Realism and encouragement

"They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you, says the Lord, “to deliver you." (Jeremiah 1:19). Jeremiah was given a difficult task - but he was not on his own. God was with him. He would face plenty of determined opposition - but he would not be defeated. God …

That’s just ancient history?

‘That’s just ancient history': this is what many people say about the Bible story. Is that all there is to it? or Is there something more? The Bible story challenges worldly people to think again - to question their assumption that everything can be explained without God. Could it be that the world’s ‘answers’ are …

On A Journey

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22 The Lord's people were on a 'journey' (Deuteronomy 10:11). They were journeying with Him. He was leading them in the way of His blessing. In our journey through life, how are we to experience an ever-increasing measure of God's blessing? - "Fear the Lord your God, follow all His directions, love Him, and …

Alone?

"Jacob was left alone" (Genesis 32:24). Was he really alone? No! God was with him. He was in the presence of the Lord. Humanly speaking, he was alone - but he wasn't really alone: he was alone with God. The Lord drew near to Jacob - and he draws near to us. God blessed Jacob …

Help us, Lord, to bring Christ to the nations. Help us to serve You in the power of the Spirit.

‘Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, my Chosen One in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations’ (Isaiah 42:1). Lord, these words turn our thoughts towards Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. At His baptism, we hear Your voice – ‘This is My Son, whom …

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Genesis 18:1-33 "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). God was intent on doing something great - "through him (Abraham) all the nations of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 18:18) - and nothing was going to stop Him. Even if a great many people - Sodom and Gomorrah - refused to honour …

God’s people are being called on to maturity, to be men and women of faith.

Numbers 25:1-26:65 God's people are being called on to maturity. This is the significance of the phrase, "at least twenty years old" (Numbers 26:2,4). There are, however, many dangers. We are easily sidetracked - putting other "gods" before the Lord our God (Numbers 25:3). This turning away from the Lord is a serious matter, leading …

Sent To Bring Life

“God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5). We are to bring life. That’s why God has sent us. We are to bring the Saviour. We are to bring the Scriptures. We are to bring the Spirit. People coming to the Saviour, people learning from the Scriptures, people walking in the Spirit – …

God’s faithful love

"God sends His love and faithfulness" (Psalm 57:3).Whatever may be happening in our lives, let’s remember God’s faithful love. Let’s will look beyond everything that’s happening to us. Let’s catch a glimpse of God’s presence and purpose. : God is there, and He is fulfilling His purpose of “love and faithfulness.” In Jesus Christ, the love and faithfulness …

Shine Your Light Upon Us, Lord.

‘Arise, shine; for your Light has come... the Lord will be your everlasting Light’ (Isaiah 60:1,19-20). We thank You, Lord, that Your Son, Jesus Christ is ‘the Light of the world’. When we ‘follow Him’, we ‘will not walk in darkness’. We ‘will have the light of life’ (John 8:12). We are living in difficult …

God longs to redeem us.

Hosea 6:1-7:16; Romans 7:7-25; Psalm 88:9b-18 God longs to redeem us (Hosea 7:13). This is the deep desire of His heart for us. His intention is to train and strengthen us (Hosea 7:15). This great purpose of God is not easily fulfilled in our lives. There is a great conflict going on within us (Romans 7:25). What …

Lord, You’re calling us to be spiritual leaders.

"The kingdom of Saul was turned over to David according to the Word of the Lord" (1 Chronicles 12:23). Lord, You're calling us to be spiritual leaders - "let us bring again the ark of our God" (1 Chronicles 13:7). We're to call the people to return to You and rejoice in You (1 Chronicles …

The grace of God was poured out on me abundantly.

Acts 9:1-43 Saul the persecutor become Paul the Apostle (13:9). What a great turning-point this was in the life of the early Church! When we read of Paul's missionary journeys (13:1-28:31). we may be tempted to think, 'What a great man Paul must have been'. In his letters, Paul insists that we must not think …

So many kings, so little submission to the real King, the Lord

There were so many kings, and so little submission to the real King, the Lord. Over many generations, the Lord’s purpose for His people seemed to be at a low ebb. Behind all the depressing details of so many disobedient kings, we must learn to see God’s determination to fulfil His promise of blessing. Even …