Seek peace and pursue it

 Seek Peace and pursue it

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.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi

As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus I think we should all do our best to live by the words of the Psalmist.  For by doing so we can make the world a better place to live.

Please think about it.

Be openhanded

 Be openhanded.

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

Some time ago I heard a politician we should make all those on welfare go out and get a job. I heard of one recently in the United States who wanted to eliminate social assistance.

All of this is easy to say if you’re wealthy. However there are many people in this world who either are working a jobs that pay below poverty line wages. People who have illnesses and cannot work. People who are mentally ill. And there are refugees who are not allowed to work.

Over the years I’ve met many people who live below the poverty line. I’ve met people who are on some kind of social assistance. From listening to them by far the majority of them would rather have meaningful employment with a living wage.

God loves the poor. God has made it clear that those who can should help the poor in the book of Leviticus we read,

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19: 9,10.

Later on in Leviticus we read

" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' " Leviticus 23:22.

This is a command from God. It was God’s way in ancient Israel of providing for the poor.

In the Talmud we read,

"Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

Thus my question to you is; If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you do what you can to help the poor around you?

Please think about it.

Love in a Covid World

  Love in a Covid world

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2.

Do you walk in Love? 

Jesus by going to the cross for us showed what true love is. Would you be willing to go that far?

The apostle Paul speaking of love wrote,

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, 

always perseveres...”

                                              1Corinthians 13:7.

What does this mean in a Covid world? I think the answer is simple be it in a Covid world or otherwise. It means that we must do our best to preserve the lives of those around us. If that means socially distancing or staying at home we must do so.

Please think about it.

Show Respect

 Show respect

The apostle Peter wrote,

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king.” 1Peter 2:13-17.

Before I proceed let me preface this. I believe it is every Christians duty to present to Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen to us. It is only when governments or other groups stop us from doing this we have the right to protest.

That being said in this Covid crisis we are in here in North America I believe as long as there is a way for us to meet be it on line or in socially distancing situations we have no reason to protest against the government. Quite the contrary we should be obeying the temporary restrictions place on us.

The apostle Peter makes it clear, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors,...”.

It can’t be any clearer than that. 

Yes for the short term we may have to be creative in the way we meet. But we can still meet. And who knows by being creative in how and where we worship we may just further the cause of Christ.

Please think about it.

Can you say

  Can you say

The Psalmist writes,

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” 

                                                                                Psalm 119:9-16.

Do you do what the Psalmist is saying here? Have you studied the word of God and hid it in your heart? Do you pray earnestly asking God to teach you His decrees? Do you take time to meditate on the scriptures? Do you delight in the decrees of God?

Can you say to God with the Psalmist “I will not neglect your word”?

Please think about it.