31/12/2024

Angus Buchan

31/12/2024

Tears

December 31, 2024 • Angus Buchan • John 11:35, Psalm 30:5, Revelation 21:4, Luke 22:62

I greet you in Jesus' precious Name. It is Tuesday morning, the 31st of December, 2024. It is the last day of this year - for some of us, we're saying, "Wow, we made it," Others are saying, "Man, it's been tough!"

But I want to speak to you about something very special today if we go to John 11:35 - two words:

"Jesus wept."

Jesus cried - I want to say today that we must feel free to cry. Some of you listening to this have lost a loved one in 2024. You are going into 2025 very shortly without that person. Others are facing unemployment; maybe your business is going bankrupt, yes, and I encourage you to feel free to cry tears. Graham Lacey, a man I respect a lot, said: "Tears are words that the heart cannot say." Isn't that beautiful? When a person is struggling, put your arm around them and weep with them. That will minister to them more than a big sermon, I can tell you right now.

"Tears are the silent language of grief." - Voltaire.

I've been through some tough times myself, and the people who have ministered to me the most when I've been in the deepest depths of despair are those who sit and look at me with tears running down their faces. They don't have to say anything more. "Tears can be trusted more than a smile." You know, you can smile and people say: "How are you?" "No, I'm fine, thank you..." But you're not okay. When the tears flow, then you make your feelings evident.

"Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:5

Share tears with other people. Lastly, Graham was saying that God harvests our tears; he keeps them in a bottle. As you face the new year, I encourage you to be honest with yourself and others. I also want to remind you there will be no tears in Heaven, none at all. The Lord will wipe away every tear we've ever cried (Revelation 21:4). Remember the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth when his soldiers wrote back to him and said, "We're having no joy." He sent back a letter with two words on it: Try tears. That great evangelist, Charles Finney, said that where there are no tears and no amens, there will be no revival. Peter went out and wept bitterly, as the Bible says in Luke 22:62 after he betrayed his Master no less than three times. Yes, we all make mistakes. We've made plenty in 2024. Let's attempt not to do so in 2025. Let's shed a tear instead of making a noise. Let us rather put our arms around those suffering and learn to weep with them sincerely.

God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Goodbye.

03/01/2025

January 3, 2025 • Angus Buchan • Mark 6:20, Acts 26:28

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 3rd of January, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start off in the Gospel of Mark 6:20: “…for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” Then we go to the Book of Acts 26:28: "Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” People don’t have to like us but they must respect us. You see, even though John openly rebuked King Herod for taking his brother’s wife and living an ungodly lifestyle, Herod still respected John and admired him. There are many people on the verge of giving their lives to Jesus, and your lifestyle and my lifestyle will determine whether they come through or not. You see, the truth of God draws people to Jesus, just like a light draws a moth in the middle of the night - it’s irresistible. King Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” We must never lower our standards because if we do, people will simply despise us and say, “You see, they are a bunch of hypocrites!” We need to stand tall, we need to speak the truth, and God will bring those people to Himself. When they see your peace, your purpose, your joy, they will come to you and say, “I want what you have got.” So young lady, you don’t have to throw your virginity away just to please people. Young man, you don’t have to bend the rules, put your fingers in the till, as they say, and take money that is not yours, just to keep up with other people. It doesn’t work and it does not last. We really need to stand up for what we believe in. There is a young man who I love very dearly. I have known him for many years and I keep saying to him, “When are you coming to have a cup of tea with me?” I say to him, “I have got the kettle on, I am waiting for you.” But he knows what we are going to talk about and I am firmly believing by faith that one day, I will get that phone call where he will say, “Angus, I am coming to have that cup of tea.” And that will be the day that he will fully commit his life and his lifestyle to Jesus Christ. But until then, by the grace of God, we continue like John the Baptist to speak the truth in love - in love - and God will do the rest. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, Goodbye.

02/01/2025

January 2, 2025 • Angus Buchan • Matthew 6:8

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 2nd of January, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to the Gospel of Matthew 6:8. Jesus said: “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” Now just before that, the Lord tells us that He is not interested in vain repetition when you pray, not fancy words. I love what C H Spurgeon says. He talks about “homemade prayers”. If there is one thing I really desire for you as we go into the new year, is that this year be a year where you learn to speak daily to the Lord Jesus Christ, prayers which come straight from the heart, speaking straight to Jesus Christ - no flowery Christianese, but honest day to day language. The Lord understands it, just that ordinary layman’s language to a Carpenter, just tell Him exactly how you are feeling, tell Him how things really are, and ask Him to help you. It is not so much about the words even, is it? It is more about the heart of the prayer. We need to speak to Jesus through the Holy Spirit, just as you would speak to your workmate in the office, in the field, in the workshop. David Wilkerson, in his book, The Cross and The Switchblade, said sometimes, when he would pray the Sinner’s Prayer with those young gangsters from the ghettos of New York, their vocabulary was non-existent. Every second word was a swear word and they prayed the Sinner’s Prayer in blasphemous language, they were unaware of that, but their heart was pleading with God. I remember, just after I had given my life to Christ, we were sitting in a circle in a prayer meeting, probably the first one I had ever been to, and each one of us had to pray. The leader said, “Just pray” and we had never prayed out loud. The turn came to one old gentleman, his name was John, and I have never forgotten his prayer. His prayer came from the depths of his heart. He was in big trouble and he said, “Oh God, please help me!” And the Lord helped him. As you go into this new year, make prayer a priority in your life, every single morning and right through the day, and last of all at night, before you go to sleep. Speak to Him in homemade prayers. Jesus bless you and goodbye.

01/01/2025

January 1, 2025 • Angus Buchan • Philippians 3:10, Psalm 37:4

I greet you in Jesus' precious Name. It is Wednesday morning, the 1st of January, 2025, and this is your friend Angus Buchan with a Thought for Today. Happy New Year! Many of us didn't think we'd make it this year, did we? But God, in His grace and love, has seen fit for us to face another brand-spanking New Year - Happy New Year to you! We start in Philippians 3:10, Paul says: "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death..." Paul waited 13 years before the disciples accepted him and commissioned him to go out and preach the gospel to this dying world. We look forward to a new year; some qualified students are ready to face the world. Some others have just got their papers: qualified tradesmen and women. Children are going into their final year at school, and we are so excited, but I want to say something to you, first to us and then to the whole world. We've got to get it into our souls first before we take the message to a dying world. My dear friend, there is a time for us to get qualified, yes, there is an apprenticeship that we have to serve before we go out and tell others how to live. Yes, the gospel is for all people, and Jesus said go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. That was the last thing He said to the disciples before He went home to be with His Father in heaven. We mustn't forget that those disciples had walked with the Son of God for at least three years, night and day, before he commissioned them to go into the world. We face a brand new year with wonderful opportunities and an exciting year. I've never been so excited in my life! This past year, the Lord has told me to spend time in solitude and quietness. I have not stood on a platform or preached from a pulpit for a whole year, and I am starting this year. We need to understand before God sends us out, our hearts and souls must be prepared for the gospel. You can't tell others how to live and what to do if it is not good in your heart. Spend time preparing your heart for the great commission, wherever that might lead you, and then when you are equipped and qualified, go out and tell the good news to every soul. Jesus bless you, and once again, I pray that God will give you your heart's desire this year, 2025, and you delight yourself in Him. (Psalm 37:4). God bless you and goodbye