Peace – Being a Pilgrim

Isaiah’s Vision: A Future of Peace and Justice

Posted on 21st Jun 202614th May 2026 by Adrian Clark

Old metal spearheads and plow blades laid out on grass with stone walls and houses in the background

“People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.”
Isaiah 2:3-4 NLT

As most people will know, there is a prominent inscription on a wall directly opposite the United Nations building in New York City, which is a quotation from Isaiah 2:4. It reads, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”. The wall was erected out of granite in 1948, and the inscription was added in September 1975. Finally, the name “Isaiah” was added in 1985, giving the massive block of granite the name “The Isaiah Wall”. There is also a statue close by called the “Ploughshares Statue”, with the inscription “let us beat our swords into ploughshares”, which was a gift to the UN from the Soviet Union in 1959. Sadly, as we all know, we are a long way from such a noble aim, with Europe rearming at an alarming rate, and wars going on in various parts of the world.

But there is a time coming when there will be no more wars. We read about that time in Isaiah 11:6-9, “In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord”.

This Utopian vision will come to pass one day, when Jesus comes to rule and reign for a thousand years in a kingdom of righteousness, justice and peace. With satan chained and incarcerated in a bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-2), his influence over mankind no longer present, there will be peace, and in the next chapter in Revelation, we read about the new Jerusalem where God will dwell with His people. A wonderful time, and Jesus said its coming will be “soon”.

In Isaiah 2, we see that the Lord will mediate between nations and settle international disputes. He will have the power to do this through His Word going out from Jerusalem. The nations of the world will desire to go to Jerusalem to hear the Lord’s teaching and learn how to walk in His ways. What is that other than a worldly spiritual revival centred on Jerusalem? No more wars. No more evil leaders. Peace prevails everywhere.

But we pilgrims must do more than sit in our homes waiting for the day when we pass into God’s presence. There is much work to do, as we prepare the way of the Lord. Mark wrote, “ … Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” (Mark 1:2-3). This verse refers to the coming of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus, who burst onto the religious scene in Palestine with His message of hope for a people lost in their sins. We pilgrims have the same commission as we prepare for Jesus’ return, His second coming. There are lost people around us who need to hear that Jesus is their only hope for salvation. John relayed the same message of repentance to the people of Judah, and we have the same message for the people around us today.

So, what steps are we taking to reach out to people? It may be only one or two, but we must be prepared to share our testimonies of God’s saving grace. He loves us so much, so how can we not tell others about that love while we still have the opportunity? I met a man a few days ago who asked me how I became a Christian. It didn’t happen overnight, but it was the culmination of a series of contacts over a period of months as we occasionally met at random in the local park. He now knows about God and what He has done for me, and I pray that my friend will come to make the decision to turn to Christ. We too must grab every opportunity while there is still time.

Dear Heavenly Father. Your saving grace is alive and well in this age. Please help us to share Your message of hope to anyone who will listen. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God’s Love

Posted on 8th Jun 20262nd May 2026 by Adrian Clark

“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All of God’s people here send you their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 NLT

Scriptures about God’s love and peace can be found throughout the Bible. Take, for example, Genesis 1. We read the creation account and towards the end we find this, “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. … ”” (Genesis 1:26a). What motivated God to create human beings? There was, and is, only one possible explanation: His love. A baby is born today, ready to be lavished with the love of its parents. The waiting is over, the birth happens, and then we see the wonderful picture, repeated many times, of a little scrap of humanity being cradled in his or her mother’s arms, love gleaming in mum’s face through the drying tears following the pain of birth. Didn’t God go through the same loving experience when He birthed Adam and Eve? Wasn’t His love gleaming through the creation story? And then we find the same God, heartbroken, but reaching out over the millennia, to His wayward children, corrupted by sin, rebellion, and denying their very Father. However, God had a plan to be executed through His Son, Jesus. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. The once and forever act of love remains hanging in the air as an invitation to God’s creation, regardless of generation, geography, or gender.

Paul wrote about the “God of love” being with the Corinthians, and so He will be as well with us today. Paul also wrote that much-quoted passage in 1 Corinthians about love and its fundamental importance in human life. We are made in God’s image, and His love is a fundamental, probably even the most important, part of His character. Everything that we do, as it is with God, must be founded on love. Paul finished his second letter with the blessing “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”. Grace, love and fellowship. Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit. There is something in this verse that grabs our attention, and intuitively, we look upwards to the Source of love.

There is peace to be found in God, and in these war-torn days, with evil and depraved men with fingers hovering over nuclear buttons, with misery consequently tearing at the hearts of God’s creation, peace can be found. But where is it? There is only one place, and that is in Jesus. John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. “There is a way back to God from the dark paths of sin”, as the old chorus says. God will never turn anyone away from His presence as long as they seek Him with all their hearts.

Father God. Thank You for Your plan for the salvation of mankind. We look to Jesus and find in Him the love that ripples down from above into our hearts, ready to be shared with those around us. Thank You Lord! Amen.

Encouragement and Peace in Christian Fellowship

Posted on 7th Jun 20262nd May 2026 by Adrian Clark

We continue today with a second look at Paul’s final thoughts in this, his second letter to the Corinthian church. He asked the believers to “encourage each other” and “live in harmony and peace”. Was this an impossible ask, or was it achievable amongst the disparate believers in Corinth? From a natural perspective, any group of people will eventually fall apart because it is not long before there is a falling-out, and the group members will go their separate ways. Selfish desires, differences in intellect and perspectives, different agendas, and so on soon reveal themselves with fault lines that grow until the gaps are unbridgeable. However, some groups with a clear set of rules and a common goal will survive, as with a golf club or another hobby-based vision. Or, better still, a group focused on Jesus.

Among Christians, there is a clear bond that draws each person ever closer to one another and to Christ. I always envision a triangle, with God at the apex and believers at the other two points. As they look up to God and get closer to Him, they inevitably get closer to each other. If they neglect their relationship with God, they will move further apart. It is also a good analogy to use in marriage counselling. Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians to “live in harmony and peace” implied a common bond, as they “grew in maturity,” meaning they were becoming more and more like Jesus every day.

In Romans 12, Paul used the analogy of our physical bodies as the body of Christ. Romans 12:4-5, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other”. Paul revisits the analogy in 1 Corinthians 12:12, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ”. But in the next verse, he emphasises that no matter our differences, we are all still part of the body of Christ. “Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit”. And further down the page, we read, “In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honourable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honourable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad” (1 Corinthians 12:22-26). In these verses, one word emerges, and that is “honour”. We should honour one another as a priority in our relationships, because that is how we live together as a body of believers.

It is therefore obvious that a properly functioning body of believers will only live in harmony with each other if they care for each other in the same way as we care for our own bodies. So if we cut ourselves, we clean the wound and put on a plaster. But what we don’t do is ignore the hurt, as otherwise the wound may become infected and lead to a more serious condition. In the same way, in the body of Christ, if a member is hurting, we tend to the hurt so that it doesn’t worsen and lead to an infection that could ultimately destroy the body.

To “live in harmony and peace” requires effort and diligence on the part of the church members. Otherwise, the believers become separated from each other, and the church ceases to function as God desires. This can be seen in some declining churches, where members meet only on Sunday morning for an hour or so, and leave their fellowship there. Then, when a crisis erupts, there is no cohesion, and the opposite of “harmony and peace” appears. To be a fellowship of believers in the way Paul was encouraging the Corinthians requires diligence and effort. They would have had to work hard to bind with one another and live out his instructions, particularly, as his letters have shown, there was much going on with the potential to tear them apart.

Are we pilgrims a part of a fellowship, living in “harmony and peace” with each other? If not, we must ask ourselves the question “Why not”? Our relationships with one another start with our relationship with God and cross cultural and racial boundaries. To be harmonious starts with Jesus. Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”. But here’s the thing. The next verse nails it, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus“. Any group of believers that lacks harmony and cohesiveness will find that personal and corporate peace is elusive. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). The peace of Christ didn’t die out with the Apostles. It is still there for us, from the fount that never runs dry.

So are we pilgrims experiencing a lack of peace today? As we look up to Jesus and gain His perspective, we will soon find the way back onto the right track.

Dear Heavenly Father. As with joy, You are the Source of peace. Thank You for the peace we can experience as we live in harmony with each other. Amen.

Daily Encouragement: A Call to Believers

Posted on 14th Apr 202627th Mar 2026 by Adrian Clark

“Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you. I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.”
2 Corinthians 7:2-4 NLT

We all need encouragement, don’t we? Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth with a heartfelt appeal to try to restore his relationship with them. He told them that he had “not done wrong to anyone” or “led anyone astray”. He said, no one had been taken advantage of either. And he encouraged his readers by emphasising his commitment to them, expressing pride and confidence. And then Paul said, “You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy”. Surely we think, when we read this ourselves, the Corinthians could never have rejected Paul. And neither could we, knowing what we know about Paul and his ministry. Paul was a full-on type of person, intense and driven, and he was very conscious that his time on earth was relatively short and he had many people to reach with the Gospel. From that, I would think he wasn’t a warm, fuzzy sort of person and probably alienated people along his journey through life. But when we read his letters, a different person emerges. He tried to balance the urgency he felt in establishing churches with his words of encouragement and discipleship in his letters. I’m sure he didn’t get things right all the time because he was human, just like us, but overall, he was motivated following his encounter with Jesus, and knew he had to spread the Gospel wherever and whenever he could.

But encourage one another daily

We pilgrims, too, are on a journey through life. It may be 2000 years later, but the issues are still the same because human beings haven’t changed. Sin is still present. Faith and holiness are still qualities we aspire to. And encouragement is needed as we meet with our friends, families and in our communities. We need to be encouraged, and we need to encourage others. Encouragement is not just a one-off event, though. Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today’, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness”. Who are the “one anothers”? As I wrote before, these are people in our families and communities who need a kind word or something else to lift their spirits in times of difficulty. But they also include those in our churches. People who come every week, possibly carrying burdens that we can’t see. People who, when asked how they are, reply “fine” when there are fires of anxiety and stress churning within them, and the same people leave at the end of the service feeling much the same.

Christians everywhere need encouragement, primarily because it is necessary to our walk of faith. Jesus warned His disciples, and us as well by implication, that this world is a hostile place for Christians to live in. He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In the previous chapter, He said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). But Jesus encouraged us because He is greater than any trouble we face.

We all struggle if we do not receive any encouragement, but it is important to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). This truth makes encouragement all the more important. It is not just that we face the world’s displeasure; we are caught in the crosshairs of a spiritual battle. When we are encouraged in Christ, we have the strength to put on our spiritual armour and remain steadfast. Without encouragement, life would soon feel pointless and burdensome. Without encouragement, we can be overwhelmed by the very real pains of our lives. Without encouragement, we feel unloved. Without encouragement, we begin to think that God is a liar or is unconcerned with our welfare. So, the Bible tells us to encourage one another, to remind each other of the truth that God loves us, that God equips us, that we are treasured, and that our struggles are worth it.

Encouragement from the Bible gives us the will to carry on. It is a glimpse of the bigger picture. It can prevent burnout. It can save us from believing lies (“sin’s deceitfulness”). Encouragement helps us experience an abundant life. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

So, do we pilgrims need to encourage anyone today? Perhaps someone in the workplace, or in the family. Perhaps the next-door neighbour is prone to discouragement and needs a cheery word. Perhaps someone we encounter on the street or in the supermarket just needs a kind word to keep them going. And as for ourselves, we too need encouragement, of course, but if not from anyone around us, we can reach out to our Heavenly Father – He has a shed load just waiting to be poured out on us. Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Do we feel God’s peace and love today? Well, it’s there for the asking.

Dear Heavenly Father. Whatever our circumstances, we know that You provide the peace we need to live in this dark world. We thank You for Your encouragement, secure in the knowledge that Jesus died so that we could inherit a better place. Help us today, we pray, to reach out to those around us so that we can share the encouragement we have received from You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Christmas Day 2025

Posted on 25th Dec 202521st Dec 2025 by Adrian Clark

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIVUK

When we pilgrims celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating far more than a holiday, tradition, or season. Christmas is the story of God fulfilling His promises, drawing near to His people, and sending the Saviour the world had been longing for. It is a time to slow down, open the Scriptures, and let the Word of God remind us why the birth of Jesus matters so deeply. Christmas is rooted not in sentiment, tinsel, turkey and trivia, but in Scripture—God’s living testimony of His love. Long before the manger, God promised that a Saviour would come. For believers everywhere, Christmas is the fulfilment of these ancient prophecies. Isaiah declared, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Centuries later, Matthew quoted this verse when he wrote, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet” (Matthew 1:22). This is why Christians celebrate Christmas with such awe: it is a divine reminder that God is faithful. Every detail of Jesus’ birth echoes God’s promise-keeping nature.

“Immanuel, God with us”

At the heart of Christmas is the name Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Matthew writes, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23). This truth is central to Christian faith: God did not remain distant. He came close. The Gospel of John describes this mystery with breathtaking words: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). The God who created the universe stepped into time, wrapped Himself in humanity, and lived among His people. For us pilgrims, Christmas means that God understands our struggles, walks beside us, and never leaves us alone.

The Saviour Has Come

Christmas is the celebration of the Saviour’s arrival. The angel told Joseph, “You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus’ very name means “The Lord saves.” Christians believe that the manger points toward the cross. From the moment of His birth, Jesus came with a mission: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). The birth of Christ is God’s announcement of salvation, not just for a nation, but for the whole world. The angels proclaimed this good news to the shepherds: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people… a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10 11). This is the heart of Christmas joy: salvation has come, wrapped not in royal garments but in swaddling clothes.

Light in the Darkness

We see Christmas as the arrival of God’s light into a dark world. Isaiah foretold, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus later confirmed this prophetic promise: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). For believers facing discouragement, grief, or uncertainty, Christmas proclaims hope. The Light has come, and “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Peace on Earth

One of the most cherished themes of Christmas is peace—God’s peace offered to humanity through Jesus. When the angels announced Jesus’ birth, they praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests” (Luke 2:14). This peace is not temporary or shallow. It is the peace Jesus promised His followers: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). For us, Christmas renews the promise of a peace that anchors the heart in every season of life.

A Call to Worship

Every figure in the Christmas story responds to Jesus with worship. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, where “they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (Luke 2:16). Then “the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God” (Luke 2:20). The wise men traveled from afar asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). When they found Jesus, “they bowed down and worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11). Christians today join in that same worship—lifting their voices, their hearts, and their lives in adoration of the newborn King.

Christmas shapes how Christians live. Scripture calls believers to reflect the heart of Christ: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). The generosity, humility, and compassion seen in Jesus’ birth become daily invitations to walk in His footsteps.

Because God came near, we draw near to others.
Because Christ brought light, we shine that light.
Because the Saviour came, we share His good news

For Christians, the meaning of Christmas is summed up in one verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16). Christmas is God’s love in action—His promise fulfilled, His presence revealed, His salvation offered, His light shining, His peace given. It is the story of a God who came near so that we could come home.

Dear Lord Jesus. Thank You for coming to this world, and we celebrate Your coming today, this Christmas Day. We pray for our friends and families today that the real meaning of Christmas will penetrate through the day’s distractions. In Your precious name. Amen.

Deliverance

Posted on 15th Jan 202521st Dec 2024 by Adrian Clark

“Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.”
Psalm 3:7-8 NIVUK

The language that David used in these verses today makes us recoil in a fog of discomfort, knowing that as pilgrims we should be reaching out in love, not hate, loving our enemies as Jesus taught. But here was the psalmist, David, expressing to God what he thought God should do with his enemies. We think that sentiments such as breaking our enemies’ teeth can’t be a valid position, or expectation, for a God-fearing believer. There will be many who will dismiss such thoughts and put them down to a less sophisticated people living in violent times. Others will perhaps be more charitable and sympathise with David, faced with trying to protect his people from nasty neighbouring nations. But then perhaps we should pause and think about ourselves and our own reactions to the behaviour of people who we encounter day by day. The motorist who does something stupid and nearly causes us to have an accident. The objectional person in the office who bullies and belittles the more timid members of the team. The keyboard warriors who pollute the comments section of a social media post with their vitriol and hatred. The list of disagreeable people is seemingly endless, but, be honest now, do we just shrug our shoulders extending a mental “Bless you brother”, or do we too, like David, ask God to do something significant with them, to teach them the error of their ways?

David wanted terrible things to happen to his enemies, and he asked God to be the instrument administering his judgement, but he also asked for deliverance. And that is a prayer I think we should emulate. When our thoughts rise up in frustration and anger against the less considerate members of our society, we can of course pray for justice to be dispensed, teaching them a lesson, but it is better to pray that we should be delivered from the negative thoughts and even possible actions that boil over in our minds. “Deliver me, my God” is a good prayer to pray when faced with the events that seem to crop up with depressing frequency.

Another thought that springs up is about the impact that negative and angry feelings can have on our spiritual and even physical well-being. Resentment and unforgiveness can have a devastating effect on our souls. And, of course, the person causing us so much distress will be unaware of the effect that their behaviour has on the lives of others. We might like them to drink a potion of hemlock as a punishment, but the impact of the poison is on us not them, as the anger and thoughts of immediate judgement eat away at our souls. We end up going down the tubes of depression and illness, facing a long climb back to emotional equilibrium. So we pray, like David, for deliverance. And our loving Heavenly Father will indeed pour out His blessings upon us, and deliver us from the evil that would otherwise beset us.

Dear Lord God. You are our Deliverer, the Keeper and the Provider of peace and healing for our wounded souls. Amen.

Fear

Posted on 14th Jan 202521st Dec 2024 by Adrian Clark

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.”
Psalm 3:5-6 NIVUK

What are we afraid of? David lived in a politically unstable world and there were always enemies of the Jews present in the surrounding nations, looking for an opportunity to destroy them. And he, as the king of Israel, felt the pressure of needing to be ready. But in spite of all of that, David was able to sleep, safe and sound, because “the Lord was watching over [him]”. But back to us pilgrims. In the UK we live in a more politically stable environment, without the overt threat of aggressive and hostile nations willing and able to invade our island and do us harm. However, warfare is different today, with cyber attacks and the threat of a nuclear strike. And as we look back through history, warfare has never been far away from our shores. We are also aware that living in 21st Century societies is fraught with all sorts of “enemies” that impact our ways of life, and we can quickly tumble into a world of “what if’s” ranging from health care through to job security and financial sufficiency. There is much fear and stress around today. Our immediate enemies might be different to David’s but they are still real and can have a marked effect on our future.

In a sense, we have little to fear because God is with us. I am writing these thoughts this morning, and you might be reading what I have written in a day or two. Like David, we woke up this morning after a night’s sleep. Recently, I said to a man I met during my prayer walk that it was a good morning. The sun was shining and for once it wasn’t raining here in Scotland, but his response was, “All mornings are good if you wake up”. And that is true in a world fearful and lost, but we pilgrims cannot lose. If God sustains us for another day, we still have work to do for His kingdom here on earth. If He doesn’t then we will wake up in His presence. Win-win.

The go-to Psalm for me is 121. “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep“. The Psalmist continues, “The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore”. Do we believe that or do these words just give us a momentary warm feeling that quickly dissipates in the chill winds of adversity that swamp our souls, as another night time worry raises its head and disturbs our rest? Fellow pilgrims, our Lord and God is constantly with us and we believe that whatever He says is what He does. I cannot count the many occasions when He has been there for me in times of anxiety and stress, and I’m sure that is the same for you as well. Trusting in God will not necessarily remove the enemies around us (although sometimes He will), whatever they are, but it will mean we can sleep at night in the knowledge that He is looking out for us, and will give us the strength and wisdom we need.

Dear Father God. Thank You that You are with us, every minute of every day. Amen.

Peace and Forgiveness

Posted on 23rd Dec 202427th Dec 2024 by Adrian Clark

“Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.””
John 20:21-23 NLT

Once again Jesus said “Peace be with you”. In a world that had seen the disciples’ bumpy ride following Jesus in His ministry, the chaos was continuing in their souls. They had seen the miracles, the dead raised, Jesus walking on water. They had received training for the future in Jesus’ University of Kingdom Life. They had experienced the abuse from the Jewish leaders. They had even gone out themselves, healing the sick and preaching the good news about the Kingdom of God. And now, following a couple of days of grieving for their crucified Leader, entombed and graveyard dead, He was now standing with them, alive and well, in a locked room. And He said “Peace …”. They needed a shed load of that, for sure.

Jesus then said to them, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” The disciples commissioned, sent out to continue Jesus’ mission. The handing on of the Kingdom baton, charged with the message of hope for an otherwise dying race of people. Then Jesus breathed on them. This wasn’t just a febrile puff. It was a full throated blast of air from the bottom of Jesus’ lungs, emulating what was to come on the Day of Pentecost, where the disciples would indeed “Receive the Holy Spirit”. The connection was that on their own, and in their own strength, they would be unable to carry out their mission. They would need the Holy Spirit without doubt, empowering them and working through them each and every day.

Jesus continued, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven”. Does that mean that Jesus was giving the disciples the authority to forgive sins? That can’t be true of course, because only God can forgive sins. There seems to be a problem with the translation, according to Greek scholars, and a better translation might be, “If sins have already been forgiven, then they are forgiven. If they have already been retained then they are not forgiven”. Perhaps another of the Bible’s foibles that needs further scrutiny, which is why we need to read the Scriptures often and in depth, prayerfully asking God to reveal the meaning of His Word.

Peace and forgiveness are both features of God’s Kingdom living. We pilgrims can experience both on our journey to Glory.

Dear Father God. Living in Your Kingdom here on earth provides a foretaste of what is to come, and we are so grateful. Amen.

Peace Be With You

Posted on 22nd Dec 202425th Nov 2024 by Adrian Clark

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!”
John 20:19-20 NLT

The eleven remaining disciples had called a meeting, and to make sure they were not disturbed, they locked the doors. In those days door locks were very basic and may have consisted of little more than a wooden bolt. Doors were ubiquitous though and the disciples took steps to prevent unauthorised people from entering. John recorded that they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, with good reason because they were now on a roll and would do anything to stamp out Jesus’ influence on Jewish religious society. But I wonder what the disciples were discussing? Obviously, the report from Mary Magdalene would have been at the top of the agenda, and they must have discussed how valid and reliable her feedback was because women were not exactly well considered in those days. They would also have been discussing what to do next, now that their Leader and Master, Jesus, was no longer with them. But then, Jesus suddenly appeared. John’s language in his account was very factual and unemotional, but to be sitting or standing around in a group, and then to suddenly see a person appear before them, must have been a significant and even fearful situation. “Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!”. This was no gradual “beam me up” moment, with a figure gradually appearing before them. It all happened suddenly, and the first words that Jesus spoke were, “Peace be with you”. The disciples were a superstitious lot, and they were already in an advanced state of fear, hence the locked door. So Jesus’ greeting about peace would have gone some way to allaying their nervous states, and after He had showed them His crucifixion wounds we read that “They were filled with joy”. Of course they were! What else could they be? But the initial joy would have been accompanied by the thought that something was happening here far beyond their experience and understanding. People just do not walk through locked doors. As an aside, if Jesus was able to pass through locked doors, then He would have been able to exit the tomb without removing the stone, which must therefore have been rolled away for the benefit of the disciples, so that they could see it was empty.

Sometimes people lock the door to their hearts, for a number of reasons including previous hurts and disappointments. They put up a barrier to prevent more pain in the future and that applies to their contact with God as well. Perhaps they had a bad experience in a Sunday school as a child. Or a church experience turned sour and they left, never to return. But in Revelation 3:20 we read, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends“. A poignant invitation from Jesus to everyone, including us pilgrims. We must be sensitive to hear Jesus’ knock at the door of our hearts. Once allowed in, He will bring His message, “Peace be with you”, and our troubled thoughts and situations will take on a different perspective in His presence.

We also remember that Jesus said He was the door. John 10:7, 9, “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. … I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”. Jesus’ door is never locked and all can enter into eternal life if they believe in Him.

Dear Lord Jesus. You are the Way into Your Father’s presence. There is no other way – please help us to communicate with those who have chosen the wrong way, so that they too can find the Door. Amen.

The Olive Grove

Posted on 14th Nov 202419th Oct 2024 by Adrian Clark

“After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples.”
John 18:1-2 NLT

In Luke’s Gospel, we read, “Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives” (Luke 22:39). The Mount of Olives was close to Jerusalem, and it was there that Jesus and His disciples spent time together, enjoying the cool of the evening after what was probably a hot day. It was a sanctuary of peace for them, peace in turbulent times where they faced into the antagonism of the Jewish religious leaders. A place of prayer and sharing, a place where the disciples could relax with their Teacher and their Lord. A place where spiritual batteries were recharged for anything to be faced the next day. A grove of olive trees became a place of sanctuary.

The word “sanctuary” first appeared in the Old Testament and it was a place where God dwelt with His people. Exodus 25:8, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them”. A sanctuary in Old Testament times became the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Moving into New Testament times, church buildings emerged and here in the UK the landscape is scattered with hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful, but mostly totally impractical, buildings, sanctuaries that have become monuments to past moves of God. But even today, there is something special about sitting in a pew in a church building, surrounded with light streaming through stained glass windows, looking at an altar where we hope that God will reveal His presence and grant us peace in our time of need.

We pilgrims need a sanctuary, where we too can sit at the Master’s feet in our own personal Olive Grove. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “ … Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls“. The Psalmist David found his sanctuary in God. He wrote these verses from Psalm 62, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken“.

Personally, I find my sanctuary amongst the natural world around me, where I can see and hear God’s creation, splendid and unique. Every bird that sings and every flower that has burst into life provides a backdrop to where I find God’s peace and presence, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [my] heart and [my] mind in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). And from my spiritual olive grove I find once again the place of rest, a sanctuary for my soul. Where, dear fellow pilgrim, is your “Olive Grove”? Somewhere where the heavy burdens of life in this mad and bad world can be left at the Master’s feet? God always wants to meet with us. He is always accessible. And there is a place where Heaven touches earth, right where we can find it. It may be an “Olive Grove” or it may be somewhere else, but there we will find rest for our souls.

Dear Father God. It is mind-boggling to realise that the Creator of this Universe wants to meet with us, within the sanctuary in our hearts. Please help us to remain open and willing to commune with You and find the peace that our souls yearn for. Amen.