Thoughts for reflection . . . (Mirror)

Our lives are like mirrors: they are a reflection of the influences we expose our lives to and the condition of our hearts.

What am I reflecting when others look at me, and come into contact with my life?

God's plan for our lives as believers is to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus (Rom8.29). Our lives should be increasingly reflecting the character and wisdom of Christ in every compartment of our being. Am I growing in purity, peacableness, gentleness? Am I easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy? (Jam3.17) Are those qualities spoken of in 2Pet1.5-7 present in me and abounding?

The Scriptures reveal this process of change as involving the likeness of our looking into another mirror, referring to the Word of God (2Cor3.18, Jam1.22-25).

God's Word contains within it the revelation of the glory of God, and this is found in the face of the Lord Jesus (2Cor4.6) - the Scriptures reveal Jesus to us. As we expose ourselves to God's Word gazing into it with the intent of finding Christ and of being doers of what it says (Jam1.22-25), then as the Lord reveals Himself to us, we will experience change within ourselves by the work of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of that Word will start reflecting out to others - they will see Jesus in us.

May I choose to sit at the feet of the Lord exposed to His life changing Word (Luke10.39), closing the door on this world's influence over me, in order that my life may transparently show Jesus to others.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Voices)

There are many voices in the world bidding for our attention. Voices that are seeking to influence our opinions, and affect how we spend our time, our money and our energy - am I listening to them? Is the compass of my life being affected by what this world is 'saying' or does it remain true to the voice of the Lord calling me onward into His purposes?

I must learn how to filter out the voices of this world, and fine tune my hearing to the voice of the One who deserves my undivided attention.

Amidst the noise of the world there is a gentle sound of stillness of the Lord's voice (1Kings19.12 Heb.). It takes a quietening of ourselves from the raging ocean waves around us in order to listen to Him (Ps46.10a). Listening for His direction like the word He promised Israel would hear (Is30.21). Listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily walk (John16.13).

The Lord describes our relationship with Him as sheep with the Shepherd, and says that His sheep hear and know His voice (John10.3-5). Am I recognising the Great Shepherd's voice in my daily life?

We also see on a number of occasions in the Gospels Jesus saying, 'He that has ears to hear, let him hear' (e.g. Matt11.15, 13.9, Mark7.16) and to the Churches in Revelation He repeats, 'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says . . .' He also warns in Mark4.24, 'Take heed what ye hear.' How important it is that my ears are open and attentive to what my Saviour is saying.

May God grant me the discernment to recognise His voice amidst the many others, the wisdom to apply the truths He reveals and the grace to remain faithful to all He says.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Remember)

One of the most dangerous enemies of our soul is pride. It is like a weed in the garden of our lives that will wrap it's tentacles around the roots of all we do, strangling and poisoning the fruit that is growing in us and ultimately bringing destruction (Prov16.18).

Pride has many faces, some of which are very subtle, but it can be identified by elevated or exalted thoughts about self, affecting how we see ourselves compared to others and even influencing how we come before God (Luke 18.11).

The desire and motivation of my heart and life should be to know God and draw near to Him, yet God says the proud He knows afar off (Ps138.6). He resists the proud (1Pet5.5, Jam4.6), and the proud in heart are an abomination to Him (Prov16.5). Pride will distance me from God and block His working in my life.

Firstly I must recognise where pride may exist in me, so that I can root it out. Then I need to be diligent in preventing seeds of pride accessing my heart, being ruthless in keeping myself free from pride in all its forms.

Pride gains access through forgetfulness. Forgetting my former condition prior to knowing Christ, forgetting the true perspective of my life relative to the eternal, Almighty God (Ps144.3-4, Job38&39, Is40.17).

I need to remember the rock from which I was hewn (Is51.1): the place from which God has taken me. Ever mindful that my life is only a vapour that is on this earth for a short time (Jam4.14) and is like grass (1Pet1.24). Numbering my days in light of the eternity ahead (Ps90.12) and remembering that my life is not my own (1Cor6.19-20) and that all I have I've received by God's grace (1Cor4.6-7).

Keeping in memory these truths as well as having an attitude of total dependence upon God will raise a guard against pride.

May God grant me the clearness of vision to see myself as I truly am, and that I may walk humbly with Him (Micah6.8)

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Abiding)

Jesus describes our relationship with Him as one where we are branches, in Him the true Vine. (John15.5)

A branch has no life of it's own. The life that flows through it and the fruit it produces comes solely from the life received from the vine of which it is part. Do I see my life so grafted into the Lord (Rom11.17) that I live in an attitude of total dependence upon Him? A dependence that flows from a convinced belief and acknowledgement that I can do nothing without Him. (John15.5)

The scriptures also declare that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God (Luke4.4, Deut8.3). The strength of my life, my life-force spiritually is directly related to the level to which God's Word is abiding in me (1John2.14, John8.31, John15.7). It is related to the inflow, by faith and revelation, of that Word, and the outworking of it in my life: God's Word needs to take up permanent residence in me. It needs to be the reference point and plumbline against which every aspect of my life is judged and aligned. Am I daily feeding on God's Word? Am I living by it? Is my life patterned by that Word? Is it shaping my thoughts and the content of my words and my actions?

Abiding in Christ speaks of remaining, staying in that position of special relationship and dependency on Him. Am I consciously and consistently staying close to the Lord? Or do I allow the world and the age I live in to distance me from my Saviour, sidetracking my attention and love for Him?

How much do I turn to the Lord for strength, wisdom and guidance along the pathway of life? Do I turn to Him first or as a last resort? Eternal life is in Him (1John 5.11), all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him (Col2.3). He is full of grace and truth (John1.14) and my completeness can only be found in Him. (Col2.10)

May the eyes of my heart be continually opened to see how much I need Christ, so that I cling to Him and never loosen my hold or desire to know Him more.

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (with me)

One of the greatest consolations in the new life we have in Christ and as followers of Him is the bedrock promise that God is with us. The basis of my living life totally free from all fear is that God says, 'I am with thee.'

In Gal3.6-7,9 we learn that those of faith are children of Abraham and blessed with faithful Abraham. In Rom11.17 we see that God has grafted us as believers into the olive tree that Israel were of, so that we partake of the same 'root and fatness.' Also 2Cor1.20 declares that all the promises of God in Christ are 'yes and in Him Amen' - confirmed, available and ours to partake of.

In light of the above truths what great comfort and strength we can take from the Lord God saying, 'When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee' (Is43.2), 'Fear thou not, for I am with thee.' (Is41.10), 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'(Heb13.5), and 'because he has set his love on Me . . I will be with him in trouble' (Ps91.14-15). And Jesus words, 'I am with you alway.' (Matt28.20)

What an awesome truth: Even though I was formally alienated from God and His enemy (Col1.21, Rom5.10, Jam4.4), yet the infinite, eternal, all powerful, creator of all things has reconciled me and is with me. Whatever circumstances I face, whatever the future may hold, He is with me. As David wrote in Psalm23, 'though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me. . .'

I need never be shaken by anything, God is with me. My life can be full of hope and expectation because God is with me. My steps onward into the destiny that God has for me can be with confidence and boldness, knowing that God is with me. What a privilege, what wonder!

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Called)

One of the wondrous truths of the Gospel is that God has called us (Rom1.6, Rom9.24, 1Cor1.9 etc.). He has specifically chosen and called us out of the darkness of this world (1Pet2.9).

Being called implies a destiny, a divine purpose behind that calling. The Scriptures declare that we have been called to God's eternal glory (1Pet5.10), to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus (2Thess2.14), to glory and virtue (2Pet1.3), to eternal life (1Tim6.12). To a glory which the Apostle Paul indicates will so completely outweigh and outshine the sufferings we may endure in this life that those sufferings can't even be compared to it (Rom8.18). A high calling (Phil 3.14).

Do I fully appreciate the significance of being called by the Almighty Creator God? Do I have a revelation of what I am called to inherit and am I walking worthy of that calling? (Eph4.1, 1Thess2.12) Have I allowed the influence of that calling to 'spoil' me for this world (age), so that it's attractions, temptations and ways (that are so contrary to God's ways) no longer find a response or pull in my heart? Am I continually choosing the pathway of holiness, recognising it is the only way to see the Lord (Heb12.14) and is integral to that calling (1Thess4.7)?

I need to see myself as marked out, set apart to an incredible eternal future, and consequently live in a manner that befits the kingdom of which God has now made me a part (Col1.13). and the change of citizenship that has taken place (Phil3.20 ASV).

- sent from Palm T|T3

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Today)

In Matt7.23 the Lord says, 'Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, . . . And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity (lit. lawlessness).'

One of the most terrifying experiences imaginable must be on the day of judgment standing before the Lord convinced all is well because of deeds done in the past, but to be told by the Lord to depart. Knowing that the time of choice, the time of making things right, the time of repentance unto salvation has run out and is past. It is too late - all is lost for eternity, eternal punishment awaits.

How do I make sure I am not of 'the many' that the Lord speaks of? How do I avoid the deception that must have cloaked those that will receive such a response from the Lord?

That group the Lord rejected He described as those working lawlessness, yet they had pointed in their defense to works they had done in His name, mighty works.

What counts is my walk with God today: my condition spiritually before Him at any current moment of time. It is not just my examples of faithfulness and submision to God's Word and yielding to the Holy Spirit in my conscience and life that I can point to 'yesterday' (in the past), but where am I today? (Ez33.11-19,Heb3.12-14)

Today I must be walking with God. Today I must be submitting to the counsel of His Word and walking in obedience to the light I have received. Today I must be walking in love towards all. Today I must be allowing God's Word to be the rule of my conduct, words and thoughts.

If I love God then I will be known of Him (1Cor8.3). My loving Him will be known by my obedience to Him and His Word (John14.21-24). God knows them that trust in Him (Nah1.7). My love of God, my faith in Christ, my believing in Him, trusting in Him, and my obedience to Him must be a present, continuous experience of my today.

May God protect me from the deception of looking to the past to what may have been achieved and experienced spiritually back then and because of that relaxing my fervancy to remain in that place of love, obedience and trust this day. May I live everyday in the awareness of the Lord's presence being in a continual state of readiness to stand before Him on that day.

- sent from Palm T|T3