daily readings

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The Narrow Gate

7th May

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The road that leads to destruction is broad, and it’s gate is wide for the many who choose it. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

It is so easy to “go with the flow” in today’s society. Temptation is everywhere. It is easy to follow the way of this world and become part of the many that take the broad road to destruction without even realising it. It takes little effort to live a lifestyle contrary to God’s best for us, because everyone around us seems to be doing it.

Jesus in His “sermon on the mount”, encourages His listeners (His disciples), to take a stand against the things of this world and not follow the path that leads to destruction but live in the opposite spirit. However, He warns that this lifestyle is hard, the path is narrow and the road difficult. This is so true. In todays ‘day and age’ it is so hard to stand up for justice in an unjust world, to be pure when there is so much immorality around, or even to believe when we are surrounded by so much doubt, unbelief and pessimism.

However, the underlying truth of today’s message is that we are called to be among the number who are willing to stand against the flow of the world, to be different and to not compromise when everyone around us is. Yes the road is hard but the reward is life and not death. Living life how God intended for us has so many benefits and blessings. Moreover, we do not walk the road by ourselves, by walk it side by side with the Lord, whose Spirit is ever present in our times of need and weaknesses.

Will you chose to find the road that leads to life or get lost in the crowds on the road that leads to destruction?

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Our Bodies Are A Temple

6thMay

“Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a High price. So you must honour God with your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Today’s reading is one of those verses that is so important to remind ourselves of on a regular basis. It is so appropriate when there is so much immorality around us (even in the church), to be reminded that we are living vessels for the very presence of Almighty God.

Paul, in writing this chapter, is addressing a particular issue in the church of Corinth, immorality. Sexual immorality was in abundance, yet that sad thing was, that it was creeping into the church. In fact in chapter 5, Paul addresses a particular issue, whereby a man in the church was living in sin with his stepmother. The sad thing is that these kind of issues are still very much present in today’s society.

So often we live our lives without the thought and care that are bodies are the temple and dwelling place of God’s presence. In the Old Testament the dwelling place of God’s presence, the Holy of Holies, was considered the most anointed and holiest of places. Only one person, once a year, after performing many purification rituals, could enter into it. Yet when Jesus died and the veil was ripped, it opened up an intimate relationship with God Himself, whereby He could come into our hearts and dwell within us. That is why Paul says we were bought at a high price.

It is this reason that Paul encouraged the church in Corinth and also today’s reader to remain pure and holy, to run away from sexual immorality and honour God with our bodies. Today can be a new start. God is merciful and kind and as we heard last week, slow to anger and rich in love. It is never too late to make right your relationship with God, our Heavenly Father.

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The Father Heart Of God

5th May

“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him..”

Psalm 103:13

Quite often it is difficult to imagine God as the ‘Father’, particularity if your own father didn’t set the best example of fatherhood to you. Yet it is a term that cannot be escaped when reading the bible. Jesus Himself used the example of God the Father many times. Even when He prayed, He prayed to God the Father. So why does the bible use ‘Father’ so often to describe God?

When we accept Jesus in our hearts and lives, we are adopted into His family. We are born again and no longer live as children of the world but as children of God. God becomes our Perfect Heavenly Father. This personal relationship with God defines who we are and His guidance, tender care and limitless love nurtures us to be become mature in Him and grow in our relationship with Jesus and with others.

Yet just as an earthly father would discipline their children, so it is with God. That is not to say he beats us with a naughty stick when we do wrong but instead, as David says in today’s verse, corrects us with His tender love and compassionate heart. However, when we do stumble and fall from His best for us, He is always waiting for us with loving open arms.

God the Father wants the best for us according to His will for our lives. We need to respect and obey His guidance, follow His words and honour Him with our lifestyles.

Be encouraged today that God the Father is beckoning you home with arms wide open, unconditional love to give and tender mercy to greet you.

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The Lord Made The Heavens

4th May

“The Lord has made the heavens His throne; from there He rules over everything.”

Psalm 103:19

Are there situations in your life where you feel like there is no hope or light at the end of the tunnel, where the problems are mounting up to form a huge weight on your shoulders? If so then today’s verse is for you!

David, in the previous few verses has just finished describing the frailty and temporary existence of man. He comments that mankind is as the “wildflowers flowers of the fields” that grow today and are gone tomorrow. In fact the NLT version sounds even more morbid “The wind blows, and we are gone!” just like the flowers. Yet rather than dwell on mans temporary existence, David moves straight to the magnitude and supremacy of Almighty God.

When we dwell on how small we are and insignificant we might feel, we loose sight of who God is and how big He is. In fact God is so big that He made the Heavens His throne. If we are to understand the “Heavens” as the huge expanse of the sky and all the universe both unknown and known, then that is pretty big!God is so much bigger than we could ever imagine. However, the great news is that He wants to be involved in our every day life on a deep and personal level, so that when we face situations that seem like they are too big for us to handle, we can call on the Name of the Lord and find refuge, help and strength. Why? Because He is bigger than any problem we will ever face!

Jesus has power over our situations because He is above our situations. He is able to save, able to heal, able to provide and able to guide. He has the ultimate power that outweighs our greatest expectation of who and what we picture God to be. He rules over everything. He is eternal yet His very breath breathed life into to mankind.

Can Jesus help you today…? Absolutely and He will if you ask Him to!

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The Merciful Judge

2nd & 3rd May

Weekend Edition

“He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.”

Psalm 103:10

Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting a court case. The case was about a man who had been drink driving on numerous occasions, driving while suspended, driving without an M.O.T and changing his number plate. As I sat there in the court room, I was overcome with compassion for the man awaiting his sentencing. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

My moral mind was thinking that this guy has the evidence clocked up against him. It is clear he broke the law. He could have endangered if not killed someone else, or even his own life. He showed no care for the law as it was a repeated offence. So in my eyes he was guilty. Yet something struck a cord in me and I sat there and pronounced judgement on this man. I felt sorry for him.

As I pondered these emotions I realised that God was talking to me about my own sinful self in the courthouse of the Lord. The evidence that is against me for breaking God’s law also pronounces me as a guilty man. Yet the judge does not look at my sin but looks at the One who paid it for me already, Jesus Christ. I, by all means, should be be found guilty and condemned to a life separated for a Holy God. Yet because of what Jesus did on that cross for me, not only am I forgiven but I am set free from my sin and the bondage of it too. The evidence book is ripped up and I am pronounced not guilty.

God’s mercy and grace is a free gift and the only thing we have to do to repay that debt is to believe and accept it. God does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve according to our sins. That is the gospel. That is love. What grace and mercy can we find at the foot of the cross!?

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How Far Is The East To The West?

1st May

“For His unfailing love towards those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

Psalm 103:11-12

How far is the east from the west? How high are the heavens above the earth?

Have you ever heard the expression “I love you to heaven and back?”, or seen when a child opens the span of his arms and says “I love you this much!!”?? Although these distances are largely allegorical, there is an underlying truth behind them. The extent of their love is in-measurable. So it is the same here in today’s verses. David also tells us that God’s love for us, irrespective of our circumstances, sinful attitudes and selfish ambitions, still loves us with a love that cannot be measured.

In fact there probably was not any real comprehension of how far these measurements were! Even in todays age, east to west is not a number that can truly be measured because the earth is round so you will always be going east if you travel east and west if you travel west. The point David is trying to make here, is that wherever we travel, up or down, east to west, we cannot escape the unfailing love of God or even try to comprehend how wide and high it is.

However, we too need to do our part, not as a legalistic rule but as act of obedience. We need to fear God and repent of our wrong doings. We need to have a reverence for and of Him. How do we do that? By listening, obeying and remembering His commands. When we sin, ask for His forgiveness. And in doing so we will reap the harvest of a fruitful, forgiven and obedient life and be showered with the blessings of His unfailing love.

Be encouraged today that you are loved with a love that is too great to measure, too wide to fathom and too high comprehend and your sins have been completely swept clean. Why? Because God is love.

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Slow To Anger, Rich In Love

30th April

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.”

Psalm 103:8-10

So often in my own life, I have fallen into sin and felt like I was in a whole of condemnation that I couldn’t get of. The sin was not only influencing my intimacy with Jesus, but also acted as a chain bound around my hands and feet stopping me from being who I was created to be and making me feel like a worthless spec in the eyes of God. Maybe you can relate to this when you have sinned or in habitual sin. It is like an overwhelming sense of un-worthiness. However this is complete lies! According to David’s words in these verses, God’s attitude and actions towards us are completely the opposite to what we deserve.

God’s character is full of love. He is compassionate and merciful. He knows we will make mistakes yet He still loves us. He is slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love (commitment love) towards us. When we slip up or make mistakes, He doesn’t come with a pointed finger condemning us of our sins and making us feel worthless. He doesn’t stay angry with us even though we might keep falling down. He even doesn’t deal with us as we deserve to be dealt with. He is love. He won’t stop loving us because of our behaviour. He loves us all the time irrespective of our behaviour.

However, when the Holy Spirit does convict us, (a Godly prompt that what we are doing or how we are living isn’t God’s best for us or in accordance with His ways), our role is to accept His prompting, ask forgiveness and get back up. God doesn’t want us to accept the lies that we are doomed to eternal damnation if we fall down. He doesn’t want us to stay down but get back up. He wants us to live in the truth that after you have asked for forgiveness He has forgotten about your sin and wants to shower you with more of His love. Reject the lies and accept the truth.

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God Loves Justice

29th April

“The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.”

Psalm 103:6

Throughout the world we see so much injustice that it must anger God so much. The very people He created are fighting, persecuting and even killing each other. Yet God fights for justice and righteousness. Jesus Himself said that He did not come for the well but for the sick, the outcasts and the marginalised in society.

So what is our role in bringing justice to the oppressed and hope to those treated unfairly? We must stand up and fight for those people, standing with them to oppose what is wrong and do what we can to bring God’s justice and righteousness in their situations. We must intercede for them in prayer and supplication, for the power of prayer is our greatest weapon. The great news is that God is actively answering those prayers because His desire is to see the prisoners and captives set free, the naked clothed and the hungry fed. His desire as David writes is to see “righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly”.

In Matthew 25:35-45, Jesus strongly presents a case for helping and serving those in need as if they are actually serving God Himself through their actions. Jesus’ tone in these verses has such a strong conviction as if He is trying to emphasize His point to His audience, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me!” (verse 45).

God desires perfect harmony, peace and justice throughout humanity. His heart is to see His righteousness restored in mankind. As His children and His hands and feet on this earth, we have a great responsibility to participate with God in making that happen. We are not saved to become great disciples locked in our rooms but to make disciples out of the nations, showing Jesus’ love to all in the world, bringing His righteousness and glory to a dark and needy land. Will you accept the challenge?

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Love Is The Root… Obedience Is The Fruit*

28th April

“He forgives all my sins and heal all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.”

Psalm 103:3-4

What is our response to a God that does so many good things for us?

David continues this wonderful psalm and tell his readers of the attributes of a good God. He forgives our sins. He heals ALL our diseases. He redeems us from a life condemned to death and instead gives us life in fullness, crowning us with His own love and tender mercies. These words written here are not just empty words but eternal promises. They are truth when we are told lies. They build our faith when we are empty. They bring us back to the throne of the Father when we feel condemned by our sinful actions. They build us up when we feel alone and unloved. They bring life to our sickness and hopeless situation.

Our response to these wonderful statements of God’s goodness, is to accept and believe that God is for us and not against us. We cant just hear or even read these words and not put them into practice. We have to believe with our whole hearts that God is who He says He is and that His promises are as true when David wrote them as they are today in our very present situations. If we are to truly accept God’s promises over our lives then we have to obey His words as well by implementing them in our daily lives, situations and circumstances.

Being loved by a good God is such a radical way has to be the root of all we do and are. Obeying Him is the fruit of a life that accepts and put into practice His love, His truth and His promises. Speak His truth over your life and see the goodness of God in action.

* Matthew Henry, David Jeremiah: Daily Devotions

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Let All That I Am Praise The Lord

27th April

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart I will praise His Holy Name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things things He does for me.”

Psalm 103:1-2

So often we get caught up in our own lives, forgetting about anyone else but ourselves. Today’s verse is a strong reminder to us to remember us first love, to praise Him with everything and to remember all that God has done for us.

Have you ever had those moments, when you meet a friend you haven’t met for a long time and you start to reminisce about the ‘good old days’, thinking about the good times you had together, the memories you created and the trials and tribulations you faced together. It is such a great feeling. It is in moments like that, that you remember how much you liked this ‘friend’ and how much you enjoyed their company. Although it is not entirely the same, it still, in principle has a likeness to and with our relationship with God.

Remembering the good times and good things God has done for us, helps us in our attitude to worshiping Him with our whole heart. When we come before God with thanksgiving for all that He has done, our attitude towards God becomes much less about US and so much more about Him. God desires that we worship Him with our whole heart. Not just part of it and not just when we remember He is there like that distant old friend. He wants to be part of our every moment, creating new memories and giving us more things to be thankful for on a daily basis.

Don’t forget God’s goodness today. Instead remember all that He has already done and give thanks for all that He will continue to do. Praise Him from the depths of your soul.