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Retired pastor

Daily Bible thoughts 839: Monday 23rd March 2015: Jeremiah 2:20-25

Jeremiah 2:20-25

We saw yesterday how God’s own people had ‘’exchanged their Glory for worthless idols.’’ (11). They had swapped the true God for false gods. At that time ‘Baalism’ was rife in the land, with its promiscuous sexual rites that were part of pagan worship. You will not be able to miss the powerful sexual imagery in the text, portraying the people of God as spiritually wanton (see 20b and 23-25 especially.) They lusted after other gods. Spiritually speaking they were a people of easy virtue. They were adulterous, for were they not married to the Lord? (2:1-3). They were unfaithful to their Heavenly Spouse, running after other ‘lovers’.

What about you, and me? Are there things in our lives that matter more to us than pursuing the Lord our God and loving Him with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.

In (23-27) the people of Jeremiah’s day are compared to animals searching for mates in the mating season. The people ran wildly after their idols. They became so comfortable in their sin that they could not consider giving it up. They just had to have what they were going after with abandon. They couldn’t think of life without their gods.

Sin so defiles that no cleansing agent on earth can remove the stain (22). But God is willing to wash us if we are willing to be made clean (Isaiah 1:18; Ezekiel 36:25).Look also at 1 John 1:7-9. The ninth verse has been called ‘the Christian’s bar of soap.’ For all who truly repent; who confess and forsake their sin, there is cleansing in the precious blood of Jesus.

Where do you need to ask for cleansing today? Don’t doubt the efficacy of Christ’s blood. The most stubborn sin stain will be banished at its application.

‘’Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.’’ (1 John 5:21).

Prayer: Lord please forgive me for all my disloyalty, and the hurt I cause you my Heavenly Bridegroom by my unfaithfulness.

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Daily Bible thoughts 838: Friday 20th March 2015: Jeremiah 2: 9-19.

Jeremiah 2: 9-19.

Here is the central spiritual issue addressed in ‘Jeremiah’:

‘’My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.’’ (13, 18; see John 4:10, 14).

How many Christian testimonies reflect this sentiment? Someone says, ‘I tried everything this world has to offer but nothing satisfied me; I was still thirsty for something else.’ Eventually they found the something is a Someone: Jesus. King Solomon wrote a whole book that has this theme. It’s in the Bible and it’s called ‘Ecclesiastes.’ Solomon was in a position to be able to try every experience. The conclusion he came to was, ‘It’s all ‘’meaningless…a chasing after the wind.’’ He realised that you won’t find the meaning to life if your research is restricted to life ‘’under the sun’’. You have to ultimately look above it. You have to look to God.

There is an old hymn that reflects this passage: ‘’I tried the broken cisterns, Lord, but Ah the waters failed…’’

The people of Jeremiah’s day were looking for meaning in a worthless and broken religious system (11; see Romans 1:23). They had swapped the true god for dead, man-made idols. God said that even pagan nations like ‘’Kittim’’ and ‘’Kedar’’ had remained loyal to their gods. The forsaking of the Lord by God’s people was an appalling and horrific sin that should make a man shudder (12). They were so obviously turning from the only One who could satisfy them.

When you choose the route of sin you go the way of slavery. You may be looking for freedom but you find its opposite (14; see John 8:34). The point to note is that we bring terrible, unwanted and unintended consequences upon ourselves when we turn away from the living God (15-19). This remains the case today.

‘’Now none but Christ can satisfy; no other Name for me…’’

Prayer: ‘’For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.’’ (Psalm 36:9).

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Daily Bible thoughts 837: Thursday 19th March 2015: Jeremiah 2:4-8.

Jeremiah 2:4-8.

Beware what ‘gods’ you choose for you will surely become like them (5b). Look at the life of someone who has lived for drugs, or alcohol, or sexual promiscuity, or some other ‘idol.’ See what they become. Ask yourself if their idolatry does anything good for them. Our ‘’worthless’’ idols have lying spirits behind them. They deceive us. They persuade us that they have things of worth to offer; but in the end they destroy.

In this case a corrupt, rebellious and backslidden religious leadership had encouraged the people down the road of idolatry. So many of the people in the pulpits were not prayerful, and in fact did not know God (8). There is nothing new about such a situation where we find it today – and we do. We cannot over emphasise how serious a situation it is where leaders in the church do not know the Lord; do not love Him and honour Him and preach His truth.

As I read today’s passage it seems to me that the major sin at the core of it is ingratitude. Thankfulness is really important in everyday life. It oils the wheels in social interactions. As children, it was drummed into many of us to always say ‘thank you’. We knew it was non-negotiable. It was impressed upon us. After Christmas and birthdays we had to write ‘thank you’ notes. There was no choice in the matter. I perceive the danger of a generation rising up that feels entitled and is generally reticent (or ignorant?) when it comes to expressing thanks. Of course, this is not true of all. It may not be even true of many. But I think I can detect a change in the air regarding basic good manners. We even find it in the church (where it should not be found!) It’s important that we don’t become like the unthankful lepers.

Of course, much more serious than a lack of appreciation towards each other, is a lack of gratitude towards God. That was the big sin here. God had been so good to His people, but they acted in a most ungrateful manner.

Take time to thank God today for your blessings; thank Him for all He’s done for you.

But don’t forget to thank His people too. Is there someone you should show appreciation to in some way?

Prayer: Help me, dear Lord, to cultivate an ‘’attitude of gratitude’’.

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Daily Bible thoughts 836: Wednesday 18th March 2015: Jeremiah 2:1-3

Jeremiah 2:1-3

‘’To encourage you to pursue pleasure in Jesus makes no sense unless you have good reason to believe there is something about him more pleasing than what the world, flesh and the devil have to offer.’’ Sam Storms: ‘One thing’, p.46.

Chapters 2-6 constitute a single connected message which Jeremiah delivered early on in his ministry, probably during the reign of Josiah.

It is sad when God has to speak of His people’s ‘’devotion’’ in the past tense (1-3). God remembered His ‘honeymoon’ with His ‘’bride’’, and her loyal love for Him that would follow Him anywhere.

‘’I remember your youthful loyalty, our love as newlyweds. You stayed with me through the wilderness years, stuck with me through all the hard places. Israel was GOD’s holy choice, the pick of the crop. Anyone who laid a hand on her would soon wish he hadn’t!’’ The Message.

This was such a great marriage…but then…

What happened? Well, the problems weren’t with the Bridegroom!

It is possible that we can become lukewarm (Revelation 3:16) in our marriage to Jesus; that we can lose our first love (Revelation 2:4).

Or as a friend of mine put it, the shine can go off your salvation. It doesn’t sparkle in you as it once did. It somehow loses lustre in your eyes.

As the Sam Storms quote indicates, Jesus is infinitely precious, and more valuable than anything or anyone else we set our hearts on. Every Christian knew and felt this at one time; but is it your experience now?

If it isn’t, restoration is possible: ‘’Repent and do the things you did at first.’’ (Revelation 2:5).

‘’Beauty also rebukes by revealing to us the moral deformity of those things we’ve embraced above Jesus and by exposing the hideous reality beyond the deceptively attractive façade of worldly amusements. We are deceived by the ugliness of sin because we haven’t gazed at the beauty of Christ.’’ Sam Storms: ‘One thing’, p.55

Prayer: Cause me Lord Jesus to see your beauty and worth with new eyes that I may love you as I did at first and not look to any substitutes for satisfaction.

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Daily Bible thoughts 835: Tuesday 17th March 2015: Psalm 115:1-11.

Psalm 115:1-11.

‘’He simply is, irrespective and independent of all other is’s. His life is beyond the ravages of death, decay or disintegration.’’ Sam Storms: ‘One thing’, p.60

May this sentiment in (1) always fill all of our hearts. No one knows for sure what the background to the psalm is. It may be that Israel’s army had just won a great victory over the enemy, and there was a danger that the king and his troops would be given the credit. Let’s be careful that we never trespass into the Lord’s spotlight. To God be all the glory.

The people of the nations could not see Israel’s God (2). They could see their own gods because they were statues: ‘’Their gods are metal and wood, handmade in a basement shop…’’ The Message (see 4-7).But we have a living God who sovereignly rules over all (3).

See the utter deadness of dead religion (4-8). This is one of several places in the Bible showing how utterly ludicrous idolatry is. It is not only bad and wrong; it is also stupid! Why would you think that a hand-crafted statue could help you in your time of need?!

Someone pointed out that a religion will only ever be as good as its gods (8). Notice here that although they are lifeless the idols do have the power to destroy those who worship them (Isaiah 44:6-20)

‘’Gentiles visiting Jerusalem would notice the absence of idols. Back home, they could point to their gods and introduce you to the craftsman who made them. Is your God in heaven, ruling over all? Are you trusting something less than God?’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.383.

A dead idol cannot help anyone, but the living God can. Our God ‘’is’’ and our God ‘’does’’ (3). He is alive. The gods of the world are not (in the sense of being lifeless. They are human creations made of ‘’silver and gold’’) and they ‘’cannot’’ (a word that comes 6 times in 5-7). They cannot help and they cannot protect, but the true God can; hence the three-fold call to ‘’trust’’ in Him (9-11). This call goes out to Israel as a whole; to the priests (the ‘’house of Aaron’’), and to all who ‘’fear him’’. So this psalm speaks to us.

‘’The living God can see you, hear your prayers, walk with you and help you. He can speak to you from His Word.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.383.

Prayer: Thank you, living Lord, that you are trustworthy. Please help me to actively trust you at all times and have no other gods before you.

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Daily Bible thoughts 834: Monday 16th March 2015: Philippians 2: 5-11.

Philippians 2:5-11.

To be Christ-like (5) is at the core of what it means to conduct yourselves ‘’in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.’’ (1:27). It’s been said that Paul regularly ‘’uses a steam hammer to crack a nut’’ and here he takes the profound doctrine of the incarnation and uses it to make a practical point about Christian behaviour. Here are some elements of a Christ-like attitude:

You don’t cling on to status or any perceived rights (6): If doing the will of God means letting go of these things, then you will gladly do so, trusting the Lord to take care of you. There are times when we must choose the path of relinquishment. ‘’He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.’’ The Message.

Humility (7, 8a): If you struggle to put yourself in a place where you are considered ‘’nothing’’ (at least, ‘nothing’ great in this world’s estimation), just think what this was like for God Most High in the Person of His Son. If humble service was not beneath the Son of God, it should not be beneath you and me. Someone said that the ‘flesh’ hates service, and, even more, screams against secret service. But we needed to understand that the highest position on offer in the Kingdom of God is that of a servant. How humbling it must have been for the second Person of the Trinity to lay aside His glory and be ‘’made in human likeness’’; to be ‘’found in appearance as a man’’ (7b/8a). There is a translation of (7a) that reads that He ‘’emptied himself’’. Theologians have debated what this means, and still do. The answer seems to be that He did not empty Himself of His God-hood (His divinity), but of His glory. As someone said, ‘’He did not empty Himself of His deity, but emptied Himself into humanity.’’

Willingness to die (8b): As a Christian you have got to learn to die. These may be the most important words in today’s thought. Jesus’ obedience to God was to the extent of dying. Submission to God’s will cost Him His life. That’s what Paul is saying. And it was such a terrible death – so shameful and barbarous. It was the worst form of cruel torture this fallen world has ever invented. But Jesus’ obedience was so total that He went through with that. ‘’He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.’’ The Message.

Realise, then:

  1. That you are into something that could cost you your life;
  2. That you are into something that does cost you your life (quite apart from physical death.) Even if you are not killed for your faith you will have to die a thousand deaths, and more, to live this Christian life: death to pride, position, ego, social status, reputation, and the like.

But if we give up our honour for Jesus, we can know that it is safe in the Father’s Hands. God will honour those who honour Him (9-11). The pattern we see in God’s dealings with His humble, sacrificing, servant-like Son will find a parallel in the lives of believers who follow the pathway of Christ (James 5:10; 1 Peter 5:6). However our focus should not be on receiving any honour, but on serving God with humble, sacrificially obedient lives.

Prayer: Lord make me like you.

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Daily Bible thoughts 833: Friday 13th March 2015: Philippians 2:1-5.

 Philippians 2:1-5.

The repeated ‘’If’’ in (2:1) is not one of doubt. Paul knew that they did have those things. So do we. So these words also apply to us. Because of all they had ‘’from being united with Christ’’ they could fulfil these injunctions (3-5). So can we.

There are intimations in the letter that there may have been some threats to the church’s unity (E.g. 4:2, 3.) So it was important for them to understand and implement Paul’s teaching.

There are things we get from knowing Jesus and being in Him, such as ‘’encouragement’’ , ‘’comfort’’, ‘’love’’, ‘’tenderness’’ and ‘’compassion’’. We are to share them; pass them on to others.

It does a pastor’s heart good to see his people loving each other (2). In fact, my greatest griefs in pastoral ministry have probably stemmed from disunity between Christians. I remember one church I served. The people were lovely and I loved them deeply. But one or two of them could get a bit fractious with each other at times. I confess I probably didn’t handle those situations well, but they caused me a lot of pain. Around the same time I read in ‘Time’ magazine how President Ronald Reagan was such an affable chap, he hated it when his staff didn’t get on. I felt I could identify with such an outlook. It mattered to Paul to see these Christians living together in harmony.

I have long believed (and said) that the application of (3, 4) alone would transform every church in the community. There can be no mistaking the clear calling to put others before yourself. Like Jesus, we are called to humbly serve, give and sacrifice for the sake of others. This is the key to unity. You cannot afford to dwell on what you’re receiving or not receiving; getting or not getting. You have to concentrate on serving, giving and sacrificing. Everything else is in God’s Hands.

Our goal, in this world should be ‘’to give, and not to count the cost; to fight, and not to heed the wound; to labour, and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do your will.’’

‘’Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.’’ The Message.

Ultimately, living ‘’in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ’’ (1:27) is about being like Christ (2:5-11).

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to become more like Jesus every day. Cause Christ to be formed in me.

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Daily Bible thoughts 832: Thursday 12th March 2015: Philippians 1:27-30

Philippians 1:27-30

‘’Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear it from a distance.’’ The Message.

As we have seen, Paul believed he would see the Philippian Christians again (25, 26), but whatever happened (27) he wanted them to live in ‘’a manner worthy of the gospel.’ (See also Ephesians 4:1). I have one or two observations to make about this injunction:

  • it is a tall order;
  • we can only do it in God’s strength;
  • we can do it in God’s strength (4:13);
  • but we won’t always feel like doing it!

Yet it should be the measure of all we do today, and every day. People can let you down. You may feel that they don’t come up to your standards for behaviour. Perhaps you are disappointed and hurt. But you can’t ‘fix’ anyone else. What you have to focus on is your ‘’conduct’’, regardless of how anyone else is acting. ‘’Whatever happens’’ with any other individual in your life, concentrate on being the person God is calling you to be.

When Paul wrote about living in ‘’a manner worthy of the gospel.’’ he had especially in mind:

  • Unity (27b; See Ephesians 4:1-16): ‘’Stand united, singular in vision’’ The Message;
  • Witness (27b): In particular their corporate witness, being ‘’a city set on a hill’’ as Jesus put it (Matthew 5:14);
  • Courage (28), in the face of persecution. ‘’Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you – and both because of God.’’ The Message. In all of this their experience was similar to Paul’s (29, 30) which would no doubt encourage them – to think they were in the same boat as their beloved apostle. And he would be an example to them of how to be and what to do in suffering. Paul saw this suffering as a gift. (Along with it there surely also went a gift of being enabled to suffer for the cause of Christ). ‘’There’s more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting.’’ The Message. Perhaps you have to go through a time of fierce opposition (28) and ‘’struggle’’ (30) to appreciate what a gift it can be. It’s not something to be sought, yet within it believers discover precious treasures. Hostility towards you can cause you to ‘draw a line in the sand’ and take a stand on what you believe to be right. It can also push you more firmly into the arms of God. I go back to that word ‘’contending’’ (27). May we not be ‘chocolate soldiers’ ( as C.T.Studd put it) who melt in the heat of battle, or spiritual draft-dodgers who don’t really want to fight. Above all, ‘’Consider him…’’ (Hebrews 12:3).

‘’Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.’’ These words have spoken to me significantly today. What, in your reading, has particularly spoken to you? Don’t let go of it easily. Write it down if necessary. Keep coming back to it and meditating on it; pray about it and consider what it will mean for your life. Seek to apply it.

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Daily Bible thoughts 831: Wednesday 11th March 2015: Jeremiah 1:11-19

 Jeremiah 1:11-19

God’s Word is not an idle Word. He says what He means and means what He says. He does not waste words (see 14-16 and Isaiah 55:8-11). Everything happened as God had said (3b). God’s Word is to be taken seriously.

See the importance of seeing! – the importance of seeing what God wants to show you (12, 13). When you ‘see’ something in the Spirit, that revelation can change your life. We need to have the eyes in our hearts ‘’enlightened’’ so that we come to ‘’know’’ truth in a deep, life-changing way (Ephesians 1:18).

The ‘’boiling pot’’ Jeremiah saw (13-16) signified the ‘’northern kingdoms’’ including Babylon and her allies. They would be God’s instruments of judgment on Judah, because the people had turned away from Him to idols.

‘’Get yourself ready!’’ (17a). Preachers must prepare themselves. The preparation of the man (or woman) is essential, and not just the preparation of the message. Jeremiah knew from the outset that he had a tough assignment (18, 19). But he also knew that God was with him (8). Even so, he had to choose courage, when he must have felt the temptation to be afraid. There was so much at stake in his deciding to be brave against all the odds. He had to get himself ready for what lay ahead.

Just before preaching, my friend excused himself from the room and headed upstairs, saying, ‘’I’m going to talk to God about men before I go and talk to men about God!’

Someone said, ‘’He who has prayed well has studied well.’’ That is not to be used as an excuse for skimping on other parts of preparation. But it is to recognise that prayer is a vital part of preparing to bring God’s message to people.

Ajith Fernando, in his outstanding book, ‘Jesus driven ministry’, writes about how important it is to pray before preaching. At times you will have to say difficult things that people do not want to hear, so prepare yourself. I never feel that I’ve prayed enough before preaching a sermon. It is so essential to ‘’Get yourself ready!’’

If preachers are not faithful in delivering their message, they will pay a price for their failure of fidelity (17b). ‘’But you – stand up on your feet and get dressed for work! Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say. Don’t pull your punches or I’ll pull you out of the lineup.’’ The Message.

So Jeremiah set out knowing that there would be trouble ahead. But what a promise he carried in his pocket with which to embark on his ministry (19). ‘’I’m making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You’re a one-man defense system against this culture.’’ The Message.

Prayer: Please strengthen me dear Lord, so that I am not overcome by the culture, but I live as an overcomer in it.

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