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TFTBR - June 2017


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01 June 2017

 

Joshua 18

Isaiah 24

Hebrews 6; 7  

 

"WE WHO HAVE FLED FOR REFUGE" 

 

How many desire – or few – from their hearts – to flee "for refuge" from the godlessness of today's world? Hebrews 7 – our second New Testament reading today –  has many thought-challenging points like this! But first we are in awe of our chapter in Isaiah [isaiah 24] and its description of God's judgement's on the earth – and then of the wonder that follows!

 

The prophet is caused to describe the time when "the earth is violently shaken … its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls … On that day the LORD will punish … the kings of the earth … Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders." [isaiah 24:19-21,23] 

 

How much does our godless world deserve to be violently shaken - for human godless transgressions abound! How close are we to "that day"?  

 

How increasingly uncertain life is today in most countries, perhaps we should say, all countries: the daily news is a continuous account of troubles and godlessness. In the letter to the Hebrews today we read that - "we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul ..." [Hebrews 6:18-19]

 

Those who know and fully believe the "hope" and the eternal wonder of it - realise more and more with their seeking minds. as they read God's word, that it does "show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose ..." [Hebrews 6:17] 

 

As this world becomes more godless we are in awe that the time must be getting really close when we will urgently seek that "refuge." This, for most, if not all of us, it will be a spiritual refuge because we have developed a genuine strength of faith, a conviction that God is in control – and soon we will recognise his "will" is being carried out and will be wondrously thankful for his "refuge".

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- DC 

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02 June 2017

 

Joshua 19

Isaiah 25

Hebrews 8; 9 

 

"TO SAVE THOSE WHO ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR HIM"

 

Our Hebrews reading includes a long quotation [Hebrews 8:8-12] from the prophet Jeremiah. This starts with "Behold the days are coming" and ends with "for they shall all know me (the LORD) from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."  This Epistle shows how the old covenant through Moses had come to an end because "Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises." [Hebrews 8:6]  

 

Once again we see how the Bible has to be taken as a whole if we are to fully grasp what God has revealed to those seeking to have a relationship with him. We serve a merciful God, but we cannot expect him to be merciful if we have no genuine inclination to seek to know him.  

 

What a marvellous picture we have in Isaiah today describing the result of those better promises! "He will swallow up death for ever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces … It will be said on that day, Behold this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us ..." [isaiah 25:8-9] Death swallowed up for ever!  

 

The whole world is to ultimately become a Garden of Eden. There are more marvellous verses in the next chapter, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you." [isaiah 26:3] because such know that God has been and "will be merciful toward their iniquities."  

 

Yet this chapter has a sobering comment about "he who does not learn righteousness" [isaiah 26:9]. There are those, of whom it is stated, "They are dead, they will not live; they will not arise; to that end you have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them." [isaiah 26:14].  

 

A fitting climax to our thoughts is the last verse of our Hebrews reading, "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." [Hebrews 9:28] How eager are you for this time? It may not be long now! How are you showing your eagerness?

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- DC

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03 June 2017 

 

Joshua 20; 21

Isaiah 26; 27

Hebrews 10  

 

"YOU WILL KEEP … IN PERFECT PEACE"

 

Our Isaiah and Hebrews readings provide an abundance of thoughts today. Some verses encourage peace of mind, others a sense of awe at what is coming on the world, at the judgement our godless world deserves. Isaiah 26 contains a grouping of quite contrasting revelations from God Isaiah 26:3-4 are worthy of being memorised. 

 

"You will keep him (her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he (she) trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." How wonderful to have a mind that is "stayed on" God, the only foundation for "perfect peace" in a world which knows no peace: no peace between nations ­ yes - but more vital than that ­ no trust and peace between individuals, nearly every news bulletin makes this clear. 

 

The reign of Jesus when he returns (how soon now?) to the earth will be the time "when your judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the earth learn righteousness …" [isaiah 26:9] But at the moment, as in Isaiah's day, "O LORD your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it." [isaiah 26:11]. 

 

Let us try ever harder to "see" the Lord's hand so that the next verse is true for us, "O LORD, you will ordain peace for us; you have done for us all our works." [isaiah 26:12] - because those works have been done in the strength that God gives to us ­ and then we will heed the warning given in Isaiah 26:20,21 "… my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth …"

 

There are words in our Hebrews reading which dovetail in with these; "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works … encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near." [Hebrews 10:23-25] This is the only way to achieve and maintain "perfect peace." 

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- DC

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04 June 2017

 

Joshua 22

Isaiah 28

Hebrews 11  

 

"BY FAITH"

 

Today we read the well known chapter, Hebrews 11.  It starts, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

 

This is the vital lesson we must take to heart in reading this chapter – that having faith is having a state of mind that must cause us to lead different lives, different priorities – to have different aims. We live our lives in service too our Saviour – accomplishing things in his service. As we read the chapter, let's notice how often the words "By faith" occur. "By faith Noah … by faith Abraham … by faith Sarah …"

 

Our faith is not just something we talk about – or listen to others talking about. We read today of many examples of men and women of faith, highlighting in many cases some particular deed that proved the nature of their faith. It is most valuable to look on into the first 2 verses of tomorrow's chapter, it starts "Therefore" – therefore we should put the chapter break after verse 2.

 

"Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (all those examples of men and women of faith in Hebrews 11), let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith …" 

 

We must each search our hearts as to how effectively we are living our lives so that he sees that our faith has developed real strength, that we have acquired a real sense of teamwork with our Saviour and our God. Our lives must demonstrate that we are "working together with him" [2 Corinthians 6:1]

 

May we all be able to look back on our lives, and see how our journey in developing greater and greater faith to - in particular to see how we have been "made strong out of weakness" [Hebrews 11:34] because we have developed a real "conviction of things not seen" and "we are not of those who shrink back … but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." [Hebrews 10:39]

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- DC

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05 June 2017 

 

Joshua 23; 24

Isaiah 29

Hebrews 12  

 

"FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE" 

 

The above statement concludes Hebrews 12 we read today. The whole chapter provides the climax to the remarkable chapter, Hebrews 11, with its testimony of the faithful; those who "died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." [Hebrews 11:13]. Today, all who are genuinely godly, feel they are "strangers and pilgrims" in this ungodly world. 

 

The things which God, his prophets and His Son revealed and spoke of – were written down. They were preserved for those who genuinely seek the God-given meaning of life! Today those who have genuine "faith" in God’s word – read – and "live" by them, an inspiration in their lives. 

 

All such read – and have "their eyes" opened! Paul experienced the nature of the "consuming fire" in his conversion of the road to Damascus! He told King Agrippa how Jesus spoke to him and he had his "eyes" opened to "turn from darkness to light" to "receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith" [Acts 26:18] And down through the centuries God's word has been available - warning that he will become "a consuming fire." But this is for all those who fail to read his word – and act upon what they read!  

 

Hebrews 12:27 is an awesome verse. It is dangerous to simply "spiritualise" the words although undoubtedly they have a spiritual application; the next two and final verses declare – "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" [Hebrews 12:28-29]. 

 

Oh the wonder of "the things promised"! Oh - the awe of the "consuming fire" that is a prelude to the experience of being "sanctified by faith." Genuine faith! Let us faithfully read and absorb God's word every day – to build up our faith and so be saved to "to the uttermost." Recall Hebrews 7:25

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- DC

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06 June 2017

 

Judges 1

Isaiah 30

Hebrews 13  

 

"KEEP YOUR LIFE FREE FROM …" 

 

Today we read the concluding chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, it starts, "Let brotherly love continue."  What things can undermine "brotherly love"? One thing is a breakdown in teamwork between believers in Christ – starting with a lessening of "spirit of Christ" in their hearts - see Romans 8:9-11. We do "not belong to Christ" if we do not have this Spirit! Such may not see themselves as belong to the world – but there is no "middle" way!

 

How vital is advice we read today in Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have …" We recall the verse in Paul's first letter to Timothy we read last week, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith …" [1 Timothy 6:10]. What do many, indeed most, in the world, "love" today? Money is also a means of acquiring or experiencing the things that they love.

 

David's words in Psalm 119 [Psalm 119:36-37] contain a wonderfully positive prayer, we should all echo. "Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways." These words are in total contrast to the spirit that constantly surrounds us!  

 

Finally, another prayer (or petition) of David we need to memorize and echo daily, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence" [Psalm 51:10-11].

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- DC

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07 June 2017

 

Judges 2; 3

Isaiah 31

James 1  

 

"RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS THE IMPLANTED WORD"

 

Today we started reading the challenging epistle of James which is so full of practical advice for living a Christ-like life. Paul says that when he later visited Jerusalem he "saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother." [Galatians 1:19] ­ so we conclude this was the James ­ not initially a believer. A study in Acts [Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18] shows he came to take on a prominent role in Jerusalem.

 

James tells the believers (initially in Jerusalem ­ and now in "Dispersion" [James 1:1] to "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." [James 1:3] James then makes the point that we must allow this "testing" to "have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." [James 1:4]. We must meditate deeply on that point ­ looking back on our own journey in belief, and how we developed genuine faith.

 

Maybe, even now some are struggling with doubts! But James warns, "the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." [James 1:6] Isn't this why so much of "so-called" Christianity has collapsed in recent years!?

 

We notice how James, later in the chapter, makes a particular point telling them to be "slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." [James 1:19-20] 

 

James next words are "powerful" ­ and surrounded as we are today with "filthiness and rampant wickedness" [James 1:21], as they were then. We must "receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." Human nature being what it is ­ we can increasingly allow the surrounding "rampant wickedness" to seep into our minds! 

 

To be able to effectively overcome this, we must make sure that we have implanted God's word, not only into our minds ­ but into our hearts ­ and so ho have a fully active conscience to maintain the "meekness" with which we first received "the implanted word."

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- DC

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08 June 2017

 

Judges 4; 5

Isaiah 32

James 2  

 

"A KING WILL REIGN … PRINCES WILL RULE …"

 

Isaiah 32 starts, "Behold a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice." This surely visualises God's king, the Lord Jesus, at last reigning over the earth. There will also be "princes" reigning who "will rule with justice." At last the world will experience true justice. The words of the prophecy imply the "reign" will initially be against a scene in which the world has become "a dry place" and "a weary land" [isaiah 32:2] How spiritually "dry" it is today!

 

The "princes" who "will rule" will provide "a shelter from the storm" [isaiah 32:2] which will occur as the world is transformed and learns to accept that there is an all-righteous king reigning. True justice will at last happen, "the fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honourable." [isaiah 32:5] Human hearts will no longer be “busy with iniquity to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD." [isaiah 32:6] 

 

May we, by the grace of God, be there and among the "noble (who) plan noble things …" [isaiah 32:8] The time will then develop "when the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness quietness and trust forever" [isaiah 32:17]. 

 

Jesus told his disciples of the wonder that, "when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." [Matthew 19:28] In Revelation he said, "The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations" [Revelation 2:26], it appears that these are the "princes" mentioned in our Isaiah chapter who "will rule with justice" as we read in Isaiah 32:2.

 

We must make sure we are God's people now who "hold the faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory" (James 2:1, also today's reading). And then in that day, looking at Isaiah 32:18, we will be among those of whom God says, "My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places when our king will reign." 

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- DC

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09 June 2017

 

Judges 6

Isaiah 33

James 3; 4  

 

"BE OUR ARM EVERY MORNING, OUR SALVATION IN TIME OF TROUBLE" 

 

We were rather overwhelmed by the range of appropriate thoughts in all our readings this morning! God's words through Isaiah, quoted above [isaiah 33:2] arrested our attention. Jesus is the "arm of the Lord" – soon we will read Isaiah 53 which starts "to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed." (see the cross reference in John 12:38)

 

God accomplished salvation for us through Jesus. He looks for all those who accept that salvation, or are seeking for it, to look to him at the start of every day. The whole verse in Isaiah says, "O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in time of trouble."

 

To Isaiah and those listening to him as a man of God in those continuously troubled times, we see many messages which are meaningful to us today. "The LORD is exalted … he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is his treasure." [isaiah 33:5-6] We must try hard to understand how, having a mind which is in awe of God is a "treasure" of great value. In contrast, "the sinners of Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless; who among us can dwell with the consuming fire?" [isaiah 33:14]

 

The fearful attitudes that overwhelmed the godless then, will be replicated in the final fearful time as our world reaches its climax. We read 5 days ago in Hebrews of the "removal of things that are shaken … in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."  [Hebrews 12:27-29]

 

Think about fire. It destroys – but it also cleanses ready for a totally new start. Australian bushfires illustrate this. So what happens to those who survive "everlasting burnings"? The next verse in Isaiah tells us, "He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly and shuts his eyes from looking on evil … your eyes will behold the king in his beauty" [isaiah 33:15,17] having been "our salvation in time of trouble."

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- DC

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10 June 2017

 

Judges 7; 8

Isaiah 34

James 5  

 

"THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON HAS GREAT POWER"

 

James tells us to "pray for one another" [James 5:16] – adding the powerful and challenging words, The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. But how many then and how many now - can be called "righteous person"?  

 

Our thoughts go to Hebrews 11 that we read last week! "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark …" [Hebrews 11:7] Let us meditate on the "reverent fear" of Noah as he constructed the ark – as he was told! Everyone around would think how foolish he and his sons were! In God's sight, Noah was "righteous person" – how prayerfully he would have undertaken his God-given task. 

 

Our first reading in Judges 7 today illustrates the faith Gideon was challenged to have – to take just 300 men [Judges 7:7] to defeat the Midianites! 

 

Gideon is included in the list in Hebrews 11 of those who "through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises … were made strong out of weakness … so that they might rise again to a better life ..." [Hebrews 11:33,35]

 

Back in James we recall how James asked the question, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" [James 2:14] James then makes the vital point, "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." [James 2:17] 

 

So, may each of us, live by faith – demonstrating its' reality by what we do – each day - and how we pray, for The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. As our world starts to - more than ever - fall apart - let us, in particular, "pray for one another."

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- DC

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11 June 2017 

 

Judges 9

Isaiah 35

1 Peter 1  

 

"PREPARING OUR MINDS FOR ACTION"

 

The above words jumped out at us in 1 Peter 1:13. What action are we preparing for? In one sense, each morning we need to prepare our minds for action to make that day count in service before God – and even more so as we start a new week.

 

We must be ready to cope with each days challenges. Believers through the centuries have encountered times of crisis and challenges in their lives. The Jewish exiles to whom Peter was writing were suffering persecution, with greater persecution coming as a result of the Jews rebellion against Rome in AD 67-70.

 

But Peter writes of those "who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." [1 Peter 1:5] We conclude Peter is being inspired to write what is meaningful for our days as well as his.

 

The end of the Gentile age will parallel the end of the Jewish age. Peter further writes, "if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold … may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ." [1 Peter 1:6-7]. He writes of the time when the truly faithful will "rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith" [1 Peter 1:8-9].

 

Our Isaiah reading [isaiah 35] has wonderful words about this time when the faithful "come to Zion with singing: everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" [isaiah 35:10].

 

So let us, start each day, by "preparing our minds for action …having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth …" [1 Peter 1:13,22]; an obedience shown by our love for one another "earnestly from a pure heart … through the living and abiding word of God" [1 Peter 1:22] that we feed we on every day as the major factor in "preparing our minds for action".

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- DC

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12 June 2017

 

Judges 10; 11

Isaiah 36

1 Peter 2  

 

"… LEAVING YOU AN EXAMPLE"

 

Let us meditate on what Peter is writing about in 1 Peter 2. Peter penned these challenging words! "if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God" [1 Peter 2:20]. How true this was in centuries past for those who dedicatedly read and put into practice the original teaching of Jesus and his followers, such as Peter.

 

We note in particular what Peter tells them [1 Peter 2:21] "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

 

Is this "example" followed in these last days? We are surrounded by modern inventions such as Television, mobile phones and the Internet! What bad examples some of them set us!

 

But consider the internet – this is how you are receiving this message – it has its blessings. I lived through the war in the 40's, awful; yet as it unfolded we saw the hand of God at work – and his nation came to life again after nearly 2,000 years.  

 

The words of Jesus spring to mind and meaning! "Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled… And there will be … distress of nations in perplexity ..." – Luke 21:24! God's times will soon begin. 

 

Finally, back in Peter – there is a verse we need to particularly meditate upon! Peter tells them how Jesus suffered for them leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. Let us seek to do that – and how necessary it will become as there is increasing "perplexity" as the nations experience greater and greater "distress."

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- DC

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13 June 2017

 

Judges 12; 13

Isaiah 37

1 Peter 3; 4; 5 

 

"WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE …"

 

Today we read the concluding chapters of Peter's First Epistle. What a challenging message Peter conveys to the "elect exiles of the Dispersion" [1 Peter 1:1]. 

 

As Paul was the apostle "to the Gentiles" – see Galatians 2:8-9, so Peter is the Apostle to the natural Jews who have come to believe in Jesus who have left Israel for the relative safety of "Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." 

 

Peter was joined in this mission by James – remember how we read the start of his Epistle last week – "To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings." 

 

Why were they scattered? Undoubtedly some would have remained in Jerusalem – while it still existed! Peter has a warning for them – and how appropriate is this for us today! He wrote "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly …" [1 Peter 4:7-8] And then in his final chapter, "And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." [1 Peter 5:4]. We must take these words of Peter to heart ourselves

 

Finally – note how 1 Peter 5:5-8 contain an exhortation we should embrace today with all our hearts. "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful." Let us fully embrace these words today ready for "when the chief Shepherd appears" – and then we will be wonderfully ready to "receive …"

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- DC

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14 June 2017

 

Judges 14; 15

Isaiah 38

2 Peter 1; 2  

 

"THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO RESCUE THE UNGODLY FROM TRIALS"

 

We have quite a mixture of Scripture to read today God used all kinds of people to speak to/or deliver his people Samson was an outstanding, but strange example: he was a superman, possessed of remarkable physical strength, but desires a Philistine as a wife. He needs his parents to arrange this – they object and say, "Is there not a woman among our own people." [Judges 14:3]

 

But Samson is adamant; he wants the Philistine woman – "Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes." His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. We learn from this that God usually allows the human will to take its course – yet he can weave this into his purpose – as he did here.

 

Then in Isaiah we read a somewhat similar situation. King Hezekiah is told by the prophet, "Thus says the LORD; set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover." [isaiah 38:1] "THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO RESCUE THE UNGODLY FROM TRIALS" The King prays and "weeps bitterly" and the LORD responds, "Behold I will add 15 years to your life" [isaiah 38:5] – but, as we shall see, those 15 years have a big effect on Israel's subsequent history.

 

Our 2 chapters in 2 Peter are awesome in their description of God's ultimate purpose in bringing great judgements on the world because it becomes totally godless. Yet, at the same time, says Peter, "the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials" [2 Peter 2:9]. Paul wrote, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." [1 Corinthians 10:13] It is evident Paul is writing from personal experience.

 

How wonderful that God provides "a way of escape" for the godly! But we must each ask ourselves, Does God count me as godly? We look at the "godly" in the scriptures, they all had blemishes, Samson was a particular example – and suffered for it – but was listed among the men of faith in Hebrews 11:32. May the Lord … rescue us from trials if we are to experience (and how soon now?), "a time of trouble, such as never has been" [Daniel 12:1]. 

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- DC

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15 June 2017

 

Judges 16

Isaiah 39

2 Peter 3  

 

"… DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS FROM THE LORD"

 

Our thoughts yesterday went to the strange example of Samson as a man God used in his service to deliver his people. The list in Hebrews of those who are named as examples of faith has some surprising inclusions and Samson is one of them. None of those in the list lived "perfect" or blameless lives, but all had times in which they displayed great faith in God. And ourselves? 

 

Today we read the accounts of Samson's remarkable strength because his hair had never been cut. When Delilah finally succeeded in getting him to tell her the source of his strength she shaved off all his hair and then awoke him and said, "'The Philistines are upon you, Samson!' And he awoke from his sleep and said, 'I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the LORD had left him. And the Philistines seized him …" [Judges 16:20-21]

 

The LORD was the real source of his strength – and at his death he killed a great number of Philistines who had praised their god. "For they said, our god has given our enemy into our hand" [Judges 16:24]. We read that "Samson called to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once'" [Judges 16:28] and the Philistine house to their God, built around two main pillars, collapsed as Samson was given the strength by the LORD to push them apart, "so the dead that he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life." [Judges 16:30]

 

We commented yesterday in the chapter we read – on a significant verse: when his father objected to him seeking a wife from among the Philistines and Samson insisted and "said to his father, Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes" [Judges 14:3], the next verse is very significant, "His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines." 

 

This illustrates that God, who sees all and knows all; in giving us a free will, often weaves the weaknesses of our human nature into the way he achieves his divine purpose – especially among his people. Paul was aware of this, he wrote, "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." [Romans 8:28] It is according to the Divine purpose that "things work together" – God frequently makes use of human "weakness" to weave together his plans and bring them to pass. The more we read the Bible the more we will see examples of this. 

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- DC

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16 June 2017

 

Judges 17; 18

Isaiah 40

1 John 1; 2 

 

"EVERYONE WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS BEEN …"

 

What thought inspiring chapters we have in Isaiah and 1 John today! John told his readers that, as "little children" they should "abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming." [1 John 2:28] John then adds, "If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him."

 

The truth has to be put into practice, it must so "live" in our hearts, not simply in our minds, so that we sense, in wondrous awe, that we have been "born of him." We then, as a result, have true spiritual "comfort" in our lives.

 

And now to Isaiah we read today; it is a source of wondrous spiritual comfort for those who spiritually belong to God's nation, probably more so today than for those who, by natural descent, belong.

 

The chapter starts, "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned." How long now before this becomes a reality? Surely, when Christ returns! 

 

The question in Isaiah 40:28 can surely be asked today – and certain will be when Christ returns! "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable." 

 

The more we know of the wonders of creation the more we realize this, indeed we are overwhelmed by sensing what the Creator must be. As a result of this realisation, he sees us and we are "born of him" and are among "everyone who practices righteousness."

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- DC

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17 June 2017

 

Judges 19 

Isaiah 41

1 John 3; 4 

 

"WHOEVER CONFESSES THAT …"

  

What deep spiritual perceptions John unfolds in his First Epistle. They are simple – yet they are profound!  "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." [1 John 4:7] What is it to "know" God? It is – to have a "real" day-to-day relationship with him – a relationship in the spiritual sense. 

 

Now we ponder – deeply – on the next verse! "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." The word "love" has been almost totally debased in today's world – it has largely been put on a par with the word "like."  

 

John tells us how the love of God was made known! "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." [1 John 4:9] What does that mean? How do we "live through him"? We meditate on the words of Jesus, John recorded in his gospel. "Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him." [John 5:23] How do we honour the Son? We look ahead to John's second epistle. "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." [2 John 1:9] Let us "abide" – live - by absorbing the "teaching."

 

Back to today's final chapter and finish by asking ourselves whether 1 John 4:15 is true of us! May it be true, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." How do we "confess"? The Father knows our answer – the heart-felt reality of our prayers, our abiding.

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- DC

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18 June 2017

 

Judges 20

Isaiah 42

1 John 5 

 

"THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE"

 

The climax to John's First Epistle contains some challenging words with its totally positive statements about knowing "you have eternal life." We conclude he is encouraging his readers to think positively, not to be fearful, but to know that God loves them and, as Peter puts it, God is "not wishing that any should perish" [2 Peter 3:9] - a point made about believers and his "patience" toward them, rather than about the godless world.

 

The names of believer's are recorded "in the book of life" [Philippians 4:3] and in that sense they have eternal life. But believers must not ignore the warning that Christ has the power to remove names from that book!  

 

The message of Jesus was, as we will read next week, "To the one who conquers (or overcomes) … I will never blot his name out of the book of life." [Revelation 3:5].  

 

John writes, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world" [1 John 5:4] and then adds, "this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith." A true faith, not a blind faith, gives us the clearness of vision to live courageously and overcome the things that can hinder and distract us – such believers really do have Jesus Christ in their lives every day.

 

This is the point John makes in 1 John 5:12, "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." 

 

So we can fully appreciate the point in 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." There can be times when we will cease to "know" and our heart falters in its vision of the unseen. But note how John commented on this earlier, "whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything." [1 John 3:20] 

 

Later this week we read Revelation 2; 3 with its letters from Christ to the seven churches. Each letter ends with a point about the blessings to come on the one who conquers and overcomes the obstacles this life puts in their path – but "we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." [Romans 8:37]  

 

Let us keep responding to his love "that (we) may know …"

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- DC

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19 June 2017

 

Judges 21

Isaiah 43

2 John 1; 3 John 1

 

"HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN …" 

 

Today we read the 2 final short letters of John. He is obviously an old man; he waits for news of developments among those he knows – news must have travelled very slowly in those days it is the complete opposite today – in most cases. 

 

In his final letter we read – "I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." [3 John 1:4]. Note the words, John's great "joy" is to hear of their "walking" – not just that they are believing! 

 

Belief in that which is true is an essential foundation – and we recall John's declaration near the end of his gospel. "He who saw it has borne witness­ his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth­ that you also may believe." [John 19:35]

 

This is the foundation – but we must build on that foundation, otherwise the foundation is wasted. We recall the words of Paul as he took his leave from the elders at Ephesus, "I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." [Acts 20:32] Sanctified means – seen to be holy.

 

We can be "tempted" to simply read and talk about the truth – but not be converted in heart – but that will prove to be a tragedy when Christ returns! We ponder the many parables of Christ – we must have oil in our lamps – remember the parable when Jesus described how when "the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them." [Matthew 25:3] They had ceased to be a light in the world, they had ceased to "build" themselves – and others – up – to put their faith into action. Remember what we read in James earlier this month, he declared, "I will show you my faith by my works." [James 2:18]

 

When Jesus comes we will "have no greater joy than" to be welcomed into his kingdom – together with all those who have been "walking in the truth." 

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- DC

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20 June 2017

 

Ruth 1; 2

Isaiah 44

Jude 1  

 

"BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD"

 

Today most people do not believe there is any God at all, they think that everything that exists sort of – "created" itself! They invented the theory of evolution - but since doing this human minds have gone round and round in circles trying to "prove" it happened.

 

Isaiah 44, our chapter today, challenges this and all vain human thinking. It is astonishing, today, that they have given up trying to "prove" evolution! They admit in their "hearts" (although not in their minds), that it is unprovable, indeed, impossible!

 

God foresaw this human attitude and long ago caused Isaiah to write some most appropriate words. In his time people in the nations surrounding Israel worshipped the idols they created, they had convinced themselves they represented the "gods" they imagined bringing them into existence! Modern minds can see the foolishness of such thinking – but how few can see the foolishness of evolutionary thinking!

 

Now let us take into our thinking what the One True God caused Isaiah to write! "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me ..." [isaiah 44:6-7].  

 

This message from God, through his prophet, challenges all those who believed in idols – and today – all those who claim to "believe" (?) in evolution! 

 

The climax to our thoughts is to take into our hearts and minds Isaiah 44:24-25.

 

"Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: 'I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish.'"  

 

Meditate on this – and let us realise in our hearts how foolish the human idea of evolution is!  Then, finally, we are ready to embrace the wonder of the Creator we can and should worship – and the Saviour, Jesus, he has given for us! But if we turn a blind eye to this – this life is all we have – and how long now before God acts to punish this godless world!?

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- DC

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21 June 2016

 

Ruth 3; 4

Isaiah 45

Revelation 1; 2  

 

"TO THE ONE WHO CONQUERS I WILL GRANT ..." 

 

What a remarkable set of thought challenging chapters we have today. First we read Ruth 3; 4 which climax by telling us how she became the great grandmother of David. 

 

Then we read the inspiring chapter, Isaiah 45. Isaiah 45:11 jumped out at us! "Thus says the LORD ... Ask me of things to come" [isaiah 45:11] But we then noticed the declaration in the next verse, God's declaration which nearly all deny today! "I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens ..."

 

Then in the book of Revelation the heart challenging personal appeal of "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him …"  [Revelation 1:1] We are invited, indeed – challenged(!) to read(s) aloud the words of this prophecy [Revelation 1:3]. And they would have done this in the 1st Century – not realizing, as we do now, that it described events then, and soon to happen, but then stretched forward to the climax when Jesus returned and reigned!

 

Revelation 2 begins a series of 7 messages to the ecclesias that then existed and they are all types that exist today – good and promising – poor and in trouble. The first message is to the believers at Ephesus. We note its conclusion! "To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

 

That message is for us too! Are we making good progress in doing this? At the very beginning Adam and Eve were denied access to "the tree of life". It was so tragic; they failed to believe God meant what he said! Let us each make sure we are among those "who conquer" and so gain access to the "tree of life" and live forever and experience the wonders of God's coming kingdom – and how soon now!?

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- DC

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22 June 2017

 

1 Samuel 1

Isaiah 46; 47

Revelation 3; 4 

 

"LISTEN TO ME YOU STUBBORN OF HEART"

 

What a blunt message from God Isaiah was sent to convey to the godless people of his day – equally it is a message for such people today. Human nature does not change unless it is influenced by an unmistakable awareness of the "reality" of God, the originator of all that exists.

 

God causes Isaiah to proclaim to the people, "Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness" [isaiah 46:12]. But did the people of Israel listen? As a nation they did not. God's message through Isaiah has been preserved for the whole world to read – it is now available in every language. 

 

Today, we sense the last verse in this chapter is near to being fulfilled; "I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory." 

 

God will act – we will see, if we alive, "salvation" will be seen "in Zion", for God's glory. How soon now? It will be the time of the resurrection – for Jesus referred to a remarkable prophecy; of the time when, as we read in John's gospel [John 19:37], of the Scripture being fulfilled (which) says future time when "they will look on him whom they have pierced". Those who put Jesus to death will be raised for judgement.

 

Our minds also go to the prediction of Jesus in Matthew 24:30, he foresaw a time "when all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." 

 

Those who mourn in shock – we might also say – terror - because they have been "stubborn of heart" having convinced themselves there is no God, no Creator, that all the wonders of life around them all came into being by some incredible sort of accident. Let us read God's word more and more so that it comes more and more "alive" in our minds so that we will not be among the "stubborn of heart". 

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- DC

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23 June 2017

 

1 Samuel 2

Isaiah 48

Revelation 5; 6  

 

"THE LORD WILL JUDGE THE ENDS OF THE EARTH" 

 

Hannah, who was to be the mother of Samuel, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted … because I rejoice in your salvation." [1 Samuel 2:1] She was exalted in heart because of God's promises which she whole heartedly believed and embraced: let us do the same. She declares "Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed." [1 Samuel 2:3]

 

All those who believe in the LORD (and his Son) must develop the same attitude to the wonder of the all-seeing presence of the Creator. 1 Samuel 2:10 is the awesome climax of her prayer. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed." Jesus is the anointed of the LORD! (see Psalm 45:7) he is "his king," David in Psalm 18 opens out a vision of when "his king" reigns, [Psalm 18:49-50]. Let us make sure he is our king. Our thoughts go in awe to Revelation 6 which we also read today! "loud voice" cries! "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" [Revelation 6:10] We ask this question even more urgently today!

 

To say the last 3 verses are awesome is an understatement! "Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone … hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" 

 

How much does our utterly godless world deserve his wrath! 

 

Our final – and wonderful thought – comes from Revelation 5! Lamb appears, "standing, as though it had been slain" [Revelation 5:6] – an obvious symbol of Jesus. A "new song" is sung to him, "Worthy are you … for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."

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- DC

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24 June 2017 

 

1 Samuel 3

Isaiah 49

Revelation 7; 8; 9 

 

"IN A TIME OF FAVOUR"

 

Our first reading is the heart stirring account of young Samuel in the Temple/Tabernacle at Shiloh and the LORD calling him, "Samuel, Samuel" and the message he received about the failure of Eli to discipline his sons.  The ungodliness of their behaviour in appearing to serve the LORD makes sad reading – but it has had its parallels in every generation – especially today. 

 

In contrast, the vision given to Isaiah is fascinating, "Thus says the LORD, the redeemer of Israel … In a time of favour I have answered you, in a day of salvation I have helped you … too establish the land" [isaiah 49:7-8] We recall what we read 2 days ago, "I am God … declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done … I will accomplish all my purpose" [isaiah 46:9-10].  

 

The Jews over the centuries have often felt abandoned, but how significant is Isaiah 49:13-15 in today's chapter! "… the LORD … will have compassion on his afflicted … But Zion said, 'The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.' 'Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion … Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.'"

 

As we reflect on the events of the 60-70 years ago – we see how remarkable the verses in Isaiah 49:23,25 are! "… those who wait for me shall not be put to shame … for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children." We have seen this happen in the late 1940's when we were teenagers, the nations surrounding the new born nation of Israel contended with her in vain, the "time of favour" had begun.

 

Our chapters in Revelation are awesome in many ways, especially in the angels of God being "told … to harm …only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads" [Revelation 9:4]. What does the "seal" symbolise? Ownership! John, in his gospel, recorded Jesus as saying, "Do not labour for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life … on him (or her) God the Father has set his seal." [John 6:27]

 

May we all increasingly live with minds saturated with godly thoughts – and then our resultant actions – will show we are committed to God and His Son – and will therefore experience the wonder of the ultimate "time of favour."

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- DC

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25 June 2017

 

1 Samuel 4

Isaiah 50

Revelation 10; 11  

 

"MORNING BY MORNING"

 

We do not know a great deal about Isaiah's personal situation. In John's Gospel we read that "Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him" [John 12:41], so the seeing was with the eye of faith, a vivid picture in the mind.  

 

Isaiah "saw" what was to come, believing with such total conviction that the experience was counted as seeing and John's quotations from Isaiah are of the reactions, so largely negative, people were to have to God's messages; this causes us to meditate on reactions today.  

 

The more we ourselves read and reflect upon what we read, the more we feel challenged! We meditated on this as a result of reading Isaiah's words in today's chapter, "The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious" [isaiah 50:4-5]. 

 

It is a privilege each day to start by reading God's word, to awaken our minds, refresh our thinking with godly thoughts before our minds need to focus on the challenges of the day, let us not be rebellious. This is, as we recall the in the words of James, "the wisdom that comes down from above" [James 3:15]. 

 

It gives us that inner strength and ability, not only to sustain us for another day, but also, it may well be, we may be used by our Lord by bringing us into contact with someone "who is weary" and we can impart to them some of the "strength" we have received from God's word.  

 

Now the passage in Isaiah goes on to record a situation which was fulfilled in the life of the Master at the time of his arrest; but it must, we suspect, have also been part of the prophet's own experience, "I gave my back to those who strike … I hid not my face from shame and spitting (see Mark 15:19) …But the Lord GOD helps me … therefore I have set my face like a flint" [isaiah 50:6-7].  

 

Let us try harder to feed on God's word "morning by morning" and experience all the benefits that our God can give, setting our minds to serve him in whatever situations we encounter.

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- DC

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