Near

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”                                                                                                                                  Matt. 4.17

Matthew introduces Jesus’ ministry with the words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus starts with the very essence of the gospel message. God is close at hand and all the joy and wonder of His kingdom is available to those who will repent. In the world we move like lost souls striving to cut a path and make a place for ourselves. In time, we die, and all the worldly benefits we may have accrued mean nothing. God offers us a future, beyond death, of a glorious life with Him. Furthermore, He takes us into that life, giving us a taste of it from the moment we accept Him through confession and repentance. The fullness of this glorious life we will only know when this earthly life is done, but we can taste of it in the here and now.

The nature of repentance is one of changing direction, turning from the sinful ways of the world and giving ourselves to go God‘s way. I don’t always succeed in following the path God would have me journey, but He is merciful and kind in taking me back and restoring me into His way.

I have said that Jesus proclaimed the gospel message, in all its simplicity, at the very start of His ministry. He wasted no time. We ought to follow His lead, and waste no time in turning to Him, in confessing, repenting and seeking His way forward.

Lord God,

My prayer today is for those who don’t know You. Some may be seeking a change in direction. I pray for Holy Spirit prompting for these people, that they might clearly see the way forward, and take it.

I pray likewise for a supernatural prompting for those who seemingly want nothing to do with You. Show them the truth, and draw them into that truth.

I ask these things in Jesus’ name.            Amen.

Hunger

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”                                                                         Matt. 4.4

Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit of God. There He was tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights. He was therefore extremely hungry when the tempter encouraged Him to turn stones into bread. His response is quite extraordinary. He resisted the temptation. He was looking for something more satisfying than mere bread.

Jesus advocated living on every word that comes from the mouth of God. I am reminded of the times when I’ve heard said such things as, “They live on his every word.” It suggests a hunger to hear from that particular speaker. What he/she says is of such import that people, literally, “hunger” to hear them.

Hunger can manifest in a variety of ways. Obviously, I can hunger for food. I can also hunger for the company of my favourite people, for the pursuit of my most loved pastimes, or for the improvement of my standard of living.

What ever I may hunger for, let me remember Jesus’ response at this time. He would certainly have been hungry after forty days and nights without sustenance. Yet His appetite was more focused on obeying God’s voice that it was on receiving bodily nourishment. May I, like Jesus, “hunger” to hear my heavenly Father speak and to do whatever He might ask of me.

Loving Father,

Again my Lord Jesus shows the way. In the extreme of bodily hunger, His focus is on You. Please lead me in similar manner.

Your word encourages me to ask of You. I ask now for a hunger for every word that comes from Your mouth. I ask that You would speak of many things to me, and that I will hear, and willingly respond to, all that You would tell me. I thank You for Your love. I hunger to hear Your words.                  Amen.

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looking for…

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”                                  Mark 16.6

On that first Easter morning, the ladies were looking for Jesus. They knew what they were looking for. Jesus had been crucified. These faithful ladies were looking for the dead body in order to anoint it with spices.

Today many people are searching for Jesus but, unlike these faithful ladies of yesterday, they don’t exactly know what they’re looking for. They’re in search of salvation, but don’t realise that it will be found in only one place - the heart, and through one person - Jesus Christ.

Just like Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome, today’s seekers need to hear the words, “He has risen!” He has risen indeed. Sin and death have been conquered and the way to the Father, and to eternal life, re-established. O, that the glorious good news of the resurrection might ring out anew and afresh. May tired ears be opened to hear and may hardened hearts receive God’s revelation, and be softened!

Mighty God,

We all need to remember those amazing words of “He is risen!” and to comprehend the enormity of this event and what it means to us. It is earth-shattering and life-changing. May it never become stale or powerless.

I pray for all people, but my prayer today is especially for those who need You but don't know it. I pray for holy “suddenlies” in the lives of many people. May this be the time for You to draw them to You.

Righteous Father, I ask that You touch the world afresh. Pour out Holy Spirit presence and power. Let many, many see the reality of the glorious resurrection and know the truth of it for their own lives.

Bring the lost back to You, in Jesus’ name I ask.                 Amen.

Why?

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?” – which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”                      Mark 15.34

Theses are perhaps the most poignant words in the whole of the Holy Scriptures. The God Man is hanging on the cross paying the price for the sin of all humanity. The suffering is intense, extreme.

Jesus spent so much time with the Father. We are told that He did nothing by Himself, He did only what He saw the Father doing. So many times He left the crowds to withdraw to a quiet place where He could commune with the Father. His connection with the Father was absolutely everything to Him.

And now that connection is broken. My sin prevented Jesus from connecting with the Father in this most dire moment. My sin caused the Father to forsake His only, and much loved, Son.

The disciples had all deserted Jesus (14.50). This surely would have been so difficult to bear. But yet, there was the Father! The Father was always there. Remember the times of leaving the crowds behind and joining in sweet one-ness with the Father.

The weight of sin, rather than the beatings and the cruel nails, is what caused the agony and begins to drain the life away. And then, the Father turns away. I wonder if the emphasis in Jesus’ cry is: “…why have You forsaken me?” Perhaps He could excuse human frailty that caused His disciples to run. But He had always depended on the Father. The Father was always there for Him. Except for now. At this moment, the weight of sin – all sin of all time – would surely have registered in Him both the reality of humanity’s fallen-ness and the truth of His own sacrifice in reclaiming humanity from the clutches of sin. He alone carries the Father’s displeasure. Only God was capable of such a rescue. Yet, ironically God had to disown His own, for however momentarily or otherwise it might have been, in order to keep as His own all being of all time. We may be forever grateful for these heart-wrenching words “Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?” for they are the absolute guarantee of God’s words to us of:

                   Never will I leave you;

                   never will I forsake you.  (Heb. 13.5)

Holy God,

You gave Yourself for me. How can I ever thank You enough or repay You? And yet I continue to sin. I am tempted to think that I am in a “catch 22”. But these words break in and stir me out of any such maudlin state.  “Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?”

You have paid the full price. There is nothing more to be said or done. Except for those two seemingly inadequate words of “Thank You.” Sadly, I will continue to sin. I do not make this declaration in optimistic expectation, but rather in realistic comprehension. Yet Your word assures me that where sin increased, grace increased all the more (Rom. 5.20). You further tell me that Your grace is sufficient for me (2 Cor.12.9) I receive Your grace, Lord, and I continue to thank You and bless You that You care so much as  to bestow such grace, favour and love upon me.

I will never understand the extent and character of Your love for me. I can almost hear You say in response to this, “Don’t even try to understand. Simply accept.” Yes, Lord, I  accept; and in the simplest way possible – with an open heart and a yielded spirit.

Come, Lord, in Your gracious love. Fill me to overflowing with Your presence, for I open my heart and all of my being to You. Make me truly Your child. Let me know the wonder and joy of the Kingdom of heaven resident within me.

I look to the day ahead. I surrender to You and ask You to lead me forward. May we enjoy a day of deep and full communion.

Sweet Lord, I pray that You will enjoy me. I give myself over – body, mind, heart and spirit. Commune with me, I pray. Let us celebrate our eternal relationship in a day of sharing and caring. I thank You, and bring these thoughts and requests to You in Jesus’ precious name.             Amen.