I can testify to the truth of Selwyn’s following words: ‘One of the reasons why we get spiritually run down and out of sorts is because we spend our lives responding to what others want us to do rather than finding out what God wants us to do – and sticking to it.’

My focus is now entirely on what God wants me to do, this change in focus has renewed my determination to listen to God. It has also given me a greater awareness of the joy that comes from completing the work He has given me to do.

Do you sometimes find it hard to find the time to listen to God in our busy world?

 

There was not much in today’s study that stood out for me – I’ve little interest in how some sects interpret Jesus.

The one sentence that shines out, is, ‘Jesus gives God a face, and that face is towards us – always.’

The following verses make it really clear to anyone, that Jesus is God. Hebrews 1:10-12 (Good News Bible) ‘He also said, “You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens. They will disappear, but you will remain; they will wear out like clothes. You will fold them like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes. But you are always the same, and your life never ends.”

From my own personal experience, I know Jesus is God; it’s not a belief which I can doubt. It is also my view that it was Jesus who walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. What do you think about this specific issue?

 

Selwyn’s statement that: ‘Idols are an expression of a universal tendency – the tendency to put something in the place of God.’  – I think, tells us that today, idols are still an important issue for us to deal with.

He goes on to say something which I think would shock many readers; “There is nothing worse than Christian idolatry – that is, when we don’t go as far as to reject God: we simply put something else at the centre and God is then marginalised. There He can influence our lives only faintly – and the result is weakness and immaturity.”

Divided loyalty, can be a difficult issue to deal with, because I feel it can happen with a Christian over a long period of time. We spend more and more time pursueing a career or raising children, resulting in less and less time, in seeking God’s loving presence in our lives.

Placing God first with undivided loyalty ensures that all other aspects of our lives (e.g. career & family) will blossum and bear fruit.

Psalm 16: 5-9, I think, captures the essence and outcomes of undivided loyalty: “You, Lord are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are! I praise the Lord, because he guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me. I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; he is near and nothing can shake me. And, so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure ”

How do you deal with the ‘idols’ that come into your life?

Selwyn’s answer is: ”a Christian is someone who has eternal life. This is the primary reason why God sent His Son into the world – ‘that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him’ (John 17:2)”. The next verse in John goes on to say:”Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

As Selwyn says, ‘Eternal life, then, consists in knowing God.’

This additional extract expresses this important point in a simple and accurate way; ‘Everyone who comes into this world is spiritually dead. Though people are alive to the world they are dead to God. None of us can produce the life of God in our soul by self-effort, and thus no one can make himself or herself a Christian. Salvation is a gift, not something we merit or earn. And there is only one Person who can give us this gift – Jesus Christ Himself.’

I’ve repeated a lot of what Selwyn has written for today – because it’s an important message – it’s expressed concisely and his language is to the point.

It’s a message that we all should reflect upon – everyday of our lives - so that we can live each day of our life, in gratitude for the gift that we have received. What do you think?

Today, Selwyn continues with the theme that our salvation was forethought, foreseen and foreordained.

I agree with his introductory comment that this is one of the greatest and most profound truths found anywhere in Scripture.

What’s your view on the fact that as a follower of Jesus you are an inheritor of a kingdom that was established before the foundation of the world?

For me, the key thought for today is, ‘ … God had a Lamb before He had a man, and the Lamb was waiting to deal with the effects of humanity’s fall (see John 1:29). There was a cross set up in eternity before there was a cross set up on the hill called Calvary.’

Again, we are confronted with the truth that God has choosen us and it’s His call, which we respond to.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, covers this important fact, better than I could:-

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1: 4-8 NIV)

I find it difficult to comprehend that before time began, my salvation had already been planned – it goes back to that unresolvable dilemma between our exercise of free will and the concept of pre-destination.

At the end-of-the-day, I just have to admit that I don’t understand it, and as I know that we have a just and loving God -  it has been taken care of, in His perfect way.

How do you handle this issue?