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Reflection on Genesis 1:1-2:3

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creation

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1:1-2:3

Scripture

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Observation

In the beginning God created. Over six days, God set about forming a bleak and dull universe into something beautiful and capable of sustaining life.

There is a method, a process, of firstly forming the heavens, the water and sky, and the earth, and then filling them.

At the end of the sixth day, God proclaims it is very good, and then sets aside the seventh day as the Sabbath rest.

Application

In the beginning God…

God is at the beginning of creation. Nothing is made without Him. Nothing lasts without Him.

Our lives should be the same- every plan, every thought , every deed should find its beginning in God. It is when we move away from the source of all things that we move towards sin and death.

In the beginning God created…

It is in God’s nature to create, to bring into being things that were not. We are created in God’s image, and therefore we are creators. Every human being has the capacity to create things- art, poetry, movies, buildings, inventions, more people.

When we believe that we are not creative, then we are in bondage to sin- satan has lied to us about our destiny and our purpose.

In my lifetime, I have seen an explosion in wealth around the globe due to creativity. Some of this is in harnessing God’s creation (agriculture and mining), some of it from turning God’s creation into human creation (industry), but much of it is in services where human ingenuity is harnessed, for example in the software that runs our apps and internet services. Financial services multiply wealth when money- intrinsically valueless in itself- generates more money as it is transformed into different states.

Creativity is a blessing from the Lord the creator. It is an exceptional sign of the image of God in human beings.

Of course, due to sin we can corrupt this to destructive and sinful ends. God calls us to build up not pull down and to create not destroy.

Prayer

Lord God, how amazing it is to think that before all things came into being, you were there. How awesome to contemplate that this world, for all its problems, is a product of your design and not a chance arrangement of atoms. Amen.

Reflection on John 14:15-22

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John 14-20 You WIll Know That You Are In Me And I Am In You blue.jpg

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passsage/?search=John+14.15-22

Scripture

“On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

Observation

Jesus tells the disciples that if they love Him they will obey His commands. He will send the Comforter, the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him because the world does not know Him.

Jesus is going, but because He lives we also will live. We will know the unity of the Father with the Son and with us.

Application

Often we fail to understand the true unity of the believer with God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus says that He is in the Father and also in us, and that we are in Him.

To be born again is to be born of the Spirit. We share in Christ’s death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us.

There is a close unity within the person of God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we are born again, we are brought into the union.

I am in God and God is in me. This is not some Eastern mystical idea where “god” is in the creation and everything is “god.”

No, this is about relationships. God invites us into a relational unity with Him that we were created for and which sin destroyed.

Because I am now in God, I need to protect this unity through a commitment to holiness. I do not want to risk this unity by offending God’s perfect holiness. This would be like defiling my marriage relationship by sleeping with a woman other than my wife.

We were created for a close relationship with God. Jesus died on the cross to restore the relationship. He gives us the Holy Spirit to be the centre of the relationship.

Prayer

Lord, this concept of being united with you is very hard to get my mind around. I don’t understand it, but I receive it. Please help me to repent and turn away from everything that would rob that relationship. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 3:13-22

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3.13-22

Scripture

In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Observation

Even if we suffer for doing what is right we are blessed. We should always be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ, but with gentleness and respect.

Christ died for our sins once for all to bring us to God. We was put to death but then raised to life by the Holy Spirit. He preached to spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago. Noah’s ark is a type of baptism, the pledge of a good conscience towards God.

Application

Evangelism starts with a heart dedicated and sanctified to the Lord. We must repent of sin and live a life that honours God. This does not mean we have to have it all together before we can share our faith. It does mean that Christ must be the highest priority, the most precious desire of our heart.

Christ must be Lord in our hearts and not just the means to getting to heaven.

We must be always prepared to give the reason for our hope. People ask questions about faith at all kinds of times- often at inconvenient times. Will we take hold of the opportunity as it presents itself, or fob off a seeker because we have other things on our mind?

“Always be prepared” means to understand in our hearts how to share the gospel. It manes that we know who Jesus is and why His death saves us,

This must be done with gentleness and respect. People are not won by arguments and insults. They are won by humility, gentleness and respect. This person asking me about my faith is someone who was created in the image of God and for whom Christ died. Our faith sharing must always be done with this in mind.

Prayer

Lord, who are you leading me to talk to today, this week? Let my life, my attitudes and my words speak highly of you to all that I speak. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 17:22-34

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17.22-34

Scripture

“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”

Observation

Paul is in Athens where he has a dispute with some of the city’s philosophers. They take him to the Areopagus to present and argue for the Gospel.

Paul notes that the city is very religious, even having an altar dedicated to an unknown god. Paul says that this is the true God who created all things and all people. He did this so that people would turn to Him and find Him.

In the past, God overlooked the ignorance of paganism. But now He calls all people to repent, for He has set a day of judgement by Christ whom He raised from the dead.

Some sneer at this talk of resurrection, but others believe Paul and his message.

Application

Since Christ came into the world, the gospel has left us with a stark choice- we can accept it or reject it.

The commandment given to all people now is “repent.” The Kingdom of God has arrived, and we must turn from our sins and follow Jesus.

There once was no kingdom, but now the King has come and established His Kingdom. Once we could live as we pleased, whether it was to worship idols or to worship our bodies.

Now King Jesus tells us to worship only Him. There is a grace period but a day of judgement will come.

Jesus is justified in judging those who reject Him. He died to pay for our sin. Now we must honour Him with our lives or pay the price for rejecting His grace.

This is not religion by obeying rules. This is freedom to live the lives we were created for. I once was lost in sin, but now I am found in Him.

Repenting does not just mean turning from sinful actions. It is letting go of all our false loves to embrace the true lover of our souls.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for delivering me from sin. Help me to honour you in every part of my life. Amen

Reflection on 1 Peter 2:1-10

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1-Peter

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2.1-10

Scripture

So like new born babies you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Observation

We are to crave spiritual milk so that we can grow in the Lord. We have come to Christ, the cornerstone of God’s temple. We are like living stones that build the temple, even priests offering daily sacrifices that are pleasing to the Lord.

Jesus is the cornerstone but He is a stumbling stone to those who reject God’s word. We are God’s chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation.

Application

When we first come to Christ we are described as being born again. Spiritually we are babies. New born babies are dependent on others, don’t know much, and cry when provoked. While babies are delightful, nobody wants them to stay that way.

Yet we have many spiritual babies who have never matured in their faith despite being saved for 10 years, 20 years, even 50 years or more. They are content to stay the way they are- infants in their thinking and unable to do much in the body of Christ.

Peter tells the new-borns they must crave pure spiritual milk. That means reading the Bible, listening to teachers and pastors, being mentored by mature christians, learning to pray and to minister to others.

We have taught people to fall over the starting line of the race and to stay there rather than running to the finish line. Too many christians remain dependent on others when they should already be growing in Christ and helping others to do the same.

There are many churches that feed their people Diet Coke Zero rather than milk, let alone meat. People go to be entertained but never challenged or shown how to grow.

We take God’s grace, and that should move us to cry “More, Lord!” His tender mercy is meant to move us into deeper intimacy with Him, which is then expressed in the way we relate to others, the way we relate to God and our behaviour and motivations through life.

Prayer

Lord, I need you to mature me, to grow me, to show me how to live for you. Please help me to crave your spiritual food. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 7:55-60

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07-Stoning-of-Stephen

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7.55-60

Scripture

And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honour at God’s right hand!”

Observation

Stephen is testifying before the Sanhedrin. As the leaders become increasingly enraged by his assertion that Jesus is the Messiah, Stephen sees the glory of God with Jesus standing at God’s right hand.

The elders drag him out of the city to stone him, laying their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Stephen calls out to the Lord, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit” and then “Lord don’t charge this against them.” Then he dies.

Application

It is quite awesome to have a vision of heaven, to see what is happening in God’s throne room. There are times when, if we ask, God will grant us this kind of vision. It gives us a greater insight into what God is doing and where we fit into His plans.

The important thing in Stephen’s revelation is that he sees God the Father on the throne with Jesus standing at His right hand.

Jesus is not just a historical figure. He is alive now, interceding for us and representing us before the Father.

Jesus is in the place of authority and power in God’s kingdom. In fact, He is the way we get into the Kingdom. Through Jesus we have total access to the Father, all the time.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you are my saviour and my Lord. Thank you for the knowledge that you have opened the way for me and all who trust in you. Amen.

Reflection on John 10:1-10

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429px-The_Lord_is_my_Good_Shepherd.jpg

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10.1-10

Scripture

”When he has brought out all his own [sheep], he goes on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Observation

Anyone who does not enter a sheep pen by the gate is a thief and robber. The shepherd enters the paddock by the gate and calls the sheep by name. They follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger because they do not know his voice.

Jesus says, “I am the gate for the sheep.” Those who came before, the false Messiahs and false teachers, were like thieves and robbers. Thieves come to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus has come to give life to the full.

Application

Jesus calls us by name. He knows us. We are not a blank face in the crowd or a six-digit number.

The true follower of Jesus knows His voice and follows Him where He leads. We follow because we know the voice.

There is a depth of intimacy in our relationship with Jesus. He knows us more deeply than we know ourselves. He is the Good Shepherd who loves His sheep.

Jesus knows me and loves me!

I know Him. I recognise His voice as He speaks to my heart. I hear His voice in Scriptures and in good preaching. I hear His voice when He speaks to me in dreams and visions. I hear His voice in the stillness and quiet places.

He leads and I follow that voice; it works best that way. Sometimes I try to follow other voices, but it usually ends badly.

It is so much better to follow the shepherd of my soul.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help me to hear your voice and to follow your voice alone. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 2:19-25

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1 peter 02_21-1600

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2.19-21

Scripture

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to our sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Observation

This passage is primarily directed at slaves being punished by harsh masters, but it is applicable to every believer.

It is commendable to bear up under unjust suffering because of our trust in God. It is not worthy if we suffer for doing wrong. The experience of suffering unjustly is a part of our calling in Christ, for He suffered on our behalf even though He committed no sin.

Jesus did not retaliate or threaten those who afflicted Him. Instead He entrusted Himself to His Father. As a result, we are set free from our sins.

Application

Jesus bore our sins on His body when He hung on the cross. He died to set us free from sin and death.

Everyone who receives this gift and dies to their sins can now be raised to new life in Him.

Sin had a hold on us in every way. We could not escape it on our own. But when we died to ourselves and received new life in Christ, then we were dead to sin and alive to righteousness. We were born again to a new life in the grace of Christ.

Part of the benefit of being born again in Christ is that we can know healing from sickness. Sickness is a part of the old covenant of sin and death. Now that we live in Christ we are healed by His wounds.

In this life healing is only partial, in the same way that our freedom from sin is not yet complete. And so we pray and sometimes people are healed and other times they are not.

The healing that we do receive points us to the future when sickness and death will be no more.

Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for me. Than you for taking my sin and my death on your body and promising eternal life with you. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 2:42-47

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breaking-bread-together.jpg

 

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2.42-47

Scripture

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

Observation

The earliest believers recognised that they needed one another. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship and worship. The apostles performed many signs and wonders.

The believers shared their possessions and gave to those in need. They met daily in the temple and in their homes. And the Lord added to their number daily.

Application

This scripture passage is one of the key passages for the cell church movement. We see here that in the early days the church met, as the church, in big gatherings and in smaller gatherings in homes.

There was a strong sense of community, of belonging to one another that is often missing in many churches. They could see the Holy Spirit at work as signs and wonders were happening, as they loved on another, and as people were being saved.

It is easy to get caught in the christian “bubble” in which all of our relationships are with other christians. Somehow, in all of their exciting meetings, the first believers were maintaining friendships with non-believers in such a way that they were getting saved.

This community was not a closed cult. It was a very open group.

I get very excited when I meditate on this passage. It tells us what the church can be and should be. We just have to change our orientation from institution to God-centred community.

Prayer

Lord let my part of your church become the real church. May we develop a community of such intimacy with you and with each other that people are desperate to find you. Amen.

Reflection on Luke 24:13-35

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Fritz_von_Uhde_-_Der_Gang_nach_Emmaus_(1891).jpg

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24.13-35

Scripture

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures?”

Observation

It is Easter afternoon and two disciples are walking the road to a village called Emmaus.
They are discussing the events of the weekend when a stranger comes near. It is Jesus, although they don’t recognise Him. They tell Him about Jesus, His crucifixion and the reports of His resurrection.

Jesus then starts to tell them about how it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer then enter into glory.

At he village, the disciples invite Jesus to stay the night. When they are eating, Jesus takes the bread, blesses and breaks it. Their eyes are opened to recognise Him, then He vanishes. Excited, they rush back to Jerusalem with the news that they have seen the Lord.

Application

An encounter with Jesus will burn our hearts within us. Drawing close to Jesus, communing with him, listening to Him- this is what warms the heart of the true follower of Jesus.

There are three things happening here.

1. Two disciples sharing together about Jesus are joined by Him unexpectedly. Where two or three are gathered in His name He is there. I love cell groups and one-on-one conversations because, as we share about Jesus, He comes and joins the conversation.

2. Jesus talked to them. We need to learn to listen to the still small voice of God. He tells us, ”My sheep know my voice.” The greatest source of life for christians is the voice of the Living Word that comes to us as we listen in prayer.

3. He opened the scriptures to them. All scripture points to Jesus. It can be so easy to come to God’s word as a religious chore that we tick off our daily “to do” list. Here is the word of eternal life. It deserves our attention. We need to learn to hear the voice of Jesus opening the scriptures to us, opening our understanding and our eyes to see how it applies to us today.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, when I come into your presence, my heart truly does burn within me. I confess that I sometimes let the busy-ness of life prevent me from seeking you. Let my heart burn with passion for your presence. Amen.