Bearing fruits of the Spirit

The fruit-bearing life The young lions suffer want and hunger, But those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10   Read Matthew 7:15—23 I do not quite live my life in a vacuum. If I am a Christian today it is very likely that I have seen someone, been influenced by someone…

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The sanctification of the body

Degrees of glory Sing the glory of his name; Give to him glorious praise. Psalm 66:2   Read 1 Corinthians 15:42—45 In this matter of the physical and the spiritual, the earthly life I know and the resurrected life I anticipate, I really need to do some rejigging of my assumed concepts. Because I am…

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The sanctification of the body

Let him be known Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim, And publish abroad his wonderful name. Charles Wesley   Matthew 10:26—33 It looks to me as though the intention of Jesus Christ as my Saviour is also to be my judge in that his plan is to out me. He will expose who I…

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The sanctification of the body

These intense disagreements How very good and pleasant it is When kindred live together in unity! Psalm 133:1   Read Galatians 4:12—20 I am sure there are fellow Christians for whom I feel a more than ordinary frustration or protectiveness or disappointment or — could I say it? — zeal. When I reflect how much…

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The sanctification of the body

The lamp of your body God saw everything that he had made, And, indeed, it was very good. Genesis 1:31   Read Luke 11:34—36 I have been woken up. Like a tired and weary sleeper, called to be awake, alert, not to return to sleep.[1] To come from hiding in the darkness into the full…

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The sanctification of the body

Family family Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5   Read Colossians 3:18—23 Before I relate to any intimate fellow being, any close family member, or anyone I work for and am responsible to in my daily dealings, before any relationship and any responsibility, I live my life in…

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The sanctification of the body

Bread Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted within them. Psalm 107:5   Read Mark 8:1—10 I think I know this story well enough. Bread in the desert, it’s like the manna the people of Israel ate in the wilderness.[1] It’s a reminder for me to pray for my daily bread, to trust God a day…

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Baptism and new life

Wake up! Better a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure and trouble with it. Proverbs 15:16   Read Revelation 3:1—6 Wake up! To be a Christian at all, from the outset, is to have been woken up. If I know Christ and I know myself as his, it is because I…

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Baptism and new life

In Christ alone I am the Lord your God who brought you … out of the house of slavery; You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:2-3   Read Colossians 2:6—14 I am part of a church because I am made to be part of a body. I’m not a spare rib that…

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Baptism and new life

The commission to witness O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth will declare your praise. Psalm 51:15   Read Acts 10:39—48 These, my brothers and sisters in Christ, were called to witness to Jesus. They were invited to eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. They were commissioned to testify…

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