Musings

Last night, we spent a couple of hours explaining the real meaning of the Gospel after our Bible study to an inquirer. It just made me realize the confusion that exists within so-called Christendom regarding the very central message of the Bible. Salvation is not through a church or man-made system! What an insult to our magnified Lord, who paid the ultimate price of our salvation when He took our sins on His body on the cross of Calvary (Isaiah 53:5-6, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Peter 1:18-19). NO ONE is worthy or deserving of salv ation, but the Lord Jesus Christ offers this gift to us in mercy and love because He so much desires fellowship with His creatures. He died to redeem us. How dare anyone suggest that we atone for our sins by praying for this or that person or afflict self-torment to become worthy of God!! Why spit in the face of the One who has done it all? Why trample on His cross with our filthy rags of 'righteousness'! My God will not be mocked. It is very simple. Nothing...

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13: 45-46 Небесното царство може да се спореди со трговец што трага по најскапоцениот бисер; кога ќе го најде, тој оди и продава се што има и го купува. Матеј 13: 45-46 The Kingdom of Heaven is of infinite value, but we often are so busy with the small details of life that we do not see the bigger picture. Why are we here on this earth? To eat, drink, work and die? If we are not part of the Kingdom of Heaven, which will last eternally, everything has no ultimate meaning. Yes, we can live a good life, but if we do not live with eternity or God's plan in view, at the end we will be expelled from God's presence forever. That is why I write quotations from the Bible maybe ad nauseam for some of you here, but the importance of our relationship with the Living God is indescribable. Take some moments t...

The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.…(Lamentations 3:22-23) Заради Господовите добрини не сме уништени, Неговите милости никогаш не престануваат. Тие се нови секое утро: Твојата верност е голема! (Книга на Плач Еремиин 3:22-23)                              

One of the most wonderful things about God is His patience with us. Very often we want instant answers to our prayers, but we forget that God is doing something amazing behind the scenes during the time of apparent silence. We forget that the Master Sculptor is removing all that mars the image of His Son in us. We have been predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son . Romans 8:29. The question is not only can we trust Him, but do we trust Him? Firstly, can we trust Him? Can we trust the One who spoke this phenomenal universe into being? Can we trust the One who is holding it all together? Can we trust the One who formed man and breathed into him the breath of life? The Psalmist stated we are 'fearfully and wonderfully made' and this is confirmed as science continues to reveal how complex the human body is. Even atheist scientists are conceding more and more that these complexities point to an Intelligent Designer. Just this week, I read that scientists ...

There is no more beautiful message than the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ whether you believe it or not. That's the beauty of it too - it's there to discover. When you start on the journey, the roots will grow deep if you permit them and if you have a fertile heart. The central theme of the Gospel is LOVE. LOVE walked on earth as a Man to redeem us with His blood. The only reason He did it was LOVE. We can experience forgiveness when we repent of our sins and accept Christ now. 'Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.' 2 Corinthians 6:2 The other side of the Gospel is a warning. If we do not acknowledge Him as Lord on earth, we can have no part of His life in eternity. Jesus talked more about hell than heaven. There is no reason to doubt His words. Those not covered by Christ's righteousness have no access to the eternal God. Only He can deliver from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10).  'Whoever has the Son has life;...

You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds. (MSG from Luke 6)   „Нема питомо дрво што раѓа диви плодови, ниту диво дрво што раѓа питоми плодови.   Секое дрво се познава според своите плодови. Не се берат смокви од трн, ниту грозје од чичка.     Од благороден човек произлегуваат благородни работи што се напластени во неговото срце, а од лош човек произлегуваат лоши работи што се напластени во неговото срце. Секоја уста го зборува она што е напластено во срцето.“ Од Лука 6

‘At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.   Five of them were foolish and five were wise.   The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.   The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.   The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ‘At midnight the cry rang out: “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” ‘Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.   The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” ‘“No,” they replied, “there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.”   ‘But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. ‘Later the others also came. “Lord, Lord,” th...

Тогаш Исус ги повика Своите ученици и народот поблиску до Себе и им рече: „Тој што сака да стане Мој следбеник треба да се откаже од своите себични амбиции, да си го понесе својот крст и да тргне по Моите стапки. Зашто, секој што сака да си го запази животот само за себе - ќе го загуби; а ако Ми го посвети Мене и на Евангелието - ќе го зачува. Каква ќе му биде ползата на човекот, ако и сиот свет го добие, а својата душа ја загуби!? Има ли нешто повредно од твојата душа? Нема  причина да се срамите од Мене и од Моето учење пред овој неверен и грешен свет, зашто инаку и Јас, Синот Човечки, ќе се засрамам од вас кога ќе се вратам во сета слава на Мојот небесен Татко, во придружба на светите ангели!“ Марко 8:34-38 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sak...

Jesus taught: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and  it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27 Исус поучуваше, велејќи: „И така, секој, кој ги слуша овие Мои зборови и ги исполнува, ќе го споредам Јас со благоразумен човек, кој ја изградил својата куќа на камен. И заврна пороен дожд, и надојдоа реки, и дувнаа ветрови и навалија на таа куќа, но таа не се разурна, зашто беше заснована на камен. И секој, кој ги слуша овие Мои зборови, а не ги исполнува, ќе биде спореден со безумен човек, кој ја изградил својата куќа на песок. И завр...

Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany where Lazarus was—the man he had brought back to life. A banquet was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples—the one who would betray him—said, “That perfume  was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples’ funds and often dipped into them for his own use! Jesus replied, “Let her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. You can always help the poor, but I won’t be with you very long.” John 12:1-8 (TLB) Шест дена пред празникот Пасха, Исус се врати во Бетанија. Тоа беше местото каде што живееше Лазар, кого Исус го оживе од мртвите. Таму Му беше приреден...

You probably already know that I believe the most important book on earth is the Bible. I have been reading it daily for more than twenty years; an interesting book can be read maybe up to three times, but how can the Bible be read so frequently without it becoming boring? I never tire of reading the Scriptures because they are the LIVING word of God. Not only is it food for the soul, but also one of the ways through which God speaks to His followers. Therefore when reading, God sometimes turns my attention to a verse or phrase and I think of it for a longer period. This happened to me recently when I was reading in the Old Testament in Exodus about the Law given to the Jews. At that time, the Jews had to celebrate seven feasts annually and in Exodus 23 we read about the instructions for three of the feasts. To this day the Jews celebrate these feasts without knowing that Jesus the Messiah fulfilled the Law and we received a New Covenant (see Hebrews 9). However, I read a sentence c...

Веќе знаете дека најважната книга на земјата за мене е Библијата. Читам од Библијата повеќе од 20 години секој ден - една интересна книга најмногу може да се прочита можеби до 3 пати, а како можам толку пати да ја читам Библијата без да ме стане досадна? Никогаш не ми здосади да го читам Писмото затоа што е Божји ЖИВ збор. Не е само храна за душата туку еден начин на кој Бог зборува со Неговите следбеници. Затоа во читањето Бог ми свртува внимание на некој стих или фраза понекогаш и мислам на тоа подолгу време. Тоа ми се случи неодамна кога читав во Стариот Завет во книгата Излез за Законот даден на Евреите. Тогаш требаше Евреите да слават седум празници секоја година и во Излез 23 читаме за правилата за три од тие празници. До ден денес Евреите ги слават празниците без да знаат дека Исус Месијата го исполни Законот и добиевме Нов Завет (видете во Евреите 9). Но сепак читав една реченица околу Празникот на бесквасен леб што ми се заглави во мислите: Нека никој не истапува пред М...

Last week, I was at home in N.Ireland to help my parents clear out the attic where our belongings had accumulated for several decades. It was a trip down memory lane as I came across school jotters, A-Level files, my beloved Paddington bear, my childhood dolls.... I had kept probably every personal letter I'd ever received, but due to instructions to be ruthless, I allocated them to the 'dispose-of pile' with the exception of one. It happened to be in my own handwriting addressed to my sister when I was a student and the reason I kept it was due to the fact that it contained an excerpt of Spurgeon's commentary on the following verse :   Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness . Isaiah 41:10. Spurgeon writes: Fear of falling is wholesome. To be venturesome is no sign of wisdom. Times come to us when we feel that we must go do...

My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. Proverbs 2: 1-9

The story of God's provision of the manna in Exodus 16 has always captured my imagination. After the triumphal exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt where God miraculously opened up the Red Sea and delivered them from the pursuing Egyptians, the people quickly forgot the power of Yehovah and began to murmur and grumble. Recollections of the savoury lamb stew and furnace-baked bread in Egypt made their mouths salivate in the barren surroundings of the wilderness. In typical human fashion, they had repressed the memories of the harsh conditions under which they had partaken of the ample provisions. They could only think now of how their appetites had been satiated, rather than rejoice they were no longer under the austere oppression of Egyptian slavery. However, their grumbling reached the LORD's ears and He graciously made provision in the desert. The manna, which the LORD faithfully proffered six mornings a week for the next forty years, was a substance never seen befor...

I have been reading through the first few chapters of Exodus in my morning readings concerning the ten plagues poured out on Egypt before the 'Exodus' of the Israelites from the land. Even though I know this story well, it never ceases to surprise me that Pharaoh hardened his heart so many times.  We read that he either 'hardened his heart' or that his 'heart became hard' several times in chapters 7 and 8 before it is stated that 'the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart' in chapter 9. Verse 16 comprises God's message to Pharaoh through Moses:  I have raised you up   for this very purpose, that I might show you My power and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. '  God knew the material He was working with, a man who hardened his heart in the face of miraculous signs and wonders. Many had the same reaction when Jesus healed the sick before their eyes in the New Testament - they refused to believe.  God's sovereign will is perform...

My dear friends, if you are like me, you are watching these tragic events taking place in the world at the moment and thinking how dreadful and sad for the people. Such human suffering! Yesterday 298 souls perished in the Malaysian plane crash in eastern Ukraine. What a tragedy! Every day people die from starvation, murder, persecution, accidents, abortion... The list is endless. However, this morning while I was praying, the thought came to me that it will be a greater tragedy if we die without Jesus ! The Bible has been given to us to warn us of the future judgment in eternity. Hebrews 9:27-28:  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,   so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation .  Many of you think that it is enough to live a peaceful life on earth and when we die, we will see if we have a chance of entering heaven. This is a hu...

Мои сакани пријатели, ако вие сте како мене, ги гледате овие трагични случки што се случуваат во светот моментално и мислите колку е страшно и жалосно за луѓето. Колку мора човештвото да страда! Вчера загинаа 298 души во несреќата на малезискиот авион во источна Украина. Каква трагедија! Секој ден умират луѓе од глад, убиство, прогонување, несреќи, абортус... Списокот нема крај! Но сабајлево дури да се молам ми дојде мислата дека ќе биде поголема трагедија ако умреме без Исус ! Библијата ни е дадена да нѐ предупредува за идниот суд во вечноста. Евреите 9:27-28: 'И како што на човекот му е определено да умре еднаш, а потоа суд, така Христос, откако беше принесен еднаш за да ги земе гревовите на мнозина, ќе се јави вторпат без грев, а спасение на оние кои го очекуваат.' Многу од вас мислите дека е доволно да живееме мирен живот на земјата и кога ќе умреме, ќе видиме дали ќе имаме шанса да влеземе на небо! Ова е голема грешка и лага! Слушајте што вели Библијата за таа тема:  ...