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Daily Bible thoughts 700: Tuesday 9th September 2014:

Galatians 1:11-24

Have you seen those slimming ads that show before and after pictures? In some cases, there are those who have dieted in such a disciplined way that they are barely recognisable as being the same people. Yet, in spiritual terms, Paul’s (or Saul’s) transformation was infinitely greater than any dietary success story (23, 24). When we watch the news at the moment, and obviously we are disturbed by it, let’s remember that this man had, at one time, murderous intent towards Christians. Then he became one! God is in the business of changing people and making them new creations in Christ. ‘’I’m sure that you’ve heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God’s church. I was systematically destroying it. I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career. Even then God had designs on me.’’ (13-15a) The Message. So be encouraged by Paul. Keep sharing your faith and pray on. Don’t despair of anyone; not even the very worst. If you look at (13) and then (23) you will see something of the greatness of the miracle. It was ‘darkness to light’. It took God to explain such a change (24), and God did receive the praise (24)

Paul recognised that his conversion was entirely due to the Sovereign grace of God. Long before he cared to know Jesus, and, indeed during the years he persecuted Him, He was ‘’set…apart’’ by God to preach the gospel of Christ. He just didn’t know it yet.

What changes God brings about in the hearts and minds of people to bring them to an ‘about turn’! At one time Paul was very proud of his Jewish heritage, tradition and accomplishments (14; see also Philippians 3: 4-11). But he came to see that all the things he prided himself in were ‘’loss’’ and ‘’rubbish’’ compared with the shining jewel of knowing Christ and possessing His gift of righteousness (Phil.3: 7, 8). However religious you are, religion is not enough. Don’t confuse religion with Christianity. Saul of Tarsus was arguably one of the most religious men to walk the planet, but he hated Christians and set out to arrest them. He wanted them dead!

But because Paul, the new man in Christ and now an apostle, knew the threat to the Galatian churches (as we saw yesterday), he was anxious to show that his message should not be ‘perverted’ (7). False teachers had come along and were tinkering under the bonnet of truth. But they were not authorised to change anything. Paul’s gospel was Paul’s because he preached it, and not because he invented it. It was not man-made but God-given (11, 12). You will see why it was so important for Paul to stress this point. He wanted them to know this (11). The Galatians needed to know that the gospel was a fixed body of truth they were not to deviate from. Paul’s message did not even come from a process of consultation with other key leaders (16, 17). He had a personal ‘’revelation from Jesus Christ’’ (12). It seems that this took place in ‘’Arabia’’ and he may have been there for three years (18a). Not until later did he meet Peter and James. They didn’t give him a message to preach, but Jesus did.

Prayer: In my life, Lord, be glorified today.

 

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 699: Monday 8th September 2014:

 Galatians 1:6-10

In his early travels, Paul ‘’founded a series of churches in the Roman province of Galatia. A few years later Paul learned that religious leaders of the old school had come into those churches, called his views and authority into question, and were reintroducing the old ways, herding all these freedom-loving Christians back into the coral of religious rules and regulations. Paul was, of course, furious. He was furious with the old guard for coming in with their strong-arm religous tactics…But he was also furious with the Christians for caving in to the intimidation.’’ Eugene Peterson: ‘Introduction to Galatians.’

In this letter Paul ‘gets down to brass tacks’ straight away. The gospel of ‘’grace’’ was at stake and Paul was at pains to defend it. The gloves are off. He is at white heat. He doesn’t spend a lot of time on niceties and pleasantries. He wasn’t a slave to people-pleasing (10). The Galatians might not like his approach. Some people might like him less for his frankness. But that wasn’t the issue for him. He remembered whose servant he was and concentrated on pleasing Him. Desperate times can require desperate measures. He doesn’t even commend them for anything (contrary to his normal pattern). He gets straight to the point: ‘’I can’t believe your fickleness – how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head.’’ The Message. Paul actually uses the language of military desertion in (6). He was facing a grave situation, and urgently needed to address it. It wasn’t simply a case of abandoning the teaching of the gospel, but the Person of the gospel: ‘’the one’’ (6) who is at the heart and centre of the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the embodiment of the ‘good news’ (See also 5:4)

This is the second mention of ‘’grace’’ in just a few verses (6; see also 3). It is the key theme of Galatians. We are not saved by God’s grace plus anything, but by grace alone, through faith. The ‘Judaizers’ who regularly dogged Paul’s steps, were teaching that in order to be saved you must believe in Jesus and be circumcised. If someone ‘perverts’ (7) the ‘’gospel of Christ’’, changing its truth and meaning, they create a ‘’different gospel,’’ (6). Such a man-made ‘gospel’ is ‘’no gospel at all’’ (7). It is bad news not good news and it creates ‘’confusion’’ (7). I was talking with someone recently about the confusion that must exist in our nation because there is no clear note of truth sounded from the traditional churches. While some churches preach the gospel uncompromisingly, and we thank God for them, others spoon out poisonous deviations that can ‘kill’ people spiritually. It’s not politically correct to say this, but error destroys people. We have a responsibility to point it out and resist it and do all we can do correct it.

Truth matters! (8, 9). No-one can read and understand Galatians and think that it doesn’t. Paul said, ‘Even if an angel from heaven should stand in your pulpit and preach a gospel other than the one you heard from us ‘’let him be eternally condemned!’’ This is an incredibly strong statement, and Paul uses it twice. It refers to God’s own curse. ‘’All readers of this letter are confronted with matters that affect their eternal destiny.’’ Moises Silva, ‘New Bible Commentary, p.1209.

‘’The gospel is neither a discussion nor a debate. It is an announcement.’’ Paul S. Rees.

Prayer: Help me Lord to always stay true to truth, as truth is true to you.

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Daily Bible thoughts 698: Friday 5th September 2014:

Galatians 1: 1-5

Paul had a divine encounter that changed his life completely. He had no intention of becoming a Christian. He was set on destroying the church (13, 14; see Acts 9:1). His aim was to arrest Christians and cart them off to jail. But then one day Christ apprehended him while he was on the road to Damascus (Philippians 3:12). One preacher said that Paul ‘felt the Hand of the Heavenly Policeman on his shoulder.’(In fact, having ‘a Damascus road experience’ has entered into common parlance for anyone having a major turnaround in thought and behaviour.) Paul met the risen Lord and was changed in the encounter. Furthermore, it was fundamental to what he had to say to the Galatian church that they should understand that his ministry was not man made (11, 12). So, meeting Jesus changed Saul’s life (and name!) and gave him a ministry (1). He was ‘’an apostle’’ – a ‘sent one’ – because the living Lord Jesus, and His Father God who raised Him from the grave, sent him. Paul had a divine encounter and in that he received a divine commission.

Paul was a team player (2a). Undeniably he was a bright individual who, probably, would have shone in any arena. He was multi-gifted. But he never let people put him on a pedestal. He didn’t insist on titles and privilege. He was just plain Paul, faithfully getting on with his work, and knowing that he had a particular role to play in a large team. He knew who he was in God and didn’t need special ‘handles’ to impress. There were others working for God on the same team, and Paul affirmed them; loved to work with those the Lord brought alongside him, and expressed his need of their help and support. He didn’t play the part of the ‘big shot’ leader; the superstar evangelist. He didn’t see himself as the ‘super nova’ Christian, outshining the rest. Maybe God had made him an outstanding ‘striker’ and team captain, but he was still part of a team. He knew he was nothing without the others. I say, ‘Thank God for the church.’

Great leader that Paul was, he knew to Whom the glory belonged (5), and it wasn’t to him. Any success he saw (and let’s face it, he was massively successful) was the Lord’s work through him.

Verse 4 presents the heart of Paul’s Christ revealed (12) gospel. It is the good news about what Jesus Himself has done for us through His sacrifice; His self-offering on the cross of Calvary. This substitutionary death was ‘’according to the will of our God and Father’’. It flows from the ‘’Grace’’ of God; His undeserved favour. It leads to ‘’peace’’. I once heard a preacher say that he had read that you could fill the ‘Royal Albert Hall’ in London with the amount of tablets people in the U.K. take, in one week, in a desperate attempt to find peace. True ‘shalom’; authentic harmony and wholeness, will not be found anywhere else other than in Jesus Christ, and through His work on the cross. Someone said that grace and peace are the two main pillars of the gospel. Everything comes from grace, and centres in Christ and His cross, and issues in peace. We are all born into ‘’the present evil age’’ (4). ‘The world’ – secular society: i.e. society ordered without reference to God, exerts a huge influence over every person living in it. We are surrounded by its poisonous fumes, like some invisible gas. We breathe in its ideologies and standards and values etc often without knowing it. It is Satan’s kingdom (John 16:11). Jesus came to set us free from it by His work on the cross. He paid an enormous price for our deliverance. He doesn’t take us out of the world, but frees us from its evil (John 17:15).Once Paul got a hold of this message (or it got a hold of him) it caused him to ‘give himself.’ Fired and fuelled by the thought of Jesus and His cross, he went all over the Roman empire to tell everyone he could about the liberating work of Jesus. When the truth sets you free, you don’t want to keep it to yourself.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus that I share your victory.

 

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 697: Thursday 4th September 2014:

 Isaiah 35

This chapter concludes the first part of the book of Isaiah. In the previous chapter we considered the final judgment of the world. However, that chapter is not the last word. The final word is not of judgment but redemption (9). It is a story of over flowingly abundant joy.

In verses 1 and 2 you have a picture of rejuvenated nature (see also 6, 7). This speaks powerfully about God’s transforming power; His ability to do the unexpected, and perform the opposite of what might be anticipated. In these first two verses Isaiah personifies nature: the ‘’desert… will be glad’’; the ‘’crocus…will rejoice.’’ This is common in Hebrew poetry. The ‘’splendour’’ of transformed nature will reflect the splendour of God Himself (2). Whatever else the prophet had in mind, he was surely looking ahead to the end of history and the new heaven and new earth. Warren Wiersbe makes the point that history began in a garden, but man’s sin turned it into a desert. When Jesus comes again, the creation will rejoice to be set free from the bondage of sin (Isaiah 55:12, 13; Romans 8:18-25.)

But the new heaven and the new earth are still future, and in the present we are on a tough pilgrimage through this world, so we need to support each other on this journey (3, 4; see Hebrews 12: 12, 13). Here are constructive ways we can do this: a.) serve practically: ‘’Strengthen…steady…; b.) speak truthfully (or we might say theologically): ‘’…say…’’ Above all we want to be pointing people to God. Although we look to support them, we don’t want them leaning on us. We want them to know God as their all in all, and look to Him for all their necessary resources. We surely desire that they will prove Him for themselves?

The next section (5-7) looks ahead to the Messianic age, inaugurated at the first coming of Jesus, and which will fully flower at His second advent (Isaiah 29:18; 32:3; Matthew 11:4, 5; 12:22; 15:29-31; Acts 3:7, 8). With the coming of Jesus there were wonderful miracles of healing. These things happened because God had come (4).But when the fullness of His kingdom comes there will be no spiritual blindness or deafness whatsoever, and all sickness will be banished for good (33:24). The Kingdom of God will be one of total light and perfect life.

In (8-10) Isaiah looks far into the future. Although he may partly be envisioning the returning exiles coming home from captivity across the desert to Jerusalem (in a second Exodus!) he surely is also looking ahead to the ‘’new Jerusalem’’ (Revelation 21:2) into which nothing ‘’unclean’’ or ‘’impure’’ will be permitted to enter (Revelation 21:27). In that city ‘’sorrow and sighing’’ will be no more (see Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:3, 4). We note from these verses that ‘’the redeemed will walk…’’ on ‘’the Way of Holiness’’. If we have been bought at such a price by Jesus, then we are to honour God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). F.B. Meyer comments that holiness is a ‘Way’. He says: ‘’Our holiness is progressive. Though we may perfectly obey up to the limit of our knowledge, that knowledge is ever on the increase, beckoning our advance.’’ ‘Great verses through the Bible’, p.282.

‘’Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind , behold your Saviour come; And leap, ye lame, for joy! Charles Wesley.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that ‘blessings abound’ wherever Jesus reigns

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Daily Bible thoughts 696: Wednesday 3rd September 2014:

Isaiah 34

In this chapter Isaiah pronounces God’s judgment on the nations of the world that are hostile to Him and His people. Throughout history, God’s judgment has been falling on evil nations and empires; but here (1-4) he has in mind, it seems, God’s last judgment at the climax of human history, when heaven and earth themselves will be judged and replaced with a new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 13:9-13; Mark 13:24, 25; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 6:3-14; 21:1). ‘’Stars will fall out of the sky like overripe, rotting fruit in the orchard. And the sky itself will be folded up like a blanket and put away in a closet. All that army of stars, shrivelled to nothing, like leaves and fruit in autumn, dropping and rotting!” The Message.

But following the description of this great universal judgment in the first four verses, Isaiah suddenly switches his attention to one tiny nation, Edom (5-15). However, we have to understand that Edom is representative of all the enemies of God. For the author of Hebrews, Jacob’s brother Esau (Edom) symbolized godlessness (Hebs.12:16); Isaiah shared the same understanding. Edom also symbolizes the persecutor (Obadiah 10-14), the adversary of the church. So we need to understand that (5-15) continues with the theme of God’s judgment on all nations, not just Edom. (The references to ‘’chaos’’ and ‘’desolation’’ in (11) are the ‘’without form’’ and ‘’void’’ of Gn.1:2. They imply here and in Jeremiah 4:23 an undoing of the very work of creation.)

After God’s judgment falls on Edom (that is all nations), people will read ‘’in the scroll’’ what Isaiah has written here. They will realize that his words were true (16, 17). ‘’None of these’’ – that is, the birds and animals mentioned in verses 11-15 – ‘’will be missing’’ (16). The prophecy will come to pass exactly as Isaiah stated it. God will give all these creatures permanent ownership of the land of Edom (17). ‘’Vultures and skunks will police the streets; owls and crows will feel at home there.’’ (11) The Message. God’s Word will never fail; none of His Words will ever fall to the ground. Though heaven and earth may pass away, His mighty Words won’t. Here is a rock-like foundation to stand on and build upon.

We do well to remember the reason for God’s indignation (8). As has been pointed out, God fights against His people if they disobey Him, but He fights for them when His chastening has accomplished its purposes. But we must always remember that God’s vengeance has no malice or bitterness in it. He takes no pleasure in punishing people; instead He wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3, 4.)

Prayer: I may not understand everything in your Word, Lord, but I know it is trustworthy and true, and everything you have promised will come to pass. I thank you that I can count on it because I can count on you.

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Daily Bible thoughts 695: Tuesday 2nd September 2014:

Isaiah 33:13-24

Through His prophet Isaiah, God calls those ‘’who are far away’’ (the Gentile nations) and those ‘’who are near’’ (the Jews) to hear what He has done (13). He has both consumed His enemies and purified His own people. He Himself is ‘’consuming fire’’ (14; see Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29). But only those who are rebellious towards God need to fear being ‘consumed’ by Him. For those who are right with Him, and who therefore walk ‘’righteously’’ (15), there is a life of security to be enjoyed (poetically spoken of in terms of dwelling on the ‘’heights’’ and in the ‘’mountain fortress’’  in verse 16). ‘’The answer’s simple: Live right, speak the truth, despise exploitation, refuse bribes, reject violence, avoid evil amusements. This is how you raise your standard of living! A safe and stable way to live. A nourishing, satisfying way to live.’’ The Message. The answer is still simple! But the majority head down a route where incineration in God’s fire can be the only end result.

In (17-22) Isaiah states the central promise of the chapter: ‘’Your eyes will see the king in his beauty…’’ (17; 4:2, 32:1. See also 21, 22, where the eye returns to fix on the Lord Himself as strength and sovereign). I find it fascinating that this assertion follows on from the words about holiness in (15, 16; see also Psalms 15:1-5 and 24:3, 4), because in Matthew 5:8 Jesus says the ‘’pure in heart’’ are ‘’Blessed…for they will see God.’’ (Someone pointed out that the vigorous renunciations in verse 15 recognize the potency of habits, words, thoughts and sense-impressions as the seeds of action.) If you are right with God, and seeking to live right, His ‘’fire’’ will be a beautiful, drawing sight to your eyes, like a glowing hearth on a winter’s evening. Isaiah is looking beyond the attacks of the Assyrians and Babylonians (18, 19) to the restoration of Jerusalem (20). Jerusalem was initially ‘restored’ after God struck down Sennacherib’s army (2 Kings 19:35, 36). One hundred and fifty years later it was again restored when the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon and rebuilt the city. Jerusalem will be restored a final time when Jesus the Messiah returns to establish His Kingdom (Revelation 21:2). Only then will the prophecy in (24) fully come to pass: ‘’No one in Zion will say, ‘’I’m sick.’’ Best of all, they’ll all live guilt-free.’’ The Message. Both sickness and sin will be removed from the city.

In (23) Isaiah pictures Assyria as a ship that is unprepared to sail; not ready to resist the Lord. Its cargo will be plundered and carried off even by the ‘’lame’’ – the weakest of nations. No people are so powerful that they can shake their fists at God and get away with it. There are hosts of shipwrecked anti-God civilisations to prove the point.

‘’God’s victory over Assyria was but a ‘’dress rehearsal’’ for His victory over the whole Gentile world system that will one day assemble to destroy the Holy City (Zech.14:1-9). When our Lord was ministering on earth, the unbelieving Jews said, ‘’There is no beauty that we should desire him’’ (Isa.53:2). But when they see Him and believe, then they will perceive His great beauty (Zech. 12:3-13:1; Ps.45).’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary’ (Old Testament), p.1178.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for revealing to me the beauty of Jesus. I further pray that Christ’s beauty will be seen in me, drawing people to Him.

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Daily Bible thoughts 694: Monday 1st September 2014:

Isaiah 33:1-12

It is a solid Bible principle that you will reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7, 8). This chapter opens with a statement that Assyria will receive the same treatment she has meted out to others (1).

The overthrow of all evil (foreshadowed in the judgment on Assyria) will be carried out by the Sovereign Lord of history. Although there is a strong element of mystery surrounding this, we know that He acts in response to the earnest prayers of His people (2-6). In these verses Isaiah prays for the deliverance of Judah from the Assyrians, and He looks forward to a certain answer (see also 10-12). ‘’History belongs to the intercessors.’’ For ourselves, we continue to live in desperate times, and there is an underlying fear that things are set to get a lot worse before they improve. We are witnessing terrible evil unleashed in the world. But (6) holds good for whatever ‘’times’’ we live through. The key to experiencing all the rich resources available in God is to ‘’fear’’ Him (6b; see Proverbs 1:7). That means we revere and worship and honour Him. We can prove God to be true and trustworthy. This is open to all. ‘’With God there is not only the prospect of the final answer (3-4) but meanwhile his strong arm (2) sufficing for each day’s demands (cf. 50:4).’’ Derek Kidner: ‘The New Bible Commentary’, p.653.

But what happens when we don’t trust Him? In (7-12) you have an example. The scene abruptly changes to the desperate plight of Judah and Jerusalem in Isaiah’s day. Judah came to be occupied by the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:13). Judah’s ‘’brave men’’ cried aloud in the streets (7). The ‘’treaty’’ king Hezekiah made with Sennacherib king of Assyria was broken (2 Kings 18:14, 15). Lebanon and Israel had already fallen (9).

But, ‘’the darkest night is just before the dawn’’, and when it seemed things couldn’t get much worse, God intervened (10-12). ‘’Now I’m stepping in,’’ GOD says. ‘’From now on, I’m taking over. The gloves come off. Now see how mighty I am.’’ The Message. The Assyrians’ plan to capture Jerusalem will come to nothing; they will merely ‘’give birth to straw’’ (11). They will be consumed by their own evil plans. God’s intervention, however, will not be confined to the enemy (10-12). He will also burn the evil out of Zion (13-16). We can take encouragement that God can act; He does act; He will act.

Let’s heed the call in this chapter to shape history by our prayers: ‘’All of this was discouraging, but one thing encouraged Isaiah: a godly remnant that trusted the Lord and interceded for the land (vv.2-4, 14-15). When you pray, you see the Lord exalted (vv.5-6), you hear His words of encouragement (vv.10-13), and you view your King in glory and power (vv.17-24). Are you looking in the right direction? Are you a part of the godly remnant of intercessors?’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.471.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the privilege to be a partner in your work through prayer. Help me to play my full role, and see history changed for your glory.

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Daily Bible thoughts 693: Friday 29th August 2014:

 Proverbs 22:17-27

‘’Verses 17-21: These verses form an introduction to the thirty sayings that follow. The young person or disciple is again encouraged to take these sayings to heart and apply them (see Proverbs 1:1-6, 8 – 9). These are not merely clever statements with which to impress one’s friends; these sayings – in common with all Scripture – are God’s word, which must be obeyed. When one has committed himself to obeying God, he will fully realise that these words are indeed from Him (John 7:17). With God’s Word impressed on his heart, the disciple will be able to give sound answers to those who sent him for teaching – perhaps a parent or guardian (verse 21).’’ Tom Hale: ‘The applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.936.

‘’I’m giving you thirty sterling principles – tested guidelines to live by. Believe me – these are truths that work.’’ The Message.

The last third of ‘Proverbs’ comprises five further separate collections of wisdom material of various kinds: two collections of the sayings of the wise (22:17-24:22 and 24:23-34), a similar collection ‘’copied by the men of Hezekiah’’ (25-29), and the sayings of Agur (30) and King Lemuel (31). It’s been pointed out that the thirty sayings are closely related to a thirty-chapter Egyptian work, the ‘Teaching of Amenemope.’ This work seems to belong to a period some time before Solomon was on the scene, and it is usually thought that Proverbs has drawn from this book rather than vice versa. ‘’The openness to learning from the wisdom of other peoples reflects the theological conviction that the God of Israel is God of all nations and of all life. It is not therefore surprising when other peoples perceive truths about life which the people of God can profit from. The thirty sayings encourage us to use our common sense in our service of God. God’s service does not always require ‘a word from the Lord’ in order for us to see what needs doing! The Teaching of Amenemope was designed to offer advice to people in public service. The thirty sayings have much to say to such people too.’’ John Goldingay: ‘The new Bible commentary’,p.602.

  • Verses 22, 23 (see 16): Some years ago a book was published entitled ‘Bias to the poor’. I believe it highlighted many verses in the Bible that show that God is on the side of the poor in their vulnerability. It’s not that God doesn’t love the rich people as much as the resource less, but He clearly has a special concern to stand with the weak and powerless in this world system that is heavily tilted towards the rich and powerful.
  • Verses 24, 25: This is a reiteration of the principle that you tend to become like those you get close to (That’s why it’s important to stick close to Jesus!) See also Proverbs 12:26 and 14:29. ‘’Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious – don’t get infected.’’ The Message. Although we shouldn’t cultivate close ties with the wrong sort of people, it is still important to be kind to them and show them the love of Christ.
  • Verses 26, 27 (see also 6:1-5). Whilst we should not oppress the poor, there is a balancing act to be performed. Neither should we be recklessly indulgent with people in financial difficulties.

Prayer: Lord help me to grasp that ‘all truth is God’s truth’, and give me a teachable spirit, always wanting and willing to learn. Please strengthen me to apply my heart to all your teaching; to keep it in my heart, and be ready to speak it with my lips.

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Daily Bible thoughts 692: Thursday 28th August 2014:

 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Here are some parting thoughts:

  • Obey the Word of God: ‘’listen to my appeal’’ (11). As an apostle, Paul knew that God was speaking through him, and HE is not to be ignored.
  • Set the bar high: ‘’Aim for perfection’’ (11). Don’t settle for anything less than what God has designed you to be in Christ Jesus. His plan for you is total Christ-likeness. Although that will not be fully realised in this world, go for it, and get as much likeness to Jesus as you can here and now. I think it was Robert Murray McCheyne who said it is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. I believe it is true to say that in the Christian life you tend to get what you go for. Someone said that we are, at this moment, as close to Jesus as we really choose to be. In terms of this Christian maturity, Paul says, ‘You aim for it, and I’ll pray for it!’ (11; see 9). That’s a dynamic combination!
  • Throw your arms wide: ‘’be of one mind, live in peace’’ (11). Likeness to Christ will be expressed in a love that shows itself in physical greetings that are culturally relevant and acceptable to propriety (12). But even more than that it will be seen in loving ‘’All the saints…’’ (13). If we are growing into the image of Jesus, we will find that we want to live in harmony with all our brothers in Christ, if at all possible. It is an interesting reality that if we choose to live in loving peace we will then experience the presence of ‘’the God of love and peace’’ (11).
  • Enjoy the fullness of God (14): The order is important. Jesus is mentioned first, because only through His gracious work on the cross can we ever come to know the love of God the Father experientially, as He sheds it abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Consider a couple of thoughts on this well-known and frequently used blessing: ‘’…there is nothing to indicate that God required the benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14 to be employed in the Christian churches; yet there is certainly nothing to show that it is incongruous to do As a fact, it has been made use of because of its deep importance doctrinally and because of its appropriateness, for those words are both a confession of the Christian faith and a declaration of Christian privilege.’’ A.W. Pink: ‘Gleanings from Paul’, p.98.

‘’As the ocean unites all lands, and is the medium through which they are able to exchange commodities, so does the blessed Spirit unite the Persons of the Blessed Trinity to each other, and us to them, and secures the oneness for which our Saviour prayed… Of course, we must be very careful of the tender sensibilities and holy disposition of our divine Confederate. We cannot ruthlessly grieve Him by our harshness or impurity at one moment, and turn to Him for his succour and direction at the next. Such divine union as lies within our reach certainly demands on our part watchfulness, a tender conscience, a yielded and pliant will, a heart which has no other love, no affection nor idol inconsistent with the Spirit’s fellowship.’’ F.B. Meyer: ‘Great verses through the Bible’, p.430.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I never want to grieve you. Help me to be sensitive to you at all times.

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