Jesus Teaches Brotherly Love, Peace And Kindness

Submitted by: Connie Limon

Jesus went up into a mountain and when he was comfortable, he called his disciples to come close to him and then opened his mouth and taught many wise sayings.

Jesus went onto tell his disciples and all who follow after righteousness that they are the actual salt of the earth and the light of the world. He instructed them to let their light shine before men so others could see their good works and this would in turn glorify the father which is in heaven.

Jesus told his disciples to not think he had come to destroy the law or the prophets, but that he had come to fulfill the law, and that all things spoken would be fulfilled. He said anyone who breaks even the least of the commandments, and teach others to do the same shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys the laws and teaches others the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees or else we will not enter into the kingdom of heaven either. Jesus said don’t even be angry at your brother without a cause or else you will be in danger of the judgment and whoever calls a brother “Raca” will be in danger of the council, but whoever calls his brother “thou fool” will be in danger of hell fire. Jesus said this is equal to the breaking of the law of “thou shall not kill.”

With these teachings one has only to conclude it must be very, very awful in the eyes of Jesus and God to speak cruelly or to treat others as if they are stupid. This is surely at the core of all righteousness – how we treat each other.

Jesus taught if you have a disagreement or ought against your brother, you should first be reconciled. In other words, make amends with the person, become on friendly terms once again. The next step is to take that person a gift of some sort. I believe if we follow this rule, we will find a bit of extra favor with the Lord and be able to live more at peace with others.

Jesus also taught to just agree quickly with someone you are in argument or disagreement with while you are still halfway on speaking terms or things may get worse for you.

He taught many other simple daily rules to live at peace with other people. Jesus says it is better that our communication sometimes be just yes, yes, and no, no, because much more than this is surely to get blown out of proportion and become evil. He taught if someone smacks you on one cheek, rather than to slap that person back, just turn the other side of your face as if to say, it is more important that I keep the commandments of God in that I do harm to no one even if I have to take another slap on the other cheek. Now this is getting fairly difficult to comprehend. How close is being truly righteous? Not many people could live such a life as this and would twist the words around to say, but ah, this does not apply to us in this day and time. I believe these words have purpose for us. The majority of us will probably never face such a thing, but if we are put to the test, would we be able to pass? Of course, no one is expected to stand and take continual abuse. In a situation such as this, it is better to flee from the evil of abuse. Jesus tells us that two wrongs do not make things better.

I believe the main purpose of all these teachings of Jesus is to tell us to be good to each other and that most of our righteousness depends upon just how well we treat other people. Jesus went into great detail using many examples to tell us this one simple lesson he so desired from us. Be good to one another. We are commanded to move toward perfection in our quest for salvation even as the father who is in heaven is perfect, and if we love only those who love us, or salute only those who salute us, what real thanks have we, or how are we different from the publicans. The publicans love their own and those who love them only. To be different and set apart means to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us so that we may be the children of our Father which is in heaven because he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. He makes no respect in persons, good or evil.

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© 2007 Connie Limon. All Rights Reserved

About the Author: Connie Limon Visit us at The Spiritual Guide, http://www.thespiritualguide.info for spiritual teachings and guidance. Visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com for a variety of FREE reprint articles.

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 by

Joseph

Humans have a natural tendency to feel disappointed when things seem to be going against us, often times expressing it through complaints and anger. But that only adds to the sense of helplessness and disappointment we're already feeling.

There is a famous story in Numbers 11 where the Israelites complained against God about the lack of variety in their diet. God provided the people with manna which is a nutritious bread, it fell from the sky and the people were instructed to gather it up six days a week.

But after a while the Israelites grew tired of the manna and complained and wailed outside Moses' tent saying that they had better food back in Egypt. Moses, for his part, complained to God about the people's grumbling and went so far as to say that God should just kill him:

"Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin."  

This made for a very tense situation. I could imagine the people grumbling and complaining about their daily bread, Moses' agitated complaints to God about the ingratitude of the masses and God's anger about the entire situation.

God responded by saying to Moses "16 “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

18“Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” ’ ”

21But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”

23The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

24So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said."

It appeared that God was going to give the people exactly what they wanted because He sent quail in from the sea but there was a caveat: "31Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. 32All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,because there they buried the people who had craved other food."

The Israelites' complaint was a challenge to God and He met it accordingly.

This isn't to say that we have no right to express our grievances and unhappiness about bad situations. In 1 Peter 5:7 the apostle tells us to "cast all of our anxiety before the Lord for He cares for you."

God wants us to tell Him about what ails us. Asaph did it in Psalm 73 wherein he expressed his sadness about wicked people seemingly getting ahead in life while good righteous people appear to get the short end of the stick.

Habakkuk, an old Testament prophet had a long talk with God about the problems the righteous face (Habakkuk 1 - 3) . He felt dismayed about what he perceived as evil being allowed to profit at the expense of the righteous. The prophet was right in talking to God, he did it in a respectful way in contrast to the Israelites who were ungrateful for what God was providing for them.

Comfort In Our Troubles

I recall how a daughter of God went through great travails but didn't complain. She looked forward with hope to better things and even as her situation grew more serious she held out hope for God and for the words that Peter had said in 1 Peter 5:7.

With all that was going on around her, though there were a few times in which she did seem very sad, she did not rail her fists at God nor wail and cry out or scream. Instead she felt peace in knowing God was with her. God sent the Comforter to her and also blessed her to be with her ever loving children whom she also loves so that she would be okay. This daughter of God also had the support of her many friends who love her.

And in time when God called her spirit home to forever be with Him in heaven she went peacefully in gentle sleep and her children were there and know that her example is a good one. For God does remember and watches and will do His work all the time. (“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abram’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29)

The daughter of God set a good example for her children who are also children of God and all of them have the promise that they all will be reunited in heaven and to do the work of the Lord there for where God is, she is and her children will be in time.

The world is a stressful place. We often make plans and when they don't come to fruition, we get the urge to grumble and complain. But we must be careful to not fall into a sense of entitlement thinking that God owes us something.

He doesn't.

We must remember that we belong to God. We are His creation and He will do as He sees fit.

God watches us all the time, nothing is beyond His notice. We must be patient and wait on Him. Because God is compassionate:"The LORD is compassionate and merciful; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love." Psalm 103 (verse 8).

God knows about our pain: "“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)"

God welcomes our sincere complaints: "A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord." Psalm 102:25-27

God is faithful: “Faithful is He who calls you, and He will also bring it to pass.” Thessalonians 5:24

And God knows what He is doing: "For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

So the next time you feel downhearted and feel the urge to complain remember that God already knows.

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Do we Have to go to Church to go to Heaven ?

Submitted by: Robert Benjamin

Besides asking whether a Christian needs to be baptized, the other question that seems to be asked more and more is, do we need to go to church. I think the reason why this question is coming up more and more, is our present condition in the country, and that is because less people are attending Church than ever before.

A lot of people do attend Church regularly, and there are many reasons why they do so, including:

1. To please a spouse or parent that likes attending Church.

2. To make themselves appear to be a Christian in front of others.

3. Church is something we should do as a Christian.

4. Enjoyment of getting together for fellowship with Christian friends.

There are many more reasons why people to not attend Church, such as:

1. They believe attending Church is not necessary to go to Heaven.

2. They do not like crowds, or feel comfortable around people.

3. Church is not like it used to be, Biblical truths and warnings are no longer preached in fear of discouraging members.

4. They can stay home and watch Church on TV or the internet.

I could go on and on with reasons why people go to Church, or why others do not attend Church, but there is no need to do so. The simple but powerful truth is, Church does not save us from our sins, and by going to Church we are not guaranteed of going to Heaven, and it does not mean we will go to Hell if we do not go.

We are saved from our sins, and are guaranteed of eternity in Heaven by repenting of our sins, accepting and placing all of us trust and faith in Jesus Christ as our personal, Lord and Savior.

Like, baptism, Church does not save us from anything; it is an outward expression of our changed lives, our dedication to do what the Lord tells us that we should do, as his followers.

There are numerous reasons why we should attend a true Christian, Bible believing and preaching Church and such reasons include:

1. Fellowship of other Christians, many that are more mature in the faith.

2. The joy of group singing and praises to the Lord Jesus.

3. A proper place where we can give an offering or tithe to help maintain the Church body, and spread the word about Jesus and his salvation.

If there is no physical, mental or other reasons stopping you from going to Church services, then you should attend as regularly as possible.

The Lord Jesus tells us that we should go to Church, and that should be reason enough.

If you would like to know what the Bible says about this subject and lots of others, you may be interested in a great eBook that is available on Amazon, for the Kindle eBook reader. The eBook is called: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY, and it actually shows Biblical verses about this subject, in detail, and it can be found at this URL: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070OELMC

You may publish this article in your e-zine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

About the Author: Robert W. Benjamin has been an avid writer for years. There is a great little eBook, that has the answers about many subjects of interest; What does the bible say: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070OELMC

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God Promised To Not Leave Us Comfortless

Submitted by: Connie Limon

When it was time for Jesus to leave the earth, he told his disciples at the Last Supper that he must now go away, but that god, the Father was faithful, and would not leave mankind comfortless. Jesus told the disciples that it must go away, but the Father would send them another comforter who will testify of me, and will lead and guide you into all the truth, and can even show you things to come.

The Holy Ghost is a great mystery to me. It has been since I first started my own personal spiritual journey over 20 years ago. The Holy Ghost has proved to me to be the “great comforter” Jesus spoke of to his disciples at the Last Supper meeting.

Let us talk a little about this man called JESUS.

Jesus was born to a woman named Mary who was the wife of Joseph. However, his conception came before Joseph and Mary knew one another as man and wife. Mary was pregnant with a child of the Holy Ghost.

Joseph was a just man and was not desiring or willing to make his wife a public example and decided to put her away privately. While Joseph thought about these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told Joseph to not be afraid to keep Mary as his wife, for that which was conceived in her was of the Holy Ghost.

The angel proceeded to tell Joseph Mary would bring forth a son and his name should be called JESUS. Jesus was to save his people from their sins.

All this was done to fulfill a prophesy spoken of the Lord which said:

•"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is being interpreted as, God with us."

Joseph then arose from sleep and did as the angel of the Lord had bidded him. He then took Mary unto himself as his wife. Joseph and Mary did not know one another intimately as man and wife until she had brought forth her firstborn son of whom they did call JESUS.

How lovely are the feet of mankind that brings forth to us good tidings from heaven?

Jesus was a man such as that. He came to bring us good tidings of those things God, the Father in heaven was preparing for those who would love and serve him.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King. Wise men from the east came into Jerusalem and asked where is this one that is born King of the Jews? They had seen his star in the east and had come to worship him.

King Herod heard these things and he was troubled as was all of Jerusalem. They were all troubled. King Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together in a meeting and demanded to know where Christ should be born. The people gathered in this meeting told King Herod, Christ should be born in Bethlehem of Judaea because it was written by a prophet that this would be so.

About the Author: Connie Limon Visit us at The Spiritual Guide, http://www.thespiritualguide.info for spiritual teachings and guidance. Visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com for a variety of FREE reprint articles.

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Send a Christmas E-Card to a Loved One
By Dave Matthews

E Cards are similar to a post card or greeting card, with the
difference being that it is created using digital media instead
of paper or other traditional methods. E cards can be sent to a
recipient via e-mail. E cards are environmentally friendly,
because paper is not in the end product. The sender chooses from
an online catalog of E Cards make available on a publishers web
site.The sender can personalize the card by adding a message,
photo, or a video. The sender enters the recipients e-mail
address and the web site delivers the card via e-mail. Some
E-Cards are actually printed out rather than sent via e-mail.

Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays on the
calendar. Christmas signifies a lot of different things to many
people, for some a memorable meal with loved ones is a very
important part of the day. For others it's a time to celebrate
with family and friends, exchanging gifts, E-Cards, and greeting
cards. The E-Card gives you many options to choose from,
decorate a cookie shaped e-card, or have a personalized song
recorded for someone and attach a E-Card.

Christmas E cards are segmented into an array of categories
such as, Christmas Business, Christmas around the world,
Birthday Christmas, and many more categories. This makes it easy
to find and choose the greeting card your looking for. For your
colleagues/boss/clients you can choose from the business E
Cards. If you have friends around the world, who speak different
languages, you may want to choose from the Christmas around the
world e cards.

It's fun and exciting to put together personalized E Cards. The
animated E Cards are as beautiful and elegant as if you were
watching them in real time. With snow falling, beautiful lights,
and many more animated scenery. Many E Cards include catchy
music that's available in various themes, funny romantic and
sentimental. Christmas Hanukkah e cards are also available.

Christmas E Cards are also a great idea for your kids to send
to their classmates. Kids would really get a kick out of
receiving a e card from their classmates. The humorous E Cards
would really make a kids day. College students would also
benefit from the Christmas E card, sending them to their
professors and fellow students makes life much easier.

Digital media has given us something that saves us time and
money. It has allowed us to send greetings via e-mail, cutting
down on the need to run to the store and purchase cards for any
occasion. Sitting at the computer and picking out the E Card of
your choice, and having the ability to personalize it, and
forwarding it to the recipient is a beautiful concept.

Christmas will be upon us very soon, and each year our list
seems to grow larger and larger. With Christmas E Cards there's
no worry or concern. If your short on time this technology
allows you to pick a Christmas E Card and send as many as you
need to many people at once. If you choose to print your E Card,
your still saving time and money.

The only thing left to do is to mail your E Cards. This is a
service that will be around for a very long time. It's
simplicity cannot be measured.

About the Author: Dave Matthews is a freelance writer, writing
on behalf of Extravision Email Marketing, supplying a wide range
of email resources, including Christmas E Cards -
http://www.extravision.com/resources/corporate-ecards.

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