Category Archives: Bible

Acts 14-15

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The second lame man to be healed in Acts is in Acts 14. This man had never walked, but in an instant he was healed and able to walk.  Paul describes the source of this miracle as “a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them”. Further evidence of God’s existence and mercy could be found in “rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness”.

Although this miracle is one of many in Acts, it highlights God’s mercy and power.  While it takes months for us to learn to walk, this man could walk immediately.  God’s arm is not short that it cannot save. Paul later declares that “a door of faith to the Gentiles” had been opened, extending the offer and knowledge of God’s mercy to us.

Like the Gentiles of Paul’s day, we look forward to a time when God “will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it”. While we wait, let’s seek God, and demonstrate in our lives that we have been adopted into God’s family, surnamed by His name.

Acts 13

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In Acts 13, Paul delivers the gospel message to the Jews in Antioch. “we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus… through this man 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 promise and forgiveness is also available to us.  Freed from being servants of sin, let us become servants of righteousness, developing “fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life“.

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.

 

Proverbs 10

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In Proverbs 10, Solomon lists a variety of proverbs with little connecting thought flow. A number of these proverbs contrast the righteous and wicked, both in terms of actions and end result. The righteous are delivered from death, receive blessings, rewarded with a wage that “leads to life”, fear God, have a joyful hope, will never be removed from the promised land, their words bring forth wisdom, they know what is acceptable.

Similar ideas are expressed of the wise, when compared with the foolish. A wise son makes a glad father, the heart of the wise receive commandments, they collect knowledge, take pleasure in understanding.

These varied proverbs all have one thing in common. They remind us that God cares about the way we act, and that our eternal salvation is dependent upon a certain way of life. We need to follow “the way of the Lord”, knowing that it is a stronghold that we can rely upon.

Proverbs 6

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Solomon provides practical advice for us in Proverbs 6. The ant works diligently, apparently without any oversight, yet working in harmony with other ants to provide for the whole colony. This is similar to the body of Christ, where we individually work together for the benefit of the whole body, without apparent supervision.

Solomon also warns about unfaithfulness using the analogy of adultery. In order to preserve ourselves from the “smooth tongue” of sin, our Father’s commandment and teaching needs to be constantly before us.  “When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you”. This is similar language to David’s psalms that describe his love of God’s word and constant meditation, and provides us with insight as to how vital our relationship with God is, both through prayer and meditation on His word.