We will see Him

Theme:  The Gospel Person In 2 Cor 8:9 Paul is motivating the Corinthians to respond in a Gospel-centered way to the poor: " For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."  Before Christ we might have made the same mistake to think that giving to the poor was a way to win God's favour.  But after Christ it is different - we are merely responding to what Jesus did for us. We were the poor that was made rich by Him becoming poor in our place! To the degree that you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to that degree you will be changed to respond to people in need in a Gospel-centered way.   Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, this might be the reason we are afraid to know your grace... because we realise that then there will be no limit to what you can ask of us.  Help us trust you, to see our sinfulness and neediness completely and to receive ...

Theme:  The Gospel Person Phil 2:6-9:  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place... You might think of a few people that didn't try to make a name for themselves, but ended up being very highly regarded in our age.  Unfortunately many of us aren't like them.  We are trapped in Project Self where we are endlessly trying to make a name for ourselves... even at the cost of the one's we love.  But Christ received the highest place, not through trying to make a name for Himself at any cost, but by giving Himself up at immense cost.   Prayer:  Lord J...

Theme:  The Gospel Person After Isaiah meets God in His temple he cries out:  "Woe to me!... I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." Is 6:5  What is the ability you have that you rely on the most in a difficult situation? Is it your friendliness, your sharp intellect, your brute strength or your sense of humour.  In Isaiah's case it was his lips.  He is an educated man with, if you read the rest of his book, the most amazing speaking skills.  But here, as he meets God, the thing he had the most confidence in becomes the thing he most despises: "I am a man of unclean lips!" Whatever it is that you are relying on when you prepare to meet God, if it is not Jesus Christ alone it will be of no use to you at all.  In fact, it will just serve to show you who your real god is instead of God. Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, as we long to be Gospel People help us...

Theme:  The Gospel Person Paul writes to Titus, telling him the means of change for a believer: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." We can have many different ways of trying not to do the things we don't want to do... Some of our strategies is to force ourselves not to sin by using fear or guilt. You know it doesn't work. This verse helps us to see that a Christian's life doesn't change overnight, but that it is a life-long process of 'teaching'. Far from only being taught by reading the Bible or listening to sermons or reading daily devotionals we are being taught by the Holy Spirit pointing us constantly to the grace of God in every situation.  Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, we forget that we have been saved by your mercy.  Teach us the meaning of your Gospel in every new ...

Theme: The Gospel Person After Paul told the church in the city of Rome how people are saved he says this in Rom 12:1,2 " Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." We might be Christians, but we still need to be transformed or changed.   This is a process of renewal - not just a process of improvement. The world might tell us how it thinks we should look, but God has a higher and newer 'pattern' or 'template' for us: we are to become like the only other living sacrifice that ever lived - Jesus Christ.  Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, you are the only 'pattern' or 'template' that we have that doesn't just cause us to want to be like you but you actually become one of us and make us like you through your Spirit.  ...

Theme: The Gospel Community In  Acts 2:42-47 we see what the church community looks like soon after Jesus death and ascension into heaven:   " They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.  45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." This is a gospel community. It was created by the Gospel - in this case Peter's preaching (Acts 2:14-40).   It was be...

Theme: The Gospel Community In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says the following to his disciples:  " You are the light of the world . A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, " I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 We don't need any convincing to acknowledge the darkness in this world.  What does surprise us is the unconventional way God chose to shine light into this darkness. He does it by linking Himself to a community of disciples who' own hearts have been corrupted by the very darkness He came to dispel. Then He continues to call them up to become a city of refuge for people ...

Theme: The Gospel Community Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Tim 3:14-16 : I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. There is a way to behave that is appropriate when you are part of God's household or family .  But it is not as stingy and small minded as you might think it is. The family in those days were a very broad group of people and even slaves were included and treated as sons and daughters.  The family was a place of ultimate belonging and identity, a place you could truly call 'home'. The church, here being called 'God's family' brought security and id...

Theme: The Centrality of the Gospel I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—  not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.   Gal 1:6   It is possible to replace the Gospel of Christ, with another gospel.   Perhaps it is too offending to your pride to think that you are in need of a Saviour, or the kind of Saviour Jesus promises to be for you seems irrelevant to your needs. You have got to understand that if you look to something or someone else as your saviour your are not only distorting the gospel of Christ but you are also deserting Him.     Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, as I look at all my concerns and fears I confess that I see saviours other than Yourself. Help me to believe that each and every solution for my problems will derive from you, that you deserve to be trusted for it now and th...

Theme: The Centrality of the Gospel Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying,  "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:15 Yesterday we heard that the Gospel was central to Jesus' ministry - but today we hear how the Gospel can become central to our lives as well. By repenting from: To repent means to let get and turn away from something.  What is your 'gospel', or your 'good news'?  What, if you lost that would mean you would loose all your joy?  If it isn't Jesus Christ, you need to turn away from him, her or it as your saviours (those people and things have another place in your life - instead of trying to be your saviour). By believing in: To believe means to trust something or someone.  Is your life marked by the joy of knowing your life is safe and purposeful in Christ? Does all the joy that comes into your life find it's source...

Theme: The Centrality of the Gospel And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.  Matt 4:23 Proclaiming or announcing the good news of the new Kingdom was central to Jesus' ministry.  This is the first thing He does as soon as He has called his disciples. He uses two strategies to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom: teaching groups of people and showing mercy to all people in need. This is why the angels said to the shepherds that Jesus' birth will bring great joy to all people.  Not only because He will teach and heal people, but because He is bringing a new Kingdom that will be without tears or illness - truly Good News.     Prayer:  King Jesus, thank you that you've taken the brokenness of this Kingdom onto yourself to earn for us a new Kingdom.  We regularly forget that this world is not all there is - that ...

Theme: The Centrality of the Gospel And the angel said to them (the Shepherds), "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.  Luke 2:10 Usually when an angel appeared it was bad news of God's judgement.  Here he (and later a choir of angels) bring good news - also called the 'Gospel'. Instead of fear - this Gospel is meant to bring great joy.  This joy comes when believers understand that they can never be separated from God again.     This joy is for 'all the people'.  God drives this point home by choosing to appear to shepherds, some of the lowliest 'classes' of people at the time. Therefore, no one is excluded from this joy!         Prayer:  Father God, we do not always realise that the Gospel of your Son's birth, death and resurrection is the source of deep joy for everyone that believes in it.  Please help us as we try to work out the implications of the Gospel for our ...

Proverbs 16:26:  "The labourer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on."   "Another week has gone by in which I didn't read the Bible, pray or spend time with the Lord enough!" How many times have you said the same with the greatest of intension to start afresh the following week? What's the problem? I have time for all the other things I deem important! I noticed something in this verse. Trying harder won't solve a thing. The problem is my lack of true spiritual hunger. I don't have a need for true spiritual food. I don't yearn for the presence of the Lord, for fellowship with Him, like a deer thirsting for water. If I had this yearning, I wouldn't struggle to find time. It is after all a labourer's hunger that drives him on. His need for food drives him.        Prayer:  Lord, I so dearly want to pray with the writer of Ps. 42 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.", but it woul...

Proverbs 14:12:  "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."   It is really important that you regularly look at your life and ask: Am I following God's plan for my life or my own? I follow my own path when I believe that: I will find favour with God and others on my own; I will determine what is true and what is not; and I will achieve personal happiness on my own. I follow God's path when I believe in Jesus, who says: "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6) He is the only way back to God. He is the truth, in Him, the living Word, God reveals Himself to us. He is the life. If we don't know Him, we will never truly live and know true joy in life. Are you on God's path or the one you think best? Then turn around and return to God's path!        Prayer:  Lord, open my eyes to the foolishness and consequences of following my own path. Open my eyes to recognise Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life!  Am...

Proverbs 10:22:  "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it."  This proverb is in sharp contrast to our society who measures a person's value according to his wealth. Our relationship with God is our most precious possession. This blessing isn't just limited to the rich, but is for all who call on the Name of the Lord, for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. Neither is it something which we have to work hard for, because we can't contribute a thing to that which God gives us freely. Jesus has already done it! Those who only seek material prosperity will never know the true joy found in God. Do you enjoy the blessing of a relationship with God or are you chasing after something else in the hope that it will bring you fulfilment?      Prayer:  Lord, thank you for bestowing on us the greatest blessing ever through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Thank you that I may have a relationship with You. Open my eyes to see that...

Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."  What is in your heart today? Fear, rage, sorrow, selfishness, frustration, impatience, greed, jealousy, revenge, envy, various desires, worries? If you allow any of these feelings into your heart, it will shape your behaviour and inevitably take over your life. Bring these emotions to the Lord today and seek the peace He gives in Jesus Christ. He came to die in our place on the cross, in order that nothing may separate us from God's love. Remember this promise when standing before Him: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7) Welcome the peace from a living relationship with God and His love for you into your heart and allow it to guide your behaviour today, tomorrow and the day after!    Prayer:  Lord, I lay all the things in my heart that are not from You before You. Please change the ...