We may need to be persistent in prayer when the storms of life threaten to strike us down, remind God of his promises, keeping our situation before him. That must not mean, however, that we are fear-stricken, finding no peace! We need to find a resting place in God. In this respect, the first image that springs to my mind is that of Jesus asleep on a pillow (Mark is the only one to record that detail) in the stern…
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5,18 In ALL circumstances says the scripture! IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; but note: Not FOR all circumstances – not for evil! We need to give thanks even in the very darkest hours of our lives – because he is still God, because he is still on the throne, because he still loves us, and because he is still mighty to act…
I cited Romans 11, 32 in my last blogpost: “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” Rom. 11,32 That he may have mercy on all, means that ALL may be elected in Christ – for salvation on the basis of grace. God wants ALL to be saved (1Tim. 2,4), and his mercy extends to ALL. That does not mean that all will be saved – each of us must respond with faith…
Remember Eric Liddell, and all those who have gone before! “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand…
If you are like me, you are prone to worry about many things. Young people might worry about their futures, about school or friends. Parents of course worry about their children. We can all worry about our health, money, employment and what the future will bring for us. Some areas of our life we may reasonably think that we have control over (perhaps before the advent of the coronavirus), other areas of our lives, we know are outside of our…
In my recent blog posts, I have been approaching the subject of sanctification by an indirect route. This was certainly true with 1 Corinthians, and to a lesser extent with Romans chapter 8. I know that the words ‘law’ and ‘obedience’ can evoke sometimes traumatic emotions in people; often dictated by the kind of atmosphere in the home we grew up in – by the relationship we had with our father, or our parents. Such traumatic emotions can become effective…
In the last blog post, we talked about sanctification as being a) a consecration – a setting apart – a separation; for the purpose and the service of God (see 1 Cor. 1,30; 6,11; Rom. 1,7; Phil. 1,1 etc.), and b) a process, whereby we are being conformed to the image of his Son. In the mind of Paul, it was unthinkable, but that the latter should be the outcome of the former; that we are set apart for him…
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”Eph. 2,8-9 Having been saved by grace, we are now not made perfect (or holy) through works of the law. I have described the Christian life as a continuous motion towards the Father; a motion in and by the power of the Spirit! I called this «sanctification»,…
This morning I want to challenge you to see the film Chariots of Fire, from 1981. This is a film which has a lot to teach us about faith. It’s about two runners who participate in the Olympics in Paris in 1924. One is a Jew, the other is a Christian. It is a true story. It is the Christian, Eric Liddell, who captures my attention. At one point he says, «I want to compare faith to running in a…
We have established then, that the Christian life is not a matter of law-keeping, of trying our best to lead as good a life as possible, in order to please God; holy and righteous though he certainly is. Such an endeavour may seem admirable at first sight. Then when we see this for what it really is, an attempt to establish our own righteousness over against God – to establish some credit with him – we understand that this is…
Just heard the Lord say to me that the world (and that means whoever we meet) needs our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – in this present crisis! It has nothing comparable to offer! See Galatians 5,22! Have a great and safe weekend! 👍😀
As humanity seems to be at sea; the wind and the storm raging, it is needful for us to get our eyes off the storm. My Help Comes from the Lord A Song of Ascents. 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.6 The sun shall…