Labour for the Lord is not in Vain!

I have read 1 Cor 15 many times and I have heard it preached several. Yet never have I thought about how Paul applies the great news of Christ's Resurrection and our bodily one. I have often missed the point of the passage. I have been more concerned with thinking over the Resurrection body or what indeed the last day may appear like. How foolish!

Paul states because Christ has been raised, we have a message to preach and faith in God is real and a tangeable reality. So therefore he says v31 "I die daily..." for the work of the Lord and then concluding the whole passage he states in v58 " therefore let nothing move you, always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour is not in vain."

The good doctrine which Paul teaches, leads in to follow and serve God with a wonderful freedom and vision.

Paul brings us back to the reality of the resurrection of Christ and then explains, that to work and labour and expend yourself because of that reality.

I think often the temptation for Christians can be to give up and doubt this message and be blown by many new theories and ideas. But no reality can be found anywhere else but in Christ and no humble service (no matter what it is) for him will be futile or wasted.

How therefore in every area of our lives must we seek to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. For it is not in vain! For then he will say as he does in Matthew 25.21 " Well done my Good and faithful servant."

How this truth may stop us from realising this earthly life is all there is and propel us from our idle ways into heartfelt continual service for our Resurrected Lord!

Dr John Paton

One of my Christian heroes is Dr John G Paton. He lived between 1824 - 1897. He was a pioneering Missionary to the New Hebrides. These are islands which lie just South of the Solomon Islands, (basically just of the north west of Australia). At the time of his arrival they we inhabited by cannibals... not so when he left though...

Infact a wee click here will show you all about the islands today and the rich long and christian heritage it enjoys. Just look at the countries motto!
It has been my great privilege to re-read his autobiography to my wife.

Here is a great excert which has made me think about the necessity of living truly as a converted man, which Jesus Christ inside me.

"When I have read or heard the shallow objections of irreligious scribblers and talkers, hinting that there was no reality in conversions, and that the mission effort was but waste, oh, how my heart has yearned to plant them just one week on Tanna, with the "natural" man all around in the person of the cannibal and heathen, and the only one "spiritual" man in the person of the converted Abraham, nursing them, feeding them, saving them, "for the love of Jesus" - that I might just learn how many hours it took to convince them that Christ in man was a reality at all! All its doubts would dissolve under one glance of the new light that Jesus, and Jesus alone, pours from the converted Cannibal's eye".

If you want buy this awesome book go here, and if you want to listen to John Piper give a biography of the man listen here.

It is a thrilling, emotional, challenging, beautiful read which will undoubtedly change your perspective to love, and honour and declare Christ better.

I am the Resurrection and the Life

The Resurrection of our Lord - Is one of the founding doctrines of the Christian faith. Without Christ's resurrection we are still in our sins and a people greatly to be pitied. (1 Cor 15;17).

I have been reading Josh McDowell's research on the authenticity of the resurrection. Read it here.

For Christians the resurrection is of course not a intellectual event to engage with, but a delight to explore and Praise. Here is Sinclair Ferguson's sermon on the resurrection of Lazarus.

"I am the resurrection and the Life. John 11:25"

The God Who Suffers

Good Friday

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Mr Robert McCheyne

Despite being Scottish and proud of it, I have been struck since the start of the year as to how little I know of my countries History and Christian heritage. In January I read a entitled " Scotland's Christian Hertiage". It was an excellent account of the great men who God has used to form and shape Scotland for the Lord.
Since then, I have been dipping into and reading some more of these great men. I have read a couple of papers written by Thomas Chambers but just last week I was delighted to pay the princely sum of 50p for a Biography of McCheyne by his excellent good friend Andrew Bonar. I am to date just over half way. But reading of this young man has done much to engage and prepare my mind for Christian service.
The sad death of his brother seemed to galvanise him for the Lord and redeem the time God has afforded him.
Here are a few of my favourite quotes for you to chew over.

"How apt we are to loose our hours in the vainest babblings of the world!"

Bonar comments "During his first years in Dundee, he often rode out to the ruined church of Invergowrie, to enjoy a perfect hours solitude; for he felt meditation and prayer to be the very sinews of his work....he had a systematic pursit of personal holiness."
In 1838 McCheyne travels to Israel to recover his health and see the Holyland. Whilst there he notes in his journal " It is a remarkable feeling to be alone in the desert; it brings God near."

He was a great humble man, who has lived so it would seem, two lives, one shut in with the Lord, praying and reading and one lived in public serving his Master. Truely here was a man, who was so attentive to God, he was used so effectively by Him.

Wilberforce

Yesterday I was reliably informed that it was 200 years ago since William Wilberforce championed the cause of slaves, and Slavery was abolished in Britain.

What a great man he must have been to fight for the rights of those who couldn't speak for themselves.

Indeed, it was his strong Christian faith and belief in Gods Word which surely was the bedrock and foundation of all that he did for the plight of slaves and the country of Great Britian .

Which books are worth reading on Wilberforce? Does anyone know? Help!!

To mark this excellent anniversary, there is a movie out called "Amazing Grace" retelling this very story. Check out their website for the trailer, resources for youth groups and classrooms.

Remarkable then that 200 years later, Parliament have been busy passing legislation to limit the freedom of Christians and our beliefs!

Latest from the Vidiprinter

Scotland 2 Georgia 1


Israel 0 England 0

log onto
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/default.stm

to see a frustrated McClaren and a delighted McLeish!!

Having married an English lass, this is my only opportunity to gloat!