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09/10/2021

Doing Our Bit

October 9, 2021 • Angus Buchan • Matthew 17:4

“Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:4

The mountain-top experience, always a beautiful place to be!

Peter, James and John had seen the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ and had experienced the presence of Almighty God on the mountain-top. He wanted them to stay there, he wanted to build three little buildings for them to stay in. But the Lord said “No, we cannot stay there. We cannot stay in that nice, secure and peaceful place. We have to go down into the valley where the people are. We have to roll up our sleeves and be prepared to get dirty, if necessary... to help the poor, the needy, the widow and the orphan - those who use and even abuse you.”

That’s right, it's not easy but why can’t we just stay secluded and safe from all the ugliness that goes on in this tired old world? Well, because Jesus loves the prostitute, He loves the drug addict, He loves the thief... not that He loves what they are doing but He loves them and He wants you and me to help them. The very first thing that happened when Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration was that He was confronted by a multitude of people. A desperate father came to Him and said, “Please help, my little son is an epileptic,” and Jesus cured the boy that very hour. We need to get involved.

I remember like yesterday, the very first time I ever preached the Gospel. It was an evening service in the little Methodist Church on the Main Street of Greytown. I was so nervous. I was in the back of the church in the vestry, the elders had come and laid their hands on me, they were praying for me and said, “Get out there, Angus and go and tell them about Jesus.” But one thing disturbed me that I have never forgotten. There was one old gentleman there who said, “Get out there and do it,” he said, “I have done my bit.” I will never forget that. I had only known the Lord for about three months and something in my heart was heavy. We can never 'do our bit'. We have always got to be available.

We have never lost any blood, we have never been crucified... How can we say we have done our bit?

Now, remember - first the mountain and then the ministry. We have to get the balance right. First, spend time with the Lord and then get down into the valley and help the people.

Have a wonderful day,
God bless you and goodbye!

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.