Category: faith

The little boy’s hand was dirty, so his mum asked, “Are you planning to get the dirt off your hand?” “Sure, Mom” he said “I’ll just wipe it off with my other hand.” There was only one problem with the boy’s plan. One dirty hand and one clean hand rubbed together equals two dirty hands.

We are like this little boy. Deep down we are conscious of our sin and rebellion and of our need for cleansing, but we think we can clean ourselves by doing some good deed. Just as the mother had to put her son’s hands under running water to clean them, so you must put your life under the fountain of Christ blood. Only the resurrected Christ can cleanse you from sin. Only the resurrected Christ can transform your destination from hell to heaven. Hallelujah!

Today there may be a need in each of us to do things for ourselves and to be self-reliant. If we have a problem, we want to fix it. If we want something, we try to get it. This need to be independent carries over into our relationship with Christ. But we soon discover that we cannot redeem ourselves from our sinful nature. We cannot work our way into God’s favour. We must come to Him in complete surrender and obedience, seeking His forgiveness for our sins. Without Christ, our lives are dirty, meaningless, and empty.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for the cleansing blood of Yahshua the Christ, that though my sins were as scarlet, He has made me white as snow. Father, today I rest in Your salvation by grace, that I may be free and able to share this Good News with others. I pray and receive my cleansing in the name of Christ. Amen.

A Christian actress was asked how she could live and work in Hollywood and still be true to her convictions. Her answer was simple: “I always try to remember whose I am.” For her, the most important thing was to keep her identity as a Christian, no matter what.

It’s easy to forget whose we are. For a student at a public university, surrounded by people sceptical about Christianity, it can be awkward to hold to your beliefs and try to live God’s way. At a wild frat party with friends, it may be tempting to forget that you have committed to live for Jesus. When working with people who have little use for religion, it may seem safer not to mention that you are a Christian. On a business trip with little to do at night it may seem easier to go along with others who engage in immorality than to resist because you are a Christian.

It would have been easier for the early Christians to forget whose they were. Life had become difficult for them because they were followers of Jesus. That’s why Peter wrote to them and to us and said “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” It’s only when we remember whose we are that we can call others out of darkness into the light of Christ.

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, help me to always remember who you have made me to be, and to never compromise. God, help me to praise you through my life at all times. In Christ’s name, Amen

In the beginning, God placed human beings in a garden sanctuary, where God could live and work with them to bring about the flourishing of His world.

 

Through the deceit of the snake, humans were tempted to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. They desired to be “like God, knowing good and evil.” But the hidden reality was that, unlike God, human beings could only know good and evil by becoming a mingled mess of good and evil. As they ingested the fruit, brokenness moved into every part of their being.

 

The brokenness that followed the fall, Genesis describes as a “curse”. Especially regarding relationships. Humanities relationships with themselves, with one another, with nature, and with God became damaged. At the same time, though, God pronounced that someday the serpent, along with the curse of sin and death, would be defeated.

 

Today through the finished work of Jesus on the cross and by His resurrection, the curse is being undone. When we accept the Lord and believe in Him and partake of the supper, our damaged relationships can begin to mend. We receive God’s restoring nourishment in our own lives, and we share the meal with one another. In addition, from the cursed ground we can still grow good food by which God communicates His love and care for us.

 

“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil, you will eat food from it all the days of your life.” Genesis 3:17.

 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank you for the love by which you gave yourself for us, which continues to break the curses in my life, so that all things can be restored by his grace. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Have you ever been disrespected? Do you remember how you felt in the moment? How you responded? Who disrespected you?
Disrespect occurs when a person is regarded or treated with contempt, discourtesy or rudeness. The reality is at some point in our lives we may be disrespected or treat someone disrespectfully.
King David, in the Bible, experienced disrespect. Before he became King he was humiliated by a man named Nabal, after making a simple request. David was understandably mad and was ready to wipe Nabal out. But Abigail, the wife of Nabal, quickly stepped in to apologise and resolve the issue. 
Abigail helped David to see that God was able to deal with Nabal. She guided David to look beyond the immediate aggravating circumstances to the bigger promise of God. She also invited David to act like a man who is close to the Lord. 
When we face disrespect we too can: 
1. Trust that God is able to deal with those who treat us with contempt.
2. Look beyond the current circumstance to the promises of God. 
3. Walk closely with God who will help us navigate through this present situation with love,  kindness and peace ??
It may not be easy but it is possible to handle disrespect respectfully - Sophia Peart

When my Grandson was three-years-old he was full of life and vigour. Whenever he ran into the house or I walked into theirs, he would shout, “Granddad!” and charge towards me. He was my mini me, they would say. We walked the same. We have the same gestures always and he seem so excited shouts the good news “granddad!”

Paul commends the church at Thessalonica that they have stayed strong in faith by following his example and that of other leaders—and ultimately by following Jesus, despite the hardship and suffering in their life. They have set an example of how to serve and live by the Spirit with joy. They have learned to access all the empowerment and energy they need in order to live through the Spirit.

Today remember, whoever we are, on any given day- we are following someone or leading someone. Our challenge is to follow those who imitate Jesus and to lead those who need to know him. We ought to be Christ’s mini-me.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 1:6.?

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, help me to imitate you. To be your mini-me. Father, may I live by the joy you have given me. I want to be empowered by your Spirit. Please God, may someone see you in me today. In Christ’s name, Amen.

In the past, I have been called greedy. I didn’t think I was greedy until I read this passage again. Jesus warns us to watch out for all kinds of greed. The kind of greed I usually thought about had to do with very wealthy people wanting more. But Jesus doesn’t focus on that kind of greed here.

In today’s verse, a man is arguing with his brother over their inheritance. The family has enough to hand down, but Jesus sees that this man is still worried if he will truly have enough. He is greedy not for luxury but for security. I didn’t really know that kind of greed ­existed. But many of us have it. We want a little bit more so that we don’t have to worry.

Today, Jesus points us away from greed based on worry. So long as we aim to live God’s way, aligning ourselves with God’s purpose for us in this world, and so long as it is not yet time for our heavenly inheritance, God will give us what we need to live for him each day. Wanting more than that is a type of greed. And that will distract us from fully living the life of joy and peace we are created for. So let’s repent and learn to let go of our worry-based greed.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15.

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, my creator, and Provider, I exist because of you. Father, please forgive me for trying to build my own security. Show me how to deal with the greed of worry that cost too much. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In the Old Testament, The Israelites were the people of God, they were chosen to become a nation through whom God would bless all other peoples. But, we see in the opening chapters of Exodus, God’s chosen people were in a bad way. The people of Israel had become slaves in Egypt. And in this way, they were not able to be the blessing to others that God had promised.

Pharoah, the King of Egypt, feared the Israelites because their numbers were large and a threat to his domain. So he made life unbearable for them until the people cried out in their slavery, sickness, and suffering. Some of the deepest crying, happened because many of their baby boys were murdered. Which bought trauma and hopelessness.

Today we maybe suffering from trauma and hopelessness like the children of Isreal and God may seem absent for a long time, but God hears our cries and groanings like he heard theirs and will act to bring us to freedom. It may not be easy or quick, but it would be decisive providing rescue for His suffering people.

The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out . . . to God. God heard their groaning and . . . was concerned about them (Exodus 2:23-25).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, see and hear my cries today and the groaning of people who suffer everywhere in this world. Father, be concerned and please move us to the place of faithfulness and trust over worry and fear. God help me to be responsive to your call and move into action in Christ’s name. Amen!

Secondly, we need to embrace the new thing that God wants to do in our lives by "seeing" the revelation from God's perspective. You must develop a faith that can see the invisible.

God says: “See, I am doing a new thing..." What do you see when you view your life? Do you see possibilities or problems? 
Notice what God says: “I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” 

In order, to discover what God wants for you there are two things you must see:

**1. You must see yourself how God sees you.**
You are a Beloved Son/Daughter of the Most High God. You are precious, loved and chosen by Him.
**2. You must see your possibilities as God sees them.**

God is able to transform the desert areas of your life into fields of blessing and abundance. God can take a dried-up useless life and transform it into a life of purpose and grace. 

We may not fully understand Him, or know how He will do it, all we need to do is believe and trust that He will do it.

I'd like to invite you to see the glorious new thing God is set to do in your life. How? By developing a faith that can see the invisible – to SEE the NEW THING! - Sophia Pear