We love, because He first loved us

One of the concepts used in couples therapy, is that we all have a “love tank,”which when it is full enables us to be loving, kind etc. When the love tank is empty however, we need to do things for each other that will re-fill the tank. It seems that the circumstances and happenstances of life, the negative things, drain our tank. In fact this seems to be the default.

Some of the translations of this morning’s quote from 1 John 4:19, start with “We love Him.” But that “Him” it is not in the Greek. And while it may be true that we love Him because He first loved us, the deeper meaning it is that our ability to love at all flows out of the costly initiating love of God (i.e. John 3:16).

So if we want to be truly loving, then the very best way to do this is to stay connected to the One whose very nature is love (1 John 4:8). I am sure that you will agree with me, that there are people out there who are difficult to love! And I was reminded this morning, that I need to let Him love them through me. In other words I need to cooperate with Him so that I can be a channel of his love, rather than allowing them to drain my tank.

Father, thank You that Your love tank is never empty, and that You are ready and willing and able both to love me, and to love through me. Help me to keep short accounts with You, so that more and more I may be a pure channel of Your love to this wicked and hurting world. In Jesus Name Amen

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

Bear with me a little here as I say that as a mathematician, I have encountered ever increasing orders of infinity. So we talk about the trans-finite numbers. We start with the counting numbers 1, 2, 3…which of course never end. The set of all real numbers however is much larger and we say they are uncountable. In fact the “size” of this set is the first of an infinite number of increasingly larger ordinal numbers.

If you can’t get your mind around this don’t worry, neither can I! But neither can I get my mind around the fact that the riches of Christ are unsearchable (Ephesians 3:8). But my point, is that I strongly suspect that there are also an uncountable number of ever-increasing aspects of unsearch-ability to the grace and glory of our infinite God. In particular, when Jesus told us to go make disciples, He was commanding us to teach ourselves and others to enter into a task which will endure through all eternity.

In the second half of the verse quoted at the head of this post from Romans 11:33, Paul exclaims “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.” Now contrast this with our tendency to feel that we have arrived in our denomination or little group! So if we are finding Christianity boring, we need to realize that we have really missed out in our searching the unsearch-ability of our infinitely fascinating God.

Father please forgive me when, for whatever reason, apathy, pride, laziness or whatever, I have ceased to search for You with all my heart mind soul and strength. Lord in this, as in all things, I need Your help. Thank you Lord, that when I give everything I am able to give, then You make up for what is lacking (Philippians 2:12, 13). Thank You for these thoughts this morning Lord, in Jesus Name

Remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age

These words, from the very last verse of the very last chapter of Matthew, are among the many of the last words Jesus spoke while here on earth. And they are likely among the most meaningful for Matthew. Being a despised tax collector in his former life, he likely knew what loneliness was all about. And this promise from the Triune God that He would always be with us in Spirit, is relevant to all of us who have known loneliness!

In fact I am one of the same, because through no choice of my own (not saying of no fault) I found myself alone for long periods of time. Eventually though, through these forced periods of aloneness when God was all I had, I discovered that God is all I need. But this morning, I was aware that my usual closeness to Him was missing. When I asked Him about this I ended up confessing, largely through laziness, that “I have left undone things which I ought to have done.”

You see I know, that when I am not as close to Him, then I am the one who moved. I know this for He has told me “I will never leave you nor for sake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). And when this morning I confessed my sin of omission, my fellowship with Him was quickly restored.

Father, thank You that You use even these temporary periods where I do not feel close to You. I say this because the joy of reconciliation feels so good. Thank you Lord that You are faithful even when I am not, and as always I give You all the honour and glory and praise in Jesus Name Amen

Hidden Treasures of wisdom and knowledge II - In Him

One of the advantages of being old, is that over and over I have seen researchers come to conclusions that were later proved to be wrong. And while by no means is it always the case, many times these conclusions have been arrived at based on presuppositions that deny the existence of God. It is my observation that such researchers often think they are being neutral, while in fact neutrality is a myth. But this will have to wait for another day!

Evidence-based research can be said to be searching for the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, in other words it is seeking for the truth! But as I said above some of it is led astray by its presuppositions. Even so science, with its ability to correct itself will I believe, eventually prove incorrect presuppositions false. It can take a long time, a very long time! in fact there is a book by Thomas Kuhn entitled “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions,” that essentially makes this point. But what is my point?

The point I was making yesterday, was that seeking the hidden treasures of wisdom ultimately leads to Him. The point I want to make today, is that when our seeking is in Him, acknowledging Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5, 6), then the conclusions of our seeking will likely be more accurate and more efficient. I want to take a fourth paragraph this morning to mention three aspects of research that touch the Scriptures. We do however, need to rule out overly simplistic interpretations on the one hand, and those that exclude the possibility of the miraculous (and hence God) on the other.

The first aspect has to do with “the assured gains of biblical scholarship.” I learned of the said gains while studying for my diploma in Biblical studies in 1978. Since that time, over and over, many such “gains,” have been shown to be nonsense. The second aspect has to do with Biblical archaeology, where archaeologists with great fanfare have announced that their discoveries contradict Biblical history, but then their conclusions were later shown to be wrong as further evidence came to light. This of course, was not announced with fanfare! The third aspect has to do with secular psychology. I have said before that it is my observation that anything in secular psychology that works, can be found either as a principal or a command in Scripture. The point I am making then, is that like the wise men of old, wise men still do their seeking through and for Him!

Father, I want to thank You this morning that as I have done my seeking and searching through and for You, I have found clarity, assurance and healing. Lord there is so much more that I want to say, and the three aspects mentioned above are likely three books needing to be written. But I thank You Lord this morning that it’s not all up to me, it’s not all up to us. In particular You came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). In this as always Lord, You are praiseworthy in Jesus Name Amen

In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3)

As a pure mathematician, I have been fascinated by the depth, beauty and complexity of mathematics. I believe that mathematical knowledge is infinite. I say “believe,” because I cannot prove it, but what I do know is that the more I know, the more I realize I don’t know. Of course it being infinite would make sense if it was part of the design of an infinite God.

No matter what you believe about evolution, it is very clear to me that it cannot explain the change from non-life to life. The famous atheist Antony Flew shocked to the world in 2004 by announcing that while he had not embraced Christianity, he had come to believe in a God. I can I think, do no better in three paragraphs, than to allow him to describe his gradual evolution of thought as he sought out the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge (the quote that follows is taken from an interview with Dr. Benjamin Wiker)!

“With every passing year, the more that was discovered about the richness and inherent intelligence of life, the less it seemed likely that a chemical soup could magically generate the genetic code. The difference between life and non-life, it became apparent to me, was ontological and not chemical. The best confirmation of this radical gulf is Richard Dawkins' comical effort to argue in The God Delusion that the origin of life can be attributed to a "lucky chance." If that's the best argument you have, then the game is over. No, I did not hear a Voice. It was the evidence itself that led me to this conclusion.”

Father, in Your Word You tell us that the invisible things from the creation of the world are clearly seen by the things that are made (i.e. us), so that we are without excuse (Romans 1:20). Thank You Father for bringing me out of denial, and into Your glorious light. Lord continue to open my eyes, and the eyes of those I love and pray for in Jesus Name Amen

He was despised and rejected by others, and a man of sorrows, intimately familiar with suffering

Have you ever had someone tell you that they knew what you were going through, but you knew they had none of the disadvantages you had and all the advantages you did not have? And have you ever known those who by their actions essentially say do as I say, not as I do? And do you know those who are more than willing to hand out advice, but don’t have a clue? Our God is not like that in any of these ways!

At this Christmas time, we celebrate the lowly birth of one who suffered and bled and died one of the most horrendous deaths known to man! So on the first count, He is very far from being a God who is up there looking down on us isolated from our trials and temptations. But rather, He is completely able to “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15a). In other words He really does know what we are going through!

Secondly, far from failing to obey the very things He commands us to do, He “was in all points tried and tempted and tested as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15b). And just as importantly, He never asks us to go through something that He Himself has not gone through, only worse!

Thirdly, since it is true that “in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3), then when we ask for it the wisdom that we receive “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

Father, it is true what You said to Abraham, that You Yourself are our exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1). But it is also true that I have had little more than a glimpse of this, and I want to know You and Your wisdom more and more. Keep me seeking, knocking and asking in Jesus Name Amen

I bring you good tidings of great joy (Luke 2:10)

There is such irony in the fact that God intends the celebration of the birth of his Son to bring joy to the world, when so many, many people find Christmas difficult. But then, the One who He sent to bring joy, suffered more than anyone that I know!

And it was for the joy that was set before Him, that He endured the cross despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). But then there is a thief, whose agenda is to kill, to steal and to destroy. But there is a bigger “but,” But Jesus came that we might have life in all its fullness (John 10:10). It’s not automatic, we have to embrace Him and His work on the cross, and apply it to our lives.

When we do this, we will no longer be stuck in the past, and we can have joy even in the midst of our trials. And I’m remembering now that Paul, who also suffered more than anyone I know, had this to say about his suffering “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

Father, I thank You this morning that You have shown us the way to turn suffering into glory and joy. It’s not easy Lord, You more than anyone know that, but with You all things are possible. So I bring before You this morning Lord all who find this day difficult, and I ask You, the God of all comfort, to be with them today, and to comfort, strengthen and help them in Jesus Name Amen

Let us go and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us

The Lord had revealed himself to the shepherds in a spectacular way, and through the angel had told them about the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:10,11). Some of us might think it unfair of God to reveal Himself in spectacular ways to others, but not to us. But I believe, He either has, or will reveal Himself to each one of us in a way that we can hear and see and understand. But as here with the shepherds, each such revelation requires a response.

Before I had become too sophisticated for my own good, the Lord had spoken to me when I was 16. It was not an audible voice, but I knew it was Him, and He was essentially asking me why I was running away from him, which I was. And He told me that all He wanted me to do, was to love for Him. My response was “Well I don’t need you for that do I?”

So in fact, this was the essence of my call, to love others for Him. Now over half a century later, I am painfully aware of how inadequately I do this even with His help! But the point is, that after my negative response, it was 12 years later before I reconnected with Him. This time my response included the realization of how desperately I needed Him!

I believe that at some level, the Lord calls to us all at this Christmas season in and through the carols if nothing else. But I fear that like me for those twelve years, the longer we resist His call, the more faintly we hear Him! If this is you, I encourage you this morning to pray "God if you are really there, please show Yourself to me in Jesus Name."

Father, there are many out there whom I love, even in my inadequate way, who do not know You. Lord please open up their ears and their eyes and their hearts to You at this Christmas season, and help them to respond positively, and I will give You all the honour all the glory and all the praise in Jesus Name Amen >

A sword will pierce through your own soul also

Mary had said yes to the angel in response to him telling her that she would bear a child by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:38). This, in spite of her knowing that her response would cause some pain. Likely she did not know how much! In particular the prophecy that Simeon had given her at the time of dedication of Jesus at the temple would be fulfilled as she watched has son die on the cross (Luke 2:35).

It’s interesting to speculate whether Mary could have said “No.” I believe that she could, because God has not made us to be robots, and so in fact we can say no to the most powerful force in the universe! Perhaps a more pertinent question it is “Does it make sense to say “No” the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?”

The path God asks us to choose, is never likely smooth, but we are called to die. In fact Jesus tells us “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). But hey, life is not smooth whether we choose to follow Him or not. Again “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). So in the end, the choice is not will we have trouble, the choice is will we have trouble with Jesus, or will we have trouble without Him?

In my own experience, and in the lives of those around me, I have observed that when we say “No” to Him, we finish up going round and round the mountain. And then not only do we have pain, we have purposelessness, life without meaning, and often despair and hopelessness. The context of the above quote from John 16:33 is Jesus saying these things so that we might have peace, and He concludes by saying “Take heart, I have overcome the world.”

Father, I have tried it both ways, and when I finally came to the end of myself, I chose Your way. And although the way has been anything but smooth, I have never being alone. It was your promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you!” And my life does have purpose, and I know that in the end I am on the winning side, I have read the end of the book! So I want to thank you this morning Lord for Your grace, for Your peace for the sense of purpose in my life. And I give You all the honour all the glory and all the praise in Jesus Name Amen

Let me get this straight, you’re pregnant but you didn’t have sex?

I’m imagining that this was Joseph's response when his fiancée Mary, told him she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). Some would say that these things were believed way back then, because people were naïve in those days. That does not seem to be true however, since for example years later, when Jesus was discussing whether the Pharisees had Abraham as their father, their retort was “We are not born of fornication” (John 8:41)!

It is interesting to ask, assuming that God exists and the Bible is true, why in order for us to become Christians He (God), would require us to believe ten impossible things before breakfast! I mean why would He put such obstacles in our way? His answer which raises even more questions, is that He has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27), and that unless we become as little children, we cannot enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3)!

But to me, it is not illogical to consider the possibility that the One who spoke and stars were flung into space, could also intervene in history and bring about fulfillment of prophecy, resurrections from the dead, miraculous occurrences etc., etc. To me, the alternative to believing in a creator it is far more illogical, since the only real alternative is then to believe that the universe created itself. This would contradict the scientific law of cause-and-effect!

For my own part, I came to faith because I was desperate, and would likely have believed that the world was flat if I thought it would have helped me. But both then and now, I was and am convinced that delusion brings neither life nor health nor healing nor forgiveness. On the other hand, and largely after-the-fact, through my faith in Him, He has brought not only the strong sense of being forgiven, but also the promised healing to my broken heart, physical healing to my body, rest for my soul and freedom from my more obvious addictions (Isaiah 61: 1-4; Luke 4:18).

Father, though I still have a ways to go and there are things I need You to do in my life and in my body, nevertheless these things help keep me close to You. I am grateful for what You have done, and for what I still need You to do. And I thank You this morning, for the substantiality of faith (Hebrews 11:1) and the reality of my relationship with You. Though many times I have found Christmas difficult, I thank You this morning Lord, for what lies behind Christmas. In other words I thank You for the reason for the season in Jesus Name Amen

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you

When I think about persecution of Christians, the thing that comes immediately to mind is the firebombing of churches in the Middle East, and for example death threats, at times carried out, when people convert to Christianity. But there is persecution here in the West, certainly not so drastic, and certainly more subtle, but nevertheless it is there.

In particular, as these two verses from Matthew 5:11, 12 imply persecution includes evil spoken against us falsely simply because we are Christians. And while it is true, that there is hate and fear on the part of some who call themselves Christians, it is indeed a lie to equate disagreement with hate and fear, and to feel that love requires approval of everything that is said and done!

It is important however, to recognize the hurt, injustice, rejection and even violence that at times lies behind the above type of accusation. Nevertheless it is the truth that has the potential to set each and every one of us free (John 8:32), and though the truth may hurt, it can actually be a lack of love that causes us to remains silent in the face of this type of persecution. Of course there is also a time to speak, and a time to remain silent!

It seems to me that there is a reason that this beatitude comes last. In particular, as I remarked in yesterday’s post, the Beatitudes are cumulative. And when we are seeking to speak the truth in love, it is natural that our lives be put under a microscope. So unless we are at least seeking to live out the qualities displayed in these Beatitudes, then those who we seek to win will likely have fuel for the fire of their offence!

Father, as the Scripture says “In many things we all fail,” but I want to be an effective ambassador for You. So please continue to transform me by the renewing of my mind, that I may increasingly display the qualities described in these Beatitudes, and so point to the beauty of who You are! In Jesus Name Amen

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God

It struck me this morning as I meditated on this verse from Matthew 5:9, that the Beatitudes are cumulative. For example, I cannot be a peacemaker if I am not merciful. This is because making peace has to do with requiring both sides to have mercy. And if I do not live out mercy in my own life, I will be nothing more than a hypocrite saying “Do as I say not as I do.” Similarly if my motives are not pure, my own faults will likely get in the way.

Above all else, I cannot be a peacemaker, if I do not have my own deep sense of peace that is unrelated to outward circumstances. My experience of trying to bring people together, is that I can get sat upon by both sides. In fact, at times it can be a little like trying to separate two warring dogs. So in what sense are peacemakers blessed?

What I think, is that it is about sharing in the fellowship of co-labouring with the Prince of Peace in His sufferings (Philippians 3:10?). I say co-labouring, because His primary purpose in coming to earth, and suffering and dying in our place, is reconciliation (Ephesians 1:10). So in working together with him in fulfilling his purposes, I am surely truly his offspring, his child, his workmanship. I can’t fully explain why this feels like a blessing, but it is.

Father, the Scripture tells me as much as is possible within me to live at peace with all (Romans 12:18). So being a peacemaker starts with my seeking peace with those whose lives I touch. But it does not end there, and I need Your peace, Your wisdom, Your grace and Your courage to be a peacemaker. Lord here I am, send me in Jesus Name Amen

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God (Matthew 5:8)

It has become obvious to me, that I cannot be blessed, I cannot have life joy and satisfaction etc., etc. if I allow my mind, will and emotions to dwell on the things that Scripture forbids. I am reminded of a saying that if you put a thimbleful of fine old scotch into a barrel of sewage, it remains sewage. But if you put a thimbleful of sewage into a barrel of fine old scotch it will become sewage! Even so Jesus has told us that evil thoughts-murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander etc. all come out of the heart and defile it (Matthew 15:19).

I am not saying there is no pleasure in sin. But I found that such pleasure is only for a season, and that it traps you, with you needing more and more and getting less and less satisfaction (Hebrews 11:25; John 8:34). So if I want to be blessed in the full sense of the meaning of these verses I need, as Proverbs 4:23 would have it, to guard my heart with all diligence, because everything I do flows out of it.

It is a battle, but the rewards of victory are spectacular. Please note, I am not saying that I have arrived, but I do know that the closer I get to God, the more enthralled I am with His beauty. And the more I see of His beauty, the more I want to be like Him, and the more I want to see Him face-to-face. More and more I can say with Paul “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). As I say, I am not fully there yet, but I am grateful that I am further along that road than I once was.

Father, my heart is filled with joy this morning as I meditate on these truths. Your promises are true! The more I allow Your Word and Your ways to penetrate my heart, the more blessed I feel. As the Amplified Bible puts it, I feel more and more “spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation, regardless of my outward condition (Matthew 5:7 AMP). I need Your help to continue to move in this direction, I cannot do it without You in Jesus Name Amen

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy

I am reminded this morning, of the time I was let off for speeding largely I think, because I had admitted my guilt. I remarked to my passenger “That’s what I want when I die.” When he inquired what I meant, I replied “Mercy, not justice!”

But the thrust of this morning’s beatitude from Matthew 5:7, is that if we want Him to show us mercy, then we need to show mercy to others. It’s not enough to simply want it! The parable of the unmerciful servant is sobering (Matthew 18:23 – 35). The point of the parable is that we cannot choose mercy for ourselves, but justice for those who do us wrong. In other words it is by showing others mercy that we choose to be dealt with with mercy with respect to our own failings. On the other hand if we fail to show mercy to others then we are choosing to be dealt with according to justice, not mercy with respect to our own transgressions. I don’t know about you, but I know that I am going to need mercy!

But it’s also important to notice too, that blessings in the here and now, accompany our being merciful. Recall that part of what it means to be blessed, is to be spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction (Matthew 5:7 Amplified Bible). And these things do not accompany resentment, anger, offence or bitterness and the like!

Father, how long does it take us to realize that Your ways are best, that getting even, or obsessing about the injustices that we suffer keeps us stuck in pain and unhappiness? Lord, we need Your help, I do, but it only comes with total surrender to You and Your ways. Help us Lord to number and redeem our days, for the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). In Jesus Name Amen

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled (Matt. 5:6)

There are I think, two aspects of righteousness that we are admonished to hunger and thirst for. The first has to do with the root of the Greek word translated here as righteousness. It is about justice. Isaiah could speak of the coming Messiah that He “will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1). So with our Lord, we too are to seek and desire justice, the righting of wrongs, the just reward of the wicked etc., etc. Our attitude here is important, see below!

It is right that we should not only long for justice, for a just world, but that we should also do our part in bringing it about. I can’t help thinking of William Wilberforce this morning, who spent his entire life dedicated to the abolition of slavery. But there are so many worthy causes, and lest we become overwhelmed, the serenity prayer comes to mind again. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

The second aspect of righteousness that we are admonished to earnestly desire, has to do with the escape from our own fallen human nature. In particular we must not hunger and thirst for the justice in self righteousness! Our righteousness starts of course, with embracing the legal righteousness (before God) given to us in and through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross (1 Peter 3:18). But it must not end there. He calls us saints, and we are to hunger and thirst to be saintly. In the end it’s all about becoming more and more like Jesus. There is such beauty there!

Father, I thank You for Your promise that in the final analysis we will be satisfied with both of these aspects of righteousness. When You admonish us to hunger and thirst after these things, there is a sense in which, like hunger and thirst, they will return again and again. So Lord I am aware that in this life that we will never fully attain these things. So Father I need Your serenity, courage and wisdom as day by day I come to You to know what You would have me to do. Lord there is so much wrong in the world and in me, that the only way these things can ever be accomplished is in and through You. But Lord You will do it, because You are God, and there is no other. My hope is in You Lord, and I praise and bless You again this morning in Jesus Name Amen.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5)

Words are so inadequate, and in particular there is no real English equivalent for the virtue named here as meekness. The idea is of patient, long-suffering, quiet almost gentle strength under pressure. English dictionaries tend to add the word “mild,” to the definition, but above all else these characteristics are intended to describe the character of Jesus. And the one who with his anger fully under control, took the time to make a whip of cords and then overturn the tables of the money changers and drove them out of the Temple (John 2:15), such a one surely cannot be described as “mild!”

I can do no better that quote from Matthew Henry who says of the meek that they are those who “can bear provocation without being inflamed by it; are either silent, or return a soft answer; and who can show their displeasure when there is occasion for it, without being transported into any indecencies; who can be cool when others are hot; and in their patience keep possession of their own souls,… having the rule of their own spirits.

How very different is this from the prevailing attitude of our culture, which openly demands its own rights even at the expense of others, which increasingly takes offence at the drop of a hat, and so willingly vilifies any and all opposition to its self-will!

Father, the amplified the Bible describes blessedness as “spiritually prosperous — with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions.” This is a (spiritual) inheritance (here on earth), that cannot be bought with silver and gold! Thank You Lord, that though I am not quite there yet, nevertheless I can thank You that I am not where I once was. Lord Jesus, these Beatitudes are helping me to see such beauty in your character, and I long to be like You! I praise and bless You Lord for the transforming power of Your presence and love in Your precious Name Amen

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted

I have mourned for the many losses in my life, and at times still do. These losses include losses through bereavement, losses through divorce, losses through separation from my children etc. etc. But importantly, through His patient wooing I have learned to get past the emptiness of false comforters, past the many ways we try to anaesthetize our pain, and into His comfort. He is the God of all (true and practical) comfort both in the here and now, and in the hereafter (2 Corinthians 1:3).

I have mourned for my sin, not only for the consequences of it in my own life and in the life of others, but also because I have come to realize how deeply that hurts my heavenly Father. The Scripture tells us “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Now having surrendered all I know to surrender, I can say with the hymn writer that I am “ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.” And the fruit of this is not only comfort, but it is life and health and peace and hope and joy.

But the thing I am mourning most this morning, comes from the awareness of how much pain, sorrow, abuse and trauma there is in the world, and in particular in many of those whose lives touch mine. I am aware, that supremely this was the mourning of Jesus whilst he was here on earth. And with this awareness, I am seeking this morning, to tap into the strength, love and compassion of the one “who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2).

Lord Jesus, I cannot do this without You, I am feeling very stretched this morning. But with You all things are possible, and I claim the principal/promise that when I am weak (which I am), then I become strong as I tap into Your grace, mercy, hope and forgiveness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Thank You Lord for Your presence and participation in my life. I bless You this morning, in your precious and holy Name Amen

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Feeling this morning, to start to study the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), which among other things, I understand to be a study of the character of Jesus. This first beatitude is talking essentially about humility. Humility I think, is not well understood. Humility, while it certainly is not arrogance, is not timidity either.

In our culture, we are encouraged to sell ourselves, to present ourselves in the best possible light. So we tend to hide our faults, seeing openness and vulnerability as weakness. On the other hand false humility seems to be common among Christians. We received a complement, and respond “Oh, that wasn’t me it was Jesus!” I like Bill Johnson’s response to such statements “It wasn’t that good!”

To me, humility is having a realistic assessment of who we are, and whose we are. So I have learned, when given a complement, to say “Thank you.” In particular I do not want to deny the gifts and talents that He has given me. But I also need to acknowledge that I, like the rest of the world, am deeply flawed. Unless and until I am willing to acknowledge this, I will not be poor in spirit, and I will not likely do the work of repentance that is a necessary precondition of inheriting the kingdom.

Father, knowing that I am accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV), is helping me to have a realistic view of who I am in You. Thank You Lord, that I no longer need to put myself down, nor to boast of my accomplishments. Thank You Lord, that more and more I am seeing beauty in the character of Jesus, and seeing this, I want to be like Him. Thank you that You have promised to continue to work in me in this way. I pray these things in His holy and lovely and precious Name Amen

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

There is a real temptation for us to feel that no one has problems like we do, that no one faces the same trials and temptations as we do. But in the context of this quote from Hebrews 12: 1, the writer uses the examples of the heroes of the faith (Hebrews 11) to motivate this admonition.

Without underestimating the power of sin to ensnare me, it is the “weight” that could more easily trip me up this morning. This word could also be translated “burden,” or “encumbrance.” And the thing that burdens me most this morning, is seeing people that I love stuck, and apart from prayer (which I do not by any means underestimate), am seemingly helpless to help.

The writer to the Hebrews goes on to tell us how to run this race of life with endurance. He tells us that we are to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (verse 2). This “looking unto Jesus,” is so much more than seeing Him as an example of endurance. It is first and foremost to have His comfort and perspective, the sure knowledge that in the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10) we can push through the pain to joy. It is also coming to Him to obtain the very practical grace to help in such times of need (Hebrews 4:16). I don’t know how You do this Lord, but I do know that it works!

Father, thank You that again and again You bring me back to peace when I come to You morning by morning. Help me Lord at times like this, when I am in danger of taking more responsibility than You call me to take. We are such creatures of imbalance, I am! We either don’t take enough responsibility, or we take too much. Thank You again that in the intimacy of my relationship with You, You bring me back into balance again and again. I praise and bless Your name this morning in Jesus Name Amen

Sometimes I kick and scream when called to obey, but then afterwards…

My favourite hymn shortly after conversion, was “Trust and obey.” He had rescued me from the pain of the consequences of my own poor choices, and I was learning that His ways are best. As part of that, He was teaching me that if I did not obey, then the old feelings, the emptiness the paranoia etc., would start to return. And the line from the hymn “For there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey,” started to take on great meaning!

The Scripture describes this process as dying to self, that is choosing His will over my own. And most of us don’t realize just how selfish we are, I certainly didn’t, and at some level still do not realize the depths of it! But two things, firstly He never asks us to do something that He Himself has not done only in greater measure, and secondly His ways lead to fulfillment, but mine more often than not, to destruction.

I know this in my head, but my heart does not always know it. And there are times when He asks me to do something that I don’t want to do. And I am not a robot, I can choose not to do it. In fact I can think of many times in the past, when I have known what He wants me to do, and I have come kicking and screaming and saying “Oh all right, I’ll do it.” Then moments later, I am asking myself “What was all that about, why was I making such a fuss?”

And the reason is, that I would be experiencing once again, that His ways are best, that His ways bring fulfillment. And if I know, as it were, that He is eventually going to pry open my clenched fist anyway, then surely it is better that I do it quickly and willingly!

I was aware of this this weekend, when after the frustration and pain of having locked my keys into my car, and shortly after I had resolved it, He asked me to visit someone. In spite of the impatience I was feeling, I chose to obey. And in fact I was truly blessed, as I saw how much my visit and my prayers touched them. I could so easily have missed out on this. You see there is nothing more fulfilling and satisfying than knowing that He has used you to bless others. Perhaps you know this too!

Father, thank You for your patience with me. Help me not only to choose Your ways, but to do it joyfully. Thank You Lord that as I do this, You bless me over and over. I love You Lord, in Jesus Name Amen

And always let your conscience be your guide. Not!

Well it didn’t work very well for Pinocchio! Allowing our conscience to be our guide can be problematic in at least two areas. An over active conscience can keep us bowed down in false guilt and shame. On the other hand, as the Scripture indicates, there is the possibility of having our consciences seared as with a red-hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2).

It seems that our consciences can be conditioned, trained if you like, by a number of different things. In a legalistic church for example, where it’s all about rules and regulations, rather than relationship with Christ, the conscience can easily become overactive. Outside of church, people pleasers are likley those whose consciences have been trained to please some significant dominating personality in their lives.

On the other side, our consciences can be seared. This can happen by being required by some authority to do something we know is wrong. This has to have happened to many who were involved in the Holocaust. We can also do this to ourselves. The first time we do something we feel is wrong our consciences may bother us deeply, but then they bother us less and less as we continue in the same course of action.

But can our conscience play a healthy role in living a good and guilt free life? The answer is yes, and the problem I have with the saying at the head of the post, is the word “always!” If it is true that our consciences can be conditioned, and I believe that it is, then it is important that we allow our consciences to be trained by some objective standard. For me, I seek to find this in the teachings of Christ, under the influence of the Holy Spirit and the universal church. I am thinking here of the universal church in both history and geography, not my own particular group or denomination. I am not saying that this is easy, nor that I have arrived!

Father, with the apostle Paul I can say that I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this, for it is You who judge me (1 Corinthians 4:4). I know that before conversion my conscience was seared, and then afterwards for the longest time it became overactive. Help me Father to be guided by the two greatest commandments to love You with everything that I am and have, and to love my neighbour as myself. Thank You Father for Your forgiveness and cleansing when I fail, in Jesus Name Amen

with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise

I was in danger of misunderstanding the above extract from 2 Peter 3:8, 9 this morning. Being anxious to claim the fulfilment of His many promises to me, and seeking to deal with the many delays, I was initially looking to thes,e verses for comfort. Certainly, the Lord is not slack concerning any of His promises, but these verses point to a specific promise (singular), the promise of His coming again.

It’s been 2,000 years, so in His sight the delay in His return is as a mere two days! Even so, why the delay? Well, the last part of verse 9 tells us, He is “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Peter goes on to describe a rather terrifying end to all things, and uses these truths to admonish us to “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (verse 14).

Father, I know that it is Your intention that those of us who belong to You should live before the world in such a way that the reality of “Christ in us the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27), should be obvious and inescapable. In view of the coming judgement, Peter asks those of us who belong to Him “what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11)? We have failed miserably in these things. Lord have mercy upon us. We need your help, I do. Forgive us and change us Lord. Start with me in Jesus Name Amen.

the spirit of offence

The thought struck me this morning, that as we get further and further into the post-Christian era here in the West, the less helpful are our thoughts, attitudes and deeds. And this is never more obvious to me than the latest expression of political correctness that centers around the buzz word micro-aggression. Let me explain.

Heaven knows, I am not against being thoughtful, gentle and accepting of others. Indeed the Scripture itself admonishes us to be kind, compassionate and forgiving of one another (Ephesians 4:?). And neither, hopefully obviously, am I against helping one another to foster these attributes. But I do think we need to ask ourselves the question “If my happiness depends on changing the rest of the world so that I will not be offended, am I ever realistically going to be happy?

Secular research, appealing to our self interest, has some helpful things to say about how and why we need to deal with anger, bitterness, resentment and the like. Of course, as I keep saying, the Bible got their first. But to rely only on my self-interest to make the necessary changes, does not always cut it! What I find helpful, is knowing that my heavenly Father has promised to deal with every injustice.

He tells me for example “Offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! (Matthew 18:7). And again “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD” (Romans 12:19). How very different from “Don’t get mad, get even!”

To underline the agreement of the Bible with what secular psychology is saying about this, I quote Hebrews 12:15 “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled.” So agreeing with secular psychology, holding onto bitterness, resentments and the like, causes trouble to the one holding on. But it’s worse than that, because it poisons not only the person holding on, but those that that person loves – many will become defiled!

What secular psychology does not, and cannot do, is to give us the help that comes via the grace of God. This aspect of the many faceted sides of God’s grace, has to do with Him giving us the wherewithal to do what without Him we cannot do. Not only does He help us to let go of these things and to trust Him, but in trusting Him we return to peace and hope and joy.

To say all this in a different way, there is a spirit behind the phenomenon of offense. It is the spirit of the thief who it comes for no other reason, than to kill and to steal and to destroy (John 10:10a). This enemy has been defeated, but we do need to embrace and obey the Biblical principles, before we can claim the abundant life that we are promised in the second part of that verse.

Father as You say, surely offenses must come. Lord, I am not responsible for these offenses, I am however, responsible for my response to them. But I need your help to let go, and let You deal with them. Thank You Father that You give grace to help at such times. Lord Your ways are best, and I thank You this morning, that You continue to teach them to me in Jesus Name Amen.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search it out

When was the last time you played hide go seek? I am remembering a time years ago when my grandson was perhaps 2 or 3. I can still see the delight on his little face when he finally found me. How soon, and how quickly we lose the joy and delight of a child! How soon we lose the sense of wonder at the glory of our world.

As I left home this morning, the sun was just rising, and I was touched again by the glory of a sunrise. I always imagine the Lord waving at me from a sunset or sunrise. I feel Him beckoning to me to come closer, to go deeper. It’s almost like He is inviting me to play hide and go seek. But of course I’m far too sophisticated for that, right?

Father, forgive me that I so easily allow the busyness of life, my pride and a whole host of other things to detract to me from the child like faith You call me to. You call us Kings and priests (Revelation 1:6), and with the above verse from Proverbs 25:2, You invite us into a joyful journey of discovery of You in intimacy, and into a fascination of learning. You have shown me oh Lord, that there is always more. No matter how deep I go with You, I have merely scratched the surface! I ask You this morning oh Lord to help me to remove everything in my life, that robs and hinders me from the glory and joy of searching in Jesus Name Amen

…. and to love your neighbour as yourself

But what if you don’t love yourself? In talking about this second of the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37), I have heard it said, that you can’t love your neighbour if you can’t love yourself. But how do we love ourselves? What I think, is that the answer to both questions comes in referring back to, and obeying the first commandment to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

In my journey to becoming a Christian, I discovered that I did not like myself very much. And then after I became a Christian, my journey continued by realizing that if I was going to obey the first commandment to love Him with everything I am and have, then I need to love what He loves. And He loves me!

In walking in the light, as He is in the light (1 John 1:7), one of the first things that we need to deal with, is unforgiveness. He taught us to pray “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive the sins of others.” Part of what this means it is that we need to extend the same measure Grace that He gives to us, to others.

Learning to forgive others, is certainly a process. I have heard three stages of this process described. The first, “ I forgive you, but I don’t want to see you.” The second, “ I forgive you and I will speak to you as we pass in the corridor”. The third stage, “ I forgive you, and I am willing to enter into a relationship with you.” Actually, it’s not always wise to enter into this third stage, for example with someone who has abused you, and is likely to abuse you again. But under normal circumstances, this third stage has a lot to do with what Jesus talked about when He talked about forgiving from the heart (Matthew 18:35). The point I think, is that we need to keep working on the process, choosing to forgive over and over, until it no longer hurts.

At this stage, we can actually start to like the person. All this to say, that we need to apply this very same process to self forgiveness. In fact there are consequences for not doing this. What I have discovered, is that the faults in others that I find the most irritating, are the very same faults that I myself have (see Romans 2:1). The point is, that until I have forgiven myself for those faults, I am likely going to continue to be irritated with those faults in others. And inevitably that irritation will come out somewhere, and that somewhere will be a someone, and that someone will likely be my neighbour!

So what I’m saying here, is that obeying the command to love God with everything that I am and have, involves learning to love myself. And this too is a process, and it starts with choosing to accept His forgiveness, His love, His grace, and embracing my identity as His precious child!

Father, choosing to hold grudges, refusing to forgive is wrong. It’s wrong with respect to others, and it’s wrong with respect to myself. But I have learned that when I am doing something wrong, I need to bring that to you to confess and to forsake. This is good news, because then there is something I can do about it, I can confess self unforgiveness, and then bring that to You to be forgiven, to be cleansed from it, and to receive Your power to help me change. And it’s working Lord! I thank You and give You the honour, all the glory and all the praise in Jesus Name Amen

The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him

The verse at the head of this post from Proverbs 18:17 came to mind this morning, in the aftermath of a conversation I had yesterday. It centred around the buzz word “micro-aggression.” I understand the need to be sensitive to those who have been marginalized and/or hurt, and I like to think that I am gentle and respectful of others. However, I have been reading and hearing about how in the States the ideas surrounding this term have led many times to violence. Even where this is not happened, these ideas have been used to bludgeon others into silence, and/or to vilify them for even having dissenting views.

So for example, we are no longer allowed to say “Merry Christmas,” or that society ought to be colourblind. In fact we must not do or say anything that could possibly cause offence to another. To quote the NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt “Micro aggression are small actions or word choices that seem on their face have no malicious intent, that are thought of as a kind of violence nonetheless. You don’t actually have to say anything insulting to micro aggress, somebody merely needs to take offence.”

Ben Shapiro in a recent speech to Congress concerning threats to freedom of speech, points out the extremes to which this is taken. Noting that micro-aggressions, as the name suggests, are not merely insults, but that they are aggressions considered to be equivalent to physical violence. He relates an incident at California State University LA, where one professor threatened a student who sponsor him by offering to fight them. He (he professor) then posted a slogan on the door of his office stating the best response to micro aggression is macro aggression. The disturbing thing is that this sort of thing is not an isolated incident (hence the need for hearings in Congress!

Lisa Feldman Barrett in a recent New York Times article entitled “When is speech violence” says that the answer depends on whether the speech is abusive or merely offensive. She goes on to say that offensiveness is not bad for your body and brain. Your nervous system evolved to withstand periodic bouts of stress, such as fleeing from a tiger, taking a punch or encountering an odious idea in a university lecture. She adds “Entertaining someone else’s distasteful perspective can be educational.”

The questioning I am asking myself this morning, is how did we get to the place where we need a scientist to make this last statement? The Bible knew it over 3,000 years ago!

Father, I need your help to negotiate and interact with my world. The Scripture tells me to always be ready to give an answer of the hope that is within me with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15). In a world where even the fact that I believe in You is offensive to many, I need your love, wisdom, Grace and courage to be all that You want me to be. And I am asking for these things this morning in Jesus Name Amen

I will not let you go until you bless me

I was fighting with the Lord this morning, it really started with feeling helpless in terms of being able to help a friend who always seems to be wrestling, with no real resolution. But it didn’t end there, and it was probably accusation! "How come it’s taking so long for you to come through with the things you have promised me? How come you do this or that for such and such, but you haven’t done it for me?"

I know at times like this, that I am in danger of letting the thorns and thistles, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word and the promises spoken to me, so that they become unfruitful (Mark 4:19). At such times, I see in the spirit the Lord with His arms around me, and me pummeling His chest in frustration. Some would tell me that this is totally inappropriate. But I know that He understands, and that He is big enough to deal with my frustration.

I know that He would rather I come to Him at times like this, rather than turn away and isolate myself from Him. And as I continue to stay, He brings to mind the examples of people in Scripture who waited far longer than I, and whose trials and tribulations were far greater than mine.

I’m thinking again of Abraham who waited 25 years for his promised son, and of Joseph falsely accused thrown into prison etc. etc. And I think of Jacob wrestling with God and telling him “I will not let You go until You bless me” (Genesis 32:26). And I choose to trust Him, I choose to see that He is greater than I. I press into His promises, and I choose to know that He is actively at work in all things for my good, because I love Him and He has called me according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). I choose to be tenacious, I choose to submit to His purpose in the journey. And as I do this, and continue to do this, I slowly come back to peace.

Father, You never promised that it was going to be easy, and it’s just as well because it’s not! But I know, I experience, that when I choose to trust You, You will do what You have promised in Your time, and in Your way. And I know that on that day I will say to You “You have done all things well.” I can’t do this without You Lord, but thank You that you have promised never to leave me nor forsake me. And I rest now in Your presence in Jesus Name Amen

You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways.

Just because God is invisible, does not mean that you cannot experience Him! This was brought home very clearly to me, at the time of my conversion. The desperate circumstances of my life, had become severe enough that I was willing to try anything, even God! I have always said that He would not have held me if He had not been real. What was real, very real was that although my circumstance did not change at all, my ability to deal with them did. I received His comfort, no longer did my loneliness, paranoia and intense emotional pain threatened to undo me. And while at some level some of the pain remained, I did have joy, and peace and hope.

I’m not saying they were not times when I did not wrestle with these things, but I was learning to flee to Him at such times. In fact I was very teachable back then. Like most of us, I had developed appetites that demanded to be satisfied, ungodly appetites. But again like most of us, I had convinced myself that what I was doing was not wrong. In fact I still had desires for things in my formal life. And as the enticement of these things started to draw me away from His presence (James 1:14), as I started to walk towards them, the old negative feelings would start to return.

It was as if He was saying to me “You can go there Phil, but you can’t stay close to Me if you do.” And I would run to Him saying “Show me what it is, and I will change it.” And when I did this, the peace would start to return. And the Lord brought these things to my attention this morning in my quiet time, as I sat here meditating on this verse from Isaiah 64:5.

Father, I thank You for the reality of Your presence, and how the subjective nature of this so clearly matches with the objective nature of Your Word. It is a powerful combination. Thank You Lord that You have taught me, at those times when this does not feel so real, to pray “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxious ways; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23, 24). Thank You that You continue to teach me Your ways. In Jesus Name Amen

…. and he will direct your paths

The following is a paraphrase of the context of the above partial quote from Proverbs 3:5, 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge and submit to Him, and He will direct your paths and make them straight.

This morning, I am marvelling at just how faithful He is with his promises, and in particular in directing my paths, sorting out my confusion, and overruling in my affairs. What happened is that he has just overruled in a decision that I now see would likely have had negative consequences for a very long time! I had made an offer on a house that I am assured is a fair price in the current market. And I had told the Lord “If this is of you please open the door, and if this is not of you please close it.” I had in mind the Scripture which says “I open and no one can shut, and shut and no one can open” (Revelation 3:8).

As it happened, there were other considerations that came to light only after the offer was rejected. I had to try the door, but now with 20/20 hindsight, I am very happy the door remained firmly closed.

Father, thank You that this relationship with You is very practical, and that I can trust You to guide me when I submit all my plans to You. Your words says that Your ways are higher than my ways, and Your thoughts higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). In particular You see the whole picture, and so it is only good and right and proper that I acknowledge You in everything. You are a good, good Father, and I love You and I thank You for Your guidance. In Jesus Name Amen

As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens man

One of the prevailing attitudes of our rugged North American individuality, is the value that is placed on independence. And who wants to be dependent? There’s a lot spoken and written about codependence, the type of relationship that we so easily fall into, where one or both individual has an unhealthy dependence upon the other. And in fact unless at some stage we come to a measure of independence, we have not fully matured. But is independence the highest goal?

The famous quote “No man is an island,” from John Donne comes to mind. The phrase is said to mean that human beings do not thrive when isolated from others. Indeed Christians are admonished not to forsake meeting together (Hebrews 10:25), and likely this is the reason for this admonition.

But to answer the above question, I want to say that interdependence is greater that independence. Interdependence is the quality of being mutually reliant on each other in a healthy way. The Scripture puts it this way “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). But it’s not just about joint strength, it’s also about joined wisdom. in Proverbs 20:18 we read “Prepare plans by consultation,  And make war by wise guidance.” It’s not just about war of course, it’s about all the decisions we make in life.

The quote at the head of this post from Proverbs 27:17, adds another dimension to this. in particular, man sharpening man sounds painful. In particular we may not want to seek the advice of someone we suspect will not agree with us. But sometimes the best advice comes from such people. The Scripture tells us to test all things, to hold to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and sometimes we can fail to find the good because we are afraid of conflict. But, as I am finding out this morning, failing to test all things, failing to engage in the iron sharpening iron analogy, has some unwanted consequences.

Father, the Scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Forgive me for those times when I have either forgotten, or have been reluctant to seek counsel. Thank you Lord, that when I acknowledge You in all my ways, including seeking godly counsel, you have promised to direct my steps and make my paths straight (Proverbs 3:5, 6). In Jesus Name Amen

Do not grieve as those without hope

My father died when I was 21, and I was devastated. My father’s death was not the first death in the family, both my maternal grandparents had died sometime earlier. But it wasn’t the same. Part of what made it different, was that I knew that my father loved me, and his passing left a hole in my life as big as all outdoors.

There were two things I think, that made my father’s death much more difficult than previous deaths. In particular, the the depth of my grief was not only proportional to the depth of my loss, but it also seemed to be proportional how much I loved him. I mean if I had loved him less, then the loss would have been less, and I think I would’ve experienced less grief.

But the biggest component to my grief, had to do with my thought that I would never see him again, never see his smile, and never again know his affection impacting my life. I was in effect, grieving without hope!

In the context of this partial quote from 1 Thessalonians 4: 13, Paul says that he does not want his hearers to be ignorant concerning those who had died. He did not want them to grieve as those without hope. But what is this hope of which Paul speaks?

For me, there are at least two components to this, and I was ignorant of them both the time of my father’s death. The first component of my hope, is the sure Hope that I will see again those who die in Christ. In particular, I know that we will be reunited in heaven, and I know this because I know the One who has promised me and them eternal life (John 3:16). So my hope of heaven, it is not that I am good, it’s based on His forgiveness, and my willingness to commit my life to Him.

But there is another component to my hope, and for me it’s summed up in a promise He underlined for me from the Scripture many years ago. The promise is “I will restore the years that the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2: 25). The original promise was to Israel, who at that time had suffered greatly because the plagues of locusts that had eaten just about everything. The application to us, is that starting now in the here and now, and coming fully in the hereafter, God is in the business of restoring all things.

Father, the Scripture does not say we do not grieve, and it’s just as well because we do! But Lord though I grieve, it is not without hope, and the hope that you give is an anchor to my soul. It stabilizes, settles me, gives me peace in the midst of it all, and gives me the grace to share the comfort that You give me with others. Please be with me Lord, as I seek to share this hope and comfort at my dear friends memorial celebration on Sunday. In Jesus name Amen

God so loved, that He gave…

There’s a book by Townsend entitled “Hiding from love.” His point, is that out of fear, and bad experiences in the past, we are often reluctant to risk entering into new relationships. Townsend together with Dr. Cloud speak a lot about boundaries in relationships. Healthy boundaries need to have gates, that while keeping the bad out, can let the good in and let the bad out. If our boundaries are walls, then although at some level they may protect us, they also keep the bad in and the good out!

It’s helpful to know, or at least to hope, that a person we are entering into relationship with is safe. I know of many people, who often through bad teaching or otherwise shut God out. In particular they fear they will be condemned. But the verse following this partial quote from John 3:16 says “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved.”

Part of what I’m saying here, is that God is safe. John 3:16 is so well known, it’s easy to skip over what is actually saying. God so loved, that is God loved you and me in the most extraordinary way, that He sent his one and only Son in order that he can blot out our sins, and be both just and loving. A righteous judge has to punish our bad, our sin. But our righteous judge is the very essence of love (1 John 4:8) and, at incredible cost to himself, has punished His Son in our place so that we can go free (1 Peter 3:18).

So in fact, God is very safe, very good and very loving. Jesus said “He that hears my Word, and puts his trust in Him who sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but has passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

Father, as I continued to mourn the passing of my dear friend Ruth, it is very obvious to me, that in spite of her deep woundedness, she was a channel of Your love to many. Her life challenges me this morning. Lord please deal with anything in my life that is in any way a hindrance to your love flowing through me. And I will give You all the honour, all the glory and all the praise in Jesus Name Amen

unless a seed die it abides alone

Have you ever wished you could make choices for others? I mean you see others making poor choices all the time, and it’s perfectly obvious to you, that the choices that they are making are destructive to themselves and others. On the other hand there are bright lights. I’m thinking of someone who told me not long ago “I did not realize how selfish I was until I got married!”

I happen to know that both parties in this marriage feel the same way, and there is much hope for this marriage! One way to describe what is happening in this marriage is to say that both parties are dying to their self-centredness. And the heart of the matter, is that at heart most of us are stubborn, self-centred and self-willed. We want what we want, and we want it now! It’s all about my rights, my goals, or in the words of a famous Beatles song “I, me, mine!”

The Scripture says, that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). In other words if we make good choices there is good fruit, but if we make bad choices bad things come of it. And more often than not, the fruit of these bad choices is loneliness and isolation, we abide alone!

The quote at the head of this post from John 12: 24 continues with “but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” In context Jesus is talking about His coming crucifixion. It’s important to know this, because God never calls us to do something that he himself has not done, but in far greater measure.

This morning as I contemplate what to say at a memorial service for a friend of mine, I am very aware of two things. The first is how incredibly wounded she was, and the second is how in spite of this she was able to allow God to love many, many others through her. And my thoughts this morning centred around how to the extent that we are willing to let the Lord put to death the deeds and desires of our sinful nature, is the extent to which we are able to love others as channels of His love.

Father, I choose this morning to cooperate with You by Your spirit to put to death the deeds and the desires of the flesh (Romans 8:13). I know that we do not die easily to our selfishness. I do not! But Lord, I do desire that my life would produce much fruit for Your kingdom, and for Your glory In Jesus Name Amen

Hurt people hurt people!

There are some books you hardly need to read, because the title essentially says it all. In fact the title of this post is the name of one such book. What it means is that when we are hurt, our default response is to hurt others. We may not mean to, but more often than not we do! And who has not been hurt?

We are not responsible for the bad things that we receive at the hands of others, but we are responsible for our response to these things. And unless we deal with our hurts in a functional way, we will inevitably end up hurting others. But what does it mean to deal with our hurts in a functional way?

We need to know that among other things, Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18). And while I do not wish to undermine in any way the eternal aspect of the gift of life that comes with the gospel, there is an aspect of the gospel that I see many Christians missing out on. In particular many miss out on having their hearts healed.

Last day, I was talking about the benefits of forgiveness, and the need to let go of our victim mentality. Unless we do this, and we need help to do this, at least I did, we will not be healed, we will remain hurt, and inevitably go on to hurt others. it’s helpful to me to realize that those who hurt me were themselves hurt by people who were hurt etc. etc.

It’s not only in families, but it is supremely in families that this happens. In particular the sins of our ancestors impact is deeply (Exodus 20:5). But there is a principal/promise that follows this description of our generational dysfunction. In particular extracting the meaning of the next verse (Exodus 20:6) we are told that we can stop this cycle of hurt by yielding to God, choosing to love Him and our neighbours as ourselves. Jesus puts it this way “if you continue in my word, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31,32).

Father, these things are not an instant fix. I have learnt that consistent continuing in Your Word, and in obedience to it draws me deeper into Your love. This in turn helps me obey this commandment to love You. Thank You for the healing that You have brought to me, and continue to bring to me. I praise You this morning for You are faithful, and Your Word is true. I bless Your Name in Jesus Name Amen

Forgiveness: Psychology arrives thousands of years after the Bible

The connections between psychology and the Judeo-Christian faith have fascinated me for a very long time. In what is perhaps my limited knowledge of both psychology and the Scriptures, I have observed that whenever a psychological principle works, inevitably it can be found in the Scriptures. This morning I want to look at what both Psychology and the Scriptures say about forgiveness.

In the Psychology Today Blog (September 16, 2014) we read “And the truth is that forgiveness is more powerful than you might think. Just like with anything in life, there are costs to your choices. Staying angry, resentful, and vengeful comes at a price. All these feelings can have a detrimental impact on your physical and emotional health as well as your relationships.

Psychologically, when people reported higher levels of forgiveness, they also tended to report better health habits and decreased depression, anxiety, and anger levels. Even in betrayed couples, greater levels of forgiveness were associated with more satisfied relationships, a stronger parenting alliance, and children's perceptions of parenting functioning. Physiologically, higher reported levels of forgiveness were associated with lower white blood cell count and hematocrit levels. White blood cells are an integral part of fighting off diseases and infections. Together, these results highlight the importance of forgiveness - not for the other person, but for you. Don't allow your mind and your body to go through another day feeling vengeful and angry.”

From the spiritual point of view, I want to pick up on what the article says about both the impact and the cost of forgiveness/unforgiveness. In particular there is a spiritual impact and cost to unforgiveness. Jesus taught us to ask God to forgive us for what we have done wrong, in exactly the same way that we forgive others for the things that they have done to us. He goes on to say that if we do not forgive, neither will we be forgiven. If you think about this, this is just! And this has to be one of the more scary prayers to pray. As I have said before what I want when I die is mercy, not justice. So firstly then from a spiritual point of view, we need to forgive others, because we ourselves need to be forgiven!

The article also talks about the cost of unforgiveness. But there is a cost to forgiveness too. To be told that we need to forgive someone who has abused us for example, can seem as abusive as the original abuse. And in this and other cases, the cost of forgiving others can seem too high! The point though, as we have been discussing, is that we need to forgive for our own sake, not for theirs.

So in fact the victim needs to be a better person than the abuser. It’s the same, but actually far, far greater in our relationship with God. God needed to find a way to be both just and merciful, and He did this by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. An analogy might be helpful. If we are taken to court and sentenced to a huge fine which we are unable to pay, then both justice and mercy can be served by the judge paying our fine for us. This is what Jesus did, for “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A gift of course, has to be received. Have you received it yet?

Father, help me never to take for granted the incredible cost of my salvation. Help me to remember this in times when I find it difficult to let go of my resentment and unforgiveness. I Love You Lord in Jesus Name Amen

The Christian’s hope, an anchor for the soul

We have just had to say goodbye to a young woman, too young to have died, who touched many, many lives. One of her friends expressed the hope that she is in heaven, and I was able to assure her that indeed she is. And I could do this, because the Christian’s hope is a sure hope, and as the context of the title of this post from Hebrews 6:19 tells us, it’s based on the character and promise of the One who cannot lie.

Some like to think that God will weight their good and bad deeds. That is not my hope! First of all, that is not how justice works. Our guilt or lack thereof, has nothing to do with whether we help little old ladies across the street or not. As for me, what I want when I die, is mercy not justice. If I had to wait until I die to find out if I was good enough for heaven, this hope would not be an anchor for my soul!

The Christian’s hope is an anchor, because it sets us free to be all that we can be. I discovered an illustration of this while rereading some of the books I read as a boy. I loved C. S. Forrester’s Hornblower series. In one particular novel, Hornblower was tasked with recovering gold from a sunken Galleon. The hot tempered surgeon had shot, in a dual, the Philippine diver who was the hope of this recovery. Hornblower told the surgeon that if the diver died, so would he. The surgeon, who needed to remove the bullet from the diver, implored Hornblower to release him from the threat. “If, at a critical point in the operation, I remember your threat,” he told Hornblower, “it could cause my hand to tremble, and what you intend to make me do my best, could be the very thing that brings failure!”

Hornblower in his wisdom, releases the surgeon, who is then set free to do his best. Likewise the Christian is set free from the threat of eternal judgement to do his or her very best. What was so impressive about my friend, was that although she was a deeply troubled individual she was, because of the hope within her, able many times by the power of the Holy Spirit to minister to others in a very loving and effective way.

Father, I thank you for the life of my friend who, in spite of her pain, was able to live out the reality of the hope within her. It was indeed an anchor for her soul. Help me so to live, in Jesus Name Amen

know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Is it always wrong to knowingly do or say something that will hurt another person? Certainly we should avoid hurting others whenever possible. But sometimes the goals of doing the right thing and of not hurting someone are incompatible. Let me explain.

It’s very difficult at times to come to terms with the truth, in particular to admit that something we have been doing is wrong. And it is so difficult, that many times we may need help to see it. I am saying this, because while we may know that the right thing to do is to come alongside someone and seek to turn them from the error of their way, it’s not always well received. Sometimes hearing the truth can hurt!

This is certainly true in my own experience in both giving and receiving the truth. On my heart this morning, are some things that I felt I needed to say that were not well received. This person became very angry, and the relationship is still not healed. So does that mean I should not have said what I did?

In situations like this, it’s very easy to second-guess yourself. But the Lord recently brought the above verse from James 5:20 to my attention, and with it the assurance that I did the right thing. I have to trust Him with this, and to know that although the outcome still does not look positive, the story is not yet over!

Father, thank You for Your assurance this morning, that I did the right thing. A parallel verse from Galatians 6:1 is also coming to mind telling me of my obligation to seek to restore in gentleness and humility. And while I have not always done this well, I know that You will redeem what was lacking in my approach. Thank You Lord that You promise that You work for good even in this, especially in this (Romans 8:28). I give You all the honour and the glory and the praise in Jesus Name Amen

The heart is deceitful above all and desperately wicked

Have you ever noticed that it’s very easy to see the faults in others, but not so easy to see them in ourselves? Have you noticed that people are more ready to blame others, that to take responsibility for their part in whatever went wrong. Have you observed that other people tend to minimize their own faults, while at the same time maximizing the other person’s? Have you ever thought that most people seem to have things out of balance, but when you look at your own life you seem to be perfectly in balance?

When I think about this, I like to ask myself if everyone else I see is blind and out of balance, can I be the only one who is not? And if I am honest, I put the probability of this null hypothesis being true, as very close to zero.

So why is this, why are we all so blind to our own faults? I got into trouble, even among Christians, for quoting this verse at the head of this post from Jeremiah 17:9. The reality, the truth, and the applicability of this to my own life, came home to me in a very dramatic way many years ago now. I had gone through a broken marriage, and had blamed her 100% for what went wrong. So convinced was I, that she was evil that I had murder in my heart. And the scary thing for me, is that I am not at all sure that I would not have gone through with it if I thought I could’ve gotten away with it. But when the Holy Spirit convicted me of sin, I started to see that I was very far from blameless, I was devastated. I am grateful however, that He showed this to me, because when He did, two important things happened.

The first was that I started to see that there was much truth and wisdom in the Scriptures. I was saying things like “This book knows me!” In particular it knows my propensity to rationalize my actions and to blame others rather than take responsibility for them. I saw truly that my heart had deceived me. The second thing, was I started to see my need for Him and His guidance, and this led to my repentance, subsequent conversion, and the start of a life worth living!

Father, thank You for revealing to me how very much I need You, and how very much I needed to be rescued from myself. Thank You Lord that Your ways are good and right and wholesome, and that they increasingly bring life in all its fullness (John 10:10b). In Jesus Name Amen

When I am weak, then I am strong!

It’s no wonder, as the Scripture says, that the wisdom of the cross is foolishness to the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 1:18). But if God exists, and He is indeed a very present help in times of need (Psalm 46:1), then such apparent contradictions make perfect sense. Let me use an analogy to explain.

One of the promises of the Word of God comes in James 1:5. It says “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Many times I find myself in circumstances not knowing what to do or say. In this condition I qualify for this promise, I lack wisdom! So I come to Him, and ask. Over and over He has shown me what to say or what to do, and when I follow this to the best of my ability, then most times things just seem to work out. So then when I have lacked wisdom, I have received His wisdom. So along the lines of the quote at the head of this post, I can safely say that when I’m not wise, then I am wise.

A paraphrase of Philippians 2:12, 13 would say that when I totally surrender to Him, then He actively works in me in two ways. First of all, He works in me to change my desires. For me this is huge! Over and over my emotions, my desires get in the way. And this principle/promise really works. In particular when I give my desires to Him, He starts the process of changing them. The second thing here, is that He gives me the wherewithal to do what I cannot do without Him. What I am saying, is that when I give Him my all, then not only does He deal with my emotions, He makes up for what I am unable to do. So then truly when I am weak, and I throw myself on Him, then in Him I become strong. And so in this way the verse at the head of this post from 2 Corinthians 12:9, makes perfect sense.

Father, Your word tells me to be strong in You. It took me a while to learn to take on Your strength. But You are indeed a very present, and a very practical help, in times of need. Thank You Lord for the reality of Your wisdom, Your love, Your peace, Your hope, Your joy and Your strength in my life. I praise and thank You Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God

One of the more dominant World views in the West, is materialism. I am referring to the view that physical mater is all there is, and that all things, including mental aspects and consciousness, are results of material interactions. In particular we are nothing more than a random collection of molecules, that somehow the universe put together by chance.

In my view, there are many devastating implications of this view. In particular life is meaningless, love, beauty and joy are all illusionary, and mankind has no destiny other than the grave! Into the darkness and the bankruptcy of this World view Jesus, from this verse from Matthew 4:4, speaks Words of life. There are two thoughts that I want to draw out of this, this morning.

The first cones out of the first phrase “Man does not live by bread alone.” Jesus is not here saying, that our dietary requirements need to include more than bread, the staple of the Middle East. He is saying that in order to live, really live as opposed to simply existing, there is another food of which we need to partake. Using the same word for life as in this quotation, Jesus in John 10:10b says that He came in order that we might have fullness of life.

Attaching the word “fullness,” to the word “life” in this context, has the implication that we can have a form of life, that can be described as anything other than full. The saying “Most men live lives of quiet desperation,” comes to mind. So the question comes to you and me, are we living life to the full? I’m not saying that I have arrived, but I can say that there are a number of significant stages in my life, turning points if you like, that moved me out of death into a fuller life in the here and now. Part of what I’m saying is that this is a process, and that the secret is found in the second phrase and in the second thing that I want to say this morning.

The second phrase then “but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” comes with the implication that if we want to truly live, then we need to feed on His Word. I want to say that there are two words in the Greek that are translated “Word” in our English texts. The first “Logos,” reflects the ideas of Greek philosophy where it is said to refer to “the rational argument.” So when Logos is used, in the Scripture, it often points us to reason. In particular, the logical response to the the Logos of God is obedience (see for example Matthew 7:24).

The second word translated “Word,” is the Greek word Rhema, and while this word includes the idea of Logos, there is more to it than that. Jesus explains this in John 16:63, where he says “The Rhemata (plural of Rhema) that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. In other words there is a living aspect to the Rhema words.

Most Christians, and those moving towards becoming Christians, have likely experienced a verse in the Scriptures coming alive. We can read a passage over and over, but suddenly the verse or the passage stands out to us. So what’s happened here, is that the Lagos word became a Rhema word. Recently in the fellowship when we were discussing how to move from anxiety to peace, one person told us that he reads the Scriptures until something stands out to him that speaks to his situation. So this really is him seeking a and receiving a Rhema word from among the Logos words.

But there is another aspect of a Rhema word, and we see an example of this in Mary’s response to the angel telling her she will give birth to Jesus. Her response was “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your Rhama.” That is a Rhema word can be a word, not found in the Bible, not of course inconsistent with the Bible, but rather a personal Word to us and for us. Jesus tells us that His sheep know His voice (John 10:27). Now more often than not He speaks to us through the Scriptures as above, but as with Mary, He can also give us a Rhema word that speaks to a specific situation. For example a Rhama word can come to us if we are wondering if we should take a job or not!

And I experienced both of these aspects of the Rhema word this morning. In writing these posts I have been asking the Lord each morning to give me something to share that is relevant to my life. This morning I had been anxious about a number of different things, and out of the blue, as it were, I received the Word at the head of this post. It was a Rhema word for me. Yes it’s all God’s Word, and it is a Lagos word, but the Lord also illuminated it so it was also a Rhema word. With this Word, He was also reminding me of some premises that He has made to me, and He was telling me to feed on them, and in particular to trust Him. And because He knows my frame, He knows that I am but dust, He also reminded me of a confirmation that He gave me, that enabled me earlier to try a door. And part of the Rhema word was another Lagos word that had become Rhema word. That is He illuminated the Scripture “I open and no one can shut, and I shut and no one can open” (Revelation 3:7).

Father, truly Your Words are spirit and they are life. Thank You that over and over You bring comfort, strength and wisdom as I come to You morning by morning through Your Rhema Words which re truly the bread of life. Thank You, thank You, thank You. In Jesus Name Amen

Presence (Principles, promises, power and presence VI)

When I was talking earlier about unconditional promises, I referenced “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). And I promised to come back to talk about this when I talked about His Presence, here in this last section.

I want to start by unpacking this verse. There is a reason that this promise sounds a little bit like marriage vows, and the reason is that it’s God’s intention and that Christian marriage should be a living parable of our relationship with God (Ephesians 5:31,32). In particular our relationship with God is intended to be very, very real. And the very least of what that means is that we are intended to experience our relationship with Him. How else could He comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3,4), and what else would it mean that He is a very present help in times of need (Psalm 46:1)?

And this is meant both individually and corporately in our various fellowships. Has He not promised that when we meet in His name He is there in the very midst (Matthew 18:20)? And while He is the unseen guest, does He intend that this is nothing more than a mere platitude? Are we not told, that He inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3 KJV).

For the first twenty or so years of my Christian walk, I heard very little about this aspect of Christianity. It’s not that it wasn’t there, it was kind of taken for granted. But the sort of thing that was emphasized was rules, regulations, holiness and working for the Lord. In fact I can look back on this period and realize that I was a Christian workaholic.

Now I am not saying that these things are not important but, at least what I was getting was that the emphasis tended to be on that the above things were what made me right with the Lord. And at about the end of that time, I began to see that these things were intended to flow out of my relationship with Him, rather than form the basis of it. I also started to understand, that my emphasis on these things were actually hindering my relationship with Him.

In fact I really did not know who I was in the Lord. I was taking my identity from what I was doing for Him. But then through a major crisis in my life, when things began to fall apart, I was thrown back on relationship. It started with my need to tap into the comfort that He brings. In many ways it was a crossroad. Did I believe that He was real, and did I believe the many promises He had given me? I have said this before, but it’s true that we don’t know that God is all we need, until God is all we have!

So how did I get there, how did I get where I am today? I’m not saying that I have arrived, because no matter how close we get to Him, no matter how deep our relationship with Him, there is always more. I want to close with two scriptures. The first is a promise from James 4:8. It says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you!” It’s not that it’s all up to us, in fact God is the great initiator. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). What more could he have done then send his son to live and die to reconcile us to Himself? But we do need to respond, and that is part of what the James reference means. In fact the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Matthew 22:37). So this is the second Scripture. And I have found that when I do my part, He meets me more than halfway, and I am drawn more and more into the heart of His extravagant all healing love.

Father, I thank You for Your presence in my life, and in the fellowship. Thank You Lord, that You are far more willing to enter into this relationship of love, than we are to pursue You. Thank You that You are the great initiator, and that You pursued me as it were down the labyrinth of ways. Thank You that You more than make up what I bring to You. Help me, help all of us to draw near, that we might receive Your promise that You will draw near to us. I give You all the honour, and all the glory of all the praise in Jesus Name Amen

Power (Principles, promises, power and presence V)

The famous evangelist D. L. Moody is said to have sought to rise to the challenge “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man (person) who is fully committed to Him.” The impetus for this series of posts of which this is the fourth, came from the comparison of “God as you understand him to be,” in classical twelve-step programs, with Jesus Christ as the supreme higher power. In any case however, the first three steps have to do with seeing our need of our higher Power, understanding that He/she or it has the power to help us, and then turning our will and our lives over to the care and control of the said higher power.

So the whole focus of this set of posts, is to unpack the superiority of Christ as our higher Power, and in particular to speak about four advantages that are summed up in the four words principles, promises, power and presence. Today we are looking at “power.”

The secret of rising to the challenge mentioned above, is all about entering into partnership with God. There is much truth in the saying “Without God man cannot, without man God will not.” Surely this is what Paul meant when he called the Christian a co-labourer with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). In fact one of the primary tasks of Christian growth is to move from the various stages either of complete helplessness, or total independence. As in any healthy adult relationship, a primary goal is interdependence, where each side plays their appropriate part.

There is an interesting phrase in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where Paul says “When I am weak then I am strong.” This phrase is nonsense to the unbeliever, but to the one who is starting to know the power of God, it makes perfect sense. In helping him move from his self righteous independence to interdependence, the Lord had to allow things in Paul’s life that completely overwhelmed him. Paul describes this experience as something akin to a death sentence. Seeing God working through this Paul tells us “We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:9, 10).

So this is the first part of what I am trying to say when I am talking about the power that comes from having Christ as our higher power. I am talking about the power to go on and not to give up, the power that we find in trusting Him in every and all circumstances. I that is the power that comes the intervention of God in our lives. Sometimes God changes the circumstances. But sometimes, in my experience, He leaves us in the circumstances but gives us the power, the strength to carry on. The Scripture puts it this way, He is a very present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1).

The other aspect of God’s power, comes in the form of the miraculous. I’m not saying that the deliverance that Paul was talking about above is not miraculous, I am really wanting to emphasize that there are times when God circumvents the normal laws of nature. I am talking about what happens when we lay hands on and pray for the sick and they are healed in Jesus name. For the first twenty or so years of my christian life I saw very little of this. In the last twenty or so years I am seeing more and more of it. Indeed I have received miraculous healings in my own body, as well as healings in the fellowship, and beyond.

Some will find this very hard to believe, and part of this is that we live in a culture of unbelief, where we do not expect the miraculous to happen. And because we don’t believe, we don’t ask, and when we don’t ask, as James tells us, we do not receive (James 4: 2). So then part of the challenge that D. L. Moody sought to rise to, is believing that what God says He will do in his Word, He will do. I am far from fully there yet, but I am seeking to press into His promise “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

Father, I read in your Word “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). Lord I need a revelation of this truth, a revelation that allows me to enter into it in a practical way. Lord I understand that this is nothing less than the declaration “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Lord I believe, help my unbelief. In Jesus Name Amen

Promises (II) ( Principles, promises, power and presence IV)

Last day I was saying that there are two kinds of promises. There are the “if – then” promises which I dealt with then, and then there are the unconditional promises. To me the most precious of these latter promises, is “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). But I want to leave that one until I talk about His Presence.

So what are some of the other unconditional promises? Perhaps the one that helped me the most in my early days of being a Christian, is the one in Romans 8:28 which says “ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” This was particularly helpful for me, because I had messed up so mightily in life. I had so many regrets, so many things I wish I could have changed, but of course you can’t change the past. It was comforting to know that God could even use the garbage of my past for my good. It’s not always obvious how he does this, but sometimes He shows us. In this particular case, I could see that without my past mistakes I would likely not have found Him and His incredible healing love.

At a time of incredible emotional pain, the Lord woke me from my sleep one time and brought Psalm 30:5b to my attention “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” When he does things like this, such verses come alive. It’s hard to describe it if you never experienced it, but you somehow know that God is speaking to you through such a verse, and because you trust Him, because you know that God is not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19), you know it’s true, and it somehow strengthens you and enables you to carry on.

Another such promise that came alive to me at a time when decisions we were making were deeply affecting the family, the Lord brought Isaiah 54:13 to my attention. It says “All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children.” Again, because I trust Him, this verse and others like it brought me into peace.

At the same time, and not for the first time, the Lord was assuring me that He has plans for me, plans for good and not for evil, to give me a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). I had also been experiencing an almost debilitating shame, and He whispered through His Word “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame ….” (Isaiah 54:4). This is some time ago now, and the nakedness of my shame at that time has all but gone.

The apostle Peter says of the promises of the Word of God that they are exceedingly great and precious (2 Peter 1:4), and essentially that through then we can enter into the fullness of life that Christ promised us (John 10:10b). Several years ago now, I started a file on my computer entitled “Promises.” And when I find myself feeling down, distressed or discouraged, I open the file and read again some the promises He has underlined for me in this way. It’s 14 pages long! I just opened it to see how long it is, and as I did so, another promise from Isaiah 54 jumped out at me. It is part of verse 17 which says “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD…. “ These and many, many other promises bring me hope and peace and strength and joy.

Father, I thank You this morning for Your exceedingly great and precious promises. I thank You for the one I will unpack later that You will never leave me, nor forsake me. Thank You Lord I am finally starting to enter into life in all its fullness. And I give You all the honour and all the glory and all the praise in Jesus Name Amen