daily-reflections

WE ought to "Examine" ourselves as Passover nears.

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:48:49 +0100

The New International Version of the Bible has a heading "The Lord's Supper". In this passage Paul describes the ceremony Jesus introduced at Passover when he kept if for the final time with his disciples before he became the sacrificial "lamb" for all mankind. Jesus blessed and broke bread and told the disciples to eat of it, as it represents to them his body, broken on their and our behalf. Likewise he took the cup (of wine - a normal part of the Jewish Passover ceremony) and he also blessed it and shared it among the disciples. This represents his spilt blood of the new covenant, shed on our behalf.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 Paul reminds the church of the depth of meaning of this ceremony and its relevance to their salvation. Thus said, Paul instructs each member of the church to "examine" themselves. We are to appreciate the Lord's body, which this service symbolises. We are also to judge ourselves, for if we do, we will not come under judgement. If we do not bring our own selves under submission to Christ in all things, Christ judges us and disciplines us. This is so we will not be condemned with the world.

So if we are to examine ourselves what is the measure we are weighed against? Jesus is the perfect man, so perhaps we should attain to His standard. "Be you perfect", he said, "as your Father in Heaven is perfect". This is a high standard indeed. In the context of the 10 commandments, Israel was told to be "Holy" as your Father in Heaven is Holy. We saw that sin is the contravening of the Law, the Holy Law of God. When we approach Passover we are instructed by Paul to throw out the old leaven (leaven was not to be eaten by Israel during the Passover Season) the leaven of malice and wickedness, and to eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. This is to say we must shed our worldly attitudes and take on the character of Jesus. These are the standards we are to consider when we reflect on our own behaviour. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians that Charity or LOVE is the greatest characteristic of Christ we can take on. So please consider the deep meaning of this wonderful ceremony and Festival of Unleavened Bread and ponder on its significance in your life as you put out sin and take on the nature of Christ. Ask our Loving Father to help you to change. We are his work so he will support you as you strive to live a pure and blameless life. God bless you as you seek to please him. Amen.

What is the Catch

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:53:06 +0100

Yes, Passover is about the Gospel. It is about seeking forgiveness from the God Almighty who created you and me. It is about moving from a dark future in the grave - death - to living in the light and living eternally in God's grace.

Forgiveness is sought through knowing and believing that Jesus died for our sins. Yes, he carried your sins in his own body, but for you to enter this relationship of Grace with the Father of Lights you must have faith in the saving blood of Jesus. Believe he can forgive your sins and that he can raise you from the dead. Read all he did in the Gospel messages in your own Bible. If you do not have one, you can access the Bible on line. You may also find one can be picked up for next to nothing in a second hand store.

So what is the catch? Have you ever heard the "Lord's Prayer"? Jesus was teaching the disciples to pray and this was a format rather than a script for parroting Jesus words. What we acknowledge when we pray to the Father, is this. "Forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us".

Yes, forgiveness is given freely when we repent, ask forgiveness in faith. However, we who are forgiven are then expected to forgive others also. Jesus commented on this same thing in another passage. He who has been forgiven much loves much. Think on this.

What is sin?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:28:18 +0100

If Jesus died for our sins, but was Himself without sin, do you think it is important whether we know what sin is?

Simply put "Sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4). So sinning is breaking the law.

The consequence of breaking the law is grave. Read what Paul said to the Roman believers in Romans Chapter 5. ^"12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" It is clear that even Adam sinned, despite the fact that there was not written code of conduct. He did not obey that which God had instructed, and he died. We also die. (Notice that Adam is not alive somewhere else, he is dead and this same death is passed onto us). Sin is the breaking of the law. Jesus said to the young man, "if you will enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man questioned "which law?" It is plain from Jesus response that he referred to the 10 commandments. (Matthew 19:17). So mankind die when they break the law, but not just any law, we are destined for the grave because we break God's word. We contravene God's code of conduct.

This is why Jesus died for our sins. When we believe in Him, this sentence of death is taken from us. Beware, however, that dogged keeping of the law does not really cut the mustard with our Loving God. Jesus' example and teaching shows that our attitude must be one of love and purity. He said that if we hate our neighbour, then we have in our heart murdered him; if we lust after someone desiring them sexually, imagining being with them in our heart - then in our heart it is as if we have indeed been unfaithful already to our spouse. The strength of this instruction is evident even from Genesis. "Sin crouches at the door" is what God warned Cain, and unless Cain (or any of us) does not overcome it, it (sin) will have mastery over us. Jesus taught us to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbour as ourself.

Yes, Jesus came to take away our sins. He died so we may live, but do not be fooled - There is an expectation that when we accept that Jesus died for our sins, that we will no longer live a sinful life. Baptism pictures a new life, washed of our sin. We do not pick up that old way of life again, we stay pure, calling on God to forgive us for any lapses, knowing Jesus' sacrifice cleanses us from all sin. This is why each Passover Season, we review Jesus death, and partake of the symbols of his death. We confirm our commitment for him and are reminded of God's great love for us, demonstrated in his personal sacrifice. He died so we may live.

The Passover

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 02:26:18 +0100

The Israelitish new year has begun. God set up a schedule of worship for Israel, which began in this first month of their calendar. The Holy Calendar of worship was linked primarily with their wilderness experience. Prior to leaving Egypt, God sent a plague over the homes of their evil oppressors. Israel was saved from this plague, because they killed a lamb as they were instructed, and painted its spilled blood on their doorposts. The death angel visited Egypt that night, and all firstborn of man and beast died. God did protect Israel, no family lost their firstborn child. Israel was freed from bondage to Egypt. This story is bound into the story of Jesus.

Jesus is God's firstborn. He was sacrificed many centuries later, at the same time as the lambs were slaughtered in memory of that night in Egypt. Jesus is the "lamb of God". In the same way the lamb was slaughtered so Israel would live, so Jesus was slaughtered so we may live. Through our Passover lamb we are freed from bondage to sin and death.

Come Passover, this year, we will accept and partake of the symbols of Jesus death. We bless and break bread (unleavened, as it represents Christ who was without sin), this is shared among believers in acceptance of his broken body on our behalf. Then wine is also blessed, poured and shared among the believers. The wine represents his shed blood, which saves us from our sins and from death.

We will participate in a "foot-washing ceremony". By doing so, we commit our lives in service to Christ and to one another. We acknowledge, that Christ, who is our master, humbled himself in order to serve us, so in like manner we humble ourselves to serve him and to serve the church (which happens to be the congregation of believers).

God bless you if he puts it in your heart to honour him in this way, if he gives you understanding to do this in remembrance of His Son. May you be blessed for your faithfulness.

Friday, 8th April, 2011

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 02:08:19 +0100

The gospel is a two pronged approach to Salvation through Jesus the Messiah (promised annointed one). Firstly most know that Jesus came to take away the sins of the world, and most Christians embrace this part of his work. He is also coming again to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Most of Jesus teaching during his ministry on earth was to tell us about the Kingdom of God, what it is like and what one must do to be a part of it. He is coming again as King of Kings this next time, not as a lamb to be slaughtered again, but as a glorious victorious conqueror over sin and death. He will come because if he did not, no flesh would be saved alive. He will come, will you be ready?