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Friday, October 28, 2016

The Ancient book

Is the Bible relevant to everyday living? Or is it just a Sunday service book? Or a book for religion? Or a book only for pastors and clergy?

 My answer in brief is – Yes, it is very relevant for the everyday living of everyone.

There are many reasons to read, study and meditate on the Bible. For example, it is prime reading for lawmakers, judges and lawyers. My High School teacher recommended it as a text of quality English! It contains unique poetry and prose along with stories vivid and exciting enough for any child or adult. For those into health considerations, it has so many directives – especially cleanliness and sanitation (two of the world’s greatest problems). As to social order, it is second to none in giving direction as to justice, harmony and peace. For historians, it is a gold mine.

No wonder it is still the world’s best seller!

Pardon me for using my personal experience to illustrate the point of relevance.:
It gives purpose, motivation and direction in life. Do I raise my children for my selfish or their selfish purposes- no . The scriptures call to a more noble purpose, to honour the Lord. In marriage the Bible directs me away from my natural instinct of passive aggression, to love like Christ loved, even when I don’t feel like it. The stresses and temptations of operating a business are many, but he Bible guides me away from dishonesty and greed. How shall I relate to other people?- promoting myself as the source of all knowledge and authority? Well that is natural enough, but the word and example of the Lord changes that to meekness and humility like the Lord Himself. He even challenges me to love my enemies.

The wonder of the Bible (compared with others), is that it is ever fresh with words of illumination, hope and encouragement. After 50 years of reading it, it  is not dull or boring but alive with renewing light.

Beyond and above all the present practical relevance, it brightly shines with spiritual light concerning Jesus Christ the Lord. To know Him, to yield to Him, to worship and serve Him gives life its true meaning.
This unique book is largely sought after as the media by which God speaks to people. As history it records God speaking to individuals and to the nations. The final focus is of God speaking to the whole world through the appearance of His Son, Jesus Christ. The words of the Lord Jesus along with His actions remain today the greatest communication humanity has ever received. Many are offended by the words of the Lord Jesus, but millions read and reread His words for the intense blessing they give to every circumstance in every nation and in every age.

The teaching of the Apostles, enhance the Christian dialogue. How unusual, yet how real is the experience that by reading this ancient book, we can again hear the word  ‘from my Lord’!  It is the Holy Spirit that makes these words so relevant  and precious to so many people across the world.

If you do not have a Bible to read, send me an email as I have some spares to give away.


johnmckee@internode.on.net

Monday, October 24, 2016

God

God is the one who is high and lifted up. This greatness has not been achieved, nor can it be taken away.

I am reflecting on the Bible verse – Isaiah 57.15

God lives in Eternity. He is not bound by time and space
.
God is holy. The flow and ebb of good and bad does not change Him. He remains distinctly apart from all evil.

God lives in a place high and holy. As the creator of the universe, He is outside of it, yet this same verse reveals that He chooses to live with those  “of a contrite and lowly spirit.”
Although He is so great, so holy, so all knowing, He has this purpose:
“To revive the spirit of the lowly
       To revive the heart of the contrite ones.”


And He does  - seek Him today and prove for yourself the reality of His nearness.

John McKee

Friday, October 21, 2016

Why



 ‘Going our own way’

Some of the reasons why people do not believe.

1.       The Lord Jesus was too lowly, too insignificant to the big thinking people. The prophet asked – ‘Who has believed our report?’  - so few believed  because His appearing on earth was meek and lowly. He was to most people a nobody, coming from nowhere. To the religious Jews He was a stumbling block and to the Gentiles it was foolishness.

2.     To  some He is too great – to believe in Him means change. To acknowledge that I am wrong, that His word is true and His authority is complete, is more than human pride allows.

3.     So many more reasons: to please a spouse, afraid of change, confused by multiple religions, hurt by a church, a past life to hide, objecting to hypocrisy, choosing to stand aloof from Christianity, preoccupied with other things or money.
The Lord Jesus told a story of a wedding feast. Some were invited, but they made excuse. “They paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business while the rest seized his servants and treated them shamefully” (Matthew 22)

Perhaps you could add to the list! I would be interested to know!

Well after all the excuses,  remember the Lord Jesus Christ continues to say:
“Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11;28).

It is human nature to blame others, but finally we will face the Lord Jesus for our own decision.  How tragic for Him to say “I never knew you”. He is for you. God loves you. This is not about choosing a church or pleasing people. It is about  a direct connection with the Lord Jesus. Take time out today to kneel and pray:   ‘Lord I need you. I need your forgiveness, I need your love, mercy and grace. Lord I trust you to save me, to belong to you forever. Thank you for coming from heaven to die for me,  and now I believe in You as my Lord and my Saviour.’
Remember the promise:

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  -Romans 10.13

I give this warning  because I care.
John McKee

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

News - the best

Good news

What is it that makes God’s gospel so special?

Firstly it is the kind of love that God gives.
Secondly it is the unworthiness of the ones loved.
Thirdly it is the end result to which the love works.

Let me explain:
      “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3.16)
God finds our world so distressing that in His holiness, He should judge it. The rebellion and idolatry of the people He created is offensive to His nature, yet instead of executing judgement speedily, His love to human beings has found a way that they be reconciled. The way: - He gave His  Son – the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot measure how great the gift God gave – His dearly beloved Son.

       “ God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Sin, wrong doing, self-will, greed, arrogance, disobedience etc deserve to be punished, but God reacted differently. He knows the offensiveness of sin, He knows the debt of guilt that we owe and He paid the price for us. The wages of sin is death.   But God stepped in , even before we repented, and He paid the penalty by the death of His Son. “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15 ) “Christ died for us” (Romans 5.8). Let us ponder how unworthy we are.

        “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1)
How good that God forgives, but how much more He wants to give. Eternal life He promises to all who believe in His Son. But more: to those who do believe, He makes them His children. This relationship is active by the Holy Spirit and the hope of being with Christ in heaven is for sure. 

The promise is for real – “Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son does not have life”  1 John 5:12


This is indeed Good News.

JRM

johnmckee@internode.on.net 



Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Eternal Life

Eternal Life

Eternal life is both present and future

Jude 21 – “as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ, in His mercy is going to give you”
-something anticipated

1 John 5:20  “ His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God and He is eternal life.”
-         Someone to trust

John 5:24 “Those who listen to Me, and believe in God who sent Me, have eternal life”
-         Something possessed

Titus 1:2 “The confidence of eternal life”
-         Something assured

Romans 6:23 “The gift of God is eternal life”

-         Something freely given


aAnd may I encourage you to find the other mentions of 'eternal life' - you will be blessed

JRM