Love one another. [ John 13 v 34-35 ]

I had the privilege many years ago of attending Bible college,my fellow students came from different Christian traditions,but that never was a problem,we were one in Christ.Each student knew Christ personally as their Saviour,believed the Bible to be the word of God, the fact that some were Baptists,Anglican,Pentecostal,etc,did not make any difference to us,we studied and played together,and most went on to serve God in full time Christian ministry. I was reminded of this recently when a friend of mine who is reformed in doctrine is becoming a member of a church which is not reformed. Our Lord prayed that His followers may be one[ John 17 v11],and that we should love one another[John 13 v34 -35 ]. It seems to me we can become like those early Chistians in Corinth [2 Corinthians 3],and forget that we are Christians first and foremost. So today think kindly on those who are true Christians,and yet differ with you on churh goverment,baptisim,prophecy,we can differ in all these things , but if we are evangelical and love Jesus then let us accept each other.
Blest be the tie that binds,
Our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship kindred minds,
Is like to that above.
[J . Fawcett ]
A Prayer. / Dear Lord Jesus help us to love those who differ from us in secondary things,and yet
trully love You. Amen /

Is God pleased with us?. [ Psalm 78 v 38-39 ]

There are some people one can never please, you try your best, but it is never enough, and it is never good enough.I wonder do we not think that about God ,that He looks upon us with a scowl, and no matter what we do we cannot please Him.Now of course God is not pleased when we sin, when we are mean,or unloving,no parent is happy when their children disobey them,and God our heavenly parent is no different.In Psalm 78v39 we read how God remembers that we are flesh, yes as Christians we are children of God, but we are still in this body of flesh,and God knows and understands,that we are imperfect and still loves us.I have a drawing hanging up in my home sent to me from my grandchild, it will never get into the Tates gallery, but I appreciate it, and am pleased with with my grandchilds effort. I like to think that God our Father looks on His childrens weak efforts, and is pleased with their efforts and with them as people.In Jesus we are no longer living under a cloud of condemnation, not looked upon with a scowl, but a heavenly Fathers smile.Today as we try to live for Jesus, and seek to love Him yes inperfectly,our Father in heaven is pleased with us.
A prayer. /Dear God we praise for the grace that saves us,we thank You for the fact that You love us and are pleased with as we seek to serve and love You,in Jesus name .Amen.

God moves in a mysterious way. [Romans 8 v28 av ]

Much as I love many of the modern songs, I still love the old hymns,have I a favourite? well I am not sure, there is one that means a lot to me, written by that great poet William Cowper ,and it is this one, /God moves in a mysterious way/. The theme of this hymn is the sovereignty of God, and the verse I would put over this hymn is Romans 8 v28,again I love this in the AV,/And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,to them who are the called according to His purpose/. Here is this hymn in full , William suffered from mental illness ,he attempted suicide , was put into an insane institute , and yet inspite of all this he wrote these wonderful words.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform,
He plants His footsteps in the sea ,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines,
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints ,fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread,,
Are big with mercy , and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace,
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour,
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His works in vain,
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
A prayer. / Dear God help us to trust in Your sovereign providence ,and purposes in our lives
in Jesus name. Amen /

And I am glad.[ Romans 12 v 1-2]

Since I purchased my laptop I have printed my thought for today, the evening before ,and then I publish it the next day,it may appear to be a day behind but it is not. I take seriously what I do .I have wanted to publish a thought for the day, since early on in my Christian life and since I got a PC I have been able to this, mybe this is an example of Psalm 37v4 ,/ Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart/.I wanted also to be a missionary but that as yet ,has not happened,mybe it will, but then mybe it will not, it must always be ,Gods will not ours, and if He withholds something from us ,it is for the best. David had a desire to build a temple but he was not given that task, it was instead given to his son Solomon, I have a son who is serving God full time,it appears to me like David my desire is being fulfilled in him.
God holds the key to all unknown,
And I am glad,
If other hands should hold the key ,
Or if He trusted it to me ,
I might be sad.
Enough ,this covers all my wants
And so I rest,
For what I cannot, He can see,
And in His care I saved shall be,
For ever blest.
[Joseph Parker ]
A prayer / Dear God I commit all my ways into Your hands and submit my will
to Your perfect will ,in Jesus name Amen ./

All is well.[ Hebrews 13 v 5 - 8 ]

As I do my blog I am listening to some nice music, I am in my living room sitting in a comfortable chair ,I am blest in so many ways ,but of course in my life there are also difficulties. One of the most important things in my life is not to let the difficulties take over ,which they can so easily.I am reminded of David in a time of great diffilculties ,how he encouraged himself in the Lord [ 1 Samuel 30 v 6 ] . George Swinnock wrote, /A Christian in his/her saddest condition can enjoy God as their portion/,consider those words,especially if you are going through a trial. No one can rob us of Him, it is the apostle who wrote, / For I am persuaded , that neither death, nor life, nor principalities,, nor powers,nor things present, nor thing to come, Nor height, nor depth,nor any other creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [ Romans 8 v 38-39 ]/Let us listen to that still small voice of Jesus ,let His voice penetrate to the very core of our being,let His heart speak to our hearts,let not your heart be troubled, I am with you,fear not, fret not, all will be well, you are the apple of my eye, and I love you.
Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal,
Monment by moment,in woe or in weal,
Jesus ,my Saviour,abides with me still.
A prayer. /Dear God help us not to give into despair or fear, help us today to rest in Your
presence and love, in Jesus name. Amen.

Whorship only God. [ Exodus 20 v 1 - 6 ]

One final thought on the bronze serpent in Numbers 21, and it is to the reign of that godly king Hezekiah we turn,in 2 Kings 18. Now Hezekiah sought to turn the people back to God,he had those things which the people worshipped that where contrary to Gods word destroyed. Among those things was the bronze serpent and it had become an object of worship, Hezekiah had it destroyed, and rightly so. This object was never meant to become an object of worship, we can point at one group of the Christian church,were its members are inclined to worship so called sacred objects, and so called saints, and dear Mary. But we all must be careful of making any person, place or thing an object of worship,we must cast down anything, yes anything that is contrary to Gods word, and worship only God.
The dearest idol I have known,
what,er that idol be,
help me to tear it fromThy throne,
and worship only Thee.
[William Cowper]
A prayer / Dear God help us to worship only You,reveal to us those things that have become
idols,help us to destroy them, in Jesus name. Amen/

Look and live [. John 3 v 14- 15 ]

The people had sinned ,God punished them,the result many of the people died,the people confess their sins , God shows mercy, by providing a means whereby those bitten by the serpents, would be healed.He told them to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole, if the people who were bitten looked they would be healed.Why did God not just heal those people? ,He could have, but God wanted them to exercise faith, without faith we cannot please God, so they had to look if they were going to be healed. Now this all has a deeper and a more meaningful application,which our Saviour reveals in John 3 v 14- 15, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. We are all suffering from a great sickness , sin ,which has terrible consequences, Hell is very serious, unless sin is dealt with, that is were we would be going. Yet as Jesus said, God has provided a way for the sin to be dealt with, as we see in John 3 v 14- 15. all that is required is for sinners is to look to Jesus and live.
Look and live, my brother, live
Look to Jesus, now and live,
Tis recorded in his word,hallelujah,
It is only that you look and live.
[ W. A. Ogden ]
A prayer. [We thank You Father that we can be saved simply by that look of faith
in Jesus Thy dear Son. Amen ]