Keep your eyes fixed [Hebrews 12 v1-3]

In Luke 4v4 we read how our Saviour was praised by everyone, and then we read shortly after this how a crowd sought to kill Him[v28-30]. People can be so fickle, so changeable, one day they may cheer you, the next day blame you, one day they may love you , the next day hate you. So let us take to heart the words of Hebrews 12v2, which exhorts us ,/to look unto Jesus/,if we dont we will stumble, we will become discouraged,and give up. This day and everyday lets keep our eyes on Jesus, it is the only way we will get through the Christian life, this may seem an obvious thing to say, but it is important for all that., more important than we realize, it is absolutely vital that we keep our eyes on Jesus.For in Him we recieve grace,mercy, and continual encouragement, in Him we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother, in Him we will be safe, though a storm around is raging, in Him and in Him alone we will experience the peace of God that passeth all understanding , so today fix your eyes on Jesus. [ Dear Lord Jesus help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Amen ]

Your hearts desires. [ Psalm 37 ]

In Psalm 20, we read /May He grant your hearts desires[v4 ]/ and in the following Psalm 21, we read,/For You have given him his hearts deires [v2]. God does give us our hearts desires,and again in the Psalms we have this expanded in Psalm 37 v1-5, which reads/ Dont worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong, for like grass, they soon fade away, like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you, your hearts desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord,trust Him, and He will help you/. I will not comment on these wonderful words , I would just leave them with you, and pray that they will bless you. [ Dear God we commit all our hearts desires to Your Sovereign will, and trust You to undertake for us in everything, in Jesus name Amen ]

Perfect.[ Psalm 18 v 30 ]

As I look back on my life, I have continually asked God to lead me, the result is He has,we only really appreciate this as we look back. God has shut doors, opened doors, supplied needs, overruled, undertaken, I have known laughter, I have known tears. I was led to leave my country, to take on a small church, to leave that church, to know unemployment, to realize that, I needed to change my direction. I have made friends , and lost friends,I lost a wife , and got another,and in all these things I have sought Gods will and way.I have sought to make it a principal in my life to acknowledge God in all my ways, and to trust in His leading, and I believe with all my heart , that Gods way is perfect, and in the words of the hymn, I can say, / All the way my Saviour leads me, What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy , who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace , divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell, for I know, whate,er befal me, Jesus doeth all things well. [Dear Lord Jesus we praise You for saving us, and for the fact that You are leading all of us, help us to always follow in Your perfect way Amen ]

Consequences [ Joshua 7 ]

There is a saying that no man is an island, we are all connected one way or another,so what we do always has consequences. When we hear of a death of one person we often fail to appreciate ,that death may affect many people. One good act be it ever so simple can affect many people, in Johns gospel we read of a young boy who gave his tiny lunch, to Jesus, the result 5,ooo plus were fed. The same applies to a wrong deed, which can have a devastating affect on so many, destroying whole families, even nations.We are in a recession caused by people acting wrongly, not thinking or caring about the consequences, what we do always has an affect on others,so when we are tempted to do wrong, think of the consequences. [Dear God grant us the grace to always do the right thing, help us to resist temptation, remind us of the consequences of any wrong deed , in Jesus name Amen ]

The truth sets us free. [ John 8 v 34 -36 ]

Why do we need to lock our doors at night?, why do we have to watch our pin number?, why do we have security systems?, why do we have a police force?, why do we have prisons?why do we have child abuse?, why do we have drunkenness?.Think of many other whys in life, and whats the answer?, sin, we live in a world affected by sin, this may not be politicly correct, but it is the truth. Many people are looking at the world believing it should be perfect, but the reality is, it is not perfect, and will never be perfect ,because of sin, and of course no one is perfect, because we are all sinners.It is the truth that sets us free,and the truth is that sin is a reality , which we need to face up to,the only answer for sin as regards the world and as regards us ,is a Saviour.[ Dear God help us to face the truth of sin, and help us to accept Your answer, Jesus the Saviour of the world Amen ]

The way of the cross[ Matthew 16 v24 -25 ]

Jesus says , Follow Me,but remember it is the way of the cross, a way of sacrifice, a way of pain, a way of being misunderstood. We cannot carry anothers cross, nor should we try, there is a path laid out for all of us, which only we are meant to walk. In many ways the path is a lonely one, think of the path our Saviour trod, all forsook Him,He even felt He had been forsaken by His Father. There is an old hymn which reads,/ Its the way of the cross that leads home/,it is the cross now ,but later it will be the crown and glory. In the garden of Gethsemane , the discples slept,when they should have been awake, and Jesus said, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.We need each day to crucify the flesh, to say no to self pity, to walk the walk of a disciple, and that is the way of the cross.[ Dear Lord Jesus, grant us the grace, each day to take up our cross and follow You, Amen ]

Being a martyr. [ Acts 1 v 8 ]

I recently viewed a painting, titled,/ Diana or Christ/, I dont know who the artist was,it pictured a young woman surrounded by officials who were giving her a choice, between Christ and the godess Diana. All she had to do ,to be set free was to burn incense to Diana,if she refused she would go into the arena, and face death, by being devoured by the lions. Jesus said to His disciples, and indeed to us,/ you will be my witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere/. [ Acts 1 v 8 ]Let us give thanks to God for the many faithful witnesses, who paid with their lives , who made a choice, to stand for Christ, are we prepared to follow in there footsteps?.Being a follower of Jesus involves us making the right choice in all things. [ Father in heaven we thank You for the many who were faithful in their witness, who declared I have decided to follow Jesus and meant it , Amen ]