Showing posts with label lying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lying. Show all posts

Monday 8 February 2016

Faith, storms and actions to be taken

Today it is very windy. Storms are coming over West Europe. With winds up to 150 km per hour and hail going against the windows we do hear a lot of noise.

In the past Jesus once stilled a storm and got the other men in the boat surprised, wondering who such a man could be that he had control over the weather. they were afraid of the storm but we can imagine that they also could get some fear from that man who could use his voice in such away that even wind and sea obeyed him. (Mark 4:41).
Tempestad Calmada.jpg

We have already read in Mark of Jesus doing many marvellous healings; a paralysed man, a leper, a man with a withered hand, etc., so that “his fame spread everywhere” (1:28): yet when he stills the storm and “the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (4:39) the  disciples of Jesus then asked each other “Who then is this?”.

Jesus had asked those fishermen to follow him and they had trusted him, being convinced this was a special man sent from higher regions, namely the promised Messiah. though at that time they probably still thought he would come to fight the Romans and get them liberated from this worldly oppression.

Knowing the risks at sea, that storm seemed to have come like not foreseen or not announced. They were very familiar with the lake, so we can imagine that they also knew how the water was behaving. But that time it seemed so different and they were really frightened. Surely they had learnt when there was a risk of weather of this this nature they would not venture out. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this dramatic event, it was etched in their memory. It is described as “a great windstorm” and the “waves were breaking into the boat”.

As Jesus dramatically stills the storm, he asks, “Have you still no faith?” (verse 40). Faith is something which seems difficult to blend with mankind. People seem to have faith in lots of things, like being it dangerous to walk under a ladder, or to live on the 13th floor, having faith in a lot of people even making some of them into their gods. But having faith in God is a total different matter. who wants to believe in some one or something which can not be seen nor heard, nor felt?

Abraham is one example of faith we do have who showed what happens when a person has the right faith and does the right works. Lots of Christians do not want to believe we need to have works of faith, but in the Holy Scriptures we get many examples of people who showed their faith and got called righteous also because their works. We even find people like the prostitute Rahab and king David who had killed some one to have sex with his wife.

Though at moments going into the wrong the Old testament (and the New testament with Peter for example), shows us how they were taken by faith and regretted their wrongdoing. They repented and took the path of God.

Today we also see lots of people who live like the nation of Israel which had witnessed miracles, the plagues, walking through the sea on dry land and the destruction of the Egyptians armies at the hands of their all-powerful God – the one whose name / reputation was being established by these events, grumbling like their ancestors did against Moses [because of the lack of food (verse 2)]. Moses then could have said, “Have you still no faith?” and we also could ask those who got to know about those miracles and who received so many blessings if they still have no faith.

When we look at how the world is going we can see many who call themselves Christian, but have a life which is not worthy of a Christian. so called Christians do enjoy having sex with more than one person of the opposite or even same sex. Lots of them do not mind telling lies (so called for the good), or taking things from others (it is from work and as such does not belong to a person or would not do any harm, they say as excuse). They use public transport trying to avoid paying for their fair. They look for the cheapest bargain,no matter if their had to be children or other slaves working for it. they do not mind using articles with a big ecological footprint. Many of them also do not mind bullying others at work or in their club. They think they have to live today and not to worry about tomorrow.

Such attitudes we can hardly call an attitude of a real Christian.
Jesus in his parables also warns his listeners about the danger when we do not do the right works that we can miss the entrance of the gates of the Kingdom of God.

Are we willing to here that story or do we prefer to enjoy our life like we have ever done before? do we prefer to follow those teachers who mislead the world saying Christians are saved for ever?

We better listen to what is written in the Holy Bible and see that the storms of God’s judgements are starting to break out on this world. They are going to get worse. News bulletins are full of the detail of countries with problems and catastrophes.
We all need to really get to know our Lord and develop such a measure of faith that makes us certain God is in control whatever may come on this earth.

Meditate on James 1:5-8 and on the second chapter about faith and works.

Please also look at our series on From Guestwriters:


  1. Leading people astray!
  2. Restitution
  3. Comments to James remarks, about Faith and works
  4. Luther’s misunderstanding
  5. January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
  6. Our life depending on faith
  7. Romans 4 and the Sacraments
  8. Is Justification a process?
  9. Justification – salvation is by grace through faith – JI Packer
  10. Faith itself not the cause of justification – Louis Berkhof
  11. Letter to the Romans, chapter 3
  12. Letter to the Romans, chapter 4
  13. Additional comments to the 3rd Letter to the Romans
  14. Additional comments to the Letter to the Romans 4
  15. Which is worse–works without faith, or faith without works?
  16. James 2:14-23 — Justified Dynamic Faith & works
  17. James 2:24 – You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
  18. James 2:25. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

and read also other articles as:
  1. A god who gave his people commandments and laws he knew they never could keep to it
  2. Our relationship with God, Jesus and eachother
  3. Christ’s ethical teaching
  4.  Being Justified by faith
  5. Faith Alone Does Not Save . . . No Matter How Many Times Protestants Say It Does
  6. A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
  7. A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice
  8. Faith and works
  9. Bearing fruit
  10. Observing the commandments and becoming doers of the Word
  11. The first on the list of the concerns of the saint
  12. Be holy
  13. She who sows thistles will reap prickles
  14. Love for each other attracting others
  15. Outflow of foundational relationship based on acceptance of Jesus


Monday 16 November 2009

Think before you speak


“Speaking is silver, but silence is gold.”
- General saying

"When I want to speak let me think first. Is it true?
Is it kind? Is it necessary? If not let it be unsaid."
- Maltbie D. Babcock

”He who permits himself to tell a lie once,
finds it much easier to do it a second and third time,
till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it,
and truths without the world's believing him.
  This falsehood of the tongue leads”
-- Thomas Jefferson

"Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -
think about such things."
Philippians 4:8

God, let my eyes always be focused on the right things.
Let me
be of good behaviour among the Gentiles
and always speak the truth, in a peaceful and loving manner.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Eerst denken dan praten
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2013 update:
Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale: (1805) [c...
Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale: (1805) [cropped] (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Thursday 12 November 2009

A tongue to speak slowly and well-considered


God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue.
- Thomas Watson

The very best and highest attainment in this life is to remain still
and let God act and speak in you.
- Meister Eckhart

What is more pleasing than a psalm?
A psalm is a blessing on the lips of the people,
praise of God, the assembly's homage, a general acclamation,
a word that speaks for all, the voice of the Church,
a confession of faith in song.
- Ambrose


Thoughts from Proverbs:

"For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips" 8:7

"Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool" 10:18

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight" 11:1

"The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them" 11:3

"The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment" 12:19

"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight" 12:22

"Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool" 19:1

"'It is good for nothing,' cries the buyer; but when he has gone his way, then he boasts" 20:14

He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.” 22:11

"Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding" 23:23
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The Bible

And when they lead you to judgment, and deliver you up,
be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak:
but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye;
for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Marcus 13:11

”a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak”

Ecclesiasts 3:7

”For wisdom is expressed by the word, and in speaking of your tongue is the day you've learned.”
Syriach 4:24

”The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies;

neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;
for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid”
Zephania 3:13

God speak to me and give me spiritual wisdom and a good voice
that speaks the truth and dares to come out for You and your son.
I want to talk about Your awesome strength, Your righteousness,
Your generosity and loving indulgence.
Give me elocution
because I do not want to be like the many who make of the Word of God merchandise,
but I want to proclaim your Word in sincerity,
before You face to face, in Christ Jesus.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Eén tong om langzaam en doordacht te spreken

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2016 May 26 update for links