Little children

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”                                           Matt. 19.14

The children had been brought to Jesus but the disciples sought to stop them. This was not Jesus’ way.

I note that the disciples spent much time with Jesus and surely got to know something about Him. Yet they got it wrong when it came to the children. They had completely misunderstood His regard for the little ones. And it was a major misunderstanding. In His response, Jesus indicates the importance of little children: for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

What happened with the disciples can, I feel, so easily happen with me. I could pick up the wrong intention where Jesus is concerned. It is most important that I check out, that I ask God, and keep myself in listening and heeding attitude to what He would do in and through me, and have me do for Him. I would not want to send the children away when His intent is to embrace them. Whether it be little children or any other matter, my desire is to do what is right with God, to be obedient to His call and purpose, and to please Him. May He lead; and may I be willing to follow!

Lord God,

I note how the disciples “got it wrong” when it came to the little children. I know there are times when I get it wrong. I ask You to forgive me, and to bring correction so that I continue in Your way.

I give myself, daily, to Your will and Your way. Direct my steps, please, that I may do what You would have me do. I want to live in harmony with You. I seek to please You, for You mean so very much to me.

I surrender to the great and righteous God. Your holiness is something I struggle to comprehend. I ask that You would bring greater revelation to me as You lead me on. Please help me, Lord, I’m Yours.            Amen.

With me

“For when two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”              

                                                                                                                Matt. 18.20

I find these words so exciting! I have only to join with a single Christian brother or sister and know that Jesus is with us.

I do believe, of course, that Jesus is with me all the time, for I hold to His word that says so (Matt. 28.20; Heb. 13.5).

Whether I am alone or with Christian company it is exciting to be with Jesus.

Jesus is many things! I may first think of Him as Saviour Redeemer, for this is fundamental to my relationship with Him. Following this, He is my Mentor and Teacher, leading me, by His Spirit, through the process of sanctification in which I become more Christ-like.

Yet there is more! He is my Lord, to whom I surrender myself. He is Companion and Friend. He has said He will never leave me, and one consequence of this is that I am never alone. I thank God that I know the truth of this. Jesus is my Helpmate and Co-worker. I delight in the Lord’s work as I undertake it in company with Jesus. And, even though it might sound strange in the physical human environment, Jesus is my Lover. In reality there is nothing weird or “kinky” about this. Jesus, indeed God the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Spirit – love me to a degree I can’t truly imagine. I receive what measure I can recognise, but I open myself to all that He desires to give, and I respond in willingness and thanksgiving.

Dear Jesus,

I rejoice that You are with me. I thank You for all that You are to me and I open myself up to receive, and invite You to give, all that You would grace me with. I don’t need to understand the magnitude of the love You have for me, But I do ask You to bring revelation in God’s holy and fitting time.

Lead me now, please, into the day ahead and may I know the fullness of You in me. I ask this in Your precious name.                   Amen.

Wandered!

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?”                                                                                           Matt. 18.12

Here is good news! God cares for the one who stumbles and falls, the one who wanders away. We may be part of the flock, but then find that we lose our way. We become separated from our brothers and sisters in Christ and realise perhaps that we have done what we ought not to have done.

But the Good Shepherd is ever alert and watchful for us. He will make it His focus to search us out, and bring us back to Him. So important are we to Him that He will leave the rest of the flock in order to seek us out and restore us.

A similar story is told through Luke’s parables of the lost coin and the lost son. The father of the prodigal was on the constant lookout for the return of his delinquent son. And we have such a Father in God.

I thrill to this knowledge. It does not give me leave to “wander off” and do my own thing but, rather I see it give me a sure knowledge that those who do miss the way and stray from the path, can be assured that it is possible to return.

Indeed, it is more than possible, for the Father/Shepherd is on the constant lookout for such lost sheep.

Great God and Holy Father,

Thank You for Your love. Thank You for the love You have for each and every one of us. You created us to live in sweet, harmonious and worshipful relationship with You, and nothing will stop You from seeking us out and bringing us to that place of harmony, rest and peace in You. I thank You for recovering me, for drawing me back to You. I pray that You will take me deeper.

And I ask You to please use me in the recovery of others who have wandered from You. Give me, please, a father’s heart for all people. May I be moved with care and concern for them. May You choose to reach them through me. I ask these things in Jesus’ name.             Amen.

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Always there

For you have been my hope,

O Sovereign Lord,

my confidence since my youth.

From birth I have relied on you;

you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.                               Psalm 71.5, 6

God was at the very start of my life. He brought me forth at birth. I’m quite sure He was with me even before then:

         For you created my inmost being;

         you knit me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139.13)

God worked in the very heart of my being. He ensured my birth, and He has been with me ever since. For much of my earlier life I was unaware of God’s presence with me. Indeed, even in present times I can “forget” that He’s there. But this does not change the reality. He is there. He is here, right now. As I sit quietly and pen these words, I know He’s with me. He’s looking on. He’s leading, as I allow Him. He’s protecting – and I’m so grateful for this.

This is the reality, and I sense that a large part of my mission in Him is to convey this reality to others. God, the Almighty, my loving heavenly Father, wants me to live in Him and with Him. For this He created me.

Life is a journey, and it is not always the most comfortable or enjoyable journey. My Lord Jesus came to this earth and made a human journey through life. There were times when His journey was extremely uncomfortable. And the end of His life was excruciatingly painful in the extreme.

My Lord Jesus knows about hardship and suffering. He experienced, He endured, and He overcame. Today He walks with me. I see Him alongside of me every step of the way. And He can help me to overcome when the going gets tough. He knows the way through when, often, I do not. I trust Him. I know I can rely on Him, and I do so.

Yes, God is my hope. Each day I hope in Him to get me through. I look to Jesus to journey with me through the day. I seek the leading and the guidance of God in what I do. I pray for His protection over me at all times. I rejoice that I am a much-loved child of God. I am ever grateful that He is there for me.

Almighty God, Most Precious Father,

I thank You that You are there and have always been there. Please forgive me those times when I seem to forget You. I confess and repent of those times when I disappoint You. I seek Your forgiveness and Your restoration of me into Your will and Your way.

Please lead me through the day ahead. Let me live, gloriously, to Your praise and honour.             Amen.