Word For You Today NZ

Your dream is still alive

‘The spirit of Jacob their father revived.’ Genesis 45:27 NKJV

Sometimes we go through times when the dream God’s given us seems impossible and dead. But here’s hope for those times: ‘And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But…when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived’ (Genesis 45:26-27 NKJV). For years Jacob believed his son, the dreamer, was dead. But it was a lie. In his old age, wagons loaded with riches came to carry him back to see his son who was now the highest-ranking official of Egypt.

When Jacob first heard it, ‘he did not believe them’ (Genesis 45:26 NKJV). When we’ve lived in defeat and discouragement for years, it’s hard to imagine victory. But that’s no problem to God, because he’s patient. He’ll keep working with us. He’ll show his grace and goodness in such a way that we’ll start to trust him again.

Let’s not believe that our dream is dead and will never be fulfilled; nor that we are unqualified to fulfil it: God’s word confirms that the unexpected can happen: ‘Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams your young men will see visions’ (Joel 2:28 NIV).

So what now? God is the giver of dreams, and he doesn’t just give them, he resurrects them and empowers you to fulfil them. It’s not too late. Don’t give up hope. What God did for Jacob, he can do for you.

Flourishing (3)

‘My death will produce…a plentiful harvest of new lives.’ John 12:25 TLB

God created us to flourish:

(1) Our relationships. In relationships of any kind, our languishing self may be undisciplined and careless with words, it reverts to sarcasm, gossip and flattery, it can isolate, dominate, attack, then back off. On the other hand, our flourishing self looks for ways to bless others, is quick to admit mistakes and freely forgives.

(2) Our experiences. God wants us to grow and be used in his plans to redeem his world: that’s why he changes our experiences. Our flourishing self has a desire to contribute, even if we’re not sure what that calling is yet.

Our inner longings to reach our potential, and embrace what we were created for, is a tiny echo of God’s own longing to begin his new creation. The rabbis described this as tikkun olam – to repair the world. If we focus only on ourselves, life is as small as a grain of wheat. But when we give our lives to God, the grain is planted in rich soil and grows into part of a much bigger project. Jesus said: ‘My death will produce many new wheat kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. If you love your life down here – you will lose it. If you despise your life down here – you will exchange it for eternal glory’ (John 12:24-25 TLB).

So what now? When you give your relationships and experiences to God, he will create a flourishing life for you.

Flourishing (2)

‘They will flourish in the courts of our God.’ Psalm 92:13 NIV

Inside all of us is a battle between our flourishing self – who we’re created to be – and our languishing self, that’s often discontent, is drawn to unhealthy habits, tends to drift in the direction of fear and limitation, takes a while to learn lessons, and thinks about itself most of the time. Flourishing (or thriving, blossoming, prospering) takes place in these places:

(1) In our spirit. We’re receiving ideas and energy from an outside source. We’re being empowered by God’s Spirit, literally being ‘God breathed’. God breathes into us, and we come alive and feel our purpose for living.

(2) In our mind. Our thoughts become marked by joy and peace. We have a desire to love and to learn. We’re literally being transformed by ‘the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2 NIV).

(3) In our time. We’ll wake each day with a sense of excitement. We’ll realise we’re never too young to flourish. Mozart was composing brilliant music when he was five. Paul told Timothy, ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young’ (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). Grandma Moses was 69 when she took up painting, and artist Marc Chagall did some of his best work in his nineties.

It is very easy for human beings to languish. But when we choose to embrace what God created us to be, we will always flourish.

So what now? You’re never too young or old to live your life. So allow God’s Spirit to help you flourish for him.

Flourishing (1)

'May your roots go down deep.' Ephesians 3:17 TLB

It’s helpful to look at the qualities of a palm tree when we need some inspiration.

(1) We can cut a palm tree but we can't kill it. The minerals and nutrients most trees need to survive are found just below the bark, so, when they’re cut, they die. But not the palm tree. Its life comes from within, so it flourishes, even under attack. This Scripture is so encouraging: 'We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored' (2 Corinthians 4:7 CEV). Even though the earthen vessel (us) on the outside can be damaged and wounded, God’s treasure inside is secure and beyond the enemy's reach!

(2) A palm tree will bend but not break. The stronger the wind, the further a palm tree bends - sometimes all the way to the ground. But when the storm ceases, it straightens up and is actually stronger in the place where it bent. This is a picture for us to keep in mind: we were made to bend, but not break, because God’s 'glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything' (Colossians 1:11 CEV).

(3) The palm tree’s depth is always greater than its height. The roots of palm tree's roots spread down and as far out as they can in search of water. God’s word says, 'May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvellous love' (Ephesians 3:17 TLB).

So what now? Work on your personal connection to God and, like a palm tree, you’ll flourish, deeply rooted, spiritually watered and standing strong!

Stronger through failure

‘As he was speaking, the rooster crowed.’ Luke 22:60 NIV

The Bible says: ‘As [Peter] was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly’ (Luke 22:60-62 NIV). Before God trusts us with a great assignment, he may permit Satan to test us. That's because it reveals our weaknesses and helps us become stronger in those areas. God may allow us to fail in a smaller sphere to keep us from messing up in a larger one with more harmful circumstances. One of the wonders of the Christian life is that Jesus specialises in taking rubble and building something beautiful out of it.

Peter promised never to deny Jesus, but by the time the rooster crowed, he had already done it three times. Repeated failure! Many of us can relate to that! Maybe we said we wouldn’t lose our tempers, but we did. Cock-a-doodle-doo! We said we wouldn’t give in to temptation, but we did. Cock-a-doodle-doo!

After his worst night of failure, the sun came up for Peter. And it’ll come up for us too. By God’s grace we can start life fresh any day we choose to. Today we can repent of our sins and go on to do great things for the Lord. Peter ended up winning multitudes to Jesus and leading the church.

So what now? No matter how badly we think we’ve failed, God will forgive us, restore us and redirect our steps.

God’s calling you (3)

‘I have prayed that your faith will be strong.’ Luke 22:32 CEV

One of the greatest things about God’s story is that he uses people to tell it and make it happen; human beings with faults and weaknesses. Look at the apostle Peter. His only gear was overdrive! He was always in the middle of everything, but he wasn’t always on top of things. Before he ended up leading the church, he denied being a disciple of Jesus. This may shock us, but there’s nothing about us that surprises God. He doesn’t call someone and say, ‘I hope you’re the right person.’

Jesus told Peter, ‘Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you…that your faith may not fail’ (Luke 22:31-32 NIV). Isn’t that amazing? Even when we don’t know how to pray for ourselves, Jesus does: ‘He always lives to make intercession for them’ (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV). Jesus told Peter, ‘When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers’ (Luke 22:32 NIV). The mess we’re in today has the potential to become a ministry when God gets involved. Not only can he turn our lives around, but also the lives of others.

Here’s one more thing: ‘sifting’ is a method of purifying, a way of straining out the debris and refining whatever’s left. This means there has to be something worth salvaging before sifting begins. So if we find that God’s letting the sifting happen to us, we mustn’t be discouraged – he can obviously see something that’s worth the effort of refining!

So what now? Today God’s calling you. Don’t waste another moment; give your life to him.

God’s calling you (2)

‘I sanctified you; I ordained you.’ Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV

The word ‘sanctified’ means ‘to be set apart for exclusive use’. The word ‘ordained’ means ‘ordered according to a plan’. This is important to know: God doesn’t waste anything he created, and he doesn’t waste anything he can use. Before we were saved, both the good and bad experiences we had were equipping us for what he had in mind. This includes our family heritage and upbringing, where we were educated and have worked, what our talents and hobbies are, what our favourite things are, etc. We should get the picture!

Are we gifted with unique ideas? God can use that. Do we enjoy reading and research? God can use that. Are we quick to confront, excited to run right at the enemy? God can use that. Today we may feel like we’re in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, with the wrong people. We may be wondering how to turn our life around. And truthfully, the answer may be that we can’t, but God can! He makes miracles out of mistakes.

So, let’s give him everything in our life, even the things we’re not proud of, and say, ‘Heavenly Father, here they are. I wish some things in my life were different, but they’re not. I wish I could change them, but I can’t.’ Then let’s allow God to work to use us uniquely and powerfully.

So what now? You, yes you, are ‘set apart for exclusive use’ by God and your life is ‘ordered according to a plan,’ God’s plan. So, live your life knowing you’re called by God.

God’s calling you (1)

‘Paul…called to be an apostle.’ Romans 1:1 NKJV

God reached into Paul’s background, formed before he became a Christian, and found some very useful things there. And they weren’t all so-called ‘spiritual’ things. They were also academic and cultural. Even though Paul seemed unqualified because of his great hatred for Christians at one time, his background qualified him in a unique way. As a former Pharisee, he understood the Scriptures and the mindset of the people who would oppose him. And his old spiritual blindness gave him compassion for those who were lost. God used both the good and the bad experiences in Paul’s life.

When God looked for a man to be an early leader in his church, to write down the theology of his church, to debate religious leaders who argued against his church, to advance the cause of Jesus in academic and social arenas, to carry the message all the way from the lowest person on the street to the throne of Caesar, God found a man who already had the necessary qualifications – and that man was Paul.

That’s how God works. First God seeks us out, then he prepares us, then he positions us, then he empowers us to do what he knows we can do most effectively. And God’s calling is the only thing that’ll make us completely happy (although we don’t always know that in advance).

So what now? Is God calling you? Is he preparing you? Is he positioning you? Is he empowering you? Your highest level of joy and fulfilment will come when you let his will be yours and say yes to him.

Position and condition

‘Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval.’ Romans 5:9 GWT

The Bible says: ‘God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty?… Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done’ (Romans 5:8-9, 11 CEV).

God loves and accepts us just as we are. And it gets better. He sees us as already righteous. ‘God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). Notice the words ‘in him’. We can’t see the letter in a sealed envelope or read its contents because it’s ‘in’ the envelope. Jesus ‘envelops’ us in his love and righteousness.

It's good to know the difference between our position and our condition. When we put our trust in Jesus, we’re positioned before God as being ‘righteous’. But what about the condition part? We constantly fall short and make mistakes, so the job of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to bring our condition up to the level of our position in Jesus: ‘As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him’ (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).

So what now? Rest in this truth: because of Jesus, you have a secure position with God and your condition is being redeemed, bit by bit.

‘Do’ God’s word

‘God will bless you for doing it.’ James 1:25 NLT

Some people are so committed to and good at memorising Bible verses or quoting large chunks of Scripture off by heart? This is such a helpful skill to develop, and many believers wish they had it or resolve to do it. But before we get too carried away, we need to remember that God doesn’t bless us for just reading his word, or memorising it, or even being able to repeat it word for word in the original languages.

God promises to bless those who put his word into action. ‘Don’t just listen to God’s word…do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it’ (James 1:22-25 NLT).

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan proved that even he had learned the Scriptures off by heart, but Jesus defeated him by putting the Scriptures into practice (see Matthew 4:1-11). Knowledge of the Bible is so important, but knowledge can only take us so far. It’s when we apply God’s word that real change and real blessing come.

So what now? Resolve to be not just a ‘hearer’ but a ‘doer’ of God’s word. You will experience his love, power and goodness when you do both.

Prepare in advance

‘Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not…’ Daniel 1:8 NKJV

When we’ve given our lives to Jesus, we are ‘a new creation’ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), but we still need to ‘discover what it really means to be saved’ (Philippians 2:12 CEV). ‘Old nature’ thoughts, habits and temptations will harass us, but with Jesus by our side, we are victorious.

Here are two strategies to help us win:

(1) With prayer. Jesus told his disciples, ‘Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak’ (Matthew 26:41 GWT). It’s tiring to keep praying for forgiveness when we’ve given in to temptation – so let’s pray to overcome temptation before it comes. And let’s ask a trusted friend to stand with us in prayer. The Bible says, ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NKJV).

(2) By making up our mind. ‘But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself’ (Daniel 1:8 NKJV). We need to decide in advance of temptation what we’ll do. When we decide that, God empowers us by his Spirit. Daniel’s strength and willpower came from God. He prayed three times every day (see Daniel 6:10). It’s so helpful to have a strategy and escape plan up front. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, he ‘fled and ran outside’ (Genesis 39:12 NKJV). Both Joseph and Daniel had prayed and made up their mind what they’d do before temptation their way.

So what now? Jesus wants you to be victorious in every area of your live. Ask him to help you prepare in advance to win.

Refuse to live in fear (4)

‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ Romans 8:31 NKJV

In order to fight fear, we need to believe that God is with us. If we keep focused on this, we’ll have much more confidence obeying him, and our fears will become smaller and smaller, until we see them as insignificant compared to God’s power. When David volunteered to fight Goliath, King Saul said to him, ‘You don't have a chance against him… You're only a boy, and he's been a soldier all his life’ (1 Samuel 17:33 CEV). David replied, ‘The Lord…will keep me safe from…this Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:37 CEV). We’re not in the battle alone; our heavenly Father is with us. We don’t always know what God will do, but we can know he’ll do what needs to be done at the right time.

When we think about the future and all its unknowns, it’s easy to feel afraid. There are two ways to approach it; we can be pessimistic and fearful, or we can say, ‘The battle is God’s, and he’s never lost a battle!’ Even if we haven’t any idea what to do in a tense situation, God does. We just need to put one foot in front of the other, taking one step at a time, confident that he’s our guide.

We don’t have to see God or feel him in order to believe that he’s with us. Faith is a matter of our heart rather than of our natural senses.

So what now? God is with you and loves you too much to leave you to deal with fear by yourself! So believe him and refuse to live in fear.

Refuse to live in fear (3)

‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV

When God says, ‘Fear not,’ he's saying: ‘You’ll have to deal with fear sometimes, but I'm with you and you can conquer it. You don't need to be frozen by it.’ The Bible tells us: ‘Perfect love casts out fear’ (1 John 4:18 NKJV).

Sometimes we mistakenly think if we love God perfectly enough, we won’t be afraid. But the only perfect love is God’s love for us, and it’s unconditional. Knowing that he always loves us, walks with us, defends us, supports us and has promised never to leave us is what casts out our fear. And it does one more thing: it strengthens our faith. When we know that God is always for us, we can rise above our fears. When fear knocks on the door and finds us full of faith, it can't enter.

The Bible says, ‘We walk by faith’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV), and we learnt to walk by getting up one more time than we fell down, one small step at a time, until we finally mastered it! If we set our minds on speaking fear-defying words of faith, the Holy Spirit will help and strengthen us. As one minister put it, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, it is progress in its presence.’ So, let’s keep progressing.

So what now? What is one of your fears? Thank God that he is helping you deal with it. Then find out what God says in the Bible to help you fill your mind with faith. This may mean creating a new habit, but keep going. Refuse to live in fear!

Refuse to live in fear (2)

‘The Lord is on my side; I am not afraid.’ Psalm 118:6 GWT

God created us to have lives filled with growth, adventure and momentum. But this involves taking bold steps of faith, and we can’t do that if we’re satisfied living in our comfort zones. Even when we feel afraid of stepping out, we should acknowledge the fear and do it anyway! Feeling fear is part of being alive. We'll experience fear when we try something for the first time, or when we're experiencing change, or when the obstacles we face seem too big, or when we feel like we're not up to the challenge. None of this means we're cowardly, failures or worth less than braver people. It just means we're human.

Feeling fear is just the temptation to flee from what we should confront. Feeling fear is not the same as being afraid, because being afraid means that fearful feelings have been able to take control of us. But we don’t have to put up with that.

We can feel anger but choose not to act on it, and instead respond with forgiveness and love. In the same way, we can feel fear and not let it make our decisions for us. ‘He himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV)? Notice those two phrases: ‘He…has said’ and ‘we may boldly say’. We have permission to stand on God’s word and live boldly.

So what now? Today, stand on God’s word and declare, ‘I refuse to live in fear.’

Refuse to live in fear (1)

‘Fear involves torment.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV

Advice columnist Ann Landers gets about ten thousand letters every month. When asked to name the most common problem in her readers’ lives, she said, ‘Fear! People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.’ If we allow it to, fear can and will control us. ‘Fear involves torment’ (1 John 4:18 NKJV). When fear rules our lives, we can’t enjoy God’s blessings or live a full life as he intends.

Dr Caroline Leaf says that fear triggers ‘more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than thirty different hormones and neurotransmitters.’ Fear is at the root of all our stress. When fear causes a stress reaction in us, it actually ‘marinates’ our body in chemicals that can be harmful in large amounts, threatening our physical and mental wellbeing. The fear of not being accepted can make us develop a fake personality, stifling our true selves and hiding who God made us to be. The fear of failure can prevent us from trying new things or stepping out of our comfort zones. The fear of the future can prevent us from discovering and experiencing moments of joy today.

Most importantly, fear doesn’t come from God. ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

So what now? If you feel fearful, reject that spirit. Draw on God’s power, focus on his unconditional love for you and let his comforting arms surround you.

Start saying, ‘I can’

‘Many are they who say of me, “There is no help.”’ Psalm 3:2 NKJV

Maybe we’ve constantly heard the words ‘You can’t’. Many people like to tell others what they can’t do. Even people we wouldn’t automatically consider to be against us – teachers, coaches, parents, family members, friends and leaders of church groups or social events can, at some point, fail to realise the power of their negative words. Many of us grew up thinking, ‘I can’t,’ when that wasn’t true at all.

Words that speak of failure come from the enemy, not God, so let’s make the choice right now to reject the power of ‘you can’t’. In contrast to the enemy, God’s Spirit encourages us and will do everything to urge us forwards. When Joshua was facing the challenges of the promised land, God told him three times, ‘Be…of good courage’ (Joshua 1:9 NKJV). Let’s remember: if we feel ‘dis-couraged’, it’s from the devil; and when we feel ‘en-couraged’, it’s from God.

No matter how often we’ve heard someone say, ‘You can’t,’ let’s stand on God’s word and say, ‘Yes, I can!’ Miracles come in ‘cans’ – our belief that we can do everything we need to do through Jesus who is our strength (see Philippians 4:13). God believes in us, and now is the time for us to believe in ourselves. This is a new day! Let’s put the past and all its discouraging remarks behind us.

So what now? Decide to agree with God and say to yourself, ‘I can!’ Today let the power of God’s word overcome the power of every negative word ever spoken to you or about you.

Depend on God’s grace

‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

The key to being able to do what God’s tasked us with is realising that we can’t do it in our own strength. We can only do it through God’s empowering grace. God said to Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV), and the word ‘grace’ includes ‘all of God you will ever need for whatever you face in life’. That’s an amazing promise!

Sometimes we think we have to do it all. We forget that the power of Jesus works through us, so we end up discouraged and defeated before we even begin. ‘We are co-workers in God’s service’ (1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV). We can’t do God’s part, and he won’t do our part. He wants us to follow his leading, but he insists that we depend on him every step of the way. Sometimes we have to go through really tough times before we realise we need God to help us. Sometimes we make the mistake of assuming our gifts and talents are all we need to succeed. But, it’s God’s grace operating through our gifts that gives us real success.

Grace is like electricity; in order for it to flow and function effectively, we must stay plugged in to the power source. Jesus said: ‘No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:4-5 NIV).

So what now? Depend more on God’s grace for your life’s purpose and tasks. You will never regret it.

Through Jesus, you can do it

‘Christ gives me the strength to face anything.’ Philippians 4:13 CEV

Paul wrote: ‘I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power’ (Philippians 4:13 TLB). Paul believed he could handle whatever life threw at him. Do we believe that too? What are the things that trigger our fears and cause us to say, ‘I could never handle that’? Failing an exam? Facing an unexpected illness? Suddenly losing a loved one? Having to care for an elderly relative or a young child? Being in debt? Having to cut back on the things we enjoy in life? Losing a job?

Most people have some sort of situation that truly seems impossible to them, something they aren’t sure they could handle. The truth is, even though some situations might be extremely undesirable or challenging for us, God says we can do whatever we need to do in life. He doesn’t say everything will be easy; he doesn’t promise that we’ll enjoy every little thing we do; but with his help, it is possible to find joy in the middle of doing them. How? Through the power of the one ‘who gives me the strength and power’ (Philippians 4:13 TLB).

When we need money, we make a withdrawal from our bank account. When our car is empty, we make a withdrawal from the petrol pump. So when life gets overwhelming, let’s pray and make a withdrawal on God’s strength, and on his grace, love, power and guidance.

So what now? Are you facing a tough situation? Don’t be discouraged; through Jesus, you can get through it.

Mercy and forgiveness

‘The Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.’ Colossians 3:13 NLT

When Jesus washed the dirt from his disciples’ feet, he showed he was willing to forgive their sins before they even committed them. That’s love at its highest level. Of all the people in that upper room during the Last Supper, only one was worthy of having his feet washed; yet he was the one doing the washing! The amazing thing about Jesus’ example is that it’s completely the opposite to what we’d expect – the person doing most of the bridge-building (or feet-washing in this case) is the one who is right.

Jesus is completely innocent and guilt free, but he’s willing to take a massive step towards us so that we only need to take a small step to meet him. We all make mistakes, and we also tend to believe that we’re in the right, so we need to be full of grace and mercy towards each other.

The people in Jesus’ circle had no doubt of his love, and the people in our circles should have no doubt about ours either. Paul wrote, ‘Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ’ (Ephesians 4:32 NCV). Because he has a forgiving heart, we can have a forgiving heart. When Jesus truly lives within us, we have no better alternative. There’s incredible power in the words, ‘I forgive you; I love you; let’s move on’.

So what now? ‘I forgive you; I love you; let’s move on’. Is there anyone who needs to hear those words from you today?

Accept others

‘Accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you.’ Romans 15:7 GWT

Sometimes people don’t make it easy to accept them. They can be bad tempered, selfish, critical, irritating, dismissive, aggressive and arrogant. Sometimes we want to tell them what we think of them; to give them what they deserve – anything but acceptance. Which makes Paul’s instruction to ‘accept one another’ inconvenient. If Paul had stopped there, we might try dodging the instruction by saying he obviously meant good, reasonable, acceptable people. But he goes on, ‘just as Christ accepted you’. Were we always good, reasonable and acceptable? No, none of us is. But he still accepted us – flaws and all – and he still does! Roman Christians had difficulty accepting their less ‘spiritual’ brothers and sisters in Christ, and Paul corrected them: ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling…for God has accepted them’ (Romans 14:1-3 NIV).

Straightening people out isn’t our job; accepting them is. God calls us to accept messed-up, unspiritual, irritating, obnoxious and misled people. We don’t have to approve of, like or agree with them, but accepting them isn’t optional. There’s no elite, privileged, insider class.

We ‘re all on level ground because of two realities: our sin and the cross! Jews and Gentiles despised each other, even after salvation. Each wanted the other to change and become like them. But Paul smashed down their arguments: ‘[Jesus] brought them back to God in one body by his cross, on which he killed the hostility’ (Ephesians 2:16 GWT).

So what now? Who do you need to accept today? Your job is to accept them – and allow God to adjust them.