God’s word for today

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Favour With The Lord

10th January

“But Noah found favour with the Lord. This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on the earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.”

Genesis 6:8-9

The only blameless person living on the earth at that time… What an overwhelmingly bold declaration to make. Yet it was completely the truth. In fact, it is because of Noah’s righteousness and close fellowship with God, that humanity continued. At the time Noah lived, the world was full of evil. Verse 5 tells us that every thought and action the people did was consistently and totally evil. There was no good at all. A far away image of the perfect Garden of Eden that God had created some years ago. The only righteous and blameless person on the earth was Noah. And because of this, Noah found favour with God.

We now have Jesus who is our righteousness. We are made right through Him, through His sacrifice and through Him living in us. We too are found blameless before God as we are hidden in Christ, our sins forgiven and our sinful nature replaced with a new creation. But, we too need to make sure we are living and walking in a close fellowship with God. This comes from spending time in prayer, in His word and living for Him in all we do. Just as Noah’s righteousness saved him, and many others through the arc he built, we too have the opportunity to save others from living consistently evil lives by showing them Jesus through our lives and our close walk with Him.

 

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Christ Is All That Matters

9th January

“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

We are new creations. We have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ. In other words, He has taken off our old filthy rags (our sinful nature) and clothed us with holiness through Christ (the opposite of our sinful nature). We are made new. Moreover, the Apostle Paul tells us, that not only are we made new, but we are hidden in Christ. When God looks at us, He only sees us in Christ, and not our sin. This is what it means to live a new life in Christ. This is what a new creation in Christ looks like.

This new life, this new creation, is not categorised by your past or who you were. You are new in Christ. You’re old habits and even your old way of thinking, is changed by Christ in you. He is all that matters and He lives in all of us. We are all One in Christ, not bound by cultural divides and our past identities. We are made new in Jesus. God chose YOU to be the holy people He loves!! May we not cling to our past but move forward in Christ. He is all we need.

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You Are Deeply Loved….Seriously!!

7-8th January

Weekend Edition

“And I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither fear for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus Our Lord!”

Romans 8:38-39

If you didn’t know you are loved by the creator of this world, then these two verses will change your life. If you are thinking you are not worthy of God’s love, then again, read these two verses aloud and replace the us with I!! It is a fact, clearly written by the writer of Romans, that we are loved by God. There is nothing that than anyone in the world can say otherwise. It is there in black and white. God loves YOU!

The writer of Romans could have just said that ‘God loves you!’ and end it there. But he didn’t. He chose to expand, to prove beyond any doubt, that there is seriously nothing in this world that can separate us from God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ. We are loved because of what Christ did for us! There is no sin too great or place so far that we can escape God’s love. He loved you from the moment you were born to your dying breath, regardless of how you have lived your life. The challenge for us, is to firstly accept His love, and secondly, let His love change and transform your life. There is no use in being loved, living a life that rejects that love, and not letting it transform the way you act or think. If you are so deeply loved, then as part of accepting that love, you will want your lifestyle and bad habits to change.

Don’t just settle and be comfortable in the truth that God loves you, but let His love take you closer to Him and further away from things that stop you acknowledging His love. You are loved.. Receive it!

 

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The Romans Reflection: Overcoming Evil

5th January

“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

Romans 12:21

As we reach the climax and end of this wonderful chapter, we are reminded that evil can be overcome; we can conquer evil. Notice the writer does not say, ‘don’t let evil conquer you, by building a great castle or guard around your life’. He instead adds a big BUT and says that we can ‘conquer evil by doing good’. Of course it is good to put safeguards in your life, and daily wear the armour of God and protection from the enemy’s scheming ways. But it is in the everyday battles that we can be victorious in by doing good and what is right, in the power of the Holy Spirit, thereby conquering evil.

In the film the Hobbit, Gandalf a wise wizard said the following words, “Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” Although not completely the same, it slightly parallels what the writer of Romans is getting at. We can defeat evil by doing good, everyday deeds of kindness, love and good.

As we start a new year, may we ask the Holy Spirit to show us how we can win victories in our life by overcoming evil with good rather than letting evil overcome us. We are equipped with the victory power of Christ. Great battles are won by lots of small victories.

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The Romans Reflection: Peace With All

4th January

“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:18

Today’s verse is not such a straightforward verse to put into practice but essential to understand and as much as possible, live by. Peace with everyone is not necessarily, not arguing or not being in conflict with people. Most assuredly Christians need to do more to fight injustice and stand up for the rights of those marginalised and outcast by society. We need to do more to fight for holiness, politically, socially and even in churches globally. We need to stand against corruption, bullying and war. These are all things Jesus stood against. So what does peace look like? Doesn’t it seem contradictory to stand against the above yet practice peace at the same time?

The essential truth that we need to live by, is not to go looking for trouble but peacefully live to bring Jesus in everything we do. If we are to believe that Jesus is peace in our situations, then standing up for injustice etc, is inviting Him into it. Of course sometimes we need to put our faith into action, but even this can be done peacefully and without conflict. Paul, Peter and the other apostles, all had to stand against injustice. Yet peace, Jesus, was at the core of all they did.

Perhaps closer to home, doing all that you can to live in peace, means not saying something or doing something even when you want to. It is both a huge challenge but also an important spiritual discipline.

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The Romans Reflection: Living In Humility

3rd January

“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”

Romans 12:16

What is humility? Is it always thinking of yourself as less than others? Or is it always thinking of others more than yourself? Well, it is definitely not the first answer. The first answer implies that we are less than others, which is contrary to what God says about equality. It implies that we should put ourselves down, under the pretence that we are not on the same level as others. This is false humility. We, as children of God, are blessed beyond measure, loved outrageously and highly favoured by the Creator of the world. BUT….

Humility is thinking of others more than yourself. Humility, exemplified by Jesus, is being able to put others needs before your own. It is not being too proud to socialise with those less ‘popular’. It is showing impartiality to all; the sick, the poor, the rich, the well, the marginalised and less liked, and the snobby and arrogant. Jesus, our perfect example did exactly this. He, being the King of Kings, humbly gave up His rights and privileges as the Son of God, and made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a slave, not for His own glory but for the joy of us knowing Him.

Jesus spent His time, thinking of others more than Himself. He showed humility through His words, His actions and His ultimate sacrifice for us. He is our example so let us follow Him. Let us live to put others needs before our own, not because we are less than others but because we want to lift others up before ourselves.

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The Romans Reflection: All Things To All Men

2nd January

“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.”

Romans 12:15

Part of sharing Christ in all we do, is standing alongside people, just as Jesus did. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept with Mary and Martha (albeit, it may have been for other reasons too). Jesus felt the pain of the sick and needy and stood by them. He shared in the helplessness of the woman caught in adultery and showed mercy to her. He endured the same pain as the convicted men who hung beside Him on the cross. Furthermore, Jesus lives today beside us in all we do, rejoicing with us in good times and comforting us in our needs.

We too are commanded to do likewise. Notice the command does not say ‘take God’s place’ or ‘Bible bash a person in need’. It says, show grace, and weep with those who weep and be happy with those who are happy. Our role is to get alongside our brothers and sisters, to be their feet when they can’t stand. To be happy and rejoice with those who received good news or experienced God’s blessings in their lives.

We don’t have to have all the answers. Sometimes us just being there is the answer. The same is with Jesus. He is our answer for all things. In the good and the bad. Do we not feel comforted knowing that Jesus, the King of Kings, is by our side all the time? If so, then we too should replicate that in our own lives by being there for others too.

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The Romans Reflection: Be Ready To Help

30th December

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:13

The early church were perfect examples of true hospitality. The book of Acts tells us that ‘all the believers were together and shared everything they had’. There was no ‘this is mine and you can’t have it’ attitude. They knew that everything they had was a gift of God, from God. When we look at what we have with that same attitude, it changes our perception of ‘earthly’ things and our use of them. If we know and understand that what we have is God’s anyway, then we will be quick to share and eager to practice hospitality.

Yet hospitality starts from our hearts. It starts from a willingness to help others in our hearts, then it bears fruit in the actual action. We must not be stingy with what we have, both in material possessions and all that is not (i.e. serving etc..), but freely share what God has given us.

The writer of Romans says these words in the previous verses,

“In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. ….. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. ….. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously…… And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

In other words, if you have a gift of hospitality then serve, give, cook, host, bless, and receive with your whole heart… DO IT GLADLY AND EAGERLY.

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The Romans Reflection: Keep On Praying

29th December

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”

Romans 12:12

Sometimes in our lives we feel like there is no hope to keep on praying for un-answered prayers. Yet the writer of Romans, tells us that that should not be the case. We should persist in prayer, even when we don’t see tangible answers because we have hope that God is listening and is answering. Moreover, we can even rejoice through the waiting because of this hope.

Another lesson we can learn or even be reminded of, is to keep on praying throughout troubles in our lives. We can’t let trials or struggles stop us praying. Prayer turns our attention from our struggles to Jesus; our hope, our help and our refuge.

Friends, keep on praying. Keep on keeping on. Never give up. Rejoice in hope. Rejoice in knowing that Jesus is in control.

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The Romans Reflection: Genuine Affection

27th December

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.”

Romans 12:10

What does genuine love look like for you? This wonderful verse in Romans show us practically what love means and how we can live it out in our lives! Simply put, love hates what is wrong, loves what is good, is not fake or pretentious or conditional and most importantly, love uplifts others.

Love delights in honouring others. What a fantastic encouragement and challenge. Love doesn’t beat down others or point out their faults but rather love wants other people to feel uplifted, great about themselves, great in knowing who they are as God’s child and how and who He has made them to be. Love encourages, even at the givers own expense. Love makes others feel loved.

We are incredibly loved so may we too honour and love others and taking delight in doing so!!