neither he or any of the apostles spoke out against the religious practices or lifestyles of those around them.
Quite the contrary Jesus and the apostles sat down with those they disagreed with and presented the word of God in peaceful, loving manner.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said of the disciples,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham
Thus my question to anyone who claims to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus; is your heart right side up?
Are you living at peace with those around you living as holy life as you possibly can?
Please think about it. 

Are you?

Are you?
The apostle Paul writes
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5,6.
Anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ Jesus needs to be wise, especially when dealing with those outside our faith. What we say and do has potentially eternal consequences. What we say and do can bring people to Christ or push them away.
In proverbs we read,

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

                                                             Proverbs 12:18.

As Christians we need to be cautious about what we say. Words quite often hurt more than any physical pain. Our words must bring healing to those around us.

When dealing with others be they from outside our faith or fellow believers in Christ Jesus, we should always remember what 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.

Are you?
Please think about it.

Are You?

Are you?
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.
This is what Christians call the great commission. Christ telling his disciples and through them all believers in Christ Jesus to make disciple of all nations.
In order to do this effectively we must follow the teachings of Christ.
1. We must 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 neighbour as yourself.'  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.
2. We must not judge anyone especially if they are not believers in Christ Jesus, 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.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                       Billy Graham

3. We must obey the words of Jesus who said,

"So in everything, 

do to others

 what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" 

                                                            Matthew 7:12.

It is only by remembering these three things that we can be effective witnesses of Christ.
   It is only by making these three scriptures active in our daily life that we will win souls for Christ.
If you claim to be a Christian are you living the truths of these three scriptures in your daily life?
Please think about it.

Are You?

Are You?
The Psalmist writes,

“Blessed is the man who does 

not walk in the counsel of the wicked

 or stand in the way of sinners

 or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

 and on his law he meditates day and night.” 

                                                           Psalm 1:1,2.

If you claim to be a Christian, do you meditate on God’s word?
Do you practice the teachings of Jesus?
Have you answered the question Jesus asked the Pharisees? When he said,
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13.
Mercy is the key teaching of Christianity. The apostle Paul tells us,
“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.
In order to understand the mercy of God through Christ Jesus, we need to meditate and study the scriptures daily. For it is only then will gain a fuller understanding of what God wishes for our lives.
The apostle Paul states,
“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.
Thus my questions to you the reader. I you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus.

Are you truly studying the word of God correctly? 

Are you doing your best to handle the word of God correctly? 

Are you?

Please think about it.