One God,one mediator. [ 1 Timothy 2 v 5 ]

Let us consider 1 Timothy 2 v5,/For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus./ First consider the statement,/There is one God/, how vital these words are in a world of many gods,many people would say ,does it really matter,the answer is yes, it does matter. It matters because God says it matters and that should be enough for us, to believe in so called other gods has very serious consequences, as to our salvation, and indeed bars us from a relationship with God. Next we are told,that there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus,this rules out so many fanciful and wrong ideas, such as Mary, priests,and the dead. As a Christian I come to God through Jesus and no one else, those who seek to go another way ,are classed as a thieves and a robbers.[John 10v1 ],as the old chorus says ,you must go in at the door, and that door is Jesus.[John 10v9]. [ Dear God open the eyes of men and women to see and accept the truth ,that there is only one God and one way to come to You, in Jesus name we ask this Amen ]

How serious?[ Numbers 15v12-36]

When certain things happen we often ask, how serious is it?,for example when we hear of someome who is ill , or of someone bieng in an accident. I wonder have you ever asked the question in relation to sin ?,how serious is sin?, let us consider this question. First of all , all sin is serious and has serious consequences, I stress the all,we have a mentality that makes light of certain things, people yes even Christians take the name of the Lord in vain,and every tme they do this they are sinning, and thats serious. We must begin to realize that all sin has serious consequences, and must be taken serious. Next ,all sin is taken serious by God who is holy, and must be judged,I stress must be judged,this judgement by God can be now ,but most diffently in eternity, when Jesus will judge sinners, those who have rejected Him as saviour. Next we see how serious God takes sin when we look at the cross,why is Jesus on the cross?,because of your sin and mine,God desires all to be saved, but sin is serious, so God made a choice, a most painful choice, His Son would have to die on a cross , now thats how serious sin is to a holy God. [Dear God help me to take all sin as serious, help me to take the consequences of sin serious,so serious that I will trust Jesus as my savioiur. Amen ]

Lists. [Luke 12 v13 -21 ]

Lets write out two lists, of what we want, and what we have, they dont have to be full lists, so the I want list, /I want a new camera, a certain dvd,and every week I want to be able to buy my favourite bread,you, I am sure have a list of your own. Next the ,I have list,/on second thoughts, it would be to long, just to say I have a very long list,I have a lot of things, as I am sure many of us have. Now let us consider a story our dear Saviour told ,about a rich man,who had a full list,he had everything he wanted and he felt so satisfied,then we have that but again ,but God said, /You fool , You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for. Yes a person is a fool to store earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God/ How do we have rich relationship, first of all by knowing Christ as saviour,and by fulfilling the law,which means not so much rules and regulations, but to love God with all our being, and loving others as we love ourselves.[ Dear Father help me to see my greatest need is Christ, not my want list or have list,help me to see that in knowing Jesus, I must always seek Your will first and foremost, that is to love and love and love . Amen ]

Disruptions. [ John 14 v27 ]

We have four of our grandchildren staying, and let me say that they are grand children, it goes with out saying that we love then,and all our grandchildren. But, ah there is always that but in life, when they stay they bring a bit of disruption, no matter how early I get up, they beat me to it. Let us consider the aspect of disruption in our lives,they can be major things ,and minor things, but usually we dont like them. Sometimes they bring confusion and pain ,they throw us,and we feel confused,and upset,so how do we cope?, can we cope?, the answer is yes,the poet wrote, if you can keep your head when all around are loosing theirs,again let me ask the question,can we cope?,yes we can. / How is this possible?well here is how,/Thou wilt keep in perfect peace ,whose mind is stayed on Thee ,because he trusted in Thee.[ Isaiah 26 v3 ]/[ Dear God when disruptions come into my life help me to focus on You in Jesus name Amen ]

How is your appetite? [Matthew 4 v 4]

Usually as I do my blog I am eating my breakfast, whats your faviourite food?, I have things I like,some I cant have because I am diabetic,like apple pie,or doughnuts,I dont like spicy food,and usually I find it difficut to choose what to eat ,when I go to a restaurant. Many people comfort eat,as a result they put on weight, then we have those who want to loose weight, it is called the battle of the bulge. When it comes to eating Jesus said ,man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God [Matthew 4 v4/ Deut 8 v3 ]. Yes we need food ,our Lord knows this,and assures us that our loving Heavenly Father will provide [Matthew 6 v24-34 ], But men and women are not just physical beings,we have a soul, we have a spiritual side to our being,if we are not Christians ,we need to realize that we need Christ more than we need bread. If we are Christians we need to feed our spirits ,by reading the word of God everyday, to memorize it it,to meditate on it. There is a little childrens chorus that comes to mind ,/ Read your Bible ,pray everyday , If you want to grow, not only is this good advice but vital advice, for our spiritual well being. [Dear Lord help me not to neglect my soul, grant unto me a healthy appetite for Your word, Amen ]

We must pray. [ Hebrews 11 v6 ]

I heard something yesterday that has upset me , someone I know is ill, what can I do?,well I can pray .In the act of praying we are doing the most important thing,most people pray,mybe even some atheist, we may be surprised. There is so much to pray about ,countries like Japan, Libya,our own country,persecuted Christians,neighbours, family,the list goes on,and yet it is not just a list, it is about real people, real situations,thats why we must be real in our prayers ,no hypocrisy, no falseness,no pretending, yes we must be real. Faith is important in prayer,faith in a God who honours faith,and will answer those prayers , offered in faith. As regards faith read Hebrews chapter 11, in that chapter we read of people acting in faith,but rest assured ,our acts of faith, should be preceded by prayers of faith, to God who hears and answers .John Newton wrote this on prayer,/ My soul, ask what thou wilt. Thou canst not be to bold,Since His own blood for thee He spilt,What else can He withhold?. Beyond thine utmost wants,His love and power can bless. To praying souls He always grants, More than they can express./ [Dear God who hears and answers prayer,we bring to you those things,that are burdening us, and ask that in Thy great mercy ,You would undertake ,we ask this in Jesus name Amen ]

The backslider. [Joel 2 v25 ]

One of my favourite stories is ,Wind in the willows, that wonderful story,by Kenneth Graham,of different animals,Ratty,Mole, Badger, and Toad of Toad Hall. These four are all friends, Ratty,mole, and badger are sensible animals, but Toad who is rich is an irresponsible animal. Toad flits from one thing to another,boating, caravaning, and finally to cars,and the latter takes over his life,to the point of bringing him to possible ruin ,financially, he is like so many people, mybe like you .But I move on, his friends love him, and with Badgers leadership,they seek to help,Badger takes Toad into a room on his own and lectures him,Toad listens agrees with Badger,they come out, no sooner are they out ,Toad declares he is not sorry, he only pretended to be ,in order to get Badger of his back, in utter frustration Badger calls him a backsliding animal. What is a backslider?well its one who goes back to what they once were,I know of many backsliders ,people who became Christians, and have gone back to what they once were, I wonder is that you?, as a youngster I trusted the Saviour, but I backslid, I went back, I remember a preacher saying that were no advantages in forsaking Christ, I found it to be so,and I deeply regret what I did,but God in His mercy forgive me, and restored me. [ Dear God I thank You for restoring me back to Yourself,we pray for those who are backsliden ,that You would restore them to Yourself ,in Jesus name Amen ]