Monthly Archives: April 2013

Proverbs 20, John 1

— by on

John writes of Jesus, “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”. We’ve been offered that right, to be a child of God, which is an incredible act of love and grace. God knows our every thought and action, yet He has offered us “grace upon grace”, to be part of an eternal inheritance.

Solomon writes “even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright”, and the same applies to us. It’s up to us to follow Jesus’ example and be part of the light of this world.

Philippians 3-4

— by on

Paul encourages the Philippians to “rejoice in the Lord” and to develop “the righteousness from God that depends on faith”.

The future holds much to rejoice about, provided we can “count everything as loss” in our lives today. This involves “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead”.  Paul also describes what it is that lies ahead, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.”

 

Ephesians 1-2

— by on

Thanks be to God, who in love “predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ”. Even before we knew God, He adopted us as children, offered us redemption through the blood shed by Jesus’ sacrifice, and revealed “the mystery of his will”.

Like Paul, I too give thanks to God for your encouragement and example of faith and love.

Numbers 17-18, Proverbs 13, Galatians 3-4

— by on

Such a contrast between Numbers and the ritual sacrifices and cleanness that formed a key part of the Law of Moses, and Galatians, where “the righteous shall live by faith”. We’re so blessed to have been offered life through Christ, rather than condemnation under the law, to have an inheritance based on God’s promise.

Solomon writes “whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded”. Knowledge of God is important to appreciate all that He has done for us, and to understand that “we are not children of the slave but of the free woman”, just as the Galatians needed to understand the true gospel.

Proverbs 12, Galatians 1-2

— by on

We have access to the gospel, which is not a fabrication of man, but a divine source of hope and comfort. It’s based on the sacrifice of Christ, “who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age”.

Paul gave up his former way of life, that he might live to God. He could say that he “lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  We have that same hope, and same obligation. As Solomon said, “In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.”