What’s fair? I want life to deal me a set of cards within the expected range of probability. When life fails, I call it unfair. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Philippians 2v14-15 When I grumble … Continue reading Fair?
Life circumstances push faith to the limit. We wonder why our ‘faithful God’ has abandoned us. Such trials expose the extent of our faithfulness to God’s word. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. (Ps 119:92) We can be so angry with God for allowing affliction that spiritual … Continue reading Life in trials
Psalm 114 (Message) After Israel left Egypt, the clan of Jacob left those barbarians behind; Judah became holy land for him, Israel the place of holy rule. Leaving the land of slavery, Israel became God’s holy people and the land the place of holy rule. This was a first step to their being made Holy. … Continue reading Freedom from Slavery
With God, what we declare on earth is declared in heaven. He fulfils what we commit to in union with Him. Psalm 132 is a tale of two parallel oaths. 1 David … 2 swore an oath to the Lord, … 3 ‘I will not enter my house or go to my bed,… 5 till … Continue reading Covenant with God
Why do the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Psalm 115:2 This is a question that is being asked of the Church. The question raises key issues. Firstly: What is it about the way we reflect Jesus that keeps this culture from seeing Him in us? Secondly: What is it about the world that it … Continue reading Where is your God?
Recently it has dawned on me that there are two approaches to discipleship in the Scriptures. In the Navigators we use the apostolic form of Jesus. This approach focuses on someone willing to follow as an apprentice. In Jesus’ ministry this required leaving behind home comforts and responsibilities to follow. ‘Leaving’ creates space in life … Continue reading Two forms of discipleship
Who is a disciple of Jesus? Jesus gave two key passages. The first – 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 Often discipleship … Continue reading Who is a disciple of Jesus?
Being nice has become a core value of our age. It is hard to argue against what superficially seems so good. Nice however is rooted in selfishness, with its fear of what people will think and its desire to be liked and gain influence over others. An example of the difference between nice and love … Continue reading Nice encounters Love
I have often been ‘Mr Nice Guy’, yet niceness is not godliness. I read up on the difference between nice and kind and was shocked by how different these two words are, when most would consider them synonymous. My reading suggested that ‘Nice’ has its origin in conflict avoidance and is worked out through fear … Continue reading Nice or Kind?
In our manufacturing age we have ordered life around what is productive and assume Jesus holds the same view. We may acknowledge that Jesus is passionate about us but we easily revert to a utilitarian view considering ourselves workers, valued for what we do. In Song of Songs 4 the lover (Christ) passionately describes to … Continue reading Jesus’ delight in us.
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