The visit of the Magi
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
Matthew 2:1-12
Who exactly the Magi were is unsure. Most experts say they were astrologers not kings.
While tradition says there were three. The exact number is unknown. We only know that they brought three gifts of gold incense and myrrh.
Gifts when you think of it in a practical sense may have helped Mary and Joseph when they had to run to Egypt.
The Magi came to visit Jesus and said to Herod, ““Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” Not “who is to become king of the Jews”.
The Magi were very clear, Jesus was born king of the Jews.
Herod the great to distinguish him from other Herod’s at the time, was a ruthless dictator appointed by the Roman senate.
He killed his wife, his three sons his mother in law his uncle and many others. He killed anyone whom he thought might depose him.
Hearing of the birth of Jesus as a king of the Jews would most definitely have twisted him the wrong way. He would have wanted to take the life of Jesus.
Thus he was nice to the Magi asking them that when they found Jesus to return and tell him.
But again God intervenes warning them in a dream not to go back to Herod. Thus they returned another way.
Herod immediately ordered the deaths of all children under two in the Bethlehem area.
Now while this was horrendous because of the small population of the area not all that many children would have been killed.
Still Herod I’m certain would stand before God like any despot and pay for what he did.
As for Mary, Joseph and Jesus they were warned about what was to happen Matthew recording,
“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,
where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Matthew 2:13-18
Without knowing it Herod had helped fulfil on of the prophesies from the old Testament.
“This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.”
Jeremiah 31:15.
Matthew also quotes another Prophet, Hosea when he says,
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”
Hosea 11:1.
The quote originally about the calling of Israel out of Egypt is used here to show Jesus as an infant went into Egypt like the infant nation Israel only to be called out of Egypt to become great in the eyes of God.
How long exactly Jesus and his family were in Egypt is unknown all is known was that he was there until the death of Herod the great.
And here’s an interesting side note. Someone once pointed out to me that with being forced to flee to Egypt Jesus and his family became political refugees.
On earth Jesus experienced what it was like to be a man. Becoming a political refugee was one of them.
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Wednesday, 5 February 2014
The Lineage of Jesus
The Lineage of Jesus
Read Matthew 1-17
“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.”
Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew’s gospel is written in Greek. But it uses for the most part Jewish terminology which he doesn’t explain. This indicates that it is written to Jews.
He uses terms like “Son of David” to describe Jesus. He traces the linage of Jesus back to Abraham.
This however does not restrict the readership to the Jews. He mentions the arrival of the Magi and that the great commission is to the whole world not just to the Jews.
Matthews purpose in writing seems to be to prove to the Jewish reader that Jesus is their Messiah.
He uses nine proof texts (1:22–23; 2:15; 2:17–18; 2:23; 4:14–16; 8:17; 12:17–21; 13:35; 27:9–10) to prove this basic theme.
Matthew notes that Jesus is the fulfilment of Old Testament Prophesy. Additionally he points to the linage of Jesus going back to King David.
The book of Matthew was written it is believe by Matthew the disciple of Jesus around 50AD.
Thus Matthew would have had first hand accounts of all that was happening including access to Mary the mother of Christ.
The scripture quoted above gives the linage of Jesus all the way back to Abraham. Pointing out to the reader that Jesus was of the right linage to be the Messiah.
Although he was born to parents of low birth Mary and Joseph. Both were honourable people.
Matthew recording,
"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
Matthew 1:18-25
This is the first proof that Jesus is the Messiah. God actually told Joseph in a dream that the child Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
For such a thing not to be true when it was written would have been counter productive to those who were declaring that Jesus was in deed the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
Thus such a thing had to be true or it could have derailed the new movement.
Think about it.
Read Matthew 1-17
“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.”
Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew’s gospel is written in Greek. But it uses for the most part Jewish terminology which he doesn’t explain. This indicates that it is written to Jews.
He uses terms like “Son of David” to describe Jesus. He traces the linage of Jesus back to Abraham.
This however does not restrict the readership to the Jews. He mentions the arrival of the Magi and that the great commission is to the whole world not just to the Jews.
Matthews purpose in writing seems to be to prove to the Jewish reader that Jesus is their Messiah.
He uses nine proof texts (1:22–23; 2:15; 2:17–18; 2:23; 4:14–16; 8:17; 12:17–21; 13:35; 27:9–10) to prove this basic theme.
Matthew notes that Jesus is the fulfilment of Old Testament Prophesy. Additionally he points to the linage of Jesus going back to King David.
The book of Matthew was written it is believe by Matthew the disciple of Jesus around 50AD.
Thus Matthew would have had first hand accounts of all that was happening including access to Mary the mother of Christ.
The scripture quoted above gives the linage of Jesus all the way back to Abraham. Pointing out to the reader that Jesus was of the right linage to be the Messiah.
Although he was born to parents of low birth Mary and Joseph. Both were honourable people.
Matthew recording,
"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
Matthew 1:18-25
This is the first proof that Jesus is the Messiah. God actually told Joseph in a dream that the child Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
For such a thing not to be true when it was written would have been counter productive to those who were declaring that Jesus was in deed the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
Thus such a thing had to be true or it could have derailed the new movement.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Understanding Jesus
"He (Jesus) said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.
Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
Mark 4:21-25
Jesus is the lamp. A lamp is there to illuminate. He brings to light what is meant to be disclosed.
Jesus brings into the open what is meant to be learned.
The purpose in Jesus coming to earth was to illuminate the minds of men. To show them the ways of God and the way to heaven.
The scripture here states, “consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, (to hear the truths of God) it will be measured to you and even more.”
All to often we read or hear scripture and choose only to understand what fits our way of thinking. We fail to listen with an open mind.
I find this is particularly so with some non-Christians.
They have a preconceived idea. Usually that God does not exist or at the very least Jesus is not who he says he is.
From their own presuppositions they then conclude that they are right irrespective of what the bible states.
If they even read the bible, they do so with a closed mind and no amount of reading the bible will ever convince them otherwise.
Thus the warning from Jesus. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.”
If we fail to recognize Jesus for who he is then why should he, when we stand before him recognize us?
He is simply saying you acknowledge that I am the Son of God the Saviour of the mankind or I will not recognize you as one of my own and thus will cast you away.
Jesus says,
“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 3:18.
Where do you stand?
Think about it?
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.
Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
Mark 4:21-25
Jesus is the lamp. A lamp is there to illuminate. He brings to light what is meant to be disclosed.
Jesus brings into the open what is meant to be learned.
The purpose in Jesus coming to earth was to illuminate the minds of men. To show them the ways of God and the way to heaven.
The scripture here states, “consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, (to hear the truths of God) it will be measured to you and even more.”
All to often we read or hear scripture and choose only to understand what fits our way of thinking. We fail to listen with an open mind.
I find this is particularly so with some non-Christians.
They have a preconceived idea. Usually that God does not exist or at the very least Jesus is not who he says he is.
From their own presuppositions they then conclude that they are right irrespective of what the bible states.
If they even read the bible, they do so with a closed mind and no amount of reading the bible will ever convince them otherwise.
Thus the warning from Jesus. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.”
If we fail to recognize Jesus for who he is then why should he, when we stand before him recognize us?
He is simply saying you acknowledge that I am the Son of God the Saviour of the mankind or I will not recognize you as one of my own and thus will cast you away.
Jesus says,
“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 3:18.
Where do you stand?
Think about it?
Monday, 3 February 2014
Kinds of Christians
The Parable of the Sower
“Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?
The farmer sows the word.
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”
Mark 4:13-20.
This parable is talking about evangelization. But it’s also about different kinds of Christians.
On the surface to other people all Christians are alike. They go to church sing a few hymns, fellowship with other Christians, some even reach out to the world around them.
But not all Christians are alike. Only God knows the heart of anyman.
Jesus points out that the seeds of the Word falls basically on four kinds of people.
The first are those who hear it but it dismiss it. They are turned away either by Satan or their own preconceived ideas that God is not real.
The second are those who receive the Word but they are very shallow people with no real roots. They are joyful upon hearing it. They are caught up in perhaps the emotion of the moment, be it in a church, at a large rally or even in someone’s living room. but don’t take it to heart and eventually turn away from God.
The third are those who hear but the word is choked off by the cares of this world. By the focus on earthly things such as the building up of wealth, possessions and other things. None of which are bad things. Still they can if not kept in perspective, keep a person from finding true riches in God.
The fourth is the person who takes the word of God to heart and allows it to grow in their heart and life.
They cultivate it and grow in power and strength in Christ. They go on to produce a crop of believers themselves and produce in abundance.
Thus not all Christians are alike although they may call themselves Christians many are not truly living the life. Which if you think about it explains the differences in the lifestyles of some Christians.
Now having heard all of that tell me what kind of ground are you?
Are you committed to Christ? Have you dismissed Christianity and God as not being real or are you somewhere in the middle? Think about it.
“Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?
The farmer sows the word.
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”
Mark 4:13-20.
This parable is talking about evangelization. But it’s also about different kinds of Christians.
On the surface to other people all Christians are alike. They go to church sing a few hymns, fellowship with other Christians, some even reach out to the world around them.
But not all Christians are alike. Only God knows the heart of anyman.
Jesus points out that the seeds of the Word falls basically on four kinds of people.
The first are those who hear it but it dismiss it. They are turned away either by Satan or their own preconceived ideas that God is not real.
The second are those who receive the Word but they are very shallow people with no real roots. They are joyful upon hearing it. They are caught up in perhaps the emotion of the moment, be it in a church, at a large rally or even in someone’s living room. but don’t take it to heart and eventually turn away from God.
The third are those who hear but the word is choked off by the cares of this world. By the focus on earthly things such as the building up of wealth, possessions and other things. None of which are bad things. Still they can if not kept in perspective, keep a person from finding true riches in God.
The fourth is the person who takes the word of God to heart and allows it to grow in their heart and life.
They cultivate it and grow in power and strength in Christ. They go on to produce a crop of believers themselves and produce in abundance.
Thus not all Christians are alike although they may call themselves Christians many are not truly living the life. Which if you think about it explains the differences in the lifestyles of some Christians.
Now having heard all of that tell me what kind of ground are you?
Are you committed to Christ? Have you dismissed Christianity and God as not being real or are you somewhere in the middle? Think about it.
Sunday, 2 February 2014
There is a God
Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
Psalm 150Scripture tells us,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 53:1a
Many today would say there is no God. It’s not a new thing such beliefs have been around forever.
Sadly many people say there is no God and proceed to assemble facts that point to there being no God, subconsciously or deliberately excluding anything that even hints that He does exist.
I for one firmly believe there is an afterlife and a God who will be there waiting for us, either as our Saviour or our Judge.
I cannot believe that the spark inside our bodies that make us sentient, that makes us the person we are just dissolves into nothingness.
I believe the words of Jesus who said,
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:43
I look at the world around me and can see the magnificent hand of God in the flower on my desk. Something so beautiful yet so sophisticated in it’s make up, that man has never been able to make one from scratch.
There has to be a divine creator.
But each individual must decide for themselves whether God Exists or not. After which they must weigh the words of Jesus.
Who 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.
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
The choice is always up to the individual. What do you believe?
Saturday, 1 February 2014
The Reason for Jesus
The Reason for Jesus
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
Mark 1:35-38
Jesus said,
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:9-11
Jesus made it clear that he had only one purpose in life. To show people the way to heaven.
He has come to preach the gospel to all who would listen no matter where they are.
He likens himself to a gate that whoever enters through that gate will go to heaven. They will find rest for their soul no matter what the situation in life.
People all over the world are looking for that perfect thing that will give them rest for their soul. Most don’t realize it.
They try to find rest and fulfilment in life by collecting things, by doing good deeds. By dedicating their lives to worthy causes. None of which are bad things to do.
People follow philosophies, meditate and try their best to be good people. Yet they somehow never find complete rest.
Such complete rest can only come from Jesus.
A few years ago I had a cancer operation I’d found a cancerous tumour on my leg and the cancer it turned out spread to the lymph nodes in my groin.
I’m convinced the Lord put me with the right doctors at the right time. The doctor got the cancer all of it and I didn’t have to undergo radiation or Chemotherapy.
A few weeks later however I could hardly breath and they rushed me by ambulance to hospital.
They found that I had three large blood clots, one in each lung and one in my groin the side effect of the cancer surgery.
I ended up with an eight day hospital stay. With at one point my life in the balance.
I remember praying and simply asking God that His will be done. I can’t remembering ever having any fear. I knew inside of me that as a Christian I win either way.
Should I live I could give glory to God for what he did for me.
Should I die. I would pass into peace of the arms of my Lord and Saviour.
This is what it is like to know Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour. To have peace in all situations.
Do you?
Do you know that if you were to die today you would go to heaven? Do you have that certainty that when you finally pass from this body you will have be spending an Eternity in Heaven?
Think about it.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
Mark 1:35-38
Jesus said,
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:9-11
Jesus made it clear that he had only one purpose in life. To show people the way to heaven.
He has come to preach the gospel to all who would listen no matter where they are.
He likens himself to a gate that whoever enters through that gate will go to heaven. They will find rest for their soul no matter what the situation in life.
People all over the world are looking for that perfect thing that will give them rest for their soul. Most don’t realize it.
They try to find rest and fulfilment in life by collecting things, by doing good deeds. By dedicating their lives to worthy causes. None of which are bad things to do.
People follow philosophies, meditate and try their best to be good people. Yet they somehow never find complete rest.
Such complete rest can only come from Jesus.
A few years ago I had a cancer operation I’d found a cancerous tumour on my leg and the cancer it turned out spread to the lymph nodes in my groin.
I’m convinced the Lord put me with the right doctors at the right time. The doctor got the cancer all of it and I didn’t have to undergo radiation or Chemotherapy.
A few weeks later however I could hardly breath and they rushed me by ambulance to hospital.
They found that I had three large blood clots, one in each lung and one in my groin the side effect of the cancer surgery.
I ended up with an eight day hospital stay. With at one point my life in the balance.
I remember praying and simply asking God that His will be done. I can’t remembering ever having any fear. I knew inside of me that as a Christian I win either way.
Should I live I could give glory to God for what he did for me.
Should I die. I would pass into peace of the arms of my Lord and Saviour.
This is what it is like to know Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour. To have peace in all situations.
Do you?
Do you know that if you were to die today you would go to heaven? Do you have that certainty that when you finally pass from this body you will have be spending an Eternity in Heaven?
Think about it.
Friday, 31 January 2014
Summing up the Bible
A summing up of the Bible
“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
“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 22:35-40.
How can anyone argue with love being the most important thing in the law. Jesus is not alone in saying this.
A thirteenth century Jewish sage, Hillel, was asked to sum up the entire Torah (the Law) while standing on one leg. He responded with av’ahavta l’reacha komacha (you shall love you neighbour as yourself.
I believe however that the love spoken of has to be that from God.
Sadly we have to many ‘poor’ definitions of love. Definitions that put limits on love.
Paul writing to the Corinthians said this about love,
“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
This is the love Jesus and Hillel meant when they were speaking. It is an unconditional love. One that sets no boundaries.
This is true love.
A love that if put into practice really could change the world.
Think about it.
“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
“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 22:35-40.
How can anyone argue with love being the most important thing in the law. Jesus is not alone in saying this.
A thirteenth century Jewish sage, Hillel, was asked to sum up the entire Torah (the Law) while standing on one leg. He responded with av’ahavta l’reacha komacha (you shall love you neighbour as yourself.
I believe however that the love spoken of has to be that from God.
Sadly we have to many ‘poor’ definitions of love. Definitions that put limits on love.
Paul writing to the Corinthians said this about love,
“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
This is the love Jesus and Hillel meant when they were speaking. It is an unconditional love. One that sets no boundaries.
This is true love.
A love that if put into practice really could change the world.
Think about it.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Do not bear a grudge
Do not bear a grudge
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
For years I use to watch the conflict in Northern Ireland and the killing done in the name of religion.
My mothers family emigrated to England from Ireland in the mid eighteen hundreds. There reason was to get a better life which they eventually did get but apparently not without some people disliking the fact they were catholic.
The Northern Ireland conflict is very typical of men doing things supposedly in the name of God. When really they are doing it simply with a religious name.
Jesus was a man of peace he never preached insurrection against the dominating Romans. In fact he a Jew helped a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).
The disciples were the same way they showed the love of God to all men irrespective of who they were.
Those who were fighting in northern Ireland were not Christians they only happened to have the labels of Christian groups.
Over the years much has been done in the name of Christianity when really it was driven by prejudges. The classic example are the crusaders who went to war killing everyone who was supposedly not a Christian.
They and particularly their leaders lost track of the key thing in Christianity. Love your neighbour as yourself.
They missed the fact that Jesus said
“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 28:19,20
Jesus never said convert people at the edge of a sword or by torture as happened at other times in history.
Christians are today according to what some watch groups are saying the most persecuted people in the world yet the words of the Bible are still there for Christians to obey when Leviticus states,
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
Violence done in the name of Christ or a religious Christian group is not the “Christian” thing to do.
It was Jesus who told us to turn the other cheek.
True Christianity is reaching out to people in Love not bearing grudges or waging any kind of violence against ones fellow man.
Think about it.
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
For years I use to watch the conflict in Northern Ireland and the killing done in the name of religion.
My mothers family emigrated to England from Ireland in the mid eighteen hundreds. There reason was to get a better life which they eventually did get but apparently not without some people disliking the fact they were catholic.
The Northern Ireland conflict is very typical of men doing things supposedly in the name of God. When really they are doing it simply with a religious name.
Jesus was a man of peace he never preached insurrection against the dominating Romans. In fact he a Jew helped a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).
The disciples were the same way they showed the love of God to all men irrespective of who they were.
Those who were fighting in northern Ireland were not Christians they only happened to have the labels of Christian groups.
Over the years much has been done in the name of Christianity when really it was driven by prejudges. The classic example are the crusaders who went to war killing everyone who was supposedly not a Christian.
They and particularly their leaders lost track of the key thing in Christianity. Love your neighbour as yourself.
They missed the fact that Jesus said
“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 28:19,20
Jesus never said convert people at the edge of a sword or by torture as happened at other times in history.
Christians are today according to what some watch groups are saying the most persecuted people in the world yet the words of the Bible are still there for Christians to obey when Leviticus states,
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
Violence done in the name of Christ or a religious Christian group is not the “Christian” thing to do.
It was Jesus who told us to turn the other cheek.
True Christianity is reaching out to people in Love not bearing grudges or waging any kind of violence against ones fellow man.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
The Way to Heaven
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
This is the uniqueness of Christianity. Christians believe we are saved by the grace of God. Not by our works.
In Christianity it is God reaching down to man. Not man trying to reach up to God or trying to be as close to perfect as is possible.
Christians believe,
“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
We believe,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We believe,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and (those who believe Jesus) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
We believe,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We believe...
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
We believe,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
We believe that getting to heaven is as simple as saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came and died for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner and I confess those sins to you now.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and life from this day forward.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and truly believe what you prayed then you are assured of going to heaven.
What I would advise now is finding a bible believing church.
Pray and ask God to lead you such a church.
I always recommend a Baptist church simply because I’ve found their teachings to be consistent all over the world.
In Canada I also recommend a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church because I am familiar with their solid bible based teachings as are the Assemblies of God in the United States.
Wherever you decide to go make sure, they teach directly from the bible and that their teachings do not contradict the bible. You do this by reading the Bible yourself and asking God to show you the truths contained there in.
A in a good church the pastor will always be willing to answer your questions.
In the church I attend we expect people to ask questions.
At the start of our midweek bible study we encourage anyone who has a question on any topic to ask it and we will have an answer for them.
Now having said all of this I would encourage you even if you still don’t believe to go to a church and ask questions.
Think about it.
Ephesians 2:8,9
This is the uniqueness of Christianity. Christians believe we are saved by the grace of God. Not by our works.
In Christianity it is God reaching down to man. Not man trying to reach up to God or trying to be as close to perfect as is possible.
Christians believe,
“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
We believe,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We believe,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and (those who believe Jesus) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
We believe,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We believe...
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
We believe,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
We believe that getting to heaven is as simple as saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came and died for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner and I confess those sins to you now.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and life from this day forward.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and truly believe what you prayed then you are assured of going to heaven.
What I would advise now is finding a bible believing church.
Pray and ask God to lead you such a church.
I always recommend a Baptist church simply because I’ve found their teachings to be consistent all over the world.
In Canada I also recommend a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church because I am familiar with their solid bible based teachings as are the Assemblies of God in the United States.
Wherever you decide to go make sure, they teach directly from the bible and that their teachings do not contradict the bible. You do this by reading the Bible yourself and asking God to show you the truths contained there in.
A in a good church the pastor will always be willing to answer your questions.
In the church I attend we expect people to ask questions.
At the start of our midweek bible study we encourage anyone who has a question on any topic to ask it and we will have an answer for them.
Now having said all of this I would encourage you even if you still don’t believe to go to a church and ask questions.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
What do you gain?
What do you gain?
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:26,27
Do you believe you have a soul? What is it worth?
If you believe that all there is, is this life then the body at least is equal to the cost of the chemicals and water that make it up. Not very much.
But we are more than a complicated biochemical cocktail. Man has a soul. Man was created to live forever. And one day we will stand before God.
Think about what you are doing. Is it really worth while?
Man is an odd creature if you think about it.
He spends a lifetime collecting ‘things’ be they widgets or dollar bills only to forfeit them at the end of his life. To my mind counter productive.
Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with being wealthy and acquiring wealth. There are many wealthy people in the church that are using their wealth for good. The church needs people like these.
Still what are you doing. Are you simply acquiring things for the sake of acquiring them?
Are you making payments with interest on money you borrowed for a car, when you could have been saving up and buying a good one with cash?
Where is your treasure?
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6: 19-21
Where is your treasure. Will you leave it one day to someone else on this earth?
Or will your actions and deeds on this earth go before you to heaven as a wonderful witness of what you have done for Christ?
Think about it.
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:26,27
Do you believe you have a soul? What is it worth?
If you believe that all there is, is this life then the body at least is equal to the cost of the chemicals and water that make it up. Not very much.
But we are more than a complicated biochemical cocktail. Man has a soul. Man was created to live forever. And one day we will stand before God.
Think about what you are doing. Is it really worth while?
Man is an odd creature if you think about it.
He spends a lifetime collecting ‘things’ be they widgets or dollar bills only to forfeit them at the end of his life. To my mind counter productive.
Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with being wealthy and acquiring wealth. There are many wealthy people in the church that are using their wealth for good. The church needs people like these.
Still what are you doing. Are you simply acquiring things for the sake of acquiring them?
Are you making payments with interest on money you borrowed for a car, when you could have been saving up and buying a good one with cash?
Where is your treasure?
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6: 19-21
Where is your treasure. Will you leave it one day to someone else on this earth?
Or will your actions and deeds on this earth go before you to heaven as a wonderful witness of what you have done for Christ?
Think about it.
Monday, 27 January 2014
Holocaust Memorial
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3
To day January 27th 2014 is Holocaust remembrance day. A day when we remember the millions killed in the Nazi holocaust of world
war two.
I was born after the war and have only seen films of the concentration camps as a result I can only imagine the horrors.
My father was one of the liberators of Bergen Belsen. He told us very little about what he seen. Still I can remember on two occasions when he told me vividly about what he saw.
The first occasion was when the two of us were watching the news.
There was a some one who was on trial for hate literature, some one who denied the holocaust.
For a few moments he was silent, then he suddenly exploded. It was as if a dam had burst inside him and he told me what he had seen and experienced.
What he told me was beyond belief I can understand why he didn’t want to tell people. Were a writer to have written about such horrors no one would have believed him.
As I found out later from some aunts, he didn’t keep silent in the years after the war. He did tell people about what he saw. It was just that I was too young to remember.
The experience at Belsen did change his life.
The facts speak for themselves, over eleven million (11,000,000) people died in the holocaust. Six million (6,000,000) were jews. An estimated 1,500,000 children died. The numbers are staggering.
If my math is right that means one person was murdered every twenty seconds from the day war was declared in September of 1939 until it ended in Europe in May of 1945.
The other thing my father was bitter about was that his country, England refused to let them all go to Palestine because of politics.
It’s interesting that the United Kingdoms fortunes started to go down after the war.
The scripture I have chosen for today is a blessing God gave to Abram the father of the Jewish nation it reads,
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3.
I firmly believe that, that blessing to Abram is still in effect.
Germany as a nation repented after the war paid reparations to Israel and has become an economic power house.
While the United Kingdom who placed harsh restrictions on the Jews in Palestine going even to the point of training and arming the enemies of the Jews, had their fortunes fall.
Here in Canada we have a government that is firmly behind Israel and I believe it has resulted in Canada’s prosperity even in these uncertain times.
But all of that aside. I believe it is incumbent on all Christians everywhere to pray for and bless Israel.
Many Christians died in the holocaust also. They died for simply trying to protect Jews.
We can never let such a thing happen again.
The Reverent Martin Niemoeler a pastor in the German Confessing Church who himself spent seven year in a concentration camp wrote,
First they came for the Communist
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialist
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came fro the Labour Leaders
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Labour Leader.
Then they cam for the Jews
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they cam for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.
If there is one place we should be politically active, it is in our support of Israel.There are people in this world who do not want Israel to exist.
Think of it were they to win. Millions more Jews would die.
Not only Christians, but humanity as a whole cannot let that happen.
Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray that God will bless Israel.
Sunday, 26 January 2014
The Authority of Jesus
“They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee”
Mark 1:21-28
Mark tells us that the people were amazed at the teachings of Jesus. He “taught them as one who had authority not as the teachers of the law.”
He cast out demons from a man in the synagogue and he notes that the evil spirit in the man identified Jesus as “the Holy One of God!”
These are things that prove Jesus is the one and only Son of God.
Within the Bible there is no debate as to who Jesus was. The disciples and the people around Jesus bore witness to what he did and when he did them.
The gospel writers do not shy away from anything that Jesus did.
They simply wrote it down and presented it to all who would care to read it allowing them to decide for themselves who Jesus was.
Who do you think he is?
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee”
Mark 1:21-28
Mark tells us that the people were amazed at the teachings of Jesus. He “taught them as one who had authority not as the teachers of the law.”
He cast out demons from a man in the synagogue and he notes that the evil spirit in the man identified Jesus as “the Holy One of God!”
These are things that prove Jesus is the one and only Son of God.
Within the Bible there is no debate as to who Jesus was. The disciples and the people around Jesus bore witness to what he did and when he did them.
The gospel writers do not shy away from anything that Jesus did.
They simply wrote it down and presented it to all who would care to read it allowing them to decide for themselves who Jesus was.
Who do you think he is?
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