In days gone by a ‘handshake deal’ was as binding as any legal contract. This notion filtered down to the words used between people. If someone said they would do something, then one party trusted it would be done and the other party was responsible enough to follow through and do it. Trust was maintained and the relationship could grow and be strong.

Jesus referred to this binding of our words when He said in Matthew 5:37, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

In contrast, a relationship can be eroded by promises that are not kept and words that have no value.

Often, we make vows to God out of a desire to have a strong relationship with Him as a loving, heavenly Father. In the time of the law of Moses, where actions and words carried a price, Moses wrote the message above to `do what we say we will do‘. The only thing that can separate us from God during this era of Grace is not recognising and repenting for our own sin. We should, therefore, recognise the need to fulfil those promises we have made to God, so they do not become a burden to us. Deuteronomy 23:21, “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.”

There are always times when our weakness is greater than our will, which is why the Lord sent His Spirit to help us as an indwelling strength to pay our vows. By remembering our promises to the Lord and endeavouring to fulfil them we are working at maintaining this truthful, strong relationship based on trust.

Psalm 34:22, “The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”

At some stage, each of us will ask ourselves, “Am I worthy to ask God for His blessings?”

We will be in good company when asking that question, as the Bible records many examples of the faithful who doubted their own worth. The Roman Centurion was in command of many soldiers and yet he said, “Lord I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof.” (Matthew 8:8). John the Baptist said of himself, “but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear” (Matthew 3:11). Apostle Paul, when talking of Jesus said that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

In Apostle Paul’s statement we see the link between these feelings of unworthiness and the reason Jesus came to win Grace. When we think we are not worthy because we are a sinner, we are in exactly the right frame of mind to look for a Saviour who came to save the unworthy. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

Sin separates us from God as far as imperfection is separate from perfection. “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” Isaiah 59:1-2. No one actually deserves to be in a position to ask God for anything. Even our Lord taught that there was none good, but one, that is, God (Matthew 19:17).

In order to make it possible for us to come to the Father through Him and have our prayers heard, Jesus paid a ransom for us on the cross. He provided the payment and won Grace for us. Grace His unmerited favour.

His victory is able to remove our sin from us as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103: 12). It is only by recognising His sacrifice and victory that we are able to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus now intercedes at the right hand of God, the heavenly Father who is the provider of good gifts to His children, for those who recognise they are unworthy and uses His Grace to bridge the gap.

Always remembering that when we offer prayer, we should also bring thanks for the answer. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Our text clearly tells us that we should praise the Lord for His creative powers and acknowledge that He is the creator of all things. We must never use this as we tend to do, in past tense. We know that God did create the earth and everything therein, but He did not then stop creating. He creates on day by day.

His creation continues and it is under His creative hand where we see that those things created in the beginning continue in this day. He created earth out of the oceans of the world: that still continues in parts of the world. At the mouths of rivers where the soil comes down there is new land created. In the oceans atolls appear that were never there before. He is our Creator today. We look into the forests, we see the trees; they do not die out when they have lived their life, but new trees come. We see the fruit trees bearing fruit, it continues day by day. The cattle continue to have calves, and humans continue to be blessed with the creation of children. We must never look upon this as a past tense. That is why this praise must go unto the Almighty God every day of our life, for we witness His creation.

This was verified by God as He created these things. Verse 6 – ‘He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.’ What was that decree that He made that would continue to bring about this creation for ever and ever in our times? If we read the Creation story in the Book of Genesis we will see that after each section of the creation He always then said, ‘And God saw that it was good.‘ He saw that it was good. If God sees something that is good, it is for ever and ever because God’s words are true, they cannot ever be faulted. As He put into place this creation at the beginning, He always saw that it was good.

When it came to the creation of mankind we read a different decree that He gave at that time. It is important for us to understand why it is different and what prompted Him to decree something different. We find that He created Adam, and out of Adam – Eve, Genesis 1: 2 ‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. ‘

We see when He created mankind, and gave this creation unto mankind, it was not just good, it was very good. Therein we have to question ourselves. Why did God have to say that it was very good? Everything that God makes is good. He does not have to pat Himself on the back and say that – It is very good. What was He referring to? It was a prophecy. It was a prophecy for the future, but it was also an acknowledgement at that time, that Adam and Eve when they were presented with this creation that had day and night and everything therein, they chose to be creatures of the day. They chose to live in the light and not be creatures of the darkness, and that was in God’s mind why He said – ‘It was very good.’ We today have to be sure that we also remain in the light. Remember the light at the beginning was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ‘Let there be light,’ God said, ‘And there was light.‘ The sun and the moon came later. We have to walk in the light of Christ, and if we walk in that light then in God’s promise or His decree, that is very good.

In this text and the following ones telling us to consider the lilies of the field.  We see that the Lord is teaching us to spend some time in looking at the creation around us, with a bit more thought and consideration, and see how the heavenly Father preserves it and finds it, without those beings having to worry or fret or store up. He uses this as an example to teach us to have faith, also that as He feeds and preserves the lesser things in His creation that pass away, how much more will He feed and preserve us, the crown of His creation which is promised to go on to eternity.

When considering the birds of the air, I am reminded of an article which surveyed the number of birds in a certain city park, in a large city in the U.S.A., and an estimate of their daily consumption of food. It amounted to tons and tons per day, and we tend to overlook this. If we consider the amount of food consumed by all birds throughout the world, it is mind boggling, but yet Christ pointed us to this fact to show that our Heavenly Father provides this, day in, and day out, for them because of his love to creation. We do see cases where man interferes and deludes birds and animals of their natural supply of food, and often these things then have to turn to the crops of man to sustain themselves. Man then calls them pests, but to them they see it as daily food provided by the Creator.

We do see natural disasters such as droughts etc., take their toll as food disappears, but it is interesting to read reports being done by researchers into the animal (both wild and commercial) and bird population, that following a major drought, there is a greater percentage of female young born. We see how our Heavenly Father uses this to again build up the numbers. With trees and vegetation when we look closely, we see how the Creator regulates and feeds them sufficiently, so that they always show forth the majesty of creation. If we take time to look at an established Eucalyptus Forest, we will observe that each year or season, the trees flower and drop seed, but usually that seed does not germinate, lest too many trees will spring up and choke out the main tree: however, when the main tree is poisoned, ring-barked, struck by lightning, or fire, or begins to die out, amazingly some of the seeds dropped, germinate, so as to provide a replacement.

How often we’ve seen cleared land used for farming for many years, abandoned, and after a few years, vegetation takes it over. All of these things, as we consider them, should lead us more and more to think of our text. Now Christ was not implying that we all just sit around and wait for God’s blessings to come to us, no, we must remember the penalty brought to mankind by the sin of Adam, Gen. 3:19, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground,” but rather He was telling us we should not become worried what we shall eat and how shall we be clothed, to the extent that if we are not careful, these things become our God’s. He reminds us that our Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things and tells us how we should go about these things in verse 33. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you.” According to the Bible, the Kingdom of God is Christ, and if we seek Him and His righteousness (Grace), and His ways, and His teachings, firstly in our lives, all the rest of our blessings from our Heavenly Father, will flow on us more abundantly as we see flowing on His creation.

This text was explained to the Apostle John as those that have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, servants of God who will dwell among them, they shall hunger and thirst no more, and have no tears and be led by the Lamb to be led and given living fountains of water, to live eternally. In simple terms, those that have prepared themselves in this life, through Christ, to be His bride. We have all been taught how those white robes come about through the righteousness of Christ, but what of the palms that must also be in our hands? When we read early Christian history and visit the early Christian graves, we see that those grave-stones did not feature the cross as many do today. In its stead, we see the palm used and generally in the language of that country, the word – Christ. It appears our text was the basis of this custom. If we do more research, we will find that the early Church used the palm in Church life, to express the triumph of the Christian over death, through the resurrection. The palm was always used to identify and it became the sign of martyrdom, as this was considered in the light of victory, assuring all of the surety of that person’s coming resurrection. It is no doubt the words of Psalm 92:12; “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree”, played an important role in this symbol and belief in our text, as it linked the two together. The righteous robe through Christ and the flourishing after the resurrection in the Kingdom of God.

With this knowledge, we then must ask ourselves how this links itself to the Bride and what benefits are bestowed to the world by the palm tree. Solomon’s Song which is a poetic description of the Bride of Christ, tells us in chapter 7:6-7; “How fair and how pleasant art thou O love, for delights! This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.” This then leads us to consider the stature of the palm and its use. A palm is a tree that is straight, from the ground up to the first fronds. It is a very deep rooted tree, the roots usually go down deep to find the water. We see the first attributes of the Bride’s stature. Deeply rooted in the faith of Christ, always seeking more and more of the water of life. From the roots we grow straight up towards the heaven, not being side tracked by sending branches out into the world to seek those earthly pleasures. The palm tree is renowned for its long life of fruit bearing, in some cases over two hundred years, telling us that each generation has an obligation to be fruitful and pass that on to the next to continue. A palm is fruitful in many ways and so must the bride. A palm brings forth fruit, it is used to make wax to preserve things. Sugar is extracted to sweeten the lives of others, also oil is extracted and used for sustenance, anointing and healing purposes, tannin for health, dye to make, design and cover up, resin to bind things together and arrack as a substitute for wine.

We can see very clearly that all of these things are also required, as the bride shows forth those gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The prophet Ezekiel had a vision of the temple of God that would be built in the world. Of course he was seeing the spiritual temple, the living Church. It is interesting that in chapters 40 & 41, he saw that palm

trees featured in the design. The message of our text is clear if we are to be of that number, we are dependent on washing our robes in the blood of the Lamb but at the same time, we must be as the palm, upright in life and very fruitful, if we are to gain the palm to hold in our hand.

We see the apostle after a number of years was now bringing to light a revelation that had been given to him those years
before. It is now in the world today that we often hear of people experiencing an after death sensation and a vision, and then
they are brought back to life again. In the church members we hear of it. It was a new blessing that was to be given to the
world. Previously there would have not been benefit in anyone seeing the after death experience as they made their way to hell
the place of waiting to be judged but now there was a new hope for mankind. We find that this experience of the Apostle Paul,
when we relate the time that he said it happened, and we relate his journey, and we go back to that period that he spoke of, and
see the circumstances that prevailed at that time and what he was speaking about, and we find written in the Book of Acts
Chapter 14 verses 8-20 on as follows: “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his
mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had
faith to be healed. Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what
Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of
men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter,
which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which
when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying,
Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these
vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past
suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave
us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained
they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and lconium,
who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the
disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”
We see that the Apostle Paul was stoned to death. It is witnessed that they thought that he was dead. They took his body
outside the city, and in that period he had a death-life experience, he was taken up to the third heaven and he witnessed and
saw Paradise. He was also told and he also knew that no man could speak about this because it was beyond the comprehension
of any words that any man could discuss on the beauty and the blessings that were in that place. God then brought him back to
life as His disciples stood around him. Here was a man who was stoned to death and yet he just stood up and walked back in to
the city. This experience came to him for a reason and that was to explain to the church the existence of Paradise and its
beauty. We can read where the apostle resisted telling anyone for all of those years. He even said to the Lord that he was
frightened that if he spoke of that the people would praise him and say that he was a god, as they had done on that day that it
happened. He resisted three times. He said it was like a thorn in his side. Three times he was about to bring it out as a teaching,
but then he stepped back because he did not want to be honoured for what he had seen. He said that he would prefer to be
honoured in the persecutions that he was going through
and he confessed to the Lord. We know today how repentance must always be done. He confessed to the Lord that for three
times he had fought this, now he was condemned. The Lord said to him – My grace is sufficient for thee and in weakness will
you be made strong. We can see it is not only each and everyone of us, but it was a strong man of faith like Apostle Paul, and
we can understand this experience. It had never happened in the world before and it has continued on today, where many can
testify of when they were proclaimed leaving this life they saw glorious lights and glorious things before they were brought
back. We must believe those in faith, as the Apostle Paul has taught us of this wonderful place of Paradise. We have also heard
that it is a place of waiting, even though it is a place of blessing. It is a place of waiting where we have to wait until the Lord
returns and brings those souls with Him to bring about the resurrection of the bodies so that they can be made whole. We must
never doubt that the resurrection of the church will take place when our Lord returns.

Even if we are convinced about a thing, it is still quite difficult at times to convince someone else. Though, this problem is nothing new. Jesus Christ Himself had to experience often, that His listeners did not understand Him. In love and, as I mean, also with directness He tried to bring the Kingdom of Heaven close to them. We read, that His contempories, in spite of accurate and sound parables and pictures, had not understood Him. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. 2:14)
In our text here we experience Apostle Paul’s attempt to write into the heart of Timothy, his helper, emphatically the greatness of God and the redemption- deed of His Son. Also in many newer bible translations one can always read at the same place, it is with certainty that … for Paul it was clear, that it needed such strengthening confirmation. He knew that people would react to affirmations with questions like: how come, what for, why for?

Apostle Paul goes a specific way, which commends imitating. He names himself and the mercy, which he, the great sinner received, as a sound example of the great love of God. Thoroughly convinced he writes, that Christ Jesus of this reason had come into the world to save sinners, of whom he was the greatest (chief). This grace, evidenced to all, by the change of Saul to Paul was most precious to Paul. This happened for an example for others as well, not only for his own personal benefit. Unmistakingly, he shows there with the way to eternal life. The Apostle Paul was truly a significant writer and preacher. We brothers are oft in need to utter to the right praise for God. By reading and inner digesting the last verse of our Word, one could nearly become envious. Here is the norm. Here, in faith and in deep reverence is the excellence and greatness of God praised. At the same time, we are reminded, that this should be done into all eternity.

Now a few questions, which I ask myself and which somehow should be for everyone as well:
Wherewith do I witness of the godly authority that is sending me?
How do I deal with my own failure, weaknesses?
Do I confess that salvation and redemption were given to me?
Do I know, that with my redemption a sign was set before me?
Can I be an example to my fellow-man? How?
Do I remain personally steadfast in my inner character, to praise God? Do I praise God in unity with believers who are entrusted to me?
Let us serve the Lord, our Heavenly Father, in reverence.
Following words from our text-word after the translation “Hope is for all”.

When we consider the Lord’s teaching on that greatest commandment to love God above all else and our neighbour as ourselves we suddenly find that it is not so easy, for He said we should love our enemies, do good to those who despitefully use us, show mercy and compassion. Our Lord did this. We can if we allow the spirit to drive us and lead us, we too can fulfil those virtues of Christ.
In that great parable that He spoke of the good Samaritan, it really rings true to us that we must look sincerely at those things within our lives. We know in that parable a man was journeying to go to another place, and he was fell upon by thieves, and they beat him and left him there.  Firstly a priest came by and looked and saw him, and went to the other side of the road, perhaps he thought he may be drunk, for he did not want to get involved, it was not his argument we might say. Then a Levite came, who was in control of the temple, and he should have known what the commandment of God was, and he too went to the other side of the road. Finally a Samaritan came. The Samaritans were not supposed to mingle with the Jews. The Jews looked upon the Samaritans and called them dogs because they were only half bred Jewish people. But this Samaritan, he stopped and he gave this man assistance, he patched up his wounds, he took him to the inn and he gave the innkeeper money and said to look after him until he is well, and if it takes more the next time I journey I will pay for this. Our Lord said to this Pharisee who had asked Him what he must do to find his way to the Kingdom of God, and our Lord asked him – “What were the two great commandments?”  He had said rightly so – To love God above all else, and our neighbour as ourselves. Then he asked the Lord – “Who is my neighbour?”  Our Lord gave that teaching of the Samaritan. Our Lord asked him then – “Who do you think was neighbour to this man?” The Pharisee had to answer – I suppose, he would not commit himself because he knew his conscience was already playing on him: “I suppose he who showed mercy to him.” Our Lord said – “You have said well, go and do likewise.”
We see that mercy is always coupled with love. We must at all times not allow our minds to decide who needs to be shown this mercy and love, but we allow the Spirit of God to lead us, and at all times if we are merciful one to another, if we show love to those who are not in a position to love us back we might say or to pay us back, then that is indeed the water of life flowing through the Spirit of God, and it will certainly allow the Grace of God to work within us and take us on to the Kingdom of God.
Let us again reflect on Christ’s words which are a commandment to us.  “Go, and do thou likewise”.  We must remember mercy can be shown both naturally and spiritually.  Galatians 6: 1-2 “Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”