"HAVE YOU ALSO BEEN DECEIVED?" Bible Reading Thoughts for April 15th

“HAVE YOU ALSO BEEN DECEIVED” 

     This was the question, the comment, the Pharisees made when the officers they sent to arrest Jesus returned without him.  They reply, “No one ever spoke like this man!”  [John 7 v46,47]

     John, the most intimate of the disciples of Jesus (John 21 v7,20) records his teaching in great detail, one often needs to reflect and meditate deeply about the points he records Jesus as making.

     There was a 7 day feast in Jerusalem, many were looking for Jesus, but it was only “about the middle of the feast (that) Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.” [v.14] They marvel at his words ; then Jesus says, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.  If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God …” [v.16,17]  And that is equally true today as we read his words and the other words God inspired men to write. Paul was later to declare, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness …” [2 Tim. 3 v.16]  The Proverbs we are presently reading are an outstanding example of this.

     If our hearts are genuinely operating on a spiritual wavelength we will accept the point Jesus makes, “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” [v.18]

     Ever since the days of Jesus the existence of human self-seeking among those claiming to follow him can be observed: Jesus sums up this part of his message by stating, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”[v.24]

     The religious leaders, dismayed at the popularity of Jesus were blinded by jealousy, there was no humility in their make-up, this is why they said to those who failed to arrest Jesus, “Have you also been deceived?” [v.47]

     Every generation since has had those who are self-deceived – it is the kind of pride that so easily springs from human nature.  Our careful and prayerful reading of God’s word is the antidote.  John made an essential point in his first letter, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” [1 v.8] Let is make sure the “truth is …in us” and read and meditate on God’s word every day and come closer to him and his Son who came to give real meaning and purpose to our lives.

"... DOING THE WORKS OF GOD" Bible Reading Thoughts for April 14th

“… DOING THE WORKS OF GOD”

     In John ch. 6 today we have an elaborate account  of the feeding of a multitude with loaves and fishes.  The story is familiar to us, it is the one miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all 4 gospels.  Afterwards they cross Galilee, it is evident that Jesus has a great number of followers  (would be disciples!) at this stage; he chides them, “Do not labour for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life” [v.27]

     Most do not get the point!  Do we?  Many are very interested in being able to do remarkable things, “they said to him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’” [v.28] They find the answer of Jesus unsatisfactory – do we?  They do not get his point when he says, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” [v.29]  Belief is proved by what that belief causes us to think and then do!  Jesus next develops the concept of spiritual bread in contrast to what they have recently taken part in.   They only listen to him, we could say, with one ear; only picking up what they want to hear!  It has become the same in a sense in these days, sort of reading with one eye!

     Jesus proceeds to tell them, “This is the will of my Father that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” [v.40]  How do we get our minds into true focus so that we ‘look on’ Jesus in a way pleasing to the Father?  The next verse tells us, “So the Jews grumbled about him …” [v.41] and Jesus says, “Do not grumble among yourselves.  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.  And I will raise him (or her) up on the last day.” [v.44]   

    Sadly, “after this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” [v.66]  Let us think – what kind of person does the Father, the great and utterly wonderful Creator of all things “draw (to) him”  through the work of his Son?

      What do we read in the last chapter in Isaiah!?  “… this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” [v.2]  With what attitude of mind do we read the word of God?
Proverbs 24:13-14 we read of the goodness of honey, and what it's effects symbolises spiritually:
"My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: SO SHALL the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul..."

We have a wonderful example of the powerful effect honey can have on the body in Jonathan (1 Sam 14:25-31), Saul had commanded that no one should eat that day they were fighting the Philistines:
"the men of Israel were DISTRESSED" and were "very FAINT", they were battling the Philistines (symbolic of sin), and because they had not taken food to sustain themselves they were in a very distressed state due to the battle.

Jonathan unknowing of the commandment of Saul, found honey and took of it, the effect on him was powerful:
"he (Jonathan) put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in an HONEYCOMB, and put his hand to his mouth; and his EYES were ENLIGHTENED"

Then, because of what he experienced through the effect of the honey on him, he wanted others to do the same, as he could see the sad state they were in:
"see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been ENLIGHTENED, because I tasted a little of this honey"

As we fight the good fight, we must continue to take in the daily bread of the word, that we do not become distressed or faint, and that our spiritual eyes be ENLIGHTENED. Also, let us be as Jonathan and encourage others to do the same.

"... WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE" - Bible Reading Thoughts for April 12th

“… WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE”

     We read today John’s rather detailed account of the visit Jesus and his disciples made to Samaria; it laid the foundation, we suspect, for the initial preaching effort of the apostles outside of Jerusalem (Acts 8 v.4-25).  We noted especially the teaching of Jesus, first to the woman at the well and then to the people who heard his teaching as he stayed on in the place for two days.  As a result “many more believed because of his word.” and “said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world’ ”  (4 v.41,42)

     His conversation with the woman started beside the well and the need for some natural water – how few realize today the urgent need for spiritual water!  Jesus said to the woman, “The water that I will give him (her) will become … a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [v.14]  It is clear that the ‘spiritual water’ is the message of Jesus.  It is not a matter of taking one glass of this spiritual water, but of continual drinking so that the “water” starts to direct the thinking and attitude of the person, truly “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

      Have you developed a “spring of water” in your heart and mind – or are you in the process of doing so?  Verses in today’s chapter in Proverbs are excellent examples of this spiritual water, for example v.11 & 12, “He (or she) who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king (Jesus!) as his friend.  The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge …”

      Our world is floating in a sea of ‘knowledge’ but hardly any of it has a spiritual flavour – much of it the opposite!  “Apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them withinyou, if all of them are ready on your lips.” [v.17,18]

    You and I will do this if we really desire – in our heart – that which will increasingly direct us towards possessing “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”    Proverbs 22v12 tea us that the LORD preserves knowledge.  We can see evidence of that in the very Bibles we are able to hold in our hands, that has cost lives.

God has done his part, we are to do ours (v17):
"...APPLY thine heart unto my knowledge"..... So that "thy trust may be in the LORD".

The wonderful result (20-21):
"Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge"
So that...
"I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth"
So that...
"thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?"

We have other places in scripture which speak of speaking to our neighbours (those who we come into contact with), the word of truth. To be able to do this we need to firstly apply our hearts to Gods word of truth to be able to teach it.

We remember these wonderful words "(God) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth".

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

11 April 2014

Numbers 29; 30
Proverbs 21
John 2; 3

"WILL I?"

The first 5 books of the Bible were written by Moses, although there are strong indications that Genesis was put together by collating earlier records. But most of Numbers and all of Deuteronomy were written in the last year of Moses life. Much of the text indicates that Moses was simply the intermediary between God and the people, "So Moses told the people of Israel everything just as the LORD commanded Moses." [Numbers 29:40]

Although the Law through Moses came to an end with our Lord's sacrificial death, there are many principles which remain and have lessons for us. Numbers 30 today is about the vital importance of keeping vows which an individual man or woman might make and those who fail, "bear their iniquity" for the man "shall not break his word" [Numbers 30:2]. Men and women make vows when they enter into marriage, but its no 'big deal' today for many if they later break them. In a spiritual sense we make vows when we decide to be baptised, for this is 'spiritual marriage' and Christ becomes our bridegroom and we are virgins waiting for his return.

Looking again at Numbers, it is interesting to notice the figures of the 12 tribes in the census that was taken as they started on their wilderness journeys and again when they completed it . In Numbers 1 those aged 20 and over numbered 603,550 and nearly 40 years later, they number.. 601, 730. [Numbers 26:51]. Hardly any change, those dying in the wilderness had been replaced by the children growing up, with others being born and becoming 20 and over.

But the figures for the individual tribes are also given and they are interesting, some tribes lost membership badly. Simeon is by far the worst example, dropping from 59,300 [Numbers 1:23] to only 22,200 [Numbers 26:14]! Others, such as Manasseh (up from 32,200 to 52,700) gained.

Our ecclesias can be compared to the tribes, we too are journeying through a wilderness, the wilderness of this world which is ever more dried out of spiritual values. If we trust in the LORD we will reach the promised land, but how many will fall by the wayside?

It is vital we ask ourselves, "Will I?"
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- DC


Thought for the Day

11 April 2014

"The first Adam lost Paradise through disobedience; the second Adam regains it through righteousness. For him "the desert shall blossom as the rose," and his land become "an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." "The King in his beauty" (Isaiah 33:17) will be surrounded with beauty, "for the glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, where he will declare Yahweh's name unto his brethren, in the midst of the great congregation" (Psalm 22:22), "which in the days of his travail and sorrow he loved and gave himself for, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious ecclesia, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27)."

- Ernest Pitt
The King in his Beauty (1917)

TFTD - 10 April 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

Proverbs 20v12:
"The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them"

The LORD has made our ears and eyes, but it is up to us how we use them:

"If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.....TAKE HEED WHAT YE HEAR: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given" (Mar 4:23)

"The LIGHT OF THE BODY IS THE EYE: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness" (Lu 11:34)

When speaking of the EARS and the EYES, we are reminded of the wonderful promise of the Kingdom, that has been revealed to us:
"it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. BUT God HATH REVEALED them unto US by his Spirit" (1 Cor 2:9-10)

10 April 2014

Numbers 28
Proverbs 20
John 1

"PURE AND UPRIGHT"

We read in Proverbs that "even a child makes himself known by his acts" [Proverbs 20:11], it then says, "whether his conduct is pure and upright." It is saying that what we actually do ­ proves what we really are far more than by what we say. It is also said that we teach by example, more than words, thus verse 7 tells us, "The righteous walks in his integrity ­ blessed are his children after him". [Proverbs 20:7] They have been taught by example and often children are more transparent in their actions than adults.

Another interesting proverb is "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out" [Proverbs 20:5] It causes us to ask ­ do we fully consider our purpose in doing something? If we really are a person who considers our ways, thinking carefully about all our intentions, then we will "draw it out" ­ like one drawing water from a well ­ and this takes time and effort.

Of course when the Bible uses the word 'man' it usually means all human beings, unless the context makes it clear it means a male. It draws no distinction between boys or girls, "even a child" obviously means both!

Finally, verse 6 is very interesting, ponder what it means. "Many a man (person) proclaims his (or her) own steadfast love, but a faithful man (person) who can find?" [Proverbs 20:6] It is telling us that what we say, what we declare to be our motives, is in many cases, not entirely correct; although it is not a real lie, because there is an element of truth in it. How often do we say things "with reservation?" I have known statements to be made, and agreement to be requested on them "without reservation."This is sad, it means we are acknowledging that so often we say things, not fully meaning them. This should not be so among those whose aim is to become children of God (read Romans 8:17) Do fully faithful, truthful people exist?

"Even a child" ­ if we start when we are children trying to do this, there is a better chance of us being found to be that kind of person when we are grown up.
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- DC


Thought for the Day

10 April 2014

"The supremacy of God means the well-being of men. There can be no peace on earth till there is glory to God in the highest. The highest well-being of man is in the holiest service of God. This is the case even now: how much more evident will it be when godly men are men made immortal? God is the fountain of all power, life and faculty. He exists of Himself and by Himself from eternity."

- Robert Roberts
Exhort One Another

TFTD - 09 April 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

Numbers 27:16-17 words which point forward to the true shepherd:
"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as SHEEP which have NO SHEPHERD".

Who was that man (v18)? "Joshua the sin on Nun", whose name means YAHWEH saves/YAHWEH is salvation.

The greater Joshua, Christ the good shepherd, witnessed the nation without a shepherd:
"But when he (Jesus) saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as SHEEP having NO SHEPHERD".

Numbers 27 continues (v21), the purpose of the shepherd and the responsibility of the congregation (ecclesia):
"AT HIS WORD shall they go out, and AT HIS WORD they shall come in".

Let us never forget, we are NOT without a shepherd, therefore let us NOT be faint, or be scattered abroad.  Let us keep these words:
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great SHEPHERD of the SHEEP, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen".

09 April 2014

Numbers 27
Proverbs 19
Philippians 3; 4

"REJOICE IN HOPE"

Today, more than ever before people, especially the young, love to enjoy themselves. Looking for means of enjoyment is the pre-occupation of what is called "the western world." They seek situations in which they can have fun, play games, watch shows and much more. Planning for weekends and holidays are special times to rejoice.

Our thoughts on this were sparked by the number of times Paul uses the word "rejoice" in his letter to the Philippians. What kind of rejoicing is he writing about? It is a contrast to most of the rejoicing which happens today. We read yesterday about Paul sending back to Philippi a brother from there who had been with Paul and he had been "ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, but not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow on sorrow. I am the more eager to send him therefore that you may rejoice at seeing him again." [Philippians 2:27,28]. That is a good reason for rejoicing.

Philippians 3 starts with, "Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord" We can ask, rejoice about what? From when Paul was converted many troubles came into his life but, but he writes, "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord … forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think in this way … let us hold true to what we have attained" [Philippians 3:8,13-16].

In all these things Paul rejoices, summing up this attitude in his final chapter, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice" [Philippians 4:4] In writing to the Romans he put it in just 3 words, "Rejoice in hope" [Romans 12:12] But what hope is this? Peter answers this question. He writes of "salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice" [1 Peter 1:5,6] But Peter lived in difficult times and this could soon be our situation, if it is not so already, so note his words, "do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you … but rejoice insofar as you share in Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." [1 Peter 4:12-13].
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- DC


Thought for the Day

09 April 2014

"Spiritual life is not bound to the wheel of our natural life, even though it passes through phases of development. There is something of the eternal about the qualities of character produced in a godly man, qualities which remain fruitful whilst his faculties remain. Simeon in the temple nursing a babe of a few weeks is like life in the truth. Throughout our days we nurse spring within us, the vibrant promise of life to come, the undying hope which sustains our mortal spirit. Fullness of summer and the abundance of harvest are found in the satisfying plenitude of life in Christ."

- H. Tennant
The Man David

08 April 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

Philippians 1:20 - words of exhortation from Paul:
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ"

Literally translated this would read "only let your CITIZENSHIP (way of life) be WORTHY of the gospel of Christ".  There is much for us to think about in just these few words, as we go about our daily lives.

Those at Philippi would know all about citizenship and what it meant. Philippi was a Roman colony, so the Citizens of Philippi were automatically citizens of Rome, which came with it the sharing of all the rights and privileges of Roman citizens. Even though most of them would have never been there or seen it.

And as Paul continues, he reminds the Philippians ch3, and us whose citizens we really are:
"...our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ",

Let us always remember, we are fellowcitizens with the saints and the household of God, and ambassadors of Christ. What a great privilege, as we see the abundance of signs in the nations around us, to prepare us for the coming of our Lord.
08 April 2014

Numbers 26
Proverbs 18
Philippians 1; 2

"NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE"

The real "us" is our minds! Oh yes, we have bodies of all shapes and sizes! But in a sense that does not count; the real 'you' and the real 'me' is what goes on inside our heads! Now this is the point that Paul is making in writing to the Philippians. If groups of believers who meet together to serve the Lord Jesus, having "the same mind" [Philippians 2:2] is very important. Note what he then goes on to write! He states that Jesus Christ set the example of the kind of mind we should have! How did he do that? What kind of mind is that?

We read that he "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men … he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death … therefore God has highly exalted him" [Philippians 2:6-9]. Jesus set the example of the kind of mind God is looking to see. This is the kind of person we should aim to be.

Some people are confused by the thought that Jesus is the example of this! Why? Because they have been taught that Jesus is a part of God. This is a misunderstanding; he became part of God because of his obedience to God's will. Remember how he prayed, "not my will but thine be done" [Luke 22:42] Now in tomorrow's Philippians reading, we will see how we can become, in a sense, part of God. Paul writes of true believers, that their "citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body …" [Philippians 3:20] and so become "priests of God and of Christ and Christ and they will reign with him … " [Revelation 20:6]

We must aim to "have this mind." Is there any other way to really live? The answer is obviously "No" ­ the only way to live is to recognise the real "us" and as a result focus our minds on eternal ways of thinking and living.
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- DC


Thought for the Day

08 April 2014

"The guiding hand shall not forever guide from a distance. Daniel’s survey of world empires ... did not stop short at four great dominions and a subsequent partition. There was a fifth to come, and it should display the might of God which we have now seen shall speak from Zion. “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left unto other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Daniel 2:44) What was very near in suffering when Jesus came the first time, shall be terribly near in glory when He shall return."

- A.D. Norris
Believing the Bible