Monthly Archives: March 2013

Proverbs 4, Luke 18

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Jesus tells the parable of the “unjust judge”, which is really a parable encouraging us “always to pray and not lose heart.” God is not an unjust judge that ignores our prayers. Instead He wants to have a relationship with us, wants us to communicate regularly with Him and persistent prayer is an important part of that.

The words Solomon wrote are easily applicable to our relationship with God, “be attentive to my words…keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.” God’s word and regular prayer help us to run this race, and not lose heart.

Proverbs 3, Luke 17

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Jesus explains to his disciples about forgiveness. It’s an act that requires faith like a grain of mustard seed, an act which we can find difficult, but just like the servant first serving dinner to his master, it’s something that is our duty to do.

Jesus also describes the coming of the kingdom of God. It’s not something we’ll be able to predict, although many will try. We need to be ready at all times, and “trust in the Lord with all your heart”

Proverbs 2, Luke 16

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If we seek wisdom, understanding and insight like they are hidden treasure, then we will “understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”  Once we have found that wisdom and knowledge, then Solomon writes that it will watch over us, guarding us and delivering us from the way of evil.  We will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

We have been offered the true riches, grace and mercy through the work of Christ. Let’s follow the advice of Solomon, seek that treasure with our whole being, serving the master that can offer us eternal life.

 

Proverbs 1, Luke 15

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Wisdom is personified as someone calling out in the streets, offering knowledge to all. Although rejected by many, she notes “whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

This is a great gift which we have received. We have been offered heavenly wisdom, and accepted that offer. This doesn’t make us more special than anyone else, but it does give us hope and comfort.  “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”  If we are to be wise in heavenly wisdom, then we need to really listen and allow it to affect our lives, to be guided by it.

At various stages in our life, we all can be lost coins or lost sheep.  It’s really encouraging to note what Jesus says, “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  The act of returning to God, or of helping one of our peers return to God, results in rejoicing in heaven.

Psalms 148-150

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“the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” Such an incredible idea. God takes pleasure in us trying to be like Him. This is the reason that makes the daily struggle of life worthwhile. This is why we love God, because He first loved us.  So “let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

Psalms 145-147

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David praises God, writing “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” This really is something to thank God about, since it is only through God’s mercy that David remained alive, and only through God’s mercy can we have a relationship with Him.

Not only is God gracious and merciful, He actively helps those that are in need. “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down…the Lord is near to all who call on him.”

God provides for all, even the animals, yet He “takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” So let us “sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre”

Psalms 143-144

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Psalm 143 is a prayer of David. Like many Psalms, this is written in a time of turmoil and trouble, when David’s enemy has crushed his life to the ground, his spirit faints within him.

David longs for God’s comfort, “I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land…hide not your face from me.” He retains his trust in God, “for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

An encouraging prayer, David turns to God for help and guidance, knowing that God is a rock in which he can take refuge. Although many of David’s prayers are like this, the lesson remains for us. There will often be times in our lives when there is trouble or affliction. It is important for us to remember to rely on God, trust in Him, and seek guidance from His word.  It is equally important for us to praise God and thank Him for the times He has helped us, although I suspect a ten-stringed harp is not essential for this.

Psalm 140-142, Luke 10

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The parable of the good Samaritan is both easy to understand but hard to do. By caring for the wounded man, the Samaritan demonstrated the love that the lawyer knew only theoretically. The same can be true for us, knowing that God is love and that we are called to show that love to others, yet not quite managing to demonstrate it practically.

The empathy the Samaritan showed comes more naturally to some of us than others, but it is a characteristic that Jesus highlights when explaining what is necessary to inherit eternal life.

In Psalms 140-142, David describes his reliance on God, “Deliver me”, “Guard me”, “You are my God”, “O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation”, “my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge”.  David is once more writing about the trials of his daily life, yet in those difficulties he maintains his reliance on God, doesn’t sever that relationship but seeks refuge in it instead.

 

Psalms 137-139

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“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar”.  God is everywhere, He knows us better than we know ourselves.  That the creator of the universe is interested in us, pays enough attention to us to know our every action, is an awe-inspiring and comforting concept.

The Psalmist points out that “though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly”.  Although we look around and cannot see Him, God is there.  He sees us when we’re happy or sad, soaring spiritually or struggling.  His steadfast love endures forever.

Like the Psalmist, our response to God can be to “give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”

Luke 6

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Jesus describes how his disciples should interact with those around them. Love neighbours and enemies alike, show mercy, judge others with the same standards we would like to be judged. He also describes the importance of examining one’s life, to remove any “log out of your own eye”, and points out that the way we speak indicates the type of fruit we’re producing.

We need a strong foundation on which to build our lives, we know that is Christ and the principles by which he lived his life. A man who could spend all night in prayer, then exhaust himself healing a multitude. If we are truly going to call Jesus our Lord, then we need to hear Jesus’ words and do them.