Posts tagged with "bible"
Thursday, 26. November 2009, 03:08:49
reflection, bible
Scripture
“When all of this starts happening stand up straight and be brave. You will soon be free.”
Observation
Jesus says there are a number of signs for which christians should be looking. Strange behaviour in the stars and in the world should not cause us to be afraid but should prompt us to be ready.
Just as seasons are marked by events in nature, we must be alert for signs indicating that God's kingdom is here.
Because this could happen at any time, we need to put our efforts into eternal things, not just temporal things. Don't worry about your life- trust God.
Application
We live in an age of perpetual fear. Ten years ago it was Y2K. Now it is climate change and people are literally “afraid of the roaring seas and tides.”
True disciples keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. We know our destiny is heaven and that eternal treasures are more lasting than the temporary worries of this life.
Today could be the day of Jesus' return. Or perhaps it will not happen for another 1000 years. Either way we need to be ready by ensuring that we are walking in fellowship with Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I choose to take my eyes off the worries and cares of this world and instead to look to you. You still have the whole world in your hands, and regardless of what happens today, I will trust you. Amen.
Wednesday, 25. November 2009, 03:07:43
reflection, bible
Scripture
How can we possibly thank God enough for the happiness you have brought us?
Observation
Peoples sometimes mistakenly think of Paul as being a bit hard-line and cranky. As this passage shows, he had a real tenderness for the church at Thessalonica.
One of the hallmarks of true apostolic grace is tender love for the church. Apostles are not there to dominate or control but to provide a father's nurture for the church. Sometimes this will take the form of a stern rebuke but most often it is tender hearted and full of love.
Application
As a pastor, I need to check my heart- do I have the same love for God's people that Paul had for the Thessalonians?
It's impossible to offer any form of genuine christian leadership or ministry unless it's founded on love and affection for the people of God.
Prayer
Thank you Father for the joy I get from the people I serve. Help me to maintain that deep sense of thankfulness always. Amen.
Monday, 23. November 2009, 23:37:59
reflection, bible
Father it's a new day.
It's a day of busy-ness -
Many decisions to be made,
people to talk to,
work to do
family to care for.
How can I get through this day?
How can I live your way?
Father keep my heart pure,
my motives clean,
my love intact,
integrity whole.
Keep me safe from sin.
Close temptation's door.
Let me walk in purity
You, Lord, give grace
to all who humbly seek you
to all who desire you.
So Lord let this day be yours
Let my life be in your hands
Every deed and thought
holy to the Lord
Monday, 23. November 2009, 23:36:40
bible, reflection
Scripture
I promise that the time will come when I will appoint a king from the family of David, a king who will be honest and rule with justice.
Observation
For God's people in exile it must have felt like God had abandoned them. “How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?” they asked in one of the psalms written at the time.
Here Jeremiah gives them a huge promise. The story is not over and God has not abandoned His people.
In fact, this promise is a re-statement of a much earlier promise given to David that the ruler of Israel would always come from the descendants of David.
Application
As christians in the season of Advent and meditating on the coming of Jesus into the world, the promised king refers to Jesus. All of those centuries before Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, God was already preparing the way.
But there is more in this passage that we can hold on to.
1. God keeps His promises. Sometimes it seems impossible in the reality in which we live, but God never forgets His promises.
2. God doesn't abandon us. Even when He seems thousands of miles away, He is still Emmanuel- God is with us.
3. God is watching over His people always.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for your faithfulness. In the lead up to Christmas, may I be aware of your presence each day. Amen
Thursday, 19. November 2009, 00:06:19
reflection, bible
Scripture
Pilate said, “So you are a king?”
Observation
To be a self-titled king in Roman times meant a swift and painful execution. Many Messiahs, would-be kings and revolutionaries were crucified under the Roman occupation of Israel.
The Jewish leaders have framed Jesus on charged of claiming to be a king. Rather than going through the routine process of authorising another crucifixion, Pilate seems determined to get Jesus off the hook.
It is as if Jesus' true authority is plain to see and Pilate is afraid to pit himself against him.
Application
Jesus says, “My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is out of this world.”
The values of the Kingdom are diametrically opposed to the values of the world, the values of Empire. That means that christians should be motivated by values that are very different from those of the world.
It also means that our methods of achieving our goals must be very different to those of the world.
Unfortunately many, if not most, christians have values and aspirations very similar to those of their unsaved neighbours. Many churches use similar methods and models to business enterprises in order to be successful.
I need to look at all that I hold dear and see if it really is God who motivates me, or if I am more motivated by worldly or selfish goals dressed up in religious language.
Prayer
Jesus you died as a king saving your kingdom. You laid down your life at the hands of a human empire. Show me areas of my life that are more attuned to Empire than Kingdom and give me grace to repent. Amen.
Wednesday, 18. November 2009, 03:02:07
reflection, bible
Scripture
“I am the Alpha and the Omega- the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was and who is still to come- the Almighty One.”
Observation
God is the never-changing one. He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega. He is unchanging and ever-faithful.
Despite all appearances to the contrary, Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He has freed us from our sin and established us as a Kingdom of priests.
Application
The whole of creation , including me, is ultimately about God. He is the one who is there from the beginning to the end, He is the one who brings all things into being.
Salvation isn't just about ensuring my survival into eternity. It's about me taking my right position in creation and reorienting my focus from myself to God.
Jesus has made us into a Kingdom of priests. We are to attend to God by living holy lives and glorifying Him in all we do.
Jesus is coming with the clouds of heaven. He is coming for a pure and spotless Bride. I need to be ready for that day.
Prayer
Lord help me to see the centrality of living my life entirely for you. You are the beginning and the end, the First and the Last- give me grace to live with that focus. Amen.
Tuesday, 17. November 2009, 00:29:38
reflection, bible
Scripture
The God of Israel chose David and made him a great king. The mighty God of Israel loved him.
Observation
The heart of David was to live for God in whatever place he found himself- shepherd, fugitive, king. God told him what to do and he did it- that is why God blessed his reign,
Because of this, David was given a promise that flowed for generations, namely that someone from hid family would always be ruler over Israel.
Application
It's no good waiting until you are successful or old to live for God.
Righteousness and integrity start as heart-values from an early age.
If we truly love God, we will want to live a life that pleases Him, in every part of our life.
Prayer
Father may my life honour you always. I'm not perfect and, like David, I can sin badly. But my heart is for you Lord. Let my words and deeds reflect your holiness today and every day. Amen.
Friday, 13. November 2009, 11:55:04
reflection, bible
Scripture
My friends the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place by a new way that leads to life. And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
Observation
The sacrifices of the old covenant could never completely take away sins, but Christ is the sacrifice that is truly effective for ever. This is a one-off sacrifice that is good forever, not like the futile old covenant animal sacrifices.
When sins are forgiven there is no more need of sacrifices.
Because we have been given such a wonderful blessing we have a responsibility to encourage one another, to help one another and to meet together so that all of God's people are helped to remain faithful to Him.
Application
This passage really makes clear how weak the Old Covenant sacrifices are. They don't really take away sin- at best they just cover it over. Through Christ we have a perfect sacrifice who takes away the power of sin for the whole world for ever. He has brought to us the promise of forgiveness. This is not just a legalistic exchange of one sacrifice for another, but a shift in the way we experience God- true forgiveness is poured out to us.
Because of this, we can all do at any time what only the High Priest could do one day of the year- enter fully into the presence of God in the most holy place.
Some christians want to take up parts of the Jewish religious system But why would you take up something that is limited and ineffective and pass up on God's perfect sacrifice?
Prayer
Thank you Father for the perfect sacrifice of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you for allowing me complete access to your presence, any time and any place. Amen.
Wednesday, 11. November 2009, 05:14:44
reflection, bible
Scripture
Jesus replied, “Do you see these huge buildings? They will certainly be torn down. Not one stone will be left in place.”
Observation
The temple in all of its magnificence would soon be destroyed. The disciples ask for signs and times, but Jesus tells them merely to be ready for trouble.
There will be deceivers. There will be beatings and suffering. There will be opportunities to speak to rulers and kings.
But in all of the suffering, God will be with them. The Holy Spirit will speak through them. And those who endure will be saved.
Application
This passage, like all prophecies, speaks at several time scales.
Firstly there s the immediate situation. The physical temple was destroyed in 70 AD when the Roman army came into Jerusalem to quash an insurrection. The christians in Jerusalem at the time remembered the words of Jesus and fled to safety while most of those who remained in the city were brutally killed.
Jesus also speaks of the end times and the great tribulation when christians will suffer greatly before “the end comes.” The good news is that the tribulation is a part of the process of world evangelisation and so the suffering is not meaningless.
Since the death of Jesus actually brought in the end times, the passage also speaks of christians in all ages suffering for their faith. There are earthquakes and famines, war and distress, but the Spirit of God is still active and working even in the midst of the suffering.
Prayer
Father, thank you for this wonderful promise. Even when we are suffering for serving you, you are with us. Amen.
Monday, 9. November 2009, 10:28:13
reflection, bible
Hallelujah!
Sing praise to our God!
Come on church-
christians of every age-
join me in singing
Hallelujah to our Lord.
Twenty-four seven
dawn to dusk
and beyond.
Let the praises rise.
Look at the stars,
too many to number,
impossible to scan
God's glory is above all that
All the nations praise Him
He lifts up the poor,
heals the sick
rescues the nobodies
gives babies to the childless.
Hallelujah
Our God is wonderful.
Monday, 9. November 2009, 10:27:04
reflection, bible
Scripture
Eli replied, “You may go home now and I' sure the God of Israel will answer your prayer.”
Observation
This story starts in a place of sadness. Elkanah, a godly man has two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. While Peninnah has children, Hannah has none. Peninnah often reminds her of this shame, although Elkanah loves her and tries to console her.
On one occasion in the house of the Lord, Hannah prays fervently for a son, promising to dedicate him to the Lord. Eli the priest, after first thinking she is drunk, assures her that God has heard her prayer.
Some time later she has a son whom she names Samuel.
Application
Eli is a very ungodly man for a priest- a sign of how corrupt the religion was even in the early days. Eli is unable to tell the difference between fervent prayer and drunken mumblings. Perhaps he had never seen anyone pray emotionally before.
Yet the Spirit of God is able to use him to prophesy- reminding us that God's grace is much bigger than human sinfulness.
Prayer
Thank you Lord that your Spirit is more powerful than human sinfulness. In your compassion you hear the prayers of lowly people and speak even through the most corrupt of your servants. Thank you for this assurance of your power and greatness. Amen.
Tuesday, 27. October 2009, 06:46:53
reflection, bible
Scripture Jesus answered, “The most important one says: 'People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.' The second most important commandment says: 'Love others as much as you love yourself.' No other commandment is more important than these.”
Observation
The man talking to Jesus really wanted to know what it is to please God and to live in His kingdom. He wasn't there to score points or to play theology He really wanted to know.
He also saw that love is more important than sacrifices and offerings. Our service to God is about a soft heart and not just about external performance.
Jesus said to him, “You aren't far from the Kingdom of God.” The kingdom of God was right there- this was the heart of Jesus' message. This man took the gospel on board and realised what it was about.
Application
In the end the message is still the same: love God and love people.
This is not to say that theology or doctrine does not matter. It is vital that we know the God we are commanded to love, for in the end everyone becomes like what they most love.
But most of the stuff that Christians argue about is not important to loving God. Most of he demands that churches make of people who want to love God are not important.
It is our love for God and each other that is important.
Prayer
Father let me love you more and more each day. Show me how to grow in love for you and for other people. Amen.
Tuesday, 27. October 2009, 06:45:39
reflection, bible
Scripture But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God
Observation
The tent of Meeting was the place where the High Priest offered the sacrifice in God's presence for the sins of the entire nation of Israel.
But our High Priest is Christ, and the place where He makes sacrifice is not a human tent but in the throne room of God.
The blood of animals was considered by God to cleanse people from sin,We have the blood of the perfect Christ who is our eternal sacrifice.
The Old Covenant sacrifices were meant to point to the perfect sacrifice of the New Covenant. The High Priest of the Old Covenant was just a sign of the perfect High Priest who was to come.
Application
Under the Old Covenant sacrifice could only cleanse a person until the next time they sinned. There was a need for a recurrent practice of sacrifices. The death of an animal had only limited efficacy for atonement.
But we have a perfect sacrifice. Because Jesus was the eternal Son of God and was without sin, His blood covers our sins for ever. He is the perfect sacrifice that cleanses us not just from the effects of sin but also from the cause of sin. He gives us a new nature, removing the old sinful nature.
Prayer
What a wonderful Saviour you are Lord Jesus. Your sacrifice covers every sin, now and for ever. Please remove from me the desire to sin so that my whole life is a testimony to your grace. Amen.
Monday, 26. October 2009, 07:38:57
reflection, bible
God is great!
Praise His name-
Praise His holy name!
I won't stop singing,
I won't stop shouting
I won't stop praising
the name of our Lord.
Presidents fail
Kings die
Plans and programmes
are abandoned
But our God lives for ever
and He is dependable.
Trust in Him
and you will see
He heals the sick
and captives sets free.
He cares for the weak
the poor and dispossessed.
The strong can look after themselves
but woe to those who rip off the poor.
There is no one like our God.
Shout praise to His name.
Monday, 26. October 2009, 07:37:30
reflection, bible
Scripture
“I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God.”
Observation
The story of Ruth is one of those stories where God uses famine and tragedy to test the character of people and in fact to bring out the best in them.
A man called Elimelech from Bethlehem, and his wife Naomi and their sons are forced by famine to migrate. They settle in Moab where Elimelech dies and the two sons marry and subsequently die childless.
Naomi returns to Judah, but she sends the two daughters-in-law back to their homes. At her insistence, Orpah goes but Ruth clings to her and vows to go wherever Naomi goes and to remain always faithful to her.
Application
Ruth's loyalty to her mother-in-law is unshakeable, Even though the men who had brought them together had died, Ruth felt a great kinship with Naomi.
This is the kind of strong loyalty ties that are supposed to exist within the church. Pastors should not be mere employees on a contract. People should not find it easy to change churches or move locations when relationships get a little challenging or greener pastures beckon.
Our hearts in the Christian community should be so knitted together and lives intertwined that leaving is not an easy option. That's not to say that the church should be like a cult which holds people captive. No, the commitment has to be a voluntary giving of the heart, just as Ruth and Orpah were free to follow or return home.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, let your love so flow among your people that we demonstrate the same kind of covenant loyalty that Ruth and Naomi shared. Help us to give our hearts freely to one another that the world is astounded by your love. Amen.
Wednesday, 21. October 2009, 06:17:24
reflection, bible
Blind man shouts
People scold
Bartimaeus
Wants to see.
“You're not worthy”
“Turn it down”
Bartimaeus
Won't give up.
Jesus walking
Hears the ruckus
Turns to look.
Asks him questions
Likes his answers
Feels compassion
Heals his sight
Bartimaeus
Man of faith
Follows Jesus
Blind no more
Faith enlightens
Jesus heals
Heart responds
Spirit saved.
Wednesday, 21. October 2009, 06:13:29
reflection, bible
Scripture
Jesus will never die and so he will be a priest for ever.
Observation
All human priests suffer two basic limitations- they sin and they die. Sin means that the priests must first deal with their own sins and make sacrifices on their own behalf before they can intercede for others,
Because priests die, their intercession is limited and cannot be forever. One priest does and another follows with the same limitations.
The old covenant with its human priests had its shortcomings, but we have a new covenant with a perfect sinless and eternal high priest.
Application
We have a perfect priest in Jesus. He is the one of whom all previous priests and the whole sacrificial system were just a shadow. “Jesus is the high priest we need” because he is above all sinners and meets our need for a perfect priest.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the perfect high priest. You are the one who makes intercession for me. You will never die and never sin, so your intercession is perfect and eternal. Amen.
Wednesday, 21. October 2009, 06:10:36
bible, reflection
Hallelujah!
Our God Almighty reigns.
Hallelujah!
Our God is able to save.
Stand and sing
brothers and sisters
stand and shout
praise to our God
wave flags, bang drums
strum guitars and make music
God has saved you
He has redeemed you.
Your sin trapped you
circling like enemies.
But God freed you
Jesus stabbed deaths dark demons
Jesus died for your life-
He bit the biter
smote the smiter
struck the striker
killed the killer.
His life is your life
So live it for Him.
Wednesday, 21. October 2009, 06:06:09
reflection, bible
Scripture
“I heard about you from others; now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
Observation
Job realised that he thought he had all the wisdom, but on fact he had none. He had known about God from the testimony of others, but now he had a revelation of who God is.
The Lord rebuked Job's friends for their arrogance . The story finishes with a happy ending. All of Job's wealth is restored to him and he lives a long life with many descendants, He receives back double for all that was taken away from him.
Application
Job's problem was that he didn't know God. Despite all his righteousness, his good life and endless sacrifices, Job had not seen for himself who God is,
Relationship with God is at the heart of true faith. God has to be more than a theory. We can't live on somebody else's testimony of God.
Every person has to experience God for themselves. Every one of us has to have our own encounter with God, or else He remains a theory to us, somebody else's God.
Prayer
Lord give me a revelation of who you are. Keep me close to you. Let my relationship with yoube more real than any doctrine or theory about you. Amen.
Thursday, 15. October 2009, 00:44:09
reflection, bible
Scripture
Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptised with my baptism of suffering.”
Observation
James and John come to Jesus and ask to be given positions of honour in the Kingdom. They sort of half got the message- the Kingdom of God is coming. What they didn't get is that it is a kingdom like no other.
The other disciples were indignant at this request by James and John, but only because they had got in first.
God's kingdom is not about seeking power but seeking to serve others. We are to follow Jesus' example in pouring out our lives to serve others.
Application
It is a basic human drive to seek significance, a sense of worth not just to ourselves but to others. We have people who influence us and whom we seek to influence. We all want to be important to someone.
Jesus says that significance comes from serving not from ruling. If I want to be a leader in God's kingdom I have to be a servant. That means that I look to the needs of the people around me as a priority in my life.
That means a complete turn around on the way the world does things. I don't need to exalt myself, I need to serve others. I don't need to blow my own trumpet as others will speak my praises when I model Christ's love to them.
Prayer
Father, open my eyes to the opportunities that you give today for me to serve others. Amen.
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