Be discerning. [ John 16 v 13 ]

If you read my thought for the day,you will observe,that I quote from different writers,but a note of caution,I do not agree necessary with all their views.No more that the apostle Paul agreed with those poets he mentioned in [Acts17 v28],the point I am making is,be a prayerful discerning person,as
to what you read, or for that matter what you hear preached. In Acts 16 we read of the apostle Paul ministering at a place called Berea,he had a difficult
time in Thessalonica,the Jews as usual had,rejected the message,blinded by
envy,they never really took time to look into what Paul was saying.So he
moved on to Berea,where we read,'These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,and searched the scriptures daily,whether these things were so.'Two things that are important,be willing to receive what is according to scripture,and reject  what is not in accordance with scripture.
                                                 A  prayer.
Dear God grant unto us willing hearts to receive your truth,but also to be discerning ,so that we are not lead astray,in Jesus name we ask this Amen.

Evidence.. [ Matthew 5 v16 ]

I found myself singing an old gospel song this morning,I cannot remember
who wrote it,it goes .
                                   ''Each day I'll do a golden deed .
                                   By helping those who are in need,
                                   My life on earth is but a span,
                                   And  so I'll do the best I can''
The story is told of soldiers who broke into a monastery,demanding of the Abbott to give up their money and jewels,the Abbott took them to a room wherein lay the sick.The Abbott pointed to them and said these are our riches,these are our jewels.We rejoice that we are not saved by our good works,but the evidence that we are saved is shown by those good works we do,[James 2 v18].We often pray for the Lord to guide us as to what we should do,well we read in Ephesians 2 v10. ''For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them''.
                                           A prayer.
Dear God we thank and praise you that we are not saved by what we do,but
what you did through Jesus your son.We ask that you will help us to show by good works,the reality of our relationship with you,in Jesus name we ask this Amen

Want of trust. [ Proverbs 3 v5-6]

We sang a song at our fellowship recently which had the following words,
'We will put our trust in the Lord' this was repeated.these words our so easily sung,or spoken.But it is one the greatest challenges we have to rise
to,continually.I remember reading the life story of Hudson Taylor,a man who founded the China Inland Mission.Before he went to China he trained to be a doctor,one day as he was assisting in examining a dead body,he got infected ,and he was advised to go home,put his affairs in order,for he was going to die.Hudson believed God had called him to go to China,so he trusted God to live,which of course he did,and he went on to serve God in the land of China.Here is something he said,'Want of trust,is at the root of almost all our sins and all our weaknesses'.Why is it when a problem arises
I hear God saying to me,'Trust me'?,because our relationship is built on trust.Life is a challenge,it throws many things at us,the list is endless,but whatever you are facing today,the way through it,is to simply trust in the Lord with all your heart,and to lean not upon your own understanding[Proverbs 3 v 5].
                                      A  prayer.
Dear Lord grant unto us the grace of simple trusting you,no matter what comes into our lives. Amen.

Run as if your very life depended on it. [1 Corinthians 3 v10-15]

I love sport and one thing sport throws up is what we call an underdog,who surprises everyone by winning,now I do advocate gambling,but the bookies
were giving odds of  five thousand to one,of a certain team winning the
Premier league. To everyone's surprise they did just that,of course I am writing of a football team, Leicester City.Now on the run up to winning, I read these words being attribute to their achievement,'eternal glory. I thought of what the apostle Paul wrote of those who won  events,'they  do it to win a prize that will fade away'[1Corinthians 9 v25]Now I do not want to take away from what that team did,but I can assure you it is nothing to do with eternal glory.The apostle compared the Christian life as to a race ,and reminds us that we will receive an eternal prize',now the Christian cannot merit salvation,but the apostle stresses,that as Christian we should see what is absolutely important,eternal values,eternal rewards[1 Corinthians 3 v10- 15 ]
                                      A  prayer.
Dear God ......O let me feel Thee near me,
                       The world is ever near;
                       I see the sights that dazzle,
                       The tempting sounds I hear;
                        My foes are ever near me,
                        Around me and within;
                        But Jesus,draw thou nearer,
                        And shield my soul from sin.
                                        Amen.
                              [Words by John. E. Bode ]

              

We can make a difference.[ 1 Samuel 17 v 12ff]

William Barclay wrote the following,''The pagan world was an unclean world.The pagan world did not know the meaning of  chastity....in Rome
unwanted children,especially girls,were literally thrown away.Every night
numbers of them were left lying in the forum.They were collected by dreadful characters,who ran brothels,and nurtured up to be prostitutes.''In the 19th century,God raised up a man called William Booth,who was the founder of the Salvation Army,and although England was a supposedly Christian country,such was the state of the country among a great deal of the population,he wrote a book called .'Darkest England'.It took a long time but thankfully things changed,much of it due to Christian influence.God used the Salvation Army,and many other Christian to bring changes for the better.Yet in so many places in this world the sex trade is active,drug barons
ply their trade,much evil is being perpetrated by Godless religions,and so many other dark powers.As I look back on history it seems as soon as one evil is put down,another stands in to take its place.The word of God tells us
that the days are evil[Ephesians 5 v16],that this a spiritual evil,on earth,and in the heavenly realms[Ephesians 6v12]The need of the hour is great and will become even worse,only as we are surrendered to God,will we be able to stand,and make a difference,and we can ,remember David the giant killer.
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God there is so much darkness in this world,help us your children,to make a difference,use us to bring the message of our Saviour,to those who sit in darkness,in His name we ask this Amen.

Distorting History. [ John 1 v1-5 ]

I recently purchased a book on the history of the Roman empire,and was
a bit confused,in the way the author dated events.Instead of the usual,BC
,before Christ,or AD,in the year of our Lord,we have the letters BCE,and CE.I had not a clue as to what they meant.I ask my son John about it,and he explained ,that BCE,means ,Before common era,and CE,means,Common era.It appears that this is the new political correct usage,I must confess I
was a bit annoyed,dropping the words BC, and Ad,but I suppose I should not be surprised,it is a sign of the times when Political correctness is
the in thing,BC/AD,are considered,terms that might offend ,even though they are the historical terms terms that that have always been in use,because in terms of world history,they are important.It appears to me that the historical reality of  Christianity is being expunged out,being  removed as something undesirable.As humanity continues to deny God as creator and replace Him with their god of evolution,the darkness appears to be gaining
control.I like the NLT translation of John 1 v5,which reads,'The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness can never extinguish it.'Irrespective of those who distort history,Christ came,and through His life,death and resurrection,will continue to ,to transform the lives of people on planet earth.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God we thank that we have your truth,and that no matter if so called historians distort the truth,the darkness shall not extinguish the light,even
Jesus who is the light of the world Amen.

No never alone. [Matthew 28 v20]

The disciples were facing a crises ,Jesus was about  to die,He then would be
resurrected,and then He would ascend to Heaven.That means He would not be around,yes physically that would be so,but the Holy spirit would come,and His presence would make the presence of Christ,a living reality.I read of many dear Christians who are suffering persecution,in some countries were there are few Christians.they feel isolated.There are Christians who are the only Christians in their families,in there place of work,in their schools.The word of the Lord to them today,and to all of us we are not on our own,there is an unseen presence with us all.For He says  to us all,I am with you always,as one writer points out,'The Gospel that began with the assurance that this baby would be Immanuel [God with us. Matthew 1 v23],closes with the assurance that he is with them still,and will be with them to the end of time[Matthew 28 v 20]. Dear child of God,no matter how what you may be facing,no matter how isolated you are,you are not alone,He, your Saviour is with you.
                                 No never alone,no never alone,
                                 Though trials may press you
                                 And burdens distress you
                                 He'll never leave us alone.
                                 His promise is true,
                                  He will not forsake you,
                                  No never alone.