Encouraging words.

As the Covid-19 virus continues to have such a devastating effect on so many people, all around the world, another brother in the Lord sent me a video presentation with ten verses from the written Word of God, that may encourage and strengthen those who have placed their trust in the Lord for salvation. The original was in French, so I am simply copying the same verses from my favourite (RSV) translation of the Bible. Read, consider, and be blessed.

1.  Job 5:11 "[God] sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety."

2.  Psalm 27:13-14 "I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord!"

3.  Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."

4.  John 16:33 "I [Jesus] have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

5.  Rom.8:28 "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

6.  Rom.8:37-39 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

7.  Rom.15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

8.  II Cor.1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

9.   Phil.4:6 "Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

10. Heb.13:5 "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, « I will never fail you nor forsake you »".

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is all-sufficient; the love of God the Father, which never fails; and the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit, Who never forsakes; be with you, and remain with you now, and until He calls, or takes, you home.

Love: theory, or reality?!

A scholarly bachelor wrote a treatise on the subject: "What is love?" His research was extensive. Numerous books were reviewed, and many months were spent in the organisation and development of the material gathered. When his work was ready for submission to a publisher, arrangements were made with a public stenographer (these were the days before everyone had their own computer with a Word Processing programme!) to type the manuscript. 

Walking into her office for the first time, something unusual, and totally unexpected, happened! Eyes met! Pulses quickened! A strange feeling swept over both of them. It was love at first sight! The subject of the writer's paper was no longer a mere theory to him. It became a reality as he personally discovered its satisfying rewards. By this exciting contact he learned, and understood, more about his topic in a few seconds than he had gleaned through all of his, sometimes tedious, studies.

To be really appreciated, this marvellous thing called 'love' must be experienced, and comprehended, at a deeply personal level. Such a wonderful experience can be activated only by a mutual response.

This is also true in our relationship with the Lord Jesus, "... 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." (Tit.2:14), and Who loves us with an everlasting love. Yet, until we react to His demonstration of His tender affection manifested in His gift of Himself in His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary, our hearts can never throb with with the thrill of of that Divine concern. Without acceptance of Jesus as Saviour, and submission to Him as King, we will never know what that delightful fellowship is all about.

Have you received the Saviour? If so, then for you the joyous satisfaction of His love, revealed in the written Word of God, the Bible, isn't just a theory - it's a reality! If not - then what are you waiting for? "God loved the world - and that includes you! -  so much, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever places their trust in Him, and yields to His authority in their life, should not perish but have, here and now, His own life (eternal life) in them"! (John 3:16; my paraphrase). "We love Him," writes John, "becaue He first loved us." (I Jn.4:19). 

If you think that I may be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me at the e-mail address above. I don't check that one as regularly as I do my premier address, but I shall respond as soon as I do - and provide that premier address. Alternatively, if you came to this post via Facebook, I am happy to receive a pm.

Staying in the bubble!

No, the title to this post does not refer to the so-called "Westminster bubble" in which so many UK Members of Parliament appear to reside!  I am no naturalist, but I do know that a little creature, known as the water spider, is quite amazing.  Sometimes called "the frogman spider", it lives in rivers and streams - underneath the surface of the water!

How does this fascinating species survive in its watery environment?  Its secret is that it spins a tough, basket-like, web of silk - almost a little diving bell - and anchors it underwater to plants, or other objects.  Then it captures a surface air bubble, which it pulls down and injects into its underwater 'house'.  This combination of web building and bubble trapping allows the water spider to survive in an environment that would, normally, destroy it.

Disciples of Jesus also live in an environment that could destroy us!  The values, attitudes, practices, and priorities, of the world threaten to drown us - unless we are able to protect ourselves from them.  So how are we to survive, spiritually, in this hostile worldly environment?

May I suggest that we must build a 'bubble' of protection around ourselves by the regular reading, and study, of the written Word of God; by regular prayer; by regular fellowship with other believers; by regular communing with God the Holy Spirit; by always trusting Father God, and obeying His Word?  These activities will protect our minds, and help us to be safe and secure.  Paul writes to the early believers in the great city of Rome: "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom.12:1-2; emphasis added).

As the water spider lives in the water, but is not of the water, so disciples of Jesus must live in, but not be of, the world. (see John 17:16).  Are you building a safe 'bubble'?

Thank You, Lord!

It happened in a previous fellowship in which I was a part of the Leadership Team.  During a time of open ministry a young lady, who was a visitor, came to me for prayer.  As she looked up at me with a smile that seemed almost to split her face, I inquired as to any specific reason for prayer, and received the response, "The Lord has blessed me so really wonderfully, and I want to be able to really thank Him."  As I waited to discover the nature of such an obviously enormous blessing, she continued, "He has supplied me with a new pair of sandals.  Now, I just want more of Him!"

Although I knew that most, if not all, of those in the building at the time had wardrobes full of clothing and footwear, I didn't need to look any further than myself to realise how often we take so much for granted.  "A new pair of sandals" - and in Motherwell, in the middle of winter (it was January, as I recall)!  I felt strangely humbled, and honoured, to be permitted to pray with one whose heart was so full of thanksgiving.

There is much for which you and I, if we are genuine disciples of Jesus, can and should offer thanks to God - regardless of our financial, or material, circumstances.  There is the wonder of our salvation; the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit; the assurance of eternity in the Father's presence.  There is the family of the Church; the fellowship of the saints; the freedom to meet, together, with Him.  There is the written Word; the open door of prayer; the fruit, and gifting, of both the Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

It is the constant exhortation that we be thankful, and praise the Lord.  The Psalmists were full of such praise and thanksgiving.  So David sings out, "I will give You thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise You." (Ps.35:18), while the un-named writer of Psalm 105 encourages his listeners to "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done." (v.1).  Paul, too, says that we should be "... always giving thanks to God, the Father of everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph.5:20).

Let us, then, be filled with thanksgiving that will lead to praise which, as He is "... enthroned on the praises of His people." (Ps.22:3), will bring us ever more closely into His Presence, there to offer to Him the worship of our hearts and lives.

And a suggestion:  Let us cultivate an attitude of gratitude at all times!

Dealing with disappointment

Last week, I again had the privilege of bringing a devotional word to the meeting of the CPA (Christian Police Association) at the Force Training and Recruitment Centre, Jackton, East Kilbride.   As the national news over recent weeks seems to have been dealing with one disappointment after another - in the worlds of sport, entertainment, and politics; as decisions had recently been made that disappointed many (if not all) within the CPA; as I had experienced my own disappointments; and as all of us experience disappointment from time to time; I sensed that it would be useful to consider how the disciple of Jesus deals with disappointment.

We read the familiar story of Cleopas, and his un-named companion (possibly his wife), making their way from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus on the evening of the first Sabbath after the crucifixion of Jesus (Lk.24:13ff).  They were disappointed!  They had believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the long-awaited Messiah - but He had been crucified by the Roman authorities, at the instigation of the Jewish leadership.
Then, Jesus appeared, and walked beside them.  It was near dusk.  They didn't realise Who He was.  He asked about the cause of their dejection - and they told Him!

What did He do?  He went straight to the written Word of God and, beginning with the Torah, and the books of the prophets, He explained the references to Himself.  What a Bible Study - given by the Author!  When we are disappointed, it helps to go back to the Word - and we have the writings of the New Covenant that wasn't available to them.

They arrived at their home and, with typical Eastern hospitality, they invited this Stranger to lodge with them for the night.  He accepted their invitation and, again as would have been customary, was invited to say the prayer of blessing over the food as they sat down to supper.  It was at this point that they recognised Him - and then He vanished!  They reflected on their experience: "Didn't our hearts burn within us as we walked with Him on the road?"  Wasn't it wonderful?  Didn't we have a great experience with Him?

Immediately, they put their outdoor clothing on again, and headed back to Jerusalem to share their news with their brothers and sisters in Christ.  Fellowship - with the Lord, and with one another.  That's the second thing I would suggest, as we seek to deal with our disappointments.

The third suggestion is to look forward to the resurrection.  These two disciples were now convinced that Jesus had risen from the dead.  This realisation put everything that they had experienced into a new perspective!  If Jesus was alive, then the future was assured.  Their lives weren't over - they were just beginning!  The Christian Faith wasn't defeated - it had just experienced the greatest victory!  Today really is the first day of the rest of your life.

So, whatever happens to you; whatever disappointments may come your way:
look back to the Word;
look around to the fellowship;
look ahead to the resurrection.

Nothing will hurt very long when you are able to do all of that!

In His Presence

A visitor to The White House once asked President Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Why, Mr President, do you keep that frail, sickly man, Harry Hopkins, constantly at your elbow?"  Without a moment's hesitation, the President replied, "Sir, through these doors flows an incessant stream of men and women who, almost invariably, want soemthing from me.  Harry Hopkins desires only to serve me.  To do that well, he must keep close by me!"

As disciples of Jesus, we need to live in intimate fellowship with the Lord if our service is to be fully effective.  The written Word of God makes it clear that we must constantly examine ourselves (see, e.g. I Cor.11:28) - not in order that we might go "down the tube" but that, by the grace of God, we might rid ourselves of "... the sin that so easily entangles ..." (Heb.12:1).  Writing to his young "son in the faith", Timothy, the great apostle Paul reminds us that it is only as we are sanctified (made more like Jesus) by the working of God the Holy Spirit in our lives, that we will be "... instrument[s] for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." (II Tim.2:21).

Whilst certain qualifications are necessary if we are to be fruitful in the Lord's service, they do not need to include great learning, or outstanding talent and ability.  Indeed, He often chooses "... the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; ... the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (I Cor.1:27).  It is when we no longer put confidence in our own strength, but spend time in intimate fellowship with Jesus, that His power will begin to operate effectively through us.  It is by dwelling with the King, in holy fellowship, that we not only doscover His will, but also receive the strength to be obedient to it.

And a thought:  "Effective service results when I allow Jesus to live His life through me."

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!