Intimate Knowledge

  Intimate knowledge

The Psalmist writes,

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.

These words from the Psalmist says it all. God has intimate knowledge down to our very DNA. He knows why we are the way we are. That is why God and God alone is the only one who can judge us.

As believers in Christ Jesus we are not allowed to judge others. Jesus said,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37.

Sadly too many who claim to be Christians are in the judgement business. They see others of different faiths and lifestyle and immediately condemn them. This should not be so.

The American evangelist Tony Campolo rightly said,

"We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do." Tony Campolo.

You will never win a soul for Christ if you judge them or others. It is our duty as believers in Christ Jesus to love as Jesus did, unconditionally. Only then can we even think of winning souls for Christ.

Please think about it.

Do you Love?

Do you Love?
The apostle John said,
"We love because he first loved us.  
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1John 4:19-21.
I heard a true story of a man who’s brother disagreed with him becoming a Christian so passionately that he entered the mans house while he was doing devotionals with his family. The brother trashed the house and beat up the man.
The man should have called the police and had his brother charged.
What impressed me however was the man that was beaten up told the police that he didn’t want to charge his brother. Then asked fellow Christians to pray for his brothers salvation.
The man could have easily let hate fester inside of him and justifiably had his brother arrested for assault.
That man exemplified what the apostle John is saying in the above scripture. He loved his brother so much he wished no harm to him.
A lot can be learned from how we react in circumstances especially bad ones. As believers in Christ we are called to Love in the way God loves, unconditionally.
When it comes to Godly love no greater example can be shown that the fact that Jesus layed down his life for us.
For me the best definition of love was written by the apostle Paul when he wrote,

“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.

This is the kind of love God requires of all who love him. It is the kind of love even those who are not Christian can agree with.
So my question is, if you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, do you show this kind of love to those around you.
Please think about it.

Judgement without Mercy

Judgement without Mercy
James the half brother of Jesus states,
Remember the words of James the half brother of Jesus who said,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 

 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

 Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

                                            James 2:12,13.

We as believers in Christ must remember the above words of James. Particularly “Mercy triumphs over Judgement.”
That being said if you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus we should heed the words of Jesus who 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.
The apostle Paul said,
“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.
I believe there is only two reason a Christian has for judging anyone.
One is for their own safety. We need to know when to get away from a potential dangerous situation.
The Second is to judge whether or not those claiming to be Christians are teaching correct doctrine. As Paul states, “God will judge those outside the church.” And we as believers in Christ Jesus are to “expel the wicked” from among us.
We especially have no right to judge a person as to where they will spend eternity. If we feel a person is not saved. We have a duty to present the salvation message of Christ to them. Not judge them.
After all we, as believers in Christ Jesus. Knowing what we know about salvation would want someone to tell us about the salvation Christ Jesus has to offer. And Jesus tells Christians,

“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.

Which to my way of thinking is the most important verse in the Bible for a believer in Christ Jesus.
Read that verse again,

“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.

Thus the question become if you are a believer in Christ Jesus, just two word,

Are you?

Are you showing Mercy rather than Judgement?

Are you doing to others as you would have others do to you?

Please think about it.

Be Merciful

Be Merciful
Jesus said,

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 

                                                    Luke 6:36.

Someone once told me Mercy “is showing unconditional love.” the apostle Paul wrote about love this way,

“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....” 

                     1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

 Jesus showed this kind of Love when he died for us. The apostle Paul stating,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, 

Christ died for us.” 

                                   Romans 5:8.

James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:8-13.
If you are claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, a Christian do you show Love and Mercy to those around you?
Remember Jesus said,

“Blessed are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy.” 

                                    Matthew 5:7

Remember the words of James the half brother of Jesus who said,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged

by the law that gives freedom, 

 because judgment without mercy 

will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

 Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

                                            James 2:12,13.

Please think about it. 

The way it's preached

The way it’s preached
Jesus 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 are perhaps the two best known bible verses, yet many Christian do not understand what is being said.
Jesus states,
“God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son”
Then Jesus notes
“God did not sent his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Sadly many calling themselves Christians here in North America where I live miss this last point. That Jesus came to save the world not condemn it.
Too many people calling themselves Christians heap judgement on the people they are speaking to.
Billy Graham the late American Evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,”

                            Billy Graham.

We as believers in Christ Jesus are called to love the world. To, in love, point the world to the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus not to judge people in any way.
Another evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote,
“We are not responsible to God for the soul that are saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for the way in which we preach it” Charles H. Spurgeon.
You will not win a soul for Christ if you are judging an individuals actions, their faith, or their lifestyle.
You can only win a soul by following the example of Jesus. By showing unconditional Love.
Please think about it.  

Christians Consider this

Christians Consider this.
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.

Think of it this way,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

I think it is important for all those who believe in Christ Jesus, to understand what Jesus said in Matthew 7:12.
We will in our walk through this life come across many people we disagree with. It is however not our right to judge them. We must treat them they same way we expect to be treated with unconditional love and understanding.
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.
As Christians we must always remember this. As Billy Graham the great American evangelist 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.

Fill the world with Love

Fill the world with Love
There is a musical called Good by Mr. Chips, that I saw as a teenager. One I have never forgotten. The words of one song in that movie has always stayed with me all these years it is called in the Morning of my life. The words state,

“In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through

                                                                             by Leslie Bricusse   

                                                              From the Musical Good by Mr chips.

   Do you love? Do you fill the world with Love?
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,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver during the dark days of world war two said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge. 
Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  
But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.”
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon.
The apostle Paul I believe gave the perfect definition of Love. Unconditional Love. God’s definition of Love, when he wrote,

“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.

When you stand before God on the day of judgement, will you be able to say “I filled the world with love?
Please think about it

Keep a Tight Reign

Keep a Tight Reign
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” James 1:26.
Sometime ago this story came to mind it’s called the eleven o clock prayer. When I read it I was reminded of the above verse in James. It reads,
The Eleven O Clock Parable
It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.” 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?
Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?
Is this man showing love?
Is this man judging another? 
Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world for Christ of which a percentage are homosexual?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”
Those calling themselves Christians in the above story to my mind will never win a gay man or woman to Christ. Their confrontational style is more likely to turn people away from Christ both in they LGBT community and outside.
Such a confrontational attitude is wrong plain and simple. It has no place in Christianity. Jesus and his apostles were not confrontational despite living in a secular Roman society that had many things their faith did not agree with.
While it is true Jesus and the apostles spoke against the religious leaders of their day. They were Jews speaking against Jewish leaders who were not correctly presenting the word of God.
The apostle Paul wrote something everyone who claims to be a Christian needs to think carefully about when he said,
“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.
The great American evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

                            Billy Graham

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.

Please think about it.

We Must Love

We Must Love
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.
Earlier in Matthew’s gospel Jesus is recorded as saying,
“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,...” Matthew 5:43,44
We must love. We must love God, our neighbour even our enemy. It is a commandment from God. The apostle Paul even defines what Christian love is when he wrote,

“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 we claim to be believers in Christ we must love unconditionally. God requires that of us. The apostle John writes,
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.....  
We love because he first loved us.  
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:7-11, 19-21.
Nothing could be more clear. We as believers in Christ we must love unconditionally.
Please think about it.

A Key Element

A Key Element
The apostle John states,
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”  1 John 4:7-16.
As professing Christians we can do no less than love. 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 went as far as saying,
“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,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
I do not believe you can truly be committed to Christ and not show love for everyone around you irrespective of who they are.
John in his gospel quotes Jesus 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.” John 3:16,17.
Before Jesus left this earth he told his disciples,
“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.
We cannot complete this commandment from Jesus if we do not love.
God set the example by, in love sending His One and Only Son into the world that we might be saved. If God loved us so much that he would do it for us. We must love in the same way.
The apostle Paul defines Christian love when he wrote,

“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 Christian is your love the same as described by Paul or do you put conditions on your love, selecting carefully who you will love?
Would those around you say you love unconditionally?
John states,
“If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”1John 4:20-21
Please think about it.