2021-02-18
Proverbs 25:28 NCV
For centuries, people have been using walls to protect themselves and to show what land belonged to them. We can still see some of those ancient walls today. The Great Wall of China was built to protect the Chinese Empire from invaders. Hadrian’s Wall helped to control the northern border of the Roman Empire. But to be effective, those walls had to be maintained regularly. The smallest weakness could give the enemy a disastrous advantage.
As Christians, we also have to build and maintain a wall around ourselves – a wall of self-control. The Bible says, ‘Those who do not control themselves are like a city whose walls are broken down.’ When we don’t make the effort to maintain our self-control, we give the devil a way in to attack us.
The preacher J. Wilbur Chapman had what he called ‘my rule for Christian living’. It goes like this: ‘Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.’ It’s a rule we should all try to apply to our daily lives.
The other thing to remember about borders is that they have to be fit for purpose. The ancient walls had to be tall and strong enough to withstand attackers and their weapons. A little wooden fence wouldn’t do the job. And we need to make sure we have the best protection possible for our self-control. Trying to rely on our own strength won’t be enough when we’re facing Satan’s attacks. But when we lean on God and His strength, we can withstand any attack.
Gen 4-6; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 33:1-12; Prov 5:7-14
2021-02-17
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
Often, people drift through life with the feeling that there’s something missing. Sometimes it can be a lingering thought at the back of our brain that we’re not quite where we want to be. Sometimes it looks like chasing a goal, thinking that we’ll feel complete once we have the next new job, car, house, relationship, or anything else. But the truth is, when we have the persistent feeling that something is missing, it can often be a God-given reminder created to draw us closer to Him. We know that God works in this way.
In John 12:32, Jesus said, ‘I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself’ (NIV). He also said ‘for no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up’ (John 6:44 NLT). From that, we can understand that God our Father, Jesus our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit our Helper step into our lives to draw us closer.
Even when we already know God, we can experience this feeling that there must be more. Because we live in a world that we have made imperfect, there is always room for God to draw us closer and closer to Himself. He is looking to continually give us more of Himself, so that we can ‘be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind’ (Romans 12:2 NIV). We should interrogate that ‘something’s missing’ feeling, press closer to Him, and allow ourselves to be led to a place where He’ll renew us, just like we’re told in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Gen 1-3; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 28; Prov 5:3-6
2021-02-16
Isaiah 40:26 NIV
When we look at the sky and try to imagine how far space goes on for, it’s almost impossible to process. The thought of how big our universe is can make us feel incredibly tiny and insignificant. And when we’re feeling insignificant, our prayer requests can sometimes feel the same.
If God, with His infinite power, created the entire universe, how could He possibly be concerned about our relatively small concerns, like good exam results, or release from nerves about about a job interview, or hoping that the car will pass its MOT? Isaiah 40:26 says: ‘Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing’ (NIV). God knows each of the stars individually, and He would notice if one of them didn’t appear.
Matthew 10:29 and Luke 12:6 both talk about God being concerned with the little sparrows. He doesn’t forget a single one. They’re all part of His creation, and He’s concerned about every tiny corner of it. So we can be sure He’s also concerned about us. Even if we’re feeling insignificant, we’re not insignificant to Him, and that means our prayers, worries, concerns and joys are all important to Him. He’s not a distant God – He’s accessible and available to listen to us if we take time to pray and invite Him into our lives, and He’s ready to use His power to help us and strengthen us as we face our daily lives.
Ecc 9-12; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 5; Prov 5:1-2
2021-02-15
1 Corinthians 15:39 NCV
The Bible says, ‘All things made of flesh are not the same. People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds have another, and fish have another.’ When we think about the enormous variety of creatures that live on earth, it gives us an insight into God’s creativity. Psalm 104:24 says, ‘How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures’ (NIV). And He infused us with creativity too: ‘The Lord has given them the skill to do all kinds of work. They are able to cut designs in metal and stone. They can plan and sew designs in fine linen with the blue, purple, and red thread. And they are also able to weave things’ (Exodus 35:35 NCV).
When God created us, He made us ‘in his own image’ (Genesis 1:27 NIV). No other part of God’s creation on earth can claim that. We’re set apart as His children, and He has redeemed us, has a special purpose for us, and loves us so much that when we die, He wants to take us to heaven to be with Him forever.
But while we’re still on earth, He wants us to use all the skills and creativity He’s blessed us with to further His kingdom and demonstrate His glory and power: ‘God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance to live our lives doing’ (Ephesians 2:10 NCV). Every day, let’s do our best to reflect God to those around us, remind them of the beauty of His creation, and show His creativity and power.
Ecc 5-8; Matt 14:22-36; Ps 149; Prov 4:25-27
2021-02-14
Genesis 1:2 KJV
A few years ago, Time magazine reported that ‘Most cosmologists (scientists who study the structures and evolution of the universe) agree that the Genesis account of creation, in imagining an initial void, may be uncannily close to the truth’; Jim Holt, science writer for The Wall Street Journal wrote: ‘The universe suddenly exploded into being…The big bang bears an uncanny resemblance to the Genesis command’.
Science defines the universe as being made up of five components: time, space, matter, power, and motion. Now keep those things in mind, and read Genesis 1:1-3: ‘In the beginning [time] God created [power] the heaven [space] and the earth [matter]. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved [motion] upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be…and there was’ (KJV).
The first thing God tells us in the Bible is that He created all things and that He controls all things. And this same God, with His infinite, unfathomable power, created each one of us, loves us, has a plan for us, and wants a relationship with us. We’re so important to God that all His creative energy and power is focused on us. With His infinite power, he could have created anything, but He chose to create us, along with an entire world just for us. That’s how much we mean to God. So we can be sure that whenever we cry out to Him, He’ll be there for us, ready to meet our needs and offer His help.
Eph 5:21-33; Song of Sol 2:1-7; Ps 45; Prov 5:15-19
2021-02-13
Matthew 19:4 NCV
When God designed the earth, He knew exactly what we needed, and worked it all out flawlessly. If there was even a small variation, we wouldn’t be able to survive. For example, if the earth was 10 per cent larger or smaller, life as we know it wouldn’t be possible. If we were any nearer to the sun, or any further away from it, we wouldn’t be able to cope with the temperature – it would either be too hot or too cold for us. Ours is the only planet in the solar system that’s tilted at an angle that allows the sun touch all parts of it over a year, which stops it getting too hot or cold.
God made this earth especially for us: ‘For this is what the LORD says – he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited’ (Isaiah 45:18 NIV). And He designed us to live in companionship: ‘When God made the world, “he made them male and female.” In the Garden of Eden, God created Adam and Eve as the perfect complimentary companions for each other.
That’s how much God cares for us. Using His infinite power, He built our incredible earth from nothing, and made sure He was meeting all our needs. And He’s still doing that today – every time we bring our prayers, our joys and our fears to God, we can trust that He’ll provide whatever we need. He knows exactly what’s best for us, just as He did when He created the earth.
Ecc 1-4; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 145:14-21; Prov 4:23-24
