What a Friend indeed

Below is a timeless truth shared in song by Joseph M Scriven in 1855 about what what a Friend we have in Jesus. I hope that this song will do well in reminding us of this timeless truth:

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

 

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

 

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

 

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,

There will be no need for prayer—

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.

Friends like these

Many a times life has way of throwing certain things that literally zap the strength out of you. In this journey called life we have, to some degree at least, the option of which road we will travel however we do not have any control over what we are going to meet along this road.

It is very assuring to know, as a Christian, that whatever I face the LORD is always looking out for me. As it was true to the disciples then, it is still true today to those in Christ today and will forever be true that “He will be with us always…” When facing the issues along life’s highway I’m encouraged by what the LORD said to His people Israel that I believe stands for His people even today: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” What an encouraging thing for everyone who is in Christ to go through life knowing this.

I am also grateful to God for those whom He uses to share a lot of these encouraging truths, friends. The Bible is full of stories of how God sent friends into people’s lives to help during their life time, Ruth had Naomi, David had Jonathan, Paul had Silas. For many of these people, these friends were not just friends but more like brothers, sisters or sons. They highly valued their friendships. C.S. Lewis had this things to say of friends:

• “Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?”
• “The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”

May the LORD send you friends who will love you always and challenge you to love the LORD and love others even more.

Finding “the one”

Many people go through life searching, at times haplessly so, for a Mr/ Ms Right. I may not currently be in the best of positions to give advice on how to find Mr/ Ms Right however I believe that I have heard great advice from those who are. I have taken heed to these men’s advice not merely because they have considerably long and exemplary marriages but more importantly because their advice seems most accurate with Scripture. The following is a collection of what I have gleaned from their teachings:

We spend a great deal of time searching for Mr/Ms Right and yet we spend far less time seeking to be the Mr/Ms Right that we are to be to them (John McArthur) . Surely if we want our life partner to be “right” for us we are to also spend quality time preparing to be Mr/Ms Right. One may ask why this is important and how this can be achieved.

Why is it important to be “the one”?

This is a significant question that determines a lot of significant issues in ones relationship with Mr/Ms Right. One has to understand that in as much as they are seeking for Mr/Ms Right there are expectations for them to be “right” as well. As the famous saying goes, “it takes two to tango.” The other person and more importantly God expect that you be right for your Mr/Ms Right as well. As mentioned earlier your being “right” will mean you will be in a better position to work out your relationship successfully.

Many times the question is always asked on how one will know when they have met “the one” but unfortunately because they do not put effort, sometimes if they do its very little, they struggle greatly to find that special someone. How can one find that which they are not themselves?

How can someone become “the one”?

One could probably be asking the second question by now; how can one become the one? Friend the first and most important thing you should know is that in order for you to not only to find “the one” but remain together in a loving relationship with “the one”, you have to know Love “for you cannot give something that you don’t have.” God is love and He has demonstrated His love for us by sending His one and only Son to die a death that we all deserved so that we can live a life that we do not deserve (1 John 3:16a; 4:7-12). After one has come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of their life then and only then are they in a position of not only finding “the one” nut also being the one as well.

God, in the Bible, does not give a process that one should follow for every person to be able to find Mr/Ms Right however He does state what should happen when one has found “the one” and what is expected from them when this, marriage, has happened (Pastor Chris Woolley).  When one is diligently striving to live in accordance with God’s word they will be simultaneously preparing as well. As they are acquainting themselves with what God, in His word, says they are suppose to be they are also acquainting themselves with what Mr/Ms right is suppose to be and are therefore in a better position to know Mr/Ms Right when they see them.

When the time comes to look perhaps one can be able to identify a possible Mr/Ms Right when they see the following qualities within them:

• Saved: they must know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour
• Single: although this seems obvious still many may believe to know better in certain cases so let it be reminded to you that in order not to cause any damage in your own life and the life of others DON’T COMPROMISE!
• Same doctrine: a common understanding of the teachings of Scripture is very important
• Serving: it is important that they be faithfully serving in their local church (Dr Tim Cantrell)

It should be noted that the above information is not a formula to finding “the one” neither can it be said, on its own, to be sufficient for one to get into a long and fulfilling relationship with that Mr/Ms Right however I believe that it will help to tackle some very pertinent issues.

Grace to you as strive to grow to in the knowledge of the LORD and to know what He desires for you so that your relationship will be one that is glorifying to God.

What is the reason you fellowship at the local Church you are in? –part 2

Are you going to the church you’re going to merely because you like it or because it is in accordance with the word of God hence causing you to like that about it? 

The family of believers, the Church, is made up of individuals therefore if one likes the church they fellowship at because of the magnificent building, fine sounding instruments and comfortable chairs then such a person likes these items and not the church. All the items previously mentioned can assist in drawing one to fellowship in a certain “family” but these should by no means be the deciding factors for choosing the “family”.

Good does not always mean godly but godly is always good. What I mean by this is that one should not use the standards of the world to identify which family of believers to join but should rather use the standards as set forth in the word of God. Examples of such standards are:

• The faithful preaching of God’s word (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15) 

• An understanding of the sovereignty of God in all matters (Romans 8:28) 

• Appropriate leadership within the Church (1 Corinthians 14:33-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-13)

• The promotion of holiness over “wealthiness” (1 Peter 1:15) 

Recommended resources to help you understand the characteristics of what a healthy church and a healthy church member are:

• M. Dever. “What is a healthy Church?” Crossway
• T. Anyabwile. “What is a healthy Church member?” Crossway
• www.9marks.org

http://akanihlungwane.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/why-do-you-attend-church-every-sunday/

May the LORD lead you as you search for a family of believers to join and for those who have already found won’t you contrast the state of the family you are in with what the word of God says! Grace be with you as you do.

What is the reason you fellowship at the local Church you are at? -part 1

Have you ever wondered how you could answer the question above? Why don’t you take some time to do so and see what you would put in the empty space below: 

I like my local church because…

Take your time.

Grace be with you as you do.

The power of words

Words words words, since the beginning of time words have played a very integral part in society. Wars have been started by words because of too many words that were said recklessly, families have broken down because of too few words that have been said and relationships have become hurtful due to someone, unconsciously and sometimes even consciously, choosing to say that which would bring the another down.

Through words, divided nations have been brought closer together and at the very same time some have also been divided for many generations. What a precious resource we have been given by the Lord. We seek to lavish ourselves with many material items like expensive houses, cars and clothes and yet we fail to appreciate the gift of speech given to us by God.

The lack of appreciation of this gift is present in both the poor and the rich, the educated and uneducated and yet if we would learn to use this gift of words effectively many fights would cease, many relationships would be mended and much more peace would be enjoyed. How can one use this gift of words better? One person summed it best when they said, “the problem of the human heart is the heart of the human problem.” A change of heart will automatically mean a change of words.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks-Luke 6:46

Christain, you would do well to value and watch your words, for the Lord has made it such that the most wonderful message, the gospel of Jesus Christ, be shared using words.