When Jesus cursed a fig tree, because it had leaves but no figs, the disciples were shocked to see that it soon died. It was a warning that God's patience with arrogant unbelieving religion would not be stretched indefinitely (Matthew 21:18-22).
The fruitless tree symbolised the fanatically religious nation, but with no relationship to God who had 'planted' her. Within 40 years of God's people finally rejecting God's Messiah, their temple was destroyed.
We, particularly those of us with a western mindset, are trained to be good at fixing problems. That is how things get done.
But when it comes to praying, perhaps we do the same thing - working out how a problem might be solved, and then asking the Lord to make that solution come true.Either that, or we may be so frazzled by a problem that we are incapable of thinking coherently at all; as a result our prayers neither have focus nor conviction.
Every month, some new opportunities arise for BeaconLight.
Many of these are not massive orders, or contacts from large partner organisations. They are from individuals serving the Lord where they live and work. We may never meet them until heaven, but the Lord knows them and uses them.
We must never overlook individuals who serve Jesus nor minimise their gospel work, because it is small. BeaconLight wants to be available to help and support anybody who is sharing the gospel.
It fascinates me how language is changing in our liberal, free-thinking culture in the UK. Having thrown out our Christian heritage, and God's Word as our ground for morality and community ethics, proclaiming the individual's right to self-determination - and that there are no limits to what is right nor wrong - there is a new hunger for certainty.
Global turmoil is close by. But two scriptures have taken my attention.
The first assures me that when we do not know what to do, the best way to start is to tell the Lord that we don't know what to do! And not to be ashamed of saying so in front of the family and congregation. When we do, the Lord will find His way to show us what to do - sometimes we just need to stand still and trust that the Lord will fight for us.
We talk about 'Gospel Outreach' but what do we mean? And do we all mean the same thing?
The first two letters of 'Gospel' should give the clue. Jesus said, "Go into all the world and make disciples...". That is what the apostles did, and as people repented and put their trust in Jesus, many were saved and churches were planted. Firstly in the Holy Land, and then in the Mediterranean islands, and what is now Turkey and Europe.
Our ideas of government might involve democratic elections and a free-speaking parliament. But history reveals repeating cycles of major world powers becoming increasingly autocratic and hostile to weaker countries. Ukraine reminds us that this is now happening closer to home, and too close for comfort.
So when the Bible says, ".. the government shall be upon His shoulders" in Isaiah 9:6, what does that mean?
This Christmas, performances of Handel's Messiah will still fill concert halls. His musical setting of Bible verses, selected by his friend Rev. Charles Jennens, is a brilliantly undiluted gospel narrative. Around halfway through, is a chorus from Psalm 68:11 - "The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of the preachers". Although translations vary, the meaning is clear: God gives His message to be distributed by many believers, so that others can respond to it in faith.
We have become familiar with TV footage from Jerusalem. It is the same location where Jesus looked over the ancient city and wept; because although His people had every opportunity to welcome Him, they rejected their Saviour (Luke 19:41).
He said, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." (Matthew 23:37-39).
Enough food is produced in the world to feed all of its 8 billion people, yet 1 in 11 go hungry every day and 300,000,000 people in 53 countries risk starving to death immediately (2025 Global Report of Food Crises).
Although climate change affects regional food production, war (currently involving 38 countries) has a far greater effect by disrupting infrastructure, displacing populations and destabilising economies ... preventing so many people receiving enough food. Christians are rightly concerned.