In the same way

  In the same way

Jesus said,

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."Matthew 5:16.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus is your light showing your good deeds?

The apostle Peter writes,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Dear friends,

 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12.

Question; When people look at your life what are the people seeing?

Please think about it.

Come you who are blessed

 Come you who are blessed

Jesus said,

"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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"Matthew 25:44-45.

Where do you stand when it comes to helping the poor?

If you’re an average person on the street do you give to the poor through charities or even giving a few coins to someone begging on the street.

If you’re a pastor or evangelist does your church give a portion of its income to helping the poor?

If you’re a Christian politician, are you active in helping to pass legislation that benefits the poor and the homeless?

When you stand before God 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.  

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'” Matthew 25:34-36.

Please think about it.

They will

  They will

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.

Jesus makes one thing clear. We are not to judge. He states,

“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.

Jesus makes it clear we are not to judge anyone. Sadly many calling themselves Christians judge people all the time. I see this especially among those who call themselves evangelical Christians. 

They are always out there pointing out sin. Judging people because of the way they live or their lifestyle.

Christians are not to do it! Jesus made it clear what the job of the Christian is when He said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  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 28:18-20.

We cannot win a soul for Christ if we even give the appearance of judging them. 

Our job as believers in Christ Jesus is to present the love and mercy God offers all mankind through Christ Jesus. 

After that they must decide for themselves if they believe it or not.

It is my belief that if those calling themselves Christians continue to judge those they disagree with. They will be the ones God judges.

Please think about it.

Proclaim

  Proclaim

Isaiah the prophet wrote,

“Give praise to the Lord, 

proclaim his name; 

make known among the nations what he has done.” 

                                                                               Isaiah 12:4

Jesus said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   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 28:18-20.

This is the duty of all who believe in God. Of all who believe in Christ Jesus. We are to go into all the world and make disciples. 

We are to tell the world around us about the love of God and the salvation offered through Christ Jesus. 

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.

If we are truly following God we should be focussed on saving those around us and nothing else.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus, are you telling the people around you about the salvation that comes from belief in Christ Jesus?

Please think about it. 

Sing to God

  Sing to God

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 believe in Christ Jesus. Why not take some time right now to rejoice in your Maker? Take time quietly, audibly, with instruments or without, take time to Praise God.

Please at least think about it.

Are you a seeker?

 Are you seeker?

The Psalmist writes,

"Where can I go from your Spirit? 

Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there your hand will guide me, 

your right hand will hold me fast." 

                                                         Psalm 139:7-10.

So where can you flee from Gods presence? Answer; nowhere. 

God is omnipresent. We cannot flee from Gods presence. God however is as someone has said “a gentleman”. God will not force us to do anything we don’t want to do.

God gives you the freedom to do as you wish. That includes not believing He exists. However should you decide to seek Him you will find Him Jeremiah the prophet records these words from God,

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me,

 and I will listen to you. 

You will seek me 

and find me 

when you seek me with all your heart.” 

                                                            Jeremiah 29:12,13.

The key is seeking God with your whole heart.

Please think about it.

I am convinced

 I am convinced 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38,39

Today around the world hundreds of thousands of Christians are being persecuted for their faith. Yet they still believe.

What oppressors of Christianity do not understand is you cannot separate a true believer from their faith in God no matter what they do.

For centuries almost from the day Jesus ascended to heaven people have persecuted, imprisoned, physically and mentally abused and even murdered Christians. Yet people of all walks of life are still drawn to Christ. Still follow Him no matter what hardships are place in their way.

They know what the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote is true when he wrote,

"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."Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

Ultimately those who believe in Christ will go to heaven those who do not, those who persecute Christians will not. 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. 

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.

Please think about it.  

The cost of freedom and the Christian

                                                 The cost of Freedom

 and the Christian

The apostle Paul writes,

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

As Christians we believe God has given all mankind the freewill to choose to do as they wish. That strictly speaking means we can do anything we want.

Freedom however has a price. To much freedom leads to anarchy. To little freedom leads despotism.

Thus true freedom is a delicate balance between the two extremes. Thus good governments do their best to try and keep that balance. Allowing freedom to reign while at the same time passing laws that prevent society from slipping into the morass of lawlessness and anarchy.

By way of helping mankind, I believe God has placed on the hearts of every individual laws that if followed will lead to a free and just society.

In their briefest form they are the ten commandments,

1/You shall have no other gods before Me.

2/You shall make no idols.

3/You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4/Keep the Sabbath day holy.

5/Honour your father and your mother.

6/You shall not murder.

7/You shall not commit adultery.

8/You shall not steal.

9/You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

10/You shall not covet

Even if you are an Atheist and disagree with the first four commandments that deal with mans relationship to God. 

You cannot deny that if individuals within our society obey the last  six that deal with our relationship to our fellow man, our society would be a much better place.

Please think about it.

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.