Resource Manager Posted July 1, 2016 Report Share Posted July 1, 2016 01 July 2016 1 Samuel 13Isaiah 56; 57Revelation 21; 22 "BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO KEEPS ..." Today we reached the final chapter of the Bible where the angel says to John who received and wrote up this vision, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place." [Revelation 22:6] This is 'soon' as God sees time, for, as Peter wrote, "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." [2 Peter 3:8] - so we are now completing the 2nd day, as God sees time - since his Son walked on this earth. We ponder the possible significance of “the third day” when Israel were in the wilderness! “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings … and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.” [Exodus 19:16] John is told, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil ..." [Revelation 22:10-11]. There is more evil and godlessness than ever these days. But let us specially note the next words, "... and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." Let us redouble our efforts to be among those who do that. The next verse announces, "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense (reward) with me, to repay each one for what he has done." [Revelation 22:12] Those counted as holy "have the right to the tree of life" [Revelation 22:14] This is the tree from which Adam and Eve were barred - see Genesis 3:22-24. Back in Revelation we see how Revelation 22:15 lists those barred from the tree of life; the list ends with "... and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." Our world abounds with people who do that - although many go to great lengths so this is not too evident: may we not be inclined to practice this - in any way at all. Let us - each day - have in the forefront of our minds the words "Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." [Revelation 22:7] Prophecy does not simply mean, predictions of the future, but a ‘prophet is one who talks and teaches about the words of God (see 1 Corinthians 14:5,22,37) Finally, we again quote Revelation 22:11 "Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." May we all be "righteous" and "holy" - for there is no 'middle' way - becoming more conscious than ever that we are “blessed” when we “keep” on the narrow way and that our daily reading and meditation on God's word is an essential foundation to enable us to "still be holy." -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2016 02 July 2016 1 Samuel 14Isaiah 58Matthew 1; 2 "THEY SEEK ME DAILY" Our first reading in 1 Samuel 14 is about the headstrong foolishness of Saul in his actions as king. A contrast is the spiritual perceptions and strength of his son Jonathan who was to become a close friend and supporter of David. It is inspiring how those who have a genuine love for the Lord are drawn into friendship with each other – it is really special when it results in them teaming together to serve the Lord; Paul experienced this. Our in Isaiah, Isaiah 58, is also about those who are true worshippers – and – those who are not! The prophet records how God perceived the emptiness of his people's spirituality! The prophet is told to "declare to my people their transgression" [isaiah 58:1] although, says God, "they seek me daily and delight to know my ways" [isaiah 58:2] That sounds excellent, we try to do that! But what about Gods' next words? "they seek me ... as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God ... they delight to draw near to God." That sounds wonderful, but God could see it was all an outward show. They practiced fasting. Good - if it was done in the right spirit. We call to mind the boasting of the tax collector in Jesus' parable, "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get." [Luke 18:12] But he was totally self-centred, he had 'I' trouble! Isaiah records God’s declaration to the people, through him, "Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high." [isaiah 58:4] The LORD spells out the nature of the fast that he looks to see. "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house ..." [isaiah 58:7] To do this, means a degree of 'going without' yourself. And the result of doing this? "then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually ..." [isaiah 58:10-11] And then our lives "shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." What a heart challenging message! Its’ meaning is plain. May our Lord see this in our lives today - may you and I sense his guidance - more and more. There are words of David in Psalm 37 that provide a fitting conclusion to our thoughts. "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light ..." [Psalm 37:4-6] in his soon-coming kingdom. May we, in this spirit, 'Seek our Lord daily.'-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2016 03 July 2016 1 Samuel 15Isaiah 59Matthew 3; 4 "... A SEPARATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD" Isaiah’s message keeps returning to the theme of the need for reality in human thinking about their relationship with God. Belief in God in those days was not like it is with so many today, indeed in some countries today the majority do not seem to believe in any God at all! In Isaiah’s day it was worse than that! How was that? Well, they acknowledged that there was a God, but then their “blindness” caused them to fail to have any relationship with him. This, in God’s eyes was just as bad, if not worse, than a failure to believe he existed! Isaiah 59 today starts with the words, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have made a separation between you are your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” In tomorrow's reading in Isaiah, Isaiah 60, he tries to inspire them towards a healing of this “separation.” In Isaiah 60:2 he draws a contrast between their situation and the rest of the people in the world. “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the people.” In contrast, the next words are, “but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations will come to your light” [isaiah 60:3] Notice that phrase “your light”. Believers prove they are genuine when they develop a real relationship with God and start to shed forth light in the darkness – a relationship which today is wonderfully established through Christ to become, ultimately, a light to all nations! Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness” [John 8:12] In our Matthew 5 reading tomorrow we will see how he tells his disciples, “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father …” [Matthew 5:14,16] For our light to shine - we must have a real relationship with God so we “shine” through everything we say and do, and as a result will be ready to become part of his “light” in the kingdom age. Tuesday we will read Isaiah 61 and its vision of the Kingdom when “you shall be called priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God” [isaiah 61:6]. To be alive then and serve the Lord in this way – how utterly wonderfully - but we need to know the Lord now - so there is no separation between us and our Lord! -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2016 04 July 2016 1 Samuel 16Isaiah 60Matthew 5 "YOU THEREFORE MUST BE PERFECT" The above quotation is how today’s chapter, Matthew 5, ends. This chapter, which we read today, is normally called ‘the Sermon on the Mount’. It has been portrayed in films as Jesus teaching a whole crowd of people - but that is the opposite to what the text actually says; an example of how, all too often, God’s word is misread. The last verse of Matthew 4 says, “And great crowds followed him (Jesus) from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan." [Matthew 4:25] And we can say, 'wonderful'! But the previous verse plainly states what was attracting them! "So his fame spread ... and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains ... and he healed them." [Matthew 4:24] The Sermon on the mount was not given to them! Matthew 5 starts. "Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them ..." [Matthew 5:1-2] So this chapter is a special one for those who are prepared to come apart from the ways of the world and, meta-physically, climb the mountain as a genuine disciple of Jesus. Our Master's message starts [Matthew 5:3] "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." What does poor mean? The scriptural sense is 'lowly' - the opposite of being proud. And his message is about the "kingdom of heaven" - not in heaven! This is shown in Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." We note the constant use of the word "shall" - it is a promise of future blessings, "they shall be comforted ... they shall be satisfied... they shall receive mercy ... they shall see God ... they shall be called sons of God ... theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 5:5-10] Our chapter ends with very challenging teaching by Jesus! " You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Perfect has the sense of 'complete' - success in getting rid of all blemishes that spoil or tarnish our characters. Jesus uses the word 'love' in a very challenging way! He tells his disciples, "if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" [Matthew 5:46] So Jesus challenges us to train ourselves so we become more and more like him in character. Meditating on this chapter and the two which follow - is an essential training exercise for those who have hearts that hear their Master saying "you therefore must be perfect." Only those who do this "shall see God" and "inherit the earth." -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 05 July 2016 1 Samuel 17Isaiah 61Matthew 6 "TO PROCLAIM ... THE DAY OF VENGEANCE" Our first reading today of 1 Samuel 17 saw “the day of vengeance” of Israel upon the Philistines due to the wonderful faith of a youthful David. His faith and commitment to serving the LORD gave him the strength of mind to go forth and slay Goliath. Those who have real faith today in looking for the return of David’s son, our Lord, know he will soon come to slay the godlessness that is filling the world and which is today defying and destroying the faith that Jesus revealed at his first coming – and which – in the first century spread and filled the hearts and minds of all who were looking for the true meaning of life. Today that faith has evaporated – and the ‘goliath of godlessness’ is filling the earth and defying and destroying human thinking, as is evidenced in nearly all human talking, attitudes and activities. The start of today’s chapter, Isaiah 61, is the one Jesus read in the synagogue, which we can read in Luke 4:18-19. But Jesus only read as far as “… to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” He stopped and did not read the words that followed – but he is returning soon “to proclaim … the day of vengeance of our God.” [isaiah 61:2] This was not the purpose of his first coming! But will be the purpose, to begin with, of his second coming! How utterly mind-dumbing! And we know how much our world deserves this “day of vengeance”! So many in today’s world are soldiers in the service of the modern goliath of money and wealth – the champions that nearly all look up to and follow in our 21st century. That goliath will be dramatically slain at our Lord’s second coming. But those who follow ‘great David’s greater son’ this utterly wonderful “year of the Lord’s favour” will bring them “the oil of gladness … the garment of praise … that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” [isaiah 61:3] As well as being “called oaks of righteousness” they “shall be called the priests of the LORD …ministers of our God” [isaiah 61:6] “The day of vengeance” will be turned into victory for those who truly serve their Lord today – until he come. Let us help each other in doing this, having laid up for ourselves “treasures in heaven” (as we read today in Matthew 6:19-21) which Jesus will bring with him [Revelation 22:12] – learning the lesson every day that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2016 06 July 2016 1 Samuel 18Isaiah 62Matthew 7 "FOR EVERYONE WHO …” Our chapter in Matthew today unfolds to reveal powerful personal lessons – principles we must live by! Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." [Matthew 7:7-8] If we do not ask, seek and knock we will not receive and find the opening door! But we will not truly realize our failure - until it is too late. How many will "knock" - but it will be too late - they will not have been ready and waiting to meet the bridegroom, that is, actively waiting!? As a result, how many at his coming, will hear him "declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me" [Matthew 7:23] Jesus expects "Everyone … who hears these words of mine" [Matthew 7:24] to do them! As a result of doing them their lives will be "built ... on the rock" of genuine faith, faith demonstrated by their actions. Back in Matthew 7:14, there is a dire warning, "... the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." We prove we have found it by how we 'build' our lives into one of daily service to our Lord; this will be mostly in small ways, but these create the foundation for larger ways. When we genuinely "seek" and "knock" - this inevitably leads to action. What actions? There are many ways - travel in our world has never been more readily possible, but whether nearby or further afield, we must, as we read 2 days ago in Matthew 5, "let (y)our light shine before others, so that they may see (y)our good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 5:16] Tragically, Jesus forecasts, "on that day many will say to" him... Lord, did we not prophesy (preach) in your name..." But he will say, "'I never knew you; depart from me ..." [Matthew 7:22-23] To 'know' Christ is to have a genuine day after day relationship with him – the foundation for this is reading God's word, leading to meaningful prayers and conversations in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. When we come to Matthew 22 later this month let us highlight the little 8 word verse, Matthew 22:14 - and redouble our efforts to be among the "chosen." Jesus simply tells us in that verse - "For many are called, but few are chosen." And those “few” will hear the words we read today in Isaiah 62, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him." May we be among those “called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD” [isaiah 62:11-12]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 07 July 2016 1 Samuel 19Isaiah 63Matthew 8 "WHY ARE YOU AFRAID?" Jesus asked his disciples this question! As his ‘modern’ disciples, he will ask us too! We read this today in Matthew 8. After they “came down from the mountain” and "great crowds followed" - no doubt they had been watching and waiting for him, and one of them was "a leper" whom he "cleansed." [Matthew 8:1-3]. Then after "he had entered Capernaum … a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him" [Matthew 8:5] about his servant who was "lying paralysed at home, suffering terribly." [Matthew 8:6] His profession of faith made Jesus 'marvel' and contrasted it with the lack of perception and faith in Israel, he declared, "with no one in Israel have I found such faith" [Matthew 8:10] and that "many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom" [Matthew 8:11] It is no different today, indeed, it is wonderful to see the ‘pockets’ of true faith that, we understand, exist in many and distant parts of the world! The disciples themselves were going through a learning curve - as far as 'active' personal faith was concerned – a learning curve they needed! From Matthew 8:23 we read how Jesus and his disciples got into a boat "and behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.” Imagine the scene! This literal event tested the disciples, and they failed the test. Imagine, if you had been one of them? They are afraid and "went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’" Let us 'absorb' his response - and ponder the lesson for us - "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." [Matthew 8:26] As we meditate on this event we can see this as an 'acted parable' for us - for when God brings storms of judgement on our godless world! How will we cope? Do you know? We recently read in Revelation, "The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time ... for destroying the destroyers of the earth." [Revelation 11:18] We can compare this with seldom quoted verses in Micah 7:15-17 "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvellous things. The nations shall see and be ashamed ... they shall come trembling out of their strongholds; they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God, and they shall be in fear of you." Is not the “you” – spiritual Israel!? With what awe Israel of old witnessed the destruction of the Egyptians. With what awe will spiritual Israel witness the acts of God be seen in "destroying the destroyers of the earth"! An utterly overwhelming experience! Will we hear the voice of our Lord saying: "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 08 July 2016 1 Samuel 20Isaiah 64Matthew 9 “REMEMBER NOT INIQUITY FOR EVER” The word ‘name’ is often used in Scripture in the sense of reputation. We use it that way too: someone has a ‘bad name’ or a ‘good name.’ As we complete reading the prophecies of Isaiah in the next couple of days we see references to God’s name in this sense; that his ‘reputation’ has been forgotten, his people no longer believe in him. The prophet agonises over a vision of the time coming when “our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name” [isaiah 63:18-19]. The portents were obviously plain in his lifetime; we can relate to this in our own experience. Israel, is God’s nation, the word ‘Israel’ meaning ‘ruling with God’ (Youngs). They are expected to be an example before other nations to enhance the reputation of the true God they serve – as had happened during the reigns of David and Solomon. Notice how Isaiah states that God “made for himself an everlasting name” [isaiah 63:12] and “a glorious name” [isaiah 63:14] as a result of the miraculous deliverance from Egypt. In the prophet’s time that reputation had been badly tarnished, but will not God act again to make his name, his reputation, known! We know him will! Isaiah 64 starts with a prayer, a petition to God, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down … to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!” [isaiah 64:1-2] Then he writes of personal relationships with God, words which should specially interest us. “You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you and your ways” [isaiah 64:5]. Think about those words and whether we can say, ‘This is the attitude of mind God can see in me’ Isaiah identifies himself as a member of God’s nation and writes, “Behold you were angry and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?” [isaiah 64:5] Should we also ask that today? Isaiah continues, “There is no one who calls upon your name … you have hidden your face from us” [isaiah 64:7] Then comes the final plea, “Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity for ever. Behold please look, we are all your people … Our holy and beautiful house (the Temple) where our fathers praised you has been burned with fire …” [isaiah 64:9,11] In tomorrow’s chapter we will see God’s wonderful answer!-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 09 July 2016 1 Samuel 21; 22Isaiah 65Matthew 10 "BEHOLD MY SERVANTS SHALL …" Who is a genuine servant of the LORD today? Being a ‘Servant’ is an active occupation! One needs to be far more committed than just being interested to know about the LORD and his word. Consider the situation surrounding David before he became king. David called himself a “servant” – 1 Samuel 17:34 – but Saul never did, he was jealous of Davis; we will read tomorrow how “Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand." [1 Samuel 23:14] Saul was totally self-centred, the opposite attitude is necessary if we are to be a genuine servant of the LORD. It is astonishing that Saul completely lost any appreciation of all that David had done to defeat the enemies of Saul and of Israel. A lesson for us here - how personal relationships can sometimes undermine the way we seek the Lord. Isaiah 65 unfolds to give us a vision of the future; what the LORD “will do for my servants' sake" [isaiah 65:8] "I will bring forth offspring from Jacob ..." [isaiah 65:9] and we are starting to see this today in the Holy Land "My chosen shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there." [isaiah 65:9] Let us so live that we will be counted among the Lord's servants - for surely the "servants' include both natural and spiritual Israel. The verses which follow unfold as a contrast between those who serve the LORD and those who do not. "Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart ..." [isaiah 65:13-14] The ultimate application of those words is to the time when the kingdom is established. Jesus illustrates this in some of his parables - remember the dramatic parable of the 'Rich man and Lazarus'! Luke 16:19 onwards Today, in Matthew 10, the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 10:32-33 has the same vital theme. "... everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Finally we note and mediate Matthew 10:38, "whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" - adding to this the words of Jesus we find in Matthew 16:24-26 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul" because he has failed to be a genuine “servant.” A final personal question - 'How earnestly are we being servants of our Lord in our lives now - and plan to – “until he come”?-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 10 July 2016 1 Samuel 23Isaiah 66Matthew 11 “WHO HAS HEARD SUCH A THING?” Isaiah completes his prophecy as a message, not to kings, the high and mighty, but to a particular class of people. “Hear the word of the LORD you who tremble at his word” [isaiah 66:5] Then comes a strange statement. “Before she was in labour she gave birth, before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such a thing? Shall a land be born in one day?” [isaiah 66:7-8] What is this about? As we read on, we learn that the prophet’s final vision is about the suddenness, the unexpectedness of the final restoration of Zion, of Jerusalem, of God’s nation. Look at the words, “Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labour she brought forth children.” [isaiah 66:8] This, we conclude, must be the time of resurrection, suddenly the people of the LORD are there. At the same time there is “The sound of the LORD rendering recompense to his enemies” [isaiah 66:6]. Recompense!? That surely means, ‘Judgement’ – punishment for their godlessness and denial of his creation! It is a time of the greatest rejoicing for those who have trembled at his word, “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy … drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.” [isaiah 66:10] The picture of events widens out further in the next verse, “For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream … the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see my glory … all flesh shall come and worship before me, declares the LORD” [isaiah 66:10-12,18,23] But that is only one half of the picture the prophet speaks about! The other half is the same as we read in Revelation, the annihilation of those who do not know God, who do not tremble at his word. We have not quoted those words. Look at Isaiah 66:15-16, “For behold the LORD will come in fire … to render his anger in fury and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire the LORD will enter into judgement … and those slain by the LORD will be many” The point to be stressed is that all this happens suddenly. As Jesus says in the parable “the door was shut” – just as the door of the Ark was shut and it was too late for those who scoffed at Noah to change their minds – as Jesus said, “at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:36-44 which we will read in a week or so). That question again, “Who has heard such a thing?” Well, we have, oh what peril for us if we ignore what we hear.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 11 July 2016 1 Samuel 24Jeremiah 1Matthew 12 "OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART" There are so many things in life today than can influence our hearts and minds – for both good - and bad – and the latter abound - but it is up to us to control what enters our hearts. How much to the point are the words of Jesus we read today in Matthew 12! Jesus drew simple word pictures – parables. He said “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit." [Matthew 12:33] So in our lives are ‘trees’ – they are ‘growing’ to produce fruit! Our words and actions show the nature of the “fruit” that is developing! These are the thoughts that occupy and give direction to our lives – the result – in the end – of what we have allowed to enter our hearts. Jesus spoke exceedingly bluntly to those who 'attacked' him, because they were very jealous of his popularity. He called them a "brood of vipers." [Matthew 12:34] Can you recognise the "vipers" surrounding you today? If you were the centre of attention like Jesus, they would be more obvious! But when such creatures are ''subtle' they can be even more dangerous - and human hearts often act like sponges! It is not simply what our ears hear – but also what our eyes see – and we allow them to absorb! How blessed are the hearts that are surrounded by good influences - most of all by the word of God - for all such - "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" and "the good person out of his good treasure brings forth good ..." [Matthew 12:34-35] How much "good treasure" has developed in our hearts? It will be revealed, said Jesus " on the day of judgment (when) people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." [Matthew 12:36-37] And today, we can additionally “speak” – instantly – and widely – by our written words – especially via our computers. When we read Solomon's Proverbs we can see that Jesus 'mined' some of his sayings from them; for example, "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." [Proverbs 13: 3] and "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious ..." [Proverbs 14:15-16] How cautious do we need to be - as to what enters our heart, so that "the abundance of our heart" is full of "good treasure" to share with others as opportunity offers. Finally, remember what we read in James last month! “You have laid up treasure in the last days” [James 5:3] Check today as to how much “treasure” you have – to show our Lord when he comes – how soon now!?-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2016 12 July 2016 1 Samuel 25Jeremiah 2Matthew 13 "LIVING WATERS" “Living Waters”? They are the opposite to stagnant water, they are fresh and pure. This phrase symbolizes a mind fed by healthy godly ways of thinking. We have just started reading the prophet Jeremiah and so much which God causes him to write is appropriate for the world of the 21st Century. He was the prophet who had the difficult task of bringing messages of condemnation from God as the kingdom, established in its spiritual greatness under David and Solomon, was in its death throes. God, speaking through the prophet says that they “defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination” [Jeremiah 2:7] and, “the shepherds (spiritual leaders) transgressed against me … and went after things that do not profit.” [Jeremiah 2:8] Interesting that word ‘profit’! These days we usually think of it in connection with money, but God looks to us to see what ‘spiritual profit’ we have gained; he goes on to say, “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.” [Jeremiah 2:11] So Israel had given in to temptation and changed their worship to serve the “no gods” of the heathen nations because this was enjoyable in a fleshly way – so God tells Jeremiah “my people have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters” [Jeremiah 2:13] The fountain is the source! As a result the nation was soon to experience disaster. The days of Jesus were parallel, again the nation was facing disaster. So few heeded his words when he said, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [John 4:14] Their leaders were interested in the wrong kind of profit and disaster came on the nation. But the message of the true “living waters” has been in the world ever since – and where would the world have been without the influence of the message of Christ? It has been like “salt” giving a measure of good flavour to life in the world! But now it has “lost its taste” and the warnings of God through Jeremiah are very appropriate today. As best we can, we must be “the salt of the earth” [Matthew 5:13] and drink from “the fountain of living waters” every day.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 13 July 2016 1 Samuel 26; 27Jeremiah 3Matthew 14 “AND ALL NATIONS SHALL GATHER TO IT” Jeremiah records some heart stirring prophecies that are for the latter days, but we have to seek these out from among the warnings the LORD gave him about the godlessness that surrounded him: and these also cause us to see parallels with life today. Both are a vision of what God sees as he looks into the future – from the days of Jeremiah. They are lessons, warnings and an inspiration for us. They inspire us to think positively , indeed, to think and see beyond the trials of the present! How appropriate are the words James wrote, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." [James 1:12] Back in Jeremiah we see how he is caused to appeal to his people: he senses they will soon be taken into captivity! We read today how he asks them to, Jeremiah 3, "acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD" [Jeremiah 3:13] "Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion." [Jeremiah 3:14] We can see parallels today – of “faithless children” - in the collapse of any real vision of the future among many of those who have claimed to be followers of Christ. Jeremiah becomes more despondent, in Jeremiah 8:5 we will read, "Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return." But today, Israel has come close to Zion, but the Moslems control the mount itself! But Jeremiah is caused to 'see' the time (about to happen?) "... when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again." [Jeremiah 3:16] How wonderful, thrilling and inspiring for our faith are the next words, "At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart." [Jeremiah 3:17] Finally, Jeremiah 3:22 has the LORD's appeal, which is just as relevant today. "Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness." And the answer! ""Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our God." May that be our answer too! If it is, we will see "all nations shall gather to" Jerusalem - because we will, by God’s grace, be there.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 14 July 2016 1 Samuel 28Jeremiah 4Matthew 15 "TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN" The Jews had strict laws to ensure cleanliness and in some ways they these had become, in the time of Jesus, a ritual - their original purpose had been swamped by this. However, these laws were ignored by the world in general until about 200 years ago; illness and death were high as a result. However there was one good thing in those days – moral cleanliness was high – a state of things caused by the widespread reading of and respect for – the Bible. Strangely, today the opposite now occurs! Physical cleanliness is all important while moral cleanliness counts for little except when there is some scandal in high places, such as in business practice: then the law is applied and those involved feel self-righteous. Our thoughts along these lines were triggered by today’s words of Jesus in Matthew 15. He scolded the leaders, “You hypocrites … this people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me; teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” [Matthew 15:7-9] You may recognise he is quoting words we read last month in Isaiah [isaiah 29:13] He then told them a parable [Matthew 15:11] about how defilement is caused by what came out of human mouths causing Peter to ask, “explain the parable to us.” Jesus replies, “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” [Matthew 15:18-20] The world is full of defilement today; indeed, it is even ‘glorified’ in movies and TV shows. It is remarkable that so many “enjoy” being defiled in this way and we are going to read in Jeremiah how, without the encouragement of TV etc, it was also like that when he lived and which he was told to condemn. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2016 15 July 2016 1 Samuel 29; 30Jeremiah 5Matthew 16 “MY PEOPLE LOVE TO HAVE IT SO” We quoted these words at the end of our thoughts yesterday. These were the words of God to Jeremiah. What was it that God’s people loved to have in a certain way? God said, “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land; the people prophecy falsely and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so” [Jeremiah 5:30-31] Why would the people love to have it this way? In earlier verses we read more of God’s complaints about the attitude that had developed among his people, “They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God.’” [Jeremiah 5:24] They had not appreciated that he provided the “rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain.” God further says, “their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich” [Jeremiah 5:27]. There are so many similar attitudes in our 21st Century. Human nature has not changed in 2500 years! So often wealth is built up by clever dealing, manipulating the stock market, so that trading often is no more than gambling! We perceive that so much “wealth” today is not the result of honest labour. There is no fear, that is, no awe of God, the great Creator. Worse still, as we quoted above, “the priests rule at their direction” many who parade themselves as being in the service of God bring a false message to those who hear them. How many realize the same thing is happening today! We have heard it said at funerals, ‘your loved ones are still alive, they are in heaven looking down on you”. They also say, or at least imply. ‘God is totally a God of love, he always forgives whatever ‘believers’ do that is wrong – once saved - and you are always saved! Many ignore that laying the ‘foundation’ to being ‘saved’ is in Mark 16:16 – which is more fully detailed in John 3:16,22-23. Paul provides the ultimate example, look at what he wrote at the end of his life – 2 Timothy 4:3-8. Jeremiah laments about those who “have spoken falsely of the LORD and have said, ‘He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us …” [Jeremiah 5:12]. How false! There is a Psalm where David petitions God, “Arise, O LORD; O God lift up your hand … Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account …” [Psalm 10:12,15]. God has answered such prayers in the past, but since nearly all the people in our world today “love to have it so” – God’s next response will be utterly fearful – and how soon now will that be!-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2016 16 July 2016 1 Samuel 31Jeremiah 6Matthew 17 "BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT PAID ATTENTION TO MY WORDS" There are many parallels in the life and difficulties Jeremiah faced – to the situation surrounding us today. The account of his life unfolds to reveal an increasing struggle against rampart godlessness – there are obvious parallels – and lessons for us – as we face the same situation. These are actually more invasive as we encounter them most particularly through nearly all the media sources as well as in the daily lives of many of us. We can compare Jeremiah’s struggle with that of Samuel in his old age with the unfolding disaster of the final years of Saul’s reign. Yet, compared to the follies surrounding Jeremiah, an inspiring transformation awaited the nation as David became king: how wonderful that there is a far greater transformation awaiting the world when David’s greater Son becomes king! We long for this to happen , but until it does, there are lessons for us from Jeremiah’s experiences, as they are parallel to ours. How godless were the attitudes surrounding him – but Israel had experienced all the blessings of being God’s nation! But our world has in the past had abundant awareness of the testimonies and guidance in God’s word! But today, as in Jeremiah’s day, these testimonies have been swamped by the attitudes of the flesh. Jeremiah 6, today, the prophet is told, “Thus says the LORD ... I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Pay attention ...' But they said, 'We will not pay attention.'" [Jeremiah 6:16-17] The Creator's dramatic pronouncement follows, "Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people ... because they have not paid attention to my words" [Jeremiah 6:19] The people are told to make a " most bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer will come ... They are all stubbornly rebellious ..." [Jeremiah 6:26,28] What terrible events were about to overwhelm and destroy Israel in Jeremiah’s days. We can say that terrible events are about to come on our world today, but, unlike what Jeremiah was going to experience, "for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short" [Matthew 24:22] although nearly all today "have not paid attention to my words" in the same way as their forebears had. To conclude we reflect back on words we read in Isaiah some weeks ago about God's coming king "from the stump of Jesse ... his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD .... with righteousness he shall judge ... and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked." [isaiah 11:1,3,4] May we be there, to experience his “righteousness” when the whole world will be paying attention to his words – and the wicked are no more. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2016 17 July 2016 2 Samuel 1Jeremiah 7Matthew 18 “YOUR LOVE … WAS EXTRAORDINARY” Today we read of David’s reaction when he received the news of the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan. A special bond had developed between David and Jonathan. From the time Jonathan witnessed David’s faith in going out fearlessly to face Goliath, he felt a special kinship to David, as we read last week, “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” [1 Samuel 18:1] As they would say it today, they became bosom pals. Jonathan himself had a strong faith in God, on one particular occasion the Philistines were defeated because of Jonathan’s initiative. Jonathan climbed up to face about 20 Philistines, saying to his armour bearer, “Come up after me for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel” [1 Samuel 14:12]; he killed them and created a panic among the Philistines. Saul appreciated David at first but then turned against him warning Jonathan that he would lose his right of succeeding him as king saying, “as long as the son of Jesse lives … neither you nor your kingdom will be established.” [1 Samuel 20:31] We read last Friday how Jonathan found David in the wilderness and said, “Do not fear for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king of Israel, and I shall be next to you.” [1 Samuel 23:17] David and Jonathan were both men of zealous faith in God and this was the vital factor that created the bond between them. At the start of his kingship Saul was exalted and served God in an acceptable way. It could have been a great team, Saul, Jonathan and David, but Saul’s unbalanced character in which pride was a factor, brought it all undone. How often has this sort of situation hindered a group in the success they could have had in serving God. Jealousies between the disciples threatened their teamwork until after the resurrection. So David laments, as we read today, “How the mighty have fallen … I am distressed for you my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me, your love to me was extraordinary” [2 Samuel 1:27] It was a relationship founded on their mutual love and faith for God. What an example this sets to us, especially when we team together to serve our Lord.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 18 July 2016 2 Samuel 2Jeremiah 8Matthew 19 “IS IT LAWFUL TO DIVORCE ... FOR ANY CAUSE” Our reading in Matthew’s Gospel tells us how the Pharisees came up to Jesus “and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” The religious groups were at odds between themselves in their efforts to impose as broad as possible “interpretation” of Moses’ Laws, some trying to justify an interpretation of the Law that allowed divorces “for any cause.” Jesus astonished them by not referring to the Mosaic Law at all – he went back to the original foundation principle that they were completely ignoring. He said, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man separate.” [Matthew 19:3-6] This is why we include wording in our marriage ceremonies that the couple have been ‘joined together in the sight of God.’ This was a phrase Peter and John used in responding to the criticism about their healing of a man in the Temple after Jesus ascended to heaven. They answered their critics and their efforts to silence them by saying, “"Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." [Acts 4:19] And ourselves? We “cannot but speak” of what we have read and understood! Jesus had shocked these legally minded men who were trying to bend the law to suit their own purposes. Of course this happens today – and lawyers get rich arguing cases in court. Jesus is immediately challenged, they ask, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and send her away?” [Matthew 19:7] Well, Moses did not command this – but, said Jesus, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” [Matthew 19:8] Then he added, “And I say unto you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” [Matthew 19:9] Now, under the law, adultery should be punished by stoning to death, as they said themselves on the occasion they brought a woman to him “caught in the act of adultery” [John 8:4-5] so the husband would, in that case, be free to marry again. The lesson for us is that when we set out to live according to the spirit of Christ, these should not be issues for us at all. It is evident that those who look for a marriage partner should seek one with the same high principles as themselves. But as the principles all around us get lower and lower, if they exist at all, the need to read and know godly principles every day, with time for earnest prayer becomes of ever greater importance in our lives.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 19 July 2016 2 Samuel 3Jeremiah 9Matthew 20 "LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THIS …” In Matthew today we read of the friction among the disciples of Jesus; this arose after the mother of two of them “came up to him (Jesus) with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him … ‘Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one on your right hand and one on your left, in your kingdom” [Matthew 20:20-21] Why was this request made? The desire for positions of honour always creates jealousy, this is provoked even more when boasting is involved, which is all too often the case. The request made the other ten “indignant.” [Matthew 20:24] Jesus called them to him and told them they should not allow themselves to be influenced by the spirit they saw around them “but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve …" [Matthew 20:26-27] These words are rather parallel with what we read today of the words of the LORD to Jeremiah. “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD " [Jeremiah 9:23-24] The disciples learnt, after his ascension, how to serve their Lord in the right way. One of those two sons was the first disciple to become a martyr. [Acts 12:2] Let us serve our Lord who died for us, true service is a genuine humbled Christ-like spirit. Recall how he described his followers as sheep! He then made this point, “I am come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” [John 10:10] An abundance far beyond our present comprehension. Let us follow and serve the “good shepherd” and aim to do the things in which he delights. The more we know our Lord the more all human forms of boasting will disappear from our thoughts. Instead we will find ourselves caused to ponder - in our deepest meditations - the wonder of what it is to “understand and know” the Almighty. And then – to ourselves – in our hearts – we will meditatively “boast in this.”-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 20 July 2016 2 Samuel 4; 5Jeremiah 10Matthew 21 “A PEOPLE PRODUCING ITS’ FRUITS” Jesus taught saying, “I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.” [Matthew 21:43] The life of Jesus was reaching its climax when he said this in the last of several parables in today’s chapter in Matthew. He had had a triumphant entry into Jerusalem and this had aroused the jealousy and anger of the religious leaders. He had cursed a fig tree “and said to it, ‘may no fruit ever come from you again’” [Matthew 21:19]. The Jews to whom he spoke, in rejecting their Messiah, saw their Temple destroyed just 40 years later. They had not learnt the lesson of what happened in the days of Jeremiah who prophecy we are also reading at present. The people, the Gentiles, to whom the kingdom was given, were to produce fruits for God. This they did, as the gospel message spread through the Roman Empire and beyond over the next 300 years, it even came to India in the 2nd Century. But then the fruit became of doubtful quality. When printing was invented 600 years ago the Bible was translated and printed in many languages, the original message gained fresh impetus and produced fresh fruit. But now that impetus has faded away and again the fruit is increasingly useless to God. When Paul wrote to the Romans he used the same analogy about trees and their branches. saying the Jewish “branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in" Then he warns them, “do not be arrogant toward the branches … if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.” [Romans 11:17,21] What we see today among nearly all churches is an anaemic shadow of the original gospel, we also see, especially on the part of the nations, an arrogance toward the original branches, the Jews. There is a failure to recognise the miracle of their regathering as a nation after going into oblivion for nearly 1900 years. Where are those who are “producing its fruits”? So many are producing “fruit” that God cannot use, it is the product of human wisdom. Let us take to heart what James wrote, “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits” [James 3:17]. Let us try harder to produce fruit God can use. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 21 July 2016 2 Samuel 6Jeremiah 11Matthew 22 “… BUT THOSE INVITED ARE NOT WORTHY" One of the more challenging parables of Jesus is in Matthew 22. Jesus says his kingdom “may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son” [Matthew 22:2]. The “wedding” will see the commencement of the total transformation of life on this earth. Invitations go out but “those who were invited would not come” [Matthew 22:3]. That first application of that is to the Jewish leaders who rejected Jesus. The invitation is renewed, his servants are told to “tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast. But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business” [Matthew 22:4-5] They saw more important ways to use their lives than accept the invitation. Worse still, some mistreated the servants who brought the invitation [Matthew 22:6]. The King, meaning of course Jesus, “then said to his servants. ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding as many as you find. And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.” [Matthew 22:8-10] A parallel parable in Luke 14 sees the servants being told to “Go out to the highways and hedges” [Luke 14:23-24]. We thought of this when we received email from those visiting distant countries, such as Myanmar (Burma). One wrote, “I have been very busy with contacts here … the truth has really taken hold …” But there is a sequel to this parable, it is vital that those who accept the invitation have a “wedding garment” - One who has not - is “cast him into outer darkness… for many are called but few are chosen” [Matthew 22:12,14] We are reminded of the words of Jesus in Revelation to believers at Sardis; a situation which is so parallel to today. “You still have a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white …and I will never blot his (or her) name out of the book of life.” [Revelation 3:4-5] These are “worthy” Our daily reading and meditation on God’s word is one of the foundations for being among “the chosen” and then being clothed with “the garments of salvation” as we read earlier this month – Isaiah 61:10-11. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 22 July 2016 2 Samuel 7Jeremiah 12Matthew 23 "WHO AM I, O LORD GOD?" Do you ever ask yourself this question? In our reading in 2 Samuel 7, we read how David did! When we ask ourselves this question – is it the Bible that prompts us to do so? Those who do not know or read the Bible – if they ask, ‘Who am I?’ – conclude they are but the highest form of an evolved animal and agree, as Paul wrote, “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” [1 Corinthians 15:32 – but then they should read the following verses, especially 1 Corinthians 15:42!] It is vital to understand why David asked this question – “Who am I, O LORD God?” [2 Samuel 7:18] David had been very successful and “the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies” [2 Samuel 7:1] So David, in his heart, started to think of what he could do for God – which shows he was developing a real conception of what God must be - this surely began from the time he was a shepherd boy watching over the sheep by night and meditating on the “heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place” which leads him to ask, “what is man that you are mindful of him?” [Psalm 8:3-4] In developing his answer he writes, “you have given him dominion over the works of your hands” [Psalm 8:6] And what are human beings doing today with that “dominion”? What a mess they are making! But let’s come back to ourselves – each one of us must ask ourselves – Who am I? David’s question to himself arose because God had sent Nathan the prophet to him telling him, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” [2 Samuel 7:16]. The vision of this overwhelmed David, especially its reference to a particular son and that God “will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” [2 Samuel 7:13] Coming back to our own need to ask this question – what of the promises made to all those who claim a relationship with that particular son? In claiming a relationship, have we ourselves, asked in prayer? “Who am I, O LORD God?” Have we felt overwhelmed, as David was, by the vision of what is to come? But if we reject that vision as unreal – we cannot leave it at that – we have to ask ourselves – what is real? No fiction writer could have invented the character and words of Jesus we have been reading in Matthew. Let us “enlarge” our hearts, as David did his. David wrote, “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!” [Psalm 119:32] We, like David, need to really enlarge our heart, the perceptions of our mind, so that we can more fully serve our Lord. That service is founded upon the reality of the perceptions we have developed in our heart, our ability to “see” the unseen. Surely that should be one of things we are praying for most of all? So we ask, ““Who am I, O LORD God?” We do! Wonderful! Are you satisfied, maybe, overwhelmed, by the answers you are getting?-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 23 July 2016 2 Samuel 8; 9Jeremiah 13Matthew 24 "AT AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT" Today our Matthew reading is about the Olivet prophecy of Jesus. As we read this in one of the Gospels every 2 months we may tend to become too familiar with it. As the clouds of trouble and ungodly behaviour multiply in so many countries, we have every reason to be fully alert as to the significance of the words of Jesus to his disciples as he answered their urgent questions to explain what he had said when they were in the Temple. They had been marvelling at the magnificence of the Temple when he had said, “there will be left here not one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” [Matthew 24:2] “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and the close of the age?” [Matthew 24:3] were their urgent questions. We see his answer as a twofold prophecy: first about the destruction of Jerusalem and how to avoid being caught up in that destruction – but then the ultimate time of trouble for the world, called “the great tribulation” [Matthew 24:21] at the time of his return to earth. Matthew 24:14 is a saying that particularly demands our attention! “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Only now through the marvels of the internet, is the “whole world” wired in so that anyone can search for any information they desire, and this includes automated translation facilities to overcome language barriers! So what happens when the end comes? Why is it “at an hour you do not expect”? Notice the word “you”! One would expect that believers would be the only ones who will “expect.”! But the most obvious answer is because the message of Christ is no longer believed by the great majority! The Apostle Paul was to write, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them …” [1 Thessalonians 5:2-3]. This implies a time of great trouble, maybe around Jerusalem, but then people think they have achieved an agreement through a lot of “saying” to achieve “peace and security”! But careful Bible readers “are not in darkness … for that day to surprise you like a thief” [1 Thessalonians 5:4] “at an hour (we) do not expect”! But we cannot be totally confident about that! -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 24 July 2016 2 Samuel 10Jeremiah 14Matthew 25 "... AND HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE" Today we continued reading Jeremiah and saw the exchange of words between the LORD and the prophet. There is no genuine spirituality left among the people, it is all a sham - yet the prophet appeals to God to act to relieve the terrible famine that is afflicting the land and all the people. He says, “though our iniquities testify against us, act O LORD for your name’s sake for our backslidings are many ...” [Jeremiah 14:7] Jeremiah appeals for God to be merciful “for his name’s sake” – that is, his reputation for being a merciful God. This is parallel today with the concept that God is fundamentally a God of love – and because of this – endlessly forgiving however sinful we might be – his punishments always have an end. But note what God says, “both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land and have no knowledge.” [Jeremiah 14:18], Being a prophet or a priest is just a “trade” – they have no knowledge, that is, no relationship with God: they do not know his word, they do not take into their minds and hearts what he is saying. In contrast the portrayal of the work of Jesus in the familiar chapter in Isaiah 53, says, “By his knowledge, shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous and he shall bear their iniquities” [isaiah 53:11] Tomorrow, Jeremiah 15 starts, “Then the LORD said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight …” So God is not endlessly forgiving – it is essential we have a true knowledge of him, that we ‘know’ his word and develop a genuine relationship with him through his Son. The parables of Jesus we read today give essentially the same message; if we do not use the talents he has given us, in the end he does not want to know us. He says to the foolish virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom to come, “Truly I say to you I do not know you.” Then he adds, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day, nor the hour” [Matthew 25:12-13] If the knowledge we have of God’s word does not result in a real relationship with our heavenly Father he will not seek to ‘know’ us when that vital “hour” arrives! We can sense today with the chaos in many nations, together with the events around God’s Holy Land, especially to the north, that this is the “day” – but at what “hour” of the day we do not know. Let us absorb God’s word more and more - to make sure we are not among those who “have no knowledge.” -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted July 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 25 July 2016 2 Samuel 11Jeremiah 15Matthew 26 "NOT AS I WILL BUT AS YOU WILL" Today we read the account of the dreadful last 24 hours or so in the mortal life of our Lord Jesus. It is clear he was mortal, otherwise his death was only a sort of ‘mirage.’ His agony of mind in the Garden of Gethsemane shows he knew what awaited him. It is possible he reasoned, as he prayed to his father, that his father’s will could be the same as with Abraham when he was willing to sacrifice Isaac and the Father, at the last moment, would intervene. [Genesis 22:10-12]. With what utter urgency of mind Jesus prayed, “if it be possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” [Matthew 26:39] This clearly shows Jesus had a separate will to his Father, he was not an ‘automated’ son. The theory of later centuries that the Father and Son are co-equal, co-eternal, etc. is pure human theology and is false, many scriptures make this plain, especially Hebrews 5:5-9. There are several lessons that flow from this, especially the lesson for us on the foundation purpose of our lives and what our “will” should decide as to the paths open to us in pursuing our ambitions in life: it is essential we make them with a clear appreciation and acceptance of true godly principles. Sometimes there are critical lessons to be learnt! We saw the lesson Peter learnt in a mind of extreme anguish: he had brash self-confidence in declaring he would never deny his Lord, as we read in Matthew 26:33. It can be that when we seek relaxation from the battles of life as David did, as we read today in 2 Samuel 11:1-2, that we let down our defences and our clear vision of our relationship with our Saviour is dulled. There is a proverb about idle hands, there should be one, and probably is, about roving eyes and minds! There has never been an age when human minds and eyes have been faced with such a multitude of opportunities to rove as there is today. All around us are those who indulge in ungodly ways and each year, it seems, this occurs to greater and greater degrees. Let Jeremiah’s trials and his words, we also read today, be examples to us, “I did not sit in the company of revellers … because your hand was upon me … your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” [Jeremiah 15:16-17] Is Jesus your LORD, are you called by his name? Then let us follow Jeremiah’s example, and may God’s “will” – but our “will”!-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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