Hiyer,
What a day to blog on - Happy Halloween - and I'm even happier knowing that Jesus conquered death and destruction and all of the demons remembered tonight!
Today we read about Judas in our readings. I loved this passage today. So we know that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, handing Jesus over to the chief priests in exchange for some silver coins. Wow crazy times. We all know Judas as the bad one, the disciple who betrayed, the evil one, the sinner. Yet upon reading the passage today it's interesting to note that
'When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” Matthew 27v3-4
Judas repented. He was 'seized with remorse' he even gave back his death money, and confessed his betrayal of 'innocent blood'. So do we think Judas went to heaven? Or is his sin irreversible? I'm not sure what scripture would back up or disprove this fact, but it's an interesting thought.
Obviously we can't say who goes to heaven and who doesnt. Having been helping on the current Alpha course at WCC it's been interesting seeing the amount of times these questions have been asked... 'could Hitler go to heaven?' or 'what if I repent on my deathbed? Can I still get to heaven even if I wait till the last minute?' Well isn't this just like Judas? Perhaps he isn't the big, evil, crazy sinner we often think of him as. Praise God that He is so gracious.
Is there a Judas character in your life? Sometime who has betrayed you big time? Someone who seems to oppose you? Someone who just seems to have it in for you or who doesn't like you? How can you forgive them? Can you forgive them? Are you able to accept their forgiveness if they show remorse?
Interesting stuff.
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Monday, 8 October 2012
Let 'ME' rest in you
Hello,
I realise this is a slight diversion to the readings but I was inspired to share this little snippet of encouragement.
So, whether you realise or not I am quite a stressy person and quite prone to getting really stressed out, having anxiety attacks, racing thoughts and so on. I am receiving treatment, but sometimes it's hard and I just can't seem to relax.
Recently I have been really praying for God to help me to relax and to help me to stop worrying and thinking too much. The Bible encourages us to rest in the Lord...
Matthew 11v28-30
'Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'
So today I prayed and asked God to help me to rest in Him. His reply was, 'Let ME rest in you'. Now I know God is bigger than our turmoil and our stress and unrest, but this made me think. A pregnant woman with a child inside her who gets stressed, is likely to upset the baby and make them feel uneasy. (Please forgive my lack of knowledge here). Likewise, if God is living in us, if we too are stressed, would it not make it difficult for us to allow God to rest in us? Our ups and downs would surely hinder our ability to allow God to rest in us. Do you hear what I'm trying to say?
Temples were strong places in which God dwelt. As our bodies are a temple (1 Corinthians 16), surely we should try to be strong and allow God to dwell in us?
I understand this is strange theology, but it was just a different perspective... I do not wish to undermine God's power, and place more burden on us to fight for rest and strength, but just a thought.
Be blessed and rested
I realise this is a slight diversion to the readings but I was inspired to share this little snippet of encouragement.
So, whether you realise or not I am quite a stressy person and quite prone to getting really stressed out, having anxiety attacks, racing thoughts and so on. I am receiving treatment, but sometimes it's hard and I just can't seem to relax.
Recently I have been really praying for God to help me to relax and to help me to stop worrying and thinking too much. The Bible encourages us to rest in the Lord...
Matthew 11v28-30
'Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'
So today I prayed and asked God to help me to rest in Him. His reply was, 'Let ME rest in you'. Now I know God is bigger than our turmoil and our stress and unrest, but this made me think. A pregnant woman with a child inside her who gets stressed, is likely to upset the baby and make them feel uneasy. (Please forgive my lack of knowledge here). Likewise, if God is living in us, if we too are stressed, would it not make it difficult for us to allow God to rest in us? Our ups and downs would surely hinder our ability to allow God to rest in us. Do you hear what I'm trying to say?
Temples were strong places in which God dwelt. As our bodies are a temple (1 Corinthians 16), surely we should try to be strong and allow God to dwell in us?
I understand this is strange theology, but it was just a different perspective... I do not wish to undermine God's power, and place more burden on us to fight for rest and strength, but just a thought.
Be blessed and rested
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Jesus, non-believers and sinners!
Hiyer,
Loving reading through the gospels at the moment. AND I've really been challenged and led to look more at the relationship Jesus has with non-believers and sinners. In short, I led a community group (Bible study) meeting on Jesus' ministry to non-believers/sinners tonight and wanted to share my findings.
So, here is a whistle-stop tour of some ideas, thoughts and Bible verses to enlighten us on how Jesus treated non-believers and sinners. It's very brief and open to discussion, (I'm no expert), but have a look... I've paraphrased and shortened the main verses, but feel free to delve deeper into them as there were so many awesome things I discovered. Additionally, it was interesting to see that there was not much info on this theme on the Internet...!
QUESTION - What do we do with non-believers? How do we relate to them? How do we treat them? What are our responses and reactions and expectations?
MARK 1v16-20 - Jesus calls four of his disciples.
These guys weren't necessarily believers when Jesus called them. We often presume they were, with no real evidence. Were they really believers? Did they have faith at the start? The NIV Life Application footnotes point out that a couple of these men were called more than once before they followed and that also they were on a journey of growth in their faith. They weren't originally strong, devout believers. Yet Jesus walks with them, teaches them, listens to them, goes on their journey with them. How can we do this with our non-believing friends? Neither were these disciples Christian as this concept came much later on!
MATTHEW 9v9-13 - Jesus eats with sinners
Jesus had time for people, He didn't segregate Himself from non-believers and sinners, He joined them, spent time in their company and accepted them for who they were. How can we associate with non-believers and sinners? Do we stick to our comfortable Christian circles? Do we expect non-believers to come to us, into our church buildings and to our way of life, or are we prepared to go to them and to meet with them where they are at? Note Jesus never invited anyone to the temple - He went to them, yet still did not compromise Himself on the way. He states that he wants mercy, not a sacrifice. Yes there are times when we need to sacrifice things for our faith, but rather than live by do's and donts and giving up this and that because Christian culture says so, we ought to have mercy on non-believers, be sensitive and loving and not judgemental if they do not choose to do these things. Sacrifices should come from the heart, not out of a culture which is forced upon us or such-like.
MATTHEW 12v18-21 - 'A bruised reed He will not break, a smouldering wick He will not put out'.
Jesus was gentle, not forceful. He did not impose His views and put people off. He was gentle, loving and caring; sensitive to others.
MATTHEW 18v12-14 - The story of the Lost Sheep
Jesus illustrates that He would leave the 99 sheep in the fold to go and look for one who was lost. Would we go to this length to help a non-believer who isn't in the 'fold' or part of our church groups?
LUKE 7v36-48 - A sinner woman annoints Jesus with a year's wages worth of oil and washes His feet with her tears.
Jesus accepts her offering, He accepts her, He has no boundaries, no limits, no condtions; He takes her as she is. We should adopt the same attitude with non-believers and 'sinners'. It is an opportunity for grace and love, not judgement and outcasting.
LUKE 23v39-43 - The sinner on the cross recognises Jesus for who He is at the last minute and asks to be in heaven. He believes at the last minute and is forgiven.
Jesus does not hold his sin against him. He is graceful, merciful, accepting and loving. We too need to be like this.
JOHN 8v1-11 - A woman, caught in adultery, is about to be stoned to death. Jesus says that he who has no sin is to throw the first stone. No one does; the woman goes free and is told to leave her life of sin.
Jesus is forgiving, loving, non-judgemental, fair, just and true. He doesn't criticise, point the finger, accuse, belittle, stand superior. A hard act for us to follow.
And finally, some great verses to sum this up...
JOHN 12v47-48
'If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.'
Awesome - it is not our job to judge. Jesus did not come to judge but to save. We too therefore should not judge, but advance the Kingdom of God! Love it!
JOHN 17v25-26
'Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.'
LOVE - the answer is to love and to make Christ known. Such an excellent way to live!
And finally, Philippians 2v5 tells us to adopt the same attitude as Christ. What an awesome example to follow in relating to our non-believing friends. No judgement, only grace. No superiority but meeting them on their level - equality almost. No preaching or 'Bible-bashing' just love. Lets walk life and journey with our non-believing friends. Let's stop trying to convert them and leave this up to God. Let's play our part, but above all let's love and follow Christ's example.
QUESTION 2 - have your answers to question 1 changed? Is there something you are not doing and might try? Has your approach to your relationship with non-believers changed after seeing some of what Jesus did?
We didn't have much time for discussion tonight, so feel free to add. This is a work in progress and probably not 100% perfect or 'right' so do leave feedback.
Love to you all xxx
Loving reading through the gospels at the moment. AND I've really been challenged and led to look more at the relationship Jesus has with non-believers and sinners. In short, I led a community group (Bible study) meeting on Jesus' ministry to non-believers/sinners tonight and wanted to share my findings.
So, here is a whistle-stop tour of some ideas, thoughts and Bible verses to enlighten us on how Jesus treated non-believers and sinners. It's very brief and open to discussion, (I'm no expert), but have a look... I've paraphrased and shortened the main verses, but feel free to delve deeper into them as there were so many awesome things I discovered. Additionally, it was interesting to see that there was not much info on this theme on the Internet...!
QUESTION - What do we do with non-believers? How do we relate to them? How do we treat them? What are our responses and reactions and expectations?
MARK 1v16-20 - Jesus calls four of his disciples.
These guys weren't necessarily believers when Jesus called them. We often presume they were, with no real evidence. Were they really believers? Did they have faith at the start? The NIV Life Application footnotes point out that a couple of these men were called more than once before they followed and that also they were on a journey of growth in their faith. They weren't originally strong, devout believers. Yet Jesus walks with them, teaches them, listens to them, goes on their journey with them. How can we do this with our non-believing friends? Neither were these disciples Christian as this concept came much later on!
MATTHEW 9v9-13 - Jesus eats with sinners
Jesus had time for people, He didn't segregate Himself from non-believers and sinners, He joined them, spent time in their company and accepted them for who they were. How can we associate with non-believers and sinners? Do we stick to our comfortable Christian circles? Do we expect non-believers to come to us, into our church buildings and to our way of life, or are we prepared to go to them and to meet with them where they are at? Note Jesus never invited anyone to the temple - He went to them, yet still did not compromise Himself on the way. He states that he wants mercy, not a sacrifice. Yes there are times when we need to sacrifice things for our faith, but rather than live by do's and donts and giving up this and that because Christian culture says so, we ought to have mercy on non-believers, be sensitive and loving and not judgemental if they do not choose to do these things. Sacrifices should come from the heart, not out of a culture which is forced upon us or such-like.
MATTHEW 12v18-21 - 'A bruised reed He will not break, a smouldering wick He will not put out'.
Jesus was gentle, not forceful. He did not impose His views and put people off. He was gentle, loving and caring; sensitive to others.
MATTHEW 18v12-14 - The story of the Lost Sheep
Jesus illustrates that He would leave the 99 sheep in the fold to go and look for one who was lost. Would we go to this length to help a non-believer who isn't in the 'fold' or part of our church groups?
LUKE 7v36-48 - A sinner woman annoints Jesus with a year's wages worth of oil and washes His feet with her tears.
Jesus accepts her offering, He accepts her, He has no boundaries, no limits, no condtions; He takes her as she is. We should adopt the same attitude with non-believers and 'sinners'. It is an opportunity for grace and love, not judgement and outcasting.
LUKE 23v39-43 - The sinner on the cross recognises Jesus for who He is at the last minute and asks to be in heaven. He believes at the last minute and is forgiven.
Jesus does not hold his sin against him. He is graceful, merciful, accepting and loving. We too need to be like this.
JOHN 8v1-11 - A woman, caught in adultery, is about to be stoned to death. Jesus says that he who has no sin is to throw the first stone. No one does; the woman goes free and is told to leave her life of sin.
Jesus is forgiving, loving, non-judgemental, fair, just and true. He doesn't criticise, point the finger, accuse, belittle, stand superior. A hard act for us to follow.
And finally, some great verses to sum this up...
JOHN 12v47-48
'If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.'
Awesome - it is not our job to judge. Jesus did not come to judge but to save. We too therefore should not judge, but advance the Kingdom of God! Love it!
JOHN 17v25-26
'Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.'
LOVE - the answer is to love and to make Christ known. Such an excellent way to live!
And finally, Philippians 2v5 tells us to adopt the same attitude as Christ. What an awesome example to follow in relating to our non-believing friends. No judgement, only grace. No superiority but meeting them on their level - equality almost. No preaching or 'Bible-bashing' just love. Lets walk life and journey with our non-believing friends. Let's stop trying to convert them and leave this up to God. Let's play our part, but above all let's love and follow Christ's example.
QUESTION 2 - have your answers to question 1 changed? Is there something you are not doing and might try? Has your approach to your relationship with non-believers changed after seeing some of what Jesus did?
We didn't have much time for discussion tonight, so feel free to add. This is a work in progress and probably not 100% perfect or 'right' so do leave feedback.
Love to you all xxx
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