Things Christ tells us to Do

Matthew 5: 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter

 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I. Practice your Faith: No one lights a candle to put it under a bushel...you should not hide your Christianity. Jesus is saying here that if you are a believer then you aren’t to hide it from the world or people you are around or interact with. You are called light. Light exceeds darkness the Bible says and will always shine in dark places. Today I want to challenge you to let your Christian influence be felt by those around you. If the Bible says to love then I want you to love, if it says to forgive then I want you to forgive. We are to be Christ like to those in our community and in our part of the world. You cannot hide your Christian witness or its ability to influence others. People sometimes become Christians by seeing Christ in you. The Bible says that Christ is the hope of Glory…and Christ in you and working through you is to give hope to those around you. These three abide forever the Faith, Hope and Love. Today do you reflect Faith, do you reflect Hope and do you reflect Love to those who are around you and are hurting or in need. We don’t need more hate we need more love , care and commitment in the world. And we are to be the witnesses of the grace of God to those around us. I want to encourage you today to live for Christ and God and let others see his Grace in you and desire what you have. It doesn’t mean that you are perfect, or have it all together but that you are simply doing your best to do what Gods words tell us. We make mistakes but Gods word teaches us that if any man or person does sin and we confess our sins that he is faithful and just to forgive us all our transgressions or sins.  Let God love through you and Christ reach out to you.

II. Practice Forgiveness: It states that if you know there is a person or persons whom you have offended or perhaps they have offended you that you are to do your best to make peace with them. Forgiveness is essential for our hearts to be healed and feel healthy in our Christian walk. The bible teaches to practice or walk in forgiveness with men or others and then come to God. How many of you know God may not want to talk if he knows you have issues with forgiving others. Forgiveness is important to let others go for past harms or hurts. Open you heart to help others and yourself by forgetting the past and those things which are behind you. Today allow the Holy Spirit to influence you and do his work in your heart and reach out to your brother or sister for whom Christ died and offer them love and hope. You then are being Christ like and whether they receive this from you is their problem. You have fulfilled the royal laws of Christ in that you have loved and offered them forgiveness. You say you don’t know how. I understand that is why it must be Gods love working through you to them. God will help you and assist you in forgiving others. It was while Jesus was being crucified that he stated Father forgive them for they know not what they do. While being murdered he ask God to forgive those carrying out his execution. This is forgiveness. My friends if we expect Christ to forgive us then we also must practice mercy, judgment and truth. We must fulfill the more important aspects of Christianity and that is to forgive and practice what Christ preached and offers to us. We can be so hypocritical in that we say Lord forgive me, yet we wont forgive someone who owes us 20 dollars or more. It takes Christ to Love and to Forgive. We are to forgive Because God for Christ sake has forgive you. Do you forgive others…Do you know it was the work of God in the cross that offers you forgiveness. When God forgave you for your sins were you perfect or a sinner? We must practice mercy, love, truth, forgiveness, and proper judgment. There is no room for the wrath of man in Gods eternal Kingdom. Love God and those around you. Not only are we to forgive…

III. Practice Giving: give to him that asked thee. We are to carry the attributes of Gods kingdom in our hearts. God loves charity and practices charity every time he answers a prayer or does something for you. Today do you want to be like God and give. If God hadn’t given the Gift of his son then none of us would be here today? God has given his very best and daily gives to us our daily bread or food, shelter and basic needs. Charity is the art of God, and our good works are to glorify God and point people to Christ. Giving is the opposite of our society. Greed verses Giving. Greed is the heart of the wicked who shall stand before the throne of God for not helping the poor and needy but have been self centered in this life. They remembered not the poor or as Jesus said if you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me. Greed never meets the need…but Giving makes life worth living. Today let us all become more charitable in our consciousness and to those around us. That is why the bible says if you have two coats give to him who has none. We are to do what society will not do. That is to give hope , love and the things that others need. You see sometimes just the spiritual answer isn’t good enough. To say God loves you but it is within your power to Bless them with what they need and don’t that isn’t right. If you have the ability to help a person then do it. This is another one of the royal laws of Christ. Give to him that asketh thee. Give to him that asketh thee. Has anyone asked you for help and you could help but didn’t. Let our hearts become more generous. For the generous souls shall be made fat the scripture says. God loves a cheerful giver the Bible says. Do all things as unto the Lord. And you shall be blessed. God gives to the poor and needy and let us do the same as we have the ability. Let us Bless humanity in whatever way we can. It may be volunteering to sweep, mop, or help in the kitchen or whatever but we all can donate to a greater cause …this too is giving. Let us give because God did give to us the greatest gift of all even when we didn’t deserve it.

IV.   Practice the Path:  Jesus said to enter into the strait or narrow gate. We are commanded here to make the right choice in life and to walk into the will of God for our salvation. Jesus is the door to heaven and we are commanded to walk through that door and down that path. Today have you chosen Christ as your path in life? Have you chosen Jesus as your salvation? Do you want to be redeemed and preserved from the wrath of God and his judgment? Then you need to step off the broad road that the majority travels and go down the narrow road that the minority travels. The pleasure of sin is for a season but eternal life is just that eternal. Jesus said he who comes to me will never thirst again. It is time for some of you to make a choice about life. And commit to Christ in Life and follow him. Jesus said Follow me and I will Make you…make you into a person you never knew before, a person who can give, and love, and forgive. Today I ask you to step off the path of destruction and step onto the path of life. Scripture says the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord. Do you need Gods divine path in your life? Has your road left you weary and heart broken. Then today step into Christianity and the Faith of God and into His Son the Lord Jesus and you will be saved and experience salvation in a way never known. Get off the path of destruction and onto the path of construction and better yourselves, save yourselves. If you saw a warning or danger sign most of us would respect it. Today the cross of Christ is both your warning sign and your saving or salvation. You are warned of damnation in scripture and Christ is your savior. Today the straight and narrow is the way to go. Better you lives, your families, yourselves and spare yourself. And find hope and peace in Christ today. Can you do that? It is so simple. Today let us reach out to the throne of God and ask for his mercy and love…and you will be forgiven. Christ is your answer to your needs today and may he help us all to love him and follow him in our lives today. May His grace bless and change your lives today. And may all that God offers to you be found. May we all be blessed today in our Saviors grace.