verseoftheday

Romans 5:15-17 NLT ... But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one mans sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15-17 NLT Seems quite easy to get into some kind of blame game with Adam here, but the reality is that sin and death have been, and often seem to be, in charge. In history, in the world, and in me... And there is this second reality that Paul reminds us of here: "But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness" God's Gr...

Friday! Proverbs! Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. Proverbs 10:2 NLT Surely money is just money, and wealth is just wealth? This proverb is inviting us to consider the idea that everything is connected to our heart, that nothing is neutral, where things come from, how they're created or gained matters. In our context this might get us thinking about where we buy things from, the impact on others, the environment, sustainability, conservation. It might get us thinking about the work we do, how our world works, and where we can make change or make a difference. It might get us thinking about this idea of "right living" and how that can "save your life" - what does that mean for you? "Right living".  Mmm. Proverbs is a heart thing,  so as we sit with this one today, let it percolate in our hearts... "Tainted wealth has no lasting value,  but right living can save your life." #proverbs  #wisdom #itsaheartt...

[38] John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn't in our group." Mark 9:38 NLT What had the disciples just been caught out doing? Arguing about who would be the greatest. Next minute, they're trying to contain the gospel, keep Jesus for themselves. They didn't get it.  The gospel, the good news of Jesus isn't for them, isn't about the way they are with Jesus, isn't to be contained, it's for everyone, and the flavour might change, and you might not like it, but the Good News of Jesus is bigger than one group, one culture, one way of being... John gives me a little insight into me...I like church, my faith, to be expressed how I like it, what I'm used to. But the  Gospel is too big, too important to be contained by what I like and what I'm used to... Let the redemptive strands go where they need to, to meet people where they are... #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #invitati...

Romans 5:7-11 NLT [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [9] And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. [10] For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. [11] So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:7-11 NLT But God. But God showed his great love for us. Now we are Friends of God. But God showed his great love for us. But God. #letters #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareBeloved 

But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else." Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,  "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me." Mark 9:34-37 NLT This child must've belonged to the household that they were staying in (see v33). Why does Jesus use a child to make his point with his team? Perhaps it's because they were talking about power, prestige, being "great", and this child gave none of that.  A small child has nothing but needs to be met.  He or she has no power, no prestige, can do nothing for them, and yet welcoming this small child, picking her up, giving protection, security, connection, is...

Mark 9:33-34 NLT After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, "What were you discussing out on the road?" But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.  Mark 9:33-34 NLT There's something wonderfully honest about this dialogue - would've been so easy for Mark to leave this out as it seems that all of them were part of this discussion, "arguing about which of them was the greatest" (including Mark). Wonderfully honest? Deeply honest? Honestly honest? Perhaps this dialogue is here to invite us to be honest today...honest about my actions, choices, motivations. The disciples had some kind of heart desire to be seen as or known as the most important one, or more important ones in the Group. What are some of my motivations? How do I want to be seen in the group? Amongst my peers, workmates, the people I live with? Are there things I wouldn't want to tell Jesus if he asked ...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 18:4-6, 19 NLT [4] The ropes of death entangled me;  floods of destruction swept over me.  [5] The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.  [6] But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.  He heard me from his sanctuary;  my cry to him reached his ears. ... [19] He led me to a place of safety;  he rescued me because he delights in me. Psalms 18:4-6, 19 NLT This is a long song that David wrote after God had rescued him (particularly from Saul). In this song he describes feeling overwhelmed. And in that place where it all seemed too much, he cried to our God. We have a model here, yes of crying out to God, but also of acknowledging that things can overwhelm us, we don't seem to have the resources to stand. That's what happens sometimes. And we can cry out to God. Verse 19 is a truth we get to remind ourselves of anytime, when things may seem overwhelming, going fine, or anywhere ...