Two plants. ( Hebrews 11 v 6 )

 I decided to trim back two  identical plants,the result was one died the other survived,I treated both plants the same,so why did one die and the other survived?. In Hebrews 11 we have a wonderful list of men and women of faith.Lets hold unto those words,' men and women of  faith'.The Christian life is a life of faith, it starts by faith, and continues by faith,our faith is placed in a God who is invisible,and yet a God who revealed himself in Jesus a human yet divine person.That person Jesus  came for the specific purpose of being a sacrifice,and through that sacrifice he would  bear the punishment that we deserve. As sinners who live under God's wrath  ( John 3 v 36 ),we can have that wrath removed when we trust what Jesus has accomplished on the cross. Having done that ,we now commence the journey of faith,and like Jesus we are called to live a life in accordance with God's will,  God's will can mean different things for all of us.Returning to my two plants ,when one died and one survived,there are other lessons we can learn , we  will consider this next time.

Justice ( Philippians 2 v 5 - 11)

The prophet Samuel ,who ruled Israel as the last of the Judges, gave a farewell speech to God'd people ,here is part of what he said,,''Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it?. Testify against me and I will restore it to you''. This is what they replied,''You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man' hand.? How many rulers could say they have acted like Samuel?,if only it was so,but as I often say we live in a fallen world,and so often those who rule,are often corrupt, and unjust. Corrupt government's litter humanities history, and once they get into power they cause so much pain and suffering.They are oblivious to the awful suffering they are causing, the people called Stalin uncle Joe, but he was no ones uncle,one will never know the depths of the suffering he caused. Things will not change , until the Lord returns, then he will rule by everlasting justice,and righteousness,in that new heaven and that new earth. ( Isaiah 9 v 7). Yes dear Christian, the King of Kings is coming,all evil rule will cease ,and be no more,yes the King is coming.

Just a woman. ( Galatians 3 v 28 )

 Let us look a little further at Rahab the harlot, she was not an Israelite ,but she became one, because like Abraham she exercised faith ,and that's what  saved her. The promise  that God gave  Abraham was 'through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed ( Genesis 22 v 18) God's ultimate plan was for  the world, of Jew and Gentiles,Galatians 3 v ,'So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, v 29. 'If you belong to Christ then you are Abraham's seed ,and heir's according to the promise'. So Rahab became part of God's family. as do all who exercise faith in Jesus and his sacrificial death.In many countries woman today are despised,as it was in Christ day.especially in the nations of Islam,and if they become a Christian they are doubly despised.In rape cases some of the dear victims have been stoned because as women they must have done something to have caused it.P. Hughes points out,'in the sphere of faith there is neither male nor female. (Gal 3 v 28 ). Rahab is honoured by God firstly by being mentioned in the list of people of faith.,but she was also honoured by being mentioned in the the genealogy of our Saviour (Matthew 1 v 5 ).Dear sisters in Christ, worry not if you are despised because of your gender, in God's eyes you are precious,and dearly loved.

A prostitute.( 6 v 9 - 11 )

 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been  encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot  did not perish with those who were disobedient,because she had given friendly welcome to the spies.  ( Hebrews 11 v 30 - 31 )The nation of Israel had forty years previously escaped from Egypt, now they were going to possess the promised land.That meant taking it by force, the first obstacle was the great city of Jericho.Israel had sent out spies to view the land,and Rahab  had hidden them.Why had she done this? she had become a believer in Israels God ( Joshua 2 v 11 )She was a prostitute ,but as Philip Hughes writes,'this ,however, is a description of Rahab as she was before she came to faith and identified herself with the people of God- as Matthew continued to be known as the tax collector,( Mt .10:3 )..Some people think that Christianity is only for good ,moral people,they are wrong,it is for sinners. It was our Saviour who rebuked the religious people of his day, with these words: ''Truly , I say to you, the Tax  collectors and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you''.( Mt 21 v 31 )  John Newton wrote that wonderful hymn,that starts with these words,'Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me', he wasn't exaggerating ,Here are the words on his gravestone,''John Newton, Clerk/Once an infidel and libertine/A servant of slaves in Africa was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ/ Preserved Restored, Pardoned and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy''

My new passport. ( Philippians 3 v 20 )

It has finally arrived,my new passport, as one who was born in the United Kingdom, in Belfast ,I already have a British passport,but this new one is an Irish passport,so that makes me a citizen of two countries. But I am also a citizen of another country, as a Christian  I am a citizen of a heavenly country,I value that citizenship more than the other two .So I am a citizen of three countries ,now coming back to my Irish passport,my wife could not get one, because she was not born in Ireland.So it is that no one who is not born again ,can ever be a citizen of heaven.There is a rule for all who want to live in Ireland ,United Kingdom , and Heaven, you must be a citizen. The USA are building a new fence to keep people out, you just cannot decide to live in USA, or Ireland,or wherever.When it comes to being a citizen of Heaven God has made possible that anyone can become a citizen..How?,by accepting Christ as their Saviour.That means they must, and I stress must, ask Him ,to forgive them, their sins, No matter how they may bang on the door of heaven it will remain shut, if their sins have not been forgiven. So if you want to become a citizen of Heaven, you know what's required ,what's stopping you.?.

If. ( Psalm 124 }

 As I sat in my living room I looked at a photo of my two older brothers and myself ,when we  were  very ,young, I must have been about six yrs of aged.And I said to myself,' from there to now',yes it was a  long time ago,many ,many things have happened, I could not help but think how the Lord has brought me through so much. As a youngster I trusted the Lord,and until the age of twenty my relationship was a stop and go thing,yet even though I was unfaithful , He remained faithful, and brought me through those years ,I may not have been aware of it ,but looking back on my whole life I can see His providential care. By faith I can trace His gracious hand being upon my life,yes from there to now.David  reflecting on Israels journey, declares,' If the Lord had not been on our side,let Israel say-if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us up alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us,the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away'( Psalm 124 v 1 - 5 )  We who are the Israel of God ,can truly say an Amen to those words.One commentator says,'What would have happened if He had not been our Defender,Provider, and Guide?.Every child of God, no matter how poor and humble has the assurance of  Scripture that the mighty God is ever on their side protecting them from all destructive hordes; and blessed be the name of Jehovah, one with Him is ever in the majority''.

Another Problem ( Psalm 54 v 4 )

 My came wife into the room I was sitting in and spoke of something  that was strange,a difficulty,and I found myself saying ,'another problem for the Lord  to sort out'. The previous day I had a problem, my mobile phone had gone missing, I tried everywhere but I could not find. I blamed myself,but I prayed,A friend had being doing some work in our home,I phoned him thinking that  he may have absentmindedly taken it with him,he replied he hadn't. So that was that, but I had  prayed,I went outside to put some rubbish in the bin,and who should pull up in his car, my friend,whom I had phoned earlier. Well you guessed it,he had my phone,he had indeed absentmindedly put my phone in his tool box,another problem the Lord had solved. What a friend we have in Jesus,one who can solve every problem,if we but ask Him.As I look back in my life I see how He  has solved so many problems,which includes family problems,money problems,major and minor problems,you name it He has done it.