You know what? Forgiveness is designed to flow. It flows to us from God the Father, through Jesus - in fact Jesus makes it possible for us to be forgiven. Without Him it couldn’t flow to us any more than water can flow through a dam. We’d be disconnected from Him forever.
But it’s also designed to flow from us... to each other. Jesus gives us the context of asking for forgiveness from God, in the same way as we’ve already forgiven those who’ve wronged us.
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” - Matthew 6:12
He’s suggesting that we pray... after we’ve already forgiven our wrongdoers. In other words, it’s harder to ask God to forgive you, if you haven’t forgiven those who’ve hurt you. The flow can’t pass through you, until you open the dam to those around you.
So. Who do you need to forgive today? Is there anyone whose very name makes you feel bitter or angry? Ask yourself how you feel about that person. How are you going to be part of God’s flow of forgiveness to them? How are you going to ask God to forgive you of something worse?
Let’s practice that flow today, let’s be ready to forgive each other, just as He’s quick to forgive us. Open the floodgates.
Saturday, 29 February 2020
Friday, 28 February 2020
and forgive us our debts
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” - Matthew 6:12
Debts, sins, or trespasses? Whatever you know this as, all of them are about being on the ‘wrong side of the line’ - those moments when we mess up, and find ourselves off track, found short, in the wrong. And make no mistake, we all do this!
Jesus encourages us to ask for forgiveness.
He knows that from time to time, perhaps as often as we pray this, perhaps every day, we’re all going to need to be forgiven. Sin is a debt we just can’t pay on our own, and only God’s forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, can lift us back to where we should be.
If you’re struggling to pray, this might just be a key for you. Is there anything in your life that might have pushed you into debt with God? Is there anything that’s taken you off the track of holiness? Is there anything at all you might need to ask Him to forgive you for?
It’s so good to be introspective, to do a self-audit, and to ask God to help you, whether it feels like that debt is tiny, or enormous. If you want to have a powerful prayer life, this might be the one discipline you need - He is so able to settle that debt you owe, to release you of that sin you confess, to correct that trespass you made. Just ask.
Debts, sins, or trespasses? Whatever you know this as, all of them are about being on the ‘wrong side of the line’ - those moments when we mess up, and find ourselves off track, found short, in the wrong. And make no mistake, we all do this!
Jesus encourages us to ask for forgiveness.
He knows that from time to time, perhaps as often as we pray this, perhaps every day, we’re all going to need to be forgiven. Sin is a debt we just can’t pay on our own, and only God’s forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, can lift us back to where we should be.
If you’re struggling to pray, this might just be a key for you. Is there anything in your life that might have pushed you into debt with God? Is there anything that’s taken you off the track of holiness? Is there anything at all you might need to ask Him to forgive you for?
It’s so good to be introspective, to do a self-audit, and to ask God to help you, whether it feels like that debt is tiny, or enormous. If you want to have a powerful prayer life, this might be the one discipline you need - He is so able to settle that debt you owe, to release you of that sin you confess, to correct that trespass you made. Just ask.
Thursday, 27 February 2020
give us today our daily bread
“Give us today our daily bread.” - Matthew 6:11
Have you ever wondered why Jesus says we should ask God for ‘bread’ when we pray? Me too. I’d have liked ‘our daily sports car’ or ‘our yearly holiday to the Caribbean’. Bread’s kind of a low bar, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we be, well, bolder in our prayers?
Well yes, maybe. But also, bread is important. In the Bible it represents sustenance, fellowship, and the word - in other words, all the basic things we need to keep us going. It’s fuel, friendship, and fullness, and it all comes from God our Father.
When we pray and ask for things, God wants us to be focused on what’s needed, rather than what’s wanted. And what’s needed is ultimately Him. Jesus, who was broken for us, is the bread of life, the fullness, the friendship, and the fuel - and we need Him freshly every day.
So today, when you pray, ask Him if that thing you’re asking is in line with the fullness of the word, whether it enhances your friendship with Him, and whether it’s the fuel you need today.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus says we should ask God for ‘bread’ when we pray? Me too. I’d have liked ‘our daily sports car’ or ‘our yearly holiday to the Caribbean’. Bread’s kind of a low bar, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we be, well, bolder in our prayers?
Well yes, maybe. But also, bread is important. In the Bible it represents sustenance, fellowship, and the word - in other words, all the basic things we need to keep us going. It’s fuel, friendship, and fullness, and it all comes from God our Father.
When we pray and ask for things, God wants us to be focused on what’s needed, rather than what’s wanted. And what’s needed is ultimately Him. Jesus, who was broken for us, is the bread of life, the fullness, the friendship, and the fuel - and we need Him freshly every day.
So today, when you pray, ask Him if that thing you’re asking is in line with the fullness of the word, whether it enhances your friendship with Him, and whether it’s the fuel you need today.
Wednesday, 26 February 2020
on earth as it is in heaven
On earth as it is in heaven
You can tell a lot from just a reflection. It’s sometimes upside-down to the real thing, or back to front, or wobbly, but you can usually make out what it is.
Everywhere you go, you can see reflections of God. In nature, in films, stories, emotions, poetry, and, amazingly, in you! The Creator designed the universe to mirror Heaven, just like He created you... to look like Him. As above, so below.
“... your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
- Matthew 6:10’
When Jesus teaches the disciples to pray He asks the Father for the ‘kingdom’, and ‘the will of God’, to match up between Heaven and Earth. He’s asking for that reflection to be as clear, as bright, as loud, and as brilliant as the Original.
When you’re praying today, remember that you’re connecting the natural reflection with its supernatural reality. In fact, you’re asking God to overlap Earth with Heaven, bringing the perfect right into the middle of the imperfect until it’s all so good that nobody can tell the difference. Isn’t that just so cool? Prayer is awesome.
Tuesday, 25 February 2020
your will be done
One of the hardest things in life, one of the bits that takes the most amount of maturity, is doing something that wasn’t your plan. Let’s be honest: we like our own ideas best, and following someone else’s ‘inferior’ plan can be really annoying - especially if it eventually works out better!
Jesus tells us to get over ourselves.
“... your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” - Matthew 6:10’
The essence of prayer is about giving up your own ideas and submitting to God’s. He has a will, a design, an idea - and it’s always the best, even when it doesn’t look like it. That’s why when we pray, we don’t ask God to do things the way we want; we ask for His will to be done first. For water to flow, it goes high to low.
There’s a completeness to God’s will too. We’re to ask for it to be done, not started. When you’re praying today, ask what outcome God wants, what result is on His heart. His will is always good, and always best when completed. Oh, and, get over yourself.
Jesus tells us to get over ourselves.
“... your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” - Matthew 6:10’
The essence of prayer is about giving up your own ideas and submitting to God’s. He has a will, a design, an idea - and it’s always the best, even when it doesn’t look like it. That’s why when we pray, we don’t ask God to do things the way we want; we ask for His will to be done first. For water to flow, it goes high to low.
There’s a completeness to God’s will too. We’re to ask for it to be done, not started. When you’re praying today, ask what outcome God wants, what result is on His heart. His will is always good, and always best when completed. Oh, and, get over yourself.
Monday, 24 February 2020
your kingdom come
In Disney’s ‘The Lion King’, Mufasa shows his young son the great plains stretching out into the sunset.
“Everything the light touches... is our kingdom,” says the king. He’s teaching Simba an important lesson about what that kingdom is like, and what kind of kingdom he will inherit.
Jesus does something similar for us when he teaches us how to pray. He says we should say...
“... your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” - Matthew 6:10’
God, our Father, is King, and wherever the light touches, there His kingdom is. Before we ask Him for anything else, we ask for His kingdom to move into our situation, where He rules and reigns. That’s so great! You and I get to invite the King into our world, into our darkness, into our situations, through our prayers. Everything the light touches.
Today, let’s ask the King to bring His kingdom, just as powerfully here, as it is in heaven. Simba needed to learn that the kingdom went wherever the light was. When you’re praying today, why not ask God to show you how to bring that light, and see His kingdom illuminate your world.
“Everything the light touches... is our kingdom,” says the king. He’s teaching Simba an important lesson about what that kingdom is like, and what kind of kingdom he will inherit.
Jesus does something similar for us when he teaches us how to pray. He says we should say...
“... your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” - Matthew 6:10’
God, our Father, is King, and wherever the light touches, there His kingdom is. Before we ask Him for anything else, we ask for His kingdom to move into our situation, where He rules and reigns. That’s so great! You and I get to invite the King into our world, into our darkness, into our situations, through our prayers. Everything the light touches.
Today, let’s ask the King to bring His kingdom, just as powerfully here, as it is in heaven. Simba needed to learn that the kingdom went wherever the light was. When you’re praying today, why not ask God to show you how to bring that light, and see His kingdom illuminate your world.
Saturday, 22 February 2020
hallowed be your name
Think of someone you know. Whenever you hear their name, what are you reminded of? You might smile, or remember the way they love you. Or you might react differently. That person’s name is probably like a shorthand reminder of who they are, what their face is like, and perhaps how they treated you.
When Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray, he tells them to say...
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed [holy] be your name” - Matthew 6:9
Why holy? The Father is a lot of things: wise, powerful, loving, gracious, just, awesome... why does Jesus want us to remember that His name is ‘holy’ first?
I think it’s because it reminds us how amazing a thing prayer is, and how the rightness of God is designed to flow through our conversation with Him.
His name is not just a line in a phone book or a contact on a smart phone. It’s holy, and when we pray we’re connecting up to that same holiness, whether it’s a prayer of thanksgiving, petition, or just a chat with God. It’s great perspective.
Today, before you pray, why not take a moment to breathe and consider the holiness of what you’re about to do, and to whom you’re talking to. Our Father, in perfection, who calls us His own, is pure holiness. And we get to talk with Him. Isn’t that amazing?
When Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray, he tells them to say...
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed [holy] be your name” - Matthew 6:9
Why holy? The Father is a lot of things: wise, powerful, loving, gracious, just, awesome... why does Jesus want us to remember that His name is ‘holy’ first?
I think it’s because it reminds us how amazing a thing prayer is, and how the rightness of God is designed to flow through our conversation with Him.
His name is not just a line in a phone book or a contact on a smart phone. It’s holy, and when we pray we’re connecting up to that same holiness, whether it’s a prayer of thanksgiving, petition, or just a chat with God. It’s great perspective.
Today, before you pray, why not take a moment to breathe and consider the holiness of what you’re about to do, and to whom you’re talking to. Our Father, in perfection, who calls us His own, is pure holiness. And we get to talk with Him. Isn’t that amazing?
our father in heaven
A lot of us grew up thinking that there were complicated rules about praying. Are you supposed to put your hands together? Close your eyes? Look up? Look down? Talk as though you’ve swallowed the King James Version? And how do you end a prayer time? Amen? Or just sort of shuffle about until everyone looks at each other and figures out it’s over?
When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he started with a really interesting idea...
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” - Matthew 6:9
What if, at the centre of our prayers, we understood that there’s a Father in heaven who wants to hear from us? Think about that - it’s like talking to someone who loves you and wants the best for you, but who also has unlimited resources! He dwells in perfection, and this thing we call ‘prayer’ is our best opportunity to connect up our world with His, so that the impossible can flow into the possible.
Today, why not talk to Father just as you are? You don’t have to close your eyes or use flowery language - just be you. That connection between earth and heaven is the relationship between you and Him, and your Father in heaven is longing to listen, and speak to you.
When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he started with a really interesting idea...
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” - Matthew 6:9
What if, at the centre of our prayers, we understood that there’s a Father in heaven who wants to hear from us? Think about that - it’s like talking to someone who loves you and wants the best for you, but who also has unlimited resources! He dwells in perfection, and this thing we call ‘prayer’ is our best opportunity to connect up our world with His, so that the impossible can flow into the possible.
Today, why not talk to Father just as you are? You don’t have to close your eyes or use flowery language - just be you. That connection between earth and heaven is the relationship between you and Him, and your Father in heaven is longing to listen, and speak to you.
Friday, 21 February 2020
the risen jesus
Imagine. Fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, sons of thunder, traitors. Not for the first time, and definitely not for the last, God had risked everything on a threadbare bunch of character-flawed misfits, following one extraordinary Man, who would die on a Roman crucifix.
And yet, if you fast-forward the tape, you see something different. The same misfits are preaching with power and miracles wherever they go, and the known world is being turned on its head, faster than anyone thought possible.
What changed?
Fast-forward the tape again and many of them are being killed for their ministry. Hung, flayed with knives, crucified upside down, boiled in a pot - one by one the men who had walked with Jesus lay down their lives.
What made them so certain? How did they go from such failures to these unstoppable martyrs? How did those ragtag disciples become legendary apostles?
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” - 1 Peter 1:3-4
Something changes when you meet the risen Jesus. You can never be the same again - the world can’t remain unchanged.
What made the difference? What turned followers into church planters? What brought hope to the world? Ordinary people like you and me, transformed by a life lived with the resurrected one.
So, fast-forward the tape on last time, and this time, ask yourself, which bunch of misfits does God leave the plan with today, here in the Twenty First Century? Which disciples are destined to be sent to change the world with resurrection power?
And yet, if you fast-forward the tape, you see something different. The same misfits are preaching with power and miracles wherever they go, and the known world is being turned on its head, faster than anyone thought possible.
What changed?
Fast-forward the tape again and many of them are being killed for their ministry. Hung, flayed with knives, crucified upside down, boiled in a pot - one by one the men who had walked with Jesus lay down their lives.
What made them so certain? How did they go from such failures to these unstoppable martyrs? How did those ragtag disciples become legendary apostles?
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” - 1 Peter 1:3-4
Something changes when you meet the risen Jesus. You can never be the same again - the world can’t remain unchanged.
What made the difference? What turned followers into church planters? What brought hope to the world? Ordinary people like you and me, transformed by a life lived with the resurrected one.
So, fast-forward the tape on last time, and this time, ask yourself, which bunch of misfits does God leave the plan with today, here in the Twenty First Century? Which disciples are destined to be sent to change the world with resurrection power?
Thursday, 20 February 2020
judas
Jesus chose him.
Right from the start. And. He knew.
He knew what was in Judas’s heart. He knew which of the disciples would betray Him, He knew it all and He carried that knowledge with Him.
One of the saddest things about Judas’s story is that having walked so far with Jesus, he still didn’t really understand who He was. His personal agenda mattered more to him than all that Jesus had taught. And even when the deed was done and the thirty pieces of silver jangled to the floor of the temple, Judas still couldn’t see it. His heart was lost.
If this terrifies you, you’re not alone. It does me too! It shows us that it is possible to walk with Jesus, to have been chosen by Him, and still, after all we’ve seen, to fall away and betray Him. Judas, the son of perdition, was lost, yes, but he didn’t have to be. That’s the saddest thing of all.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” - John 16:33
Judas had already left by this point, but those who remained watched Jesus by the firelight of the Upper Room. That’s us too! - those who are close to Jesus need never be lost, and are always encouraged that whatever we face, whatever we’ve done, however we feel, He has overcome. And so can we.
Right from the start. And. He knew.
He knew what was in Judas’s heart. He knew which of the disciples would betray Him, He knew it all and He carried that knowledge with Him.
One of the saddest things about Judas’s story is that having walked so far with Jesus, he still didn’t really understand who He was. His personal agenda mattered more to him than all that Jesus had taught. And even when the deed was done and the thirty pieces of silver jangled to the floor of the temple, Judas still couldn’t see it. His heart was lost.
If this terrifies you, you’re not alone. It does me too! It shows us that it is possible to walk with Jesus, to have been chosen by Him, and still, after all we’ve seen, to fall away and betray Him. Judas, the son of perdition, was lost, yes, but he didn’t have to be. That’s the saddest thing of all.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” - John 16:33
Judas had already left by this point, but those who remained watched Jesus by the firelight of the Upper Room. That’s us too! - those who are close to Jesus need never be lost, and are always encouraged that whatever we face, whatever we’ve done, however we feel, He has overcome. And so can we.
Wednesday, 19 February 2020
thomas
One of the greatest bits of evidence for the Resurrection is the life-changing transformation of the disciples. They went from scared men, fearing capture in locked rooms, to publicly standing in the street, proclaiming the good news of Jesus... in just days!
In fact, many of them went on to live and die for the Kingdom in a way that would be unthinkable had they not met with the risen Jesus.
Thomas is a great example of this change. He missed the first Sunday night when Jesus appeared. “I’ll believe when I see it,” he said when they told him about it. And then...
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’
Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” - John 20:26-28
Thomas was changed because he met with the resurrected Christ personally. This is the greatest way to help someone who’s waiting to ‘see before they believe’ - give them room to meet with Jesus themselves, to see His wounds and identify with His scars.
And today, if doubts are circling for you too, why not ask God to show you what He’s done for you. After all, Thomas was right: he really did believe it when he saw it.
In fact, many of them went on to live and die for the Kingdom in a way that would be unthinkable had they not met with the risen Jesus.
Thomas is a great example of this change. He missed the first Sunday night when Jesus appeared. “I’ll believe when I see it,” he said when they told him about it. And then...
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’
Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” - John 20:26-28
Thomas was changed because he met with the resurrected Christ personally. This is the greatest way to help someone who’s waiting to ‘see before they believe’ - give them room to meet with Jesus themselves, to see His wounds and identify with His scars.
And today, if doubts are circling for you too, why not ask God to show you what He’s done for you. After all, Thomas was right: he really did believe it when he saw it.
Tuesday, 18 February 2020
matthew levi
Jesus really included all-sorts in his band of followers! Alongside the fishermen, the zealots, and the ‘sons of thunder’, he also called... a tax man!
“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of [Matthew] Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.” - Luke 5:28-29
Tax collectors were mostly despised. By everybody. And yet, not by Jesus. There must be something about Jesus - everyone seems to leave everything behind to follow Him! Matthew even splashes out on a feast, inviting all his colleagues over to celebrate. It’s the greatest “I-Quit” there is! Come and meet the one I’m giving all of this up for!
Matthew shows us that Jesus is worth it.
This meticulous man of money would have been used to calculating options and risk, measures and ledgers; when he meets Jesus he instantly leaves his whole life behind and blows his cash on an epic leaving do. Something big had changed.
Perhaps you’re debating whether following Jesus is worth the risk today. Take Matthew’s word for it. Even if it costs you everything you have, a life following Christ is absolutely worth it all.
“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of [Matthew] Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.” - Luke 5:28-29
Tax collectors were mostly despised. By everybody. And yet, not by Jesus. There must be something about Jesus - everyone seems to leave everything behind to follow Him! Matthew even splashes out on a feast, inviting all his colleagues over to celebrate. It’s the greatest “I-Quit” there is! Come and meet the one I’m giving all of this up for!
Matthew shows us that Jesus is worth it.
This meticulous man of money would have been used to calculating options and risk, measures and ledgers; when he meets Jesus he instantly leaves his whole life behind and blows his cash on an epic leaving do. Something big had changed.
Perhaps you’re debating whether following Jesus is worth the risk today. Take Matthew’s word for it. Even if it costs you everything you have, a life following Christ is absolutely worth it all.
Monday, 17 February 2020
philip
In Samaria, Philip was what you might call a ‘household name.’ When he prayed for people, they got well; demons fled, and impure spirits left. He drew huge crowds with signs, wonders and miracles alongside his preaching. His ministry was doing incredible things to draw people to the gospel. It was all good!
Then one day, an angel told him that God wanted him out on a desert road. You can read all about it in Acts 8. No explanation of why, just leave all that superstar ministry stuff behind, and head south to the dusty highway.
Sometimes, when things are going really well, it actually gets harder to hear what God’s asking us to do. Success can be comfortable, but it can also restrain an adventure.
In the end, Philip meets an Ethiopian nobleman, he uses the situation to lead the man to faith, baptizes him, and for probably the first time in history, sends the gospel to Africa.
“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture [Isaiah 53] and told him the good news about Jesus.” - Acts 8:35
Are you comfortable? It might just be that God is calling you to something beyond the easy, where you’ll have to leap out in faith without having all the answers. Are you ready for that adventure? Philip was - he knew the scriptures and he was listening for the voice of God, whether times were difficult or abundant. He had everything he needed. So, how about you?
Then one day, an angel told him that God wanted him out on a desert road. You can read all about it in Acts 8. No explanation of why, just leave all that superstar ministry stuff behind, and head south to the dusty highway.
Sometimes, when things are going really well, it actually gets harder to hear what God’s asking us to do. Success can be comfortable, but it can also restrain an adventure.
In the end, Philip meets an Ethiopian nobleman, he uses the situation to lead the man to faith, baptizes him, and for probably the first time in history, sends the gospel to Africa.
“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture [Isaiah 53] and told him the good news about Jesus.” - Acts 8:35
Are you comfortable? It might just be that God is calling you to something beyond the easy, where you’ll have to leap out in faith without having all the answers. Are you ready for that adventure? Philip was - he knew the scriptures and he was listening for the voice of God, whether times were difficult or abundant. He had everything he needed. So, how about you?
Sunday, 16 February 2020
simon the zealot
Zeal wasn’t just passion. In first century Judea, it was closer to violent outrage.
The Zealots were a group of people who hated the Roman occupation so much, they were prepared to take all means necessary to free their land. Zeal was super-political. And right among His disciples, Jesus chose a zealot to help change the world.
I wonder what Simon made of Jesus throwing the market sellers out of the temple...
“In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’ His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” - John 2:14-17
Sometimes our passions can run away with themselves. Here, Jesus shows Simon the Zealot that the primary passion of a believer is for the house of the Lord. Whatever our political inclination, whatever our thoughts on how things should be done, zeal is always for the Kingdom first.
Today, ask God to help you see the world through the lens of how He sees things. Let zeal for His house consume you first.
The Zealots were a group of people who hated the Roman occupation so much, they were prepared to take all means necessary to free their land. Zeal was super-political. And right among His disciples, Jesus chose a zealot to help change the world.
I wonder what Simon made of Jesus throwing the market sellers out of the temple...
“In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’ His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” - John 2:14-17
Sometimes our passions can run away with themselves. Here, Jesus shows Simon the Zealot that the primary passion of a believer is for the house of the Lord. Whatever our political inclination, whatever our thoughts on how things should be done, zeal is always for the Kingdom first.
Today, ask God to help you see the world through the lens of how He sees things. Let zeal for His house consume you first.
Saturday, 15 February 2020
jude thaddaeus
Do you ever wonder why God doesn’t just step out of Heaven and fix everything?
I bet the disciples wondered that too, even about Jesus. Here was the Messiah, the anointed One, come at last after centuries of waiting, to finally set everything straight. This was the moment! This had to be it!
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’
Then [Jude] said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” - John 14:21-22
You can almost hear how perplexed Jude is. Come on Jesus, fix it! You’re here to set us free from the Romans, to put Israel back on the map, to rule and reign, aren’t you?
The truth is that Jesus did intend to show himself to the world - through them, and through love. In fact it’s because of those men in that room that you and I have heard of Jesus at all.
We, like Jude, might see all the things that need fixing. We might even burn with injustice at it all. And perhaps God asks us the same question. What are you doing about it? How will you step out and start changing the world?
I bet the disciples wondered that too, even about Jesus. Here was the Messiah, the anointed One, come at last after centuries of waiting, to finally set everything straight. This was the moment! This had to be it!
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’
Then [Jude] said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” - John 14:21-22
You can almost hear how perplexed Jude is. Come on Jesus, fix it! You’re here to set us free from the Romans, to put Israel back on the map, to rule and reign, aren’t you?
The truth is that Jesus did intend to show himself to the world - through them, and through love. In fact it’s because of those men in that room that you and I have heard of Jesus at all.
We, like Jude, might see all the things that need fixing. We might even burn with injustice at it all. And perhaps God asks us the same question. What are you doing about it? How will you step out and start changing the world?
Friday, 14 February 2020
james the less
There are probably three different Jameses in the Bible. James the Less was a disciple in Jesus’s outer circle, who gets the nickname to differentiate him from the other, older James. It’s a tough break that; being identified in the shadow of someone else, just because you might be younger or less prominent.
Here’s some advice from the Bible on what to do when that happens...
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” - 1 Timothy 4:12
If you’re a young person, or perhaps someone who really struggles to be noticed or even taken seriously, why not take a moment to think about how to get on with ‘setting an example’? It might not be easy to do but these five things will definitely make a difference everywhere you go.
Speech - make sure you talk well of others and yourself.
Conduct - show your character at every opportunity.
Love - never forget it.
Faith - believe in the best.
Purity - show wholeness and holiness in everything you do.
We don’t know much about the exploits of James ‘the Less’ but we do know that with God, none of us are any the less, and we can do things that will astound the world. Don’t allow anyone to look down on you.
Here’s some advice from the Bible on what to do when that happens...
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” - 1 Timothy 4:12
If you’re a young person, or perhaps someone who really struggles to be noticed or even taken seriously, why not take a moment to think about how to get on with ‘setting an example’? It might not be easy to do but these five things will definitely make a difference everywhere you go.
Speech - make sure you talk well of others and yourself.
Conduct - show your character at every opportunity.
Love - never forget it.
Faith - believe in the best.
Purity - show wholeness and holiness in everything you do.
We don’t know much about the exploits of James ‘the Less’ but we do know that with God, none of us are any the less, and we can do things that will astound the world. Don’t allow anyone to look down on you.
Thursday, 13 February 2020
nathanael
“Nazareth?” he said, incredulously. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” The wind rustled through the fig leaves as Philip smiled at Nathanael in the dappled shade. He was a straight-talker alright; whatever was in his head was coming out through his mouth whether anyone liked it or not.
“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, ‘Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’
‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.’” - John 1:47-48
In this story, Jesus disarms Nathanael with a prophetic word. And Nathanael is instantly convinced.
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God, the king of Israel,” he proclaims, as plainly as ever. I wonder whether Jesus laughed at Nathanael’s straightforward style, or perhaps his rapid journey from doubt to belief, from the fig tree to the Messiah.
“You’ll see greater things than these,” He says.
Today, there might be people in your world who are under ‘fig trees’ of their own. Perhaps just a simple prophetic word might bring them closer to Jesus? Pray today about who God might want to speak to. It could be something really simple! Just one word from Jesus through you, and everything could change for them. Sometimes, we’re all called to be straight-talkers.
“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, ‘Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’
‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.’” - John 1:47-48
In this story, Jesus disarms Nathanael with a prophetic word. And Nathanael is instantly convinced.
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God, the king of Israel,” he proclaims, as plainly as ever. I wonder whether Jesus laughed at Nathanael’s straightforward style, or perhaps his rapid journey from doubt to belief, from the fig tree to the Messiah.
“You’ll see greater things than these,” He says.
Today, there might be people in your world who are under ‘fig trees’ of their own. Perhaps just a simple prophetic word might bring them closer to Jesus? Pray today about who God might want to speak to. It could be something really simple! Just one word from Jesus through you, and everything could change for them. Sometimes, we’re all called to be straight-talkers.
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
andrew
It must have been overwhelming to realise who Jesus was for the very first time. The Jews had been waiting for the Messiah for centuries, and suddenly here He was, calling you to follow Him. Some just didn’t believe it; others took a while. Andrew got it straight away...
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” - John 1:40-42
Do you remember the moment you first met Jesus? Where were you when you realised who He is? What did you do?
I like what Andrew did. He immediately found someone to bring. He didn’t need any special evangelism training, or time to sort his own life out, or an equipping sermon series to listen to. He just found his brother and very simply told him the incredible news that they had found the Messiah.
Your own story is so important as part of telling people about Jesus. Today, if you get the opportunity, find someone to share that news with, and have that heart that simply says: I’ve found Jesus, come and see!
Tuesday, 11 February 2020
john
He was the disciple ‘whom Jesus loved’. He sat next to Him, reclined at feasts with Him, was there at the beginning, and was faithful at the end. He had Jesus’ ear and he knew His heart, and when all was done, Jesus entrusted His mother his care. If anyone really knew Jesus, it was John.
Much later in his life, John wrote this, in a letter about loving God and walking with Jesus...
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.” - 1 John 3:1
Throughout his writing, John focuses on the love of God. It’s the key to understanding who we are through Jesus - God pours out extravagant love; it shapes our identity as His children. We know who we are because He loves us. We can be like Him because of love.
Do you struggle to believe that God loves you? John, the disciple loved by Jesus, encourages you just to see how much.
Today, ask God to help you ‘recline’ with Him, to get so close that you too can hear His heartbeat and have His ear. Take a moment aside with God. Trust the disciple whom Jesus loved: he knows better than anyone.
Much later in his life, John wrote this, in a letter about loving God and walking with Jesus...
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.” - 1 John 3:1
Throughout his writing, John focuses on the love of God. It’s the key to understanding who we are through Jesus - God pours out extravagant love; it shapes our identity as His children. We know who we are because He loves us. We can be like Him because of love.
Do you struggle to believe that God loves you? John, the disciple loved by Jesus, encourages you just to see how much.
Today, ask God to help you ‘recline’ with Him, to get so close that you too can hear His heartbeat and have His ear. Take a moment aside with God. Trust the disciple whom Jesus loved: he knows better than anyone.
Monday, 10 February 2020
james
There’s an old legend that says that before James was killed by Herod, the man who accused him was so impressed by James that he proclaimed himself a Christian, and they were both martyred together. As they stepped up to the sword, James blessed him and said, ‘peace be with you’.
I don’t know whether it’s true, but it’s a great thought: James, a ‘son of thunder’ who once asked Jesus to call fire down from heaven on a village, and who had jostled with his brother for places either side of Jesus, finally learned that we share the gospel best through peace and forgiveness rather than force, through submission not position. How a life can change!
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” - Colossians 3:13
Why not ask yourself whether there’s anyone out there you need to forgive or make peace with. Even when we want Him to, Jesus isn’t in the habit of zapping our enemies with lightning. Thankfully!
I think James, ‘son of thunder’ would have learned that, and would surely have seen God’s heart for peace towards those who accuse us, reject us and hurt us. After all, we’ve done all those things too. Forgiveness is always the best way.
I don’t know whether it’s true, but it’s a great thought: James, a ‘son of thunder’ who once asked Jesus to call fire down from heaven on a village, and who had jostled with his brother for places either side of Jesus, finally learned that we share the gospel best through peace and forgiveness rather than force, through submission not position. How a life can change!
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” - Colossians 3:13
Why not ask yourself whether there’s anyone out there you need to forgive or make peace with. Even when we want Him to, Jesus isn’t in the habit of zapping our enemies with lightning. Thankfully!
I think James, ‘son of thunder’ would have learned that, and would surely have seen God’s heart for peace towards those who accuse us, reject us and hurt us. After all, we’ve done all those things too. Forgiveness is always the best way.
Friday, 7 February 2020
peter
What do you need for a godly life? As an older man, looking back on his life, Peter must have seen so many of the times he missed the mark. That poor servant’s ear in the garden; sinking on the waves after showing so much faith; rebuking Jesus! And what about the awful sound of that cockerel that day? I wonder whether he realised that his journey of failure and redemption, his own godly life, had less to do with him than he’d thought. Here’s what he wrote...
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” - 2 Peter 1:3
Everything he had needed had come from the Lord. Perhaps that’s why his time with Jesus had been bookended with the miraculous catches of fish? Perhaps that’s why Jesus had asked him to follow him at the beginning, and then again, at the end. It had all been because of His glory and His goodness.
Do you sometimes feel like you’re struggling to live a godly life? I think Peter would say it starts and ends with hearing the call and following Jesus. Whatever your difficulty might be today, listen out for His voice and trust Him. Everything you need is already yours.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” - 2 Peter 1:3
Everything he had needed had come from the Lord. Perhaps that’s why his time with Jesus had been bookended with the miraculous catches of fish? Perhaps that’s why Jesus had asked him to follow him at the beginning, and then again, at the end. It had all been because of His glory and His goodness.
Do you sometimes feel like you’re struggling to live a godly life? I think Peter would say it starts and ends with hearing the call and following Jesus. Whatever your difficulty might be today, listen out for His voice and trust Him. Everything you need is already yours.
Thursday, 6 February 2020
disciples
Have you ever noticed how Jesus handles a crowd? It seems everywhere He goes, there’s a whole group of people following Him. Sometimes He feeds them, sometimes He teaches them, and then other times... He just leaves them behind, right there on the shoreline...
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.” - Matthew 8:18
What?
He does... what? What kind of church leader would do that? What kind of pastor would drive off when a huge crowd shows up at the church front door?
Well here’s what I think. Jesus is much more interested in disciples than numbers. He invests His time in the few: the handful, the ragtag fishermen and taxmen, and the doubters and shouters, the disaffected and the dysfunctional - just like you and me. Why? Because He knows that discipleship was, and still is the way to change the world, one precious soul at a time.
In three years, Jesus turned those men into world-changing apostles. They shook an empire, they interrupted history, they changed an entire culture, still affected from those days to this, and they did it all fearlessly and fervently. It’s impossible to look at their stories and conclude that discipleship doesn’t work.
What would they teach us? What can we learn from them?
If you feel lost in the crowd, it might be that you’d come alive if you could be discipled! Ask your church leader to help you find a way! And if you’re wondering whether you can help to disciple someone else, why not speak to your pastor or leader too. There’s a world-changing adventure ahead for you.
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.” - Matthew 8:18
What?
He does... what? What kind of church leader would do that? What kind of pastor would drive off when a huge crowd shows up at the church front door?
Well here’s what I think. Jesus is much more interested in disciples than numbers. He invests His time in the few: the handful, the ragtag fishermen and taxmen, and the doubters and shouters, the disaffected and the dysfunctional - just like you and me. Why? Because He knows that discipleship was, and still is the way to change the world, one precious soul at a time.
In three years, Jesus turned those men into world-changing apostles. They shook an empire, they interrupted history, they changed an entire culture, still affected from those days to this, and they did it all fearlessly and fervently. It’s impossible to look at their stories and conclude that discipleship doesn’t work.
What would they teach us? What can we learn from them?
If you feel lost in the crowd, it might be that you’d come alive if you could be discipled! Ask your church leader to help you find a way! And if you’re wondering whether you can help to disciple someone else, why not speak to your pastor or leader too. There’s a world-changing adventure ahead for you.
Wednesday, 5 February 2020
lighthouses
Did you know that every lighthouse is unique? The beam-pattern, the shape, the colouring, even the tone of the foghorn - all different for each one. That’s because (before GPS anyway) sailors needed to know exactly where they were, and a unique lighthouse could tell them, as well as warn them of the dangerous rocks beneath.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden...” - Matthew 5:14
Lighthouses are there for navigation as well as a warning! In some ways, when Jesus tells us to be lights of the world, we too have to get that balance right. Our light shines in the darkness, not just like holy alarm-bulbs, but also real-life indicators of where we actually are, what life with Jesus is like, and where those around us are too.
And, like lighthouses, yes, each one of us is also completely unique! You might not realise how important a thing it is to be you, but today could be the day when God brings someone into your world who absolutely needs to meet... you. It might be that today, you are their best route home.
Today, take a deep breath in, step into the world and be yourself. Ask God to show you how to be a unique, brilliant, light on a hill, for someone in distress. Watch what God does.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden...” - Matthew 5:14
Lighthouses are there for navigation as well as a warning! In some ways, when Jesus tells us to be lights of the world, we too have to get that balance right. Our light shines in the darkness, not just like holy alarm-bulbs, but also real-life indicators of where we actually are, what life with Jesus is like, and where those around us are too.
And, like lighthouses, yes, each one of us is also completely unique! You might not realise how important a thing it is to be you, but today could be the day when God brings someone into your world who absolutely needs to meet... you. It might be that today, you are their best route home.
Today, take a deep breath in, step into the world and be yourself. Ask God to show you how to be a unique, brilliant, light on a hill, for someone in distress. Watch what God does.
Tuesday, 4 February 2020
day of trouble
There are good days. There are bad days. And then there are ‘days of trouble’. Somehow, for some reason the world falls apart around you, and everything you can think of to make it better, actually ends up making it a million times worse!
Let’s hope that today isn’t one of those! If it is though, the Bible has some advice about how to handle it. Look at this four step guide in Psalm 50...
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honour me.” - Psalm 50:14-15
First of all, be thankful. Even scientists agree that this little shift in thinking can have a huge effect. Make a list of things you’re thankful for!
Second, be obedient to anything He’s already told you. That means listening to God, remembering what He said, and responding - even when it’s really difficult.
Third, call on Him again today. Take time to ask and listen to what He’s saying.
Fourth, honour Him tomorrow when He delivers you today. Sharing a story about what He did in your day of trouble, is an awesome way to seal it, and remember it. What’s more, you can add it to your list for next time.
The Bible doesn’t promise that following Jesus puts an end to those days of trouble. But it does promise that He’ll be with us if we call on Him.
Let’s hope that today isn’t one of those! If it is though, the Bible has some advice about how to handle it. Look at this four step guide in Psalm 50...
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honour me.” - Psalm 50:14-15
First of all, be thankful. Even scientists agree that this little shift in thinking can have a huge effect. Make a list of things you’re thankful for!
Second, be obedient to anything He’s already told you. That means listening to God, remembering what He said, and responding - even when it’s really difficult.
Third, call on Him again today. Take time to ask and listen to what He’s saying.
Fourth, honour Him tomorrow when He delivers you today. Sharing a story about what He did in your day of trouble, is an awesome way to seal it, and remember it. What’s more, you can add it to your list for next time.
The Bible doesn’t promise that following Jesus puts an end to those days of trouble. But it does promise that He’ll be with us if we call on Him.
Monday, 3 February 2020
a game of thrones
Jesus spoke a lot about the ‘kingdom’ - the ‘Kingdom of God’, or often, the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’.
It was an idea already cemented into Jewish tradition: one day, the Messiah, God Himself, would interrupt human history and establish His rule as the great King of all the Earth. Every kingdom, they understood, just as we do, had to have a king - a mighty Ruler who makes everything right.
But what would that kingdom really look like? Would they recognise King Jesus, the suffering servant? And what would they think, when this ‘King of the Jews’ was crucified, dead, and buried? Was it His kingdom, or theirs?
Recognising God’s kingdom is a theme that recurs throughout the Bible.
In our own lives we always have the choice about who gets to wear the crown, who gets to sit on the throne and what kind of kingdom we stand for.
“The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power...” - Revelation 4:10-11
Wherever you go today, take the kingdom of Heaven with you, where the wisest take the best they have, and lay it at the throne of the King of Kings.
It was an idea already cemented into Jewish tradition: one day, the Messiah, God Himself, would interrupt human history and establish His rule as the great King of all the Earth. Every kingdom, they understood, just as we do, had to have a king - a mighty Ruler who makes everything right.
But what would that kingdom really look like? Would they recognise King Jesus, the suffering servant? And what would they think, when this ‘King of the Jews’ was crucified, dead, and buried? Was it His kingdom, or theirs?
Recognising God’s kingdom is a theme that recurs throughout the Bible.
In our own lives we always have the choice about who gets to wear the crown, who gets to sit on the throne and what kind of kingdom we stand for.
“The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power...” - Revelation 4:10-11
Wherever you go today, take the kingdom of Heaven with you, where the wisest take the best they have, and lay it at the throne of the King of Kings.
Saturday, 1 February 2020
fasting
Is there anything you hear yourself saying you can’t live without?
Coffee? Tea? Chocolate? Facebook? Funny what things we need to get us through the day! Sometimes though, it’s exactly these things that lock us into a routine - and then, even on the days we don’t actually need them, we think we do.
That’s one good reason why fasting is such a brilliant idea. It interrupts our pattern, it realigns us with God and it reminds us about what we really need and what we don’t. What’s more, it doesn’t just break the chains of our own lives, it actually releases freedom for others too!
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?” - Isaiah 58:6
Are there situations around you that just don’t seem right? Are you bound up, yourself? Do you want to see the oppressed people you know set free? Fasting is a key spiritual discipline that can change the world around you. When you pray and fast, things happen.
If you’re not sure about how to fast, or what works best for you, find someone who can advise you and help you be wise - especially if you’re fasting food.
Fasting is a very personal thing but it’s also very powerful. It’s a great thing to do!
Coffee? Tea? Chocolate? Facebook? Funny what things we need to get us through the day! Sometimes though, it’s exactly these things that lock us into a routine - and then, even on the days we don’t actually need them, we think we do.
That’s one good reason why fasting is such a brilliant idea. It interrupts our pattern, it realigns us with God and it reminds us about what we really need and what we don’t. What’s more, it doesn’t just break the chains of our own lives, it actually releases freedom for others too!
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?” - Isaiah 58:6
Are there situations around you that just don’t seem right? Are you bound up, yourself? Do you want to see the oppressed people you know set free? Fasting is a key spiritual discipline that can change the world around you. When you pray and fast, things happen.
If you’re not sure about how to fast, or what works best for you, find someone who can advise you and help you be wise - especially if you’re fasting food.
Fasting is a very personal thing but it’s also very powerful. It’s a great thing to do!
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