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