Continuing with the theme from last week’s blog of Me Myself and I, which was concerned with our being in Christ, this week we will look at another aspect of our relationship with Jesus.

This will be through the Israelite’s desert experience after being led by God to leave Egypt to reach the promised land.  In fairness a large part of my writing this issue was inspired by a Codes in the Bible presentation called The Hebrew Covenant in the Wilderness that still controls you, which is available through You Tube.  I would also add that the following comments will be my slant/interpretation of what was shown.

Starting with a question that surprised me when it occurred, what was the importance of the wilderness in respect of reaching the Promised Land? 

As I understand the wilderness was seen by those at that time as a place of chaos, and of course a barren uncultivated uninhabited/unhabitable land.  Yet God was going to lead some 2 million people of all ages from the bondage of Egyptian slavery to His promised land flowing with milk and honey through this desert wasteland where nothing to sustain this number of people would be available.

The answer to the question I posed shows why our father’s wisdom far exceeds ours as it was intended that God’s chosen would be cleansed by their wilderness experience of previously being in Egypt and all its resultant human influences from their time there;  During their wilderness time God intended them to solely depend on Him for all their needs rather than relying on provision from others. 

Because if they didn’t have that dependence, the Promised Land would then become a very dangerous influence that would not bless but cause them to forget God and thereby become independent of Him to their great cost as they would subsequently prove.

Despite God’s miraculous provision through when they escaped from Egypt along with the following events at the Red Sea, they still created and worshipped an idol before attacking Moses’s leadership and thereby God, claiming that they had been much better off in Egypt!  After all, as they expressed, food was available and varied whereas what did they have in the desert? 

Obviously, only God and His miraculous provision.  As their complaining reached a crescendo, they conveniently forgot about their harsh conditions of slavery and how they had sought release through God’s hand when suffering under the impossible penal Egyptian regime.

History has been repeated!

For their leader Moses it was certainly a case of been here before as he had already spent considerable time in the wilderness.  Forty years to be precise following his time as an Egyptian prince and a victorious army commander to ultimately become just an anonymous humble employed herdsman in the far reach of the desert, until God called Him.

Similarly with our promised land of Jesus, after John’s baptism and receiving of the Holy Spirit, He also departed to the anonymity of the wilderness.  Only on this occasion it was not to be distant but close to God and where He defeated Satan by saying it is written and then quoting scripture (Matthew 4 v 7-10). 

The Israelites looked back to their yesterday, of their time in Egypt, Moses in his today replied to God’s calling by citing his inability to speak whereas Jesus used His today for the world’s tomorrow.

The point is that when we come to God through Jesus where the initial euphoria of release and cleansing manifests so abundantly, we also need that period of wilderness as well!  Like the Israelites and Moses, each of us need to get rid of our dependence on humanity along with our dependence on Me, Myself and I, aka our respective limited and restricted human abilities to become totally dependent on Him.

Thereby entering more fully God’s Promised Land.

So, we need to remember in our wilderness time before we move on that:

Only by faith is it possible to please God (Hebrews 11 v 6), we can do all things through Christ that strengthen us (Philippians 4 v 13)  All our needs are met through Christ (Philippians 4 v 19)  We were chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1 v 4) to become rooted and established in love (Eph 3 v 17) we are more than overcomers (Romans 8 v 37)

Instead of:

Being like the Israelites in the wilderness where Psalm 78 v 41 confirms, where those in the desert rebelled against God by limiting Him.

When our desert moment arrives, where barrenness is the only thing we can see, be it in finance, a medical situation, an expectation, relationship or our calling. Can we be patient, steadfastly faithful and instead of going our way as an escape, go deeper into the Word to keep our eyes on Him.  No matter the time taken?

Because we can only turn the corner when our Lord says we are ready, which is when we are dependent on Him and not ourselves or others.

Put another way, the whole point about the wilderness time of preparation is that we make a choice of either taking the doomed to failure route of independence, or seeking to be in, dependence.

That’s what keeps us in the promised land of Jesus.

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday – apologies again for the lateness but I wanted to produce the best issue I could

So says or at times screams our fallen nature, the part of us inherited from the actions of Adam & Eve all those years ago.  Even when rescued from the kingdom of sin through accepting Jesus as our saviour we still have these character traits which constantly seek to come between us and our father through our thoughts and actions.

For those without Jesus their entire world is made up of thoughts toward self, am I safe?  Am I progressing?  What’s in this for me?  Putting our natural family first or I do what I see as being right, irrespective of God and what others may think, need or want.  Basically, it’s a self-contained world which is entirely dedicated to me-myself and I.

However, when becoming Christians, we take on the extra conscience of the holy spirit’s leading which adds a new dimension to our thinking, where it’s about what the Word says rather than what we think alone!  Having said that, we still fall short.  Even though held in the highest regard by many Christians Paul admitted in 1 Timothy 1 v15 that he was the chief of all sinners and therefore puts Romans 3 v 23, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God into its spiritual context. 

Whilst we may not indulge in the more blatant areas of fleshly pursuits such as those mentioned in Galatians 5 v 20 & 21, which includes lust, strife, outburst of hatred, drunkenness and promiscuity to name a few, we may still fall headlong into another area which is extremely common.

We forget or at best overlook who we are in Christ.

We become obsessed about our “performance” and more to the point we vividly recall how our old nature enthusiastically overtakes us leaving a constant feeling of total wretchedness.  In doing so, we consequently negate ourselves and virtually take away what we have in Christ and who we are in him. 

Over time, as this fallen thinking takes hold in the name of our personal reality and humility we forget all about Ephesians 1 v 3 which states that God chose us before the foundation of the world.  God chose us, not because of our perfection, but He chose us warts (ugly failings) and all.

Surely, we need to get a clearer idea as to what biblical humility is, through a proper perspective of ourselves in relation to God, we are not to think too highly of ourselves of course but equally as His chosen we should also not forget that we became the children of God (1 John 3 v1 and John 1 v 12).

Just pause and pray or think about that to let it sink in.

As a back-up think of others who were chosen and then “failed”, the Israelites/Jews. All the disciples, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Noah, King David and Paul.

It is not about our talents, skills or intelligence as we are NOT called to act independently!  But about the leading of the Holy Spirit to act in accordance with the Word.  In short, we must become increasingly dependent on our loving father.

Equally we are not meant to fight the battles, when David faced Goliath, he did so alone, but when Goliath was defeated, it was then that the Israelites shared in the victory gained by David as they attacked the Philistine army and successfully overcame them. 

Similarly, Jesus alone overcame the power of darkness when He went to the cross thereby enabling His victory to be shared by you and I.

This is further backed up by, Jesus said without me, you can do nothing (John 15 v 5) but then in Phillippians 4 v 13 we are told that we can do all things in Christ that strengthen us.  Where did Jesus get His authorisation from?  In John 6 v 38 He confirmed that He only does the will of the father.

His father is also our father.

In western culture we normally have 3 names, our title, Mr, Mrs or even from our occupations such as, minister, professor or captain along with our Christian and following that our surname, all three of which we become known by.  However, all too often we extend this by adding another description of something like just or sinful/wretched Mr John Smith or Mrs Jane Smith.  We subsequently become defined to both God and others by how we portray ourselves because what we give out, we get back!! 

Are we known as disciple by those around us as we exude Christ’s victory of faith, peace and love rather than doubt, introspective condemnation and self-recriminating bitterness.

As the old saying goes, a man or woman, is only beaten when he or she thinks they are.

Me, myself and I, OR God our father, Jesus our Word and the Holy Spirit our guide.

The difference being that we either bless Satan and his defeat or bless God and share in His victory.

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog ius normally updated each Monday, once again apologies for the lateness of this issue.

It’s amazing how both things and people can creep up on you, suddenly a breakthrough comes or something is more deeply felt where each arrives through a sudden realisation from a thought or an action.

This can happen even through the experience of repeated actions where their regularity can often be immersed in over-familiarity that may lead to the dangerous ground of breeding contempt, aka taking something or someone for granted, irrespective of the consequences or loss.

Equally though, we do have a propensity to become creatures of habit, something which comes naturally, possibly through the lack of an active imagination for stepping out because we like to keep control rather than extending our (often self-imposed?) limits.  This can result in staying with the tried and trusted experiences that satisfy our desire to avoid uncertain ground where we feel all at sea or facing a possibility of rejection through a perceived inadequacy of ourselves by others, God forbid!  Outcome?  Faith falters, rather than being strengthened.

What spurred me on to this thinking was a sudden realisation I had when meeting a friend which is something we have done on a weekly basis for some 15-20 years on and off.  During our time together we virtually talk only about Christianity on both a personal and doctrinal level rather than the usual topics of sport or politics etc.  We have encouraged and challenged one another, disagreed on certain biblical points as well as correcting or helping each other to go deeper in our faith.  Just in case I have given the impression of it being a holy self-righteous huddle of comfortable Christianity we have readily acknowledged many times our dependence on the Lord accompanied with a profound gratitude that despite our shortcomings He doesn’t “give up” on us.  

In accordance with that dependency, we have often wondered how those sitting around us in the selected cafe who do not believe manage to cope without the Lord’s help and ability to put our lives here into a true perspective.  

Returning to the breakthrough part, I recently realised very deeply and quite out of the blue during our time together just how much I cared for my friend, despite the difference in our ages and occasionally the respective opinions we have.  Undoubtedly this is based on a trust that has grown over many years, along with a deep appreciation of him as a person in his own right.

The reason for my recounting this is that the Lord also has a very deep feeling for each of us, although with Him there is no breakthrough as He has known about us before creation (Eph. 1 v 4).  Equally whilst my devotion to the friend I referred to is much stronger than a passing interest it is nowhere near to what God has extended to us.  True, I want the best for my friend, and I pray that I would at least go the extra mile or two for him, but there again how far has our father gone for us and just how much greater is His best compared to ours for you and I?

Jesus called those who believed in Him His friends (John 15 v 15), isn’t it great to have such a friend who is so keen to befriend us despite our respective shortcomings and support us through whatever arises, faithfully, lovingly and truthfully?

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday, but please note that there will not be one next Monday (May 18^th) as I believe that I will not have access to the internet.   

We are going to look at a word that maybe increasingly overlooked because of the fast world that we live in where everything seems to go at a breakneck pace which our life is expected to keep up with.

Time passes so quickly! A good example is what I term as the McDonald chip syndrome, I think their chips are specifically designed for one to follow the other at maximum speed to enable us to speedily consume a meal.  It seems like we only just arrived and suddenly it’s time to go as the meal is consumed, the description of fast food is certainly a very apt title!!  Maybe we ought to learn from those countries who have long leisurely shared lunches where eating is an event not a pastime, as in, the meal rapidly disappears into the past of time!!

Given these conditions and the resultant expectations produced, we can unknowingly follow the story of the vulture that said, patience my eye, I’m gonna kill something.  Put plainly, we take matters into our own hands even when like the vulture it means going against our natural inclinations.  Consequently, we often leap in, where angels fear to tread.

Turning to a keynote bible passage I have been struck as to how the word we will consider is the first characteristic mentioned, in 1 Corinthians 13, love is described and the first characteristic given is patience. The gravitas of this passage and its detail is given by1 John 1 v 8 which defines God as being love.

Further, patience is not just an important word for love but is also the key to being faithful as well!  So, the importance of patience can never be understated. 

It perfectly fits any question we ask of the Lord when He gives His three basic responses of yes, no and wait. Here, it is vital to exercise our patience as we wait on the lord for how His yes answer is to be carried out, whilst with the answer no, patience is required to wait for what else He has for us.  Lastly, and the one I find the most difficult is wait, because through my limited thinking it’s an answer that appears to have no clearly definable outcome. 

There are many examples of patience in the Bible, obviously the greatest patience exhibited is by God who in the face of sinful humanity remains faithful.  Other examples are Abraham waiting for the child that would realise God’s word to him concerning his descendants being as numerous as the grains of sand on the shore and another is the Jews waiting in intense anticipation for the Messiah’s arrival.  Then there is Moses, who went from being a prince to waiting in the desert for 40 years for God’s call.

Each of these examples also shows what impatience brings!  Abraham had a child who wasn’t included in God’s promise, the Jews completely missed the messiah’s arrival whilst Mose’s timing of leading his people didn’t coincide with the Lord’s.

Exercising patience shows great commitment, faithfulness, obedience, trust and should be without condemnation or our will, not the Lords being done.  This exhibits a true faithfulness and acknowledgement that what we are doing is something we believe in, despite any resultant temptations arising and/or adversity that comes our way.

In short, patience, when rightly applied shows our love for the Lord.

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday.

Recently I watched my granddaughter’s long hair being platted and was particularly impressed by its look when completed as the two separated parts were entwined back into one interlocking unit.

As so often seems to happen following this I then saw a programme about how God had intertwined with the Israelites in the Old Testament which was a common feature throughout from Genesis to Malachi!  Here, although it was one item, namely God and His chosen people, there were two distinct parts which were the Israelites commitment to sin and God’s goodness to them in response.  Undoubtedly this Hesed kind of love sustained the Israelites as the consequences of their rebellious actions came home to roost to their profound detriment.

Suffice to say that this culminated in the greatest intertwining of all between humanity and God when Jesus came, which was the culmination of God’s Hesed love action of completely undeserved kindness and generosity, expressed by His love through grace. 

Here the “platting” incorporated another element, the Gentiles or more basically, you and I.  Even with this addition there were still two parts, fallen humanity on one side and the trinity on the other, but each one still being intertwined with the other.

In essence this symbolises the Christian faith, through our dependence on God and His close and personalised relationship with us, 1 John 4 v 8 defines God as love, a love that overcomes our double minded sinful waywardness when we seek to break free from this intertwining by going our way, rather than The Way.

Emphasising the more personal basis we can see this intertwining in our lives, although at times it may not be immediately visible and at others it is only when looking back as with the well-known footprints in the sand story, that we recognise God’s blessing hand or influence.  Of course, letting go and letting God can be difficult for a variety of reasons such as, pride, lack of revelation, maintaining self-control or even lacking knowledge where we seek to break the intertwining as shown by the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15 v 11-32) to go off and do our individual “thing”.

Could it be that no matter what the reason for our pursuing independence is, that we have failed to grasp that our lives just like the Old Testament Israelites is totally bound up with God’s love as shown through His grace of, mercy, compassion and forgiveness because of His covenantal Hesed love?  That we are not alone, left to fend for ourselves, utilising our very limited resources or put more simply something like a father leaving a very young child to fend for themselves in this cruel harsh exploitative fallen me-first world.

We have every blessing (Eph 1 v 4), all our needs are met (Phil. 4 v 19) and we’re in Jesus and He is in us, whether we feel it, believe it or see it, or not, and so we can gain comfort from the fact that as Romans 8 v 35-37 says.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

However, to be more than conquerors we need that intertwining by allowing ourselves to die to what we think, feel, believe or have experienced in the past.

God operates from the highest motive of all, He certainly doesn’t need us, but as Jesus on the cross clearly shows He certainly wants us, and that’s why He intertwines you and I.

To our eternal benefit.

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday. (Apologies for this one being slightly late!)

Following on from the fire of God in last week’s blog through Moses observing the burning bush which was not consumed (Exodus 3), this week I felt led to look at how names define us.

For example, In England the surname Baxter denoted a lady baker, a Chapman sold goods at a market and a Turner apparently worked with bone whilst a Shearer did the obvious to sheep and as for Archer, well I’ll let you work that one out!! Basically, what you did – identified who you were. 

A good friend of mine wrote a book on the complete workings of a pre computerised car and I understand it contains a complete run down of how it works.  The book reflects his very in-depth knowledge of each part, what it does, why its needed and how it fits in with the rest of the engine.  Nowadays unlike past centuries in the west, we as this example shows are no longer defined by our trade as the writer is not named Carr, engine or mechanic!!!

Returning to Exodus 3, Moses after observing the burning bush asks God who He is, the response is given in verse 14, God says I am who I am.  Prior to that Moses in verse 11 likewise defined himself and partly uses the same words as God only in reverse, when he says Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt (v 11).

I am and am I, which define each, two clear examples of who they are but at opposite ends of the scale, despite their soon to be close working connection.  Moses unsure, reluctant, whilst God simply states I am who I am, which confirms someone who just is, that is, and therefore was is, and ongoing who will always be is.  Moses looked to himself rather than to God and so provided distinct comparisons that separated God and him.

• One who is unlimited except for committing, sin and one who is limited by sin.
• One who never changes, and one who has changed (from a prince whose zeal for his countryman resulted in murder).
• One who is above all and the other who is under the circumstances
• One who never changes who and what He is and one who had changed who and what he is.

Unlike those who were defined by their trade, Moses was, in his own eyes, no longer a prince and successful army commander or a defender of his fellow countryman but an individual who with severely limited perception, sensitivity and ability had defined himself by his lowest human circumstantial terms.  Namely an 80-year-old average individual who was, a fugitive, and just an ordinary employed herdsman and family person based in a desert.

As a man thinks so is he (Prov. 23 v 7).

Quite simply Moses had either forgotten or not realised who he was called to be and who was calling him, despite God’s direct intervention and explanation!!!!

Today, under the new covenant you and I have a name that defines us, it’s not our trade name as per a Shearer, it’s not our surname, it is Christian.  Like Moses we are called no matter what our human mindset may be.  We are called by I am to be His servant priest and thereby carry out the duties that we are told and resourced to do.  Whatever they may be.

We are to forget who we think we are, and what we think our limitations are, by remembering that it is I Am who I Am who is sending us.  So therefore, we don’t look to the left or right (ourselves or other’s opinions) we look straight ahead to what we are called to do.

A very good illustration is given through the following.  A devout spirit filled Christian felt led by the Lord to apply healing to a person, her reply went along the lines of, but I’ve never done that before, to which the Lord replied something like, I have healed many.

We are called, we are unique, we are separated, we are enabled, we are servants who the most high operates through.  This is why we are followers of the way, the truth and the life which is Christ.  Who is above all, apart from God.

That is why our name is Christian.

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday.

Fire features in both the Old and New Testaments and recently the Lord drew my attention to Exodus 3, where Moses observed a burning bush which then turned into the burning bush as in something unique not commonplace.

As always when really considering passages in the Bible you start to see a lot more than a cursory reading reveals, a good example would be where the apostle Paul is stoned and then walks into the town (Acts 14 v 19-20).  At first reading we may just read this and take his actions for granted until we think how could he be left for dead and still manage to walk?!!

Returning to Moses, we read of his everyday situation, his everyday normality of being in the desert and shepherding.  However, this day was to be incredibly special! Moses noticed fire in a bush where an angel appeared and more incredibly the bush is not being destroyed.  Even more incredible is that God speaks to him from this fire to say that Moses’s calling to lead God’s people has now arrived.

So, fire teaches us two things, it can convey the presence of God, and it doesn’t necessarily burn.  As I thought about fire in the context of the bible other features of fire came to me.  These are that it warms, gives light, it burns/destroys and conveys God’s voice.

All of these represent God in various ways.  To gain a better idea let’s look at some examples from both testaments (Old & New).

• In Genesis 19 v 24 fire and brimstone rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Exodus 13 v 21, a pillar of fire from the Lord guided the Israelites in the desert so that they could travel by both day and night
• Numbers 16 v 35 tells us that fire consumed the men in rebellion against Moses as well as their families
• In Daniel 3 v 25 we learn that those including Daniel who had been put in the furnace that had been heated 7 times hotter than usual survived
• Moving to the New Testament, in Acts 2 v 3 where the Holy Spirit came, what appeared to be tongues of fire separated and came to rest on each of those attending
• Finally, through 1 Corinthians 3 v 13 which says that the quality of each man’s work will be tested by fire.

From these various readings we gain a greater understanding of the use of fire, in that whilst bringing God’s presence, it also brings His judgement, His light which overcomes darkness and divine communication as well as purification.

In a nutshell, fire basically either purifies something or it consumes it.

In the world today there are many who will be consumed by judgement, whilst others are being purified.

How are these two diverse outcomes accomplished?  By respectively either excluding or being obedient to God, despite our shortcomings.

Derek Prince, a well-known bible teacher said that whilst you are reading the bible, it is reading you.  Meaning your thoughts, the state of your heart, whether you are cold or warm.  The bible does this by presenting all that God is through Jesus Christ with the valuable addition of communication through that inner voice of the Holy Spirit personalising the message that you and I need to hear and consequently act on.

As God is three parts through the trinity, so the bible is also separated into some 31,000 verses, 1,189 chapters, 66 books and 2 testaments.   However, as there is ultimately one God, so there is one Word which through its diversity explains all the numberless elements of God.  Fire also has many effects, but it has one overriding effect and that is has the presence of God.

Introducing light that takes away darkness, allowing God to bring His judgement to us, gives the warm assurance of God speaking to bring us into line with His will.

For us fire may not come as a burning bush or a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, but in adversity, waiting in patience for God’s next instruction or some other challenge we don’t feel able to cope with.

The question is, when fire manifests in our lives and thereby tests our work for the Lord as per 1 Corinthians 3 v 13 do we react with a sense of purification or resignation?  A sense of true gain or regretful loss?  A way to travel lighter or continue with a heavy burden on our back?  To be a disciple who follows or a Christian who stands still?  A Peter pre or post Pentecost?

Fire lights the way, identifies the truth, and gives us the only life.

The “fire” in the Word and the Holy Spirit await.

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday, apologies for the lateness of this one

He came to serve, not to be served (Satan)

He came in humility, not in pride (Satan)

He came to release, not to imprison (Satan)

He came to protect, not to exploit (Satan)

He came to set free, not to dominate (Satan)

He came that we may have life, not a living death (Satan)

He came that we can Passover and go through, not pass under and remain (Satan)

He came to reunite, not to separate (Satan)

He came to give, not to take (Satan)

He came to purify, not to pollute (Satan)

He came in truth, not as a lie (Satan)

He came as the good, not as the toxic (Satan)

He came as the way, not as a failed alternative (Satan)

He came to redeem, not to enslave (Satan)

He conquered, He was defeated (Satan)

He came for you, not for himself (Satan).

————– // —————

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday

As the saying goes, we are creatures of habit, one contributor is time and the consequential limits it imposes through the different periods introduced.

We have seconds, minutes and hours along with morning, afternoon and evening making up one day, then seven days in one week, four weeks in a month and so on. As if that were not enough, we also have 4 seasons as well.

Consequently, we may have varying degrees of difficulty relating to God being outside time, as He doesn’t age or change because it doesn’t relate to what we are used to.

Little wonder Matthew 6 v 34 says, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Our time attitude to life and how it effects our thinking about God and what the Bible states can be similar to when we plan a journey to see someone. The question is how many components are involved?

Four or one?

There is, preparation, journey to, the visit itself, the return journey, collectively we normally just call it a trip, four parts or one?

The journey is detailed, we pick a route with varying travel conditions involving fast or slow speed, eating places close at hand, straightforward route (e.g. motorways) or more complicated routes (e.g. towns) and finally particularly in England the weather may vary from good or bad! All these factors make one journey that combined with our stay and return journey come under one heading, trip.

The aforementioned is also true of God, we have two testaments, 5 covenants, sixty six books, the Torah, the poets, the minor prophets and then Gospels and epistles with accompanying chapters and verses which include numerous individuals, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Again little wonder when we split the various segments with many predominantly look only at the New Testament Gospels, a bit of Paul’s letters and a smattering of Old Testament such as Psalm 23.

However, shouldn’t we see the Bible like a trip? Taking the Bible as a whole, rather than diluting God’s overall message through segmentation through being guided by the Covenant of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Consider, humanities fall through Adam & Eve didn’t surprise God, because He had planned our redemption before the fall, hence why we were chosen before the beginning of the world (Eph. 1 v 4).

Instead of splitting God’s Word shouldn’t we see the Bible as a series of stepping stones where each part presents a unique lesson, rather than thinking that only the New Testament applies to us? For example, to correctly view Psalms 23 and 91 and their relation to New Testament peace, do we see them as God relieving us of problems or being with us through the problems we face? Consider the trials faced by the disciples, Paul and Jesus no less. As one bible teacher said, when he became a Christian, it was then that his problems started, not finished as many assume!

Alternatively, Deuteronomy 28 outlines blessings and curses regarding obedience/disobedience to the Law, when reading its first 14 verses we can gain a greater understanding of Ephesians 1 v 3 and for the remaining 54 verses we discover more of what Jesus removing the curses (Gal 3 v 13) means about our no longer being under these curses. Similarly, the Deuteronomy verses help us to comprehend more deeply our New Testament walk with God as indicated by verses such as Philippians 4 v 19 and 1 Peter 2 v 24.

Also, in my opinion, David, when facing Goliath alone (1 Sam. 17 45-47), the way he spoke to this apparently formidable foe helps us to understand what Jesus said in response to Satan’s temptations in the wilderness (Matt. 4).

Equally, when taking on board the Old Testament stages towards humanity’s redemption we begin to appreciate more fully what Jesus did for us and all that we now have in Him.

Hours, days, months, year or one life? 4 parts to a journey or one trip? 31,101 verses, 1,189 chapters, 66 books and 2 Testaments or one book and saviour throughout?

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is normally updated each Monday.

Here’s a question to get you started, what do all the following have in common?

Abraham, Noah, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Peter & his fellow disciples plus Stephen and Paul?

Answers could be that they were all used by God, and they all fell short at times. Or alternatively and more positively each gives us an insight to God and consequently valuable lessons concerning our walk with the Lord.

However, those are not the answers I’m thinking of!  It’s that from a human viewpoint they were all nobodies whom God had picked out for His purpose.  Potentially, at least in human terms greater people may have lived before and since regarding accomplishment, wisdom or power, but are these achievers as influential today as the “nobodies” I mentioned?

This point is further enhanced when I wrote in a previous blog about those whose names appear in the bible perhaps once or twice, it could be said that their contribution is very small until the fact that they are included in the Bible is considered.  What is greater?  To have your name prominently displayed in a best seller that lasts only for our lifetime or much less, or to have your name included by the creator in His book to the world that will last for all eternity in its effect.

We may see ourselves as of little value, but God doesn’t!  We are told in Ephesians 1v 4 that we were chosen before the beginning of the world, we are also told that God sacrificed His one and only Son to enable this choice to happen.

If we still think that the best, we can attain, is purely to “qualify” for eternal salvation rather than damnation then perhaps we ought to remind ourselves of the following from 1 Corinthians 1 v 25. 

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

But this should also be put in context using Romans 11 v 33.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

There are two other scriptures we should also take note of.  Firstly Acts 10 v 34 tells us.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

Secondly, Romans 3 v 23.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Incredible to think that some of the world’s great luminaries, conquerors of nations, all powerful kings, world leaders and incredibly great scientists, business magnates or even those who started great charities have missed what you and I have received.

Before this is dismissed let us concentrate on just what this missing of Jesus involves through Ephesians 1 v 22.

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.

So, the God who is all wise to the point that His foolishness is greater than man’s wisdom, who shows no partiality, even when we’ve fallen short has put us inside the all-powerful and conquering Jesus and all this about you and me personally, started before He created the world.

Do we still think of ourselves as small and of no consequence?

Where is the problem then?  Could it be that we fall into the trap that 2 Corinthians 10 v 12 warns us about?

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Put more simply do we compare ourselves with those who we think are such incredible Christians because they are exercising their gifts in front of others or do we think that we are more sinful than other Christians.  What about the second point, can Paul help us?  Romans 7 v 15-20 answers this from which verse 19 is now highlighted.

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

For many of us our spiritual insecurity expressed through smallness could be about indifference, lack of understanding or realisation of who we are in Christ that makes us open to our, not God’s self-condemnation.

Or could it be that we have never truly discovered what we have been called to do, not by our family, fellow church members or even by our church, but by God himself as confirmed by the Holy Spirit.  Put humanly, it’s where we as a round peg fit into our very own personalised Godly round hole.

None of us are perfect, all of us need to rely on the word of God and the Holy Spirit for guidance and all have fallen short, so we are no better and no worse than others.

Final word from God regarding smallness, there is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8 v 1).

With all blessings

Tony

PS This blog is updated every Monday.