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Reflection on Jeremiah 18:1-11

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+18.1-11

Scripture

The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.

Observation

The Lord tells Jeremiah to go to the house of the potter. Jeremiah goes and sees a potter working at a wheel. The vessel he is working on goes wrong so he reworks it into a different shape and purpose.

The Lord then speaks to Jeremiah and says that He is the potter shaping the nations, including Israel, to His purposes. He may declare disaster on a nation, but if that nation repents of its evil ways, He will save it. Likewise, He may plan to bless a nation, but if the nation turns to evil then He will withdraw the blessing.

He then warns Israel that He is planning judgement on the nation but there is still a chance to turn from its wicked ways.

Application

It is a sobering thought that we are clay on the Potter’s wheel. We want to think that we are captains of our own destiny, but the truth is that the Lord is shaping us for His purposes.

There are few fixed points in our future. Our sin will reap its rewards, but if we repent we can avoid eternal judgement. Likewise all of our good deeds count for nothing if there is sin in our hearts. Our relationship with God, in Jesus, is the key to becoming vessels fit for use.

Only Jesus can rework our lives and reshape the vessel of our heart.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I submit myself to you again. You are the Potter, I am the clay. Use me for your purposes. Amen

Reflection on Luke 14:7-14

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+14.7-14

Scripture

“All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Observation

At a banquet Jesus notices that people are jockeying for the best places. He tells them that it is better to choose a lower place so that the host promotes you than to choose an honoured place and have the host move you to make space for another.

It is better to give a banquet for the poor, the crippled and the lame who cannot repay you than to only invite your friends. Jesus assures us that we will receive our reward in heaven.

Application

In a culture that relentlessly encourages self-promotion, Jesus’ teaching seems crazy. Why not put yourself out there and make people take notice of you?

The pathway of humility- being realistic about ourselves and others- is actually more productive in the long term, and certainly in the Kingdom of God.

We live not for the glory of men but for the affirmation of God. At least we should live for the affirmation of God.

Is it better to have the “Well done!” of creatures of limited senses or to have our heavenly Father who created the cosmos with a word say “Great effort!”?

It is too easy to have our goals and desires shaped by sinful people. God wants us to keep our our eyes on the goal of eternity.

Prayer

Lord I understand that you are training me for an everlasting Kingdom. Please help me to set my eyes and my heart on what pleases you. Amen.

Reflection on Hebrews 13:1-16

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13.1-16

Scripture
For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Observation
We are to continue to show love to one another, practise hospitality to strangers and pray for prisoners. We should have pure lives free from adultery and greed.

We must imitate the lives of our leaders and their faith. We should always look to Jesus our sacrifice, and not allow others to divert us with strange teachings. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever.

Our city is not in this world. We must continually go outside the city to the place of sacrifice, allowing Jesus to transform our lives.

Application
If we dissect this passage and list out the rules which must be obeyed then we will become overwhelmed by the things we have to do to please God.

This passage is not about obeying rules as such. Jesus is the focus of the passage. We need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and for ever. If we do that, we find our natural inclination is for the Holy Spirit to transform our lives so that we become the people the “rules” command us to be.

Jesus is our eternal sacrifice. He takes away the sins of the world and presents us faultless to the Father. Hallelujah!

Prayer
Lord God, please dwell in my life with such radiance that sin has no attraction to me. Amen.

Reflection on Hebrews 11:29-12:2

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11.29-32

Scripture

Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

Observation

It was faith that enabled Israel to pass through the Red Sea while the Egyptians perished. All the men and women of the Old Testament conquered by faith. Faith allowed some to receive their dead back alive. The same faith sustained others who were badly mistreated.

But all of these people, although they had faith, did not receive the promise of God in Christ.

Application

Despite the emphasis on obeying the Law in the Old Testament, it was faith that led all of the great people in Israel’s history. Faith is the unshakable trust that God is with us whether we are conquering kingdoms or are being sawn in two.

There are some people who want to return to the Old Testament Law. They say that we are “grafted in” and must therefore live as the Hebrews did. But this chapter says that those old-time believers are actually made perfect in us. We have a better promise, a higher revelation, and so the older promise is no longer needed.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the faith of those who trusted you before Jesus. Help me to trust you in all things every day. Amen.

Reflection on Luke 12:32-40

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12:32-40

Scripture

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”

Observation

The Father delights to give us the Kingdom. We need to sell our possessions and give them to those in need in order to store up treasures in heaven.

Like servants awaiting the return of their master from a wedding, we need to be ready the moment Christ returns. He will reward those who are ready by Himself serving them.

If a home owner knew when the burglar was coming he would not let the robber in. We must also be prepared for the Son of Man.

Application

The work of the Kingdom of God must always be our first priority. If possessions are a distraction we must get rid of them in order to invest in God’s kingdom.

Jesus could turn up at any time for a surprise inspection! What will He find when He checks on my life?

This is not supposed to fill us with dread. If Jesus checks in with me today and finds I am serving His purposes then He will reward me- perhaps serving my needs.

This is a mystery of the Kingdom. We work hard to serve the Lord, but along the way we find such fellowship with Him that He is blessing us. The task we thought we had to do becomes joy.

Prayer

Lord you always turn my expectations over. Help me to seek your purposes and to serve your Kingdom. Amen.

Reflection on Hebrews 11:1-16

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11.1-16

Scripture

It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Observation

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will happen. By faith we believe that God created the universe with a command.

The Old Testament heroes were saved by their faith- Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham.

Abel presented a better sacrifice than Cain.

Enoch please God and was taken up to heaven.

Noah built an ark and was saved from the judgement.

Abraham looked to a city with eternal foundations

These people did not necessarily see what God had promised, but they believed. They were looking for a heavenly homeland.

Application

Faith is not about believing impossibly and contradictory things. Faith is about trusting God in difficult situations.

Faith means looking to an eternal home not an earthly home, to a city of God rather than one of human construction.

Faith causes us to lift our visions above the tumult of the nations to see God at work in our daily life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus I choose to walk by faith and not by what I see and to trust you in every part of my life. Amen.