Daily Journal for Friday 28th of May 2010

Thriving Each Day in Christ

S - So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6

O - Paul would have nothing to do with a kind of "Bar Code" faith (as Dallas Willard has described) where at the check-out we receive the "beep" of salvation and are placed in a bag to sit and wait until Christ returns. Salvation is not the end, it's just the beginning of a journey of transformation. Just as we received Christ, CONTINUE to live your lives in him, rooted and built up, strengthened in the faith. Growing is a crucial part of what it means to follow Christ.

A - How am I growing today? How deep and firm are my roots? Is my faith being strengthened? I want to be the best example possible of a growing christian for all who might see. Yesterday was a day for rest. I rested from morning till night after two very busy weeks. For me growing stronger in Christ meant yesterday, slowing down, resting, reading, and taking it easy. It was just what I needed. I was refreshed by watching a Harry Connick Jr DVD and trying to play Jazz songs on the piano. I finished reading "The Vertical Self" (Mark Sayer) and went for a jog. This was very satisfying and extremely good for me in my growth towards maturity!

P - Father, thank-you that even resting is part of your plan for me to live a life of thanksgiving. Help me continue to grow each and every day in my life with you. Amen.

Daily Reading Colossians 2-3    

Daily Journal Tuesday 18th of May 2010

Seeking Restoration

S - Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

O - Paul encourages the believers in Corinth to strive for "full restoration". In other translations it says "aim for perfection" (NRSV) or "put things in order" (NIV) or "be made complete." He is encouraging them to be more that saved. He's calling them to be restored. Paul desire is that they be made perfect in Christ. That they become in fact what they are declared in Christ by faith. He wants them to not believe one thing and act a different way.

This is surely a struggle. David courageously slew Goliath yet was tripped up by woman in a bath on a roof-top. This is hard work but everyday, God want us to strive, to work hard, to wrestle at being holy!

The interesting thing is that we are not trying to become something that we are not. We are seeking to become who we truly are. We were made in the image of God. Through Christ we have been declared forgiven and righteous. The call now is to become who we really are.

A - Today, I should not be surprised at how every little decision is a choice to be restored or be further and further away from who God made me to be. Though I fail time and time again, I must never give up! Today my choices, my actions, my struggles, are worth facing! If I am able to with the Spirit's help strive to be fully restored the God of love and peace will dwell with me.

P - Father, thank-you for saving me, through faith in Jesus. Help me to live today toward becoming the person you made me to be, fully restored through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen。

Daily Reading - 2 Corinthians 13 - Galatians 1

Daily Journal Thursday 13th of May 2010

Hidden Treasure

S - "But we have this treasure on jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

O - Treasure was hidden inside old worthless looking jars of clay, in the jars that people would least expect to find it. Paul is saying that we are nothing special, we are ordinary, we face suffering, we do not look that impressive at all. But that just makes it clear to everyone that the treasure, the gospel, is from God not us. The power of the gospel is God at work, transforming lives, and this is not something we can claim as our doing. One look at us and you'll know this is true!

A - I am a person who make mistakes so often on the road to seeking to be holy. I get tired, upset, often feel overwhelmed and sometimes it feels like God could have chosen someone with far greater gifts and skills for the work he has called me to. This just reminds me that this is exactly the point. I'm not the one that matters most. It's in how much I realise who I am (a jar of clay) and who God is (the life-giver) that I will be most effective. I will pray, depend, cry out, ask for help more and more if I understand that I can't do anything without the power of the gospel.

P - Father, in my tiredness, busyness, feelings like there is more to do than I can possibly do, I come to you. Help me to pull aside and depend on you more. Help me to be guided and led by you each and every day. Help me slow down and allow your gospel to work through me in power. Thanks Father. Amen.

Daily Reading - 1 Corinthians 2-4

Daily Journal Tuesday 4th May 2010

What we tolerate we become!

S - Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new batch - as you really are. For Christ our passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 (TNIV)

O - Sin, when left, when tolerated, when allowed to remain, can affect the whole person. A person who is holy becomes unholy when they boast, are sexually immoral, or when they slander. To think that sin does not matter is a grave error. It does! Like a little bit of yeast - it affects the whole batch. The same is true with sin.

The circumstances that Paul is addressing at Corinth are to do with sinful and immoral people who claim to be Christians but live a completely different way. Paul says, "Don't even eat with them" (v.11), and "expel them from among you" (v.13). Why? Because they can spoil the whole batch. They can affect the whole church.

A - What we tolerate we become. If I tolerate gossip I become a gossip. If I tolerate slander I become a slanderer. What our church tolerates we become. We must with firmness seek to address situations where people who claim to know Jesus act consistently in an unrepentantly sinful manner.

I must model in my own life an eagerness to confess my sin and turn from it. I must model this in my leadership too so that our church leaders and our church refuse tolerate what we don't want to become.

P - Father, I pray that you would help us as a church to be willing to address sin and as a result become the church you have in Christ declared us to be - your bride, pure and without blemish.

Daily Reading - 1 Corinthians 4-5

Daily Journal Tuesday 20th of April 2010

Hearing from Angels

S - "Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, "Don't be afraid Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you." Acts 27:23-24

O - An angel spoke to Paul. It might have been in a dream, a vision or just plain straight out appeared. The angel was from God and spoke clear, strong words of assurance, "Don't be afraid Paul." The angel knew Paul's name, knew his situation, knew Caesar's name, knew that the lives of the people on the boat were in danger.

A - God knows us. He knows me and my situation, the dangers I face, the things that concern me. What an encouragement this must have been to Paul. That God would reassure him by sending an angel must have given him great confidence. Sometimes God has sent people who have encouraged me with a word from God. Sometimes a letter, a book, a point a preacher has made, God has used to encourage me. Sometimes I have read a verse and had a strong impression that I have known was God speaking. It encourages me to know that God knows and when he feels necessary he can speak directly to me. Most of the time I just need to do what he's already told me to do in his word, the Bible.

P - Father, today I am reminded how you speak and guide. Speak Lord to me today. Let me hear and respond to your promptings and to obey your word each and everyday. Amen.

Daily Reading - Acts 27

Daily Journal Monday 19th of April 2010

Making The Most of Every Opportunity

S - Paul replied, "Short time or long - I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." Acts 26:29

O - Paul, before King Agrippa, Bernice, high ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city, gave his defence. There was great pomp and ceremony and Paul's life was in danger. But Paul saw the situation not as one where he could save his own skin and escape death, but rather as another opportunity to share the gospel so that some might hear and be saved. This was his longing. This was his prayer.

A - I too, like Paul need to remember, that no-one, no matter how rich, how "beautiful," how seemingly all together they appear, no matter how important their position, no-one is beyond reach of the gospel. And vice versa. No matter how poor, lonely, broken, angry, violent, estranged and bitter a person is, they are not beyond reach of the gospel. I must remember, every opportunity to share is an opportunity for people to respond. I must never say people's "no" for them as they might just say "yes."

P - Father, help me have the courage and willingness to share with great and small, the truth of the gospel. I pray that many would come to know you Jesus through my faithful witness. Amen.

Daily Reading - Acts 26

Daily Journal Tuesday 13th of April 2010

I Must Confess!

S - Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. Acts 19:18

O - Fear gripped the people when they realised that demons were afraid of Jesus and Paul but not of the seven sons of the Jewish High Priest. The were filled with fear and honoured Jesus' name. They confessed openly their sins. They burnt their scrolls even though they were worth a lost of money. And the Bible reveals the result..."In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power."

A - There was fear of God, there was honouring of his name, there was confession, there was spreading of the word and there was a growing in power. Today I guess its so often the opposite. People tend to not fear God, they blaspheme his name, they claim their own righteousness and the word of God is not spread and the church doesn't seem to grow in power. We say this is cultural, its Western culture, but it may be that we have lost the fear of a holy God, heartfelt and genuine confession that leads to repentance and great faith.

Is there mighty, powerful things that God is wanting to do in and through me but my lack of fear, confession, repentance, and faith is stopping this? What about in our church? What about our cities churches? Has being a church become more about services and programs rather than the confession and prayer to a holy, powerful God. I need to ponder this more. What do I need to confess? What do I need to burn?

P - Father God, mighty in power, help me honour your name in everything I do, for your glory, Amen.

Daily Reading - Acts 19