The Necessary Light.

Do you, like me, enjoy the lighter evenings? As I type it is almost 2200 hours, yet it is still not dark outside! Indeed, if I didn't have so much to do inside, I could still be working outside! 

All human experience understands the relationship between darkness and light. Speaking to the Pharisee, Nicodemus, the Lord Jesus said: "... this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19).  Those who love wickedness crave the darkness to hide their deeds.

That same Jesus insisted that He is "the Light of the world" (John 8:12). Writing to the young Timothy. Paul describes Almighty God as the One   "... Who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no man has ever seen or can see. " (I Timothy 6:16). This is not a mere metaphor. John, also, reminds us that "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5).

 

It is certainly clear in God's written Word, that those who have not yet been twice born must come "to the light" before they can ever receive the gift of eternal light (John 3:21). Indeed, the very process of "coming" is empowered by the drawing power of the Father Himself. Jesus said that: "No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him;"  (John 6:44). No one who is "dead through the trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1) is able to come out of darkness on their own into the light, without the supernatural power of the "Light" Himself.

 

Once we are rescued from the darkness by the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus and "birthed" from above by the power demonstrated in the resurrection of our Lord, we who are so redeemed become "sons of light and sons of the day;" (I Thessalonians 5:5). Thus empowered, we are to "walk in the light" (1 John 1:7) and have no "fellowship . . . with darkness" (II Corinthians 6:14). With the "armour of light" complete (Romans 13:12), we can openly let our "light so shine" that we become a "light of the world" (Matthew 5:16, 14). 

It was Paul's testimony that he had been sent, by Father God, to the Gentiles: "to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’" (Acts 26:18). May we be found doing likewise!

Spirit, Soul, Body

In the previous post, we looked, briefly, at the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - one God. In this post, I want to point out the trinitarian nature of humanity. 

This threefold nature of mankind reflects, to a degree, the triune nature of the Godhead. Just as each member of the triune God is complete and wholly God, yet distinct, so each aspect of mankind is also the whole, yet distinct. The body of man comprises the entire man, yet he also possesses certain soulish emotions, desires, and propensities; and finally, the total man is endowed with a spiritual, eternal nature, somehow reflecting the image of God.

 

These three reflect the three great creative acts of God during creation week, identified by the three usages of the Hebrew word bara, or create. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1); i.e., physical material. Later, certain of this physical material was granted consciousness (1:21), which man shares with animals. On the sixth day, man was created as a spiritual being "in the image of God" (1:27), setting him qualitatively distinct from the animals, though he shares body and consciousness with the animals.

 

Writing his first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul expresses this wish: "May the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thess.5:23), when the "God of peace" sets about the task of sanctifying representatives of sinful, fallen mankind, restoring such ones to a measure of Christ-likeness, He does so in the order mentioned, beginning with a spiritual awakening. Then, through the transformed spirit, the soul is reached, and finally the body, with its appetites and lusts.

 

The wisdom of man says just the opposite, claiming the inner man can be improved by changing outside influences, a mentality all too often reflected even in evangelistic efforts. God's way is to start with the inner man - the root of the problem - and then affect the outer man. 

The Trinity in Salvation

In my first book, "Great Words of the Faith", and in the chapter on "The Trinity", I quote from Augustine, the 4^th century theologian: "If you deny the Trinity, you lose your soul; if you try to explain the Trinity, you shall lose your mind." 

If you have difficulties with this fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith, you may find that chapter to be useful, and even enlightening. Remember that all royalties from all of my books are sent directly to Release International, in support of the persecuted church.

However, although that chapter is quite comprehensive, it is not definitive. So, here is some more on the Trinity!

The anonymous writer (my personal opinion is that it was Barnabas!) of the great Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus, having written of the animal sacrifices of Judaism, continues: "... how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."(9:14).

Note the implicit reference to the Trinity in those words: "The blood of Christ . . . through the eternal Spirit offered . . . to God." There is also a beautiful Trinitarian implication in Ephesians 2: 17-18: "And He [the Lord Jesus] came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."

The promise of Christ to send the Holy Spirit is a high point of the Gospel of John. "... I will pray the Father," said the Lord Jesus, "and He will give you another Counselor," (Greek parakletos, meaning "one called alongside"), "to be with you for ever," (John 14:16). "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26). "But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, Who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness to Me;" (John 15:26).

 

It seems very clear from such Scriptures as these, that each of the three - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - is a distinct Persona. Yet that the three together are one God is also clear from the fact that they are identified, by Name, as One. Converts are to be baptised "... in the Name (note the singular: 'onoma' - one Name) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). Note also the benediction formula. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (which is all-sufficient), and the love of God (that never fails), and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (Who never forsakes), be with you all. Amen" (2 Corinthians 13:14). What we cannot fully understand in our minds of this wonderful triune Godhead, we can understand and believe with our hearts.

Born to Die

At the end of March, I attended a Celebration of the life of a brother in the Lord whose spirit is now with his Saviour. Such events are happening with increasing regularity as I draw, day by day, more closely to my own departure from this mortal life. Of course, there are many of us who, as we look around us and see more and more Biblical prophecies being fulfilled, are convinced that the Rapture* of the saints of God - i.e. all of those who are truly disciples of Jesus - could occur within the lifetime of even people of my advanced age!

Mind you, there is a sense in which the first thing that we do when we are born is to start to die! That is the destiny of each and all, until the Rapture. What is important is what we do with the life we are given. The testimonies to the life of my friend were positive and encouraging. I pray that even some of what was said about him may be able to be said about me when my time comes!

However, there is one death that was the most important in the history of humankind. Many of us remember it daily, but especially did we do so last month. It was the death of Jesus, the Christ, on a cross at Calvary. He, more than any of us, was born to die. 

He, Himself, identified many reasons why He had been born. Consider the following sampling of verses and references. First and foremost, the Christ came to redeem those who would believe: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). But under that umbrella of redemption come many other aspects.

 Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to accomplish His work." (John 4:34). God's will was paramount even in judgment (John 5:30) as well as resurrection. "For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40). It also governed His teaching (7:16-17). In everything, Christ sought to bring glory to His Father (7:18).

 

Many aspects of Christ's work are to be realized in this life, for He said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). His desire in it all was that we might have an eternal relationship with God. "That they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

 

But the primary goal was to bring to climax His redemptive strategy. He knew that none of the other aspects of His work had any effect without atonement for sin, which was only possible if a blood sacrifice was made for that sin. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). This was the reason He came to earth - to pay the penalty for your sin and for mine. And only through Him are we able to come to the Father, receive His forgiveness, and be assured of eternity in His glorious presence. 

*This is one of the "Great Words of the Faith" that is dealt with in my book of the same name - as promoted at the end of March. Please remember that I receive no financial, or other material, benefit from the sale of my books, as all royalties are sent, directly, to Release International, in support of the persecuted Church.

The Resurrection, and the Believer.

For a very long time - indeed, many centuries! - the traditional greeting by disciples of Jesus on this Resurrection Sunday has been: "The Lord is risen"; with the response: "He is risen indeed". This is, of course, the very core of the Christian faith. Paul, wrote to the Corinthian believers about the resurrection of the dead. They appear to have held the Greek idea of the immortality of the soul, but that found it difficult to accept that the body would rise again. So the apostle states that: "... if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." (I Cor.15:12-14).

The resurrection of the Christ is no less crucial to the Gospel than the death of the Christ. Indeed, if He did not rise from the dead, then those who believe in Him "... are of all men most to be pitied." (I Cor.15:19).

 

The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus assures us, first of all, of our justification. Speaking of Abraham's faith and the imputation of God's righteousness to him, Paul writes, "That is why his faith was “reckoned to him as righteousness” (Gal.3:6). But the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his [Abraham's] sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in Him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:22-25).

 

Secondly, Father God imparts to us the power to serve Him effectively through the resurrection, "... that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power in us who believe, according to the working of His great might which He accomplished in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and made Him sit at His right hand in the heavenly places," (Ephesians 1:18-20). As the passage continues, Paul declares that through the resurrection the Christ is now "... the head over all things to the church, which is His body ..." (vv. 22-23).

 

Then, in His resurrected and glorified state, the Lord Jesus continues His ministry to us. "Since then we have a great high priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, . . . Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14, 16).

 

Finally, Christ's resurrection assures us that those who belong to Him will also, one day, be resurrected, if we should die before He returns as "... He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. " (II Corinthians 4:14). 

If you wish to consider some of the evidence for the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus, you could do worse than listen to Lee Strobel (and check his own background!) at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgmbiDTww0k

Follow Me.

When I was a young boy, long before modern technology with mobile phones and other such gadgets, a popular game was named "Follow the leader". One person was chosen, and the rest of the group would follow. Then, whatever the leader did, however ridiculous, the rest of the group had to do the same. Depending on who the leader was, the ensuing activity could be interesting, boring, or downright dangerous!

In the Israel of Jesus' day it was not unusual for a man with a political cause or message to develop a following. For example, we read in Acts 5:36-37 : "For before these days Theudas arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered." It was even common for a Jew to follow a religious "master," calling him Rabbi and becoming his disciple. So it was not a unique situation when Jesus spoke to two fishermen brothers, Simon and Andrew: "And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him." (Matthew 4:19-20).

But what made the disciples leave the lives they knew and follow the Christ? Perhaps they hoped He would lead a successful rebellion against Rome, but He had done nothing to have led them to such a conclusion. Nor had He promised them a life of luxury and ease, but rather hardship and hard work in their new occupation as "fishers of men."

 

However, John the Baptist had prepared the way for the Lord. He had trained some of the men who would eventually become Jesus' disciples. "The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus." (John 1:35-37). it has even been suggested that training by John was a requirement for a potential replacement for Judas (see Acts 1:20-22).

 

Of course, even a credible witness from John was not their only reason to follow, for they had a great body of compelling evidence. For example, Luke records that, in Peter's case, the Lord Jesus had already gained local recognition. "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning Him went out through all the surrounding country. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all." (Luke 4:14-15). Jesus had been to Peter's house for dinner where his mother-in-law had been healed: "And He arose and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they besought Him for her. And He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose and served them." (Lk. 4:38-39). The Christ had used Peter's boat for teaching: "Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, He asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat." (5:3) and had miraculously directed them to an overwhelming catch of fish: "And when He had ceased speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and ... their nets were breaking," (5:4-6). In response, Peter and his partners "... left everything and followed Him." (5:11).

 

We have a much surer testimony and much more evidence. Should we not do likewise? 

Great Words of the Faith

The fifth Sunday of the month, so another book promotion!

As some are aware, "Great Words of the Faith" was my first venture into the world of self-publishing. Like its successors, it started its life as a spoken word - in this case, as a series of about eight words, preached before the congregation of St.Andrew's Parish Church (now St.Andrew's United Free Church), in Bellshill, Lanarkshire.

Many years later, I used some of those messages as the basis for a series of broadcasts on Revival Radio, a Christian radio station that is, sadly, no longer. That was when an established author, already known to me, suggested that the series would make a good book! A few years later, I used the series, suitably upgraded, in Calderhead:Erskine Parish Church in Shotts, Lanarkshire, and its linked congregation in nearby Allanton. The young Session Clerk also suggested that the series would make a useful book.

With two people, who had no knowledge of even one another's existence, having said the same thing, I started on the manuscript - with the original eight, or so, words increased to twenty-four. The central word is "Love" and it was given two chapters, making a total of twenty-five chapters.

As with all of my books and, indeed, both of my blogs, I receive no financial benefit from sales (or 'clicks'). Indeed, I don't even see the royalties from book sales, as they are sent, directly, to Release International, in support of the persecuted church. So, purchasing one, or more, of my books is not only helpful to your understanding of the Christian Faith, but it is helping those who suffer - many in ways that are beyond the comprehension of those of us who live in the still relative safety of "the west" - for that same faith.

All of my books are designed to be read without the need of a dictionary beside you, and are written in an almost conversational tone!

As with the others, this book is available both as a paperback and a Kindle e-book. Links are avalable at the top of the page. Why not purchase a Kindle version for yourself, and a paperback to give as a gift to a friend!

In the Spirit.

The recent storms that hit Scotland certainly left their mark. We had three different sections of a strong wooden fence blown down. They have been temporarily dealt with, but it may be some time before I am able to fully repair the damage.

Now why am I telling you all of that? Simply because, although I know that it was the strength and power of the wind that was responsible, I did not, and could not, actually see the wind! I could only see its effect! I was reminded of words of the Lord Jesus: "The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

 

We cannot see or hear God the Holy Spirit, but He is very real and is, in fact, the very life of each true Christian. The Christ, in His resurrection body, is seated at the right hand of the Father in Glory, but the Holy Spirit has His temple in our very bodies.

 

From the moment we receive Jesus the Christ as Saviour and Lord, we live in the Spirit; He is always with us, to guide our steps, to bear witness with our spirits that we belong to God, to illumine our understanding, and, when needed, to convict and chasten when we get out of His will.

 

Therefore, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25). When we yield to some worldly temptation, it is because we have ignored this admonition: "... walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16). The very presence of the Holy Spirit assures us of our eternal salvation, so how can we ignore His holy constraints on our behavior? "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30). We speak of worshiping God in church, or home, or elsewhere, but if we really worship Him, we must "worship God in the Spirit" (Philippians 3:3), for we have access to the Father, and the Son, only through the Spirit.

 

Paul exhorts that when we pray, we must "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." (Ephesians 6:18). He also reminds us that: "... you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.  . . . . For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:9, 14). 

For many years, God the Holy Spirit was the "forgotten" Persona (not a typo - see the chapter on "The Trinity" in my book "Great Words of the Faith") of the Trinity. Then, with the rise in Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement, He seemed to have become the focal point. Neither of these positions, I would contend, is Biblical. Perhaps the words of the Nicene Creed help: "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who has spoken through the prophets." (emphasis added).

Let us neither ignore, nor forget, God the Holy Spirit. Let us always remember that He is God, and that He is a Person - not some kind of "force" (although, like the wind, He can be very forceful!). If we are disciples of Jesus, let us be grateful for His working in our lives, making us more like the Master, day by day. 

A Time to Die

As an octogenarian, I find myself thinking more about the topic of death than I did when I was, e.g. in my twenties! The current political situation in the UK is also keeping that topic at the forefront of my thinking - with the Leadbeater Bill in Westminster, and the McArthur Bill at Holyrood, each of which is an attempt to introduce so-called assisted dying/suicide to the British population. 

I also find myself thinking of those well-known words from the book of Ecclesiastes: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;" (3:1-2).

 

In the first eight verses of Ecclesiastes 3 there is a remarkable listing of no less than 28 "times" arranged in 14 pairs of opposites. Every timed event is planned by God and has a "purpose" (v. 1), and everything is "beautiful" in God's time for it. (v. 11).

 

Although it is beyond our finite comprehension, it is still bound to be true that the infinite, omnipotent God "accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will," (Ephesians 1:11). Even when, in our time, we may not understand how a particular event can be purposeful or beautiful, we can have faith that if it occurs in God's time for it, it is. As Paul wrote to the early church in the great metropolis of Rome: "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).

 

The time of our birth is, of course, not under our control, but we may actually have a part in determining the occurrence of all the other thirteen "times," even the time of death. With the exception of those still living at the time of Christ's return, each of us will eventually die. God has appointed a time for each individual, but it is wrong for any of us to shorten that time by suicide (even if "assisted", and "legal"), or careless living, which can never be part of His will for any of us.

 

We should be able to say with David: "My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:15), and seek to live in ways pleasing to Him as long as He allows us to live. We should pray that, when our time is finished, He will enable us to die in a manner that will be "beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

 

Not one of us knows when that ordained "time to die" may be for us, so we must seek daily to "Conduct[ing y]ourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time." (Colossians 4:5).

During the online interview that I gave last year on "Death - a Christian perspective" (may be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPEfzYiPfcI&t=124s - please click on the "Like" icon!), I mentioned a booklet by a minister friend, long since gone to be with the Lord, entitled "Death with a steady eye". The basic premise of the booklet was that the disciple of Jesus, when faced with physical death, does not fear it. We do not necessarily embrace it, but we are ready to accept it. Why? Because we serve the One Who has defeated death and, as He was raised from the tomb, so those who have placed their trust will also rise to eternity in His gracious presence.

Paul writes: "... we speak, knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence." (II Cor.4:13-14).

That is the great hope, and assurance, of the disciple of Jesus. Hallelujah!

Always accepted.

I have access to an online Bible programme that provides me with more than sixty English language versions/translations of the Bible! That is not counting I don't know how many versions in other languages - I am usually concerned only with the four French translations!

Normally, in this blog, I use the RSV - the version to which I was introduced when I was accepted as a student at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow, 'way back in 1966! However, I sometimes check out a different version. In preparing this post, I wanted to look at some well-known words of the Lord Jesus - "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will not cast out."  (John 6:37) However, I found the the wording used in the NCV (New Century Version, 2005) to be more relevant! In that version, the verse reads: "The Father gives Me the people who are Mine. Every one of them will come to Me, and I will always accept them."

In this verse and the verses to follow, we find the Christ using a marvellous teaching technique. Several times He makes a general, generic, statement, but He then quickly advances from the general and impersonal, to the particular and personal.

Note that at the first, Christ tells of an abstract gift to Him from the Father of an entire group, ("the people") that would come to Him for salvation. This is in itself a wonderful truth, for the Lord Jesus highly values this gift from His Father: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." (10:28-29). The entire group "will come" to Him - those chosen "in Him before the foundation of the world," (Eph.1:4).

 

But - returning to the RSV! -  the Saviour switches in mid-sentence from general to specific: "him who comes to Me I will not cast out" a concrete statement of the effect of this work on an individual. We are part of a group, without doubt, but also each one of us, individually, is His precious child.

 

The passage continues in the same vein. "And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day." (6:39). Again, the impersonal passes into the personal, "For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." (v. 40).

 

From the mass of created mankind, many have come to Christ for salvation. But each one who has believed and been granted everlasting life has great individual worth in the eyes of the Savior. "The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. . . . . I am the good shepherd; I know My own and My own know Me, " (10:11, 14).

Remember then, that while God loves all of His human creatures, His love is totally focused on each individual. How can He achieve that? Because He is God! He is focused on you, and longs to have you respond to His love, with the love of your own heart. As I have shared, many times, before, that involves a recognition, and confession, of your sins (all that offends Almighty God) and your sinfulness (your propensity to sin); an acceptance that you will never be able to gain salvation by any other means; and a commitment to follow the Lord Jesus for the rest of your mortal life.

The "whosoever"/"whoever" in John 3:16 is singular - Jesus died for you!

The Christian's Prosperity

One of the phenomena of the 20th century church, that continues today, is what is referred to as "the prosperity gospel". The basic premise is that if we give more to God (through the particular "ministry"!), then He will "reward" us abundantly. Of course, that is not an offering from a grateful heart, but an investment! Father God is not in that business!

However, the disciple of Jesus does know prosperity, even if not always of a financial nature! Paul writes to the Ephesian believers: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," (1:3; emphasis added).

Yes, our blessings are spiritual rather than material - and spiritual blessings last! Of course, given our high position in the Christ, it follows that the Father would provide whatever is necessary to accomplish His purposes in and for us.  

The "Beatitudes" of Matthew 5:3-12 (please read!) provide a good illustration. Each "blessing" is designed to meet a need or fulfil a desire of God's "chosen" (Eph.1:4). The poor, meek, and persecuted are given ownership in the kingdom. The mournful are given God's special comfort. Those who hunger for righteousness are filled. The merciful will obtain mercy, the pure in heart will see God, and the peacemakers are identified as God's children. The longings of our souls and characters are all met by God.

 

The practical needs of "knowledge and discretion." are met, too (Eph.1:8). Wisdom is knowledge focused toward useful application, and prudence is the ability to develop successful activities based on wisdom. The Word of God is the source of wisdom (Deut.4:1-6; Prov.1:1-6) and is inspired of God to be "... profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (II Tim.3:16-17).

 

Furthermore, "He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will," (Eph.1:9). "kept secret" in the days of the Old Testament prophets (see Rom.16:25-26), it is now made clear to us so that "through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. " (Eph.3:10). These spiritual resources are available for every believer "for the common good." (I Cor.12:7). Let us pray that we do not waste these resources like the "wicked and slothful" servant in the parables of the talents and the pounds (Matt.25:26; Luke 19:22).

Joy is better than happiness.

When I was young, there was a popular chorus for children to sing that went: « If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it, If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. »

However, apart from Lamentations 3:17, I am unaware of any reference to “happiness” in the written Word of God (at least in my RSV!). However, there are some 200 references to “joy” - which is a different concept. You see, “happiness” is dependant upon circumstances; “joy” is beyond circumstances.

Jeremiah is not usually thought of as a "joyful" prophet, yet he states: "Thy words were found, and I ate them, and Thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by Thy name, O YHWH, Elohim sabaoth." (Jeremiah 15:16)

People today seem always to be looking for fun or entertainment. “Fun”, of course, is never mentioned in the Bible, so it is evidently not considered to be a very significant part of the Christian life. The word “entertain” is used to speak of hospitality, and such activities as “play” and “revelling” only receive condemnation. (Playing is appropriate for children and animals, of course.)

Christians, however, have something far better than worldly fun - they have heavenly joy! This is the unique privilege of the redeemed, and there are many channels through which this joy can be experienced.

First of all, Christian joy comes through the Word. As even Jeremiah said, “Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” . Then we rejoice in God’s great salvation: “I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh; My soul will rejoice in my God, For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,” (Isaiah 61:10; LSB).

There is great joy also in the privilege of prayer and having our prayers answered: “Hitherto you have asked nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24). Christian service and witnessing are a source of tremendous joy when their fruits are finally seen. “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6; LSB).

And there is much, much more! Paul, writing from a Roman prison - no holiday camp! - can encourage the disciples of Jesus in Philippi to: “Rejoice in the Lord always:” and, just in case they thought that he had made an error (or completely lost his mind!), he repeats: “and again I say, Rejoice! ” (Philippians 4:4). 

After all, he might have added, we have a personal knowledge of the very Creator of all that is good and, as Peter points out: “Without having seen Him you love Him; though you do not now see Him you believe in Him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.” (1 Peter 1:8). 

Do you know Him? If not, this may well be, for you, the moment to humbly approach Him, claiming the salvation that He has provided, freely, through the atoning sacrifice of the Son. If I may be of any help, please feel free to contact me, using the e-mail address at the top of the blog.

New Year anchors.

During my years in the teaching profession, I taught a unit on “Rites of Passage” – birth, coming of age, marriage, and death.  In it I would make the point that life is often likened to a voyage; that we often refer to “life’s stormy seas”; people being “stranded” and “shipwrecked”; to “finding a safe haven”.  All nautical allusions of one kind or another.

Having also spent a couple of years in the British Merchant Navy, I know that a good seafarer doesn’t set sail without checking that all of the necessary equipment is on board, and in good condition.  As we set out on new stage of journey of life – a new year – it may be helpful to take stock of a very necessary item: the anchor.

In the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles, Dr Luke records a storm at sea in which the sailors “... fearing that we might run on the rocks, … let out four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.” (Acts 27:29).  I’d like to suggest four anchors that you and I will find most useful on journey of life.

The first of these is hope. As long as we have hope, sunk deep down in our inmost being, then life cannot ever destroy us.  It may, and often will, hurt us – but it cannot break us.  As long as hope holds out, we can weather the roughest storm.   We often here the old adage that “Where there’s life, there’s hope”.  I would argue that it is also true that where there’s hope, there’s life!

The second anchor to take with us into a New Year, is duty. Sometimes we are inclined to rebel against the circumstances that nail us to our daily duty.  Yet duty is a sheet anchor.  There is, as some of us have already learned, nothing like it to make men and women out of us. We may chafe under it; we may sigh for leisure; it may sometimes feel as if it is as much a cross as an anchor.  But we may gain much under the ruggedness and heaviness of a cross!

The third anchor that I would suggest is, not unsurprisingly, prayer!  It is sad, but true, that there are vast numbers of people who seldom, if ever, pray, except in an emergency.  But how can God possibly be real to such people?   It’s only as we talk, and listen, and share that we get to know anyone in any real and meaningful way!

The last anchor is love. Not, of course, any kind of soppy, or sentimental display of emotion.  But that deep love that has been defined as “the minimum of emotion; and the maximum of evaluation”.  To whom should that love be directed? Well, as you would expect, I would claim that love for God should be paramount. And we should love one another. And, surprise, surprise, we should love even those who hate us. Against such love, there is no weapon formed by man, that can have any effect.

May none of us find, when the storms of life are raging, that our anchors have grown rusty with neglect; or, worse, that we are at sea with no anchors aboard.

May you seek, and know, the blessing of Almighty God throughout 2025.