Interuptions

The Interruptions of God

I would like to highlight an important observation from our compass – the Bible. People like to think and some say ‘all things are continuing as they were from the beginning’. History and geology tell a different story.  Biblical history records the interruptions of God.

Genesis chapter one, describes God interrupting with His voice  “and God said”.   His voice of power, His communication of intelligent information (eg DNA), His impartation of function and purpose (Logos), all this is repeated as God brings order into the heavens and the earth. As we scientifically discover the wonders of God’s intervening genius, we are caused to wonder, and worship Him.

Genesis chapter 7 records another interruption of God – judging lawlessness with a universal flood.

Genesis  chapter 12 records another change to world history – God calls Abram to leave Ur and promises to him ‘the promised land’ ( and even today many are fighting over that precious piece of ‘promised land’!)

Exodus  chapter 3 and 12 reveal a very powerful God judging the gods of Eygpt and in Exodus 20 the same holy God changing the course of humanity through the nation of Israel. The impact of Moses receiving the law, is still impacting our society today.

Has God interrupted again??

He sure has – in the birth of a King – Jesus the Son of God. Over and again God speaks from heaven saying  of Jesus “This is my beloved Son,.....”

That one solitary life has changed the face of the earth (morally and spiritually) more than any other.

The book of Acts, is replete with God interrupting yet again.  Acts 2 records something significant on God’s calendar  - the sending into the world the holy Spirit to indwell all believers.

Acts 9, God interrupts the wild ambitions of Saul of Tarsus

Acts 10 God pulls down the prejudices’ of Peter to include the Gentiles in the wide embrace of grace abundant.

Will God interrupt again?  -Peter the apostle puts it this way  “by the same WORD the heavens and the earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly” 2 Peter 3.7  God does have plans and a calendar and we do well to be alert and watching .

May the Lord help you to see that God has been active, still is and will yet interrupt in a very  public way.

J. McKee

The Gospel

The Gospel

Good news is always welcome – well it should be.

The coming of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God was the best news. The Lord from heaven came to reveal  God the Father and bring eternal salvation to the estranged human race.

When the Lord Jesus began to preach, H e announced “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the good news”.       And so he preached, and so He healed, and many believed and were saved.     Yet many refused to believe and were condemned..

As the Lord commanded, the gospel has been preached throughout the world and millions have believed. Strange as it may seem, many suffer and many die for the sake of the gospel. The significant value of believing the gospel is it’s eternal blessing. The Lord Himself taught ‘man may destroy the body, after that we are in God’s hands for eternity’

The question then revolves upon this Bible verse:

“Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son does not have life”  1 John 5.12

Let us all be sure we saved by faith in God’s Son, lest unbelief leave us condemned under God’s wrath for all eternity.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Claims of Christ

The claims of the Lord Jesus Christ

“I am the bread which came down from heaven”   (John 6.51) to believe in Him is to have eternal life

“I am the light of the world”  ( John 8.12)  to follow Him is to walk in true wisdom

“ I am the door” (John 10.9) to trust Him is to be safe in His care

“I am the good Shepherd” (John 10.4) we can live because He died.

“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11.25)  To live now and forever because He lives.

“I am the way the truth and the life”   (John 14.6) to know God by knowing Jesus.

“I am the true vine” (John 15.1)  to be fruitful for God by abiding in Him

“I am the first and the last.. the living one” (Revelation 1.18) to worship the eternal Son of God – the joy of eternity.

Which way, which voice, which site??

In these days of information overload, and misinformation overload – where do we turn for truth?

My answer in brief – let your compass in life be the Bible. Many religions claim to go by the Bible, but do they really? Many philosophies outside of the Bible have good appealing features, but what do they achieve of eternal worth? Many Australians just live by their own natural instincts.  Thus confusion reigns supreme in the social world, the religious world, the political world, the educational world ... etc.

The Bible has endured for a long time. It is wonderfully available to many (not all) in our own heart language. Best of all it can be a true compass to guide us if we ask God to show the way. It is not limited to scholars and clerics, but since the Holy Spirit has been sent from God our Father, all may seek and find!

It remains forever a book deeper than the deepest student, yet at the same time a light of truth for the most uneducated. Peter put it so well “ great and precious promises”  along with “things hard to be understood” (2 Peter)

For example:

The Lord Jesus said:

“ whoever believes on Me has eternal life”  John 6.47

This uncomplicated promise of eternal life is for all who sincerely believe in Him – for who he claimed to be – the Son of God from heaven.

So many have believed, have claimed the promise and been blessed. This is not adopting some religion , but rather trusting in a living person.

For the deeper truth, for those who want to know more, a thorough study of the meaning of eternal life will yield a rich reward.

And so I point again to the precious promises of the once crucified, now risen Lord as the means of salvation and blessing. Read the Holy scriptures for yourself  and be among those that have believed. The compass will guide you closer to the Lord Himself, so that you can truely follow Him.

John Mckee

True humility- Philippians 2

The call of Philippians chapter 2 is much deeper than most imagine. The humility of the Lord Jesus is often explained with great feeling – He was so great becoming so low.

      But what about us, since this is presented as an example for us.

From children we cling to things that make us more and more significant  -- our family, our school, our education, our job, our business, our marriage  etc and thus is build our self esteem with our reputation and identity. We could add to the list our spiritual status   --  children of God, called to represent the King, proclaiming the greatest message ever told, changing other peoples lives for good. It could all build reason for the believer in Jesus Christ to be confident and assertive.

       The Lord Jesus leads a different way. He was inherently greater than we could ever be  - the unique Son of God. His mission to rescue others might have been approached from the vantage point of a ruling king.  Rather He steps down to serve.  The form in which he served was not like that of an angel (who are ministering, serving spirits), but rather He stooped lower than angels to the form of a man. Thus He voluntarily lived within ( most of the time) the laws of nature ( as we know them) and the confines of time. For special reasons He did break free from these limitations occasionally.

    The most significant step was his submission to the will of God, even to the going to the cross.  For the SON there never was a conflict with the Father’s will, but this deliberate step indicates the surrender of His ‘decisions, desires, deliberations’ to the will of another. This is the real meaning of humility in the Bible ( see 1 Peter 5). He could truely say

 “ Not my will but thine be done”

How do we relate to this in our lives?

   Willing to surrender our will, our opinions, our wisdom......?

    Willing to be seen as much lower than we are?

      Willing to lose our status in creation order?

        Willing to be busy doing that which seems to destroy us?

          Willing to be for others instead of self.

            Willing not to promote ourselves, but leave promotion and recognition in the hand of God?

How many have said  ‘ I want to be like Jesus’

 How few are willing to be like Jesus – are you, am I  ?????

Please take the time to read again Philippians chapter 2 and see if my thoughts are true in the life of the Lord and also seen in the lives of others mentioned in the chapter.

johnmckee@internode.on.net  comments welcome and followers can fill in email at bottom of the page

Devotional - the companionship of the Lord Jesus

The greatest companion

“ He drew near and went with them”  Luke 24:15

Nothing is more important in life than this ‘He went with them’  The companionship of the Lord Jesus Christ is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit in every believer. To be without God , without Christ is to be without hope  - living independent of Him.

So often we do not realise that HE is not far from every one of us. Many today are lonely, hiding, confused, disappointed, broken hearted, lost, stricken with guilt, depressed, disillusioned...............

In verse 38  of Luke chapter 24, Jesus asked why are you sad??????

The solution to the problem in this brilliant story, was Jesus the Messiah revealing Himself first in the Bible and then in person. You too my reader can find deep relief as you ‘set your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face........’

I would like for a moment to record some of God’s piercing questions that open to us causes of sadness.

Genesis 3 “Where are you?” Adam was HIDING because of wrong choices and disobedience to God.

                “What have you done?”  Eve BLAMED others , even though her problem stemmed from listening to the wrong voice.

Genesis 4  “Why are you angry?” Disgruntled with God’s way. Cain was angry that things turn out against him.

The wonder of it is that God came seeking all three. He did not turn away and forsake them . As it is today , God is still seeking the lost, waiting for all to turn to Him.

Another Question from the Lord “why do you spend money for that which is not bread......and does not satisfy?”  Isaiah 55

Well might we ask ‘Why are we here? What am I supposed to be doing?, Who cares?, Where will it end???

The Lord says “ Come, listen, hear, seek and in verse 12 this leads to Joy, Peace and Singing.

After you have read Luke 24, and glimpsed the glory of the once crucified Lord Jesus, read Psalm 23 and pause on the precious breathing of the dependant sheep

“for thou art with me......”    What can be greater than this – the abiding companionship of the Good, the great Shepherd.

Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful

Eyes have seen , ears have heard

It’s recorded in God’s word

Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful

John Mckee

Musings in Mark's Gospel

As I begin to read again the Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in Mark, I am impressed by what is missing. The Lord did not institute ritualistic behaviour, as did the Pharisees with their fasting, tithing etc. He did not speak formulas for success or even a formula for the way to heaven. He did not teach like the scribes who referenced their messages to one another. His healing methods varied with different  circumstances- no sequence of procedure as is common today.

         He did give many great and precious promises. His was truth declared in accord with the Holy Scriptures and His bestowments of healing grace varied with the many needs. The kingdom of God was not about eating and drinking, but about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

           For sure there was discipline like His early rising to pray, but not as a ritual. There was doctrine, but not dogma. There was commitment to Him rather than commitment to a cause. There was a price to pay, but not as a means of blessing. The sacrifice of things for Him was to be motivated by love for Him.

His teaching and working operated outside the Jewish systems and in teaching the disciples he did not seem to establish a detailed code of conduct other than ‘hearing‘ His word. In the end , as He looked upon  that varied bunch of men, He said “Love one another as I have loved you”

              When it came to the trial and crucifixion , there seemed to be no one to stand up for His defence. In the midst of His extreme suffering, there seemed to be no sensible explanation why He should suffer so. So much was left to the overseeing hand of The invisible God.

 So what are we to conclude from all this – Firstly that “God’s ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55).   Secondly that things are not always as they may appear on the surface.  Thirdly that our Lord  is interested in persons more than policies and procedures and plans and programs. He wants to reach the HEARTS of all people so that the change for good is effected from the inside>>>> out.

The question then comes to us as individual ‘ Is your heart right with God?’

Then the next question ‘ Do I serve Him out of duty, ritual or love?’

johnrmckee@internode.on.net