Watching Daily At Wisdom's Gates

  And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. Genesis 48:5 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.48.5.ESV Jacob adopted his two grandsons from his son Joseph. This is an unusual event. I think it has to do with them getting to appropriate God's blessings to Jacob. Ephraim and Manasseh's mum was Egyptian, possibly pagan, matched with Joseph as an arranged marriage by Pharoah. So maybe the danger was that they'd end up slipping into pagan Egyptian ways. Whatever the reason, elderly Jacob took them under his wing. It doesn't matter if we have a mixed heritage. If we're chosen by God, nothing can thwart His plans for us. God isn't racist in favour of the Jewish ethnic kinsfolk of the Lord Jesus. I know that C.H. Spurgeon, the 'prince of preachers', was brought up by his grandparents. We can't underestimate the value of godly gran

  Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. Genesis 46:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.46.3.ESV Sometimes God asks us to do counterintuitive things. He had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's descendants. Yet here he was telling elderly Jacob to go down to Egypt. Clearly God knew He was asking something difficult of Jacob, because He seeks to reassure him. He tells him not to be afraid, which is a common refrain in Scripture. When we fear the Lord, we have nothing left to fear. God promised to make Jacob into a great nation, even within Egypt. God makes His people into a mighty spiritual Kingdom. He does so even within this lost and dying world. God doesn't promise to make each of us individually into great nations. Yet He does invite us into the greatest collective of all, the Kingdom of God. We enter through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 'Ou

  Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my Lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. Genesis 44:33 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.44.33.ESV I always find Joseph's dealings with his brothers as rather convoluted. Yet I cannot fail to admit that he succeeded in reconciling and reuniting his family. He's like a picture of how God deals with His people. Like Joseph, God tests (not tempts) us, to prove us genuine. Judah stands out as a shining example of the success of Joseph's testing. He himself is a picture of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Judah was prepared to be a substitute, or a ransom for his little brother Benjamin. Reuben had offered up his own sons in his brother's place. Judah went one step further and offered himself in his brother's place. Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, defeated death for us. He is our ransom and substitute. Judah is a pale shadow of the glories of

  And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" Genesis 41:38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.41.38.ESV This verse is part of the climax of an extraordinary turn of events. Joseph went from jail, having been falsely accused, to become the most powerful man in the world. Pharoah recognised he had the Spirit of God, and bestowed his power upon him. Joseph interpreted Pharoah's dreams which predicted what was going to happen to Egypt. Not only so, but Joseph proposed the means by which the coming famine could be mitigated against. Pharoah was so impressed that he put him in charge. Pharoah relinquished his power for Joseph, and became a ceremonial head of state. Joseph held the reigns of power. Pharoah was just along for the ride. It all goes back to the last verse I chose. The Lord was with Joseph, so he was successful. We can and should expect to excel in our work, we need to strive to such an end. 'Sovereign L

  The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.39.2.ESV What was the secret of Joseph's success? It was the fact that the Lord was with him. Similarly, any of us only succeed because God helps us. Joseph might have only been a slave at this stage. Nonetheless, he was still the best he could be. Whatever we do, we should seek to excel. The fact Joseph was an excellent slave set him in good stead for when God would providentially have him become prime minister of Egypt. A minister is a servant, they just have more responsibilities in a more responsible job. Whether we're a street sweeper or a king, we ought to serve one another in love. There's no room for arrogance for God's people. Joseph might have come across that way when he was young. Yet there was no hint of bitterness when he was humbled to the role of a slave. 'God our Lord, please help us to ex

  His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Genesis 37:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.37.8.ESV Joseph gets a bad rap for recounting his dreams. Not only his brothers, but many Bible readers take issue with his seeming arrogance. To be honest, I'm rather more philosophical. I don't necessarily agree that Joseph was, humanly speaking, unwise to share his dreams. I also recognise however that in the providence of God, he had to share his divinely ordained dreams. Then, when they came true, people could recognise the hand of God in it all. It wasn't Joseph's fault that he was his father's favourite. That was simply the product of being one of the youngest children, of Jacob's favourite wife. He might come across as a spoilt early on, but his father has to bear much of the responsibility for that. At the time of the dreams, Joseph

  And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,' Genesis 32:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.32.9.ESV Jacob's journey to faith was long and circuitous. He didn't have the Damascene conversion of his grandfather Abraham, or the quiet trust of his father Isaac. He was a schemer whose default was to trust in himself. Even in this verse, there seems to be distance between Jacob and the God of his fathers. He acknowledges their faith and their God. Yet he seems hesitant to claim their faith and their God for himself. Still, God had already promised good to Jacob, and he realised he was at once undeserving and needy of further blessings. What seems like the definitive moment in Jacob's faith journey was still to come. Wrestling with the preincarnate Jesus would give Jacob a permanent limp, symbolic of his new found dependence on God rather th

  Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" Genesis 30:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.30.2.ESV Jacob and Rachel's response to their infertility stands in marked contrast to that of Jacob's parents Isaac and Rebekah. When his parents struggled to conceive, his father prayed, and God graciously answered his prayer. Jacob and Rachel seem more like his grandparents Abraham and Sarah in this regard. When they struggled to produce a child together, Sarah hatched the Ishmaelite Hagar plot. Similarly, when Rachel struggled to produce children, she gave her servant to Jacob to have children on her behalf. She had melodramatically demanded that Jacob give her children, or she would die. There's truth in Jacob's response. Yet essentially his reply is that of a father abdication responsibility. Instead of praying like his own father, he metaphorically shrugs his should

 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. Genesis 28:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.28.3.ESV Was Isaac's blessing to Jacob not fulfilled? After all, he is the ancestor of the Israeli people ethnically rather than a company of peoples. Maybe Isaac was envisaging the twelve tribes of Israel in his blessing. I think that with the Bible being a spiritual book, there's a spiritual message here. Ethnically, Israel may just be one people. Spiritual Israel on the other hand is a company of peoples. Let me explain. Spiritual Israel is the company of peoples who are grafted into the Jewish Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate means by which Abraham, Isaac and Jacob blessed the world. God certainly answered Isaac's prayer. Jacob went on to have twelve sons, the fourth of whom, Judah was an ancestor of Jesus, the lion of his tribe. Israel has ultimately been multiplied by millions of Gentiles who trust

  I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, Genesis 26:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.26.4.ESV Abraham wasn't a flash in the pan. God had similar promises to make to his son Isaac (and grandson Jacob for that matter). The blessing they have brought to the world is not simply through Israeli people, but ultimately through the Jewish Messiah, their Descendant Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate Abrahamic Offspring through whom the world is blessed. He doesn't just bless us temporally, but eternally by His Holy Spirit. Through His death and resurrection we're forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God. Our faith isn't all that different to that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The main difference is that they looked forward to their Descendant Jesus. We of course look back at His first advent as the ground of our fait

  Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.22.8.ESV  This verse is part of one of the most dramatic chapters in Scripture. God told elderly Abraham to sacrifice his miracle child Isaac to Him. He clearly couldn't bear to tell Isaac what was going to happen, because this was his reply to Isaac's question about the offering.  We might think God's demand of Abraham is extreme, and it is. Yet Jesus demands no less of us. He commands us to renounce all we have to follow Him.  We don't necessarily have to be travelling vagrants to follow Jesus. Yet He has to be everything to us, not anything else we may have. We came to this world with nothing and we leave with nothing- salvation is an epic bonus.  Thankfully, God did indeed provide an alternative sacrifice for Abraham. Thankfully, Christ has died for our forgiveness. This doesn't mean t

  And as they brought them out, one said, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away." Genesis 19:17 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.19.17.ESV I have a friend who was Biblically clueless. On a skateboarding forum online, another unbelieving friend shared this story of Lot fleeing Sodom. It sparked a spiritual interest in my friend, who didn't look back and has since become a pastor. That's the key lesson of the story of Lot: don't look back! If God saves you from this present evil age, don't go hankering after the corrodable trinkets of the world. Remember Lot's wife, who looked back, and turned into a pillar of salt. Lot might not be the best example. He chose to live in an evil place like Sodom, and was slow to leave. At least he did though, and didn't look back, neither should we as we migrate to heaven. Simon Peter reveals Lot as someone who was tormented in his right

  He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen." Genesis 16:12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.16.12.ESV Sadly, this verse rings true of Ishmael's descendants, especially in this Islamic age. Islam is against every non Muslim, and non Muslims are against Islam. I know people often feel they have to be apologetic for the crusades, but if it wasn't for them, we'd be living in an Islamic State. God did promise temporal blessings for Ishmael. Yet spiritually he was like a wild donkey. Donkeys are simultaneously stubborn and impulsive, not good traits for people. It might seem racist to characterise someone and their descendants as a donkey, but sadly, we do have cultural traits, and if the shoe fits... Better to be a sheep than a donkey. Being a sheep might not be flattering either, but at least we can have God as our Shepherd. When a man's ways are pleasing t

 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." Genesis 8:22 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.8.22.ESV Why is this verse true, and doomsday eco warriors false? In the context it's because of sacrifice. Ultimately, it isn't the sacrifice of animals that preserves us, but the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Careless observers wonder how Noah could sacrifice animals when there were two of each on the ark. Careful readers note that there were seven pairs of clean animals on the ark. From these, Noah could make his sacrifice. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. If Christ hadn't have given His life for us, we would be destroyed. Because He satisfied Father God's wrath, the earth won't be destroyed by ecological disaster. The earth won't end as we know it until the return of Christ. He will judge us then. The earth will be recycled into the new creation. 'Our

  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.12.2.ESV How did God make some elderly, childless pagan into a great nation that has blessed the world? Nothing is impossible for Him. We become blessings in relation to Christ. Abraham might be the father of the Israeli nation, which has blessed the world in its own right. Yet I believe that as a spiritual book the Bible is first and foremost interpreted spiritually. Abraham is one of the elder statesmen within the Kingdom of heaven. Abraham's miracle child Isaac was ancestor to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is ultimately in Him that the world is blessed. The ultimate nation is the spiritual Kingdom of God. How do we get blessed by the Abrahamic Kingdom of God? The same way Abraham gained a right standing with God, by faith. Then God credits our belief to us as righteousness, by trusting in Abraham's greatest

  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it." Genesis 4:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.4.7.ESV I've heard two differing interpretations of this verse. One is that God is picturing sin as a lamb. According to this view, this is what Cain should have offered to God. The other view is that God is making sin out to be a wild beast that wants to destroy Cain. The contrary desire to Cain could be a predators desire to kill him. Otherwise it could be the lamb's wish not to be killed by him. The word for sin here could just as well be translated 'sin offering', which lends itself to the lamb theory, although maybe the truth is a synthesis of the two. Sin could be described as a wolf in sheep's clothing, that looks all innocent, but would destroy us if we didn't rule over it. There's a battle within us between our sinful desires and our c

  He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one's regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. 2 Chronicles 21:20 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/2ch.21.20.ESV Jehoram was a nasty piece of work. He had a godly dad, but that didn't stop him murdering his siblings when he came to power. Not only so, but he also led his people in idolatry rather than the worship of the One True God. Even politically as well as spiritually, Jehoram was a failure. Edom successfully rebelled from his rule. So it comes as no surprise that he departed to no one's regret. That's the phrase that struck me from this verse: Jehoram departed to no one's regret. The lesson to learn from him is to consider what our legacies will be. Will anyone be sad when we finally shuffle off life's stage? We need to be building godly legacies that bless people. We're not to be self seekin

  What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? Ecclesiastes 1:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/ecc.1.3.ESV It's a rhetorical question, but the answer is implied by the context. Everything in this world is ultimately meaningless, Solomon despairingly declares. So hard labour is essentially pointless, Solomon seems to argue. Why might Solomon's inplication be right? If we think about it, we came into the world with nothing, and we leave with nothing. So all we strive for in this life we can't take with us. Of course, Solomon isn't telling us to go on the dole! Work is important for us to do. It's just not the meaning of life. I'm reminded of the message on the gates of Auchwitz, the Nazi death camp: 'work brings freedom'. The Bible teaches that this is a lie. Only faith in the Jewish Messiah Jesus brings true and lasting freedom. 'O Lord, thank You for the freedom that we find in You. Don't let us seek ultimate purpose

  Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. 2 Chronicles 1:1 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/2ch.1.1.ESV Solomon was one of the wisest men who ever lived. He was also one of the richest and most powerful men of his day. What was the secret of his success? This verse gives the answer. The Lord his God was with him. If God is with us, we'll be the best king, carpenter, tutor, or whatever else that we can be. God made Solomon exceedingly great. Now to be honest, this isn't His destiny for all of us in this life. Better to be Lazarus the beggar than a rich man destined for hell. What we can do is to excel even at whatever mundane jobs we might have. Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we're to do it all to the glory of God. All that we're able to do is in the might that God gives us. 'Our Lord and Father, would You please strengthen us to serve You in our lives. May we glo

  Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ch.29.12.ESV Sadly, most rich people don't acknowledge the One from whom riches come from. Many even of the wealthy who pay Him lip service are miserly with their wealth. Similarly, otherwise honourable people often fail to recognise the God who made them so- having a form of godliness but denying its power. We can see a pattern emerging: most powerful people fail to honour God who is the ultimate source of all authority. Yet their refusal to humble themselves before Him doesn't make His delegation of power any less real. It is wrong though to take the gifts and to deny the Giver. David was one of the richest, most honourable and powerful Jews ever. He had no illusions as to where all his blessings came from. He recognised His God from whom all blessings flow. I

  This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.4.1.ESV Being a servant is a humbling role. It means to serve someone. Jesus dignified the role of servant as the Suffering Servant promised by the prophet Isaiah. Jesus said that obviously the one served is greater. Yet He Himself didn't come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Jesus is the ultimate Prime Minister- minister simply meaning servant. We are stewards of the mysteries of God, as revealed to the prophets and apostles. We don't have to be prophets or apostles to know the mysteries of God. We just have to open up the Scriptures of old testament prophets and new testament apostles. The mysteries of God are His secrets revealed: that He's made a way for us to be reconciled with Him. This is good news; this is gospel truth! May we respond positively to this best of truths. 'De

 https://miniszterelnok.hu/speech-by-prime-minister-viktor-orban-at-the-31st-balvanyos-summer-free-university-and-student-camp/   Why am I responding to the speech of some obscure European prime minister? Because he invokes my God and then misrepresents Him. Orban starts off promisingly with this statement: 'So if you are looking into the future, the most important advice is modesty and humility: you cannot supplant the Lord of History.' Sadly, he doesn't take his own advice. He goes on to be immodestly proud about apparent Hungarian and Western superiority over the world. Not only so, but he fails to attribute Western successes to our Judeo-Christian heritage. Neither does he acknowledge that there are far more genuine Christians in the likes of China and South Korea than nominal Christians in Hungary and the West. What Orban does to is to be very materialistic and worldly and bemoan the decline in the West economically. He then goes on to say that because there's

  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.3.15.ESV In the context, Paul is referring to gospel workers. Yet I'm sure his warning could apply to us all. After all, the great commission is for every believer, not just for 'professional Christians'. I'm reminded of a famous rhyme- 'only one life, will soon be past/only what's done for Christ will last'. In eternity to come noone will care how much money we made. In the words of another old quote, we'll be 'only remembered for what we have done'. Salvation is by faith alone in the grace of God alone. Yet it is never alone, it is always accompanied by works. These don't earn our salvation, they're simply the evidence that we are saved. We are to work wholeheartedly and devotedly according to God's will for our lives. Whatever we do for a day job- carpenter,

  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.1.18.ESV If we think about it, the idea that a crucified carpenter turned teacher is the means of eternal salvation for millions does seem a bit farfetched. Well it is literally farfetched: conceived in the heart of God in the highest heaven! Of course, Jesus is more than just a carpenter turned teacher. He's the eternal Son of God! The surprise shouldn't be so much that God can save us from the condemnation we deserve. Instead, we ought to be surprised that God's willing to save us. It's not like we're entitled to salvation. Why should God's means of salvation for perishing wretches like us seem naturally sensible to us, lost and unspiritual as we are by nature? Christ's crucifixion is the crux of God's supernatural plan of salvation for us. If God has sovereignly made us alive

  from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 1 Chronicles 17:10 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ch.17.10.ESV If we're more than nominal believers in God, we'll relate to David's desire to build God's house. At first, Nathan the prophet told David to go for it. Then God revealed He had something much better in store for David. Rather than David to build God's house, God Himself was going to build David a house, albeit not a literal palace. Instead, God was going to give David an eternal name and renown through his greater Son, the Lord Jesus. Christ was descended from David according to the flesh, but the Son of God the Father spiritually, miraculously born of the virgin Mary. If we belong to Jesus, we get the Holy Spirit of God taking up residence within our hearts. Though outwardly we waste away, victims of the ravages of time; spiritually we

 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.90.12.ESV Last time, we considered the previous verse in this Psalm which says how time is relatively insignificant to the Eternal One. As mere mortals however, we would do well to consider the brevity of our lives. We're here today and gone tomorrow. It's foolishness to assume we're going to live forever. As we get older, our mortality looms larger and larger. Hopefully then, we get wiser as we age and prepare to meet our Maker. There's one sense in which this Psalm asks the impossible of us. We don't know the days of our deaths, so there's one sense in which we can't number our days. We can however consider that we're unlikely to make it past seventy or eighty, or at an absolute push, something like one hundred and twenty! If we are mindful of our impending death (or else Christ's return first), then we should be wise to make our peace

  For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.90.4.ESV Some people think Christ is taking too long to return. When we consider this verse, we will realise that this isn't true. God doesn't work to our time frame. God is eternal. So time to Him is a flash in the pan. He set the clock ticking; and He'll wind it up. The world won't end a second too late. Jesus is only delaying His return because there's more people to be saved. Once He returns there'll be no opportunity for anyone to be saved. So if we're saved we need to call others to reconcile with God before it's too late. God doesn't want anyone to perish. He only lets people do so because they choose to reject Him. God is sovereign, yes, but we also have free will and need to choose Him as drawn by His Holy Spirit. 'Our Lord God, we long for Christ's return and pray that in the mea

  Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you." Then David received them and made them officers of his troops. 1 Chronicles 12:18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ch.12.18.ESV What does this obscure event in ancient Israelite history have to do with us? David is like a picture of his Greatest Descendant, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amasai is a picture of those of us who acknowledge Jesus's Lordship today. David wasn't king at the time of this verse: Saul was the incumbent. Similarly, the devil is the god of this age who most people follow. To follow Jesus is a subversive act of rebellion against satanic powers that be. Just as Amasai proclaimed peace to David and his helpers, so there is only true spiritual peace for Jesus and His helpers. Naturally we're at enmity with God, but through Jesus we can make our peace with H

  He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.18.22.ESV I can testify to the truth of this verse. Hopefully she who finds a husband can say the same thing! When God created the world, the only thing that wasn't good was that man was alone. That's why He created woman. Only once women were created was creation described by God as 'very good'. Nowadays, most of the powers that be struggle to define what a woman is. Contrary to popular opinion, a woman is someone created that way, not someone who might happen to feel like a woman. Note that Solomon doesn't say 'she who finds a wife' or 'he who finds a husband'. Godly marriage is between one man and one woman for life. 'Gay marriage' is a figment of depraved human imagination. I need to clarify that we don't need to be married to find goodness and divine favour. Even Jesus Himself wasn't married, and the

  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.13.14.ESV Romans 13 starts with how we should relate to those in power over us. Then it addresses how we should relate to one another. Finally, it tackles how we should be in ourselves. I don't think Paul's structure is accidental. He's subliminally suggesting that life doesn't revolve around us. The Bible isn't primarily about us as individuals. Jesus is the centre of the universe. Amazingly, we get to clothe ourselves in Him. We can put off the filthy rags of our own self-righteousness, and wear His perfect righteousness instead. There's a battle within us between the Holy Spirit, who takes up residence within us, and our sinful flesh. We're not to indulge the sinful nature. Instead, we're to open ourselves fully to the cleansing of God's Spirit. 'Holy God, please help us to become holy as You a

 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; Romans 12:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.12.6.ESV Everyone's gifts are different. Even in a literal sense, if two kids both get bikes for gifts, they're still different gifts. Even if two people have the same spiritual gift, there should still be room for them both within the church to exercise their gift. God gives us grace sufficient for what He's called us to. If He calls someone to preach His word, He will equip them to do so. Likewise if someone's gift is generosity, God will supply their needs to fulfil their calling. There's no point one Christian getting jealous of another. That's like one body part envying a different one: it doesn't make sense. The eyes and feet for example are very different but still all important for a well functioning body. One person might be gifted at service. Another might be a great linguist, transla

  These were the potters who were inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the king's service. 1 Chronicles 4:23 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ch.4.23.ESV Why does the Bible go to great genealogical lengths, including little details like this verse? Firstly, to show that it's not made up. These are real people it refers to, who were known and traceable at the time. Secondly, verses like this show that all of us, however insignificant we may feel, and be in a worldly sense, are important to God. Love doesn't keep a record of wrongs. Yet love does keep a record of rights, of God's gracious dealings with ordinary people like us. Zooming in on this verse, pottery might be a humble profession, yet it is also divine. God fashioned us out of earth and breathed the breath of life into us. God Himself is a Divine Potter. Pottery might be a humble profession, but if it's done in the service of the King, it has real dignity. We might be potters, carpenter

  But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no Saviour. Hosea 13:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/hos.13.4.ESV Idols, and those who serve them, are ultimately forgettable. Yet God is the One who delivered His people from slavery in the land of Egypt. He's the only true God. If we want saving from our sin, there's only one Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the only One who can deliver us from slavery to sin to the promised new creation. Anyone or anything we trust other than Him is a worthless idol. If we live for false gods or stuff that will inevitably perish, we ourselves will perish with them. If however we repent and trust in Jesus, we will assuredly be saved. He gave His life blood for our redemption. Jesus had defeated death so that all who trust in Him will overcome death too. He's the only One we need to know. We don't need to know about any false religions, that would just be a waste of time.

  They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. Hosea 10:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/hos.10.4.ESV God hates mere lip service. He doesn't want us to just say we love Him and others. He wants us to actually and actively love Him and others. If we talk the talk but fail to walk the walk, Hosea says we're like a bunch of weeds in a field. We should be longing to bear fruit for God. We should be seeking to avoid fruitless lives. When we hear God's word, it's not enough to say 'amen'. We need to put it into practice. When the rubber hits the road, God wants action, not just hot air. I could learn from this verse. It's not even enough to write prolifically about God's word. If I'm not living it, all my words are worthless. 'God Almighty, help us to put Your word into practice in our lives. Please forbid that we would simply pay You lip service, with no pr

  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.8.6.ESV To set the mind on the flesh could be, for example, to be greedy or lustful. The fruit of such a life is death, not just temporally, but also eternally. We need to avoid such a lifestyle. There's a great saying which goes something like 'sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny'. We reap what we sow. We either reap eternal death or eternal life. By nature, we sow to the flesh. Only by God's Spirit applied Word do we get set on the right trajectory. Having been set on the right path, we need to stick to it. As Romans 7 so clearly demonstrates, there's a battle within us between our old sinful nature/flesh and our new spiritual sensibilities as the Holy Spirit comes to live in those who trust in Jesus. If we're truly saved, the

  Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/hos.6.3.ESV In isolation, this verse sounds great. Surely we can say 'amen' to pressing on to know the Lord! Yet in the context, God despairs of His fickle people. We can never assume on God's mercies. If we constantly trample underfoot the One who gave Himself for us, we cannot presume He will welcome us in the end. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, not the assumption that He will by default accept us. If our lives don't match our professions of faith, we can't expect a good outcome. If we only pay God lip service, whilst we rebel against Him in our deeds, we're on a dangerous path. We need to tear our metaphorical hearts, not even simply our clothes, in despair at our depravity. There is an element of truth to this verse. Insofar as it

  "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. Hosea 2:14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/hos.2.14.ESV This is astonishing language. Imagine if your partner played the whore and slept around whilst still officially married to you. You'd be gravitating to the divorce courts, not to seducing them! Even more astonishing is that this verse isn't primarily about Hosea and his wayward wife Gomer. This is about God and His adulterous people. Instead of condemning us to hell, God seeks to woo us all over again. To bring us into the wilderness doesn't sound particularly pleasant. Yet that's where God first found us, spiritually speaking. He's urging us to return to our first love, Himself. God doesn't condemn His people, not matter how far we stray. He'll always bring us back. He won't leave us out in the wilderness to perish, but will safely bring us through to His promised new creation. 'Fat

  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. Romans 5:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.5.16.ESV The reason one Man's death can atone for many people's sins is because it all started with one trespass. In Adam we die. In Christ we can live. In Adam we're all condemned to eternal estrangement from all that is good. Thankfully, Jesus offers the free gift of eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We deserve our just desserts. Yet in Christ we can be justified. We simply need to trust in Him for our justification. How can Jesus's temporal death clear us for eternity? This is because He Himself is eternal. Mere mortals like us can inherit immortality through faith in Christ. 'Everlasting Father, we praise You for the justification and life w

  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:21 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.4.21.ESV Abraham is a model of faith for us. Coming from a pagan background, he didn't know much of God's pedigree of fulfilling promises. Yet Paul asserts that he was fully convinced that God would fulfil His promises to him. Abraham certainly had his moments of doubt. When the going got tough, he often ran off to Egypt. He could be deceitful; and he laughed out loud at the prospect of parenting in his and wife Sarah's old age. No wonder Abraham called his miracle son Isaac (he laughs). Previously, he and Sarah had taken matters into their own hands and fathered a child by his slave Hagar. He longed for elder son Ishmael to be God's son of promise, but that wasn't His way. We see Abraham's fully convinced faith most clearly when he was prepared to sacrifice his promised son Isaac, knowing that God could raise him from the dead. Thankfully, God Hi

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live; Amos 5:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/amo.5.4.ESV How can we seek the Lord God of Israel? Can we find Him in Jerusalem, Mecca, or Salt Lake City? God's not to be especially found in any particular geographical location. Israel thought Bethel was the place to be, like Rome to Catholics or Canterbury to Anglicans. Amos was lukewarm at best about such an approach. Even Bethel wasn't going to escape the coming wrath. If we want to seek after God, the best place we can look is in His word the Bible. In its pages we find God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed. He promises that those who ask, seek and knock will be found and welcomed in to God's family. We will seek God and find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts. There's no point halfheartedly looking for the meaning of life. We need to pursue it with passion! 'Lord God Almighty, help us to passionately seek after You and so to fi

  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— Romans 3:21 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.21.ESV The casual observer of the old testament might assume that righteousness is by attempting to keep the Law of God. Paul insists however that the righteousness of God is testified to by the Law itself as being apart from the Law. After all, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. The blood of animals is a pale shadow of the blood of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world. Just as Abraham believed God, and his faith was credited to him as righteousness, so it is with us. Abraham wasn't saved because he was particularly good naturally, just because of the sovereign grace and mercy of God, as with us. The righteous live by faith. Our own legalistic righteousness is like filthy rags, autumn leaves, or a gust of wind. Christ's righteousn

  Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. Proverbs 17:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.17.6.ESV My parents are visiting at the moment, so I can see the truth of this verse first hand. I see how my parents dote over my children. I also feel a lot of appreciation for my dad (and mum too!). Just because the proverb specifies fathers doesn't mean to say mothers can't be included too. I've heard that children from split families often idolise their dads because they're often the ones to treat them as they tend to live apart. Even in families that stick together, fathers often get put onto a pedestal. Grandchildren crown their grandparents old age with joy and pleasure. Grandchildren change the family dynamic to become more innocent, fun and playful. Family is a gift of the triune God. God Himself is a family of Oneness: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So it's no wonder that He's designed families for us to enjoy hu

  saying, "I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. Jonah 2:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jon.2.2.ESV Jonah infamously tried to run away from God: what a futile endeavour! He ended up thrown overboard off a ship and into the mouth of a whale! This verse is part of his testimony from within the stomach of the sea beast! I love Jonah's faith here. He was still in a sticky predicament. Yet he still had faith that God had heard him and would get him out of there. I relate to Jonah. No, I've never been swallowed by a big fish, but due to my own foolishness I've drawn near to the gates of death. Yet God heard my cry for deliverance. There have been times I've doubted my salvation. This had been due to an awareness of my wretchedness. I've never really consciously doubted God's goodness. Yet it's because of God's goodness that He's willing to save wretches like

  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, Romans 1:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.2.ESV Some people misrepresent the old testament as being completely different to the new testament. Not Paul. In this verse, he says how the old testament foreshadows the new with prophecies that get fulfilled. Jesus Himself, on the road to Emmaus, explained how all of Scripture points to Him. The old testament points forward in anticipation. The new testament points back in retrospect. Often people distinguish old testament law and new testament grace. Yet even the old testament law is all about love- of God and others. The new testament doesn't abolish God's law; it fulfils it. Also, the old testament says that the righteous live by faith. Salvation is by faith, not by works. Works are simply the evidence we have been saved. 'O Lord, may we see You in every page of Scripture. May we see Your promises fulfilled and worship You, in Jesus' n

  Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." Acts 28:28 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.28.28.ESV A casual reader might assume that Paul was being racist against the Jews he was addressing here. There's a number of reasons this isn't the case. Firstly, Paul was a Jew himself! Secondly, Paul's Lord and Saviour Jesus is Jewish too! Thirdly, Jesus commissioned Paul as an Apostle to the Gentiles. Fourthly, Paul didn't 'flog dead horses'- he wanted fruit for his labours- and sharing the gospel with Gentiles was more fruitful. Fifthly, there's a few times in Acts that Paul tells Jews he's going to the Gentiles instead. Yet his practice was always to start at a synagogue in a new city (if there was one). Only then would he move on to the market places etc. There's a lesson for us in sharing the good news too. By all means we can start with people like us- of the same ethnic gro

  "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Psalm 82:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.82.2.ESV The powers that be play as gods with the lives of the oppressed. They favour their wicked cronies over the poor and needy in the lands. No wonder the righteous question them! Sadly, the answer to the question must surely be, in the words of Johnny Cash, until 'the Man comes around'. When Jesus returns, He'll wrap up all injustice and wickedness. The unrepentantly unjust and wicked will get their comeuppance. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints. 'Life's not fair'- agreed- but God will assuredly right all wrongs. We need to make sure we're on the right side of the Judge. The Judge of all the earth shall do right. There'll be no opportunity to appeal against His final, definitive sentence upon our souls. That's why we need to make our peace with Him now before it's too late. 'O Lor

  King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." Acts 26:27 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.26.27.ESV Here's an example of Paul seeking to be 'all things to all people' with king Agrippa. He found something commendable in him. Yet he sought to press him further for a decision for Christ. It's good to believe the prophets. Yet if we fail to believe in Jesus as the fulfilment of their prophecies, our belief misses the mark. A number of religions and cults, including Judaism itself, pay lip service to Biblical prophets; only Christianity follows the Fulfilment of Biblical prophecy. Paul was so passionate about his faith that he didn't care about being imprisoned by it. He took every opportunity to speak the truth of the good news in love. He would have loved for his captors to have come to faith. Sadly, Agrippa seems dismissive of Paul. He didn't agitate the Roman authorities to release him. Instead, he dismissively asked Paul if

  And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Acts 26:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.26.15.ESV The very fact Saul referred to Jesus as Lord betrays the fact he already knew who He is even as he asked. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. He was guilty and he knew it. Saul was travelling to Damascus to persecute followers of Christ's Way when the resurrected Lord arrested him on the road. We still refer to a dramatic about turn as a Damascene conversion. Saul very quickly came to realise that Jesus is Lord. Jesus might be Saviour and Lord, but that doesn't guarantee His people a life free of persecution. In fact, He promises the persecuted blessing and great reward in heaven. When God's people are persecuted, He Himself is hurt by it. When people touch the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, they touch the apple of His eye. When the Sovereign Lord is pained, He's not going to let the perpet

  In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah Psalm 81:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.81.7.ESV In the immediate context, the Psalmist is referring to the children of Israel, fleeing slavery in Egypt. Yet it could also apply to God's new covenant people. We are escaping from slavery to sin. To escape addiction to sin, we need to be distressed by it. Then we need to call out for salvation. Then finally God will assuredly deliver us. God often speaks to us in the hard times. He can speak to us in the whisper of the wind through the trees. Yet He can also speak to us more loudly through thunderous circumstances. Those God redeems He tests, in order that we might come out purer than gold. He often tests us by removing necessities from us like food, drink and shelter. That was the case at Meribah for the Israelites. 'O Lord God, we ask that we might worship You whatever our tempo

  But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Psalm 80:17 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.80.17.ESV Israel is pictured as a vineyard that has been destroyed by invaders. The Psalmist longs for the Messiah to come and restore God's broken people. Things didn't work out as hoped however. In Jesus's parable of the vineyard, the tenants of the vineyard killed whoever God sent to them- including His own Son. Understandably, about forty years later, God allowed the Romans to crush the rebellious Jews. Thankfully though, Christ defeated death for all- Jew and Gentile- who will trust in Him. Jesus is God's right hand man. He's the One God gets to do His work of salvation. He's the One we need to trust for our redemption. Jesus is the Son of Man, descended from Adam, Abraham and David, the promised Seed of the woman who defeats the devil. By His death and resurrection, Jesus assures victory for all w

  You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. Psalm 80:5 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.80.5.ESV Some people try and neuter God. He's not responsible for anything bad, they insist. The God of the Bible on the other hand is sovereign even over bad things, and can turn them around for good. God's wayward old covenant people had their fair share of tears. So, if we're honest, do we, His new covenant people have times of mourning. Yet in it all, Jesus promises we are blessed, for we will be comforted. Sometimes people say there'll be no tears in heaven. Biblically, there will be tears of joy, perhaps even regret. Yet God will wipe every tear from our eyes. If we're wayward with God, He'll make life miserable for us. If we're truly saved, we'll repent of our straying away from Him, and return to Him before it's late. God doesn't give up on us; we mustn't give up on Him. 'Dear Lord, thank

  Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live." Acts 22:22 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.22.22.ESV Testimonies are powerful. People can argue against philosophies until the cows come home, It's hard to argue against someone's experience though. Paul had been arrested by the Romans in Jerusalem, which was a blessing in disguise because a mob was baying for his blood. Instead of cowardly hiding in the Roman barracks, Paul addressed the mob by sharing his testimony. It was his insistence that God had called him to speak the good news to the Gentiles that was the final straw for the murderous crowd. Of course, racism is never justified. Yet the Jews had been scarred by the brutal Roman occupation, and had no love for Gentiles. As far as they were concerned, they were God's people. A modern equivalent could be a Ukrainian Christian telling his fell

  And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. Acts 21:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.21.4.ESV The same Spirit who spurred Paul on told him through some Christ followers not to go to Jerusalem? How do we reconcile these two facts? We need to understand the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign over what happens to us. He knew Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem. Of course, that's a bad thing, but God was able and willing to work it out for good. From his arrest in Jerusalem, Paul was eventually transferred to Rome at the state's expense, where he continued to share the gospel. Because he was a Roman citizen, he could appeal to Caesar and have that privilege. So what happened to him only served to serve the gospel. All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. There's purpose in the pain of imprisonment, illness, bea

  When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." 2 Kings 2:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/2ki.2.9.ESV The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. So when righteous Elijah gave Elisha a blank cheque, I assume Elisha had thought long and hard about his answer. I love the importunity of Elisha's reply. We don't know how long the pause was between Elijah's question and Elisha's answer. Either it was long because Elisha had to think about it, or short because Elisha had already thought about it. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. Elisha knew that Elijah was a pretty Holy Spirit-ed person. He also knew that this was the secret of his success, most notably against hundreds of prophets of baal. So he asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Surely we can't ask for a double

 But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak." 1 Kings 22:14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ki.22.14.ESV This shouldn't simply be the saying of Micaiah the obscure old testament prophet. Every follower of the Lord Jesus should only speak as inspired by Him. Our speech should be seasoned with salt. Speech seasoned with salt doesn't mean to say we mention Jesus with every breath. It does however mean that we should always be conscious we are His representatives on earth. Therefore we ought to think, speak and act accordingly. The kings of Israel and Judah had already decided to fight the king of Syria. Their decision was a foregone conclusion. Yet they still decided to rubber stamp it with prophetic approval. The vast majority of prophets were false yes men. Not Micaiah. He only spoke what God commanded, and the conclusion was that the king of Israel would be killed, even though he went into battle disguised. 'Heavenly Father,

 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, Acts 18:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.18.9.ESV If we're speaking up for Jesus, we will inevitably come across opposition. Despite His altogether loveliness, many don't like the fact He convicts them of sin. Persecution is to be expected. So are we to give up speaking for Jesus? Anything for a quiet life? By no means! We are ambassadors of the King of kings, we must speak up for Him! Even faithful Paul must have been tempted to give up. He was beaten, pelted with stones, flogged, imprisoned, shipwrecked etc.! I'm sure he had his moments longing for a more peaceful existence. Thankfully, Paul had a vision of Jesus to encourage him to keep on keeping on. As our days, so shall our strength be. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. 'Dear Lord, sustain us please to faithfully proclaim You to the world. For Your honour and praise we pray, amen

  People Get Ready- Eva Cassidy Eva Cassidy had a beautiful voice, and I like this song by Curtis Mayfield. Dare to be a Daniel- the Albion Band I like the folkiness of this song, as well as the lyrics The Man Who Calmed the Sea- Stuart Townend Stuart Townend is, in my opinion, the best hymnwriter with a pulse! Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring- Bach Music has never been surpassed since J.S. Bach, here's a lovely example When I found Jesus- Steph Macleod One of my favourite songs by one of my favourite singer songwriters Imela- Nathaniel Bassey Great song and lyrics, especially love the trumpet playing How Sweet the Name- 20 schemes music Good old hymn with nice new tune Only Remembered- Coope, Boyes and Simpson This was one of Spurgeon's funeral hymns apparently, also popular with WWI soldiers   I would want as a book a compilation of my own devotional writings As a luxury item, I would go for writing materials over even a piano! As my favourite song overall, for

  And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, Acts 17:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.17.6.ESV This verse shouldn't surprise us. In fact, Jesus blessed the persecuted, because great is their reward in heaven. If we're hardly persecuted, we'll be the least in heaven, yet still dearly loved. Often, Christians concur with the crowd's conclusion. Christianity has turned the world upside down! Whilst I appreciate that our faith is revolutionary, I simply assert that it turns things right side up rather than upside down. Take abortion for example. Child sacrifice has been normative for much of human history. Yet since when is killing unborn children on altars of our own convenience been right side up thinking? Take slavery for example. In the Roman world it was accepted. Even Paul didn't lead a spartacist revolt. Y

  Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.15.22.ESV Proverbs are general truths. They're not necessarily always right in every situation. A classic exception is Absalom who had David's best counsellor in Ahithophel, but whose advise was thwarted by Hushai. As a general rule however, the more advise the merrier. Many hands make light work. Too often those in power surround themselves with yes men though. Leaders need counsellors who aren't afraid to tell them hard truths. Advisors need to not have to worry about getting punished for telling rulers if they think they need to change course. Too few leaders are good listeners. This proverb applies to ordinary people like us too. We might think we have good ideas, but unless we check with others, we might have the wrong end of the stick. It's always worth getting a second, or multiple, opinions. 'Heavenly Father, please help us to make wise

  And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:10 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.16.10.ESV This verse, and its context, goes a long way to explaining why Christianity has had so much influence in Europe, the West and the world. Paul and company were thinking to spread the gospel east, into Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented them. God had other ideas. Paul then saw a vision of a Macedonian man pleading with him to help them. He wasn't slow to obey this heavenly sign. Instead, he immediately made plans to go. Not only Macedonia, but Greece and the entire eastern Roman Empire was reached by the gospel by the end of the new testament. Traders will have taken the good news even further by then as well. The gospel spread not by military might but by divine power. We mustn't become complacent. Europe has largely forgotten the gospel. Every successive generation needs