Jesus Christ our firm foundation

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

What a way to conclude 2022.  In this scripture Paul brings it under our attention that what we do is important even though we do not earn our salvation with our works, we do build something in our lifetime.  We either build in vain or we build with eternal results.  Paul reminds us that what we build will be tested at the end of time and we will be rewarded for it should it be able to stand the test of time.  God's intention is to reward us for our building in His Kingdom and with Kingdom purpose.  He wants us to be successful therefore He has given us all we need to build with, we just need to unpack those treasures.  

Point to ponder:

• What did I build this year?  When the test comes will it stand, or will it be burned away?  
• What is on God's agenda for me to build next year?
• Let us put our focus on Jesus as our firm foundation for everything we build.  

Maybe this is a good place to end off this year and take some time to contemplate where, what and how are we led by the Holy Spirit to build next year.  Consequently, this will then be the last Monday devotions for 2022 and it will resume again in January 2023.  Thank you to everyone who have journeyed with me this year, may you have a blessed, restful, peaceful holiday season and with significant encounters with Jesus as we slowdown and have more time to spend with him and our loved ones.  

For those who continue to work and find this time of the year some of the busiest weeks of the year, may Jesus meet you equally significantly in spite of the business of this season.  May you experience his hand of calm presence on your shoulder and his closeness and guidance to bring you safely though this part of your 2022 journey.  

Keep well and I bless you with being enfolded in His safe presence.  

Gerda 

Our firm foundation - Maverick City

Becoming mature

1 Corinthians 3:1-8 

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants, and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

In this week's scripture I can hear Paul say to the church today (should he have had the chance) - you are as childish as the Corinthians were - if not worse - because Paul's criteria here for childish behaviour are 'are there envy, strife and divisions amongst you?'  We sadly will have to admit that 2000 years after Paul wrote this to the Corinthians, we have not grown into any more maturity.  

Point to ponder:  Let us remind ourselves this week that we are a body, that some of us plant, some water, but ultimately none of that would be of any use if God did not give the increase.  In verse 8 Paul equates those who plant and those who water, stating that they are one - in other words, of equal value, importance or actually of equal non-importance.  Let us give God the glory for the fruit of the increase rather than trying to be more important than another while we are supposed to be one body!

Let us ask God to increase our spiritual maturity so that we can receive solid food and not just survive on spiritual milk all the time.  

One People  - Philippa Hannah

Spiritual discernment

1 Corinthians 2:13-14,16

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.... 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

There is so much food for thought in these few verses.  Let us break it up into smaller components.  Paul says:

• They are not teaching man's wisdom, but the wisdom of the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit's wisdom is spirit to spirit and should be discerned by and in the spirit
• The natural man cannot and does not receive the things of the Spirit of God
• The natural man perceives the things of God as foolishness and therefore cannot know the things of God

Point to ponder

• Let us this week ask the Holy Spirit to give us the discernment to discern the things of the Spirit with our spirits, as opposed to human wisdom.
• Let us ask Holy Spirit to give us the spiritual sensitivity to know and experience the Wisdom of the Spirit of God.
• Let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us the mind of Christ 

Changing me - Anna Golden

His Spirit's whisper in my spirit

1 Corinthians 2:10-12

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These three verses are such interesting verses and teaches us so much about how spirit works.  Contrary to the theology many of us grew up with, Paul makes it clear that man has spirit.  God has Spirit and the world also has spirit.  Paul encourages us by making us aware that God does not give us the spirit of the world and he then continues to explain that God gives us His Spirit, in our spirits, so that we might know the things, yes, the deep things of God.  This remains a mystery to many of us, but in faith we can receive and expect and be comforted by the fact that since we know (at least in part) the things of God, it must mean that we therefore have received the Spirit of God, and that He is at work in our hearts, drawing us closer and ever deeper into the knowledge and revelation of God.  A miracle indeed, nevertheless one we were created for before the foundation of the earth.  

Point to ponder: 

Ask Holy Spirit to make us aware of God's Spirit in our spirit this week in whichever way He should choose to.  

Whisper - Jason Upton

Leaders with godly Wisdom

1 Corinthians 2:6-9

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The rulers of biblical times did not have God's wisdom, therefore they crucified Jesus - 2000 years later  we unfortunately still cannot say that we have rulers that have developed any godlier wisdom than those of biblical times.  This made me think, though - we have such great opportunities to raise godly leaders in the next generation - maybe we should intentionally ask God for His wisdom in how to raise the next generation, how to impart at least the godly wisdom we have to them - but then also - what would be His strategy for us to put in place so that they will go on developing even more godly wisdom than what we have in this generation?  

Point to ponder

Let's pray this week for our leaders - for their hearts to turn to God and for godly wisdom to be imparted by the Lord Jesus Christ into their hearts and minds.  Let's also pray for the next generation of leaders to be raised with godly wisdom and for those who have to raise them to know how to do that!

Lord, we join heaven's song, singing endless Alleluias for countless miracles...

Endless Alleluia - Stephany Gretzinger

Faith resting in the power of God

2 Corinthians 2: 1-5

5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

Paul starts off Chapter 2 with a quite lengthy explanation to this congregation that he did not come to them with clever words of human wisdom or knowledge.  He explains that he did not bring the message in persuasive words but that he brought the message of Christ in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and in the power of God.  Then in verse 5 he gives us the reason why - it is so that our FAITH will not rest upon the wisdom of men, but that our FAITH will rest upon the power of God.  

Paul was 'n learned man and he could have brought the message to this congregation with a lot of knowledge and wisdom of his own, but he actively chose to bring the message in the words God gave him - because then the message comes through the Holy Spirit and in His power.  What a great lesson to learn from Paul.  Walk in humility and bring the message of the cross in God's wisdom, for then the message is also brought in the power of God.    

Point to ponder

Upon what rests our faith?  The wisdom of man's clever explanations, or on the power of God?  

By Faith - Keith and Kristyn Getty

Choosing the foolish to be the wise

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 AMPC

26 For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.  27 [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.  28 And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are, 29 So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.

In many ways it is so encouraging to know that God calls the most ordinary people - people like you and me - to walk in His wisdom.  We think in our humanness that influential, powerful people and people of high and noble birth (royalty) is so important, but in God's Kingdom it's the other way round.  God deliberately selects what the world calls foolish and weak to conquer and put the strong to shame.  He selects us who are just ordinary human beings - lowborn and insignificant in the eyes of society, to be the God-selected chosen ones who bring Him glory by not taking His glory for ourselves.  He chooses the foolish things, that we so often think are such wise things, to bring His kingdom to earth.  

Point to ponder

What human wisdom do I lean on, that I need to let go and ask God to replace it with His wisdom?  

We do not have to be clever, learned, of high social status etc. to be carrying out the message of the cross.  We just need to embrace the fact that God can and wants to use us - even though you may think that is impossible, that is what His Word says.  Take him on His Word and then walk it out in faith.  

God's Own Fool - Michael Card

The Wisdom of God

 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

These verses are some of the most beautiful scriptures in the Word to me.  Wisdom is depicted in the Bible as the Holy Spirit and true wisdom is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor 12.  In this scripture we are admonished to know and understand that worldly wisdom is utterly deprived because it DOES NOT KNOW GOD.  That's the bottom line.  Any wisdom that does not know God is utter foolishness and it is such a clear measuring criterion, to discern when any type of wisdom is from God or not.  Just ask the question - does this 'wisdom' that I am encountering today - does it know God?  How will we know if that wisdom KNOWS God?  The answer is found in verse 24.  Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  If some 'wisdom' does not know and proclaim Christ - it simply is not the Wisdom of our God the Father, Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Period.  No questions, no reasoning, nothing gets around that one. On the contrary, anything outside of that is called foolishness.  Selah (Pause and think about that).

Point to ponder

Do you know the Holy Spirit as the Wisdom of God?  What wisdom do you have, or do you ascribe to, that does not KNOW GOD?  Ask Him to show you and to replace it with His true Wisdom.

Perfect Wisdom of our God - Keith and Kristyn Getty

Being one

1 Corinthians 1:10

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

I really, actually do not even know what to say about this verse... all I can say is that 2000 years after Paul had written this, I think the church is even more divided and less in unity than the early church in Corinth.  We are supposed to be perfectly joined together in the SAME MIND and judgement.  Nope, not happening where I can see it... Lord forgive us for we do not know what we are doing.  

Point to ponder

How can I make a shift in mind and attitude to move closer to being more in unity and less in judgement of my fellow believers?  

Make us one - Naomi Raine

Called into fellowship with Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:9

 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the following weeks we will focus on the book 1 Corinthians for our Monday devotions, and right at the start of this book Paul makes a remarkable statement.  He thanks God for being graceful and faithful to:

"Call us into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  

Let us stop for a moment and savour that thought. I am sure we would all be pretty honoured if the king of any royal household calls on us to be 'in fellowship' with the crown prince?  

In this verse we are assured by Paul that God is calling us into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  What an immense thought.  Called into fellowship with the Son, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  His Kingdom supersedes all other kingdoms because He is King over all of the kingdoms in the Universe.  In fact, the whole of the Universe and beyond IS His Kingdom.  He extends His hand of fellowship from His heavenly Kingdom into our earthly existence, and it reaches to the other side of the grave.  He calls us into fellowship with Him in the here and now, but it overcomes death, gives life and lasts for an eternity.  

What kind of fellowship can we ever imagine to be a 'better kind of fellowship'?  What can we ever dream of or want more?  

Point to ponder:

You are called into fellowship with Jesus Christ.  Often, we spend a lot of time in our lives wondering about what our calling is - do we accept and receive THIS calling?  Can we receive His hand of fellowship?  

The Chosen Scene: John 3:16

I can only imagine

Today marks the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II. As a person, she was loved by her family and no doubt had a great influence on them for different reasons. As an authority figure and head of state of one of the biggest empires in the world, she is either remembered with reverence and fondness or thought of with resentment and disappointment for all the opportunities she missed to make amends for the atrocities committed by the British Empire in history. One thing stands out though - all Kings and Queens, no matter the size of their empire or the amount of admiration from those they lord over, eventually have one final journey to make. A journey that is the great equalizer in humankind. A journey that underlines the fact that we are all equally mortal human beings. It is on the one side our journey to the grave and on the other side a journey to an eternal life.

And what then? We have but one lifetime granted to us by an almighty God who is the Sovereign God over us. Even Queen Elizabeth recognised and publicly declared her own personal accountability to the God of the Bible - the Father, Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. She knew she would one day stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and will be held accountable for the life she was granted on earth by the One that is The Sovereign over the sovereign of the British Empire.

Maybe today is a good day to reflect on our own mortality and to remember that there's a day coming when everything on earth will be returning to dust.  No matter how important we may deem ourselves to be, that is the one thing we cannot get around.

Point to ponder

Take a moment or 3 this week to imagine what you will do/feel - what it will be like to arrive in heaven and be ushered into the throne room of the King of Kings.  What it will be like for you to stand before Him.  I share a song of Mercy me that speaks about this moment.  

I can only Imagine - Mercy me  

Take it to Jesus

Last week someone sent me the song "Take it to Jesus" and it was just such an encouragement - the thought that we can take all our sorrows, and all our unanswered questions to Jesus.  He did not just take all our sin upon Him but also our sorrow and pain.  The challenge is to remain open to His comfort, not to turn our backs on Him who is ultimately our only source of redemption but also our only source of comfort.

Point to ponder:

Take some time to listen to this song today and take your unanswered questions and pain to Jesus and ask Him to comfort you. Receive His Comfort today! 

 Take it to Jesus - Anna Golden

Be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil

Romans 16:17-20 NKJV

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

In this last chapter of the book of Romans, Paul warns us avoid those in life who cause divisions and offenses in the body of Christ.  Thinking about this, the first thing that we need to check is our own hearts though - long before we point fingers to others.  We need to ask the question of ourselves first.  Do I cause division and offense in the body of Christ?  If the Holy Spirit convicts us of our own attitude and behaviour in this regard, we need to repent and change our ways.  It does not help to blame and point fingers to others while we are guilty ourselves.  We are to live in peace with others and conduct ourselves in love and kindness towards the other members of the body of Christ.  Let us not make ourselves guilty of serving our own bellies and deceiving the hearts of the simple with smooth and flattering words.  Let us be the ones whose obedience is known to all, being wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. And then let us rejoice in the fact that our God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet!  What an amazing encouragement to end this book with! 

Point to ponder 

Our God will soon crush Satan under our feet - but let us learn to live from the spirit in all these things so that we do not open the door for the enemy's deception, but let God change our hearts and minds to portray the fruit of the Spirit.  

Chris Tomlin - Romans 16:19 

The God who opens the eyes of our heart

Romans 15:20-21

20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,

and those who have not heard will understand.”

In today’s scripture we read how Paul quotes Isaiah 52:15 when he speaks about his urgency to take the gospel to those who do not know the Messiah. He had such a heart for those who did not know about the Messiah! Paul in this chapter points to a fulfilled prophecy. It was prophesied in Isaiah that even those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.

Point to ponder

Let us ask the Lord to open the eyes of our hearts to see Him.  Let us celebrate God this week for His mercy to bring understanding, even to those who did not hear, and opening the eyes to see – even of those who were not told!

Open the eyes of my heart Lord

God our Hope

Romans 15:8-13 (NKJ)

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:  

“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,

And sing to Your name.”

10 And again he says:

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”

11 And again:

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!

Laud Him, all you peoples!”

12 And again, Isaiah says:

“There shall be a root of Jesse;

And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,

In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


Once again keeping in mind the background of the congregation in Romans, it is such a hopeful encouragement offered by Paul to all the people in this congregation. Paul makes it clear once again at the end of this letter that both the Jew and Gentile has access to God.  That He is the hope of all nations!  In a time when we may look at the world around us and feel hopeless by all the increasing evil and destruction we see - may He remain our Hope because He is faithful to His covenant and faithful to His character as a merciful God.  

Thought to ponder:  

May the God of Hope fill us with joy and peace in our believing so that we will have an abundance of Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Living Hope - Phil Wickam

Praise to His Glory in Unity of heart and with one voice

Good morning everyone

Firstly I would like to apologize for what ended up being the absence of Monday Devotions last week.  Sometimes life catches up with me... 

Resuming our journey through Romans this week, we are focusing on Romans 15: 5-7

5 Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,  6 That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  7 Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God.

When reading this scripture we need to just remind ourselves of the background of the congregation in Romans that Paul is writing this letter to.  There were both Jewish and Gentile believers that all became part of the community of believers in Jesus as the Messiah.  When Paul then admonishes and encourages the congregation with these verses to have patient endurance with each other, and to welcome and receive each other to their hearts with a united heart and one voice, he is doing so against the background of these religious and cultural differences.  

The message of this is as true and relevant for us today as it was for the congregation in Rome.  2000 years later we still need to pay attention and receive each other into the body of Christ's believers with patient endurance, mutual harmony, full sympathy in spite of all our cultural and other differences.  And for but only one reason:  "so that we will be able to praise and glorify God the Father and Jesus Christ the Messiah with united hearts and one voice"

Furthermore, there is only one reason why we can welcome and receive each other in this manner, and that is because "Christ has welcomed and received us, for the glory of God "

Point to ponder:

I think this is profound truth - If Christ can receive all of us - why can we not receive each other?  How are you and I faring in terms of receiving those around us, in spite of our differences, into the body of Christ?  What is the price to pay if we do not?  As a body we cannot with united heart and one voice bring praise to the glory of God.  What an indictment against the current affairs and state of the community of believers...

Every Tribe:  Joshua Aaron and Chief Riverwind

Non-Nobis

Romans 15:2-3a

Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually].  3 For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]... AMPC

Non-Nobis is the motto for the council for social service professions in South- Africa, where all social workers and social auxiliary workers have to register in order to be able to work as a social worker or social auxiliary worker. It means "Not for ourselves".  In today's scripture Paul reminds us to do exactly that.  To live and serve others for their benefit and to build others up, just as Christ did not serve Himself but came to serve us, to build us up selflessly, not giving thought to His own interests, but serving us for our benefit and interest to the point of giving His life so that we can live.

Point to ponder

Maybe we need to review our motives for whatever we are doing in life.  Are we serving our own interests, or are we serving to benefit and build up others spiritually in the way God planned for us to do when He created us?  

Love God, Love your neigbour

Unity in Diversity

Romans 14:6-13

6 He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.  7 None of us lives to himself [but to the Lord], and none of us dies to himself [but to the Lord, for] 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.  10 Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.  11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. 12 And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. 13 Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

In Romans 12, Paul in no uncertain terms reminds us of the fact that the body of Christ is a diverse community with different ways and different convictions regarding, for example, feast days and food, etc.  And Paul's point is that there are certain things and times where each believer has to act according to their own convictions, because it is that believer that will stand before God and give an account of their own convictions.  Paul is quite adamant that we are not to judge our brother within the community of believers on these things, but leave it to that believer and God to sort out between themselves.  

Paul was giving direction here to the congregation in Rome, that was a diverse congregation of Jews and Gentiles, yet they were all believers.  His advice to them was to not judge or criticize each other but to respect each other, be humble and allow for differences in opinions and ways of doing.  I think we can learn much from this in our time, because 2000 years later it is as relevant as it was in the times of Romans.

Point to ponder:

Let's ask the Lord to give us wisdom to have more mercy with each other. James 2:13 says "Mercy triumphs over judgement"

Christ Tomlin - Goodness love and mercy follow me wherever I go

Wake up! Get dressed!

Romans 13:11,12 and 14

11 Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).

12 The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

14 But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

Ephesians 5:14

14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.

Revelation 3:1-2

I know your record and what you are doing; you are supposed to be alive, but [in reality] you are dead.  
2 Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight.

Many years ago my parents had a very unique experience at our home.  My father used to host a Bible study group once a week and a neighbour started attending the Bible study.  One morning early her husband just about hammered down our front door, looking for my father.  He wanted to know what kind of  'power' my father was worshipping in this house, because he used astral travelling to visit our house while his wife was attending the Bible study, and according to him there was a light around our house and no matter what he did, he could not find a place to come in!  This verse in Romans has become one of those life-verses for me.  There was an armour of light around our house that night - and the word says we can be dressed in that armour of Light.  Who is the Light?  It is Christ Himself, thus just a few verses later Paul reminds us that we need to get dressed in Christ and not be spiritually asleep.    

In scripture there is a spiritual state described as being 'asleep' and the Holy Spirit calls us to wake up in no uncertain terms.  He calls us awake and encourages us to get rid of the works and deeds of darkness and corruption - not giving any place to it - not even in our thoughts.  He admonishes us to not make any provision for indulging in the flesh or gratify its desires in any way.  In our culture today, that very much lives by the notion that we have the right to do whatever pleases us, yes whatever pleases the flesh - it is an increasingly fierce battle to not feed the flesh but to be intentional about feeding the spirit with God-ordained thoughts and actions.  Paul admonishes us to get into the opposite spirit by dressing ourselves in the Armour of Light, and since Christ is The Light it also means that we clothe ourselves with Christ.  This is the clothes of the Bride of Christ - Christ the Messiah, our Armour of Light!

Point to ponder:

Let us ask the Holy Spirit this week to reveal to us the state of our spirit.  Are we in a spiritual sleep?  In which areas do we feed the flesh instead of the spirit?

Let us ask him to raise us from the dead and from this spiritual sleep we are in.  Ask him to give us His Light and dress us in Christ and His Armour of Light.  

Armour of Light - Park Church Music - Album 'The autumn chapter"

Responsible Citizens

Romans 13:1-7

1 Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.2 Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them]....... 6 For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service. 7 Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

In Romans 13, Paul addresses an issue that is as relevant to us 2000 years later as it was during his lifetime - our conduct towards government and authorities appointed over us. I think firstly it will serve us well when we read this chapter, to remember that Paul wrote this during a time when his own people were oppressed by the Roman government, which was a foreign, corrupt government that made laws with the purpose to subject people to their own rule of law that served their own agenda. Thus it will not help us to look at our government today and excuse our lack of respect for our government with the attitude that Paul could not have foreseen the circumstances and problems we face in our time. He wrote against the background of very similar situations, all very familiar to us today. Yet, even in facing this, he admonished the Roman congregation to subject themselves to the rules and regulations and law of the day.

Paul in actual fact goes as far as saying that there is no authority unless God gives it to man. That is quite a sobering thought. Of course this does not mean that God institutes and condones corrupt governments - my understanding is that God appoints people into positions of authority and expects them to do the job according to His Kingdom rules. If they do not, then He will hold them accountable for their use or misuse or abuse of the authority and they will suffer the consequences thereof.  However, just as God holds them responsible, he will also hold responsible the citizens for their conduct.  God holds us responsible for our lack of respect and our downright rebellion against authority.  Both these principles - responsible authority and respect for authority - are important in His Kingdom.

What happens when authority is ungodly and expects you to do things that are ungodly? I believe the Bible also gives us direction in these cases. In Acts 5:29-42 we read the following:

7 So they brought them and set them before the council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined them by questioning,  28 Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men....

The disciples' response infuriated the Sanhedrin to the point that they wanted to kill them.  The main reason for them being so angry with the disciples was because the members of the Sanhedrin were regarded as the voice of God on earth, and therefore the disciples' response implied that their instruction to them were not of God.    

In verse 34-42 Gamaliel responded by saying there were others in history that regarded themselves important and had a following, but when their leader died, the rest of the following dissipated.  Gamaliel expected this to happen to the disciples as well - unless their mission was of God.  In which case he understood that no man would be able to stop the mission of the disciples.    

We read again from verse 39-42

39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!  40 So, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.  41 So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.  42 Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah

I think it is fairly clear that the disciples did not adhere to the request of these authorities to stop preaching, but interestingly enough they still submitted themselves to the consequences these authorities decided on - in this case being flogged.  What is also remarkable is that nowhere do we read that they were disrespectful nor did they slander or incite people to violence and rebellion against these authorities.  They did not lead their followers into a revolution nor a disregard of the governmental laws that allowed the Sanhedrin the powers to mete out consequences like flogging at their own will and discernment.  In fact we just read that they left the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they we counted worthy of suffering for the sake of the Name of Jesus.   

Likewise did Paul.  He adhered to the law and even admonished his followers to make sure that they pay their taxes to government - this same government eventually jailed and killed Paul.  

Point to ponder:

God holds kings and governments responsible for their conduct and they will suffer the consequences of their bad governance, or they will receive the benefit of their good governance.  However, likewise God holds us responsible for being good or bad citizens, and we will suffer the consequences of being bad citizens or receive the rewards for being good citizens.  So the question is - are you and I the best citizens we can be?  Are we living according to godly principles in our conduct to the authorities God appointed over us?  

For King and Country - Ceasefire

Recreate us

Directly after encouraging us with the discussion on the different gifts and functions we are called to in the body of Christ, Paul gives us an ethical conduct statement.  Paul knew very well that we are imperfect and that in spite of being endowed with these wonderful gifts, we still need to be admonished to be aware of our own selfish and fleshly ways of doing.  He wanted us to be intentional about overcoming our 'weak points' or battlefields.  In a 12-point statement, Paul underpinned our conduct with each other with godly principles of what I would like to call a Statement of Ethical Conduct in the body of Christ.  In our day and time where corruption is rife in the world and even in the church, it would serve us well to revisit these guidelines from Paul.  If we conduct ourselves in this manner it will greatly assist us in living above reproach in a world of decaying ethics, morals and righteousness.  

Romans 12:9-21

9 [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.

10 Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. 

11 Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.

12 Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

13 Contribute to the needs of God’s people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].

16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone.

18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.

20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.

21 Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

Point to ponder

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us when we are not conducting our lives in accordance to these biblical principles, and ask His Wisdom to be able to change our attitudes and way of living around so that we can honour and glorify our God with the way we live, and move, and have our being. Let us ask Him to recreate us into His image.  

Recreate - Urban Rescue

Mutually dependent on one another

Romans 12:4-8

4 For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use,  5 So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].  6 Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;  7 [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; 8 He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.

In these verses of Romans 12, Paul teaches us that as individuals, we do not have everything we need to complete the body of Christ.  He says that we each have a different function in the body.  When he speaks about this he uses the image of a physical body to draw attention to the fact that we are in actual fact in a certain sense, created incomplete.  Of course the nose is created complete as a nose, and an ear is created complete as an ear, but the ear is not the whole body and neither is the nose.  Therefore a body has many parts that are created complete in their own sense, but they cannot function on their own.  The nose is dependent on the ear to hear and fulfill that function and so is the ear dependent on the nose to smell and breathe.  The ear cannot fulfill the function of the nose and vice versa.  

God therefore created each of us to fulfill a specific function for the body of Christ, but He also created us to lack in certain functions so that we will need the other parts for the body to be alive and doing all it was created to do.  If He created each member of your body with all the functions of the whole body, then your nose would have had feet and then it probably would have been on AWOL a long time ago.  It would have given a runny nose a whole different meaning!😉 The nose would not have needed the body and the body would not have needed the nose.  If this was true then there would never have been a possibility for the body to live and move and have its being in Christ and in unity.  

When Paul continues to mention the different gifts that God gives us according to His grace, then we can understand that we all have a different gift given to us according to God's grace.  He has created the body with all these different functions so that we do not have a choice but to work together in unity - if we would like the body of Christ to be whole and healthy and functioning the way God created it.

What sadness that we as human beings just simply cannot manage to envision a world where everyone has a part to play, even though it is a different part.  We compete as if the knee will be able to become the toe, we feel inadequate as if the thumb can take over the function of the kidney.  We are jealous because we fear that the left eye will see better than the right eye - as if both are not needed.  If we can just understand that everyone has their own unique part to play and nobody on earth can do it as well as you can.  We are all unique, yet connected to a body full of other unique parts, and we are meant to make the most beautiful music together, being mutually depended on each other.

Point to ponder

Ask Holy Spirit to show you if you secretly feel threatened or jealous by someone else in the body with a different gifting than yours.  Ask Holy Spirit if you secretly do not feel adequate when you look at some of the other members of the body of Christ.  Both these viewpoints are ungodly.  Ask Him to restore unto you the uniqueness of the identity, gift and function He has created you with before the foundation of the earth. Ask him to reveal to you which one of these gifts He has created you with, then walk in authority with it without domination, in godly confidence without pride and in joyful eagerness without disdain or feelings of incompetence.  Bless the design God placed inside of you when He dreamed up your design.  

City on a Hill - Casting Crowns  

The estimation of value

 Romans 12:3

3 For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. AMPC

In Romans 3, Paul admonishes us to not become prideful and think more of ourselves than we ought to, or have an exaggerated opinion of our own importance.  He admonishes us to remain humble and rightly estimate our own value.  Getting that right is sometimes a challenge for us.  All too often we tend to either undervalue ourselves or overvalue ourselves.  When we understand though, that we are part of a body (as he will explain to us in the rest of this chapter), we start to understand that we are all valuable.  Which part of your body has no value to you?  Well, just wait until that part is hurting or does not function the way it should anymore and then we are quick to understand the importance or value of it.  It's like that with us as human beings too.  We are all valuable - but not more valuable than your neighbour.  Status and accolades - or the lack thereof - does not give us more, or less, value in the eyes of God.  

One application of this in the context of this chapter would be to recognize that others have gifts I do not have and vice versa.  I therefore need to give them the opportunity to share their gifts with me, and I need to share my gifts with them.  In this way the body of Christ will be whole and healthy, giving and receiving from each other.    

Point to ponder

Let us ask the Lord this week to show us where there is distortion in how much, or how little, we think of ourselves.  Let us ask Him to give us a right estimation of the value we - and others - have for Him in His Kingdom.  

Lauren Daigle "You say"   

From worm to butterfly

Romans 12:1-2

12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.  2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. AMPC

Romans 12 is a well quoted verse and we most probably are very familiar with it.  However, I do wonder how long we really stop and deeply ponder these verses.  Sometimes, when we are over familiar with a particular scripture, we think we know what it says and we probably do with our heads, but do we really KNOW what it says with our hearts?  

When Paul admonishes us to give our bodies as a living sacrifice - he calls it our reasonable service and spiritual worship.  Do we even think about the fact that our bodies and what we do with it - or do not do with it - is spiritual worship?   Definitely food for thought...

In verse 2 Paul explains to us that we should not be conformed to this world, but that we should be transformed by the entire renewal of our minds, so that we can know what the perfect will of God is.  We so often ask ourselves and others the question, what is the will of God for us in this or that situation.  I think when we ask that question we somehow expect some hyper supernatural revelation (which of course God gives to us in many instances), but after nearly 35 years of walking with God, I also see in this verse that Paul teaches us that the more we are transformed into the image of Christ and the less we are conformed into the image of the world, the more we will know what the will of God is for us.  It's sort of a given.  We get to know Him and His character and then there are just moments where we will know it is not the will of God for me to drink that beer or cheat on my wife or be impatient with my child.  I just know that simply because I know it is not part of God's character, and I have discovered His character, and I am not conforming to the world anymore but I am being transformed into the image of Christ.  The word transformation really means a metamorphosis - the process during which a worm becomes a butterfly.  It is an utterly complete transformation to the extent that the worm is not recognizable anymore.  That is the kind of transformation God has in mind here.  There is a stage in this transformation where the worm has been completely dissolved into a kind of soup and out of that the butterfly develops.  You see the worm had to die to itself completely before the butterfly could be born and develop and mature.  So it is with us.  We need to die to self so that we can develop into the image of Christ.  

Look at this short video of this process of metamorphosis as it just illustrates this process so beautifully..

From worm to butterfly  

 

Point to ponder

 Let us ask Jesus to show us this week which area of our mind is not entirely renewed yet and allow Him to then transform that area into the image of Christ.  

I surrender

Found by those who do not seek Him

Romans 10:20-21

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek Me; I have shown (revealed) Myself to those who did not [consciously] ask for Me.

21 But of Israel he says, All day long I have stretched out My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and self-willed [to a faultfinding, contrary, and contradicting people].

We are largely a gentile nation.  So when Isaiah boldly said that God has been found by those who did not seek Him, and that God has revealed Himself to those who did not consciously ask for Him - He is referring to us.  Gentile believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Gentiles who came into the Kingdom on grounds of grace and faith in Jesus.  Think about this for a moment.  Gentiles, who had no background nor concept of a God of love, Who chooses to take the sin of man upon Himself, instead of letting man die in his own sin.  Mostly this is a complete foreign idea to any gentile.  However, 2000 years later, I am afraid that what is increasingly true of the so-called Christian gentile nations, that used to be found by Him Whom we did not seek, is rather the same thing as what verse 21 says of Israel.  We have come to a place in history where God is saying "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and self-willed [to a faultfinding, contrary, and contradicting people]. This is what we have become.  A faultfinding, disobedient and self-willed people. There is but one hope for us:  Humble ourselves before God, repent and ask for His mercy.  Return to God with all our hearts, minds and strength.  Lay down our self-willed-ness and yield our prideful hardened hearts before Him in humility and in faith that He loves us so much, that He is still the God Who will let Himself be found by a people that do not seek Him.  That He still will reveal Himself to a people that do not consciously ask for Him!

Point to ponder

Am I an unyielding, disobedient and self-willed human being?  Then let me humble myself and ask the God of the Bible to reveal Himself to me, even though I am not seeking Him as I should and even though I am faultfinding and contrary to God.  

How great is our God - Chris Tomlin (world edition)

Without speech their voice go out... have you heard?

 Romans 10:14-17

14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?

15 And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!]

16 But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?

17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

In these verses Paul says it is necessary to hear the Word of God and thus for someone to preach, or bring the good news, but sadly in the same breath He quotes Isaiah, who asks the question of the Lord, saying, "who has believed what he has heard from us"?  I can hear Isaiah's despondence while he was  preaching and bringing the Word of God to the people - they mostly did not listen or had faith in God. Paul then continues in verse 18 with the question, "Have they not heard?" and then he answers that question by quoting Ps 19

Romans 10:18

18 But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God’s message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.
2 Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.
4 Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world.

Paul's point is that even without words, nature declares the glory of God. We should be able to look at nature, the heavens, and see, recognize and believe in God because without human words they cannot do anything less than declare the glory of their Creator. Every starlit sky, every sunrise and sunset, the vast expanse of our universe - speaks of our almighty, all-powerful, omniscient God.

In other words we have no excuse, we have the heavens declaring the glory of God, we have the Word, the prophets and the good news - this message has gone out to all the earth in different ways and in different keys of music.  Do you believe? How much evidence will be enough evidence to believe?  What kind of evidence do you need?  There's plenty of evidence - just ask God to open your spiritual senses, so that you will see, hear, feel, taste, smell the greatness of our Lord God, Jesus Christ.  

Creation Calls - Brian Doerksen  

You will be saved

There are certain scriptures in the Bible which I think need no explanation and one cannot say it better or in easier words than how it is written.  The following is such a scripture - it just says it all. Lets just read it this week until it drops from the head to the heart.  

Romans 10:8b-11 NKJ

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

You will be saved

No shame or disappointment

Romans 9 is one of the chapters in the Bible that can easily be misunderstood if we do not read it in its context. I do not want to profess that I have a perfect interpretation or understanding of what Paul is saying in this Chapter, so I am just sharing what makes sense to me if I keep context in mind. I do think that Paul’s letters have to be read as a whole and in the context that He and his readers found themselves in at the time of writing the letter.

In verse 1 Paul tells us who he is addressing in this chapter – His fellow countrymen – in other words the Jews. We need to keep in mind that Paul has never been to Rome when he is writing this letter and therefore, He needs to explain the gospel to both Jew and Gentile, as both these groups are represented in Rome. In Chapter 9-11 he turns his focus slightly more to the Jewish reader. He is speaking to a nation that believes they are the chosen nation and keeps the law to the extent that they believe that they are saved because of that. Paul explains to them that they – even if they are chosen and keep the law – still needs faith in the completed work of the Messiah to be saved. Likewise, are the Gentiles saved by grace through faith.

When Paul appeals to the sovereignty of God and makes his infamous ‘What if” statements he is purposefully creating doubt in the mindset of the day which was the belief that they are saved because they have been chosen and keep the law. The doubt he creates here is meant to open the door for his fellow countrymen to start to consider their need for faith in a Messiah that was crucified and resurrected. I don’t think His ‘what if’ statements are at all meant to say that God chooses some to be saved and others not to be saved. I really think God’s heart is for everyone to be saved, and that we have free will to respond to His love for us.

Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:4-6

4 (God our saviour) Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

5 For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time.

This is but one of the verses that confirms the fact that God’s heart is for all people to be saved and He gives everyone an opportunity to be saved. I believe the explanation of what Paul was saying in the whole Chapter is found in the following verses 30-33 of Chapter 9:

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness [who did not seek salvation by right relationship to God] have attained it by faith [a righteousness imputed by God, based on and produced by faith],

31 Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law [for the securing] of righteousness (right standing with God), actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law.

32 For what reason? Because [they pursued it] not through faith, relying [instead] on the merit of their works [they did not depend on faith but on what they could do]. They have stumbled over the Stumbling Stone.

33 As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will make them fall; but he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations.

Both Jew and Gentile are saved through grace by faith. He who believes in Him shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations...

Point to ponder:

What have you chosen to believe about Jesus the Son of God?

Lets worship with Kathryn Scott that the King has chosen us when we were still sinners

The Spirit of Adoption

Romans 8:15-17

15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!  16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.  17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.

The Holy Spirit is given many names in the Bible.  He is called the Spirit of Truth, our Advocate, Helper, Companion and many more.  The Spirit of Adoption is one that I have only recently discovered.  I suppose that I must have read this scripture before, but I certainly did not pay enough attention to it.  Adoption is a legal process whereby an adult has to make an active choice to adopt a child.  That adult does not have to adopt the child, normally they do so because they really want to.  When the process is finalized, that child is regarded to be the legal child of that adult in exactly the same manner as a naturally born child.  They are fellow heirs. No difference. The child is legally not regarded as illegitimate or an orphan, and has the same rights and responsibilities as a naturally born child.  

Friends of mine adopted a little boy. The day the adoption was finalized, they explained to him that there is a law written that says nobody can take him away from them anymore and they cannot give him back either.  He is now theirs forever.  I think this is what God says to us.  He says there is a law written in heaven that says we are His and nobody can take us away from Him.  This scripture is written from God's perspective.  If He has adopted us we are regarded to be 100% legal, legitimate children of God in every way and aspect necessary and possible.  In God's grace though He knows that we  - like many adopted children - are struggling to receive that reality into our spirits.  From our human perspective we often continue to see ourselves as illegitimate, orphaned or add-on family members of God.  We need a new perspective.  We need to accept and receive the fact that we are heirs of God just as Christ is.  Our human hearts are just not able to do this on our own.  Therefore, God gives us the Spirit of Adoption.  He does not give us a spirit of bondage to fear but the Spirit of Adoption by whom we can cry out "Abba Father". 

Point to ponder this week:

Have that conversation with God - the one about exchanging the orphan spirit, the spirit of bondage to fear and illegitimacy, with the Spirit of Adoption. 

Our song of the week celebrates the safety that this Adoption into the family of God brings for us

Safe - Alisa Turner