Many years ago at summer camp when I was a camper they had a giant tug of war and on the final pull they hooked up one side to a speed boat to help them... you can guess who won?
This is the same for us today - on our own we can feel weary and weak but collectively we're stronger. Even so, we're fighting forces we don't know or understand which seek to undermine us - so we desperately need help.
Mat 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Jesus yoke is light as he's there helping us bear it. Jesus has already suffered and died on our behalf, he's even carried the cross - and we can rest in him knowing all that needs to be done for our salvation has been done already. Our part is to believe this is so, and accept the gift of salvation.
Php 4:13 in the King James says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." People have defied the odds and defied their physical circumstances all over the world and done amazing things in the name of Jesus in the strength of God.
Moses isn't renouned for his singing but after they crossed the red sea he sang. "The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exo 15:2)
Moses gave God the credit for saving the people from Egypt. The deliverance from Egypt, especially the plagues and crossing of the red sea are examples of where they could not have physically done it on their own strength. God strengthened them by displaying his power against the Egyptians.
So, what does God give us strength for today? He strengthens us so that we can help and encourage others. Gal 6:9-10 says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. "
So when the troubles of the world weigh us down, let's pray for God to uphold us and lets live in His strength.
Saturday 20 February 2016
Sunday 7 February 2016
You're Included
Joh 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
How many of you like being left out of something? My home town is rugby mad, home of the Scarlets but I was never the sporty type. I remember when they were picking teams for anything - I was always left until one of the last, once all the sporty ones and popular ones had been chosen.
We all like being included – but when it comes to church, people can take a totally contrary view.
People's religious views are a very private thing that are hidden or excluded from others. Tony Blair famously said that you have to keep religion out of politics. Some may be too afraid to take the step and come inside to get to know God because they think of him as a big scary voice in the sky, or maybe it’s the church building or the pastor who’s scary!
Sadly there are a lot of people who are hurt by their previous experience of church. Some may think they are too good so don’t need to go to church, others may feel that they are somehow not good enough. If you get the cart before the horse you may think that the cost of salvation is just too high and you'll never be good enough for God to love you. Guess what - God loves us whether we think we're good enough or not. Rom 5v8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. It's not about us - it's about Him!!
The good news is that Jesus has already died for us - all of us, once for all as it says in Hebrews and by doing so He offers us the gift of life freely. That's God's grace. We are not super humans who are perfect and deserve it - we have our faults - but God loves us anyway.
Even as a Christian, doubts can enter our head as to whether we are good enough to be saved, are we good enough for God to love us? The good news is that everyone is included in the love of God.
Eph 2v8-9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
This says that we are saved by faith, but this isn’t even from us – we’re saved by the faith of Jesus.
God does not want anyone to Perish – his love is inclusive. Jesus came to save the lost, he came to give life. The parable of the lost sheep in Matt 18v11 – 14 sees great joy when the lost sheep is found. In v14 Jesus said "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." This is so encouraging – just as the shepherd rejoiced when he found the sheep, God rejoices when people accept the precious gift of life.
The good news is that Jesus, the word, became flesh and blood like us, He was born, he lived and died and rose again then ascended, so that all who believe in him shall be saved and have eternal life.
How many of you like being left out of something? My home town is rugby mad, home of the Scarlets but I was never the sporty type. I remember when they were picking teams for anything - I was always left until one of the last, once all the sporty ones and popular ones had been chosen.
We all like being included – but when it comes to church, people can take a totally contrary view.
People's religious views are a very private thing that are hidden or excluded from others. Tony Blair famously said that you have to keep religion out of politics. Some may be too afraid to take the step and come inside to get to know God because they think of him as a big scary voice in the sky, or maybe it’s the church building or the pastor who’s scary!
Sadly there are a lot of people who are hurt by their previous experience of church. Some may think they are too good so don’t need to go to church, others may feel that they are somehow not good enough. If you get the cart before the horse you may think that the cost of salvation is just too high and you'll never be good enough for God to love you. Guess what - God loves us whether we think we're good enough or not. Rom 5v8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. It's not about us - it's about Him!!
The good news is that Jesus has already died for us - all of us, once for all as it says in Hebrews and by doing so He offers us the gift of life freely. That's God's grace. We are not super humans who are perfect and deserve it - we have our faults - but God loves us anyway.
Even as a Christian, doubts can enter our head as to whether we are good enough to be saved, are we good enough for God to love us? The good news is that everyone is included in the love of God.
Eph 2v8-9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
This says that we are saved by faith, but this isn’t even from us – we’re saved by the faith of Jesus.
God does not want anyone to Perish – his love is inclusive. Jesus came to save the lost, he came to give life. The parable of the lost sheep in Matt 18v11 – 14 sees great joy when the lost sheep is found. In v14 Jesus said "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." This is so encouraging – just as the shepherd rejoiced when he found the sheep, God rejoices when people accept the precious gift of life.
The good news is that Jesus, the word, became flesh and blood like us, He was born, he lived and died and rose again then ascended, so that all who believe in him shall be saved and have eternal life.
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