Escaping ( Matthew 15 v 32 )

I was thinking how many people in this world are seeking to escape,I pray for people everyday who have had to flee to another country to escape persecution. I remember a youngster I stopped to talk to ,a number years ago,he was he was only a kid, he was homeless.The question is why was he homeless? why indeed, was he escaping from an abusive home?.people who are homeless must be escaping from something,after all who wants to be homeless?. I have never been homeless,I am a fortunate person I own my own home, I never thought I would be able to own my own home.Before you go to bed tonight offer up a prayer for those ,if you were to  ask them why?,they would reply,I'm  escaping, yes offer up a prayer for them.

We do not know. ( James 4 v 13 - 17 )

A very wise man wrote something very obvious, and yet so many never think about it ,'Do not boast about tomorrow,for you do not know what a day may bring'. ( Proverbs 27 v 1 ) I don't need to remind you of this,because of the present plague sweeping across the world. The verse starts with the words ,'Do not boast',the word boast has that element of pride to it, the Bible is full of people who boasted,and their boasting came to nothing. History is full of people who boasted in their pride,at what they were going to do,and failed. Multitudes at this time are facing difficult times,they never for one moment thought that all their planning would  come to nothing .The fact is we do not know  what any day will bring forth, even Christian people do not take the uncertainty of life seriously.It is not telling us to not  go forward but to go forward humbly ,and prayerfully, Proverbs 3 v 7 ,tells us,'Do not be wise in your own eyes', This is a warning against self confidence,here is a  word to the wise, 'In all your ways acknowledge Him ( God ),And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3 v 6 )

The young rich man ( Matthew 19 v 16 - 30)

He was a seeker,he was rich, but he felt empty, he was not only rich,but he was also very religious. He had everything, but there was a something that was missing,and so he comes to Jesus,surely this noted Rabbi could give the answer. He addressed Jesus as good teacher,and asked what good thing shall he  do that he may have eternal life?. Jesus had to challenge him, reminding him that his efforts to be good would never be good enough.  This young man would eventually be brought to the place were he would have to make a decision ,Jesus told him ,if you want eternal life then you must keep the commandments.,his reply was,'' which ones''?,I think it was a strange thing to say,for as James points out that if you break one commandment you break them all ( James 2 v 10 ).Jesus nevertheless goes along with him ,and mentions  5,and adds  ,to love your neighbour as yourself,  CP Matthew 22 v 37 - 40. The young man declares ,''all these have I kept'', ''what else must I do?'' Jesus tells him to go and sell all his  possessions and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven,then come and follow me. The young man went away sad,for he had many possessions. but the fact is, he went away poor , it could have been so different,today he could be in heaven instead he is in  hell.  Everyone is not challenged to give up all their money by Jesus, but we are all called to follow Him on his terms,it must be unconditional surrender.

The rich farmer ( Luke 12 v 13 - 21 )

'I'II pick up the bill', this is the promise made by Bill Gates, he says if the vaccine made by Oxford scientists works, he will help to get it produced on a huge scale. Bill is reputed to be the second riches man in the world.He is spending a large sum of his fortune on paying for research into various diseases. We commend him for his generosity, I don't see any problem in having riches,it  is what you do with your money that matters, and that applies to all of us.Our Saviour highlighted aspects of being rich. He told the story of a rich farmer ( Luke 12 v 13 - 21 ) who left God out of his life,all he cared for was gathering up things for himself.  Consider how we in the West are rich compared to so many in this world,and the sad thing is this,that so many are only interested in gathering up things for themselves. Jesus tells us how God dealt with that man and how he viewed him, He took him away in death from his riches ,and he called him a fool. The Message paraphrases  what Jesus said ,' That's what happens when you fill your barn with self, and not with God'.

The Lord is good to all. ( Ephesians 2 v 1 - 10 )

In Psalm 145 v 9, we read,'The Lord is good to all;he has compassion on all he has made',Because I love all my children, does not mean that I will not help those outside my family circle. So it is with God he does not limit his goodness to those just within his family,just to clarify ,Gods family are those who have been born again , when they trusted Jesus as Saviour ( John 1 v 12 ).,God has never forsaken this world he created,he is still a faithful creator,yes there is much suffering in this world,and that is because we live in a fallen world,let us remember ,God owes this world nothing,but this world owes God everything,the very breath that  we breathe comes from him.In the prosperous west many have  so much,cars homes,money etc,we have doctors,hospitals,and yet  never a word of thankfulness to God,instead he is denied,ignored,yet in spite of his goodness ,they live without him,and sad to say they die without him. It need not be so,if we turn to him ,we will find him merciful,kind and forgiving,Jesus said behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and open the door ,I will come in  ( Revelation 3 v 20)

Don't Tell ( 1 Timothy 2 v 3 - 7 )

I read a line from a poem ,which reads,'I'm still waiting to be saved,I'm afraid', that's all I know of the poem,  the words, made me think. A friend told me about a friend of his, a Christian, who was asked to give a little word of testimony of his Christian experience. Later the man who had asked him to speak requested him not to mention about being saved as it might offend people. So what do you think happened?,when he got up to speak,and he told how he had got saved. If God saves you ,then surely one would be delighted to tell others about being saved,The sad fact is ,that in so many churches ministers are not preaching about being saved,not because it offends others ,but because it offends them. Does it offend you? possible, because ,only you can answer that because,why do I preach or speak to individuals that they need to be saved?. The word of God tells us clearly ,that we are sinners ,I remember a person who  became irritated with me,why?,because I kept mentioning sin. As one person wrote the grim logic of history leaves me in no doubt that sin is a reality . The next reason for telling others that they need to be saved ,is because what awaits all who die with their sins unforgiven ,is to spend eternity in hell..The next reason would be because God has given me the awesome responsibility to warn people. Last but not least ,my love for sinners,it breaks my heart that people need my Saviour,yet ignore him ,for he is the only Saviour there is, his name is Jesus. His death shows the seriousness of sin,and the importance of trusting Him, for the forgiveness of your sins.

Raised ( Revelation 1 v 18 )

We finish looking at Gods answer as regards sin, and I just want to finish on the last bit the resurrection,in Romans 4 v 25 which reads 'He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification' Charles Hodge writing on this says, The resurrection of Christ,, is an historical fact, established by the most satisfactory evidence ( see 1 Corinthians 15 ),authenticates the whole gospel'.A quotation from the ' Believers Bible Commentary', is helpful.' Our justification is the result that is assured by Christ's resurrection. There could have been no  justification if Christ had remained in the tomb. But the fact that He rose tells us that the work is finished, the price has been paid,and God is infinitely satisfied with the sin atoning work of the Saviour'. Trust in Jesus,follow Jesus,know Jesus,love Jesus,and you will never be disappointed.