Today’s guest post is from Alan Kearns who blogs at Devotional Treasures. I have included some info from the “ABOUT” page on his blog. I hope you find his words as insightful as I do

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Recent changes in our society due to the pandemic that we are in the grip of has given us more time at home, which can be a good thing as well as a bad thing depending on your circumstances. For me it has been a time of renewal and refreshing as I spend more time with God in His Word. I have been blessed by the treasures that God has put in my path each day. Pretty soon I felt that it would be good to share what I find rather than keeping it to myself, after all sharing The Light is a very Biblical theme. This brings us to the purpose of Devotional Treasures, that is to share treasures discovered during my daily biblical devotions. It would be my sincere prayer that in these jottings that you find some blessing from God’s Word, and are drawn closer to Him.

I make no claims to be a great scholar or a pastor, I am just an ordinary middle-aged Scotsman who loves God and is enthused by His Word as it lights my path before me.

My hope is that you already know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. But if not you are still very welcome here! I would pray that you would seek Him in the Bible (Luke’s gospel is a good read!) then have a talk with God (prayer). Tell Him you are sorry for your sin and that you want to join His family through Jesus Christ and be forgiven and renewed. After that tell a Christian friend about your decision, they will be thrilled to welcome and help you further.

FEELINGS FOR GOD?

“Anstruther Lighthouse, Fife.” Photo used courtesy of Ben Bremner.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’”

Numbers 25: 10-13 (NASB)

Many years ago, mum, a friend of the family and myself were at a busy indoor market in Kinross. Buses came from as far afield as the regions outside of Fife. My mum was partially mobile and needed a wheelchair, which drew the anger of one man in the crowded market who let go with his wicked tongue. Despite the age and size difference I quickly came face to face with the offender, my mum was hurt, and I was too. No doubt we can all share such stories where it was necessary to come to someone else’s defense. We live in a hostile world where bullies attack those who they think are easy targets. 

To many folk Christians and their God are easy targets, but should this be the case? There have been times where a similar scenario has been played out where someone has attacked my God or Saviour for cheap laughs in public; I will not stand idly by while they ridicule my Father or my Lord. A common retort I use after hearing blasphemy is “God/Jesus has nothing to do with that!” which usually draws an apology and an opportunity to share some Good News. Such challenges will stay in the memory of the offender and may become the seed of something that grows to faith in the long run. As believers silence is not an option; would we stay silent if someone cussed your wife or husband? 

Dear reader, we live in a hostile world of evil which hates our Lord and hates us too. Biblical moral standards are ridiculed and seen as outdated by many who practice/defend immorality of many kinds – they openly attack our God who saves us for an eternity with Him. Violence is not the answer, but having the courage of Phinehas to stand tall for Almighty God is a must today. Will you deny your Lord in silence, or will you stand tall with Him today?