Simple faith. [Acts 16 v31 ]

In Romans 4, the apostle Paul is teaching how we are saved by faith, and to illustrate the point ,he points us to Abraham. In v3 we read Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness, that is the simple truth of the gospel, we simply believe in Jesus to save us, that means we are not trying to save ourselves ,by good works[Ephesians 2 v 8-9 ], nor by works of the law.[Galations 3 v 11 ]. It all sounds to simple, to good to be true, but it is true, we make things very complicated, God makes it simple, so simple that even a child can understand it and embrace it. I trusted Jesus as my Saviour when I was a child, and so I believe in Child evangelisim, do not hesitate to tell children about Jesus, in fact do not hesitate to tell anyone about Jesus,because they are smart ,or not so smart. The smart people have to become like little children, the not so smart people, need not let there limatations be a barrier,to all who would be saved it is simple faith in Jesus, that saves.[ Dear God we thank You that You have provided salvation for all in Jesus Thy son, and we thank You that we can be saved simply by believing in Him . Amen ]

Everlasting love. [ Jeremiah 31 v3 ]

I found myself trying to sing an old song,/ Thirty pieces of silver, was the price they paid. Thirty pieces of silver, just the price of a slave. So my heart I have given ,to this Christ betrayed ,for I know just how much I love Him, by the price He paid/. Why am I a Christian ?and why do I continue to be a Christian after all these years?, because as John wrote, we love Him, because He first loved us [1 John 4 v19 ].The Christian relationship is a love one,it commences with love, is sustained by love, controlled by love, motivated by love. When love dies the relationship dies, we then just go through the motions,we are no longer in touch with our Saviour, and yet He still loves us,would seek to woo us back to Himself. The greatest example of this is in that meeting with Peter, the one who had denied His Lord in John 21. Mybe Peter felt His Lord did not love him anymore, but He did,mybe today you have failed your Lord like Peter,well the good news is He still loves you,repent and return to Him, and He will welcome you with open arms, and you will hear His words of love , I have loved you with an everlasting love. I finish with the words of a song by Keith Green, let them be our prayer. [ O Lord please light the fire that once burned bright and clear, replace the lamp of my first love ,that burns with holy fear . Amen ]

Someone stole my umbrella. [ John 16 v 33 ]

A quotation by a Lord Bowie, reads,/ The rain it raineth on the just,and also on the unjust fellow. But chiefly on the just, because,the unjust steals the just,s umbrella./ I found this amusing, but on reflection , I see a more serious side to it, as I read of many dear Christians, who loose not only their umbrellas, but their homes, their liberty, and their very lives. All through my Christian life I have heard of Christians suffering ,under communisim, to some extent it is still going on,but now it appears under Islam, and under religious groups. I do not believe it will ever change, and we should not be surprised at this, it is Peter who wrote,/ don,t be surprised at the firey trials/[1 Peter 4 v12]. Our Saviour told us to take up our cross, I wear a cross, but am I willing to take up my cross?, Consider the words of our dear Saviour in John 16 v 33,/ These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world/. We may loose our umbrellas but we can have peace, and can by Gods grace be overcomers, in Jesus. [ Dear Father help us be overcomers, as we seek to live for our Saviour, grant us the gift of Thy peace, in Jesus name. Amen]

The young . [Ecclesiastes 12 v 1-6 ]

In Proverbs 20 v 29, we read ,/ The glory of the young is their strength,the gray hair of experience is the splender of the old/. Charles Bridges writes,/ Every stage of life has its peculiar honour and privilege/,and this is true, in sport it is the young who excel, I was watching a tennis match recently, between an older man ,and a young man, the younger man won,because the older person tired.Youths natural strength if channelled aright,can accomplish much good,or if channelled wrong can cause much harm. In Ecclesiastes 11 v8 ff, the writer reminds the young ,yes to enjoy their life,as it were to live life ,to the full,but to remember that even the young are accountable to God for what they do.In chapter 12, we read,/ Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth/, he then goes on to draw a word picture of growing old. My study Bible comments,/ Being young is exciting, but excitement of youth can become a barrier to closeness with God, if it makes young people focus on passing pleasures, instead of eternal values./ If you are young remember ,if you live without Christ, and die without Him,then you will spend a lost eternity without God. [ Dear God we pray for the young, that they may be moved by your Spirit, convicted by your Spirit,and led by your Spirit to trust Jesus. Amen ]

Send me. [Isaiah 6 v 1-8 ]

I love the old hymns , but I also like many new hymns ,like the one I heard recently, /I, the Lord of sea and sky/. by Daniel L Schutte. This hymn has God declaring the great need of His people, it seems the writer is stressing ,those who are Gods people ,and those who would become His people. [I think ] Each verse ends with the words,/Whom shall I send/,which reminds us of the call of Isaiah [chapter 6 ], there the prophet has a tremendous vision of God, who is holy. God is holy and awesome,but He is has a deep love for this world,and He uses people, to tell the world of His love, He uses people to proclaim His word to His people. So we have God asking a question, whom shall I send,and who will go for us [6v8], God is still asking that question, and He is waiting for an answer. The prophet did answer with the words, Here am I ,send me, and God accepted that response, and said go. We are all called to serve, to obey,are we obeying that call?, let us finish with the chorus of the hymn, we have mentioned, it can be our prayer as we face another day with all its challenges. [ Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?. I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold your people in my heart, Amen ]

A good looking boy. [ Romans 3 v23 /Jeremiah 17 v9 ]

The Bible tells us that man looks on the outward appearance [ 1Samuel 16 v7], now there is nothing wrong with beauty, but beauty does not tell the whole story.I noticed on the internet a picture of a young lad, a good looking young lad who has murdered a seven year old girl.I am sure those who knew that youngster cannot believe that he would do such a thing, but he did,his parents I am sure are devastated,their lovely young darling boy has actually killed a person ,and why did he do this,he was addicted to video games. The Bible looks beyond the outward appearance of humankind, and tells us we have a nature that is sinful, a heart that is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked[Jeremiah 17v 9 ]. No matter how gifted one may be,or beautiful, we are sinners capable ,yes of murder,adultery, lying,perversion, you name it, we are capable of it . Our sinful hearts refuse to acknowledge this, refuse to accept Christ as saviour, the one who died for sinners, refuse to come to Him that they may have life.[ Dear God grant that Your Spirit may so work in the hearts of people, that they may see their true condition, that they are sinners needing Jesus as their Saviour. Amen ]

Ulster the land of my birth. [Romans 11v33 ]

I was watching a TV program called ,Songs of praise, which is recorded in various areas ,this one ,was from Ulster, the land of my birth.When people think of Ulster they think of the troubles, but of course there is much more to Ulster than the troubles. It is a land of beauty,the Antrim coast ,the Giants Cauesway, the beautiful Mourne Mts that sweep down to the sea. It is a country where many still attend church, although many dont,the church in Ulster, usually gives a more clear gospel message. This is one of the reasons ,I thank God , that I was born in Ulster, from an early age I heard the Gospel, in Sunday school, at childrens meetings,and at the Sunday services. I am not blind to the situation in Ulster, its sectarian and political divide , but for all that I give thanks, that in that little place called Ulster, I came to know Christ as my Saviour. You may not have been born in Ulster, but if you know Christ, stop and give thanks, to God, for those influences that where used by a sovereign God To bring you to Jesus.[ Dear God thanks for those influences, people, places,circumstances that You used ,to bring us to know Jesus as our Saviour. Amen ]