Yahweh, Lord of nations
Set us free
Brought us home
How we laughed In joy and wonder
The Lord is King!
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Reflection on Isaiah 61:1-11
The Spirit of the Lord fills me
A message of hope and joy
God is with us
Freedom and prosperity to all
It’s beauty for ashes
Blessing for mourning
Praise for despair
God’s great trade
You can’t do this
Only God turns nations
The Messiah is coming
Ruling for ever
Reflection on Mark 1:1-8
Scripture
“I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
Observation
Isaiah the prophet wrote, “I will send my messenger to prepare the way.” Mark tells us this messenger was John.
John appeared, baptising in the wilderness and preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins. Everyone came out to confess their sins and be baptised.
John told them that someone more powerful and more praiseworthy than him was coming. While John baptised with water, the Messiah would baptise with the Holy Spirit.
Application
John was the one who prepared the way for Jesus to come in. He prepared the hearts of the people for a new move of God.
John was not the main player. He pointed people to Jesus who would baptise with the Holy Spirit.
We are not required to convert people, but just to point them to Jesus. It takes a Saviour and the Holy Spirit to bring a person to salvation. All we can do is show the way.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for John the Baptist whose role was to prepare people for what was to come. Help me to likewise show the people around me that they need Jesus. Amen.
Reflection on 2 Peter 3:8-15
Scripture
But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Observation
With the Lord, a thousand years is the same as a day. He is not slow to keep His promise. Rather He is patient, holding back the day of judgement until all who are willing come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief. The old earth and heavens will be destroyed and replaced by a new earth and heaven.
We ought to live as the people of light not in darkness, looking for eternity and being spotless and blameless.
Application
We live in the end times. Jesus could return at any time. We think it’s been a long time, but from God’s perspective we are only in the third day.
We think that God is slow to keep His promises. The problem is with our appetite for instant solutions and our inability to see the long term. We need to learn to look at time in the light of eternity.
Prayer
Thank you Lord that you are working in my life. Sometimes I can’t see this because I want quick fixes. Please help me to trust in your timing. Amen.
Reflection on Psalm 85
Revive this land Lord
Restore us to you
O God our Saviour
Grant us repentance
Show us salvation
Our fathers knew you
Our mothers walked in faith
But this generation
Flees the way of God
Revive us Lord
Let faith and holiness meet
Right here
In this dry and thirsty land.
Reflection on Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort comfort my people
Salvation is coming
Enmity is done
A peace treaty
Signed by God
In His Blood
Clear a way
Build a highway
God is coming
Fill the valleys
Level the mountains
Hasten His arrival
Not with judgement
Nor with penalty
But a wise loving arm
Reigning in peace
Our God saves.
Reflection on Mark 13:24-37
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
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.”
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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.
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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.
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Is it possible? Could it be true?
The Word has become flesh
The Lord has come down.
Reflection on Matthew 25:31-46
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.
