It is good for us to spend time in the Old testament of the bible and be reminded that God has zero tolerance for sin. This is portrayed graphically in His dealings with Israel and Judah as He allowed them to be taken into exile because of their rebellion and sin (2 Kings). We are exhorted also to hate evil (Ps 97:10).

In the new Testament, we are told that Sin causes spiritual death (Rom 6:23) and separation from God; all people sin (Rom 3:23). Jesus paid the price for our sins by His sacrificial death (1 Peter 3:18) and won justification for us (Rom 3:24). This simply mean that if we repent, ask His forgiveness and ask Him into our life as Lord and Saviour, we are made: “just as if we had never sinned”. Our sins were washed away by His blood (Rev 1:5), the price was paid and God sees us as righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21).

Does this mean God has gone soft on sin? Absolutely not (1 John 1:5). We are told as Christians that we should not go on willfully sinning (1 John 3:6-9). But we are still flesh and blood and we will sin (1 John 1:8), but if we repent and ask God’s forgiveness He is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9).

The next question is, as Christians, are we soft on Sin? Do we have things in our lives that we wink at or ignore? Well, God knows I get it mostly right but I am sure He can tolerate a few minor issues. However, God is still black and white on sin and He tells us to take of the old man and put on the new (Eph 4:22-24). That’s all of the old man and all of the new. Let’s not limit God in our lives by ignoring sin. Now don’t get condemned, God knows our hearts (Ps 44:21) and as we desire to be everything He wants us to be, He will provide grace to help us to change (Eph 1:7-9). Paul never claimed to be perfect (Phil 3:12) and God does not expect us to change overnight. Keep on keeping on, the blessings are amazing. God bless you, we love you. 

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A pastor friend of mine once told me that people will make all sorts of claims about where they are as Christians but all we need to do is simply watch their lives over a period of time. I thought this was very sage advice and it has served me well. We can talk with all sorts of bravado and put on an act for a period of time but over time what is truly in us will surface.

In the Bible, we are told that what is in in our hearts will come out from our mouths, good or bad (Matt 15:18). However, more importantly, in the epistle of James, chapter 2 and verse 17, it says: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:17; KJV). Faith isn’t really faith unless it has accompanying actions. This passage in James uses Abraham as its example. God told Abraham to go and sacrifice His only son and Abraham went in faith believing God could raise Isaac from the dead (Heb 11:17-19). 

In 1 John 4:3 we are told to love not in words but in deeds and truth. It hardly helps to speak blessings over a hungry person but not to feed him. Paul was so confident in his life witness that he was able to say: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Presumably people were able to see the practical outworking of his Christian walk to be able to imitate it. It’s a useful exercise for us all to ask ourselves if we could say the same as Paul.

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As we look around us today we often see people in fear and confusion as they watch TV and listen to the fear mongers in the media. But fear and confusion should have no place in the life of the Christian. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7; KJV).

God says that perfect love drives fear from our lives (1 John 4:18). Fear is the opposite of faith; faith believes God, fear believes the reports of the devil.

If our lives are driven by selfishness and evil motives then confusion easily results (James 3:16) but “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Cor 14:33).

How do we walk in peace? In Isaiah chapter 26 and verse 3 it is written: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee” Let’s commit to walk in love, focus on God’s word and believe it; not the noise in the world around us. Let’s cut through the confusion in our world and be beacons of God’s life, peace and truth. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

True life and freedom are not to be found in rushing after everything the world says is important. God’s greatest desire is to bless us, but His word says: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (God’s provisions and blessings) shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33).

We need to put God first and do things God’s way.

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Have you ever noticed that there is no prize for starting, the only reward is for the one that finishes the race (1Cor 9:24). At the end of his life for Christ Paul could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7; KJV) and he eagerly looked forward to his heavenly reward.

 “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:1-2; KJV).

 Paul paints a picture for us of the heavenly hosts cheering us on. As we look back at all the amazing men and women of God who have gone before us, we should be encouraged to focus on Jesus and put aside all the distractions and sins, to serve Him on this earth.

We need the same heavenly focus that Jesus had and need to know that we don’t run in our own strength but His (Phil 2:13; Phil 4:13). Paul exhorted us to press on, to lay hold of all God has for us and be disciplined (Phil 3:12-14; 1Cor 9:25). We are God’s salt and lights in this world (Matt 5:13-14), He so wants to work through us, to bless us in our earthly journey (Eph 3:20) and to bring us to that eternal reward in Heaven. Let's cooperate and press in; the rewards are great and the journey amazing. Finish Strong!

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Have you ever started to worry about anything? To say no would probably be less than honest.

Hezekiah king of Judah was under severe threat from the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18: 7- 19:37). He took a letter from the Assyrians and spread it before God in the temple as he cried out to God in prayer. God heard the prayers of this righteous king and destroyed the Assyrian enemy.

God tells us to cast our cares and burdens on Him and He will never let us be moved (1Peter 5:7; Ps 55:22). One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30; KJV).

When we worry, we labor and try to think things out for ourselves. When we seek to learn from Him and do it His way we come under His yoke. Yoked to Jesus is not an equal bearing of the load but He carries us with His power, love and wisdom.

Jesus painted such beautiful pictures for us in Matthew 6:25-34. Here He tells us not to worry but to trust God. Don’t fuss and fret He says; just look to God and see how He cares for the birds or clothes the Lilies of the field. God will do better for us, His children, than you can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20).