Rejoicing in what God has done

 

My reading in the Bible book of Titus has filled my heart with worship. Let me outline what God has done:

Chapter 1 – “The truth gives confidence of eternal life”

This is good news given by the command of Jesus Christ our Saviour”

2: The undeserved favour of God gives us hope now and in the future.  “Jesus Christ gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us and make us his very own, totally committed to doing what is right.”

“He will appear in glory”

3: Once we were foolish, “But God our Saviour showed us His kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.  He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Saviour did. He declared us not guilty because of His great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life.”

Enough to make us worship with gratitude, motivation to live right, assurance that the next life will be better than this one for those trust in the Saviour – Jesus Christ.

Maybe you would like to share your joy in the Lord. I would like to receive your email

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Citizenship

 

As I teach migrants the details of citizenship, I am amazed how relevant the Bible is to everyday living. The Australian way of life was indeed influenced by the Bible (presently reading recent publication ‘The Bible in Australia’ M.Lake)

My reading of the Bible letter to Titus, by the Apostle Paul gives many highlights. I list a few:

Chapter 1:8 – wise and fair

      2;2 – self control, respect, love, patience.

      2;3 - not speaking evil of others, doing good.

      2:7 – Doing good deeds of every kind, Integrity.

      2:10 – Not stealing, trustworthy.

      2:14 – Committed to doing what is right.

3:1 – submitting to the government and its officers.

3:2 – true humility toward everyone.

3:8 – Being careful to do good deeds all the time

3:14 – ‘Our people should not have unproductive lives. They must learn to do good by helping others who have urgent needs.’

How can this work for people from different cultures??

Possible by God's favour...

“May God’s grace be with you all” (Titus 3:15 NLT)

In fact this letter to Titus explains how very well:

Chapter 3, verse3

"Once we too were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others and they hated us.

But then God our Saviour showed us His kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Saviour did. He declares us not guilty because of His great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life."

Oh how great is HIS mercy, love and grace

 

The path of life

 

As I have just passed 70 years of pilgrimage, it seems appropriate to reflect on the past and consider the future!

One Bible verse that has hung in our bedroom for many, many years, reads

“Trust in the Lord… He faileth not

And forsaketh not His saints”

I have proved it to be true, or rather the Lord has been true to His promise. In the winding road of life, He has not failed. In the unknown of tomorrow we have a certain hope. We are His possession by the blood of Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

In my meditation this morning I was given this verse.

“”He will bring me to His heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen”  2 Timothy 4:18

Considering who Jesus is - am I ashamed of Him?

 

Not Ashamed

Acts 5:19   After the Apostles had been arrested and jailed, the angel that set them free gave instructions to “go to the temple (the public gathering place) and give the people this message of life”.

At daybreak they went and immediately began teaching.

I thought they might have escaped to Galilee!

Verse 40 – After being flogged and ordered by the council, not to speak in the name of Jesus, they chose to disobey the order and in the temple and from house to house preached “ the Messiah you are looking for is Jesus”.

Wow – how quickly we shrink from public testimony to hide in our holy huddles!

I like the report from 1 Thessalonians 1:8

“And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere.”

Not ashamed to own my Lord

Or to defend His cause!

The death of Jesus Christ

 

“Christ died for our sins” 1 Corinthians 15:3

I sure need this good news. My sins deserve eternal death, but Jesus died for me. He was so holy, so pure, like a lamb white and unblemished. His care for lost people, even sinners was so great that He said “I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10).

But how could one man pay the debt incurred  by the sins of so many? Let the Bible answer:

“When His soul is made an offering for sin”  (Isaiah 53)

For God was in Jesus Christ, reconciling the world to Himself – how

“For God made Him who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

As I ponder my inability to pay for my sins. It is such a relief to discover the debt is paid by the shed blood of Christ. The promise of eternal life now becomes possible and a home in heaven sure!

Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed me white as snow.

Tree of Life

 

The Tree of life

The account of God interacting with the first humans (Adam and Eve), involves the pleasant circumstance of the Garden of Eden - Genesis 2,3.  God tested their love and loyalty by giving them one command (see John 14:15 –“if you love Me, obey My commands”)

The intrusion of Satan’s lie, spoilt that loyalty and they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What did that do for them? Instead of enjoying the garden, and God’s visits, like a young child enjoying parental care and protection, they became like restless teenagers, aware of evil and struggling to resist temptation. They could see the enemy and evil, but unable to conquer it. Outside the garden, their disconnection from God made life difficult.

Why then did God prevent them from eating of the tree of life??  – lest they live forever in this state of disconnection from God, conquered by the evil around them. Indeed God had a better plan! His plan was that humans should live forever (eternal life) in a reconciled and restored state better than the Garden of Eden.

And so this tree of life is not mentioned again until the last book of the Bible. Revelation chapter22 describes the end conclusion of the plan of God. It is a city where the river of life flows by the trees of life. This is God’s final paradise for redeemed humanity. In that city  stands the throne of God and of the Lamb, as the source of all good. Satan is bound(Rev 20), and all delight to worship God and the Lamb. Better than Eden, they shall see His face (something that was impossible before Jesus came.)

Revelation 22:14 How happy are those who are washed (forgiven and sanctified) – they eat with delight from the Tree of Life.

Revelation 22:30 – the believer delights to say “Come Lord Jesus”

Jesus promised this eternal life to those who listened to Him (in contrast to Eve listening to Satan.)

John 5:24  “ Those who listen to My voice, and believe in God who sent Me ( sent down from heaven), have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (NLT)

This promise along with many others, is why a Christian is not afraid of judgement day, but rather anticipates being in the paradise of God where the tree of life will be abundantly available .

“Sometimes I grow homesick for heaven

And the joys I there shall behold

What a day that will be

When my Saviour I see

In that beautiful city of God”

Problem

 

The problem in Capernaum was the same problem many have today, which is the love of religion and tradition. These things are what makes many people feel worthy of eternal rewards. After all, they did what they were supposed to, they honoured the traditions of their belief system, and, thus, they deserve the best in the next life and have no need for a Saviour.

What Jesus offered to those in His day is what He still offers to all mankind today – freedom. Freedom from religion, freedom from rituals, freedom from tradition. What He offers instead of rituals and traditions is to make you free.

John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Now we can be free to follow Jesus Christ without the shackles that hinder.