The preacher.( Acts 4 v 13 )

 Many years ago while out walking  I came across a place where a tent was being taken down, it had been used to hold a gospel meeting.I knew one of the people,so I spoke to him.There was another man there who had been the preacher, I engaged in a conversation with him,and I wish I hadn't ,I mentioned I was going to  bible college,and that didn't go down to well, not much encouragement from him,I mentioned to him a friend  of mine who was a fine Christian,but the person spoke unkindly of him.The person was going to be a missionary to South Korea, I didn't respond to his unpleasantness ,but felt concerned for those he was going to minister to,and I ask myself this question in relation to him taking the gospel to South Korea,was he taken Christ with him?.Here is a general thought for all of us to consider, it is not all about preaching , important though that is, it's also about manifesting Christ in our lives.As regards that person I spoke to,yes he had just finished preaching the  gospel ,but as a young Christian I didn't see the reality of that in his life, even now I feel so sad with my encounter with that man.

Our example ( John 13 v 15 )

 We have been looking at Jesus who is our teacher, which involved His words,deeds and example. a certain politician during the pandemic  appeared on the TV stressing the importance of certain things,but he himself did not do what he said,it was a case ,do what I say ,but don't do what I do. When it all came out it was not long before he had to resign,he had lost the peoples confidence, and respect.Our dear lovely Saviour lived as He spoke,there were no inconsistences in His life,no one could call him a hypocrite.That is the challenge that we who are Christians face,I remember hearing about a minister who said ,'they are watching us',and indeed they are. As the non-Christians look on us what do they see?,as our family looks at us what do they see?. We are not talking about being a person pleaser, but one who  pleases God, there is a big difference ,our lovely Saviour always did that which pleased His Father,that should be our aim in life. We need not be to concerned if people are unpleased with us,because we stand for truth,and when we live a holy life,in doing so , we are walking in the footsteps of our Saviour ,Lord and teacher.

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