Soul and Body

 "be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:26 NIV

Jesus is talking to his disciples who he is sending out to teach about the Kingdom of God.  He tells them that they may be arrested or otherwise harmed, but he reassures them that even if their bodies are killed that God will preserve them after death. He adjures them to keep their focus on God realizing that only God has the ability to destroy their souls. God is the creator and only He has control over someone's soul. No human can destroy a single soul. Even those, who decide they don't want to live anymore, are only able to kill the body. It is an important truth to realize that even after a body dies, the soul lives on in some way. And only God decides if there is a second death.

Father, thank you for your promise of eternal life with you. Keep me mindful of your ways. Teach me not to fear violence, either verbal or physical, that other people might inflict on me. I pray that I will rest in the assurance of your love.

Understanding Scripture

 "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he (Jesus) explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself." Luke 24:27  "Then he (Jesus) opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45 NIV

The Bible is not just any book. It is the inspired word of God. If someone reads the Bible as a sort of self-help book, they will never understand the true meaning of its message. The Bible is not about mankind. It is about God and his saviour Jesus. Beginning in Genesis and going all the way through to the Book of Revelation, the Bible is the history of God, first creating the world and then his involvement in his creation. To understand the Bible, we need the Holy Spirit of Jesus to explain it to us. When we approach the Bible in reverence  understanding that it is God speaking to us, then our minds will be opened to its incredible message. However, if we read it like a regular book, choosing to agree or disagree with various passages then we will be frustrated by its difficulty and probably will leave it behind.

Dear Father, thank you for giving us your sacred word. I pray that you will warm my heart and give me a humble attitude so that I can understand even more  about you. Thank you for giving us the testimony of your love for us.

True Conviction Leads to Worship

" she wiped (his feet) with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." Luke 7:38 NIV

At a dinner provided for Jesus by a Pharisee , a sinful woman came in and wiped Jesus feet with her hair, kissed his feet and poured perfume on them.  The Pharisee was horrified that Jesus would let a woman of her reputation touch him. Jesus on the other hand knew that the woman had experienced true conviction about her sins and that had led her to worshipping him.  A heart touched by the Holy Spirit mourns their sin and immediately draws close to God for forgiveness, but also is moved to rightfully worship Jesus as Lord.  Feeling guilty about doing something wrong but only coming away with a feeling of shame is not conviction. The Holy Spirit shows us our sin so that we will run to God, not so we will wallow in self-deprecation. The woman's lavish display of worship is a true example of a heart convicted and reborn.

Father, Lord, we only see our sin because of you. Convict my heart, break my prideful spirit, and let your Holy Spirit flow through me in worship to you.  I pray that I will remember the woman's rightful response to Jesus.  Thank you Lord for forgiving us and giving us new hearts.

Fear of Government

 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God."  Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Governments exert a lot of power over regular citizens.  Sometimes the governments are doing a good job; sometimes they are not. We may fear that our economy will decline because of poor policies.  We may fear being sent to prison for having a certain viewpoint.  We may fear that crime will become rampant because our governors are not keeping control of it. These are not irrational fears.  They are based on real events.  However, God reminds us that above and beyond our governments is God, the supreme ruler of the universe.  "Do not be dismayed" because your souls are safe in God's hands.  Your life is not just this physical life. It is also the spiritual life that you have in Jesus who promises that we will be with him forever, either on earth or in heaven. Worldly governments can ruin our physical lives but they cannot touch our eternal souls.

Dear Lord, thank you for the promise of your everlasting love and care.  Remind me that in the light of eternity, our earthly troubles are fleeting. You understand our concerns but encourage us to  remember your sovereignty over the world which you created.

The Passing World

 "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17 NIV

Our world and our natural desires and passions are transient. Our planet earth will not last forever and certainly our physical lives are quickly over. John wants us to fully grasp the insignificant nature of so much of what we cherish and strive for. Often as people go into old age,  they begin to realize that they have misspent their lives by chasing after prestige, money and superficial love. Death stares them in the face and they are afraid because they don't know what will happen when they die.  But for those people who have aligned their lives with God's will, regrets are replaced with the assurance of his love, and death is something to look forward to as they are eager to have an even deeper relationship with God in heaven.

Thank you, Lord, for reminding us of the futility of chasing after worldly things. We thank you for the provisions that you give us but keep it always in our hearts and minds that you are our treasure. What a miracle to be given eternal life with our God.

The Blame Game

"The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit." "The serpent deceived me."  Genesis 3: 12 and 3:13 NIV

From the beginning of time, people have wanted to put the blame on someone or something other than themselves. Adam insinuates that God had some culpability because he gave Adam a woman as a companion. Then he says that Eve gave him the fruit as though he had no chance to refuse it. He makes it sound as though he was powerless in the situation- that it happened to him and he had no responsibility in the matter.  Eve for her part blames the serpent who "deceived" her. She accepts no responsibility for her part in following the serpent's suggestion.  Neither Adam or Eve acknowledge their disobedience to God's clear instruction not to eat of the tree in the middle of the garden. So many people today refuse to admit that they are disobedient to God and that it is their own fault.

Dear Father, please make me aware of situations where I blame you or others for sins of my own doing. I pray that you will bring truth to those who live in delusions, full of Satan's deceptions. I thank you Lord for your light and your salvation.

To Be Known

 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" Jeremiah 15:5 NIV

Even before we were born, God had us in his mind and had a purpose for us. We are not just a chance happening or a haphazard collection of genes.  We are specially made, uniquely formed with an eternal meaning. God creates his people to live on the earth and fulfill their destinies. How wonderful that from the very beginning of our existence, God "knew" us.  He understands us in a profound way and nurtures us in a way that is a perfect fit for us. Unlike people who usually only understand a part of who we are, God understands us in totality.  Every thought, every action, every desire we have is completely known and understood by God. Our relationship with God is more intimate than any relationship possible with another person.

Dear Father, what a blessing it is to be fully known. I am so grateful that I don't have to explain myself to you. You may discipline me, or challenge me but always you relate to me in love and with complete knowledge of who I am. I pray that your love will shine through me and that you will help me to understand the people that you put in my life. 

To Love the Lord

 "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God...This is the first and greatest commandment."  Matthew 22:37-38 NIV

The greatest commandment is to love God.  We are called to love other people but the first commandment is to love God. That is because we can only truly love other people once we have allowed God to transform our hearts.  We show our love to God by accepting his authority and teachings in the Bible.  We love God when we stand in awe of his creation.  We love God when we meditate on his character and rejoice in the beauty of it. We love God when we search for his knowledge and understanding, and we love God when we thank him for all the goodness he has given us. Loving God isn't doing good works. It is being like Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus and adored him. 

Dear Father, you want to be in a loving relationship with us. Remind me that, although you have given us good works to do, that you want us primarily to be worshiping you as our loving, heavenly Father. Open my eyes to your infinite love and help me to love you in return.

In the Midst of Evil

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."        John 17:15 NIV 

One of the differences between Christianity and some other religions is that we are not called out of the world.  We are called to be light in the world. Some philosophies teach their adherents to block out the evil in the world by emptying the mind or being mindful in nature. That is fine for short term relief from the stresses of the modern world but it does not address the fundamental issue of how we face evil.  The Bible tells us to resist the devil, to stand against sin, and to not fear. We are not avoiding the tragic realities of sin. We are facing them head on and affirming that our God is victorious over the works of Satan. We are courageous and hopeful, knowing that our Saviour is King. Our minds are not blank; they are filled with the knowledge of God's love.

Dear Father, I thank you that you give us strength and power over the works of the devil.  I pray that I will meditate on your word in the Bible and know that you are always in control.  I thank you that I can rest in the assurance of your salvation and love.

The Law of the Lord

 "The Law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul." Psalm 19:7 NIV

How often in today's society do we view laws as constricting and limiting.  We chaff against the rules of government even if we follow them. Some laws we agree with if they increase our personal safety or wealth.  But the Law of the Lord is totally different from secular laws.  It is perfect which means it is totally just, totally complete, totally good.  The purpose of the Law is to bring us into relationship with God.  It refreshes the soul.  Only God and his wisdom can truly refresh our souls. Worldly pursuits can give us a quick flash of happiness or excitement but only God gives us lasting water for our thirsty souls. His Law is not oppressive.  It is liberating and life-giving.

Dear Father, thank you for your perfect Law. I pray that I will keep your laws firmly in my heart at all times.  The only way I can be a blessing to others is if I have obeyed your laws and refreshed my soul.  I pray that the church will always keep your Law front and foremost.

Heavenly Fear

 "...the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."  Exodus 20:20 NIV

The fear of God is sometimes viewed as a negative thing. Many people try to dilute it and call it reverence or respect.  But the Bible says "fear" and for a good reason.  We are by nature stubborn and self-centered and it is the fear of God that motivates us to turn away from our sins.  The threat of God's discipline helps us to focus our hearts on doing the right thing because otherwise we make any number of excuses for our bad behaviour. The Bible has many verses that talk about the fear of God.  They remind us that following God and obeying him brings great rewards, not least of which is a true relationship with God.  We can be thankful that God uses our strong emotion of fear to get our attention and guide us into real life.

Dear God, thank you for telling us to fear you.  We fear so many things that should not be feared: death, illness, others' opinions of us, poverty. These unrighteous fears destroy our lives. You promise us that if we fear you instead that you will save us, forgive us and give us everlasting life with you.  Thank you for giving us hope and many blessings in this life as well as helping us to be a blessing to others. Until we truly love you, we need to fear you.

The Kingdom of God

 "Jesus travelled about...proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God." Luke 8:1 NIV

The Kingdom of God is referenced many times in the New Testament. It encompasses many aspects of God's sovereignty. Jesus fulfilling his purpose as Messiah by dying on the cross for our salvation demonstrates the king-ship or king-liness of God as He not only demonstrates his power over death but also his protection and provision for his people. The good news of the Kingdom of God is that God saves us from our sins and that He changes us so that we can become people that glorify God and that bless the world. Being under the loving Lordship and authority of God, we receive life and freedom from the destructive chains of sin. We are so blessed to have a King, the King of the universe.

Father, we thank you for bringing us into your Kingdom. Guide us, shape us, change us so that we are righteous subjects of your Kingdom. We pray that we will bring glory and honour to you, the King who loves us more than we can ever imagine.

God's Grace, not Worldly Wisdom

 "Relying not on worldly wisdom, but on God's grace."  2 Corinthians 1:12 NIV

One of the big struggles today in our churches is to discern the difference between our societal values and the values of God.  Many issues arise in our congregations because people want to be more in line with our current culture.  However, the Bible teaches us that, while we are in the world, we are not to be conformed to the world. The church is to be an example and a blessing to the world, but it is to take its direction from God who has provided us with explicit instructions for life through the Bible. Whenever a church goes running after popular culture, it weakens and eventually dies. If the number of people attending a church is declining in spite of the Gospel being preached, there is nothing to worry about.  God will not allow his Word to return empty. Our job is not to fill churches, our job is to preach the Gospel.  God's Holy Spirit will convict and give grace to further his kingdom in his perfect plan.

Lord, thank you for the Bible that clearly tells us how to live. Keep my mind focused on your words of wisdom and love. Protect me from the insidious tendrils of our secular society. You are the Way, the only Way.

The Promise of Trouble

"In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 NIV

We like to study the promises of God and read about all the blessings he sends our way.  We try to pretend that trouble and difficulties are an "if" but Jesus clearly says that they are a "when". A Christian life in no way protects us from problems, suffering, and grief. The difference for the Christian is that Christ gives us his spirit so that we can weather these storms and encourage other people who are similarly afflicted.  "Take heart", "I have overcome" are incredible words of hope.  They are the light in the darkness. Ultimately, we can focus our eyes on our eternal life with God in this life and in the life to come, and then the current trouble will come into proper perspective. 

Lord, we never like to have trouble. Our human weakness is to want a pain-free life. Thank you for reminding us that we will have trouble and to not be surprised by it.  Thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit who keeps testifying to your love and gives us hope for tomorrow.

Discipline Your Children

 "Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death." 

 Prov. 19:18 NIV

As a parent it can be challenging to know what is appropriate discipline for a child.  Some children are easily corrected with a firm word but other children can be very rebellious and oppositional. The Bible passage does not explain how to discipline our children but it does emphasize the fact that children need direction and boundaries.  It warns us that we could be partly responsible even for their death if we do not give them godly direction and discipline. Raising children would be easy if they always willingly followed our advice, but that is not the case.  Children are born with a fallen nature and so they naturally gravitate to selfishness and disobedience. Just as God disciplines his followers, we also need to remember that discipline is a necessary part of parenting.

Lord, give me wisdom in the area of discipline.  Help me to know how and when to set boundaries for my children.  You set boundaries for us because you know that your way leads to life. I pray that I will accept your discipline with a soft heart remembering how much you love me, and that your discipline is always to make me more like Jesus.

Take up Your Cross

 "Then he (Jesus) said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple, must deny themselves and pick up their cross daily and follow me.'" Luke 9:23 NIV

How different is this verse from the messages we get from our secular society. We are told to get what we want, when we want, no matter how it impacts others.  Even in many churches, this passage is glossed over and a prosperity gospel is preached.  We need to seriously look at the life of Jesus, and the apostles. For them, it was all about being servants and sacrificing for the good of others.  We get discouraged when "the peace that passes understanding" eludes us, but have we been dodging our cross?  The diligent obedience of Paul and his unselfish life lead him to a place where he could say that in "all things" he was content. The fruit of the spirit does not grow without an obedient, focused, unselfish heart.

Lord, we don't like to do hard things.  We think we deserve a happy, trouble free life.  We don't care about others as much as we could. Lord, soften our hearts to your love and let your spirit shine out of us to bless others. Help us to accept our cross, joyfully.

The Lord is my Shepherd

"The Lord is my shepherd..." Psalm 23:1. NIV

There is so much in the opening phrase of the 23rd Psalm.  First, is the declaration of the Lord, God, the I AM, Yahweh.  That after all is the starting point of any life of faith. We need to recognize who the Lord is: the awesome creator of the world, our creator, our saviour, our redeemer.  This God is my shepherd. He is a personal God, not just a general god of the world.  A deep connection exists between God and his people.  And he is described as a shepherd. A shepherd cares for, protects, guides, loves, feeds, searches for and rescues his sheep. He puts his life on the line for his sheep when he fights wild animals that try to kill them.  No wonder so many people love this psalm with its profound imagery. The opening of this Psalm is just the beginning of an amazing song of praise to our amazing God.

Dear Lord, thank you for being our shepherd.  Thank you for inspiring David to write such a beautiful psalm that nourishes our souls. May I always listen to your voice and follow closely by your side.

Faith and Works

 "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."  James 2:22

This passage is referencing Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his son because he believed God was telling him to do so. His desire to obey God was a manifestation of his faith in God. When God changes our hearts through his Holy Spirit, our heart's desire becomes to do the will of God.  His will becomes our will.  There is no conflict.  Just as an apple tree produces apples naturally, a person filled with the Holy Spirit will produce the fruit of the Spirit.  What is named first in the fruit of the spirit? It is love - love for God, love for others. When people talk of good works, they often confuse busyness in altruistic endeavours with godliness. The true test of a good work is does it show love.  That is why faith and works are bound together.  The Christian life is all about love.

Dear Lord, thank you for showing us what real good works are.  Open my eyes so that I may see opportunities to share the love you have given me.

Christian Fellowship

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together."  Hebrews 10:25 NIV 

This passage clearly shows us that meeting with other Christians isn't about us, it's about them. If you go to services or other fellowship meetings expecting that you will be blessed by amazing preaching, harmonious singing and people who think you are wonderful, then you will be disappointed. Christian fellowship isn't about getting, it's about giving.  We are told to keep meeting together.  Some people stop going to church because it doesn't perk them up or entertain them.  Or often they have been offended by someone.  The Bible doesn't say keep going to church if it's perfect.  It just says "keep meeting together." When you change your outlook from what  others are doing for you to what you can  do for others, you will find that Christian fellowship grows deep and blessed.

Dear Lord, give me the wisdom to see where I can encourage others to walk closer to you.  Help me to be a peacemaker and help me to model a kind and loving attitude to even the prickly members in our body. Remind us that being a Christian is all about loving you and other people.  It's not about entertainment.

The Freedom of the Truth

 "I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts."  Psalm 119: 45 NIV

Jesus told his disciples that the truth would set them free.  The psalmist had already written about the freedom that is found in God's word.  How does God's truth set us free? It sets us free from doubts of our worth because God has told us that we are his special creation made in his image.  It sets us free from our fear of death because God promises that we will be with him after we die. It sets us free from the ever changing values of current societies and gives us an unchanging set of values based on love for God and love for other people. It sets us free from loneliness because God is always with us and he gives us a family to belong to even if we don't have a biological family.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of your Word that gives us assurance, and promises your love. I pray that I will take your Word and hide it in my heart, cherishing its preciousness and truth. Give me opportunities to share your message with those around me.