Songs in difficult days

The Psalms of David.

David the Shepherd became a soldier and then, after many years , was crowned King.

One would have expected his songs to be filled with times of victory and triumph.( He did defeat the giant, he did win many battles, he did rule well). Some were songs of praise for God’s blessings, but most were the outpouring of grief and pain as He calls out to God for wisdom and strength to overcome the difficulties of life. In fact, some seem to be asking the question of God – Why?

Psalm 143 is one of these. I recommend that you read it.  David admits his unworthiness, his depression and his fear. Yet in it all is his longing to know and enjoy the presence of the LORD.

So often we seek for great things, thinking that happiness comes from wealth or easy times. God knows our hearts, and He wants to use broken vessels from which the light might shine.

Paul caught the meaning of this :

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” –therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

                      2 Corinthians 12:9

Let me summarize.

Being a Christian is not a measure of how much one knows, or how successful one is. It is rather knowing God more and more through Jesus Christ the Lord. This is then lived out as servant, as a son, as a steward dependant upon and directed by the  living Lord in heaven.

The last Psalm attributed to David – Psalm 145 has a beautiful conclusion:

“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord

And let all flesh bless His holy Name forever and ever”

johnmckee@internode.on.net

The Love of Christ

Love beyond feelings - love in action

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

— John 15:9-13

Our one real chance at loving others is if we fully receive the love of God for us and let it change our entire perspective on our relationships with others. But this won’t happen by a casual remembrance of the love of Jesus. When Jesus said, “Remain in my love,” he meant we are to dwell there. We are to be conscious every hour of the day that the bedrock truth of our lives—the core of our identity—is we are loved by Jesus the Christ. Keeping our focus on the cross is the way to remain in his love.

Ponder This: What do you have to say to Jesus who laid down his life for you?

M.L

Telling others

Psalm 107

“Has the LORD redeemed you?

Then speak out, tell others He has saved you from your enemies.”

This verse of the song  identifies a Christian distinctive. – speaking, singing because of grace.

Many religions are the imposition of rules and regulations by some form of dominating hierarchy. In contrast , true Christianity was intended to be the expression of gratitude for grace received. It was Jesus who said to the  healed demoniac :

“Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you.”

It is when love has conquered for us , and in us that we reach out to tell others.

A selfish , self centred Christian  is not really a Christian.

An interesting measure of grace at work in a believer is the ‘singing’ to the Lord.  One who lives on the level of the world has no song. The believer who enjoys  victory over sin and the world will sing,  or at least try to. (Maybe like David, to the sheep, or like me , to the Kookaburras’ ! ).

“Singing to yourselves in Psalms, Hymns and spiritual songs,  singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.”     Ephesians 5

Loss

Loss

The loss of ‘wonder’ at God’s creation. Instead the notion of the earth creating itself.

The loss of ‘perception’ of God speaking through circumstances and events.

The loss of ‘hearing’ by failing to open and read the Bible.

The loss of ‘understanding’ when life is interpreted without the knowledge of God.

The loss of ‘love’ when the true source of love is ignored.

The loss of ‘life’ because the life giver is rejected and ‘meism’ destroys any true meaning in life.

No wonder the Lord described us as “lost” – lost sheep, lost coin, lost son.

ETERNITY

Looking into Eternity.

In the work of teaching religious instruction at schools, one is thinking about the future lives of the children. What values do they have to make wise choices? Who can they trust when in times of need?

In the times of visiting older folks, one is constrained to ponder the great hereafter. Life beyond the grave for many is so unknown. Someone said to me recently “how can we know as no-one has sent word back from the otherside”. Well, I could write about many that have been to the otherside and have come back. I have met such. One very interesting story of this is written as ‘My descent into death’ by Howard Storm. Check the internet for details.

For me, the best hope for the great tomorrow lies in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. If, as He claimed, He came to earth from heaven, then He ought to know.  And speak about the future He sure did.

Repeatedly He referred to heaven, the place where God is, a place untouched by the failures of earth, a place where rewards for good are eternal. He called it “My Father’s house”. And for us how reassuring that He has gone ahead to prepare that place for those who believe in Him. (John 14).

The Lord spoke of hell as a real place of eternal torment. How terrifying to think of people landing in that place, without hope, without God in utter darkness forever.

Living in denial of these things does not cure the problem. Listening to the many religions of earth only confuses the issue. How can we be sure?  - take a Bible and read the teachings of the Lord Jesus.

In the final analysis, we are left depending on the promises of God through His Son – Jesus. To gather some :-

“If you believe not that I am He (Son of God from heaven), you will die in your sins.... where I am going you cannot come.”  -John 8

A man said to me yesterday that he owed his conversion, to a  nephew of 8 years who said to him “ you are going to Hell’. He thought about and soon trusted the Lord Jesus to be saved from hell.

The positive promises are many. I select some:-

“I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me”  John 14

“I give unto My sheep eternal life and they will never perish”  John 10

“Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.”  Luke 24

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must  the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”  John 3

The rest of the New Testament confirms the reality of Heaven and Hell along with the hope of eternal life as a gift given to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 6.23

Maybe this is being read by someone feeling how temporary life is. Thinking about eternity. Looking for hope beyond the grave.

Seek the Lord today, with all your heart, and you will find Him. Trust upon His promises. In Him you can have peace and assurance .

If you do not have  a Bible, let me know, and I will try to get one to you.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Signs of the times

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.        Matthew 24.37

And it is so. People are preoccupied with eating and with marriage, so that God and His righteousness are forgotten.

 Soon the master of the house will rise up and shut the door. 

Soon the Lord will return and will He find faith in the earth? Who then is that faithful and wise servant who is watching and waiting for His appearing?

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 5

God the unchanging Almighty

“I the LORD do not change”  Malachi 3:6

He remains always trustworthy. One who is outside our changing world. A living God, who is consistent in character.

To Moses was given this unveiling of the LORD

“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty...”

Much could be said about this statement. But it speaks clearly by itself of a holy God connecting with humans in mercy and grace. This remains true throughout the ages as the history of the Bible records. However I would like to point out that at various times God related to people on different terms.  Let me briefly recall this.

Eden’s Garden – God connected with Adam as one innocent.

Before the flood- God held the people responsible to the voice of their conscience

In Abraham, Isaac and Jacob  - God related to them on the basis of promises.

To the Israelites – God promised blessing for obedience to the Law

After the resurrection of Jesus Christ – God rescues Jews and Gentiles on the principle of pure grace.

When the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled – God will bring all to righteous judgement  by the man He has ordained – the risen Lord.

When all humanity has been subdued to  confess Jesus is Lord, then He will display His grace in the redeemed church and shine out among the nations through a converted and restored Israel.

This survey of history and prophecy is very uplifting for believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. It demonstrates that God is still in control and He is working towards a glorious end – Christ over all.

I encourage you to read Psalm 2.

The last verse is so appropriate to all ages:

“Kiss the Son ( Lord Jesus Christ)

Lest He be angry, and you perish in the way,

 for His wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him”

To Him whom God has appointed as the true King, we do well to give his hand the kiss of submission and loyalty. Better still, in our hearts to yield to Him our undivided love and obedience.