Acting justly, Loving mercy, Walking humbly

 Acting justly Loving mercy, walking humbly,

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. 

And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act justly

 and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God."

                                                     Micah 6:8.

If you believe in God. If you believe in Christ Jesus this in a nut shell is what God requires of you. In fact whether you believe in God or not acting justly, loving mercy is an honourable way to live.

So if you consider yourself as a true believer in God. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with your God?

Please think about it

What God requires of us

 What God requires of us

In the book of Micah we read,

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.

 And what does the LORD require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God." 

                                                  Micah 6:8.

This portion of scripture is self explanatory. God requires each of us to...

Act justly

Love mercy

Walk humbly with God.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Handling the word of God

 Handling 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." 2 Timothy 2:15.

I feel we as Christians at times become so familiar with the scriptures that we take them for granted as a result we handle them without due care.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus. We must realize that the Bible is the inspired word of God. As such it must be handled with care. We must quote the scriptures in the context they are written.

We must never take scripture out of context in order to prove our point of view. We as 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." 2 Timothy 2:15.

Do you and the pastors and religious teachers you listen to handle the word of God correctly?

Please think about it.

Look after...

 Look after...

In the book of James we read,

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27.

Here James makes it simple. As Christians God expects our faith to be pure and faultless, “to look after orphans and widows”.

AND to keep ourselves “from being polluted by the world.”

In Zechariah 7:10 we read,

“...do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, let none of you devise evil against another in your heart” Zechariah 7:10.

In Deuteronomy we read,

“He (God) executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18.

These are clear scriptures telling Christians to help the less fortunate in whatever way they can.

So if you consider yourself a Christian, are you doing this?

Please think about it.

A Christian duty to love

A Christian duty to love

The apostle John writes,

"It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.  

And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.  

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2 John 1:4-6 

We as believers in Christ Jesus are told to walk in love. Jesus said,

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12.

That means loving unconditionally.

While we may not always agree with others as believers in Christ we are called to love even our enemies. Jesus said,

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you....  

Do to others as you would have them do to you.... 

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."Luke 6:27,28,31,36 

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. once said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                   Martin Luther King, Jr.

So my question to anyone reading this who claims to be a Christian is, Do you truly Love?

Please think about it.

Why do you believe

Why do you believe

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."  2 Timothy 2:15.

To many believers do not know why they believe what they believe. Rather they simply trust the pastor, evangelist, or teacher they are listening to at a given time.

There is nothing wrong with questioning a pastor, evangelist, or Bible teacher about their beliefs and how they back those beliefs with Scripture.

An honest Bible teacher will always be willing to tell you how he come to believe what he does. 

That being said I firmly believe that individual Christian have a duty to study the Bible for themselves. Praying and asking God to show them the meaning of what they are studying.

So my question to you dear reader is, 

Do you study the scriptures for yourself or do you solely rely on the people you are listening to?

Please think about it.

Treat Others

 Treat others

Jesus said,

"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." Luke 6:31.

The meaning of this portion of Scripture is self explanatory. Treat others the way you want them to treat you. 

In Matthews gospel we see Jesus as saying it this way,

"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 call yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Jesus Christ you should be doing so.

So the question becomes do you treat others the way you want to be treated?

Please think about it.

Do you serve?

 Do you serve?

In the book of Galatians we read,

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13.

Do you serve others especially those who are in your church congregation?

In the book of James we read.

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:14-20.

So I ask the question. Do you serve? Do you help those in need in word and in deed?

Please think about it.

Have you kept the faith?

 Have you kept the faith?

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

The apostle Paul is writing here near the end of his life. He is about to be put to death by the Roman emperor Nero. Thus he looks back on all that he has done and states, he has fought the good fight, and kept the faith.

As a result he notes he will receive a crown of righteousness. That same crown that all who have served God and longed for Christ’s appearing.

Question... Will you receive a crown of righteousness for your faith in Christ?

Can you say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Please think about it.

Do you question?

 Do you question?

"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.  

"For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,' and will deceive many." Matthew 24:4,5.

The apostle Paul stated,

"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.

The Gospel of Christ has been around in excess of two thousand years. In that time it’s truths have been twisted by charlatans for their own purpose.

These men and women were around when Paul and the apostles were around and they warned against them.

These men and women are around today. That is why we must be carful. That is why we must read the Bible for ourselves and know what we believe and why we believe it. So that no one will call us to fall away from Christ.

I firmly believe we as individual Christians have the right to question any teaching that we may suspect as wrong. Going as far as asking the pastor, teacher or evangelist why they teach what they teach. To prove that what they are teaching is true. 

Do you ever question what is being spoken from the pulpit or by men and women claiming to be teachers of Gods word in the media?

Perhaps you should.

Please think about it.

Are you willing to pay the price?

 Are you willing to pay the price?

Jesus said,

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  

When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.

This is how important Jesus and the salvation God offers through Him should be to us. We should be willing to sell everything we have to follow Christ.

The gospel of Mark records Jesus 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." Mark 8:34.

Sadly all to many people here in North America don’t count the cost of following Jesus. With all the freedoms we have we can do as we wish with not real consequences providing we don’t hurt someone.

In other parts of the world however following Jesus has a price. It can be anything from being shunned by family, to being force to leave their home, to prison, to being sentenced to hard labour in prison camps to death.

Yet despite the possible consequences people around the world truly believe they have found that “pearl of great value” and are willing to die for it.

Question... If you consider yourself a true Christian are you willing to pay whatever price is required to follow Christ. Are you willing to die for the cause of Christ?

Please think about it.

You must be willing

 You must be willing

Jesus said,

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  

For I have come to turn " ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:32-39.

This I believe is a statement everyone considering becoming a Christian should read and take to heart.

Simply put Jesus is saying if you are going to follow me you need to realize that it’s all or nothing. I must be first in your life. And you must be willing to give up everything for me. Not that, that will necessarily happen. But never the less you must be willing to give everything up for the cause of Christ.

The reward for doing so is eternal life in heaven with God.

Thus my question for you;

Are you willing to give up everything for the cause of Christ?

Please think about it.

Forgive us our sins

 Forgive us our sins,

Jesus taught,

“Forgive us our sins, 

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.' "

                                                             Luke 11:4.

As Christians we should forgive those who sinned against us. Likewise we should be calling on God to forgive our sins daily.

We should also be asking God to lead us away from any temptation that comes our way.

Question.

Are you going to God daily and confessing your sins to Him?

Do you forgive those who sin against you?

Do you ask God to lead you away from any temptation that comes your way?

Please think about it.

Reverence for God

 Reverence for God

Jesus said,

"He said to them, "When you pray, say: 

" ‘Father, hallowed be your name,..."  

                                                       Luke 11:12a

Jesus teaches us to honour God as holy. We as believers must never get into the trap of treating God as anything less. 

Sadly over the years I’ve seen people approach God in a very flippant way. Taking God for granted or treating Him like a servant or supernatural banker.

We should never fall into this trap.

While God wants us to have a personal relationship with us. We must never forget that He is the Lord God Almighty. Who deserves to be honoured at all times.

Question. How do you approach God? Do you tread God with the reverence He deserves?

Please think about it. 

If you really keep the Royal Law

 If you really keep the royal law

In the book of James we read,

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right."James 2:8.

If you are a Christian are you doing this. By this I mean showing Christian love as defined by the apostle Paul,

"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.

Is this truly the Love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Acceptable

 Acceptable.

The Psalmist writes,

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14.

We need to be concerned about what God thinks about our comments. We need to remember,

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body,

 but it makes great boasts. 

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."  

                                                                                         James 3:5.

Our words can hurt and I believe God is listening carefully to what we say. Words can raise a person up. At the same time however they can destroy a person. Many people have been pushed to suicide by hurtful words.

That is why we need to be careful about what we say. 

We need to 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.

This is especially true when we speak. We need to be aware of the fact that our words can hurt quite often more than a physical injury.

Take a moment to think about the words you said to others. Do they build up or tear down?

Ask yourself are my words and the meditations of my heart acceptable to God?

Please think about it.

I will Praise You

  I will Praise You

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; 

I will sing of you among the peoples. 

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; 

your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; 

let your glory be over all the earth." 

                                                    Psalm 57:9-11.

Do you sing praises to God? How often do you praise God? Daily? weekly? only when you are in Church?

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus, we should be taking at least a few minutes each day to praise God. For He is our hope and Salvation. 

Why not take time to praise God now. Why not set aside time in your day just to thank God for all He has done for you?

Please think about it.

Living at Peace

 Living at peace

The apostle Paul wrote,

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

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                           Romans 12:18.

I always look with amazement at Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith. These believers are doing their best to live at peace with those around them. Yet time after time I hear of those who believe in Christ Jesus, being expelled from their village, or expelled from their family for their beliefs. I over and over again I hear believers in Jesus being verbally and physically attacked. Even put in jail. And time and time again I hear of those believers praying for and forgiving their persecutors. These believers are putting into practice what Jesus did on the cross. When he said,

“Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34.

This is the sign of a true believer.

It is something those of us who live in Canada and America who claim to be true believers in Christ Jesus need to show in our lives.

Question; when people act negatively in any way to you, do you pray for them?

Are you doing your best to live at peace with those around you, Even those you disagree with, or you perceive as your enemy?

Please think about it. 

Showing our Love

  Showing our love

In the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:14-20.

One of the best ways to show our love for someone, is to help them in their time of need. It doesn’t really matter why a person came to be in need. All that matters is that we help them to the extent that we are able. And as believers in Christ Jesus we should be doing so in the name of Christ.

While the Talmud is not a Christian book it has many things Christians should take to heart, that line up perfectly with Christian teaching.

One such teaching is this,

“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.” The Talmud.

There are many, many wealthy Christians in the world today that do help those in need.

    Sadly there are many wealthy Christians, and even more sadly, men and women calling themselves Christian pastors and evangelist, who are not helping the poor and needy.

That being said God will ultimately judge all of us. And here’s another quote from the Talmud to think about,

"When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, "Have you believed in God?"  Or "Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  "He is asked: "have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?" The Talmud.

If this is true then what would your answer be?

Please think about it.

The Christians duty

 The Christians duty

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.

As far as I am aware Christ has not returned to this earth. Thus the age He is speaking about here in Matthew twenty-eight has still not ended. 

As a result we as true believers in Christ Jesus are obligated, duty bound, to make disciples of all nations.

We have no right to judge those outside our faith. Especially when it comes to where an individual will spend eternity. That is Gods job.

We should never dilute our faith in any way especially by mixing it with politics. 

Our job as believers in Christ Jesus is to make disciple of all nations. We cannot do this unless we are doing our best to present the word of God in its purest form.

So my question to you is; If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you doing what you can to present the gospel of Christ to those around you? Are you trying to make disciples?

Please think about it.