Baptism and new life

You were washed Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, Who do not lift up their souls to what is false. Psalm 24:4   Read 1 Corinthians 6:9—11 My life is not a static thing. Who I was is not who I am. I was a sinner. I met the friend of sinners. I…

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Baptism and new life

The creature that talks back to God For it was you who formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13   Read Isaiah 45:9—13 What a delightful thing it is, at the end of this day, to consider the greatness of this God who has chosen to know me,…

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Baptism and new life

Be reconciled No one finds security by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will never be moved. Proverbs 12:3   Read Matthew 5:20—26 I would not dare insult God and think I can come before his face. I would not dare. I can only dare come before God in holy reverence. Confessing my sin,…

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The call to be disciples

Caught in the net The Lord redeems the life of his servants; None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22   Read Matthew 13:47—52 I guess this image lay close at hand for Jesus. I can see him with his fishing companions when they threw out the net. There, within…

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The call to be disciples

The humanity of the word Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Mark 10:52   Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13—16 The Good News is not a human word. If all I did, if all my church did, was to follow our best religious instincts, say we worked out our philosophy of life…

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The call to be disciples

True power He gives power to the faint And strengthens the powerless. Isaiah 40:29   Read Ezekiel 13:17—23 In the whole field of religious practice I can easily fall into a world gone astray. Magic. Sorcery. Cultic power over daily decisions. The Bible is quite thick with warning against false prophets, false teachers, people who…

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The call to be disciples

All or nothing Look to him, and be radiant; So your faces shall never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5   Read Matthew 19:27—30 Peter speaks in extremes, ‘We’ve left everything.’ Jesus does, too: ‘You’ll sit on thrones. You’ll receive a hundredfold. You’ll receive eternal life. We’re talking eternity. We’re talking without limit.’ Really, I’m used to…

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The call to be disciples

Forward to what lies ahead Deliverance belongs to the Lord; May your blessing be on your people! Psalm 3:8   Read Philippians 3:12—16 How can I press on to attain what I am powerless to bring about? Only God can raise me from the dead. Only God can bring about his kingdom. That is why…

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The call to be disciples

First time believers The vilest offender who truly believes That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. Frances Jane van Alstyne Read Mark 9:38—41 I think I know how John felt that day. I know that feeling! John’s miffed. He’s miffed because someone less mature than he, who hasn’t put in the weeks and months and…

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The call to be disciples

My fruitfulness within God’s fruitfulness You will eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; You shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. Psalm 128:2   Read Luke 5:4—11 So the fishers will now fish for people. The occupations of Peter and his companions become a kind of parable. Perhaps my…

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