verseoftheday

Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 1 Peter 1:22 CSB Opening the borders of our hearts, expanding our bubbles. Keep checking our heart motives. And how do we do all that? Obedience to the truth. Sometimes this word obedience is translated submit. Not the "have to", but choosing to.  Submit willingly, choose to line up with, know, and live out the truth. That takes more than just a glance, it's not just a one time thing, it takes time & effort to dive in, to discover. And it starts with who Jesus is - refer back to the the early part of 1 Peter 1. Jesus said know the truth and it will set you free. He also said that He is the Truth  Choose to know and follow Jesus. Check our heart motives. Open the borders of our hearts. #loveoneanother #examinemyheart #openmyheartsborders #loveGod #lovepeople

Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 1 Peter 1:22 CSB Yesterday it was about (re)opening the borders of our hearts. In this verse are two checks on that that keep us safe, and reviewing our "why". Back in the good old days of Level 4, we saw a lady with a crutch walking home struggling under the weight of her groceries. Helping someone feels good (esp if they're grateful) but Peter wants us to love from a pure heart. Whether my offer was accepted or rejected, whether I was thanked, offered payment, or treated as a servant, should not change my offer. Getting to the motivation of my heart can be a tricky thing, it's not a one-off activity, but an ongoing review of the good and not so good that goes on there.  Part 3 tomorrow. For today: Open the borders of our hearts. Keep checking on our motives. #loveoneanother #examinemyheart #openmyhe...

Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 1 Peter 1:22 CSB Peter is writing to the church under pressure.  He knows what I'm like, that when the pressure is on, just like we've closed the borders of our country, I'll close the borders of my heart. As long as I'm OK. Peter encourages us to keep looking out. This verse is sandwiched between the gospel and a picture of eternity.  Look up to love God. Look out to love people.  The word translated "constantly" is intently, fervently, it means "fully stretched", taut. Every fibre fully stretched. That's how Peter wants us to love one another.  Today as the borders of our bubbles are loosened a little, open, reopen, the borders of your heart. #loveoneanother

Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth... 1 Peter 1:22 CSB Peter is writing to a culture brought up on cleanliness rituals.  Always having to be sure they'd followed the right process to be good enough for God. He's saying to them "it's OK, you've been purified, you believe the truth of who Jesus is, and living in obedience to that truth is enough." What would he say to us today? All that striving to be good enough, you are enough. That image. That profile. That having to be different, unique. The living up to others expectations, or even your own. That thinking it's all on your shoulders...it's OK. When you believe in Jesus and live in the light of that, you are enough. Being adopted by God means you can't be unadopted. Jesus finished work on the cross was enough. You're enough. You are loved. Right now, in this moment. Loved. Rest in that for a moment. I think Pete would say something like that to us today (& wa...

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood  - to be received by faith. Romans 3:25 NIV At ANZAC Day/weekend we get sacrifice by blood. We get that people have died for us.  Gone to war, knowing that they may not come back. Believing that the people and the principles they were fighting for we're worth it. ANZAC has a tangible feel to it when we gather together and hear speeches, and see things that represent what happened; Flags. Rifles. Bugles. Soldiers. Wreaths.  This year we can't get together, but what those of generations before us went through and suffered is no less real. No less true. And so it is with Jesus  His sacrifice. The freedom that no other sacrifice could purchase is freely given.  Perhaps people went to war for different reasons, some willingly, some not, but we do know that Jesus layed down his life for us for one reason: Because He Loves us. Loves you. Knows that you are worth it.  #thisislove #s...

Counsel in a person's heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5 CSB Even though this was written to an ancient people, Proverbs still captures who we are: It's about what goes on in the heart, the "leb", the very core of who we are. And the core of who we are is like deep waters, there's more going on than you can see from the surface. Deep waters don't move a lot, but they do move and change and this proverb describes that process as counsel. Advice Plans Purposes There's a conversation going on at the core of who we are.  Our interpretation of events, memories, experiences. Inputs from what we see, hear, read, the culture, our community. And what we hold to be true. There's chatter at the core of who we are. Let God's love for you dominate that conversation. Let His Truth form the core. Let His heart speak to yours, his grace give you peace.  Let His actions (esp Jesus's life, death, resurrection) give you...

Friday! Proverbs! Counsel in a person's heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5 CSB Yes it's Friday :) There's times when all of us need some help to figure out what's going on in our hearts. To allow someone in help us to unpack & figure out our deep needs, our beliefs, our thinking, our feelings. And it's not just anyone, but someone with "understanding" (skill, discernment, reasoning). Jesus was always ducking off to pray, to chat with his Father. 1. We all need someone to help us along the way, who will listen, ask questions, walk with us to help make sense of our own hearts  2. You can be that "person of understanding" in someone else's life.   Listen.  Ask. Walk together. This is the church in action, this is loving one another, bearing one another's burdens, walking each other home. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #loveoneanother #walkingeachotherhome

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit" ... Instead, you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13, 15 CSB James would have been right at home in Level 4! (We're all right at home now I suppose lol) He wants us to keep looking up, up to God to His Big Story and the place we have in that.  Our circumstances can change, without notice, the things we thought we had under control can be taken away, can change, not seem so solid. Keep looking up. See the world, our circumstances, even our life, in the light of the Eternal, the Creator. His Big Story of love, redemption, restoration, of wanting to draw all people to Himself, His love so outrageous that He entered the story, our story, as a servant. He came to serve. To give. Because He is Love. That's Grace  Love freely given. We can't earn it.  Can't buy it. But we can acc...

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 CSB Where is James looking? Upwards towards God. He is living his life and calls us to live ours "Coram Deo" in the presence of, before the face of, God.  Look up. And then he calls us to live out. To see those who need help and to step towards them. And to help.  Help to bear their burdens  And then it's about the heart. Keeping an eye on our motives, not to be stained by something doesn't mean not being in contact with it, but not letting it leave its mark, to permanently affect us. Fear, anger, resentment, revenge, rights... there's always something that the world can stain us with. Even in this time of Less Choice, let your heart be stained with light, beauty, goodness. Giving, serving. Love. And it's found when we look out towards our neighbour, and up, towards God. #james #Godsgym #level4 ...

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves,  and their religion is worthless. James 1:26 NIV Ouch. I just say things.  Last night I said something about someone that just didn't need to be said. It might even have been true. Level 4 can make us a bit tetchy or sad, or anxious, or annoyed...or all of the above. But James was writing to Christians scattered, living under the rules others made for them, and still says what I say is important. James is telling me that I deceived myself. What I said was true (mostly true) so that made it OK to say.  If I run down the 1 Cor 13 checklist on what Love is, I was self seeking & I was not kind.  I'd deceived myself.  While James is concerned about what I say, it's my heart he's after, and wants me to know how self deceptive I am. v25 encourages me to keep looking intently into God's word, not just a surface read, but allowing it to speak to my heart....

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,  and continues in it  - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:25 NIV James is writing to the church separated. Scattered. Quite possibly with way less choice than we do. And he says use your time well. Look intently into God's word. This word literally means to stop and bend down, look carefully. Maybe we have a wee bit more time to look intently at things. What is it that we're choosing to look at? James says look hard into God's word and you will find freedom. Persevere in it. And live it out. (Oh yep I read once about love being patient.) Persevere in it And live it out (And kind.) Persevere in it. And live it out (not being rude) Persevere in it. And live it out (Love protects) Persevere in it. And live it out (Love always hopes) Persevere in it. And live it out #james #monday #Godsgym

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers,  not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ,  like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 1 Peter 1:18-19 CSB Redeemed Inheritance Blood Pete is writing to the church scattered. Living under the authority of others. And he is reminding them of the bigger reality of freedom. A freedom that cannot be purchased with the things of this world, but only thru Jesus. He's just described the imperishable, unfading inheritance that we now have, and here compares it to the perishable one, one that holds out the promise of being all we need, but cannot hold the weight of that. The only way for us to be heirs, sons and daughters, to be free, is through Jesus. We're going to step out of Level 4 or Level 3 and it's going to feel like freedom.  A taster. Our ultimate freedom has already been purchased, and it's already here. Blood Inheritance Redemp...

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.  But  as the one who called you is holy,  you also are to be holy  in all your conduct; 1 Peter 1:14-15 CSB Peter, do you know what you're asking? We're scattered all over the place, under pressure, and you have this massive call to obedience!  Not only that but holiness! It's feels too big Peter. What's that? Reread page 1 of your letter? The part that talks who God is, his mercy,  his love,  the inheritance we have in Jesus, unfading, can never be lost his protection, even though we're suffering and hurting here, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit,  with strong minds,  and our Living Hope,  that we are now children of the Living God,  chosen,  known,  loved, with all of that in mind, now respond? Yes Peter, I get it now. "Lord,  Change my heart Align my desires with your heart Help me to live today,  to love today,  in a way ...

Friday! Proverbs! The slacker does not plow during planting season;  at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing. Proverbs 20:4 CSB Quite easy to pick this proverb up and sling it at someone who I don't think is working, working hard, working as hard as me, working at the things I think they should be doing... And while it is true at that level, maybe there's more to this. Jesus talked a lot about planting and reaping and the Kingdom.  Planting season follows the last harvest, and this person got slack after the last harvest, the last win, the last victory. That person can easily be me. Is me. What if this proverb is really about our hearts, and being faithful, not getting so caught up in the result card, the outcome, but being faithful to what, where, and who God has called us. At the time of ultimate harvest, am I going to look back on my life and see nothing of lasting value? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing

Therefore, with your minds ready for action,  be sober-minded  and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 CSB Peter is talking to the church scattered. He literally says to "gird up the loins of your mind" like someone preparing physically for a major sporting event, but in your thinking. There's work to be done and your mind needs to be on the job. Don't get carried away with conspiracy theories, doomsday predictions, " "what if's" or "if only's". Set your hope fully on Jesus.  His grace. My mind goes "But what about..." Fully on Jesus. My hope is not in being Covid-19 free, the lifestyle I've been accustomed to, my personal freedom, what someone else might or might not do. My hope is in Jesus.  And with my hope fully set, I can then address the problems of today. Peter knew that this is work. Start the day resetting your hope. Easter was a resetting of ...

Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves... He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Mark 16:14 CSB We like to blame Thomas for being the doubter, but they all were. Were they still in the mindset of the culture that a woman's word carried no weight? It was still all about them. They didn't believe because they hadn't seen, so it cannot be true. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him... 1 Peter 1:8 CSB Something shifted. Peter is commending the faith that he did not have. A faith before God's indwelling Spirit. A faith from before life in the upsidedown kingdom. A faith that will believe those society says have no voice.  A faith that isn't about me and what I experience, but about God and what He reveals. Peter's heart had been softened. The hard edge that comes from thinking about me first, how everything effects me, to Jesus, and how...

When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side;  they were alarmed.  "Don't be alarmed," he told them.  "You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him." Mark 16:5-6 CSB They were looking for a dead Jesus. An historical Jesus. A Jesus who's life might have been important to the few people he talked to and was a rabbi to. A Jesus who's words and teaching might be recorded somewhere,  remembered by someone. But instead they found an empty space and someone who gave them the news that changed everything. He is not here. And why? Because He Is Risen. As we rest in that today, how does that change this moment, today, how we see the world, and how we see ourselves? Jesus wasn't pulled back through death for his own sake, but for ours. He is risen. Rest in that today. Meditate on that today Live in the light of that today. #amazinglo...

Yet, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her,  they did not believe it.  After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either. Mark 16:11-13 CSB Jesus had taught them back in Mark 10 that he was going to die, how it was going to happen,  and, that in 3 days he would rise again. And yet, even knowing that, getting reports of the empty tomb, reports of people having seen Jesus, they still had trouble believing it. It's Monday. It's easy to believe in Jesus resurrection on Sunday, but it's just as true on Monday. Death did not, can not, and will not have the final say. What looked like the end, what felt like the end, was not. Jesus is risen. Some days it's hard to believe that, we get stuck in Easter Saturday, but Jesus calls us to live today, Monday, in the light of Easter Sunday. Jesus did what he said he would do, and he will do wha...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled,  and unfading,  kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3-4 CSB This is the same Peter who a few days before Easter Sunday was afraid, denying he even knew Jesus. But Easter Sunday changes everything. Peter's fear is erased. He's seen the risen Jesus.  And there's more. Something that cannot be lost or ruined.  An inheritance is only for children. God's children. And that is what we are. I often think of an inheritance as stuff. Things. Does God really have things waiting for me? What if the clue is in Genesis, made as image bearers, made for relationship with God. What if that inheritance is the restoration of who we really are, walking with God, in communion with him, with His attributes fully alive in us, as creation intended.  W...

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus's body... After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tomb... Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid. Mark 15: 43, 46-47 CSB Less choice does not mean no choice. Joseph of Arimathea was looking forward to God's Kingdom.  Yet here was the Messiah, the saviour, dead on the cross. Rather than hide away, in time of uncertainty, he kept doing what was right. For him that was walking into Pilates office. This week there was a story of a cyclist who gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation & saved a man's life.  Even in this waiting we have choices. To do what's right. And then there's the two Mary's, who were determined not to lose sight of Jesus. In this waiting it can be easy to lose sight of Jesus.  These thre...

There was one named Barabbas...who had committed murder... Pilate asked them again, "Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?" Again they shouted, "Crucify him!" Pilate said to them,  "Why? What has he done wrong?" Mark 15:7, 12-14 CSB There's Barabbas.  Guilty.  There's the crowd, stirred up by the fake news of the Pharisees. There's Pilate, who sees Jesus more clearly for who he is than anyone else, but in this moment lacks the moral courage to act. To do what he knows is right.  And there's Jesus.  The God/man. The perfect, holy, clean, pure, God-entering-his-story to become sin for all of us. For me. He stands alone.  Before the power of the world, popular opinion, and a guilty person. Barabbas.  Barabbas represents me this Easter Friday.  Barabbas, whose name means "son of the father", though guilty, is set free. The true "son of the father" though innocent, takes the punishment. Je...

The chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching. Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city. Mark 11:28-19 CSB Jesus had just cleaned out the outer temple where people were doing business.  Was it business that Jesus was concerned about? It seems that it was the place. The place where anyone could come to worship God, and the Chief Priests must've allowed that to happen. They'd taken away the place where anyone from any background could come and worship God, and used it to support their finances and power. Their authority. Whenever I read about the Chief Priests there's always something there that reflects my heart. I want to hang on to my authority.  Some days I just don't want to submit my life to Jesus. Just like the Pharisees, when Jesus turns up, I leave town. I can avoid community, avoid opening God's word, avoid letting it apply ...

"Rabboni," the blind man said to him, "I want to see." Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has saved you." Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road. Mark 10:51-52 CSB No spitting on his eyes, no mud packs, no drama...it actually seems that the restoring of, or the creation of, his sight was not even mentioned. There was no healing moment. Just this. Jesus confirmed that Bart's faith was firmly anchored in the right person, and somehow he was healed in that. (It's almost like God's power is leaking out of him as he heads to Jerusalem. Towards the cross) I think that this is a taster of what will happen when we see Jesus next...that as we see him as he truly is all that is broken will be unbroken, and all that is hurt, unhurt. The process of healing will be done  Every tear will be absorbed in Jesus loving embrace. And we truly will be whole. Restored. #restored #Jesusatthecentre #nextstopjerusalem

Then Jesus answered him,  "What do you want  me to do for you?" "Rabboni," the blind man said to him,  "I want to see." Mark 10:51 CSB The crowd has stopped. In the crowd are James and John who just a little way up the road asked/demanded that Jesus ask them this very question: "What do you want me to do for you?" But here Jesus asks it willingly.  He asks it in front of James & John. Their hearts at least in that moment had been about power, what they could get, to grow their own "kingdom". And here Jesus asks a man who has nothing except a coat that he's discarded, what it is that he wants.  Ask for anything. When Jesus asks a question it's not for Jesus to learn something. Jesus already knew Bartimaeus's heart. This question was for James and John. And for me. Jesus asks, when you grasp who I am as Bart has, what do you want me to do for you? James & John wanted power.  Bart, who had spent a good chunk of his adul...

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man and said to him, "Have courage! Get up; he's calling for you."  He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:49-50 CSB The crowd who want to shut Bart down, now wants to encourage and empower him. Why? Maybe it's because they want to impress the person they will soon be welcoming in as king? What does Bart do? Throws off his coat.  He's a beggar. Disabled. Discarded  Wrapped in his coat to protect himself from people. A barrier.  Maybe he sleeps in it on the side of the road. Jesus is calling and he discards it. Leaves it behind. And goes to meet Jesus. What are the protective layers that we wrap ourselves in, that we don't need to meet with Jesus. What's my protective layer,  that I am wrapping myself in,  that I can leave behind, because Jesus is calling? #youareenough #Jesuscalls #discardyourcoat #dearlyloved

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man and said to him, "Have courage! Get up; he's calling for you."  He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:49-50 CSB The crowd (maybe 100+ people) stops. And Jesus asks them to get involved.  Call him. Call him over. Bring him in. You've been trying to shut him down, shut him out, shut him up. Why? Because he's imperfect? Because he doesn't fit in? Doesn't fit the mold? Because he isn't good enough? Have you ever felt that way? You don't have to be perfect  You don't have to meet some requirement, look a certain way, have the right background or history. Jesus tells the crowd to "call him". As he is.  Call him as he is.  Jesus says come as you are.  You are enough. You are enough. And Jesus tells the crowd: Not to walk by.  Not to leave one by the side of the road. Not to leave one behind. Jesus is on his way to the cross, and he's prepari...

They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out,  'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more,  "Have mercy on me, Son of David!" Mark 10:46-48 CSB Can you picture the crowd. The disciples (12) plus a crowd big enough to have people in front of Jesus answering a blind man's question about who is coming. 100 people? More? The crowd wants to move on. Doesn't want a distraction & certainly doesn't want a disturbance. A loud voice. We often want to shut down a loud voice.  Just shush as we've got important things to be doing.  This story gives a different view.  This loud voice has a name and a story.  A name. A story. Blind. No support. No advocate. Outside the city.  Begging to survive.  A life lived...

Friday! Proverbs! Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. Proverbs 20:3 CSB It's the easiest thing in the world to get into an argument. This may be about honouring the person who mediates between others and finds a solution, great skills to have. But what if it's more personal? How do I end a dispute? That can take a few things: Wanting to end it. Listening  Identifying the problem  Being humble Wanting to love the other person well Being able to hold compassion and justice  Being able to speak truth and love. Being willing to step in, to step towards. This points us to one person, to Jesus, who ended our dispute with God by humbling himself, coming as a servant, speaking truth and love, and his compassion took him to the cross. For us. He asks us to simply follow him. To be like him To love like him Even in this time of Less Choice, we can still choose to love like Jesus. #proverbs #wisdom #lovelikeJesus #LessChoice #...

"...whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man  did not come to be served,  but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom  for many." Mark 10:43-45 CSB Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem.  To the first Easter. Two of his team want to be in charge. In control. And Jesus gives them another lesson in the upsidedown kingdom. A servant has less rights, less choices, and we're getting an enforced taste of that in NZ now. Jesus came to serve.  To put others needs ahead of his own.  Ours.  He gave up his freedom, his rights, and his life, for us. And here he tells his team that this is the way of the Kingdom. This is tough teaching. I don't like giving up my rights or my freedom or my choices. Right now in NZ I'm being asked to do that, partly for me, but mostly for my neighbour. For others Maybe #Level4 is a bit of a picture of the Kingdom Jesus was not j...

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you." Mark 10:35 CSB What? What kind of question is that? Jesus and his team are on their way to Jerusalem, & for the third time Jesus has been telling them about his death.  For James and John the solid things in their world feel like they're unraveling.  I don't think they can reconcile this talk of the Kingdom, the Messiah, the crowds, the healings and signs, with Jesus talk of death. How is this all going to look in the future? And then they ask this dumb question.  Because they're human. Just like us  They had things going on in their hearts that needed expressing. Just like us. Especially when some of the things that seemed so solid a week ago, aren't so firm now.  Jesus is full of grace though. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked them. Mark 10:36 CSB In our humanity & frailty we may have fears, questions, uncertainties, t...