Good people.[ 1 Timothy 1 v15 ]

I recently heard a preacher say,good people don't go to heaven only forgiven ones, it made me think how  many of us think that good people only go to heaven.Consider how many sermons have been preached at funerals that have stressed the goodness of that person,they where good mothers, fathers,friends.We are told a lot of nice things about them,which  may be perfectly true,but the point is that only those who have been forgiven will go to Heaven.In Romans 3 we have described mans condition, and it is not very complimentary,for it tells us that the non-Christian  to say the least is a very flawed  creature. Consider what is written ,none righteous,none understands or seek God,none that doeth good,they have tongues that are full of cursing,and bitterness. Violent,destructive,opposed to peace,and no fear of God,summing  up he declares ,for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.While on holiday I had this thought, that within all of us,there is a potential ,murderer,adultery, child abuser,because I am a sinner,with a heart that is deceitful and desperately wicked[Jeremiah 17 v9]. That is why only those who are forgiven go to heaven,that is why Christ died,the sinless one ,died for us sinners.
A prayer....../ Dear God in a world that appears hopeless,populated by no hope'rs,there is hope through Your son Jesus Amen /

No other way [ John 14 v6 ]

Consider the greatness of God  His creation,His understanding,and consider what Paul wrote in Galations ,he is seeking to show the Galations the futility of the law to save,it is impossible for the Law to save,because we cannot keep the law. The Law was given to teach us that we are lost,but God did not leave us there,He points us in His word to the secret of being accepted by Him, Faith in Christ is the only way,Abraham was saved before the law was given by Faith [Genesis 15v6],the only way,anyone can be saved, is simple faith in what God has provided through Jesus.In chapter 3 v21 we read ,if there could had been a law given which could have given life,verily righteousness should have by the law/.Here Paul is saying God decided there was no other way in which He could save mankind.. We are as indeed God is closed into one option ,that is the death of His son on a cross for mankind,no amount of law keeping can save,there is simply no other way.Paul ends his epistle with  this awe inspiring statement,/ But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ/[ 6 v14]
A  prayer......./ Dear God we bow in humility before Your awe inspiring wisdom in providing such a great salvation in your dear Son .Amen /

Now you know. [John 1v 12-13 ]

 In John chapter 3 we read of a man called Nicodemus  visiting Jesus by night,he was one of the countries top religious cleric's, belonging to very, very religious sect called the Pharisees.Their name means separated ones,they taught Gods word and tried to walk in it's teaching, he starts by complimenting Jesus,but Jesus as it were ignore what he said, and then tells him,except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Now this really stumped this very religious person ,it did not make sense to him,Jesus continues to emphasise this truth the importance of the new birth. Nicodemus still does not understand ,Jesus challenges him,you are a master of Israel and you don't know what that means.This reminds me of a story I read recently, about a godly man who sent his son to a Bible teacher. When he returned, the father asked him what had he learned.The son told him all he had learned. The father said,this is nothing,  go and learn more. The son returned one year later, this time he boasted about all he had learned, the father sent him back. When the son returned again, his face shone,the father embraced him,and said,you knew theology before, now you know Christ.
A prayer... / Dear God there are so many who know theology ,but alas don't know You or Your Son Jesus,have mercy  upon them open their minds and hearts to see the need of knowing Jesus as Saviour. Amen/
I  will return to my Blog Sunday week  every blessing Bill

Bring us through. [ Isaiah 41 v 10 ]

We can have great sympathy with those dear people who are being persecuted,and wonder how would we cope if the situations were reversed,I don't know,but I  do know that God would be with us,and  as he helps them so He would help us. Although we may not be suffering persecution ,the Christian life is a challenge,temptation,problems, can wear us down,and sometime we feel overwhelmed and feel that the situation we are in is to much or us cope with,a difficult marriage , and concerns with our children,financial pressures.I don't know your personal situation,and if I did I may not fully understand,but it appears to me that most of us have to cope with something,and that something ,can cause us to feel overwhelmed,especially those problems that don't go a way. So how do you feel?well here is the word of God for you and me today,/When thou passest through the waters,I will be with thee,and through the rivers,they shall not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned,neither shall the flame kindle upon thee[ Isaiah 43 v2 ]/
A prayer...../ Dear God sometime we feel overwhelmed by our situation and circumstances,so today hold us up in the flood,bring us through the fire in Jesus name Amen/

Pray for the children. [ Isaiah 1 v17 ]

I wonder do you remember when you went to school ,and when your children went to school,in the west we are privileged and blest with a good education system.I could not have managed as regards unemployment if I had not been taught to read and write,think how much a blessing it is to be able to read a book,education is a great blessing.My thoughts turned recently to  to dear children who miss out in so much, but not only miss out in so much,they have to contend with co much.Consider what the Barnabas aid agency call children of courage,imagine what it must be like for children who are Christians or from Christian families who live with threats and intimidation every day. The authorities don't help,and their dear parents are powerless also,it is hard enough for children in this country,who are bullied.  So today, pray for children everywhere,yes for those who are being bullied,but for the many who are facing hostility and discrimination and even persecution,also for the many children who have lost their parents through aids,and have to fend for themselves,oh dear fellow Christians let us pray for the children.
A prayer.../Dear God have mercy upon the children in every land that are being neglected,abused, persecuted,orphaned,have mercy ,in Jesus name Amen /

Death could not hold its prey. [ John 11 v25 ]

I read recently that a dentist who purchased a tooth that was John Lennon's for about 15,000 pounds, was going to use it's DNA to bring back a clone of John Lennon.Let us be very clear ,he will not succeed in creating another  John Lennon,for when you are gone ,you are gone.There are people who will have their bodies frozen when they die,in the vain hope that they can be brought back to life ,it will not work for when you are gone ,you are gone.As to this life we have only one shot at it,we may wring our hands in despair,we may hope that scientist can change things but they wont,oh yes people in the West are living longer,but it is only delaying the inevitable,we are not going to live for ever on planet earth,every living creature on planet earth will die.Why? because of sin,what God told Adam is true ,read about it in Genesis2 v17,we where not made to die,but die we will, the only people who will not die,are those who are alive when Jesus comes back again[1 Thessalonians 4v13ff],whenever that will be.In my work I call on people,and I find they are not there,and this reminds me of that morn when some women went to a tomb wherein lay the body of Jesus,and to there surprise they found ,He was not there,read about it in John chapter 20.They discovered that he who was dead was alive,he had conquered death,and now lives in the power of an endless life.This Jesus said a wonderful thing,He said that if we believe in Him,even though we die we shall live eternally.[John 11 v25 ]
A  prayer.../Dear God we praise you that death could not hold its prey,for Jesus tore the bars away,and through His victory,we also can beat death, when we trust in Him as Saviour. Amen /

You are a soldier. [ 2 Timothy 2 v3-4 ]

Often the apostle Paul wrote of the Christian life in military terms,in Ephesians 6 ,he writes of the armour of God,in2 Timothy 2 v3-4,he uses the term soldier,and in 2 Corinthians 10v3-4 ,he writes of war and weapons. I was a boy soldier for nine months,so I know a little bit about being a soldier,it meant discipline ,each day we had inspections,and could easily have found ourselves on a charge for something or other.When discipline breaks down,anarchy reigns,discipline is vital in any army,and especially in the Lords army. We need to pray,read the word of God,we need to meet with Gods people,we must take these things very serious,and not make excuses.Many children don't like discipline,don't like being told what to do,yet it is for their own good,likewise in the army of Christ,there are those who don't like coming under the discipline,of Gods word,of the Spirits directing,and so build up resentment in their hearts. Discipline is for our good but it is also for the greater good ,those who loose sight of the greater good loose sight of the fact we are part of an army,was it Lord Nelson who spoke of those happy band of brothers.Nelson for all his greatness did not win battles on his own,being a Christians it is an individual thing with individual battles,but we need also to remember that it is a collective endeavour.
A  prayer..../ Dear God  as part of Your army, help us to show a measure of discipline in our lives in Jesus name, Amen/