Exodus 8, Luke 11, Job 25-26, 1 Corinthians 12
In Luke 11:24-26
Jesus teaches about partial conversions.
Evil cannot be simply kicked out of someones life, it has to be replaced by something good which is the Holy Spirit. We must "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). For example, the weight of bitterness cannot be resolved by simply not stop being bitter; one must replace bitterness by genuine forgiveness and love for that person. Something even harder for myself would be to overcome greed. I can't stop greed by simply deciding to not be materialistic, I must fasten my affections on a better treasure, learn to be content with God and wonderfully self sacrificial.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
30/4/20
Exodus 7, Luke 10, Job 24, 1 Corinthians 11
Luke 10:20 "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
It's easy to rejoice in success, so far that we may entangle our identity with the fruits of our ministry. This is spiritually dangerous as sometimes our ministry doesn't go as intended. This is an indicator for something even more dangerous, that God wasn't truly worshipped, our acceptance from God is no longer what drives us but instead our own success.
Lord, prune me in however manner you wish. Help my motivations in ministry be to edify you rather than self accomplishment.
Luke 10:20 "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
It's easy to rejoice in success, so far that we may entangle our identity with the fruits of our ministry. This is spiritually dangerous as sometimes our ministry doesn't go as intended. This is an indicator for something even more dangerous, that God wasn't truly worshipped, our acceptance from God is no longer what drives us but instead our own success.
Lord, prune me in however manner you wish. Help my motivations in ministry be to edify you rather than self accomplishment.
29/4/20
Exodus 5, Luke 9, Job 21, 1 Corinthians 8
Jesus disciples seem eager to enact retaliation when the samaritans can't hospitable towards them. Jesus rebukes them. The disciples attitude here isn't a grasp of the holiness of God or their devotion to God but rather self focus. The closing verse of this chapter highlights the same contrast (9:57-62) The three who flex the most regarding how far their devotion to Jesus is are firmly put in their place; they have not yet counted the cost of discipleship and their pride is exposed.
Lord please help put my ego in its place. Help me to cling onto the cross and rely on you. Help me see others how you view them and to love them, for the sake of you.
Jesus disciples seem eager to enact retaliation when the samaritans can't hospitable towards them. Jesus rebukes them. The disciples attitude here isn't a grasp of the holiness of God or their devotion to God but rather self focus. The closing verse of this chapter highlights the same contrast (9:57-62) The three who flex the most regarding how far their devotion to Jesus is are firmly put in their place; they have not yet counted the cost of discipleship and their pride is exposed.
Lord please help put my ego in its place. Help me to cling onto the cross and rely on you. Help me see others how you view them and to love them, for the sake of you.
Monday, April 27, 2020
28/4/20
Exodus 5, Luke 8, Job 22, 1 Corinthians 9
This has always seemed like a confusing diss, still does. In Luke 8 Jesus low key disregards his biological family and rather states that his family is dictated by that of love rather than biological. His natural relatives are those who heard God's word and put it into practice Luke 8:21. Jesus came to call sinners into adoption, becoming permanent members of God's family and the byproduct of this is they are conforming to the obedient hearing of living of God's word.
This has always seemed like a confusing diss, still does. In Luke 8 Jesus low key disregards his biological family and rather states that his family is dictated by that of love rather than biological. His natural relatives are those who heard God's word and put it into practice Luke 8:21. Jesus came to call sinners into adoption, becoming permanent members of God's family and the byproduct of this is they are conforming to the obedient hearing of living of God's word.
27/4/20
Exodus 4, Luke 7, Job 21, 1 Corinthians 8
Granted the Bible story so far, the assumption is that Pharaoh is already a wicked person. In particular, he has enslaved the covenant people of God. God has not hardened a morally neutral man; he has pronounced judgement on a wicked man.
1 King 22; Ezekiel 14:9 and 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness".
Granted the Bible story so far, the assumption is that Pharaoh is already a wicked person. In particular, he has enslaved the covenant people of God. God has not hardened a morally neutral man; he has pronounced judgement on a wicked man.
1 King 22; Ezekiel 14:9 and 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness".
26/4/20
Exodus 3, Luke 6, Job 20, 1 Corinthians 7
The name of God (3:13-14) may be rendered "I AM WHO I AM", as it is in the NIV, or "I will be what I will be." The name suggests that God is self existent, eternal, completely independent, and utterly sovereign: God is what he is, dependent on no one and nothing.
God isn't who we think He is, He is who He says He is. This is why we need to study God.
The name of God (3:13-14) may be rendered "I AM WHO I AM", as it is in the NIV, or "I will be what I will be." The name suggests that God is self existent, eternal, completely independent, and utterly sovereign: God is what he is, dependent on no one and nothing.
God isn't who we think He is, He is who He says He is. This is why we need to study God.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
25/4/20
Exodus 2, Luke 3, Job 19, 1 Corinthians 6
We might ask why God didn't use Moses when he was young and in a position of noble power. From what we know of the story we learn that God wants Moses to learn meekness and humility to rely on God's spectacular intervention, to await Gods timing he acts in such a way that no one will be able to say that the real hero is Moses, the great visionary. By the time he is eighty, Moses doesn't want to serve God and attempts to pussy out because he's didn't view himself as someone capable. Nekminnit, God almost cajoles and even threatens him into obedience. God is the true hero in this case, he was the one taking action and so only He should be given the final credit
We might ask why God didn't use Moses when he was young and in a position of noble power. From what we know of the story we learn that God wants Moses to learn meekness and humility to rely on God's spectacular intervention, to await Gods timing he acts in such a way that no one will be able to say that the real hero is Moses, the great visionary. By the time he is eighty, Moses doesn't want to serve God and attempts to pussy out because he's didn't view himself as someone capable. Nekminnit, God almost cajoles and even threatens him into obedience. God is the true hero in this case, he was the one taking action and so only He should be given the final credit
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