verseoftheday

Now He had to go through Samaria. John 4:4 AMP One of my favourite verses in the Bible, 'cos it's like saying "I have to go to that cafe". I can actually get coffee anywhere, and Jesus didn't have to go there. If there was a "have to" it was you have to avoid Samaria. But Jesus had to go there because he had to meet someone there. The person he had to go and meet was a Samaritan woman. For a Jewish Rabbi it doesn't get much worse than that. Unclean. Unworthy. That was the person Jesus had to meet. Jesus stepped over the cultural and religious boundaries, and stepped towards the person he had to meet. Jesus steps towards. Towards me. Where I am, when I feel unclean, unworthy, He steps towards. Towards me And towards you And He brings words of Life and of Hope. No matter what is going on for you today, Jesus steps towards With Hope With Life #loveinaction #itsalovestory #hopeiscomingforyou #lovecoffee

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head...  "She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial." Mark 14:3, 8 NIV After all the talking of the last few days, all the drama, it's Wednesday & Jesus is in the quiet. In the house of someone known for what was wrong with him. And Mary, Lazarus's sister, seems to be the only one who really sees what's going on. She knew about death. And burial And ressurection Her act of care, of giving of all she had, the pouring out of her most valuable possession on Jesus, was because she knew he was going to pour his life out for her. And for me #loveinaction #wednesday #easter #mostvaluedpossession #pouredout

"Well said, Teacher!" remarked some of the teachers of religious law who were standing there. And then no one dared to ask him any more questions. Luke 20:39-40 NLT It's Tuesday of the last week of Jesus life and he is in the temple preaching and teaching all day. Different groups of people are trying to trap him into saying something blasphemous or so outrageous they can get him arrested. One stray tweet and they were going to come down on him like a ton of bricks! While denying their authority, Jesus gives them nothing that they can use. But in a few short days he will give up his life for those same people. In this world that is increasingly antagonistic and offended about what people say, maybe we need to take a similar approach and love in action. Die a little to self. Serve without reward. Say less. Easter is about our saviour who went humbly and quietly to the cross... #loveinaction #easter

...four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus... Mark 2:3-4 NLT Great account of inventiveness and determination to get their friend to see Jesus. Love this. Do you wonder about the back story? Are these the same 4 people who bring this man food? Take him to the toilet every day. Clean him up. Does he live with one of them? Are they family? Are there whole families or groups of people in the background who have supported and cared for this man? A group of children who grew up seeing their parents love in action? Probably. Healing Help Hope These things are found in community. These 4 guys are the heroes here. The upfront people. One day it will be interesting to see who the background heroes are. #loveinaction #community #inthistogether #walkingeachotherhome #gospelofmark

While he was preaching God's word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. Mark 2:3 NLT Today, I am that person lying on the mat, and someone I can't see is holding one corner and carrying me. The sun is behind them, and all I can't make out who it is, and without saying a word, they are carrying me... This week an envelope arrived with tickets to a church conference. Generously & anonymously paid for. In the context of this story I saw this as someone walking alongside me, carrying, sharing the load, but God has prompted me to see this differently. He has said that I am the one in need, and this is someone carrying me. Taking me towards Jesus. Healing, help and hope are found in community, as we walk towards, and at times are carried, towards, Jesus. #loveinaction #community #towards #inthistogether #walkingeachotherhome #gospelofmark

Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God's word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. Mark 2:1-3 NLT Mark is all about the action. People are on the move. Packing the house, spilling out into the street. Jesus is in action. And 4 people. 4 people who stuck with their friend in his 'trouble'. 4 people who loved in action 4 people who could've been doing anything else that morning, (they could've got there early and heard Jesus for themselves, worked, studied, played, slept in...) but chose to help the one who couldn't help himself. Who do I relate to in this story? Sometimes I feel like the one being carried - I really need some help. Sometimes I guess I'm doing the carrying. But more often I'm just in the crowd, doing what I want, walking past the person who needs a hand. I just don't see. Or the carrying got a b...

Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah... But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king's orders. They allowed the boys to live, too. Exodus 1:15, 17NLT Why did we get the names of those women who risked it all to save lives? 1. Because they're real people who we'll get to meet one day. And 2. Because their names have meaning Shiphrah = beauty Puah = splendour Beauty and splendour stood against the evil of their day, risked their lives to save those who could not save themselves. Beauty and Splendour went to the cross, stood against evil, gave his life, to save those who could not save themselves. Me. And you. Beauty and Splendour was marked forever. For me. For us. When there was no way, Jesus became the way. #beautyandsplendour #loveinaction #thisisourGod #sunday #worship

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Philippians 2:25-26 NIV Feeling homesick? That's OK 'cos it's here in the Bible :) It's Paul tho that I want to focus on. While his mind was on saving the world, he was in tune enough with his team to know that this guy needed to go home - he knew, cared, and was going to take action even if it meant a cost to Paul. Epaphroditus was important to him. It's easy even in church, to take people for granted. How would Paul have known E was homesick? He would've checked in. Asked. Care enough to check in on your people, your pastor, your family, the people in your house...and care enough to take some action... #belikepaul #genuine #loveinaction #lovepeople

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. Philippians 2:19-20 NIV Paul's just like us, keen to hear how people who are important to him are getting on. He's old and in prison but still wants to remain connected. The old, the shut in, stuck at home, in a retirement home, isolated...who are those people in your life? Keep connected. For all of us the lesson here is that Paul reached out to his community. He sent this letter, and he's following up by sending Tim. Keep connected. Sending messages is so easy today, yet most of them seem to be of low value... Paul wants to really know. He's genuine. Keep connected. #belikepaul #genuine #connecting #loveinaction #lovepeople

But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights. Philippians 4:18 AMPC Every gift, every act of grace, every time we do something sacrificially, when we do something for others no matter how small or how big...that's something God welcomes and delights in! He knows. And He loves it! Because He loves you and delights in you :) What opportunity is there today to delight God? Lord, give me the opportunity today to bless or encourage someone in a new way for me, and Lord, give me the courage to do it. Amen #grace #lovepeople #loveinaction 

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry... James 1:19 NIV Live generously. Usually we associate that with money or material things...but this verse came up this week in the context of relationships & being generous with one another... Choose to live generously by listening not speaking...giving others space to talk without judgement or having to give answers or solutions. Live generously by chosen to let go of things that annoy us about others... If God loves me and allows me to have my say,  then I can do the same for you... Who do you and I need to be generous to? #james #keepingitreal #inthistogether #loveinaction #liveagenerouslife

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:25 NIV Sometimes doing what is right is just hard. We are under pressure, things are not going right...but James encourages us to stick with it, to hang in there with God, to follow his direction even when we just feel like chucking it and walking away... With James it's about action - don't just keep the faith when it's hard, work it out in action...keep serving, keep loving, keep giving out...and somehow...sometime...blessing will follow :) #james #keepingitreal #inthistogether #loveinaction

1 Corinthians 13.2.niv If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Lots of good christian activity here... prophecy, discernment, knowledge, faith...but Paul gives it all a zero without love. At every turn God wants us to know what motivates Him...love...love in action that brought Jesus to earth for me and you Love in action that took on my sin Love in action that still bears the scars for me #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #loveinaction

Ephesians 5 : 32 NLT As the Scriptures say A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. What?  Jesus relationship with us, the church, is like getting married? The leaving what we know with our parents (Jesus did), the giving up our freedom for the other (yep) the submitting to one another...wow! No wonder Paul says its a mystery...but this I do know...that marriage is about love in action, and that is Jesus...love in action towards and for us....awesome #loveinaction

Paul on forgiveness part 3 Romans 12:21 NIV Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. This is our hope for the future, and the way we are called to live today. A way more challenging and difficult road to walk...but one that reflects God's heart...and it starts in the little things at home, in our relationships, at church, at work or wherever we spend our time...by living this life of forgiveness we see the hope of good overcoming... #loveinaction #forgiveness #grace #forgiven

Paul on forgiveness #2 Romans 12:17-21 NIV Do not repay anyone evil for evil...If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge..."If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink..." Maybe you have an "enemy", someone who is set against you...Paul's teaching here is difficult to swallow. Live in peace (if at all possible) Don't take revenge But more than that go out of your way to bless those who stand against you. Wow. That's hard...and needs 2 things 1. Really believe that God has the big picture in hand and whatever happens in this life my eternity is secure 2. An attitude of forgiveness. #loveinaction #forgiveness #grace #forgiven   

Jesus on forgiveness #4 Luke 23:33-34 NIV When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"... Forgiveness is love in action. Right to the end of his earthly life, it was all about "others" The preciousness of and concern for other people...that love in action that brought Jesus from heaven to earth to make a way...to be the way... #thisisourGod #love #loveinaction #forgiveness #grace #forgiven #sunday #worship

It's Friday! Which means our journey in Proverbs continues. .. Proverbs 29:19 NIV Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond. I was talking with someone about quitting smoking this week,  but mere words will not bring about change...this proverb makes me wonder what will. Maybe sickness, or a greater need for the money being spent, but words alone are not enough The ultimate example is love. God didn't just talk about it, but sent Jesus. To live among us, and to die for us. So how does this apply? Don't just talk about love, live it out in tangible and real ways...how can we do that today? Change needs more than words. It needs actions,  examples. Love and faith need action. #loveinaction #proverbs