Wait with Hope.

"Wait with Hope.

Hope now.
Hope always." - Psalm 131 (The Message)

There are very few of us that enjoy waiting and the longer we end up waiting, the more we struggle to remain positive. In a Christian sense, our waiting has to have a long view of things. We know that not all our longings and prayers will be fulfilled in this life, but we continue to HOPE in the final resolution of all things.

What are you waiting for at the moment? Do you still believe that Christ can fulfil your deepest longings? 

Job 6:13 - For I am utterly helpless, without any hope.

Living in grace

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What is NEW about it?

In reflecting on this very well-known passage of scripture (John 13:33-35) I was greatly challenged around the idea of this 'new' commandment. Why did Jesus refer to it as a new commandment? If you want to get the full version of my thoughts on this, then please watch this video.

John 13:34-35 - “And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (Living Bible)

Tertullian reports the pagans of his day (a century after this Gospel was published) as saying of Christians, ‘See how they love one another!’” 

Living in Grace

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Strengthen by Grace

"It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so." - HEBREWS 13:9

The writer to the Hebrews uses an interesting concept in this chapter when he speaks of our 'hearts being strengthened by grace.' I wonder what he is hinting at? 

Is it possible that the believers had become stuck in their belief that certain foods would have spiritual benefits in their lives? And so, he is trying to counter this thought by arguing that our hearts are actually strengthen through the grace of God instead. 

What do you think?

Living in Grace

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A Spiritual Stent

A Stent is a wire-mesh tube that is inserted into a blocked artery with the hope of assisting blood flow. This procedure is especially important for the arteries around the heart, and it can be a life-saving procedure. While this makes sense for physical blockages in our arteries, what can we do when our 'spiritual hearts' are in danger and there seem to blockages in our spiritual lives? 

Well, William Temple has this to say: “To worship is to open the heart to the love of God.”

So, he is suggesting that when we gather for worship, we intentionally open our hearts to the work of God's Spirit. This becomes a stent for the blockages in our hearts. What do you make of that?

Jude 1:2 (Message) - Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!

Living in grace

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The Highest Privilege

"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them." - Revelation 21:3

These words remind us of the coming glory of heaven, and the ultimate restoration of what was lost in the beginning (Genesis 3). However, they also reveal something deeply profound and exciting. There is the promise of walking with God again - if you read the verse again, you will notice this.

Charles Spurgeon puts it likes this:

“I do not think the glory of Eden lay in its grassy walks, or in the boughs bending with luscious fruit-but its glory lay in this, that the ‘Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day.’ Here was Adam’s highest privilege, that he had companionship with the Most-High.” (Spurgeon)

Thought: What does it mean for you to walk with the Lord and to know that God lives amongst us?

Living in Grace

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Restore us

"Restore us, O God;

make your face shine on us, 

that we may be saved." - Psalm 80:3

When one of the biblical authors emphasizes a point, they repeat it a number of times. If you read through the whole of Psalm 80, you will notice that Asaph repeats these words in verses 3, 7 and 19. He clearly wants us to take these thoughts to heart. 

Restoration, God's presence and favour, Salvation

Bearing in mind that the Psalms were written as songs, these words would act as a chorus, and we would keep repeating them throughout the time of worship. 

What captures your attention in these words? 

Living in Grace

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The stars are God's fingerprints

In preparing for a memorial service this week, I came across a lovely piece of writing about God's creation. It reminded me of the Psalms in some ways - the Psalmists were very good at seeing the glory of God in his creation. 

"The stars are God's fingerprints. The sun is a mere smidgen of His radiance. The moon is to remind us that He doesn't sleep at night. The vastness of space proclaims the infinity of His wisdom, while the sand pebble indicates His thoroughness with the puniest details. The lion hints at His fearlessness, the bear at His power, the hawk at His keen insight. And yet, those possess only a tidbit of God's omnipotence and omnipresence. Every tree points toward heaven; every bird has a song to sing; even every moment of wind goes in some direction. There is nothing chaotic about our beautiful designed world. All creation has a message to tell. It says, "Listen, there is a God. There is a God!" - Brent D. Earles

Thought: When last did you look out for God's fingerprints? 

Psalm 8:3-9

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Living in Grace

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