Devotions

31 July 2012 - Olympic Christians

Shalom!

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  1 Cor 9:24-25

Strict training....what do those words do to you?  Do they make you shudder with dread, or fill you with anticipation at the prospect of getting even better?

As a rule, strict training is not comfortable.  But the results are incredible.  And all those athletes that are currently competing in the Olympics would have endured some really tough and strict training.  But of course they would not be doing it by themselves.  They have a coach.

The role of the coach is to train the athlete to peak condition, which means being able to identify weaknesses and ensure the athlete is properly developed.

In a very real sense, this is how Jesus is to us.  Jesus knows our weaknesses, and His goal for us is maturity.  To this end, He will put us through our paces so that we can grow into maturity.  It's generally not easy!  James 1:2-4 tells us quite bluntly that we must rejoice through such times, because it means we're being given opportunity to grow up!

And whilst it may not be easy, the good news is that we can trust The Coach...we are able to trust the Living Son of God who gave His life for us, and who will bring to completion the work He has started in us!

30 July 2012 - Olympic Spirit

Shalom!

Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize.  Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever.  1 Cor 9:24-25

So the Olympics are upon us again!  For an athlete, this represents the pinnacle of their athletic career, and all will be striving to achieve their best.  Some, like Lola Jones (hurdles) will be seeking to redeem past mishaps, and have added motivation.  It's simply phenomenal what the human body can do!

Paul used the imagery of the Olympic Games to illustrate Christian living, and points out how in order for an athlete to compete in The Games, he needs to stick to strict discipline.  As children of God, we too need to be self-disciplined in order to grow into maturity, such as saying no to the fulfillment of desires outside of their proper place.  

It's not popular to talk about discipline within Christianity nowadays, because we're a comfort-and-convenience-saturated church (at least in the West!).  I've come to the conclusion that not many Christians will  have to worry about persecution, because given a choice between something as simple as going to church and doing something else, the latter will win.  Not many Christians can match the discipline of Muslims!

I share these harsh observations because I'm guilty of them, and I need brothers and sisters, in the words of Hebrews 10:24, to spur me on to good deeds!  One line in a song sung by Keith Green really sums it up: "Jesus rose from the dead - and you - you can't even get out of bed!"

Ouch!

But the key to discipline is not focusing on the discipline, but the prize.  And there is no greater prize than to know more of God.

So - let's grow in discipline! We are, after all, disciples (see below)!

25 July 2012 - Living Witness

Shalom!

First of all, an incredibly HUGE  "THANK YOU" to Cherolyn from PE who ensured that the devotions went out over the past two weeks whilst I was away - THANK YOU!  For myself, it's good to be back home...

Here's a question for you...have you ever wondered if God is real?

I believe it's always important to examine why you believe what you do, and certainly one of the wonderful realities about the Christian faith is that we are invited to ask questions: God does not call us to a blind faith!  In Romans 1:20 we read:

  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the  

  creation of the world, in the things that have been made...

Of course not everyone wants to acknowledge the existence of God, which is why Evolution is such a useful hypothesis for atheists.  An in-depth study of the created order should really lead to worship rather than escapism! 

Christianity will always come under attack for it's belief system in the light of so-called knowledge that the world offers.  Unfortunately a lot of the attack is justifiable, not because of belief, but because of the behaviour of Christians.

Isn't it incredible that even with all our glaring faults, God has not given up on His church?

May not only creation, but our lives, reveal the reality of God!  It's what we call being a living witness!

23 July 2012 - Who’s Your Centre?

Shalom!

Reading: Romans 8:12-17

12 So then, brothers,  we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

We have seen that we are to kill the sinful nature and live the Spirit nature.  I think it’s important to point something out here:  often a child of God will doubt his or her salvation because the progress is so slow.  We must understand that the Holy Spirit does not give you assurance based on your life or lead you to cry out “I am God’s Child” – instead, the Holy Spirit will lead you to call out to your Father who initiated and established the relationship: the Father, and not the child, is at the centre of this relationship.  By using the term “Abba Father” we are in fact being given permission to call God by the same name Jesus did – that, I believe, is the significance of the term, and not so much the daddy notion although that plays a role.  Understand that the father figure was a respected figure in first century society;  in fact in Roman law the father had the legal right to put members of his household to death (but you don’t have to worry about that!).

What else is special about living through the Holy Spirit?

Well, through confirming that you are a child of God, He further confirms the reality that you are actually heirs!  You have moved from being a slave to sin, to being a child of God and now having an inheritance!  What does that mean?  I believe it means that you get to enjoy the privilege and dignity and benefit of being able to call God your Father.

Finally, we are assured the promise of glory even as we endure suffering on earth because of our discipleship (see  2 Cor 4:17).

How wonderful that God would go to such great lengths for us: not being content with just rescuing us, but furthermore making us His children, and then giving us an inheritance at that!

What a mighty, wonderful and gracious God we serve!

20 July 2012 - Killing through Living

Shalom!

Reading: Romans 8:12-17

12 So then, brothers,  we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

What are we to do with our sinful nature? Do you, like Paul, want to cry out “wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)

Jesus delivers us!  And as we can see, killing our sinful nature is a daily thing.  As much as we would love to be able to do it once off,  we don’t:  we are constantly reminded of its presence!  But as you start to say no to that which is wrong, so you begin to experience the abundance of the life in the Spirit.  When you walk in the way of the sinful nature, you walk the path of the slave.  When you walk in the way of the Spirit, you walk in freedom. And this is the better way to live.  Walking in the Spirit happens as we kill the sinful nature, because the only nature then left is the Spirit-nature!

Remember, it is through the Spirit that we conquer the sinful nature, and not through trying.  If we do it through trying, then we are back to living under the law. But when we live and walk in the Spirit, we are led into the life of true abundance (defined by Jesus as knowing God), and we live as children of God!  The Holy Spirit confirms your status as a child of God.  In the Old Testament law a matter was established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.  There are two witnesses to our salvation: our own witness in our inmost being because we trust in Christ for our salvation, and secondly the witness of the Holy Spirit.  As adopted children into God’s family, we have the rights of natural children – and that’s just incredible!

How does that make you feel, knowing that you are a child of the living God and Jesus is your brother?

Have a blessed weekend!

19 July 2012 - Long Walk To Freedom

Reading: Romans 8:12-17

12 So then, brothers,  we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Let’s continue to look at the instruction of killing the sinful nature…

If you read the list of sins which reveal the sinful nature in Galatians 5:19-21 you will see the following:

Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery: these deal with sexual sins.  When there is a desire to have sex outside of marriage, or a desire to look at pornography, or a lust to be with a man or woman other than your opposite sex marriage partner – you must kill it.

Idolatry and witchcraft:  these deal with religious sins.  When there is a desire to worship something less than God as God it is called idolatry.  Colossians 3:5 calls greed idolatry, which manifests itself in all sorts of ways!  When there is a desire to try out the occult or engage with it, ranging from ‘glassy glassy’ to ancestor worship to mediums, it is known as witchcraft – these are desires that you must kill.

Hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy – these are social sins in that they deal with interpersonal relationships.  When you feel hatred, when you want revenge, when you have the desire to lose your cool, when you wish you could have what somebody else has instead of them, when you have the desire to cause division, when you have the desire to make yourself the top dog at the expense of others – then you must kill these desires and go in the opposite spirit – the way of the Holy Spirit.

Drunkenness orgies and the like – these are sins associated with alcohol – when there is a desire to get drunk or wasted or stoned and all the stuff that goes along with it – kill it.

Wow! People who do not know God would see this as an imposition on freedom, but in reality it’s the experience of freedom.  Engaging in these activities has a nasty knack for making a prisoner out of you! The good news is that we’re not expected to do this in our own strength.  It is simply impossible to do so! That is where the Spirit comes in…

18 July 2012 - Thou Shalt Murder!

Shalom!

Reading: Romans 8:12-17

12 So then, brothers,[a] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

We have seen so far that there are two natures: our human nature which is naturally sinful and alienates us from God.  However, through the Holy Spirit we are given a Spirit-nature which is the one we are called to live from and through.  But…

That rebellious sinful nature has no intention of going away this side of eternity! So what must we do?  In the above verses God teaches us through Paul that since we have been given a new nature, and since we still have our old rebellious nature alongside of our new nature, we have to do two very specific things:

Kill the sinful nature

Live the spiritual nature

Let’s look at the first action of killing the sinful nature… 

When we say this, we are not talking about physically killing ourselves, but rather about saying no to the desire to do wrong or rebel against God  (see Galatians 5:19-21- these are regarded as obvious in the sense that it is obvious that their root is the sinful nature).  As a child of God, Satan will tempt you to live in accordance with the sinful nature because he doesn’t want you to enjoy the benefit of abundant life, of fellowship with God.  However, if we put to death the desire to do wrong, we will enjoy the experience of abundant life.  Abundant life is not possible through obeying the sinful nature, because abundant life doesn’t happen through the sinful nature, but through the spiritual nature – and the two are totally opposite.  Expecting to experience abundant life through the sinful nature is like expecting to experience the benefits of weight loss (eg increased energy, better health etc) while living on a diet of junk food.  Unfortunately, that’s how many of us live!  And instead of killing the sinful nature, we end up feeding it instead!

Desires can be channeled, and through redirecting desire (such as saying no to sexual immorality and yes to sexual intimacy in marriage or yes to some other form of obedience) we can kill the sinful nature. 

This is the only murder you are allowed to commit.

17 July 2012 - What do you really want?

Shalom!

Reading:  Romans 8:1-11

 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (v6-11)

I must admit, I’m rather partial to fast-food!  I’m one of those people who think a McDonald’s burger is actually really nice! Anyone remember that case a few years ago of a person who sued McDonald’s because their food made him fat? I’m open to correction here, but if I recall for some strange reason he thought he was getting good nutrition.

I asked an important question yesterday: how desperate are you to know God? What type of quality of walk with God are you after?

Do you want the McDonald Burger and fries version?  You know – the type of Christianity that says let’s have some fun and confuses substance for nutrition?  The type of Christianity that is really just after some fire-insurance, a nice life and hopefully a no-claim bonus at the end?  That’s the self-centered version, and it does not represent true discipleship.

Or do you want God?  Do you want to reach the point where you pray, in the words of Aquinas “ Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out…” or – in the words of Paul: I want to know Christ.  If that is your prayer, then you are blessed – because that is the God-centered version and does represent true discipleship

These are important questions, because the role of the Holy Spirit is to help you grow in the depth of your knowledge of God and His love for you. 

Often the question is asked: do you have the Holy Spirit?  It’s the wrong question based on this passage.  The correct question is:  Does the Holy Spirit have you?  Your role as a child of God is to submit fully to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.  He is there to love you and help you grow into the likeness of your Lord and Saviour.  Embrace it.

16 July 2012 -You are Not Alone

Shalom!

Reading:  Romans 8:1-11

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (v6-11)

A quick recap: there’s the voice of accusation that loves to accuse, which comes from Satan.  There’s the voice of conviction that comes from Jesus through the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us.  The Holy Spirit is not a visitor, but a resident, and His aim is to mould and shape us into the image of Christ.

And how wonderful it is that we have the Holy Spirit!  Without Him, there is simply no way we could live the Christian life. This is another lesson for us:  We cannot successfully live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit.  In fact, the defining feature of the Christian from the Non-Christian is the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Many people think they are Christians but they’re not – there is no Holy Spirit inside them: just a self-determined religion of dubious morality.  There’s good deeds, but not much love.  There’s an interest in religious things, but no personal knowledge of God.  There’s a desire to try and live right and score some blessing, but no hunger after God Himself.  The person who lives for this world is jittery when the things of this world get worse, such as a global economic crisis.  The person who has the Holy Spirit knows the peace of God.  The person who lives for this world gets afraid in the face of the unknown.  The person who has the Holy Spirit has courage and peace.

Which leads to an important self-evaluation question: how desperate am I to know God?  Put differently: what is the quality of walk with God that I am after?

Think about it… more on this question tomorrow!

11 July 2012 - Vociferous Voice

Shalom!

 Reading: Romans 8:1-11

 ¹There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

 If you have ever felt bad about something you have done and have beaten yourself over the head about it, or if you have ever had accusatory criticism thrown your way because of the way you behaved and you’re supposed to be a Christian (or pastor!), then my prayer is that you will be liberated from false guilt.

You see, one of the barriers to children of God knowing and experiencing the fullness of God’s grace in and through their lives is an inability to move on from a place of false guilt to the liberating promise of God’s acceptance of them.  The reason for this is simple enough: we know we’re human!  We know that we do wrong, we know that God desires and requires holy living from us, so when we mess up, there is often the tendency to dwell on it, to feel bad about it, and sometimes not get over it.  The result is living a life of defeat rather than entering the promise of victory.

To move from defeat to victory, from guilt to peace, we must know the voice speaking to us.  One voice must be listened to, the other must be ignored.  Generally speaking, there will be a voice of accusation and a voice of conviction. 

Here’s the voice of accusation: it tells you that you are a bad Christian because you did this or that.  It refuses to let go, even if you do say sorry.  It is a voice that condemns you as a Christian by telling you how bad you are and what it is you deserve.  It often reminds you of your past.  This voice has one main source: Satan.  The Hebrew word for Satan actually means “Accuser.”

Check out the following Scriptures:

Job 1:9-12 – Satan accuses Job of being self-seeking in loving God.

Rev 12:10 – Satan is pictured as accusing the children of God.

Of course sometimes we condemn ourselves without any help from Satan!  An oversensitive conscience is another voice that accuses us.  We experience feelings of doubt, guilt and failure, and we wonder if we are actually children of God at all.  Check out  1 John 3:19-21 in this respect.

So, do you repeatedly listen to that voice of accusation? Ignore it! There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!

More on the other voice tomorrow!

Blessings

22 June 2012 - Let My people go

Shalom!

Let My people go - Exodus 5:1

The reality of the human condition is bondage.  The reality of the heart of God is compassion and deliverance.  In Ephesians 2:4-5 we read:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, - by grace you have been saved -

Isn't that stunning?  And what about this one - which Jesus read when he stood in the synagogue in Nazareth and quoted from Isaiah:

  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

  to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

  and recovery of sight to the blind

  to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour

There are so many other passages as well - Isaiah 55, or John 10:10 or the most well known of all John 3:16!

I am sure we are all aware of children of God who are still prisoners in some form, such as to bitterness, or addiction.  But what is further tragic is children of God who do not know that they need setting free, because they have been deceived, primarily through false teaching disguised as light.  Or they are in bondage but they think they are free because they refuse to acknowledge anything is wrong with themselves.  Sometimes relationships, even with God, can be driven by something other than love, but we're just not aware of it.

Whatever the form of bondage: there is a deliverer.  His name is Jesus, and He came to set the prisoners free.  I encourage you to pray for those prisoners, and also ask God to reveal your own condition to you!

21 June 2012 - Let My People Go

Shalom!

Afterwards Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go..." Exodus 5:1

I shall now engage in the art of stating the obvious:...

The reason God wanted the people let go is because they were in bondage.

It describes the reality of the human condition!  In Ephesians 2:1-3  (you can also check out Romans 1) we read the following:

   And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among  

   whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind

Bondage to sin is the reality of people who do not know Jesus as Lord...

But I am sure you will agree that there is another type of prisoner, and this is worrying: children of God who are prisoners in the promised land.  By this I mean that we have children of God who are not walking in the fullness of freedom of trusting God, but instead have 'stuff' that weighs them down.  For example: how many of us are at total joy and peace in the context of no money?  How many of us battle with long-standing bitterness?  Or addiction of some form?  Many of us need setting free from something!  It's like one song goes: Lord, You took me out of Egypt, now please take Egypt out of me!  It's almost as if we carry a little Pharaoh on our shoulder who is still slave-driving us!

How wonderful that this instruction of 'Let my people go' does not only state the human condition, but also reveals the Father heart of God.  It is God's will that people be delivered!

Focus on the Deliverer!

20 June 2012 - Let My People Go!...No!

Shalom!

First of all, an apology for the inconsistency lately!  I have been experiencing problems with internet at home, so this is being sent from my church office.  Now on with the devotion!

Reading: Exodus 5

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.' But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go. Exodus 5:1-2
The mission has begun. Moses, with Aaron by his side, and armed with the power of God through his staff, goes to confront Pharaoh. He speaks with the authority of God: "Thus says the Lord....let my people go!"

And Pharoah's answer?

No.

Why should he? Who is this god that identifies himself with his slave-force who he is in charge over? Why should he feel threatened and bothered by this slave-god? I imagine that such a cynical and arrogant response from Pharaoh, whilst expected, still came as a bit of a shock to Moses, because in v3 he says 'please'!

The attitude of Pharaoh is more than ignorance though, it's defiance. He does not want to know, but nonetheless his question of 'who is this god' is going to be answered in due course, with ten plagues coming his way to reveal who God is!

People are not always going to respond to the Word of God. Romans 1 teaches us that the heart of man is such that they suppress the truth on purpose. As a result, they find themselves under the judgment of God and in bondage, and they mistakenly and tragically believe they are free.

And yet God wants them to be His children. This is nothing short of stunning. When I have enemies, desiring to be friends is usually the furthest thing from my mind! But God takes it further: it's not only friendship He is after - it's blood related family!

So, when people do not respond to God's Word, whilst it is cause for despair, do not give up hope. Keep faithful at revealing God, because it is important that we do not give a reason to disbelieve!

18 June 2012 - Bridegroom of Blood

Shalom!

At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.  Then Zipporah took  a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, "surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!"  So He let him alone...Exodus 4:24-26a

One must admit that the phrase 'bridegroom of blood' is a bit disturbing - I certainly would not like my wife to call me that!

Moses, as an instrument of deliverance, had to make sure his own house was in order before he could lead the people out of Egypt.

It reminds me of Jesus, who was tested and found to be without sin, and indeed became a bridegroom of blood so that we, His bride, could be pure.

It was my sinfulness that contributed to Jesus being a bridegroom of blood: taking my sinfulness upon Himself so that I could be led out of sinfulness and into His love.  He became the firstborn killed so that I could be set free from slavery and live in His promises instead.  Without Jesus, I literally did not have a hope in hell of ever knowing the love of God but for the fact that I got rescued.  It was Jesus who circumcised my heart (see Colossians 2:6-15).

The holiness and love of God ensured that my sin got dealt with: thanks to The Bridegroom of Blood - also known as Christ Crucified (see 1 Cor 1:23 & Revelation 5:6).

In the words of that powerful hymn by Philip Bliss:

  

Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

15 June 2012 - I'll get round to it...eventually!

Shalom!

At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.  Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!" So he let him alone.  It was then that she said, "A bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.  Exodus 4:24-26

Yesterday we looked at how it is always important to do that which is right, even if it makes us unpopular with those we love.

It does seem strange doesn't it that after giving Moses his call and assignment, that God would take such severe action against him!  We have already seen that Moses should have known better and had his son/s circumcised.  It would have also been hypocrisy of the highest order to lead God's covenant people out of Egypt if his own house was not in order!  This is an important lesson for choosings spiritual leaders (or any leader for that matter!): make sure their own house is in order (1 Timothy 3)!

It's incredible that Moses nearly forfeited 80 years of character preparation over one 'small' act of disobedience: it tells us that God takes obedience seriously (1 Samuel 15:22)! 

Sometimes we put off what we know we need to do.  Looking at this example, it seems that our procrastination can hinder our predestination: in other words, when we fail to attend to what we know we must do, we cannot properly engage in the further good works God has prepared in advance for us to do.

Is there something you know you need to do? Is your house in order?

More on this interesting passage next week.  Have a blessed weekend!

14 June 2012 - Flintstone Love

Shalom!

At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.  Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!  So he let him alone.  It was then that she said, "A bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.  Exodus 4:24-26

So Moses has had this amazing call from God, and he is armed with the power and presence of God, and he has taken his first steps towards Egypt...

And God tries to take him out...

Ok, try is the wrong word because God doesn't have to try anything.  But Moses clearly comes under some severe discipline here.  Why?

Probably because he listened to his wife.  Before I get into deeper trouble, allow me to explain!

The issue clearly centered around his son not being circumcised.  Moses clearly knew the expected covenantal practice that was required and given to Abraham (Gen 17:9-14), of which the failure to observe could lead to being cut off from God (clearly a severe punishment!).  So why didn't Moses observe this?  A clue is from distaste we pick up from his wife's response, and added to that is that Zipporah was not a Jew.  One can just imagine the scenario of Moses explaining to his wife that her 8 day old son needs to be circumcised!  Perhaps she laid down a new law and said "over my dead body" - or perhaps she got all hysterical and cried out about how could he do such a thing and what if he missed etc etc etc....

Moses should have done the right thing even if it meant being unpopular with those he loved.  Just like Adam should have done the right thing!

That's not an easy thing to do, but it's the right thing to do.  Our love for God must supersede all other loves. 

More on this incident tomorrow!

13 June 2012 - Passionate Dad

Shalom!

Then you shall say to Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, "Let my son go that He may serve me." If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son."  Exodus 4:22-23

For a man who was used to being called a son of the gods, this pronouncement must have stunned the ears of Pharaoh!

It must have been further surprising given the fact that it was his slave force as a collective whole being described as a son!  Not just any son either, but a firstborn son!  Such a son has special priviliges!

But that is God for you: jealous for His children and making sure we know that He has a claim on us!  Pharoah needed to understand that God had prior claim on the Israelites, and the people belonged to Him, not Pharoah.  God is remembering His covenant made to Abraham.

Being a chosen child of God is not a privilege to be taken lightly, but a privilige to rejoice in and utilise to its full extent in seeking ways to please our Father simply because it is such a joy to do so!  In Hebrews 12:18-28 we read of the joyful kingdom that we have access to, and you will see yourself described there in the words "assembly of the firstborn"!

For those who have accepted the salvation of God, it is truly a tremendous privilige to be the child of such a passionate Father!  Oh that we would have eyes that see and a heart that more fully understands our privilige - just like Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-21!

Missions would be revolutionised if the church understood how much it was loved.

Do you know?

12 June 2012 - Hard Hearted

Reading: Exodus 4:18-31

v21: And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power.  But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

So Moses has had this amazing call from God, and he has the assurance of God, and even holds the power of God in his hand through his staff.  God speaks again and gives a brief outline of the assignment: "Make sure you do what I've told you to do!"

And then we see that phrase that has disturbed countless Christians throughout generations: "But I will harden his heart"

It just does not seem fair does it? After all, if God hardens the heart, can Pharaoh be held accountable?

If one reads the entire Exodus story, we will see that ten times God is described as hardening the heart of Pharaoh, and another ten times Pharaoh is described as hardening his own heart.  What is of particular significance is that it is only from plague number six that God enters the story and hardens and already entrenched hardened heart.  The biblical perspective is that Pharoah is still accountable for his actions.  Paul deals with this very scenario in Romans 9:15-26.

It does remind us that God does not owe salvation to anyone.  We are all steeped in sin and destined for eternal damnation not because God relishes the idea of punishing us, but because man relishes the idea of living without God.  And Scripture is also clear that the revelation of God's anger and wrath is restrained, simply because God is granting opportunity for repentance.  Unfortunately the further exposure of God to them does not always result in a soft heart, but a hard one (such as with Pharaoh).  A very human and limited analogy: exposure to folk who have the knack to irritate you for whatever reason does not make you softer to them, it tends to reinforce your hardness! The sun can either melt wax or harden clay.

So - did God work in your heart to make you soft towards Him and receive His salvation? Then praise Him!  God could have left you alone in His justice and holiness, but in His mercy He reached out to you.  Pharoah is your picture of what could have happened.

11 June 2012 - Weak Vessel

Reading: Exodus 4:18-31

Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive." Exodus 4:18

Up until this point, we have seen how Moses had this amazing call from God.  Moses has the name of God revealed to him, and is assured of God's power, presence and protection (and promise!).  Moses has been reluctant to take on the assignment but ultimately concedes because Aaron his brother will be going with him.  After all of this amazing dialogue, Moses takes the first step...

And he asks his father-in-law if he can go.

It's great that Moses was being polite and observing social etiquette, but he wasn't exactly being truthful either!  Why did he not share the real reason for going to Egypt? Was he just being modest? Was it a case of "men don't speak to men about feelings and spiritual issues"?  We're not told, so we can only speculate.  But clearly the idea of telling Jethro that he was going down to Egypt to confront Pharaoh to tell him to release the Israelites did not seem like a good idea!

And so he covers up his motive by saying that he just wants to check if any of the brothers are still alive...

It's a reminder that God did not choose Moses because of any inherent virtue within him.  God chose Moses because of His grace and decision to use Moses.

God likes to do that - to use weak humans to accomplish great God-sized tasks!

Our responsibility is to say yes, trust and obey!

4 June 2012 - Walking and Leaping

Reading: Acts 3:1-10
V6-8: But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise  up and walk!  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 
I used to love singing the children's song which was based on this story as a child - 'walking and leaping! (and then jumping as high as you can!) and praising God - it's a song which just evoked so much joy and was impossible to sing with a sad face!
I am sure most of us can identify with Peter when he says "I have no silver and gold," but how many of us are truly appreciative of the privilige of having Christ in us?
And what is particularly exciting is where this miracle took place: outside the temple.  In this new era of the Spirit, God is not confined to our church buildings, but is at work in the marketplace, in the pubs, in homes, in street shelters.  God is on a mission because God is a Missional God.
So - get out of church and into the world, and be sensitive to God's Spirit - He wants to use you to reveal Him!

31 May 2012 - God is Good

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;  his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness - Lamentations 3:22&23
Every new day granted to us is evidence of the mercy of God.  Every new day granted to us is our opportunity to know Him more, to live in His love, and to reveal Him to a hurting world.
Although our love and faithfulness often wavers, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
With our human eyes and human understanding and expectations, we sometimes doubt the love of God.  But the fact that we are still here is testament to the fact that He is giving us opportunity to grow into maturity.
God is not looking for frivolous shallow children that are easily swayed by every wind of teaching, but deep disciples who want nothing more than to know Him.
Who would not want to know the source of love, mercy and faithfulness?

30 May 2012 - Self-Righteousness?

...and having put on the breastplate of righteousness...Eph 6:14
It's a good thing that children of God are able to stand in the righteousness of Christ!  Can you imagine the predicament we would be in trying to rely on our own righteousness, and especially if we had no opportunity for forgiveness?
The consequences are too terrible to contemplate - life would simply be misery and death would be a transfer to an even greater misery.
But because of Calvary, I get given the gift of the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4:6-11) - how wonderful is that? 
Now the challenge: is your behaviour matching your status?
Truth is a powerful weapon against the lies of the devil, and character a powerful weapon against his slander.
Again, how wonderful to have a Lord who knows my weakness!

29 May 2012 - Truth

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth...Ephesians 6:14
We're in a battle, and our primary strategy of our enemy is to lie, to the extent that Jesus calls the language of Satan "lies" in John 8:44 - and the scary part is that it doesn't seem that Jesus was being hyperbolic at this point like He often was!
The best way to confront lies, and to defend yourself against lies, is with truth.  In a court of law, truth is supposed to determine outcome of guilt, and there is a whole branch of science with loads of sub-specialties called Forensics whose task is to determine what happened on the basis of evidence, because evidence is unable to lie.
In Roman armour, the belt held the sword (now isn't it interesting that the sword gets called the Word of God?), and protected the lower abdomen and held the tunic in place.  With the belt in place, I imagine you could pretty much get out and fight (although taking a shield and breastplate would be wise :-) ).
The church has always been under attack on the nature of truth, but now the battle is unfortunately getting more intense as the battle is now arising from within the ranks.  Issues of truth are being questioned and distorted.
And in our day to day lives, we encounter many people who have different perspectives and opinions.  Not all are truth based! So often interpersonal conflicts arise as a result of lie-based perceptions, which is why communication is important.  In terms of our faith, I really appreciate the ministry of those who are engaged in apologetics (it really helps build my faith, but I'm personally am not very good at it!).  How important it is for us to be rooted in the truth of God's Word, so that our minds can be transformed.  How important for us to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, who is Truth personified!
And that's the real truth!

28 May 2012 - Who Rules?

 ...choose this day whom you will serve...Joshua 24:15
These were the words of Joshua to the people of Israel as he gathered them together at Shechem to reaffirm their covenant to God.  The people were reminded of what God had done for them, and in the light of this, were challenged to fear God and serve Him faithfully.
We all know that choices have consequences, and one thing is for certain: when you make a pro-God choice, it will be challenged!  This is because we live in a spiritual world, and darkness does not appreciate light.  In Ephesians 6 we are reminded of this truth of being not on a playing field, as my friend likes to put it, but in a battle field.
So, as we begin this week, the question is posed to you: whom will you serve?  And whilst with your mouth you may proclaim that it is Jesus, what will your actions reveal?  Will the Spirit of God guide your choices and responses, or will your emotions dictate your reactions?
It's a toughee isn't it? Praise God for His grace that fully understands and knows our weakness!

25 May 2012 - What's that in your hand?

But Moses said to the Lord, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."  Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."  Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well.  Behold his coming out to meet you...Exodus 4:10-14
Moses is clearly really reluctant to take on this assignment!  He raises a further objection - and it was not a silly one, but rather one rooted in his experience.  He knew from first hand experience that if he wanted any credibility in Pharaoh’s court, he needed to be quick-witted and eloquent to answer any objections that may have arisen – although he seems to be doing a pretty good job with objecting to God!
And God answers yet again and points out the obvious: who is Creator? 
But Moses is still not convinced, and he does something which I consider quite sobering: he manages to test and push the boundary of infinite patience! He pleads with God to send someone else.  Obviously from his perspective he really felt that he was not the right one for the job: as Wiersbe puts it: God is saying I AM – and Moses is saying I’m Not!
And so Moses is granted a helper – another frail human being who although was a help, was also a hindrance to his ministry as well! It was Aaron who helped lead the people into idolatry when Moses was on Sinai and he also murmured against Moses along with Miriam as well!.
So what was God looking for?  It's clear He wasn’t looking for Moses’ credentials, although Moses did have some.  He wasn’t looking for powers of persuasive speech either.  He was looking for someone who would believe...who would obey...someone who was FAT – faithful, available and teachable!  As another saying goes: God doesn't look for the qualified, He qualifes the called!
So the question to you today is this: what's that in your hand?  Is it a broken heart? God can use it.  Is it a skill you have? God can use it.  Is it nothing? God can use that too - His specialty is creating something out of nothing.
Are you willing to be used of God without argument? To simply be available and say 'Yes Lord' instead of asking God to send someone else?

24 May 2012 - Signs and Wonders

Then the LORD said, "If no one believes either of these miracles, take some water from the Nile River and pour it on the ground. The water will immediately turn into blood."Exodus 4:8 (CEV)

Moses has been given two signs to show him that God is with him, and these signs were for his benefit to show the elders of Israel.  And just in case these are not enough, God also gives him this extra sign...
The third sign given to him was turning the water into blood.  This would have undoubtedly been a potent reminder of the blood of innocent babies that had been murdered by being thrown into the Nile.   It also serves as a reminder that Egypt’s prosperity was entirely dependent upon God, because God was in charge of the Nile, and the Nile determined their economy...
A staff turning into a snake, a hand turning leprous, water turning into blood.  You have to admit these are impressive signs of God’s power and presence.  But why were they granted to Moses? Because he had a hard time accepting the spoken promised word of God...
I've noticed a correlation in Scripture: signs and wonders were often not for the benefit of those with strong faith, but for the benefit of those with no faith or weak faith - remember Gideon asking for a sign?  But I do get theimpression today that the church is seeking for signs and wonders as a sign of their strong faith and as evidence of their favoured status by God.  Christians are looking for signs and wonders, and God is looking for righteous obedience.
So often we are also looking for some sign or evidence, simply because we are having a hard time accepting the spoken promises of God's Word.  We go through a hard time and we ask ourselves if God really cares.  What if we focussed instead on wholehearted obedience?  If the church did that, it would be a sign for the world to wonder about!

23 May 2012 - Unclean Hand

Again, the Lord said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was leprous like snow.  Then God said, "Put your hand back inside your cloak."  So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.  Exodus 4:6-7
Yesterday we saw Moses dealing with scaly staff :-)  It served as a reminder that all authority is subject to and under God's authority.
The next sign God gives is to tell him to put his hand in hiscloak;  and what happens? It comes outleprous – a very broad term denoting a number of skin diseases, but it’s clearthat this was serious!  Imagine if you did that, if you put your hand inside your jacket or your pocket and it comes out leprous - it would be disconcerting to say the least!
It’s interestingthat leprosy in Scripture was often a sign of the judgment of God, specifically when someonein pride presumes to play a divinely appointed role – for example Miriam inNumbers 12v4-12;  or Gehazi accepting gifts from Namaan – 2 Kings 5:22-27; andthen King Uzziah 2 Chronicles 26:16-21...It was disastrous not only physically, but because of the spiritual implications in that it meant being driven away from the presence of God because you were unclean.
It becomes clear that God doesn’t do pride, and God was certainly  planning to punish Pharaoh for his wrongdoing.
Isn't it wonderful that through Jesus we can be pronounced clean?  Isn't it wonderful that through Jesus, who had a habit of touching and healing lepers, we are able to approach the throne of God with a humble boldness and confidence (as opposed to arrogant boldness and confidence!) ?
With such an amazing God and privilige extended to His children, it makes sense that we walk humbly before God, making sure that pride does not develop a foothold, other than the pride of being a child of God!

22 May 2012 - What's that in your hand?

Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The Lord did not appear to you." The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff."  And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.  But the Lord said to Moses, "Put out your hand and catch it by the tail" - so put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand - Exodus 4:1-4
Have you ever made excuses as to why you're the wrong person to undertake a task?  Yesterday we were reminded of our own propensity to come up with reasons as to why we shouldn't be the one undertaking a God-given assignment!  Perhaps we have concerns about how we will look, how it will affect our social standing, or the practicalities of the task, or how it will affect our employment etc etc (as you can see, I'm very good at coming up with reasons!!!)
Let's be fair to Moses - after leading a relatively quiet and sedate existence in the desert as a shepherd, having put Egypt behind him, I am sure that the last thing he expected was to be asked of God to go to Pharaoh and ask him to please release his slave force!
And despite assurances, Moses still has concerns.  So God addresses them, and He does so by assuring Moses of His presence through the performance of signs.  He asks Moses what is in his hand - as if God didn't know!  When God asks a question, it is not to elicit information for His benefit, but for the benefit of the one being asked.  Moses had to be clear that it was just his normal staff which had nothing special about it.  But in the hands of God, it was going to be very special - it was going to be the symbol of His very presence which Moses could literally rely on.
The first sign is the staff turning into a snake.  In Egypt, the Pharaoh would have a rod symbolising his power, and on his forehead he would have a crown with a snake on symbolising himself.  This staff of Moses turning into a snake I am sure was a little object lesson to remind Moses that all authority and power comes from God and He is Above All!
It must have been quite a surprise for Moses to see his staff turn into a snake - and so he does the logical thing and runs!  But God tells him to pick it up again - but by the tail! I spoke to a snake handler and asked him where the best place to catch a snake is, and he said by the head, because that would immobilise it.  Catching the snake by the tail was a real test of faith and obedience!
Let us never forget that God requires simple (and usually constructively costly to our comfort zones) obedience, and He promises His presence with us.
God could not ask us for more - and neither could we.

21 May 2012 - Excuses Excuses!

Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, "The Lord did not appear to you."  Exodus 4:1
We're back into Exodus with the story of Moses...
If you recall, Moses had this strange encounter with a burning bush that wasn't getting burnt.  As he approaches, God speaks to him, and so begins this amazing dialogue in which God calls Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let his people go.  We learn that the name of God is I AM WHO I AM, and how much that name reveals about the greatness of God.  During the course of this conversation, God assures Moses that the elders of the Israelites would listen to him (3:18)...
But despite this encounter with our Almighty God, Moses still has reservations...
And he is of the view that the elders will not listen to him, and he raises his objection above.
Tomorrow we will consider the response of God, but for now it's worth considering how we in our humanness also have this knack for hiding behind excuses and wanting all sorts of assurances before we say 'yes' to God!  Perhaps we are amazed at how Moses could even have objections and reservations given the nature of his encounter, but I'm pretty sure all of us would have done the same!
Understanding our humanity and weakness, and our propensity to look for excuses to not obey, actually, for me anyway, makes the greatness and kindness of God that much more amazing - because He is still willing to love us and use us, even though we are a stubborn lot!
Let us pray that God will work in each of our hearts so that we can gladly respond with "I'll obey Lord" without making excuses!

18 May 2012 - Pierced Hearts

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! (5) You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. (6) In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.  Psalm 40:4-6
There truly is no shortage of great things that can be said about our God: about His person, His character and His deeds.  It's no wonder that David says, even in the midst of his pit, that the person who trusts God is the person who is truly blessed.  Far better to be poor in the hands of God than wealthy in the hands of riches!
Of course it's easy to become complacent and take for granted the goodness of God to us, even stepping into a fateful sense of entitlement.  It's good to know that God is good to us because He is good and that His goodness to us is not dependent upon us!  Meditating on the greatness and goodness of God, like David did, leads us to a place where we naturally want to give something back.  What could we possibly give to God?
David recognises that it is not sacrifice and offering God is after, but says that God delights in an open ear.  Certainly that must mean an ear that listens and obeys, but that would be a fruit of something deeper.
If a person in Israelite society walked around with a pierced ear (not like today's culture where everything is pierced!), it meant one thing: that person was a slave.  The person was not a slave through circumstance or force, but by choice.  In Hebrew society, a slave was not allowed to be a slave for more than six years: they had to be set free in the seventh year.  But sometimes a slave wanted to remain a slave out of love for his master - we read in Exodus 21:5-6:
  But if the slave plainly says, "I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free," then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost.  And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
What greater gift could we possibly give than a heart of love to our God that wants to be his slave forever?  And what greater love could Christ have possibly shown to be pierced for our transgressions?
Truly God is worthy of all our worship!  May we have the courage to allow God to pierce our hearts!

17 May 2012 - Ascension Day

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (10) And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, (11) and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."  Acts 1:8-11
I am not a soldier, but I can imagine that the best part of a mission is going home.  Jesus had accomplished what He came to do, and now He was going home.  It must have been wonderful for Him to re-enter the cloud of God's presence!  In my imagination I envisage the foundations of heaven shaking at the rapturous reception He must have received!
And yet His mission has not stopped, because we are told that He has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:2), and to pray for us (Hebrews 7:25)!  He ascended not only as the Son of God, but also the Son of Man, ensuring that we too have access to God and His presence.
And the last words of Jesus to His disciples?  He told them they would be His martyrs (witnesses). 
And whilst they are staring into space, no doubt with jaws down, two angels ask what I imagine to be a rhetorical question - (they seem to be quite good at asking these type of questions - see Luke 24:5!) - and we are informed of a simple truth: Jesus is coming again.
So let's not waste time staring, but let us rather do our Lord proud by willingly being His witnesses in a world that is both hostile to Him and yet also in desperate hearts so incredibly open to Him.
He came to save - people need to know that.

16 May 2012 - The Pit of Praise

Psalm 40:1-4 
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. (2) He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. (3) He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. (4) Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
The pit is a good place to learn how to pray! 
It's also a good place to praise!  David in the above verses speaks of how God put a new song in his heart after being taken out of the pit, but we know from Psalm 42 & 43 that even in the pit, David realised the importance of keeping his focus upon God and thus having a reason to praise!
In Philippians 4:4, 8 & 9 we are instructed to rejoice in Christ and to meditate on that which is beautiful, and it's wonderful to know that even when we are down and out, there is always something, and more specifically, SomeOne who is beautiful and good and worthy of our meditation and worship!
And when God delivers us from our pit, do we sing praise?  Do we turn the focus onto God for His goodness so that 'many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord' - or are we more inclined to simply breathe a cosmic sigh of relief and go 'so glad that's over!'?
May God put in each of us a song of praise to Him!

30 April 2012 - The Trust Factor

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. (16) But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. (17) Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." Luke 18:15-17

Clearly mommies and their children were perceived as being a nuisance by the disciples! Perhaps they were thinking that you don't go bothering this very important teacher with a busy schedule with things like children!

But were they in for a surprise: they were the ones who got rebuked! In Mark's account, we are told that Jesus was indignant at the behaviour of the disciples. And I wish I could have been there with a camera to see the expression on their faces when Jesus tells these seasoned men that they need to be like children....

A child is so trusting, and as adults, we find it hard to be so trusting. But this is what God requires of us: to be totally trusting in Him, because let's face it, we are weak and frail and tend to get things wrong. But our Father knows all our weaknesses, and He still loves us because that is who He is: a loving Father.

How's your 'trustometer' this morning? Is there something which seems so impossibly huge and is really testing your trust capacity?

Turn it into prayer, and know that your Father is called good for a reason.

27 April 2012 - What's In a Name?

The Lord said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" Exodus 3:14

Our God is alive, eternal and powerful!

But something else so incredibly amazing and beautiful comes out as well, and it is seen throughout the entire Scripture: God is personal.

In this conversation with Moses, God reveals his plans and purposes to Moses, He reveals His promises to Moses, and he reveals His name to him.

And incredibly, He was calling this nation of slaves at the bottom of the Egyptian social scale, a people who were seen as despised and inferior, His people! This would have been laughable to Pharoah I am sure - after all, if a god was to identify with a people, at least choose a strong people to identify with! But God gladly calls the slaves "My People."

Is it not wonderful that this living, eternal and powerful God takes an interest in the likes of you and me? He does not need us, is complete apart from us and yet invites us into relationship with Him. He is both willing and able to act on your behalf, which He proved on Calvary.

Over here in South Africa we celebrate today what is called Freedom Day. But I praise God for the freedom He brought about in my life: freedom from my sin that cursed me, and freedom into the joy of loving Him and knowing Him - and all because He took a personal interest in me!

Praise God!

26 April 2012 - What's in a name?

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"....But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. (20) So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. Exodus 3:14,19&20

We have so far seen how our incredible God is alive and eternal!

But that is not all. Our God is not only unlimited, but unlimitable, in that He has great power!

If you look at Egypian hieroglyps, you will often see a picture of the Pharaoh with an outstretched arm: it's a symbol of his power. Well, God was going to stretch out His hand against Pharaoh and reveal who was truly powerful - and it wasn't Pharaoh!

Theologians use the term omnipotence to describe the power of God, and we see the power of God in His control over nature, His ability to change the course of human history (see Acts 17:26) and most powerfully in God's ability to change the most impossible of substances: the human heart (see Matthew 19:26)...the resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in your heart, because it's the only power strong enough to deal with it!

But what about you? Do you truly believe in the power of God? Do you believe that God can bring about the desperately needed change in your life, and more likely, in your heart? Or is the power of God something that you believe at a theoretical level?

I wonder if the church would not perhaps see more of the power of God at work if it didn't just teach it, but actually believed in it as if life depended on it - because it does!

May God forgive us for our lack of faith! And may we worship Him for His faithfulness and power, that He would be willing to act on behalf of the powerless!

25 April 2012 - What's in a Name?

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" - Exodus 3:14

Yesterday we looked at the fact that God is alive, in contrast to idols that are dead! A brother reminded me of 1 Samuel 5 which illustrates this point so beautifully: how the Philistine's god Dagon fell down facedown before the ark of the covenant - and they then put him in his place again and the same thing happened again, only this time his head and arms had come off !

God is Alive!

The name of God can also be understood as I was, I am and always will be - which brings us to the next amazing truth about God: He is eternal.

This is the most baffling for me to try and get my head around! God is uncaused - He has just always been there. He had no beginning, and no-one made Him: and no-one made Jesus and no-one made the Holy Spirit: they are eternal God!

Another way of appreciating this is to see God as infinite and unlimited. God is not confined by space - He created it! It's like Paul said when preaching to the Greek philosophers in Acts 17:22-28:

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. (23) For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. (24) The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, (25) nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (26) And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (27) that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, (28) for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.' God is everywhere (as David points out in Psalm 139) and not anywhere :-). There is no place where you cannot encounter God, but neither is there a place where you can put in GPS co-ordinates and say "God is there" because God is not localised!

Wherever we go, God is there!

What an amazing eternal living God we serve!

24 April 2012 - What's in a Name?

God said to Moses: "I AM WHO I AM" Exodus 3:14

What are we to learn about God through His name?

Sometimes the obvious needs to be stated, and the first thing we learn is simply this: God is alive :-)

Scripture does not argue for the existence of God, it simply assumes it and affirms it. To know God begins with believing that He is alive - as we read in Hebrews 11:6 where it states that anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

It's also important to remember that God is alive because all other gods are dead. Read Jeremiah 10 to hear just one mocking perspective from God of the idols people make for themselves, have to carry around for themselves and secure with nails so that they don't fall over! All this is in contrast with the One True Living God!

What is more, all life is derived from God, but God derives His life from none. He is the source of life and He depends on no-one for life. Without God, we cannot exist; without us, God continues to exist.

This should put to rest any notions that we do God a favour by living for Him, as if He needs us to do so. We live for Him simply because it is to His glory to do so and to our benefit - but we do not add in anyway to His existence! God is complete within Himself.

And what a privilige it is for us that He would introduce Himself to us - to give us opportunity to fall in love with such an amazing God and to enjoy Him forever!

23 April 2012 - I AM

Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" (14) God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (15) God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Exodus 3:13-15

I am sure the heart of Moses must have been pounding during this conversation with Almighty God - this was no chat over coffee! And what we see above is truly a great, profound and sacred moment, as God is giving His name. Through this giving of His name, He reveals who He is and what He is like.

The name given is spelt with four Hebrew consonants - YHWH, and the three forms of I AM in verse 14 represent forms of the Hebrew verb that means 'to be.' In other words: God Is. You could also say: I was, I am, I always will be.

God is.

When it comes to questions of identity, we humans need labels or reference points: labels of relationship (I am a husband, father, son etc), labels of personality (introvert, extrovert, laid-back, obsessive etc), labels of social groups and vocation and so on.

God is. He doesn't need the labels! However, we will add on an extra word and ask God is... what?

This week we will consider some aspects or attributes of God that come through in Him revealing Himself - so be prepared to have your mind expanded and your heart astounded! We so often take who God is for granted, but when we take the time to meditate on His greatness, it releases worship and a heart of gratitude that he should love the likes of us!

The great I AM is worthy of worship!

20 April 2012 - Deliver us from evil

And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. (10) Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." (11) But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (12) He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." Exodus 3:9-12

I am sure Moses must have been elated to hear that God was going to do something about the Israelites in Egypt - only to hear that he was going to be the tool!

In v11 we have to smile at Moses: trying to point out to God as to why he was not suitable for the job. Forty years earlier and we would have heard a different tune from Moses, but 40 years of being a shepherd in the desert obviously has a way of humbling a person! But Moses was uniquely qualified: growing up in Pharoah's court taught him the way of the Egyptians, and being a shepherd taught him the desert and its conditions, and most importantly was used of God to bring about the heart that was needed for the task that lay ahead. It was a time in which God was building the character to match the assignment.

V12 should have settled it for Moses, when God said that He would be with him, but as we read further he still disagrees!

We so often do feel inadequate for the task set before us, and that is good. We must always be aware of our weakness, and know that God is with us. We are not called because of who we are, but because of who God is. But we need to trust God in that He knows what He is doing.

And the purpose of this liberation movement that Moses was to lead? All part of God's redemptive purpose: a powerful picture of the truth that God is a delivering God, and He alone has power to deliver us from our bondage to sin. Peter describes it as being a holy people for a holy God, proclaiming His praises (1 Peter 2:8-9).

There are people in bondage all around you - some of them don't even know they are in bondage, and some of them do know that they are missing a vital ingredient in their lives. You are God's instrument to reveal to them the wonderful God who is able to deliver them!

19 April 2012 - Amazing Love

When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (5) Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (6) And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (7) Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, (8) and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 3:4-8

Our God is a holy God, and our approach, and indeed our very lives, is to be one of reverence before Him. Jesus Himself taught this through His life, His obedient death and in the model prayer that He taught us (Our Father - who is in heaven - hallowed be Thy name).

When we consider the greatness and holiness of God, that He is not in need of any of us, then the words of the Father to Moses in the above verses is truly incredible. Take note of v7-8 : I have surely seen...heard their cry...I know their sufferings...I have come down to deliver...

What a picture of grace, of mercy, of kindness! God doesn't go, as we say in South Africa 'ag shame' - God instead allows Himself to be genuinely moved by the plight of those He loves, and He does something about it! And He does not stop at just delivering, but takes them into something better! God doesn't just settle for redeeming, but pouring out blessing too!

God does not just talk about love - He shows it. But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)

In the words of Wesley:

Amazing love - how can it be - that Thou my God shouldst die for me!

Amazing indeed! Let's spread the love around!

18 April 2012 - Holy Ground - Holy Hearts

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. (3) And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." (4) When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (5) Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (6) And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:2-6

So far we have seen that this incident reveals a pattern we see in Scripture: that God uses the small and insignificant to reveal Himself, and that when we turn our attention to getting to know God, we get rewarded by God with a knowledge of Him.

What we also see happening in this incident is God choosing to use fire to reveal Himself - why?

One thing is for certain: fire is a Scriptural image for describing God (see Hebrews 12:28-29). Fire is a powerful image for the holiness of God, which has major implications for the way we relate to God: we don't go running into a fire! And one of the major themes of Exodus is how to relate to a holy God (which is dealt with in the Tabernacle). And we see God telling Moses to take off his shoes, because the place where he is is holy ground - ground which was previously just like any other ground, but because God is present, it is holy. And the response of Moses is fear, because he did not want to see God. Whenever people encountered God in Scripture, it resulted in fear! The only time this didn't happen was when Jesus took on human flesh and his glory was hidden.

Now thanks to what Christ accomplished on Calvary, the nature of our approach to God has changed: we come through Christ. But the nature of God has not changed: He still remains a holy God, and we must approach with reverence! And since His presence makes a place holy, and He indwells His children through the Holy Spirit, this means that our lives must be lives of reverence before God (see Romans 12:1-2 & 1 Cor 6:19).

It's a high calling. Fulfill it!

17 April 2012 - Don't Stop Searching

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. (3) And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." (4) When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (5) Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:2-5

The mighty God choosing a small and insignificant bush through which to reveal Himself - that alone is worth pondering!

But notice the pattern: God only calls out to Moses once Moses has turned aside to seek out this strange sight: which is the pattern established for us in Scripture - that God has promised to reveal Himself to those who truly search after Him (see for example Deuteronomy 4:29, 1 Chronicles 28:9 & Jeremiah 33:3). And the Scriptures also reveal a picture of God searching out those who search for Him!

But boy do we have many, many distractions available to us today! We have the lure of financial riches, superficial relationships and easy entertainment on demand. But true riches can only be found in knowing God.

May we never, ever be satisfied with our level of relationship with God - may we continually desire more and more and more of Him!

16 April 2012 - Divine Ambush

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (2) And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. (3) And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned."Exo 3:1-3

Moses had at this point in the story been a shepherd for 40 years (and now 80 years old!). What a change! From being a mighty prince to being a shepherd in the desert.

I wonder if, in any of his quiet moments, Moses thought about Egypt and his fellow Israelites that were still in slavery? I wonder if he replayed what had happened over and over again in his mind?

Perhaps he had put it behind him, after all, he was a shepherd now. And this day had begun like any other: get up early, get the sheep moving, and quite a journey he took too. But then he sees something - something which caught his eye as being unusual - at least in his 40 year experience of being a shepherd and knowing desert conditions - it was not a bush with red leaves caught by the sunlight or a Bedouin camp-fire: it was a non-burning burning bush...

But why would God use a bush? He could have set the whole mountain aglow if He wanted to - why run the risk of being missed?

Could it be that God loves to use the small and insignificant and even despised to reveal Himself (see 1 Cor 1:26-29)? To see if Moses was sensitive to the small and insignificant before being entrusted with greater things?

We miss out on many opportunities to encounter God in unlikely places, simply because we do not expect God to be there. I remember encountering God in a slightly drunk lady in the bar over the road: I had recently done a memorial service for her husband and she was asking me questions about God - and I realised that God was at work in her.

Do not close your eyes to the immediate opportunites around you to encounter God and join Him in His work. Some Christians run after 'new' or 'deep' 'revelations' more for their own ego issues (mainly a desire to look spiritual!) than anything else.

May we not be guilty of spiritual blindness to seeing God at work around us - He specialises in the unexpected and unusual!

13 April 2012 - Saved to Serve

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Luke 24:5b&6a

How wonderful that Jesus really did rise from the dead. How wonderful that our faith is not futile, but grounded in reason. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can know that Jesus has the final say; we can know that Jesus loves us, and that we can press on.

The resurrection of Christ was Christ serving us, through conquering death and making the way possible for us to be restored to God. The resurrection means that I can now serve God, through serving the body of Christ, and through spreading the reality of His love to a lost world. The resurrection is not my excuse to now take it easy because I have fire insurance, but my motivation to labor for God's kingdom purposes. As Paul states:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me (1 Cor 15:10)

And labor for the kingdom is labor that is not meaningless or wasted. No matter what you do, do it with the purpose of glorifying God: through marriage, through family, through business etc - live a life of gospel intentionality!

As a child of God, God's power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within you - don't doubt it, but believe it!

12 April 2012 - Press On!

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Luke 24:5b&6a

So far we have seen how the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ is our proof and hope that Jesus has the final say, and it also shows us that Jesus the Christ loves us.

A third encouragement from the resurrection is that we are able to press on. Resurrection power is not about being superman or living on some higher spiritual level: it's about dealing with the sin in our lives (it's the only power strong enough to deal with this!) - about not giving up - about allowing Christ to rule my heart. It's something like this (2 Cor 4:8&9):

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed

We have been granted resurrection power not for power's sake, but for kingdom purposes: to transform us, and to enable us to pursue God's agenda. More on that tomorrow!

So - wherever you are, whatever you are facing, know that Christ's power is at work within you and that you need not give up, but rather live for Him and trust Him.

11 April 2012 - Jesus Loves Me - the Resurrecti​on tells me so!

Why do you seek the living among the dad? He is not here, but has risen. Luke 24:5b&6a

How wonderful that the tomb is empty! Jesus rising from the dead is not some drug-induced hallucinatory fantasy, but a historical reality, and as we saw yesterday, it is our proof and hope that Jesus has the final say!

The second encouragement derived from the resurrection is that Jesus loves me. Consider the following Scriptures:

...having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you....what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places...(Eph 1:18-21)

...But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...(Eph 2:4-6)

...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge...(Eph 3:17-19)

Isn't it wonderful to know that love truly conquers all? It conquers the toughest of all substances: the human heart. And because of the resurrection, we can know that Jesus loves us, because it was for us (to His glory) that he conquered death and opened the way for us to be restored to the Father.

And it is His love that is in us - if we can but release it to love those around us!

10 April 2012 - The Final Word

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen - Luke 24:5b&6a

Jesus rose from the dead - what does that mean for us today? This week we will consider some encouraging implications for us.

The first encouragement is that the resurrection of Jesus is our proof and hope that Jesus has the final say. Life, and not death, is the winner - goodness and not evil. In 1 John 3:8 we are told this:

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil

And in 1 Cor 15:55, after an extensive treatment of the resurrection and the resurrection of believers at the Second Coming, Paul, quoting the Old Testament states the following:

Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

And in Colossians 2:15 we are told that God, through Christ 'disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him - how amazing is that - Christ at His weakest on the cross, and still too strong for the enemy!

In a world where we are continually surrounded by despair and heartache, by wars and earthquakes, by pain and hardship, we can be rest assured of this: Jesus has the final say. One day, we will hear Him say: I make all things new!

Will the world governments have the final say? No! Will Islam have the final say? No!

Jesus is the one who will have the final say!

9 April 2012 - The Greatest Comeback

Reading: Luke 24:1-6

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but has risen.

I love 'comeback' stories - as a child I remember how I loved it when Superman got the upper hand after he got beaten up so badly!

But no human comeback story compares with the comeback Christ made! After the full forces of evil were arrayed against Him whilst at His weakest, He still proved too strong for the enemy! You just cannot keep a good God down!

And so the ladies find the tomb empty - the stone rolled away not so that Jesus could get out, but so that we could get in and see that He really has risen. It is a historically viable fact, and if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then, as Paul points out in 1 Cor 15, we are all deluded and are to be pitied, because our faith is in vain and we are still dead in our sins.

But Jesus did rise from the dead, and He did conquer death, and we do have hope. But how tragic that many people today are still guilty of what the angels said to the ladies above: looking for the living among the dead. People are looking for meaning and hope, but are looking for it in places which can bring only superficial happiness and ultimate despair.

But we can show them the way! We can point them to a Saviour who loves them, who truly is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

What a wonderful privilege.

5 April 2012 - Kingly Servant

A dispute arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. Luke 22:24

Did Jesus not despair over His hand-picked disciples? After teaching them for three years, and instituting the Lord's Supper at the Passover, they now have an argument over who was the greatest...

What were their criteria that they were using? Was it time spent with Jesus? Was it based on who saw the most miracles, or who had the most private conversations with Jesus - or who performed the most miraculous miracles when they were sent out?

Jesus gets straight to the point of what a truly great leader is...in verse 26 He says:

Rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves

As Mike Burnard points out (in The 18 Inch Principle - I highly recommend it!), we have quite successfully raised a generation of servant leaders as a style of leadership, but we have failed to raise leading servants: leaders who are servants first and then leaders because of their servanthood.

It is the example that Jesus set for us: He came to serve, and it is His servanthood that makes Him our leader and Lord. He came to serve His Father, through serving you and me.

What a powerful example and challenge! The way up is the way down - not focussed on rights and entitlement but on opportunities to serve. Imagine marriages with a servant focus - imagine churches and pastors with a servant focus - imagine business with a servant focus - imagine governments with a servant focus - imagine society with a servant focus!

Stop imagining - start serving!

4 April 2012 - Kiss of Death

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Luke 22:47-48

A number of years ago an artist whose music I really appreciate (Michael Card) wrote a song, and in it asked the question of why Jesus had to be betrayed with a kiss, because 'that's not what a kiss is for'.

It's just one of those lines that really spoke and has always stayed with me.

What were the factors that led Judas to betray Jesus? What had Jesus done to him? We can speculate about the reasons, but I imagine it had to do with failed false expectations. One thing is for certain however: his heart was not right.

A kiss was a way of greeting someone you loved - and it got turned into the kiss of death. How could he do such a thing?

What Judas did was unthinkable.

But before we get on our moral high horse over Judas, let's not forget that we too are prone to betray our Lord through our actions. Judas betrayed Jesus for money. It is a graphic picture of the reality behind what many people teach: be nice to Jesus (give Him a kiss) and He will bless you - but the reality is that such a gospel is a betrayal of our Lord and what He taught. But even if we don't believe such a gospel (which is not a gospel really), we need to be aware of how our lives can betray our Lord through disobedience.

But enough about Judas and betrayal!

What is absolutely incredible is this: that Jesus loved Judas, and He loves us. Isn't it astounding that Jesus came to die so that we could be set free from the power of sin - our sin which put Him on the cross in the first place. Isn't it wonderful that we can receive forgiveness?

It's like my friend put it: "I'm not going to get there (heaven) because I'm good, and I'm not going to not get there because I'm bad"

We're going because of Jesus!

3 April 2012 - Prophet or Profit?

And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, "It is written,'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers." Luke 19:45-46

Jesus driving out people from church?????????

Wasn't Jesus supposed to be sweet and accomodating????

The people that Jesus drove out, in a sense, had to be there. They provided the animals for sacrifice, and provided the currency conversion from whatever currency to temple currency.

But...if you thought politics had a way of giving birth to corruption, you should try religion! Instead of turning out prophets, the focus became profits. The temple had lost its purpose: instead of being a place for people of all nations to encounter God, it became a place to rip off people before they could encounter Him. It's no wonder Jesus was angry. How can people, in the presence of a holy God, engage in the very activities that God stood against? Injustice, lack of compassion, love of money etc?

As a pastor I find this challenging: does the body of believers which I am part of represent a body where God can be encountered - or do we make it difficult?

In just a few days, Jesus was going to do away with the need for a temple, and was going to instead start building a new temple - one made of human hearts. His death was going to tear the curtain separating the Holy of Holies, making the way possible for all to approach God through Him.

But the question remains: what have you turned your (God's!) temple into?

2 April 2012 - The Messiah of Shalom

And when he drew near and saws the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes....because you did not know the time of your visitation (from Luke 19: 41-44)

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Only Luke records this incident, of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem after His triumphal entry. In this brief passage, Jesus weeps over the destruction of Jerusalem that will take place, and this represents its judgment for not recognising it's Messiah.

It's great that the crowds were excited about Jesus, but unfortunately the only reason they were excited was because they had a wrong perception: they were wanting a political liberator, and that approach was not the approach of peace, but of war. The crowds did not have the perception to understand the true nature and mission of Jesus, and what was on offer to them.

It is sobering to realise that people can still get excited over Jesus, but over a wrong perception of Him, and the result will be disastrous: eternal rejection by God. Jesus states that at the great judgment, people will cry out about what they did in His name, and His response will be that He doesn't know them (Matt 25:31ff)!

But even in our walk with God, in which we recognise Jesus as Messiah, as the Only One and Way through whom we can receive salvation, we can still be found guilty of creating a perception of Jesus that suits our lifestyle and choices. It's pretty hard to avoid this, given that we have many factors that shape who we are and how we see life (and of course our sinful nature does like to have it's say!). Perhaps we see Jesus as the One who must ensure we don't experience hardship, or the One who will forgive us as we undertake wrong action, or the One who must ensure ministry success as we seek to serve Him, or perhaps, as is quite possible, the famous bling gospel - where Jesus must give us lots of money - after all, doesn't He love us and aren't we being good through serving?

We miss out when we don't see Jesus for who He truly is. Jesus came to bring true shalom - peace between man and God. This was at the heart of the mission of Jesus, and the understanding of the crowds was not going to bring peace, but destruction.

And there is only a limited opportunity for this to be experienced, and how tragic that Christians get so caught up in internal conflicts, that they forget about the real conflict over which we have been given the message to bring peace: that sinners are under God's anger but forgiveness can be received and peace with God can be known!

What an absolutely wonderful Messiah! Worship Him!

30 March 2012 - Humble King - Humble Servants?

Yesterday we saw how our Jesus came as a humble king. Today we look at a beautiful ancient hymn which teaches us to have the same attitude as Christ...
Philippians 2:5-11
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (9) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This attitude of Christ is just such an alien one in today's culture isn't it? We like to think in terms of our entitlement - what we feel we deserve from those around us and society as a whole.
Jesus, being God, had every right to expect to be served.
What if we focussed our energies on serving others instead of demanding our rights?
In God's kingdom, the way down is the way up.

29 March 2012 - Humble King

Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden. Matthew 21: 5 - quoting Zechariah 9:9
The time of the passover feast had a tendency to bring with it rebellious uprisings against the Romans. Reinforcements would be brought in to cater for the sudden increase in the population as pilgrims arrived to celebrate. This was not the time to engage in action that would clearly be perceived as political!
There was no mistaking that Jesus was claiming Himself to be the Messiah, and the palm branches was the people's symbol of the struggle for liberation against the Roman rulers.
But Jesus's idea of messiahship and those of the people were very different. The Jews were looking for an earthly kingdom - Jesus had come to establish His kingdom in the hearts of men. And the only way that could happen was by becoming the sacrificial lamb, and it is not without significance that Jesus rides into Jerusalem on lamb-selection day!
Jesus was riding to His death, and He did so with dignity and humility. If only the world today could have more humble kings! Jesus knew the hearts of men...were these same crowds that shouted "Hosanna" later going to shout "Crucify!"?
I wonder about my own heart and actions. I am pretty sure I would have enjoyed shouting with the crowd "Hosanna!!!" But would I have also joined the crowd that shouted "Crucify" when my expectations did not get met?
Is there congruence between my lips and my hands? Do I sing praises to God and tell Him how much I love Him, but then disobey - actions which put Jesus onto the cross in the first place?
What an amazing King we serve, One who calls Himself our elder brother. One who is willing to take the penalty for our rebellion so that we may live instead of die. One who promises to clean us of all our wrongdoing when we confess and repent.
I sure need a king like that! What an incredible privilege to live under His rule!

28 March 2012 - Assigned to Serve

And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." Exodus 2:21-22.
This experience of Moses has certainly been food to reflect on! He knew God had called him, and he acted in his own strength, and his plan backfired. But God did not cast him aside, but seasoned him instead, and that seasoning was a further 40 year process!
Many children of God will undoubtedly say they want to be used of God, but subconsciously define the terms of their engagement! They want to be God-centered, in the hope that (as John Piper puts it), God will be man-centered. We must never forget however that whilst God can exist without us, we cannot exist without Him!
To be used of God is an incredibly great and tremendous privilege. It means that you must re-unite Christ and His cause into one - that your commitment to Christ and His mission is what will define your life, instead of life determining how committed you are.
And to be used of God requires seasoning, so that your character can match the assignment. And speaking of assignments, this is somewhat big! There is the assignment that God has assigned here for you on earth (good works prepared in advance - see Eph 2:8&9); then there is the aspect that this life is the assignment, a life lived for the glory of God, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in (1 Cor 10:31 & 1 Thess 5:16-18)
And then of course the assignment we're all looking forward to, that which we are ultimately being prepared for: our assignment in eternity (we're actually not going to be sitting around on clouds harping on)!
So...are you willing to be used of God? Are you willing to trust Him and His ways, even though they will not match up to how you see things must be done? Moses was going to be a liberator of the people, but in God's time and in God's way: without an army! In the meantime, Moses had to content himself with being the best shepherd he could be in a foreign land.

27 March 2012 - Discern the season

And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." Exodus 2:21-22
So things have not quite gone according to plan for Moses, but fortnately God is still fulfilling His plan! Moses is in need of seasoning, and that process is one where, whilst he was content (far better than being killed in Egypt!), he nonetheless felt out of place.
A question was posed to me a few weeks ago by a person whose life is characterised by perpetual chaotic hardship as to whether a Christian can be placed under a curse. My answer was a clear, definitive "no"! How can a child of God, covered by the blood of Jesus who destroyed the work of Satan at the cross, possibly be under a curse?
It is a different matter entirely if you have given an open door to Satan to bring chaos into your lives, such as through disobedience or deliberately taking yourself out of the protection of the church community, but if you're His child and you know that you love God, then remember the words of 1 John 3:21 where it simply states that "if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God." It is always good to examine our hearts before God, because we can be our own hindrance to prayer.
So, certainly some hardship is self-inflicted and a result of our disobedience. But....a lot of hardship is also simply part and parcel of the life of faith, where fruitfulness gets rewarded with pruning for more fruitfulness (John 15)! Jesus Himself had to go into a desert before being ready for His assignment. Calvary was successful because Gesthemane was overcome in prayer.
Moses had to trust God when he didn't understand. So do we.

26 March 2012 - Pork Chop in a Synagogue

And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. (22) She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." Exodus 2:21-22
We have seen how Moses experienced a turn-around in his life: he had reached a point where his commitment was to define his life. He throws himself wholeheartedly into this task initially by killing an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew slave. His plan of liberation backfires when his fellow Hebrews reveal distrust in him, and Pharaoh naturally also wants to kill him.
So often when we have a sense of what we must do, we throw ourselves into it with intensity, and then wonder why the results are not there: one reason is that God needs to match the character to the assignment. He has to season you first. Your experience of that may well be that of the same of Moses: that whilst he was content to be in this new foreign land of Midian and be a shepherd, his experience was that of feeling very much out of place, hence the name of his first-born 'Gershom.'
So, if you're feeling like an Englishman in New York or a pork chop in a synagogue, take heart. The challenge is to learn the lesson of contentment that Moses revealed above, and which Paul also speaks about in Philippians 4:11-13. In our modern society (and in Biblical times), it is an observation that a primary means by which God seasons His children is through finances (namely the lack of them!). There's nothing like the wallet to compete for the lordship of Christ over our lives!
A little bit more on this tomorrow :-)
But how wonderful that we serve a God who has promised to supply all our needs as we put Him first! And He has promised to never leave us even if we do feel out of place!

23 March 2012 - Old Spice

When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well. (16) Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. (17) The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. (18) When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come home so soon today?" (19) They said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock." (20) He said to his daughters, "Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread." (21) And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. (22) She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." Exodus 2:15-22
Moses made sure he was well out of the way of Pharaoh...
And again we see his passion for justice, for helping the person who is oppressed, as he comes to the rescue of these seven damsels in distress - and, as it turns out, he meets his wife (a well seemed to be a good place to meet a wife if you consider the experience of Isaac and Jacob!). I love the fact that Zipporah means 'little bird' - so Moses literally married his chick :-) !
But how his life has changed! From prince to shepherd in a foreign land. I wonder if he felt he had messed up? Did he feel disillusioned?
I cannot vouch for his psychological state, but there are some things I can say. And perhaps the most exciting is this: God did not cast Moses aside because of his initial failure. He seasoned him instead, and that took another 40 years to do. God matches the character to the assignment, and character can only be built through time and hardship. You can only be fragrant if you've been crushed (like perfume) or burnt (like meat on a fire). And the reality was that the assignment really wasn't about the glory of Moses, but his calling to the glory of God: to be a tool in the story of God's redemptive plan . Moses was going to have to put up with things like being alone and misunderstood, being a source of grumblings and mumblings, in short having to endure a lot of things he could have done without.
We will explore this a little further next week, but in the meantime, why not give thanks to God that He wastes no opportunity? Give thanks that you can be part of His plan, and commit to serving Him even if it does get somewhat difficult. God does not cast aside because of failure, but seasons you to mature you.
It is good to be in the hands of God!

22 March 2012 - Donkey Christians

Reading: Exodus 2:11-23
Focus verses: Exodus 2:13-15
When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, "Why do you strike your companion?" (14) He answered, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid, and thought, "Surely the thing is known." (15) When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
We have seen how Moses had reached a point in his life where his commitment was going to define his life. We also saw how radically he messed up by killing an Egyptian, but how this sprang from a strong conviction of justice. His motive or intent was right, but his actions were wrong.
And in the above verses, we see how his action backfired on him. Again we see his sense of justice coming through, but now his own people are suspicious of him! He sees his fellow Hebrews having a go at each other, and he seeks to intervene, thinking, as we see in Acts 7:25, that they would be grateful for him. Stephen describes the scenario as follows:
"He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand"
Moses thought they would be grateful. They weren't. Moses had made an incorrect assumption. It reminds me of a lesson
taught to me by a psychology supervisor in my internship on the dangers of assumption. She asked me how I reached a conclusion and I said I kind of assumed it (wasn't very clever of me!). She took a piece of paper and wrote the word 'assume' and then broke it up to look like this: "ASS/U/ME" - and then proceeded to teach me that you must never assume, because when you do, you make an ASS of U and ME!!! Not the most dignified of lessons, but one I never forgot!
But boy how often we do the same in our walk with God! We make the assumption we are on the right track, but if we go back to the Word we will find differently. We also think people will be grateful for who we are and what we do - not always.
In the case of Moses, as we shall see tomorrow, it was an issue of timing. Moses was going to a tool of liberating the people of Israel, but in His time and His way. Moses assumed he knew what to do and how, but the reality was he needed to hear from God first.
So, let's not be donkey Christians!

21 March 2012 - Moses's First Strike

One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:11-12
We have seen how Moses responded to the move of God in his heart, and he went to go and see his fellow Hebrews who were slaves. It was the beginning of a new era in his life - an era where his commitment was to define his life, rather than the other way round.
Now that he has direction, what does he do?
He messes up and commits murder. He tries to start a liberation movement with an army of one. His first mistake was to act on impulse and react, rather than respond. Some commentators maintain that Moses acted in self-defence and was following the honour code of his day, in that if you saw someone being violently attacked and didn't do what you could to help, you yourself would be in trouble. That may be the case in terms of the law of the day, but slaves got mistreated every day, and the actions of Moses above reveal that he knew he was going too far: you don't look to see if anyone is looking if you know that you are doing the right thing! Instead Moses makes sure no-one is watching, and then tries to bury the evidence. From an Egyptian perspective, he had certainly gone too far, because they had a strong sense of national pride and foreigners were viewed as inferior, so certainly a foreigner killing an Egyptian would not go down well - and Pharaoh was after his blood (v15)!
But in his favour we see a passion: a passion for justice, not enjoying the sight of injustice, and not wanting it to go unchallenged. We can rightfully admire him for the courage of his convictions. It's just that he ran ahead of God: right motive, wrong action. Walking by sight and not by faith - like Peter in the garden of Gethsemane chopping off the ear of the servant of the high priest.
We do that sometimes don't we? Not chop off ears (I hope!), but try and run ahead of God, thinking we know what needs to be done. Sometimes our motives are correct, but our actions are way off course, because God has a different way of doing things. We like to react to stuff instead of responding to it by faith. We think we know what needs to be done, but seldom do we actually stop and say "Lord, what do You want done?"
As we will see, it's a good thing God does not give up on us!

20 March 2012 - The Security of Faith

One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens...Exodus 2:11
When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel - Acts 7:23
Yesterday we looked at how, because of God moving in his heart, Moses had reached a point in his life where his life as a comfortable and well educated prince with a good reputation (see Acts 7:22), was now going to change. His life was no longer going to define his commitment, but rather his commitment was going to define his life. We get further insight into the motivation of his heart from Hebrews 11:25-26 where to be mistreated with his people was preferable to the treasures he enjoyed - where he ' considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.' How incredible is that?
Now I sincerely hope that I for one am not a teacher that gets his holiness kicks out of pointing out how 'unholy' and 'carnal' the rest of the church is, because if so, I'm in trouble! My desire is to promote the life of Christ, not religiously transmitted diseases. But let's be honest, when we look at children of God as a whole, what picture do we get? Do we see a church that is defined by its commitment to Christ? Or is it commited to something else - such as itself?
It would seem that many are happy to 'give their lives to Jesus' - and they're content to be a child of God on their terms (which means life defines their commitment). They're happy to be, as John Piper so aptly puts it, God centred as long as God is man centred! But the results of this are tragic! The results are wasted lives and an ineffective church. They've separated the person of Christ from the cause of Christ!
But what would happen if instead of making excuses for our lack of commitment, we actually allowed our lives to be defined by our commitment? If the Muslims can do so without the grace of God within them, why can't we do so with the grace and strength of God?
Is it because we have allowed ourselves to be distracted? Is it because we are too scared to believe that God really does love us and really really loves it when we abandon ourselves to His care?
Let us pray and ask God to move in the hearts of each of His children, so that we can discover the joy of total abandonment to the life-giving walk of the cross!

19 March 2012 - Defining Moments

One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. Exodus 2:11
When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. Acts 7:23
Talk about a defining moment!
Life must have been quite good for Moses growing up in Pharaoh's household. The standard of living would have been high, he would have been well-educated (see Acts 7:22) and plenty of servants to do his bidding. It would have been logical for Moses to conclude, given the fact that it was a miracle he was there in the first place, that it must be the will of God to stay in the palace.
But something happened that caused him to move beyond his comfort zone, and he went to see what was happening in the real world of slavery. We see in the second verse quoted above that 'it came into his heart.' Whilst the heart has many forces that influence it, we know from Scripture that only God has the authority and power to change a man's heart. And God clearly moved in the heart of Moses, and Moses goes out for a ride in his chariot (I'm pretty sure of that!) and his life would never be the same again...
What happened? Moses had reached a point in his life where his life was no longer defining his commitment, but his commitment was about to define his life...
More on this tomorrow!

16 March 2012 - Weakly Strong

Be strong and courageous - Joshua 1:6-9
It must have felt intimidating to take over leadership from Moses - but what a mentor! However, Joshua was not called to be Moses, but called to be Joshua (I know that's stating the obvious, but there is a tendency nowadays to imitate leadership styles of others!). The calling upon Joshua was going to of necessity involve more directive and militaristic leadership, since it was under him that they were going to conquer Canaan.
But taking over from such an incredible leader, and now having to face the unknown and not exactly having loads of battle experience, must have made Joshua feel a tad inadequate.
A sense of inadequacy for the task seems to be a Biblical pre-requisite! And by virtue of the fact that Joshua gets told to be strong and courageous tells us that he wasn't.
And why must he be strong and courageous? Because God knew what He was doing. God knew the plans that He had purposed and ultimately, the reason to be strong and courageous is because God was with him (see v9).
And a few thousand years later, Jesus made the same promise to His disciples when He gave them the command to go and make disciples. No guarantees of an easy success, but definitely the promise of His presence as we seek to obey. And the task is still huge, and if anyone is truly honest, a strong sense of inadequacy is still par for the course. But the good news? God can be trusted.
And for that, I am grateful.

15 March 2012 - Live The Life

to live is Christ, to die is gain - Phil 1:21
Yesterday morning a young lady and her mother were murdered in a small town in South Africa. Before she was stabbed the young lady was told by her murderers to die and take her God with her.
The young lady had spent last year at a mission college training for the mission field. She loved Jesus. She lived for Him. She died for Him too.
It is a reminder that darkness hates the light. It is what Jesus predicted would happen: that the kingdom of God would advance, and violent men will attack it.
But how wonderful that no matter what violence gets done against the people of God and against the purposes of God, the reality is that because of Calvary, evil will never, ever, ever have the final say. It is God who reigns.

In commenting on the above verse, Matthew Henry explains the following: "The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it."
One saint (and many others with her) has been promoted to higher service. We still have work to do. May we each be found living not just for Christ, but in Him and through Him. May each of us, wherever we have been planted, be found being a witness for our incredible Lord and His incredible Gospel-love.
Let us continue living for Jesus.

14 March 2012 - Steadfast Truth

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- (7) not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (8) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:6-9
Imagine getting a letter from Paul with the above written in it...the tragic reality is that many need to get this letter today!
I have been privileged to attend some teaching by Derek Morphew, and yesterday he was teaching an overview of Gnosticism and how it manifests itself today in various ways in certain teachings within the church. As I listened, I quietly in my heart gave thanks to God for how He has kept me - but boy do I have so much to learn!
And the best innoculation we have against error? Learn the Word! There are many distortions that exist today, and one word that comes to mind when hearing some of these distortions is the word 'fanciful.' The beliefs that result in these distortions are fanciful, but we need to hold fast to the truths of the gospel. Truths such as Jesus really did come in the flesh - fully God and fully man; how he really did die and rise again (bodily), and how placing our faith in Him and Him alone is what saves - and that there is nothing we can do to add to our salvation. And the best part about the truth of the gospel is that it is open to investigative scrutiny, and even better is that the fruit of it is freedom and not bondage.
May we all grow in the knowledge of Christ - the way, the truth and the life!

13 March 2012 - Everyone needs a Barnabas

Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement)...Acts 4:36
There are some names in the New Testament who don't get a mention and limelight, but without whom the spread of the gospel and ministry would have been impossible (or at least very close to impossible!) - names like Barnabas, Tychicus or Onesimus (see Colossians 4:7-9; see also the end of most of Paul's letters).
Think of your own experience: whether you are 'in ministry' (which you actually all are!) or holding down a 'secular' job (all jobs of God's children are spiritual!), if you do not get any form of appreciation or input to go on, you find yourself being depleted and getting discouraged.
Trying to press on without encouragement is like expecting your car to run without fuel - it's just not going to happen. Everyone needs a Barnabas!
And to each of you out there, remember the words of God through Paul in Colossians 3:23-24 where it says:
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
So to all of you (I feel like Paul now ) - to the saints scattered everywhere from the local mortuary (yes - you read that right!) to St Helena's island, from Pakistan to America (including South America), from Holland to PE and even Mosselbay and Port Edward - know that the Lord knows where you are, and His eye and hand is upon you, and nothing, but nothing escapes His attention and He appreciates you!
And of course, remember the price He paid to show His love and appreciation.

12 March 2012 - Faith

Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. Exodus 3:1-3
Just in case you haven't figured it out, the baby concerned is Moses.
The Hebrew people at this point are under harsh slavery. They must have cried out "how long" many a time, but if they remembered their Scriptures (through oral tradition), they would have known that God told Abraham that it would be 400 years, and whilst it must have seemed incredibly harsh to them, it was at the same time opportunity for the residents of Canaan to repent of their sin and turn to God (see Gen 15:12-16) rather than be destroyed (which is what eventually happened).
Getting married and having children in the context of slavery is really an act of faith, love and hope. Placing Moses in a basket and into the very river which was the source of destruction of Hebrew male babies was a further act of faith and hope.
Such faith and hope is challenging to me. In the midst of adversity (somewhat mild adversity compared to what many others go through) I do have a tendency to drift towards despair and even indignation towards God (a foolish move by the way!).
But instead of drifting towards despair and hopelessness, Jochebed (Moses's mother's name - see Exodus 6:20) chooses to go in the direction of proactive believing faith. She chooses to do everything she can within her power (which was very limited) to spare the life of her son, and if you check out Hebrews 11:23, you will see they are commended for their faith. Faith is not passive acquiescence, but participative action. Actions really do speak louder than words when it comes to faith, a point which James goes to great lengths to point out (James 2:14-26)!
Fortunately, the outcome was positive for her. But here's the deal - even if the outcome was not positive, it would have still been the right thing to do. In Acts 12 Peter gets a miraculous escape from prison, whilst James gets a quick trip to heaven through being beheaded. Faith is not about the outcome we want, but rather about pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6).
Our world, and our church, needs people who will go in the opposite spirit of the prevailing despair and hopelessness. It needs people of faith.
Will you join the movement?

9 March 2012 - Press On

...but I press on...Phil 3:12
If anyone understood the road of the cross, it was Paul. He, by God's grace, had developed a deep appreciation for what Christ had accomplished through Calvary, and he was intent on letting as many people know about it as possible.
But the only time it was plain sailing for him was when he was on a ship, and even then it was not always the case! Otherwise, living out the call of the gospel was, in fact, hard. Of course it was a hardship he was willing to endure, because nothing could compare to the joy of knowing and serving Christ. No price was too great to pay in gratitude for salvation.
In his own walk, he clearly didn't always get it right either. He readily acknowledged his weaknesses, since it was more important for Jesus to shine through. Paul gladly expended effort in revealing God's grace, and he looked forward to the day when his salvation would be complete.
But until such a day, his role was to press on.
So folks - press on!

8 March 2012 - What you doing?

1Ki 19:8-14
And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. (9) There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (10) He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." (11) And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. (12) And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (13) And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (14) He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away."
Having dealt with 850 false prophets on Mt Carmel, Elijah now runs away on the basis of a threat of one woman...makes you think doesn't it?
But truly God is gracious. In the verses prior to this, Elijah wants to die - he's just had enough. If ever you have experienced doubt or depression, you will have an inkling of what it was Elijah felt. God allows him some rest, gives him some food, and then Elijah travels again...to where?
The Lord asks Elijah a very pertinent question..."what are you doing here?"
It's always a good question to ask ourselves, but what was so special about the place where Elijah was? It was the place where God had revealed Himself to Moses and the people of Israel. Was Elijah looking for solace? For comfort? For a faith boost? Probably all of the above.
And what does God give? Whilst Elijah gets treated to a private screening of spectacular effects such as winds, earthquakes and fire, all elements which obey the voice of God, none of these build Elijah up: only one thing does - the Word of God. And again that question gets asked...
It's a reminder that no matter where we are at, no matter what we are in, there is ultimately only One worth going to - and it's the Word from Him that accomplishes it's work in our lives. How often we want the spectacular - but the greatest work of God happens when we come to Him in our desperation, and we come with open hearts allowing Him to work in us, and to speak in us His Word.
Is God asking you the same question? "What are you doing here?"
What is your answer?

7 March 2012 - Press On!

So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4:6
I just love this verse, because it represents the victory of dogged perseverance in the midst of harship and opposition.
Nehemiah had birthed within him a desire to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem - it was a desire birthed in anguish. When something is birthed in anguish, very little gets in the way of seeing it through, although the journey to completion is filled with potholes as well as attractive detours.
And how much more things get accomplished when people are of one heart and mind and vision, and are prepared to put in the effort, no matter what the sacrifice, to see something accomplished because they understand that there is a bigger picture. It reminds me of the visitor in the Middle Ages (no - not me!) who asked three stonemasons working on a project of what they were doing. The first replied that he was chipping away to make stone blocks. The second replied that he was earning money to put bread on the table. The third one, who displayed more enthusiasm, said he was helping to build a cathedral!
Perspective makes all the difference. Never see what you do simply in earthly terms, but understand that what we do has purpose for the Kingdom of God, and ultimately, for a King.
It's not always easy, but let us not give up hope that Christ will accomplish His purpose, and may we all work together as one to get His will done!

6 March 2012 - Love is in the air

Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! Psalm 133:1
and day by day...breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts - Acts 2:46
When it comes to relationships, we as children of God are truly blessed.
Unfortunately, when it comes to relationships, we as children of God are also truly tested!
But all of us I am sure have folk that we are simply appreciative of and grateful to God to have in our lives. One of the greatest joys I know is to share a meal with like-minded believers. Last night I was priviliged to host a friend who lives on St Helena's island (she ministers there along with her husband who is a pastor there), along with another precious brother and his wife. It was an evening of somewhat overcooked food (the recipe was in Afrikaans and my Afrikaans is not that good :-) - but at least I treated them like gods by serving a burnt offering! ), but there was much laughter and joy and simply enjoying the presence of each other, made possible only because Jesus made it possible - we were all brothers and sisters in Christ. Loving relationships are a gift of God, because God is a loving relationship in the form of the Trinity.
We should never take our relationships for granted. They are truly a gift of God.
Why not let someone know today that you appreciate them - and invite them round to a meal? It doesn't have to be fancy, but it will mean a lot to the person receiving it!
And then give thanks to God because He was the one who made it possible - He is the author of love, and He loves you even more!

 

5 March 2012 - Keeping Focus

Seek the Lord while he may still be found; call upon Him while He is near - Isaiah 55:6

It's frightening how we as children of God can get caught up in the Martha Syndrome of busyness, even busyness with good things, that we find ourselves being distracted and forgetting the feast that is available to us.

In this above verse, God offers to people His gift of salvation (Isaiah 55 is a beautiful chapter - you must read it!), and points out that the opportunity to do so is limited.

As children of God, I believe this offer still applies - not for salvation, but for growing in the knowledge of Him. We still only have a limited window of opportunity to grow in our knowledge of God by faith. One day we will not need faith anymore, but this side of eternity, faith is needed.

And what is the key ingredient for growing by faith in the knowledge of God? An ingredient that will assist us in maintaining our focus and not being so easily distracted - an ingredient that will furthermore enable us to enjoy the feast that God has for us in Him?

Looking at the people that were used mightily of God (such as description of early church in Acts 2:42ff - or passages like Jeremiah 9:23&24 and Matt 5:6 & Phil 3:8-12), we can see that the key ingredient was this: hunger.

Appetite is a sign of life (those who know me will testify how alive I am!), but truly the greatest hunger of all is to have a hunger for God. And the prayer for more of God is a prayer that God will gladly answer.

2 March 2012 - Fig-ure this one out!

And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. (7) And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' (8) And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. (9) Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:6-9

This is a sobering passage. We see a vineyard owner who has placed a fig tree in his vineyard. It is placed in fertile soil, and being three years old it is an established and mature fig tree that should be bearing fruit. But it isn't.

The solution of the owner is simple: cut it down - it is after all just taking up valuable soil space and using up valuable water. Fortunately for the fig tree, the manager wants to give it another chance...

It should have borne fruit, but it didn't. In the light of the previous verses (v1-8) where Jesus speaks of people who were killed, one powerful point that comes through in the above verses (as Wiersbe points out) is not to ask why other people had to die, but rather to ask "Is it worth it to God to keep me alive?"

Our calling is to bear fruit for the glory of God. How tragic it is to see people who have been taught the gospel but still choose to lead their own lives. They mistake the notion that nothing has happened to them as God's approval on their lives, where it is in fact patience with them to come to repentance, because there will be a time when it is too late to repent.

May God help us all who are still here to live for His glory, so that the question of whether it is worth it to God to keep us alive can be answered in the affirmative!

1 March 2012 - Love that will not let me go

Oh give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

How often do you give the Father thanks? Do you also perhaps get caught up in your world of endless things to do, with a list of priorities never actually getting any shorter? At home I have a small chalkboard in our kitchen area where things that need attention get written up - but it's really amazing, the moment something receives attention and gets rubbed off, a new thing emerges as if by magic!

Or perhaps because of all the things that need to get done, your prayers tend to lean towards getting help for everything? Such prayers are good, because it reminds us of Whom we depend upon.

But let us today, and everyday, give prayers where we simply thank God for who He is - because His love is truly steadfast. Where would we be without His love? Sometimes we question the love because of the circumstances we find ourselves in, where we should rather be saying that because we love Him we are prepared to go through anything that He sees fit to allow us to go through for the sake of His kingdom purposes (which primarily involves making His love known to others!).

Remember, God did not come to save us from earthly life, but eternal death. But how priviliged we are to go through this life with the knowledge of His love for us!

Give thanks - for He is good!

 

 28 February 2012 - Insignific​ant Significan​ce

Do nothing from rivarly or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant...Phil 2:3-7a
I've just come across a written prayer I prayed last year in April, and in the middle of this prayer I have this written: humility - not entitlement
It seems that I was searching for significance! It's a natural urge, but a destructive one for the child of God. Rather, as children of God our focus is to be on humility, counting others as being more significant than us. In our culture of human rights, this is a foreign concept to many, as each seeks to focus on their rights and entitlements rather than how they can serve.
But when our focus becomes humility, we experience a different outcome: we experience the outcome of the accomplishment of something significant, which is far greater than trying to achieve significance. And our example is our Lord Himself. When He came to dwell among us, He deliberately veiled His full glory and came to serve (Peter and John got a glimpse of it at the Transfiguration).
Imagine the transformation in relationships if we count others as more significant. Imagine if we treated our spouse as being more significant...or our families...or friends...or fellow brothers and sisters in Christ...or our work colleagues (that's a real tough one!). Have you noticed how some people just have the gift for making you feel insignificant? What if you treated them differently?
Notice that your significance is not denied - it's just that your attitude should be one of your significance not being important. Far better to accomplish something of significance through humility (because then Jesus can work), than to try and focus on being significant.

27 February 2012 - No Wrath!

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God- Romans 5:1-2
What an utterly amazing and absolutely beautiful verse!
Religions and cults all have something in common: salvation by effort without guarantees.
But not with God! When we place our faith in Christ for our salvation, we move from being under His wrath to being under His favour - we move from being hopeless to being hope-filled.
It is an objective reality that I am now in right standing before God through my faith in Christ. God does not look at my goodness, but at the spilt blood from the Righteous Christ shed on my behalf at Calvary.
How wonderful that Jesus takes my hand and places it into the hand of the Father, and I can now proudly call God my Father (and Jesus my elder brother!). No fear of retributive judgment - rather the joy of being loved.
We are so undeserving of His love, and He is so fully deserving of our love-saturated lives of worship!

24 February 2012 - Scream Wolf!

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves - Matt 7:15

Our Lord sure had a way with words! It is such a graphic image. Look at this one below (taken from a website called www.kingsenglish.info - I cannot verify copyright or comment on site!)...

I have been looking at what people believe, and at some cults that claim to be Christian (even claiming to be the only Christians with the rest of us being the baddies), and I cannot but help think of this verse above. Deception is, unfortunately, scaringly alive and well in the world today.

It's even more tragic when it comes from within the church, from people who should know better.

To each and every one of you who receive these devotions - please always check what I say against the Word of God. If it does not coincide, then chuck it out! Thank you too for the privilige you have entrusted to me to encourage you in your walk.

May we hold firm to the truths of our glorious faith, because we are responsible for what we believe. May we never try to pry ourselves out of the grip of Christ by going after strange teachings which may have a sound of truth but are in fact empty lies.

Let us give thanks to God that He is able to keep us!

23 February 2012 - Freedom

So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves - Exodus 1:13
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" - John 8:34
Slavery truly is an accurate picture of life governed by sin. The deception of sin lies in its apparent attractiveness: the promise of happiness and satisfaction and power (or whatever it is that can tempt you) in exchange for living apart from the will of God.

And the only way you can get out of slavery is to be rescued: someone has to buy you and set you free. We know that this is what Jesus came to do, to set us free from the eternal effect of sin and it's grip over us.

But it is not unusual (unfortunately) to see children of God still struggling with sin (we will always have to deal with sin, but I am speaking here of a sin that tends to rule us such as an addiction of some sort). Some Christians do find themselves under a particular sin that can best be described as being in slavery to that sin, such as alcoholism, or pornography, or bitterness. You will often hear them say how they are trying, but they just never seem to come right.

I do think that in such a case a person needs to be brutally honest with themselves and ask what that sin is accomplishing for them - because often people literally do prefer the devil they know (as opposed to the freedom they don't know which brings responsibility!). Jesus did not come to set us partially free.

The power of Calvary is still available to break the power of sin. We need to bring the sin to the cross, and cry out for freedom. We cannot change our hearts, but we can choose our focus.

22 February 2012 - Preserving God

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. (13) So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves (14) and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. (15) Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, (16) "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live." (17) But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. (18) So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?" (19) The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them." (20) So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. (21) And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. (22) Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."Exo 1:12-22
We have seen this silly pogromic Pharaoh and the God-fearing pro-life midwives. But who was behind the scenes?
The Preserving God. None of the actions of Pharaoh took God by surprise, and God loves to use the most unlikely to fulfil His purposes. One thing is for sure: the world (and church!) needs people like these midwives: people who will fear God and subsequently be used by Him for His purpose. We need people who will fear God not only because God is to be feared (this is reason enough), but who also see the bigger picture. Life in God's kingdom goes way beyond personal comfort and circumstance.
Because who was behind the actions of Pharaoh? You don't need to be a rocket scientist to realise that Satan is at work behind the scenes, using Pharaoh to try and destroy the very people through whom the Messiah would come and be his humiliating defeat - and our salvation!
The midwives feared God and saw some bigger picture, enough to make them aware that obeying God was more important than personal comfort. It's like a t-shirt I saw that said "fear is temporary, regret is eternal." And Satan was trying to destroy the work God was doing.
But God was preserving His people no matter what.
How wonderful is that?

21 February 2012 - Pogromic Pharaoh

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. (13) So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves (14) and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. (15) Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, (16) "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live." (17) But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. (18) So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?" (19) The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them." (20) So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. (21) And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. (22) Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."Exo 1:12-22
This Pharaoh is determined to carry out his pogrom! He wants the Hebrew sons killed the moment they are born (many of which would have been firstborn sons). When his plans are foiled by two midwives, his next solution is to order that the baby boys are thrown into the Nile - and he certainly reaped what he sowed when we remember how later on his army is drowned in the Red Sea.
But for all this pogromic Pharaoh's evil despotic action and power, he is no match for two prolife midwives: two women who are the first characters in the Exodus story to be mentioned by name.
And what is the key to the bravery of these women? They feared God.
You can be used to accomplish a lot when you fear God: even outwit an evil political system. Did the ladies lie to Pharaoh? It seems like it, but we are not entirely sure. It does show that the Bible does not hide the faults of people - but the reason these women are praised is because they feared God and wanted to honour and obey Him rather than obey man.
Midwives are hardly the most likely candidates to take on an oppressive political system.
But that's God for you - He is not looking for impressive talent - He simply uses those who fear Him.
Do you?

20 February 2012 - Don't Mess with Me

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. (9) And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. (10) Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land." (11) Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. (12) But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. (13) So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves. Exodus 1:8-13
So Joseph and his generation have died, and a new Pharaoh brings in a new era. This Pharoah did not know Joseph - either because he was a foreign ruler (one of the Hyksos rulers) or he was a ruler who simply did not care what Joseph had done for Egypt. Subsequent generations are seldom appreciative of what former generations fought for or accomplished.
This Pharaoh paints a picture of the Jews that makes them look like a threat, another common experience of Jewish history! Pharaoh has a delicate balance to maintain: keep the Jews as an economic asset, but don't jeopardize national security. His solution? To whip them into slavery. His desire is to crush them.
The land of comfort has now become the land of bondage, where the Israelites no doubt had a problem trying to believe that there was such a thing as 'the good old days.' But these guys are like teabags, or perhaps coffee might be a better description: the hot water they find themselves in just causes them to flourish!
And as we shall see, the ruthlessness of the Pharaoh gets worse.
Silly Pharaoh.
He has taken on God (you've just got to read Psalm 2!).
And there can only be one winner.
Man I'm glad that I am a child of God!

17 February2012 - Jesus Saves

but we preach Christ crucified...1 Cor 1:23
I am so grateful to be a child of God.
I've been looking at what different religions believe, and I am truly grateful to God for finding me (He found me - I didn't find Him because He was never lost...)
Inbetween the uncertainty of salvation in Islam (we all go to hell first and then the good ones cross over to paradise on a hair) and the impossibility of the somewhat dubious Buddhist Nirvana for mere mortals like myself, let alone the vastness of Hinduism (which I still have to dive into - you may need to put your hand into the screen to pull me out!!!), I am grateful that the message of the gospel is simple...and true.
You would be hard-pressed to separate Muhammad from Islam and still retain Islam, because although he is viewed as mortal, his words are viewed as divine, and he is, after all, the founder of the religion, and recognition of him as the prophet is kind of key to being a Muslim. With Buddhism you can take away Buddha and still have the religion because it is based on a system of perception (the Four Noble Truths).
But with Jesus...He is the message! He is the way, the truth and the life. Take Jesus out of our faith and you are left with nothing (some cults have modified Him somewhat).
But what a message. We preach Christ crucified. Have you thought about that? It's like saying we preach Christ hung on the gallows, or Christ electrocuted, or Christ lethally injected. Can you imagine walking around with a noose, or a sparkplug or a syringe as a symbol of your faith? Sound absurd? The cross is even worse! It is such a gruesome form of execution that it was not mentioned in polite company.
In today's ministerial celebrity culture, we have fallen prey to the same silly sin the Corinthians did: people arguing over which teacher they followed. As if the minister was the gospel! The minister is not the point, the message is. It is Christ who got crucified for our salvation - not the local priest/pastor or heaven forbid, some televangelist who for some reason needs your money so that you can be blessed!
Let us not be ashamed of this message, because it really is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16)!
Soli Deo Gloria!

15 February 2012 - Gripping Faith

Then Joseph died...but the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong - Exodus 1:6-7
When God says He will do something, He does it.
He called Jacob's family to move down to Egypt, and literally paved the way for them to go through the painful path Joseph had to walk. There were just seventy of them, but they eventually became over 1 million! God said He would multiply Abraham's offspring, and He did.
But it happened in hardship, and it is a reminder to us that the ways of God are truly not our ways. What we perceive to be desertion and absence is more likely a case of promise fulfilment: the promise of God to mould us and shape us to the likeness of His son. The promise to give us a heart that is characterised by faith, because without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). It's easier to trust in God in adversity than it is in prosperity.
It's not about holding onto faith, it's about faith holding us. We must trust when we don't understand, because as we do so, the glory and power of God are magnified when we experience the deliverance we long for. And while we may have a picture of what that deliverance would look like, let us not forget that having God's hand of preservation upon us through the trial is deliverance.
Also remember that the trial or test did not take God by surprise.
God is working to a plan, and it's on a totally different timeline. His methods are totally different too. The hardship may be physical, but it's your spiritual prosperity God is interested in!

14 February 2012 - Land of Promise

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob....
...(6)Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. (7) But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:1, 6 & 7
We saw yesterday that Exodus begins with a reminder that the Israelite roots lie not in slavery, but in the compassion of God. It serves as a powerful reminder that all of God's children have their roots in the compassion of God.

If you look up the above Scripture, you will see that it was 70 in all that went down to Egypt. This is hardly a number to shout about, and really not a number to build a nation (although obviously all nations have to start somewhere!).

I am pretty sure that the family was happy to go down to Egypt. If a member of your family (son or brother or father) is second-in-command over the country, then you can be rest assured that life will be good. And Joseph was second-in-command over Egypt, and it must have been an amazing transition for this family to now be in such a position of privilige! But whilst it was obviously a land of good things, it was not the Promised Land.

And then we see v6 above: Joseph and all his generation dies. One would think that under conditions of prosperity, this would be the context for a nation to grow and flourish. But it is only after his death, and, as we will discover, when conditions of slavery and hardship enter that the nation flourishes. Verse 7 tells us that the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly: fulfilling not only the creation mandate, but the promise given to Abraham (please look it up in Genesis 15:13!).

God, in His plan and rulership, deemed it right and good that the Israelites should experience this hardship, and through this to allow them to flourish. Here's the thing to note: at a human level, it must have seemed that God was absent, that He had left them. The truth however was that God was fulfilling His promise.

Now I personally prefer, like most people, the whole "things are going really well as evidence of God's blessing" approach, but Biblical reality indicates that fulfilling the promise of God involves hardship too. Egypt was not the promised land, but it was a land of promise fulfillment.

And that is something worth pondering!

13 February 2012 - Chosen by and for love

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household...Exodus 1:1
So begins the epic narrative of Exodus. Personally, if I was the author of such an amazing adventure story with all the elements we find in Exodus (villain, magicians, unlikely heroes, spectacular deliverances, mountaintop experiences, setbacks, long journeys etc) I would have gone for something a little more dramatic - something more 'supermannish'.

It's a good thing I'm not the author. Because in this little verse we are reminded that this is not where the story begins. Rather it is a continuation of the story already begun by God. Jacob, whose new name was Israel (given to him by God after his all-night wrestling match (Gen 32:28)), went down with his sons to Egypt because of his other son Joseph, who, despite being sold into slavery by his brothers and being unfairly treated in Egypt, was now nonetheless second-in-command over Egypt. It is quite incredible! Human obstacles are usually divine stepping stones when it comes to God's children!

We're also being reminded of the Israelites roots. I don't know about you, but when I think of Exodus, I think of the central deliverance from slavery aspect. This little verse reminds us that the roots of the Israelites lie not in slavery, but in the promise and choice of God.

It goes back to the covenant God made with Abraham. The sons of Jacob were descendants, and they certainly were not chosen for favour because they were good! Remember that they sold their brother, although their original plan was to kill him. At least with selling him they scored some shekels. But God chose them anyway, because of His divine loving plan.

It reminds me of how priviliged we are. Before we were even born with our sinful nature, and while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). It reminds me that the only reason any of us are able to be in relationship with God is because He first loved us. It reminds me that my roots lie not in my slavery to sin, but in God's gracious kindness and choice to love me. If it were not for that, I would still be a slave to sin and destined for destruction.

As we begin this week, let us get rid of any notions that we are favoured because we are so spiritual. We are favoured simply because God chose to favour us, despite us. And let us be faithful in continuing to spread the most beautiful story of all: that sinners are loved by God and can come to know Him, because Christ has made it possible through the throne of Calvary.

10 February 2012 - True Wealth

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phil 4:11-13
Yesterday I had to pop into a shopping centre to get something, and my 4 year old daughter was with me. She saw something she wanted (a Smurf doll) and I immediately launched into a tirade about the hidden evils of smurfs and the dangers of materialism.

Ok - I didn't do that, but simply explained that we could not get it because I didn't have the money for it. Naturally she took this bit of information with much dignity and understanding beyond her years - ok, that's also not true - she did a mini-sulk. I had to explain to her that we cannot always get what we want, but we can always appreciate what we have.

Everyday we are bombarded with what we don't have, and adverts seek to entice us into getting their products, appealing to the emotional level within us. Marketers are wanting us to believe that if we have a certain product, we will experience happiness. But no matter how much stuff we have, it never satisfies.

In the above verses, the apostle reveals true wealth: the person who trusts God and is content is the truly wealthy person. Children of God will go through seasons of want and abundance, but true wealth lies in contentment. "I can do all things through Christ" is not a divine endorsement of whatever we choose to do, but a recognition of how we can do nothing apart from Christ when it comes to obeying His will and serving for His kingdom (as the broader context of the letter shows).

And if you know of a brother or sister in need and you can help, then do so.

9 February 2012 - Talk is cheap

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth - 1 John 4:18
If you really want to irritate me, come and offer an opinion on what to do on a job I have already started...
For some strange reason, people think that by offering an opinion, they have helped! But there is a chasm of difference between an opinion and getting stuck in and actually helping. The one is mere words, the other is love.

The Word of God is full of challenges to not keep our faith witness at a verbal level, but to actually do it. For example, in James 1:22 we are told:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

And Jesus was quite clear when he said that "not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt 7:21). Jesus backed this up with His very life later in Gethsemane (see Matt 26:39-42).

Actions really do speak louder than words. We can say we are committed, whether it be to our jobs, our families, our ministries, our marriages and ultimately our Lord - but what do our actions reveal?

I for one am incredibly grateful that Jesus didn't just say He was committed to me: He proved it.

What a wonderful God!

8 February 2012 - Living Saints

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints - Psalm 116:15
A precious sister in Christ from a small South African town called Mooi River has just passed away.

She was a humble yet strong woman. She loved God and endured many hardships. The verse in Hebrews 11:38 comes to mind when it speaks of those who endured hardship and that 'the world was not worthy' of them. She grew up under a wrong system of apartheid, overcame hatred through Christ, and blessed many lives.

Best of all she had no reason to regret (at least not to my knowledge). She lived for God, and was a rock of support to her husband who loved her deeply, and who together accomplished much to bring reconciliation in this country through their example. Theirs was a marriage that took seriously the vow of 'for better for worse'. Her husband has no reason to regret either, because he poured his life into loving her.

Earth's loss is heaven's gain. And let's be honest, there's nothing quite like death to put life into perspective. This is the only life on earth we have before eternity.

We can reach the end of our lives with much wealth but end up miserly. But to invest in the things of God is to make a wise investment. To focus on loving one another is to focus on becoming Christlike. It is to walk a road where at the end we do not have to have regrets, but rather gratitude.

We do not own the people in our lives, but we have been granted the incredible privilige of loving them, and through that enabling both the giver and receiver to experience and understand a taste of redemption.

We don't have to be dead to be a saint, other than dead to our selfish nature. But may all our deaths one day be precious in the sight of God because of how we sought to love here on earth.

That's what saints do.

7 February 2012 - Stand firm soldier!

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist - Eph 6:14
Children of God are surrounded by enemies, because darkness detests the light.

Perhaps you are misunderstood and your actions have been misinterpreted. Stand firm.

Perhaps you are questioning the validity of your faith and whether its worth it. Stand firm.

Perhaps you are wondering if you will ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. Stand firm.

Stand firm with the truth of Jesus and who He is and what He has promised to hold you together. As the road-safety advert likes to keep reminding us: buckle up!

There are many temptations to give up, but God, through His Word, encourages us to remain faithful - to persevere and not give up. It's ok to be scared and afraid, it's just not ok to allow the fear to govern you.

Stand firm, because the enemies which surround the children of God are surrounded by an even greater and stronger foe, and His victory over them was proven whilst He was at His weakest, nailed to a cross.

We may be surrounded by enemies, but they're surrounded too. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

6 February 2012 - Come Forth!

And when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.....Jesus wept - John 11:33&35
I've alway's been astounded by the above incident of Jesus feeling genuine grief and sorrow over the death of his friend Lazarus and seeing the the hurt of others, especially since he had inside knowledge that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead!

But when things are not as they should be, we do experience pain. I think of just yesterday, when after a weekend away, my wife had to leave early with our daughter because our daughter was not well. It was a tad surreal for me, because I knew I would see them later in the day, but I was nevertheless all choked up! Needless to say I left soon after!

Isn't it wonderful that we have a Lord who truly wept over our human condition, who wept over you and me and the incredibly serious disease of sin we have - and then went on to do something about it? That is love.

It is just simply incredible and beautiful that, in the words of that Sunday School song "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so"

I am not worthy, I am totally undeserving, but boy, am I incredibly grateful. Jesus called my name and told me to come out of death into His wonderful life.

3 February 2012 - Closet Faith?

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works - James 2:22

The story is told of a respected deacon (who I am pretty sure must have been baptist - it's just such a baptisty thing to do!) who loved to carry on about the virtues of staying sober and not drinking. He one day employed a carpenter to do some alterations to his living room. As the carpenter was tearing stuff down, he saw a small closet that was well concealed, and inside this closet was a jug and tumblers clearly for the purpose of drinking alcohol. The carpenter was astounded and ran to the deacon to announce what he saw. The deacon responded by saying – ‘'that is interesting – it must have belonged to the Captain Brown who lived here thirty years ago.”

The carpenter responded – "Perhaps it did – but deacon, that ice in the jug must have been well frozen to have remained solid all this time!"

Let us not forget - we are called to lead Christ-like lives! It is not enough to say 'I believe in God'. It is not the profession of faith that saves, but the possession of it.

Does your life reveal a saving faith, or is it one in which you say you believe and your life is the same as before?

If that is the case, you need to call and cry out on the name of the Lord – and He will save you!

2 February 2012 - Faith Corpses

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:25-26

We have been looking at this issue of faith, and how James describes very clearly the nature of true faith: it is not about professing, but possessing. Faith in the living Christ just has to manifest itself through works. To prove his point, he cites Abraham.

But then in the above verses, James uses not only the great Jewish hero and founder of faith Abraham, but also the pagan heathen prostitute and shady lady Rahab! You could not get two more opposite people! But these two people, though opposite, were both saved by the grace of God which was revealed through their lives. Rahab showed her belief in God through her actions of helping the spies (see Joshua 2). It revealed a turnaround in her life, and her good deed is recorded. There’s a lesson in that: what we do for ourselves will be wiped out – what we do for others will outlive us.

And just to wrap up his argument, James makes his point very clear: faith without fruit is a dead faith – it’s a corpse. Just like the body needs the spirit in order to live, so true faith will reveal itself through works. And just as a corpse is offensive and needs to be buried no matter how beautiful you try and make it look, so only professing a faith in God is offensive and hypocritical too. How tragic that the church is full of corpses!

But how wonderful that God does not hold our sins against us! His gift of faith in Him is available to all and not dependent upon us but Him.

Are you alive?

 

1 February 2012 - Justifying faith justified

Reading: James 2:14-26
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works; and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believe God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" - and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:20-24)
It does get a bit confusing this doesn't it? Or is it just me?

Do Paul and James contradict each other? Does Paul preach faith only and James faith+works? Not at all - we have seen that what James is explaining as true faith (which goes beyond a mere profession), Paul has in mind too. They were both fighting different types of gospel enemies.

And in the above verse, James uses the exact same example as Paul to prove his point. He uses the example of Abraham, and the point being made is that Abraham’s obedience did not cause his justification – it revealed it. It's interesting to note that Paul quotes Abraham in Genesis 15 before the act of obedience and before which he is already justified in the eyes of God. James refers to Genesis 22 where Abraham is justified to human eyes through his obedience.

James's argument is pretty much summed up in v22, where he in effect says “do you see that the faith, which is the main thing, was shown by his works – and that the faith was made complete by the works”

And it's also interesting to note that this phrase that faith was completed by his works tells us that faith has a goal... and what is that goal? Was it to spare his son Isaac? No. Was it to get rich and prosperous? No.

The goal of the faith was to obey God. The goal of the faith that God puts in us is Him. And the more we obey God, the closer we will grow to Him.

God plants faith in us, and God grows our faith through our obedience to Him.

The result of the obedience of Abraham was that God called him friend. What a commendation!

Let us never forget the goal of our faith. Faith is not given to us to better our circumstances, or as a tool to make life easier. Faith is granted to us for the purpose of knowing and glorifying God.

31 January 2012 - Faith & Calories

(NB: I am indebted to Spiros Zodhiates and his commentary on James for these lessons)
 Reading: James 2:14-26

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead ......You believe that God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe - and shudder! (James 2:17 & 19)
 Saving faith, as we saw yesterday, is a whole life response.  It is not good enough to simply make a profession of faith, because it is the possession of faith that enables salvation.

And true faith will show because true faith is like calories: you can’t see them, but you can see their results.  And this is the point that is being made by James – true faith will show.

Now this is a great challenge isn’t it? I am sure you all know people who say ‘yes, I believe in Jesus’ but they continue to live their own lives their own way – and perhaps they even say ‘I don’t have to worry about the law because in Jesus I am good.’  According to the Bible, that is not a saving faith – the person professes faith, but does not possess faith.  And the trouble with this?

The trouble with this is that such a faith is not a witness for Christ, but a witness against Him.  A Gospel faith must produce a gospel walk. 

A faith that only professes a belief in God is the same faith that the demons have.  This is the point of v19.  Everyday the Jews would recite Deuteronomy 6:4:

Hear O Israel – The Lord our God, the Lord is One

They believed it – they just did not always live it.  The demons too believe that there is only one God, but their belief does not lead them to behave.  They’re scared of God, but they don’t obey Him.

Saving faith reveals itself through fruit.  It's incredibly important that we understand this point.  James is not saying that by doing good works you can have true faith, because you cannot start with fruit and end at the root.  Rather he is saying that good works show that you have faith.

And so we have opportunity to always assess ourselves.  We should never reach a point where we are satisfied with our walk with God, but rather be continually hungry for Him to work in us and through us the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:8-9).

Truly there is no greater privilige than to be used of God.  A desire for God will never be wasted.

30 January 2012 - Evidence of Faith

Reading: James 2:14-26

Focus verse: 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. (v14-17)
If you were to be arrested and put on trial for being a child of God, what evidence would the prosecution have to prosecute you?

In this passage, we are given a picture of biblical faith.  It's not enough to say "I believe," because even the demons believe that there is only one God (v19).  We also need to understand that James is not contradicting Paul in salvation is by grace!  What Paul meant by faith, James meant by works - they were dealing with different enemies of the gospel.  Paul had to deal with people who insisted the law of Moses was required for salvation, and James is dealing with people who are saying you don't have to worry about the law or good works - making a profession is what is needed.

Both Paul and James wrote independently of each other, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and both agree on an important point: it is not the profession of faith that saves, but the possession of it.  Biblical saving faith is not a subjective feeling or belief in all the right doctrines: it's a whole-life response.

For example, I can say until I am blue in the face that a chair will hold me, but I only demonstrate my belief or faith when I actually sit in the chair.

And as we will see, the point that James is making is not that you are to add works to your faith, but rather that true faith is revealed through works: after all, how can you be committed to a living Christ and loving God and still be the same person?

As we enter this week, let us look at the fruit of our lives, and see what it reveals about the state of our faith.  And let us be open to the Holy Spirit to lovingly lead us and guide us into truth and life!

27 January 2012 - Clever Leper

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."  Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." Mark 1:40-42
Imagine living your life having to call out 'unclean, unclean!' so that people could run away from you and not make contact with you for fear of being infected.  Imagine that your experience of life is one of consistent rejection and being shunned, a life in which it is assumed you are in the condition you are in because of some sin you did.  In fact, you are not even allowed to worship God with others, because you are regarded as unclean.  It is a lonely, dejected existence - at least there are other lepers who will understand.

This man was at breaking point.  He could not take it any more.  He was poor in spirit, and as a result he was about to encounter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3).  He implores Jesus - can you just hear the desperation?  He humbles himself before his only hope, and makes no demands: only a humble request - a request that would change his life.

The response of Jesus? Not surprisingly, he is moved by pity.  He saw the hurt and rejection and desperation in this man, and He did something about it: He healed him.

Healing and intervention begins at our point of desperation: recognising our need of a healer and Saviour.  It is extremely dangerous ground when one is confident in one's spirituality and proud of it! 

Jesus is still the same: responing to cries of desperation for His intervention.  It is the poor in spirit who encounter the kingdom of heaven. 

What a wonderful Saviour!

26 January 2012 - Foolish Fools

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." - Psalm 14:1
Brother Andrew (founder of Open Doors - you can read his story in "God's Smuggler") once shared how a communist official was explaining to him that there is no such thing as God.  Brother Andrew responded by saying that the Bible says the same thing, to which the official was obviously quite surprised.  Brother Andrew then quoted the above verse.  Needless to say the official was not too charmed!

A campaign was started by atheists in the UK where adverts were put out, especially on buses, which read something to this effect: "There is probably no God, so stop worrying and enjoy life." Apparently they were not allowed to state it as an absolute truth, and had to put in the word 'probably!'.  I guess the agnostics were happy.

But how can you enjoy life without the knowledge of God?  Atheists may want to wish there is no God, but a person who is honest with the evidence will have to admit that God has to be real.  Atheists are, to their own detriment, guilty of a double-evil: not only do they want to deny the existence of God, they want to steal the idea of Him too!  Their condemnation is deserved, but not to be delighted in. 

In a world of evil, in a world of hopelessness and despair, we as children of God need to deepen our roots into the nature of God.  We need to be people who, in the next verse of Psalm 14, can be found by God searching after Him.  Those who refuse to acknowledge His existence are going to experience terrifying consequences of their belief, but those who search after God will be blessed by Him.

And so a challenge is issued to each of us: what evidence does our life reveal of belief in the One True God?  May we not be guilty of being functional atheists where we say one thing but our lives reveal a devotion to some other idol.

Be determined and make it your lifelong goal to know more and more of God, because if it's a fool who says there is no God, then surely it's a greater fool who has the opportunity to know God more and doesn't take it?

25 January 2012 - Moulded Clay

Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand...Jeremiah 18:6

 That God should even bother with shaping us is amazing in itself!  I'll never forget a message by a brother in Egypt who spoke on this passage, pointing out that God uses life to shape us and mould us into the image He has created us to be.

But are we malleable?  Are we easily shaped or does stubborness demand more vigorous shaping?  Please don't mistake me here: sometimes the extra hard things we go through is not a result of stubborness, but fruitfulness (see John 15).  The real issue is whether we are prepared to surrender our hearts to God Almighty, giving Him free reign to do as He pleases in our lives.  For this to happen requires that we believe and trust in the goodness of God, who has yet to say 'oops.'

Whatever it is you may be facing, may I enourage you to face it with dignity and courage, because God the Father is not ignorant of your circumstances, but you may well be ignorant of what God is seeking to shape not only in you, but through you too.

Don't be a stick in the mud, rather be an earthen vessel through which Christ can shine!

24 January 2012 - Will the False Christ's Please sit down!

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no-one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many.  Matthew 24:4-5

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist - Eph 6:14
In the past week I have heard and seen of two separate groups that are grounded in deception.  The first is a man in America claiming to be the Messiah (he even has a webpage) and who has an international following, and the second is a group of ministers in a South African city who have formed a 'church' but who deny the supernatural ministry of Jesus and who take it upon themselves to interpret the Scriptures for their congregation.

What is particularly disturbing is how people are so easily deceived.  Satan doesn't have to do much to lead people astray!  It reminds us again that we are not, as my friend Mike likes to put it, on a playing field, but a battle field.  And in this battlefield, Satan has mastered the art of guerilla warfare.  He knows how to appear as light and deceive many.

This is why Christians need to stand firm!  In the description of the armour of God, it is the belt of truth that holds it all together.  Truth goes beyond propositional truth (which is incredibly important), and points to Jesus Himself.  Christianity is the only faith in which truth is personified in a person: Jesus the Christ.

And the best way to discern error is to focus on the truth.  We are tremendously priviliged to have God's Word available to us to teach us about God and His ways.  The character of Jesus shines through its pages.  The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth.

So everyone, stand firm!  Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus and Jesus alone. Immerse yourself in His Word. 

Let the true Christ shine through you!

23 January 2012 - How far will you go?

I speak  the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel - Romans 9:1-3
How far would you go to make sure someone gets saved? 

I am astounded by the heart of Paul - his incredible compassion reflected in his 'sorrow and unceasing anguish.'  And this is not mere sentiment that he is expressing, he really means it!  Notice how he firstly says he is speaking the truth and calls on the name of Christ to verify this - we don't expect Paul to lie anyway!  He then goes on to state that he isn't lying, and finally gives further emphasis by referring to his conscience being confirmed in the Holy Spirit.  Clearly Paul is serious about this next point!

And what is the point? He is incredibly saddened that his fellow Jews do not want to recognise Jesus as Messiah and receive salvation.  He is in anguish (do we even understand what that is?) over their lost state.  And Paul is so concerned for their salvation that he is willing to go to hell himself if it means their salvation.

That is huge.  That is challenging.  That is how far Paul is willing to go to ensure that the Jews get saved.

I am grateful to God that that is not expected of us.  Jesus has paid the price for our sinfulness and has opened the door to the throneroom of heaven.  We do not have to cut ourselves off from Jesus to ensure others get saved.

But we do have to pay a price to make sure they get the message.  We are not responsible for the salvation of others, but we are responsible for making sure everyone knows how they can know new life in Christ and be forgiven and rescued from God's wrath.

It's the greatest message in the world and the greatest responsibility to be given to share it and the greatest privilige to carry it out!

And we certainly will not regret giving this everything we've got when we reach heaven one day.

How far will you go to make sure people get the message?

20 January 2012 - Why I Live

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.  Colossians 1:13-16
We wrap up this week by simply reminding ourselves of why we live: we live for Jesus.

We exist because of Jesus, and we need to live through Him and for Him.

And as Aslan the lion said to Lucy in the novel Prince Caspian (and I'm paraphrasing): every year you get to know me, I will be bigger and bigger.

Has your concept and understanding of Christ grown since you first encountered Him?

May we grow in our love and knowledge of Him, because without Him, we are simply dust.

19 January 2012 - Glorified Living

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Eph 5:1-2

Living for the glory of God - that is why we are here.

Living for the glory of God is a positive affirmation of life, and the life worth living.

Living for the glory of God means that we will also avoid doing certain things because we know that it is not to the glory of God.  We won't lie, cheat, steal, be bitter, engage in alcolholism or drugs or sexual immorality.  We won't take or use the name of God lightly.

Imagine a society where the glory of God is lived for...the police and army would be out of work!
But it is our calling to live for the glory of God.  Unfortunately there are many parts of the body of Christ which live for their own image and glory, and the result is that the glory of Christ is unable to be seen.

May that not be true of us.  May we be imitators of God, living a life that is not concerned with our image and glory, but rather that is concerned about revealing an incredibly amazing and beautiful Christ. May our lives be incense to the throne of God.

18 January 2012 - Glorious Living

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God - 1 Cor 10:31
What a privilige to live for the glory of God!

We have so far seen that should live for the glory of God because He is our Redeemer, and because we have received Redemption.

There is a further reason: because of our reward.  Some people think it is not very spiritual to be motivated by reward, but God Himself motivates us with reward.  We are promised reward for our good deeds done in His name.  In 1 Cor 3:10-15 we are taught this principle of reward, and in v14 it is clearly stated:
 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
Isn't it wonderful that God would want to reward us for living the best way in anycase?

But with this comes a challenge: in our living for God's glory do we want to achieve significance or accomplish something significant?  The first is dangerous, the second is God-glorifying.  We will only accomplish something significant when we die to our need for significance.

17 January 2012 - Glory Living

First of all, let me apologise for the delay in devotions.  This week I am in an area of extremely limited connectivity!  So if nothing else arrives this week, please understand  Now onto more important matters...
 Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God - 1 Cor 10:31
We continue to look at this issue of living for the glory of God.  This is to be our motivation for living, and the Westminster Catechism sums it up beautifully when it asks the question "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is that the chief end of man is to live for the glory of God and enjoy Him forever.

But why?  We have already answered that question by pointing out that He is the Lord.  He is our Redeemer!

But there is further motivation to live for the glory of God.  If we have given our lives to Christ and received His salvation, then our Redemption is reason to live for the glory of God.  Scriptures such as 2 Cor 4, and 1 Peter 2:9-10 and 2 Cor 6:1-2 remind us that God has rescued us: He didn't have to, but He did.  And He rescued us not just for the sake of rescuing us, but so that we could live for His glory. 

So - that's two reasons to live for the glory of God: He is our Redeemer, and we have received Redemption.

When you have been rescued from a life-threatening situation, you will undoubtedly respond to your rescuer in a way that befits what has been done for you.  You won't go "hey - thanks mate - owe you one" and then go on living as if nothing has happened.

Jesus has not rescued us from a life-threatening situation: He has rescued us from death.

How will you live your life?

16 January 2012 - Glory Eating!

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God - 1 Cor 10:31
If ever there was a simple guiding rule of life to live by, this is it.

But why must we live for the glory of God?  There are many things to live for, so why would this reason be so important and indeed why should it be paramount?

The answer to this question lies in who God is.  In Jeremiah 9:23-24, we see God speaking to the people of Judah and telling them that the only thing worth bragging and boasting about is the privilige of knowing Him.  Ask people today what they live for or brag about, and 99% of the time it is about something that will pass away.  It could be knowledge, it could be money, it could be fame, but the only thing which we will take into eternity is our relationship with God (and of course our fellow-believers!).  In speaking to the people through Jeremiah, God says the following:
 ...that I am the Lord...
This is the heart of the matter.  We live for the glory of God because of who God is: He is the Lord.  As such, He is our Deliverer, our Provider, our God!  God is the Lord and the Lord is God!  We depend on Him for every breath that we take, therefore every breath that we take should be a breath of worship.

Whose glory will you live for?  As we enter this new week, let all that we do be for His glory! 

13 January 2012 - Get Grounded!

12 January 2012 - Get Grounded - Bear Fruit

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night - Psalm 1:2
So you want to be blessed?

We have seen so far that from God's perspective, a blessed person is someone who has God's hand upon him.  Such a person will avoid evil.

Such a person will also desire God.  And our best means for getting to know God is through His revealed word.  The law has a broader meaning than the first five books of the Bible, because law simply means instruction from God - and we have 66 books of those!

It is wonderful that God has revealed Himself to us through His Word.  That's the difference between revelation and religion.  With religion, we see man's attempt to get at God and make sense of the world around him.  I have found that religious people are generally a pain to be around!  But Godly people are different, because they enjoy the doing of God's will and joy is what comes from them.

But how do we meditate on God's Word continually?  Meditation is not only setting time aside for personal devotion.  Meditation is reflecting on God's Word during the course of daily living.  You can take a favourite Scripture verse, and simply repeat it over and over to yourself during the day, and ponder it, and praise God with it!  Here is one for starters:
   Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God - 1 Cor 10:31
Avoid evil - desire God.  Such a person is like a beautiful, fruitful tree, no matter what the season! 

11 January 2012 - Allergic to Evil?

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinnes or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water...Psalm 1:1-3
We saw yesterday that to be blessed goes a lot deeper than 'nice circumstances.'  It is having the hand of God upon us.  And having the hand of God upon us can be promoted. How?

The verses above reveal to us how: Avoid evil and desire God.

The avoiding evil is brought out quite strongly - take note of the word progression from walk, stand to sit.  In other words, the person who is righteous knows what to avoid, and does not engage or get involved with anything that is evil.

Obviously that cannot mean we avoid people in the world, otherwise we would have to enter a monastery (I'm not entirely convinced that would help though) or kill ourselves!  Paul makes it clear that we cannot avoid the world (1 Cor 5:9-11) although we are called to avoid people who are within the community of faith who call themselves brothers and sisters and live blatantly immoral lives.  In 1 Thess 5:22 he puts it clearly as well: Avoid every kind of evil.
Now that is certainly not easy in today's world, where just about everything is tainted by some sin or other (ranging from movies we watch to places we eat where someone is not getting a fair wage!).  The question I believe becomes one of influence: is the world influencing you or is it the other way round?  Are you being a light where you are?

The challenge for us as children of God is to live as citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20), being in the world, but not of it. 

Of course living like this will mean that sooner or later you will land up in trouble!  That's because darkness does not like light.  But it is far more important that we bless God through our stand for righteousness!  Friendship with the world is in fact being an enemy of God (see 1 John 2:15-17 for some sobering words on this truth as well as James 4:4).

Let us not be chameleon Christians that blend in with the world, but let us be willing to stand out as light!  May we develop a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit so that we stay away from every kind of evil.  It's what God wants.

10 January 2012 - Blessed

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields it fruit in season, and its leaf does not wither.  Psalm 1:1-3
What do you want from 2012? The way you want to experience this year has bearing on how you approach it.  For example, if you are in business and you want to be able to have a good financial turnover, then you need to be prepared to work hard, work smart and seize opportunities.  If you want it to be a year of growing in relationships, then you will need to reach out and bless people.  If you want it to be a year of joy, then avoid pessimism!

At a personal level, and I am sure I speak for many, I want to be blessed this year by God.

Psalm 1 tells us the pathway to blessing.  Whilst we cannot force the hand of God, because His blessing us is rooted in His kindness to us, we can however promote God's blessing.  But what does it mean to be blessed?

It cannot mean nice circumstances and lots of money (although that is obviously very nice :-).  The Scripture is filled with servants of God who were blessed by God, but went through very difficult things.  And Jesus, in His famous Beatitudes had a very different take on what it was to be blessed (Matthew 5).  He used words like poor, meek and persecuted!

In the above Psalm, we are also given an indication that it goes deeper than nice circumstances, because it speaks of a leaf not withering; you expect a leaf to wither if it is hot!  But instead we are told that a blessed person is like a tree.  Have a look at Jeremiah 17:7-9 for the same image!

My favourite definition of being blessed is taken from Psalm 139:5 where David, clearly realising how blessed he was, speaks of God laying His hand upon him. 

I can think of no greater privilige than to have the hand of God upon me.  No matter what the season of life, I want to know the hand of God upon me.  No matter what I go through, I want to know the hand of God upon me.

What do you want from 2012?  Tomorrow we will consider the pathway that promotes the hand of God upon us.  May we be fruitful trees this year!

Blessings to you!

9 January 2012 - Entitled To Servetitle

Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
 Focus verse: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,            taking the very nature of a servant (v5-7)
This is one of my favourite passages of Scripture.  It astounds me every time when I reflect on it.  Jesus, who was and is fully God, did not dwell on His deity and subsequent rights, but rather came to serve.  He never once said "Hey!  I'm the Son of God - you can't treat me like that!"

As a pastor I try to keep this passage in the forefront of my mind.  Many leaders like to expect special priviliges, and the temptation to entitlement is strong.  Just yesterday I was reading in the Sunday paper about what is being called "the Bling Gospel" with pastors in Durban promoting prosperityand driving the latest cars.  When the world sees and perceives the church being a golden cow then you know there is a problem.

Jesus wasn't like that.  He was born into simplicity, lived simply, owned no possessions that we know of(other than his robe) and died with nothing to His name (materially speaking). And yet look at the impact He made.

What would happen if children of God made it their focus not what they can get out of God, but what they can give to Him?  What would happen if we adopted an attitude of servant humility instead of entitlement?

May God grant us grace to live like this!

6 January 2012 - Whose fight is it?

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands - 1 Samuel 17:47
These were the words of David to Goliath, effectively pointing out to Goliath that he hadn't taken on David, but God Himself!

What an incredible trust David displayed.  It's hard for us to be able to trust that which we don't see, but David had no problem in believing that God was to be trusted.

We like to place our trust in human endeavours, because at least it is something we can see and have an element of control over.  But life does not always present us with the opportunities which can be solved by our own resolve: we simply have to trust.

And our trust is revealed through faith-action.  David revealed his trust in God by taking on the giant with his sling.  He knew the battle was God's, but he also knew he had to show up and fight, because God has made the choice to use human agents to reveal His glory.

Let's bring all of this together that we have considered this past week...

Perhaps you are facing what you might call a Goliath in your life?  How does one deal with it?

Well obviously it begins with identifying what it is, but then it needs to be seen against the backdrop of an even greater God.  Nothing is too big for Him to deal with.  From our side, it is important that we have a zeal for the honour of God's name (that we want to glorify Him no matter what), that we have a confidence in the promises and grace of God and finally, and this is what it really boils down to: that we look up.

Do not be afraid to tackle what may seem so daunting.  It is not daunting for God.  He wants to show you His glory.

5 January 2012 - Faithfulne​ss

Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."
But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep.  When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.  When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed will both the lion and the bear; this uncircimcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the livng God.  The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
1 Samuel 17"34-37
 We have so far seen how Saul looked at the physical reality, but David the spiritual reality.  David further had a zeal for the honour of God's name and a confidence in the grace of God.

Most of us I am sure would love to be used of God in such an amazing way.  And whilst all of us are used simply because God chooses to use us, was there something within David that enabled God to use him?

I believe there was, and it is seen in the above verses.  David was faithful in the small things.  He had already protected sheep and delivered them from wild animals.  The logical progression was to protect the sheep of God from this wild Philistine!  This encounter would not have happened had David not been faithful when no-one was looking whilst he was looking after sheep.  It would not have happened had David not spent hours practicing his skill with the sling.

If we want to be used of God, it helps to give the Holy Spirit material to work with.  For example, when we face a situation that we are not sure how to handle, the Holy Spirit can bring to mind a Scripture that will guide us.  But He can only do that if we have spent time in the Word and memorized Scriptures.
The same is true in the assignments that God gives to us.   God matches the character to the assignment.  Remember the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30)?

God looks at our faithfulness in our current assignments, whilst we tend to focus on what we want to do!  David was faithful in what he was called to do, and God led him to the next opportunity.

Are you being faithful in what you have been called to do now?  Are you giving the Holy Spirit material to work with?

May we be found faithful!

4 January 2012 - A Zealous Heart

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45
We saw yesterday that David had a different perception to king Saul and the rest of the Israelite army.  The result of his perception reveals to us that in the spiritual realm, it was David who was actually the giant.

What was in David's heart that set him apart?  What enabled him to confidently take on this giant Goliath?

One thing is seen in what he said to Goliath in the above verse - David was not happy with Goliath for defying God.  David had a zeal for the honour of God.  Think about that for a moment.  Do your actions reveal a desire to honour God?

Then there was something else David had: a confidence in God's grace.  In v26 David refers to Goliath as an 'uncircumcised Philistine.'  This Philistine was someone who was not entitled to the covenant promises of God.  But David was, and he had confidence in the promises of God.  As children of God, we are in Christ, with even greater priviliges!  Do you know who you are in Christ?

A zeal for the honour of God's name, and a confidence in God's grace.  May that be true of His people!

3 January 2012 - Puny Goliath

Reading: 1 Samuel 17

Focus verse: David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."
                    Saul replied, "You are not able to to out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."  (v32-33)

The encounter of David and Goliath is truly an exciting narrative!  It has touched the heart of millions, and often used as an analogy whenever there is a battle between small and big.

If I were a movie maker (I would love to be one!), it would be the natural thing to do to hone in on the physical contrast between David and Goliath.  Perhaps a wide-angle shot indicating their height difference.  Then perhaps a close-up of Goliath, starting at his toes and working our way up, giving emphasis to his size and heaviness of his armour, until we reach his head with it's ugly snarl and eyes of defiance and cruelty.  This guy is huge! He stands about three metres tall, and his armour for his torso alone weighs about 60 kg!  I used to try and bench-press that (I didn't get very far, but I did try!).  The tip of his spear alone is about 7 kg - can you imagine the size that spear has to be for effective aerodynamics?

A response of fear is not innapropriate when encountering this monstrosity!  And fear is what the Israelite soldiers, including their king Saul, experienced.  There is no-one among their ranks that can take Goliath on, and Goliath is not a person you want to meet unprepared, whether it be in the middle of the day or a dark alley.

And in steps a shepherd boy. 

The difference could not be any greater.  Goliath is a giant, and David is a boy.  Goliath has battle experience, David doesn't (at least, not conventional!)

But the physical contrast does not reveal the true picture.  In the spiritual realm, David is the giant, and Goliath a puny cockroach.

David saw a giant (and a target he couldn't miss), but he saw an even greater God, and the giant (who only had physical strength)  was no match for this great Yahweh.  This giant was also uncircumcised, and thus has no claim to the covenant promises of God.  Do yourself a favour and read v45-47 of this chapter!  David is not shy to take on this giant, and preaches to him in the process!  Goliath threatens to feed David to the birds, and David counters with the threat that he will be feeding the entire Philistine army to the birds!

Perception is everything, especially in our walk with God.  It does not matter what it is you may be facing, it is no match for the greatness of God. Tomorrow we consider what is was in David's heart that gave him the confidence to take on Goliath.

In the meantime, let's give thanks that God is greater than any obstacle we may face.  And let us not forget that in killing Goliath, David moved from shepherd to warrior, but it needed a battle for the transformation to take place.

In God's economy, nothing is wasted.  Let us trust Him and allow Him to work in us and through us - for His glory and His honour.

30 December 2011 - Faithful One

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.  I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.  Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
  Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."  Lamentations 3:19-24
Lamentations 3:1-20 (part of which is quoted above) can pretty much describe the experience of many when it comes to the year 2011!  It has been a particularly tough year for many.  And the question many are asking is what will 2012 bring?

We do not know what 2012 will bring, but we do know something for certain: The Lord will remain faithful.  He will not leave us, and even though we will not always get it right in 2012, God will not condemn us either.

2 Timothy 2:13 puts it like this:

  If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.
How wonderful is that?

My prayer for all of you in the coming year is found in Numbers 6:24:

   "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace"
What a privilige to be able to enter the year 2012 knowing that God is with us!

29 December 2011 - Bacon or Egg Christian?

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
  Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:27-28
It must have been quite something to hear Jesus teach, and I am sure any mother would have been proud to have had Jesus as their son.  One can quite understand the sentiment expressed by this woman in the crowd!

But Jesus didn't come to be admired, He came to save.  He didn't come to impress, but to reveal the way.

And what does He teach us? The heart of the matter is this: Jesus is looking for obedience.  God said the same thing to Saul through the prophet Samuel (see 1 Samuel 15:22), where Saul only partially obeyed God's instruction, and tried to turn the disobedience into a matter of honouring God (by saying that the best cattle was spared to make a sacrifice where God's instruction was to destroy everything).

As Christians we tend to the same pattern don't we?  We offer partial sacrfice and we think we're doing so well.  It reminds me of the well known example of the grateful chicken who said to the pig that they should give the farmer a special breakfast because he was so good to them.  The response of the pig was to say "Well, for you that's easy - it's just a sacrifice you have to make of an egg or two - but for me it's a total commitment!"

May we as children of God have this desire as our focus: to obey Christ.  May we determine in our hearts that no matter what Jesus calls us to do, we will obey, because surely the reward of obedience is better than the pain of disobedience?

Let's not be proud of our so-called sacrifices that we make for Jesus, let's simplyobey.

28 December 2011 - The Indwelling Christ

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me - Galatians 2:20
Before Christmas we looked at the Incomparable Christ who was and is above all.  We then looked at the Incarnational Christ who is among all. Why did He go through all this trouble?  We see it reflected in the above verse - so that He could be the indwelling Christ, who unfortunatel, is only within some.

It was truly quite a journey that Jesus undertook!  From His glory to a womb, to a manger, to a baptism, to a cross, to a grave, and then ascended again into glory!  And whilst Jesus is now sitting in glory, the journey is not yet complete...

The journey is only complete when He indwells you.  The whole purpose of Jesus coming was that He could be inside you, and you be in Him.

That is the issue you must settle: Is Christ indwelling you?

23 December 2011 - The Way in the Manger

...and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  Luke 2:7
What an amazing Christ!  We have been looking at how Christmas is not so much about the event as it is about the person behind the event.  We have looked at the Incomparable Christ who is above all, and this is seen in His teachings and His compassion.  We have seen the Incarnational Christ who is among all, who came to meet us at our level: His birth being His entrance into sinful humanity, His baptism being His identification with sinful humanity and His death His becoming sinful humanity.  He left His glory and ended up crucified (humanly speaking!).

This was done so that He could become the Indwelling Christ, who unfortuntately, is only within some (more about this on Monday!)

I am always astounded how it is that the King of Kings came to earth in such humble conditions.  It is a reminder that knowing Christ begins with a sense of need: knowing that we are sinners in need of a Saviour, and so incredibly grateful that He came!

Folks - to each and every one of you, may you have an absolutely blessed Christmas.  May you encounter afresh what John calls 'grace upon grace and truth' (John 1:16&17).

And remember - don't keep Jesus in the manger!

22 December 2011 - Incarnatio​n Costs

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us - John 1:14
Father Damien was a healthy Catholic priest who responded to a call for help.  He went and ministered on the island of Molokai, a government-sanctioned quarantine island for people with leprosy which was part of Hawaii during the 1800's.  After 16 years of ministering to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people of this leper colony, he stood up one morning in church and informed them that he was able to address them as fellow lepers.

Father Damien chose to become a priest to these victims of leprosy.  He left behind an opportunity to work with healthy people,  and ultimately he became a leper himself.

Incarnation is not only about what you leave behind, but also about the ultimate consequence.  In leaving His glory, Jesus went from one 'extreme' to the other.  Here is what I mean:

What was it like for Jesus, who at his baptism was described as beloved – to move from beloved to recipient of God’s anger?

What was it like to move from being pure to being a vile sinner?

What was it like to move from being the giver of love to the receiver of hate (from those around him)?

What was it like to move from being the revealer of truth to being crucified by lies?

And why did Jesus go through all this trouble?

For you.

21 December 2011 - His Death - Our Life

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us - John 1:14
Jesus was truly determined to meet us at our level.  We have seen how his incarnation and birth represents his entrance into sinful humanity, and how his baptism represented his identification with sinful humanity.  There is one more event which is important, the event that makes salvation possible, and that is His death.

The crucifixion of Christ is His becoming sinful humanity.  Paul explains it like this: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21).  Jesus truly was the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sins of the world!

But as humans we probably don't quite get the miracle of the incarnation, after all we are humans ourselves.
But here’s the deal about incarnation: the true measure of incarnation is not so much in what one becomes, but what gets left behind.  We cannot comprehend the chasm that Jesus bridged for us: he left his glory and unlimited capacity and voluntarily took on bodily three-dimensional limitations: the all-powerful-in-control Jesus became a baby who messed and grew up as a human being like the rest of us – needing to eat and drink and use the bathroom just like everyone else.

Philippians 2 reminds us that though Jesus was God, He took on the form of a servant -  and a servant willing to die the type of death He did!  He left His heavenly glory to come and be with us!

Truly, you are loved.

20 December 2011 - Jesus Identifies with Us

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...John 1:14
We started yesterday to look at the miracle of the incarnation, and the seriousness which Jesus undertook His task of meeting with us in order to save us.  The first event which proves His seriousness is His birth into our world, a fact that we celebrate at this time of the year (although we don't know what time of the year Jesus was born!).

The second event in the life of Jesus which proves His seriousness to identify with us is His baptism, which we can read about in Matthew 3:13-17.  Jesus did not need to undergo a baptism of repentance, but in doing so He identifies himself with sinful humanity at the start of His ministry.  He also shares the same hope as everyone else who went through the waters of baptism: the restoration of Israel.  The only difference is that He was that hope!  What a powerful moment it must have been, with the full representation of the Trinity being present: the voice of Father God speaks, affirming His beloved Son with words from the Old Testament (see Psalm 2:7 & Isaiah 42:1) and the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove.

Isn't it wonderful that Jesus did not shy away from meeting with us?  He was not concerned about how we might taint His image. When you have a heart for people, image should be the last thing on your mind, other than an image of lost souls who need tranformation!

Thank you Lord for your love - for being willing to identify with us - may we too share Your heart!

19 December 2011 - Incarnatio​nal Christ

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... John 1:14

Last week we looked at the Incomparable Christ who is above all.  There are many reasons why Jesus is above all, but the two we honed in on were his commands/teachings and His compassion.

This week we will look at the Incarnational Christ who is among all.

John 1:1-14 paints this amazing picture of deep theological significance, and makes it very clear that Jesus existed before the creation of the world and is God (incidentally, the JW's maintain that John 1:1 says 'a god' and not 'was God' - according to my sources this boils down to a misunderstanding of Greek grammar!!!)

John goes on to point out that all of us are here, and indeed every created thing is here, because of Jesus, because without Him, nothing was created.  And then we get to this amazing statement quoted above - that God became flesh!  And what did this amazing theological truth look like at a real, practical level? Luke 2:7 tells us - Mary gave birth to her firstborn, He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a manger!  I am pretty sure the angels shook their heads in amazement.

God became flesh.  Incarnation doesn't mean He came and indwelt somebody - it means He came Himself.  He was fully God as though He were not man, and fully man as though He were not God (I think Augustine explained it like that).  He came and met us where we were at.

And this is what Incarnation is all about: God meeting us at our level.  Jesus was really determined to do this, and three events in His life prove His determination to meet us at our level so that He could save us.  The first is His birth, which is His entrance into sinful humanity (but He did not enter as a sinful human because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit).

Isn't it simply wonderful that God would come and meet with us?  After all, there is simply no way we could go and meet with Him!

What an amazing God.

16 December 2011 - Incomparab​le Compassion​!

He will be great - Luke 1:32

Jesus is truly incomparable and above all.  Not only in His teaching, but in His compassion.

This was another feature that stood out in the ministry of Jesus, the fact that He had compassion for the people (see for example Matthew 9:36).  And the reason Jesus was compassionate? Because God is compassionate!  It's not like Jesus is the 'nice one' and God the Father 'the harsh one.'  You look at Jesus, and you look at God.  Hebrews 1:1-3 makes this quite clear!

You will find no such love in any other faith.  Allah does not love unconditionally - it has to be earned.  Allah can offer no saviour.

But the compassion of Jesus is such that while we were still sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8)!  This is the ultimate reconciliation (In South Africa today is Reconciliation Day)!  The only reason we are able to love God is because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).  As one person put it, where Islam offers the scales of judgement, Christ offers the Cross.

I don't know if you have noticed how pain has a knack for what is bringing out in the heart.  What was the cry of Jesus as He was being unjustly crucified? "Father forgive them!

That is just astounding and incredible. If I was in that place, you can be rest assured I would not be saying that - my heart would undoubtedly be filled with hate and anger for my tormentors.

But the instinctual, gut-level response of Jesus was love.  It's really just too much to handle!

Truly, He is incomparable!

15 December 2011 - Above All Faiths

He will be great - Luke 1:32

We have been considering the Incomparable Christ, and yesterday we compared Christ to the teachings of evolution (which proponents regard as a science - it isn't a religion because no worship is involved, but it does nonetheless represent a worldview).

What about Islam?  This is a religion which is gaining much momentum and ground!

To hear the teachings, and to be exposed to the inconsistencies, is quite an experience, and one weeps over how many can fall prey to its deception.  The Koran cannot give birth to peace and hope, only despair, fear and hate.  It teaches that Allah, who is described as being merciful, sends all people to hell first, and then those whose good deeds outweigh their bad get to cross over to paradise on a bridge which is the width of a human hair (which means that sin can enter paradise).  Furthermore, Allah is seen as having created human beings sinful, but then tells them to be pure.  In short, Islam victimises its followers, because they have been set up for failure, they have to try and earn the love and mercy of Allah, and they have no guarantee that they can get it.  And we haven't even touched on the life of its leader yet!!!

Christ is truly above all - from every religion from Animism to Buddhism to Hinduism to Islam to Zoroastrianism!  And the life of Jesus was above all too, because His life and His teachings were one.  Even critics of Christianity admire Jesus.

How wonderful that we have a Saviour who recognises our sinful condition (which is a result of our own choice) and sought to do something about it (even though He didn't have to!).  This leads us to the second reason why Jesus is above all, which we will look at tomorrow - His Compassion.

The commands of Jesus are truly righteous and life-giving.  The fruit of His commands is not death, but life, not fear but hope.  The commands of Jesus also make sense and fit the criteria for truth.  But then, He is the way, the truth and the life!

What an amazing Lord!

14 December 2011 - Devolution of Truth?

He will be great - Luke 1:32

We started to look yesterday at why Christ was incomparable, and the first reason is His teachings.  His teachings are simply amazing, and counter-intuitive!  We also saw that it is the teachings of Christ that forms the basis of our conscience.

It makes sense to consider what alternatives there are to the teachings of Christ, because this serves to show just how incomparable He is!

Evolution got touched on, and it's appropriate that this teaching is looked at since it would have formed the basis for many at the recent COP17 conference held in Durban.

Personally, I think evolutionists have more faith!  Their idea that we are a result of random molecules and random events plus a long time is just a tad difficult for me to fathom, and instead represents a suppression of the obvious truth, as seen in Romans 1:18-20.  From what I have read and heard (I am  no scientist), much of the evidence used to cite evolution (primarily fossils) is also explained by a flood (remember Noah?).  2 Peter 3:3-7 points out that people do not want to consider that, because no-one wants to be reminded that we are accountable to a God who judges!

What you believe shapes how you live.  Take God out of the picture (which is what evolution has done) and what are you left with?  A worldview that will tell you either 'what's the point?' or make as much as you can because when you die it's over.  That's known as materialism, and it loves Christmas - for all the wrong reasons!  Compare that with Jesus who told us not to store up for ourselves treasures on earth, but to store up for ourselves treasure in heaven!

Truly Jesus is above all.  And the created world around us points to a God which fits the description of the one revealed in Scripture!

Jesus truly is the way, the truth and the life!

13 December 2011 - Incomparab​le Christ

He will be great - Luke 1:32
This has got to be the understatement of history!

Jesus is indeed great.  He is the Incomparable Christ who is Above All.  The psalmist posed this question in Psalm 89:6

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

And in Isaiah 40:18. God posed this cosmic rhetorical question: Who compares with God? Is anything like him?

Truly Christ is incomparable! Why?  There are a number of reasons, but let's hone in on two.  The first reason is his commands and teaching.

No-one taught like Jesus did.  In fact, this aspect of Him stood out for His listeners – even Nicodemus acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher sent from God, and the view of the ‘common people’ is expressed in Matthew 7:28-29 check it out!).  His teaching was in a sense largely counter-intuitive.  For example, our world tells us that for a kingdom to advance, especially your own, you need to be smart, educated and ruthless – to do whatever it takes so that you can win!  You don’t expect a person who is poor in spirit to be at an advantage for life!  But Jesus called a person who was poor in spirit an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven!

But probe a little deeper, and you come to understand that the commands of Jesus form the basis of our moral conscience, a conscience which goes beyond a result of mere socialisation.  We know that it is not right to murder or steal or tell lies.  A conscience makes no sense from an evolutionary perspective, because in that context it would make sense to steal and kill in order to survive.  Instead, the commands of Jesus point to a moral God, and morality best makes sense in the context of an objective moral God from whom the morals are derived.

We shall explore this a little further!  But truly the teachings of Christ are incomparable.  We follow not a nice man, or a man with wonderful ideals, or a great teacher.  We follow the one and only incomparable Son of God, whose life and teaching were one and the same.

What a wonderful Saviour!

12 December 2011 - Harp On!

Psa 150:1-6 Shout praises to the LORD! Praise God in his temple. Praise him in heaven, his mighty fortress. (2) Praise our God! His deeds are wonderful, too marvelous to describe. (3) Praise God with trumpets and all kinds of harps. (4) Praise him with tambourines and dancing, with stringed instruments and woodwinds. (5) Praise God with cymbals, with clashing cymbals. (6) Let every living creature praise the LORD. Shout praises to the LORD!
Last night our church had a carols by candlelight service, and boy it was absolutely beautiful.  We were truly blessed to have two guest musicians join us from the philharmonic orchestra - one who played the french horn and the other the oboe.  For our small congregation, this was a treat of note!

Two lessons come to mind on reflecting about last night.  The first is beautifully expressed in the psalm above: Jesus is worth celebrating and shouting about!  As the angel said to Mary, Jesus is truly great.  Christmas is not about what we are celebrating, but who.

The second lesson was how beautiful it is when the body functions together as a unit.  Having these two extra musicans added to our team gave our sound an amazing sense of wholeness and fullness - it's as if they completed us.  And when the body of Christ functions properly, with each one doing its part, it is truly beautiful.  It is not only beautiful to those within, but also to those who encounter it!

So, are you celebrating Jesus this season?  And what are you contributing to the local church where you have been planted?  As the church we represent the continued presence of Jesus in this world, and I can think of no higher calling than that!

9 December 2011 - Silence of the lambs?

The angel answered, "I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."  Luke 1:19&20
This was the response of Gabriel to Zechariah, who had a hard time believing he was going to have a son at so late an age (read the full account in Luke 1:5-25).

I am sure his wife must have been grateful (), but it gives us insight into the seriousness with which God takes unbelief at what He says.  It must have astounded Gabriel to encounter such unbelief and disrespect for the Living God!

It's one thing to be silenced because of unbelief, but it's another matter entirely to be silent when one does believe!  How many Christians, or how much of the church, is giving ground instead of taking it because we choose to remain silent instead of voicing God's voice?  How is it that in South Africa, where Islam is in the minority, that Muslims can have so much influence (even bottled water is halaal!!!???) and can shut down business over prayers and people must just accept that?   But if Christians try to take the same approach, and were to say to their bosses that they refuse to work on Sunday for example (and yes, I do know our sabbath rest is in Christ!), or that they don't appreciate the name of God being used as a swear word (a very quick route to being labeled religious and to being unpopular), it won't take long to discover just how much bosses actually care - and the only cheque you'll get is a reality one...the idea of company loyalty does not always work both ways!

Let's take the Christmas season.  I'm amazed that I am still hearing carols being sung in the shops (actual Christian songs!), but let's face it, the only reason they are being played is to evoke a 'generous' (read 'spending') spirit!  The businesses could not care two hoots about Christ!

I am not saying you must now go make demands (but if you're convicted to then go for it!), because I believe the way we are to win is through spiritual weapons, not earthly ones.  If you have to work on a Sunday (for example), then make sure you take one day in the week off to regenerate your body and spirit with the Lord, because God created the Sabbath for you, not Him (but do take note of how missing out on the fellowship is a powerful rudder for drifting you away from Christ). The more important issue is being the light!

May I encourage you to bring light whereever you have been placed.  Why not start a conversation with a colleague about what Christmas means to them? Why not share about how Christmas is so special to you because you are so incredibly grateful that Jesus came to save you? Why not find out a need of theirs and offer to pray for them? And then do so - right there!

Let us not forget that we serve a God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20).  To my shame I admit that my lack of vision and actions have not revealed a true belief in this.  More and more I am beginning to understand that God actually wants to work through us, and that when we take the step of faith-action, He does!  God is true to His Word, and we will only discover that when we act upon it.

Let us not be silenced, but let us have the courage to proclaim the message of Christ.  Let us live in accordance with our convictions, and may God be glorifed through us.

8 December 2011 - American Fantasy or Heavenly Reality?

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life...
...who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?    - Matt 6:25 & 27

 I have come that they may have abundant life - John 10:10
Last week we looked at how Jesus challenges us to choose Him above everything else.  He offers us a choice between two treasures (let's call them the 'American Dream' vs 'Heavenly Reality'), two visions of life (Earthly Minded or Heavenly Minded) or two slave masters (Money or God).

These choices filter through to everyday choices in our lives - who we choose to place our trust in, where we choose to be, how we handle our finances.  Sooner or later we will also face 'crunch' moment decisions where the decision we make will reveal what is truly precious to us.  Having said that, it's also not so much about the 'big' decisions we make, but what our daily decisions reveal about our heart's alignment.

It is God's desire that we choose Him, even if it means forgoing earthly security.  This is way easier said than done, but the truth of Scripture, backed by the experience of the saints, testifies to the truth that those who trust in Him are not put to shame.  They may be mistreated, reviled, misunderstood and whatever, but the Lord knows who are His!

As a brother put it - we need to add life to our years rather than years to our life.  How true!

This Christmas season let us remember what Christ left behind for our sakes, and let us allow The Way in the manger to force us to re-examine our priorities.  Perhaps I could ask you to respond to this question for me which I would love to put together in a devotion!  Here it is: "What we won't say when we get to heaven" (An example: I wish I had spent more time at the office! - or: I wish I had saved more money!)

Let us not seek to add more years to our life, but more life to our years.  Forsaking All I Trust Him.

7 December 2011 - Truly Great

He will be great - Luke 1:32

But he was pierced for our trangressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:5&6
Think about your sins over the past week, or perhaps just the past day (or hour).  Did you wish you could murder someone? Did you speak an unkind word?  Did you take offence at something you needed to hear?  Did you allow bitterness to take root? Did you tell a 'white' lie to cover up for something or someone? Did you tell a rude joke? Did you laugh at one? Did you engage in a sexual relationship outside of marriage? Did you deny Christ?

It's not difficult to come up with a list of sins, and because sin is so commonplace, it's easy to develop a tolerant view of it.  But the purpose of the baby in the manger was to be pierced and crushed and punished for what we habitually do...sin.

As high as the purity and holiness of God is, so low is God's view of sin.  He does not tolerate it.  And the one little innocuous thing we do wrong (or fail to do right) is enough to separate us from God for eternity - because of His incredible purity and holiness and glory and His inability to accept sin in His presence.

Does it sound harsh?  It is, that is why drastic measures were called for: Jesus Himself coming to receive our punishment and God's anger.

We are the one's that have gone astray.  We are the ones who have decided to pursue our own way.  We cannot blame God for our errors.

But we can receive from God His forgiveness.  We can admit that we are fundamentally rebels against God.  We can confess that we have gone wrong, and we can ask for forgiveness.  We can believe that Jesus really did come for the likes of you and me.

Considering the high price paid for our salvation, the battle that was fought for our soul (which is nothing compared to boxing or wrestling or karate or cage fighting or war!), then surely we can only respond this Christmas with humble gratitude to the Lord of all that would rescue a habitual sinner like myself.

He is truly great.

6 December 2011 - Great Grace

He will be great - Luke 1:32
Jesus redefined greatness.

In our world today, greatness is understood in terms of power and prestige.  Greatness is the ability to to order people around because people listen to you.

But Jesus had a different concept of greatness.  When the disciples were arguing (at the last supper!!!) about who among them was to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus had to intervene and said the following (Luke 22:25-27):

"The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves benefactors.  But you are not to be like that.  Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.  For who is greater, the one at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves"

The ruler of the universe came to serve!  How great is that?

Jesus was also pure, and showed us that purity is not about a set of trivial regulations (Jesus broke quite a few!) but a state of heart and being.  It's a pure heart that allows the light of Christ to shine through.

How is it that such an incredibly great and pure God came to serve you and me?  That truly is great grace!

Praise God!

5 December 2011 - True Greatness

He will be great - Luke 1:32
These were the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary in announcing that she would the instrument through which Jesus would enter the world - the pre-existent Christ was going to be born through her!

And He will be great!

He will be great because He is great.  He is great in power, great in glory, great in mercy, great in kindness, great in love and great in grace.

He will be great.

Greatness cannot be contained, but a true mark of greatness is the willingness to be contained for the sake of others.  Jesus gladly left His glory and became a man who humbled Himself even to death - and not just any death, but a death which marked Him as a cursed low-life scum, which Scriptures tell us He actually became on that cross: He became sin for us!

He will be great.

Because of His incredible obedience-driven humility, He is incredibly great.  Because of His six-foot-above-ground death, God exalted Him far above every authority and power.

Truly there is more to this baby in the manger than people realise.  How sad that people try to keep Him there!

He is great, and always will be great, and that's The Truth!

2 December 2011 - Distinctiv​ely Distinctiv​e

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?...
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matt 6:25 & 33
Have the devotions for the past week been unrealistic in expectation?

Was Jesus in His teaching that we have looked at talking in hyperbole (He often did!)?  Are His expectations unrealistic in today's world?

Or has discipleship been watered down?

Jesus has made it clear that only wholehearted devotion and loyalty to Him matters, but that the choice is up to us.  Jesus then trusts that His disciples will make the right choice, and tells them that in the light of that choice, there is no need to be concerned about 'practical matters' such as food and clothing, because God does happen to know that we need them - after all, He did clothe Adam and Eve after they had sinned!

God's promise is that if we choose Him and have His values as our priority, then we need not worry, because God can be trusted to provide.  If one does worry, then the focus is distracted again!

Does this mean we sit back and do nothing? Of course not!  The birds have to search for their food, and we need to work for a living, but the point is that worrying and fretting about these things betrays our heart and shifts our focus from more important things.  The writer to the Hebrews put it like this (in 13:5&6) :

   Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said:
     "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you"
  So we say with confidence,
     "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"
Rather lead a distinctive life!  A life focused on God's values and God's kingdom.  This is so important, because what you focus on (your treasure and vision) is what drives you and shapes you.  God is not calling you to refrain from having earthly goals, but to rather replace them with heavenly ones.

Let us not forget that God is our provider.  What we consider abundance, God considers waste and greed.  What God considers abundance, we consider poverty!  God's provision is to have enough, anything above that is for the benefit of others.

Focusing on your kingdom is to focus on a kingdom that is temporary, stressful and unsatisfying.  Focusing on the kingdom of God is to focus on a kingdom that is permanent, characterised by peace and joy and fulfilling.

Have a blessed weekend and thank you once again for the privilige of this ministry!

1 December 2011 - Which Master?

No-one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money.  Matt 6:24
We have so far seen that Jesus demands (or is that requests?) single-minded and undivided loyalty.  He places this demand before us a choice between two treasures, two visions, and now, in the above verse, between two masters.

It is significant that Jesus uses the word master and not employer.  You can have two employers, but if you are a slave, you cannot have two masters.

Either God is served with single-eyed devotion, or He is not served at all.

Trying to serve God and money simply does not work.  Trying to get the best of both worlds does not help either, because as we have already seen, a partial commitment to discipleship is not a commitment, but rather a revelation of deep seated idolatry.

How ironic that at Christmas time, the primary competitor for the lordship of Christ gets all the attention: money!

And now for a contentious paragraph which I hope will stir up some debate!...

What does it mean to choose God over money in today's culture?  For example, I grew up in a culture where if the job demanded work on a Sunday, you said no and trusted God for another job (obviously there are parameters around this - you cannot not be a nurse or a policeman etc on a Sunday!).  Times have changed and perspectives have changed - is that kind of attitude still required? After all, we are no longer under law - but what about virtue? Does God look only at our hearts, or also at our actions?  These are very tough and very real questions.

One thing is for certain: God knows our hearts.  Another thing is certain: the standards of Jesus make me realise how much I fall short and how incredibly grateful I am for salvation by grace!

Tomorrow we look at the promise Jesus gives to those who choose Him

30 November 2011 - Bright Eyed?

The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22-23
What option in life have you chosen to receive your focus?

Jesus teaches us that earthly treasures (as we saw yesterday) are a wasted focus and not worthy of undivided loyalty.  Only God and His kingdom is worthy of undivided loyalty.

In the next image above, Jesus utilises the image of an eye and pictures it as a heart.  The body goes in the direction of the eye.  If you don't believe me, take note of the following if ever you are at the beach: if you see some young men (old ones too unfortunately!) with jaws down and toungues hanging out and walking, have a look at what is in front of them - no doubt an attractive lady wearing what's left of some fabric!!!  It's hard to walk in a different direction from where your eyes are looking.

What is interesting to note is that both the word 'good' and 'bad' have two possible meanings (according to my commentary).  The word 'good' can mean single (as in undivided loyalty) or it can also mean generous.  Both meanings are suited to the context.  The word 'bad' can mean a person who is evil, or it can be an adaptation of a local idiom of the day which spoke of an evil eye which referred to selfishness.  Taking all this together, Jesus seems to be saying the following:

1) A person who tries to divide his interests between God and possessions has no clear vision and will live without direction (see v24)
2)  A person who is stingy and selfish is morally and spiritually blind (see v19-21) and cannot see where they are going.

The point becomes clear: we need to have a clear focus!

So far Jesus has shown us a choice between two treasures and two visions.  Tomorrow we consider the more basic choice that lies behind these two choices: a choice between two masters.

As a bumper sticker put it: Jesus invested His life in you - have you shown any interest?

29 November 2011 - Eternal Investment​s Inc.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matt 6:19-24
You have to admit, Jesus knew how to get to the point!

In these above verses, which we started to look at yesterday, Jesus challenges his disciples on where they place their focus and loyalty.  This is seen in the next two verses (v22-23) as well which we will consider tomorrow, which utilises the image of our eyes.  Finally Jesus reduces the question of loyalty to a choice between two masters (v24).

Jesus, coming from heaven to earth, is able to speak with authority on what is truly valuable.  And with impeccable logic He asks us what is the point of trying to accumulate earthly stuff?  It rots! Thieves steal! And let's not deny the stress that comes with it!

And it is such a pertinent question - an uncomfortably pertinent one.  Where is my focus - trying to make it in this world...or in the next?

Isn't it wonderful that God gives us opportunity to store up heavenly treasures?  And how do we do so?

Since Jesus is utilising the image of treasure, one way we are able to store up treasure is through generous giving.  We as Christians can choose to live in simplicity and manage the money we have for kingdom purposes, since it is God's in anycase!  I love the way Randy Alcorn puts it: you can't take it (money) with you, but you can send it on ahead of you!

The second way we can store up treasure is through righteous living.  God, in His grace has already prepared for us good works for us to do: we must simply do them!  1 Cor 3:10-15 (amongst other Scriptures!) teaches us the principle of reward for righteous living...but obviously from a heart that wants to please God!

So the question gets posed again: who has your heart?  I have never heard of a person who half-heartedly searched for treasure.  May we whole-heartedly live for Jesus!  He is the treasure that is worth placing our whole heart into.  Eternal investments outweigh earthly investments by eternity!

28 November 2011 - Where's Your Heart?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21
I had such an incredible privilege last night - I baptised four new believers.

It is always such a wonderful and sacred event, because you know that Jesus is there, rejoicing in the victory of Calvary.  This is what Jesus lived and died for: seeing souls rescued!  It is further wonderful because you know that legions of angels are rejoicing and demons are cursing.

And the word that we were given was so apt and challenging: how badly do we want Jesus?  We say we do, but how badly do we really?  We'll fight harder for a hot-dog at half-time at a rugby match than we will for Christ!

And then I wondered how come there were not more people watching this momentous Calvary-affirming event?  Granted some were ill and others no doubt had 'legitimate' excuses..sorry..I meant reasons...

And I understood why some were not there, because I fall under the same malaise...if my heart is not there, I will not be there.  If I wasn't doing the baptizing, would I have been there?

And I begin to understand why Islam is succeeding.  They have zeal.  It's misplaced zeal, but it's powerful.

Christians on the other hand like to rest and enjoy the grace of God, with the understanding that no matter what they do, Jesus still loves them and isn't that wonderful...and it's true what I think Daniel Shayesteh (I'm open to correction) said: the only thing worse than a radical muslim is a passive christian.

But a partial commitment to discipleship is not a commitment, it's an expression of deep seated idolatry.

May God forgive us our divided loyalties!

25 November 2011 - I tweet you..er..p​oke you...ah..​Love You!

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:10&11
Facebook, Twitter, and this morning I got introduced to LinkedIn (I am rather behind the times!) - there is just no shortage of social media forums - it seems that e-mail is becoming the new snail-mail!

It's wonderful to be able to keep contact, and the social media tools should be utilised for that - I mean you can literally do coffee with someone on the other side of the world (provided one of you is willing to be up at an awkward hour!).  I do wonder what the apostle Paul would have done with today's tools!

The power of the social media is also quite something - just look at the Arab Spring!

But to be honest, I am glad that Jesus came in person and didn't send a memo...you just cannot beat physical presence.  Brother Andrew coined the term of 'presence evangelism' in speaking of the need to visit brothers and sisters in the persecuted church.

And isn't it amazing that if you want to meet God in person, simply go to a brother or sister who loves you!  How can I say that? Because in verse 12 of the above passage, we read the following:

  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

I personally was so blessed to be part of a team that met together over the weekend: I remember praying that God would grasp us afresh...and He did, through the love that was experienced and much needed!

Why not go to a Christian brother or sister today, in person, and express your love for them in Christ? Make them a cuppa, and serve it in Christ's love...and your brother/sister will not be the only one blessed!

And as you give and receive that love, know that it is God who is expressing Himself to you and through you - and that love is so incredibly passionate that He literally stopped at nothing to reach you - even death!

What an amazing God!

24 November 2011 - Astounding Forgiveness

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven.  Matt  5:44-45
This morning I drove out my driveway, and my 4 year old daughter noticed that our brass numbers were gone (brass is a hot item over here!).  She asked me who did it, so naturally I explained that it was bad people who stole it.  Normally I pray out loud while driving her to school (I do keep my eyes on the road), and she said I must pray for those bad people...so I prayed in accordance with the verse above (being very proud of my spirituality and the good example I was setting!).  Afterwards she said to me that I must pray that God will smack them because they were naughty!

And to be honest, she had more integrity than me at that point!  At least she was honest with what she wanted to pray, and it was governed by a strong sense of justice (mine would be revenge!).

It's a small incident, and the numbers are easily replaced, but what an insight into the human condition!  It is not in our instinct to love and pray for those who hurt us.  We so often want God to deal with those people because we want to feel that God is on our side.  But in the next part of verse 45 Jesus says the following:

  For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust

God's grace is available to all because all of us are in need of the grace of God.  And God's incredible grace was demonstrated to us on the cross, that while we were still 'bad people' Christ died for us so that we could receive forgiveness (Romans 5:8).

And the words of Jesus whilst being crucified have always been the words that convinced me that Jesus was the son of God: praying "Father, forgive them."

And it is up to you and me to demonstrate forgiveness, so that we can be signposts to the amazing grace of God.  Allowing thoughts of revenge and bitterness doesn't free anyone, least of all yourself (and normally those whom you are bitter against couldn't care less!)

As difficult and as painful as it is, and for many of you this is indeed difficult because of the deep hurts you have been through, may you come before God and release the debt of those who have hurt you, because you yourself are a person who has hurt others, and especially God, and yet God has forgiven you.

And keep releasing those people and their debts! Healing will come.

23 November - Hope Rules

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  Romans 15:13

Hope...we all need it...and children of God have it!

In v4 which we looked at on Monday, we saw that God's Word is the source of hope - now we see that the Holy Spirit is our source of hope too!  God's Spirit and God's Word work together, and separating them, as is unfortunately the case in the church today, is not the right thing to do!

The context of the above verse is speaking about Jesus who is our hope of salvation, and it is always a good idea to get back to basics in our walk with God: Jesus is our hope - that is more than basic, that is foundational and key to our spiritual growth and maturity as well!

But perhaps you find yourself in a situation where you are tempted towards hopelessness and depression?  Discouragement is an effective tool of Satan, because discouragement leads us onto a path where we don't want to believe the promises of God and appropriate them into our lives.

If this is where you are at, then I encourage you (and myself!) to look up to God, because He alone is the source of hope, joy and peace: made possible through the reconciling work of Christ upon the cross and made real to us through the Holy Spirit.  It does require the power of the Holy Spirit to have sustained hope in this day and age in our world, but it is available to us.

Are you willing to believe that?  If so, then put action to that faith and ask!

22 November 2011 - Oily Unity

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give  you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:6

Paul obviously knew about serving God!  We can safely assume that Paul himself needed endurance and encouragement to walk the road he was called to walk.

We saw yesterday that our source of encouragement and endurance is God working through His Word, which also provides us with our hope and instruction.

But we cannot walk this road alone - and how wonderful that we do not have to.  God has provided the church to enable us to journey together.  But let's be honest: some of the folk we find ourselves walking the road with do more for testing our sanctification than they do for refreshing our souls!

Unity is truly beautiful - and the psalmist describes it like oil running down from Aaron's head all the way down to his toes (see Psalm 133:1&2).  Now I know that sounds more messy and sticky than it does beautiful, but consider the context: we are talking about a special fragrant annointing oil, of which the recipe was given by God Himself and was not allowed to be copied (see Exodus 30:22-33).  The purpose of this annointing oil? Here are the words of our God and Father on it in instructing Moses to annoint the tabernacle and it's items:

You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.  Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests (Exodus 30:29&30)

The annointing of the priest with specially created fragrant oil for a lifetime of service must indeed have been an incredibly overwhelming, beautiful and sacred moment. And so it is with unity: it is the expression of the priesthood of all believers, and it is beautiful.  And unity happens when we understand that we have been consecrated by God's Spirit for the purpose of serving Him together as priests, and as such must keep our focus upon Him and His mission.  In this way, the God-given spirit of unity is given the opportunity to express and reveal itself.

And in this context, our differences coalesce together for the purpose of unity, so that each difference can be cause for gratitude rather than cause for unsanctified thoughts!  As a pastor friend of mine put it: God's Mission Our Vision (which can also read God's Vision Our Mission!)

21 November 2011 - Even a donkey can obey

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  Romans 15:4
God knows we need hope....
But isn't it odd how people, and children of God, place hope in hopeless things?
Many hope for a windfall of money to fall into their laps.  Many hope that things will somehow get better without actually doing anything about it.  Many hope that a person, or a job, or a luxurious item (such as a holiday home or fancy computer or boat) will make them happy and life worth living.  God's children are unfortunately not immune to such thinking!
But if you want to receive hope, get a Bible.  And don't only read the New Testament, read and study the old as well - after all, those were the Scriptures Paul was referring to in the above verse.  It was the understanding of the early church that the Old Testament (as we call it) was divinely inspired for the benefit of Christians.  It would be dangerous to relegate it to the bin of irrelevance under the guise of 'old covenant and therefore not applicable!'
But hope does not only come through the encouragement of the Scriptures; we also need to have an attitude of endurance and perseverance.  Indeed, this is the lesson of many of our Old Testament heroes: a trust in God in the face of impossible odds.  In one of those divine paradoxes, it seems that the only way we can experience the joy of hope is through being in a situation where hope is needed.  As Paul says with such impeccable logic in Romans 8:24 - who hopes for what he already has or sees? 
We can look at Joseph in a foreign jail with no family around and be taught that in all things, we can still live for the glory of God and believe that God will fulfill His divine ordained purpose for each of us.  We can look at Jeremiah who was prone to bouts of depression and yet still used of God to promote hope in the midst of human hopelessness, even if it is an unpopular message you are called to share!
The hope we can all be grounded in is that the God who set Israel free from bondage is still in the business of setting people free, and still continues to love His people even though they are, on the whole, a stubborn and stiff-necked lot!  No one is beyond the grasp of God, and no one is beyond the use of God. 
If God can speak through a donkey (see Numbers 22), then there is hope for me yet! 

18 November 2011 - God Loves Egypt Too!

And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them - Isaiah 19:21
The above verse reminds us that God has a heart for the nations, and indeed desires that all would worship Him!  It alse tells us that Egypt (along with many other nations) has a role to play in the purposes of God.  In terms of God's kingdom, Egypt is a strategic nation in spreading the gospel in the Middle East!
And how amazing that by getting on your knees you can play a powerful role in God's purpose for Egypt! Click here for a powerpoint slide highlighting prayer for Egypt as they face their upcoming elections.  Won't you please pray?  If you would like a powerpoint as a separate attachment, simply email helga@incontextministries.org 
Prayer: it's not just about you, but about the purposes and glory of God!

17 November 2011 - Are you blind too?

Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"
 "Lord, I want to see." he replied.  Luke 18:40&41
I always find it interesting when Jesus asks a question, especially when the answer is obvious!  It's interesting because Jesus, being the Son of God, already knows the answer to the question!
But Jesus doesn't ask questions for His benefit, but for ours.  Questions have a way of getting us to assess ourselves, and, in this case, establishes the dynamics of the relationship where one person knows his need, and the other person is in the position to help.
Note the graciousness, personalisation and readiness of Jesus to help: "What do you want me to do for you?"  Each of us has a different need for Christ to intervene in a particular way in our lives.
Then see how the blind man recognises his need and states his dream, recognising who Jesus is.  This blind man (read the context of v35-43) had a clear understanding of who Jesus was, and simply stated his desire - and you can just hear the depth of his heart as he asks for healing!
Jesus honours this man's faith and heals him.  The blind man then responds in the appropriate way: he follows Jesus and praises God.  The tragedy is that so many people do experience a healing touch from Jesus, but they continue to live their own lives their own way.
Imagine Jesus standing in front of you now and asking you the same question: "What do you want me to dofor you?"  What would your response be? What is it you really desire Jesus to do in your life?
Perhaps you too need new vision?   And what will your response be?
Why not answer the question to Jesus?

16 November 2011 - Concentrate on your Consecration!

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you - Jeremiah 1:5
These were the words of God to Jeremiah, telling him that He had called and appointed him to be a prophet to the nations.  God specifically created and chose/elected Jeremiah for this task and purpose (the meaning behind the word 'knew' has to do with choosing - same concept found in Gen 18:19).
The danger of course is that we would look at a verse like that and think that the concept of being chosen for a purpose only applied to Jeremiah since he was so clearly and specifically called.
But the Bible teaches us that all children of God have been called, not for election's sake, but for the purpose of calling others!   Whether you are in school, or the workplace, or the home, you have been called and appointed by God for His purpose.  Our calling is consecration: a life set apart for revealing the glorious grace of God.
It's easy to fall into the trap that we are in the workplace for our own benefit.  We are only in there for our own benefit insofar as obedience to God is to our benefit! 
To reveal God wherever we have been planted is an incredibly high calling, and it certainly is not an easy one.  Darkness detests the light with an incredible intensity.  It could cost you your job!
My prayer for each of you in the workplace is that you will quietly through your lifestyle and choices reveal that you live by a different standard, and that God would give you opportunities to minister His grace to those around you, including that person who gets on your nerves (who is probably a tool of God in your life!).
What a privilige for you to be on the frontlines - meeting the lost right where they are!  What an opportunity to reveal God's grace to people who won't be seen in church except maybe when it's too late...in a wooden box.
Consecrated...wow, what a calling!

15 November 2011 - Holy Mackerel

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon-Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? John 6:8&9
I just love that boy that was willing to give up his lunch!  It was not a fancy lunch, and the lunch is indicative of coming from a poor family.  But it was a lunch which became holy: it became set apart for the use of the Lord for practical ministry!
I wonder what happened to that boy?  Did he become a disciple of Jesus? Did he continue to share his story of how he one day gave his lunch to Jesus and Jesus fed over five thousand people with it and there were still left-overs? 
Isn't it such a powerful illustration of what Jesus can do with us?  We so often think that we cannot offer God much, but that is really to miss the point.  The real point is the willingness to offer, and allow Jesus to take us and use us for His glory.  He can take us and multiply our effectiveness!  The almost cliched expression is quite true: God does not look for our ability, but our availability.
Of course we mustn't look with physical eyes.  The fruit of our willingness is to be seen from God's perspective, not ours, and that can only ultimately be seen in eternity.  The truth is, in comparison to the power of God, we are all barley loaves and small fishes!  Paul speaks of us as being jars of clay in 2 Cor 4, and that the point of that is that God's treasure within us gets to shine despite (or rather because of) our weakness.
What a wonderful God we serve that He would be so gracious as to use weak vessels like us!  How kind that He would even multiply the effectiveness of our limited availability!
Let us each day afresh say "Lord, use me in whatever way You see fit."

14 November 2011 - Resistable Evil - Irresistable God!

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7
The spiritual battle children of God are in is real, and it cannot be fought in front of the TV.
The attacks of Satan take on many forms, but the common denominator is that he goes for weakness.  It could take on the form of enticement into easy pleasure (such as easy money, or easy over-indulgence, or easy sexual gratification), or it can even take on the form of something which seems right (such as holding onto anger over someone who did something wrong against you).
You could even be at the end of your tether: tired and frustrated, and then you feel an oppressive depression come over you.
Whenever we feel the pressure to go in a direction that we know is not God-honouring (no matter how human the response may be), we need to call on God to help us resist the devil and go in the opposite direction. 
Being offered easy gratification?  Run away.  Holding onto bitterness? Let it go.  Feeling an oppressive depression? Start rejoicing (even if you don't feel like it!).  Self-pity taking hold? Worship God instead.
The key to resisting the devil is found in the next verse, where it says in James 4:8 that we must draw near to God and He will draw near to us.
And if you have failed to resist the devil, then come to the Father who is full of grace and mercy and will forgive the repentant heart!  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!!!

11 November 2011 - Wait!

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.  For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.  Psalm 37:7-9
If you're asking how much longer you must wait, then you're being impatient...
It's not right with what people get away with, but whatever it is that is irking or irritating you, there is only one place to take it - and that is the throne of God and His grace.
Evil men will not have the final say, but rather God and His children will, and in the light of eternity, even our biggest challenge will seem like small fry!
But let us never forget that we too at one stage were evil, and it is only because God intervened that we were rescued.  Let us not forget that because of our evil Jesus Himself was cut off from God upon the cross.  Let us not forget that it is because of Calvary that we are able to cry out to God as Father.
The success of evil is temporary, the goodness of God is eternal.  Let's never forget that, and let us continually come before God and be prepared to wait.  The moment anger becomes fretfulness and bitterness, we have lost.  Anger must rather be channelled into prayer and right action.
Don't fret - pray.

10 November 2011 - Whose devotee are you?

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout - Luke 2:25
There were a lot of men in Jerusalem, and yet Simeon is singled out. Why?
His behaviour and heart was clearly different from the norm (and there were plenty of religious people too).  He is described as being righteous and devout.
He obviously touched the heart of God!  He was not just righteous, or rather he did not display an external form of godliness: he was truly righteous and devout.  His heart was in it too!
The world, and the church, is filled with devoted people.  They're just not all devoted to Jesus.  Many are devoted to themselves, and the reason many are in church is so that they can worship themselves - through worshiping a Jesus that they have crafted into their own image - a Jesus who is there to legitimize their lifestyle and dream.  A Jesus who is a lifestyle accessory with a gold cross around the neck to match.
A very different Jesus from the One who said give everything up!
But Simeon was different - he was a man who was devoted to God, and longed to see the glory of God manifested in this world.  He was granted the privilege of seeing Jesus in baby form (v26ff). 
It's easy to fall into the trap of trying to do good works, but not coming from a place of heart devotion, but rather coming from a place of religion.  That is just so empty, and God is not into religion.
But God loves people who have a heart of devotion for Him, because out of a devoted heart flows a righteous life that is rooted in Christ.  We need to be clear on this: God does love and desire righteousness in the hearts and lives of His people!
May each of our hearts be captivated by God and His glory!  And by His grace and power, may each of us be described as 'righteous and devout.'  May that be the desire of our hearts!

9 November 2011 - Faithful Doubt

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  James 1:6&7
Faith and doubt are like brothers - of the Abel and Cain variety!
Nothing kills faith quite like doubt does, and yet the two are always around together!  Wherever there is faith, doubt is hanging around to try and kill it - doubt is quite faithful in that respect! And that's the challenge of faith: to believe despite the attacks of doubt.  True faith wins every time, because doubt cannot hang around too long.
But what a graphic image of a person who keeps on doubting!  From experience I can say it really is like being a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind: believing, then doubting, believing then doubting!
And God's Word is clear: if we cannot believe, then we cannot receive.  We need to make a choice to listen to the voice of the Word of God instead of the voice of doubt.  To listen to doubt is to be double-minded and unstable, and is a 'slap-in-the-face' to Calvary where God fulfilled His greatest promise of deliverance: if that is fulfilled, then surely God can keep the 'smaller' promises He has given to us? In the words of that hymn...
God is still on the throne, and He will remember His own
Though trials may press us and burdens distress us
He never will leave us alone
God is still on the throne
His promise is true - He will not forget you
God is still on the throne!
Unlike doubt, God's promises are written down in black and white for you to read - read them and believe!  Far better to believe and 'get it wrong' than to doubt and get nothing done!

8 November 2011 - Ain't no lion big enough!

Fear not, for I am with you - Isaiah 41:10
Continuing on the theme of what doesn't mix (new wine and old wineskin), Scripture reveals another pair that don't go together: fear and faith (also doubt and faith - perhaps we can look at that tomorrow!)
It's natural to fear, especially when we appreciate the size of the task we face.  Yet Scripture rings out with this refrain of "do not fear."  We are being told to trust because that thing we fear is actually quite small in comparison to the presence of God.  We are being told to trust because God has promised to be with us.
Let's take for example the most basic task the church has been given: to evangelise the lost.  We look at the world, and the way that it is changing, and the rise of Islam with its extremist element and we get afraid.  And yet we must not get afraid, we must get equipped.  I think it was Daniel Shayesteh (a founder member of Hezbollah) who said that the only thing worse than a radical Muslim is a passive Christian.
But God is not afraid of radical Islam.  He has already defeated the source of evil!  In fact God has warned us already that movements like this will characterise the world, and the role of the church is to remain steadfast and proclaim Him. 
But we must show up for the battle!  And we must not be afraid.  What are you facing right now that is making you afraid?  Face it with God, and allow faith, and not fear, to govern your actions.  Let's be like Benaiah...and I just know  some of you are wondering who he is - I discovered him yesterday - check out 2 Samuel 23:20&21 (then you will understand the title of today's devotion)! 

7 November 2011 -Don't Waste the Wine!

Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins.  If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.  No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.  Matt 9:17
Have you ever had the frustration, like I did last week, of trying to put new computer technology on an older computer?  Old and new just don't mix!
In the above verse, Jesus was explaining how the newness that He brings cannot be contained within the rituals of Judaism which characterised the Old Covenant.  In fact, whenever Jesus spoke of what He offered and the kingdom of God, it was in images that speak of life, growth and abundance.
How strange then, that some Christians would think that once we give our lives to Jesus that we can still continue living the way we like because of God's grace.  It is strange because old and new don't mix!  Throughout the New Testament we are told to put behind us old ways, referring to sin, and instead walk in the newness of life that Jesus offers.  John in his letter (1 John) makes the same point using a different analogy: light and darkness don't mix!
What happens when we try and mix old and new - when we try to continue with old habits whilst also wanting to be a child of God?  To utilise the imagery of Jesus above, both are wasted!  The life of Jesus within us gets wasted because we are not allowing it full expression, and we ourselves live a wasted life because Jesus does not get to express Himself fully in us.
Brothers and sisters, let us, in the words of Hebrews 10:25 (and a few other places!) encourage one another to live fully for Christ! 

4 November 2011 - Faith Knows even when No!

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen...2 Cor 4:18
What do you fix your eyes on?  What is it that secures your devotion?
As you look at the world around you, is that where your perception stops?  Or does it go deeper?
The main challenge (at least for me) of faith is to still believe in an unseen reality when physical evidence points against it at times.  But the world around me also gives reason for faith, because if I can witness creation, and if I can witnes the presence of goodness in a world of evil, then that is reasonable grounds for faith that this world is indeed a shadow of what is still to come.
And the Bible tells us (Hebrews 11:6) that without faith it is impossible to please God.  I sometimes evoke strange looks when I state from the pulpit that if they (the listeners) want to "impress" God, don't begin with good works!  Our good works are not good compared to the righteousness of God, but God absolutely loves it when we place our faith and trust in Him.  Our starting point, and staying point for being in the blessing of God is to live a life of faith, trusting God to watch over us, guide us and keep us.
Of course the challenge of faith also means having to accept a 'no' from God when everything clearly points to the rightness of a 'yes' answer!  As Brother Andrew put it, don't assume the door is shut - check the handle!   And if it is still shut, then accept it.  That is particularly challenging, and the test of faith then is to accept that God actually does know what He is doing.  If it were not for a 'no' answer, none of us would have the opportunity to become children of God, because had God said 'yes' to Jesus in Gesthemane, Calvary and redemption would not have taken place.  Even the Son of God did not get all His prayers answered!
The prayer that He did get answered though, and the prayer we all need to learn to pray with sincerity, is "not my will, but Yours be done."  Faith trusts even when it is painful and we cannot understand, and God has promised that faith will not go unrewarded! 
Another acronym for you: Faith: Forsaking All, I Trust Him.

3 November 2011 - Fresh Bread

Give us this day our daily bread - Matt 6:11
We cannot underestimate or overestimate the importance of spending time with God through His Word.  I was challenged in a book I am reading by Wayne Cordeiro called "The Divine Mentor: Growing Your Faith as You Sit at the Feet of the Saviour," and loved the imagery he used in expressing the following which I quote directly to share with you:
   " When God's Word bleeds out your fingertips and toenails - when you treat it as fresh bread, to be consumed daily - that's when it makes you a disciple,
    - Just in your head: information
   - Just in  your heart: inspiration
   - When it bleeds out of you: incarnation
   When it's just in  your head, it makes you pharisaical. (And inside each one of us is a Pharisee just waiting to grow up!)
  When it's just in your heart, it makes you a fanatic.
  When it bleeds out your toes, it makes you authentic."
 Of what value is God's Word to you?  Someone once described it as Basic Instruction Before LeavingEarth.  In the west we have a saturation of Bibles and "Christian Products," and yet we have a famine of hearing and applying God's Word - meanwhile a large portion of the body of Christ sit without access to their own Bibles (if you would like to find out how you can supply Bibles to those who don't have, check out Open Doors - an organisation serving the persecuted church).
 We are so privileged to have communication from God!  And the Bible is filled with mentors who have learn't the hard way so that we don't have to. 
 Eat fresh bread daily, and in the words of that song I used to sing in Sunday School "Read your Bible, pray every day - and you'll grow, grow grow!"

2 November 2011 - Sweet Minute of Prayer?

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.  Luke 10:41-42
I know we have looked at this verse before, but in today's world, it's always good to be reminded of what is really important.
For those of you who are not familiar with where the above verse is taken from, look up Luke 10:38-42 to see the adult sibling rivalry incident!
We can all identify with Martha - getting caught up in all the things that we need to do.  Life gets busy, and even for those of us who are privileged to be 'serving God full-time' (a dubious distinction because it is actually meant to apply to all!), we too can get caught up in the proverbial 'work of the Lord' and forget 'the Lord of the work.'  These have become cliched expressions because they are true!
But only one thing is necessary: time at the feet of Jesus.  From this place we can enter the world far more effectively - with proper perspective.  When we think about all the influences that we face (such as the media) and how much time is spent under their influence, is it any wonder that when we need to draw from within, there isn't much of substance?  Even if you are a regular churchgoer - how much of Sunday do you actually take in, and how long does that influence last compared to all the other influences  you face?
Boy do we need to learn from Mary!  "Be still and know that I am God!"
Only one thing is needed: time at the feet of Jesus.
Only one person is needed: Jesus
Let us make the time to spend with the God of the Universe each day!  He awaits your presence!

1 November 2011 - Uncool Evil

...but deliver us from  evil - Matt 6:13Have you noticed how people have a fascination for 'the dark side' and the macabre?  For example, consider how people like to dress up at halloween or like to see horror movies.
But the face of evil is far more horrific, but normally disguised in a very attractive package - if it weren't, we wouldn't have issues with temptation!
Jesus teaches us to pray for deliverance from evil (and the evil one - Satan): why? Because the reality of evil is such that we need protection from it.  When we are on our knees praying, we are face to face with God; but when we get up again, we are back in the realm of the evil one.  We cannot deliver ourselves, and so we need to ask for help!
We saw yesterday that no temptation is beyond our capacity to say no to, which also means we are left without excuse when we do sin!  James 1:14-15 describes for us the stages of sin development, beginning with temptation, moving through to conception and then eventually death (separation from God).
The danger of evil is that it provides an attractive and easy beginning, but a disastrous and destructive end.  Christ offers us a hard beginning (being His child on earth is not plain-sailing), but an attractive end.  Better adversity in the hands of God than pleasures in the claws of the devil.
How wonderful that we can know deliverance from evil!  It was provided for us at Calvary, and is mediated to us through the Holy Spirit.  As children of God, we must never forget that we are also soldiers in a battle, and it makes no sense to pray for deliverance from evil and then give a foothold for the evil one to enter our lives!  And giving a foothold is so subtle - for example a justified anger can easily  turn into bitterness!
So - keep that armour on!

31 October 2011 - No Temptation Too Great

Lead us not into temptation...Matt 6:13 
I do wonder how many men actually pray this part of the prayer with sincerity!  It seems to me that humanity enjoys temptation...even if the results are disastrous.
But why would we ask God to not do the very thing that He wouldn't do?  After all, James 1:13 makes it very clear that God does not tempt people (because of His nature He is unable to do so!). 
The word translated here as temptation has more to do with testing than with enticing to sin.  An example is Jesus being tested in the desert by God, but being tempted by Satan.  In Genesis 22:1 we see the same type of concept when it states clearly that God tested Abraham.
But that still raises a question - the NT teaches us that testing is a good thing, so surely we wouldn't want to pray against that either? 
I believe the reason we pray the above is not because we do not trust God, but because we distrust ourselves!  It's like David prayed in Psalm 19:13- "Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over
In praying 'lead us not into temptation' we are asking God to not lead us to a place where we have the potential of stumbling, even though it is to test us, because we know our frailty.  A child of God who is concerned for the glory of God would want to stay away from anything that may hinder him or her from living for God's glory.
It is a prayer that has already been answered, because God has promised us that no temptation experienced will be too great: there will always be a way out of the temptation so that we can endure it (this promise is found in 1 Cor 10:13).
It's a wonderful promise, but embedded in that promise is a rebuke!  If God keeps us from temptations that are greater than we can withstand, then we cannot use temptations as our excuse for sinning!  Deliberate sin is not a necessity for a believer! 
Of course, if we pray and ask God to keep us away from temptation, then it makes no sense whatsoever to go walking into it ourselves!  That's like me praying to ask God to keep me away from bakeries and fast-food joints so that I am not tempted and then hopping off to Bread Ahead (a local bakery franchise) myself!
So - we pray to our Father to please keep us out of potential trouble because we know our frailty.  But since we know our frailty, let's make sure we keep ourselves out of trouble too!

30 September 2011 - Mobile Refuge

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble...Be still, and know that I am God - Psalm 46:1&10
No God - No Peace
Know God - Know Peace
Children of God are not immune to the troubles of life.  We live in the same world as those who do not love Jesus.  We live under the same governments, the same economic recessions, the same weather.
But we have a refuge - with a difference.  Our refuge is not there to run away from the problems of the world, but to face them in Him.  When we do so, we come from a position of infinite strength, because it is not ours, but His.  And when we understand that we are in God, and that God is actually for us and not against us - what a difference it makes!
That is why it is so important to get to know God, because God is simply beautiful.  His attributes and character evoke the response of worship.  What is more, the benefit of knowing God is peace, which makes a nice change from stress! 
God invites you to know Him, to grow in your knowledge of Him, to never be settled for the status quo when it comes to knowing Him.
I am sure many of you reading this are facing a challenge of some sort.  Remember who your refuge is, that you are not alone.  Remember that God is indeed God - with infinite power and a willing heart.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your prayer for whatever it is you are facing: is a changed heart needed, is grace for perseverance needed, is a change of circumstance needed.  When you come to God, you come to the right place and person.
Be still and know that God is God. Worship Him.

29 September 2011 - Forensic Thomas

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."    John 20:24-25
Poor Thomas...going down in church history as being the disciple associated with doubt!  And all he wanted to do was to make sure the truth was in fact the truth - you don't count your lambs before they are born!
It is in the above encounter, where eight days later Jesus appears to Thomas and fulfills Thomas' desire, and he gets to see the marks and put his hand in Jesus's side.  Jesus then tells him not to disbelieve, but to believe. 
On the basis of the evidence seen, Thomas then exclaims that Jesus truly is God (see v28), and the now-famous statement is made by Jesus: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Of course Jesus didn't actually chastise or condemn Thomas - the church has been far less merciful than Jesus was!  Jesus simply encouraged Thomas to believe and stated that those who do not see and yet believe are blessed.
But because of Thomas, we have reason to believe.  The church needs Thomases!  Jesus never asks us to have a faith grounded in irrationality and myth, and I believe that by giving Thomas the opportunity to test the evidence, that Jesus was in fact condoning and affirming him (in fact, the above encounter paves the way for the statement of why the Gospel of John was written - see v30&31). 
I for one am grateful for people who research the facts when it comes to Scripture (a popular author today is Lee Strobel who uses his investigative journalism skills to investigate the claims of Jesus and Scripture - John Blanchard is another very good author). 
Jesus really did live, die and rise again.  It requires more faith to not believe this than to believe this.  Atheists actually have more faith than I do.
And because Jesus lives, I have hope.  Because I believe even though I did not see the physical Jesus I am blessed.  And because of Thomas and other evidence-affirming disciples and scholars, my faith is strengthened.
I know that my Redeemer liveth!

28 September 2011 - Unanswered Prayer

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some some who belonged to the church.  He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.  Acts 12:1-3a
In this exciting chapter of Acts, we read of how Peter got rescued out of prison by an angel of God.
But James didn't.
Such is the mystery of the purposes of God.  Peter eventually did get martyred by the way, and tradition holds that he was crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to be crucified the same way Jesus did.
Did the early church pray for James when he got arrested?  I am sure they did.  Did they pray in the name of Jesus? Of course - that's how they were taught to pray.  Did they ask for a miracle? Probably.
We don't always get what we ask for, because when we pray in the name of Jesus, the name is not the guarantee of the answer we want, it is the filter through which the prayer gets answered: if the prayer does not coincide with the will of Jesus because He has an alternative plan, then we will not get the answer we want. It is a way of saying "not my will, but Thine be done."  Praying in the name of Jesus is to pray in the will of Jesus.  This is why we need to learn to pray in step with the Holy Spirit.  This is not a popular view with some I am sure, but an analogy might help.  If I have a very good friend who owns a gun shop, and my daughter decides to go to this man to buy a gun and says "I am buying this in my dad's name,"  then that gun shop owner is not going to give her a gun because he knows me!
Having said that, let's not forget that James got to heaven earlier!  As it says in the Psalms:"Precious in the sight of God is the death of His saints."  Perspective is everything in the walk of faith!
Are you willing to submit your prayers to the name of Jesus?  Don't stop asking, but if God convicts you that you need to pray in another direction, then obey.
He really does know best, and His purpose really is the best too.

27 September 2011 - Invisible Qualities

For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.  Romans1:20
There is goodness in this world.
The above verse is written in the context of explaining God's anger against people, because people deliberately choose to ignore God and worship lesser things.  The truth is that deep inside, people know God is real, because even their conscience dictates to them a sense of right and wrong.  A conscience does not make sense from an evolutionary perspective (after all, you don't need a gentle nature to survive), but it does make sense if one has been created by a moral God.
But the reality of God cannot be escaped - His creation reveals His presence.  And whilst the world is not an easy place to live because of the sinfulness of humanity, there is nonetheless goodness in this world.  There is goodness because God is good.
Take a look outside your window.  What do you see?  Do you see a sky?  Do you see a tree?  Perhaps a bird or two?
What you see is a manifestation of the power and beauty of God.  A God who brings into being creation by His spoken word.  And creation reveals a God who is clearly intelligent, creative and powerful!  
Isn't it wonderful that God, who is so great, is also so good?  Why not take a moment at least to gaze at that creation outside your window and say 'thank you' to God and praise Him for His beautiful creation?
God is real.  God is powerful.  God is good.  Worship Him alone! 
Surely a God who is so powerful can help you with your puny problem?  Are you willing to surrender all to Him?

26 September 2011 - Connected to The Great iAM

Lord - teach us to pray - Luke 11:1
Pray continually - 1 Thess 5:17
My wife spoilt me with a cellphone contract that included an iPhone - and boy do I enjoy it!  It has many great features and applications: camera, iPod (I still have to put music on!), internet, a spirit-level (yes - it really does!), bible software and even a small piano!
From a technology point of view, we live in exciting times.  The downside is that whilst technology is supposed to be making life easier, it seems to have succeeded in making life more frantic!  And with all this fancy technology, it's incredibly easy to get distracted.  One pastor put it like this (this is fromwww.heartlight.org - a great site for powerpoint backgrounds for church use) :
  We are connected to our iPhones, iPads, iTouch, iTunes, iMac, iChat, but have we lost the connection to the I AM?
A very pertinent question for our age!
Humanly speaking, we lose our connection with God quite quickly as we go about our lives, being busy with the things that we have conned ourselves into thinking we need to do.  It's  not a new phenomenon - Martha experienced it in the very presence of Jesus Himself (see Luke 10:38ff).  As another writer put it, the challenge is having a Mary heart in a Martha world!
How wonderful that God provides us with the tools for staying connected!  Prayer is probably the most basic tool that we have been blessed with to stay connected, and one that is both commended and commanded throughout Scripture: and one important lesson I see is this: in all of life, pray.  If you need strength - pray.  If you need wisdom - pray.  If you are in trouble - pray.  If you are happy - pray!
Prayer reveals our dependence on God and our desire to honour God.  Prayer keeps us connected!
So - what are you waiting for? Pray!
Don't forget that you can also enter prayer requests on the website (www.shepherdledlife.webs.com) as well as our church website (www.brightonroadbaptistchurch.com)

23 September 2011 - Pray!

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.  James 5:13
What incredibly practical counsel! 
Does more need to be said?  We so often forget to follow our spiritual instinct and pray, and instead settle for just pushing along.
Pray!
Prayer reminds you of your need and your true source of help and power and strength.
Pray!
Prayer keeps you grounded and fruitful.
Pray!
Prayer brings glory to your Father.
Pray!
Prayer accomplishes what you cannot.
Pray!

22 September 2011 - Eish - but God is Big!

In those days...I will gather all nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.  There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land - Joel 3:1-2
Don't you just love the relevance of the Old Testament?
The above verse comes directly after the famous prophecy about God pouring out His Spirit which got quoted by Peter as being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.  Since it refers to the same time frame (in those days) and we are currently in the age in which God gives His Spirit, we know that what God is speaking about is still to come.
And what is being referred to? One of the key themes of the message of Joel is The Day of Judgment, and in the verse and chapter above God speaks of how He will judge nations.  The measure of His judgment will be how nations treated His people Israel.  This is in keeping with the covenant promise made to Abraham (see Genesis 12:3) where nations who are good to Israel get blessed, and nations who curse Israel are cursed.  God says He is going to bring them to the valley of Jehoshaphat, which is a wordplay combining two words (Yah - short for Yahweh & sapat which means to judge) meaning a valley of God's Judgment.
There are three charges which God will bring in relation to how Israel got treated, and two are mentioned above: how nations scattered the Jewish people, and how nations divided up the land of Israel.  The third charge has to do with selling into slavery.  All three of these charges have been the experience of Israel and the Jews in their history, (in fact God mentions specifically Tyre and Sidon as nations he will deal with) and even now, the second charge is still happening in Middle East politics - it is simply amazing the amount of energies that get directed against the Jews and a small plot of land - why?  My observation is that whenever something or someone centers on the purposes of God, there is a lot of opposition to it!
What are some lessons we can derive from this?
Firstly, even though you may not be a Jew, as a child of God you belong to the people of God (Romans 10&11 speaks of us being grafted in) - and God looks out for His people!  God does not take kindly to His children not being treated well.
Secondly, God is into justice.  When we participate in actions to help ensure justice for all, we operate from God's heart. 
But this passage also teaches us the 'bigness' of God.  Only God has the power and capacity to gather the nations together and to then judge them.
It reminds me that in the grand scheme of things, my problems are actually quite small.  But how wonderful that a God who has oversight over all of history, and is in charge of all things, and is working all things according to His purpose, is actually concerned for the likes of me.  As David asked (Psalm 8:4): what is man that you are mindful of him    the son of man that you care for him?
What an incredibly mighty God we serve!

21 September 2011 - Love me tender Love me true

Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.  Yet we urge you brothers, to do so more and more.  1 Thessalonians 4:9&10
What a wonderful commendation to receive!  To be told that there is no need to teach you how to love because you already are loving one another is to truly be given recognition as a disciple of Christ, as Jesus Himself taught that by this will all men know we belong to Him.
When it comes to the body of Christ, I have yet to meet a person who would deny that it is easier to love some than others!  In fact, it's easier to love some non-Christians than a lot of Christians!
But that would be to look with human eyes only.  When we look with God's eyes (we cannot really presume to do so, but Scripture teaches us the perspective of God), then we come to understand that when it comes to our fellow believers, we need to look at them as being in Christ.  Just like you (if you have received God's salvation), they too are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and God sees them as perfect and forgiven through the blood of His Son. 
When Jesus speaks of the great judgment in Matt 25:31ff, He speaks of whenever we show love to His brothers and sisters, we show love to Him.
Christ in us connects with Christ in our fellow believers.  How can we not love Jesus?  And receiving love, and giving love, is also the means by which we become transformed.  No person becomes beautiful through rejection.
And loving each other is something we must never stop doing.  As Paul commended the Thessalonians in the verse above, so he urged them to not stop there but to continue.
So - go and bless a fellow believer today with an extra-special act of love!  And then do so to someone who does not know Jesus, and let them know it came from God!

20 September 2011 - Determination Wins!

Run in such a way as to get the prize - 1 Cor 9:24b
With the rugby world cup on, we have been looking at some parallels between rugby and the Christian walk.  To win in rugby, and indeed in battle, means that certain core requirements have to be in place.  These requirements are also needed for discipleship and the Church to be effective in its calling.
The core requirements so far have been:
1. Know which side you are on
2. Know the cost involved
3. Be able to work as a team
4. Be aware of the strategy of the enemy
The final requirement which we consider (and I am sure there are more!) is a determination to win.  When you go in to play rugby or enter battle, you are not going in to have a cup of tea!  You have to go in with the determination to win otherwise all the discipline you have put into training would be wasted.
As part of the body of Christ, you have to give God's Kingdom call your utmost best.  Why?  Because unlike rugby which is a game, the cause of God's kingdom is a matter of God's glory and honour first of all, and secondly a matter of life and death.  It is not ok for people to go to hell.
The beauty of being part of the body of Christ however is that we serve on a team in which we already know the outcome, because the enemy has already been defeated!  These words from Colossians 2:13-15 are absolutely beautiful:
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
How amazing is that?  Read that again a few times!
In the light of that, do you not want to nail your colours to the cross?  Do you not want to make sure others are introduced to Jesus? Where else can forgiveness be found?  Where else can we be relieved from the trauma of trying to be good enough, not ever knowing if we are?
It's just too good to keep to ourselves on a Sunday morning.  Let us spur each other on to make known the victory that has already been won!

19 September 2011 - Sneaky Schemer

...in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.  2 Cor 2:11
Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  Eph 6:11
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  1 Timothy 6:10
It's Monday morning and many of you feel as if you are in a battle.  The reason for that is because you are in one!
The Springboks did quite well over the weekend, and the Wallabies experienced quite an upset!  In battle, one always has to be prepared as one can be for the unexpected.  One has to have knowledge of how the opposition operates, in the case of our walk with God, we need to be aware of the schemes of the devil. 
The devil's modus operandi is to scheme.  In other words, he is sly and a master of guerilla warfare!  And if he can get you to hurt yourself, then all the better.  Notice in 1 Timothy 6:10 that people who have been eager for money have pierced themselves with many griefs!  All Satan had to do was offer the lure, the enticement, the temptation: we do the rest ourselves without any help!  
The devil is sly and always goes for where you are weakest.  He can even take something good and beautiful and distort it (that is his specialty!).  The obvious example is money.  Absolutely nothing wrong with having a lot of money, but there is plenty wrong with loving money first so that it takes over.  We are called to be content, not greedy. 
Another example is sex.  Absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying sex - in fact God encourages it.  But only in marriage.  The results of not obeying this command is self-evident by all the brokenness of people who have not honoured this command.  They need to know that God can restore!
Even sung worship can be used by the devil.  Have you noticed how worship has become a commodity, that the church with the music people like is the church that gets supported?  People are really into deep experiences of God's presence through music, but come Monday morning and it's clear who is actually in charge of that person's life. 
Look unto Jesus!  That is your best defence against the schemes of the enemy.  Remember, that even while Jesus was pinned to the cross, He was still too powerful for the full array of darkness leveled against Him. 
Jesus has conquered the enemy - no wonder the devil has to resort to scheming

16 September 2011 - Rugby Requirement Number Three

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ. 1 Cor 12:12
We have been looking at some parallels between rugby (as a metaphor for a battle) and Christian living and the call of the church.  So far two core requirements required for winning (and also required for the church to be successful in its mission) have been knowing which side you are on, and counting the cost.
A third core requirement is the ability to work as a team.  A rugby match or a battle is not won by one player or soldier.  It requires a team effort.  Whilst one person may be responsible for scoring all the tries, it requires a team to help make it happen.  This means a strategy is required in order to get different personalities to work together for a common goal!  It is God's design that we all be different so that we complement one another.  If we were all the same it would just lead to competitiveness.
Jesus has given the church a strategy for reaching a lost world, and this is how Paul put it (2 Cor 4:5-10):
  For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Our calling is to live our lives with gospel intentionality.  It's odd that such a phrase should have to be used, because our lives are meant to be a by-product of the gospel within us!  But it is important that we keep our focus, because it is easy to get distracted, and that our lives are lived with the sole purpose of making Jesus known through us, of going where it is dark (most of you are already there in the workplace) and shining the light: not condemning the darkness, but rather being the light.
God has gifted us all in special ways so that we work together to make this happen.  Our individual lights form a collective light, and to God it is beautiful, whilst the reality is that not all in the world will appreciate it, because darkness is not fond of light.  But that must not stop us from being a light!
How are you helping the local church that you are part of to spread the light?

15 September 2011 - Count the Cost

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.  Matt 16:24-25
We have started to look at some core requirements in order to win a battle (using rugby as our metaphor!).  The first requirement we considered yesterday was the fact that you have to know which side you are on, and the challenge was issued as to whether you had nailed your colours to the cross.  Are you known by God?
The second core requirement is knowledge of the cost.  You don't play rugby not realising that hours and hours of your time will be required for training and practise.  You have to go into the match fit!  If one is not fit, then the opposition will have an easy victory and you will have a difficult defeat!
The same is true of discipleship and the calling of the church.  Jesus, in the discourse above, made it clear that following Him will require nothing less than our very lives.  If you are carrying a cross, it means you are only going one way: to your death.  It means you have no control over your life anymore.
To truly enjoy God, it is imperative that we give up the right to our lives.  If all we can offer at the end of our lives is a nice house, car and maybe a boat or two, then we have lived a wasted life.  If however we have offered ourselves to live for God's glory, then we have truly invested wisely.  Paul puts it like this (1 Cor 9:24-27):
  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Are you giving your life to Christ?  Anything less is an insult to the cross and a deprivation of abundance.

14 September 2011 - Which Team?

¹³ Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”  Joshuah 5:13-14
As you may have noticed, rugby fans throughout the world are running high temperatures as they suffer from Rugby World Cup Fever!  It is characterised by getting excited prior to the game, philosophising and betting on who will win and what needs to be done - then there is much screaming and commentary (not all of it sanctified) during the match, and finally there is the post-mortem analysis when everyone all of a sudden has amazing wisdom and insight into what should have been done - all this over a game that apparently started by someone who broke the rules of soccer and ran with the ball!  My experience of rugby was to be told two rules: I must hook the ball (they made me hooker), and if there is a fight over the ball, I must make sure I am in the middle of it!  To this day I still don't quite know all the rules!
Rugby represents a battle between two sides, where the idea is to break into enemy lines and stake your claim.  And in order to win the game (or battle), there are some core requirements, the first of which is to know which side you are on!  Going into battle not knowing your side or your enemy has somewhat disastrous consequences!
The same is true when it comes to our walk with God.  The Bible describes our walk as being in a battle (see Ephesians 6), in which we wage war against spiritual forces of darkness.  To this end, it is absolutely imperative that we know which side we are on.  In the above verses, Joshua asks the angel if he was for them or for their enemies?  The response of the the angel is beautiful and gets to the heart of the matter: he is on neither side, but on the Lord's.
As that hymn goes (Frances Havergal -1877) 
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
This is the core issue: not whether God is on our side, but whether we are on His. 
Have you nailed your colours to the cross?

12 September 2011 - Lay on those hands!

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability." And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day."  Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"  As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. Luke 13:10-17
I don't know about you, but I tend to be quite quick in judging the Pharisees.  How could the Pharisee be so blind?  Why couldn't he just be happy for the woman who was healed?  Did he feel threatened? Was he upset because his planned order of service got disrupted?
Whatever it was, we realise from the incident above that when the form of godliness is more important than the revealing of compassion, then we have a problem: we have misunderstood the heart and mission of Jesus - the very mission that we have been called to continue.
Of course it's far easier to turn your eye aside to deformity and heartache, that way you don't get involved!  But Jesus had an entirely different approach: he saw her, he called her  and he laid his handson her.  The result? Healing.
There was a need, there was a recognition of brokenness (both by those observing and the woman who needed healing) and then there was what so loosely gets called nowadays as 'ministry.' 
Do you know of someone who needs the healing touch of Jesus?  Can you pray for that person - literally go to the person and ask if you could pray with them? You may think you don't have the gift of healing - no need to worry about that: Jesus does.
Compassion - that's the heart of God for you!
(Today's devotion is adapted from Scripture Union)

9 September 2011 - Get out of My Way - Jesus

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, " Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt 19:13-14
Sometimes we as disciples of Jesus get in the way of what Jesus wants to do!
The disciples thought they were doing Jesus a favour by letting him get a bit of rest, and not alowing him to be bothered by silly women with children - surely these women knew better?
And they did didn't they? They seemed to know the heart of Jesus better than his own disciples! And what a rebuke for the disciples. They received a paradigm shifting on-the-spot lesson in kingdom living! Telling these burly men that God's kingdom is for the likes of children (i.e. child-like faith and trust) would have really shaken their world-view. What were the thoughts that went through their minds when they heard this? Perhaps thoughts like "Surely kingdoms belong to the powerful? Surely it belongs to those who are clever? Why children? No-one takes children seriously!"
Advancement in God's kingdom does not belong to those who are wise in their own eyes, or who are strong. It belongs to those who are pure, who are servants, who are willing to be the least - to those who are like children in their trust in God. It belongs to those who have compassion - who share the heart of Jesus. Have you noticed how children so readily identify and want to help a person who is hurting? If one child cries, they all want to cry! It's socialisation that teaches them to distance themselves.
May we not be guilty of getting in the way of what God wants to do, and may we instead allow Jesus to shape our hearts into hearts of compassion.

8 September 2011 -That's What Friends Are For

Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. Mark 2:3-4
What lengths are you prepared to go to to get sinners to Jesus? As you may have gathered, the area of missions and reaching out has been an area that I have been considerably challenged in lately! It is, after all, the reason we exist as children of God - the glory of God through missions.
These four men had compassion for their friend, and wanted him to meet Jesus. Their faith got displayed through action, and somewhat creative action at that! It seems that faith finds a way to overcome obstacles.
Having had to deal with builders, and some even yesterday in my kitchen, I have a small appreciation for what the homeowner felt about having his roof dug through, leaving dust everywhere, and especially on all those in his home! If he got offended ( I somehow don't think so) then that was his problem: a soul was at stake here, and a roof could be repaired (which I imagine the four men did!).
Here is an excerpt from Spurgeon on the above passage:
If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones. It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running some risks and shocking some proprieties
It is simply too dangerous for the church to rely on the hope that sinners might stumble into their church sanctuaries at precisely 09h00 or whatever time on a Sunday morning. We must meet them in the workplace, in the schools, in the pubs, in the sportclubs, in the craftguilds, in facebook, in twitter and in whatever other internet social network tools there are (I confess - I battle to keep up - by the time I understand or am aware of something, it's already outdated!) - wherever there are people, God's people must be there too!
May our collective light shine and let us encourage one another to bring our sinner friends to Jesus, no matter what it takes!

7 September 2011 - Weakness Rules

He gives strength to the weary...Isaiah 40:29
Apparently Red Bull gives you wings and Coke adds life...
God, however, gives strength.
Life gets hard sometimes, and we wonder how we are going to go on. In the course of my own life and ministry there have been a number of times when I have simply wanted to throw in the towel. God, however, gives strength.
I have seen colleagues go through really difficult times and one wonders how does one go on in such a context? God, however, gives strength.
There are believers who are facing circumstances that defy belief and reason, for example Asia Bibi, and other fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (see www.incontext.webs.com). How can they possibly go on? God, however, gives strength.
What does the strength that God gives feel like? To us it feels like weakness, because it is only when we are weak that God's strength is able to help. As the conversation between Jesus and Paul went when Paul was asking for strength (or rather asking for something, probably someone, to be taken away from him!):
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
No need to try and be strong for Jesus - rather be weak - and let Jesus be strong!
When you realise your weakness and your need for strength, that is the point that God is able to help carry you through.
He gives strength to the weary.
Ask!

6 September 2011 - No Comparison

To whom will you compare me? Isaiah 40:25

This is what you call a rhetorical question! There is no answer that can be given to it. God stands alone!

Have you ever tried to grasp the nature of God? Ever tried to get your head around the fact that He has always been there? No one created Him - He just always has been there. It's simply too much for my mind to try and comprehend - my neurons go into overdrive and I get nervous that my head might just explode trying to understand!

And then there is the issue of how good He is. It's wonderful that God is good to us, because can you imagine if He wasn't?

Let's not forget His amazing power. He need only speak the word and things come into existence.

What about His creativity? Have you seen the variety of plants, animals and people? There are some creatures that we never even get to see because they're so deep in the ocean!

What about the vastness of space? Why show interest in little us?

What about the intricacy within creation? Do you know how intricately you have been knit together?

What about His knowledge? God is literally light-years ahead of us in this department: He knows everything!

There is so much that boggles the mind when it comes to dwelling on the greatness and goodness of God. There truly is nothing that we can compare God with or to. Everything reveals God, but nothing defines God in terms of comparison, because all comparison points fall short of the fullness of the glory of God. One more point...

His compassion. Who can compare to the compassion that God has for us?

We are not worthy, but boy are we ever so grateful.

Let's worship.

5 September 2011 - Truth Matters

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honour your father and your mother,' and 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, 'What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honour his father.' 'So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites!" Matthew 15:1-7a (but read till verse 9!)
People who love to share God's Word love that verse in Isaiah 55:11 which speaks about God's Word not returning void or empty but accomplishing the purpose that God desires. Yet in the above discourse Jesus reveals something that can block the effectiveness of God's Word: the traditions of man.
Over the years, teachers of the law had added their own interpretations to the law, creating new traditions. Whilst the intent behind this was initally good (to provide parameters and guidance on how to fulfill the law), it unfortunately gained the status of equal authority with the written law, and subsequently became burdensome. So with the example of hand-washing, Jesus was not speaking against hygiene, but the tradition came down to how much water was to be used, how many rinsings were required and so on! The point had been missed.
With respect to the issue that Jesus touched on, children were to look after their elderly parents, but by 'dedicating' their money to the temple (and subsequently enriching the religious elite), they got out of this duty. The heart of compassion desired by God got wiped out by religious greed and superficial righteousness.
We need to be so careful as to how we can block the planting and effectiveness of the Word of God in our own lives. Every denomination, including those who try not to be a denomination, have ways of doing things that can become the replacement for a heart to heart relationship with God. We get so caught up in how we think things should be done, and whilst the intention may be good, we run the major risk of blocking God's work in our lives through His Word!
May our hearts be fertile soil for God's Word! May we not get confused between our traditions, opinions and the truth of God's Word - because there is a vast difference between the two! Truth, not opinion or tradition, is what sets us free.

2 September 2011 - Love Divine

Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Jeremiah 33:11
What a wonderful encouragement, and what a reason to give thanks: the children of God are always on the receiving end of His love! His love will never, ever stop, and His nature is goodness.
Truly we are blessed. In human relationships, love can be so fickle - but not with God. God cannot be anything but good, because that defines His nature. How it must really pain Him to see lost souls! I wonder if an infinite God ever gets over the pain of lost souls...
This verse reminds me, along with Scripture as a whole, that no matter what happens to us, no matter how miserable our lives may be, we actually always have reason to give thanks because of the nature of God and His love towards us. Imagine if we did not have a loving God at all!
Will you not today offer prayers and praise of thanksgiving to our wonderful Father? And don't forget to meet with the saints this Sunday!
Have a blessed weekend of thanksgiving!

1 September 2011 - Awesome God - like totally!

Ah, Lord God! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17
In times of doubt and confusion, we need to remind ourselves and proclaim the truth of who God is. We also need to do this in times of certainty! In the words of that Sunday School song: "My God is so Big - so Strong and so Mighty there's nothing my God cannot do!"
Jeremiah was crying out to the Lord when he said this, because he was confused over the actions and ways of God. Jeremiah was asked to buy a field even though Jerusalem was about to be destroyed by the Chaldeans as an act of God's judgment, and the reason for buying the field was to express faith in the truth that Jerusalem would be restored. When your eye is focussed on the reality of painful imminent judgment, it's very difficult to take a long term view and believe you'll be back!
But God is God, and there is no other. The plans and ways of God are way beyond our comprehension and perception. We have a world view that is governed by the length of our arms, but God has a view in which even all the universes are, I imagine, seen out of just the corner of His eye (obviously this is metaphorical!).
God is indeed great, and the truth is that none of us are actually able to fathom His greatness. The unfortunate reality is that we all want to measure His greatness by His greatness to us. Even if God did nothing good for you (which is inconceivable), it would not detract from His greatness - He is literally out of this world (and yet intimately involved in it - theologians refer to this paradox as His transcendence and His imminence).
What is the point of all this? God alone has all power and is able to do 'exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine' (Ephesians 3:20). He alone is the one to turn to. He alone is the one to worship. He alone is God - and nothing is too hard for Him!
Worship God for who He is, not just because of what He can do!

31 August 2011 - Locusts don't have the final say

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten...you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel. Joel 2:25&27
This is the promise God gave to His people after their genuine repentance, and once again we see the incredibly amazing and beautiful heart of God.
The people were being promised forgiveness, redemption, restoration. They no longer had to fear judgment, but could look forward to the ultimate prosperity: the presence of God.
Standing on the other side of the Cross, we know that all of God's promises find their "yes" in Jesus (2 Cor 1:20). It is through and because of Christ Crucified that we can know forgiveness. It is because of Christ Crucified that we can know redemption. It is because of Christ Crucified that we can know restoration. It is because of Christ Crucified that we can know righteousness imputed or given to us so that on the day of Judgement we are able to stand with confidence before God. As Paul writes in Romans 8:31 - if God is for us, who can be against us?
We are tempted to think that time has been wasted. Fortunately with God, whatever it is that the locusts has eaten, this is no obstacle to Him, who can restore and make all things new. All things are within His realm of control!
Do not despair, but bring your burdens before God with humility, and ask Him to please restore what you know needs restoring. God can do it.

30 August 2011 - Powerful Weakness

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christt and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Cor 2:2-5
It's hard to imagine the apostle Paul coming from a place of weakness, fear and trembling, as well as not being eloquent in speech! Yet this is how he describes himself and his ministry to the Corinthians. Paul understood that to minister required not human strength, but human weakness through which divine strength can operate.
A forceful word to bring a point across would result in a further hardened heart by the one receiving it (think of how some Christians like to engage in protests and end up saying very cruel and un-Christlike things to those they are protesting against - and all in the name of God's honour!). I remember reading how Philip Yancey observed Christian protesters shouting at homosexual men and how the Christians seemed to delight in the fact that these men were going to hell. The response of some of these men was to sing "Jesus loves me, this I know - for the Bible tells me so!"
There are certainly times when forceful words are needed, but never in the power of the flesh. A forceful word spoken in the flesh will only result in harm, whereas a gentle word spoken in the power of the Spirit will result in a transformed life! This is the power of the cross: that Jesus Christ crucified, literally pinned and at his weakest, will still too powerful for the enemy!
May God help us to walk and speak in His Spirit, rather than in ours!

29 August 2011 - God's Character: My Hope

....rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love - Joel 2:13
In our congregation we have been studying Joel, and what an amazing book it is. The whole book is the message of salvation grounded in the character of God, as it points out the reality of coming judgment described as the Day of the Lord, but also the opportunity to escape such judgment.
The above verse is inserted in the context of being warned of a disastrous judgement because of the sins of God's people. We are not told what those sins are, and what we can surmise is that there had been a drifting away from God and that they had lost their first love: they were no longer living for the purpose of the glory of God.
But what we see in the above verse is the character and heart of God: what He looks for. God is not looking for empty religion, but heartfelt repentance and love. He is not looking for people to rend or tear their clothes as an outward sign of grief and remorse, but people who are cut to the heart over how they have fallen short of God's glory and standards and want to return to Him.
And when people truly return to God, they find open arms awaiting. His character is our hope: God is gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, a phrase which goes far deeper than any english translation can offer: it speaks of covenant love of God which He will never let go of, no matter how much we have hurt Him.
What a privilige to be children of such a great God. How fortunate we are that He is fully aware of our weaknesses and is still willing to receive us into His arms.
Because of the character of God, we have hope.

26 August 2011 - Don't Fear!

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:29-31
These words provide both wonderful encouragement and powerful challenge!
The encouragement is that our Father knows what we need, and indeed delights in looking after His children. How we can testify to His gracious provision in our lives!
But embedded in this wonderful encouragement is the challenge: to have only one priority: God's kingdom. Everything else must be subservient to that and support that. We are to live under the rule of God, and seek to extend His rule. But this rule needs to be reflected in our attitudes, our marriages, our work-ethic etc.
It's natural to face and experience fear in this world, especially in terms of how we are going to provide for our needs. But God promises us that if we make Him and His kingdom our priority, we will know His provision for even the basics of our lives, because God is truly concerned about the nitty gritty issues of our lives!
Your Father knows what you need, and He will provide! Reveal your trust by putting Him first!

25 August 2011 - Height challenged yet all grown up

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:1-10
I just love this episode! After all, how do you hurry down a tree?
And surely someone should have taught Jesus the four spiritual laws? How can He pronounce salvation without a sinner's prayer being uttered? Perhaps Jesus looks at the changed heart and not the moving lips?
Doesn't Jesus also know that bad company corrupts good character?
That's Jesus for you: He came to seek and save the lost. Need I say more?

24 August 2011 - Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" Luke 7:34
When it comes to self-righteous religious watchdogs, you just cannot win. John the Baptist led a stoic lifestyle, and he is accused of having a demon (v33), and Jesus enjoys a good meal and He is called a glutton and drunkard! You just cannot satisfy self-appointed watchdogs (which is very different from a watchman!)
There is one thing that continually amazes me about Jesus, and it's something that I don't always see happening with the church: it's the way sinners flocked to Jesus.
Jesus actually was self-righteous in that his self was indeed righteous - there was no sin to be found in him! What was it that attracted sinners to him? Were they hungry for the compassion that he offered? Were they desperate for the hope that He brought?
Was it that He brought light in an otherwise dark and dull existence?
I think one of the greatest compliments a child of God can be given is that he or she gets described as a friend of sinners. It means that they are seeking to introduce Jesus to them!
As long as we remain huddled in our protective communities, people will not see Jesus, other than from a distance and will then be perceived as being for the elite few. But if we take our lives into darkness, then, by God's grace, people will understand that Jesus really has actually come for them, and offers salvation to them, and they can eventually understand that this is for God's glory.
People already stand under judgment, but the purpose of Jesus coming was not to condemn (John 3:17), but to bring light, hope and salvation. I don't know about you, but it looks to me that that is exactly what this world needs. It's time the sheep got to the goats.
May God's glory be revealed through us!

23 August 2011 - Pray without ceasing

Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, "My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers" Luke 19:45-46
This action of Jesus driving out people from the temple does not exactly fit the traditional 'meek and mild' image does it? If any of you are able, do yourself a favour and get the message (it's probably on youtube) called "My house shall be called a house of prayer" by Jim Cymbala (Brooklyn Tabernacle)!
What was going on that Jesus would engage in such drastic action? The guys that were there were meant to be there: they provided the temple currency acceptable for offerings, and provided the animals for sacrifices. The problem was that they had turned it into a means for making money and getting considerable profit, and were preventing the true purpose of the temple: prayer.
If Jesus were to visit some local churches today, what would He do? Would he drive out leaders who use the church as a means for self-enrichment? Would he have strong words to say to churches who are trying to build empires rather than extending the kingdom? Would he have strong words for people who are trying to promote local churches as places that need support rather than as places where discipleship takes place?
And what about your heart? You are now the temple of God - is God having to share a throne? The thing about a throne is that only one person can sit on it at a time. The danger today is not that God would drive us out, but that we drive Him out.
What an incredibly great privilige to be able to communicate with Almighty God! Why would we not want to live for Him? Why would we not want to pray?
We are here to pray. We are here to let our very lives be a prayer: communicating love to an amazing Father. We are here to understand our utter dependency upon Him. We are here to live for His glory.

22 August 2011 - Give it away!

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:1-2
When you talk about money and tithing, things can get quite heated! I often see more passion put into the issue of tithing and giving than in the souls of men and women!
But to argue about tithing and giving is to really miss the point completely: the point centres on the truth that Jesus watches with interest (no pun intended!) what we give. And he also re-defines generosity. We so often think that generosity is defined by amount, and so we admire people who give large sums of money into ministries, and secretly wish that we too could have large sums of money so that we can 'bless the kingdom.'
But generosity is not defined by the amount that we give, but by the cost to ourselves to give. The rich above gave out of their abundance - they could afford to put in a bag of gold coins. The widow however only had two coins left to her name, and she gave it to God. This is also known as financial freedom.
So the good news is this: you can 'bless the kingdom,' and more importantly the King of the kingdom, by giving what you cannot afford to give! Remember: it's not how much you give that counts, but how much it costs to give that is important. As a pastor I've often been on the receiving end of people who were going to throw things away and then think of giving it 'to the church' and they honestly perceive it as being noble and generous!
How wonderful that Jesus did not take the same approach. Jesus held nothing back to save you, and in the light of His great gift, we are able to give as well. If we cannot give at cost, then are we able to say we trust?
May we have the courage to not just allow our souls to be saved and sanctified, but our wallets and time as well! And here's a 'secret' - the more you give, the more joy and freedom you will experience! As John Bunyan once wrote: "There was a man, some called him mad - the more he gave, the more he had!' There really should be no arguments over giving...the 'arguing' should rather be testimonies over the joy of giving generously!
As Randy Alcorn likes to point out: You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead of you!

19 August 2011 - Chill Dude!

Be still and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10
But Martha was distracted with much serving...Luke 10:40
It's good to be busy and productive, because the devil really does find things for idle hands to do!
However, the devil is also quite content for us to be very busy - even very busy doing good stuff, because sooner or later busyness leads to grumpiness! This was the experience of Martha who was commendably busy preparing a meal for Jesus Himself and His disciples, whilst Mary, her sister had the audacity to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen while there was work to do!
As one book title puts it, the challenge for us is to have a Mary heart in a Martha world. Jesus saw the heart condition of Martha, and challenged her on it, and commended Mary for choosing to sit at his feet. Is Jesus against productivity and saying that we must just spend our time in His presence?
Not at all! But busyness that is not rooted in stillness will ultimately prove counterproductive. We must be properly rooted for proper fruit to bear. Remember who your God is...remember why you are here...remember who your help is...
Be still - God is actually still on the throne and actually is aware of all that needs to be done...

18 August 2011 - Informed or Transformed?

Reading: Luke 10:25-37 (today's devotional inspired by Scripture Union devotion on the same passage)
Focus verse: And he (Jesus) said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." But he (the lawyer), desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" (v28&29)
The parable of the Good Samaritan never fails to challenge complacency. The scenario is a lawyer trying to test Jesus by asking what he must do to inherit eternal life (a good question for a lawyer to ask!). When Jesus responded with a question as to what was written in the law, the lawyer answered that we were to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Jesus's answer to this gets to the core of the man's heart condition: he had answered correctly, and then that little phrase "do this, and you will live." The man had the information, but he clearly lacked the transformation!
So, being a good lawyer, he tries to justify himself. Not a good thing to try and do with Jesus! And so the lawyer asks: who is my neighbour? You can imagine his thinking processes, arguing that surely there must be boundaries to the expression of love!
But Jesus is not concerned about the man's self-esteem, but rather for his understanding of what God truly desires. Truth, no matter how nicely put, always has a knack for offending! And Jesus proceeds to share a parable answering not the question of 'who is my neighbour,' but rather 'who am I a good neighbour to?" And the point is indeed pointed and uncomfortable: you cannot separate love for God from love for your neighbour!
I must confess I am great at challenging people (it's my job), but unfortunately even greater at justifying my actions or rather lack of action. It's far easier to walk to the other side than to actually get messy and involved.
May God grant us the courage to act on our conviction to truly love one another, and may a Grace Tsunami invade this land!

17 August 2011 - No write-offs

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20
The seventy-two disciples came back to Jesus very excited after the success of their short-term mission trip - even the demons were submitting to them in the name of Jesus! What the great prophets of old had longed to see, these 'simple' disciples were experiencing first-hand.
It's wonderful to encounter the spectacular, and Jesus shares in their joy, but then offers perspective...the thing to truly rejoice over is that their names were written in heaven. It's easy to be seduced by the spectacular, but the true cause for celebration is the heart of the message of the kingdom of God: that we can be part of the family of God. We can know God and be known by God. As William Barclay puts it:
"Christianity does not mean knowing about Christ; it means knowing Christ; and to do that requires not earthly wisdom but heavenly grace"
This is the perspective of Jesus, and we must take note of it. The consequences of not being a child of God are so terrible to contemplate that to have our names written in heaven is truly cause for celebration. And what a tremenous privilige we share in extending this invitation to enter the kingdom of God to those around us!
God in His grace and mercy has not written us off, but redeemed and restored us. That is truly cause for celebration, and motivation for mission!
Rejoice and labour!

16 August 2011 - Sheep Soldiers

And he said to them,"The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few...behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Luke 10:2-3
These were the words of Jesus prior to sending out the seventy-two disciples, and the same holds true today.
The harvest is indeed plentiful, and today we have far more Christians available, but we still don't have enough labourers. It seems that many Christians fail to realise that they have been called to full-time service wherever they have been planted: it is their calling to reveal God's Kingdom rule to those around them. Full time ministry is not for 'professionals' - because we are all priests.
Of course it's not exactly safe to be a lamb amongst wolves - but let's not forget that we're lambs with armour (now there's an image - any artists out there that can draw that for me?) ! Neither must we forget that people are not the enemy - Satan is. We live in enemy territory, but even our enemy is subject to the Lordship of Christ. Satan will do whatever he can to discourage us, hurt us and maim us, because it's not us he wants to get at, but God. Satan couldn't care less about you (don't worry, you're not called to care for him, but rather to resist him - James 4:7).
And whilst serving may be unsafe and dangerous, it's not as dangerous as not serving and not being a child of God. Being a child of God has the reward of heaven and eternal security and joy. Rejecting God has the disastrous eternal consequence of separation - otherwise known as hell.
So in yet another paradox of God's Kingdom - we find that whilst we're sent as lambs amongst wolves, it's actually a safe place to be, because we have the knowledge that God is with us. Far better to be in His will than outside of it.
Will you respond to the call to serve wholeheartedly? Will you be willing to go wherever you are sent, even if it seems so dangerous?
You won't regret it.

15 August 2011 - Recessional Discipleship?

No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God - Luke 9:62
What a powerful, uncompromising, clear statement from our Lord! And one that is challenging me even as I write...why?
A somewhat unique door unexpectedly opened up for myself and my congregation, but required discussing it as a body on the way forward. Here is where I am being challenged: we so often think in terms of provision as approval from God for doing something, and so we make statements like "If God provides the resources, we will do this."
I look at the above verse this morning and I have this rather scary realisation dawn on me: it's not about whether God will provide for us as the condition for ministry: the issue is whether we are prepared to pay the price. There has to be a cost involved in discipleship: are we willing, for example, to put in money when we actually don't have much? Are we willing to be misunderstood? Are we willing to make a time investment into something that may not provide any immediate result or very little? Even the potential results should not factor into the equation, because we are called to be obedient regardless of the outcome. The result department belongs to God, the obedience department to us. Recessions are not to affect discipleship!
The road of discipleship is one of God stretching us beyond with what we are comfortable with. Through this we grow in maturity and in faith. Through this we walk on the proverbial water. Through this we provide malleable clay that God can work with to reach the lost around us.
What about the fleece that Gideon put out - isn't that an example for us to follow?
Gideon already had the door opened for him, and his putting out a fleece was not a sign of maturity, but of weak faith.
May we all have the courage to say: I have decided to follow Jesus - no turning back!

12 August 2011 - Divine Deliverance

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life - Psalm 138:7

I love the psalms - they are filled with honest cries to God, but always coupled with a declaration of faith in the goodness of God.

It's not always easy to believe in the goodness of God, because of all we see around us, and perhaps even because of things we find ourselves going through. We cry out to God for deliverance, and with that cry we have an image of what that deliverance looks like.

What would deliverance look like for you? In the above verse, David defines Divine Deliverance: it's preservation through the trial!

To not give up...to believe and hope...to persevere and not despair: these are the hallmarks of preservation and Godly presence!

God is a good God, and all that He allows is for a good purpose (read v8 of the above psalm). Do not give up on this essential truth, and make your goal the goal of making your heavenly Father proud through the response that you choose through the trial when you would in fact rather react differently!

You are precious in the sight of God, and God is worthy of your worship.

11 August 2011 - Dealing with the Unexpected

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet will I be confident. Psalm 27:3

It can be quite bewildering when the unexpected happens to us! We find ourselves in a situation that we do not want to be in, and then that situation sometimes has a nasty habit of taking camp around you!

How do we deal with such situations?

In the above verse, we see a valuable lesson from David: you go in the opposite spirit. If the situation is such that it evokes fear, you choose to be confident!

It's all about perspective. In the next verse (v4) David speaks of wanting to dwell in the presence of God, and then goes on to describe how God will protect and shelter him. In the light of God and eternity, we have no reason to fear. As Paul so aptly puts it in Romans 8:31 - if God is for us, who can be against us? And even though armies may come against us in whatever form, we need to dwell on who we belong to, and understand that while the situation may have been unexpected for us, it was not for God.

When we go in the opposite spirit, we are in fact better able to deal with the situation. From Nehemiah we learn the art of what I call being 'pray-tical' - bringing the situation to God in prayer and then trusting for the wisdom on how to practically address the situation. Action builds confidence and faith, and even if the situation should result in death (a very real reality for many of our brothers and sisters), know that God awaits on the other side: fear has no grounds for being rooted in our hearts!

Pray - be confident - take action!

10 August 2011 - Get an Attitude!

Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus...Phil 2:5

What a powerful and challenging statement!

Jesus, the Son of God, who knew full well who He was, and what He had at His disposal (the armies of heaven!), and yet did not dwell on this aspect of who He was.

Instead He focused on who those around him were: people who were lost and in need of help. In fact, He humbled Himself so much that He was willing to serve and die the ignominous death of a common criminal - at the hands of people He had created. Astoundingly, through this entire process of His life and death, He was actually in full charge of the situation.

It seems He did not waste His time fulfilling human potential. He focused on releasing Divine power - how? Through serving.

Jesus' dream and desire was to honour His Father, and it was His will He came to serve. And thank God He did.

There are times in our lives where you too may be called to die to your dreams so as to better serve those around you, because to carry the attitude of Jesus doesn't mean focussing on your wants and desires, but on how you can best reveal and release the power and love of God to those around you through serving. God's grace is not given to you for your exaltation (although you will experience that one day), but for your labour in His service.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life (including dreams, goals etc) for the sake of serving others and revealing Jesus. There is simply no other higher calling.

09 August 2011 - You're surrounded - run!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us - Hebrews 12:1
As promised, yet another reason is given today on why you shouldn't give up!
This above verse comes in directly after the chapter which deals with the heroes of faith: heroes which left a legacy of faith as an example to follow. There are a lot of names in that list, and not all of them exactly had sterling moral track records: but each reached a point of trusting God wholeheartedly. Many were also in fact despised by people of the world, but their focus was not the opinion of man, but of God.
The image given to us here is that these heroes are watching us run a race, and they want to see us complete the race even though there are many obstacles. And just as you don't run a marathon with bricks attached to you, so in our spiritual race we must throw off every weight as well as sin which clings to us. It's interesting that a distinction is made between weight and sin, with weight seeming to indicate things which are legitimate in and of themselves, but have taken on a proportion that is dangerous or detrimental to our spiritual health: for example TV watching - and dare I say in some cases (like me!) the weight is quite literal that needs to be shed!
Perhaps there is an attitude that you are holding onto that is detrimental to your spiritual health - or a love of something that is competing with your love for God.
This race can only be run successfully with the eye on the goal of Jesus, and excess baggage thrown off. We have heroes of the faith who are watching us, and who want us to do them proud!
Get running!

5 August 2011 - DGU - R11&12

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Cor 4:16-17
It's natural to lose heart, and supernatural to sustain hope. In this chapter, we have been considering a number of reasons to not give up in our walk with God and ministry for Him. Here are two more reasons seen in the above verse to not give up:
1) Troubles are temporary - Halleluljah! Even if from the day we were born to the day we die is characterised by trouble, it is still temporary. One day God's children will be with Him, and life will be so different! It will literally be a trouble-free life, although not a lazy one! Instead life will be characterised by joyful fulfilment.
2) Because of the glory that awaits. I have this theory, based on the above verse, that one day, when we see what God has prepared for us, we will say: "If I knew it would be like this, I would have gone through more." The glory that awaits us will be abundantly disproportionate to whatever we may have had to go through in this life.
That's a total of 12 reasons we have been through based on 2 Cor 4 as to why we should not get discouraged and give up. There are other reasons too, from other portions of Scripture, one of which we will look at on Monday.
In short: may we never forget WHOM has called us - HOW He called us and WHY.

4 August 2011 - DGU-R10 - Soli Deo Gloria!

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God - 2 Cor 4:15
The glory of God is pretty much the overriding theme of Scripture, and represents the ultimate reason for living and persevering. As the Westminster Catechism puts it, the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
The love of God reveals His glory. The compassion of God reveals His glory. The anger of God reveals His glory. The holiness of God reveals His glory. In one of the most succinct statements of Scripture which pretty much condenses what a child of God's attitude to life should be, Paul states:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31
God is glorifed through the obedience and thankfulness of His children, and isn't it wonderful that we are taught what pleases Him? When you give thanks, you bring glory to God. When you obey, you bring joy to the Father's heart - I reckon the universe swells with pride when God sees His children walking in obedience!
It's absolutely amazing and incredible that mortals like you and I, who have a propensity to get things wrong, can bless and bring joy to our Almighty Father.
Let us spur one another on to live for the glory of God!

3 August 2011 - DGU-R9!

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Cor 4:15
The only reason you are a child of God is because someone told you about Jesus and His gracious offer of salvation.
I am also pretty sure that you are grateful someone told you!
It always refreshes the heart to see and receive gratitude, and in the above verse, we see that this is further motivation for Paul to keep at it in ministry: he loved seeing people who were grateful to God for their salvation, and it must have gladdened his heart to know he played a role! Those who receive Jesus are truly able to say "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news - who proclaim peace - who bring good tidings - who proclaim salvation (Isaiah 52:7)"
What a privilige to be able to share the love of God with people! How wonderful that we can point hurting people to a compassionate God. How amazing that God would use the likes of us to reveal Himself to those around us.
Are your feet beautiful?

2 August 2011 - DGU-R8!

...knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 2 Cor 4:14

Do you hear the confidence in what Paul is saying? He knows with certainty that God who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us up to!

Dwell on that: even if for some reason you get killed...it's only temporary! You will be raised again! Death is only temporary, which is why Paul often uses the term 'fallen asleep.' As he wrote in his earlier letter (1 Cor 15:55):

Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your

sting?

It's like a good boxer that gets a surprise knock-out and falls to the ground, only to suddenly spring up on count 9 and be filled with vigour and renewed energy and has an amazingly transformed body and his opponent just flees because he doesn't want to stick around!

The resurrection of Jesus is core to our faith, and alongside that our resurrection too. Paul himself stated quite clearly that if the resurrection did not take place (as some even today are still trying to maintain) then our faith is futile and we are all a deluded bunch of people. In 1 Cor 15:14 Paul writes:

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

How wonderful to know that our faith is not in vain! Jesus did get resurrected, and we too will be resurrected one day - yet another reason to press on!

1 August 2011 - DGU-R7!

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believe, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 2 Cor 4:13-14

Advertising is big business. I must admit I do enjoy some of the adverts that we see on our TV, especially some of the more quirky humorous ones. Other adverts make you wonder if people really do fall for them, and yet you know they do because the adverts keep re-appearing! Repetition is key!

The point of advertising is to literally get buy-in to the product. Companies want to make you believe in a short space of time that their product is exactly what you need, and that you will be willing to part with your money so that they can enjoy it!

The best advertising is word of mouth. And in the above verses, Paul shares his conviction that he just has to speak - why? Because what he believes is true. He doesnt have to convince anyone of its veracity because it speaks for itself.

The truth of the gospel is the seventh reason to not give up. And because of its truth, and what the truth did for him, he just has to share it. Jesus did get raised from the dead, and those who love Jesus will also be raised and enjoy the presence of Christ forever.

The gospel is real and true. The question is whether your life is an advert for it. Would people be convinced of the truth of the gospel by observing your life? Would people want to know Jesus based on you?

Quite a challenge for Monday morning I know! Be blessed and don't be afraid to live for Jesus - because you have the knowledge you are not living a lie but walking in the truth!

29 July 2011 - DGU-R6!

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you....
For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 2 Cor 4:11-12 & 15
We have so far seen a number of reasons to not give up in ministry and in our walk with God. Discouragement is a very real reality that we all face, but it is a road that we must consciously choose not to go down, by focussing on some important truths, all of whom are revealed in Jesus.
A further reason Paul did not go down Discouragement Highway is seen in the verses above: his love for the priviliged recipients of God's grace. Paul literally did face death every day, but if it meant that the gospel got spread and that people responded to it, then it was worth it.
What an incredible heart - a heart moulded by Jesus, who so loved the world that He gave His life for us! Let us give thanks to God for Paul, without whose obedience you and I would not be able to know Jesus.
Let us also give thanks to God for John Stott who passed away. Here was a man who loved Jesus, was passionate about missions and influenced His church for the better. He truly leaves a gap, and we trust Jesus to provide us with more great servants like this man.
We have much to be thankful for, and your witness is essential to the extension of God's kingdom. Hardship is a small price to pay for the sake of a soul who will be spared an eternal hell. Love God - love people: see what a difference it makes!

27 July 2011 - DGU-R5 (Don't Give Up - Reason 5)

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - 2 Cor 4:8-9

The calling to ministry is not an easy one, as Paul was able to testify. His testimony of what he went through reads like a fear-factor series!

Every child of God is called to ministry, and the road is not always easy. It is not a health and wealth road, but an adversity and reward road. In the above verses, you can imagine a gladiator being surrounded by opponents, taking somewhat of a beating, but nonetheless being able to fight his way out.

What enables Paul to go on? It's the enabling grace and power of God. God's grace is taken nowadays as our means and justification for comfort - but for Paul it was not given to him to relax, but to work. In 1 Cor 15:10 he says:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On

the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that

is with me.

God's grace is not given to you to relax, but to work. If you are using it to relax, then it has been given to you in vain!

May we all give our all to our walk with God, utilising whatever opportunity we have to share Christ. God's enabling grace and power will sustain us through all things - that's reason to go on!

26 July 2011 - DGU-R4!

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Cor 4:7

God's Gospel is truly a treasure - where else can you find the music of redemption and forgiveness?

Paul had a deep appreciation for the gospel, and this gospel which was in his heart, which transformed him from a God-hater to a God-lover, from religion to relationship, was motivation to keep going. The gospel is truly powerful - it has the power to change a dead heart into a living one!

Do you know people who are dead in Christ? Are they facing a lost eternity? The way of the gospel is not to curse the darkness, but to be the light. This man from Oslo Norway who calls himself a Christian is clearly not one. The way of the cross is the way of compassion, and killing innocents just because you want to bring a point across is simply evil: there is no other word for it. Jesus made it very clear that we are to love our enemies and pray for them (Matt 5:44). Peter clearly remembered the teachings of Jesus when he wrote:

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you

were called, that you may obtain a blessing (1 Peter 3:9)

If you truly want to make a point, then reveal the treasure within. Share the gospel: the good news of forgiveness and redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Don't give up - you have treasure within!

25 July 2011 - Reason 3: Shine Jesus Shine!

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 4:5-6
We're looking at why Paul did not give up in ministry - what was it that enabled him to go on ins, the face of consistent opposition and hardship? So far we have seen that he recognised how high his calling was and that it was rooted in the mercy of God. It is important that you understand that you too have been called to a high calling: you are a missionary wherever God has planted you, and it is a high calling rooted in His mercy!
A third reason to not go down the road of discouragement is your testimony. Paul testifies in the above verses as to how God shone His light into his heart (quite literally too if you read Acts 9!). Just as God had spoken "Let there be light" at the beginning as we know it, so God had spoken the same words into Paul's life - and yours.
When you have the opportunity for light in a dark place, you don't hide it - you use it (see Matt 5:15-16). In the same way, you are to allow God's light to shine through you to those around you. Light is beautiful, and the darker the place, the brighter the experience of the light -although unfortunately some people do prefer darkness.
How has God worked in your life? What story can you share of His light shining in your darkness? Do you know of someone who needs that light? Why not ask God to give a divine opportunity for you to share it? Redemption and forgiveness are beautiful words in any language!

22 July 2011 - Don't give up! Reason 2

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 Cor 4:1
Anyone who has been in ministry for longer than a week will know the feeling of wanting to give up!
But as children of God, that is a luxury that we cannot afford - there is just too much at stake. Besides, we must never forget where our roots are: in the mercy of God. This is reason number two to not give up.
Paul never forgot his physical roots: the way he lived BC (before Christ). In 1 Tim 1:12-16 he points out how he was basically a God-hater through his persecution of the church, but how he had received mercy because he had acted in ignorance. God called him not because of his credentials, but despite them.
The same is true for any child of God. None of us have been called because we were admirable or because God was really keen to be associated with us, but because of His grace and mercy. Grace has to do with receiving undeserved kindness and mercy has to do with not getting what we do deserve.
How wonderful that we are rooted in the mercy of God! Doesn't that make you want to press on?

21 July 2011 - Don't give up! Reason 1

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 Cor 4:4
As a minister of the gospel, Paul had plenty of reason to get discouraged. 2 Cor 11:16ff recounts all the types of hardships he experienced - ranging from getting arrested and flogged through to getting shipwrecked and floating around in the open sea!
And yet the road of discouragement was the road he refused to go down. Why? That's what we are going to consider over the next few days. The above chapter that the verse is quoted from reveals 12 motivations for Paul! There may be more!
The first reason is seen above: his high calling. He speaks of 'having this ministry.' The word 'therefore' indicates that what he has just spoken about has bearing on this truth of why he does not lose heart. If you look to chapter 3, you will see he was speaking about Moses as law-giver. I am sure you would agree that Moses was a called man of God, yet here is the profound truth: as a child of God, your calling is even higher. Why? Because Moses was called to give the law which ultimately led to condemnation, but as a child of God your calling is to dispense or reveal God's grace which gives life!
What an amazing privilige given to us by such an amazing God! How will you reveal grace today?

19 July 2011 - Everyone needs Compassion

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:34
In South Africa the citizens have been encouraged to engage in 67 minutes of compassionate service in honour of Madiba's birthday, representing the years of he was engaged in the struggle.
In one sense it is an indictment on a country that professes to be 85% (or thereabouts) Christian. It's sad when people have to be asked to be compassionate.
Yesterday I had the privilige of witnessing the result of one man moved by compassion over something he saw: and the result is that a community of children (about 600) are being fed a wholesome meal every day (I will endeavour to find out more details) - and the work is growing and expanding. It is seeing things like this that give me hope for the country - that at a grassroots level people are reaching out in response to compassion evoked within them. Another example is Crossroads (please see www.crossroadskzn.co.za) , another organisation that seeks to reveal the compassion of Christ until people ask why! They too are making a significant difference in the lives of the poor and marginalised - children getting fed, having opportunity for schooling, communities empowering themselves. Both of the ministries referred to above began from a place of limited resources, but there was compassion and it was acted upon. Both ministries now have an impact beyond what can be measured!
It's amazing what can get done when one shows a little compassion. One has to be persistent at it though. People on the receiving end are often distrusting, and it takes time to build relationship and show that your heart is genuine.
Isn't it wonderful that you are on the receiving end of the compassion of God? Where would you be without it?
My challenge to you is to do more than 67 minutes - it's to have an attitude of compassion. And when you see something that moves you - do something. You have no idea where it will lead, because compassion has a way of growing into something bigger than you. But rest assured that when you move and act in compassion, you are moving and acting in the Spirit of God.

18 July 2011 - Lighties

No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Luke 8:16
Greetings from a cold Kimberly (I probably should have heeded the wise counsel of 2 Tim 4:21)! I am here with Mike from InContext at the Africa 4 Jesus Bible school (www.africa4jesus.com), and what a privilige! There are young students here from diverse backgrounds with one desire in common: to be a light.
It reminds me afresh that God is a missional God. God is at work in this world, and He is calling people to serve Him and reveal Him to a world that desperately needs to know Him. And you are part of that calling. God has uniquely placed you in your position so that He can be revealed. You are not called to keep your faith private, but to let Jesus be revealed. Again I get reminded that the heart of God is spelt p-e-o-p-l-e.
When we consider the default eternal destiny of man, and how God has saved those who accept His offer of salvation from such a horrible destiny, how can we remain silent about His goodness? How can we keep it to ourselves? How can we form holy huddles which are actually not holy because the whole point of being holy is that we are set apart for a missional God?
A look at the life of Jesus reveals that God is quite simply not into exclusivity, and desires that all men should come to repentance.
Let God's beautiful light shine through you!

15 July 2011 - Sacred Call

Now Go! - Jesus
Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them. But before they do, they had to wait for power from on high.
It's more than interesting to note that the baptizing instruction comes after the making disciples. It seems to me that Jesus is not interested in baptizing converts, but disciples: people who have revealed that they want to follow Jesus and understand the commitment and cost involved.
Of course, to make a disciple takes a lot more than putting people through a short bible-course! It is about revealing the lifestyle of the follower of Jesus, and that lifestyle can only be lived through the power of the Holy Spirit. It takes a person of courage and conviction empowered by the Holy Spirit to say 'no' to shortcut bribery, or 'no' to a desire for revenge, and instead say things like 'i love and forgive you' to the person who has hurt you badly: that is a true manifestation of The Spirit!
And something else: there is no Plan B for Jesus. The work of the Kingdom of God has been entrusted to the likes of you and me. You have been placed in a particular place in the world to be His light, His message, His disciple.
But He has not left you ill-equipped for the task. God's Holy Spirit has been given to you, and His Word has been given to you - and God's Spirit works through His Word. Together these two form a powerful arsenal designed to equip and sustain you in your sacred calling.
There is a calling upon your life: walk in it!

What a friend

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Phil 4:4
(The following excerpt I have copied and pasted directly from http://www.faithclipart.com/ - I do not know much about the site, but the background to the hymn I have quoted below is congruent with what I remember from the past)
"Irish born Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1896) was 25 years old, in love and to be married. The day before his wedding his fiance died in a tragic drowning accident. Heartbroken, Joseph sailed from his homeland to start a new life in Canada. While in Canada working as a teacher, he fell in love again and became engaged to Eliza Roche, a relative of one of his students. Once again, Joseph's hopes and dreams were shattered when Eliza became ill and died before the wedding could take place.

Although one can only imagine the turmoil within this young man, history tells us that his faith in God sustained him. Soon after Eliza's death Joseph joined the Plymouth Brethren and began preaching for a Baptist church. He never married, but spent the remainder of his life giving all his time, money and even the clothes off his own back to help the less fortunate and to spread the love and compassion of Jesus wherever he went.

Around the same time that Eliza died, Joseph received word from Ireland that his mother was ill. He could not go to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed one of his poems entitled What a Friend We Have in Jesus."

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Are you currently being tested in your ability to praise God in the midst of difficulty? Praise is not some magical incantation which twists the arm of God, but it is a wonderful means of getting your focus right. Let us give thanks to God and bring joy to His heart through prayerful praise!

13 July 2011 - Praise God from whom all blessings flow

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me - Psalm 50:23
A life of thanksgiving does not come naturally - it has to be cultivated.
But a lifestyle of thanksgiving brings honour to God. So often we tend to focus on what is wrong in our lives, and the outcome of that invariably leads to despair and pity parties. It's easy to give thanks when things go well, but how do we respond to life when the challenges come?
Are we called to be denialist and put our head in the sand and just sing praises whilst ignoring the harsh realities? Not at all, but praise alters perspective. Our calling and design is to worship God, and giving thanks and praise to Him gives Him a channel to work through in your life. Praise in the midst of persecution is the ultimate act of faith, and blesses the heart of God. The reason we are able to praise and give thanks in all circumstances (see James 1) is that all things are used of God to shape us and mold us (Romans 8:28ff). More importantly, it's really not so much about giving thanks for the circumstances as much as it is about giving thanks to the One whom is in control of all circumstances. It's only when we factor God into our lives are we able to be thankful in all things and even for all things. In Jesus, we always have reason to rejoice (Phil 4:4). There is no escaping from the command that we are to be thankful always! As it is written:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16-18

12 July 2011 - Foot Washing

"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." John 13:8
The above exchange took place when Jesus, prior to His crucifixion, washed the feet of His disciples.
Debate exists as to whether Jesus was instituting a foot-washing ceremony (making this a third ordinance alongside baptism and the Lord's Supper). I think most Christians hope He wasn't! I personally do not think so (can you imagine what a farce this would develop into as a ceremony? You can just picture the fancy bowls and great shows of humility in order to look good!!! Would kind of defeat the object!), but rather was instituting the example of humble servanthood to be followed. Jesus did not have to serve, since He was and is Lord over all, but yet He did!
An attitude of servanthood is essential for effective functioning in God's kingdom. Not only that, but we need to be cleaned by Christ Himself. Jesus came not just to wash feet, but to clean the sin out of our lives, because where there is sin, Christ cannot exist as Lord.
How wonderful that Christ was willing to cleanse us by giving His life up for us. How sobering that unless we allow Him to cleanse us, we can have no part of Him, and unless we serve we cannot know Him.
May God grant us the courage to humble ourselves and know Him more!

11 July 2011 - New Forever

He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' - Rev 21:5
I just love this verse - it gives me something to look forward to! One thing I am looking forward to is a working memory! I was meant to be away this week, but got my dates mixed up! Actually, I have a great memory, it's just that my recall is a bit slow.
It's always nice to have things that are new (and that work). But on this earth, things eventually get old and fall apart. In our own lives we have to acknowledge the effects of ageing, even though we do not want to. We cannot run as fast as we used to, cannot hide those wrinkles all that well, and those joints that need Q20 also remind us that we are no longer children in our bodies!
But on this Monday morning, derive comfort and joy from the truth that all this is temporary. One day we will be with Christ. One day we will be made new. One day we will be glorified. And it will never grow old or fade.
How wonderful is that?
Give God and His gift of life your best!

8 July 2011 - Goatee Sheep

For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25
Let's recap: a breakthrough in your life from God's perspective would undoubtedly include the following attributes:
1) the ability to endure unjust suffering whilst being mindful of God
2) the ability to respond in faith to life's challenges instead of reacting
3) living for righteousness
The final attribute which pretty much sums all this up and enables this to happen is this: being focussed on Jesus as your Shepherd and Overseer. He is the One whom you are called to listen to and obey. This is what Jesus said in John 10:27:
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me
Jesus is the One you are accountable to. Jesus is the One who is the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the One who has your best interests at heart.
Sometimes as sheep we still go astray - we allow the goats to influence us! But our Shepherd is a good one, and He watches over us and will always bring us back: no matter how stubborn we are! Unfortunately our stubbornness can make the process longer than need be!
We all long for breakthrough in our lives: but the place for real breakthrough is in your heart. Allow God to do the breakthrough there, and the rest will follow.

7 July 2011 - What to Live For

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
What does breakthrough look like from God's perspective? Some churches are tempted to think that breakthrough is characterised by an overflow of resources into the ministry (although that is very nice!). Others think that it is characterised by seeing strange manifestations of the Spirit. I think God has a different view. If I look at the teachings of Scripture, it becomes clear that God seeks people who are truly worshippers of Him, and that worship is characterised by lifestyle. This is the third attribute that we consider: living for righteousness.
Jesus Himself took the penalty of sins upon Him. He didn't just die though, He died cursed since Deut 21:23 clearly stated that anyone who dies such a death is cursed. But the amazing thing is that in submitting to this death, this was not Jesus being weak and submissive, but rather entrusting Himself to God who judges justly! And Jesus doing that means that we have the capacity to not just die to our sins, but also to live righteously.
Can you imagine a community of people whom are consistently lovingly righteous? A community of people who put God and others before themselves? Wow - there is something to make God smile! The capacity is there - let us release it!

6 July 2011 - I have decided to follow Jesus

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:20b-23
We are considering what a breakthrough would look like from the perspective of God, and yesterday we saw that the capacity to endure unjust suffering whilst being mindful of God is one hallmark of spiritual maturity.
In the above verses, Peter elaborates on this and says something quite shocking: to this you were called. I must confess, that's not really the gospel I hear much of these days, that Christ calls us to suffer! But that is what I love about Jesus - He does not hide the truth, but tells us what to expect when we follow Him. It's not that Jesus takes delight in our suffering, but unjust suffering is a by-product of following Him because we are currently in a world that hates light.
Two images are used to show us that we need to follow the example of Christ. The first image is that of tracing a pattern (the verse above uses the word 'example'). As a child learns to draw or write the alphabet through tracing it, so we need to use Jesus as our pattern upon which we trace our lives. The second image is that of footsteps: who hasn't tried to walk on the beach in the footsteps of other people? It's one of those things that feed the imagination of a child to wish he or she was bigger! We too are called to follow in the footsteps of our Lord.
To sum up, the second attribute to build into our lives is the ability to respond spiritually rather than react emotionally. In other words, when we are insulted, hurt, mistreated etc, we must retaliate with love and dignity! As children of God we are enabled to do so, because God sees all, and has promised to right every wrong. And on Calvary, Jesus received the penalty of every wrong, so He knows first hand what it is to experience injustice!
What a wonderful Lord to continue to love us despite us!

5 July 2011 - Breakthrough

Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God...1 Peter 2:18
In a day of labour unions and rights, the above verse truly represents a counter-cultural viewpoint! Slavery in Rome was not the same as 19th Century slavery of America. Whilst slavery represented the backbone of the Roman economy (estimates are that 1 in 5 were slaves), many were actually professionals such as teachers, managers and doctors (others were a lot worse off having to work in the mines). Nonetheless, they were not regarded as people but as tools or property. By addressing them directly in the letter, Peter is recognising them as people made in the image of God.
What does this verse have to do with breakthrough? I believe God also has a viewpoint on what constitutes a breakthrough. There are attributes that God would love to see in His children which would make Him say "Now they're getting it - now they're getting to understand what it means to be my child."
And the first attribute mentioned here is the ability to endure unjust suffering whilst being mindful or conscious of God. Translate this into the modern workplace and consider the implications: for example, not striking because one is content with one's pay - after all, is it not God who actually provides? This is somewhat debatable I am sure (I think there is a difference between striking and standing firm for justice)! But consider the slaves who had no rights, who were not regarded as people but as property, and what does God say to them? Endure! They were to gain their freedom if they could (1 Cor 7:21 -some slaves got paid and would save up so that they could buy their freedom).
Do you have the capacity to endure injustice and to handle it with dignity so as to bring glory to Christ? Would that represent a breakthrough in your spiritual development?

4 July 2011 - Breakthroughs

Sometimes spiritual food comes in the form of a question (you will see that the Bible, especially the Old Testament) is full of questions being asked - not just from man to God, but also by God to man!
So today I do not have a Scripture for you, but a question, and this question will form the basis for our devotions this week. Here it is:
What would represent a breakthrough in your life?
Give it some thought - you probably already know straight away!
In the meantime, bring it to God!

1 July 2011 - Fear-filled Submission?

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution...for this is the will of God...Honour everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13-17
We have been considering different aspects of submission this past week, and I do trust by God's grace it has been food for you to chew!
One of the associations with submission is that of a servile fear. If this is the case, then one is not under a person of authority, but of control. Such a person uses force as a means of manipulation - in politics they are called despots.
Nero was such a despot, and yet here Peter tells us to honour everyone, including the emperor - and then makes a very important distinction: to fear God. God is the only one to be feared, and by that we mean a proper reverence and respect (it's called an attitude of worship), because we recognise His supreme authority and power and what He is rightfully capable of doing, yet doesn't because of His mercy to us. We are called to give respect and honour to political authorities, but not to fear them - because all authority is in God's hands. Any authority that violates the rule given in v14 of praising those who do good and punishing those who do wrong and instead utilises positional authority for evil ends, will ultimately self-destruct, because the path of evil is the path of destruction.
We are called to love our brothers and sisters, but not to fear them (even if they do seem scary at times!). When it comes to our spiritual family, we are called to develop a culture of honour. Imagine a community where all are honoured - that is the result of submitting to one another. If God is willing to confer honour on a person, who are we to do otherwise?
Ultimately the core, root question we all need to ask ourselves is this: are we in submission to the One whom has the government upon His shoulders, who is known as the Prince of Peace and the King of kings? Are you in submission to Jesus The Christ?
Until you do, you will not know true freedom.

29 June 2011 - Submission Stinks...

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution...For this is the wil of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 1 Peter 2:13-15
Submission, humanly speaking, stinks!
Submission, divinely speaking, sanctifies!
We have considered two truths of submission so far, the first being that submission is a pre-requisite for freedom, and secondly that whilst it may sometimes be humiliating in its experience, true submission doesn't come from a point of weakness, but a place of strength, because we can be confident and dignified in the identity we have in Christ.
But does submission have any practical benefits? We shouldn't actually need any to be motivated to obey God, but yes it does - all of God's commands work that way!
The first benefit is revealed in the above verse: when we submit, we bring glory to God. The point being made in this verse is that submission must not be seen in terms of a duty to fulfil, but as an opportunity to bring honour to God. It just so happens that when you honour God, He honours you! A man is never so high in the kingdom of God as when he is on his hands and knees serving (think of Jesus...)
A second benefit is that you silence the talk of ignorant men. In Peter's day, as today, Christians were misunderstood and had all sorts of strange accusations and gossips said about them. But there's something about good behaviour that has a way of casting doubt on the aspersion of fools! So if someone says something nasty about you to someone else, and that other person looks at your life, then they will find it difficult to believe what was said.
Submission is a gift of God designed for the benefit of His people - and a lost, hurting world.

28 June 2011 - Strong Submission

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution...1 Peter 2:13
Yesterday we considered how submission is not a violation of freedom, but an expression of it.
Today we consider another truth about submission. Submission is often experienced as humiliating and subsequently seen as a vehicle for lowering self-esteem. I could be really blunt and just say that there isn't meant to be any self, but let's expand this a bit!
It is true that the experience of submission can be humiliating in the physical realm. Jesus has first hand experience of that - but in no way does it devalue you as a person in the eyes of God. Instead it elevates you! The example set for us by Jesus is beautifully expressed in Philippians 2:5-11, where we are taught to have the same attitude as Jesus, who although He was God, and had all authority and power, He voluntarily subjected Himself to God through submission to human authority and became obedient even to death on a cross. Talk about mind-blowing, jaw-dropping amazing truth!
So whilst the experience of submission may be humiliating in the physical realm, and just plain unfair, we can know that we have the dignity of being a child of God conferred onto us, and nothing can take that from us, and nothing can make God love us less. True submission does not come from a place of weakness, but of strength. It comes from knowing who you really are, and knowing that nothing can take that away.
What a wonderful God we have!

27 June 2011 - Submission

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you....1 Peter 2:9
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good - 1 Peter 2:13-14
We head back into 1 Peter again, which is a wonderful letter explaining to us the kingdom life of kingdom citizens. If you recall, we see how God has chosen us for salvation, and then we get this wonderful description of who we are in the eyes of God: chosen, royal, holy. It's hard to believe when we look at our lives sometimes, but this is not the perspective of man, but of God.
How do we express this amazing and wonderful truth of being so precious in the sight of God?
By submitting. Talk about counter-intuitive!
To be honest, in my walk with God, submission is one area that I have really struggled with. But submission is actually a wonderful blessing. We will explore this issue as Peter deals with it in various contexts, and the first context is civil society (v13-17). It is useful to note that when Peter spoke about submission to the authorities, he practiced what he preached! The emperor at the time was the cruel Nero, and many Christians died horrible deaths at his hands.
So what is submission? It means to place yourself voluntarily under someone, and it usually involves obedience (sometimes disobedience too). And the statement that Peter makes above means that wherever there is legitimate authority, it needs to be submitted to: such as government, police, the taxman, teachers, the boss at work, parents and so on.
But doesn't that mean we cannot be truly free if we are under authority? Not at all. A common liberal misconception about freedom is that freedom means the freedom to do whatever we want - that's not freedom - that's stupidity! Right at the beginning, Satan tried to convince (he didn't have to try to hard) Adam and Eve that God was holding out on them, that by breaking the boundary prescribed by God, they would actually be doing themselves a favour, and experience real freedom. We all know the result. And the result is we all want to be back in Eden. Freedom is not about having no authority, but about enjoying life within prescribed boundaries. After all, if everyone were to drive however they liked, at whatever speeds they liked, and whatever direction they like (even if it is only one-way traffic), then the population explosion will be somewhat reversed!
Submission is actually the path to experiencing freedom. It's not always easy, but as we shall see this week, the results are good.
True freedom is only found in submitting to Christ.

--------------------------------------------------------

15 June 2011 - Bubble Bath

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.  1 John1:8-10

Confession is the bubble bath of the soul.

It interesting that John should write this to Christians.  It seems there were people going around saying that they were sinless and did not worry about and should not focus on the sin in their lives - the name given to these teachers were 'false teachers,' and represented a heresy known as Gnosticism. 

But we must focus on sin.  Perhaps I should rephrase that: we must allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, because between Satan and ourselves, we are quite good at harping on things that God has long forgotten!

But we must not shy away from looking at sin in our lives.  It does not lead to low self-esteem, but to humility and relational intimacy.  We are indeed sinless in status, and God's nature has been granted to us, but we are not sinless in behaviour: one hour with you will reveal that truth!

When we confess sin, we give dignity to the person we confess to.  We acknowledge their worth and that we have hurt them.  For example, as a married man, I unfortunately do have this habit of hurting my wife.  She forgives me a long time before I get around to swallowing my pride and saying sorry.  Does the sin affect my marital status? Not at all.  Does it affect my wife's love for me? No.  Does it bless her when I acknowledge what I have done and say sorry? Of course, because her dignity is affirmed.

When I confess my sin to God, I worship Him.  I recognise that I have hurt Him, I recognise that His character is holy, and in His mercy He lets me know that I am forgiven - that the sin is not held against me.  I luxuriate in the presence of mercy.

Don't shy away from sin: turn away from it.

14 June 2011 - The Violence of Comfort

...the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matt 11:12

Yesterday we considered the truth that part of the experience of kingdom living is conflict.  We know that the world does not like light, and is not appreciative of the righteousness of God.  People don't seem to mind the love of God, as long as it is defined as letting us live the way we want and then get upset with Him when things go wrong! 

But here in the West we have not experienced much of the violence that other parts of HIs body experience.  That's what I thought, but I then came to understand that the violence we experience is far more subtle, and far more devastating to the Body of Christ where we are.

Why do I say that?  Because persecution and martyrdom has the paradoxical effect of purifying and strengthening the church.  In the West we experience the violence of comfort, gossip, lies, distorted truths, sexual immorality, church politics, foolish talk, obscene talk, greed and so on and etc! Is it any wonder the church lacks power? Sin must be dealt with!

Let us be on our guard!

13 June 2011 - Kingdom Life

But seek first the kingdom of God - Matt 6:33

We have seen how the Cross is foundational to he Kingdom of God, and that the church is the instrument of the kingdom of God.  But what is the experience of living in the Kingdom of God?

Conflict...at least this side of eternity!

In Matthew 11:12 Jesus makes the following statement:  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

In this world, as God's rule of righteousness and love advance, it encounters opposition from a world that does not want or appreciate it.  Church history is a history of violence (unfortunately a lot of it done by the church too), and in the last century, there were more martyrs for the Christian faith than in the first 2000 years of church history! And it has not stopped.  Paul also points out the reality of this war when he says: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12) - and he then goes on to describe our weapons, which are not physical!

The violence we receive is physical, but our weapons to respond are spiritual.  We must fight back and retaliate when attacked - how? With love, with prayer, with godliness.  Because this is where the real battle is: will we remain godly or will we give in to reactionary flesh?

I'm the first to admit that this is easier said than done, but it can be done through the grace of God! May we desire to serve and bring honour to God through our lives as we fight for righteousness.

10 June 2011 - The Kingdom and The Church

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - Matt 6:33

Yesterday we saw that the cross is foundational to the kingdom of God: you cannot enter in any other way.

Where does the church fit in with respect to the kingdom?  One hears a lot of talk these days about the kingdom, and in some cases the implication is that it is set up in opposition to the church.  Let’s be clear on this: the church and the kingdom are not opposites, neither are they competitors.  Instead, the church is the chosen instrument of the kingdom.  Jesus called the church into being to reveal the kingdom of God.

And that is a challenge for us: what message does the local church of which you form part, and your attitude to the church, say to the community and those around you about God? Does it say that God cares and that God transforms?  Or does it say that God tolerates mediocrity, that He tolerates half-heartedness? That He accepts the terms and conditions we impose upon our involvement?  That it’s okay for people to go to hell and that it’s ok if someone else does the job and keeps the church just ticking over because I’m actually here for my own benefit when it suits me?

We Christians have funny ideas: we actually want God to build our own kingdom, and in exchange we will then give His kingdom some attention.  Or worse, we give God's kingdom some attention, but in exchange for God blessing our kingdom!

If that is your attitude: then look beyond your nose! Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be added to you as well. Such was the example of Solomon in 2 Chron 1:7-12 – or Hezekiah in 2 Chron 31:20…

May all our lives be characterised by living for God's kingdom, and may our local churches be true pictures of God's kingdom!

9 June 2011 -The Cross & The Kingdom

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

V19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

v33:      But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Yesterday we considered the challenge issued by Jesus to seek first God's kingdom as opposed to ours.  But what do we mean by the kingdom of God? Let's elaborate briefly about this so as to help us understand that there really is a world beyond our noses…

The kingdom of God was the defining feature of the teaching of Jesus.  He began His ministry proclaiming that people must repent because the Kingdom of God is at hand, and through virtually every discourse and parable, there is teaching about the kingdom of God: for example with Nicodemus – unless you are born again, you cannot enter the kingdom! And when the disciples chased away the moms and children, Jesus took a child and said unless you become like this child, you cannot enter the kingdom!  And when His life was about to end, at the Passover He took the cup and said he would not drink it again until we were all together in the kingdom, and when standing before Pilate – the epitome of earthly kingdoms, he said that His kingdom was not of this world.

The Kingdom of God speaks of the rule of God, and since it is God’s kingdom, it is characterized by godliness.  The ministry of Jesus was about calling people to submit to the rule of God and warning against refusing the rule of God.  It is particularly unique because through Jesus, the kingdom was coming to us!  And entrance into this kingdom can only happen one way: through the cross.  On that cross Jesus became both the sin bearer and sin destroyer so that sinners who had no right to enter the kingdom, could be let in and be set free from their slavery. It is a kingdom of redemption!  The cross is foundational to the kingdom – you cannot experience the benefits of the rule of God without going through the cross.

That's why the message of Christ Crucified is so essential!

What a wonderful Saviour - what an amazing Lord!

8 June 2011 - Look beyond your nose

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

V19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

v33:      But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Yesterday we saw the futility of trying to build our own kingdom, where self rather than God is king.  But fortunately, Jesus does show us another way to live – another priority to have, which has better benefits.  It’s called living for the kingdom of God – let’s consider the benefits:

You don’t have to worry about not being able to take it with you when you die, because the treasure will be waiting for you because you already sent it on ahead of you… and since it is in heaven, you can be rest assured it wasn’t affected by corrosion or tax.

You also don’t have to stress and worry about stress and worry – because when you are focused on the kingdom of God, God takes care of you.

You also gladly accept the role of servant – in fact child, because you are in the hands of the Father God who actually cares, not the tyrant that money becomes in which your very emotional existence becomes dependent on the state of your bank account!

You see, when God is your Father, then you have reason to trust. Why? Because His mercies are new every morning, you can never be separated from His love, you cannot be snatched out of His hand – and really, if as Creator He is in control of the birds of the air and the flowers and the grass, then surely as Father He would know how to take care of you?

But you’ve got to learn to look beyond your nose. You’ve got to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then you can know the benefits and pleasure of the provision of God.

Makes sense doesn't it?

7 June 2011 - Spiritual Suicide

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

V19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

v33:      But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The challenge was issued to us yesterday to examine our hearts as to where our treasure lies, and this we can do by looking at where our money goes!

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus contrasts two priorities that we can have.  The first is putting ourselves first through trying to accumulate as much money as we can, or we can seek God first and His kingdom.  We need to understand that Jesus is not against wealth, but He is against improper use of wealth.  Wealth should be a means to an end, not an end in itself.  We should earn money so as not to be a burden to others, to help others in need and also to further the spread of the Gospel.

What are the benefits of living for your own earthly kingdom where you are the king? Let’s take a look: in v19 we see that moths and rust destroy earthly treasures: they don’t last.  Then you have the issue of thieves (both private and government sector !) Then of course you realize you're actually not the king, but the servant to money.  And then there is the issue of stress and anxiety. And then of course, you die and it all stays behind. 

Doesn't sound like such a great package does it?  There are cell-phone deals that are better than that!

What is Jesus saying?  In short: the love of money is spiritual suicide.  When money is your goal, anxiety sets in – why? Because you cannot wholeheartedly trust an object or a system that is so volatile – and the symptom of money trust is blurred vision, because the real goal of your existence fades away (v22-23), it confuses values, because you put priority onto that which is secondary (v25) and it defies reason: why barter away eternity for earthly stuff? In other words, anxiety is a fruit of idolatry where the self is enthroned rather than God.

But there is another, better way.  More on that tomorrow!  In the meantime, allow God to examine your heart, and ask His help in using money as a servant rather than a master.

6 June 2011 - What's Your Treasure?

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

V19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

Our Lord sure had a way with words and bringing truth across.  This makes sense considering He is The Word and The Truth!

The question we consider this week is this: what is most important to you?  What drives you?  What gives you your reason for living? And does this focus of yours result in peace and contentment, or is stress and anxiety your middle name?  According to an article I read in Thursday paper, the British spend on average 39 minutes a day worrying!  Are you above average?

What if someone came to you and said: "I’ve found it – I’ve found the focus and priority you need to have in order for life to make sense," would you listen?  Especially if that someone was significant enough in the eyes of the world and spoke from experience?  Perhaps you would be willing to listen to this 30 second speech by Bryan Dyson (CEO of Coca Cola)?

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.  But the other four balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it. WORK EFFICIENTLY DURING OFFICE HOURS AND LEAVE ON TIME. GIVE THE REQUIRED TIME TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND HAVE PROPER REST”

Pretty wise words – worth listening to. Got to give the guy credit – I would love to meet him and learn from him.  But really, that’s the best the world has to offer you: learn how to juggle.  We could debate this point, but I think Jesus would disagree – why? He didn’t create us as jugglers!

Who would be worth listening to? The CEO of Coca-Cola whose brand is recognised by something like over 90% of the world? Or should we listen to the One who actually designed us and created us and subsequently knows in what conditions we best function? The One on whom we depend for the very breath that has just come out your mouth and for the next one you are about to take...

Hearing what Jesus had to say is what we will be be exploring this week.  Why not spend some time considering what is really important to you?  One clue is given to us in the verses quoted above: have a look at your income and expenditure, because your money goes to what is important to you!

3 June 2011 - Don't be Seared!

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.  They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.  For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.  1 Timothy 4:1-5

Wow - what a powerful image: a conscience seared by a hot rod of iron.  How tragic that people can be so deceived, and lead others astray!  Do they do so intentionally?  In many cases yes, because as the Scripture indicates that their conscience has been seared: they no longer have one!

In the case of Paul and the early church, the major heresy that needed to be dealt with was Gnosticism, which maintained that everything material was evil (1 John also deals with this).  Even today you get those who insist that you need Jesus + something else, and that something else is some type of law (for example the insistence to only use the Hebrew form of God's name, or the need to observe the law for salvation maintenance).  You get the other extreme too, which indicates you don't need the law at all (antinomianism).

The challenge is this: you are responsible for what you believe.  Every teaching you come across, including in these devotionals, must be tested with God's Word.  Theology also has its fashions, and there are many winds of teaching out there which people want to run after.  Hold firm to the truth! Do not be easily swayed. 

How wonderful that we have God's Word!  Give thanks to God for teachers that you know of that are grounded in the Word and do their best not to lead people astray.

1 June 2011 - Hot or Cold?

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! Rev 3:15

We're still on the temperature theme!  In this verse, taken from Jesus's words to the church in Laodicea, we see Jesus make a very interesting statement: He wishes we (as the church) were either cold or hot!

What is Jesus saying?  For years I was under the impression that it meant that we were either rejecting him or on fire for him - but lets be honest, that doesn't make any sense!  Jesus would never wish for people to be cold in their love for Him.

The city of Laodicea had water springs nearby, a hot healing one and a cold refreshing one, and the water supply to the city was dependent on these springs, but unfortunately got mixed up and wasn't the best to drink it seems.  The challenge of this verse, in my understanding, is that the church is to examine whether it is fulfilling its mission: is it providing refreshment for those who are spiritually weary and healing for those who are spiritually sick?

It is a very pertinent question.  The church today is ravaged by all sorts of debates and divisions (things like evangelical left, evangelical right, post-evangelical, neo-orthodox etc etc etc!).  Whilst a lot of the questions that get raised are incredibly important, at the end of the day, our calling is to pursue and reveal Jesus, and as we do so, we can fulfill our mission to bring healing and hope to a sick and hurting world.

It's so easy to get caught up in our own mission, our own world, our own issues.  May God through His precious Spirit keep our focus on Him!  May our churches be places of healing and hope instead of being focussed on building private kingdoms.  May we all be part of the solution instead of the problem!

31 May 2011 -Cold Hearts

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matt 24:12

Here in South Africa we are starting to head into winter, and for us in Durban that means a cold temperature as low as 10 degrees celcius!  I recognise that for many of you that is actually still quite warm, but for us, we find ourselves needing to wear jerseys!

When you are used to warmth, being cold is quite a shock.  And when love grows cold, it is a sad day indeed.  In the above verse Jesus is speaking of the end of days before He comes, and one of the signals of being in the end times is that the love of many will grow cold.  He also spoke of earthquakes, so maybe that person who prophesied the end of the world being on Saturday past got confused between a rupture and a rapture

One doesn't need any great insight to realise that wickedness is indeed on the increase.  The danger is that much of the wickedness is not blatant - it is quite insiduous and can easily infiltrate and draw into its web the child of God who is not careful.  With a lowering of moral standards, many Christians subconsciously do the same, seeing as normal what in God's eyes is in fact evil.  A gossip, a bribe, loose sexual standards, uncontrolled toungues - all of these are common place and seen as simply a part of life.

Let us, in the words of Proverbs 4:23 guard our hearts, because it truly is the wellspring of life.  Satan doesn't have to throw something hard and heavy at us to throw us off course in our walk with God, he just needs to steer you off one degree with a subtle doubt or acceptance of something less than God's perfect will.

Is walking the moral road living under law? No - it's called being in love.

Let us remain steadfast and enjoy the love of God and His righteousness!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30 May 2011 - Christian Comrades

Reading: 1 Cor 9:24-27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (v24)Yesterday here in South Africa a sporting highlight took place: the Comrades Marathon. It attracts a lot of runners, and I believe this year there was something like 20000 running!A long distance run is a popular Scriptural image for the Christian life. Paul loves to use it! And it is an appropriate one. Effective Christian living does require discipline and perseverance to keep going on until the end. The road does get hard at times, but we have the joy of knowing that whatever hardship we may face, we are not running a meaningless race, but one that has a reward at the end.

Many Christians I have heard speak of how they don't want a reward in heaven, they just want to see Jesus.  This sounds lovely and pious and spiritual, and let's face it, meeting Jesus is reward enough, but we need to remember that God wants us to be motivated by reward!  The heart of God is exceedingly (by our standards) generous! 

Whatever the crown may be, we must be motivated by seeing Jesus, and hearing His wonderful words of "well done!"  To have that image in our hearts has the capacity to inspire us on further in the race.  And as the writer to the Hebrews puts it (in 12:1), since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses (heroes of the faith who have gone before us - cheering us on!), we must run with perseverance the race that has been laid out for us.

I do not know what your week may hold, but I do know that God is with you, and that God gives His grace to enable you to move on.  Do not give up, focus on the prize, because one day, when we are in glory, we will see that it was all worth it!

Don't give up!

27 May 2011 - Wonderful Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd - Psalm 23v1I just had to come back to this verse - it really is such a privilige to have Christ as Shepherd! This shepherd is the eternal God, He surrounds us with His presence, and He genuinely loves His children!We do encounter tough times in life, but His presence with us makes the difference. There are things we do not understand, but His presence with us brings peace in the midst of perplexity. There are times when we find ourselves waiting for God to act, only to discover that The Shepherd was waiting for us to simply be still before Him and enjoy the green pasture of His presence. He happens to know what we need a long time before we do (He knew before you were conceived!).

David  was able to state with confidence that the Lord was his shepherd.  Of course there were some dubious incidents in his life when he was not Shepherd led - but the fact of his repentance revealed where his true loyalties lay: living for God.

As you consider your life, would your actions tie in with being shepherd led by the only Good Shepherd? Everyone has a shepherd, but only Jesus is the One worth following and dying for - and of course living for!

Have a blessed weekend, and may you encounter The Good Shepherd in a wonderful way!

26 May 2011 - The Ever-Present God

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And He thrust out the enemy before you and said "Destroy." Deut 33:27Moses was absoulutely correct when he pointed out that there is no-one like God (v26)! We have seen that God is both majestic and eternal, and yet despite His incredible glory, He is still concerned, in fact more than concerned - more like passionately loving to the likes of you and me!Another wonderful truth about God is revealed in how these attributes are described: 'rides through the heavens (v26)' ... 'your dwelling place'... 'underneath are everlasting arms '...'thrust out enemy before you'

Take a look at those phrases and you will see that God is above us, around us, underneath us and in front of us!  God is truly Immanuel: with us!  And He gets rid of the enemy.  This was proved on the Cross.

Does this mean that we will not encounter evil? No it doesn't, but it does mean that evil does not have the final say: God does. It also tells us something else, as we see the logical deduction in v28:

 So Israel lived in safety

It means that we cannot live in a more secure place than in God! 

Hallelujah!

25 May 2011 - God Eternal

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And He thrust out the enemy before you and said, "Destroy". Deut 33:27What a beautiful verse!It points out one of the most incomprehensible attributes of God: He is eternal. He exists outside of time, and time is a creation of His. Where did God come from? He didn't come from anywhere: He has always been there. It's just too much for my mind to fathom. But boy am I glad that He is good!The same God of Moses is the same God of today. He will always be the same. He is the same God revealed through Jesus. It is not two different gods in the Old & New Testament!

His eternal nature has major implications for how we live. For starters, from the perspective of Jesus, worrying about life is counterproductive, but putting our energy into knowing God is most fruitful (Matt 6:25-34). Focusing on what we see around us is temporary, but fixing our eyes on the unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:18).

And because God is eternal and consistent, He can be trusted. Isn't that wonderful?

24 May 2011 - Worship His Majesty!

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty - Deut 33:26In the close of this blessing that we started to look at yesterday, we see Moses highlighting some core attributes of God - attributes that make God, God! And one characteristic of God is His majesty.God is truly majestic. David celebrates this truth in Psalm 8, and asks the legitimate question as to why God would be bothered with man, because, as he looks to the heavens, he marvels at how great God is. In our technological age, we can marvel even more, thanks to the images we receive from the Hubble Telescope (do a google on this!). 

If we could pull a curtain away from our dimension to get a glimpse of God's glory, we wouldn't be going "that's nice" - we would be face down!  The Bible reveals that the majesty of God makes an impact!  The cherubim cry out 'holy, holy holy' and when Peter saw Jesus transfigured, it 'blew him away!'

The majesty of God is supreme.  There is no-one who can top God in terms of His splendour and greatness. He is just simply incredible!

And this God is there to help His children!  Can you imagine a better helper? Of course not!

Do you need His help?

Cry out to Him.

23 May 2011 - God Stands Alone

Reading: Deut 33:26-29

"There is none like God, O Jeshurun" -v26

If you knew you were about to die, what words would you want to leave with the people you love?

Moses, at the end of his life, brought the people together whom he had been so intimately involved with, and gave them a blessing. You can read it in Deuteronomy 33. He blesses each of the twelve tribes, and then closes his blessing with verses 26-29. And what does Moses close with? With God.

Moses could testify first hand that there is none like God! He could look back and realise that God truly had His hand upon his life: spared as a baby and growing up as a prince in Pharoah's household - how he had to escape when he tried to start a liberation movement (with an army of one!) through murdering an Egyptian, how he became a shepherd in the desert and married - and then that life changing encounter at the non-burning burning bush! How God had called him to liberate the slaves - how they crossed the sea on dry land - how he received the commandments - the memories were endless! And always God was with him!

Children of God (the name Jeshuran means righteous Israel) need reminding of how great God is. We get so caught up in our lives that we forget who (and what!) is really important: God is.  There is none like Him.  God is totally other - you cannot compare Him with anything: rather it's a case of you use things to illustrate Him.  For example: God is not like the mountains - rather the mountains are an illustration of His bigness, His beauty, His character.

Theologians use a word to describe this 'otherness' quality of God: He is transcendent.  The wonderful truth is that whilst God is transcendent, He is still intimately knowable!

He desires to be known by you. Do you desire to know Him?

Let's worship Him!

20 May 2011 - Divine Election

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise - 1 Cor 1:27
South Africa just had a local government election on Wednesday, and citizens were encouraged to go to the polls to vote for the party they wanted to govern the city as well as the person they wanted as their local area councillor.
South Africa has a plethora of parties to choose from, many of which you only see for the first time on the ballot paper! People choose their candidates for different reasons, and not all of the reasons are necessarily rational.

But not so with us.  God did choose us, and He chose us for a reason and purpose.  God does not choose based on the criteria man would use, but on His.  He chose David as king not because of his looks or strength (although he had both), but because of his heart - a heart that loved God.  In choosing (electing) His children, it was not based on virtue within us, but rather despite it!  The verse quoted above is apparently why I became a pastor!

How wonderful that God does not choose or accept us on the basis of our performance, but rather because of His mercy!

But I do wonder that if someone were needed for a task which required a person being loving as revealed through practical action (love without action is just sentiment), would I be elected?

Would you?

17 May 2011 - Riding The Waves 2

Reading: Mark 4:35-41 "He said to His disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (v40)

So Jesus rebukes the weather, and the weather obeys!  For those who like to harp on about the authority we have in Christ, I'd love to see them do that!!!

Now in such a dramatic narrative, this would be an appropriate climax, and yet the punchline is still coming, and it is revealed in the verse above: 'Why so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'

It seems to be quite a harsh rebuke, and there even seems to be a sense of irritation.  Jesus clearly thought that the disciples should have known better, and if Jesus thought so, then He must be right!  But what is also important to note is the relationship between fear and faith.  Fear drives out faith, and faith drives out fear. 

The Scriptures resound with the call to not fear, but to rather have faith.  It seems that Scripture doesn't have issue with fear per se (which is why we have courage), but it does have issue with fear holding us back.  The way to overcome fear is to have faith - but not just faith - faith rooted in a proper object, and for us that is Jesus.  You cannot have faith in faith.  People often like to say, 'Just have faith' - but the correct Biblical understanding is to have faith in Jesus.  And as this sea-storm encounter reveals to us, Jesus is a person worthy of placing our faith in.  He has authority over creation and circumstances, and indeed evil as well.  In Colossians 1:15-17 we have this wonderful truth:

'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He really does have the 'whole world in His hands!'

So, whatever it is you may be facing, bring the fear before the Lord in prayer, and meditate on His greatness, so that fear may be replaced with faith.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

16 May 2011 - Riding the waves

Reading: Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus Calms the Storm

We are going to take a brief excursion into a lesson of faith!

In this incident, we see Jesus is exhausted after a day of teaching, and he wants to get to the other side of the lake.  And so they set sail in their boat, and Jesus has a rest on a cushion in the boat.  It turns out to be more than a rest!  He falls fast asleep!

Then a 'furious squall came up' and these seasoned fishermen, used to the weather and the waters, are very afraid.  The waves are literally crashing into their small fishboat!  They were getting ready to sink!  There is nothing like being in a small boat in a heavy storm to make you face your mortality! 

Jesus must have been really exhausted, because the disciples have to wake Him up!  And this is no gentle tap on the shoulder going 'Jesus - Jesus - please wake up'...no- it's more a case of "YO! JESUS! WAKE UP  - WE'RE DROWNING HERE - DON'T YOU CARE?"  Think about it, when everyone is freaking out and doing their best to fight the elements and save the boat, you don't exactly come from a place of gratitude and peace when you see someone sleeping on the job!

And so Jesus gets up and simply rebukes the weather- and it is immediately calm.  I've rebuked the weather quite a few times in my life, but not with the same result!

Have you ever wondered if God was asleep in your storm?  I guess Jesus was able to sleep through the storm because He was actually in control.  He did say, after all, that He wanted to get to the other side.

I will leave you to ponder that, and we will explore more tomorrow!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

13 May 2011 - Gospel Abundance

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  2 Cor 4:7-10

2 Corinthians 4 has always had a special place in my heart.  This is probably because it gives perspective when facing a difficult situation, and whilst the context is difficulty as a result of gospel ministry, it nonetheless helps because as children of God we face difficulty simply because we are children of God!  We live in a spiritual world, and our enemy would love for us to not walk by faith but to rather despair and doubt.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of these verses is its description of the abundant life.  No one can doubt that Paul was a lover of God!  Paul knew the abundant life first-hand that Jesus came to bring, and yet how does he describe it? He says that they are afflicted...perplexed...persecuted...struck down: those are terms describing the physical reality of his life, but then to counteract that, he describes the spiritual reality accompanying this physical reality: not crushed...not driven to despair...not forsaken...not destroyed.  Talk about being in the world but not of it!

It seems to me then, that to truly appreciate the benefits of the spiritual life, and for it to be a witness, then the perfect context for that is hardship! 

Does this sound crazy, or even offensive?  I think its actually quite wonderful.  It tells me that God is truly my sustainer, and that a hard road doesn't mean that I have not grasped the message of my identity in Christ or the accomplishment of Christ's work upon the cross: quite the opposite - it means I'm beginning to understand it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

12 May 2011- Godly Nobility

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12

It seems strange that people who do good should be called evil, but as we saw yesterday, darkness is not appreciative of light! 

This reality of being perceived as evil and not being liked can be a real temptation to Christians to compromise on behaviour so as to be more accepted by our communities.  But let us not forget the example of Jesus who was perfect, and yet crucified! Let us be able to say with Paul in 2 Cor 1:12:

For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God...

The standard of our behaviour has been raised: we are no longer to be slaves to sin which leads to death, but rather wholehearted slaves to godly obedience (Romans 6:17-18)!  Our calling and standard of behaviour is to be one of godly nobility, which is behaviour befitting a royal priest.  Such a life is the God-glorifying life as we see in our text for today.

What will be the result of such a life?  The Bible speaks of reward for God's children, but let's consider that phrase that says our accusers will actually glorify God on 'the day of visitation.'  The most accepted meaning is that this refers to the Second Coming of Christ, at which time every knee will indeed bow!  But it can also mean the day that God visits a person with the offer of salvation, and that person accepts because of the example of your life.  How wonderful is that?

May our lives be a testimony to the great grace of God!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

11 May 2011- Honourable Conduct

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12

Salvation brings change - if it doesn't then one has to re-examine one's commitment.  But it doesn't bring automatic inability to sin!  We are still faced with choices everyday of how to live, of who to live for: our selves or God.

As children of God, we have to understand that we are not the same as those around us: we have been rescued from darkness and are now living in the light of God's love.  As such, our lives must testify to this reality - we must keep our conduct honourable. If there is no distinction, then there is no credible witness and no reason for unbelievers to believe.

But why would people who lead good honourable lives be spoken of as evildoers?

Because darkness hates light.  The default position or reference point of people who do not know Jesus is one of sin and darkness, not God-given enlightenment!  And history has shown that those who live for God do get called evildoers: it's happening now in 60% of the body of Christ in the form of the persecuted church.  In the west, Christians are also called evildoers, but there is still a measure of tolerance.

In terms of the early church, they got accused of all sorts of things:

• Disloyalty to the State or Caesar
• Upsetting trade or divination (see Acts 16:16ff)
• Hatred of mankind because they did not participate in pagan festivals
• Being antisocial and atheists because they did not have idols
• Teaching that slaves are free

Add to this rumours that they were cannibals (because of their celebration of the Lord's Supper) and that they engaged in incestuous orgies (because they called each other brother/sister and had love feasts) and you have a context that was not exactly friendly to Christians although quite conducive to discipleship!

Keep your conduct honourable, even if it makes you unpopular!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

10 May 2011- Fellow Aliens

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.  Keep  your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12

My wife and I about a year ago bought a house of our own, which we have altered considerably for the purpose of making it a home that we would love to live in (we should be in by the end of the month!).  One of our human instincts is to have a place we call home.  One of the things we have also been acutely aware of is the fact that this home is temporary, and we have had to think long and hard about the fact that we are putting a fair bit of money into this, because as you no doubt know, building doesnt come cheaply!

As the priest of the home, I want my wife and daughter (and parents) to have a lovely place, but the reality is that, in the words above, we are exiles (or aliens to use NIV).  This home of ours, and this world, is temporary - it is more a base of operations than it is a home.  Heaven is our true home.  And as exiles, we are not the same as those around us: children of God have an entirely different destiny.  We are children of hope!  And Peter urges us to lead lives that are different, and the key feature to differentiate our lives from others is this: we do not give in to the passions of the flesh - rather we abstain from them.

It literally means 'fleshly lusts,' and later in the letter we read examples in 1 Peter 4:3 when he says:

 The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentils want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties and lawless idolatry.

Reading a list like that does tend to make many Christians feel good about themselves, because they are not engaged in any 'major' sins.  So allow me to quote Galatians 5:19-21 which broadens the scope somewhat:

 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Did you notice the words from enmity to envy? The Church is hardly the epitome of virtue when it comes to these! 

Purity is the calling of the child of God (see 1 Tim 4:7-8).  All of the above negatives are symptoms of self-indulgence rather than God-enjoyment.  It boils down to whom we fix our focus .

We are in a war, and our calling is to stand out as soldiers of purity.  Let's pray for each other to have the steadfastness to walk in righteousness, not only for personal benefit, but also for the benefit of our witness to a watching world.  As exiles, we need to remember that time is limited.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

9 May 2011- Dearly Beloved...

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.  1 Peter 2:11-12

Up until this point in the letter, Peter has been teaching marvellous theological truths (doctrine) about salvation: how it is God who chooses us, how  it is made possible through Jesus, and how we have such an amazing identity in Him!  Now he moves onto what this means in the context of living amongst people who do not love God.  Is this a context you can identify with?

He begins by calling them beloved - what a beautiful word!  It speaks of those loved by God and bound together by the love of Christ.  It's the same word God used of Jesus in Matt 3:17 when Jesus was baptised!  This is a love of tremendous depth, and it is the love directed to His children.  What a privilege! It reminds me of one of my favourite songs sung by David Crowder which begins with the following lines:

He is jealous for me

Loves like a hurricane - I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy

This is a true pastors heart speaking here by calling them beloved!  He wants to urge them, and he wishes he could do so in person, to wholehearted disclipleship.  Discipleship is to be a natural response to grasping the truths of God, for example Romans 12:1 or Eph 4:1 - both of these verses appeal for a life of honouring God in the light of truths about our salvation.

Will you respond to the call?  May God grant us eyes to see more of the depths of His love and to what He has saved us from!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

6 May 2011- Divine Companion

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.  1 Peter 2:9

Yesterday we saw the wonderful truth of God's presence always being with His people, which is what these descriptions of the children of God point to.  Do you not think that it is mind-expanding to dwell on the truth that we can enjoy divine companionship?  In the words of Proverbs 18:24: A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  In fact, how amazing it is that Jesus, in John 15:15 says to his disciples that he no longer calls them servants, but friends!  And how do we know and experience the presence of Christ?  It is through the living inside of us of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:15-17).  Christ is truly with-in us!  No wonder we are able to pray continuously!

This means that life can take on a new perspective.  It means that all of life is sacred: not just attending church or participating in Communion or other church-associated events.  Monday is just as important as Sunday because God is continuously with us (this does not mean that you can now bunk your sunday gathering!).  The workplace is also a place of worship, a place in which we live unto God.  Whether we are washing the dishes or negotiating million-dollar deals, we do so with the perspective of the presence of God with us, and seeking to bring honour to Him: we are His possesion!  Here is a challenge for you to think about:  what does it mean to be a called person of God in terms of how we deal with two great challenges (but also great opportunities) of discipleship: our workplace and how we handle our money?

With that challenge in mind, let us not forget the purpose of being called: God has made us His own for the purpose of proclaiming His greatness as we see in our text.  This echoes Isaiah 43:18-21 when God tells His people that He would do great things through them, and the purpose would be that they may proclaim God's praise.  The function that was given to Israel has been given to the children of God too.

If you consider your conversation over the past 24-48 hours, how much of it was proclaiming the greatness of God?  I think if we are all truly honest, we would have to agree that our default mode for conversation is not proclaiming Gods' praise but promoting our problems! 

Let us ask God to reveal to us more the staggering truth of His presence with us, so that we may truly proclaim His praise! Let us promote Him, not us!


-------------------------------------------------------------------

5 May 2011- Practice The Presence!

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  1 Peter 2:9

Firstly, an apology for no devotion yesterday, but unfortunately I did not have internet access! 

I remember when I saw the royal wedding how I tried to imagine what it must be like to be in the shoes of Prince William.  I saw all this pomp and ceremony, and what has been thrust upon him by virtue of his position, the resources at his disposal and various other trappings that come with royalty.  It's another world!  Royalty are a different class of people: you could say that they are holy, because they are set apart. 

And then I was reminded of this verse: that I too am a prince, since I am a son of The King...and a priest: chosen by God!  We see further OT imagery used here, such as from Ex 19:5-6, and for a further really exciting verse, look up Rev 20:6!

Because of their position as royalty, members of royalty are expected to behave in a particular way and manner (which they do not always succeed in doing!).  And one thing which is to characterise them, which the Queen does marvelously, is dignity.

How much more so for us!  Dignity is what is to characterise children of the living God, and by that I mean that we do not follow after the patterns of this world, but rather live a life of righteousness.  We are set apart for God.  This truth has been coming through quite a bit lately!

There is something else which all of these truths of who we are points to.  It's a simple reality which we take for granted, and it has its roots in an amazing conversation between God and Moses in Exodus 33:7-17.  I quote v15-16 here:

  And he (Moses) said to him (God), "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.  For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"

We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for God's own possession.  This means we have the presence of God with us.  It is to be the distinguishing factor of our lives.

Is it?


---------------------------------------------------------------------

4 May 2011- The Chosen

But  you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood...1 Peter 2:9

We are returning to this wonderful teaching letter of 1 Peter.  If you recall, we saw  how  salvation begins with God choosing us, and that salvation impacts lifestyle.  The next verse is arguably the most well known verse in this book, and the start of it is quoted above.

After sharing the horrible destiny of those who refuse Jesus, you can almost hear an audible sigh of relief as Peter says 'but you...'  He knows that his original readers loved Jesus wholeheartedly, and as such were destined to better things in Christ.  How tragic for those who stumble over Jesus rather than build upon Him!

What is interesting is that Peter uses a number of Old Covenant expressions to describe New Covenant people.  Why would that be?  Firstly, it does remind us that ALL of Scripture is for our benefit, not just the New Testament!  But it also reminds us that whilst the church does not replace Israel (Romans 11 makes that pretty clear), we do have the same function as Israel had: to reveal the Living God.

Chosen race or chosen people was the phrase God used to describe the Israelites (see Deut 10:15 & Deut 14:2).  Again we see the truth of divine election: that God chooses us for salvation.  Does this seem unfair?  In a sense it is, because why should God choose anyone at all?  God would have been perfectly just and righteous to leave us in our condemned state. But God chose not to, because He is rich in mercy.  Neither did He choose us on the basis of knowing we would choose Him - He chose us because He chose us.

And God did not choose us because of any inherent virtue in us.  When it came to Israel, they were hardly the most advanced nation around!  As Edmund Clowney put it: "Israel is a chosen people, but not a choice people."  The same is true for us, as 1 Cor 1:26-29 makes quite clear!

What a privilege to be chosen by God!  This is not cause for pride, but humility.  This is not cause for bragging, but gratitude.  None of us are deserving of being loved by God, but rather all of us are deserving of being condemned by Him.

Let us give thanks to God for His incredible mercy, and let us walk in His ways from a grateful heart.


---------------------------------------------------------------------

2 May 2011- Workers Day

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.  Col 3:23-24

Around the world there have been marches and protests in keeping with the theme of Workers Day.  Working conditions must improve for people, because we are all made in the image of God and as such have dignity, and work itself is designed to contribute to the dignity of a person.  Work forms the backbone of society, and is instituted by God Himself as a creation ordinance.

Work holds tremendous value and benefit.  It enables one to be productive, contributing to the functioning of society as a whole.  It provides self-worth, knowing that one is able to contribute and also provide for one's family, as well as for the needs of others..  Work helps provide a sense of accomplishment when one sees a job done.

For the child of God, work also has special value.  Firstly, it is a means of worship, because we can do it as unto the Lord.  As the above verse teaches us, we are to work as unto the Lord: He is  ultimately our employer!  And our Employer is exceedingly generous, as we will one day discover in full when we are with Him.

Secondly, work is also a means of witness.  Through our work ethic we can testify to those around us of the reality of God.  Through our attitude to work and how we approach it, God can be glorified.  We are also able to share with those around us to the greatness and goodness of God, sowing seed into their lives.

Work is a lot more than just work.  It so often seems tedious, but it that is the case, think of those for whom life is truly tedious because they have no work, and who would love to be in your shoes!

Work is in fact a sacred calling placed upon each of our lives,  and we must not shrink back from it.  When we see it as being ordained of God and our opportunity for both worship and witness, then it takes on a whole new dimension and meaning.

May God grant each one of us the grace and integrity to honour Him with our work!


----------------------------------------------------------------------

18 April 2011- What are you shouting?

Reading: Any of the Triumphal Entry/Palm Sunday accounts (Matt 21; Mark 11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, on which day we remember the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey to the adoration of the disciples and people.  It was an event of incredible prophetic significance, and we will consider some of these things this week.  But for today, I want to share with you a reflection on Palm Sunday that was sent to me by a brother in Christ (Mahendra of Crossroads):

It’s the beginning of the end for Jesus on earth, but for us on earth it’s the end with a new beginning.  It’s the end of defeat but the beginning of victory.  It’s the end of death but a beginning of new life.  It’s the end of sickness but the beginning of healing.  It’s the end of debt owed to God but the beginning of a clean slate because of Jesus.  It’s the end of law and the beginning of grace - It ends with the cross but a new beginning with His resurrection.  We can give Him hosannas or we can stand and shout crucify Him.  I know what we will choose.  But pause – if you choose hosannas then remember the hosannas come from our daily living – a true life as a follower of Christ.  But on the flip side we will never even utter crucify Him – but remember that maybe we do:  every time we sin it's as if He is crucified afresh.

Then think with me:  both hosannas or shouts to crucify Him are both played out in the daily choices we make to be pleasing to Him – not only in Jerusalem when Jesus entered with a donkey but daily.  Don’t try and lay down blankets or palm leaves – but lay down your life.

What are your choices this week going to shout?


------------------------------------------------------------------

15 April 2011- What a Lamb!

Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - John 1:29

We have been considering some wonderful truths about the lamb of God Jesus.  Let's now consider the truth of Him being a lamb...

By virtue of the fact that He is called a lamb, we know that He is being called to sacrifice: He is our sacrificial lamb.  The book of Hebrews explains this quite clearly, in verses such as:

  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14 - see also Hebrews 9:11-15; Heb 10:3-4 & Heb 10:11-14)

What lambs could never do, Jesus did: He actually took away our sin.  He received the punishment that we were meant to get, because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6 :23).  This is just incredible.  Jesus did not have to die for us.  God would have been perfectly just and righteous to leave us in our condemned state, because it was our decision to rebel against God.  But how wonderful that Jesus was prepared to die for us, to experience a breach in the Trinity, so that we could be invited in!

And when Jesus does a job, He does it properly.  Did you see what that verse said? It said that He has, by a single offering of His life, has perfected for all time (i.e forever!) those who are being made holy, those who have trust in Christ for their salvation.  That means when God sees us, He sees us through the lens of Christ, and subsequently through the righteousness and perfection of His son, and thus sees us as perfect!!!

WOW!

Jesus was my death - substitute, and now He is my living king.  How about you?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

14 April 2011- Permanent Priest

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World - John 1:29

We have been looking at some amazing truths about this lamb of God: how He is God eternal, unique and chosen, innocent/pure, how he knows what it is to be human, and how He is filled with grace and truth.  Grace and truth together are really important, because if we have grace without truth, we would have no boundaries and that would lead to licentiousness (this has always been a problem in the church when the grace of God gets discovered!).  Truth without grace leads to legalism and harsh judgment.  How wonderful that in Jesus we have the perfect balance!

As lamb of God, Jesus also fulfills the role of our High Priest.  We have already seen this in some of the Scriptures quoted previously, but the book of Hebrews gives us some very interesting insights into the type of priest Jesus is.  Under the Old Order, the position of priest was hereditary, and from the tribe of Levi.  However, if you read Hebrews 7, you will find that Jesus is a high priest of a totally different order.  His order is that of an enigmatic Old Testament figure: Melchizedek.  This person is described as king of salem and priest of the Most High God and Abraham gave him a tenth of all his spoils!  A few things are significant that the book of Hebrews brings out in this chapter (read it when you get a chance, and don't feel too bad if you are not quite following it!  Make it a personal challenge to find out everything you can to get understanding! And then let me know what you learn!)

The first significant thing is that Melchizedek means king of righteousness (Hebrews 7:20) and the city of Salem means peace, so as a forerunner of Jesus, we have a description of Jesus as king of peace and righteousness.  God had salvation planned a long time ago! 

But the other interesting thing is that Jesus is a high priest not by descent, but rather because of his indestructible life (see Heb 7:16).  Jesus did not come from the tribe of Levites, but from Judah, and as Hebrews points out, no priest ever came from this tribe.  This truth throws a spanner in the works for those who want Jesus and the law for salvation: because in terms of law requirements for priesthood, Jesus does not fit the bill because He was not a Levite!  It's either Jesus or the law, but the law cannot save, so you're left with Jesus only.

And Jesus is also not a temporary priest, since He is not limited by death: He is a priest forever!  And because of this, He can save completely those who draw near to Him, and He is ALWAYS interceding for you before the Father: HOW AWESOME IS THAT?  It says so in Hebrews 7:23-25 (Please read the whole chapter!):

  The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Feast on that!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

13 April 2011- Divinely Human

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29

As we have seen so far, this lamb is not just any lamb!  It still boggles my mind how it is that God became man to save us!

The Bible teaches us that not only is this Lamb God eternal, unique, chosen and innocent, but how's this: He knows what it is to be human!

Jesus can speak from first hand experience about what it feels like to be tempted, to be under pressure, to be betrayed, to be misunderstood.  He has literally been there, done that and got not a T-shirt but a robe of righteousness!  Allow these Scriptures to feed you:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:17-18

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4: 15-16

As we can see from these verses, Jesus is able to speak from experience.  Not only that, Jesus is also the source of grace and truth to help us since He is filled with grace and truth.  Listen to John 1:16-17:

 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  For the law was given through Moses: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

How precious and wonderful it is to know that Jesus knows where we are at, and fully understands.  Does that give us licence to stay there?  Not at all!  The purpose of His grace and truth is to enable us to persevere through. 

What are you facing today?  Turn to the One who can truly help.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

12 April 2011- The Lamb

Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! - John 1:29

Appearances can be deceiving.  It was obviously hard for many to accept that Jesus was God - after all, He looked so...human.

And He was human: truly human.  His humanity was so real that the 'sinners' and outcasts of society felt comfortable in his presence!  He represents what humanity was created to be, but could never be whilst in a fallen state of rebellion.  As Lamb of God, He was unique and chosen for the mission, as we read in Hebrews 1:5-12:

  For to which of the angels did God ever say,

   "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"?

Or again,

  "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

 "Let all God's angels worship him."

Of the angels he says,

 "He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire."

But of the Son he says,

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

 the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of  your kingdom.

 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

  therefore God, your God, has anointed you

   with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."

And,

 "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,

   and the heavens are the work of your hands;

 they will perish, but you remain;

  they will all wear out like a garment,

 like a robe you will roll them up,

  like a garment they will be changed.

But  you are the same, and your years will have no end."

This lamb of God is clearly in a different league to the rest of us!  And yet, we also know that He knows what it is to be human, to face temptation, and yet He remained innocent.  As Hebrews 4:15 reminds us,we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness.  As we see the incredibly high portrait that God the Father paints of His son, and how the NT writings reveal a picture of someone who is majestic and who is authority personified, it seems just plain wrong that Christians would want to reduce Jesus to being a buddy with His holy name being used so casually.  He is infinitely more than that, and the true nature of who He is makes His willingness to call us brothers all the more amazing and astounding.How wonderful that we have the privilege of intimacy with this lamb of God!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

11 April 2011- Behold!

Good morning precious priest!

Easter is approaching, and so we will take a short break from 1 Peter and look at some Scriptures relating to Jesus and His mission...

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - John 1:29

Have you ever walked past something (or someone?) that made you stop and take another look?  Perhaps a beautiful work of art that spoke to and resonated to a place deep inside of you?  What about a building whose architecture astounds you?  Just last night I was looking at a website of a violin-maker, and I was just so appreciative of the skill and art involved in making the instrument.

John one day saw Jesus walking towards him, and what we have recorded above is what he said: Behold! 

In the midst of a crazy world (it has been crazy since Adam and Eve got evicted from Eden), here is a person who is worthy of us making a stop, and of turning our eyes and giving sustained attention and focus to.  This is not an invitation to give a passing glance, but a call to worship.  This is someone whom John said he wasn't even worthy to untie His sandals.  If you read John 1:1-18, you will get an overview of who Jesus is and what He has come to do (for a more detailed perspective and understanding of Jesus and His mission within the rich context of Judaism, I refer you to the book of Hebrews!).

Who is this that we are called to behold?  He is the Lamb of God.  And He has some important qualities that you need to be aware of.  Firstly, He is God eternal: meditate on the following Scriptures: 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  John 1:1-3

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  Hebrews 1:1-3

This Lamb of God is God eternal, He existed before the creation of the world, and is responsible for your existence.  You would not be here if it weren't for Him.-Behold - bow down and worship: this is your God!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

8 April 2011- Priests of God

...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices...1 Peter 2:5

We have been contemplating the amazing truth that those who trust in Jesus are priests of the Most High God.  Whereas under the Old Covenant God's people had priests, under the New Covenant God's people arepriests.  Under the Old Covenant God dwelt among His people - now He lives in them.  The Israelites madea sanctuary for God - now we are the sanctuary (for a wonderful little book on our identity, try and get hold of Whom Am I? by Warren Wiersbe).

Priests were responsible for many duties, and one which is significant is the care of the temple.  We too need to take care of the temple in which God dwells: us as individual believers (see 1 Cor 6:19-20), us as the local church (see 1 Cor 3:16-17), and the church universal (Eph 2:20-22). 

As believers, we need to look after the dwelling place of God.  This begins with looking after our own bodies!  In todays age, and I am guilty of this, we tend to abuse our bodies with wrong foods and destructive habits!  But just as the Jews would not dare defile the temple, so we need to be careful how we treat our bodies.  Don't make a body-spirit distinction  as if the body were not as important: God wants the whole person to be holy!  One of the heresies of the early church was that the body didn't matter so it didn't matter if it sinned!  Can you imagine my wife's response if I said to her: "Dear - I love you with my heart and mind, but what I do with my body is my business!"?  I would give my marriage not much more than a week after that statement (although my wife is an incredibly forgiving person!).  Looking after our bodies is a lot more than good health: it is part of our worship (Romans 12:1-2). 

As we enter the season of Easter, it is a good time to reflect upon our priesthood.  What is God's perspective?  Have we been guilty of defiling the altar of service through ungodly living, through wrong attitudes, through some form of destructive behaviour?  I am always sobered by the warning in 1 Cor 11:27-30 where it speaks of participating in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner through not recognising the body of Christ.  In the context of these verses, we recognise that not recognising the body is talking about the danger of treating our brothers and sisters with disrespect as a result of not recognising Christ in each other.  There is a price to be paid for this!We are tremendously priviliged to be priests of God, with our lives being His altar through which we bring our worship.  This privilige was made possible by the incredibly sacrificial death of The Perfect Lamb: Jesus Christ.  Let us not take this privilige for granted, but rather take the responsibility with joyful seriousness!  Let our priesthood and lives, through Jesus, bring much joy to our Father.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

7 April 2011- Honored Priests

...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For it stands in Scripture:

    'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornernstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame'

So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

  'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'  1 Peter 2:5-7

We have seen so far that children of God are priests.  There are no such things as 'laymen' in the church!  Ministry as priests in whatever capacity God has equipped us is the calling of every child of God As priests we are called to be holy priests and giving priests.  In terms of our giving, we saw that we are able to offer sacrifices of faith, gifts, our bodies, praise, prayer and works of service.  Do you know what gift/s God has given you in order to serve Him?

There is a further truth about us as priests: we see above that those who place their trust in Christ will not be put to shame, and that there is honour for those who believe (as opposed to the dishonour of those who do not believe).  If you look at the original clothing of the priests, you will see that it is characterized by dignity and honour, in accordance with the place of honour that they had been given within the community.  In fact, it could cost them their lives if they tried to minister without these garments (Exodus 28:43)!  This also gives us a good principle for the practical reality of clothing and how we dress.  How should Christians dress?  With dignity! 

As priests we have also been clothed.  Whereas Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness with fig leaves (today the trend seems to be not to bother - it's no longer strapless gowns but gownless straps!), God has clothed His children with the very righteousness of Christ (see 2 Cor 5:21) - and you don't get a better looking, more beautiful or more fashionable robe than that!

Do you not find it incredible, knowing your human frailty and propensity to get things wrong, that God looks at you and sees you as perfect?  He loves you despite you!-May we carry our lives with dignity and make our Father proud!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

6 April 2011- How's your priesthood looking?

...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:5

Did you know...

that you have a calling upon your life?

that your calling is greater than you?

that you are called to be a priest of the Most High God?

These are the profound, life-changing truths that we have been considering.  When we give our lives to Christ, we become far more than just a convert.  True children of God enter a lifelong school of discipleship and transformation.  And whilst we are in this school, we get to be priests: offering our very lives as worship to God.

Yesterday we saw that as priests we offer the spiritual sacrifices of faith, gifts and our bodies.  But there are other gifts too!  As priests, we also have the incredible privilige of bringing before our Father the gifts of:

Praise: Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. Heb 13:15

Prayer: And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.  Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  Rev 5:8

Works of service: to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up - Eph 4:12

Truly we are honoured to be able to be giving priests!-Why not spend some time today praising God for who He is?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

5 April 2011- Acceptable Sacrifices

..you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:5

Yesterday we saw that we are called to be holy priests, and that we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Today we see another parallel between us and the priests of the Old Covenant.  We too offer sacrifices, and these are called spiritual sacrifices.  In what form do these sacrifices appear?  As we read the New Testament, we see the following:

Faith: But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you (Philippians 2:17)

         And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6)

Gifts (both tangible/monetary and gifts of the Spirit): I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.  They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18)

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God (2 Cor 9:12)

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit (read 1 Cor 12!)

When we give of our time to God's work, it is a spiritual sacrifice.  When we give of our finances and skills to God's work, it is a spiritual sacrifice.  But I do not want to create the impression that there is a separation between our normal lives and God's work, because all of our lives is to be a spiritual sacrifice: an offering up to God!  But as a pastor, I know what a blessing it is when people take time out of their schedules to attend to things in the local body.  But let us understand that all of our lives is to be a spiritual sacrifice.  Another way of putting this is through the offering of our bodies, as we see in Romans 12:1 (and in Phil 2:17 quoted above):

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. -And of course, let us not forget 1 Corinthians 10:31 (you look it up!).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

4 April 2011- Holy Priests

...you also, like living stones,are being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:5

We have started to consider the truth that God has called His children to be priests.  As Wiersbe points out, under the Old Covenant, God's people had a priesthood, but now, under the New Covenant, God's people are the priesthood.  As priests of God, we have a special calling upon our lives!  We are called to be:

Holy priests:  This means we are called to reflect the holiness of God, since it is God we serve!  If you remember we saw how the cornerstone shaped the building, and in our case, Jesus is the Cornerstone upon whom we shape our lives.  A life that is lived in in this way, a life that is lived in reverence before God, is a life that is an example and revelation to the world of the reality and beauty of Jesus. 

As priests under a new covenant, we share many parallels with the priests of the Old Covenant, but in a new way and with new meaning.  For example, one of the signifiers of being holy, of being set apart, was the fact that priests were anointed with oil.  The anointing oil was sacred, prescribed by God and could only be used for holy purposes (see Exodus 30:22-33).  It symbolises the Holy Spirit which we as children of God have been anointed with.  As it says in 2 Cor 1:21-22:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

This verse tells us that we do not need to pray for an anointing of the Spirit - we already are!

To reinforce this truth of being called as holy priests, we see that we are being built up into a spiritual house.  In other words, not just any house, but a house where God dwells!  In 1 Cor 3:16 Paul says the following:

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

What a wonderful privilige!  We are priests of the Most High God!  And God dwells in us!-Are you a pleasing place to dwell?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

1 April 2011- Your Calling

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:4-5

Many people wonder why they are here: I also wonder why they are here!

For the child of God, there really isn't that much mystery involved in knowing why we are here.  A lot of time and effort gets spent trying to 'discern' or 'figure out' (having been down this road myself!) what God's specific plan for my life is.  It's the wrong question.  We should rather be asking what must I do to fit in with God's revealed will?

As children of God, our calling begins with living in accordance with God's revealed will.  As we obey that, we will find that God will lead us into His purpose.  We have so far been seeing how we are living stones, and those stones have a purpose: to be a priest or holy priesthood.  God has called  you to be a priest.

To the original hearers of this letter, many of whom were Jews, this must have been quite a mind-shifting paradigm!  They grew up in a culture of a religious elite, where the position of priest was hereditary and priviliged: identified by their special clothing and function.  Now these 'lay' listeners were being told that they must now see themselves as priests!  They no longer had to bring an animal for sacrifice, they no longer needed a priest to intercede on their behalf.  I am pretty sure the adaptation needed in mindset was not unlike their ancestors who got set free from Egypt and who had to adjust their mindset from one of slavery to one of freedom.

This is a phenomenal truth the Bible teaches: that each child of God is in fact a priest.  We each have the privilige and responsibility of prayer, of witness, of worship.  Whilst the church still observes a clergy-laity distinction (mostly for practical reasons, which does have some unfortunate side-effects), what we need to understand is that the Bible teaches us that there are no lay-people in the body of Christ: we are all priests.  We are all called to serve - we have all been called, gifted and equipped to serve.  Unfortunately, some have chosen to take early retirement.

The good news is that there is plenty of opportunity for you to be productive in the kingdom of God through the local church.  We are going to explore this concept of being a priest further, but for now, settle in your heart and mind that God has called you to the priesthood!  This is your purpose, your destiny: to serve God.-What a privilige! Don't forget to meet with your fellow priests this Sunday!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

31 March 2011- Living Stones

...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ - 1 Peter 2:5

 How are things in your part of the house?

 We are contemplating biblical truths about being living stones, and as we see above, as living stones we are being built up as a spiritual house.  To fit into this house means that each stone has been chosen, each stone is unique, and each stone is shaped.  It is truly a privilige to be part of the house of God!

 As stones we also need to submit.  A dead stone obviously doesn't have a choice in terms of how it is treated.  Living stones however are called to submit willingly to the gracious shaping and purposeful hand of God.  Where the Holy Spirit leads, we must obey.  As living stones, we are called to obey our cornerstone Jesus.  This is what it means to submit.  It is the example that Jesus set before us.  In Hebrews 5:7-9 we have this incredible passage:

 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.  And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him

 Jesus was sinless and perfect, yet He was also submitted to a learning curve of obedience in terms of the extent of obedience that was required.  Jesus did not start His ministry with the crucifixion: His whole life and ministry built up to that.  Also take note of what enabled Jesus to be heard...note that this is the son of God, speaking to His Father, and His attitude was not one of familiarity but one of reverence!  Reverence is the attitude of submission.  Jesus did not seem to share the same familiar approach that many Christians today like to use in approaching God.  Please do yourself a favour and read Philippians 2:6-11.

 As we consider these truths about stones, we see an underlying theme of purpose, which is our final point for stones: they are placed.  We are being built up into a spiritual house.  When you give your life to Christ, you become part of the church of Christ: this is why membership of the local church is essential.  One often hears people say that they can have Jesus without the church: these people have no understanding of what the Scripture teaches.  To be honest, people who stay away from church are probably doing the church a favour!  But more tragic is the disservice they do to themselves.  If Jesus is truly your Lord, you will submit your issues to Him and obey.

 So, examine your hearts.  It is always good to get back to basics: you don't want to go through life thinking you are ok and built upon Jesus when in reality you are stumbling!

 Is Jesus precious to you?  Do you delight to follow Him and obey Him?  Does your life reveal a family resemblance to the Cornerstone?  Are you living God's purpose for you through the local church?

 So many questions!

 Draw near to God - and He will draw near to you.  Submit to His shaping hands, knowing that you have been chosen, are unique, and have been placed.  Submit to Him, and you will discover that your destiny is rooted in the heart and hands of an incredibly powerful and amazingly creative and absurdly merciful and gracious God.Please don't stumble and trip over the Cornerstone: build your life upon Him.  He can transform you from a dead stone in a pit to a beautiful and precious one.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

30 March 2011- Shaped Stones

...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house...1 Peter 2:5a

It is not usual to receive as a compliment the image of being called a stone!  But as we started to see, children of God are precious and beautiful living stones in the sight of God.  The beautiful stones on the breastplate of Aaron fade away when compared to us, and the most beautiful and precious of living stones is The Lord Jesus Himself.

As precious living stones, we are chosen and unique, being used for the purpose of being built into a spiritual house in which God dwells.  As precious living stones, we are also shaped!

A stone from the quarry has to be shaped to fit into the building for which it is designed.  This involves a fair amount of chiseling!  In a similar way, we too have to be shaped to knock off our rough edges.  We have to be shaped so that we become usable.  A similar image is revealed to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 18:3-6 where God speaks of clay in the potters hand, and how God shapes us in a similar way.  How is this done?

When we come to Christ in faith and repentance, God gives us the Holy Spirit to work in us.  Theologians use the word sanctification to describe the process of becoming holy in reality what we already are in status.  Put differently, we are saints in the sight of God, and the Holy Spirit works in us to ensure we live as saints.  It's pretty much a lifelong process, but the general trajectory of your life as a child of God should be one of increasing holiness.  We get shaped through the circumstances of life, and the challenge to each of us is to respond as the Holy Spirit would have us respond, rather than react in a human emotional way.  I am sure each of you appreciate how difficult this can be!  Reacting versus responding is such an important lesson, and we see all around us the effects of reacting rather than responding.  Think of the vicious cycle that reacting is creating: two Pakistani Christians murdered because of the reactionary action of a 'pastor' buring a Koran - see the story at http://incontext.webs.com/martyrs.htm

If instead, we allow ourselves to be shaped, then glory can be brought to our Lord.  When it came to building, the cornerstone was the most important, and this stone determined the shape of the structure.  All other stones would be shaped and placed in accordance with the cornerstone.  In the same way, as living stones, we are shaped after the pattern of our cornerstone Jesus.Children of God are truly privileged: God has chosen us and is shaping us for His purpose.  Let us fulfil the responsibility that this brings with it wholeheartedly!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

29 March 2011- Do you Rock?

Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-8

Focus: As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house - 1 Peter 2:4-5a

Yesterday we saw the wonderful truth that children of God are also living stones: chosen and precious in the sight of God!  This truth must have been so precious to Peter, and he must have recalled how Jesus called him a rock (Matt 16:18)!  Peter knew firsthand what it was to be transformed from an impetuous fisherman who denied Jesus to a man who boldly declared the truth when filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and subsequently became a key figure in the launch of the church.

Until we encounter Jesus, we too are dead stones lying in the mud.  We are, in the words of Psalm 40:2 in a pit of destruction, a miry bog - and it is God who takes us out and sets our feet upon a rock.

Let us consider some Biblical truths about living stones, and as we consider these, you will notice an underlying theme of purpose.

For starters, a stone is chosen.  If you build with stone, you have to be careful about the stones you select.  You want stones that will fit in with the structure of the building in terms of solidity and aesthetics.  If you look at 1 Peter 1:1&3 you will be reminded of how our salvation is made possible because God chose us.  Ephesians 1:4 also stresses this truth very clearly!

A stone is also unique.  Take note of how we are called living stones and not living bricks.  In building His church, God chose to use stones and not bricks.  Each of us are unique in the sight of God, and each chosen to be used in the Church in a particular way.  God has carefully put His church together using a variety of stones: different textures and shapes to fulfill His purpose.  Paul uses the image of the human body in 1 Corinthians 12 to illustrate the same point.  Contrary to 'common' sense, variety is actually the key to unity and proper functioning!-You are truly chosen and unique!  Celebrate it and be the unique chosen person God has called you to be to fulfill His glorious purpose.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

28 March 2011- This Stone rocks

Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-8

 Focus verse: As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house - 1 Peter 2:4-5a

 And so a new week begins...

 Upon whom or what will you build your life? 

 In this passage, Peter contrasts those whom have built their lives upon the cornerstone of Jesus, and those who have tripped over him.  Those whom have built their lives upon Christ are called living stones.

 Now this is quite remarkable when you consider that this same description is given to Jesus: He is a living stone!  And the implication is this: as for Jesus, so for you.  Jesus is chosen and precious in the sight of God, and so are His children who have come to salvation.  There are some wonderful truths that we can discover about being a living stone, and it all has to do with those who fit the description of the first phrase above: as you come to Him.  The phrase, and especially the word 'come' (or 'coming') is descriptive of approaching a place of worship - it is the attitude revealed in Psalm 73:28  when it says: But for me it isgood to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

 To draw near to God (see James 4:8) is to be willing to leave our own way of doing things behind and rather submit to the ways of God.  It means that, in the words of Jesus, we are willing to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Him.  A person who wants to draw near to God will do whatever it takes to do so.  Unfortunately I have noticed a disturbing trend amongst Christians: the desire to craft a more comfortable cross - the desire to live our own way and not really deal with sin.  This is so tragic because whilst they think they are enjoying the grace of God, they are in fact drifting further and further away from God, and binding themselves with stronger and stronger chains!  They claim sensitivity to God and yet do not seem to be disturbed by sin in their lives.  This is not why the Living Stone came and paid such a price for the privilige of forgiveness and freedom!

 And this is whom we draw near to: the living stone.  This is interestingly a messianic image in Jewish writings.  A stone is solid and permanent, and so we come to the One of which we can sing: Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee!

 How wonderful that we should be given such a gift!  Let us draw near to God and enjoy Him.  Let us be willing to die to ourselves and rather allow God to raise us up.There is no firmer foundation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

25 March 2011- Rock Solid and Alive

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious...1 Peter 1:4

Why would anyone reject the Lord?

There a number of reasons, and perhaps the saddest is that people insist on trying to save themselves through good works.  This is so sad because it can never happen!  Is it because the gospel is just 'too good to be true?'

In this next section of the letter, Peter points out the privilege children of God have, and the disaster for those who choose to reject.  The great irony is that the very person and hope of salvation, Jesus Christ, actually becomes the reason people don't believe: instead of standing upon and believing in this living stone, they trip over Him!

Jesus is a living stone.  No, this is not some new organic produce, but points out to the absolutely sure and solid foundation that we have in Jesus Christ.  He is worth building our lives upon.  And whilst here on earth He experienced the ultimate in rejection and humiliation by men in His death, the truth was that He was actually in a place of high honour.  Appearances can be highly deceiving, and we need to learn to look at the physical world through spiritual eyes.  Jesus, to His father, was and is chosen and precious.

We are going to discover that we too are precious and chosen if we have submitted our lives to the Lordship of Christ.-Until then, let us give thanks to God for His incredible gift of Himself to us.  He did not have to save us, He did not have to make us family - but He did.  Let us build upon the Rock!  Do not forget the gathering of the saints this Sunday!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

24 March 2011- Are you hungry?

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation - if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.  1 Peter 1:1-3

Let us wrap up the lessons of these verses:  Get rid of the evil stuff and grow up!

How is growth accomplished?  Through craving and digesting (through obedience) the pure Word of God: get it into you!

Let us remember that this is not a suggestion, but a command.  The Living Word that breathed the universe into existence is the same Word that tells you to get rid of that which is wrong in your heart and life.  Don't justify your evil: get rid of it.

Why dress like a hobo when you are in fact a prince/princess?  Why would you carry a weight of bricks while running a marathon?  In the words of Hebrew 12:1-2

  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us hunger and thirst for God, let us hunger and thirst for His Word, let us hunger and thirst for right living.  Let us hunger and thirst for the One who took the punishment upon Himself for our evil doing.-We are not worthy: He is.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

23 March 2011- Down the Word: Feel Satisfied

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation - if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.  1 Peter 2:1-3

At the risk of sounding broody, I do love babies!  I marvel at their size and inticracy, and the fact that this little person is going to grow!  But have you noticed how they crave mother's milk?  I reckon if Eskom could somehow harness that power of sucking, we would have no more blackouts!

We are told to get rid of the unwanted clothing of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander.  We are then offered an alternative: pure spiritual milk, through which we can grow.  The emphasis is on the purity, and what is the milk?  It is the Word of God.  In the same way a baby craves milk to get it into his or her system, so we are to crave and long for the pure Word of God, to get it into us, so that through it we can grow.  One could also see this as getting more and more of Christ into us (through allowing Him to reign over more of us).  As Jesus quoted to Satan from Deut 8:3 when He was tempted: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  If you have opportunity, why not look up the following?

Psalm 12:6; 119: 50, 93, 140 & 150 (you can read the whole psalm if you like!); Prov 30:5; Acts 20:32

But surely you wouldn't want that evil stuff in your life anyway?  Not if you have tasted that the Lord is good!  That's a phrase from Psalm 34:8, and it's a really 'cool' quote because in Greek the word 'good' ischrestos, and the word Christ is Christos - so Christos is chrestos! It brings a whole new dimension to the Lord's Supper, because the word good/chrestos is also used to describe wholesome and pleasant food.

The essence of the meaning 'good' in the Greek in this context is that of 'easy, gentle relationship.'  In other words, this is how you will discover Jesus to be - hear His own invitation: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.-What have you done with that invitation?  Have you discovered the goodness of Jesus?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Scandalous Slander - 22 March 2011

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander - 1 Peter 2:1

 As we focus on these vices that are not meant to be a part of our clothing, have you found yourself being more aware of them in your life and how easily we slip into these things?

 The final sin spoken of here is slander.  This comes from two Greek words (the only Greek I know owns the shop on the corner !) - the first is kata, which means "down," and the second word is lalein, which means "to chatter" - so slander means to literally chatter someone down.  I feel sorry for politicians - this seems to be the way they do their work!

 It is so easy to slander someone, and one of the reasons we do so is because it makes us feel all self-righteous!  Yet those very things which we like to point out in others are already a part of our own hearts.  This need to get rid of slandering I have found applies to married couples as well - too often I have heard husbands or wives undressing their spouse in public through criticizing behaviour.  How many pastors have been had for a sunday lunch intead of being invited to one?

 May God give us the grace to restrain our tongue, and if we see sin in others in our spiritual family, to speak to that person directly about it after we have examined our own hearts.

 Let's allow the Holy Spirit to give our hearts a spring-clean!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poisen Envy - 20 March 2011

Devotions by Past.Richard Baird from Brighton Rd Baptist Church.  If you want to sign up and receive these devotions by email you are welcome to contact Richard at:  shepherdledlife@gmail.com    

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy...1 Peter 1:1

 Have you been getting rid of your excess baggage?  Do you find it has an uncanny way of, unlike airport luggage, returning to you?

 Peter contines with this list of things that get in the way of expressing love for one another, and the next item is that nasty feeling of displeasure that comes about from seeing the prosperity of others - envy.  It's why I have to avoid watching Top Billing (For our non-South African readers, this is a tv lifestyle program)!

 The human heart has a tendency towards envy when it sees the prosperity of others - we always compare ourselves with others.  I cannot remember the exact quote and who said it, but it goes along the lines of how people like to spend money they don't have to impress people they don't like!

 But when it comes to envy, the sobering truth is this: my issue is actually with God.  God, after all, can ensure I have all the things I want and fix my life the way I want it in an instant.  Envy is rooted in the wrong assumption that God owes me (for a really useful book on handling envy and other tough emotions, see if you can get hold of the book "It came from within! by Andy Stanley - he uses a monstor metaphor for these things and although quite humorous, really gets to the point with practical help as well!). 

 If envy drives you, you will never have enough and you will be one dissatisfied person.  Rather be content and thankful for what you do have (which, if you are reading this, is a lot!).  If you want to better your life situation, then do something about it through God's grace, strength and ways.  Don't let your desire for improvement be motivated by envy, but rather the glory of God.  And never forget that this world and its riches are temporary and will pass away - but righteousness will last for eternity!May you each have a blessed weekend, and don't forget the fellowship of the saints on Sunday!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daily Devotion - No Lone Rangers - 10 March 2011

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart - 1 Peter 1:22

Yesterday we started to look at what it means to love one another earnestly - and if we all did so, we would find ourselves being loved earnestly!

By virtue of this command to love one another, it tells us that Jesus never intended His children to walk alone: we have to be part of the body, and part of a local expression of that body.  If you profess to love Jesus, and yet your preferred way of living is to not be part of the church, then I have to have serious doubts about your salvation, because one of the things the Holy Spirit does is to implant within you a desire to be part of the body.  It is not without reason that 1 John 2:9 says " Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness."  Perhaps your response is "that's a little strong - I don't hatethem!"  But when the Bible speaks of love and hate, it is not primarily emotion, but rather an attitude reflected or expressed through action.  Whether you like it or not, you cannot have Jesus without His church.  Should you find yourself in the perfect church, then understand you have just woken up in heaven and we here on earth have just attended your memorial service!-This morning, give thanks to God for the local church - give thanks that you have the privilige of being part of the body of Christ (if you have accepted His offer of salvation).  Pray for those who have responsibility over the flock (believe me - we need it!), that they may be sensitive to the voice of God and be examples of the living Christ to the church

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Love that stretches - 9 March 2011

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart - 1 Peter 1:22

 Don't you find it wonderful when someone goes out of their way to help you?  If you are lost and instead of giving directions someone says "Follow me."  Or perhaps someone fixes your computer or your motor car and saves you a lot of money in the process?

 In this verse, Peter shares another implication of salvation (in addition to being holy and living reverently before God): that of loving one another.

 Peter uses quite a powerful word for the type of love: it is earnestly ( or fervently).  It literally means 'stretched out.'  Peter had first hand experience of this type of love, because the same word is used in Acts 12:5 when the early church was praying for him while he was in prison - it led to his miraculous escape!  The same picture is seen in 2 Kings 4:32-35 when Elisha stretches himself out on a dead boy and asks God to resurrect the boy.  This is a love that goes beyond a superficial 'howzit' - instead this is a love which comes at cost to the giver.  It is not a love rooted in convienience and comfort.

 It sounds like a lot, but when you are facing persecution, standing together and loving one another like this is a tremendous source of comfort, and a channel for the sustaining grace of God.  It has been my observation over the years that a person can pretty much go through anything - if there is just someone to go through it with them.

 The deal with loving one another earnestly: if we all did this, we would all be experiencing this!Let's walk this road together, and rediscover the joy of stretched out love.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Loan Account is Due to Expire - 8 March 2011

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  1 Peter 1:17-21

We have been looking at 1 Peter 1, and so far we have seen how incredible this gift of salvation is.  We have also seen that such a gift does demand a response, and that response is a life of holiness.  Such a life is the way of expressing gratitude to God for His wonderful gift.  We have seen further motivation to be holy - the character of God, the sacrifice of The Son, and the truth of future judgement.

But how do we live a life of holiness?  Is it within our capacity to do so?

Not within our human capacity, but it is within our capacity because of Who is within us.  This point gets developed in the next few verses as well, but if you look above phrase highlighted, you will see that we live such a life only through placing our hope and trust in God through Christ Jesus.  If you take some time to read John 14 and John 16, you will see how Jesus teaches us that we will live God-glorifying lives through the power and person of the Holy Spirit within us.  In the words of that Sunday School song, the Holy Spirit will enable us to "be careful little eyes what you see - oh be careful little eyes what you see - for the Father up above is looking down in love - oh be careful little eyes what you see" (and then of course you apply that to other parts of your body!).

I want to close off these verses by pointing out that this letter was written to those who had repented and trusted in Christ for their salvation.  The sad truth is that for those who have not done so, the judgement will be unpleasant and terrifying.  Psalm 1:5-6 tells us that sinners will not be able to stand in the judgement.  Remember that all of us will be judged: sinners will be judged for their sin, and children of God for their good works.  God is allowed to judge because He is Creator, and has all power and authority.  Your life is on loan to you, and one day God will ask you to give an account of your life.-Let's make sure that we can all, in Christ, give a good account.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Daily Devotion - Redemption aint cheap - 5 March 2011

...conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  1 Peter 1:17b-21

We have been looking at what it means to be holy, and why we should be holy.  In this next verse, we see a further reason to be holy: because of the price paid to redeem us. 

In speaking about this ransom price (which makes the sums demanded by Somali pirates look like a few cents), Peter makes reference to the 'futile ways inherited from your forefathers.'  If he is speaking to Jewish readers, then the empty way of life would have been all the man-made added legislation and religion to the law of God, because living the law was a delight (check out Psalm 1 & 119 if you don't believe me!).  The phrase probably refers to pagan practices of the Gentile readers: which again was highly superstitious and religious of a different nature - but still boiled down to doing good deeds to earn the favour of the gods.  Whoever it applies to, the truth remains the same: before Christ enters, your life can only be described as empty and meaningless - a way of life leading to destruction.

BUT!  Children of God don't live this way any more - they have knowledge of what Jesus did for them, and on the basis of that can lead proper God-glorifying lives.  Let the following point sink in: Jesus didn't buy you with money, but with His own blood.  Just like the very first passover lamb whose blood was put on the doorposts which released the Israelites from bondage and judgment, setting them free to be God's people, so the blood of Christ, the perfect sacrificial lamb, is able to set us free.  And all of this planned before the creation of the world - nog al!  Redemption was not some back-up plan in case something went wrong: it was the plan.  God decided beforehand to buy you!

That's the other point that needs to sink in: if you have given your life to Christ, then you were bought!  As 1 Cor 6:20 plainly states:  for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.

So: what is the appropriate response to the truth that we were bought?  Live holy lives for God (just in case you forgot!).  This is not a burden, but is in fact true freedom, because then you are fulfilling God's design.  It's living for yourself that brings bondage and despair.-That's a good formula to remember: holiness = freedom!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

An Awe-full attitude - 4 March 2011

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct  yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile...1 Peter 1:17

What emotion gets evoked within you as you contemplate the truth that you will one day stand before God to be judged?

For me I cannot deny a sense of nervousness!  This is, after all, the pure all-powerful Creator God who can wipe me out with a single breath, and me - well, let's just say that humanly I am more sinner than saint, although through Christ I am saint.  In Christ I am no longer a sinner who sometimes gets things right, but a saint (I have been declared righteous) who has a tendency to get things wrong!  Put differently, it instills in me a sense of respectful awe because I will be in the presence of infinite greatness, and I am at the other end of the scale.

God will not show favouritism when He judges, and we are reminded yet again that this earth is not our home (time of your exile) - we are to live in preparation for heaven.  And the way we prepare for heaven, which will help shape the way we live, is to have this attitude of fear before God.

What is this fear?  It is not a negative, servile fear, because that is not able to co-exist with perfect love - we see this in 1 John 4:18 where it says: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

So here is my humble definition of a healthy fear of God: an awe-filled attitude of adoring gratitude for the One who has undisputed first place in the true disciple's life.

Let's put this reality of judgment in a more positive light: what we are being asked to do is to make our Father proud on judgement day.  Don't be caught up in self-interest, but rather lead lives that focus on bringing glory to the Father, because that will benefit us more than anything when we stand before God.  Who doesn't want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant - enter my presence!"  Be willing to pay any price to bring glory to God.  As Jim Eliot said: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.-So - be holy!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

What's your motive? - 3 March 2011

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each ones' deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  1 Peter 1:17-19

Yesterday we started to look at a further reason as to why we should be holy: the reality of future judgement.  In the above verse it states quite clearly that children of God will also be judged, and that in judgement, God will do so 'impartially' - in other words, without favouritism.  This is good news, because it means God cannot be bribed!  Religious status, party affiliation, money, nationality - none of these things will influence God's judgement: it will be totally fair. 

But it is also motivation to right living.  For what will God's children be judged?  Will it be our sin?  No, because the judgement for our sin took place at Calvary - God's Word makes it very clear that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8).  So what will we be judged for?  We will be judged for the quality of our lives in terms of good works as God's children, and on the basis of that, we will receive our reward (See 1 Cor 3:10-15 in this regard.  Other Scriptures to consider are Romans 14:10-12 & 2 Cor 5:10).  I am open to correction on this next point, but in my understanding, whilst we will not be judged or condemned for our sin, I believe sin will feature in that sin affects the quality of our workmanship.  What motivated our good works?  Was it to try and better our own lives on earth (self-interest), or did we do them as an expression of faith and hope in God?

God knows the motives of our hearts, and this will become clear when we stand before God.  It is wise, therefore, to allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts this side of eternity, so that we can be confident that we are serving God for the right reason.  Tomorrow we consider the next phrase of 'conducting yourself with fear throughout the time of your exile' - it's important we have a proper understanding of what this fear is.

In the words of Psalm 139 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daily Devotion - More reasons to be holy - 2 March 2011

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each ones' deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  1 Peter 1:17-19

We have been looking at what salvation looks like: holiness.  It is a gratitude response to the tremendous gift of salvation.  I think it is a crucial distinction to make: trying to be holy in order to try and earn salvation (fear based) as opposed to living a holy life from a heart of joy because of what one has received.  The first response will get you nowhere (certainly not into God's kingdom) - you cannot earn salvation, and any attempt to be holy in one's own strength only leads to horrible things like self-righteousness and legalism: that is a fruit of fear.  The second response actually makes being holy easier, because it comes from a heart of love.  Does this mean that all of a sudden it will now be easy to be holy?  Not at all, otherwise how would character develop?  But when coming from a heart of love, one wants to put in the effort to do that which is right.  One wants to say no to temptation, one wants to persevere through trials - but now we are enabled to do so through God's enabling grace.

There is no getting away from the truth that we need to watch our conduct, as we see in the above verse.  We shall explore this a little further, but for now take note of a further reason we need to watch our conduct.  So far we have seen that we need to do so because of who God is, and because of what He has done.  The next reason we are given is because of what we will still face: judgment.

Notice at what Peter says here: if you call on God as Father.  We in the west do not really appreciate the significance of this term.  In middle-eastern culture, to call someone father revealed a lot more than biological paternity: it revealed relational intimacy (Abba), it revealed your dependency on him as your provider, but it also meant that you were under his authority and expected to be disciplined by him.  The father's word was law, and this is the aspect of intimacy that Peter is bringing out: if God is your Father, He is also your judge - it's a package deal.

Unfortunately, we have a tendency to want God as a doting, indulgent grandfather who does whatever we ask.  But God is not a grandfather - He is a father, and that involves authority, discipline and judgment.

Fortunately for us, God is the epitome of justice, integrity and fairness (as well as mercy!).  But more on this tomorrow.  Let's give thanks that we have a Father who genuinely cares about us, knows what is best for us, and has told us what to expect so as to help us to live right.

The Subtle Sin of Sensasionalism

The words of Bishou and Christine pierced my heart:  “A convert to Christianity is not just a testimony to be told, but a real person. We are not just statistics to be used for your glory; we are alive and need your actions more than your words.”

Wether we want to believe it or not, we are all sensation seekers.  At one point or another we all succumb to the subtle sin of sensationalism; the silent sin that is often disguised as sincerity. 

Sensationalism is often revealed in the excitement of a large gathering, the joy of a new convert, a testimony of deliverance, a healing, a vision or simply another miracle.  The snare in this well disguised folly is nearly always that the incident takes preference over the individual.  Think back to the Chili mine-disaster.  We all rejoiced that God saved the miners... but didn’t care too much what happened to the people after the media driven sensation.  Once they were out we moved on to the next sensation.

The challenge in the life of Jesus was a multitude of followers who simply gathered for the sensation that surrounded the individual and not the individual himself (Matthew 15:30-32).   Wherever Jesus went crowds followed Him, driven by an unsaturated desire to witness the sensation that surrounded Him.  Upon witnessing the blind and dumb man being healed (Mat 12:22-23), the crowds were all amazed at what Jesus had done.  It was absolutely sensational!  They were however not touched to the core by the need of a man.  Compassion was replaced by sensation.  They couldn’t care less about the hungry (Mark 6:36).  They didn’t feel for the lepers, the possessed, the sick and the hurting (Mark 10:48, Matthew 8:33-34).  They joined to be part of the miracles, part of the sensation, part of the controversy... because it made them feel good.  Came the time for commitment, Jesus found himself alone and the adorers were nowhere to be found (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50).  The sensation seekers disappeared.  They were not interested in the One on the cross but in the excitement of the cross. 

“If you love me you will obey me (John 14:15)” said the Lord to those who walked with Him.  And only one or two were led by a sense of adoration and not adoring the sensation (Matthew 26:6).

Paul had a similar dilemma.  This persecutor, the Jew, the Convert, the Apostle of fire found himself surrounded by people who shared the sensation of affiliation.  But when Paul had to defend himself in court the sensation seekers were nowhere to be found (2 Tim1:15, 2 Tim 4:16), not even his faithful friend Demas (2 Tim 4:10) .  Sure, everybody referred to him when they spoke about the saving grace of Christ.  Of course everybody used him as an example of the mighty works of God.  Naturally Paul became a template of the victory we have in Christ.  But Paul as an individual was meaningless without his testimony in the eyes of sensation seekers.  It was his testimony that mattered more than anything else.

Today, nothing has changed.  The Church thrives on the testimonies of others who bear the cross on our behalf.  The greater the sinner, the greater the miracle, the greater the salvation and the greater the sensation.  The sensation of a Muslim who comes to know Christ through visions and dreams outweighs the need of the same convert who will now lose family, job and even life for the sake of this decision.  We invite speakers who will ultimately boost our feelings of faith.  This is the subtle sin of sensationalism.  We pray for converts in the Muslim world, we share their testimonies in freedom and then we leave them to die, never enquiring about their well- being again. 

The deceitfulness of sensationalism is absorbing the Church in modern society.  The more sensational the testimony the more valid our faith.  “Lord, in your name we are sensational.” Declares the followers  (Matthew 7:22) “We prophesy, we drive out demons and we perform miracles” announces the sensation seekers.  “I never knew you, Away from me you evil doers” answers the Lord

I have met them.  I am one of them.  I am part of this sin.  Lord forgive me.  I have cried with converts, I have shared their testimonies back home and too easily I have forgotten them.  The sensation of the persecuted Church trapped me.  Lord have mercy on me!

Then I met Bishou and Christine:  Their words pierced my heart:  “A convert to Christianity is not just a testimony to be told, but a real person. We are not just statistics to be used for your glory; we are alive and need your actions more than your words.”

The answer is clear.  Do what Jesus did.  HE STOPPED and HE RESPONDED (Mark 10:49).    Make their testimony your testimony by becoming the answer to their prayers.  Stop and act.  Do something that will cost something – make a contribution, fast, write a letter!  Sensation lasts only for a moment, care influences eternity.  Next time you hear the story of a convert in the Middle East; remember, the needs of one outweighs the sensation of many.