verseoftheday

Friday! Proverbs! Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man, And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts. Proverbs 19:6 AMP The rich and famous! The powerful. We're attracted to them. The person who gives gifts, seems generous. "Seek the favour" literally means to be weak or sick for...we make ourselves weak or sick for those we see as influential and powerful...and today we follow people on Instagram with the hope something will rub off, we flock to celebrity chefs, business gurus, sports players, even pastors. Yet the one we follow, Jesus, left the limelight to wash feet  Walked away from the crowds to pray alone Told those he healed to keep quiet Launched his kingdom in a poor persecuted country and died a humiliating death at the hands of the rich and famous. Where our hearts may sometimes want to take us, is not the way of Jesus kingdom. The poor, the lost, the hurt, the marginalised, the vulnerable, the weak are who we are called to make our hearts we...

Friday! Proverbs! Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend. Proverbs 19:4 NASB It's not often that Proverbs brings a tear to the eye. To lose your friend for being (relatively) poor is sad. How often have I wanted to meet, get to know, become the friend of someone because of their (relative) wealth. How often I've looked past, not connected with, not given time to someone because they seemed (relatively) poor. I easily equate external success with value. But we digress. Why would the poor person be separated from their friend? Could it be that they have no choice, they are affected by disaster and have no resources, illness and can't travel, forced to live in a refugee camp, fleeing from those with power, the actions of someone else that the poor person has no resources to fight, have to move away to find work and survive... Do we just accept that this is the way the world is? In our little piece of the planet we can make a differ...

...he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Mark 6:41 NIV Jesus could've fed everybody in lots of ways. Everyone could've just felt full, and their nutritional needs met. Or bread and fish could've just appeared in front of the groups of people. But in this instance anyway, Jesus wanted his team involved, not watching from the sidelines, but sleeves rolled up and serving. Literally. Serving food. Jesus was at work, he did the miracle, and everyone got involved. He wants us involved. Not to be bystanders in his story of restoration and redemption. When we are prepared to get involved in Kingdom work, to serve, we get to see Jesus at work and participate with him. How can I today simply give some bread? Encourage someone, invite someone, bless someone somehow. Just ask God to bring a person to mind today. #sunday #worship #loveGod #lovepeople #serve

The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly. Proverbs 18:23 NASB Jesus became the poor man. Gave up power. Surrendered his authority. Shrunk himself to become one of us...the creator of the universe confined himself to a human body and walked the roads, talked, listened...he came with "earnestly and humbly" to make a way, to become the way for us to be made right with God. And he let the rich of this world abuse, humiliate and crucify him... Why? The only crazy outrageous reason is love. Only love. Only love that is well, just, massive. Beyond. Love that compelled Jesus to become the poor man. And he asks us to follow him... #lovepeople #grace #upsidedownkingdom #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly. Proverbs 18:23 NASB Supplications? I looked it up! "the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly." Which one are you? The poor who ask or beg earnestly or humbly? Or the rich who are rough in response? Or neither? Or both? This is about power. The poor person here does not have power but does have a need and is seeking help. The rich person can help. But doesn't. He chooses to use his power to belittle, to make himself look bigger, and the poor person feel smaller. I've done that with words, jokes, sarcasm, and maybe ways that I cannot see or recognise. While this proverb speaks to how life often is, it is not a prescription for how we should try and live. There is no love here, no grace here. Grace Love Love changes everything. Love says I'll give up my power for you. #lovepeople #grace #upsidedownkingdom #proverbs #wisdom #somet...

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NASB Our words are important. They do have power. Speaking words of Life doesn't always mean that everyone will like or even agree with what we say. Jesus spoke plenty of words that left people hurt, disappointed, angry. For the hurt, the lost, the outcast, His words were full of compassion, grace, forgiveness. Speak the truth in love. Love and truth both have their Genesis, their origin, in God, not in me. My version of both is always going to be a little off, a little distorted, so the more we can get back to, closer to the source, the more our words really will speak life! #loveGod #lovepeople #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #speaklife

And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word... Mark 4:18-19 NASB Jesus adds to the worries and decietfulness of things outside us, this big, catch-all category of our heart desire. What I want. Other things. Right now what do I want that's getting in the way, choking the Word? I want to stay in bed I want to eat I want coffee But deeper, in my heart, right now, I want comfort. I want it easy Easy for me. And suddenly this category of "the desire for other things" is a tangible thing. So this morning I choose to lift my gaze, and to ask for grace to love those He brings into my life today, no matter if it's inconvenient, disruptive, or just not what I want. That's my prayer this morning. What's yours? #noreasontofear #burdenbearers #donotlosesightofGod #up...

...the deceitfulness of riches...enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19 NASB The deceitfulness of riches. Is this one that catches you? Maybe you're immune from this but there's a few ways this bites me... The first is thinking I'll be OK, happy, secure, sorted when I have $X Which then becomes $X+ There's the thinking from our culture that more is better. That success is measured in $, that giving is optional and from the bit left over after everything else... Then there's the cost side: if I follow Jesus there, it's going to cost me. Can't someone else pay? Why should I give up my stuff? My kingdom come My will be done It's the lie that "riches" can save me. The lie that those with "riches" are worth more to God. I know these things are not  true, but they're tough lies to shake, and to live in the upside down kingdom that Jesus calls us to, where only loving God, and loving  people, i...

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 ...

But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. Esther 1:12 NIV For 6 months the King had been showing off the power of his kingdom. All his stuff. And at the end of that he had a party that was to last a week, and show off the queen as part of that. She said no. We don't know why. He was not happy. There's two things this story tells me about my own heart... 1. Power goes to my head. Would I be any different than this King if I had his  (unlimited) wealth? I don't think I could be trusted with it. 2. Relationships are more important than anything. We're relational beings, that's how we're designed. Yet how often do I put relationships below, as less important than, the "stuff"? We have a King who left the glories if heaven, and became a servant Washing feet Feeding the hungry Living water for the thirsty Speaking life Because a relationship wi...

One Saturday, on the day of rest, Jesus and his disciples were walking through a field of wheat. The disciples were hungry, so they plucked off some heads of grain to eat. But when some of the Pharisees saw what was happening, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples shouldn't be harvesting grain on the Sabbath!" Jesus responded... Mark 2:23-25 TPT Look at what you're wearing...look at where they live... look at how small, how ugly, how stupid... Look at how they don't fit Don't belong. Been there. Done that. Often. No compassion No thought about the person No interest in their story Their hunger Just interested in my world, my kingdom... Jesus always saw the person in a situation. And he calls us to follow him, to imitate him, so we too, me, I need to see the person first. To have compassion first To be prepared to give up my kingdom, just as the One I follow gave up his. To love others #first #lovepeople #gospelofmark #upsidedownkingdo...

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Mark 2:16 NIV Why did they ask Jesus disciples? Why not ask him directly? What was the problem with who you have lunch with? Appearances must've been important. You couldn't be seen with "them". Jesus was challenging the religious standard and assumptions just by going to lunch! Imagine how he would upset people today with our obsession about taking offence! But more importantly, how would Jesus upset me? What would he be doing that I'd be asking "why is Jesus over there, helping them, when I have these problems?" Would I be echoing the Pharisees with "what about me?" #somethingtochewon #monday #Godsgym #gospelofmark #lovepeople

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. Mark 2:15 NIV Jesus said Follow me back to your house for dinner! It's not often we get a glimpse of the ordinary, the human Jesus, the person. Just like us he needed to eat Just like us he needed fellowship Friends People he could count on. Sometimes leadership can be a difficult and lonely place. It's easy to be critical of our pastors, our leaders. Easy to forget that they're just like us in many ways. Just like Jesus they need fellowship, friends. Encouragement Just like Jesus they need to eat :) Love people in the ordinary, in the everyday #lovepeople #gospelofmark #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon...do you love me...? He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, Feed my lambs. John 21:15 ESV Can you imagine Jesus asking that question? This is the risen Jesus, who'd just cooked you breakfast, so probably a good time to ask. How would I respond? He asks that question this morning. Do you love me? And then he says, there are people for you to care for, encourage, nurture, grow, bless, feed, support, teach, sing to, pray for, pray over, forgive, lead, share with, travel with, carry, bear with, serve...people who I get to meet because you're my representative in the world. Jesus says to Peter, your love for me finds its expression in loving others. Will you do that? #heisrisen #breakfast #breakfastchat #breakfastchatwithJesus #whodidthedishes? #loveGod #lovepeople

Friday ! Proverbs! Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. Proverbs 18:5 TLV This word translated "partiality" here literally means faces. Do we show different faces to different people? Because they have power or fame or beauty or wealth or something? Something I want or desire? Do I put on a "face"? Treat them differently? And the flip side of that is someone innocent is missing out, getting hurt. How does this work? I'll buy those shoes. Even though the manufacturer is exploiting it's workers. Behavior I would condemn is OK when it's a celebrity. It's a heart thing. It's my money. It's who I choose to support. Me. I. But God's heart is for the innocent, the poor, the marginalised, it is for justice, and He calls us to follow Him, to bring justice, life & hope. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #others #lovepeople #micah6v8

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...

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in... James 2:2 ESV James hooks into us next for judging on the externals. The clothing. Labels (or maybe it's no labels now...) The body. Appropriately sculpted. The speech. Confident. Outgoing. The list goes on... Age (too old, past it) The list goes on... We have a lifetime of judging the externals, and James is saying just hang on a sec, why are we doing that in church? Is this the stuff that's important? Take a step back and remember that God's Kingdom doesn't run on the rules of the world, of our culture, and neither should our church...and neither should we. Love people for who they are. Image bearers of the Creator. #james #james2 #Godsgym #nolabels #lovepeople

My fellow believers, do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of partiality [toward people - show no favoritism, no prejudice, no snobbery]. James 2:1 AMP Monday morning and it's back to the gym! James is clear that this is about how we are living out our faith in Jesus. Jesus crossed over all the social and ethnic barriers of his day. He met with the (hated) tax collector. He met with the (unclean) Samaritans He met the (untouchable) leper He talked with the kids, had someone look out for his Mum. In Jesus kingdom, the social, ethnic, age, gender, social status, occupation, boundaries and labels that I so easily fall into the habit of using - they simply don't belong. People have names. I'm trying hard to remember names but the labels seem to stick so much easier. "Jesus, help me to see people as you do. Thanks. Amen" #james #james2 #Godsgym #nolabels #lovepeople

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 The king had ordered the midwives to kill any baby boys that were born. And they did not. The king made the rules He was the prevailing culture. But they said no. God has said these lives are more important His values are higher. This was their battle No matter what I'm being told by the prevailing culture or the lies I am hearing, God's values, Truth, is more important. And so these two ladies found a better way. In facing the culture, at risk of their own lives, they found a way forward, to quietly do what was right. It's so easy to be swayed by the loudest voices, whether that's in the media, from the people we hang out with, or the things that run around in our own thinking, come back to what God has to say... #loveGod #lov...

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV Every now and then I return to these verses, and it can be for a number of reasons. Read them again if you have a minute... For me today it's a reminder that God has some things for me to do. Things that may make no sense to the world. The lens of grace leads to humility. Changes the way I see me, my stuff, and what really matters. That we are all in this together. My circumstances are no different to yesterday, but when I look through the lens of grace things do look different. This grace while personal coming in, is other oriented in it's expression. We work it out, live it, in community. Together. #grace #upsidedownkingdom #loveGod #lovepeople