Year 2 Day 150
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 28v11-16 Message - Scott Woodburn Paul’s journey to Rome has been nothing short of an ordeal. He has faced another shipwreck and just as he is warming his bones in Malta a snake jumped out and bit him. But finally after spending the winter on Malta, he sets sail again on a ship with the twin gods as a figurehead. These false gods are Castor and Pollux the twin sons of Zeus and it was believed that they brought good fortune on the sea. Paul didn’t trust tin these false idols, instead his hope was fixed on Christ and it was by the hand of the Lord that he finally arrived in Puteoli which is just a few miles away from the city of Naples. After a long journey what is it that you long for? Perhaps a hot bath? A night spent in your own bed? Ten minutes to yourself to catch up with the mail? Paul sought none of these and instead he was sought out by his fellow Christians. He is blessed with fellowship in Puteoli where his fellow believers allow him to stay with them for a week (v14) and when he finally enters Rome, Christians come from far and wide to great the Apostle (v15). Paul’s road has been incredibly difficult but Luke tells us that the fellowship he enjoyed caused him to thank God and to take courage (v15). Once more in the book of Acts we see the beauty and the power of the local church. A harassed and bruised and beaten Apostle is embraced by the church and takes great comfort from the fellowship. It should always be this way! We are speaking the truth when we say that the church on earth is not a perfect body. She is divided by inside and outside forces. Often she is a place where we experience great hurt. On occasion she is a place where forgiveness and love and grace is in short supply. These things may all be true but once more let us remember that the local church is God’s plan to bring the Gospel to the world around us. I urge you my brothers and sisters to take your place in your local church. Covid has robbed us of so much fellowship and it has even instilled in us a streak of independence. We haven’t been to church in 18 months and perhaps we now feel like we don’t need to go back. Child of God, please do not forsake the local church. Paul would later write that we are not to neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10v25) What does life look like while we wait for Christ? Meeting together and taking courage and comfort from the fellowship. Church life is needlessly busy with endless running around. I hope that when Covid lifts we don’t start the running again but instead may we replace it with beautiful sweet fellowship. When you nearly drown in the shipwreck and when the serpent bites you unexpectedly, where do you go? Where do you turn? Go to the place of encouragement. Go home. Go to the body for whom Christ died. Go to the local church. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q38 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? At the resurrection, believers, being raised up to glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.
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Year 2 Day 149
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 64:1-6 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 106 - 5 July 20” There are millions across this world who live in constant fear. It’s not the fear of Covid-19 but that of a totalitarian regime, of the army or the police bursting through the doors of their homes all because they are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. For others it is the fear of rejection, abandonment, attack, torture that is constant, unceasing, that from a human perspective inescapable and insurmountable. For believers across this world, who live in countries like Iran, India, Egypt, Vietnam, China, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, and the list goes on and on, they know what it is to fear. This psalm echoes their cry and of many believers thought the ages who likewise have lived in terror. As it begins, it does so with the emphatic plea of David, ‘Hear me, O God’. He comes to the Lord in prayer appealing that his complaint would be heard, for he fears that those against him would take his life and he asks for protection, that the Lord himself would preserve him in what he faces (1). Praying that the Lord would ‘Hide’ him, from the secret schemes and pots of the wicked (2), as they conspire together, like they are preparing for war against him (3-6). From a human point of view, the psalmist has every reason to be consumed with anxiety and dread. I don’t know about you but if it was me facing what he was facing I’d likely be in pieces. We may not be facing the fear of a totalitarian regime, we may not have fear of the doors busting open, persecution, we may not as the psalmist fears the threat of the enemy (1), the conspiracy of the wicked the crowd of the evildoers (2), but there is something we learn that should be a comfort to us in what ever we face. What is that, well we wherever we are facing, what ever we have done if we know God in faith (Matt 21:22, Jam 1:6) through Jesus Christ, then we can come before him with confidence knowing that he hears our prayers. Whether it is a complaint, a lament, confession of sin, praise, supplication, adoration, we can confidently come before him. We also know that he hears us in what we ask (1 Jn 5:15). We may not receive all the things that we ask for but in the midst of it all, we can know that in all that we face we are forgiven though Christ Jesus (Heb 9:15-22) and that in all that we face, death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38-39). Secondly there are those who live as there are no consequences for their actions, they believe that the unseen things will go unseen, but know this, nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Heb 4:13). Do not fool yourself into thinking like those who plotted against David that no one sees, for God sees all. For those who live without fear of the consequences, fear of the Lord (4), one day all will have to stand and give account before the Lord (Rom 14:12). When that day happens they will receive the judgement that their sins deserve. The only escape from the wrath of God is through trusting in him, for the Lord is merciful to those who fear him through Jesus Christ (Lk 1:50). If you haven’t really turn to him, trust in him, trust in the Saviour and know that there is no condemnation through Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1) Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and do immediately pass into glory; (2 Cor. 5:1,6,8, Phil. 1:23, Luke 23:43) and their bodies, being still united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) do rest in their graves, (Isa. 57:2) till the resurrection. (Job 19:26–27) Year 2 Day 148
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 28v1-10 Message - Scott Woodburn By the grace of God, Paul and the rest of the passengers find themselves washed up on the island of Malta. It remains an attractive destination for holiday makers but for those who had just been shipwrecked it was a refuge and solid ground. Paul and his companions were cold and wet but the kind Maltese people soon kindled a fire to warm their unexpected guests. Things couldn’t have been more traumatic for the Apostle and yet before he has dried out, a viper responds to the heat and bites Paul’s hand (v3). For the Maltese this was a sure sign that Paul was a wicked man. He may have escaped a shipwreck but “Justice” wasn’t going to allow him to live (v4). The Greeks believed “Justice” to be the daughter of Zeus and Themis. She was obviously directing this whole event and therefore Paul would soon die (v6). Yet Paul didn’t swell up or suddenly fall down dead. He shook the viper from his hand into the fire and suffered no ill effects (v5). Later he healed the father of Publius (v8) and soon people from all over the island visited Paul and their diseases were cured (v9). Was Paul a god like the Maltese believed (v6)? No. He was an Apostle, able to heal those on the island, but notice he wasn’t immune from shipwrecks, snake bites or even physical ailments (Galatians 4v13-15 & 6v11). At every step of his journey Paul knew tremendous difficulty. He would outline his troubles in 2 Corinthians 11 and perhaps when we read his account we might agree with the Maltese - it seems that Paul was under judgement. What other explanation could account for his constant troubles? The Christian understands that we do not live under the judgement and wrath of God. We have received Christ by faith and therefore God’s wrath no longer abides upon us. We do not worship a bitter and spiteful God who sends shipwrecks to harm us. Instead we realise that in this world we will have trouble just as Christ told us (John 16v33). In this fallen world difficulties trouble both the righteous and the wicked (Matthew 5v45). Additionally, sometimes, God disciplines us because He loves us (Hebrews 12v6). So how do we respond to shipwrecks and snake bites? The Apostle urges us to consider Jesus in such moments. “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12v3) As we consider Christ we remember that He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He suffered more than we can possibly comprehend and yet all without sin. When you walk from a shipwreck straight into a snake bite do not give up. You will know hard and difficult days but the Lord will strengthen you to endure and He will ensure you cross the finish line. Wounded and sore child of God, He is for you, do not give up and above all, consider Jesus. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q36 What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. Year 2 Day 147
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 62:1-4 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 99 - 28 June 20” When things in life are a mess, when we are having to deal with things that are just hard, when it’s all got on top of you, I wonder how you respond? In truth when life gives us a curve ball, when the unexpected comes our way, when things are hard, if we are honest most of us don’t deal with it very well. It may not be clear for everyone else to see but for those closest too us they can see it, the broken sleep, not being able to sit still for any length of time, our every waking hour seems to be tormented, we either comfort eat or we loose our appetite, get headaches, feel fatigued, feel anxious, we lack of motivation, the list goes on an on. Well here in this psalm David is facing calamity, he’s facing great adversity, really his life is a shambles and he’s on the run from those who would pursue him. But look to how it begins; depending on what translation you use you will either read in verse one my soul ‘finds rest’ or my soul 'waits on’ (1). The idea here being conveyed is that David in the midst of it all is able to have silent rest from everything that is going on, he is able to have confident assurance not in himself, what he can achieve in his strength, by his hand, but in the LORD. The contentment that David has is true contentment that can be found only in a right relationship with God. There are many things that we will face, trail adversity, sometimes caused by our own sin, at other times it is because of the sin of others or circumstances beyond our control but if we know the Lord as our salvation then we can have true contentment in the midst of it all. How do we know the Lord’s salvation through Jesus Christ, for he is the way the truth and the life, if we want to know salvation it is through faith in Him (Jn 14:6, Acts 4:12). Knowing the Lord as your salvation means knowing Jesus, knowing that eternal safety comes from him just as David did. He knew God has his place of security (2), a mighty fortress is our God that cannot be moved, and no matter what we face in this life (Rom 8:35-39) nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Even though David continued to know opposition, even though he was being kicked when he was down (leaning wall, a tottering fence) (3-4), his life was still a shambles, he was able to know that inspire of what he faced he could trust in God (1-2). Trust in God this day with what ever you face, all in this life, resign in him requires waiting and patients for all other things will let you down. What ever we face, we through faith in Christ can know this confident assurance that David himself experienced, silent rest, confident assurance in God. Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q35 What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God’ s free grace, (2 Thess. 2:13) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, (Eph. 4:23–24) and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (Rom. 6:4,6, Rom. 8:1) Year 2 Day 145
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 27v27-44 Message - Scott Woodburn Paul had spoken God’s message and it couldn’t have been clearer - God was going to deliver everyone on the ship. Unfortunately some of the sailors weren’t too convinced. The ship was drawing ever closer to dry land (v27-29) but just when deliverance was in sight, some sailors tried to lower the ship’s lifeboat to get away (v30). They had waited for two weeks (v27) and perhaps believed enough time had passed. Luke records for us Paul’s third speech of chapter 27. Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” (v31) These sailors were snubbing their noses at the deliverance of God. They were taking matters into their own hands and their departure from the ship would mean certain death for everyone onboard (276 persons). The centurion was now in the habit of trusting Paul fully and so the soldiers cut the lifeboat’s ropes and allowed it to float away (v32). This was an extraordinary vote of confidence in Paul and his God. To allow a means of escape to drift into the sea was a sure sign that at least some trusted that what Paul had declared was going to come true. The Apostles’ fourth and final speech seems a little bit out of place. It is morning and deliverance has not yet arrived but Paul urges everyone to have something to eat. He said “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” (V33-34) Paul didn’t speak about lifeboats or anchors or dry land. Instead he urged them to take breakfast because not a hair on their head would perish. The passengers were encouraged (v36) and in another extraordinary act of faith they cast the cargo of wheat into the sea. Such an act would only be taken by individuals who believed that they would soon have access to dry land and other sources of food. There was still some turmoil ahead. The ship struck a reef and began to break up (v41). The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them escaping justice (v42). Yet the centurion stopped their plan in order to protect Paul and so by swimming or floating on parts of the collapsing ship, everyone made dry land and just as God had promised, every life was spared (v43-44). Faith is a receiving and resting in Christ as He is offered in the Gospel. We often find the resting part of that statement the most difficult. We have prayed earnestly and see no answer. We have waited for days and months and years and see no deliverance. We decide to give up on God and instead reach for the lifeboat. Brothers and sisters, in such moments I urge you to rest in Christ. The Lord is not tied to our timescale or agenda but He remains our Deliverer. He is patient and kind towards us and in Christ we will not perish - one day we will wake on the golden shores of heaven. Until then? Rest in Christ. Seek good sleep. Wake and enjoy food. Sit and pray. Be still and wait upon the Lord. It may seem far off, but child of God, deliverance is coming! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q34 What is adoption? Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God. Year 2 Day 144
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Acts 11:1-18 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 88 - 17 June 20” There are divisions amongst us, we all know it, look at our own wee county and it’s clear. Our names, the sports that we play, how we say the letter ‘h’, where we live, what school we went to, what tradition we grew up in, the churches that we go to or don’t go to, divisions are everywhere. Some of those divisions are inconsequential, what school we attended doesn’t really matter its the education we received, the house that we live in doesn’t really matter whether its a two up two down, a bungalow, semi or apparent what matters is that we have a roof over our heads. For some though arbitrary divisions do matter, social and cultural boundaries matter. We see a similar division in this passage in Acts today as the good news of the Gospel was spreading. Chapter 10 gives the account of the conversion of Cornelius and we know others had received the word of God (1). The reaction of the Jewish Christians (circumcised believers) is all important though, it reveals a deep rooted division as they criticised Peter (2). To know what’s going on we need to remember how the sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace was circumcision (Gen 17:9-14), that sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace was replaced with Baptism for believers and their children in the household of faith, but these Jewish Believers were still of the mind that believers had to follow institutes and traditions of their forefathers, they believed Peter had broken the law by by eating with the unclean Gentiles (3). To this, Peter responds by giving an account of all that had happened, first his vision that shows how dietary laws that once marked a distinction between Jew and non-Jew are abolished. There is no distinction now between Jewish believers and Gentile believers for all are one in Christ (11:4-10). Then God led him to go to Cornelius immediately after this vision, as three men arrived and he heard a message from the Spirit to go (11-12). They entered the house of Cornelius who had received an angelic message that Peter would bring him a message of salvation (13-14). Then just as at Pentecost the Spirit came upon them (15-16). After recounting all that had happened, Peter challenges his critics, that no-one should try to prevent God’s expanding of the church to the Gentiles, for Cornelius and his household were baptised because of God’s saving grace that extended to Cornelius and his family just as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their families for God (17, Gal 3:28). In response the Jewish Christians praised God for what he had done (18). What is the take home message for us? Well firstly, divisions like that in the church in Acts 11 remain. We only need to look around to see how many churches or fellowships their are across our land, remember thought if someone is saved, it doesn’t matter where they go the Gospel Hall, Free’s, CoI, Baptist's, PCI, etc etc, what matters is, if they are our brother or sister. If they are then we can share fellowship with them. I’m not belittling the difference in belief that there are, the distinctions between us that mean we cannot worship together but if they are manifested in cultural snobbery, sexism, racism, tribalism etc they have no place among us, we have to learn that God does not show favouritism just as Peter learnt ( Acts10:34). Next, God works by his Word and Spirit in the lives of sinners, salvation is the gift of repentance, we may expect the ‘outsider’ to meet our standards, our criteria but God has called sinners to himself that if we are honest we would not have. Our response always should be the praise of God for the salvation he has brought. But are we too comfortable to want God to move among the perceived undesirables no matter who they are or their history? Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q33 What is justification? Justification is an act of God’ s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, (Rom. 3:24–25, Rom. 4:6–8) and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, (2 Cor. 5:19,21) only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, (Rom. 5:17–19) and received by faith alone. (Gal. 2:16, Phil. 3:9) Year 2 Day 143
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 27v13-26 Message - Scott Woodburn On Tuesday we considered the difficult task of making a decision. Do we trust our hearts or the experts? Paul couldn’t be considered an expert when it came to the high seas. He certainly had experience on the ocean wave but Paul’s guidance was overruled by those who knew better and had even more experience. Unfortunately, very quickly, Paul’s warning proved to be correct. A wind called “the northeaster” hit the ship (v14) and soon the crew were forced to jettison the cargo (v18). It was so dark in the midst of the storm that the passengers saw neither the sun nor the stars for many days (v20). As the light was cut off, everyone lost hope believing that any chance of being rescued was lost. It is at this point that Paul speaks for a second time. On dry land he had urged the ship not to sail (v21) but now he tells his shipmates that they are to take heart (v22). The ship will be lost but there will be no loss of life amongst the crew. Paul will not be silencing the storm nor will he be walking on water. Paul is not Christ but he is Christ’s messenger. An angel had visited Paul and revealed to him God’s plan (v23). Paul would one day stand before Nero and so God had decreed that all onboard would be saved from the storm (v24). Paul was utterly confident that God would do everything that He said and so prepared his listeners to run aground on some island (v26). It’s interesting isn’t it how this event unfolded. Paul was not disobedient in going to Rome. The angel was clear that Paul would stand before Caesar, so it would be incorrect to think that the storm was somehow punishment for Paul heading to the so called “Eternal City”. The centurion hadn’t listened to Paul’s advice but again, it would be incorrect to think that the storm was punishment for the centurion’s closed ears. So what’s going on? It is the Lord’s will for Paul to go to Rome and it is the Lord’s will for the northeaster to blow. Our God is good and gracious and kind but sometimes in our lives it may appear to us that we are sinking fast and the Lord simply does not care. Is this true? No. Not at all. Brothers and sisters consider your Saviour. Jesus Christ is the beloved Son of God and by faith we are counted as righteous in the sight of Almighty God. Is the Lord spiteful towards you? Is the Lord waiting for a moment to pay you back? Perish the thought. The Lord does not hate His children, instead He loves and cherishes them because they, by faith, are in Christ. The road may be long. The storm may be dark. The ship may sink beneath you - yet, the Lord is for His people and the Lord will deliver them! The Lord will deliver you! “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8v38-39) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q32 What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them. Year 2 Day 142
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Habakkuk 2:2-5 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 73 - 2 June 20” You look around at the world, and you think to yourself what is going on, Covid-19 has left us reeling. Covid-19 though is only a symptom of a much greater problem and that is, that this world is a fallen world and there is not one part of it that is unaffected. Before there was Covid-19 the world was still fallen, we were still sinners and many a time we wondered what was going on, because of people who living as they saw fit without fear of the consequences, sin was and is celebrated and its consequences prevail throughout this land and this world. For those who believe we have been left wondering what is going on, how has a Holy God who hates sin seem to allow evil to continue unchecked. Well today we look to the book of Habakkuk, as the prophet Habakkuk cried out to the Lord wanting to know what was going on, he was left wandering how a Holy God who hates sin seemed to allow evil to go unchecked. His exasperated cry of ‘O Lord, how long shall I call for help but you do not listen?’ (1:2) says it all. Habakkuk persisted in prayer because he believed in God and couldn’t understand why the Lord had remind silent to his cries. The crux of the problem was that God’s people were living as they saw fit, without fear of the consequences, sin was celebrated and the righteous believers suffered because of it, sin and its consequences prevailed throughout the country. In the response of the Lord (1:5-11) what is striking is that in no way does the Lord dispute the analysis of Habakkuk, but the Lord’s prognosis is grave, for what they need is not the salvation that Habakkuk so longed for (1:2), rather it was His judgement for their sin (1:5-6). If God’s people would not fear him, then they would indeed fear the Babylonians (1:7-11). The verdict was in and as Habakkuk responds, it is clear that he had confident trust in the character of God (1:12-13), but he wants to know how could the Holy God use such a people as the Babylonians (1:14-17), yet he waits on the Lord (2:1). As the Lord responds once more, he wants his people to know that he is at work, so Habakkuk is write down the revelation, to make it clear so that it could not be forgotten or ignored (2:2). The judgment of God was coming, and his people needed to have confident trust in their Lord, for he was very much at work in the midst of it all (2:3), and for the righteous who were his in faith, they needed to look to God for ‘the righteous will live by his faith’. (2:4). The righteous will live by his faith and not loose trust in the LORD God. The ‘righteous living by faith’ is a motif that is repeated throughout the scriptures, In the letter of Hebrews these words, that the righteous would live by faith are applied to all of those who steadfastly looked to the Lord. For God’s people throughout every age the righteous will live by his faith. The believing community in Habakkuk’s day as well as for us, it is is by grace we have been saved though faith… not by works so that no one can boast (Eph 2:8-9). There is nothing that we can do to earn it, there is nothing that we can do to deserve it but God in his grace freely gives it. We may look around and wonder what is going on, wonder what God is doing in the midst of Covid-19 or how he seems to tolerate the sin of our society, but for the people of God we are to live by faith. We just like Habakkuk are living between times, waiting the Lord’s judgement to come because of sin and when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1), then we will either be judged righteous by faith or we will be judged with the wicked and face the wrath of God on the unrighteous (Rom 1:18). My hope and prayer is that if you don’t know the Saviour then today you would turn to him and flee the judgement that comes. And if you do, then take confidence that the Lord is at work in the midst of that we face, he is at work in us and through us and at work in Covid-19. Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q31 What is effectual calling? Effectual calling is the work of God’ s Spirit, (2 Tim. 1:9, 2 Thess. 2:13–14) whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, (Acts 2:37) enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, (Acts 26:18) and renewing our wills, (Ezek. 36:26–27) he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. (John 6:44–45, Phil. 2:13) Year 2 Day 141
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 27v1-12 Message - Scott Woodburn I heard recently that in the modern age we have grown to distrust the “experts”. It doesn’t matter how many letters are after someone’s name, quite a few of us are unimpressed by those who put their head above the parapet and tell us what to think or do or say. I’m not sure how or why this distrust has grown but in modern society few of us are prepared to take anyone’s word for anything. Paul is finally on his way to Rome and takes to the high seas to complete his journey. We must always remember that we are not reading an account of 2021 life. In the ancient world any journey was perilous and Paul was already aware of such a statistic. This wasn’t a matter of jumping into a car or ferry or plane. Successfully arriving in Rome was by no means a certainty. The journey was made all the more difficult by the fact that Paul was travelling to Rome as winter approached. Luke tells us that the journey was even more dangerous than usual because the Fast was already over (v9). The Fast referenced here was the Day of Atonement and so Paul’s journey was probably taking place during the month of October and the in the ancient world, sailing anywhere at this stage was an unwise decision. It’s into this context that Paul advised “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” (v10). As we will see Paul’s words would prove to be largely accurate. He was a man with much experience on the seas (2 Corinthians 11v25-26) but unfortunately the centurion listened more to the pilot and owner of the ship than he did to Paul (v11) and so the ship put out to sea and headed for Phoenix (v12). What would you have done in such an instance? A passenger offers solid advice but the owner of the ship disagrees. Not only that but the pilot of the ship thinks that the journey ahead is possible. Some passengers want to go, others don’t. Do you trust the wisdom of a well meaning passenger , do you trust the experts or do you follow your heart? Life is full of such moments and as I write one of the most contentious issues relates to the Covid vaccine. Should you take it or not? Which one should you take? Pfizer? Astra-Zeneca? Sputnik? Experts disagree and there are differing opinions even within the church of Christ. What is to be done? It is not my place to offer you medical advice - I leave that to the experts. Instead I counsel you that in every decision you make, to seek the Lord. We trust a God who is not made of wood or stone. He listens to us as we pray and He has spoken to us by His Son (Hebrews 1v1-2). Do not follow your heart for it is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17v9). Nor should you blindly accept the testimony of the experts or your friends or your family - none of them are perfect. Instead, once more, I counsel you that in every decision you make, to seek the Lord. Our God does not promise us an easy path, there will be days that we will be called to follow Christ through the worst of storms and shipwrecks but He does promise that if we acknowledge Him in all our ways then He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3v5-6). I don’t know why we no longer trust the “experts” but my friends may we always seek and trust our good and gracious God. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q30 How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. Year 2 Day 140
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Mark 7:1-13 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 67 - 27 May 20” Hyacinth Bucket, remember her? Or rather Hyacinth Bouquet as she preferred to be known. She was the lead character in the early 90’s sitcom ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ (available on Britbox just incase you’re interested). If you are unfamiliar with who Hyacinth is you may be able to guess from the title of the show what it’s about, as Hyacinth’s main mission in life is to impress others with her refinement and pretended affluence but the truth was somewhat different, she was trying to keep up an appearance. There is a point to this honest, I’m not just talking about Hyacinth because of the likeness my granny shared with her both in appearance and character but I hope I have your attention and if you haven’t read the passage you should really do that now. What’s going on in Mark 7:1-13. Well once more the Pharisees were on a scouting mission to try to build a case against this Jesus who was causing a stir (1) and they spotted how Jesus’ disciples did not follow the tradition and practices of the elders by ritual washing (2-4). These Pharisees were effectively asking Jesus what the craic is, how could he allow this to happen (5), and look at the response, Jesus calls them out for being ‘hypocrites’ (6), telling them that everything they hold on to (7) is not from God but man (8). Effectively they were more concerned about the external than they were with the internal, they were more concerned with what was seen than unseen. The problem was that everything they were doing to keep the word of God has actually made it worthless to them (9), they had used the Word of God as a tool for their own purposes (10-13). These pharisees had substituted the truth for a lie, they had subsided the word of God for their own traditions. Hyacinth made me laugh countless times, it provided many a family joke at my granny’s expense but sadly there are many people who are simply 'keeping up appearances’. Maybe you are one of them, just as the Pharisees who honoured God outwardly, who did all the right stuff yet they were spiritually dead. Your neighbours may look at you and think ‘great Christian there’ but are you simply just keeping up appearances? What does your private devotion say about you? Could it be that you are able to talk a good talk but are spiritually dead? If that’s the case then turn to Jesus know that through faith you will be saved (Eph 2:8-9). On the other hand you may be given a hard time because you are a rubbish Christian, your husband or wife may point the finger reminding you of your failures, your friends may mock you because of what you did that last night when you were out, you may feel like you are the worst Christian ever, but you trust in the saviour, you love him, you pray to him, you read his word even though you struggle to understand it, then know you are his and nothing can separate you from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39). Finally for the Church the Jewish church should be a warning to us, we can be excessively religious and not excessively in relationship with Christ. We must never consider the word of God as trivial, as unimportant and its teaching and doctrine outdated, we must beware of false teachers and teaching that will lead us away from God and his word. If we add to it or take away from God’s word then we are on a hiding to naethin and will end up with absurd and ridiculous practices that are as worthless and we too will end up honouring the Lord with our lips, but our hearts will be far from him, our worship will be in vain and our teachings are but rules taught by men and not God (Is. 29:13, Mk 7:6-7). Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q29 How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, (John 1:11–12) by his Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5–6) |
Alan
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