Marching Forth!

" Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble ." Matthew 6:34 We would like to justify our preoccupation with upcoming events as a modern necessity, yet Jesus spoke to correct this tendency in His day.  Planning ahead is required for holidays, to book flights or accommodation, but that does not mean we are capable of the mental and physical load worry over the future brings.  Jesus commanded His followers not to worry about tomorrow, and it is helpful for me to consider this in terms of not "stressing" over it. Today I woke on this New Year's day in Australia singing in my heart, "This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."  This is the start of a new year in our diaries but we need not carry a burden of a whole year, month or even tomorrow.  God has given us today, and we can rejoice in our LORD who makes all things new--including us.  It is ...

" Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;  43  for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God ." John 12:42-43 This observation of John gives us insight into the hearts of the rulers of the Jews who believed in Jesus, that they " loved the praise of men more than the praise of God ."  Men ought to always praise God, yet we see God also gives praise to men who believe in Jesus Christ and confess Him.  Because a distinction is made between the praise of men and the praise of God, our actions demonstrate whether we value the praise of men or God more. When God says "Well done!" to His good and faithful servants, this is praise.  While God is worthy of all praise, by His grace and strength His people can do what is praiseworthy because we are in Him.  Webster defines "praise" as, " Commendation bestowed on a pers...

When I read G.K. Chesterton, I am thankful God created people and philosophers who believe and proclaim His truth with intelligence that dwarfs my own.  I feel I am doing well to merely keep pace with Chesterton's train of thought that in an instant speeds off and leaves me disoriented in dust.  Though times and scenery has changed, I find his observations are often timeless and easily re-skinned to relate for modern society and the church as well.  The wisdom that comes from God is timeless, for the eternal God does not change.  Mankind that forms societies and cultures around the globe, in the naturally lost and unregenerate condition, has not changed either.  Those who are born again by faith in Jesus are being transformed to be more like Him, and thus those who know God and observe men (not to mention having experience as one!) find solid footing in reality. Chesterton wrote an essay in 1905 titled  On Certain Modern Writers and the Institution of the F...

" Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly.  2 And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction,  a nd He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,  a nd You heard my voice ." Jonah 2:1-2 Jonah was directed by God to preach against Nineveh, but he chose to disobey the word of the LORD and fled to Tarshish by ship.  God sent a mighty tempest which tossed the ship and the sailors cried out to their gods, being in jeopardy.  Eventually Jonah was revealed by lot to be the reason the storm had come upon them, and according to his directive Jonah was cast overboard and the sea was calm.  God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and from the prison of stinking flesh Jonah cried out to God and was heard. This biblical passage has much more going on than what is featured in a book for children:  the prophet needed correction and discipline, the sailors would benefit from a demonstration of God's power and instruct...

Recently I read an opinion piece that prompted consideration.  From the premise to the conclusion I disagreed with every point made.  A strong agnostic tone was maintained throughout concerning Jesus and the testimony of scripture, and thus there was nothing satisfactory for the soul.  In arrogance the pendulum swung between ignorance and irrelevance, and I don't know that a Christian or atheist who would be satisfied with the straw man arguments presented.  For me the article was of value because it showed the complete bankruptcy of an agnostic position concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Reading the article, it seemed the fellow was pleased to through out the Baby Jesus but treasured His bathwater:  the value in Jesus being a Saviour for oppressed souls was not in His divinity but His humanity.  In the writer's mind some compelling things have been attributed to Jesus, but whether Jesus existed or not is of little consequence.  What really matters...

Yesterday I enjoyed the nostalgia of watching a classic Christmas movie I had not seen for a very long time:  Miracle on 34th Street .  It was a delightful and humorous film that explores rationality, imagination and faith--though not faith according to a biblical definition.  In the movie faith was described as belief when common sense ends, yet the Christian faith is one according to knowledge of God that is logical and sensible even as He is.  The Bible reveals genuine faith is according to knowledge of what is, and it is wise to place our trust in all God reveals to be true. It occurred to me throughout the film that Kris Kringle or Santa Claus took middle stage along with a pushback against commercialism.  The one figure that was ignored entirely was Christ, and this does not surprise me in a secular society.  But the fact remains there is no Christmas without Christ.  It may be "Eatmas" or "Drinkmas" or "Partymas" for many people ("mas" bei...

Luke wrote concerning Jesus as a lad in  Luke 2:40 , " And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him ."  At the conclusion of the chapter he also remarked in  Luke 2:52 , " And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men ."  This is a amazing statement.  It is one thing for a person to grow in wisdom and physically from being a child to an adult, but it is incredible Jesus increased in favour with God and men. Because God's grace is infinite, one might wonder how Jesus--the perfect Son of God--could possibly grow in it.  Luke made a connection in both of these verses between wisdom and grace.  Wisdom comes from God alone, and those who walk in wisdom look to God in faith, obedience and submission.  The observations of Luke emphasise the Son of God Jesus becoming flesh and was one of us in a human body.  There were limits of His mental and physical capabiliti...