Reflection

Reflection on Ephesians 5:8-14

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light

Scripture

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Observation

We once darkness, but now we are light. Therefore we must live as children of the light and live to please the Lord.

We must have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness, except to expose them. What is exposed to the light becomes visible.

Therefore we must arise and let the light of Christ shine on us.

Application

Christians must live lives that are very different from those of unbelievers. The fruit of the Christ-filled life is righteousness, and that righteousness must shine out of us like light in the darkness.

The ways of the world are darkness. Even respectable people, people of good repute in the world, live by sin. They have no reason not to lie or deceive in business, no reason not to take up sexual relationships, and so on,

Christians must live holy lives- lives marked by the standards and character of Christ Himself.

The world pressures us to compromise, to conform to its standards. But Christ demands “No compromise!”

Prayer

Lord Jesus let your light shine through me today. May every word and deed show your righteousness. Amen.

Reflection on John 9:1-41

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Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Healing_of_the_Blind_Man_-_WGA06779

Scripture
“If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

Observation
Jesus and his disciples come across a man born blind. The disciples ask who sinned for this man to be blind. Jesus replies that it is not about sin but for the purpose of glorifying God.

Jesus spits, makes some mud with the saliva and rubs it on the man’s eyes. Jesus tells the man to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam, which he does and he is then healed.

The Pharisees investigate the healing, questioning the man and his parents. The man testifies that he doesn’t know much about Jesus but he does know that he was once blind but now he can see.

Application
Religion makes us blind to the activity of God. Like the Pharisees, we can be so intent on protecting God’s reputation that we miss what He is actually doing.

Healing a man born blind was one of three miracles that only the Messiah could perform. The Pharisees needed to make sure that this healing was authentic. But their fear of promoting a false Messiah prevented them from seeing what the true Messiah had actually done. They rejected the man’s testimony and they rejected Jesus.

Some Christians are so afraid of being misled by counterfeits that they discount all miracles, healing and spiritual gifts. They then miss out on what God is doing all around them and run the risk of attributing God’s works to satan.

Jesus is still healing people and He is still performing all kinds of signs for those who will see them. We need to open our eyes, using spiritual discernment to separate God’s works from the devil’s.

Prayer
Show me Jesus what you are doing in the world now. Let me be open to the works of your Spirit. Amen.

Reflection on Psalm23

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Van_Gogh_-_Shepherd_with_a_Flock_of_Sheep

You Lord are my shepherd

Like a sheep, I follow

Listening to your voice

Attending to your call

Trusting your direction

For you are good

Providing all I need

Like green pastures

You take me through life

I lack no good thing.

Lord you will protect me

When death stares me down

And enemies surround.

You will lead me to heaven

To the feast prepared for your people.

Reflection on 1 Samuel 16:1-13

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1-david-anointed-king-granger

Scripture

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.

Observation

The Lord has removed His favour from Saul. He tells Samuel to go to Bethlehem where Samuel is to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as King.

So Samuel goes and meets with Jesse. He has Jesse bring his sons one by one. The oldest seems good to Samuel, but the Lord says that He is looking at the heart not the outward appearance.

Finally David is brought in from minding the sheep. The Lord tells Samuel “He is the one.”

Samuel anoints David with oil, and from that say on David walks in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Application

While people often judge by outward appearances, God looks at our heart. Even Samuel was seduced by fleshly thinking as he thought that Jesse’s eldest son would make a fine king.

Prophets and other christian ministers can be swayed by appearances. We can value the person who looks good rather than someone who loves the Lord but lacks education or sophistication.

The Lord looks at the heart of a man. We need to develop the gifts of discernment and insight to see beneath the surface of things and people through to the underlying reality.

Prayer

Lord, please teach me how to be attentive to your Spirit at all times. Amen.


Reflection on Romans 5:1-11

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romans5_5

Scripture

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation

Our faith in Christ makes us right with God, and Christ brings us peace with God- reconciliation with the Father.

Because of the grace of God, we can boast about our hope of glory- it is all gift. But we also boast about our suffering which produces endurance, character and hope.

While we were weak, that was when Christ died for us. God’s immense love for us is shown in the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

We are reconciled to God through the death of His Son while we were still sinners. We can therefore be sure of our salvation.

Application

My salvation does not depend on my being holy or on my deeds. It’s not about me being good enough. It’s about Christ being good enough to bring rebels like me back to relationship with God.

Christ was crucified long before I knew about it. When He called out from the cross, “Father forgive them,” I was included in that prayer.

Peace with God is not something we achieve, but a free gift from an awesome, loving God.

Prayer

Thank you Father for your great love. Thank you that you love me even when I stray from you. Amen.

Reflection on Exodus 17:1-7

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water-181600_640

Scripture

He called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Observation

The whole of Israel travel through the wilderness as the Lord leads them.

At Rephidim there is no water to drink, and the people start grumbling against Moses. Moses then calls out to the Lord.

The Lord tells Moses to go with the elders to the rock and to strike it with his staff, and water will flow from the rock.

Moses obeys the Lord.

Application

It seems that Moses had to have faith for a whole nation. He is the only one who sees that God will provide for them.

Rather than grumbling and complaining when things are not the way we would like them, we need to look to the Lord.

Moses knew that the Lord had brought them to this place and that He would provide what was needed.

The life of faith means trusting God to lead, provide and protect us in every moment.

Prayer

Father, as I look back on my life, I can see many occasions where you have provided what was needed at the exact right time. Please help me to trust you today. Amen.

Reflection on John 3:1-17

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rebirth

Scripture
“God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Observation
Nicodemus, a member of the ruling council, comes to see Jesus at night. He acknowledges that Jesus is a teacher sent by God because of the signs He has performed.  Jesus says to him, “You cannot see the kingdom of God until you are born again.”
Jesus goes on to teach Nicodemus that to be born again, one must be born of the Spirit.  Jesus is more than a teacher but He is the Son of Man come down from heaven.
God loved the world so much that He sent His one and only Son to give us eternal life. The  Son came into the world to save it not to condemn it. This salvation comes through believing in Jesus.

Application
To be born again is not a religious experience but a truly spiritual one. When we come to Jesus and ask Him to forgive us, the Holy Spirit comes into our spirit and brings it to life. We are then born of both flesh and the Spirit.
Jesus came into the world and gave up His life to bring freedom from sin, to forgive us and to give us a new life in which God comes first.
You can’t be saved by a religious experience, a ritual or a spoken prayer alone. To be saved means casting everything aside and trusting Jesus to pay the price for our salvation.  It is a life change based on a decision that we will follow Jesus in everything we do.

Prayer
Lord Jesus  I come to you now to lay my whole life at your feet. I confess the things I have done that are wrong and I ask you to forgive me. Thank you for dying for me on the cross. Come now and raise me to a new life, life in the Spirit. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 4:1-25

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grace-and-faith-st

Scripture

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Observation

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. When we work for something, our wages are not a gift. But If we trust God for our salvation, this is a gift.

Although this gift of salvation was given to the Jews first (“the circumcised”), it was not for them alone because Abraham received righteousness, and that was before he was circumcised.

The promise of righteousness comes by grace, and we receive it through faith in the Lord Jesus.

Application

It is impossible for us to win God’s approval by our own efforts, whether by good deeds or charitable giving or religious duties. These things do not impress God at all, because they are what is expected of us any way.

God’s favour comes to us because He chooses to give it, because He loves us. His grace is far greater than we imagine and never runs out.

All we need to do is receive His grace by trusting in God. Then we are counted as if we had never sinned.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your limitless grace. Thank you for setting me free from the prison of sin. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 4:1-11

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crushing

Scripture

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

Observation

The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the desert where he is tempted by satan. After 40 days of fasting, Jesus is hungry so satan tells Him to turn stones into bread. Jesus rebuffs him with Scripture.

Then the devil takes Jesus to the high point of the temple, urging Him to throw Himself off so that the angels will catch Him. Jesus again rebuffs him with Scripture.

Satan then shows Jesus all the glories of the kingdoms of the world and promises to give them to Him in return for His worship. For a third time Jesus rebukes satan with Scripture.

Finally satan leaves and angels minister to Jesus.

Application

Temptation is common to all people. Right from the beginning, satan has sought to turn people away from God by appealing to the flesh, to our senses and to our pride.

It should not surprise us when temptation comes at us either right in our faces or sneaking up from behind. Even Jesus, the Son of God was tempted by the devil.

Temptation is not sin, because as Hebrews tells us, Christ was tempted like us in every way but without sin. So we should not feel guilty when the thoughts and desires come.

Even when we fall short and give in to temptation, sin is not the end of the story. God still forgives- even when we sin in the same way over and over.

The key to overcoming sin and winning through temptation is to know God. Is my love for God greater than my love for sin? When I am more passionate about walking with the Lord, then anything the devil can dish up is very poor fare indeed.

Prayer

Father I confess that my love for you is often less than it should be. I confess that I have let my flesh and satan conspire to lead me away from you. Thank you for forgiving me. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 5:12-19

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hand overflow

Scripture

For, if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Observation

Sin entered the world through Adam’s sin, and with it came death. From Adam to Moses death reigned even though people did not sin by breaking a commandment as Adam did.

Many died because of Adam’s sin, but God’s grace is greater. One sin brought death and condemnation but Jesus’ death cancels many sins.

Application

Sin and death are powerful forces and they seem inescapable. But grace is stronger because God is greater than human sin.

Through Jesus Christ every sin I have committed has been cancelled and changed to righteousness.

I don’t have to earn this favour. God pours it out abundantly on everyone who turns to Him and receives His grace.

It’s all about the cross. The obedience of Jesus all the way to death on the cross has opened up the way of salvation to everyone who will receive it.

Prayer

Jesus, my sin is great but your grace is greater. Thank you. Amen.