Our teacher and Lord ( Philippians 2 v 5-11) 2

 Let us further consider what our Lord did  and what He said,when He washed the feet of His disciples. The Lords action in washing his disciples feet was a genuine act of humility,He wasn't play acting,it was real, and should have had a profound effect on the disciples.Here was one who thought it not robbery to be equal with God,but He give up as one translation puts it,' His divine privileges'.He took the form of a servant, and was born as a human being and He became obedient unto death, humbling Himself  by dying on a cross,which was reserved for criminal's.All of this was real no play acting,and was necessary for our salvation.The mark of a true Christian should be one of humility,it would remind the disciples ,as it should remind us,to not get big headed,carried away with our own importance.A friend of mine told me that when she was young, when out walking,if a minister was walking towards them,they were expected to step of the pathway,and let the minister  pass.It seems to me, in light of what we are considering,the minister should have stepped of the path. Jesus said ,'I have left you an example that you should do as I have done for you'.

Our teacher . ( Matthew 7 v 24 -29 )

 When I was in primary  school I remember one teacher called Mr Jenkins,he was a Welsh man,I can't remember to much about the teachers I sat under.They must have done some good to me for I learned to read and write,so I am indebted to them for that. Being a teacher is a very important job, we need them,but we also need to put into practice what they teach us.A music teacher wants their pupils to practice .what they have been taught,likewise Jesus our great teacher wants us to put into practice what He teaches us. Jesus taught by His words but also by his actions,it is John 13 we have Jesus and His disciples having a Passover meal,when Jesus gets up unannounced,took of his outer clothing,wrapped a towel around His waist,poured water unto a basin , and began to wash the disciples feet. Bruce Milne writes,  'This was a particularly humble task,Jewish slaves would not be required do this'. The disciples didn't make any effort,as BM says,' one does not wash the feet of peers!'.Here we have Jesus going against the norm ,it is Peter who objects,to his Lord washing his feet,but Jesus made it clear he had to put aside his objection.When Jesus had finished He said that what He their master had done they must do.It is not that we in 22century should have feet washing in our churches ,our Saviour is laying down a principal as regards His followers, of being prepared to act in humble obedience,it was not optional. We will consider this further next time.

Not till then. ( Romans 8 v28 )

 I have just read from John 9, it tells us of a wonderful miracle by Jesus,on a man who was born blind from birth.Before Jesus healed him,His disciples asked a question,'who did sin,this man,or his parents?'.There was a common held belief that at that time that calamity and suffering was the result of sin, our dear Saviour ruled that out,and so should we.Religions like Hinduism and Buddhism hold that belief,  it is vey wrong to put that unto people who suffer.The greatest example of a person who did not suffer for any wrong he had done ,was Job. We will most definitely suffer for our own sin,if not now,then most certainly in eternity,that's why we need Jesus, suffering is part of life in this fallen  world it cannot be eliminated.Good people suffer and bad people suffer it is inescapable ,we cannot change that. This blind mans suffering had a purpose ,God's power would be manifest in him,by Jesus healing him.We often do not know  the purpose of our suffering, in the case of this man we do.God's power would be manifested,the more important thing would be,he came to know Christ. If you are suffering,you may not understand why you are suffering,hanging on the wall of the room I'm sitting in,is a framed picture,with a verse of a poem that my first wife who died of cancer  embroidered,I will leave it with you.

                                        'Not till the loom is silent,and the shuttles cease to fly,

                                        Shall God unroll the canvas,and explain the reason why,

                                        The dark threads are so needful,in the weavers skilful hand,

                                         As the threads of gold and silver, in pattern H has planned.'

                                                               'Words by B M.Franklin'

                         

Unconditional love. ( Romans 1 v 18 )

 I read this recently,' Love can move a person to act in unexpected ways, leave them to overcome the most  daunting obstacles with a startling heroism . In the end it is love that triumphs over death and  destruction.'   There are many things that are dressed up as love,and are not,but true love is truly the greatest thing.Is there such a thing as unconditional love?,we hear this term continually from Christian  preachers.In our unsaved state we were enemies of God Romans 5 v 10,we were ungodly 5 v 6,but the love God offers to humanity comes in the person of Jesus.The question is this in our unsaved state,are we prepared to repent of our sins,to seek forgiveness and trust Jesus as our Saviour?. If we are not prepared to do that,we are spitting in the face of God,we will not experience His love,we will remain under the wrath of a Holy God John 3 v36, and will face eternal judgement.There are conditions if we are going to be saved,His love is not unconditional,sin must be dealt with,at the foot of the cross..

God is leading. ( Psalm 23 )

 Following on with the thought,'We do not choose the hand of cards dealt to us', we applied it  to a non-Christian,now let us apply it  to Christians.We mentioned the sovereignty God,from the moment we became a Christian we died to self,and began to live unto Christ, in the path He would  lead us, not a path of our choosing.On that path we would experience many things,we would have blessings but we also would experience various trials James 1 v 2. Trials by their very nature ,put us to the test, Edward Clowney writes the following,' Trials should not surprise us, or cause us to doubt God's faithfulness.....  Our trials keep us trusting; they burn away our self -confidence and drive us to our Saviour, it shows the  genuineness of our faith, and purifies our faith'.The trials that God brings into our lives are not meant to destroy us ,they are meant to perfect us.Whatever hand of cards God deals to us He will bring us through,I want leave the words of a Christian song with you,its called ,'God leads His dear Children along',written by George A.Young.

                                              'In shady ,green pastures,so rich and so sweet

                                              God leads His dear children along.

                                              Some through  the waters ,some through the flood,

                                              Some through the fire,but all through the blood.

                                              Some through great sorrows ,but God gives a song,

                                              In the night season and all the day long

I saw the light. ( John 3 v 19 ) 1

 This thought came to me,'We do not choose the hand of cards dealt to us', it may be prosperity or adversity, life like the rainbow has many colours to it.it is a sovereign God who paints the colours. The poet wrote  ,'Our lives through varied scenes are drawn', every life lived is somewhat unique,.and God has a plan for all of us,we might not like the plan . If you are not a Christian then you may curse God,you may rule God  out of your life,which is not the answer,it does not solve anything,it only leads one further into darkness. and one ends up in eternal darkness,from which there is no escape.Here is what Jesus said,' I am the light of the world,he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life'. (John 8 v 12). Trust Him to be your Saviour.

                                                        'I wandered so aimless,life filled with sin,

                                                         I wouldn't let my dear Saviour in,

                                                         Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night,

                                                          Praise the Lord I saw the light.

                                                                         Hank Williams.

Grace ( 2 Peter 3 v 18 )

 I found myself  singing words from that well known hymn ,'Come Thou fount of every blessing',by Robert Robinson,it was the last verse of that hymn that blessed me. Here are the words,'O to grace how great a debtor,daily I'm constrained to be.' Grace, what is the grace of God?,it describes,'God's unmerited love and favour', and I would add it comes through Jesus the Son of God. Grace falls into two categories, 'Common',and,'Particular', common grace is described by someone as the protection and care God gives to all His creatures, regardless of their relationship with Him'.Our Saviour taught that God makes the sun to  rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5 v45 ). Particular grace relates to salvation,and all aspects of our lives,God saves us by grace,keeps us by grace,and blesses those who are His, daily,with His special care and love.So from the moment I was conceived and born till now I have experienced the grace of God,and will continue to experience it ,till I go to heaven.As a Christian I am so grateful for His grace that has been granted to me,especially for the grace that saved me,when I trusted Jesus as my Saviour.

                                                        '  O to grace how great a debtor

                                                          Daily I'm constrained to be!

                                                          Let Thy grace,Lord, like a fetter,

                                                          Bind my wandering heart to Thee,'

                                                                       R.Robinson.