The Real Rest ‘For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his’ (Hebrews 4:10) There is an amazing emphasis on ‘rest’ in the New Testament. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews is trying to correct Christians who began well in their Christian faith but
Slow Down I’m convinced our go-go-go lifestyle is damaging to our spiritual health. But wasn’t Jesus busy? Doesn’t the New Testament describe a time when there was so much happening “they did not even have a chance to eat” (Mark 6:31)? While that’s true, this is the only time any of the gospels describe such
Be Prepared We evacuated our home the day before the flood hit in January 2011. The media were warning of the probable coming disaster. That morning I was struck how both the daily New Testament reading and a daily devotional book I was reading both emphasised the need to bring souls to Christ. The heart
Persevere The parable of the four soils in Luke 8:4-15 centres in the need to hear ‘the word in an honest and good heart and hold it fast and bear fruit with perseverance’ (v.14). Three of the four soils illustrate what can hinder it being received. God has chosen to communicate with us through His
Safety in the Storm Being in the prayer meeting on Tuesday night (early February 2011) was a unique experience. Praying against Cyclone Yasi was unlike any similar experience I’ve known. I felt like standing in an army of a few hundred and facing an opposing army of a hundred thousand. But even with such staggering
Known as Thankful Are you known as a thankful person? I didn’t ask you if you think you are a thankful person, but if you’re known as a thankful person. There’s a big difference, isn’t there? The more we think of ourselves as being unworthily blessed, the more likely we are to be thankful. So
Angels In the Old Testament the mercy seat sat on top of the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. The High Priest was only permitted to see it once a year on the Day of Atonement. He had to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice onto its top. Under
The Temple The Tabernacle in the Old Testament was often called the “Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 40:2,6,7). For the first time ever, God was going to dwell in the midst of a people He had sovereignly chosen – Israel. He could have stayed aloof from them. In fact they probably would have expected that. But
Restoration Earlier on the night when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He had to tell Peter that he too would betray Him. Jesus then told Peter ‘But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail’ (Luke 22:32). Peter’s denial was not the end of his walk with God. God’s restoring grace
God’s Boundaries We can get very concerned at the thought of God doing something unexpected. As Christians who read and love the Bible, we like to think we’ve worked out all the ways God can and will work. There is obvious safety in that. Without some boundaries we have no way of evaluating what is
