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Reflection on Luke 21:25-36

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Scripture

“Keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage andgrace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur, andthat you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man with aclear conscience.”

Observation

When the Son of Man returns, there will be perplexing signs in the heavens, raging of the seas, and earthquakes. Then the Day ill come when Jesus returns in clouds and with power and miracles.

The trees show the changing of the seasons and, similarly, when we see these prophetic signs cme to pass, we will know that the earth is yielding to God’s kingdom.

The Day will come suddenly, and we are to make sure we keep our hearts and souls pure.

Application

The doctrine of Christ’s return is not about looking for the signs of the end times so much as making sure that we are ready.

Jesus here tells us to “keep a constant” watch over our souls.” In other words, I must constantly be aware of the state of my soul. That means watching out for sinful attitudes, treating people in a way that confirms Jesus’s love for them, being in touch with God through prayer, Scriptures and corporate worship.

Jesus wants us to have the grace and courage to overcome the adversities and temptations in our lives. This is not about the Great Tribulation and the Antichrist, but our daily life in the world. Am I allowing bitterness or vengeance or secret sins to take hold?

The aim of this is simple. Jesus wants us to be able to stand before Him with a clear conscience. How can we enter spiritual worship if our sins condemn us, much less enter the divine throne room?

All of us sin, even after we start to walk with the Lord. We must confess our sins to Him and receive His forgiveness so stand guiltless in His glory.

Prayer

Thank you Father that through the Blood of Christ I am free from sin. Help me to stay clean in you. Amen.

Reflection on Jeremiah 33:14-18

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branch-stump

Scripture
“In those days and at that time, I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line.”

Observation
The Lord promises to restore to His people all that has been taken from them. At the right time there will be a Branch from the line of David- a righteous branch who will do what is right.

The Lord will also ensure that there will always be a descendant of David on the throne of Israel and a priest to continually offer sacrifices.

Application
The righteous Branch would come from David’s line at the right time- the kairos time, the appointed time.

The Branch, of course, is Jesus, whose birth we celebrate in a few weeks time.

God had promised that there would always be someone from David’s line on the throne in Israel. Jesus is that person. He reigns not just over Israel but the whole world.

King Jesus, the righteous Branch rules in righteousness. All earthly kings carry the stain of sin, but Jesus is not only sinless, He has defeated sin.

The righteous Branch from David’s line is bringing justice and holiness to the world even today.

Prayer
Lord you are that righteous Branch from the line of David. You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah! Amen.

Reflection on John 18:33-37

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Scripture

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Observation

Jesus is before Pilate on trial for His life.

Pilate summons Jesus and says, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replies asking, “Is this your own idea?”

Pilate then asks, “What is it that you have done?” Jesus answers that His kingdom is not of this world, it is from another place.

Jesus goes on to say that He is in fact a king who has come into the world to testify to truth. Pilate cynically asks, “What is truth?”

Application

Jesus’ kingdom, the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, is not of this world. All human kingdoms, no matter how benevolent, carry the taint of sin. Every king who was ever born was a sinner and therefore not perfect.

The values of Jesus’ kingdom are different to the values of human kingdoms.

The kingdom of Jesus does not expand by violent invasion. Rather it is like salt or yeast which seems to be insignificant but actually transforms what it is mixed with.

The kingdom advances by the salvation of individuals. Hearts and minds are changed from the kingdom of this world to allegiance to the king of heaven.

Unlike Islam, which advances by conquest and domination, the kingdom of Jesus advances quietly and by freedom.

As Jesus says, if His kingdom were of this world, His servants would physically fight for Him. This has been tried in the past with disastrous results.

God’s kingdom is the kingdom of agape, sacrificial love. That is our weapon.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you laid down your life for me. Help me to lay down my life for the sake of you and your kingdom. Help me to give myself away in loving my neighbours for your sake. Amen.

Reflection on Revelation 1:1-8

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Scripture
“I am the Alpha and the Omega- the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come- the Almighty One.”

Observation
John describes his letter as a revelation from God of events soon to come. God blesses the person who reads the prophecy and those who obey it.

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the ruler of the kings of the world. He is coming, and everyone will see Him.

God is the first and the last, the one who is, who always was and is yet to come.

Application
God is the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He is outside of time, and there was not a time when He did not exist.

When we look at the powerful forces at work in the world whether military, political or corporate- we can be overwhelmed by them. Who can stand against them?

God is stronger than all these things. He is bigger than any created thing. He was there before them and will be there long after they have turned to dust. He is the first and the last, the Almighty God.

When it comes to our personal sufferings, our problems, relationships that are difficult, sins that we struggle with- God knows the end from the beginning. He is already at the place where these things are worked through.

God sees our heart, not just the situations we live through.

God is unchanging. He is always the same. Mountains may fall but God will not. Countries and cultures, families and neighbourhoods change, but God does not.

He is the rock. He is the one we can depend on always.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the certainty that you will always be here. You will always be who you are now. There is no shadow of turning in you. Amen.

Reflection on Mark 13:1-8

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Scripture
“When you hear of wars and rumours of was, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”

Observation
Jesus and His disciples leave the Temple building, and one of them exclaims, “Look at these magnificent buildings!”

Jesus replies that the Temple will be so obliterated that not one stone will remain on another. He goes on to tell them that many will come claiming to be Jesus and to speak in His name, and they will deceive many people. There will be wars and rumours of wars, but the disciples are not to be alarmed.

Application
Although people often look at this passage as being about the end times, it primarily refers to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, when the Temple, which seemed so magnificent and indestructible, was totally destroyed.

There are two warnings in this passage that apply to us.

  1. Do not be deceived by false messiahs claiming to come in the name of the Lord. The people of God must exercise discernment. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice.” When celebrity preachers or political leaders offer a different gospel or a different salvation, we must recognise that they are a false messiah, a false teacher, a false leader- even if they claim to be born again.
  2. We must not be alarmed by the tumult of the nations. Wars have always been a part of human existence. In fact, we live in an era of unprecedented peace, yet people are more fearful than ever. Our focus must always be on Jesus rather than the affairs of the nations.

When people offer “peace in our time” without Jesus then we can be certain that they are a false messiah. Only Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Peace without Him is a false peace, brittle and short-lived.

Prayer
Help me, Holy Spirit, to discern what is true, edifying and from you. Let me see the truth in every situation and trust my fears and anxieties to you. Amen

Reflection on Hebrews 10:11-25

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Scripture

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another– and all the more as we see the Day coming.

Observation

Priests offer sacrifices over and over, but Christ our High Priest offered the one perfect sacrifice and then sat down at God’s right hand. This one sacrifice atoned for all sin and so there is no longer any need for sacrifices.

Therefore we have confidence to enter the Holy Place knowing that our hearts and consciences have been made clean. We should spur one another on to good deeds, continuing to meet together to encourage one another.

Application

There is a wrong belief amongst some people that we don’t need church to walk with Jesus. Apparently that belief was there from the beginning, but in our increasingly individualistic and fragmented society it is becoming more common.

On the one hand, the New Testament reassures us that we have the Holy Spirit and don’t need anyone to teach us the ways of the Lord. On the other hand, the New Testament also emphasises frequently the corporate nature of the church which is described as the Body of Christ,

We need each other to ensure that we keep growing in Christ. We need each other to complement one another’s spiritual gifts. When we are left to our own devices it is easy to be deceived into believing that we are doing well. When we meet together the exuberance of others might encourage us to go deeper in Christ. Seeing others grow in the Lord can encourage us to see that we have more to learn, more to repent, more to grow.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for the church, the Body of Christ in the world. Help me to be an encourager to my fellow christians and to be encouraged by them. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Samuel 1:1-20

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1-Sam.jpeg

Scripture

In due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”

Observation

Hannah, one of two wives to Elkanah, is desperate for a child. One time after the sacrificial meal that the family shares at Shiloh, she goes into the Tabernacle to pray.

She is in such anguish of spirit that Eli the priest thinks she is drunk. When she explains her anguish and sorrow, Eli blesses her.

The family returns home, and Hannah eventually has a baby. She names him Samuel, and he grows up to be the great prophet to Israel.

Application

This passage tells us four things about prayer.

1. God reacts to real faith. Hannah knows that God can hear our prayers and she is certain about His faithfulness. Her faith is so deep that when Eli says to her, “May God grant your request”, she accepts that her prayer has already been answered.

2. God reacts to our struggles and the distress of our prayers. Prayer is not an intellectual exercise where we think nice thoughts. It is a deeply spiritual process that can engage our emotions. Hannah’s prayer was so emotional because it was fuelled by the distress in her heart. It was s emotional that Eli the priest thought she was drunk.

3. God is not limited by the corruption or godlessness of a religious system. Eli’s sons were notorious for eating the best parts of the food brought for sacrifice, which was against the religious law, but God was still at work. The voice of God was not heard in the land, but God was still at work.

4. God’s timing is not always the same as ours. Sometimes He delays answers to prayer to provoke us to a deeper faith in Him. Sometimes He gives us blessings and responsibilities before we think we are ready for them. His timing is always perfect, even if it seems inconvenient.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the knowledge that you answer our prayers, the fervent prayers of a heart that is surrendered to you. Amen.

Reflection on Mark 12:28-34

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Scripture

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Observation

One of the teachers of the Law hears the debate going on between Jesus and those who are seeking to catch Him in His words. He asks Jesus, “What is the most important commandment?”

Jesus replies, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second most important is to love your neighbour as you love yourself.’

The man affirms Jesus’ response because he sees that loving God and loving your neighbour are more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Jesus tells the man that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.

Application

Many people take this exchange out of its context and assume that Jesus is all about love- love for God and love for our neighbours.

In a sense this is true, but it misses the full truth. The man was commended by Jesus for his understanding. He declared, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” He did not say, “You are in the kingdom.”

To say we must love God and love our neighbour is what logicians call a “necessary but not sufficient” condition. Yes, those who are in the kingdom will do these things, but so will some who are not in the kingdom.

To say that love for God and for other people is the way into the kingdom overlooks the effect of sin in our lives. I am a sinner so I cannot love God fully. I am a sinner so my love for my neighbour will always be corrupted by judgement or expectation of a return or by resentment.

Before we can love we must deal with the sin problem. We must experience God’s total and unconditional grace. When we say “Yes” to Jesus, He washes away our sins and transforms our heart.

It is Jesus alone who enables us to fulfil His commandment to love.

Prayer

Jesus, I thank you that your love for me enables me to love you and my neighbour. Continue to remove sin from my heart so that my love is pure. Amen.

Reflection on Hebrews 9:11-14

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hebrews

Scripture

When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.

Observation

This passage compares the high priesthood of Christ in the new covenant with the high priests of the old covenant.

Christ came into the world as high priest through the heavenly “tabernacle” not through one made by human hands. His own perfect blood is the sacrifice that cleanses. His blood cleanses our consciences, and not just the outward appearance. The result is that we are set free from acts that lead to death and enabled to serve the living God.

Application

There is a tendency amongst some christians to want to in some way go back to the sacrifices, ceremonies and worship laid out in the Law of Moses. They argue that by following these practices which were ordained by God, they are in some way superior to those who do not follow them.

The writer of “Hebrews”, though, paints a very different picture. The tabernacle, the sacrifices and the cleansing blood of the Old Testament Law have been replaced by the perfect offering of Jesus. Even the tabernacle that He passed through was better, being heavenly not earthly. The blood he offered was perfect and can cleanse us from sin and not just the outward actions of sin.

In Christ we have all we need to be reconciled to God and empowered to be His servants. We are the royal priesthood, because we serve the greatest High Priest.

Everything in the Old Testament was a picture of the reality to come. Let us not confuse the picture with the living reality.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for coming into this world as the perfect sacrifice for all the sins of mankind. Thank you for dying for me and setting me free to serve you. Amen.

Reflection on Ruth 1:1-18

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ruth

Scripture

“Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God”

Observation

The story of Ruth begins with multiple tragedies, but ends with great favour from the Lord.

A man named Elimelech goes to Moab to escape a great famine in the land of Israel. He takes his wife and two sons with him. While they are there, Elimelech dies. His two sons marry Moabite women, but they die also, leaving Naomi with her two daughters-in-law.

When Naomi hears that the famine in her home town is over, she goes back to Judah. Along the way she implores the two women to go back to their homes. One does this, but the other, Ruth, declares that she is going to stay with Naomi and go wherever she goes.

Application

Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi is seen in this declaration: “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God”

She had no natural reason to stick with Naomi and travel to a strange land with her. Obviously there was a deep bond of affection between these two women. Perhaps she had seen signs of a better religion, a better culture, a better people than the ones she had grown up with.

It is faithfulness that opens the door for God’s blessing. This is still true today. If we want to see God’s blessings in our life we need to be faithful to the people He puts us with, faithful to the call He places on our life, and faithful above all else to the name of Jesus.

Prayer

Thank you Father for the example of Ruth who shows us how to live in humble obedience to you, even though she was not one of your chosen people. Please help me to be faithful to you. Amen.