verse for today

by

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.

by

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.

by

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.

by

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.

by

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.

by

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!!

by

The Romans Reflection

26th December

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.”

Romans 12:9

During these next few days we will be taking a look at love in action, as written by the author of Romans. This wonderful chapter, both causes us to reflect on our attitudes and behaviours, but also encourages us to put love into action, written in a completely practical style. As we work through these next few verses, may your hearts be challenged and encouraged, to work through these topics as a great end to one year and as preparation for the next.

Today’s verse is a great challenge and reflection for us. We can so often breeze through our lives, without truly paying attention to the details; details, perhaps, such as the challenge presented to us by the writer of Roman: True Love! When we say we love someone, do we truly mean it? The love mentioned in this verse is not the ‘love’ between a spouse, but rather love between brothers and sisters, specifically in the body of Christ. Do we pick out the most popular or our favourite people to speak to, to encourage or even to socialise with? Or do we put love into action and reach out to perhaps those more ‘difficult’ people in the body?

We are challenged to make love genuine in our lives. If God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for it, then we too must practice sacrificial love, even to those we might not think ‘deserve’ it. Let us hold tightly to the love of God, hate friction and division, and love genuinely. Just as we are un-conditionally loved by God, so too, may we love others unconditionally.

by

Merry CHRISTMAS

24th-25th December

Christmas Edition

The Undeserved but Received Gift

“And she will have a Son and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:23

Jesus’ primary purpose in coming to this earth to be born, was to save people from their sins by giving up His life for ours. The Angel of God spoke these words (in today’s key verse) to Joseph when he was re-assuring him that the Holy Spirit had given Mary a child. He said, that in and through Jesus, people will be saved from their sins.

This means US. Jesus came to save US from our sins. He came to save those who have lived before us and those who will live after us. His sacrifice was and is eternal. Jesus’ life was the greatest gift that was ever given to mankind. Christmas is a great reminder of this gift. When we give and receive presents, we too can remember the gift that was given to Mary, Joseph and to all humanity, JESUS Christ, the Saviour of the world. This Christmas, remember the undeserved gift we have freely received.

“The real message of Christmas is not the gifts that we give to each other. Rather, it is a reminder of the gift that God has given to each of us. It is the only gift that truly keeps on giving.”

Greg Laurie

by

Hope

23rd December

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill out hearts with His love.”

Romans 5:3-5

Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, His salvation and our hope in it, changes everything. It gives us hope that there will be end to suffering and trials. It gives us strength to go through hard times. It gives us hope that when we do wrong, we have a loving Father that brings us home again. It gives us hope that our lives can be transformed. We are hopeful for more and hopeful for better. Hope in Jesus, never leads to disappointment.

Desmond Tutu said of hope, that ‘hope is the ability to see that there is Light despite all of the darkness’. Darkness may be around us but our Hope and Light is Jesus Christ. He came into this world to bring light and life to all those around. His hope and the hope in Him changes everything. There is more, there is better, even through the storm and in the midst of the darkness. Rejoice in hope. Christ in us, is the hope of glory.

by

God Humbled In The Form Of A Servant

22nd December

“Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being..”

Philippians 2:7

Jesus’ humility, in coming to this earth, demonstrated just how much He loved us. The original meaning of the above text is that Jesus literally emptied Himself out for our sakes; His position, His throne and His rights. Of course He was still fully God as a human, but instead of ruling in the Heavens, He had to answer to earthly authority, suffer the things a human had to suffer, be beaten, be disgraced and be betrayed by the very people He created. Jesus was and is the King of the world, but humbled Himself for our sakes, on our behalf and emptied Himself so He could live a spotless sinless life.

This Christmas, as we reflect on the birth and life of Jesus Christ, may we too adopt the same attitude as Jesus showed us in His life. May we too humble ourselves, even when we are wronged. May be empty ourselves and live for others. May we put others needs before our own. May we give up ‘our privileges’ for the sake of others.