Les
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Post by Les on Jan 14, 2023 6:07:51 GMT 9
Good News for All By: Anne Le Tissier
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I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22
Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Corinthians 9:19â23
Mary Sumner (1828â1921), founder of the Motherâs Union, was so nervous about speaking at her first meeting that she asked her clergyman husband to step in. But his gentle encouragement and her passion to help mothers from all kinds of backgrounds helped her overcome her fears. The meetings helped mothers support each other while Mary taught them how to know and live well for Christ.
A prayer she wrote and prayed daily reflects her heart: âAll this day, O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for You.â Maryâs prayer affirmed her belief that the good news of Jesus is for all people. In this she followed the Apostle Paul, who wrote, âI have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save someâ (1 Corinthians 9:22). While staying true to Jesus, Paul accommodated himself to the various people he engaged with: Jews, God-fearers or unbelievers; the confident, broken or demoralised (see vv. 20â23). Compelled by Christâs love, Paul gave generously of himself all for the sake of the gospel (v. 23).
Seeing individuals as Jesus sees them inspires us to reach all kinds of people: those we donât usually associate with at work. The neighbour whoâs still a stranger. The unknown friends we could make in the group weâve just joined. No matter how different we might feel, we can share the blessing of Christ with them.
Reflect & Pray
What holds you back from engaging with others? What experiences or interests could help you build bridges with people you donât know?
Heavenly Father, please help me to love people who are different to me. As I grow to know them, help me to bring them Your truth, love and support.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In todayâs text, Paul illustrates his point with references to running. The Corinthians were very familiar with these word pictures because Corinth was home to the Isthmian gamesâa competition second only to the ancient Olympics. As Jesus illustrated His teaching with ideas familiar to His Jewish audience (farming, fishing, etc.), Paul utilized ideas familiar to his readers/hearers as well. To the sports-conscious people of Corinth, he talked about athletics. To the intellectuals of Athens, Paul quoted Greek poets (Acts 17:28). This is a reminder that teaching isnât simply about dispensing information; itâs also about encouraging understanding by making the ideas relevant to oneâs audience.
Bill Crowder
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
King James Version
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 15, 2023 6:18:28 GMT 9
A New Beginning By: Monica La Rose
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Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.
Psalm 120:2
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 120:1â121:2
âChristian consciousness begins in the painful realisation that what we had assumed was the truth is in fact a lie,â Eugene Peterson wrote in his powerful reflections on Psalm 120. Psalm 120 is the first of the âpsalms of ascentâ (Psalms 120â134) sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. And as Peterson explored this in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, these psalms also offer us a picture of the spiritual journey towards God.
That journey can only begin with profound awareness of our need for something different. As Peterson puts it, âA person has to be thoroughly disgusted with the way things are to find the motivation to set out on the Christian way. . . . [One] has to get fed up with the ways of the world before he, before she, acquires an appetite for the world of grace.â
Itâs easy to become discouraged by the brokenness and despair we see in the world around usâthe pervasive ways our culture often shows callous disregard for the harm being done to others. Psalm 120 laments this honestly: âI am for peace; but when I speak, they are for warâ (v. 7).
But thereâs healing and freedom in realising that our pain can also awaken us to a new beginning through our only help, the Saviour who can guide us from destructive lies into paths of peace and wholeness (121:2). As we enter this new year, may we seek Him and His ways.
Reflect & Pray
How have you become accustomed to destructive ways? How does the gospel invite you into ways of peace?
Loving God, help me yearn for and work for Your ways of peace through the power of Your Spirit.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalms 120 and 121 are among the Psalms or Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120â134), which were most likely memorised and sung as the Israelites travelled to Jerusalem for the feasts of Passover (Unleavened Bread), Weeks, and Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16). Some of these ascent psalms are assigned to David (Psalms 122, 124, 131, 133) and one is attributed to Solomon ( Psalm 127), but most have no listed author. This diverse group of psalms includes lament psalms, thanksgiving psalms, a royal psalm, wisdom psalms, and more. Yet although they may not have been written to be used as ascent psalms, they were later used for that purpose. Psalm 120 is an individual psalm written by someone far from home longing for the peace of Jerusalem (vv. 5â7), while the reassuring words of Psalm 121 instil confidence in pilgrims making the journey to Jerusalem. Today, the Psalms of Ascent continue to be significant in worship for both Jews and believers in Jesus.
Alyson Kieda
Psalm 120:1-121:2
King James Version
120 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
King James Version (KJV)
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 16, 2023 6:08:03 GMT 9
From Lament to Praise By: Glenn Packiam
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I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
Habakkuk 3:18
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Habakkuk 3:17â19
Monica prayed feverishly for her son to return to God. She wept over his wayward ways and even tracked him down in the various cities where he chose to live. The situation seemed hopeless. Then one day it happened: her son had a radical encounter with God. He became one of the greatest theologians of the church. We know him as Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
âHow long, Lord?â (Habakkuk 1:2). The prophet Habakkuk lamented Godâs inaction regarding the people in power who perverted justice (v. 4). Think of the times weâve turned to God in desperationâexpressing our laments due to injustice, a seemingly hopeless medical journey, ongoing financial struggles or children whoâve walked away from God.
Each time Habakkuk lamented, God heard his cries. As we wait in faith, we can learn from the prophet to turn our lament into praise, for he said, âI will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviourâ (3:18 italics added). He didnât understand Godâs ways, but he trusted Him. Both lament and praise are acts of faith, expressions of trust. We lament as an appeal to God based on His character. And our praise of Him is based on who He isâour amazing, almighty God. One day, by His grace, every lament will turn to praise.
Reflect & Pray
What are your laments today? How can you turn them into praise?
Dear Jesus, remind me of who You are and of what Youâve done in my life.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Habakkukâs prophecy records a dialogue between God and the prophet over the spiritual condition or desperate need of His people. That conversation includes the great statement of Habakkuk 2:4ââthe righteous person will live by his faithfulnessââwhich is referenced three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Habakkuk 3, however, is different. It has the characteristics of a psalm, even to the point of including musical instructions for how it was to be presentedââOn shigionoth â (v. 1). One scholar says this description refers to highly emotional poetry. Also, some translations add the term Selah at the end of verses 3, 9, and 13âa term often used in psalms. Finally, in verse 19, additional instructions are offered: âFor the director of music. On my stringed instruments.â As such, this song becomes a good example of a national or corporate lament (see the Insight for January 3).
Bill Crowder
Habakkuk 3:17-19
King James Version
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 17, 2023 5:14:00 GMT 9
The âChewingâ Years By: James Banks
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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6
Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Peter 2:1â11
My wife recently gave me a Labrador retriever puppy we named Max. One day when Max was spending time with me in my study, I was concentrating at my desk and heard the sound of paper ripping behind me. I turned to find a guilty-looking puppy with a book wide open and a page dangling from his mouth.
Our veterinarian tells us that Max is going through his âchewing yearsâ. As puppies lose their milk teeth and permanent ones grow, they soothe their gums by chewing almost anything. We have to watch Max carefully to ensure he isnât gnawing on something that could harm him, and we point him to healthy alternatives.
Maxâs urge to chewâand my responsibility to watch himâcause me to think about what we âchew onâ in our minds and hearts. Do we carefully consider what we are feeding our eternal souls when we read or surf the web or watch TV? The Bible encourages us, âLike 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 goodâ (1 Peter 2:2â3). We need to fill ourselves daily with Godâs Word and truth if we are to thrive as followers of Christ. Only then can we grow to maturity in Him.
Reflect & Pray
What âhungersâ are seeking your attention today? How could you take a step towards hungering for more of Godâs Word?
Loving Lord, help me to hunger for You and Your Word and to stay away from that which harms me. Fill me with Your goodness today.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Scripture often uses food metaphors to describe its value. Peter urges us to adopt the attitude and appetite of hungry ânewborn babies . . . [who] crave pure spiritual milkâ so that we âwill grow into a full experience of salvationâ (1 Peter 2:2 NLT). As we grow and mature, we move from drinking milk to eating âsolid foodâ (1 Corinthians 3:2), or âsolid food is for the matureâ (Hebrews 5:14). Jesus said, âMan shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Godâ ( Matthew 4:4). Job treasured the words of God more than his âdaily breadâ (Job 23:12). Ezekiel ate Godâs words to satisfy his hunger, testifying, âSo I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honeyâ (Ezekiel 3:3). We can emulate Jeremiahâs excitement and satisfaction: âWhen I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heartâs delightâ (Jeremiah 15:16 NLT).
K. T. Sim
1 Peter 2:1-11
King James Version
2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 18, 2023 6:02:00 GMT 9
Never Late By: Patricia Raybon
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Your brother will rise again.
John 11:23
Today's Scripture & Insight:
John 11:17â27
As a foreign visitor to a small West African town, my pastor made sure to arrive on time for a 10 a.m. Sunday service. Inside the church building, however, he found the meeting room empty. So he waited. One hour. Two hours. Finally, at about 12:30 p.m., when the local pastor arrived after his long walk thereâfollowed by some choir members and a gathering of friendly town peopleâthe service began âin the fullness of time,â as my pastor later said. âThe Spirit welcomed us, and God wasnât late.â My pastor understood the culture was different there for its own good reasons.
Time seems relative, but Godâs perfect, on-time nature is affirmed throughout the Scriptures. Thus, after Lazarus got sick and died, Jesus arrived four days later, with Lazarusâ sisters asking why. âLord,â Martha said to Jesus, âif you had been here, my brother would not have diedâ (John 11:21). We may think the same, wondering why God doesnât hurry to fix our problems. Better instead to wait by faith for His answers and power.
As theologian Howard Thurman wrote, âWe wait, our Father, until at last something of thy strength becomes our strength, something of thy heart becomes our heart, something of thy forgiveness becomes our forgiveness. We wait, O God, we wait.â Then, as with Lazarus, when God responds, weâre miraculously blessed by what wasnât, after all, a delay.
Reflect & Pray
What are you waiting for God to do or provide on your behalf? How can you wait by faith?
For you, Father, I wait. Grant me Your strength and faithful hope in my waiting.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Jewish customs mandated a corpse be buried within twenty-four hours of death. In John 11, weâre told that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days when Jesus arrived (vv. 17, 39) to show the magnitude of the miracle. This wasnât an emergency situation where a person in cardiac arrest was successfully resuscitated. Lazarus was well past the timeframe for this. Jesus had previously raised two other dead persons (Luke 7:11â17; 8:49â56 ), but these resurrections took place before decomposition of the bodies had begun. According to rabbinic beliefs, the spirit of the deceased hovers around the body for three days in the hope of reuniting with it. But the spirit will finally leave when the body has decomposed. This would have been the case for Lazarus: âBy this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four daysâ (John 11:39).
K. T. Sim
John 11:17-27
King James Version
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 19, 2023 5:09:57 GMT 9
Heart Problem By: Tim Gustafson
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The Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!
Ezekiel 14:6
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Ezekiel 14:1â8
âDo you see it, brother Tim?â My friend, a Ghanaian pastor, flashed his torchlight on a carved object leaning against a mud hut. Quietly he said, âThat is the village idol.â Each Tuesday evening, Pastor Sam travelled into the bush to share the Bible in this remote village.
In the book of Ezekiel, we see how idolatry plagued the people of Judah. When Jerusalemâs leaders came to see the prophet Ezekiel, God told him, âThese men have set up idols in their heartsâ (Ezekiel 14:3). God wasnât merely warning them against idols carved of wood and stone. He was showing them that idolatry is a problem of the heart. We all struggle with it.
Bible teacher Alistair Begg describes an idol as âanything other than God that we regard as essential to our peace, our self-image, our contentment or our acceptability.â Even things that have the appearance of being noble can become idols to us. When we seek comfort or self-worth from anything other than the living God, we commit idolatry.
âRepent!â God said. âTurn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!â (v. 6). Israel proved incapable of doing this. Thankfully, God had the solution. Looking forward to the coming of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, He promised, âI will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in youâ (36:26). We canât do this alone.
Reflect & Pray
When stress hits you, where do you turn for comfort? What might you need to turn away from today?
Father, show me the idols in my heart. Then help me destroy them and live in Your love.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
As part of their subjugation strategy, the Babylonians forcibly exiled Jewish royalty, military leaders, and skilled workers to Babylon (2 Kings 24:10â16; Daniel 1:1â5), including the prophet and priest Ezekiel. He was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon when he started ministering (Ezekiel 1:1â3) to the Jews in exile (3:11) as well as to those still residing in Judah (12:10 ). After condemning the false prophets who taught that God wouldnât punish His people for their sins (chs. 12â13), Ezekiel confronted the Jewish leaders for their hypocrisy and idolatry and urged Godâs people to repent and turn from their idols (14:1â8).
K. T. Sim
Ezekiel 14:1-8
King James Version
14 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself:
8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 20, 2023 4:46:03 GMT 9
But Iâm Telling You By: John Blase
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But I tell you, love your enemies.
Matthew 5:44
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Matthew 5:43â48
âI know what theyâre saying. But Iâm telling you . . .â As a boy, I heard my mother give that speech a thousand times. The context was always peer pressure. She was trying to teach me not to follow the herd. Iâm not a boy any longer, but herd mentalityâs still alive and kicking. A current example is this phrase: âOnly surround yourself with positive people.â Now while that phrase may be commonly heard, the question we must ask is: âIs that Christ-like?â
âBut Iâm telling you . . .â Jesus uses that lead-in a number of times in Matthew 5. He knows full well what the world is constantly telling us. But His desire is that we live differently. In this case, He says, âLove your enemies and pray for those who persecute youâ (v. 44). Later in the New Testament, the apostle Paul uses the word âenemiesâ to describe guess who? Thatâs right: usââwhile we were Godâs enemiesâ (Romans 5:10). Far from some âdo as I say, not as I doâ sentiment, Jesus backed up His words with actions. He loved us, and gave His life for us.
What if Christ had only made room in His life for âpositive peopleâ? Where would that leave us? Thanks be to God that His love is no respecter of persons. For God so loved the world, and in His strength we are called to do likewise.
Reflect & Pray
Whenâs the last time someone extended love to you when you werenât âpositiveâ? Whatâs a tangible way today that you can show love to an enemy?
Father, itâs tempting to surround myself with only those who love me. But thatâs not living, at least not the kind of living You desire for me. Help me to love even my enemies.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5â7) was a corrective to the teaching and practices of popular religion in His day. Thus, He repeatedly said, âYou have heard that it was said . . . . But I tell youâ (5:21â44). Of note is His command to âbe perfectâ (v. 48). As with the other commands, Christ calls His followers to a higher standard. However, the perfection thatâs in view isnât moral perfection (sinlessness). The Greek word teleios (from telos ), translated âperfect,â means âcompletenessâ or âmaturity,â something arriving at an intended end. Jesus calls His followers to ârelationalâ maturityâan indiscriminate, mature love like the love of the heavenly Father. Itâs a love thatâs undeterred by pedigree or label, the kind of love modelled by the Samaritan in the parable in Luke 10:25â37.
Arthur Jackson
Matthew 5:43-48
King James Version
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 21, 2023 5:36:53 GMT 9
Love like Blazing Fire By: Winn Collier
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[Love] burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
Song of Songs 8:6
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Song of Songs 8:5â7
Poet, painter and printmaker William Blake enjoyed a forty-five-year marriage with his wife, Catherine. From their wedding day until his death in 1827, they worked side by side. Catherine added colour to Williamâs sketches, and their devotion endured years of poverty and other challenges. Even in his final weeks as his health failed, Blake kept at his art, and his final sketch was his wifeâs face. Four years later, Catherine died clutching one of her husbandâs pencils in her hand.
The Blakesâ vibrant love offers a reflection of the love discovered in the Song of Songs. And while the Songâs description of love certainly has implications for marriage, early believers in Jesus believed it also points to Jesusâ unquenchable love for all His followers. The Song describes a love âas strong as death,â which is a remarkable metaphor since death is as final and unescapable a reality as humans will ever know (8:6). This strong love âburns like blazing fire, like a mighty flameâ (v. 6) And unlike fires weâre familiar with, these flames canât be doused, not even by a deluge. âMany waters cannot quench love,â the Song insists (v. 7).
Who among us doesnât desire true love? The Song reminds us that whenever we encounter genuine love, God is the ultimate source. And in Jesus, each of us can know a profound and undying loveâone that burns like a blazing fire.
Reflect & Pray
Where have you encountered strong love? How does Jesusâ love encourage you?
Dear God, please help me to receive Your love and share it with others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Scholars have long had difficulty interpreting Song of Songs (also called Song of Solomon). Perhaps uncomfortable with its theme of intimate love, many have attempted to turn the bookâs storyline into allegory. Most scholars today, however, view the song as a description of physical love between a man and a woman. In todayâs reading (8:5â7), the woman initiates the intimacy. Her reference to the âseal over your heartâ (v. 6) represents her desire to claim mutual ownership of her beloved. She has exclusive rights to him and all that he has, as he also has those rights with her.
The book can also be viewed as symbolic in representing genuine marital love as a complete commitment to each other. This comprises an apt representation of the church as the bride of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 11:2).
Tim Gustafson
Song of Solomon 8:5-7
King James Version
5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 22, 2023 5:46:07 GMT 9
Coffee Breath By: Adam Holz
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Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Ephesians 4:1â5, 25â31
I was sitting in my chair one morning years ago when my youngest came downstairs. She made a beeline for me, jumping up onto my lap. I gave her a fatherly squeeze and a gentle kiss on the head, and she squealed with delight. But then she furrowed her brow, crinkled her nose and shot an accusatory glance at my coffee mug. âDaddy,â she announced solemnly. âI love you, and I like you, but I donât like your smell.â
My daughter couldnât have known it, but she spoke with grace and truth: she didnât want to hurt my feelings, but she felt compelled to tell me something. And sometimes we need to do that in our relationships.
In Ephesians 4, Paul zones in on how we relate to each otherâespecially when telling difficult truths. âBe completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in loveâ (v. 2). Humility, gentleness and patience form our relational foundation. Cultivating those character qualities as God guides us will help us â[speak] the truth in loveâ (v. 15) and seek to communicate âwhat is helpful for building others up according to their needsâ (v. 29).
No one likes being confronted about weaknesses and blind spots. But when something about us âsmellsâ, God can use faithful friends to speak into our lives with grace, truth, humility and gentleness.
Reflect & Pray
When has someone gently confronted you? What do you think is most important when you lovingly address a weakness you see in others?
Father, help me to humbly receive correction, and help me to offer it with love, grace and gentleness.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
On his third missionary journey, Paul spent three years teaching the believers in Ephesus (Acts 19; 20:31). Some six years later, concerned for their spiritual well-being and maturity, he wrote from a Roman prison (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; 6:20) reminding them how God had so richly and graciously blessed them (1:3). After extolling the privileges, position, and possessions they had because of Jesus (chs. 1â3 ), the apostle instructed them to âlive a life worthy of [their] callingâ (4:1), an exhortation that Paul similarly made to the Philippian (1:27), Colossian (1:10), and Thessalonian believers (1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:11). The Ephesian believers were to be like Christ in how they treated one anotherâhumble, gentle, patient, forbearing, loving, encouraging, kind, compassionate, and forgiving ( Ephesians 4:2, 29â32).
K. T. Sim
Ephesians 4:1-5
King James Version
4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 23, 2023 5:16:17 GMT 9
Reaching Out By: Kimya Loder
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He reached down from on high and took hold of me.
Psalm 18:16
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 18:16â19
In a recent post, blogger Bonnie Gray recounted the moment when overwhelming sadness began to creep into her heart. âOut of the blue,â she stated, âduring the happiest chapter in my life, . . . I suddenly started experiencing panic attacks and depression.â Gray tried to find different ways to address her pain, but she soon realised that she wasnât strong enough to handle it alone. âI hadnât wanted anyone to question my faith, so I kept quiet and prayed that my depression would go away. But God wants to heal us, not shame us or make us hide from our pain.â Gray found healing in the solace of His presence; He was her anchor amid the waves that threatened to overwhelm her.
When weâre in a low place and filled with despair, God is there and will sustain us too. In Psalm 18, David praised God for delivering him from the low place he was in after nearly being defeated by his enemies. He proclaimed, â[God] reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep watersâ (v. 16). Even in moments when despair seems to consume us like crashing waves in an ocean, God loves us so much that Heâll reach out to us and help us, bringing us into a âspacious placeâ of peace and security (v. 19). Letâs look to Him as our refuge when we feel overwhelmed by the challenges of life.
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt overwhelmed by trials? How did God sustain you?
Heavenly Father, there are times when my burdens become too much to carry. Thank You for continuously reaching out to me, sustaining me and granting me Your peace, strength and wisdom.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Because of Davidâs success and popularity (1 Samuel 17; 18:15â16), the jealous King Saul tried to kill him (18:10â11). On the run for his life, David sought refuge in mountains and caves (22:1; 23:26; 24:3). But David was mindful that it was God who delivered, protected, and kept him safe. Out of his experience as a fugitive, he wrote Psalm 18 as a thanksgiving song, as noted in the superscription: âOf David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.â This song is also found in 2 Samuel 22. David used various metaphors to describe who God was to him: a rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn of salvation, stronghold, and saviour (Psalm 18:2â3)âall pictures of protection, security, deliverance, and safety.
K. T. Sim
Psalm 18:16-19
King James Version
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 24, 2023 5:16:29 GMT 9
Lost, Found, Joy By: James Banks
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Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.
Luke 15:6
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Luke 15:1â10
âThey call me âthe ringmasterâ. So far this year Iâve found 167 lost rings.â
During a walk on the beach with my wife, Cari, we struck up a conversation with an older man who was using a metal detector to scan an area just below the surf line. âSometimes rings have names on them,â he explained, âand I love seeing their ownersâ faces when I return them. I post online and check to see if anyone contacted lost and found. Iâve found rings missing for years.â When we mentioned that I enjoy metal detecting as well but didnât do it frequently, his parting words were, âYou never know unless you go!â
We find another kind of âsearch and rescueâ in Luke 15. Jesus was criticised for caring about people who were far from God (vv. 1â2). In reply, He told three stories about things that were lost and then foundâa sheep, a coin and a son. The man who finds the lost sheep âjoyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, âRejoice with meâ â (Luke 15:5â6). All the stories are ultimately about finding lost people for Christ, and the joy that comes as theyâre found in Him.
Jesus came âto seek and to save the lostâ (19:10), and He calls us to follow Him in loving people back to God (see Matthew 28:19). The joy of seeing others turn to Him awaits. Weâll never know unless we go.
Reflect & Pray
What joy have you seen when people turn to God? How will you point others to Jesusâ love today?
Thank You, Jesus, for finding and loving me! Please send me in Your joy to another who needs You today.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Tax collectors were seen as betraying their people by colluding with the Roman government. Many tax collectors abused their role by taking more money than required for taxes and keeping the surplus for themselves (Luke 3:12â13). Scholars arenât sure what specifically caused people to be labelled âsinnersâ (15:1), but these persons too would have been excluded from the religious community.
Luke portrays these social and religious outcasts sympathetically. Tax collectors came to John the Baptist eager to know how to repent (3:12). Jesus called Levi the tax collector to follow Him, and Levi immediately did, then hosted a banquet for Him (5:27â30). A woman the Pharisees described as a sinner (7:39) is praised by Christ for her faith (v. 50). Luke argued that those who know theyâre sinners are most likely to hear and follow Jesus ( 5:31â32; 15:1).
Monica La Rose
Luke 15:1-10
King James Version
15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 25, 2023 4:47:31 GMT 9
No Loss By: Karen Huang
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The kingdom of heaven is like treasure.
Matthew 13:44
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Matthew 13:44â46
My friend Ruel attended a school reunion held in a former classmateâs home. The waterfront mansion could accommodate two hundred attendees, and it made Ruel feel small.
âIâve had many happy years of pastoring remote rural churches,â Ruel told me, âand even though I know I shouldnât, I couldnât help but feel envious of my classmateâs material wealth. My thoughts strayed to how different life might be if Iâd used my degree to become a businessman instead.â
âBut I later reminded myself thereâs nothing to feel envious about,â Ruel continued with a smile. âI invested my life in serving God, and the results will last for eternity.â Iâll always remember the peaceful look on his face as he said those words.
Ruel drew peace from Jesusâ parables in Matthew 13:44â46. He knew that Godâs kingdom is the ultimate treasure. Seeking and living for His kingdom might take various forms. For some, it might mean full-time ministry, while for others, it may be living out the gospel in a secular workplace. Regardless of how God chooses to use us, we can continue to trust and obey His leading, knowing, like the men in Jesusâ parables, the value of the imperishable treasure weâve been given. Everything in this world has infinitely less worth than all we gain by following God (1 Peter 1:4â5).
Our life, when placed in His hands, can bear eternal fruit.
Reflect & Pray
What have you had to live without for the sake of following God? How does Matthew 13:44â46 encourage you?
Father, let each day of my life be a celebration of the treasure Iâve found in You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The two brief parables in Matthew 13:44â46 appear amid the telling of seven parables on the kingdom of heaven (vv. 1â52). After Jesus told the first parable (the farmer scattering seed, vv. 3â9), His disciples asked why He always spoke in parables (v. 10). His answer was telling: âBecause the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to themâ ( v. 11). He told the disciples, âBlessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hearâ (v. 16). Then He explained the parable (vv. 18â23). The disciples desired to know the true meaning of Jesusâ words, and their desire was rewarded. Theyâd left everything to follow Him. In essence, they were living out the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl (vv. 44â46 ) because they were receptive to the message of the gospel. Theyâd found the treasure.
Tim Gustafson
Matthew 13:44-46
King James Version
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 26, 2023 5:42:35 GMT 9
Resilience for Today By: Chris Wale
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We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:10
Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Corinthians 4:7â18
In his book Tortured for Christ, Richard Wurmbrand described being imprisoned for fourteen years in Romania for speaking openly about Jesus. âWhoever was caught [preaching to other prisoners] received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price . . . so we accepted [the guardsâ] terms.â
We may not experience imprisonment or torture, but our culture doesnât always have much respect for what we believe. We may be ignored, mocked and rejectedâeven by loved ones. Thatâs why we need the same resilience as Wurmbrand to keep going.
Centuries earlier, Paul explained why he endured hardships and persecution (2 Corinthians 4:8â9): to reveal âthe life of Jesusâ within him (v. 10). Paulâs intimacy with Jesus couldnât ever be thwarted; His presence provided the courage Paul needed to keep preaching to âmore and more people,â which caused âthanksgiving to overflow to the glory of Godâ (v. 15). Despite his trials, Paul knew that inwardly he was âbeing renewed day by dayâ (v. 16).
As with Paul, the authorities tried to take everything away from Wurmbrand. âBut,â the prisoner said, âthey could not take my Jesus from me.â The Lord is here with us too, and He is the source of our resilience. He is why âwe do not lost heartâ (v. 16), even when we face troubles for serving Him. He guides us steadfastly towards âan eternal glory that far outweighs them allâ (v. 17).
Reflect & Pray
What situations or relationships cause you to lose heart? How does it encourage you that Jesus inwardly strengthens and renews you?
Jesus, You know the challenges I face when it comes to living out my faith openly. Help me to keep my heart set on You, so that even when I face hardships or persecution, people will see You living in me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul was qualified to talk about struggle and hardship. He endured many thingsâblindness, slander, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, imprisonment, and ultimately execution for the sake of Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 4:8â9, Paul uses four pairs of ideasâeach linked by the phrase âbut notââto express both the difficulty we may experience when we choose to follow Jesus but also the hope of our faith. âHard pressed . . . but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.â Even though we may experience difficulty or persecution, nothing can touch the eternal hope we have in Christ.
J.R. Hudberg
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
King James Version
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 27, 2023 4:30:49 GMT 9
Love That Forgives By: Lisa M. Samra
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Bear with each other and forgive one another.
Colossians 3:13
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Colossians 3:12â14
Eighty years of marriage! My husbandâs great-uncle Pete and great-aunt Ruth celebrated this remarkable milestone on 31 May, 2021. After a chance meeting in 1941 when Ruth was still in secondary school, the young couple were so eager to get married that they eloped the day after Ruth finished full-time education. Pete and Ruth believe God brought them together and has guided them all these years.
Reflecting on eight decades of marriage, Pete and Ruth both agree that one key to sustaining their relationship has been the decision to choose forgiveness. Anyone in a healthy relationship understands that we all regularly need forgiveness for the ways we hurt each other, whether through an unkind word, a broken promise or a forgotten task.
In a section of Scripture written to help believers in Jesus live together in unity, Paul refers to the essential role forgiveness plays. After urging his readers to choose âcompassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patienceâ (Colossians 3:12), Paul adds the encouragement to âforgive one another if any of you has a grievanceâ (v. 13). Most importantly, all their interactions with each were to be guided by love (v. 14).
Relationships that model the characteristics outlined by Paul are a blessing. May God help all of us work to cultivate healthy relationships characterised by love and forgiveness.
Reflect & Pray
How have you experienced healing through forgiving or being forgiven? How are relationships strengthened through practicing both forgiveness and accountability?
Jesus, help me to forgive others just as Youâve forgiven me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Compassion is kindness for people in need. More than just feeling pity, compassion moves you to relieve the misery of a person. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan âhad compassionâ on the injured man (Luke 10:33 ESV), which moved him to come to his rescue. The Greeks and Romans valued courage, strength, wisdom, power, and revenge. For them, compassion was a weakness, not a virtue. But for believers in Jesus, compassion is what marks us out as Godâs children. Jesus tells us to imitate our heavenly Father: âYou must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionateâ (6:36 NLT). Compassion is Godâs very person. In one of the greatest self-revelations in the Bible, He described Himself as âthe compassionate and gracious Godâ (Exodus 34:6). Weâre most like our Father when weâre compassionate, kind, and gracious to others.
K. T. Sim
Colossians 3:12-14
King James Version
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
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Les
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Post by Les on Jan 28, 2023 4:38:19 GMT 9
Mercy for You and Me By: Arthur Jackson
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He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever.
Psalm 103:9
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 103:8â12
One of consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic was the docking of cruise ships and the quarantining of passengers. One article I read included interviews of some of the tourists. Commenting about how being quarantined provided more opportunities for conversations, one passenger joked how his spouseâwho possessed an excellent memoryâwas able to bring up every transgression he had ever committed, and sensed she wasnât done yet!
Accounts like this might make us smile, remind us of our humanness and serve to caution us if weâre prone to hold too tightly to the things we should release. Yet what helps us to be kindly disposed to those who hurt us? Glimpses of our great God, as Heâs portrayed in passages like Psalm 103:8â12.
One paraphrase of verses 8â10 is noteworthy: âGod is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, heâs rich in love. He doesnât endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesnât treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.â Asking for Godâs help as we prayerfully read Scripture can cause us to have second thoughts about ill-conceived payback or plans to punish. And it can prompt prayers for ourselves and for those we may be tempted to harm by withholding grace, mercy and forgiveness.
Reflect & Pray
Who have you been tempted to harm because of the hurt theyâve caused you? Who can you ask to pray for you?
God of mercy, kindness and forgiveness, please help me to extend grace and mercy to those whoâve caused me pain.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 103:8 recalls how God revealed Himself to Moses during the exodus from Egypt. After Moses pleaded with God to âshow me your gloryâ (Exodus 33:18), God promised to let His glory pass by Moses. In Exodus 34, weâre told that God âpassed in front of Moses, proclaiming, âThe Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sinâ â ( vv. 6â7).
Psalm 103 elaborates on Godâs endless compassion, mercy, and grace as the only hope for His sinful people. He is a forgiving God who âdoes not treat us as our sins deserveâ (v. 10) but removes our sin âas far as the east is from the westâ (v. 12). Godâs willingness to forgive is rooted in His deep love for His children and compassionate understanding of their struggles (vv. 11, 13).
Monica La Rose
Psalm 103:8-12
King James Version
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
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