Here’s a second example as to why historians suspect that the gospels are not historically accurate narratives but theologically driven myths. This example not only reveals a theological motivation behind the text but is also an example of how authors will sometimes weave stories into their accounts in order to explain other well-known facts (like the name of a person or place).

Question: what happened to Judas?

In Matthew, after Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus, he tries to return the thirty pieces of silver to the Jewish leaders who paid him for betraying Jesus. But they don’t accept it. Judas then throws it on the ground and goes off to hang himself for his dirty deed. The Jewish leaders collect the money but refuse to place it back into the Temple treasury, for it is blood money. Instead, they use it to purchase a potter’s field. The author of Matthew then tells us that this is why the field is still, to this day, called the Field of Blood (because of the blood money used to purchase it). Matthew then claims that this fulfilled a prophecy spoken by Jeremiah (some manuscripts read Zechariah, some Isaiah), which turns out to be some odd conglomeration of some passages of Jeremiah and Zechariah (Jer. 18:1-3; Jer 32:6-15; Zech 11:13). As usual, Matthew is playing very loose with the Hebrew Scriptures in order to get them fulfilled.

In the book of Acts (the second volume of Luke) we get a different story. Here it is Judas himself who purchases the field with his “reward of wickedness.” He thus obviously makes no attempt to return it to the Jewish leaders. Furthermore, it does not appear that Judas hangs himself. Rather, he falls—presumably from a cliff of sorts—and bursts open in the middle, his bowels rushing out (it is unclear as to whether or not this insinuates a suicide). Luke goes on to tell us, contrary to Matthew, that this is the reason why it is called the Field of Blood (because Judas bled all over it). Luke also remarks that scripture has been fulfilled, quoting the Psalms.

As historical investigators, what are we to conclude? Did Judas return the money or not? Where did the Field of Blood derive its name? What scriptures were supposed to be fulfilled? Depends on what account you read. Furthermore, did Judas hang himself or burst open in the middle? Some scriptural reconcilers have argued that both are true: he could have hung himself over a cliff followed by the rope breaking and his midsection bursting open upon hitting the ground below. I suppose that’s possible, but neither account says this. Matthew mentions nothing about his bowels, nothing about falling, and it is difficult to even understand what Luke is saying.

Again, here are two different accounts that seem to construct their facts depending on the theological points they want to make. They are thus not historically reliable documents even if it happens to contain some historical data (e.g. the historical Judas may have actually betrayed Jesus).

Ever since Cain and Abel there has been a struggle over greatness and who is the greatest.  Cassius Clay alias Mohammed Ali considered himself the greatest, and now is the shell of what he was.  If that.  I don’t say this to mock or ridicule a well know personality and  sports figure from the past but to make a point.

The point being all who have ever though themselves to be great, greater, or the greatest soon find themselves humbled even to death.

“Who is the greatest?” is a question asked the King by His disciples;

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  Matthew 18:1 (KJV)

The question of taxes had been asked previously by the temple tax people, and Jesus answered it by sending Peter to retrieve a fish with a coin in its mouth from waters. It was enough for the disciple and for Jesus’s taxes. Now the question is “Who then is greatest”, and by considering the matter of “Strangers” and “sons” listed previously we can see that the children are to live so as not to offend needlessly.

The message of Jesus Christ; His death, burial and resurrection – the cross in particular will offend many.  We need to be humble in Christ Jesus, respect others, and treat them, and their beliefs with respect while proclaiming the cross of Christ as the only means of salvation by the grace of God.

We should not be so concerned about greatness as we are about living for the One who is truly the Greatest.  He is the One who created all that is; seen and unseen.  He is the One who gave His life to pay our sin debt, was buried; carrying the guilt, burden, and death of sin far, far away; then rose from death, and is alive forever more; coming again in all His glory.  H

He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords.  His name is Jesus.  No one is greater than Jesus “…the fulness of the godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

When you get too full of yourself, remember Jesus. Empty yourself of you and ask Jesus Christ to come in.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

Look only to the One who is greatest.

-Tim A. Blankenship

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “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.”

Matthew 16:24-25

As Christians, we are constantly reminded to “follow Jesus”. We know His commands yet at times, we don’t know what the extent of His command. Does following Him mean that we drop everything, sell our our possessions and become missionaries in Africa? Or does it mean, live life as you normally do but just think about Jesus every now and then?

From a lot of the passages I have been reading over the last few months, I’d really like to share what I’ve learn on the topic of ‘following Jesus’ by answering three questions.

1. What did Jesus mean when he said “follow me”?

2. What does following Jesus look like in our lives?

3. How can we follow Jesus? What help do we have to follow Him?

Now, this isn’t going to be a catch-all teaching of life. It will be a lifetime of following Jesus and that takes a long time. But, I know that you need to have to have this type of thinking engraved into your hearts and minds if you’re in for the long haul, and by long haul I mean until you pass out.

1. It’s all about attitude and ownership.

My most valuable possession is my guitar. I love my guitar. I spent 3 years saving up for, researching guitars, testing guitars that when I finally got it – I treasure it. It brings me personal enjoyment as I can play and sing. In fact, the gutiar serves me. I own the guitar, so the guitar is obligated to be used by me for whatever purpose suits me – I can play it, I can lend it to others, I can upgrade it, I can destroy it if I really wanted to.

Here’s a question for you. Who owns your life? You see, Christ’s words were very clear “deny yourself and follow me”. There’s a common misconception that God only owns Christians. Psalm 24:1 tells us that “the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”. It’s very clear that God is the ruler of us all. Yet, because of sin and selfishness, we’ve been living our lives thinking that we own it! The reality is as Christians, unlike those who don’t know God, we must have the attitude that God owns our lives – and everything in it.

I grew up with the teaching that you should always put God first in your life. But I’m challenging that view. Because at some level, what that means is that out of the million things in your life that you do, God just sits up at the top. Once you’ve done the God-stuff, you can go do your own thing.

We might rank our life something like this:

1. Relationships

2. Money and career

3. God

4. Family

5. Friends

6. Mobile phone…so on and so forth

We conveniently place God somewhere in our life and try and push it up the ladder as much as we can. That’s the wrong attitude! I think when Jesus asked the man to ditch his treasures and follow Him, it wasn’t so much about his treasures being ranked higher than God, it was because he could not give up his treasure – that he thought he owned!

I think this is how I life should look like:

1. God has rule over all my relationships

2. God owns all my money and destines my career

3. God has given me a responsibility to my family

4. God has given me friends that I can love and shown them His gospel to

…

99. God has rule over my mobile phone!

See, God is not ranked in our list. He’s in every single item on our list. When Jesus asked that we follow Him and deny ourselves, it means that we have the attitude that Christ owns every single part of our lives – from the those that we treasure most, to the things that seem insignificant.

2. Saying no to “I am the ruler” and saying yes to “God is the Ruler”

A lot of people have asked me, well, I know that we need to follow God…but how? And how do I know that I’m following God. Well, let’s use some examples from the lists that we made before. Firstly, God has rule over my relationships. I think most people would agree that marrying a non-Christian isn’t God’s will right? But then, we find ourselves ‘liking’ a non-Christian guy or girl and we can say “oh, it’s not like we’re going to get married!”. Then you ask yourself a question, is God ruler over my relationships? Why do I want a girlfriend? To hang-out with, to just muck around with? Eventually it’s going to turn into something serious right? Where does God come in once it gets serious? It might be fun but can we both encourgage one another to live for God if she’s a non-Christian? I think the answer is really obvious. If you don’t think so, I think you’re trying to find an excuse to own your life and put God on the side-burner.

How about our jobs and money? A lot of youth tell me, “Oh, I won’t ever get a job that would consume me, or take so much time away from me.” Ok, so how about you get an interview at a job and they tell you that your first shift is at 8pm on a Friday night. There’s two ways you can look at this – it’s only one time, it’s not like it’s going to happen again. Or maybe, if they spring this up the first time, I wonder how often this will happen? Are you willing to commit to God in asking for a job that doesn’t impose in your time for youth group or church? Are you willing to just sit and wait until God provides?

The list goes on in the way we ought to follow Him – but are you willing to take it? Do you have the attitude to trust in God and give it all up for Him. Jesus didn’t ask those men to “just spare Him a few hours of time each week”. He told one man to sell everything he had (which was a lot) and go follow Him. He told another to go and let the dealings of the death of his father to someone else, and just follow Him. The principles behind what Jesus was teaching is that when you follow Him – it is without holding back…and it is hard.

3. If God owns you, then you have access to His strength, His promises and His power!

You’re not alone in this fight. I tell a lot of my friends that a tennis racket is only as good as it’s player. The quality of sound from a guitar is mainly determined by its player. You own the racket and you own the guitar and from your own ability does the output of those things really shine. The same way is with us and God. He owns us and is ruler over us and that has so many benefits. It means that we can draw on His strength, His promises and His power. He provides us faith, courage, strength, patience, kindness, love, goodness. But this isn’t for us to go and seek self-glory. This is to glorify Him!

Life is hard. You may not know it yet, but some of you may have experienced it in the last few months of studying. Don’t worry, it doesn’t get much easier! Whether you are a Christian or not, you will face struggles in life. The non-Christian struggles through life without God and the end result of their life is an eternity without Him in hell. That’s terrible! As a Christian however, our hope is in Christ. We have eternal life and we have a means to the ends – God.

You have studied the books. You know how God performed miracles in Egypt that He could rescue Israel so that they might glorify Him. You know how God used the disciples to perform miracles and help them bring people to Christ and establish the church. You know how God rescued Paul from shipwrecks and bashings and murderers. You know that God brought Jesus back from the dead so that we can have eternal life with Him!

You know His promises that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. You know that He promises to give if we ask of anything for His glory. You know that He answers prayers, even though it takes a long-time. You know He gives us faith.

Well, since you know that God parted a sea, turned a murderer into a saint and a rose men from the dead – it’s time to actually believe it. It’s time to actually use it! It’s time to let God’s Words be more than just words but being an active double-edged Sword in your life.

Attitude, ownership, responding to the promises

If you are struggling with God’s will for your life – here is God’s will for your life.

1. Ask God to change your heart so that every part and aspect of your life is sold to Him. Give every piece of your life to Him, from the smallest to the biggest.

2. Knowing that you have an Almighty God behind you, respond in faith. Be willing to make the choices in your life that challenges you to rely on Him.

There are godly men and women around you that can give you advice. They can help you, through their knowledge of God’s Word, by telling you what God says about certain things. But when you do get the advice from the Bible – don’t back down! Follow Jesus.

What can I say? I’m just a sucker for shiny stuff ;_;

Matthew Williamson Spring 2010 Ready-To-Wear Fashion Show

Pictures: Style.com

My original intent was to blog every other day through the Gospels, but today was so rich I had to write.

CHAPTER 7
7:5 – First take the log out SO YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY to remove the speck

7:15-20 – So a false teacher could NOT produce fruit…yet we like to attack people who are doing great ministry leading people to Jesus and discipleship, and we call them false prophets

7:24-27 – Storms come to ALL of us, but the question is, “What is your foundation?” And its good to answer that question before the storm comes.

CHAPTER 8
8:4 – Only a priest could determine a person’s reintegration into the religious community. Jesus knew that and wanted this man to be reintegrated

8:20 – Homeless Jesus! Where is THAT Christmas card? Where is THAT Christian imagery?

8:23 – The disciples followed him. What kept any members of the crowd from following him? What kept a mass of people from trying to be one of those on the boat with Jesus whom they were all following and listening intently to?

8:29 – I’m always stricken by the fact demons know Jesus so well! I think, possibly, demons KNOW Jesus better than a lot of Christians.

CHAPTER 9
9:2 - Amazing that FAITH is trusting hope in what we cannot SEE and yet Jesus can SEE our FAITH and perceive our thoughts (9:4)

9:4 – Why do you THINK evil in your HEARTS? – I wonder why we’ve so easily disconnected our brains from our hearts

9:11 – “Why does your teacher eat with…sinners?” I wish people would ask that about me, but alas, I’m often too afraid to eat there. I’m a pastor, for cryin’ out loud! Think of the implications!

9:14-15 – Jesus’ ministry provides what fasting seeks: communion with God’s presence, forgiveness, salvation, guidance

9:18-26 – FAITH says, “If God…then it WILL happen.” I am not so sure I have much faith in light of todays reading.

9:35-38 – It seems if it’s not one thing its the next for Jesus in these few verses and these three chapters. Jesus is just going, going, going. Sometimes even while he’s talking, someone comes to him in need. He is teaching, proclaiming, curing, and healing. He is curing EVERY disease and EVERY sickness.

When it would seem burnout is impending, you read verse 36.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them BECAUSE they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Basically he realizes the outrageous amount of hurt, disease and NEED in the human condition.

Then verse 37-38

“The harvest is plentiful” = there are A LOT of hurting people everywhere…always

“But the laborers are few” = but nobody else is meeting them in that hurt and need

“Therefore ask the Lord to send laborers” = ASK the Lord in faith and prayer that he would send people to serve the harassed, helpless, and hurting

BEWARE: Don’t think you can pray for laborers in order to skirt your responsibility to BE a laborer

Matthew and I are just chillin’ on a very chilly Texas day. For once it would be nice to be somewhere warmer, like New York.

Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Isaiah 26:1-6

He humbles those in high places. (Isaiah 26:5)

The liturgical readings during Advent are chosen not only to remind us of Jesus’ humble beginnings in Bethlehem but also to point us toward his glorious return. Today’s passage from Isaiah, for example, sings of the triumph of the poor. While we see here the promise of justice in ancient Israel, we can also see Jesus vindicating such a faith-filled people in the new heavens and new earth.

Isaiah depicts a “lofty city” that will be brought so low that the needy will trample it underfoot. It’s not that the poor will bring down this city through a rebellious uprising. No, somehow justice will be meted out on Jerusalem’s corrupted power brokers without the poor having to resort to violence or injustice themselves. They will “trample” the lofty city not out of spite or vindication but simply because they are still walking forward in the will of God while their oppressors have fallen.

Most of us are in a position of both wealth and poverty. There are always those who have more than us as well as those who have less. Today’s passage challenges us to be sure that where we are “wealthy”—whether it be materially, intellectually, or socially—we never lord it over anyone else. After all, our fortunes can change in an instant. And where we are “poor,” we should be on guard against envy or resentment of those who have more.

That’s what we should not do. But what should we do? First and foremost, stay on the path God has laid out for you. Keep moving forward, and let the Lord—your just judge—sort out the self-sufficient from the needy, both around you and within your own heart. You may find yourself walking over some ruins, but don’t let that become an occasion for boasting. Rather, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, pray for the unjust, and keep walking humbly with your God. As you do, you will be building the city of God here on earth, inviting the just and the unjust to join you.

“Jesus, mold my heart in all humility so that I will hear the cry of the poor and tend to their needs. May you find me on the just path when you return in glory!”

Psalm 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; Matthew 7:21,24-27

Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The Holy Spirit will soon fill these few and enable them to witness to devout Jews from every nation in their own language. Peter’s witness of Jesus will open the way of salvation to them all.

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 5:1-11

Jesus calls us to follow Him.

He says to each of us, “Follow Me.” His words come to us as a Word of challenge. Before the Word of challenge, there is the Word of love. “Follow Me” – These words come to us from the Saviour whose heart is full of love for us. He speaks to us with amazing grace. He speaks to us with boundless mercy. He speaks to us with the wonderful love. His love is the greatest love of all. When we hear the words, “Follow Me”, we must remember that it is our Saviour who speaks these words to us. His words speak to us of His love, His grace and His mercy. Once we hear the Word of Christ as a Word of love, grace and mercy, we see the real meaning of the challenge contained in the words, “Follow Me.” God is calling us to live in the power of His love. We are to let His love change us. This is what it means to follow Jesus. It means that we are to be changed by His love.
In the story of the calling of the first disciples, we see the importance of building our lives on the Word of God. The story begins with Jesus preaching the Word of God. In Luke 5:1, we see Jesus standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. The people are crowding round Him. They are listening to the Word of God. In Luke 5:3, Jesus sits down and teaches the people from the boat.
The preaching of the Gospel and the teaching of God’s Word – Here, we have the God-given foundation for our life of faith and obedience, our life of following our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of God is the Word that comes from God. It is the Word that tells us of God. The Word of God comes to us as a Word of love, a Word of grace and a Word of mercy. The Word, which God speaks to us, is also a Word of challenge. It is a Word which calls us to follow Christ. God has spoken His Word to us. It is His Word of love, grace and mercy.
Now, we must speak His Word for Him. We gather together to worship Him. When we go out from the place of worship, we are sent out to the place of witness. Our service of worship comes to an end. It is the beginning of our service of witness. Once we have heard God’s Word in God’s House, we must go out and make His Word known to others. We must invite them to join with us in worshipping the Lord.
We see Jesus preaching and teaching God’s Word. We see the people listening to God’s Word. They are learning from God’s Word. Like them, we must listen and learn. May God give us grace to be faithful – faithful in preaching and teaching, faithful in listening and learning.
What do we learn as we listen to the Word of the Lord? One thing we learn from Jesus is this – He didn’t only preach in the synagogue. He was also an open air preacher. By the lakeside, Jesus preached. From the boat, Jesus preached. His message is not to be kept locked up in our places of worship. We are to take His message to others. We are to pass on the message of His love to the people we meet.
Jesus challenged Simon Peter to “launch out into the deep.” This is what we must do if we are to become “fishers of men.” “Launching out into the deep” – This is the challenge of witness. It is also the challenge of worship. It is the challenge of reaching out to others. It is also the challenge of allowing the Lord to reach deeply into our hearts and change us. The Lord is looking at us and He is saying to us, “There needs to be more depth. Your love for Me is too superficial. It is too shallow. I want you to “launch out into the deep” with Me.”
In Psalm 42:7, we read the words, “Deep calls to deep.” The Bible speaks to us of “the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). It speaks to us of “the deep truths of the faith” (1 Timothy 3:9). God is looking for a real depth of response from us. May God help us to listen to His Word. May God help us to learn from His Word. May God help us to really appreciate His wonderful love. May God help us to say with the Psalmist, “How precious is Your unfailing love!” (Psalm 36:7). As we rejoice in the love of the Lord, we will enjoy his the abundance of His blessing – “They feast in the abundance of Your House; You give them drink from Your river of delights” (Psalm 36:8).

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If you havyou may be interested in theses Holy Week sermons.

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Sixth Sunday in Lent (Palm / Passion): Entry into Jerusalem – Mark 11:1-11 (or John 12:12-16); Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Passion – Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47 (or Mark 15:1-39, (40-47))

Prayer: Let us rejoice in God’s wonderful love.

In Mark 11, we learn of the authority of Christ. Calling the ‘colt’ into His service, He says, with authority, ‘The Lord has need of it’ (Mark 11:3). With authority, He speaks to the fig tree (Mark 11:14) – a ‘visual aid’ of His teaching: ‘Every branch of Mine that bears no fruit, He takes away’ (John 15:2). In the temple, He speaks with authority, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer…’ (Mark 11;17). He speaks of authority in prayer: ‘whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ (Mark 11:24). The religious leaders did not understand Jesus (Mark 11:27-33). Why? – They didn’t love Him. We can experience His authority: His Word spoken to us ‘in power…’ (1 Thessalonians 1:5). We can exercise His authority: Through prayer, setting His Word free to do His mighty work (Ephesians 6: 18-20) – if we are learning to love Him!

‘Into Thy hand, I commit my spirit’ (Psalm 31:5). These words were spoken by Christ as, in death, He gave Himself for our sins (Luke 23:46). For Christ, there was suffering – ‘I am the scorn of all my adversaries’ (Psalm 31:11). His suffering was followed by rejoicing, the joy of the resurrection – ‘I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place’ (Psalm 31:7-8). God answered the prayer of His Son – He brought Him into the ‘spacious place’ of the resurrection, the ‘spacious place’ which is, for us, ‘eternal salvation’ (Hebrews 5:7-9). We look to the crucified Christ and we say, ‘Praise be to the Lord, for He showed His wonderful love to me’ (Psalm 31:21). In the risen Christ, we are ‘strong and our hearts take courage’ (Psalm 31:24).

Praise: Let us give thanks for God’s faithful love.

‘The Lord is my Strength and my Song. He is my Saviour’ (Psalm 118:14). Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour gives us a song to sing: ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine… This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long’. Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, we sing His song with strength, committing ourselves to His service, earnestly seeking to win others for Him: ‘We’ve a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right … We’ve a song to be sung to the nations, that shall lift their hearts to the Lord…We’ve a message to give to the nations, that the Lord, who reigneth above, hath sent us His Son to save us… We’ve a Saviour to show to the nations…’ (Mission Praise, 59, 744). Don’t keep your Saviour to yourself. Share Him with others. Win others for Him.

Do you feel like you can`t go on? Do you feel like giving up? Here`s God`s Word of encouragement for you: ‘He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the Day of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 1:1:6). God finishes what He starts – ‘He didn`t bring us this far to leave us. He didn`t teach us to swim to let us drown. He didn`t build His home in us to move away. He didn`t lift us up to let us down’. In all the changes of life, we must remember this: God is faithful. His love is unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable. We don`t keep going because we are strong. We are ‘kept by the power of God’ (1 Peter 1:5). In ‘humility’ let us live ‘to the glory and praise of God’ (Philippians 2:3; Philippians 1:11). ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ (Philippians 2:11) – He will give you the strength to keep going when you feel like giving up.

Preaching: Let us share the strength we receive from God’s never-ending love.

‘The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught’ (Isaiah 50:4). We are to listen to God. We are to speak for God. We cannot speak for God unless we are listening to Him. Before we can speak for God, we must speak to Him. We must pray, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:9-10). Listening to God comes before speaking for God. First, we wait on the Lord – ‘I waited patiently for the Lord’. Then, we witness for the Lord – ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God’. Waiting on the Lord and witnessing for Him, we will win others for Him – ‘Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord’ (Psalm 40:1-3).

Let’s keep the love of Christ at the Centre of our Prayer, Praise and Preaching.

Jesus was surrounded by enemies, ‘seeking to kill Him’ (Mark 14:1). There was also a hypocrite, preparing ‘to betray Him’ (Mark 14:10-11). What a joy it was to find a woman with such heartfelt love for Him (Mark 14:3-9). Her love for Christ must never be forgotten (Mark 14:9). There is something else which must never be forgotten – His love for us. Our love for Him can never begin to compare with His love for us. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:22-24; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), we rejoice in His love. Think little of your love for Him. Think much of His love for you. ‘Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He can never be forgotten throughout heaven’s eternal days’ (Songs of Fellowship,168). Remember Christ, and let your remembering be filled with worship (Mark 14:25; Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16-17).

After ‘they had sung a hymn’ (Mark 14:26), Peter showed that there was a great deal of ‘self’ in him (Mark 14:29). All of us can be like this – ‘they all said the same’ (Mark 14:31). We attend Communion (Mark 14:22-24), we sing hymns (Mark 14:26) – yet still the wrong attitudes persist! We ‘enjoy’ praise, prayer, and preaching – Remember: God is concerned with the whole of life, not just the ‘spiritual’ activities! Christ looked ahead to the Cross – ‘the hour’, ‘this cup’ (Mark 14:35-36). He was far removed from an ‘enjoyable atmosphere’ within which prayer is ‘easy’. Sorely tempted, He prayed, ‘not what I will but what You will’ (Mark 14:36). This was no easy road – the ‘betrayer’ was waiting for Him (Mark 14:42). It was a lonely road – ‘they all forsook Him, and fled’ (Mark 14:50). ‘The gate is narrow, the way is hard’ (Matthew 7:14). May God help us to follow Jesus.

Jesus is ‘the Christ, the Son of the Blessed’. He is ‘seated at the right hand of Power’. He is ‘coming with the clouds of heaven’ (Mark 14:61-62). He is ‘the King of the Jews’: His Kingdom is greater than Herod imagined – it is ‘not of this world’ (Mark 15:2; John 18:36). Why, then, did He remain silent when false charges were brought against Him? He was bearing our sin – That is why ‘He did not open His mouth’ (Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 Peter 2:22-24; 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He knew that He was going to the Cross – for us (John 10:11, 15, 17-18). Jesus did not deny us: His silence was a godly silence – ‘He bore the sin of many’, making ‘Himself an offering for sin’(Isaiah 53:12,10). Will we deny Him? Our silence is a guilty silence (Mark 14:66-71). May Christ’s Word, and His look of love, cause us to weep – and repent (Mark 14:72; Luke 22:61-62; 2 Corinthians 7:10).

Jesus did not ‘save Himself’. ‘He saved others’ (Mark 15:31). He sacrificed Himself for our salvation. His was the sacrifice. Ours is the salvation. He ‘put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself’ (Hebrews 9:26). Barabbas was ‘released’. Jesus was ‘crucified’ (Mark 15:15). This is the Gospel – He took my place, He died for me. He was ‘forsaken’by God (Mark 15:34). We are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21). We rejoice that Christ ignored the mocking call from ‘the chief priests’and ‘scribes’: ‘come down now from the Cross’ (Mark 15:32). He paid the full price of our salvation. For us now, there is full salvation. His suffering was complete: ‘It is finished’(John 19:30) was not a whimper of defeat. It was the declaration of victory. All that was needed – He has done for us. Now, He invites us to receive salvation: ‘Come; for all is now ready’ (Luke 14:17).

Dead and buried (Mark 15:44-46) – ‘The End’? No! There is more. An ‘Appendix’? No! A whole new beginning – For Jesus, for us! He is ‘the first fruits’ (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). The full glory is still to come (1 Corinthians 15:24). He has risen (Mark 16:6). ‘At His coming, those who belong to Christ’ will be raised – with Him and by Him – to everlasting life (1 Corinthians 15:23). This is the glory of the resurrection. It is not simply a thing of the past. It is our glorious future – we ‘will be raised imperishable’ (1 Corinthians 15:52). There is a Gospel to be preached – the Gospel of salvation (Mark 16:15-16). May God help us to preach the Gospel ‘everywhere’ – This will involve all of us, not just a few of us! May He give us the joy of seeing Him at work, confirming the message by the signs that attend it (Mark 16:20).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

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Monday in Holy Week: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11

Jesus Christ is God’s beloved Son – the Saviour sent to us by the God of love.

‘Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, my Chosen One in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations’ (Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 12:15-21).

These words turn our thoughts towards the Lord Jesus Christ.

At His baptism, we hear the voice of the Father – ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ At His baptism, we see ‘the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on Him’ (Matthew 3:16-17).

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word of prophecy: ‘All mankind shall see the Saviour sent from God’ (Luke 3:6).

After His resurrection, we hear Jesus Himself speaking. He says, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…’ (Matthew 28:18-20).

Let us bring Christ to the nations. Let us serve the Lord in the power of the Spirit.

Never take God’s love for granted. Let us be deeply appreciative of His love.

Read about God’s ‘steadfast love’ and rejoice in Him: ‘Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens…How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! …O continue Your steadfast love to those who know You…’ (Psalm 36:5, 7, 10).

Rejoicing in the Lord’s ‘steadfast love’ is quite different from taking His love for granted.

We dare not say, “God loves me. I can do what I like.”

We must not become like the wicked – ‘there is no fear of God before his eyes’ (Psalm 36:1).

Where there is true rejoicing in God’s ‘steadfast love’, there will also be ‘the fear of the Lord’ which ‘is the beginning of wisdom’ (Psalm 111:10).

A real appreciation of God’s ‘steadfast love’ brings with it a real awareness of our own sinfulness.

Knowing how much God loves us leads us to pray, ‘Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away’ (Psalm 36:11).

Through Jesus Christ, the God of love gives to us His wonderful redemption.

God gave His promise – ‘I will make a new covenant’ (Hebrews 8:8-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

God has fulfilled His promise. There is now a ‘new covenant in Jesus’blood’ (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25).

The old covenant cannot even begin to compare with the new covenant. It is only a ‘shadow.’

The new covenant is the real thing. It is ‘much more excellent’. It is ‘a better covenant’ (Hebrews 8:5-6),

The old covenant is ‘outdated’ (Hebrews 8:13). It has seen its day. Now, it’s past its ‘sell by date’!

We look at the old covenant and we say, ‘There must be more than this’.

There is more – ‘much more’.

Through ‘the blood of Christ’, ‘our hearts and lives’have been ‘cleansed’. Now, we can begin ‘to serve the living God’ (Hebrews 9:14).

‘What a wonderful redemption!’- ‘eternal redemption’ (Mission Praise, 765; Hebrews 9:12)!

Through Jesus Christ, the God of love gives to us His victory over Satan.

The Pharisees are developing their wicked plan. God is fulfilling His saving purpose (John 11:49-53).

The voice of ‘common sense’is not always the voice of the Lord (John 12:4-6).

There is a higher wisdom than ‘common sense’. We are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He leads us to put Jesus at the centre of our lives.

Jesus is not suggesting that the poor are unimportant. He is emphasising that we must not lose sight of Him.

If our concern for the poor is not truly grounded in devotion to Christ, it is not the obedience of faith (John 12:8).

The Pharisees are lying in wait for Jesus. They say, ‘The world has gone after Him’ (John 12:19). They are going after Him too – in a different way!

The crucifixion draws near. God is to be ‘glorified’in the defeat of Satan and the salvation of sinners (John 12:28, 31-32). Jesus had ‘come’ for this ‘hour’ (John 12:27).

—–

The Bible readings are based on the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

———————

Tuesday in Holy Week: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36

Knowing Christ and making Him known

‘I, the Lord, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob’ (Isaiah 49:26).

We are not to keep this to ourselves. God wants ‘all mankind’ to ‘know’.

 ‘Jesus, the Name to sinners dear, the Name to sinners given, it scatters all their guilty fear, it turns their hell to heaven’- This is not something to keep to ourselves.

We must make Christ known to others – ‘Oh, that the world might taste and see the riches of His grace! The arms of love that compass me, would all mankind embrace. His only righteousness I show, His saving truth proclaim: ‘tis all my business here below to cry: “Behold the Lamb!” Happy, if with my latest breath I may but gasp His Name: preach Him to all, and cry in death: “Behold, behold the Lamb!”’ (Mission Praise, 385).

‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News’ (Mark 16:15).

Keeping Christ at the centre in joyful worship and courageous witness

David is in great danger. His life is being threatened by his enemies (Psalm 70:2).

We might expect that he would be depressed. Far from it!

He is not preoccupied with his own problems. He calls on God’s people to worship the Lord with joy: ‘May all who seek You, rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation continually say, “God is great!”’ (Psalm 70:4).

How was David able to rise above his own problems and call the Lord’s people to worship? – He knew that the Lord was his ‘Rock of refuge’, his ‘strong Fortress’ (Psalm 71:3).

Like David, we may face ‘many terrible troubles’. Let us learn, like David, to praise the Lord and look to Him to lead us in the way of victory: ‘You have done great things, O God… You will revive me again’ (Psalm 71:19-20).

With our faith centred on Christ crucified, let us give all the glory to God.

Paul preached the Gospel, ‘not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power’ (1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:4).

He preached ‘Christ crucified’ with a determination ‘to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified’ (1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2).

This is the message of our salvation – ‘Christ crucified… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).

All the glory belongs to God. We have no right to steal away any of the glory for ourselves: ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

Our faith is ‘not based on human wisdom but on God’s power’ (1 Corinthians 2:5). ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace’(Mission Praise, 712). Christ is our full salvation. ‘Let us rejoice and be glad’ in Him’ (1 Corinthians 1:30; Psalm 118:24).

Keep Christ at the centre: concern for the poor grounded in devotion to Christ  

The Pharisees are developing their wicked plan. God is fulfilling His saving purpose (John 11:49-53).

The voice of ‘common sense’ is not always the voice of the Lord (John 12:4-6). There is a higher wisdom than ‘common sense’. We are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He leads us to put Jesus at the centre of our lives.

Jesus is not suggesting that the poor are unimportant. He is emphasising that we must not lose sight of Him.

If our concern for the poor is not truly grounded in devotion to Christ, it is not the obedience of faith (John 12:8).

The Pharisees are lying in wait for Jesus. They say, ‘The world has gone after Him’ (John 12:19). They are going after Him too – in a different way!

The crucifixion draws near. God is to be ‘glorified’ in the defeat of Satan and the salvation of sinners (John 12:28, 31-32).

Jesus had ‘come’ for this ‘hour’ (John 12:27).

—–

The Bible Readings are based on the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

——————–

Wednesday in Holy Week: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32

Waiting on the Lord, witnessing for Him and winning others for Him

‘The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught’ (Isaiah 50:4). We are to listen to God. We are to speak for God. We cannot speak for God unless we are listening to Him. Before we can speak for God, we must speak to Him. We must pray, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:9-10). Listening to God comes before speaking for God. First, we wait on the Lord – ‘I waited patiently for the Lord’. Then, we witness for the Lord – ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God’. Waiting on the Lord and witnessing for Him, we will win others for Him – ‘Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord’ (Psalm 40:1-3).

Strengthened in worship, we are equipped for witness.

David is in great danger. His life is being threatened by his enemies (Psalm 70:2). We might expect that he would be depressed. Far from it! Rather than being preoccupied with his own problems, he is calling on God’s people to worship the Lord with joy: ‘May all who seek You, rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation continually say, “God is great!”’ (Psalm 70:4). How was David able to rise above his own problems and call the Lord’s people to worship? – He knew that the Lord was his ‘Rock of refuge’, his ‘strong Fortress’ (Psalm 71:3). Like David, we may face ‘many terrible troubles’. Let us learn, like David, to praise the Lord and look to Him to lead us in the way of victory: ‘You have done great things, O God… You will revive me again’ (Psalm 71:19-20).

Learning from others, looking to Jesus

We read about many people who trusted the Lord. Their faith was real. It changed their lives. As you read of so many people who lived ‘by faith’, let God’s Word challenge you. Bring your own weak faith to Him and ask Him to give you a stronger faith: ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:24). We learn from so many different people. We read about their faith. We are inspired by their faith. We do not, however, make too much of them. We must always be ‘looking to Jesus’ (Hebrews 12:2). We must learn the lesson of the transfiguration. We look at Moses. We look at Elijah. We learn from them. There comes a point where they – together with all God’s faithful people – must step aside, leaving us to look up and see ‘Jesus only’ (Mark 9:2-8).

Looking beyond our difficult times to Christ’s glorious future

Difficult times lay ahead for Jesus. He would be betrayed by Judas Iscariot (John 13:21-30). He would be denied by Peter (John 13:36-38). For Jesus, there was His departure (John 13:31-33). It would be a difficult time for His followers. He tells them to ‘love one another’: ‘By this all men shall know that they are His disciples’ (John 13:34-35). Jesus points them beyond the difficult times. He speaks of His glorious future. He assures them that the best is yet to be. He is preparing a place in His ‘Father’s House’ for us. He will come again to take us to Himself (John 14:1-3). He is the Way to this place, the true and living way (John 14:6). Now, He reveals the Father to us (John 14:9). Now, He is working in and through us (John 14:12-14). He is preparing us for His place: ‘Lord Jesus… fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there’(Church Hymnary, 195).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year A.

The same readings are suggested for Year B and Year C.

——————–

Thursday in Holy Week: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17

Christ died for us. Let us live for Him.

Here, we focus attention on two verses which emphasize the importance of being saved by the Lord and going on to live for Him: ‘when I see the blood, I will pass over you… you must eat unleavened bread’ (Exodus 12:13, 20).

In verse 13, we are directed beyond the Passover to Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins (John 1:29; 1 John1:7).

In verse 20, we have the call to holy living.

In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Galatians 5:7-9, Paul uses ‘leaven’ as a symbol of ‘sin’, which holds us back from ‘running a good race’.

We are to live as a new creation, who feast on ‘the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth’. Forgiveness of sins and holy living belong together. We are not to rejoice in God’s forgiveness and then gloss over His call to holy living: ‘justified by faith’, we are to ‘walk in newness of life’ (Romans 5:1; 6:4).

God loves us. Let us love one another.

We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We take note of what Paul says about the way we are to come to the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

What’s this all about? Is it about the whole thing looking good – impressive?

Paul gives us something to think about in verse 22 – ‘Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?’.

In Paul’s questions, we hear an echo of the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 1:12-20; Amos 5:21-24).

We rejoice in John 3:16 – ‘God so loved the world…’. Let’s not forget 1 John 3:16-18 – ‘let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in trust’.

Jesus says, ‘…first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift’(Matthew 5:23-24). Don’t just think about it. Act on it (James1:22-25; 2:14-17)!

Our love for God is to be a lifelong love.

‘I love the Lord… I will call on Him as long as I live’ (Psalm 116:1-2).

Our love for God is to be a lifelong life. It is to be the love of our life.

What are we to do when our love for God grows weak? We must remember His love for us – ‘Great is His love towards us. The faithfulness of the Lord endures forever’ (Psalm 117:2).

When we find it difficult to keep on loving God, we must remember how much He loves us.

When we feel like giving up on loving God, we must remember that He never gives up on loving us.

He loves us when our love for Him is strong. He loves us when our love for Him is weak.

In love, He reaches out to us. He brings us out of our weakness and into His strength. Let His strong love reach you in your weakness and give you His strength: ‘Loving Him who first loved me’ (Church Hymnary, 450).

Let the love of God change the way you live.

The Pharisees continue to exert their evil influence. ‘For fear of the Pharisees’, many remained silent, ‘loving the praise of men more than the praise of God’(John 12:42-43).

Whatever the opposition, Jesus calls us to believe in Him and confess Him (Romans 10:9). He calls us out of darkness into light (John 12:46).

If you are a believer, come out into the open. Make it known that you belong to Christ.

Do not only read God’s Word for yourself. Speak His Word to others (John 12:50).

The ‘hour’of Jesus’suffering draws near. Satan is busy. Jesus is in control (John 13:1-3). It is the ‘hour’of His love.

We are ‘washed’ in His precious blood (John 13:8; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14).

What God has done for us comes before what we ought to do for others.

Jesus is our Saviour before He is our ‘Example’ (John 13:14-15). Knowing Him, let us do His will (John 13:17).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

——————–

Good Friday: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 (or Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9); John 18:1-19:42

Were we there when they crucified our Lord? – Yes. He died for our sins.

In this remarkable prophecy, we see Jesus Christ, crucified for us – ‘the Lord has laid all our sins on Him’ – and risen from the dead – ‘After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life’ (Isaiah 53:6, 11).

‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’ (Mission Praise, 745). We might put this question to Isaiah. In one sense, he wasn’t there. He lived long before the time of Christ. In another sense, he was there. God opened his eyes. God gave him a glimpse of what was going to happen in the future.

‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’ In one sense, we weren’t there. These things happened long before we were even born. In another sense, we were there. It was our sins which Christ took with Him to the Cross. It was our sins which He left behind Him when He rose from the dead (Romans 4:25).

Jesus Christ – forsaken by God and pierced for our transgressions

Read of the Psalmist’s sufferings. Think of the Saviour, suffering for you (Psalm 22:7-8, 18; Matthew 27:39 ,43, 35).

We highlight two statements: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’, ‘They have pierced my hands and my feet’ (Psalm 22:1, 16).

Jesus Christ was ‘crucified and killed by the hands of the lawless men’ (Acts 2:23). There is, however, more to His story than this: ‘The Lord has laid all our sins on Him’ (Isaiah 53:6).

When we read of Jesus Christ, ‘pierced for our transgressions’, we see Him ‘pierced’ by men and forsaken by God (Isaiah 53:5; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34; Matthew 27:46).

Looking on to Jesus Christ, risen, exalted and returning, we see Him still bearing the marks of His suffering – ‘the mark of the nails’, ‘a Lamb standing as though it had been slain’, ‘pierced’ (John 20:25; Revelation 5:6; 1:7).

Jesus Christ has ‘tasted death for everyone’ (Hebrews 2:9). Now, through Him, salvation is proclaimed to ‘the congregation’, to ‘the ends of the earth’ to ‘future generations’ (Psalm 22:22, 27, 30). Jesus Christ, ‘the same yesterday, today and for ever’, proclaims salvation to the great ‘congregation’, drawn from ‘every tribe and language and people and nation’ (Hebrews 13:8; 2:12; Revelation 5:9).

Looking back to Christ’s crucifixion, looking forward to His return

We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19).  We are to live as those who are awaiting the Day of the Lord’s return (Hebrews 10:25).

We look back to what Christ has done for us. We look forward to what He will do for us.

Looking back and looking forward: These are both found in Hebrews 9:28 – ‘Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him’.

We remember our Saviour. We remember what He has done for us: ‘the Son of God loved us and gave Himself for us’(Galatians 2:20).

We eat bread and drink wine, giving thanks that our Saviour went to the Cross for us – His body broken for us and His blood shed for us.

We are not only looking back. We are also looking forward: ‘As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes’ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Remember – and pray, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’(Revelation 22:20).

As we remember our Lord Jesus Christ, we see how sinful we really are and we pray for ‘mercy’ and ‘grace’ (Hebrews 4:15-16). It is through His grace and mercy that we are able to look forward to ‘eternal salvation’ (Hebrews 5:9).

“It is finished”. The work of redemption is completed. Jesus is the risen Lord.

The story continues. Jesus is betrayed. Jesus is arrested (John 18:1-11). He stands before the Jewish authorities (John 18:12-14, 19-24).

Jesus is ‘drinking from the cup which the Father has given Him’- He drinks from the cup of our condemnation that we might drink from the cup of His salvation (John 18:11; Matthew 26:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Jesus’death was not only ‘expedient’. It was ‘necessary’- for our salvation (John 18:14; Luke 24:26).

Alongside the story of Jesus there is the story of Peter (John 18:15-18, 25-27). Jesus’death was not the end of His story – He rose from the dead (Luke 24:5-6; Acts 2:23-24). Peter denied the Lord three times. This was not the end of his story. For each denial, there was a new commitment (John 21:15-17). For each denial, there were, on the Day of Pentecost, 1,000 people brought to Christ (Acts 2:38, 41).

‘Barabbas was a robber’. He was released (John 18:39-40). There was ‘no crime’in Jesus. He was ‘crucified’ (John 18:38; 19:4, 6, 16).

Was Jesus no more than the innocent victim of a shameful and tragic miscarriage of justice? No! Jesus, the King of kings, chose to die.

Looking ahead to the Cross, He said, ‘For this I was born…’ (John 18:36-37). In love, He chose death on the Cross.

As truly as Barabbas, each of us can say, ‘He took my place and died for me’. In His death, Jesus did not only take the place of one sinner, Barabbas – ‘He took the place of many sinners’. He did not simply bear the punishment deserved by one sinner, Barabbas – ‘The Lord made the punishment fall on Him, the punishment all of us deserved’ (Isaiah 53:12, 6).

‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). These are not words of despair. They are words of triumph.

At an early stage in His public ministry, Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me to finish His work’ (John 4:34). Even then, He was looking ahead to the Cross, to the completion of the work of redemption.

In one sense, ‘it is finished’- on the Cross. In another sense, there is more to be done – by the Father. The Cross is followed by the resurrection – ‘God raised Him from the dead’(Acts 2:24; Romans 10:9).

To come to the words, ‘It is finished’ is not to reach the end of the story.

Jesus was laid in the tomb (John 19:42). This was not the end of His story.

He was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4)!

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The Bible Readings are taken from the |Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

——————–

Saturday in Holy Week: Job 14:1-14 (or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24); Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66 (or John 19:38-42)

Out of darkness into light – “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

When you don’t really know what you’re talking about, it’s a case of the less said the better.

That’s how Job feels about his ‘friends’- ‘Oh that would you keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!’(Job 13:5).

They are no help to him. What does he do next? He takes his problem to the Lord. Nothing seems clear to Job. He seems to be bogged down in his own suffering.

There is, however, a glimmer of light. A question comes into his mind – ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ (Job 14:14).

Later on, Job gives the answer of faith: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives…Even after my skin has been stripped off my body, I will see God in my own flesh’ (Job 19:25).

‘Christ has been raised from the dead…Death is swallowed up in victory…Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Corinthians 15:20, 54, 57).

Out of darkness into light – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.”

There are times when it seems nothing is going right for us: ‘I am the man who has seen affliction…’ (Lamentations 3:1-3).

In such times, we must remember this: ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end’.

When we find ourselves in circumstances of great distress, we must learn to look beyond the things that are happening to us.

We must learn to look to the Lord and say, ‘Great is Your faithfulness’.

It will not be easy to see God at work in our lives when everything seems to be going wrong.

We must be patient as we wait for the blessing of the Lord to return to our lives.

We must put all our hope in the Lord, trusting in His precious promise: ‘The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord’ (Lamentations 3:22-26).

Out of darkness into light – the “spacious place” of God’s salvation

‘Into Thy hand, I commit my spirit’ (Psalm 31:5). These words were spoken by Christ as, in death, He gave Himself for our sins (Luke 23:46).

For Christ, there was suffering – ‘I am the scorn of all my adversaries’ (Psalm 31:11). His suffering was followed by rejoicing, the joy of the resurrection – ‘I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place’ (Psalm 31:7-8).

God answered the prayer of His Son – He brought Him into the ‘spacious place’ of the resurrection, the ‘spacious place’ which is, for us, ‘eternal salvation’ (Hebrews 5:7-9). We look to the crucified Christ and we say, ‘Praise be to the Lord, for He showed His wonderful love to me’ (Psalm 31:21).

In the risen Christ, we are ‘strong and our hearts take courage’ (Psalm 31:24).

Out of darkness and into light – Create in me, a clean heart, O God. 

As we consider Christ who suffered for us, let us pray that we may have His ‘attitude.’ Let us commit ourslves to doing the will of God (1 Peter 4:1-2).

The Gospel was preached even to those who are now dead (1 Peter 4:6). As we read those words, let us commit ourselves to our God-given task of preaching the Gospel to those who are living. 

We believe the Gospel – ‘Christ died for our sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God’. Let’s share the Gospel – ‘Be always ready to give…a reason for the hope that is in you.’

How are we to share the Gospel? – ‘with gentleness and respect’ (1 Peter 3:18, 15). We must get the attitude right – ‘so that nothing will hinder our prayers’ (1 Peter 3:7). We need more than the ‘right’ prayers – words that sound good. We need the right attitude. The blessing will not come because our words sound good. It will only come when our attitude is right.

Our obedience to God’s will, in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is to be grounded our prayer. Our preaching and prayer are to be grounded in praise.

In all the service we offer to God, there is to be the offering of worship: ‘To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever’ (1 Peter 4:11; 5:11).

We will not learn to serve God unless we are learning to worship Him.

There is a ‘form of religion’ which ‘denies the power’ of God – ‘These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me’ (2 Timothy 3:5; Matthew 15:8). They go through the motions – but their hearts are not in it!

We must pray that God will deliver us from this kind of thing: ‘O for a heart to praise my God! A heart from sin set free; A heart that always feels Thy blood, so freely shed for me’ (Church Hymnary, 85).

‘Religion’ is about respectability. Salvation is about renewal: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me’ (Psalm 51:10).

Out of darkness and into light – It was impossible for death to hold Christ.

The unbelieving world still denies Christ – ‘that imposter’ (Matthew 27:63) – and His resurrection – ‘fraud’ (Matthew 27:64). As believers, we must maintain our testimony: ‘He has risen from the dead’(64). The unbelievers expected a ‘fraud’. They did not expect a resurrection! For them, a resurrection was out of the question. God had a surprise in store for them! Unbelief says, ‘Resurrection? – Impossible!’. Faith says, ‘it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him’ (Acts 2:24). He has risen (Matthew 28:6) – Hallelujah!

Out of darkness into light – Love has the victory for ever.

Jesus was laid in the tomb (John  19:42).

Was this the end of His story?  - No! There was more to come – the resurrection. His story did not end there – ‘Jesus had to rise from the dead’ (John 20:9).

On the Cross, Jesus  had said, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). These are not words of despair. They are words of triumph.

At an early stage in His public ministry, Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me to finish His work’ (John 4:34). Even then, He was looking ahead to the Cross, to the completion of the work of redemption.

In one sense, ‘it is finished’ – on the Cross. In another sense, there is more to be done – by the Father.

The Cross is followed by the resurrection – ‘God raised Him from the dead’ (Acts 2:24; Romans 10:9).

We read of Jesus’ death. We read of His burial – but His story does not end there!

This was a time of darkness: Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Saviour.   

It was also the time of waiting: Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord.

Soon, the time of triumph would come: Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.

The story of Jesus Christ does not end with the darkness of His burial. Beyond the darkness, there is the light of His resurrection: He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives for ever with His saints to reign.

For our salvation, Jesus died ‘and was raised to life’(Romans 4:25). The light shines brightly. It is the light of God’s love.

We hear the great declaration of Christ’s resurrection: He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! (Mission Praise, 453).

We hear of the triumph of God’s love: Love has the victory for ever!

Inspired by the great declaration of Christ’s resurrection and the triumph of God’s love, let us respond with the worship of our hearts: Who can see Your greatest gift and fail to worship You?  (Mission Praise, 86).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

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Easter Vigil: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26; Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13; Psalm 46; Genesis 22:1-18; Psalm 16; Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21; Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18; Isaiah 55:1-11; Isaiah 12:2-6; Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6; Psalm 19; Ezekiel 36:24-28; Psalms 42 and 43; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 143; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Psalm 98; Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 114; Matthew 28:1-10

In the beginning, there is love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Genesis’ means ‘beginning’. These opening verses challenge us to get our priorities right – (a) The priority of God (Genesis 1:1). God comes first. Before anyone else is mentioned, He is there. (b) The priority of God’s Word (Genesis 1:3). God is the first to speak. Before any human word is spoken, there is the Word of the Lord. (c) The priority of God’s Spirit (Genesis 1:2). All was ‘empty’, all was ‘darkness’, yet the ‘Spirit of God’ was at work, and transformation was set in motion. Here, we have God’s priorities, set out in the Bible’s first three verses – Putting God first and listening to His Word, we are to pray for the moving of God’s Spirit, ‘hovering over’ our lives to transform them. For those who make God’s priorities their own, there is a promise of great blessing (Psalm 1:1-2). It is the great blessing of knowing Jesus Christ, our Saviour, as ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23).

God speaks, and it is done (Genesis 1:3, 6-7, 11). God is pleased with what He has done (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12). This is the pattern of God’s original creation. It is to be the pattern of our life as a ‘new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). God speaks to us and we say, ‘Your will be done’ (Matthew 6:10). We say, ‘let it be to me according to Your Word’ (Luke 1:38). God looks on such obedience, this ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16, 22-23), and He sees that it is ‘good’ (Micah 6:8). In these verses we read of the separation of the light and the darkness, the separation of the waters and the dry land, and the fruitfulness of God’s creation. There are lessons for us here. We are to ‘walk in the light’ (1 John 1:7). We are to let the Spirit’s ‘living water’ flow in us (John 7:39-39). Walking in the light, letting the living water flow – this is the way of fruitfulness.

The Bible’s opening chapter is a great hymn of praise, emphasizing that all things have been created for the glory of God (Revelation 4:11). Nothing can be permitted to distract our attention from the Lord. He alone is worthy of worship. The creation of the ‘lights’ makes no reference to the sun and the moon. These were worshipped by neighbouring peoples. They are not gods. They are simply ‘lights’. Our worship is to be given to God alone. The waters teemed with living creatures. The land produced living creatures. Here, we have a picture of life. There is life where the living water of the Spirit is flowing freely among God’s people (Ezekiel 47:5-9). This water brings life to the land (Ezekiel 47:12). Moving with the flow of God’s Spirit, we are to pray that ‘the water of life’ will flow freely ‘for the healing of the nations’ (Revelation 22:2).

We now come to the creation of humanity, male and female. Our creation is described in a distinctive way – created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We are different from the rest of creation. We have been given dominion over ‘all the earth’ and ‘every living creature’ (Genesis 1:26, 28). We are different from God. He is the Creator. We are His creation. Created in God’s image, we have been created by Him and for Him. Though we have sinned (Genesis 3, Romans 3:23), now – in Jesus Christ – we have begun to live as a new creation (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10). The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1) and that ‘all things were created by Him and for Him’ (Colossians 1:16). This is the Saviour who is at work in us, enabling us to live as a new creation! Creation has been ‘completed’ (2:1). Salvation will be completed (Philippians 1:6)!

In the end, there will be love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘His love endures for ever’. This is the great message contained in every single verse of this Psalm. It’s a message worth repeating – over and over again! God’s love is an everlasting love – ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (Jeremiah 31:3). God’s love is an unfailing love – ‘My unfailing love for you will not be shaken’ (Isaiah 54:10). Let us ‘give thanks’ to God for His love (Psalm 1-3, 26). In His love, the Lord has provided for us ‘an everlasting salvation’. His ‘salvation will last for ever’ (Isaiah 45:17; 51:6). We must not be like those who refuse to love the Lord – ‘Pharaoh… great kings… mighty kings …’ (Psalm 136:15, 17-20). Those who reject God’s love will not receive ‘eternal life’. Their future will be very different – the ‘raging fire that will consume the enemies of God’ (John 3:16-18; Hebrews 10:26-27).

When you see a rainbow, remember there is love, eternal love, the love of God.

Here, we pick up on the words of Genesis 7:16 – ‘the Lord closed the door behind them’. What was going on outside of the ark is contrasted with the haven of salvation inside the ark. What was it that made the ark a place of salvation? – The Lord. What is it that makes Jesus Christ the Source of our salvation? – God has given Him the Name that is above every name, the Name of our salvation (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:12). From the ark, we learn of (a) the one way of salvation – The ark had only one door. Jesus is ‘the Door’ which leads to salvation (John 10:9); (b) the eternal security of salvation – All were safe inside the ark. In Christ there is eternal security (John 10:28); (c) the absolute necessity of salvation – Outside of the ark, there was certain death. Refusal to come to Christ for salvation leads to judgment: ‘How shall we escape…?’(Hebrews 2:3).

Following the flood, we have this simple yet striking declaration: ‘the ground was dry’ (Genesis 8:13). Safe from judgment! This is the message which comes to us from the Cross: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). The judgment has fallen upon Christ. We are no longer swept away in the judgment. We can stand on solid ground: ‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand’ (Church Hymnary, 411). He is our Support in ‘the whelming flood’. God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ship’ (Genesis 8:15). We are in Christ. He is the Source of our salvation. God has brought us into Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). He does not bring us into Christ solely for our own benefit. We are sent out to be fruitful (Genesis 8:17; John 15:16). We are to ‘abide in Christ’. This is the way of fruitfulness (John 15:4-5). We are not sent out alone. Strengthened in ‘the ship’ (in Christ), we step out with Christ and for Him.

‘When you see a rainbow, remember God is love’. The rainbow reminds us of the gracious promise of God (Genesis 9:13-15). If the love of God is revealed in the rainbow, it is more fully revealed in the Cross: ‘We sing the praise of Him who died, of Him who died upon the Cross… upon the Cross we see in shining letters. ‘God is love’, He bears our sins upon the tree. He brings us mercy from above’. When we read the Old Testament stories, we must learn to see their place within the fuller Story, the Story of God’s salvation: ‘I will sing the wondrous Story of the Christ who died for me’. This is the greatest Story of all – ‘the Story of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love,… the Story of wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin’. ‘This is our Story. This is our Song, praising our Saviour all the day long’. This is ‘the Story to tell to the nations’ (Church Hymnary, 258, 381, 132; Mission Praise, 59, 744).

Be still and know that there is love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Be still, and know that I am God…Shout to God with loud songs of joy’ (Psalm 46:10; 47:2). In our worship, there is to be both quiet trust and loud praise. We read the great words: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1). God’s Word brings peace – ‘in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength’. We must not keep God’s blessing to ourselves. We must share it with joy – ‘Sing to the Lord…let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the coastlands’ (Isaiah 30:15; 42:10-12). The Lord is to be ‘exalted among the nations’. He is not only ‘our King’. He is ‘the King of all the earth’ (Psalm 46:10; 47:6-7). ‘Father (Jesus/Spirit), we love You. We worship and adore You. Glorify Your Name in all the earth’(Mission Praise, 142).

In Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

Here, we see Abraham in his relationship with the world (Genesis 21:22-34) and his relationship with the Lord (Genesis 22:1-14). Abraham deals honestly and wisely with the pagan king, Abimelech, who acknowledges Abraham’s closeness to God – ‘God is with you in all that you do’ (Genesis 21:22). We are to be honest and wise in our relationship with the world (Romans 12:17; Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:15; 1 Peter 2:12). Our relationship with the world is to be grounded in our relationship with God. In the testing of Abraham, we catch a glimpse of ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). Christ is the Lamb whom God will provide (Genesis 22:8). In Genesis 22:14, we read, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided’. On Calvary’s hill, Christ died to bring us to God, so that we might learn to live for Him in this world (1 Peter 3:18; 2:24).

After the renewal of God’s promise (Genesis 22:15-18), Abraham went to Beersheba (Genesis 22:19). He returned to the place where he had ‘called…on the Name of the Lord, the Everlasting God’ (21:33). This is a good ‘place’ to be, the ‘place’ of calling on the Name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. As we read of the death and burial of Sarah, we must remember this: the Lord is the Everlasting God. The death of Sarah took place in God’s time. Her death signified that her work had been done. She had mothered the child of promise. Beyond the death of Sarah, there was the continuing purpose of God. The cave at Machpelah (23:19-20) became the burial place for Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Leah. We see the continuity of history, and we thank God for His continuing faithfulness down through the generations.

Our hope of eternal glory comes from love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore’ (Psalm 16:11). In this earthly life, there are many difficulties. For all of God’s people, there is something better still to come. We must look not only at the things which are happening now. We must look also to the glory which is yet to come. Our hope of eternal glory is based on Christ’s resurrection. David’s words (Psalm 16:8-11) are quoted by Peter in connection with ‘the resurrection of the Christ’ (Acts 2:24-33). ‘Christ has been raised from the dead…at His coming those who belong to Christ…will be raised imperishable’ (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 52). ‘The Lord is my chosen portion…Therefore my heart is glad’ (Psalm 16:5, 9). Is this your testimony? Choose Christ and be glad.

In the redemption of Israel, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

God had redeemed His people. He was with them, and He was about to reveal His saving power in a mighty way (Exodus 14:13-14). There is judgment as well as salvation (Exodus 14:30). Looking to neither the ‘right’ nor the ‘left’, we must look to the Lord (Exodus 14:21-22). Rejoicing in ‘the great work’ He has done, our faith ‘in the Lord’ grows strong (Exodus 14:31).

God has given us a song to sing. We have a song to sing. It is a song of redemption – God has redeemed His people; a song of thanksgiving – we give thanks for God’s redemption; and a song of hope – we look forward to the complete fulfilment of God’s redemption. This is not only a ‘song of God’s people’. It is also the song of Moses, a personal song. This is worship – not a mere formality, but worship which arises from the depths of Moses’ heart. Deeply moved by the grace and glory of God, Moses pours his heart out to God in worship: (i) He praises the God of grace – ‘my strength… my song… my salvation’ (Exodus 15:2). (ii) He praises the God of glory – God triumphs ‘gloriously’ (Exodus 15:1). His ‘glorious’ power is demonstrated in His ‘glorious’ deeds (Exodus 15:6, 11). (iii) Worshipping this God of grace – the redeeming God (Exodus 15:13) – and glory – the reigning God (Exodus 15:18) – , we say, ‘You are my God, and I will praise You’ (Psalm 118:28). Let us worship God – personally as well as publicly.

In the prophet’s words, we hear the Word of love, eternal love, the love of God.

The Word of God is spoken – ‘Seek the Lord while He may be found…’ (Isaiah 55:6-7). No one seems to be listening. What are we to do? We must remember God’s promise: ‘My Word will not return to Me empty’ (Isaiah 55:11). We do not see all that God is doing. He is doing much more than we realize – ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts…’ (Isaiah 55:8-9). We may be feeling very despondent – ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything’ (Luke 5:5). The Lord still comes to us with His Word of encouragement: ‘You shall go out with joy…’ (Isaiah 55:12). Before there is joy, there may be many tears. When there seems to be nothing but disappointments, we must remember the Lord’s promise: ‘Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy…’ (Psalm 126:5-6). We must not ‘judge before the time…’ (1 Corinthians 4:5).

‘I will praise You, O Lord… God is my Salvation… The Lord is my Strength and my Song…’ (Isaiah 12:1-2). May this be our personal faith – this is what the Lord means to me – and our public testimony – making Christ ‘known among the nations’, telling ‘all the world’ what the Lord has done for us (Isaiah 12: 4-5).

Be wise. Open your heart to love, eternal love, the love of God.

Hoping for ‘good luck’, some people expect good things to happen to them – all the time! God says, ‘Seek wisdom. Be ready for the hard times’. Wisdom comes from God. He speaks to us with words of wisdom (Proverbs 2:6; Proverbs 8:6-8). Wisdom is not only for ‘kings and rulers, princes and nobles’. It is for everyone who loves the Lord (Proverbs 8:15-17). Wisdom calls us to choose good rather than evil, life rather than death (Proverbs 8:13, 35-36; Hebrews 5:14; Deuteronomy 30:19). The way of wisdom is the way of happiness (Proverbs 8:32-34). Our path may not be paved with gold. Wisdom is better than ‘silver, gold and jewels’ (Proverbs 8:10-11). Christ is our Wisdom. Receiving Him, we receive wisdom. Growing in Him, we grow in wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:6). As you rejoice in Christ, remember: ‘He who wins souls is wise’ (Proverbs 11:30). Don’t keep Wisdom to yourself. Share Christ with others.

In Proverbs 9:5, there is a Gospel invitation: ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed’. We eat bread. We drink wine. We remember our Saviour (Matthew 26: 26-29). ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 9:10). ‘This sounds so old-fashioned’- so the world tells us. ‘The fear of the Lord’- This is something we must not forget. If we do not fear the Lord, we will forget Him. If we forget Him, we are fools. What is foolishness? Is it a lack of education? No! – It is a lack of obedience. When we do not ‘honour’ God, we are ‘without sense’. ‘Claiming to be wise’, we show that we are ‘fools’. If we are wise, we will keep ‘going straight on the way’, looking always to Jesus Christ who is the true and living Way. He leads us from ‘the depths of hell’ to the heights of heaven (Proverbs 8:13-18; Romans 1:21-22; John 14:2, 6).

In creation and Scripture, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

God reveals Himself in creation and Scripture. He speaks through His created world. He speaks through His written Word. God is always speaking. He is never silent. Through His created world, God is speaking to us – every day, every night. He is showing us His glory (Psalm 19:1-2). He makes us aware of His presence. He whets our appetite for His written Word. The Scriptures lead us to Christ. Through faith in Him, we receive salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Christ is the high-point of God’s revelation. He is the living Word (John 1:1, 14). The testimony of the Psalmist – ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul’ (7) – becomes real for us through faith in Christ – ‘I came to Jesus…My soul revived and now I live in Him’ (Church Hymnary, 212). Make it real. Come to Christ. Come alive in Him!

Through Christ, God looks upon us with love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘I will look on you with favour’ (Ezekiel 36:9). Through Christ our Saviour, God looks upon us with favour. Here are some words which will help you to rejoice in the ‘wonderful grace of Jesus’ which is ‘greater than all my sin’, the ‘wonderful grace of Jesus’ which ‘reaches me’. ‘Let me introduce you to a friend called Grace. Doesn’t care about your past or your many mistakes. He’ll cover your sins in a warm embrace. Let me introduce to a friend called Grace’. ‘His grace reaches lower than your worst mistake and His love will run further than you can run away’. ‘He believes in lost causes when common sense would just give up. He believes in lost causes and changes people with His love. There’s nobody too far gone, no one beyond His reach. He believes in lost causes ‘cause He believed in me’. Let Jesus be your Joy!

May your soul be lifted up by love, eternal love, the love of God.

Three times, the question is asked, ‘Why are you downcast, O my soul’. Three times, the answer is given, ‘Put your hope in God’. Three times, there is the response of faith: ‘I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God (Psalms 42:5, 11; 43:5). Often, we are filled with questions. We must bring our questions to God. We must learn to listen for His answers. The Lord is speaking to us. Are we listening? God speaks to us through His Word. Are we taking time to read His Word? He wants us to come to Him with the prayer, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:8-10). Listen to the Word of the Lord. Let His Word be your Guide: ‘Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me…’ (Psalm 43:5). ‘Deep calls to deep’ (Psalm 42:7) – Let ‘the Spirit’ show you ‘the deep things of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:10).

When the Spirit breathes upon us, we receive love, eternal love, the love of God.

It was ‘a valley of dry bones’ (Ezekiel 37:1-2). Then, the Lord changed everything – ‘I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live’ (Ezekiel 37:5). What a difference the Lord makes! ‘Breathe on me, Breath of God. Fill me with life anew’ (Church Hymnary, 103). What happens when the Spirit of the Lord breathes new life into the Church of God? – ‘The Church that seemed in slumber has now risen from its knees and dry bones are responding with the fruits of new birth’. ‘Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Let the breeze of Your presence flow that Your children here might truly know how to move in the Spirit’s flow… Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Please accomplish in us today some new work of loving grace, we pray. Unreservedly, have Your way. Holy Spirit, we welcome You’ (Mission Praise, 274, 241).

On the Lord’s pathway of victory, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

The Psalmist prays, ‘Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord’ (Psalm 143:9). He is not concerned only about his own welfare. He is concerned about the glory of God: ‘For Your Name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life’ (Psalm 143:11). How does God lead us in victory? How is He glorified in our lives? He brings to us the teaching of His Word - ‘Let the morning bring me Word of Your unfailing love’ (Psalm 143:8). He gives to us the strength of His Spirit – ‘May Your good Spirit lead me in good paths’ (Psalm 143:10). Through His Word and Spirit, God shows us His ‘unfailing love’. He enables us to say, ‘You are my God’, ‘I have put my trust in You’ and ‘I am Your servant’. He ‘shows us the way we should go’. He ‘teaches us to do His will’. He gives us victory over our ‘enemies’ (8, 10, 12).

In the story of God’s salvation, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

In Zephaniah 3, we have a story of sin – Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She has not obeyed His voice. She has not accepted correction. She has not trusted in the Lord. She has not drawn near to her God’ – and a story of salvation – ‘Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment. He has turned back your enemy… The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will renew you in His love. He will rejoice over you with singing’ (Zephaniah 3:1-2, 14-17). The story of our sin is full of sadness. The story of God’s salvation fills us with gladness – ‘Rejoice and be glad! The Redeemer has come’ (Mission Praise, 573).

Let us worship God: our response to love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Exalt the Lord our God… Make a joyful noise to the Lord’ (Psalms 99:5, 9; 98:4, 6; 100:1). We are to worship the Lord with joy. We are to glorify God. We are to enjoy Him. In our worship, we must never forget the holiness of God: ‘He is holy!… The Lord our God is holy!’ (Psalm 99:5, 9). In our worship, we rejoice in the love of God: ‘His steadfast love endures for ever… He has done marvellous things!’ (Psalms 100:5; 98:1). The God of ‘awesome purity’ loves us with the most perfect love of all: ‘No earthly father loves like Thee…’ Let us worship Him with holy fear and heartfelt love: ‘O how I fear Thee, living God, with deepest, tenderest fears… with trembling hope and penitential tears! Yet I may love Thee too, O Lord, Almighty as Thou art, for Thou hast stooped to ask of me the love of my poor heart’ (Church Hymnary, 356).

Living as a new creation: our response to love, eternal love, the love of God.

(a) ‘We know that our old self was crucified’ (Romans 6:6) – What a great thing God has done! He has made you ‘a new creation in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). (b) ‘Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 6:11) – Believe it. This is what the Lord has done: ‘you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit… the Spirit of God dwells in you… Christ is in you… the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… His Spirit dwells in you’ (Romans 8:9-11). (c) ‘Yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life’ (Romans 6:13) – Act upon it’. ‘Walk in newness of life’ (Romans 6:4). Live as those whom God has made new. We are ‘not under law but under grace’ (Romans 6:14). Keep your eyes fixed on the Saviour and your obedience will be Gospel obedience and not merely legal obedience.

At the Cross of Christ, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘The Lord is high above all nations… Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high?… Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, who turns the hard rock into springs of water’ (Psalms 113:4-5; 114:7-8). The Lord is greater than we could ever imagine. There is no greatness like the greatness of the Lord. All human greatness cannot even begin to compare with the greatness of God. His greatness is not only the greatness of His power. It is also the greatness of His love. When we sing, ‘How great Thou art’, we sing not only of His power – ‘Thy power throughout the universe displayed’. We sing also of His love – ‘And when I think that God His Son not sparing, sent Him to die – I scarce can take it in, that on the Cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin…’(Mission Praise, 506).

In the resurrection of Christ, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

The resurrection declares Christ’s victory over evil, the triumph of His love. There is no need for fear: ‘He has risen’- His ‘perfect love casts out fear’ (Matthew 28:5-6; 1 John 4:18). There has to be a new beginning in faith. First, there was a new beginning ‘in fact – Christ has been raised from the dead’ (1 Corinthians 15:20). Christ has won the victory over the grave. Christ has taken the sting out of death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Between the new beginning in faith – making disciples (Matthew 28:19) – and the new beginning in fact – Christ’s resurrection – , there is worship (Matthew 28:9). The fact is not dependent on our feelings. ‘He has risen’ (Matthew 28:6-7) – the fact stands, even when many doubt and few worship (Matthew 28:17). As we worship, we are strengthened in faith, strengthened for our task. We are to invite people to come to the place where ‘they will see’ Jesus (Matthew 28:10). We are to ‘make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19). Run and tell – with great joy (Matthew 28:8)!

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The Bible Readings are taken from Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings (with the exception of the Gospel Reading) are suggested for Year A and Year C.

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Easter Day: Acts 10:34-43 (or Isaiah 25:6-9); Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (or Acts 10:34-43); John 20:1-18 (or Mark 16:1-8)

God’s Love, God’s Son, God’s Command, God’s Purpose

‘When the Holy Spirit comes on you… you will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). This great advance of the Gospel – Salvation reaches ‘the Gentiles’ (Acts 10:45; Acts 11:1, 18) – is a movement of ‘the Spirit’ (Acts 11:12). The Spirit speaks through the Word (Acts 10:44; Acts 11:15). In God’s Word, we read of (a) God’s love for the whole world (John 3:16); (b) God’s Son who died for ‘the sins of the whole world’ (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2); (c) God’s command that ‘the Good News’should be preached to ‘everyone’ (Mark 16:15); (d) God’s purpose that there should be disciples of Christ in every nation (Matthew 28:19). ‘Every person in every nation, in each succeeding generation, has the right to hear the News that Christ can save… Here am I, send me’ (Youth Praise,128). ‘Go forth and tell!’ (Mission Praise, 178).

Worship: Receiving God’s Love, Exalting God’s Son

‘O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your Name… You have done marvellous things’ (Isaiah 25:1). We remember what God has done for us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Saviour. We rejoice in Jesus Christ who died for us. We rejoice in Jesus Christ who rose again for us. We look forward to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We look forward to the Day when ‘He will swallow up death for ever’. On that Day, ‘the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces’. On that Day, we will look back and say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us’. On that Day, we will ‘rejoice and be glad in His salvation’ (Isaiah 25:8-9). Here and now, let us learn to ‘trust in the Lord’. We can trust in Him ‘for ever’. He is ‘the everlasting Rock’- ‘the Rock of our salvation’ (Isaiah 26:4; Psalm 95:1).

Witness: Obeying God’s Command, Fulfilling God’s Purpose

‘The Lord is my Strength and my Song. He is my Saviour’ (Psalm 118:14). Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour gives us a song to sing: ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine… This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long’. Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, we sing His song with strength, committing ourselves to His service, earnestly seeking to win others for Him: ‘We’ve a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right … We’ve a song to be sung to the nations, that shall lift their hearts to the Lord…We’ve a message to give to the nations, that the Lord, who reigneth above, hath sent us His Son to save us… We’ve a Saviour to show to the nations…’ (Mission Praise, 59, 744). Don’t keep your Saviour to yourself. Share Him with others. Win others for Him.

In Our Worship, Let’s Be Resurrection People Living In Resurrection Power.

Here, we learn of Christ’s resurrection: the fact – ‘Christ has been raised from the dead’ – and the meaning – ‘the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep’ (1 Corinthians 15:20). We look back to His resurrection. We ‘remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead’ (2 Timothy 2:8). We look forward to our own resurrection. We will be ‘raised’- ‘imperishable… in glory… in power… a spiritual body’ (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Looking back to His resurrection and looking forward to our own resurrection, we are to live, here and now, in ‘the power of His resurrection’ (Philippians 3:10). We believe the fact of the resurrection. We live in the power of the resurrection. We rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. With ‘resurrection’ faith in the ‘resurrection’ God, let us live the ‘resurrection’ life as a ‘resurrection’ people!

In Our Witness, Let’s Pray That God Will Be At Work In Resurrection Power.

Dead and buried (Mark 15:44-46) – ‘The End’? No! There is more. An ‘Appendix’? No! A whole new beginning – For Jesus, for us! He is ‘the first fruits’ (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). The full glory is still to come (1 Corinthians 15:24). He has risen (Mark 16:6). ‘At His coming, those who belong to Christ’ will be raised – with Him and by Him – to everlasting life (1 Corinthians 15:23). This is the glory of the resurrection. It is not simply a thing of the past. It is our glorious future – we ‘will be raised imperishable’ (1 Corinthians 15:52). There is a Gospel to be preached – the Gospel of salvation (Mark 16:15-16). May God help us to preach the Gospel ‘everywhere’ – This will involve all of us, not just a few of us! May He give us the joy of seeing Him at work, confirming the message by the signs that attend it (Mark 16:20).

In Our Worship and Witness, Let’s Proclaim The Triumph Of Christ’s Victory.

‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). These are not words of despair. They are words of triumph. At an early stage in His public ministry, Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me to finish His work’ (John 4:34). Even then, He was looking ahead to the Cross, to the completion of the work of redemption. In one sense, ‘it is finished’ – on the Cross. In another sense, there is more to be done – by the Father. The Cross is followed by the resurrection – ‘God raised Him from the dead’ (Acts 2:24; Romans 10:9). To come to the words, ‘It is finished’ is not to reach the end of the story. Jesus was laid in the tomb (John 19:42). Still, this was not the end of the story. Something else had to happen – ‘Jesus had to rise from the dead’ (20:9). For our salvation, Jesus died ‘and was raised to life’ (Romans 4:25).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

Sixth Sunday in Lent (Palm / Passion): Entry into Jerusalem – Mark 11:1-11 (or John 12:12-16); Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Passion – Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47 (or Mark 15:1-39, (40-47))

Prayer: Let us rejoice in God’s wonderful love.

In Mark 11, we learn of the authority of Christ. Calling the ‘colt’ into His service, He says, with authority, ‘The Lord has need of it’ (Mark 11:3). With authority, He speaks to the fig tree (Mark 11:14) – a ‘visual aid’ of His teaching: ‘Every branch of Mine that bears no fruit, He takes away’ (John 15:2). In the temple, He speaks with authority, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer…’ (Mark 11;17). He speaks of authority in prayer: ‘whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ (Mark 11:24). The religious leaders did not understand Jesus (Mark 11:27-33). Why? – They didn’t love Him. We can experience His authority: His Word spoken to us ‘in power…’ (1 Thessalonians 1:5). We can exercise His authority: Through prayer, setting His Word free to do His mighty work (Ephesians 6: 18-20) – if we are learning to love Him!

‘Into Thy hand, I commit my spirit’ (Psalm 31:5). These words were spoken by Christ as, in death, He gave Himself for our sins (Luke 23:46). For Christ, there was suffering – ‘I am the scorn of all my adversaries’ (Psalm 31:11). His suffering was followed by rejoicing, the joy of the resurrection – ‘I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place’ (Psalm 31:7-8). God answered the prayer of His Son – He brought Him into the ‘spacious place’ of the resurrection, the ‘spacious place’ which is, for us, ‘eternal salvation’ (Hebrews 5:7-9). We look to the crucified Christ and we say, ‘Praise be to the Lord, for He showed His wonderful love to me’ (Psalm 31:21). In the risen Christ, we are ‘strong and our hearts take courage’ (Psalm 31:24).

Praise: Let us give thanks for God’s faithful love.

‘The Lord is my Strength and my Song. He is my Saviour’ (Psalm 118:14). Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour gives us a song to sing: ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine… This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long’. Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, we sing His song with strength, committing ourselves to His service, earnestly seeking to win others for Him: ‘We’ve a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right … We’ve a song to be sung to the nations, that shall lift their hearts to the Lord…We’ve a message to give to the nations, that the Lord, who reigneth above, hath sent us His Son to save us… We’ve a Saviour to show to the nations…’ (Mission Praise, 59, 744). Don’t keep your Saviour to yourself. Share Him with others. Win others for Him.

Do you feel like you can`t go on? Do you feel like giving up? Here`s God`s Word of encouragement for you: ‘He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the Day of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 1:1:6). God finishes what He starts – ‘He didn`t bring us this far to leave us. He didn`t teach us to swim to let us drown. He didn`t build His home in us to move away. He didn`t lift us up to let us down’. In all the changes of life, we must remember this: God is faithful. His love is unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable. We don`t keep going because we are strong. We are ‘kept by the power of God’ (1 Peter 1:5). In ‘humility’ let us live ‘to the glory and praise of God’ (Philippians 2:3; Philippians 1:11). ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ (Philippians 2:11) – He will give you the strength to keep going when you feel like giving up.

Preaching: Let us share the strength we receive from God’s never-ending love.

‘The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught’ (Isaiah 50:4). We are to listen to God. We are to speak for God. We cannot speak for God unless we are listening to Him. Before we can speak for God, we must speak to Him. We must pray, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:9-10). Listening to God comes before speaking for God. First, we wait on the Lord – ‘I waited patiently for the Lord’. Then, we witness for the Lord – ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God’. Waiting on the Lord and witnessing for Him, we will win others for Him – ‘Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord’ (Psalm 40:1-3).

Let’s keep the love of Christ at the Centre of our Prayer, Praise and Preaching.

Jesus was surrounded by enemies, ‘seeking to kill Him’ (Mark 14:1). There was also a hypocrite, preparing ‘to betray Him’ (Mark 14:10-11). What a joy it was to find a woman with such heartfelt love for Him (Mark 14:3-9). Her love for Christ must never be forgotten (Mark 14:9). There is something else which must never be forgotten – His love for us. Our love for Him can never begin to compare with His love for us. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:22-24; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), we rejoice in His love. Think little of your love for Him. Think much of His love for you. ‘Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He can never be forgotten throughout heaven’s eternal days’ (Songs of Fellowship,168). Remember Christ, and let your remembering be filled with worship (Mark 14:25; Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16-17).

After ‘they had sung a hymn’ (Mark 14:26), Peter showed that there was a great deal of ‘self’ in him (Mark 14:29). All of us can be like this – ‘they all said the same’ (Mark 14:31). We attend Communion (Mark 14:22-24), we sing hymns (Mark 14:26) – yet still the wrong attitudes persist! We ‘enjoy’ praise, prayer, and preaching – Remember: God is concerned with the whole of life, not just the ‘spiritual’ activities! Christ looked ahead to the Cross – ‘the hour’, ‘this cup’ (Mark 14:35-36). He was far removed from an ‘enjoyable atmosphere’ within which prayer is ‘easy’. Sorely tempted, He prayed, ‘not what I will but what You will’ (Mark 14:36). This was no easy road – the ‘betrayer’ was waiting for Him (Mark 14:42). It was a lonely road – ‘they all forsook Him, and fled’ (Mark 14:50). ‘The gate is narrow, the way is hard’ (Matthew 7:14). May God help us to follow Jesus.

Jesus is ‘the Christ, the Son of the Blessed’. He is ‘seated at the right hand of Power’. He is ‘coming with the clouds of heaven’ (Mark 14:61-62). He is ‘the King of the Jews’: His Kingdom is greater than Herod imagined – it is ‘not of this world’ (Mark 15:2; John 18:36). Why, then, did He remain silent when false charges were brought against Him? He was bearing our sin – That is why ‘He did not open His mouth’ (Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 Peter 2:22-24; 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He knew that He was going to the Cross – for us (John 10:11, 15, 17-18). Jesus did not deny us: His silence was a godly silence – ‘He bore the sin of many’, making ‘Himself an offering for sin’(Isaiah 53:12,10). Will we deny Him? Our silence is a guilty silence (Mark 14:66-71). May Christ’s Word, and His look of love, cause us to weep – and repent (Mark 14:72; Luke 22:61-62; 2 Corinthians 7:10).

Jesus did not ‘save Himself’. ‘He saved others’ (Mark 15:31). He sacrificed Himself for our salvation. His was the sacrifice. Ours is the salvation. He ‘put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself’ (Hebrews 9:26). Barabbas was ‘released’. Jesus was ‘crucified’ (Mark 15:15). This is the Gospel – He took my place, He died for me. He was ‘forsaken’by God (Mark 15:34). We are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21). We rejoice that Christ ignored the mocking call from ‘the chief priests’and ‘scribes’: ‘come down now from the Cross’ (Mark 15:32). He paid the full price of our salvation. For us now, there is full salvation. His suffering was complete: ‘It is finished’(John 19:30) was not a whimper of defeat. It was the declaration of victory. All that was needed – He has done for us. Now, He invites us to receive salvation: ‘Come; for all is now ready’ (Luke 14:17).

Dead and buried (Mark 15:44-46) – ‘The End’? No! There is more. An ‘Appendix’? No! A whole new beginning – For Jesus, for us! He is ‘the first fruits’ (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). The full glory is still to come (1 Corinthians 15:24). He has risen (Mark 16:6). ‘At His coming, those who belong to Christ’ will be raised – with Him and by Him – to everlasting life (1 Corinthians 15:23). This is the glory of the resurrection. It is not simply a thing of the past. It is our glorious future – we ‘will be raised imperishable’ (1 Corinthians 15:52). There is a Gospel to be preached – the Gospel of salvation (Mark 16:15-16). May God help us to preach the Gospel ‘everywhere’ – This will involve all of us, not just a few of us! May He give us the joy of seeing Him at work, confirming the message by the signs that attend it (Mark 16:20).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

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Monday in Holy Week: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11

Jesus Christ is God’s beloved Son – the Saviour sent to us by the God of love.

‘Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, my Chosen One in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations’ (Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 12:15-21).

These words turn our thoughts towards the Lord Jesus Christ.

At His baptism, we hear the voice of the Father – ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ At His baptism, we see ‘the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on Him’ (Matthew 3:16-17).

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word of prophecy: ‘All mankind shall see the Saviour sent from God’ (Luke 3:6).

After His resurrection, we hear Jesus Himself speaking. He says, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…’ (Matthew 28:18-20).

Let us bring Christ to the nations. Let us serve the Lord in the power of the Spirit.

Never take God’s love for granted. Let us be deeply appreciative of His love.

Read about God’s ‘steadfast love’ and rejoice in Him: ‘Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens…How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! …O continue Your steadfast love to those who know You…’ (Psalm 36:5, 7, 10).

Rejoicing in the Lord’s ‘steadfast love’ is quite different from taking His love for granted.

We dare not say, “God loves me. I can do what I like.”

We must not become like the wicked – ‘there is no fear of God before his eyes’ (Psalm 36:1).

Where there is true rejoicing in God’s ‘steadfast love’, there will also be ‘the fear of the Lord’ which ‘is the beginning of wisdom’ (Psalm 111:10).

A real appreciation of God’s ‘steadfast love’ brings with it a real awareness of our own sinfulness.

Knowing how much God loves us leads us to pray, ‘Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away’ (Psalm 36:11).

Through Jesus Christ, the God of love gives to us His wonderful redemption.

God gave His promise – ‘I will make a new covenant’ (Hebrews 8:8-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

God has fulfilled His promise. There is now a ‘new covenant in Jesus’blood’ (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25).

The old covenant cannot even begin to compare with the new covenant. It is only a ‘shadow.’

The new covenant is the real thing. It is ‘much more excellent’. It is ‘a better covenant’ (Hebrews 8:5-6),

The old covenant is ‘outdated’ (Hebrews 8:13). It has seen its day. Now, it’s past its ‘sell by date’!

We look at the old covenant and we say, ‘There must be more than this’.

There is more – ‘much more’.

Through ‘the blood of Christ’, ‘our hearts and lives’have been ‘cleansed’. Now, we can begin ‘to serve the living God’ (Hebrews 9:14).

‘What a wonderful redemption!’- ‘eternal redemption’ (Mission Praise, 765; Hebrews 9:12)!

Through Jesus Christ, the God of love gives to us His victory over Satan.

The Pharisees are developing their wicked plan. God is fulfilling His saving purpose (John 11:49-53).

The voice of ‘common sense’is not always the voice of the Lord (John 12:4-6).

There is a higher wisdom than ‘common sense’. We are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He leads us to put Jesus at the centre of our lives.

Jesus is not suggesting that the poor are unimportant. He is emphasising that we must not lose sight of Him.

If our concern for the poor is not truly grounded in devotion to Christ, it is not the obedience of faith (John 12:8).

The Pharisees are lying in wait for Jesus. They say, ‘The world has gone after Him’ (John 12:19). They are going after Him too – in a different way!

The crucifixion draws near. God is to be ‘glorified’in the defeat of Satan and the salvation of sinners (John 12:28, 31-32). Jesus had ‘come’ for this ‘hour’ (John 12:27).

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The Bible readings are based on the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

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Tuesday in Holy Week: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36

Knowing Christ and making Him known

‘I, the Lord, am your Saviour, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob’ (Isaiah 49:26).

We are not to keep this to ourselves. God wants ‘all mankind’ to ‘know’.

 ‘Jesus, the Name to sinners dear, the Name to sinners given, it scatters all their guilty fear, it turns their hell to heaven’- This is not something to keep to ourselves.

We must make Christ known to others – ‘Oh, that the world might taste and see the riches of His grace! The arms of love that compass me, would all mankind embrace. His only righteousness I show, His saving truth proclaim: ‘tis all my business here below to cry: “Behold the Lamb!” Happy, if with my latest breath I may but gasp His Name: preach Him to all, and cry in death: “Behold, behold the Lamb!”’ (Mission Praise, 385).

‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News’ (Mark 16:15).

Keeping Christ at the centre in joyful worship and courageous witness

David is in great danger. His life is being threatened by his enemies (Psalm 70:2).

We might expect that he would be depressed. Far from it!

He is not preoccupied with his own problems. He calls on God’s people to worship the Lord with joy: ‘May all who seek You, rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation continually say, “God is great!”’ (Psalm 70:4).

How was David able to rise above his own problems and call the Lord’s people to worship? – He knew that the Lord was his ‘Rock of refuge’, his ‘strong Fortress’ (Psalm 71:3).

Like David, we may face ‘many terrible troubles’. Let us learn, like David, to praise the Lord and look to Him to lead us in the way of victory: ‘You have done great things, O God… You will revive me again’ (Psalm 71:19-20).

With our faith centred on Christ crucified, let us give all the glory to God.

Paul preached the Gospel, ‘not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power’ (1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:4).

He preached ‘Christ crucified’ with a determination ‘to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified’ (1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2).

This is the message of our salvation – ‘Christ crucified… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).

All the glory belongs to God. We have no right to steal away any of the glory for ourselves: ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

Our faith is ‘not based on human wisdom but on God’s power’ (1 Corinthians 2:5). ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace’(Mission Praise, 712). Christ is our full salvation. ‘Let us rejoice and be glad’ in Him’ (1 Corinthians 1:30; Psalm 118:24).

Keep Christ at the centre: concern for the poor grounded in devotion to Christ  

The Pharisees are developing their wicked plan. God is fulfilling His saving purpose (John 11:49-53).

The voice of ‘common sense’ is not always the voice of the Lord (John 12:4-6). There is a higher wisdom than ‘common sense’. We are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He leads us to put Jesus at the centre of our lives.

Jesus is not suggesting that the poor are unimportant. He is emphasising that we must not lose sight of Him.

If our concern for the poor is not truly grounded in devotion to Christ, it is not the obedience of faith (John 12:8).

The Pharisees are lying in wait for Jesus. They say, ‘The world has gone after Him’ (John 12:19). They are going after Him too – in a different way!

The crucifixion draws near. God is to be ‘glorified’ in the defeat of Satan and the salvation of sinners (John 12:28, 31-32).

Jesus had ‘come’ for this ‘hour’ (John 12:27).

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The Bible Readings are based on the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

——————–

Wednesday in Holy Week: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32

Waiting on the Lord, witnessing for Him and winning others for Him

‘The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught’ (Isaiah 50:4). We are to listen to God. We are to speak for God. We cannot speak for God unless we are listening to Him. Before we can speak for God, we must speak to Him. We must pray, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:9-10). Listening to God comes before speaking for God. First, we wait on the Lord – ‘I waited patiently for the Lord’. Then, we witness for the Lord – ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God’. Waiting on the Lord and witnessing for Him, we will win others for Him – ‘Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord’ (Psalm 40:1-3).

Strengthened in worship, we are equipped for witness.

David is in great danger. His life is being threatened by his enemies (Psalm 70:2). We might expect that he would be depressed. Far from it! Rather than being preoccupied with his own problems, he is calling on God’s people to worship the Lord with joy: ‘May all who seek You, rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation continually say, “God is great!”’ (Psalm 70:4). How was David able to rise above his own problems and call the Lord’s people to worship? – He knew that the Lord was his ‘Rock of refuge’, his ‘strong Fortress’ (Psalm 71:3). Like David, we may face ‘many terrible troubles’. Let us learn, like David, to praise the Lord and look to Him to lead us in the way of victory: ‘You have done great things, O God… You will revive me again’ (Psalm 71:19-20).

Learning from others, looking to Jesus

We read about many people who trusted the Lord. Their faith was real. It changed their lives. As you read of so many people who lived ‘by faith’, let God’s Word challenge you. Bring your own weak faith to Him and ask Him to give you a stronger faith: ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:24). We learn from so many different people. We read about their faith. We are inspired by their faith. We do not, however, make too much of them. We must always be ‘looking to Jesus’ (Hebrews 12:2). We must learn the lesson of the transfiguration. We look at Moses. We look at Elijah. We learn from them. There comes a point where they – together with all God’s faithful people – must step aside, leaving us to look up and see ‘Jesus only’ (Mark 9:2-8).

Looking beyond our difficult times to Christ’s glorious future

Difficult times lay ahead for Jesus. He would be betrayed by Judas Iscariot (John 13:21-30). He would be denied by Peter (John 13:36-38). For Jesus, there was His departure (John 13:31-33). It would be a difficult time for His followers. He tells them to ‘love one another’: ‘By this all men shall know that they are His disciples’ (John 13:34-35). Jesus points them beyond the difficult times. He speaks of His glorious future. He assures them that the best is yet to be. He is preparing a place in His ‘Father’s House’ for us. He will come again to take us to Himself (John 14:1-3). He is the Way to this place, the true and living way (John 14:6). Now, He reveals the Father to us (John 14:9). Now, He is working in and through us (John 14:12-14). He is preparing us for His place: ‘Lord Jesus… fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there’(Church Hymnary, 195).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year A.

The same readings are suggested for Year B and Year C.

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Thursday in Holy Week: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17

Christ died for us. Let us live for Him.

Here, we focus attention on two verses which emphasize the importance of being saved by the Lord and going on to live for Him: ‘when I see the blood, I will pass over you… you must eat unleavened bread’ (Exodus 12:13, 20).

In verse 13, we are directed beyond the Passover to Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins (John 1:29; 1 John1:7).

In verse 20, we have the call to holy living.

In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Galatians 5:7-9, Paul uses ‘leaven’ as a symbol of ‘sin’, which holds us back from ‘running a good race’.

We are to live as a new creation, who feast on ‘the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth’. Forgiveness of sins and holy living belong together. We are not to rejoice in God’s forgiveness and then gloss over His call to holy living: ‘justified by faith’, we are to ‘walk in newness of life’ (Romans 5:1; 6:4).

God loves us. Let us love one another.

We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We take note of what Paul says about the way we are to come to the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

What’s this all about? Is it about the whole thing looking good – impressive?

Paul gives us something to think about in verse 22 – ‘Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?’.

In Paul’s questions, we hear an echo of the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 1:12-20; Amos 5:21-24).

We rejoice in John 3:16 – ‘God so loved the world…’. Let’s not forget 1 John 3:16-18 – ‘let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in trust’.

Jesus says, ‘…first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift’(Matthew 5:23-24). Don’t just think about it. Act on it (James1:22-25; 2:14-17)!

Our love for God is to be a lifelong love.

‘I love the Lord… I will call on Him as long as I live’ (Psalm 116:1-2).

Our love for God is to be a lifelong life. It is to be the love of our life.

What are we to do when our love for God grows weak? We must remember His love for us – ‘Great is His love towards us. The faithfulness of the Lord endures forever’ (Psalm 117:2).

When we find it difficult to keep on loving God, we must remember how much He loves us.

When we feel like giving up on loving God, we must remember that He never gives up on loving us.

He loves us when our love for Him is strong. He loves us when our love for Him is weak.

In love, He reaches out to us. He brings us out of our weakness and into His strength. Let His strong love reach you in your weakness and give you His strength: ‘Loving Him who first loved me’ (Church Hymnary, 450).

Let the love of God change the way you live.

The Pharisees continue to exert their evil influence. ‘For fear of the Pharisees’, many remained silent, ‘loving the praise of men more than the praise of God’(John 12:42-43).

Whatever the opposition, Jesus calls us to believe in Him and confess Him (Romans 10:9). He calls us out of darkness into light (John 12:46).

If you are a believer, come out into the open. Make it known that you belong to Christ.

Do not only read God’s Word for yourself. Speak His Word to others (John 12:50).

The ‘hour’of Jesus’suffering draws near. Satan is busy. Jesus is in control (John 13:1-3). It is the ‘hour’of His love.

We are ‘washed’ in His precious blood (John 13:8; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14).

What God has done for us comes before what we ought to do for others.

Jesus is our Saviour before He is our ‘Example’ (John 13:14-15). Knowing Him, let us do His will (John 13:17).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

——————–

Good Friday: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 (or Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9); John 18:1-19:42

Were we there when they crucified our Lord? – Yes. He died for our sins.

In this remarkable prophecy, we see Jesus Christ, crucified for us – ‘the Lord has laid all our sins on Him’ – and risen from the dead – ‘After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life’ (Isaiah 53:6, 11).

‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’ (Mission Praise, 745). We might put this question to Isaiah. In one sense, he wasn’t there. He lived long before the time of Christ. In another sense, he was there. God opened his eyes. God gave him a glimpse of what was going to happen in the future.

‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’ In one sense, we weren’t there. These things happened long before we were even born. In another sense, we were there. It was our sins which Christ took with Him to the Cross. It was our sins which He left behind Him when He rose from the dead (Romans 4:25).

Jesus Christ – forsaken by God and pierced for our transgressions

Read of the Psalmist’s sufferings. Think of the Saviour, suffering for you (Psalm 22:7-8, 18; Matthew 27:39 ,43, 35).

We highlight two statements: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’, ‘They have pierced my hands and my feet’ (Psalm 22:1, 16).

Jesus Christ was ‘crucified and killed by the hands of the lawless men’ (Acts 2:23). There is, however, more to His story than this: ‘The Lord has laid all our sins on Him’ (Isaiah 53:6).

When we read of Jesus Christ, ‘pierced for our transgressions’, we see Him ‘pierced’ by men and forsaken by God (Isaiah 53:5; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34; Matthew 27:46).

Looking on to Jesus Christ, risen, exalted and returning, we see Him still bearing the marks of His suffering – ‘the mark of the nails’, ‘a Lamb standing as though it had been slain’, ‘pierced’ (John 20:25; Revelation 5:6; 1:7).

Jesus Christ has ‘tasted death for everyone’ (Hebrews 2:9). Now, through Him, salvation is proclaimed to ‘the congregation’, to ‘the ends of the earth’ to ‘future generations’ (Psalm 22:22, 27, 30). Jesus Christ, ‘the same yesterday, today and for ever’, proclaims salvation to the great ‘congregation’, drawn from ‘every tribe and language and people and nation’ (Hebrews 13:8; 2:12; Revelation 5:9).

Looking back to Christ’s crucifixion, looking forward to His return

We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19).  We are to live as those who are awaiting the Day of the Lord’s return (Hebrews 10:25).

We look back to what Christ has done for us. We look forward to what He will do for us.

Looking back and looking forward: These are both found in Hebrews 9:28 – ‘Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him’.

We remember our Saviour. We remember what He has done for us: ‘the Son of God loved us and gave Himself for us’(Galatians 2:20).

We eat bread and drink wine, giving thanks that our Saviour went to the Cross for us – His body broken for us and His blood shed for us.

We are not only looking back. We are also looking forward: ‘As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes’ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Remember – and pray, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’(Revelation 22:20).

As we remember our Lord Jesus Christ, we see how sinful we really are and we pray for ‘mercy’ and ‘grace’ (Hebrews 4:15-16). It is through His grace and mercy that we are able to look forward to ‘eternal salvation’ (Hebrews 5:9).

“It is finished”. The work of redemption is completed. Jesus is the risen Lord.

The story continues. Jesus is betrayed. Jesus is arrested (John 18:1-11). He stands before the Jewish authorities (John 18:12-14, 19-24).

Jesus is ‘drinking from the cup which the Father has given Him’- He drinks from the cup of our condemnation that we might drink from the cup of His salvation (John 18:11; Matthew 26:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Jesus’death was not only ‘expedient’. It was ‘necessary’- for our salvation (John 18:14; Luke 24:26).

Alongside the story of Jesus there is the story of Peter (John 18:15-18, 25-27). Jesus’death was not the end of His story – He rose from the dead (Luke 24:5-6; Acts 2:23-24). Peter denied the Lord three times. This was not the end of his story. For each denial, there was a new commitment (John 21:15-17). For each denial, there were, on the Day of Pentecost, 1,000 people brought to Christ (Acts 2:38, 41).

‘Barabbas was a robber’. He was released (John 18:39-40). There was ‘no crime’in Jesus. He was ‘crucified’ (John 18:38; 19:4, 6, 16).

Was Jesus no more than the innocent victim of a shameful and tragic miscarriage of justice? No! Jesus, the King of kings, chose to die.

Looking ahead to the Cross, He said, ‘For this I was born…’ (John 18:36-37). In love, He chose death on the Cross.

As truly as Barabbas, each of us can say, ‘He took my place and died for me’. In His death, Jesus did not only take the place of one sinner, Barabbas – ‘He took the place of many sinners’. He did not simply bear the punishment deserved by one sinner, Barabbas – ‘The Lord made the punishment fall on Him, the punishment all of us deserved’ (Isaiah 53:12, 6).

‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). These are not words of despair. They are words of triumph.

At an early stage in His public ministry, Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me to finish His work’ (John 4:34). Even then, He was looking ahead to the Cross, to the completion of the work of redemption.

In one sense, ‘it is finished’- on the Cross. In another sense, there is more to be done – by the Father. The Cross is followed by the resurrection – ‘God raised Him from the dead’(Acts 2:24; Romans 10:9).

To come to the words, ‘It is finished’ is not to reach the end of the story.

Jesus was laid in the tomb (John 19:42). This was not the end of His story.

He was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4)!

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The Bible Readings are taken from the |Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

——————–

Saturday in Holy Week: Job 14:1-14 (or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24); Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66 (or John 19:38-42)

Out of darkness into light – “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

When you don’t really know what you’re talking about, it’s a case of the less said the better.

That’s how Job feels about his ‘friends’- ‘Oh that would you keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!’(Job 13:5).

They are no help to him. What does he do next? He takes his problem to the Lord. Nothing seems clear to Job. He seems to be bogged down in his own suffering.

There is, however, a glimmer of light. A question comes into his mind – ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ (Job 14:14).

Later on, Job gives the answer of faith: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives…Even after my skin has been stripped off my body, I will see God in my own flesh’ (Job 19:25).

‘Christ has been raised from the dead…Death is swallowed up in victory…Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Corinthians 15:20, 54, 57).

Out of darkness into light – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.”

There are times when it seems nothing is going right for us: ‘I am the man who has seen affliction…’ (Lamentations 3:1-3).

In such times, we must remember this: ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end’.

When we find ourselves in circumstances of great distress, we must learn to look beyond the things that are happening to us.

We must learn to look to the Lord and say, ‘Great is Your faithfulness’.

It will not be easy to see God at work in our lives when everything seems to be going wrong.

We must be patient as we wait for the blessing of the Lord to return to our lives.

We must put all our hope in the Lord, trusting in His precious promise: ‘The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord’ (Lamentations 3:22-26).

Out of darkness into light – the “spacious place” of God’s salvation

‘Into Thy hand, I commit my spirit’ (Psalm 31:5). These words were spoken by Christ as, in death, He gave Himself for our sins (Luke 23:46).

For Christ, there was suffering – ‘I am the scorn of all my adversaries’ (Psalm 31:11). His suffering was followed by rejoicing, the joy of the resurrection – ‘I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place’ (Psalm 31:7-8).

God answered the prayer of His Son – He brought Him into the ‘spacious place’ of the resurrection, the ‘spacious place’ which is, for us, ‘eternal salvation’ (Hebrews 5:7-9). We look to the crucified Christ and we say, ‘Praise be to the Lord, for He showed His wonderful love to me’ (Psalm 31:21).

In the risen Christ, we are ‘strong and our hearts take courage’ (Psalm 31:24).

Out of darkness and into light – Create in me, a clean heart, O God. 

As we consider Christ who suffered for us, let us pray that we may have His ‘attitude.’ Let us commit ourslves to doing the will of God (1 Peter 4:1-2).

The Gospel was preached even to those who are now dead (1 Peter 4:6). As we read those words, let us commit ourselves to our God-given task of preaching the Gospel to those who are living. 

We believe the Gospel – ‘Christ died for our sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God’. Let’s share the Gospel – ‘Be always ready to give…a reason for the hope that is in you.’

How are we to share the Gospel? – ‘with gentleness and respect’ (1 Peter 3:18, 15). We must get the attitude right – ‘so that nothing will hinder our prayers’ (1 Peter 3:7). We need more than the ‘right’ prayers – words that sound good. We need the right attitude. The blessing will not come because our words sound good. It will only come when our attitude is right.

Our obedience to God’s will, in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is to be grounded our prayer. Our preaching and prayer are to be grounded in praise.

In all the service we offer to God, there is to be the offering of worship: ‘To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever’ (1 Peter 4:11; 5:11).

We will not learn to serve God unless we are learning to worship Him.

There is a ‘form of religion’ which ‘denies the power’ of God – ‘These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me’ (2 Timothy 3:5; Matthew 15:8). They go through the motions – but their hearts are not in it!

We must pray that God will deliver us from this kind of thing: ‘O for a heart to praise my God! A heart from sin set free; A heart that always feels Thy blood, so freely shed for me’ (Church Hymnary, 85).

‘Religion’ is about respectability. Salvation is about renewal: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me’ (Psalm 51:10).

Out of darkness and into light – It was impossible for death to hold Christ.

The unbelieving world still denies Christ – ‘that imposter’ (Matthew 27:63) – and His resurrection – ‘fraud’ (Matthew 27:64). As believers, we must maintain our testimony: ‘He has risen from the dead’(64). The unbelievers expected a ‘fraud’. They did not expect a resurrection! For them, a resurrection was out of the question. God had a surprise in store for them! Unbelief says, ‘Resurrection? – Impossible!’. Faith says, ‘it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him’ (Acts 2:24). He has risen (Matthew 28:6) – Hallelujah!

Out of darkness into light – Love has the victory for ever.

Jesus was laid in the tomb (John  19:42).

Was this the end of His story?  - No! There was more to come – the resurrection. His story did not end there – ‘Jesus had to rise from the dead’ (John 20:9).

On the Cross, Jesus  had said, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). These are not words of despair. They are words of triumph.

At an early stage in His public ministry, Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me to finish His work’ (John 4:34). Even then, He was looking ahead to the Cross, to the completion of the work of redemption.

In one sense, ‘it is finished’ – on the Cross. In another sense, there is more to be done – by the Father.

The Cross is followed by the resurrection – ‘God raised Him from the dead’ (Acts 2:24; Romans 10:9).

We read of Jesus’ death. We read of His burial – but His story does not end there!

This was a time of darkness: Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Saviour.   

It was also the time of waiting: Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord.

Soon, the time of triumph would come: Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.

The story of Jesus Christ does not end with the darkness of His burial. Beyond the darkness, there is the light of His resurrection: He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives for ever with His saints to reign.

For our salvation, Jesus died ‘and was raised to life’(Romans 4:25). The light shines brightly. It is the light of God’s love.

We hear the great declaration of Christ’s resurrection: He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! (Mission Praise, 453).

We hear of the triumph of God’s love: Love has the victory for ever!

Inspired by the great declaration of Christ’s resurrection and the triumph of God’s love, let us respond with the worship of our hearts: Who can see Your greatest gift and fail to worship You?  (Mission Praise, 86).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings are suggested for Year A and Year C.

——————–

Easter Vigil: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26; Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13; Psalm 46; Genesis 22:1-18; Psalm 16; Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21; Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18; Isaiah 55:1-11; Isaiah 12:2-6; Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6; Psalm 19; Ezekiel 36:24-28; Psalms 42 and 43; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 143; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Psalm 98; Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 114; Matthew 28:1-10

In the beginning, there is love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Genesis’ means ‘beginning’. These opening verses challenge us to get our priorities right – (a) The priority of God (Genesis 1:1). God comes first. Before anyone else is mentioned, He is there. (b) The priority of God’s Word (Genesis 1:3). God is the first to speak. Before any human word is spoken, there is the Word of the Lord. (c) The priority of God’s Spirit (Genesis 1:2). All was ‘empty’, all was ‘darkness’, yet the ‘Spirit of God’ was at work, and transformation was set in motion. Here, we have God’s priorities, set out in the Bible’s first three verses – Putting God first and listening to His Word, we are to pray for the moving of God’s Spirit, ‘hovering over’ our lives to transform them. For those who make God’s priorities their own, there is a promise of great blessing (Psalm 1:1-2). It is the great blessing of knowing Jesus Christ, our Saviour, as ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23).

God speaks, and it is done (Genesis 1:3, 6-7, 11). God is pleased with what He has done (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12). This is the pattern of God’s original creation. It is to be the pattern of our life as a ‘new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). God speaks to us and we say, ‘Your will be done’ (Matthew 6:10). We say, ‘let it be to me according to Your Word’ (Luke 1:38). God looks on such obedience, this ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16, 22-23), and He sees that it is ‘good’ (Micah 6:8). In these verses we read of the separation of the light and the darkness, the separation of the waters and the dry land, and the fruitfulness of God’s creation. There are lessons for us here. We are to ‘walk in the light’ (1 John 1:7). We are to let the Spirit’s ‘living water’ flow in us (John 7:39-39). Walking in the light, letting the living water flow – this is the way of fruitfulness.

The Bible’s opening chapter is a great hymn of praise, emphasizing that all things have been created for the glory of God (Revelation 4:11). Nothing can be permitted to distract our attention from the Lord. He alone is worthy of worship. The creation of the ‘lights’ makes no reference to the sun and the moon. These were worshipped by neighbouring peoples. They are not gods. They are simply ‘lights’. Our worship is to be given to God alone. The waters teemed with living creatures. The land produced living creatures. Here, we have a picture of life. There is life where the living water of the Spirit is flowing freely among God’s people (Ezekiel 47:5-9). This water brings life to the land (Ezekiel 47:12). Moving with the flow of God’s Spirit, we are to pray that ‘the water of life’ will flow freely ‘for the healing of the nations’ (Revelation 22:2).

We now come to the creation of humanity, male and female. Our creation is described in a distinctive way – created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We are different from the rest of creation. We have been given dominion over ‘all the earth’ and ‘every living creature’ (Genesis 1:26, 28). We are different from God. He is the Creator. We are His creation. Created in God’s image, we have been created by Him and for Him. Though we have sinned (Genesis 3, Romans 3:23), now – in Jesus Christ – we have begun to live as a new creation (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10). The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1) and that ‘all things were created by Him and for Him’ (Colossians 1:16). This is the Saviour who is at work in us, enabling us to live as a new creation! Creation has been ‘completed’ (2:1). Salvation will be completed (Philippians 1:6)!

In the end, there will be love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘His love endures for ever’. This is the great message contained in every single verse of this Psalm. It’s a message worth repeating – over and over again! God’s love is an everlasting love – ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (Jeremiah 31:3). God’s love is an unfailing love – ‘My unfailing love for you will not be shaken’ (Isaiah 54:10). Let us ‘give thanks’ to God for His love (Psalm 1-3, 26). In His love, the Lord has provided for us ‘an everlasting salvation’. His ‘salvation will last for ever’ (Isaiah 45:17; 51:6). We must not be like those who refuse to love the Lord – ‘Pharaoh… great kings… mighty kings …’ (Psalm 136:15, 17-20). Those who reject God’s love will not receive ‘eternal life’. Their future will be very different – the ‘raging fire that will consume the enemies of God’ (John 3:16-18; Hebrews 10:26-27).

When you see a rainbow, remember there is love, eternal love, the love of God.

Here, we pick up on the words of Genesis 7:16 – ‘the Lord closed the door behind them’. What was going on outside of the ark is contrasted with the haven of salvation inside the ark. What was it that made the ark a place of salvation? – The Lord. What is it that makes Jesus Christ the Source of our salvation? – God has given Him the Name that is above every name, the Name of our salvation (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:12). From the ark, we learn of (a) the one way of salvation – The ark had only one door. Jesus is ‘the Door’ which leads to salvation (John 10:9); (b) the eternal security of salvation – All were safe inside the ark. In Christ there is eternal security (John 10:28); (c) the absolute necessity of salvation – Outside of the ark, there was certain death. Refusal to come to Christ for salvation leads to judgment: ‘How shall we escape…?’(Hebrews 2:3).

Following the flood, we have this simple yet striking declaration: ‘the ground was dry’ (Genesis 8:13). Safe from judgment! This is the message which comes to us from the Cross: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). The judgment has fallen upon Christ. We are no longer swept away in the judgment. We can stand on solid ground: ‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand’ (Church Hymnary, 411). He is our Support in ‘the whelming flood’. God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ship’ (Genesis 8:15). We are in Christ. He is the Source of our salvation. God has brought us into Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). He does not bring us into Christ solely for our own benefit. We are sent out to be fruitful (Genesis 8:17; John 15:16). We are to ‘abide in Christ’. This is the way of fruitfulness (John 15:4-5). We are not sent out alone. Strengthened in ‘the ship’ (in Christ), we step out with Christ and for Him.

‘When you see a rainbow, remember God is love’. The rainbow reminds us of the gracious promise of God (Genesis 9:13-15). If the love of God is revealed in the rainbow, it is more fully revealed in the Cross: ‘We sing the praise of Him who died, of Him who died upon the Cross… upon the Cross we see in shining letters. ‘God is love’, He bears our sins upon the tree. He brings us mercy from above’. When we read the Old Testament stories, we must learn to see their place within the fuller Story, the Story of God’s salvation: ‘I will sing the wondrous Story of the Christ who died for me’. This is the greatest Story of all – ‘the Story of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love,… the Story of wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin’. ‘This is our Story. This is our Song, praising our Saviour all the day long’. This is ‘the Story to tell to the nations’ (Church Hymnary, 258, 381, 132; Mission Praise, 59, 744).

Be still and know that there is love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Be still, and know that I am God…Shout to God with loud songs of joy’ (Psalm 46:10; 47:2). In our worship, there is to be both quiet trust and loud praise. We read the great words: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1). God’s Word brings peace – ‘in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength’. We must not keep God’s blessing to ourselves. We must share it with joy – ‘Sing to the Lord…let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the coastlands’ (Isaiah 30:15; 42:10-12). The Lord is to be ‘exalted among the nations’. He is not only ‘our King’. He is ‘the King of all the earth’ (Psalm 46:10; 47:6-7). ‘Father (Jesus/Spirit), we love You. We worship and adore You. Glorify Your Name in all the earth’(Mission Praise, 142).

In Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

Here, we see Abraham in his relationship with the world (Genesis 21:22-34) and his relationship with the Lord (Genesis 22:1-14). Abraham deals honestly and wisely with the pagan king, Abimelech, who acknowledges Abraham’s closeness to God – ‘God is with you in all that you do’ (Genesis 21:22). We are to be honest and wise in our relationship with the world (Romans 12:17; Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:15; 1 Peter 2:12). Our relationship with the world is to be grounded in our relationship with God. In the testing of Abraham, we catch a glimpse of ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). Christ is the Lamb whom God will provide (Genesis 22:8). In Genesis 22:14, we read, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided’. On Calvary’s hill, Christ died to bring us to God, so that we might learn to live for Him in this world (1 Peter 3:18; 2:24).

After the renewal of God’s promise (Genesis 22:15-18), Abraham went to Beersheba (Genesis 22:19). He returned to the place where he had ‘called…on the Name of the Lord, the Everlasting God’ (21:33). This is a good ‘place’ to be, the ‘place’ of calling on the Name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. As we read of the death and burial of Sarah, we must remember this: the Lord is the Everlasting God. The death of Sarah took place in God’s time. Her death signified that her work had been done. She had mothered the child of promise. Beyond the death of Sarah, there was the continuing purpose of God. The cave at Machpelah (23:19-20) became the burial place for Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Leah. We see the continuity of history, and we thank God for His continuing faithfulness down through the generations.

Our hope of eternal glory comes from love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore’ (Psalm 16:11). In this earthly life, there are many difficulties. For all of God’s people, there is something better still to come. We must look not only at the things which are happening now. We must look also to the glory which is yet to come. Our hope of eternal glory is based on Christ’s resurrection. David’s words (Psalm 16:8-11) are quoted by Peter in connection with ‘the resurrection of the Christ’ (Acts 2:24-33). ‘Christ has been raised from the dead…at His coming those who belong to Christ…will be raised imperishable’ (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 52). ‘The Lord is my chosen portion…Therefore my heart is glad’ (Psalm 16:5, 9). Is this your testimony? Choose Christ and be glad.

In the redemption of Israel, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

God had redeemed His people. He was with them, and He was about to reveal His saving power in a mighty way (Exodus 14:13-14). There is judgment as well as salvation (Exodus 14:30). Looking to neither the ‘right’ nor the ‘left’, we must look to the Lord (Exodus 14:21-22). Rejoicing in ‘the great work’ He has done, our faith ‘in the Lord’ grows strong (Exodus 14:31).

God has given us a song to sing. We have a song to sing. It is a song of redemption – God has redeemed His people; a song of thanksgiving – we give thanks for God’s redemption; and a song of hope – we look forward to the complete fulfilment of God’s redemption. This is not only a ‘song of God’s people’. It is also the song of Moses, a personal song. This is worship – not a mere formality, but worship which arises from the depths of Moses’ heart. Deeply moved by the grace and glory of God, Moses pours his heart out to God in worship: (i) He praises the God of grace – ‘my strength… my song… my salvation’ (Exodus 15:2). (ii) He praises the God of glory – God triumphs ‘gloriously’ (Exodus 15:1). His ‘glorious’ power is demonstrated in His ‘glorious’ deeds (Exodus 15:6, 11). (iii) Worshipping this God of grace – the redeeming God (Exodus 15:13) – and glory – the reigning God (Exodus 15:18) – , we say, ‘You are my God, and I will praise You’ (Psalm 118:28). Let us worship God – personally as well as publicly.

In the prophet’s words, we hear the Word of love, eternal love, the love of God.

The Word of God is spoken – ‘Seek the Lord while He may be found…’ (Isaiah 55:6-7). No one seems to be listening. What are we to do? We must remember God’s promise: ‘My Word will not return to Me empty’ (Isaiah 55:11). We do not see all that God is doing. He is doing much more than we realize – ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts…’ (Isaiah 55:8-9). We may be feeling very despondent – ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything’ (Luke 5:5). The Lord still comes to us with His Word of encouragement: ‘You shall go out with joy…’ (Isaiah 55:12). Before there is joy, there may be many tears. When there seems to be nothing but disappointments, we must remember the Lord’s promise: ‘Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy…’ (Psalm 126:5-6). We must not ‘judge before the time…’ (1 Corinthians 4:5).

‘I will praise You, O Lord… God is my Salvation… The Lord is my Strength and my Song…’ (Isaiah 12:1-2). May this be our personal faith – this is what the Lord means to me – and our public testimony – making Christ ‘known among the nations’, telling ‘all the world’ what the Lord has done for us (Isaiah 12: 4-5).

Be wise. Open your heart to love, eternal love, the love of God.

Hoping for ‘good luck’, some people expect good things to happen to them – all the time! God says, ‘Seek wisdom. Be ready for the hard times’. Wisdom comes from God. He speaks to us with words of wisdom (Proverbs 2:6; Proverbs 8:6-8). Wisdom is not only for ‘kings and rulers, princes and nobles’. It is for everyone who loves the Lord (Proverbs 8:15-17). Wisdom calls us to choose good rather than evil, life rather than death (Proverbs 8:13, 35-36; Hebrews 5:14; Deuteronomy 30:19). The way of wisdom is the way of happiness (Proverbs 8:32-34). Our path may not be paved with gold. Wisdom is better than ‘silver, gold and jewels’ (Proverbs 8:10-11). Christ is our Wisdom. Receiving Him, we receive wisdom. Growing in Him, we grow in wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:6). As you rejoice in Christ, remember: ‘He who wins souls is wise’ (Proverbs 11:30). Don’t keep Wisdom to yourself. Share Christ with others.

In Proverbs 9:5, there is a Gospel invitation: ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed’. We eat bread. We drink wine. We remember our Saviour (Matthew 26: 26-29). ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 9:10). ‘This sounds so old-fashioned’- so the world tells us. ‘The fear of the Lord’- This is something we must not forget. If we do not fear the Lord, we will forget Him. If we forget Him, we are fools. What is foolishness? Is it a lack of education? No! – It is a lack of obedience. When we do not ‘honour’ God, we are ‘without sense’. ‘Claiming to be wise’, we show that we are ‘fools’. If we are wise, we will keep ‘going straight on the way’, looking always to Jesus Christ who is the true and living Way. He leads us from ‘the depths of hell’ to the heights of heaven (Proverbs 8:13-18; Romans 1:21-22; John 14:2, 6).

In creation and Scripture, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

God reveals Himself in creation and Scripture. He speaks through His created world. He speaks through His written Word. God is always speaking. He is never silent. Through His created world, God is speaking to us – every day, every night. He is showing us His glory (Psalm 19:1-2). He makes us aware of His presence. He whets our appetite for His written Word. The Scriptures lead us to Christ. Through faith in Him, we receive salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Christ is the high-point of God’s revelation. He is the living Word (John 1:1, 14). The testimony of the Psalmist – ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul’ (7) – becomes real for us through faith in Christ – ‘I came to Jesus…My soul revived and now I live in Him’ (Church Hymnary, 212). Make it real. Come to Christ. Come alive in Him!

Through Christ, God looks upon us with love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘I will look on you with favour’ (Ezekiel 36:9). Through Christ our Saviour, God looks upon us with favour. Here are some words which will help you to rejoice in the ‘wonderful grace of Jesus’ which is ‘greater than all my sin’, the ‘wonderful grace of Jesus’ which ‘reaches me’. ‘Let me introduce you to a friend called Grace. Doesn’t care about your past or your many mistakes. He’ll cover your sins in a warm embrace. Let me introduce to a friend called Grace’. ‘His grace reaches lower than your worst mistake and His love will run further than you can run away’. ‘He believes in lost causes when common sense would just give up. He believes in lost causes and changes people with His love. There’s nobody too far gone, no one beyond His reach. He believes in lost causes ‘cause He believed in me’. Let Jesus be your Joy!

May your soul be lifted up by love, eternal love, the love of God.

Three times, the question is asked, ‘Why are you downcast, O my soul’. Three times, the answer is given, ‘Put your hope in God’. Three times, there is the response of faith: ‘I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God (Psalms 42:5, 11; 43:5). Often, we are filled with questions. We must bring our questions to God. We must learn to listen for His answers. The Lord is speaking to us. Are we listening? God speaks to us through His Word. Are we taking time to read His Word? He wants us to come to Him with the prayer, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:8-10). Listen to the Word of the Lord. Let His Word be your Guide: ‘Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me…’ (Psalm 43:5). ‘Deep calls to deep’ (Psalm 42:7) – Let ‘the Spirit’ show you ‘the deep things of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:10).

When the Spirit breathes upon us, we receive love, eternal love, the love of God.

It was ‘a valley of dry bones’ (Ezekiel 37:1-2). Then, the Lord changed everything – ‘I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live’ (Ezekiel 37:5). What a difference the Lord makes! ‘Breathe on me, Breath of God. Fill me with life anew’ (Church Hymnary, 103). What happens when the Spirit of the Lord breathes new life into the Church of God? – ‘The Church that seemed in slumber has now risen from its knees and dry bones are responding with the fruits of new birth’. ‘Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Let the breeze of Your presence flow that Your children here might truly know how to move in the Spirit’s flow… Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Please accomplish in us today some new work of loving grace, we pray. Unreservedly, have Your way. Holy Spirit, we welcome You’ (Mission Praise, 274, 241).

On the Lord’s pathway of victory, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

The Psalmist prays, ‘Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord’ (Psalm 143:9). He is not concerned only about his own welfare. He is concerned about the glory of God: ‘For Your Name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life’ (Psalm 143:11). How does God lead us in victory? How is He glorified in our lives? He brings to us the teaching of His Word - ‘Let the morning bring me Word of Your unfailing love’ (Psalm 143:8). He gives to us the strength of His Spirit – ‘May Your good Spirit lead me in good paths’ (Psalm 143:10). Through His Word and Spirit, God shows us His ‘unfailing love’. He enables us to say, ‘You are my God’, ‘I have put my trust in You’ and ‘I am Your servant’. He ‘shows us the way we should go’. He ‘teaches us to do His will’. He gives us victory over our ‘enemies’ (8, 10, 12).

In the story of God’s salvation, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

In Zephaniah 3, we have a story of sin – Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She has not obeyed His voice. She has not accepted correction. She has not trusted in the Lord. She has not drawn near to her God’ – and a story of salvation – ‘Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment. He has turned back your enemy… The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will renew you in His love. He will rejoice over you with singing’ (Zephaniah 3:1-2, 14-17). The story of our sin is full of sadness. The story of God’s salvation fills us with gladness – ‘Rejoice and be glad! The Redeemer has come’ (Mission Praise, 573).

Let us worship God: our response to love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘Exalt the Lord our God… Make a joyful noise to the Lord’ (Psalms 99:5, 9; 98:4, 6; 100:1). We are to worship the Lord with joy. We are to glorify God. We are to enjoy Him. In our worship, we must never forget the holiness of God: ‘He is holy!… The Lord our God is holy!’ (Psalm 99:5, 9). In our worship, we rejoice in the love of God: ‘His steadfast love endures for ever… He has done marvellous things!’ (Psalms 100:5; 98:1). The God of ‘awesome purity’ loves us with the most perfect love of all: ‘No earthly father loves like Thee…’ Let us worship Him with holy fear and heartfelt love: ‘O how I fear Thee, living God, with deepest, tenderest fears… with trembling hope and penitential tears! Yet I may love Thee too, O Lord, Almighty as Thou art, for Thou hast stooped to ask of me the love of my poor heart’ (Church Hymnary, 356).

Living as a new creation: our response to love, eternal love, the love of God.

(a) ‘We know that our old self was crucified’ (Romans 6:6) – What a great thing God has done! He has made you ‘a new creation in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). (b) ‘Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 6:11) – Believe it. This is what the Lord has done: ‘you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit… the Spirit of God dwells in you… Christ is in you… the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… His Spirit dwells in you’ (Romans 8:9-11). (c) ‘Yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life’ (Romans 6:13) – Act upon it’. ‘Walk in newness of life’ (Romans 6:4). Live as those whom God has made new. We are ‘not under law but under grace’ (Romans 6:14). Keep your eyes fixed on the Saviour and your obedience will be Gospel obedience and not merely legal obedience.

At the Cross of Christ, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

‘The Lord is high above all nations… Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high?… Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, who turns the hard rock into springs of water’ (Psalms 113:4-5; 114:7-8). The Lord is greater than we could ever imagine. There is no greatness like the greatness of the Lord. All human greatness cannot even begin to compare with the greatness of God. His greatness is not only the greatness of His power. It is also the greatness of His love. When we sing, ‘How great Thou art’, we sing not only of His power – ‘Thy power throughout the universe displayed’. We sing also of His love – ‘And when I think that God His Son not sparing, sent Him to die – I scarce can take it in, that on the Cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin…’(Mission Praise, 506).

In the resurrection of Christ, we see love, eternal love, the love of God.

The resurrection declares Christ’s victory over evil, the triumph of His love. There is no need for fear: ‘He has risen’- His ‘perfect love casts out fear’ (Matthew 28:5-6; 1 John 4:18). There has to be a new beginning in faith. First, there was a new beginning ‘in fact – Christ has been raised from the dead’ (1 Corinthians 15:20). Christ has won the victory over the grave. Christ has taken the sting out of death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Between the new beginning in faith – making disciples (Matthew 28:19) – and the new beginning in fact – Christ’s resurrection – , there is worship (Matthew 28:9). The fact is not dependent on our feelings. ‘He has risen’ (Matthew 28:6-7) – the fact stands, even when many doubt and few worship (Matthew 28:17). As we worship, we are strengthened in faith, strengthened for our task. We are to invite people to come to the place where ‘they will see’ Jesus (Matthew 28:10). We are to ‘make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19). Run and tell – with great joy (Matthew 28:8)!

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The Bible Readings are taken from Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

The same readings (with the exception of the Gospel Reading) are suggested for Year A and Year C.

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Easter Day: Acts 10:34-43 (or Isaiah 25:6-9); Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (or Acts 10:34-43); John 20:1-18 (or Mark 16:1-8)

God’s Love, God’s Son, God’s Command, God’s Purpose

‘When the Holy Spirit comes on you… you will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). This great advance of the Gospel – Salvation reaches ‘the Gentiles’ (Acts 10:45; Acts 11:1, 18) – is a movement of ‘the Spirit’ (Acts 11:12). The Spirit speaks through the Word (Acts 10:44; Acts 11:15). In God’s Word, we read of (a) God’s love for the whole world (John 3:16); (b) God’s Son who died for ‘the sins of the whole world’ (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2); (c) God’s command that ‘the Good News’should be preached to ‘everyone’ (Mark 16:15); (d) God’s purpose that there should be disciples of Christ in every nation (Matthew 28:19). ‘Every person in every nation, in each succeeding generation, has the right to hear the News that Christ can save… Here am I, send me’ (Youth Praise,128). ‘Go forth and tell!’ (Mission Praise, 178).

Worship: Receiving God’s Love, Exalting God’s Son

‘O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your Name… You have done marvellous things’ (Isaiah 25:1). We remember what God has done for us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Saviour. We rejoice in Jesus Christ who died for us. We rejoice in Jesus Christ who rose again for us. We look forward to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We look forward to the Day when ‘He will swallow up death for ever’. On that Day, ‘the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces’. On that Day, we will look back and say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us’. On that Day, we will ‘rejoice and be glad in His salvation’ (Isaiah 25:8-9). Here and now, let us learn to ‘trust in the Lord’. We can trust in Him ‘for ever’. He is ‘the everlasting Rock’- ‘the Rock of our salvation’ (Isaiah 26:4; Psalm 95:1).

Witness: Obeying God’s Command, Fulfilling God’s Purpose

‘The Lord is my Strength and my Song. He is my Saviour’ (Psalm 118:14). Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour gives us a song to sing: ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine… This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long’. Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, we sing His song with strength, committing ourselves to His service, earnestly seeking to win others for Him: ‘We’ve a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right … We’ve a song to be sung to the nations, that shall lift their hearts to the Lord…We’ve a message to give to the nations, that the Lord, who reigneth above, hath sent us His Son to save us… We’ve a Saviour to show to the nations…’ (Mission Praise, 59, 744). Don’t keep your Saviour to yourself. Share Him with others. Win others for Him.

In Our Worship, Let’s Be Resurrection People Living In Resurrection Power.

Here, we learn of Christ’s resurrection: the fact – ‘Christ has been raised from the dead’ – and the meaning – ‘the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep’ (1 Corinthians 15:20). We look back to His resurrection. We ‘remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead’ (2 Timothy 2:8). We look forward to our own resurrection. We will be ‘raised’- ‘imperishable… in glory… in power… a spiritual body’ (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Looking back to His resurrection and looking forward to our own resurrection, we are to live, here and now, in ‘the power of His resurrection’ (Philippians 3:10). We believe the fact of the resurrection. We live in the power of the resurrection. We rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. With ‘resurrection’ faith in the ‘resurrection’ God, let us live the ‘resurrection’ life as a ‘resurrection’ people!

In Our Witness, Let’s Pray That God Will Be At Work In Resurrection Power.

Dead and buried (Mark 15:44-46) – ‘The End’? No! There is more. An ‘Appendix’? No! A whole new beginning – For Jesus, for us! He is ‘the first fruits’ (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). The full glory is still to come (1 Corinthians 15:24). He has risen (Mark 16:6). ‘At His coming, those who belong to Christ’ will be raised – with Him and by Him – to everlasting life (1 Corinthians 15:23). This is the glory of the resurrection. It is not simply a thing of the past. It is our glorious future – we ‘will be raised imperishable’ (1 Corinthians 15:52). There is a Gospel to be preached – the Gospel of salvation (Mark 16:15-16). May God help us to preach the Gospel ‘everywhere’ – This will involve all of us, not just a few of us! May He give us the joy of seeing Him at work, confirming the message by the signs that attend it (Mark 16:20).

In Our Worship and Witness, Let’s Proclaim The Triumph Of Christ’s Victory.

‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). These are not words of despair. They are words of triumph. At an early stage in His public ministry, Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me to finish His work’ (John 4:34). Even then, He was looking ahead to the Cross, to the completion of the work of redemption. In one sense, ‘it is finished’ – on the Cross. In another sense, there is more to be done – by the Father. The Cross is followed by the resurrection – ‘God raised Him from the dead’ (Acts 2:24; Romans 10:9). To come to the words, ‘It is finished’ is not to reach the end of the story. Jesus was laid in the tomb (John 19:42). Still, this was not the end of the story. Something else had to happen – ‘Jesus had to rise from the dead’ (20:9). For our salvation, Jesus died ‘and was raised to life’ (Romans 4:25).

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The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

After spending a night at the hospital, Matthew has been discharged today. He had jaundice and the doctor decided that he needed to be treated with phototherapy.

Never really realized that the yellow was becoming so obvious. But after looking at the picture, it looks clearer his skin is getting yellow.

Yellow?

So Matthew spend the whole time in the ward in a cot placed under a series of ultraviolet lights (called light treatment or phototherapy). I was told it was a simple treatment that almost always works to get rid of jaundice. The lights help the baby process bilirubin (the substance in their blood that makes their skin yellow).

Even though it was just a day, we were nonetheless worried about him being alone in the ward under the lights. We did miss him when we got home. Ironically, we didn’t get much sleep even though we were not woken up by him for milk. Funny how attached we can get to Matthew in just a few days…

Anyway, his blood test this morning showed the jaundice has reduced and we were glad he was able to come back home (again).

Back home asleep...

Here is a picture of the 3 of us…

Self-family portrait

Here are some pictures taken on Matthew’s first few days at home.

Just arrived home...

Here he is with his first soft toy – a gift from Su Fei’s colleague.

Here is a gift pack we received from office.

Facebook Event

For the entire month of December, I want to motivate myself to pray/think hopefully/feel positive energy- whatever word you would prefer to use.  Between school, work, and juggling overwhelming amounts of stress, its safe to say that I have seriously lost touch with my spirituality.

I’ve been thinking about this more recently, after having many (heated) discussions with Matthew about spirituality and religion in regards to raising our children and dealing with our families.  I found myself worrying more about the technical aspects of everyone else’s spiritual life, instead of nurturing my own.  In attempt to regain a sense of contentment , I will be recording prayers/thoughts/ect to reflect my own spiritual nature.

While I was sitting in the terminal yesterday, I doodled on my sketchbook:

safe flight

Collelo & Rice families & all who grieve

Matthew

big comfy bed

the beauty of togetherness

There is the jump start to my 31 days.  Do you take the time to reflect every day?

Reading through the Gospels in 30 days. If you still want in on it, we are only 2 days in. Thats only 6 chapters to read today to catch up.

3 chapters a day, 4 Gospels, 30 days

* I got this idea from a friend of mine, Justin Wallace, who has done this challenge before and is currently doing it again with us.

I am including my quick reflections here on my blog. Please feel free to include your reflections here as comments for others to read.

CHAPTER 1
1:1-17 – It is always striking how many women are included in Jesus’ lineage, but whats more, it is interesting to note that there are whores and other “questionable” characters  in that line

1:23 – This is why the Christmas story is so vital and crazy and wonderful. “…and they shall call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.” Just take a second and reflect on how HUGE that is! GOD….WITH US!!  Here…in flesh…WITH US.

2:3 – The NRSV says that “Herod was frightened and all Jerusalem with him”. I knew that Herod gets uber-pissed later, but I never caught that, at first, he was frightened…and so was all Jerusalem

3:2; 4:17 – The Kingdom HAS COME near. We misunderstand this verse gravely when we state that the Kingdom is near or that it is coming near…this is very clearly a past tense statement of a present reality…the Kingdom HAS COME…it is here…going on right now

3:8 – “bear fruit worthy of repentance” (NRSV) – what does that mean do you think?

5:6 – “If you HUNGER and THIRST for righteousness…you will be FILLED” – Could I really define my heart with a HUNGER and a THIRST?

5:11 – “Blessed are you who are persecuted…ON MY ACCOUNT” – NOT because you’re an ass

- How would 5:19 compare and come alongside “the least of these”?

5:42 – “Give to EVERYONE…do not refuse ANYONE.” – Another instance when Jesus is clearly stark where we like to be muddy and faint…I’m sorry; I mean where…I…like to be muddy and faint.

5:47 – “What more are you doing than others?” – A haunting question I am slow to answer today.

6:2-6, 16,18 – “They will receive their reward…you will receive your reward.” They will receive the reward they wanted which was attention, but if we do as Jesus has called us, we will receive our reward as well. The question here is, “What reward do you seek?”

6:11 – “give us this day our DAILY BREAD” – this is to say, give us what we need and not beyond that. We do not seek to hoard and consume more than we actually need.

6:21 – “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be” – At Christmas time, I wonder how much we have connected LOVE to what sort of gift I get/give.

6:33 – If you choose NOT to worry, Jesus gives you an action plan.

WHAT ARE YOUR REFLECTIONS ON Matthew 1-6

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LISTENING TO: “Light” by Matisyahu

Thanksgiving has come and gone – I can’t believe it.  I was blessed to be able to spend my first Thanksgiving away from home with the Ventura family.  Matthew made a delicious dinner, and I made two decadent chocolate pecan pies.  That afternoon Matthew and I went to see A Christmas Carol in 3D, which was a fun way to end the holiday.  Now it’s time to prepare for the Christmas holiday, and I’m so excited!  Matthew and I went Christmas gift shopping for his nieces and nephews the other day, and it was so fun getting to pick out kid stuff.  And Matthew has a very special surprise for them.  I can’t wait to see their little faces light up!

In other news, I have had several donations for my ministry come in lately.  I feel so blessed to have so many people who support what the Lord is doing through my ministry with YMI.  I’d like to send out a big THANK YOU to each of you who have offered financial and prayer support for me over the last couple of months.

The Lord has been doing so much in my life recently.  Matthew’s dad, Stephen, lent me a book (Handle with Prayer by Charles Stanley) a couple of weeks ago, and it has been transforming my prayer life.  One of the subjects the book talks about is praying with authority.  Specifically, this concept has changed the way I pray about God’s provision.  In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to be anxious because God provides, and  Philippians 4:19-20 says that God will supply our needs.  Therefore, Ishould not pray to God asking him to provide because I know he will; instead, I should thank God for what he has promised me he will provide.  Once I started approaching the “throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16) my spirit is completely at peace and does not doubt for a minute that God will do what he has said he will do.

Another thing God has showed me just this morning was related to my thoughts.  The last couple of days I have had a “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6) unlike I have ever experienced before.  Several times I have thought to myself that all I really desire right now is to be righteous in the eyes of the Lord.  And then it hit me:

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you have discerned my thoughts from afar.” – Psalm 139:1-2 (Special thanks to Matthew who pointed me to these verses when I mentioned all of this to him.)

The Lord knows my thoughts; he knows my heart and my desires.  What an odd moment it was when this truth really sunk in.  I am overjoyed that God knows my innermost thoughts and that he’s listening to them even when I do not realize it.  Praise be to our Creator for intimately knowing his creations!

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Click on these links below:

Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Matthew 15:29-37

They all ate and were satisfied. (Matthew 15:37)

Here’s a question to ponder. If this is a genuine miracle, and Jesus really is the Son of God, why didn’t he give the apostles exactly the right amount of food for this crowd? Why did they end up with extra bread? Did he think that the disciples might get hungry again? Did he anticipate more people showing up later? Probably not. More likely, Jesus wanted to teach them something about leftovers.

The number of baskets remaining—seven—can give us a clue. In Jewish thought, the number seven was an expression of perfection, the kind of perfection found only in God. It took Yahweh six days to create the world, and then he rested on the seventh. It was a day of satisfaction and plenty. It was a time to enjoy his creation, a creation so good and complete that it couldn’t be improved upon. In the same way, the bread that Jesus provided satisfied the crowd in a way that no earthly food could (Matthew 15:37).

The number seven also shows us God’s limitless generosity. Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy-seven times, that is, always (Matthew 18:22). Jesus knew that Peter could be so forgiving because God’s mercy is boundless.

Notice also that the apostles started with seven baskets, and they finished with seven baskets. It was Jesus’ way of saying that whenever we give to someone, relying on God’s resources, we will never run out. So these fragments weren’t really leftovers. They were part of his endless supply of blessings!

All of these points apply in a special way to the Eucharist, the Bread of Life that Jesus gives us every day at Mass. This bread, which is his body, is unlike any other food we could ever eat. It is perfect, lacking in nothing. It is full of God’s eternal, unlimited blessings. When we eat in faith, surrendering our hearts to Jesus, he fills us with everything we need. He satisfies our hearts’ desires. And he gives us plenty of “leftover” grace to share with everyone we will encounter. What a generous, loving God he is!

“Lord, I put all my trust in you. I know that you have the answers I am looking for. I believe that your body and blood can give me everything I am lacking. You are my strength and my song!”

Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23:1-6

Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

¹⁹ “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

What we treasure is a powerful motivator.

I have been hearing about and reading the news concerning a “rich” couple who treasures being relevant by crashing the White House state dinner party. http://bit.ly/8Ip1jw.  Athletes are participating in sports in get a coveted trophy and bragging rights over all others. Investments, morgages, stocks, bonds…the list goes on and on…

Jesus Christ says true treasure comes from a higher perspective…

The fact we hoard what we have and store it to show off our wealth is a sad testament to the fact that missed the point that everything we treasure here on earth will one day be destroyed.

Luke 12:17-19 (NLT)

¹⁷ He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. ¹⁹ And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up

In the end, what we love and treasure defines us and that is what Jesus was concerned about.  Not what we have today, but what we treasure above all else.  The heart of the message is this:

Matthew 6:21  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

My heart through the power of the Holy Spirit should always strive to treasure Jesus Christ above all else.  Nothing is as valuable as that!

 
On Sunday Armand Newrick preached a very good sermon on the parable of the wise and foolish builders. With his permission I’m going to use some of his points, develop them further, and tie in another piece of scripture. This is by necessity a rather long essay so get comfortable . Let’s start by looking at the source:

[Jesus concluded the sermon on the mount by saying]

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.”

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Matt 7:24-29 NASB

This essay is divided into five sections:

1. Rocks
2. Roads
3. Rigours
4. Reckoning
5. Rewards

That’s a pretty cryptic list, but hopefully it will all become clear as you read on…

1-> Rocks

The basic meaning of the parable quoted above is clear: if we wisely act on or apply the words of Jesus our life will have a firm foundation and we will be able to survive the storms of trouble that we all face in this life. Rocks are an all-weather foundation.

Those who foolishly build their life on another foundation will find that their foundation crumbles when the storms of trouble hit, taking them down with it. Sand is a fair-weather foundation.

There are two points worth noting here:

1. Wisdom and foolishness are not matters of cleverness and stupidity. Wisdom is good moral character (Christ-likeness) and foolishness is poor moral character (Satan-likeness, e.g. Job 2:1-10).
2. There are only two types of foundation. Jesus said “If you are not for me you are against me”, and in this life we have two options: God’s way or Satan’s way. Speaking of ways, let’s now move on to…

2-> Roads

We’ve already read the conclusion to the sermon on the mount. Earlier on in that sermon Jesus said:

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Matt 7:13-14 NASB

Just as we have a choice of two foundations in this life, we have a choice of two roads in this life:

1. The wide and easy road that leads to destruction. AC/DC call this the Highway to Hell [1].
2. The narrow road that leads to life.

Imagine that you are driving on a six lane highway. The lanes are wide, the road is smooth, and there is a choice of paths (six in this case), all of which will get you to your destination. Here you can proceed with very little effort and attention. Now imagine that you are driving on a narrow, winding country road. There is only one path that will get you to your destination, and if you stray from it there will be painful consequences that will remind you to be more careful in future. A lot of effort and attention is required to remain on this road, which takes us on to…

3-> Rigours

Rigours is another word for hardships, and doing what is wise and right in this life involves hardships. Digging a foundation in rock is hard work, and staying on the narrow road is hard work. In both cases there is an easier option, so why would anyone want to take the hard way?

Wise people put their holiness before their happiness and take the harder option because it brings rewards in this life. Wise people also do the harder and better things because they know that we will all face a day of…

4-> Reckoning

Reckoning is another word for calculation. On the day of reckoning [2] or judgment all that we have done will be part of the calculations. Did we love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind? Did we look after the distressed widows and orphans? Did we give a cup of water to Jesus? Did our works consist of gold or straw? On the day of reckoning we will reap the consequences of our choices, including our choice of foundation (rock or sand) and our choice of road (wide or narrow). Allow me to explain.

Cast your mind back to the parable of the wise and foolish builders. I believe that Jesus was talking about this present life, but what he said also foreshadows the fate of the foolish/wicked:

Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.

Clearly this is an image of complete destruction. Destruction was also mentioned in the next passage that we looked at:

…for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction…

Does ‘destruction’ mean that the wicked will be sent to a place of unending torment (commonly called ‘hell’)? If you hired a demolition company and told them to destroy your building would you expect them remove all traces of it, or would you expect them to be torturing the building with wrecking balls until the stars fall from the sky?

The meaning of ‘destruction’ is obvious: it means to kill or annihilate. The wicked will be turned into smoke as the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were:

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7 NIV)

The good news is that on the day of reckoning the wise/godly will receive their…

5-> Rewards

In the parable of the wise and foolish builders we saw that the wise have a reward in this present life, i.e. security during the storms of troubles:

…everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Then in the next passage we saw that the wise also have an even greater reward to look forward to:

For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life…

Our ultimate reward is life, which is the opposite of destruction. After the day of reckoning we will have unending life in the presence of God. That is the reward that we can look forward to at the end of our rigours, for the hardships involved in building a foundation on rock and in following a narrow road are not fruitless.

In summary:

• Sand or rock?
• Wide or narrow?
• Easy or hard?
• Destruction or life?

We all have freedom of choice: will your choices take you to the choicest of rewards?

_††_†

Related post:
What does ‘hope’ mean for a christian? (Part 1)

1. The lyrics of this song are astonishingly honest and accurate:

(c.f. Ps 10:3-4 NASB:
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire,
And the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.
The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him
All his thoughts are, “There is no God.”)

Living easy
Loving free
Season ticket for a one way ride
Asking nothing
Leave me be
Taken everything in my stride
Don’t need reason
Don’t need rhyme
Ain’t nothin’ I would rather do
Going down
By the time
My friends are gonna be there too, eh

I’m on a highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell

No stop signs
Speed limit
Nobody’s gonna slow me down
Like a wheel
Gonna spin it
Nobody’s gonna mess me ’round
Hey Satan
Paid my dues
Playin’ in a rockin’ band
Hey momma
Look at me
I’m on my way to the Promised Land, wooh

I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell

Mmm, don’t stop me
Eh,Eh,Eh

I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
Highway to hell
Highway to hell

I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
And I’m goin’ down,all the waa-ay-aay, wohh
M-on the highway to hell

2. Cf Isaiah 2:12-22

Finally, I have settled on a subject for my term paper due in a week. I will be writing on the 13th logion of The Gospel of Thomas. For those who are unfamiliar with this text it reads this way in James M. Robinson’s translation 1:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like.”

Simon Peter said to him, “You are like a righteous angel.”

Matthew said to him, “You are like a wise philosopher.”

Thomas said to him, “Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are like.”

Jesus said, “I am not your (sg.) master. Because you (sg.) have drunk, you (sg.) have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out.” And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, “What did Jesus say to you?”

Thomas said to them, “If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.”

This narrative echoes that which is found in Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; and Luke  9:18-22. In each of the Synoptic accounts unnamed disciples give half-right answers while Peter declares Jesus’ messianic identity. In Thomas 13 the author names the disciples. One is Peter; one is Matthew. Interestingly enough one of those who gives the wrong answer is the very one who gives the correct answer in the Synoptic accounts.

I have just read Nicholas Perrin’s interpretation of this text, but I would like to hear what other plausible options others out there might like to contribute before I begin writing my paper. Even if you are not familiar with Thomas but you would like to toss out a possibility please feel free to do so.

_______________________________

[1] James M. Robinson, ed. The Nag Hammadi Library. San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1990. 127.

While jamming with that wiggly papoose in my belly, Kanye got me in the mood to write.

Since my last entry to you dear folks, I/we have cooked our first Thanksgiving dinner, bought our first Christmas tree and decorated it, taken serious steps toward moving into base housing, and said goodbye to Matthew for another 2 weeks.

THANKSGIVING:

…was really great! I did prep for some things and made the pumpkin pie the night before, woke up with Bub the next morning early and started the turkey and finished the other dishes. We made the turkey, mashed pot., sweet pot., homemade stuffing, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, and the pumpkin pie. We knocked it out of the park! Everyone gushed about how great everything tasted and looked and even though my only competition was the chow hall I beamed with pride We spent the day with the Moran’s and some other Marines w/dates. Had a great meal and played games for the rest of the night!

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS:

Yesterday, Bub and I got to spend most of the day together because he got called into work all day Saturday so they gave him a half-day as thanks. We went to Souplantation for dinner and when we got home Matthew checked his phone and had a message saying that he was leaving the next morning for ANOTHER C.O.M.E.X. ugh. So we buckled down and packed up all his things, then decided to go to Target to get everything we needed to decorate for Christmas. We bought the tree (our first tree!), and some decorations and decided to do it that night so we could do it together and not have to wait until the week before Christmas. We got home, put up the tree, and made it “ours” with the ornament Dadeo and Bon got us last year! We did a great job. The tree is perfect! And we had a blast listening to music and deciding the perfect place for each ornament. Afterward we felt too legit! Boy are we grown up with our very own Christmas tree hahaha

THIS MORNING:

We woke up suuuuper early and got him to base and said our goodbyes and I love you’s. I drove home and snuggled up with his pillow and passed out. 7:45…..I jump outta bed because someone is pounding on the door. Open it up, and what do you know?! There’s my handsome husband on the doorstep! Apparently he leaves Thursday….fine by me! So he came home and got me up to tell me that we were going to the Housing Office!

MILITARY HOUSING:

Our apartment is cozy and warm, decorated perfectly, and is very much a reflection of us. Our apartment is tiny. TINY. I love it and will be sad when we leave, remembering painting the wall that perfect shade of blue and graffiti-ing our bedroom wall, building the entertainment center and desk, and getting our very first set of furniture and feeling so proud. On the other hand, our baby boy will be here in a couple months and looking around we don’t even know where we can fit a pack of diapers. Awesome. So we’ve been looking at apartments and recently decided to seriously weigh military housing as another option. Yes, we lose our BAH(housing allowance) and that extra money came in handy at times….but this is a HOUSE we are talking about. With a yard, garage, ample space, washer/dryer hookup, playgrounds, super close to base and the lake! Did I mention it’s all bills paid?….YEAH! Already having everything we need to fill it, up it’s my number one choice!

So we went to the housing office today and filled out all the paperwork and got put on a house! We gave a move-in date of Feb.1st and can opt out at any time at no penalty just in case getting out of our lease doesn’t work. It’s beautiful! Matthew and I both love it and already have plans in the works to get us out of our apartment lease with no penalty. All seems to be going smoothly and I couldn’t be happier. Little man won’t be a sardine in a can….he’ll have plenty of room!

BREAKING NEWS!!!! We just got two packages! Fudge and rice krispy treats from Beccamama that will make your eyes roll back in your head and your toes curl! AND, 2 adorable onesies plus the cutest pair of camo baby converse you’ve ever seen! Thanks Mom and Dad or should I start addressing you all by your new names? Granmahja and Papa Mojo, Memaw and Papaw(?) Murphey, and Nana and Grampa Higgins

Studies show that more and more people know less and less about the Bible. Less and less people read Scripture regularly enough to form even an elementary sense of what the Bible contains.

Each generation knows less than the one before it, and that is unnecessary. What is more, there are less and less people who have a true and accurate understanding of who Jesus Christ is.

I do not want to be a part of that group.

So I am embarking on a challenge to read through the gospels in 1 month. Would you take the challenge with me and defy the growing statistics of people with little understanding of Scripture and our Jesus?

BEGIN TODAY, DECEMBER 1

3 Chapters, 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), 30 days

Check in here for my reflections and please leave your reflections as comments.

Challenge others to engage with us!

Who’s in?

Just a casual mention of receiving the Holy Spirit baptism in this present day sometimes causes much controversy among Christians. Yet it is God’s special promise to every believer of every nation, whether male and female. It is for the spiritual benefit of every believer and the entire church.

The prophets of the Old Testament promised it.

Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Joel also prophesied of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Peter quoted these words on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:16)

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions,

29 “And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

John the Baptist spoke of Jesus and this promise.

Matthew 3:11 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”.

These Scriptures show it is God’s plan to give every believer the Holy Spirit to enable them to walk in all the ways of the Lord, and use the gifts of the Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit is also God’s guarantee that our mortal bodies will be redeemed and made immortal when the last trumpet sounds at the resurrection. (Ephesians 1:12-14; 1 Corintians 15: 51-54; Romans 8: 11-23 )

Jesus spoke often to the disciples about the promise of the coming Holy Spirit. He.said the Father would send another Helper, the Spirit of Truth, soon after He returned to Heaven.

John  15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

27 “And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

he “book of the generations” (or, geneaology) is reminiscent of the same phrase being used in Genesis. Matthews use of the word would suggest, therefore, that the coming of Jesus is a new beginning, a new creation.
Written and compiled [C]2001-2009 by Zorek Richards
Matt 1:1: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” The “book of the generations” (or, geneaology) is reminiscent of the same phrase being used in Genesis (2:4, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, 11:10, 27, etc). Matthew’s use of the word would suggest, therefore, that the coming of Jesus is a new beginning, a new creation. In Genesis geneaologies are named for the first person cited, but Matthew’s genealogy is named for the person in whom it climaxes, Jesus Christ.
Matt 1:2: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
Matt 1:3: Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram Tamar was the Canaanite woman who seduced her father-in-law, Judah (Gen 38).
Matt 1:4: Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.
Matt 1:5: Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother, Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho, aided the Israelite spies and helped insure the conquest of the promised land. Ruth was the Moabite who with the help of Naomi snares Boaz as her husband.
Matt 1:6: “and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,” It would be interesting to know in great detail what kind of father Jesse was to have produced a son like David.
Matt 1:7: Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.
Matt 1:19: “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” There was not going to be any effort to make a case before the public or friends to make himself look all the more righteous, or to pat himself on the back to make himself appear righteous before men. Some translations use the word “just” instead of “righteous.” The suggestion is that he was so attached to Mary, that he was not willing to allow her to suffer public shame.
Matt 1:8: Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.
Matt 1:20: “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Also, being a righteous man (or “just” as some translations use in vs 19) he took the time to think on these things. He didn’t react without thinking.
Matt 1:18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. The word “espoused” is also translated “betrothed.” A betrothal back then was more binding than most engagements are today. It was often accompanied by the grooms payment of at least part of the bride price. It meant that the bride and groom were officially pledged to each other but had not consumated the marriage.
Matt 1:21: She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he is the one who will save his people from their sins.” At the beginning of history, names must be invented; in the course of ages, they become hereditary. Had it been left to human wisdom to invent a name for the child of the Virgin, we can hardly guess what the result would have been. The right, however, belongs to the parent, and this case it was the right of God to name the child.
Matt 1:25: “But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Joseph and Mary did not have sexual relations till after the birth of Jesus, yet are referred to as husband and wife. “Nonconsumation” was not a reason to end the marriage. Sometimes there is a reason for it. “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Jehsoshua,” which means, “He will save.” So Mary did not remain a virgin.
Matthew 2:1-2
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him……………And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matt 2:16-18 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”Unbridled wrath, armed with unbridled power, often carries men to absurd cruelties. The murder of these infants was their martyrdom. The persecution against Christ and His kingdom began early.
Matt 2:23: and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” One of the problems his verse has is that the word “Nazarene” is not mentioned in the old testament, nor any of its prophets, so it is not known what Prophets he was referring to.
Matt 3:1-6: In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘ Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’”Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins After Malachi, there was no prophet until John the baptist. John denounced evil. wherver he might find it–in the state, in the church, in the crowd.
Matt 3: 9: And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Your salvation is not passed on by your descendants.
Matthew 4:1

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matt 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”The first temptation Satan presented to the Lord was a choice between the physical and the spiritual. Jesus had just spent time fasting so He was hungry. “If you are the son of God” is a line that will be echoed again in the words of Jesus’ mockers at calvary.
Matt 4:4
But He answered and said It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mout of God.

Matt 4:9: “All these things I will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” The tempter too Jesus to the peak of a high mountain; here, he showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and asked for a compromise……Evil has a way of taking what it can get. If it cannot get all of a man’s devotion, it will endeavor to get a little. Consider the man who has experienced the evils and heartaches of alcohol. With the help of God he stops drinking. The tempter does not urge him to get drunk; he knows this approach will not work. He simply says, “Just take one drink. What harm can that do? Just take one to be sociable.” This is the compromise.
Matt 4:10: You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve. The primary obligation of man is to worship and serve His creator. What is the difference between worshiping God and serving God? The word for ’serve’ here (LATREUO) is a special word used only in a religious context. The basic meaning is to serve religiously. A different word (DOULEUO) is used for serving man and God in the more general sense. The basic meaning of the word for ‘worship’ (PROSKUNEO) is to express, by words or by bowing down, profound and submissive respect or adoration. In some versions LATREUO, and the related noun LATREIA, have been translated as ‘worship’ rather than ’serve’ in certain passages. The two concepts are different, yet worship (PROSKUNEO) is vain if it is not accompanied by a life of religious service to God (LATREIA). Paul says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (LATREIA)” (Romans 12:1). This was also true under the Old Covenant. “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). The word here for ’serve’ in the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament is LATREUO. See also Deuteronomy 11:13 “serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Thus, serving God involves all that we do, walking in all His ways, whereas worship is an expression of adoration on specific occasions.
Satan tempted Christ to idolatry. The glory of the world is the most charming temptation to the unthinking and unwary; by which they are most easily imposed upon.

Matt 5:3: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Our Lord begins his reckoning of “blessings” with poverty in spirit. Poverty in spirit leads to mourning and to hunger and thirst for righteousness. If one thinks he is rich, why would he desire increase? The world has its own definition of a blessed person: one who is rich, strong, self satisfied, popular, enjoys life, etc. They are the worlds beatitudes of sight in the present world. Poverty of spirit is not a feeling of self-disgust which comes over us when we compare our gifts and talents with those of others; it is born from no earthly inspiration, it proceeds from coming face to face with God. A man may be poor in spirit while his soul is on fire with enthusiasm for the cause of God. It is not shown in self-depreciation but in the strength that comes from trustfulness. It is the attitude which, in the presence of God, recognizes its entire dependence, empties itself, and is as a poor man, not that it may be feeble, but that God may fill it.
Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (AMP): Blessed — happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous–that is–possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! How do we keep our heart pure so that we might see God? First, we must start by asking God to come into our heart, and changing us from a sinner to one of His children. We must be “born again.” We must ask Him to forgive our sins and accept what Jesus, God’s Son, did for us on the cross, when He died as an innocent man to take our sins. Jesus then was buried and rose the third day and ascended to heaven, and lives eternally with the Father. Once we become His child, then we need to ask God to cleanse our heart and mind from those things that we embraced while we were a sinner. The Bible tells us that there are things in us, that we need to be delivered from.
Matt 5:10: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Man finds much of his pleasure in the torture of others. Much of the religious persecutions of history were the result of a desire for pleasure or pleasant reaction on the part of those who persecuted.
Matthew 5: 11″Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Not because you are being an obnoxious religious person, but because you convey properly the person of Christ.
Matt 5:12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you You don’t rejoice because you are being persecuted, it could be painful, but you look beyond that to the reward.
Matt 5:13: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Salt has only one property and that is it’s saltiness. If it loses that, it is worthless.
Matt 5: 16: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. You have the ability to bring praise to the Father from others.
Matt 5:17: “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill”: This is a generic statment, locally applied to the law and the prophets, but capable of a wider application. He fulfills that almost universal longing for a leader-savior.

Matt 5:18: I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. The law as not a mistake that was published until Jesus came. It is still valid.
Matt 5:19: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” We shall not all be equal in heaven. It’s quite possible that there will be a whole class of the world’s prominent teachers/pastors who will drop down in “class” in heaven.
Matt 5:20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. This would imply that there was probably some kind of attempt of righhtesouness by the scribes and pharisees, but it had become very legalistic. The devotion then becmae the law itself, as opposed to the one who created the original law. By this time the law had been reinterpreted many times to create their sens of righteousness. Much like US supreme (state & federal) judges to when they reinterpret laws and cases based on the original foundational document. After many years, the original document becomes just a symbol.

Matt 5:21-22: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgement. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement; and whosoever shall say to his brother Raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say Thou fool shall be in danger of the fire” There is a time to be angry. Jesus warned about being angry without a cause. That means imaginary, unjust and selfish motives are not legit. And what are the “just” reasons for being angry at a brother? Because of the “operative” word “forgiveness,” I cannot really think of any. Jesus showed that sin not only included our actions…but our thoughts and attitudes also. After all, if one has the thought and attitude….they are one step away from the action. Sin starts in the mind. When we allow the evil thoughts to enter our mind, they will eventually lead us to action, and then to sin. (For as a man thinketh, so is he Prvo 23:7). Jesus is telling us to disrupt the process that leads to sin before ti even starts.
Matt 5: 23: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, Not, that yo have something against your brother….but he has something against you. Did you do something to make someone angry with you? Seek forgiveness.
Matt 5:37: A Christian must, if nothing else, be without guile, lacking in mendacity, and speak the truth, plainly, even if it hurts.
Matt 5:48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect” Perfection does not mean a sinless, flawless heart. Man judges by outward appearances, by what he sees. God judges the heart. David was said to have a perfect heart toward God “all the days of his life,” yet he failed the Lord often. His life was marked forever by adultery and a notorious murder.
Matt 6:5-6: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and they Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Jesus is speaking about much more than just a physical prayer closet. He is dividing people into two categories: those who really seek Him, and those who just pretend. The “closet” doesn’t necessarily mean an actual physical closet (though it can be), it means shutting yourself away from all distractions. Our flesh loves to be applauded and complimented. But God can’t use our flesh–that is, our sinful nature–because our flesh cannot be remodeled or sanctified. The “hypocrites” love to pray…or so they make you believe. But they have no real prayer habit. God doesn’t not honor the prayer of a hypocrite because the hypocrite does not pray to God. God “seeth in secret..” He sees the secret motives, the hidden desires, the distractions. So, don’t start praying til you “shut the door” (close out ALL distractions). Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Matt 6:7: And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words “as the heathen do?” Is he referencing the so-called church people who just pretend to pray memorized prayers?????
Matt 6:10: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The Lord’s prayer is, in essence, a prayer for dominion. For most churchmen, the use of the Lord’s Prayer is a “vain repetition” rather than marching orders.
Matt 6:25: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? “do not worry” is exchanged with “take no thought” in some translations. “Taking no thought” requires faith and trust in God. Will He stay true to His promise and provide? What would hinder him from doing so? Can you hinder him? The Lord says “don’t worry about it,” or “don;t even think about it,,” instead “seek ye first my kingdom”….
Matt 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. God’s chain of command must be in place before wealth can be created. We must seek the dominion of Christ, and then we will obtain wealth. Men blinded by sin vainly rush into the marketplace to try to get rich. They heap up what they can and place it in bags that have holes. In other words, their wealth is fleeting or temporary. Such is the fate of all those who seek riches contrary to the law of God. We are so accustomed to giving humanistic concerns priority that it is difficult for us to imagine society as otherwise than it is, a man-centered world. Men want their humanism baptized, not supplanted. Christianization is supposed to make their fallen world more liveable, not obsolete nor morally untenable. In this view, Christianity is seen as the extra topping of life to make it even better. This is the essense of modernism, to give priority to this world and especially man.
Nine elements of SEEKING:
1. Desire = If we have no desire, we will not seek.
2. Time = Seeking requires time.
3. Effort = Seeking is a work discipline.
4. Determination = Seeking is not a one time event.
5. Direction = We must seek things above.
6. A Goal = We must seek the kingdom of God.
7. A Decision = Only you can make the decision.
8. Sacrifice = We must let go of what we are holding on to, in order to seek.
9. Reward = God promises us prosperity.
We must making seek the Kingdom of God, a priority. It must come, FIRST, above everything else.
Where there is a Kingdom, there must be:
1. A King
2. The King must rule with both authority and power. Jesus demonstrated both.
3. There must be subjects submitted to the rule of the King. This is where we enter through faith and obedience.
And the benefits?: There is food, shelter, and clothing, peace of mind, prosperity, and health.

“Repent” is the first call of the Gospel. Repentance is the primary condition for the possibility to receive the Kingdom of God. The Russian word “repent” is insufficient to render the original notion; “metanoi´te” of the authentic text means change your way of thinking, your attitude to life and your entire system of values.

This call for repentance supposes that another life is possible and realizable in the world; a life, different than that which people live, groaning under its burden. Delusion, love for self, malice and chaotic stream of low instincts are not unbreakable chains. Better, noble and holy volitions exist along with them in a man, at least in a latent and potential form: love of the truth, compassion, fraternity, vague longing for righteousness. If one would not lose them but let them open and blossom, then one’s inner world will glow with heavenly light; the life will change beyond recognition: peace, righteousness and charity will dwell in one’s heart, replacing vicious and shameful desires.

It has already been said that, in today’s conditions, the Kingdom of God is not as much realized in outward social improvements as in the inward betterment it makes in people. The Kingdom of God is especially close to those oppressed by this world of vulgarity and cruelty, languished under their own sins and imperfections, gasping in the surrounding atmosphere of lies and untruth, and longing for the triumph of good and truth.

Should some one have thirst for spiritual renewal, the Kingdom of God will come for him. Should a nation have this thirst, then the Kingdom of God will come for this nation. But for him who is self-satisfied and happy about the existing world, who cannot understand and ridicules the longing for the ideal, who is not worried by falsehood and lawbreaking, who despises purity and unselfishness, who dreams of riches and pursues the worldly joys and bodily pleasures, for him the Kingdom of God is a strange and unwanted teaching.

The Kingdom of God is not to triumph in this world. It is the “strait gate and narrow way” that few can find. It is not a completed “building” but one under construction. But still it is a fairly real thing that has been fulfilling in the world since the day the Savior came to earth. It always grows and spreads out, attracts and absorbs spiritually sensitive people from all walks of society, all nations and all stages of development. It is an organization (association) of individuals, thoughts, powers, writings, outward transformations and occurrences, guided by God and developed by the invisible power of His grace. The Kingdom of God is a new, righteous life, built upon the faith in the Savior and acceptance of His teaching.

The injunction “seek ye first” means at least three things. First, seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness must be our first business in point of time: we must allow nothing else to take precedence before it. Second, we must regard nothing as of greater importance, or of equal importance, than seeking God’s kingdom. Third, “seek ye first” implies that Christianity is to be the great business of our future life. The Christian faith is always to be considered as of the first importance to be attended to, and to be the first concern of life.

Until we seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, nothing else we do can be acceptable to God. As long as we neglect this great salvation, as long as we have not secured our justification by faith in Christ, as long as we are not interest- ed in the kingdom of God by actually embracing it and receiving its laws into our heart, we can do nothing acceptable to God. Until we have done this, we cannot fulfill any requirement of God and He cannot accept anything else we do–for “whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Whatever does not imply faith in us is sin; therefore, if we neglect salvation in Christ as of primary importance, nothing that we do can be acceptable to God. People may have all the outward forms of morality and goodness, but if they have neglected the kingdom of God and His righteousness, whatever else they do, God will not accept them. He will not and cannot accept us if we are putting last what He has put first, and that first which He has put last. God re- quires us to put this first, and if we do not put things in the order which He has commanded, if we do not make this the great business of life, the first business of our lives, nothing else that we do is acceptable to God.

Since seeking His righteousness is the most important business to us, it should claim our first attention. What can compare with its importance to us as individuals? If we secure an interest in the kingdom of God, if we become subjects of His government, whatever else we fail to secure is unimportant. Whatever else we fail to secure we shall hardly regret in the future. But if we do not secure this, whatever else we secure will only increase our responsibility and our guilt. People ought to understand this: nothing is of any real importance to us unless it is connected with God’s kingdom, and shall enable us to obey more effectually His command.

Now, if we regard anything as more important than our relationship with God in His kingdom, we entirely pervert things. God’s kingdom is most important to ourselves and to our families; most important to all who stand in any relation to us and have any claims upon us. Who does not understand and believe this?

Suppose a man neglects God and Christianity for the sake of his family. Does he thereby really benefit his family? No indeed! The real and best interests of his family require that he should pay his first and chief attention to this great re- quirement of God. Who can doubt this? No man really and truly benefitted his family by neglecting to obey God. Such a thing never was and never can be. By neglecting to put Christ first and make Christian faith his first duty, who can tell how much the family may have to suffer from his negligence?

Putting God’s kingdom first is most important to a person’s creditors. If a man disobeys God, His curse is upon him, and upon all that he does and has. But if he obeys God, he may expect a blessing upon his business; and if a man endeavors to please God, he is sure to be an honest man. If a man owes me money, and that man tries to obey and please God, I have reason to believe that he will be enabled to pay me sooner than if he did not regard the commands of God at all. Therefore, even if I were a selfish man, I should say to my debtor, “Whatever else you do, don’t neglect to obey God–don’t neglect your duty to Him.”

Matt 6:34: “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” We have enough problems today, and the best solution for tomorrow’s evils is to meet todays with grace, faith, and in faithfulness to God’s law. There is a difference between forethought and anxiety.
Matt 7:6: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Don’t ‘ give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate it. It was no mistake that the word “pearl” is used to paint the picture. A pearl is naturally created by an irritant in a mollusk. The irritant forces the mollusk to create the pearl as a form of protection. A pearl can be made unaturally (uncultured pearl) but it does not have the value as the natural. Some of the properties of the natural vs the cultured pearl are different. A cultured pearl shows a solid center with no concentric growth rings, whereas a natural pearl shows a series of concentric growth rings.
Matt 7:1-12: Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again When you are questioning someones spirituality and sincerity, someone else is questioning yours. If you give it out–you will get it back.
Mattew 7:7-11
“Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”

Matt 7:12: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what measure ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what meaure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Contrary to pupular opinion, our Lord does not forbid judgment. What our Lord condemns is judgment on personal or non-Bibilcal grounds. We must judge righteous judgment. The standard we use will be used against us if we judge on grounds other than God’s law. Those who say, “Dont be judgemental,” are saying, “No standards allowed.” Is it coincidental that a generation that insists on being nonjudgemental is also the most lawless in our history?
Matt 7:21-23: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” There will be people who will stand before God and say, “Lord, we did this and that in your name…” But the tragic truth is that they built their house upon the sand. They did not have a divided heart, for their heart was never the Lord’s. It couldnt be divided because it wasnt given to Him in the first place. We must do the will of our Father. Not the will of men, or our own, but of Gods. Just because we call Jesus our Lord does not mean we will be saved. The people mentioned in this verse were probably good people and may have even done many wonderful things. But they had not done the will of God. I am not suspecting that this will come as a real surprise to these men, as one who knows who God is and is known by God is clear. But the pompousness of these men will be their final pleading that they “did enough” to enter the kingdom. They “earned” there way in….which, if course, is not a practical reality. The relationship with Him determines whether one enters the kingdom. Is there a veil between the religious and the righteous? I suspect so as it was torn in the death of Jesus amd remains as long as one does not acknowledge the work of the cross.
Matt 8:1-4 Leprosy is an incurable disease. Lepers weren’t even allowed on the street. He was taking his life in his own hands by coming to the street. Jesus touched him out of compassion and love.
Matt 8:6: But whosoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. In context this is not directly about child abuse or mistreatment of children. It is an offense to teach the “stumbling block” (self sufficiency and works). It is a warning to false teachers.
Matt 8:26: Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? They had little faith and slow to believe His word. They were left empty, unprepared, and confused–blinded by unbelief.
Matt 10:8: “Freely ye have recieved, freely give.” Once we recognize that our salvation, God’s grace, is His act of charity to us, we begin to understand what a life of grace, and in a state of grace, means.
Matt 10:26: Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. The atheists, infidels, etc. will be surprised, as will those who do not believe that hell really exists. Jesus pictured the judgment in Matthew, chapter 25, and He earlier had said, “…there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known” (Matt. 10:26). We are told that “every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” will be brought before us at the day of judgment (Ecc. 12:14). David wrote, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psa. 9:17). Evidently, many in the Lord’s church do not really believe that the judgment is a reality, because they are unfaithful to the Lord, and we are told that such will face “a certain looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:27).
Matt 10:37: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Family is the basic community and it’s ties are life-long. But faith also means community, and Jesus Christ requires that, if need be, we leave father and mother and children for his sake. If faith and family coincide, we then have a special strength as we face the world.
Matt 11:10: For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee The passage of scripture Jesus was quoting here is found in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1.
Matt 11:12-15: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! The Kingdom of God will always suffer violence. It has from the beginning and it will til the end. Men will try to break it up, snatch it away, and destroy it. Only the man who is earnest and devoted will defeat the violence of persecution which will enter into it.
Matt 11:16-19: But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Jesus was saddened by the sheer perversity of human nature. No matter what was suggested, they did not want to do it, and no matter what was offered they found a fault in it.
Matt 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Sin wearies the flesh. It makes us weak and sick. It saps away all that is good and kind and precious. And it hardens the heart, destroying peace and causing guilt, sorrow and shame. It consumes the mind’s thoughts, weakening and darkening the soul. It brings on fear. It leads to scandal, breaks up families, hardens children. And it leads to death. Worst of all, sin shuts off all communion with God.
Matt 12:29: ‘How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then He will spoil his house’Jesus presents a picture of Satan being like a strong man who must be bound in order that his house can be plundered. This was beacuse of the authority granted to Jesus at the cross. In Luke’s account (Luke 10:17-20) of the strong man being bound, the strong man is represented as armed and guarding his residence. But once disarmed by a stronger opponent, he is deprived of his spoils (Luke 11: 21-22). Christ has ‘bound’ Satan and can plunder his house at will. Satan cannot successfully resist Christ.
Matthew 12:31: Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. When one receives Christ, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If one doesn’t receive Christ, then they do not receive the Holy Spirit, which is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. This aligns perfectly with Jesus being the only way and the only name by which one can be saved. This sin cannot be forgiven unlike the other sins. If one dies without receiving Christ’s forgiveness, then they die without the Holy Spirit. Hence, they die without God and without salvation.
Matt 13:33: In the parable of the leaven, yeast is hidden in three pecks of meal. Then, as the yeast becomes true to its nature, it grows, thrives, permeates and influences every aspect of the dough. Thus the Kingdom begins small, and seemingly insignificant, but then goes on to influence the entire world.
Matt 13:58: And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief There has never been an instance when God excused unbelief.
Matt 14:27: But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Max Lucado (From Fear Not Promise Book):
The disciples were alone in the storm for nine tempestuous hours. Long enough for more than one disciple to ask, “Where is Jesus? He knows we are in the boat. For heaven’s sake, it was his idea. Is God anywhere near?” And from within the storm comes an unmistakable voice: “Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid!” From the center of the storm, the unwavering Jesus shouts, “I am.” Tall in the Trade Tower wreckage. Bold against the Galilean waves. ICU, battlefield, boardroom, prison cell, or maternity ward—whatever your storm, “I am.” Christ comes astride the waves and declares the words engraved on every wise heart: “Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid!”
Matt 16:16-19: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The “keys” were in knowing who Jesus was. Knowing He was the Song of God also means knowing His purpose and destiny. By knowing that, you know your own purpose. This puts your own life “on the rock.” Though Jesus was talking to Peter, the implication of the verse is for anyone who understands who Jesus is.
Matt 16:22-23: Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him saying, Be it far from thee, Lord,: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men Peter earned Jesus’ strongest rebuke when he protested against the need for Christ to suffer. We are not exempt from tragedies of this world, just as God himself was not exempt.
Matt 16:24: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. All systems for spiritualizing their mind generally includes some form of denial. Every religion in all the ages had some sort of denial. The problem I usually see with this “in action” is that those who “have not” and call it “denial” then require those who “have” for their provisions.
Matt 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. I see the verse as two parts of an affirnmation of reality: 1) Anyone who applies effort to save his life will, in the end, lose it. (religion?) 2) But he who exchanges his life for Jesus, will find it. These are both inevitable realities for all men. These were the words of Jesus to his disciples, just after reprimanding Peter who had just suffered a moment of religiousness. When Jesus told his disciples that he was to suffer and be killed, Peter rose up and said “this will not happen to you!” To which the Lord rebuked him “Get thee behind me Satan.” We have all met well intended religious folks who want to claim that Christianity involves no pain, but all know this is just not so. CS Lewis said “Die before you die. There is no chance after.”
Matt 18:3-5: And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. The Greek word Jesus uses for converted here means “a sharp twist.” Christ was telling these men, “You must undergo a sudden turning, a sharp twist, in your theology. You have to quickly turn away from all your thoughts of how to become special in my kingdom through your own works. That is the old way of doing things—and it is about to pass away.” David Wilkerson writes: “Likewise, Jesus is telling the church today: “Woe to any preacher, teacher or witness who puts a stumbling block before any of these baby converts. They come to me in simple faith and repentance. And you will incur my wrath if you offend them by saying, ‘Jesus is not enough. If you really want to be saved, you’ve got to do more. Here are the specific doctrines and guidelines of our church….’” Pastors, evangelists, teachers—let the seriousness of Jesus’ harsh words sink into your soul. “…Better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” “
Matt 18:8-9: If they hand or they foot offend thee, cut them off….and if thine eye offedn thee, pluck it out In context, this is a rebuke about self effort. If your hand tries to work out your problems, then stop it immediately. If your eye looks to someone else, then stop. It may mean you end up broken-hearted or emotionally lame. But is is either that or hell.
Matt 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them. Christ has promised to meet with His people when they assemble in His name.
Matt 20:15: “Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” I am allowed to do with my own property what I wish, though, as a Christian, we would be doing with it as God allows us to do.
Matt 21:10:” And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” The question of the ages.
Matt 22:37: “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your soul.” Abraham loved God more than his own son (Gen 22).
Matt 24:12: And because iniquity shall ablund, the love of many shall wax cold The NAS says “the love of most will grow cold”. In the original greek, it refers to a “great number.” “Wax cold” suggests reduction of temperature by degrees: evaporation; little by little. In other words…peoples “love” will gradually grow cold.
Matt 24:28: “For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” Judgement is coming. Animals are guided by instinct.
Matt 24:44: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” This is a characteristic of the bride of Christ: an expectancy of His soon return! Jesus’ bride is to live in continual, joyful expectation of her lover’s eminent return–because he may come at any moment.
matt 24:48-51: If that evil servant says inhis heart, My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants….the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” A person “smites” because he dows not belive the Lord is coming soon to judge. A person may continue in a lot of sins believing he has time….but the Lord may come when he is not looking. You must not lose your expectation of His coming.
Matt 25:24: “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. He had his focus on the harvest instead of sowing.
Matt 25:40: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Whatever you do, do something. Speak up for the persecuted.
Matt 25:46: These shall go away into everlasting punishment Jonatghan edwards wrote on this verse: “the punishment of the wicked shall consist in sensible misery, yet it shall not be absolutely eternal, but only of a very long continuance.”
Matt 26: 39: Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus was human enough to want to avoid the cross, yet He was divine enough to endure it if God provided no alternative route. The scene is no longer that of Christ praying for an easy path. Now, Jesus is praying, “If the cross cannot be removed, give me the strength to face it and remain faithful. Not my will, but thine be done.” To be a man or woman of God, you must at some point be served a cup of pain.
Matt 26:52: Peter strikes the ear of Malchus with the swrod and Jesus rebukes him. Jesus was going to the cross and was going to suffer the greatest act of violence in the world. He was fulfilling the specific will of God. He was indicating that the kingdom of God and the plan of God is not advanced by violence. We dont use the violent crusades of the Middle Ages to advance the kingdom of God. The kingdom is advanced by declaration of the Word of God.”
Matt 27:23:…”what evil has he done?”… Pilate had no accusation to bring against Jesus, because Jesus had done nothing wrong.
Matt 28:7: When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted The Greek word used here (distazo) has ther sense of “to hold back” or “to hesitate.” Perhaps they felt it was too good to be true, or were frightened.
Matt 28:18: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Authority over all things, including disease, is given to Jesus. These are perilous times. They are also times of great opportunity for the extension and application of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He reigns now.
Matt 28:19: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” This means we are to assert the Crown Rights of our King in all spheres. To coexist with an evil world is to acknowledge failure: we have a duty to convert it.