I am poor and needy

 Psalm 86:1–17 (ESV):  

1  Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, 

for I am poor and needy. 

 2  Preserve my life, for I am godly; 

save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 

 3  Be gracious to me, O Lord, 

for to you do I cry all the day. 

 4  Gladden the soul of your servant, 

for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

 5  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, 

abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 

 6  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; 

listen to my plea for grace. 

 7  In the day of my trouble I call upon you, 

for you answer me. 

 8  There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, 

nor are there any works like yours. 

 9  All the nations you have made shall come 

and worship before you, O Lord, 

and shall glorify your name. 

 10  For you are great and do wondrous things; 

you alone are God. 

 11  Teach me your way, O Lord, 

that I may walk in your truth; 

unite my heart to fear your name. 

 12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, 

and I will glorify your name forever. 

 13  For great is your steadfast love toward me; 

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 

 14  O God, insolent men have risen up against me; 

a band of ruthless men seeks my life, 

and they do not set you before them. 

 15  But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, 

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

 16  Turn to me and be gracious to me; 

give your strength to your servant, 

and save the son of your maidservant. 

 17  Show me a sign of your favour, 

that those who hate me may see and be put to shame 

because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. 

This psalm written by David shows his humility. Even though he is a strong, powerful, blessed king, he describes himself as, ‘poor and needy….your servant’. As a young man in his father’s house we can see how this would relate to David, but when he wrote this psalm as the anointed king of the nation of God, it can seem odd to try to comprehend. Yet, ‘poor and needy’ is how David describes himself in several of the psalms. As David considers and praises God, i think he recognises how poor and needy he is in comparison with Him. No matter the earthly riches, authority and reputation he has on Earth, what is it when you compare it to God? It is ‘poor’ and insignificant in comparison, and the level of capacity and capability is ‘needy’ indeed. David acknowledged this in a way many of us miss. 

It is not encouraged or desired by society to be known as ‘poor and needy’. In fact, those who are can be looked down upon and pitied so David does not go to people in his poverty or neediness. The only one David wishes to show his lack to is God, for what could man do? God can get to the heart of the deprivation that David feels. It must have been hard for him to relate to being king. From the lowly, overlooked position of a shepherd to a throne, it is not surprising that David felt like he didn't belong, that he wasn't prepared and that he didn't have enough within himself to perform his duties. Yet he was king because he went to the place we all need to when we feel insufficient for the task ahead of us - he went to God. The only one who can give life, salvation, grace, forgiveness, love, courage, hope and joy. These are the things you really need when you feel ‘poor and needy'.

As well as acknowledging the poverty and need in his own life, this psalm also glorifies God. In fact, most of it is a psalm of recognition of how wonderful God is. David recalls how God is good and forgiving, and always loves him - you can see the genuine relationship and delight David has with God. Yet he does not, even as king, consider himself at all powerful or in control in comparison to God, when he thinks about God, he realises how poor and needy he is! As much authority as David has, or as much influence, as many people or wealth he has at his fingers, when you match it up to the wealth, authority, power and capacity God has it truly is ‘poor and needy'. David honours God as the Almighty King. The One who can change any circumstance, the only truly God because no-one and nothing else can compare with what God can do (v8-10). 

In his humility, David asks God to show him what His ‘way’ is. Sometimes we can be so confused and distressed that we do not know what way to go, or what God wants from us in a particular situation. So even in this time where David is in need, he seeks God to show him how to live right to, ‘unite my heart to fear your name’. David knew that his emotions were all over the place, but even so he wanted to honour and serve God well in this season. So he asked God to help unite his heart with obedience to God. What is your response when you are in distress? To you accept your feelings and allow yourself to be mastered by them or do you, even then, in the midst of overwhelming disappointment and sadness decide to subject your emotions to God? This is what David did, and this is powerful. In an age when people do what they feel and follow their emotions, the people of God are not to do that but instead to seek God first. Above thoughts, desires and feelings, they are to invite God to restructure their hearts so that they can live their lives in truth. Is your heart's cry to God in times of difficulty;  'Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name'?

You are poor and needy. You will encounter disappointment and heartache, but you are not to be led by those experiences or emotions. For in your need you have an Almighty God, and Everlasting Father and a Faithful Friend you can call upon to uphold, strengthen, love and guide you. Will you call upon God in your times of need? At the end of this outpouring of love, praise and recognition of the greatness of God David declares, 'Lord, have helped me and comforted me'. Just through spending quality time with God, David has felt comforted, listened to and helped. The situation has not radically changed in the moments of this prayer, but offloading to God and showing that you are willing to do things God's way, not your own, allows God to minister to you. Relying on God gives strength, purpose and unites your heart. I wonder what His way is for you. Are you prepared to ask God to show you, and trust God to unite your heart?

Revenge

Psalm 70:1–5 (ESV):  

1  Make haste, O God, to deliver me! 

O Lord, make haste to help me! 

2  Let them be put to shame and confusion 

who seek my life! 

Let them be turned back and brought to dishonour 

who delight in my hurt! 

3  Let them turn back because of their shame 

who say, “Aha, Aha!” 

4  May all who seek you 

rejoice and be glad in you! 

May those who love your salvation 

say evermore, “God is great!” 

5  But I am poor and needy; 

hasten to me, O God! 

You are my help and my deliverer; 

O Lord, do not delay! 

Have you ever sought revenge?

I bet, like most of us you have. David does, in this psalm he is saying that he wants those who hurt him to be dishonoured, those who want him dead to be confused and ashamed, and those who mock him to be turned away in shame. He wants those who have troubled him to be hurt, to regret the way they have treated him. Yet he is not seeking revenge from his own hands. He asks God to do it. That takes a great deal of strength - to give the plotting, power and action of revenge over to someone else. It means you have to let go of the deep anger within and allow someone else to do what is fitting. Trusting them to act appropriately and to get the right result. Can you imagine how hard that must have been? 

Some of us automatically deal out revenge, or ‘payback’ as my kids call it, without even thinking about it. It is accepted and expected from the culture we are in. If someone hurts you - you get them back. What David did was very cross-cultural, but very much kingdom culture. He trusted God not only with his circumstances but to sort out those who were his enemies too, to give them what they needed and deserved.

I am sure you can relate to feeling hurt, annoyed, or even infuriated when people come against you. Especially when the hurt is unfair and unjustified. David felt like that, it is natural - everyone hates injustice when it is experienced in their life. God hates it too, so it is not a bad thing to feel like that. Yet allowing those emotions to control what you do next is a problem and can get you into trouble. I am sure David had learnt that from the experiences of his life, so in this situation he does not allow his feelings result in action from his own hands. This does not mean that he was inactive - he tells God about it and restrains himself as he bravely hands over his situation and emotions to God so that He can sort out the problem people. 

David does not follow the way of the World and seek his own revenge, but he considers the way of God instead and holds himself back. He restrains his power and tells God what he wants to happen then calls upon God to do something about it. This is displaying kingdom culture and wisdom. It is not easy, but it is the better way. It is not that he wasn't really bothered by what happened - David is passionately ranting at God - look at all the exclamation marks and how many times he asks God to hurry up! He is; frustrated, hurt and furiously angry about these people that are trying to get away with murderous intent. However David does not act in his own power, although he could. He is a king and successful warrior, so he could powerfully deal out revenge. However David knows a better and more successful way and that is to ask God to hurry up and sort them out! 

What strength David shows in his anger to demonstrate trust, restraint, patience and wisdom. For who is best equipped to sort out an injustice and to right a wrong? Surely one who has never committed a wrong and who can be temperate in their response, plus has all resources and strength in their hands. When we deal out revenge or punishment particularly when riled up, angry and agitated, it rarely goes well does it? Often we end up overreacting and make matters worse for ourselves as well as others. People can end up injured and imprisoned because they have sought revenge by their own hands. Therefore, David wisely allows his knowledge of who God is rule his ways and hands over these people into His hands to do what is fitting. Handing over situations, people and emotions to God when you’re frustrated and angry is a powerful and wise move. For a start, consider how much more God can do than you! He has all the resources, experience, knowledge and strength to sort these people out properly. He knows what they need. Plus, if you are part of His family, and have done nothing wrong, do you not think that your loving Father is going to fight on behalf of His kid? 

David knows that God is His Heavenly Father, yet he is fed up of being mocked and ridiculed, hunted down and slandered, so he has a good rant to God about it, asking Him to sort it out. When a child has a rough day, do they not go to their parents and complain about it? Seeking solace, guidance and a solution. If you are a parent, and hear that your child has been mistreated by someone else, what would you do? I am sure you would be more than willing to sort out an injustice out for them! Even the mildest parent can turn into a lion when their child is harmed. So, just as a child trusts their parent to help them when things get tough, you can trust your Heavenly Father to protect and fight for you when you are unfairly treated, threatened or harmed. You do not need to fight your own battles, and it is best if you don’t. You have an Almighty, everlasting, ever-loving Father who is more than willing and capable of bringing judgement and justice, So do not be afraid to call out to Him to be, ‘my help and deliverer’ and to ‘put to shame and confusion’ those who persecute you.

heaviness of sin

 Psalm 38:1–22 (ESV): 

1  O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, 

nor discipline me in your wrath! 

2  For your arrows have sunk into me, 

and your hand has come down on me. 

3  There is no soundness in my flesh 

because of your indignation; 

there is no health in my bones 

because of my sin. 

4  For my iniquities have gone over my head; 

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 

5  My wounds stink and fester 

because of my foolishness, 

6  I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; 

all the day I go about mourning. 

7  For my sides are filled with burning, 

and there is no soundness in my flesh. 

8  I am feeble and crushed; 

I groan because of the tumult of my heart. 

9  O Lord, all my longing is before you; 

my sighing is not hidden from you. 

10  My heart throbs; my strength fails me, 

and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. 

11  My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, 

and my nearest kin stand far off. 

12  Those who seek my life lay their snares; 

those who seek my hurt speak of ruin 

and meditate treachery all day long. 

13  But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, 

like a mute man who does not open his mouth. 

14  I have become like a man who does not hear, 

and in whose mouth are no rebukes. 

15  But for you, O Lord, do I wait; 

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. 

16  For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, 

who boast against me when my foot slips!” 

17  For I am ready to fall, 

and my pain is ever before me. 

18  I confess my iniquity; 

I am sorry for my sin. 

19  But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, 

and many are those who hate me wrongfully. 

20  Those who render me evil for good 

accuse me because I follow after good. 

21  Do not forsake me, O Lord! 

O my God, be not far from me! 

22  Make haste to help me, 

O Lord, my salvation! 

When you have sinned, do you acknowledge and lament your wrongdoing? Are you able to admit that when you suffer, it is sometimes because you have been foolish and messed up?

When you know that your current condition is a fair recompense for sin, do you also know you can still ask God for relief? God is not aggressive or revengeful. He loves you and wants you to acknowledge the error of your ways so that you can live a more righteous life. His desire is that you know His love, mercy and grace. In order to be able to know these things in greater measure, sometimes you have to feel the reality of what your sin can bring. Through suffering the consequences you can further appreciate and accept the great gift that salvation is. David recognises this as he suffers. He acknowledges that his present emotional and physical pain is because he has erred and he grieves his decision to go against God. David accepts that he should suffer, but he also knows that he can still go to God even though he has caused the mess he is in! David accepts he deserves this, ‘tumult’ yet he still converses with God about it and shares with Him how he is doing; his regret, pain and weakness. He feels the internal turmoil caused by wrongdoing and asks God for help. You can too.

Even when you fail, you get caught up in sin and disregard God’s instructions, you can still call out to God as David did; ‘make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation’. God does not become disinterested in you when you mess up. Instead He actually wants you to own up to it and talk to Him about it! God still cares for you and wants relationship with you. He is your father, and like a good parent he doesn't disown you or kick you out each time you go wrong. Once you repent and choose to deal with the sin that has separated you, you can enjoy relationship with God again. This time you will probably be more grateful of His salvation and more appreciative of His mercy and grace. That’s the beauty of living acknowledging the power of what Jesus achieved.

David confirms that, ‘my iniquities have gone over my head….they are too heavy for me’. Ever felt like that? That the level of sin is too great, or your wrongdoing unforgivable or so repeatable that you despair of yourself? If so, you are correct in thinking that your wrongs are too heavy. You cannot and should not be carrying the weight of sin around with you. Jesus already has taken the burden of it all. Have you given it all to him? Jesus took upon himself every sin and it died as he died. Therefore these things you do wrong and that seem to entangle you are not even yours. They were last taken on by Jesus as he bled and died on that cross. He did that so you could live free. What you need to remember is that sin no longer belongs to you and you do not belong to it either. The bond between you is broken as sin has been put to death, and death ends any relationship. Jesus died for all that you have ever done and will ever do that God does not approve of. You do not need further punishment. You will, and should feel the pain of repentance, the discomfort of admission of sin, and the difficulty of walking out of it, but you do not need to wear the sin or the fullness of the consequences of it any more. Jesus put an end to that. So if you are feeling stuck in sin today, or are overwhelmed by your wrongdoings or persistent transgressions, remember that Jesus died to save you and the Holy Spirit can come to help you. Cry out to God as David did, ’make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation’. 

When you are a follower of God, yet you sin, your salvation is unaffected. David knew this, that is why he ends this psalm with that last sentence. Your relationship and acceptance by God is not torn apart because you did something wrong. You do need to confess it and possibly make recompense, but you can know the joy of forgiveness. I know I did things wrong as a kid, and my parents never banished me or denied me. I would have to tidy up my mess, repair or pay for what was broken, apologise, and my parents would forgive me. The sorting out the damage and admitting what I had done was more important for my benefit than theirs. To show me that doing things wrong has consequences. The relationship was never in jeopardy. The same is true when you realise you have sinned against God. God is a better parent than mine can ever be, so why do you expect a different response from Him? He will hear your admission, forgive your sin and help you restore yourself and the situation. Nothing is too big or terrible that He will deny you or reject you. God is the best parent you could ever have. He is not like your own parents, even if they were great like mine. God is approachable, available, ready and waiting to accept, love and forgive you - are you letting Him?

connected community

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. 

James 5:19–20 (ESV)

These final verses from James’s letter may seem an odd way to end, but James is clearly reinforcing the need for considerate, accountable relationships amongst believers. The exhortation here is that you should look out for other believers, noticing if something is awry in another's life and then go after them. This can only happen if you have a genuine love and concern for other believers that is intentional, deep and life-changing. Otherwise in an effort to correct and guide someone to the correct path, you could  misunderstand them, cause pain and push them farther away from God and His community. 

It is quite refreshing to read the eternal truth that we are built for connection in a community that loves, cares for and challenges each other. It is quite pertinent in today’s society that we are able to understand that James is commending close, connected and accountable community. The world we live in is quite different, it commends an overwhelming view of tolerance and an 'anything goes' attitude, where everything and everyone has to be accepted and tolerated no matter what. So James encouragement to challenge someone we see someone moving away from God and living a life that is not Biblical is quite cross-cultural. 

To challenge believers when they are following society instead of the word of God will be seen by non-believers as controlling and restrictive. In our current culture, people are allowed to do whatever they like whenever they like, be whoever they want to be, and no-one is permitted to question it. Most of us grown up believing the same, and support equity and equality, tolerance and acceptance. These are good things, but in an effort to support and commend these attributes society has lost the ability to really; understand, challenge, care for, love and support one another, as questioning or challenging someone's ideas, lifestyle and beliefs and behaviour has become taboo. James is confronting this worldly view by saying that we should go after those that wander off ‘from the truth’. How refreshing! 

If you see a fellow believer get caught up in wrong thinking, sinful behaviour, an altered attitude, swamped by society's influence, then the charge is to bring them back! Show that your love for that person and the church is genuine. Do not let your fellow brothers and sisters go down the path that leads to destruction without a fight. Instead, show that you notice, that you care and that you can help them by reminding them of the truth. The reality is, in a society that does not challenge, question, or seek to understand, people do not feel loved, noticed or cared for. They feel lonely, unnoticed and outsiders. Do not let that happen in your community of believers. The reality is that accepting and tolerating all things is not progressive, it is negligent. Having the awkward conversations, being upfront and honest and leading people to the truth that is The Word of God can be difficult, but it can radically transform someone's life for the better. As you may well have the opportunity to lead someone to repentance and forgiveness because you have demonstrated love and kindness through discipline, guidance and understanding, through being brave, noticing and caring enough to do something about it and challenge them. 

If you are part of a church, you should notice and care enough about the individuals to notice when they are not ok and in danger of wandering off. You are part of the kingdom of God and in God’s kingdom there is a Father that cares about each individual - He will leave the 99 to look for and rescue the 1, and He invites you to do the same. You have a duty to chase after others when you see them going off track and heading away from God. It may feel awkward, cross-cultural and you may offend, but you may also,  ‘save his soul from death’, regret, disgrace and sin, Isn’t it worth the awkwardness and being uncomfortable if you can save your brother or sister from that great peril? 

Ask God for wisdom

Do you realise that you can ask God for what you don’t have? 

It might be that you’re short of cash, that you are struggling academically, suffering physically, lack patience, peace or understanding. For any of these things, and many more, you can ask God to provide. When we have lack, we seek to gain more, and asking our loving Father in heaven to provide is a natural thing to do if you believe there is a God. 

There is one thing that we all lack, but I wonder if you ever ask God for it, and that is wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.*6*But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.*7*For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;*8*he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 

James 1:5–8.

James encourages us in these verses to earnestly ask God for wisdom. Not to be smart, clever or knowledgeable, but wise. This is because wisdom is not just about knowing and recalling information, but is about having knowledge, experience and good judgement. A wise person understands and is able to apply what they know. They have the ability to understand how to respond to situations and they do it. Wisdom effects behaviour because the wise apply what they know to what they do. Do you think you're wise? Do you ever think to ask God to help you become wiser? 

If you and I had greater wisdom, then surely some of the things we struggle with in life might be a bit easier to manage, or we may even find solutions to them. With increased wisdom some of the things we already ask God to provide like patience and peace would surely follow if we understood and were able to apply that understanding to our lives.

Compared to God, our lack of wisdom is outstanding, He is after all, omniscient (all knowing!) and we are not, yet do you ever ask Him for it? Not just insight for a particular time or situation, but, like Solomon did, do you ask for wisdom so that you can lead life well and do the best with what you have got? 

I think we can be fooled into thinking that as the world is full of information and knowledge, we believe that we already have insight and capability. At no time in the world's existence has there been so much information so readily available, so we can mistakenly believe that knowing stuff is wisdom. However wisdom is not just about knowing things or being able to relay facts and statistics. There's a difference between being clever and wise. Wisdom is applied knowledge, applying understanding to what you do and say. You cannot get that from the internet or even from professors. God is the best one to provide it. He after all, has existed through every age and kept humanity and creation going so He has the applied understanding and knowledge to sustain life and relationships. Do you want some of the wisdom He has? 

God can so easily and readily supply and fulfil any desire for wisdom, yet when you do seek Him for it, consider how you ask, ‘‘ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord’. When you ask God, do you really believe God can and will do it? There's quite a stark warning here about how you approach God. James is making it very clear that God is not to be doubted. It is ok to acknowledge that you do not deserve what you ask God for, but you cannot doubt God’s goodness, capacity or wisdom. God is a loving, capable and generous father, and He wants you to have wisdom, as well as so many other things therefore you can be confident that He will provide. 

When I ask my earthly Dad something, I expect him to reply, I don’t doubt that he will. He is a good Dad, and wants good things for me. I do not always know how he will respond, what he will do or say, but I do expect to get some kind of response when I speak to him. Therefore, as imperfectly wonderful as earthly Dads can be, can we not expect our Heavenly Father to do the same? 

God may not respond in a way that you can predict or even want, but He loves to hear how He can help you. He likes to hear what you are yearning for and stretching for, and He wants to give you things including wisdom. So, when you approach God and ask, do so confidently. Do not doubt God's capacity, desire or love for you. You may not be confident in yourself, but you can be confident in the One you are asking. So, today, do you desire wisdom? If so, go ahead and ask, and expect to receive.

Doxology - a word of praise to God

The final couple of verses from Jude are entitled ‘doxology’. This basically means that it is a word of praise to God. There are several doxologies throughout the Bible, we will look at a few of them today to compare them with this one from Jude;

*24*Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, *25*to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. 

Jude 24–25.

As you can see these verses are no longer addressed to the reader of Jude’s letter, but are aimed towards God, like a prayer of praise. They serve as a reminder to those that read this that God is worthy of worship because of who He is and inspire further praise from those that read these verses.  This is common for the other doxologies in the Bible, here are a couple more for us to consider today;

*10*Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. *11*Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. *12*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. *13*And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

*25*Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages *26*but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— *27*to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Romans 16:25-27

What inspiring verses! All three of these examples give glory to God which means that they hold God in high honour, they esteem Him and declare His majesty. All of these doxologies, although written thousands of years apart, by different authors, have similarities. They all honour the majesty, power, dominion, glory and eternal nature of God. These qualities of God have always been present, and are always worth praising. It doesn’t matter what culture you’re in, the state of your country, or your life; God still is majestic, powerful, in charge, glorious and eternal! That will never change. That will be true beyond our graves. This is God’s nature, and He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow as these different texts prove. This one God is surely worthy of praise, of recognition, of extolling, of trusting in. It doesn’t matter if you’re having a bad day, week, month, or life, God is still the same. It doesn’t matter if you’re sick or well, rich or poor, God is still the same. God is still the same to you and everyone else - have you taken some time to look at Him rather than your circumstances? 

When you look at God, which these doxologies encourage us to do, rather than what’s going on around you, you cannot fail to be inspired to hope. These words of truth give strength and inspire awe. Even as mere humans, we can appreciate something of the; magnificence, power, might, glory, significance, and never-ending nature of Father God. He surely deserves an outpouring of us declaring ‘glory’ to Him as these other writers have done. It is too easy to get caught up in the day to day routines, trials and temptations that they carry. That is why we need verses like these to remind us of what this life is all really about. The letter of Jude for example has spent most of the content warning its readers of the perils of living a life not wholly dedicated to God, and helps us look out for the danger of not living a life set apart for God and being swallowed by sin. Therefore these words at the end that remind us who God is, and encourage us to extol Him are a welcome reminder to put into context what is really happening, who we really are, and who God really is. If you want to live a life honouring God, you do need to get your life straight, you do need to be aware of what you are doing, but it is all in the context of knowing who God is.;

‘the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.’

‘Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.’ 

‘to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ!’

As you consider your life, don’t neglect to consider who God is in it and the place you have given Him in your life.

How does that inspire you to express your praise and worship today?

The truth

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6.

Here Jesus is telling us a few things about who he is, last week we looked at him being the way, this week we are going to ponder the fact that Jesus claims to be 'the truth' as well. 

If we consider this statement that Jesus is 'the truth', then this means that truth has existed before the world began as Jesus also existed. Before creation, truth existed. Truth is also found in a person, not as a concept or quality. In the first chapter of this book of John, Jesus is also described as being ‘the word’ that created and spoke into being all things, therefore truth was evident and in existence then, right from the very start of all we know. Truth was present in Jesus, and through his words.Truth has existed for longer than the world that we are dependent on, In fact, Jesus and truth have actually been the foundation of all of these things. Truth is found in Jesus and through his words.  

Jesus came to Earth as a human and so became the embodiment of truth, revealing who God is. When he came to Earth as a human, Jesus revealed the truth about who he is and who his Father is. Whatever traits we see in Jesus, we can know that Father God has the same. 

Therefore, if we want to live honest, truth-filled lives, and as Jesus is the truth, surely we need to learn to understand the world around us through him. Otherwise we are not living in truth, are we? If Jesus is the truth and the creator of all that is around us, then it makes sense to try to appreciate all that life entails through the one who made it. When we do we are able to put things into the right context. If we remove Jesus from our thinking, then how are we approaching the situations, people and the world each and every day? If Jesus is truth and we decline to live with him, then what are we living with? How are we assessing the things and people we encounter?

There are many things in this world that vie for our attention and that claim to be true, just and right, but do you take time to test these things and see if they aline with who Jesus is, what he taught and represents? Others’ arguments, values and experiences may be strong and persuasive but does what they are bringing agrees with scripture which is true? Do you stop to reflect and ask yourself if Jesus would have had those theories, acted in that way or taught these things? If you know he wouldn’t then you know that these things are not based in the ultimate truth. 

It may be that the words spoken by Jesus are hard to understand, or difficult to take onboard, but it doesn’t mean that they are wrong. Just because things may be hard to accept and live, doesn’t mean that they are irrelevant, should be ignored or are simply untrue. It just means that we don't like it. 

Jesus, and truth have existed before this planet and before time. Surely that is something dependable, reliable and certain that you can build your life upon. After all, the theories and ideas of man last a season, change frequently and eventually are often discarded and mocked. Yet, Jesus the Son of God, has outlasted them all. The truth has lived, has created this Earth and walked this Earth, and is still alive, living with His Father in heaven. Do you live with that truth in your life? 

The Way

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. *2*In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? *3*And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. *4*And you know the way to where I am going.” *5*Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” *6*Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:1–6.

Jesus is ‘the way’. 

The way. This implies there is only one way, a particular one. There are not a multitude of ways or directions one can go, just one, in order to reach God. That way is Jesus. Jesus is the direction, the path to follow, the way to travel. It is like he is a giant signpost revealing the direction to travel in, and he models and demonstrates that way throughout his existence.

So, if Jesus is 'the way' -Where is he going?

Jesus is showing us the way to the Father - the way to be restored to God. Sin, wrongdoing, our own selfishness have all resulted in a broken relationship between us and God. Jesus came to reveal that there is a way in which that relationship can be restored, and that there are not lots of solutions; only one. There are no other routes to reconciliation with God. 

Only one person could have created the way for us to find the path to relationship again, and that is God’s own son, Jesus. Before him there was no pathway or free access to God. Jesus created an avenue for us to follow because only he could. He, as the perfect, faultless, sin-free, holy lamb of God sacrificed himself on the altar of sin so that all sin can finally be atoned for for all time. No-one else could have done that - only the set apart sinless son of God could. We cannot get in favour with God any other way. No matter how good you try to be, how generous and kind and self-sacrificial you are - it is still not enough. No amount of 'niceness' makes up for all the wrong. 

Sin deserves death - that's the only way to completely get rid of it, so that is what Jesus did. He took all sin upon himself and killed it. That was the only way. That is the only path to obliterating sin from our lives, by killing it. We have to do nothing more than accept that Jesus has done that for us. That is why he is 'the way' because he removed the barrier of sin between us and God, and now provides a pathway to Him. Jesus became the way out and the way to something else. 

If you follow Jesus today, then he will take you through forgiveness, past guilt and shame, and show you the Father. The more you get to know Jesus, the more you will know God. You can have access to heaven and a relationship with God that you don’t deserve, because Jesus has made a path to Him. 

This is the way made known to us (v4). Are you following it? Or are you going in your own direction? Any other way will not lead to God. So, if it doesn’t lead to God, where is it going? You can decide today which path you want to follow. 

Jesus showed us what going his was was like. It was not easy, but it did result in a loving, dependent relationship with the Father. Will you follow his way? 

Is Jesus your brother?

Reading Hebrews 2, there are many indications that Christ-followers are considered family to God, siblings even to Jesus. Have you ever truly contemplated this fact?

We can take it for granted that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, but have you ever truly appreciated your role as a brother or sister TO Christ? Being siblings to one another is one thing and brings a sense of community, belonging and equality. We can easily understand and accept being family to one another as we have all experienced some kind of family in our lives. Being a sibling to Jesus, on the other hand - that’s kind of different, surely that breeds a sense of honour, respect and responsibility? It’s a level up to having a regular brother isn’t it?! Knowing that our brother is in fact the creator of the world, a perfect man and a loving, obedient son.
It makes me realise that I should be living with a different incentive, with a different sense of responsibility and respect for myself, others and God. If I take the fact that Jesus is my brother seriously, then I will consider his thoughts and feelings, his desires and expectations as well as my own. I don’t want him seeing my grumpiness when I’m tired, my late-night eating habits or moody rants at work. I don’t want him to have cause to feel sad, to feel disappointed in me. I am not saying he would, or that he would cause me guilt, but doesn’t being in the presence of someone greater than you inspire you to be greater? How much so then should the fact that we are elevated to the position of sharing the same father and family as Jesus?

Hebrews tells us Jesus is, ‘not ashamed to call them (us) brothers’ (v11), so no matter our faults and mistakes, Jesus doesn’t condemn us, he is not ashamed of us!
Yet are you living ashamed that Jesus is your brother?
I ask this as a challenge - is your life demonstrating that you are proud of your family heritage through Jesus or ashamed?
Do you acknowledge Christ in your daily life? Do you admit your relationship with Jesus, hide it or deny it? If you are wanting Jesus as your brother and saviour, then shouldn’t you be acting like it?! Jesus himself says that those who deny him now will be denied by him later (Matthew 10:33), are you willing to take that risk? Does your everyday life match up to your faith? Are you acknowledging Jesus as your brother in the way you live?

The good news folks is that although we should live aware and concerned about our faith, there is no need to be perfect. There is unfailing love and forgiveness freely available for us, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to overcome the things we know are issues for us. Nothing is too difficult for us, we shouldn’t excuse ourselves by accepting our sin or downplaying the strength of temptation. Jesus didn’t. Yes, I know Jesus was perfect, but, ‘he himself has suffered when tempted’ therefore, ‘he is able to help those who are being tempted.’ This is because, Jesus was, ‘made like his brothers in every respect’.
Jesus was just like you and me in his human flesh. He faced the same struggles with people, the world and himself. He battled temptation, he struggled to avoid sin. He sometimes desired his own way rather than God’s way. He struggled with conformity and individuality, he had to contend with the constraints of culture. Jesus suffered and was tempted. He knows what it’s like. Jesus gets it. He understands the overwhelming nature of temptation, the power and pull of self-preservation and self-satisfaction. He knows the expectations others have on us, the reality of peer pressure and the desire to be accepted and live the ‘normal’ life. Jesus understands the internal conflict and mental anguish we go through because he’s experienced it. He is like us, ‘in every respect’. Jesus knew the pain of rejection and persecution, the struggle of sin, the temptation for more, the desire to protect himself, the yearning to have a happy, healthy long life. Jesus was tempted to compromise like we are. Yet….. Yet, he chose to overcome all of the temptation, sin and compromise. He chose not his own life as paramount, but the will of his Father. He chose not what was best or easiest for him, but that which gave his brothers and sisters hope. Jesus, the son of God, our beloved brother, chose the path of obedience and purity. Jesus chose the path that we sometimes wander from. Jesus chose the way that God desired, and the way that led to our life, but to his own torture and death. This is our brother.

Jesus, our brother, knows pain and suffering. He knows the realities of being human. Jesus - completely human, but also completely God. He shares the same, ‘flesh and blood’ as us. He has the same Father, and is unashamed of us; his brothers and sisters.

We are living in such a privileged position, are you even aware of it? Are you allowing the truth of who you are to Jesus impact your life? Is your life reflecting the reality of who your brother and Father are?


‘He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source’.

One

Ephesians 4:4-6

There's a lot of repetition of the singular word, 'one' in these verses. 

one - single entity, cannot be divided, whole, complete unit.

The previous section spoke to me about how 'walking worthy' could lead to unity in the church, next this seems to show how we should be unified. In; one body, one Spirirt, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father. 

That's a lot of 'one's'! 

That's a lot of ways in which we should recognise our unity to other believers. 

one body and Spirit means our whole being as a person should be in agreement. Our body and Spirirt should work together in unison to glorify God. Our bodies are important as well as our souls. Do you look after your body? 

one hope - we are all forgiven and have freedom to enjoy a marvellous relationship with the one and only God! Wahoo! 

one Lord - we all agree God is the boss right?

It's not us, our parents, or our employers that should control us, but our Lord. He is the one we should be listening to first and foremost.

one faith - through Jesus Christ death and resurrection he wiped away our sins and proved that he was the one and only perfect human to walk this Earth. He is the one in whom we can trust to repair our broken relationship with God. 

one baptism - this act of obedience and commitment to God is common to all of those who believe. When someone is baptised they are baptised through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, therefore we have spiritual unity through baptism.

This is God's promise that He is our one Father. 

He is universe building, creature creating, all encompassing, eternal, powerful, personal, intimate, close, kind, supporting, hand-holding, loving Father. 

He is Father to us all, we are all one family because of Him. He has chosen each and every one of us to be in His family. 

He is the one that works hardest to unify us all, surely we can do our bit to maintain the family unit?