Prayer, and Meditation.

Some weeks ago, in my French language blog, I published a post entitled "Pray without ceasing" (in French, of course!). In it, I mentioned that one of my own problems with an extended period of prayer is that my mind tends to wander! A new friend, who receives that post link, contacted me and wrote (also in French!): "My mind also wanders when I try to meditate, apparently very normal." I did point out to my friend that, in fact, "prayer" and "meditation" are not synonymous words!

I had already prepared the post for this week but, yesterday, I received a regular e-mail that deals with the very topic of meditation. It is so good, that I am copying it, completely - with only a few changes: mostly the Scripture quotations that I am providing in the RSV translation (my personal favourite since away back in my Bible College days!), instead of the AV that the author (HMM) uses.

« “Make me understand the way of Thy precepts,and I will meditate on Thy wondrous works.” (Psalm 119:27)

The remarkable 119th Psalm, with its 22 eight-verse stanzas, is the unique “song of the word,” containing 176 testimonies or prayers concerning God’s Word—one for each verse. Eight times the word “meditate” or “meditation” is used, indicating the importance of this practice in relation to the Scriptures. In our text, its basic thrust is to exhort us to meditate on the wonderful works of God once we understand the way of His precepts.

The other seven references to meditation in this psalm are as follows: “I will meditate on Thy precepts,and fix my eyes on Thy ways.” (v. 15); “Even though princes sit plotting against me, Thy servant will meditate on Thy statutes.” (v. 23); “I revere Thy commandments, which I love,and I will meditate on Thy statutes.” (v. 48); “Let the godless be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on Thy precepts.” (v. 78); “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (v. 97); “Oh, how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” (v. 99); “My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate upon Thy promise.” (v. 148).

There is, of course, a counterfeit form of meditation (e.g., so-called transcendental meditation and other forms of mysticism), not to mention useless daydreaming. These forms of meditation involve clearing one’s mind of all subjects and allowing the mind to wander. In contrast, true, Biblical meditation involves pondering with awe and thankfulness God’s wonderful Word, His ways, and His works in connection with prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. As an exercise of the mind as well as of the spirit, it is a great blessing and most pleasing to God." »

In other words, what is often meant by "meditation" is emptying one's mind, or is maybe what I recall being introduced to almost 60 years ago - "guided thinking" (or something like that!). But "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of YHWH, and on His law he meditates day and night." (Ps.1:1-2).

Biblical meditation is actively focusing one's mind on Almighty God. There really is a big difference! It's also how we pray!

New Year anchors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An open door.

It's probably less common than it ought to be - and I have only experienced one such situation in all of my adult working life! - but, sometimes, a boss will make clear to his/her employees that, "My door is always open."

Now we know that that those words are not to be taken literally! There will be many times when the boss needs a certain amount of privacy because, for example, (s)he is working on sensitive information, or because an employee is being disciplined. We know that what the boss is really saying is "I am always available to you. I will listen to you.I will do what I can to alleviate any difficult situation." And the vast majority of employees will be grateful to have such an employer.

Have you ever noticed that, according to the Gospel records, the Lord Jesus was never asked, by the disciples, for a master-class in miracles; or a presentation on preaching; or a homily on healing? Indeed, there was only one such request made of Him: "He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”" (Luke 11:1; emphasis added).

Prayer! What an important practise for the disciple of Jesus! But what is it? Well it is, obviously, speaking - but it is speaking to Father God, in the Name of the Son (Jesus, the Christ), under the prompting of God the Holy Spirit. However, if it is, as some sceptics might suggest, merely "talking to the ceiling", then it would certainly be a waste of time and effort. But is this truly the case?

John records, in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus, the Christ: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the Holy One, the True One, Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut;” (Rev.3:7-8; emphasis added).

Now those highlighted words are generally taken as referring to opportunities to minister and evangelise for the Philadelphian fellowship. However, I believe that we may also take them as a more general reference to prayer. How many, in the persecuted church, know this truth. They may be denied a Bible, or even a few portions of the Scriptures; they may be physically isolated from their brothers and sisters in Jesus; they may be denied food, water, even sleep; but no-one can stop them from praying! No mortal is capable of shutting that open door!

When I come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, I know that I have an open door that no man can shut. And, unlike any earthly boss, I may take those words literally. It doesn't matter where I am. It doesn't matter what time of day it is. It doesn't matter if I am going to throw up a quick "arrow prayer", or whether I am going into a period of deep intercession. Always, His door is open.

And He always answers. Yes - always! I have often heard people claim that "I prayed, and God didn't answer!" I have also heard some say, joyfully that "God answered my/our prayer!" - the implication being that, on other occasions, He had failed to do so!

The truth is that we often think that our prayers have been answered only when we receive that for which we had prayed. However, no loving father responds positively to every request made. I am a father, and would not have done so with my children. Why not? Simply because of my greater knowledge, and experience, of life!

Father God is the one "from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named," (Eph.3:15), and He is infinitely more knowledgeable than any of His children. More than that, He can do what no earthly father can do - He sees all of time at once and so, He knows the future every bit as well as He does the past. And so, He sometimes answers our prayers with "No! I know that that is not for you." Other times, He answers with "Wait! This is not the right time." But always, He answers, as He brings about His perfect will and purpose.

And always, but always, His door is open to those who come to Him, not claiming anything of their own, but only the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. Let us pray!

Guidance - Pt.4

As we continue with this little series on the important subject of guidance in our individual lives, I wish to share with you three means of guidance that are, effectively, available only to the true disciple of Jesus. I say "effectively" because, of course, some of them are used by even previously-proclaimed "atheists" and agnostics - but, in their cases, they are not of any real effect!

The first of these additional means of guidance is, not surprisingly, prayer. Some may remember the words from the old hymn: "What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer." Now that word "everything" includes matters on which we require guidance. So, when I have an important decision to make, I take it to the Lord in prayer. "Am I to go to Bible College, Lord?" "Is this girl the one whom you have chosen to be my wife?" "Do you really want us to move to France, and live there?" And He guides - sometimes giving me the answer even as I pray; more usually, making use of one, or more, of the other methods we are considering.

Another means of guidance is, of course, the Bible - God's written Word to humanity. It is through it that He speaks to us all concerning our sinful state, and His great plan of salvation in Jesus. But He only speaks to us through it as we become familiar with it! There is little point in asking the Father for guidance on a particular matter by lifting a dusty copy of the Bible from a shelf; closing your eyes; opening it at random; and stabbing your finger down on the page! The story is told of one man who did just that and, when he opened his eyes, found that his finger was right on top of Matt.27:5 where are recorded the words concerning Judas Iscariot: "he went out and hanged himself." This, quite obviously, was not good guidance; God wasn't "on form" today! So he tried again - only to find that, this time, his finger rested on Luke 10:37 where we read  Jesus' words to a certain lawyer: "Go, and do likewise"!

But often, when we are sincere in our reading, and study, of God's Word, He speaks clearly to us through it. "Nobody", it has been said, "can read the Bible devoutly, and not learn much about God, about himself, and about his fellows. Nobody who seriously seeks divine guidance, can neglect this most rich and sure way to it."

The third means of guidance which is especially for the disciple of Jesus - while not denied to the unbeliever - is the Christian Fellowship. I may have a particular fault of which I am, genuinely, unaware. But if I am part of a vital Christian fellowship, then there will be those who, in love - and that is extremely important! - will gently point out that fault to me.

Or it may be a call to a particular area of service that comes through the need of the fellowship, and to which I am introduced more easily because of the support of the fellowship. Or, again, it may be confirmation, or otherwise, of guidance that I bellieve I have received by another means. In the "Book of Discipline" of the Society of Friends (better known to some as the Quakers) are these wise words:

"Inward guidance does not mean unchecked individualism, for the follower of the light will be continually correcting his first perception of it by a fuller experience, and by that of others who have followed it more faithfully." Often it is the fellowship that is able to help me to distinguish the true voice of God from the murmurs of vanity and self-will!

Sometimes, it is just one person who brings a word from the Lord. I have certainly experienced that! It was in 1982. Friends of long standing were coming to visit my wife and me. The husband, I knew, had a strong prophetic ministry (remember that prophecy is, more often, forthtelling than foretelling!) and, during the day, I had a very real sense that he was going to bring a word from the Lord for me. As soon as he and his wife arrived, I asked him if he did, indeed, have a word for me. I confess to having been very disappointed when he answered in the negative.

After our meal, the four of us were sitting chatting, as friends do. Suddenly, Ray said, "Brian, you asked me if I had a word from the Lord for you. My answer was true - but it wasn't the whole truth. What He had said was that He would, in the course of the evening, give me a word for you. I believe that I now have it." "Okay," I responded, "so let me have it!" "It is," said Ray, "a bit of a hand-grenade!" "That's okay", I replied, "I can handle it." I had no idea as to what was coming. I should also explain that, although I was no longer in a full-time pastoral ministry, I was preaching regularly for a number of local fellowships - and greatly enjoying doing so. Ray looked at me, and said, "The Lord says that you have to give up your preaching ministry."

This was, some will recall, the year of the Falklands Conflict. I looked at Ray. "That," I said, "is no hand-grenade. That is an Exocet missile!" 

However, suddenly, preaching invitations dried up. I was struggling with this whole idea. I knew (and know!) that I was no Wesley, or Spurgeon; no Peter, or Paul. But I also knew that my messages were always grounded firmly on the Word of God, and that my ministry was usually acceptable. What could I do? 

One night as I was preparing to go to bed, my wife suddenly asked me what I was doing about Ray's word. I told her that I was struggling , "But," I said, "that verse from the hymn keeps going through my head « But we never shall know the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay. For the favour He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for those who will trust and obey. ». And," I continued, "that word « all » is in giant fiery letters!" I think that it was that night that I did finally surrender my preaching ministry. I simply said that I didn't honestly know if I was saying the words with my heart, or only with my mind, but that if that was what He wanted, I would never preach again.

That was forty years ago - but within a week, the 'phone started ringing again with preaching invitations. I have been preaching fairly regularly ever since - mostly, at this time, in French! I often think of that particular episode in my life as my "Abraham, Mt Moriah, experience" (read Gen.22:1-13).

Guidance - available in so many different ways. Are you seeking that guidance today?

Next week, DV, we will look at how we may test the guidance that we believe we have received! 

The return of - not the Jedi, but "yours truly"!

Well, after a very lengthy absence - four months to be precise! - I have again gained access to my Google accounts - including this one. I confess to not even having been aware that this was a Google site and, when I lost access to my gmail account, thought that I could, at the very least, keep up with posts here. How wrong can one be?! I have actually been able to access since Dec.15th, but "inherited" more than 3,400 emails that awaited my attention and, of course, as quickly as I deleted those that were out of date, others were coming in!

So, here I am, on Ne'erday (New Year's Day for those unfamiliar with the Scottish expression!), with the first of what I trust will continue to be my weekly posts for 2022.

In Luke 5:4, we read these words of the Lord Jesus to Simon Peter: "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." A carpenter telling a fisherman where to catch fish! The background to the advice is that Peter, and his friends had been fishing all night, and caught nothing (v.5). Indeed, when Jesus had arrived at the spot on the shore of the lake of Gennesaret, they were washing their nets, and it was Peter's boat that Jesus had used as a "pulpit" to teach the crowd of people who were wanting to hear the Word of God. Peter, however, responded: "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." The result was miraculous! "And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, " (vs.6-7).

Why did these fishermen have to go out to the deeper water? Because when you want what you don't have - in this case, fish! - you've got to risk going where you haven't yet been! Some may have heard of, or even read, the book by John Ortberg - "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat". This also involves dear Simon Peter and, again, he has to be obedient, even if all of his previous experience tells him that what he is about to do is a waste of time!

This is, of course, for many businesses a time to take stock. In such businesses, the directors wish to find out how their business has fared – has it progressed; has it done better than it did last year; can they report an increase in profits to the shareholders?

I suggest that it is a good time for us, too, to take stock spiritually.  We should ask ourselves if there has been any improvement, any progress, in our spiritual lives; if we are walking any closer to the Lord now than we were a year ago? That, of course, has to do with our sanctification. And sanctification may be simply defined as “becoming more like Jesus – day by day”, something that happens only by the working of God the Holy Spirit within us.

If a business is failing, or if there has not been satisfactory progress, then new policies, or a new manager, will be required. If there has been no progress in your spiritual life, or in mine, then the same solution will apply.

For the true disciple of Jesus, the new policies will often centre around our attitude to, and out time spent in, prayer and Bible Study. It is even possible that there are some who would refer to themselves as “Christians” for whom the need is greater submission to the true ‘Manager’ – the Lord Jesus. For the unbeliever, I would claim that that is the only solution. 

A new year! What will it bring? That is something that I am unable to say - indeed, that no-one is able to say with absolute certainty! However, as I quoted at the end of our annual newsletter, sent out just before Christmas, “I don't know what the future may hold, but I know Who holds the future.” (Ralph Abernethy, Martin Luther King's chief aide and closest associate.). For those who are disciples of the Lord Jesus, the Christ, that is our great strength and encouragement. 

I wish each and all, a happy, healthy, and hope-filled year. 

Do you have time - for God?!

Clearing out my Inbox, I came across this from many years ago (yes, I'm a hoarder - ask my wife!). Rather than send it as an e-mail, I thought that I would edit it, and post it on the blog. I hope that you will read to the end!

When faced with the subject of "God", many of us think: I don't have time for this. This is especially true if the topic arises when we are at work! It's really inappropriate. However, could it possibly be that this kind of thinking is exactly what has caused a lot of the problems in our world today?

We try to keep God in church on Sunday morning,
maybe, Sunday evening,
and at a midweek service (unlikely 'though that is today!).

We do like to have Him around during sickness
and, of course, at funerals.
However, we don't have time, or room, for Him during work or play,
because that's the part of our lives we think we can, and should, handle on our own.
May God forgive me for ever thinking
that there is a time or place where..
HE is not to be First in my life.
We should always have time to remember all that HE has done for us.

Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."
Not ashamed?

Yes, I do love God.
HE is my source of existence and Saviour.
He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I would be nothing but, with Christ, I am constantly strengthened. (Phil 4:13)

Easy vs. Hard

Why is it so hard to tell the truth, and yet so easy to tell a lie?
Why are we so sleepy in church but right when the sermon is over we suddenly wake up?
Why is it so easy to delete a Godly e-mail, yet forward nasty ones?
Of all the free gifts we may receive, Prayer is the very best.   
There are no costs, but wonderful rewards. GOD BLESS!

Some additional thoughts: 

Isn't it strange how simple it is for people to trash God, and then wonder why the world's going to hell in a handcart?  

Isn't it strange how someone can say "I believe in God", but still follow the satan! (who, by the way, also "believes" in God)?
  
Isn't it strange how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing? 

Isn't it strange how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

Digging for treasure.

When my grandson was much younger, and we happened to be at the beach, he loved to collect odd-shaped stones; pieces of wood; and other bits and pieces. They were, he would inform me, "treasure". Well, at about three years of age, that was understandable. However, if we want real treasure, with a real financial value, we usually have to dig for it. As the old proverb puts it: "There's no gain without pain."!

The same is true if we want to gain from the written Word of God. Profitable Bible reading, and study, involves more than just randomly opening a chapter and reading what's there. Many years ago, I was given these seven guidelines to help us make the most of our reading, and study, of the Bible:

1. Set aside a regular time. If you fail to schedule it, you'll neglect it. If, for whatever reason, you are obliged to miss that time, then be sure to read at some other point in the same day!

2. Before you commence reading, prayerfully ask Father God to guide you in your reading, through God the Holy Spirit.

3. Think carefully about what it is you are reading. Not all of the Bible's treasures are lying, like those beach pebbles, on the surface. To get at gold, and diamonds, we have to dig!

4. Try to understand what the human author was saying to his contemporary readers, before deciding how to apply the words to your own situation. (This is where a good commentary may be particularly useful!).

5. Write down at least one truth, or principle, that you can out into practice. You may do this in a separate notebook, or in the margin of your Bible (especially if you have a "wide-margin" Bible).

6. Use different translations of the Bible. If you find that you are just 'skimming' over a well-known passage, read it in a different version. This may help to focus your mind on the passage in a new way.

7. Don't get discouraged! Some parts of the Bible are more immediately interesting than others - e.g. the history and narrative sections are more easily read than the genealogies, and the sacrificial laws. Some parts you may not immediately understand. However, there is enough that you will be able to understand - and it will revolutionise your life as you apply it.

Just one final thought of my own! During my time as a Chaplain to the former Strathclyde Police Force, I picked up a lot about police procedures! In any police investigation, the evidence is seldom going to be sitting there, screaming to be picked up! Officers expect to have to dig, and delve; to ask questions; to sift through evidence - and on more than one occasion! Those are good principles to add to the above!

In my own personal devotions, I am currently reading in the Book of Proverbs. May I suggest that you read Proverbs 2:1-9, keeping the above principles in mind? Then, to morrow, start at the beginning of Mark's account of the Gospel. You will begin to discover the treasures of the Bible!

The Romans' Road, Part 2

In yesterday's post, I introduced the Romans' Road - a 'map' that uses Paul's great Letter to the early disciples of Jesus, in the city of Rome, to set out a path, or road, to full salvation.

In that post, we had looked at the need to believe that Almighty God exists; the need to realise that you and I are sinners who need forgiveness; and the need to accept that Father God, out of His great love for us, has demonstrated that love by providing the potential for a new life, in Him, through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus, the Christ - Almighty God in the very human flesh that He had created.

However, as we move on to step 4, we need to realise that knowledge without action is of no use at all! If we remain sinners, we will die both physically (as is the lot of everyone until the rapture of the saints) and spiritually. However, if we repent of our sins, and accept the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we shall have, here and now, eternal life - that is, the very life of Almighty God in us! 

So Paul writes: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 6:23). Centuries before, the Jewish prophet Isaiah had written these inspired words: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you so that He does not hear." (Isa 59:1-2). This is an Old Testament call to repentance! 

Perhaps the best-know words from the New Testament - John 3:16 - go further than those specific words: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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." (John 3:16-18). Please note the high-lighted words. That word "have" is in the present tense. That means, as I have indicated above, that the new life in Jesus is not just something for after our physical death. It's something that we experience, and enjoy, here and now! And notice the phrase that is highlighted. Again, the tense is the present. When I believe (and the Greek word could be translated "have faith in" or "put my trust in") the Lord Jesus, I am no longer under Gods' condemnation! What an offer! And it is free to all who come to Jesus, in simple faith; confessing, and repenting of, their sin; and asking for His salvation!  

Step 5 is simple to understand - but not always easy to do! Paul writes: "... if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved." (Rom 10:9-11). Oh, and ladies - "man" is used here generically, so you are fully included! Paul further writes, to the disciples of Jesus in Ephesus: "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." (Eph 2:8-9). This is a reminder that we bring nothing to our salvation - except the sin, and sinfulness, from which we need to be saved. All is of Him - His love; His grace.

That leads us on to Step 6. There are no special rituals; there is no "magic formula"; "... there is no distinction ...; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him. For, 'every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved'." (Rom 10:12-13). 

The final step encourages you to determine, in your own heart, to make Jesus, the Christ, Lord of your life - today! "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).

The "Romans' Road" shows you the pathway. Are you ready to set out on that path? If you have decided to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour, and Lord, then may I welcome you to the biggest, and most wonderful, family in the world?! May I also encourage you to follow up on your commitment, and grow closer to Him by:

• telling someone else about your new faith, and life, in Jesus;
• being baptised, on your own confession of faith, as commanded in the Scriptures;
• spending time with God, each day, by reading His Word, and praying to Him. This doesn't need to be a long time, at the beginning, although as you are drawn ever closer to Him, you will discover that you want to spend more time in His presence!;
• seeking fellowship with other genuine disciples of Jesus. This is often done, most easily by
• finding a local group of believers, who accept the Bible as God's Word, and who seek to live by its teaching, in the power of God the Holy Spirit. I would be happy to help you find such a group in your area. Sadly, just as not every person who claims to be a "Christian" is a genuine disciple of Jesus, so not every group that refers to itself as "church" is Christ-, and Bible-centred!

It's a wonderful life, That I have been travelling for, now, more than sixty years. I have not been Jesus' best disciple - but that's why I am so glad that my salvation depends, not on anything that I may have achieved, but solely, and completely, on His finished work on the cross of Calvary. 

Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus.

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.

He hears me!

Having spent a goodly number of years in the classrooms of various State Secondary Schools in central Scotland, I have observed different kinds of pupils. Reading an article earlier this week reminded me of one particular type, who might well be referred to as the "There's only the teacher and me in the class" pupil. This pupil has a personal conversation with the teacher - almost as if there was no-one else in the class. For example, even a rhetorical question posed by the teacher will illicit an immediate response from this pupil. While the classroom is filled with his/her peers, this pupil lives in a little world of his/her own - and the teacher!

However, I would suggest that a pupil like that has something to teach some disciples of Jesus about the important subject of prayer! I wonder if you have ever thought that, with millions of other believers praying as you pray; speaking with Father God (to Whom, by the way, all prayer should be directed! We pray to the Father, in the Name of the Son, by the leading of the Spirit!) at the same moment that you are speaking with Him; your prayer is perhaps less important? After all, I know that my personal prayers, while important to me, and to those for whom I pray, are not in the same "class" as those of a brother or sister in the Lord Jesus who is undergoing torture.

That, of course, is totally wrong! As we talk with our omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, God we may be confident that He is giving us - each and every one of us - His full attention! Sometimes, in class, I would ask a general question, and twenty hands would be raised. I am but a human, and could ask only one pupil to provide the answer. Our God is far above and beyond our human capabilities. He is God! He hears, and can listen, to each one who comes to Him in the name of the Son. He directs single-minded attention towards our praise; our petitions; our concerns.

When you pray, it is as if you are the only person in the world who is doing so! Even although millions are "bending His ear" in prayer, He listens to each one, individually! Quel Dieu! (What a God!). May we take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity to commune with the Creator of all that exists.

Let us pray!

The bombs on Resurrection Day

I had wondered how I might respond to the terrible news of the bombings in Sri Lanka on Resurrection Day. Then I came across this article, penned by a Sri Lankan brother in the Lord Jesus. Rather than try to produce something from afar, I am reproducing it, from one who is close to the situation.

Article by 

Ajith Fernando,

Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka

While most Christians in Sri Lanka were in church yesterday morning, celebrating the risen Christ on Easter Sunday, bombs went off in four of our cities (Kochchikade, Negombo, Batticaloa, and Colombo), targeting churches and hotels. The latest figures seem to leave us with at least 290 dead and 500 injured from the eight bombings. Some arrests have been made.

There are hints emerging as to who is responsible for the attacks, but I do not want to speculate too much on that and unnecessarily implicate those who are not involved in this crime. It is better to be safe and remain silent than to give false witness, which is a serious sin. We pray that God would guide the security officials to whom he has given the authority to be agents of his wrath, punishing wrongdoers (Romans 13:3–4). As for Christians, we will do what we can to be agents of peace in our fractured land (Romans 12:14–21).

Close to Home

The Zion church in Batticaloa, where at least 28 were killed (including many children), is a vibrant church at which I have preached several times. The pastor was out of the country at the time of the bomb blast. The sister of our Youth for Christ leader in Eastern Sri Lanka, Thamendran, was worshiping there and is fighting for her life in the hospital, with serious head injuries.

A young man from our sports ministry lost one of his legs in the Colombo explosion. A neighbor couple of ours and their daughter died, and their young son is in the hospital. As far as we know, there is one former Youth for Christ clubber who died in Colombo.

Five Ways to Pray

While it may seem foolish to spend time praying when there is a crisis around us, this is the most powerful thing God’s people can do in a national crisis (2 Kings 19). We need to mobilize individual and corporate prayer among Christians.

1. For Holy-Love

Please pray that the church would act with maturity, reflecting the holy-love of God: on the one hand, insisting that the authorities will carry out a thoroughgoing investigation and will punish the wrongdoers; and on the other hand, personally and corporately showing love to all, including our enemies. We cannot afford to let hatred blunt our witness. God will judge the wicked, and he will do that often through government institutions. Our belief in the doctrine of judgment takes away our bitterness over gross sinfulness like this. On our part, we do what we can do, and that is to love our enemies.

2. For Faithfulness

Pray that the church would faithfully carry out its calling to be an agent of healing in broken situations. Individually, we can get close to suffering people. I prayed with my Hindu neighbor this morning when he came home to tell me that his sister had died in the blast. We also can get involved in a more corporate way in bigger projects.

3. For Healing

Pray for the injured and for their speedy recovery, and pray for the medical services to do their work well.

Pray also for the emotionally scarred and for their steady recovery. This is a time when we can be agents of the God of all comfort through our listening and ministering (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

4. For Comfort and Strength

Pray for God’s comfort and strength to the many Christian and non-Christian people who have been devastated by the loss of their loved ones.

5. Against Unrest

Pray that extremist forces would not use these incidents to cause unrest in the country. Christians can act as moderating agents because, while we may be enraged by what happened, we are freed from bitterness as we know that a just God who controls history is greater than the problems.

We look at everything in life through the lens of our belief in a God who is holy-love. We know that he judges the wicked, and so we are not bitter. We know that he loves the world and that we are called to be agents of that love. This drives us to action. But we don’t do so with a defeatist attitude. We know that God is building his kingdom, culminating in the return of Christ, and that our actions are building blocks in this process.

Holy-love must win in the end! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).

Ajith Fernando is the teaching director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka. He served as the ministry’s national director for 35 years. He is the author of seventeen books, including Discipling in a Multicultural World, and lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with his wife. They have two adult children and four grandchildren.

Please pray for me.

It's been too long since I last published a post on my blog! In fact, I haven't done so since last year!! So, safely back home, and having caught up on a lot of other essentials, it's time to do some serious work. The subject of this post is the very important one of prayer.

The apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, asked his Christian friends in the great Roman metropolis to pray for him: "I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company." (Rom 15:30-32).

Paul asked these fellow-believers in the capital city of the Roman Empire to join with him in prayer as he anticipated his visit to Jerusalem with the contributions he had gathered from Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. He not only needed deliverance from hostile opponents, but desired also that his service among the saints of God (i.e. every one who has come to Father God in repentance, and faith, accepting the salvation so graciously offered through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus at Calvary) would be acceptable. He fully believed that the Lord works when His people spend time in earnest intercession for others. He then expected that he would be able to joyfully travel to Rome and find further refreshment in the company of the disciples of Jesus who dwelt there.

The whole story is recorded in Acts 21:17 - 28:16, but you must look that up, and read it in a Bible, as it is too much for me to put into a post! Things didn't work out quite as Paul had expected! However, what we must emphasise is that he submits himself, with his whole being, to the sovereign will of Almighty God for life, and death, and eternity. That is why he writes "... by God's will ..."!

One day, a humble labourer was on his knees smashing stones on an anvil, when his pastor came by. Impressed by the man's untiring effort, the pastor exclaimed, "John, how I wish that that I could break hard hearts the way you break those stones!" John immediately responded: "You can, pastor - but you must do it on your knees."! Every disciple of Jesus who longs to be truly effective in touching lives for the Master, must learn this lesson - a lesson that is not easy to learn!

Intercessory prayer is a wonderful source of strength and encouragement to those who are brought to the Throne of Grace. One minister of the Gospel records that one of the greatest blessings he ever received came at the bedside of an elderly, and infirm, woman whom he had visited. After he had prayed with her, she placed her hand on his and said: "Now, pastor, let me pray for you." She did so and, then informed him that she had been faithfully praying for him for the past ten years! He left that home greatly renewed in his own spirit.

A Scandinavian pastor preached before a congregation to which my wife and I belonged, many many years ago. I regret to have to confess that I remember little of his message. However, what I do recall is of great importance, as he encouraged us to specifically inform brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus when we were praying for them! What we might term "the other side of that coin" is that, like Paul, we should not be hesitant in asking fellow-believers to pray for us!

A final thought for this post. In his commentary on the great Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus, Raymond Brown makes this heart-searching statement: "To be prayerless is to be guilty of the worst form of practical atheism." Someone else has written, conversely, that the best way of influencing others for God, is to uphold them, in prayer, before God!

Please pray for me!

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

It would be nice to be able to claim that the heading to this post is original! It isn't - but it surely sums up the results of Thursday's General Election from a Conservative Party perspective. When Mrs May(be; maybe not) decided (having constantly said that she would not do so) to go to the country, the Conservatives had a substantial lead, in the polls, over Labour. During the campaigning period, the PM seemed to work hard at reducing that lead - and, in that she did have considerable success! The result is that we have a minority government in Westminster, dependant upon the DUP to survive! Now, if "the big fella" (aka the Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley, decd.) was still in charge, that would be, in my opinion, a much more interesting situation!

So what went wrong? Well, political pundits have been speculating on that for more than 24 hours and, from the perspective of most (all?!) of them, their conclusions may have much validity. One could say, fairly, that the PM was badly advised. It might be claimed that she ought not to have called the General Election in the first place. Many believe that she is as dithering, and useless, a PM as she was Home Secretary. "She was a dreadful Home Secretary, she has been a dreadful Prime Minister and dreadful election party leader who ran a dreadful election campaign." (Melanie Phillips). There are those who claim that the Labour campaign was much better than anyone had expected - and, of course, the sudden "illness" of the Shadow Home Secretary, and her immediate replacement, was certainly a master-stroke!

However, if we step back, and seek to look at the situation from a different perspective, is it possible that we are simply seeing the hand of Almighty God in all of this? I believe that this is most certainly the case. The big question, in my mind, is: "Is it the hand of judgement on a nation that has turned its back upon Him, and departed so far from His ways?" As I read that the Episcopal Church (ought that word to be placed within quotation marks?!) in Scotland has joined the Kirk in its acceptance of so-called "marriage" for homosexuals and lesbians - with the Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow stating that: “it's time for the church to celebrate what is celebrated in secular society” (rather than seeking to challenge secular society with the full Gospel of the Lord Jesus, the Christ); as I see the increasing marginalisation of the Judaeo-Christian heritage that has shaped so much of our nation's history; as I watch, with great sadness, the deliberate corruption of children with "transgenderism" being introduced to even primary schools; as I am aware of the way in which Islam is constantly deferred to (not least by the current PM, especially when she was HS!); I am inclined to answer that question positively. 

So what do we do in such a situation? Thankfully, it is not without precedent. As we read the pages of the Tanakh (the "Old Testament") we discover that the nation of Israel often came under the judgement of Almighty God. (see, e.g. Isaiah 5:5-7). This should not have surprised them! Words that are often quoted out of context are "... if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (II Chron.7:14). But, as always, context is important! So we read in the previous verse, the words of YHWH: "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, ..." In other words, the promise is a response to a nation that has suffered judgement. 

The following verses are also important: "... if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from the land which I have given you; and this house, which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And at this house, which is exalted, every one passing by will be astonished, and say, ‘Why has YHWH done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they forsook YHWH, the God of their fathers, Who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this evil upon them.’” (vs.19-22).

In days past, we had leaders who were neither ashamed, nor afraid, to call for a national day of prayer for the nation. I know that, in a number of church buildings, on Thursday, people were gathering to pray - not for any particular party or individual, but that God's will might be fully accomplished. I choose to believe that His will is, indeed, being fulfilled in this day and age, as in any other.

In my personal devotions, every day, I pray for this nation and its leaders. I pray that the Lord will raise up men and women of faith and integrity to positions of secular power, and influence, and authority. I pray that the nation will be hauled back from the brink of godless disaster. I pray that it will become a nation in which the Name of Jesus is respected by all, and honoured and exalted, by many.

Will you join with me in praying in such a way? Perhaps, if we do, we will discover that the Lord Who judges is also loving and merciful and gracious - and be, once again, the recipients of that love, and mercy, and grace. It will be for our good - and for His eternal glory.

Shut that door!

"Shut that door!" was the name given to a British comedy talk show hosted by Larry Grayson in the seventies.  I don't recall ever having watched the show, but the words also became something of a "catch-phrase" among the general public.

Why would we want to shut a door? Well, there are many reasons. If it is an outside door, it may well be to stop a draught. We think of a closed door as a means of keeping out those who are unwelcome. I recall being on holiday, many years ago, in a certain seaside town in Scotland. We must have only arrived on a Saturday evening but, for whatever reason, we did not know the time at which the worship service commenced for the local church with which we had decided to meet on the Sunday morning. We arrived at the building in what we thought would be plenty of time. However, we then discovered that the service commenced fifteen minutes earlier than we had anticipated - and that, already, the doors were shut! We were less than impressed!

However, a shut door may also signify that we desire to be shut in with someone who is very dear to us, and with whom we wish to spend time without any interruption. This, of course, is the sense in which the Lord Jesus spoke of the need for seclusion if His disciple wants deep, and sweet, communion with God in prayer.

In what we know as "the Sermon on the Mount", Jesus told the people that, when they pray, they should go into their room and shut the door! The word translated "room" means "a place of retirement and privacy." In the privacy of their own room - or, if one does not have a room of one's own, in any private and secluded place - the Heavenly Father will meet with His child in holy intimacy. By the very act of deliberately closing themselves off from everything outside, one is better able to be in a position of openness to God.

Of course, as I reminded the congregation on Sunday, the devil doesn't like it when we pray; and I know from personal experience how easily distracting thoughts fill my mind as I seek to do so. These are, usually, perfectly acceptable thoughts - but they are still a distraction!

This practice of drawing aside is illustrated, to some extent, by the event recorded in John 20:19. Following the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples met, in seclusion, because they feared that their enemies. John records: "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”" (emphasis added). We might say that, when we shut ourselves off from the world, behind our shut door, in prayer, that it is an invitation to the risen Lord to fellowship with us! In the solitude of what we used to call the "Quiet Time", He may meet with His disciple in a special way, and bring strength to a needy heart.

By separating yourself from the din and distraction of people and things you will demonstrate how important is communion with Him; and you will be better able to both open yourself to Him, and hear His response in your heart. That, I would claim, is when you will find power to live for Him.