verseoftheday

Jesus came and told his disciples, "...go and make disciples of all the nations..." Matthew 28:18-19 NLT We often end the Easter story with Jesus ressurection...but wait...there's more. Jesus calls his team to go. Go and talk about the hope you have, live out the hope you have, and walk with, teach others about what you've learned... Go across the room to those where you live, go across town, the country or the world...but the message of hope that comes with the ressurection is not a message to keep to yourself...it's to be shared, lived out in the wild... #go #easter

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:16-17 NIV Did they doubt because of the crazy story the women had told them of angels and the tomb broken open? Or had they believed the account that the guards were paid to tell that the body had been stolen? Did they not recognise Jesus? Or just not want to believe? Doubt Questions These guys spent 3 years with Jesus, believed in him, he'd done what he said he'd do & was right in front of them...yet there was still doubt! Faith always has room for doubt. Questions. Otherwise it wouldn't be faith. Others Yours It's ok to have questions :) Bring them to Jesus... #faith #easter #hope

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, " Eli, Eli,  lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ). Matthew 27:46 NIV Cried out here has the meaning of an intensely heartfelt cry up to the maximum...Jesus was screaming at God at his abandonment... Yet he chose it...Chose this path because it would make a way for us. And He knows how we feel...when we're feeling lost, abandoned, betrayed, hurt...broken. So we can follow his lead and cry out to God, knowing that Jesus has been there before us and will walk with us in our journey...with the hope that easter Sunday brings... #easter #hope #onedayallwillbemadenew

While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." Matthew 27:19 NIV Is this what influenced Plate to "wash his hands" of Jesus and hand him over to be crucified? Maybe...but it in the middle of the big story of God making a way to redeem the world and all of humanity...he was still at work in mysterious and individual ways...because his heart is always towards the individual...each of us...no matter who we are, where we come from, what we've done... We can only know a few people really well...but God - He wants all of us... #easter #thebigstory #foreveryone

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth" Revelation 5:9-10 NIV Worthy. Only Jesus was worthy, good enough, holy, perfect. His death, his sacrifice...his love, that purchased me. And you. And all people. On this easter Sunday, wherever you are, sing a new song to the only one who is worthy. And now the only one worthy of our praise and honour #jesusatthecentre #easter #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

DG Barnhouse lost his wife when his daughter was still a child. He was trying to help his little girl, and himself, process the loss of his wife and her mother. Once when they were driving, a huge moving van passed them. The shadow of the truck swept over the car. He said to his daughter "would you rather be run over by the truck or it's shadow?" His daughter replied "by the shadow of course - that can't hurt us at all" "It was only the shadow of death that went over your mum. She's actually alive - more alive than we are & that's because 2000 years ago the real truck of death hit Jesus. And because death crushed Jesus, & we believe in Him, now the only thing that can come over us is the shadow of death... #easter #crushedforyouandme #jesusatthecentre

Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping... In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion..." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Matthew 26:38, 40-40, 55-56 NIV In his time of need his best friends couldn't stay awake. When his soul was in anguish he was alone. When the pressure came on his friends left him Alone Rejected Heartbroken Sorrow filled He knew something of the pain and suffering that was to come...for us. Jesus knows lonliness, heartbreak, hurt, sorrow, loss & rejection. Suffering. And on this Good Friday morning He says I'll walk with you in yours. I know what it's like. #easter

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me". Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "You have said so."  ...While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body..." Matthew 26:20-21, 25-26 NIV Judas knew Jesus knew Yet...Jesus let Judad stay as part of the group, to be part of that last supper together... Even tho Jesus knew how it was going to end he continued to show grace - even to Judas...even to me... Easter = Grace Undeserved reward. Who do I need to show grace to? #easter #grace

Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26:14-16 NIV It all sounds so innocuous...almost ordinary...an everyday transaction... And I wonder if I do the same thing...take something in exchange for betraying Jesus...rather than be clear that I'm a christian I'll accept friendship or social standing. I'll join in activities or go to places that compromise my values to "fit in", to be "accepted". It's so easy...an everyday transaction...to betray Jesus, that maybe I do it too... #easter

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:36-38 NIV Why was Jesus' heart broken when he looked at the crowds of people? I think it's because he was stuck in his "humanness" with the whole plan not to come in some awesome show of power (think parting of the red sea, manna from heaven). The Way was a path of humility, suffering that culminated on the first easter...and it requires committed people to share the good news where they are...so will we? #workersarefew #wordsofJesus #easter

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 NIV Our society today seems no different...when one of our most popular tv shows is the warped romanticism of The Bachelor, as students over indulgence hits the news every weekend...when you see who the  most powerful country in the world could end up with as President...where real relationships become lost in the maze of social media...when everyone's truth claims are apparently valid...so I can have a god who suits me, fixes things for me... Jesus words seem as true today as 2000 yrs ago...so look to the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, & the Life today... #loveGod #wordsofJesus #jesusatthecentre

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them... Matthew 9:35-36 NLT When I see yet another disaster or terrible circumstances people are in around the world I sometimes have to turn it off...turn away...but Jesus didn't...he has an unlimited well of compassion that I need to keep tapped into... #lovepeople #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one" This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. Ephesians 5:31-32 NLT Ever been to a wedding? I'm going to one today...it's a love story that finds a new permanence in vows, promises...as two people chose to go forward together...whatever the future holds And in some mysterious wonderful way this is how we the church and Jesus are...part of a big love story...a mysterious and wonder full new thing that we can move forward together, secure in the promises and commitments God has made to us... Next time you're at a wedding...think about how much God loves you... #dearlyloved

Friday! Proverbs! Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.  The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. Proverbs 11:7-8 NIV Well that's a brutal assessment...but in what do we put our hope? So often it's in our ability, our bank Acct, our education, our business or job, our health...beauty...but all of those things can (& per this proverb will) fade...be lost...come to...nothing... What then? My hope is built On nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus name Christ Alone Cornerstone #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #jesusatthecentre #hope

My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?" Psalm 119:81-82 NIV Can you feel the hurt here...my soul faints...my eyes fail...your promises seem like they'll never be fulfilled... Life hurts and God you don't seem to be hearing me... But - I have put my hope in your word - if God and his story makes sense in the good times, choose to hang on to it when days are hard. Does life without God make more sense? Evelyn Underhill said "If God were small enough to be understood, he wouldn't be big enough to be worshipped" #psalms #psalm119 #theroad #inthistogether

May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. Psalm 119:80 NIV The Psalms are great because they give us permission to be real with God, to tell Him how things are for us...here it seems he really wants to follow God's ways - wants to be wholehearted in his faith - but clearly isn't right now...so no matter how you're feeling right now, express it to God, whether it's good or not...maybe like the psalmist you really want to be wholehearted in your faith...or maybe it's something different...tell Him. If your heart is full of praise - great! - tell Him that too John Newton said if we're not getting much out of going to God in prayer, we will certainly get nothing out of staying away... #psalms #psalm119 #theroad

"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' For I have come not to call the righteous but sinners" Matthew 9:10-13 NIV If I don't think I'm sick, I won't need a doctor...if I think I'm righteous, then I won't need a saviour...but...we can't be righteous on the back of our own actions. We simply cannot keep God's law no matter how hard we try... In our culture we convince ourselves that we're ok...I'm a good person, help people, give to appeals, live a good life...God? No relevance to me or my life...I am "righteous"... #wordsofJesus #whoneedsthedoctor #weallneedthedoctor

"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice...'" Matthew 9:10-13 NIV These guys were majoring in sacrifice...sacrifice that they thought made them righteous...I get caught in the same trap...I go to church, read my bible, give money etc...but I can so easily miss the heart of God...a heart of mercy...where today am I missing that? Where do I need to learn about mercy? #wordsofJesus #whoneedsthedoctor #mercytrumpssacrifice

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick..." Matthew 9:10-12 NIV Being in a christian community is a good thing, part of an active church, cos we need that, & we learn there, get strength & courage there, & maybe in that community are those who need Jesus, but...if Jesus came & hung out with, had dinner with, those who didn't know him, those who needed to know him, maybe I should be doing that too... #wordsofJesus #lovepeople #whoneedsthedoctor #mission #evenonsunday

You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself". But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others... James 2:8-11 MSG James is asking the impossible here...keep all the law & keep it perfectly, don't think that just cos you've got this part sorted you're OK... any slip up makes you guilty... None of us can live perfectly. Which is why we need the grace that comes from Jesus. He made the way for justice to be satisfied & now we can strive to live right because of grace, not from fear... #grace #gracechangeseverything

Friday! Proverbs! The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Proverbs 11:5-6 NIV The blameless and the upright v the wicked & unfaithful. At one level we see this all the time where desire for wealth or power leads people into illegal activity & trouble...but at a deeper level we're all caught up in what we want and the only righteous and blameless one is Jesus. It's only through Him that our paths are truly made straight & His righteousness that delivers us... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #jesusatthecentre

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself", you are doing right. But if you show favouritism... James 2:8-9 NIV So how does favouritism look in your world and mine? Do I ignore the quiet people? The exciting, the famous, the "beautiful"... do I treat them differently? Just a little? For Jesus, the poor, marginalised, the sick, the hurt, the lost were every bit as important...especially the lost... James, Jesus brother, both reminds and challenges us to have a good think about how we are loving our neighbour...in church, at work, study, play...where we live... #james #keepingitreal #loveyourneighbour

Let me be united with all who fear you, with those who know your laws. Psalms 119:79 NLT You'd think that by now we (the christian community) wouldn't still need to be reminded about unity...but this is an age old thing...the psalmist here wants all those who know God's law to be united...to be on the same page... Am I an agent of unity or disunity? Am I about the things we agree about or the things we disagree about? We're human, don't always get things right, as we learn, grow, understand our views on things change...but our unity as Christ followers should always remain... #somethingtochewon #psalms #psalm119 #theroad

Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the worlds down-and-out as the kingdoms first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn't it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind...the ones who scorn the name Christian... James 2 v5-7 Msg How easy to place value on people because of their  wealth or status (or lack of it). Our news is full of things  celebrities do or say...Jesus came for all, but came from a poor town in a country ruled by a superpower...so...love the people in front of you no matter who they are... #lovepeople #james #keepingitreal

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 NIV Jesus said "I am..." a few times...light...light that expunges the dark...the light of life! Words that bring hope and speak life. But the word I love most here is "whoever" Whoever chooses to follow Jesus...he is all inclusive, no matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like...no matter what you've done, been through...the light that comes from following Jesus is freely available to everyone...love that :) #whoever #wordsofJesus #speaklife #lightoftheworld

...rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11 NIV Humbled and humiliated for our sake...because he is love...now...glorified...one day we'll all see the reality of which today we get but a glimpse... #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me", he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 NIV Was there more to this story? Or was it as simple as that? Follow me. Jesus is simple, straight forward...no obscure stories...just...follow me. Sometimes we make Christianity so complicated...but really it's just "follow me" Simply follow Jesus today. What does that look like for you and me today? In my choices...my interactions with people... #choose #followJesus #wordsofJesus #keepitsimple

Friday! Proverbs! Riches provide no security in any day of wrath and judgment, but righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4 AMP The ultimate leveler is when we meet God on the other side of death...and it's only our right standing with Him that will save us...there's a few other levelers in this life too...accidents, illness...relationship failure...sadness...yet our culture has this myth we seem to buy into that wealth in some form will "save" us... Proverbs says "nope" Get yourself right with God is   The Way... #somethingtochewon #proverbs #wisdom #onedayitallgoesbackinthebox

Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments. Psalms 119:78 NLT The writer has been lied about, maybe gossiped about, publicly slandered...and he or she is not happy about it. (It's one of the great things about Psalms is they express what's really going on... and that's OK.) So unhappy there's a request to God for public disgrace to be heaped on those who lied. But...having expressed his feelings he then leaves it with God and focuses on what is right...getting back to God's Word. It's OK to talk to God about how we really feel...and in this instance about another person...but then leave it with Him and get back to how He would have you live... #psalms #psalm119 #theroad #inthistogether

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said "Why this gossipy whispering? Which do you think is simpler to say, 'I forgive your sins', or, 'Get up and walk'? Well, just so its clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorised to do either or both..." At this he turned to the paraplegic and said Get up. Take your bed and go home. And the man did it. Matthew 9:4-8 MSG Jesus wanted to make it clear who he really was. Clear to the sceptics No room to think he was just a wise teacher or even a Healer.  He had the power to forgive sins against God...so either he was who he said he was or a charlatan. He teased the priests a bit too...I even know what you're thinking :) But come and see me for yourself if u want to really find out who I AM. #whoisJesus

Let Your tender mercy and loving-kindness come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight! Psalm 119:77 AMP The Psalmist (not sure who wrote this) wants to feel God close at hand...wants to be wrapped in a warm embrace by God...wants to share the warmth of a meal together, wants to know they're loved...just like us... The Psalmist knows God's word and believes it. He or she knows the truth of it...but doesn't always feel it...just like us... You and I are God's hands and feet in this world and it's us that needs to be and share those things in the lives of others... The writer simply asks. God I want to feel you near... #lovepeople #askGod