07 April 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

07 April 2014

Numbers 24; 25
Proverbs 17
Ephesians 5; 6

"UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS"

We should always make "the best use of our time"! But Paul's comment to the Ephesians is that they should do it "because the days are evil" [Ephesians 5:16]. This shows that the time for doing worthwhile things was short; the window of opportunity for working for the Lord was not going to last for very long. Paul continues, "therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is" [Ephesians 5:17] This is a major reason why we should read the word of God every day - to understand his will, so that our minds are filled with his principles and this leads to wise actions, more essential than ever when "the days are evil."

Now note how Paul next writes of the good things that they - and we - can and should make part of our lives when we have the time to be together. He says, "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart" [Ephesians 5:19]. We sing aloud, but note that last phrase "in your heart." This shows that we must really think about and know the meaning of the words we decide to sing - for we are singing to the Lord, not just to each other! We are singing about our convictions.

Jesus gave the very same warning, but he called those listening to him hypocrites and quoted Isaiah to them, "This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." [Matthew 15:8]. Finally, in our other Ephesians chapter today [Ephesians 6], Paul sums up his urgent advice about the coming evil day in words so appropriate to us today, "Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." [Ephesians 6:13]. A particular evil day or time of climax is certainly coming; it is what we do now that we see whether we "stand firm" or not.
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- DC


Thought for the Day

07 April 2014

"The word of God is truth, and if it be strong and lively within us, our faith will take us through this life to the blessed things that we hope for. Do not let us leave the Word of God as words in a book. A sword is not a quiet, passive, immobile thing; it is an instrument of action. Let us then take this sword, and translate it into action, bring it to the attention of the world, and to the full attention of our own minds."

- W. Bury
The Risen Christ (1959)
How do we smell?

People go to much effort to smell nice. Washing and bathing, perfuming and deodorising. We are very conscious that we smell right.

Are we so conscious of the smell we give off spiritually before our God?

Ephesians 5:1-2
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR"

Christ sacrificed his life for his brethren, in love. This was a SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR unto God.

As Paul writes to the ecclesia at Ephesus, we are to be imitators/followers of God and walk in that Godly pattern laid down by Christ.

Paul uses this analogy of a smell as he wrote to the ecclesia at Corinth (2 Cor 2):
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the SAVOUR of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a SWEET SAVOUR of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish"

As we go about our daily lives, may we manifest (make known) the knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ in every place we tread during our day. That, we truly triumph in Christ being a SWEET SMELLING SAVOUR of our Lord and Master arising unto our Heavenly Father.

06 April 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

06 April 2014

Numbers 22; 23
Proverbs 16
Ephesians 3; 4

"DARKENED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING"

The chapters in Ephesians today are a passionate plea by Paul to the believers there to see their behaviour does not slip back to what it was before they believed in Christ. Life in those days, like life today was full of distractions. He tells them, “you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and given themselves up to sensuality …” [Ephesians 4:17-19]

These words also accurately describe the atmosphere in which we live today, the attitudes probably nearly all of us see around us. Modern technology highlights these attitudes, making them worse and more appealing in many cases. Paul then writes, “But that is not the way you learned Christ!” [Ephesians 4:20] He seems to doubt that their learning of Christ had effectively led to a change of behaviour for he continues, “assuming that you have heard about him and were taught … to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires” [Ephesians 4:21-22].

How “deceitful” our desires can be! It is vital “to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” [Ephesians 4:23,24] Tragically we can be converted in our head, intellectually, while our hearts still have a great amount of fleshly inclinations.

Paul then says, “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by which you were sealed for the day of redemption.” [Ephesians 4:30]. We have on one or two occasions in past years attended those Pentecostal type services where they convince themselves they have some special gift that enables them to have visions; it is most unconvincing! But the point that Paul makes here is that we should recognise that the Holy Spirit possesses us, rather than the other way round. This is the point we have seen several times in Proverbs; that the “eyes of the LORD are in every place keeping watch …”. Surely this is the case with those who have been “sealed” by God’s Spirit.
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- DC


Thought for the Day

06 April 2014

"The words of Jesus are like a pocket compass which will never fail to give us our bearings. "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise" (Luke 5:31). His words convey the general law. If the teacher shows the pupil how to work out each sum, he will never make him proficient in arithmetic. He gives the learner the principle and lets him work it out in separate examples for himself."

- Claud Lamb
Wholesome Words (1991)

Numbers 22 we read of Balaam, of whom the inspired commentary on him in Jude writes:
"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam FOR REWARD, and perished in the gainsaying of Core".

No notice as we read Numbers ch22 & 23 the persuasion used on Balaam by Balak:
- Balaam was presented with "rewards of divination"
- Balaam because he refused was then met by "princes, more and more honourable"
- the request to Balaam after the rewards and people who came to see him was "don't let anything hinder thee" don't let anything get in your way of what you could have.
- Balak then tells Balaam he will promote him "to great honour"
- it is also told Balaam the he would be in control "I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me"
- Now the emotional screws are turned "did I not earnestly send unto thee", quick make a decision it's urgent.
- And Balak says, don't forget I can "promote thee"

This is the behaviour and the reasoning the world and those in it use. We must not be like Balaam, who in many ways said the right thing.

And then in ch24 we have Balak's frustration and accusation "I thought to promote thee unto great honour, but, lo, the LORD hath KEPT THEE BACK FROM HONOUR".

The world seeks to gain our allegiance by flattery, reward and soft words, but when refused can bring this accusation on us. But can we feel the same "the LORD hath KEPT THEE BACK FROM HONOUR", if we feel our talents in this world are being wasted because of the life we are to lead in Christ.

05 April 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

05 April 2014

Numbers 20; 21
Proverbs 15
Ephesians 1; 2

PRINCIPLES APPLY

"Because you did not believe" - This is what the LORD said to Moses! We prove whether or not we believe God means what he says by what we do: whether we have listened carefully to his word. by how we act! Near enough, is not good enough! Now, it is important that we understand why the LORD said these words to Moses which we read today in Numbers 20.

Once again, nearing the end of their wilderness journeying, the Israelites are put to the test by the lack of water for themselves and their flocks - and they fail the test. After all their experiences of God providing for their basic needs they should have known better than to complain bitterly about the lack of water. They say to Moses, "Why have you made us come out of Egypt to this evil place? … there is no water to drink. So the glory of God appears and the LORD speaks to Moses, "Take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle." [Numbers 20:8] So they gather before the rock, it must have been a huge one, and Moses says, "Hear now you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" and Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly …" [Numbers 20:10,11]

Now Moses had not done exactly what he had been told to do, he had been told to speak to the rock! Nor had he credited this miracle to God. This is what caused God to say to him, "Because you did not believe in me to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people … you shall not bring this assembly into the land." [Numbers 20:12].

God expects us to do what he says and surely the same principle applies when it comes to matters like baptism. Those who say it is sufficient to sprinkle water on the forehead should heed the example of Moses' mistake. There would only be one church if we would fully apply our minds to God's words and the words he inspired men like the apostles to write, but it seems these things have to be in order to fully sift the wheat from the chaff.
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- DC

Ephesians 1:9 - Paul reminds the Ephesians of the great blessing of being called into the saving name of the Lord Jesus Christ:

"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his GOOD PLEASURE which he hath purposed in himself"

If we follow "good pleasure", we find it first used when the angels announced the joyful news of Christ's, "glory to God in the highest, and...:good will (GOOD PLEASURE) toward men".

Verse 5 of this chapter in Ephesians reminds us that we are called according to His GOOD PLEASURE. 

It also shows us why:

Phil 1:15 - we have been called to do His "GOOD PLEASURE".

The next occurrence has wonderful words of exhortation for us:

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the GOOD PLEASURE of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: so That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ"

We have been called, not to fulfil our own good pleasure, but to fulfil God's GOOD PLEASURE in our lives in Christ be glorified. Let us with this in mind pray for one another. 

Thought for the Day

05 April 2014

"Fight the good fight, avoid profane and vain babblings, and knowledge falsely so called. Some have followed these babblings and assumptions of knowledge and have lost their faith. Knowledge is good if directed by wisdom, and is a good weapon when used aright, but knowledge falsely so called is a weapon that turns upon its wielder. The wisdom that is from above guides in the choice of weapons in this good warfare, and faith is one of them particularly singled out for praise. Without it there can be no good fight, for it is the fight of faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:10)"

- C.A. Ladson
The Good Fight (1931)

"WHEN YOU DID NOT KNOW GOD" - Bible Reading Thoughts for April 3rd

Galatians 3:1
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye SHOULD not obey the truth"

The Greek for "should" is translated most times in our Bibles as "persuade", so Galatians could read "who hath bewitched you, that ye are PERSUADED not to obey the truth".

If we follow some occ of the Gk translated "persuade", we find contrasts:

Matthew 27:20 - the trial of Christ:
"But the chief priests and elders PERSUADED the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus".
(Here the multitude are persuaded to destroy Jesus).

Acts 28:23 - Paul's teaching:
"there came many to his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the Kingdom of God, PERSUADING them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening".
(Here Paul persuades from the scriptures, all day, and in other places it shows he did this continuously).

We are being persuaded throughout our daily lives, the question is, are we:
1. Allowing the multitudes to persuade us, which leads to the destruction of Christ in our lives?
Or are we:
2. Allowing the daily and sustained intake and exposition of the scriptures to persuade us to hold fast and make the right choices on our journey to the Kingdom?

"WHEN YOU DID NOT KNOW GOD"                                                                                                         

    In his letter to the Galatians Paul reminds those who have responded to his teaching and become believers of what they had been previously when they did not know the true God.  Many have trouble in letting their previous beliefs and associated practices fade from their minds.

     How different it is today for those who have been brought up to believe in the true God and his message.   It is different because the sharp edge of the spiritual excitement of conversion from false belief and its’ lifestyle, has not been experienced – except for a few.. Those few had a great sense of appreciation?

     Consider what Paul wrote, “when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.” [4 v.8]  How many around us today are in slavery – to the ways of the modern world and its ‘gods’.!  How much attraction does it still hold for you?  It presses in on us in so many ways.

      Amongst the Galatians there were some who had a diminishing sense of appreciation of what they had come to know, forgetting how it had originally been so meaningful compared to their previous idol worship.

      The Jews who were converted to Christ had a different, but still difficult problem.  Christ came, writes Paul, “to redeem those who were under the Law, so that they might receive adoption as sons.” [v.5]  This adoption applied to both those from a Gentile and a Jewish background – and Paul makes the point, “.. because you are (now) sons God has sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father’” [v.6]

    What is this Spirit?  It is a spiritual perception of the presence of the one and only God who is now “Our Father”! Recall what Paul told the Athenians about the true God, “he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘in Him we live and move and have our being’” [Acts 17 v.27,28]  

     Paul  challenges the Galatian converts, “now that you have come to know God, or rather be known by God how can you turn back again to …” [v.9] what you were before?  

     Knowing God is having a real living relationship with him day by day.    Paul is distressed at what was happening to many of the converts he had made in Galatia, he writes, “my little children for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ be formed in you”[v.19]

    In 2014 we must continually take stock and ask ourselves – to what extent has Christ been formed in me?  Is my sense of conversion fading?  Paul told the Galatians, “I am perplexed about you” [v.20] – would he write the same about you?

   As we plan to be away – Kay will be sending out the Bible thoughts for us for the next week, ‘if the Lord will’

TFTD - 04 April 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

04 April 2014

Numbers 19
Proverbs 14
Galatians 5; 6

"WHOEVER IS PATIENT HAS GREAT UNDERSTANDING"

We are now nearly halfway through the book of Proverbs. They are a solid read and if we try to read quickly we do not get much nourishment for our minds from them. It is good to mark those verses you find most meaningful to you personally; better still, to create large signs with the words on them. In some homes people like to have pictures of Christ, but these are all based on human imagination. There is only one passage in the Bible that indicates what Christ looked like! You won't find it in the New Testament; it is in the opening verses of Isaiah 53, that remarkable prophecy of the work of the "arm of the LORD", i.e. Jesus and what he would accomplish. It describes his rejection by men and that "he had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire him" [Isaiah 53:2]

So all the pictures that show him as a handsome man with curling golden hair are wrong! People were attracted - or repulsed - by what he said, not by what he looked like. Remember King Saul was tall and outstanding among the people, but being physically attractive did him no good!

Far better than having meaningless pictures on the walls of our dwelling we should note the Proverbs which are really meaningful to us and put them up as a constant reminder of godly principles. Ten days ago we made particular comment on Proverbs 2 and the process by which you can come to understand the fear (awe) of the LORD.

Now today's chapter has two references to "the fear of the LORD" In Proverbs 14:26 "In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence" and what we read in Proverbs 2 showed how that is achieved to create in you strong confidence in his protection. Then in Proverbs 14:27, "the fear of the LORD is a fountain of life" Fountains provide water, our awe of God creates "living water"

Finally, look at Proverbs 14:29 - would you put those words on your wall?
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- DC


Thought for the Day

04 April 2014

"Paul had a very searching word for the Jew in his day: "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you". They had a high calling-the chosen people of God. They were watched. We have inherited that high and holy calling. We are watched. But another one has declared: "I know thy works". But here it is Christ risen and ascended to heaven who speaks, and his knowledge of us goes further than outward observation. He sees all. He knows our hearts. Nothing is hidden. It is a solemn thought. Let us take warning, but let us take comfort from the knowledge that while he sees our failings he also sees our repentance and our strivings. He will be our Judge-a merciful Judge."

- H. Hewett
The Jew First, and Also the Gentile (1952)

Bible Reading Thoughts for April 2nd

Proverbs 12:
"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop", literally this would read anxiety in the heart of man maketh it depressed or prostrate.

What a lovely contrast in the 2nd part of the verse:
"But a good word maketh it glad (lit = to rejoice)"

We must never forget the +ve power that a word can have on someone.

And reminds us of Proverbs 15:23 "a word spoken in due season (at the right time), how good it is".

The "good word" is not just literal but speaks of the spiritual, the good word being the word of God that truly brings gladness and rejoicing to the heart. The writer to the Hebrews speaks about the wonderful tasting of the GOOD WORD of God, may we partake of that daily bread, that we indeed be able and prepared to give that good word, that truly brings gladness to the heart
.ASTONISHMENT

                                                                                                                                               

     In the opening chapter of his letter to the Galatians Paul writes of his astonishment “that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” [Ch.1 v.6]. 

     He goes on to say that “if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received let him be accursed” [v.9].  He says further, “the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel … I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” [v.11,12]. 

      Why were people trying to change it?   In the 2^nd chapter he writes of “false brothers secretly brought in – who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery” [v.4].  He means slavery to keep the law with its priesthood system and rules like keeping the Sabbath, circumcision and tithing – these false brothers wanted every Gentile convert to observe these things -. this would have corrupted the gospel and destroyed what Christ died to achieve.

     We note that Paul was astonished that this was happening so soon – and we are similarly astonished in our reading in Numbers today that Moses very soon has a fresh problem with the people.  This time it is not among the tribes; the bad report of the 10 spies had been dealt with.  This time it among the Levites, the priests. 

      Korah, Dathan and Abiram challenge Moses saying, “Why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” [16 v3]  Moses responds, “Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do service in the tabernacle?”   [v.9] 

     All too often the desire for pride of place is the root cause of problems, so, despite all the evidence of the divine presence, this folly is committed and they are destroyed because of it. It reminded us of the proverb we read yesterday, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” [11 v.2]  Let us in humility make sure we believe and teach the same gospel as Paul; it is more needed today  and meaningful today than ever as pout world falls apart- “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” [Heb. 6 v,19]  Are you putting your “anchor” to good use?

Bible Thoughts for April 1st.

“THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT GUIDES THEM”

     We continue reading and meditating on Solomon’s Proverbs; if all the people in Israel had put into practice his precepts surely his kingdom would have continued to be a great and righteous kingdom for “a great while” (2 Sam 18 v.9) after his death.  But sadly the history of the generations that followed shows that was not so.  Healthy spiritual life centred on worship at the temple he had built in Jerusalem, but this began to falter and although there were excellent times during the reigns of good kings, the spiritual commitment of the nation steadily withered away..

     We can see a comparison to when the Bible was first printed in the 16^th and 17^th Centuries and became increasingly available for all to read – what a reformation it brought about!  But since then there has been a downhill slide – until today we are at the very bottom of the hill!   And it is time for God to act – and his word makes it clear that he will.

     Some of today’s Proverbs in chapter 11 jump out at us!  There are some that are so meaningful. They make us think how good and harmonious life would be if they were widely put into practice. “With the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them” [v.2,3]  “The righteousness of the blameless keeps his ways straight” [v.5]  “The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.” [v.8]

      In contrast, “with his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbour” [v.9], but then comes the comment, “but by knowledge the righteous are delivered”  It is not difficult to see what kind of knowledge is meant!

      In our world today there is a total lack of Bible inspired wisdom.  Life has become increasingly uncertain – especially in some parts of the world.  Our final thought comes from v.30, “”The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life…”  This takes us back to thinking of “the tree of life” in the garden of Eden from which Adam and Eve were barred and then to Revelation 2 v.7. Those who truly follow the way of Christ, guided by integrity, will have “great joy and (be) continually in the Temple blessing God” which are the concluding words in Luke’s Gospel we also read today.

     Imagine the even greater joy in the Temple to come!  Let us make our lives full of God inspired “integrity” becoming soberly aware of what Peter was to later write,”… if necessary you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold … may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ … and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible.” [1 Peter 1 v. 6-8} . 

Our Proverbs reading ch11:
"And he that watereth shall be watered himself"

The x2 words for water in this verse are x2 diff Hebrew words. The 1st means to soak abundantly, and is used Isai 55:10 (the context of which is the soaking by the word of God as the rain does the ground).  And the 2nd means to flow as water ie to rain, in fact the majority of times it is translated as "teach" in our Bibles.

With this in mind we go to Paul's words (1 Cor 3:6) "I have planted, Apollos WATERED; but God gave the increase". And also the words of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 10:42) "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold WATER only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward".

This, like our Proverbs ref has spiritual application, the water being the word of God.  With this in mind, let us be waterers/teachers of the word of God, because we know that God will give the increase, and He will reward us.