Monthly Archives: May 2014

Hebrews 1-2

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The letter to the Hebrews commences with a description of God’s relationship with His son, and with us. God “has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things“. While this describes the supremacy of Christ, it also reminds us that God has spoken to us, provided us with His word, along with a perfect example of that word lived in the life of Jesus.

God, who “laid the foundation of the earth“, has also provided us with “a merciful and faithful high priest” who is not ashamed to call us his brothers. We’re called to be children of God along with Christ, so like Christ and David, let’s place our trust in God, our rock and fortress and deliverer, in whom we also can find refuge.

Philemon

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Philemon is one of Paul’s letters written from prison, addressed to a faithful and loving brother, seeking forgiveness for Onesimus. Based on the similarities between letter to Colossians and this letter, Philemon probably lived in Colossae.

Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon along with the letter, indicating that Onesimus is not a prisoner, but visiting Paul voluntarily. It was a Roman custom that a slave could seek out a friend of their master to intercede on their behalf, if they got into trouble.  Paul appeals to Philemon’s sense of love in Christ rather than commanding him to take back Onesimus, reminding him that Onesimus was Philemon’s brother in Christ.

In forgiving Onesimus, Philemon would be demonstrating the grace of God.  Deserving of death under Roman law, Onesimus would instead be forgiven through the relationship they now shared in Christ.  This is a lesson for us, to reflect God’s character in our lives, treating each other with Godly love.

Joshua 14

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We read of the faith of Caleb in Joshua 14 who brought a report of the land that was faithful, “I wholly followed the Lord my God”.  Because of this faith, Moses promised Caleb an inheritance in the land, “‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God”.

45 years later, Caleb could say “the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness… I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me”.

At the age of 85 Caleb was one of just 2 people that left Egypt and inherited the land.  God kept him alive and healthy, ensuring that Caleb could take his promised land from the Anakim that scared the other 10 spies.  Just as Abraham and Moses will inherit this land in the near future, so we too can share in this hope. Let’s follow Caleb’s example, and completely focus our lives on following God.

 

 

2 Timothy 2

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Paul reminds Timothy that he can “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus“, and that he should avoid being distracted from being “a good soldier of Christ Jesus“. Like soldiers, we should endure and share in suffering, strengthened by the knowledge that “If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful“.

Paul goes on to tell Timothy “flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart“. Let’s follow the advice Paul provides Timothy, knowing that we have been offered “salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory“.

2 Thessalonians 1-2

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Paul writes that he constantly gave thanks and prayed always for the Thessalonians, “so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you“.  Paul reminds them that “God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth“.  They were called to hear the gospel message, to know the power and example of Christ, and needed to stand firm in their faith.

The same message applies to us, called to the hope of the gospel, to witness of God’s mercy despite the trials of life, the affliction and deception. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word“.

Isaiah 9, 1 Thessalonians 5

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Isaiah 9 is a chapter of both hope and judgement. It starts with a prophecy of the birth of Christ, a great light in a time of darkness, who will sit “on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”

Israel are condemned for their arrogance, “The Lord has sent a word against Jacob,
and it will fall on Israel… The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts.”  Yet twice we find the phrase “For all this his anger has not turned away,
and his hand is stretched out still.” We have a great and merciful God, who waits for the lost to return to Him.

We are encouraged to be children of light, to follow the example of Christ in illuminating a dark world. “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up”.

Isaiah 6, Colossians 3-4

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Having been provided with knowledge of the future and the glory of God, Isaiah feels inadequate to serve God.  “Woe is me… I am a man of unclean lips“.  Yet the seraphim reassures Isaiah that God can work with him, “your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”  So when the voice of the Lord cries “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?“, Isaiah willingly volunteers to be God’s messenger.

This is similar to our own situation. We’ve been called by God to serve Him, offered hope and a part of God’s future. Yet we feel unable to serve God, too inadequate to even share the message of hope we’ve been given.  Like Isaiah, we should be reassured that God is with us, and be eager to share our hope with others.

Paul offers the Colossians advice on living this way. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom… do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus… continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving“.

Deuteronomy 30, Isaiah 2

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Moses describes God’s mercy in Deuteronomy 30. If Israel return to God, obey His voice with all their heart and soul, then God would restore their fortunes and have mercy on them, gathering them from among the people they had been scattered.  Israel were offered a choice between life and good, death and evil.  The choice of life and good wasn’t beyond their reach, in heaven or across the sea, instead it was “very near” them, in their mouth and heart. “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him“.

Isaiah 2 paints a future for those who choose life, a time when “the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains… and all the nations shall flow to it“.  This is a future where “the haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day“.

“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord” is Isaiah’s plea to Israel, and to us.

 

Isaiah 1

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From the opening chapter of Isaiah, we read of God’s condemnation of a sinful and disobedient people. Israel is described as “a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity… they have forsaken the Lord… they are utterly estranged”.  Even their attempts to serve God were not acceptable, offering “vain sacrifices”.  God said He would hide His eyes, and not listen to their prayers.

Yet we can find encouragement for us, even in a chapter describing how far Israel had strayed.  The chapter concludes with a message of hope. “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land”. Whatever situation we’re in, no matter how far we might feel from God, if we return to Him then He will forgive us, just as He forgave Israel time and again.

Deuteronomy 26, Acts 21-22

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Moses reminded Israel of the commitment they’d made to serve God.  “You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statues and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments… and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God.“

This is the hope that Paul also proclaimed to the Gentiles. He was so passionate about this message that he was prepared “not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus“. This level of passion and commitment to God is an example for us, to live as people holy to God, constantly preaching by word and example.