verseoftheday

Romans 6:19 NLT [19] Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. Romans 6:19 NLT Paul is using something he hopes the people in the church in Rome will understand as they wrestle with what he is teaching. There's a slavery here, a coming under the authority of, but there's this element of choice involved too. What we let be in charge in our hearts and minds. Is it the righteousness that reflects God's character that I'm choosing to come under more and more? If the main thing is Love, am I choosing to love? Love. (Patience, kindness, etc) Justice. Those on the margins. Maybe that all seems too big and too much, so start with where I am this morning, and how can I express love for God this morning? How can I ...

Well then,  since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning?  Of course not! Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?  You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.  Thank God!  Once you were slaves of sin,  but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.  Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Romans 6:15-18 NLT Does that mean I'll never sin again? Of course not! There's been a status change - I'm no longer sins slave, and I'm free to follow Jesus, to keep stepping towards being the person He envisions for me (see Eph1:4). I'm no longer bound to sins ideas, but free to embrace God's ideas. He is Love and Light so I get to embrace those ideas and ways of being in the world. I now have a way forward, a way out when the pressures of this world, the de...

Romans 6:12-14 NLT [12] Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. [13] Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. [14] Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace. Romans 6:12-14 NLT Paul is not weaponising this so that there's a list of things that start with "Do not..." This is part of Ch5 and 6 where he has reminded us how our relationship with God has changed because of Jesus, that it's faith, it's grace, and we have been set free from being slaves to sin, and this is the invitation to live in that. We have New Life, that is a Life of Freedom under God's Grace. So live like it! Take the next step. Choose. Move. "Today I ...

Romans 6:5, 7-11 NLT [5] Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.  (This takes us back to Paul talking about baptism and how that signifies connection with Jesus death) [7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.  (A reminder again that we are free from sin's power) [8] And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.  (And we have now entered into Life!  Don't rush past this truth today! "We know we also live with him" - how good is that?) [9] We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. (This is our sign, our security - death no longer has any power over Jesus, and we're alive with him, so we're all good)  [10] When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.  (No rerun needed - it's done.) [11] So you also should con...

Sunday Psalms; In times of trouble,  may the Lord answer your cry.  May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.  May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.  Interlude. Psalms 20:1-3 NLT The first part of this song of David's is looking out at the people he cared about.  Looking out, and looking up. Looking out, looking up, and trusting God in "times of trouble". Looking for our God in times of trouble. David invites us to keep it real, and this song of his takes me to Jesus words, the last recorded words we have to his team before he heads towards death... John 16:33 NLT "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world." The redemptive strands can be seen from David, to Jesus, to us. There will be, is, times of trou...

Romans 6:5-6 NLT [5] Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. [6] We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.  Romans 6:5-6 NLT We can feel the redemptive strand pulling us from death towards Life. And the things that drove us no longer have to. The things that are not reflective of our God's character, His heart, become less and less...our desires and thoughts and what's most important shift...to align with God's... Love. Justice. Truth. The least. The world, sometimes in league with our own heart desires and the lies of the enemy tries to tell us that this is not freedom, but Paul is reminding us that this is where freedom really is, when we live in the truth that he has been going on about that we are made right with God by Grace that comes through Jesus. And in that is freedom. Breathe that in today... #letters  ##GodsGraceR...

Friday! Proverbs! [3] The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,  but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.  [4] Lazy people are soon poor;  hard workers get rich.  [5] A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace. Proverbs 10:3-5 NLT So easy to use these Proverbs as weapons against others. If we start with the first one, well, God's people do go hungry, so it would seem that we're being invited into something deeper... So if I turn this lens that Proverbs gives me inwards what questions does it invite? The injustice that there are poor people? Where is God when people who love Him are hungry? Is there a harvest going on that I am sleeping through? What are the "riches" that come to mind? Is this what God intends for me? What are my cravings that God wouldn't want to satisfy? As you read these Proverbs what jumps off the page for you? Why? What action is our God inviting you towards? What deeper story does it invi...

....now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then,  should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?  Of course not!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father,  now we also may live new lives. Romans 5:21 - 6:4 NLT We are invited into new life now! To keep stepping away from the things that separate us from God, not because His Grace isn't enough, but because His Grace IS enough. This is not once-and-done but a journey that continues as we live out this new life in the reality of our hurt and damaged and beautiful and wonderful world. Maybe there's an encouragement to keep step...

Romans 5:21 NLT [21] So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21 NLT Some days it doesn't feel like God's Grace rules does it...but what we can be assured of is that God's Grace does rule in our relationship with Him. And because it is God's Grace that rules there, our relationship with, our standing with Him doesn't depend on us. The weight is off. So put it down. God's Grace rules. Whatever we had in place of God's Grace is not in charge, does not make the rules, it's a fake, fraud, or just a poor substitute. God's Grace rules through Jesus, and the result is Life! May not feel like it, but it's true. Whatever is in front of us today we get to live in the truth that God's Grace rules our relationship with Him, and we already have Life. #letters #GodsGraceRules #hopeishere...

Romans 5:12, 18-19 NLT [12] When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.  ... [18] Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. [19] Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. Romans 5:12, 18-19 NLT Paul is reinforcing again and again this redemptive truth that through Jesus we are made right with God.  And this is Good News. Because it is all about Jesus and what he did, and it doesn't rely on me and what I do or don't do. One of the toughest things to put down can be the idea that I have to be good enough, be enough, reach a standard, to be acceptable to God. Paul reminds us again and again that it's what Jesus did. Author and Pastor Tim Keller used the term "our self salvation project". I ...

Psalms 19:14 NLT [14] May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 NLT This is how David ends his song, his psalm, his thoughts that he has written out about and towards our God. Have you tried writing to God? Writing to Him about what is happening in your world, what is going on with people you love, what is going on in your mind, your heart, writing it all to God, and ending with David's phrase; "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Give it a go :) #psalms #redemptivestrands #weareBeloved  #Monday #Godsgym

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 19:1-4 NLT The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.  Day after day they continue to speak;  night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word;  their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world... Psalms 19:1-4 NLT The story of who God is painted in the sky, seen in the stars, found in the created world. It's right here. How easy is it not to look up? Take a moment to look up today...look for God's proclamation in the sky... As the stars and the skies proclaim God's glory without speaking, I'm wondering what that invites us into...how our lives might be proclaiming God's glory without speaking? #sunday #psalms #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareBeloved 

Romans 5:15-17 NLT ... But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one mans sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15-17 NLT Seems quite easy to get into some kind of blame game with Adam here, but the reality is that sin and death have been, and often seem to be, in charge. In history, in the world, and in me... And there is this second reality that Paul reminds us of here: "But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness" God's Gr...

Friday! Proverbs! Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. Proverbs 10:2 NLT Surely money is just money, and wealth is just wealth? This proverb is inviting us to consider the idea that everything is connected to our heart, that nothing is neutral, where things come from, how they're created or gained matters. In our context this might get us thinking about where we buy things from, the impact on others, the environment, sustainability, conservation. It might get us thinking about the work we do, how our world works, and where we can make change or make a difference. It might get us thinking about this idea of "right living" and how that can "save your life" - what does that mean for you? "Right living".  Mmm. Proverbs is a heart thing,  so as we sit with this one today, let it percolate in our hearts... "Tainted wealth has no lasting value,  but right living can save your life." #proverbs  #wisdom #itsaheartt...

[38] John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn't in our group." Mark 9:38 NLT What had the disciples just been caught out doing? Arguing about who would be the greatest. Next minute, they're trying to contain the gospel, keep Jesus for themselves. They didn't get it.  The gospel, the good news of Jesus isn't for them, isn't about the way they are with Jesus, isn't to be contained, it's for everyone, and the flavour might change, and you might not like it, but the Good News of Jesus is bigger than one group, one culture, one way of being... John gives me a little insight into me...I like church, my faith, to be expressed how I like it, what I'm used to. But the  Gospel is too big, too important to be contained by what I like and what I'm used to... Let the redemptive strands go where they need to, to meet people where they are... #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #invitati...

Romans 5:7-11 NLT [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [9] And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. [10] For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. [11] So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:7-11 NLT But God. But God showed his great love for us. Now we are Friends of God. But God showed his great love for us. But God. #letters #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareBeloved 

But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else." Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,  "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me." Mark 9:34-37 NLT This child must've belonged to the household that they were staying in (see v33). Why does Jesus use a child to make his point with his team? Perhaps it's because they were talking about power, prestige, being "great", and this child gave none of that.  A small child has nothing but needs to be met.  He or she has no power, no prestige, can do nothing for them, and yet welcoming this small child, picking her up, giving protection, security, connection, is...

Mark 9:33-34 NLT After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, "What were you discussing out on the road?" But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.  Mark 9:33-34 NLT There's something wonderfully honest about this dialogue - would've been so easy for Mark to leave this out as it seems that all of them were part of this discussion, "arguing about which of them was the greatest" (including Mark). Wonderfully honest? Deeply honest? Honestly honest? Perhaps this dialogue is here to invite us to be honest today...honest about my actions, choices, motivations. The disciples had some kind of heart desire to be seen as or known as the most important one, or more important ones in the Group. What are some of my motivations? How do I want to be seen in the group? Amongst my peers, workmates, the people I live with? Are there things I wouldn't want to tell Jesus if he asked ...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 18:4-6, 19 NLT [4] The ropes of death entangled me;  floods of destruction swept over me.  [5] The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.  [6] But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.  He heard me from his sanctuary;  my cry to him reached his ears. ... [19] He led me to a place of safety;  he rescued me because he delights in me. Psalms 18:4-6, 19 NLT This is a long song that David wrote after God had rescued him (particularly from Saul). In this song he describes feeling overwhelmed. And in that place where it all seemed too much, he cried to our God. We have a model here, yes of crying out to God, but also of acknowledging that things can overwhelm us, we don't seem to have the resources to stand. That's what happens sometimes. And we can cry out to God. Verse 19 is a truth we get to remind ourselves of anytime, when things may seem overwhelming, going fine, or anywhere ...

Mark 9:30-32 NLT Leaving that region, they travelled through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know he was there, for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them.  He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead." They didn't understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant. Mark 9:30-32 NLT One interesting thing about Jesus here - he prioritised teaching his team rather than spending time with the crowds of people who clamoured after him  for healing and teaching. If it's OK for Jesus to have boundaries and set priorities, then that's OK for us too. And one interesting thing about the disciples  - even though they knew Jesus well, had been living with him every day, heard his teaching, they were still afraid to ask him what he meant.  What was it they were afraid of? Embarrassment that they didn...

Friday! Proverbs! [1] The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child brings sorrow to his mother. Proverbs 10:1 CEB This word "wise" is "chakam" which is an adjective, a doing word, it includes skill, good judgement, and it's about the working out of wisdom. And it's couched in the idea of a parent and child. I'm wondering if that is because it can be easier to see wisdom and foolishness in others than it is in ourselves.  Proverbs is not a weapon, but a mirror, an invitation into something deeper, so how does it look in that other parent/child relationship, with our Heavenly Father and me? And now it's the joy and sorrow that God experiences from my actions and my choices... What does this Proverb encourage us, invite us towards and away from? Wisdom is applied in our actions...how can I live that out today? #proverbs  #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing #takethenextstep