Resource Manager Posted December 1, 2011 Report Share Posted December 1, 2011 01 December 2011 Esther 9; 10Jonah 1Hebrews 6; 7 "A SURE AND STEADFAST ANCHOR" The letter to the Hebrews highlights the example of Abraham and his faith in God. The events of his life illustrate the need for patience in waiting for God to fulfil his promises – and so we read, “Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise” [Hebrews 6:15] and the account in Genesis shows how he and his wife Sarah’s faith was tested to the limit before God’s promise was fulfilled and Sarah herself gave birth to a son. This illustrates the ways of God in dealing with those he has called to serve him. His purpose will be fulfilled in His time. This world is now so evil it offers us no future. Today’s world has virtually nothing of any spiritual value; we see an ever more chaotic state of affairs in so many countries. Against this background, how true are the words we read in Hebrews about the certainty of the promises of God 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” [Hebrews 6:18,19]. We thought of this in contrast to the mariners in the ship with Jonah as we read today of their desperation when “there was a mighty tempest of the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up” [Jonah 1:4], just as this world threatens to break up with the nations becoming more disunited than ever – within themselves and between one another.In the New Testament Jesus makes a strange statement in response to “the scribes and Pharisees … he answered them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” [Matthew 12:38,39] ; he states that just as Jonah was in the “belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” [Matthew 12:40]. How few still believe that sign - and that Jesus died and rose again? Yet the history of the rest of the First Century and thereafter defies explanation if that did not really happen. This fact is “a sure and steadfast anchor” for us as the tempests of this world grow ever greater.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2011 02 December 2011 Job 1; 2Jonah 2; 3Hebrews 8; 9 "WILL APPEAR ... TO SAVE THOSE WHO ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR HIM" The above words complete Chapter 9 of Hebrews. Today’s 2 chapters [Hebrews 8;9] are about God’s work in making men and women conscious of their sinfulness and unworthiness before him and their need to seek him in a way that will “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” [Hebrews 9:14] Under Moses an elaborate system of service at the tabernacle had been set up at God’s direction. One of the primary messages of this letter to the Hebrews is that this system of service had been replaced by the work of Christ who had been made “the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance” [Hebrews 9:15]. No longer was the shedding of animal blood necessary, for “when Christ appeared … he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” [Hebrews 9:11,12]. This made him the mediator of this new covenant and “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] having accepted his sacrifice for their sins. Let us eagerly wait for him! And when he comes then will be fulfilled the lengthy quotation from Jeremiah that we read in Hebrews 8, “I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach each one his brother, saying; ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” [Hebrews 8:10-12]. It will be a time when faith is fulfilled and turned to sight – let us have faith now and eagerly wait for his return so that we may have a part in these everlasting wonders to come. [A reminder – for our Bible quotations we use the ESV – English Standard Version]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 03 December 2011 Job 3; 4Jonah 4Hebrews 10 "THE THING I FEAR COMES UPON ME" The account of Job’s life needs careful analysis, there are some key verses to pick up. We started reading this book yesterday and one of the puzzles is the reference to Satan. The footnote says this word means “the adversary” [Heb. satanas] – and this adversary receives no further mention after the first 30 verses of the book. The first use of this word in the Bible describes the role of the angel God sent to oppose the false prophet Balaam [Numbers 22:22,32] translated as “adversary” and “to oppose you”. Job never thinks that his problems are caused by some evil power, he tells his wife, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (or calamity – [footnote] The primary purpose of this book is to reason out how we should wisely react when things develop badly in our lives: they are often, but not always, our own fault. Job has three “friends” who have a very dogmatic attitude on this and in the end they are rebuked by God [Job 42:7] and God’s anger is directed against them. Today we particularly note Job’s admission, “my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing that I fear comes upon me and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet …” [Job 3:24-26]. This shows that Job, although “blameless and upright” [Job 1:1] was, underneath, lacking that important underlying confidence in God. As a side thought, we wonder how many “wealthy” today are dreading what could befall them? As we read the book of Job we will see that his confidence progressively grows as his insight into the ways of God develops and he says some very perceptive things. This is aptly summed up for us as an essential principle in our lives in the last verse of today’s New Testament reading, “but we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” [Hebrews 10:39]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 04 December 2011 Job 5Micah 1Hebrews 11 "EVENTS AS YET UNSEEN" “Faith is … the conviction of things not seen” is how Hebrews 11 starts. It is a familiar chapter to all regular Bible readers; it selects examples of men and women who have lived by faith, it praises them for this. They lived with a God given vision of “events as yet unseen.” Certain things in the immediate future we can be nearly certain of – that there will be another day tomorrow. We are maybe planning for the Christmas holidays with reasonable confidence! Nevertheless we will read later this week the words of James, “you who say … tomorrow we will go into such and such a town … yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?” [James 4:13,14] Yes, what is your life – unless you live by faith! Today’s list of faithful men and women tells us “these all died in faith” [Hebrews 11:13] “so that they might rise again to a better life” [Hebrews 11:35]. They lived with “the conviction of things unseen” [Hebrews 11:1]. We specially noted, as appropriate to the circumstances in which we live, verse 7 – we read that “by faith Noah being warned by God of events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark” [Hebrews 11:7] We are not asked to construct an ark, but Noah did not just do that. Next week we will read that Noah was “a preacher (or herald) of righteousness” [2 Peter 2:5]. Let us note those lives of faith we are in a position to emulate. God’s word warns of “events as yet unseen” that are to come on our world. The question we must each face is whether we have real faith in God’s promises for the future, for this time of momentous crisis is surely almost upon us and will test the quality of our faith. We show our faith by how we act – as we will read in James shortly, see James 2:14-26. Remember Christ’s parable about those who will say to him on that day, “you taught in our streets” and “knock at the door” but “he will answer, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ [Luke 13:25-27] Those with genuine faith are establishing a relationship with Jesus now.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 05 December 2011 Job 6; 7Micah 2Hebrews 12 “FOR THE MOMENT ALL DISCIPLINE SEEMS …” Is discipline the opposite of freedom? Meditate on the fact that the followers of Jesus are told they have freedom – but also that they need discipline. The letter to the Hebrews makes this point as we read on into Hebrews 12 from yesterday’s thoughts about faith and the examples of those who had a conviction about things unseen. In following their example we need to discipline ourselves to “lay aside every weight” [Hebrews 12:1], but Jesus, who is the “perfecter of our faith” [Hebrews 12:2] shows us that is achieved by “looking” to him – and the word translated looking means keeping our eyes fixed (as the GNBible translates it). We offer thanks for our food at each meal and may briefly think of Jesus: but what can we do to LOOK to him just as regularly?. Hebrews 12:7 tells us that God treats us as sons and daughters when we take on the Name of His son. We read, “we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” [Hebrews 12:9]. Our heavenly Father’s discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” This is an ever greater need and value as the world grows more chaotic and uncertainties increase. All around us people are living for the pleasures of the moment; they have no long term vision, they see this life as all there is, the result of, to them, a mind boggling “evolution” of endless events of pure chance. It is impossible to have a relationship with such as their aims in life are so different to ours, but we must try. Our influence can be achieved more by what we do than by what we say, at least at first. Verse 14 is specially significant, “strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” [Hebrews 12:14] Holiness? Look back at Hebrews 12:10, the Father “disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” When things seem to go wrong in our lives, try to step back and take in more clearly our heavenly Fathers perspective on our life. And freedom? We will have a look at that in a week’s time when we read 1 Peter 2:16-17, etc-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 06 December 2011 Job 8Micah 3; 4Hebrews 13 "LET MARRIAGE BE HELD IN HONOUR AMONG ALL" The final chapter of Hebrews provokes warnings which are greatly needed today; but then is human nature any different from generation to generation? It depends what is the dominating influence at the time and in so many cases those who desire to serve God find they are a small minority swimming against a very strong tide. As we look back into history we can see periods, howbeit brief, when this was not the case. When the Israelites entered the promised land under Joshua, they had all experienced the traumas of the wilderness journey and received Moses final exhortation (Deuteronomy) and crossed the Jordan with a committed faith that lasted that generation. The same happened under David and Solomon and again in the time of the Apostles, and again when the Bible was first printed and was available for all to read leading to a great reformation. Today the opposite is the case, there is a tsunami tide of fleshly thinking fed by the conviction of so many - that this life is all they have, let’s make the best of it – “best” meaning to indulge in every possible experience. Hebrews offers powerful messages to counteract this tide of fleshly thinking. Hebrews 2 asks us. “how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” [Hebrews 2:3]. Then in Hebrews 12 we read, “See that you do not refuse him (God) who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven” [Hebrews 12:25], the chapter concluding with the words, “thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Finally, today’s chapter has some down to earth statements, “Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have” [Hebrews 13:4-6] “do not be led astray by diverse and strange teachings” [Hebrews 13:9] and meditatively reading the Bible daily is an ‘insurance’ against all these influences of the flesh. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 07 December 2011 Job 9Micah 5James 1 "GREAT THINGS BEYOND SEARCHING OUT" The book of Job fascinates us. Today [Job 9] Job continues his reply to the friends who have come to “comfort” him [Job 2:11] They have not, as yet, pressed their point that all suffering is brought upon humans because of some evil they have done and Job must be suffering for this reason. Today’s chapter [Job 9] is most interesting in the way Job directs his thoughts to the wonders of God’s creative power, the cause of all that exists. Job describes God as the one who “shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble … who alone stretched out the heavens … who alone does great things beyond searching out and marvellous things beyond number.” [Job 9:6,8,10] Later he is to say God “hangs the earth on nothing” and “inscribed a circle on the face of the waters” [Job 26:7,10] indicating his awareness that the world is a globe hanging in space. In our chapter today he declares, “I am blameless; I regard not my life; I loathe my life … He destroys both the blameless and the wicked. When disaster brings sudden death … “ [Job 9:21,22] and that “The earth is given into the hand of the wicked” [Job 9:24]. That last statement is truer than ever today. In their wickedness many humans deny there is a Creator. Now think, if you believe in God - your belief must show in the way you live your life. Now there is quite a comparison with the first chapter of the letter of James which is also today’s reading. Is not James thinking of Job’s example when he writes, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him” [James 1:12]? He also wrote, “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete” [James 1:3,4] Perfect? See the context in which Jesus uses the word [Matthew 5:46-48]. Finally, James [James 1:21] has a very apt message for us in today’s godless world, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Let us implant God’s word in our minds every day. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 08 December 2011 Job 10Micah 6James 2 "FAITH BY ITSELF ... IS DEAD" The Epistle of James is particularly remembered for its message about faith. Faith is a vital factor in our salvation, but the genuineness of our faith is shown in what it causes us to do. James writes, “If you really fulfil the royal law according to scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing well.” [James 2:8] It surprises some to realize that this “royal law” is not one of the ten commandments, yet when Jesus was asked by a lawyer, “Teacher which is the great commandment in the Law? … he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:36-40] However, Moses did write this commandment, Jesus was quoting from Leviticus 19:18; it was one they only applied when it suited them! Recall the parable of the Good Samaritan he told to answer the question, “Who is my neighbour?’ So James presses home the point, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” [James 2:14-17] In verse 12 James [James 2:12] told his readers to “act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty” - what did he mean? He had already made the point in James 1:25 that “the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” The point is, they have been liberated, given freedom, from keeping the letter of the Mosaic Law – they now had to keep “the perfect law” that Jesus had spelt out in answering the lawyer. The chapter concludes with examples from the lives of Abraham and Rahab who showed their faith by what they did. The last verse makes the point, “For as the body apart from the spirit (breath) is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 09 December 2011 Job 11Micah 7James 3; 4 "DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU" In the book of Job the debate continues between him and his three “friends” as to why bad things happen. The friends have a simplistic conviction that everything is cause and effect, thus sin automatically brings punishment; but we see that both Job and James make the point that no human being is perfect, that is, righteous in God’s eyes: we all need his mercy and grace. Job’s self righteous “friend” Zophar attacks him saying, “Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves” [Job 11:6]. Compare this with James’ warning, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions (pleasures) are at war within you? You desire and do not have … so you fight and quarrel … You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” [James 4:1-3] The outlook of those who are like this comes from a distorted or limited view of God – or the conviction that there is no God at all. With this attitude the situation in our present money and pleasure seeking world is only going to get worse – and much worse still when God acts to show his anger. In contrast to this, James acknowledges, “For we all stumble in many ways and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man” [James 3:2]. He asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his (or her) good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” [James 3:13] – this the “friends” of Job obviously lacked – but we will see more and more how Job possessed this quality and was “perfect” in this sense, setting followers of Christ an example. What wonderful further advice James gives, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded … Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.” [James 4:8, 10] and that humbling starts with baptism. The chapter concludes, “whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him (or her) it is sin.” -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 10 December 2011 Job 12Nahum 1; 2James 5 "THE LORD IS AVENGING AND WRATHFUL" Oh dear – is the above quotation really in the Bible? Yes, it is – and we should seek to understand why! Paul in writing to the Romans said, “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen …” [Romans 11:22] We only like to think of God’s kindness and goodness. Our opening headline is from the vision God gave to the prophet Nahum. The opening words tell us it is “an oracle concerning Nineveh.” At the beginning of this month we read how God made an unwilling Jonah go and preach to Nineveh, warning them they faced destruction because of their wickedness. This great city of the ancient world repented, however succeeding generations returned to their evil ways, as also the people of Jerusalem did. They forgot the situation that led to their repentance and resultant blessings. Now the message for Nineveh is – “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God: the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance … The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm … the mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him …” [Nahum 1:2,3,5] It seemed to us that these ancient events of - first repentance – but then God’s wrath because repentance was not maintained - are parallel to events in recent centuries. The world had a spiritual renewal when the Bible was translated and printed in all languages, but now very few maintain the believing and repentant spirit of those years. Nahum poses the question for Nineveh – and for today’s world, “Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire …” [Nahum 1:6] Nineveh was destroyed and is today a site for archaeologists! What divine “indignation” faces our godless world? Nahum’s words have been preserved because they apply to our world as well. The next verse describes those who will be able to stand! “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Make sure you live so that you are known by him. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2011 11 December 2011 Job 13Nahum 31 Peter 1 “GUARDED THROUGH FAITH” The words “preparing your minds for action” jumped out at us from 1 Peter 1:13 this morning. What action? In one sense, each morning we need to prepare our minds for action for the challenges of that day, to make it count in our service before God. Believers of all ages have encountered times of crisis when there was a climax in their lives. The Jewish exiles, to which Peter was writing, were suffering persecution and this, history shows, only got worse. Yet for the truly faithful these were also occasions of deliverance – even if that deliverance should be – being taken out of this life. This happened to Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 7:60). Peter writes in today’s chapter 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] “Your faith has saved you” is a phrase in one form or another we often encounter in the New Testament. We sense that this will be particularly true in the final years of human rule we will experience. 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]. Peter writes of the time when those with such a faith will “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith” [1 Peter 1:8,9]. One of the accusation’s against Nineveh (remember yesterday’s comments) that we read today was “you increased your merchants more than the stars of heaven” [Nahum 3:16]. This seems so applicable to the mass of international trading today as human minds are totally focused on what they can possess, this must not influence us. So let us start each day, by preparing our minds for action “having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth …” [1 Peter 1:22], 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] which we must make sure we feed on every day.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2011 12 December 2011 Job 14Habakkuk 11 Peter 2 “O LORD … WHY DO YOU IDLY LOOK AT WRONG?” Today we started to read the 3 chapters of Habakkuk. This prophet wrestles, like so many do today, with efforts to understand God’s actions, or lack of action. Essentially he is asking, ‘God when are you going to do something to deal with all the evil around me?’ These are questions we would like to ask! It appears he is living in the final years of the nation of Judah when all the kings were ungodly. His questions are: “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help … and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention … the law is paralysed … justice goes forth perverted.” [Habakkuk 1:2-4]. We can ask similar questions today! God’s first answer is that he is bringing the Chaldeans and they will punish the nation. This leads to an even more vital question, “Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One?” [Habakkuk 1:12] “Why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” [Habakkuk 1:13] The response from God comes in tomorrow’s chapter, “And the LORD answered me: Write the vision; and make it plain … the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end … if it seems slow wait for it; it will surely come … for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” [Habakkuk 2:2,3,14] Until that time comes we note God’s words of woe to those who ignore him. “Woe to him who gets evil gain” [Habakkuk 2:9] and “nations weary themselves for nothing” [Habakkuk 2:13]. The nations are striving to do so much at the moment but achieving so little, such as in their efforts to combat climate change – or solve the world’s finances woes. It is almost certain many more problems lie ahead, but note Habakkuk’s attitude to the prospect of future woes! “Though the fig tree should not blossom, no fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off …” [Habakkuk 3:17] Despite this prospect, the prophet says, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD: I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord is my strength” [Habakkuk 3:18,19]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 13 December 2011 Job 15Habakkuk 21 Peter 3; 4; 5 "WHOEVER DESIRES TO LOVE LIFE ... " What is it to love life? For what reason do we love our lives? There would be a variety of answers to that question, probably similar in many cases, but with different emphases. It is the Apostle Peter who asks this question [1 Peter 3:10] in writing to believers who are “exiles of the dispersion” [1 Peter 1:1]. Their acceptance of Christ had turned their lives upside down as they faced the challenges to become totally genuine followers walking in the footsteps of Peter and of Christ. Peter tells them, “all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling” [1 Peter 3:8,9] Our natural instinct is to react to evil and reviling with some degree of the spirit of retaliation, we see this as we read today of Job’s reaction to the accusations of his 3 so-called friends. We specially note what Peter writes next; “but on the contrary bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” [1 Peter 3:9] How do you bless – when someone reviles you? We are sure, when Peter was writing this, he was thinking of all the times the Master had spoken of this. Even on the cross he had prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” [Luke 23:34] When people scoff at the Bible, they “know not what they do.” When people were blessing his mother Jesus reacted by saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” [Luke 11:28] This is the message of Peter for his next words are, after stating that a blessing is obtained by not returning reviling for reviling is - “Whoever desires to love life and see good days let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him (or her) seek peace and pursue it.” [1 Peter 3:10-11] Notice the little word “and” – indicating the intensity of attitude that is desirable. And the next verse gives a special reason for doing this. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” [1 Peter 3:12] Let us love life in such a way that the ears of our Lord are open to our prayers.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 14 December 2011 Job 16; 17Habakkuk 32 Peter 1; 2 "YET I WILL REJOICE ... " In completing our reading of Habakkuk we noticed the ‘footnote’ that concludes the last verse, “To the choirmaster …” which indicates that the last 3 verses are a hymn or song. It has always been in our hymn book, yet, for many years we have rarely heard it sung. It seems to us that we need to renew our acquaintance with it for its words will be very appropriate for the 21st Century if, as we fear, this world experiences the increasingly drastic affects of the climate change, a situation made worse by the collapse of the financial ‘house of cards’ which men, who thought they were so clever, have erected. These are the words of Habakkuk’s song of rejoicing! “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places” [Habakkuk 3:17-19] Such a time of extreme stress would be a great challenge to the reality of our faith. Both James and Peter made similar points in this week’s readings. James said, “Let … the rich (boast) in his humiliation … blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial …” [James 1:10,12] and Peter wrote of when “trial comes upon you to test you … but rejoice insofar as you share in Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed …” [1 Peter 4:12-14] Finally today we had these powerful words in his 2nd letter. He lists the qualities a true believer must develop and adds, “if the qualities are yours and are increasing they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful … Therefore … be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” [2 Peter 1:8,10]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 15 December 2011 Job 18; 19Zephaniah 12 Peter 3 "SCOFFERS WILL COME IN THE LAST DAYS" There are always scoffers, that is, those who pour scorn on what other people do and say. This spirit is very prevalent in politics – and also in much of religion. In many cases it may well be justified, but it is a negative and unproductive attitude of mind. We have been reading Job and seen how his 3 friends have become extremely negative toward him and he toward them. Bildad asks him, “Why are we stupid in your sight?” [Job 18:3] - but they do not really listen to Job and face the reality of life. The interaction between them is rather like that today between those who believe in a Creator and those who believe all things evolved by pure chance. But suddenly Job’s vision breaks clear from this negative ‘discussion.’ “I know that my redeemer lives and at the last he will stand upon the earth,” he declares, adding “whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another”. [Job 19:25,27] Our next reading is, “the word of the Lord came to Zephaniah” [Zephaniah 1:1] who prophesied “in the days of Josiah”, the last good king in Jerusalem. He declares, “Be silent before the Lord GOD. For the day of the LORD is near.” [Zephaniah 1:7] In other words, stop scoffing and listen! But, as was soon to happen with Jeremiah, they did not do so; however we note how God gave, through this prophet, words which also have application to our days. Our final reading in 2 Peter 3 has a parallel message. There were two particular times of crisis in Israel’s history: first when Solomon’s Temple and Jerusalem were utterly destroyed. Second, when Jesus wept over Jerusalem and predicted a similar destruction of the city and the temple Herod built. These were “the last days” for the people of those eras. But both of these events foreshadow a final “last days”, and Peter perceives God’s ultimate destruction of all human ambition and pride of achievement as they live only to indulge in their sinful desires. Peter writes, “scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires” [2 Peter 3:3]. “They deliberately overlook” [2 Peter 3:5] the facts of history and “since all these things are to be thus dissolved what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” [2 Peter 3:12] We pray for God to hasten the day and to be the right “sort of people.”! And like as Job had a vision of his redeemer so also Peter writes, “according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” [2 Peter 3:13] Let us also share these visions.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2011 16 December 2011 Job 20Zephaniah 21 John 1; 2 "ABIDE IN HIM SO THAT WHEN ..." ‘Abide’ is a word we rarely use in conversation, but it was a special word in the mouth of Jesus (see John 12:46; 15:4,10). His youngest disciple particularly embraced this word; it implies a permanent loyalty. Remember how John stood by the cross with the mother of Jesus (John 19:26,27) and then took care of Mary. Today we started reading John’s letters – what a powerful lot of lessons they contain! John employs the word ‘abide’ and we meditated on the sense of permanency this word conveys. You do not just come for a visit and stay awhile but you abide in some situation permanently. As a result you also have ‘fellowship’ (another special word) permanently. John makes the point, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” [1 John 1:6]. He says “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” [1 John 1:3]. Fellowship is a relationship among those who are fellows together in the same ship going on a lifelong voyage, therefore it is an abiding relationship - with Christ as the Captain. When we know God’s word we show we really know it by keeping it. But what does keeping it involve? John writes, “whoever keeps his word, in him (or her) truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” [1 John 2:5,6] John’s world, like our world, was falling apart and he writes, “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” [1 John 2:17] Note how he says “does the will of God”, not just knows it. Finally, how thought provoking are the words at the end of his second chapter, “little children abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 17 December 2011 Job 21Zephaniah 31 John 3; 4 "THEY SAY TO GOD, 'DEPART FROM US' " Today we read of Job’s continuing debate with his three “friends”. He rightly accuses them of refusing to face the evidence that many of the wicked do prosper. This shows that what they allege cannot be true, for they reason that all suffering is caused by God as a punishment for sins. They say Job is suffering because he has been wicked in some way that is not readily apparent, they have been telling him to identify what he has done wrong. As we complete reading this book we will see the lesson God is teaching Job. Job responds to the “friends” by pointing out the prosperity of the godless – and this can be applied in the world today. “They (the godless) say to God, depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?” [Job 21:14,15] This is very largely the attitude today. Sixty years ago when we were young there was still some degree of prayerful attitudes in this country, but almost never now, we have had bad floods and fires but the voice of prayer is rarely heard: they see no purpose in offering prayers to a God they do not believe exists. In today’s Zephaniah reading we have the words of God about the fate of those who do not believe in him. God speaks of all who are “eager to make all their deeds corrupt. ‘Therefore wait for me,’ declares the LORD (to the righteous) ‘for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to put upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.’” [Zephaniah 3:8] After that occurs, there is a dramatic end to the confusion of languages that God brought on the earth at the time of Babel for the next verse tells us, “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.” But those who do not believe in God and live in ways which show that – will no longer exist. Do you want to be there? Then let God see that you do. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 18 December 2011 Job 22Haggai 1; 21 John 5 "NOW, BE STRONG" Today we read the 2 chapters of the message of “Haggai the prophet” [Haggai 1:1]. He was contemporary with Ezra and his role, before Ezra came to Jerusalem was to express God’s frustration at the lack of action by those who had already returned. They had not got on with the task of rebuilding the Temple. Haggai bluntly challenges their lack of action. We read his words, “Is it a time to dwell in your panelled houses while this house lies in ruins … consider your ways … my house … lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house” [Haggai 1:4,5,9] It is always time for us to consider our ways, whether we are giving proper priority to our part in Christ’s work. Beware if we are comfortable with our situation in life as a result of giving priority to our personal needs. When Haggai tells them, to “be strong” we notice he says this 3 times – for emphasis! He, inspired by God, can tell there is something seriously wrong with their priorities. It is not that they were physically weak; rather it was a weakness of spiritual vision. But he encourages positive thinking by stressing the need to “be strong.” Paul stresses how Abraham “grew strong in faith … fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” [Romans 4:20,21]. As Paul concludes his most challenging letter to the Corinthians he says, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” [1 Corinthians 16:13] Haggai’s message is the same. The high priest Joshua is among those to whom he speaks - “Yet now be strong … Be strong O Joshua … Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord” [Haggai 2:4] Then God adds, “Work, for I am with you” Surely that is just as much a message for today when real faith in Christ could almost be said to lie in ruins. Not only has the core of the teaching of Christ “the cornerstone” been minimised, but the spiritual temple of which he is the cornerstone is no longer effectively “joined together” so that it “grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” [Ephesians 2:20,21] Let us “be strong” and “strengthen what remains” [Revelation 3:2]. “Work for I am with you.”-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 19 December 2011 Job 23; 24Zechariah 12 John 1; 3 John 1 “LOVE … KNOW … WALKING IN TRUTH” Today we read the two short personal and final letters of the Apostle John. We specially noticed how, in the first 3 verses (of 2 John 1:1-3) he used the word “truth” 3 times. This challenges us to understand exactly what he means. There is a need to “love in truth” to “know the truth” and “walking in truth”. That last phrase especially jumped out. In John’s Gospel he had recorded the words of Jesus about this – in John 8:31-32, where Jesus said, “the truth will set you free”. Truth is not just something you know, it is something you do; a principle by which you live and John “rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth” [2 John 1:4] adding in 2 John 1:6 “this is love that we walk according to his commandments.” It is this that sets us free from sin and death. John is alarmed that “many deceivers have gone out into the world” [2 John 1:7] they have changed what the Apostles taught for they “do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh”. It appears they were converts who thought they could re-interpret what they had been taught through their own reasoning. After accepting the teaching that Jesus was the Son of God these deceivers were saying Jesus could not really have been a normal human being, he must have been a God in some way, he could not have been flesh and blood. This is serious because John says that such “a one is a deceiver and the antichrist.” We noted his next comments, “Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what you have worked for” [2 John 1:8] He further says that anyone who “does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God.” [2 John 1:9], What is it to believe you know about God yet “not have God”? It means your belief is distorted, you are without real understanding, just as the 3 friends of Job lacked understanding. In John’s third and final letter he writes further about “walking in the truth” [3 John 1:3,4] and condemns those like Diotrephes [3 John 1:9] who do not do so. Let us make sure we know and understand the truth as the first Christians believed it - and so feel inspired to walk in it. Truth never changes. [Ephesians 4:14-15]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 20 December 2011 Job 25; 26; 27Zechariah 2; 3Jude 1 "APPEALING TO YOU TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH" The short one chapter letter by Jude is addressed to “those who are called” and states that he “found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” [Jude 1:1,3] We must not assume that this means the same as Paul did when he wrote to the Galatians [Galatians 1:6-9], warning them and telling them to contend for the true Gospel and condemn the false. Nearly all the 25 verses in Jude’s letter are warnings about bad behaviour , this undermines and then cancels out our words of a profession of faith in God. This is the same point that Jude’s brother James [Jude 1:1] made in his epistle, reasoning that we have to show our faith by our righteous ways of living, that is, by our works. [James 3:10-16] There are, thankfully, some good living people around us today, but where good living is not done as an outworking of faith in God creating a genuine relationship with him, such living has no eternal value. Note how Jude “condemns ungodly people, who pervert the grace of God into sensuality” [Jude 1:4] and draws many examples from Old Testament times of those who “walked in the way of Cain” [Jude 1:11]. It is interesting how he singles out Enoch, about whom we know so little, who laid the groundwork for his great grandson Noah’s preaching “of righteousness” [2 Peter 2:5]. Enoch spoke to “convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness … grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires … showing favouritism to gain advantage.” [Jude 1:15,16] The spirit in the world today is exactly the same and if we loudly speak out words of criticism of certain behaviour we can be trouble. Jude’s words are so meaningful to all who still love God. “Build yourself up in your most holy faith,” he writes, “keep yourselves in the love of God” [Jude 1:20,21] concluding with the powerful and prayerful words, “Now unto him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy … be glory, majesty, dominion … now and forever. Amen.” [Jude 1:24,25]-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 21 December 2011 Job 28Zechariah 4; 5Revelation 1; 2 "WHERE SHALL WISDOM BE FOUND?" The three “friends” of Job have given up reasoning with him, their minds were locked into thinking that everything bad that happens is always a form of punishment by God – and so it is – but only sometimes. We are now reading some very interesting chapters that contain Job’s meditations about God and his ways. One point he makes is that the success and blessings the rich enjoy are only temporary. “He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone.” [Job 27:19] This is a lesson our world is in the process of learning, a lesson that is not yet complete. Job 28 today caused us to reflect on the massive efforts in our days, especially in this country, to dig out metals of great value. These are essential for the ongoing prosperity of modern man and his lifestyle. The chapter begins, “surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.” Now more than ever “man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots” [Job 28:9] in his efforts to increase his prosperity. Then Job poses a significant question! “But where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth …” [Job 28:12,13] Man is busy, very busy doing – but is he wise in all he is doing? Is this his sole aim in life? To make the point that it is not – is Job’s purpose in asking this question. Job gives his answer at the end of the chapter, “Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” When we read about the “fear of the Lord” we see this as meaning we are to be in awe of all that he must be. This is a healthy attitude of mind which we can build on, under God’s guidance, to develop a real relationship with our Creator and His Son. The letters to the 7 churches which we are now reading in Revelation illustrate the different degrees to which believers there had succeeded or failed in having a real knowing of the Eternal. Often it helps to see the word ‘knowledge’ as having the sense of knowing - of establishing a relationship, as we will see as Job’s book reaches its climax. -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 22 December 2011 Job 29; 30Zechariah 6; 7Revelation 3; 4 "THOSE WHOM I LOVE I REPROVE AND DISCIPLINE" The 7 letters to the 7 different assemblies of believers that we read in Revelation 2 and 3 always challenge our thinking. They are representative of all the different types of congregations that have existed over time and each of us should be able to see in one or more of them, a “picture” of the congregation to which we belong. However, if a community is only believing in God in a nominal sense, especially the humanistic minded churches of this century, that is probably not the case. The words that particularly jumped out as we read were – “Those whom I love I reprove and discipline” [Revelation 3:19] followed by the words, “so be zealous and repent.” This message was addressed to the “lukewarm” [Revelation 3:16] believers at Laodicea. In our present overwhelmingly godless environment we believe the warnings in this letter probably have a very wide application. Jesus hears these believers at Laodicea saying, at least in their hearts, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing”- and then observes, “not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” [Revelation 3:17]. To be spiritually naked is a frightful tragedy, especially when you are blind to the fact as most if not all would be; the religious leaders who despised Jesus are a ‘worse case’ example. We thought about that phrase, “those whom I love I reprove and discipline.” Jesus wishes to love all those who genuinely seek him and is always looking for lost sheep or the prodigal man (or woman) who suddenly realize they are “naked.” Job was loved by his God and was disciplined to make him an even better and wiser “upright man” – as we will shortly read and more clearly recognise the purpose behind his tribulations. The Laodicean letter concludes, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him … ” [Revelation 3:20]. We hear his voice by reading his word and really taking into our minds and hearts what we read.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 23 December 2011 Job 31; 32Zechariah 8Revelation 5; 6 "I WILL CAUSE THE REMNANT OF THIS PEOPLE" All five of today’s chapters listed for our reading are specially thought provoking. Job reaches the climax of his responses to the faulty reasoning of his “friends” silencing them. Then in Zechariah we saw God’s clear latter day prophecies - and in Revelation some dramatic words to describe the climax of life on this earth. Zechariah 8 stirred our thoughts. He writes down a sequence of statements of events that will one day happen - each preceded by “Thus says the LORD of Hosts” [Zechariah 8:2,4,6,7,9,14,20,23] Zechariah has returned from captivity to Zion, i.e. Jerusalem, but God now causes him to see and pen prophecies looking much further into the future. God says “I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days … For there shall be a sowing of peace.” [Zechariah 8:11,12] Next, God states, “I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things … let your hands be strong” [Zechariah 8:12,13] When we were young Israel was dramatically restored as a nation, an event that followed the approval of the U.N. in 1947, but since then there has been endless friction. Some students of God’s word have made unwise statements about what they believe is about to happen next - but we have learnt that prophecy is not given to us to make us clever so we can precisely pronounce on events to happen in the immediate future. The New Testament illustrates this; in Matthew’s Gospel in particular there are comments on the fulfilment of specific prophecies which could not have been foreseen, in their specific context, beforehand. However, the time will surely come, as the end of our Zechariah chapter states, when “many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of Hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” [Zechariah 8:22-23] To this we can add what we read in Revelation; the song that will be sung to Jesus, returned as king of the Jews and of the world, “ … by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom of priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth.” [Revelation 5:9,10] -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 24 December 2011 Job 33Zechariah 9Revelation 7; 8; 9 "NOR DID THEY REPENT OF THEIR MURDERS ... OR THEIR SEXUAL IMMORALITY" As we read through the final message of Jesus to mankind, the Book of Revelation, we understand, despite the often puzzling symbolic language, that life on earth is to reach an awesome climax when the world becomes totally evil. Shining through the darkness of this fearful scene is God’s command, “Do not harm … until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads” [Revelation 7:3]. God knows those whose foreheads possess minds that fear and love him. The sealing includes “some” from “every tribe of the sons of Israel” [Revelation 7:4] and the 144,000 that are on Mt. Zion with the Lamb [Revelation 14:1] Note also Revelation 19:5,6 and Revelation 22:10-12 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation … peoples and languages” [Revelation 7:9]. This is the resurrection scene, “for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [Revelation 7:17] The book of Revelation is rather like being taken on a tour around a large round house and looking in through a succession of windows in some cases at different aspects of the same event. Seven angels blow seven trumpets and when the seventh and final seal is opened [Revelation 8:1,2] a loud voice is heard, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth …” Descriptions of torment are given in Revelation 9 that these plagues create, and these may well describe the many horrible traumas in the 20th Century. But “the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands … nor did they repent of the murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality …” [Revelation 9:20-21] Our world is increasingly violent, becoming more and more like the days of Noah when “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and … filled with violence” [Genesis 6:11] and now, in these last days the world is racing toward a final ugly era of godlessness. But note what Revelation tells us that God saw that was good – in the midst of all this! See the role of the “angel” who came and “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] May our prayers be among them.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted December 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2011 25 December 2011 Job 34Zechariah 10Revelation 10; 11 “WE GIVE THANKS TO YOU LORD” The Book of Revelation offers us a wondrous vision today. There are loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” [Revelation 11:15]. The elders fall on their faces and worship saying, “We give thanks to you Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came and the time for the dead to be judged and for rewarding your servants the prophets and saints. And those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth” [Revelation 11:17,18]. What a day of incredible thanksgiving this coming day will be, but notice it follows a time of the nations raging. The present largely foolish human behaviour over the Christmas period will be seen for all its emptiness, much of it being really ungodly. What are people giving thanks for today? It is the passing ‘pleasure’ of the moment! The children enjoy themselves and, thankfully, some are moved to think of those less fortunate and give some help to them. That is good – as far as it goes. Do any of the children learn anything real about Jesus? It seems impossible to think so, but God knows. It is interesting that only twice in the Bible is there any mention of celebrating birthdays – and both were those of bad men! [Genesis 40:20 – Pharaoh] and [Matthew 14:6 – Herod, when John the Baptist lost his head] The heavenly celebration to come will be wondrous beyond our ability to imagine, but until that time arrives true believers celebrate not their Lord’s birth, but his sacrifice and death - in the way he appointed [Luke 22:15-20], knowing there is to be a wondrous finale to that celebration in the kingdom. This wondrous event, called “the marriage supper of the Lamb” is also mentioned in Revelation [Revelation 19:6-9] “Blessed are those who are invited” to that feast, that utterly wonderful celebration! Let us live today so that we will receive an invitation.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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