Death - the final frontier!

As I have mentioned before, I am an avid reader, and enjoy reading not only my Bible, and various theological books, but also a good novel. I especially enjoy a good detective story - trying to figure out  the identity of the perpetrator of the crime involved (usually a murder!). Often, I fail miserably, and it is only in the final chapter that the criminal is exposed! Some of the novels I have read have been real 'cliffhangers', and it has been almost the last page before I discover "whodunnit"!! However, there is one cliffhanger that none of us will ever resolve until we experience it for ourselves - what happens after physical death?

Anyone who has watched, in sadness, as someone close to them has died may wonder about their new existence (if they believe that there is "anything" after physical death, in the first place!). Our hearts may ache to know what they are doing, or where they are. Some appear to have the idea that the after-life is just a continuation of this one. How often have I read, on the pages of Facebook, "birthday anniversary" wishes being sent to someone who died, perhaps many years ago? I even read one 'tribute' (and I have no doubt that that was what was intended) to a mother who had died. I can't recall the exact wording, but the wish was expressed that, now that she and the father who had died many years previously, were able to celebrate their wedding anniversary together, the father would be treating the mother to a nice meal in an Italian restaurant "up there"!

That, I would respectfully suggest, is simply wishful thinking. The Bible clearly teaches that if a person had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Christ, then that person's spirit is with Him, awaiting that call, and sound of the shofar, to which I referred in the previous post. Awaiting the resurrection if the body as it is instantly transformed into the new body that will be theirs throughout eternity. 

So we do have some clues regarding those who have died, in Jesus. We know that they are enjoying God's presence. Paul, inspired by God the Holy Spirit, writes these words to the early disciples of Jesus in Corinth: "We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (II Cor 5:8; emphasis added).  We also know that they are recognisable, and conscious of their surroundings - just like the rich man and Lazarus the beggar, of whom the Lord Jesus spoke (Luke 16:19-31). We also know that they haven't yet received that perfect body that will be theirs at the Rapture, as stated above.    

There is more that we may know - but that refers to after the Rapture; the seven years of the Tribulation; and the Second Advent when the Lord Jesus will vanquish His enemies. That is yet another topic for another post!  The only other truth that I would share just now is that Father God, in His matchless love and power, has a glorious reunion planned. Then, our eternal rejoicing will truly begin. The last page of the mystery has a very happy ending - if you are in Jesus! If not ... !!!

This is why I so often end a post by urging you to, if you have not already done so, turn to the Lord Jesus, confessing your sinfulness, and your sins; accepting the forgiveness that He gained for you at Calvary; and handing over the reins of your life to Him. It's something I did more than 60 years ago and, although I have let Him down more often than I care to remember, He has never let me down. He won't let you down, either!

Leaving Facebook

The following is the post that I published on Facebook when my 30-day ban ended. It is published here so that I have a permanent record of it!! 

Well, it looks as if I am back, and able to make use of all of the Facebook facilities!

May I, first of all, say a big "THANK YOU" to all of those who congratulated my wife and I on our Golden Wedding Anniversary. All of the good wishes were very much appreciated. I did publish a special post on my blog (https://crazyrev.blogspot.com/ 😇) which some might wish to read! You will also find, on the blog, a post explaining why I was, again, banned!

Secondly, I apologise to all who have posted about anniversaries, births, other special occasions, with no reaction/response from me. It was not personal!! :-)

The third thing that I wish to say is that I am now leaving Facebook. I suspect that, once a person has been banned, that person is "targetted" and, with a 30-day ban each time, I can't be bothered with the hassle. I am also unhappy with the "new" Facebook, and the fact that I am not permitted to continue with the "Classic" version. So, this seems to be a good time to part company.

However !!! It appears that I may do this in two stages - deactivation, and then deletion. My plan, therefore, is to "deactivate" until September 29th. This will allow me to continue to use the Messenger facility. Then, on Sept 30th, DV, I shall delete the account altogether.

Anyone who wishes to keep in touch may do so in either of two ways. You may use messenger, over the next two weeks, to provide me with an e-mail address. I shall respond to that and so provide you with my own e-mail address. Alternatively, at any time, you may access my blog and use the e-mail address proved there. It is not my primary e-mail address, so you may not receive an immediate response - but I do check it out every so often!

Once I have your own e-mail address, I shall also add you to the list of folk who receive our annual newsletter. If, having received your first one, you decide that you have no desire to receive further newsletters, just send me an e-mail with "Please cancel" in the subject line.

Okay! For two weeks, I shall endeavour to not upset the Facebook police. (No promises, of course!). 

Spare the rod; spoil the child!

Being able to share the "offending" comment that resulted in my current ban on Facebook (although I am seriously considering leaving that platform because of the, imo, unnecessary changes that are being forced upon us!) has raised an unexpected issue! A private message from someone who had read the comment, stated that it was "unBiblical" to "wish harm on others"!

In my defence, I would point out (as I have done two posts ago) that my "offensive" "hate speech" comment was nothing of the sort. Here it is again: "Why does the IDF [the Israeli Defence Force] not shoot at the balloons before they cross into Israel proper? That way, they would fall on the perps [i.e. perpetrators] - and maybe cause them a few well-deserved burns!"

Now, as stated before, please note that I did not suggest that anyone be killed, or even badly injured. I did not suggest that the IDF shoot at the terrorists - merely the balloons. I did not seek to incite others to take any action whatsoever. I did not even suggest that the perps be burned! That word "maybe", that I have highlighted, is very important. I wasn't even wishing that such a thing would happen - but suggesting that, if it did, it would be deserved!

I wonder if the person who accused me of being unBiblical is a parent. I wonder if that person is aware of what God's Word says in Proverbs 13:24 - "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." This is not suggesting that a parent should physically abuse his/her children. It is advocating firm discipline. But that may be, temporarily, physically painful! I know that it was for me as a child; and I know that it was for my own children. Of course, it was only done when deserved!

Or what about the Lord Jesus, Himself? John records "The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, He drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And He told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make My Father's house a house of trade." (John 2:13-16). He made "... a whip of cords,". Now, if that whip had been used only on the animals, that might be excused. But look again at the words - "He drove them all, with the sheep and oxen,". Who, do you think, is included in "them all"? May I suggest that it refers to the sellers - human beings. Yet the incarnate God, the Son inflicted such physical punishment upon them! Did He not think that they deserved their punishment? Perhaps my critic would wish also to criticise Him?! Somehow, I think not!

So what is the basic message of this post? I am trying to say that we should be careful before we criticise. We need to be certain that our criticism does not, itself, go against the teaching of the Word. None of us is infallible. We make mistakes. We get it wrong. We criticise where no criticism is warranted. This may be okay for the 'moderators' of Facebook (at least one of whom, it was recently announced, is a 'hardline Muslim!), but not, I would contend, for those of us who bear the Name of the Lord Jesus, the Christ. 

All of that aside, may I encourage you to make this page one of your "favourites" so that, if I do decide to leave Facebook, you may still keep up with the messages that I publish here, and that I always endeavour to make faithful to the Word.

Blessings, and shalom. 

Free Speech - but not on Facebook!

Well, as a number of people already know, I have been yet again, banned by Facebook - another 30 days! At least, this time, I have been informed as to the offending comment that led to this sentence that is without appeal! Apparently, my comment on a post that gave information about Hamas terrorists sending incendiary balloons across to Israel where they land, and set fields and crops on fire, was the culprit. I merely asked "Why does the IDF [the Israel Defence Force] not shoot at the balloons before they cross over into Israel?" I then continued: "That way, they would fall on the perp[etrator]s - and maybe cause some of them a few well-deserved burns." That, according to Facebook, constitutes "Hate Speech"! Please note that I did not suggest that anyone be killed, or even badly injured. I did not suggest that the IDF shoot at the terrorists - merely the balloons. I did not seek to incite others to take any action whatsoever. But my comment is "Hate Speech"!

Of course, there must be limits on "Free Speech". For example, anyone who is inciting violence against another should, in my opinion, be dealt with by the legal system. However, as a disciple of Jesus, I cannot expect that others will necessarily be sensitive to what I believe. I have certainly been called a few choice names because of my personal faith and witness. Should those who spoke to me in such terms have been arrested and charged? Of course not! I have even had false accusations about me published on Facebook. I "unfriended" the persons responsible - end of story!

It is possible that I shall be able, through the good services of others, to have this post published on Facebook. However, be aware that there are those who will see what you may consider to be a fairly innocuous comment, in a totally different way. I did read, not too long ago, that the group that apparently 'monitor' comments now have an 'extremist' follower of Islam as a member. That might explain my own bans!

I shall continue, DV, to publish on the blog, so do please check from time-to-time. 😇😇

The ultimate Friend

One of the better-known verses in the Book of Proverbs reads: "There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Prov 18:24). 

We all need a friend - someone to whom we may turn; with whom we may talk; and to whom, at  times, we may even physically cling.  This is something that many are realising, more than usual, as we are unable to meet with friends who are, normally, a very important part of our lives. Sometimes friends are family members. Sometimes they are co-workers. Sometimes they are near neighbours. Sometimes they are former school-mates. Sometimes, they are "Facebook Friends"!

But not everyone has a friend - not even a "Facebook Friend"! Many people go through life with the sinking feeling that there is no-one who really cares for, or about, them in a special way. That can be a lonely, even haunting, feeling.

To anyone in that situation - and, indeed, to anyone at all! - permit me to suggest the Ultimate Friend! He is, of course, the Lord Jesus, the Christ. He is the One Who, far more than any human acquaintance, can meet our deepest companionship needs. He is the One Who has promised His friends: "... I am with you always ..." (Matt 28:20). He is One Who will never "unfriend" you. 

And there is so much more! When we consider all that God does for us - and the Lord Jesus is, of course, God! - it's actually quite obvious that He is our greatest Friend! In Psalm 145, David assures us that: "The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down." (v.14). He goes on to state that: "The eyes of all look to Thee, and Thou givest them their food in due season." (v.15).

My late paternal grandmother was a woman of very little formal education - but she was endowed with loads of homespun philosophy, and common sense! One of her frequent comments was: "Show me your friends,and I'll tell you your character"! With Almighty God as your Friend, you have nothing to fear on that score! David goes on to say: "The Lord is just in all His ways, and kind in all His doings." (v.17).  He is "... near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." (v.18). "He fulfils the desire of all who fear Him, He also hears their cry, and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love Him;" (vs.19-20).

Ever-present; upholding; providing; just and kind; responsive; preserver.

What a Friend! He is, indeed, the Ultimate Friend. He is our Certainty in uncertain times. Depend on Him.

The end of a season?!

It would have been good to have reached a nice round number like 1500! However, at what will be post #1433, I have decided to bring my blogging season to a close. :-(

The reason for this is the falling number of people who are accessing the blog. It may not always have appeared to be the case, but I have put a fair bit of effort into most of the posts that I have published (occasionally, one just couldn't wait to be typed up!). However, it may be better if I just publish the occasional 'blog-like' status on my Facebook page. Possibly, there will be more people who will access it, and read it - and even act upon it!

There are, indeed, seasons in our lives. I know, because I have been through a number of them in my own experience. It may be, simply, that my blogging season has ended and, if that is the case, then it would be somewhat pointless to continue. 

My Facebook status comments may be viewed by all (I think!), so those who have been faithful in their support ought not to lose out. It may even be that, at some point in the future, I will be led to post on my blog again. Meanwhile, the blog should remain available and, using the "Search Engine" at the top left-hand corner, you may be able to find a post (or more than one!) on any topic in which you have a special interest.

There is much that is wrong with our world. today. We may react to that with total despair! That would certainly be understandable. However, there is an alternative reaction. It is the reaction of those who are convinced that there is One Who is in control; One Who knows the beginning from the end; One Who is working out His own divine purposes, day by day. Those of us who claim to belong to Him, the Almighty Creator of all that exists, may know His security in every situation and circumstance.

I have just completed reading, and studying, the little letter from Jude - one of the half-brothers of the Lord Jesus - in my personal devotions. Written to believers who were facing situations that most of us cannot comprehend (but those in what we refer to as "the persecuted church" comprehend only too well!), he encouraged them with these words from the beginning, and the end, of his brief letter:

"To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." (Jude 1-2).

"Now to Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of His glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever." (Jude 24-25).

I commend Him to you - and you to Him. 

Can we be counted upon?!

In a moment of madness, I accepted a challenge, on Facebook, from a very dear young friend. I only wish that the response to that challenge (as, having failed, I had to pass it on!) could be replicated with my blog!!

Anyway, as we move through the amazing library of books that is named The Bible, we come to the book of Numbers. Maths just happened to be my best subject during my secondary education - but one doesn't need to be a mathematician to learn from this book. 

Here is the next video.

I wonder if anyone is noticing the lessons here?! How like those Israelites of old is the church - the body of the Christ - today! Indeed, as one who is intensely interested in, and supportive of, the modern descendants of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, I see the modern State of Israel behaving in the same way through its secular government that looks to alliances with other nations, rather than to the God of their ancestors! more to come in the next post.

It's not about money!

Some weeks ago, during a Facebook "discussion" with a female former pupil, I suggested that she check out some material that I had already published on this blog. Her response surprised me! She informed me that she was not going to access my blog and make me money!

It had been my understanding that money-making blogs ran advertisements in order to accrue an income. Perhaps she thought that I did that! However, this blog was never intended to be any kind of cash cow. It is, for me, a ministry blog, that enables me to share the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, with a wider audience than I might otherwise be able to do. I know that I also publish posts on a variety of other topics, but never with an eye to making money!

However, it may be that there is some way by which I could be making money out the blog, as it stands. If that is the case, it may have hindered some folk from sharing the link so that as many people as possible view it. Permit me to reiterate: I do not make a penny from this blog! However, I would love for it to be more widely read and so, I ask as I have asked before that, if you believe that the content is worthy, you share the link with others. I believe that, the higher the number of people who access it, the higher it climbs on some Google list. That means that if anyone does a search on any of the 'key words' (labels) that are published, Google is more likely to direct them to my blog.

As I am on the subject, I would add that although when I published my first two books, I made clear on the front cover that 30% of the profits from sales would be used to support the persecuted church. That has now changed. The covers now read "ALL royalties go to support the persecuted church". This is true for the third book that is in the process of being published.

So, please spread the word about the blog, and about the books. You will not be doing anything specifically for me - but you will be helping, in some small way, those who suffer - many in ways that are beyond the comprehension of most of us - for the privilege of being disciples of Jesus.

Your King needs you!

Among my Facebook contacts are more than 300 of my former pupils - always at their request! I have requests from about another hundred, but either do not recall them at all - or recall them only too well!! A few days ago, one of them posted this picture on his Facebook page:

I freely confess that I have absolutely no idea as to what the picture refers. However, the wording caught my eye,as did the lion's head. I thought of Aslan - C.S.Lewis' feline figure that represents the Lord Jesus, the Lion of Judah, in "The Narnia Chronicles". 

I recall, many years ago, what I think about as "the sticker period". Self-adhesive stickers were very popular, and advertised all kinds of products, pop stars, and belief systems. One popular one among disciples of Jesus stated clearly "You need Christ"! That is still true today. Each one of us, whether or not we are aware of the fact; whether, or not, we accept the fact; whether, or not, we have the slightest interest in Jesus of Nazareth, or even believe in the existence of a Supreme and Supernatural Being to Whom, in the English language, we ascribe the nomenclature "God" - each one of us is a sinner, who needs a Saviour!

However, the obverse is also true - that the Lord Jesus needs us! The old poem sums it up beautifully:

Christ has no hands but our hands, to do His work today,
He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way.
He has no tongue but  our tongue to tell men how He died,
He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible, the careless world will read,
We are  the sinners' gospel, we are the scoffers' creed.
We are the Lord's last message, given in deed and word,
What if the type is crooked, what if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy, with other work than  His,
What if our feet are walking, where sin's allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking, of things His lips would  spurn,
How can we hope to help Him, and hasten His return?   (Annie Flint (1862-1932)

It's an amazing thought, is it not? The One "... for Whom and by Whom all things exist, ..." (Heb.2:10), needs you and me, to do His work in the world today! Your King needs you!

One other thing I noticed about the picture. The figure at the front appears to be some form of robot/android - but with a face resembling that of the lion. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you are no robot. He desires that you serve Him freely, and willingly, in love - not by coercion! However, you should be displaying Him before others - they should see His likeness in you!

Have you entered, freely, into His service? Are you truly one of His soldiers? Can He depend on you to be His hands; His feet; His tongue; His help? The precise manner in which you serve will be different from the manner in which I serve - for "... there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one." (I Cor.12:5-6). But all who are willing will be given a task - and the means by which to fulfil it - and, on that day when you stand before His Judgement Seat, you will hear those wonderful words: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matt.25:21).

St Valentin

First point - the spelling is correct! "Valentine" (with an 'e') is the feminine form of the name!

However, it was earlier, on Facebook, that a friend had posted a picture - a likeness (one presumes) of Valentin with, above it, the familiar words: "Roses are red; violets are blue;" Then underneath were the words: "I was beaten with clubs; beheaded; buried under cover of darkness; and disinterred by my followers. And you commemorate my martyrdom by sending each other chocolates!" (slightly amended!).

It's an interesting point, is it not?! Those familiar words at the top usually continue: "sugar is sweet; and so are you!". They are intended to be an expression of love - but it's a love that is more "Mills & Boon" than anything else! Valentin, however, had discovered a deeper love that led to his martyrdom. It's the love of which the Paul writes to the disciples of Jesus in Corinth - a city that was known, contemporaneously, as the centre of immorality. The late Prof. William Barclay writes: "She had a reputation for commercial prosperity, but she was also a byword for evil living. The very word korinthiazesthai - to live like a Corinthian - had become a part of the Greek language, and meant to live with drunken and immoral debauchery. ... Aelien, the late Greek writer, tells us that if ever a Corinthian was shown on the stage in a Greek play, he was shown drunk. The very name Corinth was synonymous with debauchery and there was one source of evil that was known all over the civilised world. Above the isthmus towered the hill of the Acropolis and, on it, stood the great temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. To that temple there were attached one thousand priestesses who were sacred prostitutes and, in the evenings, they descended from the Acropolis and plied their trade upon the streets of Corinth until it became a Greek proverb, 'It is not every man who can afford a journey to Corinth.' In addition to these cruder sins, there flourished far more recondite vices, which had come in with the traders and sailors from the ends of the earth until Corinth became not only a synonym for wealth and luxury, drunkenness and debauchery, but also for filth."

It was to people living in that kind of environment that Paul wrote: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (I Cor.13).

This is the love that is based on the love of the God Who is love (I John 4:8,16). This is the love that is so great, that as we shall shortly be remembering in a special way, it paid the penalty for your sin, and for mine, on a cross outside Jerusalem. 

Sadly, much of what modern society terms love is little (if any!) more than lust. Real love is commitment! It was his commitment to the Lord Jesus that led Valentin to his death. It is that same commitment to that same Jesus that enables so many, even today, to die rather than deny Him. I don't need to remind you of those Coptic Christians who were so callously murdered and beheaded on a Libyan beach, by thugs who were serving the moon-god cult of Islam; of those who were burned alive in cages, for the same reason; of women and girls gang-raped to satisfy the lust of the Muslim men who had captured them.

So, as we come to the end of Valentin's Day 2018, please consider the kind of love that you show to others - and remember the love that Father God shows to you, and to which you may respond while you have time. As always, if I can be of any further help at a personal level, please contact me using the e-mail address at the top of the page. I don't check that Inbox every day - but I shall get back to you as quickly as possible.

Colour blindness

I must confess that, until last evening, I thought that "colour blindness" involved no more than an inability to distinguish between certain colours; and I had never even heard of "Enchroma" spectacles.

However, a video clip on Facebook has set me right. Here is the YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/hqHlIRZnF38

I hope that you found that to be as informative - and as moving - as I did! It certainly set my mind off in a particular direction. I recall, away back in the 1970s when I was the minister to St.Andrew's Parish Church in Bellshill, inviting the Rev Dr Leonard Small, who had been the Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh when I was ordained to "the holy ministry of Word and Sacrament", to preach at the first anniversary of my induction to St.Andrew's. When he spoke to the children, Dr Small used the example of colour television, as against the monochrome television that most people still had, to illustrate the difference that becoming a disciple of Jesus makes in the life of an individual - regardless of age.

Life without Jesus is, in fact, colourless. It is bland and, in reality, uninteresting. Now, of course, if one has known nothing else, one is excited by monochrome television, and cannot conceive of anything better - until one sits in front of a colour television screen! William Reed probably did know that he was 'missing out'. He undoubtedly, during his 66 years of life up to the day of the video, heard others speak about these 'strange' concepts of red, and blue; green and yellow; brown and pink; etc. But he could only experience black and white (and. possibly, shades of grey).

Jesus said: "I have come that they (i.e. you and me) might have life in all its fulness". (John 10:10; emphasis added). What He was saying is that, without His input, we merely exist; we do not know what true living is all about. It is NOT about parties, and drugs, and sex, and fast cars, and the latest in computerised technology, and making as much money as possible as easily as possible. Oh, that's how a lot of people see it - but they are living monochrome lives! If you watched the video, you will know that William Reed was gifted a special pair of spectacles - Enchroma spectacles - that, somehow, enable him to now see all of the colours that were hitherto hidden from his sight. That's a bit like responding positively to the message of the Gospel that is summed up in the words of John 3:16: "God loved the world (that's you and me, again!) so much that, in the Persona (not a typo - see my book "Great Words of the Faith", the chapter on the Trinity) of the Son - Jesus - He gave Himself on the cross at Calvary, paying the penalty for your sin, and for mine, and enabling us to know, here and now, His own eternal life." (my paraphrase!).

Many years ago, one of the songs that I sung when on a deputation, had these words:

"Heaven above is softer blue,
earth around is richer green;
something lives in every hue,
Christless eyes have never seen:
songs of birds in sweetness grow,
flowers with deeper beauties shine,
since I know, as now I know,
I am His and He is mine."

It's like receiving a pair of spiritual Enchroma spectacles - and life is never the same.

I am delighted for William Reed. I would be even more delighted to know that he has accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and Lord. I would be delighted to learn that you had done so as well - if you have not already made that decision. As always, if I can be of any assistance, please contact me using the e-mail address at the top of the blog. I don't access that Inbox on a daily basis but, as soon as I access your e-mail, I will respond. Blessings, and shalom.

A Father's love.

My younger daughter has posted, on Facebook, that it is three years since she was diagnosed with cancer. Obviously, my wife and I, and the whole family, are delighted and grateful that she is here to post about that day, that we recall as if it were, indeed, just yesterday!

We sought to support her throughout her treatment, and are grateful that she had noticed the cancer early, and that she received treatment very quickly. As we sat with her during her chemotherapy sessions - which were the most difficult times - I wished that someone would come into the room and say, "Mr Ross, a new treatment has just been discovered. It involves you taking this chemotherapy on behalf of your daughter, with all of its unpleasant side-effects, but your daughter will then be totally free of cancer, for life."  I have absolutely no doubt at all as to my reaction. I would have taken my daughter's place on that hospital bed as quickly as was humanly possible!

Why would I have done such a thing? Why would I have voluntarily experienced all that she was obliged to experience? Simply because of my love for my own child! I am certain, too, that I would not be unique in that. Surely any loving parent would do the same for their offspring!

As I thought about that, earlier this evening, I realised that it is, in a sense, a picture of the love that Father God has for each one of us. We suffer from the most virulent "cancer" of all - cancer of the soul, that the Bible refers to, quite simply, as "sin". There is no cure that mankind has ever discovered, or ever will discover. However, a cure is available. It's a cure that involved Another taking your place and mine - not on a hospital bed, but on a wooden cross, on a hill named Calvary, just outside the old city of Jerusalem. He took our place; He paid the penalty for our sin; He died, in His humanity,that we might have the opportunity to live.

Indeed, there is even more. Paul writes these amazing words: "For our sake He [the Father] made Him [the Son] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him [the Son] we might become the righteousness of God." (II Cor.5:21). Now, remember that, in the mystery of the Trinity, the Father and the Son (together with Holy Spirit) are One. So, as God, the Son not only experienced the full weight of our sin, He actually became sin! To use my opening analogy, it is as if I was asked to become cancer, in all of its vileness, in order that my daughter be cured! That is, as the hymnwriter pointed out, "love beyond all measure"!

But just think. If the opening picture that I painted had been true, and my daughter had turned round and said, "Don't bother, dad. I'll just suffer all of this myself, and take my chance on the future." Well, any sane person would have said that she was quite mad! They would say that to spurn my love for her in that way was, itself, unforgivable! Yet that is what so many do to God the Son! "We don't really care about what You suffered for us. We'll just carry on regardless, and take our chance with the future!" Sadly, that future is eternity without Him! But He will never force any of us to do what we don't want to do!

Have you acknowledged your own sinfulness? Have you accepted that you can, by yourself, do nothing about it? Then come to the One Whose shed blood can cleanse the deepest stain. He did it for you! "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). He loves you, and seeks your love in return. 

If you have any questions that you think I might be able to answer, please use the e-mail address at the top of the page. I don't check that Inbox on a daily basis but, as soon as I read your question, I will get in touch. Just remember, that time is short. We cannot be sure of even the next minute. Come to Jesus now. You'll never regret it if you do. 

Ladies' Night!

The pressure of preparation, at the moment, combined with the ongoing work in house and garden, led to me spending a lot less time on the social network Facebook than had previously been the case. With more than a week since my last post here, I am realising that the blog is also being neglected. Such are the joys of "retirement" when one is a disciple of Jesus. I was told - a long time before it applied to me! - that, in the Kingdom of God, there is neither retirement nor redundancy! There is always "a work for Jesus" for those who are willing and who make themselves available.

Anyway, last night my wife was at a "Ladies' Night" organised by some of the young women in the French Fellowship of which we are members. As it was quite a distance away, I was the designated chauffeur for her, and one of the younger ladies who was travelling with us. I took my laptop, and fully intended getting some preparation done for a meeting next week, and preparing a post for the blog. However, the young man of the house in which we met, and with whom I was sharing the study (he also had work to do), and I started talking! Already, in this post, I have typed almost as much as I managed to type last evening.

I had a splendid evening (by the way, so did my wife and the other ladies involved!) chatting with this young man. Our topics of conversation ranged over a wide spectrum - from foreign exchange rates, to politics, to DIY and, of course, to matters Biblical and theological. We shared our thoughts on how to respond to certain questions that are regularly asked of disciples of Jesus - especially questions concerning the existence of God; and the creation of all that is. We discussed the possibilities for overt evangelism in the French culture. It was wonderful - and I realised that I miss such discussions!

A couple of Scripture texts came to my mind. I thought of Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." This was not me lecturing or preaching (although I confess that I did do most of the talking!!), but two brothers in the Lord Jesus sharing their thoughts with one another, and each learning something from the other.

I thought of the words of Psalm 133:1 - "Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" We were not always fully in agreement - but we were (and are!) brothers in Jesus, and so could agree to differ on matters that are not of the substance of the faith.

The evening was a reminder of how much we need one another. The Bible knows nothing of a "solitary Christian" - although there are obviously situations and circumstances in which one may be cut off from any form of Christian fellowship. I think, of course, especially of those who are incarcerated for their faith; and those who are the only believer in their locality.

However, even as I type, I am reminded of some words of the Lord Jesus, shortly before His arrest, passion, and crucifixion: "The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave Me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me." (John 16:32). However dark the day; even if denied the joy of human company; the disciple of Jesus need never be "alone" - for He is always with us. He is the One Who, even as He commanded: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you;" promised "and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matt.28:19-20; emphasis added).

Do you know that Presence? He is only a prayer away!

Heaven - or hell?

It started with a Facebook post shared by one of my former pupils. The post gave a list of the good things that were apparently done by the late George Michael, but claimed "Yet today you read comments that he is damned because he was gay. I know in whose company I would rather spend eternity, and which behaviour I consider more "Christian"."

As some might expect, I responded to this! I pointed out that the person who originally penned the piece appeared not to understand what a Christian (better "disciple of Jesus") actually is. Biblically, being a disciple of Jesus means that one has been saved. That salvation, Paul reminds us, is solely and simply through the grace of God - "By grace you have been saved, through faith, not of works lest any man should boast."(Eph.2:8). Let's finish the year by unpicking those words a little.

"By grace ..." I give a full chapter in my book "Great Words of the Faith" (link at top of page: available as a paperback, or a Kindle e-book) to the word 'grace' (23 other important words are also dealt with!). At it's most simple, however, grace refers to my receiving that which I don't deserve; cannot earn; and could never purchase. In other words, grace has absolutely nothing to do with 'me' - what I have done for others; what I have given to others; how I have behaved. It has everything to do with the love of Almighty God, shown supremely in the willing sacrifice of Jesus, the Christ, at Calvary. When Jesus hung on the cross, He was paying the penalty for you sins, and for mine. He was doing what we could never do. He was satisfying God's justice, by the greatest expression of love in the history of mankind.

"... you have been saved ..." Salvation is also dealt with, much more fully, in my book. It is, of course, a concept with which we are all too familiar in a physical sense. There is a fire in a house, or a place of entertainment, or wherever. The Fire Brigade arrives and rescues all who were trapped in the inferno - and the newspaper reports inform us that so many people were "saved".  They were saved from serious injury, or even from death. However, the salvation to which Paul refers is of inestimably greater significance - it is salvation from sin: it's power; it's penalty; and, ultimately, its presence.

"... through faith ..." 'Faith' is actually the first word dealt with in the book already cited. It's something that we exercise every time we board public transport - 'bus, aeroplane, or any other form. When I flew earlier this year, I didn't meet the pilot of the aeroplane; I didn't personally examine the aircraft; I wasn't provided with the opportunity to ensure that it had sufficient fuel in the tanks to make the planned flight. Yet I boarded that aircraft; settled into my seat; and enjoyed the short flight. I trusted that all of those concerned had attended to all of the necessary checks. The writer of the great Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus gave God's definition of the word: "... the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Heb.11:1). It is taking, on trust, God's own Word about anything and everything!

"... not of works lest any man should boast." You see, if salvation depended on my "works", then the late Mr Michael would be able to claim that he had done more to gain his salvation than I had done to gain mine! And he would be correct. I have never been in the position to give the vast amounts to others that the post that set me off on this claims that he did - and I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the claim. I, of course, could then boast that I had given, and done, more than many other people. However, if salvation is NOT about what I have done, then we all stand at the same level. It;s not about me; it's all about Him!

I know very little about George Michael. I am certainly not in a position to state, emphatically, where he will spend eternity. However, I do know this much - if he had yielded his life to Almighty God, through the Lord Jesus, the Christ, and if God the Holy Spirit was living in and through him, then he is already in the presence of that same Jesus. Otherwise, he is not!

Whatever George Michael's eternal destiny, it is now too late to do anything about it. However, for you there is still time. If you wish to make a worthwhile "New Year Resolution", then I strongly urge you to consider your own eternal destiny. While you breathe, there is the opportunity to come before Father God, in repentance and faith, and receive the salvation that was gained for you at Calvary. God the Holy Spirit will then come into your life and help you to become more like Jesus, in the process that is known as 'sanctification' (yes - it is also dealt with in "Great Words"!!). If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me through the contact e-mail address at the top of the page.

May you have a great 2017 - and walk with Him through every day.

Apartheid Israel!

It was a Facebook post by a friend of one of my former pupils, who had been on my own "Friends" list for a number of years.  It was, basically, a 'tongue-in-cheek' comment on the late Fidel Castro, using a reported quote from this former President of Cuba.

However, some of the following comments that appeared to be praising this "great humanitarian" led me to give some of "the other side" of the story!  This, in turn, led to the former pupil informing me that I am a "pro-Zionist" who supports the bombing of innocent civilians, including children, by apartheid Israel!

That probably wasn't a wise move on his part!  My response was as follows - in case any of my blog readers think as he does!  I typed:

If that is directed at me (I was absolutely certain that it had been - but one must be careful!), you need to do some serious research on the State of Israel - and not be hoodwinked by the pro-'palestinian' propaganda that is spouted by the MSM (main stream media, in case you are unfamiliar with the abbreviation).

Just to get you started - If Palestinians were to lay down their guns tomorrow, there would be no war. If Israel were to lay down its arms, there would be no Israel.  It would be so very helpful if the 'Palestinians' were to stop firing rockets at Israel; stop digging tunnels that are intended to enable their 'soldiers' to infiltrate Israel; and stop teaching their children to "kill the Jews" (that, of course, is not confined to 'Palestinian' authorities).

There is NO apartheid in Israel!  Have you ever been there? Have you seen, for yourself, this apartheid to which you refer? Do you know how many Arabs are Members of the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament)? By the way, do you know how many Jews are involved in the political leadership of any Arab state?! (The answer to that question is easy - less than 1!!) Do you know how many Arabs are members of the IDF (the Israeli Defence Force)?  Do you know how many Arabs hold top positions in the Police, the Military, in Institutes of Higher Education (and as teachers in primary and secondary education - teaching Jewish children!), in Medical Institutions and Hospitals?

Do you know how many 'Palestinians' work in Israel - because the wages and conditions are better than anything they can obtain in 'Palestine'?  Do you know how many 'Palestinians' bring their children, and other relatives, to Israeli hospitals for treatment - free of charge? Can you provide a figure for these "innocent men, women, and children being bombed and daily harrasses or being evicted out of their homes"? Do you know how many rockets, bombs, sidearms, etc were found in 'Palestinian' hospitals and other public buildings? Are you aware of the 'Palestinian' strategy of firing their rockets, indiscriminately, at Israel - from areas of civilian population?  Do you really understand the definition of "apartheid"?  Indeed, do you know the meaning of "Zionist"?  You really should go beyond the Daily Record (a Scottish tabloid newspaper that caters for the less educated in Scottish society!) for your information about the world!

I then pointed out that, so far, 37 Arab Muslims (at least some of whom, and probably all of whom, are 'Palestinian' Arabs) have been arrested over the arson attacks that have destroyed hectares of forest in Israel.  I suggested, from another perspective, that he check out the Arab countries that do practice apartheid towards Jews!  For example, Jews are not even allowed to permanently reside in Saudi Arabia, Libya, or Jordan - and I suspect that any Jew would be refused entry to Iran!

If there ever was to be a "State of Palestine" (for the first time in the history of the world!), it has already been made clear that it would be "ethnically cleansed" of any Jews!

Well, I could have gone on - and could go on.  However, I do hope that anyone who has bought into this hype about Israel being a modern South Africa will begin to realise that nothing could be further from the truth.  There are no "Jews only" forms of transport. There are no "Jews only" beaches. There are no "Jews only" cafés or restaurants.  There are no "Jews only" washrooms.  Indeed, according to Kenneth Meshoe, a South African politician, any attempt to compare Palestinians’ experience in Israel with the former racist regime is offensive to individuals who suffered under the system of racial separation.  He said that, on a trip to Israel, "I deliberately looked for anything that looked like apartheid. I took a bus to the center of Jerusalem, but blacks, Jews, Arabs and everybody else all sat together. Swimming at the Dead Sea was mixed. I looked for the ‘black only’ beaches, but there were none. Arab school teachers stood in front of Jewish classes! That would never have happened under apartheid."

Apartheid Israel? - it simply doesn't exist!

Growing through adversity!

A number of my friends on the social network, Facebook, post many beautiful pictures and video-clips of nature in all of its beauty. However, that same nature wonderfully testifies that adverse conditions are often valuable in the development of some types of trees and other plants.  While fire is one of the greatest enemies of a forest - ask people living in California, and certain parts of Australia, for example - it actually helps certain kinds of seeds to grow. I am reliably informed that the cones of some pine trees do not open until they are touched by the flames.

This can also be true for the disciple of Jesus, whose faith and character are often strengthened by life's trials. Some of the strongest believers of whom I know are in what we refer to as "the persecuted church"; and it was the early church father, Tertullian who, in his book "Apologetics", claimed that "The blood of the martyrs is the seedbed of the church".  Certainly, persecution quickly rids the church of nominality. No-one who does not have a true saving faith in the Lord Jesus is going to admit to being "a Christian" if his/her physical life is at stake. Alternatively, the true disciple looks "... forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Heb 11:10). 

The story is told of a distinguished botanist who was exiled from his native land, but who obtained work as a gardener. On one occasion, in the middle of winter, his employer received a valuable plant but was unfamiliar with its nature and needs. He placed it in the hothouse where, under the glare of the sun, it began to wilt. As it appeared to be dying, the new gardener was instructed to examine it. Quickly identifying its origin, he explained to his employer: "This is an arctic plant, which cannot possibly thrive in this tropical heat."  He then took the plant outside and exposed it to the frost, whilst heaping ice around the pot.  Before long, the plant regained its health, and flourished.

Christian character is developed in many ways. Some believers, when they are placed in the comfortable and sheltered atmosphere of earthly warmth, pleasure, and luxury, begin to lose their spiritual vitality. On the other hand, if they are faced with the icy winds of life, and chilling temptations, they soon revive and renew their strength.  Others find, in the heat of trials, the pressures need to awaken them to a true sense of values. Paul wrote: "... we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us." (Rom 5:3-5). 

It all depends on the root system.  Whether it be a plant, or a believer, it is the life that is in the roots that makes the difference.  So Paul prayed for his brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, in Ephesus: "... that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God." (Eph 3:17-19; emphasis added); while his exhortation to the Colossians was: "As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Col 2:6-7; emphasis added). 

So, if you are a disciple of Jesus reading this, don't shrink from the hardships and difficulties of life. By the grace of God, you may gain spiritual stature, even through adversity - and all to the glory of His Name. 

As up-to-date as tomorrow's newspapers!

Those who read the Bible with any level of understanding will appreciate what used to be often claimed that, in its basic teachings, it is not a bundle of irrelevant ancient documents, but is, as the title of this post says, as up-to-date as tomorrow's newspapers!

This was, once again, brought home to me during my personal devotions this morning.  Having completed my time in Paul's letter to the disciples of Jesus in Galatia, I decided that I should return to the books of the Minor Prophets, in the Old Testament.  These are the closing books of the OT, starting at Hosea and going through to Malachi.  I should perhaps point out that they are referred to as the "minor" prophets, not because they are less important than the 'major' prophets, but merely because their writings are shorter!

It is always useful, I would contend, to familiarise oneself with the background to any Biblical text before attempting to read it, and learn from it.  Accordingly, I picked up a commentary by Warren Wiersbe - in my opinion, one of the finest Biblical commentators of this generation.  In his introduction to Hosea, I read the following: "Israel was enjoying great prosperity, but Hosea could see that the nation was rotten to the core; for honest government, pure religion, godly homes, and personal integrity had vanished from the land.  Judgment was inevitable."

The book was published in 1996.  Twenty years later, those words are, surely, even more true of most of the so-called "western" countries, than they were back then.  I read my daily (online) newspaper; I receive additional information through e-mails; I am inundated by Facebook messages that also inform me as to the state of the world in which we live.  Sadly, I see that "... honest government, pure religion, godly homes, and personal integrity ..." are in as short supply today as they were in Israel [the northern kingdom; the southern kingdom, at that time, was referred to as Judah] at the time of Hosea.   In the UK there is a Prime Minister who appears, to many, to be an inveterate, almost pathological, liar.  The major, traditional, Christian denominations are almost indistinguishable from the world to which they should be an example, and a prophetic voice (like Hosea!).  Godly homes are almost as rare as hen's teeth.  Personal integrity seems to have become little more than a phrase from antiquity.

Is it too much to suggest that judgement is inevitable?  Indeed, is it possible that we are, in the 'western' world, already tasting that judgement?   When child sacrifice, under the name of "abortion", is practiced on a scale that would horrify even those who practised it millennia ago in an attempt to appease the 'deities' they worshipped, but merely because a pregnancy, and the responsibility of a child, would be "inconvenient", what right have we to claim that we are the civilised ones? When deviant sexual relationships are accepted as being perfectly normal, even although they are incapable of producing children, what allows us to call our selves "progressive"?  When people are murdered, under the label of "euthanasia", because they have reached a certain age, and are no longer 'productive' members of society, how on earth may we call ourselves loving, caring, and compassionate?

All of the above - and there is so much more - is in total contradiction of the teachings of the Bible, and the will of the Creator God Who, through His servants, authored it (see II Tim.3:16).  However, Paul, writing to those Galatian believers in the letter that I have just finished reading again, warned them: "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Gal 6:7-8).  As a society, I fear that we are beginning to reap what we have sown - and it is not pleasant!

A mighty man of God named Moses, spoke to the Children of Israel shortly before his own physical death.  Listen to these words, spoken towards the end of that discourse: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life , that you and your descendants may live, loving YHWH your God, obeying His voice, and cleaving to Him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." (Deut 30:19-20).

Have you chosen life?  It's readily available to you, and in a measure greater than was offered to those people all of those millennia ago.  Because the life that is offered to you is the very life of Almighty God - eternal life, here and now.  It is something that you can never deserve; never purchase; never earn.  It is offered, as a free gift, to those who are willing to confront, and confess, their sins - and their total inability to do anything about them - but who come to the foot of the cross of Calvary, and accept, by faith, that God has done it all, in Jesus the Christ.  He has paid the penalty that you and I ought to pay, that we might know salvation, full and free.  When you take that step, you become His child, adopted into His family: "How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to Christ. Long ago, even before He made the world, God chose us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us; He decided then to make us holy in His eyes, without a single fault - we who stand before Him covered with his love.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And He did this because He wanted to!" (Eph 1:3-5; TLB; emphasis added).

Like me, you may live in a world that appears to be "going to the dogs".  Like me, you may enter a new relationship; a new family; and have a new future.  The choice, always, is yours.  Make the right one!

The most wonderful places to be!

Facebook, and my former pupils, are definitely providing a lot of thought-provoking material, this week.  The latest one, on a background of a sweet little girl sitting on a wooden fence - and with a cat (with its back to us!) sitting beside her, says:

"The most wonderful places to be in the world are: In someone's thoughts. Someone's prayers. And in Someone's heart." (sic)

As I read those words, I thought of how they apply to the God Who loves us with an everlasting love.

I am in  God's thoughts.  The Psalmist writes: "As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me.  Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God!" (Ps 40:17).   Every child of God is always before the mind of the eternal God. With all the attention and focus of His divine mind He contemplates each one of His children. There is no forgetting and then remembering. There is no calling to mind. What a wonderful truth! Our thoughts of God are often too small. The eternal God never ceases to think about us.  I am not only in "someone's" thoughts.  As a disciple of Jesus, I am constantly in the thoughts of Almighty God.

I am in God's prayers.  That may sound strange to some.  However, the writer of the Letter to Jewish believers, referring to the Lord Jesus, writes: "The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues for ever. Consequently He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Heb 7:23-25; emphasis added).

The Lord Jesus is constantly interceding, praying, on my behalf and, since He is God, then I am assured that I am in God's prayers.

I am in God's heart.  The heart is usually used as a picture of the seat of one's emotions.  The greatest, and strongest, emotion is love.  When we illustrate love, graphically, we use a drawing of a heart - witness countless shop windows in this run-up to the Feast day of St Valentine!  John 3:16 tells me that "... God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  I am the object of God's eternal, unconditional, unparalleled, love - therefore, I know that I am in His heart (anthropomorphically speaking!).

Now, I am blessed to be in the thoughts, prayers, and hearts, of a number of people; and I appreciate each and every one of them.  However, my greatest joy, my hope, and my confidence is that I am in the thoughts, prayers, and heart of Almighty God - my Creator and Saviour.

Are you?

Love is in the air!

It was a Facebook post put up by one of my former pupils.  The message was simple.  On a background of a rather vicious-looking cat, were the words: "If you're sad about being alone on Valentine's Day, just remember ... ... no-one loves you on the other days of the year, either"!

I "Liked" it - and then thought about it!  The songwriter assured us that it is love that makes the world go round.  There are more songs, and poems, written with love as their subject than on any other topic.  It's the theme of countless books and films.  It's the glue that holds society together.

How sad it would be, therefore, not to be loved at all - throughout the year!   Thankfully, that post has it completely wrong.  Every single one of us is loved, throughout our whole life.  I'm not, of course, referring to the Mills & Boon kind of soppy, sentimental 'love'.  I'm not even referring to the love of family and friends.  I'm referring to the love that is better described by the Greek word "agape".  It is nothing more, or less, than the love of Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is.   That love is directed towards each and every one of us.

It's a sacrificial love.  In what may well be the best-known quotation from the Bible, John records that "God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16).  The sinless, incarnate God, allowed Himself to be hung on a Roman cross, in order that He might pay the just penalty for your sins, and for mine!  That is sacrifice; that is love.

It's an unconditional love.  "... God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." writes Paul to the believers in Rome. (Rom 5:8).  God didn't set out conditions that we must meet in order to be loved by Him.  He simply loved, and loves, us - as we are!

It's an eternal love.  Eternity is greatly misunderstood by so many.  That's why I devote a full chapter to the concept in my book "Great Words of the Faith" (please see above!).  It is often viewed as 'endless time' when, in fact, it is timelessness!  The love of God is not constrained by time.  It is above and beyond time.

There are many other aspects of the Love of God that we could consider - but this is a blog post, not a sermon!  Just one question to ask - Do you know that love of God at a personal level?  Is it real to you, because you have responded to it with the love of your own heart?   If not, then why don't you do something about it now!  His love is so great that He will meet you more than half-way.

Don't be unloved - when the greatest love of all is reaching out to you!

Holding hands!

It was posted on Facebook by a former pupil who is now the mother of a little boy.  It read:

Well, as any regular visitor to this blog will understand, my mind went beyond a little boy and his mum!  I was immediately reminded of the relationship between Father God, and the one whose trust is in the Lord, Jesus the Christ, for salvation.

I sometimes read the truth that, as a disciple of Jesus, I am not perfect - but that I am forgiven.  As such, my hand is in the hand of the Father.  He is the One Who never lets me go; Who never lets me down; and Who, I must also remember, never lets me off!  Yes, even the believer is subject to the Lord's discipline.  And we should not want it any other way!

In the old Book of Proverbs, we read: "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (3:11-12).  The un-named writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus quotes those very words and goes on to say: "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Heb 12:7-11).

Many years ago, a Christian singing group named "Harmony" sang a song that was titled (if memory serves me well!) The Man from Galilee.  The chorus went something like this:

"Put your hand in the hand of the Man Who stilled the waters.
Put your hand in the hand of the Man Who calmed the sea.
Take a look at yourself, and you can look at the others differently;
By puttin' your hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee."

It's a strong hand; it's a faithful hand; it's a hand that was once nailed to a cross - for you, and for me. Have you yet entrusted your life to Him?  Are you trying to hold on to His hand, rather than allow Him to hold on to yours?  His grip is, as the little boy understood with his mother, much stronger than yours.  If you yield your life to Him, He will never let you go - regardless of your situation and/or circumstances.

In just a couple of weeks, we will be celebrating His birth.  What better gift could you give to Him at this time, than your own life in total surrender, and full obedience.  You'll never regret it if you do!