Tag: Bible Study

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Challenges!

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Mark 14:32-41

I have often been challenged by Jesus’ question in the garden of Gethsemane asking “Couldn’t you watch with me one hour?” Today He might ask “Couldn’t you watch with me for 5 minutes?” Perhaps this is our #1 challenge. How much time do we spend each day watching for His will to be revealed, watching for His return?

The Bible records how He healed lepers, restored sight, made the lame to walk, delivered those possessed by demons, pointed adulteresses to a better life-style, even making a missionary out of the Samaritan woman. Samaritans and Jews weren’t supposed to mingle, but Jesus broke that taboo as He did in so many other instances. He was not inhibited by traditions or fears about what people would think. Our second challenge must be to fight our fears in the name of Jesus!

He hung out with losers, prostitutes, recovered demoniacs, tax collectors. He healed Jews and Gentiles alike, even honouring the faith of the Roman Centurion by healing his servant without seeing him. What kind of people would we find it difficult to visit? An atheist? A homosexual? A person with AIDS? “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these….” (Matthew 25:40)

I was in a social setting with people of the youth sub-culture, when a young man tattooed and pierced, with spiked colourful hair discovered I had been a missionary. He sat down with me, showing the keenest interest in what I had been doing. Was I surprised! Do we understand our own unsettled feelings?? Do we fear being tainted by association? Do we feel a bit hostile towards those who mark their bodies? Are we disgusted by a foreign life-style? Have we compassion on those who have made such unusual choices? Jesus could say some rather challenging things. He called the Pharisees white-washed sepulchres, a brood of vipers, blind guides, fools, hypocrites, and serpents. I wonder if He could call me any of those things for the way I judge others?

A question came up at my Bible Study recently – who was the first Gentile convert to Christianity? Was it the Syrophoenician woman? Was it the Roman Centurion? Was it the Samaritan woman? Was it the Italian Centurion Cornelius? One important thing to note is that Jesus was not a respecter of persons. He met people at their point of need. Although criticized for hob-knobbing with out-of-favour Israelites like Zacchaeus, such criticism didn’t faze our Lord when it came to associating with other nationalities, with women, with the marginalized and oppressed (1 Peter 1:21).

Was the big challenge behind Jesus’ admonishment to “watch”, to check out the depth of His disciples’ commitment? Are we tempted to think God understands if we are too rushed to pray, to daily praise Him for who He is and for all that He does? What is our commitment to our Lord Jesus today?

Temptations hit us at our weakest point. Satan is an expert at zeroing into the most vulnerable areas of our lives and further weakening our confidence, through failure. Jesus knew the temptations that would face His disciples in the days ahead. He wanted them to be strengthened by watching, not so much for His sake as for their own. Let His words challenge each of His disciples today. “Watch and pray!” (Matthew 26:41).

Reflection:

How often do we react out of fear for what other people will think, will say?

How often are we challenged by our own assumptions?

Are we challenged to be more like Jesus when we read about His radical approach to everyday living?

What fears are holding you back?

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Forfeit and Loss

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Matthew 16:24-28

Forfeiture is the loss of rights to one’s property and most often occurs because one has neglected one’s duty. Jesus cautioned His disciples against forfeiting something that is infinitely precious…one’s soul. The soul is not referred to much today. Many people want to be known as “spiritual” but where does the soul enter the picture? Why would these words of Jesus matter to people living in the 21st century? Is the soul something precious?

First of all, what is the soul? The dictionary defines it as the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, that which is immortal, which will live forever. Where does this idea come from? In Genesis, in the Garden of Eden, God breathed life into Adam and he became a living soul (KJV).

This soul is of great value to God, for it is with the soul one worships God (Psalm 103:1), loves God (Deuteronomy 6:5), serves God (Joshua 22:5), yearns for God (Psalm 42:1), clings to God (Psalm 63:8) and so forth. The soul finds rest in God alone, according to the Psalmist (Psalm 62:5) and Jesus reiterated that in Matthew 11:29. The connection of our soul with God is unique to human beings who were made in His image.

 

When some part of the body is amputated, there is significant pain. When we ignore the needs of the soul or neglect to nurture it, our spirits become vulnerable to spiritual pain. Without recognizing it, this may become the most severe form of separation anxiety. We are choked by the cares of this world (Mark 4:19) and slowly the soul loses its vibrant life-force. We may even try to fill the void by using artificial limbs, but nothing can take the place of the real thing. Jesus identifies the frustration of such an attempt. “What can a man give in exchange for his own soul?” What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

 

What happens to lost souls? Jesus is coming again. “He will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27). On the surface that might appear to be achievable…by our works we can then enter into heaven. Right? Wrong. God looks deep into the soul, judging it on the motivation for its deeds. The superficial action may look good to other people, but how does God see our hearts? Do we seek to bring Him glory by what we do? Has this good deed cost us anything? (Matthew 16:24).

 

Today so many are suffering spiritual pain – anxiety, depression, unresolved anger. Jesus longs to give these people rest. The man known for his wisdom wrote: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). A principle is spelled out by Jeremiah: “Stand at the crossroads and look [this is where we make choices]…ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls”(Jeremiah 6:16).

Reflection:

Jesus, challenging His followers then and now, references our choices. Do we want to save our lives, do we fear death at the hands of our enemies so much that we might renounce the gospel? There are modern martyrs being beaten and imprisoned, and even put to death because they have refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.

Or – are we willing to lose our lives in order to save them for eternity in heaven with Him, by remaining true to our faith? (Matthew 16:25).

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Why Do We Need God?

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Matthew 13:45-46

He is an old man. He just discovered what it means to be born again. After a life-time of going to church, why does he need such a unique relationship with God? He lived a good life. He doesn’t hate anyone, and isn’t angry with anyone. He doesn’t swear any more. According to a certain code of Christian ethics he should qualify to go to heaven.

Looking back, this man can see where the hand of God was always on his life. He lived after a serious accident when he was just a small child. In and out of hospital for years, he had no idea at the time that an invisible God was looking after him. He grew up in a good home. Even after his mother died following the birth of her 8th child, his father was able to keep the family together and God provided nurturing through his mother’s sister. Without advanced education he got a good job through which he rose over the years to a position of supervisor. God provided for him financially so that in retirement he and his wife were able to enjoy traveling. Altogether it was the good life! Why did he need God?

The miracle of rebirth is when we come to a place where we can see that we needed God all along. He guarded and guided, protected and provided without our realizing, but for the grace of God things might have been so different. We might have been born on the other side of the world and never have met those people we know and love. We might have suffered abandonment, under-privilege, hunger and thirst, or financial desperation, but for where God placed us. Without realizing how needy we were, we did need God.

Jesus talked specifically about our relationship with God. He told a parable about a pearl of great value that a man found and desperately coveted. He actually sold everything he had to pay for this beautiful pearl. This parable can tell two stories. Jesus sold all that He had to purchase His people, those who would form the kingdom of God. He gave up His status in heaven as well as His human life on earth. One cannot give more than that to any cause. This He did for you and me.

Another interpretation calls us to follow the Master in self-sacrifice. What might we be willing to give up in order to follow Jesus? Do we really want to be a part of His great kingdom? Would He really call us to serve Him in a foreign country? Or would He just ask us to go across the hall in our apartment building to share His love with foreign neighbours? How do we express our gratitude to God for keeping His hand upon our lives, blessing us with so many spiritual blessings, not to mention the material things we enjoy?

Reflection:

Why did Jesus write in parables? How does this one speak to you?

Would you say your faith is of such great value that you would give up everything, or even sell everything, if it could be bought?

Contemplate the free gift of salvation that God is offering the world today through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What would life look like for us without God?

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God’s Compassion

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Psalm 116:5-9

Our Life Group had been praying for a woman who has been in a coma for 2 years. What her family have endured during that time can never be told. But I was reminded of the verse that in the King James speaks of “bowels of compassion” – describing the depth of God’s interest in our lives. He calls us to emulate Him by our compassionate hearts, bowels of mercies, heartfelt compassion and other phrases descriptive in various versions of the Bible, of God’s generous nature.

This family is content to let their loved one linger on, but there are many today who would say it is a useless life, one that should be ended. As Christians we believe that matters of life and death rest in the hands of Almighty God – the God of all compassion (Psalm 116:5). On what grounds would a human being decide who should live and who should die; is that decision based on the diagnosis of a terminal or incurable Illness? Many, for example, would agree that ALS is a reason to end life, yet the ‘genius’ of our age, Stephen Hawking, continued to dazzle the world with his scientific mind for nearly 50 years, in spite of the fact he could not speak and was totally helpless to care for himself.

Our generation has been given so much knowledge that we face choices not faced by those who have gone before us. Should we pull the plug, for example and when? Well in days gone by there had been no plug to pull. Now we should be like gods – that very desire which caused Satan to be cast out of heaven has been fulfilled. God allowed man to have a peek into some of the deeper concerns regarding running the universe. If we misuse the knowledge we have now, what eternal damage might be done when we appropriate choices that still belong to God?

In the case of the lady and others like her in coma, how can we see God’s compassion at work? Perhaps we cannot, but her family still wait in hope and everyone will agree that hope is a wonderful thing! It turns bitter into sweet. We learn through our trials that God’s presence and strength are sufficient day by day. Only in truly difficult circumstances can we know the exquisite rest that comes when our hearts trust in His compassion. We might even marvel at the wisdom that is keeping her alive, without contributing to her community of family and friends.

Reflection:

It’s within the nature of man to want to know, but we cannot invent answers to a faith that trusts in the all-wise compassions of the Divine being whose ways often present us with unsolvable (by our finite wisdom) mysteries. In this we must let God be God.

Is it through the eyes of faith that we see the compassion of God at work in difficult circumstances?

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Praise and Worship!

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Hebrews 13:15-16

 

As a child growing up, the emphasis in church seemed to be on reverence. We were taught to keep still and to be quiet. We sang with enthusiasm, but not clapping and certainly no hands were in the air, nor did we move to the music. Rhythm to my childish mind, equated to sinfulness. God, the object of our worship, was veiled in a mystery that commanded awe. After all He is Spirit. I remember one elderly lady who interjected some Pentecostal exclamations of “Praise the Lord!” “Hallelujah” much to the amazement of the adults and to the amusement of the kids. Our music was joyful, but reverent – the organist was accompanied by 2 violinists and a pianist. We seldom sang choruses unless it was a Sunday School or Youth event.

 

However, I also had opportunities, as a child, to worship God as I lay on the grass of the upper field watching the clouds float by, listening to bird-songs and the babbling brook running through a little forest of trees just off a cow pasture, in the fields beyond our home. My parents encouraged me to worship the Creator – not the creation itself, but the great God who designed this magnificent world for our pleasure.

 

Worship formed an integral part of life itself. We were taught that God is everywhere. This gave us a sense of accountability, as well as the comfort of His presence when we were in trouble. Worship lifts us out of the here and now, into another realm, a place of purity and perfection. It is very hard to put such a supernatural experience into words. But worship is also practical because we offer our gifts as an act of worship (Hebrews 13:16).

 

Worship differs from praise. These themes are closely linked and too fine a point can be made of the difference. Both praise and worship centre on God in gratitude for who He is as well as for what He does. Surely the Holy Spirit will define our gratitude as genuine when it comes from the heart.

 

“Here I am to worship,

Here I am to bow down,

Here I am to say that You’re my God!

Altogether lovely, altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me!”

-Hillsong.

There are many different ways to worship God. The Bible does not tell us we must always kneel. Sometimes we lift our hands towards heaven. At times we are awestruck into silence; at other times we must shout for joy to the Lord! Even the hills are described by the Psalmist as clapping their hands.

 

God requires only one thing when we come before Him in either praise or worship. Very clearly He demands we be genuine. “Stop bringing meaningless offerings (of praise)” (Isaiah 1:13). “These people…… honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me” (Isaiah 29:13). “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of Praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13: 15). This genuine praise can only be born of love – that exquisite certainty which calls forth a human response prompted by the loving heart of God.

 

It is easy to get carried away in the moment as we raise our voices in corporate worship, but God knows the intention of our hearts. This is at once challenging and comforting!

 

Jesus said: “God is a spirit and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

 

Reflection:

When does worship bring you greatest pleasure? Are you conscious of the object being God?

What joy does the heart of God experience when we truly worship Him?

Do you distinguish between praise and worship? If so why?

Visit Marilyn at: http://www.marilyndaniels.net

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Give Me Oil (A Devotional)

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Matthew 25:1-13

“Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.

Give me oil in my lamp I pray.

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning;

Keep me burning till the break of day.

Sing Hosannas, Sing Hosannas, Sing Hosannas to the King of Kings”

We used to sing this little chorus as kids. Generally speaking it meant we were dependant upon God to keep us on the right path by lighting the way before us in a dark world. Whether we actually understood all that might be rather doubtful, for a bunch of little children who had yet to taste of any real trouble.

“Oil in My Lamp“, also known as “Give Me Oil in My Lamp” and “Sing Hosanna“, is a traditional Christian hymn based on the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The song has been recorded many times and was a hit in Jamaica in 1964 for Eric “Monty” Morris. Written by A. Sevison in the 50’s, additional verses included “keep me praising, resting, serving and more recently a pastor recalls “we added some lyrics: give me wax on my board; keep me surfing for the Lord. Or, give me gas in my Ford, keep me truckin’ for the Lord.” I thought of this song as I read from Matthew chapter 25 recently.

In Matthew 25, 10 virgins were preparing for a wedding. Jewish custom at that time was for the bride and her attendants to be ready because the groom would suddenly appear once he had the home ready, to which he would take the bride. Jesus reminds His listeners that the virgin attendants must carry extra oil, for renewal of their lamps, during the festivities. Seriously, if they were not prepared with enough oil they would not be admitted to the feast (Matthew 25:10-12).

Considered sacred, oil was used for anointing kings, a sign they were chosen by God. The Psalmist saw it as a sign of God’s blessing “Thou anointest my head with oil – my cup runneth over (KJV – Psalm 23:5). Oil is referred to as precious (Psalm 133:2); it was also used to soothe wounds (Isaiah 1:6).

Oil represents the Holy Spirit in scripture. At the beginning of His ministry Jesus quoted verses from Isaiah “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor….” (Luke 4:18). Peter records “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power” siting subsequent healing of those under the power of the devil (Acts 10:38).

Reflection:

Is your lamp ready, filled with oil?

How does the oil of the Holy Spirit minister in and through your life today?

What hope does the symbol of oil bring to your future?

Was the gift of the Holy Spirit prompted by God’s love for mankind?

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Our Covenant God

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Ezekiel 16

What is a covenant?

Ecclesiastical: A solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel. There are national as well as legal covenants which bind people groups together for a stated purpose.

In the Bible it is an agreement between God and His people, upon whom He places covenantal blessings, conditioned by their obedience to His laws. A covenant binds two or more parties together….for example God made a covenant between the nation of Israel and Himself.

Chapter 16 of Ezekiel’s prophecy depicts Israel as an unfaithful wife. God reviews the nation’s sin (:3-34) and describes her punishment (:35-52)….not without hope. Verses 53-63 describe the restoration of His chosen people. True to God’s character of faithful love, He honours His everlasting covenant (:60) in the end. What is the purpose of God’s covenant with Israel? That “you will know that I am the LORD” (:62), declares the Sovereign LORD (:63).

God’s Sovereignty is a cardinal doctrine of the Christian faith. In spite of things seeming to be out of control, both in Ezekiel’s day as well as our own, God is in control. It is curious to reflect on the amazing way He brings about His purposes for our world as prophecies continue to be fulfilled. It would sometimes seem that Satan is winning the battle, but we must remember he cannot win the war. We must remind ourselves of the picture painted in Job 1 & 2, where Satan comes to God for permission to test His blameless servant Job. Who is in charge? God!

God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts. They are motivated by His purity. His ways are not like our ways…they are purposeful for the ultimate good of others. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Even in the midst of His disappointment and pain, God looks beyond our fault and sees our need.

Dotty Rambo wrote a beautiful song about His outlook on each individual. It is for this reason God sent His Son to save the world from sin…in that while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us (Romans 5:8). True to His promise God’s covenant blessing of atonement has come to us in the twenty-first century, through Jesus Christ our LORD. (Ezekiel 16:63).

Reflection:

Let us examine our reactionary style of living. What is our response when we have been hurt or disappointed?

Are we emulating God’s mercy and grace when we are angry or sad with others who let us down?

What do we learn from our covenant-keeping God?

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Majesty

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2 Corinthians 13:14

Recently I became aware that many people attending church go for the sake of “worship”. This is not a bad thing. We know that our God takes pleasure in our worship when it is from the heart. Perhaps we take Paul’s words to heart as we proclaim ”the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14) In this one benediction Paul leads us into worship of One God, in 3 persons – blessed trinity.

Trinity is not a word used in the Bible, yet from Genesis to Revelation we see the Spirit moving; prophecy of the One who would “crush” the head of evil fulfilled as Jesus rose from the grave, all according to God the Father’s perfect plan. Majestic in His Sovereignty, this God we worship controls the world today, just as He did down through chaotic human history! Isn’t this cause for worship as we see Him bringing to fruition all that Jesus spoke of to His disciples, regarding that day when He would come again?

Yet what do we know about our God? At a recent Bible study we were exploring His incommunicable attributes. Do you know what they are? Sovereign we have already mentioned. We sing “…Holy! Lord God Almighty”. Sometimes we fear His omniscience, especially when we have failed to meet God’s standard in our thoughts and actions. How many people have given up on trying to understand God’s eternal being (Yahweh), denying Him infinite knowledge and wisdom and purpose because we find it hard to grasp? These are characteristics that make God “GOD”!

The Israelites worshiped this God. Listen to Moses’ song “Your right hand O Lord was majestic in power….In the greatness of Your majesty You threw down those who opposed You”! (Exodus 15:6-7). “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27). The Psalmist never ceases to be amazed at God: “God the King” is described as “greatness no one can fathom”, “glorious splendour of Your Majesty”, “Power of Your mighty works”,. He celebrates God’s “abundant goodness”, One who is “gracious and compassionate” and “good to all”. “All men may know of Your mighty acts” “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom”. This is true worship!

Our God does bless His children with Godly character provided as fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). However, we will never attain to His glorious attributes of eternality and infinitude. Our power is limited to the power with which He gifts us, to accomplish His purposes. He blesses us to be a blessing, channels of His grace and love as we become one with Him in fellowship through the Holy Spirit. Let us go into a New Year adoring this God in Whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Reflection:

Think about the privilege we have to know God as He has graciously revealed Himself, through nature, through scripture, through the Holy Babe in the manger, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God but humbled Himself to become obedient unto death for you and for me (Philippians 2:6-8). How does this impact your worship of His Majesty?

“To the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 25)

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