Resource Manager Posted November 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2011 26 November 2011 Esther 1Amos 62 Timothy 3; 4 "YOU ... HAVE FOLLOWED MY ... " Today we read the conclusion of Paul’s final letter, his second letter to Timothy. A couple of verses especially caught our eyes: these listed 8 things which describe the way in which Paul had set an example to Timothy. They provide a challenging summary of the way the community of real believers should dedicate their lives: and set an example for the next generation. Paul writes, “You however (in contrast to the bad examples he has just listed), “have followed my teaching, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings” [2 Timothy 3:10,11]. These are all major aspects of a godly character manifesting itself in reaction to the challenges life of the world around them and that of faithless followers [2 Timothy 3:5-8]. It is beneficial to meditate on each one. Then we noted Paul’s comment, “from them all the Lord rescued me” [2 Timothy 3:11] and while this applies particularly to the persecutions he endured, we specially appreciate how the Lord was intimately with him from the moment he met him on the road to Damascus; Christ was involved in all the aspects of the godly character he developed. The climax to his thoughts is, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness …” [2 Timothy 4:7,8] Earlier he had written of his commitment that “by any means possible, I may attain the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” [Philippians 3:11,12] His final message of encouragement to Timothy is invaluable advice to us, “as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed … how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is breathed out by God …” [2 Timothy 3:14-16] and should be breathed in by us and used - so that a crown of righteousness is laid up for us. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 27 November 2011 Esther 2Amos 7Titus 1; 2; 3 “THE GRACE OF GOD …TRAINING US TO …” When I was a child I remember the word GRACE as being what was said before a meal, words of thanksgiving and that, up to a point, is what it means. It is a special word in the writings of Paul; have a careful look at how he uses it! Paul sees a great need to express his thanksgiving at the wonder of God’s mercy and resultant grace toward him. Grace is especially related to the spirit of forgiveness, of God’s mercy toward those who fear and love him. It is must be the same today on the part of each one, a sense of awed appreciation that God has and is blotting out our sins. In our reading today of the whole of Paul’s letter to Titus, just 46 verses, Paul uses the word GRACE 4 times. The passage that particularly jumped out was, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people; training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives” [Titus 2:11,12] Do we see God’s grace as a training tool in this way? How does God’s grace train us? Usually training means to receive instruction. Surely Paul understood that the spirit of thanksgiving for God’s mercy in not dealing with us as we deserve should cause such a reaction of appreciation in our minds that it causes us to WANT to live self controlled and Godly live. Furthermore, to be ready to show grace to others! But that did not always happen. Elsewhere Paul asks the question, “Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?” [Romans 6:15] Meaning, dare we think that as God is always forgiving, does it really matter if we sin? Do we correctly understand his words, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” [Romans 5:20]? It is tragic that some “Christians” see this as a licence to do whatever they like without experiencing any pricking of conscience; it was a perception of this attitude which turned Mahatma Ghandi away from Christianity – he comments this way in his autobiography. This attitude is a tragic self deception! It is impossible to be “the light of the world” and “to let your light shine before others”, as Jesus taught [Matthew 5:14,16] Accepting “grace” must lead to a triumphant life. Paul told Timothy, “my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” [2 Timothy 2:1] Let us go onward, upward, trained by the wonder of his grace.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 28 November 2011 Esther 3; 4Amos 8Philemon 1 “IF YOU KEEP SILENT AT THIS TIME” We are reading the dramatic story of Esther. A pivotal point in the book is the challenge that Mordecai gave to Esther now that she is in the privileged position of being Queen. The challenge was that she must go before King Ahasuerus and plead for the life of the Jews who were to be destroyed because of the plotting of Haman against them. Mordecai, her uncle, sends her a message, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise from for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish” [Esther 4:13,14] Such was the protocol of the Palace that anyone going into the King’s presence without being invited – could be put to death – unless the King extended the Gold Sceptre to that person. Esther had a crucial decision to make; self preservation, to play for personal safety, or to take the initiative and act on behalf of her people – an action she was the only one in a position to take. She chose to do Mordecai’s bidding, declaring, “If I perish, I perish” [Esther 4:16]. The lesson for us is that there is always at least one pivotal event in everyone’s life, a cross roads as to the destination we decide to seek, a pathway we choose, a life changing decision. We saw this a few days ago with Nehemiah with the threats on his life and the deceptive advice to hide from danger. His rejoinder was, “Should such a man as I run away.” [Nehemiah 6:11] We saw the same lesson in the attitude of Paul when faced with warnings of impending imprisonment, he said; “I do not count my life of any value, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus …” [Acts 20:24] We are all faced with a decisions, sometimes a life changing one. We must recognize that to make NO decision, is itself a decision! It is a decision if we go along with whatever life offers with no specific destination in view. From a spiritual point of view that is what the great majority are doing. The essential point is, if they, or ourselves have no time for God – then God will have no time for them – and the time will come, and maybe soon, when that really will make all the difference.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 29 November 2011 Esther 5; 6Amos 9Hebrews 1; 2 "THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD HAS ANOINTED YOU ..." Today we start reading the letter to the Hebrews, one of the most remarkable and challenging books in the Bible. It is most important to grasp the flow the sublime thoughts that unfold to us. It is a pity that nearly all translators hold pre-conceptions that God and Jesus are co-equal and co-eternal as expressed in the Trinitarian “mystery” formulas developed from the 4th Century onwards. The translations of the Greek prepositions dia and en can lead to distortions if the translators minds are predisposed toward Trinitarian thinking. It is valuable to note that the first 2 chapters contain 11 quotations from the Old Testament showing how God through David and the prophets had revealed what his “begotten” Son [Hebrews 1:5] would accomplish. Hebrews 1:8,9 quote Psalm 45 and this is one of only 2 places in the Bible where Jesus is called “God” – it shows God will give Jesus an everlasting throne because “you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness …” So the Almighty is the “God” of Jesus! [Psalm 2:7] We noted the word “therefore” which indicates there is first a “cause” and then an “effect”. The cause was that which Jesus “loved” and that which he “hated”! Exactly the same applies to the followers of Jesus, that is, to us! But we have help from both our reading of God’s word and also the angels of God for verse 14 tells us, that they “are all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” That phrase “for the sake of” is a translation of dia, but in verse 2 dia is translated as “through”! It fits the flow of thought much better if it was also translated there as “for the sake of whom (Jesus) he (God) created the world.” Finally note the very next word after verse 14 - “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” And we can add, we must pay closer attention to what we read! The closer we pay attention the more its meaning opens out to us as the flow of the divinely inspired thoughts become part of our thinking.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted November 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 30 November 2011 Esther 7; 8Obadiah 1Hebrews 3; 4; 5 "DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS" There are a lot of very hard hearts in parts of the world today with dissension and killing within several countries; every day we hear news of some fresh atrocity. But as we read on in Hebrews our thoughts were aroused by hearts that were hardened toward God. The writer is drawing lessons from the failures of the past. Moses had led them out from the oppression in Egypt; they witnessed many miracles, the plagues, the Egyptians destroyed, the dramatic evidence of the divine presence at Mt. Sinai and, later, the provision of food and water. This should have inspired them, but the moment difficulties arose they hardened their hearts. There are telling lessons for Christ’s followers in these events. Today’s reading powerfully drew out those lessons for First Century believers – and for every generation since then! In Hebrews 3 there are 4 blunt verses from Psalm 95, “do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness. Where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart. They have not known my ways.” [Hebrews 3:8,9] God was “provoked” by their failure to develop faith. They had seen God’s ways – but their “hearts” did not “know”, that is, did not develop a relationship with God. In the New Testament this is called “faith.” We are journeying through the wilderness of this life; it is a wilderness which has many attractions and distractions. The Israelites were provided with “manna” – we are provided with “the bread of life.” Jesus said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” [Matthew 4:4] It is vital we feed daily on that word. Now note Hebrews 4:12,13 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword … discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden … all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Instead of a hard heart let us all develop a warm Christ-like heart and become “workers together with God.” -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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