The Bible is a collection of writings (letters, stories, prayers…), that are inspired by God. It is a collection of 66 writings, or what we call, ‘books’. So we say, there are 66 books in the Bible. The Bible was written by different people (prophets, followers of Jesus, etc.), over a period of about 1500 years. The first part of the Bible has 39 books in it, all written before Jesus was born. This first section of the Bible is called the ‘Old Testament’. The second part of the Bible has 27 books in it, and was written after Jesus was born and had lived his life. This second section of the Bible is called the ‘New Testament’. The Bible is how we know about God, and his truth. The Bible is how we learn about Jesus. Here is what I recommend:
Also, here is how you ‘look up’ a specific Bible verse. When you see a ‘reference’, for example, ‘John 3:16’, this is what it means. It means the book of ‘John’, chapter 3, verse 16. So you look up ‘John’ in the index, and flick to that book. Then just find chapter 3, and look down through that chapter till you see verse number 16! ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17) *This is an excerpt from the booklet, 'First Steps', which is free in PDF format on this website: https://1peter1three.weebly.com/first-steps.html
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I was stirred by the story of Jesus healing the blind man in Mark 8:22-26. What impacted me was the space, the ‘identity’, in which the man found himself afterwards.
Jesus gives him sight through a messy process (spitting in his face), with 2 phases – partially seeing, then fully seeing. This ‘process’ is worth deep, meditative consideration in itself, but is not my focus here. Jesus enacted this miracle in private, alone with the man. He heard of the need while in a crowd (in the village), but led him away, outside of the village, to connect with him, heal him, meet his need. And this ‘alone space' with Christ, led to yet another ‘alone space'… Jesus sent this man on his way, and told him to not tell anyone. He had just received sight, been completely redefined, reborn, and was called by God to be alone with God, not ‘reveal’ this to people. Essentially, in order to do this, this man could not be around people. Touched by God, and then alone with God. When we are truly touched, defined by God, nothing around us is as important as what is in us, what we are. When you see Jesus, and step through his ‘door’ (John 10:9), you are saved and safe for all eternity. You become in that moment more enduring than the world around you, more lasting than the ground beneath your feet. The world in that moment, bows to you, even ‘groans for you to be revealed’ in all your wonder and glory! (Romans 8:19-20) When the blind man had received his sight, I imagine him alone, outside the village, seeing. Not getting caught up and worried about what he saw, but just lost in the wonder that he was now a ‘seeing man' – now and forevermore. Do you ‘see’ and believe in Jesus? My friend, that is a wondrous miracle! You are a ‘seeing being'. You are saved, and safe. ‘God, who made light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 4:6) ‘In your light, we see light.’ (Psalm 36:9) Dear Friends, another year draws to a close – Praise God! One year closer to walking streets of gold!:) Yes, we love the life God has given us, but it doesn’t take much before, like Abraham, we set our hope on that city ‘with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.’ (Heb 11:10)
I often think about the ‘miraculous catch of fish’ in John chapter 21, and how it actually details the number caught: 153. (John 21:11) The disciples must have counted them. They must have valued every one, taken none for granted. With a ‘large haul’ it can be easy to lose sight of the value of each item, but not in this case. The disciples had been fishing all night, without catching anything. Do you feel like that in your witness? Do you feel weary, like you have loved and believed in Jesus, but not seen much fruit, not seen much impact? The disciples had also just gone through a violent few days, losing Jesus to crucifixion and fearing for their own lives. They had fear and sorrow. Do you feel fear in this life, sorrow? I often get overwhelmed at the sin and suffering of this world, the violence and avarice of the human heart, my own heart! I sometimes sink to the floor and just cry to God, asking him why, asking him how I fight this, how I can reach people, save people, be part of the victorious wind of Christ sweeping this dark world… (Hab 2:14) Against a dark night of catching nothing, a dark season of fear and sorrow, we would value every ‘catch’, every single soul and shred of true light. We would count every ‘fish’, take nothing and no God-given provision for granted… Here’s the amazing thing: Jesus focuses in on the ‘one’. He says, ‘Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I am with you there.’ (Mt 18:20) He leaves the 99, and seeks the 1. (Luke 15) After a powerful, history-shaking defeat of death, he meets alone with 2 people (not 2000 people) on a long walk, and walks with them, talks to them, takes time to commune deeply… (Luke 24) In Jesus, the beauty of the 153 fish is not the ‘total number’, but each and every fish in the count. Every fish matters, every soul, every quiet, even ‘secret’ moment with Christ, who ‘is all, and is in all.’ (Col 3:11; Mt 6:4) You, my friend, are the 'one'. Never lost in a crowd, never just part of a 'grand total'. Jesus leaves the rest of us, to rest with you. Spend some precious, quiet, meaningful time just being with Jesus. Just sit with him, and sigh. For this 'alone time' with you, he came, lived, died, and rose again. In many respects, my friend, you are the reason for the season!:) Merry Christmas, my friends! May the Lord give you a peace that passes understanding these next days, and a fresh vision of His own – and your own – eternal inheritance! #1. Pray it’s kept out of your way: One line in the famous ‘Lord’s prayer’, is: ‘…lead us not into temptation, but deliver me from evil…’ (Mt 6:13) Some temptation you will not be able to resist, and so you pray – always – that the Lord will lead you away from such pressure. You know – and therefore you pray – that some things just will not cross your path, your screen, your workplace, your work conference, your hotel, your text message… Jesus instructed us to ask this of the Lord, to pray that our steps will be led away from temptation. #2. Change your way: So what happens when you do encounter temptation? Well, if despite your honest discipline above, in asking God to steer you clear of this pressure, you do find yourself in vulnerable and tempting situations or moments – you turn and walk. You resist. If it is a physical place that is the problem, you leave that place. If it is a thought, you replace it decidedly with other thoughts and ‘words’ – often helped by reading the bible, locking on to a key verse, and repeating it over and over in your head until you fall into sweet and holy sleep. If it’s texts, stop. If it’s calls, drop ‘em. We are responsible, my friends, for our responses to temptation. Check out this key verse and ponder: ‘No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.’ (1 Cor 10:13) We need God’s power and Spirit in our lives to resist temptation, and walk in forgiveness and freedom. Do you need a fresh start with God? For more information visit: FIRST STEPS at: https://1peter1three.weebly.com/first-steps.html I’m blessed to have a few Christian colleagues at work. We cross paths, and at times, discuss our faith, our calling, our mission. Yesterday I had one of those conversations with Jackie, and she said, ‘We need lights everywhere!’ Jackie was referring to Christians being ‘stationed’ here and there and everywhere in this dark world. Over the last few weeks I’ve had this ‘image’, this picture in my mind, of Christians as ‘lights’. One lamp or light in the middle of a dark field or street, changes the whole landscape of that place! One of the most impactful things about lights in the dark, is that they stop evil from happening. People tend to do dark deeds in the dark. You turn on a light, and behavior changes. People don’t want their bad behavior to be seen, so where there is light, less bad things happen. When there is a power outage in a city, for example, and street lights and shop lights and house lights go off – crime surges! Lights protect people and places. This is why a ‘lamp under a bowl’ is such a tragic loss. That area stays dark, people stay ‘lost’, and people get hurt. Ask the Lord today if you – a light of God – are situated where you need to be, and shining bright – as is your call and destiny. ‘You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’ (Matthew 5:14-16) ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!’ (Matthew 6:22-23) As a Christian, here’s how I ‘see’ life: I believe that Jesus is ‘God with us.’ (Isaiah 7:14/Matthew 1:23) I believe that Jesus created the world, and has authority over both the earth and the heavens. (Heb 1:2; Mt 28:18) I believe that Jesus has ‘defeated death’, and by believing in him, we, too, have eternal life. (2 Tim 1:10; Jn 3:16) I believe that the ultimate purpose and direction of life here on earth, is the eternal construction of the Kingdom of God. (Mt 6:10; 1 Cor 3:13) I believe that it is God’s will that all people hear about Jesus Christ and have an opportunity to ‘respond’ to him personally. (Rm 10:2,14-15,17; Mt 24:14) I believe that by the Holy Spirit, my ultimate purpose is this purpose of God’s – i.e. to bring the message of Jesus to all people in all nations. (Jn 15:26-27) I believe this is the reality of life, and life’s ultimate purpose. This is how I ‘see’ life. This expresses itself differently in all situations, the same way the wind blows uniquely and untraceably all the time. But the wind - the Spirit - is always present, and always blowing. (Jn 3:8) There are good times in life, hard times, and yet in all seasons this ‘gospel’ of God is the ultimate ‘real’, the heartbeat and point of everything. (2 Tim 4:2) There are times when every person present, and every fiber of a circumstance, are hostile to this truth, this gospel of Christ. Wisdom and the Spirit will be needed. But nonetheless, these persons and circumstances will pass away, but the words of Christ, as Christ himself said, ‘will never pass away.’ (Mt 24:35) And there will come a time when ‘every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.’ (Phil 2:10-11; Rm 14:11; Is 45:23) By faith, this is how I ‘see’ life. I see life in this way, by faith. ‘We live by faith, not by sight.’ (2 Cor 5:7) My heart has seen and known that Jesus is true, and I have put my faith in him. So I have determined to see life through Jesus, the ‘life that is truly life.’ (1 Tim 6:19) Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world, and whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) The light in my eyes is the light of Christ. And the light that Christ throws on the land before me, is how I will see that land. I have faith eyes. And what I see, I will see through faith. That, I believe, is what is truly real. Jesus said, ‘Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ (John 18:37) How do you see life? For more on ‘First Steps’ with Jesus, please visit: https://1peter1three.weebly.com/first-steps.html We crave worship. I hate putting it so bluntly, so crassly, but it is true. In fact, it was the promise to ‘be like God’ that compelled us to compete with him, go against him, to reach for the forbidden. (Gen 3:5) I love this candid, exposing quote by Nietzsche: ‘If there were gods, how could I endure not to be a god? Therefore, there are no gods!’ (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, 1885) Nietzsche’s basis for atheism is that he could not endure the thought of there being a God - and him not being that God. Absolutely unbearable concept to the point of having to just deny that God exists. Period. Think of flattery. What is it, essentially? Well, it is a form of ‘worship’ or ‘adoration’. And there is never a time that true flattery is a good thing. Flattery is dangerous. It is not the same as a kind compliment. Why? Well, the ‘spirit’ is different. Flattery worships you, in order, ultimately, to be worshipped. If it is reciprocated, well, there we have a ‘fraternity’ or ‘society’ for a time. But it will not last. It will explode, implode, corrode, or disappear ‘like smoke out a window.’ (Hs 13:3) This is why Jesus did not allow the ‘rich young ruler’ to call him ‘Good teacher!’ (Mark 10) Because Jesus knew this flattery was a 2-way street, and there is no 2-way street when it comes to worship and God. There is no reciprocity. God loves and honors you. But only God is safe to ‘worship’. If not God, what we worship is a type of god, an idol. Anything can be an idol - all it needs is worship. This worship does not make the idol anything special, it just makes it an idol. How do we know what we worship? Well, where’s your heart? Jesus told us that our treasure - our idol - is where our heart will be. (Mt 6:21) How do you know where your heart is? Well, where’s your treasure? If your heart will be where your treasure is, where’s your treasure? Where do you put your money, your thoughts, your time, your energy? That’s your treasure. That’s where your heart is. ‘Jesus said the most important commandment is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, your strength.’ (Matthew 22:37 - quoting Deut 6:5) So how do you become an idol, especially if nothing or no one is ‘worshipping’ you? Well, here’s the interesting thing. You will become exactly like the idols you make, you worship. Again, here we see a very loving reason that God calls us to look to him, gaze on him, worship him. Because we will become like him as we gaze on him. (1 Jn 3:2) God calls us to worship him, so we will become like him. But if our heart and treasure - our ‘worship’ - is towards money, sexual immorality, pornography, people and status, then we will become the essence of those things: ‘Those who make idols will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.’ (Psalm 115:8) We will become like that which we worship. Have you given your heart, and your worship, to Jesus? For more on ‘First Steps’ with Jesus, please visit: https://1peter1three.weebly.com/first-steps.html Do you suffer from ‘FOMO’? (‘Fear of Missing Out’) Do you get that sinking feeling that somewhere else is where it’s really going on? I got some bad news for you, and some good news… The Bad News: You could be missing out! OK, so if it’s all about people primarily (you included), and life’s general buzz, flow and ‘post’, then you could very well be missing out. Sorry! The party – in that respect – could be jumping around the corner, and the group selfie may already have been snapped… So sorry! If this is the zone, the realm, that you’re concerned about, stay vigilant, stay connected, and hustle – for the rest of your life! The Good News: Never miss out again! To access the ‘good news’, your concern cannot be ‘primarily people’ (you included). Our concern has to be primarily God, and his truth. Look at this incredible line Jesus spoke, when on the brink of death: ‘Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ (John 18:37) Jesus went one step further, one level deeper on this matter of truth: ‘I am the truth.’ (John 14:6) If this is the case, if Jesus is the Truth, and the one who ‘holds the keys’ (Rev 1:18), then we need to ask ourselves not where the party’s at, but where Jesus is at. Where is Jesus – in Spirit and Truth – in my life, my circle, my circumstances, here tonight? I don’t want to ‘miss out’ on the presence of truth in my life tonight? Is Jesus here at this table, with these people, or is he over there… Maybe he wants time with me alone? Maybe the presence of Jesus is with my loved ones, and he’s pouring out ‘joy’ and a ‘feast’ on us this evening? (Ps 86:4) Where is the very Spirit of God? Am I walking in that? Or am I truly ‘missing out’? Don’t make the party, but miss God! ‘While the people were assembled in the palace… Jesus was in the home of Simon the leper…’ (Matthew 26:3,6) For more on ‘First Steps’ with Jesus, please visit: https://1peter1three.weebly.com/first-steps.html My belief in Jesus does not make me prejudiced towards people. On the contrary. Jesus breaks my prejudice, and connects me to all people. Let me explain: So as a follower of Jesus I do have views on right and wrong – even regarding ‘lifestyle’ choices. Quite simply this is because my God, my authority, has spoken to these matters through his prophets, documented in his scriptures. I believe in this God, and I believe the bible is the inspired compilation of his ‘Word’. And because he speaks to ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ on certain matters, I hold to these. So, for example, I believe ‘homosexuality’ is not OK with God. I believe it is wrong. The scriptures are clear on this – both Old and New Testament.[1] There’s zero margin for debate. Here’s another issue: premarital sex. This is wrong. Old and New Testament, this is indisputably ‘sexual immorality’ and the Lord calls us to reject it, and repent of it. Sex is marriage.[2] If you ‘unify’ with someone through sex, you don’t have to discuss marriage anymore. The only issue to be discussed – or actioned – is divorce. OK, so we’re all reeling – Heteros and Homos… we’re all in it, brothers and sisters. My idea? Absolutely not. I would prefer it to be otherwise. Biblical? Absolutely. Indisputably. God’s word and God’s way. So how, now, do I – holding these convictions – relate to my colleagues, neighbors, friends, family? Well, I need guidance and understanding on this, too. The same way I ‘believe’ and follow the teachings of Jesus regarding matters moral, I need to believe and follow the way of Christ in dealing with my neighbors, family and friends. I can’t accept his teaching, then reject his ‘walk’. He said, ‘Follow me!’ (Mt 19:21) Jesus did not meet people and speak directly to their sin. He didn’t feel the need to proclaim his view of right and wrong in people’s lives, as a pre-requisite to ‘relating’ to them. Does this mean he did not mind people’s ‘sin’? Absolutely not. His first words in the gospel of Mark are ‘Repent and believe!’ (Mark 1:15) The very purpose of his powerful miracles, as he said himself, was to show that he had ‘power to forgive sins.’ (Luke 5:24) He spoke strongly and powerfully to the issue of repentance and sin – all the time. Here’s another one of many: ‘Unless you repent, you will perish!’ (Luke 13:5) So here is Jesus, the author of right and wrong, so opposed to ‘sin’ that he died to set us free from it.[3] He preached repentance. He did not shirk from the conversation. But how did he treat people? In holding such pure convictions about right and wrong, did he reject people in sin? On the contrary, he approached them. He smiled. He conversed. He went to their feasts. He truly loved them. He ached for them. He admired them. He wept at the thought and experience of their not receiving him. (Luke 19:42; Matthew 23:37) These people, sinners, you and I – this is the very reason Jesus stepped out of heaven and sought us.[4] So with my convictions that ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ matter, and believing repentance and faith is the call of Christ, how do I ‘relate’ to those around me? The same way Jesus related to me, and the way he modeled for us to relate to others. I have ‘judgments’ on right and wrong, yes. Not ‘pre-judgments’ (prejudices), but very solid, founded judgments based on God and his Word. But because this same God modeled for me that I can love, approach, laugh with, cry with, pray with, and share with sinners – I can be at peace. I can relax. I can be with those I do not agree with. I can work with those I do not agree with. I can love those I do not agree with. My God has authorized me to see truth, hold convictions of right and wrong, share his gospel message of repentance and faith, and yet truly love those who are in the wrong. This is how I was reached. ‘While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’ (Matthew 9:10-13) [1] 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Romans 1:25-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Leviticus 18:22 [2] Matthew 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; 1Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 7:9 [3] 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4 [4] Philippians 2:7; Luke 19:10 God asked the prophet to ‘stand in the gap’. (Ezekiel 22:30) God was asking for someone to step up to the edge of the earth, so to speak, and call out to heaven for the people. God was looking for that person to advocate for the salvation of the people, of their city, of their souls. Are you in the gap – between man and God – for the salvation of people? God is the answer, and Jesus Christ is His ‘door’. Jesus said, ‘I am the door, and anyone who enters through me will be saved.’ (John 10:9) Jesus taught us that if we repent of our sin (turn our back on it), and put our faith in Jesus for ‘forgiveness’, we will be saved. We will literally (not metaphorically or poetically) move into a new place in that moment of faith. We will ‘cross over from death to life.’ (John 5:24) We will step off the grid of ‘mortality’ into ‘immortality’. (2 Timothy 1:10) We will be standing in a safe place, now and forevermore. Have you stepped into the ‘life that is truly life’? (1 Tim 6:19) Now, once we are in that space, in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we can – and must – interface with God on behalf of others. We must ‘stand in the gap’ and ask God to bring his revelation of Jesus Christ to more people. We can stand and ‘pray’, and name those we love, and name those places we know, and those lands that need healing, and ask God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to pour out light and revelation of his gospel message – ‘the power of God for salvation.’ (Rm 1:16) Are you standing in the gap for this hurting world? What an incredible life mission! ‘I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.’ (Ezekiel 22:30) For more on ‘First Steps’ with Jesus Christ, please visit: https://1peter1three.weebly.com/first-steps.html |
AuthorPeter Walker. I hope you enjoy these reflections. Please feel free to comment!:) Archives
February 2024
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