June 8th

Deuteronomy 12     Isaiah 40     Psalms 97-98     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Hope in the Lord

Last week we joined the crowds on the Downs to cheer on the Olympic torch relay procession as it made its way across Bristol. The prophesies in the following chapters of Isaiah continue the picture of preparing a processional highway for the Lord coming to Jerusalem. The main theme is the proclamation that God is about to restore the exiled Jews in Babylon to their own land, which is ultimately fulfilled in the future coming and glory of God in the New Testament.

In this familiar passage Isaiah describes the majesty of God and then moves on to describe his goodness. Such a God is able to deliver and restore his people if they will trust him and draw their strength from him.

V31 gives a promise to those who ‘hope in the Lord’. ‘Hope in this context means to trust or to look expectantly. The Lord promises that those who hope in the Lord will exchange weakness for strength. The Hebrew word is used to denote a change of clothes (Gen 35 v2 Judges 14 v12) In the same way that we get up in the morning and put on new clothes for the day, we can look at God’s majesty and goodness and can choose to clothe ourselves with Christ  (Col 3 v 12)

 And as we do God will renew our strength to run the race he has set before us. ‘We will soar on wings like eagles, will run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint’.

Take a moment to choose to ‘hope in the Lord’ and to allow him to renew your strength.

 (husband and wife)

June 7th

Deuteronomy 11     Isaiah 39     Psalms 95-6     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds

In the book of Deuteronomy Moses emphasises to his listeners the importance of a personal engagement with the God who has delivered them from slavery and provided for their needs.

In ch 5 v2 he reminds them that the covenant was ‘made not with their fathers but with them.’ and in today’s passage (v2) that it was not their children but they themselves who saw Gods great deeds.

As we come before God today let’s remember that he doesn’t want a relationship by proxy with us, or a dry academic assent to the truths of Scripture but he longs for a living daily fresh personal encounter with each one of us, so that we can tell our own story, of his amazing love for us.

In v18 he gives advice as to how to nourish this relationship both for ourselves and those we have care of. We are to ‘fix his words on our hearts and minds, tie them as symbols on our hands and bind them on our foreheads. Teach them to our children…talk about them when we walk along the road when we lie down and when we get up..’

Orthodox Jews take these verses literally and tie the phylacteries to their foreheads and left arms. They also attach the mezurot (small wooden containers in which passages of Scripture are placed) to the doorframe of their homes.

These verses are a wonderful encouragement to make our faith part of everyday living. God is involved in any and every situation that we may find ourselves in today. Whether we are on the school run, on the squash court, in the board room, or in the supermarket queue we can pray and call to mind passages of Scripture and know the blessing that comes as we ‘hold fast to him’ (v27).

(husband and wife)

June 6th

Deuteronomy 10     Isaiah 38     Psalms 94     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Hezekiah’s illness

King Hezekiah reigned for 29 years, and probably became ill in the 14^th year of his reign. Isaiah tells him to put his house in order as he is going to die. He prays to God who answers his prayer for healing and adds 15 years to his life. Hezekiah’s responds in a wonderful hymn of thanks and praise.

We will each have known times when we have seen God answer our prayers. Are we as quick as King Hezekiah to recognise Gods hand at work and to give him the praise and the glory? Today bring to mind an answered prayer and spend some time thanking God for his faithfulness to you. 

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She has written about her findings when talking to people who knew their lives were coming to an end. She writes about their extraordinary perspective and the clarity of vision, it’s often in those last weeks that people know what is important to them. In Eph 2v10 Paul writes that ‘we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do’.

Take a moment to reflect and then resolve to live today as if it is our last, making the most of every opportunity to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives.

(husband and wife)

June 5th

Deuteronomy 9     Isaiah 37     Psalms 92-93     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

The prayer of a righteous man

Never doubt that one man can change a nation. In Deut 9 and Isaiah 37 we see the course of history changed for Israel because of the passionate sacrificial and obedient prayer of one man.

In Deut 9 Moses lies prostrate for 40 days and nights and pleads with God not to destroy the people of Israel because of their rebellion, God hears and grants his request.

In Isaiah 37 Sennacharib King of Assyria threatens to attack Jerusalem. King Hezekiah tears his clothes, goes to the temple and prays for deliverance, and God grants his request.

In both cases the concern that drives Moses and Hezekiah to pray is the honour of God’s name. They remind God of his faithfulness and his character and entreat him to deliver his people.

We are writing this on Pentecost Sunday, when this afternoon at Arise Bristol churches across the city gathered in Bristol City Football Stadium to pray for God to act in our city, an event birthed through the faithful prayer of one woman.

Let us take encouragement from these passages that ‘the prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective’ (James 5 v16) and can change the course of history, the destiny of a nation, the future of a city.

We may have many challenges that face us today. Let us remind ourselves that God is all powerful and all loving, that he has the power to turn situations around. Let us draw inspiration from the examples of Moses and Hezekiah and pray without ceasing – that God’s name would be honoured and that he would grant our request for revival in our city and in our nation.

(husband and wife)

June 4th

Deuteronomy 8     Isaiah 36     Psalms 91     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

God gives the ability to create wealth

Warren Buffet is known as the ‘Oracle of Omaha’. He makes his money in investments and is one of the world’s wealthiest men, yet uses his wealth to create philanthropy in the grand tradition of Carnegie and Rockefeller.  In 2006 he made history by donating $37bn to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. When asked why he gave so much (and to one charity) he said he had been given the gift to make money but it took a different gift to spend it wisely.

It is almost inevitable that we will find contrasting attitudes to wealth in Christian tradition. In Genesis we read that wealth is a gift and a blessing particularly when not sought (1 Kings 3:13), yet we also see that covetousness and the love of money are condemned (1 Tim 6:10), as is trust in wealth (Ps 49:6; Luke 12:19).

Whatever our financial situation the Bible emphasises the importance of generosity. How generous are we, not just in relation to our money but in blessing others from our gifts and other resources?

In Deuteronomy 8 we are commanded not to become self-satisfied in what we have in case we  become proud and forget the Lord (v14). A simple reminder but so easy to forget.  Irrespective of how much or how little we have, we are reminded that it is not our power and strength that builds the wealth of nations or of individuals but it is God who gives the ability to create wealth (v18). We are commanded to be generous with what we have and to guard against our hearts being hardened to our generous creator.

Let us consider today a particular way that we can show generosity to those we meet, not only through our finances, but also through the generosity of a word or an action reflecting the heart of our generous God.

 (husband and wife)

June 3rd

Deuteronomy 7     Isaiah 35     Psalms 90     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

The Highway of Holiness

Following the prophesies of judgment in Isaiah 35 the prophet paints a beautiful picture of the future blessings that await God’s redeemed people.

Those who love football may remember that ‘Wembley Way’ was the road way to the stadium for those who had tickets to the football matches at Wembley. In ancient times there were specially designated roads between temples that only to those who were ceremonially clean could use. In v8 of chapter 35 Isaiah introduces the ‘highway of holiness’. The picture is of a very special highway, made by God for his people, and built up away from the pressures and dangers of the world. The ‘unclean’ will not journey on it, the highway is ‘for those who walk in that way’

Roy Hessian’s little book The Calvary Road, very simply outlines that the way to walk on the Highway of Holiness  is through surrendering our lives to the Lord

He writes ‘So this is the Highway life. It is no new astounding doctrine. It is not something new for us to preach. It is quite unspectacular. It is just a life to live day by day in whatever circumstances the Lord has put us. It does not contradict what we may have read or heard about the Christian life. It just puts into simple pictorial language the great truths of sanctification. To start to live this life now will mean revival in our lives. To continue to live it will be revival continued. Revival is just you and I walking along the Highway in complete oneness with the Lord Jesus and with one another, with cups continually cleansed and overflowing with the life and love of God’.

Today let us surrender our thoughts and our actions and our motives and our relationships, to the Lord and choose to walk on the Highway of Holiness.

(husband and wife)

June 2nd

Deuteronomy 6     Isaiah 34     Psalms 89     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Deuteronomy 6

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength’. This, as Jesus said is the greatest commandment. We are made to love and honour God with every part of our being. God’s desire is that we are fulfilled as we submit everything to him in love. Our first calling is to give everything to God; this is what he’s worth – worship.

Worship is a lifestyle. It is asking the question, “how can I best demonstrate my love for God right now?” and acting accordingly. It is being mindful of God during every part of the day and with every little bit of ourselves. It is being prepared to lay anything down if, in doing so, we more adequately honour and love the Lord. Worship is a lifestyle founded on relationship. It is our response of longing for God as we long for the love of our children or our parents. It is us seeking the best for God even when it is difficult for us as we often do for our children. It is carving out the best bit of our time just for God. Worship is loving God wherever and whenever and however we can.

Not only are we called to live this but also to proclaim it. To write it on the doorposts, to teach it to our children, to encourage one another in this way. We are to love God in public and not to shy away from the whole-hearted devotion he requires. God, by his Spirit, wants to equip us with his love – we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Pray that the Lord would help you to love him with all of your heart, soul and strength today and that, as you meet with his people on Sunday and through the week you would be inspired by their example and drawn more deeply into the all-consuming, empowering love of God.

(written by a member or staff)