Strength for the Christian life

Philippians chapter 2 verse 1

Let me draw you into the precious Christian blessings mentioned in this Bible verse . Different translations use differing words, but the blessing is the same.

“Consolation in Christ” -  to find the answers to life and eternity in the once crucified and now risen Lord Jesus Christ. The big questions of our standing before God, the small questions of serving  Him each day. The exhortations from the Lord makes life worthwhile and comes from the Lord at God’s right hand!

“Comfort of love”  -  Since God has loved us, we find the extreme loneliness and alienation as part of the fallen human race, has been overcome.  God loves us in spite of our unworthiness and this enables us to love others. These ‘bonds of love ‘ surpass liking people – rather love (agape) that loves when all else fails.

“Participation in the Spirit”   -  The wonder of God’s unmerited favour, that we can participate in the instruction by the Holy Spirit. And so much more – to be led by the Spirit, comforted by the Holy Spirit, gifted by the Holy Spirit, used as channels of blessing by the Holy Spirit. What a distinctive blessing to those walking with the Lord.

“Affection”   -  By contrast to the world which is given over to criticism, blame and dissent for those different . God’s people were originally honoured as people of affection. Practical affection for one another was a reflection of The Father’s affection for His children. Christians from very different backgrounds were named “brethren” – members in the family of God.

“Sympathy”   --   God is not a bystander or some distant critic when problems set in. He steps into the situation with care  to lift the fallen, to heal the battered, to console the broken hearted, to comfort the disappointed   -   and so should we.

Read Philippians 2   today and  discover these beautiful  things in the life of the Lord Jesus.

JRM

God's Love

God’s love is so much more than words spoken. 

It is a modern idea that we should say to each other ‘I love you’. The Bible concept of love is that it motivates one to do something, to give, to sacrifice, to work for the ultimate good of the person loved. God did not send the Lord Jesus into the world to tell us He loved us.  Rather He gave His Son to show us that He loved us. The coming of the Lord from heaven was not to make us feel good, it was rather to save us and make us good.

It is an interesting study to consider the occasions that the Lord Jesus talked about love.  He called upon the disciples to love God, to love one another , to love their enemies.

John’s Gospel highlights God’s love :- God’s love for the world, the Fathers love for the Son, Jesus love for His own disciples  and God’s love for those who obey Him.

Some say that Gods love is unconditional – this is an ambiguous and only half the truth. Love is much more than an emotion or feeling. It is a powerful motive that sets in motion action for the good of another. It works to achieve a mutual relationship of oneness in holiness. Love is the inner spring to mercy and grace. It is here, in the word ‘grace’ that  the blessings of God are given to the unworthy and undeserving. Grace is God’s love reaching out to us in spite of sin and rebellion. (Please note – God does not accept us as we are. He only accepts us because Christ died for us, and our faith in HIM gives us a new place in God’s family as ‘accepted in the Loved One’)

The apostle John develops the theme of love in his letters. God’s gracious love has been poured upon us, and that love should be abiding in us so that we love , not in word, but in deeds of mercy and grace.

The apostle Paul expounds the character and activity of God’s love. Love is kind, love is patient etc.  God’s love accounts for sin, and does something about it – Christ died for us.  Paul states more than any other writer , that the overflow of God’s love to us and in us by the Holy Spirit should flow out to others in mercy, forgiveness and grace.

I would encourage all my readers to use a concordance to study the many occurrences of the ‘love of God’ in the Bible.

If anyone would like me to back up my statements with Bible verses, I would be happy so to do :- email me at 

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Do or done

Do or done

The one fundamental difference between true Christianity and all other religions and denominations is this :- they all say do , whereas  God says it is done.

The one issues commands, rituals, observances to appease God and win credit in the day of judgement. The other enables a desire to obey, to serve, to rejoice because God has been appeased by the life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acceptance now and in the day of judgement is secured by believing in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus fear is replaced with peace. Uncertainty is replaced with hope. The burden of doing is replaced with the motive of love . The relationship of distance is replaced by the joy of intimacy with God as Father!

How good that we can come and rest in HIM today and every day.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Trust in the Lord

Trust is a good response to God’s words of warning, words of salvation and words of hope.

The opposite is described in Proverbs 1:24-33

“I called and you refused”        -     this attitude of rejection, or in modern form, indifference leaves a person independent, vulnerable and lost.

Trust does involve some knowledge ( of the one being trusted) along with wisdom, understanding and commitment. But the final element of trust is in the heart .

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and depend not on your own understanding”.    Proverbs 3:5

The value of trusting God has value beyond silver or gold. It has promise for this life and the life to come.

Ponder for a moment the meaning of trust:

Ø  It honours God as good, right and wise

Ø It accepts God as all powerful

Ø It depends on God in a personal way

Ø Trust puts well being into the hands of another

Ø Trust takes the place of humility

Ø Trust is established on evidence and promises

Proverbs 16:3  “Commit your way unto the Lord”    -  The action of trust is to the wisdom, understanding, power and kindness of an all powerful, all wise, all loving God.  Trust commits to Him in dependence and obedience.

Proverbs 16:20  “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he”

The stress of self achievement is removed and the peace of being in greater hands becomes real.  For Joseph, when everything seemed to be going wrong, his trust in the wisdom of God was finally rewarded.

Like many, you my reader likely agree with all this in theory.

   Are you now trusting God to forgive your sins through the Lord Jesus Christ?

   Are you depending on the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from hell?

    Are you committed to Him – to save you, to keep you, to guide you?

Peter the Apostle wrote much about hope and trust. Please read 1 Peter through three times.

“For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”  chapter 2:25

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will, entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good.   4:19

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that in the proper time He may exalt you.  Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you”  5:6

The beauty of these promises is this  - God almighty is a God who wants to be involved personally in our lives.   Will we let Him?

‘Just as I am without one plea

But that thy blood was shed for me

And that thou bidd’st me come to Thee

O Lamb of God I come.

Just  as I am tho’ tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt

Fighting’s within and fears without

O Lamb of God I come

Just as I am Thou wilt receive

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve

Because Thy promise I believe

O Lamb of God I come , I come.

Comments welcome at  johnmckee@internode.on.net

The Cure

The one who spells out the sinfulness of sin is the same one who has the cure for the problem. A person who chooses to compromise, lowering the standard or ignoring sin is neither just nor gracious. God is both just and gracious!

The same God who implemented the 10 commandments , gave details for many sacrifices to deal with the problem of sin. This same God who called for ultimate love and devotedness, inspired love by loving. The song writers of the Bible understood this :- “His mercies are new every morning”.

The teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ likewise unmasked sin in the heart. His call to repent (turning away from sin, owning up to it) and believe the Gospel (that He could forgive and save) was merciful indeed.

Instead of asking the people to keep the commandments, He issues the great invitation :-

               “Come unto Me all you who labour and carry heavy burdens, and I                will  give you rest...................” Matthew 11.28

  The cure to the human problem is found in this person – the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Not so much following His directions, but firstly coming to Him, believing Him for who He claimed to be, trusting Him for forgiveness and salvation from hell by His death on the cross and committing to Him as a disciple yoked to Him for life.

Dear reader if you have never been to this point of conversion, stop now and listen to His voice calling you. By the Holy Spirit you can turn from self and sin, and to call Him “Lord”. Call on Him today and you will be saved.

This is where we can find release from the guilt of sin, where the burdens of law keeping are lifted, where the yoke with Him brings liberty, purpose of relationship, love, joy and peace.

Note :-  Association with Him brings persecution, no promise of prosperity or great things in this life. But it does have the promise of eternal life which is far better.

enquiries welcome

johnmckee@internode.on.net

The eyes of the Lord

Through the eyes of the Lord Jesus

Among the first words preached by the Messiah were these as recorded in Mark chapter one:

“Repent and believe the gospel”

He announced the need for change. Repent means to change one’s mind with the effect of changing direction. Changing from self and sin, turning around to God and His Christ.

As the Lord walked among the people He always recognised and valued true faith. He recognised sincere efforts to live by the law. He responded to any cries for help. But sadly much of His teaching revealed His grief at the depth of sin and hypocrisy.

Let me sample from the Bible His response to sinfulness among the people:

In the ‘sermon on the mount’ he raises the standard of God’s expectation and condition of ‘blessing’   - “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth( and who among us does never assert ourselves)   “Blessed are the pure in heart ( and who is so foolish to say that is me) for they shall see God”

Then He changes to apply the law of Moses to the heart and not only the action  “everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be liable to judgement.......”,   “everyone who looks on a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery.....”

And then He goes on to unmask the hypocrisy of religion without reality  “When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others.....”

Towards the end of this exposure of sin, He highlights the greatest failure :  “ Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father” Matthew 7.21

Many other incidents in the life of the Lord uncover the problem of people adrift from God. Chapter 15 is very telling:

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These defile a person.”

Is there any good news??

There is indeed,   next article.

But to begin with God we must begin with ‘God is holy and I and sinful”.

johnmckee@internode.on.net 

Experience

To know God on the mountain peak is to worship

To know  God in the valley is to walk with the Almighty