Walk With Me - Devotionals: Mairi MacPherson

Are You At The Best School?

Mairi MacPherson — Sat, 28 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Are You At The Best School?

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 28th May 2022

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Are you at the best school? And I should also ask are you an attentive pupil? The best school is one that each of us can attend and it has the best teacher anyone could have. In this school there is an emphasis on knowledge, wisdom and guidance. Of course the best time to start in this school is when we are very young but one of the great things about it is that we can we can even start attending it when we are very old and we can keep attending it all the days of our life — life-long learning.

There is one main textbook and that is the Bible.

The knowledge we learn is the knowledge of God, not just to know about him but to come to know him in a personal way by trusting him and obeying him.

The wisdom that is taught shows us the greatness and the holiness of God. To get this wisdom we have to be humble before God and be willing to have our minds turned to what God's word, the Bible, teaches us. It points us to the Lord Jesus Chris for salvation and forgiveness.

The guidance we receive is how to live each day in a way that is pleasing to God. The Lord Jesus Christ is our great example in this.

Prayer

Thankyou Lord Jesus for being the Way, the Truth and the Life that I should follow. Amen.

Good News In Tough Times

Mairi MacPherson — Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Good News In Tough Times

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 25th May 2022

Passage: Acts 8:4

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There is a well — known saying "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"! That is exactly what happened to the Christians in the days of the early church after Jesus had gone to heaven after the resurrection. We read of this in Acts 8 The believers in Jesus were shocked when the godly man Stephen was murdered. This sparked a period of bitter persecution in Jerusalem and the areas round about. The persecution was led by a young man called Saul of Tarsus and many Christians fled from Jerusalem.

However instead of bringing about the collapse of the young church it actually led to the Gospel spreading far and wide. How did that happen? Because wherever Christians went as they were scattered from Jerusalem they preached the Good News of the word of God. No doubt people would ask these strangers why they had come to settle in places where they were not known. We are told that they then passed on the Gospel and God in his goodness added new converts to the church. Tough times — but the Good News spread.

That is a real challenge for us wherever God has placed us. Do we too spread the Good News? We don't need to be preachers or theologians. What we do need to do is what these early Christians did. They just spread the Good News of God's word wherever they went.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to tell others about Jesus and his love. Amen.

When God Smiles On My Soul

Mairi MacPherson — Sun, 22 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

When God Smiles On My Soul

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 22nd May 2022

Passage: Romans 5:1

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Peace with God is a very precious gift. Just how precious it is can be seen from the whole of Romans 5:1 from which I have quoted just three words above. One translation of the whole verse goes like this: Therefore since we have been made right in God's sight by faith we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has don for us. (New Living Translation)

Peace with God is a life of spiritual freedom — freedom from the power the punishment the guilt of our sin — all because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We receive this gift of peace through faith — that is by accepting the fact that it is Jesus who makes us right in God's sight and not our own efforts to try to make ourselves presentable to God.

One Bible scholar William Hendriksen has said that this peace with God is "The smile of God reflected in the soul of the believer. That is beautiful; when God smiles on my soul!" This everlasting peace, as certain as His (God's) name, is sure as God's eternal throne: unchangeably the same." (Horatius Bonar). And all because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for that smile of yours on my soul. It is a precious gift to know that my soul is safe because of what Jesus has done for me. Amen.

Foundations

Mairi MacPherson — Thu, 19 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Foundations

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 19th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 11:3

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Very many years ago my grandfather built a house on the family croft. He was a good craftsman, a stone-mason, and he built a good house. If you visit that croft today there is a fine modern looking house there but it is built on the same foundations. Good foundations are so very important.

In Psalm 11 David was worried about the way things were going in his country. Saul the king was trying to hunt him down and kill him; but he didn't know who he could depend on things were so bad. The foundations of the nation seemed to be destroyed. But then David pulled himself up — men were certainly doing bad things; his life was in danger but that was not the whole picture. God was still on the throne and was seeing and judging all that was going on. "The Lord's throne is in heaven, his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of men." (Psalm 11:4)

There are many bad things happening in the world of our day; people's actions and words often show their contempt for God and his ways. We are tempted to wonder if God is aware of these things. Of course he is and his day of judgement comes to all people. "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne" (Psalm 89:14), and those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to stand firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ and his truth. Amen.

Always The Safest Route

Mairi MacPherson — Mon, 16 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Always The Safest Route

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 16th May 2022

Passage: Genesis 12:4

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People are getting used to having Sat Navs in their cars to help them find their way to where they want to go. This is especially good if they have never been to the place they want to visit. But sometimes things go wrong. We hear stories of big lorries being directed down very narrow lanes and they end up being stuck at a dead end! You always have to be sure of your route.

God called Abram to leave his home and to go on a journey. So far so good. But where was he to go? "I will show you the route as you go" God said to him "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. It is interesting to follow Abram on his journey as he faithfully followed God's instructions. But there were times when Abram listened to instructions that did not come from God and then things went wrong — like the lorries ending up stuck at a dead end. Then we find God patiently guiding Abram back on to the right road again.

God calls each of us to follow him. He has given us the best 'Sat Nav' in the shape of the Bible and he has even given us a special Guide in the person of the Lord Jesus who said "I am the way (the road), the truth and the life" (John 14:6). And Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit who he promised "will guide you into all truth" (John 16:3). Abraham (God added a bit to his name!) believed God and God blessed him. Follow his example — it is always the safest route.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to follow you. Guide my life I pray. Amen.

Was There Ever Such A Question As This?

Mairi MacPherson — Fri, 13 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Was There Ever Such A Question As This?

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 13th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 22:1

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Was there ever such a question as this? The writer of Psalm 22 was a prophet. With the inspiration of God's Spirit he was seeing into the distant future to the very day of Jesus Christ's death on the cross when Jesus cried out to God "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" What is the answer to that question when Jesus knew a terrible sense of being abandoned by God? Jesus was forsaken so that none of his children would ever need to utter such a cry of forsakenness. He came to experience the awfulness of being abandoned by God as he took the place of sinners so that they might be saved. So who delivered up Christ to die in such a way? "Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy; but the Father, for love". (O Winslow).

How deep the Father's love for us how vast beyond all measure,<br> That he should give his only Son to make a wretch his treasure.<br> How great the pain of searing loss; the Father turns his face away,<br> As wounds which mar the chosen one bring many sons to glory<br> (S. Townend)

God's way of salvation for sinners like us was indeed a costly and terrifying way for our Saviour and costly too for the Heavenly Father who gave his only Son. The more we come to appreciate this the more we will want to give our life to serve and praise him.

First The Bad News, Then The Good News

Mairi MacPherson — Tue, 10 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

First The Bad News, Then The Good News

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 10th May 2022

Passage: Romans 3:23-24

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Fake news! It would be nice to believe that we are not sinners and that God is pleased with us and would never turn us away from his heaven. Now that would be fake news! The truth is that we are sinners — every one of us an while we are still sinners God is not pleased with us and not one of us will find a place in God's heaven. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard. That is not false news, it is bad news.

But it is not the end of the story — there is good news, indeed amazingly good news. Jesus Christ came into our world to save sinners by taking on himself all our sin with its guilt and shame and he died in our place on the cross. Why? He paid the penalty for our sins. Why did he do this? It is God's pure gift of love. "He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ" Romans 3:23-24 (The Message).

That is the Good News; it is the Gospel, "The way that God sets things right and makes it possible for us to live in his rightness. Romans 3:26 (The Message)

Because it is God's gift — we call this' grace' - we don't have to earn it. We have to accept it thank him and live in the light of it day by day.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for the good news of salvation for a sinner like me. Amen.

The Unforgivable Sin

Mairi MacPherson — Sat, 07 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Unforgivable Sin

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 7th May 2022

Passage: Matthew 12:31

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Many people become worried i case they have committed the unforgivable sin. It is important therefore that we think about this and really understand what Jesus means when he speaks about sinning against the Holy Spirit. Remember that the great work of the Holy Spirit is to give people a clear view of who Jesus is, and to call people to the salvation that is found only in Jesus Christ.

When someone comes to know all about Jesus but who persistently and deliberately refuses to believe in him for salvation then that person will not be forgiven. If someone is worried that they have committed this sin then that is a sure sign that they have not committed it. It is unbelievers "who deliberately and unchangeable reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit in calling them to salvation who commit such a sin. Christians do not commit an unforgivable sin.

It is a terrible thing when someone sets out deliberately to set his heart and mind against God and against Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Such a person will have to stand face to face with God one day when he will find out the awful truth that he will have to spend eternity suffering God's rejection of him as he had rejected God.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to pray for my friends who as yet reject the Gospel. Amen.

A Good Renewal

Mairi MacPherson — Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

A Good Renewal

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 4th May 2022

Passage: Joel 2:25

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Do you live with regrets over some things you have done in the past or words that you have spoken which may have caused hurt and even broken friendships? Such things can haunt us and really blight the life we are now living.

God knows how to deal with that kind of problem. He had to deal with it many years ago when the prophet Joel was writing his book. God does not want us to be weighed down by the sins of our past. He does not want us to live with a heavy cloud of judgement hanging over our heads and to waste our lives by going over and over our sins.

God wants us to truly repent of our sins and to turn from them. We confess our sins we turn away from them and we are truly sorry for the way our sins have made us guilty before God and maybe before others as well. The glory of the Gospel is that when that repentance turns us to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ God in his mercy forgives our sins takes away our guilt and makes us clean. He gives us a new life a life that is better by far than all that went before and he can make us really useful to him in the days ahead. It is a life restored from the "years that the swarming locust has eaten."

What a wonderful blessing that is and what a wonderful God who makes it real through Jesus Christ!

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to truly repent of my sin and trust in the Lord Jesus. Then help me to accept your forgiveness. Amen.

Marching Orders

Mairi MacPherson — Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Marching Orders

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 1st May 2022

Passage: Joshua 1:1-9

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Joshua had been Moses' assistant but now Moses was dead. It now fell to Joshua to take over and lead the people of Israel into the land God had promised to give them. It was a big responsibility.

I think Joshua must have been really worried scared even because three times God said to him "Be strong and courageous" one time even saying "Be very courageous" and once he said "Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed". God gave Joshua a real pep talk and with it his marching orders as to how he was to lead the people. The secret of being a successful leader in this great task was to do exactly what God told him to do .

We will probably not be called to do a great work like Joshua was called to do but there is something every Christian is called to do that is vitally important and to do it well we need God's help and we need to stick to God's marching orders.

God calls each Christian to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ(2 Timothy 2:3) You see, in the world we live in so many people know nothing about the Christian life at all — they don't go to church, they may never hear the Gospel. That means each of us who is a Christian must live in a way that will show people that we are marching under God's leadership and that that is the best for all of us.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I can get scared to witness for you at times. Please give me courage to live and speak for you.

A Fitting Memorial (3)

Mairi MacPherson — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A Fitting Memorial (3)

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 29th January 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 7:12

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Ebenezer — the stone of help — was erected to commemorate a victory, a very special victory that was entirely due to God's help.

The Bible is full of references to stones which told of God's help being given to his people. In the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of as being like a special stone which builders rejected but which eventually became the stone that kept the whole building together. Jesus, God's Son, was rejected by many. He was crucified in weakness, yet God raised him from the dead and he has become the great Saviour of his people — the Stone of help to a lost world, the Stone of victory — it is all of God's doing because sinners like us cannot save ourselves.

Jesus is the great foundation Stone of his Church on which all of the Church and all who are his people in the Church are being built up like a beautiful building to the glory of God. One day we will see it complete, and what a day of rejoicing that will be!

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you that I can look to you as my Ebenezer, my Stone of help, who has saved me in your mercy, because I confess I could not save myself. Amen.

The Powerful Name Of Jesus

Mairi MacPherson — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Powerful Name Of Jesus

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 26th January 2022

Passage: Acts 4:7

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A badly crippled beggar man had been healed by the apostles Peter and John. The difference could be seen by everyone in the temple in Jerusalem because the healed man went about walking and leaping and praising God! Everyone was happy — except the religious leaders who were furious, and probably jealous.

Peter and John were put in prison overnight. Next day they were asked in court, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" They replied that the man's healing was all due to the risen Jesus Christ, and, they added, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven... by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The powerful name of Jesus!

Our salvation depends on that powerful name of Jesus. It is only Jesus who saves sinners. But the name of Jesus is also a disturbing name. The religious leaders of the time hated the name of Jesus Christ. Many people still do, because Jesus convicts them of their sin and they prefer their sin to following Christ. But those who do follow him find that the powerful name of Jesus gives them the courage to tell others about their Saviour and what he can do for them. That powerful name is still working miracles in our world today.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ help me to witness in the power of your name to tell those who need to hear your saving words. Amen.

The Gospel

Mairi MacPherson — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Gospel

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 23rd January 2022

Passage: Mark 1:1

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Surely the word 'gospel' must be one of the words that Christian people use over and over again. The word 'gospel' itself has come to mean 'good News' and a very particular good news at that. In Mark 1:14 we read of Jesus Christ proclaiming 'the gospel of God'. Paul the Apostle also spoke of the Gospel of God twice in 1 Thessalonians 2. That lets us see how important this news is - it is something that God has made known to us — we didn't discover it by ourselves.

Again, the Gospel is 'the Good News of Jesus Christ, the son of God' (Mark 1:1) It is about Jesus, it came to us from God by Jesus and Jesus himself is the Good News This Gospel is for all people. It is God's response to a universal need. It is important for each of us. The Gospel is a true message about salvation for sinners — and we have all sinned against God. The Good News takes us to a sad place — the Cross — but it is there that God turned the bad news of our sin into the Good News of grace and forgiveness. For it also takes us to the resurrection of Jesus and life everlasting for all who believe.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the Gospel. Help me to rejoice in all you have done for my salvation. Amen

Jesus Christ Has Unique Power

Mairi MacPherson — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jesus Christ Has Unique Power

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 20th January 2022

Passage: Matthew 8:27

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That was a night to remember. One moment there was this violent life-threatening storm; the next there was quite amazing calm. And the change came about because of a direct command of Jesus. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. Now that is power for you. The Gospels are full of references to the power of Jesus. But there are two kinds of power and Jesus possessed them both.

One kind of power was the kind that Jesus shared when he calmed the great storm on the Sea of Galilee. That same kind of power was seen when Jesus healed sick people — it was dynamic power, the power that people could see in the way that Jesus not only healed but even raised dead people.

The other kind of power that Jesus had was what we often call authority. People were often amazed by Jesus' teaching. They said he spoke with such authority. He claimed to have authority to forgive sins, to give eternal life to those who followed him and to have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. The proof that he had, and has, that authority came when he rose from the dead. Jesus Christ has unique power of both kinds and he still shows that today in the way lives are changed when people believe in him.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to worship you and also to trust you for your power to keep me following you faithfully. Amen.

Following Jesus Christ

Mairi MacPherson — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Following Jesus Christ

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 17th January 2022

Passage: Matthew 9:9

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Imagine you are in a thick forest with no obvious path. It would be easy to get lost. But when you have a guide he just says 'follow me' and you can relax and enjoy yourself. The story in Matthew 9:9 tells us about a man who was lost but then a guide came along and said 'follow me', and the man's life was changed for ever. Matthew was the lost man, Jesus was the guide, and the story tells us how we too can be saved from our lostness in sin to be changed for ever.

First of all we have to heed what Jesus says to us — he knows all about us, even the worst about us — that is how he knows we need to be saved. Then we need to obey what Jesus says. What did Matthew do? He rose and followed Jesus. That is just what we must do. Look again at that word 'rose'. It's an interesting word. It is associated with new beginnings, new life, just like the resurrection. Jesus is calling us to a new life. Luke tells us that Matthew left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:28) A new life indeed, turning his back on the old life to become an apprentice of Jesus, to live for him, serve him, love him and tell others about him Jesus says to us, 'follow me'. What will we do about that?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to follow you humbly and faithfully, Amen

When We Pray Together

Mairi MacPherson — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

When We Pray Together

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 14th January 2022

Passage: Isaiah 64:1

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Why do Christians go to prayer meetings? Is it just the done thing that they do out of habit? There must be a better reason than that. Of course there is! Christians come together to pray knowing that God delights to see his people united in their worship of him, and united in their concern to see God's kingdom advancing in the world. Christians come together to pray out of a sense of need — we need God's help if we are to live as God's people in a world that is so often against God's values and Christian lifestyles. So we come together to pray for God's church in the world. Christians are the body of Christ, the family of God.

Surely then it is right to pray for one another. "There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him" (William Law). This being so, we must pray for fellow Christians who are persecuted and marginalised. And Christians come together to pray for our world. There is so much evil in it, there are so many areas where Christians are suffering persecution. But it is only in God that we have any hope of seeing the salvation of sinners, of seeing Christians being strengthened to overcome the evil and the persecutions. We need to pray.

Prayer

Almighty God, keep us faithful in our prayer life so that you would rend the heavens and come down to bless our people and save our world. Amen

Here's Your Proof...

Mairi MacPherson — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Here's Your Proof...

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 11th January 2022

Passage: John 20:28

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If there were such a thing as a patron saint, then Thomas would be the patron saint of doubters! He just could not believe it when his fellow disciples said, "we have seen the Lord". Thomas was absent when the risen Christ visited the house where the disciples were gathered. Thomas just would not be convinced — he needed proof before he would believe it. And then the proof arrived! Jesus visited them again and Thomas was there. Jesus showed them his hands and feet, and encouraged Thomas to feel where the nails had been and where the spear had pierced him as if to say, 'here's the proof!' Thomas believed and he has given us one of the finest testimonies that anyone could give. He just said to Jesus, 'my Lord and my God'. No more doubts, no more fears; if the many legends about him can be believed, Thomas became one of the furthest travelled of all the apostles — even to India. That is the testimony we too must have if we are to grasp what it is to be a Christian — an obedient and worshipping follower of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to be like Thomas and bow before you in obedience, service and worship. Amen

What Makes A Christian 'Fit For Purpose'?

Mairi MacPherson — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What Makes A Christian 'Fit For Purpose'?

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 8th January 2022

Passage: John 21:15-19

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Four lessons in this little passage of John's Gospel answer that question at the top of this page. They could be used as a check on our own lives as followers of Jesus in today's world

The first lesson is basic to all the others. Jesus asked Peter "Do you love me?", and "Do you love me more than these?" (meaning his dearest friends). To be a Christian is to love Jesus with all that that implies in obedience, in humility, in gratitude. Love for Jesus comes first.

The second lesson we learn here is the need to follow Jesus. A 'fit for purpose Christian' follows Jesus by learning from Jesus what he wants us to be and to do. He has given us the Bible and prayer to help us in this

The third lesson is to serve the Lord Jesus. He said to Peter "Feed my lambs... tend my sheep". A 'fit for purpose Christian' is called to serve Christ in whatever capacity that service may take.

The fourth lesson is a hard one — it is to be prepared to suffer for Christ. It may be costly to love and follow Jesus. Peter found this. But weigh that against all that Jesus has done for us.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to be a 'fit for purpose Christian' to bring honour to your name. Amen

Keeping In Step With The Spirit

Mairi MacPherson — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Keeping In Step With The Spirit

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 5th January 2022

Passage: Galatians 5:25

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Everyone who has had a taste of military life knows the way the drill sergeants shout and bully until they get their charges marching in good order and keeping in step the way they should. So Paul often spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit is absolutely central to every aspect of our lives as Christian people. He tells us that it is through the Spirit that we are 'born again' into the Christian life (Galatians 3:2 and John 3:5-8). Through the Spirit we are brought into a wonderful new relationship with God and we become his children (Galatians 4:4-7 and 28-31).

Now, as God's children we come under the regime of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, maybe gradually, trains us to march to a different beat from the world, to become increasingly like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This can be quite hard for us because we tend to like worldly things, even things that may be quite harmless in themselves but they can tend to lead us away from the best things which God wants us to concentrate on — the things that build up our faith in Jesus. That is why we are urged to keep in step with the Spirit and bear fruit in our lives.

Prayer

Lord, in your mercy, help me to keep in step with the Spirit all my days.

The Good Shepherd

Mairi MacPherson — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Good Shepherd

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 2nd January 2022

Passage: John 10:11

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In all parts of the Old Testament there are many references to sheep and to shepherds. God is said to be like a shepherd in Psalm 23 and in Isaiah 40:11. Many religious leaders in Israel were called shepherds over their people and this was so in the time of Jesus as well. But so often in the Old Testament, as in the time of Jesus, these leaders turned out to be false shepherds — no better than thieves and robbers. In contrast to these, Jesus declares himself to be the 'good Shepherd' and so he proved to be. For the word 'good' you could say flawless, genuine — it means this and more. Jesus is without peer and he came to 'lay down his life for his sheep'.

In laying down his life on the cross, he gave to all who trust and follow him a saved life (John 10:9), an abundant life (verse 10), and an eternally secure life. As the 'good shepherd' Jesus said he had other sheep 'that he must bring also'. To be a follower of the good shepherd we too must go after those 'other sheep' and seek, in Jesus name, to bring them in to share in his abundant life.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I am so prone to wander. Please help me always to listen to your voice and to follow you knowing that you are the good shepherd who gives me an abundant life.