Fruit than remains

“I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.”Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭43‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus had another tangle with the chief priests and elders in the temple. They had demanded to know ‘by  what authority are you doing these things?’ Jesus responded, as He often did with a few parables. He then went on to tell them the above verse. Now, of course, the leaders thought Jesus was the problem and they the righteous ones.

Today, many in mainline churches are falling away with false doctrine. They have muddied the waters of the pure and true gospel with uncleanness. They are not bearing the fruit that Jesus is looking for. He is removing their lamp, so to speak. As we read the first few chapters in the book of  Revelation we see Jesus addressing the churches in Asia and the common warning was ‘walk the right way or I will remove your lamp!’

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day really thought they were on the right path and they were full of self-righteousness. Let this be a warning to us! Self-righteousness is as ‘filthy rags’ (menstrual rags). Our righteousness must only come from Jesus and our faith in Him to make us righteous. Nothing we do or say can make us pure and right, only He is good! Amen!

His House

“He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!””Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus said these words to the money changers and sellers of animals, spices etc in the Temple court. A place that should have been quiet was a busy bazar.

I was reminded of this back in 1990’s. My husband and I were pastoring a new church in a place called Wyong NSW. We had purchased a building and converted it into a church. In my desire to have the people read I had taken books on consignment and set them up in the left front corner of the sanctuary in the building, in sight from the congregation. I knew my eyes were constantly drawn to the books instead of listening and partaking in the service and was convicted that what I had done was wrong. 

Many churches today have coffee shops at some section of the church building. Here they sell food and drink. I am not saying they are wrong, I think the position of the books in my case was wrong.

I am mindful that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. This makes me accountable to the things I transact there. Do I try to make a business of something God wants as a ministry? Am I completely honest in all my financial dealings? 

As I think about the ancient temple in Jerusalem: the Holy of Holies; the Holy Place and the vestibule. Does my temple respect the holiness of God’s house? Or is it invaded by things it should never be invaded by? Is holiness important to me? Do my eyes and ears only hear that which is pure and clean or is it party to uncleaness? Are my financial dealing pure? Do I respect God as the owner of all I have?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=l3-XroRBMrE&si=lYefkpFrsg8_J0t2

Time to ponder

Why Do We Turn Away From God’s Mercy?

As Jesus gazed over Jerusalem, His heart broke. He longed to gather its people like a mother hen gathers her chicks—fragile, helpless, and in desperate need of care. But they didn’t want His care.

It's tragic: the ones who most need mercy reject it. Throughout history, God had sent prophets to guide his people, and they killed them. By the end of Holy Week, they would kill Jesus too—the ultimate prophet and the source of their salvation.

Why do we turn away from God’s mercy? Often, it’s because we struggle to believe it’s for us. In our world, mercy feels foreign—too good to be true. But Jesus doesn’t operate like the world.

In this verse, we see that offering mercy is His deepest longing. The cross reveals just how far He’s willing to go to ensure we get what we don’t deserve—His love, grace, and forgiveness—and don’t get what we do deserve—death.

Jesus is aching to gather us into His care. His mercy is marked and matchless. He isn’t hesitant or reluctant; He’s longing to embrace us.

Let’s believe this mercy is real. Let’s receive it with grateful hearts and give thanks to the One who is quite literally dying to extend it to us.

Taken from the Bible App.

The crowd

““Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ””Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Palm Sunday. It is the Sunday that begins Holy Week, when we remember all that unfolded that fateful week in Jesus’ life.

The verse above is first spoken in Zechariah. Israe at the time he wrote it was beaten down and needing deliverance. The king they hoped for was not what they received. Jesus came humbly riding on a donkey. He was not going to liberate Israel from the Romans, but rather from their sins.

Today, many would like a genie in a bottle rather than a saviour who tells them, “take up your cross and follow me!” We want our problems solved, riches, ease and comfort. However, Jesus said, “if you do not take up your cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple!” Christianity is not ease, but rather that of a relationship with Him, allowing Him to be Lord and laying down our own rights to rule.

Just as Jesus submitted to death on a cross for us, we may need to submit to death of earthly expectations. Our cross may be caring for a disabled child for all his life, it may be isolation from family who hate Christianity, it may mean being betrayed and handed over to those who hate us.

Are you ready?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=l3-XroRBMrE&si=8ceCHyLDqYPMgG3f

Content

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I can agree with Paul here. I have learned to rough it as the Aussies would say. However, living in a tent or. Car would challenge me. My son is involved in outreach to these people in Brisbane, Australia. I also don’t think I’d like to use a rock as a pillow as Jacob had done. That would be a tad uncomfortable.

Paul was the maker of tents and so I imagine he spent some time in these. I like tents when camping but as I age they are becoming uncomfortable. Yet, Paul was in chains in prison when he wrote this letter to the Phillipians. The discomfort he would have experienced would have been extreme.I understand that with Christ all things are possible. Jesus is the ingredient in contentment. 

In July/Auguelst my friend Chelle and I will go to Mangri to do research and serve the Lord. Whilst in Mangri we will have beds, not as comfortable as mine here in Kathmandu but clean. We aim to travel to another place called Talcha which is not clean nor is it comfortable. Chelle does not want me to go there as she has had a dream in which I landed on my head. When I think of that place I see intense darkness. We will see what the Lord wants.

Serving the Lord and responding to His heart is paramount. He provides strength for all that comes our way. Amen!

Workers

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What was Jesus doing when He said this statement? He was out in the harvest field preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing the sick. Scriptures says:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Compassion causes workers to go into the harvest field. Jesus was a man of compassion. As His family He invites us to share His burden.

It is interesting that He said this to the disciples. They were following Him as their teacher and rabbi. They were happy to watch Him work. However, they would soon be thrust into the field and commissioned to also preach the gospel, heal the sick and cast out devils.

We are not merely spectators. We are invited to be participators. This life is not about me, myself and I but rather my Lord and others. What is He inviting me to do today?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=TINGp8OGWz8&si=TPI_rD8_O8s9rm_C

God’s sanctuary

“Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

When I have a guest I make sure they have all they need. I feed them well and talk to them. Yet it is so easy to take the presence of God for granted. He is not just a guest, He is Lord of the manor.

In the Old Testament when God came to live with the Israelites in the wilderness, to start with He was a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. When He instructed Moses to build a tent temple He then was right in the midst of the people. Even they took Him for granted and complained.

When Jesus came to earth and walked among us the people came to Him for healing, but few stayed for relationship. Even His disciples fell to arguing about who was the greatest among them when He was going through His greatest trials. Again and again they failed to act as if they had God living among them.

What is it with us? We are selfish beings consumed with us and our needs and not God and His desires. He had blessed us with His presence. What would He like to do with and through us today?

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyctpbTSxg&si=pfTJKI2DU56deYJa