God blesses us so that we can bless others.
Read Colossians 3:18 - 4:1
Working conditions in England during the 19th century were abysmal. Men, women and children laboured in dangerous factories during the day and went home to dirty tenement slums at night. Many of the factory owners cared little for the well-being of their employees.
But during that time, the owners of the Cadbury chocolate company were different. Quakers by conviction and business entrepreneurs by giftedness, they focused on improving the working conditions of their 200 workers. The Cadburys built a state-of-the-art factory with heated dressing rooms, a kitchen and recreational areas. And to care for their employees’ spiritual needs, the workday started with Bible study.
Colossians 4:1 tells us: “Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” Certainly the Cadburys sought to give their employees what was just and fair. But their heavenly orientation motivated them to go a step further to meet physical and spiritual needs.
Though we may not own a company, we do have regular contact with a variety of people. As believers, it is important to be ethical in our dealings. We can also, with God’s enablement, care about others’ well-being through prayer, encouragement and the meeting of physical needs (Galatians 6:10).
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Thursday 31 January 2013
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Wednesday January 30, 2013
Even when we don’t sense God’s presence, His loving care is all around us.
Read Psalm 22:1-8; 19-26
Do you know which psalm is quoted most often in the New Testament? You may have guessed the familiar and beloved Psalm 23, but actually it is Psalm 22. This psalm begins with David’s poignant, heartbreaking words that were quoted by Jesus on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).
Imagine the situation David must have found himself in that caused him to cry out to God in this way. Notice that he felt forsaken and abandoned: “Why are You so far from helping me?” (v 1). He also felt ignored: “O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear” (v 2).
Ever been there? Have you ever looked up into the heavens and wondered why it seems that God had abandoned you, or was ignoring you? Welcome to David’s world. But for every plaintive cry David expresses, there is a characteristic of God mentioned that rescued him from despondency. Through it all, David discovered that God is holy (v 3), trustworthy (vv 4-5) a deliverer and rescuer (vv 8, 20-21) and his strength (v 19).
Do you feel forsaken? Seek the Lord. Rehearse His character. And “let your heart rejoice with everlasting joy (v 26).
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Psalm 22:1-8; 19-26
Do you know which psalm is quoted most often in the New Testament? You may have guessed the familiar and beloved Psalm 23, but actually it is Psalm 22. This psalm begins with David’s poignant, heartbreaking words that were quoted by Jesus on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).
Imagine the situation David must have found himself in that caused him to cry out to God in this way. Notice that he felt forsaken and abandoned: “Why are You so far from helping me?” (v 1). He also felt ignored: “O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear” (v 2).
Ever been there? Have you ever looked up into the heavens and wondered why it seems that God had abandoned you, or was ignoring you? Welcome to David’s world. But for every plaintive cry David expresses, there is a characteristic of God mentioned that rescued him from despondency. Through it all, David discovered that God is holy (v 3), trustworthy (vv 4-5) a deliverer and rescuer (vv 8, 20-21) and his strength (v 19).
Do you feel forsaken? Seek the Lord. Rehearse His character. And “let your heart rejoice with everlasting joy (v 26).
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Tuesday 29 January 2013
Tuesday January 29, 2013
Whenever we are ready to uncover our sins, God is ready to cover them.
Read Psalm 32:1-11
If you have something to hide, Mike Slattery may have the solution. Several years ago, a cell phone company wanted to erect an antenna on his property and disguise it as a pine tree. Mike had a better idea and built a fake barn with vinyl panels that allow the radio waves to pass through them. He developed that concept into a company that builds structures to hide antennas for aesthetic and security reasons. Slattery is convinced that many of his neighbours still have no idea what’s in his barn (The Gazette, Colorado Springs).
Most of us are trying to keep something out of sight. It may be as harmless as clutter in a basement or as toxic as the moral and spiritual failures we try to hide from others, ourselves and even from God.
In Psalm 32, David describes the futility of trying to conceal his sin (vv 3-4) and the relief of opening his soul to the Lord: “I acknowledge my sin to You and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (v 5).
Confessing our sins to God and forsaking them brings a sense of freedom to our souls and the awareness that we have nothing to hide.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Psalm 32:1-11
If you have something to hide, Mike Slattery may have the solution. Several years ago, a cell phone company wanted to erect an antenna on his property and disguise it as a pine tree. Mike had a better idea and built a fake barn with vinyl panels that allow the radio waves to pass through them. He developed that concept into a company that builds structures to hide antennas for aesthetic and security reasons. Slattery is convinced that many of his neighbours still have no idea what’s in his barn (The Gazette, Colorado Springs).
Most of us are trying to keep something out of sight. It may be as harmless as clutter in a basement or as toxic as the moral and spiritual failures we try to hide from others, ourselves and even from God.
In Psalm 32, David describes the futility of trying to conceal his sin (vv 3-4) and the relief of opening his soul to the Lord: “I acknowledge my sin to You and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (v 5).
Confessing our sins to God and forsaking them brings a sense of freedom to our souls and the awareness that we have nothing to hide.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Monday 28 January 2013
Monday January 28, 2013
Those who put their trust in God will never be disappointed.
Read Jeremiah 17:5-10
Mark Wilkinson purchased a 16-foot boat for fishing and recreation. Apparently he was not superstitious, because he christened his boat Titanic II after the ill-fated luxury ship that hit an iceberg and sank in 1912. Titanic II’s maiden voyage out of a harbour in Dorset, England, went well. But when Wilkinson headed back, the boat started taking on water. Soon he was clinging to a rail waiting for rescue. Wilkinson reportedly said, “It’s all a bit embarrassing and I got pretty fed up with people asking me if I hit an iceberg.” This was followed by an eyewitness who said, “It wasn’t a very big boat - I think an ice cube could have sunk it!”
The story of Titanic II is quite ironic. But it also makes me think of the original Titanic and the danger of misplaced trust. The builders of that ocean liner were absolutely confident that their ship was unsinkable. But how wrong they were! Jeremiah reminds us: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord” (v 5).
All of us are tempted to seek security in people or things. How often we need to be reminded to forsake these false confidences and turn back to God. Are you putting your trust in something other than Him?
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Jeremiah 17:5-10
Mark Wilkinson purchased a 16-foot boat for fishing and recreation. Apparently he was not superstitious, because he christened his boat Titanic II after the ill-fated luxury ship that hit an iceberg and sank in 1912. Titanic II’s maiden voyage out of a harbour in Dorset, England, went well. But when Wilkinson headed back, the boat started taking on water. Soon he was clinging to a rail waiting for rescue. Wilkinson reportedly said, “It’s all a bit embarrassing and I got pretty fed up with people asking me if I hit an iceberg.” This was followed by an eyewitness who said, “It wasn’t a very big boat - I think an ice cube could have sunk it!”
The story of Titanic II is quite ironic. But it also makes me think of the original Titanic and the danger of misplaced trust. The builders of that ocean liner were absolutely confident that their ship was unsinkable. But how wrong they were! Jeremiah reminds us: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord” (v 5).
All of us are tempted to seek security in people or things. How often we need to be reminded to forsake these false confidences and turn back to God. Are you putting your trust in something other than Him?
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Saturday 26 January 2013
Saturday January 26, 2013
Whether our sins are great or small, Jesus is able to forgive them all.
Read Joshua 2:1-14
Imagine looking through your family tree and finding this description of your ancestor: ‘A prostitute, she harboured enemies of the government in her house. When she was confronted by the authorities, she lied about it.”
What would you do about her? Hide her story from everyone inquiring about your family? Or spotlight and praise her in the legends of your family’s story?
Meet Rahab. If what we read about her in Joshua 2 were all we knew, we might lump her in with all of the other renegades and bad examples in the Bible. But her story doesn’t stop there. Matthew 1:5-6 reveals that she was King David’s great-great-granddaughter - and that she was in the lineage of our Saviour Jesus. And there’s more. Hebrews 11:31 names Rahab as a woman of faith who was saved from the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:17). And in James 2:25, her works of rescue were given as evidence of her righteous faith.
God’s love is amazing that way. He can take people with a bad reputation, transform their lives and turn them into examples of His love and forgiveness. If you think you’re too bad to be forgiven or if you know someone else who feels that way, read about Rahab and rejoice. If God can turn her into a beacon of righteousness, there’s hope for all of us.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Joshua 2:1-14
Imagine looking through your family tree and finding this description of your ancestor: ‘A prostitute, she harboured enemies of the government in her house. When she was confronted by the authorities, she lied about it.”
What would you do about her? Hide her story from everyone inquiring about your family? Or spotlight and praise her in the legends of your family’s story?
Meet Rahab. If what we read about her in Joshua 2 were all we knew, we might lump her in with all of the other renegades and bad examples in the Bible. But her story doesn’t stop there. Matthew 1:5-6 reveals that she was King David’s great-great-granddaughter - and that she was in the lineage of our Saviour Jesus. And there’s more. Hebrews 11:31 names Rahab as a woman of faith who was saved from the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:17). And in James 2:25, her works of rescue were given as evidence of her righteous faith.
God’s love is amazing that way. He can take people with a bad reputation, transform their lives and turn them into examples of His love and forgiveness. If you think you’re too bad to be forgiven or if you know someone else who feels that way, read about Rahab and rejoice. If God can turn her into a beacon of righteousness, there’s hope for all of us.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Friday 25 January 2013
Friday January 25, 2013
God’s love never fails.
Read Lamentations 3:13-26
Perhaps the most painful statement a person can hear is: “I don’t love you anymore.” Those words end relationships, break hearts and shatter dreams. Often, people who have been betrayed guard themselves against future pain by deciding not to trust anyone’s love again. That settled conviction may even include the love of God.
The remarkable thing about God’s love for us is His promise that it will never end. The prophet Jeremiah experienced devastating circumstances that left him emotionally depleted (vv 13-20). His own people rejected his repeated calls to respond to God’s love and follow Him. At a low point, Jeremiah said, “My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord” (v 18).
Yet, in his darkest hour Jeremiah considered God’s unfailing love and wrote, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning; great in Your faithfulness. ’The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ’therefore I hope in Him!’” (vv 22-24). A person may vow to love us forever yet fail to keep that promise, but God’s love remains steadfast and sure. “He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). That’s a love we can trust.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Lamentations 3:13-26
Perhaps the most painful statement a person can hear is: “I don’t love you anymore.” Those words end relationships, break hearts and shatter dreams. Often, people who have been betrayed guard themselves against future pain by deciding not to trust anyone’s love again. That settled conviction may even include the love of God.
The remarkable thing about God’s love for us is His promise that it will never end. The prophet Jeremiah experienced devastating circumstances that left him emotionally depleted (vv 13-20). His own people rejected his repeated calls to respond to God’s love and follow Him. At a low point, Jeremiah said, “My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord” (v 18).
Yet, in his darkest hour Jeremiah considered God’s unfailing love and wrote, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning; great in Your faithfulness. ’The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ’therefore I hope in Him!’” (vv 22-24). A person may vow to love us forever yet fail to keep that promise, but God’s love remains steadfast and sure. “He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). That’s a love we can trust.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Thursday 24 January 2013
Thursday January 24, 2013
In God’s own time you’ll see His work; He’ll give you hope and lift your soul.
Read Isaiah 18:1-5
In Isaiah 18, it appears that the whole world is set to battle God’s people. Yet what is the response of the Almighty One? “I will take My rest and I will look from My dwelling place” (v 4). His stillness may appear to have been an acceptance of the conspiracy against them. But it wasn’t. God’s response was His reminder that He acts in His timing - at just the right time according to His will.
I think of Jesus waiting 4 days while Lazarus lay in the grave (John 11:39). Was He unaware? Did He not care? Of course He cared! He was waiting for the right time to act and to teach the lessons He wanted to teach.
The Bible records God’s “delays”, many of which seem at the time to be inexplicable from our point of view. Yet every delay flows from the depth of His wisdom and love. If nothing else, delay, if we accept it, can produce the quieter virtues - humility, patience, endurance and persistence - qualities that are often the last to be learned.
Are you in distress? Does the Lord seem distant and detached? He is not indifferent to your plight, nor is he unmoved by your pleas. He is waiting while His purposes are achieved. Then, at the right moment, He will intercede. God is never in a hurry but He is always on time.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Isaiah 18:1-5
In Isaiah 18, it appears that the whole world is set to battle God’s people. Yet what is the response of the Almighty One? “I will take My rest and I will look from My dwelling place” (v 4). His stillness may appear to have been an acceptance of the conspiracy against them. But it wasn’t. God’s response was His reminder that He acts in His timing - at just the right time according to His will.
I think of Jesus waiting 4 days while Lazarus lay in the grave (John 11:39). Was He unaware? Did He not care? Of course He cared! He was waiting for the right time to act and to teach the lessons He wanted to teach.
The Bible records God’s “delays”, many of which seem at the time to be inexplicable from our point of view. Yet every delay flows from the depth of His wisdom and love. If nothing else, delay, if we accept it, can produce the quieter virtues - humility, patience, endurance and persistence - qualities that are often the last to be learned.
Are you in distress? Does the Lord seem distant and detached? He is not indifferent to your plight, nor is he unmoved by your pleas. He is waiting while His purposes are achieved. Then, at the right moment, He will intercede. God is never in a hurry but He is always on time.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Wednesday 23 January 2013
Wednesday January 23, 2013
In my distress, anxiety and fear, Lord, teach me to rely on You and draw closer to You.
Read 2 Chronicles 14:1-11
An 85 year-old woman, all alone in a convent, got trapped inside an elevator for 4 nights and 3 days. Fortunately, she had a jar of water, some celery sticks and a few cough drops. After she tried unsuccessfully to open the elevator doors and get a cell phone signal, she decided to turn to God in prayer. “It was either panic or pray.” she later told CNN. In her distress, she relied on God and waited till she was rescued.
Asa was also faced with the options of panic or pray (2 Chronicles 14). He was attacked by an Ethiopian army of a million men. But as he faced this huge fighting force, instead of relying on military strategy or cowering in dread, he turned to the Lord in urgent prayer. In a powerful and humble prayer, Asa confessed his total dependence on Him, asked for help and appealed to the Lord to protect His own name: “Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You and in Your name we go against this multitude” (v 11). The Lord responded to Asa’s prayer and he won the victory over the Ethiopian army.
When we are faced with tight spots, meagre resources, a vast army of problems or seemingly dead-end solutions, let’s not panic but instead turn to God who fights for His people and gives them victory.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read 2 Chronicles 14:1-11
An 85 year-old woman, all alone in a convent, got trapped inside an elevator for 4 nights and 3 days. Fortunately, she had a jar of water, some celery sticks and a few cough drops. After she tried unsuccessfully to open the elevator doors and get a cell phone signal, she decided to turn to God in prayer. “It was either panic or pray.” she later told CNN. In her distress, she relied on God and waited till she was rescued.
Asa was also faced with the options of panic or pray (2 Chronicles 14). He was attacked by an Ethiopian army of a million men. But as he faced this huge fighting force, instead of relying on military strategy or cowering in dread, he turned to the Lord in urgent prayer. In a powerful and humble prayer, Asa confessed his total dependence on Him, asked for help and appealed to the Lord to protect His own name: “Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You and in Your name we go against this multitude” (v 11). The Lord responded to Asa’s prayer and he won the victory over the Ethiopian army.
When we are faced with tight spots, meagre resources, a vast army of problems or seemingly dead-end solutions, let’s not panic but instead turn to God who fights for His people and gives them victory.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Tuesday 22 January 2013
Tuesday January 22, 2013
The best way to escape temptation is to run to God.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
An unusual list called The 100 Least Powerful People in the World appeared in the online publication 24/7 Wall St. Among those selected were corporate executives, sports figures, politicians and celebrities who share one common characteristic - they used to be powerful. Some were victims of circumstances, others made poor business decisions while others lost their influence because of moral failures.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul draws a sombre lesson from Old Testament history. The people Moses led from slavery in Egypt towards freedom in the Promised Land kept turning their backs on God who had delivered them (vv 1-5). Idolatry, immorality and grumbling were among the things that brought them down (vv 6-10). Paul points to their collapse as an example to us and sounds this warning: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (v 12).
Every follower of Jesus can stand firm on God’s promise: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (v 13). All of us have power to influence others in their faith. How tragic to squander it by yielding to a temptation that God has empowered us to resist.
Lord, there are temptations to sin everywhere.
Help me not to give in.
Make me sensitive to see the ways out that You provide.
I want my love for You to be real
And to encourage others in their faith journey.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
An unusual list called The 100 Least Powerful People in the World appeared in the online publication 24/7 Wall St. Among those selected were corporate executives, sports figures, politicians and celebrities who share one common characteristic - they used to be powerful. Some were victims of circumstances, others made poor business decisions while others lost their influence because of moral failures.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul draws a sombre lesson from Old Testament history. The people Moses led from slavery in Egypt towards freedom in the Promised Land kept turning their backs on God who had delivered them (vv 1-5). Idolatry, immorality and grumbling were among the things that brought them down (vv 6-10). Paul points to their collapse as an example to us and sounds this warning: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (v 12).
Every follower of Jesus can stand firm on God’s promise: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (v 13). All of us have power to influence others in their faith. How tragic to squander it by yielding to a temptation that God has empowered us to resist.
Lord, there are temptations to sin everywhere.
Help me not to give in.
Make me sensitive to see the ways out that You provide.
I want my love for You to be real
And to encourage others in their faith journey.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Monday 21 January 2013
Monday January 21, 2013
Contentment is not possessing everything but giving thanks for everything you possess.
Read Philippians 4:10-20
Contentment is hard to attain. Even the apostle Paul, a hero of the faith, had to learn to be content (v 11). It was not a natural character trait for him.
For Paul to write that he was content in every situation is truly amazing. At the time of his writing, he was in jail in Rome. Charged with sedition, treason and other serious crimes, he had appealed to the highest court: Caesar himself. Without other legal recourse and friends in high places, he had to wait for his case to be heard. It seems as if Paul had the right to be an impatient and unhappy person. Instead he wrote to the Philippians to say that he had learned to be content.
How had he learn this? One step at a time until he could be satisfied even in uncomfortable environments. He learned to accept whatever came his way (v 12) and to receive with thanks whatever help fellow Christians could give (vv 14-18). And most important, he recognized that God was suppling all he needed (v 19).
Contentment is not natural for any of us. The competitive spirit in us drives us to compare, to complain and to covet. Few of us are in a predicament such as Paul’s, but we all face difficulties in which we can learn to trust God and be content.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Philippians 4:10-20
Contentment is hard to attain. Even the apostle Paul, a hero of the faith, had to learn to be content (v 11). It was not a natural character trait for him.
For Paul to write that he was content in every situation is truly amazing. At the time of his writing, he was in jail in Rome. Charged with sedition, treason and other serious crimes, he had appealed to the highest court: Caesar himself. Without other legal recourse and friends in high places, he had to wait for his case to be heard. It seems as if Paul had the right to be an impatient and unhappy person. Instead he wrote to the Philippians to say that he had learned to be content.
How had he learn this? One step at a time until he could be satisfied even in uncomfortable environments. He learned to accept whatever came his way (v 12) and to receive with thanks whatever help fellow Christians could give (vv 14-18). And most important, he recognized that God was suppling all he needed (v 19).
Contentment is not natural for any of us. The competitive spirit in us drives us to compare, to complain and to covet. Few of us are in a predicament such as Paul’s, but we all face difficulties in which we can learn to trust God and be content.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Saturday 19 January 2013
Saturday January 19, 2013
Thank You, Lord, for the Bible, Your word to us. Give us wisdom as we read and study it.
Read Psalm 119:89-96
The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the late 1940s, contain the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). For decades, the scrolls have been carefully guarded and their use often restricted to a small group of scholars. In an effort to preserve the ancient fragments while broadening access to them, the Israel Antiquities Authority, in partnership with Google, is making high-resolution images of the 2000-year-old scrolls available to everyone online.
That’s good news for scholars and curious students alike. It’s also a reminder of the great treasure we currently possess in the Bible itself. Throughout Psalm 119, the writer celebrates the eternal nature and life-changing wisdom of God’s word. At the heart of today’s passage, the writer declares, “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life” (v 93).
Many of us have had a Bible almost all our lives, yet how much time do we spend in reading and studying it? How deeply do we think about the meaning of familiar passages?
Why not make Bible reading a priority each day? Ask God to guide, teach and strengthen you through His written Word. This amazing resource is accessible to all and available now.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that God would
¥ Pray that
Read Psalm 119:89-96
The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the late 1940s, contain the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). For decades, the scrolls have been carefully guarded and their use often restricted to a small group of scholars. In an effort to preserve the ancient fragments while broadening access to them, the Israel Antiquities Authority, in partnership with Google, is making high-resolution images of the 2000-year-old scrolls available to everyone online.
That’s good news for scholars and curious students alike. It’s also a reminder of the great treasure we currently possess in the Bible itself. Throughout Psalm 119, the writer celebrates the eternal nature and life-changing wisdom of God’s word. At the heart of today’s passage, the writer declares, “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life” (v 93).
Many of us have had a Bible almost all our lives, yet how much time do we spend in reading and studying it? How deeply do we think about the meaning of familiar passages?
Why not make Bible reading a priority each day? Ask God to guide, teach and strengthen you through His written Word. This amazing resource is accessible to all and available now.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that God would
¥ Pray that
Friday 18 January 2013
Friday January 18, 2013
The Spirit within us guarantees that we’re never alone.
Read John 14:15-27
May 20-21, 1927, marked a turning point in aviation history as Charles Lindbergh made the first-ever solo, nonstop, trans-Atlantic flight. There had been other flights across the Atlantic, but none were accomplished by a pilot flying alone. It was a historical achievement. When Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris, he was thronged by thousands of admirers applauding his success. And when he returned to America, he was further honoured with parades and awards in celebration of his individual courage and spirit.
Even though Lindbergh’s solo flight was dangerous, living in this fallen world of ours can be far more so. Followers of Christ, however, can be encouraged and comforted that we never have to “fly solo”. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus promised that He would not abandon us but would send His spirit to be with us and in us (vv 16-17). The apostle Paul later affirmed this, saying, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within you”. (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Is a world filled with despair and trouble, we can take courage. The Holy Spirit lives within us, providing us with His peace and comfort (vv 26-27). Aren’t you thankful that you never have to fly solo?
Prayer:
¥ Spend time praising God for
¥ Pray that
Read John 14:15-27
May 20-21, 1927, marked a turning point in aviation history as Charles Lindbergh made the first-ever solo, nonstop, trans-Atlantic flight. There had been other flights across the Atlantic, but none were accomplished by a pilot flying alone. It was a historical achievement. When Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris, he was thronged by thousands of admirers applauding his success. And when he returned to America, he was further honoured with parades and awards in celebration of his individual courage and spirit.
Even though Lindbergh’s solo flight was dangerous, living in this fallen world of ours can be far more so. Followers of Christ, however, can be encouraged and comforted that we never have to “fly solo”. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus promised that He would not abandon us but would send His spirit to be with us and in us (vv 16-17). The apostle Paul later affirmed this, saying, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within you”. (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Is a world filled with despair and trouble, we can take courage. The Holy Spirit lives within us, providing us with His peace and comfort (vv 26-27). Aren’t you thankful that you never have to fly solo?
Prayer:
¥ Spend time praising God for
¥ Pray that
Thursday 17 January 2013
Thursday January 17, 2013
No matter who signs your paycheck, you are really working for God.
Read Ephesians 6:5-9
In the late 1660s, Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to re-design St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. According to legend, one day he visited the construction site of this great edifice and was unrecognised by the workers. Wren walked about the site, asking several of the men what they were doing. One worker replied, “I am cutting a piece of stone.“ A second worker responded, “I’m earning five shillings two pence a day.” A third, however, had a different perspective: “I am helping Christopher Wren build a magnificent cathedral to the glory of God.” What a contrast in the attitude and motivation of that worker!
Why we do what we do is extremely important, particularly when it comes to our working lives and careers. That’s why Paul challenged the Ephesians to do their work, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondserrvants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord and not to men” (vv 6-7).
If we do our work merely to earn a paycheck or satisfy a supervisor, we will fall short of the highest motivation - doing our best as evidence of our devotion to God. So, why do we work? As that labourer told Wren, we work “to the glory of God.”
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Read Ephesians 6:5-9
In the late 1660s, Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to re-design St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. According to legend, one day he visited the construction site of this great edifice and was unrecognised by the workers. Wren walked about the site, asking several of the men what they were doing. One worker replied, “I am cutting a piece of stone.“ A second worker responded, “I’m earning five shillings two pence a day.” A third, however, had a different perspective: “I am helping Christopher Wren build a magnificent cathedral to the glory of God.” What a contrast in the attitude and motivation of that worker!
Why we do what we do is extremely important, particularly when it comes to our working lives and careers. That’s why Paul challenged the Ephesians to do their work, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondserrvants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord and not to men” (vv 6-7).
If we do our work merely to earn a paycheck or satisfy a supervisor, we will fall short of the highest motivation - doing our best as evidence of our devotion to God. So, why do we work? As that labourer told Wren, we work “to the glory of God.”
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray that
Wednesday 16 January 2013
Wednesday January 16, 2013
Listen to God’s Word then pray about what you’ve heard.
Read Psalm 119:17-24
Have you ever been stuck in a conversation with someone who talks only about himself? To be polite, you strike up a dialogue by asking questions. The other person proceeds to talk endlessly about himself and he never once asks you anything. It is all about that person - and nothing about you.
Imagine what it must be like for our heavenly Father to listen to our prayers during our devotional time. We may have read a portion of His Word, but then in prayer we swiftly shift focus exclusively to our needs. We ask for help in solving a problem, providing for a financial need or healing for a physical ailment. But the passage we’ve just read doesn’t even enter into our prayers. What God has just said to us goes largely unacknowledged.
Apparently the writer of Psalm 119 did not have this perspective. Instead, he sought God’s help in understanding the Word: “Open my eyes,” he said, “that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (v 18). And as he prayed he expressed how he treasured God’s Word, calling it his “delight” (v 24).
Let’s develop a discipline of praying our response to the Word. It just might transform our devotional time. Bible reading and prayer should reflect a two-way communication.
Prayer:
¥ Ask the Lord to
¥ Ask the Lord to
Read Psalm 119:17-24
Have you ever been stuck in a conversation with someone who talks only about himself? To be polite, you strike up a dialogue by asking questions. The other person proceeds to talk endlessly about himself and he never once asks you anything. It is all about that person - and nothing about you.
Imagine what it must be like for our heavenly Father to listen to our prayers during our devotional time. We may have read a portion of His Word, but then in prayer we swiftly shift focus exclusively to our needs. We ask for help in solving a problem, providing for a financial need or healing for a physical ailment. But the passage we’ve just read doesn’t even enter into our prayers. What God has just said to us goes largely unacknowledged.
Apparently the writer of Psalm 119 did not have this perspective. Instead, he sought God’s help in understanding the Word: “Open my eyes,” he said, “that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (v 18). And as he prayed he expressed how he treasured God’s Word, calling it his “delight” (v 24).
Let’s develop a discipline of praying our response to the Word. It just might transform our devotional time. Bible reading and prayer should reflect a two-way communication.
Prayer:
¥ Ask the Lord to
¥ Ask the Lord to
Tuesday 15 January 2013
Tuesday January 15, 2013
In our desert of grief, Jesus can provide an oasis of hope.
Read Hebrews 4:9-16
A pastor, who was trained in trauma and grief counselling, commented that the greatest challenge for people who are hurting is often not the immediate heartache of the loss. Instead, the biggest problem is adjusting to the different kind of life that follows. What once was normal may never be normal again. So the challenge for those offering help is to assist the sufferers as they establish the “new normal”. It may be a new normal that no longer includes robust health, treasured relationship or a satisfying job. Or it may be living without a loved one who has been taken in death. The gravity of such losses forces us to live a different kind of life - no matter how unwelcome it may be.
When our “new normal” comes, it is easy to think no one understands how we feel. But that isn’t true. Part of the reason Jesus came was to experience life among us, resulting in His present ministry: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (v 15).
Our Saviour lived a perfect life, yet He also knew the pains of a broken world. He endured sorrow. He suffered agony. And He stands ready to encourage us when the dark moments of life force us to embrace a new normal.
Prayer.
¥ Pray that your church would be filled with a spirit of generosity when it comes to time, talents and treasures.
¥ Pray that
Read Hebrews 4:9-16
A pastor, who was trained in trauma and grief counselling, commented that the greatest challenge for people who are hurting is often not the immediate heartache of the loss. Instead, the biggest problem is adjusting to the different kind of life that follows. What once was normal may never be normal again. So the challenge for those offering help is to assist the sufferers as they establish the “new normal”. It may be a new normal that no longer includes robust health, treasured relationship or a satisfying job. Or it may be living without a loved one who has been taken in death. The gravity of such losses forces us to live a different kind of life - no matter how unwelcome it may be.
When our “new normal” comes, it is easy to think no one understands how we feel. But that isn’t true. Part of the reason Jesus came was to experience life among us, resulting in His present ministry: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (v 15).
Our Saviour lived a perfect life, yet He also knew the pains of a broken world. He endured sorrow. He suffered agony. And He stands ready to encourage us when the dark moments of life force us to embrace a new normal.
Prayer.
¥ Pray that your church would be filled with a spirit of generosity when it comes to time, talents and treasures.
¥ Pray that
Monday 14 January 2013
Monday January 14, 2013
All creation is an outstretched finger pointing towards God.
Read John 1:1-13
Scientists have been looking for the “Theory of Everything”. One person who thinks he found it is physicist Brian Greene, who wrote The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory. Greene’s “string theory” is a complicated concept suggesting that at its tiniest level everything consists of vibrating strands, or strings. He has described his theory as “a framework with the capacity to explain every fundamental feature upon which the world is constructed”.
Over the years, thinkers from Newton to Einstein to Hawking to Greene have spent the greater portion of their lives trying to figure out how the universe works - and they have proposed fascinating theories.
In reality, for any theory to explain everything in the universe adequately it must begin and end with God. “All things ... visible and invisible” (Colossians 1:16) have their origins in Him and exist for His glory (Psalm 72:19). The first few verses of John’s gospel tells us that our Lord created the universe - and that without His hand of creation nothing would exist.
That’s why when we consider the world and everything in it, we can exclaim with Isaiah: “The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). Praise His holy name!
Prayer:
¥ Pray that .
¥ Pray that .
Read John 1:1-13
Scientists have been looking for the “Theory of Everything”. One person who thinks he found it is physicist Brian Greene, who wrote The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory. Greene’s “string theory” is a complicated concept suggesting that at its tiniest level everything consists of vibrating strands, or strings. He has described his theory as “a framework with the capacity to explain every fundamental feature upon which the world is constructed”.
Over the years, thinkers from Newton to Einstein to Hawking to Greene have spent the greater portion of their lives trying to figure out how the universe works - and they have proposed fascinating theories.
In reality, for any theory to explain everything in the universe adequately it must begin and end with God. “All things ... visible and invisible” (Colossians 1:16) have their origins in Him and exist for His glory (Psalm 72:19). The first few verses of John’s gospel tells us that our Lord created the universe - and that without His hand of creation nothing would exist.
That’s why when we consider the world and everything in it, we can exclaim with Isaiah: “The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). Praise His holy name!
Prayer:
¥ Pray that .
¥ Pray that .
Saturday 12 January 2013
Saturday January 12, 2013
We need each other to get where God wants us to go.
Read 1 Kings 19:19-21
Social networks on the Internet are on the rise. Even when separated by great distance, people are still able to gain insights and a listening ear from peers online. Blogs, Twitter, email and Web links add to the ways we can receive and give spiritual guidance.
But it is also valuable to meet face to face with mature believers for mentoring. “Elisha … followed Elijah” (v 21), and Paul mentored Timothy as “a true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). He even admonished Timothy to set up a chain of mentoring which would multiply spiritual growth (2 Timothy 2:2). Moses exhorted parents to teach their children throughout their day: “when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). The Master Teacher, Christ Himself, illustrates how to mentor: “He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out” (Mark 3:14).
From those passages we see the value of meeting face to face in a variety of settings so that we can sharpen one another spiritually (Proverbs 27:17). Along life’s journey, there are times when we can benefit from a wise guide or provide this same service to one who wants to follow.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that .
¥ Pray that .
Read 1 Kings 19:19-21
Social networks on the Internet are on the rise. Even when separated by great distance, people are still able to gain insights and a listening ear from peers online. Blogs, Twitter, email and Web links add to the ways we can receive and give spiritual guidance.
But it is also valuable to meet face to face with mature believers for mentoring. “Elisha … followed Elijah” (v 21), and Paul mentored Timothy as “a true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). He even admonished Timothy to set up a chain of mentoring which would multiply spiritual growth (2 Timothy 2:2). Moses exhorted parents to teach their children throughout their day: “when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). The Master Teacher, Christ Himself, illustrates how to mentor: “He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out” (Mark 3:14).
From those passages we see the value of meeting face to face in a variety of settings so that we can sharpen one another spiritually (Proverbs 27:17). Along life’s journey, there are times when we can benefit from a wise guide or provide this same service to one who wants to follow.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that .
¥ Pray that .
Friday 11 January 2013
Friday January 11, 2013
When faith grows weak and doubts arise, recall God’s love and tender care; remind yourself of all He’s done and of those times He’s answered prayer.
Read John 20:24-31
Can a believer in Jesus who has occasional doubts about matters of faith ever be effective in swerving the Lord? Some people think that mature and growing Christians never question their beliefs. But just as we have experiences that can build our faith, we can also have experiences that cause us to temporarily doubt.
The disciple Thomas had initial doubts about reports of Jesus’ resurrection. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails … I will not believe” (v 25). Christ did not rebuke Thomas but showed him the evidence he asked for. Amazed at seeing the risen Savour, Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” (v 28). After this incident, the New Testament is silent about what happened to Thomas.
A number of early church traditions, however, claim that Thomas went to India as a missionary. It is said that while there he preached the gospel, worked miracles and planted churches. Some of these churches in India still have active congregations that trace their founding back to Thomas.
A time of doubts doesn’t have to become a life pattern. Allow God to lead you into a deeper understanding of His reality. Renew your faith. You can still accomplish great things for Him.
Prayer:
¥ Pray for .
¥ Pray for
Read John 20:24-31
Can a believer in Jesus who has occasional doubts about matters of faith ever be effective in swerving the Lord? Some people think that mature and growing Christians never question their beliefs. But just as we have experiences that can build our faith, we can also have experiences that cause us to temporarily doubt.
The disciple Thomas had initial doubts about reports of Jesus’ resurrection. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails … I will not believe” (v 25). Christ did not rebuke Thomas but showed him the evidence he asked for. Amazed at seeing the risen Savour, Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” (v 28). After this incident, the New Testament is silent about what happened to Thomas.
A number of early church traditions, however, claim that Thomas went to India as a missionary. It is said that while there he preached the gospel, worked miracles and planted churches. Some of these churches in India still have active congregations that trace their founding back to Thomas.
A time of doubts doesn’t have to become a life pattern. Allow God to lead you into a deeper understanding of His reality. Renew your faith. You can still accomplish great things for Him.
Prayer:
¥ Pray for .
¥ Pray for
Thursday 10 January 2013
Thursday January 10, 2013
Sing praise to God who reigns above, The God of all creation, The God of power, The God of love, The God of our salvation.
Read 1 Kings 8:22-30
In August 2011, NASA released a composite image from the Hubble telescope that left people smiling. The image is of two galaxies beginning to collide. The collision looks like a heavenly explanation point (!). The latest statistics I’ve read says there are about 100 billion observable galaxies in the universe and more galaxies are being discovered.
When I saw the exclamation-point image on CNN, I was reminded of our awesome Creator. The heavens exclaims His glory (Psalm 19:1), but He is even greater than the heavens He has made. After Solomon built a temple for the Lord’s presence to dwell in, he prayed: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!” (v 27). He knew that if the heavens couldn’t contain God’s presence, the temple he made surely couldn’t contain Him.
The Lord is so much greater than our finite minds can grasp. Yet He made it possible for us to know Him through His Son Jesus whom He sent to live on this earth, to die for us and to be raised. When we believe in Him, our lives join the heavens in proclaiming His glory!
Prayer:
¥ Pray that each and every person in your congregation would have a passionate desire to be pure in heart, pure in mind and pure in words, actions and thoughts. Pray that this desire for purity would be driven by the Holy Spirit’s workings and promptings.
¥ Pray that God’s Spirit would be leading and guiding each person in your congregation into service, to ministry and to sacrificial giving.
Read 1 Kings 8:22-30
In August 2011, NASA released a composite image from the Hubble telescope that left people smiling. The image is of two galaxies beginning to collide. The collision looks like a heavenly explanation point (!). The latest statistics I’ve read says there are about 100 billion observable galaxies in the universe and more galaxies are being discovered.
When I saw the exclamation-point image on CNN, I was reminded of our awesome Creator. The heavens exclaims His glory (Psalm 19:1), but He is even greater than the heavens He has made. After Solomon built a temple for the Lord’s presence to dwell in, he prayed: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!” (v 27). He knew that if the heavens couldn’t contain God’s presence, the temple he made surely couldn’t contain Him.
The Lord is so much greater than our finite minds can grasp. Yet He made it possible for us to know Him through His Son Jesus whom He sent to live on this earth, to die for us and to be raised. When we believe in Him, our lives join the heavens in proclaiming His glory!
Prayer:
¥ Pray that each and every person in your congregation would have a passionate desire to be pure in heart, pure in mind and pure in words, actions and thoughts. Pray that this desire for purity would be driven by the Holy Spirit’s workings and promptings.
¥ Pray that God’s Spirit would be leading and guiding each person in your congregation into service, to ministry and to sacrificial giving.
Wednesday 9 January 2013
Wednesday January 9, 2013
Lord, I’m fearful sometimes when You ask me to do something out of my comfort zone. Help me to remember that as I step out in faith, You will provide the power to obey.
Read Isaiah 41:8-14
Champion athlete Eric Liddell’s decision not to run on Sunday in the 1924 Olympic Games was not difficult because of his deep belief that the Lord’s Day was for worship and rest.
A more agonizing dilemma had come a year earlier when Eric was asked to speak about his faith in Christ to a group of coal miners. Liddell said of his struggle: “My whole life has been one of keeping out of pubic duties but the leading of Christ seemed now to be in the opposite direction, and I shrank from going forwards. At this time, I finally decided to put it all on Christ - after all if He called me to do it, then He would have to supply the necessary power. In going forwards the power was given me.”
The day after agreeing to publicly share his faith, Eric received a letter from his sister, Jenny, in China. Written weeks before, it ended with this verse of Scripture: “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (v 10).
Every call from God is an opportunity for us to say: “Yes,” trusting His strength and not on our own.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that our cell groups (many of which meet tonight) will grow in depth of relationship with each other. Pray that God’s blessing will be upon each cell bringing growth and wisdom. Pray for the leaders of each cell, asking God to grant them wisdom in leading, depth of understanding and the ability to relate deeply to all in the cell.
¥ Pray that our session would be filled with men who are godly, wise and willing to apply the Scriptures to their own lives first and foremost. Pray that our elders would be growing in grace and knowledge of God each and every day.
Read Isaiah 41:8-14
Champion athlete Eric Liddell’s decision not to run on Sunday in the 1924 Olympic Games was not difficult because of his deep belief that the Lord’s Day was for worship and rest.
A more agonizing dilemma had come a year earlier when Eric was asked to speak about his faith in Christ to a group of coal miners. Liddell said of his struggle: “My whole life has been one of keeping out of pubic duties but the leading of Christ seemed now to be in the opposite direction, and I shrank from going forwards. At this time, I finally decided to put it all on Christ - after all if He called me to do it, then He would have to supply the necessary power. In going forwards the power was given me.”
The day after agreeing to publicly share his faith, Eric received a letter from his sister, Jenny, in China. Written weeks before, it ended with this verse of Scripture: “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (v 10).
Every call from God is an opportunity for us to say: “Yes,” trusting His strength and not on our own.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that our cell groups (many of which meet tonight) will grow in depth of relationship with each other. Pray that God’s blessing will be upon each cell bringing growth and wisdom. Pray for the leaders of each cell, asking God to grant them wisdom in leading, depth of understanding and the ability to relate deeply to all in the cell.
¥ Pray that our session would be filled with men who are godly, wise and willing to apply the Scriptures to their own lives first and foremost. Pray that our elders would be growing in grace and knowledge of God each and every day.
Tuesday 8 January 2013
Tuesday January 8, 2013
For a new start, ask God for a new heart.
Read Acts 3:13-21
In 2010, auto manufacturers recalled a staggering 20 million cars in US for various defects. The thought of such a large number of defective cars on the road is startling enough. But what is more disturbing is the apathy of some owners. In one instance, the executive director of the Centre for Auto Safety warned owners, “It’s a free repair. Get it done. It may save your life.” Yet, despite the risk to their own lives, 30 percent never responded.
Likewise, many ignore God’s “recall notice” to the entire human race. Unlike a defect found in automobiles, the moral defect of the human race is not the Maker’s fault. He made everything “very good” (Genesis 1:31), but people’s sin ruined it. God’s offer to us is “repent … that your sins may be blotted out” (v 19).
God offers not just a free repair of the human heart but a replacement of it (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Though the offer costs us nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9), it cost God the life of His only Son Jesus Christ. “[Jesus] bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed” (1Peter 2:24).
Don’t ignore the Lord’s call. The free and permanent remedy offered by God for your spiritual defect will save your life!
Prayer:
¥ Pray for that our teens would model godliness and Christ-likeness in an attractive way that draws others to Christ for salvation.
¥ Pray for the children in our Kings Kids ministry. Ask God to fill these children with the love of Christ, with obedience to parents and to have within them a deep desire to minister, serve and reach out to others. Pray that our teachers and parents would be filled with love and wisdom as they parent and teach these precious little ones.
Read Acts 3:13-21
In 2010, auto manufacturers recalled a staggering 20 million cars in US for various defects. The thought of such a large number of defective cars on the road is startling enough. But what is more disturbing is the apathy of some owners. In one instance, the executive director of the Centre for Auto Safety warned owners, “It’s a free repair. Get it done. It may save your life.” Yet, despite the risk to their own lives, 30 percent never responded.
Likewise, many ignore God’s “recall notice” to the entire human race. Unlike a defect found in automobiles, the moral defect of the human race is not the Maker’s fault. He made everything “very good” (Genesis 1:31), but people’s sin ruined it. God’s offer to us is “repent … that your sins may be blotted out” (v 19).
God offers not just a free repair of the human heart but a replacement of it (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Though the offer costs us nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9), it cost God the life of His only Son Jesus Christ. “[Jesus] bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed” (1Peter 2:24).
Don’t ignore the Lord’s call. The free and permanent remedy offered by God for your spiritual defect will save your life!
Prayer:
¥ Pray for that our teens would model godliness and Christ-likeness in an attractive way that draws others to Christ for salvation.
¥ Pray for the children in our Kings Kids ministry. Ask God to fill these children with the love of Christ, with obedience to parents and to have within them a deep desire to minister, serve and reach out to others. Pray that our teachers and parents would be filled with love and wisdom as they parent and teach these precious little ones.
Monday 7 January 2013
Monday January 7, 2013
Only God could create the cosmos out of nothing.
Read Job 38:4-18
Microbes from Mars fell on the very early Earth …, and the offspring of those microbes are still here - they are us.” That’s how one astronomer speculated about how life originated on Mars then came to Earth.
Some men and women of science are looking to outer space for the origins of life on earth, not believing the Bible’s explanation that God placed mankind, animals and plant life on earth through special creation. But how did supposed microbial life start on a hostile planet? The bigger question is this: Why is it so difficult to accept that the earth, uniquely and singularly fitted for life to exist, is where God created and placed living creatures?
As humans struggle to accept a miraculous beginning of life from the breath of God (Genesis 2:7), they choose to trust a miracle of a far different sort - the miracle of life originate from no first cause at all. Perhaps they could follow the advice Job received: “Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). And maybe they should try to answer God’s question: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (v 4).
Praise God for creating such a wonderful place for us to live! We stand in awe of His marvellous creation.
Prayer:
¥ Pray for .
¥ Pray that the .
Read Job 38:4-18
Microbes from Mars fell on the very early Earth …, and the offspring of those microbes are still here - they are us.” That’s how one astronomer speculated about how life originated on Mars then came to Earth.
Some men and women of science are looking to outer space for the origins of life on earth, not believing the Bible’s explanation that God placed mankind, animals and plant life on earth through special creation. But how did supposed microbial life start on a hostile planet? The bigger question is this: Why is it so difficult to accept that the earth, uniquely and singularly fitted for life to exist, is where God created and placed living creatures?
As humans struggle to accept a miraculous beginning of life from the breath of God (Genesis 2:7), they choose to trust a miracle of a far different sort - the miracle of life originate from no first cause at all. Perhaps they could follow the advice Job received: “Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). And maybe they should try to answer God’s question: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (v 4).
Praise God for creating such a wonderful place for us to live! We stand in awe of His marvellous creation.
Prayer:
¥ Pray for .
¥ Pray that the .
Saturday 5 January 2013
Saturday January 5, 2013
It’s hard to hate someone when you are doing something good for him.
Read Matthew 5:43-48
During the US civil war, hatred became entrenched between the North and the South. In one instance, President Abraham Lincoln was criticized for speaking of benevolent treatment for the Southern rebels. The critic reminded Lincoln that there was a war on, the Confederates were the enemy and they should be destroyed. But Lincoln wisely responded, “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.”
Lincoln’s comment is insightful. In many ways it reflects Jesus’ teaching on the sermon of the Mount: ”I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (vv 44-45)
We have encountered difficult people in our lives - some on whom we will need to set limits. But to give in to the temptation to undermine or hurt them in any way is not God’s way. Instead we should prayer for them, show consideration, look out for their best interests and emphasize the positive. This may result in changing an enemy into a friend.
Not everyone will respond positively to us, but we can pray and plan for a more harmonious relationship. What difficult people can you start befriending?
Prayer:
¥ Pray for the work of Shiloh Church Ministries in India. Pray that God would provide for them all they need to continue serving, reaching out and blessing the poor and needy. Pray that many more would continue to come to Christ in repentance and faith.
¥ Pray that God would allow you and every one in your congregation to see the real battle that is not against flesh and blood. Pray that God would equip you and everyone in your congregation for the battle.
Read Matthew 5:43-48
During the US civil war, hatred became entrenched between the North and the South. In one instance, President Abraham Lincoln was criticized for speaking of benevolent treatment for the Southern rebels. The critic reminded Lincoln that there was a war on, the Confederates were the enemy and they should be destroyed. But Lincoln wisely responded, “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.”
Lincoln’s comment is insightful. In many ways it reflects Jesus’ teaching on the sermon of the Mount: ”I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (vv 44-45)
We have encountered difficult people in our lives - some on whom we will need to set limits. But to give in to the temptation to undermine or hurt them in any way is not God’s way. Instead we should prayer for them, show consideration, look out for their best interests and emphasize the positive. This may result in changing an enemy into a friend.
Not everyone will respond positively to us, but we can pray and plan for a more harmonious relationship. What difficult people can you start befriending?
Prayer:
¥ Pray for the work of Shiloh Church Ministries in India. Pray that God would provide for them all they need to continue serving, reaching out and blessing the poor and needy. Pray that many more would continue to come to Christ in repentance and faith.
¥ Pray that God would allow you and every one in your congregation to see the real battle that is not against flesh and blood. Pray that God would equip you and everyone in your congregation for the battle.
Friday 4 January 2013
Friday January 4, 2013
In the midst of troubles, peace can be found in Jesus.
Read John 16:25:33
If you’ve never heard of Murphy’s Law, you’ve probably experienced it: “If anything can go wrong, it will.”
Murphy’s maxim reminds me of the principle Jesus shared with His disciples when He told them, “In this world, you will have trouble” (v 33). In other words, we can count on it - sooner or later we will hit troubled times. It’s not the way God originally intended life to be, but when the human race first succumbed to Satan’s seduction in the garden, everything on this planet fell into the grip of sin. And the result has been disorder and dysfunction ever since.
The reality of trouble in life is obvious. It’s the reality of peace that often eludes us. Interestingly, when Jesus warned His followers about trouble, in the same breath He also promised peace. He even told them to “be of good cheer , I have overcome the world” (v 31). The word overcome indicates a past event that has a continuing effect. Not only did Jesus conquer the fallen world through His death and resurrection but He continues to provide victory, no matter how much trouble we may face.
So, although we can expect some trouble in this fallen world, the good news is that we can count on Jesus for peace in troubled times.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that every single person in your congregation would be equipped and strengthened to fight against temptation in their lives. Pray that more and more, each one would be seeing the victory of Christ over temptation. Pray that the schemes of the evil one in your congregation would be totally thwarted.
¥ Pray that those believers in Iran and Iraq who are being tempted to return to other faiths through intimidation or economic pressure would resist the temptation. Pray that they would be strong and that they would put on the armour of God, daily. Pray that they would be victorious in Christ.
Read John 16:25:33
If you’ve never heard of Murphy’s Law, you’ve probably experienced it: “If anything can go wrong, it will.”
Murphy’s maxim reminds me of the principle Jesus shared with His disciples when He told them, “In this world, you will have trouble” (v 33). In other words, we can count on it - sooner or later we will hit troubled times. It’s not the way God originally intended life to be, but when the human race first succumbed to Satan’s seduction in the garden, everything on this planet fell into the grip of sin. And the result has been disorder and dysfunction ever since.
The reality of trouble in life is obvious. It’s the reality of peace that often eludes us. Interestingly, when Jesus warned His followers about trouble, in the same breath He also promised peace. He even told them to “be of good cheer , I have overcome the world” (v 31). The word overcome indicates a past event that has a continuing effect. Not only did Jesus conquer the fallen world through His death and resurrection but He continues to provide victory, no matter how much trouble we may face.
So, although we can expect some trouble in this fallen world, the good news is that we can count on Jesus for peace in troubled times.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that every single person in your congregation would be equipped and strengthened to fight against temptation in their lives. Pray that more and more, each one would be seeing the victory of Christ over temptation. Pray that the schemes of the evil one in your congregation would be totally thwarted.
¥ Pray that those believers in Iran and Iraq who are being tempted to return to other faiths through intimidation or economic pressure would resist the temptation. Pray that they would be strong and that they would put on the armour of God, daily. Pray that they would be victorious in Christ.
Thursday 3 January 2013
Thursday January 3, 2013
God can change our blunders into wonders.
Read John 21:15-19
Artist James Hubbell says, “Mistakes are gifts.” Whenever he’s working on a project and something goes wrong, he doesn’t start over. He looks for a way to use the mistake to make something better. None of us can avoid making blunders and all of us have favourate ways of dealing with them. We may try to hide them or to correct them or to apologize for them.
We do that with our sin sometimes too. But God doesn’t throw us away and start over. He redeems us and makes us better.
The apostle Peter tended to do and say whatever seemed best at the moment. He has been referred to as an “impetuous blunderer”. In his fear after Jesus was arrested, Peter claimed three times that he didn’t know Jesus! Yet later, on the basis of Peter’s three declarations of love, Jesus turned Peter’s humiliating denial into a wonderful occasion of restoration (John 21). Despite Peter’s flawed past, Jesus restored him to ministry with these words: “Feed my sheep” (v 17).
If you have made a “blunder” so big that it seems irreversible, the most important matter is whether you love Jesus. When we love Him, Jesus can turn our most serious blunders into awesome wonders.
Lord, I’m so human and make foolish mistakes.
And worse yet, I wilfully sin against You.
Please forgive me, change me, restore me,
And use me for Your name’s sake. Amen
Prayer:
¥ We all have friends and/or family that need to hear the message of peace from God. List those people in your life and pray that God would give you an opportunity to share with each one. Pray for the salvation of each one.
¥ Pray that the church would recapture its mission mandate from God (Matthew 28:18-20) and that each believer would be seeking to make disciples in his/her own world of influence. Ask God to bring in the harvest by allowing us more and more opportunities to share that message people.
Read John 21:15-19
Artist James Hubbell says, “Mistakes are gifts.” Whenever he’s working on a project and something goes wrong, he doesn’t start over. He looks for a way to use the mistake to make something better. None of us can avoid making blunders and all of us have favourate ways of dealing with them. We may try to hide them or to correct them or to apologize for them.
We do that with our sin sometimes too. But God doesn’t throw us away and start over. He redeems us and makes us better.
The apostle Peter tended to do and say whatever seemed best at the moment. He has been referred to as an “impetuous blunderer”. In his fear after Jesus was arrested, Peter claimed three times that he didn’t know Jesus! Yet later, on the basis of Peter’s three declarations of love, Jesus turned Peter’s humiliating denial into a wonderful occasion of restoration (John 21). Despite Peter’s flawed past, Jesus restored him to ministry with these words: “Feed my sheep” (v 17).
If you have made a “blunder” so big that it seems irreversible, the most important matter is whether you love Jesus. When we love Him, Jesus can turn our most serious blunders into awesome wonders.
Lord, I’m so human and make foolish mistakes.
And worse yet, I wilfully sin against You.
Please forgive me, change me, restore me,
And use me for Your name’s sake. Amen
Prayer:
¥ We all have friends and/or family that need to hear the message of peace from God. List those people in your life and pray that God would give you an opportunity to share with each one. Pray for the salvation of each one.
¥ Pray that the church would recapture its mission mandate from God (Matthew 28:18-20) and that each believer would be seeking to make disciples in his/her own world of influence. Ask God to bring in the harvest by allowing us more and more opportunities to share that message people.
Wednesday 2 January 2013
Wednesday January 2, 2013
Father, it’s easy to put up a front and hide from the public what we are really like. We’re grateful that we cannot hide from You. You know us. Please change us inside and out.
Read Matthew 23:23-31
The Victorian novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray illustrates how the person we project to others may be very different from who we are on the inside. After the youthful and handsome Dorian Gray had his portrait painted, he dreaded the prospect of growing old and he wished the portrait would grow old in his place.
Soon he realised that his wish has been granted. The portrait, which mirrored his troubled soul, aged and become more hideous with each sin, Dorian committed, while he himself remained youthful. His outward appearance did not match his corrupted heart.
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for displaying a similar hypocrisy. Many of them took pride in showing off their spirituality in public. Yet on the inside, they were guilty of many secret sins. Because of this, Jesus compared them to “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside full of … all uncleanness” (v 27).
We are tempted to cultivate a false image for others to see. But God knows our hearts (1Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 15:3). Through confession and prayerfully opening our hearts to God’s Word and the word of the Spirit, we can experience an inner goodness that is reflected in godly actions. Let God transform you from the inside out (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
Prayer:
¥ Pray that we .
¥ Pray that our
Read Matthew 23:23-31
The Victorian novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray illustrates how the person we project to others may be very different from who we are on the inside. After the youthful and handsome Dorian Gray had his portrait painted, he dreaded the prospect of growing old and he wished the portrait would grow old in his place.
Soon he realised that his wish has been granted. The portrait, which mirrored his troubled soul, aged and become more hideous with each sin, Dorian committed, while he himself remained youthful. His outward appearance did not match his corrupted heart.
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for displaying a similar hypocrisy. Many of them took pride in showing off their spirituality in public. Yet on the inside, they were guilty of many secret sins. Because of this, Jesus compared them to “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside full of … all uncleanness” (v 27).
We are tempted to cultivate a false image for others to see. But God knows our hearts (1Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 15:3). Through confession and prayerfully opening our hearts to God’s Word and the word of the Spirit, we can experience an inner goodness that is reflected in godly actions. Let God transform you from the inside out (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
Prayer:
¥ Pray that we .
¥ Pray that our
Tuesday 1 January 2013
Tuesday January 1, 2013
Our greatest riches are the riches we have in Christ.
Read Proverbs 23:1-18
An old adage says, “The best things in life are free.” There’s a lot of truth in that. Some people, however, believe that the best things in life are expensive or perhaps elusive. Recently I saw a sign that made me smile and think. It said, “The best things in life are not things.” What a great way to say it! The value of family, friends and faith points us to the realization that what matters most in life is wrapped up in people and the Lord.
Solomon was well qualified to speak about material things because he “surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom” (1Kingd 10:23). His advice? “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle towards heaven” (vv 4-5). His recommended course of action was, “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. … For surely there is a hearafter and your hope will not be cut off” (vv 12, 18).
The best things in life are the eternal riches that come from God’s goodness and grace in Jesus Christ. We do not hold them in our hands, but in our hearts.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray for the believers in .
¥ Pray that every single believer in your congregation would be willing to invest their time, their talents and their treasures into the Kingdom of God.
Read Proverbs 23:1-18
An old adage says, “The best things in life are free.” There’s a lot of truth in that. Some people, however, believe that the best things in life are expensive or perhaps elusive. Recently I saw a sign that made me smile and think. It said, “The best things in life are not things.” What a great way to say it! The value of family, friends and faith points us to the realization that what matters most in life is wrapped up in people and the Lord.
Solomon was well qualified to speak about material things because he “surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom” (1Kingd 10:23). His advice? “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle towards heaven” (vv 4-5). His recommended course of action was, “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. … For surely there is a hearafter and your hope will not be cut off” (vv 12, 18).
The best things in life are the eternal riches that come from God’s goodness and grace in Jesus Christ. We do not hold them in our hands, but in our hearts.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that
¥ Pray for the believers in .
¥ Pray that every single believer in your congregation would be willing to invest their time, their talents and their treasures into the Kingdom of God.
Monday December 31, 2012
Lord, thank You for the warnings in Your Word that are intended to protect and preserve my life. Help me to heed your reproofs and instructions that I may live a life that is pleasing to You.
Read Joshua 7:1-13
There was something wrong with the lawn at a church. The gardener couldn’t see what the trouble was, but he knew something was causing damage.
After investigating, he discovered the problem: moles. Those voracious little bug-eaters were crawling around just under the surface of the previously well-groomed lawn looking for food and wreaking havoc on the grass.
The children of Israel also had a problem with a hidden cause (v 7). They were experiencing trouble and they couldn’t figure out why. There was something hidden from their view that caused serious damage.
The trouble became noticeable when Joshua sent 3000 troops to attack Ai. Although that should have been a sufficient army to defeat Ai’s small force, the opposite happened. Ai routed the Israelites, killing 36 of them and chasing them back where they came from. Joshua had no idea why this trouble had come. Then God explained the hidden problem: one of his men, Achan, had violated a clear command and had stolen some “accursed things” from Jericho (v 11). Only when that hidden sin was discovered and taken care of could Israel have victory.
Hidden sin does great damage. We need to bring it to the surface and deal with it.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that .
¥ Pray that .
Read Joshua 7:1-13
There was something wrong with the lawn at a church. The gardener couldn’t see what the trouble was, but he knew something was causing damage.
After investigating, he discovered the problem: moles. Those voracious little bug-eaters were crawling around just under the surface of the previously well-groomed lawn looking for food and wreaking havoc on the grass.
The children of Israel also had a problem with a hidden cause (v 7). They were experiencing trouble and they couldn’t figure out why. There was something hidden from their view that caused serious damage.
The trouble became noticeable when Joshua sent 3000 troops to attack Ai. Although that should have been a sufficient army to defeat Ai’s small force, the opposite happened. Ai routed the Israelites, killing 36 of them and chasing them back where they came from. Joshua had no idea why this trouble had come. Then God explained the hidden problem: one of his men, Achan, had violated a clear command and had stolen some “accursed things” from Jericho (v 11). Only when that hidden sin was discovered and taken care of could Israel have victory.
Hidden sin does great damage. We need to bring it to the surface and deal with it.
Prayer:
¥ Pray that .
¥ Pray that .
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