Healing of body and soul

I will remember their sins no more At the one time Justified and a sinner. Martin Luther   Read Hebrews 10:11—18 I am told here — it is underlined and put in bold terms so that I cannot mistake it — I’m told there has only been one, only one sacrifice for the sin of…

Healing of body and soul

Holy devotion Every day I will bless you, And praise your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:2   Read Hebrew 10:1—4,10 If there is one thing about my faith that causes me a deficit of joy, that is, if I find myself held back from actual enthusiasm in in my worship; if I am less…

Healing of body and soul

At-one-ment Hast thou not seen how thy heart’s longings have been Granted in what he ordaineth? Joachim Neander   Read Romans 3:21—26 If there is one thing that drives me to prayer, if I have a deep heart-longing that would make this time something more vital and more than a mere exercise, it is surely…

Healing of body and soul

The sprinkled blood Here is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29   Read Leviticus 16:15—19 When I declare that Christ became sin for me,[1] I am seeing this ancient ritual — I would have said ‘primitive’ ritual — I am seeing the Day of Atonement brought to…

Healing of body and soul

The word of God Master, speak, your servant heareth, Waiting for your gracious word. Frances Ridley Havergal   Read Exodus 25:17—22 I wonder tonight if I am ready to meet with God in such a way that I allow God to speak to me. It is a holy place from which he speaks. I see…

Healing of body and soul

Your sins are forgiven Create in me a clean heart, O God, And put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10   Read Matthew 9:1—8 Two forces are in operation here, the forgiveness of sins and the healing of the man from paralysis. I must admit — this says something about me —…

The great commandment

Love perfected This is my commandment, That you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12   Read 1 John 4:16—21 If not for Christ I would not know that love is written across everything. I would set off to live each day in a world that is such a mixture of beauty…

The great commandment

Love that needs faith to be itself Those who are generous are blessed, For they share their bread with the poor. Psalm 57:3   Read 2 Corinthians 8:10—15 I am unsure how far I want to follow down the path opened up by these verses because I live in a culture where ‘commercial confidentiality’ means…

The great commandment

Child of my parents He appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children. Psalm 78:5   Read Ephesians 6:1—9 The command, says our writer, brings a promise. Yes, even in the broadest, most accepted terms, I would agree. My childhood was laden with promise. Everything fed into me, for…

The great commandment

A prayer for marriage This at last is bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh. Genesis 2:22   Read Ephesians 5:21—33 In the next few moments I am going to engage in prayer for a marriage, the one closest to me. That will be my own if I am married. Or of my…