Inspirational Bible Verses

Understanding The Bible's Powerful Message

2007-08-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

It seems a long time since I last posted a meditation here. Not because I haven't been active - far from it. My efforts are evident across a wide range of weblogs and websites. But, I felt it was an appropriate time to add something new here.

First of all though - which Bible verse to you sums up the whole of the Bible's message, the passage that clearly explains the purpose of life and the ultimate destiny of the universe?

I've played this game before. I call it, guess what the preacher is thinking of...

Imagine the scene. You are in a large hall and the preacher asks for volunteers to tell him which Bible verse sums up most perfectly the message of the Bible. The first one says, "John ch.3 v.16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son..." Although everyone else would agree with that in the hall - after all, the verse has everything, it focuses on God, but clearly points out our need for redemption, the purpose of Jesus' incarnation and the high price paid to execute this plan, along with spelling out the alternative outcome for those who resist in stubborn unbelief. This wasn't the verse the preacher was thinking of.

Habakkuk ch.2 v.14 was mentioned - the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea...

Daniel ch.2 was touched upon - but these, along with others were rejected as insufficient.

They were all good Bible verses, clearly expressing different aspects of God's pan for us all from a variety of perspectives - but not from the point of view that this preacher wanted to emphasise.

He had certainly piqued our interest. Instead of passivity, there was now an atmosphere of challenge. What could he be looking for that wasn't in any of those other verses?

Finally, he opened his Bible at Ephesians ch.1 v.9-10 God's will is for all things to come under one head, Christ's. This is our destiny, our purpose - to see these words become a reality around the world.

Success is inevitable - that is the power behind those words, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, spoke the universe into being and turned our lives around. The assurance of the Holy Spirit in our lives to guarantee the third of these equally miraculous events convinces us of the reality ofthis promise. We will see Him, enthroned in glory, above all other 'gods' and 'lords'. It is our honour to be able to participate in this process now.

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Bible verses on inspiration

2007-05-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

2 Peter ch.1 v.21 puts it succinctly. The authors of the Bible were not relying on their own imagination to come up with the words that inspire us even now. Neither were they obediently scribbling do words dictated to them by an angel or writing automatically with blank minds while appearing to be possessed.

Instead, the authorship was a partnership - in the same way that the wind blows the sails of a boat whose captain chooses to steer it through a straight course. They were in full possession of all their faculties, but were empowered by the Holy Spirit, to allow His inspiration to speak through their thoughts and words - their languge, energised by Him to speak timeless truths for our benefit.

They could see by faith that there was more to what they were saying. They could only grasp imperfectly at an idea of the impact of those words, bt it gave them strength to ensure that they fulfilled the responsibilities of their sacred calling. And now, we reap the benefits of their diligence.

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Inspiration through preparation - know your Bible!

2007-04-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

After the resurrection, Jesus' followers met together. It is interesting to note that He chided them for their lack of faith. Did they not know the scriptures well enough? These same scriptures also revealed the next phase they would enter in.

This is the key to sucessful Christian living. Know your Bible. It will lift your faith - revealing both the ultimate destiny for the human race as well as individual guidance for the future for yourself.

The Bible catalogues the full spectrum of human experience of the divine. There is no experience outside of these bounds. Therefore to be prepared for the next phase of our own spiritual journey, we need look no further than its pages to inform ourselves of the nature of what to expect.

Our faith is shaped by our experience, which matches the revelation we have received in the page of the Bible.

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Easter Greetings!

2007-04-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

Now that Easter is past, the chocolate eggs and bunnies consumed. It is time to reflect on what it all means.

Good Friday is not a pleasant occasion for many. The reality of blood, nails, thorns and suffering is too much to bear. However, the stark reality of sin is far worse. A deadly sickness of the soul requires a radical solution. This is what crucifixion is about.

To me though - there is more to Good Friday than sacrifice. It speaks of victory - at the darkest point when all seems to be lost, this is in fact the finest hour.

The curtain rips, God's home is now with men - there is no barrier to impede communication through the work of Jesus in reconciling the two.

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Bible verses for Lent: #1 the wilderness

2007-02-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

Jesus went into the wilderness. Why?

To be tempted - it seems strange. We pray, "lead us not into temptation" but Jesus knew that that his experience in the wilderness would result in a powerful encounter with the accuser. This is an important point that cannot be ignored. We need to prepare to face and be victorious over whatever would beset us at the end of our own time in the wilderness. Our weapons should be the same as those of our Lord: the Word of God, handled correctly.

To meet with the Father - there were far fewer distractions in the wilderness. It may be worth thinking about this the next time you find yourself metaphorically in the wilerness, stripped of distracting opportunities to minister, you can focus on what really matters.

To prepare for power - without the first two, there would be no point to this final entry. It is after Jesus' baptism and wilderness experience that we see Him exercising real power to turn the world around Him upside-down.

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Inspirational Verses from the Sermon on the Mount: the Lord's Prayer

2007-01-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

More properly, this is the Disciples' Prayer - it's the one He taught US. It's position in the Sermon on the Mount is important. Jesus had just finished warning the disciples against meaningless repetition. The prayer is not some sort of magic mantra that will bring us blessings and keep us safe from curses - as if we were a cargo cult.

Instead, it's a pattern - a patchwor of themes that our own prayers should focus on if we are to develop an intimate relationship with our true Heavenly Father.

Our purpose is not to develop a mental checklist of spiritual topics, but to present ourselves in a way that acnowledges firstly who God is - then focuses on ourselves - our need of Him if we are to meet the needs of those around us.

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Inspirational Bible Verses from the Sermon on the Mount

2007-01-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

Matthew ch6. v.4 is the first of a short series of verses that make an important point.

As the song says:

It aint what you do, it's the way that you do it.

Our motivation in doing good - whether praying, giving, fasting - whatever - is not to impress other people. Otherwise we're no better than anyone else who just wants to show off. It isn't even to impress God - He knows what's going on inside us anyway.

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Inspirational Verses from the Sermon on the Mount #3 I say to you...

2007-01-04T05:15:00.000-08:00

You have heard...

But I say to you...

These two phrases come up again and again in the last half of Matthew ch.5

But, in verse 17, Jesus makes it quite clear. He has not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. He has come to fulfill all that they wrote about.

These verses lay a far higher standard of behaviour on believers than would have been expected. It is simple enough, most of the time to modify the outward behaviour of the majority of people. The Law was good at that. But, it has no effect on the inward life of the soul - except to show sin up for what it truly is.

The Law's role was to show us that we were in need of a saviour. But it was powerless in itself to save us.

Jesus came, not to subvert or usurp the Law and its clear demands. Instead He came to fulfill those demands on our behalf. We would have no hope of internalisin the Law to approach the higher standard that Jesus reveals in this passage - but with the Holy spirit dwelling in us, we can have the power on the inside to say no to temptation and sin. And even if we do fall, we have God's forgiveness to be able to stand once again in His strength.

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Inpirational Bible Verses from the Sermon on the Mount #2 salt and light

2007-01-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

Matthew ch.5 v.13 puts it simply. Jesus calls us salt and light.

As a consummate storyteller, Jesus knew the power of the power of the images conjured up by His words. They ring less true to us today because of our society of convenience. You want light? Flick a switch. You want salt? It's there in abundance in our supermarkets!

To his listeners, the words meant something else. Salt and light were essential to life and were not always easy to come by. Salt was the great preserver and gave flavour to all it came into contact with. Light was needed to guide in the dark and show up dangers for what they were.

And that's us. We have an essential part to play in preserving society and giving it a distint flavour. We are needed to give guidance and to show things up for what they really are - exposing imagined dangers as superstitious fancies and illuminating the dak pits where people might fall.

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Inspirational Verses from the Sermon on the Mount #1

2007-01-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

You will find the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew ch.5 through to ch.7. There is a parallel passage in Luke's gospel - an account of a different location where a similar sermon was preached. Like many travelling preachers today, Jesus probably gve the same sermon in several locations; adding emphasis, changng stories slightly to suit a specific local audience.

The Beatitudes

There are nine of them at the start of the sermon - they are blessings, telling us how we are to be envied by others if these thing are true of us, and pointing out why we are so blessed if that is the case.

Each one would deserve a short sermon of their own - that is not the purpose of this posting though. All I want to do is give a broad overview to inspire you to dig deeper for yourself.

They turn the world upside down. We don't think of a person who is consumed by a quest for social justice for others as particularly 'blessed'. We avoid people who mourn and despise those who don't push themselves forward as being weak and ineffectual.

But Jesus sees the full story - not the side tainted with self-interest. And He tells it like it truly is. If you want to be true to yourself and experience life as it should be lived, you have to play to the rel rules - not the ones we're conditioned to expect from a self-seeking generation.

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Inpsirational Verses to Shape the New Year

2006-12-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

Psalm 37 is a good place to start. It begins with some excellent advice. Don't trouble yourself over the success of evil people. They will get what is coming to them at the right time. Just be careful how you pray. In my youth, I used to call on God to bring down His fires of judgement on one immoral establishment in the city where I lived. Then, one day I awoke to the news that one of the clients of the place in question had thrown a couple of petrol bombs through their window as a result of a dispute there. Thankfully, no-one was hurt. However, it was a humbling reminder to me to be more specific and less flowery in how I prayed.

If you do want your heart's desire though, the advice in the following verses is plain and straightforwards. Delight yourself in the Lord. Of course, you run the risk that re-ordering your priorities will result in a radical adjustment of what you perceive your heart's desire to be. But that is precisely what you signed up for when you gave over your life to serve Jesus only.

So, if you want to see success in the following year, commit your plans now to the Lord. Consult with Him in order to enure that your plans coincide with the vision He has given you of your destiny.

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Future Plans

2006-12-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

Jesus warned his followers to be as wise as serpents, but as innocent as doves. An interesting mix of metaphors, but an important point. When we look at the parable of the shrewd steward we see the same tension in operation.

Although our future is in God's hands, and He could decide to end your life tomorrow, this is no excuse for laziness or shoddy preparation. The Good Lord gave each of us a brain with the capacity to plan ahead and be prepared. He therefore expects us to use it and not depend on Him to get us out of scrapes that our lack of diligence gets us into in the first place.

"If it is God's will" is not a magic word to cover over our own failings. It is a recognition of the constraints He places us under - that we are not the true masters of our destiny but owe everything to Him. It does not abrogate the authority and responsibility He has invested in us to accomplish His will "on earth, as it is in Heaven."

Therefore as we draw to the end of another year, it is wise to prayerfully make plans and commit our projects to Him. Over the next few days, I shall share some of mine with you.

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Have an Inspirational Christmas!

2006-12-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

The past fe months have been a joy - and a challenge to post something of use. In the Ne Year, I will be stepping up a gear. I'm excited by the prospect - and would value your prayers.

It is encouraging to me to see a growing readersip, and repeat visitors retrning to see what's new in this, and the other spiritual weblogs I maintain. You keep me going.

Menwhile Why do I do this? I'll post up some meditations o a number of verses. But here's a hit. God's love compels me. Deep down I want to write, to spek, to shout from the rooftops: sharing what I have. It may not be much. It is raw, unpolished at times - in need of careful editing to get the message aross, unencumbered by a poor choice of words or typographical errors.

But write I must - and so I do.

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Inspiration for Christmas: 1

2006-12-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

God's arrival on the scene was heralded by angels.

They had a clear, unequivocal message for those who would listen.

A saviour - he is Christ the Lord - not "he may become" or "he will be". For this baby was the Almighty in human form, choosing to enter our universe and live amongst us. The All-Powerful choosing to temporarily set aside His rights in order to redeem a lost people.

By taking this step he was putting into effect a chain of events that He had already engineered in advance - before the foundation of the world - demonstarting that He was truly Lord over past, present and future.

Yet at the time, all the physical evidence set before the world was a baby. But to those who saw with the eye of faith, it was already clearly established that this was the redeemer.

Look around you this Christmas. What do you see? Vulnerable beginnings, or the glorious end result. Call things as you see them - with the perspective of the eternal.

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Advent verses #6

2006-12-07T00:23:00.000-08:00

Isaiah ch.11 tells us of a powerful coming king.

He will be motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

He will judge with both high standards of personal righteousness and social justice as His criteria.

The social order and nature itself will be turned upside down when He comes.

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Advent - Inspirational meditation #5

2006-12-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

Jesus' miraculous birth was foretold in the Old Testament. For example, Matthew ch.2 v.5-6 clearly shows that it was understood by the people of the day that He would be born in Bethlehem.

They knew the scriptures. They may not have understood all the specifics about how the Messiah could be both a suffering servant and an all-conquering king. They may not have been able to appreciate the implications of having a Messiah who was both prophet and priest. But they knew He was coming.

It was just that for the vast majority, His entry into the world was a surprise.

How do you feel about God's specific promises concerning your own destiny and prosperity? If He was to act suddenly, decisively to bring about a transformation of the situation you're in, how would you react?

Would it be a surprise? Would it be done 'according to your faith'?

As believers, we have a sacred responsibility to live a life where faith is exercised, where divine intervention is depended upon in order to demonstrate to an unbelieving world that the God of breakthroughs is still in the business of surprising them today.

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Inspirational Advent Verses: 4

2006-12-04T06:47:00.000-08:00

Matthew ch.2 v.3 is an odd little verse.

We can understand the first half easily enough. Out of the blue, a company of strangers appears from the East. They claim that they are here to see the new king...

But!

You are the king. You are insecure about your crown,stolen as it is, held onto only because the Romans trust your potential rivals even less to do their bidding. And now this?

However, the second half gets you thinking. Why would the rest of Jerusalem be quaking in their sandals at this news? Weren't they supposed to be looking forward to the coming of the Messiah?

We like routine. We don't like unpredictability. And here comes a massive dose of uncertainty. What will the Messiah be like? Will His arrival complicate things with the Romans? Is there a good chance that the Romans will do away with you as a response to rebellion?

So many questions - but no answers? Truly a pivotal time for them.

We can find ourselves in the same position easily. We like to be in control. But that is not what a life of faith is all about. For us, freedom, release from inner turmoil comes when we relinquish control over what we couldn't master in the first place.

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Inspirational Bible Verses for Advent: 3

2006-12-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

Genealogies have a purpose. Two are listed for Jesus. In Matthew ch.1 we are given Joseph's genealogy, displaying a lineage back to Adam - giving a clear context for why Jesus is here. Significan characters are chosen from His family tree to show a symmetry that would hit home to people looking for a king who would literally split time in two and herald the final age of humanity.

Most fascinating of all, is the fact that as well as Mary, there are four other women mentioned in His genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. The negative history of any of the four would, at first glance, appear to disqualify Jesus from His kingly title. But, the point is to demonstrate that the Almighty God is a God of grace who forgives, reconciles, brings aliens and enemies into the family tree of His own Son. He has power to forgive sin and redeem the past of anyone - no matter what they had done - such is the all-consuming grace of an omnipotent God; a God for everyone.

In Luke ch.3 we see a different structure - listing his biological parentage, rather than a ceremonial list inherited from his adoptive human father. I don't feel that I can improve on what has been written elsewhere on the subject.

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Advent Calendar and Candle

2006-12-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

If you need an Advent Candle or Calendar online. There's a couple at http://www.adventcalendar.info.

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Inspirational Advent Meditation: 2

2006-12-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

Moses foresaw the coming of Jesus. In Deuteronomy ch.34 v.15, he warned the people of Israel to watch out for the Prophet who the Almighty would raise up from their midst.

Psalm 2 paints a picture of a powerful ruler, a great king over all nations; as the coming Messiah.

And yet David also sang of a 'High Priest - forever, in the order of Melchizedek' in Psalm 100 v.4.

And so the world waited, for one who would be prophet, priest and king.

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An interesting Advent resource

2006-12-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

While perusing the Internet, I came across Kerry Beck's Advent and Christmas package. Certainly a large variety of material that could easily make a difference to your busy schedule.

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Inspirational verses about Advent: 1

2006-12-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

Advent is a time for reflection, a time to prepare and remind yourself of why Jesus came. There are plenty of passages we could pick to start with - but I'll start with one that is often overlooked.

Genesis ch.3 v.15

The first promise of a coming Messiah who would be born of woman; who would destroy the powerful hold of our spiritual oppressor, but, in doing so would be wounded himself. Bruising the serpent's head would not be an innefectual symbolic gesture. Rather it would destroy any authority he had over us and render him impotent - that is why in Hebrews ch.2 v.15 talks about people who were kept in bondage to the fear of death; but now set free.

Even more revealin though, is to examine the context of this promise. It is given right in the middle of a curse. Even as we are in the midst of being punished for outright rebellion, the Good Lord, out of grace, reaches out in reconciliation. That those who were in emnity with Him can be agents of redemption.

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Inspired by Blood

2006-10-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

There's a curious statement in Hebrews ch.12 v.24 - we are told that Jesus is the mediator of a New Covenant - that we are familiar enough with. An agreement that God's dwelling place would be within mankind through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit transforming and empowering each of us.

But the verse talks of sprinkling - a reference to the temple pratices - for now we are all inducted into a royal priesthood through new birth, and set apart - made holy - consecrated by the covering of blood.

Yes, it's brutal. Yes, it's awful to imagine - that was the point. Sin was not nice and neat and tidy and civilised. Stark imagery like this was used to wrestle our minds into true reality, and not into a sanitizedd series of excuses and situational ethics. Sacrifice is not pleasant because sin is not an abstract concept, divorced from reality. It is a rebellious cancer that needs to be excised from our consciousness.

When we undergo surgery or even a visit to the dentist there is pain, blood, loss - but it is necessary for life and freedom from further hurt. The choice is ours.

The blood of animals acted as a temporary remedy - but more importantly as a bold reminder that there was one who would come and deal once for all with the hurt, the sickness, the rebellion, the slaughter.

It would not be nice. It would not be civil and pleasant. It would be stark, brutal and messy. But it would then be over!

That was why the prophets of old looked forward to Jesus' coming. They culd see the victory over mankind's flailing brutality. They could see the defeat of sin, sickness and death. They could see an end to all the ugliness that haunts the human psyche through that one death.

For while Abel's blood, shed by his own brother in murderous jealousy, clled out for vengeance and judgement. The blood of Jesus, spilled by us all as the culmination of our rejection of Him, the only solution to our ills; that bood calls out for mercy, forgiveness, a new beginning.

That is why we accept that spiritual sprinkling of blood, saturating our hearts. That we too would exibit the new start promised in all areas of our lives.

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Your verse to live by?

2006-10-18T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Bible is an amazing book - actually a whole library of 66 amazing books, written by about 40 different authors over several centuries, yet encompassing a central truth that runs seamlessly through them all.

It touches all of us at different levels at different times - but most of all, it commnicates a sense that the Almighty Creator of the Universe is speaking directly to you,and no-one else. This is the Holy Spirit at work. The same person who inspired the authorship of each book will tailor your perception of it to bring to your attention the truth that you need to apply at the most appropriate opportunity.

At times, He speaks with such clarity on an issue foundational to our identity as a Christian and we gain a glimpse of our destiny. We see beyond th mere words on the page to see a lifestyle shaped by a principle - and we know that this is the Father's will for us. Not only that, but we become certain that all we require to fulfil that destiny is wrapped up in that short passage. That the One who inspired the author to write of a situation where He would intervene in person; who captured our imagination and caused us to dare to believe that He could deliver on such a bold promise; this Lord of Creation will persevere with us to see His will manifest in our lives.

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Inspirational verses about Inspiration

2006-10-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

2 Peter ch.1 v.20-21 puts it extremely well. "no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit."

The writers of the books of the Bible didn't go into a trance or receive a pre-written missive from on hih that they had to recite. The God we have come to know and worship does not work in such a way. No all-powerful deity would ever need to resort to conjuring tricks or phony seances to get His message across to humanity.

Instead, the same means that He uses to speak through people today was at the heart what Peter explains to us. The Holy Spirit motivated, moved and inspired these people. It is as if we clothe our personalities with His Spirit, that His attitudes and desires communicate themselves through our own thoughts and expressions.

When He speaks, we can test our revelation against the Gold Standard of his revealed Word. We don't need to perform exegetical gymnastics. We can test and approve whatever conforms to God's will and highlights His present concerns for us in growing the Kingdom.

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Inspirational Bible Verses About Life

2006-10-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

It has to be said. There are some verses in the bible that are not meant to be taken literally. When Jesus declares, "I am the door," in John ch.10 v.7, He is not declaring that He is a large flat piece of wood. His language is figurative. It is obvious that this is so, and there are clear spiritual principles that can be learned from His words - but that is another story for another time.

In essence, this is true of all of the times where the Bible uses narrative forms that involve imagery. We interpret the images in the light of what the Bible has revealed elsewhere, rather than use a fanciful eisegesis of a metaphor to reinterpret what is crystal clear from the outset.

So, when Jesus continues in verse 10 to say " The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly," it is not merely a divine command to purchase a burglar alarm. It has a clear meaning within the content of the passage.

We could spend time identifying the characteristics of these 'thieves' and what they are after when applied to our culture and our time - but I want to quickly focus on Jesus' statement about Himself.

He has come to give us life - not an idle boast from a self-important glory-seeker, but a concise statement from the One who is uniquely qualified to claim this as truth. Not mere 'existence', not just a lengthening of the number of days we spend on earth, but a qualitative shift in the centre of our source for fulfillment.

A full, abundant life is one where our spiritual needs are met in such a way that we are free to be precisely who we were destined to become. A life where we may not find that all our problems disappear, but we become aware of the One who will support us and lead us victoriously through all circumstances that would threaten our relationship with Him and with those He has placed us with.

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Inspirational Bible Verses About Joy

2006-10-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Nehemiah ch.8 v.10 tells us "Don't be grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength." The power of joy as a spiritual force in the Christian's armoury cannot be underestimated. When faced with issues that appear intractable, that is the time to allow your spirit to be strengthened by a joy that transcends understanding.

The Good Lord has a sene of humour. A principle reinforced in scripture - not just in Psalm 2 - but in the beatitudes where He displays a set of values that turn the established order upside down.

We are told that this is his plan. For the least important to be the most significant - to trasform situations so that all we can do is lagh, for there will be no other explanation for how circumstances are miraculously changed, outside of acknowledging Divine intervention.

It is this essential paradox that is at the root of James ch.1 v.2 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations," because what our enemies see as an opportunity to see us stumble is in reality a springboard to experiencing spiritual growth.

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Inspirational Bible Verses About Peace

2006-10-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

There's an interesting statement in Isaiah ch.26 v.3: "You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you." - it reveals an essential truth to bear in mind about peace of mind. We cannot force ourselves, think ourselves or even positively confess ourselves to a state of inner peace. On the contrary, our responsibility is not focused on achieving inner-peace for ourselves.

Instead, our responsibility is to place our trust in the One who will keep us from fruitless introspecton. He will direct our hearts and, as a consequence - neither the end result, nor a by-product - lead us into a state of peace to guarantee His presence and approval.

Colossians ch.3 v.15 puts it this way: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." We have a purpose, a calling - and as we fulfill it through His direction - in unity, with thanksgiving - so also we learn to allow His peace to govern our decision-making.

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Inspirational Bible Verses about Hope

2006-10-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Colossians ch.1 v.27 speaks of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" - this is the great mystery, the one that the Almighty has revealed in the last days. We have a hope! Not just any hope - but a certain conviction that the same Jesus who conquered death, who rose again, empowered us to turn our lives around and transform our communities; this same Jesus will return in glory to take his rightful place.

We can be certain of this for a number of reasons.

God's word guarantees it. The same Lord who inspired the Bible, through which the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus was foretold in minute detail; where over 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah were explicitly fulfilled - has also clearly spoken on the subject of Jesus' return.
Jesus' character - while on earth He demonstrated that He was completely faithful to His own promises, we therefore have no grounds to doubt that he has the will or the ability to fulfill all that He has promised.
Most importantly. This same Christ dwells in us through His Holy Spirit, transforming us daily to become more like Him, reflecting Him in all that we think, say and do. The Holy Spirit in us confirms to our hearts directly that our hope is not in vain.

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Inspirational Verses About Faith

2006-10-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hebrews ch.11 v.6 puts it best: "Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him." - this is faith's starting point. If you don't believe that He exists, and that he has something in store for those who earnestly desire to develop a relationship with Him, then this is going to be alien territory for you, unless you enjoy an exercise in futility. But to those who are prepared to take a risk - not merely on the question of God's existence, but also on the nature of His character - by calling out to the One who called to them first; there is a universe of a deeper reality waiting for them to explore.

We are given a definition of faith in Hebrews ch.11 v.1: "Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen." - true faith provides its own evidence beyond the bounds of our material universe. It is a reality more genuine than the shadowy, deceptive realms of an unredeemed imagination. It satisfies us when we see no other evidence to support our conviction. But we know. We have a promise burned into our consciousness that will not let us go. We have seen with eyes that perceive more than the limitations of flesh and blood - and we cannot help but confirm what we have seen through our speech and our actions. For us to do otherwise would be to betray what we have already experienced as reality.

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Experiencing a New Life

2006-10-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

A recurring theme in the New Testament (for example: Romans ch.6 v.4 or Colossians Ch.3 v.1) reminds us that just as Jesus Christ experienced death for all of us, we all now have a responsibility to view ourselves in a position where we have effectively died to our old life. A life characterised by an inward attitude of rebellion against the Father's will.

To help us with this, it is essential for us to come to a clear understanding that we cannot do this as an exercise of our own will. If that were possible, then Jesus' sacrifice would have been a futile, empty gesture.

Instead, we come to see that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us now, today; in order to raise us up into a new life of power over every thought that would drag us down.

This is the simplicity of faith and a new life. We put off the old, and put on the new. We reckon ourselves dead to the old life - it no longer has any power over us; and open our eyes to the new - a life where we experience power, authority, peace of mind.

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More about God's love...

2006-09-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

God's love is essentially practical. When we say God loves you, it is not to descend into mawkish sentimentality, as if words alone could comfort you in the depths of a sub-par lifestyle. Instead, it's a reminder that God has done something already; He has taken the initiative to transform your life - whether you choose to co-operate with Him or not.

Wallowing in self pity is an option, but it does not change reality. The real reality is that behind the scenes, whether we want Him to or not, the Almighty Creator has already put into effect a chain of events in order to enable us to achieve the potential He has placed within us.

This is love - not that we loved God. Quite the reverse, our attitude and actions placed us diametrically opposed to His purpose and our true destiny. But that did not stop Jesus from giving up His life in place of ours, or prevent the Father from accepting that sacrifice. We too can choose. Do we allow ourselves to be drawn into receiving this for ourselves through acknowledging the reality of our falling short, and our need of a total change through the means He has provided in advance for us? Do we turn away, dismissing the urges of the Spirit as some form of subcnscious trickery?

Whatever we do, one thing is for sure, we cannot avoid the question and its consequences. Have you experienced God's love for yourself?

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The case for hope

2006-09-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

Romans ch.5 v.2 tells us that we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This is a direct result of being delared righteous - sinless - without fault; because of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ on our behalf. His perfection is attributed to us, not because of any great thing we have done to deserve it, but because His love for us uniquely qualifies each of us to participate by faith in His destiny for us.

Because we have been delared to be innocent of all wrongdoing, we can now stand in the presence of the Almighty himself, with complete confidence that He will not turn us away or reject us, for he will not reject His own .

We can have full confidence in His ability to bring about all that He has promised - in both our own lives and for the whole world. Our certain hope rests on His ability to transform the universe to reflect His glory, His will in all things. That He will complete the work He has begun in each of our lives to make us like Himself.

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Power and Glory

2006-09-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

We experience God's life-transforming power as a direct result of His demonstrating His glory. Why does he do this? Because He chooses to do so. It is His inalienable right as Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

Because it is His will, we can face the future with confidence. He will transform us. We will experience a positive change in our circumstances, not to merely make us more comfortable, but to show His greatness in achieving the impossible.

That is our destiny. To witness a situation that could only be rectified by a miracle, turned around through the intervention of a power greater than we could imagine.

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Power to be Me!

2006-09-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

There is a reassuring verse at the beginning of John's Gospel - "But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John ch.1 v.12-13

When I first read those words, the night I put my faith in Jesus, I knew, I experienced for mysef the truth of this, the reality of what it meant to be a child of the Almighty. Deep down inside, I was certain, that the hope I had was a genuine life-changing transformation.

This then is what we have a right to, a life-transforming power that sets us free from the chains and limitations when we seek to live a life purely for ourselves. By finding Christ, we experience a power from outside of ourselves that will ultimately transform us into the person we were truly meant to be.

We go back to the designer, back to discover a purpose and plan that will not only impact us, but transform those whose lives we touch in reconciling them with their Creator and their destiny.

By finding faith, we lose our old self, but gain our true identity in seeking to reconnect others with theirs.

That is power!

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The Author and Perfecter of our Faith

2006-09-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Perspective is important. We're all too familiar with the story of the spies in Numbers ch.13 v.33 - who saw themselves as grasshoppers when comparing themselves to the opposition - and so, that's what they became. There's a flipside to this, a positive way of looking at the same principle. In Judges ch.6 v.12, Gideon is called a mighty man of God - after all, we're told in Romans ch.4 v.17 that the Good Lord calls things that are not as if they were - His word brings about a change in our universe to reflect His will.

So, what can you see? What has God's word revealed to you that should transform your perspective? What goal should be your central focus?

We have a pattern set before us through the example of Jesus. He could see a goal set before him. It called for action, perseverence, sacrifice. He knew the cost of his actions, he could see the reality of the situation he was in, but most importantly, he could see the end result. It kept him going, sustained him during the most painful of his ordeals. It makes our experience seem trivial, but it's none the less real - and we can guarantee his presence beside us, within our very being as we experience exactly the same dilemmas.

Did we hear correctly - is this truly the Father's will? Why is there a problem? Is there a different, easier way that we could go to see God's plan fulfilled without any opposition?

We are in very good company...

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Power to Love

2006-08-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

We are reminded in 1 John ch.4 v.18 that perfect love casts out fear; an important principle to bear in mind when we are told in Romans ch.5 v.5 that the Good Lord has poured His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This is no half-measure. God is extravagant in the way He demonstrates His power by doing this.

But, there is a purpose behind all of this. God may be extravagant with His gifts, but He is not wasteful.

We learn more about this purpose in 2 Timothy Ch.1 v.7 - where we discover the reason for dispelling our fear of the stranger by cultivating a divine love for them. By removing our fear, confronting it with the power of a God who loved us when we were distincly unlovely; we become suitable vessels to communicate this love to our neghbours.

The key is simple - but not simplistic. We possess the power, the self discipline to confront fear and tell it where to go, to face a challenge with courage; to take a deep breath and launch ourselves into a situation where we can trust the Holy Spirit to inspire us and give us peace. It's a step of faith. It may seem a small obstacle to some - insurmountable to others, but one thing is certain. It is within the grasp of anyone who wishes to believe and act.

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Believing the Promise

2006-08-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

Faith is not blind. It merely sees beyond one set of circumstances to look at a reality promised by a higher authority. Fortunately, we do not have to make up a set of rules or principles to follow. Instead, we have a pattern to follow in the scriptures themselves.

The Bible is not written as a theology textbook or a magical recipe book. Instead, it contains stories - of how real people encountered a very real God. If you want to learn how to exercise faith, treat these stories as case studies, enter into them and see what they saw.

Abraham was just like us. He had to deal with situations that are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. The veneer of civilisation may fool us into thinking that we have nothing to learn from a society which did not depend on mobile phones or computers to communicate.; but his concerns about his family strike a resonant chord to a world where humans have not changed, despite the sophisticated technology that surrounds us.

Infertility is a multi-million dollar business in the developed world. Abraham and his wife were no strangers to the stresses and worries that accompany the inability to conceive. In Romans ch.4 we learn some interesting insights into Abraham's response to the situation.

He did not go around denying the reality of his situation, he looked at his predicament and assessed it clearly. He knew what he faced.

But he also knew that the Good Lord had spoken. And that this word called for a reality that wasn't his experience at that point. He was faced with a choice. Believe the evidence of his eyes. Or believe the evidence of the promise.

Not a simple path - a hard choice when the facts seem stacked up against you. But it was a decision that Abraham had to face for himself. No-one else could face it for him. The good news is, that as he continued to feed that faith, so his confidence grew stronger that the promises God had clearly made to him would be fulfilled.

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God's Plan - Power for You to Share

2006-08-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. It was a promise Jesus made to His followers after He rose from the dead, re-iterated in Acts ch.1 v.8 by angels. There is one thing we can be certain of with Divine promises, they will be kept - whatever the cost. We have that guarantee given to us in 2 Corinthians ch.1 v.20 - it is in God's nature to be consistent, faithful to His own Word; not capricious. As a side note: as God's children, with His nature working within us to transform us into His likeness, we too can confidently expect to reflect this in our own personalities as we reflect Him through our lives.

The promise was that we would receive power. Power to do what? Not to merely empower us into being able to think nice thoughts about our own eternal destiny. Not merely power to make our own lifestyles a little more comfortable - but power t be able to reach out and transform the lives of those we touch; both locally and further afield.

Power to be able to stand up and be counted as a followr of Jesus and be effective in seeing others around you come to the same faith.

Power to bring about change in the social fabric of the world, to bring healing, to make this world into a place where God's will is done - as in Heaven.

That is a power worth sharing - and by definition, it will be shared - once you allow yourself to experience it. For it will not stay pent-up in complacency and comfort. It will break out. Just believe...

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2006-08-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

In 2 Timothy ch.1 v.9 we learn a startling truth that sets conventional wisdom on its head. It is the scandal of an overpwering grace that cannot be evaded. The theme runs through the entire scriptures, from Adam and Eve, who deserved death, but were clothed to hide their shame, by a God who shed an animal's blood on their behalf.

Through a people who were not chosen because of any greatness that made them outstanding amongst their contemporaries - apart from a promise made to their forefathers - see Deuteronomy ch.7 v.7.

And then into a New Covenant - a solemn binding promise between an all-powerful God and a people, not limited by race, gender, education or social standing. We cn be confident that He has called each one of us individually and set each one of us apart for His purpose.

But this is the scandalous part. We have not pre-qualified ourselves for a specific role or function through our own efforts. We have not earned the right to a holy calling. Rather, the purpose that the Good Lord has in mind for each of us qualifies us for the task ahead, and by His grace He prepares us for it - leading us with confidence that He will never put in front of us an obstacle that we cannot overcome through faith in Him.

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Power in prayer

2006-08-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Prayer is powerful. And it is not limited to an exclusive club of super saints to experience its power. James ch.5 v.17 tells us clearly, Elijah was a man just like us - he shared the same nature, had the same limitations, suffered the same fears and temptations - but when you look at the way God used him, those limitations seem far less significant.

There are a couple of keys in the previous verse to help us ensure that we have a more effective prayer life. We are told that it's the insistent prayer of a righteous person that is powerfully effective.

Therefore, in the face of discouragement, we can look at this verse and gain the confidence to not give up - but to persevere in order to see the prayer answered.

We can give thanks that the Good Lord has already declared us righteous, sinless, perfect due to the perfect sacrifice of the sinless Christ on our behalf - after all, weare told: He who had no sin became a sin offering for us so that, in Him, we might become the righteousness of God in Christ.

However, if our experience does not match the reality of the Word of God, we know that He will forgive us if we admit our sin, come to Him and tell Him we have failed, fallen short. There is good reason for this, for if our hearts are fixed on going in the wrong direction, we won't be able to see His perspective and pray effectively - this is why Psalm ch.66 v.18 says - if I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

So, if you want to experience power in prayer, keep open the channel of communication with God, ask for forgiveness when you step outside His perfect will for your life whether in attitude or in action, and pray with persistence, with fervency, with faith that He has already answered you.

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Spirit and Soul

2006-08-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

We learn that the human spirit and soul are linked to such a degree that it takes the word of God to extricate one from the other - and with good reason, for the Bible plays an essential role in revealing our true motivations. In effect it sits in judgement on us - although for many of us, we would prefer it to be the other way round, that we could judge it, decide which of its principles should apply to us, and which should only apply to other people or other times and situations.

However, if, instead of attempting to reinterpret God's word, trying to make it say something it doesn't, that its original writer never intended; if we take it as it is, and allow it to nourish our souls. Feeding our motivatons with wholesome ideals, then we will prosper - from the inside out.

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A verse for prosperity?

2006-08-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, we all agree that it is God's will that His children should prosper. Of course, we will probably disagree as to what prosperity means - to me, it's not to be limited to merely material things. Also, God's will - there's a reason why Jesus instructs us to pray, "Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." We are on earth.

In 3John v.2, we read, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers." It's part of John's greeting. He identifies with the Father's desire for us and gives a clue. What can we do to see greater prosperity in every aspect of our lives?

Work with the Holy Spirit to bring about prosperity in our souls.

I'll spend the next few days going over some ways that we can do that.

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God's Love

2006-08-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

I like to play games. Sometimes I'll be told bizarre things like, "Of course you do realise that the God of the Old Testament is a very different one to the one of the New Testament." And I'll agree with them - I'll say, "Yes, I do find it fascinating that God, in the Old Testament comes out with statements like:

"Come now, let us reason together"... "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah ch.1 v.18) and "I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more" (Jeremiah ch.31 v.34).

While in the New Testament, one of Jesus' main topics of conversation was about the reality of Hell.

Trying to view the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe as some form of spiritual smorgasbord - where you can choose the nice bits you want to believe in and send back the truths that you find unpalatable - is never a good idea. He refuses to be constrained by our limited perception, in fact He delights in turning such unreal worlds upside down.

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God's plans v Our plans

2006-08-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

There is a vast gulf that separates the Creator of the universe from the creation He is intimately involved with. This distinction cannot be ignored. We may be created in His image; we may have amazing powers; we may partake of His divine nature and be one with Him - but we are not God.

This becomes apparent when we comare our thinking with His. We are bound by this space-time universe. Our intellects are limited, not least by our perspective - which, because we cannot know everything, is therefore imperfect, fallible. We see - through a glass darkly - a distorted, clouded mirror image.

It is no surprise therefore that the Good Lord takes the trouble to not only remind us of this - but that He gives a solution to our predicament.

You want to see your plans come to fruition? Consult with the Master Planner - humbly bring your ideas to Him, dedicate them to Him and let Him review them. He may have suggestions, refinement - or outright commandments to radically change your direction. One thing is sure. It is better to go through that refining process as you plan than to make a decision and watch it fall apart because of faulty foundations or shoddy materials.

Hebrews ch.16 provides an interesting starting point to meditate on before embarking on a major project.

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God's Goodness

2006-08-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

God has a plan for you - He called you by His own goodness and has already given you everything you need in order to achieve all that He has called you to do. To claim otherwise, we would first have to rip 2Peter ch.1 v.3 out of our Bibles.

This is the key principle for us here. There are many promises that God has declared in the Bible. But they will just stay there as ink on the page if we do not make the effort to find them, apply them and exercise faith in our lives to see them come to fruition.

The choice is essentially ours. God has done His part - as He is a good God, always faithful to His word through which He has chosen to reveal himself - the good news is that we are not left on our own. As we begin to exercise faith, we find that He will work inside us to complete the task.

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A plan to prosper...

2006-08-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah ch.29 v.11 is a popular verse - it makes a number of specific claims, that the Good Lord has a specific plan for each individual called to serve Him - that the plan is in our best interests, that we can be confident that He is not perversely lifting us up in order for us to fail catastrophically.

But to me, there's something else to give hope in the passage - it's a call to return from a wilderness experience.

For seventy years, the exiles would feel that their prayers were unanswered, that everything they had worked towards was cast aside, that they were forgotten and cast aside like broken toys.

But then, they would perceive, He hadn't abandoned them, that He had raised up a prophetic voice among them - that, when they had given up on being able to manufacture something spiritually unsatisfying on their own, and turned to Him wholeheartedly; then, and only then would He intervene on their behalf.

Then, the Almighty would make Himself known to them, would restore them in full fellowship with Him, would restore them on track to fulfil His vision, His plan, His purpose.

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The most important thing

2006-08-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

So, what is of the most importance to you? Where do your priorities lie? Is it to hold true to the calling or vision that God has given you - to be a person of integrity? Is it to be a success in stewarding earthly treasure, so that the Good Lord can entrust you with spiritual treasures?

Our perspective is not necessaritly the same as God's - it is far too easy for us to be distracted by the temporal - missing out on the big picture because we focus on just one small detail, blowing its importance out of proportion.

In 1Corinthians ch.13 - we're introduced to the most excellent way. We are reminded that spiritual gifts, social justice and a successful ministry do not occur in a vacuum. Without love, they are worthless, discordant, futile.

Are these things imporant? Only if their frame of reference is founded on a genuine love for God and for everything that He loves.

The criteria are high - but He doesn't leave us there on our own.

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God's Purpose for You...

2006-08-02T04:27:00.000-07:00

Given that God is all-powerful, all-loving and has a plan for the universe He has created, it is not an unreasonable assumption to believe that He has a purpose for each person who comes to faith in Him.

In the letter to the Romans ch.12 v.2 we are told that His will is good, pleasing and perfect.

Good: we find we have an aptitude for the work we believe we are set aside to do, opportunities arise for us to exercise our gifts in an uncompromising way.

Pleasing: we enjoy what we do, and would rather do this than anything else.

Perfect: we look back and we see His plan unfolded in our lives, even though we did not recognise it at the time; we see how events that we could not understand fit together in a process that prepared us for what happened next.

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God's Plan...

2006-08-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

God's ultimate plan for the universe is spelled out in Ephesians ch.1 v.9 - to bring all things under one head: Christ. This is not an isolated verse. This is a theme running throughout scripture.

In Numbers ch.14 v.21, Isaiah ch.11 v.9 and Habakkuk ch.2 v.14 the emphasis is clear - the Good Lord is not merely looking for a small isolated clan that worships Him in obscurity - but a people that transcends national and racial boundaries, influencing everything it comes into contact with.

Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel ch.2 v.34 -35 in line with this; pointing to the Messiah's rule where the eternal breaks into human history culminating in a destiny that makes earthly empires pale into insignificance as His kingdom spreads across the world.

This is paralleled by Jesus' parables of the Kingdom - yeast, that is mixed in with dough, having an influence on the structure of the bread, causing an obvious dynamic, irreversible change; the mustard seed that starts small, yet has an impact and influence above and beyond anything else in existence, bringing safety and sustenance to all who require it.

And yet, into all this - He chooses to involve us intimately as His partners and co-workers in the task of redemption. We see the grand vista of His plan for redemption; but to implement it, we each have a unique part to play according to our talents and calling.

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Making the Most of Every Opportunity

2006-07-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Your time is one of the most important assets that you possess. As with everything else that we own, though, we are merely stewards of our time and one day will be called to account for how we used it.

It is up to us to invest our time wisely. It is our responsibility to learn strategies that enable us to work smarter and thus gain a greater reurn on the effort we invest in building our lives in a godly way.

Half-heartedness is not an option for success. Neither is cutting corners. We are called to be a people of excellence whose lives reflect the excellence of the Lord who redeemed us, gave us a purpose and direction and empowered us to demonstrate His wisdom and power in a world that desperately cries out for His intervention.

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A need to study

2006-07-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

Whether we like to admit it or not, we are stewards of everything we possess. Nothing belongs to us alone. Instead, we have been entrusted with a responsibility to invest our time and efforts in the growth of God's Kingdom.

This includes our thought-life and the way we fulfil the potential of our minds. We have a sacred responsibility to be the best student that we can be.

The responsibility does not end there however. We also are expected to apply the principles learned consistently in our own lives, and teach others to do the same.

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Teach to Change Lives

2006-07-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

I recently found a nice short free email course on how to improve the way you teach the Bible. The author is Glenn Brooke. On his website, he also sells a more in-depth ebook on the subject. Click here for more information on both the free course and the $29 book. If you join his email list, you get access to some other nice free resources too.

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Men's Health

2006-07-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Bible has a great deal to say about our physical well-being. We're told that by Jesus' wounds, received on the cross, we have been healed. This is not merely a future hope for an afterlife, but a blessing we can experience now in our mortal bodies.

Of course, reality sets in. We live in a sin-sick, warped universe - its brokenness is evident to us and everyone else around us. We don't always see an instantaneous, miraculous healing for our friends every time we pray for them.

But does that stop us from praying? By no means. It is discouraging. If we're asked to explain why, it's best to be honest - tell the truth. We just don't know. We could pontificate about hidden sin, a lack of faith, a spiritual battle against demonic forces or any other strategies used by Job's friends to make themselves look good while concealing their cluelessness - but in the end, we have to confess; we just don't see the bigger picture.

We may experience one dimension of reality. But there is a greater, richer, truer reality that undergirds and invades our experience. That is the source of the miraculous - and we have intimate access to the One who is in authority over it all, as He seeks to bring our world inexorably into line with the eternal.

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Selah

2006-07-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Some reclaimed weblogs:

Bible Study for Small Groups
A few thoughts on Bible study tools and techniques.

Better to Light a Candle
Positive devotional meditations.

Christ and the Cross
Apologetics resources centred on Jesus Christ and the Cross.

If I have the time, I'll see if I can post some thoughts related to each of these topics inspired by some Bible verses dealing with each subject.

The Greatest Commandment

2006-07-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

What is the most important commandment. Not a trivial question. At the time when Jesus was asked this, scholars had identified over 600 specific commandments that the Jews were expected to obey.

Jesus' response was simple and to the point. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength - and your neighbour as yourself.

By putting the Father first, having a wholehearted, sincere love for Him, eveything else fits into perspective. Without that genuine afection and desire to please, we not only rob ourselves of true pleasure, but also make obedience an empy, unsatisfying experience.

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A New Heart

2006-07-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, I meet people who are a little bit confused by the purpose of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes it is tempting to think that the entire Old Testament was rendered obsolete by the New. As if the Almighty decided to completely change his plans.

While it is true that the Law's purpose was served to bring us to Christ, helping us recognise our need of a Saviour, and to that extent it has now done its work; to think that God's purpose and plans have radically altered from before creation is to have a shallow understanding of the text of the Old Testament.

Ezekiel ch.36 v.26 illustrates this well. It speaks of the heart transplant that comes from a living faith in the Messiah - something that the writers of the Old Testament texts looked longingly forwards to: a complete internal transformation of your attitudes and desires, made possible through a radical encounter with the Holy Spirit.

To have the eternal, all-powerful creator of the universe taking up residence in the deepest recesses of our being, guiding us to a life of purpose, fulfilment and power. This was no afterthought. To see whole communities across the globe reflecting the radiance of a life lived in harmony with the divine was not Plan B - this was the goal all along.

Go on a treasure hunt. Search the Bible for further evidence that this was the Good Lord's original plan. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

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Blessed are the Pure in Heart

2006-07-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

For they shall see God.

The Beatitudes at the start of the Sermon on the Mount turn the natural order of things upside-down. The meek inherit the earth...

The pure in heart see God? But, if you were to look on His face, you would die!

There's the key! IN order to be pure in heart, you must die to your old life of self-centredness.

THen you will see the Almighty, recognise His hand on your life, see Him at work in others, experience his life-transforming power.

Who can ascend?

2006-07-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.

There is a false dichotomy in some people's thinking that attempts to subdivide a life of faith into either the pursuit of personal piety or social justice - as if the two are mutually exclusive.

In reality, righteousness and justice don't merely co-exist, they are both essential foundations for authentic spirituality to be lived out effectively in our lives.

A lifestyle that stresses one at the expense of the other is doomed to wallow in legalistic hypocrisy or antinomian irrationality. However, by embracing both streams: having our hearts cleansed so that we may live with an inward attitude to do what is right.

In the beginning...

2006-07-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

It seems a fitting way to start a weblog. John's Gospel opens up with a powerful statement.

In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

It becomes clear to us later in the passage that the Word referred to here is none other than Jesus Christ - the Word became flesh ... dwelt among us ... we have seen his glory. But why the Word?

Words have power. They give meaning, demonstrate character - communicate emotion, express truth; they create and tear down. They judge and lift up.

John chose his words carefully.

How could he express the inexpressible?

With a word.

How could the Almighty communicate with us, translating the infinity of eternity into our material universe?

Through His Word.

The Word illuminates, defines, encapsulates who God is in a way that our fallible, finite minds can grasp at. We don't see it all, but we see enough to know, to be certain.