Earthly wisdom is devilish and hurtful and nothing compared to God’s. God will turn their wisdom on its head and use their cunning against them. David Capes
Quote for the Day
A New Heart
A few weeks ago, I glanced at my smart watch to discover it was showing my resting heart rate as 48 beats per minute. I went online and discovered that for my age, this low heart rate is associated with elite athletes!
As a young person, athleticism was not what you associated with me, and even now I would rather read a book than play touch football. But still, thousands of kilometres of bike riding over the last few years must have persuaded my heart that it needs to get in shape.
The human heart is a marvellous organ that faithfully pumps blood around the body without a pause every second of our lives. It automatically adjusts to the amount of work or exercise that we are doing, sending oxygen and food to every cell of our body.
The physical heart is so critical to human living that we use it as a metaphor for our deeply held values and beliefs. While, for most people, the physical heart is a reliable and trustworthy organ, the spiritual heart is quite the opposite.
People often say “Follow your heart”, but the Bible warns us that “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick.” No doubt Adolf Hitler followed his heart, with disastrous results for millions of people and for the whole world.
We are born into a world that is corrupted, and we quickly learn to live by that standard. Not even the most “saintly” or “righteous” of people are truly perfect. We all have our moments, days or years where we are not the people we would like to be.
Christians speak of being “born again”, which basically means allowing God to give us a new heart that is untouched by sin. To be born again means to recognise that I am a sinner, that I have offended God and I need forgiveness. From that place, I can ask God to cleanse my spirit and rule my life.
If you need a new heart, or a new start with God, say that sorry prayer to God right now. Reach out to a church, and ask them to help you start in this journey of faith.
Reflection on Matthew 8: 5-13
Scripture
But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.”
Observation
A Roman officer comes to Jesus and asks Him to heal his servant who is paralysed and in pain.
Jesus offers to come to the officer’s house to heal him, but the officer says, “You do not need to come to my home. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. I am under authority, and I also have authority. You just need to give the command.”
Jesus marvels at the man’s faith. He warns the crowd that many Gentiles will come into God’s Kingdom, but many Israelites will be sent to hell.
Jesus then tells the man to go back home for his servant is healed.
Application
This Roman officer understood the authority that Jesus had. This authority resided in the person of Jesus, and He could just give the order and the servant would be healed.
Faith is about trusting in the power and the willingness of God to do what He has said He will do.
When we get a diagnosis, we often don’t think that God is able to heal us. The doctors have spoken, and their word seems to carry more weight in our minds than the word of God.
When we look at the bills that need to be paid, we can sometimes get overwhelmed by our inadequacy to pay them. We forget that God is our provider. He owns all things and will not withhold them from us.
The key to this is faith – trusting and believing that God loves us. He sees what we need and He will provide.
Prayer
Lord, please help me to trust you for everything I need today. Amen.
Quote for the Day
I have no doubt that when Christians gathered and confessed “Jesus is Lord,” they meant “Caesar is not.” For Paul the Jewish Messiah has indeed been shown to be the rightful Lord of all things. David Capes
Reflection on Matthew 8:1-4
Scripture
“This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
Observation
Jesus and the crowd go down the mountain, where a leper asks Jesus to heal him.
Jesus reaches out and touches him and then commands the man, “Be healed.” Jesus then tells the man not to tell anyone, but instead to go to the priest for examination and make the offering required by the law of Moses.
Application
We should all have a testimony about Jesus that we can share in public, that is with our family and friends. For this man, the testimony was to obey the law of Moses for cleansed lepers. No doubt he would get to tell the priest about Jesus.
The man born blind had a very simple testimony, “I once was blind but now I see.”
What has Jesus done in your life?
How does that work out in everyday living?
Your salvation should change your words, your deeds, your reactions, and your interests. This does not necessarily happen immediately, but faith in Jesus does bring great changes in our lives .
One touch from the Lord changed this man’s life forever. One touch from the Lord will change your life forever.
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the power of the name of Jesus. You are still changing lives. Please make my life what you want it to be. Amen.
Today’s Bike Ride
Cold enough for long pants this morning. Minimum temperature was just 5 degrees so winter is approaching #cycling #Narrabri
Quote for the Day
Paul’s concepts of “the day of the Lord,” the second coming, and final judgment appear to form a constellation of related, not distinct, eschatological events. Although some have tried to chart them out, they ultimately defy systemization. For Paul, these future happenings comprise a single, grand finale, even as the cross, burial, and resurrection of Jesus form a single, world-changing event in the middle of time. David Capes
Today’s Bike Ride
A lovely morning for riding along Killarney Gap Road. I would have gone farther but the legs weren’t keen. #cycling #Narrabri
Quote for the Day
In this way Jesus as kyrios stands in the same kind of relation to the church/individual believers as YHWH (kyrios) stands in relation to Israel/individual Jews. This is a remarkable appropriation of language reserved for the one true God; it is rendered all the more remarkable when one considers that Jesus was executed as a messianic pretender only a few years before, within the memory of many who were still alive. It is also remarkable that Jesus is linked so profoundly with the covenant name of God. David Capes
Reflection on Matthew 7: 24-28
Scripture
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”
Observation
If we listen to Jesus and follow His instructions, we will be wise. This is like someone who builds a house on solid rock. Even when storms come and flood waters rise, it will stand firm.
A person who he hears Jesus’ teaching and does not follow it is like the person who builds a house on sand. This house collapses when the weather turns nasty.
Application
To have a life that prospers and stands resilient in the storms that beset us, we need to build it on the solid foundation of obedience to Christ.
So many people build their lives on bad foundations – like feelings, security, family, human ideology or philosophy and so on. These things are not strong enough to withstand the crises and problems that are inevitable. It is no wonder that marriages are fragile, that society is fractured, and people have no sense of direction.
We must determine in our hearts to follow Jesus in all things. Put God at the top of our list, love for family and friends (even our enemies) next, then we will go a long way to being successful and stable in all of our ways.
Many business people follow the principle of tithing even though they are not christians. God blesses these people because they are building on a solid foundation.
Build your life on Christ. Seek first God’s Kingdom and everything else will come to you.
Prayer
Lord, I want to build on the rock. Show me what I need to change in order to do this. Amen
New Life Narrabri 