Ephesians 2 begins by speaking of God’s most wonderful plans that he has for all humanity, and for his creation as a whole. First to be mentioned is his plan to make us all alive. You might...
The city of Corinth, in the first century, was a prominent commercial and cultural centre within the Roman Empire. It was characterised by economic prosperity, social hierarchy, and a strong emphasis...
Psalm 15 seems to be obsessed with a ‘who’ question. Namely, who can be in God’s presence? That’s a big question, and the psalmist explores the answer with a series of ‘who’ statements....
The National Gallery held an exhibition of some of Millet’s works over the summer. He was a nineteenth century French artist probably best known for his realistic, unsentimental paintings of...
The opening seven verses of Paul’s epistle to the church at Rome powerfully sets before us the whole nature and content of the gospel. In this section of the epistle, Paul introduces himself, first...
As children, we were often told to pay attention. Pay attention to what our parents said, to cars when crossing the street, to hot things we shouldn’t touch and many other important or dangerous...
The vine metaphor has deep roots in the Old Testament, where it frequently symbolises Israel as God’s chosen people. Psalm 80:8–9 portrays Israel as a vine transplanted from Egypt and planted by...
Billy Graham, in his December 31 devotional in his book Unto the Hills said: ‘…we do not worship an absentee God.’ I fully agree with this statement. He said that the Christian would know...
Unity has long been recognised as a defining mark of the Christian church, yet it remains one of its most persistent challenges. In our header scripture, Paul confronts factionalism within the...
You’ve heard the phrase, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There are numerous stories of people purchasing something at a rummage sale that proved to be quite valuable. I collect coins,...
Why does 1 Samuel 20:18-42 record David hiding, at dawn, in a remote field, waiting for a clandestine signal from his close friend, Jonathan? It was a last-ditch attempt on David’s part to rescue...
In 2 Timothy 2:1-10, the apostle Paul sets out for Timothy the demands of the Christian life, knowing that, with the apostle’s imprisonment (v.9) and imminent departure from this world, Timothy will...
Every so often, a message pops up on my laptop that says, ‘Issues Found’. I usually chuckle and think, yes, I do have issues, but clicking on the link won’t fix them. My car had some issues last...
The metaphor of the Church being a flock is one of the most enduring and theologically rich images in Scripture. Rooted in the pastoral realities of the ancient Near East, this metaphor conveys themes...
I remember the times I was so fortunate to be able to sing special music, but it still did not compare to joining in and singing with one of our festival choirs praises to God. It took many...
Andrew’s encounter with Jesus was so life-changing that the first thing he did was not to go back to fishing, not to go home, not to keep his faith private, rather it was to say to someone he loved,...
Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison wrote a song called ‘More Than I Can Say’ back in 1959. And it went on to be performed by Leo Sayer, who rode the song to the top of the billboards back in the 80s....
Psalms 52-60 are often referred to as the ‘Fugitive Psalms’, written when David was fleeing from Saul’s unremitting efforts to kill him. No wonder so many of them include desperate pleas for...
The concepts of God’s honour and glory are central themes throughout the Bible since they are essential aspects of the divine nature. In the New Testament, these divine attributes are also...
Many of us are familiar or have at least heard of different approaches to prayer. Some give specific guidelines about how to go about it, even down to steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 or even more. Others have...
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘church’? Many people may think of the building at the end of the road or a cathedral in the centre of the city. It might be an institution: ‘the...
Have you ever sat alone hoping someone would notice you? I was what some call ‘a wallflower’ growing up. I went to the dances alone because no one invited me. I sat alone listening to the music;...
John the Baptist stood at the edge of a new era. People were coming to him, confessing sins, longing for change, aching for God to do something fresh. John told them in effect my work is just the...
Water holds the power to shape and renew. It softens hard soil, restores what is dry, and sustains every living thing. In baptism, water represents the meeting place between heaven and earth. On...
I remember the teacher shoving some papers into my hand and telling me to remember the words. It was for an event at school that was only a few days away. She did not say what they were for, or even...
I can’t let the beginning of the new year go by without first wishing you a happy (happier?) one; and second, commenting on the plethora of advice on how to have a better year than the one that just...
In 1972 the Apollo 17 mission gave us the famous Blue Marble photo, the first clear picture of our beautiful world from outer space, a gorgeous orb in blue and white, spinning in a dark universe. Yet...
It has been said that if the Wise Men, or Magi, were women, they would have brought Mary and Jesus nappies, baby wipes and milk formula rather than the impractical gifts of gold, frankincense and...
As the night sky glistens with the brilliance of countless stars, we are drawn to the story of the magi, following a star to worship the Light of the World. The opening 12 verses of Matthew chapter 2...
These words from the prophet Jeremiah provide comfort to a people wounded, wandering, and weary. They are also words of promise for us today, as the picture of the Lord as a shepherd is as relevant...
In my travels locally and around the world, it is devastating to see the different forms of poverty that I encounter. On a recent trip to South Africa, a young boy came knocking on the window asking...
Kingdom Living begins with a foundational question: Who is the King of the kingdom we are living in? As disciples of Christ, we declare that Jesus is our Lord and King (1 Corinthians...
As we are heading off into a new year, many are probably thinking about what the year ahead will bring. But as we pause at the turn of the year perhaps, we can turn that question around and ask,...
We are well into the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ and many of the songs of Christmas speak about peace and goodwill. As much as we sing about it, want it and even work for it, peace is...
The Christmas season is a time of exchanges: cards are exchanged, visits are exchanged, and presents are exchanged around the tree on Christmas Day, with the unwanted ones exchanged at the store or...
It is amazing how something so small can make a huge impact on your life. The area we live in is now overrun with rodents of some kind or another. I can only think that our recent mild winters may be...
In the header scripture, the writer of Hebrews gives us an astonishing picture – Jesus himself standing in the midst of his people, declaring the name of God and leading his brothers and sisters in...
Those who know me know that planning is one of my love languages. I love the feeling when a perfectly laid plan comes together. And my love tank is filled when someone considers what I like when...
The above scripture was spoken by the Archangel Gabriel to the virgin Mary regarding her conception by the Holy Spirit. Her pregnancy and giving birth to the Son of God was, indeed, a result of the...
Picture a world waiting in silence. Centuries of longing, generations holding onto promises spoken through prophets and whispered in prayers. Darkness seemed to linger, and hope felt like a distant...
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