EX15 1

07 Feb: Daily Readings and Thought for February 7th. “I WILL SING TO THE LORD”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The occasion when we particularly sing with spiritual joy in our hearts is when a new brother or sister emerges from the waters of baptism.  Consider then the song “Moses and the people of Israel sang … to the LORD”  [Exod.15].  It is a song about what had just happened, the deliverance of a nation, in reality the birth of a new nation – God’s nation; Paul called it a baptism, see 1 Cor. 10 v.1,2.
The song starts,  “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.  The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation” [v.1-2]
What we may overlook is that no one, except a select few, had the ability and opportunity to write at this stage of history. Nearly all those who escaped from Egypt needed to have songs that they could learn off by heart since there was nothing available for the masses of the people to read – even if they could read.  Today – it is the opposite – there is too much – and so much of it is ‘junk food’ for the mind.
So today’s chapter gives us the ‘hit song’ of that generation!   Imagine the scene painted for us in v. 20-21. “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”
As we read the detail of the song, consider what they sang about!  “Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power … shatters the enemy… You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength” [v.6,13] It was a joy, a spirit of positiveness, comparable to the 3,000 that were baptised on the day of Pentecost” (Acts 2 v.41)
We will read in coming weeks of their failure to maintain their faith in God that they were then praising so joyously.  Were the things they were singing about really coming from their hearts?  Did their meaning fail to create an inner conviction of faith?  Were they only focused on the present.
There is a modern saying that ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’! The wilderness was going to provide an awesome challenge: we shall read how the 2 faithful spies, and also most of the Levites proved equal to the challenge, but the majority did not.. A lesson for today?
Our world is more than ever a spiritual wilderness, many politicians are proud of passing ungodly laws. Paul warned the Romans that those who practiced such things as homosexuality (1 v.26,27) were “storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed …” [2 v.5]  Let us “sing to the LORD” from our hearts fully meaning what we sing, longing for the day when “The LORD will reign forever and ever”.  Which is how Moses ended his song (v.18).

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Psa68 19

06 Feb: Daily readings and Thought for February 6th. “BLESSED BE THE LORD WHO DAILY BEARS US UP”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are interesting parallels between our two Old Testament readings today.  Chapters 13 & 14 of Exodus describe the drama of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt.  We noted the fear they had when the Egyptians started pursuing them and Moses reassurance that the LORD was in control, they must “Fear not and stand firm” [14 v.13]; their God would complete their deliverance and, in doing so, make a “name” for himself.
Psalm 68 gives us David’s perceptions of how God arises and so enemies are scattered and those who hate God flee before him (v.1) which is what happened to Pharaoh’s armies.  That David’s words are somewhat inspired by these events is plain from v.7.  “O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness … the heaven poured down rain, before God, the one of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel”
Then we noted how David had also reflected on situations with individuals, how God watches over them as “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows … God settles the solitary in a home” [v.5,6] David would think of the times he was alone when fleeing from Saul, his anxieties of mind, but, ultimately, the realization of God’s protection.  Moses could well have had similar thoughts at times in the 40 years before he encountered God at the burning bush.
So David is thinking of himself and other individuals when he writes, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.” [v.19] The Lord Jesus also experienced this, the disciples had little ability to bear him up and so, at times, he retreated to the mountains alone as we will read in a few days’ time. (Mark 6 v.46).
The ultimate time was in Gethsemane before his arrest, “Could you not watch one hour?” followed by special personal advice, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” [Mark 14 v.37]   As we daily read the Bible – it should have the effect of bringing us closer to God – and as we do this we will sense more and more how he “daily bears us up.”

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Psa66 18

05 Feb: Daily readings and Thought for February 5th. “IF I HAD CHERISHED …”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Psalms captured our particular attention this morning, although all the chapters we read were full of drama – arising from – or anticipating – the actions of the Almighty. In Exodus we read of the night of the Passover with the angel of the Lord destroying all the firstborn in Egypt. An incredible outcry followed – how comparable will that be with the chaos at the return of Christ? The time will come, records Isaiah, when “the LORD is enraged against all the nations … he has devoted them to destruction … for the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.” [34 v.2,8] Zion (Jerusalem) attracts more and more political interest – but the leaders of the nations are blind to “the cause of Zion.”
Today we start reading the Gospel of Mark – and reflected on the impact John the Baptist obviously had when “all the country and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him confessing their sins.” [v.5] We struggle to imagine the impact of John. It seems only half the story is told, since John did no miracles – what power must have been in his preaching! He laid the foundation for Jesus to build upon, his work was to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” [v.3] says Mark, quoting Malachi 3 v.1.
Psalm 66 contains a challenge to sinners; it could be that John used this Psalm in his preaching. “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul … high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” [v.16-19]
How fitting it would be if these words were part of John’s witness and appeal and challenge to those ordinary people who came to him in the wilderness by the Jordon – paving the way for the preaching of Jesus.
Finally, Psalm 67 is a prayer that God’s “way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let all the peoples praise you O God…” [v.2,3] leading to a time when ”the nations …. sing for joy for you judge the peoples with equity (justice) and guide the nations upon earth.” [v.4] This short but most meaningful Psalm concludes, “God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him:.” We can add, ‘when Christ rules.’
Those who really have God’s word in their hearts and feed on it daily will be known and owned by their Lord in that day – for he will know that they have not cherished iniquity in their hearts.

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Ex10 27

04 Feb: Daily Readings and Thought for February 4th. “BUT THE LORD HARDENED PHARAOH’S HEART” 

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We thought about this for some time. How do we understand the references in today’s ch. 10 of Exodus to the LORD hardening Pharaoh’s heart.  (v.1,10,27)   Can God blame man for what God does – if that is the way to understand this?  Notice how Moses conveys the message of the LORD (i.e. Yahweh/Jehovah) to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews; how long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” [v.3]
Pharaoh refused to recognise the power of the one and only God.  In the time of Joseph God’s power had been fully recognised as a result of the 7 years of famine and plenty.  Then we read in Exodus 1 v.8 “Now there arose a new king over Egypt that did not know Joseph” and the situation changed.  To restore the spirit of knowing and fearing the only real God was surely part of the purpose of God in sending the plagues.  God saw to it that a Pharaoh was “raised up” whose attitude and pride would cause this to happen.
We can see a modern parallel to this today.  When printing was invented, the first book printed in nearly every language was the Bible!  We are celebrating 400 years since the King James Version of the Bible was first printed.  Four Centuries ago there was a wonderful change in the attitudes of many people; the world became more spiritual; laws were influenced by the principles set out in the laws in the Bible.  The R.C. Church tried to resist this but the reformation movement, fed by the reading of the Bible, spread throughout the world.  People at last read for themselves what God had really done and said.
The effect of this reformation movement came to and end during the 20th Century, now a whole generation has now arisen who largely do not know the Bible.  Sadly some read the Bible to get power and influence for themselves and distort what it says and trying to find in it things they want to believe.  The stage is set therefore, for God to bring another series of plagues on the earth, to show his power to Godless man, so that once again people will be aware of the true God, but it will require one last dramatic act of God to really cause them to wake up – and that surely will be the return of Christ to rule the earth.

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Rom13 1

03 Feb: Thought for February 3rd. “SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The first part of our reading today, Ch. 13 of Romans, needs to be understood in the context of the whole Bible.  Paul tells his readers, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities … those that exist have been instituted by God.  Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed … for rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.”  [v.1-3]
This was written because some Christians thought they could ignore the laws of the land in some situations, that they were ‘above’ human laws.?  There have been such “Christians” throughout history, for example the practice of polygamy in the USA, following Old Testament practice and not the words of the followers of Christ. Jesus spoke of “one wife” [Matt. 19 v.5], as did Paul, see Eph. 5 v.31.33, 1 Tim. 5 v.9.
Some see Paul’s comments in Romans as a problem when there are bad rulers.  That is an understandable query and the answer is seen to some degree when we look for examples of this.  The end result of bad situations, if God’s will is involved, is good for the spreading of the Gospel.  Paul and Silas were thrown into jail in Philippi and sang hymns and God caused an earthquake and the jailer and his family were baptised. Think of other bad situations like the time Paul spent several years in detention, but notice that several of Paul’s letters were written from prison which demonstrates believers seek opportunities in every situation in their lives.
Religious authorities are regarded differently.  When Peter and John were told by the religious authorities “to speak no more to anyone”, they replied “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of the things we have seen and heard.” [Acts 4 v.18-20]  And ourselves – to speak and write of what we have read!  Let’s make sure we do.
Our Exodus reading today is most interesting in what the LORD tells Moses to say to Pharaoh in warning him of the plague of hail, “for this purpose I have raised you up to show you my power, so that my name (reputation) may be proclaimed in all the earth” [Ch.9 v.16]   So God brings bad people and nations into positions that influence the course of events so that his will is done. He raised up enemies for Israel for this purpose.  We must always aim at seeing situations from God’s perspective.  This is often not seen until we look back on events and see the chain reaction of situations they set in motion. This is seen in the outworking of the lives of such as Joseph and David..
God also uses bad people, by allowing them to succeed in certain ways (at first) because they trigger off events, some of which aid in fulfilling his purposes: consider the effects of Hitler’s career!  But most important of all – consider your own calling before God – has he used you?  Will there be ways he will do so in the future?

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Rom12 1

02 Feb: Daily Readings and Thought for February 2nd. “AS A LIVING SACRIFICE”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In Genesis we are reading of Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh and today we saw Moses’ demand “We must go three days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us” [Ch.8 v.27] Over the next few days we will read of the drama of the plagues: we pondered the example of Pharaoh’s tactic of first agreeing and then denying Moses’ requests, so Moses says, “let not Pharaoh cheat again …” [v.29]
Egypt had come to depend, we conclude, on the enslaved Israelites as a really significant factor in their economic well-being: this compares with today as a most important factor in decision making processes of Governments; but it rarely leads to the wisest decisions, especially in this godless world.  .
As we read through Exodus we learn about the whole system of worship which God gave to the people starting with the ten commandments.  With the “mountain smoking” and  thunder and lightning “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear (awe) of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” [8 v.18,20]
A system of sacrifice and offerings for sin is then instituted. This largely revolved around the sacrifice of animals, however in most cases these then became food for the priests and the people. Sadly, as the years passed their spiritual perception and service to their God and of his wondrous deliverance of them from slavery faded: sacrifice became more and more a ritual.
In the New Testament we have the ultimate sacrifice – that of God’s Son – our Lord.  The first converts on the day of Pentecost “were cut to the heart” [Acts 2 v.37] But did that “sacrifice” of heart last?  Our chapter today in Romans (12) sees Paul making an impassioned plea about this.  The chapter starts, “I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God …”
All that those trying to be genuine believers – do, say and even think – needs to arise from an earnest desire to be such a sacrifice.  Notice how Paul puts it; to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God” [v.2].  We must not fall into the trap of creating rituals to keep and follow similar to the pattern that later developed in the wilderness; rather, as we read in Hebrews 9 v.14, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” and make us into “a living sacrifice” having an active purified conscience.

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1 - Rom11 22

01 Feb: Daily Readings & Thought for February 1st. “THE KINDNESS AND THE SEVERITY OF GOD”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is fundamental to human nature, uninfluenced by God’s Word, to become proud about what they are achieving. Paul makes this point strongly in chapter 11 of his letter to the Romans. He warns the Gentile converts not to follow the same path as did most leading Jews in their pride in their privileged position before God. He uses the analogy of an olive tree. We understand that the trunk of the tree was Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with the Jewish nation as the branches.

Paul then makes the point to the Gentiles, that the natural “branches were broken off” so that you “might be grafted in” [Romans 11:19] adding, “they were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe” 

[Romans 11:20]

Tragically the Gentile branches have become proud and so many have been broken off or are in the process of dying. Observe the principle stated in Romans 11:22 “note then the kindness and the severity of God.” It is tragic that so often all the emphasis is on the kindness and love of God as though he is purely a God of love, ever forgiving despite continuing sinfulness.

Paul comments on the future of the natural branches, saying, if “they do not continue in unbelief” they “will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them in again,” adding, “how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree” [Romans 11:23-24]. Paul warns the Gentiles not to “be wise in your own conceits” The twin brother of pride is conceit! The thing “I want you to understand”, he says, is that “a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” [Romans 11:25]

We feel we are close to this “fullness” of time when the Gospel has reached every corner of the world “and then the end shall come” as we read in Matthew 24:14 last week. Let us “stand in awe” as we witness the fullness of time and pray we may remain grafted in – or be grafted in – if we are not yet part of God’s olive tree.

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31 - Rom9 17

31 Jan: Daily Readings & Thought for January 31st. “THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our readings today – in Exodus and Romans tie in together in their reference to the exaltation of Moses, now ready, in God’s sight, to serve him after 40 years of preparation “in the land of Midian.”  Moses is now a meek and humble man (Numbers 12 v.3) – God can now use him.

Paul’s points in our Roman’s chapter (9) are illuminating: first, he states  how God “says to Moses, ‘’I will have mercy on whom I have mercy… So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy.’” [v.15,16] In our Exodus reading yesterday we saw how God could not use Moses’ own “will and exertion” [2 v.11-15].  Paul then drives home the lesson that one cannot deserve, i.e. ‘earn’ God’s blessing by their own efforts. All God’s blessings are an expression of God’s mercy. This is parallel to talking about God’s grace; therefore it is really saddening today when so many talk and write glibly about ‘grace’ as though it is an ever-flowing factor that they can be certain about – regardless of how they behave,

Paul next makes the point that “Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth’”. [v.17]  This is not the proclamation of God’s actual name as an intellectual understanding, but of God’s reputation that was about to be established by what he did.  We will read of this in the next few days; the dramatic deliverance from Egypt of the descendants of Jacob.

In relation to this look carefully at our reading in Exodus 3  where God’s name is given as , “I will be what I will be” [v.14 – as shown in the ESV footnote] Primarily, this means God will ‘make’ his name, that is, his reputation, by what is about to happen – “This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” [v.15]   Their deliverance from Egypt became a ‘memorial’ which all generations would look back to – as a foundation for their confidence in God.  Thus, when we come to read Psalm 135 and its praises to the LORD we will see the full significance in v.8-13 of the LORD’s name and “renown.”  It is fully expressed in Isaiah 63 v.11-14 how you God “led your people to make for yourself a glorious name.”  Daniel makes the same point in his impassioned prayer (9 v.15) 

In the same way we look back to the sacrifice and resurrection of our Savior – and how God made for himself the name of ‘Father.’  We are privileged to call God  ‘Father’ – but how many “hallow” that name when they say the Lord’s Prayer.  Do we?  

Just as vital is to ask; how many are striving to make a ‘name’ for themselves which Christ will “remember” when the time comes for him to “confess’ what those in his service have achieved according to the “talents” given to them?  Think about what Jesus says in Rev. 3 v.5, “The one who conquers (him/herself!) … I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”    Our ‘name” that Christ will “confess” will be achieved in many different ways; for example, to quote James 1 v.27, “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” 

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30 - Rom8 19

30 Jan: Daily Readings & Thought for January 30th.   “WAITS WITH EAGER LONGING …”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Paul’s letter to the Romans contains some of the most meaningful and thought provoking words in the Bible.  It is impossible to read it and take all the points into our minds until we have read it meditatively many times over, making our own notes.  

More than any other book in the Bible, it calls for diligent and reflective study and the following up of the cross references and  leads to other Scriptures. The Bible cannot be treated like a school text book that you go through in a year’s study and then leave on the shelf for occasional reference.  God’s word is designed by him for our lifelong reading and provokes increasing spiritual perceptions and enjoyment. 

Paul had been brought up under the Law of Moses with all its rules and regulations.  He had been zealous for the Law, but, as a result of his dramatic conversion he had, with God’s help through the Spirit, applied his mind to the new reality of eternal things – and learnt the wonder of an ongoing personal relationship with his Saviour.

The Law of Moses had been a law for the nation of Israel, but it was now superseded by a situation in which each individual could and should have a personal relationship with their Saviour and with the Father.   

Paul makes the point; “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing …” [8 v.18,19]  This sense of eagerness is keenly felt by those who see the emptiness in nearly all that most find enjoyable today.   Paul says we “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,  the redemption of our bodies” [v.23]  Note the word eagerly!

Those who find this life satisfying and enjoyable will not genuinely have eagerness for that which is going to replace it. But for many in the world, such as in the Sudan and Pakistan, to name but two countries, this life offers nothing that a truly spiritual person can enjoy – except their fellowship with each other.  Yet, in God’s eyes, those living in such situations are likely to be in a far more spiritually acceptable frame of mind.

Meditate prayerfully on these words near the end of Romans 8.  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?   Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us.” [v,35,37]  However, could not our lack of “eager longing” separate us?   

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29 - Rom6 11

29 Jan: Daily Readings & Thought for January 29th. “YOU ALSO MUST CONSIDER YOURSELVES DEAD …”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are some days when all the readings provoke thoughts that are very meaningful and personal.  In Genesis we have the words of Joseph to his brothers after their father died.  The brothers are fearful that Joseph, in his position of great power in the land, will now take vengeance on them for the time they threw him into a pit, ignoring his pleas (Psa. 105 v.17-20 which shows it was also a testing time for Joseph) and sold him to be a slave.  But Joseph now fully sees the events from God’s perspective. 

“Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? …you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about …” [Gen.50 v.19,20] The lesson for us! – to look ‘into’ all strange and unexpected events to see whether the hand of God is there in – allowing or causing – the setting in motion of a chain of events for some divine purpose. But we usually perceive this only later as the events unfold. Also, we can say this is the case with our endeavours to understand much of apparently fulfilling prophecy in these days. 

In the Psalms we have that most meaningful Psalm (51) which reveals David’s total remorse and repentance after his sin with Bathsheba – a powerful example for all who become belatedly awake to what a mess they have made in some part of their lives – but the awakening must be from the heart and create a prayerful seeking of God’s guidance.

Then in Paul’s letter to the Romans we have his most powerful portrayal of the impact that the sacrifice of Christ must have on us, as it obviously had on him. This impact may not come to begin with, but it must surely come if we are to be people whom our Lord can really use in his service.  Paul writes of how “the free gift of grace of that one man (in contrast to Adam) Jesus Christ abounded for many.”[5 v.15]  Yet, because it is “free” – do we really appreciate it in the right way? There seems to be a lot of glib talk around (spoken and written) in some religious circles about ‘grace’ – that it is always abounding – regardless of what we might ever do. 

In ch. 6 Paul makes a really special point, or so it seems to us, “We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Then he makes this powerful point to his readers, those in Rome and of all ages. After saying, “you also must consider yourselves dead to sin” he pleads, “ Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.” [v.11,12]  Let us all see ourselves to be “dead” to sin.  And if we cannot see that – then draw closer to Christ, our mediator. in earnest prayer. Also making sure we constantly meditatively read God’s word – to inspire us in seeing.

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