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Reflection on Ephesians 1:1-14

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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.

Reflection on Isaiah 7:10-16

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Isaiah-7-14-kjv

Scripture

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and she shall name him Immanuel”

 Observation

King Ahaz of Judah is threatened by an alliance between Israel and Syria, Ahaz is worried, but the Lord, though Isaiah, tells him not to be afraid.

 Isaiah tells Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign. Ahaz refuses, so Isaiah gives him one anyway.

 A virgin (or young woman) will bear a child and call him Immanuel. By the time the child is old enough to choose right from wrong, the lands of the kings Ahaz fears will be laid to waste.

Application

While this prophecy refers to the immediate time of King Ahaz, it also speaks of the birth of Jesus, our Immanuel.

 Jesus is the saviour who has, in a manner of speaking, laid waste to the lands of our enemy the devil.

 Because of Jesus we have nothing to fear from the evil one.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the message of Christmas- Immanuel, God is with us. Thank you for the knowledge that you are always with me. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 11:1-11

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blind-healed

Scripture

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Observation

John hears from prison what the Lord is doing. He sends word to Jesus to ask if he really is the Messiah. Jesus responds with the signs of the kingdom- the the blind see, lepers are cleansed and the good news is preached to the poor.

Jesus starts to talk to the crowds about John. He asks rhetorically, “What did you expect of John? A weak introvert in fine clothes?” John was the one sent to prepare the way for the Lord.

Although John was the greatest of those previously born, but now the least in the kingdom is greater than John.

Application

The signs of the Kingdom of God are quite simple according to Jesus- people are healed, dead are raised and the good news is preached to people who have nothing.

That makes me wonder why we focus on so many other things and neglect these basic things.

To be honest, I struggle with healing (let alone raising the dead!), because so often when we pray for people there is no immediate change. Yet I continue to look for a breakthrough in this area, and I rejoice in the healings that do occur.

I also need to work harder at preaching the Good News to the poor. I’m not sure how that looks in a relatively wealthy society such as Australia. The poor are those whose options are limited by their situation- the mentally ill, the disabled, the single parents. In a sense everyone who doesn’t know Jesus is poor and needs the Good News.

I see again the intimate connection between miracles and preaching the gospel. To see God in action we must be actively proclaiming the amazing news that God is with us.

Prayer

Lord I sense today that you are calling me towards something different about your kingdom to what we see in church. Please continue to stir my heart towards your plan for the world. Amen.

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Reflection on James 5:7-11

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Scripture
You, too, must be patient. Take courage for the coming of the Lord is near.

Observation
James encourages us to be patient as we await the coming of the Lord. Farmers must wait patiently for the rain and for the grain to ripen. In the same way we have to wait patiently.
While we are waiting our lives must reflect the love of Christ. We must not grumble against our brothers and sisters for the Judge is standing at the door.
We must be like the prophets of old, particularly Job, who endured in their faith despite great hardships.

Application
Our expectation of the end times should lead us to a better quality of discipleship. Our understanding of the last days, or eschatology to use the technical term, should lead us into humble reverence and holy living for, as James reminds us, the Judge is at the door.
Our expectation of Christ’s return should also give us courage in times of hardship. The time will come when Jesus comes to judge the living and the dead, and every sin will be accounted for. At that time only those who are walking in fellowship with Christ will escape His judgement.

Prayer
Lord may I be found ready at the time of your coming. Even so, come Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

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Reflection on Isaiah 35:1-10

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The Lord is coming!
God is appearing!
He will renew the land
Can you believe it?
Flowers in the desert
Like the Snowy Mountains
Green and flower filled

Are you sad or depressed?
Worn down by worry?
Hear the Good News
A Saviour is coming
He will redeem you

There is a highway to heaven
A road through the desert places
He will show you the way
Criminals and evil people can’t go
Only those who love God.
And nothing will harm you
Come on! Let’s go!
Let’s worship the King!

Reflection on Matthew 3:1-12

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Matthew3

Scripture
“I baptise you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Observation
John the Baptist appears in the wilderness proclaiming his message of repentance. People come from all over to be baptised by him and to confess their sins.
John denounces the Pharisees and Sadducees who come for baptism. He sees their true motives and warns them to produce fruits of righteousness. They must not presume to have God’s favour for being descendants of Abraham, for God is about to lay the axe at every tree that does not bear good fruit.
John baptises people with water for repentance, but one is coming who is greater than he and who will baptise with Holy Spirit and fire.

Application
There are many who claim to follow Jesus but their hearts are far from Him. They claim to have repented yet do not produce the fruits of following Jesus.
What are these fruits? Firstly a changed life in which sin is being overcome and godliness is evident. Secondly, the baptism in the Holy Spirit- a relationship with God  in which prayers are answered, other lives are changed and miracles are manifest. Thirdly a baptism of fire in which the things which distract from Christ are burnt away- worldly pursuits of all kinds being replaced with a passion for Christ.
We need to constantly reflect on our path through life. Is my life becoming more like Jesus or less? Am I showing the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my daily walk? What needs to change in my habits and attitudes?

Prayer
Lord Jesus baptise me with the Holy Spirit and with fire and give me the grace to align my life with your priorities for me. Amen.

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Reflection on Romans 15:1-13

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romans1513

Scripture
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Observation
Paul tells us that we need to be considerate of the faith of others, considering their sensitivities in areas that are not fundamental to the faith. We should seek to build others up, just as Christ lived for others.
We should accept one another as Christ accepts us. Then we will receive hope from the Holy Spirit, the source of all hope.

Application
Living as a christian is not meant to be just “Jesus and me.” Our focus must be on both Jesus and those around us. To those who don’t know Jesus, our love should be a sign of His love for them. To those who do know Jesus we need to accommodate the weak and accept all brothers and sisters in the faith.
This does not mean there is no space for correction or that what anyone wants to do should be acceptable. It does mean that we need to be discerning what is important and what is less vital, and then allowing the Holy Spirit to bring us all to maturity.

Prayer
Father please help me to be conscious of the needs of other people. Let me never be a hindrance to those who are seeking to grow in you. Amen.