What will you hear?

 What will you hear?

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” Luke 1:46-50.

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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

We live in a generation world wide where people do not fear God. And it’s not just people in the secular world. It’s people within the church. People claiming to be Christian.

Now I can only speak for what I see here in North America where I live. The North American church is losing its fear of God. It takes God for granted. It goes its own way mixing Gods word with politics and other things. That it thinks will help its cause.

We as believers in Christ Jesus cannot allow this to happen. The apostle Paul warns, 

"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.

That time has come. There are people, pastors, and evangelist, here in North America that are twisting the gospel message to align with what they believe should be. When it should be we who align our beliefs with that of the Bible.

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,

"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.

The consequences for individuals who do not correctly handle the word of God. Who do not fear God is I believe simple. They will hear the words of Jesus recorded in Matthews gospel, who said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.

Question; if you consider yourself a follower of Christ Jesus what will you hear when you stand before God?

Please think about it.

Do you

  Do you

Jesus said,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  

  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48.

It’s easy to love those who love you. Loving your enemies is quite a different thing. Yet as Christians we are called to love as God loves. Unconditionally our family, friends and foes.

Thus my question to you; 

If you consider yourself a Christian do you love all those around you unconditionally be they family, friend, or foe?

Please think about it.

Do you?

Do you?
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 neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
The writer of Deuteronomy stated,
“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.
If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus do you love?
If you are indeed a true follower of Christ Jesus you must love. The apostle Paul defines what Christian love truly is when he writes,

“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.

Paul prior to defining love tells us,
“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.
Thus the question becomes. If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus to you truly love?
Please think about it.

God will Judge

God will judge
Luke records this teaching of Jesus.
“Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. 
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:1-5.
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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
God will eventually judge all mankind, those woh believe in Him, and those who do not. I firmly believe we will be judged honestly and fairly in accordance with what we know of God.
God will not hold a tribes man deep in a jungle who has never heard of Jesus accountable to the standard he expects of someone who has read the Bible and claims to be a Christian.
I believe the more you know about the Bible and the teachings of Jesus the more you will be accountable for.
The Apostle Paul explains it this way.
“For God does not show favoritism.
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.  
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.  
(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)  
This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:11-16.
Thus the question I would ask you the reader. Are you prepared to stand before God and be judged by Him?
Please think about it.

A Parental Imperative

A Parents Imperative
The writer 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

As believers in Christ Jesus it is imperative that we teach our children not only about the arts, about literature, the sciences and such. We must also teach them about our faith and our values.
     As good as knowing all the world has to offer with respect to education, if there is no positive value system behind that, knowledge can and quite often will be use for evil.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” C. S. Lewis.
In Deuteronomy we read a portion of scripture that I believe Jews refer to as, Shema Israel. It reads,
“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk to them when you sit in hour house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up
     You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Jesus in the gospel of Mark is quotes this when asked,
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”  Mark 12: 28-30
Jesus goes on to say,
"The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to teach our Children this, in word, and in deed. For in doing so we will put them on not only a good moral road in this world, but on the path that leads to eternal life with God in heaven.
Please think about it.

God and you

God and you

“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.
Do you believe in God? As I post this Christmas, one of the two most holy days in the Christian calender is almost upon us. Yet there are many in the world that would deny there is a God.
The writer of Ecclesiastes makes it clear that there is a God and He will bring every deed to judgment.
The Bible does not debate there is a God. It makes it clear to God exists and that He gave man a freewill. That freewill in order to be truly free meant that man has the choice to believe in the existence of God or not.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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
Defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                          Hebrews 11:1.
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.
I believe God has laid on the hearts of all men a moral code. That is only when men turn from that moral code and lack any fear of God and His judgement that things in our society go wrong.
Hitler and the Nazi party during world war two proved that. Terrorist around the world are proving it.
Hitler and the modern terrorist do not fear God. Modern terrorist are not following the will of God.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“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.
We are in such a time. A time when men are not following God or fail to recognize He exists at all. The result is a world moving to the abyss.
If ever there is a need for people to turn to God it is now.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                        Matthew 11:28-30.
It see,s the call of Jesus to love God our neighbour, and even our enemies seems to be lost in the cacophony of sounds that make up the modern world.
Yet the call of Christ is needed more than ever before.
To the reader I would ask that you at least consider reading about Jesus and the actions and beliefs of the early Church in the New Testament this Christmas.
Then decide for yourself who Jesus is.
Please think about it.