Monthly Archives: October 2013

2 Chronicles 29, Acts 9

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Hezekiah was a man of action, doing what was necessary to help the whole nation. “He did right in the eyes of the Lord” by restoring the temple and re-establishing worship in it. At just 25 he went against the actions of their fathers who had been unfaithful and evil, and in the first year of his reign opened the doors of the temple.

Saul too was a man of action, although initially misguided. He went from persecuting the ecclesia, to “proving that Jesus was the Christ” in the synagogues, confounding the Jews.

These two men provide us with a great example of the need to act. Our faith is not a passive one; it requires that we do what we can to help each other and our neighbours around us in this race of life.

Daniel 7, Acts 7

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In Daniel 7 we read how Daniel received visions, describing future events through various symbols. They troubled him, “my spirit within me was anxious”, until the meaning of those visions was made clear. They foretold a time of great suffering for believers, but only for a limited duration. Afterwards, “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever”.

These prophecies were given to help strengthen the faith of both Daniel and those after him who would read his words. They can help strengthen our faith too, with the majority of the prophecies fulfilled we can be certain that the rest will also happen. We can look forward to a time when “the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom.”  This can be our future if we, like Stephan, live our faith in our daily life, knowing there is nothing in this world that can take away our hope.

Daniel 4

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Nebuchadnezzar was a great king, who became proud of his achievements in building Babylon. God couldn’t work with him in this state, so he was forced to live like a beast in the field for 7 years. But at the end he was able to say “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.“

This is a reminder for us, that we are only unprofitable servants, at best merely doing our duty. It’s up to us to demonstrate meekness rather than pride, filling our hearts with God’s will rather than our own.

2 Chronicles 20

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Jehoshaphat demonstrated great faith in a difficult time. An army, described as a great multitude, was approaching Judah. Jehoshaphat turns to God for help in prayer, acknowledging that “we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” In response, God tells Jehoshaphat that “the battle is not yours but God’s”. God would defeat the army, as long as they followed the instruction to “stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.”

These ideas are similar to our lives today. Often in life we don’t know what to do, except turn to God in prayer, and trust that He hears us and will help us. Like Jehoshaphat and Judah we can only watch and pray, being unable by ourselves to defeat the enemy we face daily.  So let us be like Jehoshaphat, taking our troubles to God in prayer, believe in His word, and trust.

John 19

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In his final hours, Jesus continued his life-long practise of putting others ahead of himself. He directs John to take care of his mother, offers hope to the thief beside him, and remains focused on his purpose sufficiently to ensure he fulfilled prophecy. His final hours convinced a centurion of the veracity of Jesus’ words, and inspired Joseph and Nicodemus to stand up for their beliefs.

The king of the Jews died a painful, protracted death in order for us to have hope of life everlasting. This paradox confounds the wise, leaving the way open for us, the weak of the world, to be part of God’s promises.  The sacrifice offered once has destroyed the power of death. Let us hold fast with confidence to our hope, allowing it to become real and evident in our lives, that we might one day enter that sabbath rest to which we’ve been invited

John 17-18

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Jesus publicly prays to God “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”  This is our hope and purpose in life, expressed in heartfelt prayer shortly before Jesus’ betrayal.  Even in these last hours of painful anticipation, Jesus was thinking of us.  Let us be inspired to know the only true God, to be one with Him, to be part of Jesus’ future kingdom and to bear witness to the truth.

John 12

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Jesus said “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness”. The analogy of light and darkness is perfect, since darkness is merely the absence of light, rather than a physical property of itself.  Without the gospel, the world remains unilluminated, without hope of the future, as Jesus also points out, “The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going”.

We have been given an amazing gift, part of a chosen race, with a responsibility to “show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”.  We are now God’s people, illuminated by His character and glory. It’s up to us to live in a way that shows that light to those around us, that they too may be part of God’s chosen people.

John 11

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The story of Lazarus is both confronting and inspirational. Although it caused Jesus intense grief, he delays the healing of Lazarus in order to instead raise him from the dead.  Having complete trust in God to protect him and his disciples from harm, Jesus returns to Judea where the Jews had previously sought to stone him, and discovers that Lazarus had already been dead for 4 days.

Both Mary and Martha struggled to understand why Jesus hadn’t returned in time to heal Lazarus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Jesus consoled Martha with the words “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die“.

These words describe our hope also. Let us likewise live in Jesus, demonstrating our belief to those around us, confident that we too can receive the crown of life promised to those who love God, “for He who promised is faithful“.

John 8-9

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Jesus is our good shepherd. He has opened our eyes, so that we can understand our natural state and realise there is something better. We are his sheep, if we listen to his voice and follow his guidance.  Jesus said of his sheep, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand”.

Despite what happens in life, we can be sure of Jesus’ love and care for his sheep. We’ve been invited to share the same relationship Jesus has with his father. Let’s allow the example and leadership of Jesus to guide our way of life, that we too may have eternal life.

2 Chronicles 5-6

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Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple reminds us that God is always true to His word. God had promised David that David’s son would build a temple for him, and now that temple was complete, “keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.” Solomon also requests that God would hear the prayers of His servants, and forgive them for their sins they acknowledge.

This is the same hope that we’ve been offered. Through Christ, we can seek forgiveness. Through Christ, we can be part of God’s promises. So let us build in our own lives a temple dedicated to serving and praising God, and walk before God with all our heart.