Lord Jesus
My shepherd and Lord
You care for me
Lead me in your ways.
.
With you there is plenty
In you is salvation
With you there is safety
Even in the darkest times
.
You will lead me
Even through death
And I will feast at your table
For ever
bible
Reflection on Acts 4:1-12
Scripture
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Observation
Following the healing of the lame man, the priests and other leaders come to confront Peter and John. They are disturbed that they are preaching the resurrection of the dead through Jesus. They arrest them and put them in gaol overnight.
The council convenes and demands that Peter and John explain by what power they have done this deed.
Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly declares that the man was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ who was crucified and whom God raised from the dead.
Peter concludes, “There is salvation in no one else!”
Application
People look for salvation, healing, wholeness and fulfilment in all sorts of places.
But as Peter boldly declared, there is salvation only in the name of Jesus Christ.
The name of Jesus is powerful. We are saved in His name. We are healed in His name. Satan flees before His name.
There is no other name, no other way to be saved, but the name of Jesus.
Why would you want any other way?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, your name is the highest of names. Please remind me to call constantly on you in every circumstance. Amen.
Reflection on 1 John 3:1-7
Scripture
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
Observation
Our Father loves us and calls us His children. We are already God’s children, but we do not yet know what we will be like when Christ returns.
Christ is pure, and so we should keep ourselves pure. To sin is to break God’s Law. Jesus came to take away our sins, and if we live in Him we will not sin.
Application
Following Jesus means that we learn to live from a place of love.
God’s love is not a sentimental thing that overlooks our sin. God’s love is pure and as we look to Him we find our lives reflecting that.
People who love Jesus do not habitually sin. We allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our conscience and we receive His grace to put our sins to death.
Prayer
Jesus you are pure. Thank you that you are transforming me to be more like you. Amen.
Reflection on Acts 3:12-19
Scripture
“Repent of your sins and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped away.”
Observation
Peter and John have healed a lame man near the temple gate. The people are in uproar as they recognise the man leaping and praising God.
Peter seizes the opportunity to address the crowd. He asks them why they are so astonished at God healing a man.
This is not done by the power of a man but by Jesus, the one the crowds had rejected, was crucified and is now alive.
Faith in the name of Jesus healed the man. Now they must put their faith in Jesus and repent in order to have their sins wiped away.
Application
Peter and John healed the man by the Name of Jesus. The Name that brings healing of the body also brings forgiveness of sins.
It is all about Jesus. My life must glorify the Name of Jesus.
Forgiveness of sins is in Jesus
Healing is in Jesus.
Grace is in Jesus.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on you, allowing you to be glorified in me. Amen.
Reflection on John 20:19-31
Scripture
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
Observation
On Resurrection Sunday the disciples are meeting behind locked doors. Suddenly Jesus is there in the room!
Jesus commissions them to go in His name and then breathes the Holy Spirit on them. He gives them authority to forgive sins.
Thomas is not with them at this time, and he is sceptical about their report. He says that he won’t believe it unless he sees and touches Jesus’ wounds.
The next Sunday they are together and again Jesus appears. This time Thomas is with them. Jesus invites him to touch the wounds. Thomas believes.
Application
It is exciting when Jesus shows up! How much more for these disciples who did not yet know the full story.
Jesus is alive still, ascended into heaven where He reigns with the Father.
He has given us Holy Spirit to empower us to be His witnesses. He has given us His authority to embody the life of grace.
All power and all authority. There is nothing that can stand in the way of us serving and representing the risen Lord.
Prayer
Hallelujah! Jesus you are the risen Lord! Help me to serve you in all that I do. Amen.
Reflection on 1 John 1:1-2:2
Scripture
If we claim to have no sin we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
Observation
John proclaims the Christ, the pre-existent one. He saw Him and touched Him. He is the life and the truth.
God is light and there is no darkness in Him. If someone claims to have fellowship with God but lives in the darkness, he is not walking in the truth.
If a person claims to have no sin, they are deceiving themselves. But if we confess our sins to God, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness.
Application
Jesus is the light. He leads us in the way of truth and to the Father.
We must have an honest assessment of ourselves. To say we are without sin is to deceive ourselves.
Everybody sins.
But to those who confess their sins honestly before God, there is forgiveness and grace.
No sin is too big for God, no crime too heinous that grace will not cover it.
Prayer
Thank you for your grace Lord, setting me fre from sin. Amen.
Reflection on Mark 16:1-8
Scripture
The angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body.”
Observation
The two Marys go out after Sabbath ends on Saturday evening and purchase spices to anoint Jesus’ body.
They go to the Tomb at sunrise on Sunday and discover that someone has rolled the stone from the entrance of the tomb. Inside, they discover a young man clothed in white. He tells them Jesus is not there, He has risen from the dead. They are to go and tell the disciples to go to Galilee where they will see Him.
Application
Jesus is alive!
Sins are forgiven!
Death is conquered!
The Kingdom of God is here!
The reality of the resurrection is our sign that Jesus us who He says He is.
The war with God is over, if only we will surrender to Him and bow our lives to Jesus.
Prayer
How awesome is the message of Easter. Lord you have defeated sin and overcome death. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ! Amen.
Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Picture from deviantart by Xiphos71
Scripture
I passed on to you what was most important and what was passed on to me: Christ died for our sins as the Scriptures said. He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day just as the Scriptures said.
Observation
The Good News will save us if we continue to believe it. The Good News is that Christ died for our sins and on the third day He was raised to life. All of this was predicted in the Scriptures.
The risen Lord was seen on many occasions. On one occasion 500 people saw Him at once. Finally Paul also saw Him.
Application
Christ died for my sins, but His death is not the last word. On the third day after His death He was raised from the dead and appeared to many of His followers.
Many religious leaders have lived and died, but only one left His burial place and continues to live.
Christ has defeated sin and death. Now we can be sure that we will live for ever if we hold fast to Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ in your death you defeated death, and now I know I will live with you for ever. Thank you! Amen.
Reflection on Acts 10:34-43
Scripture
“In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.”
Observation
Peter is at the house of Cornelius, having been prepared by a vision to go to a Gentile’s house. He recounts the vision he received from the Lord, and Cornelius then tells of the angelic visitation he had which had prompted him to invite Peter.
Peter realises that God shows no favouritism, that He accepts people from every nation. The Good News that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ is for all people.
The apostles are the witnesses of all that Jesus did, of His death and resurrection.
Application
Jesus is Lord of all, and the peace of His Kingdom is open to all who put their faith in Him.
This is the wonderful message of Easter- Christ was crucified for our sins and He rose again to show He has conquered sin and death for ever.
The promise is to all people. Just put your trust in Him and confess that He is Lord, and you will be saved.
Prayer
Thank you Lord Jesus for the gift of salvation. You bought it with your own death, but now you give freely to all who will receive you. Amen.
Reflection on Philippians 2:5-11
Scripture
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Observation
Christ is the Son of God. He is divine, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.. Yet He did not cling to that position. Instead He let go and humbled Himself, becoming human.
In total obedience to God, He humbled Himself to the place of suffering, the cross.
Then God lifted Him up, raised Him from the grave and up to heaven, giving Him the name above all names so that every tongue will confess He is Lord and every knee bow to Him to the glory of God the Father.
Application
The way up is down!
With God our status or position is not to be held on to tightly.
Satan sought equality with God and failed.
Jesus let go of His equality with God and was lifted up.
Here is a mystery that is also a key to life in God’s kingdom. We win by losing, we gain by serving, we are at our highest when we are most humble.
Whatever source of pride we have we must let go of it and allow God to take it and redeem it.
My attitude must be like Christ, who set aside all heavenly thrones to become the servant of all, dying for our salvation, in order to be exalted above all creation.
Prayer
Father I see that I need to set aside all pride and selfish ambition. Help me to have the heart of a servant so that you will be glorified in me. Amen.
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