Holiness is not an optional extra

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 4:7 “God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives”.

 

Observation

Paul sets up a division between the impure and the holy. His examples centre on sexual morality and purity. In verse 3 he says “God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin”. He goes on to tell them that if they reject living a holy life that we not only break the laws and moral codes of the land but we reject God. Holy living is obviously a big deal to God! It doesn’t appear as an optional extra. Paul is reminding us that as members of God’s family we have an obligation to live exemplary lives which go beyond our own selfishness but reflect the life we have been given through the grace and sacrifice of Christ. This isn’t given as a request but is a direct reflection of what is required to be a follower of Christ.

 

Application

Living a holy life requires a complete makeover of my mind, my will and my desires. I cannot even imagine myself being able to live by the code of heaven without the renewing of my entire human bias. And praise the Lord, he does that for me at salvation and continues it through my daily walk with him. But remember - Paul was speaking to the church here. He wasn’t addressing the unconverted.  God knows that I need a daily reminder that I have been “set apart” – made holy – through the washing away of my sinfulness through Christs act on the cross. Holiness is not an optional extra that I can decide not to participate in; it is an inherent part of the life of a Christian. Therefore, living a holy life – with all of its requirements – becomes my daily walk. Because if I don’t, I actually reject God.

 

Prayer

This is serious stuff Lord. You have chosen me and called me to be a son in your family, and I have accepted and thanked you for that. But now, my responsibility is to live a holy life. Holy Spirit I need you each day to be my guide and my teacher. Remind me when I make an impure turn in my thinking and help me recognise the line of division I have just crossed. Give me the strength required to constantly live a holy life that is pleasing to the Father who watches over me. In Jesus name I ask. Amen.

 

Jim Jung

Reinforced Steel

Scripture:

When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.

1 Thess 1:5

Observation:

In verse 5, Paul sets forth the reason he knows those in the Thessalonian church are elected. He says, "for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake." Paul calls it, "our gospel." The gospel is always intentionally personal to Paul. He doesn't mean that it is his private possession, or that it originated from him. He simply means that it was the gospel that he preached. This is the message that Paul had committed his life to, and trusted for his eternal salvation, and this was the message that he proclaimed to the Thessalonians.  Paul freely admits that it was Holy Spirit’s work within that made the difference. Holy Spirit is at work within each believer to make the difference.  Just like reinforced steel- he brings a sturdy, strong assurance of our convictions; of our faith. He produces a "full assurance" or "full conviction" as he operates in our lives.

Application:

God doesn't want us to be like reeds blowing in the wind. He wants us to have full confidence and assurance regarding our position in Christ. The Holy Spirit would reinforce our convictions with steel.  At times, there is a big gust of wind and I can reconsider my convictions. This occurs when I question and doubt my position in Christ. It’s when as I allow Holy Spirit to remind me that I am His child, His Ambassador, His Friend; that I recollect the steel that is placed in my convictions.

Prayer:

Father, I love that you keep reminding me about who I am in you. I know you know I need to be reminded. Cause it is like steel reinforcing a structure against destruction. Protect my mind and heart against the darts of the enemy. Thank you for surrounding me with your very presence. Amen.

 

Hayley

 

 

Heavenly security system

Scripture

Psalm 125: 2 “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore”.

 

Observation

The city of Jerusalem is virtually surrounded by a series of mountains that protect it from invaders. These immovable objects bar the way of anything that would try and sneak up and attempt to penetrate the defences of the city. In the days of the psalmist (where the aircraft and ballistic missiles didn’t yet exist) the mountain ranges formed a barrier between the enemy and the safety of the city. The Lord surrounds and protects us with the same impenetrable and immovable barriers that keep the enemy at bay. The only way our foe can enter into the city is by infiltrating his way through the front door disguised as a friend. When everyone is sleeping he unveils himself from his disguise and wreaks havoc from within.

 

Application

The Lord provides me with the best protection system available but I so often find myself circumventing his security by inviting the very enemy in that He is working to keep out. The promise of the Lord is that he surrounds me with his presence and provides all I need to thrive and prosper, but like Eve I keep wondering what that disqualified apple tastes like. I so often allow the enemy into the city naively believing that he cannot really do any harm. But he inevitably does. The promise of the Lord is a reminder that His protection and care surrounds me for a purpose and I must take it seriously.

 

Prayer

Father, thank you for your grace and love toward me. I’m ashamed to so often have to come to you to seek forgiveness for allowing the enemy of my soul to come into my life, invited. I recognise that I so often am seduced by his craftiness. I’m so thankful for your forgiveness when I fail. Thank you for your heavenly security system. Help me to honour it in every aspect of my life.

 

Jim Jung

I am His.

Scripture:

8…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

 9"This, then, is how you should pray:
   " 'Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name,
 10your kingdom come,
   your will be done
      on earth as it is in heaven.
 11Give us today our daily bread.
 12Forgive us our debts,
      as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 13And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one.  – Matthew 6:8-13

Observation:

When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He emphasised the father-child relationship we have with God. Jesus spoke Aramaic, and the word for “father” in Aramaic is Abba, which literally means “Daddy.”  The Father-child relationship is the foundation of the entire prayer.  “Daddy, Your name is holy. Daddy, your Kingdom come and your will be done. Daddy, provide for me. Daddy, forgive me. Daddy, guide me and protect me.”

 

Application:

My Father is not aloof, nor does He love me from afar. HE loves me personally and extravagantly.  He knows me by name and is an involved Father. Nothing will ever separate me from Him (rom. 8:38-39).  No tragedy will take Him from me. I won’t come home to find he has left me. He is not going anywhere. His love for me, as His child, is fixed and secure.

My Father’s love is eternal, personal, intentional, unconditional, generous, and purifying. I am His child. And how should I respond to this reality? Living the reality of my identity as a child means trusting, obeying and reflecting my Father.

 

Prayer:

Father, you know that I am struggling with words today. But my prayer is this… Daddy, Your name is holy. Daddy, your Kingdom come and your will be done. Daddy, provide for me. Daddy, forgive me. Daddy, guide me and protect me. Thank you for fixing and securing your love on me. Amen

 

Hayley

 

 

 

What treasure are you carrying?

Scripture

Mat 6:21  “For your heart will always be where your riches are”.

 

Observation

The things that are important to us are things we carry around in our hearts. These are the things that Jesus says we will treasure and defend therefore we need to ensure that we have good treasures that have lasting value or else we will find ourselves defending hollow riches.

 

Application

Whenever tragedy strikes it makes me examine the riches I carry in my heart. How much worth is there in the things I call precious? Trouble makes me inspect my stockpile of heart goods and often there is junk to be found that I have foolishly horded. I do a cleanout of those things and re-evaluate the treasures that really do have eternal price and am reminded of all the stuff I cannot take with me.

 

Prayer

Father, may I be one who regularly inspects my heart to ensure I have things of great worth as my treasures. May my relationships, my love, my dedication to your ways be rubies and diamonds. Help me when I begin to horde worthless junk which I often see as priceless.

 

Jim Jung

 

Fishers of Men

Scripture

Matthew 4:19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, be my disciples and I will show you how to fish for people!”  And they left their nets at once and went with him.

 

Observation:

The authority that Jesus had to call men to follow him and they left their nets at once!!  I can’t imagine going down to a bunch of fishermen and telling them to follow me.  I’m sure they would tell where I should go.  But to be shown how to fish for people by Jesus must have been a big learning curb.

 

I’m not sure what these fishermen’s personalities were like, but I’m sure they were not natural people gatherers.  Jesus would have had to show them from the ground up.  These fishermen were not the best from a sales team that had to sell the Kingdom of God and meet a daily or weekly target.  Jesus simply showed them.  I notice also that Jesus uses the word “show them” rather than “Teach them”….

 

Application:

I hope I can grasp the principle of being a fisher of men.  I hope my spiritual hook is always primed to catch people into the Kingdom.  It’s not difficult or complicated Jesus simply showed the disciples and off they went.  Maybe that’s why Jesus chose some fishermen to be part of his team.

 

Prayer:

Father help me to be a fisher of men, help me have great spiritual catches that see’s the Kingdom grow because of great fishermen of people, Jesus showed the disciples something very simple, Father help me learn it that way.

 

Amen

 

Stephen Hutchison

 

 

 

 

 

 

Straight Paths

S –      Matthew 3:3

 

 

‘This is He who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert - prepare the way of the Lord… make straight paths for him.

 

 

O -       I see that John was very clear and focused in his assignment to declare and prepare the way for Jesus. John knew both the importance and prophetic significance of Jesus ministry and mission. This gave urgency as to how he would go about his message of introduction. It was very direct and confronting. There were no diversions or wanderings for John; his assignment was one of preparation and directness. A straight path is always for a direct and shortest journey. Other paths can be decorative or for sight seeing. The path to Jesus was intended to be direct, no other scenic diversions and nothing along the way to hinder.

 

 

A -       To Prepare and make straight paths speaks to me of the continual importance and attention I must give to the message and mission of Jesus. Is my path straight? Is it a path where I am taking the shortest and direct route and not being distracted or allowing other meanderings along the way? I know there are so many distractions and places I can allow my path to take me. It speaks to me of how I need to keep this straight and focused path in communicating the message and the mission. It’s a preparing the way to the Lord, for who He is and what His mission is about.

 

 

P -       Lord I want to walk and build a straight path for you. Forgive me when less urgent and demanding things command my walking. Let me keep the urgency in my straightness.

The God of Encouragement

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 7:6  “But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.“

 

Observation:  Even Paul got discouraged sometimes!!  Yet Paul recognised that “discouraged” was not a place the Lord would have him stay.  “Discouraged” was not a place where Paul could be effective in his call and in his mission, for “discouraged” drains your energy & inclines you to give up.  And so, Paul experiences a “BUT GOD” moment – an intervention of the Lord in the person of Titus to turn Paul’s discouragement around to encouragement.  It was a simple thing, really, the arrival of Titus -   almost an “unspiritual” thing - but Paul had eyes to see what God, the God of encouragement, wanted him to see.  That He had sent Titus to turn Paul’s jaded view of his situation around and enable Paul to “keep on keeping on”!.

 

Application: I have my moments of discouragement, too….but I need to recognise, as Paul did, that discouragement is not a place the Lord wants me to be! – and so, He will encourage me – because that’s His nature!!   I need to look out for that encouragement – to look out for the arrival of a Titus –maybe in the form of a friend or acquaintance, or even in a remark in a conversation!  Maybe in a word of Scripture, or something as “unspiritual” as a snippet on a TV program I happen to be watching!  But it will be there – because my God is the God of encouragement!  But, like Paul, I must have the eyes to see it, and allow myself to hear it & be encouraged! 

 

The other person in the scene above is Titus.  Where Paul is the “encouragee” Titus is the “encourager”.  Am I allowing the Lord to use me in that way?  To look out for an opportunity to genuinely encourage those with whom I have contact – no matter how small that encouragement may seem to me.  It may well be that the Lord wants to use me to be His “Titus” to one of His “Pauls”.

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thankyou that You are the God of encouragement.  Forgive me for those times I have allowed discouragement to take hold in my life!  Please help me to have the ears to hear & the eyes to see when You are sending Your encouragement my way!!  And, Lord, may I be a source of Your encouragement to others.  In Jesus’ name  Amen.

Facing the Future with Blurred Vision

Scripture:

‘We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!’   1 Cor. 13:12

 

Observation:

I have always gotten frustrated when I cant see the clear picture.  Paul here encourages us that it wont be long till the fog lifts. There is the day coming when our eyes will be fully open and we’ll see the Master’s plan unfolding in its fullness.

 

Application:

I have always had major issues when faced with one of those 3D hidden pictures.  Deliberately blurring my vision and peeking through squinted view seems totally unnatural to me. Just like not seeing the path clearly or having directions for the journey. Paul encourages me thought that it is okay that I don’t see things clearly… but one day I will!

 

Prayer:

Father, you know the areas I have blurred vision and how much I long to see it all clearly.  I recognise that you are calling me to greater growth in my trust of you. I commit afresh today to trusting you fully.  Help me in this I pray. That I would walk by faith not by what I see.

 

 

 

hayley stirling

 

Prayer languages

Scripture

1 Cor 14: 7 “Even musical instruments like the flute or the harp, though they are lifeless, are examples of the need for speaking in plain language. For no-one will recognise the melody unless the notes are played clearly”

 

Observation

Paul is speaking about the spiritual gifts and he is highlighting one specific gift, speaking in other tongues. He makes the point that speaking in tongues is a wonderful, yet personal benefit when communicating with God. But he highlights that it has little benefit to other people who are unable to understand what is being communicated.

 

Application

So much has been made of this specific gift over the past 100 years. Denominations have risen, doctrines and theology have been created, families have been torn-apart over it. Such a shame. The gift of speaking in tongues is a wonderful love language that I can use to communicate with my Father in heaven. It releases me to freely abandon my mind from creating sentences and allows my spirit to vocalise my heart to the Father.  Without interpretation it benefits no other person in earshot. Therefore I choose to use my “prayer language” in my own prayer times and I choose to use understandable words when I’m with others.

 

Prayer

Father, your communication methods go far beyond language. This wonderful gift of tongues is so releasing for me to share my heart with you. Thank you also for the languages of men that allow us to communicate with one another the glories of your presence. My the melody of my heart and the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight. Amen

 

Jim Jung

What's important?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:19  “For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised.  The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.”

 

Observation:  Paul’s comments in this passage are his instructions to some very practical questions that the Corinthians seem to have been struggling with……”once I have become a Christian, what do I change in my life to reflect this?”  Paul basically says – nothing in your situation.  Your situation is not what determines your Christianity.  Your lifestyle is.  A lifestyle that is governed by God’s commandments – the commandments of Jesus to love God first &, out of that commandment, to love each other.  A lifestyle that puts relationships ahead of position in society.  A lifestyle that speaks of freedom bought at a high price – the life of the Son of God.  A freedom from sin, guilt, shame & death.  A life worth living because it has been given worth and purpose by Christ’s sacrifice.  You can be a Christian whether slave or free, married or unmarried, circumcised or uncircumcised.  But, he says, live with your heart turned towards God, in gratitude choosing to honour Him in every situation you find yourself in.

 

Application:  How often in this world, where the importance of a person is measured more by the size of their bank account or the prestige of their title or position in their employment, do I look to those things rather than the important thing – a heart prepared to “keep God’s commandments”.  Am I “dazzled’ more by the former than I am by the latter?  Do I attain to the former without seeing the latter as the higher attainment in God’ eyes?  For, as Paul says, the keeping of God’s commandments is what is important.   The following of His ways is the only real external indication that I am, indeed, a Christian.  That my life is somehow “different” from the lives of most in this world.  It is the only way others will see that Christ does make a difference, and that He is truly worthy to be followed.  As the Lord said when Samuel was trying to determine which of Jesse’s sons he was to anoint as the future King of Israel, it wasn’t the external looks, but God looked upon the heart - and so David, the youngest, the shepherd boy,  & the “least” in his family, was the one God had chosen.   Because David had a heart to follow God, he did attain the highest position in the land – but by God’s appointment, not his own manipulations.  That’s the thing – there is nothing wrong with title or position or prestige – God appoints his people to such positions – but “the important thing is to keep God’s commandments”

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thankyou again for the importance You placed on my life by sending your Son to redeem it on the cross!  Lord, may my first priority in response always be to keep your commandments, and to treat others according to Your ways, without favouritism, and never according to just their worldly positions or titles.

 

In Jesus’ name  Amen.

 

Sue Otto

The Coat

 

 

Scripture:

Job 29:14  ‘All I did was just and honest, for righteousness was my clothing.

 

Observation:

Job knew who he was in Christ.  It could be thought that he expressed pride and boasting in what he knew to be true and right.  But Job was honest, giving, respected and was sought after for wisdom.  He was clothed in righteousness – the righteousness of almighty God and knew the presence of God was upon him and his family.  He knew the favour of God was on him and his family.  He felt the friendship of God in his home.

 

Even though he could no longer feel the presence of God upon him, he still was a faithful man of God. His clothing did not change, for he knew in his heart he was a just and honest man.  I am sure the feeling of the friendship of God being upon him and his family would have been a lifeline to hold onto through this trial – knowing that he has been favoured with God’s presence in the past – and believing he will have it again.

 

Application:

The favour of God is my desire, being given a garment to wear called righteousness is what I need to keep on my back.  His righteousness will be the garment that will keep me warm from the winters of life and storms that will come (and I know they will come).  The garment that will show that I am His and will never wear out.  The righteousness of Christ is the only garment I need.  It’s almost like a shield and I button it up, fold up the collar, hands in my pockets and hunch my shoulders and go forward - with my garment on.

 

Prayer:

Lord, you are all I need – as I lay down my all – as I remain just and honest, with your integrity and wisdom,   I receive your garment and wear it continually in good times and not so good - knowing you gave it.

Your righteousness not mine – your garment – but I wear it.

 

 

Terry B

 

 

 

 

Scripture

Psalm 120:1 “I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer”.

 

Observation

The Psalmist recognises that there are various places to which he can present his troubles. He could try and take them to the wise and seek counsel, he could bury his problems in his forgetfulness and hope they’d just go away, he could blame someone else for his issues and shift his sense of failure or guilt onto another person, he could even live in denial and pretend the problems don’t even exist. But he knows that even though an element of all of these options would give him some relief his true answer is found in the Lord.

 

Application

I am guilty of taking my problems to various other options and so often end up disappointed with the outcome. I realise that I’m thick! The Lord sits ready to receive my cries and is postured to respond. Is it pride? Is it arrogance? Is it a lack of faith or trust? Perhaps all of these and more… I need to become more aware of my true rescuer, Christ. He is ready to receive me and respond.

 

Prayer

Father, thank you for having such patience with me. I’m sorry for so often using other sources as my first port of call. My trust is in you and therefore my actions and requests should reflect my heart.

 

Jim Jung

Pleasing God

Scripture:

Gal 1:10 Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser!  No I am trying to please God.  If I were trying to please people I would not be Christ’s servant.

 

Observation:

Paul had a very big mission ahead of him, and his mandate was clear.  Paul was not interested in compromising the Gospel.  To be a servant of Christ meant Paul had to stand strong with his convictions.  Paul was not looking for man’s approval and was not interested in winning any popularity contests.  Paul will step on toes where he needs to…… And he did.

 

Application:

Where is my heart at?  Do I set out to please man or God?  Who do I try to impress?  I want to be a servant of Christ and the only way I can do that is to set out to please Him.  If my ultimate heart is to please God then the overflow affect should be favour with man.  God is the one to look to first!  Even when I am serving man in a practical day to day manor, my heart should be that of pleasing my Father in everything I do.  There are many times when I look to men to impress and leave God out of the picture.

 

Prayer:

Father help me have you always at the top of the list.  Where all my thoughts, concerns, strengths, weaknesses, failures and successes are all pointed towards You!  Help me be the servant that pleases you first in all that I do, that I don’t compromise my convictions to please men, but to remain faithful in pleasing You Father as I endeavour to be obedient in all you’ve called me to be.

 

Amen

Unexpected, unpredictable, yet so secure!!

Scripture:  Mark 14: 61 & 62  “Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  Jesus said, “I AM.  And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

 

Observation:  It’s “crunch” time!  Jesus, by His own confession, declares to the religious powers of the day that He is, indeed, their long-promised & long-awaited Messiah!  He’s not what they were expecting – so they missed Him!  He’s brought before them, a humble, poor carpenter – who has been seen as a threat to their power base because the people flock to Him as He heals & teaches.  And what He says both confirms their fears, yet is also so contrary to what the evidence of their eyes must see.  He doesn’t look as though He is the right material to be seated at the right hand of the Father – in the “seat of power”!!  They really didn’t know what to make of him, and so they killed him – yet it was all part of the Father’s amazing plan to save even those very ones who demanded Jesus’ death!!

 

Application:  How do I respond to this much-needed yet most unexpected – perhaps even unpredictable - Saviour?  This One who is the Son of God, yet knows what it is to walk in the shoes of a humble carpenter?  Who knows what it’s like to “do life” as we humans “do life”, yet is seated (as He claimed) in the place of power at the right hand of the Father?  I am so glad that I have responded to Him in surrender.  Yet I cannot think that He is any less unpredictable or unexpected than He was when He walked on the earth.  I cannot think that I have Him “all sewn up” in my perceptions.  Here is God – whom I can know, whom I do know, yet am still growing in knowing!  His unpredictability doesn’t mean that He might be angry with me one moment and loving the next, that I cannot be secure in His love for me.  Quite the opposite.  His unpredictability or unexpectedness lies in the fact that, even though I know He is always good & always loving, yet He is the Creator of the Universe & He has a bigger picture than I do – of everything!!  That all things that happen in this world will not necessarily reflect His goodness, but will often reflect the evil of human choices made without reference to Him and His ways.  Yet His promise – as seen at the cross – is that He will use those things to bring good!  To bring hope.  To bring life.  And that’s where I need to keep my eyes focussed when the world is accusing and it appears that all is lost, as it appeared in this moment in Jesus’ time on earth.

 

Prayer:   Dear Heavenly Father, Thankyou for the gift of your Son who willingly died for me that I might come to the place of knowing you!  Lord, I surrender afresh to You today – without fear of what this day or the days to come might hold, but re-affirmed in my confidence in You - that You are always good & always loving & will bring all things together for my good.  My security is in You and Your love for me.  Not in circumstances or earthly things.  Forgive me for those times when I have allowed the fears of this world to take hold of my heart.  Lord, I recognise that I cannot have all things “sewn up” as I would like them to be – but that You know the end from the beginning, and that Your purposes will be brought about, and in that alone I can rest!  You are so good, Lord!!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen