Catastrophe, pain or suffering can be a means of grace. Grace signifies the good-will of God towards us, and that is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort in all our pain and distress. It is often by the grace of a catastrophe that people may come to have a real and true encounter with God, because it blows away any abstracts of theory and gives meaning and purpose to our walk.
Read MoreOver the past few weeks myself and some friends have started reading through the Psalms. Particularly Psalms 33 and 34 have significant emphasis on the importance of words. It talks about how God's voice was powerful enough to create the universe (33:6). It calls God's people to sing and praise (33:1-3,34:1). God answers, He hears (34:4-7). The people call out and are to listen to Him (34:6,11)
Read MoreConsider Psalm 19:1-4 which says:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Jeremiah 17:7-8: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Read MoreHosanna (Save Us) is a song I have written for this Easter.
Hosanna was a cry which meant ‘Save Us!’ and as everybody was crying ‘Crucify Him’ a week later, they were actually crying out the same thing - as that is what Jesus death will have done… ‘saved’ us!
Read MoreA moment ago she'd felt completely normal. Happy and still, eyes closed, silently pondering her Lord. But a word had suddenly popped into her head, and now she couldn't think of anything else but this word. Why this word? What did it mean?
Read MoreChapter 11 of the book of Hebrews has great application and this application speaks to Fathers. Using the the heroes of faith mentioned in the passage, the word Father in an anagram form produces some characteristics of the Fatherhood of God. We ought to study and live by these characteristics as fathers, and become more like Him.
Read MoreThe contrast this passage offers is profound when we think about Father God. Father God is present where Adam isn’t. Father God comes to encourage Cain where Adam doesn’t. The story of Cain and Abel reminds us that Father God is watching us and is near us. Father God is one who seeks us out even when we are angry and struggling with wrong thoughts and intentions. Father God is not far away or absent – He is with us.
Read MoreThe disciples were suppose to be Jesus' servants. Yet none of them had thought about rendering this service to him, yet alone to each other and apparently not even for themselves. (Indeed, they were apparently arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest! - Luke 22:24).
Read MoreWe observed that this chapter depicts Jesus last public speaking encounter. John seems to be capturing Jesus' words, not just in regard to the crowd immediately before him, but of all his ministry encounters with the Jewish nation. Generally they had rejected his words, signs, teaching and himself as the Messiah.
Read MoreIn verses 35-36 Jesus is indicating that his light has been shown by his words and actions on earth. We are to make the most of his light for our lives. If we neglect it and lose our way, we will stubble about in the darkness. It is a familiar theme throughout his ministry (Cf. John 11:9-10). But these people had rejected Jesus' light. It was fitting therefore that Jesus departed and was hid from them.
Read MoreIt is important to belong to a community of believers who encourage one another in this mission of inviting others and making a difference in the world.
Read MoreJesus came to the home of Martha, Mary & Lazarus at Bethany.
Bethany was one of the authorized towns that numerous Passover pilgrims could stay at.
We were struck by the loving welcome given to Jesus by this family.
Martha served, Lazarus gave table fellowship and Mary anointed Jesus' feet with very expensive perfume.
The thief and later betrayer, Judas Iscariot, did not give a loving response.
Jesus defended Mary as the anointing was a fitting gesture for his burial.
Jesus made the point that we always will have the poor but not his physical presence.
This is an extra inspiration for us to help the poor .
The raising of Lazarus forced the Pharisees & Chief Priests into action.
They feared Jesus would gain such a following that the Romans would brutally intercede.
But they feared really for their own comfortable lifestyle, power and position.
Unwittingly the chief priest prophesies Jesus's death would be for the benefit of all God's people.
he sisters message was simply "Lord, he whom you love is ill".
Their expectation was that Jesus would immediately come to his aid.
But Jesus delayed leaving the Jordan for two days.
Jesus would bring Glory to God by raising Lazarus from the dead.
Christ’s ministry is superior to that of Aaron because, firstly, He ministers in a superior place. The magnificence of the heavenly sanctuary is infinitely better than the tabernacle of Moses, the Temple of Solomon, or any place on earth where God’s glory was made manifest. Notice that our author calls this heavenly sanctuary “the true tabernacle” (Heb 8:2). Those who are familiar with the writings of the Apostle Paul might hear in these words the faint echo of “things which are seen are passing away, but the things which are unseen are eternal.” Secondly, because while Jesus partook of our human nature, he did not partake of our sin.
Read MoreJesus was challenged by the Jews to declare who he was. Jesus replied that he had already stated this, but they did not recognize his voice because they were not his sheep (v.26), a terrible eternal indictment of them. Then Jesus makes the following declarations about himself and his Father:
Read MoreJesus has the power to lay down his life for the sheep.
He also has power to take it up again from the tomb.
He laid down his life willingly for our sake.
His resurrection proves all he claimed was true.
Because Jesus rose, so will we also.
We are a guaranteed people who live this life with the utmost confidence. We are a community who knows the favour of God. Each one of us brings unique gifts, talents, capacities and passion and together as the body of Christ, we make a difference in the world for the sake of the Gospel.
Read MoreWhat a brave soul the blind man was to stand up to the corrupt Pharisees, knowing that he would in all likeliness, be “cast out”. That is he was excommunicated from the synagogue and society. Yet his eyes were opened both physically and spiritually, unlike the Pharisees, who chose to remain blind to Jesus and his teaching. Moreover, although uneducated and untrained, he was alert to the basics of true religion and this infuriated the Pharisees. He is a great example for us to follow. He opens our eyes that we can all testify to the truth of Jesus in our own words.
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