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Reflection on Mark 13:24-37

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tree-bud

Scripture

“What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch’”

Observation

Following the distress of the present age, signs will occur in the heavens. The Son of Man will come in power and glory.

Just as we tell the natural seasons from observation of the signs around us, we need to be tuned in to the spiritual seasons.

Nobody knows when these yhings will happen, but we need to be ready. Just as servants of a man who goes away are alert for his return, so we need to be ready for Christ’s return.

Application

We are in the last days. In fact the last days have been continuing since the Day of Pentecost.

While this passage is about the actual return of Jesus, I think there is also something else being spoken of here.

We are to be constantly aware of the possibility of Jesus’ return at any minute. In other words, our concerns must be for the kingdom of God, not just our own self-interest. We need to learn to live with that sense of expectancy that Jesus could come back today or tomorrow, but not with an obsession about end-time scenarios.

Will Jesus find me doing His will? Will Jesus find me living a life of faith and obedience?

Prayer

Lord please help me to walk in your ways, to live a life of faith and to be prepared for your coming. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

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1-corinthians

Scripture

God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Observation
God has made us holy through Christ, as indeed He does for all who call on the name of Jesus Christ.

Through Christ, God has enriched us in every way. We have every spiritual gift we need. Christ will keep us safe to the end because He is faithful to do what He says.

Application
One of the great assurances of the Christian faith is that of perseverance. God will help us to stand firm in our relationship with him right until the end of days.

Unlike Muslims who can only hope that their good deeds will be enough to get them to heaven, we have the promise of God that Christ is enough.

It is possible for us to walk away from Christ. But for the average believer who is just wanting to serve the Lord and hoping that it is enough, Christ will not let us fall away. He hold us safely in the palm of His hand.

This is good news indeed!

Prayer
Thank you Lord that you do not let go. You will enable me to stand with you right through my life. Amen.

Reflection on Isaiah 64:1-9

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“When you came down long ago

You did awesome deeds
Beyond our highest expectation
And oh, how the mountains quaked.”

_

There is none like you Lord,
Neither in heaven nor on earth
For you welcome all who worship you
And you forgive those who choose you.

_

We are far from you, Mighty God,
Our hearts are full of sin
But you are Father, the potter
Moulding us who are the clay.

_

Is it possible? Could it be true?
The Word has become flesh
The Lord has come down.

Reflection on Matthew 25:31-46

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judges gavel

Scripture

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.”

Observation

Jesus is coming in glory and from His position on the heavenly throne He will judge all the nations.

On one side will be those who are judged to be righteous. Everything they have done for those in need they did for Jesus.

On the other side will be those who are cursed. Every deed in which they neglected the needy will be counted as if they had neglected Jesus. They will go to the eternal fire.

Application

Jesus is coming back to reign over all the nations. While the first time He came in humility- the true glory of humanity- the next time He will come in splendour- the true glory of God.

His first act will be to judge every person. The division takes place and then the verdict is handed down- sheep to the right and goats to the left.

It would be easy to read this passage as a judgement by works- good people against bad people. This judgement is on the character of the people not their deeds.

When we are born again, every act of kindness flows from a heart reconciled to Christ. For those who are far from Him every act is an act of rebellion against Christ.

Prayer

Father, thank you for saving me through your Son and with the power of your Spirit. May everything I do be a sign of my love for you. Amen.

Reflection on Ephesians 1:15-23

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eph1-17

Scripture

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all the saints, I have never stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Observation
Paul prays constantly for the people of Ephesus. He asks that God will give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and that they may know the hope to which He has called us.

God’s power at work in us is like the force He used to raise Christ from the dead, lifting Him up to heaven where He now reigns over all things and is the head of the church.

Application
When life is overwhelming us, we can lose sight of our real purpose. Our concentration is taken up by the physical world and we lack insight into the spiritual reality.

The truth is that God’s power, the power that raised Christ from death, is at work in us. He is changing us from glory to glory, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Even if our world feels like it is out of control, Jesus is reigning over it all, and God will bring His purposes to pass.

Prayer
Father, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know you better. Amen.

Reflection on Ezekiel 34:11-24

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Scripture

“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,” declares the Sovereign Lord.

Observation
The Lord will remove the false shepherds who have fed themselves on His sheep. The Lord Himself will be their shepherd. He will gather the sheep from all around the world and bring them back to Israel. He will give them rich pasture and search for the lost.

The Lord will judge His own sheep. The sheep who have pushed themselves forward to get the best feed will be judged. The Lord will rescue the flock, but He will also judge them.

Application
God declares that He is the true shepherd for His people, a metaphor that Jesus also uses. The Lord promises to rescue the sheep from the rulers who have oppressed them and to care for them Himself.

The rescue comes at a price- God will now judge those who push themselves past others to get the best stuff, and those who drive away by force those who are weaker.

Followers of Jesus cannot be self-centred or self-promoting. We must not pursue our own interests at the expense of other people.

Selfishness is an entirely natural human trait. And God promises that it will bring His judgement. The good news is that He also has the capacity to change our heart’s from self to Him and thence to others.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive my selfish ways. Open my eyes so that I can see my sin and give me grace to repent. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 25:14-30

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burymoney

Scripture

His master replied, “Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Observation

Jesus tells the parable of the talents in which a master entrusts his property to some servants, giving them respectively ten, five and two talents of money.

On his return, the master calls in his servants to settle accounts with them. He is pleased to discover that two servants have doubled the money entrusted to them. He gives them greater responsibility.

The third servant, the one entrusted with two talents, had taken the money and buried it, thus earning no return. His money is given to the servant with ten talents, and this servant is cast out.

Application

We often overlook the fact that this parable is about management of money and not about personal ability or gifting.

In Australia we have been blessed with great wealth and many resources. We need to ensure that all we do is directed towards God’s kingdom and gaining a return on His investment in us.

Too many christians are like the third servant. We are reluctant to invest ourselves and our resources into the Kingdom.

Each of us needs to find out what the Lord is requiring of us and to invest all that we are into serving His purposes.

Prayer

Father, show me where you are wanting me to invest my time, energy and money for your Kingdom. May I be found to be “good and faithful.” Amen.

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

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1_thessalonians_title

Scripture

You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

Observation

Paul does not need to talk about the dates and times for the Lord’s return because they know that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

We should not be surprised. We are children of the light not of the night. Therefore we need to life as children of the light.

God did not appoint us to wrath but to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that we can live with Him.

Application

We don’t know when Jesus will return and we should not obsess about looking for signs and working out timetables.

We need to be ready to meet with Jesus at any time. That means ensuring that our hearts are right with him and that we are living as children of the light.

A life of obedience and surrender to Him are the kind of readiness He is looking for.

Prayer

Father is today the Day, or tomorrow? Only you know. Help me to live every day as if it is the day for Jesus’ return. Amen.

Reflection on Judges 4:1-24

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*Scripture*

On that day, God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites.

*Observation*
The Israelites sin against the Lord who sends another foreign king to oppress them. The prophetess Deborah is leading the nation at the time, and she sends for Barak to tell him it is time for Israel to be free.

But Barak is afraid and says he will only go if Deborah goes with him. She agrees, and they go to Kedesh where Barak raises an army. The Lord defeats Sisera the Canaanite general, and all the troops are killed. Sisera abandons his chariot and flees on foot.

Along the way, Sisera seeks refuge in the tent of Jael. She invites him in, and while he is sleeping she drives a tent peg through his head.

*Application*
Barak’s words are very similar to those of Moses: “If you go with me I will go, but if you don’t go with me I won’t go.”

While Moses said these words to the Lord, Barak addressed them to Deborah.

God places leaders, prophets, pastors and teachers in the church, but when we are more dependent on them than on the Lord that is idolatry.

We need to honour those over us in the Lord, but we also need to make sure that we are listening to the Lord on our own behalf, pursuing Him and not just relying on another person’s relationship with Him.

*Prayer*
Lord it is awesome to know that you desire friendship directly with me. May I always put my primary trust in you rather than in other people. Amen.