I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 26th of September, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to the Gospel of Matthew 27:32:

”Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.” 

Simon of Cyrene came from Africa. He was an African, just like me, but he wasn’t born in Southern Africa, he was born in North Africa. He came from Libya. Simon of Cyrene, just minding his own business, just walking in the streets of Jerusalem and all of a sudden the Roman soldiers got hold of him and said, ”You will carry this man’s cross to Golgotha.”

I want to say to you today, we need to always be ready for whatever God allows to happen to us. What an honour to be able to carry the cross of the Son of God! Irrespective of whether Simon knew it at the time or not, is not the point. He was selected, and he was ready, and he did it. I was told as a young preacher, “Always have a sermon in your top pocket”. We need to be ready in season, and out of season. No good saying, “No, I can’t do it now.” We have to be ready. We are living in perilous times.

I want to tell you a light-hearted story. Many, many years ago, my wife and I were invited to a wedding. We got there late and we just sneaked in the back of the service, and we found two seats right in the back row and we sat there quietly minding our own business, we didn’t want to disturb anything. All of a sudden one of the ushers spotted us, walked up to us and said, ”You need to come to the front, the groom and his party are expecting you.” 

They took us all the way down the aisle, right across the front row, and we were seated right next to the bridal family. I didn’t know what to expect. The service was beautiful. They said their marriage vows, they were proclaimed man and wife and then the MC, the master of ceremonies said, ”We are now going to hear the message, the word of God. Can I please ask Angus Buchan to come to the front and to preach the sermon?” My wife looked at me as if I’d had something to do with it. I looked at her and I said, ”I’ve never heard of this.” Well, I was ready, always ready in season, but what a challenge! I had to get up, congratulate them and then preach my heart out for half an hour. 

Always be ready. Simon of Cyrene was ready to carry the cross of the King of Glory. 

Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, 
Goodbye.