Forgive them. [Matthew 5 v44]

Christless religiosity can be and is a dangerous thing, I read continually of people being persecuted for their faith in Iran,where apostasy can be punished by hanging, I can only assume this is what the Koran teaches. Christless Christianity has in the past acted in ways that was so contrary to the Bible,they actually burnt people alive, tortured people. Thankfully those things do not happen now,and one wonders how people could have could done such things .Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed to torture or kill those who do not believe in Jesus, or to burn to death heretics.On the cross our Saviour prayed that those who had crucified Him would be forgiven [Luke 23 v34 ], and He taught us to ,love our enemies,to bless them, to do good to them, and to pray for them .[ Matthew 5 v 44]. This does not mean we agree with those who are heretics , or with those who are doing wicked things, but it does mean that we behave ,as true followers of Christ.[ Father we pray for those who are persecuting Christians, and for those who oppose the truth , that you would have mercy on them , in Jesus name .Amen ]

The preacher.[ 2 Timothy 4 v 1-5 ]

My blog is called ,Bill the preacher, I named it so because I believe God called me to preach, a friend of mine stressed how important preaching was to him. If one is called to preach then it is very important , it is very challenging, we have to discern what we are going to preach on, that in itself is challenging, then we have to study, then preach it, sounds simple, but I can assure you its not , but it is very rewarding.Some people feel in these times it is not so important to preach, but they are wrong, I know the times are changing, but the need for preaching is as vital as ever.The preacher is one who calls people back to Gods word, reminds people continually of the truths of Gods word, to sinner and saint alike. So today pray for preachers ,that they would be faithful to their call, and that they would be guided as to what they preach, and that God would annoint their ministry, to the salvation of souls, and the building up of Gods people.[ Dear God we ask that you would bless all those You have called to preach Your word, in Jesus name Amen ]

Change for the better. [ 1Corinthians 13 ]

I was reading how we can be evaluated, one persons took a test, and the result was they are among the limited number who are champions. I am not sure I want to do the test ,I may be told that I am a chump[ not a chimp, you cant make a monkey out of me]. I think we are all different,we may be champions, or chumps, but here is the important thing, God loves us. We may fail or succeed,be dull or bright, literate or illiterate, tall or small, tidy or untidy, but God still loves us. It is true,that we are all different, we are not clones, nor are me meant to be, but having said that, we all need to change, no matter who we are,and it should be a change for the better.If you want to know what that involves read 1 Corinthians 13, if we change in that way then it trully will be a change, for the better.[ Dear God I praise You ,that You me love as I am, but I also realize that Your aim is for me to change,this day help me by Your Spirit to change ,in Jesus name. Amen ]

My Shepherd . [John 10]

The 23Psalm is a wonderful Psalm, often my thoughts turn to it for reassurance, and comfort,and thats exactly what we need so often. It speaks of a personal relationship with God, a God who made Himself known to us as a man, Jesus, who was God manifest in the flesh.Relationships take on different levels, there are people we know ,and we dont know their names,people we do know their names, people we live with ,people we work with, but there is no relationship so personal as that of knowing Jesus .When we know Jesus ,the outcome should be,that we become more like Him, this also means getting to know Him in every aspect of life, of relying on Him, of following Him. It is a relationship ,that is not just onesided ,a relationship in which He reveals Himself to us,it trully is a very personal relationship, as the words of Psalm 23 declares the Lord is my Shepherd, is he yours? [ Dear Lord thank You for being my Shepherd . Amen ]

A vital discipline. [Psalm 119 v10 ]

One of the very important disciplines in our Christian life ,is to hold fast to what Gods word says, this is ongoing, I read these words in Jeremiah17v9,/ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked/. I wrote in response to these words,/ believe it/. We may not believe it ,it goes against our human reasoning,we think it is to extreme, after all there are people who do a lot of good. Again in the book of Jeremiah we read these words about the people of his day,God declares ,/ Ye walk everyone after the imagination of his evil hearts. [16v12]. Recently I was talking to someone who was advocating praying to Mary, he told me why it was appropriate, yet it was all based on his human reasoning,and not the word of God, which clearly teaches us that there is only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus. [1 Timothy 2v5]Today let us hold fast to Gods truth,to not let our human reasoning or imagination take over. [ Dear God help me to hold fast to your word in Jesus name . Amen ]

We can be strong. [ Philippians 4 v13 ]

We are weak but we can be strong,so often we are reminded that we are weak,when faced with temptation, when we fail, and fall flat on our faces. Yes we are weak but we can be strong, God says ,I will strengthen you, [Isaiah 41 v10 ] .Life in itself , is a daily challenge, to get on with people, to cope with shopping,bills, organising different things, looking after children, just the everyday things, the list goes on. We may cope with all these things very well, but there is always something that we struggle with, temptations, holiness, having a quite time, the challenge of life is ongoing, and so often we feel our weakness. Here is the good news , we can be strong, not in ourselves, but in the Lord, [Ephesians 6v10 ]the one who wrote this was the great apostle Paul,think of all he accomplished, how did he do it? ,what was his secret, the answer is found in Philippians 4v13,/ I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me/. [ Dear Lord help us in our weakness to be strong in You. Amen ]

Lonely people. [ 1 Corinthians 13 ]

We have had some visitors for a few days, my son /wife and 3 children,it is lovely to have them stay, and to spoil our grandchildren, family is so important. We went out to a number of places and had family meals together, so many dont have this blessing, I am fortunate that I have. Today let us consider those people who have no friends ,and no family,the lonely ones, I think lonliness is one of the most difficult things to cope with. How can we help?well we can pray for them, and befriend them , my daughter -in-law has just recently, started to minister to the elderly, and she commented how lovely they are, but lonely. A person I know said I was the only person she had to talk to,imagine the only person to talk to, I usually just listen. It was the Beatles who sang of all the lonely people, where do they all come from? well I want to tell where they are, in your street, and in your church, and mybe in your family.[ Dear God in a world driven by materialisim, help us to see beyond this , and see that people need friendship, need a chat, need love,use me to befriend and love someone this day in Jesus name Amen ]