Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 NIV
How much light do we need on our path? Or let me ask that another way. How much light do you WANT on your path? That’s a whole different thing, isn’t it? When we see what is happening on the world stage, do we really want to know for sure how it will all work out? I’m not sure my nerves would hold out if the news is bad, I mean really bad, and let’s face it, that is possible bearing in mind our world leaders.
But we have a gracious God who will allow us to see that part of the path we are on. No more, and certainly not so much that we couldn’t handle it. Knowing the present is enough trouble for most us already. The worries and cares of this life affect us all, and none more so than health. We will know of those who are suffering badly, in fact we may be in that situation ourselves. We usually don’t want to know how it will all end and our God is protecting us by showing only that part of our journey we need to see.
The end of the path could be a few steps away, and yet it might be a long time unfolding. The burden and worry of those possibly tough years ahead is something we don’t need to have on our minds. God knows this and provides the best answer for His children. The old song sums it up as the world sees it:
One day at a time sweet Jesus, That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength, To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus, And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way, One day at a time.
But I think Jesus puts it best when He shows His love for us in this verse:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV
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Showing posts with label light. Show all posts
Showing posts with label light. Show all posts
Saturday, 16 June 2018
Thursday, 5 April 2018
Christianity Light
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Cor 6:19,20 ESV
It’s a clear and obvious temptation to just coast the life we have, either in or out of faith. But then a verse like this one comes along to remind us that our salvation should not, and must not be taken lightly or with a shrug of the shoulders.
Imagine for a moment that your wife or girlfriend goes without some things of her own, to buy you a nice, expensive, Rolex watch. Instead of looking after it, you don’t. The face gets scratched, you drop it into the toilet, and it keeps getting mislaid. I wonder how your gift looks in the eyes of the giver now? Was it worth the expense and the other things that were done without? You would have to forgive the giver for thinking it wasn’t worth the effort.
We can never earn our salvation. It has been granted us by a loving God and all we have to do is accept the gift. But do you really think that God wants us to stay in the mire of our sin? I don’t think so. We ought to cherish our priceless gift, and show how thankful we are by our lifestyle change. We are bought with a price and it cost the Saviour the cross, and the heartache of the Father forsaking Him while He hung there.
Shouldn’t we strive to live a Christian life deserving of the love of an eternally Holy God by becoming an example to others who look on us to see if there is any difference between who we were, and the person we are now? Or do we play the ‘Christianity Light’ card in the hope that it will be enough, and since we didn’t deserve it anyway, what possible difference could it make? A final thought: We take good care of our earthly gifts, so shouldn’t we care even more for the eternal gift of salvation which cost Jesus so dearly? It’s a clear choice.
It’s a clear and obvious temptation to just coast the life we have, either in or out of faith. But then a verse like this one comes along to remind us that our salvation should not, and must not be taken lightly or with a shrug of the shoulders.
Imagine for a moment that your wife or girlfriend goes without some things of her own, to buy you a nice, expensive, Rolex watch. Instead of looking after it, you don’t. The face gets scratched, you drop it into the toilet, and it keeps getting mislaid. I wonder how your gift looks in the eyes of the giver now? Was it worth the expense and the other things that were done without? You would have to forgive the giver for thinking it wasn’t worth the effort.
We can never earn our salvation. It has been granted us by a loving God and all we have to do is accept the gift. But do you really think that God wants us to stay in the mire of our sin? I don’t think so. We ought to cherish our priceless gift, and show how thankful we are by our lifestyle change. We are bought with a price and it cost the Saviour the cross, and the heartache of the Father forsaking Him while He hung there.
Shouldn’t we strive to live a Christian life deserving of the love of an eternally Holy God by becoming an example to others who look on us to see if there is any difference between who we were, and the person we are now? Or do we play the ‘Christianity Light’ card in the hope that it will be enough, and since we didn’t deserve it anyway, what possible difference could it make? A final thought: We take good care of our earthly gifts, so shouldn’t we care even more for the eternal gift of salvation which cost Jesus so dearly? It’s a clear choice.
Friday, 16 June 2017
How Good?
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
It’s called the ‘good book’ for sound reason, after all the Bible has been around for centuries, and despite many attempts to discount it, burn it, disprove it, sneer at those who believe it, the sacred Word of God lingers and lives on in the hearts and minds of Christians around the world to this day.
It is without question that the Bible has survived this long because it contains the words of life to all Christian believers, but I wonder how good a book do we think it is? I mean really think it is? Here’s the challenge: Do you read the Bible? I don’t mean reading it from the overhead screen on a Sunday. I mean reading it for yourself? But be careful, you might become a changed person!
The Scriptures will continue to survive with or without our help, whether we read it or not. Wouldn’t it be better if we had the courage of our convictions and not only lived by its principles, but read it. Often and regularly? Can we call ourselves ‘Christian’ and NOT read the Bible regularly?
God’s word is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the centre of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Hebrews 4:12
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Light or Heat?
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV
We get ourselves into situations when we want to add some light to a situation, but only seem to bring unwanted and unnecessary heat instead. At least I find that I do, maybe unintentionally, but it can happen anyway. Jesus words are clear, He is the light, not us, and we are to be like Him.
Arguments invariably cause friction, or heat and don’t help. A good evenly balanced discussion out of respect can bring light, and isn’t that what we ultimately want? Christians are usually on a hiding to nothing, because our views are now being seen as extreme, intolerant, and so we find ourselves at the edge of society and being marginalised by politicians and in fact anyone who disagrees with our views, no matter how conciliatory or reasoned we try to be.
Recent events have thrown up another problem. There are people who are very anti-Christian, and even atheistic, lying in wait, ready to ambush the unsuspecting pilgrim who just wants to follow his Lord. The internet is particularly well placed to act as the medium of choice for the enemy of the faith. Twitter and Facebook are often in the news for all the wrong reasons, because social media is hijacked by some who have no scruples. Even the simple Blog post can be shanghaied by those who may trawl the internet search engines, looking for a prime target to discredit. So how do we respond to these unwelcome and hostile attacks? The following verses show that we must recognise the work of the devil, and deal with his agents in a civil but steadfast manner, always mindful of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and His grace which always covers us.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8,9 NKJV
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. Ephesians 5:8-12 NKJV
We get ourselves into situations when we want to add some light to a situation, but only seem to bring unwanted and unnecessary heat instead. At least I find that I do, maybe unintentionally, but it can happen anyway. Jesus words are clear, He is the light, not us, and we are to be like Him.
Arguments invariably cause friction, or heat and don’t help. A good evenly balanced discussion out of respect can bring light, and isn’t that what we ultimately want? Christians are usually on a hiding to nothing, because our views are now being seen as extreme, intolerant, and so we find ourselves at the edge of society and being marginalised by politicians and in fact anyone who disagrees with our views, no matter how conciliatory or reasoned we try to be.
Recent events have thrown up another problem. There are people who are very anti-Christian, and even atheistic, lying in wait, ready to ambush the unsuspecting pilgrim who just wants to follow his Lord. The internet is particularly well placed to act as the medium of choice for the enemy of the faith. Twitter and Facebook are often in the news for all the wrong reasons, because social media is hijacked by some who have no scruples. Even the simple Blog post can be shanghaied by those who may trawl the internet search engines, looking for a prime target to discredit. So how do we respond to these unwelcome and hostile attacks? The following verses show that we must recognise the work of the devil, and deal with his agents in a civil but steadfast manner, always mindful of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and His grace which always covers us.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8,9 NKJV
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. Ephesians 5:8-12 NKJV
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