​Today I want to pen another Christian lesson for y'all. This lesson expounds on my previous lesson on Grace. In my previous lesson I wrote about how Grace is unmerited favor from God, the example I gave was of the child who does something wrong, but instead of punishing him, his parents take him out for ice cream. Being In Christ also means showing Grace and Mercy to each other as Christians. It means the absence of tit-for-tat or the revenge mentality (as hard as it is to do, yes, even for the Best of us)
There are two places in the Bible where Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek. “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:39 and "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.” Luke 6:29 Also, when Jesus was being led away by the soldiers for eventual crucifixion, and when Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” Luke 22:50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Luke 22:51 Jesus could have easily summoned ten legions of armies from Heaven to defend Him. What were a few men compared to the power of the Son of God who created the entire Universe? No, what he did instead was to heal the soldier's ear who was struck. Jesus did a healing instead of mock, curse or spit at his enemies. He didn't even show them the middle finger! Seriously though, how many times have we been wronged and we carry around that grudge from week to week and month to month and year to year, sometimes even decade to decade? Forgiveness is a very hard thing to do because our natural instinct is to hate, and to carry a grudge, and when possible, even strike back. It is easy to hate and be bitter about things. However, the Lord calls us to forgive others as He forgave us for our sins. Lord knows that even our actions may have hurt others intentionally or inadvertently. How would you want others to respond to you under such circumstances? The answer is found in Jesus' words: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31 Jesus doesn't say "Do to others as they do to you" --- that would be a revenge mentality, no, he says "Do to others as you would have them do to you." in other words, treat others the way you would like to be treated. That is what it means to show Grace to others.
It is absolutely imperative that we forgive those who wrong us. Not doing so only harms us, not them. Any time we keep anger or bitterness within ourselves, we harbor emotions that Satan would have us harbor. Jesus would have us forgive others, no matter what they do to us. Hanging on the Cross he cried out "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do"
I could write many pages about this subject but then it would go from being a short lesson to a sermon, and it isn't Sunday yet, so I conclude here. Have a wonderful Friday y'all. TGIF!!!

​Today's Christian lesson is on dealing with the expectations of others around you. In my experience, the Christian life is a difficult life. You are called to be set apart, be Holy and Sanctified and follow The Way as taught by the Bible. Christianity does not magically solve all our problems. It is not a magic wand we can wave and all our troubles disappear. In fact, as long as we are here on this earth, we will have trouble. However, remember believer, that you are here on this earth to please God, not man. As I have experienced, you will have many enemies this side of the earth, and much trouble and tribulation, but we are called to be at peace. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Has the world gotten you down? Are you sorrowful about life? Are hidden enemies around every corner waiting to bring you down (like they have been with me) every opportunity they get? Then take heart, and take refuge in Jesus. Worry not about doing the things to please man (others around you.) Stay your ground and do what it takes to please God, because believer, our lifetime here on this earth will pass by like a hot second (I am already feeling my mortality) and we will be in the presence of Him who created us, momentarily, and for eternity with Him in Heaven.

​Today's Christian lesson is on not teaming up with unbelievers, nor marrying them. The Bible specifically talks about this topic:
"Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
"You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly." Deuteronomy 7:3-4
However, if one is already married to an unbeliever, this is what the Bible says about the subject:
"To the rest I say that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is under no obligation to remain with them. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?" 1 Corinthians 7:12-16
This does not mean you cannot have non-Christian friends or friends from other religions, It just means you should not partner with them or marry them. Of course it also means that your tribe as a believer is the tribe of the Christian brotherhood. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and our primary source of camaraderie ought to be other believers.

​Today's Christian lesson is on the vast array of religions out there all claiming to have a way to God. Over the years I have met a lot of people with good intentions who lack a fundamental knowledge of the scriptures who have come up to me and said: Well, I believe in Christ, but I also believe that there are all these other ways to God prescribed by all these other religions which make a claim to know the path to God and to Salvation. How do we as Christians answer such a question? The answer is that while all the other religions may make a claim to their God, the only TRUE Living God is the one in the Bible, and the ONLY and I mean ONLY way to that TRUE God is through His Son Jesus Christ who died on the Cross for our sins. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.[John 14:6] There is no other true way to God but through Christ. He is the ONLY WAY. There is no other Fundamental Truth greater than this.
“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” [Exodus 20:1-5.]
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods. [Joshua 24:14-16]
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. [Joshua 24:23-27]
Having said all this, must be very frightening to anyone who is not a believer in Jesus. Being a believer in Jesus does not mean that we treat people from other religions badly. Quite the contrary. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 Indeed we are called to witness to other people the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,” Colossians 4:5-6
It is critically important to have wise conduct before outsiders (unbelievers) because the reputation of the gospel depends on you. You may be the only Christian a non-believer comes across.
What would they think of you (and of Christianity) if you treated them badly? The world judges Christianity by what it sees in you as a representative of Christ. Are you representing Christianity well, with kindness, holiness, and love for each other? Are you faithful in prayer, and consistent in your thankfulness and reverence for the Lord?
This does not give you permission to become one of them, partner with them in business endeavors or make an unbeliever your spouse. Quite the contrary, In fact, tomorrow's Christian lesson is going to be on this very topic. Until then, have a good day, a good night, and sleep well...!

Today's scripture lesson is on Grace. Grace is the unmerited, undeserved saving work of God in Christ Jesus. It is by Grace alone that we are saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]
We cannot earn our salvation. It is given to us freely by the Grace of our merciful God, through faith in Christ Jesus. To illustrate Grace, we can turn to the story of the 8-year old child who does something wrong, but instead of being punished, is shown mercy and is taken out to the movies with his parents. He deserves to be punished, but is instead rewarded by the generous and kind heart of his parents. Grace is something akin to this: we deserve punishment for our sins, but instead, our Father who is in heaven, shows us mercy, and we are given a reward so great, that nothing can ever compare to it!

​When everything is going well and you disobey God, then everything turns badly, you kinda know deep in your heart what happened and why. You repent, turn and get back to the path. This one is easy. Bad Decisions lead to Bad Consequences.
However some weeks, you have done absolutely nothing wrong, but the world begins to make assumptions that you did something wrong and begins to treat you that way. Nothing has changed in your life. Absolutely nothing. Yet, bad assumptions are made and everything begins to happen badly. So then you ask yourself why? Does God not know your heart? What did you do wrong to suddenly have a heart attack or a stroke, or have your credit rating drop by 7 points when you didn't spend an extra dime, or have a relative close to you die, or have a friend diagnosed with a terminal illness. There is a good book on this topic called "If God is Good" by Randy Alcorn. https://www.epm.org/.../how-could-good-god-allow-evil.../ It is a very good book and a fantastic read.