Who is this Jesus? [2 Pter 1 v1-3]

Who is this Jesus?,well let me briefly tell you who he is,in the book of 2 Peter 1 v2-3, we read,/  To those who through the righteousness of our God
and Saviour Jesus Christ,have received a faith as precious as ours.Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.First we note that Jesus is clearly taught as being God.this is what Peter is saying,in other words,as Dick Lucas comments,/Peter attributes deity to Jesus,/  yet he is not all there is to God,for in the biblical
view of God ,we have God the Father and God the Holy Spirit,yet they are one.Next Peter calls him,  Christ[ the anointed one] That means he was, and is ,that long awaited one ,who the many thought would rescue Israel,instead he came to rescue  all mankind.Thirdly he calls Him Saviour, as it was foretold,this meant He would save them from their sins.[Matthew 1 v21].
Fourthly he calls Him Lord,Lord one who rules,again it is Dick Lucas who points out that the word Lord  [kyrios] was the standard translation in the
Septuagent[the Greek version of the Old testament] for the Hebrew name
of God./Yet as Lord we are stressing the importance of obedience.
                                         A prayer.
Dear God help us to hold fast to the truths in your word ,concerning Jesus.
in His name we ask this. Amen.

To God be the glory [ 1 Samuel 30 v 6ff ]

I cannot stress enough the importance of praying about everything, it is vital that we acknowledge God in all our ways[Proverbs 3 v6 ].The Israelites made a pact with the inhabitants of Gibeon,and never asked counsel of the Lord[Joshua 9 v 14] , that scripture is a reminder to us of the importance of praying before we make decisions,Now of course we are at times forgetful, God understands,he is not a tyrant,consider the words of Psalm 103v13-14,Like as a father pitieth his children,so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.Yes understands our weaknesses,as every parent ,but even more so.But because have to some degree the spirit of the prodigal in us,in that we desire our independence,if we run with that spirit,we like Israel of old will run into
trouble ,CP.Joshua 9 v14.What was their failure as why they never sought the Lord,was it because of their former victories,but their victories came through the Lord. As a person who has been following the Lord,for over 51 years,I realise more than ever,the importance of continually praying to God.
When we pray we are acknowledging our dependence upon God and Saviour Jesus Christ,to guide us,to protect us,to provide for us,to keep a keep a hold on us.We are acknowledging that it is not our resilience or toughness, that will bring us through.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God and Father, forgive us our foolish attempts at being independent ,
from you,help us by your grace,to acknowledge you in all our ways,in Jesus name Amen.

He cares.[ 1 Peter 5 v7 ]

It is not often we see people in high office crying,but it was refreshing to see President Obama shedding a tear.His concern is caused by the gun crime in his country,he desperately wants to bring greater control into a situation that is out of control, I hope and pray that he succeeds.The President appears to be man who cares,we need leaders who care, but the
important truth is, we all need to be caring people.One of the great truth about our Saviour is that He cares,when he walked on earth,he cared,in so
many ways. Of course His coming into the world ,was based on the fact that he cared,not just about people physical needs,or material needs,but their spiritual needs.To meet that need, it would take all the love he had,it would mean him dying on a cross,and on that cross,to suffer for our sins.He knew that if he did not suffer for our sins,then we would have to suffer. It is hard for us to take in the reality of sin and its eternal consequences,because we
lean upon our own understanding.The word of God clearly teaches that we sin ,and are capable of the committing awful things,that we are not only flawed,but fallen human beings.So Jesus came to rescue us, he is known as a man of sorrows,that sorrow was borne out of a heart that cared. He still cares,still seeks to save that which is lost.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus we thank you that  cared so very much for us that  you died
for us on Calvary Amen.

He makes all the difference. [ 2 Corinthians 5 v17 ]

There used to be a TV program called ,/All our yesterdays/,it reminds me that many people love nostalgia related to the past.The Irish are full of it,one of my favourite  movies is the Quiet man,it is enjoyable,but in many ways false.The fact of the matter millions upon millions of Irish, north and south had to leave Ireland, because of the terrible poverty.So when I look back on my country history I do not look at it through rose tinted glasses.Of
course  ,I remember the terrible violence,which even now can erupt.But as I look on my life when I lived there,there is much I am grateful for,it is there I heard the gospel,from my childhood,and I am thankful that God in His sovereignty ,choose  the place of my birth.I am grateful that as child I
attended an evangelical church,where they had godly Sunday school teachers, and children's workers . Also as I grew up I heard many dear godly men preach Gods word,and God used their ministry to touch my heart.The past history of my country is far from perfect,likewise my own personal history,but God in His great mercy saved me,when Jesus became my Saviour,and its that reality that has made all the difference,in my life.
                              A  prayer.
Dear God thank you ,that when we come to know Jesus as our Saviour then in spite of our past,that makes all the difference,thank you ,in Jesus name Amen.

You may be confused.[ Isaiah 55 v 8-9 ]

In this week ,a lady I know who was suffering from cancer ,has been told that the treatment has been successful,I will share the background to this at a later date. Another lady I know who had cancer ,has died,both these ladies knew the Lord,one was spared the other was not.Sometimes when things happen we struggle,to cope ,both these ladies were godly ladies,but one was spared the other taken.As I prayed about these things,I admitted to being confused,and the Lord said to me,you may be confused,life is full of so many confusing things.When we read Gods word we see people who experienced tragedy's as well as triumphs.People of God who suffered injustices,betrayal,consider Job,the awful loss's he experienced,and then being told by his friends that he was to blame,which of course he wasn't. I could go on giving examples,but let me return to what the Lord said to me,about being confused,because we have to appreciate that we are not God
we are very limited human beings,unlike us God is not confused,He knows what He is doing.I love a good mystery ,Agatha Christie is one my favourite authors,but that's fiction,entertainment,but real life mysteries,can throw me,
like the ones I have mentioned.It is then I have to remind myself of the wonderful Biblical truth,that God is sovereign,that means He is in control,
that He has a plan for all our lives,even though it may involve severe loss, a dark valley experience.
                                           A prayer.
Dear God help us by your grace to cope with loss,or whatever trials we have to face,replace confusion with trust,pain with healing,and hope where there is despair,in Jesus name Amen.

Peace be still. [ Mark 4 v35-41]

The disciples where in a storm,the boat was filled with water,our Saviour
was so tired,that inspite of the storm,He was asleep.But the disciples ,they were wide awake,scared out of there lives,and puzzeled as to why the Master slept,when they where in so much danger.So they went to Him,and woke Him up ,and said,Master carest thou not that we perish?. Jesus arose and spoke to the storm,He said,/Peace, be still/,and the wind ceased,and there was a great calm.
                              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;
                              In every change He faithful will remain.
                              Be still,my soul,thy best,thy heavenly,Friend.
                              Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

                              Be still,my soul , Thou God doth undertake
                              To guide the future as He has the past.
                              Thy hope,thy confidence let nothing shake;
                              All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
                              Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know
                              His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

                             Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on,
                             When we shall be for ever with the Lord,
                             When disappointment,grief and fear are gone,
                             Sorrow forgot,loves purest joys restored.
                              Be still,my soul,when change and tears are past,
                              All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
                          [Words by:   K.A.D. Von Schlegel./b.1697/
                                                J.L. Borthwick /1813-97]

                             

It will be worth it. [ Matthew 25 v 34 ]

I wrote the following down recently,I do not remember who said it,,/I never said it would be easy,but I said it would be worth it/.Christ never pulled the wool over anybodies eyes,people who came to him stating that they wanted to follow him, where told ,that there was a cost. He himself in doing His Fathers will  paid a heavy price,after all just coming into this planet as a child meant, becoming poor,and it meant living always in the shadow of the cross.No it was not easy for him ,but he knew the importance of what he was doing,and he knew that it would be worth it[Hebrews 12v2]Every great sportsperson knows that there is a cost of involved in greatness,anyone who wants to accomplish whatever in life knows that there is a cost.Any successful marriage is accomplish at a cost,bringing up a child involves a
cost.Life by its very nature can be  difficult,so why should we think that being a follower of Christ will be any different.I continually read of dear Christians who are in prison,who have had their loved ones murdered,who have lost all earthly possessions.What does 2016 hold for us,who profess to
be followers of that man of Calvary,there are no guarantees,that it will be easy,but let me say this from the bottom of my heart,it will be worth it.
                        He who would valiant be,gainst all disaster,
                        Let him in constancy,follow the master.
                       There's no discouragement, shall make him once relent,
                       His first avowed intent ,to be a Pilgrim.
                             
                        Who so beset him round,with dismal stories,
                        Do but themselves confound,his strength the more is.
                        No foes shall stay his might,though he with giants fight.
                        He will make good his right,to be a pilgrim.

                        Since Lord,thou dost defend us with thy Spirit.
                        We know we at the end shall life inherit.
                        Let fancies flee away,I'll fear not what men say.
                       I'll labour night and day,to be a pilgrim.
                [Written by John Bunyan,who suffered imprisonment for
                  preaching the gospel]