Here is the next entry in the series of quiet times from the Birmingham, England, church.
USEFUL
JOHN15:1-16; EZEKIEL 15; EZEKIEL 18:8
(I’m always working on a read-through of the Bible, alongside other topical studies that interest me. I’m in Ezekiel at the moment.) I never noticed the connection between John 15 and Ezekiel 15 before! It renews my appreciation for Jesus’ humility and reminds me of the Philippians 2 passage: being in very nature GOD, he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a slave, and described himself as being just like us – useful for nothing but fuel for the fire unless we grow as we’re supposed to grow and do what we’re supposed to do, by the grace of God.
- After reading the passages above, write the short list of the different ways a physical (grape)vine could be useful. 1
Looking at John 15, it seems to me that there are just two things I need to focus on, as a branch: remaining in the vine; and bearing fruit.
- What do I need to do to remain more firmly rooted in the vine?
- Are there any commands of God that I am habitually not obeying? (Some suggestions for a spiritual check-up: how am I doing with Matthew 22:37, Matthew 6:33? Matthew 28:19? Matthew 5:23-24? for married women: 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Peter 3:1-2?)
- Decide to be faithful and useful to the Lord today: choose one command I know I need to obey more, pray for strength and focus and go and do something about it today!
1 Produce branches; bear fruit; be a splendid, beautiful, healthy vine(this brings pleasure to the gardener!); fuel for the fire
2 First of all, Christ must be in me and I in him, so I must have come through the waters of baptism with the right understanding and right heart toward God; God’s word needs to remain in me; I should ask God whatever I wish (this means being in touch with what I want! And then taking the time to express it to God); I need to obey God’s commands; I need to love those God puts in my life as Jesus has loved me; I need to go and bear fruit that will last
A WORTHY RESPONSE
MATTHEW 11
I heard a brilliant lesson on Matthew 11 last week in the London church’s staff meeting – guest-taught by Rich Bartoli (Hampton Roads church of Christ – soon to be of the Charleston, West Virginia mission team, please pray for God’s continued blessings over their preparation! It’s so exciting to be planning and praying for new church plantings again!).
In verses 16-19, Jesus challenges the people on their lack of response: they didn’t appreciate a happy song; their hearts weren’t moved by a funeral; they didn’t appreciate John the Baptist because he was too ascetic, living in the desert and fasting; then criticised Jesus because he was associating with all kinds of unsavoury people, partying and feasting with them.
- “Wisdom is proved right by her actions,” v. 19. Do my actions generally reflect the wisdom of God working in my life — a worthy response to all that God has invested in me? (If I have a hard time answering this question objectively, ask a strong Christian who knows me well what they think) Why or why not?
- Spend some time writing down and thanking God for all He’s invested in me, spiritually. 3
- Choose an area where I’ve been weak in showing God how grateful I am and how much I love him. Decide to take a giant step today in responding to God in a worthy manner!
3 Thank you, God, for the people you put in my life to love me, shape me, teach me, disciple me, encourage me, train me – those who studied the Bible with me; those who discipled me; and disciple me now; I think of the literally thousands of hours I’ve spent in church or leaders’ meetings, hearing the Word of God taught with zeal, accuracy, wisdom, from people whose inspirational lives also witnessed to the truth of what was taught; I think about the rich and varied experiences I’ve shared with all kinds of people in the church; and the miracles of seeing and knowing about all kinds of people turning their lives over to God and gaining salvation – none of which compares to the investment God made in me when he sent his precious Son to live and die for me.
HATING FALSEHOOD
PROVERBS 13:5; ISAIAH 45:17; 50:7; 54:4; 61:7
As a follower of Jesus, striving to live righteously, I’m called to hate what is false. In the last week I’ve gone to battle against attitudes of complacency and self-righteousness in women who I know are precious to God, who believe themselves to be right with God but who do not display the fruits of sound Biblical doctrine in their lives. More battles loom ahead, against prideful attitudes that keep women from getting the help they need to realise their dreams, and injure others along the way.
There’s no shortage of battles for us to fight! There’s lots of falsehood around for us to hate. I love that Proverbs 13:5 teaches me that I shouldn’t pile on shame and disgrace while dealing with falsehood – that’s what a wicked person would do. That’s what the evil negative thoughts in my own mind try to do to me: heap shame and disgrace on me when I’m mulling over something I need to work on or learn to do better. While I need to be capable of feeling remorse for sin, what a relief to know that God wants shame and disgrace removed FAR away from me!
- Write down something in my character I know God wants me to work on. Pray through these Isaiah verses, holding up this thing I need to change to God in confidence that he will lovingly help me to succeed
- Regarding “falsehood” that’s bothered me in the life of a sister or other woman I care about: talk to God about how I can talk to her about this in the same kind of way God ministers to me. What scriptures could I use? How can I be sure to stay far away from wickedness in the conversation and encourage her soul, not making her feel shamed or disgraced? Make plans to have this conversation as soon as possible this week.
