Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV
Some of us are blessed to grow into old age with a reasonable amount of good health, while others pass away into their own eternal destiny, and sometimes we who are still here will ask, “why was I left behind”? We are all different, but each of us bears the scars of our individual history of life. Some experiences have been better than others, and some we would rather forget.
I am happy, and yes even relieved, that every child of God has the sure and certain promise of eternal life in heaven. We might not know exactly what that looks like, but we do have the cast iron assurance that we will enter heaven’s gates to live with Jesus forever and as a BIG bonus we will get to see our family who also placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Until that great and glorious day, we live out our lives on earth as best we can. Our human body is frail and subject to all the ailments and temptations that the devil can throw at us. But, and it’s a BIG BUT, we are told what our gracious God will do for the believers as they ‘do life’ this side of heaven. He says, “I am he who will sustain you” and “I will carry you” and “I will sustain you”, (this is said twice so it must be important) and “I will rescue you”.
The best part of this promise for me, is that it doesn’t just apply to the older, gray haired believers, it says “even to your old age and gray hairs” and that means all the way through your life until you see those gray hairs appearing and beyond! What a promise from our gracious and understanding God.
The aim is to provide a stimulating mix of personal opinions (from a mainstream Christian worldview), and associated comments, which will be accepted and published if they comply with the usual courtesy and decency.
Monday, 17 September 2018
Sunday, 16 September 2018
Whispers
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Proverbs 16:28 NIV
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20
You will be aware of the term, ‘Chinese Whispers’ which is nice way of saying gossip, or tattletale. Whispers sounds better, but we do a big disservice to the Chinese to tag them in that phrase. So gossip it is and gossip it remains.
The various acts of gossip are usually attributed to the womenfolk, but I have found that men are much the same, and as bad if not worse. You see, gossip is not just a soft whisper behind someone’s back. It can be peddled as an intentional deceit to mislead the thinking of others, to help turn opinions and preferences round to their own wishes! I would go as far as to suggest that this type of deliberate, deceitful gossip is the preferred instrument of the menfolk.
Not only does gossip separate close friends but it is listed among other (we would consider) more serious sins like discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. This puts the action of the gossiper in a fresh light, doesn’t it? So we must be aware of the damage it can cause, and stay well clear. There is no such thing as it being a good thing. ‘Helpful words’ from a friend like, “I’m only telling you this for your own good”, or “I was told not to say, but…”, don’t count because it is still gossip, and we must be alert to these deceptions.
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20
You will be aware of the term, ‘Chinese Whispers’ which is nice way of saying gossip, or tattletale. Whispers sounds better, but we do a big disservice to the Chinese to tag them in that phrase. So gossip it is and gossip it remains.
The various acts of gossip are usually attributed to the womenfolk, but I have found that men are much the same, and as bad if not worse. You see, gossip is not just a soft whisper behind someone’s back. It can be peddled as an intentional deceit to mislead the thinking of others, to help turn opinions and preferences round to their own wishes! I would go as far as to suggest that this type of deliberate, deceitful gossip is the preferred instrument of the menfolk.
Not only does gossip separate close friends but it is listed among other (we would consider) more serious sins like discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. This puts the action of the gossiper in a fresh light, doesn’t it? So we must be aware of the damage it can cause, and stay well clear. There is no such thing as it being a good thing. ‘Helpful words’ from a friend like, “I’m only telling you this for your own good”, or “I was told not to say, but…”, don’t count because it is still gossip, and we must be alert to these deceptions.
Friday, 14 September 2018
Nearly Nothing
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35
In one case, nothing can separate us from the love of God, and in the other verse, we are to be disciples of love for each other. I see a clear link between God’s love in our heart, and the fact that this love will remain constant between God and us. Of course you can be forgiven for thinking that chapter 8 of Romans finishes prematurely. Cut me a bit of slack here, and allow me to make a modern day ironic meaning to verse 39.
Nothing will “separate us from the love of God”, except that we maybe let those really big, important things like music, dress, colour, politics, beliefs, denomination, or theology. It seems we don’t go to church to worship, but choose a church that suits us. I am reminded that when Paul wrote to several of the churches of his day that they had problems, really big problems, he didn’t separate himself from them. He tried to help by preaching the truth of the gospel, but he didn’t disown them, or suggest others do the same. No, he let the love of God shine through him in the belief that it would win over anything in all creation that might be able to separate him (or us) from Christ Jesus.
Why do we let some minor differences get between us and God? We recite Romans 8:38,39 so easily as it talks about the big things, while letting some of those smaller, petty, earthly thoughts and feelings get between us and the love of God. Truth is, it’s not God who puts the barriers up to His love, it’s us! When God seems so far away, ask yourself who moved? According to this text, it certainly wasn’t God!
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35
In one case, nothing can separate us from the love of God, and in the other verse, we are to be disciples of love for each other. I see a clear link between God’s love in our heart, and the fact that this love will remain constant between God and us. Of course you can be forgiven for thinking that chapter 8 of Romans finishes prematurely. Cut me a bit of slack here, and allow me to make a modern day ironic meaning to verse 39.
Nothing will “separate us from the love of God”, except that we maybe let those really big, important things like music, dress, colour, politics, beliefs, denomination, or theology. It seems we don’t go to church to worship, but choose a church that suits us. I am reminded that when Paul wrote to several of the churches of his day that they had problems, really big problems, he didn’t separate himself from them. He tried to help by preaching the truth of the gospel, but he didn’t disown them, or suggest others do the same. No, he let the love of God shine through him in the belief that it would win over anything in all creation that might be able to separate him (or us) from Christ Jesus.
Why do we let some minor differences get between us and God? We recite Romans 8:38,39 so easily as it talks about the big things, while letting some of those smaller, petty, earthly thoughts and feelings get between us and the love of God. Truth is, it’s not God who puts the barriers up to His love, it’s us! When God seems so far away, ask yourself who moved? According to this text, it certainly wasn’t God!
Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Trying
[ Suffering for Doing Good ] Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
This verse finds me trying in two senses. Firstly, I am constantly trying to live out these wise and inspired words, and secondly, I sometimes find them ‘trying’ because I don’t always reach the mark and fall short. But as Paul writes in Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So, we should never give up trying to be more Christlike as Paul says. Peter takes the theme and says we should be more….
Like minded, suggesting that we need to treat our brothers and sisters with the same care that they treat us. With respect and due care. Our churches would always be more welcoming and friendly if we were all working to the same goal, and we did not have the hierarchy of self appointed leaders. There is no room for pride in a like minded group.
Sympathetic churches show the heart of Jesus in the community. It takes a real Christian to show true and genuine sympathy for the downtrodden, forgotten homeless people who live on the streets. It is easier to forget or ignore these people, but we are commanded to sympathise with their lives and lifestyles. They may not behave or look like the clean, respected members who fill our pews, but we cannot distance ourselves from them, or their needs.
Love one another tells me the highest calling we need to have for our fellow Christians. When we grasp the fact that God IS love, then it follows that we must show that same Christlike love to our brothers and sisters. Peter doesn’t say this because it’s easy, because as the old saying goes, “It’s hard to love the unlovely”, but we are commanded to, so we must. Not a halfhearted ‘like’, but a full blown selfless Christian agape love.
Be compassionate and show it. This is practical and unmistakeable. When we are compassionate, the world can see it, and then know for certain that we mean to share the love we have for each other, with them too. The combination of love and compassion is contagious, and shows the world we are serious about their salvation too. We think their soul is worth saving for eternity.
Humble. In one small word, we encapsulate the hardest thing for us to do as Christians. Oh we say we are not proud, but we fail the test when we think, no one else can do this job like me. Or, I have been helping to run this church all my life, so I know all about the needs better than everyone else. Or again, where would they be without my tithes or offerings? The burden on my shoulders is great, but I still think I am humble. Really? Humility is elusive. When we actively believe we have achieved humility, it’s at that point we have lost it! I think Peter left this command to the last because without it, we become a sham, and the world can see through a phoney with no trouble.
This verse finds me trying in two senses. Firstly, I am constantly trying to live out these wise and inspired words, and secondly, I sometimes find them ‘trying’ because I don’t always reach the mark and fall short. But as Paul writes in Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So, we should never give up trying to be more Christlike as Paul says. Peter takes the theme and says we should be more….
Like minded, suggesting that we need to treat our brothers and sisters with the same care that they treat us. With respect and due care. Our churches would always be more welcoming and friendly if we were all working to the same goal, and we did not have the hierarchy of self appointed leaders. There is no room for pride in a like minded group.
Sympathetic churches show the heart of Jesus in the community. It takes a real Christian to show true and genuine sympathy for the downtrodden, forgotten homeless people who live on the streets. It is easier to forget or ignore these people, but we are commanded to sympathise with their lives and lifestyles. They may not behave or look like the clean, respected members who fill our pews, but we cannot distance ourselves from them, or their needs.
Love one another tells me the highest calling we need to have for our fellow Christians. When we grasp the fact that God IS love, then it follows that we must show that same Christlike love to our brothers and sisters. Peter doesn’t say this because it’s easy, because as the old saying goes, “It’s hard to love the unlovely”, but we are commanded to, so we must. Not a halfhearted ‘like’, but a full blown selfless Christian agape love.
Be compassionate and show it. This is practical and unmistakeable. When we are compassionate, the world can see it, and then know for certain that we mean to share the love we have for each other, with them too. The combination of love and compassion is contagious, and shows the world we are serious about their salvation too. We think their soul is worth saving for eternity.
Humble. In one small word, we encapsulate the hardest thing for us to do as Christians. Oh we say we are not proud, but we fail the test when we think, no one else can do this job like me. Or, I have been helping to run this church all my life, so I know all about the needs better than everyone else. Or again, where would they be without my tithes or offerings? The burden on my shoulders is great, but I still think I am humble. Really? Humility is elusive. When we actively believe we have achieved humility, it’s at that point we have lost it! I think Peter left this command to the last because without it, we become a sham, and the world can see through a phoney with no trouble.
Monday, 10 September 2018
Spinach
I don’t like spinach, in fact I hate it. It has no place on my plate or in my diet. It’s the feel of the stuff in my mouth as well. It might make Popeye stronger, but that’s just a cartoon. Truth is, I have never tasted spinach so my opinion holds no weight, does it? Why should I criticise something I know nothing about?
Sometimes I tune into a radio phone in show in the mornings, and today the subject was “Is religion relevant in our day and age?” Typically, there was a mix of responses ranging from people who live their faith, right through to those who would have nothing to do with any church in spite of the fact that they have never been inside one. They had taken their opinion from the media who report the wars around the world and they see the major root cause as religion. Hence the analogy to spinach at the start of this piece.
Based on second and third hand information, the callous caller had already decided that religion and faith was nothing to him, and easily discarded straight into the dustbin of life. He couldn’t see an ounce of good or credibility in any religion of any kind, not just Christianity.
Time for another truth and confession. There are some Christian beliefs held dear to others that I just can’t accept. On top of that, there are some Christians that I just can’t get close enough to like. This revelation is like the example of me not liking spinach in spite of the fact that I have never tasted it. The same becomes true of my attitude to other Christian’s beliefs and personalities. Somehow I don’t think I am alone in this confession. I’m sure there are others but we are not so good at coming clean, are we?
So, what to do? Should I try the spinach? Or is my reluctance due to God working in my life helping me to avoid false teachings, and yes even people? Until I am led by the Spirit of God I will refrain from the spinach in the meantime. After all, is it such a bad thing to avoid, and be protected from bad or suspect teachings, and teachers?
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 2 Peter 2:1,2 NIV
Sometimes I tune into a radio phone in show in the mornings, and today the subject was “Is religion relevant in our day and age?” Typically, there was a mix of responses ranging from people who live their faith, right through to those who would have nothing to do with any church in spite of the fact that they have never been inside one. They had taken their opinion from the media who report the wars around the world and they see the major root cause as religion. Hence the analogy to spinach at the start of this piece.
Based on second and third hand information, the callous caller had already decided that religion and faith was nothing to him, and easily discarded straight into the dustbin of life. He couldn’t see an ounce of good or credibility in any religion of any kind, not just Christianity.
Time for another truth and confession. There are some Christian beliefs held dear to others that I just can’t accept. On top of that, there are some Christians that I just can’t get close enough to like. This revelation is like the example of me not liking spinach in spite of the fact that I have never tasted it. The same becomes true of my attitude to other Christian’s beliefs and personalities. Somehow I don’t think I am alone in this confession. I’m sure there are others but we are not so good at coming clean, are we?
So, what to do? Should I try the spinach? Or is my reluctance due to God working in my life helping me to avoid false teachings, and yes even people? Until I am led by the Spirit of God I will refrain from the spinach in the meantime. After all, is it such a bad thing to avoid, and be protected from bad or suspect teachings, and teachers?
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 2 Peter 2:1,2 NIV
Saturday, 8 September 2018
Blame Culture
It is impossible to miss the current fashion of having to blame someone, anyone, for just about anything! It has always been rife in all things political, but it has now encroached into the lives of ordinary people.
There are the usual suspects and culprits: Different ethnic groups blaming each other for all sorts of wrongdoing. Opposing religions pointing the finger at each other for the rising state of bigotry in the country. The police for performing too many stop and searches on the most likely to offend, just because it’s viewed as racially targeted. The NHS for not doing enough to care for a patient when thousands are saved and healed every day. The ambulance crews who don’t get there as fast as we would like, but are still within their target. The lawyers for getting the well known criminal off on a technicality. It starts early in life, in the school playground when a goal is scored against your team and you blame the referee, and so it goes on through life. As we sometimes say in jest, “A big boy did it and ran away”, except it’s not so funny now.
It seems to help when we convince ourselves that any problem we have is always someone else’s fault! The saddest part for me is that some children and teenages will even blame their parents for the way they turned out and the bad example given as they saw it. Is it me, or does no one take responsibility now for anything they do themselves? To adopt a word from the USA, are we turning out a generation of ‘snowflakes’ who are offended at everything but responsible for nothing?
Do we have to constantly use the blame card? Is it possible that there are still people out there who will put their hand up and admit, “that was my fault, sorry” and with that small statement reduce the tension while at the same time increase their own priceless integrity in the eyes of others? Oh, and did I mention being a forgiving person is also Christ-like?
Jesus said, if you forgive...your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
There are the usual suspects and culprits: Different ethnic groups blaming each other for all sorts of wrongdoing. Opposing religions pointing the finger at each other for the rising state of bigotry in the country. The police for performing too many stop and searches on the most likely to offend, just because it’s viewed as racially targeted. The NHS for not doing enough to care for a patient when thousands are saved and healed every day. The ambulance crews who don’t get there as fast as we would like, but are still within their target. The lawyers for getting the well known criminal off on a technicality. It starts early in life, in the school playground when a goal is scored against your team and you blame the referee, and so it goes on through life. As we sometimes say in jest, “A big boy did it and ran away”, except it’s not so funny now.
It seems to help when we convince ourselves that any problem we have is always someone else’s fault! The saddest part for me is that some children and teenages will even blame their parents for the way they turned out and the bad example given as they saw it. Is it me, or does no one take responsibility now for anything they do themselves? To adopt a word from the USA, are we turning out a generation of ‘snowflakes’ who are offended at everything but responsible for nothing?
Do we have to constantly use the blame card? Is it possible that there are still people out there who will put their hand up and admit, “that was my fault, sorry” and with that small statement reduce the tension while at the same time increase their own priceless integrity in the eyes of others? Oh, and did I mention being a forgiving person is also Christ-like?
Jesus said, if you forgive...your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Thursday, 6 September 2018
Perfection
The Lord’s teachings are perfect. The Lord’s rules can be trusted. Psalm 19:7
There’s not a lot of things in this life that we think of as perfect, and few rules that we can fully trust to keep us out of trouble. That’s in spite of the laws of our land being based on the commandments and principles of God’s Word.
The Psalmist in chapter 33:12 says: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. These verses of the Psalmist automatically take our mind to the state of our nation. Our laws were indeed initially formed from the basis of God’s Word, but do you still see that intent today as laws and amendments are made to accommodate the sin sick society we now live in? Changes to reflect our view of sexual sins in particular come to mind which the Bible is so clear about. Now we also make it so easy to terminate life in the womb, and also by ending life by euthanasia of the old, and the not so elderly? Beware the ‘good’ we think we do!
The Bible is clear that any nation will be blessed when they honour God. Can we truthfully say that our once great nation still honours God? Is it possible, or perhaps even certain, that our nation’s fall from grace is directly linked and due to the clear fact that we no longer honour God, not only as our Law Giver, but also as our Lord and Saviour at both a personal and national level? May God forgive us and have mercy on our nation!
There’s not a lot of things in this life that we think of as perfect, and few rules that we can fully trust to keep us out of trouble. That’s in spite of the laws of our land being based on the commandments and principles of God’s Word.
The Psalmist in chapter 33:12 says: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. These verses of the Psalmist automatically take our mind to the state of our nation. Our laws were indeed initially formed from the basis of God’s Word, but do you still see that intent today as laws and amendments are made to accommodate the sin sick society we now live in? Changes to reflect our view of sexual sins in particular come to mind which the Bible is so clear about. Now we also make it so easy to terminate life in the womb, and also by ending life by euthanasia of the old, and the not so elderly? Beware the ‘good’ we think we do!
The Bible is clear that any nation will be blessed when they honour God. Can we truthfully say that our once great nation still honours God? Is it possible, or perhaps even certain, that our nation’s fall from grace is directly linked and due to the clear fact that we no longer honour God, not only as our Law Giver, but also as our Lord and Saviour at both a personal and national level? May God forgive us and have mercy on our nation!
Wednesday, 5 September 2018
Creation v Evolution?
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 ESV
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 ESV
Dictionary definition of evolution is given as: the process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
If you want to see a group of perfectly balanced and quiet Christians turn into a noisy clamouring group, then open up a discussion on evolution and creation. There are as many opinions as there are people, both inside and outside the church. It’s a subject that will be sure to turn the mild mannered ‘Clark Kent’ into a ‘Superman’! But why should this be?
The way you interpret and read the Genesis story of Adam and Eve will automatically put you into a corner which will be at odds at least with some of your friends. In the red corner, we have a real Adam, Eve, a talking snake, literal 24 hour days for God to make the world and the universe. In the blue corner, you have the believers who understand that same story in Genesis as picture language or metaphor to aid understanding of a message which was beyond the thinking and understanding of early mankind. In truth it is still ‘way above some of our advanced scientific thinking today.
To make it worse, one of these groups of Christians will forcefully point the finger at the other group and say something like, “It’s in the Bible, and I believe the Bible to be the literal Word of God. It’s obvious that you don’t and would rather take sides with science.” This can get nasty. Trust me, it really can! So, what’s the answer?
First of all, note that we talk about “The THEORY of evolution” and that’s because it cannot be proven. The process would take millions of years to work through from a single cell to the human beings we are today. This cannot be recreated as science requires, so cannot be more than a theory. However, the other side should not be too hasty to cheer their success. Many well respected theologians from all corners of the church will differ on the Biblical interpretation of the creation story. Yes, they will believe wholeheartedly in creation, but they cannot agree on the full process of how God did what He did. It is above the human mind!
How important are we prepared to make this subject? If neither side can fully prove their point, except through faith in the God of the Bible, why not view creation as a part of the overall purpose of God and the Bible which leads directly to Jesus and our salvation? Is that something we should fight, or disagree about? No, thought not, because it’s not a salvation issue!
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 ESV
Dictionary definition of evolution is given as: the process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
If you want to see a group of perfectly balanced and quiet Christians turn into a noisy clamouring group, then open up a discussion on evolution and creation. There are as many opinions as there are people, both inside and outside the church. It’s a subject that will be sure to turn the mild mannered ‘Clark Kent’ into a ‘Superman’! But why should this be?
The way you interpret and read the Genesis story of Adam and Eve will automatically put you into a corner which will be at odds at least with some of your friends. In the red corner, we have a real Adam, Eve, a talking snake, literal 24 hour days for God to make the world and the universe. In the blue corner, you have the believers who understand that same story in Genesis as picture language or metaphor to aid understanding of a message which was beyond the thinking and understanding of early mankind. In truth it is still ‘way above some of our advanced scientific thinking today.
To make it worse, one of these groups of Christians will forcefully point the finger at the other group and say something like, “It’s in the Bible, and I believe the Bible to be the literal Word of God. It’s obvious that you don’t and would rather take sides with science.” This can get nasty. Trust me, it really can! So, what’s the answer?
First of all, note that we talk about “The THEORY of evolution” and that’s because it cannot be proven. The process would take millions of years to work through from a single cell to the human beings we are today. This cannot be recreated as science requires, so cannot be more than a theory. However, the other side should not be too hasty to cheer their success. Many well respected theologians from all corners of the church will differ on the Biblical interpretation of the creation story. Yes, they will believe wholeheartedly in creation, but they cannot agree on the full process of how God did what He did. It is above the human mind!
How important are we prepared to make this subject? If neither side can fully prove their point, except through faith in the God of the Bible, why not view creation as a part of the overall purpose of God and the Bible which leads directly to Jesus and our salvation? Is that something we should fight, or disagree about? No, thought not, because it’s not a salvation issue!
Sunday, 2 September 2018
Love and be Loved
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:18-20 NIV
One of the greatest things to experience in this life, if not the greatest, is to love, and to be loved. This common bond of love has to start in one person first before it can find its way to be returned. Remember your first, and possibly greatest love? One of you had to take the risk, and express that love first. The rest (as they say) is history!
Our verse puts it into perspective, and gets the timeline right. We are able to love, only because He loved us first. Think about it and let it sink in. Before we even knew anything about God or His presence, He loved us!
For those who have known the pure joy of a true bond of human love in this world, just think how much stronger and greater that love will be for our Saviour and all His loved ones, when we get to Heaven. We will see Him as He is, and know again that God really IS love! What a day that will be when we ultimately can “Love and be Loved”.
One of the greatest things to experience in this life, if not the greatest, is to love, and to be loved. This common bond of love has to start in one person first before it can find its way to be returned. Remember your first, and possibly greatest love? One of you had to take the risk, and express that love first. The rest (as they say) is history!
Our verse puts it into perspective, and gets the timeline right. We are able to love, only because He loved us first. Think about it and let it sink in. Before we even knew anything about God or His presence, He loved us!
For those who have known the pure joy of a true bond of human love in this world, just think how much stronger and greater that love will be for our Saviour and all His loved ones, when we get to Heaven. We will see Him as He is, and know again that God really IS love! What a day that will be when we ultimately can “Love and be Loved”.
Saturday, 1 September 2018
Fools
Only fools think there is no God. People like that are evil and do terrible things. They never do what is right. The Lord looks down from heaven to see if there is anyone who is wise, anyone who looks to him for help. But everyone has gone the wrong way. Everyone has turned bad. No one does anything good. No, not one person! Those who are evil treat my people like bread to be eaten. And they never ask for the Lord’s help. Don’t they know what they are doing? Psalms 14:1-4 ERV
The dictionary defines the word ‘fool’ like this: ‘a person who acts unwisely or imprudently’ and is not to be confused with the hapless circus clown. This is serious and indicated the thinking of the Psalmist as he described his own nation. Israel had been shown the constant love and protection of God, but there came many times when they turned their back on Him, and you have to ask why? But not so fast. Roll time forward to the present, and what do we find in our own generation?
Are we any better than the fools described by the Psalmist? Oh, we might believe there is a God, but do we behave as though we respect Him, and His Word? Are we acting the fool when we don’t take His commands seriously? Or when we gossip and backbite? Or dabble with the concept of evolution as an extension or replacement for creation? Or think that our salvation depends on the good works we do? As a Christian, I would suggest that while we say that we believe in the existence of God, we are prone to behave as though there is no God, and that He is not fully relevant and active in our lives. Wouldn’t that internal conflict make us the fool the Psalmist talks about?
The dictionary defines the word ‘fool’ like this: ‘a person who acts unwisely or imprudently’ and is not to be confused with the hapless circus clown. This is serious and indicated the thinking of the Psalmist as he described his own nation. Israel had been shown the constant love and protection of God, but there came many times when they turned their back on Him, and you have to ask why? But not so fast. Roll time forward to the present, and what do we find in our own generation?
Are we any better than the fools described by the Psalmist? Oh, we might believe there is a God, but do we behave as though we respect Him, and His Word? Are we acting the fool when we don’t take His commands seriously? Or when we gossip and backbite? Or dabble with the concept of evolution as an extension or replacement for creation? Or think that our salvation depends on the good works we do? As a Christian, I would suggest that while we say that we believe in the existence of God, we are prone to behave as though there is no God, and that He is not fully relevant and active in our lives. Wouldn’t that internal conflict make us the fool the Psalmist talks about?
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