Believe

“Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”John‬ ‭20‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus said these words to Thomas, who refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw Him in the flesh, and put his hands into the wounds that Jesus had suffered.

These words speak to us who have come along way after the resurrection and ascension into heaven. We believe because He first loved us. He drew us to Himself.

The first thing I had to do when He drew me was to repent of all my sin, which was ever before me, then I asked Him into my heart. The result was joy unspeakable. I had never known such joy!

Unbelief carries such misery! Belief carries joy! Make the change today! Amen!

Taste and see

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In summer in Nepal we enjoy tucking into jackfruit. It’s ugly exterior does not look inviting but inside is a succulent feast.

When you read this scripture all your previous experiences with the church come to mind and if they were very bad, you will baulk and turn away. However, finding a relationship with Jesus makes life so much better that all religious nonsense pales and disappears.

I was raised a Catholic and attended the church regularly. Unfortunately, I did not find Jesus there. I sought Him desperately there but to no avail. I found Him in my bedroom with a friend praying for me. That friend sought the Lord about where to take me and He directed her to a pentecostal church she had been attending. I flourished there.

The result of me seeking the Lord was well rewarded. I was baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is my constant companion.

I can readily say, “taste and see that the Lord (not religion) is good, He so waiting to know you!”

The Son

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.”1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When someone sends an expensive gift we tend to be in awe. When someone sends a baby called The Son of God we are perplexed. Why did God send a baby and not a man? Jesus was helpless and dependant for several years, He did not do any ministry until he was 30.

I cannot explain why God chose to send a baby instead of a man. However, I am grateful He did. He trusted Mary and Joseph with His Son. I am grateful that in sending Him His angels appeared to shepherds, the lowest of low. I am grateful for the glimpse of Him we see at 12 in the temple. I am sure Mary could have written a book, perhaps she did, we do not know.

Jesus will rerun again, as a man, the King to rule the earth. Then the earth will see His power and glory. Then it will know His justice and judgement.

However, Jesus’ first coming displayed His humility and servant hood. He only did what He saw His father do. He was obedient to death on the cross and because of that rose from the grave and ascended into heaven. He bought our freedom from sin and eternal damnation. Because of His humble coming I am free ! Amen!

The persecuted

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Are you persecuted for making a stand? Do you family and friends reject you for following Christ? Is the government of your country against you? Then the kingdom of heaven is yours.

There are levels of persecution: many are martyred for their faith; many are imprisoned for their faith; many have to leave their lands for their faith; then there is the rest of us who just have a rough time being ostracised, rejected and cast out. Being maligned and misunderstood is all a part of the enemy’s tactics.

Jesus told His disciples this would happen. “And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Just as Jesus was hated for His stance on righteousness, so will we be hated. If we are not persecuted something is wrong. Amen!

Working for peace

“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus said: “peace I give you, not as the world gives, so don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

We hear a lot about President Trump working for peace in the world, however, true peace comes through following Jesus not man- made rules and regulations.  Man-made peace helps for a time, but there is always an underlying fermentation of evil, boiling, ready to explode.

How can I work for peace? First, I must have it inside, onky then can I go into the fray and work for peace among men. In Luke 2:14 we read: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The angels announced the birth of Christ and funnily enough proclaimed peace. We know there was not worldly peace in Israel, it was inhabited by Roman rule and corrupt Herod. Not long after this proclamation and angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, as Herod was about to kill all babies in Bethlehem because he feared Jesus. So, we must therefore conclude the peace spoken of was not worldly peace. Rather it was the Prince of Peace who had come in the small frame of Jesus.

How do I have peace inside? I must make Jesus Lord of my life and allow Him to rule and reign. It is only His peace I can bring to the earth. Amen!

Purity

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Purity is aligned with singleness of focus and refusal to be gossip oriented, selfish in attitude, or riddled with worldly attitudes. Rather, the Lord is supremely important and the maintainer of focus. What does He think? What does He say?

With a god-focus it is harder to be offended, tempted by lusty thoughts, tempted by gluttony, tempted with self-pity. With an attitude which asks, ‘what is God up to today?’ An inquisitive attitudes leads an investigative heart and mind to seek God.

When you seek Him you find Him and His goodness, His love, His mercy, His ways, His peace.

I returned to Nepal to singleness of focus. I am here to serve my God. His ways are best. In His house is an abundance for every good work. Amen!

Merciful!

“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus told a parable about this:

““Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.”Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭23‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The king was merciful but the servant was not. God is the king and we are the servants. He forgave our huge debt of sin, we must therefore forgive those who have debts towards us. If we don’t the same date awaits us.

What debt is accrued to us? Can we be merciful and release that debt?