THE CROWN OF THORNS

1. 
   
2. 
3. 
   
4. 'BEHOLD THE MAN!'
5. 'THE KING OF THE JEWS!'

In the Gospels, we read about the trial and crucifying of Jesus - and I can't help but wonder how many words have been written through the ages, for reading and for singing, on the suffering 

endured by our Saviour.  'When I survey the wondrous cross' is a good example:

1. 
   
2. When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
3. My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
4. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my Lord.
   All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
5. See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!
   Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
6. Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small;
   Love so amazing, so divine,  demands my soul, my life, my all.

We have an Acacia tree in our garden, and I have on several occasions cut branches to make a crown of thorns to place on the cross for Easter services.  To do this, you have to wear heavy duty gloves to prevent injury from the thorns - but think of it.....the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus was probably pressed into His forehead.......as referred to in the third verse of the hymn above. He died with a crown of thorns on His head, but He will return wearing many golden crowns......the sign of ultimate authority of the King of kings.

'HE CAME TO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN DID NOT RECEIVE HIM, BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME....' John 1:11-12.

THE SENSITIVITY OF JESUS

I just love the sensitivity of Jesus! 

In John chapter 8 we read how the scribes and Pharisees brought before Jesus as He was teaching in the temple, the woman caught 'in the very act of adultery.' But instead of reacting how they were hoping He would, He took the opportunity to convict them of their own sin, and as a result, each and every one slunk away with their tails between their legs! I love the comment 'starting with the oldest!'

What of the woman? How embarrassed she must have been, but Jesus was mindful of this, and kept His eyes averted, only addressing her once the accusers had left, and absolving her of her sins.  

When one thinks of all the players in this incident, and the wisdom dealt out to them by Jesus, one can only marvel.  In James 3:17 we read:
'The wisdom that is from above is first pure, 
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, 
full of mercy and good fruits, without 
partiality and without hypocrisy.'

How we need this kind of wisdom in this day and age.  
GOOD NEWS: 
James 1:5 advises us that it is available to us:
'If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, 
who gives to all liberally, and without reproach, 
and it will be given to him.'

THE HEART OF A KING

I haven't posted to this blog for a few weeks now, spending more energy on the 365 day blog challenge I'm doing on finefeatheredfriends365!  However, I haven't completely forgotten this one, and here are a few thoughts I've been attacked with....

John ch.2 tells us that Jesus knew what was in man (vs.25).... And this ties in well with the choosing of David as the future king of Israel. You remember the story of Samuel the prophet being directed by God to go and anoint a son of Jesse, and poor little David wasn't even lined up along with his brothers, wasn't even considered to be eligible by his family.  But God had already chosen him, and he was sent for and anointed with oil.

In 1 Samuel 16:7 we find these dynamic words:
"Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature, (referring to Eliab, probably
the eldest son of Jesse) because I have refused him.  For the Lord does not see as 
man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart."

No one knows what goes on in the heart of man except the Lord, and nothing is
hidden from His sight.   But He has made provision for our human failings through
the shed blood of Jesus, and once we commit our lives to Him, we can begin walking 
in the light and our lives are cleansed from sin, our minds being renewed in God's word.

We may not have been chosen to be king of Israel, like David, but as believers we are chosen
to serve the Lord in newness of life. 

A STRONG WALLED CITY

In Old Testament times, a strong city was only as strong as its perimeter walls; think of the city of Jericho tightly secured against its enemies. It doesn't take much to deal with a leaning wall or a tottering fence (Psalm 61:3) but a mighty walled city is another matter, right? Wrong! Add to the scenario the power of God - all it took was 7 days of obedience from Joshua and the army of Israel, & the walls were flattened.

Knowing, understanding and living in God's plan of salvation is a lot like that. Strong walls of security and protection are much used metaphors in the bible for salvation.  A strongly built wall that can stand against the storms of life represents an eternal life assurance policy...the only sure way to go.  Is yours up to date?

ISAIAH 60:18

You shall call your walls salvation and your gates praise.

PLAYING WITH FIRE, SOMETIMES...

ISAIAH 50:11:  
Look, you who kindle a fire and encircle yourselves 
with sparks. Walk in the light of your fire and in the 
sparks you have kindled. This you shall have from 
My hand: you shall lie down in torment.

Wooaaaah, such words of warning against playing 
with fire!  

Got me thinking about different ways we play with 
fire....like subtly, not out and out FIRE kind of fire.  
Maybe you can also think of a few of your own 
minor arsonistic moves?  

Maybe.....a little unkindness instead of just being cruel?
Maybe.....a little cold love instead of outright dislike?
Maybe.....a little rude remark instead of politeness?
Maybe.....riding roughshod instead of being mannerly?

I guess we all slip up on behavioral niceties from time to 
time, but a good dose of Jesus-type humility surely
does not go amiss in anyone's life.  Who was it who
said 'they will know we are Christians by our love?'
Or was that just a line from a song that was popular
once upon a time and is no longer on the hit parade.....

THE JOGGING OF MEMORY

Having just ploughed through chs 1-39 of Isaiah, dealing with the judgements         

of God, I turned the page to the welcoming & inspiring words of Ch.40 - 
the beautiful prophecies of the Messiah.

The comforting picture emerged of the Shepherd feeding His sheep, carrying 

the lambs in His arms, & gently leading those with young.  The inspiration 

for the 'Gentle Jesus' prayer must have originated from these verses.

However, human nature being what it is (grumble, whine, whinge, etc.....

sound familiar?) we soon read some 'poor me' words: 

'My way is hidden from the Lord, & my just claim passed over by my God.' vs.27.

We can all identify with that at various stages of our lives - that's real, that's true...

But it doesn't stop there, because here comes a supernatural swipe:

(the following is my version, you can read the actual verses yourself!)

Don't you know, or have you forgotten who God is?

That He is eternal, the creator of all things, all powerful,  almighty, allknowing, 
unsearchable.' He provides us with all the power we need to live the abundant life. 

There follows a comparison of the enviable strength of the young.....but theirs is 

nothing compared to the renewing of spiritual inner resources promised to those 

who learn to understand God's perspectives & ways.  To help us grasp this, 

we're given the incredible picture of the majestic eagle which is able to mount up 

into the sky & easily find air thermals on which to soar effortlessly - simply flowing 

in what it's Maker designed it to do.  

JUST EIGHT OLIVES FOR SUPPER

Just eight olives...not much of a meal...not even what you could call a snack!

But that is all that would be left to the people of God who drifted away from 

honoring Him as their God.  (Isaiah ch. 17)

For hardworking people who planted whole groves of olives in expectation of a 

bumper harvest, this would have been devastating to find next to nothing. 

At harvest time, their yield would be like shaking the olive tree & realizing 

2 or 3 olives from the uppermost branches, and 4 or 5 in the most fruitful branches.

This yield usually represented what was called the gleanings - (three times in 

Scripture, God's people are commanded to leave the corners of their fields 

unharvested so that the poor, the fatherless, the widow & the stranger could 

glean some food. Each time, the command is followed by these words: 

'I am the Lord.' In other words: just do it, people!)

What was the reason for the sorry state of affairs described in the first paragraph 

above?  Verse 17 explains it:  

'In that day, a man will look to his Maker and his eyes will have respect for the 

Holy One of Israel.'

Sometimes EVERYTHING in life goes wrong, wrong, wrong, and we wonder 

why, why, why!  It feels like the 8 olive harvest when you expected a full yield.  

Time to get back to the basics like seeking the face of the Lord, seeking 

the favour He promises to those who walk in His ways, acknowledging Him 

in all our ways.  

SURROUNDED!

Look around at what surrounds you.
Concrete jungle, 
beautiful green grass with trees and flowers, 
kind faces, 
fierce faces, 
unfriendly faces
.......the possibilities are endless.

In Psalm 18 David wrote: 
'The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid'

We can certainly identify with those feelings, especially when we watch or listen to news broadcasts and read newspapers. Floods of ungodliness abound in the crazy world we liv in.

But the Bible tells us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - that doesn't mean they are all sitting out somewhere on clouds watching our every move, but that scores of faithful Christians faced all kinds of dangers and overcame, finishing well, and are therefore an inspiration to us to do likewise.

We also read that 'God will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12).  

God's got His children surrounded.
May He open our spiritual eyes to see and comprehend.

THE HANDS OF GOD

I've been thinking about how BIG God's hands must be!
Here are some familiar lines:

He's got the while world in His hands
Into Your hands I commit my life...
The hand of the Lord was upon me....
My times are in Your hands....
The Lord's hand is not too short to save...
He who holds the seven stars in His hand
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God...

Of course, these words are referring to God's authority and power, and when we approach Him in the Name of Jesus, we know the safety and security of being a child of God.  So that is why we can live without anxiety!

Philippians 4:6-7 'Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.'

As we follow this instruction, something takes place - read on.....

'and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.'

Step into the power of this verse, handing your problem/concern over into the
BIG mighty hands of our heavenly Father, and experience the breathtakingly supernatural effect of His peace settling gently into your mind and heart.
IT REALLY WORKS! 

CHILDREN OF GOD 

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,     but we know that when He (Jesus) is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.                 1 John 3:2-3.

What a privilege to be a child of God and to possess the hope that the Bible describes as '...the anchor of our souls, both sure and steadfast and which enters the Presence behind the veil where Jesus, the forerunner, has entered for us....' (Hebrews 6:19-20).  

Picture this......a great big ship's anchor with a great big thick chain, thrown with great big strength and landing purposefully around the foot of the Cross!   THAT is what our hope in Christ looks like......  When we talk of this hope it is not the uncertain shaky little flutter in the heart, but it is a great big anchored certainty attached to the Person of Jesus.  Not a form of religion, but a living ongoing walks with me, talks with me kind of relationship.   

This ongoing partnership leads one to want to continually please our heavenly Father, which is where the purifying of ourselves comes in.  His laws and commandments are not rules we have to follow, because He has written them on our hearts - and we want to follow them, in order to demonstrate our status as children of God.  Because of the great love He has shown us in His Son.  

    

WALKING IN THE LIGHT

AVALANCHE!!

During our worship service at church today, we sang the line of a song: '.....CAUGHT UP IN GRACE LIKE AN AVALANCHE........' & immediately I was away in my mind to a little village in the Swiss Alps, where there was an approaching avalanche!  There was noise, action, you name it - but there was no fear, because the avalanche concerned the love and grace of God being poured out upon us. 
Whew!!