I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 23rd of June, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the book of Romans 12:12:

”…rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer:...”

Wow, what a beautiful scripture! I looked up the Amplified version of the same scripture, Romans 12:12:

” …constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],”

Wow! Are you feeling a bit down today, or you just don’t seem to be able to get it right? Are you feeling like you keep dropping the ball? Are you feeling, “Lord I’m not growing in Christ.” Well, I want to tell you something, through that scripture, the Lord has said to us that our Christian walk is an ongoing state, it’s not a one-off state of mind.  No, we are working at it all the way until we get home. It’s making an effort, and the easiest way is to spend more time with Jesus, because the people you spend time with are the people that you become like.

I remember meeting a man, as a new Christian. This man was one of the strongest men I’ve ever seen. When you shook his hand, his hand enveloped your whole hand and what a kind man, but you see, he was in a wheelchair because he’d had an accident on the farm, one of the most even-tempered, godly men I’ve ever met. What an encouragement, I always liked to spend time with him. 

The other night I was listening to an interview on TV by Bill Gaither, he was interviewing a pianist by the name of Gordon Mote, and he said that they were all sitting at a roadhouse having a meal, the whole band, they were on their way to some event. They parked the Combi outside and when they’d finished their food, they all stood up and they walked outside and jumped into the combi. When they got into the combi, this makes me want to cry, they looked around to find out where Gordon was. Where was the pianist? He was still sitting in his place in the diner. You see, Gordon is blind, he can’t see. He was patiently waiting for somebody to take him out to the combi, and when Bill Gaither told that story there were tears in his eyes. 

Maybe today you’re feeling a bit overlooked. Well, how do you think David felt? Seven brothers all lining up to see if they are going to be the next king of Israel and Samuel the prophet said. ”No, it’s none of these, don’t you have any other sons, Jesse?” 

“Ja, Ja I’ve got one more, he’s looking after the sheep.”

“Call him.”

And he was anointed as the greatest king Israel has ever had next to Jesus. I want to say to you today, stop being irritable. Irritable means easily annoyed, angered, or bad tempered, grumpy. Don’t be like that. Jesus sees everything, He saw blind Bartimaeus, He saw the little man, Zacchaeus, up a tree, He saw the women at the well, and He sees you today. 

Jesus bless you and goodbye.