Your sins are red
Dripping with blood
The blood of people hurt
by word or neglect
Feel the cleansing flow
The Blood of Christ
Washing you clean
White as fresh snow
Turn to God
Turn from your sin
Let God’s huge love
Recreate His likeness in you.
bible
Reflection on Luke 11:1-13
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11.1-13
Scripture
“If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Observation
After Jesus finishes praying on one occasion, the disciples ask Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus responds by giving them the prayer we now call the Lord’s Prayer.
Jesus goes on to give an example of going to a friend in the middle of the night to ask for some bread to feed an unexpected guest. If you are persistent, the friend will give you what you ask for.
We must ask and it will be given, search and we will find, keep on knocking and the door will be opened.
Earthly fathers give their children good things, How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to His children.
Application
Jesus teaches that words are not so important in prayer as our trust in the goodness of God. For many people the Lord’s Prayer is a collection of words that we must say. Jesus intended that the words should be taken as a template for prayer, a framework on which build a life of conversation and dependence on God.
If we pray without ceasing, trusting that God is indeed good, we will see remarkable, supernatural, astounding answers.
Prayer
Thank you God for your love for me. Than you that you do answer my prayers. Help me to look to you each day and to trust you for everything. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 10:38-42
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10.38-42
Scripture
“There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken from her.”
Observation
Jesus and the disciples arrive at the village where Mary and Martha live. Martha is distracted by all the tasks which need to be done, but Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to His teaching.
Finally Martha tells Jesus to tell Mary to help her with the work. Jesus tells her that Mary has chosen the better option.
Application
Those who are called to serve can often become frustrated by those who lack any sense of needing to help. It’s all very well having the visiting ministry but somebody has to make lunch and wash the dishes. It is very frustrating when people who are capable of helping ignore the need right in front of them. The spiritual gifts of emptying the dishwasher and cleaning the toilets are very rare in most churches.
What Jesus is doing in these situations is exposing our heart attitudes and our motivations. Am I doing this thing to serve the Lord? Am I seeking some kind of recognition? So I do it from a reluctant sense of duty? Do I rejoice at serving God’s work?
Of course it is not just serving that faces these challenges. Every God-given calling will challenge our heart in order to purify us and make us holy.
Prayer
Lord I thank you for the place you have called me to be. Expose my bad attitudes and poor motivations that do not come from you. Purify my heart and make me more like you. Amen.
Reflection on Colossians 1:15-28
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1.15-28
Scripture
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
Observation
Christ is the image of God. He was before all things and created all things.
Christ is the head of His body, the church. In Him all the fullness of God dwells, and through Him God reconciled all things to Himself.
We were once far from God, but Christ brings us close, presenting us blameless and holy to God.
Application
To understand the scope of our salvation we must understand the Saviour. Paul paints a high and exalted picture of Christ that tries to lift our vision to see who He is.
We have a tendency to see Jesus as just a man- a very good man to be sure but still just a man. We might see His death as a tragedy.
But here is the truth. Jesus was a man with all the fullness of God dwelling in Him. His death was planned from the beginning of time s the centrepiece of creation.
We get to share in this by living for Christ and sharing with others the good news of what He has done for us.
Prayer
How awesome and majestic you are Lord Jesus Christ, creator and redeemer of the world. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 10:25-37
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10.25-37
Scripture
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?”
Observation
An expert in the Law asks Jesus what he must do to be saved. Jesus says to him, “You tell me. What does the Law say?” The man replies that the commandment is to love the Lord and to love your neighbour as yourself.
Jesus tells him that if he does this he will have eternal life. But the man wants to justify himself so he asks “Who is my neighbour?”
Jesus then tells the well-known story of the Good Samaritan to explain that the neighbour is everyone we might see in need. Jesus tells the man to do the same as the Samaritan.
Application
The lawyer’s root problem is that he wanted to justify himself, and Jesus would not allow this. He will not allow us to justify ourselves precisely because this covers up our sinful nature which must be brought to Christ for crucifixion.
In the story it is not the religious men who are justified, but the despised Samaritan who shows compassion to a robbery victim.
Good deeds do not make us right with God. However selfless love is a sign that we have moved from a place of self-righteousness to a position of God-righteousness.
While ever we are in a state of wanting to justify ourselves we can never be in a place where God is able to justify us.
Prayer
Father I confess my tendency to want to justify myself. I confess that this is sin and I ask you to grant me the grace to repent of this in order to receive your justification. Amen.
Reflection on Colossians 1:1-14
Passage: https://www.biblegatesway.com/passage/?search=colossians+1.1-14
Scripture
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother
Observation
Paul says that he always thanks God for the Colossians because of the faith and love that they have for all the saints. These come from the word of truth, the gospel, which is not only growing in their hearts but is spreading all over the world.
Paul prays for them daily that the Lord will fill them with the knowledge of His will so that they will please Him in every way, that they will be sterngthened in power and giving thanks in all things to the Father.The Father has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His own dear Son in whom we have redemotion.
Application
Paul starts off this letter introducing himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. This was not his idea or ambition, it was God’s will.
We may not be where we want to be in life, but we are where God wants us to be. This is so important to bear in mind in a culture that is obsessed with self-direction and self-fulfilment and is not so impressed with self-control.
I am where I am, doing the things I do by the will of God and by His calling. Like clay being moulded into a vessel for God’s purpose, my attitude must always be “Not my will, but yours be done in me Lord.”
Prayer
Lord I give you my life- mind, body, spirit- to be used for your holy purposes. Let the word of truth grow stronger in me to be seen in a life totally surrendered to you. Amen.
Reflection on Amos 7:1-17
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+7.1-17
Scripture
Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.”
Observation
The Lord gives Amos two visions of coming punishment for Israel. After each one, Amos intercedes for Israel, and the Lord relents. After a third vision, this time of a plumb line, it is clear that the Lord is determined to judge Israel.
The priest at the temple at Bethel warns King Jeroboam that Amos is propheying destruction. He then demands that Amos goes to Judah to prophesy. Amos replies that he is not really a prophet but a shepherd. The Lord has called him to speak the message.
Application
When God calls a person, it is not always straight forward or easy. Most people of God face challenges to their authority or their calling, particularly when the message they bring is unpopular.
People may demand that we stop or go somewhere else. They may even enlist the governmental authorities to stop our ministry.
When this happens we must find courage in Christ to keep going and to not abandon the call He has given.
With Martin Luther we must say, “Here I stand. I can do no other.”
Prayer
Lord, please help me to see that my worth is not dependent on whether people heed me, but only on my faithfulness to you. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 10:1-20
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10.1-20
Scripture
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Observation
Jesus appoints seventy disciples, sending them out to in pairs. He instructs them to stay in one place in any town where they are welcomed. They are to preach the kingdom and heal the sick.
If any town rejects them they are to shake the dust off their sandals and move on. Jesus goes on to pronounce curses on various town for rejecting Him and therefore the Father.
The seventy return rejoicing for even the demons submitted to them. Jesus tells them not to rejoice in this but to celebrate that their names are written in heaven.
Application
Jesus tells us to “go” with the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. This may involve physically travelling from town to town or staying and engaging with our neighbours.
Healings and miracles are more commonly seen in the context of evangelism than in the comfort and safety of church meetings. The Lord’s commandment is to go ourselves and to also pray for the Lord to send more workers.
We might rejoice in our power over evil spirits and the gifts which the Holy Spirit equips us with, Our attention must never drift from the celebration of salvation- the greatest miracle of all.
Prayer
Lord Jesus you died to give me life, I thank you that my name is written in the book of life. Help me to share this Good News with my friends. Amen.
Reflection on Galatians 6:1-18
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6.1-18
Scripture
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.
Observation
We are to do al that we can to restore a sinning brother or sister. This is one way that we can bear one another’s burdens and fulfil the law of Christ. We must all judge our own works rather than those of our neighbours.
Those who are taught must share all good things with their teachers.
We reap what we sow, so we must be careful to sow into the Spirit not the flesh. This should encourage us to keep on doing good things.
Finally we must stand firm against the “circumcisers”- the people who want to add legalism to the gospel. This just leads to boasting and pride. Circumcision or uncircumcision mean nothing. A new creation in Christ is everything.
Application
these final points in Paul’s letter cover a lot of ground- church discipline, tithing, legalism, good works.
In all of them, Paul is directing us to look to Christ. We must sow in the Spirit not in the flesh so that we can harvest God’s reward in the future.
We must not add anything to the gospel as this would bring aobut a works mentality. While seeming to be holy, these things subvert God’s grace.
Prayer
Thank you Lord that in you I am a new creation. Help me to live out the gospel in all that I do. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 9:51-62
Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9:51-62
Scripture
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Observation
Jesus sets His face towards Jerusalem. He sends messengers ahead to prepare the way, but one village refuses tor receive Him. His disciples ask Him if they should command fire to come down to destroy the village, but He rebukes them.
Jesus calls people to follow Him, but they have excuses. He make sit clear that following Him must come first.
Application
People have all sorts of excuses for refusing to follow Jesus. It might be family commitments or the ties of home. For some, following Jesus conflicts with their career aspirations.
Jesus is clear- He must come first.
This might seem harsh and “unloving.” Jesus gave everything for us. He laid down His life to rescue us from sin/
Should He not expect the same from us?
Everything for Jesus, all surrendered to Him. This is the only reasonable response.
Prayer
Jesus you gave up everything for me. Please help me to receive you in my heart and give myself entirely to you. Amen.
New Life Narrabri 