Everlasting Justice

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

The governments of the world so often offer only hollow promises, power games, deceit or corruption. By contrast God’s government offers sustainability, unbreakable promises and righteousness. Isaiah 7 tells us ‘He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing it with justice and righteousness, from that time and for ever.’

It seems round the world at the moment, and maybe always, some countries have dictators, some have weak governments and some have civil wars, while others have weak leaders. Faith in government seems to be at an all time low. We long for God’s justice where the vulnerable will not be exploited, the handicapped will not be overlooked and the poor will no longer be in need.

Come, Lord Jesus, come in Your great power..

Genesis Only

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

‘Do not add to what I commended to you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.’ Deuteronomy 4:2

Barry was a hospital chaplaincy visitor. As he went round the wards he got many different receptions. When people realised who he was, they sometimes feigned sleep, others wanted to talk about their families and their careers. He was there representing Christ and that was done by listening. Only occasionally could he lead the conversations to God, if it seemed relevant. Christians wanted to talk about their faith and there were times when he could pray with them.

One morning he met a man called Colin, who explained that he was trying to read the Bible but was finding it difficult. ‘I’ve just managed Genesis,’ he said, ‘but I think I’ll give up now.’ He thought he had to start at page 1 and continue to the end.

Barry was able to explain, ‘Colin, the Bible isn’t like any other book, it’s made up of 66 books, written by many different people at very different times. You can’t read it like any other book, you need to start with the easier books.’

Barry suggested he started with the four gospels which were about the life of Jesus, because He was actually what the Bible was all about, and then go on to the Psalms showing a very human man, who struggled and sinned. Barry was right, the Bible is not like any other book.

Waiting

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Romans 5:3

It seem none of us like waiting, we all have an impatient streak in us. We have instant coffee, instant loans and instant mobile phones. Our impatience is shown when driving and waiting in queues. As we see in Romans, endurance is a virtue as it develops strength of character. Psalm 40 v. 1 tells us ‘I waited patiently for the Lord.‘ There is a value in waiting, it gives us time to think, time to decided without being rushed and making mistakes, a time to listen.

The other day I was waiting at the chemist for my covid jab. The lady sitting next to me, who was also waiting, started to talk. For the next 20 minutes I sat and listened. She needed to talk and unburden her problems. I couldn’t do anything to help her but listen. It was a privilege and I was glad I could do it.

I’m sometimes impatient in watching my garden grow but then I realise that if a plant takes a long time to come into flower, then it will be in flower for longer. Being patient and waiting could prolong our lives; I read in a medical journal that worry and rushing can shorten our lives. We can wait, enjoy and saviour the passing moment, but they are all passing and will not come again. When we were 18 we wanted to be 19, now we’re 80 we want to be 19 again.

No Room

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The four men had a paralysed friend and they had a problem. They had heard that Jesus could heal people and that was what they wanted for their friend but because of the crowd they couldn’t get to Jesus. There was no room. Jesus was surrounded by so many people needing His healing touch, both physically and mentally. These friends were not deterred, they went to the only space that was available. Above His head.

Jesus knew all about the ‘no room’ problem. Many years earlier, Mary, His mother, could find no place to deliver her baby. There was no room for her. For most of His life there was no room for Jesus. He had no place to call His own, He had to stay with friends.

Is this ‘no room’ syndrome a thing of the past only? No, because God still has room in His heart for anyone who will come to Him; He will never turn anyone away. What about our own hearts, do we have room for Him? He is knocking at the door of our hearts. Will we let Him in? Do we have room for others in our hearts, those who are seeking him? May all aspects of our lives be turned from no room to plenty of room.

Remembering

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‘When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant. Genesis 9:15.

As I was driving to church in the pouring rain with the sun also shining, I suddenly saw a rainbow suspended right over the building where I was heading. It seemed as if Gods had His protection over the place and would keep us safe.

When we read the above passage in Genesis we realise that it was God also who was doing the remembering. It wasn’t enough for us only to remember, it is God remembrance that we also need. His remembering brings power. We are frail and God knows that right well. When we as humans recall the past, we have guilt and regrets. When God remembers, He remembers His creation and that it was good and His love for us.

So when He saw that creation and mankind were not good, He did something about it. He sent His Son who by dying for our sins, made mankind good again.

So when we see the rainbow, both God and us are doing the remembering and we realise that God has made a promise once again. And we know from experience that God never breaks His promises.

Walking

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

‘Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem… a Sabbath Day’s walk from the city.’ Acts 1:12

In the Bible we so often read of Jesus walking with His disciples. At the very beginning of the Bible we read Adam walking with God in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the evening. The children of Israel walked for 40 years on and off to reach the Promised Land. It was the usual way to get from one place to another in those days. The two disciples walked along the Emmaus road. Elijah walked in the desert and Philip was also walking when he encountered the Ethiopian.

When the history of our period is written, I doubt that walking will be mentioned very much. We don’t have time for it and now we have bikes, cars, trains and planes. This is a pity, there is no time to think, converse or ponder. Our concentration is on steering the bike, driving the car or sleeping on the train and plane.

What opportunities we miss, to walk along side someone to be in conversation with them, to get to know a person or even pray with them or for them. Now we don’t have time to stop and ‘smell the roses.’ We often complain we have no time to stop and think.

God took six days to create the world; He could have done it in one day, or in the blink of a moment. But after each day He stopped and pronounced it good and very good. May we slow down and hear God’s words, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’

Called and Equipped

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

We read in Ezekiel that at the age of 30 he was called to take up his role as prophet. ‘I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation.’ It was a call from God that he obediently obeyed. We too are called by God to be His witnesses in the place He has placed us. But Ezekiel was not just called, he was equipped. ‘whether they listen or fail to listen ……. they will know that a prophet has been among them. Ezekiel 2:5. As he was to succeed his father, he had always been trained to fulfil this role. God also equips us to fulfil our role in the extension of His kingdom. He gives us His Bible, the source of His instruction.

We read in Ezekiel that he has to eat the scroll, Ezekiel 2:8 ‘Open your mouth and eat what I will give you.‘ We then note that it was written on both sides, meaning Ezekiel couldn’t add any of his own words. It must all be of God.

We further read that he laboured for 20 years without result. The calling and the ultimate result is of God and not of man. We can’t stop witnessing just because there are no results; the results are up to Him, not us. We are called on only to be obedient.

Who Will Tell Them

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

I was saddened to read that there are still 4,490 unreached people groups in the world today not having heard the gospel. I remember hearing a similar statement when I was a teenager. I wonder how different the number is today than it was some seventy years ago.

I have not been called to share the gospel in a distant land, my calling is to share the ‘good news’ with my neighbours and people I meet every day. People so often tell me that they used to go to Sunday School as a child but attending a place of worship as a child doesn’t make them Christians!

As Hudson Taylor said, ‘The Great Commission is not an option to be considered, it is a command to be obeyed. ‘ So where do we go, who do we tell? We can’t just scatter the gospel anywhere, we must go where God wants us. He knows the situations where He can use us. He tells us in Matthew 28:20 ‘I am with you.’ He is the special ingredient, He will be with us. But where? It reminds me of the beginning part of my car registration DKA – Don’t Know Anything. I don’t know anything but He knows everything. Our job is to be obedient.

Nesting Birds

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‘God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.’ 1 Corinthains 10:13

Resentment and unforgiveness can fester in our souls. There are times when we just can’t let go of an injustice. We continue to re-play it in our minds, as if that will put us in the right.. Our lives will be affected if we do not get rid of resentment for if we do not forgive it is us who will suffer. We can be infected by jealousy and envy., both unchristian attitudes which will negatively impact our own lives.

Martin Luther gave a useful quote, ‘you cannot keep the birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building in your hair. ‘ We need to let go but we can’t do it in our own strength, God needs to help us. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians ‘When you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand under it.’

God is our answer in the time of temptation, He will show us a way out. So when the birds of jealousy, envy, resentment and unforgiveness are flying above our heads, we can make sure they fly away and have no reason to return and nest.

The Language of God

Carol Purves Carol's Blog

‘There before me was a great multitude, that no-one could count. from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.’ Revelation 7:9

A local vicar advertised that he was giving classes to anyone where he would teach Hebrew and Greek. A number of people in the town applied for the classes. Among them them were applicants who were older men who already had a good grasp of the Bible but were obviously keen to learn more. There was a sprinkling of younger men, anxious to further their careers in the church. None of these applicants were surprising.

Among their number was a little old lady who seemed very keen. The vicar couldn’t help being curious. He doubted she would be able to grasp these complex languages and felt he had to ask. Her reply stunned him. ‘I want to be able to speak to God in His language when I get to heaven..’

What a misunderstanding! God speaks in every language as He is the author of them. Not only does understand every word spoken in whatever tongue, He understands every intention of our hearts, without a word being spoken. God recognses the words of the down-trodden, the weary or the arrogant. No whispered word or arrow prayer ever goes unheard by Him. He understands, really understands.

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