Why did Jesus come ? ( 1 Timothy 1 v 15 )

I said last  time that Gods love is not blind,because His is a holy love,that means He see's us as we really are,sinners.We try to ignore or even resent those words,and there are even some foolish ministers who do not like using the word sinner, They feel that it will offend people,it more than likely does,but that's neither here or there,it is the truth,and until a person accepts the fact that they are sinners,they will never get to heaven. They will  say ,no one is perfect,yes they can accept those words,but they will not accept that they are sinners,and unless that sin is forgiven they will never enter heaven.

How great is your darkness? ( John 1 v 1 - 5 )

There he was walking on the other side of the road, I have spoken to him a number of times while out walking. So I crossed over and talked to him,now I had a gospel leaflet in my pocket,so I asked him would he accept it. He started edging away from me, saying he had it in his head, and that people were his gods,so I  carried on with my walking, and as I walk along I passed a tree and there on the  ground, beside the tree was plate of food and a glass of water.I wondered what that meant,it appears to be a Hindu practise,relating to their beliefs,trees and animals can be seen as sacred.Of course humanity worships so many different things ,Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6 v 23,'If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is your darkness.'People are full of all sorts of beliefs weird and strange ,that man who said he worshipped people,was saying that was his light. The person who bows before a tree, is saying that's my light, that is what I believe, Jesus declares how great is their darkness, there darkness is great.Jesus declared ,'I am the light of the world . Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the life of light'.( John 8 v  12 )

Forsaken, Forgotten? ( Hebrews 13 v 5 )

Had God forgotten Joseph when his brothers sold into slavery,and when he was unjustly cast into prison?. Had God forgotten Job when he lost his family,possessions ,health?,had God forgotten Jeremiah when he cast into a pit?or when Paul was beaten and put into a prison?. If I added your name to the list,by adding your difficulties that you may be having,and ask do you think God has forgotten you?.In Mark 4 v 35 ff we read that the disciples where in a boat with Jesus, suddenly a storm came up the boat was in danger of sinking. Now all the time Jesus was sleeping,and did not appear that Jesus cared if they perished,they even told him as much.Now that takes it to another level, It is a fact that when we are in difficulties and it appears that the Lord is not responding ,and does not appear to be even listening to ones prayers that we think all sorts of things?.In Isaiah 49 v 14 we have Gods people declaring, 'The Lord has forsaken me,the Lord has forgotten me'.Here is what God replies.'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast, and have no compassion on the child she has borne?.Though she may forget I will not forget you. See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.( Isa v 49 v 15 - 16 ) That's the word of the Lord for you today.

You are ( John 3 v 16 )

We read that God  is love  ( 1 John  4 v 8 ) and we read  ,that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten  Son,  that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3 v 16 ) God loves the world , here it means people,you and I,everyone without exception.But lets contrast Gods love with with human love,   Derek Tidball writes the following ',Human love is usually 'Eros' ,it loves those who are worthy, lovable and able  to love us in return. It is characterised by desire, often a desire to possess'. He goes to contrast this with Gods love,using the word  'Agape' agape love is one that loves the unworthy,and does so freely....Gods love differs from ours,not just in quantity but in kind'.Gods love is not a blind love, no it is an all knowing love,he knows our innermost thoughts,our secret sins,our open sins, He knows everything about everybody. In spite of the fact that we are unloving, unthankful ,We will continue this next time.

Comfort Zone ( Matthew 9 v 9 )

I  remember speaking at  a reasonably large church, and I said that  I felt a bit out of my comfort zone,as I  usually speak at small churches. We do hear this phrase ,'comfort zone, ' mentioned at times ,it usually implies a place or task  your comfort with. So it is when we feel we are being pushed out of our comfort zone, whatever it may be,we become anxious,resentful ,we could even feel anger. When Israel was in the wilderness , and things were difficult, they began speaking of Egypt as their comfort zone ( Numbers 11 v 18) ,even though the Egyptians had treated them as slaves,and on Pharaoh's orders ,they had to destroy their little children.( Exodus 1 v 22 ) It is so sad,so tragic that peoples comfort zone,is a place of darkness,slavery,a place of no hope,for we are told people love darkness rather than life (John 3 v 19.),love for such a comfort zone,has dire consequences.God offers all, life and life abundant,do not be fooled  by your so called comfort zone, come to Christ and know him who is the true comforter.oh yes it will be challenging,but there is nothing wrong with a challenge,and in the end it  will be for the best.

I will venture { Psalm 23 v 4 )

John Bunyan author of ,'Pilgrims Progress',spent many years in prison for preaching the Gospel' While in prison,fear took hold of him,''my imprisonment'' ,he thought, ''might end on the gallows''. Later on he was ashamed of being afraid,''Methought I was ashamed to die with a pale face.',so  finally he came to the conclusion as he thought of himself climbing up the ladder to the gallows. Wherefore he thought , I am for going on and venturing my eternal state with Christ whither I have comfort  here or no, if God doth not come in, I will leap of the ladder even blindfold into eternity, sink or swim, come heaven, come hell. He finished by praying,''Lord Jesus, if thou wilt catch me,do; if not, I will venture for thy name''.

Not half done. (Hebrews 7 v 25 )

Some people are not very good at 'Do it yourself',' so some jobs in the home, don't get finished,so the wife nags them,asking them the inevitable question ,when are you going to finish that job?. It reminds me how many people think that Jesus never finished the work of salvation,the result is they think  that they need to finish it,to as it were, give it that final touch. They are either told by  some supposed authority, that they must do their bit,good works,law keeping,etc.Here is what Jesus said just before He died on the cross,''It is finished'' ( John 19 v 30 ),that means what it says,'it is finished', I repeat this again 'it is finished.'In Hebrews 7 v 25, we read, 'Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them'.