MONDAY 13th FEBRUARY 1984
JESUS CHANGES OUR VALUES
COMMENTARY - Mr Hunt
Last week we read about a little boy who shared his lunch and about a rich tax collector, who gave away more than half his wealth. It was Jesus who changed the values of these people. Our 30 Hour Famine Bible Study book comments that poverty is to a large extent caused by people doing their own selfish and greedy thing. Jesus changes that. Here are some examples of his teaching:
Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 English - Raymond Chinese - Viane
Love Your Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Reading: John 3:5 English - Vera Chinese - Vivien
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Reading: John 3:16 English - Vera Chinese - Vivien
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
COMMENTARY- Mr Hunt
The only way to change our values and attitudes is to replace a deep affection for and attachment to selfishness with a deeper affection for and attachment to Jesus Christ. But, such an affection makes demands upon us. We cannot say we love Jesus, and yet ignore the needs of other human beings. The next reading shows how important Jesus felt our attitudes towards other people were.
Reading: John 21:15-17 English - Stephen Chinese - Cindy
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
NEWS
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us to replace our attachment to ourselves
with a deep affection for Jesus Christ.
In Jesus' Name we pray.
A-men
