I wonder if Isaiah 53 is a pointer to Jesus’ years as a young adult? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. Isaiah 53v2 So, here is Jesus growing up in his Father’s presence and into spiritual truth though in a spiritually arid … Continue reading Jesus’ early years?
Trusting God is easy when all is well, but when we are on the edge emotions challenge truth. A dread of failure and shame can send us packing. An experience of refuge steadies us. In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. (Psalm 71:1) There is no pretence … Continue reading On the edge yet hopeful
Those who love God become like him and influence their world. Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. [Psalm 36:5-6] As we meditate on his character- love, faithfulness, righteousness and justice we aspire to become like him. … Continue reading Impact of loving God
Why would the Lord leave me with constant background fear? He says he will deliver me from them all. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. [Psalm 34:4] Usually fears bubble away in the background, even as I pray. It’s only when the fear becomes acute that … Continue reading Why isn’t life always ‘peaches and cream?’
God’s word is refined in me till it is proven flawless. And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6NIV In the Bible clay pots can symbolise people while silver and gold can symbolise that which God works into our hearts as we … Continue reading Refined understanding of Scripture
How do we move from a trained righteousness to truly live … … a life worthy of the calling you have received. [Ephesians 4:1NIV] Paul points to attitudes, actions and a spiritual dimension … Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit … Continue reading Live Free
God’s promises inspire hope. Do we have faith until he fulfils? We live in two worlds- embracing current reality and simultaneously being prepared. When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. [Psalm 105:12-13NIV] The patriarchs wandered Palestine holding to … Continue reading Living in hope
Why is it that the godly seem to struggle in life while the wicked get it easy? This is a constant refrain of the psalms Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long, … will the wicked be jubilant? (Psalm 94:2-3NIV) The wicked seem to successfully use … Continue reading Life on the edge
For many who acknowledge Jesus, the term ‘Jesus is Lord’ is their ticket to heaven. After all the Bible says, If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9NIV) Yet the declaration “Jesus is Lord” is about … Continue reading What does Jesus is Lord mean?
What does it mean for a loved child of God to wear ‘the mantle of shame’? (Ps89:45) We live in a world that beats down our identity and threatens us. In our insecurity we accuse the world of doing this, but the Psalmist points to the Lord– ‘YOU have broken through all his walls and … Continue reading Mantle of shame
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