Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+137
In the exile of my grief
How can I sing the Lord’s song
“Cheer up and sing,” they say
“Rejoice in the Lord,” they urge
How can I rejoice and sing
When my loss if so strong?
bible
Reflection on Lamentations 1:1-6
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lamentations+1.1-6
Oh my city, my home
What has become of you?
The empty street and shops
Bombed out houses
In vacated suburbs
Speak of death and disaster.
Oh my city, my home
The dwelling of Yahweh
The envy of the nations
The focus of the world
We ask “Why?”
But no answer comes.
Oh my city my home
Australia’s shame
We have left the ancient paths
The holy ways of God
Can our own exile be delayed?
Reflection on Luke 16:9-31
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16.9-31
Scripture
“He said to them, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone returns from the dead.’”
Observation
Jesus tells a story of a rich man who lived in luxury every day. A beggar named Lazarus lived in misery at his gate.
Both the beggar and the rich man die. Lazarus is taken to heaven but the rich man goes to Hades to be tormented. The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to him to cool his tongue with a drop of water. Abraham says that no one can cross from heaven to Hades.
The rich man then asks for Lazarus to be sent to warn his brothers. Abraham tells him that hey have the Law and the Prophets, and not even the testimony of a resurrected man will convince them.
Application
We often think that if only God would do something spectacular then people would have to believe. There have been testimonies from around the world of people being raised from the dead. These experiences affect the person who has been raised and their immediate family, but seem to make little difference to the wider circle of people around them.
The rich man in the story remained unconverted even after death. He still thought that he was in control and that Lazarus was no better than a slave who was there to meet his demands. It seems that even judgement and hell will leave some people unchanged.
If spectacular death experiences leave people unchanged, what will change them? What does it take to persuade people? The key to changing hearts is prayer together with the story of God’s Good News. Only this will soften hearts that are closed to God.
Prayer
Lord please show me who I should pray for and talk to about Jesus. Amen.
Reflection on 1 Timothy 6:6-19
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+6.6-21
Scripture
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
Observation
Godliness with contentment is great wealth. We brought nothing into the world and can take nothing from it, so if we have enough to cover the basics we should be content.
The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It leads us to temptation and stirs up harmful desires.
The man of God must pursue righteousness and a godly life. We must fight the good fight, obeying God’s commandments until Christ returns.
Those who are rich must not be proud or trust their wealth. Money must be used to do good works and in that way store up a treasure for the life to come.
Application
So many people are obsessed with wealth. Those who don’t have money want more and those who have plenty can become proud of their possessions.
There is nothing wrong with material wealth. It is the love of money, not money itself, that stirs up bad passions and leads us away from the Lord.
For the follower of Christ, pursuing God’s will must be our primary desire. If I pursue God’s kingdom then I will have my trust in Him not in my money. If I devote myself to seeking first God’s kingdom then nothing else matters.
Prayer
Lord please help me to put you first and to trust in you rather than in my own resources. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 16:1-13
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16.1-13
Scripture
“If you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”
Observation
Jesus tells a parable about a dishonest manager who is caught out misappropriating his master’s money. When confronted and required to give an account of himself, he makes his own provision. He calls in the master’s debtors and gets them to mark down the amount they owe.
The manager uses his position to gain favour with other potential employers. Jesus says that we are to act shrewdly for the kingdom, using all our physical resources to the purposes of the kingdom.
We need to be faithful with the little we have in order to be trusted with more.
Application
This passage trips up many christians because Jesus seems to be commending fraud and dishonesty. Jesus is pointing out that the people of the world use their cunning and creativity to advance their own interests. How much more should the children of God use their possessions to advance the kingdom.
People who do not know God- and many who do- allow money to become a false god which they look to for security or identity or as a goal in itself.
We have a choice between acquiring money for its own sake or serving God’s kingdom. If we are to live for the kingdom, even our possessions must be surrendered to God’s purposes.
Prayer
Father please help me to let go of my attachment to things and to trust you or all that I need. Amen.
Reflection on 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+2:1-7
Scripture
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ,
Observation
Paul urges that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone, especially those in authority.
God wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Jesus is the only mediator between God and men. He gave Himself as a ransom for all.
For this purpose Paul was appointed a herald, apostle and teacher to the Gentiles.
Application
Prayer, both in corporate worship and individually, is vital. Paul tells us to pray for everyone, especially those in authority so that we can live peaceful lives and the gospel can be preached.
He lists four types of prayer. We can debate the meaning of the words, but the important thing is to pray always for all people.
We especially need to pray for people to be saved. The work of salvation is a spiritual battle, and satan does not willingly let go of his captives. We need to learn to pray regularly and passionately for our friends and neighbours.
Prayer
Lord please teach me how to pray. Show me who to pray for that they will be open to your gospel message, the Good News of salvation. Amen.
Reflection on Psalm 79:1-9
Where are you Lord?
Where are your promises
Of grace and mercy?
Can’t you see we are hurting,
Pained by the sting of your judgement?
Lift your hand, Lord
Lessen the sting of your discipline
For the glory of your name
Redeem us, set us free.
Reflection on Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
My heart is broken
Joy has deserted me
This nation has abandoned God
And the poor go hungry
How I wish I could cry
A fountain of tears
Weeping day and night
For my people
Reflection on Luke 14:25-33
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+14.25-33
Scripture
“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Observation
Jesus teaches the crowds about the cost of discipleship.
Love for Jesus must take priority over all family duties. In comparison we must “hate” father and mother, even life itself. We must die to ourselves as surely as a condemned man carrying a cross is dead.
Before we start the path of discipleship we must first count the cost. A man building a tower first works out if he has enough money to complete it. A king going out to wage war must first consider if he has the army to defeat the enemy. Likewise, following Jesus will cost everything we have.
Application
Jesus does not sugar coat His message. He makes it clear that there is a cost to following Him.
This is no easy religion of “Come to Jesus to make you happy.” No, we follow Jesus because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. There is a cost to following the Way, receiving the Truth and living the Life.
Jesus must come first in all things. If that separates us from our family so be it. If it costs us money or even our life, so be it.
We are used to having it easy in the West, but this is changing. Muslims who turn to Christ often lose their family, their jobs and even their lives. The time is coming when christians in Australia may face similar penalties.
Is Christ that precious to you?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you gave up everything for me. Please give me grace to give up everything for you. Amen.
Reflection on Philemon
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philemon
Scripture
I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good you may do for Christ.
Observation
This is Paul’s letter to Philemon and the church that meets at his house.
Paul recalls Philemon’s love for the saints and faith In Christ. He prays that his faith sharing will be effective.
Paul turns to the issue of Onesimus a slave who had run away from Philemon’s household and had since become a christian under Paul’s ministry. Paul urges Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a slave but a brother. Paul promises to make up any financial loss Philemon might have incurred.
Application
Some people say that Paul tacitly excused slavery because he did not write against it. In a society that was economically dependent on human labour, slavery was a given fact of life. In a situation where christians had no power, writing against slavery would not have changed anything.
Here in the short letter to Philemon we see how the gospel works to transform society one person at a time. Paul’s argument is that Philemon should treat Onesimus as a brother for whom Christ had died not as property.
Our situation is different but the principle is the same. We share the gospel and act for righteousness, and lives are changed one at a time. We cannot easily end abortion but we can offer alternatives to people considering a termination, changing one life at a time. We may not be able to remove tensions between ethnic groups but we can build bridges of friendship and help individuals to find reconciliation and peace in Christ.
When christians all work on their little piece of the puzzle we find that together the Body of Christ is able to have a big influence.
Prayer
Lord, where are you asking me to bring change today? Show me the one person I can share my faith with today. Amen.
New Life Narrabri 