God’s word for today

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I AM HE!

14th March

“Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to Him, so He stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” He asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I AM He,” Jesus said. (Judas who betrayed Him was standing with them). As Jesus said “I AM He,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!”

John 18:4-6

Jesus, with the rest of His disciples (bar Judas), crossed over the Kirdon Valley entering an olive grove (otherwise known as the garden of tears). It is there that Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of His disciples, for a few silver coins. Yet what is intriguing about this exchange between Jesus and the Roman soldiers and Temple guards, is that after they asked where Jesus the Nazarene was and Jesus replied with ‘I AM HE’, they drew back and fell to the ground. Could it just have been through mere surprise that Jesus had given Himself up so quickly and easily? One would think not!

The only plausible argument is that Jesus’ words were full of such power and authority when He spoke, a fact highlighted by the Bible itself as in most versions, the ‘I AM He’ is capitalised, highlighting its importance. Yet more than how it is written, is the words Jesus spoke. The ‘I AM’ statement, often spoken by Jesus throughout the gospel of John, highlights Jesus supreme authority and equality with God Himself. Remember when Jesus said that before Abraham was ‘I AM’, or when He said, ‘I AM’ the way, the truth and the life, the true vine, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the door, the light of the world and the bread of life1. Jesus again highlights to us in these verses, that even in His weakest and most vulnerable moments, He is who He said He was, He is our God and King, He is the great I AM. That is why they fell back, because the King of the earth and universe was addressing them.

1John 6:35,48, 8:12. 9:5, 8:58, 10:9, 11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1

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In The World But Not Of It

13th March

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

Did you know that when a salmon is ready to start spawning, it returns from the great ocean, swims upstream and returns to the place that it itself was spawned. Sometimes the distance it swims from the ocean to the river, can be almost around 900 miles (1400km)1. The ‘Salmon run’ often can be used to describe the life of a believer returning to our real home. We are born in this world, but as Jesus says in John 17 verse 14, ‘we are not of this world’! Our home is heaven. Although we are not of this world, we do live in it. Yet just because we live in it, it doesn’t mean that we have to follow its ways. The writer of Romans encourages us to be like the ‘salmon’ and to actually swim against the currents, the behaviours and customs of this world, by letting God transform us! How does God do this? By changing the way we think.

As we grow in our walk with God, He becomes all we think about. When we focus on Him, the behaviours, patterns and customs of this world, fall away as we are transformed into Godly living. If truth be told, it is much easier to live the way everyone else lives, following their sinful lifestyles. But God has called us to swim against that current and to stand firm against things that try to push us away from Him. Moreover, Jesus Himself prayed for us that we would have the strength to stand firm. He prayed ‘not that we would be taken out of the world’ but rather that we ‘be kept safe from the evil one’2. As you swim upstream, as you swim against the currents and behaviour patterns of this world, know that the King of Kings is willing you on. Be strong and courageous. Be blessed. Let your mind be transformed by Jesus!

2Paraphrased from John 17:15

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The Pain Won’t Last

8th March

 

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.”

John 16:20

Jesus’ death truly does conjure images of grief and mourning amongst believers. It is sad that Jesus had to physically be beaten and tortured to pay for our sins. It is sad that an innocent man had to die for us. It is sad that our God and King was made a mockery of. BUT, as Jesus said, our weeping and mourning is now over, and our grief has been turned into wonderful joy, because He has been resurrected!! He is alive!! Jesus likened this pain and joy to the metaphor of a woman giving birth. When a woman is in labour, giving birth to her child, she suffers with great pain. But, as soon as the child is born, the pain is quickly swept away with the emotion of joy and happiness at the sight of their new born child.

Friends, don’t stay mourning for a dead man, but rejoice in a resurrected King. He is no longer in the grave. He is alive and He lives in us. Let us cast our pains and burdens to Him, because He lives. Let receive and walk in the joy that comes from worshipping our resurrected King.

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The Spirit Has Come

7th March

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me..”

John 16:13-14

We are so blessed to be living in a time where the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us because of Jesus’ ascension, is stirring up people’s hearts and opening them to the person of Jesus Christ. It is because He is alive and living that we can have a personal revelation of Jesus’ salvation and His substitutional sacrifice for us on the cross. Moreover, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, reveals God’s character to us and reveals more of God’s plans for our lives. Yet there is even more; He guides us into all truth, helping us to discern right from wrong and sin from righteous living. He even reveals God’s plans for our futures, for the future of this world and His future plan in the Heavenly realms.

The Holy Spirit is not some magical trick, but part of the Triune God we serve. He is God. So when we pray, let us pray for more of the Holy Spirit in our lives. More of His revelation; of both who God is and His plan for our lives. His love, truth and guidance is available for all who ask.

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In Spite Of Persecution, Press On

6th March

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or Me.”

John 16:1-3

You may read the title of today’s devotion and the Bible verse and think this is a little heavy for a Monday morning, but persecution is a reality that many believers around the world face. Sadly, throughout church history, many Christians have too been persecutors of both those outside the faith and even those inside of it, thinking they are doing a ‘holy service for God’. However, persecution doesn’t always come in the form of physical abuse, like the early church faced. Persecution takes on many forms. Verbal abuse, condemnation, family and friends disowning you and so on. BUT, in spite of all things that surround us, we can still stand firm in our faith, because of Jesus, and because we are empowered with the Holy Spirit.

Friends, when persecution comes, don’t abandon your faith, but rather hold fast to it. For it is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that keeps us strong, no matter what we face. We can take comfort and know that whatever we have or are facing, Jesus went through too! It is for this reason that He helps us in times of struggles, because He knows what we are going through. Let us lean on Jesus, trust in His strength, and know 100% that whatever we face, He is with us. Press on! Don’t give up!

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What’s My Purpose In Life

3rd – 5th March

Weekend Edition

“You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. This is My command: Love each other.”

John 15:16-17

Ever wondered what your life purpose is? Or perhaps why you are here on this earth?

We are all individually designed and moulded into God’s image and in His likeness. Moreover, we have all been given a plan and a purpose as both individuals but also together as the body of Christ. The exciting thing is, that because we have been created in God’s image and moulded into Christ’s likeness, we carry the commission of our Creator and King as the mandate and purpose for our life. What is that? Simply, to love as Christ has loved us. How do we know that? Because it says so in God’s word. Plain, simply and clearly; This is My command: Love each other.

Yet we have not been abandoned to struggle with this commission on our own. No! We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us, to lead us and to work through us. We are given the fruit of the Spirit, birthed by staying connected to the vine, and we have been given the Name above all Names, Jesus’ Name, to ask for anything we need, with a promise that it will be given. Our role and purpose in life is to firstly receive God’s love and then love others with the same love we have received. That’s your primary purpose in life. Isn’t that a wonderful life goal and project?!

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Don’t Give up

24th – 26th February

Weekend Edition

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you can trust those who have taught you. You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 3:14-15

Don’t give up. Don’t let this world dictate how you should live, but rather stand firm in the knowledge of who you are in Christ and what His word says about you. God’s word is so powerful that even 2000 years after it was written, it is still impacting people’s lives. Many have tried to destroy it, tear it apart and say it’s worthless, yet nothing could be further from the truth. His word is as real and alive today as it was when it was written. It is not empty words but life giving truth. Even when we see calamity and disaster around us, God’s word is the sure foundation on which our hope rests. It gives us the surety to trust in Jesus Christ and wisdom to receive the truth and gift of salvation.

Paul’s final encouragement to his young disciple Timothy, was to not abandon God’s word but to stay steadfast and faithful to the things he had been taught through the scriptures. Most probably it was his mother and grandmother who educated him in the scriptures, as referenced in 2 Timothy 1:5. Yet whoever it was that did teach him, he clearly had a deep reverence for the word of God and was also trusted by Paul. Today we too are encouraged to trust in what we have read and been taught and hold firm to God’s word. May His word strengthen you today, may it be a source of wisdom and hope for you too. May it stand as a direction post to Jesus and His salvation, His grace and His love. May you know all that Jesus has for your life. May His word give you strength to remain faithful.

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Keep Going – Don’t Give Up

22nd February

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.”

Hebrews 10:35-36

If you are stressed, out of hope and ideas, low, depressed or sad, then today’s verse is for you. Friend, don’t give up. Keep on keeping on. Trust in the Lord. Trust in His promises. Trust that whatever you are going through, a promise of great reward is waiting for you. These are God’s words and God’s promises. In John 14:27, Jesus again promises us His peace through the power of the Holy Spirit, ‘I am leaving you with a gift’ Jesus says, ‘peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.’

Throughout God’s word we are encouraged to keep going, to endure all things. The reason; because we have a glorious hope that awaits us. A promise of an end to our suffering, pain and circumstance: in this life or the next. As you battle on, may you find strength to persevere and endurance to keep going. Don’t give up. God is with you and on your side.

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Our Advocate

21st February

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

John 14:26

When we try to separate the Holy Trinity and dismiss the Triune divinity, our faith becomes confused, and doesn’t make sense. This is not to say that the ‘Trinity’ in-itself is easy to understand. Of course it is a deep and complicated theological issue. But when we believe by faith that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are ONE, things can begin to make sense, as we reconcile our ‘theological knowledge’ and our ‘practical faith’. The reason is because the Triune God-head works in perfect harmony together, to bring about salvation in one’s life and to reveal the fierce love that God has for us, His creation. When you try to separate the God-head, we start confusing this harmony, giving a higher preference to one and not the other, thus confusing who God really is.

John makes this very clear in his gospel when relaying Jesus’ words to His disciples. Jesus says that ‘My Father (The Father), will send the Advocate (The Holy Spirit), to remind you (us, His children), about My (The Son) teachings’. If we are to believe that Jesus’ teachings bring life, then we can see a clear and even partnership, within the God-head, to bring about Jesus’ words through the power of the Holy Spirit, revealing the Father’s heart and plans for our lives. It’s perfect unity. And we too are included in that perfect relationship.

May we too, pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the glorious truth revealed to us in Jesus’ words, reaching our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is theological knowledge lived out in practical faith.

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Christ Is All That Matters

18th February

“In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.”

Colossians 3:11

In today’s world there is so much trying to create disharmony. Be that political elections, a rise in racism and sexism, and a massive increase of disharmony and dis-unity; even in the church! Yet it is in the church that unity should be increasing. We so quickly forget that if Christ lives in us, then we are brothers and sisters of the same family. There is no separation. As Paul rightly says, ‘it doesn’t matter who or what you are….Christ is all that matters!’

Yes we may have different worship styles, we may speak different languages, we may have completely different characters and views about life, but we should be united because of Christ. Our prayer should be that we can love the bride of Christ, Jesus’ body, the church. Not the four walls that make a building, but the people that worship inside. Christ is all that matters. Our prayer should be that we can live in harmony with all types of people and be united in our worship to and of Jesus. Friends, brothers and sisters, let us put to death feelings of dis-unity and disharmony and allow Jesus to bond us and bind us together for His Kingdom. He is all that matters.