Today's thought “It is necessary that …” (January 16)

“It is necessary that …”

(January 16)

Certain things are necessary in our lives such as clothing to wear and food to eat. Note how Paul made the point to Timothy “if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” and “there is great gain in godliness with contentment” (1 Timothy 6:6,8). What hinders our contentment?

Now in today’s 18th chapter of Matthew Jesus told his disciples, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin. For it is necessary that temptations come …” (verse 7). Why is it necessary? Wouldn’t it be better if believers lived protected lives without anything tempting us? No, it wouldn’t!

When we make things we test them to make sure they are strong enough to be used for the purpose for which we made them. It maybe that some part will break off! If that makes it useless, then we throw it away. But often, even with a part broken off there is still a good use for it – and that is the point behind Jesus’ parable that “if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire” (verse 8).

We may have a special aptitude or talent, but if it has no spiritual value – but rather, the opposite, then we should push it out of our lives. Let us use make full use of the talents and opportunities we have – and not fret about others, and our failures, and be in danger ofbeing useless to God.

Once again our Psalms reading is valuable – 33:10 refers to our time and is very applicable, “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples”. And so efforts to achieve peace between nations and peoples are getting nowhere – as are efforts to take action to stop or at least minimize global warming. God is not only ignored – most push out of their minds any thought as to his existence. Does that influence you? Note the great truth of verse 12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” The words of Jesus we read and thought about illustrate the elements of behaviour that really count – “but it is necessary” that chosen vessels are tested as to their worthiness. Are you passing the test? May we all be among those whom he chooses – may we help each other to pass the test.

TFTD - 16 January 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

16 January 2014

Genesis 28; 29
Psalms 33
Matthew 18

"THOSE WHO HOPE IN HIS STEADFAST LOVE"

The message that jumps out of all 3 Bible Readings today is how God can react to our attitudes. In Genesis Jacob married both Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban, but Rachel he loved and Leah he hated. God reacted, "When the LORD saw that Leah was hated he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren" [Genesis 29:31] God reacts to the attitudes of those who seek to serve him, also to those who do not! In Psalm 33:10 we read, "The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples." Also in this Psalm we read, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love." [Psalm 33:18]

The teaching of Jesus in Matthew 18 also illustrates the same lesson. He reacts strongly when his disciples ask him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [Matthew 18:1] and sets a child in their midst and says a child-like attitude is necessary , "unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom …" [Matthew 18:3]

The chapter finishes with a parable about a king who set out to settle accounts with servants who owed him money and he is willing to forgive one who is deeply in debt, but when it was reported that this servant did not have a forgiving attitude toward a fellow servant who owed him a little money, the King was angry with that servant and delivered him to the jailers.

The chapter ends with Jesus saying, "So also my heavenly Father will do to everyone of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." Note those last 3 words.
-------
- DC


Thought for the Day

16 January 2014

"When we are truly a part of this new creation in Christ, then we may live in him, not merely as a figure of speech, or in some rather distant imitative manner, but as forming the very material upon which he is working. And that, ... is the ever-present miracle that you and I may know for ourselves - the miracle that as God was in Christ, so Christ may be in us, the hope of glory."

- Ralph Smalley
The Epistle to the Colossians (1961)

TFTD - 15 January 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

15 January 2014

Genesis 27
Psalms 32
Matthew 17

IN FOUR PARTS

Today's Psalm [Psalm 32] is one of the most meaningful and personal of all the Psalms. Just 11 verses; it is a good one to try to memorize. It is structured in a fascinating way - in 4 parts.

The first 2 verses give two examples of a special "blessed" state to be in. Then Psalm 32:3-7 is David's personal petition as a sinner; times of weakness; separation from God; need for reconciliation.

Psalm 32:6,7 are remarkable! David receives a personal message from God, a reply as it were and writes it down. The final two verses sum up the situation and what the attitude should be of "the one who trusts in the LORD" and aims to be "upright in heart."

Get out your Bible and read these 11 verses slowly and reflectively, the four sections will be evident to you. Think of what your life means to God - and what He means to you.
-------
- DC


Thought for the Day

15 January 2014

"In the ecclesia our differing gifts are bricks of different shapes, sizes and colours. They are not to be used for throwing at each other; we shall never build a temple that way. That is how the Corinthians were using them, and they had to be told to "seek to excel to the edification of the church" (1 Corinthians 14:12). And love is the only mortar that can bind them all together. The third chapter of the letter to the Colossians tells us that, where, after a list of things that we are to "put on", the Apostle concludes: "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness". (Colossians 3:14). He does not mean merely that love is more important than all these things; he means literally, "on the top of all these things", spread over them all to unify them, to bind them perfectly together."

- H.A. Twelves
Builders or Destroyers? (1950)

TFTD - 14 January 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

14 January 2014

Genesis 25; 26
Psalms 31
Matthew 16

SETTING YOUR MIND

In ancient times a rock symbolised something secure and God was the ultimate Rock! David could write in the Psalms, as we read today, "To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me" [Psalm 28:1] He also pleads with God, "when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I" [Psalm 61:2] Now, in today's reading in Matthew Jesus seems to call Peter a "rock" [Matthew 16:18]. We recall Jesus added the name Peter [Luke 6:14] to Simon, and Peter means a rock - petros.

Yet human rocks have to prove themselves, Jesus was looking for such rocks on which "I will build my church" [Matthew 16:18] Peter was the first Rock as the early chapters of the book of Acts reveal. But at first Peter failed and a remarkable confrontation took place. In the next verses we read, Matthew 16:21, "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem … and be killed." Peter reacted in an astonishing way. He "began to rebuke" Jesus! "Far be it from you Lord! This shall never happen to you ." [Matthew 16:22] This is a glaring example of a person only believing what they want to believe! They only listen to that which fits in with their expectations.

It also illustrates what Satan means for Jesus responded by saying to Peter, "Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance (margin: stumbling block) to me … you are not setting your mind on the things of God …" [Matthew 16:22-23]. Things that are in opposition are called Satan as we saw last month in Revelation 2:9,13. It is a word several times translated as adversary in the O.T.

But what about "this rock" on which, Jesus said, "I will build my church" [Matthew 16:18]? It is far than one individual, yet each chosen individual, like Paul who is called "a chosen vessel" [Acts 9:15] must learn to become a rock, by possessing it.

That rock is surely faith! True faith is built on truly believing after listening properly to the words of Jesus and His Son. Jesus had warned them in this chapter "to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees" [Matthew 16:12] and he told Peter "you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man" [Matthew 16:23].

Let us make sure we set our minds on the right things - and then we will always have a rock to which we can go. It could be that God will also use us, in time, to become a "rock" in his service.
-------
- DC


Thought for the Day

14 January 2014

"It is not a prudent calculation to be lowly. It is a love-mastered inclination to serve in small things or great, without thought of renown. Humility is unconscious meekness, too committed to worry about reputation. Of the man who humbled himself it is written: "He took the form of a servant." Love vaunteth not itself. Meekness is love’s quality. Let this mind be in you."

- Dennis Gillett
The Genius of Discipleship

TFTD - 13 January 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

13 January 2014

Genesis 24
Psalms 29; 30
Matthew 15

"HEAR AND UNDERSTAND"

The world today is very conscious of cleanliness. When you go to the Doctors, he or she will thoroughly wash their hands before they examine you. A lot of money is made marketing soaps and other cleansing agents. This is all to the good.

The Jews in the days of Jesus had turned cleanliness into a ritual that made them feel more righteous. (see Luke 11:37-41) They criticised Jesus for letting his disciples eat with unwashed hands [Mark 7:2-5] Jesus calls them hypocrites and says "This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" [Matthew 15:7-9].

Jesus then called people to him and said, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth" [Matthew 15:11] His disciples query him as to what he means, so he tells them, "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person" [Matthew 15:18-20] The thought comes first, then follows the deed. Our world is full of this kind of defilement. Before every wrong doing comes wrong thinking. TV, DVD's and many magazines feed human minds making them inclined to think and imagine godless pursuits. More and more seem to be turning thoughts into actions.

Sources of defilement are everywhere today making it more essential than ever to feed our minds with the word of God every day.
-------
- DC


Thought for the Day

13 January 2014

"For the Lord Jesus Christ whom we remember, the nearness of God was his stay. I am alone and yet not alone, my Father is with me. "I set the Lord always before my face: because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16). That is the secret of Christ's victory. There is no other way ... How near is your God? He is as near as you want Him to be, a God at hand, in the midst of the camp, at the beginning of our new life in Christ and at the end."

- Harry Tennant
God With Us (1973)

TFTD - 12 January 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

12 January 2014

Genesis 22; 23
Psalms 26; 27; 28
Matthew 14

"BECAUSE YOU HAVE OBEYED MY VOICE"

Today we have read that significant chapter in Genesis 22 in which Abraham obeys the LORD by being prepared - without hesitation - to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. The progressive tests of faith which Abraham "passed" resulted in ever greater promises being made to him.

Did you notice how, the very first time God makes a promise to him, it is "I will make of you a great nation" [Genesis 12:3] and "in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." They started as families and developed into nations. Remember Abraham lived at a time when they lived longer lives than now; some family groups would have been extensive.

It is not until Abraham had shown his faith by leaving all behind to travel to an unknown land that God extended his promise to include his "offspring" [Genesis 12:7] Then, after he has built an altar to the LORD and travelled to Egypt and back gaining wealth and prestige and had separated from Lot that the promise is extended to him "forever" and told he will have descendents as innumerable as the sand. [Genesis 13:15-16]

Abraham then receives a vision from God in the night, and is now told his descendants will be as innumerable as the stars (signifying, we suspect, spiritual descendents). There is a significant verse, "And he believed the LORD and he counted it to him for righteousness" [Genesis 15:6] But of course he had believed him before! However, this is the ultimate, the far reaching, challenge of belief. It is our challenge to!

At the age of 99 his name is changed from Abram to Abraham with all the significance of what that means [Genesis 17:5-8] and "an everlasting covenant" is established. Then, the events we read of today happen - almost 40 years have elapsed since God first revealed himself to Abram in Ur. God sees Abraham as now being ready for the ultimate test of faith. Notice the final promises that are then made, "your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice" [Genesis 22:17-18] How significant the words of Jesus, "Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad" [John 8:56]. Let us share Abraham's vision and also be glad. To do that, we must experience our own journey of faith.
-------
- DC


Thought for the Day

12 January 2014

"... These apostles were humble men, conscious of their failings, and anxious to receive the enlightenment which could save them from repeating the same errors. They were prepared to co-operate with their teacher and to learn in gratitude from him. One of those present after the resurrection and whose understanding had to be opened was the apostle Peter. He knew how much he owed to his Lord ... we do well to let his last recorded words in the New Testament echo in our hearts and minds:

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18)."

- T.J. Barling
The Heaven Was Opened (1986)

TFTD - 11 January 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

11 January 2014

Genesis 20; 21
Psalms 23; 24; 25
Matthew 13

"PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"

What is really so special about Psalms 23? There are several popular hymns based on its words. Are these just words? God's words need to 'live' in our heart - not just go in one ear and out the other, as the saying is. In today's non-stop world, that can happen all too easily.

Its words encourage peace of mind that is not a common blessing today! The LORD is my shepherd! Have you ever thought that Jesus would have seen his Father as his shepherd and what these words would have meant to him? The LORD shepherded David throughout his life, he "put away" his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah even before he asked, because he knew the overall condition of his heart.

A good sheep is ever listening to his shepherd's call. If the sheep are listening for the shepherd's voice they will never be in dire need, there will be still waters - and when life gets difficult the shepherd will be there to see to their restoration.

Of course the need for restoration indicates some difficult or even desperate situation when the sheep might, for the moment, cry out, "My God why have you forsaken me?" Psalm 22:1 which surely indicates David had some moment of desperation - before his greater son used those words and then gave the climaxing cry, "It is finished" [John 19:30]

"He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake" [Psalm 23:3] Notice it is "for his name's sake" - it is because we bear his name, we belong to him, if we have taken on his name in baptism. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me" [Psalm 23:4]

There are few if any who have not experienced "valleys" - but it is the valleys that help us to appreciate the high hills and the vision they give to us. Life that is lived on a flat plain provides no vision.

What are the "rod and staff" that comfort us? They are symbols, we suggest, of strength and support; the control (when needed) possessed by the shepherd. How marvellous the vision of the last verse, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever"
-------
- DC


Thought for the Day

11 January 2014

"The Bible was waiting for us when we came, and it was waiting to be read by us; but not in the sense of counting so many verses and words, then closing the book, but in the sense of the Psalmist, who wrote: "Show me your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me: for you are the God of my salvation" (Psalm 25:4-5). To learn and to be taught is essential before we can hope to extract that spiritual food which so frequently lies between the lines, and beneath the surface - a reading which is calculated to implant a firm and robust foundation for the love of God and for His truth - a searching reading."

- T. Sturgess
The Secret of the Lord (1918)