They matter to Him. ( Zechariah 2 v 8 )

 In  Nigeria's Middle bank the Christian communities have suffered greatly from attacks by Fulani Islamist  militias, a Christian Pastor said,''It is as if the lives of Christians no longer matters''.It is very sad to read that,their lives may not matter to those who are attacking them ,but  their lives do matter to God and the Christian family. We read in Psalm 116 v 15,'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints'. What makes them precious?,they are His children, I have known parents who have lost children ,it is heartbreaking, for ones children are  precious to them. So it is with God's children, they are very precious to Him.They are precious to Him because they cost Him the death of  His Son Jesus.Peter in his epistle writes these beautiful words, For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And  the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God'.(1 Pet 1 v 18 -19 )They are precious to Him, because He loves them,( Romans 5 v 5),and in Romans 8 v 37- 39, we are told that nothing can separate them from that love ,not even death.

I shall see Him. ( Revelation 1 v 7 )

 In Psalm 17 v 15 we read,'As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness'.This is King David  speaking, in contrast to the world and their temporary satisfactions, he looks to his eternal state. I think the words of a one time popular song sums it up, regards the here and now,'I can't get no satisfaction'.It appears to me that the world is also crying out for more,and more,and it is never enough.And even if they are satisfied it will not last, for no relationship on earth is permanent it will come to and end. It is so easy for us as Christians to forget that the things that are seen are temporal. King David didn't, nor should we.Martin Luther gave away money that people had given him,so that he would not loose sight of future glory. Verse 17 begins,'As for me ,I will see your face in righteousness'. Peter reminds us as regards Jesus whom we love,we have never seen Him  1Peter 1 v 8, but one day that will all change ,we will see Jesus, yes one day. Not on a cross but on a throne, the veil of time will be lifted,and our eyes will see the great King in His beauty.

                                               Oh the soul thrilling rapture,

                                               When I view His blessed face,

                                                And the lustre of His kindly

                                                beaming eye;

                                                How my full heart will praise Him

                                                for the  mercy, love,and grace,

                                                That prepared for me a mansion in the sky.

                                                            Words W.W.Harris.

No difference. ( 1 Peter 2 v 9 -10 )

Think of all the great people in the Bible, father Abraham, Moses,David,Daniel, and a host more,and people who are not in Bible ,missionaries,preachers, social reformers, glorious men and women of God.One can also think of many martyrs dear people who suffered so much  for Christ ,all these people were and are  precious to God. Then there's you and me,we are not of their stature,could be ,we will never do any great deeds,we will just get on with our lives.It was Abraham Lincoln who  said that God loved the ordinary people for He made so many of them.So let me say to you ordinary people I include myself, that God loves us just as much as He loves those people I have mentioned,and we are just as precious to Him as they are.

When they are gone ,they are gone. (Psalm 37)

 I would encourage you to read Psalm 37 ,it will bless you,encourage you, and challenge you, it opens with these words ,'Do not fret because of those who are evil, or be envious of those who do wrong;for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away'. In many places the sad fact is ,that evil people appear to prosper.H Lockyer comments on this Psalm are very helpful,here is what he says about these verses,'The word fret means ,'''burn not thyself with anger or grief''. To fret is to have heartburn,which alas! is all to common among us, as we see law-breakers riding in limousines,and obedient subjects walking in the mire. Queen Elizabeth envied the milkmaid when she was in prison; but if she had known what a glorious reign she would have had afterwards for 44years,she would not have envied her.Why envy the wicked when the candle flickers into everlasting darkness?.' The ,'Third Reich',which Hitler said would last for a 1000 years lasted 11yrs,that most evil of evil people, and those evil people who followed  him,are gone , remember evil doer's day will come,and they will be no more,

More. ( Philippians 1 v 21 )

 I wonder do you ever desire a deeper walk with God ?,what would it mean for us to have a deeper walk with God. I am sure it means hungering and thirsting after righteousness , if we do them the Word of God  says we will be filled ( Matthew 5 v 6). I suppose one could say greater trust,as Brennan Manning wrote,'A trust grounded  in faith and hope,He goes unto to write,'I want a relationship with the Abba of Jesus, who is infinitely compassionate with my brokenness and at the same time an awesome, incomprehensible, and unwieldy Mystery'.   The world make gods after their own image,in other words they become the creator,and if they create an idol out of stone,and if one is made out of stone,it will  have a heart of stone.Jesus our wonderful Saviour, who was God manifest in the flesh,had a heart of compassion,a God who gives us hope when there is no hope ,and gives us  strength in our weaknesses. .Let us remember God is faithful, God can be trusted,and God is love,and what He wants from you and me,is that we reflect Him, and to be faithful ,trusting, and loving.

                                                    'More of Thy presence ,Lord,impart,

                                                     More of Thine image let me bear;

                                                     Erect Thy throne within my heart,

                                                     And reign without a rival there'.

                                                          Words John Newton.

Beyond description.( Revelation 5 v 11-14 )

 I wonder am I the only one that who feels lost for words,as regards God and His glory,of course I'm not,I am sure many people feel that,there is a modern song that expresses  this thought,written by Mark Altrogge ,here are the words.

                                               You are beautiful beyond description,

                                               Too marvellous for words,

                                               Too wonderful for comprehension,

                                               Like nothing ever seen or heard,

                                               Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?

                                              Who can fathom the depths of your love?

                                               You are beautiful beyond description,

                                               Majesty , enthroned above.

                                               And I stand, I stand in awe of You.

                                               I stand ,I stand in awe of you,

                                               Holy God, to whom all praise is due,

                                               I stand in awe of you. 

                                               

Mine. ( Galatians 2 v 20.)

Herbert Lockyer, SR.  Wrote the following,'Martin Luther once said that,''there is great divinity in pronouns''. It is assuring to believe that Jesus came as the Saviour of the world, but this avails nothing to me unless mine is the pronoun of a personal salvation,''Behold God is my Salvation''.I I have witnessed to many people,and often they say to me  ,I'm a ,and then thy go and say a certain denomination they belong to .Or as a young lady said to me, her grandfather was a minister, that's all   very well,but that does not take away from the fact that we need to personally trust Jesus to be our  Saviour. The apostle Paul wrote,' I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself  for me'.  (Galatians 2 v 20)

                                                  Dear Saviour, Thou art mine,

                                                  How sweet the thought to me!

                                                  Let me repeat  Thy name,

                                                  And lift my heart to Thee.

                                                  Mine! mine! mine!

                                                  I know that Thou art mine;

                                                  Saviour, dear Saviour,

                                                   I know Thou art mine.

                                                      Words Anna Hudson.