How far should love go? ( Philippians 2 v 5-11)

 How far should love go? very challenging question, I am convinced that many of us, have a great deal to learn what that means.What limits did our blessed Saviour put on love?, I believed that He had a heart of love for everyone,yet he died on the cross.Which reminds us that there is often a price involved in loving  people, that is the challenge,are we prepared to accept that challenge?.Martin Luther king Jr,said,'We love men not because we like them,not because their ways appeal to us,nor even because they possess some kind of divine spark. We love every man because God loves them..' Humanity can often manifest a depravity that is worse than wild beasts,and often it is dressed in religious garb.We would not be short in showing many examples of this,the crucifixion of Jesus is the greatest example.Every human being manifests a degree of their fallen nature,there are no perfect people,  no one cannot escape the  coming judgement of God the righteous judge.Yet , while they still live ,the love of God continually reaches out to them ,till their dying breath  ,that's how far the love of God goes.So it is, we must not give up on people,yes even the worst of people, that's how far love should go. Ivan Karamazov said that,'In every man ... a demon lies hidden,'.Or one could say that in every man  their is a Jekyll and Hyde.But here is the positive ,Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, 

Onward . ( 2 Timothy 4 v 7-8)

 Becoming a Christian is by faith and faith alone,in the Lord Jesus,when we exercise that faith we are forgiven,and become a child of God  ( John 1 v12 ). Let me now say that being a Christian is the one of the biggest challenges one will ever have to face.Before we became a Christian we did it our way,and we were to some extent influenced or even controlled by the devil.We had a nature that was opposed to God and his ways,no matter how nice we appeared, we had a heart that was deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer 17 v9).But now we have been forgiven and set free,not freedom to do as we like ,for that is going back to our old ways the broad way that leads to Hell,when we travel on the narrow way,that road is difficult (Mt 7v13-1) .Although it is called the narrow way that simply means we are closed into God's  way of  freedom,joy,peace,love,hope ,and our final destination is Heaven,and all the wonder, of what that means. .On that narrow road we are called to walk in newness of life,and all that means,but what about when we fail?. Of course we will fail but we must still press on. Let's illustrate ,when I drive my car I try to stay within the speed limit,but I don't always achieve that,but I keep trying. So it is on our walk with Christ there will be times when we will fail,but we must press on and not give up,and by God's grace we will succeed.

                                                     'Onward  then to glory move

                                                     More than conquerors  ye shall prove;

                                                     Though oppressed by many a foe.

                                                     Christian soldiers, onward go'

                                                      Words H.White/F.S. Colquhoun.

Troubles.( 2 Corinthians 1 v 8 - 11)

 Scroggie writing on that wonderful 31st Psalm says ,'The psalmist's spirit rises and falls', he experiences,hope and fear ,gloom and glory..It is a Psalm written by David,if one reads the life of  David ,we have a man, who led a very challenging life,consider all he faced during his time.While minding his fathers sheep he fought a bear and a lion,then he fought a giant,then the Philistines,then King Saul tried to kill him,later on his own son tried to kill him.So one could go on, yes a very challenging life.So one can understand the emotions he must have experienced. How would any of us feel if we had to face what David faced?,how did he get through all these things  v14 tells us,'But I trust in you,Lord; I say, 'You are my God',yes God was his hiding place,shield,his protector,his strength,his everything..Scroggie writes the following,'Trials and troubles are not to keep us at a distance from God, but are designed to bring us near and keep us near',

                                                   'Wherefore ,in never- ceasing prayer,

                                                     My soul  to Thy continual care

                                                     I faithfully commend;

                                                     Assured that Thou through life shalt

                                                     save

                                                    And show Thyself beyond the grave

                                                    My everlasting Friend.' 

                                                         Words Charles Wesley. 

                                                    

  

Don't give up. ( Matthew 13 v 3 - 23 )

 In Matthew 13 our Saviour told a parable about a farmer sowing seed,in those days they did it by hand, being an agricultural country most people would be acquainted with what Jesus was saying. What was He saying?the answer was very simple . It relates to those who hear the word of God,and how they react to it,the seed sown falls on 4 different types of ground , only one of  the four mentioned respond in a positive way. The parable has much to teach all those who proclaim the word of God,especially in proclaiming the gospel.Take the seed that fell on the pathway,  Barnes says ,'The gospel is preached to men hardened in sin,it makes no impression,it is easy taken away ,and it never takes root. Then you have the seed fallen on stony ground,this is people who show a degree of enthusiasm ,but its not lasting,for when trouble comes or persecution they fall away,they were not in it for the long haul,they were only rice Christians,they didn't sign up for the hard and difficult times. Next we have the seed that that falls among the thorns.They represent those who give up ,there is always reasons to give up, in their case the cares of life,and the lure of riches.Last but not least the seed that fell on good ground,they are those who are the true followers of Christ.  I hope you will be numbered with them,and as we witness let us remember,as one writer puts it,'It is our task to sow the seed,and, without discouragement ,to leave the rest with God'.

He will welcome you back. ( Isaiah 1 v 18)

 We don't hear much the backslider,what is a backslider? it can be described as ,'someone who lapses into previous undesirable pattern of behavior'. It could describe a reformed criminal,who goes back to a life of crime.Or could describe an alcoholic who goes back to the drink,but the term that I associate with is someone  who professed to be a Christian,and have given up following Christ. There are examples in the bible of people who did not go on in their relationship with Christ.It doesn't just apply to individuals but to churches,we see this in the seven churches of Revelation chap 2- 3.In the OT we see it time and time again with the nation of Israel Jeremiah 2 v 19,their whole history is littered with it.There are reasons why people  backslide, whatever the reasons are,none are valid.none, I believe there are always regrets,and no advantages,if you give up following Jesus you will always be the looser.Yet God is merciful and kind,and will welcome the backslider back,he did it with Peter,and He did continually with Israel. Hosea 14 v4 .CP Revelation 3 v20. William Cowper writes of loosing that fist love experience with the following words,'Where is the blessedness I knew when first I saw the Lord',and the idols that can so easily remove us from following Christ and we become a backslider,Here are words written to backsliders.

                                                            Revelation 3 v 20.

                                             'Look! I stand at the door and knock ,

                                             If you hear my voice,and open the door,

                                             I will come in and we will share a meal

                                             together as friends,.

Remind me Lord. ( John 21 v 15 )

Psalm 24 v1 reads 'The earth is the Lord's,and everything in it,the world all who live in it '.These words should reminds us that we are but custodians ,of what we possess.Yes we use the word mine,and some sense that is  true,but it is not the whole. The verse we read  tells the full story,as regards in this world ,which includes every human being,that everything belongs to God.Those possessions we have,everything is on loan,Job had to learn that lesson, he had seven sons and three daughters,he lost them all,he was very wealthy,he lost it all,he was very healthy but that changed .( Job 1 ) Consider all that happened to him,he said,'Naked I came from my mothers womb,and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away,and then he adds,'May the name of the Lord be blest'. (1 v21 )The cry of many is,mine,mine, mine,and God say's no , they are mine,I own everything ,yes everything,So let us a remember to thank God for ever blessing,and acknowledge Him for every good and perfect gift. Someone said that one of their favorite descriptions of stewardship is,''When God gives you a gift,hold it loosely''. I  understand that statement to mean  that whatever God gives us in not exclusively for our benefit, but is intended for the whole family of God'.

                                        'Dear God and Father we thank you for every gift we possess,

                                        but if I forget that they are just loaned to me,remind me Lord,'

                                                                   

If only ( Hebrews 12 v 1 - 2 )

 As one looks back on ones life,there are many 'if only's', if only I had done better at school I could have got a better job.if only I had kept following the Lord when I was young.I had a reasonable singing voice, if only I could have developed it more.I played two musical instrument in my time,but not very well,if only I  had got training, and improved that gift.Yes we can all look back and say if only,so many people  get trapped in that mind set, yes the past,'if only's', rule our lives and not for the best. we say if only I had not been born into that family ,in that country,in that neighbourhood, if only I had not had that accident,yes, if only. Here is what a wise man said,'The past is not a place of residence,but a place of remembrance'.The thing is we will always remember our past,but we must not let our  past to imprison us. There was a great man who had a wonderful future,he had a wonderful education,but he gave it all up,when Christ became his Saviour ,and so he went on to serve Him.Many years later he wrote,

                                                    'But one thing I do ; forgetting what lies 

                                                     behind and straining forward  to what 

                                                     lies ahead, I press on toward  the goal 

                                                     for the prize of the upward call of God

                                                     in Christ Jesus.

                                                                (Philippians 3 v 13 - 14 )