Reflection

Reflection on John 15:1-8

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wet-grapes1

Scripture

“I am the true grape vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

Observation

Jesus is the true vine. The Father is the gardener who cuts off unproductive branches and prunes the fruitful ones so that they will be even more fruitful.

If we remain in Christ, He will remain in us. The only way to be fruitful is to remain in Him.

He is the vine, we are the branches. If we remain in Him, and His words remain in us, we can ask for anything and know it will be granted.

Application

Jesus is the true vine, the real “Israel.” He is the life of the people of God.

To have spiritual life means we have to be connected into Him. When His personality and words flow through our lives then we can ask for anything and have our prayers answered because we are praying in accordance with His will.

My responsibility is to stay close to the Lord, filling my heart and mind with Him and His word.

Then I will be fruitful.

Prayer

Lord please help me to stay connected to you, the true source of eternal life. Without you I can do nothing of lasting value. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 4:7-21

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Scripture

God showed how much he loves us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love- not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Observation
We must continue to love one another. If we do not love we do not know God. God’s love for us is seen in His Son. He loved us and sent His Son to die for our sins.

If we confess that Jesus is the Son of God we live in God. God is love. As we live in God our love grows more perfect. His command is that those who love God must love their brother and sister.

Application
God’s love is as big and as perfect as God Himself for God is love.

When Jesus was asked to summarise the whole of the Jewish Law, it came down to two thing- love God and love your neighbour.

Now John tells us that if we do not love others we do not know God who is love. Of course, like all of life, this is a growth process- our love becomes more perfect as we grow closer to God.

Prayer
Lord help me to know you more and to grow in your love. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 8:26-40

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Scripture

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Observation
An angel of the Lord sends Philip along the desert road. Along the way, he sees an Ethiopian eunuch travelling in a chariot. The Holy Spirit tells Philip to go to the chariot.

The eunuch is reading from the scriptures, so Philip explains to him the way of salvation.

They come to some water and the eunuch asks to be baptised. As they come out of the water, the Holy Spirit transports Philip to the town of Azotus.

Application
Philip listens to divine guidance and, as a result, one man is saved and the gospel goes into Africa.

It is so important to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and to be obedient. We trust in our own human abilities and programmes far too much.

Sensitivity and obedience to the Holy Spirit accomplish far more than any human activity by itself.

Prayer
Lord, please teach me to listen to you. Help me to hear that still small voice and to obey you when you direct me. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 3:16-24

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Scripture

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

Observation

Jesus is our example in love. He laid down His life for us so we should do the same for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If we have possession but have no pity on our brother who has nothing then we don’t have the love of God in us. Our love must be not just words but active love.

If our hearts are at peace with God then we can have confidence before God. We can ask Him for anything because we obey Him. God’s command to us it to believe in Him and to love our brothers and sisters.

Application

Love is the mark of the true follower of Jesus. Jesus loved us to the point of laying down His life for us. Our love for our christian brothers and sisters should be the same kind of love.

Real love is practical and not just a theory. Whatever we have that can be shared with our fellow believers must be shared freely. If we have spare cash let’s share with those who have none. If we have skills and talents let us share with those who can use our help.

Love directs our focus outwards from ourselves and our immediate circle to all who need the love of Christ.

Prayer

Father please show me who needs a practical expression of your love today. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 4:1-12

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Scripture

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Observation
Following the healing of the lame man, the priests and other leaders come to confront Peter and John. They are disturbed that they are preaching the resurrection of the dead through Jesus. They arrest them and put them in gaol overnight.

The council convenes and demands that Peter and John explain by what power they have done this deed.

Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly declares that the man was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ who was crucified and whom God raised from the dead.

Peter concludes, “There is salvation in no one else!”

Application
People look for salvation, healing, wholeness and fulfilment in all sorts of places.

But as Peter boldly declared, there is salvation only in the name of Jesus Christ.

The name of Jesus is powerful. We are saved in His name. We are healed in His name. Satan flees before His name.

There is no other name, no other way to be saved, but the name of Jesus.

Why would you want any other way?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, your name is the highest of names. Please remind me to call constantly on you in every circumstance. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 3:1-7

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Scripture

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Observation
Our Father loves us and calls us His children. We are already God’s children, but we do not yet know what we will be like when Christ returns.

Christ is pure, and so we should keep ourselves pure. To sin is to break God’s Law. Jesus came to take away our sins, and if we live in Him we will not sin.

Application
Following Jesus means that we learn to live from a place of love.

God’s love is not a sentimental thing that overlooks our sin. God’s love is pure and as we look to Him we find our lives reflecting that.

People who love Jesus do not habitually sin. We allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our conscience and we receive His grace to put our sins to death.

Prayer
Jesus you are pure. Thank you that you are transforming me to be more like you. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 3:12-19

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Scripture

“Repent of your sins and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped away.”

Observation
Peter and John have healed a lame man near the temple gate. The people are in uproar as they recognise the man leaping and praising God.

Peter seizes the opportunity to address the crowd. He asks them why they are so astonished at God healing a man.

This is not done by the power of a man but by Jesus, the one the crowds had rejected, was crucified and is now alive.

Faith in the name of Jesus healed the man. Now they must put their faith in Jesus and repent in order to have their sins wiped away.

Application
Peter and John healed the man by the Name of Jesus. The Name that brings healing of the body also brings forgiveness of sins.

It is all about Jesus. My life must glorify the Name of Jesus.

Forgiveness of sins is in Jesus

Healing is in Jesus.

Grace is in Jesus.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on you, allowing you to be glorified in me. Amen.

Reflection on John 20:19-31

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John20

Scripture

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Observation
On Resurrection Sunday the disciples are meeting behind locked doors. Suddenly Jesus is there in the room!

Jesus commissions them to go in His name and then breathes the Holy Spirit on them. He gives them authority to forgive sins.

Thomas is not with them at this time, and he is sceptical about their report. He says that he won’t believe it unless he sees and touches Jesus’ wounds.

The next Sunday they are together and again Jesus appears. This time Thomas is with them. Jesus invites him to touch the wounds. Thomas believes.

Application
It is exciting when Jesus shows up! How much more for these disciples who did not yet know the full story.

Jesus is alive still, ascended into heaven where He reigns with the Father.

He has given us Holy Spirit to empower us to be His witnesses. He has given us His authority to embody the life of grace.

All power and all authority. There is nothing that can stand in the way of us serving and representing the risen Lord.

Prayer

Hallelujah! Jesus you are the risen Lord! Help me to serve you in all that I do. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 1:1-2:2

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1John

Scripture

If we claim to have no sin we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

Observation

John proclaims the Christ, the pre-existent one. He saw Him and touched Him. He is the life and the truth.

God is light and there is no darkness in Him. If someone claims to have fellowship with God but lives in the darkness, he is not walking in the truth.

If a person claims to have no sin, they are deceiving themselves. But if we confess our sins to God, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness.

Application

Jesus is the light. He leads us in the way of truth and to the Father.

We must have an honest assessment of ourselves. To say we are without sin is to deceive ourselves.

Everybody sins.

But to those who confess their sins honestly before God, there is forgiveness and grace.

No sin is too big for God, no crime too heinous that grace will not cover it.

Prayer

Thank you for your grace Lord, setting me fre from sin. Amen.