Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46: 10

In these days of COVID-19 these words could not be more important. Our worlds have been shaken. Nothing is the same and it is vital that we ‘Be still and know that I am God.’

Stillness is not something that comes easily to those of us raised in the west. Our lives are designed to be ‘Go, go, go’. We are encouraged to be active physically and mentally. No time to sit around. Too much to do. And yet God invites us to come and be still.

In these unique days, our life may have ground to a halt, our job lost or on furlough or at the other extreme we are expected to do our job as well as home school the children who are now with us 24/7. In either extreme being still does not seem to be an option. Either our minds are in mental turmoil or our days are so cluttered that taking time out to be still seems plain ridiculous and yet that is God’s invitation or is it a command?

Many years ago when we had four children, having a quiet time to be with God did not seem to be an option. I longed for it and I cried out to God to show me how in the busyness of life, I could possibly set some time aside for him. He showed me that after school the children came home and for half an hour they were occupied. I snuck off into our tiny study, left the door open in case I was needed and for half ah hour I spent the most wonderful time with him.

God knows our heart and will make a way. On the other hand years later I was snowed under at work, I was exhausted and God kept persistently asking me to get up half an hour earlier to spend time with him. It seemed madness but after arguing with God for months, I set the alarm for half an hour earlier and again in those precious times, I met with God in such a way that I was carried through those stressful days.

However you may find you have an unaccustomed amount of time to be with God. Make the most of it. Your day with be shaped and blessed by this time because it is not enough just to be still, we are exhorted to ‘know that I am God.’  Knowing in the Bible does not mean learning 100 new facts about God. Knowing means experiencing.  ‘Be still and experience God.’ That is a treasure worth seeking out.

Experiencing God, his love, his grace, his kindness, his forgiveness, his acceptance, his approval are gems worth pursuing. There is no obvious end product in terms of goals achieved but the change in our life and well-being are priceless.

These are unusual days. The whole world is being shaken but we can be safe and secure in the knowledge that God is for us, God is in control. When these days are past, the world will be a different place but hopefully we too will be in a different place with a relationship with God that is firm and secure, where we have a greater understanding of who we are.

God has plans and purposes that he is working out and we have our part to play. We are not designed to sit idle but to be busy about the Lord’s business. This comes though through the great paradox of Be still and know that I am God.

A New Normal?

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16: 33

There have been all manner of posts, blogs, vlogs extolling the great virtues to us of the effect of the virus on our lives and how it has benefitted the planet – pollution down, wildlife able to roam more freely, the ability to hear birdsong in the quiet and so on. These are all wonderful things though they must be counterbalanced by sickness, death, loss of jobs and an inability to meet family and friends face to face, all of which are taking their toll.

I wondered though about the spiritual benefits and difficulties to Christians and the Church. All the church buildings in UK have had to close but that does not mean the Church has gone into hibernation. In fact it seems that the Church is flourishing.

Many churches are now providing a Sunday service online and even those whose churches do not have a service, have an overwhelming choice to join other church services. Even those with no internet may be provided for with sermons on CD. What is fascinating is how many people watch these online services – far more than go to the church building on a Sunday.

Worship has always been freely available online but now musicians are being incredibly creative in exploring how to knit together musicians and singers separated in person but one virtually. There are some wonderful worship hymns and songs out there. 

Small groups too can easily meet online during the week to strengthen and encourage one another and most churches are being very diligent in making sure their flocks are being looked after in every way. Phone calls, online chats and even popping by to drop off supplies can mean the lonely get to see a familiar face.

Families are meeting together to pray and read the Bible. Churches are having daily devotionals posted online to keep their flock strong. 

Prayer meetings are flourishing online and more people seem to be attending these than would normally go to the church building. Taking communion together online is another novel experience. There are even online Alpha courses. Children are having their own devotionals posted online to keep them strong.

Many, including children, are experiencing visions and dreams – though a word of caution – not everything that says it is from the Lord, is from above. One wise person said to me that there was far too many dubious opinions about the virus, how it started and when it might end, and what God is doing that he is just staying in the Word.

There is also no doubt that people are far more open to the Gospel and the amount of media attention given to the real meaning of Easter here in UK was amazing. The Queen, bless her, can be relied upon to gently but clearly show the importance of her faith and love for the Lord.

All this is fantastic and I love how the Church has stepped up to the challenge in incredibly creative ways to manage this unique situation and come out well. This leads though to the need for an exit strategy for the church as well as the nation. How will church look when we are released back into freedom? If it is business as usual, we have missed something. Surely this is a training time to grow in our own faith when isolated physically from other believers and to find fresh ways to reach more people with the Gospel who might not come through church doors.

New Christians are not used to going to church on Sunday mornings and may prefer to have an online church at a different time. Parents of young children will certainly like online small groups meaning they do not need babysitters.

An online Alpha course where you and your friend can meet together with others may be very appealing to those unused to church.

If more people prefer online prayer and let’s face it there has never been as much prayer as there is now, this has to be something to pursue. I have been involved in an online prayer meeting for years, long before the virus broke out, and we come together each week from all over the UK and even aboard.

The options available to the Church seem to be limitless and I feel it is so important that we pray into the future and what our own church needs to be exploring and how the Church in the nation needs to maintain the momentum generated by this crisis and resist every temptation to go back to how things were before.  There is no doubt this is a new day, a new season, no turning back, no turning back. This is the day for a new normal.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.²⁰ The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen ²¹ the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43: 19 – 21

Overcoming fear in fearful times

When we were leading a youth missions and outreach group, one of the founding principles was to instil in the young people a faith that worked.  It was no good knowing that God was your provider if you could not trust him to provide to go on a mission trip. It was not enough to know that God was the healer if you could not pray with any level of confidence or faith that God heals. It was not sufficient to know that God has given us his gifts, if we secretly believe that He doesn’t use us. 

One of the most amazing things was seeing these young people move out in increasing faith to believe that God would use and provide for them and He did.  

I believe it is a similar scenario today concerning the virus.  Many churches and ministries are reaching out online, by phone, email, WhatsApp and all manner of social media to make sure we are connected and supported. It is all fantastic and I cannot recommend them enough. We must follow all the reputable advice from both world and spiritual sources. But what is our response as individual Christians to the days we find ourselves in? 

There seem to be some major fears surrounding the virus – fear of death, fear of sickness and fear of lack.  As Christians we do not live in fear but faith. These are days though when we have to put our faith into action. Let us never forget:

The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.

 Great is the Lord in Zion;  he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name – he is holy. Psalm 91:1 – 3 

Despite what is happening, God is still enthroned and in control.

The first thing we can do is deal with our own fear. We can never help others when we are bound by fear. A great start is to declare Scriptures such as these out loud .

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1: 7

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26: 3

Then let’s deal with each of these fears one by one.

Fear of death. The world is terrified of death but as Christians we do not need to fear death. It is not a dreaded unknown, we know where we will be and with whom. It is not a door to fear but a doorway to a wonderful new life for eternity with Jesus. How amazing is that? We may not feel ready yet for death but Paul wrote For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1: 21). He couldn’t decide which was better; to stay with everyone and continue his ministry or to go to the Lord I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far (Philippians 1: 23). Paul knew being with the Lord was better by far. 

We will all die sometime. What is vital is that we know where we go when we die. This virus is a great opportunity to speak to fearful people about the Lord, the Prince of Peace.

Fear of sickness. God said ‘ I am the Lord who heals you.’   Jesus showed throughout his ministry that he was the healer, he healed everyone (Matthew 4: 24) and we see that throughout the New Testament the disciples continued the ministry of healing.  Can I state one thing here? God did not send this virus as a judgement to the earth or any particular nation. Jesus came to heal the sick, not bring sickness. There is no sickness in heaven. Sickness is a result of the Fall and the devil’s activity. God loves people. None of us would bring sickness to our beloved family to teach them a lesson. Why would God?  

We can pray confidently for God to protect us using Psalm 91 or by taking communion each day. Remember that by his wounds, we are healed (Isaiah 53: 5). As we take the bread let us approach God confidently for healing; his perfect body took our sicknesses and exchanged them for health and wellbeing. As we take the cup, let us pray the blood of Jesus over our families and loved ones, our leaders and our nation. The blood is a sign of the New Covenant that God will be our God and will protect and look after us.

Fear of lack. The Bible has so much to say that we never need to fear going short.. God is Jehovah Jireh – our provider. Just look at Luke 6: 38 or 2 Corinthians 9: 38 which in the context of giving says And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. God will provide for us.

God is for us. Let’s have a faith worth living for, faith that works. Let us bring our fears to him and let him stir faith in our hearts that we can trust God in these difficult days to not only be all we need, but to enable us to bring the hope of Jesus to those living in fear at this time. 

The trials and joys of Mary's parents

The Bible tells us nothing about Mary’s parents, not even their names and yet they must have played a huge part in Mary’s pregnancy and the upbringing of Jesus. We have much to ponder in this Christmas season from what the Bible does tell us but over these last few days I have wondered about these unsung, unknown, and yet valued-by-God heroes. 

In the Jewish culture of that day, to find that your daughter was pregnant outside of marriage was the most awful shock and disgrace as well as a terrible disappointment that your beautiful, Godly daughter had behaved in such an ungodly and shameful way. Imagine Mary protesting that she was still a virgin, that an angel had visited her and this child was going to be the Son of God. I’m sure that initially this would have been met with disbelief and it certainly would have not been much consolation.

Mary’s parents would have been going through in their minds all the ramifications of this news and would have been worried about her reputation let alone their own. After all they could not have brought up Mary very well if she became pregnant outside marriage. 

When people found out, including the extended family, their friends and neighbours and then, worst of all, the religious leaders, their responses would not be very positive. I wondered if the family thought this news would mean they would all be excommunicated from the synagogue. 

They must have felt huge relief that Joseph was prepared to do the right thing and instead of divorcing Mary, was willing to marry her but nevertheless there was still much to contend with.

Now Joseph’s reputation would also be called into question, as people would presume the baby was his. Why else would he marry Mary? 

Once the initial shock had worn off, everyone would have needed a bit of space to re-group and plan the way forward. Perhaps that is why Mary went to her cousin Elizabeth’s to help her with her unexpected but joyful pregnancy. For three months everyone would have had the space to work out how to navigate what would be shocking news in small town Nazareth. 

On top of all this, Joseph and a very pregnant Mary had to travel to Bethlehem for the census. Even with every modern convenience, no one likes to travel when a baby is imminently due. Suppose the baby arrived en route. 

Mary’s parents would have been worried sick but when the news arrived back that the baby had been safely born, I wonder if they then travelled to Bethlehem to see their new grandson. It would be some years before Mary and Joseph returned to live in Nazareth. That in itself could have been a blessing in disguise. The town gossips would have found far more juicy morsels to chew on by the time the small boy and his parents arrived back in Nazareth. 

Unfortunately I am sure the stigma of being the child almost born out of wedlock would have lasted for all Jesus’ life. You can hear the sniff of contempt that would always go with the catty remark.

Mary’s parents I am sure, loved their grandson and watched with great delight as he grew up into a Godly young man. There must always have been something different about Jesus and I wonder if they, like their daughter, treasured up every moment and pondered them in their hearts. 

We can take comfort that for every key player in the Christian life, for every one on the platform or working hard to bring God’s Kingdom wherever God has sent them, there is a host behind them, known to God who are playing a key role in the background. These are the ones providing support, encouragement, love, prayers and just being there but without whom the prominent key people would never succeed in their God given call. 

These heroes are known to God, valued and loved and for whom there will be a great reward one day. 

The joy of grandparents

We were standing watching our three grandchildren play on a large stack of hay bales and nearby two other grandparents were watching their three-year-old grandson try and emulate our much older grandchildren. His grandfather urged him, ‘Come on Flinty. You can do it,’ and with another huge effort Flinty finally managed to scramble up these enormous hay bales and stand triumphant at the top.

I realised afresh at that moment the importance of grandparents. They have so much to impart and are not there to undermine parents’ hard work as has been jokily suggested, but to support and strengthen the raising of the next generation by investing skills, character and of course faith in their children’s children. Since then I seem to keep coming across people who relate the great inspiration that grandparents have had on their lives. 

I think that there are four main ways that grandparents can influence their grandchildren.

Time

Grandparents, even those who are still in work, have more time than parents. Unlike parents, they are often no longer involved in the nitty gritty of domestic life of children with all the pressures that brings, as well as holding down often very responsible jobs. Grandparents can spend quality time talking, playing and modelling life. They can help with childcare in the holidays or cover evenings and weekends if parents are working shifts. 

Even grandparents separated by distance from grandchildren can share lives through the internet these days.

Skills and talents

Grandparents have had a lifetime of developing skills, talents and knowledge that is a great enjoyment to share.  Even if in the early days it is playing endless games of snap, doing jigsaws for the thousandth time or kicking a ball in the garden, there is the joy of knowing that soon their grandchildren will want to play more sophisticated games and start developing skills. Grandparents can unearth and develop hidden talents that busy parents just don’t have time for.

Grandparents also have a huge body of knowledge to share with eager minds as well as the pleasure of visiting places at the weekends or holidays. 

Grandchildren will also no doubt be able to teach their grandparents quite a bit about technology and the modern world that is so rapidly changing and this leads me to the next area of grandparents’ influence.

Character 

Wonderful though sharing life and skills with grandchildren may be, one of the great privileges of grandparenting is motivating and developing character.  This can be a real challenge for parents with their busy lives but grandparents can take the time to talk through the challenges of modern life.  Like Flinty’s grandparents they can teach resilience, perseverance and determination. They can help develop patience, kindness, honesty, integrity. They can show the hollowness and sham of the fame and celebrity culture and that though making and having loads of money may seem fantastic, there are other things in life of far greater value.

They can also teach and reinforce manners, politeness, putting others first – such important qualities in this egocentric, highly entitled culture. 

Faith

Finally the jewel in the grandparents’ crown has to be sharing and developing faith. What a privilege to talk and model the Christian life, not a dull set of rituals and disciplines but a love walk with our wonderful Saviour that is of far greater value than anything the world has to offer. Even if at the time, it seems like our words and life are having little impact, seeds have been planted and with prayer these seeds will bring forth a harvest of righteousness in due course. There is so much encouragement in the Bible that training children and grandchildren in godliness is never a waste of time.

I love the story that Alan Vincent tells of how his grandmother gave him a Bible every year that he promptly threw in the bin. He knew she was praying but he didn’t want her prayers or Bibles. However when the time was ripe, God intervened in his life in Sovereign power and he became a great apostle of faith. 

Your prayers can literally change and affect your grandchildren’s destiny. 

Grandparents, your role in the lives of your grandchildren is of great worth. It may be exhausting and you may collapse on the settee after they have left but something of eternal significance has been invested even through the most mundane tasks or games. So many children grow up in loveless situations and need someone to show they care. Children with grandparents who are involved are very blessed.

I believe we have a mandate from God to invest in our grandchildren’s lives in as many ways as we can. .Even if distance, ill health or other commitments mean we are unable to do as much as we would like, every prayer, every phone or video call, text, and email matters. This is of everlasting value and one day as we spend eternity with our extended family, we will treasure afresh every moment we invested in our grandchildren’s lives. 

Called by name

Have you ever heard God call you by name?  We are all familiar with ‘God so loved the world’ but wonderful though that is, it that can seem a little impersonal or distant.  But when God calls you by name, the God that we cannot see suddenly becomes our God, the one who knows us. I remember the thrill I felt when I realised God was speaking to me by name. I wasn’t just a believer, I was Christine.

One of my favourite Bible passages is in John 20 when following the dreadful crucifixion of their Lord, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb to anoint the body with spices. She was distraught when she found the body had gone and when a man appeared she thought he was the gardener until he called her by name. Mary must have been familiar with hearing Jesus voice but it wasn’t until he called her Mary, that she realised he was Jesus.

Many of the great people in the Bible were called by name; Abram, Jacob, Moses, David, Paul and even Hagar. That one is a surprise. Hagar was a slave in the household of Abram and Sarai, bought out from Egypt.  When Sarai (as she was known then) couldn’t conceive the promised heir, she came up with the plan for Abram to sleep with her servant girl Hagar and get a son that way.

I wonder what Hagar thought of that. Was she pleased to be elevated to concubine or was it rather hard to sleep with an old man probably 60 years older than herself? Nevertheless she became pregnant and had no difficulty despising the childless Sarai. So much so that Abram withdrew any protection he may have had for the mother of his child and told Sarai she could do what she liked with Hagar. The despiser became despised and fled from her ill treating mistress out into the desert. 

It was there in the desert that the angel of the Lord found her and called her by name. When she admitted she was running away, the angel told her to return to her mistress but he also encouraged her that the child she bore would also have descendants too numerous to count. He did qualify this by telling her that this child would not be popular with anyone. 

Hagar though was so encouraged that ‘She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen^] the One who sees me.” 

The God of Abram now became her God – God had seen her and she had seen him. What had been second hand and impersonal now became deeply personal enabling her to return to Sarai.  

God knows each one of us by name. That is a great encouragement.  When God feels far off, remember that he will come and find you wherever you may have wandered and will remind you of his presence by speaking your name.

The Lion roars

September 2008 - even more relevant today 2019

Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah stands over this nation

He roars over the land      

Strongholds tremble and fall

Arise church and take your place

Declare the goodness of God to an unbelieving generation

Declare His love, His mercy, His forgiveness

The lion shakes his mane and gold dust falls over the land

Each fleck of gold is a glint of glory

Every speck is a miracle, a healing, a sign.

Gold falls as snow on the nation

Glory covers the land.

Church arise, declare the goodness of God to an unbelieving generation

Declare victory over the enemy

Declare the Lordship of our King over this land.

The Lion breathes over this nation

His breath warms cold hearts and cold lives

Apathy turns to passion

Indifference becomes a fire; an intense love for Jesus

A zeal for His Kingdom

A passion for His name.

The Lion swishes his tail

Strongholds tremble, falter and fall

Cracks appear in major institutions

Those built on power and greed totter and fall.

Governments tremble

The people fear, their knees shake

Hearts melt, bile arises in their throats 

‘What will become of us?’ they ask.

Church arise, declare the goodness of God to an unbelieving generation

Speak peace to fearful hearts 

Show love to those who have no hope

Do not fear for Our God reigns 

Let God’s people arise

Let His enemies be scattered

Let mercy like a tidal flow sweep this land

Grace will wash away greed and selfishness and cleanse the land

Love like a never ending stream 

Will cause righteousness to blossom and flourish

Church, arise, declare the Lordship of the King over this land.

The authentic Christian life?

We were driving in one of our favourite places on the planet. Not just the Kruger National Park in South Africa but the Pafuri area in the far north of the park.

The beautiful Luvuvhu River

The whole area has a beautiful atmosphere.  The peace of the African bush, the gorgeous lush vegetation, amazing baobab and fever trees and everywhere exotic birds flitting through the foliage and along the Luvuvhu River. Animals may have been in short supply but the beautiful environment with the Luvuvhu Gorge as a backdrop was breath taking.

I was overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for showing us this amazing part of his creation that a relatively small number of people have experienced. Gratitude flooded my soul and a deep desire never to take this for granted.

On our return to our accommodation I continued to read my novel,Safely Home by Randy Alcorn, which concerns the house church in China, and depicts the persecution that many of these secret believers face from the Chinese government.

The Communist government tolerates the official churches, sanctioned by themselves and which have to tow the party line but the Bible believing house churches are persecuted with believers and especially leaders of the churches imprisoned, tortured and even martyred if they will not renounce their Christianity.

I was shocked by the contrast I had experienced that day. On the one hand I had been blessed amazingly and on the other many, many Christians throughout the world are suffering terribly for their faith – not my experience at all.

What is even more shocking is that it is the Chinese Christians who appear to be experiencing a more Bible based Christianity that I am.   Jesus himself said ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5: 11 – 12.

His brother James wrote, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1: 2 – 4

The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 2 Thessalonians 1: 4.

There are many New Testament references to persecution and trials. 

In China and the many other countries where Christians are routinely persecuted for their faith, they have nothing to cling to but Jesus. They have to be 100% convinced of their salvation and their Christian beliefs. 

What is more, Christians persecuted in this way seem to regard it as an incredible honour to suffer as Jesus did. They are overjoyed when Jesus is glorified by many coming to salvation and they consider their lives as nothing as long as the Kingdom advances. 

In fact this seems to be the normal life for the Christian.  All the apostles with the exception of John, were martyred.  Many Christians believe death to be something not to talk about as it means dying and that is morbid. Death as a believer however is not morbid but glorious. It brings us into our eternal destiny. It takes us to our true home.

Jesus himself encouraged us.  ³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

So how on earth do I reconcile my Christian faith with those of my brothers and sisters living in poverty, hardship or under persecution? Do I just thank God for the abundance of my possessions and carry on? I believe we owe the persecuted Church a lot more than that. 

Christians who are persecuted and even those living in poverty say that what they really value are our prayers and Bibles.  Generously supporting charities that help distribute Bibles, as well as helping lift people out of extreme poverty, is a wonderful way to show love to the suffering part of the Body of Christ. And prayers. The Church that is being persecuted or living in poverty love to know that they are not forgotten and people are thinking and praying for them. 

We have a vital role to play in supporting and strengthening our persecuted Christian brothers. Let’s rise to the challenge because we have been blessed to be a blessing. 

Not letting our history define our destiny

It can be a real stumbling block in our Christian walk if we believe that our history, where we’ve come from, our family, our education, our work, even our successes and especially our failures are the defining factors in fulfilling God’s plans for our lives. 

The reality is that when we became believers and offered our lives into God’s service, the Bible assures us we became a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5: 17). In fact Peter tells believers that they are now a chosen people, a royal priesthood … 1 Peter 2: 9

A royal priesthood is quite a promotion for us ordinary folks. Here in Britain we have a pretty good grasp of what royalty means. We have a Royal Family who, since the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, have modelled to the nation what royalty means. It is a life of privilege and wealth which some people get a bit hung up on, but it is also a life of service, duty and responsibility to the nation. Her Majesty the Queen has modelled this for 67 years now and she has passed on this life to the next generations. 

So what does that mean for us – this royal priesthood?  It means we have been born into royalty with all the privileges and responsibilities that brings.  Jesus is our King of Kings and our role is to promote his Kingdom and bring His will, plans and purposes into those areas that we are responsible for. Our background is not the defining issue in our lives.

Our areas of responsibility start with our own lives, then our families, our church, workplace or neighbourhood. We do this through a life of worship offering sacrifices of praise, worship and prayer – the role of the priest - then performing acts of service into those areas of responsibility. 

King David is a great example of this.  He was not born into a life of royalty, indeed he was the youngest brother of a large family of brothers. When Samuel the prophet came to anoint one of the brothers king, David was not called to the line up. He was out with the sheep and more than one commentator has said this may be because he was actually a half brother, born to Jesse but not Jesse’s wife. He was the despised youngest brother. 

This can be seen in Eliab’s response when David went down to the Philistine battlefield where Goliath was holding sway.  Eliab was plain nasty to him.

David was not deterred by his brother’s hostility, all those years of looking after the sheep, worshipping and fellowshipping with God, had prepared him to overthrown this uncircumcised Philistine who is defying the armies of the living God (1 Samuel 17: 26). David wasn’t frightened – he knew who God is – and holy zeal for his honour rose up and the enemy of the Lord was defeated.

The Bible is full of stories of the least becoming God’s man or woman of the hour, throwing off their background and circumstances and stepping into their God given destiny.

Judah, the fourth son born to Leah, the despised wife of Jacob, and yet he rose to be leader of the whole family. His history is very chequered and yet from his lineage came both King David and the Messiah – Jesus Christ – the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Joseph, the second youngest son, sold into slavery, imprisoned on a false charge and yet rising into his destiny at God’s appointed moment to save not just the nation of Egypt but also his own family. 

Gideon, the least of the least, yet when God called, he too was able to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites.

Even the great prophet Moses, the younger son, so fearful after years looking after the sheep that he was terrified of facing Pharaoh, became in God’s hands one of the mightiest men of all time.

The Godly annals of history will not be filled with kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers, emirs or any other national leaders. They will be filled with the names of the royal priesthood, faithful men and women of God who have served loyally, no matter what their background, their education, or situations and entered into their destiny. 

They have trusted God despite their weaknesses, real or imagined and believed that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3: 20 – 21.

No exemption from troubles

Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16: 33

Unfortunately for the Christian, we are not exempt from troubles and difficulties in this life but the one thing we can be absolutely sure of is that God is with us in the midst of all our difficulties and he is fighting for us. 

Whilst I would never happily embrace trouble, I know that it is in the hard times that my character has been shaped and my dependence on God and his goodness deepened. I have no problem donning my armour, resisting the devil and enforcing the victory Jesus won for us at the cross but sometimes it seems we have to walk through a long, hard valley of the shadow of death.  It is important that we never forget: 

‘I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.’ Psalm 23: 4

God is with us.

I had the great pleasure of listening recently to a message preached by a young lady who I used to teach. It was incredible. It was prophetic, full of Scripture and truly inspirational.

However this young lady went through some tough times whilst at university. She plays the violin and was studying music. She hurt her wrist and was unable to play her violin for quite a while, something she both loves but was also essential to her gaining her degree. All the time she couldn’t play, she studied hard but also did all she could to help with concerts that others were playing in and that she would have loved to be participating in. She didn’t stay away, feeling sorry for herself, she sold tickets and programmes, served refreshments and helped out in any way possible. That is character building. That is what lays foundation blocks in our lives that become essential to being able to preach inspirational messages later. 

 Another lady that has had terrible trouble but is also truly inspirational is Joni Eareckson Tada. At age 17, she foolishly dived into the water and broke her neck on a hidden rock. For 50 years now she has been unable to move any part of her body from her neck down. She is in constant pain and has to rely on others for every single thing to do with her body. 

Does she regret her foolish dive? Of course but has she given up on her life? Never. She now has a worldwide ministry of speaking engagements, radio and TV broadcasts and books inspiring others both able and disabled. God has opened doors for her that would never have been opened if she had been able bodied. She is a mighty champion for the disabled, influencing governments, and involved in all manner of programmes worldwide.

 If you ever need a bit of encouragement, find one of her programmes on YouTube or read one of her books. She really epitomises Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

Troubles will come and find us and we must do all we can to fight the devil and all his works because that is what Jesus came to do- For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3: 8. 

However we know God is always with us and sometimes we must walk through hardships, letting our Lord form his character in us, shaping us for the journey ahead, trusting that our lives are in his hand and that he is working out his plans and purposes. 

The reality of eternity

I have just watched again the film, The Bucket List which is about two men, played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, who are told they have just six months to live. They decide to spend those six months doing the things and visiting the places they would love to do and see before they die.

Inevitably some of their conversations concern what they think will happen when they die. Jack Nicholson’s character is of the opinion that when you die that is it, whilst Morgan Freeman’s character has some faith in God and belief that he will be going to heaven.

What is frightening though is that underlying these conversations which often reflect what most people believe, is that you can select whatever hereafter you fancy and that determines your eternal destiny. If you believe your good works will give you access to heaven or you think re-incarnation is a possibility or that eternal oblivion is the reality after death, that is what will occur. 

Personally I would say that is wishful thinking at best and frightening deception at worst. There is of course no evidence one way or the other for this thinking which I believe we need to challenge. I prefer to base my eternal hopes on something more solid than my vain imaginings. My eternal destiny is too important a reality to trust to anything other than a reliable source material.

The one thing of which I am assured is that life is 100% fatal. We will all die.  For my eternity, I’d rather trust in the Bible and what Jesus says through its words than hope it will all turn out alright on the night. Many people are very sceptical about the Bible and its authenticity.  However there are no other works that were written several thousands years ago, that are still in print, let alone freely available in Western society.  On the other hand Bibles are feared by dictators and repressive regimes of other religions ban it and imprison those who either have one or try to give the book to others.

That in itself must be some evidence for its veracity. Why would people be prepared to die to get their hands on a copy if it was the just the writings of a few good men that are irrelevant today? I used to be sceptical about the authority of the Bible but after 35 years of being a Christian, I am utterly convinced it is the Word of God.

Having said that, I take very seriously the words of Jesus found within its pages. Jesus was in no doubt that when we die there will only be two destinations – heaven or hell.  I find no mention of eternal oblivion or re-incarnation and the Bible is very clear that no one can enter heaven by their good works. 

I think as Christians we have been very slow to counter balance the pick-and-mix eternity that is so prevalent in Western society. At too many funerals we are assured everyone is in heaven with absolutely no basis for these supposedly comforting words. All this does is perpetuate the lie that we can do what we like in this life and everything will be alright. Jesus’s death on the cross to open the way to heaven for all who call on the name of the Lord, has been reduced to an optional extra. 

Jesus said ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ Matthew 7: 13 – 14. That’s frightening. 

Jesus had so much to say about hell that even as Christians we conveniently ignore. 

And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘“the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9: 47 – 48 

Jesus referred to the fire of hell on various occasions and told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16: 19  - 31 which is just about the clearest story about the two destinations that await everyone after they die.

This is too important a topic to put on the shelf to await a day when we are older and death is more imminent. No one knows when they are going to die, unless like the two men in The Bucket List, they are given a set time to live but that is not an exact science. 

As Christians we need to sort out our own thinking, first of all about the wonders of heaven and an eternity with Jesus that is really worth talking about and the alternative – the fires of hell. As I get older, more people are dying around me. I am trying to be bolder to speak about eternity and what the Bible says. Wishful thinking will not get anyone into heaven. The narrow way is only through Jesus. He paid the price and there is no other name by which we can be saved.