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Reflection on 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

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Scripture

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Observation

Paul appeals to the church at Corinth to agree with one another, being one in mind, for the sake of Jesus. Instead of being dived into factions loyal to different teachers, they must be united in their faith.

Paul’s role is not to baptise people but to preach the gospel, the message of foolishness to those who are perishing, but the power of God to those being saved.

Application

When christians major on doctrinal differences or give certain preachers celebrity status, division is certain to follow. We all want to be in the right.

We need to put Christ at the centre of our thinking, not pet doctrines or favourite speakers.

It is Christ who saves us not Joyce Meyer or Joel Osteen. It is His sacrifice on the cross that cancels my sin not the atonement theory or my belief about the rapture.

We must seek to honour one another as members of the family for whom Christ died, even if we have different ideas about aspects of what that means.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the power of the cross through which I am saved. Help me Father to love other members of your kingdom, especially when we disagree. Amen.

Reflection on Isaiah 9:1-4

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Light!

A glow in the East

A faint pink-

hope of a bright day

Watch it grow

This light

 

How we groaned

Evil reigned supreme

“Dog eat dog” our motto

Until the light pierced our hearts

And the darkness fled

 

The way of the Lord brings joy

As we walk in the light

And worship a God bigger than us

In every conception.

 

Reflection on John 1:29-42

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lamb-of-god

Scripture

The next day, John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin on the world!”

Observation

John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is the Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world. He saw the Holy Spirit coming down on Jesus and recognises that He is the Christ.

Two of John’s disciples go to follow Jesus. They go to the place where Jesus is staying to hear Him teach.

One of these two, Andrew, goes to find his brother Simon whom he tells “we have found the Messiah.” Simon comes to follow Jesus also.

Application

A testimony is a powerful thing. Telling others what we know or have seen can literally change their lives.

John testifies that Jesus is the Messiah.

Andrew testifies that he has found the Messiah.

Our testimony of a life changed by our relationship with Christ will influence the hearts and minds of those around us.

We will not always see the results, and not everyone will be convinced. That is not our problem. Our assignment is to tell others of what we have seen Jesus do.

Prayer

Please help me Lord to share a testimony of your grace today. Amen.

Reflection on Ephesians 1:1-14

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Image

Scripture

The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Observation
Paul was chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. God loved us and chose us before the creation of the world. God decided beforehand to adopt us into His family.

God’s grace is enormous, poured out abundantly on us, including the gift of salvation. Because of our relationship with Christ we will receive an inheritance from God. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that we will receive all that God had promised, for His praise and glory.

Application
God has given us so much in Christ! We often take all of this for granted, or perhaps we don’t understand the extent of His grace.

Firstly we are forgiven and are destined for eternal life with God. All of our sins are wiped away by God’s grace. We don’t have to make sacrifices or grovel for forgiveness.

Secondly we are adopted into God’s family. In the past only people from one ethnic group were entitled to be a part of God’s family, but now it is open to everyone, everywhere.

Thirdly we will receive an inheritance. It is not clear what this is exactly, but we are in the will of the creator of the universe, joint heirs with His Son.

If we are tempted to doubt all of this, we have the Holy Spirit who confirms, yes we are born again and headed for glory.

Prayer
Father, I thank you with all my heart for what you have done for me in Jesus Christ. Help me to more fully plumb the depths of your grace so that I can more fully praise your name. Amen.

Reflection on Jeremiah 31:7-14

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joy

The Lord commands us “Rejoice!”

For He will restore and pardon

Those whom He has punished

The nation of His heart.

Where we are scattered,

He will gather like Israel

restored from the four corners

Like sheep gathered under a shepherd

What bounty, what provision

For a nation, food and wine

For a people joy and gladness

All at the hands of the Lord.

Do you know Him?

Do you know the Lord?

Turn to Him and come back home

You will find deep joy in Him.

Reflection on Matthew 1:18-25

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Scripture
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Observation
Mary discovers she is pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, Joseph decides to divorce her quietly.
An angel appears to Joseph telling him that the child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son who is to be named Jesus.
This all happened in order to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah- The virgin will conceive and bear a son and they will call him Immanuel- God with us.

Application
The Christmas story is told so often that we become overly familiar with it, losing all the wonder that should be there.
Apart from the outrageous claim that this baby conceived outside of marriage is the Son of God, there is the extraordinary faith of two ordinary people.
Mary, a virgin, meekly (probably anxiously) accepts her responsibility to bear and nurture the Saviour.
Joseph, a man of great integrity and gentleness, comes to accept the preposterous story of the baby’s origin and plays his own part in raising the son.
Mary and Joseph were uniquely equipped for their roles. When God calls us to a task, he always supplies everything we need.

Prayer
Thank you  Father for the example of Mary and Joseph in accepting your commission. Help me to discern your plan for my life and to follow that plan. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 1:1-7

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Scripture

… who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ.

Observation

The gospel was promised long before the birth of Jesus. He was promised by the prophets, declared with power by the Holy Spirit and by his resurrection to be the Son of God.

It was for Christ that Paul was called to be be an apostle, and we were called to belong to Christ Jesus.

Application

The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus were not random events thought up on the spur of the moment. The Old Testament scriptures point to Jesus. The Holy Spirit validated His teaching, but above all, the resurrection proves that He is the Christ.

He calls us to follow Him to what Paul calls “the obedience that comes from faith.” In the Old Testament times, the Law showed people what to do in order to please God. Now, our relationship with Christ shows us what to do.

The events we celebrate at Christmas bring in a new age- one in which everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike, is invited into a life of dedication to the Father.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for calling me into your glorious kingdom. Help me to be faithful and obedient. Amen.