Showing posts with label Peace Hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peace Hope. Show all posts

Thursday, 28 June 2018

Who never wept

Who never wept
The Evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote,
“A Jesus who never wept could never wipe away my tears.”
                                                                  Charles H. Spurgeon.
I believe God in his wisdom went out of his way to show his love to not only mankind as a whole but to each person.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
Christians believe that Jesus is God incarnate. Some who disagree with this say why would God possibly enter the world He created. After all He is all powerful, almighty and all knowing.
I think the answer has two parts.
1/ He entered the world to first and foremost show in human terms how far He would go to point mankind to Himself.
2/ I believe in entering the world He created, God left no doubt that he did in fact understand the human condition.
We can never stand before God on judgement day and say, “you do not know what it is like to be human because you only have ever been almighty. And while you are all knowing you have no first hand knowledge, what it is to be human with all the frailties and temptations that a mere mortal has.
We cannot say this because God through Jesus became a man and experienced all it was to be a man.
Jesus was born to parents of low birth so he understood what it was to be the average person. Jesus entered this world as a new born baby. He lived as a toddler, a teenager and an adult.
In his life he experienced everything from the mundane things of life such as the wind, the rain, even the hot sun and the cold.
Jesus had friends. He attended at least one wedding that we know of and probably attended other events. He drank wine.
Jesus did in fact weep at the death of his friend Lazarus John’ gospel noting,
“Jesus Wept” John 11:35.
Jesus interacted with everyone from Roman soldiers, to Samaritans, to tax collectors, to religious leaders and others.
He demonstrated compassion toward people by healing them.
Jesus also knew what it was to have enemies. To be accused of a committing a crime he didn’t commit. To be beaten and put to death in a most hideous way.
Thus when we stand before God on Judgement day we can never say to him you do not understand, because he does.
Not only that he let himself go through everything because he loved us.
The apostle Paul telling us,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.
The Gospel of John quotes Jesus speaking of himself, as saying,
“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.
In a nutshell God through Jesus went out of His way to be able to rightly judge all who stand before Him on Judgement day. And, to make it as easy as possible for mankind to get to heaven.
Please think about it.

Wednesday, 18 October 2017

Walk as Jesus Walked

Walk as Jesus walked
The apostle John writes,
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  
The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  
But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:3-6.
The apostle John speaking to those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ states very clearly,
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
Walking as Jesus did is walking in love for God, our neighbour and even our enemy. 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.
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor 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?  Matthew 5:43-47.
Here is something for those who consider themselves believers in Christ to think about.
Jesus showed unconditional love to all he came in contact with a love for all mankind that ultimately took him to the cross to die for our sins.
In his lifetime he never spoke or protested against anyone outside his faith. He a Jew did speak against the religious leaders who were incorrectly practising the word of God.
He did not speak against the secular Roman authority even when he was put on trial.
When the apostle John tells us
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
 This to my way of thinking is Not protesting even if it is something we disagree with.
It means showing unconditional love to all we come in contact with. The apostle Paul defining love as,
“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.
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ is this the kind of love you are showing to the world.
Please think about it.