Watch the Pharisees of today

"As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me'. So he followed Him. "   V9                                            Matthew 9:9-13.  NKJV

 Matthew, the tax collector was just sitting in his office carrying out his work, when Jesus turned up and told him to follow Him. It may have seemed a strange thing to do but, Matthew received what Jesus said and followed Him. We have already seen this in John 1, where Jesus called other men to follow Him. However, this one was a little different. Matthew was a tax collector - quite a hated person then and not so different today. I dread my tax return each year.

Now Jesus had already upset the Pharisees earlier when He had healed a paralytic on his bed. They had accused Him of blasphemy saying that no one can forgive sin except God. Therefore, Jesus had demonstrated that He had the authority to forgive sins and heal a person too. In other words, He was letting them know who He was and where He had come from. However, they wouldn't accept this truth, very much like people who knock Christians today. Now here was Jesus sitting and speaking with the tax collectors and sinners (V10). 

In Jesus's reply to the Pharisees, of why He was doing this, (V12-13) Jesus told them firmly that He had come to call the sinners to repentance, not the righteous. The righteous can take care of themselves but sinners are lost without Him. Jesus didn't mince His words; He said it as it is. He had a mission and He would fulfil it no matter what. 

It can be very much the same today in certain circles. I created a place in our church basement for the homeless and broken to come. They were fed, loved and accepted and they had a place to rest for the day and where possible, we gave them new clothes. We never had any trouble from them, in fact, they were better behaved than some of the church members. However, rather like Jesus was knocked by the Pharisees, we were also knocked by the Pharisees of the day. 'We don't want that type of person here,' was one of the statements. When the homeless guys started coming to the Sunday services, I was asked by my superiors, if I would be willing to hold different services - one for the church members and one for the 'Down and Outs'. My reply was, if they could should me in scripture where Jesus did this, yes I would comply. This closed the conversation.

People do not like their comfort zones stirred up. Anything out of the norm is a 'No, No', and if you step out of their circle, you will find that you will quickly become unpopular. The way I see it is, if Jesus was unpopular, then I am proud to become unpopular with Him. It is not a time for pussy-footing around with rules and relegulations made by man; it is a time to stand up for Jesus, to preach His Word and live it for as long as we can. Certain people even want parts of the bible re-written so that it fits in with new trends and life styles for today. We should never allow this. It is time for Christians to stand up and keep standing. We either follow Jesus or we don't. There's no place for watering things down to fit life today. The Word of God is still The Word of God. This is the bottom line.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

Are you tired and and worn out?

"Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

For all of us, the road becomes weary and we can end up stressed out tired of endless chores, work and life in general. Jesus here, is saying that He has the answer, 'Come to Me - I will give you rest." He mentions taking His yoke upon ourselves. What actually does that mean? Well firstly, the yoke He mentions is submision to Himself. We can't keep, keeping on or something will break within us. We are only weak; Jesus is strong. Therefore, He tells us to come to Him and lay our burdens at His feet and He will help us to achieve them and also give us rest. 

Secondly, Jesus was a carpenter in Nazareth before His ministry began. Legend has it that He made the best ox-yokes around. These were wooden frames that were made so skilfully that they fitted around the neck of the ox so that it could be controlled. This could also be done in pairs. It is said of Jesus that His yokes, 'fitted well'. Whether this is fact or myth we don't really know. However, it is quite possible that it was true because He had His workshop in Nazareth and was well known for His work. This actually is a great analogy for the yoke that Jesus wants to give us. He takes great care to supply us with the best and He would only want us to be fitted with the finest. 

Jesus watches us on a daily basis and He sees the pressures that come our way. Really, this is the time when we need to take Him at His Word and say to Jesus, 'Lord, please help me with this.' There may be an unexpected bill, a demand or another issue that is causing us pain. In a way, Jesus would like us to say to Him, 'Lord, I have this bill. I haven't got an idea how I can pay it, but You do, so I'm leaving it to You to sort out for me. I'm not going to worry about it'. Now this may sound quite rude to speak with the King of kings in such a way. But check the scriptures out; He tells us not to worry about such things, but to seek Him and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to us. (Matthew 6:33). It's a burden and He asks us to take the burden to Him. He wants us to act in such a way and He wants us to be free of the pressures that life puts on us.

Life can bring us torment and anxiety at times and we need to adopt a way to avoid this stress. Jesus has the answer here. 'Come to Me'. Some of us may be wrestling with disappointment today but, Jesus will crush every disappointment and break every chain that the devil places on us - if we allow Him to. He is our burden-bearer, our fresh hope and He offers us a refreshing that no one else can. Just take a look in Psalm 23:2-3 and see how He helps us to lie down in green pastures and leads us beside the still waters. Picture a beautiful, warm sunny day doing this - relaxing. He wants to restore our soul - our mind, will and emotions, all of this stuff that crushes our brain and cause distress. 

All of this is available to us as we obey Jesus' words, 'Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.'

Now I don't know about you but, that seems to be a great idea!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

Don't be stubborn like the mule - listen!

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. (9) Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you."       Psalm 32:8-9.  NKJV

This Psalm considers how we need to allow God to direct our day and walk with Him. He offers to instruct us about the way forward; to teach us His principles; to direct our course in all things and guide us into healthy and prosperous living. However, if we are not tuned into God we will miss what He has for us. How can we hear properly if we are not listening? We can't. We need to be open on a regular, daily basis to what God has for us.

God quite clearly tells us in this Psalm of David, that He wants to be part of our lives. He wants us to get things right in all we do. Therefore, He is willing to show us the way ahead, but, are we willing for Him to do so. Let's be honest, often we consider that we don't need any help, we can do this on our own. One example is when we purchase a new implement for the home.  Very often the instructions are neglected and we press on putting it together only to find, it doesn't quite work properly. It seems to be a common practice, especially with men, that we don't really need to view the rules, we know how it is supposed to work. We can do this.

This all falls in with having a stubborn streak. We can be unteachable. As verse 9 says, 'Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding'. Isn't this what we are being when we tend to think that we know it all and don't need to be taught or shown the way forward? When we act in this way, we demonstrate that we have no understanding. Things may be okay for a time but pretty soon, they will start crumbling because we have no understanding - no root - no direction.

Many times, people are 'saved' and almost immediately, believe that they are called to be preachers or evangelists. They don't need any training or discipline. They believe God has called them and this all that they need. That may be so for the odd individual, but usually God expects us to have a time of training to gain the wisdom and knowledge that is required for this type of work. See how the disciples were taught by Jesus. He didn't send them out straightaway. There was a time where they had to sit at His feet and gain understanding.

We live in a very busy and unsettled time. Our lives can be stressful and the demands placed upon us totally over the top. Put this against living in a time of 'Lockdown', where there is uncertainty about where it is all going to end up and the worry of how we will manage if we lose our jobs or money. We need guidance. We need instruction and direction. In fact, we need Jesus! He is the only one that is certain in this whole world. He will never leave us or let us down; and what's more, He knows the way ahead.

This is why He offers to instruct us and teach us in the way we should go; but if we don't allow Him to do this, we are being like the horses and the mules - stubborn and on a crash course to possible ruin. 

Spend time with Him; allow Him to show you the way through the situation that you are in right now. Submit to Him and ask Him for guidance. Pray and read your bible and listen to what He says to you. It really does make sense.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

Living by Faith

"But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."                                                                                Matthew 6:33.  NKJV

This is one of the most quoted verses in the bible. We heard it at Sunday school and church and preachers are still quoting this in their sermons in church and on God channels on the TV. Why? Because it is true. When we place God in the driving seat of our lives and trust Him to provide whatever we need, He blesses us.

Back in 1982, I successfully interviewed with the Elim Pentecostal Organisation and began my training with in-depth bible correspondance courses. At that time this was permissible and an alternative to full time bible college. God led me to a local Elim church, where I began serving, full time, in an assistant's role to the pastor. The only problem was, there was no financial remuneration, I had to trust God for our needs. I had a wife and two children still at home. My wife had a job but this only met the cost of the bills and basic shopping. 

We had learned the basics of faith but now it was time to put it into action; and we did. We never went short of anything. We came home one evening wondering what we were going to have for dinner and greeting us on the doorstep, was a piping hot crockpot of the best casserole I have ever tasted. We had money put through our letter box. We needed a car but couldn't afford to even run one, let alone buy one. My wife came home from work one night in a company car with all expences paid including petrol. Someone had lost their licence through drink-driving and God used their lack of wisdom to bless us. We prayed for clothes and found the most incredible bargains. At one time, I needed shoes, so I asked God. I looked in a shoe-shop window and there was a brand new pair of leather shoes, my size for only £1. You know something, those shoes never wore out. I ended up giving them away to a homeless chap who was equally blessed.

Yes, we cut our teeth on faith. God has shown us that as we trust Him, tithing what we owe to God, He will take care of the rest. It's not always plain sailing though. Sometimes, God will have you wait until the very last moment before what you need, arrives. James Hudson-Taylor once said, 'If we can only wait right up to the time, God cannot lie, God cannot forget. He is pledged to supply all our need.' And this is so true. God is faithful but you have to take Him at His Word to find this out. One thing He asks is that we honour Him with a tithe from what we receive. It may seem impossible to do this, but as you obey - putting Him first, miraculously you will find that He will bless you in return. You cannot outgive God, give to Him and He gives back, usully much more than you have given as well.

You may be struggling at this time. Let me encourage you; place God first in your life; decide to honour Him with your tithe and then trust Him. Read your bible, claim promiises such as the above text and watch how He looks after you. Sometimes, I see the birds eating some amazing stuff that they haven't paid for, yet God has supplied. If He will feed the birds, He will not neglect you. Read Matthew 6:25-34 in an attitude of praise.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

He's your A to Z of your Life

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."          Proverbs 3:5-6.  NKJV

The above scripture was our baptismal text back in 1980 when my wife and I went through the waters of baptism, following our conversation. Forty years later, we are still trying to live this way but like us all, need a constant reminder of the way ahead. 

In days of pressure and torment, it is easy to forget that we have a God who is 100% for us, wanting to show the way through difficult and life-troubling events. Charles F Stanley writes: 'Any time we spend wondering about how to get out of a touchy situation is time wasted. God's guidance is more than sufficient for all the tests or trials we might have to face - but in order to benefit from it, we have to seek it out.'

When we don't know what to do about a given situation, the first thing we should do is submit it to God and then slow down and wait. Then, when we feel He has answered us, before we do anything, we need to ensure that we have a sense of peace to go along with the plans and ideas we have submitted to God.

If we just make up our own minds about a situation, it can be a recipe for disaster. Many people have made big mistakes - me included - by dashing in without praying first. God should be our first port of call. We need His guidance and His direction. However, to be able to do this, we need to trust Him with all of our heart. This is the bottom line; it underpins everything we belive in. If we can't trust God we are in big trouble. He's the only one we can fully trust. 

Look at it like this. When we go on a trip, we usually check the route out on a map or to be more up to date, a Sat Nav. This usually ensures an accurate plan of the route that we need to take. Without these things, it can be a little daunting to be lost in the middle of nowhere. In a similar way, we need Jesus as our Sat Nav. He knows the way 100% and will sweep the road of all obstacles that may be in your way. 

Learning to trust God is imperative, it is essential to a happy life. He's committed to us and wants us to be committed to Him. He wants us to rely on Him, asking Him the way ahead and what to do about a particular thing. He is our Father and wants to act as such to us - His children. 

Whatever you are deliberating about at this time; whatever is worrying you or whatever you have to do, put God first. Trust Him, Lean on Him, Acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. He knows the way; He sweeps the obstacles off the path in front of you; He's your Road Atlas, your Sat Nav, He's your compass; in fact, He is your A to Z of your life.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

No discrimination

"Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, 'How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?' For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans." v9

                                                                                                        John 4:1-26.  NKJV

Jews and Samaritans, were two groups who didn't have anything to do with each other. Jews believed the Samaritans had been tainted by the pagan nations among them (Deuteronomy 7:1).  Furthermore, a Jew would become ceremonially unclean if he used a drinking vessel handled by a Samaritan. In a Jew's eyes, all Samaritans were unclean. In addition to this, men in biblical times did not generally speak to women in public. 

And yet, here was Jesus going through Samaria, meeting the woman at the well and asking her for a drink. He was breaking everything that Jews believed. Even His disciples, on their return from buying food (v27), marvelled at Jesus sitting and talking with her.

You see, with God there is no difference in our race; the colour of our skin or where we originate from. With God there is no partiality (Romans 2:11). He loves everyone and by this acount here, shows that He is against racial discrimination.

Jesus, having walked  a long way in the midday sun, sat at Jacob's Well in Sychar. It was hot; He was weary and He also had a thirst. All of this demonstrates His humanity. He was God and yet He was a man and He underwent all the things that a human being goes through each day. He noticed the woman drawing from the well and asked her for a drink. 

What followed was an amazing account of Jesus telling her all about herself, Himself and His coming Kingdom and the peace and love that she could have. It affected her so much, that she left her water carrier and ran into the city telling them all about the event. She said, 'Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?' (v29). Samaritans expected a Messiah, but their rejection of all the inspired writings after the Pentateuch, meant that they knew little about Christ. They thought of Him mainly as a teacher. However, this woman was so affected by Jesus that her excitement was infectious, and she brought the whole city to Jesus. Quite an evangelistic feat.

Jesus' heart breaks over the whole of racial discrimination. In Jesus's opinion, we are all equal and he treats us as such. He has no favourites, we all have a ministry to run. In Jesus' eyes, whatever we do for Him, is equally important.

Sadly, politics can enter into our Christian faith so much, that we can end up making the politician more important than Jesus Himself. Yes, God is interested in how the nations will be run and if the politicians place Jesus in the rightful place of their work, it will be.

One day, God will totally rule in Heaven and on the earth. He will demonstrate how kingdoms should be managed - with Jesus on the Throne. Until then, let us avoid all form of discrimination and keep Jesus firmly in our sights on a daily basis.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

Don't let anger get the better of you

"'Be angry, and do not sin,' do not let the sun go down on your wrath. (27) nor give place to the devil."                                                                                  Ephesians 4:26-27  NKJV

The Greek word here for 'place', is topos which emphasises that believers can actually give ground in their lives to satanic control. But this doesn't mean that we can just become angry and let rip at someone and then the blame the devil for it all. If that was the case, all of us could go out and have affairs, be the meanest person around and rob people and say, it was not my fault, the devil was in control. No, it means that you gave him the control. What we have to be careful of, is our anger. If we don't control it, the devil can get in and use us to bring about mayhem and division in our lives and the life of the church.

Most people, at sometime in their lives, fall to anger, some more regularly than others. To be angry is not always sinful. People have righteous anger, rather like Jesus when He cleared the temple from people who were using it as a marketplace. However anger that burns within us is dangerous. It can bubble away within until, POW, it erupts and that can cause devastation, whether it be in a relationship, a workplace or in the community. The moment we give in to anger, we have lost control. Don't give the devil an opportunity, rise above it. Kenneth Copeland often says, 'If you let the devil into the back seat of the car, pretty soon he's gonna want to drive.' Do you get the idea? Take control of it it before it takes root and ruins things.

A lot of married couples fall out this way. One of them offends the other and instead of putting it right straightaway, they carry it on and an atmosphere is caused where neither one of them will speak or say they are sorry. This is where the devil can get in. It only takes one little spark to cause a forest fire. (James 3:5). Our text today highlights this fact: 'do not let the sun go down on your wrath'. All it does is give the devil a foothold. That's all he needs to come into a person's life and causes devastation. Don't allow this.

The more we focus on being wronged, the more it affects us. We allow the offence to go round and round in our heads and then, we can begin having conversations with ourselves, plotting what we'll say back to the person or how we will take revenge. We can become so wound up about it, that we may begin to make inner vows such as, 'I'll never allow anyone ever to do that again' etc. etc. When we have been wronged, we can allow it to damage our whole feelings about the person and it can soon turn into hate. Don't allow this. Nip it in the bud, quickly.

"It's ok for you to say that, but you don't know the hurt it caused me.' You're right, I don't know the hurt it has caused you. but I can see the hurt that it is doing to you now because you're not letting it go. Let it go!

You may well be in a position such as this. Someone has offended you and it hurts. If that person is living within your home, then action needs to be taken straightaway. Life's too short for this type of thing. Can you forgive and forget the situation? Or can you talk the matter through with the person or with a trusted friend. That may help. 

On the other hand, do you need to go to someone and tell them that you are sorry? It is very important to do this. God expects us to put things right, not hold grudges or refuse to forgive others (Matthew 7:1-2 & Mark 11:25-26).

Jesus left us with peace (John 14:27). Why not flow in that peace right now!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com