Doing

   Doing

The Psalmist states,

“Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this; 

that power belongs to God,

and that to you, O Lord belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man

according to his works”

                                          Psalm 62:11,12.

While it is true we are saved by faith. What the psalmist says here is also true. God will render to us according to our works. We will receive from God what we deserve for the works done for Him.

Thus it is important that we do what we can for God no matter how insignificant that work may seem to be.

So the question becomes; Are you doing what you can to serve God?

Please think about it.

For God alone my soul waits

   For God alone my soul waits

The Psalmist writes,

“For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, 

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”

                                                               Psalm 62:1,2.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus is God and God alone your rock, your fortress, your salvation?

Or do you rely on the things of this world, materialism, and your wealth for example.

Please think carefully about it.

Sing for Joy

 Sing for Joy

The Psalmist writes,

“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; 

let the people of Zion be glad in their King. 

Let them praise his name with dancing 

and make music to him with tambourine and harp. 

For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

He crowns the humble with salvation. 

Let the saints rejoice in this honour 

and sing for joy on their beds.” 

                                                        Psalm 149:2-5.

If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus why not take sometime right now to rejoice in your maker. Take now to praise the God of your salvation.

Please think about.

My Helper

  My Helper

The Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.”

                                                   Psalm 121:1,2.

If you are truly a believer in Christ Jesus this is a portion of scripture you should always remember. Especially in times of trouble.

God never said we would have everything our own way. God never promised us a life without problems. Life is full of problems. But knowing God the maker of heaven and earth is your helper truly makes a difference.

No matter how bad the circumstances we are in we can look to God to help us through it.

Is God your helper?

Please think about it.

Is Christ in you?

 Is Christ in you?

In John’s gospel we read,

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  

I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:20-26.

Is Christ in you?

Here are some questions to think about before you answer that question.

1. Do you love as Jesus loved, unconditionally? Family friend and foe alike? Whether you agree with their faith, or lifestyle?

2. Do you refrain from judging others as Jesus told us in Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged."?

3.Does your life exhibit the fruit of the spirit as described by the apostle Paul who said, “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.

 Please think about it.

A question to answer

  A question to answer

In the gospel of John we read of this question Jesus asks Martha. It is also a question all who ever hear about Jesus must answer for themselves,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25,26.

Each individual needs to gain understanding about God. Each individual needs at the very least consider what the scriptures say about Jesus. Each of us need to answer for ourselves the question Jesus asked Martha,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25,26.

Please think about it.

A simple question to Christians

  A simple question to Christians

The apostle Paul wrote,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.” 

                                    Romans 12:18 

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

                                                            Hebrews 12:14.

If you claim to be a Christian are you doing your best to live at peace with all people? Are you doing your best with Gods help to live a holy life?

Because if you are not you will not win a soul for Christ.

As Christians we should be known for our love and understanding. People should see our love for God and those around us be they family, friend, or foe.

So I ask the questions again;

Are you doing your best to live at peace with all people.

Are you with Gods help doing your best to live a holy life?

Please think about it.

A Christian is

 A Christian is

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 neighbour as yourself.'  

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

Do you consider yourself a true Christian? If so are you truly loving God and your neighbour?

St. Augustine said,

"A Christian is: 

a mind through which 

Christ thinks, 

a heart through which

Christ loves, 

a voice through which

Christ speaks, 

and a hand through which 

Christ helps" 

                                       St. Augustine.

Is this you?

The apostle Paul wrote what is essentially the definition of Christian love. In his first letter to the church at Corinth 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.

So is your definition of love the same as the apostle Pauls definition?

If not it should be.

Please think about it. 

Ambassadors

 Ambassadors

Paul also wrote,

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2Corinthians5:18-20.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus then we as the apostle Paul put it, we are Christs ambassadors. Through us God is making his appeal to the world around us.

We cannot appeal to those around us if we are judging them. 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.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

We have no right to judge those outside our faith. We do however have the right to judge anyone who claims to be a Christian. We have the right to do so because we must be able to judge if they are teaching sound doctrine and living a Christ like life.

As for those outside the church, as Christs ambassadors we are responsible for presenting the gospel message. Then leaving it up to the individual to believe what we are saying or not.

We have no right to say where anyone outside our faith will spend eternity.

Only God knows the heart and mind of individuals. Thus only God can judge and individual justly.

Please think about it.

One of them

  One of them

"Jesus wept." 

                  John 11:35

The great evangelist Charles H. Spurgeon said,

"A Jesus who never wept

 could never wipe away my tears."

                                            Charles H. Spurgeon.

As Christians, believers in Christ Jesus we believe that Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. We believe that God in the form of Jesus came down from heaven to show us how far He would go in human terms to point us to heaven.

The apostle Paul wrote,

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:23,24.

No one can ever stand before God on judgement day and say “you don’t understand what it is like to be human” because He does.

Jesus came to this earth as the child of an ordinary couple. Thus Jesus experienced the full range of what it is to be human. Jesus was a political refugee. His family having to flee to Egypt to avoid being killed by Herod. Jesus sat in the temple and discussed the scripture with learned men of his day. 

He undoubtedly had friends as he was growing up that he played with. He felt the everyday things like the sun on his face, rain. 

We know He attended a wedding probably one of a number of social events in his life.

At the other end of the spectrum Jesus felt the worst of what mankind could do. He felt what it was like to fall into the hands of evil men. To be mocked and beaten before being hung on a cross to die.

So when we stand before God we can never say you don’t understand because he does. 

Not only that to all who would believe in Him scripture tells us,

"For the Lamb (Jesus) at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelations 7:17.

Thus the question becomes; Will you be one of them?

Please think about it.

Would you be willing?

  Would you be willing?

In the book of Acts we read 

"His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5:40-42.

I think it’s unfair to ask anyone if they think they could suffer what the apostles did for their belief in Christ Jesus. 

That being said it is something all believers must consider. Especially here in North America where being a believer in Christ Jesus is easy.

In many countries around the world today being a Christian can get you thrown out of your family or village. Can get you beaten, thrown in jail. Even put in a concentration camp or murdered. All because you believe in The Son of God. The Prince of Peace.

So if you consider yourself a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus, would you be willing to be thrown out of your family, your community, beaten, thrown in prison or even to die for what you believe.

Please think carefully about it.

Come or Depart

 Come or Depart

Jesus said,

"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,    I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 

"They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 

"He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:41-46.

Think very carefully about this. When you stand before God will you hear the words “Depart from me”?

I firmly believe the more resources we have. The more material wealth we have. The more political power we have must be used for God. If we don’t we may just hear these words from Jesus, “depart from me, you who are cursed...”

Even those of us who are not so wealthy can do something. Even if its just giving a few cans of food to a food bank.

The key here is to help those in need.

So I ask the question again. Will you hear the words “depart from me...” or will you hear,

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; 

take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you 

since the creation of the world.”  

                                                                     Matthew 25:34 

Please think about it.