verseoftheday

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:29-24 NIV It's that time of year when we get pestered about new year's resolutions, and it is a good opportunity to change some things, but Paul is pointing us to fundamental change, change at the core of who we are. Yes put off the old, but the new is to be "like God"!  I think we're supposed to go "I can't do that", because it's a work of God in us, working with us and through us and the choices we make, the things we choose to think on, to dwell on.  This putting off the old and putting on the new doesn't just happen at ...

Friday! Proverbs! The one who sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.  A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.  Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.  A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.  The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.  As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.  Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:6-12 CSB This chapter from v1-12 is all on this theme of the fool and being wise in our own eyes.  These word pictures created it seems are there for us to see and say "not me, I'm not that person or do those things", and then the writer hits us at the end with the person who is "wise in their own eyes" and I realise that is me.  I ju...

After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was - the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Matthew 2:9-10 CSB This wasn't some reading of the stars, or a comet or some other easily explained thing.  Was this light or lights in the sky only visible to these people from another land?  They must've lost sight of it to stop into see King Herod to see if he knew what the go was.  And then it seems that the light appears in a new way.  A light in the sky led them to the light of the world.  And their response? Overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with joy. That's quite a thing! We don't know how long they had been seeking Jesus or how far they'd travelled, but they knew that finding Jesus was the culmination of what feels like their life's work. Everything led to this.  This baby who is the hope of the world.  And they are over...

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ... So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. John 1:1,14 NLT It seems that God had never had a body before, had never known what it was like to be human, to have our limitations, our frailties, what it is like to be hungry, dependent, tired, to be known and loved as a person, yet here he was, the Word, the Logos, the Eternal, became human.  And how does John describe God as a person? Full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  Full of unfailing love and faithfulness towards us.  This world is messed up, and the things we face are tough, and at the same time there is goodness and beauty and joy, and our God, who became human, and who is full of unfailing love and faithfulness - this is Christmas. #christmas #wonder #Godentersthestory #loveandfaithfulnessishere

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet: "Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" Matthew 1:20-23 NLT God is with us. With us in the merry part of Christmas, the goodness, with us in the struggles, the grieving too.  God is with us.  I had to read this piece from NT Wright a few times, but he puts it like this:  "This is the really scary thing... not that Jesus might be identified with a remote, lofty, imaginary being, but that God, the real God, the one true God, might actually look like Jesus... a shrewd Palestinian Jewish villager who drank wine with his friends, agonized over the plight of his people, taught in strange stories and pungent aphorisms, and was executed by the occupying forces. To say that Jesus is in some sense God is of course to make a startling statement about Jesus. It is also to make a stupendous claim about God...

After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. Luke 2:17-19 CSB The shepherds had an encounter with an angel, and had a glimpse of the armies of heaven, had a message about the Messiah, came to town, checked around to see if there'd been any babies born, found Mary and Joseph, telling their story to everyone along the way.  And everyone was amazed. And Mary was also an ordinary young mum, with a new born baby completely dependent on her, a baby that needed feeding and cleaning and burping and loving.  This extraordinary story is at the same time so ordinary, as Jesus, the Divine, the Creator of all, is also just another baby born in a small town under Roman rule to a young woman a long way from home.  Mary had a lot to ponder.  She also had to summon the energy to feed and clean and burp t...

For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor... For a child will be born for us,  a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders.  He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Eternal Father,  Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:4-6 CSB It's easy to get caught up in some romantic notion of a cute baby who never cries (cue "away in a manger") and this new family being formed. Yet Isaiah paints a picture of massive, tumultuous change.  Nothing will be the same again after this.  Nothing. He is the hope of the world, the shatterer of yokes that oppress, who said "my yoke is easy." A new kingdom started. And nothing will be the same again. Nothing. And Jesus calls us to be part of this new kingdom, to work with him shattering yokes that hold others down, and to allow his counsel, his peace, to reign in our lives. Yes it's a baby's birth we celebrate, God's wonderful gift of ...

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;  a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. Isaiah 9:2 CSB ...On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 CEB ...on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 BSB For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. Isaiah 9:2 NLT For those who lived in a land of deep shadows - light! sunbursts of light!  Isaiah 9:2 MSG Light is the gift of Christmas.  Light for those who know what the shadows, darkness, the valley of the shadow of death is.  Light for those who need a pathway. Light for those who need hope.  At that first Christmas, light has dawned, shines, sunbursts of light! And where does it shine? On us. The light has come.  We no longer stuck in the dark! #light #christmas #hope

Friday! Proverbs! Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness or you'll be like him yourself.  Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4-5 CSB Is this proverbs just messing with us? Maybe an analogy for 2022! There's a heart thing going on here though about becoming wise in our own eyes, when I think that I have all the answers, when there's no room for being wrong, for others opinions, viewpoints or experience. When I place me at the centre - that's foolishness.  This proverb indicates that needs correcting. Like a ship that needs a course correction or Google maps rerouting us to the correct destination.  But this proverb warns us that there's a danger in doing that in others lives. So what's the answer? Maybe it's to keep looking at the wisdom of God's word for guidance and correction, to keep asking how does scripture speak to my life, my world today, to allow others views and viewpoin...

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him." King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. Matthew 2:1-3 NLT King Herod was deeply disturbed.  And so was everyone in Jerusalem. I wonder if they were disturbed for the same reason as the news spread that a king had been born? Herod was already a king, had all the power, yet the news of a baby really got to him. Could it be that he'd be the one toppled by a new king of the people he ruled over? And what of the people of Jerusalem? Were they deeply disturbed becuase there was a chance that they would see Herod and the power of Rome overthrown in their lifetime?  Hope was rising, change is coming, freedom, peace, prosperity, could it be that these things would be restored with a new king? ...

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife. Matthew 1:24 BSB Joseph wanted to do the right thing and it seemed to him that separation from Mary, doing it quietly without making it a big thing was the right thing to do.  After all, Mary is pregnant and the baby is not his. Do you think he had a bit of trouble getting his head around all that? He had an angel meet him in a dream that changed his mind, his heart, and his trajectory in life. What did he do? Wrapped Mary in to his life, committed to being on her team and to walk with her in this. This is a mini-christmas, an act of love and commitment that preceeds or points to what God is doing.  His act of love and commitment that changes everything. Maybe today there's someone who you know who has done that and needs acknowledging or encouragement - mine is a fam that have adopted two extra small people. Maybe today there's someone you know who needs wrapping in, needs t...

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,  "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1-2 CSB Who were these guys? Did they really ride camels? Where had they come from? How long did it take them to get to Jerusalem? But the big question is how did they know? How did they know what the star meant? That the star meant a king had been born and that he was the king of the Jews? I'm reminded of a prophet from our own history, Toiroa, who not only predicted the clothing and transport of Europeans before they arrived here, he also said "The name of their God will be Tama-i-rorokutia (Son- who-was-killed), a good God, however, the people will still be oppressed" Our God has made himself known, and clearly did to these "wise men from the east", He wants to be known, in that knowing is Life, and hope,...

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. Luke 2:4-5 BSB According to Google Maps the shortest route from Nazareth to Bethlehem is 145km. 145km! And Mary is expecting a child...in my mind the timeline has always been short, with a quick trip to Bethlehem and next day the baby is born, and that night the shepherds turn up and the following day there's people with presents, Boxing Day sales and we move on to the next thing... But I wonder if this whole journey and time in Bethlehem was a bit longer...this is God entering the story as a person and no one is in a hurry.  This isn't an event that we just experience and then move on from. These were moments in time which are a hinge which change the trajectory of humanity, that welcome in a new era, a new way, moments that really starte...

Sunday Psalms; Yet you  are enthroned as the Holy One;  you are  the one Israel praises.  In you  our ancestors put their trust;  they trusted  and you  delivered them.  To you  they cried out and were saved;  in you  they trusted and were not  put to shame. Psalms 22:3-5 NIV After the first two verses of despair, of looking inward, David looks up and back, looks up to our God, and looks back to see where God's story has intertwined with the nation, with his people.  Yet you You are And you To you In you This doesn't erase David's despair in vv1-2, but he is able to turn his heart and mind to our God at the same time.  The things he is crying out about haven't changed, but he is choosing to look up, and to look back, and in doing that knows that he is the beloved of God.  As are you As am I When we are in despair, David gives us this frame to complete for ourselves about God; Yet you _____ You are _____ And ...

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. Luke 2:4-5 BSB Joseph was from where?  The house and line of David. He was not just a guy that lived in Mary's neighborhood or a random boyfriend, he was part of a bigger story that God was writing, an interweaving of people and places and God's heart for humanity.  We're part of that bigger story too, that interweaving of people and places and God's heart for humanity.  Let's not miss it.  #randomchristmasthoughts #wearepartofGodsBIGstory

Friday! Proverbs! A whip for the horse,  a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! Proverbs 26:3 BSB I don't know anything about horses or donkeys, but these word pictures are here to tell us something, and we know that Proverbs is really all about the heart, so if we put aside using this proverb as a means of hurting someone else, what does it say about my heart? It's stubborn. Doesn't move in the direction that reflect God's character and heart easily, wants to go it's own way, do what is easy for me.  Sometimes I need a wake up, direction, something to get my attention.  Perhaps looking at the 12 Proverbs in Ch 26 which talk to "the fool" will give a more rounded view of this Proverb. That section ends with this: Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12 BSB This section of Proverbs is about getting me to think about me, whether God's values and heart are really leading ...

And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  ... And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God... Luke 2:8-9, 13-14 BSB God allows heaven to break through with this massive light and sound show and the only people He chose to reveal Himself in this way to was a group of shepherds. Not the ruling elite (the Romans), not the religious elite (the Jewish leaders), not the powerful, the property owners, the famous, the rich, the educated or the powerful. He chose a group of shepherds out in the boonies.  God relied on this ordinary group of people working the night shift to bear witness to what he said about the saviour of the world arriving. They'd never written a book, made a podcast or delivered a sermon, yet they were the ones, the only ones, that God reveal...

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. Luke 2:1 BSB Do you wonder about whether Jesus was counted in the census? Was he born in time? Did he count if he was still in utero? The Romans wanted to count everyone because they were all about power and control. And Jesus wants to count everyone because Love.  He wants to include us because he loves us.  He doesn't want to compel or threaten, but invites us in, welcomes us in with open arms. Open arms that we can trust.  Whether Jesus was counted by the Romans or not, he says that you and I count.  We're included.  We're already known.  Already loved. We always were. In all the rushing around at this time of year is there someone who you know who could do with being included, being reminded that they count? Being invited in? Remember: You are already loved. You always were.  #randomchristmasthoughts #alreadyloved

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register. Luke 2:1-3 BSB Everyone went to his own town to register.  Becuase the Romans said so.  For us it can be "becuase Christmas." We can make the "family" a bit of an idol. You must come to this family event, because Christmas. It's OK that we don't reach out and talk, connect, for most of the 365 days of the year, but you MUST be there, because Christmas (or someone's birthday, or whatever). If someone in your world is hesitant, puts up some resistance, how about listening to them, giving them grace, maybe wondering why that event is not a place that they're OK with.  Lots of us find Christmas difficult for different reasons, rather than assuming it's a "wonderful time of the year" be prepared to hear why it m...

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7 BSB Joseph and Mary went back to his hometown, all his whanau were either living there or staying there.  Yet there was no one who would squeeze them in.  No one to invite them in.  At this time of year there's an unwritten, unspoken, expectation that everyone has a kind, welcoming, accepting family that they are comfortable being around and want to be with.  What if that isn't true for someone in your life? Someone you know? Will I check in with those I know who might be on their own and invite them in? C...

Sunday Psalms; My God,  my God,  why  have You forsaken me?  Why are You so far from saving me,  so far from my words of groaning?  I cry out by day,  O my God,  but You do not answer, and by night,  but I have no rest. Psalms 22:1-2 BSB David, the psalmist, the song writer, is not afraid to write about how it is for him. How is it for you? Ever felt like this? These songs give us permission to express what's on our hearts and minds.  And they let us know that when we are in despair, that we're not alone. They also let us know, that even when we're in the middle of this, it's not the end, this is song 22 of 150, despair may be loud right now, but it's not the last word, it's not all there is.  #sunday #psalms #whenGodissilent #despairisnothelastword

And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. Ephesians 1:9-10 BSB Today's reminder: There's a Big Story here that we are part of.  Sometimes in all the stuff of life, the pressure, the "have to's", the wins, the losses, the hurts, the potholes in the road, the glimpses of beauty and goodness, there is more to this story.  Somewhere, in the fullness of time, everything is going to be OK in Jesus.  Everything is going to make sense with Jesus.  There'll be no more glimpses.  This is the hope we hold on to. #ephesians #hope

Friday! Proverbs! Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. Proverbs 26:2 BSB Sometimes it's like I'm paralyzed in fear, frozen, stuck, because of what I think others are thinking.  Ever been like that? This proverb is a flavour of that where someone actually is thinking and saying something about you but it has no substance.  And the picture here is of a bird that never lands, so those words have no where to land, and there is nothing to fear, nothing to stop us moving, choosing, doing, getting on, pushing on. Perhaps sparrows are not the best birds to choose 'cos in our context they do land, but they are not something that strikes fear into the heart of anyone. They're gone when you take the smallest move towards them.  Most of the time others thoughts and opinions of you carry as much weight as a sparrow.  Does that set us free? I think that's the idea of this proverb.  #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.  These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did... 1 Corinthians 10:5-7 NLT Paul just described how all their ancestors when in the wilderness had the same environment, the same inputs, the same leadership, yet most of them died there because their hearts were not really after God at all.  Something different was going on outside than what was going on inside. It's not about our family, upbringing, what church we go to or how often.  It's a heart thing.  Where, to whom, are our hearts oriented? What is our trajectory?  The good thing is we get to set that trajectory every day, we get to choose the orientation of our heart every day, and to live it out in the small everyday things that we do...how we greet one another, see one another, reach out and encourage one another...how we love one...

So I run with purpose in every step.  I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NLT An athlete trains through repeating, through good practices, repeating, taking the advice of a coach, repeating... Paul talks about our hearts and our minds, but here the focus is on our body. What we do. We're not unconnected, but we are an embodied soul, and what we do with our bodies matters.  This from Sam Alberry in "What God has to say about our bodies"; "Becoming human at Christmas was not meant to be reversible. It was permanent. There is now a human body sitting at the right hand of God the Father at the very center of heaven. Bodies matter. Jesus couldn't become a real human person without one." Our bodies matter. They're not something we have but are what we are.  And what we do with them matters.  #co...

Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?  So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NLT Paul in this chapter has responded to personal criticism, shared about the lens he wants to be seen through, and now shares some personal insights into his life; That he shares the same drive and the same disciplines as a top athlete.  Why? Because he has a goal he is working towards. And what is that goal that? He shares it further on at the end of the next chapter (although some Bible versions start ch12 with this), a goal that Paul repeats in Ephesians 5:1, and it's this: And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:34 NLT Being like Jesus. Doing what Jesus did. That seems to be what Paul trains as hard as an athlete to do.  He's not saying any of this to guilt trip us or tell us what we have ...

Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NLT In this chapter of his letter Paul seems to be pushing back against some very personal criticism.  And he's very clear here that the lens he wants to be seen through is that he's all about the gospel of Jesus and making Him known.  I wonder what the lens is that I want to be seen through? Yes we have work and businesses and farms and study and families and Christmas and ministry and well...life... In all of this though, what is the lens that I would want to be seen through? Comparing ourselves to Paul (or anyone else) is not helpful, but having an idea about our mission is. Some days for me it's as simple as loving the people in my path today. Others it's a bit more strategic.  Paul was facing criticism and this was the lens he asked to be seen through. When I am criticised what lens would I li...

Sunday Psalms: For the king  relies on the Lord;  through the faithful love of the Most High  he is not shaken. Psalms 21:7 CSB This song is one of victory through reliance on God, but the king in this song lives forever, it's like the whole song is pointing somewhere else. In the middle of the Psalm is this verse: "For the king  relies on the Lord;  through the faithful love of the Most High  he is not shaken." It's the faithful love of the Most High that holds us. Love. Love that we can rest in, find hope in,  find security in. Love that doesn't depend on us, our performance, our feelings, our thoughts. Love that is bigger than the king (the powers and rulers in our culture, the things that try and shape us). We don't have to be shaken, we get to stand firm, because we are loved. #psalms #psalm21 #beloved #dearlyloved

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8 CSB Today's reminder: We are known,  seen, chosen, adopted,  loved, and redeemed & forgiven. Whatever was owed that held us has been paid.  And it's tied in with forgiveness.  Have you ever had something hanging over you that has felt like the weight of the world?  A debt? Maybe weighting for an exam result?  A medical test result? And then we get the news that we've passed or we're all good, and the weight has gone. This is grace, that the things that I believed about me that I wasn't enough for God, wasn't good enough, have been washed away.  Redeemed and forgiven. What does that mean for you? How can you let yourself live in that truth today? #todaysreminder #redeemed #forgiven

Friday! Proverbs! Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool. Proverbs 26:1 CSB The Bible is full of metaphors and there's a couple of great ones here. Word pictures that tell us something is wrong here.  Snow in summer - what is going on? Rain at harvest - that could be a terrible outcome for your crops.  And Proverbs often compares the fool with the wise.  There is an interesting word here and it's translated "honor".  The word is "kabowd" and it means glorious.  Abundance, riches, honor, splendor, reverence, glory. And when we put those together, it points in one direction and that's to God. So it seems that this proverb is about two categories, us and God, and when we take the glory and honour that belongs to God, it's like snow in summer, it just doesn't fit, or it's potentially disastrous, like rain at harvest.  Honoring people is good, but not when that honor belongs to our God.  #proverbs #wisdom #somet...

But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ... Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:8-9, 13 BSB The idols had no power in Paul's life and so the food was just that. Food. Eating it or not eating it is OK. When I was young there was controversy around music. It seemed to be about style. I think Paul would say it's just music. Looking back at some of the lyrics that's where the problem was in the values that some of the songs were bringing into our lives.  I think that today Paul would be all over social media, teaching, preaching, interacting with people.  But he'd also say "I don't want what I'm doing to be a stumbling block for someone else. I'll give up my freedom first rather than be the person that gets bet...