Run with patience. [ James 5v 11 ]

The next thing we are told is,to run with patience the race that is set before us,I wonder how important do you think patience is?It is Vine who writes of three aspects of patience [1]The patient waiting for Christ. [2] Patient in our suffering as Christ was in is [Hebrews 12v2] [3] Being patient in the hope of Christs triumph and our deliverance.In an impatient world the Christian is called upon to exercise patience.Often when God gives a promise ,we are called upon to exercise patience,until the promise is fulfilled,Abraham is a great example of this ,although He and Sarah became impatient,a common human trait . As we exercise patience we are developing faith,and our becoming more Christlike,consider how patient He is with this world and with us. We may cry out I want it now,but God whispers be patient,we may think our opportunity is gone,God says be patient,we may say why did God not act sooner,He replies ,be patient. Be still. my soul,the Lord is on thy side, bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide.
A prayer....../ Dear God grant me patience today,as I follow Your dear son Jesus Amen/

Loosing weight.[ Matthew 18 v 8-9 ]

In Hebrews 12v1,we are exhorted to lay aside every weight,now the writer has likened the Christian faith as to a race, and the last thing one wants in a race is to have carry a weight.. That is obvious, but it does not always appear obvious, for many of us hold unto  things that  we should cast of.When people often came to Jesus desiring to follow Him,He would tell them that they would have to leave certain things behind,and even certain people. Yet even as Christians we accumulate things,habits,yes even people that we could consider as weights,that are hindering us.It is Hughes who writes about /Greek contestants in a race would strip naked,so the Christian should discipline himself [ 1 Cor 9 v25/27 ] and shun every excess which would hamper or incapacitate him as a participant in the greatest of all contents/.  The flesh will not like it but it is for the best,Pink in his exhaustive commentary on Hebrews writes of the demands of faith, and it is our Saviour who challenged Peter with the words,/lovest thou Me, more than these?[John 21v15]. For the Love of Jesus let us cast of those weights that are holding us back,and hindering us,in our Christian life.
A  prayer ..../Dear God help us to cast of everything that hinders us in Jesus name Amen /

Faithful witnesses [Hebrews 11 v 4 ]

There are many lessons we have to learn in our Christian life, there are the general lessons which are universal like perseverance,like faith,but then there are those lesson that as individuals we need to learn.We all without exception carry a lot of baggage that we need to deal with,the writer of Hebrews stresses this ,/Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,and let us run with patience the race that is set before us[12v1]. First of all the writer likens the Christian life as to a race,and in running this race,he states 3 things. [1] The cloud of witnesses, those he has mentioned in chap11,they had triumphant over life by faith,for some of them it meant laying down lies,it is now our turn to take part in this race of faith, Hughes, says,their example should be an inspiration for us to give of our utmost in the struggle.  As they succeeded so can we,but consider ,that like them we are called to be a witness,to those watching on,our children,our nearest and dearest, our neighbours, our work colleagues. Think of the impact for harm if we fail in this race,think of the people we will cause to stumble,but think of the good we can do if we continue on to the end, consider ,Proverbs 10 v7/ The memory of the just is blessed/ may there be those who will rise up and praise the Lord ,for our witness while we lived.
A  prayer......../ Dear God grant us that we will be faithful witnesses ,for Your glory, in Jesus name . Amen /

Rescue the perishing. [ Isaiah 6 v 8 ]

I have just finished listening to ,/Sinners in the hands of an angry God,  by Jonathan Edwards/, my what a solemn sermon it is,the most solemn one I have ever heard. It brings afresh the scriptural realities of  Gods final judgement,that is awesome,and so serious,of course it is not a subject that many preach on, I wonder why?. It left me thankful that I am saved, and have not been appointed unto wrath [1 Thessalonians 5 v9 ], and gives me a greater concern for the lost. There is no need to panic but there is a need to tell others about Christ,who alone can save from hell and eternal judgement. This is not as easy as one thinks,but God can help us by His Spirit,to speak the words of life,to those who lost, in doing this we need to pray,and be led by the Spirit. The day of salvation has not passed,God is still saving people,my son Brian told me of a church in London were a 1000 people are doing the Alpha course,pray about this. I read this morning of souls being saved in the state of Orissa in India,the church there has experienced severe persecution,but God is still saving.Let us remember that everyone needs to be saved without exception, and in spite of our weakness God can use us,indeed because of our weakness,God will use us.
A  prayer..../Dear God we pray that You may use us in telling others about Jesus grant that we will be willing to be used, in Jesus name Amen.

Pressing on. [ Philippians 3 v 13-14]

Winston Churchill said many quotable things here is something I read recently, /He is an unwise man who thinks, that there is any certain method of winning this war ,the only plan is to  persevere/ It is a good old term perseverance, and I believe we have to realise this, that the only way we can live the Christian life is by perseverance ,that means at times digging in, it means doggedly going forward, when it appears easier to give up. The sad thing is, there are those who do, like Demas, who got beguiled by this present world [2 Timothy 4 v10],I remember when I was a youngster,parting from Christ,I remember it as if was yesterday,some worldly pleasure became more attractive than actually following Christ.I found out that all that glittered was not gold. I still get tempted, but hopefully I will not make the same mistake twice,and of course the Lord did eventually restore me to himself. Isn't it wonderful to realise that although we give up on the Lord He does not give up on us,I an gratefully say He restored my soul.Whatever may cause us to give up,remember it is absolute folly to leave the safest,and surest way of life, following Jesus. Consider   Moses ,in Hebrews 11 we read,/That he  chose to suffer ,than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season., many of our dear Christian family,could have it easier if they refused to suffer,but like Moses they believe it better to suffer for the sake of Christ,and in that they saw a greater reward.Let us remember the cross now, but the crown later.
A  prayer..../ Dear God grant us the grace to persevere in Jesus name  Amen/

A place of repentance. [ Hebrews 4 v 15-16]

Because of our inconsistencies we will feel condemned,their are times that I fail to be the Christian I should be,as I look back,I  remember temper out bursts,that truly dishonoured the Lord,and yes there are other things.Like the great apostle I confess that I am not perfect [Philippians 3 v12],in the ongoing to path of life,with all its pitfalls, sometimes I fall. In Proverbs 24 v16,we read,/ For a just man falleth seven times,and riseth up again/,it is dear old Matthew Henry, who comments on this,/The just man falls seven times perhaps,sins of infirmity,through the surprise of temptation, but he rises again by repentance,finds mercy with God,and regains his peace/ The word of God assures us,that if we confess our sins,He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,and to cleanse us from all unrigtheousness[ 1 John 1 v9 ].I look forward to Heaven when there will be no temptations,no falling,no sinning, in all its different colours,but while here, we will yield to temptation,this is not our desire,but it is a reality,nor am I saying we should make it an excuse for sinning.Simply put, if I sin I need not despair ,God has made a place for repentance and forgiveness,through our great high priest, even Jesus.
A prayer..../ Merciful God forgive us our sins,restore us to fellowship with You in Jesus name Amen/

Discerning Gods will. [1 John 5 v14 ]

 Not feeling so well today,have a tummy bug,I am also diabetic,and have a  few other things wrong with me,so what do we do with sickness?,it is a subject that brings with it more questions than answers. We know that Christ healed, and it goes without saying ,God can heal,so if He can ,why does He not ,should all of Gods children, not be walking about with perfect health?.Did not our Saviour say that  His disciples would do greater works,and if we ask anything , in His name, He would do it[John 14 v13-14 ]. I know three Christians who have cancer,one is a young lad,so should one not pray for their healing and expect it to happen?.The questions go on and on,and we could become very frustrated, and even discouraged,because people are not healed,should we not just  accept the fact that we will become ill,we will die, and leave it that?. In a book advertised by a Bob Gass,it reads ,/You can be healed/, and underneath we read,/ God still heals today/.I believe God if He chooses will heal , of this I am certain. Recently a person told me about going to a faith healer,you know I do not read anywhere in the Bible the term faith healer,I do read of people being healed, by people of faith ,and faith they have exercised themselves.Christ our dear Saviour healed but He was not a faith healer,nor were any of the apostles faith healers. The Lord told His disciples to do it freely[Matthew 10 v 8],lifting donations,or collecting money, is not allowed,even Elisha knew this[ 2 Kings 5 ],it is so easy to take advantage of vunerable people. Now I really don't think we should relegate miracles to the Bible,nor do I mean to discourage anybody from looking  to God for a miracle,but it seems to me we must some how seek Gods will for our situations, be it for healing,financial,or whatever.
A  prayer......./ Dear God ,we believe, with You all things are possible, help us to discern Your will in all things, in Jesus name Amen /