Secularism [2 Corinthians 10 v 3-5]

As I listened to a radio program on a very serious moral question,I was made aware that it was a secular discussion,with no reference to God.This was borne out when people e-mailed in to object to one of the people being involved in the discussion,because of her involvement with a Christian organisation. The lady declared she was an atheist,did not believe in God ,but found the Christian organisation helpful. It made me sad,even angry how this BBC programme, excluded any Christian point of view,such are the times we live in.What is the answer?well we must not overreact,and we must recognise ,that this sinful world is no friend of God or His word.We must pray for wisdom,as to how we can make the Christian voice be heard,and courage to stand and to speak. We are not persecuted although I am sure there are Christians who are having a hard time because of their faith. The problem is that in this so called tolerant society,there is a great deal of intolerance,and Christians are intimidated. Non Christians want to blame a God they don't believe in,for all the ills in the world,how often I have heard that all wars are caused by religion. Wars are caused by sin,by a humanity whose feet are swift to shed blood,now of course this is not what people want to hear,but it is true.
A  prayer.....Dear God,in this secular,sinful world,helps us to  not be afraid or be to intimidated, help us to speak for You,in Jesus name Amen /

Nothing can change this. [ Romans 8 v 38-39]

I found myself repeating a children chorus this morning as I prayed,it goes,/Wide wide as the ocean,high as the heavens above,deep,deep as the deepest sea is my Saviours Love,Though I am unworthy ,still I am a child of His care.For his word teaches me,that His love reaches me,everywhere./A simple little chorus which God brought to my mind. It is the apostle Paul who wrote ,that he was persuaded that neither,death,nor life,nor angels,nor principalities,nor powers,nor things present,nor things to come. Nor height,nor any other creature,shall be able to separate us from the love of God,which is in, Christ Jesus our Lord.[Romans 8 v38-39].Whatever our condition,whatever negative thoughts we may be thinking,whoever ,and whatever the Devil may be using to discourage us, God says He loves us,and nothing,and no one can change this.
A prayer...../ Dear God we praise that You Love us ,so fully,unconditionally,and eternally ,through Jesus Your son Amen /

Faithfulness [ Lamentatations 3 v22-23]

Moses reminds the people of Gods faithfulness,/These forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee,thou  hast lacked nothing[Deuteronomy 2 v7] Faithful as to His presence,yes with them,in chapter 9, the people are described as being, stiffnecked,or stubborn people,and a rebellious people.Gods faithfulness is not according to merit,but according to His love and grace,that's why it is so amazing,He knows the worst about us,but He remaineth faithful.Is this not so,as we look back at our imperfect history,when love was lacking,holiness was lacking,faithfulness was lacking.Yet wonder of wonders the Lord our God has been with us.F.J.Crosby, wrote/,I know not why Gods wondrous grace,To me He hath made known. Nor why,unworthy,Christ in love,redeemed for His own./.
A  prayer...../Dear God we praise You for Your faithfulness,to us unworthy sinners in Jesus name Amen/

He is watching. [Hebrews 3v 7 -19]

Let us continue to consider Deuteronomy2 v7,and the words,/He has watched your every step through this wilderness[NLT].  The Israelites were not meant to go their own way,no they were meant to go Gods way,in order to keep them right ,God provided a pillar of cloud to guide them by ,and a pillar of fire to guide them by night.,it was always there[Exodus 13v21-22].So they had no excuse,to go the wrong way,but they did so often,or I should say they desired to[ Numbers 14 v 1-4].They also had a godly leader, God was grieved ,who conveyed unto them Gods will,in the commandments,but we read God was grieved with that generation,and said,They do always err in their hearts[Hebrews 3 v10]. They had come out of Egypt but there was still a lot of Egypt still in them,so often instead of walking in Gods way they walked in their own way,and God was watching .Inspite of all the evidence that God was there with them,they acted as if God did not exist.So often God had to deal with the people,in the most severe way,to bring them back to Himself.Things have in a sense not changed,like Israel of old,we often turn aside from following in the footsteps of our Saviour,and  when He deals with us,to bring us back into His way,as L. Weaver wrote,/When I would wander from the path astray,then He will guide me back into the way/.
A  prayer..../ Dear God,You who are watching our footsteps,forgive us when we would wander from your path,and guide us back to that place of totally following You in Jesus name Amen /

He is watching over you. [Psalm 121]

Let us continue to look at Deuteronomy 2 v7.we have considered how God will bless us,now we read,/He[God]has watched your every step,through this great wilderness/..We say sometimes,I better watch my step,but here we are being told that God had watched Israels every step.There are two ways of considering these words,God was watching over Israel so that no harm would come to them.So God is watching over His dear children that no harm may come to them.There are many dangers in this life,seen and unforeseen,but always seen by God,the old hymn puts it this ways His eye is on the sparrow,and I know watches me.What a great comfort that is ,to know that as we  go into this day,my loving Heavenly Father is watching over me.So let us not fear the unknown day,and the unknown future ,He will protect ,and keep your every step.He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.He that keepeth thee will not slumber.The Lord shall preserve thy going out,and thy coming in from this time forth,and even for evermore.[Psalm 121]
A  prayer..../Dear God we thank You that You are watching over us,in that knowledge we rejoice ,we thank You in Jesus name Amen /

Bless others. [ Luke 6 v 38]

In Deuteronomy 2 v7 Moses speaks to Israel,/For the Lord God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand,He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness,these forty years,the Lord thy God,hath been with thee,thou hast lacked nothing/.We can easily apply these words to Gods children,consider the opening words ,/for the Lord God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand/.I know there are many dear Christians who are suffering in the will of God, but here is the point God .has blessed you and me,in our employment,and business. So let us bless others,let us seek to fulfil all those good works which He has planned for us to do[Ephesians2v 10] ,remember He blesses us that we may bless others.
A prayer....../ Dear God thank You for all your blessing,help us to bless others as You have blessed us,in Jesus name Amen/

Unbelief. [ Deuteronomy 1 v32]

Deuteronomy is Moses farewell speech to Israel,the name Deuteronomy means second law which indicates that the law is repeated.Israel had wandered the wilderness for 40years ,now they about to enter the promise land.The first chapter reminds Israel of their past failure,that 40 years ago they had failed to miserable to enter the promised land,not because  of the difficulties,but because they,give  into unbelief, [1v3]The result was that generation where not allowed to enter the promise land,the writer of the book of Hebrews ,warns us about the sin of unbelief,he calls it an evil heart of unbelief[Hebrews 3v12].Unbelief is not a trivial thing, it is a deplorable sin,and has consequences,both for time and eternity.Unbelief shuts us out of heaven,and all that that means,the writer of Hebrews speaks of a hardening through the deceitfulness of sin. Millions and millions of people are deceived by sin,be it money,fame,lust,I was listening to a program dealing with prostitution,and there was lady on it,who spoke of her life of prostitution as if it was just another means of getting money,she is deceived,but so are those who just live for the things of time.Religious people are deceived in many things,by error,by their law keeping,non religious people are deceived by a misguided belief that God will show mercy apart from Christ,He is sidelined and rejected,but not by God.So the writer of Hebrews tells his readers,/Today, if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts[3v7-8]/
A  prayer...../ Dear God save us from ourselves,from hearts of unbelief in Jesus name. Amen/