‘Surprises in the kingdom of God’

There is a story of a woman who had been used to every luxury and to all respect. She died, and when she arrived in heaven, an angel was sent to conduct her to her house. They passed many a lovely mansion and the woman thought that each one, as they came to it, must be the one allotted to her. When they had passed through the main streets they came to the outskirts where the houses were much smaller; and on the very fringe they came to a house which was little more than a hut. “That is your house,” said the conducting angel. “What,” said the woman, “that! I cannot live in that.” “I am sorry,” said the angel, “but that is all we could build for you with the materials you sent up.”

William Barclay

When Men Believe

The world’s in flux, and populations move,
People are up in arms, the nations rant,
With wealth comes discontent, diminished love —
The earth is full of God, but still men want.

The skies grow dark, the snowy mountains heave,
The planets hang suspended, stars wink out,
The sun conceals its face, and men believe
When Christ appears — before him flees all doubt.

We see, O God, of all these things the end,
Travail and pain, the anguished groanings stop,
All silence reigns, murmurings and moans suspend —
Preserve us, Lord, as we to eternity step.

The rich man was told

By John Henson, Dibrill congregation, McMinnville TN

Text: Luke 16.19-31

  1. The rich man was told to remember (verse 25).
  2. The rich man was told what to remember (verses 25, 26, 31).
  3. The rich man was told there is no rescue (verse 31).
  4. If you died today, what would you be told?

Thank you, Lord, for no surprises, no last-minute amendments on the final day

Thank you, Lord, that on the final day, there’ll be no surprises, no changes, no last-minute amendments to the new covenant. For you have signed it in the permanent ink of your Son’s blood and sealed it with your Holy Spirit.

In Christ, what a comfort to know that we will be judged according to what we have done in the body, according to the mind of our Lord which we have shown to others, mercy for mercy, grace for grace, love for love!

For reproducing in me the image of yourself, by the power of him who raised Jesus from the dead, I praise you, O God!