Living your best life ain't easy. If it was, everyone'd be doing it. As it is, most aren't. Sure, sometimes we decide to ditch this bad habit or start that good habit, but eventually it all gets too hard, so we slip back into what we know. We've all been there. Good intent is hard enough to trigger a change of habit, but nigh on impossible to sustain. There are many more people in this world who've at least flirted with the idea of giving this whole Christianity thing a go. But it's tough going. So most settle for a distant, "Yeah, sure I believe in God," – that in no way changes their lives; in no way gets them any closer to the best life that they'd hoped they'd be living by now. Time for a wakeup call: Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (NRSV) Sure, we want that refreshing that comes from being close to God. Boy, do we want it! But what we're weak-kneed and lily-livered about is the turning away from what we know is wrong; the turning back to God that's needed to get there. We're prepared to repent enough to be forgiven, but are we prepared to repent enough to be changed, to walk away from the sin we've been clinging to, to lay hold of the refreshing that we so long for, to live our best life for the glory of God? Well, are you? Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Transformed in the Wilderness
When the heat's on, when we find ourselves under unbearable pressures in life as we sometimes do, it seems to go on forever. It's excruciating. When will this end?! Diamonds, which are so highly prized in this world, are formed deep within the Earth's mantle, some 190 kilometres or 120 miles below the surface. It happens under extreme pressure and temperatures – we're talking 60,000 times atmospheric pressure, and 1,300 degrees Celsius (or 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit) in an excruciatingly slow process Eventually, volcanic eruptions then transport the diamonds to the surface through kimberlite pipes, where they can be mined and enjoyed by us. Yesterday we saw how God threw Jesus out into the desert – remember, it was His decision to do that to His beloved Son! Mark 1:12-13 … the Spirit sent Jesus [literally threw Him out] into the desert alone. He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals. Okay, Jesus survived. But how did He come out the other end of this horrendous time of heat and pressure? Answer … Luke 4:14-15 [He] went back to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. Stories about him spread all over the area around Galilee. He began to teach in the synagogues, and everyone praised him. He came out of it, He launched into His public ministry with what? The power of the Holy Spirit. It seems to be God's habit to forge His very best – be it a diamond or a character – under heat and pressure. And when you're in that wilderness, time passes at an excruciatingly slow pace. But hang in there, cooperate with God, and you'll come out of it with the power of the Holy Spirit. That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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This Is My Beloved Son
You know how it goes. We know that life has its ups and downs, its bumps and bruises, the occasional body blow. And yet still, deep down, we hope, we expect actually, that it'll go much easier for us. After all, we're special, right? Of course we each think we're special. Those bad things shouldn't happen to us! And yet, they do. It's hard to imagine anyone more special than Jesus, God's beloved Son. Just look at His baptism. Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were being baptised, Jesus came and was baptised too. And while he was praying, the sky opened, and the Holy Spirit came down on him. The Spirit looked like a real dove. Then a voice came from heaven and said, "You are my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with you." That certainly didn't happen at my baptism. You? No, I thought not. But immediately after that ... Mark 1:12-13 … the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals. Actually, that translation is quite an understatement. In the original Greek it says that the Holy Spirit threw Jesus out into the desert. Imagine, Jesus thrown out there to starve for forty days; to be tempted by the devil to throw in the towel. If it happened to Jesus, it'll happen to us. God will test our faith in Him … and, if we'll let Him, He'll bring us through it all stronger and more reliant on Him than we ever thought possible. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Repairing the Damage
Simply living life in this imperfect world in which we reside takes its toll on each one of us. There are bumps and bruises, not to mention the occasional body blow, that wear us down; that eat away at our wellbeing; that feel broken beyond repair. Now, for many, that's not the whole story – thank God for that. But there are times when the grind of life (whatever that looks like for you) grinds away at you way more than it should. There are times that have each one us wondering … What's this all about? What comes next? Centuries, millennia ago, the Israelites found themselves wandering in a dry desert looking for a place to live, but they couldn't find anywhere. They were hungry and thirsty and growing weak, the psalmist tells us. Whilst you've doubtless found yourself lost in the occasional dry desert, metaphorically speaking, I'm pretty sure that it's never happened to you literally. But just imagine what that would be like. Barren, lifeless, hot dry sand as far as the eye can see. No hope of escape. Your body, your soul, your spirit damaged beyond repair. Death knocking at your door. But the psalmist goes on to tell us … Psalm 107:19-20 They were in trouble, so they called to the LORD for help, and he saved them from their troubles. He gave the command and healed them, so they were saved from the grave. As 19th Century Scottish pastor and author Oswald Chambers once wrote, "Solitude with God repairs the damage done by the fret, noise and clamour of the world." When you're lost, when you're hurting, when you're broken beyond repair … pray. He gave the command and healed them, so they were saved from the grave. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Politics and Religion
This past year has been a turbulent one on the world stage, wouldn't you agree? So many geopolitical forces clashing over so many things. How do the little people – people like you and me – respond to all that? Well, some retreat into their own shell of self-interest. What does it mean to my finances, my wellbeing, my mortgage or rent, my grocery prices, my future? Others, though, see it as an opportunity to trumpet their national interest, mixing their religion and their politics in a most unholy way – kind of like the Pharisees, the religious leaders, back in Jesus' day. They were in cahoots with the occupying Romans and saw their religion (such as it was) as a means of bolstering their own power base. They criticised Jesus vehemently for hanging around with the lost and hopeless, the rejects of society. Matthew 9:12-13 Jesus heard them say this. So he said to them, "It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. You need to go and learn what this Scripture means: 'I don't want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.' I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners." It seems that the Pharisees had completely missed the point of their "religion", something that's still happening today through some of the ugly Christian nationalism doing the rounds. British theologian, N.T Wright, puts it like this: "Christian nationalism is impoverished as it seeks a kingdom without a cross. It pursues a victory without mercy. It acclaims God's love of power rather than the power of God's love." For Jesus, it was never about religion or politics. It was always about showing kindness to the lost and drawing them to Himself. Not such a bad model, when you think about it. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.
FRESH is a Daily Devotional taking you deeper into God's Word + closer to Jesus. Each devotion will have a powerful Scripture verse, together with some words of inspiration, hope and encouragement. It's all about helping you hear from God so that you can live in a rich, dynamic, powerful relationship with Jesus. God's Word. Fresh, for you, each day.
New Zealand