reflection

Reflection on 1 Peter 2:4-8

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Scripture

You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual Temple. What is more, you are his holy priests Through the mediation of Jesus Christ. You offer spiritual sacrifices that please God

Observation

Christ is the living cornerstone of God’s temple and we are coming to Him. We are living stones in this temple that God is building. We are priests who can intercede with Christ, offering a kind of spiritual sacrifice. This was all foretold in the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah said that the Lord will place a cornerstone in Jerusalem, and anyone who trusts in Him will not be disgraced.

This cornerstone that brings honour to those who trust in Him is also a stumbling stone that destroys those who refuse to obey the Lord.

Application

In our Western culture, we are overly concerned with individuals and rarely see the big picture of where we fit in with others.

Here Peter tells us that we are living stones being built together with other believers into a spiritual temple. It is not that I am a temple for God but rather the church, the Body of Christ is a temple for God.

There is a saying that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is true of the church. About 2.5 billion people, or one-third of the world’s population, is Christian. That is impressive, but God is building all of these people, together with all of the saints of the past and those yet to be born, into something greater – a spiritual building, a vessel for His presence.

That is something far greater than reconstructing a stone temple in Jerusalem. This temple spans the world and shows forth the grace of God to all people.

Prayer

Lord, you are awesome in your might and in your mercy. Please help me to find my place in your temple of grace. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

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Scripture

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Observation

We were cleansed from our sin when we first came to faith in Jesus, so we must live in that clean nature by loving other Christian brothers and sisters.

We have been born again to eternal life, not to a life that will end. People are like grass, but the word of the Lord, the good news, lasts forever.

We must get rid of all evil behaviour, and instead crave pure spiritual milk so that we will grow into the fullness of salvation.

Application

When we put our trust in Jesus, we were born again or born of the Spirit. This new life in Christ is not for this earthly life only. The new life is everlasting.

This means that we must live for eternity, not for the present. Our eyes must be fixed on Jesus, not on earthly things.

And so we have to make a conscious decision to put away sin. Everything that separates us from God must go. This is a lifelong process in which God convicts us and redirects our passions and desires.

Positively, it means we must crave the pure spiritual milk that brings us to mature discipleship. This refers to the word of God, the Scriptures. We need to read the word daily, and regularly hear the word of God preached, as well as studying the word in small groups.

When we do these things and learn to place our attention on Jesus, then we will grow into maturity in the faith.

Prayer

Lord, you have shown me how to grow in you. Please help me to be disciplined in my study of your word and in the thoughts of my heart. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 1:13-21

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Scripture

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom, he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious Blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Observation

We must learn to exercise self-control by focusing on the gracious salvation that is coming. We must live obedient to God and not slip back to the old ways of living,

We must be holy in everything. God will judge us and reward us according to our deeds.

God paid a ransom for us. It was not just silver or gold, but the precious Blood of Christ. God chose Him before the world began and has revealed Him to us in these last days.

Application

I was born in sin to sinful parents. They lived an empty life because it was separate from God.

Then Christ came in and I was born again to a living hope and a new life full of the presence of God. I didn’t deserve this. It was God’s gift.

The ransom for my salvation is the precious Blood of the everlasting Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. God was prepared to pay this price – humbling himself to become a man and then dying for me. This says something about the seriousness of sin. But it also says something about how much God is prepared to give up for the prize of my redemption.

God loves me with real love. It is not a cheap grace. He goes all the way to see me rescued from my sin.

Because of His love for me, I must live a holy life, set aside for His purposes.

Prayer

Father God, I am amazed at your great love for me. Please help me to live a life that shows my love for you. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 1:6-12

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Scripture

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though, you do not see him now, you trust him and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible Joy.

Observation

We must be glad because there is wonderful joy ahead. We may have to endure trials for a while. These trials purify our faith and reveal that it is real.

We love God, even though we have never seen him, but we trust Him and rejoice in Him. We will be saved because of this faith in Jesus.

The prophets wanted to know more about this salvation. They wondered when and how this would come about. This salvation, now revealed in the gospel, is so wonderful that even the angels are watching these things happen.

Application

Sometimes people express a feeling that they would like to see Jesus as He walked around Israel. But, this verse and others in Scripture, say that there is a greater blessing for those who believe without seeing.

We love the Lord even though we have never seen Him. And we trust him and rejoice in a salvation that we have not seen or touched with our physical senses.

The reward of trusting him is salvation, eternal life with God. This salvation is a truly wondrous thing because it gives us hope for the future and peace that our present trials will make us fit for heaven.

God works his purposes out through everything in our lives; nothing is wasted.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for joy, that excitement about eternity. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 1:1-5

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Scripture

God the Father knew you and chose you long ago and his Spirit has made you holy as a result. You have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Observation

The letter is from Peter, and he writes to believers in the provinces in Asia Minor. He says they were known by God and chosen by Him long ago.

It is by God’s mercy that we have been born again. We live with great expectation and we have a priceless inheritance kept in heaven for us.

Through our faith, God is protecting us by his power until we receive the salvation which is ready to be revealed on the last day.

Application

It is an awesome thought that God knew us and chose us from long ago or actually, from before the world was created.

He has known me forever and will know me forever. He knew who I would be and what I would do in my life.

When times of hardship come, or even persecution, it is encouraging to know that God knew about it, and that in some way it will turn out to to His glory and for my good. This can give me a bigger perspective and rescue me from the temptations of introspection and self-pity.

Because He knows me, God has chosen me. I can’t go down the theological rabbit hole of predestination. Suffice it to say that God saw in me something He valued and that He could work on to bring me to salvation. He also saw that when the time came to be invited into the kingdom, I would say “yes.”

Prayer

You knew me and chose me from long ago. All praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Reflection on Obadiah

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Scripture

Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zionn in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom, and the Lord himself will be king.

Observation

Obadiah writes at the time that Nebuchadnezzar’s armies have invaded Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and carried away many people into exile in Babylon.

Edom, though related historically to Israel through Jacob, stood back and gloated at the nation’s misfortune and sufferings. Now the Lord promises that Edom itself will be obliterated. It’s allies will now will turn on them.

Israel will be restored as Edom and what the other nations have done to Israel, so it shall be done to them. The captives who have been exiled will return and they will rule over Edom, and the surrounding nations.

And the Lord will be their King.

Application

In many ways, the Exile seemed to represent the end of Israel and its relationship with the Lord. Yet God did not abandon his people. We know that after 70 years in Exile, the people were allowed to return and rebuild.

The warning here is for us not to be too quick to judge other believers. When they go through trials and tribulations, it may not be God’s rejection of them or a sign of hidden sin. It could be that the Lord is allowing things to happen that will deepen their trust.

I find it very troubling when people, especially leaders, criticise other pastors, teachers and prophets. They do gloat at times at the misfortune of others. We must take a different approach – recognising that a brother or sister is struggling and helping rather than hindering

Prayer

Lord, please help me not to gloat as the Edomites gloated Help me to remember that other people are a part of your Body too. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 28:11-20

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Scripture

“Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach these disciples to obey all the commands that I have given you. And be sure that of this: I will be with you always even to the end of the age.”

Observation

The guards who had been assigned to secure the tomb go and tell the priests what had happened. The elders tell them that they will cover for them if the governor hears about it.

The disciples go to Galilee where they meet Jesus. Jesus gives him the so-called Great Commission. They are to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey Jesus’s commands.

Application

The Great Commission is the missionary imperative of the church. All christians are called to be a part of this Mission.

We are to make disciples in all the nations. There are very few nations in the world today where there are no christians Many christians live with persecution because they are a minority group, but they risk their lives for the sake of Christ. The nations are being discipled, and about one-third of all the people in the world are christians.

We are to baptise them. Baptism is a public confession that Jesus is Lord. The disciple goes into the water where they die with Christ and then rise again to a new life with Him.

We are to teach him to obey. Christians need to know how to live for Christ. They need to be taught God’s values as opposed to the world’s values by which they have been living.

It is a big commission, but by the grace of God, the church will succeed.

Prayer

Lord, please show me my part in your mission. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 28:1-10

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Scripture

“He isn’t here. He is risen from the dead just as he said would happen. Come see where his body was lying.”

Observation

As Sunday morning dawns, the two Marys go to visit the tomb of Jesus and to complete the burial processes.

Suddenly there is an earthquake. An angel of the Lord comes down, rolls the stone away from the entrance to the tomb, and then sits on it. The guards shake with fear and fall into a dead faint.

The angel speaks to the women, telling them that the good news that Jesus is alive. He has risen from the dead.

Filled with joy and fear, the women run to tell the disciples what they have seen. On the way, Jesus appears to them and tells them to tell the disciples that they must go to Galilee and meet Him there.

Application

The greatest day in all history was the day of the resurrection. Jesus who died is now alive.

Jesus has conquered all the effects of the Fall- Sin, death, enmity with God. All of these things are done away with forever, at least for those who choose to walk in the way of Jesus.

We don’t have to accept this in blind faith. Jesus invites us to check it out – to visit the empty tomb, as it were

The resurrection is historically viable and experientially viable. The only explanation that makes sense of history, is that Jesus is alive. But the faith is experientially viable by the fact that millions of people from all nations can testify to the power of the Risen Lord in their own lives.

Prayer

Hallelujah! Jesus, you are alive and you are my Lord. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 27:45-66

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Scripture

Then Jesus shouted out again and he released his spirit. At that moment, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.

Observation

At noon, darkness falls across the land for three hours. Jesus calls out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Then Jesus shouts again and releases his spirit. The curtain in the Temple is torn in two, the earth shakes and tombs of godly people are opened, their bodies resurrected,

Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body. Pilate orders the body to be released to him, and he lays it in his own tomb.

Remembering Jesus’ promises that He would be raised on the third day, the leading priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to seal the tomb. This would prevent the disciples stealing the body and claiming that Jesus has risen.

Application

Jesus willingly lays down his life to defeat satan, death and sin. As he does this many miraculous signs occur.

Firstly, the sun goes dark for the three hours prior to his death. This was not an eclipse, as they last only minutes. This was a prophetic sign of the end of Israel and all earthly powers.

Secondly, the curtain in the Temple is torn from top to bottom. This curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, previously, separated all people, except the High Priest, from the presence of God. Jesus’ death removes the separation and ends the Jewish priesthood with all of its rituals and sacrifices; they are no longer needed.

Thirdly, there are physical signs in the earth – earthquakes, rocks are split and tombs opened This is the beginning of the new creation, even the earth is being set free from the effects of the Fall.

Fourth, godly men and women in Jerusalem are raised from the dead. Jesus has conquered the power of death. The resurrection of the old saints prefigures Christ’s own resurrection and the general resurrection of all believers on the last day.

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for the earth-shattering, universe-resetting,mankind-redeeming effects of your sacrifice on the cross. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 27:15:31

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Scripture

When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

Observation

Pilate asks the crowd who they want him to release, as was his custom, at Passover.

Pilate’s wife sends him a message, urging him to leave Jesus alone. The priests and other leaders persuade the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be set free rather than Jesus.

When Pilate asks them what he should do to Jesus, the crowd yells “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Pilate releases Barabbas and orders Jesus to be flogged and crucified. The soldiers find a scarlet robe, and weave thorns into a crown and mock Jesus.

Then they lead him away to be crucified.

Application

The soldiers’ mockery of Jesus is followed by many people today.

First, they will laugh at his claims to be the king. You see this everywhere on social media and also on traditional media. If they cannot mock Jesus, they will mock his followers.

Next, they try to put his own clothes on him again. They reduce Jesus to an ordinary man because they cannot cope with the truth that he is the Son of God. Some people will acknowledge that Jesus is a “good man” or a “good teacher.” They will not acknowledge that, he is the Saviour and Lord.

Finally, they led him away to be crucified. The world does what the world does, and it always ends up with the death of everything that is godly.

Yet, God is greater than all this. The crucifixion was followed by the resurrection.

Jesus death brings everlasting life for all wo trust in him

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus for enduring such suffering for my salvation. Amen