One God [2 Timothy 2 v 5 ]

John Stott wrote,'' The universality of the Gospel rests on a double foundation, namely the two truths that there is only one God, and only one mediator.'' He is commentating on 1 Timothy 2v5,which reads,'' For there is
one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus''.
Hinduism holds that there are millions of deities,but as Christians we believe ,in the words of Deuteronomy 6v4,''The Lord our God, the Lord is one''. It is our concept of our God that differs, the Christian believes God to be a triune being. Father ,Son, and Holy Spirit. Each are God ,but are not separate gods, they are one God. John Stott again wrote,'' He is not just the God of Jews only but the God of Gentiles too [Romans 3 v29-30].Thus both
Old and New Testaments affirm first ,that God is one and then that  this monotheism is the fundamental basis of one of world mission.One exclusive
faith[there is one God, and no other]leads necessarily to our inclusive mission[the one God wants all men to be saved]''.

                                           A prayer.
We worship you God and no other, in this world of confusion ,and ask that
we may not be drawn away from you, in Jesus name.

How am I saved. [ Acts 16 v31 ]

I was out on my daily walk and as  I was walking along I met two young fellows who where doing their religious service for their religion, they were Mormons. One was from Norway and the other from Oklahoma, USA, so I started a conversation with them. There initial conversation sound very Christian , but as I said to them, if we dig a bit further,  things would soon change. And of course it did they said that they did not have any assurance,
as regards being saved, until the judgement day. I stressed one cannot wait till then, but they said that on that day everyone would be given another chance to accept Christ. I did not stray into the many strange things they believe, no, I just sought to make it clear that it is Christ and Him alone who saves, and not by works.be you a Mormon or whatever religion, or even no religion, Heaven is only for those who have trusted, in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, we cannot add to that ,if we do ,we our making ourselves ineligible for Heaven. The works that a Christian does are vital  evidence that we are saved, compare Ephesians 2 v8-9.

                                     Nothing in my hands I bring
                                     Simply to your cross I cling.

How much do we love Him ?. [ Mark 8 v 34-37]

I sent a text to my wife, in a moment of romantic weakness, it read, ''I love you more than Manchester United'', my favourite football team. In Luke 14 v26,our Saviour tells a huge crowd ,''If anyone comes to me and does not
hate, father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes even his own life- cannot be my disciple''. Now the word hate seems a strange word to use ,but the simple explanation is this as quoted by W.
Hendriksen who writes,'' The meaning of hate in the Lucan passage is to love less, In all things Christ must always have the pre-eminence[Col 1 v18]
In Matthew 19 v 16ff, we read of a man who came to Jesus he had a wonderful testimony, he claimed to keep the law, he  honoured his mother and father, and loved his neighbour as himself. But things came to a head when Jesus told him to go, and sell his possessions and give to the poor. At that moment everything was held in the balance, what would he do ?, who or what did he love the most?.  This man was very wealthy, decision time, would he love Jesus more than his wealth?, there could be no compromise, was he going to receive eternal, or end up in a lost eternity?. Can we sincerely say ,I love Jesus more than.......
                                      A prayer.
Dear Lord help us to have a right sense of values, for the consequences of choosing wrongly is very serious .Amen.

Telling and praying [ 1 Timothy 2 v 1-4 ]

I was out walking, when I came into contact with a lady, whom I had met recently, we walked together for a while. As we walked I witnessed to her
it was a brief word of witness, but it was hopefully enough for her to come and accept Christ as her Saviour. Will you pray for that lady, that the short witness ,will be blessed to her salvation. I have an older sister, I have prayed  for her for a long time,recently my concern for her has grown,will
you pray for her that, like that woman she may come to know Christ as her
Saviour. Keep witnessing ,keep praying, for the lost, to the our loving God,
who would have all to be saved and come to an knowledge of the truth.

                           When Jesus has found you, tell others the story,
                           That my loving Saviour is your Saviour too;
                           Then pray that your Saviour may bring them to glory,
                           And prayer will be answered, it was answered
                                                   For you.
                                         [Words by Samuel.o'M. Cluff]

The travelling people.. [ Mark 1 v 16-20 ]

In Ireland there are people known as travellers, people of no fixed abode,
they move around. This is not a new thing we read about such people in the Bible whom we are told admitted that they were aliens and strangers on
earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking about the country they had left ,they would have had opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country a heavenly one. Therefore God their God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared a city for them.[ Hebrews 11 v13-15 ]Many of Gods people living in troubled areas of this world, have been driven out of lands which there  forefathers have lived in for centuries, do pray for them. The word of God tells us that the things that are seen are temporal, that includes this planet earth [Isaiah 65 v17 ].Our Lord challenged those of us who grasped to tightly to the things of this life, and the danger that they brought.[Luke 16 v23]He challenged those who followed him, to act in a way that went against human reasoning[Matthew 19 v16ff]To Love Him more than their nearest and dearest, calling them to forsake all, and follow Him, and become the travelling people.

                            Will you come and follow Me,
                             if I but call your name?
                             Will you go where you don't know
                             And never be the same?
                             Will you let my love be shown,
                             Will you let my name be known,
                             Will you let My life be grown in you,
                              And you in Me?
                                     [Words by G. Maule/ J.L. Bell]

Wedding vows [Ecclesiastes 5 v 4 - 5 ]

A husband of a Christian friend of mine is needing a lot of care, I mentioned it to her, and she replied,'' It comes with the licence''. Many people have changed the vows they make when they get married now,but when my friend and her husband got married they  spoke the following.
                          Wilt thou have this woman to be
                           Thou wedded wife, to live together
                          according to God's ordinance
                          in the holy state of matrimony?                      
                          Wilt thou love her, comfort her,
                            honour and keep her,
                           in sickness and in health;
                           and forsaking all other,
                           keep thee only unto her,
                           so long as you both shall live.
My they are very challenging words, we are not only saying these words to each  other, but in the presence of the Lord, and that is why it is so serious.
He expects us to be faithful as to what we vow, My friend is right, it comes with the licence, how are we living up to it?.
                               A  prayer.
Dear God help us to be faithful to our wedding vow's, as long as we both
shall live, in Jesus name Amen.
                         

I hope you will be ready.[ 2 Thessalonians 1 v 3-10 ]

I was surprised when my wife, brought her mobile phone to me, and we were not only able to talk to my son , but to see him and his wife.  I have not seen this service on a mobile phone before. It was mentioned years ago, now it is a reality, what tremendous changes have taken place within my 72years.When I was young very few people could afford to own their own home, television was none existent, the radio, or wireless, and cinema were the most popular means of entertainment. I remember how we played football in the street, not a good idea now, because of the amount of cars on the road. That is another thing that has changed, car owners, car ownership was for the few, now households can have two ,three, or even four cars, as for TV's, so it goes on. As to travel many of us have been to places that our parents only read about, or saw in the movies. I could go on, and on, but I wont, but one thing that has not changed, is humanities, sinful condition. We still live in a broken world which no amount of technology, education, social improvement will never change, this is a sad, sad reality. At times as I look out on this world I somewhat despair,and I found myself praying for the Lord to come back, to put an end to all the suffering. The fact is Christ is coming back, this old world will be finished with, and a new heaven and earth will come into being. The promise of a glorious future awaits all who have trusted Jesus, an awful future awaits those who have not, you can be part of that glorious future, by asking Jesus to be your Saviour.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus we thank you that you are coming again, for those who have trusted you as Saviour, that may share your eternal glory. Amen.