Light for the Shadows

Sharon Hazel

Copyright © 2020 Sharon Hazel All rights reserved ISBN – 9798646409806 No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Unless otherwise indicated, Biblical quotations are from the New International Version Study Bible. Copyright © 1985,1995,2002,2008,2011 published by Zondervan. Other books by Sharon Hazel: Moving On, People Watching. 2020 Snapshots of Service, People Watching. 2019 website address: limitless-horizon.com

Accepted

Accept one another, then just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15:7 Everyone wants to be accepted, to know that they have the approval of other people. It is quite natural to have that desire within us, for we were created to be relational, to connect with God and with each other. God’s word tells us that we are accepted by Christ Jesus. He knows us fully, better than anyone else, better even than we know ourselves. He accepted each one of us while we were still sinners¹, not just accepted on some superficial level, but accepted to the point of being willing to give his life for us. So our acceptance by him is not dependent on our behaviour but fully dependent on the grace of God. As we acknowledge that Jesus accepts us, even with all our flaws and weaknesses, we can accept ourselves, as we are, and then become willing to accept one another.

We begin to realise that in fact other people, although quite different to us, are equally accepted by God. People of all nationalities, backgrounds, education and social status, very different to one another, yet able to accept each other. It is the knowledge of God’s love, which unites us, that is our common bond. What does it do then this acceptance of each other? This unexpected unity, of dissimilar people, brings praise to God as it is the accomplishment of his purpose². ¹Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ²John 17:21 Jesus Prays for All Believers – that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Blessed For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile

the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.

Romans 10:12 ‘Blessed’ is a word that is currently coming back into use. You see it on people’s status on social media when they have had ‘the perfect day’. They’ve been out enjoying themselves, good company, good food, maybe even good weather, everything has gone right! Then the comment appears ‘feeling blessed’. But the biblical use of the word blessed is far more than an external based happiness - it is an inner sense of peace and wellbeing. This comes when we are reconciled to God, when we know who we are by faith in Christ Jesus. We call out to God, and he answers. His word promises that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved – we receive the free gift of salvation. We are richly blessed, to know God’s love personally, to know we are accepted into the family of God and to know the victory that Jesus brings to us, the gift of eternal life!

Child of God See what great love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1 The apostle John, states that to those who receive Jesus, who believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God. It is a gift, by God’s grace we are sons and daughters of the King of kings and Lord of lords and heirs of his kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. He goes on to say that now we are children of God, but what we will be has not yet been made known. Right now, we are a work in progress, slowly we are being changed. We are being made more like Jesus and one day we will be with him and then we will be like him! This is our hope for the future. Reflect on your value and worth to God, that He loves you so much, that He sent his only son Jesus as your personal Saviour.

Delight

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalm 149:4. There are many psalms where we are encouraged to delight ourselves in the Lord¹, but did you know that God takes delight in you? This psalm is one of praise, when the people are rejoicing and being glad in God their King. Then the psalmist makes a surprising declaration that God’s response to heartfelt worship is one of pleasure. God takes delight in us, his people. So what does it mean to delight in someone? It is when you want to spend time with them, you want to be close because you enjoy watching the things that they do and listening to what they say. You celebrate and laugh with them at the successful and funny moments in their lives. You are encouraging them and cheering them on. What an amazing thought that God delights in us, his people! ¹Psalm 37:4 – Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart

Ever-present

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 This psalm is full of strong imagery that even in the most severe and testing times we do not have to rely on our own strength. We can trust in God who is ever-present with us. So often in times of extreme hardship or difficulty we can feel alone and cry out accusingly, God, where are you? He knows our hearts and so we can engage in honest conversation, expressing honestly our feelings, seeking and questioning, how long must I struggle with my thoughts¹? Until that moment, with a glimmer of hope, the answer comes that we can trust in God’s unfailing love. Whether we are aware of his presence, or not, does not change the truth of his word and so we declare with faith that he is with us. Not relying on our shifting, changing feelings but relying on God’s unshifting, unchanging word. ¹Psalm 13

Friend

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15: 13-14

What do you expect from a friend? Usually you will have similar interests and spend time talking to each other, sharing your thoughts and feelings and enjoying each other’s company. A true friend will accept you during the good and bad times and will be honest with you. They will be willing to speak words to you, that you may not always like, which are ultimately for your good. The one who will show tough love and not always tell you what you want to hear but what you need to know. A true friend will be watching out for you, to protect and support you. They will defend you, as they’ve got your back! Those are high expectations of friendship – and we can rarely live up to those ideals. There is, however, one true friend who will never let us down and that is Jesus. What a privilege to have such a trusted friend that we can rely and depend upon.

Good Gifts

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down

from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Every good gift in our life is from God! Sometimes our vision becomes clouded with our own concerns and we ‘forget’ all that God has done for us and all that he provides and blesses us with. Sometimes we need that prompt to remember all of God’s goodness to us. The gift can be something quite simple on a practical level, an unexpected kindness that has been shown to us, or something good that has happened to us. Often even undeserved and then we recognise that the source of the gift is our Heavenly Father. We thank him from our hearts. Then there are the spiritual gifts that God gives us, the gift of salvation, the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus¹, and the gift of the Holy Spirit². Sometimes we need that reminder, of where would

we be without Jesus our Saviour! We recognise that it is by grace we are saved, and we are eternally thankful! There are many other gifts, that God gives us to help through the difficult times in our lives, such as the strength to keep walking and the wisdom³ to stay on the right path. This is not just extra knowledge but is the understanding and practical insight we need to deal with tough situations. God’s word promises that he gives generously to all without finding fault. We are to ask and believe that when we do, we will receive. There are times when we need to persevere, and just press on, keep on asking, seeking and knocking – trusting in the goodness of God and his promises to us. ¹Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ²Acts 2: 38 - Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Helper

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,

because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me? Hebrews 13:5-6

What an amazing promise! The Lord is our helper, the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth, Creator of all that there is has promised never to leave us. There is an old hymn¹ that explores the theme that God has not promised that we will always have blue skies, in other words, a trouble-free life. But what he has promised is that he will always be there with us, providing the strength that we need for each day, his help, his grace enabling us through the trial. This can give us a quiet confidence, that we are able to cope with whatever may come against us. This is not self-confidence, but confidence in God based on the promises of his word. There is no place for fear as we know we can depend on him. ¹God has not promised - Annie Johnson Flint

Immeasurably

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power

that is at work within us Ephesians 3:20

Immeasurably means that something is too vast to quantify, it is too large or extensive to measure, it goes beyond what we can count. So no matter how big our imagination or how big our request, what God can do is so much bigger! This is according to his power that is at work within us – often the hardest or most difficult thing for us to picture is that we can be different, we can change! Yet that is what God promises us – when we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, we become a new creation. There can be times when we struggle to do the right thing, to be the person we want to be, but this prayer¹ is all about the process, the transforming power of God’s love. It is for his glory that we are being changed, as we grasp the love of Christ for us, his immeasurable love. Amazing God! ¹Ephesians 3:14-21

Joy

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

Nehemiah was a man who started out as a butler in the palace of the king of Babylon and ended up as a builder in Jerusalem. He spoke these words to the people of the city after they had completed a major building task with the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem. They had united and worked together against great opposition, and they all recognised that the work had been completed with the help of God. The unity and sense of God’s presence that came with the success of this project also brought remorse for their past failings. They and their ancestors had been unfaithful to God. Nehemiah, however, instructs them to go and enjoy a feast, to celebrate to the Lord and remember what God had done for them and to share their blessings with others. There are times when we need to leave our past failings behind and encourage and strengthen

ourselves, by focusing, and remembering what God has done for us and to rejoice in him. Our remembrance is a source of strength that we can draw on, which will bring joy, to our spirit. A joy that is not dependant on our current external circumstances, it can bubble up from deep within us transcending the season or situation that we are in. The joy of the Lord is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, that develops within us as we rejoice. The more we rejoice in the Lord, remembering his love and faithfulness to us, the more joy we receive and the more strength we have!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:

Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Know

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10 Have you heard people say: "Nobody knows what I'm going through?" That is not true for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour – we have a God who identifies with us. His word tells us quite clearly that he watches over our life¹, he knows our coming and going, he knows the way that we take. The Lord is a God who knows - by him, all deeds are weighed². God knows our hearts³, even the secrets of our hearts⁴, for he knows all human plans⁵. He knows how we are formed⁶ because he is our Creator. He knows those who are his⁷ and he knows exactly what we need before we ask him⁸! ¹Psalm 121:7-8 – The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch

over your coming and going both now and forevermore. ²1 Samuel 2:3 – for the Lord is a God who knows and by him deeds are weighed. ³Luke 16:15 – You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. ⁴Psalm 44:20-21 – If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? ⁵Psalm 94:11 – The Lord knows all human plans… ⁶Psalm 103:13-14 – As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. ⁷2 Timothy 2:19 – Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” …. ⁸Matthew 6: 8 – Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Light

Jesus said: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life. John 8:12

Jesus has promised that those who choose to follow him will have light. He brings spiritual illumination, into our lives bringing hope for the future. He is the light of life – the only way to receive forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life. He provides the light that we need each day, for our path, as we choose to follow him. There may be times, though, when we encounter obstacles on our path, which cast shadows and we cannot see clearly ahead. Remember, though, that shadows only exist in the presence of light. If we get caught or stuck in the shadows, we realise that more than ever we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. We remember his promise that we will never walk in darkness, there will be enough light for the next step. Sometimes that is all we need, one step and then the next as we follow the Lord.

Made

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3

We are created by design, and not by chance and part of that design is to relate to our Heavenly Father. He made us in his image, in his likeness, thereby showing our special relationship to him – we are his people. God walked in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day, enjoying fellowship with Adam and Eve. That always has been and still is God’s intention for his creation, to fellowship with his people. Each one of us is uniquely made by God, there are no mistakes with our Creator, we are His workmanship.

For you created my innermost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14

You are an original, not an imitation. Sometimes people jokingly say: ‘they broke the mould when they made you!’ It’s a way of saying you are different and that you don’t behave or respond in the same way to everyone else. There is truth in that comment for each one of us – uniquely made by God. Do not try to be someone else, to fit in with other people’s aspirations or expectations, but instead look to grow into the fullness of who God intends you to be!

Father God I am loved by you,

I am precious in your sight.

All of my quirks and foibles,

made by you, so that’s alright!

Name

rejoice that your names are written in heaven

Luke 10: 20b The Bible speaks of the Book of Life which is a heavenly register of all those who will inherit eternal life. Our names are entered into the Lamb’s Book of Life when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. There is no other qualification required. There is rejoicing in heaven when we repent, when we turn away from all our sin and accept Jesus as Lord. How much more then should we rejoice, that we have this assurance of our salvation. The context of this command to rejoice, is in the story of the seventy-two disciples that Jesus sent ahead, to proclaim the good news in the towns that he would visit. They returned to Jesus rejoicing, they were amazed at the power of God at work and the authority that Jesus had given them. They reported to the Lord that ‘even the demons submit to us in your name.’ Jesus spoke these words then, in a way, as a caution. We have a liking for the spectacular, we

are impressed by signs and wonders, the visible demonstration of God’s power. The truth that Jesus is highlighting is that there is nothing more wonderful or spectacular than God’s saving grace! Rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins, rejoice in our salvation, in the gift of eternal life. Rejoice that our names are in the Book of Life! Think on this – Jesus knows our name and, as we begin to know him, we learn that his name is the name above all others, the name in which we can put our full trust!

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord,

have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

Overcome

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world,

even our faith. Who is that overcomes the world?

Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:3-5 In Christ Jesus we can overcome difficulties and problems. You may be feeling overwhelmed and disagree, thinking that your situation is too complicated, too many things have gone wrong and you can’t see how it can be put right again, but remember that Jesus has overcome the world. The works of the enemy - sin, death and hell are defeated. Their power over your life is broken in Jesus Name! He came to save the lost and there is nothing too broken or too damaged that he cannot restore.

We too are overcomers by our faith in Jesus who gave his life for us to redeem us from sin. There is a day to day overcoming the world in Christian living. That can be gaining victory over a sinful pattern of life - and those battles can be very real and tough. Some are obvious and are seen by others while there are also other battles, no less real, which are hidden and unseen. The greatest victories can be those that are just between you and God, but equally powerful when overcome to those that are witnessed and applauded by other people. Think on this –

Jesus said: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to

the full. John 10:10

Keep on overcoming in your battle, for the war has already been won for you!

Peace

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11 Jesus offers us a sense of total well-being, a deep inner peace which is real and can always be present. It is not dependant on being in a particular place, or in having ‘everything together’ because it is not dependant on outward circumstances. Jesus demonstrated this when one day a crowd was gathering around him and he told his disciples, to get into a boat, that they would cross over to the other side of the lake¹. They set sail and Jesus fell asleep in the bottom of the boat. Soon a sudden and strong wind came down on the lake, it became so stormy that the boat was in danger of being swamped. The disciples were afraid, but Jesus continued to sleep. They woke him up, annoyed by Jesus apparent lack of concern, and Jesus got up and spoke to the wind and the waves, commanding them to be still. The storm subsided and all was calm and peaceful. Jesus then challenged his disciples about their lack of faith – he had told them where they were going, over to

the other side of the lake. Jesus was resting, at peace with the decision, he went where the Father prompted him, he was doing the Father’s will. The disciples also should have had peace – even in the middle of the storm – that what God commands, he will accomplish. The enemy delights in placing doubts, fears and anxiety over any number of different issues in our minds but we can bring these things to the Lord with prayer, petition and thanksgiving. When we know God’s love and believe in his promises to us, we can be strong in his peace. Not as the world gives, temporary, fleeting, depending on external circumstances and all being right, but an inner strength and peace, even in the middle of a storm!

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in

Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

¹Matthew 8:18 - 27 Jesus calms a storm.

Quiet

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

Psalm 23:2 God knows exactly what we need, and when we need it – there may come a time when we need to be ‘led beside quiet waters.’ We have grown weary and need to be spiritually refreshed. We need time set aside from the stormy battles of life and a period of tranquillity. The Holy Spirit is our living water, the water of life that equips, enables and empowers us for our journey of faith. Sometimes we are led to those quiet waters to quieten our minds, to still our anxious thoughts; and to quieten our hearts, our fluctuating emotions. If we are willing to be led to the quiet waters, to give that time to God, there we can experience healing and refreshing from the living water, the Holy Spirit.

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,

rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who

believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given,

since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37 - 39

Then as we are refreshed, we can share what we have received, we can become a channel of God’s grace.

Righteous

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ

to all who believe. Romans 3:22

What does righteous mean? The dictionary definition is someone who is morally right, who acts in accordance with divine or moral law, who is ethical in their conduct and free from guilt or sin. In a biblical sense it means quite simply that we are all those things and therefore we are made right with God – impossible to achieve you might say? The good news is that God has provided a righteousness for mankind! This righteousness is a gift, freely given – not by our merit or our effort but by the grace of God. We can never be good enough, we can never do enough, to be declared righteous in God’s sight. It is impossible to gain through observing the law. Thank God that now, apart from the law, a righteousness from God has been made known – which is through faith in Jesus Christ. It is given to those who accept God’s promise that when we believe in Christ as Lord and

Saviour, we will be forgiven for all our sins and saved from death to eternal life. This gift is given to all with no limit, no discrimination, no distinction between nationality, status, gender or age - all are equally dependent on the mercy of God.

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles,

who did not pursue righteousness have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,

have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith

but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

Romans 9:30-32 If we start to rely on our own ‘righteousness’, if we think that our works or good behaviour will make us acceptable to God, we will stumble and fall. Of course as a deeply loved child of God we want our behaviour to reflect our position but thank God we do not have to rely on our behaviour to be a deeply loved child of God. We are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, the gift of God to all those who believe!

Steadfast

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you

strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

Steadfast is not a commonly used word now or possibly even regarded as a good or sought-after characteristic. Could it possibly be misinterpreted as ‘steady’ and equated with ‘boring’. Do we want more dynamic or flamboyant characteristics today, and if so, what does that stay about our values? In scripture, which offers a counterculture, steadfast is an essential quality. To be steadfast in faith is our goal, as it epitomises being strong, firm and unwavering. It is a promise and a blessing! A gift from God that he works in our character as we place our trust in him.

You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Transformation

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve

what God’s will is – his good pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 ‘Be transformed’ implies that there is possibility for change! The transformation starts when we first make that decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. At that moment we are reborn, we become a new creation – we can leave our past behind, washed and cleansed from all our sins, we have a fresh start. But it doesn't stop there our transformation is an ongoing process, God hasn't finished with us yet! He is shaping us into the likeness of Jesus, as we are included in the family of God, we become like our heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus. This ongoing transformation occurs as we renew our minds through reading God’s word and allow the

Holy Spirit to work within us. The Holy Spirit renews our minds, by replacing all the negative thought processes that life has laid on us, with the word of God. He teaches us who we are in Jesus and who he is to us, how God thinks about us and how he acts towards us. We are transformed as we come to know our true identity. Think on this – These reflections are about strengthening ourselves by declaring the truth of God’s word over our lives. The Bible teaches us that our mind informs our heart, and our heart sets our behaviour. Keep renewing your mind and you will be transformed!

Unfailing

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Psalm 130:7 In this psalm the writer begins with a cry to God, a plea that he will hear his voice. It is a cry ‘out of the depths.’ Those dark despairing places, where we feel the desperate need for help. He asks, that God will listen to his cry for mercy. God’s mercy is undeserved forgiveness and blessing! The psalmist is trusting in the forgiveness of God and he is waiting. While he is waiting, he puts his hope in the word of the Lord. He is waiting in expectation! His hope is in God’s covenant promises. His confidence is in God’s unfailing love. The word that is used here for ‘love’ is the Hebrew word ‘hesed’ which can be translated as mercy or loving kindness. It is not just a feeling, far more than that, it is an action. It describes God’s undeserved kindness, generosity and loyalty to us.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,

says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

God’s unfailing love is everlasting! That is how God loves! And the psalmist goes on to say that with God there is full redemption – which has been fulfilled for us in Christ Jesus. Who not only rescues us from all our troubles, but rescues us from the consequences of our sin, by his death on the cross. Think on this - Try replacing ‘Israel’ with your name……and declare your hope in God’s abundant unfailing love towards you, demonstrated by his gift of Jesus and to all who believe in him, eternal life!

Victory

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

To those who believe in him Jesus brings victory over the condemnation of sin. We are forgiven and set free from fear - for death, the final battle, has been defeated. We are promised the gift of eternal life, that is the victory, that Jesus has accomplished for us. Jesus is the victor and so we can be assured that whatever battles we face, ultimately Jesus has already gained the victory for us!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine

or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Jesus is Victor

O, Lord, with you we can withstand, storms raging around.

Power subdued in your presence, peace in you is found.

O, Lord, with you we overcome,

obstacles ahead. Size diminished in your presence,

stepping-stones instead.

O, Lord, with you is victory, death is defeated.

Fear now banished in your presence, your work, completed.

Word

It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes

from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

We all know that we need food to survive, and bread is one of the popular staple foods, it symbolises here the food that we need every day. Food sustains our life, but it does not guarantee life. There can be times of shortage and desperate need when we depend on God’s provision to supply our daily bread¹ - our needs for that day. He is faithful, he will provide out of his riches all that we need! Our lives, however, are not simply dependent on physical and material provision and nourishment – they are not enough! If they were then the richest people in this world would be the happiest people and we know that they are not. The press and social media today are full of tragic stories of those who appear to have it all but who are in fact desperately unhappy.

We are spiritual beings and we need spiritual nourishment. Without it we may look healthy, but appearances can be deceptive, inside we are withering away. It is when we depend daily on the word of God to spiritually nourish us, that we are satisfied and fulfilled. It is only by depending daily on the word of God that we find our true purpose¹, the right direction², real freedom³ and an inner joy⁴ in life. ¹Isaiah 55:11 – so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. ²Psalm 119:133 – Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. ³Psalm 119:45 – I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. ⁴Psalm 19:8 – The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

eXample! 😉 I have set you an example

that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:15

Jesus is, and always will be, our example. Do you remember the logo that became popular on wristbands and other merchandise, WWJD? A challenge to reflect on, What Would Jesus Do, his example to us when we are uncertain on how to respond or what to do in any situation. Jesus knew his identity, who he was, and so he had nothing to prove. He was able to serve others and on one occasion, even to take the job that would have been regarded as the lowest and most menial task, by washing the disciples’ feet. He didn’t have to impress anyone, he didn’t have to promote himself, he didn’t have to exert his authority over anyone or push anyone else aside. He was secure in who he was and so was able to show love and consideration for others, putting other people’s needs before his own.

He calls us to follow his way of love and service, often at odds with todays values and ethics, to consider one another.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:5 Jesus’ example to us is rooted in the love of God, we are called to imitate him. Not as a fake, cheap imitation, but being made into his likeness, transformed into the image of Jesus – empowered by the Holy Spirit!

Yes

All of God’s good promises to us are fulfilled in Jesus,

they become YES and AMEN (so be it!) For no matter how many promises God has made,

they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’

is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

A promise is a declaration or assurance of something

good, that is going to happen or that will be done.

There is an assurance here in these verses that we

can rely and depend completely on God’s word, on

his good promises towards us.

All of God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus – He is the

Yes to every one of them. We only need to accept

them for ourselves.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

Zion

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs;

the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5-7

The concept of life being a journey is a popular one and applied now to many of life’s experiences. The journey of self-discovery where you acquire new skills and knowledge. The most important factor on your journey, though, is your destination. In the Old Testament Mount Zion is the hill on which the city of Jerusalem is built, but the term Zion is often used to describe the city itself. When the people of Israel were exiled from Jerusalem the psalmists expressed their longing for Zion. The city which was at the centre of their worship of the Lord, which housed the Temple, the place of God’s presence.

Now we don’t have to take a pilgrimage to Zion, to Jerusalem, to worship the Lord or to experience his presence, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. For each one of us the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, is a deposit or a pledge, guaranteeing what is to come. One day we will come to the eternal Zion, God’s dwelling, and his presence in all its fullness.

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God,

the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands

of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn,

whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all,

to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant…

Hebrews 12:22-24 We will then come to our destination, the mountain of joy! One day we will be with Jesus for eternity - that is the promise¹ for all who choose to believe in him and to follow him throughout this life. ¹John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life