The Jesus Touch Part 2 -Redeem the Time

God has blessed each of us with varied talents according to our ability (Matt 25:15). However, to every one of us He has given time. Each day that we are alive, He fills our lives with the same amount of minutes as the next person. It’s how we choose to use the time He has blessed us with that makes all the difference.

Jesus was a master manager of His time. He didn’t waste any of it, but rather spent long hours investing into the lives of those closest to Him – these would be the ones who would be tasked with taking the message of the Gospel to the entire world. Jesus was never idle. When He was not walking miles between towns as an itinerant teacher, preacher and healer He could often be found in places of solitude communing earnestly with His Father. He often put aside His own desire for rest to meet the needs of those who followed Him, earnestly seeking the gracious words of truth from His lips. Jesus was a very busy man, yet He seemed to have time for everyone! (Matt 14:14-36, Matt 15:32, Mk 3:20)

Are you busy today? Many of us use our “busyness” as an excuse not to get involved in the work of God. Jesus often did not even have time to eat or drink. While the disciples went into the neighbouring towns to gather provisions, Jesus sat at the well and invested in the life of a woman who would become a great missionary for Him. His meat was to do the will of His Father and to finish the work. Jesus was not selfish with His time. He set out to save the lost and He set his face like a flint and stayed the course until the door of salvation was open to everyone. (John chapter 4, Is 50:4-7)

How much time do we spend in idleness and yet complain that there are not enough hours in the day to finish all that we have to do?  Christ’s Object Lessons pg 118-119: “Satan uses the listless, sleepy indolence of professed Christians to strengthen his forces and win souls to his side. Many who think that though they are doing no actual work for Christ, they are yet on His side, are enabling the enemy to pre-occupy ground and gain advantages. By their failure to be diligent workers for the Master, by leaving duties undone and words unspoken, they have allowed satan to gain control of souls who might have been won for Christ. We can never be saved in indolence and inactivity. There is no such thing as a truly converted person living a helpless, useless life.” Will you answer Jesus’ call to work in His vineyard today?

Things fall apart, keep me together

Oh Lord my God!
How great thou art;
You hold all things together
By the power of Your Word...

My life is like the raging sea,
Doubts, distress and billows there be.
You calmed the storms of Galilee;
Please calm the storm of life in me...

Things fall apart every day
Yet in all things, You're my hope and stay;
Like a wand’ ring bark on the sea of life
I look to You, my Guiding Light...

Things fall apart around me Lord;
Please hold me together by the strength of Your Word.
In your everlasting promise of life I trust
Though death and decay around me burst...

Keep me safe in the storms of life,
Anchored to You despite the strife;
Bring me to Your Promised Land
Of my pilgrim's journey, make a glorious end...

This poem was inspired by Ps 91, Col 1:16-18, Gen 1:1-4, John 1:1-5 , Ps 18:2, Ps 31:3, Jer 16:19, Luke 6:47-49, Mk 4:37-41, 1 Cor 10:4, Rev 21 & 22

The Presence of Suffering-Why?

I continue the message from last week on the topic of suffering. Last week we focused on whether the presence of suffering proves the absence of God, and a simple story helped illustrate that it does not.  Stories are powerful tools to help us wrap our minds around seemingly abstract concepts like suffering. Jesus often used parables to teach important lessons about His Kingdom from the simple elements of our earthly existence.

There is much suffering in our world today. When our first parents in Eden made the fateful decision to disobey the commandment of the Lord and eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, their choice unleashed a “Pandora’s Box” of suffering on our world. Since then, we have been writing a history steeped in the blood, sweat and tears of the human race.

The Lord had given Adam and Eve every advantage in their perfect Eden home, yet they failed the one test of allegiance he placed in their path. Had he not put this test before them, satan would have accused him of making beings with no moral choice, mere robots acting on his whim. The Lord did not want a nation of robots; he wanted a people whom He could love and who would of their own free choice, love Him in return. Their eyes were already opened to good since He had open communion with them in the beautiful garden; it was only the knowledge of evil that was withheld from them but only as long as they desired not to know evil. They made their choice. They longed to know both good AND evil. Satan had conveniently tricked Eve into thinking that they were missing something when actually they were not! His clever use of rhetoric that fateful day is still felt in our world today in the form of terrible suffering from the consequences of years of sin. (Gen 3:1-10)

However, Christ did not leave us alone in our suffering. He, of His own volition, joined the ranks of suffering humanity to ensure that we would not die from the curse of sin. The blood, sweat and tears we shed in this life mingle with the blood, sweat and tears the loving Saviour shed as he walked the dusty streets of Galilee, and as He hung suspended on a cruel cross, too sinful for Heaven to regard Him as He took upon Himself the sins of all humanity, yet despised and rejected by the ones He came to save.

Christianity is no bed of roses. If you think by becoming a Christian, you will escape suffering, you are sorely mistaken. In fact, many have increased their sufferings by joining Him. “In this world you will have trouble,” He said, WITH THE CROSS STILL AHEAD, “but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?"-Gen 3:1-9

Does the Presence of Suffering Prove the Absence of God?

Having the privilege of writing for the Lord means I am always on the lookout for good material which will inspire others. I can proudly give credit to Jesus for always giving me a word in season for the edification of His people, even those who have not yet surrendered to Him. I have been impressed over the last few weeks to write on matters that affect both the Church and those outside the Church, looking in. This is an excellent way to focus both on “outreach” and “in-reach”.

My observations of people outside the Church have led me to believe that the question I write about today is one that continues to plague them, often festering like a deadly wound that refuses to heal. They want to know how a loving God like Him who we profess could allow such suffering in the world today. While perusing the Internet, I came across a simple story that touched my heart, and in a little way, helped answer this question that admittedly, also plagued me at an earlier stage in my life. I have paraphrased below:

A devout Christian man visited his barber to get his scheduled trim. While going about the task, the two engaged in conversation and soon the conversation turned to matters of the heart. The barber did not believe in God and sure enough, before long, the age old question became the focus of the topic. “If God really exists, why does He allow so much pain and suffering?” The Christian man was stumped like many of us, and so the two men “agreed to disagree” on the topic of the existence of God, not wanting their religious convictions to hinder their friendship. The Christian man left the barber’s shop and stepped outside into the darkened street. In the faint glow of the street lamp, the first sight that greeted his eyes was the silhouette of a man. On closer inspection, he found him to be one of the many homeless people in the city. The man’s hair was long and unkempt, caked with dirt and matted against his scalp. His beard was grown out and his meager frame showed that he probably hadn’t eaten in days. After getting him some food, the Christian man walked back into the barber’s shop declaring vehemently to his friend, “Barbers don’t exist!” “Why do you say such a thing!” asked his friend, taken back in surprise. “You see that man over there with the long hair and untrimmed beard? How could barbers exist if we have people like that walking around?!” “It’s because he didn’t come to me”, replied the barber. “Well, replied the Christian man, we are left alone in our suffering because we refuse to run to God.”

Jesus has bid us in Matt 11v28: “Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Will you answer His call today? TO BE CONTINUED!

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-Matt 11:28

A "Crossless" Christianity?

The Apostle Paul described life as a marathon. Sometimes, what makes it even more grueling to most people is the discouragement and lack of appreciation one experiences along the way. This message is for those times when you feel that nothing you do is good enough or even matters. I wrote it specially for a friend of mine who was feeling discouraged, but it can be applied to everyone! Read it when you’re feeling down. It goes as follows:

“Christ stood as the most unappreciated and rejected character in the history of the world. He saw the cross looming before Him (Luk 9:31), but also knew that the number of those who would reject Him were like the sand of the seashore (Rev 20:8-9). However, He also saw that His sacrifice would bring many sons to glory (Heb 2:10). Christianity is a package deal, and no matter how much we try to throw the cross of self-denial, pain and rejection out of the package, we cannot succeed. True disciples are called to carry the cross daily. Jesus said: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt 16:24)

Each of us has a different cross to bear, but know one thing-Christ’s cross was the heaviest cross for He bore the sins, shame and rejection of the whole world (2 Cor 5:21, John 11:50-52). Sometimes life is not about finding out what WE want, its being still in His presence and listening to His voice telling us what He wants from us-where He wants us to go, what He has planned for us to accomplish and who He wants us to become. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, embraced the will of His Father though it cost Him His life. You may be assigned thankless tasks in life, but do them without complaining, for the glory of God. John the Baptist, as his ministry faded into obscurity, said: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This world has put a lot of emphasis on “finding yourself” when really, what we should be focusing on is returning to the God who fashioned us in His likeness and desires a relationship with each and every one of us.

Work not for the appreciation of men, for it is better to seek the praise of God than men. Men’s praise is empty flattery, while God does not lie. The sweetest words you will hear one day will be said by Christ the Master Himself, when He says of you: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter ye into the joy that was prepared for you before the foundation of the world.” (Matt 25:21-34)

Remember in your time of trials, and indecision: Jesus loves you and has the perfect plan for your life. Don’t fight it-just surrender to Him. Walk in the dust of Your Rabbi, and do not put your trust in mere mortal men.”

The essence of discipleship-take up your cross and follow the Master!

Scripture refs: Luke 9:31, Rev 20:8-9, Heb 2:10, Matt 16:24, 2 Cor 5:21, John 11:50-52, Matt 25:21-34

Lead us not into temptation...

Some of us often think that we are invincible and cannot be tempted. The truth of the matter is that the perceived lack of temptation can mean one of two things. Either you are so strong in the Lord that all temptations are powerless against you, or nothing is a temptation to you any longer because you engage in sin with no resistance. No one can claim to be totally free from temptation.  Even our Lord was tempted in the wilderness by satan. Satan knows our weaknesses, having had a long time to study us and he is expert at ensuring that we are subjected to the maximum possible degree of temptation.

However, we are comforted by the fact that God does not allow us to be tempted beyond our capabilities and with every temptation comes a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). With this knowledge, we can view temptation as just another test which, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome with distinction. Sometimes God uses the temptations satan throws at us as a test of our loyalty to Him, but be assured that He is always in control and will not let satan tempt you beyond what you are able to bear. Temptations may get tougher as you get stronger, otherwise they wouldn’t be a temptation anymore! As the King of the Universe, God is within his rights to test any of His subjects, but as long as we meet the temptations in the power of His Spirit, we are safe.

Jesus once talked about the unpardonable sin i.e. grieving the Holy Spirit. Many have wondered what He meant by this. What is the unpardonable sin and how is it committed? The unpardonable sin may, aside from outright blasphemy, occur when one fails to take advantage of the aid the Holy Spirit provides in resisting temptation, choosing instead to indulge in the resultant sinful actions that the temptation spawns. The unpardonable sin is not necessarily a once-off act, but rather it is the dullness of the conscience that is the result of repeatedly neglecting to listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit of the sins in your life and His warnings against temptations.  Eventually, the Spirit of God will leave you to your own devices and there will be no forgiveness as you will no longer have the convicting voice of God’s gentle Spirit wooing you to repentance. The Psalmist recognized this when in Psalm 51, after having committed the heinous crimes of adultery and murder, he pleaded with God not to take away the influence of the Holy Spirit from his life. He knew that without such influence, he would be lost forever. (Ps 51:11)

If you are worried about having committed the unpardonable sin, chances are you haven’t! The fact that you are being tempted is a good thing as it means that you still have some good in you that satan seeks to destroy. Don’t give him the pleasure of totally corrupting you! Ask God for help in times of temptation. Don’t lead yourself into temptation by being in the wrong place at the wrong time or subjecting your senses to stimuli that lead to unwarranted temptation. Most temptations are triggered by the five senses. The strongest deterrent to temptation is active service in the kingdom of God, a strong prayer life and knowing how to apply the Word of God. 

"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." -Matt 12:32

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."-1 Cor 10:13

"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."-Ps 51:11

Jesus Christ-Saviour, Priest and soon-coming King

Beautiful Saviour died on a tree;

Heaven’s perfect Ransom

For sinners like me…

Grace so strong,

Love so free;

Lion of Judah, Lamb of Mercy…

As you hung on Calvary’s Cross

My sins to bear;

Not nails of steel, but Love kept You there…

Rising triumphant;

You won the victor’s crown

The grave could not hold the Matchless One!

Ever-living Conquering Son!

Eternal salvation for faithful believers won;

Interceding for us, Oh Perfect High Priest,

Preparing our place at the Heavenly Feast…

Soon to return as Reigning King,

The faithful will joyfully shout and sing!

From the clouds of glory, on a white steed you ride

Coming to claim Your waiting Bride…

Mansions of glory for the saints prepared;

For those You have loved

From the foundation of the world…

I love You Jesus!

Can’t wait to see You return…

This poem was inspired by Rev 19:11-16

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." -Rev 19:11-16