Known only to God

 Known only to God

Isaiah the prophet wrote,

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

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

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

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

Life is fleeting. We live for a handful of years then pass on. All our possessions going into the hands of others. All our accomplishments eventually forgotten. 

I believe it is on the monument to the unknown soldier, a soldier that represents all dead soldiers they were unable to identify, that the words “Known only to God” are written.

One day that will be our fate. One day we will be laid to rest. Initially we will be remembered by family and friends. But as the years pass on our names and all we did no matter how important or great an achievement will be lost to time. Such is life.

That being said we will however be known to God. The question is will you be spending eternity with God?

John’s gospel quotes Jesus speaking of himself as giving us all a choice when he said,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18

The apostle John speaking of Jesus states,

“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.

So, are you a child of God?

Please think about it. 

 

Have you received?

Have you received?

In Philippians we read,

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

                                                                                 Philippians 4:20.

Can you say this in all honesty?

Is God your Father?

The apostle Paul writes,

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  

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 1:10-13.

Have you received Jesus into your heart?

Please think about it.

Who welcomes

 Who welcomes 

Jesus said,

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me” Mark 9:37.

When I read this I cannot help thinking of all the child refugees and their parents that are fleeing war and bad situations in their homeland. Innocent people who only want to live in peace. And while I get the need for border security. I also think we as Christians need to do what is right. We should not be getting political and demanding the borders be closed and legitimate refugees sent back to unsafe conditions.

We should however be doing all we can to help those refugees both before they reach our borders and at our borders. 

Having said that there are many Christian organizations that are doing just that. As true believers in Christ Jesus we may not be able to go to the refugees but we can contribute to those organizations that are doing their best to help those in need both outside our borders and inside.

Remember the words of Jesus I quoted above,

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not be but him to sent me” Mark 9:37.

In helping the innocent men women and children in the name of Christ we are receiving not just Christ but God the creator of the universe and everything in it.

Will you do what you can today to receive those in need?

Please think about it.

You your child and God

  You, your child and God

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

                                                         Proverbs 22:6.

If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Are you teaching your child to follow Christ?

By that I don’t mean forcing your faith on your child. When someone does this it has been my experience that the child will rebel and turn away from God.

Training a child in the way they should go is a combination of things. First and foremost is living your faith in front of them. Your child sees everything you are doing. As a result if you are not living what you are teaching them verbally, they wont believe a word you say about your faith.

Thus the question becomes; Are you teaching your child about Christ Jesus in word and in deed?

Please think about it.

Impress them on your children

 Impress them on your children

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

The late American evangelist Billy Graham wrote,

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” Billy Graham.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to heed the words of Deuteronomy to impress our love of God upon our Children. We need to live our life for God in full view of our Children. We need to teach them all we can about our faith in Christ Jesus. We need to talk about our faith in God frequently.

When I say this I don’t mean force our faith upon them or as one of my friends said “figuratively bash our Children over the head with the bible.” this turns our children away from God.

We need to present the pure teachings of Jesus in word and in deed to our children.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus with children, are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Love the Lord your God

Love the Lord your God
In the book of Deuteronomy we read,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
Jesus when asked,
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.
So my first question to you if you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus is; Do you truly “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?”
My second question is; Do you “love your neighbour as yourself?”
My third question do you impress the importance of your faith on your children?
Please think about it.

Train up

Train ups
Matthews Gospel records,
“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:13, 14.
It has been said Christianity is just one generation from extinction. People are not born Christian. Even if someone goes to church all their life dose not mean that they are Christian.
    Each individual when they are old enough and mature enough must decide for themselves if they wish to follow Christ.
That being said it is imperative that we as believers in Christ Jesus bring our children up to know God in a personal way.
Scripture tells us,

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

                                               Proverbs 22:6.

Notice scripture tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go” NOT force our faith on the Child. We must present our faith to our children not only in word but in deed also.
You cannot force your children or anyone into becoming a follower of Christ Jesus. Ultimately it is a decision of faith between the individual and God.
We can and must however live our faith as they say 24/7 in front of our children and those around us.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

                                          Francis of Assisi.

We, whether we like it our not are preaching a sermon every minute of every day to our children. If our lives are not reflecting Christian values our children and those around us will see this and turn away from God.
Thus the questions become.
How are you living your life?
Is your life reflecting the love of God, the attributes of Christ Jesus?
Please think about it. 

Belongs to them

Belongs to them,
Matthew’s gospel tells us,
“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  
When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15.
Here the people brought their children for Jesus to bless. Those who did this were most likely believers in God. They seen in Jesus at the very least a man of God and desired to have him bless their children.
I firmly believe it is incumbent on every person who believes in Christ, who believe in God the creator of heaven and earth, to bring up their children in their faith. The book of proverbs tells us.

“Train a child in the way he should go,

 and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

Proverbs 22:6.

The book of Deuteronomy states,

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today 

are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. 

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, 

when you lie down and when you get up.  

Tie them as symbols on your hands 

and bind them on your foreheads.  

Write them on the doorframes of your houses 

and on your gates. 

                                                                                    Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
As Christians we must live our faith in full view of our Children.
Joshua Loth Liebman wrote,
“Give your children unconditional love, a love that is not dependent on report cards, clean hands, or popularity.
  Give your children a sense of your whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance of their human frailties as well as their abilities and virtues.  
Give your children your permission to grow up to make their own lives independent of you.  
Give them a sense of truth; make them aware of themselves as citizens of a universe in which there are many obstacles as well as fulfilments.  
Bestow upon your child the blessings of your faith.  
These are the laws of honouring your son and your daughter.  Out of these laws will be built the Declaration of Independence for the coming generation, a spiritual and emotional independence that, in turn, will make the world free, democratic, safe, creative”.  Joshua Loth Liebman.
Please think about it.