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And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
[Matthew 4:18-22 NKJV]
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
[Matthew 4:18-22 NKJV]
When Jesus asks us to be with Him, He always asks us to leave the boat - that is His method. Never cajoling or pushing, just a quiet word and a promise. "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." What is it about Him that is so persuasive that we go immediately, leaving whatever we are doing.
In both these cases, the fishermen/disciples were mending their nets - the means of their provision; their livelihood. Jesus' promise to them was not for a career change, it was a life change, and there was no hesitation, or "Give me a few days and I'll get back to you."
I believe that there were three things that convinced Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John to change their lives - and the world - irrevocably.
Stepping off the boat involves trust - it is not throwing the net overboard and using your skill to haul in the catch. It is throwing yourself overboard, having faith that Jesus will keep you amid the seething mass of humanity. That is 'a tough sell' for us; but for Jesus Christ, it is what He came to do - make us fishers of men.
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
[John 21:6-8 NKJV]
In both these cases, the fishermen/disciples were mending their nets - the means of their provision; their livelihood. Jesus' promise to them was not for a career change, it was a life change, and there was no hesitation, or "Give me a few days and I'll get back to you."
I believe that there were three things that convinced Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John to change their lives - and the world - irrevocably.
- They saw Jesus' authority. For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. [Matthew 7:29 NKJV]
- They heard Jesus' truth in what He said. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. [John 18:37b NKJV]
- They were already chosen as disciples before Jesus spoke. Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, [Ephesians 1:4-5 NKJV]
Stepping off the boat involves trust - it is not throwing the net overboard and using your skill to haul in the catch. It is throwing yourself overboard, having faith that Jesus will keep you amid the seething mass of humanity. That is 'a tough sell' for us; but for Jesus Christ, it is what He came to do - make us fishers of men.
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
[John 21:6-8 NKJV]
“Fishers of Men” — Carroll Roberson
OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Monday 14th September 2020
God does not do anything with us, only through us.
Monday 14th September 2020
God does not do anything with us, only through us.
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Oh rowan tree, oh rowan tree,
Thou'lt aye be dear to me,
En twin'd thou art wi' mony ties
O' hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o' spring,
Thy flow'rs the simmer's pride;
There was na sic a bonnie tree
In a' the countrie side.
Oh rowan tree.
How fair wert thou in simmer time,
Wi' a' thy clusters white,
How rich and gay thy autumn dress,
Wi' berries red and bright.
On thy fair stem were mony names,
Which now nae mair I see;
But thy're engraven on my heart,
Forgot they ne'er can be.
Oh rowan tree.
We sat aneath thy spreading shade,
The bairnies round thee ran,
They pu'd thy bonnie berries red,
And necklaces they strang;
My mither, oh! I see her still,
She smiled our sports to see,
Wi' little Jeanie on her lap,
And Jamie on her knee.
Oh rowan tree.
Oh there arose my father's prayer
In holy evening's calm;
How sweet was then my mother's voice
In the Martyr's psalm!
Now a'are gane! We meet nae mair
Aneath the rowan tree,
But hallowed thoughts around thee
Turn o'hame and infancy.
Oh rowan tree.
Thou'lt aye be dear to me,
En twin'd thou art wi' mony ties
O' hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o' spring,
Thy flow'rs the simmer's pride;
There was na sic a bonnie tree
In a' the countrie side.
Oh rowan tree.
How fair wert thou in simmer time,
Wi' a' thy clusters white,
How rich and gay thy autumn dress,
Wi' berries red and bright.
On thy fair stem were mony names,
Which now nae mair I see;
But thy're engraven on my heart,
Forgot they ne'er can be.
Oh rowan tree.
We sat aneath thy spreading shade,
The bairnies round thee ran,
They pu'd thy bonnie berries red,
And necklaces they strang;
My mither, oh! I see her still,
She smiled our sports to see,
Wi' little Jeanie on her lap,
And Jamie on her knee.
Oh rowan tree.
Oh there arose my father's prayer
In holy evening's calm;
How sweet was then my mother's voice
In the Martyr's psalm!
Now a'are gane! We meet nae mair
Aneath the rowan tree,
But hallowed thoughts around thee
Turn o'hame and infancy.
Oh rowan tree.
by Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne (1766-1845)
In Scotland today it is still common to find a rowan tree, near the entrance to a house, and arises from an old superstitious belief that the tree offered protection from evil spirits and that the slender leaves, red berries and white blossom represented femininity, birth and life. Like so many of these ancient beliefs, the early church adopted these Celtic ideas to convert the people to Christianity. In my view, this has had the unfortunate effect, over the centuries, of 'muddying the waters' of the Gospel message.
Yet these things persist for so many of us; a sentimental clinging to notions introduced to us when children. They provide a link to our personal history and to the traditions in which we were raised. I am proud to be Scots, and love seeing a Rowan, because it was something my mother loved and meant something to her. Perhaps it is in our DNA to feel such things. Ultimately it is of the earth and will pass away. Thus It profits me nothing seems to be the conclusion.
We need to discern the difference between sentiment and the things that The Lord gives us for our instruction and to draw us closer to Him. Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. [Proverbs 4:1-4 NKJV]
I shall leave you to meditate on this, for this is something which we each need to consider for ourselves. What is the spirit behind ideas that we hold dear. What is The Lord saying to me about this thing or that thing? There are some things in His creation that the Lord surely gives us for our enjoyment, but these are to be held lightly - they are transient, but they lift the spirits and let us see Him and wonder. A foretaste maybe, of the glories to come in the everlasting with Him.
PRAYER: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Help me to see clearly, as You would desire me to see, with Your eyes, O Lord and not my own. In Jesus name, Amen.
Yet these things persist for so many of us; a sentimental clinging to notions introduced to us when children. They provide a link to our personal history and to the traditions in which we were raised. I am proud to be Scots, and love seeing a Rowan, because it was something my mother loved and meant something to her. Perhaps it is in our DNA to feel such things. Ultimately it is of the earth and will pass away. Thus It profits me nothing seems to be the conclusion.
We need to discern the difference between sentiment and the things that The Lord gives us for our instruction and to draw us closer to Him. Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. [Proverbs 4:1-4 NKJV]
I shall leave you to meditate on this, for this is something which we each need to consider for ourselves. What is the spirit behind ideas that we hold dear. What is The Lord saying to me about this thing or that thing? There are some things in His creation that the Lord surely gives us for our enjoyment, but these are to be held lightly - they are transient, but they lift the spirits and let us see Him and wonder. A foretaste maybe, of the glories to come in the everlasting with Him.
PRAYER: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Help me to see clearly, as You would desire me to see, with Your eyes, O Lord and not my own. In Jesus name, Amen.
“The Rowan Tree” — sung by Kenneth McKellar
OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Sunday 13th September 2020
The heredity of the Son of God is put into me at regeneration, a life neither time nor death can touch.
Sunday 13th September 2020
The heredity of the Son of God is put into me at regeneration, a life neither time nor death can touch.
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Wear sandals and a tunic
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
[Mark 6:7-10 NKJV]
He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
[Mark 6:7-10 NKJV]
I’m still not sure what Jesus meant by stay until you go, but that is not what is under consideration today. We can readily understand His instruction to ‘travel light’ and not burden yourself with encumbrances — to trust in Him for your every need (not your every want; your every need), for He makes it clear to those who follow Him that the necessities of life are assured.
What intrigued me was His exhortation to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Sandals were, indeed still are, a simple piece of leather to protect the sole of the foot while walking. To Jesus, this was a protective membrane, a barrier, to shield your spiritual walk in the heavenly realms against contact with the worldly soil of the earth. Jesus’ focus is always looking up on the Father and the Spiritual, rather than down to the dirt beneath our feet.
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
[John 3:31 NKJV]
But why not to put on two tunics? Why not say ‘wear only one tunic’? Because it is not about what you wear, but about what you put on, spiritually. The word translated here as tunic, also means garment, or covering. If we are truly trusting in Him, then we will have our natural covering — the clothes we wear — and our spiritual covering — our Heavenly Father.
What Jesus is warning His disciples about (and us also) is not to trust our natural selves for the way ahead. Wear your natural garment as is needed for your bodily protection (and incidentally, the word for tunic implies that the cloth will be of linen - a symbol of holiness); but beyond that, the only covering needed will be The Lord.
He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.
The people asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
[Psalm 105:39-40 NKJV]
And we know who is the bread of heaven.
What intrigued me was His exhortation to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Sandals were, indeed still are, a simple piece of leather to protect the sole of the foot while walking. To Jesus, this was a protective membrane, a barrier, to shield your spiritual walk in the heavenly realms against contact with the worldly soil of the earth. Jesus’ focus is always looking up on the Father and the Spiritual, rather than down to the dirt beneath our feet.
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
[John 3:31 NKJV]
But why not to put on two tunics? Why not say ‘wear only one tunic’? Because it is not about what you wear, but about what you put on, spiritually. The word translated here as tunic, also means garment, or covering. If we are truly trusting in Him, then we will have our natural covering — the clothes we wear — and our spiritual covering — our Heavenly Father.
What Jesus is warning His disciples about (and us also) is not to trust our natural selves for the way ahead. Wear your natural garment as is needed for your bodily protection (and incidentally, the word for tunic implies that the cloth will be of linen - a symbol of holiness); but beyond that, the only covering needed will be The Lord.
He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.
The people asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
[Psalm 105:39-40 NKJV]
And we know who is the bread of heaven.
“Someone Made The Sandals Jesus Wore” — Paul Williams and The Victory Trio
OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Saturday 12th September 2020
The Christian life is stamped by “moral spontaneous originality,” consequently the disciple is open to the same charge that Jesus Christ was, viz.: that of inconsistency. But Jesus Christ was always consistent to God.
Saturday 12th September 2020
The Christian life is stamped by “moral spontaneous originality,” consequently the disciple is open to the same charge that Jesus Christ was, viz.: that of inconsistency. But Jesus Christ was always consistent to God.
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At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
[Acts 9:36-41 NKJV]
But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
[Acts 9:36-41 NKJV]
Some Bible scholars make much of Peter and Paul in the book of Acts, as if they were in competition with each other, but this is coming at scripture in the natural mind and not the spiritual.
Luke, in his ‘Acts of the Apostles’ is careful and purposeful in balancing his record of their influence on the early Church. The story of Tabitha being raised from death in Acts 9 through Peter, has its equivalent in Acts 20, where Paul is The Lord’s chosen instrument to bring life to Eutychus:
There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.
And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”
Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.
And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
[Acts 20:8-12 NKJV]
I have often puzzled over these stories of the dead being brought back to life. My rational mind insists on pulling the idea apart to see how it works; to identify the mechanism The Lord is using. This attitude is anathema to faith. It is a lack of belief in what Jesus asserts as the core of His presence. He came to raise us all from death and place us firmly in new life - His life. The stories above are but echoes of this one in Mark's gospel:
While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.
Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
[Mark 5:35-42 NKJV]
PRAYER: Lord, help me to cast aside my unbelief, so that I can realise and refresh the 'great amazement' in the deepest parts of me, and set free that amazement and overcoming joy at Your life in me.
Luke, in his ‘Acts of the Apostles’ is careful and purposeful in balancing his record of their influence on the early Church. The story of Tabitha being raised from death in Acts 9 through Peter, has its equivalent in Acts 20, where Paul is The Lord’s chosen instrument to bring life to Eutychus:
There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.
And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”
Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.
And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
[Acts 20:8-12 NKJV]
I have often puzzled over these stories of the dead being brought back to life. My rational mind insists on pulling the idea apart to see how it works; to identify the mechanism The Lord is using. This attitude is anathema to faith. It is a lack of belief in what Jesus asserts as the core of His presence. He came to raise us all from death and place us firmly in new life - His life. The stories above are but echoes of this one in Mark's gospel:
While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.
Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
[Mark 5:35-42 NKJV]
PRAYER: Lord, help me to cast aside my unbelief, so that I can realise and refresh the 'great amazement' in the deepest parts of me, and set free that amazement and overcoming joy at Your life in me.
DON MOEN — “Arise”
OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Friday 11th September 2020
Never take your obedience as the reason God blesses you; obedience is the outcome of being rightly related to God.
Friday 11th September 2020
Never take your obedience as the reason God blesses you; obedience is the outcome of being rightly related to God.
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Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV]
[1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV]
How often do we cry out to The Lord for healing? There is a perpetual need in us for healing, for we are so often in a place of dis-ease, and looking to be made whole and restored to a place of rightness. We see sickness all around us and our prayer lives are filled with intercessions for ourselves or family and friends, or others whose story has moved us.
But where is our healing needed? In our verse today, Paul identifies three areas to be made whole — spirit, soul and body. In which area is our dis-ease? When we pray, we should let the Holy Spirit guide our discernment, whether we pray for ourselves or intercede for another, or others. Is the matter a sickness of the body, of the soul, or in the spirit, and is the problem in one affecting the others?
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
[Isaiah 61:1 NKJV]
Jesus quoted these lines from Isaiah in His first recorded proclamation of who He was and is. In this He stated three things that God had anointed Him for ...
Jesus came to preach, heal and proclaim, and we can see from the healings that the gospels reveal, that Jesus’ method of healing differed in each case. He did not have a single approach. He wasn’t a specialist in leprosy or paralysis; He was special, and treated each person He came across as special also. He looked at the heart and not the manifestation of illness.
When we fall ill, we can be sick in body, soul or spirit. Modern medicine can often deal with the body, sometimes the soul, but rarely if ever the spirit. Jesus is the authority in all three, by He is the undoubted specialist in spiritual broken-ness.
The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?
[Proverbs 18:14 NKJV]
The answer is always Jesus Christ, whatever the question.
But where is our healing needed? In our verse today, Paul identifies three areas to be made whole — spirit, soul and body. In which area is our dis-ease? When we pray, we should let the Holy Spirit guide our discernment, whether we pray for ourselves or intercede for another, or others. Is the matter a sickness of the body, of the soul, or in the spirit, and is the problem in one affecting the others?
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
[Isaiah 61:1 NKJV]
Jesus quoted these lines from Isaiah in His first recorded proclamation of who He was and is. In this He stated three things that God had anointed Him for ...
- To preach good tidings to the poor
- To heal the broken-hearted
- To proclaim liberty to the captives
Jesus came to preach, heal and proclaim, and we can see from the healings that the gospels reveal, that Jesus’ method of healing differed in each case. He did not have a single approach. He wasn’t a specialist in leprosy or paralysis; He was special, and treated each person He came across as special also. He looked at the heart and not the manifestation of illness.
When we fall ill, we can be sick in body, soul or spirit. Modern medicine can often deal with the body, sometimes the soul, but rarely if ever the spirit. Jesus is the authority in all three, by He is the undoubted specialist in spiritual broken-ness.
The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?
[Proverbs 18:14 NKJV]
The answer is always Jesus Christ, whatever the question.
ROBIN MARK — “There’s A Cry”
OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Thursday 10th September 2020
Worry is nothing in the world but personal irritation with God because I cannot see what He is after—only I don’t call it that, I talk about “an overwhelming burden of care.”
Thursday 10th September 2020
Worry is nothing in the world but personal irritation with God because I cannot see what He is after—only I don’t call it that, I talk about “an overwhelming burden of care.”
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BETH
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
[Psalm 119:9-16 NKJV]
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
[Psalm 119:9-16 NKJV]
When I wrote a few months ago about Psalm 119, I had no thought of coming back to it in these meditations; but with all that has been happening for us recently, this second section of the longest Psalm impressed on me just how clearly God's word relates to our day-to-day inward experience.
The first eight verses (Aleph,"ox") show us The Way, and point towards His way becoming my way. Essentially, however, we have someone crying out to be shown the path to follow; there is a desperation as to the next step when the Psalmist cries Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! We can know His laws and can follow that line, but despite that knowledge there is still the anxiety that He will forsake us. Where do we go; what must we do?
This second group of eight verses (Beth,"house") begins by asking the question, how can the way be cleansed? The Psalmist recognises that the only way to progress in our relationship with God is by cleansing. Before you can enter the temple - the house of God - you must first be washed clean, and the answer as to how this can be done follows immediately on the question: by taking heed according to Your word.
There is more to it than simply taking heed, and the remainder of this grouping expands on that theme revealing that God's word must be hidden in my heart. It must become a part of us, so that our contemplations and meditations are on His ways and His word. In this way, we can become "washed in the water of the word", the spiritual equivalent of the brazen laver in the outer court of the tabernacle. This is where the priests would wash their feet and hands to prepare for entrance into the Holy Place.
At the Last Supper, Jesus did three things to prepare the way. He poured the wine; He broke the bread, and finally, He washed the disciples feet. Our walk with Jesus must be cleansed, for without holiness, no man shall see The Lord. Remember also, that Jesus is The Word and only He can present us as holy.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight
[Colossians 1:21-22 NKJV]
The first eight verses (Aleph,"ox") show us The Way, and point towards His way becoming my way. Essentially, however, we have someone crying out to be shown the path to follow; there is a desperation as to the next step when the Psalmist cries Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! We can know His laws and can follow that line, but despite that knowledge there is still the anxiety that He will forsake us. Where do we go; what must we do?
This second group of eight verses (Beth,"house") begins by asking the question, how can the way be cleansed? The Psalmist recognises that the only way to progress in our relationship with God is by cleansing. Before you can enter the temple - the house of God - you must first be washed clean, and the answer as to how this can be done follows immediately on the question: by taking heed according to Your word.
There is more to it than simply taking heed, and the remainder of this grouping expands on that theme revealing that God's word must be hidden in my heart. It must become a part of us, so that our contemplations and meditations are on His ways and His word. In this way, we can become "washed in the water of the word", the spiritual equivalent of the brazen laver in the outer court of the tabernacle. This is where the priests would wash their feet and hands to prepare for entrance into the Holy Place.
At the Last Supper, Jesus did three things to prepare the way. He poured the wine; He broke the bread, and finally, He washed the disciples feet. Our walk with Jesus must be cleansed, for without holiness, no man shall see The Lord. Remember also, that Jesus is The Word and only He can present us as holy.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight
[Colossians 1:21-22 NKJV]
“Way Maker” — LEELAND
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Wednesday 9th September 2020
We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen (Ephesians 6:12–13).
Wednesday 9th September 2020
We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen (Ephesians 6:12–13).
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Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous.
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”
[Jonah 1:10-12 NKJV]
Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous.
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”
[Jonah 1:10-12 NKJV]
The Book of Jonah is “a strange fish”, if you will permit the allusion, and scholars have devoted a disproportionate amount of effort debating the whys and wherefores of this fascinating book.
What is clear is that Jonah in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, is a foretelling of Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus Himself referred to Jonah thus:
But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
[Matthew 12:39-41 NKJV]
So why, when he was amid the tempestuous sea did Jonah say to the others in the boat "throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you?" Jonah knew that the tempest was because of him, for he had displeased God, but we can see that God is ever present and is making the way clear for Jonah to fulfil His purpose, regardless of Jonah’s mindset - Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah.
Perhaps Jonah thought himself worthless and was prepared to have himself cast into the deep waters? Was this an act of self-sacrifice for the sake of his fellow men onboard the craft, and thus brought about Jonah’s salvation? Verse 4 indicates that The Lord was creating circumstances to ensure that His plan for Nineveh came about. But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. But first He had to bring Jonah to 'the end of himself'; to a place where he could no longer flee from God's presence. Jonah had to endure the consequences of his decision and undergo the trial in the belly of the great fish, but God carried Jonah through it.
There are times in our lives when we do not see The Lord’s hand guiding. All seems lost and the only option that we can see is to be - metaphorically - thrown overboard. The worst may be still to come, but we must have confidence in our Redeemer, for He knows all things and has prepared the way for us. He will get us onto dry land.
In these difficult times, we see around us war, famine, pestilence and death. Our lives can feel more insecure than ever before, because the threats are closer to home than we have known in this generation. The Adversary would like to see us give up hope trust and faith and have us decide to be 'thrown into the sea' - really meaning to be swallowed up in unbelief. God - as always - creates an ark of salvation to protect those who are His people. So, just as He did with Noah with the ark; Moses with a basket in the bulrushes; Paul, lowered from a window in a basket to escape pursuers and so many others, God held Jonah in the palm of His hand in the belly of the great fish. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.
"But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”
So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
[Jonah 2:9-10 NKJV]
What is clear is that Jonah in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, is a foretelling of Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus Himself referred to Jonah thus:
But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
[Matthew 12:39-41 NKJV]
So why, when he was amid the tempestuous sea did Jonah say to the others in the boat "throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you?" Jonah knew that the tempest was because of him, for he had displeased God, but we can see that God is ever present and is making the way clear for Jonah to fulfil His purpose, regardless of Jonah’s mindset - Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah.
Perhaps Jonah thought himself worthless and was prepared to have himself cast into the deep waters? Was this an act of self-sacrifice for the sake of his fellow men onboard the craft, and thus brought about Jonah’s salvation? Verse 4 indicates that The Lord was creating circumstances to ensure that His plan for Nineveh came about. But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. But first He had to bring Jonah to 'the end of himself'; to a place where he could no longer flee from God's presence. Jonah had to endure the consequences of his decision and undergo the trial in the belly of the great fish, but God carried Jonah through it.
There are times in our lives when we do not see The Lord’s hand guiding. All seems lost and the only option that we can see is to be - metaphorically - thrown overboard. The worst may be still to come, but we must have confidence in our Redeemer, for He knows all things and has prepared the way for us. He will get us onto dry land.
In these difficult times, we see around us war, famine, pestilence and death. Our lives can feel more insecure than ever before, because the threats are closer to home than we have known in this generation. The Adversary would like to see us give up hope trust and faith and have us decide to be 'thrown into the sea' - really meaning to be swallowed up in unbelief. God - as always - creates an ark of salvation to protect those who are His people. So, just as He did with Noah with the ark; Moses with a basket in the bulrushes; Paul, lowered from a window in a basket to escape pursuers and so many others, God held Jonah in the palm of His hand in the belly of the great fish. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.
"But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”
So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
[Jonah 2:9-10 NKJV]
“In The Belly of A Whale” — Northland Church Worship Team
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Monday 7th September 2020
The reason we know so little about God’s wisdom is that we will only trust Him as far as we can work things out according to our own reasonable common sense.
Monday 7th September 2020
The reason we know so little about God’s wisdom is that we will only trust Him as far as we can work things out according to our own reasonable common sense.
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I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
[Galatians 2:20 NKJV]
[Galatians 2:20 NKJV]
Galatians 2:20 comes up a lot in study and meditation - and no wonder - it is a memorable and profoundly uplifting verse; and in choosing a song to complement the words I found many - all closing in on Christ lives in me or who loved me and gave Himself for me.
This is wonderfully true, and yet, I cannot help but see the balancing words that begin the verse; I have been crucified with Christ. This expression unveils the reality of our faith; the abiding reality of our Lord.
Christ is always real. I was once chided for using the word “reality” to refer to our natural worldly life when speaking to a gathering, and rightly so. In the spiritual life the world is tangible only; Jesus is real.
Remember the letter to the Church at Smyrna, who had nothing said against them by Christ because they suffered tribulation. As followers of Jesus, we are completely identified with Him in His suffering. We are crucified with Christ. Only then can we experience the glory of Christ within you.
This is wonderfully true, and yet, I cannot help but see the balancing words that begin the verse; I have been crucified with Christ. This expression unveils the reality of our faith; the abiding reality of our Lord.
Christ is always real. I was once chided for using the word “reality” to refer to our natural worldly life when speaking to a gathering, and rightly so. In the spiritual life the world is tangible only; Jesus is real.
Remember the letter to the Church at Smyrna, who had nothing said against them by Christ because they suffered tribulation. As followers of Jesus, we are completely identified with Him in His suffering. We are crucified with Christ. Only then can we experience the glory of Christ within you.
“It Is No Longer I That Liveth”
“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” — CityAlight
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Sunday 6th September 2020
“I suppose it’s God’s will” — where is the joy of the Lord about that? The conception Jesus had of the will of God was that of glad, leaping obedience to it as the most glorious thing conceivable.
Sunday 6th September 2020
“I suppose it’s God’s will” — where is the joy of the Lord about that? The conception Jesus had of the will of God was that of glad, leaping obedience to it as the most glorious thing conceivable.
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“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
[Revelation 3:15-19 NKJV]
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
[Revelation 3:15-19 NKJV]
This concluding letter hearkens back to the first, in the same way that we could see the link between the second and sixth letters. Both the Church at Ephesus and the Laodicean Church have lost their passion. The Ephesians had lost their first love, while here in Laodicea, they have lost their fire. They really cannot be bothered.
Such diffidence — as the Lord makes clear — is neither one thing nor the other and they have become blind to the truth. The only way to regain what is lost (or in the process of being lost) is to repent; just as the Churches at Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira and Sardis we’re urged to do.
It is The Lord’s grace and mercy that we are never lost to Him, if we will but make that free will choice of abandoning ourselves to Him with a contrite heart.
Before the letter concludes with the usual to him that overcomes, we have a verse that has inspired many over the centuries since it was first set down ...
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
[Revelation 3:20 NKJV]
There is no better encapsulation of a loving Father, waiting for a prodigal son to return. Revelation 3:20 sums up the whole purpose of the seven letters; indeed, reveals God’s heart --
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
[1John 4:12-16 NKJV]
Such diffidence — as the Lord makes clear — is neither one thing nor the other and they have become blind to the truth. The only way to regain what is lost (or in the process of being lost) is to repent; just as the Churches at Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira and Sardis we’re urged to do.
It is The Lord’s grace and mercy that we are never lost to Him, if we will but make that free will choice of abandoning ourselves to Him with a contrite heart.
Before the letter concludes with the usual to him that overcomes, we have a verse that has inspired many over the centuries since it was first set down ...
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
[Revelation 3:20 NKJV]
There is no better encapsulation of a loving Father, waiting for a prodigal son to return. Revelation 3:20 sums up the whole purpose of the seven letters; indeed, reveals God’s heart --
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
[1John 4:12-16 NKJV]
“Behold Me Standing At The Door” — GETHSEMANE METHODIST JUNIOR CHOIR, TARKWA
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Saturday 5th September 2020
Sin is not weakness, it is not a disease; it is red-handed rebellion against God, and the magnitude of that rebellion is expressed by Calvary.
Saturday 5th September 2020
Sin is not weakness, it is not a disease; it is red-handed rebellion against God, and the magnitude of that rebellion is expressed by Calvary.
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“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."
[Revelation 3:8-11 NKJV]
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."
[Revelation 3:8-11 NKJV]
The letter to the Church at Philadelphia is the second of only two of seven letters where there is no criticism of the church. Indeed, Smyrna and Philadelphia are twinned one with another ...
We must remember in all this that the attributes, both good and bad, in every one of these churches, can be found to a greater or lesser degree in every church group - indeed within each one of us.
Only with the presence of Christ in the midst does the hard unrepentant heart of man soften and turn towards God. This is the message - repent, seek forgiveness and obtain deliverance, then persevere in faith with what you have obtained from Him, that no one may take your crown.
- Both letters mention the synagogue of Satan. (Smyrna is subjected to the blasphemy of the synagogue of Satan; Philadelphia will see them worship at your feet and ... know that I have loved you).
- Both talk of trial and tribulation (Smyrna will suffer; Philadelphia will be kept from suffering)
- Both end with crowns (Smyrna will be given the crown of life; Philadelphia is urged to ensure that no one may take your crown).
We must remember in all this that the attributes, both good and bad, in every one of these churches, can be found to a greater or lesser degree in every church group - indeed within each one of us.
Only with the presence of Christ in the midst does the hard unrepentant heart of man soften and turn towards God. This is the message - repent, seek forgiveness and obtain deliverance, then persevere in faith with what you have obtained from Him, that no one may take your crown.
“Let No Man Take Your Crown” — TWILA PARIS
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Friday 4th September 2020
Undisciplined imagination is the greatest disturber not only of growth in grace, but of spiritual sanity.
Friday 4th September 2020
Undisciplined imagination is the greatest disturber not only of growth in grace, but of spiritual sanity.