Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord
The writer of Proverbs states,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6.
Charles Spurgeon the great evangelist said,
“The Word of God will be to you a bulwark and a high tower, a castle of defence against the foe. Oh, see to it that the Word of God is in you, in your very soul, permeating your thoughts, and so operating upon your outward life, that all may know you to be a true Bible-Christian, for they perceive it in your words and deeds.” Charles H. Spurgeon
As believers in Christ we need to spend as much time as we can studying the scriptures. We need also to put what we learned from the scriptures into action.
It’s one thing to study the word of God its quite another to put what we learn from it into action in our daily lives.
When we do however people will notice. Francis of Assisi states,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

It can be hard at times to trust God and not lean on our own understanding. This is especially true if we are going through hard times. However it is when we are going through those hard times that we need God the most.
As believers in Christ we need to heed the words of the Psalmist who said,

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

He restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

 You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” 

                                                                      Psalm 23

Question: Do you put all your trust in the Lord?
Please think about it.

Word and Deed

Word and Deed
Matthew’s gospel records Jesus speaking to his disciples as saying,,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14-16.
Over the years I’ve heard many sermons on this passage of scripture. Most of them focussed on the fact that believers in Christ Jesus are the light of the world. That it is their job to take the message of salvation into a dark world.
There is however less emphasis on how believers in Christ are to take that message to the world. Many Christians assume that it is by word of mouth that the gospel message is to be preached.
While that is true, it is most definitely not the only way. In the last sentence from the above quot by Jesus, Jesus states,
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16.
As Christians we must present the gospel message in word and in deed. The apostle Peter states,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12.
Francis of Assisi wrote two things believers in Christ Jesus need to consider. He wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.’

                                                    Francis of Assisi

and

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                       Francis of Assisi.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, what are your deeds telling the world about Jesus?
Please think about it.

Message from a Rose

Message from a Rose
There is a delightful story with quiet a meaning woven into it by Ben Zion Bokser it’s entitled the Rose talked Back. It goes like this,

The Rose Talked Back

“The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment.  He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’  He said too himself.  Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding an hour before.  Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound.  One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service?  My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted.  And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.  My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye.  I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness.  So don’t grieve for me.  My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent.  The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.”
                                                                                                         Ben Zion Bokser
I like what the rose said, “Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.”
Question, What will people say about the deeds in your life?
Will people look at your life and say for lack of anything else to say “you were a good person”? OR will they list the virtuous things you have done. The good deeds you did for others without thought of reward.
You may not do magnificent deeds that get national or international attention but you can always do something.
I think of my late sister in law. She lived most of her life in poverty. She struggled with alcoholism yet managed to stay sober for the last twenty-five years of her short fifty-six years on this earth.
At her funeral however she was remembered as a person who gave of herself. Who helped the poor. Who worked through her church and in other ways to help as many people as she could.
At her funeral there were people from all walks of life who praised her good deeds and her faith in God.
She was far from perfect yet she did what she could do to help others and serve her Saviour Jesus Christ.
Whether you are a Christian or not, what will people say about your life?
Is you life wrapped up in yourself? Are the only things you do for others done for some kind of remuneration?
When was the last time you did something simply because a person needed help and you could help?
Ask yourself what you can do for others. There are a lot of charities and organizations out there that need help. You can be that help.
When you die what will people say about you? What will God say?
Please think about it.