Sin ( Romans 6 v23)

 Ralph Venning in his book,''The plague of Plagues'' lived at a time when the bubonic was prevalent,but it was not such a plague he is writing about, no he describes sin as the worst of evils and the plague of plagues'. It is book that highlights the all encompassing of sin ,as the Bible tells us,'that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3 v23. I am convinced that most people even Christians do not fully grasp what that means.It means the highest the lowest in the land  are sinners,a baby is not a practicing sinner but it is born with a nature that is sinful,for we are told in Romans 5 v12,'When Adam sinned ,sin entered the world.Adam's sin brought in death,so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned'.Many people are living longer now,but death will catch up with us all.I am going to die,you are going to die, that is inevitable,Now God loves humanity,so in love He did something wonderful ,as the first Adam brought death,so Christ the second Adam would bring life,not just life but eternal life. Christ would die on the cross, sin must be punished ,if you are not saved the wrath of God abides upon you now John 3 v36. But Jesus on that cross would bear the wrath of God for all those who believe on Him for the forgiveness of their sins.

                                                             Believe on the Lord Jesus

                                                             Christ and you shall be saved

                                                                         Acts 16 v31

God is love.( Romans 8 v 35- 39)

It was the apostle of love John who wrote those words ,'God is love', ( 1 John 4 v 8)  one man wrote the following ,'We do not believe in a mocking and capricious God,or in a blind and iron determinism'. His love reaches out to a wounded broken world with a heart of love.His love is always motivated towards what is best for us.Romans 8 v28 tells us,'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,who have been called according to His purpose'.It does not say that all things are good but as one writer puts it,'It promises that God orchestrates all circumstances positive or negative for the ultimate spiritual good for believers'. Browning wrote the following,

                                                    ''God, Thou art love! I build my faith on that,

                                                      I know Thee who has kept my path and made

                                                      Light for me in the darkness,tempering sorrow

                                                      So that it reached me like a solemn joy.

                                                      It were too strange that I should doubt Thy love''

  

Be not frightened (Psalm 46)

 I have just listened to a politician and what he said would have put fear into people as to what he forecast, in the hope that people will vote for his party. Our dear Saviour spoke of a coming time when there will be wars and uprisings, then He adds,'Do not be frightened'.As one reads history we see a world of unending warfare. The first world war was not the war to end all wars,no it would be the beginning of more wars. Yet Jesus ,says do not be frightened (Luke 21v 9), I am sure many people feel like saying ,' stop the world, I want to get of'. We understand what they mean,they want to to escape from this war torn planet,but the question is where can they go to?,there is no escape,from all that life throws at us,that's at a horizontal level, hear those words spoken by Jesus ,'Do not be frightened'. Let the words of Psalm 46 take root in your soul,'God is our refuge and strength,an ever present help in trouble.Therefore, we will not fear,though the earth gives way,and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountings quake with their surging'. Remember the God of the OT is the God of the NT,and the Christ of the NT is the Christ of the OT,and our great triune God says to us,

                                                        'Be still and know that I am God;'

                                                                      Psalm 46 v10

He still loves. ( Song of Solomon ( 8 v 7)

One writer said that after Cain killed his brother the world became a slaughterhouse,never a truer word spoken,man has being against man continually,wars and more wars,and nothing has changed.Be it Genghis Khan or  Hitler they had no concern for human life.Here is what Stalin said ,'One death is a  tragedy,a million a is a statistic'. Napoleon in his failed attempt to defeat Russia with an army of 655,000 in which 370,000 died,only 85,000 made it back to France. He was reputed to have said that he didn't care about the lives of a million men.God had to punish mankind because of their sin but he has not done that with any pleasure,here is what He declared in Ezekiel 33 v11,'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord,I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live'.In Lamentations 3 v44 we read,'For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone'After the fall God continued to show mercy to,but generally they have spurned His love killed prophets and missionaries, The more Jesus spoke to people the more they hated him,and would not listen to Him,and then to crown it all they murdered Him by nailing Him to a cross and in this awful act they were declaring we don't need God.yet the wonder of our great God is this , He still loves and loves,and loves .Here is the verse that says it all.

                                        

                                                'For God so loved he the world ,that 

                                                He gave His only begotten Son,that

                                                whosoever believeth in Him should 

                                                not perish,but have everlasting life.'

                                                            John 3  v16 

Pray,pray,pray.(Hebrew 4 v16)

 Some people find it hard to pray,even though they are Christians,but we must not judge them,God knows why.Others find praying hard not knowing  what to pray about,they may pray the Lords prayer everyday,and that's it or they pray some other set prayer. Prayer is a very intimate thing,and if they  have been abused then intimacy is very hard,even with God. That may seem strange to most people,but as I said don't judge them,you have not walked in their shoes. Some people stop praying because it seems to them God did not answer their prayers,and they think what's the point of praying?is that valid reason to stop praying? No it's not, I know a man who prayed for a door to open into Christian ministry as a missionary,and it didn't  happen,it was a very great disappointment.But many years later  that person's son travels  all over the world as international directer of 24/7.And as for that man ,God opened a door through a ministry on the internet that goes all over the world.Often as regards God answering our prayers we have to take the long view. One writer mentions of those infected by the modern passion for quick results,God said  to Habakkuk as regards what was going to happen to Israel,'Though it tarry wait for it' (2 v3)

                                                    'What various hindrances we meet!  

                                                     In coming to the mercy seat!

                                                    Yet who,that knows the worth of prayer 

                                                    But wishes to be often there'    

                                                             William Cowper                                                                                                            

                                                    

He knew (John 12 v 27)

 Our Saviour must have had a sense of humour,we do not read this in scriptures,but we do read ,'That He was a man of sorrows,and acquainted with grief (Isa 53 v3),the question is why?well He knew the human situation ,and fallen human nature( Jer 17 v 9),  He could see it all ,and He could see the effects of that fallen human nature,and the eternal consequences.He knew all this before He came to earth,so nothing was a surprise to Him.And He knew what humanity needed,they needed a Saviour and He was that Saviour.And He knew the only way to save them,would be to offer His life as a sacrifice .The cross would be that altar ,hanging there nailed to that cross,'His appearance would be so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness'.( Isa 52 v4) But that is not all ,for the fiery wrath of God would be poured out on Him,for our sins. Jesus knew what was coming to Him ,He knew,yet He set His face as flint,a steely determination,nothing and no one would stop Him from going to die on the cross for our salvation.

                                                           'Give me a sight,O Saviour

                                                            Of Thy wondrous love to me,

                                                            Of the love that brought Thee  

                                                             To earth,To die on Calvary.

                                                             O,make me understand it,

                                                             Help me to take it in,

                                                             What it meant to Thee,the Holy one,

                                                             To bear away my sin.'       ( Words Katherine  Kelly)

                                                              

9

Precious promises ( Luke 1 v 37)

 I was feeling anxious and troubled about a number of things,and then I read the following scriptures,'You will keep him in perfect peace,whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in you .( Isa26 v3) Cast your burden on the Lord,and He will sustain you;He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.(Ps 55 v22) Be anxious for nothing,but in everything by prayer and supplication,with thanksgiving,let your requests be known unto God;and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard  your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus'( Philippians 4 v6-7) There were other scriptures the result was my heart was quietened,and  I felt a peace,These are not just nice words ,or men's promises,no, these are promises from God ,given to us to look beyond frail men,look beyound our fears,knowing that He will be faithful, and for us not to be unbelieving,but to simply trust Him to fulfil His word,to you His child.