verseoftheday

And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them... Mark 6:48 ESV Really? The disciples are in the storm. In the dark. Making painfully slow progress. And Jesus comes by, fully intending to walk on by! Why would he do that? Maybe Jesus was happy with the progress that they were making, knew they'd be OK, and that there was something important to learn in this storm. Recently I had a time when I was at the end of what I had to offer, it felt like everything was lost. All I could do was cry and give it to God. He saw the painfully slow progress I was making and had something for me to learn. A couple of verses latter we get a clue about the disciples hearts, but Jesus had a different perspective from outside the boat. Sometimes when the progress is painfully slow, we need to trust Him. Hard to see that when we're in the boat! ...

He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves... Mark 6:48 NLT This morning I woke up way too early with a feeling of inadequacy around the things I'm involved in. A mini storm. And I also had time to pray. Pray for some people and for strength & wisdom in my mini storm. Yesterday these thoughts on the storm arrived in my messages: "If He plucked us out of the storm, how would we ever develop muscles to row against it? Or how would we develop a mind sharp enough to navigate the storm? It makes me wonder sometimes if he leaves us where we are so that we would grow up and grow stronger. Just a thought." This shifted my perspective. In my mini storm I chose to pray On Sunday night a friend shared that they chose to trust God more in the storm. It's a dangerous and difficult prayer when we're in the storm to ask "Lord strengthen me, sharpen me, show me where I need to grow, even here, in this st...

And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Mark 6:32 ESV A desolate place Unpopulated Quiet Where they would not be disturbed. Jesus and his team had a crazy busy time, and some time out was needed. Finding that space, that quietness might be easy for you or really difficult. For these guys it took some effort. Get in the boat and go. When we need quiet to recharge, reflect, restore, how does that work for you? Maybe it's turn off the phone. Find somewhere quiet. Shut the door. Book some time in your day. Don't feel guilty about rest. 'Desolate" here means unpopulated, uncultivated. Barren. Finding those spaces in our noisy world where so much clamours for our attention so get creative. Get in the boat with Jesus. As his team discovered, that may be the quiet place. #Godsgym #restday #shalom #gospelofmark

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. Mark 6:39-31 NLT Monday! Time for the gym! Ever been so busy that you can't even stop to eat? That the demands of people seem never ending? What's Jesus solution? "Come on, let's get out of here, switch off our phones and disappear for a few days so we can debrief, rest, eat, and recharge." Jesus reminds us that it's OK to have boundaries. To take a day off. Do you know know your Pastors day off? Then don't call or message on that day. Get your church to publish their days off. Look after the people who look after you. It's not just OK to rest, but essential, so while today you might have to smash into things, Jesus says get...

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. Mark 6:26 NIV The King's wife hated John the Baptist. Her daughter danced at a party and I guess in a had-too-much-to-drink moment made a rash promise. He could've just said "don't be stupid, here's a pony, or ice cream, or some earrings". But his pride got in the way. Herod couldn't admit he made a mistake. He couldn't allow his guests to think for a moment he was weak or wrong or made a dumb call. Pride. Really, what was the worst thing that would've happened if he'd said no? Where does my pride get in the way? What I wear How I look What I drive Have I got the right phone, profile pic, etc etc Who are the "guests" that I'm trying to impress? Where does my pride get in the way? There's places and times that I'm just like Herod, and nothing like Jesus. Lord, help me to walk in Jesus steps, not ...

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 ESV Draw near to God. And He will show you where you fall short of the mark. As we draw nearer to God, our sin becomes clearer to us. Remember that James is writing to Christians, people who need to keep cleansing areas of our lives, not to gain salvation, but because of it. And as we draw near to God we start to see more clearly where we are double-minded. Wavering. Where our faith needs shoring up. Where our thinking is faulty. The action here is to purify. To remove impurities. To live by, and live out Kingdom values. These things are processes that take time, and begin with drawing near to God. So let's start, restart, there, knowing that we are dearly loved children, that nothing can separate us from His love, start there as we draw near... #james #Godsgym #drawnear #childofGod #dearlyloved

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 ESV Monday! Time to hit the gym! Three things that we might "be" in this verse: -Far from God -Sinning (literally falling short of the mark) - double minded (jumping between the things of the world and the things of God) And three steps to take: - draw near to God. Without this the other things become just surface activity. Jesus took time alone with the Father. When do I do that? Take regular quiet time to talk to God. To meditate on His word, to let His truth sink in and rest in my soul. To listen. To wait. To draw near. Yes sometimes that happens in church when we're together, but if we're feeling far away from God, James says "draw near", get close. I'm going to work on that today, find some space to draw near. #james #Godsgym #drawnear #childofGod #dearlyloved

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God... James 4:7-8 ESV Monday! Time to hit the gym! James is all about action this morning. Submit Resist Draw near It's about who we submit and draw near to, and who we resist. The word for resist is "anthistemi" To stand against To hold your ground Refusing to be pushed back. Our enemy is a liar, a wolf in sheep's clothing, deception is his native language. He operates in the dark, in isolating. So we stand our ground in community with others We stand our ground by letting the light in. And we stand our ground by knowing, living and speaking the truth. That truth is found by drawing near to God. Submit to God Resist the devil Draw near to God #Godsgym #james #drawneartoGod

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:6-7 ESV Humble. I'm good with that. There's something heroic and good and even celebrated (ironic as that seems) about being (known as being) humble. That's an OK word. But submit. That just goes against my... well...me. I just don't want to. The word here translated submit is "hupotasso" to line up under. When Jesus was 12 and the family went to Jerusalem for the Passover and he stayed behind teaching in the temple and his parents didn't get it cos he was 12. But he submitted to them. Lined up underneath. Hupotasso. Willingly. Underneath their authority and direction. Willingly. James says willingly line up under the "Theos", the God of John 1, the God who created and sustains all. Willingly submit to Him And yes, that may well put me in conflict with me, because part of my hea...

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 ESV Midweek gym session! James could be quoting Proverbs 29:23, but seems to be Psalm 138:6 This grace we looked at yesterday does not appear to be available to the proud, the arrogant. Remember that James is writing to believers here. Some of whom he is now describing as proud and arrogant. I wonder where James would put me? In the proud and arrogant camp? Or wirh the humble crew? Some days, some moments I am firmly in the proud and arrogant camp. I can be there on my own, and it seems like this is where the fun is, the action, the good times... But it's hollow. Empty. God opposes me here (& that's not a place I want to be) Lord, today, I want your grace. Grace that is found in humility. I need your help to be that person today who walks, works, loves, humbly. I can't do that without you. I need you with me on this. Thanks Amen #jam...

Monday! Back to the gym! What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1 NIV This word "desires" means when satisfying our bodily desires comes at the expense of other things. When that pleasure becomes an end in itself. Ouch. The Greek word here is "hedone" where we get the word hedonistic from. What's on the list? Food? What I watch? I put my headphones on because what I want to listen to is way more important to me than talking with you... Where's the battle? Within. So where is the battle won? Within. What we think is important, what we value most. And it comes back to the most basic questions (not basic as in simple) of the Bible... Love and worship What or who do I love? What or who do I worship? James knows where the battle is. Within But it finds its expression on the outside. Today I choose to be in the battle. Within To love God First And let that find it...

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Janes 3:18 NASB Monday! Back to the gym! This is part of James' description of wise & understanding people is the call to be peace makers, manufacturers of peace. This is not just loving peace, enjoying peace, but manufacturing peace, actively working towards it. Construction. This is not easy work. Construction takes planning, sometimes involves experts, takes time, investment, work. Construction has an objective. The objective here is to plant seeds. Not responsible for the fruit, just the planting. Seeds who's fruit is righteousness, that's the outcome. Righteousness is about our relationship with God. That's what James is about...in constructing peace right relationships with God are started or restored... Confession, restitution, justice, restoration... change... When it comes to our relationship with God, change is inevitable... #james #Godsgym #peacemakers...

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17NIV Monday! Back to Gods gym! Today we're up to; "full of mercy" This verse is describing the wisdom that we are looking to access, and live out If I look back over the course of my life, I don't think that anyone could use those three words to describe me...yet...that is what James calls me to. A life full of mercy. We tend to follow the pattern of the world around us, our upbringing, our experiences, expectations of others, the noise of the prevailing culture. These things are subtle, and "normal". Until James says; "be full of mercy"!  Full. There's no room for other things when I'm full Mercy is an outward looking, others oriented, attitude of the heart that leads to action... Mercy Compassion How would I live if my heart was truly "full of mercy...

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17NIV "submissive"! If there's a word that sparks us up its this. The word here translated submissive is "eupeithes" and this is the only place this word is used in the Bible. It means I'm "well persuaded", already inclined  towards, ready to yield... When I drive towards traffic lights I know that they're there for good reasons so I'm ready to yield to the red signal. I'm already persuaded that stopping is good and right. So it is with the wisdom from heaven...James is writing to Christians everywhere, people who already know that Jesus is who he said he is, believe in his name, so are ready to yield to His call on our hearts. There's days when the last thing I want to do is yield to anything. The stop light. God's gentle nudge. James reminds us that...

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17NIV "considerate" "epieikese" This word is well...amazing. It's about being equitable and fair, gentle and yielding. It's about what is really at stake when it comes to justice. Not strict adherance to the letter of the law, but a gentle yielding to the spirit of the law. The intent. The heart. It's about purpose. The purpose of the law. So if God is good, His heart is for us, then the purpose and intent of His law is for our good. Our flourishing. Our thriving. And we miss it, we miss God's heart arguing about the letter, and miss the spirit. Yielding is not something I'm good at. I've got to fight myself to let someone in in traffic. Yet if I just gently yield to God's way, I'll find life! #Godsgym #wisdomofheaven #pure #peaceloving #undivided...

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17NIV Peace-loving "eirenikos" what pertains to peace, i.e. God's gift of wholeness which results from knowing (discerning) the Lords will and obeying it. Isn't that interesting that peace is about wholeness. Not being divided in your spirit, not being divided in what we know and what we do...I'm definitely not at peace when I'm doing something that goes against God's instruction for flourishing and thriving. Jesus was undivided Undivided in purpose, in living out God's will for him. In his humanity we saw Him struggle, wrestle with that, especially in the garden at Gethsemane. But what did Jesus do? Submitted himself to the will of the his Heavenly Father...and that is my goal today. #Godsgym #wisdomofheaven #pure #peaceloving #undivided

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13 NIV Remember James is talking to Christians here... The path of wisdom Understanding It's found in serving It's found in loving, giving, sacrificial actions towards others. If James had a whiteboard and marker he'd write "wisdom" at the top and "serve" at the bottom and arrows linking them in a  circle. Somehow wisdom and understanding is found in serving and serving grows our wisdom and understanding. Jesus said he came not to be served, but to serve. Counter cultural to most of the messages of the world around us. Serving with humility. Does that mean not expecting recognition or even thanks? This humility thing is tough! It starts with small steps. With the small amount of wisdom I have I can give, serve, love others. And as I do, ask God what He has for me to learn and discover in that... #james ...

And the tongue is a fire... ...With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God James 3:6,9 NASB James goes all out in his war on our words in this passage...that same fire that can keep us warn these winter nights can also burn the house down. Our words are important Be slow to speak The thing at the end here are two targets for our words; God - who we "bless" People - who we "curse" James reminds us that all people, even those we speak against (sometimes for good reason) are all in some way image bearers of God. Just like me. I have more in common with those I "curse" than I like to think. James gives us two categories; God. And people. I'm not God, and I know that in me in some way are at the very least the seeds of all the things that I "curse" other image bearers about. Our words are important. Yes God is worthy of our blessing, but I need to be careful how I speak...

Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.  He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts... Mark 3:4-5 NIV If Jesus turned up at my church what question would he ask? What about at my house? What thing am I hanging on  to that is more important than loving God and loving people? This question Jesus asked is not difficult. "You know how I said I'm the living water, why do you look to your work / business / career / $ / appearance / approval of others / _________ for life?" "Why do you not stand up against pornography, sexual abuse, abortion, euthanasia and provide an oasis of care for the hurt? Why do you think Sunday church does that?" Would Jesus ask me about prayer or hospitality or loving my neighbour... What's Jesus aim? What is he angry and hurt about? It's not those things, but my stubborn heart tha...

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5 NIV My words have never hurt anyone - said no one ever. Such a great picture of me. Easy to blame my tongue, but the problem I have is that the words are mine...they come from within...and they can wreak havoc. But words can and are also agents of good, of change...if the forest is the landscape of my heart, then I want the cleansing fire of God to burn away the rubbish, to start with new life again... May Jesus words be the spark today. Forgiven Loved Accepted Redeemed Free And may His words spark mine today... #sparks #james #Godsgym