Mercy ( Isaiah 47 v 6 )

 '' You showed them no mercy'( Isaiah 47 v 6 ). These are the words spoken to an ancient world power, who like so many world powers, let power go to their heads. God had raised up the ancient nation of  Babylon, and He used them as an instrument of judgement on His people . His people had forsaken Him and  had fallen into a dreadful state, they refused  to listen to the warnings from the prophets. Babylon did what God had raised them up for, but in doing that they showed no mercy, as one commentator says,' The victor in war should not let their vilest passions rage against the nations  they overcome in war' If one reads the history of the 2nd world war ,I could highlight two nations who followed in the footsteps of that ancient nation Babylon, they showed no mercy to those they conquered, and like Babylon they paid a very heavy price for what they did. Our Saviour taught ,'Blessed are the merciful , for they will be shown mercy', ( Matthew 5 v 7) It follows where this is violated then God who is just, will act.

Fearful about growing old . ( Psalm 23 )

 The thought of growing old ,can cause us to be concerned, all sorts of thoughts crush in upon us, we usually don't like change. Old age can mean change, will we able to managed financially?. Here is an encouraging word  from King David, 'I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their  children begging bread'. ( Psalm 37 v 25 ). Have on fear God will provide.

Old age may give us concerns ,as regards  our physical or mental well being, both may begin to deteriorate, here is a word from Isaiah 46 v 4,' Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you'. Have no fear God will sustain you.

Old age may mean making decisions, will we know to make the right decisions? . Here is a word from Psalm 48 v  14.' For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.' Have no fear He will be your guide.

Truth. ( Acts 20 v 28 - 31 )

 It was Pilate who said,' what is truth?', one definition puts it like this, 'the quality or state of being true'. a great number of the worlds population, believe lies ,in relation to religion many things that people believe are based on falsehood. We say God can do anything, well not quite, we read  in Titus 1 v2, that it is impossible for God to lie, He is a God of truth . We have the Bible the word of God ,it is not full of lies, it is not there to deceive ,it is there to lead us to Him who is the truth ,Jesus.  (John 14 v 6 ). As a Christian I must hold fast to the truth, especially if I am a minister that is especially important. Let me say this ,when it comes to theology, there is nothing new, for over 2,000 years the church has established what the truth is as regards salvation, God ,and many other precious doctrines, beware of those who seek to undermine these truths. One man I think we must highlight, N.T. Wright, who is an academic of note, he is having an influence, sad to say, that is far from helpful. his confused thoughts, as regards the substitutionary death of Christ, calling it pagan. He treats with disdain the belief held by every theologian of note that Christians   go to heaven  when they die, And yet he teaches that the Christian is not justified now ,it will only be, when he gets to heaven. He has written a new perspective on Paul, well as I said there is nothing new under the sun. So again let me remind you that beware of those, who ever they are, who challenge  established truth.

You matter . ( John 3 v 16 )

 A humanitarian worker said, 'to him every human being matters',  surely that should be the attitude of every Christian, how do we look at refugees?, people of other nationalities?, of disabled people .It was sad  to read that 90 percent of  Down syndrome children are aborted, they see them only as a fetus. The practice of eugenics has not gone away, but has spiralled out of control.  Every human being matters ,our dear Saviour touched the untouchable, mixed with the undesirables, sought the unreachables, because to Him everyone mattered. It is sad that Islam teaches that, Christians, Jews, and others are wretched creatures, and that Hinduism  have a cast system, that condemns people to a life of poverty, and being despised, and being discriminated against. It is also sad, that so called Christian ,have treated people in ways that are contrary to how God views people, and how they should be treated. God is love, a love that declares that every human being matters, He is also a God of truth, He tells  us that while everyone matters to Him, we are all sinners, and that He sent  Jesus His Son ,to die on a cross that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life, that is how much you matter to Him.

The importance of waiting . ( Philippians 4 v 13 )

In Lewis Carroll's book, 'Alice in Wonderland,' one of the characters  Alice meets is a white rabbit, who is in such a hurry to keep an appointment ,here is what he say's  Alice,'' Oh my fair and whiskers ! I'm late, I'm  late, I'm late, for a very important date !. No time to say 'hello, goodbye',  I'm late, I'm late, I'm late''. It reminds me of the words of a hymn, which  goes, 'The world rushes on', so very ,very true, no time to say hello, or  goodbye, I want you to stop and think of these very important  words, 'They that wait upon the Lord  shall renew their strength; they shall mount up  with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk , and not faint'.( Isaiah 40 v31) Take time today to wait upon the Lord that you may receive the strength you need for this day ,otherwise you may faint.

Change for the better. ( 1 Timothy 1 v 15 )

 As I was out walking I sat down ,as I usually do, just to observe the people about me, but then about certain people, two in particular. One is a racist, the other could be described as a thug, he is up to all sorts of mischief, so I  started to pray ,I said I know  that what people need is their sins forgiven by trusting  in Jesus, unless that happens,  the result is catastrophic.  But unless there is true repentance there will be no change ,that is sincere regret ,remorse, for the sinful life one has led, it means a complete change of direction towards God. It means a sincere confession  of your sins, and following God's way ,in newness of life. Those two people I mentioned would be better people, any person who genuinely trusts Christ as Saviour, will be a better person, they will not  be perfect, but one day all who trust Jesus will be. That's the substance of my prayer for those two people. When you truly trust Jesus you will be a better person, old things will go, all things will become new.

                                       .                  Change is possible, if

Thy will be done. ( Matthew 26 v 36 - 46 )

 Someone was very ill, near deaths door, and someone prayed this prayer,' Lord if  it be  Thy will, let his life be spared'.  It reminds me of  the following verse, written by J. Hudson Taylor.

                                                I'll that God blesses is our good , 

                                                And    unblest good is ill,

                                                And all is right,

                                                That seems so wrong,

                                                 If it be His sweet  will.

When we pray, 'Thy will be done', I think we should also pray,' Lord grant us grace to do your will, and 

grace to accept your will.