Decision time. ( Matthew 7 v 13 - 14 )

 In Matthew 7 v 13- 14,our  Saviour says, '' You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to  life is very narrow and the road is difficult,and only a few ever find it'' Robert Frost wrote a poem called  '  The road less travelled', It highlights those times in life when a decision has to be taken. The poem ends with the lines ,'Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less travelled by,and that has made all the difference'. Consider what Jesus said,it faces us with a challenge,to make a decision,there was a moment in my life when I made that decision,it was on a road less traveled,but it has made all the difference to me ,and it was a difference for the better. Yes there have been difficulties, trials,and challenges,but in the end it will be worth it.Make a choice this day ,follow Jesus on that road less travelled,and you will never regret it.

There is more ( Psalm 23 )

In ancient times as one left the Mediterranean there were what was known as the Pillars of  Hercules, with the following inscription on it ,which read,''Non Plus Ultra'',which means,'Nothing Further Beyond''.When Columbus discovered the ,''New World'',Spain adopted as its motto,''Plus Ultra'',meaning,''Further Beyond'', or more beyond.  The grave looks so cold and forbidding , many in these days  believe that there is nothing beyond the grave,but there is,yes there is more beyond.For those who believe that when life ends ,that's it,will find out to their cost  ,for we are told in the Bible after death there is judgement, this judgement will be for sin.For those who are Christians they believe that is more beyond,not judgement ,because their sins have been forgiven by trusting Jesus as their Saviour, they enter into Heaven were their Saviour is,and enjoy unimaginable joy,and blessing.They  can say with the hymn writer,'Yes, I shall soon be landed on yonder shores of bliss.There, with my powers  expanded, I shall dwell where Jesus is'. 

Despairing saint. ( Isaiah 49 )

 We live in an uncertain world,the rich can loose their riches in a moment,the strong can become weak,those we love can be taken in a twinkling of an eye,all our plans can come to nothing.Yes we are fragile,a puff of wind can blow us over,need I go on. Even if you are a Christian, your world can fall around you,consider Job,in a moment he lost ten children,then he lost his wealth, and then he lost his health.Ask yourself ,how would you feel?,how would I feel?.In Isaiah 49 , we read that Israel was suffering ,and they cried out ( v 14),' The Lord has forsaken me,the Lord has forgotten me'',could it be that you feel like that? God's answer to Israel and to you was,'Can  a mother forget  the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?.  Though she may forget, I will not forget you.See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;( 15 -16 ). Spurgeon  comments on these words,'Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written on the palms of His hands. ''I have engraved you'' .See the fullness of this. I have''engraved your person, your image,your case,your circumstances,your sins,your temptations,your weaknesses,your wants,your works;I have''engraved you'',  everything about you,all that concerns you;I have put you altogether there. Will you ever say again that God has forsaken you when He has ''engraved you'' on His own palms'

Our endeavours. ( Ezra 8 v 21 - 23 )

 Hudson Taylor was founder of what became known as the,'China Inland Mission',but is now known  as the ,'Overseas Missionary Fellowship'.Hudson was a qualified doctor,this is an account of one incident that took place in China,'  During an evening prayer meeting a nurse brought a little child to him ,she thought she was dead,a woman suggested that he pray for the child,''Yes, pray, '' he shouted back,'' while I  work''.The child was blue and limp,his first efforts failed. Then he tried the kiss of life,after a few minutes the child's colour  changed  and she began to breathe,when she grew up she became a   CIM missionary .' Someone said that Hudson   prayed about things as if everything depended upon the praying...but he worked also, as if  everything depended on the working'.Make no mistake, prayer does not excuse us from serving  and working .but the two should go together.

Are you listening ( 4 ) ( Luke 12 v 13 - 21 )

 We continue considering the words of Proverbs 8 v 34 - 36,which promises a blessing on those who listen to God's wisdom,not just listening but with a desire to find true wisdom.A few years ago, my wife and I went to see ,'Les Miserables',during the performance a lady next to me was making funny noises,it was disturbing people around her,but so intent was I in what was being performed on stage ,I did not take much notice of  what that lady was doing. Such should be our intent in gaining godly wisdom.Godly wisdom leads to life,ungodly wisdom lead to death.The worlds wisdom is to just focus on the world and its ways, get enough money and retire to sunny places.We read of such a man in Luke 12 v 13 - 21, he had everything,well he thought he had,you see, he was rich and prosperous,and he said to himself,''You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat , drink, and be merry''.Many can identify with that man,that's were so many people want to get to.Yes he had a good nest egg set aside , the sweet life beckoned,but then the voice of God speaks,'You fool,this very night your soul shall be required of you'. Jesus said ,'Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions'.Dear friend don't be a fool, seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near,turn to Christ before it is to late.

Faith ( Romans 10 v 17 )

 Many people are like Thomas ,the one who would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead,after all ,when you are dead you are dead.He would not believe ,even when his fellow disciples told him,'we have seen the Lord', but Thomas rejected what they said,after all Jesus died a terrible death,on a cross,now it was finished,it is not rational,there is no sense to it.He wanted proof and the only proof was to actually see Jesus not only see him but  he had see the nail marks in his hands ,and put his finger where the nails were; and put his hand into his side ( John 20 v 25 ). To him Jesus was dead ,and that was it,no matter what anybody said,he would not believe.There is a saying which goes,'convince a man against his will , and he remaineth of that opinion still'.Many people doubt ,refuse to believe in the resurrection,and so do not believe in Jesus,the other disciples had seen the risen Saviour,I wonder before that happened,did they believe?,it is interesting that when Jesus appeared to them,He showed  them,his hands, and his side,to confirm to that it was really him.All Thomas was saying he wanted that also,and wonder of wonders ,Jesus obliged,and Thomas believed.Yes he believed because he saw. But Jesus went on to say to  Thomas,    ''because you have seen me,you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed ( John 20 v 29 ) William Hendriksen writes,'' Faith that results from seeing is good; but faith which results from hearing is more excellent''.

Are you listening? ( 3 ) Wisdom . ( 2 Timothy 3 v 15 - 16 )

 Proverbs 8 v 34 - 36, reads ,'Blessed is the man who listens to me,watching daily at my doors,waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favour from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me, harms himself; all who hate me love death.'The book of Proverbs is about the importance of  finding  God's wisdom,and the blessing that comes with it.The world is full of people who are wise in their own eyes,that is called worldly wisdom, this is from the proud in heart.On considering wisdom the most important wisdom I believe is being wise unto salvation. The Apostle Paul writing to a young man called Timothy, writes,' and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.Christian parent remember the most important thing your children  need  is not a university education,but to be taught the Word of God,that they may become wise unto salvation,by accepting Christ as their Saviour.