Reflection

Reflection on Romans 14:1-12

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Scripture

Christ died and rose again for this very purpose- to be Lord of both the living and the dead.

Observation
We should accept other believers who are weak in their faith and not argue about issues that are not important. Whether we elevate one day above others or refuse to eat certain foods it doesn’t matter.
What is important is that we accept that other believers are free to honour God in their own way. We must not judge or condemn the servants of the Lord.
We do not live for ourselves or die for ourselves- it is all for the Lord’s glory.
Each person must give an account of their own lives to the Lord.

Application
There are many controversies and disputes among christians, and the internet just exposes us to more ideas that we had not considered previously.
There are people who say that christians must worship on the Jewish sabbath and those who reject any organised gathering of christians. There are those who refuse to eat meat and others who warn against Halal certified products.
This is all very well. As Paul says, each group makes choices out of a desire to honour Christ.
When we condemn other believers because they don’t agree with our choices, or look down upon them as inferior, then we pass from grace to legalism.
It is not up to me to judge the disciplines and practices of other believers. What is important is that I seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness in all things.

Prayer
Lord help me to walk in your ways and to not judge brothers and sisters who follow rules that I disagree with. May we all extend your grace to one another. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 18:15-20

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Scripture

“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Observation
If another disciple sins against me, I should go privately and point out the offence. If this does not bring reconciliation, I should seek the help of another believer, and when all else fails take it to the whole church.
The sins we forgive on earth are forgiven in heaven. The sins we hold on to will also be held in heaven.
Whenever we meet together and pray in agreement, Jesus is with us and the Father will hear us.

Application
I am often amazed at Jesus’ commitment to unity in the church and our lack of interest in the same topic.
We often approach the Matthew 18 process as a means of punishment rather than a means of genuine reconciliation. What Jesus is getting at here is not so much a pathway to justice as a pathway for forgiveness.
Is this issue that offended me important enough to confront, or should I just let go of it? Do I want to escalate the conflict or will I forgive? Is this really important enough to take to the whole congregation or will I be called out for lacking grace?
When a brother/sister offends me and I can meet with him/her and pray with them with one heart, isn’t that the prayer that moves the Father?
This passage is not just about getting our prayers answered. It is about pursuing love in the church.

Prayer
Lord forgive me for holding on to petty offences and raising my imagined right to be offended above your command to forgive. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 13:8-14

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Scripture

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living.

Observation

We must love our neighbour, for in doing this we will fill every command of the law.

The day of salvation is getting closer. Therefore we must live holy lives. We must take off the old clothes of darkness and put on the shining armour of God’s light. Our lives must be decent and proper, reflecting the fact that we belong to the light.

Instead of all the sinful, fleshly ways of living, we must clothe ourselves with the presence of Jesus.

Application

It is wrong when christians do not live lives that are materially different from their neighbours. Many claim to be born again but their deeds deny this.

Our lives must first be marked by love for those around us. We love people because God first loved them. In doing this we fulfil every requirement of the Old Testament law.

Our lives must also be marked by holiness. We have been “called out” from the world, living in it but set apart from sin.

We must “clothe ourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ”, allowing His love, His holiness, His grace to lead every aspect of our lives.

Prayer

Lord you have called me to a high path, a way of living very different from the world. Please help me to live a life that is honouring to the name of Christ. Amen.

Reflection on Exodus 12:1-14

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Scripture

“But the blood on your door posts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Observation
The Lord gives the people of Israel the instructions for celebrating the Passover.
As a permanent part of their annual life, the Israelites are to celebrate the Passover. They are each to take a special lamb, care for it and then slaughter it at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and smear it on their door posts.

They must be dressed ready to travel, for the Lord will strike down every first-born son in the land, except for those houses marked with blood.

Application
What a terrible price the people of Egypt paid for the intransigence of their leader- the death of every first-born son in every family- except those whose houses were marked with the blood of the Passover lamb.
This was judgement against a nation which refused to obey God and placed its economic prosperity above righteousness.
The Passover is also a sign of salvation. We were headed towards death but we have been marked by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for saving me from sin. Thank you for the blood of Jesus Christ which makes any sin clean. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 16:21-28

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Scripture

“What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

Observation
Jesus begins to tell His disciples that He must suffer and be crucified, but on the third day He will rise from the dead.
Peter reprimands the Lord for this negative confession, but Jesus says, “Get away from me, Satan!”
Anyone who wants to follow Jesus must die to their old selves. To give up our life for Him is to save it, but to hold onto our life is to lose it.

Application
Everything about following Jesus us counter-intuitive. This is not because God’s ways are crazy, but because sin has so overturned our values that what seems right and natural is often wrong and sinful.
This is why Jesus was so strong in His rebuke of Peter. Peter was looking at things from a human point of view when a different (God) perspective was needed.
To follow Jesus means that God always comes first. We lay our lives at His feet and allow Him to determine the course of our lives.
In human terms this seems really stupid, but in God’s eyes there really is no other way.

Prayer
Show me your ways, Lord. Help me to live in that constant sense of being dead to my own ambitions and alive to your plans for me. Amen

Reflection on Exodus 3:1-15

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Scripture

God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”

Observation
Moses is in the wilderness tending his father-in-law’s sheep. At Mount Sinai the Lord reveals Himself as a blazing fire in a bush.
God calls to Moses from the bush. He tells Moses that He has heard the cries of distress from His people, so He is going to rescue them and take them to their own land. Moses is to go to Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt.
Moses asks “What name will we know you by?” The Lord says His holy name, “I AM WHO I AM.”

Application
The Lord announces in verse 8 that He has come down to rescue His people and lead them out. Then immediately He tells Moses, “Now go, for I am sending you.”
God does nothing without raising up people. His “coming down” consists often of “calling up” a person or a people.
Moses asks “Who am I to do this?” The answer is “It doesn’t matter who you are, for I am the Lord and I am with you.”
We might feel that we are inadequate for the task before us- no training, no ability, no background. To God that doesn’t matter. The only qualification He looks for is obedience.

Prayer
Father I stand here in your presence, aware of your calling and my weakness. Lead me, direct me, empower me. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 16:13-20

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Scripture

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Observation
Jesus asks His disciples who people say He is. They offer suggestion of Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
Jesus then asks the more important question, “Who do you say I am?”
Peter’s response is to declare that Jesus is the Messiah.
Jesus says that this has come as a revelation form the Father and Peter’s declaration will be the foundation of the church, which nothing will overcome.

Application
The most important question every person has to answer is the one Jesus posed: Who do you say I am? This is the question that settles our eternity.
Many people can answer the question “Who do people say I am?” but acknowledging someone else’s opinion is not faith.
Faith is when we decide that Jesus is really who He says He is and risk everything in following Him wherever He leads us.
Who do you say Jesus is?

Prayer
Lord Jesus I know that you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Help me to live in this conviction every day of my life. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 12:1-8

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Scripture

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Observation

Paul appeals to us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. Instead of conforming to the world we should allow God to transform our minds.

We belong to one another in the one body of Christ and so we should not think too highly of ourselves. We all have spiritual gifts so we should use those gifts to serve one another according to the grace God has given us.

Application

The gifts listed in vs 7,8 are often referred to as motivational gifts because when we are surrendered to Christ these gifts motivate our service for the church. We all have one or more of these gifts and we should make every effort to discover our motivational gifts.

As always, Paul lists the gifts of the Spirit in the context of the Body. Our gifts are there to edify the church, to help others discover the grace of Jesus Christ. They are not given for the lifting up of the giver but for the service of the church in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Understanding that we belong to a Body of believers, to a community of faith, is essential to our growth in Christ.

Prayer

Father, show me how to serve you today. I lay myself- body, mind and spirit- before you to serve you and your people. Amen.