God’s Will is Done

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree
 that a census should be taken
of the entire Roman world”
(Luke 2:1)

Reflection:
Caesar ordered something that affected the entire Roman world. God ordained it in order to affect the entire creation.

Caesar Augustus reigned over the Roman empire from 30 BC to AD 14. He decided that a census should be taken throughout his empire. This was not a regular occurrence but the first of its kind – and taxation was probably the reason behind it. The consequence was that people travelled to their own town to register, and this involved Joseph going to Bethlehem, ‘because he was of the house and line of David.’

Joseph did not need to take Mary with him but he obviously decided or agreed to do so. We know that she was in the advanced stages of her pregnancy and he may not have wanted to leave her behind in view of the Lord’s commission to him.

These two men, Caesar and Joseph, were both involved in Mary’s being in Bethlehem when Jesus was born there – just as the prophet had foretold.

• “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2)

Caesar, who would not have known of the prophecy or of Mary and Joseph, issued a decree that had to be obeyed. Joseph, as a husband, took the decision that Mary should accompany him. In this way the prophecy was fulfilled and God’s will achieved.

In just such seemingly unrelated and small details is the hand of God at times to be revealed. He is indeed able to direct the thoughts and decisions of people in order to achieve His will, and He is able to work in all things to the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)

Response:
Trust God to guide and lead you in the way that you should go (Psalm 32:8)

Prayer:

Lord please have Your hand on my life so that whether I am aware of it or not I will live and act as You wish, Amen.

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Jesus Resting

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of God”
(Hebrews 10:12)

Reflection:
When Jesus had ascended into heaven – after His death and resurrection –  He sat down at the right hand of God.

The first insight we get from this is that He – like God on the seventh day of creation – was now resting. He had done what He had set out to do and, as He had said from the cross, it was now finished.

 “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3)

The priests of Israel continued their ministry every day of the year and, as no chairs were provided in the temple, they stood at all times. Jesus, our great high priest, having offered the one, perfect and sufficient sacrifice of Himself, was not required to do anything further in this regard– and so He sat down.

What God had taught us through the prophet Isaiah was shown to be true of the Living Word, Jesus Christ.

“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11)

Prayer:

Thank You Father that no further action is required on Your part to provide for the forgiveness of our sins and to open the way for us to come into Your presence. It has been done. Amen.

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Words of Life

“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day …
They are not just idle words for you–
they are your life”
(Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

Reflection:
Moses addressed the Israelites a final time just before he died. He passed on to them God’s instructions, and ended with these words. Their challenge and warning is still valid to us today as we read Scripture and look into the teachings of God through His Son and through the apostles as well.

Our God does not use words lightly and without real meaning and significance. In fact He expects His words to be heard and to have a life-changing effect. This is what He said through the prophet Isaiah,

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Jesus put it as strongly, but in a more personal way, when He said,

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4)

And the greatest of the kings, David, wrote,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105)

Notice that the emphasis is not on God’s words as a litany of life-spoiling ‘donts’ but rather on life-feeding and life-enhancing aids. Walking in God’s ways brings God’s blessings – and very clearly in a way that the world cannot give. Walking in the ways of the world not only avoids His blessings but is a rejection. Walking in response to God’s directions affirms and honours Him, whilst deepening our relationship.

Response:
We should check ourselves against God’s commandments and teachings – are they foundational to our lives and living?

Prayer:

Lord God, please help me to give to Your words the honour and obedience that they deserve, for Your Name’s sake. Amen.

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Listen for Him

“Let me hear of Your loving kindness in the morning,
for in You I put my trust”
(Psalm 143:8)

Reflection:
On Monday I went for blood tests for a condition that had all the possibilities of turning out to be very nasty. The results were due the next day but were delayed until Wednesday morning. On Tuesday night whilst praying these words from the psalm reached out to me in a special way,

“Let me hear of Your loving kindness in the morning,
for in You I put my trust”

They seemed to reach into my spirit where I embraced them and held on to them. In the morning, despite the occasional twinge of anxiety from which I chose to turn away, they remained with me. And eventually the news came that there was in all probability no condition that could not treated with medicines. Praise God indeed – or with a bit more enthusiasm, “Yay God!”

It is so special when God gives us a word, speaking into our situations. It underlines the importance of being close to Him, open to Him and in conversation with Him. This God of everlasting love is concerned about us as individuals and so often has a word for us of ‘strength, encouragement and comfort.’ (1 Corinthians 14:3) And the word that we have in Scripture is still a living word which He uses to speak to us and into our situations today.

Response:
Involve God in conversation about Your affairs and read His word expectantly.

Prayer:

Help me to be open to You Lord, to be alive to the possibility of Your speaking to me and to hear You when You do. Amen.

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(Photo: (c) Catherine Bondonno)

See What You See

“O LORD
Who is like you– majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory, working wonders?”
(Exodus 15:11)

Reflection:
Our vision of God defines our lives.

We can ignore Him, treat Him casually – by paying Him lip-service or turning to Him only when we need help – or we can take Him seriously – to the extent that He becomes our life.

His revelation of Himself through creation, through His history, through His great acts and ultimately through His Son Jesus Christ, is stunning. It is a revelation of awesome power and might, of unbelievable compassion and mercy, of immaculate justice and righteousness, and of breath-taking beauty and love.

If our vision slips then our faith, hope, love and integrity begin to go as well.

In times such as these there is a great need for those whom He has called to Himself to renew their vision, re-establish their foundations, and glory in the wonder of our marvellous God. One of our greatest gifts and weapons is our heart-felt love and worship of this God who is at once Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Response:

“Immortal, Invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.”

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, keep me conscious of Your glory, honour and power – and of Your great beauty and love. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Promised

“I will bless you … and you will be a blessing. …
And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
(Genesis 12:2-3)

Reflection:
The Messiah to come would be a descendent of Eve. He would also be a descendent of Abraham.

Abraham was the first of the three great patriarchs of God’s chosen people – the people of the covenant. To him God gave these significant promises –

• I will bless you
• You will be a blessing
• All people will be blessed through you.

The blessing that was to flow from Abraham to ‘all people” was not the land that God also promised. It was a seed or descendent of Abraham in and through whom God’s promises were to be fulfilled. And Paul writing to the church in Galatia makes it quite clear that this blessing was in fact to be the Messiah.

• “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16)

It is through our union with Christ by faith that we become recipients too of these promises and blessings.

• “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29)

God called Abraham out of nowhere as the start of His establishment of a covenant people with whom He would journey into the future. Very clearly He shows that His actions are built around His purpose and plan for a Saviour – as He had prophesied in Eden. The Messiah is implied  here as God continues also to lay down the human line of Jesus which would establish Him as truly the Son of Man.

Question:
Do I realise that I too am blessed – and a blessing – and a revelation of God?

Response:
God called me to be a part of His purpose

Prayer:

Lord God, please help me to acknowledge and respond to Your call – and to walk with You in trust and love as You lead me forward. Amen.

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Use God’s Spade

“This is the meaning of the parable:
The seed is the word of God”
(Luke 8:11)

Reflection:
A wonderful thing about Scripture is the way that it talks into our lives at all stages and in all ages.

Jesus told the parable of the Sower. The seed, as the Word of God, is sowed generously across the field. It falls onto hard paths, rocky areas, thistle and weed patches as well as onto open and receptive ground. Here is grows freely and achieves its purpose.

As I was reading it again recently I was struck by the truth that the field is me. Within the boundaries of my  life  are hard and unreceptive areas where the word has not penetrated, rocky and superficial areas where the word although attractive has not established a foothold, thistly and weed infested patches where life just crowds it out and some open patches waiting for more of it and receptive to it.

If all these areas where the same size that would mean that three-quarters of my life was not properly open to the Word of God. Even if the ‘good ground’ is by far the largest area then there are still three significant patches that are not responsive to God –  although He is still speaking to them. It’s quite a challenging thought and, of course, explains somethings about my life!

What now? Well for me the obvious step is to ask the Lord to show me where these non-receptive areas are -and then to ask for His help in addressing them. In terms of the parable the hard paths need some ploughing, the rocky areas need to have the rocks removed and the thistles need to be located and weeded out. It’s a question of looking at my priorities and the way that I think and live and making the adjustments that are called for.

The Good News is that it is not merely a question of getting rid of some barriers to a better life but of replacing them with what is better. Some of the rocks might prove quite challenging and resistant but as we persevere with God they will give way, and what a blessing that will prove to be.

The Proverb has is right – “Trust in the Lord with all you heart”, not just some of it.

Response:
Get into your field today – and do some prayerful digging with the Lord. He has some new flowers for you.

Prayer:

Lord thank You that You sow Your seed in all the areas of my life. Please help me to prepare all of them for You. Amen.

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Give God time

“A farmer went out to sow his seed.
As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path;
it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.
(Luke 8:5)

Reflection:
The seed, said Jesus, is the word of God. Some of it fell on the path.

The path across the farmer’s fields would have been used by him, his family and labourers, and also by passers-by, to get from one place to another. Most of this would have been in the pursuit of their daily work. It was not the place for reading, receiving and responding to the Word of God. So anything that they came across would be unnoticed and trampled upon or taken away without their being aware of it. Their focus would have been on their journey and destination.

Trying to do our ‘daily reading’ on our way to work, or whilst doing other things, or in the hurry before we leave or get involved, is at best to receive merely a superficial impression of what it says. It smacks more of duty than of feeding and reflecting on what God might be saying to us. Most of it will disappear before we have gone much further with our daily schedules.

It is where we make time for God, for reading and reflecting prayerfully on His Word, that the true blessing and benefits begin to appear. This is where God has an opportunity to engage with us at a deeper and more meaningful level. As He speaks into our lives and spirits we will begin to find that it does indeed take on a new and richer significance as it feeds, guides and builds us up.

Response:
Give God a time and a place within which there is no rush.

Prayer:

Lord You are trying to sow Your seeds into my life. Help me to prepares a place for You that is not  trampled hard with the rush of life. Amen.

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Balanced Diet

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
(Deuteronomy 8:3)

Reflection:
God fed the Israelites throughout the forty years of their wanderings through the desert. He did this notwithstanding their faithlessness, disobedience and grumblings. Not once did He withhold the food from them.

Some action was required on their part. They were expected to notice that the food was there, go out and collect it, and eat it. If they had missed out on any one of these steps they would have remained hungry and grown weaker.

It is the same with God’s words to us, which we have recorded in Scripture. Just as we feed our bodies regularly every day so we are expected to feed our minds, hearts and spirits. God has provided the Word. We are expected to take note of it, collect its message and absorb it into our lives and livings. If we fail to do so we will become spiritually weaker and the ache within us will remain unsatisfied.

Food has to be chewed before it is swallowed. So we need to chew over the Word of God in order to get the taste of it, extract its meaning and then swallow its message and importance. We are not merely receiving bits and pieces of information but life-changing direction, focus, understanding and transformation. It is no coincidence that the Great Sacrament calls us to “eat this bread and drink this cup” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

• “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”(Psalm 119:97)
• “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Response:
Feed yourself daily on the wonderful Scriptures. Think them, pray them, live them.

Prayer:

Lord help me please to feed on Your Word and words every day – and through them to draw closer to You. Amen

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Listen – He speaks!

“Heeding the voice of His word”
(Psalm 103:20 NKJV)

Reflection:
Heeding implies three things – that we Recognise God is speaking, that we Receive His word and that we Respond appropriately.

God’s word has a voice. It is not merely a statement but one that speaks to the recipient and into their situation. It may be general but has also a personal element and significance. It was relevant when first spoken and still has relevance to us today. It lives through the interpretation and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

God speaks to us through His written word – the Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit. He also speaks to us through His acts, including His creation that came to be through His spoken and living Word Jesus Christ. So Paul would write,

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made”  (Romans 1:20)

Wherever we are today and whatever we are doing we will see God’s word. If we pause to consider it we will begin to hear it as well.

Response:
Pause – Look – Pray – Listen

Prayer:

Lord open the eyes of my ears and the ears of my eyes, in Jesus Name, Amen.

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