Personal Object Lessons - Questions and Queries

“Ask and it shall be given you;” Matthew 7 v 7

My life is full of questions. I always seem to be trying to find out ‘Why?’ In this respect I have continued to be like a small child who constantly asks why in order to understand the world around them.

Children invariably go to their parents, or care-givers, for their answers. Usually they get what they are seeking. The child learns step by step and the emerging world becomes less daunting to them. As I have grown up I, like most people, believe that I have outgrown my parents’ knowledge. I stopped going to them for answers in my early teenage years. Many queries remained unasked and therefore unanswered for many years after that.

What I have found is that it is usual to seek answers from a source that you trust. From a source that you believe can provide the answer you are searching for.

I still have an enquiring mind and I like to read so I have managed to find out some answers to a few burning questions that had remained with me for years. However, there are some areas that stump me and it’s at times like this that I may turn to the Bible. Matthew  7 v 7 says “Ask and it shall be given you”. I wondered if this was accurate for all things that I could desire so I read further. In John 14 v 13 it states, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do”, that sounds just perfect, but this is not a formula for selfish requests, the verse continues in this way, “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Therefore the request to God has a precondition, they will be granted as long as the Father is glorified by fulfilling the request. I wanted to know how I could know if God would be glorified by what I was asking.

As with many questions, one generates another. I have frequently found myself to be in a spiral of queries and not able to see the way out of them all. Again, I reach for the wisdom of trusted friends or the guidance to be found in the Bible. I reason that if I don’t get the full answer from one place then at least I will have gained some light and be able to look in another place for the rest.

This is what the Bible has to say about asking for things, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11 v 24. Therefore in exercising faith my desire and belief are fulfilled. There is an additional verse in 1 John 3 v 22 that explains why the requests are granted; it’s about obedience to the commandments of God. “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

It appears that all our questions will be answered if we act in accordance with God’s commands.

The obvious next question for me is “What are God’s commandments?” As I said, one question often leads to another. I always gain insight from my search, but sometimes I end up with many more questions than answers. So I go back to the beginning and ask all over again.

In this way, I think that I never grow up; I remain child-like as I constantly seek guidance and direction from God. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

©MHMorgan 2011

Personal Object Lessons - Peace

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26 v 3

It’s nothing new to say that we live in troubled times. It seems that we are always talking about the bad things that happen to us, how then can we remain peaceful and remember to also focus on the good things? How can we find peace?

If it was a simple matter surely everybody would be doing it, right? Maybe it is an easy thing to do after all but not many people believe it because it is so simple. Because we live in such a complex world we have a tendency to have an aversion to the straightforward things in life. Simple solutions become suspect amidst the chaos and speed of everyday life.

However, I have found that getting back to basics has a lot of positive results.

One of my favourite verses in the whole bible is found in Isa 26 v 3, it states, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” This verse has kept me strong through so many tense and worrying situations. I have sometimes used it in a chant-like manner to remind myself that peace is guaranteed to me. It has worked.

So, how could this work for other people. I’m not suggesting that everyone goes around chanting the same verses over and over, what I am saying, and this is something that has worked for me, is that whenever possible it has been a good idea for me to think about God, His goodness, His provisions, His love and His promises.

Does that sound too simplistic? On one hand it could sound like a formula for robotic behaviour, but this would never be possible because each person is unique with their thoughts. So, how could thinking about the same subject, God, help to ensure a state of peaceful living? I ask this because so many people believe in God, but as many people as there are believing there are also that many interpretations of God’s will. How can that lead to a state of peacefulness?

The answers are, I think, in the Bible. Heb 12 v 14 states, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God.” By loving each person we meet and wishing the best for them - as we would for ourselves - I think we will each be on the path towards wider peaceful living.

What about when we feel guilty regarding something? How do we find peace then?  Rom 5 v 1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Consequently faith and peace appear to be linked. We have to believe that our guilt – be it real or imagined – is taken away from us. As we follow this road of belief we relax in the comfort of peaceful reassurance because we gain a sense of rightness.

Isa 32 v 17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” From the beginning of peace we can follow the route to eternal assurance and quietness of mind. That sounds blissful. That sounds possible. It is.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16 v 33) Therefore it is clear that we can still have a deep experience of peace while facing trials and tribulations each day. We are guaranteed that peaceful mind because it is a gift from God.

Jesus knows that when we are connected to Him and focussed on Him we will gain the peace we search for, we will overcome the troubles of the times that we inhabit. He has promised to give us peace, and His promises never fail.

 ©MHMorgan 2011

Personal Object Lessons - God

“O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalms 145 v 9

It would have been impossible to start this A-Z journey without some mention of God and Christ Jesus. It is my belief that no investigation of love would be complete without a glimpse into the being of God. Many people throughout the ages have said that there is no God. “A fool hath said in his heart there is no God.” (Ps 14 v 1; Ps 53 v 1) The previous studies have been a taster into my impression of God. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Ps 34 v 8)

The question many people ask is ‘Who or what is God?’ “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4 v 8). In verse 16 of the same chapter we are reminded again that “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4 v 16) Even if a person has no concept of Christ or God it is likely that they will know about love. Just knowing about love is enough to start understanding and trusting God. This is the beginning of a new journey. It is always difficult to define love; the same can be said about defining or confining God to any limited human concept. We have to exercise faith and believe; we will not be disappointed.

Once we begin to know the one true God we are directed to love Him. “... there is one God; and there is none other but he. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12 v 32-33). From this love to God comes love for ourselves and love for our neighbours. Christ Jesus said that this extension of love from God to ourselves and others is the basis of all the commandments. In Mark 12 v 29 – 31 Jesus confirms the true God and our instructions to firstly love God then to love our neighbours and ourselves equally well.

Many false gods have declared that they are God however God Himself has declared “Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isa 45 v 22) The substitute gods want to gain the loyalty and following of all people but these gods can never replace the real God because they have no power to save. They have no comparable abilities to be everything to humanity. The affections of men may sway between the real God and the gods that try vainly to replace Him but our all knowing God has said “Fear not, neither be afraid; have not I told you from that time, and declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isa 44 v 8) There is nothing unknown to God.

God is love. God is also light. “God is light and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1 v 5) God is everything we need. He provides an eternal family for us because He is our Father and everyone who does His will is our mother, brother and sister (Mark 3 v 33 – 35). God cares for us without any regard to our affections towards Him. “The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” (Ps 145 v 9)

A search for God reveals a caring God, a merciful God and a loving God. God can be found in all aspects of life. He is not limited to the Bible, church buildings, or especially elected religious leaders. God is available to each and every person. God values each and every person; he made us in his own image (Gen 1 v 26 ) and He has declared every creature He has created good (1 Tim 4 v 4). With God on our side we have no further fear of the future or what will happen to us because “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8 v 31)

Although God knows everything about us He still encourages us to talk to Him, in prayer, and to make all our requests known to Him while we also thank Him for all He has done for us. Nothing that we think of can be hidden from God but we are persuaded to approach God boldly. (Phil 4 v 6). God is always at hand to hear and answer our prayers because His love for us is constant and continual “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he will also hear their cry and save them.” (Ps 145 v 18 – 19)

God is ... exactly what we need today.

©MHMorgan 2010

Personal Object Lessons - Easter

“He is risen …” Matthew 28 v 7

Easter is a time for celebration. Its history is directly related to the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. However, many people just look forward this holiday as a symbol that spring has arrived; a sign of new life.

Christ rose from the grave after His crucifixion and the grieving disciples who made their way to His tomb were greeted with the news of Christ’s victory over death with the utterance of three simple words that fulfilled a promise… “He is risen…” (Matt 28 v 7).

When Christ was on the cross at Calvary He similarly spoke three profound words… “It is finished.” (John 19 v 30). He had been raised high like a banner so that all could see and remember His selfless act of sacrifice. The crucifixion and death of Christ was the final link in the plan salvation. His death and resurrection provided a way. A way of hope and confidence that there is life beyond the grave; that there is life eternal with the Creator of all worlds. Christ Jesus led the way – from His sinless life on earth, to His return to heaven – the path to restoration with the Father was made plain (Luke 24 v 31). The earthly life, the painful death, and the return to life of Christ shows His undeniable love for humanity. The glory of God was magnified through the suffering of Christ (Luke 24 v 26). It was because humanity was under the sentence of eternal death that Christ Jesus bore the separation from the Father by taking on the sins of the world. With His life Christ paid the ransom price for everyone. His death unlocked the gates of eternity for us to enter in. Through nearly 2,000 years people throughout the world have been drawn to this act of pure love that promises life to all who believe on Him (John 3 v 16).

The actual resurrection of the Son of Man means that “it has begun”: these three words encompass the completion of the promise that results in the fulfilment of the plan of salvation. The time of new life had begun when Christ rose from the grave; the time of life eternal for all who believe had arrived. Christ died and finished the preparation work that He came to earth to complete. Then He rose from the grave to complete the last phase of humanity’s rescue plan.

Easter therefore is really a celebration of the beginning of the journey of humanity back to life eternal. A journey made possible by Christ Jesus. He made the way.

He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14 v 6)

Easter is a time to remember new life: life eternal.

©MHMorgan 2010

Personal Object Lessons - My A – Z … road maps for life

My A – Z … road maps for life

“I am the way…” John 14 v 6

We all need guidance and directions and the advice given is specific depending on where we want to go and what we want to do. The world is full of signposts and arrows pointing us every way. The experience of being lost can be terrifying but there is always hope in the knowledge that we are not the first people to walk without aim.

Jesus says, “I am the way…” (John 14 v 6). The way to what? I have to ask, is this the way I want to go? The answer to the direction is in the second part of the sentence… “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me.” (John 14 v 6). Jesus is offering Himself as our true guide to the Father. He says “no man cometh … but by me”: without Him we will not make it to God; Jesus is our means of access to God. He is our road map. He is our complete surety of making it to the required destination. How do we know our journey will be successful with Jesus as a guide? Can we trust Him? He says, “I am the …truth” (John 14 v 6).
As children we learned to trust our guardians, our parents, our siblings because we quickly learned what was true and what was false. With truth came trust that we built on over the years. Unfortunately we all experienced some disappointment as we grew up but never from Jesus. Jesus has never reneged on His promises. God the Father and Jesus the Son made a way for us to be reunited for eternity (John 3 v 16 –17). “…whosoever believeth in him should …have everlasting life” (John 3 v16). The Greek word used in this verse for ‘believeth’ is Pistis – to trust, to have faith in.

When we are driving and get lost we stop at the roadside and ask directions, we believe the word of the passer by without any previous knowledge of them. We follow their directions in full expectation of arriving at our required destination. Jesus comes to us with an impeccable history and personal interest in each one of us reaching our destination: heaven (John 14 v 1-3). Jesus advises s not to worry but to follow His directions and we will never get lost.

“I am the way…” (John 14 v 6). The Greek dictionary describes the ‘way’ as a route by which we make progress on our journey. Jesus has made Himself our roadmap for life. A map to show the way from life in this world to life in eternity (John 14 v 2 –3). We have to make a choice to progress on our journey. Progress is best when it is in the right direction. We can choose to trust Jesus – because He has travelled the road before us or we can make our own roadmap. Each person makes their own choice on which road to travel and the destination is assured in all choices. Which way will you choose today?

©MHMorgan 2008