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Reflection on Philippians 2:5-11

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Scripture

At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Observation

Paul says that we should have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. He was God but did not hold onto the rights of that status. Instead He became nothing, a servant in human form.

Because He was obedient, even to death on the cross, God exalted Him to the highest place so that every part of creation will honour Him as Lord.

Application

Jesus was the eternal pre-existing Son of God. He chose to put aside that place of glory to become like us and to die for the salvation of everyone who puts their trust in Him.

Paul tells us that we need to have that attitude of self-sacrificial service.

Humility is the path to honour. When we lower ourselves God is able to raise us up.

Human nature drives us to fight for our rights, stand on our pride and exalt ourselves.

God’s nature leads us to relinquish our rights and let God get the glory.

Prayer

Lord help me to step aside from my selfish nature to let you shine through me today. Amen.

Reflection on John 11:1-45

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Raising_Lazarus007

Scripture

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

Observation

Word comes to Jesus that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, is sick. Knowing that Lazarus has in fact died, Jesus stays where he is for two days before leaving for Bethany. By the time He arrives there, Lazarus has been dead and buried for four days.

Jesus proceeds to the tomb and orders it to be opened. He prays and then, in a loud voice, calls out, “Lazarus come out!”

To everyone’s amazement, Lazarus emerges, wrapped in grave cloths.

Application

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He has defeated the power of death.

Death is a part of life which it was never God’s intention for us to suffer. It came in with the sin of Adam and Eve. But now God has reversed the curse so that everyone who follows Jesus will live for ever.

This is not something for the distant future or a religious theory with no present relevance. It is a promise for right now.

Death has lost its sting.

Prayer

Thank you Father for your promise of eternal life. I do not have to fear death, for you have promised I will live for you for eternity. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 8:6-14

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Life and Death

Scripture

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Observation

If we set our minds on the things of the flesh we will die, but if we set our minds on the things of the Spirit we will have life. We are no longer in the flesh because the Spirit of God dwells in us.

If the Spirit of the one who raised Christ from the dead dwells in us, then we too will be raised to eternal life.

Application

To set our minds on Christ and on the ways of God means that we are consistently orienting our hearts to eternal life. When we get caught up in the sinful ways of the flesh and of the world then we are desiring the things that will lead to death.

The test for anyone who claims to be following Christ is where do our desires come from? Am I wanting to let every part of my life be surrendered to Christ? Or do I want to hold parts of my life for my own pleasure?

The choice is the choice between life and death.

Prayer

Lord please help me to give everything to you you, to direct my heart and mind to the things of the Spirit rather than the flesh. Amen.

Reflection on Ezekiel 37:1-14

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the_valley_of__the_dry_bones

Scripture

“I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes the Lord has spoken.”

Observation

The Spirit of the Lord takes Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones. The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones commanding them to come together.

So the bones are gathered together, and flesh, sinews and skin cover the bones. But there is no life in them.

The Lord then tells Ezekiel to call out to the wind to come and fill the bodies. The bodies stand up, alive like a great army.

The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy to Israel and to promise that the Lord will bring them back from exile and He will put His Spirit in them.

Application

There is nothing more dead than dry bones. But God can turn death into life when we trust Him.

The people of Israel were in exile and had abandoned all hope of returning home. But God said, “You will go home.”

Whatever hopes or dreams we have that seem to be as dead as dry bones can be brought to life by the Holy Spirit.

The only condition is that we trust God to do it His way.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, come and bring life to the dry bones of my lost dreams. Come and bring life where there is no life. Amen.

Reflection on Ephesians 5:8-14

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light

Scripture

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Observation

We once darkness, but now we are light. Therefore we must live as children of the light and live to please the Lord.

We must have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness, except to expose them. What is exposed to the light becomes visible.

Therefore we must arise and let the light of Christ shine on us.

Application

Christians must live lives that are very different from those of unbelievers. The fruit of the Christ-filled life is righteousness, and that righteousness must shine out of us like light in the darkness.

The ways of the world are darkness. Even respectable people, people of good repute in the world, live by sin. They have no reason not to lie or deceive in business, no reason not to take up sexual relationships, and so on,

Christians must live holy lives- lives marked by the standards and character of Christ Himself.

The world pressures us to compromise, to conform to its standards. But Christ demands “No compromise!”

Prayer

Lord Jesus let your light shine through me today. May every word and deed show your righteousness. Amen.

Reflection on John 9:1-41

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Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Healing_of_the_Blind_Man_-_WGA06779

Scripture
“If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

Observation
Jesus and his disciples come across a man born blind. The disciples ask who sinned for this man to be blind. Jesus replies that it is not about sin but for the purpose of glorifying God.

Jesus spits, makes some mud with the saliva and rubs it on the man’s eyes. Jesus tells the man to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam, which he does and he is then healed.

The Pharisees investigate the healing, questioning the man and his parents. The man testifies that he doesn’t know much about Jesus but he does know that he was once blind but now he can see.

Application
Religion makes us blind to the activity of God. Like the Pharisees, we can be so intent on protecting God’s reputation that we miss what He is actually doing.

Healing a man born blind was one of three miracles that only the Messiah could perform. The Pharisees needed to make sure that this healing was authentic. But their fear of promoting a false Messiah prevented them from seeing what the true Messiah had actually done. They rejected the man’s testimony and they rejected Jesus.

Some Christians are so afraid of being misled by counterfeits that they discount all miracles, healing and spiritual gifts. They then miss out on what God is doing all around them and run the risk of attributing God’s works to satan.

Jesus is still healing people and He is still performing all kinds of signs for those who will see them. We need to open our eyes, using spiritual discernment to separate God’s works from the devil’s.

Prayer
Show me Jesus what you are doing in the world now. Let me be open to the works of your Spirit. Amen.

Reflection on Psalm23

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Van_Gogh_-_Shepherd_with_a_Flock_of_Sheep

You Lord are my shepherd

Like a sheep, I follow

Listening to your voice

Attending to your call

Trusting your direction

For you are good

Providing all I need

Like green pastures

You take me through life

I lack no good thing.

Lord you will protect me

When death stares me down

And enemies surround.

You will lead me to heaven

To the feast prepared for your people.