Phil Lewis.
We have finally reached the end of our year of Daily Readings. I don’t know about you but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Thankyou if you have read any of the notes and my prayer is that many will have begun a great habit of reading the Bible every day. Our prayer has always been that people will start to read the Bible and apply it to their lives.
After a lot of thought and prayer I have decided not to continue with daily notes in 2016 for a number of reasons but mostly it’s because I have other responsibilities and I feel it’s time to give them a bit more attention. We do plan to run a couple series of Bible notes, possibly running up to Easter and Christmas etc. through 2016.
If you like the idea of daily readings there are a number available;
- Bible Gateway have a number of reading plans available.
- Soul Survivor have a Bible in a Year scheme with daily videos. It’s probably aimed at young people but some of us are young at heart anyway.
- You could just download a reading scheme and read an online commentary to support it such as the excellent Enduring Word Media.
I’ve been really encouraged by the response so thank you to all of the guest contributors (all of whom are very busy and have made time to do them) and of course the readers without whom it would be a pointless exercise. Most of all we should thank the Lord for giving us the Bible, it’s such a precious gift.
Thoughts
Come and dine. It’s a quote from the King James Version but it has more of a ring to it than the (more accurate) NIV’s ‘Come and have breakfast’. I know this was covered by Jackie yesterday but it does lead in to the conversation between Jesus and Peter. Jesus invited a failure to eat with him. It’s was a big deal to eat together in ancient times and there are a number of disputes in the New Testament as to who should eat together. Jesus’ invitation to Peter rings out across the centuries to other failures like me and perhaps you;
‘But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”’ (Luke 15:2)
Come and serve. Jesus had a plan for Peter even before he had denied his Lord (Luke 22:31-32). He instructed Peter three times to care for his sheep (21:15, 16, 17). There was work to be done and Peter had responsibilities and needed to put all of the training Jesus had given into practise. I think we can easily become absorbed with our own issues but Jesus’ method with Peter was to challenge him to follow in his Lord’s footsteps and serve others. It’s a basic principal of the Church of Jesus.
Come and die. Jesus explained to Peter what following him would mean. It would cost Peter his life. Peter’s response was to ask about John; what would happen to him? Jesus patiently drew Peter back to what really mattered; following. Jesus never promised that it would be easy but he promised that it would be worth it. The same goes for us, following Jesus is unlikely to cost your life as it may for our brothers and sisters in some parts of the world but it may cost you a job or a relationship. Paul, who knew something about suffering for the Gospel wrote in Romans 8:18;
‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.’
Reflections
Let us pray that we will truly follow Jesus in 2016, may his Spirit guide our actions and may we bring glory to the Father.
May God bless you in the coming year and please keep reading the Bible.
‘Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.’ (2 Peter 2:2-3)