This morning’s sermon was an exposition of John 14:19-24. Jesus was explaining how a Christian could be recognised. There were three positive points made by Jesus and one warning.

1. We would see Jesus – we would see him for who he is – our Lord and Saviour, and so love him.
2. We would know his commands and obey them. This is not to say we will be perfect, for original sin will cause us to fail. We will, however, endeavour to know his commands, trying to keep them to the best of our ability because we love him and when we fail, we acknowledge we have failed and seek forgiveness.
3. We would know his words, not just his commandments. If we love him, we would seek to know the mind of God and his will, that everything we do would be pleasing to him.

The warning was quite sobering though, “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.” John 14:24.

What a cool day. Went to the British Museum today with Ally, Nigel and Sarah. We roughly followed the guidance given by Through the British Museum – with the Bible which had useful extra notes on how things fitted into history. Starting in the in the Great Court, we went through Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Israel, Ancient Egypt, Assyria, Ancient Greece, Imperial Rome, Roman Britain and finally finishing in Medieval Europe – with lunch somewhere in between. Quite a day, with loads of things to look at from the scale of the Elgin Marbles, to archaeologically important artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone through to the cutlery used by Roman subjects. Still haven’t seen everything though, will need to visit again.

Finished the evening playing Scrabble at Sarah’s. I think my brain was beginning to struggle with the pace towards the end, requiring assistance from the hostess. All in all, a very good day for which I am grateful.

“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.
“Now LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’
And now, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.
“But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple that I have built!
Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.
May your eyes be open towards this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays towards this place.
Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray towards this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling-place; and when you hear, forgive.