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
Why does the Lord take us through periods of spiritual emptiness? We long for intimacy in worship and the word, but encounter dryness. This seems to be the experience of the Psalmist in Psalms 42&43 (combined as one). Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? This seems blasphemy to a culture … Continue reading Spiritual emptiness
The Lord loves us but he does not entrust himself to us. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. John 2:24 (NIV) We see this in Jesus’ relationship with his disciples. They were with him wherever they went, yet he did not entrust himself even to his closest disciples. … Continue reading Trustworthy to Jesus?
The Lord initiates with me by showing kindness when He rescues me from my disaster. What catches my attention is when He does it without my even thinking to ask. My seeking God in independence is humbled. It is through the Lord rescuing me from trouble that I become aware of both His power and … Continue reading Recognise kindness
The arguments I hold in my mind expose secondary issues that have supplanted my Father as the one to be worshipped. In Psalm 76 the Father restores perspective. 2 … his dwelling-place [is] in Zion. 3 There he broke the … weapons of war. Going to Zion, God’s dwelling, we find different priorities, there He … Continue reading Controversies and faith
‘Simply Jesus’ is a great phrase to help us keep perspective when things become complicated. We need care, there are those for whom the words are a mere bumper sticker. They have heard some Christian leader say the phrase and are convinced this is the totality of the Christian life. Safe in this knowledge, they live … Continue reading Simply Jesus
The call to become a disciple of Jesus is a call to leave. We see this in Psalm 45 where the bride is called to forget that which has been precious to her and even defined her. 10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. As I go with my … Continue reading Go with the King
When I am driven by a task I find myself clinging to the false hope that this next attempt will succeed. When it fails I jump immediately to the next attempt. There is no time for reflection and grappling with the big picture. All this time there is someone watching over my shoulder who has … Continue reading Driven
The Lord has been asking me, ‘What is it that you want?’ I am left struggling. In the past I have known clearly what I want, but those wants were focused on me. Even when they were focused on His kingdom, they reflected how I wanted His kingdom to come. Most of my desires and … Continue reading What do you want?
Many think of freedom as ‘Free from’; free from those who limit us; free from the rules that stop us having what we want. So we blame those who rule over us for keeping us from our desires. In our age however there is such freedom that when we can’t get what we want, the … Continue reading Freedom from whom?
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