Walk With Me - Devotionals: Recent Episodes

Walk With Me

Devotionals from Walk With Me

Towards The Horizon Of Heaven

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 31st December 2022

Passage: Jeremiah 29:11

When God spoke these words to his Old Testament people they were still in captivity but he was wanting to assure them that they were going to return home — he gave them hope and a future. Today we are coming to the end of the year. I don't know what kind of year it has been for you. No doubt it had its 'ups and downs' but God does not want us to be haunted by the past; rather he wants us to look ahead, to keep in our mind's eye on the beautiful horizon of heaven. Of course we ask God to forgive us the sins we commit and to help us mend broken relationships as well as broken promises. Having done that, we leave them and go into the future with our God as our guide.

As Christian people, we can know with certainty that God's ultimate plans for us are good — better than we can even imagine. One of the lovely promises God gave to his Old Testament people was that the land they were going to was looked after by him. "... the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." (Deuteronomy 11:12) In the same way he will look after us every day — his plans for us are good giving us hope and a future. "He who watches over you will not slumber." (Psalm 121:3) He cares for you all of the time. As one of the old writers has said: "Hope can see heaven through the thickest clouds." (Thomas Brooks) So God wants us to keep looking up and onward. May you have a blessed year and go with God all your days.

PrayerO Lord, watch over my life both now and for ever. Amen.

Stocktaking

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 30th December 2022

Passage: Proverbs 15:33

If you have ever worked in a shop you will know that once a year the whole stock in the shop is counted and the records are checked to see that things are in order and the business is being run properly. The end of the year is a great time to take stock of where we are at in our spiritual lives, so let's take a quick look at how we are doing.

The verse at the top of the page give us a good starting place. The 'fear' of (or respect for) the Lord speaks to us about having a right attitude towards God. The American writer A. W. Tozer wrote: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." How important is God in my day to day living? Do I ask his advice on all my decisions as they come up? Do I thank him for all that happens as the day goes on? Would others sense the presence of God in my life because I 'fear' and honour him?

A Christian must also be a humble person. We are too fond of going for the glory rather than the humility! Humility is said to be the hallmark of wisdom and it is a mark of real godliness. How do I fare in that department? (remember we are stocktaking!) The fear of the Lord, wisdom and humility. We need to check where we are in the Christian walk. God bless you as you take stock at the year's end!

PrayerLord, I know I need more teaching in how I think of you, and I ask you to give me humility to learn better. Amen

A Band Of Brothers And Sisters

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 28th December 2022

Passage: Romans 15:7

One of the great things about Christianity is that it 'fits into' every country and people group where the Gospel is preached and believed. For people at every stage of development, whatever language they speak, whatever age they may be, the Gospel message — God's Good News — speaks to them. That is something we rejoice in and give thanks for. And that means wherever a Christian comes from, he or she is our brother or sister in Christ and we must welcome them into our fellowship and congregation, just as Christ received and welcomed us.

The congregation where we worship always has visitors and at this time of year when families like to come together there are perhaps more visitors than normal. It is our privilege to welcome them in the name of Jesus. It is also an immense privilege to belong to such a world-wide family. That means we must rejoice when God's blessing, maybe in revival, is being experienced in different parts of the world, or in different churches from ours — they are family. It means too that we must weep with those Christians who are suffering because they are Christians, and we must help them. Interestingly enough the word the Bible uses for 'welcome' was used when soldiers were enrolled in the Roman army and 'welcomed' to a new regiment! We Christians are all enrolled in Christ's army to lead disciplined, active lives resisting evil and injustice in the world.

PrayerHelp me, dear Lord, to welcome all who join us in worship. Amen

Dealing With Temptation

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 27th December 2022

Passage: Psalm 51:10

In my daily Bible reading recently I was reading the story of Joseph as we have it in Genesis from chapters 37 to 50. At one point in his story Joseph was put in a very difficult situation when the wife of his master tried to lure him to have sex with her. Joseph did the right thing and got out of the house as quickly as he could and told the woman he would have nothing to do with her as far as sex was concerned. It can be easy to get into situations where temptations to sin can be strong, whether these have to do with sex or any other sin. At this time of year the temptation to drink too much can be very strong as many people treat the end of the year as a great excuse for all sorts of 'goings on' they may afterwards regret.

In the New Testament we are told to 'flee' from temptations (1 Timothy 6:11), and to 'resist the devil' and then he will 'flee' from us (James 4:7). David, who wrote Psalm 51, knew how easy it was to give in to temptations and he had to confess his sinfulness. That is why he asked God to create in him a clean heart. Only God can do that. (The word 'create' here is the same word which tells us God created the world). We need God to help us overcome temptations to sin and to give us a heart that is faithful to him. Be sure to ask God to help you overcome temptation to do anything you may later regret.

Prayer‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ' Amen.

The Living Word Of God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 26th December 2022

Passage: John 1:14

I'm pretty sure your house has been made very colourful over the Christmas period by the many Christmas cards that are sent to bring greetings and usually a message with news as well. God himself has sent us a message — a message that comes in the form of a Word, the living Word, Jesus Christ himself.

In Bible times the term we call 'word' (logos) was very important indeed. It was used by the philosophers who were trying to explain a reason for everything in our world. Then the Christians took this into their vocabulary and they came to see the term as meaning God's word, God's way of wisdom, of power (it is a 'doing' word), as well as a word of God's speech. It was a message that non-Christians could understand and that was essential in the world where Christianity was born. And Jesus Christ was God's word (the logos) - God's living message for the world. Sadly, many people who saw and heard Jesus did not heed God's message; in the end they killed him. But we read that those who did believe in Jesus, "became the children of God" (John 1:12). That is still true today. God's living Word is Jesus the living Saviour. All those who receive and believe in him become God's children. That is an abiding fact. Do you believe? Listen to Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to listen to and believe in Jesus. Amen.

Good News Of Great Joy For Everyone

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 25th December 2022

Passage: John 3:16

A Happy Christmas! May each of you reading this know the joy of the Lord this happy morning and sing with the angels "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favours." (Luke 2:14)

Of course remembering the birth of Jesus is a truly happy thing to do because it tells us of the wonderful love of God for the world in which we live. I know that on this day, all of us will be giving and receiving presents. I can picture in my mind's eye the thousands of poor children and elderly folk who will be receiving the boxes full of good things sent out by Blythswood Care and other agencies — a lovely thing to do. Gifts from caring people. God's gift to us, a gift of love from our caring Creator, is none other than his own son. Yesterday we sang with Charles Wesley, "Come, O Long-expected Jesus". His hymn goes on "Born your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King; Born to reign in us for ever, now your gracious kingdom bring."

Let us 'bathe' in the reality of God's love and the brilliant gift that comes with it — eternal life through the eternal Son whom God has given to us. I do pray this day will be a happy and blessed one for all of us. Please remember those folk who may be missing loved ones or who may be ill or all alone.

God bless you!

PrayerOur thanks go out to you, O Lord, for the gift of your love to us. Amen

The Song Of Mary

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 24th December 2022

Passage: Luke 1:46

You have to marvel at the way in which Mary, the mother of Jesus, responded to the message God brought to her telling her that she would be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah. Yet she would have to go through misunderstanding, and the terrible trauma of seeing her first-born son savagely beaten and then crucified — a terrible death. But that was all in the future. Some months before the birth of Jesus she visited her relative Elizabeth, and she sang these words at the top of the page, recorded in Luke 1:46, in humble delight at God's goodness for his people in sending a Saviour for her and for them.

As we look forward to Christmas Day we too should remember the event of Jesus' birth with humble thankfulness to God and remember among all the joy and thankfulness there is the tinge of sadness that Jesus Christ, the Holy Child from heaven, had to suffer so much in his time on earth — all because of our sin and the world's brokenness. Charles Wesley wrote: "Come O Long expected Jesus, born to set your people free! From our fears and sins release us, Christ in whom our rest shall be."

May we all be able to rejoice because the long expected Jesus has come so that as we celebrate Christmas together we can praise and thank God for such an amazing message that set Mary singing and all the world-wide church joining in her song.

May this last sleep before Christmas be a peaceful one!

Getting Ready For Jesus

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 23rd December 2022

Passage: Luke 2:4-6

Getting ready for the birth of a baby is usually a busy and an exciting time. Care is taken to have everything in place so that, if all goes well, the newborn child will be welcomed home with everything ready for him or her. When we read about the preparations for the birth of Jesus it is quite a different story. Although many of the usual preparations could not be in place for the baby's arrival yet, all that happened fulfilled what God had planned. Joseph did everything God asked him to do. The Roman authorities demanded that all the people go to their home towns to be counted in a census and that was why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, just as the prophets had foretold. God had everything in place. You can read all about this in Matthew chapters 1 and 2 and in Luke chapter 2.

At this time of year I'm quite sure you are getting everything ready for Christmas Day — food, presents, cards, a host of things that we have 'tagged on' to the celebration of Christ's birth. With it all we need to be sure not to forget the Lord Jesus. As it is said, 'he is the reason for the season'. Let's put Jesus first in all the preparations.

PrayerWe thank you, O Lord, for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Help us to praise and honour him. Amen

Commandment No. 10

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 22nd December 2022

Passage: Exodus 20:17

Now I know it's getting near to Christmas so why am I writing about the Ten Commandments? I'm asking us to think about the Tenth Commandment so that you won't spoil your Christmas by being jealous about what other people might get as presents and you didn't! Jealousy spoils everything. Mind you, there is a good jealousy. The Bible tells us that God is jealous, meaning that he cares very, very much about the honour of his name and the good of his people. In that sense we can say God is careful about how we think of him. He alone is God and we must not worship any other so-called god.

But there is a bad jealousy, meaning envying what someone else has or, as it is sometimes called, 'coveting' what someone else has. The Bible says "Don't set your heart on anything that is your neighbour's." If someone is to get a bigger or better present than you may get at Christmas, don't be jealous — it will spoil your attitude towards the other person. That is not good. In one of his famous sayings Shakespeare wrote: "O! Beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on." In other words it spoils everything, especially you or me if we are jealous. So let's be content and happy and look forward to a happy and blessed Christmas. It's not about presents after all!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to set my heart on pleasing you most of all. Amen.

Proclaiming The Word Of The Lord

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 21st December 2022

Passage: Acts 15:36

How would you describe what the minister or preacher does at the sermon time in church? You get a good clue in the verse above! Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the word of the Lord in all the places they had visited. Proclamation is preaching — it is announcing publicly what God wants us to hear.

The Apostle Peter used the word proclamation when speaking about the prophets foretelling the coming of Jesus (Acts 3:24). It is also used when we read that the Lord's Supper 'shows forth' (proclaims) the death of the Lord Jesus. Going to church should take on a new meaning for us if we took seriously the expectation that we were to listen to the proclamation of the word of God. It is not something to be just accepted as another part of the service — it is the main part — it is the public 'sending forth' of God's eternal word.

As we are coming up to Christmas let's remember that God proclaimed Jesus as the great Messiah through whom all the promises of salvation were to come. It was a proclamation of Good News to a dying world — and it still is. Let us be thrilled by it!

PrayerAlmighty God, we pray that you will bless the proclamation of your word wherever it goes out. Amen.

Our Perfect Example

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 20th December 2022

Passage: 1 Peter 2:21

Yesterday we were thinking about slates or papyrus which were used in former years to write things in school or, in the case of those who used papyrus, to write letters or documents. Today we go back to the school-room, to Primary 1 in fact! When I was in Primary 1 we were given books with letters which we had to copy. Gradually we became able to write the letters without the copy-book, but to begin with we needed the example letters and we had to be careful or else the teacher would become upset! In the verse at the top of today's page we find the word example - it was the very word use for helping children to learn to write at the time the New Testament was written. The Apostle Peter used this word (the only time it is used in the New Testament) to teach us about suffering. Christians expected suffering in those far-off times just as very many Christians endure suffering in our time. In this, as in every way, the Lord Jesus is our perfect example and we should follow in his steps. The old hymn states "Some will hate thee, some will love thee; Some will flatter, some will slight; Cease from man and look above thee: Trust in God and do the right." (Norman Macleod)

We look above to Jesus — he is our Example and we need to follow in his steps.

PrayerDear Lord, you knew suffering and rejection. Please help me when I have to endure rejection and mockery for your sake. Give me courage, Amen.

A Clean Slate

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 19th December 2022

Passage: Colossians 2:14

If you were as old as I am you would remember, as I do, learning to write on a slate tablet in school. One of the advantages of a slate was that it could be wiped clean and then used again and again. I don't think the Apostle Paul used a slate when he went to school but we do know that many people in his time wrote letters and even books using papyrus. One of the advantages of papyrus was that you could wipe it clean and use it again — if it was washed carefully there would be no trace of what had been written there.

Paul, in this verse in Colossians, tells us an amazing fact about what Jesus has done for us if we are Christians. He writes about an "arrest warrant" or a written statement of a debt we owed. But that warrant or statement of debt has been wiped clean — like the slate or papyrus, there is no trace of it any more. The debt was our sin, all of it, and Jesus has wiped it clean so that God does not see it anymore — it is gone for ever. I find that absolutely wonderful, don't you? It is even more wonderful, if that is possible, because of what it cost Jesus to do all of that for us — it is by his death on the cross. He paid our debt so that we are now debt-free. What a Saviour we have!

"Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow." (Elvina Hall)

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your wonderful love and grace to us who don't deserve it. Amen

Patience

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th December 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:4

I'm quite sure that by this time, in families where there are young children, the question will be asked "How many sleeps till Christmas?" Patience is not one of the virtues enjoyed by young children. But we adults may find patience is not something that comes easily to us either. When Paul says that "love is patient", he is telling us about something that is really beautiful and is also quite counter-cultural in today's world.

Patience is a great characteristic of the Lord himself. In Romans 2:4, Paul speaks of the patience of God and here in 1 Corinthians 13:4, the Apostle tells us that this kind of patience is so unlike what you find among worldly people. In the world in which Paul lived, patience was not a virtue. People would refuse to tolerate any insult or injury. But Christian patience did not react with anger in such circumstances. Christian patience is 'wedded' to love and love to patience — they are a great couple! When we read "love is patient" it means "it never gives up" (The Message) . There is an optimism in it that is going to seek the best for someone even if it takes a long time.

"Love is patient" - it is in that spirit that God himself has dealt with us. Not many people rush to follow Jesus the very first time they hear the Gospel. But in patient love God allows us to hear the Gospel over and over again until we come to believe in Jesus. Thank God for such patience!

PrayerHow we thank you, O Lord, for your love which has brought us to trust in Jesus, Amen.

Is God Just An 'Add-On' In Your Life?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th December 2022

Passage: Matthew 6:24

I speak to myself when I think about these words of Jesus. He is talking about people trying to serve two masters at the same time. On the one hand we who are Christians do want to serve God. We follow him, we thank him for all he has done for us through the Lord Jesus, and we genuinely place great value on heavenly things. So far so good! But — and it is a big but — we also, if we are honest with ourselves, love what is here called money. The word really means more than just money. It means that in which we trust. That raises a big question: do we really trust in money/wealth/property/the things that we buy?

When Jesus speaks about serving, he is using the kind of service a slave gave to a master — the slave had to do the master's will. We wouldn't like to think that we served the material things in life like that would we? Yet I think that very often we treat God as an 'add-on' in our lives and just get on with living in much the same way as the rest of folk around us, just as secular in most of our ways — except that we go to church!

So we must give ourselves a check-up every now and then to take seriously how we are serving God. An 'add-on' attitude must never be true of our Christian walk as we think of what Jesus has done for us. He and only he must be our Master served in love.

PrayerLord, I don't trust my sinful heart. Please help me to reject the things I so often put before you in my life. Amen.

Big Bullies!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 16th December 2022

Passage: Proverbs 21:24

Bullying is a problem, a serious problem, whether at school, work or even at home. In recent times, with the advent of the social media, bullying can become very frightening and has even led to some young people committing suicide. Sometimes Christians suffer bullying because of their beliefs and may be rejected by peers at school or by work-mates. This can be very hurtful indeed.

As a Christian, you may suffer bullying because your lifestyle may be very different from those around you, your language may be different — no swearing or telling lies or listening to dirty stories. You may also find that your lifestyle is actually 'showing up' the shallowness and unhappiness of those around you, so that they want to hurt you for making them ashamed.

How then do you deal with the bullying? First of all, don't be afraid to speak about it at home or with a trusted Christian friend or, if appropriate, to a staff member. Don't bottle it up in yourself. Secondly pray about it. Pray for the bully or bullies. They may be very unhappy people although they are "mockers and proud and haughty people acting with boundless arrogance". Often that is a mask over their own insecurity. Cut off social media if that is threatening you. Seek out Christian friends.

PrayerI need your help to be a courageous Christian, O Lord, when faced with the hurtful behaviour of others. Amen.

The Marks Of A Christian's Life

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 15th December 2022

Passage: 2 Peter 3:11

There is an old saying that "We are the sinners' Bible, we are the scoffers' creed". In our day, when so many people do not go to church, that saying is really very important. The only contact many people may have with Christianity is you! Someone has said that a 'saint' is someone who makes it easy to believe in God. A life that has certain 'marks', a certain character and personality that mark him or her out as special is the kind of person God wants us to be. Peter mentions two special words in writing about the Christians he had in mind. They should be holy and godly. The word 'holy' sums up the kind of life we should be living — clean and pure in mind thoughts and words. The word 'godly' refers to the attitude we have to God — an attitude of humility and reverence that shows just how great and how good God is.

In one of his poems, Robert Burns wrote: "O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us, To see oursels as others see us!" So if you are a Christian, how do you think others see you? Can others see Christ in you? Can they see holiness and godliness in you? These are very challenging and personal words. I speak to myself as well. We must be signposts pointing people to Jesus. God bless you as you do that!

PrayerLord, I know I can't be a good and true Christian without your help. Please live in me so that your life will shine through me. Amen.

Does It Really Matter What I Believe?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 14th December 2022

Passage: John 14:6

I was reading today about a Presbyterian church in America where about 10% of those who attend may be Jewish, atheists or agnostics. They are admitted into membership as "Associate Members of the Church" and even those who are full members don't need to believe the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

While we must, and do, always welcome all who come to church, it is quite another thing to admit people to membership in the church if they do not believe in the authority of the Bible and the whole teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. It does matter what you believe and the church would be doing a bad thing if it said to anybody that you can believe what you like and still be considered a member of the church.

You see, Jesus makes very serious claims in the Gospels such as the verse at the top of the page. There Jesus says he, and only he, is the way by which we can come to God and find the truth and the life that is acceptable to God. No doubt there are many people who enjoy the warmth and companionship that they can find in church, but church is more than a social club — it is a gathering of people to worship God; and to worship him acceptably, we need to believe and follow the teaching of Jesus.

PrayerO Lord, it is vital that I believe your word — help me to put it into practice too. Amen

Christian Trials

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 13th December 2022

Passage: Psalm 49:5

Almost every day we get news of terrible things happening to Christian people within countries like India, China, in Africa and several Middle Eastern lands. There seems to be no end to suffering that is inflicted upon innocent people simply because they love and serve their Lord, and are different from those in power. For too many people this world must seem a horrible place.

When we think of that it may seem a bit trite to say with the writer of Psalm 49, "Why should I be afraid of bad days?" Very many people are afraid of bad days because they suffer so much. So, was that writer wrong to say what he did? I don't think so — and I will tell you why.

God knows the wrongs and the suffering that people have to put up with and he cares for all his people who are caught up in the conflicts going on in the world. And God has a day when all who practise evil and inflict suffering on others will die, no matter how powerful and rich they may be in this life, and God will then hold them to account. "But God will save my life and will take me from the grave" (v15). That is the assurance of ultimate salvation given to every believer in Jesus. The memory of the pain rejection and persecution will be forever wiped away and God will give the joy and the glory of heaven to those who endured so much on earth in his name.

PrayerO Lord I pray now for all those who are suffering because they are Christians. Please keep them strong in their faith and help them. Amen.

Cheating

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th December 2022

Passage: Genesis 31:6-7

The words written by Sir Walter Scott in his poem Marmion are very, very true: "O what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive".

The story in the book of Genesis involving Jacob shows a whole web of deceitfulness, cheating and being cheated. You can read the story if you have time in Genesis chapters 27 and onward. Jacob became a practised cheat and he found himself cheated. How true the New Testament words are: "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 5:6).

You see, God is the God of truth, he hates lies, he hates cheating, whether it has to do with sexual wrongdoing, family relationships, or religious worship, God hates the sins of cheating and deceitfulness. One result of cheating is that a person has to go on covering up (or trying to cover up) the results of the first time they cheated. It usually gets worse and worse. It becomes like a soiled dirty rag. Telling the truth is always clean, even when it is not always easy. You can be sure God is on your side when you tell the truth and act truthfully and that is a bonus every time. "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." (Proverbs 12:22)

PrayerMake me to act truthfully at all times, O Lord.

Lydia, Whose Heart The Lord Opened

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th December 2022

Passage: Acts 16:14

Women today are in all sorts of top jobs, with a real push for women to take their place at the 'top table' in all kinds of business and professions. Lydia, the woman Paul and Silas met when they went to a Jewish prayer meeting on the banks of the river in Philippi, was a business woman selling top of the range goods and her customers would have been top of the range people. Lydia was from the city of Thyatira which was famous for its luxurious purple cloth.

As Paul and Silas told the Gospel to the few people at the prayer meeting, Lydia's heart warmed to the message about Jesus and we read that "The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul" (v14). Lydia was converted. Her life was changed and her home soon became the meeting place for the Christians in Philippi.

I think it must have been a real encouragement for Paul and Silas as they met with that small group of people to find that the message they brought became such a blessing to Lydia and maybe to the others as well. We are told that Lydia's household — maybe her family and others who worked for her — were baptised as believers. We find God was at work there and he worked through Paul to bring people to faith in Jesus. That's still how it is today.

Pray that as you go to church on Sunday God will open the hearts of people to respond to the Gospel as the minister preaches.

Concessions

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 10th December 2022

Passage: Luke 13:24

One of the many 'perks' of being older is that you are often given concessions when entering exhibitions or musical events or whatever. We even travel free on pubic transport! We get used to concessions — to free TV and a winter heating allowance. It's a sign of a caring society that wants to look after its elderly citizens.

Concessions! Jesus found there were some people who wanted concessions to get them into heaven. Some would tell him how good they were at keeping the commandments or praying long prayers or giving money to the poor. They felt that these things would help them when it came to getting into God's heaven. But Jesus made no concessions on that score at all. When someone asked him if only a few people would be saved Jesus in effect said 'Yes'. Why? Because so many people thought their own good works were enough to get on God's good side as it were, whereas Jesus said the door into God's presence is narrow. You can only get through by humbly following Jesus and recognising that it is only through his saving work that we are saved. Of course good works are good, but they need to be the effects of our appreciation for what Jesus has done for us. Remember there are no concessions to get round God and into heaven. Jesus is the only way — the narrow door.

PrayerTeach me, O Lord, to follow you and thank you. Amen.

Telling The Next Generation

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th December 2022

Passage: Psalm 48:12-14

It was good going back to where our parents and grandparents had lived and showing these places to our children. Some of these places are now only ruins, especially the great-grandparents' homes, but they were still interesting - part of our family heritage. The Jewish people of old just loved Jerusalem and especially the temple area. The writer of Psalm 48 pictures people going round that area taking note of every part in it so that they could tell their children what a wonderful place it was and, more importantly, what a wonderful God their God was. And God still is wonderful. He is our God and we want the 'next generation' to know that too.

Telling children about God is one of the most important jobs God gives us to do — as parents, as churches, as Christians, whether we are parents or not - and we should be excited when we do this. Psalm 48 is a really happy Psalm the writer was really excited about God and all that he did for his people. When we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we should be excited about that, about him and all he has done for us. We should be excited as we live out our Christian faith and that excitement should be obvious to our younger folk too. It should be infectious. And what a story we have to tell! The story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told — let us tell it to the next generation.

PrayerHelp us, Lord, to be your story-tellers to the young folk among us. Amen.

Not A Pretty Picture

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th December 2022

Passage: Jeremiah 17:9

If you are like me you enjoy looking at the photographs people put up on Facebook. I think there is quite a competition among some folk to see just how dramatic they can make some of the places look — ones we know well — by using special lenses or drones. Sometimes, however, a picture comes up showing just how selfish people can be by leaving rubbish by the roadside or 'fly-tipping' at a beauty spot. Not a pretty picture!

On a more serious note, the prophet Jeremiah wrote about the lives some of his people were living and that was not a pretty picture. This led him to give God's verdict on the way people look from the' inside' - the way God sees us. The human heart — that means the real person we are - "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked". That is certainly not a pretty picture.

Are we all like that? Well, the deceitful part is always telling us we are not all that bad, indeed we are quite good. But God tells us a different story. Without his salvation we are "dead, doomed for ever because of our many sins." Ephesians 2:1 (NLT). Not a pretty picture! But God in his mercy doesn't want to leave us like that like so much rubbish by the roadside "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead." Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) It is God and only God who can change our wicked hearts through all that Jesus has done for us. A very different picture! Let's put all our hope and confidence in him alone.

The Garden

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 7th December 2022

Passage: Genesis 2:8

As someone who likes gardening I find it interesting to see other gardens and how other gardeners plant and lay out the gardens they have. I am interested too in the different references to gardens that we find in the Bible.

The first reference in the Bible to a garden is of course to the garden of Eden which we are told God planted. In this garden he placed Adam to be his gardener. It must have been a beautiful place to work in with all kinds of plants and a fruitful orchard as well. It was also a well-watered place so it had all the makings of something very beautiful. Sadly we know what happened as Adam sinned and was expelled from the garden. And that sin has marred all of us since then. The Old Testament people of God were described by Isaiah the prophet as a garden without water (Isaiah 1:30) because they stopped doing what God wanted them to do.

In my own garden there are plenty of weeds, plenty of slugs and snails which spoil the plants and lots of other things which tend to spoil what I want to have as a beautiful space. It's kind of like the lives we live — we keep so many 'weeds' in our minds and hearts, sinful things that make us very unlike what God meant us to be in the beginning. Our Lord Jesus Christ went to a garden, Gethsemane, the night before he was put to death and there in the garden he was in agony in his soul as he knew the terrible cost he was to pay to take away the sinful weeds in the hearts and minds of his people. Only Christ can make our lives clean and beautiful again like a well-watered garden.

God's Promises

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th December 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:20

We all make promises but sometimes we fail to carry them out. Perhaps that may be through no fault of our own or it may be because we just forget or find that we just don't want to keep the promises we made.

In the language of the New Testament there are two words (a noun and a verb) that refer to promises and, except for two places, these words are always referring to the promises God makes. Indeed the Old Testament and the New Testament are full of God's promises and, unlike us, God never fails to keep his promises.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the great fulfilment of all the Old Testament promises and through Christ we have "better promises" than those of the Old Testament. We have the promise of the Holy Spirit to come and live in the hearts of believers in Jesus; we have the promise of eternal life for all who believe and the promise that the Lord Jesus will come again to establish a new heaven and a new earth. God who makes all these promises — and many more - 'is faithful' (Hebrews 10:23). God is the truth itself, so he will not, indeed cannot, lie. He keeps his promises. That means when he asks you to repent and trust him for salvation, you can trust him — he promises he will do what he says. Guaranteed!

PrayerDear Heavenly Father, I thank you that all your promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Gratitude

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th December 2022

Passage: Colossians 3:16

One of the favourite hymns we sing in church begins with the words "My heart is filled with thankfulness to Him...". It is by Getty and Townend and in its three verses it shows the whole range of God's salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The least we can do when we are Christians is to show thankfulness gratitude to God for all he has given to us. That is why Paul urged the colossian Christians to sing God's praises — and so should we; we have so much to be grateful for.

One of the old hymns has a chorus which urges us to "Count your blessings, name them one by one... and it will surprise you what the Lord has done" (by Fanny Crosby). There is a very good reason why the hymn-writer wrote those words. We can become so used to the many good things our Lord has done for us and given to us that we just take them for granted. What a shock we would get if a preacher told us there was no hope for sinners like us! But of course there is in Jesus, and our hearts should be filled with gratitude. Or what a surprise we would get if we were told all the food has run out. But that doesn't happen for most of us. We are blessed and should be thankful. Praise the Lord!

PrayerMay our hearts be full to overflowing with thankfulness to you, O God. You have given us so very much in your grace. Amen.

Must Haves

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 4th December 2022

Passage: Matthew 6:8

Long before the beginning of December the shops are full of Christmas goods. So often you notice things that the sellers say we "must have", making us feel we will be missing out on something very special if we don't get it. Very often of course, we don't need the shops to tell us what we 'must have'. We are good at deciding for ourselves — there are all sorts of things we think we must have. If we see someone with the latest fashion or with some new gadget it's easy to decide that we must have it. But do we really need it?

There is a dividing line between what we want (must have) and what we need. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need. As Jesus said, he knows what we need before we ask him and he will help us get what we need. God also knows what we want (must have?) and he challenges us to take a good look at ourselves and ask 'do I really need that?'

As Christians I think it is right for us to take seriously the challenge of how we live. Our lifestyle is a testimony to the way we trust God and have a caring attitude to other people, especially to the many needy people in the world around us or in other parts of the world. If we keep getting' must haves' we will have nothing left to give to the 'have-nots'!

PrayerGive us eyes to see the needs of others, dear Lord, and a generous heart. Amen.

Joy

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 3rd December 2022

Passage: Nehemiah 8:10

Many people think that joy and Christianity don't often go together. Christians may be looked on as killjoys, austere, judgemental and unattractive characters. Maybe we have ourselves to blame for that.

That however is not how it should be — it is not the Bible's portrait of a Christian. The Bible tells us that God is a God of joy (Psalm 104:31) and that there is joy in his presence (Psalm 16:11). Christian people share in this joy because they have confessed their sins, repented of them and have received mercy and forgiveness from God himself so they share in this joy — joy that is "inexpressible and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8).

If joy is missing from our faith then we really have some serious thinking to do. A joyless Christian has been described as 'a libel on his Master' because we have forgotten all that he has done for our salvation. God rejoices in his believing people and we rejoice in God and should be 'an Allelujah from head to foot' as one of the early Christians said!

PrayerDear Lord, forgive me when my life has been so preoccupied by worldly concerns that I have not rejoiced in the God of my salvation. Amen.

Religion That God Our Father Accepts As Pure And Faultless (James 1:27, NIV)

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 2nd December 2022

Passage: Micah 6:8

God is the best judge of our religion. In the Old Testament book of Amos, the prophet described the people as being very religious and described all their religious actions. Yet God said about it all "I hate, I despise your religious feasts." (Amos 5:21) Why? Because their religion was a sham. The people were just one-day-a-week worshippers and the rest of the week they forgot all about God, they trampled the poor and were thoroughly ungodly. It's not that they didn't know how God wanted them to live — as Micah tells us in the verse above. God had shown them the kind of worshippers he wanted them to be. The New Testament gives us the same message: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27, NIV). "If we are true servants of Jesus Christ, we will keep our eyes open (as he did) to human need, and our ears cocked to pick up cries of anguish" (John Stott). A true test of our Christianity is a real everyday love for our Saviour Jesus Christ and an open heart towards the needs of other people whether they are near us or far away. We cannot claim to love God if we have no love for our neighbour and no desire for justice and righteousness to flourish in the world.

PrayerGracious God, give me a heart to love and serve you well, Amen.

Renewable Energy

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 30th November 2022

Passage: Hebrews 4:12

Renewable energy is something that is often in the news. There is a whole industry built around harnessing the forces of nature that will give us power, light and comfort, without using fossil fuels that can run out and whose use leads to carbon emissions which pollute the atmosphere and hasten climate change. So wind and tides and the sun give us renewable energy.

There is an interesting group of words which we find in the Bible which tell us about the wonderful energy of God — energy that is powerful and effective in so many ways. One of these 'energy' words is used to tell us about the word of God — it is full of living power. God's energy is always effective.

The Bible itself is the Word of God and it is full of living power in the way that it speaks to people in thousands of different languages and people's lives are changed wonderfully when they believe it. You find that from the very first page of the Bible, where we are told, "God said..." and the whole of creation came into being. God's word is always powerful and effective. And we can say that his word is like renewable energy — it doesn't run out, it is always the same and you can trust that word with your very life.

PrayerWe thank you, dear Lord, for your Word. Help me to believe it and trust it as your guide for my life. Amen.

The Bringer Of Good News

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 29th November 2022

Passage: Nahum 1:15

This little book written by the prophet Nahum is no for the squeamish! "Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, lots of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end..." (Nahum 3:3) It describes in vivid detail what was going to happen to the great Assyrian empire and its capital city of Nineveh. It all collapsed in the year 612 BC — the end of one of the most blood-thirsty empires the world had even seen.

Nahum's prophet's eye saw it all as if Nineveh had already been destroyed, although it was still in the future when he lived and wrote about it. He could do this because God had given him a vision of what was to come as it surely did, exactly as the prophet said.

But there was another message — a word from God for his own people and what a beautiful word it is. It is the picture of a messenger racing over the hills to tell the people the good news of the destruction of Nineveh, so that now God's people can have peace — shalom — that great experience of all-round well-being.

That is a lovely picture of what the Gospel of Jesus brings into the troubled lives of people and nations. The Gospel is good news — the great shalom of peace with God, the ultimate well-being.

PrayerHow we thank you, O Lord, for the Good News of the Gospel. Amen.

God's Trumpeters

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 28th November 2022

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:8

Trumpeters often have to play an important part on big occasions — maybe when the Queen appears in her state robes and with her crown. They also play an important role in the army when the soldiers are on parade and often when the troops went into battle. The Old Testament mentions trumpeters very often - they were the 'alarm bells' in cities if there was a threat from enemies. They also called men to arms to go and fight.One of the reasons trumpets were, and are, important is that they give a clear sound which can travel well. That, I think, is the reason the Apostle Paul used the trumpet sound when he wrote that the Christian life of the believers in Thessalonica was so true to Christ that people could really 'hear it' and 'see it'. These were genuine Christian folk. And the 'sound' of their Christian reputation travelled widely. What a wonderful testimony to have! And what a challenge to us if we say that we are Christians. Do people really 'hear' Jesus living in us through the words we speak and the way we act? Let's think about that.

PrayerDear Lord, too often I fail to live up to what I should be as a Christian. Forgive me and make me strong to be a trumpeter for Jesus. Amen.

Back-Room Staff

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 27th November 2022

Passage: Judges 10:1-3

Have you ever looked carefully at the list of people whose names are scrolled on our screens at the end of a TV programme or at the end of a film? Nearly always the list is long and we probably never bother to take more than a passing interest in it. Yet without all these people the film or the programme would not be made. The back-room staff may not be the 'stars' but there would be no 'stars' without the back — room staff.

Maybe you have never taken much notice of the two men who are written about at the top of the page. Tola and Jair were like two 'back-room' boys but between them they judged and led Israel for a very considerable period - 45 years in total. It seems they did a good job even although we don't read of them again in the Bible story.

Have you ever thought about the many 'back-room' staff who have helped you in your life or the people who help us in church each week but whose names are not up in lights yet they help us enormously. Thank God for them. Like Tola and Jair they serve God just as effectively as the 'stars'.

PrayerDear Lord, I do thank you for the many people who help me each day. Show me in what ways I could make life easier for the people I meet each day. Amen.

What's Your Excuse?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 26th November 2022

Passage: Luke 14:14-18

Excuses! Not many of us would pass up an invitation to a great banquet. Each year our Moderator is invited to a great banquet at the Palace of Holyrood House — and no one makes an excuse not to go. But many of the people mentioned in Jesus's story did make excuses not to attend the banquet — and some silly excuses they were.

The story Jesus told was a parable and like all of his parables, this one had a very serious side to it. It has to do with the Gospel invitation which Jesus extends to all of us to come to him and to enjoy the great' feast' of good things which are all included in his salvation. But so many people give all kinds of excuses why they don't come to follow Jesus as their Saviour. Some say they don't need him, they are good enough. Others say the Bible isn't true (although they have never read it!); others say that science disproves what the Bible says (although they may know very little science or the Bible). But there are others who do hear the Gospel and may say they will think about it - another time.

How often excuses turn out to be disasters, opportunities lost for ever! Do you have an excuse for not having come to Jesus yet? Don't make any more excuses; don't put it off.

Pray now and ask the Lord Jesus to bring you to himself and to save you. Turn over your whole life to him and he will keep you and care for you for ever.

In Memoriam

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 25th November 2022

Passage: Mark 14:8

A few days ago we attended a thanksgiving service for an Indian lady whom we had only met a few times. She had lived in a sheltered-housing complex for elderly people who did not have money to own their own houses. The place where she lived had a 'Songs of Praise' service once a month and our congregation has become responsible for conducting these services, so it was there that we met this small Christian lady who was always helping to give out the hymnbooks and making sure everyone was made welcome. Apart from that, and the fact that she told us she had been a missionary nurse in Africa, we knew very little about her — until she died and we attended the thanksgiving service in the church where she was a member.

The tributes paid to her revealed a person not only of fine Christian character, but of professional excellence as a nursing sister, anaesthetist and first class operating theatre sister and a warm and compassionate friend. Hidden behind a humble exterior was this outstanding little person of whom the Lord Jesus would certainly have applied the words he said of Mary of Bethany: "She did what she could." And she did it all for Christ. We do thank God for such humble and beautiful Christians. They are an inspiration to all of us.

PrayerLord Jesus, I need your help to live for you every day, and to do what I can to make life good for others. Help me please. Amen.

Big Barns

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 24th November 2022

Passage: Luke 12:16-18

For some years, when she was no longer able to look after herself, my granny lived with one of her daughters, my step-aunt. Where they lived was in a gamekeeper's house near Dunrobin Castle and the place was called 'Big Barns'. I have no idea why it had that name — there were no barns there.

Jesus told a parable about a farmer who had such a bumper harvest that the barn he had couldn't hold it. So he decided that he would pull down the small barn and build a bigger one — big enough for the bumper harvest and all his other goods as well. And then he said to himself, "Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life." But God said to him, "Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods - who gets it?"

At the end of his parable, Jesus said, "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God." (v19-21, The Message)

Jesus told this parable to warn us against being greedy for the things of this world while ignoring the claims God has on our lives. We can grab a lot of things but miss out on the most important thing we need — to know and follow Jesus Christ.

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to get my priorities right and be happy with the life of following you. Amen.

Clap Your Hands Everyone!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 23rd November 2022

Passage: Psalm 47:1

Just imagine if we really did what these words ask and we all clapped and shouted with joy in church when we sang this psalm! Some people would be horrified!

When the psalm was written the people were celebrating a great victory. They were happy and they showed it. But the psalm was also looking forward to the time when our Lord Jesus ascended to heaven having finished his work of salvation on the cross. But an even greater event will come when Jesus, the Great King over all the earth (verse 7), will come again and judge the world in his righteousness and glory. This is a happy psalm and it looks out over all the earth which will be the kingdom of Christ in all its splendour.

This psalm is a reminder to us that, as Christians, we have much to sing about and clap happily about. As Christians, we are on the victory side. Evil will not triumph over Christ nor will the devil triumph over us if we stay close to Jesus and live in his way.

Too often we may give the impression that our religion is in some way sad, but this psalm shows us its victorious, happy side and calls on people everywhere to praise our glorious God and Saviour.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to shout and sing the glory of your name. Amen.

When We Pray

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 22nd November 2022

Passage: Matthew 6:9

I think prayer is one of the easiest things to speak or read about but one of the most difficult things to do faithfully and consistently. Do you find prayer difficult? Then if you do, you are in the company of Christians in every age who struggled with prayer and also who struggled in prayer.

Prayer is actually a really precious gift which God has given to us. It is our opportunity to speak to God so I would encourage you to do this regularly. To help us to remember what prayer is here, is an easy way of remembering that.

P is for praise. In prayer we are coming to speak to God, the Almighty who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and who is gloriously holy and wonderfully gracious. This is the God to whom we pray.

R is for repentance. When we come to pray we have to recognise how unlike God we really are — he is holy, we have sinned. So we need to repent of our sins and turn away from them.

A is for ask. There are 3 main things we can ask God for (but you will think of many more). As for pardon for your sin and help to overcome it. As for God's blessing and help on all the people you love and care for, especially those who are ill or sad. Ask for friends not yet Christians to be converted

Y is for yield. A W Tozer says: "To pray effectively we must want what God wants — that and that only is to pray in the will of God." We yield to the will of God so that his will, not ours, will be done.

Who'll Wash The Dishes?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 21st November 2022

Passage: Luke 10:40

There are often arguments in a home over who will set the table, or wash the dishes... Often the excuse is made "I'm busy" - but does that excuse not giving help when a busy mum needs it? It's easy to be selfish.

Martha, in the verse above, obviously thought her sister Mary was being selfish and she even brought Jesus into her criticism as if she was accusing Jesus of encouraging selfishness. But Jesus had a different 'take' on the situation. Food was important, but "man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3) Jesus knew he was not to be present in their community for long. His days on earth were limited and his teaching was "from the mouth of God." Mary had her priorities right.

We too can easily get our priorities wrong. Our lives may be busy with many things — things that may be good and that we might think necessary. But they should never come between us and the Lord; they should never make us so busy that we have no time for prayer, or our Bible reading and study. We may very well have to think how we can re-arrange our timetables in order to give Jesus and his word their proper place in our lives.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to put first things first and you first of all. Amen.

When It's Not Always Sweetness And Light

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 20th November 2022

Passage: Acts 15:39

One of our ministers used to have a saying, "The best of men are mere men at best." That is true of Christian men too! It's hard to think of two better men, better Christian men, than Barnabas and Paul, yet here we read that they had 'a sharp disagreement' - no doubt tempers flared. Why were they fighting? It was about a young man named John Mark. Mark had gone with Paul and Barnabas, who was probably his uncle, to help them on part of their first missionary journey, but he turned back and went home. Did he think it was all too dangerous? Or was he homesick? So Paul didn't want to take Mark with them the next time, and Barnabas did. So the disagreement ended up with Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus, and Paul took a man called Silas on another visit to the churches that had been planted on his first visit. Happily all came right in the end as Paul came to value Mark's work and he spoke well of Barnabas too and the Gospel continued to spread.

Christians still fall out at times and it is never a good thing — indeed it can make us look really bad in the eyes of the world when they might say, "These are the people who are supposed to love one another." It is a bad witness and should make us ashamed unless the disagreement is really over a vital matter of Christian truth. Jesus does want us to stand up for the truth but always in a gracious way.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be a person of peace, but always true to your word. Amen.

Marriage As God Would Have It

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 19th November 2022

Passage: Genesis 2:24

Sometimes you feel as if the order of things has been turned upside down. The way 'things used to be' has changed in so many ways. One of these ways is how people think about marriage and the family. The Bible treats marriage between a man and woman as of the utmost importance. Jesus said: "(The Scriptures) record that from the beginning God made them male and female." And he said, "This explains why a man will leave his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." (Matthew 19:4-5, NLT) While in our increasingly secular and godless society people may reduce the value of marriage even as some were doing in the days Jesus lived on earth, Jesus himself and the rest of the New Testament show just what a strong and loving thing a good marriage is. The apostle Paul even used marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church — a relationship of love, purity, caring and faithfulness. That is what a good marriage should be like. After quoting the verse at the top of the page, Paul says in Ephesians 5:33 "So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Christian marriage is especially important today as it was in Paul's day, in order to show the non-Christian world the wonderful difference Jesus makes to a Christian home. The world needs to see that.

PrayerDear Lord, we thank you for marriage and for Christian homes. Make them examples of godliness, love and purity. Amen.

This Is Why John Wrote His Gospel

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th November 2022

Passage: John 20:30-31

The author of Ecclesiastes says: "Of making many books there is no end." (Ecclesiastes 12:12) Perhaps I feel the truth of that when looking along my bookshelves and see several biographies of the same person, several books on the same subject — and ask myself, "Are they all really necessary?" and then here I am writing another one!

The Apostle John had a very clear purpose in writing his book that we know as the Gospel of John. He had selected several particular signs (miracles) which showed clearly the purpose he had in writing the Gospel. He tells us he had many other signs he could have chosen to use, but these, he says, show just what he wanted them to show: "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." That is the most important reason anyone could have for writing a book and, of course, John was helped in his writing by the Holy Spirit, so that all he has written is in very truth the word of God.

Now that raises the question "What do we do with this word that John tells us is so important?" We can't honestly just treat the Bible as a book of interesting stories or as good literature. That's not why John wrote. He wrote so that you and I might believe in Jesus the Son of God and have life in his name.

PrayerGracious Lord, help me to believe in Jesus, the great giver of life. Amen.

A Life-Changing Question

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th November 2022

Passage: Genesis 24:58

I am sure that one of the most important questions any man can ask is when he says to a woman "Will you marry me?" And he feels really relieved when she says "Yes. I will!"

The story we read in Genesis chapter 24 didn't quite follow that same practice. Abraham sent his servant to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac. And when, in answer to his prayers, the servant found a suitable girl, her family gathered to discuss this proposal. No doubt the girl Rebekah was listening in. Eventually she herself was asked if she would go with Abraham's servant to become Isaac's wife — although she had never seen Isaac in her life. "Will you go?" she was asked. "Yes, I will go," she replied. When they met up, Isaac and Rebekah became happily married.

Just as Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, God sends out his servants into the world to find people to become followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus said to Peter and Andrew "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19) And so God's servants go out and one of the great life-changing questions they ask is: "Are you willing to go with Christ?" For those who say, "Yes, I will go," life will never be the same again, because Jesus changes us from the inside out. A new life!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to say, "Yes, I will go with Jesus." I know you are the only Saviour. Amen.

I Hope So!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 15th November 2022

Passage: Romans 5:13

I'm quite sure we have often said the words "I hope so" when speaking about something we would like to happen — good weather for a BBQ, a happy outcome for an operation and so on. It's easy to say "I hope so", even when we may doubt that the happy outcome will come to pass.

Hope is one of the great 'Christian words'. In the world of the New Testament, it was a very common Greek word, but in its Christian setting it has become one of the very key words in the vocabulary of those who follow Jesus Christ. The first thing to say then is that Christian hope is not wishful thinking. For the Christian hope is "a forward look at a distant goal" (N. Turner) and I will tell you why it is such a great Christian word.

Hope comes to us based on the Gospel — all that Jesus has done for us. It keeps our eyes on the eternal God and his eternal promises. Hope always has its feet planted in the grace, mercy and love of God so that, even in the difficulties of life, we have the assurance that God does not forsake us or leave us to flounder in our own efforts. God is the God of hope. All of this means, as Paul says, we can have joy and peace in believing and can abound in hope — it is God's gift to us, keeping us looking forward at the great goal ahead of us, the hope which is laid up for us in heaven (Colossians 1:5).

PrayerDear Lord, please keep my eyes on you and the hope of eternal life with you. Amen

The Final Battle

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 14th November 2022

Passage: Revelation 19:11

The final pages of the book of Revelation are as dramatic as they are solemn. We are given a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus coming from heaven like a mighty warrior. Jesus is described by words we come across in earlier chapters of the book — he is the only One who is rightly called King of Kings and Lord of Lords (v 16).

There were two great reasons for Jesus Christ coming as he is described here.

The first reason is to oversee the final defeat of Satan and all the evil host that followed him. Every form of sin and opposition to God will be overthrown judged and condemned to everlasting exclusion from the presence of God. Jesus will make no mistakes in his judgements - "If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of life he was thrown into the lake of fire." (i. e. Hell) (Revelation 20:15) That is Christ's final battle.

The second reason for Jesus coming as he is described here is to assure all those who love and follow him that no matter what they have to go through here on earth, they will never be forgotten or overlooked by God. Jesus is the Faithful and True Saviour; he knows each of his many followers and, as he promised he would, he will take every one of them home.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to look forward to the glory that is waiting for all your people. Amen.

The Reluctant Refugee

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 13th November 2022

Passage: Luke 17:32

We live in a time when there are, sadly, many thousands of refugees. People are having to flee for their lives, leaving all their possessions behind them. The world can be a desperately cruel place when wicked men are in control.

Yesterday we read about Abraham pleading with the Lord to save his nephew Lot and his family when the wicked city of Sodom was to be destroyed. In his mercy, the Lord agreed, and in Genesis 19 we read that the angels of God did save Lot, his wife and his daughters. The angels told them to flee for their lives to a place of safety before the terrible destruction of Sodom took place.

But Lot's wife's was obviously reluctant to leave her home and possessions. She still clung to the hope that she could go back or at least save something. She lingered behind the others and we read, "But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:26) Years later, Jesus used this as an example of neglecting to be right with God before his judgement day which will come to all of us. Remember Lot's wife.

This should come as a wake-up call to any of us who may not yet be Christians, who have not yet given their hearts to Jesus and asked for his forgiveness and grace. It is Jesus who warns us: "Remember Lot's wife."

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help us to truly trust you for salvation. Amen

Unexpected Visitors

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th November 2022

Passage: Genesis 18:2

Unexpected visitors can cause panic or joy according to who they are! Panic maybe because the catch you unprepared, joy when it is great friends whom you haven't see for ages.

Abraham may well have been having a rest in the shade of his tent when he became aware of three visitors, one of whom he immediately understood was none other than the Lord himself — one of those rare appearances of the Son of God, Jesus, in the Old Testament. Like the perfect host of those times Abraham saw that food was prepared for his visitors, and water to wash their feet.

This visit of the Lord and two angels had a very serious purpose. God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the wickedness of these cities. Abraham's nephew Lot lived in Sodom. The Lord told Abraham what was going to happen to Sodom and Abraham began to plead with the Lord to save the city, or at least to save Lot and his family and any other good people. The Lord agreed to Abraham's request — an amazing instance of the grace of God and of Abraham's boldness in praying — and the two angels rescued Lot and his family. There were no other people in the city who loved God.

Do you have friends and people you love who are not yet Christians? Pray to God for their conversion.

PrayerDear Lord, I pray that you will save my unconverted friends. Please be merciful to them. Amen.

Going From Bad To Worse

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th November 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 28:5-6

There are many stories throughout history of great men who started off well but ended up in a mess. King Saul, who was Israel's first king, was one of those. For years he was a good leader, a religious man, and he led his nation in the ways of God. But then it all went pear-shaped; he refused to obey God and it all ended in his tragic death. The verses above tell of the last great battle that Saul was to face — a powerful Philistine army which scared the life out of Saul. It was a huge army and when he asked for God's advice and help God did not answer him. Why? Because Saul had become a godless, paranoid man, bent on destroying David who was to succeed him. His life was going from bad to worse.

God's prophet Samuel had died and Saul flailed around looking for someone to help him. In desperation he consulted a 'medium' a sort of witchdoctress who 'called up' Samuel from the dead. But Samuel only pronounced a message of doom for Saul. It was a terrible thing Saul had done. We don't know how these 'mediums' work, but they are of the devil and God has forbidden people to have anything to do with spiritism or 'mediums' - even today. Fortune tellers are much the same and it is better to have nothing to do with them. Saul's grim experience of them is a warning to us all.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to walk humbly with you every day and ask your advice in all that I do. Amen

Another Like Jesus

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 10th November 2022

Passage: John 15:26

You may remember (or not!) on the 29th of last month we thought briefly about the Trinity — the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today let's think specially about the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a real person, although we cannot see him with our eyes. He is equal in power and in glory with both God the Father and Jesus Christ who is God the Son. And the Holy Spirit has a very specific and a very vital work to do on behalf of the Lord Jesus. He is to be 'like Jesus' in the world now that Jesus is in heaven. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth because he is the One who tells us all that Jesus wants us to know. The Spirit opens our hearts to receive God's truth and he then helps us to trust in Jesus for salvation and to live in ways that bring honour to him.

The Holy Spirit came in power at Pentecost (as we can read in Acts chapter 2) and he has been actively building up the church of Jesus Christ ever since that time. He lives in the life of every true Christian — we are like 'temples' of the Holy Spirit — which means we ought to think seriously about how we live, think and speak. It is the Holy Spirit who gives gifts (abilities) to Christians to serve him in different ways. His work is to shape us carefully so that one day we too will be just like Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit. I pray he may make me more and more like Jesus too. Amen.

Hard Questions

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th November 2022

Passage: Psalm 44:23-24

Hard questions! And the startling thing is that these questions are being directed at God. It seems God's people had suffered a big defeat in battle and they felt utterly let down by God. It wasn't as if they had denied God or worshipped idols, or done anything to make God ashamed of them. Yet they were defeated and their enemies not only laughed at them but laughed at God also. It was all too much to understand so the hard questions were directed to God. Why did you not help us?

I'm pretty sure we have all had experiences when questions arise in our minds but we might feel afraid ever to ask such hard questions of God even if, truth be told, we kind of felt like it! Does God really care for me? If he does, then why doesn't he help me now?

The true answer to the writer of the psalm, and to us as well as we ask these difficult questions, comes from one of the most bitter times experienced by God's people in Old Testament times. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22 - 23) No matter how puzzling the questions, God's love for his children never changes and he will never let us go. We are being "kept by the power of God unto salvation." (1 Peter 1:5)

PrayerDear Lord, when there are times I cannot understand what is happening in my life, help me to remember your love for me never changes. Amen.

How To Deal With Church Disputes

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th November 2022

Passage: Acts 15:6

"It's good to talk." We often say this if a matter needs to be discussed. But, sadly, there are times when people don't talk, they walk away from one another and leave the problems unsolved. Christians are no better than non-Christians when it comes to discussing problems. Far too many times, Christians just separate when they should have kept talking, reminding themselves that they are all under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

In the early days of the Church there was a big dispute about the place of both Jews and non-Jews in the Church of Jesus Christ. Different backgrounds, cultures and often nationalities caused tensions. In Acts 15 we read of a serious situation developing and we also see how it was dealt with. "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider the matter." We read there was much debate — no doubt they all had their say. It took time, it took patience, it took Bible Study and I am sure it took much prayer. But they reached consensus after all the talk. It was good to talk and peace prevailed.

Just as this was the right thing for church leaders to do, so it is right for us as individuals to do as well, whether we have a disagreement at home or in the church. Remember we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to be a peace-maker, not a disruptive person. Amen.

The All-Knowing Saviour

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 7th November 2022

Passage: John 4:39

We all need the help of doctors at one time or another. Sometimes after an examination and tests the doctor may have to tell us bad news — the tests may show there is a problem that needs treatment. Or worse, there may be no cure at present for the problem.

One day Jesus met a woman who had a problem — a very severe moral problem. Jesus didn't need to call for any tests or expert help. He knew exactly what was wrong with the woman and she had to admit "He told me all that I ever did." You can read the whole story in John 4:1-43.

In John chapter 2 and verse 25 we read that Jesus "knew people inside out" (The Message) and that was obvious from his conversation with this woman at the well in Sychar. She went to tell everybody about her conversation with Jesus and it was clear that the meeting with Jesus changed her life.

Jesus has not changed, although he is now at God's right hand in heaven. He knows us 'inside out', the good, the bad and the ugly — all the thoughts that live in our hearts and that we would like to hide. But the great thing about Jesus knowing us through and through is that we don't need to pretend with him. We can be completely open and ask him to deal with the problems of our hearts. The Bible calls them sin and there is only one Saviour who can help us, and that is Jesus. With him there is a complete cure for all who come to him for salvation.

PrayerLord Jesus, I thank you that you know me and I pray that you will cleanse me from all my sin. Amen

Two Good Guides

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th November 2022

Passage: Psalm 43:3

When you live in Edinburgh, as I do, you become very aware of the number of tours that are provided for visitors. And tours need guides, so you will see lots of guides, many with flags on top of poles or wearing distinctive clothes as they hurry their followers on to the different spots of interest in the old part of the city. A good tour guide is a great asset.

God has provided us with two good guides in the form of light and truth as the writer of the psalm tells us here. These two go together very well, each helping us to know more of the richness of a godly worldview that our Creator wants us to have. Let's see how they work together for us.

The first thing God did as he created the world was to bring light into the darkness: "Let there be light and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) The light came at the command of God. The Bible tells us that without Jesus Christ we live in the darkness, the darkness of not knowing God and far away from the life of God until "God, who said "let there be light in the darkness" has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT) God's great light!

And now God's truth. "The Lord does not shine upon us, except when we take his word as our light." (John Calvin) The writer of Psalm 119 said: "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." (v105, NLT) In the New Testament we read: "And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus is the truth and the light. Let's follow him.

What's In A Name?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th November 2022

Passage: Ezekiel 48:35

Have you ever wondered how certain towns and villages got their names? Some places have taken the names of the important people who owned the land they were built on, or who captured the place in war. Other places are called after the work that was common there. We used to live in a town called King William's Town, named after the British king at the time of its founding. Place names can be fascinating because they can often tell you quite a bit about the history of the place or region.

When we ask 'what's in a name?' the answer can be, actually, quite a lot. Take for example the name of the city that is mentioned in the last verse of the Prophecy of Ezekiel. In Hebrew it was called Yahweh — Shammah, meaning 'The Lord is there'. This was a glorious city that Ezekiel saw in a vision God had given him. All the measurements of the city were given as well as its precise location. But the most important aspect was the fact that God was to be there - right in the middle of his people, living with them and keeping them safe. There is a similar vision given in the last book of the Bible, Revelation. In both cases, what we are given is a vision of heaven, the heavenly city where God is and where all his people will be gathered in glory one day. Of course a city needs citizens! Heaven is for God's people. This leads me to ask you, "Are you one of God's people through faith in Jesus?"

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be yours through my trust in Jesus for salvation. Amen.

Paradise Lost

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 4th November 2022

Passage: Genesis 3:24

Excluded! School pupils are aware of what happens to any pupils who continue to make trouble in school — they are excluded. This exclusion may be for a week or in the worst of cases it may be permanent. Disobedience always carries a penalty and a loss of the friendship and benefits of school.

Adam and Eve had both disobeyed God and they immediately became aware of what they had done and the consequences it would bring. They tried to hide from God but they found they couldn't. God too knew what they had done and in spite of the fact that God loved them, he hated what they had done and he drove them out of the garden — out of Paradise — and guarded against them going back in . Their exclusion was for keeps.

This is the Bible's way of telling us about sin. Sin is disobedience to the commands of God. God hates sin, and while Genesis 3 tells us about the sin of Adam and Eve, the consequences of their sin have affected all of us. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) We too are excluded from Paradise. But in God's mercy and grace Jesus came to rescue us and bring us back to God, back from our exclusion.

PrayerDear Lord, how I thank you for your saving grace to a sinner like me. Amen

Walking With God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 3rd November 2022

Passage: Genesis 5:24

There is something very appealing about the short story of Enoch. The Bible says that "Enoch walked with God." The word 'walked' means he enjoyed a close relationship with God. Enoch and God were best friends. Best friends enjoy each other's company and always have plenty to talk about.

In the book by the prophet Amos there is an interesting little story about two people going on a journey and Amos says, "Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?" (Amos 3:3 NLT) Well, God and Enoch certainly agreed on the direction Enoch was taking as he walked right into the presence of God; God took him to his home in heaven.

The hymn-writer William Cowper wrote: "Oh for a closer walk with God, a constant heavenly calm. A light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb." That should be the prayer of all of us. Fellowship with God is one of the most precious experiences we could have. But this only comes when we put away actions and thoughts that do not fit into a godly life. Cowper went on to write: "The dearest idol I have known — however much adored — Help me to tear it from your throne, and worship you as Lord."

PrayerDear Lord, Please help me to walk closely with you day by day until you take me home with you. Amen

Whose Agenda Do We Follow?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 2nd November 2022

Passage: 2 Timothy 4:3-4

We may find it hard when other people tell us what they think about us. We might react by saying, "I'm not like that; it's a lie." But it may be true! The truth often hurts.

For that reason people often turn away from what the Bible says about us. We don't like being told that we are sinners — all of us, and that no matter how hard we try we will never be able to save ourselves. We all need help from God to save us.

So when people don't accept that they search around for a' nicer' way to think of ourselves; a way in which we can hear about the good things in us, a way that will tell us what we want to hear. We set the agenda and God will have to fit into that — somewhere.

But when it comes to telling the truth about us about society, about right and wrong, sex and relationships... it is God's agenda that matters. His agenda as given us in the Bible does not change with each generation or with each new idea that society comes up with. God is the God of truth and his truth is unchangeable. Sadly what Paul wrote in the words at the top of this page is true in our day. Don't be fooled, hold to the right teaching found only in the Bible.

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to be faithful to your agenda for my life. Amen.

Speaking To Yourself

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 1st November 2022

Passage: Psalm 42:5

We laugh at someone speaking to themselves. A sure sign of old age or worse we say! Actually it is a good practice — as long as you do it when nobody is around! The writer of this psalm had to take himself in hand when he became depressed. He tells us of a longing for a sense of God's presence, of his broken heart and his loneliness because of his lack of fellowship with God's people. He is really downcast. And then he takes himself in hand. It is a if we said, "I'm so miserable because I can't go to church and worship God there." And then we realise that God is right here beside us. "Why am I so upset?"

We may well have hard times in our Christian lives when we feel down. God seems far away from us. "Troubles have come again and again, sounding like waterfalls." (v7, NCB) "My enemies' insults make me feel as if my bones were broken." Depression, spiritual depression can really make us feel down in the depths.

But then the writer takes himself in hand again "Why am I so sad? The Lord shows his true love every day. I should put my hope in God." He repeats this over and over. He tells himself to sing God's praises and come to God with prayer when he can't sleep. God is never far away. We too should remember that. Let's speak to ourselves when we feel down.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to take all my questions to you and to remember all the wonder of your love for me. Amen

An Overlooked Martyr

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 31st October 2022

Passage: Acts 12:1-2

It is one of the great scandals of our present age to see the terrible persecution of Christians in African countries and others and they are not even mentioned in the news media. It seems to be unimportant. Persecution and suffering have been there from the very start of the Christian church.

The sad story we read in Acts 12:1-2 tells about the suffering inflicted on the early church under King Herod Agrippa. In trying to be a friend of the High Priest and his group Herod harassed the Christians and had James, the brother of John executed. Poor James does not get much of a mention as the scene moves on to what happened to Peter. It is similar to today when the media quickly moves on to another story.

But let's not overlook James' martyrdom. James was one of the first disciples of Jesus, along with his brother and his friends Andrew and Peter. He was probably an outspoken character and may well have drawn attention to himself because of that. We are not told. The fact is, however, that James had become an apostle, one of Jesus' most trusted men, and he paid for it with his life. We honour him and are challenged by his courage.

PrayerDear Lord, help me not to forget the faith and courage of believers like James, but to be ready to follow them. Amen.

No Backward Looks

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 30th October 2022

Passage: Luke 9:62

My father used to plough with horses. I am sure he was proud of the straight furrows that he cut. The one thing that you don't do when you are ploughing is to look back, because it immediately throws you off your straight line, and if you were ploughing in a competition you would be sure to lose!

In Luke 11:57 to the end of the chapter, Jesus was telling about the cost of being his follower. It is not for cowards or for lazy people. A Christian needs to be willing to follow Jesus, even when it is costly in terms of time, comfort and relationships. So if you are a Christian, Jesus expects you to trust and follow him wholeheartedly- 'No backward looks'. (v62) And we remember Jesus is Lord — our Lord and Master.

One of Charles Wesley's great hymns goes like this: ""Take up your cross," the Saviour said, "if you would my disciple be, deny yourself, forsake the world and humbly follow after me." Take up your cross and follow Christ, nor think till death to put it down; for only those who bear the cross may hope to wear the glorious crown."

Yes, there is a cost in being a follower of Jesus. But what a privilege to be a follower of such a Saviour, the One who suffered so much for us — with no backward looks. Let's keep our eyes on him and follow him faithfully.

The Glorious Trinity

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 29th October 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 13:14

If you are at all used to going to church you will be familiar with the above words. They are usually said at the end of the service — the Benediction. Yesterday we looked briefly at the person of the Lord Jesus — he is the perfect human being and at the same time is the eternal Son of God. Today we look briefly at the Trinity, the word we use to describe how God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, is one God — not three gods, but one glorious God living in a perfect harmony of love and fellowship. One God, yet Father, Son and Spirit — each a person with his own special characteristics his own special 'functions', but always in perfect unity and always good.

The Old Testament stressed "The Lord our God is one Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:4) That is, he is unique, not just one among many gods. He alone is God. But even in the Old Testament there is mention of the Spirit of God, and even appearances of the 'angel of the Lord', who may well have been the Son of God (See Exodus 23:23). The New Testament is full of references to God the Father and to the Son who is considered God (see John 1:1) and to the Holy Spirit. There is a mystery surrounding the belief in the Trinity, in the sense that it is nowhere stated as a fact, but in so many places it is assumed as a fact, and gives an explanation for all the wonderful and good activities of God.

PrayerDear Lord, I believe in the one God who exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and who loves me. Amen.

Glimpses Of Glory

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 28th October 2022

Passage: Luke 9:29-30

For most of the time as Jesus went about he looked just an ordinary man. We don't have any description in the Bible as to what Jesus looked like — was he tall? What colour of hair did he have? What colour were his eyes? But then we see this ordinary looking man doing amazing things: healing the sick people, even raising to life dead people stilling a storm on Lake Galilee and feeding 5000 people with a few little loaves and fish. This ordinary man was clearly no ordinary person after all. And then we see why.

Peter tells us "But we saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes. Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory, when he received honour and glory from God the Father. The voice said, "this is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him." We heard that voice from heaven while we were with Jesus on the holy mountain." (2 Peter 1:17-18)

Jesus, as well as being an 'ordinary' man, is also the glorious Son of God. While Jesus lived on earth it was essential that he was in every sense an ordinary man because he took the place of ordinary people as he died on the cross, a perfect and sinless substitute for us sinners. But it was also essential that he was God the eternal Son to be the perfect Mediator between God and man. He is the Lord of glory.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, we worship you as our Saviour and our God. Amen.

Who Is In Control?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 27th October 2022

Passage: Genesis 8:22

There are many predictions about the predicament our planet Earth is facing. Climate change is big news, carbon emissions are being monitored carefully and fossil fuels are becoming very 'uncool'. According to some experts, we are heading for the destruction of the planet. Of course these are issues we must take seriously. Climate change — and there have always been periods of climate change - has really severe consequence for many communities and animals if the level of the oceans rise the temperatures of the oceans rise and so on.

Certainly the Bible urges us to be good stewards, managers of the earth God has given us. And the Bible has also a word to tell us about how and when our world will end. It is a solemn word and well worth thinking about: "But when the Day of God's Judgement does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the judgement of God." (2 Peter 3:12, The Message)

It will happen at God's appointed time. Until then, what God promised to Noah will continue. God is in control.

The reason the world exists is because God willed it and it will fulfil his purposes from beginning to end.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to respect and take care of your good earth. Amen.

An All-Rounder!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 26th October 2022

Passage: Luke 8:39

As I write this the cricket season is in full swing and a whole variety of games go on especially in England. Cricket is a game that sometimes produces a player who is good at bowling, batting and fielding — a most useful player in any team — an 'all-rounder' - and most interesting to watch.

I have often been amazed by another all-rounder -and that is Jesus. The reason I say this is that he was to be found in all sorts of situations with people from different backgrounds and needing his help in a whole lot of ways and he just seemed to cope with it all in a calm and wise way.

The verse at the top of our page is about a demon-possessed man who had been healed by Jesus. Just before that, Jesus had calmed a storm on the Lake of Galilee. The next thing we find Jesus doing was healing a woman who had been ill for twelve years and then he went on to raise a young girl of twelve who had died. In the middle of all that, Jesus had been teaching the people and then had the serious job of appointing his twelve apostles. And as Luke tells us in his Gospel, Jesus did it all quietly and with great compassion. (He even told the young girl's parents to give her something to eat when he raised her from the dead!) Nothing was too hard for Jesus to do, nor was it a bother. Remember that when you need his help.

PrayerDear Lord, what a wonderful Saviour you are. I love you. Amen.

Looking After The Poor And The Weak

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 25th October 2022

Passage: Psalm 41:1

"How a community looks after its poor is, for the Bible, the acid test of its life." (C. N. Sugden)

Poverty, sadly, seems to be a permanent feature of our world. It should not be like that. In nearly every part of the world, even in the wealthiest parts, you will still find many poor people, weak people, orphans and the sick.

The Old Testament is full of directions as to how the poor and the weak were to be looked after, and the New Testament puts a lot of emphasis on this as well. The Bible sees no virtue in poverty as such, but it does tell us that God cares for the poor and he calls blessed those who in his name car for them and help them in their need. It is our Christian duty.

But there are two kinds of poverty highlighted in the Bible. There is the economic poverty we have been noting and there is also a spiritual poverty, when people think they can do without God but then come to realise that without him they are poor wretched and blind — even if they have plenty of money. Jesus has a great message of good news for such people just as for the other kind of poor people: "Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?" (James 2:5)

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you that though you were rich you became poor for my sake and to be my Saviour. Help me always to consider the poor. Amen.

Demons And Evil Spirits

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 24th October 2022

Passage: Mark 3:22

The Bible especially the New Testament, has many references to demons and evil spirits. One of the most disgusting accusations made against Jesus was that he was possessed by Satan (here called Beelzebul). Jesus was the opposite of Satan as he was sinless, holy and good.

Satan, demons and evil spirits are real and they always act in evil ways. The Gospels and the early Epistles mention them a lot because it seems Satan was trying hard to destroy all that Jesus came to do — but he failed. The effects these evil spirits or demons brought about in people were often like severe illnesses, possibly like epilepsy, or some violent reaction to the presence of Jesus. But the Bible always makes a difference between a real illness and the work of a demon.

In modern times demonic activity is just as strong as it was in Bible times. People sometimes even want to be possessed by a spirit for one reason or another — witchdoctors, clairvoyants and people using a ouija board etc.. Christians must avoid such things as they are evil and never 'for fun'. Keep away from them. Christians sometimes worry in case they could become possessed by an evil spirit. The answer to that is 'No'. As a Christian, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and he will keep us safe.

PrayerDear Lord, keep me safe from the devil and all his works. Amen.

Forgetfulness

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 23rd October 2022

Passage: Proverbs 3:1

Some time ago a friend gave us a little book which tells how when we reach a certain age, 'the muddle age', we tend to forget things very easily. So, as we get older, we tend to forget what we were speaking about, or the name of someone we know very well. 'Muddle age' indeed!

There are some things we should never forget. One of these is that God forgets! For those who trust in Jesus God says "I will remember their sins no more," (Hebrews 8:12) and in Isaiah 43:25, he says: "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and I will not remember your sins."

Isn't that wonderful? God forgets! When God forgets our sins, they are gone forever for all who trust in Jesus.

But there is something that we should never forget, and that is to remember the teaching of our Lord. When we grow older there are many things we do forget, but if we start to remember God's teaching, the words of Jesus, when we are young, then we will not forget them when we are older. By starting young to follow our Lord Jesus, his ways will become part and parcel of our lives, part of our nature, and God will keep helping us to live as his child.

There is something very beautiful in seeing an elderly Christian showing the grace and wisdom of many years of following Christ. There is also something very beautiful in seeing a young person learning the ways of Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, help me not to forget your Word or your ways. Amen.

Milk Or Meat?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 22nd October 2022

Passage: Hebrews 5:14

Any teacher gets fed up with pupils who pay little attention to what is being taught. It will be little wonder if pupils sitting staring out of the window all the time will learn little, and may end up being kept behind when the others move on.

The person who wrote the letter to the Hebrews obviously felt like a fed up teacher. Those he had been teaching should have been mature believers by the time he was writing. Instead, they were like children who were still being fed milk when they should have been on solid food — they were immature.

Paul had the same complaint about the church in Corinth: "I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it." (1 Corinthians 3:2) The reason seemed to be the same in both cases. People were arguing about unimportant things and neglecting to study the Bible and the deeper things of the Christian faith. "And a person who is living on milk isn't very far along in the Christian life and doesn't know much about doing what is right." (Verse 13 NLT)

I think a lot of us are like that. We are lazy and inattentive about spiritual things; we may neglect our Bible readings, our prayer times and our reading of books that will help us to deepen our understanding of God's truth. When this happens we don't just fail to grow in our Christian life, but we are in danger of slipping back into unfaithfulness.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to mature in my Christian life through your Word. Amen.

The Church

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 21st October 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:2

"Are you going to church?" That's the kind of question we might ask of a Christian friend as we walk towards the church on a Sunday. But what do we mean when we say 'the church'? A building? A gathering of Christians? A denomination? We use the word in a variety of ways.

In the early days of Christianity, there were no church buildings. Buildings came along much later, and can be a great blessing, but sometimes a great burden.

But what do we mean by 'the church'? The most important thing about the Bible's word for church is something we probably don't really think of at all when we ask a question like, "Are you going to church?" The first reason why we go to church is because God calls us together and he calls us together to hear his word. When we go to church, it is like answering a summons from God. That gives us a very important reason for 'going to church' - God is calling us.

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth he wrote in such a way that reminded them they were but a part of a much bigger community — wherever Christians come together to hear God's word, they are the church. We are members of a worldwide family.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to value the church family of which I am a part. Amen.

We Will Feast In The House Of Zion

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 20th October 2022

Passage: Revelation 19:9

One of the favourite hymns we sing in church is the song by Sandra McCracken: "We will feast in the house of Zion, we will sing with our hearts restored...' The hymn goes on to tell of God's grace in salvation and the hope the believer has of being at the 'great marriage supper of the Lamb' in heaven.

The Bible tells us in different places about this great feast that will be held in the glory of heaven. Jesus tells us that "people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at the table in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 13:29)

Now there are two lessons here for us. One is this: God's kingdom will have believers from all over the world. There is no racism as far as the Christian gospel is concerned. That means that the believers from other nations are our brothers and sisters in Christ, so we should care for them, love them and look forward to meeting up with them in glory. We will feast together in the 'house of Zion'.

Secondly, Jesus tells us in Luke 13 that there will be those who will not be at the feast — the door will be shut to keep them out. Only those who are invited will be welcome and admitted. Why will they be invited? Simply because they have trusted and followed Jesus and had their hearts restored.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to trust and follow you always, Amen.

So Shall My Word Be

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 19th October 2022

Passage: Isaiah 55:10-11

As I am writing this it is a very showery day — now snow but rain lots of it! As I came into my study — getting wet in the process for the study is in a shed in the garden — I was reminded of these lovely words in Isaiah 55. Indeed the whole of this chapter is so encouraging it is a real Gospel chapter and well worth your time reading it.

Through the prophet, God is telling us about the 'fruitfulness' of his word - which we have today in the Bible. Just as the snow and rain meant the ground would be read for seed and plants to flourish, so God says his word shall not return to him empty but it will accomplish all that he wants it to do.

One of the great Christian activities over very many years has been the work of the Bible Societies helping people all over the world to get Bibles in their own languages at reasonable prices. God's word has gone out to the ends of the earth. And, of course, it is accomplishing great things.

It is also a great encouragement for preachers of the Gospel to know that when they faithfully proclaim God's word, that word will accomplish what God wants it to do. God wants his word to accomplish great things in your heart and mind too. It can make a terrific difference to us when we take it seriously.

PrayerDear Lord, thank you for the Bible. Help me to read, study and live its message. Amen.

Uninvited Guests

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th October 2022

Passage: Jude 4

They were not invited, they are noisy, messy and hang around all day and night. No, I'm not referring to new neighbours or party-goers, but seagulls who have taken up residence on our chimney pots!

I don't know if Jude was bothered with seagulls but he was certainly warning about the danger of travelling uninvited preachers. There were many such men in the early days of the Christian church and they claimed to have special powers, healing powers, revelations directly from God. But James said they were "Shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license — which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and only Master." (The Message) People like them are still around. There are still preachers, maybe in churches or maybe on television who claim special healing powers or 'charismatic gifts', but who do not teach the whole Gospel of the saving grace and purity of God. Don't invite them in! Wrong teaching always leads to wrong living.

Too often Christians are tempted to take a lead from worldly people and end up living in a non-Christian way themselves, denying the way of 'Jesus Christ our one and only Master.'

Let's heed the warning Jude gave to the people of his day. Beware these 'guests' who turn out to be 'shameless scoundrels'.

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to avoid inviting into my heart the devil and his ways. Amen.

Face To Face With The Almighty

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th October 2022

Passage: Job 40:1-5

You can't help feeling sorr for Job. He had been through so much and now we find him having to stand up and face God. We read that God spoke to Job out of a violent storm — it is a symbol of all that Job had been going through. He had been tossed to and fro by his physical problems and the criticisms of his friends. He was at a loss to understand what was happening to him and why. And then God spoke to him. The final chapters of the book of Job are truly wonderful chapters. They did not give Job answers to all his questions in a way. What God did was to show Job who he the Almighty really was like. God was far and away greater and more wonderful than Job had ever imagined. God was far and away wiser than Job had ever imagined and, as Job found out in the end, God was far more loving and generous that he had ever imagined.

When faced with all of that, no wonder Job was "ready to shut up and listen."

Well how about us? God hasn't changed. Today we can say that God has shown us even more of himself and his grace, mercy and love than he showed to Job because Jesus came into the world — God's only and well-loved Son — to be our Saviour. Are we tempted at times to grumble about God and his ways with us? Should we not 'shut up and listen to him' the Almighty. He cares for us.

PrayerO Lord, help me to realise just how wonderful you are. Amen.

Living For Christ In A Hard World

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 16th October 2022

Passage: 1 Timothy 2:8-9

When we plant new churches today, problems can crop u for different reasons. Many of the people who attend a church plant are new to any kind of church, some may be from churches where they did things differently.... In a way, Paul faced the same problem. Many of the people in the new churches (like Ephesus, where Timothy was at the time) came from Jewish backgrounds and some from pagan backgrounds. So at times they would argue about things (the men especially in this case) and some of the women seemed more anxious to catch the eye of the men. Timothy needed advice!

Paul wanted each congregation to be a real family in Christ, loving one another eager to learn more about God and his word, and to be different from the pagan culture that surrounded them and which was often giving in to all sorts of sexual temptations. It was hard to be a Christian in those days. It was especially hard for women who were for the most part less well educated than men and needed to learn more about the Scriptures and the faith so that they would not be taken in by the false teachers going around. Much of what Paul writes in these verses was to help both men and women to become strong Christians, as he mentions earlier in his letter: "Pray for rulers and all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God." (1 Timothy 2:2)

The Patience Of God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 15th October 2022

Passage: 1 Timothy 1:16

Just imagine you are in a museum and one of the rooms is full of life-size figures of people from all over the world and in different times. You come to one figure and it is called Paul. What do you think the notice describing him might say? Well, here is what he wrote about himself in verse 16: "Public Sinner Number One — someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy." (The Message)

It seemed that Paul, to begin with, was a' no-hoper' as far as becoming a Christian was concerned, but God was patient with him even though Paul persecuted Christians, and was insolent — he was a thoroughly nasty character. But God was patient with him. All that he had heard about Jesus slowly but surely began to seep into Paul's mind and heart, and the mercy and grace of God brought him to put his trust for salvation in the very Jesus whom he had been fighting against. God had been patient with him. When Paul thought of it all it was almost a if he gave a leap of joy and sang out "Deep honour and bright glory to the King of all time — One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always. Oh yes!" (verse 17, The Message)

Perhaps you pray for someone who seems far away from trusting in Jesus. Don't give up praying. Be patient. God is patient — he was with Paul and maybe he was with us too. Keep on praying, God hears us!

PrayerDear Lord, Thank you for your patience with me. Help me to have the same. Amen.

The Wrong Kind Of Criticism

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 14th October 2022

Passage: Luke 6:9

Some people are constantly criticising others. Sadly, this can be particularly true within church circles. People can 'nitpick' and be critical often over very unimportant things — perhaps just because a person is doing things differently. There are arguments over different translations of the Bible, taking out the pews in a church, the colour of paint for the building, the hymns we sing or new versions of the Psalms. Church people can get steamed up about lots of things! Religious people in Jesus' time were just the same and they hounded Jesus from place to place because he would not give in to their prejudices or to their false ideas of what God was like or what God's word really said.

The result of all this was that these critical people missed the blessedness of Jesus' company and the real fellowship of the apostles. Their criticism became so bad that in the end they had Jesus crucified. And of course their criticism destroyed themselves as well. Jesus at one stage called them "children of their father the devil." (John 8:44)

Now we can point out the nastiness of these enemies of Jesus but what about our own hearts? Is there a spirit of bitterness or criticism in us that is really the opposite of what Jesus wants to see in us — he wants to see true grace and love and understanding.

In The Spotlight

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 13th October 2022

Passage: Psalm 40:9

Each week in our congregation we have a 'Spotlight', a short opportunity to highlight some activity or person that will be of special interest to folk and also be an opportunity to pray for that person or activity.

Two days ago we read how David experienced the great relief of being saved from a fearful pit and a miry bog and had his feet set on the firm rock of God's salvation. Well now he wants everyone to know about this — he is given the 'Spotlight' as it were — and he says, "I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation... I have not hidden your deliverance in my heart... I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness..." He wanted everyone in the church to know what God had done for him in saving him.

When was the last time you told someone of what God has done for you? When we are Christians, one of the privileges we have is to tell people just what God has done for us in saving us. The hymn writer Samuel Medley who lived in the 18th century wrote a lovely song about telling others of what God had done for him: "Assist me here, my God and King, Your everlasting love to sing, and gladly spread your praise abroad as one, through grace, who's born of God."

Telling the glad news of deliverance! Ask God to help you to tell someone of what he has done for you. It will be a blessing to you and to the other person!

Peter — A Busy Apostle

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th October 2022

Passage: Acts 9:32

One of the funny remarks that people sometimes make about ministers is that they only work one day a week! Ministers can often be extremely busy people. The verses 32 - 43 in Acts chapter 9 show us a little glimpse into the life of the Apostle Peter — and it shows he was a very busy man. Let's remember that as well as the things we read about him doing, he had to walk everywhere - and that took time.

The first thing we read about in these verses is that Peter came to visit the saints (the Christians) at Lydda. Lydda was a mostly Jewish town in an area where there was a mixed population, so the saints at Lydda were most probably Jewish Christians, although two of the people we meet had Greek names.

Peter healed a paralysed man called Aeneas. But look what he said to Aeneas - "Jesus Christ heals you". Peter was acting as Jesus' agent, not claiming any power for himself. Then Peter was called to go to Joppa eleven miles away to restore to life a well-loved Christian lady called Dorcas or Tabitha who had been such a help to many. When he came to her home, Peter knelt down and prayed — no doubt asking for help from Jesus. Dorcas was restored to life and what joy that must have brought to the Christians!

Last of all, we read that Peter went to stay with a man called Simon who was a leather-worker. This made him 'unclean' in Jewish eyes, but to Peter he was a Christian brother.

Standing On Solid Ground

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th October 2022

Passage: Psalm 40:2

Near where my mother grew up there is a small river. The river never seemed to be in a hurry as the water just flowed slowly and quietly towards a loch at the end of a valley. As children we were always warned to keep away from the river not just because it was deep but because along the banks of the river were wide stretches of reeds — the ground looked solid but it was actually very unstable and unsafe — like a miry, miry bog that David who wrote the psalm speaks of.

The first five verses of this psalm (40) are beautiful — they are a personal testimony to what the Lord had don for David and it is a testimony that can be shared by everyone who is a Christian. The feeling of lostness and insecurity that we can experience in our spiritual wilderness is turned to joy and thankfulness — like standing on solid rock after being in the bog — when we come to know the saving goodness of Jesus Christ.

And notice how David goes on to tell what a great difference the Lord has made to his life — he is singing, singing praise to God, and the change that God has made in his life is obvious — people can see it. As a result, others too are brought to put their trust in the Lord. David just can't get over the wonderful difference God has made in his life — it's a life of miracles and he tells us just what a blessing it is to trust in the Lord.

Do you have that faith in Jesus that thrills your life and makes you sing? Ask God to take your life and set it on the solid rock of his salvation.

Born Again

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 10th October 2022

Passage: 1 Peter 1:3

Very often people imagine that they can please God by living a good life with plenty of good works and having a very charitable spirit. Certainly there is very much to be said for living a good life and doing good works. However, no matter how much we try to be good, we are never good enough to please God. Is God being too hard and censorious with us? By no means. God cares about us too much to think like that.

What God is telling us is that in every one of us there is a fatal flaw. We call it original sin. It is in every person and it means that, even in our finest efforts, we miss the mark of God's standards; we fall short of pleasing him and that original sin, and all our other sins, will prevent us from entering God's perfect and holy heaven.

The fact is that the only way to be right with God and have our sin dealt with is to be b. That is something we cannot do . Only God can do it for us. But you ask how can I be born again if God does it all? Well it all comes to us through our Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done through his death and resurrection.

First of all we must realise we need to be born again. Then we must want to be born again and we must ask God that he would graciously give us that new birth. Finally, we must trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, repent of our sin and follow Christ in obedience. All of this comes about by the Holy Spirit working in our heart making us willing and able to receive all these things.

Treasures In Heaven

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th October 2022

Passage: Matthew 6:19-20

Today we had to go to the bank. The staff were very helpful and our business did not take very long. I was wondering how the staff might feel if they were advising people about money — maybe telling them about savings or investments. People become very possessive about their money! On another occasion, I saw that there were big chains attached to the cash machines — people do break into banks and try to steal even these very heavy cash machines.

Of course there were no cash machines when Jesus was on earth, but he knew that people could be very attached to their money in his day just as people are now. So Jesus warns us about this. The really important 'treasures' are not those you can keep in a bank, but treasures of wisdom and knowledge which we find in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:3). These treasures contain within them the 'pearl of great price' (Matthew 13:46), which is finding Jesus as our Saviour and the 'real gold and silver' of the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18 - 19).

When the Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his life, he was able to say (using 'banking' language) "I am convinced that he (Jesus) is able to guard what I have entrusted (my deposit) to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV). By 'that day', Paul means the last judgement.

PrayerDear Lord, I pray that I will always treasure you in my heart and know, with Paul, you will keep me always. Amen.

Words

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th October 2022

Passage: Genesis 1:3

I have been reading the book The Secret Life of Words by Henry Hitchings. It is a fascinating study of how English became English and it is fun to read. I suppose we don't normally give much thought to the words we speak or how many words we use in any given day. But how wonderful it is that we do have words with which to communicate with one another, whether by speaking or writing. Words are wonderful.

And we read that God also used words to communicate with us. Throughout the long history of the Bible's story, God has been communicating with people in order that they might know him and how to react to the words he has given them.

We too must give heed to the Bible's message — it is God's word to us today and it is a word that not only gives us information but it is a word that challenges us to do what God wants us to do.

In the Old Testament when we read that God 'said' something, it always means that God also 'did' something. For example, God said "let there be light" and there was light (Genesis 1:3). Now, when God speaks to us in the Bible, he expects us to act on what he says. One of the greatest messages in the Bible which God gives us is about Jesus. God said: "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Matthew 17:5) And when we listen to Jesus he says to us: "Follow me." (Mathew 4:19) Let's act upon that!

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to obey your words and follow you. Amen.

A Timely Reminder

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 7th October 2022

Passage: Psalm 39:4

When we are young and just starting out on the adventure of life we don't give much thought to the end of life. Recently there was quite a bit of publicity given to a poor man who was suffering from motor neurone disease and he wanted to end his life at the time he chose. You do have great sympathy for him and for his wife, although we know that only God has the right to choose the time of our death. But this terrible illness caused them to think seriously about the fact that his life was fleeing away.

Of course we don't know when our last day will be and it is not right for us when we are young to have morbid thoughts of death. Yet it is right that we should think about how we are living. Have we turned our life over to God and asked him to be our Saviour and our Guide?

You see, when Jesus Christ is our Saviour, he promises to be with us all the time. He gives us the Holy Spirit to live in our heart and to show us the ways that are pleasing to God and that will lead us day by day until our 'brief time on earth' will come to an end. When that day comes we will be prepared and will enter a fuller life that will never end in the presence and company of our God and Saviour.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to think seriously about the life you have given me and help me to trust you to lead me in your good ways. Amen.

Unbelief And Its Consequences

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th October 2022

Passage: Matthew 13:57-58

Upset with Jesus! No doubt most of us would just love to have heard Jesus speaking and teaching and to have seen the miracles that he worked. We would not have become 'upset with Jesus', would we? I wonder. These people who heard Jesus in Nazareth long long ago knew him well; they knew his brothers and sisters and they had known his father. Why were they now upset with him? I think some were jealous - "Who does he think he is?" Some were angry because he had said things which probably pricked their consciences. Some people just closed their minds to what he was teaching — they had no faith. They just refused to believe anything he said.

The consequence of this was that Jesus did not do many miracles there in his home town. What blessings they missed! What good they missed because of their unbelief!

And it is exactly the same today. If we shut our minds to what Jesus is saying to us in the Bible, if we refuse to obey him and just go our own way, we too will miss a great blessing and much good and be left to answer for our unbelief. One day Jesus will ask us : "Why did you not believe me when I could have been so good for you and given you the gift of my salvation?"

Think seriously about that.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to realise that unbelief has serious consequences. Amen.

Wasn't That A Happy Coincidence?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th October 2022

Passage: Acts 8:26

Life is full of strange coincidences — or is it? The interesting story of Philip and the Ethiopian official is case in point. Philip must have wondered why ever he was being told to go to that particular place - "This is a desert place" (verse 26).

But Philip obviously obeyed this prompting by the Spirit (the angel of God) and found himself walking this lonely road (it was a road seldom used at that time). However, Philip found he was not the only traveller on the road. And it so happened that the other traveller was reading the Bible as he went in his chariot and was finding it difficult to understand what he was reading. Now wasn't that a happy coincidence that Philip caught up with him as he puzzled about the words in his Bible? Philip explained it all to him and by the end of the conversation the man became a Christian. A coincidence? No indeed; this was all by God's appointment.

Philip was a man who was ready to be used by God and so God was ready to use Philip. If we are willing to be used by God, we may find God will lead us to someone who needs spiritual help or who is lonely or in trouble — and we 'just happen' to turn up at the right time. Not really a coincidence, but a willingness to be used by God wherever he needs us. So we may be a blessing to others. Philip went on to other places where God used him again in many ways. (You can read the whole story in Acts 8:26 - 40). Let's ask God to make us ready and willing to hear his voice and to go where he leads us.

He Will Hold Me Fast

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 4th October 2022

Passage: Deuteronomy 33:27

One of the hymns we sing in church is a good commentary on that verse. The first verse goes like this:

"When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path; For my love is often cold; He will hold me fast."

It is a great encouragement for us as Christians to know the truth in these words because there are times when life can be difficult and we do honestly wonder how we can keep going, keeping trusting that God will help us cope with things.

Verse 2 of the hymn helps to explain the text even more:

"Those he saves are his delight, Christ will hold me fast: Precious in his holy sight, He will hold me fast; He'll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last, Bought by him at such a cost. He will hold me fast." (Ada Habershon)

Someone has written: "Security is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God, no matter what the danger." The everlasting arms of God under us will indeed hold us fast.

PrayerDear Lord, how good it is to know you are our secure refuge for always. Amen.

Cooking The Books

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 3rd October 2022

Passage: Luke 16:10

There's a lot of dishonest people around — from multimillionaires to small-time crooks who survive on their wits. In Luke 16 Jesus told a parable about a man who entrusted his whole business to a man who turned out to be a crook. When he was found out, the manager 'cooked the books' in order to make things look better and so that when he was out of a job he would get help from the people whose debts he had cancelled.

Jesus often pointed out the dangers that money can cause, especially when people put money before God. We read that the Pharisees loved money — it would have been better if they had loved God instead. So Jesus told this fact of life: if you are a crook in small things, you' ll be a crook in big things - and no one will trust you. But if you are honest in small things, then you will be trusted with big things.

This is especially true when it comes to serving God and telling people about the true riches of the Gospel. Sometimes people don't tell the whole truth of God's Word — they don't like to tell people about sin and the consequences of sin — God's eternal judgement. There are times when telling the truth about these things can cause offence but God wants us to be faithful to him and his Word. Let's not be crooks!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be faithful to you and to tell people about the truth of the Gospel even if people take offence. Amen.

I'm Sorry!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 2nd October 2022

Passage: Psalm 38:18

"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you all right?" How often we may have said something like that if we bumped into someone, or made them spill their coffee. However we soon move on and forget all about the incident. That word 'sorry' didn't trouble us much. Psalm 38 is all about being sorry and David who wrote the psalm took it very seriously indeed. The psalm is really a conversation between David and God in which David opens his heart to God. He tells God all about the things he had done wrong and the fact that he was genuinely sorry for all the times he had done things God calls sin and iniquity. David felt guilty before God because he knew God was pure and holy and hated anything that was wrong and sinful. God takes sin very seriously indeed.

But David was not the only sinner. You are one and I am one too. Indeed the Bible tells us that we have all sinned and we "fall short of the glory (standards) of God" (Romans 3:23). We need to be truly sorry for our sin because even the littlest of sins is hateful to God and should make us ashamed.

So what are we to do? Well, David gives us an answer in the last verse of the psalm when he calls God his salvation. Yes, we sin against God and only God can forgive us. He does this when we go to him, confess our sin and ask him to forgive us — not because we deserve to be forgiven but because he is a God of mercy and grace.

PrayerDear Lord, in your mercy pardon my sin, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Sincerity

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 1st October 2022

Passage: 2 Peter 3:1

Just imagine you are in a rather dingy shop and you like a sweater that you see on a model. It looks good but you as if you can take it to the doorway to see how it looks in the daylight. It looks quite different when you see it clearly.

Or again imagine you are going to bake a cake but the flour has some lumps in it. So you must sieve it until it is all white and smooth again. This is the real meaning of the word 'sincere' which Peter uses. It can be translated as 'pure'. It is not a common word in the Greek language which Peter spoke here but the Apostle Paul also liked this word.

What does this word mean for us as Christians? That is a really challenging question because it has to do with our mind, the thoughts we think, the words we speak, the very people we claim to be as followers of Jesus.

Think again of taking the sweater to the sunlight. Will your mind and thoughts stand the searching light of God and his Word?

Think again of the sieve sifting out the impurities. Will your mind stand that test or is it full of thoughts that shouldn't be there at all?

The sincerity the Bible speaks of is part and parcel of our Christian way of life. Peter said "I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder..."

PrayerDear Lord, help me to remember to keep my mind clean and pure. Amen.

Devilish Deceptions

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 30th September 2022

Passage: Revelation 12:9

Satan or the devil is often treated as an almost comical character — someone who really doesn't exist. The devil is quite happy with that — it is one of his 'devilish deceptions'. He is cunning and he is exceedingly cruel.

One of the wise old Puritan writers called Thomas Brooks wrote this about Satan: "Satan promises the best but pays the worst: he promises honour and pays with disgrace; he promises pleasure and pays with pain; he promises profit and pays with loss; he promises life and pays with death."

The book of Revelation shows us how Satan tries his hardest to attack Christ and to attack the church of Christ. Satan really goes to war against Christians trying to destroy them and he does this in many ways. One of the most obvious ways is to use the wholesale persecution of the church in countries like China and Iran. But he also uses more subtle ways to destroy a person's faith as for example tempting Christians to watch porn, to try drink or drugs, to engage in immoral relationships. Satan is also a master of dropping doubts in people's minds about the Bible and its teaching. He is a master — deceiver.

But the book of Revelation shows us emphatically that Satan is a loser and his utter destruction is coming. Christ and he alone is the truth — there is no deception with Jesus. Trust him.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to reject Satan's efforts to undermine my faith in you. Amen.

My Good Servant

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 29th September 2022

Passage: Isaiah 53:11

As I am writing this, it is pouring rain and the forecast says we will have heavier rain tomorrow — not much sign of the sun! But of course we know sunshine will return and the gardens will blossom abundantly because of the rain.

Isaiah chapter 53 is in many ways like a dull rainy day but because of all that it tells us the sunshine of God's salvation comes shining through in the most amazing colours. And all of this comes to pass because of what the Lord Jesus Christ God's 'good (righteous) servant' has done.

This chapter of the Bible shows us in vivid and sad detail all that our Lord Jesus suffered and endured as he went to his death on the cross. It is the saddest chapter in the Bible for we realise that all the suffering of Jesus was not for any wrong thing he had done but to pay the debt for all the wrong things we had done — all the reasons that made us not right with God. But we read "My good servant (Jesus) will make many people right with God". That is what Jesus has done.

It is for that reason what we can sing: "Bearing shame and scoffing rude In my place condemned he stood; Sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! What a Saviour!" (P. Bliss)

PrayerThank God for "His good servant" - Jesus!

The Unbelievers

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 28th September 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:4

To be an unbeliever is to be in a very 'dark' place as far as the Bible is concerned: "All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want..." (v4 The Message)

Of course people who do not believe what the Bible says think that they have been 'enlightened' in the sense that they think science and all our advances in knowledge have left the Bible behind — it is 'old hat'. But it's not new to say things like that. Some 1600 years ago Augustine in North Africa said "No man says, 'there is no God', but the person whose interest it is there should be none. People prefer the "fashionable god of darkness rather than "The dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get." (The Message),

Science with all its advances simply "traces the lines that flow from God" (Albert Einstein). There need be no conflict between science rightly so-called and the Christian's faith in Almighty God. 'Science' is often an excuse for those who wish there was no God. But there IS a God and he makes himself known to us supremely in Jesus Christ "Who is the exact image of God" (NLT). To follow him is the true wisdom and life eternal.

The Poison Of Unbelief

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 27th September 2022

Passage: Acts 14:2

Many a person has been imprisoned (or executed) for poisoning someone they planned to murder. It is a terrible crime deliberately to poison someone to death. It is also a terrible thing to poison people's minds. There are fanatical people who try to brainwash the young into believing extreme ideologies or political views or even wrong religious theories.

When Paul and Barnabas arrived at the city of Iconium which was 80 miles from their last port of call they began to preach the Gospel. At first things went well and many believed. But as so often happened unbelieving Jewish people became angry with Paul and Barnabas and the message they preached. In their anger they twisted the truth that the brothers had been preaching and "poisoned the minds of the people against the Gospel message".

In our own day there are certain writers who deliberately set out to contradict the teaching of the Bible and to undermine and destroy the faith of people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a 'criminal' thing to do. The poison of unbelief can be very strong, even deadly, if it turns people away from Christ. But God has a day when such poisoners will have to answer to him personally for what they have done. But God also has the word of his grace to help those whose belief is challenged to keep on believing in Jesus. His truth will triumph.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I pray that you will help me to keep believing in your Word. Amen.

Seed

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 26th September 2022

Passage: Mark 4:24

For about two years I had a packet of flower seeds in my shed and I wondered if I should sow them in pots or in the open ground. I wondered — and did nothing — until eventually I had to put them in the bin!

The farmer in Jesus' story was not like that. He sowed his seed and of course he got a crop. Jesus' stories are full of references to seeds and some of the other Bible writers mention them too in different ways. Jesus tells us that the seed that is sown is the Word of God, the Gospel (Luke 8:11). He also says that God's kingdom may sometimes seem as small as a little mustard seed, but it is growing and will grow far greater than anyone might imagine (Matthew 13:31). Nothing will stop the progress of God's kingdom. Jesus goes on to say that the people of the kingdom of God are 'good seed' or 'precious seed'. Christians are the harvest that God reaps!

Paul mentions that the work of the Gospel is like planting seed, and watering it, and then God makes it grow to be a blessing to many (I Corinthians 3:6). Paul saw himself as a farmer who sowed good spiritual seed among the people and so he looked for a good response which would support the servants of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:11).

The apostle Peter says that Christians are born again of the good seed of God's eternal word (1 Peter 1:23). So then good seed is precious and the good seed of the Gospel is most precious of all — it is God's abiding eternal truth. Are you God's good seed?

PrayerDear Lord, may the good seed of our Word grow in my life to produce a harvest of faithful service for you. Amen.

Be Still In The Presence Of The Lord

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 25th September 2022

Passage: Psalm 37:7

Life is a funny mixture. There are days when it's all sunshine and roses, and there are days when it is one frustration after the other. David, the man who wrote Psalm 37, knew all about that.

In this psalm he really speaks to himself as he reflects on the way things are going on around him. He finds it difficult to keep quiet when he really wanted to shout loudly about the apparent unfairness of life. Ungodly people prospered, rich people were callous, and evil seemed to go unchecked. And God tells him to 'calm down.'

"Don't worry about the wicked; don't envy those who do wrong (vs 1); Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! (vs 8) Be still in the presence of the Lord (vs 7)." No, if somebody said that to us in the middle of a time when we were battling against those who despise us for following Jesus or when we are fighting against temptations that are persistent and hard to deal with, perhaps being still is the last thing we want to hear.

Of course we must fight against temptation and must ask God's help and must live an active holy life striving against sin. But God tells us he is in all of life with us and when we submit to him we see that he will deal with all our worries better than we can. The psalm says that God sees that wicked people will be judged one day and he will take care of his own people. "Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you." (Vs 5)

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be still in your presence, knowing that you love me as your child and you will take care of me day by day. Amen.

He Fell Asleep

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 24th September 2022

Passage: Acts 7:59-60

The Christian view of death and dying has been formed by the Lord Jesus himself. Without the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, death would remain an enemy to be feared because death is present because of our sin which is everywhere. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

But through the grace of God in sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to take on himself sin and its judgment death the 'sting' of death is taken away. When that is the case death loses its terrors and the believer in Jesus can concentrate on the glorious freedom and purity of our heavenly home.

That is why when Stephen was brutally stoned to death as we read in Acts chapter 7, the Bible could say that 'he fell asleep.' Could anything be more contradictory than that? With his head bashed in by stones 'he fell asleep'? Was the Bible being unrealistic? By no means. Make no bones about it poor Stephen's death was painful in the extreme, but God was with him giving him the grace and courage he needed at that moment — and then God took him home to his eternal rest. He fell asleep in the arms of Christ. The death experiences of Christians vary as is true for non-Christians as well. But for the Christian there is the sure hope that death has a door that opens into heaven no matter the circumstances of our going.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank you that by your death and resurrection I may not fear death and I may trust you to the end. Amen.

Our Inheritance

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 23rd September 2022

Passage: 1 Peter 1:4

People are usually interested in what they can expect to get when their parents or their loved ones die. The heir of a very rich person may expect to get not only money but property and land. If the person who died was an aristocrat then the heir would inherit the title as well — perhaps duke or sir or some other such title.

In that case the inheritance was very important indeed. There are many references to inheritances in the Bible both in the Old Testament and the New. But let us confine ourselves here to just the reference that Peter makes in his first letter, chapter one. "An inheritance pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay". It certainly sounds an impressive inheritance but who is it for?

This inheritance is for every member of God's family — that is those who have been born again (verse 3). Through that new birth we come into a new family - God's family and we become joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus of the great inheritance blessings of God. We come into the full riches of our inheritance not when God dies — that will never happen — but when he takes us home to heaven at the end of our life here.

He is guarding our inheritance so that it can never disappear or lose its value. What does it look like? Too wonderful for words according to Paul (1 Corinthians 2:9) and glorious (Ephesians 1:18). All of this comes through God's great mercy for each of his children.

PrayerDear Lord I do thank you for making me your child. Help me to look forward to my heavenly home. Amen.

Keep Right On To The End Of The Road

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 22nd September 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 9:1-2

Years ago there was a well-known Scottish singer and comedian called Harry Lauder who had a song called 'Keep right on to the end of the road'. It may not have been great poetry but it did have some down to earth common sense about it.

Beginning a journey is one thing, but arriving safely at our destination is just as important no matter how long and difficult the road may have been. The handsome young man Saul about whom we read in 1 Samuel 9 and onwards became Israel's first king. He looked the part and he started well. However as time passed he became a man of violent moods and murderous ways. Worst of all he became disobedient to God "He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse." (1 Chronicles 10:14).

Saul is one of history's tragic figures. But he is by no means the only one. Jesus said to those who professed to follow him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings." (John 8:3 NLT). Keeping on to the end of the road! The secret of doing this as a Christian is to stay close to Christ, trust in his word, and ask him daily for his grace and strength. In this way you will arrive home having finished your journey well.

PrayerDear Lord, help me on each step of my journey with you. Amen.

Hallelujah!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 21st September 2022

Passage: Psalm 147:1

Hallelujah! This word occurs 24 times in the Book of Psalms — one of several words giving praise to Almighty God. Those psalms beginning (or sometimes ending) with the word Hallelujah came to be favourites of the people worshipping in the synagogues so our Lord Jesus Christ would have been used to singing this great word of praise very often indeed.

Hallelujah is one of these words which has come into our English language straight from the Hebrew so to speak. We have come to know it as a great 'praise' word. Maybe this has come about especially since the musician Handel wrote the music for the Messiah with the magnificent Hallelujah Chorus. Some newer translations of the Bible in English use the word instead of the translation "Praise the Lord".

We know too that Hallelujah is a familiar praise-word in heaven. It is sung four times in chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation. There in the New Testament, as in the Old Testament, the word is sung in places describing God's salvation of his people. It is a word of spontaneous praise from hearts that know the saving goodness of God.

PrayerDear Lord, as I think of all you have done for me, I pray you will always help me to sing Hallelujah in thanksgiving. Amen.

Weeds

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 20th September 2022

Passage: Matthew 13:26

Weeds! There are lots of them, especially after the rains in the warmer months. Jesus told several parables about weeds — they were obviously a common problem in his days on earth as well as now. The parable from which our verse at the top of the page comes (in Matthew 13:24 - 30 and 36 - 43) has many lessons to teach us, but I want us just to concentrate on one and it affects all of us. This is not a parable about the church, it is a parable about living in the world rubbing shoulders with lots of people some of whom may indeed claim to be Christians.

Jesus explains that there are two 'kinds' of people in the world: "The good seed is the sons of the kingdom" (the real Christians). There are also weeds "the sons of the evil one" (people who may claim to be Christians). The good seed and the weeds grow together — they look the same for much of the time, just as the weeds Jesus referred to in his story looked very similar to the wheat that the farmer had planted. But time will tell which of these are the real wheat or which are the weeds.

The approach of harvest time brings out the difference. Before the harvest is brought in the weeds are plucked out and destroyed. What is the lesson Jesus was teaching us? Just looking like or pretending to be a Christian is not enough. That will be exposed at the end. Only the genuine believers in Jesus will be taken into heaven.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear" said Jesus.

The Good News

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 19th September 2022

Passage: Acts 13:32

When I was a boy I would sometimes be asked to deliver telegrams that had come into the local post office and there was nobody else available to deliver them. Telegrams were often used in past times to get news to someone in a hurry and very often it was bad news. Telegrams often told in a few words that a loved one had died or had been in a bad accident or something like that. But telegrams also often told good news, and Paul and Barnabas told the people in the city of Antioch in Pisidia (not the Antioch from which they were sent out) that they were bringing good news — what we call the Gospel.

If you look up an English thesaurus (a kind of dictionary) you will find a multitude of suggested meanings for this word and all of them are positive in the sense that what the Gospel says is true. It can be trusted and relied upon. Often people say 'it is Gospel', meaning it is true. Why has it come to have that meaning?

Simply because people recognised that this good news this Gospel actually is the truth. The truth of the Gospel is centred on Jesus all the way through. Jesus changes lives and makes bad people good and shows us the way to honour God and live for him. Paul just loved to preach the good news because it had done so much for him.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to love the Gospel and to share its good news with those who don't know it. Amen.

The Comfort Of God's Guiding Presence

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th September 2022

Passage: Exodus 13:22

The theme of the Book of Exodus is the freeing of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and their journey towards the land God had promised to give them — the land of Israel. However the journey was to take them a long time - 40 years in all! This was not because the distance between Egypt and Israel was very great, but because God had many lessons to teach the people along the way. The people were not always easy to teach and were often disobedient to God.

In spite of this, there was one constant reminder of God's care and love for his people even in their times of disobedience — his presence was among the people guiding and protecting them - "the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people." God was always there.

This must have been a great comfort to the people, especially as they had no experience of the conditions of the territories they were passing through or the peoples they encountered. But God knew and protected them. In the same way our Lord Jesus has promised: "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). God is still watching over his people just as he did in the days of the Exodus. What a comfort his presence is to lead and to guide us!

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to know the comfort of your presence and to be willing to be guided by you. Amen.

Satisfaction

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th September 2022

Passage: John 6:35

We live in a very restless world; for many it is a very hard, and very sad world. Signs of this are everywhere, from the terrible suicides of young people to the increase in mental illnesses about which there is much talk in medical and political circles. So many people, young and old, are dissatisfied maybe about their job, their body image, their way of life... Satisfaction seems to be in short supply.

If we take the words of Jesus seriously then this lack of satisfaction can be put right. Actually Jesus says there is only one way in which it can be put right and he tells us that he is that way. "I am the bread of life" said Jesus, "Whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall not thirst."

Now that is a tremendous claim and we know enough about Jesus to know that all his promises are true. This promise which he makes starts off with the claim that he is God — the great "I am" (Exodus 3:14). There is divine power in what Jesus is offering to us. What Jesus is offering is nothing fancy or glitzy - it is rather the 'basics' of a new life of full satisfaction. It will fill the heart and mind and keep on doing that. How do we get this bread and water of life? "Come to me", said Jesus, "Believe in me". It is all in Christ.

PrayerDear Lord, I do pray that you will help me to come to you in faith for the new life only you can give me. Amen.

A History Lesson

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 16th September 2022

Passage: Daniel 11:45

You can find many ways to explain what history is and if it has a great lesson to teach us. Winston Churchill wrote: "To test the present you must appeal to history." One of the Christian historians wrote: "What history does is to uncover man's universal sin." (H. Butterfield). You can certainly see that plainly when you read the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.

In its later chapters the Book of Daniel tells of kings and queens, generals and war-lords, each of them appearing for a time seeming to be all-powerful until an even more powerful leader appeared and toppled them. One of the most ruthless and ungodly of these leaders appears in the second part of Daniel 11. It seemed he could do anything he liked. But look at the words at the top of this page. That happened in 164 BC. Today he is forgotten.

In the middle of all that is described in Daniel God was working out his purposes. In the overthrow of all these ancient rulers and especially the king of whom we read in Daniel chapter 11, we have a picture of what is yet to happen when Satan the great anti-Christ and all who follow him will be overthrown under the terrible judgement of God - "Yet he shall come to his end with none to help him." Only God is the all-powerful one whose kingdom has no end. Then all will see that history is truly his story and the end will be glorious.

Back Where I Belong

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 15th September 2022

Passage: Acts 13:4

When I was a student I went back to the village where I had been brought up in my early years and paid a visit to my old school. To my embarrassment my former English teacher had looked out an essay I had written and read it out to the class. I wonder if Barnabas had any embarrassing moments when he went back to Cyprus, the island from which he came. He had gone from Cyprus to Jerusalem and there he had become a Christian. He then went to help the new congregation in Antioch, and now with Paul (also called Saul) he was back home in Cyprus. I wonder how he was feeling? There were many Greek people in Cyprus, and there were many Jews. How would they feel about this man coming back to tell them about this new message about Jesus Christ ?

Very often it can be particularly difficul for a person to tell about Jesus to those among whom they have been brought up. Sometimes it seems easier to tell the Gospel to strangers rather than back where you belong. However sometimes what God wants us to do is to witness to people whom we know and whose circumstances we can understand so that we can explain the Gospel to them in ways they can follow. One of the loveliest stories in the Bible is in John 1:40-42. There it tells us how Andrew followed Jesus told his brother Simon Peter and brought him to Jesus. That's a great challenge.

PrayerDear Lord, make me a witness for you to all those I know best. Amen.

A Case Of Rotting Bones

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 14th September 2022

Passage: Proverbs 14:30

Jealousy! Envy! Aren't we all guilty of these? There is a saying that if envy were a fever, all the world would be ill! If we are honest with ourselves we will have to admit that we can so easily fall into the trap of being envious or jealous of people. Maybe even our best friends because they seem to be successful when we are not, they may be cleverer than we are, or their mobile phone is better than ours.

One of the rotten things about envy and jealousy is that it hurts our friendship with other people. It makes an invisible wall between us and our friend if we are envious of them. Another of the rotten things about envy and jealousy is that it makes us dissatisfied with God and what he has given to us in his goodness and mercy. "Peace of mind means a healthy body."

God is good and he knows what is good for us. Yet another of the rotten things about envy is the way it takes our minds off the things which God wants us to think about most of all. In Galatians 5:22 we read about the fruit of the Holy Spirit which should be seen in the Christian's life: "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." When these things are the really important things in our lives we will not be proud, or make trouble with each other, or be jealous of each other. We will have a healthy Christian mind and body — not rotten bones!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to fight the temptation to be jealous of my friends. Amen.

How God And People Can Live Happily Together

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 13th September 2022

Passage: Mark 14:24

We all like to have friends. Close friends usually have a lot of things in common which they can do together or talk about together. As children we may have promised that someone was our 'special' friend forever. Sometimes friends even pricked their fingers and mixed their blood to be "blood brothers/sisters."

The Bible tells us that God becomes the special friend of all the people who trust him and who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible uses a special word to describe this friendship: it is called a covenant. It is not the ordinary word that people use for a covenant (like the agreement of two people when they get married — though this is also a covenant). The word used in the Biblefor the friendship of God and his people is special, because it is God himself who makes the covenant and gives his promise that he will always keep to what the covenant says.

God promises in the covenant with his people that when they become his friends he will never never let them down or go back on what he has pledged himself to do. So when Jesus said "This is my blood of the covenant", it means that those who follow him and his ways are saved and saved forever. God never breaks his promises. That is a great comfort and encouragement for us to continue as 'special friends' with God — living happily with him.

PrayerDear Lord, I do thank you for your covenant of special friendship with me through the Lord Jesus. Amen.

The Great Angel With A Little Scroll

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th September 2022

Passage: Revelation 10:1-2

This is another vision which God gave to the apostle John as he was confined on the little island of Patmos. We remember that John had been sent away from his beloved congregation in Ephesus on to this small island because the Roman authorities were hostile to the Christian message at that time. But this vision has at least three great truths which we want to see.

Number one - John saw a mighty angel, obviously one of authority and power. He stood with one foot on the land and one on the sea — in other words he came from heaven with an important message that spanned the world in its importance.

Number two - the little scroll (book) which the angel carried was clearly meant for John to take and to understand fully what God was saying in this book. The message in the book is the message of the Bible itself, the word of God. This wonderful book has the amazing message of salvation — sweet indeed. But it also has a solemn even bitter message too — God's judgement on all who defy him.

Number three - John had to tell God's message to a largely hostile world - the whole message of 'sin and salvation, wrath, and grace'. The same is still true today. People must hear God's word even when it is a bitter experience for the preacher when people reject what he is telling them from God.

Getting First Things First

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th September 2022

Passage: Luke 11:2

The church congregation we attend has two weeks of special prayer times every year — one week in the spring time and one in the autumn. In these weeks the plan for the days of prayer is based on the different phrases of the Lord's Prayer. So on the opening day of our special week of prayer we start with prayers of adoration and thanksgiving: "Father, hallowed be your name."

Every day of these 'prayer weeks' we bring before God the different and pressing needs of our congregation, our city, our country and our world, as well as special prayer for friends we know who are not yet Christians. All of this is very important.

But when Jesus responded to his disciples' request to teach them how to pray he showed them, and us, the first great principle of prayer — to honour the very name of God. Jesus got 'the first thing first'. Why is this so important? After all we usually think of prayer as a way of coming to God to ask him for things. We do also praise him and thank him (sometimes!) but it seems strange (to us) to start off prayer with something that we may take for granted — that God is God; he is great and he is good.

Jesus however does not want us to take God for granted. He wants us to realise that coming into God's presence in prayer is an awesome, holy privilege — we are on holy ground! Think of that!

PrayerFather, hallowed by your name. Amen.

The Fountain Of Life

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th September 2022

Passage: Psalm 36:9

Many years ago now I visited the lovely little city of Wells in Somerset. The name of the city comes from three ancient wells which watered the city. One of the things I especially remember is that from a fountain in the Market Place fed by one of the wells water gushed out and ran down a gully through the centre of the city.

Among the many beautiful pictures the Psalm writer David gives us in Psalm 36 are the pictures of a river and the picture of a fountain. The river is the 'river of God's delights' and the fountain is 'the fountain of life.' These illustrations are part of what the Psalm is telling us of the really wonderful blessing which God gives to those who trust him.

The New Testament also uses such pictures to tell us of the wonders of God's blessings which come to us in Jesus. Jesus himself said: "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:14).

Jesus is indeed the fountain of life and what a difference he makes to life! It is abundant life. In Isaiah 12:3 the bible speaks of people joyously "drawing water from the wells of salvation" - it is a picture of glorious abundance. Life with Jesus is the best!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to enjoy more and more of the delights of our salvation. Amen.

Blind Man's Buff

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th September 2022

Passage: Psalm 36:2

Blind man's buff is a game that I'm sure we have all enjoyed playing when we were younger. It seems it's been popular almost all over the world. It's just a game of course, but many people seem to live that way — as if they were blind-folded and didn't know where they were going.

David, who wrote Psalm 36, tells us about the wicked men of his day. They had no respect for God and because they were almost 'blindfolded' they thought God didn't see what they were doing or how they were living. They just didn't care about God.

But life is not a game, and David tells us that the wicked person (the unbelieving person) has ceased to act wisely. He is foolish to think God doesn't see how we live nor care how we live. God sees, God knows, and God judges!

The sad thing is that the person who does not believe in God or follow in his ways is really missing the main point of life, which is to trust God and walk with him. Just as a blind-folded person can be easily led so that he doesn't know where he is, so Satan can tempt us away from God almost without our knowing what he is doing. And he will make us think our iniquity will not be found out. That is a lie and we must not be deceived.

PrayerI pray, Lord, that you will lead me in your ways and help me to stand against the attempts of Satan to take me away from you. Amen.

Works Of Darkness

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 7th September 2022

Passage: Ephesians 5:11

It turned out that there were two of them. Thieves had broken into our big garden shed — my study! It was very late and very dark but we saw flashing lights in the shed. The first thing we did was to put on the bright light that lights up the garden and when the thieves became aware of the light they knew they were discovered. Out of the shed they bolted and leapt over the garden fence and ran away as quickly as they could. They only tried to steal one thing and even that they dropped in their hurry to get away. So for them it really was the "unfruitful works of darkness" on that particular night. The light exposed their evil deeds.

"Works of darkness" are sinful things which a Christian should have nothing to do with — we have not only to avoid them but to show how shameful some of these 'works' are. We have to shine the light of the Gospel on them both to make sure our own hearts and lives are pure, and also to show to others how wrong such sinful practices and thoughts really are. "It is shameful even to speak of the things that (are done) in secret" (Verse 12).

If we belong to Jesus we have a great responsibility to have lives that are true examples of Christlikeness because so many people do not know the Bible and do not know the moral values that make life worth living and are pleasing to God.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to look carefully at how I walk both before you and those around me. Amen.

Something Beautiful

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th September 2022

Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Suppose as an artist you have spent a long time painting one of your very favourite scenes and at last it is finished and looks good. Then disaster strikes — you spill paint all over it and it is ruined. It was beautiful. You can only grieve.

Don't you think God must feel the same sadness when he looks at us? He created people to live in a perfect world, a world of beauty, peace, and contentment. But the picture was ruined by our sin, pride, and rebellion against the very God who so wanted the very best for us. What had started so beautiful became in many ways so ugly. But do you know what? God can take that ruined picture (you!) and change it into something beautiful — something restored!

William T. Gaither, the author of many Gospel songs has written these words:

'The hope for life's best were the hopes that I harboured deep down in my heart; But my dreams turned to ashes, my castles all crumbled, my future turned to loss, so I wrapped it all up in the rags of my life and laid it at the cross. Something beautiful, something good; all my confusion He understood; All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife. But He made something beautiful of my life.'

Christ is the great restorer of ruined sinners.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, please make my life into something beautiful for you. Amen.

Pressing On

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th September 2022

Passage: Hosea 6:3

I have just been reading the story of a young soldier who lost both his legs and two fingers in a horrific bomb blast in Afghanistan. Since then he has endured lots of operations; the last one was to amputate his legs above his knees to help his mobility. After it all he says "I have so much drive and ambition". He spends his time telling his story 'to inspire young people to be more resilient.' Wow! That takes courage! He is out and about and he is pressing on.

Paul the apostle had a similar spirit. He says "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." )2 Corinthians 4:6). Twice Paul wrote that he was 'pressing on' (Philippians 3:12 14) and 'straining' to know the fullness of God's blessing and the power of the resurrected Lord Jesus.

Hosea the prophet also wanted his people to press on to know the Lord. This is the spirit that we too should have. Every day we should be pressing on to know Jesus more fully to serve Jesus more faithfully and to enjoy being a Christian more joyfully.

The young soldier I was reading about said "If I can inspire just one kid it will be so fulfilling." I am sure he certainly will. Will we point others to Jesus as we press on in the Christian life ?

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I ask that you will help me to be an inspiration to others 'to press on to know the Lord' Amen.

The Day Of The Lord

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 4th September 2022

Passage: Joel 2:31

Robert Browning wrote in one of his poems: "God's in his heaven — all's right with the world."

It is true that God is in his heaven but it is sadly true that all is not right with the world. But one of the great themes of the Bible is that things are not going to remain that way for ever. God has a special day coming when all that is wrong in the world will be put right.

The Old Testament prophets called that special day 'The Day of the Lord'. Sometimes they emphasised that the Day would be a Day of fearful judgement. Sometimes the emphasis was on the happy salvation of God's people (Malachi 4:2-3).

In the New Testament we read about that Day as the Day God has set "when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the Judge..." (Acts 17:31, The Message). The judge will be the Lord Jesus our risen Saviour.

It's very easy to live as if that Day will never come — we think it's something we don't need to worry about or bother with. But that is very foolish. Jesus himself said "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour (Matthew 25:13). Jesus is coming again on the great and awesome Day. To be ready for that special Day we should live in a God-honouring way, so that when he comes we will not be ashamed.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to live in such a way that I will rejoice to meet you at your coming. Amen

Quarrelling Among The Christians

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 3rd September 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:11

Just imagine a football match where all of a sudden one of the teams started arguing and fighting among themselves. The other team would be looking on wondering what on earth was going on. If the fighting continued the game would have to be abandoned and the points would go to the other team. So because of their arguing that team would be defeated.

The apostle Paul heard there was quarrelling among the church members in Corinth. There were serious divisions and Paul was so disappointed: "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united..." (Verse 10)

Church congregations can easily be destroyed when the people in them start arguing and fighting over things that should never be allowed to cause divisions. Our Lord Jesus wants us to be people of peace and of love. Just imagine how non-Christian people must think when Christians are busy fighting with each other. What should you do if conflict arises in your church? Let Paul give us the answer: "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:13 - 14). Bitter quarrelling and division has no rightful place among Christian people.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to be a person of peace and a peace-maker in your name. Amen.

For Such A Time As This

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 2nd September 2022

Passage: Esther 4:14

Do you like a good story? Yes? Well the book of Esther has all the ingredients of a good story — a beautiful and brave heroine, a romance, an evil villain who gets his just desserts, an obscure good man who gets a great honour... all played out in an exotic Persian palace and its surroundings.

Strangely enough for a Bible book there is no mention of God! Yet the Providence of God is everywhere in the story. By Providence we mean God's gracious working out of his purposes so that all events that happen are made to bring about what gives glory to God and ultimate good for people, especially all who have their trust in him. That is the great lesson the book of Esther teaches.

Yet God uses people to fulfil his purposes not as robots but as free agents who know and are responsible for what they are doing. This was why Esther's cousin (or uncle?) Mordecai challenged Esther to be brave and plead with the Persian king to save the Jewish people when they were in danger of being completely destroyed.

Esther, a Jew, was the queen of the Persian king at that time and she was in danger of being killed along with all the other Jews. But Esther used her position to get the king's help to save the Jews — she had come to the kingdom for just such a time and she did not fail.

PrayerDear Lord as I salute Esther's bravery I also ask for your help to make me brave when challenged about my faith in Christ, Amen.

Does God Care When I Am In Trouble?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 1st September 2022

Passage: Psalm 35:17

Does God care when I am in trouble? Of course he does! Very often Christian people find themselves in deep trouble an for different reasons. Maybe we are bullied because we are Christians: people often despise Christians when they stand up for issues that go against what the Bible says: e.g. practices like abortion, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia. Sometimes too Christians become overwhelmed with a sense of guilt and shame if they deliberately did a wrong thing and God convicts them of their sin.

David who wrote Psalm 35 was in deep trouble because of the many people who seemed to be 'having it in for him' at that time. But his main problem was just the same as our problem is: "Does God care for me when I am in such trouble? "How long, O Lord, will you look on?" Certainly help may seem to be a long time in coming when our hearts and consciences are hurting and God seems far away from us.

But as Christians we must always remember that God loves us with an everlasting love — a love that does not change. We may feel God is far from us but that may be because we feel ashamed in his presence if we have done something wrong or if we are being victimised for standing up for the truth.

But we can safely leave God to deal with our foes and we can confess our sin and be washed clean again. Always remember God loves and cares for you his child.

Serving The Lord

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 31st August 2022

Passage: Matthew 9:38

Have you ever considered serving the Lord in some form of Christian work? It is something that we really should take seriously. Look at the passage in the Gospel from which the above text is found.

Crowds of people were gathering to hear Jesus' teaching. As Jesus looked on them, he had compassion on them because they were 'harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd' (verse 36). Why were they in such a state? The main reason was I think because the religious leaders at that time were not really teaching the people the whole truth about God. The people needed to hear the gospel of the kingdom — God's way of salvation.

Jesus said to his disciples that they should pray that God would send out people to take the message of salvation to the people. It was as if a harvest was ready to be reaped but there were no harvesters to do the work. But then look what happened. As Jesus urged his followers to pray for harvesters, he appointed these very people to go and be the harvesters — to preach his gospel and to go with his authority (Matthew 10:1).

So could God be challenging you to consider going out to serve him — not necessarily far away, but where he wants you to be and whatever he wants you to do?

PrayerDear Lord, "Take my life, and let it be all you purpose, Lord, for me" Amen. (F. R. Havergal)

A Tale Of Two Cities Called Antioch

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 30th August 2022

Passage: Acts 13:13-14

There were 16 cities called Antioch in the Western area of the Mediterranean Sea. Paul and Barnabas had had a great send-off from Antioch in Syria as they set out on their first missionary journey together.

Eventually they reached another Antioch, this time in a region called Pisidia (in modern Turkey). It was an important city a Roman colony and a place with a large Jewish population. Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and as was the custom the visitors were invited to 'bring a word of encouragement to the people' (verse 15).

So Paul got up and preached what would have been quite a long sermon. And that sermon was interesting — Paul began by tracing some of the history of the Jewish people and their special relationship with God. Then he showed the people how Jesus Christ fits into that relationship.

This shows how Jesus Christ was indeed a historical figure a real man as well as being God's Saviour, even though the Jewish leaders wanted him dead. Several people in the synagogue were impressed with Paul's message and wanted him to come and preach again but others said no and even had Paul and his friends driven out of the city. How different this reception was from the send-off they got from the other Antioch (in Syria). However, even in this new Antioch there were those who became devout followers of Jesus. God was there helping Paul.

PrayerDear Lord, give us courage to proclaim the Gospel in the cities in our country. Amen.

It's All About Me!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 29th August 2022

Passage: Genesis 11:4

"It's all about me!" That is a good way to sum up just how many people feel in the day we live in. People are encouraged to project a positive image of themselves and so they come to be very self-centred and selfish as a result.

The story we read in Genesis chapter 11:1-9 is a story about people who wanted to be independent and self-sufficient, and they felt no need for God. The Tower of Babel has come to be a symbol of people's desire to do things their way without any reference to God.

The words 'us' and 'ourselves' tell us a lot. "Let us make a name for ourselves" is at the heart of the story and it has a very modern ring to it. People have not really changed with the passing of the years. So many people see no need for God in their lives or in society today.

But the irony is that all human efforts to get rid of God always end in failure. Life is not 'all about me'. Rather our first duty is to acknowledge God.

As the New City Catechism asks: "What is our only hope in life and death?" And the answer: "That we are not our own, but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Saviour Jesus Christ. Only as we live in the light of that truth will our lives be truly what God meant them to be — the good life!

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to put your first in my thoughts and actions. Amen.

God's Children... Children Of The Resurrection

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 28th August 2022

Passage: Luke 20:36

Resurrection! Jesus Christ often had people arguing against his teaching. One of the groups of people who were opposed to his teaching were called the Sadducees. They were a powerful group of people in Jerusalem and they did not believe in life after death. As far as they were concerned there was no such thing as resurrection.

Sometimes they tried to make fun of Jesus and his teaching about heaven and the teaching about believers in God who go to heaven. This was even more surprising since several of the High Priests were from the Sadducees.

We don't hear anything about the Sadducees after the resurrection of Jesus. I don't know what they would have made of it. However the resurrection of Jesus was the proof of the deity of Jesus — it proved he was God. It was proof also of the reality of everlasting life.

The poor Sadducees who thought themselves to be so clever and powerful were soon almost forgotten by the Jewish people, while the teaching of Jesus and the resurrection has gone throughout the world to bring salvation, comfort and great hope to all who put their trust in Jesus.

They are God's children — the children of the resurrection.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to know the glorious hope of the resurrection to everlasting life in heaven. Amen.

Do You Believe In Angels?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 27th August 2022

Passage: Psalm 34:7

Do you believe in angels? The Bible certainly does — they are mentioned nearly 300 times in the Bible.

But what do angels do and how do we know they are doing it? Angels are spirit-beings — they don't have bodies and we normally cannot see them. They were created by God. There are good angels and bad angels.

Satan and other angels who followed him are the bad angels, expelled from heave for their rebellion against God. Satan continues to try to destroy the kingdom and the people of Jesus, but he and his devilish followers will never succeed.

The good angels enjoy serving God as they praise him in the holy atmosphere of heaven. Angels serve God in many ways. For example they were present at the creation of the world (Job 38:7), they help and they defend Christians (Psalm 91:11-12), and they announce special messages from God, such as the birth of the Lord Jesus (Luke 2:8-15).

Two particularly important angels, Michael and Gabriel, conveyed special messages from God and are the only two whose names are mentioned (1 Thessalonians 1:16 and Luke 1:18). We read that an angel helped Jesus as he prayed in Gethsemane before his crucifixion (Luke 22:43) and angels announced that Jesus had risen from the dead (Luke 24:4-7).

Angels do not die but we know that Satan and his crew will be destroyed for ever at the last Judgement (Matthew 25:41). Many of God's people today experience help in trying circumstances which have proven to them God's protection by his ministering angels.

PrayerDear Lord, thank you for the help of your angels. Amen.

God's Holy People

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 26th August 2022

Passage: Colossians 1:1-2

It would be a very bold person who would describe himself or herself as a holy person. But that is exactly what a Christian is called to be; indeed that is what a Christian is in one sense, because the word' holy' means being set apart for God.

But we usually think of the word when we are describing the kind of person a Christian 'looks like'; the way he or she lives out the Christian life day by day. You may not be conscious of it as you go about your daily living, whether it be at home, work, school or wherever but it is very important what you 'look like'! What other people gather from the way you speak, the way you do your work, the way you react to those around you, is going to tell people what kind of person you really are.

When Paul was writing to the Ephesian Christians, he said "You used to live just like the rest of the world..." (Ephesians 2:2). But when we become Christians things change — we change. The 'things of the world' no longer occupy the place they once did for us — indeed many of these 'things' have no place in a Christian's life at all.

But the Christian's life is full of very positive and beautiful characteristics as Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22-23: ...affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart and much more. Being a holy person means we reflect the likeness of Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, sometimes I feel very unholy. Help me to become more like the Lord Jesus and to show this by the way I live. Amen.

Are We Really Serious About Following Jesus?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 25th August 2022

Passage: Matthew 10:38

In a very famous speech in the House of Commons in 1940, at the height of World War 2, Winston Churchill said "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." That saying has gone down in history to describe a really serious situation a person may get into — the only way out is through "blood, toil, tears and sweat."

That is what our Lord Jesus is telling us the cost of following him may very well bring to us. "Taking up the cross" must have sent shivers through the hearts of those to whom Jesus first said these words — they were like a death sentence. So many of those early Christians and so many since then paid that extreme cost as they faithfully followed Christ.

Putting Jesus first in our lives leaves us open to all sorts of opposition and possible rejection even by our own relatives and friends. But that is the reality if we are seriously following Jesus faithfully. It also means we should be very clear about that cost if we are to become a Christian. It isn't just case of being "nice" to people; it is an honest handing over of our life to Jesus and being prepared for anything that might follow.

Of course along with the cost there is the "crown", whether in this life or the life to come. Jesus himself will be with us each step of the way.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be a faithful follower of yours, come what may. Amen.

Living To Please God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 24th August 2022

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:1

One of the prayers I pray to God every morning is this: "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more." It is both a challenge and a privilege to live to please God. We are so keen to live to please ourselves; we are very selfish at times and get upset if things don't go our way.

But the Christian's life is characterised by some really tough decisions resulting in us becoming more and more like Jesus Christ — and that will be pleasing to God. Here are some examples: "Keep your mind and your heart clean and pure. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing." 1 Peter 1:14 (The Message).

Remember God is holy and he wants you to be holy (set apart for him). Again we should consciously be asking 'What would Jesus do?' When we are faced with difficult choices like drinking, clubbing, friends and so on. Always ask yourself "Can I take Jesus with me if I do such and such a thing?" "What would please God?"

Another thing is to watch your tongue. We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. "Don't brag about the good you do" "If you are wise and understand God's ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth." (James 3:2-13, NLT)

PrayerMy dear Lord, help me to live a life that pleases you more and more. Amen.

Wages Or Gift?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 23rd August 2022

Passage: Romans 6:23

Roman soldiers could be seen everywhere in the time the New Testament was written and the Apostle Paul would have seen many of them in his many travels. Paul often refers to the soldiers, to their training and their equipment. Here in Romans 6:23, Paul mentions two types of money which the troops received. He does this in order to teach us a very serious and important lesson.

Paul writes about the wages of sin. The word for wages he uses was the word for the ordinary pay a Roman soldier received — it was his due, that what he had earned. If we choose to keep on sinning as an unbeliever then we get our due, which Paul says is death.

But there is this other word — the gift. When a Roman Emperor had a birthday or some other great celebration he gave his soldiers a free gift — he gave it out of the goodness of his heart. Paul says this is what we receive from God when we believe — his (free) gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isn't that really wonderful?

We get our due wage if we remain sinners but we are given the amazing gift of God when we come to trust in Jesus. Surely, surely it is so much better to accept God's gift of life with him for ever than to work away at a life that will only earn you death for ever ?

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for the gift of life with you for ever through what Jesus has done for me. Amen.

Something Both Bitter And Sweet

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 22nd August 2022

Passage: Revelation 10:9

When we were children, one of our favourite sweets was 'soor plums'. They were hard sweets (boilings) that were both sweet and sour at the same time.

There are places in the Old Testament and here in the New Testament where we read that God's Word can be bitter and sweet at the same time. In Revelation chapter 10, John the Apostle has a vision of a great and obviously special angel who was sent to John for him to take and eat a small scroll. The scroll obviously contained the word of God and by 'eating' it John was to really take it upon himself to live by this word and also to tell other people what God wanted them to know.

When we come to believe God's word and tell others about Christ this can be sweet indeed. The word is true it is food to our souls and it gives us real joy. However the bitterness can come in two ways. One way is when we disobey that word ourselves and go away from God even for a little time. We become bitter in our spirit.

But we feel bitterness of soul also when we tell people about Jesus and they reject the message and go on in their sin. This makes us truly sad. It is a sadness that Jesus himself felt when people turned away from him.

PrayerDear Lord, thank you for how sweet the name of Jesus is to my soul. I pray that you will keep me near to you and faithful in telling others about you even if I suffer the bitterness of rejection. Amen.

If

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 21st August 2022

Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Sometimes very small words are really important. The little word 'if' is one of these. In 2 Chronicles chapter 6, King Solomon used the word six or seven times in his prayer to God. But now in chapter 7, God uses the word as he answers Solomon's prayer. There are times when it is wrong for us to say to God "I will do such and such a thing for you if you will do this for me". We don't lay down conditions to God. It is God's place to lay down conditions to us.

In this chapter 7 of 2 Chronicles God said to Solomon that when the land would suffer from drought or was attacked by a swarm of locusts or there was a plague among the people (and all of this was because they had sinned) then if the people prayed God would hear.

This is a very important lesson for us to learn. We all sin in one way or another. This is true personally but also true at a national level. But if we repent and turn from our sin and pray, then God will hear from heaven forgive our sin and heal our land. How desperately we need to take that to heart at the present time!

Our broken society needs to come to God, confess our sin, repent of it, and leave it. Only then can we expect God to forgive us and bless us.

PrayerDear Lord, give us a repentant heart and forgive our sin we pray. Amen.

Quartus

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 20th August 2022

Passage: Romans 16:23

I really feel sorry for Quartus! When you look at the different translations of the words at the end of Paul's letter to the Romans it looks as if the translators tried their best for Quartus. My Study Bible says 'of Quartus nothing is known'. One of the older versions of the Bible simply says 'Quartus a brother'. But the ' a 'should really be 'the' - Quartus the brother. Some even suggest Quartus may have been a brother of Erastus but that is unclear. Some versions translate the words as 'a Christian brother' or 'our good friend Quartus'. At any rate he was sending his greetings to his fellow Christians in Rome. Judging from his name he was probably a slave maybe employed by Erastus. We just don't know.

But the point is this: Quartus was a Christian. Whether he was prominent or not in the congregation where Paul was at the time (Ephesus) is not important. He belonged to Christ; he was a brother in Christ to all the other members of the church and that made him as special as all the other members.

Usually our congregations have quite a variety of people in them and we may be tempted to think some are more important than others. That would be wrong. In one sense God has no favourites he loves every one of his people and he knows everything about them.

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to treat every Christian as special. Amen.

A Happy Land

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 19th August 2022

Passage: Psalm 33:12

A happy land! Well, we live in a land where there are several billionaires, many more millionaires and rich people. Our shops are full of so much stuff - food, clothes, furniture, and household appliances — all in an amazing variety and quality.

Yet among all this we see poverty — homeless people and destitute asylum seekers. We also hear of so much knife-crime, drug gangs, suicides, and violence even at soccer matches and there is plenty of antisemitism and Islamaphobia. There must be something wrong for all these problems to flourish in spite of the obvious wealth which there is also around. This is not a happy land.

The Bible shows us the secret of having a happy land — it is when God is the Lord. The great Reformer John Calvin wrote: "We cannot undertake or attempt anything with the prospect of success unless God becomes our guide and counsellor and governs us by his Spirit." (Commentary on Psalm 90:17). God must be at the centre of our national life if our nation is to be a happy land.

God's laws must prevail over all the worldliness and permissiveness so common among us. People imagine God's laws restrict our freedom and make for a miserable life. The truth is the very opposite. God wants us to live a full free and happy life loving him and loving our neighbour.

PrayerDear Lord, you have given us so much that is good. Please help us to live thankful lives that follow your ways and care for the people around us. Amen.

A Great Send-Off

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th August 2022

Passage: Acts 13:3

It must have been quite a day in the congregation of Antioch. We don't know how big the congregation was, but they were an interesting collection of people. They were from different countries, both Jews and non-Jews, and probably had rich and poor people among them.

It was from that group of Christians that Barnabas and Saul (Paul) left to become missionaries. These two men didn't just decide to go off on their own because they thought it would be a good thing to do. The Bible tells us they were sent by the congregation. And the congregation didn't just decide that Barnabas and Saul were good men for this job.

It was a divine appointment — the people had been praying for guidance and they were fasting — they really were serious about this matter of missionary work. In answer to their prayers, the Holy Spirit said "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Verse 2). Only then were these men sent off with the blessing of the congregation. What excitement there must have been! And what an encouragement it must have been for Barnabas and Paul to know they were called by God and supported by their home congregation (who would keep praying for them) during the hard and dangerous work they were being sent to do!

God wants us to pray for those from among us who are called and sent to preach the Gospel, whether at home or abroad.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be faithful in praying for your servants. Amen.

If The Cap Fits!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th August 2022

Passage: Matthew 21:45

It's an old saying 'if the cap fits wear it', meaning that if a criticism seems to be aimed at you then accept it. Certainly the chief priests and Pharisees who had been listening to Jesus got the message — his criticism was aimed at them.

Why was it that Jesus was so critical of the chief priests and the Pharisees? The main reason was that those religious leaders were deceiving and confusing their people as to what God's will for them was. They had added so many traditions and rules of their own which made religion an unhappy burden for people, rather than the joyful relationship with God which God had intended it should be.

Jesus was very angry about this. His message was clear — judgement was going to come upon those false leaders who were betraying the teaching God had expected them to follow and teach. The cap fitted; they put it on — they knew Jesus was getting at them and they plotted to kill him.

It is right that we should criticise those priests and Pharisees. But we too must be careful about the way we trust God's word and how we expect other people to live when they profess to be Christians. We must never distort God's message of grace and goodness to all who come in faith to trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

PrayerDear Lord, help me, I pray, to be faithful to the message of the Gospel. Amen.

It's Miserable Being Miserable!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 16th August 2022

Passage: Psalm 32:4

Just suppose you broke one of the most precious ornaments in the house and put it where it wasn't easily seen and told no one about it. Would you feel happy? I'm sure not. You would feel miserable.

David who wrote Psalm 32 was feeling miserable over something that he had done. He doesn't tell us what it was — it was obviously something that was very wrong in God's eyes. To begin with David tried to brazen things out as if what he had done was hidden from God. But he felt miserable. In verses 1 and 2 he uses three different word for the sinful things he had done, and he would have said as a result "It's miserable being miserable... When I kept it inside, my bones turned to powder... the pressure never gave up". (Vs 3 - 4. The Message).

So what did David do? He confessed to God what he had done — he let it all out and a great burden was lifted from him, he felt free. It happens that way with us too when we own up to a wrong we have done and receive forgiveness — being miserable turned to a great relief. Each of us must confess to God the sin that is in our hearts and minds. We will be miserable as long as we don't do this. But when we do we will find "the pressure was gone, my guilt disappeared, my sin was gone." (V 5 - The Message)

PrayerDear Lord, help me to confess my sin and to receive your forgiveness.

We All Need Encouragement

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 15th August 2022

Passage: Isaiah 43:1

Encouragement! A dictionary definition of the word tells us that it is to give courage to someone or to inspire with hope or boldness. Courage, hope, boldness — do you have plenty of these, or are you like me and needing all the encouragement you can get?

When Isaiah wrote the words at the top of the page he was writing a message from God to his people who were still in captivity in Babylon. The chapter goes on to speak of the people having to pass through waters, walk through fire and through rivers — in other words they had to face many and terrifying difficulties.

They really did need courage, hope and boldness! But God said to them "You are mine." Yes the people had to come through difficulties but nothing would destroy them or take them out of God's hand. He loved them, he saved them and he would take them back home again.

The same message comes to us in the New Testament. Just think of this: "Do you think anyone is going to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble nor hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats ... None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. (Romans 8:36-37, The Message). Courage, hope, and boldness — we can have them all with the Lord Jesus on our side!

PrayerThank you Lord for the encouragement of your word. Amen.

Friends!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 14th August 2022

Passage: Romans 16:3

There is an old saying which goes 'All roads lead to Rome'. That was literally true when the Apostle Paul was alive. There was a huge network of roads right throughout the Roman Empire — and they all started from or led to the great city of Rome the capital of the Empire.

When Paul wrote his great letter to the Roman church, he was far away in Corinth and he gave his letter to a lady called Phoebe who was from the seaport beside Corinth and she delivered the letter to the Christians in Rome. At the end of his letter Paul sent his greetings to all the people he knew in Rome, and what a collection of friends he had there! Yet he himself had never visited Rome at that stage in his life. As you read the list of the people to whom he sent greetings you can see how all roads led to Rome — they came from such varied and faraway places. They were all people (more than thirty of them) whom Paul had met in his journeys and they had become his friends.

But they were more than friends, they were his brothers and sisters in Christ. At another time we will be introduced to some of these good people. But for the moment I just want us to see what a joy and comfort Paul found in the fact that he had good Christian friends, so many of whom had been a help and encouragement to him on his life's journey. Be sure to make good Christian friends in your church or fellowship. They are more precious than gold.

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for my Christian friends and ask that I may be a good Christian friend to them. Amen.

The Commander Of The Lord's Army

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 13th August 2022

Passage: Joshua 5:13

Joshua was all pumped up in readiness for the battle to capture Jericho, when the Israelites would cross the Jordan river. But what a surprise he got when all of a sudden a warrior with a drawn sword appeared in front of him! Joshua had never seen him before. Who could he be? "Is he one of our men or is he our enemy come into our camp?" Joshua wondered.

Joshua's biggest surprise came when this newly arrived soldier said to him "I am the commander of the army of the Lord" (Joshua 5:14). What could this mean? The commander said to Joshua "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so" (Vs 15). Here was one of those special visits of the eternal Son of God before he came to be born in Bethlehem. He came at that critical time to show Joshua that the battle he was going to fight was really God's battle against the evil heathenism of Jericho and the other tribes in Canaan.

The Commander of the Lord's army was going to battle against evil then, just as the Lord's army is still fighting the forces of evil in our day. Joshua too had to fight against the evil enemy he could see just as we have to fight against evil as we see it. But Paul reminds us that there are spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world too strong for us to handle — the Lord's army fights against these (See Ephesians 6:10-13)

PrayerDear Lord, we need your help to fight against evil. Help us we pray. Amen.

A Safe Pair Of Hands

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th August 2022

Passage: Psalm 31:15

It is quite a common saying to describe someone as a 'safe pair of hands'. The person concerned may be a goalkeeper in a soccer team or a person delegated to do some important work. A 'safe pair of hands' will do whatever has to be done, and do it well.

If you read the whole of Psalm 31, you will find that David who wrote the psalm was in lots of trouble and he was often feeling at his wits end, for he says "my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing" (Verse 10). Yet for all that David is quite upbeat as well. He tells us he trusts God. God is his rock, fortress and his refuge. In spite of all the bad things which have happened to him he knows the comfort and encouragement of knowing that "my times are in (God's) hands" - the safest pair of hands one could ever have to hold him and help him.

The word 'times' means the whole of life as we live it, with the whole variety of experiences we go through. David said "Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me." (Vs 18, The Message). What a great example to us to place our lives into the great safe hands of God, knowing he will take us through the hard times as well as the good times. He will do all things well for us.

PrayerDear Lord, my times are in your hands. Help me to rest in the comfort of knowing that great truth. Amen.

The Compassionate Saviour

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th August 2022

Passage: Luke 7:12

This is a very touching story, and it shows Jesus as a truly compassionate man as well as the almighty life-giver. It so happened that Jesus and his followers were passing by the little town of Nain when they came upon the funeral procession of the only son of a widowed woman. It seems that Jesus' own mother Mary was a widow by this time and Jesus knew the sorrow and loss that she felt.

I remember seeing a funeral procession in Nazareth and the body of the dead person was being taken to the cemetery in an open coffin. Something similar was happening in Nain when Jesus was passing by. So Jesus stopped and in his compassion and power he brought the dead son back to life to the amazement and joy of the mother and of the people in the procession. This is another reminder to us of the tender sympathy of our Saviour and of his willingness to help us in our times of sorrow and need. It is an encouragement to us to go to Jesus to pour out our hearts to him for he knows us, loves us, cares for us, and always wants us to trust him. What a privilege it is to be a Christian - to have Jesus as our Saviour and Friend!

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for this story and for the miracle of life-giving joy that we are told about here. Give me a compassionate heart like Jesus. Amen.

The Providence Of God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 10th August 2022

Passage: Acts 12:2

Chapter 12 of Acts is a vivid picture of what we call the providence of God. The word providence itself is not found in the Bible, but what it represents is found all through the Bible. The Bible tells us plainly that our lives (and the world at large) are not ruled by chance or by fate but by the will and purposes of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As we remember this it makes it easier to accept those hard, sorrowful things that may happen to us as well as rejoicing in thankfulness when things go well.

Here in chapter 12 of Acts we read of the brutal execution (by beheading) of the Apostle James, the imprisonment (and miraculous escape) of the Apostle Peter and the gruesome death of King Herod. All three events were under the providential rule of almighty God. We don't know why God 'allowed' James to be killed but we can believe that he had fulfilled all that God had wanted him to do. John, James' brother lived on until he was a very old man. Peter escaped from prison and death at that time and served God for many more years. Herod for all his power and vanity was struck down in a very public way as if God was showing him the cost of his cruel pride. God, and only God, reigns.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to understand that you have a loving providential care of all your people through Christ Jesus. Amen.

God — Our Teacher And Our Example

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th August 2022

Passage: Leviticus 19:2

The book of Leviticus is full of lessons — God was teaching his people how he wanted them to live. The people God was teaching lived in a world where they were surrounded by different tribes most of whom worshipped idols which led to evil and cruel behaviour. God was determined his people should be different because God himself was different - "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy".

What did this mean? God is the great example of what holiness means. In his case (God is in a class by himself) it means absolute purity; God is high above us, separate from sin and everything unclean; he is pure perfection!

So what does this mean for me if I am one of his people? Think of the sun shining down on a bright object. The sun's light is reflected and it can brighten up other objects that may be in the dark. So God's people have to reflect God's likeness — they have to have shining lives of purity, morally clean in heart and life — in other words they have to be holy for God is holy. This can be very hard in a society that may hate the things of God a society in which immorality, dishonesty, and lack of integrity comes to be acceptable. Chapter 19 of Leviticus is a very practical chapter of godly living and neighbourly love — holiness in action.

PrayerDear Lord, sometimes I feel very unholy. Cleanse me and keep me pure in heart and life. Amen.

One Sabbath Day In The House Of Mercy

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th August 2022

Passage: John 5:2

Bethesda means 'House of Mercy', and that was an appropriate name for this place in Jerusalem because it was full of people who had many different and severe health problems. Those around the place were blind, lame, paralysed, and some had been there a very long time.

Jesus visited this House of Mercy on a Sabbath day. No doubt Jesus had words of sympathy and encouragement for all the people at Bethesda but we read that he only healed one. Why only one? We don't know, but it may well have been because Jesus knew this one man had been an invalid for 38 years and had been at Bethesda for a very long time. Jesus asked the man 'do you want to be healed?' It sounds like a strange question yet we know that many paralysed people earned their living by begging. Perhaps this man wouldn't know how to cope with being healed.

Anyway we know that Jesus healed him and he walked away cured. Later on Jesus found the man in the temple. Was he there thanking God for the healing he received? I'm sure that he was. But then Jesus said to him "You look wonderful! You're well! Don't return to a sinning life or something worse might happen" (Vs 14, The Message). We don't know if the man's illness had been a direct result of his sin but Jesus clearly showed him how he should live a life from then on that was pleasing to God. We trust he did.

PrayerDear Lord, you have done so much for me. I thank you so much. Amen.

Joy Comes With The Morning

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 7th August 2022

Passage: Psalm 30:5

There are times in a Christian's life when things don't go the way he/she wanted. Yes, we do have good times of God's blessing and we find it easy to sing God's praises from a heart that is full of joy. But then we may find ourselves in a different situation — perhaps with illness or some danger or even when we feel 'out of sorts' with God.

At times like that we may well feel God is angry with us, distant from us, and that we have lost favour with him. Psalm 30 deals with situations like that. The writer felt at times that he was at the bottom of a deep hole. But then he says God lifted him up and he found that although God "gets angry once in a while, but across a life-time there is only love" and "the nights of crying our eyes out give way to days of laughter" V 5 (The Message). Joy comes with the morning!

The writer wants us to realise that life is not one great 'rosy day' when everything will go smoothly. There will be tough times, stormy days times when our faith in God will be tested. Yet he keeps telling us God is for us. He wants us to be happy with God. That is how he was when God answered his prayers during periods of feeling 'down'. And so it will be with us when we trust God completely. 'God filled my heart with gladness and clothed my soul with radiant joy. (Jim Sayers)

PrayerDear Lord, help me to trust you day by day and know you in my heart so that I will praise your name. Amen.

Words Of Bad Company

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th August 2022

Passage: Mark 7:20-23

When you read all the words in Mark 7:20-23, you get an idea of just how ugly and sinful people can become. And you will find that there are several places in the New Testament where there are other lists of the bad things that people did in those far off times and people do the same things today. The words Jesus uses in the verses above are similar to those the apostle Paul uses and that the apostle Peter uses: they are words of bad company - "vile things ... and make you unacceptable to God" (verse 23).

When we harbour any of these thoughts in our hearts we have to repent of them and ask God for his cleansing and grace in forgiveness. Remember that such thoughts are bad company and make us unacceptable to God. Surely we don't want to live like that ?

But how do we deal with someone who does live like that — a person who loves the ways of the bad company Jesus was speaking about. First of all we must pray for them. They need God's help as only he can give them a sense of shame and a longing to leave the bad company they keep and desire to live a clean life. We must love someone like that and show them our love — a caring love that will want God's best for them. It may be that such a person needs more help than we can give them, but we can help them find such help and by God's grace they may come to find in Jesus the cleansing forgiving Saviour they need.

The Angel Of The Bottomless Pit

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th August 2022

Passage: Revelation 9:11

There is a terrifying battle going on all the time between the great God in heaven and the forces of darkness and evil, egged on by Satan the destroying devil. This battle will one day come to an end. Satan will be destroyed for ever; Christ will be the glorious Victor.

The book of Revelation has many pictures which show us a lot about the battle that is going on between good and evil. It shows the terrible effects that evil can have, the misery it brings and the sorrow that comes with it. We should never forget that behind many of the bad things which happen in our world there is an evil genius Satan the 'angel of the bottomless pit', as he is called in Revelation 9. His name means 'destroyer' - the destroyer of all that is good.

While Revelation 9 has some things that are difficult to understand, one thing stands out. God's people cannot be destroyed by Satan. The angel of the bottomless pit has no power to harm those who are trusting in Jesus. That is a great encouragement.

Another thing that becomes clear is that many people just ignored God's warnings and pleadings. People did not repent of their sins and continued under the power of the angel of the bottomless pit. That is a terrible choice to make.

PrayerDear Lord, I pray you will keep my soul in your care for all eternity. Amen.

The Only True God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 4th August 2022

Passage: Isaiah 45:21

The passage from which this verse comes is a wonderful Gospel passage speaking about many people coming to plead with God for salvation. Many of the people spoken about had their idols of wood and stone, but they would come to the Jewish people to see if their living and true God would accept them. God's answer was that of course he would: "Turn to me all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other" (Verse 22). God wants all people to be saved.

But look at how God describes himself in verse 21: "a righteous (just) God and a Saviour." One meaning of God being a righteous or just God is that he can be trusted; he speaks the truth and tells only what is right (45:19). But one other great thing about this text is the fact that God has a way of being just and a Saviour at the same time.

We see this in a clearer way in the New Testament when God's perfect Son the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross. He took all the sin of all who put their trust in him and paid the penalty for that sin (God is just and he must judge sin) and so he became at the same time the Saviour. God is just so does not demand any more punishment for the sin of those for whom Jesus died. That is Gospel good news and it is the message God wants all people to hear. It is true.

PrayerDear Lord, as I thank you for Jesus, help me to spread this good news. Amen.

Bin It

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 3rd August 2022

Passage: Philippians 3:8

Popular in social media for a time was a Japanese lady who encouraged people to 'declutter' and get rid of things in the house: wardrobe, bookcases and so on. The charity shops became full and if something was not useful "then bin it"! No doubt the 'decluttering' guru was quite right in some ways.

Certainly when it comes to thinking of what is really important in our lives we have to keep a careful check to make sure we have our priorities right and we may well have to 'bin' things that can be spiritually bad or useless for us.

The apostle Paul had a massive clear out of stuff from his heart and life when he was converted. All the things he had been proud of before his religious zeal: his pride, his strict law-keeping, even his family connections with Judaism. He threw them all out as worthless things, because they had been keeping him from trusting in Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ became the centre of his life his most precious possession and he no longer put value on the inferior stuff of his former self-centred and proud rule packed religion. A personal trust in the living Christ was worth everything even if along with it would come suffering and even death itself. Is your faith in Jesus as real as that ?

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to trust you only and completely. Amen.

The Voice Of The Lord

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 2nd August 2022

Passage: Psalm 29:4

Psalm 29 is a joyful song of praise to our Creator God. The world he has made is full of 'the voice of the Lord'. You can imagine how David who wrote the psalm remembered the many times he had heard God's voice in the hills around his own home. Thunder and lightning were signs of God 'speaking' in a most majestic way.

David turned to poetry and music to tell us just how it is that the God of the wonders of creation is the God whom we and all the angels in heaven should praise and worship.

The psalm is also a reminder to us to look at what is happening in the world around us and 'listen' to the voice of the Lord speaking to us. God 'speaks' to us through the many good things we receive and for which we should thank him. But God also speaks through the tragedies that overtake people, maybe through illness, disasters and cruelties. God speaks through all of these, urging people to listen to him and come to trust in him.

The last book in the Bible Revelation tells us in several places of the voice of the Lord. The voice of the exalted Jesus is like the sound of a trumpet (Revelation 1:10) and the great voice of God on the throne of glory tells us how he will welcome all his believing people to live with him forever. Sorrow, fear and suffering will be gone for ever (Revelation 21:3 & 4). What a most comforting voice that will be!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to hear your voice and give attention to what you are telling me. Amen.

Christians

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 1st August 2022

Passage: Acts 11:26

Christians! There are many places in the world today where people who call themselves Christians are in grave danger. To be known as a Christian may indeed lead to their death or imprisonment or some other punishment. There are three places in the New Testament where the name Christian is used and it is worth taking a look at each of these places.

The first one was a very happy use of the word — the people who had become believers in Antioch were the first to be called Christians. Believing in Jesus Christ marked them out as being different.

The second time the word Christian was used it seems it was used as a deliberately offensive word. The King Agrippa said to Paul "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28). He thought that would be beneath his dignity.

The third time the word Christian is used it was used by Peter as he warned believers in Jesus of the suffering they might be subjected to "If anyone suffers as a Christian let him not be ashamed..." (1 Peter 4:16). It may well be that you will be insulted or rejected because you are a Christian. Our Lord Jesus himself suffered greatly — so he could save us. As a Christian you are identified with him and that is glorious in itself.

PrayerDear Lord, may I say or do nothing that will dishonour your name. Amen.

Looking With The Eyes Of God

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 31st July 2022

Passage: Luke 18:14

Haven't we sometimes said about someone "He/she is a big show-off"? One of the men in the parable Jesus told in Luke 18:9-14 was a big 'show-off'. He was very religious and he wanted everyone to know it; he was a religious leader and proud of it; he told God about all the extra-good things he did so God would take notice. He felt himself a 'cut above' the rest and had a place for himself to pray a bit apart from the other 'common' people.

The other man in Jesus's story felt he had nothing to boast about. In fact he was depressed to his boots. People called him a sinner and that was how he felt in his heart before God and he called out to God for mercy.

The story of these two men touched a raw nerve in several of those listening to Jesus — those who trusted in themselves that they were OK with God and who treated men like this 'sinner' with contempt.

But before we condemn people who think like that, let's take a look into our own hearts. How, do we think, God sees us? Does he see us as being 'show-offs', thinking we are better than we really are; purer in our thoughts, kinder with our own words, with a love for those crying out for salvation? Looking through the eyes of God may be a humbling experience one that we need!

PrayerDear Lord, forgive my pride and have mercy upon me. Amen.

Should I Ask God To Destroy The Wicked?

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 30th July 2022

Passage: Psalm 28:4

Jesus said "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). That's a hard rule to follow! We are more inclined to follow the Psalmist and pray "Give them according to the evil of their deeds"!

There is a disturbing tension there. You find it in several of the psalms where the writer pray for the destruction of evil men rather than their salvation (see Psalm 139:18 - 22). But let us take a second look to see what lies behind the Psalmist's prayers.

First of all he shows there is a clear difference between good and evil, between what God loves and what he hates.

The second thing is that those who wrote those psalms see what the evil people do as an affront to God like 'kicking God in the teeth' and they are outraged. You don't do that to God!

Again, these writers, like all the Old Testament believers saw a God's favour for his people and justice for the wicked in terms of this life. They wanted to see God punish wicked people now. But the Psalm writers always asked God to carry out his justice — they did not attempt to do it for him. And that is how we see things will work out in the end. The book of Revelation in chapter 20:11 - 14 shows clearly how God will finally judge the wicked and all wickedness.

So should I ask God to destroy the wicked? We should pray that he would destroy wickedness but that he would save the wicked people. Only God himself can ultimately do both.

The Lord Is Good

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 29th July 2022

Passage: Nahum 1:7

Nahum, the man who wrote the book that bears his name, was like many of the other prophets, content to stay in the background so that God and the truth of God would be in the foreground. So we know very little about Nahum himself but he shows us many helpful facts about the one true and holy God.

The Lord is good. That is a very strong statement and one that must have helped God's people when they heard this. You see, God's people were living in a very cruel and ugly world. Nahum writes about the city/state of Nineveh — a beautiful city but built on cruelty and aggression. In contrast to that, God is very different — He is good, he is powerful, someone to whom his people can turn in their days of trouble and find safety in him; he is like a strong tower which can stand solid against the enemy's attacks. Christians need such a strong and good God if they are to survive when Satan and his crew of tempters come against them. To live as a Christian is not easy but Nahum tells us that not only is God good (he uses a strong word) and powerful, he also knows those who take refuge in him. When Nahum says God knows these people he means that God fully understands their problems and temptations and so can help them in just the way they need. That is great to know.

PrayerDear Lord, you know the temptations that I face and how easily I can yield to them. Please help me to stay close to you and to fight the tempter. Amen.

The Real Thing

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 28th July 2022

Passage: James 1:27

It is easy to be religious. There are many religious people and there are many different religions. Jesus met many religious people in his day; people who claimed to worship God in a far better way than Jesus did! They criticised Jesus for breaking many of the rules that these religious people had added to the simple truth given by God himself — to love God wholeheartedly and to love one's neighbour as oneself. Jesus called some of these religious people hypocrites (see Matthew 23:28).

There are some religious people who claim to be Christians yet they deny the very basics of the Gospel. These were the people that James, who wrote the words at the top of this page, was speaking about. What God is looking for in those who claim to be Christians is quite simply a Christlike life. God can easily see hypocrisy and he hates that. He is looking for the' real thing' when we claim to be Christians. James shows what the real thing looks like - loving Christ, pure clean speech, caring for those who cannot care for themselves and keeping oneself unstained from the corruption that is in the world — a Christlike life. That is the' real thing'.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be a real Christian as I profess your name. Amen.

Only A Boy!

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 27th July 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 3:10

If you have time today read the whole of chapter 3 which will give you all the details in the story of God speaking to Samuel although he was only a boy. Samuel's mother Hannah had dedicated Samuel to God and she left Samuel, when he was old enough, in the care of the old priest Eli, to be a helper to Eli in the work surrounding the worship of God. Eli had two sons, both of them priests, but they were really wicked men and had little respect for God and the people.

In time, God by-passed the sons of Eli and chose Samuel to serve him as priest and judge in Israel. Later in the book we have this said about Samuel: "Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground." (1 Samuel 3:19). At the end of his life he was able to say to the people that he had walked before them as God's true servant from his youth until old age. He was God's faithful servant from the time he was only a boy. What a wonderful testimony to have!

There is a great lesson her for us. The old Sunday School chorus sang "I'm not too young to come to Jesus for he loves a little child." Indeed it is wonderfully true that Jesus loves the young folk and wants them to put their trust in him from an early age and he will keep them from so much harm and sin.

PrayerDear Lord, I pray that you will help us to encourage the children to give their lives to Jesus so that they may become 'samuels'! Amen.

Let Us All Sing To The Lord

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 26th July 2022

Passage: Psalm 27:6

Do you like to sing? Often people say 'O, I can't sing'. But that may be just an excuse! We can all sing and we should sing praise to our God, even if our singing may not be very tuneful! Singing praise to God is an essential part not only of our church services but also when we are alone — we make melody in our hearts to the Lord who has done so much for us.

David who wrote many psalms loved singing. From the time he was a boy he loved composing songs and with the accompaniment of his harp (today it would have been a guitar) he wrote many of the Psalms we still sing today (E.g. Psalm 23) Singing is a wonderful God-given gift for expressing our emotions, whether happy or sad. In church, our congregational singing should be a powerful expression of our sincere worship of the Lord our God "Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things" (Psalm 98:1) "I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music," said David in Psalm 101:1. "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live". (Psalm 104:33)

Sadly, sometimes we don't take our singing in church seriously enough: we allow our thoughts to wander and we just 'mouth' the words but think very little about what we are actually singing. We forget we are worshipping God. Let's have the enthusiasm of David and sing from the heart — gladly!

PrayerBless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (Psalm 103:1)

Is Not This The Carpenter?

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 25th July 2022

Passage: Mark 6:3

I think many people find it difficult to share their faith with their own family or friend if their family or friends are not Christians. They may be very dismissive of us if we try to tell them how they could turn to God and make him the Lord of their life.

Jesus Christ found the same problems with the people of his home town Nazareth. The people there knew Jesus very well. He was the local carpenter, probably having taken over the family business if, as we assume, Joseph had died.

Jesus was also well known in the local synagogue as he worshipped there every Sabbath day and he taught the people there. The people acknowledged that Jesus had great wisdom and that he had done miraculous works among them, no doubt healing people who were sick. But they said "Is not this the carpenter?" They dismissed Jesus because to them he was only a carpenter. Even his own family kind of dismissed him. Jesus marvelled at their unbelief (Mark 6:6).

The sad thing was that the people there missed out on great blessing because of their unbelief. We are told "Jesus could do no mighty work there because of their unbelief" (Mark 6:5). That truly was sad. If you find it hard to witness to your family and friends be sure to pray about it. Jesus understands — he has been there!

PrayerLord Jesus, I pray for my non-Christian friends and family and ask you to help me if I get a chance to tell them about you and how good it is to know you. Amen.

There Is No Racism With God

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 24th July 2022

Passage: Acts 10:34

It is one of those sins which we find common to people all over the world: people don't like other people who are different from themselves. Racism is such a well-known problem and it causes such bitterness, suffering and even open warfare. The hatred that can be found even in the most civilised countries, is usually caused by one racial group despising (and often fearing) another group.

Christians are not immune from having such racist views and it is sad when their behaviour shows this to be so. The Bible is very clear that this is sinful and unworthy of those who claim to follow Christ. There is no racism with God. After all, God who created the world and everything in it, "made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth ... that they should seek God ..." (Acts 17:26 27). There is only one Saviour for all mankind and those who follow the Lord Jesus are truly brothers and sisters in the great family of God.

One of the great 'pictures' we are shown in the Bible is of people "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9) and all of them were singing praises to the Lord. That is God's answer to racism.

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to know that each person is as precious to you as every other, as even me. Amen.

When God Speaks

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 23rd July 2022

Passage: Leviticus 1:1

When you read through the Book of Leviticus you soon become very familiar with these words, "The Lord spoke to Moses". All the direction for worship and the people's life as they travelled from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan were given when God spoke to Moses. We don't know exactly just how God did speak to Moses but Moses was very conscious of God's words to him and he carried out God's instructions in a most impressive way.

In a very real sense the whole Bible comes to us as from God's voice. The author of the book of Hebrews tells us, "Long ago at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:1). That is why we often refer to the Bible as God's Word. And just as Moses obeyed when God spoke to him, so we too must obey when God speaks to us as we read the Bible and think about what it is saying to us.

In the earliest pages of the Bible we read about God speaking at the creation of the world and when he spoke immediately things happened. For example in Genesis 1:3 we read "And God said , 'Let there be light' and there was light." God's words were in a very real way 'doing words'. He spoke and immediately things happened.

Now there is a challenge for you and me — to do what God tells us to do as we read our Bibles — and do it right away!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to hear your voice as I read your word and help me to obey it. Amen.

The Yoke Of Jesus Christ

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 22nd July 2022

Passage: Matthew 11:29-30

Jesus often had serious problems with many of the religious leaders of his day. It was not difficult to see the reason why. The religion which God had given to his Old Testament people was summed up by Jesus as "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... (and) you shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:37 - 39). But for centuries religious leaders had kept adding their own commandments on to what God had given with the result that their religion lacked love, it had become a fearful burden and had made a mockery of the way God wanted people to live and worship. It was for this reason that Jesus became angry with these religious leaders. They had placed an unbearable yoke upon the people.

In contrast to that Jesus called people to follow him. When we do follow Jesus we truly do begin to live the way God intended we should live, with hearts of loving trust in him, a glad obedience from hearts that have come to know his goodness and his mercy. Our attitude to others also changes — to love, even for those who oppose us.

This is the yoke Jesus wants us to carry. It is a yoke Jesus shares with us keeping our life in perfect balance so our religion is not a burden but a delight — a life of fellowship with Christ and of fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters. It is God's way for us to live.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to carry the yoke with you all my days. Amen.

Under The Cover Of Darkness

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 21st July 2022

Passage: John 3:1-2

John is the only Gospel writer who tells us about Nicodemus and then only in three places in his Gospel. Yet Nicodemus comes across as a really nice person, someone whom it would have been good to know.

When we first meet Nicodemus in the Gospel he comes to see Jesus at night, under the cover of darkness. He was a prominent Jewish leader, someone whose colleagues were very critical of Jesus but he wanted to ask Jesus some really important questions because he was obviously wanting to know the truth about who Jesus was and the message he was teaching. Jesus told him that he must be born again and how this can happen.

The second time we meet Nicodemus he is among his Jewish colleagues defending Jesus' teaching when the others were keen to condemn him without having asked Jesus to address them. Nicodemus was shouted down.

The third time is just after the crucifixion of Jesus when, along with Joseph from Arimathea (a Jewish city) he helped to carefully bury Jesus and put spices around his body. This took great courage on the part of these two men - both of whom had secretly been followers of Jesus but now showed openly their love and respect for him. How glad they must have been when, three days later, Jesus rose from the grave.

PrayerDear Lord, thank you for Nicodemus. Give me the courage to openly show my love for Jesus. Amen.

Walking In God's Faithfulness

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 20th July 2022

Passage: Psalm 26:3

Some of the greatest adventure stories through the centuries have involved people walking over such dangerous terrain as scorching deserts, high mountains, dense and sinister forests. The Bible itself tells of many adventurous journeys, very especially the journey of the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan.

David, the writer of Psalm 26 pictured himself on a journey, walking with God. He uses interesting words to tell us about his life. As he travels with God, David wants to be like God — God's steadfast committed love to him is the kind of love he aims to have in his own life. He wants his character to reflect the character of God.

David is also very aware of God's presence in his life, as if God were directing his footsteps all his journey through. "I walk in your faithfulness" he said. We read the same thing earlier in the Bible when God told Abraham to walk with him. There was to be a definite close relationship between the two of them. David was conscious of this too. God, the faithful God, the loving God walked with him to direct him in the way he should go. By his Holy Spirit in us as Christians God has that guiding help for us as well.

PrayerDear Lord, may I rejoice in your steadfast love and faithful guidance each day of my life. Amen.

They Have Their Reward

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 19th July 2022

Passage: Matthew 6:2

The Lord Jesus really disliked hypocrites, very especially those who tried hard to give people the impression they were very good and holy people.

Obviously Jesus had often seen people like that. Indeed that was what such people wanted — they were keen for people to see how they prayed, how they fasted and how they gave alms to the poor — they were very public 'holy' people. But Jesus called them hypocrites. And, said Jesus, if it is public praise they are looking for they will receive it - "they have received their reward", but they will receive no reward from God.

Of course the day of religious hypocrites is not past. We too can fall into the trap of being outwardly 'holy' people, putting on a good show in church or among Christian people while our hearts may be cold and indifferent towards God. But that cuts no ice with God. When Jesus says such people have their reward he is using quite serious language. It means the reward is full payment but for what? - an outward show which is of no value to God. God is interested in the serious business of what is going on in our hearts, the secret life of the true believer in Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, forgive me when I try to appear before people as a much deeper Christian than I am in secret before you. Amen.

Silence In Heaven

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 18th July 2022

Passage: Revelation 8:1

Heaven is not used to silence. The sound of music is everywhere as the heavenly crowds — angels and God's redeemed people sing the praises of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So what happened to bring about this tense silence? It was as if heaven itself was holding its breath for some momentous event. And it was right, for this was the beginning of God's final judgement of an evil world. The Old Testament foretold this as two of the prophets, Zephaniah and Zechariah both said that people should be silent as the great day of the Lord's judgment was approaching.

God's judgment seems something strange to us, something we just read about but don't take seriously — it feels far away and does not feel as if it all applies to us. But that is a false hope. God's judgment is real and the silence in heaven shows us what an awesome thing God's judgment is. And it is Christ who is in charge of the judgment of God upon the wicked world. It is the Lamb who is at the centre of all that is happening in this part of the Bible. The Lamb was put to death by the wicked people in the world and they still hate him. But one day all his enemies will be put under his feet. Jesus Christ is Lord and all heaven will declare his glory. Will we be among those who praise him and follow him ?

PrayerDear Lord, Help me to see just how serious and real your judgment is and to be ready for it by your grace. Amen.

More Precious Than Rubies

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 17th July 2022

Passage: Proverbs 3:15

People are fascinated by jewels. Crowns and coronets are often full of precious stones set in gold and silver to make them especially valuable. Rubies often go with diamonds to give contrasting colour to the sheer brightness of the diamonds. To the writer of the book of Proverbs, precious jewels were the best way he could use to describe wisdom. Wisdom is not the same as cleverness or smartness — some very clever people may be very bad people! But the wise person is a good person. The book of Proverbs gives lots of examples of what a wise person looks like. The wise person is careful, discerning, humble and above all loves God and trusts God with his very life.

The New Testament shows us that Jesus Christ is the ideal of godly wisdom and it is from him that we receive the wisdom to love and follow God. And all of this is very precious — like rubies. It is precious because it shows us the good life that is pleasing to God and also makes us truly satisfied.

Don't be fooled into thinking that being wise is just keeping up with the times, thinking like the people around you. The path of true wisdom is liking the things God likes and doing the things God wants you to do . God wants you to be wise, so he is ready to help you to be wise; to become more like Jesus - the wisest person who ever lived. That really is precious.

PrayerDear Lord, give me the wisdom that is from above, pure, peaceable, gentle and open to reason (James 3:15). Amen.

A Great Shoulder To Lean On

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 16th July 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:3

We all need someone we can go to in our times of distress, whether this may be physical suffering and illness, discouragement at work, or perhaps the loss of someone we love. We all need a shoulder to lean on, indeed to cry on. We need someone we can trust, someone who cares for us, who will comfort and encourage us in those dark times.

Paul had to contend with more problems than most of us will ever face and he knew the value of trusted friends who could share his burdens. He knew one friend above all others who cared, comforted and encouraged him. That friend was God - 'the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort'. Nine times in a very few verses Paul speaks about comfort; God comforting us, and we in turn comforting one another in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The word comfort itself is a many-sided word. It not only acts like a friendly arm put round us in a warm embrace to share our sorrow and pain. It is a word to help us pick ourselves up and get going again when we have been floored by life's hard knocks. Paul experienced such help from God and used this to assure others God will do the same for them. And now he is urging us both to put our trust in God when we are feeling low and then to share the good Lord's comfort and encouragement with our friends.

PrayerThank you Lord that you are the God of all comfort. Amen.

The King Of Glory

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 15th July 2022

Passage: Psalm 24:8

Too often our thoughts about what God is like are much too small. Maybe we think, "I wonder if God can do something or other for me?" Psalm 24 reminds us that God can do whatever he wants to do — he is the King of Glory, strong and mighty.

This psalm is a glorious acknowledgement of who God is and why it is absolutely right that we should praise him. Indeed the way the psalm is written in its original language stressed the point that God, the King of Glory is the rightful and fit ruler of the world which he has made. God is great, the almighty warrior King — and he is good!

The psalm is the celebration of several things but I want us just to concentrate on this one point about the glory of God. The glory of God is seen supremely in his holiness and his goodness as well as in his power and wisdom and his love. He is the God of creation and also the God of grace and salvation. So it is fitting that we should praise and honour God not only with our lips but with our obedience and our thankfulness. Even in times when suffering and sorrow come to us we can still be thankful to God because we know that nothing is beyond his control, nothing is beyond his love. He is the King of Glory.

PrayerKing of my life, I crown you now, yours shall the glory be Amen. (Hymn by J. E. Hussey)

The Storms Of Life

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 14th July 2022

Passage: Acts 27:14

July can give us hot sunny days and warm winds. But in winter we can have a period of storms. So often during such times the cold, wind and rain, sleet or snow get people moaning about the terrible weather. The warm sunny days of summer are soon forgotten!

Nowadays names are often given to big rough storms. The wind mentioned in the verse at the top of the page also had a name which is described as 'the north-easter', but was name Eurakylon. Even today sailors in the region where Paul was in a ship know that they must be careful of this wind.

Storms are often described in the Bible and they can be pictures of what sometimes happens to us in our lives — storms of illness, sorrow, disappointment can overwhelm us and we need help comfort and encouragement so that we don't get shipwrecked, as happened to Paul on three occasions.

The Gospels tell us of a severe storm on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus was in a boat with his disciples. The disciples, most of them fishermen, thought they were going to drown until Jesus rose and 'rebuked' the wind and the waves and there was a great calm. That is a wonderful picture for us in our storms of life. Ask Jesus to help, share your burden with him and look for guidance and comfort in the Bible, the Word of God. He care for you and he loves you.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to commit my way to you when I feel bruised by the storms in my life. Amen.

Who Would Have Thought It?

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 13th July 2022

Passage: Matthew 13:3

Who would have thought that a tiny grain of mustard seed, when planted, would grow up to be one of the largest of bushes that even birds could come and nest in it?

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is just like that. From the smallest of beginnings the kingdom of heaven has spread out into all the world with millions and millions of people who are' citizens' of that kingdom.

The phrase 'the kingdom of heaven' was a well-known way of describing the way in which the authority and word of God is being followed. Satan the devil has set up a rival kingdom and when Jesus came into the world he came to destroy Satan's kingdom and rescue people from it and take them into his kingdom.

In order to destroy Satan's kingdom and save his people the Lord Jesus had to go to the cross and die. But now through that death and his resurrection Jesus is establishing his kingdom, bringing a life of goodness, peace and joy to all who come to follow him. The day will come when all of Satan's kingdom will be destroyed and the kingdom of our Lord will be shown to all in its world-wide glory. As we enjoy worshipping God in church we experience something of what it means to live in the kingdom of heaven.

PrayerDear Lord I pray you will help me to live as a true citizen of your kingdom. Amen.

The Shepherd And The Host

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 12th July 2022

Passage: Psalm 23:1

This is the best known psalm of all the 150 psalms. Most of us have learned it from childhood and have loved it ever since then. It is a Psalm in two pictures, both of which show the perfect goodness of God. God is both the good Shepherd of his people and he is also the perfect Host, treating those who trust him as honoured guests in his house. Isn't that truly wonderful?

As the good Shepherd, God takes such care of his people that they are satisfied, guided, cared for when wounded, encouraged, and given courage to face the hard times in life; yes and they are disciplined gently to help them back on to the right road. Like sheep we can too easily go astray.

As the perfect Host, God treats us in such a special way that we are filled with wonder that the Lord of heaven should lavish such attention on us.

What does all this mean? It means that for those of us who are Christians, God has a special relationship with us. We are special to him. The almighty eternal God is a God of tenderness — caring and patient with those who are his children through faith in Jesus. It is both humbling and also wonderful that God loves us!

PrayerDear Lord, I am lost in wonder, love and praise as I think of all you are to your children. Amen.

Migratory Birds And Stubborn People

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 11th July 2022

Passage: Jeremiah 8:7

Twitchers are very keen bird-watchers. They will flock to any place where they can get a sighting of a strange-looking bird which may have got blown off its migratory course. Jeremiah certainly knew the habits of the storks, the turtledoves, the swallows and the cranes. These birds all flew over Jeremiah's land on their migration to the north and then to the south again. They knew just when it was time to do this.

Bird watching was one thing, but watching how God's people in Jeremiah's time were living showed a very sad picture. They stubbornly 'ran down the path of sin' (Verse 6). Our verse at the top of the page says 'they did not know what the Lord requires of them'. Of course they could tell you what God's laws were but they had no intimate concern for them — they stubbornly turned their backs on God. They listened to false prophets instead.

When people do that they end up disastrously. Sin is a very poor paymaster "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:2). Jeremiah warned the people about this; he pleaded, he wept and still they ignored him as he spoke God's call to sinners who kept running away from God. They didn't know what they were missing — the free gift of God's eternal life and the wonder of his grace and love.

PrayerDear Lord, I too have a stubborn heart. Turn me to yourself and to your ways. Amen.

Does Your Heart Ache Like This?

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 10th July 2022

Passage: Romans 9:2

Paul had an aching heart. He was a Jew who had come to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master, recognising Jesus as the promised Messiah from God. But, apart from a small number, the Jewish people rejected Jesus and handed him over to be crucified. Paul longed for his fellow Jews to repent and to believe in the Lord Jesus; he was even willing to be cast off from the Lord himself if it might mean that the Jewish people would come to Christ. "They're my family; I grew up with them" he said. His heart ached because they stubbornly rejected Jesus.

I'm sure we all have relatives, people dear to us, who have not yet come to the Lord Jesus in repentance and faith. Does this matter to us? Do we really, really care that these people we love so much are on the road to everlasting lostness away from God? Is your heart aching because of their unbelief? I speak to myself as I write these words and am challenged by them.

It mattered deeply to Paul as he thought about so many of his fellow Jews who were lost — lost in spite of all the spiritual advantages they had. Maybe your friends have also had many spiritual advantages but they still reject the Saviour.

Pray for them now and speak to them about this when you can.

PrayerDear Lord, I do plead for those I love so much, that they may come to know your salvation. Amen.

Opposition

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 9th July 2022

Passage: Ezra 4:4

Almost every day we get messages on the internet telling of bad things happening to Christians in so many countries throughout our troubled world. Churches are burned down, homes destroyed, Christians put in prisons, others lose their jobs. It seems the world hates the followers of Jesus.

Two of the Old Testament books Ezra and Nehemiah tell about the situation in Jerusalem when God's people began returning from their many years as prisoners in Babylon. One of the first things they wanted to do when they got back was to rebuild the temple which had been destroyed years before. But we are told that the people who had been settled in Jerusalem when the Jews had been banished tried to stop the temple being rebuilt. They tried to 'discourage and frighten' the people. How do you deal with situations like that?

How do we deal with opposition as we try to live as Christians in a non-Christian world? The people who opposed the rebuilding of the temple were called 'adversaries' - a word from which the word Satan comes. This means we must at all times pray for God's help. The rebuilding work went ahead in fits and starts. Patience was needed and also perseverance. Opposition will come but God's work will ultimately prevail. The temple was rebuilt.

PrayerAlmighty God, we pray that your Kingdom will be established throughout the world in spite of the opposition from Satan. Amen.

Count Your Blessings

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 8th July 2022

Passage: Psalm 21:3

When we pray our prayers are so often filled with requests. We keep asking God for his help his guidance our 'daily bread' and so on.

Psalm 21, a psalm of David shows us a good corrective to our always asking God to give us things. David takes stock of where he is and begins to sing a song of thanksgiving to God. He began to count his blessings which God had given him — he says "You meet him with rich blessings".

David had become a king and there were certain things he needed to be a successful king and God supplied all of them. We of course will have different needs but have you taken some time just to look at what God has given to you; how he has answered your prayers and have you thanked him?

One has said, "A thankful heart has a continual feast". That is very true because thankfulness really spreads happiness and contentment into our lives. The apostle Paul (when in prison) said "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). Paul was a great believer in giving thanks and what a difference that made to his life in spite of all the trials he endured! In Psalm 21 King David showed that same spirit of thankfulness.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to have a heart spilling over with gratitude for the many blessings I receive from you day by day. Amen.

A Tough Call

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 7th July 2022

Passage: Luke 6:27-28

Our Lord Jesus Christ himself showed us how this command should be put into action. Jesus wept over the refusal of the people of Jerusalem to believe his message just as they had refused to believe God's messengers the prophets in the past. Indeed they killed several of them just as they were going to do to Christ himself. Yet he loved them and prayed for them, even on the cross.

The followers of Jesus had to learn just how hard it was to love their enemies as they went out to preach the Gospel. Many of the apostles were killed. Paul suffered beatings, stoning and ultimately a cruel death. This has been a pattern throughout history. It is no different today for many of God's people. The world hates them and abuses them.

Jesus did have harsh word for those who blasphemed against God but he did not let hatred eat into his own heart. That is a very important thing to remember. Hatred destroys us if we give way to it. When people despise you for being a Christian and living in a Christian way pray for them love them in spite of what they think of you "This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived." 1 Peter 2:21 (The Message)

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I confess that I find it hard to love those who despise you and despise me as your follower. Give me the grace to love and pray for them. Amen.

Fellowship

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 6th July 2022

Passage: Acts 2:42

Fellowship is one of the great words in the Christian vocabulary. Think for a moment of a building going up and the bricklayer puts one brick on another and so on but suppose he didn't use cement. Very quickly the whole building would become unstable. The cement was vital to holding the building together. Fellowship is the cement that binds Christians together. If there is no real Christian fellowship in a congregation then that congregation is in deep trouble — it will collapse.

The Christians in the early church 'lived in a wonderful harmony' Acts 2:42 (The Message) and that is what we must want to have in our congregations too. There are many things that can prevent 'wonderful harmony' among Christians - for example, trying to bring ungodly things into the church or Christians taking part in ungodly practices with unbelievers.

But true fellowship can be seen when Christians love one another, help one another, pray for one another and with joy join with one another in the worship of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. There is also a bond of faith with Christians who may worship in other churches different from our own. True fellowship is grounded in our love and obedience to Jesus Christ.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to love the fellowship of your people. Amen.

The Glory Of The Lord

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 5th July 2022

Passage: Exodus 40:34

In the city where we live we are used to fireworks displays flood lit buildings and spectacular structures giving beautiful and bright displays of light.

The book of Exodus tells us that God made his presence known to his people by a special cloud by day and a fire by night and by a very special light which filled the place of worship into which the people would come to meet with God. This special light is described as the' glory of the Lord'. It must have been an awesome experience to have this spectacular light in the very centre of the place where the people of Israel camped on their journey to the Promised Land.

Many years after this this divine light shone in a different way. We read in 2 Corinthians 4:6 of 'the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ' (NLT). So God has come to us in the very person of the Lord Jesus. Glorious!

But we also read that the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of the glorious presence of Jesus Christ lives in us if we are Christians (2 Timothy 1:14). Now we not only read about the glory of God, but something of that glory has come to direct our lives and light up the way that we should live. That indeed is glorious!

PrayerDear Lord, May the light of your glory be seen in my life today. Amen.

The Authority Of Jesus

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 4th July 2022

Passage: Matthew 7:28

Authority! The very idea of authority can make some people react against it. We don't like being told what to do!

Jesus was often challenged about the things he did or said. People in the time of Jesus, just as in our time had a very negative view of authority.

However, wherever Jesus went people just had to recognise that there was an aura of authority about him. When Jesus taught the people they listened to his words because he spoke as one who had authority(Luke 4:32)

Jesus showed by his miraculous power that he had authority to forgive sin (Matthew 9:6). We find that with his authority even the winds and the waves on Galilee obeyed him (Mark 4:39 - 41). And he gave his twelve apostles power over unclean spirits to cast them out and heal people (Matthew 10:1). After his resurrection he said that all authority belonged to him and that he sent his church to take the gospel to all the world.

Now all of this is of real importance for us. Because Jesus Christ has such authority we must take his words seriously — they are for us. Remember he has the authority and power to forgive our sins. He also sends us out to tell others that he can do that for them too. Thank God for the authority of Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, I bow before your authority. Help me to obey you. Amen.

Pray For Your Leaders

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 3rd July 2022

Passage: Psalm 20:4

We all love to grumble at our politicians — even if we voted for them at election times! Of course they are just ordinary people like ourselves. Like us they make mistakes, they have to make decisions about important matters and like us too they need to listen to what other people are saying. Above all our leaders need God's help and we have a duty to pray for them.

Psalm 20 is a great example of people praying for their leader — in their case they were praying for their king as he was setting off to go to war. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul tells us that we should pray for our leaders - rulers and all who are in high positions. Many of those people may not trust God for themselves they may even be quite anti — Christian(as they were in Paul's day) but then we need to pray for them all the more! When leaders are good leaders and exercise their authority wisely then we will be able to live a "peaceable and godly life, dignified in every way" (1 Timothy 2:2-3)

In our own country we are thankful that we have freedom to worship God and to tell others about the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that our leaders will always allow this to be the case . Let us remember the many Christians living in countries where there is persecution and suffering and very little freedom to worship God.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be faithful in praying for the leaders of our land. Amen.

It Comes With A Guarantee

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 2nd July 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:22

When you buy anything of value it nearly always comes with a guarantee. The maker's guarantee is his pledge that what you have bought works if not it will be replaced.

When we come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we find that our salvation is a great work of God's grace and mercy. It is not something we have deserved - after all he only saves sinners! And when God saves us this comes with a guarantee. Indeed he gives us a double guarantee. First of all he puts his seal on us — that declares that we belong to him. Then he gives us his pledge or guarantee that what he promises will truly be ours. God does this by giving us the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts to help us day by day to live in a Christian way and to keep us looking forward to the life in God's nearer presence when we die. That life will be the wonderful fullness or completion of what life here as a Christian will be like.

Now this should be of great comfort and encouragement to us when we are facing difficulties — perhaps physical pain or the sadness of a loved one's death. The grace and the love of God never changes. The hard times don't mean we don't belong to him any more or that he is not pleased with us. His seal and his guarantee remain. We are his for keeps!

PrayerLord, help me always to keep in step with the Spirit you have given to me. Amen.

A Hard Place To Live In

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 1st July 2022

Passage: Revelation 2:12-13

Pergamum must have been a difficult place for a Christian to live in . It was a city of idols being home to four of the most important pagan cults in the ancient Roman world with all the influence and all the common immorality that went along with these pagan rituals. Pergamum was also the first city to build a temple for the worship of the Roman Emperor in 29 BC. From that time Roman Emperors claimed to be divine and had to be worshipped. Failure to do this often lead to the death of those who refused and many Christians were put to death for that reason. That is the reason we read in Jesus' letter to Pergamum: "I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is". This was a reference to the blasphemous claims of the Emperor to be divine. In Jesus' letter to Pergamum there is a mention of one Christian who was martyred there and in later years history tells us there were several more Christians put to death in that city. Truly Satan's influence was very strong and you had to be brave to stand up and be counted as a follower of King Jesus. This presents a real challenge to us today. Are we prepared to stand up for Jesus against the evil things that happen around us? To keep silent when we should speak out for the Lord is betraying the memory of brave men and women of the past(and present) who gave their lives rather than worship anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

PrayerDear Lord, give me courage to be a true witness for you. Amen.

We Are Building Day By Day

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 30th June 2022

Passage: Nehemiah 2:17

On my desk there is a magazine, and on the front page is a picture of a large castle. The castle is surrounded by a deep moat and there are high walls and towers all round it. It must have been a safe place to take refuge from invading enemies. The city of Jerusalem once had high walls surrounding it but these walls were not good enough to stand up to the mighty armies that attacked the city more than 2500 years ago. The walls were all broken down.

When Nehemiah was appointed governor of the city he set about repairing much of the city that had been in ruins for a long time, especially the walls. "Come," he said, "Let's build the wall of Jerusalem." And that is what happened, and it gave the people a great sense of joy and security to see the city with good walls again.

The New Testament is full of references to building and builders, all of them telling us about either the church of Jesus Christ as a 'building' or else as each of us as builders, building our lives day by day. If we are wise builders we will have Jesus Christ as the very foundation of our lives. Then day by day we can build up our life of faith and trust in him by learning more of the Bible and applying it to the way we speak to people and act towards them. Our lives will become stronger as Christians so that we can stand up to the attacks of the devil.

PrayerLord Jesus, give me the courage of Nehemiah to build a strong Christian life. Amen.

Blowing My Trumpet!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 29th June 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:31

We don't need to learn how to boast — it comes naturally. We boast about our favourite football teams, or about our skill at doing this or that. The truth is we really like to boast about something — we like to blow our own trumpet!

Paul the Apostle was often given to boasting or glorying, as it is often translated in some Bibles. The words mean the same thing. When Paul boasted about himself it was to make fun of himself - "boasting like a fool," as he writes in 2 Corinthians 11. But Paul loved to boast in Jesus Christ. In Galatians 6:14 Paul wrote, "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." The Lord Jesus was Paul's hero and he loved boasting about him and about all that he had done for him.

Many centuries ago a man named Ambrose was the leader of the church in the city of Milan. He was a fine Christian teacher. One of his good sayings was this: "I will glory (boast), not because I am righteous, but because I am redeemed. I will glory, not because I am free from sins but because my sins are forgiven me." Paul would have agreed wholeheartedly with Ambrose. So are we going to boast? Certainly not about ourselves. Of course we can cheer on our sporting heroes. But let us boast in the Lord Jesus for who he is and for what he has done for us.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, may I never tire of boasting in you. Amen.

The Glory Of God

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 28th June 2022

Passage: Psalm 19:1

The glory of God! It is good for us to remember just who God is and the majestic glory that belongs to him. We too often seem to take him for granted and just because we cannot see him with our eyes we tend to have a rather 'hazy' feeling about him. This psalm reminds us of two great truths about God which should always be kept in our minds.

First of all we should acknowledge the fact that God is the Creator of our world. "The heavens declare his glory" - the immensity and beauty of the sky should lift our eyes, our minds, our hearts upward in adoration and praise. The word 'glory' is a weighty word helping us to understand the power, the holiness and the sheer almightiness of God. He is gloriously unique.

The second great truth the Psalm teaches us is that the glorious God made himself known to us in a way we can understand — he has given us his law. This is not something to frighten us but to teach us — it is perfect and good, and for those who acknowledge God as their God, his law is a sheer delight and a sure pathway to live life well. It even makes the simple among us wise!

Prayer"May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Amen. (Psalm 19:14)

As A Christian Should I Give Away Everything I Own?

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 27th June 2022

Passage: Acts 2:45

This verse has caused quite a lot of worry to Christians over the years! Does it mean that, if I am a Christian, I should sell everything I own and give the proceeds to the poor? Is that what the Bible is telling me to do ?The answer is 'no', but to look carefully at your attitude to what you possess.

Poverty, real poverty, was very common in Israel at the time of the New Testament. This was especially true in Galilee. So the Christians sold what they could in order to help the poor people among them. Those who had houses obviously did not sell them because we read that the Christians gathered in each others' homes for fellowship, food and the Lord's Supper.

Christians today have to consider very carefully their attitude to possessions and the temptation to live in such a way that we do not think of the poor in our own country or in other lands. It is easy for us to become possessed by our possessions and to buy things that in all honesty we don't need and could easily do without. Prosperity must never become an end in itself but rather something to be use for the good of others. When our minds are set on things in this world we tend to forget to make a priority of heavenly things.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, we thank you that through you we become rich in every spiritual blessing. Amen.

Jesus' First Miracle

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 26th June 2022

Passage: John 2:11

John always calls Jesus' miracles 'signs'. They all point to some important aspect of his work in salvation which brings glory to God. It may seem strange to us that this miracle was Jesus' first and that he was so quiet about it. But then, Jesus was Jesus; he acted according to his own ways and always with a deep purpose in view.

Jesus and his disciples were at a wedding when the supply of wine ran out. The miracle which Jesus did at this time was to turn the water in six big stone jars into wine. This wine was obviously much better than the wine the wedding guests had had earlier. This was a lot of wine but wedding feasts in those days often went on for a whole week.

The miracle had three effects:

Firstly it saved the host of the wedding feast a great embarrassment.

Secondly the miracle confirmed to Jesus' disciples that Jesus really was who he said he was, the Son of Man, which was a way of saying he was the Son of God.

And the third thing — always what the signs or miracles pointed to — was the glory of heaven that truly belonged to Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I pray that I may rejoice in the glory of who you are. Amen.

The Lord Is My Rock

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 25th June 2022

Passage: Psalm 18:2

Years ago in Israel we took a cable-car to the top of Masada. Masada is a huge flat-topped hill rising abruptly from the desert floor near the Dead Sea. We can't tell if David actually hid on this rocky mountain but the word he uses in Psalm 18, when he called God his rock, literally says "God is my Masada!" So whether David ever did go to the large rock in the desert we will probably never know. But what we do know is that David found God to be the safest 'place' he could go — his precious rock, Masada, to which he could run when his enemies chased and hated him.

The great thing is that we too can run to God in our times of trouble and distress. God is our "Masada" just as he was to David. When we are Christians we are encouraged to cast all our cares or worries on the Lord because he cares so much for us. Later on, in Psalm 55:22, David says, "Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you." In the New Testament the message is the same, when Peter says: "Casting all your anxieties on him (God), because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Isn't it such a wonderful thing to have our own great Masada — God our Rock - to which we can come in all the hard times of our life and find comfort, encouragement, love and mercy? No wonder David could say: "I love you, O Lord, my strength... my rock." (Psalm 18:1)

PrayerDear Lord, help me to find my safety in you during the hard times. Amen.

I Saw The Lord

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 24th June 2022

Passage: Isaiah 6:1

What an amazing vision Isaiah the prophet received when he saw the Lord God on his throne in the heavens. It was such an awesome sight that I am quite sure it remained with Isaiah for the rest of his life, and most certainly would have impressed him with the glory and majesty of God.

You know, it is really worth our time to spend some moments every day just thinking about who God is and what he is like. It is easy for us to forget just how glorious God is, just how powerful God, is just how holy God is. And it is worth remembering too that God knows us personally, just as he knew Isaiah.

Notice what Isaiah felt like when he saw God: "Woe is me," he said, "For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips... for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." (Isaiah 6:5) How would you feel coming face to face with the holy God? I'm sure we would (and should) feel unclean, and as we remembered all the bad things we have said and done, we would feel ashamed. But Isaiah found that God was able to make him clean. In mercy his guilt was taken away and he became useful to God to tell people all that God wanted them to know.

PrayerLord, in your mercy, make me clean and remind me of your holiness. Amen.

Hold Your Tongue

Reader: Kathryn Martin

Date: 23rd June 2022

Passage: James 3:6

"Hold your tongue!" Sometimes that was said as a rebuke by a parent to a cheeky child but it is also a good piece of advice for all of us. James, who wrote the letter from which the verse above is taken, has some really sound advice about what we speak. He knows very well how our words can hurt people or can tell things that should be kept private. As Christians we have to be especially careful about the words we speak. One reason for this is that our words show the kind of people we are. The Apostle Paul said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) Do our words always show that kind of character? It makes you think, doesn't it?

James, in his letter, shows us very clearly just what a real mess can be caused by a 'loose' tongue; words that don't reflect the fruit of the Spirit. These words can be boastful, they can spread like a fire and cause much hurt and damage.

The book of Proverbs is full of advice for us to listen and hear what wise people are saying to us — listen before we speak! James says, "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger..." (James 1:19) So, let us hold our tongue until we are sure that what we are saying is true.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to watch my tongue so that what I speak will be truly like Jesus. Amen.

Having Good Success Wherever You Go

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 22nd June 2022

Passage: Joshua 1:7

Wouldn't it be great if everything we tried to do turned out really well? If you are a baker you would have no more flat cakes; if you are a student you would have an A+ every time; if you are a footballer you would never miss a goal - 'good success wherever you go'. Joshua could say at the end of his life: "Not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord has promised concerning you." (Joshua 23:14)

But along the way he experienced failures — not because God was not able to make things turn out all right, but because the people disobeyed God's instructions, or Joshua himself didn't ask God for his help and advice before he acted. Yet God was faithful and he did what he promised, and at the last Joshua and his people were secure and happy in their own land.

We too may find that things don't turn out the way we wanted. This may be due to our own disobedience to God, or to other people's opposition to our Christian beliefs, or just because God has something big to teach us through our troubles. God knows all about it, and he cares for us. So even those bad times of disappointment or sorrow may be turned to good as we learn to lean and trust on the Lord every moment of the day.

PrayerHeavenly Father, help me to lean on you for your help and advice for every thing I do in my day. Amen.

The Apple Of God's Eye

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 21st June 2022

Passage: Psalm 17:8

When David, who wrote many of the psalms, asked God to keep him as the 'apple of his eye' it shows just what a close and homely relationship he had with God. He knew that although there were many difficult problems in his life, yet he could trust God to help him to deal with them. God would keep an eye on him and protect him.

The 'apple of the eye' refers to the pupil of the eye, the most sensitive part of the eye, indeed of the whole body. When someone calls you the apple of their eye it means you are really special to that person. Early on in the Bible, in Deuteronomy 32:10, God says that his people Israel were kept as 'the apple of his eye', and David wants that special and secure relationship with God to be his too.

It is a really great thing to know God in such a way that we can speak to him as David did and be sure that God loves and cares for us because we are special to him. And of course every follower of the Lord Jesus is special to God — He loves us, cares about us, keeps his eye upon us and he will never let us go. That means we should enjoy speaking to God in prayer, sharing our thoughts with him, speaking to him as David did about all the things we don't understand and which cause us problems. God answers our prayers. He speaks to us in the Bible and through his people.

PrayerDear Lord, keep me as the apple of your eye, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

This Little Light Of Mine

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 20th June 2022

Passage: Mark 4:21

We have by the fireside in our house a little lamp which we bought in Israel many years ago. It is just the kind of lamp Jesus would have referred to in the verses in Mark 4:21-25. Jesus loved using stories and word pictures to get across what he wanted people to hear and think about. He said: "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand." (Mark 4:23).

When we do listen to Jesus and take his word seriously we will realise that what he has to say is truly important for us and for other people as well. As we take Jesus' teaching into our hearts and as we follow him as our Lord and our Saviour then he gives us a great work to do — to let our light shine - that is, to tell others what Jesus wants them to know too.

Our little light by the fireside will not give much light when compared with the electric lights we are used to today. However, in the time Jesus lived on earth there were no big lights in most houses and the little lights shone out brilliantly in the darkness. So, no matter how young we may be or how old, Jesus wants us to shine out for him and the truth he wants everyone to know about him.

Do you know the children's chorus: "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine"?

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to shine out for you by the way I live. Amen.

Very Ordinary Men

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 19th June 2022

Passage: Acts 2:7

Galileans! In the days when Jesus walked this earth many people dismissed him as someone unimportant. Why? Because he was a Galilean — he was Jesus of Nazareth (in Galilee) and people turned up their noses and said, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" So it was that on the day of Pentecost people were completely bewildered that Galileans of all people should be speaking in the languages of the many people in Jerusalem at that time. Galileans were country folk who spoke with a very distinctive accent, but not usually foreign languages!

Throughout the history of the Christian church, God has often used very ordinary people to be his great proclaimers of the Gospel. Paul the apostle said that in his time: "...not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth." (1 Corinthians 1:26). They were just ordinary people, as were most of the disciples of Jesus. Of course God often does use some extraordinary people to spread the Gospel message to people across the world. But for the most part he does this through ordinary folk who are happy to spread the Gospel to their friends as they live and work together. And as we see from these Galileans, very ordinary men can change the world for Christ when the Holy Spirit lives in them.

PrayerDear Lord, take my ordinary life and use it for your glory. Amen.

The Baptism Of Jesus

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 18th June 2022

Passage: Matthew 3:13

The baptism of Jesus was unique. Here he was at the river Jordan among a crowd of people who had come to be baptised by John the Baptist because they needed to repent of their sins. John's preaching had warned people of God's judgment upon their sin; a judgment, he said, that was coming soon. He called on the people to repent. Many responded and they were baptised as a sign of their repentance. But why was Jesus there? Jesus had not sinned; he did not need to repent of anything. John was taken by surprise that Jesus came to be baptised.

Jesus knew he did not need to repent of sin but he did want to be identified with the sinners he had come to save. The baptism of Jesus marked the beginning of his public ministry which eventually took him to the cross as he took all the sin of all those who repent of their sin and trust in Jesus for their salvation. John the Baptist himself called Jesus: "The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

As Jesus rose from his baptism, God his heavenly Father confirmed that Jesus was his Son. The Holy Spirit came to him and Jesus was sent out on his great journey to save all who would follow him. Isn't it wonderful that Jesus is still saving sinners today?

PrayerDear Lord, as you identify with sinners you came to save, may I truly identify myself with you as my Saviour. Amen.

The Right Way

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th June 2022

Passage: Psalm 16:11

Psalm 16 is, on the whole, a happy psalm. This is quite remarkable because it is probable that David wrote the psalm when he was in hiding because King Saul was searching for him in order to kill him. He begins the psalm by saying: "Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you." (Psalm 16:1, The Message) Well, David found true security in God — see the text at the top: "Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way." (Psalm 16:11, The Message)

Do you ever wonder if you are on the right way in your life? Sometimes we give in to temptations that seem fun at the time but end us up in disappointment and difficulty. Life can be full of choices — who to be friends with, what job should I apply for, is it wrong to take strong drink or drugs when everyone else seems to be doing it? Elvis Presley wrote a song and the end of the first verse had some really good advice : "Put your hand in the hand of the man of Galilee." That's just what David did and he found that God led him in the right and good way. Jesus, 'the man of Galilee', said he had come to give us life — abundant and full life — and to show us the right way by following him.

When you wonder what you should or should not do, ask yourself: "What would Jesus do? Can I honestly take Jesus with me into this place or company?" He shows us the right way.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to take your hand so I will go in the right way. Amen.

The Throne In Heaven

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 16th June 2022

Passage: Revelation 4:3

Sometimes we wonder if the world is going crazy. There are earthquakes and tsunamis, climate change and the weather seems odd all over the world. We read of wars and terrible suffering in many places and even the politics seem to be so different from what they used to be. We live in a crazy world. Or do we?

In the last book of the Bible we learn a lot about the world we live in, and we learn that the world is not out of control. There is a throne in heaven, with one seated on the throne. God is in control. The book of Revelation reminds us that there are many and powerful evil forces in the world. The sin, suffering and even the seeming disorder in climate and weather are affected by these evil forces. But God has not lost control of things. This book of Revelation was written to encourage Christians many centuries ago when they were suffering under a very cruel and godless empire. They were reminded that while the world hates God and his people, the evil forces will not have the final word. God is on the throne and time and time again we have seen over the years how the evil forces have often destroyed themselves. But while much evil continues, God assures us there is a victorious end for him and his people. Evil will be confined to hell and God will live gloriously with his those he loves and who love him, in heaven.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to remember that you are in control of all things. Amen.

Idols In Their Hearts

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 15th June 2022

Passage: Ezekiel 14:3

Idols in their hearts! What a striking phrase that is, and one that describes the hearts of many of us. We tend to think of idols as things which people make to worship and bow down to. But God was very clear to Ezekiel that idols can be set up in our hearts and minds and we worship them.

There are many idols of this kind which we can set up in our hearts — thoughts about being rich, about immoral desires, about things we want to buy but can't afford, and especially anything that comes before God in our hearts and desires. One Christian said that "idolatry is anything that cools your desire for Christ."

Notice what God said about those who had idols in their hearts: "They have embraced wickedness that will destroy them." That is always true. If we put anything before God then we are on a dangerous road. The 'idols' never deliver what they promise; they deceive us. Jesus said: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things (which we need) will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

PrayerMake this verse of a hymn by William Cowper your own prayer: The dearest idol I have known — however much adored — help me to tear it from your throne, and worship you as Lord. Amen.

The Cult Of Personality

Reader: Kathryn Martin

Date: 14th June 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:12

Every day we are used to hearing about 'celebrities' - people who make the headlines for one reason or another. People idolise pop stars or sports stars or film stars. People in the days of the New Testament were no different. In the Roman Empire they even had their star gladiators.

This 'cult of personalities' even crept into the Church. In Corinth the congregation was divided. Some members thought Paul was great, others favoured Apollos and some, Peter. Some, probably feeling rather superior, said they followed Christ!

You find this kind of thing in today's churches as well. There are popular preachers — the 'stars' of the Christian scene. Paul says this kind of thing ought not to be in the church. The emphasis must always be on the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course God uses different servants in different circumstances and some preachers are better communicators than others. Some are effective evangelists, some good teachers, but there should not be any jealousy among them and there should not be any favouritism among the congregations. God's servants are there to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and we need to pray for them and encourage them all.

PrayerDear Lord, help us to focus on the Gospel, so that there may be no division among us. Amen.

Who Is On God's Guest List?

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 13th June 2022

Passage: Psalm 15:1

One of the greatest privileges we could ever experience is found in Revelation 3:20 when Jesus said, "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you." (The Message) Imagine that, Jesus comes to eat with us! Indeed he comes to stay with us for food when we invite him into our hearts.

Now, in Psalm 15 we read of another great privilege — coming into God's house. Imagine being invited to have a meal and spend a while in God's presence. Would you respond to such an invitation? Well, we read in this Psalm about who the people are whom God likes to be his 'guests' in his holy place. Let the Message translation of the Psalm show us the kind of folk God wants in his company: "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbour; despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe." (Psalm 15:2-5) These are the people whom God wants to be in his presence; they will stand unashamed before him.

This is a challenge to us about the kind of people we are; the kind of life we lead. Would God include you in his guest list? The wonderful thing is that God himself helps us to develop our Christian character so that we become acceptable to him.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to live more and more like Jesus so I can be your guest. Amen.

Persecution And The Church Of Jesus Christ

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 12th June 2022

Passage: Acts 8:3

Who would have thought that Saul of Tarsus would have become Paul the Apostle? This young man, as proud a Jewish believer as you could find, just went enraged in his efforts to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. But for all his efforts to obliterate every mention of Jesus Paul failed miserably. Yes he did put some people in prison, but while he was doing that, other Christians went off to other places to escape him and there they carried on preaching the Gospel (Acts 8:4).

Persecution and suffering has been the difficult experience of Christians and the Church of Christ down through the ages. The same hatred that was shown to the Lord Jesus has been shown to his followers for many different reasons. But all of the reasons stem from the same root — the devil hates the Lordship of Jesus Christ the Son of God and he uses many disguises to try and ravage the Church and those who belong to it. However, just as God changed Saul's life and he became a great servant of the Lord Jesus, so it has often been the case that the more the church has been persecuted, the more it has actually increased. This is still happening in our time in such countries as Iran, China, Turkey and many more. It is true that Christians in these lands do have a tough time but they are on the victory side. Let us remember them in their suffering and pray that God will help them to carry on preaching the Gospel.

PrayerDear Lord, comfort your persecuted Church with your presence and courage I pray. Amen.

You Can Trust What You Read In The Bible

Reader: Kathryn Martin

Date: 11th June 2022

Passage: Luke 1:1-4

Perhaps you have sometimes wondered if what you read in the Bible is all true? Over the years many people have taunted Christians by casting doubt on the Bible, especially when it claims to be the very word of God (see 2 Timothy 3:16). Luke, who wrote the Gospel, is acknowledged to be a very careful writer, an educated man and a doctor, who accompanied Paul on many of his travels. Luke dedicated his Gospel to a nobleman called Theophilus, and he explains three very good reasons why he wrote the Gospel. These three reasons can apply to all that we read in the Bible.

Reason 1: Luke tells us that he received his information from eyewitnesses.

Reason 2: He said he had written an orderly account of the doings and sayings of Jesus. This means that Luke is writing a proper and trustworthy record of what the eyewitnesses told him of the life of the Lord Jesus.

Reason 3: Paul tells us he wrote so that Theophilus, and indeed all of us, can now have certainty about the teaching of Jesus. Just as Theophilus could be certain that what Luke wrote to him was true so we may also trust not just what Luke wrote but the whole of the Bible. The Bible is a unity and one part helps to interpret another. It is all written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is God's word.

PrayerLord, I thank you for the Bible. Help me as I study it. Amen.

The Fool

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 10th June 2022

Passage: Psalm 14:1

I don't think any of us would like to be called a fool! This would be especially true when we look at those the Bible calls fools. We often think of a fool as someone who is just 'daft' or silly, or even a person who hasn't got a clue about something. But, although there are several words in the Bible for the fool they are all serious words showing us that a fool is not just 'daft' but he or she is bad. The word in Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 describes a person called a fool who is wrong in how he thinks about God and morally wrong in the way he lives. He is not a nice person to know. It is usually the case that when a person does not believe in God that person will not live a morally upright life because he thinks there is no one to see what he does or to judge him anyway. In the New Testament we see that when people threw out God, they also threw out the way to live a good life.

The opposite of the foolish person in the Bible is the wise person and the Bible says that the very beginning of wisdom is to acknowledge that God exists and he is interested in all that we do. "The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man..." (Psalm 14:2). The Bible says, "The fear (or respect) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... " Remember it is foolish not to trust God.

PrayerDear Lord, may I never despise your wisdom but live by its instruction. Amen.

The Years The Locusts Have Eaten

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 9th June 2022

Passage: Joel 2:25

I once heard the story of a man who had been visited over the years by a missionary from the London City Mission. Every time the missionary urged the man to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ the man refused to listen. The man reached the great age of 100 years and on that birthday he yielded his life to the Lord Jesus. He said, "Isn't it wonderful that here I am at 100 years and I have accepted Christ?" Yes it was wonderful, but think of all the years and opportunities he had wasted, living without the Lord Jesus, living only for himself.

That old man's story is not unique. Too often so many people hear the Gospel, are challenged by it, maybe become convicted of their sin and their need for salvation but let these opportunities pass them by and they remain unsaved. And so often when eventually they are converted they regret bitterly all the years when they resisted Christ - "years that the locusts have eaten". But God gives wonderful encouragement to someone like that. God says to them, as he did to Israel a long time ago, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten" - those wasted years. God will give such a person work to do no matter how long they have rejected God's grace, even if they are 100 years old! While many people come to God while they are still young, yet some of the finest Christians I know were converted later in life and lived for Jesus in such a useful way, making up for the years they had lost.

PrayerDear Lord, help me not to waste time but to use my time for you. Amen.

Roots

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th June 2022

Passage: Joshua 2:1-2

When you start looking into your family history you may find rather surprising facts. Many families have found 'skeletons in their cupboards' - ancestors who did strange things, or who were born in surprising circumstances or places.

At the beginning of the book of Joshua we are introduced to a woman called Rahab. It seems she didn't have a great reputation to begin with. But Rahab and her family became joined to the people of Israel when they entered the promised land of Canaan. After some time Rahab married a Jewish man called Salmon. It was from their family line that Boaz came. Boaz married a fine woman called Ruth and their great grandson was King David. Very many years later Rahab was mentioned among the ancestors of Jesus Christ (See Matthew 1:4-5)

Who would have thought that a woman of Rahab's reputation — and she was a Canaanite, not one of the people of Israel — would have special mention among the ancestors of Jesus? Indeed Rahab is mentioned another two times in the New Testament for the way she helped the people of Israel when they entered into the land of Canaan. It all goes to show that when we attach ourselves to the Lord God and his people, it does not matter what our background is but what counts is our faithfulness to Him. Rahab became a woman of faith in God.

Who Are The Real Saints?

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 7th June 2022

Passage: Philippians 1:1

Saints! What do you think of when you are asked who or what is a saint? Usually we have a picture in our mind of an ancient figure in flowing robes, a halo about the head, and often in a stained-glass window! Well, that is not quite what the Bible has in view. Indeed that's not at all like what the Bible has in view, for the Bible knows nothing about individuals being called saints, or about halos, or about elevating some Christians to a special idea of sainthood.

In five of Paul's letters in the New Testament he writes to the saints who lived and were members of the congregations to which he was writing. The saints were quite simply the Christians in these congregations. If Paul were to be writing to your congregation today he would start his letter in the same way — to the saints...

Why then are Christians called saints? It is because they have answered God's call to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and become faithful followers of the Saviour. They become separated from worldliness and love holiness. They also enjoy the fellowship of other believers in Jesus, and so that is why Paul always speaks of saints in the plural; they are family. So, 'the saints' is a collective noun for the real people of God.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be a true saint in your family. Amen.

A Promise Is A Promise

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 6th June 2022

Passage: Joshua 2:14

A promise is a promise. We have all made promises of one kind or another, and maybe when we look back we realise that we have failed to keep them. We should feel ashamed! It is better not to make promises than to make them and break them.

The people involved in the incident in Joshua 2:14 were the three spies sent out by Joshua. Rahab was a woman from Jericho. They made promises. The spies said they would save Rahab and her family when Jericho was attacked, and Rahab promised to protect the spies and let them get safely away. As it turned out, all of them kept their promises, with a very good result.

The Bible is full of God's promises. He made many promises to Joshua and the people of Israel, and Joshua said near the end of his life, "You know... that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass..." (Joshua 23:14)

Paul the Apostle said about the Gospel, "This is the life God promised long ago — and he doesn't break promises." (Titus 1:2, The Message) God never lies; with him a promise is a promise! Remember that when you promise to do something. As Jesus said, "Don't say anything you don't mean." (Matthew 5:33, The Message)

PrayerDear Lord, please help me to be a trustworthy person who does what I have promised. Amen.

How Long, O Lord?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th June 2022

Passage: Psalm 13:1

"Patience, patience conquers nations" we say. But it is sometimes very hard to be patient, especially nowadays when we have so many instant things from coffee to news. There are times when we even become impatient with God. He doesn't seem to answer our prayers right away!

In Psalm 13, David, who wrote the psalm, became very impatient with God. Four times he asks God, "How long, O Lord?" It was as if he was saying, 'Lord, you have ignored me long enough'. Maybe we have thought the same thing but were too afraid to say it out loud? Yes, David did have his troubles, as we do too.

But if you look at the last two verses of the psalm, you find David has changed his tune. His troubles have not gone away — there are always troubles and difficulties to be faced. But David's view of God has changed; he remembers the relationship he has with God, and God's unchanging love for him, and the salvation God has given him, and just how good God has been to him in so many ways.

So what does he do? He says, "I will sing to the Lord". Yes, the troubles are still there but David's focus is not now on them but on God who is with him in the troubles. There's a good lesson there for you and me.

PrayerDear Lord, I can be so impatient with you. Forgive me and help me to focus on you and not on my wants. Amen.

Enter By The Narrow Gate

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 4th June 2022

Passage: Matthew 7:13-14

Not many politicians will stand for election on a programme offering the electors 'blood, sweat and tears'. People don't want that — they want a programme of good things to make them happy and put them at ease.

Jesus Christ pictures life in two ways — like two different roads, and we have to make a choice as to which one we will travel on. There is an easy road — it is broad, easy to find and you can take as much luggage as you like, such as being self-centred and leaving God out of your life. It seems a free living, carefree road but it turns out to be a dead end, "a highway to hell" (New Living Translation of verse 14).

The other way Jesus mentions may well turn out to be a 'blood, sweat and tears' path because people who want to travel on it are often looked down on and persecuted by those on the broad road. But Jesus advises us to get off that broad way as soon as we can. "Enter the narrow gate," he says. Yes, it's a narrow gate so you have to travel light — no baggage, only a basket of good fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 6:22-23). That way may be tough but Jesus will travel with you — and it is the way of life, a full life, and a life which will never end. It is life in Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, lead me through the narrow gate in your company. Amen.

A Crafty Way To Escape A Mob

Date: 3rd June 2022

Passage: Acts 9:25

Poor Paul seemed always to be in trouble! Indeed before he became a Christian he caused a lot of trouble among the believers in Jesus and after he became a Christian himself, God told him he was going to suffer much for the name of Christ. And that certainly proved to be true. In the course of his Christian life Paul escaped death by the skin of his teeth on a number of occasions. He had rocks thrown at him, was beaten and flogged, shipwrecked and chased by a mob many times. In Damascus there was a mob baying for his blood and they were helped by the town guard. But Paul and his friends outwitted them, so that while the mob kept watch at the city gates, Paul's friends let him down in a basket through an opening in the city wall and he escaped. Crafty!

But why did Paul bring all this trouble on himself? The reason is found in the work Paul was doing. Paul wanted people to know the good news about Jesus, that he is our Lord, and they must know too about the judgment of God on sin, how Jesus came to save us from its punishment, and that Satan would finally be destroyed. Satan hated Paul and what he was doing. The Romans, who worshipped idols, also hated what Paul was doing, and sinful people hated him too. Paul was probably the greatest servant of Jesus Christ who has ever lived and so the ungodly world just hated him. He suffered so much. But he suffered gladly because it was all for Christ who meant everything to him.

But Why Me?

Reader: Kathryn Martin

Date: 2nd June 2022

Passage: Exodus 3:11

If we had a Hall of Fame for the most influential people who have ever lived then Moses would be right in there in the top ten! The life story of Moses is well known, from his birth and rescue from drowning in the river Nile to his death in an unknown place in the land of Moab.

But what I want us to think of just now is the question Moses asked God after God had said to Moses, "I am going to send you to Egypt to bring my people out of there." And Moses replied, "But why me?" We may think that it is a bit rude to say that to God! But isn't it just the sort of response we make when we are asked to do something — something God wants us to do for him? For example, when we have a friend whom we know needs to be challenged about his/her lifestyle and we know we should tell them about Jesus and his power to change and help us. But we may think someone else would be better to do that than me! That's what Moses thought — but God didn't. God knew Moses was the right man he wanted for the job, and you may very well be the person God wants for whatever he brings to your attention to do. We can make loads of excuses, but if we do we will miss loads of God's blessings through our disobedience.

But Moses did take on the job and though it gave him a hard time, God went with him every step of the way. You will find that too if you do God's will.

Keep Sunday Special

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 1st June 2022

Passage: Matthew 12:8

There have often been arguments about what we should do or not do on Sunday. Sunday is often referred to as the 'Christian Sabbath'. In the Bible there is no mention of Sunday as such; rather it was called the first day of the week or, as in Revelation 1:10, the Lord's Day.

If we remember that Sunday really is the Lord's Day, that gives us a good idea as to how we should think about it. In the Old Testament, the Fourth Commandment as mentioned in Exodus 20:8 tells us to: "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy". The first Sabbath day was when God had finished his six days of work of creation and he 'rested' on the seventh day. Sabbath is a word that relates to rest. There are many times in the Old Testament when the Sabbath is mentioned and there are some in the New Testament as well. We are guided about what we should do on the Lord's Day by remembering that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath in the sense that he wants us to put away all false 'dos and don'ts' and to concentrate on what is important.

There are three great important things to remember about how we spend our Sundays. One is the opportunity to worship the Lord. In heaven we will just love to praise and worship the Lord. And since Jesus rose on a Sunday, it reminds us of his resurrection. So it is a day of joy and gladness, worshipping the Lord who rose again. Secondly, it is a chance to do good and to have fellowship with other Christians. And thirdly, it is a time for busy people to relax and rest.

PrayerDear Lord, thank you for Sunday.

Lost In Wonder, Love And Praise

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 31st May 2022

Passage: Hebrews 12:2

If you have ever used a microscope you will know how it helps you to concentrate on something that may be very small, leaving out other things that don't concern you at the time.

In the same way if you use binoculars to look at something far away, you ignore all that is near in order to get the focus on something far away, perhaps a special castle or a wild animal or whatever. When that object comes into view you look at it intently.

When the writer of the book of Hebrews wrote to encourage the Christians of his day, many of whom had had a hard time as they followed Christ he wanted them to have one object in view. He advised them to look to Jesus. His words are very emphatic — gaze upon Christ, cut out all the things that can distract us and discourage us — just keep looking to Christ The writer gives good reason for us to look to Jesus — he is the foundation of our faith, he is the "completer" of our faith he is the one who died for us and endured all the shame and suffering that involved; and it was all for us.

So when we feel discouraged or tempted by things that are not pleasing to God, let us focus our attention on the Lord Jesus and, as the hymn puts it, 'the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace'.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I am surely 'lost in wonder, love and praise' as I look to you. Amen.

Precious Words

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 30th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 12:6

For some years in Edinburgh there was a jeweller's shop which was called 'Fabulous Fakes'. Jewellery that looked a if it was studded with diamonds or rubies was in reality just studded with clever look-alikes of little real value.

In Psalm 12 the writer David felt surrounded by people who claimed great thing for themselves and made great boasts of what they could do and they seemed to pour contempt on godly people. But these people were like the 'fabulous fakes'; their words were of little value. Indeed David says, 'Everyone utters lies to his neighbour'.

But in the middle of all this evil there were words which David could trust - genuine, precious words. These were the words of God. They were precious like the purest silver because they were true and David could trust them and be encouraged by them.

God has given us his precious words in the Bible. He says, "Every part of Scripture (the Bible) is God-breathed and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Message)

PrayerDear Lord, thank you that your words are genuinely precious, true words. Amen.

Are You Listening?

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 29th May 2022

Passage: Revelation 2:7

Do you find that very often when you are speaking to someone you realise that they are not really listening to you? Preachers can get that feeling as they look at their congregation! If only one could read the people's thoughts, no doubt some would be thinking of their Sunday lunch or what shopping they need to do on Monday morning, or even what the person in the seat in front of them is wearing! They may be hearing the preacher, but they are not listening. As we might say to children when we want them to take on board what we are saying, 'Focus!' many a preacher would like to say that too!

When Jesus sent messages to the churches we read about in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 he had very serious message for them — some of praise, some of warning, some of sharp criticism. To every one of the churches he said 'are you listening to me?' "He who has an ear, let him hear".

This message applies to us as well. When we read our Bible we can very easily forget all about what we have just been reading. We were not really listening to what God was saying to us. If we become good listeners of God's word then we will become good doers of God's word and that is pleasing to God. The Bible says we are blessed when we listen to God's wisdom, so pay attention.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, you know all about us and you know that our thoughts often wander when we read the Bible or hear your Word preached. Help us to listen attentively. Amen.

Are You At The Best School?

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 28th May 2022

Passage: Proverbs 1:7

Are you at the best school? And I should also ask are you an attentive pupil? The best school is one that each of us can attend and it has the best teacher anyone could have. In this school there is an emphasis on knowledge, wisdom and guidance. Of course the best time to start in this school is when we are very young but one of the great things about it is that we can we can even start attending it when we are very old and we can keep attending it all the days of our life — life-long learning.

There is one main textbook and that is the Bible.

The knowledge we learn is the knowledge of God, not just to know about him but to come to know him in a personal way by trusting him and obeying him.

The wisdom that is taught shows us the greatness and the holiness of God. To get this wisdom we have to be humble before God and be willing to have our minds turned to what God's word, the Bible, teaches us. It points us to the Lord Jesus Chris for salvation and forgiveness.

The guidance we receive is how to live each day in a way that is pleasing to God. The Lord Jesus Christ is our great example in this.

PrayerThankyou Lord Jesus for being the Way, the Truth and the Life that I should follow. Amen.

The Mighty Hands Of Jesus

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 27th May 2022

Passage: Hebrews 1:3

When we visited Israel many years ago one of the things that struck me most was the fact that Jesus Christ actually lived and walked and worked in the very places we were able to visit — Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, Galilee. Jesus was a real person and, we are told, he went about doing good.

Among the many good things Jesus did was to heal sick people and blind people and he even brought dead people back to life again. And one stormy night on the Sea of Galilee Jesus even calmed the strong wind and the angry waves with a word. Jesus was a real man but he was also really divine — God the Son.

It may be easy to think of Jesus as a man, even as the divine man who can do miraculous things. But our picture of Jesus must never confine him to being just a very special man. The words at the top of our page tell us the utterly amazing truth that Jesus actually holds up, sustains, the whole vast universe by his powerful word. Remember how he calmed the wind and the waves on Galilee with a word — that was the word of his power. The old spiritual song says, "He's got the whole world in his hands". That's true. And those same' hands' can hold you and direct you when you need his help. He is powerful and he is good.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to trust you and your powerful word. Amen.

The Pain Of Knowing I Am A Sinner

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 26th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 38:18

Psalm 38 is a sad psalm and tells of the pain that David the author was suffering. It seems that his whole body was aching and that his friends just didn't understand the reason for his distress. But David himself tells us just why he was in such agony. It was not really because of severe physical illness but it was because of the sense of his sin in the sight of God who is holy and who hates all sin and iniquity.

David was not an ungodly man. He trusted God and knew that salvation comes from God alone. It was because David knew God so well because he knew the holy character of God and how God hates and judges sin that he felt this awful pain when he disobeyed God. He felt he had failed an let down the best friend he ever had.

If we are Christians then we too should take any sin in our lives very seriously. Remember God does hate our sin. If we think seriously about who God is then we will feel the pain of sinning against him. We cannot think lightly of sin if we think rightly of who God is.

But God has given us this wonderful promise: "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong" (1 John 1:9 NLT)

PrayerDear Lord, forgive and cleanse me from all my sin, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Good News In Tough Times

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 25th May 2022

Passage: Acts 8:4

There is a well — known saying "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"! That is exactly what happened to the Christians in the days of the early church after Jesus had gone to heaven after the resurrection. We read of this in Acts 8 The believers in Jesus were shocked when the godly man Stephen was murdered. This sparked a period of bitter persecution in Jerusalem and the areas round about. The persecution was led by a young man called Saul of Tarsus and many Christians fled from Jerusalem.

However instead of bringing about the collapse of the young church it actually led to the Gospel spreading far and wide. How did that happen? Because wherever Christians went as they were scattered from Jerusalem they preached the Good News of the word of God. No doubt people would ask these strangers why they had come to settle in places where they were not known. We are told that they then passed on the Gospel and God in his goodness added new converts to the church. Tough times — but the Good News spread.

That is a real challenge for us wherever God has placed us. Do we too spread the Good News? We don't need to be preachers or theologians. What we do need to do is what these early Christians did. They just spread the Good News of God's word wherever they went.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to tell others about Jesus and his love. Amen.

I've Found It!

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 24th May 2022

Passage: Luke 15:10

I'm quite sure we have all lost something at one time or another and searched everywhere trying to find it. If it is something really important and valuable then we look very carefully and what a relief when it eventually turns up!

Luke chapter 15 is one of the happiest chapters in the Bible because while Jesus tells us of things and people who were lost he also tells us how they were found and how even the angels sang with joy when the lost were found.

Jesus loved teaching through stories — what we call the parables. Here he tells about a sheep that was lost and then its shepherd found it; a coin a woman lost and searched for and found, and a son who was lost and then found. The point of these parables is to show us, among other things, how God longs to find and save those who have not yet believed in him and trusted him. The shepherd searched for his lost sheep the woman searched for her lost coin, the father waited longingly for the return of his lost son. What joy and relief there was when all three were found! Jesus himself tells us that he came "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:1).

That surely lets us see that God knows our need of salvation is so important and urgent. He even sent his Son to look for us and even to die for us. And it shows us also how God rejoices when sinners like ourselves are saved — heaven sings!

PrayerDear Lord, Thank you for sending Jesus to find me and to save me. Amen.

The Bruised Reed

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 23rd May 2022

Passage: Isaiah 42:1-3

When you are walking through a field or pushing through long grass and reeds going down to a river's edge you don't pay much attention to whether or not you trample on the grass or squash some of the reeds beside the stream. We may not think the grass and the reeds are important — we just plod on!

In the book of Isaiah chapter 42 is very important because it gives us the first of four 'Songs' about the Servant of the Lord — the Old Testament's portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ. The final Song in Isaiah 53 describes in amazing detail the sufferings and death the Lord Jesus would undergo hundreds of years later. In this first Song we are told some really encouraging details of the character of our Lord Jesus and one of these is his empathy with those Christians who find life hard and whose faith may be very fragile at times. The picture of the grass and the reeds comes in here. Jesus is someone who will care for and restore a reed someone has trampled on and bruised. He will comfort and encourage every Christian who is in need of his help. Jesus said those who mourn will be comforted. He went to the home of Martha and Mary to comfort them over the death of their brother. On another occasion he said "come to me... for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29).

PrayerDear Lord, when my faith is weak, help me to remember that you always care for me. Amen.

When God Smiles On My Soul

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 22nd May 2022

Passage: Romans 5:1

Peace with God is a very precious gift. Just how precious it is can be seen from the whole of Romans 5:1 from which I have quoted just three words above. One translation of the whole verse goes like this: Therefore since we have been made right in God's sight by faith we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has don for us. (New Living Translation)

Peace with God is a life of spiritual freedom — freedom from the power the punishment the guilt of our sin — all because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We receive this gift of peace through faith — that is by accepting the fact that it is Jesus who makes us right in God's sight and not our own efforts to try to make ourselves presentable to God.

One Bible scholar William Hendriksen has said that this peace with God is "The smile of God reflected in the soul of the believer. That is beautiful; when God smiles on my soul!" This everlasting peace, as certain as His (God's) name, is sure as God's eternal throne: unchangeably the same." (Horatius Bonar). And all because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for that smile of yours on my soul. It is a precious gift to know that my soul is safe because of what Jesus has done for me. Amen.

One Rotten Apple

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 21st May 2022

Passage: Joshua 7:1

People say "One rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel". Rottenness spreads and can do great damage.

In the story told in Joshua chapter 7 we read of a "rotten apple whose name was Achan. He did a wrong thing in hiding away for himself and his family some precious goods from Jericho which God said should have been destroyed. Nobody saw Achan stealing the stuff so he thought he had got away with it. He would have been very pleased with himself and no doubt he and his family made sure the word didn't spread about what he had done. So did his sin keep within the family? No. Someone did see what had happened and this did not just affect Achan and his family it affected all Israel. They failed to capture the little city of Ai and some of their soldiers were killed.

You see God had been watching over his people and he saw Achan sinfully stealing the stuff that everyone knew should be destroyed. God had already told the people that when they sin there are consequences — bad things will happen; there is always a price to pay. Not only does our sin affect ourselves; it can bring down God's judgement on families and communities as well as on ourselves. One rotten apple can create much harm.

PrayerDear Lord, I pray that you will help me not to sin so that others may not be hurt. Amen.

Here I Stand!

Reader: Tom Davis

Date: 20th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 11:1

One of the great moments of history occurred on 18th April 1521 when the reformer Martin Luther had to appear before some of the most powerful leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the most powerful ruler in Europe to answer for what he had written against the Papacy and the abuses in the church at that time. When challenged to apologise and acknowledge that he was wrong Luther with tremendous courage said "It cannot be right for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand, and can say no more: God help me. Amen". That moment changed the history of Europe and eventually that of the western world.

It takes courage to stand up for Jesus Christ against those who do not follow him or the truth of God which the Bible makes known to us. David the psalm-writer was tempted to run away from the trouble that was surrounding him. But he said he had run to the safest place in the world "straight to the arms of God" (v1). That is still the best place to be and that is where we find the courage to take a stand for Jesus.

Do you know someone to whom God wants you to speak a word of Gospel truth but you are nervous about it?

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to have the courage to stand up for you and to tell others about the Gospel of your grace and salvation. Amen.

Foundations

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 19th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 11:3

Very many years ago my grandfather built a house on the family croft. He was a good craftsman, a stone-mason, and he built a good house. If you visit that croft today there is a fine modern looking house there but it is built on the same foundations. Good foundations are so very important.

In Psalm 11 David was worried about the way things were going in his country. Saul the king was trying to hunt him down and kill him; but he didn't know who he could depend on things were so bad. The foundations of the nation seemed to be destroyed. But then David pulled himself up — men were certainly doing bad things; his life was in danger but that was not the whole picture. God was still on the throne and was seeing and judging all that was going on. "The Lord's throne is in heaven, his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of men." (Psalm 11:4)

There are many bad things happening in the world of our day; people's actions and words often show their contempt for God and his ways. We are tempted to wonder if God is aware of these things. Of course he is and his day of judgement comes to all people. "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne" (Psalm 89:14), and those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to stand firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ and his truth. Amen.

Traditions

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 18th May 2022

Passage: Mark 7:8

"But we have always done it this way". That is a common reply when someone suggests we do things a bit differently whether it is in church, at work or at home. Of course there are usually good reasons why people did things the way they did. The great reformer John Calvin wore a hat in church — because it was draughty and there were pigeons in the building! That didn't start a tradition, but many other things that well-known and loved church leaders have done have come to be the way everyone does them, and so trying to change this can cause trouble. Jesus found this to be true when he and his disciples did things differently from the way the religious leaders of his time did them. And these leaders made their traditions (however good they may have been when they were started) to be more important than the teaching of the Word of God itself.

This danger is still with us. Sometimes the way we do things was started long ago and for a good reason but it may no longer be necessary in our day. We must never allow tradition to get in the way of the Word of God but at the same time we must not trample tradition under our feet simply because it is old. We have to be sensitive to those who have' always done things this way' and we need to have a good reason for changing things.

PrayerDear Lord, Help me to see how best we can worship you in our situation now. Amen.

Walking And Leaping And Praising God

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 17th May 2022

Passage: Acts 3:8

You can imagine the reaction can't you if someone came in to the church service 'walking and leaping and praising God' at the top of his voice? The scene in the Jerusalem temple must have been just as startling and unusual. People were used to giving money to a disabled beggar at the temple entrance; but now here was that same fellow going daft inside — but he had never walked before let alone leapt! The great change came when Peter and John told him they had no money to give him but they had something infinitely better so that he would never need to be a beggar again. Peter said to him "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" Peter took the man by the right hand and helped him to his feet and immediately he was healed and followed Peter and John into the temple praising God and creating a fuss! No wonder the people were filled with astonishment at what had happened.

As people gathered around Peter and John and the healed man Peter began to preach telling the people that it was through Jesus that this man had been healed — Jesus who had been crucified but whom God had raised from the dead. He urged people to believe in the Lord Jesus.

Jesus still works miracles. It is by his power that people are converted and brought to faith in him for salvation. Has that miracle happened in your life yet? If not ask Jesus to come into your heart.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, come into my heart so that I may know the joy of your salvation. Amen.

Always The Safest Route

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 16th May 2022

Passage: Genesis 12:4

People are getting used to having Sat Navs in their cars to help them find their way to where they want to go. This is especially good if they have never been to the place they want to visit. But sometimes things go wrong. We hear stories of big lorries being directed down very narrow lanes and they end up being stuck at a dead end! You always have to be sure of your route.

God called Abram to leave his home and to go on a journey. So far so good. But where was he to go? "I will show you the route as you go" God said to him "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. It is interesting to follow Abram on his journey as he faithfully followed God's instructions. But there were times when Abram listened to instructions that did not come from God and then things went wrong — like the lorries ending up stuck at a dead end. Then we find God patiently guiding Abram back on to the right road again.

God calls each of us to follow him. He has given us the best 'Sat Nav' in the shape of the Bible and he has even given us a special Guide in the person of the Lord Jesus who said "I am the way (the road), the truth and the life" (John 14:6). And Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit who he promised "will guide you into all truth" (John 16:3). Abraham (God added a bit to his name!) believed God and God blessed him. Follow his example — it is always the safest route.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to follow you. Guide my life I pray. Amen.

How Bright Are You?

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 15th May 2022

Passage: Matthew 5:14

One of the many books I have enjoyed reading was a book about the Stevenson family who became famous as the builders of many of the lighthouses around the dangerous shoreline of our country. Some of these lighthouses were built in situations that called for tremendous engineering skill and courageous workers and lighthouse keepers. The great benefit of these lighthouses was that they warned sailors about the dangerous rocks on which many ships were wrecked before the lighthouses were built. But a lighthouse is only useful if its light is working and shining out into the darkness warning sailors to avoid danger.

Why does Jesus call Christians' the light of the world' A long time before Jesus came into the world God called his people to be a light to the nations so that his salvation would reach the ends of the earth. In the same way Jesus wants our lives to shine brightly by living a godly life that will let people see clearly how God is working in our lives. God wants us to shine for him and by doing this to open up to others "You'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)(Message)

So the challenge is how bright are you? Do people see God's brightness in your life and actions? So many people live in the darkness of their sinful lives. You shine for God and that will be used by God to lead them to Jesus THE light of the world.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be a light for you to help people to come to Jesus. Amen.

From Rags To Riches

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 14th May 2022

Passage: Matthew 5:3

We are always interested in stories where someone who is born into poverty rises above his background and through effort becomes rich. Jesus Christ speaks about people who were the' blessed ones' and they were poor indeed the word that was used by Jesus describes them as being extremely poor. But Jesus was not speaking about people who had no money or possessions; he was referring to people who realised they had absolutely nothing good in themselves to make them acceptable to God. They realised their nee for him to help them. They realised they needed to see that their only hope of being saved was to depend on God's mercy alone.

The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 - there are eight of them — all have to do with people who have decided to put themselves under the reign of God and to live out their lives with God as their King and Lord. When we do this, all the riches of God's kingdom become ours — the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus, the riches of God's mercy, the riches of God's steadfast love. And all of this will make us rich in every way so that we then can be generous in passing on the message of God's rich grace to all who need to hear it.

Rags to riches! It's the story of every Christian because we had nothing to bring to Christ except our sinfulness but in the richness of his mercy he gives us new life in the kingdom of his grace. If you are a Christian thank him now.

Was There Ever Such A Question As This?

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 13th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 22:1

Was there ever such a question as this? The writer of Psalm 22 was a prophet. With the inspiration of God's Spirit he was seeing into the distant future to the very day of Jesus Christ's death on the cross when Jesus cried out to God "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" What is the answer to that question when Jesus knew a terrible sense of being abandoned by God? Jesus was forsaken so that none of his children would ever need to utter such a cry of forsakenness. He came to experience the awfulness of being abandoned by God as he took the place of sinners so that they might be saved. So who delivered up Christ to die in such a way? "Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy; but the Father, for love". (O Winslow).

How deep the Father's love for us how vast beyond all measure,
That he should give his only Son to make a wretch his treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss; the Father turns his face away,
As wounds which mar the chosen one bring many sons to glory
(S. Townend)

God's way of salvation for sinners like us was indeed a costly and terrifying way for our Saviour and costly too for the Heavenly Father who gave his only Son. The more we come to appreciate this the more we will want to give our life to serve and praise him.

The Church I Go To

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 12th May 2022

Passage: Revelation 1:20

"Which church do you go to? or "Do you go to church?" These are questions we quite often ask someone and usually we mean the congregation they attend or don't attend as the case may be.

Our verse at the top of the page tells of a vision the Apostle John had and it included a' picture' of the great Church of Jesus Christ. We find that the one Church is made up of individual churches (or what we would call congregations).

Each congregation is a small but true picture of the one great universal Church of our Lord. At least that is how it should be.

In chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation we find letters from Jesus to seven churches (congregations) and they show us how easy it is for a congregation to develop practices which are not really showing what the true Church is like. Or perhaps the congregations fail to do what they should be doing to show the world a true picture of Christ's great Church.

This should make us look seriously at our congregations to see if they are true to Christ's picture of his Church where his word is believed and practised where his people love each other and where the Gospel is proclaimed so that seeking sinners are pointed to the Saviour. Jesus holds us to account.

PrayerDear Lord, help us to be true members of your Church. Amen.

Only The Best Will Do

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 11th May 2022

Passage: Leviticus 1:3

Once I read of two American business men who were visiting Korea. There they saw a young farmer pulling a plough, guided by his father. The Americans mentioned this to the missionary of that area and he told them that the father and son were Christians, and that they had sold their only ox and given the money to help build a new church. "What a sacrifice", said one of the Americans. "That's not the way they look on it", said the missionary. "They count it a great joy that they had an ox to give to the Lord's work."

The book of Leviticus in the Bible is full of references to sacrifice and to the animals to be brought for sacrifice. It is always said that the animals had to be "without blemish" or defects. Only the best would do.

The New Testament tells us in different places how God sent his only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, "as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God." (1 John 4:10, The Message). He is the perfect Lamb of God. God's own precious Son — only the best will do!

If we are willing to give the best we have to the one we love the most, think of how God must have loved us — we who did not even love God until in his mercy he loved us first and gave his very best for us. What does God want us to give to him? Only the best will do!

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for Jesus my perfect, precious Saviour. Amen.

First The Bad News, Then The Good News

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 10th May 2022

Passage: Romans 3:23-24

Fake news! It would be nice to believe that we are not sinners and that God is pleased with us and would never turn us away from his heaven. Now that would be fake news! The truth is that we are sinners — every one of us an while we are still sinners God is not pleased with us and not one of us will find a place in God's heaven. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard. That is not false news, it is bad news.

But it is not the end of the story — there is good news, indeed amazingly good news. Jesus Christ came into our world to save sinners by taking on himself all our sin with its guilt and shame and he died in our place on the cross. Why? He paid the penalty for our sins. Why did he do this? It is God's pure gift of love. "He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ" Romans 3:23-24 (The Message).

That is the Good News; it is the Gospel, "The way that God sets things right and makes it possible for us to live in his rightness. Romans 3:26 (The Message)

Because it is God's gift — we call this' grace' - we don't have to earn it. We have to accept it thank him and live in the light of it day by day.

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for the good news of salvation for a sinner like me. Amen.

A Noble Theme

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 9th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 45:1

It does your heart good to hear a great song sung well by a big choir. All the voices are balanced so that the harmony comes through and you just feel you were there among them singing your heart out!

Psalm 45 is a great song. It is a love song, a praise song and it was meant to be sung by a good choir. No doubt there would have been all kinds of musical instruments adding to the joy of the occasion for the psalm was first written for a wedding. The psalm is praising a king on his marriage to a beautiful princess. But the psalm has an even greater subject than the marriage of a local king — the noble theme is about the Ideal King who would come at the right time to be the great Saviour of the people of God. That Ideal King is the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians we love to sing the praises of our Lord Jesus and so we should remembering that he is the eternal Son of God and King of the universe. Yet he humbled himself even to go to the Cross as the Lamb of God who died in our place.

Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high;
Here they trusted him before us -
Now their praises fill the sky:
'You have freed us by your blood
You are worthy, Lamb of God!'
(John Newton)

PrayerLord Jesus, help me to praise you as I ought to do for all that you have done for me, and help me to crown you as the King of my life and give you all the glory, Amen.

Imagine Being Known As A Hypocrite!

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 8th May 2022

Passage: Acts 5:3

"You're a hypocrite!" If someone said that to you, I'm sure you would be hurt especially if they were referring to something you said or did about your faith in Jesus Christ. A hypocrite is someone who tries to deceive people into thinking they are better than they really are.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira were like that trying to make other members of their congregation think they were more generous than they really were. They were hypocrites.

Peter obviously discovered their hypocrisy and he took it very seriously indeed. He saw it as the work of Satan in the hearts of Ananias and his wife and saw their hypocrisy as lying against the Holy Spirit. God is the God of truth he hates lies and Peter knew that if such hypocrisy were to be tolerated then the church would be shown to be unfaithful to God and to Christ; to the truth itself.

Both Ananias and Sapphira paid an awful price for their hypocrisy. It was a dire warning that deliberate sin must not be tolerated among the people who claim to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly these two people are forever known as hypocrites. If they had confessed their sin and sought forgiveness it would have been so different for them. Unfortunately that did not happen.

PrayerDear Lord, take away any hypocrisy from my heart and life, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

The Unforgivable Sin

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 7th May 2022

Passage: Matthew 12:31

Many people become worried i case they have committed the unforgivable sin. It is important therefore that we think about this and really understand what Jesus means when he speaks about sinning against the Holy Spirit. Remember that the great work of the Holy Spirit is to give people a clear view of who Jesus is, and to call people to the salvation that is found only in Jesus Christ.

When someone comes to know all about Jesus but who persistently and deliberately refuses to believe in him for salvation then that person will not be forgiven. If someone is worried that they have committed this sin then that is a sure sign that they have not committed it. It is unbelievers "who deliberately and unchangeable reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit in calling them to salvation who commit such a sin. Christians do not commit an unforgivable sin.

It is a terrible thing when someone sets out deliberately to set his heart and mind against God and against Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Such a person will have to stand face to face with God one day when he will find out the awful truth that he will have to spend eternity suffering God's rejection of him as he had rejected God.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to pray for my friends who as yet reject the Gospel. Amen.

It's Great To Sing God's Praise

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 6th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 57:5

Many of us know the first question and answer of our Shorter Catechism: "What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end (the purpose for which we are made) is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever."

Too often we spend much time thinking about ourselves our talents our abilities and we put God in the background of our lives. We forget who God is and we forget who we are as well! God is the eternal Creator of the universe and the great One who will one day judge each person who has ever lived. We are to live remembering that God has created us and the chief purpose for which he has created us is for us to bring glory to him and to tell others of the great God he is.

When God asks us to give glory and praise to him he is not being proud or selfish. Rather he knows that when we sing his praise it is then that we forget ourselves; we leave behind our selfishness and self-centeredness and we become truly happy. The way we do this is to remember the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself to die on the cross for us. He has been exalted to the highest place in heaven and we are privileged to join everyone in heaven and on earth to declare that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. You will never be so happy as when you are singing the praises of our Saviour God.

To him be all the glory! Amen.

When God Hides Himself

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 5th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 10:1

These words form a cry from the heart that has been echoed by many distressed Christian people over the years. "O Lord, where are you when I need you most?" (NLB)

Does God really hide himself from us and leave us to face the toughest times of our lives by ourselves? The answer to that question is an emphatic' NO'! God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. But there are times when we may feel the force of persecution or times when things just seem to go wrong for us and we become depressed. These are times when we need to persist in our prayers that God will help us — and make us know that he is helping us.

One famous hymn has helpful verses which go like this:
You fearful saints fresh courage take,
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
(William Cowper)

PrayerDear Lord, help me to trust you even when I cannot 'see' you. Amen.

A Good Renewal

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 4th May 2022

Passage: Joel 2:25

Do you live with regrets over some things you have done in the past or words that you have spoken which may have caused hurt and even broken friendships? Such things can haunt us and really blight the life we are now living.

God knows how to deal with that kind of problem. He had to deal with it many years ago when the prophet Joel was writing his book. God does not want us to be weighed down by the sins of our past. He does not want us to live with a heavy cloud of judgement hanging over our heads and to waste our lives by going over and over our sins.

God wants us to truly repent of our sins and to turn from them. We confess our sins we turn away from them and we are truly sorry for the way our sins have made us guilty before God and maybe before others as well. The glory of the Gospel is that when that repentance turns us to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ God in his mercy forgives our sins takes away our guilt and makes us clean. He gives us a new life a life that is better by far than all that went before and he can make us really useful to him in the days ahead. It is a life restored from the "years that the swarming locust has eaten."

What a wonderful blessing that is and what a wonderful God who makes it real through Jesus Christ!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to truly repent of my sin and trust in the Lord Jesus. Then help me to accept your forgiveness. Amen.

Mr Facing Both-Ways

Reader: Rowan Corrigan

Date: 3rd May 2022

Passage: Romans 6:2

Mr Facing Both-Ways was a character in John Bunyan's book' The Pilgrim's Progress'. He lived in a city called Fair-Speech. Many people like to be like Mr Facing Both-Ways and perhaps we are often like them too. We want to be known as a Christian and yet we want to keep one foot in the world as well. By' the world' I mean things that don't really fit in to a full-hearted commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Mr Facing Both-Ways and people like him 'talk the talk' but they don't 'walk the walk'. The Apostle Paul who wrote the book of Romans was anxious that those of us who say we are Christians really live a life that truly does what Jesus wants us to do to be the people that Jesus wants us to be.

Notice how the Apostle Paul shows us just how absurd it must look when a person who has been saved by the grace of God and has had his / her sins forgiven and washed away goes back to doing the same old sinful things again. The excuse they give is that it shows how gracious God is!

How can we who died to sin (through Jesus' death) still live in sin? That was Paul's question and Paul's answer is that we cannot honestly do that. We have to walk in the new life that Jesus has given us. If we are like Mr Facing Both-Ways it may well be that we have never truly given our heart to Jesus in the first place. Think about that.

PrayerDear Lord, Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Amen.

The Temptation Of Jesus

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 2nd May 2022

Passage: Matthew 4:1

It is difficult to think of Jesus being tempted. We read that he was "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26 Yet he was tempted.

Just think how a very little piece of grit can cause you a lot of pain in your eye — it is because your eye is so tender and so sensitive. In the same way our Lord Jesus reacts to any thought of sinfulness. He is pure, holy, altogether separated from sin. But the devil tried so hard to make Jesus sin.

We read that Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights. We are told that forty days is about the longest period a person can fast without permanent damage to the body. Jesus was at his weakest, he was hungry and he needed help. It was then Satan attacked him by suggesting ways in which Jesus could live his life and fulfil his lifework without the necessity of obedience to his heavenly Father or going on to the way of the cross. Jesus, however, never wavered. He fought the devil's temptations with the Word of God and he told the devil to' beat it'! Satan left him and angels came to help him.

Another reason for Jesus' temptations was to show us that he knows how it feels when we are tempted so he can encourage us to face up to Satan and the evil he tempts us to do and he shows us how to tell Satan to go away and we can remain strong in our faith.

When you are tempted call to Jesus for help.

Marching Orders

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 1st May 2022

Passage: Joshua 1:1-9

Joshua had been Moses' assistant but now Moses was dead. It now fell to Joshua to take over and lead the people of Israel into the land God had promised to give them. It was a big responsibility.

I think Joshua must have been really worried scared even because three times God said to him "Be strong and courageous" one time even saying "Be very courageous" and once he said "Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed". God gave Joshua a real pep talk and with it his marching orders as to how he was to lead the people. The secret of being a successful leader in this great task was to do exactly what God told him to do .

We will probably not be called to do a great work like Joshua was called to do but there is something every Christian is called to do that is vitally important and to do it well we need God's help and we need to stick to God's marching orders.

God calls each Christian to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ(2 Timothy 2:3) You see, in the world we live in so many people know nothing about the Christian life at all — they don't go to church, they may never hear the Gospel. That means each of us who is a Christian must live in a way that will show people that we are marching under God's leadership and that that is the best for all of us.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I can get scared to witness for you at times. Please give me courage to live and speak for you.

The Blessing Of Shalom

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 30th April 2022

Passage: Leviticus 3:1

In the Old Testament worship of Israel there were several sacrifices. They were the constant reminders of two great truths that are still of vital importance today. One is that God is holy and separate from all that is sinful. The other is that we are not holy and we can only have fellowship with God when he shows us how to have fellowship with him and provides the way for this to happen. The different types of sacrifices in the Old Testament religion showed the different aspects of God's way of salvation, and so to fellowship with him.

One of the sacrifices was called the Peace Offering — the word "peace" is the word "shalom" that many people today use as a greeting . This "Shalom" offering was use for several reasons, one of which was as a way of expressing to God a big "thank you" for all the blessings that a person had experienced, and he wanted God to know how much he appreciated them all.

This offering is often linked to the blessings we now have through the Lord's Supper and the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus which it represents. This is often spoken of as the cup of thanksgiving — saying "thank you" to God for his way of salvation through Christ Jesus. This brings us "shalom" indeed, and fellowship with him.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your sacrifice for us and pray that we never forget how great a debt we owe to you for this. Amen

Who Does He Think He Is?

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 29th April 2022

Passage: Luke 4:16

I was once asked to conduct a funeral in the village in which I was brought up in my early years. When I went into the room where the people were gathered I heard someone say, "Who is that?" A person answered, saying, "He is (my father's) son".

Jesus went back to the village where he had been brought up. People did know who he was; he had lived and worked there in Nazareth and he had obviously faithfully attended the synagogue services on the Sabbath days. It was obvious that Jesus had been educated to read the Scriptures, and he had probably taught the people as well. They were used to him in Nazareth, although he may have been away for some time. How strange then that when Jesus began to teach the people their reaction went from being pleased to being really hostile to him — so much so that they chased him out of town and even tried to kill him. Why was that?

It is a strange fact that people are often very happy to hear good Gospel preaching until they realise that if they were to really believe the claims of the Gospel their lives would be changed. Then they turn away from it as if to say to God (and the preacher), "Who do you think you are telling me to come and confess my sin?" There is too often an angry reaction to the Gospel. How sad the heart of Jesus must have been when he had to escape for his life from his own home village!

PrayerLord Jesus, may I never try to turn my back on the Gospel. Amen

A Mighty Wind And Tongues Of Fire

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 28th April 2022

Passage: Acts 2:1

Pentecost was a popular day in the old Jewish calendar. The name comes from the fact that it was held 50 days after the great Festival of Passover (the Greek word for five is "Pente"). It was a happy festival because it also marked the end of bringing in the harvests. It was a festival for which all Jewish men were expected to go to Jerusalem to celebrate there. We are told that the city was full of people from all over those areas of the world where Jewish people had settled — mostly areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

For Christians, this day became specially important because it was on this day that God the Holy Spirit was "poured out" from heaven like "a mighty rushing wind" and "divided tongues as of fire" came upon all the people who were gathered together waiting as Jesus told them to do for just such an event as this.

What did it all mean? First of all it meant Jesus had kept his promise to send the Holy Spirit. Secondly it gave new courage power and authority to the apostles and other followers of Jesus. In the third place the great miracle of the apostles speaking in the many languages of the people who were from many different countries meant they could understand the Gospel and tell people about it when they went home. And fourthly this was like the "birthday" of the Christian Church as it began to go into all the world.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit and his place in my life. Amen

Let Us Make A Name For Ourselves!

Date: 27th April 2022

Passage: Genesis 11:4

"Let us make a name for ourselves." Ambition can be a good thing, provided it is for the right reason, but it can also be a very ugly thing when it is simply to make a name for ourselves. We should all be ambitious to do the best we can in order to bring honour to God. We shoul try to live in a way that shows our love and gratitude to God for all he has done for us and for all he is in himself, the great and holy God.

The people spoken about in Genesis 11 were ambitious. They wanted to build a city for their protection, which was fair enough. But then they wanted to build a big tower just to show how clever and powerful they themselves were. There was pride, and indeed arrogance, in their decision to build a tower with its top in the heavens. It was as if they were saying, "We don't need God to help us, we are quite able to do things in our own way."

We can all become very proud, especially if things are going well for us. We, too, can think that we can live without God's help and manage life without having to listen to his word all the time. But that is a foolish attitude and a sinful one Hear the word of God's wisdom: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart: don't try to figure out everything on your own, Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track" (Proverbs 3:4-5, The Message).

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 26th April 2022

Passage: Revelation 1:8

The world we live in can be a very scary place. There is so much violence, poverty and natural calamities that we wonder just what is going to happen to us in the future.

We read three times in the book of Revelation that God is the Alpha and Omega. Once in the Old Testament we read a similar phase: "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6).

What does all this mean for us? It means that the world we live in was created by God, it is still under the control of God and one day God will bring it to a place where he will create a new heavens and a new earth where there will be no more sin or death. Righteousness will be the order of the day.

So where does today's suffering and sadness fit in to this scheme of things? It is a reminder that we live in a world that is suffering the results of the terrible curse that sin has brought upon the whole world. However nothing is beyond the control of God — "He has the whole world in his hands" and one day he will show this in the glory and judgment that is yet to come.

PrayerAlmighty God, while we look for that glorious future, help us to witness for you today. Amen

Thank You Lord

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 25th April 2022

Passage: Psalm 9:1

Probably one of the first things we were taught to do and say was "thank you," when we were given a sweet or some other gift. It was likely too, that we got into trouble when we ran away and forgot to say "thank you!"

Saying "thank you" is good in two ways: it makes us see that what we are given is something special to us, and it lets us see that what we are given is something special to the person who gives us a gift. It gives a warm feeling all round. If we just grab a gift and go off without saying "thank you," the giver will be disappointed in us and won't really feel good either.

The Bible itself is full of places where people gave thanks to God. We have every reason to give him thanks. One of the most beautiful expressions of thanks to God is in 2 Corinthians 9:15 which says, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift." The gift, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation.

The writer of many psalms sang his thanks with his whole heart — it was sincerely and joyfully given. May we never grudge saying "thank you" to God. Every day we receive God's good gifts and we are constantly receiving his love and grace through Jesus Christ.

PrayerHelp me, dear Lord, to give you my thanks from my whole heart. Amen

A Tale Of Two Brothers

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 24th April 2022

Passage: Genesis 27:41

The story of Jacob and Esau is one of the most important stories in the Bible, and one of the saddest. It is a story of how deceit, favouritism and shameless trickery tore apart a family that should have shown the world an example of godliness and happiness. These two sons were the sons of Isaac, Abraham's son. Their father was a good man who became blind in his later years. Their mother showed favouritism to the younger son Jacob. Jacob was a 'stay-at-home' guy while Esau was a hunting and shooting man of the outdoors. There was a real jealousy between the brothers, and both wanted the special blessing of their father that normally would have gone to the older son by right. However, with the connivance of their mother, Jacob tricked Isaac into giving him the father's special blessing, and once it was given it could not be withdrawn. The rift between the brothers caused no end of problems for the people of Israel for years to come.

This gives us a very clear warning about family relationships and the damage that can be done when we allow these to go wrong. There is no place in Christian families for jealousy, dishonesty and favouritism. The New Testament teaches that every family should be rooted and grounded in love. Christian families are to show a Christ-like example to an often dysfunctional and deeply sad world.

PrayerDear Lord, please protect our Christian families and help them to be your witnesses to the world. Amen

'no Man Is An Island, Entire Of Itself' (John Donne)

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 23rd April 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:14

We are all different. Some of us like to do things on our own while others like to do things in a group. However, there is one thing we cannot do on our own and that is to be a Christian. A Christian is not "an island, entire of itself." If that is our attitude then we will not survive as a Christian.

The apostle Paul spent a long time teaching us that the Christian is a member of a body (the church) a Christian is a member of a fellowship (the church); a Christian is a member of a family (the church). Just as our physical bodies are made up of several different limbs and they are all important, so each Christian is like a limb of the body, the church, and each is important. Fellowship is like the life-blood of the church. As Christians each one is united to Christ, and together we share in a love for Christ and for one another. God gives different jobs to different people in the church so that it can function well — like a good body — and it functions well when we all work together in a mutual love for one another.

Love is the hall-mark of the Christian Church. Perhaps the most familiar picture we have of the church is as the family of God. We know how sad it can be in a family if a son or daughter goes away and has nothing more to do with their family. It is a tragedy when that happens in the Christian family, too. If it does happen we must pray for that person's return. Love the family of God and thank him for your place in it as a believer in Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for the different people in my church. Help me to love them in Jesus' name. Amen

The Heavens — The Work Of God's Fingers

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 22nd April 2022

Passage: Psalm 8:3

King David of Israel was the writer of this psalm. David was not brought up in a palace; his father was not a king. David, the youngest of all his brothers, was a shepherd boy in his early years, and he knew and loved everything about the natural world around him.

I think it is very easy to see how David with his strong poetic talent just loved to sing about the world around him, the world which God has made. I have always loved the way David writes about the sky in this psalm. You can imagine him lying on his back in the open one starry night and just marvelling in the glorious beauty of the stars. He saw them as jewels set in a staggeringly lovely setting — all the work of God's fingers — God is so mighty and so fond of beauty.

When we live in a city perhaps we don't take time to appreciate the creation of God. The bright lights of the city tend to make it difficult to see the stars in their glory. When everything around us is man-made — the buildings, the roads, the lights and so on then we are apt to leave God out of the picture. But this should not be so. We must never forget our Creator — God. All the "artistry" of God went into the creation of the heavens but also into the creation of people "What is man?" asks David. Then he tells us — people receive God's special attention.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to give my special attention to you. Amen

Spare A Thought For Joseph

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 21st April 2022

Passage: Acts 1:23-26

We all know how Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, and afterwards he went and committed suicide. A terrible and sad story. Now the eleven remaining apostles of Jesus came to appoint a man to take the place of Judas Iscariot. They outlined the qualifications this new apostle must have — the same qualifications they had, of being with Jesus since the time of John the Baptist's ministry and having seen the resurrected Jesus. There were several men who maybe could have met these requirements, but two men were obviously standing out from the others — Joseph and Matthias. Eventually Matthias was chosen (after much prayer) and we don't hear of Joseph again. I wonder what he felt like having been so nearly made an apostle? We should spare a thought for him.

Sometimes it may be that we are passed over for a promotion or not chosen for a team or not appointed to some office in the church. We can feel hurt when that happens; maybe we feel angry or jealous of the person who was chosen instead of us. I have no reason to think Joseph felt like that. After all the other apostles liked him well enough to think he would have been a good apostle. But in some ways I do feel sorry fo him.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to cope with hurts and disappointments, and to see that you have another plan for me. Amen

What A Great Example Of Humility!

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 20th April 2022

Passage: Matthew 3:11

It is very easy to feel proud. If we get a prize at school, or if we get a promotion at work — we get a boost by such things and we can become a bit conceited. But one of the great challenges for us as Christian people is to have a consistent humble life before God and other people. John the Baptist is a great example for us. He was said by Jesus to have been the greatest of the prophets, yet John said "He must increase but I must decrease" (John 3:30). John was willing to be like a lowly servant carrying Jesus' shoes as long as he could be a faithful preacher and prophet of God's word.

There is a very good reason for every Christian to be a humble Christian. Everything we have comes to us from God — not because we deserve it or have earned it, but because of God's grace. It is all the gift of God. We have nothing to boast about. In Bible times humility was despised. Slaves had to be humble before their masters but free people had to have a different spirit — even a haughty spirit. That is not the Christian way. God's word says, "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:4). That was the spirit of John the Baptist, the greatest of all the prophets.

PrayerLord, humble me under your mighty hand as I serve you. Amen.

Fasting

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 19th April 2022

Passage: Acts 13:3

We are all so keen on food and everything to do with it that the thought of fasting doesn't sound very appealing. Mind you, there is one popular diet routine that has two days of fasting in the week. I'm told it works!

The Bible's teaching about fasting has a much deeper, spiritual meaning to it. Sadly, like all good ideas we find in the Bible, fasting has suffered at the hands of people who used it either as a means to try to get something from God or to make them look good in the eyes of others — "see how seriously I take my Christian life!" Others adopted fasting as an extreme way of living, thinking it would make them more acceptable to God. These were wrong ideas.

True Christian fasting is nearly always associated with some really significant event in a person's life when much prayer and heart searching are required. Fasting involves not merely giving up food for a short time, but laying aside as much as we can of other things in order to pray and study God's word so that we can get to know God's will for a particular course of action.

When Paul and Barnabas were set aside to go on their missionary journey this was one of the most important events in the early church's history. No wonder the elders fasted and prayed about it. Fasting sharpens the mind and helps us to concentrate on finding what God wants us to do.

Boasting

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th April 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:31

There are few things in life which come as naturally to us as boasting. In every age there have been people who made great claim for products they had concocted and they boasted that those mixtures could cure everything. We call them "quacks."

Sometimes we, too, make great claim for ourselves — boasting that we are much better people than we honestly are, much cleverer, can do greater things than we have ever really done. We become "_full of our grandiose selves" (_James 4:6, The Message).

The Bible gives us plenty to boast about — a far greater reason to boast than anything about ourselves. Paul is a great guide in this respect. He loved to boast in the Lord Jesus Christ who had done such good, life-changing things for everyone who trusts and follows him. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31); "But be it far from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14); "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:9). So let's be "clothed with humility" about ourselves and do all our boasting about our great Saviour.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, let my boasting always be about you. Amen

Very Much Better Than Junk Food!

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 17th April 2022

Passage: Isaiah 55:1

Day after day we are told that so-called junk food is bad for us. It makes us fat, and too much can cause all sorts of other health problems too. And we all like it!

Food was very important to the people in Bible times. God knew this and he built-in several feast days to the different important dates in his people's calendar. But sometimes food was short — perhaps the rains did not come, or locusts stripped all the trees and grass. People went hungry.

But in the text we have at the top of the page God is telling us of a great feast of good things for our souls — for our spiritual lives. There is no scarcity of food and drink, and it really satisfies, because it all comes from God. When Jesus came into our world he invited people to come to him, for he said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:48) and "I am the water of life" (John 4:7 - 15). It is only in God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ that we find that which honestly satisfies our life and gives us lasting pleasure. This is because God knows our deepest needs and feels sad for us when he sees us wasting our lives on things that really cannot meet our soul's needs, but in reality can only end up in deceiving us and failing us. Life in all its fullness comes only from God in Jesus Christ. All the rest is junk food!

PrayerDear Lord, help me to come to you for the good things you have for me. Amen

Tracing The Family Tree

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 16th April 2022

Passage: Matthew 1:1

Many people spend many hours trying to trace their family tree and they feel really excited when they discover an "important" or famous person connected to them in some way.

The family tree of our Lord Jesus Christ is important for several reasons. First of all, we see that the life of Jesus has long roots in the history of God's people — he is called the son of David and the son of Abraham, and Matthew shows just how Jesus is connected to these two great heroes in the Old Testament story. Matthew's family tree of Jesus shows us something else of great importance. Beginning with the family tree and then as he goes through the Gospel story, Matthew shows us how the Lord Jesus is the fulfilment of all the prophecies and promises which are highlighted in the Old Testament. Right down to the details of what happened to Jesus even on the cross, Matthew shows how the Old Testament becomes completed in the Lord Jesus.

In the same way it is only in Jesus that our lives are completed. Without Jesus Christ in our lives we are lost and without hope in the world — there is a terrible emptiness that is only filled by Jesus himself. We become complete in Christ How really great it is to be connected with the One whose family tree truly began in heaven! When we become "connected" to him, we too will inherit a place in his heavenly home.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank you for taking me into your family. Amen

Lord, Teach Me

Reader: Kathryn Martin

Date: 15th April 2022

Passage: Psalm 25:4-5

The Book of Psalms is full of requests to God for him to teach his ways to the writers of the Psalms. David, who wrote Psalm 25, often asked God to teach him, and that is certainly something that we can do as well.

Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm; that means each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet (going, as it were, from A to Z). It is full of requests for God to teach David the way that he should live in order to be the kind of person who walks in covenant friendship with God. Much later Jesus said to his followers, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Here in this psalm David is saying how he does love the Lord and he wants him to show him how to keep God's commandments.

God really loves to hear prayers such as David prayed, and later in Psalm 32 God said to the psalm-writer, "I will instruct and teach you in the way you should go." The whole Bible has been given to us to teach us the way God wants us to go. That is why it is so important to read and to memorise as much of the Bible as we can so we will walk in God's ways — following in the footsteps of Jesus.

PrayerDear Lord, lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. Amen

It's Not All Good News

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 14th April 2022

Passage: Isaiah 1:4

If you listen to the news on the radio or television or read the newspapers you might think that the only news that gets reported is bad news — murders, abuse of one kind or another, political failures and so on and on. Bad news!

But just imagine if you went to church and the minister started his sermon in this way: "Shame! Misguided God-dropouts! Gang of miscreants, band of vandals... people who have turned their backs on me, their God... walked off and never looked back" (Isaiah 1:4, The Message). I'm sure you would be shocked. We don't like hearing things like that. Bad news.

That is just the message that God gave to his servant Isaiah to preach to the people in his day. God had become so disappointed with the way the people his people were living. They were just as bad as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had been; immoral, selfish and just full of sin. This was shocking, and to be told that that was the way God saw the people must have shocked them.

How do you think God sees us? You? Does he see us as pure and clean and loving and eagerly walking in his ways? Let's take an honest look at ourselves through the searching gaze of God's Word the Bible. Isaiah said to the people "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes" (1:16). The Apostle John wrote, "If we confess our sins,he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

The Best Hiding Place

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 13th April 2022

Passage: Psalm 119:114

I'm sure we have all played "hide and seek." It was a great thing to get the best hiding place before you heard the words "Coming, ready or not!"

The best hiding place! We all wanted that. The man who wrote the text at the top of the page wanted that too. But he wasn't playing a game. He was very serious about living his life in a way that would please God. He was also very sure that God would hide him in safety from the attacks of the evil one (Satan) and those people who tried to mock him because he trusted in God's word.

In Psalm 91 the writer says, "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty." That is a perfect hiding place. Again in Psalm 32 King David sang, You (God) are my hiding place;you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory" (NLT).

A. M. Toplady, who wrote a famous hymn about the salvation we find in the Lord Jesus Christ, wrote about the same theme. He said "Rock of ages, cleft for me, hide me now, my refuge be". He wrote these words after he had sheltered from a storm in a crevice that had been formed in a huge rock. At the end of the hymn when he was writing about going to heaven he wrote, "Rock of ages, cleft for me, hide me then, my refuge be." We are safe for time and eternity in Jesus.

PrayerDear Jesus, keep me in the shelter of your salvation now and always. Amen

Follow The Leader

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th April 2022

Passage: Matthew 4:18

We used to enjoy playing the game "Follow my leader." In and out of different objects we would go, often holding on to one another as we went.

The word "follow" is a very common word in the New Testament, often on the lips of Jesus. Jesus called certain men to follow him as his disciples. Others Jesus asked to follow him and leave the kind of lives they were living, for Jesus wanted them to change and live in his way. Indeed, the Christian life can be summed up in these few words; it means following Jesus.

If we are to become a follower of Jesus Christ it will involve us in certain actions. First of all we follow Jesus and Jesus only. We cannot be a follower of Jesus and still walk in ungodly ways. Then if we are to follow Jesus we must do so willingly. We read in the Bible of one young man to whom Jesus said, "Follow me," but he turned and went away sorrowfully, because he was rich and wanted to keep his riches instead of following Jesus.

As followers of Jesus we must be willing to learn —to be taught by Jesus all the things of God he wants us to know. Jesus' early disciples followed him closely during the time he was here on earth to learn all they could. There is always a cost in following Jesus — people you know may not want to be friends with you any more. But following Jesus always has a great reward — we will follow Jesus into heaven itself to be with him there. Ask the Lord to help you follow him all your days.

The Everlasting Word

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 11th April 2022

Passage: Psalm 90:2

Isn't it difficult to think about what is everlasting? There never was a "time" when God wasn't there. So that means that the Bible word for everlasting, or eternal, (they mean the same) belong in the first place to God himself. Our Catechism tells us just what the Bible says: "God is a spirit — infinite eternal and unchangeable."

The Bible also tells us that God is pleased to share with us many of the great and good things which, because they come from him, are also everlasting. They come to us in and through God's own eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

For example, God promises eternal life to all who believe in Jesus. This life comes to us because Jesus carried our sins to his cross and died in our place. God made an eternal (everlasting) covenant of salvation through the blood Jesus shed — a covenant that God will never break with all who trust in Jesus for their salvation. It is everlasting. This means that Christians look forward to everlasting life in heaven — a life that begins here and now as we trust in Jesus — but in heaven the good things will keep getting better and better as we live there with Christ. However there are also everlasting bad thing for those who reject Jesus, and these bad things too will get worse and worse.

PrayerLord, please help me to trust you and enjoy you for ever. Amen

God Loves Rainbows!

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 10th April 2022

Passage: Genesis 9:13

The people of South Africa were once described as a "rainbow nation." This was a brilliant way to speak of the people there who have many different languages, cultures, traditions and colours. God must love rainbows, as they are mentioned at three very important times in the Bible.

The first time was just after the great flood which had destroyed so much of the earth and the evil people who were living at that time. When the flood subsided God made a solemn promise that he would never destroy the earth by such a flood again. And God set a rainbow in the sky as the sign of that promise.

We read of a rainbow again when the prophet Ezekiel had a really wonderful vision when he was in the land of Babylon, where God's people were in captivity, and they thought God could not be with them there. But the sign that He had given him to show that God was there, all around him and in all his power and glory, was a beautiful rainbow — another sign of the promise not to forget his people.

The third time we read of a rainbow, a truly magnificent and beautiful one, is in the last book of the Bible. Again the rainbow was around the throne of God, this time in heaven. It was another sign of the greatness and glory of God, reminding us of his promises, his power and his everlasting faithfulnes for all who love and follow him.

The Wrath Of God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th April 2022

Passage: Romans 1:18

There is a saying among Scottish people about someone who loses his temper: "He lost his heid!" God never "loses his heid" even when people say horrible things about him or do the very opposite of what God wants them to do. But God does have a strong and settled opposition to all that is evil (including our sin) — that is the wrath of God.

We remember that God is our Creator. He is also our Judge. Because God is perfectly holy his judgments are perfectly fair. This means that when men and women give up God and go away from him, he gives them up. The Letter to Romans tells us that when that happens the result is even more sinfulness, unhappiness and ugliness. God's judgment is a fearful thing when people choose to go away from him, and each person receives precisely what he/she deserves. God is always fair.

But God is also the God of grace. He does not wish that anyone should perish under his judgment. He has sent his Son Jesus Christ to be the great Saviour of all who as for his forgiveness from sin. For all who do this Jesus stood in their place to take the wrath of God so that they can be forgiven free from the judgment and the wrath of God. They will come to know the love and tender care of God for his family.

PrayerAlmighty God, help me to grasp the reality of your angry displeasure at all that is sinful, and help me to stay close to Christ for ever. Amen

The Lord Is Light And Salvation For Me

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 8th April 2022

Passage: Psalm 27:1

Psalm 27 is one of my favourite psalms. It was written by David, who started life as a shepherd boy and grew up to become a warrior king. This psalm was probably written when David was older and he had many experiences behind him which gave him great confidence in God as he remembered the help he had received from God. But he also tells us that even after all of God's help and goodness, after saying that with God at his side "I'm fearless, afraid of no one or nothing," yet there still were times when troubles mounted up against him and he had to pray that God would hide him in his shelter and protect him from all his enemies.

Our own lives can often be difficult at times. Even if we have trusted God for his salvation and have found him to be the light of our life, yet we may come up against problems or people who can make us test our faith and make us wonder if God really is helping us at these times. David's answer to that question is that we should remember that God is always with us, and we must keep waiting for him to help us. "Stay with God! Take heart, don't quit. I'll say it again; stay with God" (v. 14, The Message) That should help us to sing: "God is my music, my delight and joy, my praise, my prayer." (Verse 6 - Christopher Idle)

PrayerAlmighty God, thank you that you are indeed my Light and my Salvation at all times. Amen

A Guiding Light

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 7th April 2022

Passage: Matthew 5:14

Several years ago I preached in the old Parish Church of Corstorphine, Edinburgh, on behalf of the Bible Society. The church building is very old in parts and has a little window in the eastern wall that has an interesting history. Before the city grew to its present size Corstorphine was a village, and on its east side there was a loch and a well-used pathway near the loch that wound its way through very marshy ground. To help people find their way the church always had a light in its little east window so that people would be guided by the light and find their way safely to the village.

Jesus tells those of us who are Christians that we are the light of the world. That means we have to be guides to people who are not Christians. Jesus also said "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:17). Even when we may not be able to speak to people about the Christian faith the way we live will be a guide to them as to what is right and good.

Remember, Jesus himself is our great example. He is the Light of the world, so as we follow him our lives will also be lights guiding people towards the Lord himself.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to be a guiding light to those who are still in the darkness of unbelief, for your name's sake. Amen

Does He Know Something We Don't Know?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th April 2022

Passage: Genesis 6:14

We had a neighbour who bought an old boat, parked it in his driveway and set about repairing it to make it sea-worthy again. It took him a long time. Indeed, the boat was parked in view of every passer-by, and because we don't live very near the sea sometimes people would say jokingly, "Does he know something we don't know? Is there a flood coming?"

I'm sure people must have said the same thing about Noah when he started to build a boat. It took him a long time (you can read the whole story in Genesis 6-8). Noah did know something that the people of his day did not want to listen to or to take seriously, though Noah preached to them. We read that "the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth" (Genesis 6:5), and God made up his mind to come with a terrible judgement upon them, and to do it by means of an enormous flood.

Noah was a godly man who "walked with God," so God warned Noah about the coming flood and how God wanted to save Noah his family and many of the animals. So that's why he commanded him to build a great ship — the ark. And it all worked out as God said. Noah and his family alone were saved along with the animals in the ark while all the unbelieving crowds were lost. God's judgment for sin is a very real, very terrible thing. And God has promised that there will still be a judgment on sin unless people repent and turn to Chris for salvation and then live godly lives.

This Is Eternal Life

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 5th April 2022

Passage: John 17:3

The words "eternal" and "everlasting" both mean the same thing. But for us to understand them can be quite difficult. We think of something that is everlasting as going on and on for ever. In a sense that is quite true. But in Psalm 90 we read that God is described as being "from everlasting to everlasting." That means that there never was a time when God did not exist — he is the eternal God, the Creator who brought all things into being, including time itself. So God is not affected by time; he is always present. Eternal (or everlasting) is a word that uniquely belongs to God.

When Jesus Christ said "this is life eternal, that they (those believing in him as Saviour) may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent," the eternal life he referred to was a special kind of life.

Not only does this special life last for ever and ever, it starts here and now when a person comes to trust in Jesus as his/her Saviour. And not only so but it has a special quality — it has something of the very life of God himself in it so that when a believer in Jesus dies, he/she will immediately go into the very presence of God to enjoy this eternal life in a fuller way that will be pure joy, holiness and perfect praising — fitted for the presence of God himself.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I thank you for the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

Looking Up At An Empty Sky

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 4th April 2022

Passage: Acts 1:9

The Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps we don't take as much notice of the ascension of Jesus as we should. We all love the story of the birth of Jesus, and so we should; we thank God for the perfect life of Jesus, and so we should. We are humbled by the sufferings and death of Jesus, and so we should be; and the wonder of the resurrection of Jesus makes us shout, "He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!" Pentecost is the start of glorious things for the Church of Christ and we bless God for that. But all of these wonderful happenings were confined to a small corner of the world, and to one nation of people in particular.

The ascension of the Lord Jesus to heaven and to the very throne of God signals the start of the great worldwide mission of the church of Jesus Christ. Why? Because from heaven Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to give power to the messengers of the Good News of Jesus as they went with his authority to make disciples of all the nations. This work will continue until the Lord Jesus returns in glory to "judge the living and the dead" and to establish all his people in their everlasting heavenly home.

The apostles of Jesus saw him lifted up from them and at first no doubt wondered how they could get on without him. They kept looking at the empty sky until the heavenly messengers assured them that Jesus would return. In the meantime they had plenty of work to do!

The Death Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Reader: Kathryn Martin

Date: 3rd April 2022

Passage: John 19:18

All the Gospels tell us about the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each Gospel mentions different details about the crucifixion but all of them want us to know very definitely that Jesus was put to death — the terrible, agonising death of crucifixion which followed a fearsome beating before he even got to the place of execution.

Why were the Gospel writers so determined that we should know that Jesus Christ was crucified and died? The real death of Jesus was necessary if there was to be a real resurrection of Jesus. The death of Jesus was the final act of his great work as the Saviour of sinful people. "God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Mocked by insults harsh and crude,
In my place condemned he stood;
Sealed my pardon with his blood;
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

And when the Lord Jesus was lifted up on the cross his final words were "It is finished" — the great work of salvation which he had come to do was complete as Jesus died.

But that was not the end of the story. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave, and so it is that now we worship and adore a living Saviour. What joy this gives us!

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

Reader: Angus Macdonald

Date: 2nd April 2022

Passage: Genesis 4:9

God's question to Cain put him in a sticky spot. Cain had just murdered his brother Abel, probably in a fit of jealousy and bitterness. God had accepted an offering from Abel but had rejected Cain's offering, most likely because Cain's heart did not really love God anyway. God always looks at our heart and sees why we do the things we do.

So Cain's reply to God was first of all untruthful. He said "I don't know." But then he added an insulting response: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain and Abel — two brothers torn apart by Cain's hatred. It makes such sad reading. And the other Bible verses which refer to Cain tell us how his hatred of his brother became a byword for wickedness right through the history of God's people. We read that among the Jewish people Cain was thought of as an example of sinfulness and one who instructed others to do the same. What a terrible legacy! And it could have been so very different.

He said "Am I my brother's keeper?" Of course he was. Each of us has a great responsibility to love and care for our own brothers, sisters and family members, and a responsibility towards other people as well. We need especially to look after those who are vulnerable and who cannot care for themselves.

PrayerLord Jesus Christ, help me to be a true brother or sister both to my family and the wider family of God and all who need a brother's care and love.

Nesting Time

Reader: Calum Macdonald

Date: 1st April 2022

Passage: Psalm 84:3

This is the time of year when the birds are busy building nests so that they can raise their families. The birds mentioned in Psalm 84, the sparrow and the swallow, found safe nesting places within the temple among God's worshippers.

While the birds were safe in the temple, even more blessed were God's people who came to worship and enjoy fellowship with God there. The person who wrote the psalm says that he would rather be a door-keeper for one day in God's house than spend thousands of days enjoying sinful pleasures in rich, luxurious surroundings.

The writer tells of the journey people made to get to God's temple; it was a journey that often was rough and hard and tiring. But it was all worthwhile just to get to God's special place and be able to praise him and enjoy his blessing.

Our Christian life can also be much like a journey. It is not always easy; there may be hard days, there may even be persecution of one kind or another. But it is all worthwhile. The writer speaks of God's altar, the place of sacrifice. We remember the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ — not just at Easter, but every day. We remember all the blessings we receive from his death. It makes our Christian journey possible and so worthwhile.

May God bless you and help you to praise and worship our Saviour.

Who On Earth Is That At The Prince's Wedding?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 31st March 2022

Passage: Matthew 22:2-3

Imagine if you were looking at a family wedding photo, and you ask "Who on earth is that at the wedding? How did he get in there?". And the reply you get is "I don't know. I've never seen him in my life before." The guests at the wedding banquet in Jesus's story were not the kind of people you would expect at a royal occasion such as a wedding. These were people 'just off the street', all sorts of people, whoever happened to be out and about on the roads. The invited guests had turned up their noses at the invitation and didn't show up.

Now there are many different themes in this story told by Jesus but there is just one that I want to stress here. God invites us to come and enjoy the Good News of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many hear the invitation - perhaps you have heard it very often — but they refuse to come. How about you? Will you be in the "photo" of the crowd at the wedding feast? It is not just rude to reject God's invitation to come to Christ, it is absolutely disastrous. In very strong words Jesus tells about the sad end of those who had been invited but had refused the invitation. How terrible it will be for us if at the end of our lives Jesus were to say to us "Depart from me for I never knew you".

PrayerLord Jesus Christ, I thank you for the Gospel invitation to come to you. Just as I am, I come. Amen.

Compelled To Carry The Cross

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 30th March 2022

Passage: Matthew 27:32

Just imagine how you might feel if you had to carry the crossbeam of the cross on which Jesus was going to be crucified and put to death. Poor Simon had just come into Jerusalem from the countryside outside the city and he was forced by the soldiers to take up Jesus' cross because he had been made so weak from the terrible beating he received before being taken to the place of death. Roman soldiers were allowed to compel Jewish people to do anything they demanded. They could compel Jewish people to carry loads of goods for them or to hand over their warm coats or whatever they wanted. It was all meant to show that the Romans were the superior power in the country and the Jews were the defeated people. It must have been very humiliating for the Jews.

Jesus taught his followers how to deal with that situation. He said "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles" Matthew 5:41. Jesus wants us to show not just a humble spirit but a willing spirit to suffer insults and injuries for him. Very often Christians can be looked down on because they stand up for Jesus against evil. Jesus himself asks us to take up our cross daily to follow him. We do this, not by force, but out of love to him who died on the cross for us.

PrayerLord Jesus, help me day by day to follow you willingly. Amen.

Tears In The Darkness

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 29th March 2022

Passage: Psalm 6:6

One of the great things about the Psalms is that the writers allow us to know how they felt so that we can express our feelings in their words.

Psalm 6 is a very emotional Psalm; it is a real cry from the heart. The writer says "My soul is greatly troubled." That can be true for us as well at times.

It may be that you have had the experience of things falling apart in your own life. Perhaps you have done something that you know was un-Christlike and you have ended up feeling rotten and ashamed and reduced to 'tears in your darkness' as you think about what you have done. As he felt like that the writer did what we must do — pray to God that he will be gracious to us, that he will forgive us and take us out of the mess we have got ourselves into. As he prayed to God in this way he tells us how we will feel when we pray - "The Lord has heard my cry for mercy".

The New Testament puts it this way - "If we confess our sins, (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (wickedness)" (1 John 1:9). That truly is a wonderful promise and will make us shed tears of relief and thanksgiving to our gracious God.

PrayerDear Lord, I confess my sins and pray that you would have mercy on me and make me clean. For your name's sake. Amen.

Healthy And Growing And Full Of Love

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 28th March 2022

Passage: Ephesians 4:16

The language in which the New Testament was originally written had many words which are translated 'love' in our English Bibles. But there is one word for love that became a real Christian word and is one of the busiest words in the New Testament. It is used in the text at the top of this page.

This word (agape) is a word describing how God looks at the world. For example John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Galatians 2:20 tells us how Christ lived and died, and John 15:12 tells us how Christians should live as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is also a word that has to do with how the church of Jesus Christ goes about its business. If the church we belong to is healthy and growing it will be a church that is full of this love.

The word is special because it involves our heart but also our mind and our will. As Christians we are commanded to love our enemies and to seek the highest good of everyone, even those who may not be good to us! Such love is a God-like love and a God-given love. It must be seen in a Christian family and it is the very life-blood of the church, the family of God. It is how Jesus has loved us and the Holy Spirit helps us to be like him so that we will be a healthy church growing and full of love.

PrayerLord Jesus, help me to be full of your love. Amen.

The Jealousy Of God

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 27th March 2022

Passage: Exodus 20:5

Jealousy is one of those words that can be easily misunderstood or used in wrong ways. It may sound strange to our ears to speak of the jealousy of God. What or who makes God jealous? God's jealousy is the jealousy of love for his own people.

Let me tell you a little about the situation God's people were in when he spoke to them the words at the top of this page. God's people, the Israelites, were living among people who worshipped a whole crowd of so-called gods. There were gods of the hills and gods of the valleys, gods of the rivers, gods of thunder, lightning, the sun and the stars. The people who worshipped these false gods made idols representing them and they bowed down to these idols.

God did not want his people to be tempted to join in the worship of these gods - they could not do anything to help them as they were not real, and some of their worship was cruel and horrible. God hated the thought that his people would be caught up in such evil things. He was jealous for them, just as a loving husband would be if he saw his wife going off with another man. God loved them, he cared for them and he didn't want them to be hurt by going the wrong way.

He was also jealous for his own reputation — he is holy and he hated the thought of his name being used in a disrespectful way. God has a holy jealousy for the people he loves and for his name — he and he alone is the living and true God.

The Ugliness Of Bitter Jealousy

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 26th March 2022

Passage: James 3:14-15

The kind of jealousy that James is writing about in the words at the top of this page is truly a very ugly thing. Indeed James goes on to describe it as earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. What then is this kind of jealousy and how does it show itself?

Imagine you see your friend with a brand new watch. It not only looks good but it is the very kind of watch you've always wanted but couldn't afford. And now, instead of being pleased for your friend having such a lovely watch you grudge your friend's happiness, you envy your friend for having that watch you always wanted — you become jealous of your friend. Jealousy destroys friendships.

Indeed, the Bible blames jealousy for causing all sorts of ugly problems in congregations. It was jealousy that caused the Jewish leaders to put Peter and John in prison; and jealousy caused others to reject the message of the Gospel altogether. But sadly we read in the Bible that jealousy always keeps bad company and along with other nasty behaviour it always destroys the peace and love of Christian people and congregations and destroys real fellowship between those who are brothers and sisters in Christ. We have to pray seriously that God will help us to put away a jealous spirit from our hearts.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be a person of Christian wisdom with a heart that is pure, peaceable and sincere. Amen.

Have A Good Sleep!

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 25th March 2022

Passage: Psalm 4:8

Are you one of those people who find it difficult to get off to sleep at night? Very often when sleep doesn't come you start thinking of all sorts of things — worries, problems and difficult people — and it all drives sleep even further away!

David, who wrote many of the Psalms, had many problems during the time he wrote Psalms 3 and 4. He had to flee for his life from his own son Absalom who was trying to depose his father and become king in his place. It was a sad time for David. But David had a real sense of the protection that God gives to those who trust him. God was like a shield around him. God had already brought David great relief when he was in big trouble. Now David thought about these things as he lay in bed. In his mind he went over all that God had done for him — how he had kept him safe when he had gone to bed before, and he felt sure God would look after him again. God had been so good to him, even in spite of what Absalom was trying to do to him, that David felt happier than people who were living a life of peace and plenty.

And when David thought of all God's blessings and all God's answers to his prayers, sleep came easily to him. He lay down in peace to have a good night's rest.

PrayerDear Lord, if I lie awake, help me to go over all the wonders of your grace and goodness to me and give me your peace and the gift of sleep. Amen.

But God, That's Not What I Had In Mind!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 24th March 2022

Passage: Ezekiel 2:1

Do you know what you want to do with your life? Have you ever prayed about what you should do? Sometimes things turn out differently from what we had planned!

I love the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel lived back in Old Testament times, and he knew what he wanted to do with his life. He grew up with one thing in his mind — he was going to be a priest in the service of God and his people. But one day God came to him and said, 'You can't be a priest; I want you to be a prophet'. That was not what Ezekiel had in mind. It may well be that God is calling you to some kind of service for him and it may be that it is not what you had in mind. But if God is calling you, stand on your feet and obey him. He will give you all the help you need to do what he wants you to do.

Some years ago a well-known missionary was singing a hymn as he was on his way to his first mission station. He sang, 'King of my life, I crown you now. Yours shall the glory be...' But he was captured and put in solitary confinement in a communist prison. Not what he had in mind — but God made him a blessing to many people. God knew Ezekiel really wanted to be a priest and he often gave him messages to speak to the people in ways that a priest might have done. God cares for all who serve him and understands their hearts.

PrayerDear God, help me to know what you want me to do, so may I serve you in the way you want me to do. Amen.

Shield Your Eyes When You Look At The Sun

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 23rd March 2022

Passage: Ezekiel 1:28

The light of the sun is so bright that it can be very dangerous to look at without some protection over your eyes — they could be permanently damaged.

Have you ever wondered what God is like? Quite often the Bible speaks of God as being gloriously bright — so bright that you couldn't really look at him without it having a deep, deep effect upon you. That was what happened to the prophet Ezekiel when he saw this amazing brightness — it was the brightness of the glory of God, and Ezekiel fell flat on his face.

In the New Testament we read that the Lord Jesus Christ was, for a short time, changed into a person so bright that the men who were with him had never seen anything brighter before and had never seen clothes as shining white as those Jesus was wearing. The brightness of the glory of God shone in Christ. Some years later, the apostle Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus by the brightness of God's glory and he was temporarily blinded.

God is glorious. The glorious brightness is telling us that God is absolutely pure in every way. He is so pure that we cannot look at him directly. But we do see him in the person of Jesus Christ — the divine shield by which we can see God and trust God.

God Planted A Garden

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 22nd March 2022

Passage: Genesis 2:8

I like gardening. There's something special about getting your hands into the earth and planting bulbs or bushes and watching them grow.

God had a wonderful idea when he planted a garden. The Bible tells us the garden of Eden was full of trees that were pleasant to see and their fruit was good to eat. Why did God create such a place? I think God just loved having this area with its colour, beauty and peace. But he also made this garden as a place where he could meet with the people he had created, Adam and Eve, and where he could enjoy friendship with them. The garden was a beautiful place for Adam and Eve to live in.

But there was one condition for living in the garden of Eden. God had marked two trees in the garden as special. Adam and Eve were told not to eat the fruit of those trees or they would surely die. Sadly, however, first Eve and then Adam disobeyed. They did eat the fruit of one tree. That disobedience (sin) has had enormous consequences not only for them, but for all the rest of us as well. Adam and Eve were put out of the garden and eventually they died.

We have inherited their disobedient nature — all of us sin. But God in his great mercy has given us a Saviour — Jesus Christ. He can forgive our sin and give us the promise of the tree of life — everlasting fellowship with God in the Eden above in heaven.

The Heavens Declare The Glory Of God

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 21st March 2022

Passage: Genesis 1:1

Christians love to sing praise to God as the Creator of the vast and wonderful universe in which we live. We know God's power keeps it all together every moment.

Psalm 19 sings: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork". Right through the Bible the story is the same. We live in the world God has made in all its vastness and complexity.

Sometimes people say that science tells a different story from the Bible when it comes to creation. They don't include God in their view of the world. But we believe that God is the God of true science as well as being the God of his book, the Bible. Both science and the Bible tell the same story of creation but in different ways.

If we remember this then we can have confidence in our Bible when it speaks about God's acts in creation as well as in teaching about God's salvation for our lives.

PrayerDear Lord, I worship you as Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Help me also to worship you as my Saviour and the Lord of my life. Amen.

Who Do You Hang Out With?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 20th March 2022

Passage: Psalm 1:6

Our friends are very important to us . When we are growing up we can easily get drawn into wrong friendships that can have a really bad influence on us and on the way we behave.

In the modern language of the Message Bible, Psalm 1 speaks about three groups of people to be avoided — those who hang out at Sin Saloon, those who slink along Dead-End Road, and those who go to Smart Mouth College! It gives a pretty dire picture of people who could mess up your life. The funny thing is that people like that think they are the happy ones; they imagine that a Christian life could be pretty dull and restrictive. But in reality, it is their lives that are empty — they are like 'wind-blown dust'.

In contrast to that way of life, the Christian is like a tree that a gardener plants beside a stream of water which makes it blossom and fruitful, and it is never affected by drought. It is a life that is guided by God's word; that will be surrounded by good friends and will keep on enjoying the help of God at all times. Jesus Christ said he came to give us a full life, and he certainly keeps his promise when we give ourselves to him.

Remember the text at the top of the page - God charts the road you take. Walk with him on his road and you won't get lost!

PrayerLord, please help me to walk in the way that pleases you and leads to everlasting life. Amen.

Have You Got A 'Pride Problem'?

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 19th March 2022

Passage: Galatians 3:1

A 'pride problem'! It is usually very easy for us to spot — in someone else! Of course there are some things we can be justly proud of — our favourite team when it wins something; our school when it does well; our family and so on. But if we bring pride into religion, it becomes absolutely destructive.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians — a congregation that he loved - he wrote very strong words to them, calling them foolish and bewitched. What caused him to write such things? It was because they had become proud. In what way? They believed in Jesus, didn't they? They were Christians, weren't they? Yes, they were but here is where they went wrong. They did believe in Jesus but they also believed that they needed to do something more themselves to make their salvation complete. They thought Jesus needed their help to save them so they started keeping all the old Jewish laws. They were proud enough to think they were completing what Jesus had done for them.

That was why Paul called them foolish and bewitched. We cannot improve on what Jesus has done for our salvation — it is perfect and complete and it is God's gift to all who are humble enough to accept it. We cannot bring anything to God to pay for it and we cannot work for it.

PrayerDear Lord, take from me all my pride. Help me to trust in you alone and in your righteousness to save me. Amen.

The Power Of The Gospel

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 18th March 2022

Passage: Romans 1:16

Have you ever looked up at the sky on a clear starry night and marvelled at the sheer beauty and expanse of the heavens? Just think of the power it took for the Creator to bring all of this into being — much, much more than we can see and much, much more than we can imagine. God is the Creator of the universe.

But God's creative power is used in another way as well. In the Gospel God makes sinful people 'new creations' in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). That same wonderful power that made the world was needed by God to turn helpless, lost, hopeless sinners into new people with a new heart to love and follow Jesus Christ. That shows us just how bad we sinners had become when it needed such power to change and save us.

It is one of the greatest pieces of good news that the world has ever known, giving hope and rescue to people who had become utterly powerless to change their lives. But the power of God can do all of that by making a 'new creation' out of that old life.

Have you felt that power in your life, the power that changes us into someone who thankfully follows the Lord?

PrayerDear Lord, I thank you for the power of the Cross which brings me to rejoice in your salvation. Amen.

Coming Face To Face With God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th March 2022

Passage: Job 42:5

Job is one of the world's best known people. His story has come to us in the Bible in a way that has made him an icon of suffering and wisdom and patience. We know very little about where he lived or when he lived. But we do know that Job had a very real faith in God and that his faith was tested to the limit through the loss of his children, his wealth and his health, and also because of the awkward friends he had. Those friends kept questioning his faith.

With so many difficult things happening to him Job sometimes wondered what on earth God was doing with him and why? He really wished he could take all his questions straight to God and speak to him face to face.

Near the end of the book of Job we are told that such a face to face meeting did take place, and it turned out to be different from what Job thought it would be. God began by questioning Job and showing him just what he is like - very great and wise and astounding in his power in all creation and the universe. In the end Job realised that all his own questions about God came as a result of his ignorance of who God really is.

"I babbled on about things far beyond me", he said. (Job 42:3) (The Message) . Job asked God to forgive his ignorance and we know that God did just that. So the end of Job's story turns out to be a happy one, even better than it was in the beginning.

God never turns away from our questions but he asks us to look at who he is to remind ourselves that God always knows best and care for us more than we can ever realise.

Now, That's What I Call True Friends!

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 16th March 2022

Passage: Mark 2:3

Crowds often gathered around Jesus. This story in Mark's gospel tells of a paralysed man who had no strength of his own but he had four of the best friends anyone could have — they were determined to get him to meet Jesus. On that occasion it seemed impossible for them to get to Jesus but they managed to get him down through the roof — even if it meant that they would later have to repair the roof of the house where Jesus was, surrounded by a crowd of people. I wonder what the paralysed man's friends thought when Jesus, instead of immediately healing the man of his illness, said to him "Son, your sins are forgiven" (Verse 5). Maybe the friends were thinking, 'Jesus, just heal our poor friend. That's why we brought him to you'. Of course Jesus knew that, but he dealt with first things first. We can't see inside the heart of the paralysed man but Jesus did, and so he dealt first of all with what was worrying him most — his sin. Then he healed the man of his paralysis, so the man and his friends could go home to live a new life.

As the forgiven and healed man left there were some in the room who became angry with Jesus for claiming to forgive a person's sin. But Jesus showed his authority, in not only having power to heal but also to forgive.

Thank God that Jesus still has that power. Whatever our outward circumstances may be, remember Jesus deals with first things first — he wants to cleanse us from our sins before anything else .

Touching The Untouchable

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 15th March 2022

Passage: Mark 1:41

The little story told here in Mark 1: 40-45 and also in Matthew and Luke's gospels is one of the most moving stories in the Gospels. At the heart of the story there was a man with a desperate need. He was a leper. We are not told more about him — his leprosy made him ill, made him an outcast and made him someone to be avoided at all costs. But into this man's miserable life came the person of Jesus and he was moved with pity when he saw this poor man. Jesus was so full of pity for him that against all the taboos of the time, he stretched out his hand and touched the man, something no on else would dare to do .

But Jesus did more than touch the man, he healed him — willingly and immediately and fully. 'The leprosy left him and he was clean' (Verse 42). Jesus' compassion was powerful.

Actually, we are all unclean in the sight of God — our sin has made us that way and it has cut us off from God. But Jesus still comes to touch us, to clean us, to save us through his sinless life, the sacrifice of his death and his infinite mercy. In the Bible story, the leper said to Jesus "If you are willing, you can make me clean" (Verse 40). Just as Jesus said, "I am willing, be clean", so he will respond to you when you ask for his forgiveness and mercy — and you too will be clean!

A Surprising Convert

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 14th March 2022

Passage: Matthew 9:9

People from all walks of life and all backgrounds become Christians. Are we surprised at times when we hear that some well-known person has become a Christian? We raise our eyebrows and think — HIM? or HER? Have they really become a Christian? Miracles never cease! And that's exactly what people were thinking when Matthew (also known as Levi) became a follower of Jesus. Matthew was an educated man, a well-to-do man but he certainly was not the kind of fellow you would hang out with. He was a tax-collector, despised by nearly everybody and he was not even allowed into the Jewish churches (synagogues) or the Temple.

However, Jesus probably had seen Matthew very often and probably knew that there was a sore heart inside this wealthy tax-collector. So one day Jesus spoke to him and said quite simply, 'Follow me'. And Matthew got up and did just that.

And what a great help Matthew has been to the church of Jesus Christ! He wrote the Gospel that bears his name. As we thank God for Matthew, let's remember to thank God for all the other surprising converts who are brought into the Christian family. Let's always welcome people who may not fit into our ideas of what Christians ought to look like or the background from which they come.

PrayerDear Lord, we thank you for Matthew and the Gospel which he wrote. Help us to be very thankful for all the people you bring to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Don't Forget To Go To Church

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 13th March 2022

Passage: Hebrews 10:25

"I don't feel like going to church today". No doubt we have often said (or thought) that, and it seems the people to whom the book of Hebrews was written may have felt the same way. It's easy to forget why it is important for us to go to church and not to' avoid worshipping' together.

Why is this important?

First of all we go to church to worship God. God, and only God, is worthy of our praise and honour. He is our Creator and he has commanded us to worship him. True worship always implies our loving obedience to him.

Secondly, it is important for us to go to church because there God's word, the Bible, is preached. God makes himself and his will known to us in his word and preaching helps us to apply that word to our understanding of what God wants us to do and how he wants us to live.

Thirdly, it is important for us to go to church because there we meet with other worshippers. Church is not a building, it is people — the people gathered together to praise God, to pray to God, to hear God's word and it is there that God promises to be with those who worship him sincerely and truly.

PrayerLord, help me to enjoy going to church to worship you. Amen.

Let Me Say This Again!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 12th March 2022

Passage: Leviticus 19:3-4

How do you emphasise what you want somebody to hear or take careful notice of? You can raise your voice if you are speaking to someone or you could underline or print in large letter if you are writing? Preachers love to repeat things once or twice to get an important point across! The Book of Psalms has lots of examples of repeating a word to two so people will see how important their message is. For example, Psalm 84:8 says "Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob."

God also has his way of emphasising his teaching and we see lots of examples of this in both the Old and New Testaments. One great example of this is in the book of Leviticus. (God thought it especially important for his people at that time). Forty-nine times God repeated the words "I am the Lord" or "I am the Lord your God". In the New Testament Jesus often would say "Truly, truly I say to you". You have to sit up and take notice when you come upon emphases like that. In Leviticus God was emphasising that he is the only living and true God, that he has all authority and that he loved his people. The same message comes to us from the Lord Jesus. All authority belongs to him, salvation comes to us through him and it is in him that we find the great example of how we should live. God is saying "Let me say that again!". Listen to Him.

PrayerO Lord, help me to heed what you say to me in the Bible — even if you have to repeat it many times. Thank you.

Migratory Birds

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th March 2022

Passage: Hebrews 13:14

In our country we have a lot of birds which only spend part of the year here before flying off, whether to northern countries or to Africa. They are not permanent British birds.

In a sense Christians are also migratory people. As our text at the top of the page says "Here we do not have an enduring city". Heaven has become our real home. Many centuries ago Christians were known as 'resident aliens' - they lived on earth but they were always on the move to their heavenly city where their Saviour waits to receive them.

Does that mean we, if we are Christians, have to ignore all who are not Christians and separate ourselves from them? Of course not. While we are here we have a job to do -to tell people about Jesus, to show people the love and compassion which we have received from Jesus Christ and to thank God for all the good and pleasant things which he has given to the world we live in . We mus try as best we can to bring peace and wholeness into our broken world. We should try with God's help, to leave the world a better place as we journey on to our heavenly city.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, as I am "marching onward to Zion, the beautiful city of God", help me to tell people about the wonderful Saviour whose home it is. Amen.

I Believe

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 10th March 2022

Passage: 2 Timothy 1:12

We had a friend who died in hospital. Shortly before he died he sat up in his bed and, with a loud voice declared, "I believe!". It was a powerful testimony to his faith in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you are not very good at arguing with some friends who don't believe in Jesus, or who think the Bible is full of mistakes or that heaven and hell are not real... However, arguments and debates can only take you so far. But a personal testimony about what the Lord Jesus has done for you and means to you can be a really powerful way of showing what the Gospel is all about.

If you look up Galatians 2: 19-21 you find there Paul's great testimony about his faith in the Lord Jesus. In these verses Paul almost sings about what happened to him when he became a follower of Jesus — he saw that Jesus had died for him so that his sins would be forgiven. He saw that all that Jesus did for him, he did in love - "The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me." What could be greater proof than that of the reality of God's converting power?

"Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all".

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, may my life show clearly my love for you as a reflection of your great love for me. Amen.

The Great God Who Cares For Me

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 9th March 2022

Passage: Psalm 147:11

I'm sure there have been times when you have wondered if God really does car for you. You are not the only one who has wondered that. Even the Bible itself is full of questions - "Why, Lord? or "How long, O Lord?".

But the Bible is also full of assurances that God does care for us — he holds each of his own people in the hollow of his hand and clasps them close to his heart. This is true even when life does seem to be getting hard, even a bit out of hand. Psalm 147:11 assures us that God's people always get God's attention — he, like a tender shepherd, cares for us.

The same verse also assures us that we do not need to try to do things in our own strength — we can depend upon God's strength to take us through life's hard experiences. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4). The strength of God we depend on is part of his steadfast love for all his people. Some elderly folk we know need carers to come in to help them each day. God is the greatest carer — we can always depend on him.

PrayerDear Lord, please help me always to remember that you care for me, even when I cannot sense your presence. Amen.

Repentance (2)

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th March 2022

Passage: Colossians 3:3

We tend to think that repentance is a one-off thing: we repented and believed the Gospel so we are safe in Christ Jesus. And that is gloriously true.

However, we very soon come to realise that we struggle and fail every day to live the life that our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to live. The Bible tells us that our 'old self is dead' but sadly we keep looking back at it and sometimes have a nostalgic longing for the things that find no place in a truly Christian life. So, as we Christians sin every day we also need to repent every day. "Repentance is the draining routine on the highway of holiness on which God calls us to travel. It is the way we get beyond what has proved to be dirt, rubbish and stagnant flood-water in our lives" (J. I. Packer).

A holy, humble, faithful life is what God want for us as Christians and he has given us the Bible and the help of the Holy Spirit to get rid of the 'dirt, rubbish and stagnant flood water' of un-Christian thoughts and actions. God will keep on cleansing and forgiving us.

It can be a struggle but our' real life' in Christ will become more and more apparent as we seek to walk with the Spirit on the' highway of God's holiness.'

PrayerLord, please help me to really discard the 'old self' and to relish living in my 'new, real life' in Christ Jesus. Amen

Repentance (1)

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 7th March 2022

Passage: Acts 3:19

Repentance is not a popular word and it is something we find hard to do . However, it is a very important subject in the Bible for several reasons.

Reason one is that we are all accountable to God for the lives we live. God is the Judge of all of us.(Hebrews 9:27).

Reason two is that God is a holy Judge who hates sin in all its forms — he has a holy anger against sin.

Reason three is that the Bible tells us plainly that we have all sinned against God and now fall under his holy judgement and his anger at our sin.

Reason four tells us that while this is true, God calls on us to repent of our sin and he will have mercy upon us. See the text at the top of this page.

So what does repentance involve?

First of all it means we have to be truly sorry for our sin against God (See Psalm 51:4).

Repentance also means a really deep change — change of mind about God and our relationship with him; change of attitude to our own behaviour — there needs to be a change in our thinking and our doing.

All of this can only come about with God's help — we have to trust the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that God's mercy and forgiveness are available for unworthy and undeserving sinners like us so that our sins may be blotted out.

PrayerLord, grant me the spirit of true repentance and true trust in Jesus Christ for my salvation. Amen.

What A Great Way To End A Great Letter!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 6th March 2022

Passage: Romans 16:25-27

Over all the centuries since Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome this letter has been one of the greatest life-changing pieces of writing the world has known. Paul closes his letter with this brilliant song of praise to' the only wise God'.

Paul praises God first of all, because God is able to make us strong, stable Christians through the Gospel and teaching of Jesus Christ. Secondly, God is praised for giving us the Scriptures and showing us how the Old Testament teaches us about Jesus just as the New Testament does. Thirdly, God is praised because he and he only is the one who has the authority to command us to believe on him and obey him. This sums up what Paul has been teaching throughout his letter to the Romans — the Gospel, the Bible and the obedience to God, all coming into our experience through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

PrayerTo you oh God be the glory for ever. Amen.

The Courage Of The Christian

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th March 2022

Passage: Romans 1:16

When the Apostle Paul wrote these words such a long time ago, he knew very well what a risk he was taking. People were being put to death for believing this Gospel so it took real courage to be a Christian. Why was Paul willing to put himself in such danger?

Well, first of all it was the Good News of God. We all like to get birthday cards; they tell us that somebody cares for us, remembers us. The Gospel is like God's card to us, a great reminder that he does care for us. The Gospel is what God promised in order to meet our need as lost sinners. It is good news that we have a living Saviour, Jesus Christ . And Paul wanted to tell people about this good news even if it were to cost him his life — which it did.

So here is a challenge for those of us who are Christians. Do we have the courage to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ and God's good news? It is surely a cowardly thing to back away from telling people about our Saviour when we have the opportunity to do this. The old hymn says "Courage, brother! Do not stumble.... Trust in God and do the right" (Norman Macleod). With that in mind let us not be ashamed of the Gospel.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, give me the courage to spread the Good News which has changed my life, because you were not ashamed of me. Amen.

What's For Tea?

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 4th March 2022

Passage: Matthew 14:20

I'm sure we have often heard that question asked "Mum, what's for tea?". Well, Mum usually knew quite well what she was planning to give her children for their meal.

The story we read in Matthew 14:13-21 tells us of a big problem; there were more than 5000 hungry people and only five little loaves and two small fish to feed them with. How could it be done?

Well, of course, it would have been absolutely impossible but for the fact that Jesus was there and he took command of the situation. He took the loaves and the fish and he looked up to heaven and said a blessing, and then broke and divided the loaves and gave them to his disciples who served the meal to the thousands of guests. And we read "They all ate and were satisfied" and there were "twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over".

This miraculous meal showed the real compassion Jesus had for all these people as well as his divine power to multiply the little amount of food so that such a crowd could be satisfied. This miracle, as well as all the others Jesus did, is told to us so that we 'may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.' (John 20:31)

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I do believe you are the Christ, the Son of God. Help me to be fully satisfied with you and your great salvation. Amen

Jesus Is living In Me!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 3rd March 2022

Passage: Colossians 1:27

What does it mean when we say 'Christ in you' or' Jesus is living in me'? When we are converted the Lord Jesus Christ comes to live in our hearts by his Spirit. This is something we cannot see or maybe something we don't even feel but it will be something that we will come to see and feel through the changes that will take place in our lives.

One of the hymn writers described the difference that Jesus makes in our lives in this way : "Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green, Something lives in every hue, Christless eyes have never seen". In other words, our attitudes change to the things around us, to the people around us and most importantly to God himself. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation". The Christian is in Christ and Christ is in the Christian! As' new creations' we live a new life that now has new motives, new desires, a great new focus — to honour God and walk worthy of hi for all that he has don for us through Jesus Christ.

As I realise more and more of what it means that Christ lives in me, I become more and more aware of what Christ has done for me. I think more of the cross and how "Jesus loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Prayer'Come Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, with all the Saviour's powers, come, pour into our hearts his love, and that shall kindle ours. (Isaac Watts) Amen.

A Man Sent From God

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 2nd March 2022

Passage: John 1:6

What a great honour — and a great responsibility! This man whom we usually call John the Baptist had a very special job to do . God sent him to prepare the way for Jesus. He was to be a witness telling people who Jesus was and what Jesus was coming to do. He himself was a popular preacher; many people went out to the desert to hear him preach but his whole job was really to point people to Jesus. John said "He (Jesus) must increase but I must decrease" (John 3:30). And so it was. John carried out God's work of pointing people to the Lord Jesus. That was what God sent him to do .

God wants us to do the same thing. If we have come to know Jesus as our Saviour and Lord then we too have the honour and responsibility of telling others about our Saviour. We shouldn't be afraid to do that. We have good news to tell and we can tell it with confidence as we know and have experienced just what a wonderful thing Jesus has done for us.

You don't need to be a great preacher to tell the good news; you don't need to tell it to a crowd of people. Just tell your friends, your relatives, your work-mates. And you can use the most simple words. The Apostle Paul gave us a great example when he said about Jesus "He loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). You can tell that story too!

PrayerLord, help me to tell others about Jesus and his salvation. Amen

'Tell Me The Old, Old Story'

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 1st March 2022

Passage: Acts 6:6

Some people love history, others think it is' bunk'! Stephen, like many of his Jewish people did love history. The Jews would tell the old, old story of what God had done for them in past years over and over again. But if we read Acts 6 and 7 we see that telling God's story got Stephen into great trouble and he was eventually put to death. Why?

There were many Jews who were jealous of Stephen and of the godly life and powerful works he was able to do in the name of Jesus. When Stephen was telling the Jewish leaders about parts of their own history he said these leaders were just like the hardhearted leaders of past times who killed godly prophets — these leaders in front of Stephen had indeed killed the Righteous One, Jesus.

You can imagine how full of anger and hatred Stephen's audience became. Stephen said they were "stiff-necked people, ... always resisting the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51). You don't win friends that way! So they took Stephen out and stoned him to death. Was Stephen a failure then? Did he tell the old, old story in vain? No!

You can read in Acts 7:55-59 how Jesus himself welcomed him home to heaven when he died. And from verse 58 we see that Stephen's story and Jesus's place in it obviously troubled one young man who later became one of Christ's great ambassadors. He was the Apostle Paul. So thank Go for Stephen's godly history stories!

Remember

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 28th February 2022

Passage: Luke 22:19

The thief on the cross said, "Jesus remember me..." Luke 23:42

As you get older you begin to forget certain things — the dates of birthdays, dentist appointments, where you left the car... ! I find I would be lost without my diary in which I try always to note things down. It is easy to forget.

I am sure that is why we find the Bible is full of words telling us to remember many important events or sayings which God wants us to think about and do something about. The Bible is full of wonderful things which God has done for us and he wants us to remember these things. Here are some examples.

First of all God wants us to remember what Jesus has done for us by his perfect life, his death and his resurrection. Just before his crucifixion Jesus celebrated the Lord's Supper with his disciples and said "Do this in remembrance of me..." There is no salvation apart from what Jesus has done for us. That is why the thief on the cross beside Jesus said "Jesus remember me..." We must all pray that prayer.

Then we have to remember how God wants us to live. The Bible is full of words telling us to remember and most of them have to do with the way we live as Christians. We need to keep reading the Bible to remind ourselves how the Lord wants us to live — lives that are Christlike, sincere, gracious and good.

Remember too where we are travelling to as Christians — our heavenly home. This world is not our home, heaven is. What a great prospect is before us as Christians! Remember that!

Miracles, Signs And Wonders

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 27th February 2022

Passage: John 6:1-15

The Bible uses three words which are translated in English as miracles, signs and wonders. These words describe different acts and happenings which, as far as the New Testament is concerned, centred on the ministry of Jesus Christ and his apostles. The greatest miracle was the resurrection of Jesus. Other spectacular events, like the feeding of five thousand people were seen as special signs telling us something of the nature and character of God. For example, after feeding all these people Jesus said "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35) and he went on to explain what that means.

Some people deny that miracles ever existed. Their view of the world is such that they say "You cannot alter the laws of nature to allow such things as miracles, signs and wonders to happen". They forget, or won't believe, that we live in the world God has made — the laws of nature are there because that is the way God made the world. And the God who made the world is alive and well and is altogether free to act in ways which please him. Miracles, signs and wonders can be seen as actions of God's mercy and grace as well as his power. We see this as the Gospels tell us about the works of the Lord Jesus. Never feel ashamed or embarrassed to say you believe in miracles.

PrayerLord, I do thank you that you are the God of miracles who is lovingly active in the world you have made, Amen.

God's Story In Coloured Pictures

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 26th February 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:6

We all love pictures and the stories they tell. Maybe it's a photo of when you were a little child, or a picture of a family wedding and we can look at these pictures over and over again. Nowadays we are used to having our photos in full colour and we enjoy that better than the very old ones in black and white. God loves colour. Think of a sunset or sunrise, or the colours of fish that live at the bottom of the sea, or flowers and butterflies.

And have you noticed how often the Bible uses stories to tell us God's truth? Many of these stories are full of colour to show us the beauty of all that God has done for us. One of these pictures in the Bible is the text at the top of this page. It is full of light and colour — God shining out of the heavenly light to brighten our lives with the light of his glory as seen in the person of Jesus Christ his Son and our Saviour.

No wonder then that the hymn writer G W Robinson could sing of the Saviour in these words:

Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen; Birds with gladder songs o'erflow, Flowers with deeper beauties shine, Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

A Life That Is Full Of The Fullness Of God

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 25th February 2022

Passage: Ephesians 3:19

Paul the Apostle was very fond of the word 'fullness'. He tells us that the fullness of Deity ("Godness") dwelt in Jesus Christ. (Colossians 2:9 and 1:19) He tells us also that the fullness of Christ dwells in the Church. And here in Ephesians, Paul prays that believers in Jesus will become mature in their faith so that they will be filled with the 'fullness of God'.

That is mind-boggling! The word fullness means completeness, you don't add anything more to it. So how can a Christian be filled with ALL the fullness of God? It is easy for us to think of Jesus being filled with God's fullness, but me, an ordinary Christian?

Well, here are some things to note. First of all, this 'fullness' is given to us (see Colossians 2:10) It is God's gift — complete salvation. Then Paul wants us to enjoy this fullness more and more. The Christian life is a full life — as Jesus himself says "I came that they (believers) may have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10) It is in John's Gospel that we have another reference to this word fullness (otherwise we only find it i Paul's writings in the Bible). It is in John 1:18 where we read "And from (Jesus') fullness we have all received grace upon grace".

The Christian life is a complete, abundant life, the gift of a loving gracious Saviour. No wonder Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 3:21:"to him be glory in the Church and in Chris Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!"

Forgiveness

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 24th February 2022

Passage: Colossians 3:13

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa once wrote a book called "No Future without forgiveness". It was part of an effort to heal the deep wounds which people had experienced in the years of apartheid in that country.

The title of the book has an ongoing importance for us because it is telling us a really Biblical message. We have no future unless we confess our sin to God and receive his forgiveness. Without that we are lost. The word 'forgiveness' itself, and the other Bible words which refer to forgiveness, teach us a lot. For example, there are words which mean to cover, to lift away, to send away or to let go — to loose away. They are all telling us of how the burden of guilt we have because of our sin can be lifted, the grip of our sin can be loosened and how we, sinners as we are, can be free and have a future with God. God gives us forgiveness, but we must accept it from him.

However, forgiveness is a 'two-sided coin'. "As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive". We may forfeit the blessing of forgiveness if we keep an unforgiving spirit stored up in our hearts and minds. In Ephesians 4:32 Paul writes: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you".

PrayerDear Lord, help me to remember that the cross of Jesus is the cost of my forgiveness and help me also to forgive others as I have been forgiven. Amen.

The Cross In My Daily Life

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 23rd February 2022

Passage: Luke 14:27

These words seem very hard, don't you think? The Apostle Paul tells us what people thought about the cross of Christ in his day — it was an object of contempt, associated with scandal, and an object of foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23) So if we are each to follow Christ we know what to expect! There is a cost in following Christ.

Part of the cost in following Jesus is death to all our pride — as we carry our cross we are reminded that we owe all our salvation to Jesus who died on the cross for us.

Another part of the cross is that it forces us to order our life's priorities in a God-honouring way. This world is not our (real) home so we have to have a right attitude to money, success and 'stuff'.

Our relationships and life-style are also to reflect our cross-bearing — we must live and behave every day as a Christian should. A well-known Christian of past years, Thomas à Kempis, speaking about God, wrote: "Set me where you will, and deal with me in all things just as you will... Where you are, there is heaven; and where you are not, there is hell and death." When you daily carry your cross you find Jesus walking alongside you. There is a cost, but there is also a life of blessing.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to daily take up my cross and follow you. Amen.

The Humiliation Of Jesus

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 22nd February 2022

Passage: Isaiah 53:3

Humility is one thing — it is a virtue that should truly be found in each of us — but humiliation is quite another thing. It is something to which we are subjected — it is something that happens to us. We would feel terrible if we were humiliated.

But as we read the story of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see that he was, from the moment of his birth, being subjected to humiliation. Remember who Jesus is - he is the Lord of Glory, the great eternal Son of God, the One through whom the world was made. Yet we read that he humbled himself by becoming a person like us, except that he had no sin. He lived a perfect life, yet he was despised and rejected by men and then crucified between two criminals. But why?

Man of sorrows! What a name! For the Son of God who came Ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah! What a Saviour! Mocked by insults harsh and crude, in my place condemned he stood; sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! What a Saviour!Guilty vile and helpless, we: spotless Lamb of God was he : Full atonement - can it be? Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

The amazing Lord who became the Saviour of helpless and hopeless sinners did it all because he loved us. How humble we should be!

PrayerBlessed Lord Jesus, as you gave yourself for me, help me to give myself to you. Amen.

Trusting In Sorrow

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 21st February 2022

Passage: Job 1:21

Bad things do happen to good people. Bad things happen to God's people and they may wonder, 'what is the purpose of my suffering?' How we cope with the bad things which may come to us is often a real test of our faith and our Christian character.

The book of Job shows us how a good man who experienced great sorrow and great suffering came, in the end, to a quiet acceptance that the Almighty God can be trusted even when Job could not understand the reason for his many problems.

In the beginning of the book of Job we learn that Job lost his great wealth and he suffered the loss of his family. Yet in the face of these calamities, and in the midst of his grief, he said "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" Job 1:21. What a testimony to Job's trust in God that he could sing in his sorrow words of praise to the Lord! But God knew Job — knew he was a man willing to sing to God out of the depths of sorrow because he knew his God would hold him up even when everything seemed against him. Job says in chapter 13:15 "Though he slay me, I will hope in him."

PrayerDear Lord God, there are times in my life when I don't understand your ways with me and I confess I find it hard to trust you. Forgive my unbelief and strengthen my trust, as I know that you will never desert me. Amen.

Singing

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 20th February 2022

Passage: Psalm 98:1

And they sang a new song... Revelation 5:9

"I can't sing!" How often people say that when others say, 'let's sing!' But everyone at a rugby or football match seems to sing anyway — even if not all are in tune!

God's people have always been a singing people — the book of Psalms shows us that and as we read in the book of Revelation there will be lots of singing in heaven — spontaneous outbursts of a new song, a song of praise to the great Saviour Jesus. For through him, God has truly done marvellous things for us.

Singing is a wonderful way of expressing our emotions, not just in happy times but in sad times too. Some of the Psalms are laments, sad and pleading from a broken heart, as in Psalm 25:16 - "Turn to me for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distress" Some Psalms are confessions. Psalm 51:4 says "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight".

But mostly we love to sing when our hearts are glad because we look to Jesus and find our mercy, forgiveness and full salvation in him alone. Psalm 27:1 says: " The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?" We can join the crowds in heaven now and sing that great new song.

PrayerLord, thank you for the gift of song. Help me to praise your name often and gladly. Amen.

The Faithfulness Of God

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 19th February 2022

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:24

A person's character is very important; it tells us what someone is really like. Can you trust him/her? Is he a person who always keeps his promises? All of that is very important.

The Apostle Paul tells us that God's character — what God is really like — is the very reason we can trust him to help us in every situation. And we know he has put us there for a purpose "We can trust God because he is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it." (The Message)

Paul was writing to Christians who lived in a city where it was not easy to live a holy and pure Christian life. But that was, and that is, the kind of life God looks for in his followers. Yes, it is hard, but we can depend on God to help us to be godly people in an ungodly world. God expects us to be faithful to him, and he has promised to be faithful to us, utterly dependable, to give us the courage, the strength, the love and the endurance to live and witness for him. John Calvin said: "God is always like himself". That means he is always faithful. 'If he said it, he'll do it'! He will help us - 'Our faithful, unchangeable friend, whose love is as great as his power, and knows neither measure nor end.' J Hart.

PrayerLord, help me to depend on you daily, knowing that you are dependable always. Amen.

God Sent His Son

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 18th February 2022

Passage: Galatians 4:4

When the Bible says that 'God sent forth his son', it shows us clearly that this was a unique event — it speaks of a new set of circumstances coming into being. Jesus, the son of God, came 'in the fullness of time' - God's special time.

There are three great parts in the Bible where it says that God sent forth his son and each of them gives an important reason why this happened. In 1 John 4:10 we are told that God sent Jesus to be the means, by his death on the cross, by which God's anger and hatred against us sinners would be 'obliterated from his sight' (J I Packer). And he did this because of his love for us.

In Galatians 4:4 we are told that God sent his son to redeem us because we were slaves to sin and had broken God's law. To redeem us Jesus had to die for us to pay the price for our freedom and to bring us into a family relationship with God.

In 1 John 4:9 we read that God sent his son that we might live through him - the start of a spiritual life that never ends.

From all of this we have to see the uniqueness of God's salvation which is all centred in and achieved through Jesus Christ. We have no salvation, no forgiveness, no eternal life apart from Jesus.

PrayerAlmighty God we thank you for sending Jesus. Amen.

The Disaster Of Wrong Choices

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 17th February 2022

Passage: Jeremiah 2:13

We read that God was appalled at the choice the people made in the days of Jeremiah the prophet, and his heart bled for them. The reason why God was taken aback by the people's choice in leaving him to 'do their own thing' was that he knew that these wrong choices would lead to spiritual and moral disaster and, in the case of Israel, to national disaster as well.

You see, when we choose to leave God out of our lives, we begin to go wrong in so many ways because the God who created us made us to live his way. If we were to fit the wrong engine into a car, very soon the car would begin to break down and all sorts of things would go wrong. That's how things will go with us if we turn away from God. We may try to live without him, but we will fail to live happily or successfully in the end. Even the best that life without God can offer is like a leaking and empty cistern — useless. The Lord Jesus is the only living water which truly satisfies our deepest needs and helps us to live the way God intended we should.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, too often I have gone my own way and have forsaken you. Forgive me Lord, I pray, and bring me back to trust in you. Amen.

Choices!

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 16th February 2022

Passage: Joshua 24:15

If you are a Starbucks customer you will know the whole range of coffees that you can choose from. We all like to make our own choices, whether it is for coffee or anything else.

In the book of Joshua chapter 24 we read about a time when the Israelites had to make a big decision. They had several choices, and Joshua was worried they would make the wrong choice.

You see, Joshua was now an old man. He had been a good leader for many years and he kept the people worshipping God and keeping to his ways. But Joshua knew he was not going to live for ever, and the Israelites were living among tribes who did not worship God; indeed some of the tribes had really horrible religions and gods and the Israelites were tempted to follow these just as some of their ancestors had done.

So Joshua challenged the people to think seriously about their faith. As for himself and his family, Joshua said they were committed to the Lord and to serving him. So now Joshua challenged the people to choose either to follow the Lord sincerely, or to go after these other false religions.

The people made the right choice. "We will follow and serve the Lord", they said. "He is our God". Can we say this too?

PrayerO Lord, there are many wrong choices that tempt me. Help me to follow you only, faithfully and sincerely.

Living By Faith

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 15th February 2022

Passage: Hebrews 11:1

Being a Christian in the days when the letter to the Hebrews was written was not easy. The Christians often had to suffer physically and emotionally. For them the world was a hard, unfriendly place and very anti-God. For that reason the writer of the letter tells a lot of stories of people who lived by what he calls faith, and they too lived in difficult circumstances. These stories were told to encourage these struggling Christians, and us, so that we also might live by faith and so prove the reliability and help of God in every time of need.

But what is faith? Faith is really a relationship between God and the Christian. It is the channel through which the saving mercy of Jesus Christ comes to us and puts us into a Father-child relationship with God. So faith becomes our personal trust and confidence in the God who has saved us.

The more we come to learn about God, the more our relationship with him will strengthen and that will help us to cope with all sorts of setbacks and persecutions we may face in this life. God will help us and he will also assure us of the better things he has prepared for us in the life to come. We learn to trust him more and more in this life too.

PrayerOur Father in heaven, help me to trust you to provide for my daily needs and to help me to serve you in the way you call me to. Amen.

The Pearl Of Great Value

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 14th February 2022

Passage: Matthew 13:45-46

The merchant knew his pearls and when he saw this pearl of great value, he was willing to sell everything he had (not just his other pearls) and he bought that special one.

Jesus has come to tell us about the kingdom of God (or of heaven). Indeed Jesus is the king, and he tells us truly that compared to finding him, even the best of things in this life are like poor pearls. He is that pearl of great value and we should willingly give up everything to have him as our King. Why?

It is through Jesus that the tyranny of sin and Satan are broken — at the cross. It is in and through Jesus that grace, mercy, repentance and forgiveness are to be found. It is through Jesus that power is given for us to live and witness to God's goodness and love. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of God and to find him and to enter his kingdom is of greater value than anything else.

You enter the Kingdom of God by trusting the Lord Jesus for your salvation and when you do, you come to know you have found the pearl of great value - it's worth giving up everything for!

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to see you as that pearl of infinite value and your kingdom as my home. Amen.

Boasting!

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 13th February 2022

Passage: Galatians 6:14

We all like to boast about something! Maybe it is about a bargain we found in the shops or a big fish we caught. Boasting comes naturally to us.

Paul the Apostle liked to boast as well. He had plenty to be proud of but, he tells us, everything paled into insignificance compared with the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and what was represented by that. For him the cross of Jesus had huge significance even if people thought he was crazy boasting in such a thing that most people looked on with disgust.

For Paul, and this must be true of us too if we are Christians, the cross represented God's way of salvation for sinners. This did seem foolishness to some but Paul knew that, as a sinner himself, he could not save himself or find pardon and forgiveness unless God forgave him. His sin, and our sin, must be dealt with. And it was — at the cross, where Jesus took the penalty for the sin of all who come to trust in him. Paul found this to be true and he cried in relief "(Jesus) loved me and gave himself for me"Galatians 2: 20. That was why he boasted in the cross. Can we join him in this?

PrayerLord Jesus, may it be far from me to boast except in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christ Has Set Us Free!

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 12th February 2022

Passage: Galatians 5:1

Freedom! In the time of Paul, as in any time, freedom was a really precious possession. Its opposite was slavery. Paul was thankful that he had been born free.

But Paul is telling us in the words at the top of the page of an even more precious freedom and also of an even greater slavery. The freedom he speaks about is what the Christian enjoys; the slavery is what binds up a person who tries, even very hard, to please God by his own good deeds.

When a Christian is living a faithful life of obedience to Jesus Christ he/she is free from the condemnation of God's law (because of what Jesus did for our salvation). The Christian is free from the daily grind of trying to please God by our own efforts. And we are free from the devil's taunts about past sins which he brings up again (they are all forgiven); and we are free from worrying about what other people think about us because we are following Christ.

Before we became Christians we may have tried to please God, thinking that our own efforts would be enough, but we failed and just became slaves to rules and regulations. Only Christ sets us free!

PrayerDear God, I praise you that you have given me your son, Jesus Christ, that I might no longer be a slave to my own efforts. Amen.

Responses To The Gospel

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 11th February 2022

Passage: Matthew 13:3

Jesus loved to paint pictures with words and he loved to tell stories. All the pictures he painted, all the stories he told had a very important purpose: they were to teach people about the Gospel and to draw people to believe the Gospel and to follow him. One of these stories was the parable of the sower, his seed and the ground on which it fell. (Matthew 13: 1-23) In this story Jesus compared the seed to the word of the Gospel which is told in churches and books and in conversations.

People receive this Word in different ways, like seed sown by the farmer in Jesus' time. Some seed fell on the path which ran alongside the field; some seed fell on rocky ground at the edge of the field; other seed fell among thorns and thistles, but most seed fell on the fertile ground of the field.

Jesus compared the ground on which the seed fell to the way people respond to the Gospel message. Some people's hearts are hard, and they do not respond at all; others seem to be delighted with the Word but after a while their enthusiasm goes; others believe for a while but get 'turned off' when troubles come; but some believe and bear fruit — they persevere and find great joy in following Jesus.

Where do we fit in to the picture?

PrayerDear Lord, help me to believe and to follow you to the end. Amen.

Jesus Christ — The Outstanding Saviour

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 10th February 2022

Passage: Colossians 1:16

I think that sometimes we have a much smaller picture of Jesus Christ than we should have. We are used to speaking of him in personal terms — my Saviour, my Lord, my friend. Of course that is good; to know Jesus in these ways is wonderful. But he is much more than that. We should have a picture of him as the Bible sees him in Colossians 1: 15 - 23.

That passage speaks of Jesus Christ being outstandingly great as the Creator of all that is. We usually speak of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and rightly so, but he has done all of this through Jesus Christ.

We also read that Jesus is the outstandingly great Head of the Church. This must make us realise that the Church does not take its direction from men's opinions but from the Lord Jesus alone.

And again Jesus Christ is described as the outstanding Saviour who takes sinners who were cut off from God and brings them into God's family as his redeemed children through his (Christ's) death on the cross. No wonder the angels in heaven sing the praises of the almighty Saviour Jesus Christ.

PrayerHelp us, O God, to praise, worship and adore the Lord Jesus Christ, the outstanding Creator, Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 9th February 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Nowadays it is very popular to have people trying to trace their family roots, maybe hoping to find that there was some very important person in their family's past.

The Bible too is very interested in family histories. You just need to read Genesis chapters 9, 11 and 36 for example, or the early chapters of Matthew and Luke where we read about the human relatives of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul was very proud of his family roots; 'a Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin...' It was very important to know who a person was and that is true for us too.

But God is interested in knowing who we are in relation to him. When we become Christians we become new creations and we are immediately born into a new family. That family is God's family. So, just as in our natural family we show certain family characteristics like physical features, we have to show characteristics of our new (God's) family. Paul gives a list of some of these in Galatians 5: 22 - 23. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are characteristics which the Holy Spirit helps to develop in us as members of God's family.

So who do you think you are? Are you in God's family?

PrayerDear Lord, I pray you will take me into your family and help me to develop all the family likenesses you want to see in me. Amen.

Working Together For God And With God

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 8th February 2022

Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:9

How many players are there in a football team? The answer, of course, is eleven. No matter how brilliant any or all of them may be, they must play as a team if they are to be successful.

In the same way God wants Christians to work together with him in the great task of spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ. In Colossians chapter 4 Paul tells of ten men who were all different; some were Jews, some were not. But all of them, except one, proved to be an excellent team in helping Paul, and of course that meant they were all working together with God. In the same way, in 1 Corinthians 3:9 Paul points out that while we each serve God in different ways with the gifts God has given to us, we must give all the honour to him and not to ourselves.

That was the problem with the man we read about in Paul's second letter to Timothy. His name was Demas, and he left God's team, and Paul, in the lurch, going away to do his own thing.

When we do work together with God and one another, humbly and enthusiastically trying to build up the church of Jesus Christ, we will know blessing and success just because God himself is in the team — he is our Captain!

PrayerAlmighty God, who has called us to work with you in the great task of spreading the Gospel to bring people to Christ, help us to do this to the glory of your name. Amen.

The Real Alternative Lifestyle

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 7th February 2022

Passage: Colossians 3:2

Living an 'alternative life-style' is often a way of saying that someone is living in ways that the Bible condemns. But there is a Christian life-style that is really different from the ways that most people live, a life-style that puts God and his Word at the centre of all that we do. It's not easy to live this way because we can get 'sucked into' the ways and values of many folk around us.

What does a Christian life-style look like? It is a life-style that takes its values from heaven in the sense that its morals, its actions, its manner of speaking are all in line with what is taught in the Bible. It is a life-style that is active in telling people about Jesus, the one great Saviour of sinners. This is a vital part of loving our neighbours, something very important in God's eyes. And the Christian life-style puts more value on heaven than on the things of this life. A life lived like that will stand out as different from many people around us as we try to make sure the love and goodness of Jesus Christ shines through all we say and do.

PrayerLord Jesus Christ, in a world where many people do not know much about you or your values, help me to show them just how wonderful and satisfying the Christian life truly is. Amen.

Jesus Was Passing By

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 6th February 2022

Passage: Matthew 9:9

Here is one man's story of how he became a Christian. It was as if we said to him, 'Matthew, tell us how you became a follower of Jesus.' He began in a very relaxed way "Jesus was passing by and he said to me, 'Follow me'". How would you react if Jesus said that to you? I don't know if Jesus and Matthew had ever spoken to one another before, or if Matthew had listened to Jesus when he was preaching to the people. Anyway, Matthew was challenged by what Jesus said to him, and he said to himself "Yes, I will follow him". That decision cost Matthew a lot as Luke tells us plainly that Matthew left everything and followed Jesus as one of his 12 apostles. We don't know exactly what happened to Matthew in later life; the Bible does not tell us. However, there are many stories from the early years of the church to give us a picture of Matthew as a great evangelist for the Christian Gospel. For Matthew the cost of following Jesus was truly worthwhile, and at the end he had endless life with his Saviour in heaven. And all of this happened as Jesus was 'passing by'.

Jesus challenges us today. He is passing by as you read this. Have you followed him as your Saviour and Lord? Matthew shows us the way!

PrayerLord Jesus, help me to follow you as Matthew did and be my Saviour and Lord and Friend. Amen

Glimpses Of Heaven

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 5th February 2022

Passage: Revelation 7:13

"Who are all these people?" This question was asked about a great crowd of people in heaven that the Apostle John saw in the great vision we now know as the book of Revelation.

It's a glimpse into heaven that we have here, and I hope it will help us to realise that although we may think Christians are a small minority in the world, that is not really the case at all.

Look how the people in heaven are described in Revelation 7: 9-17. First of all there was a huge multitude of them, so many that no one could count them; they were from every nation, they were gathered around the throne of Jesus Christ (the Lamb), and they were singing praise to Christ. These were the Christians from every age, many of whom had endured great suffering for Christ's sake. They all had one thing in common — they were washed clean through the blood of the Lord Jesus.

This is a reminder that it is only because of all that Jesus has done for us on the cross that anyone can enter the heavenly glory.

PrayerLord Jesus, great Lamb of God, help me to trust you as my Saviour and then to look forward to my heavenly home. Amen

Listening To God

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 4th February 2022

Passage: Psalm 25:4

Wouldn't it be a strange kind of friendship if only one person did all the talking all the time? There needs to be a conversation — two people speaking together.

When we pray we are speaking to God. This is a really great privilege. We bring many requests to God in prayer, as well as praising him for the many blessings he gives to us, especially in salvation. We speak to God. But does he speak to us? If he does how can I hear him?

In Psalm 25:4 - 5 the psalm writer makes his requests: "Show me your ways; teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me". How would God answer?

God answers these requests, and all our requests, through the Bible. It is the main way God speaks to us all. There is the daily discipline of really getting to know the Bible because it is 'God-breathed' and useful for every aspect of our Christian living. The more we get to know our Bibles and apply what we need to our daily situation, the more we will find that God is speaking to us. He will guide, prompt us, and correct us as we come to know his ways, his paths, his truth better.

PrayerO Lord do show me your ways, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me I pray. Amen

God's Engagement Ring

Reader: Tom Muir

Date: 3rd February 2022

Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:5

When a young couple get engaged, friends like to see the engagement ring the girl has usually been given. Why has she got that ring? It is a pledge from her fiancé that in time they will be married — the ring is a kind of guarantee that this will happen. The Greek word for 'guarantee' in the text at the top of the page is usually used in modern Greek to refer to things in connection with weddings — an engagement ring.

The Bible speaks about the Holy Spirit as God's guarantee to us that, as Christians, there is a day coming when we will be with God in heaven, when all the things we don't fully understand now, will become clear to us, and all God's promises to us as Christians will be given to us. God guarantees it by giving us his Holy Spirit to be in us and guide us.

The Holy Spirit acts like God's engagement ring and he will be faithful to us until he takes us to heaven. It may be that we shall have many trials along the way as Christians but we can always look to God — he has guaranteed the wedding day will come!

PrayerAlmighty God, we thank you for the assurance you give us that as your people none of your promises to us will fail. Amen.

Why Jesus Went Away

Reader: Calum Cameron

Date: 2nd February 2022

Passage: John 16:7

These words must have sounded both strange and sad for the followers of Jesus. They felt really lost when he was not around with them. How on earth were they going to get on without him? And anyway, where was he going? Jesus answered that question and explained why he was going away.

After his crucifixion and his resurrection Jesus went back to heaven from where he had come to be our Saviour. (Acts 1: 9 - 11) From heaven Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit to be the helper, the guide and the friend of all who put their trust in Jesus for their salvation. Indeed, without the help of the Holy Spirit, we would not even want to trust in Jesus. Once we are trusting in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts to help us day by day to follow Christ. The Spirit is the third person in the Trinity so we should be humbly grateful to God to have this great Helper in our hearts; as Jesus said, "Another like himself." So now that Jesus has gone to heaven we have the Holy Spirit with us, whoever we are or wherever we are, if we are Christians.

And what is Jesus doing now? He is preparing a place for us in heaven and one day he will come to take us there.

PrayerGracious God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who has come to be with us and in us to lead us onwards to heaven. Amen.

God’s Adopted Children

Reader: Miriam Montgomery

Date: 1st February 2022

Passage: Galatians 4:4

Some time ago we had a family come to us for lunch. The parents had three children, the youngest of whom was 10 months old. He was asleep when they arrived, but when he woke up and was brought through to join the rest of us, the mother said, "Do you know that this little fellow is adopted?"

We didn't know that but he was obviously much loved and a part of that family. After a while the 8-year-old daughter took the little fellow on her knee. "I do like having a little brother", she said.

In a very real sense Jesus Christ rejoices in having younger brothers and sisters because that was one great reason why he came into the world. We read, "God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." You see, if we are not Christians, we are not in God's family — we are slaves in another family, that of the devil. But God, through what Jesus has done, has redeemed us — bought us back out of slavery — and brought us into his own family, not as slaves but as truly adopted children with all the rights and privileges that go with that. Why did he do this? Because he loved us!

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into this world to redeem a sinner like me and to bring me to be adopted by my heavenly Father. Amen.

'Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus'

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 31st January 2022

Passage: Jude 3

We are used to hearing about wars, brutality and racial unrest in so many areas of the world. These conflicts are usually far away from us and perhaps they may not affect us too much. In our own country we enjoy peace and stability. The wars, for the most part, are confined to our TV screens.

But there is a war going on — and it is right here in Scotland as well as throughout the world. It is a war that is not fought with guns or bombs, and the enemy may look very like ourselves. It is a spiritual war. It has been going on for a very long time and the aim of the enemy is to destroy the purity of the church and the authority of God's Word, the Bible. That is why Jude wrote this warning letter. He saw the enemy attacking the church in his day and it is still the same now.

Jude tells us about the enemy's tactics. He says certain ungodly people had wormed their way unnoticed into positions of influence in the church and began misleading Christian people with false teaching leading to immorality. This kind of situation is still with us. You see it when people deny the authority and teaching of the Bible and allow ways of living which the Bible condemns. Jude calls us to defend the truth of the Good News. We have to stand up for Jesus and the truth the Bible teaches us. This takes courage but God will be with us as we stand up for him.

PrayerLord Jesus, give me courage to stand for truth and for you. Amen.

Jesus, The Light Of The World (2)

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 30th January 2022

Passage: John 8:12

If you were asked to paint a picture of the Christian Gospel, what colours would you choose? Or what do you imagine Jesus Christ looked like — was his face dark and heavy, even sad looking? Actually, I think Jesus must have looked really bright and open-faced. After all, he said he was the light of the world, and Paul says, we see 'the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:7). That is sheer beauty.

The word 'light' itself is a joyful word. The word Jesus used for darkness is a scary word — there was nothing 'dark' about him. But of course Jesus would have looked sad at times, especially when he saw people preferring to walk in darkness rather than in the light — the life that he gives us when we trust in him. Paul says it is 'the god of this world', Satan, who blinds the minds of unbelievers so that they don't see the 'light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God' (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is a 'no brainer' to walk in darkness when you can walk in company with 'the Light of the world'!

PrayerLord Jesus, help me to trust you and walk each day in the light with you. Amen.

A Fitting Memorial (3)

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 29th January 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 7:12

Ebenezer — the stone of help — was erected to commemorate a victory, a very special victory that was entirely due to God's help.

The Bible is full of references to stones which told of God's help being given to his people. In the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of as being like a special stone which builders rejected but which eventually became the stone that kept the whole building together. Jesus, God's Son, was rejected by many. He was crucified in weakness, yet God raised him from the dead and he has become the great Saviour of his people — the Stone of help to a lost world, the Stone of victory — it is all of God's doing because sinners like us cannot save ourselves.

Jesus is the great foundation Stone of his Church on which all of the Church and all who are his people in the Church are being built up like a beautiful building to the glory of God. One day we will see it complete, and what a day of rejoicing that will be!

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you that I can look to you as my Ebenezer, my Stone of help, who has saved me in your mercy, because I confess I could not save myself. Amen.

A Fitting Memorial (2)

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 28th January 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 7:12

Can we honestly give a good reason why the people in the Old Testament and we ourselves today should enjoy any good thing from God? People in the Old Testament times were often griping, disloyal and ungrateful to God. And in the New Testament and down to today, people turn their backs on Jesus Christ, God's son. All people, including us, do not deserve any good thing from God - we are all sinners in his sight.

Yet Samuel was right to erect this memorial stone, the 'stone of help' because it was true that God had helped the people; indeed God tells us that not only did he help the people, he loved the people (Deuteronomy 7:8) The New Testament tells us that God so loved the world that he sent his son to be our Saviour. God's dealings with us are not based on what we deserve but on his grace. Samuel knew that and so do we. By grace we mean God's free and loving help to us as sinners and it comes by means of all that Jesus Christ has done through his sinless life, his death on the cross, his resurrection and now his place in heaven at God's throne. It is by grace that we are saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this is a tremendous comfort and encouragement because without God's grace we would have no hope of salvation.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you for all you have done for me, although as a sinner I don't deserve a thing. Help me to appreciate your grace more and more. Amen.

A Fitting Memorial (1)

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 27th January 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 7:12

Edinburgh is full of statues and memorials in every street in the city centre. These commemorate people who made their marks in times past. That is a good thing to do.

Samuel, the last and the best of the judges in Israel set up a memorial stone as a thanksgiving to God following a famous victory over the Philistines. The name of the memorial stone was Ebenezer, 'the stone of help'. It was a good thing to erect this memorial, so that people would remember it was God who had helped them to win this victory. It is always good to remember how very much God helps us.

It is good too to remember the great words of Paul, 'and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28). God is in overall control of the world he has made and we will find that even the rough, hard experiences of our lives end up being for our ultimate good. It will be the testimony of every Christian at the end of his/her life, 'ebenezer', 'till now the Lord has helped me'!

PrayerAlmighty God, help me to trust you in the difficult times, knowing that your eternal purposes will work out for your glory and my good. Amen

The Powerful Name Of Jesus

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 26th January 2022

Passage: Acts 4:7

A badly crippled beggar man had been healed by the apostles Peter and John. The difference could be seen by everyone in the temple in Jerusalem because the healed man went about walking and leaping and praising God! Everyone was happy — except the religious leaders who were furious, and probably jealous.

Peter and John were put in prison overnight. Next day they were asked in court, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" They replied that the man's healing was all due to the risen Jesus Christ, and, they added, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven... by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The powerful name of Jesus!

Our salvation depends on that powerful name of Jesus. It is only Jesus who saves sinners. But the name of Jesus is also a disturbing name. The religious leaders of the time hated the name of Jesus Christ. Many people still do, because Jesus convicts them of their sin and they prefer their sin to following Christ. But those who do follow him find that the powerful name of Jesus gives them the courage to tell others about their Saviour and what he can do for them. That powerful name is still working miracles in our world today.

PrayerLord Jesus Christ help me to witness in the power of your name to tell those who need to hear your saving words. Amen.

The Ideal City

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 25th January 2022

Passage: Hebrews 11:10

All over the world there is a movement of people from rural areas to cities and towns in the hope of finding a better way of living. But there is, however, no ideal city on this earth, no matter how beautiful it may be. The Bible speaks in many places about the ideal city; it is a heavenly one but it is no less real for that.

This ideal city has God as its architect and builder and is the destination of every true believer in Jesus Christ. It is the place that they can truly call home, because it is the city specially prepared by God for all who are his children. There is perfect freedom and perfect security in God's city; no restrictions, no second class citizens, no fear because there is no sin. The city's gates are never shut and it will never be overthrown.

There is also perfect contentment in God's city because everyone will have all they need. The Bible speaks about the abundance of fruit, of water, and all good things in the city to give the people all they will ever need.

And there is joyful and heartfelt worship in the city. God's people will for ever enjoy singing the praises of the Saviour through whom they reached this ideal place How do I get there? The key to the city is found at the cross where Jesus died for us sinners. By accepting his salvation our heavenly citizenship is guaranteed.

PrayerYes Lord, I do look forward to life in your city.

Hope — A Vital Part Of The Christian's Faith

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 24th January 2022

Passage: Colossians 1:23

"I hope so!" Haven't we all said that at one time or another when speaking about something we look forward to, but there is a doubt about how it will all turn out. Christian hope — all that a Christian hopes for — is not a flimsy "I hope so!" God himself is called the God of hope and it is in God that we set our hope.

We know what God has done for us in the past — the great salvation he has brought us in his love and worked out for us through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian has been "born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).

So then, it is on God himself and the facts of the Gospel that we live. Our Christian hope, then, based on all that has been done for us, looks forward to all that God is still going to do for us, in Christ's return in power and glory and our life with him in heaven for evermore. It is hope surrounded by certainty which means we don't need to fear the future — God has it all taken care of!

PrayerLord Jesus, help me to rejoice in the hope of the Gospel which we have heard and now believe. Amen.

The Gospel

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 23rd January 2022

Passage: Mark 1:1

Surely the word 'gospel' must be one of the words that Christian people use over and over again. The word 'gospel' itself has come to mean 'good News' and a very particular good news at that. In Mark 1:14 we read of Jesus Christ proclaiming 'the gospel of God'. Paul the Apostle also spoke of the Gospel of God twice in 1 Thessalonians 2. That lets us see how important this news is - it is something that God has made known to us — we didn't discover it by ourselves.

Again, the Gospel is 'the Good News of Jesus Christ, the son of God' (Mark 1:1) It is about Jesus, it came to us from God by Jesus and Jesus himself is the Good News This Gospel is for all people. It is God's response to a universal need. It is important for each of us. The Gospel is a true message about salvation for sinners — and we have all sinned against God. The Good News takes us to a sad place — the Cross — but it is there that God turned the bad news of our sin into the Good News of grace and forgiveness. For it also takes us to the resurrection of Jesus and life everlasting for all who believe.

PrayerDear Lord, thank you for the Gospel. Help me to rejoice in all you have done for my salvation. Amen

Facing Our Giants

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 22nd January 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 17:32

David and Goliath — kids' stuff? Not on your life! This was real blood and thunder battle, and it was a battle that no one in the Israelite army was prepared to fight. They were all too scared of the nine foot giant who challenged them to fight day after day. But there was one person prepared to fight Goliath, and he did so not because he was big and strong or an experienced soldier. No, but he went out to fight 'in the name of the Lord.'

It was not easy for David. When you read the story you find that David had to fight the evil gods of the Philistines; this was a spiritual battle. David faced the ridicule and opposition of his own brothers and the cowardice of the soldiers of Israel. David was given ill-fitting armour to wear, which he rejected. And David faced the giant alone — but God was with him.

We all have to face giants of one kind or another as Christians — challenges and temptations that seem far too big for us to deal with. We must never underestimate the power and craftiness of Satan as he tries to make us do things we would later be ashamed of. But Satan can be defeated just as Goliath was, and in the same way. We must face each trial and temptation in the name of the Lord and not in our own strength alone.

PrayerDear Lord, I need your help to face up to the challenges and temptations in my life. Help me to resist the devil so that I may be clean before you. Amen

The Unique Glory Of Jesus Christ

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 21st January 2022

Passage: John 1:14

Jesus is a mirror image of God, and he is "stamped with God's nature" (Hebrews 1:3, The Message). No one else could ever claim to have the perfect, sinless nature of Jesus. Just as his person is unique, and his power is unique so also we can speak of the glory of Christ being unique. Glory is a very expressive word.

In the Old Testament the word glory had the idea of heaviness. God's glory was something substantial — his moral beauty and his intrinsic worth set him apart. The New Testament view of Jesus Christ leads us to see him in the same way. James speaks of Jesus as 'the Lord of glory' (James 2:1), and John tells us that he and others had seen the glory of Christ. Paul also tells us about the exalted state of Jesus in heaven, acclaimed by all the heavenly angels - 'he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father' (Philippians 2:9-11). The letter to the Hebrews tell us Jesus is 'the radiance of the glory of God' (Hebrews 1:2).

What does all this mean for us? It means we should worship Christ, adore Christ and obey Christ — He is the Lord of glory, supreme over everything and every one. What a privilege to know him as our Saviour!

PrayerLord Jesus Christ, help me to bow before you in humility and worship you and adore you. Amen.

Jesus Christ Has Unique Power

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 20th January 2022

Passage: Matthew 8:27

That was a night to remember. One moment there was this violent life-threatening storm; the next there was quite amazing calm. And the change came about because of a direct command of Jesus. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. Now that is power for you. The Gospels are full of references to the power of Jesus. But there are two kinds of power and Jesus possessed them both.

One kind of power was the kind that Jesus shared when he calmed the great storm on the Sea of Galilee. That same kind of power was seen when Jesus healed sick people — it was dynamic power, the power that people could see in the way that Jesus not only healed but even raised dead people.

The other kind of power that Jesus had was what we often call authority. People were often amazed by Jesus' teaching. They said he spoke with such authority. He claimed to have authority to forgive sins, to give eternal life to those who followed him and to have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. The proof that he had, and has, that authority came when he rose from the dead. Jesus Christ has unique power of both kinds and he still shows that today in the way lives are changed when people believe in him.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to worship you and also to trust you for your power to keep me following you faithfully. Amen.

Jesus Christ Is A Unique Person

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 19th January 2022

Passage: Philippians 2:5-8

There have always been special people in the world — great soldiers, great statesmen, great sportsmen and women, great religious leaders. Jesus Christ, however, is unique. There has never been anyone like him, and there never will be.

One reason why Jesus is unique is that he is both the eternal son of God and also the perfect 'son of man', a truly human being. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians chapter 2 how Jesus, although he was divine, left heaven and was born as a person. Jesus humbled himself in doing this, but he did it in order that he would be obedient to God the Father, even going on to die on the cross for us poor sinners.

So Jesus had a divine nature and a human nature. These two natures 'lived', as it were, in perfect harmony in the one sinless person, Jesus Christ. When Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day after the crucifixion it was proof of his uniqueness. Charles Wesley puts it like this 'Love divine! What have you done? The immortal God had died for me. The Father's co-eternal Son Bore all my sins upon the tree.'

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you became a person like me in order to save me. Amen.

The Word That Lasts For Ever

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th January 2022

Passage: Matthew 24:35

My grandfather died in 1898. Just imagine if he were to reappear today, what a strange experience it would be for him — a world of motor cars and aeroplanes, television and mobile phones! He would be completely lost! Changes, changes and more changes. But some things don't change, and one of the most important is the word of God. Jesus said, "My words will not pass away". His words last for ever.

Jesus himself was called the Word — the Word who came from heaven bringing us God's special message. In Hebrews chapter 1 Jesus is spoken of as God's final Word to us. So that is why it is so important to listen to what he has to say to us. The whole Bible centres on Jesus Christ — it is included in what Jesus means when he says, "My words will not pass away".

Science, Medicine and government all have a role to play in helping us improve the conditions we live in and the work we do. However, it is only in the Bible, the word of God that we find what is most important for our souls. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, the life; no one comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6). So then we know that if Jesus says something is right, it is always right, and if he says it is wrong, it is wrong. His word does not change. Let's listen to Christ and follow him.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, please help me to love your word, the Bible, and to be guided by it always. Amen.

Following Jesus Christ

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 17th January 2022

Passage: Matthew 9:9

Imagine you are in a thick forest with no obvious path. It would be easy to get lost. But when you have a guide he just says 'follow me' and you can relax and enjoy yourself. The story in Matthew 9:9 tells us about a man who was lost but then a guide came along and said 'follow me', and the man's life was changed for ever. Matthew was the lost man, Jesus was the guide, and the story tells us how we too can be saved from our lostness in sin to be changed for ever.

First of all we have to heed what Jesus says to us — he knows all about us, even the worst about us — that is how he knows we need to be saved. Then we need to obey what Jesus says. What did Matthew do? He rose and followed Jesus. That is just what we must do. Look again at that word 'rose'. It's an interesting word. It is associated with new beginnings, new life, just like the resurrection. Jesus is calling us to a new life. Luke tells us that Matthew left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:28) A new life indeed, turning his back on the old life to become an apprentice of Jesus, to live for him, serve him, love him and tell others about him Jesus says to us, 'follow me'. What will we do about that?

PrayerLord Jesus, help me to follow you humbly and faithfully, Amen

Jesus, The Light Of The World (1)

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 16th January 2022

Passage: John 8:12

Winter days are mostly dark days with long, very dark nights. In the Bible too, darkness had a very negative feel about it. In Genesis 1:1-3 we read what things were like in the beginning: "The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep." There was no light and there was no life.

That is also a picture of us when we don't know Jesus Christ — darkness and lifelessness. And that is why Jesus Christ came into the world to be the Saviour of those "living in darkness and in the shadow of death" (Matthew 4:16). It is a sad truth that those who don't know Jesus do love darkness rather than light which would show up their evil deeds and thoughts. Without Jesus as our Saviour the judgment of God rests upon us.

But remember what happened in Genesis 1. God said "Let there be light, and there was light." So it is with Christ, the light of the world. When we believe in him and follow him, we become 'light in the Lord'; we will not 'walk in darkness but will have the light of life.' Where there was darkness there was no life. In Jesus the Light of the world, we have life in all its fullness, now and for evermore. Are you walking in the light?

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank you that you came into our darkness to take away our sin. Help me to follow you, walking in the light of your salvation. Amen

The Compassion Of Jesus

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 15th January 2022

Passage: Mark 1:41

Nowadays we are used to hearing about 'carers' - people who look after those who are not able to look after themselves. The word carer is a good word. In the Bible there is a special word which is related to caring. It is the word translated 'compassion' or 'pity' (ESV), or 'deeply moved' (The Message). The word always applies only to Jesus or is used in the two great parables Jesus told, the 'good Samaritan' and the 'prodigal Son.' Compassion means more than caring. It is the sense of pity that breaks the heart. This was seen so often in Jesus' life on earth — he touched and healed the leper, he raised the dead son of the widow in Nain, he saw the crowds as lost sheep and fed them. Jesus was the great, compassionate Saviour. What was true of Jesus must also be true of us if we are Christians. The non-Christian world can be a harsh, cruel place — a pitiless place — unless Christian values prevail. So as Christians we must show the compassion of Christ as 'good Samaritans' in a bruised and lost world.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank you that you had compassion on me when I was a lost sinner. Please help me now to show your compassion and love to the people I meet. Amen

When We Pray Together

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 14th January 2022

Passage: Isaiah 64:1

Why do Christians go to prayer meetings? Is it just the done thing that they do out of habit? There must be a better reason than that. Of course there is! Christians come together to pray knowing that God delights to see his people united in their worship of him, and united in their concern to see God's kingdom advancing in the world. Christians come together to pray out of a sense of need — we need God's help if we are to live as God's people in a world that is so often against God's values and Christian lifestyles. So we come together to pray for God's church in the world. Christians are the body of Christ, the family of God.

Surely then it is right to pray for one another. "There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him" (William Law). This being so, we must pray for fellow Christians who are persecuted and marginalised. And Christians come together to pray for our world. There is so much evil in it, there are so many areas where Christians are suffering persecution. But it is only in God that we have any hope of seeing the salvation of sinners, of seeing Christians being strengthened to overcome the evil and the persecutions. We need to pray.

PrayerAlmighty God, keep us faithful in our prayer life so that you would rend the heavens and come down to bless our people and save our world. Amen

What Happens When We Live God’s Way?

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 13th January 2022

Passage: Galatians 5:25

I've tried to grow tomatoes but the fruit I got for my efforts looked nothing like the fruit on the label that came with the young plants. Mine were poor specimens! God does not want us to be poor specimens of Christians, and the Holy Spirit has been given us to help us to develop a really fruitful Christian character that will truly look like the real thing. We read about this in Galatians 5:22-24. There we read what the fruit of the Spirit will look like in your life and mine when we ask for the Spirit's help. The end result will be a life that becomes more and more pleasing to God, because it becomes more and more like the life of Jesus Christ — that's what the Holy Spirit wants us to develop.

The life he wants in us is one dominated by love, both towards God and other people. It is a life full of joy and peace — both gifts left by Christ among his people when he ascended to heaven: "my joy, my peace I leave with you" (see John 14:27 and 15:12). Patience, goodness and gentleness show the way we should behave towards other people. Faithfulness, meekness and self-control are three ways in which we should 'manage' our lives before both God and others. In all of this we need the Spirit's help and it is his joy to give it.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I pray that the Holy Spirit’s fruit will ripen in my life so that I may become more like you.

God Is Calling ... Are You Listening?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th January 2022

Passage: Isaiah 65:12

I think we all know what it's like to phone someone and the phone rings and rings and nobody answers. It is just as frustrating when we start talking to someone only to realise that they're not really listening to us. The Bible is full of instances where God calls to people, starting with Adam in Genesis (3:9) right through to the last book in the Bible (See Revelation 3:20). And all too often when God calls nobody answers; when God speaks to us, we don't listen.

Why does God bother calling us and speaking to us? The answer is that he had good news to tell us and he has bad news to tell us. The good news is that God has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be the Saviour we need if we are to become friends of God and go to heaven when we die. The bad news is that if we don't answer when he calls, if we don't listen when he speaks to us then God will be silent and we will be lost. But God is still speaking to us, he tells us to listen to Jesus and believe what he has to say to us. He says: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Are you listening? Believe then, he is calling to you.

PrayerGracious God, I have heard your voice calling me. Help me to believe and follow Jesus. Amen

Here's Your Proof...

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 11th January 2022

Passage: John 20:28

If there were such a thing as a patron saint, then Thomas would be the patron saint of doubters! He just could not believe it when his fellow disciples said, "we have seen the Lord". Thomas was absent when the risen Christ visited the house where the disciples were gathered. Thomas just would not be convinced — he needed proof before he would believe it. And then the proof arrived! Jesus visited them again and Thomas was there. Jesus showed them his hands and feet, and encouraged Thomas to feel where the nails had been and where the spear had pierced him as if to say, 'here's the proof!' Thomas believed and he has given us one of the finest testimonies that anyone could give. He just said to Jesus, 'my Lord and my God'. No more doubts, no more fears; if the many legends about him can be believed, Thomas became one of the furthest travelled of all the apostles — even to India. That is the testimony we too must have if we are to grasp what it is to be a Christian — an obedient and worshipping follower of Jesus Christ.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to be like Thomas and bow before you in obedience, service and worship. Amen

The Story Of Ruth — A Love Story

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 10th January 2022

Passage: Ruth 3:13

Everyone likes a good story with a happy ending, especially a love story. The little book of Ruth is a love story, and it points us to an even greater love story — the story of what Jesus Christ has done for his people, and all because he loves them.

Ruth herself was a foreigner in the land of Israel who had come to faith in the Lord, the God of Israel "under whose wings she had come to take refuge" (Ruth 2:12). The leading man in the story is called Boaz, a relative of Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi. As the story unfolds, Boaz promised to act as the nearest of kin to Naomi and Ruth and that is why he said to Ruth "I will redeem you", meaning he would claim back the lands which had belonged to Ruth's late father-in-law and her deceased husband.

This happily also meant he could marry Ruth. In due time they married and had a child called Obed. Many generations later the great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus was born into that family line. Now Jesus says to us "I will redeem you". Through his death and resurrection he secured our redemption, freeing us from the consequences of our sin and making us friends with God. He did this for us, not because we deserved it, but because he loved us — the greatest love story ever told. It is what we call the Gospel.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus Christ, help me to come under the 'wings' of your redeeming grace as I confess to you my sin. I thank you for your redemption. Amen

Amazing Sorrow ... Amazing Grace

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th January 2022

Passage: Job 1:2

We cannot go through life without at some point meeting problems, heartaches, sorrows, perhaps even tragedies. When such times come we may be tempted to question what God is doing to us — asking the question 'why me?' Job teaches us how to cope with our sad experiences and come through them with our faith in God strengthened.

The main thing we should grasp is knowing the character of God. Job, even in the very depths of his sorrow, pain and even questioning, always refers to God as the LORD. It is the name by which God made himself known to his people and it tells us that he can be trusted, he is good; there is nothing unreliable in God.

Job learned also that all things are ultimately in the hands of God — the good times and the suffering. 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away'. Of course we don't always understand — we can't. But God gives grace and faith to us, to trust him, knowing that he will work all things for our good when we are his children (Romans 8:28).

PrayerDear Lord, my times are in your hand. May your amazing grace always be sufficient for me, even when I am passing through hard experiences. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

What Makes A Christian 'Fit For Purpose'?

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 8th January 2022

Passage: John 21:15-19

Four lessons in this little passage of John's Gospel answer that question at the top of this page. They could be used as a check on our own lives as followers of Jesus in today's world

The first lesson is basic to all the others. Jesus asked Peter "Do you love me?", and "Do you love me more than these?" (meaning his dearest friends). To be a Christian is to love Jesus with all that that implies in obedience, in humility, in gratitude. Love for Jesus comes first.
The second lesson we learn here is the need to follow Jesus. A 'fit for purpose Christian' follows Jesus by learning from Jesus what he wants us to be and to do. He has given us the Bible and prayer to help us in this
The third lesson is to serve the Lord Jesus. He said to Peter "Feed my lambs... tend my sheep". A 'fit for purpose Christian' is called to serve Christ in whatever capacity that service may take.
The fourth lesson is a hard one — it is to be prepared to suffer for Christ. It may be costly to love and follow Jesus. Peter found this. But weigh that against all that Jesus has done for us.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, help me to be a 'fit for purpose Christian' to bring honour to your name. Amen

God — And Ourselves

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 7th January 2022

Passage: Psalm 90:2

(If you have time, read the whole psalm)

Moses, who wrote this Psalm, was born in Egypt about three and a half thousand years ago. Before the time of his birth there had already been 18 dynasties of rulers in that country. Moses would have heard about some of them. Later in his life God made known to Moses what we now read in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 about the creation of the world. No wonder then that Moses could exclaim "from everlasting to everlasting you are God"! Time makes no difference to God — He is changeless. In contrast to God we do change and the years take their toll. No matter how long we may live our lives will come to an end. Moses prays, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (v. 12). This is very important because when our lives on earth end, we will go to meet God face to face.

A heart of wisdom will teach us to obey God — he has authority over every aspect of our lives. A heart of wisdom will teach us to trust God and his Son from heaven — the Lord Jesus Christ. A heart of wisdom will teach us "to fall out with sin and fall in with God (Thomas Brooks) because God hates sin. A heart of wisdom will be filled with a love for God so that we stay close to him always.

PrayerDear Lord, it is our prayer that you will teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Amen

What’s So Special About Being A Christian?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th January 2022

Passage: Malachi 3:16-17

Think of the question at the top of the page. I can give you several reasons which answer the question!

A Christian is special to God. In Malachi 3:17, God calls those who believe in him his 'treasured possession', or 'his jewels'. Just how special we are is shown to us in Paul's letter to the Ephesians when he says that IN Christ God has blessed us, chosen us in love, predestined us to be adopted as his sons, according to the pleasure of his will; he has redeemed us and forgiven us. Yes indeed, the Christian is special to God.
The Christian is in a great family. The believers in Malachi's time "spoke often with one another". They had so much in common. They had fellowship together, they loved and they helped one another — they were the family of God. You need never feel alone or unwanted as a Christian if you are an active family member of your church.
Christians are secure for time and eternity. Each one is in God's 'book of remembrance' - the New Testament calls it 'the Lamb's (Christ's) book of life.' As a Christian your name is there — it speaks of your place in heaven.

PrayerDear Lord Jesus, I thank you for making me a Christian. Help me to make you as special in my life as your word tells me I am special to you. Amen.

Keeping In Step With The Spirit

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 5th January 2022

Passage: Galatians 5:25

Everyone who has had a taste of military life knows the way the drill sergeants shout and bully until they get their charges marching in good order and keeping in step the way they should. So Paul often spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit is absolutely central to every aspect of our lives as Christian people. He tells us that it is through the Spirit that we are 'born again' into the Christian life (Galatians 3:2 and John 3:5-8). Through the Spirit we are brought into a wonderful new relationship with God and we become his children (Galatians 4:4-7 and 28-31).

Now, as God's children we come under the regime of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, maybe gradually, trains us to march to a different beat from the world, to become increasingly like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This can be quite hard for us because we tend to like worldly things, even things that may be quite harmless in themselves but they can tend to lead us away from the best things which God wants us to concentrate on — the things that build up our faith in Jesus. That is why we are urged to keep in step with the Spirit and bear fruit in our lives.

PrayerLord, in your mercy, help me to keep in step with the Spirit all my days.

An Immense Crowd

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 4th January 2022

Passage: Revelation 7:13-14

Every picture tells a story! When the apostle John saw this vision of such an immense multinational crowd he asked, "Who are these... and where do they come from?" They were all dressed in the same way — in white robes, freshly washed - no sign of stains or dirt — they were perfectly clean. These people are Christians from all ages and from all over the world. Some have indeed come through fiery trials for their faith, some have even died for their faith, and some have had to live out their faith in affluent circumstances but in a world that does not know God.

The Church of Christ in every age is going through the 'great tribulation'. The world hates it, especially when it is evangelising and seeking people to come to Christ. So we should not be surprised if we will encounter opposition as we live out our Christian faith day by day But don't be discouraged. God will keep and watch over you. Your witness for him is not in vain and he will make sure you end up in that great crowd around the throne in glory.

PrayerAlmighty God, I live in a dirty, unbelieving world. Help me to live each day as a faithful witness for you and give me a healthy longing for the clean, pure atmosphere of heaven. Amen.

Why I Am A Christian

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 3rd January 2022

Passage: Acts 26:19

Three times in the book of Acts Paul the apostle tells how he became a Christian. In Acts 26:1-32 Paul's testimony comes in four steps that are very helpful for us, if we are Christians and want to tell others why we are believers in Jesus.

Step 1. What we were. Paul tells about his past in verses 1-10. We all have a past — maybe not as colourful as Paul's but it is a past that needs to come under the searching gaze of the holy God.

Step 2. What we needed. Paul needed to be changed. He had been persecuting Christians, fighting against Christ Jesus, thinking he was pleasing God. We too need to be changed. We have all sinned against God and it is only God who is able to make us change in the way that is needed.

Step 3. What happened. Paul met with Jesus and his life was changed for ever. This is what happens to every Christian when we meet with Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.

Step 4. The new life in Christ. Paul was given a job to do by Jesus and he carried it out faithfully. We too, as Christians, have a job to do for Jesus — to tell others who he is and how he can change their lives too.

PrayerDear Lord, help me to follow you day by day, and be obedient to your vision for my life. Amen

The Good Shepherd

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 2nd January 2022

Passage: John 10:11

In all parts of the Old Testament there are many references to sheep and to shepherds. God is said to be like a shepherd in Psalm 23 and in Isaiah 40:11. Many religious leaders in Israel were called shepherds over their people and this was so in the time of Jesus as well. But so often in the Old Testament, as in the time of Jesus, these leaders turned out to be false shepherds — no better than thieves and robbers. In contrast to these, Jesus declares himself to be the 'good Shepherd' and so he proved to be. For the word 'good' you could say flawless, genuine — it means this and more. Jesus is without peer and he came to 'lay down his life for his sheep'.

In laying down his life on the cross, he gave to all who trust and follow him a saved life (John 10:9), an abundant life (verse 10), and an eternally secure life. As the 'good shepherd' Jesus said he had other sheep 'that he must bring also'. To be a follower of the good shepherd we too must go after those 'other sheep' and seek, in Jesus name, to bring them in to share in his abundant life.

PrayerDear Lord, I am so prone to wander. Please help me always to listen to your voice and to follow you knowing that you are the good shepherd who gives me an abundant life.

A Happy New Year

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 1st January 2022

Passage: Deuteronomy 31:8

A Happy New Year! I do hope it will be a brilliant one for you, and that you will enjoy God's company in the days ahead that he gives you. New Year's Day is usually a happy family day and one when we look ahead to things that we hope to do or places that we might like to visit. We make plans and maybe dream dreams of what we would like to happen. We may even be rash enough to make resolutions about habits to leave behind and new (better!) ones we are determined to carry out. Whatever it is, enjoy the day and commit the year to the Lord.

The verse at the top of the page was first given to Joshua, who had become the successor to Moses and who was just going to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. But it is also a wonderful promise for us too. Christians know that they are loved by God, that he cares for them individually, and knows them through and through.

So it is just great to know he will go before us into this new year and he will never fail us nor forsake us. He is our loving, Heavenly Father and Jesus is our great and good elder Brother. If you are a Christian, just rejoice in these great truths. If you are not yet a Christian, why not start this New Year by giving your heart to Christ and asking him to become your Saviour? It is the best thing you could ever do. God bless you.