Refrain from Judgement

Refrain from Judging 

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.

An important element of Christian life is never to judge anyone other than for our personal protection, (physical and spiritual). We as believers in Christ must refrain from Judging others especially those outside the church. 

Additionally we should never judge an individual with respect to where they will spend eternity. That is God's purview. 

We as mere mortals do not have all the facts. We do not know why a person is the way they are. Only God knows that. That’s why we must show love and not judge in anyway toward those around us.

That being said, I believe Christians can judge other Christians but only to see that they are teaching sound doctrine. The apostle Paul stating,

“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.

Sadly within the church today too many people calling themselves Christians are judging people they disagree with outside the church. 

The late American evangelist Billy Graham once said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love, 

                     Billy Graham

At the same those within the church are failing to judge whether or not, those calling themselves Christian leaders are truly teaching the word of God correctly.

No soul will ever be won for Christ by judging those outside the church. Those people will simply turn away and not listen.

At the same time men and women professing to be Christians will also turn many away from Christ. While at the same time leading believers away with half truths and misinterpretations of the gospel message.

Thus we as believers in Christ Jesus have two choices. 

1/ To avoid judging those outside of the church except for our personal physical protection.

2/ ensure that the pastors, evangelist, and Christian teachers you listen to are presenting the word of God correctly

Please think about it.

None of us are perfect

None of us are perfect

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

None of us are perfect. The key for a Christian however is to remember what Christ said were the most important things. Love the Lord your God and your neighbour.

One other thing Jesus said was,

"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 we as believers in Christ Jesus remember these verses we will be spurred to live a good life for God. A life that shows those around us what a Christian is all about.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Enter with thanksgiving

 Enter with thanksgiving

The Psalmist writes,

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to [God] and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4

When you pray and worship God do first enter Gods gates with thanksgiving and praise? Quite often when we approach God we approach Him with “a shopping basket of requests”. 

Now there is nothing wrong with asking God to help you. In the book of Philippians we read,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And they peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7.

The way I see it we should all approach God with thanksgiving. We should thank God for all He is and all He has done and will do for us.

So when you pray do you approach God with thanksgiving in your heart?

Please think about it.

Acts of Righteousness

 Acts of Righteousness. 

In Matthews Gospel we read of Jesus saying,

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4.

Here Jesus makes it clear we are to do our righteous acts quietly and without fanfare. 

Sadly this is a message lost on many Christians especially here in North America. 

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to reassess our motives for giving. Are you giving to the poor because you think it’s the right thing to do? Or... Are you giving to the poor because you want to be seen as righteous in the eyes of men?

Why not take a few minutes and pray. Ask God to show you your true motives for doing acts of righteousness.

Please think about it.

Friend or Enemy?

 Friend or Enemy?

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.

Question. Who are you friends with?

     Do you put the world first or your relationship with God?

     Are you following politicians, teachers and even religious leaders who speak and act in ways that are not Godly?

Who is you best friend, God or the world?

Please think about it.

My Prayer for all Believers

  My Prayer for believers

The Psalmist writes,

“May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, 

bless you from Zion.” 

                                    Psalm 134:3.

It is my hope that no matter were you are in the world. If you are a believer in Christ Jesus God will bless you richly today. Amen

Anyway you can

 Anyway you can

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.

Why not take a few minutes now and praise The LORD anyway you can?

Please think about it.

Time to

 Time to

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.

In Proverbs we read,

"Get wisdom, get understanding;

 do not forget my words or swerve from them. 

Do not forsake wisdom, 

and she will protect you; 

love her, and she will watch over you. 

Wisdom is supreme;

 therefore get wisdom.

 Though it cost all you have, 

get understanding. 

Esteem her, 

and she will exalt you; 

embrace her, 

and she will honour you. 

She will set a garland of grace on your head 

and present you with a crown of splendour."

                                                                     Proverbs 4:5-9.

Sadly way to many people calling themselves Christians lack wisdom and understanding. They act both in word and in deed without thinking of the consequences. This is especially true of Evangelical Christians in North America. Who it seems heap condemnation on everyone they disagree with.

Over the years I’ve talked to people in the LBGTQ+ community in particularly who have been turned away from God by people claiming to be Christians. 

But it isn’t just limited to them. Many others have been turned away from Christ because of the actions of people claiming to be Christians who are not. Christians have no right to judge anyone outside their faith the apostle Paul stating,

"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

Sadly too many Christians wrongly judge others while not expelling the evil doers inside their churches.

Billy Graham the late American evangelist made a great statement when he said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

“God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                         Billy Graham.

It’s time for those who claim to be Christians here in North America to get wisdom and understanding. And while their at it take time to meditate on 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.

Please think about it.

Faith in Jesus

  Faith in Jesus

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.

Here in a nutshell is the reason Jesus came to this earth. Jesus came to give eternal life to anyone who would believe in Him. 

Now I know believing Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate is an act of faith. Faith defined by the writer of the book of Hebrews as,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

The writer going on to say

"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.

A person with true faith is a person with strong convictions and is if necessary willing to die for what they believe in.

So my question to you would be, whether you are a Christian or not; do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate. The one who offers forgiveness of sin and offers eternal life?

Please think about it.

As far as it depends on you

  As far as it depends on you.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone."

                                                                Romans 12:18

Here the apostle Paul simply asks us to do our best to live at peace with those around us. I think it can safely be said Paul knew that we wouldn’t always be able to live at peace with those around us. And not necessarily because of what we have done, but what others do to us.

No matter how hard you try sometimes those around you just don’t like you or what you have to say. This is especially true for Christians who are told to go and tell people about Jesus Christ and the saving grace that God offers through Him.

In many parts of the world Christians are persecuted, put in prison or even put to death for what they believe. But that is not because they have not made the effort to live in peace with those around them.

When it comes to North America where I live. Many who call themselves Christians are seen as trouble makers who want things all their own way. Frankly they abuse the freedoms they are given by the democratically elected government.

Many here in North America try to force their beliefs on others. They refuse to even listen to anything they don’t agree with. This is not how you live at peace with people.

It is possible to live at peace with those you disagree with without compromising your beliefs. I think Jesus proved this when he sat down with people the religious leaders labelled “tax collectors and sinners”.

In order for Jesus to sit down with people who didn’t share his views he had to at the very least to have shown respect for what they believed. 

Which is what we must do.

As I said living at peace with someone doesn’t mean you have to compromise your views it means respecting the views of others, then sitting down and having an open discussion.

We must remember that living in peace wins souls for Christ. Failure to live in peace with those around us has the potential to send someone into a Christless eternity.

Please think about it.

An approved workman

An approved workman

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.

This is happening today. I live in North America perhaps the freest place in the world. Men and women calling themselves Christians are not listening to the apostle Paul and presenting the word of God correctly. Instead they are turning away and misinterpreting the scriptures in a way that suits their own beliefs. 

In doing so they are giving true Christians and God a bad name. 

Non-Christians are at best confused. They don’t distinguish between a person calling themselves a Christian who misuses the word of God and those who correctly handle the word of God.

Sadly here in North America those who would misinterpret and preach false doctrine use freedom of speech laws to hide their wrong doing. Many even when corrected refuse to change.

The apostle Peter stated,

"Live as free men, 

but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; 

live as servants of God.” 

                                         1 peter 2:16.

If ever there was a time at least here in North America, for revival of the church it is now. The church and all those who consider themselves true followers of Christ Jesus need to turn back to the scriptures and interpret them correctly. 

They need to heed the words of the apostle Paul who wrote,

"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

Are you and the evangelist, pastors and religious leaders you listen to doing what Paul here in 2Timothy 2:15.

Please think about it.

Negative or positive?

 Negative or Positive 

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.

Here is sound advise from the writer of Hebrews to all Christians. To all who believe in Christ Jesus.

So my question to you is your eyes on Jesus or is it wandering to look at other leaders be they spiritual or political?

As believers in Christ Jesus we cannot afford to mix our faith with anything. Our faith must be completely in Christ. Not wavering to the left or the right.

The apostle Paul tells us,

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20.

It is through the lense of our life, our words and deeds that people will see Jesus. If our actions reflect negatively on Him people will see Jesus in a negative light. If our actions are positive people will be attracted to Jesus.

So what are your actions telling people about Jesus?

Please think about it.