Text: ‘And his mother called his name Jabez’ – 1 Chronicles 4:9 Thought: Do you like your name? You didn’t choose it. Many don’t like theirs and even change it by deed poll. Others prefer to be called by a nick-name. I was the only one of my brothers to be given my father’s name – Wilfred! Today’s Teaching is about a man called Jabez. He certainly didn’t like being called that or the implications of his name. This unusual story is tucked away in the genealogies of Chronicles. There is no mention of the names of his father, mother or brothers. Jabez is a wonderful example of how to react correctly to what you don’t like. His birth was supposed to be a blessing but his mother turned it into a curse She called him Jabez, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ Was it due to a difficult pregnancy or birth, or unwanted as there is now an extra mouth to feed? We don’t know. Jesus taught that although birthing a child is painful, it’s quickly forgotten for the joy of a child being added to the family. 1 But she named him Jabez – meaning “he will cause pain.” Not past tense but future. Every time his...
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Survey Forms! Text: ‘I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes’ – Acts 20:20 New Living Translation Thought: It appears every business, whether sales or service provider, wants a survey form completed. “How did we do?” they ask, regardless of whether the purpose for contact was an enquiry, order or complaint. Even till receipts now have printed on them, “Tell us how we did today!” People are tempted to complete the survey with wording like, “It will only take 5 minutes.” (usually an understatement). If anyone set about completing all the survey forms requested, it could result in a large chunk of their day gone. Of course there’s the added carrot of being entered into the prize draw, which I’m sure somebody wins, but not yet me! It is rare that feedback from a survey results in a noticeable improvement. Like many things, what started out as a very good idea has now become the norm and information collated gathers dust on some shelf, sacrificed on the altar of cut back and economies at the expense of good service. Of course in Britain there is a tendency to say everything is alright even when it is not as we...
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Text: ‘But generous people plan to do what is generous’ – Isaiah 38:8 (New Living Translation) Thought: It is very difficult to understand why Christians are mean and unwilling to tithe their income. They certainly don’t reflect the God who saved them. God is love and love gives! 1 Jenny was sharing with me some things she wanted to do to bless others. I was cautioning against it, knowing the amount of extra work it would involve. The Lord reminded me, because Jenny’s a generous person, she was just finding new ways to be generous and a blessing, and if she did it, He would take care of the extra time and energy needed to do just that! So what can we learn from being generous? Being generous helps to counteract selfishness “I” trouble is so prevalent today. “I want” fuels many a selfish lifestyle. Whether it’s the latest invention or what the neighbours have. “What about me, my rights, my needs?” has plagued many a church into pandering to the needs of the few in the congregation instead of challenging them to do the will of God! When you are generous you automatically think less about getting and more about giving. Being generous is possible even when you have...
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Text: ‘“Listen!” says Jesus. “I am coming soon! Happy are those who obey the prophetic words in this book!”’ – Revelation 22:7 (Good News Translation) Thought: Many Christians find it hard to reconcile these words, ‘I am coming soon!’ with the fact that over 1900 years have passed since they were written. Both Jesus 1 and Peter 2 warned against Christians dropping their guard and standards in the light of Christ’s return being delayed. It’s all too easy to end up questioning whether there will ever be a Second Coming of Christ. The Bible is very clear on this subject and we need to heed its message. Five truths will help to clarify things. The Resurrection Jesus cannot return unless He’s alive! Paul taught the Corinthian church, ‘If the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.’ 3 If Christ isn’t risen, it makes the Second Coming impossible. Paul went on to declare, ‘But now Christ is risen from the dead.’ 4 Jesus himself proved by many infallible proofs to the disciples that He had really risen. 5 Because Jesus came to this earth the first time (It’s now 2015 years since His birth), we can be sure that He will keep His promise and return. The Return...
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Text: ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person’ – Mark 16:15 Thought: I was writing Today’s Teaching sat outside in Lira, Uganda having completed the Pastors’ conferences there and waiting to travel to Rwanda. Not so long ago it was only the business world travelling everywhere, seeking new outlets for their goods and services. Few missionaries were sent out by their churches into “heathen” countries, with varying success – revival in some places, while others thought it wonderful if just a handful were converted in a whole year. Now the whole world has become much more accessible. People work and take holidays everywhere. I have been to 28 countries since my first holiday to Jersey (Channel Islands) in 1971. Since becoming a Christian in 1973, I have sought to share my faith in every country I have been to, whether my going there was for work, holiday or mission trip. Christians now have a wonderful opportunity to share their faith whenever they go abroad and they can help fulfil the command of Jesus to ‘Go’. Why is this so important and how can it become so effective? Firstly, because people you come into contact with may never have heard about Jesus, nor are they...
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