Tag: Bible Reflections

Paul and living for Jesus

February 11, 2021

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

As I read these verses I think about the change that overtook Paul after his conversion. He was no longer driven by selfish ambition, he was a changed man.

Paul was convinced that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin. This is the message he took everywhere. As a result of knowing this, he couldn’t live his life for himself any more.

Paul lived for Jesus Christ because he believed that he has died with Christ (Romans 6:6, 11). He believed that dying with Christ meant that he should live for Jesus (Galatians 2:20).

His heart was changed. He had a new focus. It was all about living for Jesus and pouring himself out for others (2 Timothy 4:5-7).

How about you? Has your life changed since you came to Christ? Have you got a new reason to live? Are you living for Jesus today?

Prayer

Dear God, help me not to live for myself, but to live for You and Your Kingdom. Help me to always remember that Jesus died for me and that I have been raised to a new life in Christ. Amen

Three focus verses for 2021

February 1, 2021

I have decided to have three focus verses for 2021. These verses are to guide my year and keep me on track in the things I feel called to do.

This year I am using three different versions as the versions use slightly different wordings to bring the meaning out.

Proverbs 3:5-6 TPT – Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.

2 Timothy 2:15 AMP – Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

1 Peter 4:10 NLT– God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

My heart in 2021 is the trust God and His leading, to study hard and rightly use God\’s Word, and to use my gifts for the good of others.

I hope and pray 2021 is a great year for you. It is my hope that you will be blessed by God and you will know His peace and favour this year.

The parable of talents

January 22, 2021

Over the last few days I have been reflecting on the parable from Matthew 25:14-30. It is commonly known as the Parable of the Talents. Here’s a snippet of the bit I have been reflecting on…

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent,each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”

The story continues with the master being happy with the first two servants who used their talents wisely. He says, “Well done good and faithful servant”. To the one who buried his talents in the ground he scolded him and called him a lazy servant.

The part that really jumped out at me this time around was the phrase tucked away in verse 15. It says, “…each according to his ability…”. Often a disciples of Christ we miss this part. We often compare ourselves to others and their talents, or we feel guilty that we should be doing more things like those around us. We miss the according to our own ability message.

My ability is to share God’s Word with others. This is done mainly via the internet, and to a lesser degree in person. This is someone I am passionate about and I am drawn to do. I have an ability in this area and it brings fruit.

This doesn’t mean everyone should have a website or a blog to share God’s Word with others. But we should try to find and develop our own abilities and use our God given talents that way.

I think the key for us to use our gifts for the good of others (1 Peter 4:10). We need to use our gifts with passion, use our gifts with love and most importantly use our gifts to bring glory to God.

When we do this according to our own ability, we will bring joy to the heart of God. And in the future we will also hear those wonderful words, “Well done good and faithful servant” when the Master returns for us too.

How about you? What abilities have you got that you can use to bless others and bring glory to God?

Confess and be blessed

January 6, 2021

I was reading Psalm 32:1-5 this morning for my devotions. It listed a number of blessings that happen when we confess our sins to God.

1. It starts by saying blessed is the one whose…

  • Sins are forgiven by God
  • Sins are covered by God
  • Sins do not count against them
  • Spirit has no deceit in them
2. Next it talks about when we keep our sins silent…
  • My bones felt like they were wasting away
  • Your hand [of judgement] was heavy upon me
  • My strength felt like it was sapped
3. Then it talks about what they did next and the result…
  • Confessed my sins to God
  • Did not try to hide or cover up my sin
  • God forgave their sin
Confession should be a key part of our lives if we want to be happy and right with God. It helps us to walk lightly before God.
When I first came to Christ and confessed my sin to God I felt like the world had been lifted off my shoulders. Now when I confess my sin and it keeps me right with God.Now just let me clarify what I mean by confession. I don’t mean sitting in a small room confessing to a Priest through a partition. I mean sitting alone with God and saying sorry for the wrong things I have done.

In saying this though, there have been times in my Christian life where I have been struggling with an issue and I have shared it with a friend so they could pray for me. But 99% of the time, I am alone with God.

A great passage from 1 John reminds us that we all sin and we all need to confess and receive forgiveness. I John 1:8-9 says…
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The key for us today is confess our sin and be free of it. Don’t cover it up or try to hide it. Confess and be blessed.

If you would to find peace with God and have your sin forgiven, I would encourage you to visit the salvation page on my website.

Born of water and of Spirit

December 30, 2020

John 3:5-7 NLT – Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. [6] Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. [7] So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”

To enter the Kingdom we need to be born again. The first time we are born we are born of water. Most Bible scholars agree this is when the water breaks in our mothers womb and we are born into the world. When we are born again we are born of the Spirit. This is when the Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration. This happens after we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit cleanses us and then takes up residence inside us. This new beginning means we are cleansed of our sin, we are forgiven by God, we are saved and we begin a new life in Christ. We are now God’s children and we will spend eternity with Him.

If you would like to be born again and enter God’s Kingdom, you can pray this prayer.

Dear God, I want to be born again and a part of Your Kingdom. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sin. I confess my sin to You and I ask for Your forgiveness. Right now I ask Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour. I ask the Holy Spirit come in and cleanse me. Help me to live my new life for Your Kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, I would encourage you to visit my discipleship page above.