verseoftheday

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders... John 20:19 NIV We know what's coming next. But the disciples didn't. They had not really listened to what Jesus was  all about, were too caught up in who was going to be running the new kingdom, and had missed Jesus... his mission & purpose. Defeat. Three years of following, and now loss and disappointment. And fear. Fear of the powerful, the religious. Defeated. Lost. Hope less. Caught in the in-between of Jesus death & ressurection. Saturday. In-between day. We know what's next... the victory of Sunday, but they didn't. We're in the in-between. Between Jesus and his coming again, between knowing the victory of Easter Sunday and it being fully realised, in a world that is broken and will one day be made new. And we know how it ends! So on Saturday, we don't need to hide away behind locked doors, we don...

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands... Isaiah 49:16 NIV Isaiah is looking forward to the Messiah, and he writes that the people feel forgotten. Forsaken. (There's that word again!) And God says, no I can't and won't forget you. Look at my hands. Your name is written there, engraved there... I'll never forget you. I know your name. On Good Friday we remember Jesus crucified. For us. And as the spikes were driven into his hands, your name, my name, was engraved there. This is love. Love that took Him to the cross. Loved that held Him there. He went there for us...and will never forsake us... never forget us. Your name is tattooed on His hands. #easter #dearlyloved #heknowsyourname #belong

"You arent one of this mans disciples too, are you?" she asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." John 18:16-17 NIV Jesus had been arrested... the day had been full of drama and maybe Pete wasn't expecting the question...but here's the least threatening person possible asking "aren't you with the guy who's just been arrested?" What am I going to say when someone asks "what are you up to this Easter?" "Enjoy a long weekend..." "Enjoy some days off work or study, some chocolate..." Am I any different than Peter? At least I know that question is coming... so what am I going to say? That going to church is important for me as Easter is when we remember Jesus death for us, but also his resurrection and what that means... The cross on those buns... the eggs that are about life, new life, but empty because the grave was empty... Whatever my answer, I don't want to be like Peter, caught unprepared... #alway...

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV Forsaken. Abandoned, discarded, shunned, renounced, jilted... rejected. As we approach Easter, it's a reminder that there was one who was forsaken by Yahweh. One who was abandoned, discarded, shunned, renounced, jilted... rejected. Jesus. He knows what it's like. He didn't want it to be that way, but went thru with it anyway, so that we wouldn't have to be. So that we will never be forsaken by Yahweh, by God, we'll never be rejected. We just have to know that name, and trust Him. Jesus. Forsaken for us. Rejected for us. So that we will always be accepted. Always. #psalm #psalm9 #noothername #dearlyloved #accepted

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV Those who know your name... names were important as they reflected character, the essence of the person. Sometimes God changed someone's name to reflect the changed person (Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul) Today there are some names we link with certain characteristics; Adolf Hitler Billy Graham Mother Theresa... The name of the Lord - Yahweh - I Am Know this name, know that He exists outside of space and time, that He is eternal, creator of all things, that He is three in one, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, that He is holy, that He is love, and He has revealed himself, made himself known in scripture, and in the person of Jesus. He is mighty, yet personal, and it's His name that when we know it, that we trust in. #psalm #psalm9 #noothername

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 NIV A refuge... somewhere to run to...a place of safety, rest, restoration & peace. A stronghold. When everything else is crumbling around you, this is the place to be. With the Lord. Yahweh. So what's oppressing you and me today? What does trouble look like in your life? Go to the place of refuge, pull back to your stronghold, renew and recharge with Yahweh. And as God's representatives in this world, how can we be a place of refuge, a stronghold for those in need? #psalms #psalm9 #lovepeople

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 ESV Romans 5:10 says that while we were God's enemies, Jesus died for us, and made peace for us with God. Jesus lived the life we couldn't, lived the life that pleased God, to make us, his enemies, find peace with Him. So as a result of the position we are now in, strive to live a life that pleases God, not to gain salvation, but because of salvation. Jesus lived a life that pleased God. He lived on mission, in community, consistently lived his values, loved people, invested time with his Father in prayer, & was led by the Spirit... the same things we are graciously, gently, called to do too... #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #loveGod #lovepeople #livealifethatpleasesGod

When a man's ways please the Lord , he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 ESV Who's your enemy? At the moment, my biggest enemy would be me. My own thoughts that circulate in my mind...my own fears... My fear of failure can freeze me, root me to the spot, stop me from taking action. My fear of what others might think of me, what I think people think of me, the hurts of the past... How does this proverb help? When I live in a way that pleases God: He calls me to love Him and to love people. So when I choose to talk with Him, read His word, listen to His Spirit, worhsip, when I choose to love the people He has put in front of me, to look to meet their needs, when I choose to forgive, to not keep a record of wrongs, to be kind, to be patient... when I choose to use whatever gifts & talents in the service of God's kingdom... then my enemies are at peace with me. #loveGod #lovepeople #peacewithyourenemies

Friday! Proverbs! When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 ESV How good is this?!? That if we really live as God intended, if we love like Jesus, then as it will make such an impression on the people around us, to turn our enemies...those who are against us... and they will at least give us a grudging respect... But wait there's more. 1 Peter 2v11-12 has the same idea but goes a step further. Pete calls us to live such good lives, that even when accused of wrong doing, this will somehow lead people to God. How we respond in the face of those who might be against us is important. It may be the only gospel that some people see. May we choose today to live in a way that pleases Yahweh #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #lovepeople #loveevenwhenitshard #choose

...Jesus...the wilderness... After fasting forty days...he was hungry..."If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written... Matthew 4:1-4 NIV Jesus was at the end of his physical resources. Completely done. And the testing started in a way that had some truth in it, and connected directly to Jesus situation. If you're the son of God (.oh yep that's me) then just turn these stones to bread (and your hunger will be resolved! You can do this easily...) It's often the same with us. Our testing starts with some truth in it... You're a good person, worked hard, deserve this... you can do this easily, no one needs to know, it will fix your situation... But Jesus goes back to God's word. Because he knows it. Ok Jesus has an advantage over us in that, but Bible memory is an area of real opportunity for us to cement Gods word in our hearts, ready and available when testing times come. So we're going to...

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:1-4 NIV This week we watched a YouTube programme on fasting. The average male can fast for a max of... 40 days! After 40 days you'd be at  the end of your physical resources, all energy stores in your body would be depleted. That's where Jesus was. At the end. Hungry. And then the testing begins. The testing wasn't the going without food, it was what are you going to rely on when you get to the end of your resources... What do you believe when your strength is gone? Jesus relied on God's Word. #truth #faith #testing #believe

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness... Matthew 4:1 NIV Jesus had just been baptised, the door between Heaven and Earth was opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and God the Father spoke endorsing Jesus...a real "mountain top" experience if ever there was one... and the very next thing, the very next thing, Jesus is in the wilderness... Sometimes this happens with us too, we have a spiritual experience, a "win" in our lives, and the next thing we're feeling alone, isolated, unsupported, lost, with no resources... everyone else is more interested in other things... we're in the Wilderness. But who is there with Jesus? The Spirit is there with him, and when we find ourselves in the wilderness...He is with us. He is with you. #with #eveninthewilderness #dearlylovedeveninthewilderness

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit... Matthew 4:1 NIV Monday morning and there's things to do...and for me sometimes that can be a reflection of my Christian life...good things to do, good principles to live by...and I miss the thing that our God really wants - a dynamic relationship with Him, where His Spirit leads us...we just have to be willing to follow... Jesus was led by the Spirit, then that's where I want to be too. And in following Him, my Monday morning stuff gets seen in a whole new light... #monday #Spiirtled

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2 NIV This Psalm starts with praise. It's written as a song, to be sung to the tune of "the death of the son" and its full of lament about enemies and opposition and difficulty...yet...he starts with these words of praise & worship... Giving thanks Telling others Singing When we're facing our enemies, trouble, difficulty...give thanks, tell others about God's goodness...and sing! No better place to be than in church today, singing to our God #sunday #worship #sing

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. Proverbs 16:6 NIV We're made right with God through His Love, His Faithfulness, and then there's the working it out, the living it out in the world. Our atonement, our salvation, needs to have an expression in the way we live...in this proverb it's couched in the negative - since you now know God, live in a way that avoids evil...that may mean staying away from some places or people or activities, but the flip side of that is Do Good, Love People, forgive, encourage, build up...let His Love and Faithfulness permeate our lives and find it's expression in the way we live... #loveGod #lovepeople #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. Proverbs 16v6 NIV Our Atonement. Where everything is put right, our sin is paid for, and the opportunity for our relationship with God to be restored is created. Love is the motivation, and faithfulness is the action that led to atonement. God's Love. God's Faithfulness. That's the gospel right here in the middle of Proverbs, written when? 900 years before Jesus...yet point way beyond their sacrificial system to Him. These are two things that we can rely on: God's Love God's Faithfulness Our atonement doesn't depend on our love or our faithfulness, but His. How good is that! #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #loveandfaithfulness

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:34 NIV The noise. The crowd. People trying to shut these guys down and get Jesus attention for themselves...in the middle of all that there is a stillness as Jesus focus is on these 2 blind people...he's heard their words, and their hearts, recognised their faith...and his heart is moved with compassion. A taster of the compassion he has for each of us. A taster of the love that took him to the cross. He's up close and personal, a stillness in the noise, and touches their eyes. A taster of heaven. Where we will all be restored, what's broken will be unbroken, hurt will be healed fully and completely... And their response? They followed Jesus. #compassion #love #hope #restoration #taster #onedayallwillbemadenew

And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Matthew 20:32-33 ESV Earlier in this chapter the mum of 2 of the disciples was asked the same question by Jesus. She wanted powerful places for her sons in Jesus kingdom. These 2 blind guys wanted their eyes opened. They'd already acknowledged Jesus as Lord, somehow they "got" Jesus in a way some of his disciples hadn't yet grasped...and simply wanted to see. Lord, would you just open my eyes today to let me see a little more of who you are, to understand more of the strength of your grace, and the depth of your love. May I see you. Open my eyes. Open my eyes to the world you've made Open my eyes to the people you care about Open my eyes to your Kingdom and how I can serve in it Open my eyes to who You are. Amen. #amen

Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.  "Lord," they answered, 'we want our sight." Matthew 20:32-33 NIV In the noise and crowd, Jesus must've got up close and personal to have talked to our 2 blind guys...and he asked "what do you want me to do for you?" Today Jesus is up close and personal with us through his Spirit & we can cry out to him - Lord have mercy on us - and he may well ask us the same question..."what do you want me to do for you?" What is your answer? What is mine? I'm in a storm & my first answer is "get me out of this! Fix it! Now is good" As I've considered it a bit more, it's "walk with me through this", & now, "how can this situation, this turmoil, hurt, disappointment, bring honour to You. How can this be part of the Big Story. What do you want me to learn?" Jesus asks "what do you want me to do for you?...

Two blind men were sitting by the roadside... The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Matthew 20:30-31 NIV The word for Lord here is: kyrios - a person exercising absolute ownership rights; Even though they could not see, the blind men recognised Jesus for who he really was. Sometimes we just want to see Jesus. Then our faith would really be firmed up. Somehow, through what they'd been told (there's no mention of angels or any special revelation) they knew Jesus was the one to call Lord, Master, the one to give allegiance to, and the one to call on. Today, we who can see, just need to call on Jesus, and come under his ownership... #blindbutcansee #therealJesus #callonHim

The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Matthew 20:31-32 NIV The noise of the crowd, people putting the blind guys in their place...but they perservered...more insistent... louder! What's the noise around that keeps us from connecting with Jesus? Study, work, business, relationships... they all clamour for our time and attention and can distract us from following Him. And then there's other people. Giving their opinion, telling us how we should live and what they think is important. How much do I listen to others, and risk missing Jesus? In the middle of all the noise and distraction and opinions flying around our 2 blind men just get louder and more insistent that it's Jesus they want to connect with. Let's cut through the noise. Ignore the crowd. Do what it takes to connect with Jesus... #sunday #worship

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Matthew 20:29-30 NIV A big crowd of people are on the move, and somewhere up the front is Jesus. The word has reached the blind guys that Jesus is heading their way...I wonder how long they'd been crying out, how much noise the crowd was making...what's in their minds? Is this our one shot at redemption? Our only opportunity to ever see again? They knew their condition, and knew that Jesus was their way out. Maybe I need to do that...recognise my weakness, my condition, and above the noise of life, cry out to Jesus...and keep crying out to Him...the One Who Saves #Jesusatthecentre #cryout #theOnewhosaves

Friday! Proverbs! The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5 NIV Oh wow. Harsh. Jesus was harsh on the Pharisees for the same thing...for thinking their own righteousness could save them... When I keep all the rules, when my behaviour is impeccable, I can't help but think I'm just a wee bit better than the person who doesn't, and then I'm judging everyone... that is the heart that God detests. The antidote is the cross. It's there that we know we're in this together, sinners saved by grace, that it took the only one who is sinless, the only one who is spotless, to make a way...to be the way. It's there that my heart is humbled, and it's pride is shattered by the weight of Love #inthistogether #theweightoflove #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

"...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 NIV Sometimes I get a bit desensitized to concepts when we hear or read it a lot... like this one... Jesus giving his life as a ransom... but if I was being held hostage, what would you give up for me? Some of you would send money. A few might sell  your car to pay a ransom for me, one or two might give everything... but would anyone actually willingly take my place? Would anyone give their life? Would you die for me? What courage that would take.. and hope. Hope that your sacrifice for me was worth it. What faith. Faith that the world will be better off with my life saved. What love. What love would make that sacrifice worth it. What love Jesus has for us that he gave his life as a ransom... #wordsofJesus #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

"Not so with you..." Matthew 20:26 NIV What is it that God is prompting you to be different in? To change in your life? Maybe it's comparing. How come I don't have... Not so with you. Maybe it's holding a grudge... Not so with you. Maybe it's being selfish... Not so with you. Jesus is all about the heart...the attitudes of the heart...our hearts. 2000 years ago he called out his disciples about their heart attitude...what would he call me out about today? Not so with you #notsowithyou #wordsofJesus #upsidedownkingdom

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Matthew 20:26 NIV The media encourages us to live in certain ways. Your friends want you to try things you know are wrong We're tempted. We're pushed. We're prodded. And Jesus says "not so with you" There's a better way, another option, a way that leads to life... you've just gotta come with me... When our mind is taken captive - not so with you. When temptation comes - not so with you. When we get knocked down and don't think we can get up - not so with you Not so with you #notsowithyou #wordsofJesus #upsidedownkingdom

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28 NIV Power Recognition Jesus gives his team a lesson in the way the world is. The boss rules. But then he turns it all upside down...you want to be great? Then be a servant. Don't worry about recognition. Let someone else take the credit in God's Kingdom. And if you want an example  - I'm it. Not only to serve, but to give everything. When we live like that, the need for recognition starts to fade as we realise there's another set of values that are more important. #followersofJesus #upsidedownkingdom #serve #lovepeople

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." Matthew 20:20-21 NIV Now it's not just the disciples looking for leadership spots in the kingdom, but their Mum is onto it! It's so easy to put our twist on God's kingdom, what we expect it to be like, how we think it should benefit us. What's in it for me. But in this kingdom we follow the servant king. One who came to give, to serve, to bless...and he wants us not to look for success and power as the world does, but to follow his example, to be successful in serving, in encouraging, in givng, in blessing... #upsidedownkingdom #sunday #worhsip

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death  and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Matthew 20:17-19 NIV Hey team. This is what's ahead, this is going to happen...we're going to the city, I'm going to be arrested, tried, beaten and crucified. Killed. On. A. Cross. And on the third day, there's going to be a huge event, I'm being raised back to life! So don't be surprised or dismayed, this is the path ahead for me. This is what I came for. But Matthew records no questions, no concern, no "hang on Jesus, surely you don't mean this literally"...no "why?" After all this time with him, they still had blinkers on about who Jesus really was, an...

Friday! Proverbs! The Lord works out everything to its proper end - even the wicked for a day of disaster. Proverbs 16:4 NIV Hardly the most uplifting thing I've read...but...this Proverb does reinforce that one day, the wrongs will be righted, the hurts will be healed, those who choose faith in Jesus will know what that really means...and justice will be happen. This proverb is a statement of faith. My faith is in God to work things out. Even in the midst of trouble or difficulty, if poeple or circumstances are against us, the Lord, Yahweh, will work this out in the end. #faith #faithinthedark #onedayallwillbemadenew #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.  He agreed to pay them a denarius  for the day and sent them into his vineyard...  ...Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:1-2, 15-16 NIV The disciples seemed to be stuck on the traditional power structures of their day, and that these would be reflected in the Kingdom Jesus was talking about. And since they'd been there from the beginning, given their careers and lives up to follow Jesus, they figured that was worth something. Deserved reward. Jesus keeps reminding them that His Kingdom is based on radical grace. Ridiculous grace. I don't think they get that because they haven't seen the cross. It's there that Grace gets real and blows away all their concerns about status & reward... #thecrosschangesever...