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Reflection on Exodus 33:12-23

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Scripture

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Observation
Moses asks the Lord to show him who He is and how to continue to find favour with Him.

The Lord promises that He will send His Presence with Moses and the people.

Moses then asks to see the Lord’s glory. The Lord replies that He will hide Moses in the cleft of the rock before passing by as no one can see His face and live.

Application
Moses approaches the Lord with great boldness. He recognises that the task of leading Israel is too great and he needs the Lord’s Presence to lead and direct them. He also seeks a deeper revelation of the glory of God.

Every christian needs a greater knowledge of the presence of God and a greater revelation of His glory.

Unlike Moses, we have the Holy Spirit in us- God’s Presence is always with us. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.

We should always be seeking a greater appreciation of the nature and character of God. He will give us that revelation if we seek Him with an honest heart.

Prayer
Lord, lead me in your ways and let me see your glory. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 22:1-14

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Scripture

“For many are called but few are chosen.”

Observation
The kingdom of heaven is like a wedding feast prepared for the son of a king. The people who were invited refuse to attend.

The king sends servants to tell the invitees that the feast is ready, but they ignore them, some even killing the messengers.

The king then sends his army to kill the murderers and then sends his servant out to bring in people from the streets, all they can find.

One of the guests refuses to wear proper clothes, and is cast out to the outer darkness.

Application
God is determined to have a party for His Son.

The people who were first invited failed to recognise that Jesus is the Son and so God invited the whole world in to celebrate with Him.

Some refuse the call. Some even kill the messengers, but the party continues with all who will feast with the King.

Prayer
Lord, today I say “Yes” to your invitation. I say “Yes” to your Son. Amen.

Reflection on Philippians 4:1-9

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Scripture

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice!

Observation
Paul exhorts the Philippians to stay true to the Lord. In particular, two women who have disagreed are to settle the matter.

Rejoice always, Paul tells us. We must nor be anxious about anything, but instead we should pray and trust the Lord.

We should fix our thoughts on what is right and honourable, lovely and admirable. And then we need to put into practice what we have learned.

Application
All the directions of our relationships need to be constantly worked on. Our relationship with God comes first and everything needs to be seen in that light. Prayer and faith lead to peace and joy.

By being consumed with negative things, our internal lives are damaged. We need to give our attention to what is good and honourable to allow our souls to be healed, and for godly values to flow out of our hearts.

If there are conflicts in our lives we need to reconcile them. It’s fine to disagree with others, but we must not allow that to break relationships, particularly with other christians.

When we put into practice the teachings of scripture we find that our lives are changed and we make a difference in the lives of everyone around us, including unbelievers.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for saving me and for the promise of peace in every situation as I submit myself to you. Please help me to lay everything at your feet in prayer. Amen.

Reflection on Exodus 32:1-14

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Worshiping_the_golden_calf

Scripture

So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.

Observation
While Moses is up on the mountain receiving the Law, the people of Israel decide to make an idol. They go to Aaron and demand that he make them a god.

Aaron takes the gold from their earrings and fashions a calf. Then he builds an altar and declares the next day will be a festival to the Lord. The people burn sacrifices to the idol and engage in “pagan revelry.”

The Lord tells Moses to go down and see how quickly the people have reverted to idolatry. He threatens to kill them all and make a new nation from Moses. Moses intercedes on their behalf, and the Lord relents.

Application
Idolatry is always lurking in the human soul. We have infinite capacity for worshipping false gods. It is as if being in relationship is too big a gift for us to appreciate and receive.

Most christians do not worship golden calves or other explicit idols. We might find ourselves exalting other thins above our obedience to the Lord- family, church, denomination, sport, work.

There are many idols but just one God.

Prayer
Father, please rescue me from my tendency to put other things ahead of you. May I never give in to any form of idolatry. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 21:33-46

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Scripture

“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing
and is wonderful to see.”

Observation
Jesus tells a parable about a man who develops a vineyard with every conceivable facility and then leases it. When harvest time comes he sends some servants to collect his share of the harvest. The tenants beat up the servants and send them away, so the owner sends a bigger group of servants with the same result.

Finally he sends his son. The tenants think that by killing the son they will gain ownership of the vineyard.

Jesus asks his listeners what they think will happen next. They reply that he will kill the tenants and lease the vineyard to someone who will give him his share of the harvest.

The leaders realise that the parable is a word against them. Ironically they respond by wanting to kill Jesus, but they are afraid of the people.

Application
The Jewish leaders had been entrusted with leading God’s people. But they had broken this trust by using their position for their own gain. Jesus says they will be dealt with by God.

Christians can feel entitled in the same way that these leaders did. We can be tempted to feel that God is blessed to have such good people as us in His kingdom. We might feel that following Jesus makes us better than non-christians.

God will surely judge all forms of pride and self-righteousness.

Prayer
Father, show me if there is any attitude in me that is based in false pride. I repent of these things and ask for your forgiveness. Amen.

Reflection on Philippians 3:1-14

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Scripture

More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Observation
Paul was against those who put their trust in circumcision. This is a work of the flesh. Paul was the most Jewish of Jews, zealous in everything, but this did him no good.

Now he sees that everything is loss compared to knowing Christ. He just wants to know Christ and to share in the power of the resurrection.

He hasn’t yet reached this goal but he presses on. His goal is the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Application
Paul’s overarching aim is to know Christ more, but not in a fleshly, self-directed way. He longs for a deeper fellowship with Christ. All of his work and his suffering come from this desire to know Christ more.

I need to make that my aim also. There is no disappointment, no sense of failure, no conflict of interests when all we want is to know Him more.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, come and reveal yourself more fully to me. Help me to make Paul’s desire my own. Amen.

Reflection on Psalm 19

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The stars call out

Praise to our God

The sun and moon

Adore Him

The birds of the air

Sing glorious hymns

And all creation

Bows down to the King.

Your word O God

Is finer than gold

You reveal yourself

Unmask the sins of men

You show the way to salvation

And lay out the path of holiness

I will praise you

With all my strength

And worship you

Reflection on Exodus 20:1-21

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Scripture

Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Observation

From the holy mountain, the Lord gives Moses the ten commandments. These commandments are to be the foundation of all relationships in the land.

The laws were not given capriciously. Some come with blessings for obedience or curses for disobedience. There are consequences that flow from living in covenant with the Lord.

The people see the smoke and lightning and hear the powerful sounds of God’s presence and they are afraid. They ask Moses to speak to them on God’s behalf. Moses exhorts them to seek God’s presence for themselves but they refuse.

Application

It is right to be afraid of God. He is the one who can destroy not just the body but the spirit also. We must always remember that God is holy- very different to us.

It is important also to recognise God’s immeasurable love for us. The people saw the manifestations of God’s holiness and they were afraid to draw close to Him lest He kill them. But Moses pressed in, attracted to God’s holiness and love.

Holding back from God out of fear holds no blessing. Pressing in, regardless of the cost brings awesome relationship with our Lord.

Prayer

Today Lord I choose to press in, to draw closer to you. I bring my worship, but also my body and spirit, laying myself before you as a living sacrifice. Amen.

Reflection on Exodus 17:1-7

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Scripture

So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

Observation
The Israelites move on at the Lord’s command. They camp at Rephidim but there is no water there.

The people complain against Moses and demand that he supply them with water.

Moses goes to the Lord who tells him to take his staff and use it to strike the rock at Mount Sinai. Moses does this, and water comes gushing out of the rock.

Application
The people move through the wilderness at the clear direction of the Lord- cloud during the day and fire at night moving ahead of them. They are fed daily by God’s miracles. They escaped Egypt miraculously.

Despite all of this, they never seem to get the message that God is with them and will supply all they need.

Even when we have experienced the provision and bounty of the Lord, we often forget He is wonderfully kind and supplies all we need.

We need to keep on reminding ourselves of all that God has done in the past to remind us to trust Him in the present.

Prayer
Father, thank you for all that you do in my life each day. Please help me top trust you in all things. Amen.