I lift my eyes to you
My Redeemer
Like a servant eager to please
I look to you
Straining to hear your voice
.
Words of command
Comfort
Commendation
Even correction
.
Lord let me hear You
Let me attend You
You alone
Mighty God.
Reflection
Reflection on Judges 4:1-24
*Scripture*
On that day, God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites.
*Observation*
The Israelites sin against the Lord who sends another foreign king to oppress them. The prophetess Deborah is leading the nation at the time, and she sends for Barak to tell him it is time for Israel to be free.
But Barak is afraid and says he will only go if Deborah goes with him. She agrees, and they go to Kedesh where Barak raises an army. The Lord defeats Sisera the Canaanite general, and all the troops are killed. Sisera abandons his chariot and flees on foot.
Along the way, Sisera seeks refuge in the tent of Jael. She invites him in, and while he is sleeping she drives a tent peg through his head.
*Application*
Barak’s words are very similar to those of Moses: “If you go with me I will go, but if you don’t go with me I won’t go.”
While Moses said these words to the Lord, Barak addressed them to Deborah.
God places leaders, prophets, pastors and teachers in the church, but when we are more dependent on them than on the Lord that is idolatry.
We need to honour those over us in the Lord, but we also need to make sure that we are listening to the Lord on our own behalf, pursuing Him and not just relying on another person’s relationship with Him.
*Prayer*
Lord it is awesome to know that you desire friendship directly with me. May I always put my primary trust in you rather than in other people. Amen.
Reflection on Matthew 25:1-13
Scripture
At midnight the cry rang out: “Here is the bridegroom. Come out to meet him.”
Observation
Jesus tells a parable about being ready to meet Him.
Ten young women are waiting for a bridegroom. Five have brought spare oil for their lamps, but five have no oil. The bridegroom is late arriving and when he finally does arrive, the five foolish girls have to go and obtain oil for their lamps.
The bridegroom comes while the unprepared girls are absent. The wise girls accompany the bridegroom into the banquet but the others are locked out.
Application
The foolish girls in this story failed to provide for themselves what was needed in order to serve the bridegroom.
We must all make sure that our own relationship with God is right. Oil speaks of the Holy Spirit, light of the revelation of the gospel.
Nobody can rely on the faith of another person whether it be a parent, a spouse, a pastor or some other person. We all need our own relationship with the Lord, now before He comes.
Prayer
Father I pray for those who do not know you. May they have a revelation of your love and come into their own relationship with you. Amen.
Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Scripture
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Observation
Christians should not grieve over those who die in the same way as people who have no hope. Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that those who die in Him will come back with Him.
The Lord will come down from heaven with a loud shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet call of God. Then the dead will be raised and the living will go to meet the Lord.
Application
What hope there is for those who trust in the Lord. Those who have no faith have no hope. But those who have faith know that death is not the end of the story.
In the final days we will be united with Christ and reunited with those christians who have already gone before us.
What a joy this is, what comfort to know that death is not the end of life but a new chapter.
Prayer
Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for me that I could enter into eternal life. Please help me to keep this truth as a cause for hope. Amen.
Reflection on Joshua 24:1-33
Scripture
And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and worship him.”
Observation
Joshua gathers together all the leaders of Israel at Shechem, where he recounts to them what the Lord has done for them in bringing the out of Egypt and into their own land.
He encourages them to serve the Lord, but if that seems too hard they must decide which gods they will serve. They reply that they will serve the Lord.
Joshua warns them that if they choose to serve the Lord but later turn away from Him, then He will judge them. They say again, “We will serve the Lord.” They then make a covenant there to always serve the Lord.
Later on, Joshua dies at the age of 110.
Application
The people of Israel were positive in their assertion that they would serve the Lord. Subsequent generations moved away from that certainty.
It isn’t always easy to follow the Lord. The “gods” of this age demand our worship, and our flesh is quick to acquiesce.
When we fall, there is forgiveness, but it is better not to fall. We must try to keep our heart pure and stay alert for the tricks of the enemy. We need to wear the full armour of God (Ephesians 6) so that there is no room for undermining by satan.
Prayer
Father, you have called me to serve you and to walk in your ways. Help me to keep my focus on you alone at all times. Amen.
Reflection on Matthew 23:1-12
Scripture
“The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Observation
Jesus tells his followers that the Pharisees and teachers of the Law are the interpreters of the Law so it is right to obey their teaching. However they are hypocrites whose example must not be followed.
The teachers love attention and adulation. They love the titles of honour.
Followers of Jesus must not chase titles and positions. Rather Christian leaders must firstly be servants. Everyone who raises themselves up will be pulled down, but those who humble themselves will be lifted up.
Application
I noted just last night how nobody in our church calls me “Pastor.” The closest we get to a title is the kids who call me “Mr Keith.”
The fact is that nobody is any more exalted than anybody else in God’s Kingdom. Sure some have leadership roles, but that does not make them any more important than the people struggling to keep their life together.
To build true community means that we all have to be in it together. Nobody gets to be the boss, at least not in the sense of making burdens for other people to carry. A true leader listens to everyone’s opinion and then sets the direction.
We share the mission. We share the burdens. We share the decisions.
Prayer
Thank you Father for the gift of community, a body of followers of Jesus who commit to love you and each other. Please help those of us charged with leadership to always stay humble and focussed on serving you. Amen.
Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Scripture
For you know that I dealt with each of you as a father deals with his children.
Observation
Paul worked day and night in order to support himself and not be a burden to anyone while he preached the gospel among them.
He was righteous and blameless. He was like a father to the church, encouraging, comforting and exhorting each person to live lives worthy of God’s kingdom.
Application
Paul very much gave his heart to the church at Thessalonica. He describes himself like a mother (v. 7) and now like a father to them.
We all need spiritual fathers and mothers to help us grow into maturity in Christ. The kingdom is totally relational in character, rather than hierarchical or institutional.
Spiritual fathers will give their hearts to us, leading us into places of healing and restoration.
We need to give our hearts to our fathers also, loving and encouraging them in return.
No matter how far we progress in the life of the Spirit, there will always be people who can teach, mentor and encourage us on the journey.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for the spiritual fathers in my life. Help me to grow and mature under their care, and to reach out to others who might need me ti be a father to them. Amen.
Reflection on Psalm 107:1-9
Give thanks to the Lord
All you redeemed ones
Praise the Lord.
He brought you through deserts of
Sin and destruction
To the place of life and joy.
–
Yes Lord I love you
Jesus you saved me
On that cross you died
You redeemed me
Set me free
For eternity.
–
The desert trapped me
No way out.
The heat of hell burnt my soul.
Your living water
Revived me
Washed me
Reflection on Joshua 3:7-17
Scripture
The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Observation
The Lord tells Joshua that He is going to cause people to respect Joshua in the same way that they had respected Moses.
The plan is that the priests who carry the ark of the covenant are to step into the Jordan, which is in flood, and the Lord will cause the water to stop flowing.
As soon as they do this, the Jordan stops flowing. The priests stand on dry ground and the whole nation passes over safely.
Application
In some ways this is very much a new take on crossing the Red Sea. Just as Moses needed the Lord to part the waters so the people could pass through to safety, so Joshua needs the Lord to stop a flooding river so they can safely cross.
The ark of the covenant is the symbol of the presence of the Lord. It is the Lord’s presence that repels the forces which oppose Israel.
We also need the presence of the Lord- the manifest Holy Spirit- to enable us to achieve God’s purposes. Just praying isn’t enough. We have to walk in the reality of God with us, the Holy Spirit directing and empowering us.
This can only happen through daily time of fellowshipping with God, surrendering to Him and welcoming His presence.
Prayer
Father teach me how to enter the Holy Place of worship, praise and intercession so that I am able to walk in the confidence of your presence. Amen.
Reflection on Matthew 22:34-46
Scripture
No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Observation
The Pharisees ask Jesus what is the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus replies that there are two- love God and love your neighbour. Everything else depends on these two.
Jesus then asks them a loaded question: Whose son is the Christ? They answer “The son of David.” But Jesus then says, “How is that David calls him ‘Lord’?”
They could not answer this, and no one dared to ask Jesus any more trick questions from that day.
Application
You can’t fight God. It should be obvious, but many struggle against Him all their life.
The wisdom of the Lord is breath-taking. Every time people tried to pull Jesus down with clever words, He would spin it back at them.
If we follow Jesus and submit ourselves to His ways we will have the wisdom of the Creator on our side. If we resist Jesus we resist life by resisting God.
The choice is obvious.
Prayer
Father I praise you for your great wisdom. You know how our lives best work. Please help me to listen to you in everything I do. Amen.
New Life Narrabri 