I wonder? [1 Corinthians 15 ]

As I grow older I think about heaven and what is like,and what will I be doing in eternity,there is a healthy curiosity,and there is an unhealthy one.One thing for sure it will be different ,in the nicest sort of way,we will have new bodies, a spiritual body,as flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. [1 Corinthians 15v50] David Prior writes,'because decay and corruption cannot be part of what is eternally incorruptible.We will bear the image of Christ[ 15 v49]again as D.P writes,'both in the sense of being made like him and in the sense of sharing his resurrection...in this whole
discussion Paul is struggling to describe the indiscrible' Ladd goes unto say,
'Who can imagine a body without weakness? or infection?or tiredness?or sickness ?or death? This a body utterly unknown to earthly historical
experience......it is an order of existence in which the laws of nature......no
longer obtain. In fact, when one puts his mind it,it is quite unimaginable'
as the song goes','I can only imagine'It is important what John MacArthur
says about those who claim afterlife experiences,it is called ''heaven tourism'',avoid them they are not helpful. But one thing for sure Heaven
is only for Gods people,[ John 14 v6 ],and will be utterly wonderful.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God help us to live in the light of eternity,to keep the hope burning
of Christ coming again in our hearts. in Jesus name we ask this Amen.

Something you cannot do. [ Mark 10 v 17-27]

''Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moth and rust destroy,and where thieves break in and steal.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your
treasure is,there  your heart will be also.[Matthew 6 v19-21]. On these words Dr. Martyn. Lloyd-Jones comments.
''The truth of this proposition is obvious.Both make a totalitarian demand
upon us. Worldly things really do make a totalitarian demand......they tend to grip the entire personality and affect us everywhere. They demand our entire devotion;they want us to lived for them absolutely. Yes ,but so does God.thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,and with all thy mind,and all thy strength.' Not in a material sense necessarily,but in some sense or other He says to us all,'Go,sell all that thou hast, and come,follow me.'He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.It is a totalitarian demand.As v24 points out:Either he will hate the one,and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,and despise the other.' It is'either-or; compromise is completely impossible at this point. 'Ye cannot serve God and mammon'.
                                           A  prayer.
                   Dear Lord, I want you more than gold and silver,
                                      only You can satisfy.
                                      You alone are the real joy giver,
                                       and the apple of my eye.
                                       You alone are my strength,my shield,
                                       to you alone may my spirit yield.
                                       You alone are my heart's desire
                                        and I long to worship You. Amen.
                                          [Words by Martin Nystrom ]

An absolute promise. [Matthew 7 v 7-11]

In Dr.Martyn Lloyd-Jones commentary on the Sermon on the Mount , he  comments on Matthew 7v7-11,we read,''I cannot imagine a better, more
cheering or a more comforting statement, with which to face all the uncertainties and hazards of our life in this world of time, than contained in v7-11.It is one those great comprehensive and gracious promises which are to be found only in the Bible.There is nothing that can be more encouraging as we face life with all its uncertainties and possibilities,our 'future all unknown'.In  such a situation,this is the essence of the biblical message from beginning to end,this is the promise that comes to us:'Ask and shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.'
In order that we might be quite certain about it,our Lord repeats it,and puts it in an even stronger form, for He says:'Everyone that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.'There is
no doubt about it,it is certain; it is an absolute promise.What is more,it is a promise made by the Son of God Himself,speaking with all the fullness and
authority of His Father''.
                              
                              Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
                              Through eternal ages let His praises ring:
                              Glory in the highest ,I will shout and sing,
                               Standing on the promises of God.

                              Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
                              When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail.
                               By the living word of God I shall prevail,
                              Standing on the promises of God.
                                       [Words by R.Kelso Carter ]

The divine weaver. [Romans 8 v28]

 Joseph had forgiven his brothers,for all the evil they had done to him[ Read
Genesis 45/ 50v13-21] they were anxious that he would punish them,so he spoke to them,and its here, I want to quote Max Lucado,''You meant evil against me''[Genesis 50v20], Joseph told his brothers,using a Hebrew verb that traces its meaning to weave,or plait. You wove evil,he was saying,'' but God rewove it together for good''.This reminds me of a poem I read ,I do not know the author.
                                              The Divine Weaver.
                            My life is but a weaving, between my Lord and me;
                            I cannot choose the colours, He worketh steadily.

                            Often times,He weaveth sorrow and I,in foolish pride,
                            Forget He seeth the upper and I, the underside.

                            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 as needful in the weaver's skilful
                            hand,
                            As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has
                            planned.

Just one look. [1Corintians 10 v 12-13 ]

I was walking through my favourite store,where I buy much of my clothes,
and as I was looking at different items,I said to God,no not my wife,I am only looking.In other words I was saying To Him ,I was not going to buy to
buy anything, but I was tempted,as I viewed a certain article,but I reminded
myself what I had said to the Lord. Yet I was tempted,I have since thought of three people in the Bible who did what I did ,they just looked,the result was disastrous.The first one was Eve,the mother of humanity,after the devil had tempted her ,she looked,at the forbidden fruit[CP Genesis3 v 6].
The next person was Achan who looked,and took ,what God had forbidden
[Joshua 7v 21].Then there was that wonderful holy man, David,who looked at a married woman,and you can guess the rest.[2Samuel 11 v2 ]Each of these people looked and then they coveted,and brought disaster and pain on others and themselves.Right at this moment many people like them,are fixing their gaze on something or someone,that if they allow temptation to take hold,one can easily imagine what may happen.So let us all listen to warnings of scripture,the Bible tells us let him[or her] who thinketh that he/she ,standeth,be careful lest he,or she,falls.

                           Yield not to temptation,for yielding is sin
                           Each victory will help you some other to win;
                            Fight manfully onward,dark passions subdue,
                           Look ever to Jesus,He'll carry you through.

                            Ask the Saviour to help you,
                            Comfort,strengthen ,and keep you;
                            He is willing to aid you,
                            He will carry you through.
                                 [Horatio Palmer.  1868 ]

We have a helper. [ Psalm 143 ]

Whatever task,whatever difficulty we may have to face,God is sufficient,he is in control even though it may not appear so.Listen to the whispers of Jesus,there is so much noise in this world,so many sounds in our head,so stop ,and listen,to that still small voice of your Saviour.Are you panicking?
are you struggling?,like the disciples in the storm,stop and remember Jesus was with them and He is with you,you are not on your own,Jesus is with you,and makes all the difference.Now raise your thoughts heavenward,like the Psalmist who said ,I lift up my eyes to the hills,but he did stop at the hills,he went on to say,my help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth[Psalm121v1-2]Who did he say was his helper?,I remember times when there was no food in the house,literally no food,and there was no money to buy any,and my children needed fed,my help came from the Lord.I remember so many times facing so much,that was beyond me,but not beyond the help of my Lord . Whatever trial you are going through ,your Lord knows all about it ,and he has the situation in hand,There is an old hymn with following ,words,about reaching the end of Our hidden resources
,consider and be encouraged that your Gods resources never run out,never.
                                      A prayer.
 
                       O Lord,hear my prayer,listen
                       to my cry for mercy,in your
                       faithfulness and righteousness
                        come to my relief.
                                      Amen
                             [ Psalm 143 v1 ]

We cheapen the Gospel.[John 3 v16 ]

In James 3 v1,we read,''Not many of you should presume to be teachers,my
brothers,because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly''
The call of God to a Christian ministry is very challenging,and bears with a tremendous responsibility.The prophet Ezekiel is told by God,'I have made you a watchman,'[3 v17],a watchman in ancient times was one who stood on guard,and would sound a warning if an enemy was approaching.If he failed in this he would be held responsible.Ezekiel is warned to be faithful in speaking Gods word ,if he did not do this God would hold him responsible.Every Christian is called to be a witness[Acts 1 v8], I read this recently ,'If we do not tell them who will',an the answer is no one'.Those called to be ministers are given by God the challenge to regularly proclaim Gods word,in a public manner.And like Ezekiel they will be held accountable,as to their faithfulness in ministering to the saints,but also to the unsaved.We must warn them of the wrath that is coming,John Stott writes,'We cheapen the gospel if we represent it as a deliverance only from unhappiness,fear,guilt and other felt needs,instead of as a rescue from the coming wrath'
                                         A prayer.
Dear God we thank you that you so loved the world that you gave Jesus,that we may believe in Him,and not perish. Amen.