Jesus' teachings are the most wonderful ones to live by as His servants and as decent humans. Unforunately many of His teachings are ignored by church communities. I would like to list them one by one.
1. Salt and light
Matthew 5:13-16 (New International Version)
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
How are we doing in this department? I don't believe we are doing such a good job being salt and light of the world. On the contrary, we seem to be well known as hypocrites.
2. Matthew 5:17-20 (New International Version)
The fulfilment of the law
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
We see that most of us are washing down the Commandments because it is not cool to follow them. We are so spoiled that it is very hard to keep God's commandments.
hitomi
Matthew 5:43-47 (New International Version)
3. Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
This is so simple to understand but most churches are disobeying by supporting and joining the military. It is just sad.
4. perfection;
Mattew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Of course noone can be perfect but Jesus is expecting for us to do our best, and when we commit sin we should ask for forgiveness and repent.
hitomi
Matthew 7:13-14 (New International Version)
5. The Narrow and Wide Gates
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Following and serving Jesus with all our might is not easy for most of us who are so spoiled materialistically. Jesus also says that it is hard for rich people to go to the kingdom of heaven. I believe this verse applies to most of us wealthy countries' Christians.
Matthew 7:15-20 (New International Version)
6. Tree and Its Fruit
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
It seems that most of us Christians in wealthy countries will be cut down; that means most of us will not make it to heaven. In my observation we are not producing much fruit in this country, there are thousands of Christian communities yet little fruit.
hitomi
Matthew 7:21-23 (New International Version)
7. True followers.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Jesus does not apporve of lip servers. It seems that most of us are just serving ourselves instead of Jesus. Most of us don't seem to know or care if we are being fruitful or not.
Matthew 7:24-27 (New International Version)
8. The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
It appears that most of us are practicing pick-and-choose type of faith. When we do this, we are being foolish builders and will not be good witnesses for the Lord at all. There is no power of God in half-hearted believers. We cannot mock God.
hitomi
Matthew 8:20 (New International Version)
9. No place for Jesus.
20Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Jesus did not even have His own place. How about us? Most of us have much more than enough to live yet there are many people starving to death in the world.
Matthew 8:21-22 (New International Version)
10. Let the dead bury their own dead.
21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Jesus is very serious about evangelizing. Most of us have plenty of excuses for not reaching out to the world
hitomi
Hi Hitomi :hibye: ... I hope you are doing well!! :love::giverose::thumbsup:
It is sad isn't :crybaby: that indeed most people who actually met our Lord, saw his love and his miracles did ignore or reject his teachings ... :(
And were they not beautiful teachings :rose: :read: ... most of them springing from the LOVE he and his Father had for us and which he was trying to impart to us!:heartbeat:
In reading over your comments I couldn't help but reflect on how we are to be 'the salt of the earth' ...
In thinking about what salt does I am thinking along the lines of a couple of things ... I'm sure there is more ... ;)
I personally LOVE salt (I am now eating sea salt as it is supposed to be much better for us) ... for one thing that I find salt does is to bring out or enhance the flavour of the food we are eating ... and when you add salt to coffee beans when you are peculating coffee it helps to take out the bitterness of the beans ... so in this sense salt really is a great thing isn't it!:thumbsup:
How can this apply to us as Christians is of course the next thought that comes to mind in this illustration ...
Well, IMHO, we need and should 'season our words with salt' to help bring out the rich and heart stirring flavours that the message of our Lord contains ...
Col. 4:6 ...
6 Let YOUR utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how YOU ought to give an answer to each one.
And what ELSE could being the 'salt of the world' convey to us ...
Well, isn't salt also used as a PRESERVATIVE ...?
So, if we as Christians by our EXAMPLE and by our WORDS show that we are seeking to live by the 2 greatest commands (and all they encompass) then we will be 'preserving' ourselves as to receiving the 'reward' or 'gift' :present: that our Lord held out to his faithful followers ... EVERLASTING LIFE ... and what is more 'preserving' than that ... but ALSO because we are showing and spreading our 'saltiness' to OTHERS we can prove to be used to help in helping them be 'preserved' as well can't we ...?
1Tim. 4:16 ...
16 Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
As to your second Scriptural reference about keeping God's commandments ... this too of course is something that the majority of mankind is not doing ... :( as they are walking on the 'wide road' ... :(
Are we not thankful though that God and Christ in their mercy and love to us took away the awful burden of 'the Law' written on stone and gave us the 'law on and in our hearts' ...?:):cheer:
In the first two verses in the Scripture you quoted I think from Matt. 5:17,18?
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
And was 'everything accomplished' so that the Law could be put to rest or be abolished ...
In Jesus' own words at John 19:30 ...
(GW) After Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and died.
The Greek word for 'finished' can also be 'accomplished' ...
So, indeed 'everything WAS accomplished and we were no longer bound by the law ... however, IMHO that does mean that we would 'forget' the law because the new law that our Lord gave ...
That of loving our God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbour as ourself ENCOMPASSED the ENTIRE law ... for that was the SPIRIT of the law was it not!!
As, sinners indeed we do fall short many times in seeking to keep the law, :( but as followers of Christ we will continually pick ourselves up and keep on trying to the best of our ability to walk 'in the way' our Master wants us to ...
In doing this others will hopefully see how much we want to lead good and God-fearing lives and will drawn to the 'light' ... however, realistically we know that, for the most part people, will seek out their inclinations and live a life that will eventually bring them much sorrow :( instead of the joys of being with their Lord!:friends:
Anyway, thank you for bringing such encouraging thoughts to my mind this afternoon ... I gotta go and feed hubby his dinner now ... :eat:
Christian love to you hitomi ... BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
Hi Hitomi,
Jesus does not apporve of lip servers. It seems that most of us are just serving ourselves instead of Jesus. Most of us don't seem to know or care if we are being fruitful or not.
i understand how you feel Hitomi, we do not seem to making any impact in the world, Chrsit did tell his disciples to go and bear fruit and in doing so we would show ourselves to be his disciples.
he also told a parable about talents i am sure you are familiar with so i won,t bother with exact quotes.
he describes as a man going on a journey and leaving his servants with talents
he does so according to their ability
to one he gives five to the other he gives two and another one.
each servant then has to use the talents , the first uses them and gains five more
the one with two uses his and gains two more, but the sevant who was given only one talent dug a hole and hid the talent.
when the master returns the first two servants please him as the have doubled their talents but the third has displeased him because he has done nothing with his.
His reason was fear which made him preserve the single talent rather than use it.
the masters reply
" so you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers and at my coming i would have recieved back my own with interest."
so the master would have settled for simple interest on that single talent.
i think that interest represents the spiritual growing of an individual unlike the fearfull servant we must not bury our faith we must make it grow even if we take no big risk with it by trying to gain other talents, we must make it grow for ourselves.
so when the master returns at least we can say well it is true i gained no extra talents but i used what i had to make my faith grow
and i did not hide nor bury it so that it remained exactly as you gave it to me.
would you not agree that there are many here who do greater than that, they spend hours studying the word of God in the hope that they find new knowledge that helps them grow.
i am sure you know what it feels like when something from scripture is explained by someone here and you think Yes! that makes sense.
you are growing!.you are feeding on the word of God
Timing is also a characteristic of God, i think we are approaching a storm the like of the world has never seen.
have you noticed when people are comfortable and secure they do not feel that they need to know anything else, their lives are so full, God is not that important they falsley assume they do not need him.
But wait!, wait until the day of terror comes, that is when people will ask questions that is when they will start to wonder, and that may well be the time that the talents that God has given us will be used by us.
let us have the strength not to bury them to build interest upon them and then when required to use them to the full.
just my thoughts
elihu
Thank you for you addition Elihu.
hitomi
Matthew 9:35-38 (New International Version)
11. The Workers Are Few
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Jesus is saying that workers are few. How are we doing with the great commission? Most of us think Jesus' messages are spread, yet most church communities don't even know what Jesus is teaching, it seems.
Matthew 10:11-16 (New International Version)
11. Helping and cooperating with other followers.
11"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
When I go to my country for evangelizm I have to rely on my non-believing cousin's family for lodging. No one else is willing to help me because I don't belong to their organiztion. I wonder what Jesus would think about it?
hitomi
Matthew 10:34-36 (New International Version)
12. No worldly peace
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn
" 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw—
36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
Jesus' followers should not expect worldly joy and peace. His people will get true happiness when we finish our job well done.
Matthew 10:37-39 (New International Version)
13. Love for Jesus should come before anything and anyone with His followers.
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Jesus sure is a tough Teacher.
hitomi
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
NOT LIKE THE WORLD LOVES BUT LIKE CHRIST LOVES!!!
For 2008
The next time your stopped on the street and asked for money for food " Take the person to lunch" " Thank The Lord for the food He provide dine and tell them about the Hope found " in Christ alone "
When you know someone is out of work buy a card " write Love Jesus at the Bottom" stick 20.00 40.00 60.00 what ever The Lord Tells you to in the card and mail it off.
Especially keep an eye out for " The widows " offer help, just show up and talk a while!!!
Single Mom's ( Hey married couples with out Kid's get helpin' out )
I could go on and on but there are a few to start the year with!!!
" In Christ "
BB
Hi BB,
There is no love if you cannot follow Jesus' teachings; so simple is that.
Jesus says that if you love Him keep his commandments. Let's not wash down His teachings for our conveniences. Some more similar verces soming up.
thank you.
Matthew 11:25-26 (New International Version)
14. Hidden for learned
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
We don't have to have many years of being Christian to be Jesus' faithful followers. All we need is to have childlike mind and sincere desire to be loyal and obedient to His teachings. When we don't like the teachings, we will make it look like complicated and end up not following them.
Matthew 11:28-30 (New International Version)
15. My yoke is easy.
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I believe He is saying that if we give up our own ways and follow Him with all our might, our lives will be so much easier. His teachings are for our own good.
hitomi
Hi BB,
There is no love if you cannot follow Jesus' teachings; so simple is that.
Jesus says that if you love Him keep his commandments. Let's not wash down His teachings for our conveniences. Some more similar verces soming up.
thank you.
How do we please GOD By Following Jesus teachings?
Heb 11
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken himâ€; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
SALVATION BY FAITH NOT WORKS
Eph 2
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, [size=x-large]lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
As a believer in The LORD Jesus Christ we don't do good works to please GOD but because we have been SAVED through FAITH and now are HIS Children we do them because we LOVE HIM!!![/size]
hi BB,
I will not get into egg or chicken debate.
thanks.