Mission

Rather, as it is written:
“Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”                              Rom. 15.21

Paul is very much the believer missionary. His ambition was to preach the gospel message where Christ was not known. It is my belief that God commissioned him for this specific work. I believe, also, that God has a particular commission for all those He takes into Kingdom work. He will unfold for us what He desires us to do. I also think we will know, as God unfolds it, that we are meant to take the way that opens before us.

I admire Paul’s amazing work in the missionary field. For my part, I sense that God has called me more to disciple making. I am greatly moved to encourage people in the life Jesus offers us. I believe in healing of the broken and wounded, and release into a new life in Christ. Jesus calls us to follow Him. There are specifics in this, ways of behaviour by which we show the world that we are His followers. I give myself to embrace these ways in my own life, and I encourage others to do likewise.

It thrills me to know that I am part of God’s amazing ministerial network, where some are apostles, some are prophets, and others evangelists, pastors or teachers (Eph. 4.11). We each have a part to play. I pray to God that we will each respond, take hold and live out what He would have us do.

Lord, Mighty God,

I thank You for Paul’s great ministry. I thank You for the call I believe I have received. May all whom You call be willing to respond and serve You  long and faithfully.                        Amen.

Relationship

“The most important one,”  answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ”         Mark 12.30

One of the most significant realisations for the Christian believer is that we are made in God’s image and we were created to live in relationship with Him.

For me, this is the prime relationship. God comes first. He is above all and before all. Jesus accuses the church in Ephesus of forsaking their first love (Rev. 2.4). I pray that I may never do this. God now takes His place as my first love. He hasn’t always been this priority for me and, for this, I am heartily sorry.

I seek to love Him with every part of my being. There are times when I know I disappoint Him. I confess and repent of such times. I seek His forgiveness and His leading of me into a place of deep and ongoing communication with Him. I acknowledge that I need Him to  help me in this. I rejoice in those times of sweet communion between my Lord God and myself.

Holy Lord,

I love You, and my desire is for this love to be all-consuming and eliminating of everything in my life that would contaminate. Maybe this is a hope for heaven. Meanwhile I look to You in this earthly life. I ask You to be my protector and guide, my mentor and friend, and the greatest love I have ever known.

I give myself afresh to You today. Lead me through the day. Be in everything I do. Show me Your way. I pray that Your holy light will shine through me. Let me know the power of Your presence with me. May we do great things together.

I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Marriage!

“When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be  like the angels in heaven.” Mark 12.25

Marriage between a man and a woman is an earthly institution. It’s as if God has given us this special relationship as something of a worldly comfort. In this world we will not know Him with the fullness in which we join Him in eternity. So he has given us marriage for the meantime.

But in heaven we shall know Him beyond the veil. There will be complete openness. We shall see Him and we shall also be seen, in new life and light. In heaven we will enter into marriage with the Lamb, the Son of God - as His bride.  Earthly marriages will cease, and be replaced by the marriage that is above all others, our unique joining with our God and Lord.

There are hints of this marriage that is to come in our journey through life. As we are open, we may experience glimpses of divine bliss. However, these are the merest of touches as our fallen state prevents anything more. As well, if God were to reveal too much, our humble human condition would simply be unable to receive it.

I am content to receive, in this life, what God chooses to reveal to me. I also look forward, with great excitement, to the life - and the marriage - to come.

Lord God, 

I feel as if You are wooing me at this time. I give myself to this. Wooing is a time to get to know your lover. It is also a time of preparation for the sweet union that is to come.

I sense that You know me quite well. I pray that You would lead me into a deeper knowing of You. I ask that You might draw me closer. I am being prepared for an eternity of the sweetest relationship with You. I see that this could be a deep activity. 

I give myself wholeheartedly to You. Have Your way in me and with me. May we, together, enjoy the present as we look to eternity. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

Discernment

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.”         Mark 12.17

The requirement to pay taxes to the Roman government may have seemed highly offensive to a number of the Jews. In His response to the opposition’s question, Jesus simplifies the situation. State obligations do not necessarily infringe on the believer’s obligations to God.

I see Jesus’ response as encouragement to look further into any situation where there may appear to be conflict between what I believe and what the world asks of me. It seems to me that Jesus saw no real conflict in paying Roman taxes. The religious leaders might have sought to cause dissension and unrest through this issue, which would clearly have been mischievous. 

Another aspect speaks to me in the area of my faith. I address this by adapting Jesus’ reply to: ‘Give to God what is God’s and to Satan what is Satan’s.’ In other words, don’t put on God the work of Satan.

I think the one word that is significant in respect to separating and understanding what is God’s as distinct to what is the world’s, and what is God’s as opposed to what is Satan’s, is the word discernment.

Oh, that I could discern truth as Jesus did!

Lord God,

I thank You for the insight I have gained today into the discernment that my Lord Jesus exercised. 

I ask also for discernment. Help me to distinguish between what is of the world and what is of You. Let me clearly see the difference between Your ways and the wiles of the devil. May I clearly see the difference and may I be able to assign to each the priority and importance relative to them.

Let me not place the things of the world before You in importance. May I always be able to see what is of the devil and to treat  it accordingly. Jesus did always what He thought You would have Him do. May I do likewise. I ask this in His holy and true name. Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

Build up

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

      Rom. 14.19

Paul has spoken at length against the negatives and he has now moved on to the positives.

His present encouragement is to do that which leads to peace, and which builds us up. We can so very easily slip into critical mode, and, before we fully realise it, we are pulling each other down.

When I reach out to another in genuine peace, I have their wellbeing in mind. Also, as I do so, I build them up (I edify them) but I am also strengthened and fulfilled myself. The action is mutually beneficial; all parties are edified. How good is this approach! Yet how easy it is to miss it, and to lapse into negative behaviour.

Paul’s encouragement is to make every effort. There may be times when very little effort is required for me to edify another. Conversely, I could encounter times of real challenge, when I am called to stretch myself, making every effort - and likely some sacrifice as well.

Am I willing to do this? I’d like to think so. Yet, as in so much of my living now, I sense that I will most certainly require input from God. As I allow, He will equip, enable and lead me in actions that will help and bless others - and result in our mutual edification.

Lord God, 

I hear what You’re telling me through Paul. I give myself to this exhortation to make every effort to reach out to others in affirming manner.

As with many things, I ask for Your help. When it’s not clear to me, please show me the way. Equip, enable and lead me to do what You would have me do. Thank You. Amen.

Persistence

He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, “They will respect my son.” Mark 12.6

What struck me as I read this particular verse from the parable of the tenants is the absolute persistence of the owner. Servant after servant was rejected, abused and ill-treated, and yet he would not give up.

Traditionally, and quite rightly, the story is seen to illustrate God’s giving of His Son in His great love for His creation of humanity. But I’m particularly picking up today the absolute focus and intensity of God’s desire to rescue humanity. I know we have a choice yet I do not hear God say, “If you want it, salvation is here. But it’s really up to you.” No, rather it is as if He says, “I will not give up. I will pursue you to the ends of the earth. I love you and want you to receive and enjoy the very best I have for you. I will not give up until I have won you.”

He pursued me - and I was not aware of it. I  am so grateful God persisted. My prayer now is for more. May God draw me closer and take me even deeper in Him. Hallelujah!

Holy God, Loving Father,

Thank You for pursuing me. I moved so far away from You that You meant nothing to me. Yet, all the while, I can see myself as paramount in your eyes. Thank You for persisting and drawing me back to You.

I respect You and seek to honour You with all of my being. I respectfully, yet somewhat recklessly, ask for more of You. Fill me, please, to overflowing. Let me know the fullness of Your Spirit in me. Allow me, lead me to minister out of that fullness. May I touch people with that same love that You have touched me. I ask for miracles and wonders to flow from the touch of love that I minister in Your grace and with Your Spirit.

I am in earnest for these things and ask them, believing, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do not...and do!

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in you brother’s way. Rom. 14.13

To cease passing judgment on others is one action ( or is it a non-action?) that Paul highlights for me. His next words are similarly “passive” - do not do anything that might cause him to stumble.

I am reminded of the Ten Commandments given to Moses on the mountain. I call them the negative commandments, for each one is a “Do not …” Likewise, in this present verse: do not pass judgment; do not place a stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

I am mindful of these “do nots” and I will endeavour to abide by them in my relationships, in all my relationships. Let me never seek to cause harm, injury or a “stumbling” to others.

I remember also the two commandments that Jesus gave. I see these as summarising the earlier ten commandments, but they do so in positive way. These are the “Do…”  encouraging  commandments: Do love God with all of your being, and Do love your neighbour (any person with whom you have some form of contact) as you would wish to be loved and treated yourself. 

Let me remember the “Do-nots”, but let me also apply myself to loving others in positive words and acts. As I combine these behaviours I just might spread God’s love and His invitation into relationship.

Almighty and Most Loving God,

Help me, please, to live out the “Do not” and also the “Do” commandments in my life. 

I ask for the presence and empowering of Your Holy Spirit that I might live, more and more, in ways that will please and delight You. 

Lead me through this day, and beyond. Amen.