Thought For Today

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 5th of October, 2024 and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

We start in the Book of Ecclesiastes 12:13:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”

Very simple, very profound, spoken by the wisest man that has ever lived, next to Jesus Christ, of course. Then I looked this Scripture up in the Amplified Version, this is what it says:

”When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.” 

The only thing in this life that matters at the end of the day, spoken by a man who had every worldly possession that money could buy, he says, in the same book, in Ecclesiastes 2:26:

“This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.” 

That is what it is like when you are trying to do something, trying to make yourself something. You are wasting your time. Fear God, do what He tells you to do. Keep His commandments, for this is the most important thing in life. I heard a young girl, the other day, describing it like this: “Solomon was like a modern rockstar.” He had everything that money could buy. He made Bill Gates look like a poor man, like a pauper but you see, the Bible says in Mark 8:36:

“For what will it profit a man (or a woman) if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” 

Solomon says it is like grasping for the wind. So what is the conclusion for you and me? Number one: Fear God - that means don’t be afraid of Him but you must treat Him with reverence and respect, and most of all, love. Number 2: Keep His commandments. It’s not for God’s sake, it is for your sake and my sake. That is why He wrote them, and then Number 3: This is the ultimate purpose of every man on earth - to worship God, to love Him, to have fellowship with Him, because everything else is going to burn up, everything. So let’s do it God’s way and we will succeed and we will accomplish, and we will be people of significance.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 4th of October, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

Colossians 1:27:
” …Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Our Lord is not a fire escape, something built on the outside of the building, just in case a fire begins in the building. No - It is Christ inside us. That is our security! Now Phillips Brooks put it so beautifully. I want to read it to you: 

”Religion is not the simple fire escape that you build upon the outside of your dwelling in anticipation of a possible danger and leave there until danger comes. No, no, no, no! You go to it some morning when a fire breaks out in your house and the poor old fire escape that you built up there and thought that you could use someday, is so rusty and broken, and the weather had so beaten upon it, and the sun so turned it’s hinges, that it will not work. That is the condition of a man who has built himself what seems a creed of faith, a trust in God in anticipation of the day when the danger is to overtake him and he has said to himself, ”I am safe for I will take refuge in it then.” But religion is the house in which we live; it is the table at which we sit; it is the fireside at which we draw near; the room that arches it’s graceful and familiar presence over us; it is the bed on which we lie and think of the past, anticipate the future, and gather our refreshment.” 

The fire escape is actually on the inside, it’s not on the outside.

Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, 
Goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 3rd of October, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

We start in the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-22:

”Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” 

Wow, the one who hurts us, we have to forgive him. The one who offended us, we have to forgive him. The one who sins against us, we have to forgive. I can hear somebody saying to me right now, ”I can’t do it.” You can and you must. “Why?” you ask. Well, because Jesus did it for you and I.

In the Gospel of Luke 23:34, the Lord Jesus when He was dying on the cross of Calvary He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” We never condone the sin - but we forgive the one who has sinned against us. Some of us might be saying, ”But it’s not fair! Where is the justice in all of this?” Well, on the great day of judgement, our Heavenly Father will deal with it. Justice will be carried out, that is a fact. That’s why the Lord says to you and I, we must pray for our enemies, because every single person will have to give an account of their lives when they go to Heaven. 

When we forgive, it actually benefits us - really, it frees us up. It’s like a 50 kg bag of cement that we’ve been carrying on our backs for years. We lay it down at the cross. We say, ”Lord. I forgive that person for what they did to me.” Maybe it’s adultery, maybe it’s theft, maybe it’s bad using of your name, your reputation. Today, forgive them for what they’ve done to you and move on with your life. You know, some of those people are not even aware that they have offended you or hurt you. Forgive them. I want to pray for you and I want to pray for myself as well. 

Heavenly Father, 

This is a tall order that you’ve asked us today, seventy times seven. We can’t do it Lord, in our own strength, that’s the honest truth, but today we come to the altar and we lay down that offence, that sin that someone has done against us. We lay it down at the altar because we can’t do it Lord and we ask you to take care of it please. You forgave us Lord, give us the strength to forgive others. 

In Jesus name. 
Amen

God bless you and have a wonderful day.
Goodbye

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 2nd of October, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Book of Proverbs 27:17:

”As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” 

We need each other folks. We need each other - there is no way we can do it on our own. Matthew 18:20, Jesus said:

”For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Beautiful encouragement!  Psalm 133, the Lord says where the brethren dwell together in unity, God commands a blessing. Now the family that prays together, stays together and it’s not always easy is it? I know it. Sometimes the children don’t want to pray, they’ve had an argument, they’re not talking to each other. They must pray. It’s a time of getting us together. We pray in the morning, Jill and I, before we get out of bed. We pray for our family. We must pray together. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9 says:

”Two are better than one…”

Verse 10 says if the one falls into a hole, the other one can pull him out - especially when it’s decision making. In our house, I’m the accelerator and Jill is the handbrake. Oh folks, I don’t know how many times I would have got into a massive hole. If that wife of mine says, ”Just hang on a minute, Angus, let’s just pray about this thing that you want to do,” there are no one-man shows here at Shalom. We are a team, we work as team and when we work as a team, then we are effective. 

When you look at sport, whether it be rugby or football or hockey, you’ll find that the team that always wins the match is not full of superstars, no, just good solid players that when they work together, they’ll beat any team full of individuals. Why did Jesus send out the disciples two by two? For that same reason, so that we can look after each other and protect each other.

Today remember, we need each other, let’s spend time together.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 1st of October, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

We start in the Book of Genesis 18:17:

“And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,…?” 

Abraham spent a lot of time with the Lord. The Lord was about to obliterate Sodom and Gomorrah off the face of the earth, but first He warned His servant, Abraham, about what was to happen because Abraham spent time in communion with the Lord. We need to spend time with God if we want to hear His still small voice speaking to us. 

I read a beautiful little quotation from an anonymous writer who said, “Abraham in communion with God knew long before Lot in Sodom, of the destruction of that city. Oh for more communion, spent time with the Lord.” If we look at the Book of Acts 9:25:

“Then the disciples took him (that is Paul, the Apostle) by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.”

When God is directing our operations, we are safe. The Jews were trying to kill Paul and so the disciples let him out of the city in a basket which they lowered down from the city wall. God always makes a way out for those who know Him. One of my favourite scriptures is Daniel 11:32:

”…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”

Many years ago, I was preaching in a large stadium in Kwazulu-Natal. I made an outrageous statement. The farmers had been warned, especially the marginal farmers - “Don’t plant your crops because it is not going to rain, el Nino is on its way.” I was so angry that day on that platform, I said, “To hell with el Nino.” I wasn’t swearing, I actually meant it. “I am going back to the farm to plant potatoes!” Now, I didn’t do it because I wanted to be a hero. I did it because God wanted me to make that statement to encourage the poor people to have faith and plant their crops, otherwise they were going to eat nothing. And the rest, of course, we know, is history. God gave me a crop of potatoes out of dry land with no irrigation.

Today, trust Jesus and He will show you what to do. 
God bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Monday morning, the 30th of September, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to the Gospel of Matthew 18:15:

”Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” 

Settle your differences for God’s sake. I am not swearing, I mean it - for God’s sake and for your own peace of mind. Many years ago, when I was a brand new Christian, I had an altercation with our minister. I really did. It was a disagreement, a small thing, but we didn’t settle it. One day in the church, he decided to have a day of prayer. It was a midweek day and he said you can come into the church anytime you like and pray to the Lord. I was going into town from the farm to collect spares. I was in my farm clothes and I thought I would pop into the church and just have a few minutes of prayer with the Lord. As I walked into the church, there was no-one there. I got down and knelt at the altar to pray and I felt that there was somebody there. I looked to the right hand side, there was the minister, sitting in the corner, he was also praying. God had organised something and I realised, I couldn’t pray until I had asked forgiveness and made up with him. As I stood up he stood up. We walked together, put our arms around each other and started to weep. We didn’t say much, just wept. You know after that time we became firm friends till the day he died. I officiated at his funeral. Settle your differences!

You know it’s like when you’re running a marathon and you’ve got a little stone caught in your running shoe. It is very irritating and aggravating. Stop, take the stone out and carry on running your race and you will finish it. Do you remember that old song, that beautiful hymn, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, when you do that then the things of the world become strangely dim. Let’s sing it together.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of the earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Have a beautiful day today. Settle that difference!

Jesus bless you, 
Goodbye

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 29th of September, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Book of Philippians 4:19:

”And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Isn’t that a beautiful promise for you and I this morning? He will supply all of our needs, not our wants - a big difference, but our needs. Then we go to the Gospel of Matthew 17:27. Jesus says:

”Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea…, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” 

The temple tax - isn’t that incredible? The sea of Galilee - “Go and cast your line. The first fish you catch, open his mouth and out will come enough money to pay the temple tax.” Our God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus our Lord. I want to tell you that He is a miracle-working God. I know that you know that, but I’m reminding you today. You’re probably sitting down and thinking, ”Now what am I going to do”, How am I going to make ends meet? The end of the month is coming and I’ve got accounts and I don’t have the money.” We need to pray, we really do, and we need to ask the Lord to give us godly wisdom and counsel and then of course, we need faith to believe for the impossible. We always say at Shalom, the coin is in the fish’s mouth.

Now, when we are doing the thing which God has called us to - whether it’s preaching the Gospel; whether it’s growing food; whether it’s working in the Roads Department; whether you’re a pilot in an aeroplane; whether you’re a school teacher; a nurse in a hospital, if you are doing the work which God has called you to, then He will supply all of your needs. That’s always happened to us, every single time. We endeavour to have a big campaign and we’ve got no money, and we don’t send out newsletters asking for money. We trust the Lord. The amazing thing is, every time we start, the money starts coming in and funnily enough, when we stop, the money stops. Just enough for the work!

Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day and put your trust in Him because the coin is in the fish's mouth! 

Jesus bless you and Goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 28th of September, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to 1 Chronicles 4:23:

“These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.”

Are you feeling like you are no use to anyone? Are you feeling today like you are of no benefit to anyone, ever felt like that? “Lord, what am I doing here? I’m just a simple…” whatever it is. Well, these were potters and they dwelt in hedgerows and they dwelt in the roadways, but they were working for the king. They were doing his work.

Now, I want to read something to you that was written by a very, very famous lady by the name of Frances Ridley Havergal. She was an author, an English poet and a hymn writer. She only lived until 42 years old. She wrote beautiful hymns like, “Take my life and let it be,“ and many, many others, and this is what she wrote, and I want to read it to you because it is very special - specially if you are feeling today that you are worthless, or if you feel that you are of no benefit to the Lord, the King of kings. This is what it says:

”Anywhere and everywhere we may dwell with the King for His work. We may be in a very unlikely or unfavourable place for this.” 

Maybe you’re working in a workshop, maybe you’re in the mines, maybe you’re on the farm, and you feel you are of no use. Listen to this:

”It may be in a country life with little enough to be seen of the goings of the King around us.” 

Folks, He sees everything.

"It may be among hedges of all sorts, hinderances in all directions. It may be furthermore, with our hands full of all manner of pottery for our daily task."

Yes, maybe you’ve got dirty hands; maybe you’re a motor mechanic; yes, maybe you’re a fitter and turner, so your hands are full. She says,

“No matter. The King who placed us there will come and dwell there with us. The hedges are alright or He would soon do away with them and it does not follow that what seems to hinder our way may not be for it’s very protection.”

God puts you there for a reason. He puts things around you. You think it’s a hindrance. No, it’s not a hindrance; it’s a protection.  Listen to what she says here,

”and as for the pottery, why, this is what He has seen fit to put in our hands and therefore it is for the present, His work.”

Let’s do His work today with everything thing that we have in us. 
Jesus bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 27th of September, 2024 and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Gospel of Matthew 18:1-4:

”At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven…”

Wow - childlike faith. Imagination, being able to dream! I’ve got two little grandchildren, one’s name is William, and his cousin’s name is Rebecca. William gets on his little bicycle and he rides over to see Rebecca. Rebecca stays in a little house close to us, and William is just over the road. Then they ask Gogo, that’s the Zulu name for granny, if they can make a tea party, and Gogo says “Of course”. So they set out sweets. They’ve got Coca-Cola. They have got every sweet thing you can think of, and then they invite Khulu, that’s me, to come and join them. You talk about a sugar rush! We are eating biscuits, drinking Coca-Cola, eating jelly babies, and it’s all make-believe, and they’re giving us food and drink. But do you know something? When I sit there it brings a tear to my eye. It is so refreshing to see their little imaginations going. They have got a little tea-set. They’ve got to pour the Coca-Cola into the little cups and then you’ve got to drink it and not laugh, you’ve got to be very serious! They are so generous, they keep giving you refills. They are so loving and so innocent but you know folks, they’ve got an imagination. 

Now, just in case we look down on little children, Jesus says, unless we become like them, we’ll never see the Kingdom of Heaven. Have you ever heard of a man by the name of C S Lewis? Of course you have, probably the most famous contemporary Christian writer of all time, but you know C S Lewis wrote a book called, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He wrote another book called, Narnia. Now, unless you’ve got an imagination like my little grandchildren, you’ll never be able to understand that story, and yet it is a best seller. They’ve made movies about those two books, not to mention all the other books. He wasn’t childish. He was an Oxford professor and a Cambridge professor in the English language.

I want to tell you today, let’s keep it simple. Let’s be not childish but let’s be childlike.

Jesus bless you and have a good day.
Goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 26th of September, 2024 and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in 2 Peter 3:4:

“Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Then we go to verse 8. Peter said:

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 

Maybe there are people that you know who tend to mock you a little bit and say: “This Jesus you are always talking about, when is He coming back because the Bible has been telling us for 2000 years that He is going to come like a thief in the night? But we have just heard from the word of God that for the Lord, a thousand years is as one day. So what is the reason then for His postponement? Why is He taking so long to come back? Well, it is a very simple answer - because our beloved Jesus, who loves you so much and loves your family and your loved ones, does not want one person to perish, to go to a lost eternity but He wants all to be saved. You can read that if you go down a little bit further to verse 9. The Lord says that He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. And that is the reason why believers are prepared to risk their lives if necessary, in order to see men and women meet with the Lord.

I want to tell you something, and I am maybe going to get a bit emotional, please forgive me, but I am so proud of one of my grandsons. He is going with a team that is being led by one of my spiritual sons, and they are going to be walking up to 20 kilometres a day on narrow, mountain paths. Their sole purpose is to introduce lost souls to Jesus, so that none may perish. 

I want to say to you today, my dear friend, you and I, we need to look sharp. There are people that unless they are born again and are following Jesus, they are destined to die and go to a lost eternity, and that is why these young people are prepared to take time out, to take money out of their own pockets, pay their own airfares, put rucksacks on and walk for miles in order for one soul to come to Christ. Please pray for them.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.