2021-02-12
Genesis 1:1 NKJV
You’ve probably come across the argument that science and the Bible disagree with each other, and there’s no way to reconcile the two. Many scientists reject the biblical account of creation, and are firm believers in evolution. But there are scientists who believe that the words, ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,’ have some truth in them. Physicist Henry Margenau put it this way: ‘There’s only one convincing answer…creation is by an omnipotent omnipresent God’.
Although scientist Stephen Hawking didn’t believe in God, even he said: ‘The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us. If any one of about 40 physical qualities had more than slightly different values, life as we know it could not exist: either atoms would not be stable, or they wouldn’t combine into molecules, or the stars wouldn’t form the heavier elements, or the universe would collapse before life could develop.’
Isaiah 40:28 says: ‘Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom’ (NIV).
Creation is a miracle and a mystery to us, but as Christians, we’re privileged to have a relationship with the Creator. Quantum physics can help us discover some of the delicately-balanced rules that keep our world under control, but nobody except God understands exactly how the world was created and how those intricate rules work together. And as children of the Creator, we should never apologise when we state our belief that ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’
Rom 15-16; Matt 14:1-12; Ps 145:1-13; Prov 4:20-22
2021-02-11
Leviticus 7:23 NLT
There is wisdom and worth in every part of the Bible. With that in mind, it’s important to acknowledge that a lot of the Old Testament is complicated, and can be difficult to read at times. There are so many things that grew from very specific cultures and contexts that can be lost on us when we read them.
This rings true for a lot of Leviticus. For example, today’s verse from Leviticus 7:23 reads: ‘You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose’ (NLT).
At a glance it’s just another very specific food rule given to Israel, another law for them to have to remember and follow. But when we think about it more deeply, the God-given advice for the Jewish people to avoid excess dietary fat for their own good is millennia ahead of its time. Research now shows that eating large amounts of animal fat can have negative impacts on our health. There is solid reasoning behind what God is asking His people to do.
God gives us instructions for our own benefit, to keep us safe and healthy, not because He loves arbitrary rules. All of this is a great reminder that, even when the Bible feels difficult, God knows the purpose behind every word that He breathes. He also cares deeply about our physical health, and has wanted us to look after ourselves since the beginning of time.
Rom 12-14; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 141; Prov 4:18-19
2021-02-10
Proverbs 14:30 NLT
We can spend so much time taking care of our bodies. We exercise, we watch what we eat, we take notice when things don’t feel right and seek medical help. All of that is very important, but how much focus do we give to our mental and spiritual health alongside those things?
Solomon understood something that we’re only just getting to grips with today – that our emotions, thoughts, and the state of our spirit can affect everything else. Read these four Proverbs: ‘A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body’ (Proverbs 14:30 NLT). ‘A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health’ (Proverbs 15:30 NLT). ‘Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body’ (Proverbs 16:24 NLT). ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength’ (Proverbs 17:22 NLT).
None of these verses are suggesting that a positive outlook is a replacement for real, medical support where needed. God purposefully gives us scientific and medical understanding. But these verses are a good reminder that, as well as taking care of our physical health, we should be working on our mind and spirit too.
We can do that exactly how we expect – spending time talking things through with God, listening to Him, and purposefully reading the Bible and any Christian books that might relate to where we’re at in life. It’s so important that we commit to these things and stick with them, though. Just like physical exercise, we won’t always feel like it and we’ll get distracted. But even more than exercise, what we stand to gain makes the effort worth it: rich, full life with the God who created our innermost being, and can bring it all back to order.
Rom 9:17-11:36; Matt 13:36-46; Ps 138; Prov 4:14-17
2021-02-09
Romans 8:15 NLT
Let’s take a few minutes to reflect on the amazing fact that God chose us to be His. We may not have had the best start in life. There may be things in our past, or even our present, that we’re not proud of. But God still wants us. He can see our entire lives from beginning to end, with all of the mistakes, sins and failures, but He was still convinced ‘to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ’ (Ephesians 1:5 NLT). That means we can now live ‘like God’s very own children, adopted into…his family, and calling to him, “Father, Father”…And since we are his children, we will share his treasures – for all God gives to his Son Jesus is now ours too’ (Romans 8:15,17 TLB).
God doesn’t reject us because of our background, flaws, weaknesses, or bad choices. We’re His redeemed children. We can ‘approach God with freedom and confidence’ (Ephesians 3:12 NIV). We don’t even have to call Him by some grand title or name – we have the privilege to be able to call Him ‘Father’. And that’s true on our bad days as well as our good ones. By adopting us, He welcomes us into His redeemed family, united by the blood of Jesus.
Maybe our own experience of family isn’t great, but as part of God’s family, we’re instantly part of a loving community. And if God loves us, we must be worth loving. If He wants to have us in His kingdom, then we must be worth having. God’s grace calls for us to change our attitudes about ourselves and stand with God against any feelings of rejection and unworthiness. We’re accepted, loved, and secure, and God treasures us as His children.
Rom 7:1-9:16; Matt 13:24-35; Ps 134; Prov 4:5-13
2021-02-08
2 Timothy 4:7 NIV
We collect so many things during our time here on earth: relationships, knowledge, experiences, belongings. Whatever stage of life we’re at, it’s important to think about what we’ll leave behind one day. As 1 Timothy 6:7 reminds us, ‘we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out’ (NIV).
It becomes our responsibility to figure out how our earthly things can be passed on. Although it’s not always easy to follow through with it, leaving a legacy through our money and belongings is a fairly clear thing to do. Proverbs 13:22 reminds us that ‘good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren’ (NLT).
Good stewardship means that we should share whatever we have generously with those that we love, and those who need it, rather than pouring it into useless or vain things. But what about the wisdom, knowledge, and experiences grown throughout our lives? There’s a great, godly tradition of making sure that those important truths get passed on from generation to generation. We can see it in 2 Timothy 2:2: ‘You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others’ (NLT).
A part of progressing through life is beginning to share the things that we learn along the way. Let’s find a way to pass on the valuable things in our head, so that when the time comes we can confidently echo 2 Timothy 4:7: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’ (NIV).
Rom 3:21-6:23; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 125; Prov 4:3-4
2021-02-07
2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV
Paul wrote, ‘I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray.’ Temptation always begins in the mind, and in order to protect it, we need to dwell on God’s Word. It was Satan who planted the idea in Eve’s mind to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve wasn’t standing around trying to think of ways to disobey God.
So whenever we’re tempted, we need to remember that it’s not God speaking to us. The new natures we have from God don’t think that way. The devil studies and analyses us, in the same way an experienced coach studies the game videos of the opposing team, until he knows our weak spots and which temptations have the best chance of success. When we give in to a temptation, we can often say to ourselves, ‘I promise I won’t do that again.’ But we do. That’s because Satan knows what works on each of us.
But we don’t have to feel defenceless and discouraged. The Bible says: ‘No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).
Satan waits until our defences are down before he strikes, but God always provides ‘a way out’. For every temptation we’ll ever face, God has an escape route. So although we’ll never be free from temptation, we can have victory over it. And once Satan discovers his tactics no longer work, he’ll go looking elsewhere.
1 Kings 3:4-28; James 1:2-8
