verse of the day
Sunday, 17 November 2019
Fear ( 1 Corinthians 2 v 3 )
I have a fear of heights, I don't know why I have this fear,it does not effect me flying,or indoors, but it appears to kick in in very exposed places. Now I have just been to see a movie called,'The Aeronauts', it seemingly is based on a true event. There are two main characters in the movie and one is a scientist. He wants to prove that if one goes high enough one can forecast the weather.So this is what they do,but to my surprise as they ascended into the atmosphere ,I felt fear,I wondered will I be able to stay in the cinema ,but I did,and in spite of my fear I enjoyed the movie,and encourage you to go and see it. Now of course I am a Christian a minister,should fear grip me?, should I feel condemned ?,no, thankfully it does not effect my life,I am not going to take up mountain climbing.All I know is I have fear as regards certain aspects of heights, it is part of my frail humanity,God understands,and loves me,and he loves you to, in spite of your fears.
Saturday, 16 November 2019
Opposites ( Lamentations 1 v 12 )
I read something that was very meaningful by Elie Wiesel when he said,'The opposite of love,is not hate,its indifference'.Now I know hate is a powerful emotion ,but when one thinks about indifference, we can see that it is very prevalent .How many people view disasters on the TV with indifference, how many pass homeless people in the street without a thought.In many countries many Christians are hated and persecuted for their faith , in the west the vast number of the population are indifferent to the Christian message. In Lamentations 1 v 12 we have the prophet Jeremiah crying out, ' Does it mean nothing to you ,all you who pass by'. Now the traditional meaning is, that of a cry towards those who are indifferent to the suffering that Jerusalem had experienced. Many have applied these words to those who are indifferent to the suffering of Christ.Lets be honest many wear a cross who have no feelings as regards the suffering of Christ.Many will look on a babe in a manger, and give no thought of the Christ on the cross. Indifference can be classed often as a sin of omission,in other words we looked on suffering, on the needs of others the pain of others, and we did nothing, felt nothing.The other possible meaning to Lamentation 1 v 12 ,that it is cry, a warning a pleading ,to not let such suffering befall on those looking on.
Friday, 15 November 2019
Small and insignificant .( Matthew 6 v 28 - 34 )
I sent a text to an old friend,she is living in a residential home ,this is what I said,''We may be small and insignificant ,but the One whose eye is on the sparrow is watching over us''.To God our loving heavenly Father we are precious,how do I know that ?,how do you know it?,the answer is simple yet profound,Calvary. We are told,'He did not spare his own Son,but gave him up for us all' ( Romans 8 v 32 ).Imagine that, amazing,words fail me when I read those words,what do these words tell us?,they tell us that we are precious to God,that He values us immensely,and so we read ,'the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.' ( 1 Peter 3 v 12 ) Now of course God is not a man ,he has no physical body,but He does see,and hear,and speak ,the Bible uses terminology in ways that we can understand .The truth this verse is telling us, is of an almighty God who is watching over us,and listening to us when we pray to Him,always.
Thursday, 14 November 2019
A Promise
We have all made promises,and have not always kept them,one of the charges made against politicians is,they don't keep their word.Someone has said ,'A promise can never be an end in itself, it must be fulfilled'.This is so true, a promise that is unfulfilled is of no use, unlike us ,God always keeps His word ,always.If He says He will do something ,He will do it, the greatest and most important promises was,the promise of a Messiah, a Saviour,consider the dilemma if that had never happened, no forgiveness ,no heaven,only guilt and judgement would be our portion. But the wonderful thing is He did keep His promise ,and what a blessing that continues to be.The Bible tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved ( Romans 10 v 13 ).
Wednesday, 13 November 2019
An Irish Greeting. ( Romans 8 v 31 ff )
I come from Ireland,but I cannot speak the Irish language, most people speak the English language , I have a dear friend and he taught me an Irish greeting. It is spelt ,'Dia duit ', it simple means ,'God be with you'.It is a lovely greeting ,in any language, for if God is with us we are blessed indeed. If only this could be said of all men,but alas the vast majority of people keep God out of their lives.They do not want Him to walk with them,and so they forfeit the greatest blessing anyone can experience. If you want God to be with you ,then trust Jesus,the one who will bring you into a relationship with God,and be truly blessed.
Monday, 11 November 2019
Come ( 1 John 1 v 7)
Isaiah 40 is one of the most wonderful chapters in the Bible, it is written to Gods people,who have suffered greatly for their sins,but God the God of all comfort,speaks tenderly to them.He proclaims that their time of suffering has passed ,they have been punished,but now they will experience restoration.God will make a way,all obstacle's will be removed,he will make a way.They had sinned grievously and had paid the penalty,the Lord is a forgiving God , like Israel of old we can be forgiven,we can be restored,right at the beginning of Isaiah we have a wonderful verse it reads,'Come now,and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow.Though they are red like crimson ,they shall be as wool ( 1 v 18 ),Why don't you come and experience this wonderful forgiveness,whoever you are,remember that through Christ all sins can be forgiving.
It is coming. ( John 3 v 16 )
Climate change is causing world wide problems, strong destructive winds ,and flooding,many people are very concerned,much of it is caused by humanity.. There are many who are in denial ,in spite of the reality,and evidence that's staring them in the face. It reminds me of one of the greatest causes of cancer ,smoking,so many people would not accept that smoking could cause cancer,some still don't. When one buys a packet of cigarettes there is graphic warnings on the pack,but still people smoke.In Genesis 19 we read how Lot was warned that because of their sin,God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah ,he was warned to leave with any family he had,so Lot went to his sons -in - law,to warn them, but they laughed thinking he was joking,and so they perished.Many do not heed warnings as regards their health,and a multitude of other things ,and suffer unnecessary. In Matthew 3 v 7,John the Baptist declares to a group of religious people ,'' To flee from the coming wrath'' There is wrath coming for all humanity, like John the Baptist I would solemnly warn you to flee from the wrath that's coming, flee to Christ the only one who can save from the wrath that is coming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)