23 September 2023
Has the fear of God disappeared
”if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear
from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ”
2 Chron. 7:14NIV
Are you and I followers who simply follow others, or are we followers of
Jesus? There is a big difference between the two!
The word "Christian" occurs only 3 times in the English NIV Bible.
Among other in 1.Pet.4:16: “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not
be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ”- But the word
"disciple" is often mentioned, and Jesus himself mentions it when he gives
us these commands in Matt. 28,19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.” ”
We often hear people say that God is love, and indeed He is. But is He
only love? No, He is also holy. It seems to me that the fear of God is
waning and disappearing from our people. Nothing is considered sacred
any more. Parts of our youth are growing up and don't even know why we
have our holidays.
We see how seriously God sees it when Ananias and Sapphira lie to the
Holy Spirit in Acts 5:1-11 They both perish.
If we are mocked, scoffed at or laughed at and possibly persecuted
because we want to live a godly life, we gain strength through the
resurrection power of Jesus. Phil.3:10. Let us live so close to Jesus that we
reflect him.
Effie Campbell
22th September 2023
Your word is truth
”Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ”
John 17:17NIV
In the midst of a confusing and contrary world, where specialists present
different opinions daily, we Jesus and Bible believers are richly blessed. In
four words we know what the truth is. Jesus prays to his and our heavenly
Father: "YOUR WORD IS TRUTH." John 17:17
He who bows under these four words bows before Christ, for he is the
Word and the Truth.
The tragic thing in our human family is that a large part of the people do
not know the Truth and do not seek Him either. The truth is for most
people, what I think is true, yes it is true.
But Jesus cut through all our opinions and thoughts and said and still says
today: "Heavenly Father! Your Word is Truth.”
Effie Campbell translated
21th September 2023
First of all prayers
”I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people— ”
1.Tim.2:1NIV
Oddvar Søvik
Hallesby once said: "The most important work we do in God's kingdom is
to pray, because prayer is the prerequisite for everything else we do."
Timothy was to lead the church in Ephesus, and it was not an easy task.
Paul gives him some good advice in this regard, but then says that
Timothy must first of all stick to prayer. 1.Tim.2,1
Some believe that prayer is a struggle, but Jesus says the opposite: “In that
day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father
will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked
for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be
complete. ” Joh.16:23-24NIV Prayer gives joy, and the key to prayer is to
pray in the name of Jesus. Does it mean ending the prayer with: "In the
name of Jesus. Amen!" No, the Hebrew word here means two things: on
behalf of (Jesus) and in accordance with (Jesus).
How did Jesus pray then? Jesus' works began in prayer. Then he went 40
days out in the desert, where he fasted and prayed. When he returned,
Luke says he returned in the power of the Spirit. Luke 4:14. Jesus'
workday also began in prayer. In John 6:15 it says that Jesus often went
off alone to deserted places in order to pray. Mark 1:35 said that while it
was still dark, Jesus got up to pray. Jesus could shorten the night's sleep
but not the morning prayer. When Jesus had to choose the 12 disciples, it
is written that he was in prayer all night. I believe that Jesus did not
primarily look at what the disciples were like, but at what they could
become.
Jesus prayed according to God's will. John 8,28. Where had he learned
that? In prayer, in conversation with his Father. Jesus prayed for his own:
““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have
prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have
turned back, strengthen your brothers.” ”
Luk.22:31-32NIV
Jesus also prays for us. John 17:20
Effie Campbell
20th September 2023
Not half-heartedly, but wholeheartedly
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ”
2 Cor. 9:7NIV
It is said of a stone-rich man that he became blind in both eyes, completely
blind. One day he went to the ophthalmologist, a specialist famous for his
skill. He was examined carefully and he was told that he would be able to
regain his sight with surgery.
Stingy as he was, he blurted out how much it would cost and was given a
figure which he bounced over.
"Well, how much would it cost to operate on just one eye."
"Half," replied the ophthalmologist.
"Then I would like to have one eye operated on," replied the miser.
Be that as it may with this story, it nevertheless contains the truth that this
is how many people behave when it comes to spiritual matters. There are
many who want to be Christians, but not more than for household
purposes. They want to go to heaven when time comes, and they want to
hear that God is love and that grace is free.
But they don't like to hear that God's love requires us to serve his
kingdom. If it is about making sacrifices for the cause of God's kingdom,
then often one rather wants to see with one eye instead of both: see how
much is required for daily life yes, but not that God's work requires
money, also from them.
They become one-eyed Christians who have not grasped that grace reaps
what it sows. Poor Christianity and poor life is to be spiritually one-eyed.
A rich life is knowing oneself as God's steward of His manifold grace.
God wants you to give you your spiritual sight back. But he wants to give
you both eyes, so that you not only see what you yourself need, but also in
what tasks, small and large, you can help and make sacrifices.
A.J.
19th September 2023
Salvation out of Zion
”Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord
restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!”
Psalms 14:7NIV
The Lord sees from above whether there is anyone who seeks Him.
But he sees only sinful people. ”All have turned away, all have become
corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Verse 3)
When the psalmist thinks about this, a longing begins to stir in his heart:
"Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!"
Thank God! Now salvation has come! In the middle of the human world,
which is full of sinners, there is a cross that speaks of sin and salvation.
It is still valid: ”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ”
Rom. 3:23NIV But then mercy is also shown to all those who convert and
believe in Christ. Jesus Christ is the Savior from Zion. He also wants to be
your Savior.
18th September 2023
The light has come into the world
“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen
plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. “
John 3:21NIV
One night a Swedish priest dreamed that he was standing before the throne
of God, and the holiness of God frightened him. "Why are you so sad,
priest?" God asked him. - "Ah, Lord," he answered, "it is all my sins that
weigh me down." "What sins?" asked God. "Lord, you know them all:
every thought, word and deed in my life!" “I don't know what you're
talking about!” God said.
Then the priest dared to look up and look into the gentle face of God. "Are
you talking about things you have confessed to me?" asked God. "Yes,
Lord!" "And which I subsequently forgave?" "Yes, Lord!" "Yes, but then it
is something I do not know," God continued, "I have said myself: I will
never remember your sins again," continued God, "I have said: I will
never again remember your sins! After this you must put to mind what I
say.”
The light has come into the world. He who is the Light of the world has
come. The light that shines into all the darkness of the world. The light has
come. And the darkness did not grasp it.
Do not ask why God does not fill the depths of darkness, the depths of
perdition. Do not ask why he who is the great builder does not destroy the
deceptive power of the realm of the dead. No one has the answer.
We only know that the light has come into the world, and no one needs to
get lost in the darkest of darkness and hopelessness ... because now all the
darkness of sin can be illuminated by God's forgiving word.
The light has come into the world. But there is a temptation in us humans
to rather want to live in God's shadow, and follow the artificial light that
exists in our own will. We can be helped for a short while - but there is no
warmth in the artificial light.
The light has come. God has been trying to melt our ice door for a long
time. The one who doesn't want to open the door remains out there in the
cold, where the last longing eventually dies too...
17th September 2023
Time
”Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up. ”
Galatians 6:9NIV
Rolf Slot-Henriksen, Danish parish priest
The clock of our time gives us humans the false hope that time on this
earth is endless. The hands of the clock do not stop their travel on the dial
when they have reached one turn on the dial. In contrast, the hourglass
reminds people that one day the last grain of sand will have fallen and life
will end. The last grain of sand is the last moment of a person.
The experience of the divine and the greatness of the "now", in the
moment - this is something far too few people know today, i.e. where not
only business values time and money equally.
The twilight hour or the quiet moments are alien to most of us in our time.
Time is "killed" with TV, radio and entertainment. Superficial and thin
entertainment and lack of silence and prayer dulls and makes the human
soul drowsy and indifferent.
The rhythm of our time is completely different from that of the
agricultural society, which knew nothing of the many machines of our
time: people then lived in their own quiet minds every single day, year
after year they took time to listen to the silence and reasoned about
eternity as something quite natural. It is not merely about two centuries
that stand incomparably opposite each other, but two completely different
ways of understanding time and life.
E. Campbell translated
16th September 2023
Do not be afraid
When the women came to Jesus' tomb on Easter morning, an angel said:
"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. "
Matt. 28:5NIV
Today the world is full of fear and anxiety. People fear and worry about
war, marriage, parents, children, unemployment, poor income, going
bankrupt, etc. The phrase "fear not" appears 366 times in the Bible, i.e.
once for each of the 365 days of the year, and then an extra one for the
leap year. Others have every reason to fear, but not the Christians. We are
with angels who help us. They have great power and know us well. The
angel told the women at the tomb that he knew who they were looking for.
God has given us His promises. We have earned nothing but everything is
by God's free grace. We live under an open sky, as the Word says in: “I
know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one
can shut. ...” Rev.3:8NIV “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace
with confidence ...” (Heb.4:16NIV), not because we are gifted and skilled,
but because Jesus hung on the cross in our place and prays for us up in
heaven. That is why Scripture reminds us: “For no matter how many
promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the
“Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ” 2 Cor.1:20NIV
Then we are allowed to believe that angels ascend and descend between
heaven and us. When we pray in our homes, we must expect that "here is
the house of God and the army of heaven".
Even Cornelius, who was a Roman officer in a military division, was
visited by a holy angel in answer to prayer. It is written about him in Acts
10:2NIV that he “prayed to God alway. ” The angel gave him both his
name and address at Peter's in Joppa. And when Saul of Tarsus had seen
the heavenly vision and had become blind, the Lord revealed to Ananias
that he - Ananias - was the answer to the prayer that Saul prayed. The
decisive sign that caused Ananias to let go of all his doubts that he who
persecuted the Christians had now become a new man, these were the
words: "... for he is praying. " Acts 9:11NIV Here also The Lord gives
name and address of the person praying.
Shall we not then encourage one another and trust that prayer sets the
heavenly powers in motion. Let's count on it and not just say and sing it.
Certainly it is true that "I run into danger wherever I go" and that our lives
hang by a thin thread, but dear all, it is just as true that this thread lies in
our Father's hands. Therefore: Be of good courage.
E. Campbell translated
15th September 2023
Footprint
”Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his
compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your
faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23NIV
After I had lost one of my loved ones, I received comforting words from
England. These were called "footprints", meaning footprints or tracks. The
words were the following:
One night a man lay dreaming. He dreamed that he was walking down the
beach with the Lord. Various events of his life appeared to him as images
on the firmament. After each incident, he noticed two footprints in the
sand: one of these was his own and the other was the footprints of the
Lord.
As his latest life event flashed before him, he turned and looked at the
footprints in the sand. Then he noticed that often on his path through life
there was only one set of footprints to be seen. He also noted that it was
exactly during that time that he had had the most difficult and heaviest
time in his life.
This really confused him and he therefore asked the Lord about this.
“Lord, you said that when I decided to follow you, you would walk with
me all the way. But I have noticed that those periods in my life when I had
the worst time, there are only one set of footprints to be seen. I don't
understand that when I needed you the most, you left me.”
The Lord replied: “My son, my precious child, I love you and will never
leave you. When you went through the trials and tribulations of life and
can only see one set of footprints, that was when I carried you.”
E.Campbell translated
14th September 2023
Night is coming
”As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is
coming, when no one can work. ”
John 9:4NIV
Night is coming - that's why Jesus walked among those who suffered
while it was day. Therefore, he did God's work in the fight against disease
and the power of evil.
Night is coming - and what does it profit me then that I have known God's
will, but have not followed Him?
Night is coming - but what does it profit me that I have known my Lord, if
I am not known by him?
Night is coming - and what good is it then that I knew some of those who
also lived in life with my Lord, if I was not known by them, but instead
reached out to them and wanted nothing to do with them.
Night is coming - and what will it profit me then, that I had so often heard
of Christ's crucifixion, but had never seen my face and hands among those
who cried: Crucify, crucify! -?
Night is coming - but what good will it do me to have words of praise and
recommendations and evidence with me when there are no pockets on our
latest clothing?
Night is coming - what good is it then that the Scriptures speak of friends
who will receive me in the heavenly abodes, for they were hindered by the
way another man lived his life and the way he used his money ... what
good is all this to me if no one has something to thank me for?
Night is coming – yet it is still day. In prayer I bring my life before Him
who bound his life to me. He who is the light. And life. And the day. Then
the night is not the last. After the night has passed, the day dawns: “The
city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God
gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ” Revelation 21:23NIV
The night is coming – beyond the night is Christ. My judge. My Savior.
13th September 2023
The wedding ring
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love. "
1. Cor. 13:13NIV
When I was 16 years old, I fell ill and was hospitalized for 3/4 years. It
was in many ways a good time, although the circumstances were special.
The time there gave me answers to many questions, but one very special
event made me wonder.
In my ward there were nine men, sometimes even twelve. They were men
who had been hospitalized for three, six or twelve months - some even for
years. Once a new man got into the bed next to me. He was pacing back
and forth and seemed to be doing well. His wife came with him and stayed
with him until he had gone to bed, and they bade each other a tender
farewell before she left. After dinner a few days later, I understood that the
man, along with a couple of other men, were going into town at a cafe
nearby. But what! The man takes out his wallet, takes off his wedding ring
and puts it in the wallet.
On Sunday afternoon many people used to come to visit the sick and well
before visiting time my neighbour takes out his wallet again and puts the
ring back on his finger and later greets his wife. This is how the drama
repeats itself time and time again: the ring off, downtown with others –
and when he was expecting his wife again – then on again with the
wedding ring.
Subsequently, I have understood more and more of this and experienced
what it means to get a ring on the finger. How wonderful it was the first
time my hand was put before public view. How often did my eyes and
thoughts turn to the ring and the woman who bore the name engraved in
the ring? The ring became a treasure at the same time as it was turned
towards others who might think of "laying on one". But it also bound and
obliged me. It became a visible proof that I was now bound to another
human being.
Today, 25 years after this experience at the hospital, the development has
progressed a lot. It is not only that the wedding ring has disappeared, that
getting married and entering into a marriage, it is also gone out of fashion.
This is not only the case among worldly people, but also among Christian
believers.
Unfortunately, it is not so rare to see pastors and preachers, who are
known to be married, without a ring. - Nonsense, someone might say. The
ring doesn't mean anything. It's how you live that counts! Indeed. Our way
of life is of great importance. But what about those who don't know you're
married? Aren't you giving other people false hope by not wearing your
ring?
I also think the wedding ring says even more! The wedding ring – or the
fact that you don't have a ring on – reflects your position on marriage. This
institution is given to us by God and is a lifelong commitment, and the
wedding ring reminds you daily that you belong to someone else and that
a certain other person belongs to you.
As Christian people, we must not throw all regulations, rules and symbols
overboard. The wedding ring is also more than a picture, a symbol. It is a
strong Curbstone along the road of life. The curb may make the road a
little narrower to walk on, but it is a reliable protection against attacks on
the marriage. Therefore, the wedding ring must not be put on the shelf.
"For Poor and Rich". E.Campbell translated
12th September 2023
Do not judge
““If this man were a prophet...”"
Luke 7:39NIV
Simon the Pharisee says this to himself.
A woman, known in the village only for her sinful life, shows remorse and
brings an alabaster jar of perfume. She wets Jesus' feet with her tears and
wipes them with her hair, then kisses them and anoints them with perfume.
But the host, Simon, says to himself “If this man were a prophet, he would
know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a
sinner.”
In Simon's opinion, the party was ruined. Did Simon realize that an
unimaginable goodness can be hidden in the fact that God allows our plans
to fail?
If that man were a prophet... Simon judges Jesus - he does not see that he
himself is placed under the judgment of eternity. He accuses Jesus - and
does not see that he himself is being accused of his hard and judgmental
mind, which is so often wrong. He thinks that a prophet should have seen
what kind of woman she is - and he doesn't see that God's mercy also
includes the human in the woman and takes her to himself.
And in there, in God's mercy, there is also room for Simon, i.e. if he wants
to come in there.
11th September 2023
Get ready
"“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.
The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And
the door was shut. "
Matthew 25:10NIV
This is what is said about the 5 wise virgins who were allowed to come to
the wedding party. The wedding party is heavenly. It is compared to
something as good as a wedding feast, and only those who are ready are
allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. The others are put outside. It is
therefore a serious question: are you ready, have you prepared, are you
ready to be allowed in when that time comes?
The old must die, the young can die, they say. That's life. That is why it is
right to be ready in young years as well as in older years. And who knows
if 2023 will be the year we are called away from this world and into
eternity? Getting ready for this journey is our real, our greatest, indeed our
only task in this world.
How should we prepare for this journey? Exactly the same way as any
other long journey we plan to go on. There is of course a lot of different
things to think about, but everything can come under one of these 3 parts:
1) to have something to live on
2) what you must bring in your luggage,
3) to have said goodbye.
If we haven't thought of this before our time is up, we're in the worst
imaginable situation. And in order for us to be able to reach heaven, there
is something we must be able to live on, something to bring with us in our
luggage and something to have said goodbye to, if we are to be ready to
leave here when our time here is up.
"I am the bread of life," said Jesus, "... whoever eats of that bread will live
forever..." Jesus must be our bread, our "food", what we live on, our life
source and goal of life. Whoever receives his life from him, his body and
blood, as it is also given to us in the Holy Communion, will be able to be
ready when the bridegroom comes. But unfortunately there are many who
have their lives in so many other things and therefore come to be left out.
And in our luggage we must have - not our sins, which otherwise follow us
- but the forgiveness of sins, that God for the sake of Jesus Christ has
wiped out all our sins, every single one - including those that come from
our charity and what we neglected to do . This is God's baptismal gift to
us. To have the certainty of the forgiveness of all our sins is in reality the
greatest and best thing a person can have in this world, and this God will
give to the one who turns to him in faith in Jesus.
And then to have said goodbye, that is perhaps the most difficult thing, but
in this lies being able to be loose and free from everything that you have to
leave behind, whatever this may be. But in the conversion itself there is
not only being turned towards God, but also being freed from the "world",
having acquired such an attitude towards the world and everything in this
world that deep down you are not bound by it.
Saying goodbye is the last thing you do before you pass away. Our attitude
towards what we have to leave behind shows most clearly how far we have
come along the path in being ready.
Johs. Mortensen
10th September 2023
Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions
"Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of
greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” "
Luke 12:15NIV
The way our society is organized, it is not possible to run our society
without money. In our daily prayer, Our Father, where we ask for daily
bread, it must also be understood that we ask for enough money for what is
required each day.
But we should proceed carefully with the money we get. Although we
work and toil for them, we get them from God, for it is He who gives us
health and fitness so that we are able to work.
But we should be careful that money or other possessions do not cause and
encourage stinginess among us, because then God is set aside in our lives.
Ungodly is he, and unhappy in the true meaning of life, who allows
himself to be jumped on the glue stick and allows himself to be oppressed
by means or avarice. For small means it is easy to sell one's trust and one's
faith in God.
Paul says to Timothy (1.Tim.6,9-10) “Those who want to get rich fall into
temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that
plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of
all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the
faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. ”
Your money and your property are from God, and to Him you will be
responsible for how you managed your gifts.
The homes and the children need theirs, the municipality and the country
must have theirs, but God also expects his kingdom to have its own. We
must not neglect the latter, for there is no reason to pray: thy kingdom
come, when we do not give our share so that God's kingdom may come.
As Christians, we are the ones God can entrust to preach the gospel and to
give the money, means, time and energy needed for the kingdom of God to
come and continue among us and out among the heathen.
We all have responsibilities here. But of him who is trusted more, more is
also demanded.
The young may be more tempted to squander the money on frivolity,
entertainment and enjoyment, while the elderly are more inclined to hold
on to the money for themselves - to be stingy.
In both cases, the responsibility for God's kingdom is neglected, and God
receives only ingratitude and distrust for the gifts. We must not become
slaves to mammon, but let us render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's
and to God the things that are God's.
Much or little – it is God's blessing that is beneficial. And we should
always thank God and our Father for all things in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. (Eph. 5:20)
9th September 2023
They will see his face
"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will
lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes.’” "
Revelation 7:17NIV
Robert H. Pierson
"What do you want to see most of all when you get to Heaven, Billy?" a
believing teacher once asked a first grade student.
Billy considered the question for a moment. There was so much he
wanted. He often heard the adults talking about the wonderful land with all
the treasures.
Then he replied: "I want to see the lions, the houses and the angels, but
most of all I want to see Jesus."
Isn't this the same desire that all Christians have? Do you not also long to
see your Savior when you find yourself in the midst of life's struggle?
In the Bible there is this wonderful promise to the saved: "No longer will
there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,
and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will
be on their foreheads. " Revelation 22:3-4NIV
Yes, Jesus is there, and he "... he will lead them to springs of living
water.’..."
Rev.7:17 and "... But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like
him, for we shall see him as he is. " 1.John 3:2NIV. Then we shall be with
him for all eternity.
The author of the book of Revelation says about the saved: "...They follow
the Lamb wherever he goes. " Rev. 14:4NIV
Jesus' disciples had a wonderful advantage as they traveled with him
during the 3½ years when Jesus walked on earth. They were allowed to see
him heal. They listened to the words of life that came from his lips and
entered their hearts.
But we have something even better in store. We are not only to be with
Christ for three short years but for all eternity. The disciples had to stand
and watch him be flogged and crucified. You and I can be allowed to be
present when he is crowned, and experience his wonderful rule as King of
kings and Lord of lords. They had hoped that he would end Rome's iron
rule. We will see him put an end to the rule of sinners.
The disciples could only follow Jesus within a few square kilometers, but
you and I can follow our Lord from planet to planet. We can follow him
wherever he goes.
But there are certain things we must not forget. Special requirements have
been put forward to be allowed to get an entry ticket to heaven: "Blessed
are the pure in heart,
for they will see God." Matt.5:8NIV If we intend to see him in Heaven,
then our heart must be pure here. The blood of the Lamb must cleanse our
hearts now, if we are to have any hope of seeing him at that time. We must
confess sin and let it go. Only pure men and pure women can see a holy
Savior.
If you and I plan to "follow the Lamb wherever" He goes", on the new
earth, then we must begin to follow Him now on this earth.
E.Campbell translated
8 September 2023
What are you in a hurry for?
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from
there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ”
Phil.3:20NIV
On board a ship bound for America, the captain noticed a woman running
restlessly up and down the deck. It was a mother who had to cross the sea
to visit her sick son. The captain asked: "Why are you running back and
forth on the ship?"
"I'm in a hurry," she replied, "I have to get across the sea quickly." Who
knows if I will see my son alive?”
One of us might be tempted to smile and say: She's a fool! Does she
advance faster by rushing back and forth on the deck?
And I guess that's right. But hold on. Don't you often behave the same
way? You hurry back and forth throughout life. A thousand things have to
be done and if they are not done, then life is worth nothing anymore, you
think. And hear me out! The world goes on as usual, even on the day you
are no longer alive. Someone misses you, Yes, possibly many, but still, life
doesn't stop when you're gone.
But the question is: What have you been running for here? And did you
reach the goal? If the goal was an overflowing bank book, an entertaining
evening or a tribute and a sweet life - well, then it is absolutely certain that
you will not reach the goal. For then all life became a deception, all
together, just as it was with the mother; even though she ran all the way,
the son was still dead when she got there.
Paul had a different goal for his life than just existing and surviving. “But
our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the
Lord Jesus Christ, ”
For Paul, the goal was to reach the goal saved. Then life gets meaning and
content. Because without a course and a goal, the journey across the ocean
of life becomes hopelessness and aimlessness.
A.J
7th September 2023
Borders and fences
”“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not ”
Deuteronomy 5:7-8NIV
There are boundaries and limiets that people have set and which are
completely hopeless.
The fact that people in many countries are not even allowed to think and
believe or express their thoughts in accordance with their own convictions,
we believe to be completely unreasonable, and rightly so.
At the same time, there are some limits in life which we may also consider
negative but which are nevertheless necessary. Here, we are thinking about
the limits God has made in particular.
The Ten Commandments speak clearly about these boundaries and limits.
For example, God has defined the life of each individual person - it must
not be destroyed. He has also made borders and limits about the property
of all people - it must not be stolen. God has also made limits in all
marriages – no third party is allowed to disturb it.
If instead of "borders" and “limits” we say "fence", then it may become
more clear what these limits mean, which God has put in place. They are
protective fences. They are put there, not to disturb us or give us anguish,
but to benefit us. God wants us not to harm ourselves or others. That is
why he has given us his commandments. His care for us and love for us is
why He has given us the commandments.
Our problem is that God's fence seems life-inhibiting and limiting. That is
why we want and try again and again to cross these boundaries – causing
ourselves and others misfortune and damage for time and eternity. Indeed,
in reality we have all climbed over the fence that God has set for us in this
life. We are actually on the wrong side in our relationship with God, our
Creator.
But thank God we can still return today. This is thanks to God alone. He
has, in Jesus Christ, his Son, smoothed our way through the fence back to
God. And at home with him, we gradually come to look at the limits and
fences he has put in life with new eyes. That they are just protective
fences, and it is therefore a matter of life for us to be on the right side of
His fence.
E.Campbell translated
6th September 2023
I am
“Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have
you treated your servants this way? ”
Exodus 5:15NIV
For several years Moses tended the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro.
Jethro was a priest in Midian. Once when Moses was driving the animals
across the desert landscape and had come to God's mountain, Horeb, then
God revealed himself to him. Moses noticed smoke and a flames coming
from a thorn bush, but the thorn bush remained unharmed. This sight
amazed Moses, a burning bush that did not burn up. Moses hastened closer
to examine this great sight. ”When the Lord saw that he had gone over to
look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take
off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.””
Exodus3:4-5NIV
Moses now stood before the God of wonder and saw something he did not
understand, but he wanted to understand the inconceivable with his reason.
Then it is that God's warning reads: "You must not come closer" This is
holy ground, do not touch it, this must not be understood. A wonder is a
wonder! God is God! He neither can nor will be understood but only
believed.”
Many people have tried to penetrate to understand these divine mysteries.
It is told about the church father Augustine: One day he came wandering
along the shore of the Mediterranean, pondering the eternal riddles. He
was especially preoccupied with the "Trinity", which he could not grasp;
three persons in one and the same person. No, he would not bend down
and admit that here he was faced with something he could not understand.
Then he noticed a little boy who was sitting and digging a deep hole in the
sand and who had now also begun to dig a trench towards the sea. "What
are you going to do with that hole?" Augustine asked. The boy replied: "I
want the whole Mediterranean into this hole!"
Augustin continued his walk thinking: the great wide sea into a small hole.
And here you are yourself trying to cram the eternal and great God into
your own little human brain. In the following years, Augustine wrote 15
large books: De trinitates – about the Trinity.
Late professor Hallesby, said: “The older I get, the more often I thank God
that he is inconceivable. I think we often use too small a measure of God.”
Out there by the thornbush, Moses received God's calling. - also to lead the
people of Israel out of Egypt. "Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the
Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’
and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God
said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the
Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” "
Exodus 3:13-14NIV
The name, "I am" defines God as the one who does not owe his existence
to anyone. And is independent of everything, while everything is
conditioned by Him and came into being through Him. The name "I am,"
also means: the steadfast, the unchanging, and the faithful. The Lord asks
Moses to bring the message to his people and adds in verse 15: ““This is
my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to
generation.”
Therein is hidden a rich consolation for all generations. Also for you who
live as a child of God in this world today. “Though the mountains be
shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be
shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has
compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10NIV
Cl. Eliassen
5th September 2023
The Shroud
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Rom.8:38-39NIV
The well-known German priest and author, Otto Funcke, tells in one of his
books about an experience he had at a sickbed.
"Priest," said the terminally ill, "I have won everything, I have longed for
it through a long life. Never have I denied myself peace. When others
rested, I toiled and wanted to win myself more gold, greater honor,
reputation and power. And I have achieved it, but still was never satisfied.
I never had time to think about my soul or eternity. And all that I have won
and own is a shroud. A shroud, Mr. Priest, that's all!”
A miserable result from a long, toilsome life, a shroud. I don't know how
much it costs, the price can be different, depending on what the material is,
how stingy the relatives are, or how rich the deceased was. A shroud,
priest! None of us gets any more, be it the honor, gold or reputation that
we tried to scrape for ourselves. And how many are there who have to say
like this man: all they brought with them was the shroud. A miserable
result.
But just listen to what the apostle Paul says: “I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” Whether I live or die, I belong to the Lord. This is one of
a kind and a wonderful victory song. It has more than just a shroud on it,
he is sure that the victory wreath is ready for him.
What will be the outcome of your life: a shroud or a victory wreath in
heaven? It doesn't come by itself, but from a purposeful struggle in this
life, where the goal was neither glory nor honors, nor to get down well in
the grave, but to serve God here and come home saved in God's heaven.
AJ
4th September 2023
Harvest Day
”“Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. “Whenever I would restore
the fortunes of my people,”
Hosea 6:11NIV
No season is more exciting than harvest time, because when harvest time
begins we will see the result of what was sown in the spring. But there is
also something gloomy about this time, because there we will also see the
mistakes that were made in the spring, mistakes that cannot be undone. - In
human life there also comes a time of harvest, and it is that which
determines loss or victory.
"How do you spend your bright days of youth? A man reaps what he sows,
remember that.” Youth is the springtime of human life and therefore also
the time to sow. Let it be said right away that so little is sown compared to
what comes up, and therefore youth must not be wasted. You always sow
something, whether it is good or bad, and the result follows. That is why
we are asked to sow in the spirit and not in the flesh, and there is an
absolutely crucial difference between these two and its result. Paul sets
these two against each other in Gal. 5:19 and 22:6.
Many will see that when the harvest of life begins, the spring is over and
so is the harvest time, and they have not been saved. Jer. 8:20
A farmer once had to go on a trip abroad in the spring. The ground had
been tilled and prepared but had not yet been sown. Before he left, he told
his servant where to sow the wheat and barley. When the farmer returns
towards summer, he happily goes out into the field to see how things are
going, but is surprised to see that where the wheat should have been sown,
there was now barley flapping in the wind.
The farmer now summoned the servant and said: "Why didn't you sow
what I asked you to?" The servant bowed and asked for forgiveness. The
farmer then replied: "I can forgive you, but remember: the barley stands
there and it cannot be sown over again!"
We have all been given an area in life to sow in and we only sow there
once. What will be written there, when the spring and summer of our life
have passed and when the harvest day of life will show the result? Thank
God, I also know that if one wakes up to see his own wasted and
squandered life and comes to Jesus and asks him for salvation, he will also
receive forgiveness and help, even though the many years of life have been
wasted because life cannot be lived again.
A 72-year-old man once told me after he had been saved: “When I stood at
my mother's deathbed at 13 years old, I promised her that I would follow
Jesus. Now my years are wasted, but give me grace to live two more years,
that I may testify to some of my friends about your salvation.”
Dear friend, you who are reading this, whether you are in the spring,
summer or autumn of life, realize the seriousness of life today. “For he
says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I
helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of
salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2NIV
Soon the thread of life can be cut off and life ended. Lay hold of eternal
life now, so that you may sow in the spirit and reap eternal life from the
spirit.
The thief on the cross received a saved soul but a wasted life. Paul, Peter
and John also received a saved soul, but they were also allowed by grace
to receive and live a saved life in the service of the Lord Jesus. "It is so
good from a young age to serve him and love him who gave us life."
J. B.
3th September 2023
A field chaplain's experiences
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his
wounds we are healed."
Isaiah 53.5NIV
An English priest, called Joseph Shepard, had served as a field chaplain
during the First World War. - “I think of a dying young soldier who feared
the loneliness that death brings,” Pastor Shepard told me, “he did not want
to be separated from his friends. When he was with them in the trenches he
had always been a brave soldier – but now that he was dying he was full of
anxiety to go into death alone. - "But if I were now shot and was dying
with you, would you still have been afraid?" I asked him. "No," replied the
young soldier, "if you came with me, I could go anywhere."
"Now I'll tell you something," I said to him, "there is someone who is
bigger than me and he will go with you - he will not let you go there alone
- your "white friend" (during the First World War the English soldiers
called (usually Jesus for "The comrade in white", i.e. the white friend) he
will follow you, so you can be completely safe - he knows the way,
because he once walked that way himself - so he doesn't get lost.
And he is right now by your side. Close your eyes and be still for a while.
Can't you see the crown of thorns? Reach out your hand – can't you feel
the nail marks?”
- In a very low voice I then said the blessed words from chapter 53 of
Isaiah:
Then the young man turned around and with a happy voice he said: "Now
he is here" - then he breathed his last breath.
Moments like these are some of the richest for a field pastor, that under
such horrific circumstances that no one can imagine who has not seen and
experienced it themselves - it is confirmed so wonderfully that the gospel
is a power for salvation. And how the story of the cross of Jesus always
has a wonderful power!
When a field minister was new to his office, he always had a tendency to
use small and beautiful verses with edifying content to comfort those
affected. But in front of a dying soldier, these probably such beautiful and
edifying words bounced off - and driven by a deep longing in his heart to
give the dying man the right help, the field chaplain set out to tell about
Jesus' death on the cross - and immediately he could on the dying man's
face sense a good change. In the story of Jesus there was all the strength
and comfort that a man needed to hear so that he could die with peace in
his heart.”
"When I was studying theology at Cambridge," continued Reverend
Shephard, "the cross and atonement of Jesus caused me great difficulty
and doubt, and I examined the various conditions - not least those that
aimed to weaken the meaning of the cross. - But in the midst of all these
horrors of war and always surrounded by death - every hint of doubt was
swept aside in my mind. It became so vivid and real for me what meaning
Jesus' death on the cross had - but the old prophet was also absolutely right
when he said the words in Isaiah 53:5.
E. Campbell translated
2nd September 2023
Family altar
”Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. ”
Genesis 26:25NIV
The fact that Abraham built an altar and worshiped the Lord wherever he
settled down (Genesis 12:7-8; 13:4-18) made Abraham the man he was.
And in this regard too, Isaac followed in his father's footsteps.
An altar is a place where you call upon the Lord's name and worship Him.
We must once and for all surrender ourselves and all that we have to God,
but this surrender must be renewed every day through prayer and worship.
This is our spiritual worship of God (Rom.12:1-2). We must have in our
homes what is called a family altar.
All believing fathers have to build an altar in their homes, and if there is
no father, the mother must do it. Here, of course, we are not talking about a
visible altar, but about a place where the family gathers every day over
God's Word and in prayer and worship. A family that prays together stands
together. The children who grow up around a family altar will find it easier
to build their own altar one day, when they themselves have to establish
their own home.
E. Campbell translated
1st September 2023
Out of the shadow of darkness
“He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away
their chains. ”
Psalms 107:14NIV
The hymn above is a tribute hymn. God intervened when things went
against his people. It had often gone like this in the past and in most cases
it was their own fault.
God had turned his anger against them because they had disobeyed. But
still God led them out of the darkness and gave them freedom again.
Thus God always works toward His children. There are hardly many
Christians who have not sometimes experienced the darkness closing in on
them and that it felt almost like a rope tightening around them.
But many have also experienced that there was light again and that God
loosened the bonds again. This is how God works and that also means that
this is how he will always continue to be, also the next time we slip into
the darkness, so there is something that binds us.
We can always call out to Him in our need, and we can count on Him not
turning His back on us, but rather taking us to Himself.
Let us not forget to hold fast by giving thanks for what God has done for
us in the past! It can help us to rest a little more securely in the belief that
this is how he will also take care of us in the future.
God can also chastise us by allowing the darkness to contract around us for
a while or by allowing chains to bind us.
But it is never God's intention and goal that our lives should continue to be
like this. He will give us life in the light again and free us from what
weighs us down.
