Tag Archives: Jesus

The Visitor

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In the past few days we have relived the death of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead.

Now He speaks to all of us for whom He died…that means all of us.

“Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” Rev. 3:20

Who will acknowledge the knock of the Visitor, hear that gentle voice and respond to the invitation to dine with the One whose love for us knew no bounds.

I was ten years old when that gentle tap came to the door of my heart. I often wonder what my life would be like if I had not invited Him in.

How about you? Is it time for you to open the door to the Visitor?

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The Plank in My Eye

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Recently I came face to face with the plank in my eye. In trying to convince someone to see the error of their ways, I was forced to see the error of some of my own ways. “Aha!” said I to myself. “So that’s what that verse means!” I love it when I get convicted of my own convictions…another of life’s lessons learned!

New International Version
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:5

This is just one of the commands of Jesus in his famous Sermon on the Mount which starts at Matthew 5:1 and ends at Matthew 7:27. The sermon is chock-full of life lessons and well worth reading many times.

I can see clearly now.

Blessing or Curse?

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Jesus Christ!

To those of us who know about him, or better still, know him, just seeing these two words is a blessing. They fill us with hope, faith, peace, happiness, awe, expectation…

But to others, these two words are used as a curse. Why? Because they don’t know any better. They don’t realize that he was an actual man who walked the face of this earth over two thousand years ago; who was a born leader, a teacher, a philosopher, a son, a brother, a friend, miracle worker…

I prefer to believe this rather than think that people know of him and still use his name as a curse. That would not only be disrespectful, cruel, cutting, but blasphemous.

So why not use anyone’s name as a curse? There are plenty of historical names that could be used, names of people who were known as destroyers of humanity by their evil deeds. Or why not just any ordinary person’s name. Why not yours or mine?

The fact is Jesus Christ did once inhabit a place on this planet as do we today. The fact is that he does not deserve to have his name “dragged through the mud”.  The fact is that he obviously has a place in our consciousness or we would not be using his name in any way.

Whether or not we believe that this man was also the Son of God, it is incumbent upon us to rethink how we utter his name.

Jesus Christ!

Blessing or curse?

Now that you know…choose…

 

 

 

 

 

Locked Doors

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There is s famous picture of Jesus standing at a door and knocking. Someone told the artist that the door’s latch was missing. Not so. The meaning of the picture is that the door can only be opened from the inside.

The meaning is so profound and makes much sense once we are made aware of it. Jesus is knocking at the door of our hearts and lives. It is up to us to either answer his knock or ignore it. There is no outside latch because he will not force himself upon us.

If we choose to open that door we invite Jesus into our hearts and lives which will never be the same again. Happy Sunday.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. Rev.3:20 NIV

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A Word For The Weary

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Sometimes our daily duties can tire us to the point of not wanting to do another thing. When this happens I find it best to do just that…not do another thing…take time out to be quiet and still and just breathe. Is our world going to come crashing down on us if we don’t do what we think needs to be done right this minute or hour or day?

Weariness can sometimes rob us of our good intentions, in that our tasks become a pain instead of a pleasure which diminishes our effectiveness. It is sometimes best to do less with pleasure than more with resentment.

Jesus was a very busy man who did more for humanity than anyone ever could, yet he knew when to “take himself apart and rest awhile” before he became depleted. Here are some of his words of wisdom to those of us who have become weary in doing good:

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 6:9 NIV (Taking a break is not giving up.)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…Matthew 11:28 NIV

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint…Jeremiah 31:25 NIV

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 NIV

Those who look to him are radiant…Psalm 34:5 NIV (Radiance replaces the look of weariness.)

And finally:

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Under the Trees

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“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 NIV

This Sunday we at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Scarborough will be gathering in His name under the trees replicating a service in 1818, kicking off our 200th anniversary celebrations. This is just a hint of what’s to come. Happy Sunday.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12