Monday 15 December, 2014

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John 3:31-36

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

I love how this passage is a little cryptic, yet with some reflection becomes very clear.  John proclaims that Jesus came from heaven and spoke with a higher authority than those who are simply human authorities speaking from observation not from mere theories and that he spoke the words of God.

 

Jesus is clearly superior in every way.  This leads to the conclusion that is stark in its abruptness yet releasing when engaged with that believers in Jesus have eternal life and those who reject, in context those who do not believe will never have eternal life.  We may find this abrupt, we may find this with no weasel room and so it should be.  SO my clear application is – do you believe in Jesus, not just give Him mental assent, but truly follow Him with all your heart?  For in Him is found life!

 

Father help each of us to follow Jesus with all that we are.

 

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

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Saturday 22 March, 2014

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Psalm 61

1 God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer. 2 From a place far away I call out to you. I call out as my heart gets weaker. Lead me to the safety of a rock that is high above me. 3 You have always kept me safe from my enemies. You are like a strong tower to me. 4 I long to live in your holy tent forever. There I find safety in the shadow of your wings. Selah 5 God, you have heard my promises. You have given me what belongs to those who worship you. 6 Add many days to the king’s life. Let him live on and on for many years. 7 May he always enjoy your blessing as he rules. Let your love and truth keep him safe. 8 Then I will always sing praise to you. I will keep my promises day after day.

In this Psalm King David expresses his insatiable thirst for intimacy with his God. He enjoys the worship atmosphere of the Temple in company with other worshipers, but it is out in the wilderness on the run from his enemies that he acknowledges his complete dependence on God. This dependence draws him into an intimate and loving relationship with the LORD.

David’s fellowship with God is so real even though he has been forced into exile by his enemies. He is rejoicing because he knows that God is there. No matter what we are experiencing we know that an intimate relationship with God will make us able to meet any and every situation life throws at us.

Father I praise you that living in and through Jesus Christ brings me into an intimate relationship with you. I love you LORD and I lift my voice in worship in each situation of my life.

Written by Keith Bennett

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Friday 12 Apirl, 2013

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2 Samuel 15:1-12

15 Some time later, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He also got 50 men to run in front of him. 2 He would get up early. He would stand by the side of the road that led to the city gate. Sometimes a person would come with a case for the king to decide. Then Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “I’m from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are based on the law. So you have every right to make them. But the king doesn’t have anyone here who can listen to your case.” 4 Absalom would continue, “I wish I were appointed judge in the land! Then anyone who has a case or a claim could come to me. I would make sure he is treated fairly.” 5 Sometimes people would approach Absalom and bow down to him. Then he would reach out his hand. He would take hold of them and kiss them. 6 Absalom did that to all of the people of Israel who came to the king with their cases or claims. That’s why the hearts of the people were turned toward him. 7 After Absalom had lived in Jerusalem for four years, he went and spoke to the king. He said, “Let me go to Hebron. I want to keep a promise I made to the Lord. 8 When I was living at Geshur in Aram, I made a promise. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I’ll go to Hebron and worship him there.’” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent messengers secretly to all of the tribes of Israel. They said, “Listen for the sound of trumpets. As soon as you hear them, say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron.’” 11 Absalom had taken 200 men from Jerusalem with him to Hebron. He had invited them to be his guests. They went without having any idea what was going to happen. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel. Ahithophel was David’s adviser. He came to Absalom from Giloh, his hometown. The number of people who followed Absalom kept growing. So he became more and more able to carry out his plans against David.

There are a number of accounts in the Bible of villains who rise up

against a righteous leader. No matter how strong the leader- even Jesus- there seems that there will always be someone who rises against a leader.

We need to be aware of this within the greater Church and guard our righteous leaders against uprising.

It is vitally important to be involved in secular groups

in society, but we need to be careful when we align ourselves to causes, organisations and political movements that can serve to divide us from the purpose of God’s kingdom.

 

Written by Justin Ware

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