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Daily Bible thoughts 824: Monday 2nd March 2015: Philippians 1: 12-18a

Philippians 1: 12-18a

A moment ago I saw the familiar quote: ‘’If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.’’ The important thing to remember is that God is in control. Paul’s suffering was purposeful, and the fact that other people could see the reason for it was a blessing to him. He saw himself, first and foremost, as ‘’the prisoner of Christ Jesus’’ (Ephesians 3:1), and his chains were ‘’for Christ’’ (13). ‘’Do you think first of Christ when circumstances are difficult?’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.778.

Paul was imprisoned at the time he wrote Philippians (12). But he could see that God was bringing good out of his bad (Romans 8:28). It’s helpful if you can see that in ‘’all things’’ God is working for your good, and the benefit of others in the church. Paul was all about getting the gospel known. If his restricted circumstances could serve that purpose, then that was a cause for joy. He was still fulfilling his ministry. The men who locked him up in prison couldn’t confine his message (see 2 Timothy 2:9). ‘’I want to report to you friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All of the soldiers here, and everyone else too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the Christians here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.’’ The Message. There were three things in particular which caused Paul to rejoice:

  • The gospel message had penetrated the most unlikely place (13);
  • Paul’s example and sufferings had enervated many other believers (14). So now more people were speaking about Jesus and spreading the gospel;
  • Christ was being preached (15-18a). It was true that some people were not preaching with good motives. There always have been those who use the gospel as a means of self-aggrandisement; who want to make a name for themselves. Nevertheless it pleased Paul that Christ was being preached. Whatever the motives of the preachers, the apostle knew that God could do something with the message about His Son. All he wanted was to exalt Christ (20). It was the fame of Jesus that mattered to him. ‘’It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they’ll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world…So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed bad or indifferent. Every time one of them open his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!’’ The Message.

Paul simply wanted to spread the gospel message. He knew that it is ‘’the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…’’ (Romans 1:16). He knew that if people let this ‘Lion’ out of its ‘cage’ it would go to work. It would get on with its job.

Prayer: May my love for you, Lord Jesus, be so great, and my courage from the Spirit so strong, that I always live, in all circumstances, to lift up your Name

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 822: Thursday 26th February 2015: Philippians 1:1-8

Philippians 1:1-8 (click here for passage)

Paul does not come across as a big shot leader, but as a humble ‘’servant’’ (1). All leaders in Christ’s church should view themselves as servants, and all believers should see themselves as ‘’saints’’.

Saints shine!

As the little boy observed, having seen some of the ‘saints’ in stained glass windows in a local church: ‘’A saint is someone the light shines through!’’ One of the ways in which the Philippian Christians shone was in giving practical/material support to Paul (see 5 and chapter 4:10-20). They excelled in ‘’the grace of giving’’ (2 Corinthians 8:7). Although Paul was on the front line of Kingdom advancement (7b), he did not feel superior to them. They were his partners in the gospel. They were the ‘supply lines’ and were making their own essential contribution to the cause. When Paul was in prison, they sent one of their own, ‘’Epaphroditus’’, to be with him; to take care of his needs and cook his meals etc. Paul was aware that he and these Christians in Philippi were sharers in the same ‘’grace’’ (6). They were all, together, fully dependent on the grace of God. They stood on level ground before the cross. They were together in salvation and ministry.

Saints are not ‘extra special’ Christians.

They are not a ‘suped up’, turbo-charged variety. They are not an elite squad of believers – a kind of spiritual ‘S.A.S.’ It’s not the case that there are ‘ordinary’ disciples, then a higher tier called ‘saints’. No not at all. The truth is that all Christians are saints, and all saints are a work in progress (6). They are a dish still cooking; they are a painting yet on the easel. Saints are not yet finished, even if they’ve already come along way. (Some, maybe many, haven’t yet travelled a great distance. But they’re on the journey, and the Lord is guiding them to His appointed destination. He will get them there at the end of the day. They may not look impressive as pilgrims, but they have a great Guide.) ‘’There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.’’ The Message

To pray with thankfulness is a key to joy (3, 4). Learn to interlace your requests with thanks. Be thankful for your fellow Christians. Be specifically thankful, as Paul was. Paul could thank God for these Christians he was writing to; they were in his ‘’heart’’ (7). He had a supernatural love for them (8). This is the love that is the ‘’fruit of the Spirit’’ (Galatians 5:22). It is the love of Jesus. ‘’Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does.’’ The Message. One preacher was talking to his congregation, giving them suggestions of things they might consider ‘giving up’ for Lent. One of his points was, ‘Give up looking for people’s bad points. Start noticing their good qualities and give thanks for them!’ Just think what that kind of Lentern ‘fast’ might do for you – and others around you!

Paul proved in his own up and down experience that the ‘’Grace and peace’’ (2) you need to live the Christian life, with its many challenges and trials, is always available. This was his fondest wish for his fellow-believers in the Roman colony of Philippi.

Prayer: Teach me, dear Lord, to always combine thanking with asking.

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 821: Wednesday 25th February 2015: Zephaniah 3:18-20

 Zephaniah 3:18-20 (click here for passage)

‘’I will give them praise and honour in every land where they were put to shame.’’(19b).

These verses may have an immediate reference to the return from Babylon following punishment and exile, but they clearly look beyond it to a much greater ingathering of Jews from across the globe.

Verse 18 probably refers to the sorrow the godly captives felt when they could no longer attend the ‘’appointed feasts’’.

There have been repeated and terrible outbreaks of anti-Semitism in history, and we are seeing something of a resurgence now. It is heart-breaking to observe, and any of us who can say something and/or do something to stand with persecuted Jews should do so. Of course, this principle also extends to other oppressed peoples whose rights are trampled on. But it is important to remember that God has a special purpose for the Jews in the story of salvation. They were His chosen instrument to give us Jesus and the Bible. What happens to them is a key to the further fulfilment of prophecy in preparation for the return of Jesus.

We can take heart, then, from the vision in this reading: ‘’In the very countries where they were hated they will be venerated.’’ The Message. Consider too Paul’s teaching in Romans chapters 9-11. What Zephaniah and Paul were writing about may not be identical, but they give us something to joyfully anticipate, and faithfully believe for as we pray. God has a glorious future planned for the Jewish people, and it will mean blessing for the whole world. (See especially Romans 11:11-32).

In our own times we have seen many Jewish people returning to the land of Israel. In the years when this didn’t seem likely (for example, even back in the 19th century) there were Bible students writing books, saying that the Jews must return to the land God gave them in the first place. They said it had to happen because it was in God’s inspired and unbreakable Word. They were right.

All of this reminds us that history is moving towards a God-ordained climax when Jesus Christ will return to this world. Somebody pointed out that a huge proportion of the Bible is prophecy, and the majority of those prophecies have already come to pass – to the letter. The remainder have to do with the end of this world as we know it and the return of Jesus. They will be fulfilled.

Now, are you ready?

Prayer: Thank you for your Word, Lord. It focuses on Jesus. Our hearts burn when we think about Him, and we long for His return to the earth. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We pray for your blessing and protection on all persecuted minorities

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Daily Bible thoughts 820: Tuesday 24th February 2015: Zephaniah 3:14-17

Zephaniah 3:14-17 click here for passage)

Zephaniah concludes on a high note of hope.

‘’Raise the rafters, Israel!’’ The Message.

God’s people should be ‘the happiest people on earth’ (14) – a people of unfettered praise; an exuberantly joyful community, praising God from the heart. A friend of mine was going through a tough time. He told me that he wrote to a well-known pastor in America, who, he knew, had been through a similar set of circumstances. This renowned man of God replied, encouraging him to discover the awesome power of spiritual song. My friend not only read the ‘prescription’; he also took the ‘medicine’. He found it had a delightful taste! When I was staying with him, I would hear him get up in the early morning, go downstairs, and pick up his guitar and sing to the Lord.

Consider some reasons why we can have unbounded joy:

  • The Cross of Jesus and all it means (15a): Here are two aspects of its significance – forgiveness of sins and the conquest of all spiritual foes. (The Lord has ‘’taken away’’ our ‘’punishment’’ because He took our punishment on Calvary.) May we never lose the wonder of the Cross;
  • God’s reign over you, and His presence with you and in you (15b, 17a). ‘’From now on, GOD is Israel’s king, in charge at the centre…Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.’’ The Message.
  • There is nothing to fear (15b, 16). When you allow the revelation of who God is and who you are in Him to overwhelm your thinking, you realise that there is nothing to fear and no reason to be discouraged. (You don’t have to ‘’let your hands hang limp’’ 16b). Nothing can happen to you that will ‘’harm’’ There may well be many things that will ‘hurt’ you, but nothing can ‘harm’ you in any ultimate sense. Your God is ‘’mighty to save’’ and you are safe. (Reflect, for example, on Revelation 20:4. Is it not true to say that these faithful ones were hurt but not really harmed? They are eternally safe with God. Revelation gives us the bigger picture.)
  • God the Father’s ‘maternal’ characteristics (17b). He loves you so much. He is like a mother doting on her young child. It is a truly beautiful picture.

Today, you have every reason to sing and not be silent, if you are a believer in Jesus. Learn how to be happy (and stay happy) in God! Your circumstances may not tend towards happiness, but you can learn to make yourself (or allow yourself to be) truly happy. The truth will set you free – if you let it!

And don’t forget the awesome power of spiritual song.

Prayer: Lord, you have put a new song in my heart. Don’t let the devil steal it from me. I choose to sing and not be silent, for you are faithful and you are good.

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 815: Tuesday 17th February 2015: Zephaniah 2:9-11

Zephaniah 2:9-11 (click here for todays passage)

God is in control. Nothing happens behind His back.

God sees the plight of His persecuted people. He hears the ‘’…insults…taunts…threats…’’ (8). Even if your experience of persecution has not got physical; even if it is no more than verbal, He knows and understands. He is aware that words can hurt. Jesus knows it full well (Matthew 27:27-31; 1 Peter 2:23). Ultimately God is going to deal with all persecution and persecutors (10, 11). The opposition is truly against Him, even though His people get in the way of it. But finally, every knee will bow to Him (11b; Philippians 2:5-11). God is going to show that He is God to all who mock Him and poke fun at His family. Take the long view. The book of ‘Revelation’ helps us do this, and says that in the end, Jesus wins. In fact, He’s already won, and one great day the world will be forced to see the score line.

Persecution will have unwanted and unintended consequences for the persecutors (9). It may not happen quickly, but it will happen. There will be a reversal of fortunes and God’s people will gain the upper hand. The ‘team’ that seems to be taking a beating at the moment will lift the ‘trophy’ in the end.

Persecution is born of pride (10); a sense of superiority to God and the church. There is a belief that ‘our gods are better’ and ‘we are greater with our gods. What we’ve got is above what they’ve got, and our gods will protect us.’ Of course, in some cases, those ‘gods’ are no more than political philosophies and raw power. But the opponents are ‘believers’ in their religion. Yet we can say that in the final analysis God will expose the folly, the vanity, the emptiness of all false beliefs, and He will glorify His own Name (11). ‘’GOD will be seen as truly terrible – a Holy Terror’’ (The Message) to all who terrorize His church. ‘’All earth-made gods will shrivel up and blow away.’’ When God shows people the nothingness of their idols, He is preparing them to ‘’worship him’’ (11). By the way, you will always get what you don’t want ‘’in return for’’ pride (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

Today you may be afraid to show your true colours, as a Christian, because of concerns about mockery. It’s never going to be easy to endure, but this oracle should help us see that it’s not something to fear. God is with and for His people. He is the living God and ‘’Almighty’’ (9a). These enemies of Israel were placing their trust in lifeless deities.

Persecution never hurts more than when you experience it in your own family. That is likely to happen (Matthew 10:21, 34-39). The Moabites and Ammonites were related to the Israelites (Genesis 19:36-38), but they acted as enemies throughout most of Israel’s history (Numbers 22; Judges 3 and 10; 1 Samuel 11:1-5; 2 Samuel 12: 26ff). ‘’Notice once again that the Lord’s judgment on the nations is influenced by their treatment of His chosen people Israel (verse 10).’’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1284. (See also Amos 1:13-2:3 and Ezekiel 25:1-11.)

Prayer: Lord God, I look forward to the day when everyone will acknowledge that you are Lord.

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Daily Bible thoughts 813: Friday 13th February 2015: Zephaniah 2:1-3

Zephaniah 2:1-3 (click here for passage)

‘’Seek the LORD, you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility.’’ (3a)

Humility is a prized quality in the Bible. You could say that it is the ‘soil’ in which the other Christian graces flower

You cannot have too much humility. In the above text the ‘’humble’’ are exhorted to ‘’seek humility.’’

Humility is the key to true greatness: ‘’Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.’’ (James 4:10; see 1 Peter 5:6 and Philippians 2:1-11)).

Here are three thoughts suggested by today’s short reading:

  • Humility shows itself in prayerfulness. Humility and seeking the Lord go together. Humility involves recognition of your smallness, and His bigness. This awareness will drive you into God’s arms. In humility you see your helplessness and God’s power; your need and His ability. Proud people rush on to get things done in their own strength.They are supremely confident of their abilities. Humble people lean on God to get the job done. They do not renege on their responsibilities, but they know they will never do God’s work in their own unaided strength. Day after day will find them on their knees, metaphorically if not literally. They are not too proud to ask for help.
  • Humility shows itself in holiness. There can be no genuine holiness without it. Prayer and obedience go together. If we hold on to favourite sins they will clog up the channel of prayer. Seeking the Lord cannot be divorced from taking active steps to conform your life to God’s Word. In humility you admit that God’s ways are right and best and you endeavour to align yourself with them. It takes humility to admit that you are wrong. Progress in holiness will necessitate the repeated use of this admission.
  • Humility shows itself in repentance. In the Bible we see over and over that sin leads to judgment. But God wants to save people from His judgment. Therefore He is patient, and gives many warnings and calls to change (2 Peter 3:9). In the first three verses of this second chapter, God is calling His people to seek Him ‘’before’’ His judgment sweeps through the land. (Note how the word is used three times in verse 2) ‘’Do it before you’re blown away like leaves in a windstorm.’’ The Message. But it takes humility to repent. It takes humility to say, ‘I/we have done wrong.’ It takes humility to confess your sins. It takes humility to ask for forgiveness. It takes humility to change your mind about the way you have been living, and fully embrace God’s road map for your life.

Such humility is possible. It grows in the lives of those who ‘’seek’’ it; it is cultivated in the people who ‘’Seek the LORD…’’

Prayer: I ask that the mind of Jesus, who humbled Himself, will be in me.

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Daily Bible thoughts 812: Thursday 12th February 2015: Zephaniah 1:14-18

Zephaniah 1:14-18 (click here for todays passage)

‘’…for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.’’ (18b).

It’s interesting that it’s not only ‘religious’ people who believe that life on earth cannot continue forever. A recent piece in ‘Time’ magazine, headed: ‘COUNTDOWN TO APOCALYPSE’ said this: ‘’The minute hand of the Doomsday Clock was moved forward two minutes to 11:57 on Jan.22, the first adjustment in three years. The time on the clock, which was created in 1945, is set by a board of scientists and nuclear experts and symbolizes the world’s proximity to global catastrophe.’’

The Bible’s teaching about ‘’The great day of the LORD…’’ should not be taken lightly. It is a major theme in Scripture, and is not there for merely decorative purposes. As we have seen, Zephaniah in speaking about this ‘day’ saw the invasion of the Babylonians in the foreground (15, 16). But he also saw the last judgment in the distance (18b, 1:2, 3). If that is going to come ‘suddenly’ we had better prepare for it now. In view of the end of all things, the big question becomes, ‘In what (or in whom) do you trust?’ It seems that many people in Zephaniah’s day relied on their affluence (10 -13, 18a). The temptation to trust in material possessions remains, but wealth is an unreliable idol. It is a poor substitute for the living God! ‘’Don’t plan on buying your way out. Your money is worthless for this.’’ The Message.

‘’Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.’’ (1 Timothy 6:17 – underling mine).

‘’Let others boast of heaps of gold, Christ for me; His riches never can be told, Christ for me. Your gold will rust and wear away; your honours perish in a day. But while I’ve breath I mean to say, Christ for me.’’

The hymn writer was on to something! The only way to be ready for the ‘flood’ of judgment that will one day engulf the earth, is to trust in the ‘Ark’ of safety that is Jesus. He bore your judgment in His death on the cross. If you step into Him by faith you will be safe.

‘’This is the Day of GOD’s Judgment –my wrath! I care about sin with fiery passion – A fire to burn up the corrupted world, a wildfire finish to the corrupting people.’’ The Message.

‘’Sin attracts with its offer of pleasure, but in the end he who indulges finds that he has no pleasure at all.’ David H.Wheaton (writing about 2 Peter 2:13). Reading verse 17 reminded me of that quote. Sin has a great marketing strategy. It makes itself look good. But when you ‘buy’ you find yourself worse off. In some ways we sin because we are blind. But it is also true to say that more and more sin leads to a deeper, darker blindness. Sin leads nowhere good. It results in damage and destruction. Ultimately it leads to judgment. When the end comes, as come it will, where will your confidence be?

Prayer: We live in a scary world Lord, but thank you that there is nothing to fear for all who trust in you.

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Daily Bible thoughts 811: Wednesday 11th February 2015: Zephaniah 1:4-13

Zephaniah 1:4-13 (click here for todays passage)

The book of ‘Zephaniah’ opens with God speaking. He says that He is going to ‘’sweep’’ the whole world clean (2, 3). However, He was going to start with His own people (see 1 Peter 4:17, 18). He was going to start pushing His broom around Judah and Jerusalem.

Here are some extracts from The Message: ‘’I’ll start with Judah and everybody who lives in Jerusalem. I’ll sweep the place clean of every trace of the sex-and-religion Baal shrines and their priests. I’ll get rid of the people who sneak up to their rooftops at night to worship the star gods and goddesses; Also those who continue to worship GOD but cover their bases by worshipping other king-gods as well; Not to mention those who’ve dumped GOD altogether, no longer giving him a thought or offering a prayer…I will punish those who dress up like foreign priests and priestesses, Who introduce pagan prayers and practices; And I’ll punish all who import pagan superstitions that turn holy places into hellholes…Wail, you shopkeepers on Market Street! Moneymaking has had its day. The god Money is dead. On Judgment Day, I’ll search through every closet and alley in Jerusalem. I’ll find and punish those who are sitting it out, fat and lazy, amusing themselves and taking it easy, Who think, ‘God doesn’t do anything, good or bad. He isn’t involved, so neither are we.’ But just wait. They’ll lose everything they have, money and house and land. ‘’

So here are some things God is going to ‘’sweep away’’:

  • Idolatry (4, 5a, 8, 9; see Leviticus 18:2; Judges 2:11-13): God hates false religion. It breaks His commandments and steals from His glory;
  • Syncretism (5b): This is the mixing of the worship of the Lord with strange ‘ingredients’ from other religions. It results in a bitter tasting ‘cake’ that God hates. It does not please Him. People may have been ‘hedging their bets’ in worshipping several gods. If so, this exposed their lack of faith in and loyalty towards the true God;
  • Backsliding/apostasy (6);
  • Complacency (12, 13): In spite of repeated prophetic warnings, and ‘signs of the times’, there were many people who refused to listen or see. Their view was that things would just carry on as normal and God wouldn’t do anything. They saw Him as inactive; as being indifferent to sin (see 2 Peter 3:3-7; Deuteronomy 28:30-33). So they kept their heads down and enjoyed their comfortable lifestyles. But they would be in for a rude awakening. God said that He had ‘’prepared a sacrifice’’ (the people of Judah). He had ‘’invited’’ the Babylonians to be the ‘’consecrated’’ priests at this sacrifice (7). This judgment came upon Judah about thirty years after Zephaniah spoke these words (see 2 Kings 25:1-11). We may not like to read words about judgment, but if you ignore them you will be avoiding much of the Bible. It is because God loves people so much that He hates evil so much. Whenever judgment is spoken about, the thing to always remember is that forgiveness is available to all who repent and trust in Christ. He died in our place. That is good news! But first we need to receive the bad news of how ‘sick’ we are before we will put ourselves in the hands of the ‘Doctor’.

Prayer: Help me to permit no idols to cross the threshold of my heart. I pray that you will reign supreme in me.

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Daily Bible thoughts 808: Friday 6th February 2015: Ephesians 6:21-24

Ephesians 6:21-24 (click here for passage)

This ‘pearl’ of an epistle concludes with a ‘pearl’ of an ending. See in it:

  • A remarkable loyalty (21, 22): ‘’Tychicus’’ was not Paul. He was not nearly so well known as Paul. But he played his part lovingly and responsibly. He did not get to shine ‘centre-stage’, but he shone in the shadows. The important thing is that he was a bright light, and he didn’t hide what he had under a bucket. Not everyone will stand in the spotlight, but everyone can be spotted as a light! You may never become ‘famous’ in the Christian world, but if you can play ‘Tychicus’ to someone else’s ‘Paul’, that’s a big deal. If you can truly be regarded as a ‘’faithful servant’’; if there is someone who regards you as a ‘’dear brother’’ (or sister); if there are people you ‘’encourage’’, that is no small matter. The job Tychicus was entrusted with may seem mundane, but it was important. It needed doing well. I thank God for those who are willing to pick up jobs that don’t dazzle and do them without fanfare. Where would the church be without them?
  • An intelligent relationship (21, 22): While nosiness into the affairs of others is not a welcome trait, fellowship (sharing the same thing) demands a certain transparency from each of us. Paul had been asking the Ephesian Christians to pray for him (18-20). If people are to pray intelligently, they need to know how we are and what we are doing. It may not be wise or helpful to divulge everything that is going on. What to say, when to say it, and just how much to share in any given moment is a judgment call. But to truly experience ‘fellowship’ with you, I have to be willing to let you into my world. It is at the heart of Christian fellowship that we know and are known. Authentic relationships are not built on hiding and lies. One of the ways we receive encouragement is by hearing how the people we pray for are getting on. When we see and hear answers to prayers in their circumstances our spirits are buoyed.
  • An inexhaustible supply (23, 24): You repeatedly see in Paul a strong desire for the churches under his influence to grow spiritually. ‘Ephesians’ closes with what is essentially a prayer for the recipients of his letter. He has asked for their prayers. As we have already seen, he prayed for them; big prayers! His closing prayer is for qualities such as ‘’Peace…and love with faith…’’ Such characteristics can only flow from God the Father and His Son Jesus. They are marks of ‘’Grace’’. So that is why Paul prays. He is asking for something only God can do. When He does it, there is ‘’glory’’ to God ‘’in the church and in Christ Jesus…’’ (3:21). We add our own ‘’Amen’’ to that.

Prayer: Lord I ask that you will form my life into a pearl. Make me beautiful for you.

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