Time for a rest

Hi folks – I will resume blogging the biblereading journal in October. Keep reading and journaling!!!

Week beginning Monday 15th June

Romans 3 & 4

Faith and Law – There is a huge perception in the wider community that the Christian faith is about Law – i.e. what we should and shouldn’t do. And this lie becomes then a barrier because of the justifiable criticism of christians that they/we are hypocrites. Now, the criticism is fair but the perspective is false…if we believe what the Bible says about faith. In Romans 3 Paul outlines clearly that all the Law can do, by itself, is show us that the criticism is fair. All of us, Christians included, stuff up. We stuff up truth, integrity, compassion, justice, mercy, forgiveness and love. We do this because naturally we put ourselves at the centre of life. Romans speaks of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as being the alternative to self, when the writer speaks about having faith in Jesus. Faith alone saves. Faith alone overcomes condemnation. Faith does this because it is a gift. Faith is received not because of anything we do but is received because God is love and offers this love to us freely.
The Law still is helpful but only in as much as it is powered by faith. So we do not dismiss the Law, but we recognise its limits and how the power of the Holy Spirit works to help us enact the Law. This means that we do not judge each other by the Law because only God can do this, but that we encourage one another in faith to power up (Romans 3:31) the Law – which is fully revealed and to be understood in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Law without Christ is condemnation and death but the Law through Christ is life and Spirit.
What I mean by this is that we need to know and follow Jesus’ way through the Law. We need to know that Jesus said to “love God and love one another just as I have loved you” Jesus often said, “you have heard it said….now I say to you….” This was part of the process of the Law being understood through Jesus. And also how the LAw was to be encated was re-imagined and re-formed through Jesus. e.g. when the woman was caught in adultery the religious leaders brought her to Jesus to be stoned…according to the Law. But Jesus re-formed the process through love and forgiveness and challenged the leaders both in their intentions as well as their own qulaifications to enact the Law – “you without sin cast the first stone”. Jesus empowered the Law through love – “no-one condemns you woman…go and sin no more”
The focus of the Christian is to receive this gift of faith from God which means to begin the journey of turning to God and placing Jesus Christ at the centre of our lives instead of self. Know Jesus and be empowered by His Holy Spirit to live a powered up life of witness, worship and service. [Prayer - LORD I keep wanting to sneak back into the centre of my life. Thank you that your Spirit and your Law reminds me that to do this is death, but to know you and be connected to you is life. Spirit help me be obedient to God's call and Christ's way... and it will be good! AMEN]

Week beginning Monday 8th June 2009

Romans 1 & 2
I remember in my Uni days doing a study on Romans with a woman who was the Aunty of one of the blokes at College. ‘Aunty Shirley’ had served as a missionary in Indonesia for a long time and she taught the Bible to people over there. Well as a bunch of 18-21 year old males at University we thought we knew everything there was to know…about pretty much…everything. What’s that saying ‘you don’t know what you don’t know!’ Well after a few months of studying Romans with Aunty Shirley we realised what we didn’t know…and it was a lot. So…to write a couple of paragraphs about two whole chapters of Romans is a tough task. So just a couple of points…
Firstly this letter to the church in Rome (Romans) is all about Paul speaking to both Jews and non-jews in a non-jewish culture. Paul’s total focus is to share with these people the good news of Jesus Christ and to teach and equip them to live lives that is a witness to this good news. The book of Romans is filled with amazing truth about God’s grace and love and the extravagence in which God shares this with all of us through Jesus Christ, the giving of the Holy Spirit and the living of this in this new community called ‘church’.
Secondly the way Paul does this is through the combining of reason-argument, historical faith, cultural context and personal experience. This is a great example of the work of every Christian – to know scripture, know our society, know our experience and be prepared to give reason for our faith in Jesus Christ. Through this Paul speaks to the Jew and to the Non-Jew. To those with faith Paul challenges them to not give in to the culture as if their nationality makes them exempt from personal ethical behaviour and relationship and he challenges the Non-Jew as also being without excuse from seeing faith in Christ as a gift which requires-results in personal transformation. Faith is neither merely a cultural norm or a intellectual idea. Faith changes people and impacts communities…even all of creation.
Through Romans Paul not only shares that faith in Christ is personal but that through the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit this new community called ‘church’ becomes the transformative agent in the world.
Paul’s definitive statement is early in chapter one “The Gospel is the power of God saving all people, whether Jew or Gentile” The Gospel saves personally, communally and globally and it is grounded in our personal ethical behaviours and relationship…not ideas, concepts or cultural heritage. The gospel is here, it is now, it never leaves you the same…and it is eternally good!
[Prayer – LORD may I have the power of the gospel shake my world and bring me to a knowledge of the never-failing love of God that I may be a witness to this eternal reality…everyday!. Amen.

Week beginning Monday 25th May 2009

Acts 25 & 26

I appeal to Jesus!

The plot thickens for Paul as he appears before the next ruling official – Festus, who like all the Roman officials walked the tightrope of cultures between Roman Law and local Jewish customs. Again the aggressors to Paul try to bend the odds in their favour as they seek to manipulate the process towards the evil ends. Evil – in that their intention is not reasonable justice but retributive violence in the guise of justice. How much this still goes on…justice vs maniplation???

Paul uses his “phone a friend’ card and appeals to be seen before Caesar himself – a caviat in Roman Law as a last resort for justice. [An interesting appeal given the future of the justice of future Caesars] But at least in this appeal it takes out the Jerusalem factor and ensures that Paul heads to Rome (which was always his ultimate destination)…Paul says, “I appeal to Caesar!” and escapes violence…for the time being.

How good it is that daily we can “appeal to Jesus” as our saving One, advocate, healer, companion, justice maker, forgiver, empowerer and friend. Paul’s journey is one that I read a am challenged and encouraged by…I/we have our own journey’s to take – one’s that I pray will lead us to lives of witness, truth, grace and love. Be encouraged – at any time you can “appeal to Jesus” and He will bring you to His court for a justice that brings life eternally – now and forever. This is good news. [Prayer - I appeal to you LORD Jesus in my journey. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let my enemies be thwarted and your purpose for me be fulfilled. In Jesus name. Amen]

Week beginning Monday 18th May 2009

Acts 23 & 24
Paul in the middle of strife keeps his cool and keeps his focus on the main game – i.e. getting to Rome. I think Paul is so cool under pressure. He sets the cats amongst the pigeons (as the saying goes) and cause chaos in the council of the Temple (Sadducees vs Pharisees) – an interesting sideline is that in the church we still have division along the lines of non-resurrection and purity people! Anyway…Paul is very wise in what he does and doesn’t say – a good thing because while in the midst of the chaos life can be very precarious. The Romans come to the rescue and cart Paul away. These two chapters would be great scenes in a movie – mob scenes / rescueing officers / secret messages / midnight manouvers / court scenes / politics and religion in full flight!!! The timing of these two chapters over two years is also a point to note…that God’s timing is always purposeful and God makes good out of bad situations.

For me these chapters encourage me in the jouney of life that God calls us to – their is risk – their is trouble but also that there is purpose and opportunity in the midst of all that goes on. [Prayer - LORD give me the wisdom and courage to take the opportunities that are presented in life whether in the midst of chaos or peace, to witness to the hope and truth of life in Christ. Bless all those who this moment are in prison unjustly or because of their faith in YOU. In Jesus name - AMEN]

Week beginning Monday 4th May 2009

Acts 19
Paul in Ephesus – here is the story of Paul giving two years of service and ministry to a city that is has a different world view to the faith he has received with the mixing and interplay of religion – politics – economics. This ‘Good News’ that Paul was sharing about was perceived to be bad news for the ‘business of religion’ and this upset people. The chapter reveals how civil this city was when conflict erupts and instead of reverting to senseless violence, the leaders brought ‘reason’ to the fore and were able to avert the mob mentality. What a blessing! Many other places would have reverted to violence. I receive a newsletter from ‘Open Doors’ – an agency advocating for and supporting the church around the world that is under severe persecution. I am mindful that in Australia we have much more of an Ephesus worldview and reason is a valued characteristic in our culture. Let’s continue to pray that the violence that is present in our community (mindful that today is Domestic Violence Awareness day) would be eased and reasonable ways of dealing with conflict will further develop. But also like Ephesus, Australian culture takes time to engage with the Good News of Jesus Christ, so this week’s text is reminder of the patience and wisdom needed to share God’s good news. We need a thoughtful and reasoned faith to engage Aussies with – there is so much unreasonable and ill-thought through stuff out there! So let us do what we can and continue the journey. [PRAYER - LORD give me the words and understanding and patience to share truth and hope with your beloved community that healing and freedom may come to all. AMEN]

Week beginning Monday April 13th 2009

Acts 13 & 14

I was away for a few days this week – I’m a bit behind.

I guess all I want to say about Acts 13 & 14 was that life is no different today – some people are open to what God would say and do and others are not. I am a bit of an eternal optimist, so negative reactions to the Gospel always way heavy on me. These chapters invite me to be a realist while still hoping and having faith that people will respond. Having said that this year has been amazing in terms of seeing people respond to God’s Spirit guiding and speaking into people’s hearts and minds. Go GOD!!!! Simlar I guess to when Paul and Barnabas saw people respond as well. [Prayer - LORD where you will guide I will follow - in your strength alone. AMEN]

Week beginning Monday 6th April 2009

Acts 11 & 12

It’s all about what God does!

Peter discovers that following the way of Jesus leads him to places he was never expecting to be – in a gentile’s home or in prison. What a gift it was for Peter and Barnabas to see what God was doing! All Barnabas did was to encourage the people to remain faithful.

Firstly it is all about what God does and secondly all we need to do is to be and encourage faithfulness.

We can never know exactly what will happen in our lives (as a verse in Proverbs 14 says ‘we can do what is right and still end up dead’) I thought of this when reading that James (Jesus’ own brother) is beheaded and Peter is freed from jail.

I loved the fact that while teh church was praying for Peter, when he turns up they are all in shock!!! So much for needing to believe in our own prayers – all that we need is that small mustard seed – it is all about what God does and we just need to keep encouraging and be faithful.

I am certainly seeing this reality in our churches life at the moment – it is all about what God does…we just need to be faithful with our small mustard seeds. [PRAYER - LORD all glory goes to you because you are the one who completely amazes us. Help me to see what you are doing and to respond in faithfulness and encouragement. AMEN]

Week beginning Monday 23rd March 2009

Acts 7

Acts 7 records Stephen’s defence of faith in Jesus before the religious council. Stephen shows his knowledge of teh faith of his people in the story of God through history. There is a common thread that runs through this – the community’s failure to understand God’s action and the faithfulness of God. Faith continues to grow and God continues to move forward with God’s plan to redeem all people. The religious ones get stuck and when things get tough look to themselves for salvation rather than turning to God. Time and time again it happened…so that when Jesus came, and again pointed to God and what God was doing, the religious ones acted consistently with the past and had Jesus killed. Stephen was expecting nothing less but gave witness to the truth he had experienced in Christ.

I/we need to be students of hsitory and the present and acknowledge that I do the same – that is, I want to be comfortable and so I get stuck and look to myself instead of constantly turning to God for life. God is continuing to work to bring all people to Him through the love of Christ. Stephen’s faith is a challenge to all who would follow Christ. My prayer is for all those who are being persecuted for their faith still today – may they know the peace of God in every moment – AMEN!

Week beginning Monday 16th March 2009

Proverbs 11
In this chapter the wise one is outlining a list of do’s and don’ts for us – each of which will either bring us life or destruction. It is all about our being and doing. It is great seeing the list of life-givers all collated in this way – honesty, sommon sense, doing good, doing what is right, being fair, being generous, treating peoplw well. These are all in sharp contrast to lieing, cheating, stealing, holding back from doing good, foolishness. The first bracket wouldn’t sell well in the soapie market of TV but the second is a script for most of the lastest shows. Even to string such words together in a whole chapter felt strange but also powerul – words like honesty – goodness – generosity – fairness. It sounds more than a political ad there is deep truth and life in this chapter iff only would hear it and act in accord to it.

Acts 5
Well here is the story that goes along with Proverbs 11 bith with Ananias and Sapphira as well as the council of the pharisees. Here the writer of Acts highlights the contrast between both individuals and institutions that choose destructive behaviours over the way of Christ – which brings life and freedom. The challenge of both proverbs 11 and Acts 5 is to do as the apostles have done…(Acts 5:42) “They never stoppped teaching and telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah” [PRAYER - LORD in the face of a world that can be so foolish and violent help me to follow your way of truth, honesty, generosity and doing good - and help me to also never stop teaching and telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah - AMEN]