Bind them around your neck

Bind them around your neck

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man." 

                                                                                                          Proverbs 3:3,4.

Do you Love God? Are you faithful to Him? Does your love extend to those around you, family friend and foe alike?

In Galatians we read,

“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.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

The apostle Paul defined 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." 1Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

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

So Do you follow the teachings of Jesus and the apostles? 

Are you showing the fruit of the Spirit and attributes of Love as the apostle Paul laid out? Are you obeying the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 7:12

Please think about it.

Not against the law

 Not against the law

In the book of Galatians we read,

"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." Galatians 5:22,23.

Here’s a simple question. Are you exhibiting these fruit in your life?

Please think about it.

Faithful forever

 Faithful forever

The Psalmist writes,

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:5-6.

Here is a simple statement. If you believe in God. If your help comes from God. God will remain faithful to you forever.

The Apostle Paul writes,

“Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us; 

if we are faithless, 

he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself." 

                                              2 Timothy 2:11-13. 

What the apostle Paul is saying here is. If we are faithful to the point of death we will live with him. If we endure for the sake of Christ we will reign with Christ. If we disown Christ he will also disown us. 

Then Paul notes, If we are unfaithful to Christ. He remains faithful, because he cannot disown himself.

Are you faithful to God?

Please think about it.

Attributes of a true believer

 Attributes of a true believer

The apostle John writes,

"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:7-10.

In Galatians we read,

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." Galatians 5: 19-23.

This is how we can tell if someone truly is a follower of God. This is how we can tell a true Christian from a false one. It’s the test we can use to tell the truth.

A true follower of Christ is some one who shows,

love,

 joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness 

self-control. 

Are the people around you. The religious and political leaders around you exhibiting these attributes? Are you exhibiting these attributes?

Please think about it.

There's no law against it

 There’s no law against this

In the book of Galatians we read,

“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.” Galatians 5:22,23. 

Simple question. If you consider yourself a true Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, when people see your life do they see the fruit of the Spirit at work in your life?

Please think about it.

Believers Principles for living #3 Christian attributes

 Believers Principles for living #3 Christian attributes 

The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,

“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.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

Here is a simple test for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings. 

That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life. 

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.

Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?

Please think about it.

What do people see in you?

 What do people see in you?

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

                                                                                                      Ephesians 4:1.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you live a life worthy of Him?

When people see your life do they see the fruit of the spirit?

The fruit of the spirit being listed in the book of Galatians as,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness...

self-control.... 

Galatians 5:22.

Do people see these fruits in your words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Walking in Gods Light

 Walking in Gods Light

The apostle John states,

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1John 1:5-7.

Do you walk in the light? Do the religious and political leaders you follow truly walk in the light?

I believe if we are following Christ correctly we and those we follow must walk in the light. We must exhibit what scripture calls “the fruit of the Spirit”. Scripture telling us,

"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." Galatians 5:22,23.

So are you and the religious and political leaders you follow exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit? Are they walking in The Light?

Please think about it.  

 Spiritual Fruit

The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,

"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."  Galatians 5:22,23.

Here is a simple test a check list, to see if anyone calling themselves a Christian is actually a Christian. Are they exhibiting the fruits of the spirit?  

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

gentleness, 

self-control.

If you claim to be a true Christian ask yourself am I exhibiting the fruits of the spirit in my life at all times?

Please think about it.

A note from John and Paul

 A note from John and Paul

The apostle John writes,

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” 1John 1:5,6.

If you are a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus will walk in the light. 

The apostle Paul writes,

“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." Galatians 5:19-23.

It is by the fruit of Spirit that people will know someone is Christian.

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

gentleness 

self-control. 

There are no laws against these attributes.

So if you claim to be a Christian do people see these attributes in your life?

Think about it.

Against such there is no law

 Against such there is no law

In the book of Galatians we read,

“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."Galatians 5:19-23 

Here we see defined the sinful nature and the Fruit of the Spirit. It is given to us so that we as true Christians. As true followers of Christ Jesus can tell right from wrong. It is in effect a black and white template for us to judge what is right and wrong.

Here’s a checklist for those who claim to be true followers of Jesus,

The fruit of the Spirit is,

Love 

Joy

Peace, 

Patience,

Kindness,

Goodness, 

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

Self-control.

And as the writer points out there is no law against showing these attributes.

Are you showing the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit?

Please think about it.

A word from the apostle Paul

  A word from the apostle Paul

The apostle Paul writes,

"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." Galatians 5:22,23.

This is how the world will know that we are true believers in Christ Jesus. We will exhibit these things in our lives.

love,

joy,

 peace,

 patience,

 kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

gentleness 

self-control. 

When people see your life, your words and deeds do they see the things listed above?

Please think about it.

Do they see it?

 Do they see it?

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

                                                                                                      Ephesians 4:1.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you live a life worthy of Him?

When people see your life do they see the fruit of the spirit?

The fruit of the spirit being listed in the book of Galatians as,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness...

self-control.... 

Galatians 5:22.

Do people see these fruits in your words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Christian fruit

 Christian fruit,

In the book of Galatians we read,

"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” Galatians 5:22,23.

These are Christian attributes. They are what we as Christians should be showing to the world.

If we are doing so people will be attracted to us. Which give us an opportunity to see share our faith with them.

When people look at your life do they see these attributes?

Please think about it.

Your Attributes

  Your attributes 

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

Question; If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do people see the fruits of the spirit the apostle Paul notes above?

Please think about it.

Attributes

  Attributes

The apostle Paul wrote,

“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.” Galatians 5:22,23.

Read carefully what the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians. These are key attributes of a Christian. These are attributes of Jesus that should be seen in our lives every day.

So the question becomes; 

Are people seeing these attributes in your life?

Please think about it.

Smyrna's example

 Smyrna's example

John writing in the book of Revelations records these words of Jesus,

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

   I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Revelations 2:8-11.

The church at Smyrna apparently had it hard. Smyrna was major sea port. It was one of the places Roman imperial cult was present. That along with a large Jewish population who probably didn’t agree with believers in Christ made it hard for these Christians. 

What is notable about the church of Smyrna is despite the persecution these early believers kept the faith, 

Jesus does not say anything against them. He warns them that there will be what most commentators say is a short period of persecution. Then encourages them saying,

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

This is the way it is for true believers today. We may from time to time undergo persecution, and certainly there are many places in the world today where believers in Christ are being heavily persecuted, however no matter what we go through if we keep the faith, Jesus promises us a crown of life.

Are you doing your best to keep your faith in Christ Jesus?

Post Script.

To all believers especially those of us who live in the free democracies of the world. Please remember to pray for all believers who are being persecuted around the world.

Please don’t just think about praying...

Do it.

Will He be able to say

  Will He be able to say

The Apostle John writes,

"The elder, 

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.  

It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.  

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.  

They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.  3 John 1-6.

Here the apostle John commends Gaius for continuing to walk in the truth. He states, 

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Question;

If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus. If Christ were to appear to you today would He be able to say He is joyful that you are walking in the truth?

Please think about it.

Transformation

  Transformation

In the book of Romans the apostle Paul writes,

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2.

If we truly accept Jesus into our lives a transformation begins. The speed of the transformation varies in each individual. However be it slow or quick a true believer in Christ will change. They will begin to exhibit what the apostle Paul calls the fruit of the spirit,

“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.  Galatians 5:22,23.

Exhibiting such fruits will become second nature to them. This I believe is one way you can tell a true Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus.

When people look at your life what do they see?

Please think about it.

Are these attributes yours?

  Are these attributes yours?

In the book of James we read,

"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.

You will be judged. 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.

Yes your faith in Christ saves you. But if you are truly saved you will be merciful, you will refrain from judging people. You will exhibit what the apostle Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit. Paul in the book of Galatians stating,

“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.  Galatians 5:22,23.

So are these attributes yours?

Please think about it.