30th Nov

1 Chronicles 28     Micah 5     2 Peter 2     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

The hopes and fears of all the years

This title is taken from one of my favourite Christmas carols, O Little Town of Bethlehem.

David has hopes for the future, that his son Solomon would build the temple to the Lord. He passed on his detailed plans, 1 Chronicles 28:11, which were inspired by the Holy Spirit v 12. This made me think we must pray for the Renew team, as they plan alterations to Christ Church. In v 20 David reminds Solomon not to be afraid for God is with him and will not forsake him.

Peter was writing during the reign of Nero, probably 62-63 AD. He had fears; fears that people would be led astray by false prophets. He speaks fiercely against the destruction caused by false prophets and their teaching. Peter even points out God used a donkey once to speak the truth to Balaam, 2 Peter 2:16 (see Numbers 22-24) and of course a donkey carried Mary to Bethlehem.

Finally we return to that glorious prophecy in Micah 5 that Bethlehem will be the birthplace of the coming Messiah. It was a very small unlikely place, Ephrathah was the district where Bethlehem was located and where David was born, (1 Samuel 17:12.) Micah 5:4 talks about shepherding his flock, Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd.

Why not sing this verse O little town of Bethlehem, giving God all our hopes and fears of the year past and the one ahead, and rejoice.

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight

(Member of Christ Church knitting group)

29th Nov

1 Chronicles 26-27     Micah 4     2 Peter 1     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Future blessings

Do you ever wonder the result of asking God to bless someone? What blessings are waiting for us all in the future?

Buried in 1 Chronicles 26, look at verses 4-8 where there is the list of Obed, Edom’s family, including his 8 capable sons, with the little phrase for God had blessed him. He is possibly the same person in 1 Chronicles 13:13-14 who had looked after the ark and been blessed.

Micah’s prophecy speaks both of the forthcoming exile to Babylon in 586 BC, in v 10 but also to the last days, when God’s kingdom will come. I love the description in v 3 of weapons of war turning into agricultural implements.

They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more.

I am reminded of the old spiritual “Down by the riverside, I ain’t gonna study war no more.” Some modern artists have made sculptures out of weapons.

Peter, in the Transfiguration, had a glimpse of the future glory, 2 Peter 1:18. He reminds readers of the prophecy of scripture; v 19, pay attention to prophecy for true prophecy regarding future blessings comes from God alone.

So there are countless blessings to come as God’s kingdom is fully restored, in the meantime heed Peter’s words, v10-11 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

May God bless you today and in the days to come. Pray now He will bless others.

(Member of Christ Church knitting group)

28th Nov

1 Chronicles 24-25     Micah 3     1 Peter 5     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

It’s not fair!

When I was a teenager I spent a lot of time shouting “It’s not fair” to my poor mother, usually in connection with how I felt my brother was treated compared to me. We get very indignant about perceived and actual unfairness.

In 1 Chronicles 24:31 they cast lots, treating eldest and youngest families equally. The lots were drawn to determine the order of ministering in the temple, not based on age or superiority.

Peter in 1 Peter 5:5 tells us all, whatever age to clothe ourselves with humility towards one another, we must humble ourselves. Yes, the elders are to be shepherds, but they mustn’t lord it over others, and yes, younger must submit to their elders, but remember we are all to humble ourselves under God’s hands.

Micah gets very indignant too, he may have been a simple countryman, but he was a prophet of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, v 8. He denounces the wicked, the leaders were corrupt and rotten, he shows real heartbroken concern.

Where do we see unfairness today? Where are the present day Micahs? Preaching in the power of the Spirit against present inequalities and warning prophetically of disasters ahead.

Be alert, the devil is prowling round the world, what makes you cross today? Will you shout out against unfairness?

(Member of Christ Church knitting group)

27th Nov

1 Chronicles 23     Micah 2     1 Peter 4     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Service- with a smile

Apparently training to work in Starbucks, involves telling people to smile and be friendly. Employees need to be told to be friendly.

We all have got gifts but how to use them? In 1 Chronicles 23:4-5 there is a long list of different gifts and roles the Levites should employ. Some were to help in the service of the temple of the Lord, some to supervise building work, to be officials and judges, gatekeepers or worship leaders. There was recognition of different gifts and roles but all in service to the Lord.

In Micah 2 false prophets are condemned for misusing their gifts, even promising endless wine and beer to some people, v 11.

1 Peter 4 has some very practical advice. Look again at v 8-11.

⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Gifts are not for our own use but for service of others; we are stewards of the gifts given to us. I like the emphasis on no grumbling when offering hospitality, a much underrated gift. Why not invite someone round today, for coffee or a meal? Don’t just say “I’ll have to have you round sometime.” Do it without grumbling, beware saying “O, they never invite me around.”

Remember most important to cover everything we do with love, deep love, and with a smile of course

(Member of Christ Church knitting group)

26th Nov

1 Chronicles 22     Micah 1     1 Peter 3     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Looking good, inside and out.

When my children were younger, a favourite chorus at Family Service was “Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart” sung heartily with actions. So often we judge by outward appearances, but God looks inside, at the heart. In 1 Peter 3:3-4 Peter reminds us of that inner beauty

³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

How easy it is to look at the façade, not underneath. The temple, which David makes preparations for in 1 Chronicles 22 would look magnificent when finished, but David also warns the leaders of Israel in v 19, ^“Devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.”

Finally we meet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, (late 8^th century BC) a prophet from Moresheth, a rural village 22 miles SW of Jerusalem, outwardly a simple country man more at home in the fields. However he brought a message of judgment against Samaria, capital of Israel, and Jerusalem, capital of Judah, for their transgressions or sins.

We know what we look like on the outside, but God looks on the inside and judges. What will He see in you today? Do you match up, on outside and inside? Are you beautiful inside, utterly devoted to the Lord?

(Member of Christ Church knitting group)

25th Nov

1 Chronicles 21     Jonah 4     1 Peter 2     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Some very big numbers…...

Isn’t it amazing, the effect one man or woman’s actions can have on many people? In 1 Chronicles 21, David’s sin, ordering a census, led to 70,000 people dying in a plague. His sin was not to trust in God for military power but instead to order a count of his army. Israel paid a heavy price for David’s sin, but the place of repentance and atonement, the threshing floor became the site for the temple.

In Jonah 4, Jonah’s action in preaching, albeit reluctantly in Nineveh, led to a whole city of 120,000 people repenting and being spared judgment. Jonah lost perspective, far more worried about the loss of one vine than the people of Nineveh facing judgement. The city of Mosul in N Iraq, built next to the site of ancient Nineveh still has a small Christian population today. Pray for Iraqi Christians there now facing persecution.

1 Peter 2:10 reminds us we were once not God’s people but now are; now we have received mercy. The effects of Jesus’ action have consequences across all time and space. Yesterday I heard there are about 80 million Christians in China at present, an even bigger number. Look again at 1 Peter 2:24-25,

²⁴ ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’ ²⁵ For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Consider now your actions today and their possible effects on numbers of others. Pray that our actions will be for good not bad. Praise God today for sending Jesus, that by his wounds we have been healed.

(Member of Christ Church knitting group)

24th Nov

1 Chronicles 19-20     Jonah 3     1 Peter 1     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

When reading this passage we were struck that we are called to reflect the one who has called us. In verse 15 and 16 it says “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’. We are called to reflect the living hope that we have received, the inexpressible joy, the inheritance we receive. All the things we see in the one who called us we are called to reflect.

This challenge then brings us to the life and character of Jesus; we are called to reflect the one who called us. The Good shepherd who goes after the one, the man who stops to talk to an adulterous woman, the man who walked in such power that crowds of thousands followed him to hear what he had to say.

‘You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.’ Matthew 5:14-16

We are called to show the works of the Father through the way we live our lives, we are called to do good deeds in order for our Father to be praised. Let us be like the one who has called us, we have living hope, an inheritance that can never fail and we are shielded by God’s power . The promises within this passage alone, let alone the whole of scripture, should inspire us to walk forward knowing that all things are possible for God.

(member of the staff team)