Resource Manager Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 01 February 2011 Exodus 5; 6Psalms 58; 59Romans 10; 11 WILL GOD SHOW MERCY TO THE JEWS TODAY? Paul’s reasoning in his letter to the Romans [Romans 11] today seemed to us highly significant in its reference to God’s eventual mercy toward the Jews. Paul explains that a principle effect of the Jew’s failure to recognize their Messiah was that God’s message went out to non-Jews, that is, the Gentiles. Paul describes the Jews as God’s Olive Tree [Romans 11:17-20] and writes, “some of the branches were broken off because of their unbelief” [Romans 11:20]. To replace them branches were “cut from a wild Olive Tree” [Romans 11:24] and grafted in. Then Paul makes the vital point - Gentile believers, the replacement branches, must “stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For it God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.” [Romans 11:21,22] Will God graft the natural branches, the Jews, back in again? Well, Paul says, “God has power to graft them in again” [Romans 11:23]. How could that happen? Well, first we noted that Paul warns the Gentiles not to “be wise in your own conceits … a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” [Romans 11:25]. We also noted Romans 11:30-31 as being very significant, “Just as you (Gentiles) were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their (the Jews) disobedience, so they (the Gentiles) too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy.” The point is, the Gentiles had done nothing to deserve the mercy in having the message of the Gospel offered to them. By the same principle, God can and will stir the hearts of the Jews in our days with the wonder of the return of Christ; for God’s words through Zechariah will be fulfilled, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn …” [Zechariah 12:10] What about us? Well, we have the wonder of the Bible to stir our hearts, but so many are distracted by fleshly pursuits. What are we really doing in our lives to show that we are a living part of God’s Olive Tree? -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 02 February 2011 Exodus 7; 8Psalms 60; 61Romans 12 “DO NOT BE OVERCOME WITH EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD” Evil threatens to overcome the world. Evil has always been present, sometimes violently so such as in the days of my youth when Adolf Hitler was in power. Massive force was used to overcome the evil he created. But Paul wrote, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” [Romans 12:21]. How do you overcome evil with good? Paul’s message is about our personal response to evil, especially evil individuals. If we respond to anger with anger you know what can happen! In the book of Proverbs Solomon has given powerful advice. “A soft answer turns away wrath” [Proverbs 15:1] and “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found … the wise lay up knowledge” [Proverbs 10:12-14] Some of Christ’s parables were developed from sayings in the Proverbs. Truly, God’s word is the real source of knowing how to be good and wise in overcoming evil. The message of Christ and his followers is for individuals; it was never for nations; there never has been a ‘christian’ nation. Paul wrote, “as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all … never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” [Romans 12:19] Australia with all its blessings of prosperity has been called the “lucky country”, but it has become more and more godless. Is it just coincidence that 2 years ago we had massive forest fires that destroyed entire towns and many people were burnt to death? Now, in the last 2 months we have had huge floods covering much of the country, the affects of which are still continuing, huge areas were covered, a great number of crops and livestock destroyed. And now!!! As we type this one of the most massive storms ever (500 miles wide) is about to hit the north of the country! It has winds of a most violent nature. The Psalms tell us, “frost and hail, snow and mist, stormy winds fulfilling his word” [Psalm 148:8]. Other countries in the world are suffering very extreme weather conditions. We are reading in Exodus of the LORD’s control over the elements of nature that confounded the Egyptians. The real God of the Hebrews confounded the Gods of Egyptian imagination. And today? Man is learning the hard way – that it is perilous to ignore God. Let us not learn the hard way! -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 03 February 2011 Exodus 9Psalms 62; 63Romans 13; 14 "... FULFILLING HIS WORD" The above is not quoted from our readings today, but from the verse in Psalm 148 that we quoted at the end of our thoughts yesterday. We recalled this today as we read of the encounters of Moses and Aaron with Pharaoh. Moses stated the words of God as to what God would do because of Pharaoh’s refusal to let “let my people go.” [Exodus 9:2] Pharaoh said what he would do as a result of the damage caused by the hail. “I and my people are in the wrong … I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer” [Exodus 9:27,28] But the chapter ends with “… the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go …” So Pharaoh did not fulfil his word! Now we take special note of what God had previously told Moses to say to Pharaoh, “… this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself and on your servants and on your people so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” [Exodus 9:14,16]. The proclaiming of God’s name is that his reputation became known throughout the nations of the then known world. So God fulfilled his word! The Bible is full of examples of God fulfilling his word. It is fascinating to read the examples of God’s word in Old Testament times about the coming of the Lord Jesus, first to “bring the good news to the poor … to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” [isaiah 61:1,2] and then the ultimate time, soon to be fulfilled, achieved by the return of Christ when “the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.” [isaiah 61:11] God and his Son set the example for us; when we give our word, such as in marriage, or at the time of baptism, to fulfil the commitment we have made. Believers have been given God’s words to keep; they, in a sense, fulfil his word by the way they live their lives. Look at the words of Jesus to his disciples in John 14:23 “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him.” We possess the word of God; we read from it every day, it becomes part of us. May that happen so that- our hearts will never suffer hardening, as did the heart of Pharaoh. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 04 February 2011 Exodus 10Psalms 64; 65Romans 15; 16 “BUT THE LORD HARDENED PHARAOH’S HEART” We thought about this for some time. How do we understand the references in today’s chapter of Exodus [Exodus 10] to the LORD hardening Pharaoh’s heart. [Exodus 10:1,10,27] Can God blame man for what God does – if that is the way to understand this? Notice how Moses conveys the message of the LORD (i.e. Yahweh/Jehovah) to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews; how long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” [Exodus 10:3] Pharaoh refused to recognise the power of the one and only God. In the time of Joseph God’s power had been fully recognised as a result of the 7 years of famine and plenty. Then we read in Exodus 1:8 “Now there arose a new king over Egypt that did not know Joseph” and the situation changed. To restore the spirit of knowing and fearing the only real God was surely part of the purpose of God in sending the plagues. God saw to it that a Pharaoh was “raised up” whose attitude and pride would cause this to happen. We can see a modern parallel to this today. When printing was invented, the first book printed in nearly every language was the Bible! We are celebrating 400 years since the King James Version of the Bible was first printed. Four Centuries ago there was a wonderful change in the attitudes of many people; the world became more spiritual; laws were influenced by the principles set out in the laws in the Bible. The R.C. Church tried to resist this but the reformation movement, fed by the reading of the Bible, spread throughout the world. People at last read for themselves what God had really done and said. The effect of this reformation movement came to and end during the 20th Century, now a whole generation has now arisen who largely do not know the Bible. Sadly some read the Bible to get power and influence for themselves and distort what it says and trying to find in it things they want to believe. The stage is set therefore, for God to bring another series of plagues on the earth, to show his power to Godless man, so that once again people will be aware of the true God, but it will require one last dramatic act of God to really cause them to wake up – and that surely will be the return of Christ to rule the earth.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 05 February 2011 Exodus 11; 12Psalms 66; 67Mark 1 "HE TAUGHT THEM AS ONE WHO HAD AUTHORITY" Today we start reading the Gospel of Mark, understood to be the first Gospel to be written. The message that comes through loud and clear is that Jesus impressed the people with the nature of his teaching. “On the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” [Mark 1:21,22] Jesus was “proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe the gospel” [Mark 1:14,15] Jesus had a positive message, God’s kingdom was coming. The time was fulfilled for the first stage of God’s plan. The king of God’s kingdom was there and he was recruiting citizens for that kingdom. It was a clear and positive message. And today? We see the equivalent of the scribes today, but the Bible is the only source for truthful teaching; its message is clear if we apply our minds to understand it. Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world … then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘… For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’” [John 18:37] We are about to see the most dramatic stage of its fulfilment of God’s purpose. Our age will witness this climax, the signs that point to the imminence of this are multiplying. In reading Exodus 12 we saw some comparisons. The climax of the plagues set shock waves through the people of Egypt; these were in some ways comparable to the shock of the return of our king will bring on this world. When the preaching of “this gospel of the kingdom” (is given via the Internet, if not in person) in every part of the world “as a testimony to all nations … then the end will come,” Jesus said. [Matthew 24:14] Any preaching we do must be done with the authority of the Bible as its backbone, it must be a true testimony. God, through Isaiah, challenged the people in those days. “Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples … to the teaching and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word …” [isaiah 8:16,20] Let us keep reading God’s word, developing our understanding and teaching with authority. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 06 February 2011 Exodus 13; 14Psalms 68Mark 2 "BLESSED BE THE LORD WHO DAILY BEARS US UP" There are interesting parallels between our two Old Testament readings today. Exodus 13; 14 describe the drama of the Israelites escape from Egypt. We noted the fear they had when the Egyptians started pursuing them and Moses reassurance that the LORD was in control, they must “Fear not and stand firm” [Exodus 14:13]; their God would complete their deliverance and, in doing so, make a “name” for himself. Psalm 68 gives us David’s perceptions of how God arises and so enemies are scattered and that those who hate God flee before him [Psalm 68:1] which is what happened to Pharaoh’s armies. That David’s words are somewhat inspired by these events is plain from Psalm 68:7. “O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness … the heaven poured down rain, before God, the one of Sinai” Then we noted that David also reflected on situations with individuals, how God watches over them as “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows … God settles the solitary in a home” [Psalm 68:5,6] David would think of the times he was alone when fleeing from Saul, his anxieties of mind, but, ultimately, the realization of God’s protection. Moses could well have had similar thoughts in the 40 years before he encountered God at the burning bush. So David is thinking of himself and other individuals when he writes, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears me up; God is our salvation.” [Psalm 68:19] The Lord Jesus also experienced this, the disciples had little ability to bear him up and so, at times, he retreated to the mountains alone as we will read in a few days time. [Mark 6:46]. The ultimate time was in Gethsemane before his arrest, “Could you not watch one hour?” followed by special personal advice, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” [Mark 14:37] As we read the Bible – it should have the effect on us of bringing us closer to God – and as we do this we will sense more and more how he “daily bears us up.” --------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 07 February 2011 Exodus 15Psalms 69Mark 3 "AND THE PEOPLE GRUMBLED" Human beings seem to be by nature very fickle in supporting others. This may be more evident now because there is a fascination about constantly taking public opinion polls – at least this is so in our part of the world: these show the fleeting nature of human support, people are very ready to grumble. So many want almost instant solutions to any problem – and as problems increase, this grumbling attitude is constantly in evidence. Our thoughts were prompted to run along these lines after reading about the final dramatic deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. The waters parted for them, then they saw the total destruction of the Egyptian forces. How wonderful, the people must have thought, is the power of our God, especially after being spared the effects of most of the plagues. How astonishing to then read, “Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days into the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter … And the people grumbled against Moses …” [Exodus 15:22-25] After all the wonders of their recent experiences of the power of their God, why did they not turn to Moses asking – and expecting – that this mighty God would provide! The water is healed and becomes sweet and then the comment is made, “There the LORD … tested them” It is most instructive to us to look at the references in Scripture that use words to test, to prove, etc. God does wondrous things and then tests those who witness them and receive his blessings - to see if they have developed real faith. We recall how often Jesus tested his disciples in this way. David in his Psalms expresses this on several occasions, it sustained him in his times hiding in the wilderness far more than it did the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings. “The LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of men. The LORD tests the righteous …” [Psalm 11:4,5] Jeremiah 17:10 is a powerful quotation! We must aim to develop a real relationship with our Lord and really “know” the truth of these words.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 08 February 2011 Exodus 16Psalms 70; 71Mark 4 "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AS IF ..." Today’s chapter of Mark’s Gospel [Mark 4] tells us that Jesus “was teaching them many things in parables” [Mark 4:2] and Mark gives us 4 examples of the parables adding “with many such parables he spoke the word to them” and “but privately to his own disciples he explained everything” [Mark 4:33,34]. Only one of the explanations is recorded and that is the familiar parable of the sower and all the different kinds of hearts and minds into which the “seed” of his message is sown. Sadly, for some, “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” [Mark 4:19] and that is more than ever the case in many countries today, it certainly is in Australia. The short parable in Mark 4:26-29 is one we might wish his explanation had been recorded, but perhaps the explanation can be specially applied to our 21st Century. The seed is scattered and “the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself …” [Mark 4:27,28] We saw this as telling us that the ultimate sower is God; are there other means by which he makes his message known? How does the “earth produce by itself?” All kinds of fertilisers are used today in producing literal crops. Is there a special illustration of this today in the way the internet now makes it possible for people of virtually all nations to have access to God’s message and be challenged by it? We suspect this is the case! It is impossible for us to know many of the ways in which the message spreads, truly the sower “knows not how”! The phrase “the kingdom of God” occurs 3 times in this chapter because that is the heart of the message contained in the seed. All those who are dissatisfied with the kingdoms of this world are the ones who are most eager for God’s kingdom – and they pray with fervour, “Thy Kingdom come” Is that how you feel? -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 09 February 2011 Exodus 17; 18Psalms 72Mark 5 PSALM 72 This is one of the best known Psalms of David; at the end it states, “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse are ended.” It completes the 2nd book (or collection) of Psalms, Israel’s wonderful hymn book. The superscription at the beginning says, ‘OF SOLOMON’ – it was initially David’s thoughts and prayer for Solomon’s successful reign, but God’s inspiration took his prayer beyond this to the reign of his ‘greater son’ the Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalm begins with, “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!” [Psalms 72:1-2] This is what Solomon was motivated to ask God for when given the choice! His father’s prayer may well have influenced him. But David’s vision expands and knows no limits, “In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound until the moon is no more! May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! … May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!” [Psalms 72:7,8,11] When the Lord Jesus sends his final message to his followers in the book of Revelation he conveys to them the same vision – that in the time to come when “the wrath of God is finished” and ungodliness eliminated - then “they will sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying … just and true are your ways, O King of the nations … for you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.’” [Revelation 15:1,3,4] Notice the reference to the “song of Moses” which we read 2 days ago. Look at the final words of that song. “… till the people pass by whom you have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them … The LORD will reign for ever and ever.” [Exodus 15:17,18] God’s word presents a united message from beginning to end, a wonderful golden thread of the Divine purpose. The Lord Jesus purchased with his own blood those who have the spirit and vision we have seen in the writings of David. Let us make that our spirit and vision. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 10 February 2011 Exodus 19; 20Psalms 73Mark 6 “ALL THAT THE LORD HAS SPOKEN WE WILL DO” This was the great promise the people made to Moses when they “encamped before the mountain (of the LORD)” [Exodus 19:2] It was 2 months since they left Egypt. God instructs Moses to tell the people. “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians … Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples , for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” [Exodus 19:4-6]. What an awesome promise! What God, through his power, had done to the Egyptians, which they had witnessed, beginning with the plagues; this should have filled them with overwhelming awe as to the nature and power of the one and only God – their God. They readily said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” [Exodus 19:8]. The presence of the Lord is in this mountain, “there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast so that all the people in the camp trembled” [Exodus 19:16] The mountain “was wrapped in smoke because the LORD descended on it in fire” [Exodus 19:18] What an utterly awesome experience! “The people were afraid and trembled … Moses said … do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear (awe) of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” [Exodus 20:20] In a sense the people had been baptised before they came to the mountain. Paul makes this point. “I want you to know, brothers that our fathers … were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” [1 Corinthians 10:1,2] The writer to the Hebrews takes up this example of an awesome encounter with God and invites baptised believers in Christ to contemplate the contrast. “for you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them … But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels … to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant.” [Hebrews 12:18,22,24] How clear is our spiritual vision? Is it clearer than those with Moses? We all have God’s word, the Bible in our hands, they didn’t. Are we in awe of the God we serve, or plan to serve, appreciating his wondrous grace and mercy? Our lives must show how much we realize this. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 11 February 2011 Exodus 21Psalms 74Mark 7 "WHOEVER CURSES HIS FATHER OR HIS MOTHER ..." Our readings in Exodus, having recorded the giving of the Ten Commandments, are now taking us through a whole range of the laws which the people of Israel were to keep so that they became an orderly and holy nation. We pondered their system of slavery and the fact that there appeared to be no system of employment with wages as we know it today. If there was, what would they use for money, where would they keep such wages? But what kind of slavery was it? In the modern world slavery was only abolished 150 years ago; it was an abhorrent social system and it was far more abhorrent than Israel’s kind of slavery. The chapter starts, “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.” [Exodus 21:1,2]. As we come to read further chapters and Leviticus (see Leviticus 25:39) we shall see that the payment made for someone enslaved was to clear a debt; also the son(s) of a man who died, leaving debts, could be enslaved for a period to clear those debts. But it was Exodus 21:17 that really caught our attention, it reads “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death” A footnote indicates the Hebrew, qalal could also be translated as dishonours or reviles. Juvenile delinquency was very firmly dealt with under this law! This lead us to consider the future laws in God’s Kingdom when “many people will come, and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD … that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go the law …” [isaiah 2:3]. We noted also Isaiah 51:4,5, “for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice as a light to the peoples … for my arm they wait.” Jesus is the ARM of the LORD [John 12:38]! Those who have the attitude, ‘I’ll do as I please’ will get a shock when the Jesus reigns and the LORD’s law goes forth. Is our spirit and attitudes such now that we will appreciate that time – or does the so called “freedom” of today influence us too much?. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 12 February 2011 Exodus 22Psalms 75; 76Mark 8 "YOU ARE NOT SETTING YOUR MIND ON THE THINGS OF GOD" Jesus began to teach his disciples, we read today in Mark 8, “that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes and be killed and after three days rise again.” [Mark 8:31] This statement was completely foreign to the expectations of the disciples: they were eagerly anticipating his exercise of power to take control and reign, this anticipation even caused two of them to ask if they could sit alongside him in the glory of his kingdom [Mark 10:37,38]. Their refusal, especial Peter’s, to accept his words about suffering and dying earned them the rebuke, “you are not setting your minds on the things of God.” It is sad that the same sort of thing happens today, but Jesus is not here to rebuke. Today, especially at funerals we hear it said that the deceased (many prefer the word ‘departed’), is now in heaven looking down on us. But the Scriptures say the opposite. “No one has ascended into heaven … except the Son of Man” [John 3:13] What Jesus said to the thief on the cross is often quoted as a promise that the thief would be with him in paradise. This is true – but paradise is not in heaven! In his message to believers at Ephesus Jesus promised “the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.” [Revelation 2:7] The ‘tree of life’ was on earth and the whole earth will become a paradise when Jesus returns [Revelation 22:14]. Now the thief had requested Jesus to “remember me when you come in your kingdom” [Luke 23:42] And how does Jesus reply? Now the original Greek text has no punctuation, and those who set their minds on the detail of God’s word will clearly see that the Master’s answer needs to be punctuated this way, “Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Those who set their minds on the whole message of scripture perceive the complete harmony of its meaning. Reading it every day is of the greatest help in doing this. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 13 February 2011 Exodus 23Psalms 77Mark 9 DO NOT JOIN HANDS Joining hands is a physical sign of friendship, but Moses uses the term in a metaphysical sense in our Exodus reading [Exodus 23]. This contains warnings about joining hands for bad reasons. Moses makes some down-to-earth statements of things that God sees as wrong. But sadly in all too many parts of life today men and women “join hands” to act in devious ways to cheat and deceive one another – or the law. “Now these are the rules you shall set before them,” God said to Moses [Exodus 21:1] and today we read, “You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice” [Exodus 23:1-2]. When Jesus said that we should love our enemies [Matthew 5:44], he surely had in mind things which Moses had said - as we read today, “If you meet your enemies’ ox or his donkey going astray you shall bring it back to him” [Exodus 23:4] Our chapter [Mark 9] in Mark’s Gospel finishes in an interesting way, “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves …” [Mark 9:50] What did he mean? On another occasion he told his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth” [Matthew 5:13]. The point is, those who follow Jesus are to be the “salt” that influences and gives flavour to all that in which it is mixed. But what if the salt has lost its saltiness? What if those who had provided the influence of “salt” no longer do so? Maybe some even join hands with those who ignore God, or at least, turn a blind eye to their ungodly ways? Jesus said that such useless salt “is thrown away” [Luke 14:35]. That is really the blunt message in today’s chapter from Mark 9:42 onwards; but it is said in more complex language. The hell or hellfire mentioned there is Gehenna; that word in the Greek refers to the rubbish dump just outside one part of the wall of Jerusalem where fires continually burnt to consume the cities’ rubbish that was thrown over the wall. Jesus means that you should get rid of all activities and things that cause you to sin. Let’s make sure we do not join hands in any way to condone these attitudes in our world today. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 14 February 2011 Exodus 24; 25Psalms 78Mark 10 "WHAT THEREFORE GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER" Today we read in Mark 10 about how the Pharisees questioned Jesus about marriage asking “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” [Mark 10:2] The resulting answer is first about how Moses made provision for divorce “because of your hardness of heart” [Mark 10:5]. But then Jesus took their minds back to “the beginning of creation” when “God made them male and female” [Mark 10:6] and instituted marriage, “therefore a man shall … 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.” [Mark 10:8,9] This was a turn of conversation the Pharisees had not expected! Among themselves, Jewish records indicate, there were 2 schools of thought, one that was trying to ‘bend’ the law Moses gave so as to allow a large range of reasons for divorce. However, Jesus takes their minds back to God’s purpose in the beginning and how God instituted marriage. It is rightly called “holy matrimony’ and the exchange of vows must be seen as being done in the sight of God. Note what God says in the last Old Testament book, read Malachi 2:14,15. Mark’s record goes on to tell us that the disciples, obviously anxious to properly understand, when they came into the house “asked him again about this matter” [Mark 10:10]. The response of Jesus makes it plain that the one who initiates a divorce “commits adultery” [Mark 10:12] breaking the vows he or she made. So God instituted marriage, but today, with so many not believing in God there is no such thing as ‘marriage in the sight of God’ for many people. But the Scriptures give us an even wider view, we read “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” [Hebrews 4:13] Does this frighten us? Look at it the other way, since our Lord, is our one and only “high priest” who sees every aspect of our lives “let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” [Hebrews 4:16]. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 15 February 2011 Exodus 26Psalms 79; 80Mark 11 "HOW LONG WILL YOU BE ANGRY WITH YOUR PEOPLE'S PRAYERS" The Psalms are Israel’s fascinating Hymn Book, but some of the hymns are mournful, even despairing! These are written later in times of despair, as God’s nation faltered in their commitment to him when evil and faithless kings replaced the good ones, leading eventually to the destruction of Jerusalem. Yet, this is one of the features of God’s word; it paints in the valleys and the shadows as well as the high hills and lofty themes. Today’s Psalm laments, “O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins” [Psalm 79:1]. They are in anguish over the situation, “we have become a taunt to our neighbours, mocked and derided by those around us.” [Psalm 79:4]. The next Psalm 80 asks, “O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?” [Psalm 80:4] This reminds us of what the LORD said to Jeremiah, “… do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble” [Jeremiah 11:14] Oh dear! Is this the God of love? But the Bible does not simply say “God is love”, remember how Paul wrote, as we read at the beginning of this month of “the severity of God” [Romans 11:22] compared to his “kindness …” Isaiah, in the first chapter of his prophecy has this message from God, “when you spread your hands, I will hide my eyes from you, even though you make many prayers I will not listen … wash yourselves, make yourselves clean … Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow …” [isaiah 1:15,16,18]. A great many prayers are offered to God today; let us make sure ours are in the spirit revealed in the Scriptures. Later in Psalm 80, the prayer reaches its climax with these prophetic words, “let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself” [Psalm 80:17] The ultimate application of this prayer – is to the Lord Jesus Christ! The final fulfilment of the prayer which concludes this Psalm will be when Christ returns! And the words of that last verse? “Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved.” -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 16 February 2011 Exodus 27Psalms 81; 82Mark 12 "WHICH COMMANDMENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL?" They asked Jesus the above question and his answer is simple – and we see it as embracing the fundamental principles by which we should live our lives. His answer was, “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” [Mark 12:30]. We cannot love anyone until we know them – and when we love them, we first know them very well and as a result feel attracted to them and appreciative of all that they are. But how can we know God? Well, first, because we recognise that all that exists, as we look at the world is the result of his creative power. We see a multitude of astonishing marvels in what God has created. Second, because the more we read his word, the Bible, we see things no human could have written unaided. How important then to feed the Bible into our minds! This will lead to us knowing God more and more – and this becomes the foundation of our love for him. And the nature of that love? Some forms of love focus on the “taking”, true love focuses on the ‘giving.’ Now Jesus, in his answer, goes on to make another point, “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” [Mark 12:31] (Note the difference between these and the 10 commandments we read 6 days ago in Exodus 20). In Luke’s record of this event, this answer of Jesus is followed by the question “And who is my neighbour?” [Luke 10:29] In his reply, he tells the parable of the good Samaritan. This illustrates that all humans should be “neighbours” to each other. What a different world it would be if all people saw these two commandments as the most important of all. We must do our part in keeping them, we can do no more. But, surely this will be expected of all people when Christ reigns from Jerusalem. How wonderful to live in that kind of world! -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 17 February 2011 Exodus 28Psalms 83; 84Mark 13 “STAY AWAKE” These are the last 2 words in our reading today of Mark 13. They had their initial application to those who heard Jesus say them! Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in AD 70 and faithful believers who were spiritually awake heeded his words “flee to the mountains” [Mark 13:14] instead of staying in Jerusalem with its wonderful Temple, thinking it was impossible God would let the Temple and the Holy of Holies be destroyed. Those who believed Jesus that “there will not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” [Mark 13:2], did “stay awake”; they escaped from this destruction. But Jesus, after speaking at some length on this great tragedy then looks further into the future! It seems clear that while some of his words have an application to the destruction of Jerusalem, they also apply to an even greater time of trouble and destruction engulfing this time, the whole world. Jesus speaks of a coming time of “tribulation as has not been from the beginning of creation that God created until now, and never will be” [Mark 13:19]. The Lord is to “cut short” those days, otherwise “no human being would be saved” [Mark 13:20]. Ponder the words which follow about how “after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will be falling …” [Mark 13:24,25] Is this literal? It probably should be understood symbolically. Note Mark 13:31 where Jesus says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” which leads us to recall what Peter later wrote, “according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” [2 Peter 3:13] We therefore understand that the collapse of all governments and human institutions is coming, occurring because of their total godlessness. Human “heavens” and systems will be overwhelmed by awesome events. When? Jesus says that even he does not know the day “only the father” [Mark 13:32] His next words are, “Be on your guard, keep awake” [Mark 13:33] which is emphasized in his final words in the chapter, “And what I say to you I say to all (us!): Stay awake.” -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 18 February 2011 Exodus 29Psalms 85; 86Mark 14 "THIS IS WHAT YOU SHALL DO TO THEM TO CONSECRATE THEM" We are reading in Exodus [Exodus 29] of the elaborate ritual needed to consecrate the High Priest, Aaron, also his sons. There is a lot of detail about the elaborate garments and head covering they need to wear and the ritual involved in sacrificing a ram and the use of its different body parts. We also read of the anointing oil and how it should be used. All this combined to make “a pleasing aroma before the LORD” [Exodus 29:25]. There is also “one loaf of bread … and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD.” [Exodus 29:23]. If any of it “remains until morning then you shall burn the remainder of it with fire … because it is holy” [Exodus 29:34] There is a big contrast in our reading in Mark [Mark 14] and the simple but most significant actions of Jesus - “as they were eating” Jesus simply “took bread and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them” saying “This is my body”. Next “he took the cup” and after giving thanks said “this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many” [Mark 14:22-24] A simple act as part of a meal, no special dress or ceremony! This became a feature in the lives of the first believers, probably “on the first day of the week” [Acts 20:7], but there is no command as to which day, laws of this nature were entirely absent among the first believers. Paul simply details what “I received from the Lord” in 1 Corinthians 11:23-27, but it must be not be done “in an unworthy manner” [1 Corinthians 11:27] there must be self examination. This thought takes our minds to our reading of David’s Psalm 86 today. “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant who trusts in you – you are my God … For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” [Psalm 86:1,2,5] Then David looks to the future time, which is still future now, when “all nations you have made shall come and worship before you O Lord, and glorify your name.” [Psalm 86:9]. May we be there. Finally note his intimate personal thoughts of his relationship with God, such an example for us. “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart” [Psalm 86:11,12]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 19 February 2011 Exodus 30Psalms 87; 88Mark 15; 16 THE ALTAR OF INCENSE The first Christians did not use incense in their worship, it was only centuries later that it came into use, there is no reference to such use by believers by Jesus or the Apostles. However, there is an interesting spiritual application in the Psalms and in Revelation. Our thoughts on this were prompted by reading today about the small incense altar that Moses was commanded to make: less than a metre high and less than half a metre square, it was totally overlaid with gold and placed in front of the veil in front of the Mercy Seat in the Holy Place. Aaron was to burn incense on it every evening “at twilight” as he lit the lamps and again in the morning [Exodus 30:1-8]. Imagine the atmosphere as the fragrance of the smouldering incense filled the Holy Place and filtered into the Holy of Holies. The incense was made of special ingredients and no one else was allowed to make anything similar, “whoever makes any like it to use as a perfume shall be cut off from his people” [Exodus 30:38] is the warning given after giving the details of its five ingredients [Exodus 30:34-36] and saying it was “pure and holy.” When we come to read David’s Psalm 141 we must specially note his words, “Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” [Psalm 141:1-2]. What about our prayers? Now note what is recorded in the book of Revelation when the seventh and final seal is opened. We read of an angel standing “at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints rose before God …” [Revelation 8:3-4] and in chapter 5 we read of the 24 elders falling down before the Lamb having “golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints.” [Revelation 5:8] Prayer is a wonderful privilege; we must give the utmost thought to what we are doing and saying when we decide to pray – and the purpose of our prayer. Today’s Psalm [Psalm 88] of the sons of Korah is a prayer of desperation, “I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?” [Psalm 88:13,14] We cast our minds back to what happened to Korah himself! [Numbers 16:24-40] May we all so learn to pray that we can come before the throne of grace with confidence. Read Hebrews 4:16 -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 20 February 2011 Exodus 31; 32Psalms 891 Corinthians 1; 2 "THEY HAVE TURNED ASIDE QUICKLY OUT OF THE WAY" Human nature is so fickle, this is frequently seen in the world of politics as popularity and support quckly changes, but perhaps this is sometimes understandable given the nature of the leaders themselves. Our meditation on fickle attitudes was provoked by the LORD's words to Moses as he left the top of the mountain. The people "have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way" [Exodus 32:7,8] In just 40 days the attitudes of the people of Israel were corrupted as to their belief in the God of their forefathers - this unseen God that had so dramatically delivered them from Egypt? Can this be explained? We reflect back on the fact that they had all grown up in Egypt, totally surrounded and influenced by the way the Egyptians worshiped..The God of their fathers that Moses told them about was totally different, he was only "known" because of a quaking mountain, thunder, fire and smoke! Now notice the result of worshipping the idol that had been made before Moses returned to them. We read, "the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play" [Exodus 32:6] then Moses heard "the sound of singing" and "saw the calf and the dancing" [Exodus 32:18,19] This was a god one could enjoy worshipping! There is a lesson in this for today. Until the last generation or maybe two, many who believed there must be a Creator were prepared to given at least a token of worship and live by at least some decent principles. But in our days many have been corrupted into believing in the "god" of evolution - a god that allows them to drink and play and sing and dance. We can add - and indulge in sexual passions - and of course this happened to many of the people of Israel before they reached the promised land. (e.g. Numbers 25:1-9) The Bible was the most translated and read book in the world from when printing was invented more than 400 years ago, it is now the least read - and where it is read, very rarely is it read in detail. What happened in the wilderness will happen to this generation., How few can see God's promised land on the horizon! ... Finally, notice the question Moses challenges them with in today's chapter [Exodus 32:26] It is a question that is being asked of you today! "Who is on the LORD's side?" -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 21 February 2011 Exodus 33; 34Psalms 90; 911 Corinthians 3 “LIKE A SKILLED MASTER BUILDER” Yesterday we started reading Paul’s letters to Corinth. Paul tells them, “we are God’s fellow workers” [1 Corinthians 3:9] and says of himself “according to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled Master builder, I laid a foundation” [1 Corinthians 3:10]. We can compare Paul to a considerable extent with our Exodus readings about Moses who was also God’s “Master builder” seeking to “build” the understanding and commitment of the people camped at Sinai. Moses had an urgent need of others to work with him and we are going to see that most of his fellow labourers came from among the Levites; tragically the vast majority of those with Moses failed. The special lesson in today’s reading is that “the LORD used to speak with Moses face to face as a man speaks to a friend [Exodus 33:11]. Yet this was not physically face to face, for even on the mountain God’s “hand” presented him from seeing God’s face - only God’s “back ... my face shall not be seen” [Exodus 33:23] Speaking ‘face to face’ indicates the intimacy of relationship. When we come to 1 Corinthians 13:12 we will have some challenging thoughts on this. Paul indicates from time to time the intimacy of his relationship with the Lord [2 Corinthians 12:1,7; Galatians 1:12] in his role as a Master builder, Our thoughts must focus on our role if we are living or aiming to live a life of “working together with him” [2 Corinthians 6:1]. In today’s chapter we see “God’s fellow workers” are told “You are God’s field, God’s building” [1 Corinthians 3:9] There is a spiritual temple under construction in place of the tabernacle and the Temple. Our Lord is looking for the right kind of material to build it with [1 Corinthians 3:12-14]. We must not miss the challenging words of Paul, “do you not know that you are God’s Temple and that God’s spirit dwells in you?” [1 Corinthians 3:16]. In yesterday’s chapters we saw the contrast with “the spirit of the world” to “the spirit which is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” [1 Corinthians 2:12] Jesus told his disciples, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” [John 6:63] Our daily feeding on the divine word in the Bible builds up the right spirit in us - in contrast to the spirit that is in the world. The more we do this the more we will sense the presence of God and empathise with David when he wrote Psalm 139, noting especially verse 1 to 7 [Psalm 139:1-7] and his questions “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” And the obvious answer is - if you truly become a child of God - you cannot!-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 22 February 2011 Exodus 35Psalms 92; 931 Corinthians 4; 5 “AND WILL DISCLOSE THE PURPOSES OF THE HEART” The purposes of our hearts is the REAL us! In what context does this statement occur in our readings today? Paul is so concerned about many things in Corinth in his letters to them. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that he came to Corinth after a largely unsuccessful visit to Athens [Acts 17:16-34]. Acts 18 indicates he aroused much opposition there and his letter to Corinth admits “I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling” [1 Corinthians 2:3]. The Acts record tells us the Lord said “one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid but go on speaking and do not be silent for I am with you … for I have many in this city who are my people.” [Acts 18:9-10] Corinth, we gather, had a bad reputation in the Greek world, it was worse than Athens. Maybe it was the extreme immorality that caused some people to look for something better in their lives! Could that happen today in the final ingathering before Christ comes? Yet the letter we are reading shows that ungodliness in Corinth was influencing the believers there. Paul is forced to bluntly state, “I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immortality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not even to eat with such a one.” [1 Corinthians 5:11] Ouch! That is a blunt way of writing, but Paul knows how much humans can influence each other, probably he has memories of when he was a Pharisee and the way they influenced each other in causing their blindness to the true ways of God. A sort of buzz word today is the word “toleration” – the Government wrestles to implement laws to allow a whole lot of ways of living to be tolerated. This can and did happen in Corinth, even among believers, so that they tolerated a man living with “his father’s wife” [1 Corinthians 5:1]. He does not say his mother, so maybe his father had been widowed and had married again. We humans usually conceal from each other the purposes, the real motives of our hearts! It is clear that this happened in Corinth, they were a chaotic bunch of believers, but Paul was not giving up on them. His 2nd letter shows the situation had improved, things which were openly happening had been dealt with, but as for the hidden things, well, when “the Lord comes” he “will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation (or condemnation) from God.” [1 Corinthians 4:5]. Now notice again the first sentence in today’s thoughts.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 23 February 2011 Exodus 36Psalms 94; 951 Corinthians 6 “DO YOU NOT KNOW” Six times the above phrase occurs in the 20 verses of 1 Corinthians 6 that we read this morning. Paul is challenging the believers at Corinth to remember the convictions and beliefs they had when they were first converted. Failure in this would mean they would end up no better than the majority of the people of Israel who wandered in the wilderness until they died despite having experienced incredible demonstrations of God’s power in their deliverance from Egypt. Look at the nature of Paul’s complaints. The first was that some were taking their fellow believers to law! He asks them, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” [1 Corinthians 6:2] Had they forgotten their hope was to be reigning with Christ? (see Revelation 3:21; 5:9,10) Paul says, “Do you not know we are to judge angels?” [1 Corinthians 6:3] (Note that the Greek word translated angel, can also be translated ‘messenger’- e.g. Mark 1:2, James 2:25 and in such verses refers to prominent humans) Paul’s next challenge is “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” [1 Corinthians 6:9] and he lists many types of unrighteousness such as homosexuality, the greedy, swindlers and drunkards, “And such were some of you. But you were washed” [1 Corinthians 6:11] and that is surely a reminder of their baptism. Sexual misbehaviour was obviously prevalent, as it is today, so Paul stresses, “Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ?” [1 Corinthians 6:15] He then presses the point home by writing, “Do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her?” [1 Corinthians 6:16] This is in total contrast to the fact that “he (or she) who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him” [1 Corinthians 6:17] - a relationship founded upon reading and accepting the word of the Lord, a relationship which will achieve its fullness when they reign with him. Finally, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20] The more we make it a practice to read God’s word every day the more we will know this! Look back at what we read in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 24 February 2011 Exodus 37Psalms 96; 97; 98; 991 Corinthians 7 “MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD” The world seems to have lots of “joyful noise” these days, especially among young people. Maybe it has often been so, but we suspect it is greater today as there is so many instruments available and the ability to use amplification. But what is the “joyful noise” that is acceptable to God? The Psalms have many references to such noise. The Hebrew word “’ruah” occurs twice in our reading of Psalms 98 today. The LORD encouraged the people to be joyful when they come to worship in his Temple. “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth, break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” [Psalm 98:4] “With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!” [Psalm 98:6] Some of Psalms, such as this one, give a strong indication of also being prophetic – in that they will be appropriate to be sung inn the new temple, “the house of prayer for all nations” [isaiah 56:7; Mark 11:17] to be built when Jesus returns.” All those on earth who accept Jesus as King will be truly joyful at that time. Today’s reading of Psalm 96 gives us this picture. “Oh sing to the LORD a new song: sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations” [Psalm 96:1-3] “Worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness; tremble before him all the earth” [Psalm 96:9] However we also noticed that this same Hebrew word sometimes occurs in a context which is the opposite to joyful, an occasion for “shouting” when it is a time of alarm! In Joel 2:1 we read, “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the LORD is coming”. Further down we read, “For the earth quakes … the LORD utters his voice … he who executes his word is powerful. The day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?” [Joel 2:10,11] There are two kinds of noise - and before the joyful noise when Jesus reigns, comes an awful noise when the LORD “executes his word”. But what joy is to follow when this world has one government and an all-righteous ruler; the present instability and even chaos in human governments make us long for this even more.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 25 February 2011 Exodus 38Psalms 100; 1011 Corinthians 8; 9 “I DO IT ALL FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL” In this 9th chapter [1 Corinthians 9] Paul becomes very personal as to the motivations in his life. When we are busy working to accomplish things that are important to us, we have an expectation of benefits as a result. These rewards are not necessarily financial, but they often include that at some stage. When Paul writes, “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” [1 Corinthians 9:16] he sees himself under compulsion - in serving Christ. But does he, or anyone, do it in order to obtain a reward here and now? Those who are sensitive to the presence of God and Christ in their lives [John 14:23] should say, “No” if such a question enters their minds. They are expending their time and efforts for a higher purpose and, so they will readily see the contradiction in doing the work because of the financial or other benefits it will bring. Paul writes [1 Corinthians 9:20-21] of how he preaches to those “under the Law” (the Jews) and “those outside the law” (the Gentiles) “that I might win” them all to Christ. He has remarkable success but we notice his final comment in the chapter. “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” He states I “present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” [1 Corinthians 9:18]. He made the point in 1 Corinthians 4:12, “we labour, working with our own hands” and this is more plainly stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:8, “nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.” What rights does a Gospel preacher have: rights that Paul acknowledges? When Jesus sent out his disciples “two by two” to preach the gospel ahead of his coming, he sent one occasion 72. He told them they were to “remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the labourer deserves his wages.” [Luke 10:1,7] It seems clear that preachers should have their basic expenses met; but there is no suggestion of anything more than that. We finish our thoughts by noting Paul’s point that “we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 9:12] There are many obstacles in the way today, let us try our best to remove all those we can.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts