verseoftheday

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12 NIV Salvation has come...but is still coming...and he's pressing on to what? "To take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me." What was that? Grace. In the previous verses in this chapter Paul talks about the things he'd put his faith in. The last one was his own goodness. But when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus all of that exploded. What's left was Grace. And he's pressing on towards Grace, and giving it out, sharing the good news of that Grace with anyone and everyone. Grace. #itsagift

I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:8-9 NIV Do you recall the "them" from v5-6? Paul's ethnicity & cultural background, his gender & all that goes with that, his education and his work (& the wealth & status that flowed from that) and finally his belief in his own goodness. That by being good enough, God would have to accept him. Those things he was prepared to toss out with the rubbish to know Jesus, to be found in Him. You can't get there on your own. You simply can't be good enough. The only way is faith in Jesus. No matter who you are No matter what you've done No matter what's been done to you Righteousness, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, comes from faith. In Jesus. #itsagift #grace

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV Eternity in the human heart... we so want something to live on... It's never our business, or where we live, but it's people, relationships...love. Love matters. It cannot be just some primordial reaction in our brain that helped our ancestors survive, we know that there's something deeper and more eternal in our hearts. Love matters. So Christmas matters, as Hope was born in a stable 2000 years ago. Messiah Saviour The One who would save his people, not just to make a way, but to be the way. We give gifts in some small way to reflect the gift we've been given, the gift that today in part, and one day fully, make clear the eternity that has been placed in our hearts #lovematters #loveGod #lovepeople #itsagift #christmas

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:20-26 NIV What astonished them? Just how hard it is to be saved by what we do... then Jesus confirms it... actually it's impossible. We can't do it. We can't save ourselves. No matter how hard I try I trip up, fail, fall short...& just like the person Jesus's talking to hear, I'd go away sad too...realising I can't meet the holiness standard either. But Jesus gives us the clue,  that there is a way, and God himself is going to make that way We're all in the same boat. All in need of grace. No matter who we are, no matter what we've done, Grace makes the impossible, possible. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #grace #itsagift #possible

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Matthew 19:16 NIV Isn't this, or some version of this question, asked of Jesus 2,000 years ago, the question of our times? Yes there's some kind of spiritual reality, there's something more to this life than just the material world, what good things do I need to do to ensure the next life is as good as this one...I'm a good person generally, at least as good as other people around me... But just like this guy there's always a question am I good enough? None of us are good enough. But we are in Jesus. It's his goodness that makes a way for us, the good thing he did by giving his life gets us eternal life... #upsidedownkingdom #itsagift #grace #free

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV Easter. Hot cross buns, chocolate, time off work or study or at least you get double time! But it's so easy to miss what it's really all about...which is in two small words here... So That Jesus became sin for us, absorbed it all into himself on the cross (no wonder he didn't want to go there) So That we can be right with God. It's not our work, but a gift. Easter is a love story. Love that caused God to hatch his plan to redeem the world. Love that took Jesus too the cross And love that kept him there, to make a way... to be the way... for us So That We can be right with God #itsagift #itsalovestory #easter #dearlyloved

...So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant. Joshua 24:13 NIV At the end of Joshua's life, he knew he was going to die & he has an epic summary of all that's happened and a final message from God...and this is the end of God's message to his people... and it jolts us forward to Jesus - who knew he was going to die - who said "I'm going to prepare a place for you..." A land Cities Fruitful & bountiful A place where all will be made new... when the brokenness is restored, damage is undone... a place we did not toil for or plant or build because it's a gift of grace built by God's love for us and paid for by Jesus blood. #onedayallwillbemadenew #heaven #itsagift  

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:20-21 NIV God's grace is plentiful, bountiful, knows no end...it's for everyone and then some... And this is Jesus model for us...how often do I miss out on showing anything like the grace I've received... Or clung on to the blessings like they'd be diminished if I shared... Lord, help me today to model your grace, to be a blessing, to give, to share, to love...may that come from your bounty, your surplus, & may you get the glory. Amen. #grace #itsagift

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Matthew 14:20 NIV Where did the baskets come from? Why did Jesus work this miracle and then produce too much food? There were 12 disciples & 12 baskets of food. There appears to be a message here for Jesus team - perhaps it's this - everyone here knows who I am, has tasted the bread of life, but you've got a basket in your hand now to take to those who have not been here, who haven't participated...and share with them. This food shouldn't be wasted but given. Will you take this small piece of grace that is in your hand and give it to someone who needs it? You can give it to these people who are already full, you could just discard it...or you could seek out those who need it and share with them... #bread #breadoflife #itsagift #grace

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Matthew 14:19 NIV Matt doesn't day who got the fish, but the bread was broken and fed everyone who wanted some. Jesus said in John 6 "I am the bread if life" The bread. Broken. Broken for us. Available for all who are willing to accept Him And this was a pointer to how God was going to operate...no longer in the fire and cloud...no longer in one person...but now available to all. God in a sense consumed by us and living within... #bread #breadoflife #itsagift #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

...such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship... Jonah 1:4-5 NIV These guys were facing imminent death. They knew that their boat was on the brink of destruction and that would be the end. If we just work harder, do good, throw the cargo we thought was important overboard, we can save ourselves. But we can't. Grace is a gift that doesn't rely on our goodness, the things we do, but only on what Jesus did. Jonah was prepared to give his life to save a few sailors, but Jesus did give his life to save us all. Freely. Nothing we could do. That's love. #grace #itsagift #dearlyloved #lessonsfromJonah

Ephesians 2:8 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God... What does it feel like to be blessed with a great gift? I can remember being given a bike as a kid...undeserved...that's what salvation is... #itsagift #savedbygrace

...there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift... Romans 3 We are all in the same boat... lonely or popular Successful or struggling Loved or rejected At peace or in turmoil Good or bad Angry or joyful Or some combination of any of these...we are all only made right by grace. #redeemed #justified #itsagift