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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Who shall I vote for

 

Elections

Many people for many reasons are calling for voters, to vote for them. And some with good intentions.

But across the world , inequalities and greed seem to spoil democracies. Dictatorships are crumbling and chaos seems to be the order of the day . Propaganda  causes one to despair of knowing the truth of the matter.  Is there any hope?

Yes – the greatest lawgiver of all time was known as the meekest man on all the earth – Moses. Why so? – because he communicated the law for God = ‘under God’.

Yes – the greatest rescuer, deliverer, restorer of all time , humbled Himself to serve God and man  --  Jesus.  That one solitary life has brought hope, peace and purpose to more people around the world, than any other.

Voters look for a ‘strongman’. For brave ideologists, for articulate orators, for those who will benefit them most.

The Lord Jesus stooped to heal the sick, stopped to bless the children, went out of His way to rescue a stranger, disregarded His reputation in declaring the truth, didn’t shy away from suffering for the salvation of lost people.

 A leader?  Yes but so much more:

He gave moral teaching for society and as a leading shepherd He laid down His life for wayward sheep.  He cared most for the greater need for people to be reconnected with God.  His greatest gift was eternal life available to all who truly believe in Him.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Hope beyond today

 

An unusual verse from Isaiah 49:4

“My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”

In this Messianic section, we are caused to ponder the three and half years that Jesus served among the people. And at the end it all seemed to be a failure. He died very much alone. It was resurrection that changed the story.

Is there someone reading this who feels the same pain? You have served God as best you are able, and the results are discouraging.

I know many who have yielded all for Christ and seemingly “failed”!

Read this verse in your own Bible. Then that remember the Lord God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ operates on the long range view and ‘everyone shall have praise of God’. In the day when the heavenly account keeper opens the books, then we’ll understand!

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Who is this man

 

The Word

John 1  “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God….The Word was made flesh “

Written at a time when much of the dust had settled. The Jews had determined to oppose Christ and the Gnostics were being exposed. John writes about one he had known so well, now know fully by the Holy Spirit.

“In the beginning” – takes us back to Genesis 1, where God spoke and His word was effective in designing, creating and ordering His new creation.

Now John1:1 , the beginning is qualified as the outcome of a person , the Word, revealed in a visible person – “The word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. Emphatically the creation is the work of God.

 

“The Word was with God” – this expresses the companionship in the Deity.

“The Word was God” – many consider John the Apostle as going too far so they manipulate the text. But John states the same in his letter – “Jesus Christ , He is the true God”. The Jews understood the claim of Jesus “My Father” as claiming equality with God. So they took up stones to kill Him for blasphemy. Jesus went on to demonstrate by signs that His claim was valid. Thomas expressed it so clearly when he saw the risen Jesus – “My Lord and my God” (John 20).

“All things were made by Him.” He alone could make something precise out of nothing. A world so finely tuned! As Isaiah said “He made the world to be lived in. not a place of empty chaos.” (Isaiah 45). And so it was.

But darkness intruded and chaos followed. Who then could be the light to dispel the darkness? Moses was indeed a candle, and John the Baptiser a lamp. But of the Word – “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men”. As He  came , even in the form of a man, He was the light of the world.

Verse 14 “We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” This unique person who was radiating the glory of  God the Father, could say:- “He that has seen me has seen the Father”

So much more could be written, but it is appropriate that I kneel and worship Him :

 “my Lord and my God”.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

The Law fulfilled

 

The Law…..

“The LORD has magnified His law and made it glorious. Through it He has planned to show the world that He is righteous”  Isaiah 42:21

This significant verse has two interpretations.

1. The law was given through Moses to reveal the righteous character of God.

-God Himself as Holy

-God relating Himself to humanity as righteous (righteous meaning—right actions in all situations)

This righteousness is seen in both the unbending commands as well as the high standards of reconciliation by sacrifice. (nothing less)

2. The law was given to man, to Israel and they failed to honour it by persistent idolatry.  The law was fully and finally honoured in the person of Jesus. His holiness undimmed, unstained, along with His righteous behaviour in accord with God’s will as appropriate to the need and situation.

Well might God the Father say from heaven:

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”  (Matthew 3)

Such could not be said of any other. 

And so the law is significant as a light to the nations.

The law has been fulfilled in the radiant Lord Jesus Christ. All may see the Holiness and grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The application is  - how precious that the Christian  is “in Christ”.

 

Saturday, February 24, 2024

The fruit of living in the Holy Spirit

 

Lesson for today.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 gentleness, self-control.

--These are the outcomes  (fruit) of what we believe:

God loves all the people of the world – so we love.

God is good and worthy of praise – so we are joyful

God is in control -  so we have peace trusting Him

God waits patiently for all to turn to Him – so we are patient with others.

God is kind , even giving His Son – so we are selflessly kind

God is good with no ulterior motive or sinister intent.

God is faithful , keeping His promises – so should we.

God is gentle, even with the rebellious – so we ought to react with mercy.

God needs no self control. He has no inappropriate impulse. But we do!

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Waiting

 

Morning meditation:

Isaiah 29:18   “But the LORD still waits for you to come to Him, so He can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God.      Blessed are those who wait for Him to help them.”

Isaiah uses the word ‘wait’ many times. 

The LORD waits. A real person who wants to connect. He wants to show love and compassion. He operates on faithful terms  - we turn to Him in admission of our wandering ways, He restores our souls. The filial relationship enables us to walk in fruitful ways .

Then the verse ends -  we wait on Him as dependant, obedient children. Then we are empowered to know Him and walk in His sunshine.

The chapter goes on to describe that sunshine:

He will be gracious

He will respond instantly

He will be with you

You will hear His voice

The Lord will bless you.

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Leading or feeding appetite

 

I hesitate to write this. But after much pondering about one of Australia’s deepest problems that is now affecting politics, labour market, families, church etc. I write for you to think it through.  Four destructive words – “What do you want…….?”

Sounds ok, sounds normal, even Jesus occasionally used them!

Yes, but please take time to ponder their destructive implications when used unwisely.

Illustration: You ask a child “what do you want for breakfast?” Almost always, the child will ask for something sweet and often unhealthy! Consequences – a life habit of feeding on flavour instead of healthy food.  Rather parents should wisely decide on healthy food for mental and physical wellbeing of a child. Good leadership would then say –“today we are having ………….. for breakfast – come enjoy!” Then the child would learn to  make wise choices.

This little illustration unveils a fundamental problem of Australian youth. Why do so many think the world ‘owes it to them’ ? I suggest that too many parents have fed the self centred ego by ‘what do you want?’ instead of leading  with ‘we are going to ….’.  By having choices and options for food, fun, friends, clothes, careers, cars etc, the young inexperienced mind considers it normal to EXPECT to have what it wants. Occasionally young ones are taught to make wise choices, but too often they are given what they WANT to keep them quiet. (obedience seems well out of date).

Does the Bible reflect on this – Absolutely and extensively.

“Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequence of decay and death. Those who live to please the spirit will harvest everlasting life” (Galatians 6:8) – normal flesh choices versus wisdom and understanding given by God.

“If your sinful nature controls your mind there is death. If the Holy Spirit controls your mind there is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

Children need parents filled with the Holy Spirit to lead them. The world of media and education encourages children to gratify oneself, follow the dreams, in anyway they may choose without true reference to outcomes or God’s way.

True love is often “Tough Love” -  please read Revelation 3:19.

I mentioned politics – yes – years ago, people voted for the good of the country, now they vote to satisfy “Meism”. (what they get out of it).

Labour shortage – Most of us were happy to get a job as teenagers. Today they EXPECT easy work on max pay!

Churches – listening carefully to what the congregation WANTS, to keep the money rolling and the numbers up! (2 Timothy 4:3)

Families – working so hard to have enough money to keep the children up with the Jones’s  philosophy ‘What do you want?’.

Well, thank you if you read this through – you are welcome to disagree, but I ask you to ponder it a while, before you throw it away.