Making decisions . ( Matthew 6 v 33 )

 C.Swindoll wrote the following,'Every day Christians are faced with decisions-not simply between right  and wrong,but between good,better ,and the best'. When David sinned, 2 Samuel 24 ,God give the option as to the punishment,he should receive.there were three.here they are,3 years of famine,3 months of fleeing from his enemies,or three days of plague in his land. So what did David do?,he let God choose because he knew that God was merciful. None of  these punishment were good,but in the end David made the best choice.In 1 Corinthians 3 we read that what we have done for Christ,will be judged as to their  worth,they will be tested as by fire. Every father wants whats best for their children,so it is ,our loving heavenly Father wants whats best for His children.Eric Liddell was asked why he was so willing to give up everything the Olympics now offered him,'Because I  believe God made me for China'he always replied.It was a costly decision but it was the best decision.

''I'll be back''. ( Acts 1 v 9 - 11 )

A famous actor is remembered for a phrase he used in one of his movies,''I'll be back'',I don't think I ever saw the movie. I'll be back,someone more important than any film star,said a similar thing,it was Jesus,it was on the night he would be betrayed,it was the night when all good Jews would keep the Passover .he knew that he was going to die ,and return to heaven,to prepare a place for his followers,and he adds ,''I will come back and take you to be with me  that you also may be where I am''. (John 14 v 3 ). As a Christian of many years, I have witnessed how many Christians are divided about the end times,and I think it is sad.Maybe I am over simplifying things when I say ,that their systems,and idea's become more important than Jesus,and his very simple, profound glorious promise ,''I will come back''  These words spoken by Jesus, have blinded  many to the fact that it is a blessed hope,not given, to cause division and bitterness.It is John the beloved disciple who records the words of Jesus in Revelation 22 v 20 ,''Surely I am coming quickly'', Johns response was this,'' Amen. Even so,come, Lord Jesus''.

The ultimate purpose in life. ( John 17 v 1 - 5 )

 I wonder what you think is the ultimate purpose of life,for us as believers?, serving God, yes we should all be serving God.But what has the apostle Paul to say as regards his service to God?,in Romans 15 v 17-18, he writes,'I glory in Christ in my service to God.'Yes I dare not boast about anything  except what Christ has done through me'. Stuart Townsend in that lovely hymn he wrote,'How deep the Father's love for us', penned these words,'I will not boast in anything,no gifts,no  power,no wisdom,but I  will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.' The moon cannot boast as regards as having light in itself, because it is a dead planet, the moon only reflects back to earth, the light from the sun.Without the sun it can do nothing ,hear what our blessed Saviour said,''apart from me you can do nothing''( John 15 v 5 ) The world is full of people who boast what they can do,those self made men and women,but the Christian says 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'( Philippians 4 v 13 ).There is no room for pride in the Kingdom of God,which leads us back to where we started,our ultimate purpose in life, the answer being ,to glorify God. C.T.Studd (missionary )  wrote ,'Only one life;'twill soon be past,only whats done for Christ will last', it will last ,if we do it for the glory of God and that alone.

The glories that shine afar. ( Hebrews 12 v 1 - 3 )

Most of us have heard of the Olympic games,but there was another similar event called ,'The Isthmian Games', which included ,chariot racing,wrestling, boxing,music,and poetry.Now you never knew that music,were considered a sport.It is recorded that Nero took part,by singing,the singing lasted hours,he by all accounts was not a very nice singer,and no one was allowed to leave while he sung, yet he won,by bribing the judges. The city of Corinth was about 10 miles from were it was held,it was very popular. On an ancient monument there was found the following epitaph of a boxer,'Here he died boxing in the stadium,having prayed to Zeus, for a wreath or death,aged 35 farewell'. Winning was everything ,the prize was a wreath made out of celery or pine.It was the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Christians at Corinth ,he wrote the following as regards those who partook in the games,''They do it to win a prize that will fade away,but we do it for an eternal prize''(1 Cor 9 v 25) Paul is not saying that salvation is based on what we do,but the Christian life demands effort, discipline C P  Philippians 3 v 10 - 14.Jesus  for the glory that was set before him endured the cross Hebrews 12 v 2,so we must not shrink back,the things of this life are but a wreath of celery no matter how they are dressed up,keep your eyes on Jesus, and the glories that shine afar.

Be faithful ( Proverbs 20 v 6)

 I shot a prayer up to God,it was a question,'What do you want me to do Lord?,',and the thought came into my mind,'be faithful'.What will Jesus say when  we stand before him?,''Well done good and faithful servant'  (Matthew 25 v 21 ). I hope we will all hear those words.,faithful,one of the qualities of God is His faithfulness 1 Corinthians 1 v 9 , tells us ,'God is faithful.',simple and plain, praise God that he is faithful,without his faithfulness where would we be?. In Proverbs 20 v 6,we read,'Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find'.?.Is the writer being to cynical? I am sure we would all like to think that we would always be faithful,we would protest if someone said we where not.Consider that awful night when they came to arrest our Saviour,we read,'Then everyone deserted him and fled'(Mark 14 v 50),yet earlier that evening they had all, not just Peter,  said that they would never do that v 31,I wonder would you or I have acted differently?. Yet our faithful Lord challenges all his followers to be faithful,it is a massive challenge,consider the following,in relation to being faithful in marriage,. I have been married twice, my first wife died,so I have a good idea,what it takes in any marriage . I do not consider my self an expert,so here is a few words from Charles Swindoll,''The married life is hard,yes, healthy marriages can bring love,joy, fulfillment,and excitement, all at a high cost of production. '' He goes unto to say ,''That far too many young couples who rush passionately into  a marriage commitment without fully understanding that the marriage life is hard work''.Hard in all, as it may be,the Christian is called to be faithful. 

Works ( Matthew 7 v 21 v 23 )

  The Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox ,believe that we not saved by faith alone,but by faith and works.But this would contradict what we read in so many places in the  Bible,they both stress what James wrote in his epistle, which appears to support their views. There is an old hymn with the following words, 'What can wash away my stain?,nothing but the blood of Jesus',The thief on the cross was saved without works,by simply believing in Christ,he went straight to heaven,( Luke 23 v 42 - 43.).So what can we say about the teaching of James,in that he says that works and faith justify us.In v 18 of chap 2, we have these words,'Show me your faith',in other words ,prove to me you have faith,manifest the reality of your faith,as Abraham and Rahab did.Jesus said by our fruits we are known, John says ,'So how can we tell who are children of God and who are the children of the devil. Anyone who does not live  righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God'( 1 Jn 3 v 10 ).The English Standard Version, puts it like this,'It is evident',in other  words these are proof ,that we have been forgiven. . Luther said ,''We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone''.

Faith ( Ephesians 2 v 8- 9 )

 The great missionary John .G.Paton , struggling to find a local word which would translate 'faith' and failing to find one,was interrupted by someone in great trouble and needing help.'Please, may I come and lean heavily on you?' he said.Commenting  on this Alec Motyer says ,'Faith is leaning heavily upon Christ; not labour but cessation of labour, not doing,but ceasing to do; simply leaning the whole weight of our needs upon him, and finding in Him acceptance before the presence of God, and a righteousness which could never be ours by our own works'. We are saved through faith in the finished work of  Christ there is no plus,the finished work of Christ and that alone saves,believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved   ( Acts 16 v 31 )