Whose first in your life? ( Matthew 8 v 18 - 22 )

 Consider what one of the greatest challenge we face in life,LOVE,   Consider what Jesus taught ,'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it.Love your neighbour as yourself. ( Matthew 22 v 37 - 39 ). Are not these the most challenging words in the Bible,the first one tells us , (and these two verses are commands)that we are to love God with our total being. The words of Jesus to Peter comes to mind,when he said,''Do you love me more than these'',apply that to the first commandment about loving God. How do you feel when it is pointed out from scripture that we are sinners?,do you protest your innocence?,you do not think you are  a bad person ,you would not cheat anybody,you are a good husband, father,a good son and daughter,neighbour, etc, but that is not facing up to the question as regards loving God.I put it to you that no one loves God as they should, that is very serious,because it is challenging ,it is saying that you are a sinner.That has serious consequences ,Jesus faced people with  what really was first in their lives,when he said these challenging words,'follow Me',money got in the way,religion got in the way,family got in the way,what is getting in your way?.Jesus was truly God and truly man,and when you refuse to follow him ,you are clearly showing, that you do not love God,and that you are a sinner.

Working your Ticket (2 ) ( Colossians 1 v 19 - 20 )

 We continue on considering the one who said ,''I have come to do your will, my God'',Jesus knew why he had come,in John 6 v 38 we read him saying,''I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me''.Well it entailed a number of things,to finish animal sacrifice,because as the book of Hebrews tells us in 10 v 11,'they can never take away sins'. one commentator writes,'Offerings which can never take away sins, can only be repeated'.The answer, Christ would become a sacrifice for  sin (John 1 v 29 ),on the cross, and his last words were,'' It is finished''.The sacrificing of animals was finished, His sacrifice effectively dealt with sin,in that he bore the wrath of God,that rests upon everyone (John 3 v 36 ) This means when we trust Jesus as our Saviour are sins are forgiven, and the wrath of God is lifted from us,and we are saved from wrath to come. In conclusion, no animal sacrifice,no pilgrimages,no good works,can save us,no matter how sincere we may be,all for sin cannot atone,we cannot work our ticket to heaven,it has to be, 'Nothing in my hands I bring ,simply to Thy cross I cling;' (Words A.M.Toplady )

Working your ticket. ( 1) ( 1 Timothy 1 v 15 )

 I  watched a video oh  the Hajj ,pilgrimage, and all the things they have to do ,seven in all, when they complete it, a message comes over the Tannoy system ,telling the Muslim pilgrims that allah had forgiven them their sins.It seems that so many religions,including the cults stress the need for doing works of some sort in order to be saved. The JWs are expected to do so many hours door knocking,a good question to ask them ,who are they seeking to save?.The Christian religion tells us clearly that there is absolutely nothing one can do ,to save ourselves.That includes good works,religious practices,prayer ,church attendance,religious rites,like circumcision,baptism,or whatever. The reason being that none of these  can cancel one sin,yes not one,likewise the sacrifice  of an animal is useless so why does the Bible tell us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness ? (Hebrews 9 v 22 ),in Psalm 40 v 6, we read,'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire',because they were ineffective in dealing with sin.what was needed was needed was a sacrifice that would effectively deal with sin.v 6,continues by telling us of someone who would deal with sin effectively,it is Christ speaking (Heb 10 v 5 ) ,'You don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, ''look, I have come to do your will, my God''. As it is written about me in the scriptures. I take joy in doing your will'.( We will continue this next time.)

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.