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Thought for August 11th. “NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR YOU” Aug 11, 2024

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The book of Jeremiah confuses us a little because it is not in chronological order. Today’s 32nd chapter starts by telling us the word of the LORD came to him “in the tenth year of Zedekiah” [v.1] “At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem” [v.2]. We do not know which month, but ch. 39 v.2 tells us that “in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month” a breach was made in the walls and the Babylonians captured the city.

Today’s chapter is about a very critical time, Jeremiah is at times a mental ‘iron man’ because of his faith in God, but at times he falters.. “The word of the LORD came …” [v.6] telling him his cousin was coming to him asking him to “Buy my field that is in Anathoth” and when his cousin comes, he remarks, “Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.” After the transaction is finalised he “prayed to the LORD, saying ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” [v.16,17]

Yet his faith is struggling as events get worse and “siege mounds have come up to the city to take it” [v.24] and there is “famine and pestilence” and he asks, “Yet you O Lord GOD, have said to me, ‘Buy the field … though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.” [v.25]

Specially note the response from God! “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” [v.27] God is quoting back to Jeremiah his words that nothing was too hard for him. Jeremiah’s struggle with faith may be paralleled in the experiences of the faithful, our experiences, as the world that we are so familiar with falls apart; for, as we will read next week in Mark, Jesus forecast a time of “such tribulation as has not been since the beginning of creation … and if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days” [ch. 13 v,19,20] This is described from the divine perspective of foreknowledge, as though it has already happened.(Romans 8 v.28-30)

Back in Jeremiah we see how our chapter concludes with the prophet receiving a heart stirring vision of the ultimate future for his people (v.37-41) a future which will also embrace God’s people whom he has called out from among the Gentiles (Romans 9 v,24-26). May we maintain our faith in God; may Jeremiah’s words be part of our prayer to our heavenly Father, “Nothing is too hard for you” uttered with increasing faith.

Thought for August 10th. “BREADTH OF MIND” Aug 10, 2024

Show notes

Let us grasp the sense of the phrase “breadth of mind” which occurs in our 1 Kings reading today. It is the result of God responding to King Solomon’s request for wisdom. We read “The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give you’ “ [1 Kings 3 v.5]. He responds, “your servant is in the midst of your people… give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil …” [v.8,9]

In chapter 4 we are told “and God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east …” [v.29,30] Furthermore “his fame was in all the surrounding nations. He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005” [v.31,32] What a contrast to the froth and bubble of the songs and sayings of today – also the tweeting and twittering of the thoughts of the moment of a multitude of minds!! If we seek to expand our mind, as we should, and develop genuine “breadth of mind” we must lay the foundation by reading the word of God every day. Some of it will be initially a struggle to ‘digest’ – but as we compare scripture with scripture, the lessons become increasingly clear and we sense we are developing “breadth of mind” in contrast to the narrowness of so much around us.

Timothy is told by Paul, “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity … devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture …” [1 Tim. 4 v.12,13] No one owned their own copies of God’s word, so they assembled to hear them read – today when most have several copies of their own how much use do they really get?

In his 2nd letter Paul advised Timothy to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handing the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble …” [2 v. 15,16]. That is equally ideal advice for us so that we can develop “breadth of mind” and turn away from irreverent spoken and written words of which our world is so full. So few are interested in presenting themselves before “God as one approved.” There is every reason why we all must make that our aim.

Thought for August 9th. “IN THE LATTER DAYS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND” Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

Our chapter (30) in Jeremiah is intriguing. The last verse challenges our thinking, “The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this.”

In the chapter’s opening verses Jeremiah is told, “Thus says the LORD … write in a book … behold the days are coming … when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel … I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers …” [v.2,3]. The verses in between challenge our understanding. We wish some of them were at least a little clearer, but many are quite plain. Israel is told, “Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you.” [v.15]. Their ungodly ways were flagrant in the days of Jeremiah as they were also in the days of Jesus. Then the prophet’s vision changes “… all who prey on you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares’ “ [v.16,17], and ultimately; “and you shall be my people and I will be your God.” [v.22] However, notice the indications that the climax will be traumatic! “Alas! That day is so great there is none like it! It is a time of distress for Jacob (Israel) yet he shall be saved out of it.” [v.7]. Are we about to see this happen now? Only then does “the fierce anger of the LORD … turn back.” [v.31] All this – and more – is remarkable in revealing “the intentions of his mind” that will be understood “in the latter days” by those who diligently read God’s Word.

But we must never miss the personal nature of the teaching of the Lord Jesus; yes, it is personal to each of us, far more than these prophecies are, imploring us to enter into and maintain a personal relationship with him – and as a result, when “the storm of the LORD … will burst upon the head of the wicked” [v.23] those who “do his just commands, seek righteousness … may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.” [Zeph.2 v.3] It is of no value to “understand” events in these “latter days” unless it has changed us personally so that we are responding to the call “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me” [Exod. 32 v.26]. This is a cry that has been made to every generation since Moses originally uttered these words.

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Thought for August 8th. “GUILTY OF AN ETERNAL SIN” Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

Imagine you are living in Israel as reports about what Jesus is doing and saying spread. Our reading in Mark shows what contrasting reactions took place. The worst reactions were among those who felt their positions of authority were under threat. It also came from those who were proud of their interpretations of the very letter of the laws of Moses: they were sure they were ‘right’ in the sight of God.

People of this way of thinking closed their minds to block out any consideration of what Jesus was actually doing or saying! We read yesterday that they asked, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [2 v.16]. Today, we read how a man with a withered hand was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus asks, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” [3 v.4] They gave no answer.

After he healed the man they “immediately held counsel … how to destroy him.” [v.6] They now tried to slander him to the people, “He is possessed by Beelzebul … the prince of demons” [v.22], this shows they had been influenced by Greek mythology and its ways of thinking. Their intense jealousy blinded them to the wonder of the miracles he wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit which God had given him “without measure” [John 3 v.34]. They said, “he has an unclean spirit” [v.30] which lead Jesus to say “Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven … and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin.” [v.29] What remarkable things Jesus was able to do because he had the full measure of the Holy Spirit! How could they be so blind – but we humans can act and reason very strangely. There is a comparison with convictions today. This is the denial that there is a God and that he is the cause of all that exists.

The second verse of the Bible is about God’s spirit in action to create this world and the things in it. It is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to deny there is a Creator and his acts of creation! The time is coming when God will display his full anger on a world that has convinced itself that he does not exist. Let us make sure we are on the Lord’s side and, where-ever we can, shed a little light in the darkness that now exists..

Thought for August 7th. “WHEN JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH” Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

Today we have the account of` a miracle of Jesus that we tend to remember most. Jesus had now become so sought after that it was sometimes difficult to see and hear him. There is a paralysed man who lay on a bed that 4 friends carried, but it was impossible for them to bring him anywhere near Jesus. “because of the crowd they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed …. “ [Mark 2 v. 4] Then comes a very interesting statement, “and when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘My son your sins are forgiven.’ “[v.5] and he is told to, “rise, pick up your bed and go home.” [v.11]

This is not saying the paralytic had no faith, but Jesus was conscious of how much faith the 4 friends had in all the effort they went to; they had supreme faith in what Jesus could do. This causes us to reflect on the power of prayer and actions that are done in faith on behalf of others. Jeremiah had become such a person. But three times the LORD tells him, “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me ..” [Ch. 7 v.16 see also. 11 v.14 and 14 v.11] The LORD did not want to be influenced by his prayers.

That clearly shows that when a righteous person prays, God hears and hearkens. James, in his epistle states, “… pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power in its working.” [5 v.16] David has a heart stirring observation in Psalm 34 v.15, “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry … when the righteous cry for help the LORD hears ..” [Psa. 34 v.15,17]

Did you notice in Romans 1 we read last week how Paul wrote that, “God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son , that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.” [v.9,10] Interesting phrase – “somehow by God’s will” – that is a phrase we can and should use in our personal prayers – and in our prayers on behalf of others. This is what Jesus said in his prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane.

James made that point, “ … you ought to say, ‘if the Lord wills, we will do this or that.’ ” (4 v.15) May the Lord see our faith go from strength to strength. It is trials that cause this to happen; Peter observed, “ if necessary … grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes … may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [1 Peter 1 v.6,7]

Thought for August 6th. “THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED …” Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

The final chapter in 2 Samuel begins by telling us “again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.” We are not told why God was angry, there is no indication that it was comparable with his anger in the days of Jeremiah resulting in the Temple and the city being destroyed. We suggest his anger with Israel was because so many people had been ready to rally around Absalom and go to war against David and his faithful men. These had no depth of appreciation over the conquests and success of David in totally subduing the Philistines and other nations.

We ponder the verse which goes on to say that the LORD “incited David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.” Joab reluctantly carried out David’s request and completed the numbering of “valiant men who draw the sword” [v.9] Then we read, “But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done … I have acted very foolishly” [v.10]

David knew from past experience that the LORD “can save by many or by few” [1 Sam 14:6] as his dear friend Jonathan had said and experienced. It is better by few, then it is more evident that a victory has not been achieved by man’s own strength. Our conclusion of the meaning behind the phrase that the LORD “incited David” – is that it means the Lord allowed David to follow his own foolish desires. There is a Proverb which says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” [16 v.9] and another, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” [21 v.1] In this case, it served the LORD’s purpose to allow David to follow his desires. The result taught David a lesson and at the same time led to the deserved punishment of the people.

In that sense God became a “satan” – as the parallel account in 1 Chron 21 v.1 tells us. This should not surprise us as the first occurrence of the Hebrew word ‘satanas’ in the Bible describes the action of an angel from God in being an adversary to Balaam [Numbers 22 v.22] Indeed the Hebrew word Satan (satanas) is many times translated as adversary in the Old Testament and names these adversaries, especially adversaries of Solomon, at the end of his reign. (1 Kings 11 v.14, 23, 25) Remember Peter became a satan, an adversary to Jesus, as we will read shortly in Mark 8 v33. May not any of us become a satan! This can happen when we are ‘blind’ to the ways of God. Let us know and do the will of our Heavenly Father as much as we can.

Thought for August 5th. “WHATEVER WAS WRITTEN IN FORMER DAYS …” Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

As we complete reading Paul’s letter to the Romans we note his point that “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” [15 v.4] “The Scriptures” are, of course, the Old Testament. Paul wanted the Gentile Christian converts in Rome to realize these Jewish scrolls are now for them as well. Those who claim to follow Christ today need to realize this too – many think they only need the New Testament, or at most, only the Psalms and Proverbs.

One particular reason that Paul gives is the examples of “endurance” in the service of God will give them encouragement and hope. He writes, ”may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another …” [v.5] When the world around us is godless and falling apart because there is no unifying spirit of faith and vision, it is more important than ever for true believers to be in harmony and to be a source of strength to each other.

How desperate the situation of Jeremiah is becoming! His faith is now undergoing greater tests. We read today how “the priests and the (false) prophets said … ‘This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city …” [26 v,11] Jeremiah is an outstanding example of endurance for us.

In our 2 Samuel 23 reading we have “the last words of David … the sweet psalmist of Israel” [v.1]. He says, “The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. [v.2] What words we have in his and other Psalms to give us “encouragement” in order to endure. Although not tested at present as Jeremiah was; we know a few that are which we must remember in prayer, but we must not turn to prayer as a last resort as the final king in Jerusalem did, sending to Jeremiah an urgent message “Please pray for us to the LORD ..” [37 v.3], but it was too late.

Returning to our chapter in Romans we notice how Paul selects 4 different quotations from the Old Testament (v.9 to 12) which all relate to what was written under God’s inspiration about the involvement of the Gentiles. The time had now arrived for them to “glorify God for his mercy.” [v.9] Paul had been previously blind to the significance of these Scriptures. Let us not be blind “to whatever was written in former days” – for as this world becomes even more unstable we will need all the encouragement and spiritual strength the Scriptures provide – remember Jesus said, “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” [Matt. 24 v.13]

Thought for August 4th. “EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS …” Aug 04, 2024

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Thought for August 4th. “EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS …”

Thought for August 3rd. ” … BY THE MERCIES OF GOD” Aug 03, 2024

Show notes

Today we have a really special chapter – Romans 12. Its’ 21 verses all provoke deep thought for meditation. Let’s start with verse 1, ‘I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The more we sense God’s mercies, both to others, but especially to ourselves, there must be a reaction in us. We have seen how David reacted to God’s mercy in not dealing with him as he knew he deserved after sins in relation to Bathsheba. Look how often he uses the word “mercy” in the Psalms, The familiar Psalms 51 starts, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy …” One could retranslate this using the word “grace.” David made his life, more than ever, “a living sacrifice” as he appreciated the greatness of God’s mercy and grace.

The verse in Romans ends in an uncommon way – telling us that this attitude of “living sacrifice …is your spiritual worship.” Is not all worship spiritual? The answer is a resounding ‘No!’ Jeremiah’s message to the people was very blunt about that. In contrast, true worship must be intensely so. Take note of the word “therefore” in our key verse. Whenever “therefore” occurs always look at what has gone before, there is a key sequence of thought. Note the closing verses of Ch. 11. “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! … For who has known the mind of the Lord … for from him and through him and to him are all things … I appeal to you therefore …”

Paul’s heart-felt appeal is for them to contemplate the “knowledge” and “mind” of God and as a result “present your bodies as a living sacrifice”. This “sacrifice” means we must “ … not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewal of your mind” [v.2] And the result of this transformation? “… that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Paul was clear as to what “the will of God” was for him. His footprints are too big for us to follow, yet they provide the inspiration, an example, for like him, we have all received mercy, and will continue to do so.

Finally, note his words in 2 Cor. 4 v.1,2. “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word …” Yes, let us not tamper with God’s word, our consistent daily reading fills our minds with a balanced picture so we do not bend it to what we want to believe, as some do, such to believe they go to heaven when they die. Did you notice how this quotation started with “therefore”? Make time to look at the previous verse.

Thought for August 2nd. “IN THE LATTER DAYS YOU WILL …” Aug 03, 2024

Show notes

Our 4 chapters listed for today are of great interest. David is re-installed as king, causing great heart-searching among those who had been drawn away to follow his vain son Absalom: an example of the type of leader many have followed or elected in recent years with Hitler being by far the worst example.

Our chapter in Jeremiah is firstly about God’s extreme anger with his people at that time, “Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house (the temple) I have found their evil, declares the LORD. Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness …” [23 v.11-12] So it is today! The scene changes dramatically as God gives his prophet a vision of the distant future – our time! The question is put, “who has paid attention to his word and listened” [v.18]. Surely a valid question for today! Then come the words, “Behold the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly.” [v.19,20] Only those who read God’s word thoroughly know the intents of his heart.

Chapters 10 & 11 in Romans also climax with a latter day application. Paul is explaining the position of Israel as a nation “because they did not submit to God’s righteousness” [10 v.3] and have been “broken off” God’s olive tree that non-Jews “might be grafted in” [11 v.19]. The non-Jews (Gentiles) are warned to “stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you” [v.20,21]

We were fascinated to attend a Messianic Jewish Synagogue last week and hear a Jew expound this chapter. It seems significant that Jewish Christians have emerged in the last 20 years or so. Finally note v.25 and its warning to non-Jews, “lest you be wise in your own conceits I want you to understand this mystery, brothers (and sisters): a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

We are surely nearing the point when the “fullness” – the full number from God’s perspective – have “come in” and committed their lives to Christ and the original gospel Paul preached. Then “the natural branches (will) be grafted back into their own olive tree.” [v.24] Make sure you are among “the fullness of the Gentiles” and have “paid attention to his word” “for the latter days” are surely here and nearly complete.

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