The Cup ( Romans 12 v 1 - 2 )

Following on from the previous reading,when Jesus was asked to grant a special privilege to James and John to sit one at the right hand, and one on His left hand ,in His Kingdom. Jesus answer was very honest ,telling them there was a cost to such a desire,even death,but it is W.Barclay who writes,''It is quite wrong to think that for the Christian the cup must always mean the short ,sharp, bitter,agonizing struggle of  martyrdom;the cup may well be the long routine of the Christian life, with all its daily sacrifices, its daily  struggle,and its heartbreaks and its disappointments and its tears.A Roman coin was once found with the picture of an ox on it; the ox was facing two things- an ox (sacrifice) and a plough (service ); and the inscription read;''Ready for either.'' When I was younger my wife and I  felt led to serve God on the mission field,but God shut that door in His will,and led us in another direction.There is a gospel song called ,''Follow Me,'' the last verse reads,'O Jesus if I die upon a foreign field some day,Twould be no more than love demands- No less could I repay. No greater love hath mortal man ,than for a friend to die. These are the words He gently spoke to me; If just a cup of water I place within your hand, then just a cup of water is all that I demand,'But if by death to living, they can Thy glory see, I'll take my cross and follow close to Thee.'

The cup ( Matthew 10 v 21 - 42 )

In Matthew 20 v 20 ff we read how the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus,kneeling before Him,asked that her two sons would sit ,one on His right hand,and one on his left hand,in His Kingdom.. I wonder what she meant by His kingdom,at this stage the Jews were expecting an earthly King, who with the Jews would rule over the nations. Whatever it may mean she wanted her sons to have a special place in that Kingdom, all the disciples likewise wanted that special place.( 18 v 1) Jesus reply was,'' do they really understand what that meant, and were they prepared to drink from the bitter cup of suffering that he was going to drink. Jesus knew what lay ahead the cross was never hidden from Him (C. P. 20 v 17 v - 19 ) The cup of suffering has been the lot of many Christians  from the beginning ,  right down to this present day.This is graphically shown in pictures  of Christians kneeling before Islamic State  people,and they are about to be beheaded.This will always be,for some of those who put there faith in Jesus,in will not change,this world is not a friend of Jesus, what can we do? we can pray for  those who are called by God to suffer for Christ.Such actions by the like of Islamic S. is not only evil ,but,' utterly evil'.and has with it a demonic character,it goes beyond the person suffering, it is directed at God'( quote by W. Grundmann )

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)