Friday, January 7, 2011
The King of Sabbath and the Heart Message of Sabbath
7 January, 2011
Read Luke 6:1-11
The Jews have rules and laws regarding the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the outward sign to others that the Jews were a special people belonging to God. To ensure the sanctity of the Sabbath day, the leaders of the law came up with a super-long ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ that they imposed on the population.
According to the religious leaders' list, picking heads of grains and eating the kernels on Sabbath would be defined as‘work’ and therefore deemed unlawful.
Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?” (Luke 6:3)
Jesus turned their attention to the Scriptures. The Scriptures laid out principles but there were always exceptions to the rules and the David’s episode was one of it. (I Sam 21:1-5).
Normally only the priests in the sanctuary would eat the consecrated bread which is the ‘bread of the Presence. It is bread set aside to symbolize God’s presence in fellowship with his people.
Yet David ate the consecrated bread and gave it to his men. He was not condemned for it. Why? This was because David was the coming rightful king of Israel, even though Saul was still on the throne. David was able to do so because he was the rightful king. So in quoting this story, Jesus was implying that he was the rightful expectant king of Israel; just like David.
Question: The Spirit often uses Scriptures to teach, clarify, confirm a truth – how many of us have enough Biblical knowledge for God to work with for our growth? What can we do about it?
The next incident was Jesus healing on the Sabbath. The man’s withered hand was healed simply when he stretched out his hand in obedience. Technically, Jesus did not violate any Sabbath law because he did not even lift a finger.
Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
According to Jesus, the heart message of the kingdom is redemption, healing and freedom. The keeping of Sabbath is for the sake of God's glory and man's freedom. If keeping the Sabbath is so that some could appear more 'righteous' than others, it has gone totally wrong.
The kingdom is about a new way of doing things, not bound by the old order of traditions and rules (the new wine in the new wineskin teaching again). It is to get to the heart of the King's purpose for implementing certain commands and not blind submission to the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’to categorize man.
Question: Do i focus more on the list of 'do's' and 'don'ts' that i often miss the heart of why the command is given in the first place? Am I alert not to become like the Pharisees with spiritual pride?
Read Luke 6:1-11
The Jews have rules and laws regarding the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the outward sign to others that the Jews were a special people belonging to God. To ensure the sanctity of the Sabbath day, the leaders of the law came up with a super-long ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ that they imposed on the population.
According to the religious leaders' list, picking heads of grains and eating the kernels on Sabbath would be defined as‘work’ and therefore deemed unlawful.
Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?” (Luke 6:3)
Jesus turned their attention to the Scriptures. The Scriptures laid out principles but there were always exceptions to the rules and the David’s episode was one of it. (I Sam 21:1-5).
Normally only the priests in the sanctuary would eat the consecrated bread which is the ‘bread of the Presence. It is bread set aside to symbolize God’s presence in fellowship with his people.
Yet David ate the consecrated bread and gave it to his men. He was not condemned for it. Why? This was because David was the coming rightful king of Israel, even though Saul was still on the throne. David was able to do so because he was the rightful king. So in quoting this story, Jesus was implying that he was the rightful expectant king of Israel; just like David.
Question: The Spirit often uses Scriptures to teach, clarify, confirm a truth – how many of us have enough Biblical knowledge for God to work with for our growth? What can we do about it?
The next incident was Jesus healing on the Sabbath. The man’s withered hand was healed simply when he stretched out his hand in obedience. Technically, Jesus did not violate any Sabbath law because he did not even lift a finger.
Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
According to Jesus, the heart message of the kingdom is redemption, healing and freedom. The keeping of Sabbath is for the sake of God's glory and man's freedom. If keeping the Sabbath is so that some could appear more 'righteous' than others, it has gone totally wrong.
The kingdom is about a new way of doing things, not bound by the old order of traditions and rules (the new wine in the new wineskin teaching again). It is to get to the heart of the King's purpose for implementing certain commands and not blind submission to the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’to categorize man.
Question: Do i focus more on the list of 'do's' and 'don'ts' that i often miss the heart of why the command is given in the first place? Am I alert not to become like the Pharisees with spiritual pride?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Fasting and celebrating
6 January, 2010
Read: Luke 5:27-39
Luke 5:34
Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?”
The answer is an obvious NO.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law were upset to see Jesus having a party with Levi and his friends. Levi was a tax-collector and Jews hated tax-collectors. Tax-collectors worked for the Romans and demanded extra money on top of the tax imposed by the Jewish oppressors. They were often viewed as traitors of their own brethren and scorned. Levi probably had no friends outside of his trade.
So here Jesus was having a feast with these dubious characters.
Why? Because these shifty guys were coming to repentance – that’s good news! They were the ones who recognised their need for a Saviour and the Saviour had come for them (v. 31)
When Jesus was crucified, there was mourning and fasting but then after three days, He resurrected. So the party must go on!! Yippee!
The feasting must begin and be the norm because the kingdom and the good news is here. The old order is done with and the new era has come.
John and the Pharisees and their disciples fasted as a discipline to anticipate the coming kingdom and now the kingdom is here – the Messiah they were expecting is now here.
So why fast? Celebrate! Jesus used the wedding illustration to prove his point.
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were not ready for that – they refused to accept that. That was the point of the new garment and the new wineskin parable. They did not want the new wine because they hung on to the belief that the ‘old is better’.
They had made up their minds even before trying the new wine!
In doing so, they missed the bridegroom-the Messiah and the healing offered through Him.
Question: in what ways do I cling on to old habits and experiences and thus hinder the Spirit’s work? Am I holding on to forms rather than the Message of the kingdom?
Read: Luke 5:27-39
Luke 5:34
Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?”
The answer is an obvious NO.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law were upset to see Jesus having a party with Levi and his friends. Levi was a tax-collector and Jews hated tax-collectors. Tax-collectors worked for the Romans and demanded extra money on top of the tax imposed by the Jewish oppressors. They were often viewed as traitors of their own brethren and scorned. Levi probably had no friends outside of his trade.
So here Jesus was having a feast with these dubious characters.
Why? Because these shifty guys were coming to repentance – that’s good news! They were the ones who recognised their need for a Saviour and the Saviour had come for them (v. 31)
When Jesus was crucified, there was mourning and fasting but then after three days, He resurrected. So the party must go on!! Yippee!
The feasting must begin and be the norm because the kingdom and the good news is here. The old order is done with and the new era has come.
John and the Pharisees and their disciples fasted as a discipline to anticipate the coming kingdom and now the kingdom is here – the Messiah they were expecting is now here.
So why fast? Celebrate! Jesus used the wedding illustration to prove his point.
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were not ready for that – they refused to accept that. That was the point of the new garment and the new wineskin parable. They did not want the new wine because they hung on to the belief that the ‘old is better’.
They had made up their minds even before trying the new wine!
In doing so, they missed the bridegroom-the Messiah and the healing offered through Him.
Question: in what ways do I cling on to old habits and experiences and thus hinder the Spirit’s work? Am I holding on to forms rather than the Message of the kingdom?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Crazy
5 January 2010
Read Luke 5:17-26
People normally gravitates toward the sensational and dramatic. This story of the paralytic never fails to amaze and amuse me.
In life, it is good to have innovative and crazy friends. These 4 crazy friends were not just crazy because of their outrageous idea; they were actually fanatical enough to carry it out.
I would die for friends like them. Tight friends like these are divine gifts.
In their years together, this might have been their only one dramatic act – to break in through the roof to get to Jesus. I imagine the many years of sitting with their paralytic friend, feeding him tea, carrying him around to places, joking, laughing and crying. What could the paralytic offer? Nothing except himself.
Real friendship is an offer of self and of crazy loyal love.
Question: Do I have friends like these? What kind of a friend am I?
It is interesting that Jesus called the paralytic, ‘friend’ (v.20). Jesus embodies all that a friend should be and could be and immediately the paralytic and his friends knew their crazy act done out of crazy love had found a crazy solution –
The answer to their need – forgiven sins! Crazy answer!!???
Luke 5:22-23
Jesus knew what they (the Pharisees and teachers of the law) were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
Which is easier: to be made whole physically, or be whole in spirit and soul?
One thing is clear - while paralysed, the paralytic may be healthier than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.
The paralytic was healed in all aspects - spirit, body and soul. To be healed in body is easier than to be complete in spirit.
A crazy group of friends got a crazy answer and the group just went crazy that day.
Who is this Jesus that can forgive sins? What a crazy sight to see a paralytic man coming down in a mat through a roof and getting up his mat and walk!
I would be crazy to rely on outward signs and wonders rather than the solid gospel truth as proclaimed in Christ.
If some think I am crazy, then that's alright.
Read Luke 5:17-26
People normally gravitates toward the sensational and dramatic. This story of the paralytic never fails to amaze and amuse me.
In life, it is good to have innovative and crazy friends. These 4 crazy friends were not just crazy because of their outrageous idea; they were actually fanatical enough to carry it out.
I would die for friends like them. Tight friends like these are divine gifts.
In their years together, this might have been their only one dramatic act – to break in through the roof to get to Jesus. I imagine the many years of sitting with their paralytic friend, feeding him tea, carrying him around to places, joking, laughing and crying. What could the paralytic offer? Nothing except himself.
Real friendship is an offer of self and of crazy loyal love.
Question: Do I have friends like these? What kind of a friend am I?
It is interesting that Jesus called the paralytic, ‘friend’ (v.20). Jesus embodies all that a friend should be and could be and immediately the paralytic and his friends knew their crazy act done out of crazy love had found a crazy solution –
The answer to their need – forgiven sins! Crazy answer!!???
Luke 5:22-23
Jesus knew what they (the Pharisees and teachers of the law) were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
Which is easier: to be made whole physically, or be whole in spirit and soul?
One thing is clear - while paralysed, the paralytic may be healthier than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.
The paralytic was healed in all aspects - spirit, body and soul. To be healed in body is easier than to be complete in spirit.
A crazy group of friends got a crazy answer and the group just went crazy that day.
Who is this Jesus that can forgive sins? What a crazy sight to see a paralytic man coming down in a mat through a roof and getting up his mat and walk!
I would be crazy to rely on outward signs and wonders rather than the solid gospel truth as proclaimed in Christ.
If some think I am crazy, then that's alright.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Why were you searching for me?
4 January, 2010
Read: Luke 2:41-52
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)
This was the first question Jesus asked while he was on earth. His parents panicked after losing Him in the crowd only to find Him in the temple. His reply to Mary's question, "Son, why have you treated us like this?" was astonishing -
'Why were you searching for me?" The natural answer would be because you were our son. You should not go anywhere or do anything without telling us. Thus, her indignation at the way He was treating her as a mother.
Question: Why am i searching for Jesus today? Is my reaction at feeling his absence that of Mary's, "why have you treated me like this?"
Nevertheless, it said Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and 'was obedient to them' (v.15). Jesus was not obligated to Mary yet He humbled himself and became obedient to his earthly parents, and eventually to an unjust death (See Phil 2:1-8).
Jesus 'had to' be in the Father's house. He was lost to his earthly parents but found in God, His Father's house. He is not just Mary's Son. He is God's Son.
Mary would call the shots as His mom if He were to stay His son. But Jesus would heed only God's call as His Father's Son. To be Mary's son would mean a container Christ but to give Him the rightful place in God's house would signify a loss of control.
Question: What kind of Lord do I serve? Do i reduce him to a Lord who is to be managed in life (much like my house, work, etc) or see that he 'had to' be the Creator's Son - in charge of everything?
Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for the many times i have seek you for the wrong reasons; when i behave like the Lord instead of having you as the Lord of my life. Purify my motives of seeking you and Spirit stir within me the conviction that i 'had to' run to the Father's house daily and enthrone You as King of King and Lord of Lords. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Read: Luke 2:41-52
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)
This was the first question Jesus asked while he was on earth. His parents panicked after losing Him in the crowd only to find Him in the temple. His reply to Mary's question, "Son, why have you treated us like this?" was astonishing -
'Why were you searching for me?" The natural answer would be because you were our son. You should not go anywhere or do anything without telling us. Thus, her indignation at the way He was treating her as a mother.
Question: Why am i searching for Jesus today? Is my reaction at feeling his absence that of Mary's, "why have you treated me like this?"
Nevertheless, it said Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and 'was obedient to them' (v.15). Jesus was not obligated to Mary yet He humbled himself and became obedient to his earthly parents, and eventually to an unjust death (See Phil 2:1-8).
Jesus 'had to' be in the Father's house. He was lost to his earthly parents but found in God, His Father's house. He is not just Mary's Son. He is God's Son.
Mary would call the shots as His mom if He were to stay His son. But Jesus would heed only God's call as His Father's Son. To be Mary's son would mean a container Christ but to give Him the rightful place in God's house would signify a loss of control.
Question: What kind of Lord do I serve? Do i reduce him to a Lord who is to be managed in life (much like my house, work, etc) or see that he 'had to' be the Creator's Son - in charge of everything?
Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for the many times i have seek you for the wrong reasons; when i behave like the Lord instead of having you as the Lord of my life. Purify my motives of seeking you and Spirit stir within me the conviction that i 'had to' run to the Father's house daily and enthrone You as King of King and Lord of Lords. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Where are you?
January 3, 2010
Read in context: Genesis 3:1-24
"But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9)
God took the first step to reach out to man. He walked in the garden.
Before the fall, He used to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden. The garden of Eden
was perfect. The fellowship was sweet.
There was another garden mentioned when Jesus was still on earth. The Garden of Gethsemane. The Roman soldiers went to the Garden with the same question,"Jesus, where are you" in their heads; and find him they did there with Judas' help. (See Matt 26:37-41)
Question: How does the 'garden' in my heart look like? A perfect place for God to walk freely or a place where the Son of man is easily betrayed for the world?
In the Garden of Eden, God did the first act and it wasn't very dignified.
He called to man - hard to imagine a high king come looking for a subject (my Hollywood and Chinese shows are failing me here :)
God is and always the One who initiates the first call - just as He called Adam and Eve here, He called Noah, Abram, Jacob, the disciples and so on -
This the first ever recorded question God posed to mankind - "Where are you?"
Question: What should my response be to a King who calls me? Do I hear His call daily - "where are you?"
My prayer is that may God never have to ask me this question 'Where are you' ever again. To walk with you in our garden, this i endeavour to do. But should i fail Lord - please do call out to me. Amen
Read in context: Genesis 3:1-24
"But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9)
God took the first step to reach out to man. He walked in the garden.
Before the fall, He used to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden. The garden of Eden
was perfect. The fellowship was sweet.
There was another garden mentioned when Jesus was still on earth. The Garden of Gethsemane. The Roman soldiers went to the Garden with the same question,"Jesus, where are you" in their heads; and find him they did there with Judas' help. (See Matt 26:37-41)
Question: How does the 'garden' in my heart look like? A perfect place for God to walk freely or a place where the Son of man is easily betrayed for the world?
In the Garden of Eden, God did the first act and it wasn't very dignified.
He called to man - hard to imagine a high king come looking for a subject (my Hollywood and Chinese shows are failing me here :)
God is and always the One who initiates the first call - just as He called Adam and Eve here, He called Noah, Abram, Jacob, the disciples and so on -
This the first ever recorded question God posed to mankind - "Where are you?"
Question: What should my response be to a King who calls me? Do I hear His call daily - "where are you?"
My prayer is that may God never have to ask me this question 'Where are you' ever again. To walk with you in our garden, this i endeavour to do. But should i fail Lord - please do call out to me. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)