Well first of all she is from Tyre and Sidon (v22 - "from that region") so just read Ezekiel 26-28:24 to see her chances of being in God's good books. Then see the attitude of the disciples to her (v23b - "his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us"). See Jesus' attitude to her (consistent with Ezekiel might I add - v23a "But he did not answer her a word" v24 "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" v26 "It is not right to take the childrens bread and throw it to the dogs")
But look at her faith....
Jesus is her Lord v22, 25, 27
she kneels before him v25
she cries out to him v22, v23b
Jesus is the Son of David v22
He can have mercy on her v22
He can free her daughter from demons v22
He can help her v25
Jesus has a right to call her a dog v26-27a
Jesus is master v27b
Jesus is such a great master that she would even eat the crumbs from the table v27
So Jesus says "O woman, great is your faith!"
Monday, May 29, 2006
fear of..... (Matthew 14:26-33)
When the disciples were in the boat, Jesus walked on the water... they were scared of different things at different points during this episode... with different results
fear of the spiritual world (v26)......result.....cried out in fear (26b)
fear of the Lord (v28).......result..........walking on water (v29)
fear of the natural world (v30a)......result.......sinking (v30b)
I don't need to tell you which we should do, the results do that themselves
N.B there may be two others going on in this passage... (v24, v32-33) but have not worked that out yet..............
fear of the spiritual world (v26)......result.....cried out in fear (26b)
fear of the Lord (v28).......result..........walking on water (v29)
fear of the natural world (v30a)......result.......sinking (v30b)
I don't need to tell you which we should do, the results do that themselves
N.B there may be two others going on in this passage... (v24, v32-33) but have not worked that out yet..............
Monday, May 22, 2006
Jeremiah 18:18
"Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor councel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words"
Here we see a people proclaim that words will not perish from the prophet... little do they realise Jeremiah is the true prophet... so set out themselves to do what they want not to be done - "let us strike [Jeremiah] with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to his words"
Here we see a people proclaim that words will not perish from the prophet... little do they realise Jeremiah is the true prophet... so set out themselves to do what they want not to be done - "let us strike [Jeremiah] with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to his words"
W. Churchill
Sail on a ship of state,
Sail on O union strong and great,
humanity with all its fears,
with all the hopes of future years,
is hanging breathless on thy fate.
Sail on O union strong and great,
humanity with all its fears,
with all the hopes of future years,
is hanging breathless on thy fate.
What of my Affections for Christ?
Have been reading through the Religious Affections by one Jonathan Edwards...
"The world was ready to wonder what strange principle it was that influenced them to expose themselves to so great sufferings, to forsake the things that were seen, and renounce all that was dear and pleasant which was the object of sense. They seemed to the men of the world about them as though they were beside themselves, and to act as though they hated themselves; there was nothing in their view that could induce them thus to suffer, and support them under, and carry them through such trials. But although there was nothing that was seen, nothing that the world saw, or that the Christians themselves ever saw with their bodily eyes, that thus influenced and supported them, yet they had a supernatural principle of love to something unseen; they loved Jesus Christ, for they saw him spiritually whom the world saw not, and whom they themselves had never seen with bodily eyes"
He was working from 1 Peter 1:8
"The world was ready to wonder what strange principle it was that influenced them to expose themselves to so great sufferings, to forsake the things that were seen, and renounce all that was dear and pleasant which was the object of sense. They seemed to the men of the world about them as though they were beside themselves, and to act as though they hated themselves; there was nothing in their view that could induce them thus to suffer, and support them under, and carry them through such trials. But although there was nothing that was seen, nothing that the world saw, or that the Christians themselves ever saw with their bodily eyes, that thus influenced and supported them, yet they had a supernatural principle of love to something unseen; they loved Jesus Christ, for they saw him spiritually whom the world saw not, and whom they themselves had never seen with bodily eyes"
He was working from 1 Peter 1:8
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Piper's majestic blurb
Read the back cover of "Don't waste your life" by John Piper:
"I want to tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play soft ball and collect shells....' Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgement: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy.... "
He is right isn't he?
"I want to tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play soft ball and collect shells....' Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgement: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy.... "
He is right isn't he?
Zechariah's King Priest
Zechariah 6:9-13 .....
And the word of the LORD came to me: "Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And say to him, 'thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honour, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."'
And the word of the LORD came to me: "Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And say to him, 'thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honour, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."'
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
At his birth...
When Jesus Christ was born he was given a few names to help us understand who he was and that he might get the glory due him. Matthew records his names alongside the names of others in chapter 2:1-2... are we meant to compare them?
Jesus is: humans are:
king of the Jews (v2) - Herod the king (v1)
Shepherd of Israel (v6) - Cheif priests/scribes of the people (v4)
Ruler (v6) - Herod (v7)
a worshipped child (v11) - a mother (v11)
Let us respond like the WISE men : "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him" v10-11a
Jesus is: humans are:
king of the Jews (v2) - Herod the king (v1)
Shepherd of Israel (v6) - Cheif priests/scribes of the people (v4)
Ruler (v6) - Herod (v7)
a worshipped child (v11) - a mother (v11)
Let us respond like the WISE men : "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him" v10-11a
Yes but how does that change our lives Jean?
John Calvin did some wonderful work for the Lord. His doctrine helped us realise who we are in Christ: a living child. But did he do any work on how the Christian must live daily?... yes, and how:
"The Sum of the Christian Life: The denial of ourselves
We are not our own: let not our reason or our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours.
Conversely, we are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God’s: Let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal [“If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” – Rom . 14:8 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” – 1 Cor. 6:19]. O, how much has that man profited who, having been taught that he is not his own, has taken away dominion and rule from his own reason that he may yield it to God!"
May we yield to God
"The Sum of the Christian Life: The denial of ourselves
We are not our own: let not our reason or our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours.
Conversely, we are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God’s: Let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal [“If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” – Rom . 14:8 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” – 1 Cor. 6:19]. O, how much has that man profited who, having been taught that he is not his own, has taken away dominion and rule from his own reason that he may yield it to God!"
May we yield to God
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