We can't always figure Christmas out - we just need to enter into the gift that it is.

If you are entering the final few days of Advent, trying to figure out the mystery of the birth of the Messiah, then I invite you to give up trying to figure it out and rather to enjoy the gift of Jesus' birth. There are some things that we can intellectually comprehend, while there are others that we only come to 'understand' in the depths of our being. 

1 Corinthians 1:27-28 – “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are…”

God still chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Humility and availability are more important to God than our pride or even our talents. Of course, God, we still use these for his glory, but he would prefer us to approach the manger on our knees in worship. 

Luke 1:37 – “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Living in grace

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When you feel paralyzed

"At that time, I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles." - Zephaniah 3:19

The central idea of this verse, for me, is that God promises to rescue those who are lame. Of course this could relate to a physical disability, but in the context of Israel, it was a nation who had lost the ability to "run" at full strength. Their lives had been completely changed through their oppression, and they had become lame, wounded and even spiritually paralyzed.

At this time of the year, there are many people who feel that their ability to function has been hampered and even crippled. Circumstances can leave us feeling very downcast and our fears can paralyze us.

If this is you, then please re-read the words of Zephaniah 3. Remember God's promise to rescue you and that Jesus is God's Divine rescue plan. 

May the coming of Jesus change your life today.

Living in grace

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How can we sing?

Singing is often connected to a state of joy - although not always, but it is a lot easier to raise your voice when you are feeling joyful. Zephaniah urges God's people to sing and shout aloud, despite their present circumstances. He says: 

"Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm." - Zephaniah 3:14-15

As if Zephaniah hears the question from the people, "why should we sing", he gives them a few reasons why they must lift their voices:

1. The Lord has taken away your punishment
2. God has turned back our enemy.
3. God is with us.
4. We don't need to fear anything anymore.

As you contemplate the words of Zephaniah, may you know the peace of Christ upon you.

Living in Grace

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Refiner's Fire and Launderer's Soap

"See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight - indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like washers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness." - Malachi 3:1-3

The two prominent images which spring from this passage are, of a refiner's fire and of launderer's soap. Both are used to clean impurities - one from precious metals and the other from clothing. This striking illustration reminds me that the arrival of the Messiah is not just to make us 'feel' good, but it is also to purify our hearts and to present us 'spotless' before the Father.

As Advent invites us to do some intentional soul-searching, what could these 2 images highlight in our lives? What needs to be cleansed in my soul and life at the moment?

Job 23:10 - "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." 

Living in grace

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Surprise recipient of the message

Luke 3:1-2 – “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

God's word could have been given to the Roman Emperor, Tiberius Caesar, who was the most powerful person in the Roman world at that time. But it was not!

God's message could have been given to one of the 4 Tetrarchs: Herod, Pontius Pilate, Philip or Lysanias - the second most powerful men in the political realm at that time. But it was not!

God could have decided to pass on the Good News via the established religious leaders in the Synagogue- The current high priest Caiaphas, or his predecessor, Annas. But it was not!

In the end, God's word came to the eccentric John the Baptist. John didn't live in a palace, or worship in a grand temple. He didn't wear fancy clothes or even eat the finest cuisine, yet God chose him to be the person to prepare the way for Jesus. God takes delight in turning the world's standards upside down!

Thought: Never think that you are unworthy for God's plan or purpose to be revealed through your life. Remember the young woman, Mary? No one would have chosen her to be the mother of Jesus, yet God saw things from a totally different perspective. 

Living in grace

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Why fixing the potholes was not what John was implying.

Avoiding potholes, while driving in some South African towns, is par for the course. You become very good at dodging them or driving around them. If you notice municipal workers starting to fix these potholes, then usually one assumes that an important politician is about to make a visit. 

In Luke's gospel he quotes from the book of Isaiah, speaking about preparing for the coming of the Messiah: 

"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" – Luke 3:4-6

Before an earthly emperor or King would come and visit his subjects, a courier (messenger) would head out with an advance party to get people to be ready. One of the things they would do is prepare the roads for the king so his journey would be more pleasant. In other words, they would fill in the potholes, fix the roads, clean the curbs and so on. 

I do not think that John was going to be literally fixing potholes for Jesus, but rather that he would be calling people to: “prepare your hearts and lives for the coming of the king. Forget about the roads, rather mend and repair your hearts.”

Thought: Next time you swerve to avoid a pothole ask yourself: "Am I doing all I can to prepare my heart for the coming of the Christ?"

Living in Grace

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Holding you in my heart

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me." - Philippians 1:7

Paul certainly had a way with words. I can picture the early Christian community gathering together in a small room to worship, excitedly waiting for the elders to read the letter from Paul. And what a joy it must have been to hear these words: "...I have you in my heart!"

These words transcend boundaries, geography and perhaps even logic. They speak to us of having a connection with someone special, even though we are not physically in the same space as that person. 

For Paul, it was knowing that he still loved and prayed for the Christians in Philippi despite him being captive in prison. For you and me it could be holding a loved one in our hearts, even though we don't see them any longer or may not see them for years to come. The unique bond we have with these people is kept sacred in our hearts.

Mary's response to the prophecy of Jesus' birth was similar in some ways. She pondered the words of the angel in her heart, keeping them safe until Jesus had been born (Luke 2:19).

Thought: Who do you hold in your heart at the moment?

Living in grace

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Under the hand of the Shepherd

"Once again shepherds will count their flocks in the towns of the hill country, the foothills of Judah, the Negev, the land of Benjamin, the vicinity of Jerusalem, and all the towns of Judah. I, the Lord, have spoken!" - Jeremiah 33:13

In the midst of a bleak prophecy concerning their future, Jeremiah shares a delightful reminder of God's love for the people. He speaks of how the flocks of sheep will return to the hills and the shepherds will care for them and count them. From being a place of desolation to a place teeming with life!

One commentator suggests that the process that the shepherds may adopt is to allow the sheep to come into the fold, one at a time, passing underneath his hand. This helps him to count them in a controlled way, but also to see if there is anything wrong with them.

As we continue on our journey towards Christmas, may the image of the caring hand of God comfort you and to help us rest in his mighty presence.

Living in Grace

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When will the time come?

"Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their towns. I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion." - Jeremiah 33:6-8

Jeremiah's prophecy is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, but it took a long time to come to pass. So, the question that lives with me, is: "how do we remain patient in the midst of our trials? How can we trust that the 'right' time will come and what will that look like?"

Although I don't have neat and simple answers to these profound questions, I have learnt to look back at what God has already done in our lives, and this helps me to remain 'hopeful' and 'resilient' in looking to the future. I need to build my future faith on God's faithfulness and on his covenant promises. 

In short, I won't know when that time will be, but I can trust that it will come. I have also learnt that God's timing is always on his own terms, and it is always in our best interests. 

"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children." - Galatians 4:4-5

Living in grace

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Life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to!

In a Peanut’s cartoon Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus, “Go get me a glass of water.”

Linus looked surprised, “Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me.”

 
“On your 75th birthday,” Lucy promised, “I’ll bake you a cake.”

Linus got up, headed to the kitchen and said, “Life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to.”

Advent is the season of the year that should heighten our awareness of the gift of Jesus. Not only does the expectation of Christ's birth (and second coming) make life more pleasant, but it should also give us a deep Hope and a Peace that passes all understanding.

Are you able to look forward to Christmas with the joy of the Lord in your heart? Remember, that we are not looking forward to the gift of a cake (When we turn 75), but we are peering into the future, waiting for the miracle of the Messiah.

“This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.” – Habakkuk 2:3

Living in Grace

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Please Call Me

Nkosana Kenneth Makate created the famous 'please call me' service through one of South Africa's cellphone providers. The simple tool means that we can send a free message to someone, asking them to give us a call when they can. 

We are reminded of a similar thing in Jeremiah 33, but obviously on a grander scale. The Lord sends each of us an invitation to 'please call him' when we need. And this invitation is not because God has run out of money :) 

·    "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ – Jeremiah 33:3.

      God invited Jeremiah and all who heard this message to come to Him in faith-filled prayer, confident of His answer. This promise is what we need to reflect on in this season of Advent. We are invited to trust in the grace of Christ and to call on the name of the Lord. 

·     Psalm 4:3 - You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.

Acts 2:21 - But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Living in Grace

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A message even in a dark place

“While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time: “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name” (Jeremiah 33: 1-2)

These words from the prophet Jeremiah, are part of our lectionary reflections for the first Sunday in Advent. The one thing that struck me in this verse is that God speaks to Jeremiah in the midst of his confinement. Even though he was in prison, the Lord still communicates with him. 

How often do we feel as if we are in a dark place? A prison of sorts? We can be excused for thinking that God may have forgotten us, but it is precisely in these moments that Christ wants to speak to us.

Genesis 39:21 - "But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love."

"God speaks in the silence of the heart." - Mother Teresa

Living in Grace

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A bold and honest prayer

In preparing for the season of Advent we take a look at numerous scriptures. One of these is from the Psalms and I just love the boldness of David's prayer. It is a sure sign that he trusted in the goodness of his God, despite his own shortcomings. David knew that God's love and faithfulness did not depend on his (David's) ability to be good or perfect. 

"Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old." - Psalm 25:4-6

I urge us all to carve out some time in the busyness of Advent - we will be better off for asking the Lord to show us his ways; to seek his mercy and to know his steadfast love.

Living in Grace

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Simply Absurd!

 

"It is simply absurd to say you believe, or even want to believe, in Him, if you do not do anything He tells you." - George MacDonald

Nineteen century preacher and writer George MacDonald had an incredible way with words. In just a few of his quotes we get to see the depth of the man, as well as his remarkable faith. Here are a few examples of his thinking. It is my prayer that these words would inspire us all to live Godly lives, especially as we begin to move into the season of advent.

Forgiveness unleashes joy. It brings peace. It washes the slate clean. It sets all the highest values of love in motion.

God is nearer to you than any thought or feeling of yours... Do not be afraid.

Deuteronomy 4:7 - "For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him."

Living in Grace

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If you were a King?

The author A.A. Milne wrote an intriguing poem called: If I were King? Although this poem is nothing like his famous Winnie the Pooh stories, it does pose and interesting question? 

"I often wish I were a King,

And then I could do anything.

If only I were King of Spain,
I'd take my hat off in the rain.

If only I were King of France,
I wouldn't brush my hair for aunts.

I think, if I were King of Greece,
I'd push things off the mantelpiece.

If I were King of Norroway,
I'd ask an elephant to stay.

If I were King of Babylon,
I'd leave my button gloves undone.

If I were King of Timbuctoo,
I'd think of lovely things to do.

If I were King of anything,
I'd tell the soldiers, "I'm the King!"

While we understand that his poem was created for a little fun, the last 2 lines make for interesting reading. Is it not true that the kind of Ruler (King or Queen) we are accustomed too, is the person who likes to make their authority known. Telling people, "I am the King!"

When we compare this behaviour with that of Jesus, we see a stark contrast in attitude. For most of his ministry Jesus spoke of a new kingdom, but he never bragged about his title. Even when he was questioned by Pilate, it seemed that Jesus was trying to get Pilate to see that this kingdom was very different. 

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

"He is a king who fears nothing, he is a king who desires nothing!" - Seneca the Younger

Thought for today: Is Christ your King?

Living in grace

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Do we live like Pontius Pilate or rather like Nathaniel?

The question of whether Jesus is a King (or not) troubled Pilate. He could see there was something remarkable about Jesus but couldn't bring himself to see Jesus as a king. Pilate's vision was too narrow - all he imagined was another worldly ruler, come to exert power and to challenge his leadership. Yet, there was something in Jesus that moved Pilate to ask some deep questions, especially regarding Truth.

"Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” - John 18:33

On the other hand, Nathaniel didn't need much convincing. He encountered Jesus and soon expressed his devotion:

John 1:48-49 - “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

Thought: Are we more like Pontius Pilate or Nathaniel?

Living in Grace

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I am grateful - how about you?

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." - Hebrews 13:7

I am very grateful for those amazing people who modelled Christianity for me over the years. This verse urges us to remember them and then to 'consider' (think on) their lives and finally, to imitate their faith. 

Someone once suggested that the definition of a Saint is "a person in whom Christ lives again." 

In some respects, our Christian role-models have been saints - Christ has lived on in their lives and through their example we have been taught about the ways of Jesus. And for their lives, I am extremely grateful!  

Exercise: Think about one person who has shaped your spiritual life. Give thanks to God for them today.

Philippians 1:3 - Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Living in Grace

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My helper - your helper!

"So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. 
What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 and Psalm 118:6)

Taking a scripture verse out of its context can be a dangerous thing, as we don't allow it to speak to us with the whole weight of the words either side of the verse. 

Take today's reading as an example. The message is clear enough in that we can affirm that God is our helper and therefore, we don't need to be afraid of the threats of other people. However, this is only half the truth - there is a lot more to glean from the verse...

...verse 6 starts off by stating: "So, we can say with confidence...". We should be asking, what is the "SO" referring to? And to get the answer we need to read the preceding verses, particularly verse 5.

"For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NKJV)

Our confidence comes from this amazing promise: God says he will never leave us, nor forsake us, which opens our hearts and mouths to proclaim with great confidence: 

God has got my back and so I don't need to be afraid of the hollow threats of people.

Living in grace

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Wisdom has no expiry date - it remains a gift throughout the generations

Wisdom is something that is timeless. And when we read the Bible, we note that there are thousands of words of wisdom, instruction, good news and grace. The book of Hebrews ends off offering the early believer's wisdom about contentment and money. In my opinion these words are timeless. They have spoken the Truth to countless generations of Christians, and they will continue to speak long after we have gone. 

Hebrews 13:5 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5)

I have left the Old Testament references in this post, because the readers of Hebrews would have known Deuteronomy and Joshua off-by-heart. This challenge was not something new to them, it was just that they were struggling to live it out. The same can be said for us. Knowing something to be wise and true, is one thing - but living it out, is the hard part!

Thought: Are you wrestling with contentment at the moment? How do the quotes from Joshua and Deuteronomy help you?

"Wisdom has no expiry date!"

Living in Grace

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Putting things together

As his final words to the first century Hebrews, the writer reminds them that God is the one who can put all things together. This is something we also ought to remember - when it seems that all is lost, we must remember that Christ is the one who can make us whole again. In Him, all things can be made new.

"May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
    the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!" - Hebrews 11:19-21 (The Message)

"You don't need another person, place or thing to make you whole. God already did that. Your job is to know it." - Maya Angelou

Living in Grace

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Keep on loving one another

In his final charge to the Hebrews the writer makes a number of profound statements in chapter 13. The very first words he utters are: "Keep on loving one another" (v.1). While these words may not seem earth-shattering for us, they are still very important for all believers to hear. 

Jesus had already told his disciples that the world would witness our love for each other and know that we belonged to him. He said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Sometimes I feel that if we could just put this into practice more often, our communities would be very different. I like what C.S. Lewis says about loving each other:

"Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbour,  act as if you did! As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” 

Action: Who is God calling you to love today? 

Living in Grace

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Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees

In sharing on Hebrews 12 this week, I definitely feel that verse 12and 13 are my highlights. I offer them to you and pray that they may be a blessing to you.

"Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (NIV)

"So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. (NLT)

"So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!" (The Message)

I pray that God would strength your tired hands and shaky knees. May you know his strength as you walk forward in faith. 

If you would like to listen to the audio podcast of the Bible Study, you are welcome to click here.

Living in Grace

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Robert Falcon Scott and the Apostle Paul

On this day (12th November) 1912, the diary and body of Robert Falcon Scott were found in Antartica. He had been dead for 8 months already, but no one could retrieve his body because of the extreme weather conditions. 

One of the intriguing things about Scott is how he faced his last few days on earth with fortitude and bravery. There was a certain peace in his heart about the inevitability of death. These are some of his last words, as longed for his loved ones to be taken care of:

"We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker of course and the end cannot be far. It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more. For God's sake, look after our people."

His words remind me a little of the writings of St. Paul. Even when Paul was in prison, he wrote letters filled with hope and always thought of others. Take for example these words from the first chapter of Philippians.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

Thought: Do you find it easy to pray for others even when you are going through tough times yourself?

Living in Grace

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P.S. Just out of interest, you may like to know that my maternal grandfather's name is also Robert Scott. Perhaps that helps explain why I am interested in this bit of historical trivia today :) 

Remembrance Day and the 1000-year-old Rose

The 11th of November is marked as Remembrance Day and most of us are aware of the history attached to this auspicious day. It is always a good practice to pause and remember the impact of war; to be thankful for the freedom's won; to mourn the millions of lives lost; to ponder whether we have learnt anything from these cataclysmic events; to pray that we will never allow them to occur again.

I recently finished a remarkable book on the Second World War, and I came to learn about the 1000-year-old rose (see the picture attached). This rose is also known as the Rose of Hildesheim, and it grows on the apse of the Hildesheim Cathedral, a Catholic cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany. Some scholars believe it may have been alive even as far back as 815 AD which is truly phenomenal. 

The reason I am mentioning this remarkable rose is because during the Allied bombing of Hildesheim in 1945, a large portion of the Cathedral was destroyed, including the visible part of the rose. All seemed to be ruins, until a while later, the rose began to grow and blossom again. It stands over 20 meters tall to this day. 

As a Christian, I believe that we should reflect on the tragedy of war, death and disaster with a different perspective. Of course, we are not immune from the pain and heartache of this broken world, but we should always hold onto the hope of the New Life in Christ. The Resurrection speaks to this truth, every day of our earthly existence.

Let us remember, that just when all seems to be lost, Christ can still bring renewal and life. 

Titus 3:5 - "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." 

Living in Grace

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Motivation

Motivation is a strange thing. Sometimes we wake up feeling motivated for the day or some meetings we know are coming up. However, the very next day, we can wake up and feel flat - there is zero motivation to do anything. 

So, if our motivation is not going to come from how many hours sleep we had last night, where is it going to come from? Perhaps it needs to come from another person? Someone who knows us and who wants the best for us. Someone who believes in our potential and can see that we are struggling. What do you think of that?

The same reasoning applies to our faith. Read this verse: 

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." - Hebrews 10:24

The writer clearly believes that acting in love and doing good for others is an important part of following Christ. However, in the same breath, he also implies that this doesn't always come naturally for us. One day we may feel excited to do this, but the chances are, that we may not feel like it on another day. We need Christian friends to help motivate us towards these end goals! 

Thought: Who needs some motivation today? How can you 'spur' them on towards love and good deeds?

Living in grace

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Holding Fast

On more than one occasion, the writer of Hebrews encourages his listens to hold onto their faith. Clearly this was something that they were struggling with and needed to be motivated to keep the faith. 

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." - Hebrews 10:23

I am convinced that these words ring true for many of us today too. We profess our faith in Jesus Christ, but there are many things and people that can cause us to waver. Let us remember that the 'hope we affirm' is not in our own ability, but rather in the greatness of God. 

The Lord is the one we can trust to keep his promises. Other people and institutions will disappoint us, but Christ remains faithful.

David Wilkerson - "Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail-his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world."

Living in grace

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What is Faith?

In answer to the question, What is Faith? there are thousands of responses. The Bible gives us many insights into the experience of faith, as well as examples of many faithful people. If I asked you the same question today, what would your response be?

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 gives us one of the clearest answers to this question. It says:

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." - NRSV

Putting this into contemporary language, J. Packer writes:

“Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God's own commitment, that the best is yet to come.” - J. I. Packer

Living in Grace

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Overcoming the worst in ourselves

In a blog post attributed to the late Frederick Buechner, I stumbled across these words:

"'Fight the good fight,' he says (1 Timothy 6:12), where it's not the fight to overcome the best of the competition that he's talking about, but the fight to overcome the worst in ourselves."

The words in italics are the ones that stood out for me. How often is it that I need to overcome the worst in myself, in order to fully rely on God's grace. The worst in ourselves (which I believe is our deepest sin) threaten to keep us away from the loving embrace of our heavenly father. And the lies of the evil one add weight to the battle we fight - he tries to feed our minds and hearts with these lies, in order to keep us from running to the arms of Jesus.

Thought: May you rest in the strength of Christ, as you fight the good fight of faith. Remember that Jesus is already aware of the 'worst in us' and he died for these sins. Lean on his mercy and grace.

John 16:33 - "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Living in Grace

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Will and Testament

I found the following verse to be very helpful as we contemplate the death of Christ. Often, we wonder why it was necessary for Jesus to die, in order for us to receive the promised inheritance of grace and mercy. This scripture helps us understand:

"Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect." - Hebrews 9:16-17

Very simply - we could only enjoy the great benefits of our eternal inheritance once Christ had died. The Divine will and testament only came into being, once Jesus had died on the cross.

Charles Spurgeon put it like this: “If there be a question about whether a man is alive or not, you cannot administer to his estate, but when you have certain evidence that the testator has died then the will stands. So is it with the blessed gospel: if Jesus did not die, then the gospel is null and void.” (Spurgeon)

Living in Grace

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Semper Reformanda

One of the slogans of the Reformation was semper reformanda ("always reforming"). Perhaps a better translation of these 2 words would be: "always being reformed." 

What I like about this is that it reminds me of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God is always trying to transform and renew us - we can choose to resist these moments of refreshing and change, or we can embrace them.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

"There is no justification without sanctification, no forgiveness without renewal of life, no real faith from which the fruits of new obedience do not grow." - Martin Luther
"Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me; sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me." - Oswald Chambers

Living in Grace

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An empty, open hand

"Faith is like an empty, open hand stretched out towards God, with nothing to offer and everything to receive" - John Calvin

In this week, when we remember the significant changes brought to the Church, through the Reformation, I thought I'd share a few inspiring words from John Calvin. Although he is not everyone's favourite, John did have a remarkable impact on the Church and Theology. Here are a few more of his insights:

"Humility is the beginning of true intelligence."

"People will never worship God with a sincere heart or be roused to fear and obey Him with sufficient zeal, until they properly understand how much they are indebted to His mercy."

Matthew 9:2 - Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Living in Grace

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Paying the debt

Hebrews 7:22 - "Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God."

The understanding of a guarantor is of 'someone who commits to pay back a debt if the original borrower can't pay it back.' Another name for this person is a 'surety.' The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the one who guarantees the New Covenant with his Father. 

In order to try and explain this in another way, the author Max Lucado shares this story: 

"A man had a daughter in college. He had set up a checking account for her so that she would have some money at school and could be responsible to pay her bills through this account. He was trying to help her learn how to manage a budget. He gave her some money to start the account, and she put money into her account through an on-campus job she had. He was also on the account as a guarantor to the bank since his daughter was still a minor. 

One day the bank sent him an overdraft notice on his daughter’s account. The amount of the overdraft was $25.37. What should he do? Let the bank absorb it? They won’t. Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won’t satisfy the bank .... He knew he could transfer the money from his account to hers. That seemed like the best option. So, he did. He replenished her account and paid the overdraft fee as well.

He then called her. He told her about the overdraft. She said she was sorry. But she told him she had no money to repay him at that moment. She was broke.

After a pause she began, “Dad, could you….” But before she could continue the sentence Dad said, “Honey, I already have.” 

Isn’t that amazing. Dad had met her need before she knew she had one."

And this is the story of the Gospel. While we were still caught up in our sinful lives, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). He became the sacrifice and the guarantor, both at the same time. 

Living Grace

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How long would you be willing to wait?

How long would you be willing to wait for the fulfilment of a promise? Most of us struggle to wait even a few days or weeks, but what would you do if these weeks turned into years? I think about how Moses needed to wait around 25 years for the fulfilment of God's promise:

"For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

“I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. - Hebrews 6:13-15

John Ortberg - Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.

Thoughts: How long have you waited for the fulfilment of a promise?

Living in Grace

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Empty Vessel

Martin Luther once wrote a moving prayer which is filled with honesty and vulnerability. I am sure that his words will resonate with many of us. It is entitled Empty Vessel.

“Behold, Lord, An empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.
I am weak in faith; Strengthen thou me. I am cold in love;
Warm me and make me fervent That my love may go out to my neighbor.
I do not have a strong and firm faith; At times I doubt and am unable to trust thee altogether.
O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in thee.
In thee I have sealed the treasures of all I have. I am poor;
Thou art rich and didst come to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner;
Thou art upright. With me there is an abundance of sin;
In thee is the fullness of righteousness….. Amen.”

2 Corinthians 4:7-8 - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair..."

Action: If you find Martin Luther's prayers helpful, please pass onto others.

Living in Grace

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Surviving the Hurricane

As South Africans we don't come across Hurricanes in our weather patterns, but we are obviously aware that friends around the world have to take precautions against these devasting weather conditions. 

We may not face physical storms in our lives, but we will inevitably find ourselves in a spiritual or emotional Hurricane at some point in time. This is when we truly must 'batten down the hatches and draw close to God in prayer.' I love how Eugene Peterson renders Psalm 57 - it really resonates with me. 

"Be good to me, God—and now! I’ve run to you for dear life. I’m hiding out under your wings until the hurricane blows over. I call out to High God, the God who holds me together. He sends orders from heaven and saves me..." - Psalm 57:1-3

Living in Grace

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A prayer for a friend

Have you ever wondered what prayer you could offer up for a friend going through a tough time. Well, you don't have to wonder any more :)

Here are some beautiful, life-giving words, that would be appreciated by anyone needing some encouragement. They are from Ephesians 3:16-17: 

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong."

Isn't this fantastic? We are asking God to share from his bountiful, unlimited resources, empowering our loved ones with the Holy Spirit. And that Christ would make his home in their hearts, as they trust in God to guide them through these challenges. 

Lastly, we are asking that all of our roots would settle into God's great love and keep us strong in the midst of the storms.

Action: Why don't you pray this prayer for a loved one or friend today?

Living in Grace

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Faithful to the Lord

"For he (Jesus) was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house." - Hebrews 3:2

This passage speaks to us of two directions of faithfulness:

1. To God - who has called us.

2. To others - who are placed in our lives.

Both of these require God's inner strength and a willingness to humbly serve. Sometimes we think that these will only be done in bigger dramatic ways, but actually, they should be a lot more simple and practical. I like what FB Meyer suggests:

“Don’t' waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.” - F.B. Meyer.

Living in Grace

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Moving towards Courage

"But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.” – Hebrews 3:6

I had never really considered 'Courage' to involve some kind of movement or action. By this I mean that an obvious end-result of courage is usually some kind of action, but are there some steps we can take to get this courage? If you look at the following verses, you will note that there seems to be some action involved:

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Chronicles 17:25 - “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So, your servant has found courage to pray to you.

Matthew 14:27 - But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

All of these scriptures seem to suggest that we can position ourselves to "be courageous"; "find courage" or "take courage."

I am not 100% sure what this looks like, but I am sensing that our confidence in Christ's promises has something to do with our willingness to move towards Courage. What do you make of this? How can we move towards this Christ-like Courage? 

Living in Grace

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