Idoaltry ( 1Corinthians 10 v20 -21)

 What is idolatry?some people may see it as bowing down to a wooden or a stone idol but of course it goes much further than that,it can be anything. One may worship a football team,or a sports personality,or a well known entertainer,and so we could go on.The first of the commandments tells us that we are not to worship any other god's but Jehovah, Why do so many worship other gods,because they are blind,they worship stone images,they have ears but they cannot hear,eyes yet they cannot see.Such is the darkness of the human soul,that what I am saying means nothing to them.Even Christians can worhip other god's ,William Cowper wrote a hymn with the following words in it,'The dearest idol I have known,whate'er that idol be,help me to tear it from Thy throne,and worship onlyThee'.Judas fell into that trap by worshipping money,Demas did because he loved this world'( 2 Timothy 4 v 10) We often hear people being asked who is your idol? what would your answer be if someone asked you that?

I can't see Him ( 1 Peter 1 v 8-9)

Queen Elisebeth use to say,'' she had to be seen to be believed'',I can undertand that,after Queen Victoria's husband died the queen became a recluse and that went on for many years,and people began question the monarchy,so eventually she returned to her duties.In 1Peter 1v8 we read ,'Though you have not seen Him; you love Him'.It was our Lord who said,'Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe' (John 20 v 29) It does not depreciate the faith of those who did see Him,but as one commentator writes,'For us,faith comes not by sight, but from what is heard (or read) and what is heard comes by the word ( Romans 10 v17) That word is infallable it is God breathed,it is not built on legends, or on mythology but on truth ,it's history is true,its  teaching is true,it's all true.A vast number of people have holy books ,that are full of lies,yet they believe them,to the damnation of their souls.God's word is built on truth,but unfortionately they choose a lie rather than the truth.

                                                                        Jesus said

                                                                I am the way the truth

                                                               and the life and no man

                                                               commith  unto the Father

                                                               but by Me'  (John 4 v6)

                                                               

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Rest ( Matthew 24 v 13)

 Lets consider another aspect of rest, in Hebrews 4 v11 we read, 'Let us make every effort to enter that rest'. The writer was dealing with those who were in danger of turning back, and the severe consequences if they did,he writes as an example the people in the wilderness who did not enter the promise land,(He calls it rest)they were full of unbelief,so they perished in the wilderness.He expresses the importance hearing and obeying the word of God (4 v 7)What is this rest he mentions?we get the answer in Revelation 14 v 13,'Then I heard a voice from heaven say,Write this; blessed are dead who die in the Lord from now on' Yes says the Spirit,'they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them'. so he is talking about heaven which all true believers will go to. So he writes that they  make every effort to enter that rest,what the writer them and us, there is a need for the Christian to persevere ,a life to be lived out in obedience to our Saviour. James wrote,' Show me your faith', in other words an evidence that you are a Christian,likewise  perseverence is an evidence that we are truly are Christians.                                                                                            

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Words (Isaiah 6 v 1-7 )

The British rock band ''Deep Purple' met a long time super fan,the Japanese PM,and this is what she said to one of the band,''you are my god''.What a strange thing to say,ah you may say well she really didn't mean he was a god.Well she said it,this is what our Saviour said,'But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.For by your words you will be acquitted ,and by your words you will be condemned' (Matthew 12 v 36-37) There is coming a day when that lady will see the folly of what she said,not only the folly,but the seriousness of what she said,and its consequences.There will be a day when all those who said, '' Caesar is Lord'',will be judged.What people don't realise that God is holy,and everytime they say wrong things like that lady,they offend a holy God,  judgement will follow.

Rest ( Psalm 37 v 7) 1

 In Matthew 11 v 28-30 we see one aspect of rest,where our Saviour says ,'Come to me,all you who are weary and burdened,and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light'.Jesus spoke to the Jews of His day,to a people who were ruled by a severe religious group of people.Our Saviour in Matthew 23v4  tells us that,' they crush people with unbearable religious demands,and never lift a finger to ease the burden'.Jesus was  inviting people to come to Him and the leagalistic burden would be lifted from them,and they would find rest for their souls.What ever burdens we are being forced to carry come to Jesus and find rest.

                                                  

                                                              'I came to Jesus as I was,

                                                              Weary and worn and sad,

                                                               I found in Him a resting place,

                                                               And He has made me glad.'  (Words Horatius Bonar)

                              

                                                                                                                          

                                         

                                          

Sometimes He was a man of few words ( Matthew 9 v 32 )

I was visiting a friend in hospital,and as I got into the lift a large bed was pushed into the lift,and on the bed was an old lady,she had a tube coming from her nose.I said to her are you Christian? she said yes,and I said to her ,'the Lord is with you,you will be alright 'I could see that helped her.Our dear Saviour often spoke just a few words to people and they left a mark in peoples lives. To those who hated them he said ,'Father forgive them ,for they do know not what they are doing' (Luke 23 v 34) In those profound words ,we are reminded that there is no limit to his forgiveness,we often put limits on our forgiveness,I know people can really hurt us, yet in the area of forgiveness their is no get out clause,we have to forgive.Then let us consider what Jesus said to the stormy sea,' Quiet! Be still'( Mark 4 v39) and they obeyed His voice,for we read,' The wind died down and it was completely calm'.Jesus is still the same,be it elements,or in our lives ,often we can feel stormed tossed.The hymn writer wrote ,'The winds and waves shall obey my will! Peace! be still! Whither the wrath of the storm-tost sea,or demons,or men,or whatever it be,' Our Saviour  spoke to a man hanging beside Him on the cross,  ''Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise''  (Luke 23cv 43) this man was in the throes of death ,he was a thief,all hope was gone for Him,not so ,today that man is in heaven.It is never to late to call on Jesus,There is a poem that goes ,'Between the stirup and the ground, I mercy sought ,and mercy found.' A word of caution,don't leave it to late.

Just for today ( Proverbs 27 v1)

Mother Teresa said,'Yeterday is gone.Tomorrow has yet to come. We have only today,Let us begin.' It reminds me of  a song with the following words, 'One day at a time,, yesterday has gone,tomorrow may not be our's.It is only this day we can do some good, so let us not miss the opportunity to do some good,don't judge the beggar on the streets, put you hand in your pocket,don't just give them your loose change surpise them with your generoity.Go that extra mile in helping someone,dont live with the regret ,thinking I wish I had helped that person,do it while you have the chance, and do it as unto the Lord,keep it to yourself. Here is what our dear Saviour taught as regards worrying,'Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6 v34 )We are to get our priorities right each day,'seek first God's  kingdom and His righteousness,and He will supply what we need'. (Matthew 6 v  33)

                                                           ' I don't know about tomorrow

                                                             I just live from day to day,

                                                             I don't borrow from its sunshine,

                                                             For its skies may turn to gray,

                                                             I don't worry o'er the future,

                                                             For I know what Jesus  said,

                                                             And today I'll walk beside Him,'          

                                                             For He knows what is ahead.'

                                                                ( Words  Ira F. Stanohill)