Watching Daily At Wisdom's Gates

 Mark 10:14 ESV But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Jesus got angry at his own followers for excluding children from coming to him for blessing. It's as though they were an overzealous safeguarding team, wanting to protect Jesus from a false accusation. Yet Jesus turned this episode into a spiritual lesson. We think we have to be big and clever to get into heaven. Jesus teaches that we have to be humble and lowly to get into heaven. It's not about being stupid or naive, but about being credulous of the sure and certain promises of God. A child with a good dad trusts him to deliver on his promises, to the best of his ability. How much more can we expect God to welcome us into his Kingdom if we come to him for blessing. We should leave our egos and agendas at the door. Jesus doesn't want us bickering about who the greatest is in the Kingdom. He wants us to humbly s...

 Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  God's word is powerful. It is an offensive weapon. It's like a surgeon's scalpel. Our souls are what distinguish us from animals. We are eternal souls, which encapsulates our thoughts, intentions, feelings and emotions. Whether or not we trust in Jesus, we have everlasting souls. Our spirits come alive when we trust in Jesus. Our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit. We begin to bear the fruit of the spirit. The difference between a moral person and a spiritual person is like the difference between crab apples (wild apples) and pink lady apples. Wild apples are sour; pink lady apples are delicious! 'Sovereign Lord, please apply your word to our hearts. Help us see where we're going wrong, and cut out all that is amiss. In Jesus' name, am...

 Titus 2:11 ESV For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  Grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense: an undeserved gift. The Lord Jesus is God's grace personified. He demonstrated God's grace by giving his life for us.  As Jesus himself said, when he was lifted up (on the cross) he would draw everyone to himself. His crucifixion is the ultimate demonstration of love. Not everyone receives his salvation, but his salvation is for all peoples. There'll be people from every tribe, language and nation in the family of God. Jesus isn't just the Jewish Messiah. He's the Saviour of the world  Sadly, not all people receive Christ as their Saviour. Only those who trust in him will be saved. Many are called, but only a few are chosen. 'Gracious God, please, in your mercy, chose to save us. We don't ask for our sake but for Jesus' sake, and for your honour, amen'.

 Luke 1:37 ESV  For nothing will be impossible with God.”  I'm reminded of the power someone mentioned of the word 'yet'. When someone says they can't do something, if 'yet' is added, it is taken from the realm of the impossible to that of the possible. Of course, ultimately, it is God's will that prevails, not ours. The Nazarene peasant Mary wasn't naive. She knew that virgins didn't have babies... Yet! She was going to be the exception. The angel Gabriel clarified for her. Mary wasn't disbelieving, she just wanted to clarify how she was going to have a child. Gabriel explained that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, a miraculous conception. What seems impossible to us is possible with God. Why was Jesus born of the virgin Mary? To fulfil God's promises. As sin came into the world through one man, so salvation came into the world through one man, the Son of God. 'Dear God, we're so grateful that nothing is impossible for you. Ple...

 2 Timothy 3:17 ESV  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. What is it that completes a man or woman of God? Do they need a 'second blessing'? Do they need to be able to 'speak in tongues'? The word of God, that is the sword of the Spirit, completes the person of God. Through it we become wise for salvation. Without it, we might think we don't even need salvation. Salvation isn't just praying a mantra, a 'sinner's prayer'. Even as believers in Jesus, we need rebuking, correcting and training as well in righteousness. God's word reveals how we ought to live. If we want to do good, it's God's word that reveals what's good. To love God wholeheartedly and to love one another is our calling. We need to dig into the Bible to find out how we can practically do that.  'O Lord, please help us to live by your word, and forgive us when we fail. In Jesus' name, amen'.

 John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  Jesus didn't come to restrict us. He came to make us alive for eternity. Spiritually, we're naturally dead: we need him to resurrect us. Why did God send his Son to make us alive? Because he loves us. He could rightfully have abandoned us to our hellbound fate, but he refused to do so. Elsewhere we're told that God doesn't want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to come to faith in his Son. He loves the world, even though it is in opposition to him. Jesus is the only way to eternal life with God. We need an intermediary between us and God, and God has provided one, himself. We can't earn eternal life ourselves. Without God, we will perish. With him, we will enjoy eternal life. Trust in him today! 'God, we praise you for sending your Son for our salvation. May we trust him for eternal life, in his name, amen'.

 1 Timothy 1:16 ESV  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  Why did God show mercy to the violent, insolent persecutor Saul? To show all believers that there's hope for us too. If there was hope for the church's worst enemy, there's hope for anyone. Having been saved, Paul didn't remain a violent, insolent persecutor. Jesus Christ was patient with him. He became the greatest Christian. The Apostle Paul didn't blow his own trumpet. He knew that the good in him was a product of God's work in him. Jesus doesn't leave us in our mess, but transforms us. No one can say they're too good to need God. Equally, however, no one can say they are too bad for God. He is able to transform us. 'Dear Lord, we're so grateful that no one is too bad for you. Please transform us by your Holy Spirit. For your honour we pray, ...

 Isaiah 25:1 ESV O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. The Lord isn't just some distant force way out there in the universe. He can be our God. We can have a relationship with him.  God is to be exalted. He is worthy of our praise. He does wonderful things. Isaiah had revelation of God's word. In our day however we have the revelation of Immanuel, God with us, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has poured out his Holy Spirit to reveal himself to us on his word. From God's word we know that God hasn't finished yet. He's still calling sinners home, until he returns to judge the living and the dead. We need to be ready for that great day. 'O Lord our God, we praise you, for you are worthy. May we meditate on your wonderful deeds, for your glory, amen'.

 Philippians 4:4 ESV Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  These are 'nice' words at first glance. Upon reflection though, they seem inappropriate. The Apostle Paul was in prison at the time of writing. Was Paul some kind of sadist who took an unhealthy pleasure in his predicament? Not at all. He had his eyes on eternity. For Paul, to live was Christ and to die was to gain. He knew his work wasn't finished for the Lord. He knew that when it was, he would attain to glory. What of us? Have we learned the secret of joy in the Lord, whatever our circumstances? May God help us to do so! 'Joyful God, please impart your joy upon us, whatever we're going through. In Christ's name we pray, amen'.