reflection

Reflection on Matthew 2:1–12

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Scripture

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Observation

Some wise men from the east come to Jerusalem asking where is the newborn King. They had seen His star, and have now come to worship Him.

King Herod is disturbed by this, so he calls the priests and religious teachers together to tell him where the Messiah is to be born. They tell him that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem

Herod sends the wise men to Bethlehem instructing them to return and to let him know the child’s location so he can worship Him too.

The wise men go to Bethlehem where the star leads them to Jesus and Mary. They open their treasure chests and give the child gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Application

We don’t normally think of a baby as worthy of worship, certainly not a baby of less than perfect pedigree.

These wise men saw that Jesus wasn’t just an ordinary baby. They were looking for a newborn king, and naturally assumed He would be found in a palace. Instead, they found him in an ordinary home.

They saw beyond the circumstances to recognise that this baby was no ordinary baby. So they worshipped him.

When we see Jesus, the only appropriate reaction is worship. He is the son of God, and so is worthy of our praise.

Our culture is dismissive of, even hostile to, the person of Christ. We need to swim against the current, bring ourselves to the throne of Christ, and worship Him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you are worthy of my praise and worship. Help me to seek you and glorify you each and every day. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 1:18-25

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Scripture

“She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Observation

Mary was engaged to Joseph. But before the marriage can take place Mary becomes pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Joseph decides to break the engagement, but an angel appears to him in a dream. The angel tells Joseph that he should take Mary as his wife. The baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph is to name the baby Jesus, for He will save people from their sins.

Joseph does as the angel commanded. He takes Mary to be his wife and names the boy Jesus.

Application

It took quite some faith for Joseph to believe that Mary had not been unfaithful. The angel gave him a very strong and powerful message – the baby is the Messiah, and he will save people from their sins.

I wonder about the ridicule and scorn that Mary and Joseph faced. People then could count as they can count today. The neighbours knew that Jesus was conceived before the marriage. Rumours abounded about the boy’s parentage and about the parents’ virtue.

Mary and Joseph paid a big price for the privilege of being the parents of the Messiah.

Following Jesus always costs us. For some it is a social cost – loss of friends, and respect within the community. For others, there is a financial cost. Some even pay with their lives.

But Jesus is the one who saves us from our sins. Any worldly cost is worth paying for the sake of the kingdom.

Prayer

Jesus I acknowledge that you are the one who saves me. Thank you. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 1:1–17

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Scripture

All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the messiah.

Observation

Matthew starts he’s account of the life of Jesus with a genealogy, a list of ancestors of Jesus.

Jesus’ ancestry goes back to Abraham, the father of faith and of Israel. Jesus is the one who fulfils the promises given to Abraham.

Application

I am not very good at reading genealogies. Some people get very excited at the significance of these things, but I am not one of them.

There are some important things that stand out.

1. The lineage of Jesus goes right to Abraham. He is a true Israelite. All of the promises given to God’s people – to Israel – are given to Jesus.

2. There are some women in the list because God’s kingdom is not restricted to men alone.

3. There are some Gentiles in the list because God’s kingdom is open to all the nations.

4. Jesus comes from the line of King David. He is the true King of Israel. God promised David that one of his descendants would remain on the throne for ever. Jesus is that one who reigns forever.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for your amazing planning for the lineage of Jesus. Please help me to appreciate your plans for me. Amen

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

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Scripture

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

Observation

We are to honour our leaders in the Lord’s work. We must show them great respect and genuine love.

Rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. We must not stifle the Holy Spirit nor scoff at prophecies. Rather, we should test everything that is said and hold on to what is good.

Paul prays that the God of peace will make the Thessalonians holy and blameless in every way.

Application

Churches, as well as individuals, quench the Holy Spirit in many ways, despite the clear warnings of scripture not to do this.

Sometimes it is explicitly stated that we don’t do that kind of thing here. It might be that the services are so tightly scripted or timed that there is no room for the Holy Spirit to act.

I have heard people, including ministers, scoffing at powerful prophetic words, even though scripture tells us explicitly not to do this

Some people have a mind set that says “Bible times” were different, and we should not expect God to act these days.

We need to have faith to believe that God can use us. Pastors need to make space in their services and give permission for home groups to practice all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The more we expect God to act, the more we will see Him do amazing things.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, come and change me and the people I worship with. Help us to welcome you into our lives. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

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Scripture

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

Observation

The day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly. When people are saying that all is well, disaster will fall on them.

We are not in the dark. We won’t be surprised when the Day of the Lord comes. We are the children of light, not of darkness. Let is live in the light, putting on faith and love like armour.

God chose to save us through Christ. He died for us so that we can live with Him forever.

Application

A lot of so-called prophecy experts release new alarming theories every day about the end times. We do not know the day or the hour – nobody knows.

The important thing is this – we are saved by faith in Christ.

Every person faces one of two fates- either eternal joy with God through faith in Jesus, or eternal punishment in what the Bible calls the second death.

If you have never made Jesus your Lord, then you are heading towards eternal suffering. If this is you, then ask Him to forgive you today. Turn your life around and put Jesus at the centre.

This is not only for so-called “fire insurance” to deliver you from hell, it also gives you a better life in the present age. Living God’s way is the only way to be joyful in this life and the next.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for saving me through Jesus Christ. Please help me to walk in your ways and to obey you in every part of my life. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-17

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Scripture.
The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. First the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We will be with the Lord forever.

Observation
We should make it our goal to live a peaceful life, working for a living. Then non-Christians will respect our way of life.

Just as Jesus was raised to life, so those who died in Christ will also be raised to life when Christ returns.

The Lord will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, the voice of an archangel, a blast from a trumpet. Then the Christians who have died will rise from their graves, and those who are still alive will be caught up on the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Application
There is a lot of speculation about the so-called Rapture, based on this passage. In this reading of the end times, the church is basically snatched out of a world run by the Antichrist.

In reality, this passage is about a resurrection of all the saints, dead and alive. The language used by Paul suggests royal procession. As the king enters a town, people go out to welcome him and accompany him into the into the town which he already which he already reigns over.

Many Christians believe that Jesus will return to a world in which the church has faithfully completed its mission, in which the vast majority of the human race is saved and Jesus returns to take possession of His world.

Whether we are alive or dead at this time, it is an exciting time to look forward to.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the assurance that you will reign over a new heaven and a new earth. Hallelujah! What a Saviour you are! Amen.

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

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Scripture

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

Observation

Paul, with Silas and Timothy, now encourages the Thessalonians to live in a way that pleases God. They already do this, but but now he is encouraging them to do more.

God wants us to be holy so we must avoid sexual sin. If we do this we are controlling our own bodies and living in holiness and honour.

We must never cheat a brother by violating his wife. The Lord avenges all such sins.

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. If we refuse to do this, then we are not disobeying human teaching but rejecting God, who gives us the Holy Spirit.

Application

God wants His people to be holy, as He Himself is holy. That means that we do not always get to do what we want to do. Instead, we must live God’s way.

In our culture, sex is the big thing. it seems that every controversy, every government policy, and even corporate policy, is about sexual preferences and identity. I have the right to use my body in any way I choose. I have the right to indulge my fleshly passions.

God wants us to rein in the body and to use our union with Him to overcome the lusts and desires of our bodies.

Not only does God give us the commandments to obey, He also gives us the grace to obey them.

In the long run, God’s ways are more fulfilling, more fruitful, more productive of joy, than just doing my own thing.

Prayer

Lord, you call me to live a holy life. Please show me how to have victory over the sins that hold me captive. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 3:1–13

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Scripture

May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

Observation

Unable to return to Thessalonica himself, Paul sent Timothy to them while he remained in Athens. Timothy was to strengthen and encourage them and to keep them from being shaken by the troubles that were soon to come against them.

Timothy returned with good news about their faith and love. Paul has been greatly encouraged because they remained strong in their faith.

Paul prays that the Lord will grow their love for one another and for all people.

Application

As disciples of Jesus, who is the embodiment of God’s love, we are to be people who overflow with the love of God.

God’s plan for the church is that we should be an open community of love. Relationships within the community are meant to be as close as the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one.

Sadly, the church often falls short of this ideal. Personality clashes, political power games, and false gospels result in congregations being less than they should be.

The church is not only meant to be a close community, it is also meant to be open to newcomers – visitors, new believers, and so on. A church that is exclusive is no church at all.

This goal is only possible by the grace of God. So we need to pray to love one another and to love all people with the same extravagance that God has given us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help my church to overflow in love for one another and for all people. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 2: 9–19

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Scripture

You accepted what we said as the very word of God – which it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

Observation

Paul recalls have hard he worked, toiling to earn a living so as not to be a burden while he preached the good news.

Paul and his companions thank God constantly for the Thessalonians. They accepted the gospel as the very word of God

The Thessalonians suffered persecution from the Jews, as did the church in the church in Judea. Some of the Jews killed the prophets and some killed Jesus. Now they were persecuting the followers of Jesus . They fail to please God as they oppose the gospel.

Paul tried to return to Thessalonica, but Satan prevented him. The church there gives him hope and joy. They are his pride and joy.

Application

Paul commends the Thessalonians for receiving his message as the very word of God. We should have the same attitude towards, not just Paul’s letters, but all of scripture.

We often say that we believe the Bible is God’s word, but we don’t act that way.

Some people find reading the Bible is boring or difficult or irrelevant to them. But God’s word is living and active. We should be excited to come to read His word.

Whenever we read the Bible, we should ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us. Ask Him to bring the words to life in your spirit.

When we interact regularly with God’s word, it continues to work in us. Over time, we find our life conforming to God’s purposes more and more. It makes us holy as we let it fill our hearts.

Prayer

Thank you Father for your word. Please give me greater understanding as I read it day by day and help me to live it not just to read it. Amen.