verseoftheday

Let no debt remain outstanding,  except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 NIV Paul has just told his readers to pay their taxes, and uses money - the owing of money - again as a metaphor - a debt to pay, which at the same time doesn't get paid...a lot like taxes it seems... Does it connect with our Big Ideas from earlier in the letter? "...I urge you...to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice...this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:1-2 Could this transforming worship, this non conformity to the patterns of the world be as simple as loving others? Could it be that all of The Law is fulfilled by simply loving others? Could it all be that simple? (Not that loving others is an easy or simple thing to do) What changes when we love people - not as a transaction but as a way of being? Simply loving people t...

Friday! Proverbs! As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them. Proverbs 10:26 NIV Can you feel the irritation of the smoke in your eyes, teeth on edge? And "sluggard" is not a word I'd use but gets me thinking...and who is sending this "sluggard" and where are they going in a way that is so irritating? If Proverbs is an invitation to check on my own heart and motivations, where am I a sluggard? And how does that irritate me? Can the "smoke in the eyes" motivate me to change or shift something? Am I characterised by making a lazy choice? (& does that lazy choice feel like vinegar on my teeth? Or am I now immune to that?) What does this Proverb invite us towards, to consider, to think on, in our own story? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing  #invitation 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2 NIV Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  ... For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.  ... Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. Romans 13:1, 3, 5 NIV Paul is writing to the Christian church in Rome, where the Romans are in charge- but this would have been a tough read for communities oppressed by the Romans, and by oppressed communities through the centuries. There seems to be a moral code embedded in governing authorities that Paul is looking to that says if you do what is right you'll be treated fai...

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:1-2, 21 NIV Where can we overcome evil with good today? Have you consdidered that overcoming evil with good is worship? That overcoming evil with good os transforming? Transforming me? Where can we overcome evil with good today? Perhaps it is meeting a scowl with a smile, being grateful for the sunrise, choosing to purchase something ethically... Perhaps it's something bigger...consdiering a shift in vocation, profession, giving... Perhaps overcoming evil with good is choosing to rest.  Choosing space. Choosing to fast from something. Per...

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ... Dear friends, never take revenge.  Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,  "I will take revenge;  I will pay them back," says the Lord.  Instead,  If your enemies are hungry,  feed them.  If they are thirsty,  give them something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads. Don't let evil conquer you,  but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:1-2, 19-21 NLT Transformation is not easy.  Change is not comfortable. Cho...

Hear my prayer,  O Lord!  Listen to my cries for help!  Don't ignore my tears.  For I am your guest - a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me.  Leave me alone  so I can smile again before I am gone  and exist no more. Psalms 39:12-13 NLT David's psalm is searingly honest - honest with God, honest with himself, there are no "right" words here, just real ones. Maybe you've never felt the way that David does and that's OK- remember this is a song he wrote not some set of instructions of how we are meant to be. What it does do is invite us to be honest too. Honest with ourselves. Honest with our God. If it's OK for David to tell God to leave him alone then he can handle our thoughts, fears, tears, griefs - even where we put blame... How do you imagine our God responding to David at the end of this song? I imagine Him hearing, taking a step closer, absorbing, gently and quietly holding space for David to express what he needs, knowing tha...

I said to myself,  "I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me." But as I stood there in silence - not even speaking of good things - the turmoil within me grew worse.  The more I thought about it,  the hotter I got,  igniting a fire of words: "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.  My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;  at best,  each of us is but a breath." Interlude  We are merely moving shadows,  and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.  We heap up wealth,  not knowing who will spend it.  And so,  Lord,   do I put my hope?  My only hope is in you. Psalms 39:1-7 NLT Yikes! I don't like thinking about how short life is, that this life will end, but David gives us some insight into his inner world, his...