July 27th

John 10     Jeremiah 23     Acts 14     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

In Jeremiah 23 the Lord promises that Judah will be saved and a king who is a ‘Righteous Branch’ will reign. Jeremiah compares this prophecy with the nature of the people that currently call themselves prophets, who the Lord declares are wicked. They are running with their own message but the Lord wants them to seek His plan and be willing to be used by the Lord to turn his people from their evil ways. These prophets are very unlike Jesus, as in John 10 Jesus has been set apart by the Father and sent into the world as part of His plan.

God wants his message to be heard perfectly clearly by his people whether it be in the Old or New Testament. It is very interesting that the phrase: ‘Declares the Lord’ is used over 175 times in Jeremiah, more than in any other book. We need to be careful what we say in the name of the Lord, that we are faithful to him, because we can so easily distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God. This is a warning from Jeremiah 23:36.

We can rest assured that Jesus is the good shepherd. As his sheep we need to listen to his voice and follow his commands as we go about this world today that we are a part of something larger by being in God’s Kingdom.

(member of student team)

July 26th

John 9     Jeremiah 22     Acts 13     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

When I read John 9 I immediately thought of the summer camp for disabled boys that I have helped out on for the last five years, where many of the boys there have had physical disabilities since birth. I often think why God has given them certain disabilities, some quite painful and others more frustrating than painful. This has been planned by God as in v3. I then think of all the good things that have come out of their lives: the people they’ve met, other more able-bodied people whose lives they have touched and brought together with others. It is amazing how God creates all these relationships and builds up community for his glory.

The joy that some of these boys have on this camp is quite amazing. They know, just as the blind man in John 9, that they need help from others and willingly accept it. Do we come to Jesus with open arms for healing in our lives?

Jesus came to close our sinful eyes and open them again in godliness so we can see the wonders of his creation. The way Jesus ends this passage in v41 is quite a profound statement.

(member of student team)

July 25th

John 8     Jeremiah 21     Acts 12     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

In John 8 Jesus is yet again repeating to the people that he has been sent by the Father. The people just do not seem to understand but every time he describes it in a different way people put their faith in him. Can our journey with Christ in sharing him with others be a bit like this sometimes? There is rejoicing in heaven every time we glorify God’s name!

It is very frustrating when you have to explain to people who don’t know Christ yet why they need to have him in their lives and they still don’t understand even though you have explained it in many different ways. I find it useful to consider what Jesus says in John 8 versus 42 to 47 in these situations. People who belong to the devil cannot hear what Jesus says and have hard hearts set against him. We must pray that Satan will leave these people, they will reject the darkness and have the light of life enter into them. God so loved the world that he came to save all, not just those privileged few and we must remember wherever we are to reach our hand out of our lifeboat to those in need and with the power of the Holy Spirit pull them in.

I’m writing this as the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations are coming to an end: the nation has come together, the church bells have been ringing, the beacons lit. Just a glimpse of what eternal jubilation God has planned for the people of His Kingdom!

(member of student team)

July 24th

John 7     Jeremiah 20     Acts 11     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

In John 7 we start to see Jesus as the fugitive and his teaching starting to cause division amongst people (v44). Jesus is uncompromising and we are to be left in no doubt of the answer to the question: Is Jesus the Christ?

People are trying to catch Jesus out at every possible opportunity in this passage. They want the law to be kept, but Jesus is in control at all times through the Father, for example, as in v8 (not the right time for Jesus to go to the feast), v14 (Jesus chose the right moment to enter the feast) and v30 (not the time for people to seize him).

In Jeremiah 20 there is a calling to challenge and push ourselves and not to fear insult and reproach from others (v8). If we are carrying out the Lord’s work we can be assured that our persecutors will stumble and not prevail (v11).

In John 7:41 testimony about the Holy Spirit opens people’s hearts. Persecution and growth in faith go hand in hand. This is further seen in Acts 11 where the church starts to spread and is so successful in Antioch that Barnabas and Saul go to Antioch.

Are we intrigued by Jesus’ words and hungry to find out more and know him deeper?

(member of student team)

July 23rd

John 6     Jeremiah 19     Acts 10     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

What Jeremiah is saying here in chapter 19 is pretty bold. The apocalyptic prophetic language makes him no friend of the religious authorities. They really don’t want to hear it. How many instances through history can you think of where the result of people turning away from the Lord has resulted in eventual disaster for them?

Jeremiah 19 has really struck me about how God really does hate sin and he will do whatever it takes to remind his people who is in charge. Do we make time for God in our day to ask him what his plan is for us? Only by trusting in Jesus can we know that disaster will not fall on us.

The story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in John 6 never ceases to amaze me and the declaration by Jesus later in v35 and repeated again in v47: ‘I am the bread of life’. Remember this story when you’re next taking communion. Verses 26 to 40 shows Jesus’ masterful grasp of the situation, but for all his reasoning some of his disciples can’t take this truth and leave. Even when people see these miracles they still do not believe is as valid today as in biblical times.

(member of student team)

July 22nd

John 5     Jeremiah 18     Acts 9     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

In Jeremiah 18 verses 7 to 12 the prophet talks about the importance of repentance that the people of Judah must come to. They must turn away from their evil, their fickle and unfaithful nature. In John 5 we see the second time Jesus shows his power to physically heal but in v14 we can see that Jesus says the eternal consequences of sin are more serious than any physical ailment.

The story of Saul’s conversion in Acts 9 links very closely to John 5. Saul’s astonishing conversion from murderer to follower of Christ shows the true power of God to heal the spiritually sick. No sin is too powerful for Jesus to conquer, even a murderous psychopath. We need to believe that Jesus can change even the most hardened hearts, like the people of Judah or Saul. He wants all to be in his Kingdom and part of his plan.

Take some time to think about when you first heard the truth of Jesus and believed; what areas of your life benefitted from the life giving power of Jesus?

Do you let God mould you into his likeness (like the clay in Jeremiah 18) and truly allow ourselves to be placed in his hands?

Think of one person you have met/or will meet today that you may have written off from ever becoming a follower of Jesus. They may openly persecute you like Saul before his conversion in Acts, the Jewish authorities in John, or perhaps more subtly with gossip and ridicule as with the Jews towards Saul after his conversion. Pray that the life Jesus has freely given to you will be shared with them.

(member of student team)

July 21st

John 4     Jeremiah 17     Acts 8     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” (Jeremiah 17:7 NIV)

Reading these passages I am struck by a few things. Firstly, our need to put our faith in our own strength, knowledge or understanding is overwhelming at times. Jeremiah brought a warning to God's people to turn from their trust in other gods and their own rules. But despite the destruction and difficulties that befell them, they were still doing it when Jesus came, as we see in John 4. Similarly, Simon the Sorcerer heard Philip preach the good news and believed, but when he saw great miracles performed by Peter and John he wanted that 'ability' for himself believing he could purchase it through his own means. 

Secondly, the Eunuch demonstrates a humility that we often struggle with in our culture today. Asked whether he understood what he was reading, the eunuch replies that he needs someone to explain Isaiah to him. Sometimes I wonder whether we take too much pride in knowing too much: perhaps occasionally, honestly, laying ourselves bare to "I don't know, please could you explain" would be a refreshing change.

Finally, Philip gladly takes the opportunity to explain. I wonder how much time Philip had to make a sufficiently convincing explanation of Isaiah to lead to the good news about Jesus resulting in a commitment by the eunuch in baptism. If you were asked a similar question with the same text by a non-Christian friend, family member or colleague, what would you say?

(member of a homegroup)