In Situ

She [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’(which means ‘God with us’). Matthew1:21-23NIV

Many sermons and talks are contained within these short verses, but I will only mention one. Well, actually two, because they are inseparable.

We must never forget that the whole purpose of the Christmas story is to show that Jesus saves us from our sins. That is an amazing claim and if we stopped there, it would be enough to satisfy the needy sinner. That’s you and me! Jesus came, and took on the form of a helpless, vulnerable baby, all to take us out of our state of sin if we let Him. Sadly, not everyone takes up the offer, but why? Maybe part of the reason is that the first Christmas happened so very long ago, and what relevance does it have to us now?

I love the positive theme of the next verse. Yes, the virgin did conceive and bear a son named Jesus, but it didn’t stop there. Jesus was known by another name, ‘Immanuel’ which simply means ‘God with us’. He is right beside us. Not distant. Not unapproachable. Not only with the church leaders, but WITH US! God WITH us. We must let that sink in. God made it personal to all people of all nations and all generations, and all we have to do is take Him up on His offer. Our God becomes ‘in situ’ and what could be better?

No longer can we hide behind the manger scene some 2,000+ years ago, because Jesus is also Immanuel. He is right here with us in our tough times, our bad decisions, our wrong choices. Jesus stays with us at all times, and all we have to do is recognise that He cares enough for us, choose Him, and as His follower He will stay there. Now, I ask again. Why do so many not accept the offer of a personal God who is with us day in, and day out, every day of the year?

Perhaps we are so advanced that we don’t need a God? Perhaps we have been convinced by the TV and Film industry that there is no God, and we have swallowed that lie hook, line and sinker? We are shaking our fist at God, and where do you think that will lead? Jesus, God with us, offers eternal life in heaven, but sadly some will still choose a lost eternity because they know better. Do they? Do they really?? What do you think???  

The Bully

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

Sam was always a problem through Primary School, and now into 2nd year of High School nothing had changed. Most of his classmates had come through the school system with him so they knew Sam well, and for that reason he was avoided like the plague. For some reason I seemed to be his primary target and I didn’t know why.

It was during a class field trip that it happened. No one wanted to walk with him as we trekked over the Scottish hillside, so Sam was left at the back of the bunch on his own. We were walking along a narrow, but easily passable and safe path with a steep hill on one side, and an equally steep drop on the other. Sam was messing around trying to make his presence heard as usual, but no one was paying attention. Then he slipped and fell, rolling down the steep grassy slope, his fall only stopped by a large boulder some 20 feet below.

The rest of the class quickly formed a human chain, linked by each hand to get Sam on his feet, and so helped him clamber up the slope to safety. The teacher was impressed, and quite honestly, we were too. He was a bully. No one like him. He was his own worst enemy, and got along with no one. That seemed to make the class action more significant in Sam’s mind. “Whose idea was that?” he asked. At first no one owned up, and then one of the class turned and pointed at me. Yes, it was my idea. In spite of all the horrible things he had said and done to me. I couldn’t see him in pain or danger so I hurriedly arranged to form the human chain, and held the ground at the top as an anchor where he couldn’t see me.

As a direct result of that action, Sam and I formed a close bond of friendship which lasts to this day. It turned out that Sam’s home life was not a happy one, and he was a very unhappy boy who took his frustration out in the only way he knew because he saw it at home.

I wonder what God saw in us when He knew how bad and sinful we were? We gave Him no time, and no reason for Him to like us, but He didn’t push back. He loved us enough to do the only thing that would work. He took our messed up lives to the cross where they were sacrificed along with Him, the one who had never sinned. By dying in our place, He showed us the greatest love that He could and we would ever know.

The question left hanging in the air is, “what will we do about this Jesus?” Will we continue to ignore Him, or form a link straight to the one who not only saved us, but died for us? Either way the choice is ours. There is no third way.

Gospel of Conviction or Convenience?

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:1-3 NLT




I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

1 Corinthians 9:22




At first glance, these passages would seem to be at odds with each other. Some might say it’s a contradiction. Some others certainly use the latter to justify almost anything that goes on in church, with the risk that the Gospel is pushed into the background. So, to reach the unchurched, we try to become more like the world, or at least provide the entertainment they would be used to. Churches have become locations for: drop in centres, musical shows, movies, and arts and crafts of many sorts. Each probably good and innocent in their own right, but at what cost to the only message that saves souls?




What is the sole purpose of the church of Jesus Christ? Paul makes it clear to his young protege pastor Timothy. It is to “preach the Word of God” whether you think the timing is right or not. And Paul gives the reason - valid 2,000 years ago, and I suggest even more so today. The wise apostle argues that “a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.” When numbers drop, with the best of intentions we use the church as a recruiting base but instead of giving the life changing gospel, we give them the same things the world gives and call it outreach and evangelism, but we don’t do it as well as the world, and invariably is compared and fails. It is worth bearing in mind that the ONLY thing that Paul tells his young protege Timothy to do is preach the gospel. No sidelines, no gimmicks, just the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Are we up to the challenge? After all, where else will the unsaved hear that life changing message of salvation in Jesus Christ?

What Does It Take?

... Abraham said to him, ‘If your brothers won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen to someone who comes back from the dead. Luke 16:30,31

It is difficult, and almost impossible to give up sinning, because sin is an addiction. Only the transforming power of God through the Holy Spirit can give you the power you need. Jesus told the true story (it is not a parable) of the rich man and the poor man who died, and the rich man found himself asking Lazarus for help. Firstly for some cold water, because it was HOT where he was, and secondly he wanted to find a way to tell his brothers that they must avoid this hell at all costs. Lazarus had his rest in Abraham’s bosom, but the rich man was greatly troubled because he was in hell. Yes, there is such a place.

Have you noticed that seeing the painful and terrible passing of a friend or loved one, does NOTHING to convince them to change? In fact, even during a traumatic hospital visit where lifestyle excesses can be even more obvious, they do not see the warning in the bed, and if they do, then it is ignored. They will take their chances that this dreadful process will never happen to them. Yes, sin is an addiction, just like drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

Jesus knew that the pleadings of someone who came back from the dead would not make any change of heart or habits, and neither will the sad end of a loved one make others kick similar bad habits or turn from the eternal consequences of sin. Yes, sin is an addiction. So, if watching someone else’s life (and death) doesn’t help, we need to listen to the only human heart that knows how sinful our life is. That’s YOU and ME! We cannot blame anyone else if we end up in the wrong eternity, even God.

Therefore, my beloved… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12