Not a Game

4.4.18

Major Ruth brought several games today of all kinds, some easy, some hard, some just fun, others needed a little more thought, but it was literally a fun and games afternoon. But there was a serious side to all of this, Major Ruth shared with us how the soldiers made sport of Christ as He went to the cross, and how they cast lots for His garments, they had fun and games at the Lord's expense. He endured all this, for the sake of the sinner, and that includes everyone who ever lived, who lives now, and who will live in the future, we are all sinners.

They put a purple robe upon Jesus, they put (not lightly) a crown of thorns on His head, and mockingly bowed before Him. They were at the foot of the cross as He was dying in agony casting lots for His clothes, and everyone around was mocking and scoffing, as though it was a game. But this was no game, this was no sport, this was the Son of God taking on the sins of the world in order that everyone who repents of their sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ may be saved. Having done so, each true believer is in Christ, and they are then a Christian and being a Christian is not a game, it is not a sport, it is not part time, it is not just when we are in a church meeting. Being a Christian is life-changing and those around us should be able to tell that there has been a transformation, not just because we tell them but because they can see it in our lives.

The Bible tells us that being a Christian means perseverance, it means endurance, it means suffering for the sake of the gospel the same taunts, mocking and scoffing that Jesus endured. Being a Christian is not a game, it’s a commitment, are you committed to following Christ, no matter what the cost?

Hebrews 12

Questions

It's surprising how many questions we ask in one day from asking our spouse if they want a cup of tea, to asking God for forgiveness. I took just a few of the many questions that are in the Bible, some that God and the Lord ask, and some that man ask.

"Where are you?"

"Am I my brother’s keeper?"

"Son of man can these bones live?"

"Who do you say that I am?"

"How can a man be born again?"

"Are you the Christ?"

"Lord, don't you care that I am left to do all the work?"

How many questions I wonder, do we ask the Lord when we talk to Him? Of course, God knows what we are going to ask before we ask Him. And oft times He doesn't answer in the way that we expect, because He knows what is best for us, much more than we do ourselves because we don't always ask the right questions. God in His grace forgives us when we repent, and so we have no right to hang on to grievances, we should forgive others as our Father has forgiven us.

If we understand God's will for us (which we find out by reading His Word) then more and more our questions will be in line with His will.

John Wesley each day would give himself a spiritual health check by asking these questions.

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley’s Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.

Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

Can I be trusted?

Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

Did the Bible live in me today?

Do I give it time to speak to me every day?

Am I enjoying prayer?

When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

Do I pray about the money I spend?

Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

Do I disobey God in anything?

Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

Am I defeated in any part of my life?

Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

How do I spend my spare time?

Am I proud?

Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

Do I grumble or complain constantly?

Is Christ real to me.

These are really challenging questions which we would do well to ask ourselves.            

10 little Christians  

10 Little Christians standing in line

1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9

9 little Christians stayed up very late

1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven

1 took the low road and then there were 7

7 little Christians chirping like chicks

1 disliked music, then there were 6

6 little Christians seemed very much alive

but one lost his interest then there was 5

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore

but one stopped to rest, then there were 4

4 little Christians each busy as a bee

1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3

3 little Christians knew not what to do

1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done

differed with each other, then there was 1

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true

brought his friend to Bible study, then there were 2

2 earnest Christians, each won one more

that doubled the number, then there were 4

4 sincere Christians worked early and late

Each won another then there were 8

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before

In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,

Do You belong to the building or to the wrecking crew?

Heaven Sent

We had a visitor from Nottingham Memorial Hall today, who talked to us about fragrance. She brought quite a few perfumes with her, and talked about perfume and the fact that it is a multimillion pound business. People use fragrances in their homes, cars, work etc. everyday. You can even get a fragrance for your dog!! Fragrances can conjure all kinds of things in our minds, they can make us feel all kinds of emotions, and they can bring back memories, sometimes ones that are buried deep, be they happy or sad, pleasant or traumatic.

We don’t just wear perfume for ourselves, we like to feel that we leave a lasting impression and that can be associated with a fragrance. Very often someone may say, “that fragrance reminds me of such and such a person.” It is lovely when we receive a gift from someone that is fragranced. Julie, showed us a lovely candle in a box, with matches that she had received as a gift, she stumbled upon the maker on the internet and was surprised at the cost, and felt she hadn’t the heart to burn it. She also had always wanted a certain perfume, and when it was bought for her, she was so sparing with it that eventually it went off, her husband said it smelt like alcohol! They may be expensive but they are to be used.

Julie shared with us the wonderful story of the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume.

Mark 19:1-14

After two days, it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people. And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticised her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Both the perfume and the jar were expensive, but this woman was not counting the cost. And neither should we, the cost of our salvation is beyond price, not only do we get the benefit but when we are saved then the fragrance of Jesus makes an impact on others in so many ways, for His fragrance flows through us, and so they get the benefit too. We don’t have to do anything spectacular, it should come from us in our everyday lives as we speak to other people, and interact with them, showing kindness in word and deed.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

The Romans on returning from war would bring the captives in chains behind them, and they would burn incense at the front of the victory parade. To the victors it was the sweetest fragrance but to the captives it was the smell of death.

May people remember us not just by the perfume we wear, but by the fragrance of Christ, and may it be by the Holy Spirit's power the fragrance that leads to everlasting life.