Which Characteristics

 Which characteristics  

The apostle Paul wrote,

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:19-25  

Here the apostle Paul shows how you can tell a true believer in Christ Jesus from one who is only giving lip service. He notes sinful acts are obvious

“sexual immorality, 

impurity and debauchery; 

idolatry and witchcraft; 

hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, 

selfish ambition, 

dissensions, factions and envy; 

drunkenness, orgies, 

and the like.”  

Then he points to the fruit of the spirit. 

love, joy, 

peace, 

patience, kindness, 

goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control.

Which of these characteristics are evident in your life? 

Which of these characteristics are evident in the religious or secular leaders you choose to follow?

As believers in Christ we need to pray and ask God to show us how we can experience more of the fruit of the spirit in our life.

At the same time we need to ask God to show us what Characteristics are being shown in the life of the leaders we follow be they religious leaders or political leaders.

Please think about it.

Believers Principles for living #6 Flee evil

 Believers Principles for living #6 Flee evil

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22.

The Psalmist tells us,

“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. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.

Do you flee evil?

As believers in Christ Jesus we should.

Sadly with all that is happening in the world around us it can be hard to flee evil. While we live in this world evil will always surround us. The key however is to draw close to God by studying the scriptures and praying for God’s wisdom and guidance.

Question: Do you flee evil when you see it?

Please think about it. 

 Live Free

The apostle Peter wrote,

"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.

With all the freedoms we here in North America enjoy it is easy to use those freedoms to cover up evil.

Here we have laws that guarantee our freedom of speech. Thus we can within reason say anything we want. That being said, there are men and women particularly in the political and religious communities that say things that are wrong or blatant lies. Then threaten those who try to correct them with libel. Saying it’s their right to free speech that allows them to say what they did.

At the same time there are those who would use the freedom they have to take away the rights of others. This is especially I find used by those calling themselves Christians. Who would seek to restrict the freedoms of people who’s lifestyle they disagree with.

As Christians we have do not have the right to restrict the rights of those we disagree with. 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.

It is our job as believers in Christ Jesus to go out in love and reach people for Christ. If we are trying to restrict others rights we will never win them for Christ.

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.

You dear reader would not like your rights and freedoms restricted. But by trying to restrict the rights and freedoms of others you are giving them the right to try and restrict you rights.

The late American Evangelist Billy Graham wisely said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                             Billy Graham

Please think about it.

The Psalmist call

 The Psalmist call

The Psalmist writes,

"Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life 

and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it. 

                                            Psalm 34:11-14.

I don’t think this portion of scripture needs much interpretation. It tells you how to live a God fearing life.

Keep your tongue from evil.

Don’t tell lies.

Turn from evil and do good.

Seek peace and pursue it.

Advice that if followed by more people the world would be a better place to live.

Do you live the way the Psalmist is telling us here in Psalm 34:11-14?

Please think about it.

Christian Principles #6

 Christian Principles #6 

Flee evil

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22.

The Psalmist tells us,

“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. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.

Do you flee evil?

As believers in Christ Jesus we should.

Sadly with all that is happening in the world around us it can be hard to flee evil. While we live in this world evil will always surround us. The key however is to draw close to God by studying the scriptures and praying for God’s guidance.

Question: Do you flee evil when you see it?

Please think about it. 

A Strong Bulwark

 A strong Bulwark

In 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." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.

Abba Hillel Silver is right. It is only when men realize that ultimately there is a God they must answer to that society becomes a better place.

If memory serves me correctly Abba Hillel Silver wrote those words during the dark days of World War Two when millions we dying in the concentration camps. Concentration camps set up by evil men who did not recognize God.

The same thing is happening today in some countries around the world. It is also happening in some of the so called democracies of the world where people are putting political leader ahead of God while turning a blind eye to the evil being done.

Ultimately God will judge everyone. It is therefore imperative that we who truly believe in the gospel of Christ Jesus present His saving grace and the love He shows to all people to all we come in contact with.

Please think about it. 

A recipe for a good life

 A recipe for a good life

The Psalmist writes,

“Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life 

and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it. 

                                           Psalm 34:11-14.

Is this you? 

Do you desire to see many good days? 

When people see your words and deeds do they see someone who fears The Lord. Who keeps your tongue from evil and speaking lies?

Do you do good and seek peace?

Please think about it.

Turn from evil and do good

  Turn from evil and do good

The Psalmist states,

"Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." 

                                                                          Psalm 34:11-14.

Do the words written by the Psalmist above reflect your life? 

Please take time to pray and ask God to show you the truth about your life. 

And if you find anything wrong do as the Psalmist states,

“Turn form evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

Please think about it.

The Absence

  The absence of Love

The apostle Paul writes,

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

Some say "if God created everything, then He created evil, which means God is evil.”

Not so. God set down some basic rules to live by as noted in the ten commandments. At the same time God gave each individual the freedom to do as they wish. Which means they have the freedom to follow what God commanded or not to follow what God commanded. 

Here is something Albert Einstein said about evil,

“Does cold exist?

In fact, cold does not exist. According to the laws of Physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat.

Does darkness exist?

Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light.  Light we can study, but not darkness.

Evil does not exist. It is just like darkness and cold. God did not create evil.

Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart.”Albert Einstein.

Please think about it.

The Absence of Love

The absence of Love
The apostle John wrote,

“Whoever does not love does not know God, 

because God is love.” 

                              1 John 4:8

Some people who don’t believe in God have made the statement that if God created everything He also created evil.
I believe God did in fact create everything including man to which he gave a freewill. He however did not create evil.
Albert Einstein is accredited with saying,

“Does cold exist?

In fact, cold does not exist.

 According to the laws of Physics, 

what we consider cold 

is in reality the absence of heat.

Does darkness exist?

Darkness does not exist either. 

Darkness is in reality the absence of light. 

 Light we can study, but not darkness.

Evil does not exist.

 It is just like darkness and cold. 

God did not create evil.

Evil is the result of what happens 

when man does not have God's love present in his heart. 

                                                                            Albert Einstein (1879-1959)  

Please think about it.

To Account

To Account
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“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.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Jesus told this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31.
These two passages of scripture one from the Old Testament and one from the new, are warnings to all people be they rich or poor. What is being said here is we will be held accountable for our actions. That I believe is doubly so if we claim to be followers of Christ Jesus.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“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.
If we claim to be true believers in Christ Jesus then we are called to do all we can to help our fellow man.
I think even if you do not believe in Jesus, to help those in need is at the very least is the humane thing to do.
Thus my question for you the reader is, Do you do what you can to help your fellow man?  I say this because Ecclesiastes states,
“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.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Please think about it.

Seek Peace

Seek Peace
The Psalmist writes,

“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

                                                                                        Psalm 34:11-14.

Someone told me the other day this is advice that everyone can benefit from. A standard by which we all must live. This is doubly so if we are in a position of authority. It is simple advice that says a lot.
 Look at what it says,
1/“Keep your tongue from evil...”
2/“Your lips from speaking lies.”
3/“Turn from evil...”
4/“Seek peace and pursue it.”
Question: Is it advice you follow?
         Do the leaders both political and religious that you follow,
                         follow this advice?
Please think about it.