verseoftheday

So about eating food sacrificed to idols:  We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and Lords), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 BSB Last Sunday morning I ended up at a shopping centre and in the massive carpark there, struggled to find a park.  The idols of our world are there, just a little more subtle than in the ancient world that Paul was writing to.  Paul does remind us of what, or more importantly, who we place our faith and hope in, and who we worship.  He wants us to keep the main thing, the main thing.  Clearly in his day the food, the power of the idols, was a thing that he was writing about. I wonder what he would write to us abou...

Now I know  that the Lord  saves His anointed;  He answers him  from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand.  Some trust in chariots and others in horses,  but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalms 20:6-7 BSB Some days it seems that the only thing that will help is God reaching down from heaven and moving things around in our lives.  Making things right in this world.  Fixing what is broken. A few Psalms earlier and David writes "how long Lord?" We have the benefit that David didn't have of knowing that God did enter in, that He did more than reach down from heaven, He turned up, joined in, arrived. And there were glimpses of power, multitudes fed, water turned to wine, blind could see again, people who couldn't walk could, forgiveness walked the earth.  And Jesus also sweat blood, gave up his own plans, and suffered.  In the midst of that first Easter there was no obvious victory.  Just faith.  Trus...

May the Lord  answer you  in a day of trouble;  may the name  of Jacob's God  protect you.  May he send  you help  from the sanctuary  and sustain  you from Zion. Psalms 20:1-3 CSB  David's song here is written on behalf of others; "answer you" "protect you" "sustain you". Don't know if David didn't think he needed those things in his own life but this seems to be a shift from earlier psalms where David is putting his own case to God.  Here it's all about others.  His song is about wanting good for others, for people who need help, protection, sanctuary.  Things shift when we consider what's going on for others, take up their case, become that place of sanctuary for them, protect those who need it, help those who are in trouble.  It starts tho with seeing.  With asking. With checking in. With following up.  And it starts with just one person. One person who I can ask how they are this week. One person w...

Sunday Psalms; May he give you  what your heart desires and fulfill  your whole purpose.  Let us shout for joy  at your victory  and lift the banner  in the name of our God. May the Lord  fulfill  all your requests. Psalms 20:4-5 CSB While this Psalm is a battle song and talks about days of trouble and victory and all that, there is this beautiful piece here where David recognises our hearts desires, he recognises that we're wired in certain ways, that there's things in us that we're kind of made for.  And that's good.  If those things in your heart align with God's character, his heart for creation, the world, people, you, then follow them, allow, or even better, give the seeds of those things the space and place to flourish.  I met with a pastor this week who said (despite sharing about the weight of the work and his own health issues) "I wouldn't want to be doing anything else".  This is the place where his heart desires and...

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:4 NLT Not sure how this works, but before, God wants you.  From before.  Verse 3 tells us we are chosen and loved.  From before.  And this verse says we are adopted. Wrapped in. Accepted.  In a world where acceptance is so often conditional, incomplete, non-existent, God says that He has accepted us already.  From before.  Because he wants to.  You being wrapped in to His family makes God smile.  I picked up a little one this week, wrapped her in for a moment, told her she was dearly loved...I smiled...and then she cried...because I wasn't really known to her. Maybe there'll be the opportunity to become more known, but that little one is loved anyway.  Maybe that picture is a blurry or incomplete one of God's joy in loving us.  In loving you.  Today's re...

Friday! Proverbs! Whoever has no rule over his own spirit  Is like a city broken down,  without walls. Proverbs 25:28 NKJV Do you get the ancient picture of a city that is easily over run, where no one and nothing is safe.  A broken city.  And that is the picture the writer paints of us when we have no self control, when our desires are allowed to be in charge of everything, when our emotions are so big that they determine our actions and choices... When good things become the thing.  A broken down city without walls is not how it's supposed to be, not how we're supposed to be...seems to me that learning self control, managing our emotions, reigning in our desires, these are not once-and-done, but seem to need constant attention, maintenance, just like a city wall... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #Godsgym

Who can discern his own errors?  Cleanse me from my hidden faults.  Keep Your servant also from willful sins;  may they not rule over me. Psalms 19:12-13 BSB Ah so now we see why David was so strong on God's words, law, testimony, precepts, commandments and judgements, because it can be a tricky thing to discern our own errors.  I can always find a way to justify what I've done. God's words help me to see where my self justification needs adjusting.  The other day I said some things in a way that wasn't kind and I justified it with my long day at work. Love is patient, love is kind, and I hadn't been. God's words made the change (& led to the apology). God's words work on those hidden things, and the most hidden of all, my thoughts.  David really does have the human condition sussed...how does a wilful sin rule over us?  We think we can control it all, open the door to sins and choices and believe we can shut it anytime. Sometimes we can, and we th...

They are more precious than gold,  than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey,  than honey from the comb.  By them indeed Your servant is warned;  in keeping them is great reward. Psalms 19:10-11 BSB What is it that is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey? God's words.  Law Testimony Precepts Commandments Judgements When I think of these things gold and honey are not the first things that come to mind! Just maybe I'm looking at them wrong...and the big advantage I have, we have, is that Jesus arrived and said that he is the fulfillment of these things.  Jesus who is light, life, love, the sacrificial servant, the healer, the way, the advocate, the one who fed the hungry, set people free...and how did he summarise all these things? Love God Love people God's words are gold.  They are the sweetness of honey found after searching...may we let David's song remind us of that because they are the words of our God who loves us, loves you, who ...

The Law of the Lord  is perfect,  reviving the soul;  the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,  making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right,  bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the Lord  are radiant,  giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord  is pure,  enduring forever;  the judgments of the Lord  are true,  being altogether righteous. Psalms 19:7-9 BSB In this song it seems like David is giving us flavours. Flavours of God. And these different flavours minister to us in different ways; - reviving - making wise - bringing joy - giving light We need all the flavours, but at times we need one more than others... What do you need today? May you find that today in what our God says about himself, and about what He says about you, His dearly loved child. #psalms #songs #psalm19 #flavours #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

In the heavens  he has pitched a tent  for the sun.  It is like  a bridegroom coming from his home;  it rejoices  like an athlete running a course.  It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat. Psalms 19:4-6 CSB David's looking at the sun and trying to capture something...nothing is hidden from its heat is the impact of the sun on our world. But what's this picture of a bridegroom heading to his wedding about? Or the runner? Competing in something that has been trained for, prepared for? Our "western", scientific view of the world says that our world is inanimate, has no 'life', no 'spirit', yet David is indicating there's something else going on here, that there's some kind of joy in creation, anticipation, like a groom heading to see his bride.  There's the pleasure of a runner who has trained and prepared and is feeling the results of that as they run, doing what they have trained ...

Sunday Psalms; The heavens declare  the glory of God,  and the expanse proclaims  the work of his hands. Day after day  they pour out speech; night after night  they communicate knowledge. There is no speech;  there are no words;  their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. Psalms 19:1-4 CSB Is it the bigness of God's creation that gets you? Or that the creation speaks in some way? Or is it that the message has gone out everywhere? Or that there is communication without words? Or something else? What gets you today? Is there something here for us too as we're part of that creation story, that we too speak without speaking...how can you and I communicate God's message without speaking? #psalms #psalm19 #speakwithoutspeaking

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4 NLT Before everything, somehow, You were known,  in God's imagination He saw you in all you were meant to be,  before everything, He knew you, and loved you, before everything, He knew you, and loved you, and chose you.  If you're feeling unaccepted, unacceptable, unknown, or unloved, it's not the whole story...we all feel that sometimes, but at the same time, we are known, chosen, and dearly loved.  Let your soul rest in that today. #todaysreminder #jesusatthecentre #youarebeloved #truthtorestin

Friday! Proverbs! It is not good to eat much honey,  Nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. Proverbs 25:27 AMP Honey is good.  Too much honey is not good.  Being recognised for good work, honoured for your achievements, thanked, encouraged, praised, these are all good things too.  But  If that's all you hear, that's not good.  It can change something in us that goes from doing, making, creating, building, writing, growing teaching, even praising God, because it's good, right, uplifting, positive, encouraging, providing for you, for others, into looking for more thanks, praise, adulation. More glory. So keep doing what's right, what's good, even if no one sees it, even if they see it, and even if they benefit from it and never thank you or recognise you.  Do good things because it's good.  #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Now about food sacrificed to idols:  "We know that we all have knowledge." Knowledge puffs up,  but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 CSB Paul's letter continues to address all kinds of issues and questions that have been put to him (would be quite good to have the questions, but all we have is Paul's answers). There's been lots of arguing over meat that's been used in some ritual way, and can you then eat it or not. Is it tainted in some way.  And Paul gives us this gem: knowledge is good, but it can tend to "puff" us up. Think a balloon, a puffer fish, but also arrogance, pride, being right, wanting to show what I know, and that's more than you.  But.  But love. But love builds up. No matter what, let's start here, start with love that builds up.  Paul expands on this in that famous passage in Chapter 13, but if I start from this stance, that no matter what I know, love is the start place, and building one another up is the outcome of love,...

Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 CSB Paul is writing to the Corinthians giving them a massive telling off about some of the things that they were doing, and he ends this part of his letter with these words, that remind us we're not a collection of parts, body + soul + spirit but are integrated, whole, one.  And our personhood is where heaven and earth meet, where God dwells. Amazing. And then there's that little phrase "you are not your own, for you were bought with a price". What does that mean for us, for you today? Maybe it's a weak analogy, but let's try it; Lynne bought a tree yesterday, it's bought with a price, but as the owner she only wants that tree to thrive and flourish and be all it was meant to be. She'll plant it, tend it, water it, maybe prune it...and cherish i...

And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 CSB Paul has just written to his people about some ugly situations that people in the church have been involved in, and seems to want them to wake up to some of their choices and how they were seeing things.  And then he gives this beautiful reminder of change. He reminds us to look at ourselves, some of our own choices and attitudes, and to see what we've put behind us, and the redeeming work if Jesus in our lives.  In your life.  Truth that you can rest in. Washed. Washed by the Spirit of God.  Let your Monday start there... #corinthians #washedbyGodsSpirit

A righteous person giving in to the wicked is like a contaminated spring or a polluted fountain. Proverbs 25:26 CEB Can we see Jesus in this proverb? He is the righteous person. Holy.  And he did give in to the wicked.  Not to gain anything. Not to save himself. Not from a place of weakness or vulnerability. He was contaminated. Contaminated by death.  The water of life was polluted by evil.  For us.  Becuase Jesus loves us. Loves you. And somehow Jesus is still the water of Life.  Contaminated, yet not. A picture of the now and the not yet, we've been redeemed and being redeemed, saved and working out that salvation in this messy, difficult, joyful, wonderful thing we call life.  #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #speaklife

Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God... Philippians 4:6-7 amp This was the first verseoftheday on Nov 12, 2012 so this is an annual re-visit (also an annual reminder that it's OK to unsubscribe from verseoftheday any time).  I need at least an annual reminder of the antidote to worry & anxiety. Prayer. God wants to hear from us... and he wants to hear from us no matter what is going on. The suggestion though is to start with thanksgiving. Despite my circumstances, in my current circumstances, what can I be thankful for? Remember this: He wants to know what's going on in our hearts, our greatest joys, our biggest challenges, our lurking fears, our deepest hurts...so talk to Him. And He whispers to us... "I love you" #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Friday! Proverbs! A righteous person giving in to the wicked is like a contaminated spring or a polluted fountain. Proverbs 25:26 CEB Let's just sit with that image of a source of water, of life, being contaminated... this proverb is warning us that we can stop that from happening, which sounds like a good thing.  The other part of this picture is that it's me that becomes like a contaminated spring...ouch! Maybe that contamination will clear up in time, but who knows how long that takes.  And it happens when we give in to the wicked.  I wonder what that means? Is it about world events, our country, the place we live? Is it about employers?  Criminals? Racists? Systems that are unjust? Is it when we watch movies or engage in conversations that are full of contaminants? Is it how I treat the planet? How I treat my neighbour? Is it seeing injustice and doing nothing? Is it seeing the hurt, lost, lonely, and just wishing them well? What does "giving in to the wicked" me...

It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I don't even judge myself. 1 Corinthians 4:3CSB Tim Keller wrote a little book based around this passage called "the art of self-forgetfulness". When it comes to our identity we don't have to be concerned about the judgement of others or even ourselves, there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus, the self-condemnation is not needed, we can, in freedom, get on with life without the weight of what others think (or what we think others think) of us. When it comes to our identity, the courtroom is closed.  We don't think less of ourselves, just think of ourselves less.  The gospel of Jesus allows you to become all you were designed to be, the freedom to step into becoming that person, simply following Jesus, loving God, loving people... Is that easy? Maybe some days.  And other days not. So let's keep taking small steps in the right direction, together... #cori...

In this kind of situation, what is expected of a manager is that they prove to be faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 CEB Faithful. That's it  Faithful. Faithful to being a servant of Jesus. Faithful manager of the mysteries of God. Sounds straight forward, but our world and relationships and the impact of others in our lives can make this not only difficult to grasp, but difficult to do.  Like any manager we can only look after what we've been entrusted with, and the small piece of the mysteries of God that I do grasp, those I can be faithful to.  Here's a few: The creation story tells me who is eternal, what we were created for, and that the relationship with ourselves, others, God, creation, were all impacted in the "fall".  Jesus' story tells me that God loves.  Outrageous love expressed in Grace.  Jesus loves God, and loves people, and simply wants me to follow him in those two things.  The Big Story is one of restoration and my hope rests in that. One da...

A person should think of us in this way:  as servants of Christ  and managers  of the mysteries  of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1 CSB "Hi,  My name is Paul" "Hi Paul, What do you do?" "Well, a couple of things, I'm a servant of Jesus, and a manager of the mysteries of God *smiles* What do you do?" I have no idea how someone manages the mysteries of God.  And even how to be a servant of the one who came to serve? I guess it means that his work is to do the things that Jesus would have him do.  There used to be a big thing about WWJD? "what would Jesus do?" Some one tweaked that to ask "what would Jesus do if he was you, born in your time, with your experiences?" What does being a servant of Jesus look like for you?  In your world? With your limits? With your gifts and skills and talents and desires? With your responsibilities? With the things that weigh on you? With the things that bring you joy? Maybe being a servant of Jesus is a heart th...

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God... So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours - whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come - everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:19, 31-23 CSB Paul is writing to the church who are all about following these high profile people, relying on their wisdom, putting these leaders in place of God to answer their big questions...but Paul restores the freedom that we have to follow Jesus, to know that our life is safely held in his. Our culture seems to be getting lost in this personality driven view of the world, just like the Corinthians.  And Paul says to take a step back, all the big questions of life are answered in Jesus.  Jesus who arrived in the poor and despised part of town, born to a single mum, worked in a trade...came from heaven, yet became small enough to wander around here on earth...who pr...

Sunday Psalms We're up to Psalm 18 For the choir director: A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: As you read this song, read the whole thing in context of what happened. This is like an outpouring of everything in David's heart as he is grateful that his life has been saved...he gives honour to God, paints a picture of Him thundering out of heaven, and isn't shy about singing about his own part in it...this is a celebration of a win. There's no attempt to make it "nice", David just seems to write everything that's going on for him. And that's freeing. Our God is OK with hearing all of our expression, grief, anger, joy, victory, all the feels...we get to share them all with our God who loves us, whether it's a moment of loss or victory write it, pray it, speak what's in and on your heart... #psalms #psalm18 #freedom

Like cold water  to a weary soul  is good news  from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25 NIV Can we see Jesus in this proverb? He is the good news from a distant land. He is the cold water for our weary souls. The "like" is gone.  One day all the Biblical metaphors will be gone, we will no longer be trying to get our minds and spirit around water of life, cornerstones, mustard seeds. We will no longer be wondering what the light overcoming darkness looks like, what justice means. We will no longer feel unaccepted, unworthy, unholy, unenough.  The good news won't be coming from some distant land but will be standing right with us, and we will no longer need water for a weary soul, because our souls will no longer be weary... May we get a glimpse of that today in the eyes of a friend, the smells of spring, a moment of goodness... #proverbs #wisdom #onedayallwillbemadenew #jesusatthecentre #thykingdomcome

Friday! Proverbs! Like cold water  to a weary soul  is good news  from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25 NIV Do you find the connection here between our body and soul and emotions interesting? The word "soul" here is "nephesh", a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion.  When what is at the core of us is weary, cold water gives life.  Stopping and choosing to drink some water, stopping and simply enjoying the effect of water in our body, letting the life of water bring life again to our weary soul.  If nothing else, choose to enjoy some water today.  What is the writer comparing this goodness to? Good news from a distant land. In our age of technology we no longer have to wait for word to travel, but we do still have to wait.  Wait and hope.  Who are you waiting and hoping for? Concerned about? Wanting to hear good news about? This is what we do when there's people who we care about, people who we care about w...

Don't you know that you are God's temple and God's Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person, because God's temple is holy, which is what you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 CEB In the midst of Paul's lecture about who people were following, and that it's all about Jesus, Paul drops this beautiful gem; This reminder posed as a question that finds its way down the centuries to us: "Don't you know that you are God's temple and God's Spirit lives in you?" The picture of the temple is full of rich imagery of where heaven and earth meet, where God dwelt, made himself known, and now, this is who you and I are. We are the place where heaven and earth intersect, where God Himself dwells! And then there's a warning to those who may or have caused you harm.  Why the warning? Because to our God you are so precious and valued. Holy. Valued and valuable.  #corinthians #wearewhereheavensndearthmeet #valuedandv...

After all, what is Apollos? What is Paul?  They are servants who helped you to believe. Each one had a role given to them by the Lord:  I planted, Apollos watered,  but God made it grow. Because of this, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but the only one who is anything is God who makes it grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together, but each one will receive their own reward for their own labor.  We are God's coworkers, and you are God's field, God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 CEB Paul seems to still be dealing with people following strong personalities and placing more weight on them than they deserve. It's easy to do right?  Buy all their books, listen to their podcasts.  What ___ says must always be right.  It's easy because they're here in front of us, tangible. But Paul is saying be careful. It's God who does the real work in our spirit and soul. And then at the end of this passage there's this be...

I am praying to you because  I know you will answer,  O God.  Bend down  and listen as I pray.  Show me  your unfailing love  in wonderful ways.  By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.  Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalms 17:6-8 NLT What comes to mind for you in this song? A person in need of rescue? A person who knows God's character and God's love and at the same time is under massive pressure? Or maybe it's the detail; "guard me like you'd guard your own eyes" Our eyes are soft, easily damaged, unrepairable, and important to us... Maybe it's David's boldness in asking God to bend down, like a small child beckoning for a big person to get down on their level. Maybe it's our need of rescue. To want to know the peace of being permanently covered by God, the shadow of his wings, the protection from the world, the choices of others.  Yet at the same time,...