TEXT: ‘Then I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me; for who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord. ‘You shall be My people, and I will be your God.’”’ – Jeremiah 30:21-22 THOUGHT: Today’s Teaching starts with God’s question, “For who is this who pledged (engaged, devoted) his heart to approach Me?” This is one of the things God cannot do – make a person respond to Him. He has given us a free will and we can choose to draw near to God or like the prodigal son, move away as far as we can from having anything to do with Him. The text reveals four important truths. God’s Desire God is not willing that any should perish – 2 Peter 3:9. He gets no joy from anyone being lost. He wants back the relationship He intended that started with Adam and Eve, just like any parent estranged from the child they love. God loves the world and that includes you. God’s Drawing – ‘I will cause him to draw near’ ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you’ – Jeremiah 31:3. Just like the start of any relationship, there is the wooing...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?’ – Luke 13:16 NLT THOUGHT: Only Luke’s gospel records the miracle of this woman being healed (13:10-17) but that does not lessen its significance. It gives a sobering insight into how Satan and religion work in opposition to the Christianity that God wants every person to enjoy. We will consider three key facts about this miraculous healing. The Restriction – ‘A woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight’ For those who say there is no such thing as the devil and demons, this incident confirms the reality of demonic powers whose purpose is to steal, kill and destroy humanity, whereas the mission of Jesus is that we might have abundant life. How and why this woman ended up in this condition is not known, but Jesus revealed that the cause of it was a demon, a spirit of infirmity. One day she was able to stand up straight, the next day she was doubled over. She probably thought to herself, “I will rest...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek’ – Psalm 27:4 THOUGHT: Jenny’s mother was staying with us recently celebrating her 93rd birthday. She has a goal to outlive her mother who died aged 95 years and 3 months. Having this goal enables her to still keep driving in order to care for her son and maintain her household. There is every expectation that she will reach her goal, especially as she nearly died of a heart attack shortly before her 90th birthday, but has made a remarkable recovery. Goals drive us on and help to maintain the direction we should be going in especially when the way forward becomes difficult. As the saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” The Bible records 4 challenging occasions concerning “One thing” One thing you lack – ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross and follow Me’ – Mark 10:21 Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler was surprising since it was apparent that wealth meant he did not lack anything of this world’s goods. It’s not what you have got...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘Tomorrow is the New Moon and you will be missed because your seat will be empty’ – 1 Samuel 20:18 THOUGHT: I want to change the text to read, “Tomorrow is the New Year and you will be missed because your seat will be empty.” Where should you be tomorrow? Will your seat be empty because you will not be where you should be? The Person who is missing David was not going to be at the feast because his life was in danger due to King Saul’s jealousy and uncontrollable mood swings. Maybe that’s true for you or perhaps it will be because of a disagreement, debt and money issues, or your marriage is heading for divorce because you will be in someone else’s house and not your own. Perhaps it’s just that you are too busy with work or some other activity so that those who love you the most are now resigned to seeing an empty chair! The person or people who are expecting you to turn up Have you considered their feelings if your seat is empty? What about their disappointment, even anger and tears when they have gone to so much trouble to make the day special? Many relationships end simply because one...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen!’ – James 3:8-10 THOUGHT: One of the more distasteful and disturbing trends in modern society is the widespread use of swear words in films and television, particularly what is called the “F” word. The media claim they are only reflecting modern lifestyles, although a quick survey, will I am sure, reveal this is not the case and its use in everyday life is over-exaggerated. Recently the BBC has allowed standards to slip again, allowing the word “Hell” to be used in reporting and interviews, when once it was forbidden and edited out. Of course, all the other media outlets follow suit. Listening to a local Radio Station recently, one of the presenters used the word “Hell” several times, even surprising his co-presenter. This caused me to act and I sent in an email to complain about it. To my surprise I received a reply almost immediately from the...
Learn More
Recent Comments