A pearl of great price

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."                                         Matthew 13:45-46  NKJV 

Note the phrase, 'one pearl of great price'. This is how Jesus feels about you and I. In fact, He looked at all mankind and agreed to His Father's request and, went out and gave Himself up as a sacrifice so that we, His bride, may have the benefit of eternal life, both here and in heaven. Think about that for a moment, you are the richest of pearls. He turned you from whatever you were into what you are now. You may have had nothing - lost and alone, but He took you and made you His own. Whatever your background was, He is turning you into a pearl of great price. You are work in progress, under new management, and just like a pearl takes a long time to mature, each day you are growing,

Now this pearl of great price is two-fold for yourself and for Jesus. He turned you into His pearl of great price and, in return, He wants you to make Him your pearl of great price too.  There is nothing He left out when He rescued you, God laid down the foundation so you could stand and that foundation was Jesus Himself. Through Him you have built your house on Rock. Therefore, is it too much to ask that you make Him your pearl of great price? Some may ask, how? The answer being by placing Him in the central part of your life. Instead of second thought, make Him your first thought. So when a problem comes your way, you ask Him to solve it for you. If you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness all things shall be added to you Mt 6:33. 

Make Him the first port of call. Ensure that you read your bible as often as you can and, not as a chore, but for the life you will receive from it. Read a daily devotional as you are doing now. Along with this one, there are many that are freely available. Everyone needs teaching, they need to be challenged and stretched and also have food for thought. One thing is for sure, one day we will be with Jesus in heaven but until then make Him the love of your life - the pearl of great price. Read, study and pray, every single day.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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Amazing faith

"Lord. I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed."             Matthew 8:8. NKJV

This is an amazing illustration of faith at work. The centurion had obviously heard about Jesus and how many people were being healed. So when his servant was at home paralysed and dreadfully tormented, he went to Jesus for help. Being a man of authority - a Roman centurion, he had control over his men; he didn't have to be with them to see them carry out his orders, his authority told him that they would.

Therefore, he told Jesus that He had no need to come to his house - He was a busy man and just saying a word would be enough. Jesus was totally amazed at this man's faith and discussed this with His disciples.

Thinking back, Jesus remembered His own disciples, how they had struggled when a storm hit their boat and had to be rescued. But here was a man - a Gentile, who in every way, was displaying a faith He had never seen in Israel. In the end times, people would come to Jesus at the judgement and be told that because of their unbelief, rewards would not be given to them because of disobedience, but faith such as this, would not go unrewarded.

The centurions faith was simple in a way. He had heard of Jesus and believed what was said about Him. So much so, that when he desperately needed Jesus' help, he took the right step - to Jesus and he was granted his request, by the time he went home, his servant was made well. I mentioned the fact that the centurions faith was simple. It was, there were no religious words spoken, in fact, no prayer. He just knew that Jesus could do for his servant what He was doing for others and that, was good enough for him.

There is no need to perform religious rituals when you are seeking Jesus for healing. All you need is a healthy belief in Jesus. He will then do the rest. If you need healing for yourself or for another person, humbly approach Jesus and ask Him.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

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'I received Your healing, but I'm still sick!

"Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean"  Matthew 8:2  NKJV 

'Does God still heal today?' Of course He does. 'Then, why am I still sick?' Two good questions of which my answer is to the latter, 'I don't know.'  Some believe that if a person is not healed, that they had little faith to receive. Others believe that God doesn't heal today, that He has provided us with hospitals, doctors and nurses and we should be going there for this need. Still others believe that lack of healing, means that there is sin in the person and that requires attention before the healing can come. This is all very confusing. I personally believe that God still heals today, I am living proof of this, healed 44 years ago from facial paralysis. However, I still have no firm answer to why some are healed and others are not. 

Let us look at this man with leprosy. Jesus had been up a mountain having time with His Father and, as He came down multitudes were following Him demanding His attention. In the commotion, a man with leprosy came up to Him. No doubt he was able to get through to Jesus because of his condition. Approaching Jesus he said, 'Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.' His request was short and straight to the point and he was respectful as he asked. This man had nothing, the leprosy had ruined his life so that he was an outcast with nothing to look forward to. But he mentioned nothing of this to Jesus. This got Jesus' attention and He put out His hand, touched him and said, 'I am willing; be cleansed' 

Notice that the man had to approach Jesus and ask for healing, which for a man with his condition would have been hard to do. He didn't presume that Jesus would heal Him, he just hoped. We must believe that Jesus does still heal today. If you ask for healing but don't really believe that He will, then you are unlikely to be healed. One of the big problems today, is that we go to many people asking for prayer. It is rather like we are looking for the one who will tell us the answer we are looking for. One will say something that sounds really good but when we go to another, they say something differently and the first answer is cancelled out. Asking for prayer is good but, it is far, far better to go to Jesus in humble prayer and ask Him if he will heal you, rather like the leper had done. So if you need the healing touch of Jesus, seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you  Mt 6:33.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

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Don't take the easy way out

"Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it"                                Matthew 7:14  NKJV 

It is so easy to take the easy way out of things. This may be to cut corners or just find an easier way to do things. However, it is not always the best route. Let's look further at this:

Jeremian 12:5 says: 'If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?' And let's not forget Jesus on the cross. He didn't take the easiest route to complete His work for His Father. He knew what He had to do to save mankind, and He did it. He suffered that awful death on the cross; the humiliation of people sneering at Him; soldiers beating Him, pulling out His beard and then nails driven into His hands and feet. He loved you and I too much to cut a corner. He went the whole way - the hard way v14.

It takes dedication and study to become more like Jesus. It takes discipline to be the one who sits there, studies and learns while others are out doing what they want to do. These are the ones that may take the easy road: 'Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go by it.' v14.

The people who enter through the wide gate, are those who claim to be Christian or 'churchgoers' and class themselves as religious. But Jesus was not into religion, He was into people - His people who are called by His name and recognised as Christians. Sadly, there are many, many people who will enter this wide gate believing that one day they'll follow Jesus but, until then, 'there is a lot of living to be done.' But for some, that time for living may be very short. Today is the day, not tomorrow.

It can be very difficult to speak to family members about Jesus if they don't want to hear it. It can cause friction and sometimes, even split families. You can talk about anything and it will spark a conversation. However, mention the name 'Jesus' and their backs can become stiff and they don't want to hear about it. The best way is not to bludgeon them but, let them see Jesus by the way you live. This can speak wonders to them. Then, from thereon, pray for them. 

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

 

Watch where the boomerang hits!

"Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."  

                                                        Matthew 7:1-2  NKJV

Pointing the finger at someone can be so easy, we do it all the time. It's called judging, and when we judge someone, it springs back on us. It's rather like throwing a boomerang; throw it properly and it will come whizzing back to you. One has to be careful that they are not decapitated when this happens. It is the same with judging someone; point the finger at them in a judging manner and sooner or later it will be turned back on you. It's called the boomerang effect.

How many times have you heard a sermon somewhere and you have thought, 'Hmm, such and such needs to hear this.' There may have been a call to raise the hands for prayer and you look round at this person and see their hands are down. You may begin willing them to raise their hands and go forward. Whatever may be true, you have no right to do this, it is called judging and if you don't want to be judged yourself, stop this. You may think, 'This is so unfair, I know for a fact that they have been up to no good, they're hypocrites.' Wrong, you are. Jesus told us not to judge, so what should you do? Don't judge. Just think for a moment, what are the things that you do that are hypocritical? What if someone was doing this to you? If you have solid evidence that something is wrong with this person/s, then take this to the leadership of the church. Don't speak to anyone else about it - that's called gossip. Just take it to the pastoral team and leave it with them. Your job is done - so forget it.

More than anything, we all need to search our hearts and consider if there is something in our hearts that are either wrong, or need adjusting. Try turning this into a prayer:

 

'Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; 24 and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting'  Psalm 139:23-24

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

 

The temptation of Jesus Final part

"All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."  

                                    Matthew 4:9  NKJV

Satan begins to show his true colours - he wants Jesus to bow down and worship him, in return he will give Him 'all the kingdoms of the world and their glory'. He couldn't have picked a better place for Jesus for, He is a mountain-climber. Nothing can get in Jesus' way and remain there, and this pack of lies and false testimony wouldn't either. Jesus knew him and what he stood for as well. Jesus having had enough of this, finally rebuked him, 'Away with you, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the LORD your God and Him only you shall serve" (Deut 6:13.)

 

In the end, Satan wants your worship and he wants you to bow down to him. That's how it was with the first Adam but, never with the second Adam, Jesus Christ. And not with you either, even though he will make you nice and tempting offers in return. Don't bend the knee to him. It is never worth the price. The authority that Jesus spoke to Satan, can come from you and I too. 'Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you'  James 4:7. Jesus delegated this authority to you and I, against Satan. Make sure you use it. Jesus is the ultimate authority in the universe so, therefore, He deserves your exclusive worship and service.

The battle ended when Satan was evicted by God's authority. Angels then came to attend to Jesus. They not only began to worship Him but also, gave Him the nourishment that He needed. This is part of what angels do, they serve and minister to us. I wonder how many times they have come to you and ministered when you desperately needed it. How they saved you from that accident and rescued you when your were in peril. Just reflect on that for a moment and thank Jesus. It's amazing.

At the end of the day, we all need to worship Jesus for what He has done for each of us and, for the never-ending love and provision that He gives us. He is our role-model. Let us work towards being more and more like Him as each day commences.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

The temptation of Jesus Part 3

"Then the devil took Him (Jesus) up into the Holy city, set Him up on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge over You.'  Matthew 4:5-6  NKJV 

What a tempter, and what a flatterer Satan is. He challenged Jesus to throw Himself off the highest point of the temple; in other words to commit certain suicide. But He added v11-12 from Ps 91, which said that His angels would take care of Him. Number one, we should never test God; Jesus didn't fall for it and neither should you. I once saw on the TV, some American sect playing around with rattle snakes. They were doing this because Jesus had told us in Mark 16:18, 'they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.' Jesus was not telling these people that they could pick up snakes and drink poison, not at all. He was demonstrating that if a snake were to attack them, it wouldn't hurt them. We see this in action in Acts 28:3-6 when an adder attached itself to Paul and he just shook it off without it hurting him. People read too much into scripture and put their own interpretation of it into action. We must be careful of this happening. Don't test God. How do we obey this? Don't test God. Many of this sect died.

When you think about it, Jesus could have proved who He was by doing this, and saving Himself from having to die on that cross. It would be a brilliant way to demonstrate this. However, Jesus was having none of it and neither should we ever change scripture to meet our own desires. Jesus was faithful and He expects the same from us. The only way is up - to Jesus. We can never cut corners even if we think we could get away with it. You wouldn't, because God sees everything.

The devil knows scripture, don't ever think that He doesn't. He knows it but, turns it round to fit his own requirements. He will do all he can to convince you that it is all ok, 'It'll be all right. Don't worry.' But don't test God!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2