Where Is Your Fruit?
Someone asked this question one time, "If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" That is a good consideration, isn't it?
Someone asked this question one time, "If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" That is a good consideration, isn't it?
As we ponder these verses, I would encourage you to get a sweet and precious glimpse of Jesus. May that insight provoke in you a desire to magnify your Lord and Savior. As exhorted in the text, may we be moved to glorify the King.
John the Baptist said that Jesus must increase while he must decrease. May I submit that while that be true in John's ministry comparison, practically speaking, it is true for every one of us who profess to be a Christian. Our lives should be more about Jesus and less about ourselves.
Some people have a goodly disposition while others possess a bad spirit. The Christians prefers the goodly. However, don't you find yourself, on occasion, of having a bad spirit? Don't we discover that too often we have a bad attitude? I thought it well to consider this topic.
If a person is blind, the letters could be huge, but he/she must have sight before they can see. If a person is deaf, you can speak as loud as you wish, but he/she must have hearing before they can hear. Simply, we can try to force or "make" someone to be saved, but until there is a change, it cannot be done. Like the deaf, there is no need to yell.
We make judgments all the time. Sometimes they are based upon a poor foundation or determined with bias. Jesus teaches us that when we make judgments, they need to be proper. His words are, "Judge righteous judgment." This will be our subject.
At this time of year we are reminded to be thankful. However, Christians are to be thankful continually. In this psalm we find not only that God deserves thanks continually, but that His mercy is continual.
All men fail. Even the best of "godly" Christians fall short. Yet, when the "godly" fail, in time, even their response to their fall depicts the manner of their godliness.
How often has the preacher's words fallen on deaf ears? Oh, not that they could not hear but that they would not hear. Too many simply will not listen. The prophet Jeremiah faced the same problem.
After encouraging you to be involved in one-on-one evangelism, I thought it necessary to go one step further. Yes, we find someone, but that begs the question, "What should I say to them?" I have chosen to address the message we might share when we meet someone fact-to-face.