Why is it so hard?

I have to admit that the more I grapple with the Scriptures, the more challenging they seem to become. Or maybe it is just a huge realization that 'living out' the Word is a lot tougher than simply memorizing it. I don't understand why some critics accuse Christianity of being a crutch to lean on - it is rather a difficult and demanding path to walk on. 

Take these words from Romans 12:19-21 as an example: 

Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written,

“Adonai says, ‘Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.’”

On the contrary,

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For by doing this, you will heap
fiery coals [of shame] on his head.” (Proverbs 25)

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.  (Complete Jewish Bible)

Wow, who thinks of feeding their enemy or giving them something to drink? We are usually trying to get as far away from them as possible. 

Thought: What do you find hard about following the way of Christ? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Remember, remember the 11th of November!

As I child, I distinctly remember the phrase, "remember, remember the 5th of November." This was always said in conjunction with Guy Fawkes, and it was such a catchy little ditty that I still remember it to this day. 

However, as today is Remembrance Day, I would like to offer a variation of the phrase and encourage us to sing: "remember, remember, the 11th of November!"

It is always good to pause and remember all who can gone before us, especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. In many ways, War reminds us of the evil of humanity (on one hand), while also teaching us about the resilience of human beings. Sadly, we never seem to the learn the lessons that War teaches us and, even today, we feel the global impact of another war - the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

“There are perhaps many causes worth dying for, but to me, certainly, there are none worth killing for.”
― Albert Dietrich

Remembrance Day is also a moment where I stop to consider what Christ has done for me. Jesus took the worst that humanity could throw at him - including my sin - and paid the ultimate sacrifice, in my place. For this, I am deeply grateful and indebted to him. As I remember this, I pray that my response is not one of apathy but rather is motivated to honour what He has done for me. 

Wouldn't it be a miracle if all humanity could remember the pain, loss and destruction of War and then commit to never repeat that evil again? 

Isaiah 2:4 - "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Hiding from evil

"Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers." - Psalm 64:2

It is very easy for us as South Africans to draw a parallel from today's reading, to the recent events of looting and violence in our country. It seems clear that those behind the actions plotted and conspired to bring maximum destruction to our communities. 

So, in light of these events, how do read David's words and what do we make of them? Would this mean that we hope God can hide us from the physical evildoers, or is he asking for protection from the fallout of their actions? Or is it a little of both? It is clear that as Christ-followers we will not be exempt from suffering, but what can we expect from God during these times? 

I realise these are tough questions, but they are on everyone's minds at the moment. Perhaps my response is too simplistic for some, but I want to believe that I can turn to God for help in my time of need and that God will protect me from the 'evil one.' This doesn't mean that I will never face trials or sorrow, but I see it as God's promise to keep my 'soul/spirit/life' safe from the clutches of the enemy. Even in ultimate death I can know that I am in the strong hands of my loving Saviour.

"Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." - Psalm 17:8

Living in Grace

D3LM3

When I don't act...

I have found this verse to be a little troubling at times: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." (James 4:17)

Wow, do you see what I mean?
James is saying that if I KNOW what good I need to do, and I don't DO IT, then I am a sinner. 
So, it is not just when I make mistakes that I sin, but also when I fail to do good. This is indeed challenging for us because we all consider ourselves 'good' people and we try to follow God's commands. However, if we fail to act when the Spirit prompts us, then we are also guilty of sin. 


Edmund Burke - "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing."

"In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil." (Message)

Whew, that is enough of a challenge for me today. What are your thinking today?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Evil will not last!

“Only one principle will give you courage - that is the principle that no evil lasts forever nor indeed for very long.” – Epicurus

With another terrorist attack taking place this week, it leaves all 'peace loving' people feeling jittery, angry and anxious. It makes us question, how much longer 'evil' will continue to reign in our world. 

I don't have an answer as to when it will end, but the Bible does promise us that God has already won the victory and that evil has been conquered. What is taking place, may just be considered as the last death twitches of the enemy. 

1 John 3:8 - "But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil."

Psalm 37:9 -"For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land."

Psalm 92:7 - "....that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed for ever."

Prayer: Thank you Lord that you are our All Conquering Saviour and even though evil seems to flourish, it too will pass away. May you grant us the peace that passes all understanding as we trust in your deliverance.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Don't get numb!

The bombings in Boston have struck a chord deep within us - it seems barbaric, senseless, cowardly and just simply evil! It has to be the work of a mad-man. What sane person plants a bomb in the middle of a crowd of innocent people? It is wrong on a million levels.

However, this tragedy has just highlighted for me, how numb I have become to the pain in our world. Sure, the loss of 3 lives and 140 wounded is deeply saddening, but why do we not get so upset about the scores of people killed in a suicide bombing yesterday (in Pakistan) or the fact that 5 kids a day die from abuse (in the USA alone)? What about the fact that a woman is raped every 26 seconds in South Africa? The list goes on and on...

There is a warning for all of us in this: Don't become numb!
All loss is painful.
All murder is wrong.
All abuse is evil.

"If people can't deal with their problems, they numb themselves a little bit." - Kevin Nealon

"There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move
But I can't hear what you're saying."- Pink Floyd

Pray hard today friends. Pray for God's light to shine in the darkness. Pray that God would use you to be a symbol of peace in this troubled world.

Living in Grace
D3LM3