The big challenge [ Romans 5 v 5]

Love one another, so said our Saviour, in fact He said this was an evidence that we are His disciples [John 13 v34-35 ],Im sure some fellow Christians find it hard to love me, and if I am honest there are some Christians whom I find it hard to love, yet the challenge is to love.It is John the apostle who writes most on love,Gods love for the world [John 3v 16 ], about loving not the world [1 John 2 v15][ Here the loving ,not the world ,is related to the wrong things in the world wrong attitudes, wrong emphases ,cp v16], loving God[1 John 2v5], loving God and keeping His word[John 14v23 ]. We started of on the importance of loving our fellow Christians,and it has led us to consider other aspects of love, the Christian life is founded in love, evidenced in love, manifested in love, this love does not compromise on truth or holiness. This love is beyond our natural selves, it can only be with the help and aid of Gods Holy Spirit, is it possible to love in the way we should.[ Dear God we acknowledge are total weakness to love as we should, we ask that You fill us with Your Holy Spirit right now , so that we can love, in Jesus name Amen ]

Overload. [ Galations 5 v16 -26 ]

Sometimes our minds gets filled with so much, we go into overload, so today let us stop being driven, and be led by the Spirit of God. Consider the pressures our dear Saviour was under, the sick who wanted healing, the religous Taliban who were out to get Him, and so many other pressures. Yet in spite of all the pressures He was under, He maintained His calm, and was not driven but led, His mind was focused on one thing, the will of God, and the glory of God[ John 17]. Today let us be like Jesus, let us be led not driven, let us be filled with the Spirit, not filled with anxiety, let us march to heavens beat, not the worlds, let us be still and know that He is God. [ Dear God as I face this day help me to be like Jesus, help me to experience Your peace and presence in all things in Jesus name Amen ]

Unclean language. [ Isaiah 6 v 5-7 ]

To speak or not to speak that is the question ,recently I attended a training course, the men who took the course were nice guys, and what they taught was great, but their language at times was inappropriate. Being a Christian one is conscious of bad words, but should one challenge this practice?, I am sure there is a place of pointing out the wrongness of certain language, but in doing so, one may come over as a holier than them person, I know that I am not perfect,even the prophet Isaiah acknowledged, that he was a man of unclean lips,[ filthy lips nlt]. I did not say anything to those men, I have prayed for them, and for my own speech, that nothing unclean may pass from my lips.[ Dear God help us to be holy in speech, in Jesus name Amen ]

The Jacob experience. [ 1 Timothy 4 v 8 nlt]

It was Jacob who said, all these things are against me [ Genesis 42v36], words of despair, as he considered his situation, he felt overwhelmed. We can be like Jacob, we are in situations that are very difficult, there appears no light at the end of the tunnel,no matter what we try nothing appears to change.Lets call it the Jacob experience,its not nice , but it happens, we cannot see a way out, we have prayed continually,but the situation continues. In this situation you feel like giving up,you say whats the use of going on, nothing is going to change. Ah ,but you are wrong you are changing, and hopefully for the better, it is Henrietta Mears who wrote,/Trials and suffering are not always for our punishment but sometimes for our education and training/. If we are going to be used by God, then He must train us, educate us, we are in Gods school, He is the headmaster, and He is preparing us for a life of service, so let us buckle down and learn. [Dear God help us to be teachable ,in Jesus name Amen ]

Empty hands. [ Galations 3v11]

Just recently this thought came to me, /that all men/women are not equally evil but all need Christ/.Our Saviour had to continually contend with the very religious,these people prayed,attended religious services,sought to live by rules and regulations. They considered, as long as they fulfilled all the do,s and donts they would be accepted by God. I am reminded of Martin Luther who became a monk,it was during a thunderstorm he became so terrified of dying unprepared,that he made his vow to become a monk. As a monk he prayed and fasted ,did penance, but he had no assurance of salvation, until he read the word of God,and the words,/The just shall live by faith [Galations 3 v11]/. So Martin a sinner put his faith in Jesus to save him, which he did, and the rest is history.Toplady wrote,/ Not the labours of my hands ,Can fulfil Thy laws demands. Could my zeal no respite know. Could my tears for ever flow. All for sin could not atone ,Thou must save , and Thou alone. Nothing in my hands I bring , Simply to Thy cross I cling./ [ Dear God we come to You with empty hands,trusting only in Jesus to save us Amen]

Look up.[ Psalm 121 av ]

Another thought on Psalms 42/43, and this aspect of hoping in God, now the context of the Psalms, David is feeling cast down, many things were against him. Lets consider the following. [1] The inward look ,he was cast down,dark depression had engulfed his mind,and he was continually crying[2] .Next the outward look ,this is why he was cast down, things looked bad, people where against him, he felt isolated ,could not get to church.[3] Next the backward look , v4, I remember the good times, I used to have, and this only increased his pain so all is despair and gloom. [4] But then he has the upward look,Hope thou in God, he declares, or as the NLT puts it,I will put my hope in God. Today you may be facing many difficulties,you may be shedding many tears, you feel alone and isolated, look up ,your help comes from the Lord , He has not forsaken you, and He will come to you aid, so look up. [ Dear God help me to look up to You , and come to my aid ,in Jesus name Amen ]

Hope in God. [ Psalm 42/43 av ]

David who wrote Psalm 42/43, was finding life difficult, in fact the difficulties were overwhelming[42v 7 ],he is cast down, feels that God has forgotten him, he ask the question why, a number of times. Even the great men of God struggle, but he holds on, tells himself off, and declares to himself, / Hope in God/,the question is ,what was the bases of that hope ?. His relationship with God, the Lord was his shepherd[Psalm23v1],so he could hope,if we are a Christian, then God is our loving heavenly Father. That relationship guarantees that God will care for us, no matter how difficult the circumstances,we can hope in God to undertake for us. /Be not dismayed whatere befall God will take care of you, under His wings of love abide ,God will take care of you./ [ Dear loving heavenly Father we rejoice that we are Your children,and are confident that You will take care of us , in Jesus name Amen ]