One of my favourite scriptures in the Bible is Luke 9:62:
“But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
There is no turning back for us. Why do we want to go back to Egypt - To eat melons and cucumbers, to have a place to bury our dead? That is what the people of Israel wanted to do when it got tough in the desert. They wanted Moses to take them back to the old places. We cannot possibly plough a straight line if we keep on looking back.
You know, the Bible tells us in John 8:36:
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Why do you want to go back to Egypt?
We need to press forward... We really need to keep our eyes fixed on heaven, eternity.
Years ago, I heard a story of a muscovy duck, a big fat plump muscovy duck with small little wings. He had never flown in all his life, running up and down that chicken run in all the mud, flapping his little wings... as much food as he wanted to eat. He looked up to the sky and he heard the cry of a flock of spur-winged geese flying in that V-formation. They weren’t fat, no. They were actually quite lean and thin. They had a few holes in their wings by some farmer’s shotgun but they were free, free indeed. We really need to keep our focus on the goal - the destination!
A couple of days ago, I was flown to the Northern Cape and folks, I want to tell you, I saw something I will never forget as long as I live. No, there weren’t hundreds of thousands of people there but there were farmers and businessmen, there were boys and girls. There were old people, there were policemen, there were all kinds of people with resilience in their hearts who are destined to finish the race. I have never been so moved in my life. They flew me and some faithful men from the farm, in an aeroplane, to the Northern Cape and then in a helicopter right into the middle of the bush where it has been burnt. There is nothing left, only wind and dust.
I tell you what, the people were sitting underneath thorn trees trying to keep out of the sun, this was at 12 o’clock - midday. They had been waiting from 9 in the morning. When I started preaching, at times I couldn’t see them for that red dust that was getting blown, the whirlwinds of dust and heat and wind. They never moved, they sat there. I want to tell you I saw young children, it made me cry, come running up to hug me. They were determined that they were going to pray for rain and we are believing that the rain is on its way.
I saw a 92-year-old man get out of a wheelchair, that’s right, and walk with the assistance of two young men to the altar to recommit his life to Christ. I saw something that I will never forget as long as I live - These people are ploughing in a straight line. They are not going back to Egypt, no, no, no! They are waiting for the rain to come and it will come because our Rainmaker is faithful and true. His Name is Jesus!
Today, keep your focus on the goal and do not look behind you.
God bless you and have a wonderful day.
15/10/2021
Plough Straight
October 15, 2021 • Angus Buchan • Luke 9:62, John 8:36
19/04/2024
April 19, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Isaiah 58:6–7
I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 19th of April, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Isaiah 58:6-7: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (your own family) This is the chapter on fasting, going without food. Now, to fast is very important. Jesus did it for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. It is a very good practice. It brings the body into subjection with the spirit. It is necessary for each believer to do. However, the Lord says, ”but this is the kind of fasting that I have chosen.” We have got to be doers of God’s Holy Word. We have got to lift the burdens of the oppressed, we have got to share our food with the hungry, we have got to give a bed to those who have no roof over their heads, and we must not hide ourselves from our own families. Jesus says, if we do this, then the light will break forth like the morning, and healing will spring up speedily and then the glory of the Lord will be our portion, and then when we call on the Lord, He will answer us and He will say, “Here I am.” Today, we need to be doers of God’s word. I remember my dear old dad just after I had led him to the Lord. I said to him, “Dad, we have got to fast as well now that we are Christians, and that old Scotsman looked at me with those blue eyes of his, and he said, “Laddie, fast?” He said, “I fasted for three and a half years.” You see, he was a prisoner of war in the Second World War. He was imprisoned in Germany and Italy. That didn’t impress him so much as when he saw us taking care of the poor and the needy. That impacted my dad’s life more than anything else. Today, yes, we must fast but let us fast as the Lord says - by taking care of those who are hurting, those who are lonely and those who are fearful. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, Goodbye.
18/04/2024
April 18, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Psalm 27:1, Matthew 28:20, Philippians 4:13
I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 18th of April, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in Psalm 27:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Then we go to Matthew, the Gospel of Matthew 28:20, the last verse in the Book of Matthew: “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” You and I can never be alone. Jesus has promised us that He will be with us always. We must always add His resources to our own when we are making calculations. That is what F B Meyer says, and I agree. When you sit down and work out your budget, when you are working on your spreadsheet and making plans for your future, always put it next to it with a little + sign, “But God.” So when people come to you and say it will never happen, it is too big, just answer two words, “But God!” Remember, we can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13) William Carey, who translated the Bible from English into many different Indian languages, was just a cobbler. People mocked him and said, “You are a shoemaker, aren’t you?” He said, “No, I can’t make shoes, I can only repair them.” Yet God used that man because He brought God into all his calculations. He became the Chief Interpreter to the High Court of Delhi. A country boy, just a man who could repair shoes, why? Because he added God into all his calculations. He added God into all his resources. He said, “Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” Today, remember to add “But God” to all your calculations, and you will be surprised at what things you can do for the King. Jesus bless you and have a lovely day. God bless you and goodbye.
17/04/2024
April 17, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Psalm 34:7, Psalm 147:3, 2 Corinthians 12:10
I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 17th of April, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 12:10, simply says: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” And we ask ourselves the question - how come? Well, it’s because when we get out of the way and let God take over, He makes us strong. You know, proud people are often very lonely people. When we come to the Lord Jesus because we just can’t go on anymore, that’s the time that He takes over. It happened in my life and I am sure it has happened in your life. He says, “I can,” just when you say, “Lord, that’s it. I cannot do it anymore.” Maybe you are in that position today. As an evangelist, always the highlight of any service for me, is when we make the altar call. We ask people to come forward and to lay their burdens down at the altar rail, at the foot of the Cross. We see instant and miraculous changes taking place. It is quite something. You see a whole crowd turn in an instant from being down-hearted, fearful and afraid. All of a sudden, they start to smile, there is a real sparkle in their eyes. Many are weeping because they are free from the chains and the shackles of guilt and condemnation. It’s definitely the highlight for me, every single time, and I never, ever get used to it. Billy Graham always used to sing a song, “Just as I am, without one plea”, as the people started to come forward, and I have done it myself many times. It is a very special hymn, it’s a deep hymn, it’s a hymn that sets the captive free, it heals the brokenhearted. That hymn, you know that hymn, maybe you would like to sing it with me? Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidds’t me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come! Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears, within and without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come! Jesus bless you, Have a wonderful day, Goodbye.