Weekend Words

 From A Year's Journey with God...

Live as if...

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

 - Matthew 24:44

'Why doesn't God do something?' Have you ever thought that as you watch reports of war, tyranny or injustice?  One day He is going to!  John tells us: 'Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him' (Revelation 1:7).  It really is going to happen!  At long last, Jesus will give our universe a brand new start, and rule it with love and justice!  And you and I will be part of it, whether we have died or are still alive when He arrives.

Living in the light of that glorious prospect needs to change the way we live our lives now, altering our values and putting our grumbles and resentments into proportion (1 Peter 1:13).

John, one of the men who heard Jesus talking about His return that evening on the Mount of Olives, later wrote, 'Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself...' (1 John 3:3) and '...continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming' (1 John 2:28).  I'll never forget an old lady in our church, called Mary.  She cheered everyone up as she hurried about serving God in all kinds of little ways.  She often told me to live each day as if I knew Jesus was coming back before bedtime.

Nothing done for Christ is lost.  The smallest act, the quietest word, the gentlest inspirations that touch human souls leave their impress for eternity.

- J R Miller, In His Steps (1885, 1897)

From Faith's Checkbook...

A Trustworthy Name

"I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord."

Zephaniah 3:12

When true religion is ready to die out among the wealthy it finds a home among the poor of this world, rich in faith.  The Lord has even now His faithful remnant.  Am I one of them?

Perhaps it is because men are afflicted and poor that they learn to trust in the name of the Lord.  He whose own name is good for nothing in his own esteem, acts wisely to rest in another name, the name of Jehovah.  Little as the world thinks of poor people, they bring untold blessings, for they are the conserving salt that keeps in check the corruption in the world.

Again the question: am I one of them?  Do I trust in the Lord?  Jesus reveals the name, the character, the person of God: am I trusting in Him?  If so, I am left in the world for a purpose.  Lord, help me to fulfill it.

- Charles H Spurgeon