verseoftheday

Know that  the Lord  has set apart  the faithful  for himself;  the Lord  will hear  when I call  to him.  Be angry  and do not sin;  reflect in your heart  while on your bed  and be silent.  Selah Psalms 4:3-4 CSB Remember that this is a song, a heart response to what's going on in David's life. The first part of the song indicates he is being lied about.  And it hurts.  This song reflects our hurt when we are lied about, when we are not believed. And here in this second verse he starts with a reminder to himself (& us) of something of God's character and his relationship with Him; God does hear me. And He has already set me apart, I'm already secure, my hope, my future is secure in Yahweh. And at the same time, I'm angry.  Angry at injustice. And it gets to me when I try to get to sleep. And I know that anger at injustice is OK, doing something vengeful or hurtful is not the answer.  Be silen...

Even what you have seen with your own eyes, do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame? Proverbs 25:7-8 BSB Can we see a glimpse of Jesus in this proverb? Even those who saw him with their own eyes did not see him the same way.  He was labelled. Judged. Some accepted him, some followed, some rejected him, even those who were looking for, waiting for, the Messiah. Because he wasn't from where they expected, maybe didn't sound like what they expected, or say or look like they expected.  (Makes me wonder who I might have overlooked, not sought out, not asked for guidance or wisdom from, because they didn't look like what I expected. One of my tutors this week has been in a wheelchair for 35 years & has full use of one arm. Easy to overlook.) Brought hastily to court. Jesus was brought hastily to court, becuase he was a problem for the powerful. We're quick to put blame on Judas but the shame really belong...

Friday! Proverbs! Even what you have seen with your own eyes, do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame? Proverbs 25:7-8 BSB Stephen Covey starts one of his books with a story of being on a train and there's two children running around yelling at each other, running around the carriage being annoying to all the passengers, and their Dad just sitting ignoring it all. Oblivious and uncaring about the impact his children are having on everyone else's quiet enjoyment of the journey. He approaches the Dad and points out what's going on and asks him to sort his family out. The Dad looks up and says "we've just come from the hospital where their Mum has just died, and I guess they don't quite know how to deal with that. And neither do I really." When I put a label on someone, judge their behaviour or choices, without knowing their story, I've taken them to my court, judged, declared guilt, and p...

He answered them, "I'm a Hebrew.  I worship the Lord,  the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were seized by a great fear and said to him,  "What have you done?" The men knew he was fleeing from the Lord's presence because he had told them.  So they said to him, "What should we do to you so that the sea will calm down for us?" For the sea was getting worse and worse.  He answered them,  "Pick me up and throw me into the sea so that it will calm down for you, for I know that I'm to blame for this great storm that is against you." Jonah 1:9-12 CSB Are you waiting for the highlight of the story? Where's the whale and 3 days and vomiting Jonah up on the beach? While we wait for that the author makes this outrageous claim that the storm, everyone's lives being at risk was just because of Jonah!  Does that mean that all bad things happen because of someone not being obedient to God?  Who is that per...

The captain approached him and said, "What are you doing sound asleep? Get up! Call to your god. Maybe this god will consider us, and we won't perish." "Come on!" the sailors said to each other. "Let's cast lots. Then we'll know who is to blame for this trouble were in." So they cast lots, and the lot singled out Jonah. Then they said to him, "Tell us who is to blame for this trouble were in..." Jonah 1:6-8 CSB I wonder if these experienced sailors knew that this storm was different, unexpected in direction, intensity. Whether that's accurate or not, their world view was that someone was to blame. The pressure was really on and they feared that their ship was going down and this was their last night.  When the pressure is really on, what, or who do I put my faith in?  When were faced with suffering, the impact of other people's choices, actual storms, illness, what or who do I put my faith in? Maybe it's less dramatic. Whe...

But the Lord threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart. The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his god. They threw the ship's cargo into the sea to lighten the load. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel and had stretched out and fallen into a deep sleep. Jonah 1:4-5 CSB What is going on here? The "deep sleep" is the word "radam" which is used to describe someone extremely weary and asleep, or so deeply asleep it's like they're dead (Judges 4:21, Psalm 76:6).  My guess is the bottom of the boat was where there was less movement.  Whatever was going on for Jonah, the rest of the people on the ship were genuinely fearing for their lives. Each crying out to their god. (We don't know who wrote this story, whether it's fiction or an account of actual events, but it does give insight into our humanity, that when facing death, our belief and faith in...

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me." Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord's presence. Jonah 1:1-3 CSB Not sure how the "word of the Lord" came to Jonah, but he was running from "the Lord's presence", literally the face of Yahweh. This must've been more than some prophet, more than a thought or good idea, more than someone speaking into his life, it was unmistakable. The face of Yahweh. Wherever Jonah was at that moment he wasn't running from Nineveh, he was running from God.  He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the Lord's presence. Jonah 1:3 CSB Running from God.  Not sure why he thought God wouldn't be in Tarshish, or what it was that made him run, but when it comes to running from God we don't always think ...

How long,  O you sons of men,  Will you turn my glory  to shame?  How long will you love worthlessness  And seek falsehood? Selah Psalms 4:2 NKJV David is hurting here.  And it's like he is not being seen for who he really is.  No one gets him. No one is really listening. Instead they're believing lies, "loving worthlessness", just doing nothing that's going to help. It's like they don't really want to hear, don't really want to see.  And David feels the shame, because he has to carry the shame. It feels like it's his, it feels like what is good in him has been turned into something ugly. And the accusation burns because that's what I do. I don't listen.  I believe a lie becuase it's easier than facing the truth. I don't make space for people to express how it is for them.  I let them sit in that shame. Yet the One who I follow does not do that. Jesus steps towards the hurt, the hurting, listens, questions, shares a meal, a drink. H...

Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;  for it is better that he says to you,  "Come up here!" than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Proverbs 25:6-7 BSB Our God had already said "come up here". Already welcomed us in. Already said that you belong. And he made the way for us by making himself smaller, entering our story as a baby, not exercising his power, but giving it up. "Come up here" because I know what it's like to be you, not as an outside observer, not holding on to all my power and charging in, but by being small, and among you.  "Come up here" because I know you, and I love you. "Come up here" becuase my heart is for you. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #somethingtorestin

Friday! Proverbs! Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;  for it is better that he says to you,  "Come up here!" than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Proverbs 25:6-7 BSB This seems kind of obvious, so why is it in my Bible? This week I was in a meeting with some "important" people. What was going on in my heart? "Make a good impression, do the right thing, don't say anything stupid...".  These weren't too bad, but then it was the "you don't belong here, you have nothing to contribute" wormed it's way in.  This proverb seems to be encouraging us to be OK with who we are. If we get invited into places of power that's OK but don't go placing so much value on being there.  You're OK being you.  And the messages I had running around in my mind had no place being there either.  It was OK to be me.  The other side of that is when we are in autho...

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philemon 1:23-25 NLT Here we are at the end of this short letter, and theologian and author Esau McCaulley points out that neither Onesimus, nor Paul on his behalf, apologise for Onesimus seeking his freedom.  There's no apology for someone getting free from slavery, no apology for someone getting free from an abusive situation.  This story includes Onesimus's redemptive journey, but the bigger story is the challenge to Philemon, and how he, already a follower of Jesus, will respond to the gospel of grace. How will Philemon allow the love and grace he has received translate into how he sees and responds to Onesimus.  Philemon has had power over Onesimus and Paul is asking, telling, pleading with him to give it up for the sake of another person, a person who Philomen looked down on,...

I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!  One more thing - please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon. Philemon 1:21-22 NLT Paul had a high view of people. Of Onesimus, of Philemon, and an optimistic outlook on the world - he was literally in a Roman jail and asking Philemon to prepare a room!  It seems he was also prepared to check in with Philemon. How often have I not followed up or prayed when I said I would? Paul was, if at all possible, going to check in with the people who are important to him.  Maybe it's Paul's heart for people, his outlook on the world or his desire to make a difference that nudges you and me today... (Random thought: is there an echo of Jesus going to prepare a room here?) #philemon #belikepaul

Yes, brother,  let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. Philemon 1:20 BSB The name Onesimus means useful, and the word translated "benefit" here is from the same root. It's like Paul is slipping a little Dad joke in there(!), a little play on words.  This makes "Dad jokes" a Biblical category and suitable for use at any time :) Paul is using everything he has to connect with Philemon, to help Philemon get his heart on this matter, including some humour. And ends this little piece with "refresh my heart in Christ" - when you do what is right in Jesus economy, when you choose to see Onesimus as God sees him, when you choose to live out God's values and heart in the world, that is what refreshes Paul's heart, and what should refresh ours. When in the small ordinary everyday choices, or in those bigger weighty decisions, we live out the grace and love of Jesus it will refresh someone's heart.  Even if it's ...

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it - not to mention that you owe me your very self. Philemon 1:17-19 BSB Paul is living out Jesus teaching from Luke 10:25-37 about loving your neighbour. Paul's life has intersected with Onesimus and Paul is prepared to pay to make a way for O to be free.  I've read this passage as Paul being a bit manipulative and OTT, but I think this simply reflects how Paul feels.  Onesimus's life is literally in Philemon's hands, and Paul is prepared to pay to save it.  Because that's what love does.  And that's what Jesus did, for us, for me, for you. Jesus was not just prepared to pay the price to save my life, He did. As we step into this week may we have the courage to love others as Paul loved Onesimus, confident in the love of Jesus that we live in. #philemon #belov...

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.    Answer me when I call,  O God of my righteousness!  You have relieved my distress;  show me grace  and hear my prayer. Psalms 4:1 BSB Interesting that the text includes the description and the author, and the little instruction on using stringed instruments - love that! And David starts his song in a way that seems demanding.  He knows who God is, the God of his righteousness, the God who has made him "right". But David's not hearing from Him. And wants to. God who has moved before is now silent and David doesn't like it. That line "you have relieved my distress" literally says "in a tight spot you enlarged it, made space". I wonder if that's what God does for us sometimes, makes space for us to step into. Am I looking for that? Do I just want God to "fix", when maybe He is making space for me to step into? And then David rounds off this first part of the song with a...

Remove impurities from silver,  and material will be produced for a silversmith.  Remove the wicked from the king's presence,  and his throne will be established in righteousness. Proverbs 25:4-5 CSB This is an action oriented Proverb. Both parts of it start with "Remove the..." and include "...will be...". Action oriented, and future oriented. Change what you do and it will change who you are.  Change what you do and it will change your future. We do have the power to change.  Sometimes it starts with changing our thoughts. They get into patterns, dictate our mood, our choices, and some of them, just like the material that silver is found in, need refining so that the rubbish material can be discarded. We can change what we think. Removing impurities from silver takes deliberate action, process, heat, intent, but the outcome is worth it.  Changing our thoughts, our actions, choices takes deliberate action. Finding processes that work for you helps. Applyin...

Friday! Proverbs! Remove impurities from silver,  and material will be produced for a silversmith.  Remove the wicked from the king's presence,  and his throne will be established in righteousness. Proverbs 25:4-5 CSB Interesting pictures the writer paints for us. Material that includes silver is processed so that the dross can be removed and the pure silver is available for a craftsman to create something of beauty and utility.  And the king has an opportunity to form his kingdom, establish his purposes, when the wicked are removed. And my mind immediately goes "look over there, at that person, at them, they're the problem. Get rid of them and the kingdom will be all good". And that may well be true. But eventually I'm encouraged to look within, and see where this applies to me.  What do I need to be processing and discarding so that I can become that person who God envisioned? Who He sees and wants to see flourish? And it brings me back to Grace. Grace that ad...

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good - no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord. Philemon 1:15-16 BSB Paul is giving us a lesson on how to stand with someone who is seen as "less than".  How to stand with someone disregarded.  How to stand with someone left out, left behind, left alone.  "He is especially beloved to me..." What beautiful, healing, hopefilled words that must have been for Onesimus.  Paul writes them because he has received them. From Jesus. Paul, like us, is limited to how many people he can genuinely say that about, but Jesus is not limited like that, and he says; (insert your own name)  "_______ is especially beloved by me" Paul knew Onesimus, knew where he'd come from, and loved him. Jesus knows you, knows me. Knows our fallibility, frailty, mistakes, mi...

It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. Philemon 1:15 NLT "It seems." Other versions say "perhaps this is why..." Paul doesn't wrap up Onesimus's actions in spiritual language or equate it to God's will or some kind of divine intervention in Philemon's life. Paul the apostle just says "it seems". Ordinary.  Onesimus made a decision to run away, somehow has become a follower of Jesus, met Paul and they're now good friends, and Onesimus is returning, a changed person, and all of these things are just life. The extraordinary though, is will Philemon allow the love and grace that he has received, the love and grace that he has seen in Paul, the love and grace now evident in Onesimus's life, to permeate his heart and decision making? Will he be able to break free from his cultural expectations as a boss, slaveowner, wealthy person, and choose to see Onesimus as a fellow image bearer? Will Ph...

I have fought the good fight,  I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT The first part of this verse is chiseled into the headstone on my Dad's grave, and today we're heading to the funeral of someone for who those words are true too: Fought the good fight Finished the race Remained faithful Paul wrote this at the end of his life (see v6), and yet, even facing that reality, he held firmly to the hope that this life is not all there is.  Paul had a big advantage over us in that he had met Jesus on the road to Damascus, but just like Paul, we can all hold the hope that we will see him face-to-face. That he will be so close as to wipe away our tears.  In the face of sorrow and loss we are not hopeless. Yes that hope can b...

I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. But I didn't want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. Philemon 1:13-15 NLT What Paul is asking of Philemon is going to challenge the way he has been brought up, challenge his standing in the community, the way others see him, and he's taking a massive risk, literally with Onesimus' life. Paul wants Philemon to see Onesimus as he sees him, not the way Philemon may have seen him in the past, not the way his culture saw him.  And as a result of that change of heart, Paul wants Philemon to use his power with grace.  Philomen has the power & the legal right to punish Onesimus. And suddenly this picture emerges of our Just and Holy God who has every right to punish, but instead exerc...

O Lord,  how my foes have increased!  How many rise up against me!  Many say of me,  God will not deliver him. Selah  But You,  O Lord,  are a shield around me, my glory,  and the One  who lifts  my head. Psalms 3:1-3 BSB The writer of this song knows what it's like to find it hard to face the world, to face the day. He knows what it's like when it's hard to lift our head, when our problems mount up, seem never ending, and when people challenge our faith when things are not going well. In the midst of tough times the writer holds firmly to who God is and looks to Him for security. And then takes a nap. I lie down and sleep;  I wake again,  for the Lord sustains me. Psalms 3:5 BSB Sometimes rest is what we need.  I will not fear the myriads set against me on every side. Psalms 3:6 BSB The problems are still there, the issues, the things that need doing, but the fear is gone.  Something has shifted as the writer has giv...

It is the glory of God  to conceal a matter  and the glory of kings  to search it out.  Proverbs 25:1-3 BSB It's like God has made things that are hard to find, so that we will have to work really hard to discover them. Maybe this is science. To discover more and more of what God has hidden away, in the way things work, in the big, and the small, in the human mind and heart.  What if this life is meant to be a journey of discovery, of discovering more and more of God... It's OK not to have all the answers, to sit with things unresolved sometimes, to keep searching, studying, learning, meditating...and resting. Resting in who our God is.  The One who is Love. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #mystery #dearlyloved

Friday!  Proverbs! These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:  It is the glory of God  to conceal a matter  and the glory of kings  to search it out.  As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,  so the hearts of kings cannot be searched. Proverbs 25:1-3 BSB Does this Proverb feel a bit obscure? Like something needs to be discovered about it? I wonder if that's the point! When we meet people, there's things that are tucked away that we may not know about them, but more than that, their thoughts and feelings and what makes them tick...these are mysteries. Sometimes the things that make us tick are mysteries even to ourselves! There's lots about God that is revealed. We find that in his word, and in The Word, Jesus.  And this proverb indicates that there's more. More to be discovered. And that's good work to do, to sit with the mysteries of God knowing that there's more to discover. And in th...

I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. Philemon 1:12 NLT Paul is in prison, an old man, and somehow he gets to spend time with Onesimus, maybe he's been in jail with him for some reason? Across the ethnic divide, the age divide, the religious, the cultural divide Paul and Onesimus have connected.  What a beautiful thing to say; "with him comes my own heart".  Paul didn't let any of those barriers stop him from loving his neighbour. Carlos Rodriguez is a pastor in Puerto Rico and has t-shirts printed with variations on this theme: Love thy neighbor Thy immigrant neighbor Thy atheist neighbor Thy LGBTQ+ neighbor Thy depressed neighbor Thy disabled neighbor Thy Muslim neighbor Thy homeless neighbor Thy millennial neighbor... Thy _______ neighbor Paul is asking Philemon to love his slave neighbor. Imagine choosing to love a person who you "own" and still want or be able to "own" them. It seems impossible to do both. Tough work a...

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn't been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. Philemon 1:10-12 NLT Ah so now we get to the heart of Paul's letter, and a play on words - the name Onesimus means "useful"! Onesimus is a runaway slave, who somehow met Paul (in prison) and has become a follower of Jesus, what we would call a Christian. We've already learned that Philemon is a person of faith, kindness and love for others.  But what Paul is asking will have a financial cost, and a social cost. Those in his community will be expecting a runway slave to be punished, Philemon literally holds Onesimus's life in his hands. What will Philemon's friends, business associates, family, even those in the Church that meets in his house say?  How will they see him if he welcomes in someon...

That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you.  I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.  But because of our love,  I prefer simply to ask you.  Consider this as a request from me - Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:8-9 NLT Paul still hasn't got to his request yet, but he says I've actually got some spiritual authority here, I can show you from scripture what's right, what you should do. However. It's the strength of our relationship that I want to influence you.  We can have a head to head convo, but it's the heart that's important. Our relationship matters. It's like Paul is showing us God's heart for us here...yes there's the law. However. It's the strength of our relationship that the I Am wants to influence us, change us, move us.  God made it personal when He entered the story as a person, with all our limits and frailties.  "But because of our ...

I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people.  And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God's people. Philemon 1:4-7 NLT Philemon is a good person.  He's a giver who's "kindness has refreshed the hearts of God's people". He's faithful, loves God, loves people. And Paul is also asking him to step up in a particular area, he's asking him to consider all the goodness and blessing of being a Christian and to be generous. Yet he already is a giver. So what's going on then? Paul has something to ask Philemon that is going to be challenging and wants him to be prepared that he may have a blind spot. Makes me wonder what mine...

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth take their stand,  and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One: "Let's tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us." Psalms 2:1-3 CSB Why do nations rage against God? Why do societies reject Jesus? What goes on in my heart? I don't want anyone telling me what to do. I want to be in charge of me. I don't want God to be God, but me. In this song God is seen as restrictive, someone to be broken free from. And this is the lie that the Enemy started with in the Garden of Eden. Get free of God and you'll find freedom. Break free of God's shackles. While we know that's a lie there's a part of our hearts that still wants to believe it's true...mine does anyway.  Because I still want my kingdom to come, my will to be done.  But Jesus came to set me free from me. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom (2 Cor 3:17). May that be our ...

I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.  Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground,  and the stone wall was ruined.  I saw,  and took it to heart;  I looked, and received instruction:  a little sleep,  a little slumber,  a little folding  of the arms to rest,  and your poverty  will come like a robber, and your need,  like a bandit. Proverbs 24:30-34 CSB Mmm what do you think? This Proverb can so easily be turned into a weapon to blame and shame those who are poor, whose business may fail, whose assignment didn't make the grade... but if the field, vineyard & stone wall are pictures of some part of who we are, parts that need cultivating like a field, tending like a vineyard, maintaing and building up, reinforcing like a stone wall, then it's telling us it's the little choices, the small things that we let go, that lead to disaster that arrives in a hurry. What are my small...

Friday! Proverbs! I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.  Thistles had come up everywhere,  weeds covered the ground,  and the stone wall was ruined.  I saw,  and took it to heart;  I looked,  and received instruction: Proverbs 24:30-32 CSB Before we look at the "instruction" the author got, what do you see? A field that belongs to someone. Someone known to be lazy. A vineyard that has an owner. Someone known to make poor choices.  Yet they still have these resources.  Something was growing there. Just not good things.  Thistles and weeds.  Nothing wrong with the soil or the climate. The wall, the stone wall, the defence for the property had been built but was now ruined.  The writer didn't just look and make a judgement, but took it to heart, considered what was going on and got instruction from somewhere...from their own heart?  Or somewhere else? Who had built the wall? Who had plante...