Patience

Patience may be the greatest answer to our deepest problem

We've all been there. The foot tapping, constantly checking the time, searching the crowd. Waiting is never enjoyable. The longer the wait, the more frustrated we feel. 

Where are they? What’s taking so long? Why aren't they here? 

We can all be guilty of showing impatience. The more we’re looking forward to something, the slower it seems to come round. If most people had to name a weakness or fault they were conscious of most, i imagine for many it would be impatience.


This impatience is often magnified when it comes to waiting on God. 

We know we should, and we know it’d be best, but we cant help it. 

Why isn't He bringing me that job? Where is the husband/ wife I’m looking for? When will this illness leave? When will my finances improve?

Waiting for God can be frustrating at times, and not knowing when or how He will act also can cause us to doubt His promises. Many of the Old Testament saints experienced periods of waiting for God. Hannah had prayed for many years. Abraham tried to speed up God’s promises. The people of Israel grew tired of waiting for Moses to return, so they built a golden calf to worship. 

The chance to save him was lost, and all hope had gone.


When we come into the New Testament, we find that patience is still in short supply. Mary and Martha have sent for the Lord Jesus. They tell Him “Lord, he whom you love is ill” (John 11:3). They waited for Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus. “Surely He’ll come?” They thought. “He loves Lazarus, why wouldn't He?”. They must have been sad when Lazarus died, and they buried their brother in a tomb. The chance to save him was lost, and all hope had gone. They had patiently waited, but Jesus had failed to help. But God’s timing is different to ours. Sometimes He wants us to go through trials and temptations to increase our faith, and so that when He does act, it’s in a far more miraculous way. Had Jesus gone to Bethany, He could have performed a miracle and given Lazarus his health back, but instead He was going to demonstrate a far greater miracle than that, He would bring him back to life.


There, outside of the village Martha met Jesus, and said “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11 v 21-22). How right she was! Lazarus wouldn't have died, but then they all would have missed out on a wonderful experience! Standing at the graveside, Mary and Martha were reunited with their brother, four days after burying him. How deeper their appreciation would be for their friend Jesus, no longer just the healer of the sick, but the restorer of life! How much stronger their faith would be in “The Resurrection and the Life”.


What about us? Do we always expect our prayers to be answered that same day? or week? 

Perhaps sometimes they are. Maybe it will take many months, or even years, to see God respond to our hearts deepest longings. But could it be that God is trying to teach us patience? It may be that He has something far greater in store if we just wait. 

Patience may be the greatest answer to our problems!

Yours in Him

Dan

Questions to consider:

What are you waiting for most at this moment in time? 

How can you increase your patience?

What other bible verses would encourage us to wait on God's timing?

Are you prepared?

Hi Everyone. A post from a few years back...

"Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live."

What would you do if you were informed that you didn't have long left to live? Would you give up your job or leave college? Perhaps you would make an effort to visit family and friends that you hadn't seen for a while. I think I’d want to travel a bit more to see some of the places i’ve never managed to visit. Lots of people are starting to make ‘Bucket lists’ of things they want to do before they die, so maybe we’d try to complete that.

“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly." (2 Kings 20:1-3)

King Hezekiah was informed that his current illness would ultimately be his last. He was going to die. He was given prior warning to “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live”.

Firstly, if you aren't a Christian, how would receiving this news make you feel? Would it make you think about life after death? Would you consider the existence of God more? Amos exclaimed “Prepare to meet your God!”. The bible clearly states that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1), and goes on to tell us that He ultimately made all good things. If this is true, while your parents ‘made’ you, ultimately the source of all life and existence comes from God, including YOU! This world has become hostile, rebellious and disobedient towards God, and many people have publicly claimed their lack of faith in Him. However, I’ve heard of atheists who have been fearful of death. Scared to pass into the next life. Unsure of the unknown. Their once strong belief that death is the end is often wavering when that death is looming close. That is because I believe, it is human nature to seek a higher power. We can try to fill that longing with family, friends, fun, employment and pleasures, but they can never provide lasting happiness. They need to be repeated, replaced or increased.

When Jesus (God’s son) was here on earth, he boldly claimed that “I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to my Father except through me” (John 14:6). People can’t live their lives as they please and then expect to go to Heaven. God’s holiness could never allow it. He will judge and punish every person who dies without trusting in His son. Not because He is bad, but because He is Just! 

Any judge must punish the guilty and free the innocent. No one is 100% innocent in their life. No one can claim to have lived perfectly, and if we’re all guilty of at least failing God once in our lives, none of us could ever be good enough for heaven. We can’t rely on our good works and effort, as none of them give us any right standing in God’s eyes.

 “Prepare to meet your God!”

Here’s where Jesus comes in: God loves you. He tells us many times in the bible how He acts out of love for people, despite knowing that most will never reciprocate that love. In John, we read the most (probably) famous bible verse in the world, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only much loved Son, that whoever believes in Him will never perish, but will have everlasting life” (John 3:16). If sin keeps us out of heaven, then removing that sin would allow us in? That’s what Jesus was saying: “I am the Way”; Not ‘A’ way, or the ‘best’ way, but ‘THE’ way! God, outside of Jerusalem, 2000 years ago punished His own son in a once and for all sacrifice for sin. This doesn't make everyone instantly innocent, but does mean that God will forgive anyone’s sin that trusts in Jesus. The moment we finally realise our guilt before God and confess it to Him (you aren't telling Him anything He doesn't already know), and believe that God punished Jesus for your sin, God removes the debt our sin has built up. Forever! 

Jesus made it possible for anyone to be saved, but only those who believe on him WILL be saved. 

Imagine if I left a large bag of money in London and promised it was for anyone to use to pay their household bills. The money is already there because I’ve done my part and paid, but you only get the benefit when you believe my promise and go and take the money. God has promised to save from eternal punishment because of their sin ANYONE who believes that Jesus is His son, and His death, burial and resurrection made it possible. 


If you found out you were to die soon, would you be prepared?

I haven’t got time to tell you the proofs of Jesus’ existence by secular archaeology and history etc (perhaps a blog post soon on this), but I believe wholeheartedly the bible when it tells us “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31). My next post will God willing look at how a Christian would respond to the same revelation that their death is imminent. 

I hope someone finds this helpful.

In His Name

Dan

Being Ready

I acknowledge that the last two posts (Testimony and Commendation) i’ve written were very personal, and quite long in length, so this post will be short. 


You may never be a David, Moses or Abraham........but will you be a Shamgar?


Looking back on your Christian life so far, how would you evaluate it? Has it been consistent? Has it peaked and troughed through periods of spiritual highs, and sinful lows? Mine, more often than not is like the second description. Sometimes we can be guilty of comparing ourselves to the great men of the bible. We look at the faith of Abraham, the trust of Joseph, the courage of Paul, the reign of King David, the wisdom of King Solomon, the spontaneity of Peter or the friendship enjoyed by Moses. 

I believe that God wants faithful, consistent lives lived for Him

I often feel that the work I try to do for the Lord is insignificant. That it doesn’t achieve any real results. That there doesn’t appear to be any blessing. But when did God promise to bless everything we do? At what point did He tell us all our efforts would bear fruit? He didn’t. He told us that “Salvation is of the Lord”. It’s His work and He will bless it and increase it when He sees fit. Also, He doesn't guarantee that we will have a life filled with momentous occasions when we write our names in history. I believe that God wants faithful, consistent lives lived for Him, waiting for any doors to open for Him to use us, whether for small victories or mighty battles.

When God calls, am I ready to serve Him?

In Judges 3:31 we read of one event in the life of a man named Shamgar. All we learn of him is the name of his dad, and that he killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad (Or “cattle prod”, it was a long, pointed, wooden stick). We don’t read about lots of events in his life, or about many great and wonderful victories. We read that when God needed him, Shamger was raised up and strengthened to defeat 600 members of the enemy. This isn’t one of the longest, deepest, or most encouraging posts......but I want to encourage myself and any readers with this thought; When God calls, am I ready to serve Him? I may only get one opportunity; God may use someone else if I say no. Am I ready? Am I listening? Am I willing? The result of Shamgar doing God’s will that day was that “He also saved Israel”. Perhaps God wants to use you to save someone today, are you ready?


“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an ox goad, and he also saved Israel” - Judges 3:31


Thank you as always for reading and sharing these posts. May they be used for the Glory of God. In the comments section below, please leave your answer to this question... What work has God called you to do for Him recently?

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Suffering Saviour

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”.

Let me set the scene for you.

There is a young man who has been bound up by soldiers, brought to the High Priest Caiaphas in Jerusalem, and he’s now standing among a baying crowd. They want blood. They want a reason to find him guilty. They've called for any witnesses who could declare a fault, or wrong that he had done; But they found none.

Surely they’ll let him go as he’s obviously an innocent man? Perhaps it was all a case of mistaken identity? They had seen him heal a man’s withered hand in their synagogue. They had heard the stories of how he calmed a storm in the middle of the sea with a few spoken words. They had seen Lazarus, a man who had been dead 4 days, alive again because of him. They ask him a few questions, and he doesn't give them the answer they’re happy with. That was the final straw; one of the men actually struck his face, some slapped him, and others came and spat in his face. This man had once spat himself, but his was on the ground. His was used to heal a blind man. Everything he had done was right, and good, and just. Yet they spat in his face.

The defendant was brought to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, and he cross examined him. Pilate said “I find no fault in this man”. Pilate chose to send him to Herod the (puppet) king, but he refused to speak to Herod. He remained absolutely silent. Herod, along with the soldiers mocked him, and dressed him in a fine robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate, realising there was no case to argue for this man offered to release him instead of a murderer named Barabbas, thinking that the people would favour this miracle performing, truth telling, innocent man. Surprisingly the crowd, having been wound up by the leaders of Israel, cried out for Barabbas to be released, and for the man to be crucified. Surely they didn’t want an innocent man tortured and killed? Pilate again speaking to the crowd, declares “I find no fault in this man”, “I have found no reason for him to die. I’ll punish him and release him”.

 For the second time that night, men spat in his face.

First, the roman soldiers scourged him, whipping his back with a whip of leather, bone and stone, ripping the very flesh off his back. Then, they mocked him; stripping him of his own clothes and dressing him in a purple robe. They forced a crown of long length thorns onto, and into his brow. They pulled the facial hairs out of his beard. Bowing down in fake worship of this “King”, they struck him on his already bleeding head with a thick reed. Finally, to completely humiliate and dishonour him; they spat in his face. For the second time in one night, men spat in his face. Was it the whole band of soldiers, or just a few? It honestly matters not, they had spat in his face.

Now the crowd must be satisfied, content that he had learnt his lesson? This however wasn't sufficient for the mob; they wanted him dead. They cried out “Away with this man, we don’t want him to reign over us”. Pilate gave in to the crowd and ordered the man’s crucifixion. The soldiers lead him outside of the city of Jerusalem, carrying his own cross on his back. Carrying it, that is, as far as his slowly decreasing strength allowed. He was losing blood, his steps getting smaller and taking longer, and so the soldiers compelled a stranger of the city, Simon of Cyrene, to help him. Once they had reached their location, the soldiers nailed him through his hands and feet, and lifted him up for all to see. There, hanging on the central cross of three, was a man who was “without fault”.

You could allow him to be angry; to curse, swear, shout, scream, kick and bite. Yet he had given them no problems. He hadn't even opened his mouth. How the soldiers must have marveled  They must have been amazed at him. They certainly were when he finally spoke, and said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. Everything he had already endured and he didn't ask for revenge? Didn't want compensated? Didn't want them held accountable? He wanted them forgiven!



Here is the amazing part. Before his initial arrest, the soldiers fell down at just the declaration of his name. He said “I AM”, a title used exclusively by God. He also said that at any time there were 12 legions of angels ready to come to his rescue; yet he chose not to use them. He chose the very moment when his life ended, something that no other crucified person could do. But before that happened, He endured something far worse than the physical sufferings handed out to him that night. This completely innocent man was made sin. That’s right; “He who had done no sin, was made sin for us”. Sin is all of the things we do that is against God’s commands. Whether that’s lying, stealing, killing, hating, lusting, committing adultery, blaspheming etc. All of these are a breaking of the 10 commandments God gave to humanity in order for them to live at peace with God. They actually show that left to our own devices, we all fail. We all sin. God decided to punish this man for all of mankind’s sins. Not just yours, or mine, which are thousands of sinful acts alone, but ALL of humanities. In 3 hours of darkness, this Sinless man, was made sin, and then punished for sin, all so that God could forgive the guilty people who had committed those sins. That makes the man a substitute. Someone who takes the place of someone else. All that God asks is that we trust in this man’s death and willing sacrifice.

Here is the grand finale. No human being has ever been perfect, sinless or completely innocent. So this was surely no ordinary human being, this was the very Son of God. God, in human form, born 33 years earlier through a virgin girl, having lived a perfect life, died on a cross outside of Jerusalem. 3 days his body lay in a tomb, 3 days the Romans, and the Jewish leaders thought they had got rid of him; but on the 3rd day, he rose from the dead. God himself raised him up, because he had finished the work he’d been given to do; he had made it possible for guilty, sinful, unjust people to be right with a holy God. All we have to do, is to confess the fact we are sinners to God, and to trust in this man’s sacrifice.



Who is the man? 

“You shall call his name Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins”

Please share this post with your Christian friends to encourage them, and your non-Christian friends to challenge them.

Yours in Him,

Dan

CONTENT

Today’s blog is one which will look at the two aspects of the word “CONTENT”. By this I don’t mean items, like you’d find on a content list. But rather its use to describe our attitude toward something.

Let’s consider it in a negative sense first. I always prefer the bad news ahead of the good news in the hope that the good overcomes the bad. Weird I know ha ha.

In the book of Haggai, the prophet is speaking to the first group of people that returned to Jerusalem. They had begun to rebuild the temple of God, but had given up because of opposition (Samaritans). Haggai ch 1:3-6 says “Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

God had noticed that because the spiritual work of rebuilding the temple had ceased, the people had begun to focus upon their own homes. This in itself wasn’t a bad thing, but it had become their main focus in life. They had become “Content” with their situation. They had become comfortable in their nice houses, and had lost the interest for the temple of God. What about me? Have I lost interest in the building up of the church I attend? Do i pray for, and live to further the kingdom of God? Or is my time and effort spent on building up the comfortable things in my life? Careers, relationships, sporting teams, university studies, homes? They of themselves aren't bad things, but they can become distractions very easily without us knowing.

Then comes the part I find most challenging, v6. I believe that God is criticising them for not making full use of their blessings. He is telling them that while they are sowing, eating, drinking, clothed and earning money, they could have so much more! They were content with the least of what they could of had. Just like when they first entered the promised land, the Children of Israel didn't take up God's promise that "Everywhere the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours". But they didn't make the most of it! They’re getting the bare minimum out of life. In Ephesians Paul tells us “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). Am i making the most of the many blessings God has given me? Do I walk in the Spirit, in the power of God, by unwavering faith, knowing my life is covered by the grace of God? Personally......No. Not all of the time. If I did I’d not worry, panic, doubt or fear. I’d make the most of every opportunity, make every day count. That’s what I’m trying to do this year, make each day count and be a blessing or help to someone. 

The second aspect of contentment is in a positive way. It’s Paul who writes all of the verses I’d like to consider now (If it is true as suspected that Paul was the writer of Hebrews). Paul was a man who lived a content life. In 2 Cor 12:10 (ESV) Paul writes “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” In the verse prior to this, Paul tells us that God had promised “My grace is sufficient for you”. When Paul was experiencing problems, trials and difficulties, that’s when he felt God most in his life. When life is smooth and we’re comfortable and content (In that negative way), we often forget and ignore God’s will and help. But in those difficult times, that’s when our appreciation of God, and faith in God grow most.

Then, in Philippians 4:11, Paul speaks of financial contentment. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” The world tells us to strive for wealth, to be financially comfortable. But in both poverty and wealth we have opportunities to glorify God, or to use it for sin. Agur, in proverbs 30: 7-9 says “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; 
feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

Wealth can lead us to ignore God, poverty can lead us to sin against God. Godly contentment is an attitude that says “Whether God gives me much or little, I will use it all for Him.” This is much easier to say than to do at times.

Then, Paul tells Timothy that “If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim 6:8). This goes against modern day society that wants the best of everything. We need to be content with what we have, God doesn't promise to meet our worldly desires and ambitions, but to satisfy every NEED.

And finally, in Hebrews 13:5, we read “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. The only way we can have true biblical contentment is to realise that God loves us, blesses us, and meets our need. “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” Worldly gain and wealth will never make up for storing up spiritual treasure in Heaven. I hope that we can no longer be content (In the negative sense) with what we have achieved and gained, but also learn to be content (Positively) with what God has blessed us with.

Yours in Him

Dan
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