TFTBR - January 2014

[Resource Manager]

01 January 2014

Genesis 1; 2
Psalms 1; 2
Matthew 1; 2

"BLESSED ARE ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM"

“Blessed” is not a word we use very much these days, it is not ‘cool’ to use it. One of the intriguing things about the book of Revelation is that the word “Blessed” (as with one or two other words, eg patience) occurs just 7 times. Seven is known as the complete number.

Now as we start to read the wonderful book of Psalms to begin the New Year the First Psalm beginnings with that word. The “blessed” person is one who delights “in the law (mg instruction) of the LORD and on his law he meditates day and night.”

We can say such a person has healthy food for thought, and one takes in small meals better than large ones! Such a person “walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers“ [Psalm 1:1] Notice the progression of action! First he is walking on a path that tempts him to stop and stand, which in turn leads him to sit! It was not a pathway towards God’s blessings. The Psalm ends with the observation, “for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

Then we come to the remarkable Psalm 2, quoted so much in the New Testament as a Bible with centre column cross references shows – and we sense this ourselves the more we read the Bible, God’s words start to circulate in our thoughts like blood circulates in our bodies.

Psalm 2 is specially, a prophetic picture of times of trouble and the ultimate work of God, we saw verse 9 quoted in Revelation. The Psalm ends by using that word BLESSED again – “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” The time is coming when that will be vital.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

02 January 2014

Genesis 3; 4
Psalms 3; 4; 5
Matthew 3; 4

DO WE BELIEVE GOD MEANS WHAT HE SAYS?

What we read in Romans 5:12, “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin …” sums up the tragic story we read today in Genesis. Do we believe God means what he says, is the question that is asked of every generation. The sentence, sadly, is just; “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” [Genesis 3:19]

It is intriguing that scientists today cannot understand why our bodies stop renewing their cells, after doing so for 60 or 70 years.

It seems Adam and Eve had been enjoying daily fellowship with God, or “the angel of his presence” [isaiah 63:9] in the garden until they saw the need [Genesis 3:8], after eating of the forbidden fruit (what kind we are not told) to hide themselves. So we all, in various ways, hide ourselves from God: it might be simply by stopping praying, when we do that which we know is not right.

This ancient record is intriguing; who wrote it? Moses? A prominent archaeologist (P.J. Wiseman) has pointed out the remarkable structure of Genesis. It is just like the cuneiform tablets that have been found dating back at least 4,000 years. The record is written on clay and then enclosed within a clay envelope on which there is a brief statement of the record within. It is suggested that Moses inherited these ancient records and faithfully copied them into one scroll.

At the end of each record, he added what was written on the outside “envelope” - thus in Genesis 2:3 you have what was on the outside envelope - and the words before then, all that was inside; then from Genesis 2:5, the contents of another tablet with Genesis 5:1-2 being what was on the outside envelope. Genesis 6:9 is another, then Genesis 10:1 and so on. Modern versions render “generations” as ‘written account’ or something similar.

It is suggested that the account could be that which belonged to the person(s) named - and may well have been written by him/them. But who wrote the first account? God - or an angel? We can never know, but what man has now discovered of the order of creation (which he now chooses to call evolution is so very parallel to the 6 days of creation).

Our reading leaves us with the personal question; Do we believe God means what he says?
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

03 January 2014

Genesis 5; 6
Psalms 6; 7; 8
Matthew 5

"THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH"

Today’s chapter - Matthew 5 - is one of the most well known in the whole Bible; well, the first 12 verses anyway. These contain a list of 9 circumstances in which one should feel blessed and count as a blessing. None of the 9 circumstances are remotely like those which people count as blessings today. They would use words like lucky or fortunate in talking about what they see as blessings, such as winning a lottery. Does it seem surprising that neither of those 2 words appear in the Bible!?

The word BEATITUDE is used by the church to describe a condition of blessedness, that’s what the word means. The first blessed condition [Matthew 5:3] is to be ‘poor in spirit’ This is understood as a humble or lowly attitude, the opposite of being proud in spirit. The New English Bible puts it in an interesting way - ‘How blest are those who know their need of God’

The next one is a hard saying for many to come to terms with! “Blessed are those who mourn”! But remember the lesson we saw in reading the book of Job. His misfortunes led him to seek and know God as he had never done before! If we go through life with no troubles, are we motivated to really seek a relationship with God?

If you are simply taught about God, and reason out that he must exist, that attitude is simply laying a foundation that has be built upon. The next one is “Blessed are the meek” – this is the very opposite to being aggressive.

But what we have not yet emphasized is that with each of these present situations that is seen as a blessing, comes a promise of a future. In the case of the meek – “they shall inherit the earth” There is no promise of a place in heaven, it is a heavenly reward on earth.

It is very rewarding to read and carefully reflect on these states of blessedness and our own relationship to them. I hope you give careful thought to the other six.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

04 January 2014

Genesis 7; 8
Psalms 9; 10
Matthew 6

"THE LORD IS KING FOREVER AND EVER"

David in the Psalms reveals how he goes through various moods as he pens his thoughts. He, like us all, goes through different situations in life. Sometimes he is inspired by the wonder of God, all that he is, his majesty [Psalm 8:1]. Sometimes he wonders why God takes any notice of human beings [Psalm 8:4]. Sometimes he is filled with a spirit of thankfulness toward God [Psalm 9:1] Sometimes he looks into the future and sees the need for God to discipline the nations, "Arise O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! [Psalm 9:19,20]

But at other times, David is perplexed, just as we saw that Job was perplexed, and commences a Psalm with questions, "Why O LORD do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? [Psalm 10:1] Yet, in just about every Psalm that starts in this and similar ways, by the time he reaches the end his mind has re-focused on positive attitudes of thinking. In this Psalm he is frustrated, just as we are, by the attitudes that are prevalent around him; "the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD … all his thoughts are, 'there is no God' " [Psalm 10:3,4]

David proceeds to ask more questions, "Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, 'you will not call to account'?" [Psalm 10:13]. We are also reading Genesis and we see there how the wicked were dramatically called to account! God destroyed them all with a flood. Now note this Psalm's final verses, they are a declaration of God's ultimate acts, "The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land" But of the afflicted he says, "you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear" [Psalm 10:16,17]
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

05 January 2014

Genesis 9; 10
Psalms 11; 12; 13
Matthew 7

"LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN"

The Psalms are the Hymn Book of Israel and most of their hymns address situations among the people of God - as David understood God's all seeing eyes would perceive them. We learn that human mentality never changes - except when it is influenced by divine words and messages to "lay up treasure in heaven".

Much of the world has been blessed because 400 years ago, the A.V. version of the Bible was first printed and then sold in tremendous quantities. Many blessings came at that time because so many human minds were influenced to think godly thoughts and, as a result, to live in godly ways: that influence slowly faded away over time; it was an influence on individuals most of all.

However, those who know the Bible well know that it frankly considers the whole of our human situation. David grew up in a world that was far from godly: King Saul was a man of very limited spirituality. In one of today's Psalms we read David's words deploring the godlessness around him. He did what he could when he became king to influence his people to better ways of thinking and living.

Some of the Psalms he wrote are so true of life today. He pleaded for God's help - "Save O LORD … for the faithful have vanished from among the children of men. Everyone utters lies to his neighbour; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak" [Psalm 12:1,2] Further on we read, "On every side the wicked prowl as vileness is exalted" [Psalm 12:8] It sounds so much like the days of Noah that we read about 2 days ago; thankfully God promised Noah he would never again destroy all life on earth.

Nevertheless, our readings last week in Revelation again indicated that awesome judgements from God would occur when "the Word of God", obviously meaning Jesus, returned to judge and punish the world [Revelation 19:11-15] But looking at Psalm 12 again lets special note David's words, "The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace …" [Psalm 12:6] How great our need to feed on such words, may all who read this give priority to reading God's words every day.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

06 January 2014

Genesis 11; 12
Psalm 14; 15; 16
Matthew 8

"BUT THOSE WHO ARE WISE WILL UNDERSTAND"

Our reading today in Genesis 11 particularly caught our attention because of the reason given for confounding the languages as the descendants of Noah multiplied and said "let us build ourselves a city … let us make a name for ourselves lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth" [Genesis 11:3,4]. The reaction of the Creator was to say, "Behold, they are all one people. And they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them." [Genesis 11:6]

As a result the all seeing Creator decided to "confuse their language, so they may not understand one another's speech" [Genesis 11:7]. This caused them to leave off building the city of Babel and be dispersed from one another. We think it is reasonable to suppose that each married couple had their own language and became parents of a nation. It is also interesting to note that the word Babel when put into the Greek language, becomes Babylon.

Another possibly interesting point is the name for God in various ancient languages, it is claimed that the words have such a strong affinity to each other that some philologers are convinced they "have sprung from some common source."

However, our thoughts were particularly arrested by thinking how much language barriers have been overcome in our lifetime. The internet provides automated translation today. Also when you visit other countries, such as when we visited Russia, we found that nearly all the young people were learning English at school and could converse with you. English is becoming the world language, it is the main language of the internet.

So the Divine motive in confounding the languages at Babel is being overcome and a great many clever developments now happen because of worldwide cooperation. Daniel's prophecy that at "the time of the end many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase" [Daniel 12:4] takes on increasing significance. Men have achieved things which we never though possible, such as walking on the Moon and the Hadron Collider project. This adds to the reasons why God must intervene in human affairs. As in the days of Noah, nearly all have done away a need for God in their lives, this includes those who accept their must have been a Creator. We will finish with a challenging quotation, again from Daniel, " … the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end … none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand" [Daniel 12:9,10] How wonderful to be among the wise!
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

07 January 2014

Genesis 13; 14
Psalms 17
Matthew 9

"THEY GLORIFIED GOD"

Our readings in Matthew demonstrate the power of human nature to deny the evidence. Jesus did a number of remarkable miracles and "when the crowds saw it, they were afraid (struck with fear and awe AMPLIFIED VERSION) and they glorified God …" [Matthew 9:8]. But many of the religious leaders, seeing their authority and prestige threatened "said to themselves, this man is blaspheming" [Matthew 9:3].

As the miracles multiplied and the crowds said, "never was anything like this seen in Israel", those religious leaders became more desperate in their comments. They said, "he casts out demons by the prince of demons" [Matthew 9:33-34] - for they had embraced the demoniac ideas of the Greeks. Even if such an evil leader of spirits existed, which it didn't, it defies all logical reasoning to think this way as Jesus told them (see Luke 11:15-23).

Because their position and authority mattered to them more than anything else, the religious leaders would not face the evidence; this was an attitude that reached its peak when they thought about putting the resurrected Lazarus to death as, because of him, more and more were believing in Jesus [John 12:10-11].

This evidence of the extreme limits to which humans will go to maintain a belief and support a cause, driven by their own ego as much as anything else, made us think of the present obsession to believe that the world and everything in it, evolved of its own accord, that all that exists is the result of an endless series of "chance" happenings.

The greater the evidence has become in recent years, such as the discovery of the remarkable properties of DNA, the greater the determination seems to be, to say it was all one super-colossal accident! Of course they don't quite say it that way!

Yet, part of the reason for this attitude, we suspect, is the image of the Church, if belief in God is the alternative, do churches generally, reflect the ways of living for God you read about in the Bible. Do they show how a person moved by a conviction that there is an Almighty Creator should live their lives? There is an uncomfortable sense of truth in this attitude; but we are not responsible for the church, but we are responsible for ourselves - and God is looking to save individuals.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

08 January 2014

Genesis 15; 16
Psalms 18
Matthew 10

"THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM"

In Psalm 18 we encounter a major psalm of David in which he surveys all the ways in which the LORD was overseeing his life. God is his rock, his place of refuge [Psalm 18:2]. He writes that the LORD has dealt with him according to his righteousness "according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me" [Psalm 18:20]

This makes us evaluate the 'cause and effect' principle in our relationship with God. We have observed more than once that difficulties can enter a person's life, although he or she does not, in effect, deserve it. Job's life is a classic case, but there are many other examples. David himself experienced this after he had slain Goliath and was exalted in the sight of the nation – but then suffered much trouble because of the jealousy of Saul.

So what did David mean when he wrote that the Lord rewarded me because of the cleanness of my hands? This perception of David is so significant that he repeats it, and notice the context, "I was blameless before him and I kept myself from my guilt. So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight." [Psalm 18:23, 24]. There is a present tense here, the reward has been received. We tend to look to the future as the time of reward, as we read last week in Revelation 22:12 about how Jesus, at his return will reward (repay) everyone for what they have done.

So David, despite all the troubles Saul created for him, as the introduction to this Psalm comments, is extremely conscious of the present reward of God's guiding care. "With the merciful you show yourself merciful … but the haughty eyes you bring down" [Psalm 18:25, 27] "The word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him" [Psalm 18:30] When he says of God "you equipped me with strength for the battle" [Psalm 18:39], true followers of Christ can see this as meaning a different kind of battle. The Apostle Paul says "we are not waging war according to the flesh … We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every (human) thought captive to obey Christ" [2 Corinthians 10:3,5]. The regular meditative reading of the Bible is an essential ingredient in each of our lives to enable God and Christ to work in us to achieve this present reward.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

09 January 2014

Genesis 17; 18
Psalms 19; 20; 21
Matthew 11

"TO WHAT SHALL I LIKEN THIS GENERATION"

Jesus said, "to what shall I liken this generation?" [Matthew 11:16] Each generation has had those who search for answers as to the meaning of life. John the Baptist, shut up in prison appears to have wanted reassurance when he sent his disciples to Jesus, are you really the one? Notice how Jesus never gives plain 'Yes' or 'No' answers, the response was to say look at what is happening and consider that in light of what God revealed through the prophets. [Matthew 11:2-6] Those with their own agenda of thoughts were offended at him.

We read today in Genesis of Abraham's conversation with the angel of the LORD about Sodom [Genesis 18] who said, "because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me" [Genesis 18:21] Abraham obtains a promise that if 10 righteous are found there he would not destroy the city. But only 3 were saved! Tragic! As today, sexual perversions were a dominant factor; that generation, like ours, had its thoughts directed to the things of the flesh.

Yet Jesus, in today's reading, mentions Sodom, saying [Matthew 11:22] that if the amazing miracles that the people of Capernaum were seeing had been done in Sodom they would have responded and it would not have been destroyed. He adds, "I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgement for the land of Sodom than for you" [Matthew 11:24]

This is telling us that in the day of judgement it will not be a case of getting a high enough mark , like you need to go to University, but of God seeing how you have responded according to the evidence available to you. No one will "earn" a place in God's Kingdom. The cities in which Jesus did his miracles failed the test [Matthew 11:20-21]. But everyone on that day will need the mercy and grace of our judge, for he will see the real motivations of our heart against the background of the circumstances in which we have lived.

So what did Jesus say about "this generation" as what he should compare it to? You can read it in Matthew 11:16-19. They were like children at play who refused to grow up, willfully misinterpreting the actions of Jesus, saying he was "a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners"

And what would he say of today's generation? We are people who have discovered far more of the absolute wonders of creation as we commented 2 days ago and refuse to face the obvious meaning of the evidence, just as the generation that Jesus talked to, who refused to face the evidence. In addition, today we have God's word, the Bible, freely available in every language. This is a blessing so many scorn, just as they scorned the work and teaching of Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

10 January 2014

Genesis 19
Psalms 22
Matthew 12

"POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"

'Big Joke' is a saying you use when you scoff about something that is impossible to believe. This saying came to mind when we read of the reaction of the prospective sons-in-law of Lot when he told them that God was about to destroy the city and they need to get moving fast. It would have been a 'natural' reaction, humanly speaking, but there is a reason why they should have taken him seriously.

There had previously been the remarkable incident involving Lot's uncle, Abraham who, with a band of just 314 men, had surprised and defeated 5 Kings and all their soldiers who had ransacked Sodom and the neighbouring cities and carried off goods and people [Genesis 14:11,12] including Lot.

Abraham had restored to Sodom all its losses. At that time another remarkable thing happened. The King of Salem, Melchizedek had got involved in this; he was not just a King, but is also described as "Priest of God Most High" and speaks of this God as being "Possessor of Heaven and Earth" [Genesis 14:18-19] and Abraham gives him a tenth of everything. Thus Lot, as the nephew of Abraham and who had had such great possessions that he had moved to live separately, he was a man that deserved respect! So the prospect of marrying this man's daughters was quite something.

Today's reading in Genesis 19 also tells us that the depraved men of the city said of Lot "This fellow came to sojourn and he has become the judge" [Genesis 19:9] So the prospective sons-in-law, when told by Lot, "Up, get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy this city" should have given more thought than they did, for the text says, "he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting" [Genesis 19:14] In today's language, 'that's a big joke'!

Let's put this in the context of recent Centuries. When the Bible was first translated into English and other languages, it was held in very high esteem. The King gave an order that every church should have a Bible for people to come and read - and they flocked to do so. When Abraham was first told by God that he intended to destroy Sodom he thought there could be 50 righteous people there! [Genesis 18:26] It was natural to think there should be some kind of belief and fear of God.

The situation is so parallel to attitudes today where respect for the message of the Bible and the real meaning of its message has sunk so low. Do we really believe it to such an extent that we would act to save our lives?

Later this month we will read, " … and they will see the Son of man coming … he will send out his angels and they will gather his elect …" [Matthew 24:30,31] Will some 'believers' treat it as a big joke?
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

11 January 2014

Genesis 20; 21
Psalms 23; 24; 25
Matthew 13

"PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"

What is really so special about Psalms 23? There are several popular hymns based on its words. Are these just words? God's words need to 'live' in our heart - not just go in one ear and out the other, as the saying is. In today's non-stop world, that can happen all too easily.

Its words encourage peace of mind that is not a common blessing today! The LORD is my shepherd! Have you ever thought that Jesus would have seen his Father as his shepherd and what these words would have meant to him? The LORD shepherded David throughout his life, he "put away" his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah even before he asked, because he knew the overall condition of his heart.

A good sheep is ever listening to his shepherd's call. If the sheep are listening for the shepherd's voice they will never be in dire need, there will be still waters - and when life gets difficult the shepherd will be there to see to their restoration.

Of course the need for restoration indicates some difficult or even desperate situation when the sheep might, for the moment, cry out, "My God why have you forsaken me?" Psalm 22:1 which surely indicates David had some moment of desperation - before his greater son used those words and then gave the climaxing cry, "It is finished" [John 19:30]

"He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake" [Psalm 23:3] Notice it is "for his name's sake" - it is because we bear his name, we belong to him, if we have taken on his name in baptism. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me" [Psalm 23:4]

There are few if any who have not experienced "valleys" - but it is the valleys that help us to appreciate the high hills and the vision they give to us. Life that is lived on a flat plain provides no vision.

What are the "rod and staff" that comfort us? They are symbols, we suggest, of strength and support; the control (when needed) possessed by the shepherd. How marvellous the vision of the last verse, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever"
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

12 January 2014

Genesis 22; 23
Psalms 26; 27; 28
Matthew 14

"BECAUSE YOU HAVE OBEYED MY VOICE"

Today we have read that significant chapter in Genesis 22 in which Abraham obeys the LORD by being prepared - without hesitation - to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. The progressive tests of faith which Abraham "passed" resulted in ever greater promises being made to him.

Did you notice how, the very first time God makes a promise to him, it is "I will make of you a great nation" [Genesis 12:3] and "in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." They started as families and developed into nations. Remember Abraham lived at a time when they lived longer lives than now; some family groups would have been extensive.

It is not until Abraham had shown his faith by leaving all behind to travel to an unknown land that God extended his promise to include his "offspring" [Genesis 12:7] Then, after he has built an altar to the LORD and travelled to Egypt and back gaining wealth and prestige and had separated from Lot that the promise is extended to him "forever" and told he will have descendents as innumerable as the sand. [Genesis 13:15-16]

Abraham then receives a vision from God in the night, and is now told his descendants will be as innumerable as the stars (signifying, we suspect, spiritual descendents). There is a significant verse, "And he believed the LORD and he counted it to him for righteousness" [Genesis 15:6] But of course he had believed him before! However, this is the ultimate, the far reaching, challenge of belief. It is our challenge to!

At the age of 99 his name is changed from Abram to Abraham with all the significance of what that means [Genesis 17:5-8] and "an everlasting covenant" is established. Then, the events we read of today happen - almost 40 years have elapsed since God first revealed himself to Abram in Ur. God sees Abraham as now being ready for the ultimate test of faith. Notice the final promises that are then made, "your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice" [Genesis 22:17-18] How significant the words of Jesus, "Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad" [John 8:56]. Let us share Abraham's vision and also be glad. To do that, we must experience our own journey of faith.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

13 January 2014

Genesis 24
Psalms 29; 30
Matthew 15

"HEAR AND UNDERSTAND"

The world today is very conscious of cleanliness. When you go to the Doctors, he or she will thoroughly wash their hands before they examine you. A lot of money is made marketing soaps and other cleansing agents. This is all to the good.

The Jews in the days of Jesus had turned cleanliness into a ritual that made them feel more righteous. (see Luke 11:37-41) They criticised Jesus for letting his disciples eat with unwashed hands [Mark 7:2-5] Jesus calls them hypocrites and says "This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" [Matthew 15:7-9].

Jesus then called people to him and said, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth" [Matthew 15:11] His disciples query him as to what he means, so he tells them, "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person" [Matthew 15:18-20] The thought comes first, then follows the deed. Our world is full of this kind of defilement. Before every wrong doing comes wrong thinking. TV, DVD's and many magazines feed human minds making them inclined to think and imagine godless pursuits. More and more seem to be turning thoughts into actions.

Sources of defilement are everywhere today making it more essential than ever to feed our minds with the word of God every day.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

14 January 2014

Genesis 25; 26
Psalms 31
Matthew 16

SETTING YOUR MIND

In ancient times a rock symbolised something secure and God was the ultimate Rock! David could write in the Psalms, as we read today, "To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me" [Psalm 28:1] He also pleads with God, "when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I" [Psalm 61:2] Now, in today's reading in Matthew Jesus seems to call Peter a "rock" [Matthew 16:18]. We recall Jesus added the name Peter [Luke 6:14] to Simon, and Peter means a rock - petros.

Yet human rocks have to prove themselves, Jesus was looking for such rocks on which "I will build my church" [Matthew 16:18] Peter was the first Rock as the early chapters of the book of Acts reveal. But at first Peter failed and a remarkable confrontation took place. In the next verses we read, Matthew 16:21, "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem … and be killed." Peter reacted in an astonishing way. He "began to rebuke" Jesus! "Far be it from you Lord! This shall never happen to you ." [Matthew 16:22] This is a glaring example of a person only believing what they want to believe! They only listen to that which fits in with their expectations.

It also illustrates what Satan means for Jesus responded by saying to Peter, "Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance (margin: stumbling block) to me … you are not setting your mind on the things of God …" [Matthew 16:22-23]. Things that are in opposition are called Satan as we saw last month in Revelation 2:9,13. It is a word several times translated as adversary in the O.T.

But what about "this rock" on which, Jesus said, "I will build my church" [Matthew 16:18]? It is far than one individual, yet each chosen individual, like Paul who is called "a chosen vessel" [Acts 9:15] must learn to become a rock, by possessing it.

That rock is surely faith! True faith is built on truly believing after listening properly to the words of Jesus and His Son. Jesus had warned them in this chapter "to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees" [Matthew 16:12] and he told Peter "you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man" [Matthew 16:23].

Let us make sure we set our minds on the right things - and then we will always have a rock to which we can go. It could be that God will also use us, in time, to become a "rock" in his service.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

15 January 2014

Genesis 27
Psalms 32
Matthew 17

IN FOUR PARTS

Today’s Psalm [Psalm 32] is one of the most meaningful and personal of all the Psalms. Just 11 verses; it is a good one to try to memorize. It is structured in a fascinating way - in 4 parts.

The first 2 verses give two examples of a special “blessed” state to be in. Then Psalm 32:3-7 is David’s personal petition as a sinner; times of weakness; separation from God; need for reconciliation.

Psalm 32:6,7 are remarkable! David receives a personal message from God, a reply as it were and writes it down. The final two verses sum up the situation and what the attitude should be of “the one who trusts in the LORD” and aims to be “upright in heart.”

Get out your Bible and read these 11 verses slowly and reflectively, the four sections will be evident to you. Think of what your life means to God - and what He means to you.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

16 January 2014

Genesis 28; 29
Psalms 33
Matthew 18

"THOSE WHO HOPE IN HIS STEADFAST LOVE"

The message that jumps out of all 3 Bible Readings today is how God can react to our attitudes. In Genesis Jacob married both Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban, but Rachel he loved and Leah he hated. God reacted, "When the LORD saw that Leah was hated he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren" [Genesis 29:31] God reacts to the attitudes of those who seek to serve him, also to those who do not! In Psalm 33:10 we read, "The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples." Also in this Psalm we read, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love." [Psalm 33:18]

The teaching of Jesus in Matthew 18 also illustrates the same lesson. He reacts strongly when his disciples ask him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [Matthew 18:1] and sets a child in their midst and says a child-like attitude is necessary , "unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom …" [Matthew 18:3]

The chapter finishes with a parable about a king who set out to settle accounts with servants who owed him money and he is willing to forgive one who is deeply in debt, but when it was reported that this servant did not have a forgiving attitude toward a fellow servant who owed him a little money, the King was angry with that servant and delivered him to the jailers.

The chapter ends with Jesus saying, "So also my heavenly Father will do to everyone of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." Note those last 3 words.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

17 January 2014

Genesis 30
Psalms 34
Matthew 19

"HE ANSWERED ..."

It very interesting to read the encounters between Jesus and the religious leaders, but the one in our Matthew [Matthew 19] reading today is of particular interest because it does not seem they came to him to test him out over an issue they had with what he said or did, such as Jesus breaking the Sabbath, according to their interpretation of Sabbath keeping; it is more likely it was because they had a dispute between themselves over what situations made it alright for divorce and remarriage to take place. A whole 'party'of Pharisees had arisen (Hillel) who interpreted the Law so as to allow divorce for all kinds of trivial reasons.

They came up to him asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?" [Matthew 19:3]. They expected some answer based upon the laws Moses had laid down about divorce. But first Jesus said, "Have you not read … " But of course they had read, they had read and endlessly debated all the inspired writings that had come down to them. It is a lesson to us to prayerfully read what the record actually says – and not to go to it with some preconceived way of thinking and try to read into the texts that which we want then to say. The men who had wanted to be able to divorce their wives easily were doing just that.

Jesus surprised them by going back to an event long before what Moses wrote about divorce. They had not expected that. Matthew 19:4-6 says, "He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife … What therefore God has joined together let not man separate"

They did not want to be reminded of the foundation principle.

It is significant that among the first century believers, the principle of one man, one wife is clearly practiced and divorce strongly discouraged, 1 Corinthians 7 being a very significant chapter. The Creation principles had been re-established.

As marital merry-go-rounds are practiced more than ever in Australia and most other countries; we need to make sure we "have read" what is plainly written and accepted what it plainly means. How many will be asked at the Judgement Seat, "Did you not read …?"
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

18 January 2014

Genesis 31
Psalms 35
Matthew 20

"ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD"

One characteristic of human nature that God does not like, which was evident in our readings today in Genesis is the effect of favouritism resulting in unfairness and prejudice. We see God's reaction to Jacob's favouritism toward Rachel and dislike of Leah. Rachel was party to this as is evident from Leah's comment to her, "You have taken away my husband" [Genesis 30:15] and Leah's approach to Jacob, "I have hired you with my son's mandrakes" [Genesis 30:16]

We must be thankful that from the time of Christ, the principle of one man one wife was restored. Prejudice is again evident among the sons of Laban, while they acknowledged the blessings that came during the first 14 years that Jacob was with them, they resent Jacob providing for his own household [Genesis 31:1] and even Rachel and Leah came to be regarded by him as "foreigners" [Genesis 31:15] We will soon read of the prejudice that occurs between the sons of Jacob because of his favouritism toward Joseph.

Yet the remarkable thing in several of these situations is that God makes use of human prejudices and jealousies, weaving them into his pattern of events toward a Divinely ordained end. "For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" [Romans 8:28] But, let us realize that this is for the good of his purpose, it might not necessarily seem to be for ours at the time, such as when Joseph was put into the pit by his brothers! Paul's words to the Philippians are words to hold in our minds where, he says that people do things (in this case preaching) from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love … [Philippians 1:15-16] "Let love motivate us in all that we do - did not Jesus even say, 'love your enemies'."
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

19 January 2014

Genesis 32; 33
Psalms 36
Matthew 21

"BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD"

Today's chapter in Matthew [Matthew 21] is full of exciting incidents. The opposition to Jesus caused by his popularity had reached fever pitch. The religious leaders were afraid to do anything because his popularity had become so intense. We read of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, "the crowds that went before him and that followed after were shouting 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'" [Matthew 21:9,10]

Then we are told, he enters the temple (where the religious leaders normally reign supreme) "and drives out all who bought and sold in the temple … you make it a den of robbers." [Matthew 21:12-13] Jesus tells them.

Next, "the blind and the lame came to him in the temple and he healed them." Drama upon drama, "but when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did they were indignant" [Matthew 21:15] Their spiritual blindness was absolute, they were so sure of themselves that they knew all the answers, their mindset had created total spiritual darkness.

Two particular thoughts occurred to us from this incident. One, there are mindsets today: there is the total conviction that there is no God, that everything that exists sort of created itself. Ever more remarkable things have been uncovered in research by the men of science, making it impossible, it seems to us, for the rational thinking mind to even start to think there was no creative Master Mind - yet when we affirm there must be because of the vast array of evidence of most marvellous design - the atheist is indignant just as the High Priests were.

The second thought is, as we shall read in the next day or two; how fickle human attitudes are that have no depth to their understanding or belief. Many of those who joined in the shouts of 'Hosanna' were soon to be persuaded to cry 'Crucify Him'!

So we must most earnestly ask ourselves, how deep is our own conviction? Do we have, or are we earnest - in creating within ourselves the full assurance of hope and faith? Read Hebrews 6:11; 10:22.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

20 January 2014

Genesis 34; 35
Psalms 37
Matthew 22

"COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD"

The above saying of Jesus in today's reading of Matthew 22:14 provoked our thoughts - seeing that Peter wrote that God "is not wishing that any should perish" [2 Peter 3:9]. Why call so many, but choose so few? We should remember well the parable of the sower sowing the seed and how many examples of unproductive ground were given compared to "the good soil." Today there is more unreceptive and unproductive ground than ever.

It is helpful to look at the context of Peter's words, for we often hear it said that God is not willing that any should perish. Peter writes, "The Lord …. Is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief … the earth and the works that are done in it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness …" [Matthew 22:9-11] It seems to us Peter is saying that God does not wish that any of you (to whom he is writing) should perish who "after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord … are again entangled in them and overcome" [2 Peter 2:20]

Returning to Christ's parable we see it is about those who, although invited to the "wedding feast" given for the son, Jesus [Matthew 22:2] are too preoccupied with their business interests [Matthew 22:5] while others invited, treated those bringing the invitations "shamefully" [Matthew 22:6] Eventually the wedding feast goes ahead after, according to Luke's account of the parable, "the servants … bring in the poor and crippled …" [Luke 14:21] and "so the wedding hall was filled with guests" [Matthew 22:10]

But then a problem occurs. The guests need to have a "wedding garment"! What is this? In Revelation last month we read about the "marriage supper of the Lamb" and it is stated of the Bride "it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen … for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints" [Revelation 19:8]

The deeds of the saints are those done as acts of faith, for they cannot "earn" their invitation to the wedding. Sadly, those without a wedding garment are cast out. We noted the wonderful words in today's Psalm 37 which are so appropriate here, "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and … He will bring forth your righteousness as the light" [Psalm 37:5,6]
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

21 January 2014

Genesis 36
Psalms 38
Matthew 23

"FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR"

Our Lord Jesus really set about 'calling a spade a spade' as the saying is, as he confronted the religious leaders in Jerusalem. In today's reading [Matthew 23] he calls them "hypocrites" "blind guides" and children of hell (Gehenna). He says they concentrate on outward appearance "but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence" [Matthew 23:25] He is stirring up as much as possible their hatred of him, which goes hand in hand with their jealousy and envy of the adulation he received as he entered Jerusalem.

As a result their state of mind is such that they are determined to destroy him whatever it costs. Seven times in this chapter Jesus says "Woe to you" [Matthew 23:13,15,16,23,25,27,29] The hidden sevens in the Bible are interesting, as we noted in Revelation. Then, it seems to us, it is especially significant when he says, "Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape … all these things shall come on this generation." [Matthew 23:32,33,36]

The same Gk word is used in Matthew 13:47-50 when Jesus told the parable of the net being "thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age … "

Jesus is using a way of speaking that God used through the prophet Joel; speaking in this case of gathering in a grape harvest, as a parable of the overflow of his anger on the nations " … the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great … for the day of the LORD is near … and the heavens and the earth quake … so you shall know that I am the LORD your God." [Joel 3:13,14,16,17]

Sadly, for many, as with the religious leaders and a million Jews in the First Century, it will be too late, they were among the bad that we cast away when the full net was brought ashore.

But Joel's prophecy is about our days – and how true it is today those words of Jesus to the hypocrites that surrounded him that concentrate on the outward appearance "but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence"

Is not this the spirit in the world today? How close to being "full" is this world? A fearful repetition of the Jewish world of 1950 years ago! We call to mind the final message of Jesus, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth … they (the angels) were told not to harm … only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads." [Revelation 8:13; 9:4] How can those who do not read the Bible have any hope of having the seal of God on them … God's word tells you how to have it!
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

22 January 2014

Genesis 37
Psalms 39; 40
Matthew 24

"WILL GATHER HIS ELECT"

In both our Genesis and Matthew readings today we have reference to the sun, moon and stars - and in neither case are they to be understood in a literal sense. The context makes this evident. In Genesis Joseph has a dream and tells his parents and brothers about it. “Behold I have dreamed a dream. Behold the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me” [Genesis 37:9] His father has no doubt as to what the dream symbolises and says, “ ‘Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?’ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind” [Genesis 37:10-11]. Our minds moved forward to the time of Mary and how she kept the sayings about Jesus in mind in her heart. [Luke 2:19, 51]

The jealousy of the brothers is the trigger that creates a sequence of events that leads to the fulfilment of this dream – another example of how God weaves in the actions prompted by human nature, to bring about his purpose. It is also the way he oversees the character building of those he is calling to serve him.

In Matthew 24 Jesus says the sun, moon and stars will be a sign of his coming. The time of great tribulation comes to an end when “the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” [Matthew 24:29]

While we do not exclude a possible application in some physical sense, the saying has an application to a total crisis and collapse of earth’s ruling powers; the “earth (i.e. the people on earth) will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect …” [Matthew 24:30-31]

Let us remember these words and build up our faith in these words, because we cannot have faith in human beings, we must not be like the foolish virgins we will read about tomorrow.
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DC

[Resource Manager]

23 January 2014

Genesis 38
Psalms 41; 42; 43
Matthew 25

"THE WATER OF LIFE"

Today’s Psalm 42 has this particularly challenging verse, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” [Psalm 42:2] We linked this verse in with the two parables we read today inMatthew 25. There is first a parable of 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom to arrive, but half of them are foolish and do not bring enough oil (of faith?) and the door is shut on them and they are left outside [Matthew 25:1-10].

The second somewhat parallel parable is of servants who are entrusted with portions of their Master’s property while he is away. When he returns they are called to appear before him. Those who have been conscientious are naturally ready when their Master re-appears, they have been thirsting for him to come. These receive commendation and are told “Enter into the joy of your Master [Matthew 25:23]. Their thirsty soul was satisfied.

However, there is a servant who is described as “slothful” [Matthew 25:26] who is barred from entry and the point is made by Jesus, “To everyone who has will more be given and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” [Matthew 25:29]

We now look again at Psalm 42 where we read another important question - and the answer to it! “Why are you cast down, O my soul, why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him …” [Psalm 42:5]. This thought leads to the Psalmist’s recognition that “by day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” [Psalm 42:8]

The Psalmist learnt that the Lord will quench our thirst now if we truly drink from his word every day. We will have ample oil in our lamps and will be ready to appear before him with joy. This world is “a dry and weary land where there is no water” [Psalm 63:1] except for “the water of life” [Revelation 21:6] that is only to be found, here and now, in God’s word.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

24 January 2014

Genesis 39; 40
Psalms 44
Matthew 26

"WILL YOU ALSO GO AWAY AS WELL?"

Entwined within the momentous story of the arrest and trial of our Lord is the tragic story of Judas Iscariot. "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" [Matthew 26:15] What made him do this? He had witnessed the remarkable miracles of his Master. When a large number of those following Jesus had turned away from him grumbling about his hard sayings, "Jesus said to the twelve, 'Will you also go away as well?' [John 6:67] They, with Peter as their spokesman, said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed and come to know that you are the holy one of God" [John 6:68-69] Jesus then commented that one of them was a devil! Did Judas realize what he meant? We doubt it! On another occasion we are told that "he was a thief and having charge of the moneybag used to help himself to what was put into it" [John 12:6]

We wonder why Jesus did nothing to stop this, he must have known. Yet, we read in Matthew 27, that when he "saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver … saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood'" [Matthew 27:4] Why did it take him so long to realize it was a sin?

The explanation that occurs to us is that, having witnessed several occasions when Jesus eluded attempts to arrest him, he was sure he would do so again! He therefore saw a clever opportunity to get a large among of money out of the religious leaders and received a huge shock when Jesus was arrested.

The lesson for us is to see how blind apparently committed followers of Christ can be as to what is wrong behaviour. They can listen, and feel that they believe in the words of eternal life and follow Jesus - blind to the fact that following Jesus means they must become more and more like him. Jesus does not act to prevent our bad behaviour; followers of Jesus are allowed to experience tests to see whether they are really converted or not - because conversion also means changing our ways.
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- DC

[Resource Manager]

25 January 2014

Genesis 41
Psalms 45
Matthew 27

"GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH"

In tomorrow's Psalm [Psalm 46] there is a remarkable saying, “there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God” [Psalm 46:4].There is only one other passage of Scripture anything like this. The final chapter of the last message of Jesus starts with the words, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life” It then goes on to say that on either bank of the river is “the tree of life” Now this is the tree in the Garden of Eden! Adam was put out of the Garden, “lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and live forever.” [Genesis 3:22]. So the Psalmist is blessed with a wonderful distant visit, and he adds [Psalm 46:5] those who are inhabitants of this city “will not be moved”.

The Psalmist also has a vision of the future for those who are not inhabitants of the city of God”, this is not joyous at all, in fact it is terrible. We read, “The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.” [Psalm 46:6]. There is then the invitation, “Come” it seems to be said to the inhabitants of the city of God. What do they see? “Behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.”

The Psalmist has a vision of God’s judgements on the earth “when he makes wars cease to the end of the earth…” Psalm 46:9 Now note how the Psalm ends, “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations …” [Psalm 46:10]

Finally, go back to the beginning and realize that this Psalm is a marvellous message to us here and now as to the spirit we should have in our hearts when these things are about to happen ­ and start to happen, it is a Psalm for us.

“And God is our refuge and strength, a proven help in time of trouble, therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains tremble … “ [Psalm 46:1-3]

Surely we are among the ones God had in mind when he caused the Psalmist to pen these words. Let us believe them and be strong in faith.
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- DC