My hope is in God

My hope is in God

In the book of Lamentations we read,

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion" says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him"Lamentations 3:22-24.

Is your hope in God? Can you say with the author of Lamentations “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases?

Is your hope truly in God, or is it in your own strength, or your wealth or some other thing?

Can you truly say “my hope is in God”?

Please think about it.

The way you love

 The way you love

Jesus said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

Love is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith.

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life 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. 

It is our duty as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus to Love as Christ Loved. Unconditionally. Our love should have no bounds.

The apostle Paul defines Christian 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....

And now these three remain:

 faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

Is this the way you love?

Please think about it.

It sounds foolish

It sounds foolish

The apostle Paul writes,

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.

The Christian message can I suppose be seen to be foolish. After all we Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. Not only that we believe our Saviour, Jesus, died for our sins.

Why would God do such a thing. The answer was given by Jesus himself. Who speaking about 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.

God loves us unconditionally. That’s why He came to the world He created in the form of Christ Jesus. To show the world in human terms how far He would go to show each individual the way to heaven.

Do you believe this?   

Please think about it.

Loving

  Loving

In Matthews gospel we read of someone asking Jesus,

 "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 neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.

If you claim to be a Christian do you love?

The apostle Paul defines Christian 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....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                          1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

The apostle Paul also writes,

"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.

So I would ask again; If you consider yourself a Christian do you love in accordance to the apostle Pauls definition of love?

Please think about it.

There is a River

There is a River
Jesus 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?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48.
Loving your enemy. Loving someone who will not love you back is a big thing. Why should you love your enemy? For the Christian the answer is simple. Jesus told us to.
That being said there is a deeper reason for a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, to love your enemy. That is by showing them the Love of God that shines through you, you are pointing them in the direction of heaven.
The apostle Paul 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.
Love is the key to the Christian life. Christian love started with God. 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. 
Martin Luther King jr. the American civil rights leader said,

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

                                                                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.

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.
There is a river that any believer must allow to flow through them. A river of Love. This river begins with God. Flows through the believer and out to those around them.
If we as believers in Christ Jesus do not allow this river to flow no one will ever come into a right relationship with God.
Please think about it.

Love and Mercy

Love & Mercy
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 1Timothy 1:15,16.
As believers in Christ Jesus I think we must be able to say like Paul we are the worst of sinners. 
The fact is, if you are indeed a follower of Christ Jesus, you have to admit you are a sinner. That you fall short of God’s ideal.
We must remember the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
The apostle Paul writing to Titus said,
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4,5.
We must remember the reason Jesus came to this earth. Jesus who 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.
The sole reason Jesus came into this world was to provide a way to heaven for anyone who would believe in Him.
As a result we believers in Christ Jesus, must do everything we can to present the Love of God, the Love of Jesus to all we come in contact with. That they may receive the saving grace of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We must be careful not to put up barriers between God and the individuals we come in contact with.
I like what James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“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 are to show mercy even to our enemy. The apostle Paul writing,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink....” Romans 12:18-20a.
We as believers in Christ Jesus are not allowed to Judge anyone. Jesus 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.
Judging others especially when we may not have all the facts puts up barriers between the individual and the one he or she is judging. In doing so it can create a barrier between the individual and God. This should never be so.
The late evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,

 God’s job to judge 

and

 my job to love,” 

                         Billy Graham.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, do you admit you are a sinner saved through the cleansing blood of Christ Jesus, through the Grace of God?
Are you showing mercy to those around you, even your enemy?
Are you judging others or are you showing Mercy to those around you?
Are you truly showing the Love of God to all whom you come in contact with, friend and foe alike?
Please think about it.