Thought For Today

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 11th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Book of Hebrews 11:1:

”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

And then verse 6:

”But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Faith is to simply believe. You and I try so hard to please God, we try so hard to do things by faith. We must stop that. It is about believing that Christ is for us, that Jesus is not standing against us. Romans 8:31:

”What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Beautiful, we have the majority. 

Faith like potatoes! Listen, I didn’t think that one up. No, I’m not clever enough! There was a Scottish preacher by the name of Peter Marshall. He was the chaplain to the US Senate. He said, ”You must have simple faith - faith you can touch, faith you can see, faith that you can feel - faith like potatoes.” That cliché has been amazing in my own life. 

He has done it all. We do not need to do anything. All we have to do is receive the finished work of Christ on the cross. How many times, many of you listening to this message now have been with me where we’ve prayed and asked God to bring rain, and He’s brought the rain and filled the dams to overflowing. How, at big open air events, we’ve asked the Lord to hold the rain back and it’s rained right around the meeting, all the way around but it never rained on the meeting. 

What we need to do is to believe that He can do it. How do we get faith? Well, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and you’ll find that in Romans 10:17.

Today, go out and simply believe that Christ is for you and He’s for me.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Monday morning, the 10th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan with a thought for the day.

We go to the Gospel of Matthew 19:27:

“Then Peter answered and said to Him, (that’s Jesus) “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 

Well, Peter always got to the point, didn’t he? Then we go down a little further to verse 29, and Jesus replies, “(and you) shall receive a hundred-fold and inherit eternal life.” That’s the reward! 

Jesus is a giver, He is not a taker. He doesn’t need anything from you or from me but what He does want is our complete love and obedience. That’s what He requires, what the disciples gave to the Lord. To prove that our Lord is a giver and not a taker, look at John 15:13, Jesus says:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” 

It’s the greatest thing that you can give anybody. You know, my brother’s wife, who I respect a lot, gave one of her kidneys to her brother so that he might live. Folks, that is what we call giving. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a giver, He is not a taker! I remember a story about a former drunkard, and after a few months, his friends would tease him and say, “This stopping drinking, not going to the pub with all of us, what has that actually benefited you? You don’t seem to have changed at all.” And he smiled and said, “Oh yes, I have changed a lot.” They said, “Well, in what way have you changed?” “Aah”, he said, “I now have furniture in my house.” He said, “On a Friday night, I bring my pay cheque home to my wife, I give it to her and she can feed my little darlings. Oh yes, things have changed for me.”

Folks, I want to say to you today, you can never out-give Jesus Christ. I am a personal testimony of that. He has changed my life completely and is still busy doing it - from making me a selfish, self-centred man, hopefully to a loving man who loves his family and his fellowman. Today remember, you cannot out-give the Lord. Give it all to Him and He will give it back to you a hundred-fold. 

Jesus bless you and goodbye. 

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 9th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to the Book of Romans 8:28:

”And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Folks, all things. There’s a greater purpose for our lives and often we don’t realise it. You know, I just think of Joseph, the man with the coat of many colours. Yes, he was betrayed by his brothers, sent into slavery, and forgotten in the dungeon, but right through that time, the Lord was preparing him to be the second most powerful man on earth. Pharaoh was regarded as the most powerful man on earth and he made Joseph his Prime Minister but he had to go through that disastrous time.

What about Moses, some say the greatest leader that has ever lived? I’m not talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. An incredible man who could take a nation through a wilderness for forty years, but what happened? He slipped up. He lost his temper. He killed a slave-driver and as a result had to flee for his life. He was an adopted son of Pharaoh, he could have even become Pharaoh, but God had a greater purpose for his life and he saved His people.

What about you today, where are you today? I’m talking to a young man, or a young woman who has maybe just failed university and you say to yourself, ”Lord, have You forgotten me. Have You forsaken me?” No, no, God’s got another plan for your life. You’ll see, maybe not immediately but you’ll see later. Maybe I’m talking to a farmer who has just gone bankrupt and he was so big and so successful and he cannot understand why. Maybe God took the farm away from you in order to save your family because you were spending no time at home and you were losing your family. Now all of a sudden your family has become the most precious thing that you have.

We don’t know what God’s purposes are but one thing we do know is at the end of the day, it always works out for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.

So what must you do? You must carry on with where you are at, and God will turn it around for you. He’s done it for me.

Jesus bless you and goodbye

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 8th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for the day.

We go to the Gospel of Mark 8:36:

“For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul?”

I want to say something to you today. You can take that scripture and say, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his family? - Because that is his life, isn’t it? We must start at home base. 

John Wesley, the great revivalist, found that out. He went all the way to America to preach the Gospel to the First Nations people and he came all the way back home again, totally dejected. He never led one to Christ. But what happened? You see, he was looking in the wrong place. The revival must start in your own life and in your own home. In a little Bible study in London, in a place called Aldergate, he wrote: “A strange warmth came over my heart, the scales fell from my eyes.” I believe he met Jesus Christ in that little Bible study in a very personal way.

Remember charity is another word for love, charity begins at home. Some men and women want to save the whole world at the price of their very own marriages and their very own families. Be very careful folks, your enthusiasm, your excitement, your determination, can sometimes cost very dearly at home. Remember the order: First God, second your wife or your husband, thirdly your children, then your community and then your country, in that order. Remember, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and then the outer ends of the earth. Many of us are getting it the wrong way around. 

Now, I looked up the Oxford Dictionary to define the word “revival”. Well, it means restoration. Maybe that is going to start at home before we start telling others how to live. Resurrection - maybe you are feeling down and flat and you think by going out to the ends of the earth you will find it. No, it starts at home. Make strong again, bring back consciousness, a people saturated with God. That is what Wesley said revival was, but it has got to begin at home. Let’s roll up our sleeves, sort out our differences, love our families and then God will do the rest. 

Jesus bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 7th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go straight to the Gospel of Mark 10:22:

”But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

You cannot bargain with God. You know, I looked up the dictionary - the definition of the word “bargain” is a cheap buy. It’s a giveaway; that’s what a bargain is. You cannot bargain with Jesus. You see, the rich young ruler did all the right things. Oh yes. He tithed, he went to church on Sundays, he was a good family man, but Jesus Christ was not first in his life.

Now, the Lord is not particularly talking about money here today, gentlemen and ladies. No, He’s talking about anything in your life, anything in my life, that we put before Him, is not acceptable. Why? Because He died for you and for me. The least we can give Him is first place in our lives. Don’t you agree? You know, I’ve often wondered about the Lord standing there with the young man walking away. Where was he walking? He was on his way to hell. That’s right, and the tears must have been running down the face of the Saviour because He loves all men. 

He didn’t say, ”Listen, let’s strike a bargain. I tell you what. You give half of your goods away and we’ll negotiate the other half.” No, no, it was all or nothing, black or white. There’s no grey area in the Kingdom of God. You and I need to understand something very clearly today. If there is anything in our lives that is more important than Jesus Christ, then we have to surrender it.

Do you remember that beautiful chorus? I’m going to try and sing it with you:

Seek ye first the kingdom of God 
And His righteousness; 
And all these things shall be added unto you, 
Halleluja, Halleluja

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33.

Jesus doesn’t want to take your family away from you, sir. Jesus doesn’t want to take your career away from you, your expectations, not at all. In fact, He wants to give them to you and more, but now and again He’ll test you.

“Do you really love me?”

“ Yes Lord.”

“ Well, give Me that thing.”

“ But Lord…”

“ Give it to Me.”

You give it to Him and what does He do? He gives it back. He doesn’t need your money, He doesn’t need your ability, He’s got it all. He said one word and this whole universe came into being. Today, make Him first in your life, and you’ll be surprised by what happens. 

Jesus bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 6th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Book of Joel 3:14:

”Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”

It’s decision time, my dear friend. No more wasting time. The harvest is ripe ready and ready for reaping. We go to Romans 8:19:

”For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”

The world is standing on tiptoes, waiting for you and me, the children of God, to tell them about eternity. You know, I’ve written a book, a devotional, that came out early this year. It’s called “Living for Eternity”. The Lord laid on my heart about the urgency of the times in which we are living. Now I’m a farmer. I am familiar with seasons. There have been seasons in the past where it hasn’t been right to reap the crop. Never reap a crop that’s green because it will spoil. Wait for it until the harvest is golden and then reap it. You might say, ”Well, I’m not an evangelist.” You don’t have to be an evangelist. I want to tell you some of the biggest multitudes and congregations, are found in the workplace. That’s right - farmers praying and reading scriptures with their workers before they start work. Men going down underground in the mine, while they’re waiting for the cages, can preach the Gospel. What about an assembly at school? What an opportunity to tell them that it is time to turn to the Lord. I get invited to go to hospitals sometimes to pray for a sick man. I’ve been into a hospital room where there are four beds and when I’m finished praying for that man and he’s weeping and we’re believing for a miracle, as I walk out the other three say, “Please, we also need prayer.” Some of them are Muslims, some of them are Hindus, some of them are atheists. It’s the time for people to be saved.

What about that old age home? Those are the people actually, that we should be speaking to more than anybody else because their time to meet their Lord is getting very close. The sports fields, what an opportunity! I just love it when I see young men running onto that rugby field and before they start, they fall to their knees and they pray and God undertakes. What about an auction yard. Oh yes, you laugh, I’ve been to auction yards where they’ve asked me to open in prayer and do a Scripture reading before they start selling their cattle and animals.

Today, let’s be aware that all creation is waiting for you and me to tell them about the coming of the Lord and that they must be saved.

Jesus bless you and goodbye. 

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 5th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to 1 Corinthians 11:23-26:

”For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

Holy Communion -  It is the most sacred of all Christian events. Jesus said to His disciples, ”Do it often.” It was the last supper that He had on earth before He went to the cross the very next day. I want to suggest to you that you do it at home with your family, that you do it at work with your people, that you do it when you’re on the road. A very dear spiritual son of mine sent me a gift. It is a portable communion set, that’s right, I can take it with me when I travel, wherever. I can break bread when I’m in the aeroplane, when I’m in a car, when I’m sitting in a room on my own in a hotel. Do it as often as you can. I also want to suggest to moms and dads that it’s a good habit to get into. Aunty Jill and I break bread often and normally at breakfast time because that’s the time when we sit together without any interruption from anywhere else. You know, you can’t partake of Holy Communion if you are not talking to each other. No, you’ve got to make up. You’ve got to settle your differences. You see, Holy Communion is a very, very special thing.

Smith Wigglesworth, that Yorkshire plumber, has been documented that he prayed for something like twelve or thirteen people that had died and were raised from the dead, and that man used to break bread continually, especially before he would go and do a special work for the Lord. We need to break bread and we need to do it with our families, maybe in the evening, and dad you can do it, you’re the head of your house. If dad’s not there, mom you can do it. Teenagers, you can do it. It’s not specifically dedicated to one person at all. He doesn’t speak about only the priests. No, He says that we must do it, you and I, so let’s start doing it regularly. It’s a good habit to get into.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 4th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Book of Joel 3:10:

”…Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ”

Then we go straight to Philippians 4:13:

”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

All things, but you see, these things are not for self-gain. No, no, they are for the benefit of others. Many years ago, I used to do powerlifting as a sport and I went to the Zambian National Championships. I was in the Light Heavyweight Division, and you won’t believe it - I came second. Yes, I got the silver medal, but don’t tell anybody else, there were only two of us in my division! But jokes aside, God says we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.

I want to tell you about a man by the name of Paul Anderson. He has since gone to be with the Lord. He was undoubtedly the most powerful man in the world at that time. It is recorded that he lifted, listen to this, 2,850 kilos. Now, if you’re familiar with pounds, that is 6,270 pounds. Incredible, a dead lift, but you know the important thing was is that he used all that strength and fame to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and take care of young people. You see, he used it for the glory of God.

Big George Foreman is probably the biggest in size, heavyweight champion in the history of the world. He lost his title but he got it back. He’s recorded as being the oldest heavyweight boxing champion in the world. I think he was over 40 years old, but the good news is that he used it all for the glory of God. He’s got a gym going. He takes care of young street kids. He’s got a church, and he’s a preacher of the gospel. He’s unashamed of the Lord.

Today, use that strength that God has given you, maybe it’s in business, maybe you’re an artist. Use it for the glory of God.

Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, and enjoy your day,
Goodbye

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Monday morning, the 3rd of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Book of Joel 2:32:

”And it shall come to pass 
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord 
Shall be saved.” 

You will find the exact same scripture in Romans 10:13. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord - what a wonderful statement!  What hope there is in that statement - whoever! Whoever means whoever, anyone, any person that will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. It doesn’t matter what religion he is part of; it doesn’t matter what his background is; it doesn’t matter what he’s done; it doesn’t matter what he hasn’t done; it doesn’t matter whether he’s black or white; he will be saved. That’s what the Bible says. I believe in the Holy Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation. It is the Word of God, written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and this Book tells me that whoever calls upon His name shall be saved.

I want to say to you today that Jesus Christ died for all mankind, and we need to understand that. He died for Jews; He died for Arabs; He died for Gentiles; He died for old people; He died for young people; He died for children and He died for old-age pensioners; He died for men and He died for women and He died for you. What you need to do is to call upon His name. 

I want to pray for you today because maybe you’ve never done that and this is maybe the day you need to do it, folks. You say, “Oh, but I’ve done that before. It doesn’t work for me.” But you didn’t mean it. Maybe you’ve been side-tracked, maybe the devil has led you down a cul-de-sac. It’s never too late to call upon the name of the Lord. Ask the thief on the cross. He called upon the name of the Lord literally minutes before he died and Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”  Why? Because he was a good man? No, because he believed. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Father, 

I pray for my dear friends. I pray for that man, that woman, who thinks that there is no hope for them. Lord, let them call upon Your name and be saved, and Lord, set free, and have the opportunity of living a brand new life, not because of us but because of You,

In Jesus name, 
amen.

God bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 2nd of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go straight to the Gospel of Mark 9:50. Jesus says:

”Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavour, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

The Lord says we have got to be salty. We have to be people who are making an impact in a world that has no more life in it. They tell me there are certain parts of the world, up in North Africa, where salt is almost worth more than gold. You see, you can’t live without salt just like you can’t live without water, and I want to say to you, we need to be salty today. There’s no good being bland and tasteless. We’ve got no excuse. If Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour we should be extremely salty because people need to know that there’s hope in God.

With my Scottish roots, my mother and father both born and bred in Scotland, the national dish is porridge. That’s what I was brought up on, but I want to tell you something about porridge, if there is no salt in that porridge, you cannot eat it. It is absolutely tasteless. We really need to be salty because if the salt loses its flavour, it’s got nothing and is of no value to anyone.

I want to say to you, we need to make a difference wherever we are going. Spend time each day with God. He will make you salty. He’ll give you a reason to get up in the morning. He’ll give you a reason to tell people, “Yes there is hope and He’s coming very soon”. And I want to tell you wherever Jesus went He was extremely salty, wasn’t He? Wherever the Lord went, it was either a revival or it was riot, but I tell you what, He made an impact and He’s telling us, you and I, to do the same thing.

We need to make that difference. Let’s be salty today! 
Jesus bless you and goodbye.