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Reflection on Mark 6:14-29

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Scripture

Deeply grieved, the king regretted his promise to her, but since he had made his vow in front of his honoured guests, he could not deny her request.

Observation

King Herod hears about Jesus and what people are saying about Him. Some people insist that he is John the Baptist resurrected. Herod believes this and becomes disturbed.

Previously, Herod had had John arrested because John was publicly rebuking Herod for his immorality in marrying Herodias. At a feast for Herod’s birthday, his stepdaughter danced for the assembled dignitaries. He was delighted and promised her whatever she requested. At her mother’s urging, she requests John’s head on a platter. Reluctantly, Herod acquiesced to her demand.

Application

Our words can imprison us and others so we should be careful about what we say. Where the text says “The king regretted his promise,” an early Syrian version says he was “tied in a knot,” a very graphic description.

Our words have power to free us or enslave us.

A year ago I made a promise to “try to” do something. It seemed impossible at that point, but the promise seemed to be led by the Holy Spirit. For six months, I prayed daily for the grace to do what I had said I would try to achieve. Finally a breakthrough came as the Lord lifted me to a higher level of faith.

A vow uttered from the human soul constricts us or “ties us in a knot.” A godly promise can take us upward and higher. The difference is the source of the promise, whether it is energised by the spirit or by the flesh.

When we discover that we have spoken foolishly we should immediately take it to the Lord and seek His direction. His ways are higher than our ways, and His wisdom exceeds all human wisdom. He will show us how to be free of a fleshly promise or vow.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that you set me free from foolish vows and promises. Help me to control my tongue and only make declarations that honour you. Amen.

Reflection on Ephesians 1:1-14

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niagara-falls

Scripture

Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father- the Father of our Lord Jesus- all because He sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts.

Observation

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He chose us and joined us to Himself, adopting us as His children.

The cascading riches of His grace flow over us and release wisdom and insight. God’s long range plan is that He will make all things new through Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the first instalment or deposit for what is coming- all to the glory of God.

Application

Because of Jesus we lack nothing. Everything we need for salvation and eternity has been given to us.

God is not reluctant in His giving. He lavishes grace upon grace over us. His grace is like a mighty waterfall that keeps flowing over us. It is superabundant- more than enough, more than is reasonable.

It is all because He loves us and desires us to see His love for us. He is like an old billionaire who falls in love with a young woman and showers her with jewellery and all kinds of extravagant gifts.

God’s graces are more than mere physical baubles. His first grace is the promise of eternal life. We are guaranteed a place in heaven, a “mansion.”

But there is so much more than even this:

  • the gifts of wisdom and insight

  • the power gifts of the Holy Spirit

  • the fruit of the Holy Spirit

But Paul tells us all of this is just a deposit or an engagement ring. There is so much more to come.

Prayer

Lord God I thank you for your overflowing, superabundant grace which you lavish on me daily. Please help me to look to your cascading, flooding grace and to rejoice in you every single day. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Samuel 6:1-23

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Ark of the Covenant

Scripture

David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments- lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.

Observation

David goes to bring back the Ark of the Lord and to locate it in Jerusalem. They place the Ark on a new cart, and then David and the people dance and sing before the Lord as they make their journey.

But the oxen stumble, and Uzzah reaches out to steady the Ark. The Lord strikes him down. The Ark is then left at the home of Obed-Edom.

After three months it becomes known that the Lord is blessing Obed-Edom because of the Ark, so David decides to complete its return to Jerusalem. Again there is much celebration, but this time David heeds the commandments of the Lord about how the Ark is to be carried.

As David dances with abandon, his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, is disgusted by his lack of dignity. As a result she remains barren for her whole life.

Application

It is good to celebrate God in our worship. Worship should always be a celebration of God’s grace. The more instruments, the more singers, the more participants, the better. Let us sing and dance to the Lord as often as we can.

However, worship must be holy. When worship lacks integrity or becomes self-seeking, it can become dangerous. In this passage, David failed to observe God’s rules for moving the Ark, and a man died as a result.

This is not to say that worship should be legalistic and overrun with rules and traditions. We do need to make sure that individually and corporately we are living lives that honour the Lord before we pick up an instrument.

Then we can boldly come into the presence of the Most High God and rejoice in Him.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to worship you. May we always be mindful of your eternal holiness as well as your unfailing love so that we worship you in Spirit and in truth. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

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2Corinthians12

Scripture

So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.

Observation

In order to counter the claims of the false “super-apostles” that were opposing him, Paul speaks of an experience he had. On one occasion he was taken up to the highest heaven. The experience was so powerful that he is not sure whether it was a vision or a physical journey to heaven. In this experience the Lord showed him mysteries that are too sacred to express.

Paul doesn’t boast about the revelations he has received and doesn’t regard them as a reason for people to respect him. To keep him humble, the Lord permitted a thorn int the flesh, a messenger from satan.

He asked the Lord to remove this thing, but the Lord replied, “My grace is more than enough for you, and my grace is made strong in your weakness.”

Application

Our culture worships the strong and powerful people- the top athletes, rulers and business people. Church culture is no different, glamorising the “man of God”, the gifted preacher, and the healer.

But Paul of all people shows us a different way. He has the most powerful experience of heaven which today would put him on the book and movie top sellers lists. But he tells us that what he saw was too sacred to talk about.

Not only this, he is given a “thorn in the flesh” to keep him humble. We don’t know exactly what this was, but it was some kind of messenger from satan that served to keep him focused on the mighty power of Christ in him.

So he says, “I will celebrate my weaknesses.” To the world this is crazy. Everyone needs to be strong, powerful, and effective.

To celebrate my weaknesses means I have to rely on God. It is an acknowledgement that by myself I can do nothing, but in Christ I can do all things.

We can be tempted to rejoice in our own strengths, talents, and activity. That way leads to p[ride and arrogance.

The way to growth in the Holy Spirit is to celebrate our weakness, and push into God relying on His grace to achieve His goals.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to celebrate my weaknesses and to trust only in your strength. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

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wpid-wp-1415874737344

Scripture

Since you excel in so many ways- in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us- I want you to excel also in this gracious gift of giving.

Observation

Paul is encouraging the churches to raise funds to help the church in Jerusalem. He points out that the church in Corinth excels in all kinds of ways (although he might be being a little sarcastic here) and now they need to add to that list by excelling in the gracious gift of giving.

Christ was generous to us, giving up all He had for our sake. So the Corinthians should now imitate Him by finishing what they started the year before. They were eager to help in the past and should once again be eager to give.

Application

To be vibrant and growing, a church must develop a culture of giving. I know of congregations that are focused on their own needs. While they seem to thrive in the short term, they eventually grow stale and decline because they have not learned to give generously as Christ did.

The Bible teaches that there are four main responsibilities for churches to steward their finances:

  • ministers, pastors and teachers must be supported

  • the needs of the poor in the congregation must be met

  • local mission and evangelism

  • mission beyond the local area

If we fail to adequately address these responsibilities, either corporately or individually, we fail to imitate Christ.

Churches and individual believers who learn to live lives of generous giving become strong in other areas of their lives also.

It is not about the money but about the attitude that we have towards money. We must always remember that everything that we have is the Lord’s to use through us.

Prayer

Take my life and my possessions to be used entirely for you Lord. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Samuel 1:1-27

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david_grief

Scripture

“Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” David asked.

Observation

An Amalekite comes to David with Saul’s crown and armband. He tells David that Saul and Jonathan are dead. He found Saul fatally wounded and killed him at Saul’s request.

David is mortified when he hears this news. He and his men weep all day for Saul and Jonathan.

David asks the man, “Why were you nt afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” He then has the man killed.

Application

Despite years of running from Saul, David was grieved by Saul’s death. He asked the Amalekite twice, “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?”

This verse is often used as a justification for some high profile ministers to be above any form of accountability. “You must not touch the Lord’s anointed,” they say. They then are allowed to commit all kinds of sins of greed, sexual immorality and arrogance.

In the other hand, some ministers seem to be hamstrung by people who think it is their job to humiliate, criticise and judge them.

So how do we rightly interpret this verse? We should start by noting that even though Saul was sinful and out of God’s will, to the point that the Lord had removed His Spirit from him, David refused to kill him, and refused to rejoice in his death.

When we become aware of a preacher’s sins we should first confront him alone and plead for him to repent. If they refuse to repent, we should withdraw from their influence, possibly changing churches. We should continue to pray for him, honour and respect him and allow God’s judgement to work its ways.

Finally, we should never rejoice in the fall of a minister, because that is always a victory for the enemy and a wound to the Kingdom of God.

Prayer

Lord I pray for all ministers whom I know. Please protect them from the wily temptations of the Evil One. May they remain in your anointing and in the path of holiness. Amen.

Reflection on Mark 4:26-34

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Scripture

Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.

Observation

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a farmer who sows seed. Without any intervention the seed grows and matures until harvest time.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that grows and becomes a bush.

Jesus used many stories to describe the kingdom, but He always explained them to the disciples.

Application

The kingdom of God is like a farmer and it is like a tiny seed. How can it be both?

Jesus knew that we relate better to stories than to theological doctrines. We need the doctrines for knowledge but the stories speak to our heart.

The kingdom of God is organic and relational. It is also unstoppable.

These are the messages in these brief stories. We can see in our mind the farmer planting, the shoots emerging and the harvest taking place, all without human strategy or plant growth conferences.

God’s kingdom has been growing for 2000 years. Of the increase of His government there shall be no end.

My testimony of experiencing God’s grace in Christ is one of the stories that God can use to bring people to faith. It is not enough by itself because people need to relate to Christ, not just to me. But it is a powerful expression for people who have never related to Jesus.

The kingdom of God is like a young man who refused to believe in God. One night he had a dream…

Every story is different because every person is different. The story of grace remains the same and expresses itself through our individual stories.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the power of stories especially the story of the kingdom. Help me to share this story with others. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

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faith

Scripture

We live by believing not by seeing.

Observation

Paul would rather be at home with the Lord, but whether here or in heaven, his desire is to please Christ. We will all be judged and receive what we deserve for all our deeds, both good and evil.

Paul’s ministry might not seem as spectacular as some, but he has a sincere heart. Christ’s love controls him.

Instead of viewing people from a human perspective, he now sees everyone who belongs to Christ as a new person. The old has gone, a new life has begun.

Application

We walk by faith and not by sight.

Every part of our thinking needs to be transformed by the grace of God so that we see all things from God’s perspective and not from human wisdom. We listen to the Holy Spirit rather than relying on our senses and judgement.

When choosing a king to follow Saul, the prophet Samuel heard the Lord say “People judge by the outward appearance but I look at the heart.” We need to overcome our natural tendency to judge people by the way they look. Everyone who is born again is precious to God regardless of their appearance.

When we look at world and national events and even our personal situations, we need to discern the underlying spiritual forces. We are not contending against flesh and blood but the spiritual powers. We must see beyond surface appearances and use the eyes of faith.

Finally, when we are tempted to disappointment because we are not getting to the place that the Lord has called us to, we need to look through the eyes of faith. What seems to us to be an obstacle or failure may in fact be a part of the journey to where we are going, equipping us for ministry by making us stronger in faith.

Prayer

Lord please help me to live by faith rather than sight, to see your perspective, not just a human perspective. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

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light

Scripture

For God who said, “Let brilliant light shine in the darkness” is the one who has cascaded his light into us- the brilliant dawning light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ.

Observation

Paul doesn’t preach himself but Christ. Christ is the source of the light of the glorious knowledge of God.

We are the ordinary clay pots that carry the treasure of God’s presence. So when Paul is beaten and persecuted, he does not give up. As an apostle, Paul is constantly handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Christ is released into His people.

Application

It is God’s nature to cause light to shine into the darkness. Evil flees the light but goodness seeks it.

We can know God’s glory- really know it- through Christ. This intimate knowledge of God is like a light that sears through our souls cleansing evil from us and restoring us into right relationship with Him.

This light, this transforming glory, comes as we gaze upon the face of Jesus Christ. Some translations express it as “stand face to face with Him.”

Radiance cascades from the Father, through the Son and into us as we seek Jesus. How do we do this? Prayer, worship and Scripture. These are the channels through which we talk to Jesus face to face.

Here is the miracle: God chooses His glory to rest on ordinary people- clay pots. The container does not matter, just God’s presence.

If only we could see the treasure that is so freely available to us, waiting to cascade over us and through us.

I need to daily, constantly seek to spend face to face time with Christ, to let God’s glory fill and refill me.

Prayer

Lord, fill me with the glorious presence of your Spirit so that your light will shine round into the darkness. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Samuel 3:1-21

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1-sam-3

Scripture

As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said was proved to be reliable.

Observation

The boy Samuel grows up serving the Lord in the Tabernacle. In those days messages from the Lord were rare and visions were uncommon.

One night, as Samuel is sleeping, the Lord calls to him. Samuel thinks it is Eli calling so he goes to find out what is wrong. Eli tells him to go to sleep. This is repeated three times before Eli works out that it is the Lord calling Samuel.

So the Lord speaks to Samuel and warns him that judgement is about to fall on Eli and his two sons. Eli instructs Samuel to tell him everything the Lord has said.

As he grows up Samuel develops a reputation as a prophet who accurately hears from the Lord.

Application

What a sad time in the history of Israel that very few people heard from the Lord or saw visions from Him. Samuel comes onto the scene as someone special who hears the Lord and speaks boldly for Him.

We live in such an age in the church. Very few people accurately hear the Lord, but we should all be like Samuel. The Holy Spirit has been poured out onto the church and all we who are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit should be listening for the voice of the Lord.

Unbelievers are turning to all kinds of false teachers because they are desperate for a touch from the Lord. If they cannot get it in the church they will go elsewhere.

We need to be like Samuel, practising in listening to God, cultivating and growing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to listen to your voice. Show me how to grow in discernment and in prophecy. Let your voice be heard in the church and beyond. Amen.