Christ in you the hope of glory. [Colossians 1v 27 ]

Continuing on from yesterday,as regards ,believing determination,and along with that A.Motyer writes,/Hope is the cordial the people of God need to keep them going/.What is that hope firstly,/God,they are told that He will come and save them,on writing about the unsaved, the apostle Paul points out three tragic things in Ephesians 2 v12,that they were without Christ....having no hope,and without God in the world.What a hopeless state  they were in, the scripture tells us,/if in this life only we have hope,we are of all men most miserable/[1 Corinthians 15v19].One commentator points out,that in the Roman catacombs[were many Christians were buried,or in tombed] hope the commonest inscription.There is no such word on the tombs of the heathen dead/Only  through knowing Christ as ones Saviour is there hope,apart from Him there is only loss,and despair.With  Him the future is bright,as we march on into eternal Glory,one has said it is glory here and glory there.
A prayer....../Dear God the God of all hope we worship You and praise You for Jesus,our hope Amen/

Believing determination. [ Romans 4 v 18-22]

I may just borrow a number of phrases from A.Motyer commentary of Isaiah,writing in chapter 35 v 3-4,the prophet declares,/Strengthen ye the weak hands,and confirm the feeble knees.Say to them that are of a fearful heart,Be strong,fear not,behold,your God will come with vengeance,even with a recompense,he will come and save you./ A.M.writes this,/It is a call to the fortitude [ the word fortitude has a number of meanings, courage, backbone] of faith,not grim determination,but believing determination/ The Bible tells us the the just shall live by faith [Galations 3v11],and so as we move on,towards our goal and home,it must be, by faith and faith alone.We are saved by grace through faith,now there is a life of holiness,a life of taking up our cross day by day,and following Jesus. An non Christian said a Christian who was experiencing difficulties,I do not know how you cope and go on, the Christian with a twinkle in his eye,replied, but I do.
A prayer....../Dear God grant us that believing determination,to go on until we see our great king in His beauty,in His name we ask this. Amen/

Read your Bible. [2 Timothy 3 v15ff]

I read recently how the great George Whitefield,when reading the Bible would use a commentary in his devotional times,and so following his example I have been using A. Motyer's commentary on Isaiah.It is academic but also has a devotional quality to it,which makes it enjoyable to read,I am half way through the book of Isaiah,I am taking a more leisurely approach to my Bible reading,I have read the bible through many times,so I have decided to take my time,and use whatever means,to help me understand more of what I am reading. A little chorus comes to mind,which goes,/Read your Bible pray every day if you want to grow,/if we neglect this advice it will effect us,and not for the better.So read the Bible,study the Bible,pray over the Bible,asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth,and that in His light[ the Word of God] you will see light,especially Him who is the light of the world Jesus.
A  prayer....../Dear God thank You for Your infallible word,help us not to neglect it,help us not to leave it, to the so called professionals to feed us, help us to begin to feed ourselves,so that we may grow spiritually,in Jesus name, Amen /

Have I got it wrong ? [ Romans 1 v16 ]

Sometimes I wonder  am I the only one who believes that people are not saved and that they  are sinners?,I listen to ministers who are not clear in their ministry as to peoples spiritual condition,why is it I feel like a voice crying in the wilderness?.Have I have got it wrong, am I the one who is out of step,am I crank?,all these things go through my mind.Well having said that,I know from Gods word,that all humanity are lost because of sin,and that unless they trust Jesus they will be lost,and I know that I have a deep responsibility to tell all ,about Jesus,the only one who can save.A. Motyer wrote, /Outside trust in the Lord and His promises,there is only death,there is no alternative salvation/May God deliver us from compromise,recently my fellow country man Ian Paisley died,he was a controversial person,and to many peoples surprise he went the road of compromise in his political stance,in order that a degree of peace would come to my beloved Ulster. Yet one thing he never compromised on ,was the gospel,of telling men and women of their need of Christ.May we follow big Ian's example, to remain faithful ,to Christ,it was the great apostle who said woe is me if I preach not the gospel.
A  prayer....../Dear God help us to be uncompromising in our stand for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen /

Do it. [ Psalm 133]

I was Mr Grumpy last night,like a bear with a sore head,I am glad that I did not have a cat,as I might have kicked it.The reason being I was tired,this morning I said sorry to my dear wife,which she accepted. Many years ago when I attended Bible college I felt I had offended one of the lecturers,the Holy Spirit spoke to me,and so I got on my bike and rode over to where he lived and said I was sorry.Not so long ago I felt I had offended a brother and his wife,so I called at their home and said I was sorry. Whither those dear people understood what I did,I understood,the Holy Spirit knew and I knew I had to say sorry,the result, the bond of unity was not broken.Unity in Gods church is very important , and we must do all we can to maintain it,and if we do God will be pleased,and God will bless. So if it means saying sorry to your wife,to your children,to other Christians,do it.
A   prayer...../Dear  God forgive us for not saying we are sorry,and help us to realise the importance of unity in Jesus name Amen /

Let go .[ Psalm 47v4 ]

I am still working although I am seventy,but recently I reduced my hours to four days,my manager agreed with this,I felt having Friday off would be best, but I ended up with the Monday off. I was a little bit disappointed,but as time went on I sensed God had as usual  made the right choice for me.I had prayed about it as I pray about everything,I am so glad God chooses my way,for to long in my life, I did it my way,but one thing I have learn' ed and am learning,to let God choose,yes let God choose.The hymn writer wrote,/I was not ever thus,nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on
                                         I loved to choose and see my path,but now lead Thou me on.
                                          I loved the garish day,and,spite of fears
                                          Pride ruled my will,remember not past years/[J.H. Newman].
A prayer...../Dear  God forgive our foolish proud hearts,and grant us the humility,to lean not upon our own understanding,to trust You totally,in all our choices and decisions,in Jesus name Amen /
                                        

His way is perfect. [Genesis 50 v20]

Do you ever ask the question what if?,what if the thing we fear most,would happen to us?,now the thing is, it may.I do not want to instill fear into your life ,God will save us from much,but He may also cause us to experience many things,that in themselves are painful.That is the reality,we must not have a one sided faith,an imbalanced faith,but a faith that will deal with all eventualities.
Joseph had a dream ,and its meaning was that he would rule over his family [Genesis 37v5ff],but before that happened ,he would suffer much.Likewise David was anointed to be king ,[1 Samuel 16]but he also had to endure much pain before that would happen.Job declared,/for the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me/[3v25],terrible things happened to that dear man,but in those terrible things God was refining him[23 v10].As a child of God we can rest in the fact that nothing can come into  our lives,that will be outside of Gods will,and will not be for our good and His glory.With that in mind,rest in the Lord,and one day we will look back and we will say, as for God his way was perfect.
A prayer...../Dear God help me look with the eye of faith at all my life's circumstances,that I may trust You,in Jesus name Amen /