Right. I'm back and on form. We're going to catch up by the end of this week and then I'll be working the week after so I should be able to keep to a regular schedule. Apologies for not keeping up with this folks! One thing I've found from not doing it is that it's been a lot harder to connect with God and I've realised that this has to firstly be for me and my relationship with God. So don't panic if you never comment! Onto business then,
Today's readings
Leviticus 4:1-5:13
Mark 10:13-31
Psalm 27:7-14
We're returning with lots more on sacrifice. I think it's interesting how much the Israelites needed in terms of guidelines and instructions. They'd been doing whatever they wanted and just trusted God would look after them regardless. I think I can be guilty of that and whilst a lot of what we're reading is there to help us realise just how much God wanted His people to be able to get close to Him, I think verse 5 of chapter 5 is very pertinent. Immediately confess the sin you have committed. It's scary and it can be uncomfortable but if we bring our sin to God we're straight away quicker in getting closer to Him again. And the brilliant part is that we don't have to bring pigeons or bulls or goats or flour. We have Jesus and so it's easy for us to confess but we have to do it rather than just assuming we'll be forgiven. If we don't admit we've sinned we'll never want to change our behaviour.
Into the New Testament we reappear and Jesus first is talking about coming to Him like a child. We've talked about this before but I think it's good to think of it in this context too. We need to be willing to tell our Heavenly Father when we've done something wrong so that He can love us regardless and help us through it. Nobody with even an ounce of love in them can stay mad at a genuinely sorry child and we need to be just like that.
Then we get the rich guy asking how he can get to Heaven and again, we've covered this in Matthew. Mark does add one little detail which Matthew left out. When Jesus sees this man who is convinced of his own worthiness for Heaven, He looks at him and He loves him. God's love isn't conditional on our behaviour and Jesus explains this to the disciples afterwards by pointing out how no one can get to Heaven on their own strength but only by following Jesus. But us trying to do it on ourselves will not stop Jesus loving us. So if we're wanting to get close to God and live His way but it's too much struggle then we need to remember that it's not down to our own efforts but down to the humility that we can't do it without asking for help and focusing ourselves daily on God. I think I've found that out in the last few days. Losing your focus on you and God means that while you might think you're doing things for Him, they're not necessarily working to their full potential.
Finally our Psalm continues and it's the last verse that really sums up what I'm feeling today from this reading. Stay with God. Take heart. Don't quit. Because He is faithful and reliable and loving. Hallelujiah!
And that's your lot for this one but I'll put another up this evening. Previous song is here. Questions, criticisms and comments welcome as always,
Jon
www.facebook.com/british.hedgehog
No comments:
Post a Comment