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Ephesians 6 vs. 10-18 – The Full Armour of God

Jan 17th, 2010 by

 

I was reminded again yesterday that we are fighting a spiritual battle and that we do need to be in the practice of putting on our spiritual armour. Ephesians 6 vs 10-18 is a passage well worth re-visiting

Ephesians 6 vs. 10-18 – The Full Armour of God

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,

We live in a time where the world’s enmity towards our God and us is strong; we are called to stand in our land

To be aware that forces are at work that seek to pull down our defences, to of us be deceivers

The devil seeks to devour us like a lion; we need to be vigilant, aware that we in the name of Jesus can stand

His promise to us that he will never leave us or forsake us, be bold, hold into me, my believers

We are called to be in fellowship, part of an army, to work together, to be his body, together a holy band

The promise of our Lord, greater things than these will you do in my name, defeating rulers

 

Against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil

In the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes,

You are able to stand, to stand on the promises of Christ your saviour, to together defeat the devil

For in putting on the armour you protect yourself from attack, and are prepared for whatever comes

And can have the assurance that he who is within you is greater than he who is in the world, the devil

Put on the whole armour, not just a part, for it is what you need to have, when the day of evil comes

 

You may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then,

With the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Our God calls upon us as to Joshua be bold, be strong, do not be fear nor be afraid, I will you defend

Our God never leaves nor forsakes us as we stand on his word; meditate on it and our lives it base

He calls upon us to wait upon him, to renew our strength; he never gets weary; on him we can depend

He is our strength and our shield, enabling us to stand with the breastplate of righteousness is in place

 

 

And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this,

Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

We can have faith in our unchanging God, the one who as we step out will not let us go, for we are his

And he first chose us, and has appointed us to bear fruit, fruit that is life giving via God’s son

Will we stand on his promises; stand on the promises of Christ our Saviour? We must if we are his

Have faith in him; trust in him, his word enables us to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.

 

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

“My word is a lamp unto your feet; and a light unto your path” Declares the Lord

As you keep in it, and meditate upon it, God will show you that which is best

Pray to him without ceasing, those who seek him, will be found by him is his word

For as we are faithful, he will hear our prayers, and will give heed our requests

 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

God will renew your strength, you will be able to run and not be faint

If you open yourself before him, he with other needs will you acquaint

Jesus knew how important it was to draw aside, and upon God wait

We to need to be in prayer, to seek God; to with his desires be au fait

Trust in your God he is mighty to save, he will intervene for his saints.

 

Mark Maffey, August 2007

(NIV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Have you got a second?

Jan 11th, 2010 by

Psalm 139 is a Psalm I keep re-visiting. We have an all-knowing, all-seeing God, who is aware of our every thought, our every concern. Yet how often do we turn to him, how often do we seek his counsel. The one who created us, knew us before we were born. In 1994 I was in my first year at BCNZ (now Laidlaw College) one of the things I soon realised was that in order to make sense of the changes I was facing is that I needed to keep in relationship with God first before I could make sense of other relationships. On a prayer day I wrote the following poem. Today have you got a second or two to read it?

 

Have you got a second?

 

Have you got a second?

Sorry just off to a meeting

Have you got a second?

Sorry I’m just in the middle of reading the paper         

Have you got a second?

Sorry I’m on the telephone

Have you got a second?

Sorry I’m off to pick up the kids

Have you got a second?

Sorry I’m in the middle of something can’t it wait?

 

Dear God haven’t heard from you lately

Where’s my life going, why aren’t you saying anything?

I’m busy, but I need to know what you’re doing

Aren’t you out there, are you listening?

My life’s blurry, whirring, going before my eyes

Can’t you see me, are you there God?

 

My dear child, I am here, I keep knocking

My dear child, I keep saying, have you got a second?

Have you got a second? Have you got a second?

You see I have something to say to you today

Have you got a second? Have you got a second?

 

Child I have searched you and know you,

I know when you sit and rise

I perceive your thoughts from afar

I discern your going out and your lying down

I am familiar with all your ways

I know even before you say a thing what it is completely

 

I created your inmost being

I knitted you together in your mother’s womb

I saw your unformed body as it was weaved

I have ordained all the days of your life

You are fearfully and wonderfully made

My thoughts of you my dear child are precious

They are without number, my dear child I know you

I know your every need, have you got a second?

 

 

Mark Maffey, 1994         

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1 Kings 19 vs. 9-13 – Elijah In the Cave

Jan 4th, 2010 by

Happy New Year. In many ways 2009 for many people was a year of constant running. The question is where were you running. Were you running towards God, or From God? In 1 Kings 19 we see how Elijah ran for 40 days out of fear of reprisals, even his life after destroying the prophets of Baal. Elijah was in effect running away from God, he had lost perspective of God’s power and protection over his life. We find him in a cave, cowering, The Earthquake, Wind and Fire, but God is not in them, finally a still small voice comes to him saying “What Are You Doing Here Elijah?” 

Today is God asking the question of you – What are you doing here? Have you forgotten my purposes for your life, are you running from God.  Jonah had a whale of a time when he ran from God, Not! 

Take time this year to listen for the still small voice, have a breather, stop running!

 

1 Kings 19 vs. 9-13 – Elijah In the Cave

Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him,

And He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD,

Elijah had destroyed the prophets of Baal and then fleeing Jezebel’s wrath, Elijah was all in

Tired, dejected after 40 days he came to the cave, ready to cave in, then a question the LORD had a word

Elijah had done what the LORD had told him to do, he had been zealous, over Baal had a win

Yet he was under threat, his life was at risk Jezebel wanted him dead, he was really being put to the sword

Elijah came to a cave, damp, dank, and dark, weather beaten, uncertain, hungry and thin

The word of the Lord came “What are you doing here, Elijah, He said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD,

 

 

The God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars

And killed your prophets with the sword and I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Elijah had lost focus, lost sight of God’s power, his faith receding, his trust in God did falter

He saw what he wanted to see, tears obscuring that which God desired wanted him to do and say

Despondent, afraid, what can I do in the midst of my enemies, what can I do to them alter?

For they are going to kill me, I’m the only prophet left, and they seek my life, to take it away

 

“So He said,” Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD” And behold, the LORD

Was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks

The LORD sees all our needs, understands our fears, he is worthy of our trust, he keeps his word

Sometimes we expect God to do things in certain ways; we look for the big things that will blow our socks

We expect big things; we want to see signs and wonders, yet no eye has seen nor ear heard

No mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him, despite us, opportunity knocks

To do that which he has appointed us to do, whether it be what we imagine or not, it is to be obeyed

For God does not always reveal himself in winds which rend mountains and break into pieces the rocks

 

 

Before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD

Was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire;

We look for a sign, it’s not a big arch with a “M”, yet how often do we stop texting and read the word?

My word is a lamp unto your feet, a light unto your path, yet how much do you it desire?

It is life giving, will you sit, will you read, will you consider, listen and then act on what you’ve heard?

Don’t expect me to shake you or light a fire underneath you, often I am not in the fire

 

 

And after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave and behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

What are you doing here? Have you heard God whisper, heard him call, or are you to busy to be still, is God about?

God is always there, like the father waiting for the prodigal to come back to him, God knows and is beside you

 

Mark Maffey, December 2007

 

(NASB)

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Isaiah 9 vs 6-7 For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Dec 20th, 2009 by

 

As Christmas nears, and I ponder billboards proclaiming there is no God on buses, and St Matthew’s in the City billboard and the rapid abyss into full scale secularism in New Zealand, I turn back to the message found in Isaiah 9. Unto us a child is born, a son is given – Emmanuel – God is with us!  May you have time to be reacquainted with the Saviour this Christmas.

 

Isaiah 9 vs 6-7 For Unto Us A Child Is Born

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given

And the government shall be upon his shoulder

He comes to earth to live and die so our sins may be forgiven

You need to come to him; his love will make you bolder

As you confess to him, and of him, his Spirit will you enliven

And place upon you heavenly armour you will be a soldier

And as you claim God’s victory, Satan will be from you driven

Profess to the world that Jesus is LORD! Do it bolder and bolder

 

And his name shall be called wonderful

Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Worship him will all your heart, he will be your all in all

Let your praise of him, your love for him never ever cease

He has come that you might have life, life to the full

Come to him, he will in you his Holy Spirit release

 

Of the increase of his government and peace

There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom

God will take pleasure, his support of it will never cease

He will impart greater depths of his heavenly love and wisdom

His kingdom has come, and will never end, on it there is no lease

His love is great; he calls us his children to be joint heirs in his kingdom

 

To order it and establish it with judgement and justice

From that time forward, even forever, the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this

God is faithful and true to us he does not put us on ice

He is faithful and just, righteous in all his ways, we must have faith in his promises

He is our protector, our stronghold in whom we trust, listen to his advice

For his kingdom and his power will never end, he is Emmanuel, God with us.

 

Mark Maffey December 2005

(NKJV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Christmas, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Luke 2 vs. 15-20 – The Shepherds Find The Christ

Dec 14th, 2009 by

It is all so easy to quickly read the account of the Birth of Christ in Luke 2. It is good to try and place ourselves in the story and wonder how the various characters felt, Joseph and Mary, The Shepherds, The Angels, The Wise Men, The Angels. Each of them must have experienced different feelings and emotions. It’s so easy to be over Christmas, but we should be over the moon about the Nativity events, unto us a son is born, a child is given!

 

Luke 2 vs. 15-20 – The Shepherds Find The Christ

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,                                 

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”                                  

The shepherds needed to see if the birth of Christ was as the Angel had said or something other                             

Than they had been told, for they were unlikely people to choose to tell this news, they were out                                          

Of the normal society, indeed they were unclean and not the kind of people priests would bother                                               

With, so the shepherds needed to go to Bethlehem and find out what all the fuss was about                                                      

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.                           

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,                     

God is a God of his word, what he announces will come to pass, we can trust him without danger                                                           

For he is faithful and just and knows the plans he has for us, they give us hope, a future we can build                                        

The shepherds found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, just as God had said, Jesus was in the manger                                                 

It was quite clear to them that what the angel had announced was good news they were ecstatic, wild                              

They couldn’t keep it quiet, they needed to share it with others, they shared it to all even strangers                                         

For they  knew that what they had seen and heard was of God, this indeed was a holy, special child                                                        

And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.                                                                  

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.                                                                           

There are times to be excited about things, sometimes it’s good to ponder them                                                         

The power of the Gospel should excite us, for it is good news for the heart                                                                       

Do we have the passion to share it, for if we do not it will our faith stunt and stem                                                       

But in order to share it we need to know God’s word, to ponder it in our heart          

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things                                                                      

They had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.                                                                                                                  

What is our response to God this Christmas for the gift he to us brings?                                                                            

Do we take time to ponder anew the birth of Christ, and light it bold                                                                                           

Will we take to heart the words we sing, hark the herald angel sings                                                                        

Will we acknowledge the new born king, and let him our live mould?                                                                     

T’is more than the season to be jolly, and to others gifts give and bring                                                                                

For unto us a child is born, a son is given, sing to him and be bold

 

Mark Maffey, December 2008

(NIV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Christmas, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Luke 2 vs. 8-14 – The Shepherds and the Angels

Dec 6th, 2009 by

Hi

The Shepherds were out in their fields by night and suddenly an Angel appears, the Glory of God shines around them. What were they feeling, Luke puts it in perspective for us “They were terrified”  I think I would have been too! One of the themes of Luke is the upside-down nature of the Life and Ministry of Jesus, we see him not born in a royal palace, but in the squalor of a barn, and we see the announcement of his birth not to a royal household or the court of a king but to lowly shepherds outcasts in Jewish society, ceremonially unclean because of their work with animals.  The rest of the Gospel reflects this theme, the rich are poor, the poor are rich. Jesus selects a motley crew to be his disciples, he ministers to gentiles, women, prostitutes, the lame, the sick…

 

Luke 2 vs. 8-14 – The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Could you imagine if you were sitting in the middle of a field, and an angel appeared in your sight!

God does the unexpected shepherds were ceremonially unclean so for angel to appear to them logic defied

Logic would say that the Angel would have appeared to someone important, perhaps a high priest

Luke’s gospel turns logic upside down, the priests were seen as rich, refined, the shepherds poor and unrefined

As we see in Luke 4 v18 Jesus came to preach good news to the poor, to save and help the weakest

The shepherds were the least likely choice for the good news to be announced, like them I would be terrified

 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

The angel endeavoured to calm their fear I wonder if it worked, or if the shepherds were less than calm people?

The message the angel brought was one of hope and specific about the birth of Christ the Lord

Stating where he had been born, his name, and gave a sign for them to believe, to them help and enable

Often we seek clarity, a sign, yet do we read God’s word or listen to him so we can speak his word?

Can we like the Wise Men have the faith to follow a star, and trust that we will be led to a humble stable?

God is a God of his word; many prophecies in Isaiah, Malachi were fulfilled with the birth of Christ the Lord

 

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,

The Shepherds must have wondered what next; things were getting stranger and stranger

I imagined they were open-mouthed, eyes wide, a host around them every angle

The Glory of God surrounding a blinding whiteness but yet the shepherds were in no danger

Despite the speed of events they needed to believe the words of the angel

 

Praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.”

Those that are his, need not fear, even if they are the lowest

In the eyes of men, in God’s eyes they are of him blest

They can stand in his midst without fear for he them knowest

This Christmas worship Christ the Lord on you his favour rests

 

 

Mark Maffey, December 2008

(NIV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Christmas, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Luke 2 vs. 1-7 The Birth of Jesus In Bethlehem

Nov 30th, 2009 by

Hi All as Advent begins I am going to do a series on Luke 2 which is the gospel that has the most information on the birth and early life of Jesus – here is the first one

 

Luke 2 vs. 1-7 The Birth of Jesus In Bethlehem

 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  

(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went

To their home town to register, this meant many people had to travel around Israel via roads rural

Often walking or travelling by donkey for many miles, arriving at the destinations tired, dusty, spent

Looking for somewhere to sleep and rest feed them and their donkeys, from travels unwind, unfurl

To catch up with family members and do what was required to complete the census and to it relent

For by completing the census it meant that they could be identified for tax purposes in the Roman world

And they knew that the Romans would ensure their taxes were collected and that caused much resent

 

 

To his own town to register so Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there

To register with Mary for them it was a journey of 80 miles from Nazareth, and was hard for them to do

Mary heavily pregnant had to endure much bumping and jolting on a donkey for 7 days to get there

By the time they arrived in Bethlehem they both would have been tired, resting all they would want to do

To arrive to find the town jam packed, knocking on many doors and being turned away everywhere

 

To register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth

Not in a nice room in an Inn, but in a stable surrounded by animals, rough and wild

Smelly amongst the dung and straw, hardly a place fit for a king, a very lowly birth

Jesus’ arrival was inconspicuous; his start to life was not one which was tender and mild

Yet in his birth he fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies in coming to this earth

 

 

To her firstborn, a son, she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,

Because there was no room for them in the inn               

Mary and Joseph made their best in the circumstances putting straw in the manger

Wrapping Jesus in swaddling cloth and putting him in

The clean and warm manger, in the days to come they would be visited by strangers

From the east, from the fields, all would glorify him

Today too we should glorify him, remember the greatest gift came wrapped in a manger

In a stable, for there was no room for him in the inn

 

Mark Maffey, December 2009

(NIV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Christmas, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

2 Corinthians 4 vs. 7-9 We Have This Treasure in Earthen Vessels

Nov 22nd, 2009 by

Over the weekend I was the pondering the Journey Mary and Joseph undertook from Nazareth to Jerusalem. It was a journey of about 80 miles and would have taken about 7 days. It would have been no easy journey for a heavily pregnant woman on the back of a donkey. I can imagine how tired, dirty and weary they would have been when they reached Jerusalem. Then to not be able to find any accommodation except a stable would have been quite dispiriting

In the mad rush to Christmas it is easy to end up being over it before it arrives, and to forget the true reason for the season. Over the coming weeks I will put in some Christmas poems on the blog, but today I want to post a poem based on 2 Corinthians 4 vs 7-9, and remind us that whilst we have our treasure in Earthen Vessels, that God in us can enable us to do all things!

 

2 Corinthians 4 vs. 7-9 We Have This Treasure in Earthen Vessels

 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels

That the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us

At times we struggle with life, with its ups and downs we wrestle

We get wrapped up in the stress of every day life, over it we fuss

In the midst of this we need to turn to Jesus and in him nestle

It’s not for us to do things in our own strength, to God second guess

We need to allow God to shape us, to us be the mortar, him the pestle

Open so God may mold and shape us, our lives be in God and not of us

 

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed

But not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed

For in these things God can build our character, of this I am convinced

That as we open ourselves to him, his Spirit in our lives can be employed

Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, of his love he will us remind

For he to us gives good gifts, and a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

 

 

Mark Maffey, August 2007

(NKJV)

 

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Philippians 2 vs. 4-11 Having The Attitude of Christ

Nov 1st, 2009 by

 

Hi all

With the events of the past week I have pondered what is Biblical Leadership? Clearly it is Servant Leadership. Jesus is our example. He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  He demonstrated this again and again. He overturned the thinking of the day by challenging the view that the rich were to be admired, instead say the poor were rich (See the beatitudes). He is raised concerns about the difficulty the Rich Young Ruler would have in getting to heaven. Challenged the view of storing up riches for ourselves.  Philippians 2 is a chapter worthy of re-reading . It is important that those in ministry are not under-paid or have to struggle to get by, but at the same time we must remember that we must raise them on pedestals, or start worshipping them rather than God.

Philippians 2 vs. 4-11 Having The Attitude of Christ
 
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who, being in very nature God,
Came to earth, not to be served but to serve, learn to be a servant to your sisters and brothers
This world says to you, look after number one, don’t care for others, for them don’t give a sod
You can be the best at others expense, don’t worry be happy, who needs to love others
Yet Christ shows us another way, the world should not hold sway, live your life in God

Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing
Taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness
Christ the Son of God, worthy of our praise, he did not have to prove he was something
He knew his destiny, he foretold his death, what he chose was more than loving kindness
In the Garden of Gethsemane he faced the toughest choice, he did the hardest thing
He knew and obeyed his father, nevertheless thy will be done, he said, in real humbleness

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient
To death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
He knew the impact of accepting his father’s cup he knew the painful ingredients
He was lead to Golgotha, nailed and hung for our sin, what amazing saving grace
If we are prepared to confess to him, and of him, of our salvation we can be confident
We are called to journey with him, to look toward him to continually seek his face

And gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
In heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
We are his children; behold what manner of love he has shown to us, all we can say of this is WOW!
We can believe in him, he is our Lord, the only way, truth and life, believe what’s written in his Word
Come before him with thanksgiving in your heart, worship him, Christ the Lord not some holy cow
Praise the name of Jesus, he is your rock and fortress, stand on his promises, truly he is Lord!

To the Glory of God the Father
For it is the Father who gave his Son
We should remember this as we gather
Worship the three in one, Father, Spirit and Son
Holy, Holy, Holy, worship them nothing else is better
To abide in them may we be one as they are one

Mark Maffey, January 2006
(NIV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

John 14 vs. 15-21 – The Promise of The Holy Spirit

Oct 26th, 2009 by

Hi All

John 13-17 are a series of chapters set around the last few days of Jesus’s life. In these he attempts to get through to his disciples that he is going to die, and he promises the Holy Spirit to them, they won’t be left as orphans.  I believe that the person of the Holy Spirit is one that we need in our lives. We need his help to guide and keep us on the narrow way we are called to follow. I pray that you may be empowered by him this week

 

John 14 vs. 15-21 – The Promise of The Holy Spirit
If you love me, obey my commandments, and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, Who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth; the world cannot receive him,
For it seeks after the things of the flesh which are at enmity to the Spirit, for him they don’t seek or wait
You are called to seek after those things which are good, to avoid evil and flee the devil and his whims
Jesus calls us to avoid the wide way which leads to destruction and to follow him through the narrow gate
We can’t do this on our own and for this reason we have the Spirit who leads us in truth, we need him
For he know God’s word and is able to help us to interpret what we read and hear into an intelligible state
For we need assurance that we know and are led in the truth by the Spirit, for the world can’t receive him

Because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him, but you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world
Would no longer see Jesus and he was trying to prepare the disciples for his death which would ensue
For his resurrection and the tumultuous time they would face and for them to have faith in his solemn word
They would no longer have Jesus in their presence and they needed help to these changes understand
And the promise of the Holy Spirit to them was something they at this point unable to grasp, hold in view
They weren’t prepared for life without Jesus and couldn’t comprehend what he was saying or did intend
The next weeks were going to be ones which radically change not only their lives, but that of the world

Will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised
To life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Jesus promises to them that they would see him again, and they would His Lordship comprehend
That he was one with God and that in him they had life and they could keep him in view
Faith is about holding on to what is true, like Thomas often we want proof and on that we depend
Blessed are those who believe without having seen, God’s desire is that we hold to what is true
Thomas got to see the physical evidence; today we have the whole word on which we depend
Jesus’ desire is that we know that he is one with his Father, we are in him, and he is in you
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me, and because they
Love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
We are called to be his disciples and demonstrate this by our love one for another, each and every day
Our challenge to Love the Lord our God with all we are, to love our neighbours all of them
God calls us to be in relationship with him, and out of that relationship to love others who follow his way
Yet we struggle in our communities to be light and salt and often do little to flavour them
In this we need help and God has given us His Holy Spirit that we can hear his voice and his will obey
For he desires to stir up good work in us, will we fan into flame that from which the Spirit stems?
Mark Maffey, March 2008

(NLT)

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