Monthly Archives: April 2014

Ecclesiastes 8, Acts 7

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Ecclesiastes 8 provides us with some perspective on the apparent lack of judgement suffered by the wicked. “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil… I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked”. Solomon reminds us that God will reward all according to their actions.

In Acts 7, Stephen reminds the council of the faith of the patriarchs demonstrated in their lives. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David etc all feared God and lived their life trusting that God would be faithful and reward the righteous.

Let us follow the example of the patriarchs, learn from Solomon’s advice, and show our love of God, trusting in His faithfulness that He will reward us.

John 17-18

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In the final hours before Jesus’ betrayal, he prays for his disciples, both current and future. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word”.
Jesus prays that God would keep them, “that they may be one, even as we are one”, that they might see Jesus in his glory, and that “the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
The kingdom Jesus belongs to is not part of this world, and so too are we not part of this world. Let us strive to be one with God, filled with Christ’s character, looking for that future metropolis.

John 8

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Jesus is the light of the world. If we follow him, we “will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. By continuing in Jesus’ words, we show we are truly Jesus’ disciples, and we will ultimately be set free from slavery to sin.

Philippians 3-4

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Paul’s attitude to life is one that we can copy. Realising that he is imperfect, Paul forgets what lies behind and strains forward to what lies ahead.   He writes “I press on toward the goal for the prize”, and encourages us to do the same, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us”. Part of following the example of Paul and Christ, is helping others to do the same.

“Our citizenship is in heaven”. This is where we must focus our lives, ignoring the distracting pleasures the world offers us for only a season, knowing that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.

Ephesians 5-6

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Ephesians is a letter full of practical advice that applies to us as much as it did to the Ephesians. Chapter 4 concludes “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you“, and chapter 5 commences “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children“. We have been forgiven by God, and so Paul encourages us to imitate God, as a child imitates their parent.

“Walk as children of light… and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Discipleship is not passive or blind, it is up to us to use the light of Christ’s example to see what we should be doing, and where we should be heading. “when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light… look carefully then how you walk“.

So let’s put on the whole armour of God, stand fast in our battle against sin, comparing our life to the illuminating example of Christ.

 

Galatians 3-4

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Paul describes the hope that we, as Gentiles, have through Christ.  We have access to the same hope as Abraham, to be blessed by God. “Those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith”.  This promise is made by faith in Christ Jesus to those that believe.

We’ve been adopted as children of God, as heirs along with Christ. We are no longer slaves to a law of bondage that offers only death. We’re now “children of promise”, children of the “free woman” that represents the freedom we have in Christ to serve God through love rather than commandment.

Let’s follow the faith of Abraham, demonstrating the same faith, trust and love of God that Abraham did throughout his life.