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20/09/2021

Wisdom

September 20, 2021 • Angus Buchan • 2 Chronicles 1:10, Job 28:28, Matthew 7:7

The wisest man who ever lived said:
“Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”
2 Chronicles 1:10

Solomon asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge. And then we go to Job 28:28 and Job the farmer said:

"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding."

We really need to be more practical in our daily lives. I remember an agricultural expert, he came to the farm to show us how to do it... He couldn’t start the tractor because he never drove a tractor before, you see it was all theory. He didn’t realize that you had to put the tractor into neutral before you can turn the ignition and start the engine.

Theory is one thing but to make it work is quite something else, isn’t it?
Wisdom and knowledge is a gift from God, and you can ask for it simply, just like Solomon did. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

We need to concentrate more on people skills - They are vital if you want to succeed in life. Always see people as better than yourself, never speak down to people. Always speak up to people. I would often ask my staff when I was actively farming, I would sit down on a contour bank and say, “I don’t know what to do.” And you know something, they would slowly but surely start telling me of experiences that they had had on other farms, and they were pearls of wisdom. You know, just because a man is poor and just because he has a limited education, that does not make him stupid.

My late dad’s brother, he struggled with asthma his whole life. He did not have much of an education, he was always in hospital. When he left school eventually, he became a shepherd in Scotland. He was extremely sought after by the wealthy farming community. Do you know why? Because he had a team of border collies, sheepdogs and he had trained them himself, they were incredible - I saw them myself. I had never seen a man work with a flock of sheep. I am talking about hundreds and hundreds of sheep, all by himself with his dogs. Other companies around about had to employ many, many men to do the same job.

Wisdom and knowledge don’t come from university alone. They come from the school of life - from experience. Ask Jesus today to help you, just like Solomon did.

God bless you and have a wonderful day.

28/03/2024

March 28, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Isaiah 53:1–3

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 28th of March, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.  We start in the Book of Isaiah 53:1-3: “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Oh, my dear friend, that is a description of our Lord Jesus Christ, written 700 years before He was even born. We want to thank our dear Lord Jesus this morning. Remember, this is the night before Good Friday. Tomorrow is the day we traditionally remember that Jesus Christ was crucified for your and my sins. When I think of the example that You set for us on earth, Lord, Your humility, a Man who was acquainted with sorrow and with pain, so much so that we even cannot look upon your face, a man who was despised by the world system because everything You ever said and did was the total opposite of the things of this world - but oh Lord, I love You. I love You because you were such an incredible example to us.   I think of the Baobab tree, the San Bushman tell you it is called the upside-down-tree because the roots look like they are sticking up into the sky and the top of the tree is underground. Well, I want to tell you, our beloved Jesus preaches the upside-down Gospel according to the world system because everything that the world says we must do and be, He seems to teach the exact opposite. When the world says you must get to the top, no matter how many people you trample on to get to the top, Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek”. When the world says you must be the greatest, Jesus says you must be the least. When the world says, “Let’s have a party and be happy”, you are found with those who are weeping, those who are mourning, and those who are sorrowful. Thank You, Master, for leading the way for us, for teaching us, not so much by words, but by action and by lifestyle. Our desires are to become more like You everyday. We love You very, very much. Thank you for being our ultimate example and champion here on earth, Amen. God bless you and have a wonderful day, Goodbye.

27/03/2024

March 27, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Romans 5:3

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 27th of March, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan with a thought for today.  We go straight to the book of Romans 5:3:  “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Just yesterday I had a very severe lesson taught to me in patience, in humility and character building. I had to go and get a document from an institution that was full of people from every walk of life. I got there early in the morning. I waited in the queue and then by about nine or ten o’clock, I asked the lady at the counter, “What is the holdup?” She said that the internet is down and they cannot do anything. That’s right, my patience was starting to get a little bit tested, a bit ragged. I said, ”Well, should I come back?” She said, ”I think that might be a good idea.” “What time should I come back?” I came back at one o’clock.  When I got there at one o’clock, the place was packed out. There were queues everywhere. I had to sit and wait and you know, during that time of waiting, God started talking to me in my heart. First of all, I saw people from every walk of life and I realised how fortunate I was. An older lady was wheeled in a wheelchair because she had to sign the document. There was a man who walked in afterwards. He had obviously had a stroke. He was walking on one crutch, his wife was trying to keep him balanced and he was waiting for a document. There was a young man and a young woman with two little babies, obviously getting the babies registered. The babies were very hot and not comfortable at all and mom and dad were trying to hold the babies and sign all the documents. I sat there quietly looking at all of this and the Lord showed me very clearly, just the tremendous need that there is in society. Sometimes, we are so busy doing things we don’t observe what is happening in the everyday lives of ordinary people. Yes, indeed, it was a character-building day. Eventually, by about half past three in the afternoon, I managed to get to the counter again to collect my document, but only to be told that my fingerprints were not registering on the computer. The poor lady was trying her best to help me but she was failing. I said I’d come back again the next day. She said, ”Please sir, If you don’t mind, I would appreciate that.”  I walked out, and I thought, “I have achieved nothing today,” but just in my quiet time room this morning, I’m realising I had achieved plenty. God showed me just how little patience I have, just how little compassion I have for others, and God taught me a lesson in humility.  Today, don’t be afraid of tribulation. It will make a man or a woman out of you. Jesus bless you and goodbye.

26/03/2024

March 26, 2024 • Angus Buchan • 3 John 4, Matthew 6:33

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 26th of March, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.  We start in the 3rd Epistle of John - “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4   Now, this is a letter that the Apostle John wrote to the people and his friend, Gaius, and he says, “I have no greater joy…”  I want to say to young people listening to the Thought For Today, if you want to bring real joy to your mom and your dad, to your parents, maybe even your grandparents, walk in the ways of God, walk in truth, because you see if you walk in truth, then you will succeed in anything you tackle in this life. Matthew 6:33 says:  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” You shall meet the right person in your life because that person will be a follower of Jesus Christ as well. You will pursue a career that will bless others and you will succeed in it. You will make godly decisions. You will do the right thing. Why? Because you are walking in the truth. I know that I can hear moms and dads saying, “If I only knew when I was young what I know now, I wouldn’t have caused myself so much pain and suffering. You see, young person, when you commit a sin, and you repent of it, and you say sorry to the Lord, He forgives you, but the scar of that sin often remains in your heart when you do something you should not have done. You end up in jail. You didn’t mean to do it and you end up in jail. You made that girl pregnant - you didn’t mean to do it but you did it. God will forgive you but the consequences of your actions remain.   I want to say to you today, if you want to make mom and dad happy, and I know you do, then walk in the truth.   Jesus bless you and goodbye.