The Sin Of Ridicule

The person who takes pleasure in ridiculing others has actually succumb to an evil spirit, the spirit of ridicule. When Jesus was suffering on the cross for the sin of the world many ridiculed Him. "If you are the Son of Man come down off the cross," "He saved others but He cannot save himself." They derided him, wagging their heads saying "He trusts in God let God deliver Him now" (Matthew 27:39-44. These underhanded and dirty tactics are straight from the pit of hell and people who engage in them should be ashamed.

Facebook and other social media platforms are flooded with ridicule. Many are sharing with delight memes and caricature ridiculing and mocking others. Many are seen as 'fare game.' However its easy to lose sight of the fact that this person is someones father, mother, sister, brother, husband or wife. When you throw a stone at someone the ripples of the blow are far reaching. Ridicule is a weapon  because it always pulls down, always hurts. Avoid ridiculing others because to ridicule a fellow human being indirectly insults God, since we are all created in His image. Ridicule is a form of contempt and is morally wrong no matter how many shares you may get.

It Still Matters

Often things seem less important as time passes. People don't pay much attention or thought to medieval history or what happened in the Stone Age. Its not relevant to us because life has changed, life has moved on, we now live in a different era. I remember street preaching with a couple from Manchester when a man shouted out 'Dinosaurs.' He mirrored the thoughts of many, that Christianity is outdated and relegated to history and doesn't- shouldn't matter in the modern world. The truth is Christianity can never be irrelevant because it answers many of mankinds basic questions. The most important question is what happens when we die? To answer that question I could go on to You Tube and watch all the near life/after life videos for an answer. Or I could purchase or read the myriad of books available on the subject from Amazon, there are thousands! However I prefer to go to the God Man our Lord Jesus Christ for the answer. Why? Because he died and came back from the dead and still lives! This is the foundational belief of Christianity. We have to recieve that fact by faith because were weren't there when it happened. We have to accept the accounts of the few hundred that were privileged to see him, touch him and speak with him after his resurrection. However it isn't a blind faith because thousands are receiving him as their personal Lord and Saviour every day. They are testifying to healings and answered prayer requests in his name and the perfect peace that passes all human understanding. So it still matters, knowing Christ is as relevant today as it was over two thousand years ago. The old adage 'It's not what you know but who you know' works here. It's not so important to know what happens after death as to know the person who conquered death and has the power over it, that person is truly worth knowing.

Finding Your Own Space

We were created to have space, be in our own space. The modern world is noisy, irritating sometimes. We love our families and our friends but sometimes is good just to be on our own. With the ongoing Covid19 lockdown for some this is proving impossible. Forced together sometimes in cramped accommodation with nowhere to go, nowhere to find a quite place. Many professionals are concerned that mental health issues will accelerate during this time because people are being forced together 24/7. Children are amazing at finding the perfect get away, the cupboard under the stairs, hiding behind the curtain or making dens out of blankets. Husbands for years have built sheds in the bottom of gardens to find that space away from everything. Someone who understood our need perfectly was the Lord Jesus Christ who often withdrew to lonely places and prayed Luke 5:16. We know from the scripture accounts that huge needy crowds followed Jesus werether he went, he took on humanity so felt fatigue. So it's not so suprising to read 'He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone Matthew' 14:23. So dont feel guilty if you need that space alone it's really important for your mental health. You might have to be imaginative to find it however it will benefit you enormously. If you haven't spoken with God for a while, perhaps now is the time, because if you are not a key worker, time is something you have a lot of.

Passover 2020

The parallels between the event of Passover and the crucifixion of Christ are truly amazing. Two lambs without blemish sacrificed for the protection from judgement for Gods people. The people were instructed to choose a lamb just as we must decide today to choose the Lamb of God who takes away our sin and protects us from Gods coming judgement (John 1:29). Passover was the Day of Choosing; Will you make this day the day you choose Christ? (Joshua 24:14-15). Four days after the Day of Choosing the blood of the lamb was to be struck on the doorposts of each house. This was the Day of Application. The blood must be applied to each one of us to be of effect. The blood was a token, a thing serving as a visible or tangible representation of a fact. However faith was the key. The people still had to have faith  that the steps they had taken would give the desired results. In the same way we apply the Blood of Protection to ourselves when we believe by faith and trust that the work of the cross can and will protect us from Gods coming judgement. Good Friday is Crucifixion Day, the day Jesus of Nazareth the perfect Lamb of God was willingly sacrificed for your sin and my sin. Make this day your Salvation Day grab hold of the good news, open your heart to what He did for you and receive Him as your Lord and Saviour by faith, today!

John 1:29(ESV)

Behold The Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Joshua 24:14-15(ESV)

Choose Whom You Will Serve

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”