verseoftheday

Friday! Proverbs! Trust in the LORD with all your heart; don't rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths,  and he will keep your ways straight.   Proverbs 3:5-6 CEB The idea of trusting in Yahweh completely (& trusting ourselves a little less) is built on here; "Know Him in all your paths" In all the complexities of life, in all the roles that we might have in a day, a week, a month, at home, at work, at play, at church, what we do online, at study, at school, with friends, when we're alone, in nature, in the city, on holiday, travelling, staying put, being an employee, boss, student, teacher, pastor, parent, family member, giving, receiving, preparing, serving, creating, resting...these are our paths...and this proverb invites us to "know Him in all our paths". The word here "know" is "yada", to know, perceive, understand, acknowledge. Know Yahweh in all our paths. Perceive Him, look for Him, see Him in all our paths....

After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God's good news, saying,  "Now is the time!  Here comes God's kingdom!  Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!" Mark 1:14-15 CEB Mark has jumped from Jesus baptism and then being forced out into the wilderness to John being arrested and Jesus proclaiming that the Kingdom is here! What happened in the wilderness? What happened with John? I suppose Mark assumed his readers would know about these things or they weren't that important to record? What he does record is Jesus has found his way back to Galilee, and is echoing John's words - it's all about a changed heart, a changed mind, trusting in this news, this good news, God's Kingdom that you've been waiting for is here... As Jesus is wandering Galilee, the famous John arrested, the Kingdom seems to be less than spectacular...was anyone listening to Jesus? #gospel #GoodNews #weareinaBigStory  #itsaheartthing 

Mark 1:12-13 CEB At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness.  He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.    Mark 1:12-13 CEB Does this jolt you that Jesus was "forced" out into the wilderness? The word Mark uses is "ekballo", which means to cast out, to drive out, to send out, to expel. This word is used to describe the casting out of demons. It's like Jesus has been cast out of normal life.  Heaven has opened, the voice of the Father's acceptance and love has been heard, and now the Spirit has forced Jesus away from people, away from his community, to live in the wild and be cared for by angels. None of this is normal. (And when we have some kind of "wilderness" experience I don't think its the same as what is happening to Jesus here). Perhaps this is an insight into the change in relationship between Father Son & Spirit that was needed to make a w...

About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him.  And there was a voice from heaven:  "You are my Son,  whom I dearly love;  in you I find happiness." Mark 1:9-11 CEB I wonder what it would have been like for the people who were there - what did they see? Did they hear God speak? Or was this some kind of special communion that no one even knew happened - except Jesus? I wonder if Jesus in his humanity, in some way, just like us, needed to hear the acceptance and love of the Father. "You are my Son,  whom I dearly love;  in you I find happiness." This last word translated here as "happiness" is "eudokeo" Pronunciation: yoo-dok-eh'-o Definition: To be well pleased, to take delight, to approve. This message to Jesus is recorded here to let us in to the intimate loving communicat...

Mark 1:4-5, 9 CEB [4] John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. [5] Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. ... [9] About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.  Mark 1:4-5, 9 CEB Jerusalem to the Jordan River is at least 60km Nazareth to Jerusalem is 139km (thanks Google Maps) Would you walk 60km to get baptised?  Jesus walked at least 2 days to get to see John and meet him at the river. And it seems that Jesus just turned up like any other person, like any other pilgrim. He was ordinary. The extraordinary became ordinary. The Creator walking for 2 days to submit to the River (his path probably followed the river most of the way, probably enjoying the hospitality of being a stranger in little villages al...

Sunday Psalms; Shin Rulers oppress me without cause,  but my heart honors what you've said. I'm overjoyed at your word, like someone who finds great treasure.   ... Psalms 119:161-168 CEB Sometimes it's systems that are the oppressor. The Hebrew word here is "sahr" which is derived from "to have dominion or rule". In our context that might be the government, the power exerted by other countries, global systems, our institutions, or "just the way things are" that we can feel powerless about (like how unaffordable housing is for so many people right now). In the face of whatever the writer of this psalm was facing, he does two things; In the inner most part of who he is, that part that no system or ruler or oppressor can touch, he honours God, trusts Him. And he holds on to God's truth like treasure. I wonder if there's something here for us, to check that trust we have for God is at the centre of us, & this picture of having a treasu...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart;  don't rely on your own intelligence.   Proverbs 3:5 CEB Can we see Jesus in this Proverb! I can hear him saying this to his team - "trust in Yahweh guys, He has got you, and what's more, I'm Him too, Emmanuel, God with you, I'm right here.  Right here in the protests, the betrayals, the disbelief, the mess, the miracles, the love, the meals, the rejections, the calling, the following, the long walks, the talking, the listening, the sorrow, the losses, the joys, the team talks and even in the solitude, when you can see and touch me and when you can't, in the calm, and in the storms...I'm right here". Trust in the LORD with all your heart. #proverbs #wisdom  #somethingtochewon #trust #trustinYahweh 

Friday! Proverbs! Trust in the LORD with all your heart;  don't rely on your own intelligence.   Proverbs 3:5 CEB This word "intelligence" is "biynah" Pronunciation: bee-NAH Definition: Understanding, insight, discernment It's about deeper meaning, deeper understanding, includes spiritual and moral understanding. So this Proverb is gently challenging us about whether we can fully rely on our own spiritual and moral understanding, and that we can fully rely on God's. I know that there's a part of me that thinks I'm infallible, always right, if I've thought it it must be right...maybe that's just me... I can trust Yahweh. Especially when my world doesn't make sense, when things feel in turmoil, when I can't see the next step, when it all seems too much, I can trust in Yahweh. He has the Big Story. He is enough to hold me and my story. Proverbs is a mirror of and an insight into the workings of our hearts, and today's is also a p...

Mark 1:6-8 CEB John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. He announced,  "One stronger than I am is coming after me.  I'm not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1:6-8 CEB I've often heard John the Baptist described as some kind of fringe person, a bit wild with strange clothing and strange diet. But Mark has described a revival as people flocked towards him, and in these verses he seems to connect Johns image with strength. He is a strong person, pointing to someone stronger. He is a big personality drawing people in, yet pointing towards someone bigger who will draw all people in. John is showing his people, preparing them, making it as obvious as he can, that there's more, much more to this story, and it's close. If confessing, getting right with God, getting baptised by me out here in ...

Mark 1:4-5 CEB John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins.  Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins.  Mark 1:4-5 CEB We would call this a revival! People were answering the call of John &  heading out to the river and being baptised. Lots of people. And Mark couches this as a part of preparing the way for Jesus - people hearing the call, confessing, and changing, being changed. Transformation. Revival. Looking for God's forgiveness and wanting to live in that forgiveness. As a pointer to Jesus. This is quite a story, a story that has it's beginning in the mists of time and wends its way into our today, a story that we are part of too... #gospel #gospelofMark  #GoodNews #revival #weareinaBigStory 

The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God's Son, happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah:  Look, I am sending my messenger before you.  He will prepare your way, a voice shouting in the wilderness:  "Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight." Mark 1:1-3 CEB  Mark opens his account of Jesus story by inviting us back in time, by quoting from Isaiah 40, Malachi 3, Exodus 20, that this story of Jesus that he is part of, that we are all now part of, is much bigger and much deeper. In a couple of sentences Mark links us back to the Exodus where God redeemed his people, to the mysteries of the Prophets, and this can remind us that we're part of something bigger. We're part of God's story. We've been invited to join in. And it's a reminder that it is Good News.  In our world that can seem overwhelmed by bad news, we get to live in the story of Good News, a story linked and foretold by the ancients. We're al...

From now on,  no one should bother me because I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.  Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen. Galatians 6:17-18 CEB What a great way to end a letter, leaving us with some mystery and intrigue (what are these "marks of Jesus" are they something supernatural...or is he just an old man...or are they the marks from the things he has suffered for being a christian?). Paul leaves us something to think about and a blessing: As we head into Monday, whatever we are facing, may we know a little more, hold a little more, let a little more of the Grace of Jesus speak to the deepest parts of us today. Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen. #letters #galatians  #grace #freedominJesus #newcreation #invitation  #shalom

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 119 - Resh. Look at my suffering and deliver me  because I havent forgotten your Instruction. Argue my case and redeem me.  Make me live again by your word.   ... You have so much compassion, LORD - make me live again, according to your rules.   ... Look at how much I love your precepts.  Make me live again, LORD, according to your faithful love!   Psalms 119:153-160 CEB I love the way the CEB has phrased this..."make me live again". Three times in this passage this phrase is repeated "make me live again". Why does the psalmist need to say this? Because he feels like his life is over.  He feels dead.  Maybe you've never felt like that but the writer of this song has, the opening line is "look at my suffering", and a cry to be redeemed, rescued, brought back. Suffering can make us feel dead. The psalmist looks for three things to help him come back to "life" God's word His rules for living His Faithful Love He k...

Don't let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Bind them on your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will find favor and approval in the eyes of God and humanity. Proverbs 3:3-4 CEB Can we see Jesus in this  Proverb? Our key words here are  "checed" Definition: Lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love, loyalty, faithfulness, goodness And "emeth" Definition: Truth, faithfulness, reliability, firmness Jesus is "checed" and "emeth" and he entered the Story and bound himself to us, made a way to enter in to the tablet of our hearts and commune with us. He didn't wait for us, but came looking, seeking us out, opening the way, becoming small, stooping down. This is the Love and Grace that we are invited into, and invited to participate in in the lives of others. As the "checed" and "emeth" is written on the tablet of our hearts it finds its expression in the way that we live, the way that we love... Jesus inv...

Friday! Proverbs! Don't let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Bind them on your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will find favor and approval in the eyes of God and humanity. Proverbs 3:3-4 CEB There are 2 key words here: "checed" Pronunciation: kheh'-sed Definition: Lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love, loyalty, faithfulness, goodness "emeth" Pronunciation: eh'-meth Definition: Truth, faithfulness, reliability, firmness This Proverb invites us to bind to ourselves and to write deep within ourselves "checed" and "emeth": Lovingkindness,  mercy,  steadfast love,  loyalty,  faithfulness,  goodness,  Truth,  faithfulness,  reliability,  firmness. In the Hebrew world these ideas are not separate from God and His character, His covenants, so when we want to understand what these things are we rely less on our own knowledge and experiences, and more on what our God reveals about Himself. We see God who reaches out,...

It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. Galatians 6:15-16 NLT It's no longer about having all the external things looking right, about doing what someone looking for followers requires to be right wirh God, it's a heart thing. It's about change inside. It's about being made new. From the inside. Paul's conclusion to this letter is full of the freedom he has been talking about, freedom that starts with Spirit led change in us, when we experience the mercy of God and allow his peace, his shalom, to be ours, our relationship with the world, with others, with ourselves, shifts a little more as He intends it to be. If Paul was writing to us today, I wonder what he might say to my church...? I think tho that this invitation towards shalom, to being well with the world, others, ours...

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died.  Galatians 6:14 NLT Paul is wrapping up his letter and has just explained what these false teachers have been after - the opportunity to boast aboùt themselves & the followers that they have - wouldn't they be loving our current technology! And Paul gives us a glimpse into his inner world, that because his focus is on Jesus, the things that seemed so important, that he strove for, he has lost interest in. And the world that gave him such accolades in his past life, no longer cares.  And he is good with that.  Makes me wonder where I am looking for accolades? Just as Paul was inviting the Galatian church back to focus on Jesus, the same invitation is here for us...and what becomes less important? #letters  #galatians  #invitation  #itsaheartthing 

NOTICE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE THESE CLOSING WORDS IN MY OWN HANDWRITING. Galatians 6:11 NLT Who knew this kind of humour was in the Bible! Maybe Paul is just trying to get his readers or listeners attention at the end of this letter... Paul gives a scathing summary of what the false teachers are all about, and summarises his teaching for us... Galatians 6:15 NLT "What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." It's not the outside, the things we do, what others see (& judge) it's all about the inside, what is going on in us, where and to who our heart is oriented. It's a heart thing. Paul invites us to focus on what is most important, the becoming a new person from the inside and the freedom that comes from that deep heart work that our God wants to do. #galatians  #letters #freedomtodogood #itsaheartthing  #newcreationfromtheinside

Galatians 6:7-10 NLT Don't be misled - you cannot mock the justice of God.  You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.  But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore,  whenever we have the opportunity,  we should do good to everyone - especially to those in the family of faith.  Galatians 6:7-10 NLT It's easy to take parts of Paul's teaching here and weaponise it - eg "don't get tired of doing what is good" can lead to burn out, despair, never being "enough" or doing enough...but when we read this passage in the context of false teaching hitting the church that require all the rules being followed, Paul's words here are much more reflective, to always consider ...

Sunday Psalms; Qoph Psalms 119:145-152 I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord! ... I cry out to you; rescue me... I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words. I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise. In your faithful love,  O Lord, hear my cry;  let me be revived by following your regulations... But you are near,  O Lord,  and all your commands are true. I have known from my earliest days that your laws will last forever.  Psalms 119:145-152 NLT Can you hear the Psalmsist heart? The repeated and repeated crying out to God. And the trust. That whatever the distress is that he is experiencing, it's Truth that holds him. Our God is Faithful Love. Our God is Near. Our God is Bigger, and whatever is going on in our story, His Big Story is enough to hold ours, to hold us. The writer of this Psalm couldn't feel any of that, but knew it was true. And that is what this Psalm invites us into today, to trust o...

My child,  do not forget my teaching,  but let your heart keep my commandments,  for they will provide a long and full life,  and they will add well-being to you. Proverbs 3:1-2 NET Can you hear Jesus voice in this Proverb? My child. The desire for our "chay", our fully aliveness that comes from relationship. The promise of "shalom", the peace and well-being that is at the core of Jesus mission, restoration of what has been lost and broken. His heart for us is not hard to find in this Proverb. And then there's the heart, the "leb", the centre of who we are, which is where Jesus longs to be, more and more. Will we let Him in, invite Him in, to the control centre of our lives, where the big and the small choices are made, will we let Him guide us into shalom, peace, well-being, will we let Him lead us into chay, the fully aliveness that he desires for us, that fully aliveness that is us even in our limitations and humanness. Yes Jesus voice is here, call...

Friday! Proverbs! My child,  do not forget my teaching,  but let your heart keep my commandments,  for they will provide a long and full life,  and they will add well-being to you. Proverbs 3:1-2 NET There's an intention encouraged in this Proverb, do not forget, let your heart keep. The word heart here is "leb", the centre of us, our heart, feelings, intellect, will.  When we hold God's word at the centre of who we are, then life and well-being are the outcome. Life here is the word "chay" which is fully aliveness, an idea that is entwined with living in covenant relationship with God, more than physical life, it encompasses spiritual life. Well-being is the word "shalom", a common greeting & farewell that holds the ideas of peace, completeness, welfare, well-being, safety, prosperity. Proverbs is inviting us to intentionally hold God's word, His Big Story, His heart for us, at the centre of who we are, and as we do that, we will learn and...

Don't be misled - you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  Galatians 6:7-8 NLT Remember Paul is writing against some false teaching that was hitting the church, so it seems likely that as he starts to wrap this letter up that he hits on some of the other teaching he may have been concerned about. What would have been on the other side of this admonition from Paul? I wonder what was being said about God that his readers needed reminding that His justice can't be mocked? Perhaps their version of God's view of what is just and fair was being twisted & used by the powerful & wealthy to hoard more power & wealth? To use God's name to justify to something that does not line up with the God who IS Love? And then he gives us this picture ...

Those who are taught the word should share all good things with their teacher.  Galatians 6:6 CEB Biblehub describes the word "agathos", good things as; "the intrinsically good, good in nature,  good whether it be seen to be so or not,  the widest and most colorless of all words with this meaning." It's like Paul is using the vaguest word possible for the good things the student, the learner, in our context the church member, the small group attender, the person being mentored or helped in their walk, should share with their teacher, pastor, small group leader, mentor, friend. Here's a list of those good things... It seems that Paul was intentionally vague in his letter to this church, maybe because he wanted them to think about what good things they wanted to share with their teachers, given that he has been writing about freedom! So I guess that means he would wants us to think about it too... "Those who are taught the word should share all good thing...

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.  Galatians 6:4 NLT Makes you wonder what was going on in the Galatian church that prompted Paul to write this... There must've been comparing, and perhaps that led to ranking, placing some types of work as more important than others, a more than/less than.  I wonder if that is still something we need to be aware of? Do I judge people by what they do? Rank them? Compare myself to them? It can be hard not to right? Paul gives an antidote to focus on our own work whatever that looks like, get our satisfaction from the work, not the validation or recognition of others.  This is not always easy, but there's a freedom that arrives when we let the work become its own reward. Whether we volunteer, are paid, are a student, employee, boss, run our own business, or for whatever reason can't work, the differences matter less and l...

Galatians 6:2-3a NLT Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. Galatians 6:2-3a NLT This idea of fooling myself, Paul uses the word "phrenapatao", which means to deceive the mind. When we deceive ourselves. That thing we justify, just once, just this time, its not that bad, not as bad as someone else, it won't affect me, our mind is deceiving itself. Why would our own mind go in for this self deception? Because our heart, our will, some part of us wants something pleasurable or something that seems easier or better for us in some way. Maybe there's something in sharing one another's burdens that helps us to be a little more honest with our own. At the very least Paul's encouragement here is to be aware of our ability to deceive ourselves, and at the same time, still seen as Beloved! God's Grace and Love is enough to hold us. #letters #galatians ...

Sunday Psalms; Ps119 Tsadhe As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right;  help me to understand them so I may live.  Psalms 119:137-144  Who knew that what we think are modern ailments like pressure and stress have been around since at least  the Psalms? And what is the Psalmists way of dealing with pressure and stress? Truth. He comes back to what God has to say. He doesn't always get it, understand it, or see how it might apply, but that doesn't stop the Psalmist from sitting with God's Word and allowing Him to speak into whatever it is that is causing this distress. Jesus said it's the truth that sets us free.  I find myself so easily falling back into old lies, into old stories, and the psalmist simply invites us to sit with Truth, with a Bigger Story. That won't magic away our problems, but as we sit with God's story, His Truth, and let Him speak into our situation, we may just start to find the shalom tha...

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Galatians 6:1-3 NLT Do you wonder what was going on in the Galatian church that Paul needed to write this? People judging, not walking alongside, standing back because they are "better" in some way? Some interesting principles or ideas emerge for us though: - we're all in this together (dear brothers & sisters) - help others in areas of your own strength not where its likely to cause you a problem or to trip up. Boundaries are OK. - sharing one another's burdens is holy work, THE work that for a community that wanted to follow rules, here's the rule - share one ano...

Friday! Proverbs! Wisdom will rescue you from the evil path, from people who twist their words.  They forsake the way of integrity and go on obscure paths.  They enjoy doing evil, rejoicing in their twisted evil. Their paths are confused; they get lost on their way. Wisdom will rescue you from the mysterious woman, from the foreign woman with her slick words. She leaves behind the partner of her youth; she even forgets her covenant with God. Her house sinks down to death, and her paths go down to the shadowy dead. All those who go to her will never return; they will never again reach the ways of the living. So you should stay on the path of good people, guarding the road of the righteous.   Proverbs 2:12-20 CEB This part of Proverbs paints some graphic pictures of the dangers in our world, from people who twist and manipulate with the power of their words, of those who have stepped off God's path, ignored his covenant, and want to take us with them. And if it wasn't ...

Psalms 147:3 CEB God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.   Psalms 147:3 CEB Psalm 147 is quite a song, and tucked in there is a little reference to Isaiah 61, this picture of God binding up wounds, putting bandages on, tending to what has been hurt and harmed. We all have wounds. Our hearts have been hurt. This song is written for a community.  Individually, groups, families, communities, we know what wounds are. Will we let our God in though, let him into the woundedness that we carry? Will we let Him in to the broken parts of our hearts? Am I brave enough to name the wound and invite the healing of the Spirit in? Are we as communities, together, brave enough to name the wounds and invite the healing of the Spirit in? Healing happens in relationship - relationship with God, and with others, and that's what love is all about, our God who steps towards us to bind up broken hearts and to heal wounds, so that we can love others in the same way...maybe it's all...

[25] Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. [26] Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:25-26 NLT It feels like Paul had finished his teaching about Spirit led freedom, then adds this last sentence... Conceit Provoking one another  Jealous of one another  Perhaps he realised that these are barriers to this Spirit led freedom that he is inviting the Galatian church to step into. And I know that I have all of these things going on in my heart and mind at times, so maybe its about noticing, about being honest with ourselves, and seeking the Holy Spirit's help when we do notice these heart things bubbling up. Perhaps Paul is answering the question about what stops me being more in tune with the Holy Spirit? Perhaps it's Conceit, (thinking I already have all the answers), Provoking others, being  Jealous of others. These are heart conditions. Heart conditions that...

Galatians 5:24-25 NLT Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.  Galatians 5:24-25 NLT That's quite a picture nailing things to the cross.  You can't nail something to the cross if you don't  name it first. And it takes intention to do this. A stepping towards the cross, faith that Jesus work there is enough to hold what I leave there, and then a walking away without it. That doesn't sound like easy work, so we may have to come back and repeat this. What are we nailing there? It's not the things we do, but the heart and mind, the desires, the things we want and strive for and value that are not in line with, or are opposite to the fruit of the Spirit.  Then Paul invites us to follow the leading of the Spirit in every part of our lives... seems there's a long way to go...but...

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear.... But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:  love,  joy,  peace,  patience,  kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness, gentleness,  and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:19, 22-23 NLT Paul's letter starts with his concern for the church, that they're following false teaching, he reiterates that the Good News is all about faith in Jesus and that brings freedom, freedom from the law these false teachers want to hold them under, and he describes the inner battles that we have and the work of the Spirit in that battle. It's a battle of our heart desires, wanting what we want, and he hits us now with this idea of the consequences, the impact, the fruit of following our desires compared to the fruit of the Spirit. It's a heart thing. Less of me, more of Him, and the fruit is  love,  joy,  peace,  patience, ...

Sunday Psalms; Pe Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them!The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. I pant with expectation, longing for your commands. Come and show me your mercy, as you do for all who love your name. Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey your commandments. Look upon me with love; teach me your decrees. Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your instructions.  Psalms 119:129-136 NLT While there seems to my ears some "over the top" language in this part of the Psalm, some things seem to jump out, maybe it that's because it's what I need to hear today... Your word gives light - so even the simple can get it - in our modern world we can tend to make things so complicated - maybe that's what I need reminding of, inviting into, the simple truths of God's story, His love, His desire to redeem and reconnec...

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. Galatians 5:16-18 NLT Here Paul gives his manifesto for living in freedom, to get in tune with the Holy Spirit and to let Him not just be our guide (which is like an external thing) but to change our desires! To change what we want. Are we prepared, am I prepared, to give up that kind of control to God? "Jesus, allow the Holy Spirit reign in my life to shape and change my heart, my desires, to line up with You today, help me to let the Spirit win that internal battle, let me give Him more and more contro...

Friday! Proverbs! Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted.  These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. Proverbs 2:12-13 NLT We sometimes hear this story that hurt people hurt people, and I know that people's lives and motivations are complex, but Proverbs cuts through this where someone's words have power over us in some way, they are choosing their path. At some point in their journey they've chosen that wrong is right, that what is not OK is OK for them, and they've stayed on that path. With intention. And Wisdom helps us see that.  We often need the Wisdom of community to help us see that. We need one another to help keep the vulnerable safe. We need God's heart revealed in His Word and by His Spirit to guide us, to help us see. And we too get to choose the path that we stay on, and it's OK to ask for help to shift if that is what we need to do. Proverbs says that Wisdom is available to us. We get to choose to...

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.  Galatians 5:13-15 NLT Paul quotes Leviticus 19:18 to his readers "love your neighbor as yourself" - my guess is providing that connection with the law that was so important to the readers of this letter. He continues the invitation into freedom in faith in Jesus by adding to the freedom to serve one another in love, with the freedom to love my neighbor without biting, devouring  or destroying them. A workmate brought her 15mth old Rottweiler dog into work this week. There was no barking, growling, biting or devouring, just open inquistive exploring and meeting us all where we were at. Paul is...

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Galatians 5:13 NLT Instead. Freedom in Jesus is not some "get out of jail free" card or some removal of consequences to our choices, but the freedom to become the people we were made to be. To serve one another in love. What does "serve one another in love" mean? Mmm. It seems to be intentionally vague, bit it is about community, one another, thinking about, considering, wanting the best, the good for others. An otherness mindset that holds everything in love. I know i can't do that without tapping into the source, the awa, the water of life. This "serving one another in love" is going to look different for everyone depending on our capacity, capability, it's not a thing or something we do, but a way of being in the world. Tapping into the source of love and ser...

This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. Galatians 5:9-10 NLT When we hold on to something that is not the Gospel, when we make that small thing The Thing, then it impacts on all parts of us. That's the warning. And then Paul does something interesting - he doesn't go after the person who is giving this false teaching, he has spent time in this letter restating what's true and simply invites his readers and hearers to stick with that, to let God's spirit keep the community on track together. When we focus on what is True, what is false loses its power. When we focus on what is True, the lies we've believed lose their power.  Paul's letter is about the freedom we have in Jesus, when we accept His gift of Grace and express that faith in Love. Let's stick with that. #letters #G...

You were running the race so well.  Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom.  Galatians 5:7-8 NLT Ever been running, walking, moving in a direction and someone holds you back? Grabs your shirt. Gets in the way. Sends you in the wrong direction, down the wrong path, slows you down... In a race that's just illegal, against the rules, there'd be a disqualification. But in this life there's a lot of freedom, and Paul is warning that there are people who will exercise their freedom against you. To hold you back, steer you away from God's Truth, from Freedom. In our world these are often "the shoulds". The shoulds come from outside, social media, peers, friends, pastors, parents, family...and inside voices...and mostly the shoulds are good things, and sometimes they're conspiring to steal our shalom, hold us back from the freedom we have in Jesus. To express faith in Love. Love for G...

Sunday Psalms; Ayin Don't leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right. Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don't let the arrogant oppress me! My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me your decrees. ... Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold. ... Psalms 119:121-128 NLT At the heart of this part of Ps119, nestled between the psalmists cries for help and putting his trust in God, is this: "My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled." In the midst of his troubles he is holding on to faith, and gives this very human response too, "I can't see You at work in this". Does that resonate? Health, finance, relationships, loss, tragedy, pressure, change, the world pushing in, and I'm holding on to faith, holding to the truth that our God is Good, but "I can't see...

Wisdom will rescue you from the evil path, from people who twist their words.   Proverbs 2:12 CEB If there's a group of people that Jesus stood against it was those who deceived others, who twisted God's words for their own benefit, to maintain power.  Jesus came to redeem the world, and we personalise that which is OK, but he stood against the power structures that led to injustice, the systems that oppress & marginalise. The law repeated the need to care for the alien, the stranger, the poor, the widows, Jesus said he quoted Isaiah in Luke 4 that he had come to bring healing and freedom for the oppressed, Jesus brother James wrote that true religion is caring for orphans and widows (those without, in need). We can see Jesus in this proverb, He is the Wisdom that acts and rescues from those in power, and Jesus invites us to join Him in that work in our world too. This joining in always starts small, the kindness of giving someone our attention, choosing connection, s...

Friday! Proverbs! Wisdom will rescue you from the evil path, from people who twist their words.   Proverbs 2:12 CEB  This word translated "twist their words" is "tahpukah" which includes a meaning of deceit, if breaking covenant. This opens the door to a deeper level, the spiritual nature of relationships between people. There's more to each of us than mind and emotions and body, we are spiritual beings.  And we need Wisdom. As this Proverb reminds us, that there are those who would lead us on paths away from God, those who twist and use words and ideas to take us away from the freedom, love and shalom that exists in relationship with our God. Wisdom will rescue us.  That's quite an idea! Something to chew on this Friday morning! "May we allow Wisdom in, to show us those who might be leading us away from you, those who twist and deceive, rescue us from our own ability to deceive ourselves, keep us close to Your love, walking in Your path for us, finding...

So Christ has truly set us free.  Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. ... But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. Galatians 5:1, 5-6 NLT Paul's letter is trying to not just set the Christians in Galatia straight, but to set them free! They were being held down by some particular cultural practices. Makes me wonder what mine are...good things that become The Thing, like going to church every Sunday... When a Good Thing becomes The Thing, we've lost the freedom we have in Jesus. And then Paul wraps it all up with this: "What is important is faith expressing itself in love." Faith expressing itself in love. How am I going to do that today at home, at work, studying, holidaying, recreating, what...

Galatians 4:12-15 NLT You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away.  No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.  Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then?  I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.  Galatians 4:12-15 NLT While Paul is a bit over the top with the eyes thing, something significant has shifted in his relationship with these people. Paul's response is not to hide from it or ignore it, but to restate the truth he has been teaching (that hasn't changed), and to name the problem: "Something has changed here and I don't think it's me. You were full of care for me and full of joy and something has changed" His letter already stated that he understands wh...

Galatians 4:8-12 NLT Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? Galatians 4:8-12 NLT What gods do we end up being slaves to? What our culture tells us,  the "shoulds" that come from our upbringing, our peers, the place we live and the messages that we consume, the voice in our head, "success", and then there's our coping mechanisms, the things we turn to, our small or big addictions, all promising something. But now that we know God, or as Paul puts it "should I say now that God knows you", we're invited to challenge all that inner noise and all those external voices, and allow the freedom we have in Jesus to give us room to be ourselves, to breathe, to rest, to find ourselves again. In Jesus we don't swap one kind...

Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that's the way it was with us before Christ came.  We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came,  God sent his Son,  born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out,  "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child.  And since you are his child,  God has made you his heir.  Galatians 4:1-7 NLT This part appears to be written to Paul's Jewish readers cos th...

Sunday Psalms: S. Samek. Sustain me according to your word so I can live! Don't let me be put to shame because of hope.   Psalms 119:116 CEB This word for "live" is "chayah" which has this meaning if being alive, revived, restoring life.  What is it that drains us of life? Shame.  These psalms and songs aren't written to an individual, but to a community, and it's in the context of relationships with others that shame appears, and it's in community that we are restored and healed. Revived. Restored. In this verse God's word is "imrah", what is said. What does God say about you and to you? He says that you're made for relationship. Made in His image. Made to create and flourish in the place God has made. Made to be known and loved by Him David says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. What God says speaks Life and sustains, revives, removes shame. And He calls us to be his hands and feet in this world, to speak life, to sustain and...

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,  so that everyone who believes in him won't perish but will have eternal life. God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world,  but that the world might be saved through him.   John 3:16-17 CEB Our God's Big Story is not one of judgment, it's Love. Love that enters in. Love that steps towards. Love that makes Itself small. Love that wraps us all in. Love that saves. The Big Story is enough to hold all our Stories, to hold our hopes and dreams and sorrows and losses. God's Big Story accepts us, says we are Enough, wanted, loved. When we get lost in the language of judgement whether it's the words of others or our own internal talk, the "shoulds", the "I should do/give/serve/attend, & do that more/better" that isn't what Jesus is saying.  He stooped down, joined us, not to judge, but to Love.  We are His Beloved. Rest in the Big Story today. #weareBeloved  #rest #shalom #sabba...

Friday! Proverbs! Discretion will guard you;  understanding will protect you.   Proverbs 2:11 CEB Some interesting words here: "mzimmah" is discretion, plans, purpose.  Ever thought of these things as protection? Up to now Proverbs has been telling us about the importance of Wisdom, so maybe these things, discretion, plans, purpose, are to protect us from un-wisdom. "tabuwn" is understanding, intelligence, insight, skill. Applying these things to not only our situations, but our inner world too, our thoughts and emotions, they can protect us from some of the unhealthy thinking that we have about ourselves. (Or is it just me with some stubborn inner critic?  This proverb invites me to plan for it- do these thoughts come when I'm tired? It invites me  be purposeful, knowing the Truth, reminding myself of what is True (which isn't always my thoughts) Where abouts in our lives could the purposeful and intentional application if Wisdom make a difference? What wo...

Galatians 3:29 CEB Now if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 CEB So now the promises God made, the covenant, has been expanded and we're all included. By faith in Jesus we all now whakapapa to Abraham.  Paul couldn't be clearer to his readers that the distinctions that they were being taught to maintain between Jews whose bloodlines traced back to Abraham, and "Gentiles" who didn't, those distinctions are swept away. We're all included in God's promises. We're all heirs now.  All included. There's a release from the burden of the law.  There's letting go of things that are no longer needed to make them right with God. As we sit with those ideas today, what is it that our God might be inviting you to let go of today?  Something that's a barrier to wholeness with Him? What could He be inviting us to release today? #letters #Galatians  #faithinJesus #fullyalivenes...

Galatians 3:26-29 CEB You are all Gods children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek;  there is neither slave nor free;  nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Now if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29 CEB Paul sweeps away all the differences between those who might read or hear this letter read to them. Paul dismantles the social and religious barriers that people everywhere and in every time put up.  What about us? "Them" & "us" is so easy right?  People who look like me, think a bit like me, agrees with me, does Church how I like it...and Paul reminds me that there is no "them". There's only us.  Only us. #letters  #Galatians  #faithinJesus #fullyaliveness #weareBeloved  #thereisonlyus

You are all God's children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  Galatians 3:26-27 CEB It would seem that in the church Paul was writing to there was a lot of energy going into judging if someone was a what we would call a Christian - God's children. It's not ethnicity or religion or what rules we've kept or haven't kept, but faith in Jesus. That's it. Have you put your faith in Jesus? Then we're clothed with Jesus, He is our uniform, our marker, our protection, our comfort. It's faith in Jesus that gets us clothed & covered. I have this inclination to add things to Faith in Jesus, an "and" or "but" or a "then you must", but Paul is asking me here to resist that. Faith in Jesus. This not only leads to a radical acceptance of others, but the really radical acceptance of ourselves, in all our humanness and limitations and frailties. Faith in Jesus is e...

Psalms 119:105-112 CEB N. Nun Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey. I have sworn,  and I fully mean it:  I will keep your righteous rules. I have been suffering so much - LORD, make me live again according to your promise. Please,  LORD,  accept my spontaneous gifts of praise.  Teach me your rules Though my life is constantly in danger,  I won't forget your Instruction. Though the wicked have set a trap for me,  I won't stray from your precepts. Your laws are my possession forever because they are my heart's joy. I have decided to keep your statutes forever, every last one.    Psalms 119:105-112 CEB This is the whole segment of Ps 119 (remember there's 22 segments, each one representing a letter of the Hebrew alphabet). The thing that jumped out was the intentionality: Even though - I will. Even though - I will. The psalmist "even though" will be different to ours, the invitation is the same: To choose to stay in the ...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 119:105-107 CEB N Nun Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey. I have sworn, and I fully mean it:  I will keep your righteous rules. I have been suffering so much - LORD, make me live again according to your promise.   Psalms 119:105-112 CEB This beautiful idea of the lamp & light is actually written in the context of suffering, of affliction, of being stuck, down, depressed.  When we're in darkness is when we need light.  When everything seems black we need a lamp, to get a glimpse of the next step. It's there that we need the reminder that there still is light, that it exists.  The word "anah" carries this meaning of afflict, oppress, depress, and to respond. And the reposnse is what the psalmist is doing here: coming back to what is True. When it feels like we're stuck in the dark, the world is against us, we need something solid, a path, and light to get us there.  Here's 2 of mine: Ephesians 1:4-14 G...

Galatians 3:26 CEB You are all God's children through faith in Christ Jesus.  Galatians 3:26 CEB The Galatian Church had false teaching creeping in & Paul was standing against it. He was reminding the Galatians that it's not bloodline that makes you right with God, and it's not some strict adherence to the law either, but it's faith in Jesus. No matter what our story includes the work Jesus did for us is enough. No matter what our bloodline, where we were born, brought up, whether we even know who our parents are or not, no matter who we are, it's faith in Jesus that makes us right with God. Does that seem too easy? And yet there were people who literally walked around with Jesus, saw the miracles, who didn't put their faith in Him. It can be difficult to give up my faith that if I just do enough, am "good" enough, give up my faith in me and place it in Jesus.  In our churches there is quite an emphasis on "making a step of faith" or that...

Friday! Proverbs! For the Lord gives wisdom;  from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart,  and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Proverbs 2:6-10 NRSV This is the middle of a long piece of writing about Wisdom, still seems to be part of the introduction to the Proverbs themselves. This passage reinforces the source of Wisdom, and repeats what Wisdom can do in the life of a community or a person. The heart of God is revealed not in that Wisdom will become something pleasant for us, but in what we will understand: Righteousness  Justice Equity Good paths. These ideas are bigger than me, bigger than my life, but speak to "us", God's heart for People, for us to live in community, together...

Galatians 3:24-25 NLT Let me put it another way.  The law was our guardian until Christ came;  it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. Galatians 3:24-25 NLT The law was our guardian. The CEB version uses the word custodian. In the Greek Paul uses "paidagogos" which means guardian, tutor, instructor, someone in charge of a young person's morals and life choices. This is not a word about power, command, demand, but includes care, nuture, wanting the best for someone, and now the law has been absorbed into faith in Jesus. Now it's faith in Jesus that cares, nurtures, wants the best for us.  Faith in Jesus is our guardian, our custodian, our tutor, instructor.  Somehow, God is in us. Faith in Jesus is our foundation on which Life grows and flourishes, the foundation on which we can grow into that fully aliveness that we were created for...that you were created ...

Galatians 3:21-22 NLT If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.  Galatians 3:21-22 NLT Paul continues to repeat his themes in different ways. The law is not wrong, not broken, but we aren't perfect, we're human, and trying to obey the law as the way to make us right with God doesn't get us to the fully aliveness that believing in Jesus does.  It doesn't get us to freedom. The opposite of freedom is captivity, oppression, constriction, holding down, holding back. Freedom that comes from faith in Jesus, that he is who he said he is, that it's his redemptive work that makes us right with God leads us to freedom. To shalom. To peace. To flourishing. Because nothing can separate us from God's love, not our ability or inability, not our achievements or failures. We're Beloved. Jesus actio...

Galatians 3:11-12 NLT So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law.  For the Scriptures say,  "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life." Galatians 3:11-12 NLT Why is this important for us today? Surely we're not like the Galatians thinking life comes from completing the requirements of the law? There are parts of us that do though right? We judge others and we definitely judge ourselves. My inner critic seems to enjoy telling me I'm not doing enough, not doing what "they" are doing, and as a result I'm not good enough, not enough. And the answer is do more, be better. Paul says life, "zao", to be fully alive comes not from the law, but from faith.  This fully aliveness comes from knowing we are Beloved, accepted, wanted, in all our humanness, and that comes from fa...

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say,  "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law.  For the Scriptures say,  "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Galatians 3:10-11 NLT This appears to be the root of the problem that Paul is trying to address with the Galatian Church. They're being taught some kind of hybrid gospel that continues to emphasise the law, the rules, keeping all the rules all the time, perfectly, is the way to be right with God. We can't. None of us can. Why is this such a problem in the church in Galatia?  For the same reason it's a problem for us, it's what Tim Keller called our "self salvation project". We are tempted in different ways in our own cultural setting to believe we can do it oursel...

Psalms 119:97-104 NLT Mem. Oh, how I love your instructions!  I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.  Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws.  I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven't turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.  Mem. This part of the psalm reads like everything is a wee bit exaggerated...does he really think of God's law all day? Is he really wiser than his enemies and his elders and have more insight than his teachers? This reads like a teenagers overexcitement! Overexcited in a good direction tho! Maybe its an NZ culture thing but maybe we're a bit underex...

Galatians 3:8-9 NLT What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said,  "All nations will be blessed through you."  So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. Galatians 3:8-9 NLT Right from the beginning our God always included everyone. Paul is writing to people who believed they were special because they could whakapapa to Abraham. And Paul is saying no, take another look, God's heart snd intent was way bigger than bloodlines.  There is no "better than" in God's economy, there is no "them", there's only us. There's only us. #letters #Galatians  #faithlines #freedominJesus  #thereisonlyus

Friday! Proverbs! My child,  listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom,  and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver;  seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 NLT Tune your ears. Concentrate. Cry out. Ask. Search. Seek. Wisdom and insight, understanding God, these things take more than turning up at church and listening to a sermon, more than glancing at a Bible verse on our way through breakfast. This is couched in the language of invitation, of a good parent encouraging their child onto a path where they know is thriving and flourishing. A path that may not seem as attractive as other options in the short term, but the path that every good parent would want for their child: Insight. Understanding. We're invited to tune our ears...it's like going into the bush and ...

Galatians 3:5-7 NLT I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law?  Of course not!  It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. "In the same way, Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. Galatians 3:5-7 NLT Paul quotes Genesis 15 to his audience because the old way is gone, the children of Abraham are no longer contained in bloodlines but in Faith lines.  Our inheritance is from a Faithline to God. It's no longer about the family you were born into, the laws you've followed, what you've done, it's about faith in Jesus and what He has done. We get to rest in the Faithline. Interesting to sit with this on Waitangi Day and think about nations and peoples and the history of the place we are in, the stories that bind us together, and the Big Story that contains us all, and welcomes...

Galatians 3:1-3 NLT Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you?  For the meaning of Jesus Christ's death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question:  Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses?  Of course not!  You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?  Galatians 3:1-3 NLT This seems to be the heart of Paul's concern for the Galatians, they put their faith in Jesus, and then went back to putting their faith in their ability to obey the rules. To be good enough in their own actions. The Gospel, the Good News of Jesus says that we're beloved.  Let's start there. Our faith in Jesus makes us right with God. How we then live is in response to those 2 gifts of Love & Grace. We are Belove...

Galatians 2:20 NLT My old self has been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God,  who loved me  and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20 NLT Paul has just explained about how just keeping all the rules, just thinking that was what God wanted, did not lead to Life. Trusting in the rules, in his own ability to keep them, has been abandoned for trusting in Jesus, trusting in His Love that leads to Life, that trusting in our God who Loves Us changes everything and we get to discover, little by little, the way that we have lived to please others, to meet our culture or society expectations, even our church's expectations, does not always lead to Life. Paul acknowledges too our embodiedness. That we are an embodied soul, that our physicalness is an intrinsic part of who we are (no less important than our mind, or spirit). What is the freedom in Jesus that this letter migh...

Sunday Psalms; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... Psalms 119:77 NLT When the world seems empty; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... When all seems lost; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... When it seems I'm at the end of my resources; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... When I can't see a way; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... When it makes no sense; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... When things are good; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... When there is plenty; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... When I am loved; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... Whatever is behind me; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... Whatever today holds; Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... Whatever is in front of me...surround me with your tender mercies so I may live... #sunday #worship #psalms #psalm11...

Galatians 2:15-16 NLT "You and I are Jews by birth, not 'sinners' like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law.  And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law.  For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." Galatians 2:15-16 NLT Paul is telling the readers of his letter who are hearing from false teachers just what he told Peter when he was off track too: Our religious heritage won't make us right with God. Obeying all the rules won't make us right with God. These things are attractive and can seem attainable.  It's faith in Jesus that makes us right with God. Not which church we go to, how often we go, how we were baptised, what we give, how we serve, whether we've made good choices or terrible ones, it's faith in Jesus that makes us right with God. Faith in Je...

Friday! Proverbs! "You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.  So I will laugh when you are in trouble!  I will mock you when disaster overtakes you - when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. When they cry for help, I will not answer.  Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. For simpletons turn away from me - to death.  Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm." Proverbs 1:25-33 NLT Yikes! Pays to remember that "wisdom" is not God, not a force or a person, but in this piece of writing "wisdom" is given the characteristics of a person. To make ...

When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised.  But afterward,  when some friends of James came,  Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter's hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Galatians 2:12-13 NLT Controversy  Conflict Arguments  Hypocrisy People being led astray There's lots going on here inc choosing to talk direclty to people about their behaviour that is impacting others in their faith. However I'm interested in the "why" Why did Peter change the way he was? Because he was afraid.  Fear of what others would say to him, think about him, fear that others would judge him in some way, see him as "less than", associated with a different social & ethnic group. Fear.  Fear of people who he knew held strong views.  Ever done just what P...

In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.  Galatians 2:9-10 NLT Paul gives some more of his CV, adds some more credibility to his position in this letter to the churches. And then there's this little add on from James, Peter & John to Paul to keep on helping the poor. From the very beginning this has been at the heart of the activity that Christians were doing, calling each other to, encouraging one another in. The word Paul uses here is "mnemoneuo" which means to remember, to call to mind, to be mindful. In all the preaching and teaching and good things that might be going on, James, Peter & John are reminding Paul it's easy to forget the he...