Just a word!

It was just over a week ago, on a service bus from Motherwell to Wishaw. I was seated a few seats from the front and, at the front, in the section reserved for buggies and wheelchairs, was one of the latter with a young man seated in it and, with him, another, older, gent who was obviously his carer. I have no idea as to the medical condition that confined that young man to the wheelchair, but it certainly appeared to be physical rather than, in any way, mental. His carer was speaking with him and, every so often he must have said something that particularly pleased the young man, as his mouth widened, and his face creased into a smile that seemed to light up the whole bus!

As we drew near to my stop, and I prepared to get off the bus, I determined to speak with the young man before I did so. As I moved towards the door, I stopped, and leaned down. "Has anyone ever told you," I asked, "that you have a most beautiful smile?"

I suspect that I would have received a less enthusiastic response if I had told certain of my friends that they had just won the Euro Lottery, and had now €5million to add to their bank account! The young man was delighted. "Thank you, thank you", he said, as his carer gave me a thumbs-up! As I left the bus, he was still calling out "Thank you. Thank you very much!" Then as the bus pulled out to continue its allotted journey, we waved to each other. Just a brief word - but what joy it engendered! I was so glad that I had had the momentary courage to speak.

So, what was the lesson from that situation? Well, there is more than one! I have taken a personal lesson that I don't wish to share. However, I believe that there is a lesson for all of us - those who read this blog and who are disciples of Jesus, and those who do not make that claim (yet!). It is a simple lesson - that we always look for opportunities to bless others; to encourage; to edify; to assist; to inspire; to embolden.

Writing to his brothers and sisters in Jesus, in Galatia (an area that was situated in modern Turkey), the apostle Paul encourages them with these words: "And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (6:9-11).

I hope that you will take those words to heart and, when the opportunity arises, do good to someone by blessing them - even if it is by just a word!

Legalism v. Grace

In his letter to the young Christian churches in Galatia, Rabbi Shaul (aka the apostle, Paul) writes these words: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Gal 5:1). What he is doing in that sentence is comparing God's grace with man's legalism - legalism that makes the attaining of certain standards, legitimate in themselves, necessary for salvation.

But nothing needs to be added, because nothing can be added! Allow me to illustrate. The winner of a marathon doesn't run an additional 500 yards "just to be sure" or just "to show what a good runner I am". When the finishing line has been crossed, nothing more is required.

When the Lord Jesus hung on the cross, He cried out in a loud - and strong! - voice, the one word: "Tetelestai" which means "Finished"! He had completed the work for which the Father had sent Him to this planet, "tabernacled" in the very human flesh that He had created. The veil of the Temple was torn in two - from top to bottom; as if Father God had reached down and ripped it. The way was now open for sinful men and women - and that includes you and me! - to enter the presence of Almighty God. 

But more! By His giving of Himself as the perfect, spotless, unblemished, Lamb of God, He paid the penalty for your sin, and for mine. Forgiveness is there for the claiming - full and free! I cannot add to my salvation by anything that I do. Paul again: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:8-10). I am saved for good works, but not by them!

The hymn writer,  ‎Augustus Toplady, put it so beautifully:

"Not the labours of my hands can fulfil Thy law's demands. 

Could my zeal no respite know; could my tears forever flow;o

All for sin could not atone - Thou must save, and Thou alone."

I have no need to strive - "'Tis done, the great transaction's done; I am my Lord's and He is mine"! (Philip Doddridge).

The Law says "You still need to do this, and that." 

God's grace says "Tetelestai" (It is) "Finished"

"Only by grace can we enter;

Only by grace can we stand.

Not by our human endeavour,

But by the blood of the Lamb.

Into Your presence You call us,

You call us to come.

Into Your presence You draw us,

And now, by Your grace, we come." (Graham Kendrick).

Resh

It was this morning that I read the final section of Ps.119. However, on Thursday, I read the section in which each line begins with the Hebrew letter "resh". It's a section that reminded me of three things.

The first of these is that He is my Kinsman-Redeemer. "Plead my cause and redeem me;" (v.154). We learn about the kinsman-redeemer most easily in the beautiful story of Ruth, the Moabitess who, along with her mother-in-law, Naomi (and Naomi's other daughter-in-law, Orpah) was widowed. This was in the land of Moab, whence Naomi, her husband Elimolech, and their two sons, had fled to escape a time of famine in Judah. Naomi decided to return to her homeland and, in spite of the older woman's entreaties, Ruth insisted on returning with her, uttering the well-known words: "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May YHWH do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you." (Ruth 1:16-17).

You may read the full story in the book of the Tanakh (the 'Old Testament') that is named after Ruth. As you do so, you will be introduced to Boaz who, Naomi explains to Ruth is a near-kinsman (the kinsman-redeemer). The duty of the kinsman-redeemer was to rescue a family member in need (see Lev. 25:25 ff.).

You and I, and every other human being in the history of mankind, past, present, and future, has a great need - we are sinners and unable to save ourselves. Praise God, therefore, that He has provided, in the Persona* of the Son, a Kinsman-Redeemer for us. Paul writing to the believers in the province of Galatia says: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. (3:13; emphasis added).  The apostle also reminded the young pastor Titus: "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds." (2:11-14; emphasis added). Yes, the Lord Jesus, Himself, is my Kinsman-Redeemer. Is He yours?

In v.156, the psalmist writes: "Great is Thy mercy, O YHWH;" How great is that mercy! But what is it? Well, the easiest way to describe it is in conjunction with the grace of God. In His grace, God gives to us what we do not deserve; in His mercy He does not give to us what we do deserve! To put it another way - when we experience His grace we are receiving good things to which we have no claim; when we are recipients of His mercy, He withholds less good things that we deserve only too well! Praise God for the greatness of His mercy to those who have trusted in Him.

The third point that I particularly noted was in v.159 where the psalmist prays: "Preserver my life according to Thy steadfast love."  When we come to Father God, in the Name of the unique Son, Jesus, we do not have to, as it were, squeeze anything out of Him. He deals with us in the light of His own love - He whose very nature is 'love'. That love is above and beyond anything that you or I can imagine. It is the love that took Jesus to the cross, there to die a cruel and ignominious death for us. 

On Monday, I shall be, D.V., at the Armistice Ceremony in the village in which I now live. There won't be the same 'pomp and circumstance' to which I was used in the UK - but we shall still remember those who died in two World wars, and many other conflicts, that we might have the measure of freedom that we enjoy today. In the more "religious" ceremonies of Remembrance Sunday in the UK, one often hears these words being read: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). Most will think of these words as applying to those who have died in conflict. However, I would submit that the vast majority of them did not, in fact, "lay down their lives". Many were, it is true, volunteers. Many were regular forces. Many, however, particularly in WW1, were conscripts. They had no choice. The Lord Jesus chose to give His life for you and for me. He voluntarily took your place, and mine, on the cross. He was willing to pay the penalty that your sin, and mine, deserved. "He paid a debt that  He did not owe; because I owed a debt that I could not pay."

That is not all! Those who died in the various conflicts gained, for their country, only a temporary peace. When Jesus died on the cross, He gained full, and eternal, salvation for all who come to Him in faith. The "Gospel in a nutshell" is found in the familiar words of John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." That's as much as many know - and those words are wonderfully true. Eternal life - which is not just life that goes on and on indefinitely, but is the life of God Himself, in us - is not just for the future. It is something that we receive, and start living, here and now. However, John continues: "For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God." (John 3:17-21). Please read those other words carefully. They further emphasise that the love of God is real; that He desires that none should perish; but that those who reject His offer of salvation are already condemned - by their unbelief.

Well, I move on to Ps.120 tomorrow, D.V., but if I am spared long enough, I shall probably be back at Ps.119 another time. I commend it, and all of God's written Word to you. Read; learn; apply; and obey. You'll never regret it!

*This is not a typo! It is explained in my first book: "Great Words of the Faith", in the chapter on the Trinity. Remember that I am promoting my books (all three!) because ALL royalties are paid directly into the bank account of Release International, in support of the persecuted church. Interestingly, tomorrow is the annual day to remember those who suffer for their faith in ways that you and I cannot even begin to fully imagine. Please purchase; read; leave a review; and encourage others to do the same. Links are available at the top - or just search in Amazon! Thank you.

Taking offence!

My standard "joke" on the topic is that I never take offence unless I can find a matching gate (you may have to read that aloud to get it!)!  However, I really am amazed at the number of people who take offence at the slightest thing.  A recent newspaper report informed of one woman who was offended by the colour that was named on a can of paint in either Lidl or Aldi.  The name was "Rape Yellow"! Having passed fields of flowering rape on our way to a Praise Evening, earlier this evening. I can quite understand the name.  A veritable sea of waving yellow flowers that will, in due course, be harvested for their seeds in order that the pin might be extracted to produce - yes, you got it: "rape-seed oil"!  I wondered if that particular woman refuses to use such a product in her kitchen.  Now, it is true that she claims to have been the victim of a sexual assault when she was younger and, if that claim is true, then I have a great deal of sympathy for her.  But to be 'offended' by the word on a can of paint!  She presumably never reads a newspaper, or listens to the radio, or watches television.  In all three, the word recurs with saddening regularity!

In the realm of the religious world, it is no better.  Sometimes, indeed, it is often the case that officials decide that a particular group will take offence, and decide that their will be no reference to, e.g., CHRISTmas, but that Winterfest will be celebrated instead!   Even among those who claim to be disciples of Jesus, there are those who are very quick to take offence, whether such offence was intended, or not.

Of course, those of us who "offend" others are in very good company.  Matthew records that, when Jesus had preached in His "home" synagogue, those who had known Him as a boy and young man were astonished at His wisdom. "'Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's Son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all His sisters with us? Where then did this Man get all this?'  And they took offense at Him." (Matt 13:54-57; emphasis added).

David Robertson, the current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, is a personal friend.   Those who think that I am a "plain speaker" had better not read any of what he says! He is regularly castigated for what he publishes in his blog: "The wee flea".  (That name, I should explain, is a play on the name of his particular denomination, popularly referred to, in Scotland, as "the Wee Frees". Think of the school boy 'jokes' about "flied lice", and you begin to get the picture.  A real flea, of course, also bites - and David's publications certainly do that!). However, all that he actually does is to tell the truth - and that is all that I seek to do myself!  When I post on the controversial topic of abortion, I don't "make things up".  I simply tell it as it is - the deliberate destruction of a human being who just happens to be at a very early stage of its development,but that is undeniably alive, and undeniably human.  That, I will continue to maintain, is murder.  However, that statement offends some who prefer to think of the unborn child as nothing more than a lump of tissue in the maternal womb!

Even the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, didn't see any need to 'pull punches'.  Read Galatians 2:11ff. Paul publicly rebukes his fellow apostle, Peter, and then relates the incident in a letter that was sent to all of the Christian fellowships in Galatia! However, we don't read of Peter making a fuss about it. You see, Paul's record was accurate.

Perhaps this is yet another area in which the world has been allowed to infiltrate the church - when it is the church that is called to infiltrate the world!   Yet God's Word provides clear guidelines for those occasions on which we are 'offended' by the words, or actions, of another.  Matthew 18:15ff is the relevant passage.

Of course, the greatest offence is the rejection of the Lord Jesus, the Christ, as the one and only Way to Father God.  For, as Peter pointed out, "... there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).  That offends many who prefer to think that they may, by their own good works, earn/purchase/deserve entry to the Kingdom of God.  However, much more seriously, it offends Father God Himself.  He loves you, and me, so much that, in the Persona (not a typo!) of the Son, He allowed Himself to be nailed to a Cross, becoming sin (see II Cor.5:21) that we might become righteous in His sight.

Have you availed yourself of that great offer of salvation?  It is so close to you, right now, as you read these words.  As always, if I may be of any personal assistance, please feel free to contact me using the e-mail address at the top of the page.  I don't check that account on the most regular of bases but, as soon as I find your message, I will happily respond.   By the way, for some reason unknown to me, I have not been able to access any comments for more than a year.  However, if any wishes to comment, they are welcome to use the same e-mail address.   I should also add that this post is not intended to offend anyone but, if it does, please look in the mirror before complaining!  Nothing in it is untrue!

Whatever you do, please be aware that it is your own eternal destiny that is at risk. Please do not let some perceived "offense" be the cause of you spending eternity cut off from Almighty God.

The root cause.

Any student of history is aware that many major conflicts can be traced back to a single event.   So the First World War was the result of a single pistol-shot, by a man named Gavrilo Princip.  That shot fatally wounded the Arch-Duke Franz-Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, when he visited Serbia on June 28th, 1914. 

In my personal devotions, I am currently reading in Paul's letter to the early believers in Galatia. This letter is sometimes referred to as an introduction to his letter to the early Roman believers.  It's a letter that I have studied before - so much so that even my wide-margin copy of the Bible that I use for my devotions, has little space to accept additional notes!  However, as is so often the case, it is when one reads a passage for the umpteenth time, that one sees something that has never occurred to one before!

None of what I read this morning was actually "new" to me.  I didn't receive any wonderful revelation - a direct word from the Lord to me.  However, something became more real to me.  It is that the current, ongoing, conflict between Israel and the Arab nations, started with a single event - an event that took place some 4,000 years ago!  That event was the physical union of Abraham with Hagar, his wife Sarah's maid.  It was from that union that Ishmael was born.

Paul writes: "Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise." (Gal 4:21-23).   

This was the great difference between Abraham's two sons - one was born of a servant, the other of a free woman; one was born "according to the flesh" (that is, 'naturally'), the other "through promise" (supernaturally).  If we go back to Genesis 15, we see God's clear promise to Abraham - the promise of an heir.  All very well, except for the fact that, even then, both Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were well past the normal age of producing children!  The years passed; neither of them was getting any younger; and no child was born.  Eventually, Sarah suggested that Abraham father a child by her maid, Hagar - culturally quite acceptable.  However, although it may have been acceptable, it was bad advice!  Out of that union, Ishmael was born.

It was some 14 years later that the miracle took place when Sarah, now 90 years of age, conceived and gave birth to Isaac.  This, of course, was a supernatural birth!  We read, later in the Genesis account that "... Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the lad and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your descendants be named." (Gen 21:9-12).

That is the beginning of the enmity between the descendants of Isaac - the Children of Israel (the Jewish people); and the descendants of Ishmael - the Arab nations.  We might say that the current Israeli-Arab controversy actually started in Hagar's bedroom (or tent)!  A single act - with results that were to be far-reaching, and totally unexpected.  The feud continues - each group looking back to Abraham as their progenitor; and each claiming the land of Israel as their own.

However, the Biblical record makes it absolutely clear.  The "Promised Land" is given by Almighty God to those who are the descendants of, not only Abraham, but of Isaac and Jacob as well.  That is why so many of the disciples of Jesus - Himself a Jew! - are firm supporters of the modern State of Israel.  If we believe the Bible to be true, we can be no other.  Of course, we may not agree with every political policy followed by the Israeli government - any more than we agree with every policy of our own national governments.  But I believe that we must stand by the Jewish nation - particularly in the light of the current rise in anti-Semitism.  To that end, I encourage anyone to become part of Christians United for Israel (http://www.cufi.org.uk/).  If you are not resident in the UK, then you may prefer to join the "parent" organisation at http://www.cufi.org/

When Jacob received the blessing of the first-born (even although he did so by deceiving his father, Isaac), that blessing ended: "Cursed be every one who curses you, and blessed be every one who blesses you!" (Gen 27:29).

In Zech 2:8-12, we read "... thus said YHWH Sabaoth, after His glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye: "Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the YHWH Sabaoth has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says YHWH. And many nations shall join themselves to YHWH in that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that YHWH Sabaoth has sent me to you. And YHWH will inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem." 

The Jewish people are still "the apple of His eye"; and those who curse them will be cursed, even as those who bless them will be blessed.  Choose blessing, not a curse!

Meeting the family!

I can still (vaguely!!) remember heading towards my first meeting with the parents of the young girl whom I had been dating (and who has now been my wonderful wife for more than 41 years!!).  It was a rather daunting prospect.  Would they like me?  Would they think that I was good enough for their daughter?  Would they be impressed - or otherwise - that I was a student of Divinity?  I need not have feared.  All turned out well.

I thought of that earlier this evening.  I had been to one of 'my' Police Stations to meet with the shift that was going on duty at 1800 (that's 6.00 p.m. for those unfamiliar with the 24-hour clock!).  I was there in plenty of time and, knowing that the civilian staff, and most of the senior officers would not be in the building, I made my way to the Sergeants' room (sergeants, in my opinion, are the back-bone of the Force!).

One young sergeant was particularly conversational - and seemed to be very interested in where I had ministered; in my having been a teacher, and a chef.  I endeavoured to answer all of his questions as fully and frankly as possible (well, this was a police officer!!!).

After I had spoken to the shift at their muster, I went back to the Sergeants' room where my "inquisitive" sergeant was still working.  It was as we continued to talk that I discovered that he is working part-time, and also attending a Christian College in the south side of Glasgow.  He belongs to an evangelical Fellowship, and has connections with St.George's-Tron where my dear wife and I first met, and where we were married.

Suddenly our new relationship changed.  This young man was no longer 'just' another officer - this was a brother in the Lord; a member of the family of God.  What a lovely surprise for me.

My mind also went back to my days in the Merchant Navy.  I always attended the "Divine Worship" service that was held on board ship if we were at sea on a Sunday.  However, I looked forward more to those occasions on which we were in port on Sunday, when I could find a Christian fellowship (denominational tag was irrelevant!) and worship with others who truly loved the Lord.

It's one of the wonderful things about being a disciple of Jesus.  One may find family members around any corner; down any street; in any town.  The motto of the Keswick Convention is words from Paul's letter to the believers in the province of Galatia: "All one in Christ Jesus" (3:28).  That's the 'cord' that holds my new friend and I together, and that makes us brothers.

Of course, that family includes believers in Pakistan; Nigeria; Sudan; Egypt; Columbia; Kazakhstan; China; N.Korea; and some fifty countries around the world where the followers of the Way are persecuted - even to death - for no other reason than their faithfulness to Him.  They, too, are my brothers and sisters in Christ, and the least that I can do is to uphold them in prayer before the throne of grace.

I trust that you will do the same!