Thoughts for reflection . . . (Tomorrow)

Am I walking in the light of 'Tomorrow', or is my today covered by the shadows of yesterday and my current circumstances?

The difficult circumstances that we have been through or are currently passing through, if allowed, can negatively mould and influence our outlook on life, how we relate to others and how we approach each day we live. Yet in a believer's life our "tomorrow" should be more greatly influencing our today than what may be dark shadows of past and present trials and sufferings.

The Apostle Paul had such a revelation of the "tomorrow" that God has in store for us as followers of Christ that he declared: 'For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.' (Rom 8.18) 'For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.' (2Cor4.17-18).

One secret to enduring trials and tribulations is seeing their true scale in comparison to God's overall plans and goals for our lives, not just plans for the near future but in the glorious eternal age to come after Jesus returns.

In Heb12.2-3 it says of Jesus, 'Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . consider Him ... lest ye be wearied.'

The key is to lift our eyes off the immediate now in order to gaze upon the Lord (Heb12.2a) and the future we have with Him - so enabling us to regain perspective.

May God grant us the same revelation that the Apostle Paul had, so that the truths of Scripture move from the pages of the Bible and are etched on our hearts as an unchangeable and unshakeable reality. This is how we won't just survive what we go through but overcome in it.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Thanksgiving)

We have so much to thank God for! (Ps40.5) Thanksgiving is an outward expression of gratitude, and gratitude cannot help but arise when there is a recognition in our hearts and minds of the goodness that God has shown us, and continues to show us with every breath we take.

How much do I meditate on God's goodness? How much do I turn my focus to all that God has done, not just for me but those I know who are my family in Christ? When I look at my life can I describe myself as a thankful person? Is that how others see me? Throughout each day does the Lord hear thanksgiving pour forth from me, both in the small things of life as well as the large and significant happenings?

Thanksgiving is very much linked to the perspective we have about ourselves, our circumstances and life itself. If we have a continuing revelation of our unworthiness before the Almighty God, how we deserve only condemnation and eternal judgment (Rom6.21-23), and yet we have received acquital (Rom4.7-8, Col2.13-14), the forgiveness of sins (Eph1.7), deliverance from it's power (Rom6.6-7,14), and have been made heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom 8.17), by His grace (Eph2.1-8) by the shed blood of Jesus (1Pet1.18-19, Eph2.13), how can our hearts not respond in gratitude and thanksgiving? How can we not every day be thankful that we have been chosen and brought into relationship with the awesome, all powerful, all wise God?

Our thanksgiving should be in all circumstances (Eph5.20, 1Thess5.18), in all that we do (Col3.17) and a characteristic of our prayer (Phil4.6-7, Col 4.2, Ps100.4).

Thanksgiving is a natural by-product of faith. It's presence, or lack of, in our lives is a reflection of what we really believe and are believing and the strength of that conviction. In 1Pet1.8-9 the Scriptures declare, 'Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end (outcome) of your faith even the salvation of your souls.'

In all that comes my way, may I be 'yet believing' and as such have that thankfulness and joy as a characteristic of my life. May the awesome magnitude of my redemption affect my heart every day and cause my lifesong to be one of thanksgiving.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Pressing or Pressed?)

What stance am I taking in my daily walk as a believer? Are my circumstances pressing in on me and inhibiting my progress spiritually or am I taking positive action in my life by God's grace and advancing in my maturity in God?

In war, territory is never taken by staying in a defensive position but pushing forward against the enemy. In Matt11.12 the Lord states, '... the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.' The Apostle Paul says to 'fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.' (1Tim6.12) and declares near the end of his life, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.' (2Tim4.7) I am in a spiritual battle as a follower of Christ and there are many areas in my life where I need to advance, gain ground and see change. This will only come through direct action on my part empowered by the grace of God and the working of the Holy Spirit in me.

Our society and culture, if allowed, will lull us into passivity in how we live, causing us to prefer to remain in our comfort zones, rather that moving out from where we are into the attaining of what God is calling us toward. It will deceive us into thinking that things will never change, to accept things as they are, both in our lives and in the fallen world in which we live.

But we must arise! The Apostle Paul says in the context of knowing Christ in Phil3.11, 'if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.' This statement implies the apostle is endeavouring to make certain his inclusion in that future resurrection, do I have the same intention and attitude? Am I making my calling and election sure?(2Pet1.10)

In that same passage in Philippians 3 the apostle goes on to say, ' . . I follow after . . . reaching forth . . . I press toward . . .'(Phil3.12-14)

Am I pressing forward in prayer each day, breaking the shackles of tiredness or busyness to commune with God? Am I digging into the gold mine of the Scriptures with ever greater fervancy, discovering the treasures hidden therein and being clothed with the fruit of His Word? Am I stretching the boundaries of my evangelism through the daily annointing of the Holy Spirit, reaching more souls with the message of life eternal and seeing God's kingdom come?

May I always be in 'pursuit mode' in my life - pursuing that high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil3.14)

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Tick Tock)

Am I being a good steward of my time?

Time is a precious commodity. We all have the same amount given to us each day, yet so often we don't feel we have enough and that which has passed we cannot retrieve.

Each day we choose how we spend our time, but so often we can be driven by circumstances that leave us feeling out of control of that which has been given to us.

The Scripture declares that we should be redeeming the time. (Eph 5.16, Col 4.5)

Redeeming the time means to buy it back. In a culture where life is lived in the fast lane of continuous activities and busyness, where demands are being made on us by our jobs to do more, achieve more and perform better, we must be making radical decisions about the time we have and how we will use it. We must break ourselves free from the mould of the world and the pattern that it follows.

Our life is a preparation for eternity. We each have a call from God to know Him and complete the race set out for us (2Tim4.7, Heb12.1). But how much of my time is devoted to this cause?

That which is important to me will not be known by what I say is important, but by looking at the hourly diary of my life and what my time is given to.

Will I choose to give the best of my time to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak in His Word (Luke10.39,42)? Will I choose to arrange my schedule around seeking God in prayer rather that try to fit God into my existing plans?

The Scripture states,'. . knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.'(Rom13.11)

The time is short. May I make the days and years that God grants me on this earth count for eternity so that I may look back without regret when my time here is fulfilled.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Consuming Fire)

In a world that is increasingly dominated by political correctness, in a society where absolutes are being eroded and it could be described that every man lives by the rule of doing that which is right in his own eyes, where sin is given a label of acceptability, do I have a balanced and accurate recognition of the character and holiness of Almighty God?

Heb12.28-29 says, 'Wherefore we receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.'

Do I fear God . . . ? Is my life, while knowing the wonder of God's infinite love directed towards me in and through Christ Jesus, balanced by the awe and reverential fear of the Holy God who is Light and in Whom is no darkness? (1John1.5)

Do I come to God understanding I am His adopted child with a heart cry of 'Abba, Father' (Rom8.15), but also taking heed to Jesus' declaration in Matt 10.28, 'fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.'

I may not have experienced the vision of Isaiah who when seeing the Lord said, 'woe is me, I am undone . . for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.' (Is6.5) nor may I have had the revelation of the Apostle John who when seeing Jesus 'fell at His feet as dead.' (Rev1.17) But am I living my life in the continual awareness that Whom they saw is the same God and Lord Jesus that I live for? Does the reality of this truth govern my thoughts, words and deeds?

When I enter His presence in prayer or with others congregationally, do I rush in or have a casual attitude? Or do I still myself to allow His majesty and awesomeness to attract my full attention?

Do I delight in those things that God delights in: lovingkindness, justice and righteousness (Jer9.24)? Do I hate those things which God hates: Prov 6.16-19?

Do I tremble at God's word (Is 66.2), recognising the treasure it is, but also the awesome responsibility that comes with being given such truths that are contained therein?

May my life be evenly tempered by the revelation of God's love toward me as His redeemed child along with the reverence, awe and fear that God is owed, the One who dwells in light unapproachable (1Tim6.16) and Whom angels worship.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Friend or Foe?)

A very sobering Scripture in James 4.4 declares, 'do you not know that the friendship of the world is hostility toward God? whosoever therefore wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.' (ASV)

How much of my life is aligned to the world and it's ways of thinking, behaving and talking? How important to me is the opinion of my peers and those with whom I rub shoulders with in the world through my job, friendships or other activities?

In 1John2.15 the Scripture commands, 'love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.'

If I look carefully into my life are there traces of love for this world (age) and the pleasures it makes available? This can be measured by asking myself - What things do I get excited about? When I have 'free' time what would be the top five activities that I would give myself to? What do I most talk about when around others?

Jesus said '.. that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.' (Luke16.15)

May I regularly be checking my value system to make sure that it is always aligned with God's estimation of things. May I not allow the glitter and seduction of the world to corrupt my perspective and draw me into a position where I am setting myself in opposition to God through my desires, actions and conversation.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (All Sufficiency)

Times of crisis are like strong winds blowing through the trees of a wood: they test the depth and strength of the roots of our lives.

In times such as these we need to know and rest in the all sufficiency of God.

The Apostle Paul speaking to the Corinthians about giving, encouraged them that 'God is able to make all grace abound toward you that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.' (2Cor9.8)

There is a sufficiency that we can walk in by God's provision, that will differentiate us from the world when it is going through storms that fill people with fear, worry and uncertainty.

That sufficiency reaches us through the pipeline of faith and trust in the Lord. The Scriptures declare, 'Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.' (Jer17.7-8)

The place of quiet trust and confidence in the Lord, and His promises toward us, is a place of security and shelter from the storm. A place of rest, a place of great peace.

Ps91 is full of the promises of God to the believer that dwells in that secret place of trust in Him. One particular promise is that 'a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.' Ps91.7. All around us the waves of the sea of this world's systems can be in turmoil, but in Christ there is a security like no other that will keep us and protect us.

Jesus said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' (John14.27)

May I daily believe, daily trust and daily place my hope and confidence in the Almighty God, fixing my gaze on Him.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Patience)

Am I letting patience complete it's job in my life?

The Scriptures declare in James 1.4 to 'let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.' The word patience in the original Greek means a 'bearing up under, endurance, perserverence as to things and circumstances'.

How do I view the difficulties and storms that may blow across the fields of my life? Such storms can come in many shapes and sizes but what is my reaction to them?

God's predestined purpose for every believer's life is to conform us to the likeness of His Son, the Lord Jesus (Rom8.29), evidenced in word, thought and deed.

Character development comes through character testing. The quality of fruit is known by it's taste. The tasting of the fruit of our lives is that which flows from us in response to the circumstances we pass through. Are those around me experiencing a bitter or a sweet taste?

It's against a backdrop of the dark rain clouds of storms and trials that faith is tested and we can grow and mature in our spiritual lives. Gold is found in it's purest form as it comes out of the furnace after all the impurities have been melted away.

When the valley of difficulty and trial comes to an end, my rejoicing should not be in the deliverance alone that God has accomplished for me but whether there has been a change on the inside of me as a result of that situation. What work has God wrought in me? Can I look and see another aspect of the character of Jesus shining through my life more clearly?

This will be a true cause of rejoicing when we're seeing the grace of God working in our lives and Jesus more evident in us, thus bringing more glory to God: our ultimate aim.

- sent from Palm T|T3