Like a hurricane the Lord
Descends on the earth
His voice a roar
His breath a storm
Shatters rocks, fells trees
–
I watch and cry “Holy!”
The power, the glory, the majesty
Astounds me confounds me
I fall, afraid of my guilt
Aware of your love
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Reflection on Isaiah 43:1-7
“Fear not” says the Lord
I made you
I formed you
My treasure
I will not let you go
–
In the storm I am there
In the raging fire
When your life falls apart
No one stands with you
I am there
Yahweh Beginning and End
–
I give nations for you
My Son, my Beloved Son
On the cross for you
Will I drop you now?
Will I leave you, my treasure?
Reflection on Matthew 2:1-12
Scripture
And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
Observation
Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod. Some wise men or Magi arrive in Jerusalem asking to see the newborn King of the Jews.
Herod is disturbed by this, so he calls together his advisors and asks them where the Messiah is to be born. “In Bethlehem,” they reply.
Herod tells the wise men that the King is in Bethlehem. He tells them to return and tell him exactly where they find him so that he too can worship the child.
So the wise men go to Bethlehem where they worship Jesus. They bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When they leave, they go a different way as God warns them in a dream not to return to Herod.
Application
Even as a baby, Jesus is a threat to established power interests and rulers.
He presents all people- kings and priests, shepherds and carpenters- with a choice. Will you worship Him or reject Him? Will you receive His promise of eternity or banish Him from your life?
The choice is still there for each of us to make daily.
Prayer
Lord your kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. Help me to walk in the ways of your kingdom each day. Amen.
Reflection on Ephesians 3:1-12
Scripture
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Observation
Paul, now a prisoner for Christ, received a revelation of the mystery of God’s grace. This mystery was not made known to previous generations and is now only being revealed to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through Christ Gentiles and Israel are being made members of one body.
Paul became a servant of this gospel and received a grace to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. God’s intent is that through this church comprising both Gentile and Jewish believers in Christ, God’s wisdom will be revealed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
Application
God’s plan before the creation of the world was that all who believe in the Lord Jesus would be of one faith, one heart, one mind. God has torn down the divisions between Jew and Gentile, because in Christ all may be redeemed.
My salvation is no longer dependent on where I was born or whether I can fulfil a life of obedience to the law of God.
We live in a time of grace. God’s love is poured out on the world so that whoever believes in Christ may come confidently to the Father and receive eternal life.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for dying to pay the price for my sin. Amen.
Reflection on Isaiah 60:1-6
Scripture
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. ”
Observation
The Lord says to arise and shine for our light has come, the glory of the Lord is upon us. Darkness is over the whole earth, but the light of God is over His people.
The nations are drawn to the light. We lift up our eyes and see sons and daughters coming from afar. Then we will look and our hearts will be filled with joy.
Application
Jesus has come. He is the light of the world and He shines in the darkness that covers the world.
Our job as believers is to let out the light that is in us. We are to rise and shine.
There is no doubt that the world is trapped in the darkness of sin. As believers we must shine the light of Jesus into the darkness.
We can do this by loving the unlovely, caring for the lost and sharing the grace of God wherever we go.
Prayer
Lord, you are my light and my salvation. Help me to shine your light in the darkness. Amen.
Reflection on Hebrews 10:5-10
Scripture
It is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of Jesus Christ once for all.
Observation
When he came into the world, Christ said, “You do not require sacrifices and offerings.” In saying this, He abolished the Law with all its requirements.
Christ replaced these with something simple, “I have come to do your will.” It is God’s will to make us holy through Christ’s sacrifice.
Application
Nobody could be holy through the Old Testament Law. All the law did was tell us what to do and prescribe a sacrifice when we fail to do it. It did not deal with the root issue of sin which is our heart.
Christ came and fulfilled the Law for all people forever. He became the perfect sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world.
But He does more than this. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes into us and starts the process of making us holy.
The Law changes people on the outside. Christ changes us on the inside so that we are enabled to live a holy life dedicated to the Lord.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for abolishing the old Law. Please come and change me to make me more and more like you. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 3:7-18
Scripture
John answered them, “I baptise you with water, but one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Observation
John’s message of repentance was very strong, but it was necessary to break through religious self-righteousness The people are to produce fruits of repentance in changed lives. It is no longer enough to claim to be children of Abraham.
People ask what they are to do. Those with spare clothes should give to those who have none. Tax collectors are to take only what is due to them. Soldiers must be content with their pay.
The Messiah is coming and He will baptise with Holy Spirit and with fire. Judgement is coming, and they need to get ready.
Application
We don’t like thinking about sin and judgement, but both are real.
We need to be realistic about our relationship with the Lord.
Everyone sins and so everyone is at the risk of judgement. We need to be saved from the harvest of our own wrong doing.
Like a man thrown overboard in the middle of the ocean, we cannot save ourselves.
But Jesus reaches down and brings the promise of forgiveness, if only we will accept the gift. Then our lives are changed and our salvation assured.
Prayer
Thank you Father for the gift of salvation. I could not rescue myself, but in Jesus you reached down and rescued me. Amen.
Reflection on Philippians 4:1-7
Scripture
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Observation
Paul calls the Philippians his joy and crown. He pleads with Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.
His command is to rejoice in the Lord always. We must not be anxious about anything, but take everything to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving. Then the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ.
Application
We are commanded to rejoice in the Lord always. This is not possible in human strength alone. We face all kinds of problems- work, relationships, family, finances and health. At times it seems that anxiety and fear can make joy impossible,
The key to joy is to hand over everything to God in prayer. Trusting in the mighty power of God to overcome every problem leads to peace. With peace in our hearts, we can then rejoice in Him.
The main point is to keep our focus on Christ- we rejoice in the Lord.
Prayer
Lord I lay all my worries at your feet. Help me to trust you and rejoice in you. Amen.
Reflection on Zephaniah 3:14-20
Scripture
The Lord your God is with you
He is mighty to save
He will take great delight in you
He will quiet you with His love
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Observation
The people of Israel are to rejoice for God has taken away their punishment. The Lord is King of Israel and He will not let the people come to harm.
The Lord is mighty to save and He rejoices over His people with singing. He will reverse all oppression, so that those who are scattered will be gathered and God’s people will be honoured throughout the earth.
Application
The Lord is mighty to save. He will save all those who trust in Jesus. We were headed for hell but now He has put us on the road to heaven. It’s all because of Jesus.
It is awesome to think that the Lord rejoices over me with singing. I am such a sinner! But He loves me and rejoices over me. It is hard to comprehend that the God who created the universe rejoices over me. I choose to believe in His awesome love and affection and receive His affirmation and joy.
Prayer
Lord I thank you for your awesome love. I thank you that you rejoice over me with singing. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 3:1-6
Scripture
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberias… the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
Observation
In the fifteenth year of Tiberias’ reign, John hears the word of God and begins preaching in the wilderness.
He goes throughout the region proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
This all happens in accordance with Isaiah’s prophecy:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness
‘Prepare the way of the Lord’”
Application
John was a great man, a prophet of God. Jesus said he was the greatest among those born under the old covenant.
John was never greater than Jesus. He was the one who prepared the way of the Lord. John rolled out the red carpet for the one coming, the greater one.
As children of the new covenant, none of us is greater than Jesus, nor greater than anyone else.
All of our actions, words, relationships are to prepare the way for the one greater.
Prayer
Lord Jesus help me to understand that the purpose of my life, like John’s, is to honour you in all things. Amen.
