verseoftheday

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. Colossians 2:8 CSB This "big" statement sets the scene for what Paul is concerned about that is happening in the church that he is writing to.  It's easy to read this as "that's interesting, what was going on in Collossae that was so bad? There's nothing to see in my church, and nothing in my life that fits under this human tradition rather than Jesus thing." We live in a culture that gives us messages all the time that shape us, its just that we don't always see it that way. Paul is giving us an opportunity to step back from our culture and have a look at what we value, how we measure success, what we strive for, and is Jesus at the foundation of that.  Or not.  And that can be hard work.  There's times when we have a lot going on and that's just not work we've got space for, and t...

So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6-7 CSB What does "overflowing with gratitude" look like? Do I do that? Is that what a good Christian looks like? I think the clue is found in two words; "continue to". This is choosing. Choosing to walk in Jesus. Choosing to put our roots down into him. Choosing to be established and grow in him. That choosing takes thought and effort and from our thinking about who God is, what Jesus did and is doing, the living hope we hold, being thankful is an outcome, an overflow.  Have you ever sat with someone and said something like "I've been thinking about you and the example you've been/the things you've done/the input you've had in my life and I'm really grateful. Thanks." That's "overflowing with gratitude".  It...

So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6-7 CSB Paul uses lots of pictures here: Walking in Jesus. Roots going down into Jesus. Established in the faith. Can you picture a plant or a tree ...the roots and getting established it's doing two things; finding nutrition for life and flourishing in the soil, and roots going down to hold it in the storm. Not sure what picture Paul had in mind with "walking in Jesus", but for some reason a train came to mind. I'm walking inside the train, the Jesus train, I'm free to move around in the train, but my destination is set. If you get a moment today grab a pencil and sketch:  Walking in Jesus. Roots going down Maybe that seems a bit weird but give it a go. What pictures emerge for you? What pictures emerge of you? What's meaningful for you? #imaginati...

I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.  For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you.  And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. Colossians 2:4-5 NLT Something is going on in the church that sounds good, but isn't about Jesus, and Paul is saying to the church I love you, I'm a long way away but your on my heart, you're important, and I'm writing to encourage you to stay on track with Jesus.  Paul gives some clues at the end of the chapter with what he is concerned about. I wonder if Paul would write the same thing to my church, or to me. "Hey bro,  I know that you're living out your faith and that's awesome. But I've heard there's people coming at you with YouTube clips and ideas that can sound good, but they've got a different agenda to Jesus.  Stick with Him. The culture around you gets in and it's subtle and sneaky, so keep your wits about you...

Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say. Proverbs 24:7 NLT There's a lot going on here at the city gate of this community. People, foolish people, wise people, some talking, some with nothing to say, but it is a community operating at the city gate. Jesus left his community to join ours.  And while he was here he used stories like leaving the 99 to seek the one lost person. Leaving community. In Deuteronomy 16 it mentions that the Passover offering happens outside the town, outside the city gate, and that's where Jesus was on that first Easter.  Outside the city gate, outside community with people, and outside community with God for one purpose; to make a way for us, because he loves us.  And as a result we are wrapped in to community with God and one another with all our foolishness and mistakes, with our little bits of wisdom and insight, but never again to be lost or excluded or shut out.  We get glimpses of that now...

Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say. Proverbs 24:7 NLT This proverb is quite stark with leaders at the city gate and fools as the only groups.  Which one am I in? Surely there's people in between. People who are heading towards being the next wise leader who can be found at the city gate.  As we think about our culture the choice we have of the places and people we can go to for wisdom are massive.  And we have no problem identifying fools (or they people who don't agree with me, or people I don't understand?) The quiet challenge in this proverb is am I becoming more like the wise leader at the city gate, or the fool? What direction am I moving in? This is not about recognition of position (as either a fool or a wise leader) but about recognition of my heart, that I have the fool in me, and the direction that I want to head in is towards wisdom.  Elsewhere in Proverbs the fool is someone wise in their own eyes, like...

Friday! Proverbs! Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say. Proverbs 24:7 NLT What's going on at the city gate? Decisions about the city, welcoming travellers.  What also goes on is people know that is where the wise are found when you need some help. You go to the city gate.  Where is our city gate?  And who is there? Is it just the first page of a Google search? At this city gate the fool is there too. When it comes to having anything wise to give you, the fool has nothing, but can be found there so we need to be careful.  The wise people at the city gate likely have a bigger picture, seen the rise and fall of people and trends, they know you, know your story. Where is my city gate? Who is there? Who am I listening to? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3 NLT Sometimes there's these questions/statements about knowing God's plan for my life and there's this slightly uncomfortable part of that that puts me at the centre of it all.  Sometimes I'd love to have a 3 step plan or clear path, but Paul gently brings me up a level, to think less about me, and more about Jesus.  This is Paul's third "I want" statement for us...to just sit with the Big Story, God's plan is about Jesus, and lets us know that if we don't get it, don't get it all, that's OK 'cos there's "hidden treasures" here. There's mysteries to unpack, treasures to seek and find, adventures to be had that take us off the beaten track.  You and I are the object of God's love. It's us Jesus came to seek and to save, and ...

I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.  I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3 NLT It is love that knits people together.  It's love that encourages, the word here is "parakaleo" to make a call from close beside. To encourage someone is to be up close. We're in this together.  Then there's this picture of being knitted together. Something new is made by the intertwining of strands. This feels active, it's not something that was once and done, but this knitting together is an ongoing process.  We're in this together. Whether it's joys or sorrow, struggles, success, fails or wins, we need one another to not place too much weight on either.  This fabric that is being made by the interweaving of our lives is not held together by success (or failure), by a building or a servic...

I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.  I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3 NLT What jumps off the page for you today from this passage? Whatever that is, meditate on that today, sit with that today.  The first thing for me today is Paul's heart for others. He was so anxious for people to hear about Jesus that it hurt.  Hurt his heart. And spurred him to act, in this case the best tool he had was to write to those he couldn't meet.  My heart can hurt for people too, and sometimes in that I can miss what I need, and what the other person needs, that as Paul says here it's in Jesus all wisdom is found. When I'm looking for answers in the wrong ...

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written:  Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion.  Look, your King  is coming,  sitting on  a donkey's colt.  His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. John 12:14-16 CSB Got to love John writing about the disciples not getting Jesus until afterwards, becuase he is one of them. He could've said "none of us, me included, figured out what was really going on here until afterwards". If it's OK for John and the team not to fully get all that Jesus was about, what all the signs meant, it's OK that we don't too.  When we wonder what God is up to. When it seems like the world is such a mess. When we wonder why Jesus hasn't returned today. One day we will see from a different more complete perspective, and in the meantime, we get to walk in faith, together,...

A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength; for you should wage war with sound guidance - victory comes with many counselors. Proverbs 24:5-6 CSB We've been in John 12 where the people want a saviour who comes to wage war in strength.  But Jesus doesn't do that.  He comes with wisdom, and he is constantly seeking the counsel of his Father.  Yes we can see glimpses of Jesus here.  And the "victory", the "teshuah", is deliverance.  Salvation. Jesus waged war with death, with evil, with sin, but not with power as that would've consumed us well, but with counsel from our Heavenly Father, he moved with unfathomable humility to become our deliverance. Our Salvation. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #proverbs #glimpsesofJesus

A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength; for you should wage war with sound guidance - victory comes with many counselors. Proverbs 24:5-6 CSB The battles we face, the battles that we're in, don't go it alone.  We're made for community, and yet for some of us our culture, our upbringing, tells us we need to tough it out in our own, figure it all out, have all the answers, win all the battles, all on me.  We just can't.  We need one another.  The word translated victory here is "teshuah" which means deliverance, salvation.  Deliverance and salvation can come when we face our battles together with others.  Wisdom, knowledge, and wise people.  We don't have to do this alone. Maybe the bravest thing we can do is ask for help. #inthistogether #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength; Proverbs 24:5 CSB What is the battle that you're facing today? This week? There's always something going on in our world, in our bodies, in our spirit, in our minds. This proverb asks us to have a think about what we're using as our "go-to". The proverb asks us to consider wisdom and knowledge as most important when going to battle.  That causes me to pause. And have a think about my approach to what's in front of me, and my use of power to move or fix my problem. This week I've been in class on Zoom, and wisdom says to take regular breaks, step away from the screen, preserve your energy for the week. Wisdom says to listen to the signals from my brain and body. When we're facing a battle in our world, body, spirit, mind, some combination, let's prioritise wisdom. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him.  They kept shouting: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord - the King of Israel!" John 12:12-13 CSB The religious & cultural leaders wanted Jesus dead. The people wanted to make him King, and they were calling on the imagery of Psalm 118:25, God who saves the people from their enemies.  The people wanted freedom from their Roman overlords and maybe they were looking for freedom from their own leaders too. Sounds familiar.  And in my heart it's often I want Jesus to fix my stuff. My health, my finances, my business, my exams, my relationships, my stuff.  This is the king I want, the Jesus I want who's gonna fix my stuff.  And it's a fully human thing to want. I'd be right there in the crowd putting my hope in this Jesus who's going to set the world right.  We know how Jesus story...

Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead.  But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. John 12:9-11 CSB The chief priests had it in for Jesus and put out a hit on him, and now they're doing the same to Lazarus.  I'm not sure how they twisted the 10 commandments or their own laws to make this OK, but somehow they had deceived themselves that bad was good, that their power was more important than Jesus life, than Lazarus life.  Little by little they convinced themselves, justified themselves. We all have power somewhere, and it's so easy to convince ourselves that what we're doing with it is right. That's why we need God's word to guide and shape us, the power of community to figure out how to love one another, and the conviction of the Spirit unveiling and he...

Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead. John 12:9 CSB You can imagine the scene today with people live streaming to FB tracking down Jesus and Lazarus...crowds creating crowds... Seems that they were looking for a celebrity to connect with (Lazarus) and a leader to free them from the oppression of Rome (Jesus). Not too different to today is it? We amplify the lives and opinions of celebrities, and we look for leaders to find a way thru wars and epidemics.  Yet Jesus' kingdom is consistently not shaped in that way and keeps us thinking about what's really important, and what's going on in the bigger story.  I would've been part of that crowd, wanting to get to see Lazarus, to say hi to Jesus, to see if they were the way out of my problems or things I was concerned about. It's hard to hold sometimes that God is at work in a bigger story, a story redemption an...

Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot...said, Why wasnt this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? Jesus answered,  "Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." John 12:3-8 CSB "For you will always have the poor with you" Does that jar?  Not if you were a Jew who knew Deuteronomy backwards (fortunately for me my Bible gave a clue where to look!) Ch15 says these very words in v 11. The context is God's design for social structures and lending money and helping the poor. If you follow my rules God says, there'll be no poor in your community.  But the poor will arrive at your gates, and don't be stingy, be open handed and generous. It's not about the rules, it's a heart thing.  This is a direct rebuke to Judas becuase Jesus knew his heart, and I guess that now Judas knew that Jesus knew.  And it's also a message to me to keep looking...

Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesuss feet...So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot...said, Why wasnt this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? Jesus answered,  "Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." John 12:3-8 CSB Jesus seems to be replying directly to Judas, but there's also a message for Mary here. Mary knew where Jesus was heading...but it seems rather than wait to annoint his body after death, she chose to bless him in life.  Is there someone on your heart to encourage? To bless? Don't wait. If the Spirit is promoting, listen.  This is not about death or anticipating death, it's about life and encouraging one another in this life. Mary had saved something worth a years income to bless Jesus, and chose to do that in life.  In that action Judas...

"Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief... Jesus answered, "Leave her alone..." John 12:5-8 CSB There's a lot going on here, but let's start with Jesus sticking up for Mary.  Judas was being a bully, using an argument that may have held some truth, but using it as a weapon to get what he wanted.  And Mary was in the firing line. Seems like this conversation was happening in front of the people in the house, Lazarus, the disciples. Everyone would've heard Judas and be waiting on what Jesus had to say.  "Leave her alone" Mary is the person with the least power here, and from Jesus's response we can see Judas wasn't aiming at Jesus, but at Mary.  Jesus is right there, in a sense stepping in front of Mary.  "Leave her alone" This tells Judas something, and it tells Mary something. I'm with the vulnerabl...

Friday! Proverbs! A house is built by wisdom,  and it is established by understanding;  by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure. Proverbs 24:3-4 CSB Seems that the writer is not talking about building a house but creating a picture of us.  But doesn't use the construction language of foundations and walls and a roof, but speaks more to intent, and what it's based on, and the spaces that have been created.  And it's what's in those spaces that we linger, wondering what precious and beautiful treasures the rooms are being filled  with.  This is picture of our heart as a building with rooms...but it's not a static picture. Built Established Are filled This is an ongoing process.  Some of the rooms in our hearts were established with deceit, disregard, pain, not understanding. Some of the rooms of our hearts don't hold treasures at all.  This proverb holds the hope that they can. That change is possible. The things...

So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, "Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it. John 12:3-6 CSB Judas's betrayal didn't come 'out of the blue'. The deception started much earlier when Judas  chose to take money given to Jesus and use it for himself.  Somewhere along the line Judas deceived himself that bad was good.  Deception started with something small. Being with a group of Christians didn't stop Judas.  Being in proximity to Jesus didn't stop Judas.  His deceit was wrapped up in moralistic words that on the outside could be seen as valid - "isn't there a better use for that perfume? Aren't the poor more important? Isn't that what Je...

So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, "Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it. John 12:3-6 CSB At the same time as the grace of Mary's action was permeating the house, Judas stands as the anti-fragrance.  Anti-grace.  In direct contrast to Mary's generous heart is Judas's selfish one. In the middle of this big cosmic story where last week Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and next week will be entering Jerusalem in honour, on his way to the cross, on his way to save humanity, in the middle of that we have this little story of two people and their hearts exposed.  And I want to be Mary. And maybe in some moments I am that worship filled person of generous grace, b...

So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 CSB The house was filled with the fragrance of Mary's worship, love, honour, generosity and care.  I wonder what fragrance fills my house, my room, my space? Mary chose to give the best of what she had to Jesus. Long after the smelly fragrance has gone, the beauty of that offering remains.  Mary's focus was on Jesus, but the whole house got the blessing.  It's a big world with big problems, and there's a lot of us who can bring a small amount of goodness to this world. May the fragrance of our offerings permeate into our world in some way today. #gospelofjohn #fragrant

Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus's feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 CSB How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald,  who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things,  who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7 CSB Jesus is more than a herald, more than one who brings news; Jesus is peace. Jesus is the good news. Jesus is salvation. Jesus is the one who reigns. And on that day in Mary, Martha & Lazarus's living room, his feet were beautiful.  #gospelofjohn #salvationishere

So they gave a dinner for him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him.  Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus's feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:2-3 CSB At my house, depending on who is there, there can be shoulders and neck and even foot massages. Moments of care between friends. We don't know if Mary's actions were as a result of the conversation that evening, whether Mary was putting together what was happening next in Jesus' life, or whether this was simply one friend blessing another.  John does comment about the expense of the quality and value of the product Mary uses, but not what she did.  Wiping someones feet with your hair, using expensive fragrance, and using lots of it, indicate an extra care, an out of the ordinary care. To wipe someone's feet with your hair you've got to be kneeling at ...

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.  So they gave a dinner for him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. John 12:1-2 CSB Sometimes the Bible is just so ordinary.  A good friend turned up at the house and we had dinner together. Martha cooked. Lazarus and Jesus talked. Diary entry ends. It's also ordinary serving. Ordinary hospitality.  Ordinary grace. Welcoming people in, sharing time and space, making them welcome. (I do wonder what Lazarus and Jesus talked about tho, don't you?  You're not looking so good Lazarus I feel like death warmed up lol) We sometimes undervalue the (what may seem to be) ordinary kindness, ordinary hospitality, ordinary grace. Not only is it what we are called to do, but for many people it's outside their experience to be invited to share a meal, to have their story heard, to be loved and welcomed in.  May w...

Friday! Proverbs! Don't envy evil people or desire their company. For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble. Proverbs 24:1-2 NLT We don't always know what's in someone's heart, but we do hear their words. Or read them. Or see them on Instagram or Tiktok or somewhere...words that stir up trouble. The word "violence" here is the Hebrew word "shod" (pronounced shode) Definition: violence, havoc, devastation, ruin. It's way broader than physical violence becuase it's capturing the intentions of the heart, a heart that takes, doesn't care about others. This proverb doesn't tell us to avoid people, but not to be envious of them, not to want to be with them. And here is Proverbs again asking me to inspect my heart.  To check in on my desires.  To have a look at what or who I am envious of.  To have a look at why I would want to be with that person.  And that heart inspection will help me to make good boundaries a...

The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it so that they could arrest him. John 11:57 CSB These guys had a lot of power in their community.  How we exercise our power is an embodiment of our character, whether that's on the Ukraine border, the grounds of parliament, or in our relationships with others.  The person who the chief priests and Pharisees were after exercised his power in the opposite way to them...he arrived in the most vulnerable way possible, as a baby. He showed his power in glimpses in the signs that John has described, but only as pointers to what he really wants us to see ...our God who loves us so much that He gives it all up for us.  He wants us to see that love wins. Jesus asks us to "follow me". Paul in Eph 5:1 calls us to imitate God.  In a world that seems so upsidedown Jesus invites us to be part of his upsidedown kingdom. #lovewins

Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover.  They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think?  He wont come to the festival, will he?" John 11:55-56 CSB Read Exodus 12 for background to the Passover, God stepping into history and rescuing his people. People who's household is identified by the blood of a lamb.  And instead of being focussed on this most solemn and important event, the people are chatting about Jesus. Is he going to turn up? They are in the middle of it and haven't made the connection that God was again stepping into history to save his people.  Sometimes we can be in the middle of it. Life. I can so easily lose sight of this being God's world, full of people He loves, and came to save. At the Passover God stepped in. At the first Easter, God stepped in.  It's what He does, becuase He loves us.  #dearlyloved #chil...

Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and he stayed there with the disciples. John 11:54 CSB It's not always possible to go to a town called Ephraim and go to ground, have a retreat with your best people, but this is a reminder that we need time out. Time out from the news barrage. Time out from the things that are pushing in. Time out from what steals your joy. Take a moment to breathe.  Focus on the air moving in...and out. Take a moment to listen. A moment, 20 minutes here, an hour there, maybe that's the best we can do right now.  Ephraim means fruitful.  Jesus went to away from the noise and drama to a town called fruitful.  Ephraim was a son born in a place of captivity, Genesis 41:52 And the second son he named Ephraim and said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." Fruitful in the land of affliction.  That's the place that Jesus w...