verseoftheday

The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming.  The wolf then snatches and scatters them.  This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn't care about the sheep. John 10:12-13 CSB Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 CSB I've been wondering as I am called to imitate Jesus, just how often I am much more like the hired hand.  When things get tough I leave it for someone else.  When things get messy I can justify walking away. When the cost is personal I'll set my limits.  Jesus didn't do that.  And he calls me to follow him. At the same time, we're limited creatures, we're not Jesus. But every time we put aside our own agenda for someone else we look less like the hired hand, and more like Jesus. Every time we treat someone with kin...

The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming.  The wolf then snatches and scatters them.  This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn't care about the sheep. John 10:12-13 CSB Such an interesting picture Jesus paints here, contrasting himself with the hired hand, and the wolf as the enemy. Who's the hired hand that looks after the sheep until it gets tough? The hired hand has their own agenda.  Maybe that points at their community leaders who were the elite, those gaining wealth and power. Maybe it's the government, or simply the ideas of our culture that we ascribe to without real thought or challenge. Maybe for some you can see the hired hand in your own family.  For some you might see an ex partner or spouse in this hired hand picture. But Jesus says he's not like any of those. His agenda is love. Love for us. Love that when the wolf demanded something to devour, the only way t...

Friday! Proverbs! Haven't I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you? Proverbs 22:20-21 CSB This little dialogue with an unknown person is here for a reason...it seems that they've been sent to the author to learn something and then take it back to those who have sent our unknown person.  And the author, the writer, says I've given you 30 pieces of wisdom.  The implication seems to be that's enough to get you going.  That's enough for you to live by or change your trajectory.  The implication is that you need to live out what I've taught you, don't worry about more wise sayings until you live these out. Wisdom is more than knowledge.  Do you have a few Biblical guideposts? Here's some of mine in no particular order; Matt 25:35-40 Matt 22:34-40 Eph 4:1-3 1 Cor 13:4-7 Luke 20:25-37 John 8:10-12 Rev 21: 4a More than enough to live...

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:10-11 CSB Jesus, the anti-thief, comes to give lots of life. He is good. He is for us. We're so valued, so valuable, that the good shepherd is prepared to die to save us.  The shepherd who values his sheep more than himself.  Our wee cat is now at the end of her days. I'm prepared to pay the vet for treatment, but there are limits. If the vet said I can save your cat if you die in her place...I love her, but know that she's not worth giving my life for.  Jesus sees us, and says that we are worth it.  His way, the Father's way, to this 'lots of life' that Jesus wants us to have, is via the cross.  Jesus sees us, and says we're worth it.  When the thief says you're not worth it, when our own internal voice says we're not worth it, Jesus says th...

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:10-11 CSB Jesus syas "I am the good shepherd." What does that make me? A sheep.  A sheep does not understand the ways of the shepherd, how the shepherd sees the world, why he or she does what they do. A sheep doesn't understand or see all the forces at work in the world, why it has to leave one place for another, why it needs drenching, or shearing. A sheep can't always see a coming storm, or drought, or danger.  Sheep in those days did get to know their shepherd's voice. Jesus has just compared himself as opposite to the theif who comes to steal and destroy, he comes with life. Lots of life. And he is good.  Even though we can't see what Jesus sees, when the world pushes in, when we face tragedy, heartache, loss, in the good and the toughest of times,...

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:10-11 CSB Jesus continues painting his word picture, kind of two pictures really; One is of a thief.  A thief who has one purpose - to steal, kill, destroy. Our enemy is a Liar, and this is what his lies do  Steal from us Kill us Destroy us Often the lies promise life, but they do not contain it because their purpose is destruction. Jesus word picture of himself is life.  It's his purpose, to bring life. The word here "in abundance" is 'perissos', which means more. Jesus is about more life.  The word for life here is 'zoe', both physical life now, and spiritual life in the future.  Jesus purpose is about more life.  These two pictures are stark and it's easy to choose life.  But in the everyday, that's where the battle is. Choosing more lif...

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23 NLT We started this little journey in Philippians with a lockdown view on August 18 - certainly didn't expect half our population still to be in it as we let Paul's closing words seep into our bones. What a beautiful way to end a letter, to end a conversation; "May the grace  of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." And it's more than just a closing remark...all through his letter Paul has been encouraging us in our faith, and gently showing how to live it out in the world in which we live. A world that needs grace. And so do I.  Paul knows I'm still in need of grace.  Grace in the everyday, grace in the pressures, the decisions. In here I think is grace for how we see ourselves. How I see me.  Grace is for others, yes, but it's also for you.  Jesus heart is for you, his grace is for you.  People love all kinds of things. Maybe it's a painting, or an old car, a piece of ...

All God's people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household. Philippians 4:22 NIV Embedded in this closing  blessing to his letter is anither lockdown lesson. Paul used the circumstances of his lockdown to bless those around him.  There's a church inside Caesar's house. God's upsidedown kingdom was growing in a surprising place, and the implication is that at least in part it's because Paul is in lockdown. At the very least he's communicating with Christians in Caesar's house.  Thinking back on conversations over the last few weeks, whether I agree with the govt or not, vax or not, how often have I missed an opportunity to build community, to strengthen and encourage, to share the good news of Jesus, to be the church in "Caesars household", to be part of the upsidedown kingdom of Jesus... Paul's circumstances did not alter his calling, let's not let our circumstances alter our calling either. More and mor...

Greet all God's people in Christ Jesus.  The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. Philippians 4:21 NIV Lockdown lesson #58 Don't go it alone. My guess is that Paul wasn't terribly happy with the government - he was quite possibly going to die in jail where they are holding him. But even there he had a team. We all need a team.  People who we can lean on, lean into when things feel tough. People we can be honest with, disagree with, challenge, encourage, and love. Life can be tough.  Some days it can seem too much and there are less and less options. Having a team then gives perspective, and hope. It would've been easy for Paul to have pulled back and pulled away from people, but he maintained relationships with people in his life during the tough times.  Teams don't have to be big, they can be found in surprising people, but don't go this alone. Reach out today if you need to. The person who sent you this message today is on your team. #lockdownl...

Friday! Proverbs! So that  your trust may be in the Lord,  I teach you today,  even you. Proverbs 22:19 NIV Even you. "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jer 31:3 Even you. "He rescued me because he delights in me" Ps 18:19 Even you. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1 Even you Nothing can separate you from God's love. Romans 8:38-39 Even you. I've come that you might have life. Jesus. John 10:10 Even you. I have seen you, known you since before time. I've loved you so much that I've chosen you, adopted you, made you an heir to all that I am.  That's how precious you are. Ephesians 1:4-14 Even you. Even you. Even you. Even you. How often have we heard God's truth and even shared it with others, but when it comes to me, if you knew me, then there's no way you'd say that.  But He does. You are enough.  Even you.  John 3:16-17 Our God said I love you, I haven't come here to c...

Greet all God's people in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:21 NIV Have you ever noticed that not all churches look the same, operate the same way? That not all Christians see things in the Bible exactly the way you do? Emphasize some aspects over others? That people bring their lived experience in life, their history, their whakapapa, their story, to their faith? One year in our LifeGroup we had people from 7 nations and it was a beautiful thing when they prayed in their first language. God's people are from all over the planet - this letter is written to a church in Greece in a city founded by Roman army veterans, is written by a Hebrew scholar who is a Roman citizen is currently in prison.  Here's my thought: We need people from different backgrounds, languages, cultures, generations, perspectives to help us see more of who God is and how he would have us live.  We need the healthy, and we need the sick. We need the young and the old. We need the refugee, the migrant, the rich...

Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Amen. Philippians 4:20 CSB This last word "amen", means "so be it" or "truly".  Paul just wants his life, and the life of his readers, to bring glory to God.  The word here is "doxa". "honor, renown; glory, an especially divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, splendor." Paul wants us to not lose sight of who God is, no matter what our circumstances. He's been pointing us to Jesus, and at the end encouraging us in the way we live, to reflect who God is.  Some days I can lose sight of who God is. The day-to-day stuff just draws me in and I miss who God is.  He reminds us that He can be seen in the ordinary acts of kindness, of sharing resources, in the living out our lives in the day-to-day, just as he is in the lockup. Our immediate circumstances don't define God's character, how we live does. Not as solo characters, but together. Paul doesn't make himself ...

At the moment I have all I need - and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus.  They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:18-19 NLT Paul sees God at work in the generosity of the Philippians. God at work through the hands and feet and heart of others. I've been blessed and encouraged by others in various ways, and I haven't always been grateful to God for His hand in that. Paul is in jail, yet still grateful to the Philippians and to God that his needs are met. Amazing.  Seems that Paul is not just grateful he is also reminding his readers that God sees them, and that blessing comes through others in their lives too.  It's a quiet reminder to keep our hearts open to the Spirit's prompting to encourage, bless, give.  And to be grateful when we a...

At the moment I have all I need - and more!  I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18 NLT Have you been on one of those lockdown walks and gone past a garden and the sweet smell of a plant has found you?  Maybe it's fresh cut grass. Or after the spring rain. Or fresh cut firewood sitting in your driveway...maybe for you it's the smell of the sea...or food cooking... When those sweet good smells find us it warms something, connects with something deep within.  Perhaps it's a good memory, and perhaps it's hope.  The sweet smell of the Philippians giving found God. In a very human limited sense it's like the sweet smell of our acts of love and giving waft towards God. And as these sweet-smells find Him, He gets that feeling of goodness, and of hope.  The sweet-smells of those moments of giving money, time and resources to and for others, those ...

At the moment I have all I need - and more!  I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18 NLT Paul seems to be giving us a glimpse of two things here.  He's just told us that he knows how to be content with plenty or with little, and here, at least in part, he shows it in his attitude - I've actually got plenty. He's not comparing to others, he's comparing to what he needs.  (The implication is if he had a need he would ask. If you have a need - ask) Paul recognises, knows, that their giving is sacrificial. They've given something up to help him.  It's humbling when that happens.  When you receive a gift of time, money, resources in some way and realise that they could've used that for themselves. But instead chose to give. And thirdly (OK seems there were 3 things) Paul connects their giving, their heart, their actions to God. There's s...

Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.  I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. Philippians 4:16-17 NLT Paul's in the lockup, and looking back at those he is grateful for. Lockdowns can be a time of fear, fear of the future, but Paul here is using his at least in part to look back at those who've blessed him in the past. And in lockdown the only thing he can do is thank them. He's not asking for anything, just being thankful.  As we sit with that today, who comes to mind who has been an encouragement in some way in your life?  In my life? Maybe sending them a thanks for ______ would be a good thing today. #lockdownlessons #belikepaul #beanencourager

Friday! Proverbs! Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. Proverbs 22:17-18 NLT OK so all the rules are broken today and there's 2 verses here...but they make sense together :) Keep wisdom in your heart. Have it ready to speak. That can only mean one thing: we need to memorise wisdom. Hold wisdom by holding it in our memories. There's other places too... screensavers on phones or computers. What is the art on your walls? Does it hold wisdom, truth, goodness? This proverb gently encourages us to do everything we can to get wisdom in so that we live it out. Jesus summed it up in Matthew 22:37-40  Love God Love people Holding that passage in memory makes it available whenever I need it  Let your gentleness be evident to all. Phil 4:5. This wisdom I regularly need. Maybe it's this one: Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and wi...

And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. Philippians 4:15-16 CSB Paul's crew at Philipi were the only ones who supported him, at least for a significant period. They didn't know that and Paul is commending them and thanking them here.  Ever been prompted to give? To send someone a word of encouragement? To pray for someone? To connect and check in? Do it, because you might be the only one.  Paul was high profile, yet the people at Philipi were his only support.  That could be us, could be you. Maybe it's a pastor, ministry leader, friend, someone you barely know, missionary, random person in the church band or person who does the tech stuff or cleans, or someone in your street, or even in your house, if you're prompted to give, encourage, connect, or check in, do it.  #lockdown...

And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. Philippians 4:15-16 CSB In lockdown Paul is looking back with gratitude.  He's not looking back at how things were, or how they should be in his view, he looks back with gratitude to the people who cared for and supported him.  What we choose to focus on can change how we see today, but it can certainly change our heart, our orientation, our peace. What are you and I grateful for? Who are we grateful for? When we put our focus there, when we record even just one thing today that I'm grateful for, things shift. And when we communicate that gratitude to the person we're grateful for, then the blessing is multiplied #shift #gratitude #lockdownlessons

I don't say this out of need,  for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.  I know how to make do with little,  and I know how to make do with a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content - whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.  I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 CSB Motivational speakers love this last sentence, rugby players write it on wristbands as a talisman to greater performance. But Paul doesn't seem to be interested at all in performance, but in our hearts. This is another version of finding peace.  Peace that does not depend on circumstances, whether they're great or terrible.  Paul's lockdown lesson is to keep our eyes on Jesus, to lean into Him as our strength whether life is going well or not.  We're as much at risk of losing sight of Jesus in times of plenty as in times of need.  #thesecret #leanint...

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. Philippians 4:10 CSB Why is this dialogue in here? Is Paul throwing some shade on the Philippians for not checking in on him? Or is he giving an example of the things that he's been talking about? "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because..." Here he's demonstrating that he's leaning into God in this circumstance. "You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it." Paul didn't let his feelings run away but came back to the truth. "Whatever is true, think on these things". He was fixing his thoughts on what was true. The facts.  And he was letting his graciousness be evident. He looked at their lack of support or communication from their perspective and that helped. Paul's circumstances haven't changed. He's still in lockdown, but by doing the things ...

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who... ...emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant... And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death - even to death on a cross.  For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow... Philippians 2:5-10 CSB Humble Humbleness Humility Becoming a servant. These don't seem to be popular words.  But we're called to follow Jesus, who made himself smaller, humble, a servant. For us. Jesus.  Before who we will all meet face to face, who we will see in all of who he really his, went to such lengths for us.  When we wonder about our worth,  our value,  consider again Jesus who left everything to become our servant,  to become our scapegoat, to absorb our sin,  to make a way,  to become the way,  for us.  For you. For me. When someone does something for us,...

And now,  dear brothers and sisters,  one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true,  and honorable,  and right,  and pure,  and lovely,  and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 NLT Paul's wrap up, his takeaway for the Philippians, and for us, is  to anchor our thoughts, to 'think about our thinking', to choose in whatever our circumstances are, to fix our thoughts on truth, and beauty, to look for the good (even in our darkest if times). And then to follow his, Paul's example, as a follower of Jesus.  Even in my faith journey I'm tempted to do my own thing, to think I know best.  Who are the followers of Jesus who you are following?  Those who've shown their love for God and love for people in the long haul...

Friday! Proverbs! Incline your ear,  and hear the words of the wise,  and apply your heart to my knowledge, Proverbs 22:17 ESV Incline your ear, bend your ear!  What great imagery! What is it that we bend our ears towards? I always hear things that reinforce my position, those who agree with me! At times I bend my ear to the frivolous and chatter of "social media" or the voices of our culture that often sound so attractive. This proverb encourages us to listen to wisdom.  And not just to listen, but to let it in. The word here for 'heart' is "leb", our heart, mind, our inner self. What goes on in there? What are the words and messages running around in our inner selves? Lies? Part truths? This little intro to this section of Proverbs encourages us to get wisdom in there, truth in there, into those inner spaces.  Where to start? The gospel of Jesus.  John 3:16-17. Let the truth sink into your heart, into those inner spaces. God loves you. You're so valued...

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true,  and honorable,  and right,  and pure, and lovely,  and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT Some days it's really tough work to fix my thoughts on anything in Paul's lockdown list. Paul is confined in a Roman prison with the potential to remain there the rest of his life, yet there is something he can control - his thinking. It takes work to keep our thoughts on what is true.  To filter out our interpretations. With all that is dishnonoring to people, all that is ugly and damaged, we need to be deliberate to think about what is honourable, pure, lovely. Look for beauty, create some, dwell on it, fix your thoughts there. Whatever is right.  Just.  Righteous.  Just in God's eyes.  We cannot shrink from injustice.  We could do word studies on each of these things, but the key thing here i...

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything,  but in every situation,  by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,  will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV Peace. It's the outcome. This "peace of God" is not a feeling but it's an active thing, it's at work guarding.  Warning of enemies.  Seeing the enemy and the lies that would attack our hearts and minds. Our feelings and our thoughts. Lean into God Live out his grace as you can Know that the Master is near Bring the things that are pushing in on us, our fears, our losses, grief, hurts, the things that worry us, and pray. In every situation. Pray. And then let the 'peace of God' do his work.  Guarding our thoughts and feelings, hearts and minds, w...

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything,  but in every situation,  by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:4-6 NIV And then, pray. As I sit with this verse this morning I realise that I simply do not pray enough.  I'm like one of the 9 in Luke 17:17. Paul's not ordering us to, or making rules, he says: Lean into God Live out his grace as you can Know that the Master is near Bring the things that are pushing in on us, our fears, our losses, grief, hurts, the things that worry us, and pray. In every situation. Pray. Petition. Requests. Bring it all.  Bring it all with thanksgiving. Some days it seems that there's nothing to be thankful for...right? We can get stuck in our thoughts or things seem overwhelming, and maybe the mistake we make is that we read these verses and think it's all o...

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything,  but in every situation,  by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:4-6 NIV We love to take verses like "do not be anxious about anything..." as some kind of edict that we should all be living some kind of garden-of-eden-before-the-fall kind of life. First Paul is writing to people who do have anxiety. They are worried. They've got stuff going on that is tough to deal with. What he calls "every situation". And Paul has already expressed his own concerns and anxieties both for others, and for his own situation. The Bible is about keeping it real. So he says: Lean into God. Live out his grace as you can Know the Master is near And in that context, doing those things, knowing that truth, don't be anxious. When we lean into God we have somewhere to go with our ...

Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 NIV From lockdown, where Paul's freedom is completely restricted, while asking us to live out gentleness, equity, fairness and justice, he gently reminds us that the Lord, "kurios", the master, is near.  This word gives security in uncertain times. When our thoughts start swirling around and getting a life of their own,  when fear seems to take over...it's OK Paul reminds us.  It's OK, the Master is here.  He is near. This word for near is about proximity and time. He is near.  He is near in Spirit  He is returning in the flesh. He is near  #truthtorestin #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #near #themasterisnear

Let your gentleness be evident to all. Philippians 4:5 NIV Matt Smethurst asked the question: Bible: "Let your _______ be known to everyone". What virtue would you expect to see? What would we be publicly known for? Gentleness. This word translated gentleness ("epieikes") also carries the meaning of fairness, being equitable, justice.  Being gentle is not passive but it's us in action.  Doing things. And the things we do, what are we known for? As a community? A church? Me? Gentle. Do I bring fairness and equity and justice to what I do? What we do as a church? As a community? Suddenly this small seemingly innocuous verse written from jail is a lot bigger.  Gentleness, fairness, equity, justice. Evident to everyone.  Obvious. This is a gentle nudge from Paul to live these values out, and to do that I need to see the people around me, look outward, and take action. Gentle action Fair action Equitable action Just action I wonder how that's going to look for me...