Is there joy in hardship and suffering?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds... James 1:2 I like the phrase "pure joy" because it suggest a joy that is contrary to one that is counterfeit. It points to a joy that is deeply rooted in Jesus and that weathers the storms of l
Read More

Can I love the unlovable?

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14
Read More

Work as service

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil 2:3-4 What would your day today look like if you took these two verses and did all you could t
Read More

Contentment in Work

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim 6:6 This verse appears in the context of doing what we do (even pursuing godliness) primarily as a means for financial gain. This leads to all sorts of trouble and destructive emotions. The better way to live
Read More

This IS your calling

Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 1 Cor 7:17 In this passage, Paul is teaching about marriage, but the principl
Read More

The Aroma of Christ

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the sme
Read More

Salt and Light

13 ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Ne
Read More

Cultivate others

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 Here's the bottom line for today: when people encounter Jesus, their lives a
Read More

Build yourself up

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21 One of the things we are comm
Read More

Cultivate yourself

The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ Mat 25:20 Jesus is the Master and he has given each of us talents. To some he has given plent
Read More