We're here on serious business

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."   Mark 16:15.  NKJV

William Barclay says:-
'One of the most poignant tragedies of life is for someone, especially a young person, to come and say to us, "I would never have been in this situation in which I now find myself, if you had only spoken to me in time."

Let those words sink in for a moment. The words remind me of a question from Evangelism Explosion, which was a successful evangelism training programme back in the 80's. One of the questions that people had to ask someone they met was, 'If you were to die today and go up to the gates of Heaven and you were asked why you should be allowed in, what would you say?' Of course the right answer to this would have been, 'Because Jesus is my Saviour.'

The first example would be directed at us with someone basically saying, 'Why didn't you tell me that I needed Jesus to get into Heaven?' The second example would be the realisation that a person cannot go to Heaven by attending church, reading a bible, being good to people or giving lots of money to charity. They are good works, but not good enough. Both of these examples require Jesus. He is the link into Heaven. People need Jesus, He has the key to Heaven. Without Him we are lost.

Charles Finney wrote:-

'However perfect and holy we may become, Jesus Christ will forever be, the sole reason that we are not in hell.'                                                            Charles Finney Living for God P14

Finney was a very direct and strict man but he was sold out for Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, and his presence alone caused fire to fall. Here's an example:-

'Charles Finney passed through a small community in upstate, New York. Houghton, New York, was a normal town, yet one day as Charles Finney's train was passing by, the Holy Spirit fell on the sinners of the community. Men in bars fell on their knees, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and asked Jesus Christ to save them.'
                                                                  Intercessors Arise International, Facebook page

We all get one chance at being a human being. This is it. The thing is, what are we going to do about it? People are dying everyday. What will be their destination? This brings us back to the first example; are we going to tell people about Jesus or not? Thanks  If not, how will you feel if they come up to you in Heaven and ask, 'Why didn't you tell me? I don't know Jesus, but I could have done if you had told me.'

Does this sound like a trip is being laid upon you? I'm sorry, but that is because it was intended of you to do so. We are not all like Charles Finney and we don't need to be. He had a special calling. However, let's not forget the commission that Jesus left us with, 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.'   Mark 16:15.

We all have the ability to talk to people about our faith and why we believe as we do. We don't need to have attended a bible college to do this. We don't have to be a certain age to carry this out either. The young can do it and so can the elderly. There's no retirement in the Kingdom of God. 

The young are learning about it and the elderly have a wealth of knowledge to show them, almost like, 'Watch and learn.' The thing is, whatever age you are, there's still a lot more to learn about Jesus and He still has a job for us to do, whatever that may be. No one is too young and no one is too old. In God's eyes, we're all valuable assets.

Finney, before he knew Jesus, was searching for Christianity, and told people that he was going off into some woods and wouldn't return until he had heard from God. A couple of days later, the power of the Holy Spirit came down upon him with so much force, that he would never be the same again. 

Jesus introduced Himself to Mr Finney and then taught him. Whatever age, we need to be doing the same, because we're here on serious business!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

A Pebble in your Shoe

"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."                                                                           John 16:33.  NKJV

The word 'Tribulation,' can cover trials, distress and suffering. It is something hard to bear physically or emotionally, or an annoying or frustrating, catastrophic event.

Tribulation can cover a multitude of things, not only major ones that we expect may happen in the End times, but things that can happen to everyone from time to time.
Take for example a pebble in the shoe.  When this happens it can feel like we have a massive, jagged boulder in our shoe. However, when we check, it may only be a tiny pebble. It's crazy that something so small can give us so much discomfort.

Mostly, although annoying, we can slip the shoe off and be free from this terrible discomfort. At other times, it is not so easy especially if we're on a route march, where we can't really stop and where to remove the boot would be a major chore.

How do they get in there in the first place. If we were to tell someone that we're going to kick up a small stone and make it land in our shoe, it would probably never happen and they would feel that we're very strange. But, when we're least expecting it - Wham! - a pebble arrives from nowhere and it's threatening to dig into our big toe. Not nice.

Life's a little like this though. We can be getting on with our day, when suddenly, something happens that knocks us for six. One minute we have a measure of peace, the next anxiety, pain and utter despair; and rather like the pebble, no matter how small it may be, it hurts and we can't seem to move it so that we can have some relief.

Our lives can be very much like this. The pebble may represent something that has happened to us that we can't forget. It causes pain and discomfort and no matter how much we try, we can't seem to forget what has happened so that we can move on. 
Alternatively, there may be something that we have done or said and the pebble causes us guilt and condemnation. Firstly, we need to remember that there is no condemnation for Christians:

'There is therefore now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.'   (Romans 8:1)

Secondly, guilt is a reminder that we need to put something right. We may need to go to someone and tell them that we are sorry for our behaviour towards them. Then if the guilt remains, we will know that it is the enemy attacking us and trying to turn this into condemnation. We can then tell him to get behind us in Jesus' Name because we are not guilty.

The pebble can be a good thing actually. It can be a time when we search within ourselves and assess our walk with Jesus, and how it is going. We all have issues in life and we have to learn to deal with them appropriately. The answer to most issues such as this is: forgiving people and asking for forgiveness. When we do this, it brings a certain release. It is rather like taking off our shoe and shaking the pebble out.

Forgiveness sets a person free from the bondage we've been living under. It's a choice, but Jesus has very strong feelings about this. Make sure you read and understand the following:

'(14)For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) but  if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.'
                                                                                                  Matthew 6:14-15

These are very important words and words that we need to take notice of. When we do, the pebble in our life will disappear and we'll have a new bounce to our Spiritual life.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Salt

"You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned?"  
                                                                                   Matthew 5:13.  NKJV

Salt was connected to purity. Therefore, if Christians are the salt of the earth, they must be examples of purity. James 1:27 says that a Christian should keep themselves, unspotted or unstained from the world. Colossians 1:22 says that we should present ourselves holy and blameless and above reproach, because that's what Jesus did for us.

Salt is a preservative. Many people on farms, still have meats, such as bacon, preserved in salt. I remember some farms that used to have these joints of bacon, hanging from their kitchen ceilings until they were ready to eat them. Therefore, salt keeps things from going bad or from corruption. Salt also protects. Just think how it melts the black ice on our roads during a cold winter. 

In Roman times, salt was considered a valuable commodity and it wasn't unusual for soldiers of the Roman Empire being paid in salt. Hence the sayings, 'He's worth his salt,' or if he was a poor worker, 'He isn't worth his salt.'

Salt creates a thirst and draws people to water. If Jesus called His disciples the, 'Salt of the earth,' then He was saying they had the capabilities to draw people to Himself. Also, He classed the disciples - and us - as precious commodities.

I don't use salt in my food all that much, in fact, hardly ever. However, for me, salt does add flavour to the food. It seasons it just right. That's my opinion, your may be different. Jesus wants us to offer flavour to all we meet; to season them well by introducing them to the Kingdom of God. 

If salt is connected to purity; then we also should be pure in all we do and say. Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, therefore, we should be an example to whoever is around.

Salt never really loses its saltiness and we shouldn't lose ours either. Jesus was speaking here of how mixing with the wrong crowd and compromising our faith from time to time, can lead us to losing our saltiness. We all like to enjoy ourselves but there are limits. We can so easily step over this line, and let's be honest, we do and that is the start of losing our saltiness - becoming ineffective, stained and full of blame where fingers can be pointed at us. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote, 'But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.' I Corinthians 9:27.

These are strong words and we have to be careful that we too, are not disqualified because of our behaviour, caused possibly, by the wrong company we keep, and/or not being in control of ourselves.

If you feel this is you; if you feel disqualified then there is good news. You may have lost your saltiness but repent; put it right with Jesus, and then get on with the good work. You know why? Because, you're the salt of the earth!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Are you a writer?

"My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer."                    Psalm 45:1.  NKJV

Are you a writer? Have you ever thought that you would like to write a book, a blog or a poem about Jesus? You say, 'I can't write, at all." Of course you can. You write letters don't you? And if you don't, what about notes to people or jotting down your thoughts when you've felt God speaking to you about something.? Of course you can write, it's just that you've never really considered doing it.

The Psalmist here is so joyful that he can't contain that joy, he has to put it into poetry; a love song to the King. His heart is overflowing with the joy that can only come from the Holy Spirit. When this happens, it builds up within you and if you don't shout it out or write it down, you feel that you will burst.

The tongue cannot remain quiet - ever. It's always busy saying this or that. For some people, they just cannot contain their words, they just have to release them. Others, may be more composed and keep things close to their chests, but within, there is a fire burning.

This is probably you right now. At this time in your life, you may have words within you that you must do something with - but what? Well for one thing, think about Jesus. Philippians says:

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things."
                                                                                        Philippians 4:8.  NKJV

This describes Jesus doesn't it? So as we meditate on this, words can begin to flow from your pen - the tongue. These words are really beautiful words and the New Living Translation describes this verse as: 'Beautiful words stir my heart.' Psalm 45:1. Just think about this phrase. Our heart is stirred when we read scripture and your pen can then begin to write,

You may not have the desire to write a book, but then again, you may have. But you do have the  capability to read God's Word and write things down in your note book. This is one of the ways that God speaks to us. Many people have written some lovely poems by doing this; others have written songs. You're no different. You have a tongue so therefore, this can be the beginning of a ready writer.

Why not sit and meditate today and then let your pen begin to write. You never know, what you come up with may bless many people.

Give it a try!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Examine yourself

"But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."                                              Galatians 6:4.  NKJV

There are a few questions that we would benefit from asking ourselves, periodically:

WHEN WE DO SOMETHING FOR GOD, WHAT IS OUR MOTIVE?
It is so easy to try and compete with someone else. We see a person carrying out some amazing stuff for God, and they appear highly favoured by all, so we may try to do better. If this is the case, if we're not careful, competition can take place between ourselves and the other person - yet they may not realise this. We may try to out-preach or out-teach them or be more successful at leading the worship than they are. We may have more words to give out from the front of the church or just try to be the centre of attention when in that person's presence. So therefore, we need to check ourselves and see if our service is given from selfish motives, instead of wanting to please Jesus.

DO WE GO TO CHURCH FOR THE RIGHT REASONS?
Has church become a habit or do we genuinely go to meet with God. Has going to church become a place where we can meet together and hear the latest gossip about someone? 

When we do things for Jesus out of a pure heart, we will having rejoicing within ourselves. It makes us feel good that we have pleased God; that we have helped someone in their daily walk or we've shown someone the love of Jesus, that they badly needed.
We're not rejoicing because we have competed well with someone or maybe, done better. That will only lead to guilt pretty soon and lead us far away from God. Remember, He will never leave us, but we can move out of His presence by selfish and sinful acts that lead to pride.
The rejoicing that our text today mentions, is believing that we have received God's approval for what we have done or said.

Examining ourselves is very helpful as it gives us a good idea of how we're doing in our walk with Jesus. It is a self-assessment and if done properly, can help us weed out the things that we know should not be there in our lives.

I once heard a preacher say that at the end of the day, when he retired to bed, he would ask God, 'Lord, have I pleased You today?' Just think about that question. That should be our goal on a daily basis, to please God, not any other person; but God first. If we set our sights on this, we will easily please others as we go about our day.

Wherever we go, we will be spreading Jesus all over the place. People may not want us to, 'Preach about God,' to them, but they will not be able to stop us pleasing them.
When I worked in a busy social work office, one worker was notorious  for his small jokes. One day, someone brought him a mug of coffee but the handle was at the back of the mug. He looked over at me and asked if I would turn his mug around so that he could reach the handle. To his surprise, I did. I walked over to his desk and turned the mug round so that he could pick it up without any effort. He was flabbergasted and also embarrassed about this and he never used this again, as far as I know.
It was no hardship for me to do this. I wasn't in the habit of doing this type of thing, I just felt, as he asked, I would please him.

Examining ourselves, and having our sights set on pleasing God each day, has got to be the way forward. If we adopt this attitude, we'll be on the way to living for God.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."                                            Matthew 5:10    NKJV

Sticks and stones will possibly hurt, but insults will never get me. I'm not too sure about the latter part of this phrase, as many people have been devastated by what has been said to them. Words can hurt and the affect, can last a lifetime.

This phrase, I remember, was around when I was at school, you may remember it too. It was mainly used when we were on the receiving end of verbal bullying. Nowadays, this phrase has possibly been adapted to fit into some streetwise saying.

Words do hurt and come from people we never thought would say them. It's quite difficult to shrug off insults and persecutions.The early Christians had much to contend with on this subject. Under Nero, the Roman Government persecuted Christians terribly. Some were murdered but before that, they were tortured, some had body parts cut off and were forced to watch the parts being roasted and thrown to dogs. Many had their eyes plucked out too. It is said that Nero, had some people covered in hot tar while they were alive and then set fire to. They were then used as lamps to illuminate his living quarters. Also, as Emperor, he was recognised as a god and people had to worship him. If they didn't, they paid the price.

I read a book many years ago. I can't remember the title, or the author but it was set in China. The Chinese Authorities were clamping down on Christianity and believers were ordered to denounce Jesus, or they would be shot. The father of one particular family refused to do this and just before the family were all killed he turned to his wife and children and said, 'Don't worry, tonight we will have supper with the King.'
What an amazing testimony. I have never forgotten it and it made me wonder if I would be able to do that if ever I was in this position. I'd like to think I could but how difficult that would be.

I don't know about you, I become upset and then angry when I'm persecuted for something which is much smaller that what I've mentioned. Many people today, around the world, are suffering for their faith. They're being falsely imprisoned, raped, tortured and killed. And yet their faith is much stronger than mine could ever be. I whine when someone says something bad about me and yet, I'm not facing what many others are.

We may moan and groan; and feel that we're hard done by. We may say, 'It's not fair,' and yet this is child like to what others in this world are suffering for.

Let me ask you; what would you do if all of a sudden, where we live, it became a state where Christianity was forbidden? If this was the case, how would you react to being threatened, by death, unless you denounced Christ? It is unlikely to happen where we live, but with the state that the world is in, it could be a threat.

We take so many things for granted and we show ingratitude at times for what God has blessed us with. However, at the blink of an eye, it could all be taken away from us.

I feel God is wanting His people to be grateful for all He has done and will do in the future. You may be ill; you may be disabled; you may be short of money or not have what others have, but you are alive!

Be grateful and thankful to God for that. Amen? - Amen!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Let your light shine

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works  and glorify your Father in Heaven."                                                Matthew 5:16.  NKJV

The world is a dark place without Jesus. Just think how it was before creation; darkness was on the face of the deep. (Genesis 1:2) and it remained until God said, 'Let there be light,' or 'Light be,' and then there was light. Therefore, wherever Jesus is, there is light. He shines in the darkness and brings everything to the light. He reveals all. It is hard to see in the darkness. Lots of things happen that we cannot see, but if you're of the Light, and walking in it then He reveals it to you.

If you've ever done any night walking, you'll remember the feeling of satisfaction when a light appears in the darkness. I remember my early army training days when we used to trek for miles across the moors in the pitch dark of the night. All we had with us was a compass and even that was hard to see at times. As we walked on in blizzard conditions, using our precious night sight, the feeling of exhilaration was amazing as we saw a light shining in the darkness ahead. It was still very dark, and still freezing cold but somehow, the light brought a glow as we realised that we were nearly home and dry.

As Christians, we have to learn to walk in the Light. Ephesians 5:8 says:

'For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.'

Darkness prevents you from seeing clearly. Light opens the way, it illuminates everything around. This is why the devil doesn't like the light. It shows up the evil schemes that he has planned. The light will also shine on the deeds that evil people are plotting against you. Not everyone is your friend, you have to believe that. But as you walk in the light, God will reveal certain things to you. He will give you discernment about situations and people and as you pray about this, He will reveal the truth about what He is showing you. Be careful here, because He may reveal certain things about you to someone else, if you are in sin!

Having said this, God does not want us to be paranoid, suspecting every person we come into contact with and that we are entering into a den of iniquity, every place that we go. But He does give us wisdom. He lights up the way through the darkness. As I've mentioned in previous commentaries, we can find our self in a position where we suffer a power-cut; one in which we cannot feel the power of God within us. It is not always a power cut when the light goes out; the bulb may just need changing, and this is where we can find ourselves. There are certain changes that we have to make and surrender to God, before we can be sure of walking in the light of God. It may only be a simple thing that is preventing you walking in the light, but the Holy Spirit is very sensitive. Play the video back of your life, before you began to feel that you're in darkness. You may need to repent of something; you may need to put something right. As you check out your personal video, God will cast a light on this. You can then rectify it and get back on the road of light. It makes so much sense!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com