Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 07:17:56 +1000
From: Pastor Ron Clarke <>
Subject: Word for the Week 21 June

Have you ever purchased a product or used a service after reading
an advertisement, only to find that the product or service did not match
up to its claims? Iím sure that you have. Similarly, you may
have supported a candidate only to realise later that he or she did not
measure up to their promises (Iím sure that we have ALL done
that).

It all comes down to reliability – a much sought after commodity.
The experiences of life remind us that reliabilty is elusive – products
fail, people disappoint. Services and promises are offered and made
with the wrong motives, often with profit or personal gain as the prime
objective. We become suspicious, we may even pass up an excellent
opportunity because it sounds just too good to be true and there must be
a catch somewhere. After a few doubtful experiences such offers and
promises tend to cloud our vision.

Thereís nothing new about this. These are a few comments
from widely read publications of their day: 1840 – "Anyone
traveling at the speed of thirty miles per hour would surely
suffocate." 1878 – "Electric lights are unworthy of serious
attention." 1901 – "No possible combination can be united
into a practical machine by which men shall fly." 1926 – (from a
scientist) "This foolish idea of shooting at the moon is basically
impossible." 1930 – (another scientist) "To harness the
energy locked up in matter is impossible." There have always been
those who said, "It can’t be true." Yes, even the experts can
be unreliable. But the real tragedy is that 99 percent of the people
believed them.

But in the Word of God there is reliability, yet there are many who
doubt HisWord and pass up an excellent opportunity because it sounds too
good to be true. But its reliability will depend on the use we make of
it. Does it become a guide and an encouragement or does it just remain
words between two covers? A story tells of a king who prepared a city
for some of his poor subjects. He constructed a storehouse where
everything they needed would be supplied if they would only send him
their requests. There was one condition, however: they should
constantly be on the lookout for his messengers so that when they came
with the gifts in answer to their urgent pleas, the petitioners would
always be found waiting and ready to receive them. One faithless
subject, not actually expecting to get what he asked for, never watched
for their delivery. One day he was taken to the king’s storehouse; and
there, to his amazement, he saw scores of packages that had originally
been made ready for him. The messengers had come to his door, but
because he was not looking for them, the king’s gifts never satisfied
his needs.

Sometimes God makes us wait for things, simply because we are
so unbelieving. Many miss out on desired blessings because they doubt.
Godís promises can be relied upon. Read about them – often.

Have a good week. Pastor Ron
Optional Bible readings: Mark
11:24; Luke 11:9-13; John 15:7

This is one of a series of weekly messages of encouragement
originating from the Derwent Valley, near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
A companion Bible study page is available each week. To subscribe email
<> with the words ‘subscribe word (or) word
and study’ Enquire about our weekly e-mail newsletter for young people.

Pastor Ron Clarke (Mark 16:15)
Email:
Internet Home Pages: http://www.pastornet.net.au/word4week
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