I couldn't commit such things ( Jeremiah 17 v 9)

 I was watching a program on TV,it wasn't a very nice program,in fact many people may not have wanted to watch it,the  2nd world war was in sight,as the allies advanced over Germany they came across murder camps. Two British soldiers had been given the task to film the allies advancing,and so they filmed what they witnessed when they went into one of these murder camps,the name of it was Belsen it was called a prison camp,not an extermination camp.But I can assure you it was more than a prison camp,there were many people stiil alive but there were mulitudes of dead bodies everywhere they numbered  many thousands.When you see things like that you are horrified and saddened beyond words.How could human beings committ  such things?,one of the men who filmed it ,asked the question, why did Germany do such things?.but he went on to say this,'Germany ,it could happen to any  nation given similar circunstances'.Yes it could,and indeed has, the history of the 20th ceturay bears that out.We all have a sinful fallen nature,and if it takes hold of us,we are capable of doing monstrous awful things. That is why Christ had to die,to save us from ourselves and all its consequences,that does not just mean those mass murderers,it means everybody,because we are all sinners,yes and that means you and me.

Trials. ( James 5 v 10 - 11)

 Peter writing on the trials that some Christians were going through 1Peter 1,that while they can rejoice in their salvation now,and which shall be revealed in last in all its fulness.Then he goes unto say,'though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.Two things there which he says about the trials,their duration,'a little while,'no matter how long the trials which we are suffering in light of eternity,they are brief. Romans 8 v 18 tells us that'our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us,'One commentator writes,'that our currant suffering is insignficent compared to the future glory and joy the believer will experience in eternity'.Peter is not making light of the trials we are going through,by no means,but he is seeking to point us to the bigger picture.  The next thing we consider as to the believers suffering, it proves if our faith is genuine,there used to be a saying in the early days of evangelisim in China as regards those those who professed to be Christians that they were called rice Christians,their apparent  decision for being a Christian, was that they were fed. Our Lord  said that about those who had been fed in John 6 when Jesus performed a miracle (John 6 v 26) If your following Jesus for material prosperity then your faith is not genuine.The next thing he mentions as regards trials,our faith is refined,he uses the example of gold refined by fire. Edmund Clowney writes the following,God sends trials to strengthen our faith in Him.and to keep us trusting;they burn away our self confidence and drive us to our Saviour'.There is much more we could say as regards God's purpose for our suffering,just remember that He has a loving purpose in all that comes into our lives.

My times are in His hands. ( Revelation 1 v 18)

A lovely Christian lady in the church I attend recently celebrated her 90th birthday, she told me that when she was 50 she had to go into hospital ,as regards a heart problem,There came a point when they discharged her  from the hospital ,the consultant told her ,they had done all they could for her,at most she may live till she was 70.I dont think we should ignor what the consultants say and not accept the reality for often what they say happens. But ultimately our times in God's hands ,that's what's important, the apostle Paul went through a tremendous lot of suffering in 2 Corithians 11 he relates what he went through.He received 40 lashes minus one,beaten three times with rods,pelted with stones,three times ship wrecked,spent a a day and a night in the open sea. He mentioned dangers form rivers.bandits,his fellow Jews and so we could go on. But the time came when he would die a martyrs death at the hand of the Romans.God granted him a consicousness that death was coming ( 2 Timothy 4 v6-8) Let us always remember God is sovereign and as John Ryland wrote,

                                                           

                                                    'Plagues and deaths around me fly;

                                                     Till He bids,I cannot die;

                                                     Not a single shaft can hit,

                                                     Till the God of love sees fit'

                                                    

9(

Giving up. ( 8 v 18)

 Thomas Edison said ,'Our greatet weakness lies in giving up',he was a man who invented the telephone, and many other things.The Christian life is a challenge,and one of the biggest challenges is not to give up, our dear Lord said these very challenging words in Matthew 10 v 21-22,'Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved'. And in 1 Timothy 4 v1 ,we read,'The Spirit  says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons'.I know personally many people who have given up following Jesus.there are many reasons why people give up. But in the end they loose out on the eternal glories,I am not here to judge anyone',let him who thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall'(1 Corinthians 10 v12) .What I am writing is a word for me and for those read who this.I get so annoyed with those who preach a so called prosperity gospel,what can they tell those who are suffering for Christ ,they often loose everything,not just material possessions,but loved ones.In the normal course of events so many bad and sad things can happen to believers,and of course we have the devil who will do all he can, to cause us desert Christ. We must always remember that our dear Saviour knew all that he was going to suffer ,yet He marched braverly on, into his awful ordeal,and focused on the glory that lay beyond.( Hebrews 12 v 2-3)

Interruptions ( Proverbs 16 v 9)

Just recently my wife and went on a short holiday,we were staying at a holiday home, But when we arrived we were told there was no internet connection. We were a bit upset about it,they said we could come over to the reception which was connected to the inter-net.So I did eventually  go over , there was a young girl called Jada on reception who offered to set it up,I accepted her offer. As she was setting it up,I told her that it was important for me to have the use of my laptop,as I puplished a  Christian  message everyday,then she said,' I would like to be a Christian',so I witnessed to her about Christ,even showed her the daily reading for the day ,I asked her would she like me to pray for her,she agreed with that.She seemed a genuine girl ,I didn't pressure her into making a discision,and so I left it at that.I thought about what had happened  if  I had, had the use of the internet I more likely would  never have been able to witness to that young  girl.Let us all remember God is in control of our lives,are going out and our coming in,those interruptions  we get frustrated with, are in Gods hands.Hopefully what happened will lead to the salvation of that young girl ,now here is your part , pray for that young girl ,that she will come to know Christ as her Saviour.

Minute beings ( Isaiah 40 v 22)

I like where I Iive  ,but one thing I don't like is the fact when one looks up into the heavens,I usally can only see a few stars,because  of light pollution. It must be wonderful to be an astronomer,the universe is so vast,when it comes to distances it is absolutely mind blowing,and the number of stars and planets,only God knows. In the vastness of the universe our little planet is very ,very small,a pin prick,and just imagine how small we are,we are less than pin pricks. And yet we read  that it is this planet and its imhabitants that are very special in God's eyes,as indeed every individual .For every individual in its initial state was the crown of His creation,but it all went awfully wrong,disastrously wrong.Yet is spite of that God still loved them,yes these minute creatures ,would still have a possiblity of being saved,Yes in the great scheme of things,these sinful rebellious creation are not overlooked by a Sovereign God.And so He put into action a plan that would redeem you and I to Himself,by sending Jesus into this world, to be a Saviour for all those who put their trust in Him.

                                            'Yes God so loved these minute beings,

                                             that He gave His only begotten Son

                                             that whoever believes in Him should

                                             not perish but have everlasting life.'

                                       

                                          

                                             

Momey, money,money.( 1 Timothy 6 v 10)

 In the early church,there was published a Christian  document of instructions ,the following was given to travelling apostles' (missionaries) and prophets.Such would need hospitality  ,So here is what was written,'He shall not abide more than one day,or if  there be a need,a second likewise; but if he abide three days,he is a false prophet.And when he departeth let the apostle receive nothing but bread,until he findeth shelter;but if he ask money,he is a false prophet'. It was the apostle Paul who declared,'We do not peddle the word of God for profit'  (2 Corinthians 2 v 17) It is Peter writing to the leaders of the church said 'do not be greedy for money'(2 Peter 5 v2 ) Edmund Clowney writes,' Enemies of the gospel rejoice when scandle brings to light the vast sums garnered by television evangelist in the United States. Even  preachers with a recognizable gospel message discredit their words with aconstant demands for money, money that must pass through their hands to build their empires'.My dear wife who is self employed ,works mainly with the elderly,and she has said to me 'its not just about the money' Although the labourer  deserves their wages,that includes ministers,they should never be exploited,nor also they should never exploit others.