Listening to God

Numbers 7:89

       God spoke to Moses at a regular meeting place – a voice from between the two cherubim, which was above the mercy seat, the place of atonement.

             Whatever could that mean for us in 2016?  It is true today that God’s voice is clear and distinct at the mercy seat ( not in temples made with hands). We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are invited to come to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy (we understand our need of mercy) and grace to help in time of need. God seldom communicates to the arrogant, the demanding or the proud. He responds to those who feel their need of Him.

  

   Try reading Matthew chapter five and listen for His voice.

   Then read Hebrews  4: 14 – 16

May I encourage you to seek the Lord, on your knees, regularly in a place of quiet . God still speaks to those who take the time to listen..

J McKee 

A speaking God

        God spoke to Moses at a regular meeting place – a voice from between the two cherubim, which was above the mercy seat, the place of atonement.   (Numbers 7:89)

      Whatever could that mean for us in 2016?  It is true today that God’s voice is clear and distinct at the mercy seat ( not so much in temples made with hands). We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are invited to come to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy (we understand our need of mercy) and grace to help in time of need. God seldom communicates to the arrogant, the dNumbers 7:89

God spoke to Moses at a regular meeting place – a voice from between the two cherubim, which was above the mercy seat, the place of atonement.

Whatever could that mean for us in 2016?  It is true today that God’s voice is clear and distinct at the mercy seat ( not in temples made with hands). We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are invited to come to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy (we understand our need of mercy) and grace to help in time of need. God seldom communicates to the arrogant, the demanding or the proud. He responds to those who feel their need of Him.

Try reading Matthew chapter five and listen for His voice.

Then read Hebrews  4: 14 – 16

May I encourageNumbers 7:89

God spoke to Moses at a regular meeting place – a voice from between the two cherubim, which was above the mercy seat, the place of atonement.

Whatever could that mean for us in 2016?  It is true today that God’s voice is clear and distinct at the mercy seat ( not in temples made with hands). We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are invited to come to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy (we understand our need of mercy) and grace to help in time of need. God seldom communicates to the arrogant, the demanding or the proud. He responds to those who feel their need of Him.

Try reading Matthew chapter five and listen for His voice.

Then read Hebrews  4: 14 – 16

May I encourage you to seek the Lord, on your knees, regularly in a place of quiet . God still speaks to those who take the time to listen. you to seek the Lord, on your knees, regularly in a place of quiet . God still speaks to those who take the time to listen.emanding or the proud. He responds to those who feel their need of Him.

Try reading Matthew chapter five and listen for His voice.

Then read Hebrews  4: 14 – 16

              May I encourage you to seek the Lord, on your knees, regularly in a place of quiet . God still speaks to those who take the time to listen.

John McKee

Unusual question

What is God’s favourite colour?  

Answer -  I really don’t know.

       But as I look out my window, I see the golden glow of the rising sun, the light blue of the sky, the varying greens of the trees and the odd appearance of brown earth. A little bird flys by with red on its chest and patterns of white feathers in its tail. Another is smooth grey with a black head.. The I rise up and glance at the flowers. I am awestruck at the brilliant yellows, the deep crimson red of another and the pure white of the lily.

        I conclude that the one who wrote the DNA code that produces these varied, beautiful colours, is both extremely intelligent, wise, creative and caring. Take time out today to wonder at the brilliant colours of God’s creation. Let the light itself show you His handiwork, and then remember that light itself is made up of blended colours. And then think of your eye with the ability to see these varying colours, a brain to interpret the mix of electrical impulses from the eye and then a mouth to say “Praise the Lord”.

         What does the Bible say about God and colours?  One instance  stands out – the tabernacle building erected by the Israelites was to have these major colours – on a base of pure white, they were to use needlework of blue, purple and scarlet red. The gate , the door and the veil were to be distinct by these colours. Did they mean anything? Yes .              They were colour pictures of Jesus, the way into God’s presence. Blue tells us that He is the Lord from heaven , purple tells us that He is God’s appointed King, Red tells us of the pure and holy man who gave his life to save the people who come to God through Him. What a colourful way to illustrate how we can come to God. Jesus said “ I am the way , the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me” John 14.6

One wrote a beautiful hymn ( You might like to listen to it on ‘youtube’)

        ‘The wonder of sunset at evening

           The wonder of sunrise I see

        But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

            Is the wonder that God loves me’

Johnmckee@internode.on.net

Another Question Many are Afraid to Ask

Why does God send people to judgement?

       Does God send people to judgement? – yes. Or is it that people send themselves to judgement? – yes. Is the judgement now or after death? – both.

I would like to spend a moment on this important and debated subject.

      In the Bible, in Exodus 34:7, we read of God revealing His character. Among other things He says – “Who will by no means clear the guilty”.

I have heard preachers pass over this statement, favouring only the statements that God is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. These indeed are precious details of God’s character but to ignore His justice is rather distressing. His mercy becomes very shallow, if we do not understand His justice in dealing with guilt.

      We could draw a parallel to a judge in a courtroom today. What value would a judge have who persists in letting an offender off each time a crime is committed? Whether it be the law of the land or the law of natural justice, we expect the judge to uphold the law and its penalties, yet have the ability to pardon if true remorse or restitution is evident. Likewise, what kind of god would he be who either delighted in cruel punishment, or alternatively did not implement law or justice?

Next Question 2

Why does God love us so much?

       Some of you will begin to understand why I love these questions from my school students. They unveil  the real thoughts of these young minds.

      Have you ever pondered the above question? Why should God love us so much? I like the question because it takes us beyond the notion that God ‘owes it to us’. I like the question because it indicates a recognition that ‘I am not worthy’ of God’s love.

       My short answer is –  God chooses to love us. (In keeping with His character).

       My long answer is – to refer to the Bible as our compass, “God is love”  (1 John ). Let us remember that the Bible word for love is ‘agape’. This is different to  some emotional feeling. Even more than family affection. God’s love is deeper, intelligent, not blind, not bland. God evaluates us, and in spite of our unworthiness, chooses to love us with an eternal care, delivering grace, inspiring enlightenment.

     Modern thought has suggested that God loves us because we are unique or special, or made in God’s image or we do our best – no, no. Others have insisted that our actions have no effect on God loving us – Both streams of thought are contradicted by the Bible.

     Lets ponder a most significant Bible verse – Romans 5:8

“but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

This love is then related to God at work for those unworthy sinners (Romans 5-8), God reconciling, God justifying, God sanctifying, God setting free, God destining to glory, and comes to this conclusion

“What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that,  who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.  ...............

..in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who LOVED us .........

...Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.   

      

       Please pause and read Romans chapter 8, verses 31 to 39 to see the real purpose and power of God’s love.

     John the apostle also wrote much about God’s love:

“By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). It is helpful for people to know that God loves them, but the reality of God’s love is seen in His action. God so loved the people of this world that He gave His only begotten Son...........

I could continue for a long time on this subject. Rather I ask you to scan through the New Testament and highlight the mentions of God’s love -  it will transform your thinking and change your heart.

       Such is the grace effected by the active love of God, that those who own up to their rebellion and guilt before God, turn to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour – they become children in God’s family and given eternal life. 

This attitude is captured so well in the  words of Paul  - “the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me”

‘Thank you Jesus

Thank you Lord for loving me

You went to Calvary

And there you died for me,

Thank you Lord for loving me.’

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Next Question

“ What does it mean to be with God? “

     About five and a half thousand years ago, a man named Enoch was known to walk with God. One day when he was older, history says, God took him – meaning, he did not die, but was translated from earth to be with God! (Genesis 5:23, Hebrews 11:5). Much the same happened to Elijah. Moses died as an old man and God buried him. Moses body was dead, but he reappeared again one and a half thousand years later talking to Jesus on one of the mountains in Israel, along with Elijah. (Matthew 17:3). So although his body was dead, he himself was alive with God.

    For those who doubt the idea of life after death, just ask the people around you, and you are sure to find someone who has clinically died for a few minutes and come back again. The ones I have talked to have all assured me of an existence after death. There are hundreds of such stories on the internet.

    But more important than the testimony of men, is the teaching of the word of God – the Bible.

     The Lord Jesus said to the dying thief, “today you will be with Me in paradise” – this indicated not only His own existence after death, but also for the unworthy criminal beside Him. A condition, not of annihilation, but free from pain in a place of pure pleasure. Paul the apostle likewise waited for the day to arrive when he would be “absent from the body and present with the Lord”.

      Perhaps the question relates to ‘what it is like to be with God?’  Well, paradise was mentioned by the Lord on the cross as the opposite to pain, pollution, shame and suffering.     “With God”, includes nearness to God in His holiness, His love, His brilliant light. With God involves change – to be changed from the offensive , wandering self to become someone  who is able to fit into a place where all is perfect.

      John the apostle had a vision of those who were beheaded for Christ’s sake – they were in heaven, they could speak, they found acceptance there because of the alter (symbolic of the death of Christ) Revelation 6:9

To be with God after the resurrection is described as being in a divine city where there are no more tears of grief, no pain, no darkness, no shame. A place of real life – eternal life. A place of real light – the knowledge of God in Christ. A place of real love – for God is love.

  

      The person who overcomes the lies of this world, overcomes the unbelief in one’s own heart, to then believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible says  - “I will be his God , and he will be my son .” (Revelation 21.7)

It was rather special the last night I was with my conscious father in the hospital before he died. I miss his quiet presence, his words, his smile.  What will it be like to be “with my Father (God) who is in Heaven” –to see and feel the brilliance of His presence, to hear His voice and to see His smile!  ( and maybe my earthly father will be waiting for me there too).

“With Christ which is far better” ( Philippians 1.23)

Johnmckee@internode.on.net

Questions

Another question from the children at school

          What was the most important thing Jesus did?

A very good question. Many celebrate His birth, when He who was rich became poor. That was special. The Gospel records make much of His healing and teaching. I like to think of His marvellous power to calm the storm. 

          But the Lord Jesus made it clear that the real mission of His life was to rescue lost people, and this required Him dying for them. His sufferings on the cross did seem unjust, from a human point of view, but His own comments clear up the matter.

Luke 24:40  ‘it is written (Old Testament) and it was necessary for Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day, that repentance and forgiveness of sins might be preached in his name to all nations.’

           I am certain that this is the greatest thing Jesus did – “ to offer Himself , to bear the sins of many” Hebrews 9:28

        Well might we respond – ‘My sins deserve eternal death, but Jesus died for me”.

John McKee