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Gill and I were both very much encouraged by Judith Whitehead’s meditation on the ‘Seeds of The Kingdom’ series from Ellel Ministries and commend it to you for today ...
Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.
[Hebrews 7:25, NIV]
[Hebrews 7:25, NIV]
If ever we need encouragement, this verse is certainly one to hold on to. The thought that Jesus continually prays for us is very comforting indeed.
The NLT version of this verse is worded differently, but the truth of it remains the same, and is just as powerful, ‘Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through Him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf’.
We all need prayer and will often ask our Christian brothers and sisters to pray for us when going through various trials in our daily lives, whatever form they may take. When others do pray for us, we feel strengthened and uplifted, even if an immediate answer to prayer doesn’t occur. But to have Jesus praying for us is better still. His prayers for us will be just right and will cover exactly what we need at that particular time.
Jesus ‘stands in the gap’ between us and God as our advocate when we stumble and fall into sin. ‘If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks (prays) to the Father in our defence - Jesus Christ the Righteous one’ (1 John 2:1).
Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for our sin, having died on the cross to pay the penalty that was due to us. He rose again and is still alive today, presenting us as faultless and blameless before God our Father. Jesus knows our weakness and understands our temptations. ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin’ (Hebrews 4:15).
In John’s gospel, Chapter 17, we read that Jesus prays first of all for His disciples (who were alive at that time) then for all who would become believers later on. He prays, ‘My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one’. It’s worth taking the time to read the whole of John 17, because the truth it contains is so profound.
I have to be honest. For the past couple of weeks I’ve really been struggling and feeling quite low with the current Covid situation, especially as Christmas is rapidly approaching and it’s still uncertain whether we will be able to spend the day with family as we normally do. Being reminded of the fact that Jesus is always praying for me has uplifted me and I feel encouraged and strengthened once more.
I hope you too will be encouraged and strengthened, knowing Jesus is always praying for you.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for praying for me. Knowing this, I am strengthened when I’m struggling. Most of all, I thank You for being my Saviour and setting me free from my guilt and shame. All my hope is in You. You have the words of eternal life. Amen.
Today's Writer : Judith Whitehead Judith is married to Dougie and they have one son. Judith loves spending time with her family, including two gorgeous grandchildren and being outdoors walking in the countryside. Judith lives locally to Ellel Grange and is a part of the creativity team at Ellel Grange. Judith has a deep desire to encourage others and to help believers and unbelievers come to a place of knowing God personally and deeply for themselves.
The man who has seen Jesus can never be daunted; the man who has only a personal testimony as to what Jesus has done for him may be daunted, but nothing can turn the man who has seen Him; he endures “as seeing Him who is invisible.”
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The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.
Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.
So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
[Genesis 19:23-26 NKJV]
Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.
So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
[Genesis 19:23-26 NKJV]
As a child I was horrified by this story of Lot’s wife, and no one was able to give me what I considered a satisfactory explanation as to why she ended in such a cruel way. To say that she was wicked seemed to avoid the issue. If she was so bad, then what had she done; there seemed no evidence of wrongdoing?
The understanding of a child cannot comprehend in the way that an adult can, and yet the story was unmistakeable — Mrs Lot was transformed into a saline statue because she had looked back! What was wrong about looking back to the conflagration behind you? Who wouldn’t look at such a spectacle? Indeed, in verse 28, Abraham himself looks at the devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah, yet he was not made salt. Why?
As an adult I can understand the ways of the Bible better than I could fifty or more years ago (although I still have much to learn), but even so, I can see now that the difference was one of the heart and a holy walk; a holy relationship with God. Abraham had one; Lot’s wife apparently did not, or at least her position in the matter of faith was one of extreme religiousness. A pillar seems to represent uprightness; right-standing and rectitude; but when coupled with the nature of salt, it would indicate a lack of life. The ‘Dead Sea’ has little or nothing living in it because of the high density of salt in the water. Lot’s wife was consumed by the death and degradation she was leaving behind. She supported and promoted the total lack of a holy life that she was leaving behind. There was no life in her. Interestingly, she is not given a name in the Bible — a name would have spoken of the nature of the life in her; but there was none.
You might counter the argument by saying that we are to be the salt of the earth, which is true, but there is a difference between a little salt to add flavouring, and over-salting which kills any taste but salt — and few can stomach that!
Lot went to live in Zoar, on the shores of the Dead Sea. Zoar means insignificance. Abraham went on in the Lord. We are not God’s chosen people because we give in to temptation and cast our faith to the winds of false doctrine or unbelief. We must stand fast in perilous times.
The understanding of a child cannot comprehend in the way that an adult can, and yet the story was unmistakeable — Mrs Lot was transformed into a saline statue because she had looked back! What was wrong about looking back to the conflagration behind you? Who wouldn’t look at such a spectacle? Indeed, in verse 28, Abraham himself looks at the devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah, yet he was not made salt. Why?
As an adult I can understand the ways of the Bible better than I could fifty or more years ago (although I still have much to learn), but even so, I can see now that the difference was one of the heart and a holy walk; a holy relationship with God. Abraham had one; Lot’s wife apparently did not, or at least her position in the matter of faith was one of extreme religiousness. A pillar seems to represent uprightness; right-standing and rectitude; but when coupled with the nature of salt, it would indicate a lack of life. The ‘Dead Sea’ has little or nothing living in it because of the high density of salt in the water. Lot’s wife was consumed by the death and degradation she was leaving behind. She supported and promoted the total lack of a holy life that she was leaving behind. There was no life in her. Interestingly, she is not given a name in the Bible — a name would have spoken of the nature of the life in her; but there was none.
You might counter the argument by saying that we are to be the salt of the earth, which is true, but there is a difference between a little salt to add flavouring, and over-salting which kills any taste but salt — and few can stomach that!
Lot went to live in Zoar, on the shores of the Dead Sea. Zoar means insignificance. Abraham went on in the Lord. We are not God’s chosen people because we give in to temptation and cast our faith to the winds of false doctrine or unbelief. We must stand fast in perilous times.
Nothing has any power to alter a man save the incoming of the life of Jesus and that is the only sign that he is born again.
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And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.
[Genesis 13:27 NKJV]
[Genesis 13:27 NKJV]
The Bible often talks of important or crucial events as happening ‘early in the morning’, or ‘at dawn’. Perhaps the most significant is “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” [Matthew 28:1 NKJV] The resurrection was discovered at first light — of course it was; what other time would have the significance?
In our verse this morning, Abraham stood before The Lord ... early in the morning; and not for the first time; and later when The Lord asked him to sacrifice Isaac as a test of faith it was ‘early in the morning’. Here, it was another significant moment when he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. Everything was ‘going up in smoke’ and Lot’s wife had only just become ‘a pillar of salt’. Another test of faith.
We know and understand that our faith will be tested. This life is a time of testing — at least so my maternal grandparents believed, and I cannot say that they were wrong. Part of that test is surely how we maintain our relationship with the one who sustains us, Jesus Christ. I have told before of a precious saint of our acquaintance, who prays in tongues on waking in the mornings. She says that the connection with The Lord ‘early in the morning’ lightens the spirit for the whole day. The video below tells the same story, but in a different way.
In our verse this morning, Abraham stood before The Lord ... early in the morning; and not for the first time; and later when The Lord asked him to sacrifice Isaac as a test of faith it was ‘early in the morning’. Here, it was another significant moment when he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. Everything was ‘going up in smoke’ and Lot’s wife had only just become ‘a pillar of salt’. Another test of faith.
We know and understand that our faith will be tested. This life is a time of testing — at least so my maternal grandparents believed, and I cannot say that they were wrong. Part of that test is surely how we maintain our relationship with the one who sustains us, Jesus Christ. I have told before of a precious saint of our acquaintance, who prays in tongues on waking in the mornings. She says that the connection with The Lord ‘early in the morning’ lightens the spirit for the whole day. The video below tells the same story, but in a different way.
Our Lord was never impatient. He simply planted seed thoughts in the disciples’ minds and surrounded them with the atmosphere of His own life. We get impatient and take men by the scruff of the neck and say: “You must believe this and that.” You cannot make a man see moral truth by persuading his intellect. “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He shall guide you into all the truth.”
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Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.
[Proverbs 8:6-8 AMPC]
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.
[Proverbs 8:6-8 AMPC]
We were talking together yesterday evening, and Gill was led to read from Proverbs 8, particularly regarding our words and how we say them. Do we always utter truth; and is there ever anything crooked in what we say. The truthful answers are 'no' and 'yes' in that order, even although we may strive to achieve the opposite.
The reason for our discussion was an email or text message, which appeared at an initial reading to be derogatory, but when understanding and wisdom were applied, it became more of a humourous remark badly worded. In the first verses of Proverbs 8, Solomon says:
Does not skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice [in contrast to the loose woman]?
On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom [skillful and godly]; at the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out: to you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men.
O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart.
[Proverbs 8:1-5 AMPC]
Wisdom [skillful and godly] is the Holy Spirit, and although the Book of Proverbs is about many things; predominantly it is a book of wisdom; how to raise a Godly son. And raising that Godly son within us is the main focus of the true believer. We know that we cannot do this in our own strength of will, but neither is it the case that we leave everything up to God to deal with. There comes a point in our walk with The Lord, when we reach out to Him in prayer (on the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet), that we get a breakthrough in our understanding of the heavenly purpose (at the gates ...at the coming in ... I call) and His voice is clear to us (My voice is directed to the sons of men).
These verses talk. They dwell on speaking -- about the voice of The Lord -- our voice and the words we use. If we desire to follow Jesus we must speak with His heart filling us. Where the paths meet; where my spirit and His Holy Spirit meet in understand and wisdom, then the opening of my lips shall be for right things.
The reason for our discussion was an email or text message, which appeared at an initial reading to be derogatory, but when understanding and wisdom were applied, it became more of a humourous remark badly worded. In the first verses of Proverbs 8, Solomon says:
Does not skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice [in contrast to the loose woman]?
On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom [skillful and godly]; at the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out: to you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men.
O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart.
[Proverbs 8:1-5 AMPC]
Wisdom [skillful and godly] is the Holy Spirit, and although the Book of Proverbs is about many things; predominantly it is a book of wisdom; how to raise a Godly son. And raising that Godly son within us is the main focus of the true believer. We know that we cannot do this in our own strength of will, but neither is it the case that we leave everything up to God to deal with. There comes a point in our walk with The Lord, when we reach out to Him in prayer (on the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet), that we get a breakthrough in our understanding of the heavenly purpose (at the gates ...at the coming in ... I call) and His voice is clear to us (My voice is directed to the sons of men).
These verses talk. They dwell on speaking -- about the voice of The Lord -- our voice and the words we use. If we desire to follow Jesus we must speak with His heart filling us. Where the paths meet; where my spirit and His Holy Spirit meet in understand and wisdom, then the opening of my lips shall be for right things.
When we have a certain belief, we kill God in our lives, because we do not believe Him, we believe our beliefs about Him and we do what Job's friends did -- bring God and human life to the standard of our beliefs and not to the standard of God.
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Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
[Proverbs 21:2 NKJV]
[Proverbs 21:2 NKJV]
We all like to feel that we are right; that we did the right thing; behaved well in difficult circumstances; made the right choices in life. We all want to hear “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The reality is often very different. Maybe we cover our inadequacies with a veneer of righteousness, or maybe we are blind to them, or perhaps they overwhelm us. Solomon in his Proverbs tells us the every way of a man is right in his own eyes, so if you are bold and ambitious that is the right way to be; if you are weak and faltering, that too is correct.
We look around us and see examples of people on the world stage who each believe that they have right on their side. They will all fall on their faces — their pride, arrogance, self-righteousness will be their undoing ... and ours also, unless we choose wisely.
We all have that choice: serve ourselves or serve God. It always comes down to that; death or life; me or Jesus, who will prevail in my life? Will it be my way in everything, or God’s way in some things first, which leads us into His way in everything?
The Lord who weighs your hearts, knows the answer.
The reality is often very different. Maybe we cover our inadequacies with a veneer of righteousness, or maybe we are blind to them, or perhaps they overwhelm us. Solomon in his Proverbs tells us the every way of a man is right in his own eyes, so if you are bold and ambitious that is the right way to be; if you are weak and faltering, that too is correct.
We look around us and see examples of people on the world stage who each believe that they have right on their side. They will all fall on their faces — their pride, arrogance, self-righteousness will be their undoing ... and ours also, unless we choose wisely.
We all have that choice: serve ourselves or serve God. It always comes down to that; death or life; me or Jesus, who will prevail in my life? Will it be my way in everything, or God’s way in some things first, which leads us into His way in everything?
The Lord who weighs your hearts, knows the answer.
Do we “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth”? He will take us through the strange dark things — we must follow Him “whithersoever He goeth.” “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and He shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17)
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Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
[1Peter 4:12-14 NKJV]
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
[1Peter 4:12-14 NKJV]
When Glasgow School of Art was destroyed by fire for the second time in 2018, just as it was nearing full restoration after a fire four years earlier, it seemed like it was the death knell for the iconic Charles Rennie Mackintosh building; much to the despair of many in the Art World. Yet, two years on, work is progressing to rebuild and improve the infrastructure of the building; even with a global pandemic halting everything in March.
There are likely to be many obstacles yet to be overcome before it can return to any sort of normal; but the will is there to make it happen. This is an obvious and recent example of the devastation fire brings. It changes the nature of the thing burned; producing lifeless ash and rubble where there once was vitality and purpose. But hope remains; and there are four references in The Bible that give substance to that hope, showing that God is a consuming fire ... He burns up the lifeless remains and in so doing re-animates what seemed lost; but more than that, the life He restores is changed into something altogether new. This is from Deuteronomy...
Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’
Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you.
[Deuteronomy 9:1-3 NKJV]
In these verses we see the reality of the changes His consuming fire purposes in our fiery trials. Mention is made here of the nations greater and mightier than yourself, meaning those spirits which possess us —like fear, anxiety, pride, selfishness and others — and we will dispossess them, and we will understand why He is as a consuming fire, for He will destroy them; making us anew. It gives a whole new meaning to fighting fire with fire. Fighting a destroying fire with The Lord’s holy fire brings resurrection life instead of loss.
We can see now, surely, that resurrection life is ours to possess now, not just in the hereafter; such is the love and care and mercy of our amazing God.
There are likely to be many obstacles yet to be overcome before it can return to any sort of normal; but the will is there to make it happen. This is an obvious and recent example of the devastation fire brings. It changes the nature of the thing burned; producing lifeless ash and rubble where there once was vitality and purpose. But hope remains; and there are four references in The Bible that give substance to that hope, showing that God is a consuming fire ... He burns up the lifeless remains and in so doing re-animates what seemed lost; but more than that, the life He restores is changed into something altogether new. This is from Deuteronomy...
Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’
Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you.
[Deuteronomy 9:1-3 NKJV]
In these verses we see the reality of the changes His consuming fire purposes in our fiery trials. Mention is made here of the nations greater and mightier than yourself, meaning those spirits which possess us —like fear, anxiety, pride, selfishness and others — and we will dispossess them, and we will understand why He is as a consuming fire, for He will destroy them; making us anew. It gives a whole new meaning to fighting fire with fire. Fighting a destroying fire with The Lord’s holy fire brings resurrection life instead of loss.
We can see now, surely, that resurrection life is ours to possess now, not just in the hereafter; such is the love and care and mercy of our amazing God.
“Ye are the light of the world.” We have the idea that we are going to shine in heaven, but we are to shine down here, “In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation” (Philippians 2:15). We are to shine as the light of the world in squalid places, and it cannot be done by putting on a brazen smile, the light must be there all the time.
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Our 200th Post
Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.
[1 Samuel 30:21 NKJV]
[1 Samuel 30:21 NKJV]
Are we there yet? The two hundred men so weary that they stayed at the Brook Besor (the cheerful river), seemed to have given up on the journey. They preferred the comfort of not making the effort to follow David; perhaps they wanted the easy way out.
David’s mighty men at this point numbered six hundred — which might be considered ‘a double portion’ of the three hundred that Gideon was granted to gain victory over the Midianites. However, a third part of David’s force were ‘so weary’ that they could not follow David any longer. The four hundred were contemptuous of those who stayed and would not share the spoils, but David greeted the two hundred so weary and said:
“My brethren, you shall not do so [refuse to share the spoil] with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.” [1Samuel 30:23 NKJV]
There is a beautiful lesson to be seen in this story, which is that we should not judge harshly those who weary in the fight. Not all of us have the vigour to push through against all adversity. Some recognise their limitations — or maybe ... just maybe ... they have conserved or recovered their strength in a time of rest to make the difference in the final stages of the conflict. Certainly, David refused to condemn their insufficiency; instead offering equal shares of the gains to all. All had played a part when the end of the matter was resolved.
For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.”
[1 Samuel 30:24 NKJV]
Each has a part to play and not one is greater than another. What the King has allowed shall not be gainsaid by his subordinates. Sometimes the incomplete picture has more to say than a finished work. Only The Lord can say, and if anyone else tries to intervene, we can truly state who will heed you in this matter!
Thank you, Lord — you see the bigger picture; the greater good; the completeness that we cannot. Help us to hear only Your voice and ignore the scoffing and protesting thoughts that would threaten Your peace.
David’s mighty men at this point numbered six hundred — which might be considered ‘a double portion’ of the three hundred that Gideon was granted to gain victory over the Midianites. However, a third part of David’s force were ‘so weary’ that they could not follow David any longer. The four hundred were contemptuous of those who stayed and would not share the spoils, but David greeted the two hundred so weary and said:
“My brethren, you shall not do so [refuse to share the spoil] with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.” [1Samuel 30:23 NKJV]
There is a beautiful lesson to be seen in this story, which is that we should not judge harshly those who weary in the fight. Not all of us have the vigour to push through against all adversity. Some recognise their limitations — or maybe ... just maybe ... they have conserved or recovered their strength in a time of rest to make the difference in the final stages of the conflict. Certainly, David refused to condemn their insufficiency; instead offering equal shares of the gains to all. All had played a part when the end of the matter was resolved.
For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.”
[1 Samuel 30:24 NKJV]
Each has a part to play and not one is greater than another. What the King has allowed shall not be gainsaid by his subordinates. Sometimes the incomplete picture has more to say than a finished work. Only The Lord can say, and if anyone else tries to intervene, we can truly state who will heed you in this matter!
Thank you, Lord — you see the bigger picture; the greater good; the completeness that we cannot. Help us to hear only Your voice and ignore the scoffing and protesting thoughts that would threaten Your peace.
In the New Testament, “world” means the system of things which has been built on God’s earth, the system of religion or of society or of civilisation that never takes Jesus Christ into account.
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Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.
[Psalm 37:7-8 NKJV]
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.
[Psalm 37:7-8 NKJV]
Do not fret — it only causes harm, says the Psalmist. To fret is to be anxious and continually worry over a problem or a situation. And it causes harm; not only to our own health and well-being, but also to those around us. It is said that bad news travels faster; and so it is with fretfulness — we only have to see the dramatic rise in mental health issues during this plague year to understand that the pandemic affects not only those who have contracted the virus but many of us who have not.
In Psalm 37 the word is used to denote anger, literally to burn, or to melt. This is often a response to fear-inducing circumstances. When startled or frightened our first reaction is often an angry one.
But Psalm 37 encourages us to rest in The Lord and wait patiently for Him. Not always an easy thing to do — impossible maybe by our own efforts, but with patience (because you have kept My command to persevere - Revelation 3:10 NKJV) and understanding ... and The Holy Spirit’s help, resting in Him becomes easier — retraining our fears into spiritual rest. He will do it.
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ [Isaiah 41:10 NKJV]
In Psalm 37 the word is used to denote anger, literally to burn, or to melt. This is often a response to fear-inducing circumstances. When startled or frightened our first reaction is often an angry one.
But Psalm 37 encourages us to rest in The Lord and wait patiently for Him. Not always an easy thing to do — impossible maybe by our own efforts, but with patience (because you have kept My command to persevere - Revelation 3:10 NKJV) and understanding ... and The Holy Spirit’s help, resting in Him becomes easier — retraining our fears into spiritual rest. He will do it.
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ [Isaiah 41:10 NKJV]
“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
How much evil has begun to threaten you today?
What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying; “Now what are you going to do next month — this summer?” “Be anxious for nothing,” Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “Much more of your Heavenly Father.
How much evil has begun to threaten you today?
What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying; “Now what are you going to do next month — this summer?” “Be anxious for nothing,” Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “Much more of your Heavenly Father.
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Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
[2 Timothy 3:12-17 NKJV]
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
[2 Timothy 3:12-17 NKJV]
Yesterday morning as I prepared to walk our small excitable Jack Russell terrier, I felt that the top of my head needed protecting from the increasing cold as Winter approaches, so I put on my favourite head-warming hat and went out on the walk. All during the walk and up until now, the expression ‘wearing Horace’s hat’ has recurred with an insistence that I can only attribute to the Holy Spirit.
In a sense it is a second-hand (or second-head) hat, as it originally belonged to a dear man of God, who we were more than blessed to know for some years until The Lord took him home. His story is an amazing one — too long for a short meditation like this — but it is one that should be told in time. It is an inspiring testimony and tells of a man who found a deep abiding faith, overcame many obstacles (not the least of which was being unable to read), pastored a church in Cambridge and went on to be a mainstay in a Christian community in Ireland, where he was known locally and with respect and affection as “The Horace”.
He was, without doubt, a man of God, and someone who, by his example and advice helped deepen my own faith and those of any who knew him. He had a quality that is essential in any man of God; that of always pointing away from himself and towards Jesus Christ.
The scripture reading today seems so relevant to this dear saint. He continued in the things which he had learned and been assured of; and he was most emphatic about the one from whom he had learned. To me, he seemed ‘thoroughly equipped for every good work’
He is not alone among those who have been guides and mentors in this walk of faith; there have been ‘a fair few’ over the years, but I am always glad when I bring him to mind, and proud to be ‘wearing Horace’s hat’.
In a sense it is a second-hand (or second-head) hat, as it originally belonged to a dear man of God, who we were more than blessed to know for some years until The Lord took him home. His story is an amazing one — too long for a short meditation like this — but it is one that should be told in time. It is an inspiring testimony and tells of a man who found a deep abiding faith, overcame many obstacles (not the least of which was being unable to read), pastored a church in Cambridge and went on to be a mainstay in a Christian community in Ireland, where he was known locally and with respect and affection as “The Horace”.
He was, without doubt, a man of God, and someone who, by his example and advice helped deepen my own faith and those of any who knew him. He had a quality that is essential in any man of God; that of always pointing away from himself and towards Jesus Christ.
The scripture reading today seems so relevant to this dear saint. He continued in the things which he had learned and been assured of; and he was most emphatic about the one from whom he had learned. To me, he seemed ‘thoroughly equipped for every good work’
He is not alone among those who have been guides and mentors in this walk of faith; there have been ‘a fair few’ over the years, but I am always glad when I bring him to mind, and proud to be ‘wearing Horace’s hat’.
“What I tell you in darkness” — watch where God puts you in darkness, and when you are there, keep your mouth shut.
When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a precious message for someone else when you get into the light.
When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a precious message for someone else when you get into the light.
- Published on
Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive.
For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
[2 Corinthians 2:8-11 NKJV]
Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive.
For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
[2 Corinthians 2:8-11 NKJV]
This is what I read this morning from Oswald Chambers’ “Devotions For A Deeper Life” :
Let me share a very puzzling situation. You have all had experiences, I’m sure, in which people listened to clear Bible teaching, but failed to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, before that same congregation, a speaker gets up and shares a rambling testimony and—to your astonishment—people are born again.
I have attended the City Mission in New York City several times, for example, and I have never once heard correct biblical teaching there. But recently, I heard a man who had been wonderfully saved get up and tell what he was and what he had been. Then four or five others did this too. The Spirit of God got hold of the people in the congregation. Before I knew it, people went to the altar.
These rough men knelt down and prayed with them, and the seekers “struck something,” as they say there. Something struck them!
I have been ‘much exercised’ as we sometimes say, in what Our Lord is doing in this hour — in this time of testing and trial. It occurred to me that it is always a time of testing; life is a continual struggle. It has it’s joys and sadnesses, triumphs and tragedies for sure, but that is not in the centre of us. What is our core and character? Some preachers have talked of having “a Jesus-shaped hole” in that centre, something which can still be there, even if we purport to be believers. There can be a block in letting Jesus fill us with His heavenly presence, and the block can be needing to ‘empty ourselves of ourselves’ first.
How is that accomplished? Paul suggests the way, and that is to reaffirm your love to Jesus. All flows from that one basic premise. But that love needs to be tested — tried in the fire of adversity and struggle, to eliminate the block. That love and passion for Jesus must be backed by obedience to Him in the spirit of forgiveness.
What this comes down to in the end — and where Oswald Chambers found a very puzzling situation — is a deep abiding relationship with Jesus. It is not about teaching, or learning how to follow a set of rules; it is being obedient in all things.
Let me share a very puzzling situation. You have all had experiences, I’m sure, in which people listened to clear Bible teaching, but failed to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, before that same congregation, a speaker gets up and shares a rambling testimony and—to your astonishment—people are born again.
I have attended the City Mission in New York City several times, for example, and I have never once heard correct biblical teaching there. But recently, I heard a man who had been wonderfully saved get up and tell what he was and what he had been. Then four or five others did this too. The Spirit of God got hold of the people in the congregation. Before I knew it, people went to the altar.
These rough men knelt down and prayed with them, and the seekers “struck something,” as they say there. Something struck them!
I have been ‘much exercised’ as we sometimes say, in what Our Lord is doing in this hour — in this time of testing and trial. It occurred to me that it is always a time of testing; life is a continual struggle. It has it’s joys and sadnesses, triumphs and tragedies for sure, but that is not in the centre of us. What is our core and character? Some preachers have talked of having “a Jesus-shaped hole” in that centre, something which can still be there, even if we purport to be believers. There can be a block in letting Jesus fill us with His heavenly presence, and the block can be needing to ‘empty ourselves of ourselves’ first.
How is that accomplished? Paul suggests the way, and that is to reaffirm your love to Jesus. All flows from that one basic premise. But that love needs to be tested — tried in the fire of adversity and struggle, to eliminate the block. That love and passion for Jesus must be backed by obedience to Him in the spirit of forgiveness.
What this comes down to in the end — and where Oswald Chambers found a very puzzling situation — is a deep abiding relationship with Jesus. It is not about teaching, or learning how to follow a set of rules; it is being obedient in all things.
The first thing to do in examining the power that dominates me is to take hold of the unwelcome fact that I am responsible for being this dominated because I have yielded.
If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame for it because at a point, away back, I yielded myself to myself. Likewise, if I obey God, I do so because I have yielded myself to Him.
If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame for it because at a point, away back, I yielded myself to myself. Likewise, if I obey God, I do so because I have yielded myself to Him.