Devotional 10 February 2019
Philippians 3:12-4:1 The Christian life is not a take-it-easy, optional, half-pie, she’ll be right stroll in the park. It is a pursuit of Christ, of knowing Christ, of relationship with Christ, which all means heaven is my home, my heart is inclined to his and my attitude is aligning with Jesus’. As committed Christ-followers, that…
Devotional 3 February 2019
All Glory to God ‘For you have been given…the privilege of suffering for him. Philippians 1:29 How do we live for God’s glory when we’re suffering or in pain? Our prayers tend to focus on external circumstances – what’s around us that’s bothering us – more than internal attitudes – who we’re becoming through the…
Devotional 27 January 2019
Show Grace “If we could be saved by keeping…laws, then there was no need for Christ to die” Galatians 2:21 Grace is when we show favour to those who don’t deserve it. And that’s what God shows us: his love and favour are available to us, even though we make mistakes and misbehave. We can…
Devotional 20 January 2019
Philippians 2:12-18 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” “It is God…. who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (v13)….
Devotional 2 December 2018
Introduction to Philippians The book of Philippians was written to show Paul’s appreciation and love to the Philippians in a thank-you letter for their continued help and support, and also to encourage their growth in Christ, to “press on toward the goal”. Paul’s goal was whatever Christ’s goal was for him; he was a missionary,…
Devotional 25 November 2018
Glass on the Beach Early 20th-century residents of Fort Bragg, California, disposed of their rubbish by throwing it over a cliff and onto a nearby beach. Cans, bottles, tableware, and household garbage accumulated in huge, disgusting piles. Even when residents stopped depositing trash on the beach, it remained an embarrassment – a dump seemingly beyond…
Devotional 18 November 2018
Lose the Rubbish to Gain Christ God loves us, but he wants us to love him back. Society with all of its worldly deviations and self-preoccupations does not inform us of who God is. God, is God. God is holy and does not flex with the moral change of the world. What we think of…
Devotional 11 November 2018
As we have just commemorated Armistice day I was reflecting on the first Word War and the terrible toll it took on human lives. Something like 22 million soldiers and civilians were killed. Before 1914 there had been a massive build-up of military power in Europe and it was almost as if the European nations…
Devotional 4 November 2018
Romans 12: 1-2, Live to Worship God Worship is our response to the reality of God in every aspect in every circumstance of daily living. Worship is giving all of myself and everything I am and have to God. Worship is more than what we do, it’s who we are. Augustine wrote: a Christian should…
Devotional 28 October 2018
IMMEASURABLY MORE FOR YOUR LIFE – Ephesians 3:20-21 What does a church practising the “immeasurably moreness” of God look like? What do the prayers sound like? What does the worship look like? Paul’s words – a prayer – can be an infusion of encouragement to your spirit. When we each consider our spiritual lives – circumstances…