Monthly Archives: May 2013

Colossians 3-4

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“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” The things on the earth are our everyday experience – walking around, living our lives. By ourself, we can’t reach the sky, the stars, they’re something foreign to our everyday experience.

We are exhorted to put away the earthly things. Our goal should not be to live for this current existence, limited to the surface of the earth.  Instead, living for an existence which is only within reach because of God’s grace, an existence motivated and bound together by love. Paul offers advice for focusing on the things that are above: “Continue steadfastly in prayer“; “Walk in wisdom“; “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  The things that are above require constant effort achieve and maintain.  It’s not easy for us to live “after the image of [our] creator”, but the reward is similarly great.

Isaiah 5, Colossians 2

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“My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.” That vineyard represented the house of Israel. Its hedge was removed, wall broken down, rain stopped, left to become a waste.  All because Israel rejected what God had done for them.

Paul encourages us to walk in Christ Jesus, “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught“.  We’ve been buried with Christ in baptism, and raised with Christ through faith in God.  We’ve been given “the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ“. Like Israel, we’ve been given everything necessary to be faithful and produce fruit.

It’s powerful, motivating, uplifting and encouraging  to reflect on all the things God has done for you and I.  We who were once dead,  “God made alive together with [Jesus], having forgiven us all our trespasses“. Let’s truly live for Christ, showing his love by our actions and care towards one another.

Colossians 1

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“You, who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [Jesus] has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith.”  Through the work of Christ we’ve been reconciled to God. Paul is so confident in God’s word, that he speaks as if we’ve already been presented holy and blameless, provided we continue in the faith.

Paul did not cease to pray for the Colossians, that they “may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”  This prayer is just as applicable to our lives today, and I think it is important for us to pray for each other in much the same way, that we all may “share in the inheritance of the saints in light.“

Deuteronomy 30, Isaiah 2

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Moses described God’s word as something that “is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”  Loving God, showing His character in our lives, is not something which is impossible.  “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him.”  It is a choice that is ours alone to make – between “life and good, death and evil.”

Isaiah makes a similar plea, “O houses of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.” We have been called to be part of that house of Jacob, to walk in God’s light, to choose life and hold fast to “him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  So let us build ourselves up in faith, praying and “waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life”.  In a world of uncertainty and doubt, we can at least be certain and confident in God’s love.

Song of Solomon 7

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“Your navel is a rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies.” The Song of Solomon is a curious book, a poetic interaction between two people very much in love, dedicated to Solomon, without reference to God.  It’s a book we rarely ever read or discuss, yet there must be a reason for its inclusion in the Bible.  The book presents a dialogue between a loving husband and his estranged wife, who although physically separated from her husband, remains very much in love with him.

Regardless of how we view the meaning of the song of Solomon, it is clear that it is a love story. One view is that the book is a symbolic representation of God’s love for us, as the ecclesial bride for His only son. Isaiah 62:5 seems to support that view, “as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” God loves us with a deep and intense love, despite our many failings, and we can only look forward to the time when we can return that love perfectly, free from the imperfection of our current existence.

Deuteronomy 26

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“You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.”  Just like the Israelites, we’ve agreed to do the same at our baptism, to serve God, to walk in His ways, to listen to His voice and obey it.

Just like the Israelites, we are part of God’s “treasured possession.”  God has offered deliverance from the slavery of sin, and “made us alive together with Christ…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus“.  The greatest gift one could ever receive, even while knowing exactly what sort of people we are, that we would often stumble and fall.

Yet we “are being built together into a dwelling place for God”. This is the hope we have to cling to, that despite any present pain or suffering, we will be part of God’s dwelling place.

Acts 16-17

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In Acts today we read of the inspirational faith and dedication of Paul and Silas, who continue to preach even after physical abuse. Their message was so powerful and life changing that time and time again the Jews incite violence and chaos to limit the spread of the gospel.

By comparison, our lives are much easier. No physical attacks because of our belief, ready access to  God’s word in numerous formats. The biggest challenge to our faith is apathy. But surely we can find inspiration in Paul’s description of the unknown god, “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth…he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything…Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.”

We are “God’s offspring”, a type of relationship we all know well. Just as we have a special connection with our parents, we have a special connection with the creator of the universe.

Acts 13

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When asked for words of encouragement for the people in the local synagogue, Paul stood up and educated the people about the promised Messiah, his work, his crucifixion, and the good news of the promises made to the fathers being fulfilled in their generation.  Through Jesus, “forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”

This good news was the most encouraging thing that Paul had to share with the audience in the synagogue, and the good news applies to us today.  Our saviour is risen, free from corruption, and through him salvation is offered “to the ends of the earth.”

Deuteronomy 20, Ecclesiastes 12, Acts 11-12

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“When you go out to war against your enemies… you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt”.  Just like God was with the Israelites, to “give them the victory”, God is also with us.  Although our enemy has no horses and chariots, the influence of sin in our life is an overwhelming one, requiring constant assistance from God to control.  Unfortunately we don’t have the option the Israelites did of going home if we’re afraid.  We’re in a daily battle for our very lives.

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” advises the wisest man. It’s a simple yet challenging statement, one that requires constant work to grow and develop our relationship with God.  But God has “granted repentance that leads to life” to us, so even in the face of great opposition, whether from without or within, Paul’s exhort to “remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” is what we should remember.  This daily struggle against sin will one day end, and if we remain faithful as best we can now, we will gain eternal life, filled with “gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

 

 

Ecclesiastes 11, Acts 10

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Cornelius. A great example of faith, of not hiding his beliefs, of dedication to prayer. For some unspecified period of time he had prayed to God, and in Acts 10 that prayer was answered, and Peter was sent to educate him further.  “God shows no partiality” – even battle hardened centurions are welcome to “receive forgiveness of sins.”

The ways of God are incomprehensible to us, as Solomon eloquently describes.  Yet we know that God takes an interest in our lives. He knows what is best for us, and answers prayers accordingly.

Let’s work on following the example of Cornelius, to be known as someone that fears God and prays continuously.