1 Corinthians 7 & 8

Am I really focused on God?

This seems to be the crux of Paul’s writings in these two chapters. There is so much in life that can distract us from God…even our closest relationships. Paul seems to be checking our life practices against the freedom we have in Christ against the need to consider others and God ahead of ourselves.

I like Paul’s honesty in these chapters as he acknowledges that he is not offering wisdom directly from Jesus but from his own understandings – this can still be truth for us as we discern where the Spirit is guiding and counselling us. This also shows there is flexibility in scripture to wrestle with some things ourselves – always in the light of the gospel and the life of Christ.

I recently read a line somehwhere that says “we would be surprised to know how hard it is to get God angry” and I think this applies to what Paul is saying here about our relationships and practices. The defining and challenging truth is to ask the question “Am I really focused on God and loving others?” Answer this and we will know the path to follow. [Prayer - Lord you are first in all things help me make it so. AMEN]

1 Corinthians 5 & 6

How much do you really love?

In these chapters Paul is confronting behaviours that are in conflict with a loving community. He highlights practices that demean people and demean a covenant relationship with God. These passages have been used to abuse people who are different and give justification to judgementalism. But we need to read these in the context of God’s love. It is actually Paul’s deep and abiding love for these people that he directs such confronting action such as expelling a person from the faith community for inappropriate behaviours. A check on our motivations are always necessary – the first question needs to be “Do I love these people?” And I believe we need to stay with this question for a long time to really test our hearts. This is not about being right…this is about being loving. Once love is real then confrontation will be the consequence.

Like all scripture the first place to reflect on its truth is in the mirror. What behaviours of mine conflict with a covenantal relationship with God and demean others? Confrontation is always to be coupled with humilty, love, power and a sound mind. It is as the power of Jesus (i.e. love) is present that confronting love is real.

1 Corinthians 1 & 2

“…God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him…” (1:21)

Here again is the upside-down God. By upside-down I mean what we think is appropriate God shows us that God’s way is just so different. Which is just as well as our ways are so limited – where as God’s ways open up possibilities for all. If God’s way was our wisdom then there would be no gift and it would be just our effort…and our efforts, no matter how lofty or well intentioned just can’t cut it. Because our efforts condemn where as God’s gift is just that a gift. God decided to be known through humanity…whereas every human efforted religion tries to be heavenly. It is a wonderful irony that we try so hard to be heavenly and God has put all of God’s effort into being human’ly. Why?

So that we would know God as gift. This is really important because no person can claim a gift as their own, as warranted, as earned, as achieved, as a right. A gift is freely given…like unconditional love. It is only unconditional love that can say – forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing – you without sin cast the first stone…no one condemns you and neither do I – rise up and walk your faith has made you well. All of these are a gift…and ANYONE can receive a gift…ANYONE!

Mark 15 & 16

As I read this again I was conscious of the first followers of Jesus hearing and reading this story for the first time. The details, the graphic nature of Jesus’ death and I thought about how this would have been understood by the jews of the first and second century. How Jesus’ death was like so many others that had come across the evil of the Roman oppressors and at times their own religious ledaers. Jesus’ death was like so many others. And I see this is a significant point…Jesus died like many. His dying was what happened to people. What is incredible is the belief that this was God incarnate dying!

That the one God of all would suffer and die like all of us. This is a God who loves by not separating the suffering of humanity from Godself. This was no God on high at Mt Olympus watching from on high. This was no God vengence and wrath who spited humanity. This was a God who identifies with and embodies humanities worst. And in Jesus’ resurrection this God has given a way beyond suffering and death, showing us that God is all powerful and a redeemer and recreator of life.

What a story being told in this chapters of Mark!

And we finish Mark’s gospel with the invitation and mandate to share this story with all the world…and why wouldn’t we…the one God of all loves!!!

Mark 13 & 14
The writer of Mark’s Gospel places this ‘end of the world’ conversation just before Jesus has his earthly life in the world comes to an end. We need to take notice of this as both a way to frame what is about to happen to Jesus and his disciples as well as a conversation about future events.

There is a poinant theme of dread, incredible suffering as well as hope. It is quite timely that we have this reading this week as people across our global region are in the middle of ‘world-ending’ experiences – floods / wars / earth quakes / tsunamis / bush fires. The story is that God gives hope and will bring victory in the end.

It has been significant that the media reports out of Samoa have expressed a real surprise at the way that this ‘religious’ country deals with the Tsunami tragedies – they are reporting an amazing peace and resilience that their faith is bringing. The expectation is anger but in its place is hope. I think this is what Mark invites us to receive as we read this text.

There is no doubt that more is yet to come in our lives just as more was to come in Jesus’ life and the lives of the disciples – in the face of ‘the end of the world’ through Jesus we can have hope. There is also the challenge to be ready…ready to run…ready to hope.

I am again challenged and encouraged by the story of hope that Jesus brings. Our world sure needs it!

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

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]

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.

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]

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]