bible

Reflection on John 17:6-19

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Scripture

“I am not asking you to take them out of the world but to keep them safe from the evil one.”

Observation
This is part of Jesus’ prayer before He is arrested.

Jesus has revealed the Father to His disciples. His prayer is not for the world but for His followers. All who are Christ’s belong also to the Father.

During His time on earth, Jesus protected the disciples by the power of the Father’s name. The world hates them because they do not belong to the world. His prayer is not to have the disciples separated out of the world but for the Father to continue to protect them.

Application
The world is hostile to those who truly follow Jesus because we are not like the world. We don’t fit because Jesus has transformed our values and priorities.

When Jesus speaks of the world, He is not talking about individual unbelievers but about the powers and principalities, the spiritual forces that direct the culture in which we live.

Jesus sends us into this world not to be overcome it but to transform it one life at a time.

We are not to expect an easy ride through life. Nor should we expect to be isolated from the world with its antagonism, temptation and pressures.

Prayer
Lord help me to stand for you in the world, to overcome and not be overcome. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 5:9-13

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1 john

Scripture

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life.

Observation

We believe human testimony, but how must more should we believe God’s testimony. God has testified concerning His Son, and all who believe in Christ know that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe in the Son call God a liar.

God’s testimony is this: He has given us eternal life through His Son. Whoever has the Son has eternal life, but those who don’t know Jesus so not have eternal life.

Application

It is our relationship with Jesus that brings eternal life. Life is in the Son, and only if you are one with Him will you have eternal life.

Theology does not save.

Attending church does not save.

Bible knowledge does not save.

Good deeds do not save.

Being nice does not save.

There is only one Person, one Name, one Way to salvation- a right relationship with Christ,

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the gift of salvation in Christ. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 1:12-26

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Scripture

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women and the brothers of Jesus.

Observation
The disciples, along with some of the women including Mary and Jesus’ brothers, spend their time seeking God in prayer.

During this time, on one occasion when 120 believers were together, Peter said that Judas’ treachery had been foretold, but now it was time to replace him. The selected person would have to be someone who had followed Jesus throughout His ministry. They proposed Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias and then prayerfully used lots to select Matthias.

Application
The disciples had been told to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They used this time of waiting productively in prayer- not just any prayer but constant, united prayer.

They did not wait idly or disinterestedly. They waited prayerfully, seeking God and preparing their hearts for the day when the Holy Spirit would be given.

During this time Peter seems to have been listening to the Lord as he was reminded that they needed to fill the place of Judas. This was a big step, as previously it was Jesus who called the apostles.

When we spend time with the Lord in prayer, He will speak to us about the big and bold steps we need to take.

Prayer
Lord help me to pray more- more often, more passionately, more faithfully. Amen

Reflection on John 15:9-17

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Scripture

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”

Observation
Jesus loves us in the same way the Father loves Him. We must remain in His love. We do this by obeying Him in same way He obeys the Father.

As we live in Christ we will be filled with joy- abundant, overflowing joy.

We must love one another in the same way He has loved us. We must even lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

We are no longer slaves of Christ but friends. We aren’t compelled to obey Him, but we obey Him from love. His greatest commandment is to love one another.

Application
Love is the heart of all discipleship- love for God, love for our fellow Christian and love for our neighbour (regardless of whether they are born again).

The love that Jesus commands is sacrificial love. We must be ready to lay down our lives for others. This doesn’t just mean physically dying to save a life, although that may be necessary. It does mean placing the welfare, joy and needs of others as a higher priority than our own desires and plans. It means dying to my own ambitions and letting the service of God’s people become my highest goal.

In return, Jesus promises joy- overflowing, abundant joy. When we let go of our own selfishness and learn to put others first, we are living God’s best life and joy is the inevitable result.

Prayer
Father teach me how to love you and to love others. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 5:1-6

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1 john

Scripture

Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.

Observation

If you believe in Jesus, you are a child of God and you will want to love God’s children.

If you love God, you will keep His commandments, but this is not a burden because we obey from our love of God.

Every child of God defeats the world through faith. In fact, only those who have faith in Christ will defeat the world.

Application

Following Jesus involves a change in our lifestyle because of our love for God. I love the Lord and do not want to displease Him and so I do what He wants me to do, I do this from a motivation of love and so this is not a burden.

The people of the world cannot defeat the power of the world, but those who follow Jesus will. It is our faith- our unwavering trust in Him- that allows us to live in victory over sin and temptation.

Prayer

Lord, my sins and failings a re always before me. Thank you for the assurance that as I trust in you I will become more like you. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 10:44-48

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Scripture

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

Observation
Peter is talking to the the people in Cornelius’ household.

As Peter shares the gospel with them, the Holy Spirit falls on all who are listening and they begin to speak in tongues and praise God. The Jewish believers with Peter are amazed at this.

Since these Gentile believers have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, Peter arranges for them to be baptised in water. He then stays with Cornelius for several days.

Application
God keeps breaking out of the box religion tries to keep Him restrained in.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on “all flesh.” In the Old Testament it had been just the prophets, priests and kings who received the Holy Spirit. In the church age, the Holy Spirit is for everyone, even those who are not Jews.

When somebody receives the Holy Spirit, we know they must be born again- even if they don’t fit our picture of what a christian should look like.

Prayer
Holy Spirit, come and fill me to overflowing. Amen.

Reflection on John 15:1-8

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Scripture

“I am the true grape vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

Observation

Jesus is the true vine. The Father is the gardener who cuts off unproductive branches and prunes the fruitful ones so that they will be even more fruitful.

If we remain in Christ, He will remain in us. The only way to be fruitful is to remain in Him.

He is the vine, we are the branches. If we remain in Him, and His words remain in us, we can ask for anything and know it will be granted.

Application

Jesus is the true vine, the real “Israel.” He is the life of the people of God.

To have spiritual life means we have to be connected into Him. When His personality and words flow through our lives then we can ask for anything and have our prayers answered because we are praying in accordance with His will.

My responsibility is to stay close to the Lord, filling my heart and mind with Him and His word.

Then I will be fruitful.

Prayer

Lord please help me to stay connected to you, the true source of eternal life. Without you I can do nothing of lasting value. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 4:7-21

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Scripture

God showed how much he loves us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love- not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Observation
We must continue to love one another. If we do not love we do not know God. God’s love for us is seen in His Son. He loved us and sent His Son to die for our sins.

If we confess that Jesus is the Son of God we live in God. God is love. As we live in God our love grows more perfect. His command is that those who love God must love their brother and sister.

Application
God’s love is as big and as perfect as God Himself for God is love.

When Jesus was asked to summarise the whole of the Jewish Law, it came down to two thing- love God and love your neighbour.

Now John tells us that if we do not love others we do not know God who is love. Of course, like all of life, this is a growth process- our love becomes more perfect as we grow closer to God.

Prayer
Lord help me to know you more and to grow in your love. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 8:26-40

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Scripture

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Observation
An angel of the Lord sends Philip along the desert road. Along the way, he sees an Ethiopian eunuch travelling in a chariot. The Holy Spirit tells Philip to go to the chariot.

The eunuch is reading from the scriptures, so Philip explains to him the way of salvation.

They come to some water and the eunuch asks to be baptised. As they come out of the water, the Holy Spirit transports Philip to the town of Azotus.

Application
Philip listens to divine guidance and, as a result, one man is saved and the gospel goes into Africa.

It is so important to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and to be obedient. We trust in our own human abilities and programmes far too much.

Sensitivity and obedience to the Holy Spirit accomplish far more than any human activity by itself.

Prayer
Lord, please teach me to listen to you. Help me to hear that still small voice and to obey you when you direct me. Amen.

Reflection on 1 John 3:16-24

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Scripture

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

Observation

Jesus is our example in love. He laid down His life for us so we should do the same for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If we have possession but have no pity on our brother who has nothing then we don’t have the love of God in us. Our love must be not just words but active love.

If our hearts are at peace with God then we can have confidence before God. We can ask Him for anything because we obey Him. God’s command to us it to believe in Him and to love our brothers and sisters.

Application

Love is the mark of the true follower of Jesus. Jesus loved us to the point of laying down His life for us. Our love for our christian brothers and sisters should be the same kind of love.

Real love is practical and not just a theory. Whatever we have that can be shared with our fellow believers must be shared freely. If we have spare cash let’s share with those who have none. If we have skills and talents let us share with those who can use our help.

Love directs our focus outwards from ourselves and our immediate circle to all who need the love of Christ.

Prayer

Father please show me who needs a practical expression of your love today. Amen.