verseoftheday

Romans 8:9-10 NLT [9] But you are not controlled by your sinful nature.  So in us who are followers of Jesus, something is different. That part of us that takes us away from God, away from the fully aliveness that he has for us is still there, but it's not in charge. [9] You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. This is quite a thing for Paul to say! The Spirit of God lives in you! Lives in me! Not sure about you but the challenges come up in me to this - even though I think and do and say things that don't align to the Spirit of God living in me?  [10] And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.  Romans 8:9-10 NLT So even though we're not perfect, Life in the Spirit happens because we've been made right with God.  Because God stepped towards us. Because God made a way. Because Jesus. We live in the now and the not yet, made righ...

Romans 8:5-8 NLT [5] Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. [6] So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. [7] For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. [8] That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. While this passage is a little depressing, feel free to jump to v9 where hope is held... Even in this passage though there is a redemptive strand: V6 talks of letting our mind be controlled by some part of us that is not aligned, not attuned to God, or we can let our mind be controlled by the Spirit, the pathway to life and peace. Be great if there was a fool proof 3 step process that we could all follow and that would just happen. We can consider what we're allowing...

Psalms 24:7-10 NLT Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory?  The Lord, strong and mighty;  the Lord, invincible in battle. Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.  Who is the King of glory?  The Lord of Heaven's Armies - he is the King of glory.  Interlude Psalms 24:7-10 NLT This second half of Psalm 24 almost feels like the chorus and there should be another part to this song! David asks himself the question "who is the King of glory?" I wonder if we ask ourselves that question today what is our answer? Do we see God the same way David did (on the day he wrote this anyway?) "Who is the King of glory?" And then what are these ancient gates & doors that need to be opened to let the King of Glory, the Lord of Heaven's Armies in? Surely if God has all that power He goes where He wants? I wonder if David is looking inward and seeing places in his own he...

Sunday Psalms; The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.  They will receive the Lord's blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.  Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.  Interlude Psalms 24:1-6 NLT After the beauty and invitations of Psalms 23 we get this "excluding" view that David paints - we're back to never-good-enough for God. Or does it? Because if God's glory, His holiness was all there is to the story then maybe that narrative holds. But it's not. It's true, but it's also not the whole story. Sunday in particular we get together if we can to worship our Risen Saviour who made the way, who is the W...

Romans 8:3 NLT The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.  So God did what the law could not do.  He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.  And in that body declared an end to sin's control over us... Romans 8:3 NLT "So God did what the law could not do." Another side of Love that steps towards us, that makes a way where there is no way. The law, or complete obedience to the law, can't be done, so it's impossible for us in our humanity to be made right with God that way. "So God did what the law could not do." He sent His Son, and He declared that through His Son we are set free. Love sets the Beloved free.  #letters #Goddid #set free #weareBeloved

Friday! Proverbs! He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. Proverbs 10:10 BSB "He who winks the eye", what could this mean? The person who says something hurtful and then says "I was just joking". The person who sees injustice, and does nothing. Elie Wiesel who was a holocaust survivor wrote this: "We must always take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." Elie Wiesel And then there's "foolish lips" - I couldn't count the number of times I've said things I wish I could retrieve, call back, say differently or not at all... If we see Proverbs not as a weapon, but an invitation to consider our own hearts, what does this Proverb invite you and me towards today? #proverbs  #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing #takethenextstep 

Romans 7:25 - 8:2 NLT Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  So you see how it is:  In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  Romans 7:25 - 8:2 NLT After this long discussion about the power of sin, about the value and the shortcomings of the law, about his own humanity, Paul points us to Jesus and to this place where because of Jesus, because we belong to Him, we can put down this voice of condemnation. I got asked yesterday "how's your inner voice? What's it saying about you today?" "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." Maybe it's just me that has this inner voice that takes a different view to that which Paul invites us towards...maybe if God doesn't...