The Cornerstone

“From them will come the cornerstone… they shall be as mighty men, treading down their enemies… because the Lord is with them” (Zechariah 10:4-5). * Jesus Christ is “the cornerstone” upon which our faith is built  – “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord” (Samuel John Stone). * In Christ, we are “more …

"His dominion shall be… to the ends of the earth" (Zechariah 9:10).

God's purpose was moving on. He had begun with Israel. Their deliverance from bondage in Egypt was a mighty demonstration of His saving power. This was only the beginning. God was moving on to Jesus - "the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42). In Jesus Christ, crucified for us, God was reaching out, in love, …

From a tragic beginning to a triumphant conclusion

"For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19). Go back to the beginning. It's the story of sin. Move forward, from there, to the Cross. It's the story of salvation. There are two stories in the Bible. There's the story of …

Grace, faith and works – in that order

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1). How are we to live a life worthy of our high calling? Let's go back from Ephesians 4:1, back to Ephesians 2:8-10. There, we learn about grace, faith and works - in that order. We begin with grace. We …

Let us pray that there will be more of Jesus in our lives.

Love your enemies... Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43,48). Is there such a thing as perfect love? Seeking for perfect love always ends up in disappointment. Again and again, we have to settle for something less than perfect love. In Romans 5:8, we read about perfect love, the perfect love of …

We’re on a journey with God, for God and to God.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8). We're not "pure in heart." We're sinners. We cannot escape the fact that we are sinners. How, then, can we be blessed by God? By the grace of God, we're on a journey. It's a journey that begins with God's grace. On …

Following Jesus, and confessing him as our Saviour and Lord

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed him (Matthew 4:19-20). Jesus calls us to follow him. What will it mean, for us, to follow Jesus? Are we to become secret disciples? No! That is not the way in which …

How much is our life worth?

How much is our life worth? At the cross of Christ, we learn how much we matter to God. His Son died for us so that we might have eternal life. "God showed his love for us in this: Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

From Good Friday to Easter Sunday (23): Living as a new creation – our response to love, eternal love, the love of God

Welcome to the twenty-third stage on our journey from Good Friday to Easter Sunday: Living as a new creation - our response to love, eternal love, the love of God Romans 6:3-11 What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? 2 Certainly not! We have died to …

God believes in you, he has high hopes for you, and he keeps on loving you when your love fails.

In 1 Corinthians 13:13, we read about "faith, hope and love." What do we think about when we read about faith, hope and love? Do we think about ourselves? or Do we think about God? Faith When we think about our faith, we become painfully aware that our faith is not always strong. Often, it …

When we witness for our Lord

"In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15). It's not about how important we are. It's about how wonderful Jesus is. We are to …

Jesus Christ is the Saviour of sinners.

Jesus Christ is the Saviour of sinners. We are not asked to make ourselves worthy before coming to the Saviour. If we could make ourselves worthy of God's love, there would be no need for a Saviour. Jesus Christ does not merely help us to save ourselves. He is the Saviour of sinners. Jesus did …

The story of our life

"When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions" (Psalm 65:3). "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). The story of our life is the story of our sin - and it's, also, the story of God's grace! His grace is greater than our sin! As we travel through our life, …

When bad things happen to us, we can become overwhelmed by fear: what’s going to happen next?

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise" (Psalm 56:3-4). When bad things happen to us, we can become overwhelmed by fear: what's going to happen next? Here, the Psalmist speaks to us about two things we need to hear. We need to hear the Word of …

Where does our life of faith begin?

Where does our life of faith begin? Does it begin with our decision? or Does it begin with God's grace? "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). We were dead. The …

The Lord shows us how much he loves us. His love for us inspires and empowers our love for him.

Show me your ways, Lord... according to your love, remember me... (Psalm 25:4-7). What are the "ways" that the Lord shows to us? The first and greatest "way" that the Lord shows to us is the way of his love. He shows us that he loves us. He shows us that his love for us …

Grace comes first.

Before we come to “the Ten Commandments”, we have these great words, “ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Exodus 20:2).  Grace comes first. Holiness follows on from grace. We see the same pattern in the New Testament – in the teaching of Jesus, in …

Did God really say?

We go back to Genesis 3:1, back to "the serpent", and on, from there, to Revelation 12:9, "that ancient serpent, called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray." Satan begins by questioning God's Word: "Did God really say?" - but he does not stop there. He goes on from questioning God's Word …

More joy, more peace, more hope

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). We read about joy, peace and hope. Are these human qualities? or Are they gifts that are given to us by the …

Do you feel like you can’t get through the day?…

Do you feel like you can't get through the day? What are we to do when it all seems too much for us? These are the times when we need to remember that it's not too much for the Lord. Think of the bad things that are happening to you, but don't stop there. Think …

Salvation is not a reward, to be earned. It is God’s gift.

Romans 4:1-25 Salvation is not a 'reward' to be 'earned'. It is God's 'gift' (4-5). Salvation comes from the Lord. 'God so loved the world that He gave His only Son' (John 3:16): Without the love of God, the gift of God, the Son of God, there can be no salvation. The way of salvation …

Why do we look back to the past?

Why do we look back to the past? We look. We learn. We remember what our Saviour has done for us. We have hope for the future. When the going gets tough, we must remember this: "everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement …

The love of Christ: reaching out to us, and reaching out, through us, to other people

Christ died "not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). This is something which we, in the church, must never forget. When we are tempted to shut out 'the big, bad world', we must remember - Christ died "not for our sins only but also for …

The love of God

"This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9). As I read these words, my thoughts went to the words of John 3:16 - "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only …

A life-changing decision

What's your idea of God? Some people would say that God is an idea. Others would ask the question, "Did the idea of God come into our minds because God put it there?" Going back to the beginning, we are faced with a decision. We read the first verse of the Bible, "In the beginning, …

The flesh and the Spirit

"Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you" (Romans 8:8-9). The flesh and the Spirit are very different. This is what Paul says here. It's what Jesus said in John 3:6. In John …

Romans 11-14

Romans 11:1-36 -  ‘You stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe’ (20). In 9:32, Paul contrasted ‘faith’ and ‘works’. Here, he contrasts ‘grace’ and ‘works’ (6). Grace and faith belong together. ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling’ (Church Hymnary, 83) – This …

We are sinners. We’re called to be servants. Jesus is our Saviour.

"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12). We read the words of Paul - and we look beyond him to …

God sees us as we really are – and he keeps on loving us.

"For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others" (Ecclesiastes 7:22).  "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things" (Romans 2:1).  The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector "Also …

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 …

In the power of the Holy Spirit

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to …

Our Sin And God’s Salvation

"Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24). Here, we read about our sin and God's salvation. Once we have received God's salvation, we must not forget about our sin. We have been …

God’s purpose – for all nations and all generations

1 Chronicles 12:23-14:17; Romans 15:14-33; Psalm 90:1-10 God’s purpose concerns all the nations – “The Lord made all the nations fear David” (1 Chronicles 14:17). Paul was “a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles” (Romans 15:16). God’s purpose concerns all generations – “Lord, You have been our dwelling-place throughout all generations” (Psalm 90:1). From …

Jesus, the risen Lord, calls us to look up from our suffering and catch a glimpse of his glory.

"Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). When we're suffering, it's not easy to lift up our eyes and catch a glimpse of the glory of God. Our thoughts are taken up with the things that are happening to us right now. What is …

God’s greatest gift – Jesus

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 or Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 19:24-30 Let us rejoice in God’s greatest gift – Jesus. We have here the contrast between Isaac, the child of promise, and Ishmael, the fruit of unbelief. Ishmael was born as a result of impatience, the …

It’s not the beginning of the end. It’s the end of the beginning.

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28). Is everything that happens to us good? How are we to answer this question? Should we answer a question with another question? Will the final outcome be good? When we look on to the final outcome, everything changes. …

More than conquerors

"I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”" (Psalm 91:2). When the going gets tough, what are we to do? Are we to say that we are tough? Are we to say, "I'll not let this get to me"? or Are we to say that we're …

As we learn to love and serve the Lord, may we learn to trust his precious promise, “I am with you always.”

You are fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20). Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17, New |King James Version). Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching …

We may stop loving God, but he will never stop loving us.

"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). What is God's Word saying to us here? …

Fourth Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

Christ has come. Christ is coming again. Isaiah looked ahead to the coming of ‘Immanuel’ - ‘God with us’ (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). We look forward to the Second Coming of Immanuel: ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will …

Let us pray that our love for Jesus will not grow cold.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 Let us pray that our love for Jesus will not grow cold.Isaiah looked ahead to the coming of ‘Immanuel’ - ‘God with us’ (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). We look forward to the Second Coming of Immanuel: ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and …

Let us pray that our love for Jesus will not grow cold.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 Let us pray that our love for Jesus will not grow cold. Isaiah looked ahead to the coming of ‘Immanuel’ - ‘God with us’ (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). We look forward to the Second Coming of Immanuel: ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, …

Christ calls all nations to turn to Him.

Second Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12 Christ calls all nations to turn to Him. The family tree of ‘Jesse, the father of King David’ has a very special ‘Branch’ - Jesus Christ (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1,6,16). Jesus Christ has raised ‘a banner for the nations’. He is ‘the Saviour of the …

God’s answer to our prayers

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13). Our Father in heaven gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! There are times when we feel that …

Second Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Christ calls all nations to come to Him. The family tree of ‘Jesse, the father of King David’ has a very special ‘Branch’- Jesus Christ (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1, 6, 16). Jesus Christ has raised ‘a banner for the nations’. He is ‘the Saviour of the world’. He has died ‘for the sins of the …

God calls us to worship Him.

First Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44 God calls us to worship Him. God calls us to worship Him - ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord...’ - and walk in His ways - ‘Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord’ (Isaiah 2:3,5). We are …

Filled with joy and peace, overflowing with hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Joy, peace and hope: is this just about being positive people, or is there more than this here? It is so important that …

From strength to strength, from faith to faith, from glory to glory

"Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1). By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are led from strength to strengh, from faith to faith, and from glory to glory. (1) From strength to strength The phrase, "from strength to strength" is taken from the hymn, "Soldiers of …

Jesus is more than our teacher and example. He’s our Saviour and Lord.

"Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2). Not conformed to the world, transformed by the Lord: how are we to live this kind of …

The Lord’s face shines upon us.

"The Lord make his face to shine on you" (Numbers 6:25). "Restore us, O God, let your face shine that we may be saved" (Psalm 80:3). The Lord's face shines upon us - these words are very precious to us. To know that we are blessed by the Lord - saved by him, this is …

In life’s hard times, God keeps on loving us…

"Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6). "Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life" - What does this mean? Does it mean that only good things will happen to us? …

God’s constant love – the divine pattern for our living in love

Amos 1:1-2:16; Romans 2:17-3:8; Proverbs 17:5-14 God is perfectly holy. He cannot stand sin. This is clear in both Amos and Romans. It is stressed in Proverbs, which emphasizes that sin is not so much sin against man but “contempt for their Maker” (17:5). Proverbs 17:9 tells us that we are to “promote love.” This love …

Good News for sinners

God's way of righteousness begins with this - He is "just" - and leads to this - He "justifies those who have faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26). "For our salvation Christ came down from heaven" (Nicene Creed) - This is Good News for sinners.  As we rejoice in the "for our salvation" message of the Gospel, …

We don’t like change.

We're creatures of habit. We have our daily routines. What are we to say about this? - Take care that you don't get stuck in a rut! If we are serious about our commitment to Jesus Christ, we must be ready for change. Jesus doesn't leave us the way that he finds us. He changes …

The Gospel for our generation

Amos 6:1-7:17; Romans 4:16-5:11; Psalm 86:11-17 Amos was commissioned by the Lord - “Go, prophesy to My people Israel” (Amos 7:15). The purpose of such prophecy, in our generation, is to declare the Gospel: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). If …

Knowing Jesus and preaching him: it’s all about loving him.

"I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). "We preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23). Here, Paul speaks to us about knowing Christ crucified and preaching Christ crucified, Before we can preach him, we must know him. God speaks to us before we speak for him. What …

The Lord brought about a great victory.

1 Chronicles 11:1-12:22; Romans 14:19-15:13; Psalm 89:46-52 1 Chronicles 11 speaks of “David’s mighty men” (1 Chronicles 11:11). The focus is not, however, on either David or the “mighty men.” It is on the Lord – “The Lord brought about a great victory” (1 Chronicles 11:14). In their warfare, “the Spirit” brings this message – …

The Word and the words (13): Jesus – the resurrection and the life

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die" (John 11:25). Jesus speaks to us with realism - we will "die." He speaks to us with hope - we will "live." Jesus' words find an echo in the words of Paul - "The wages of …

God is working for us, in us and through us.

For us: "God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). In us: "The Spirit of God lives in you" (Romans 8:9). Through us: "According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts... " (Romans 12:6-8). Thank you, Lord, for all that …

Lord, help us to keep on telling people what you have done for us.

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch (Isaiah 62:1). “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a …