Word in Five

We are called to faith by Jesus - to take him at his word and rest in him answering our prayers. Jesus wants the world to see the real heart of the problem and how big his healing work is. It will be the healing of the entire universe. Through his life, death and resurrection he deals with the sin problem and will bring an end to death, disease and decay. He is the heavenly doctor!

"Come see a man" says the woman. When had she last said that! Yet hear she is 'boasting' about Jesus! What a husband he is! We can be vulnerable with him. He knows us and loves us. He offers us life and he has secured it by finishing the work of dying for us!

Jesus crosses all barriers to rescue and save as the heavenly bridegroom. He talks with this Samaritan woman - the just didn't do that - but he does! He knows her and yet isn't moving away from her. Because he has come to seek and to save the lost.

Jesus is the heavenly bridegroom. Do we want his name to become greater and ours less? Or are we wanting to make a name for ourselves? May we have the attitude of the John. Jesus gives life and he brings unity as a Spirit-drenched high priest.

Jesus gives new life - we need new hearts. We need more than a makeover! It has never been any different and Nicodemus should have understood that from the Bible. When God gives new life, it always shows. We look to Jesus who was lifted up to die for us and become more like him.

Jesus cares so much about his Father's name being dishonoured. May we make sure that whatever we do in the name of Jesus always shows off our Father in the right way. Jesus gives the ultimate sign of his resurrection, but sadly when he does rise most of the Jews don't believe. In fact, the leaders try to cover it up!

Jesus turns the water into wine at the wedding because he doesn't want the host to be embarrassed. He cares. Jesus turns the water into wine to teach us it is his world - he created it. Jesus turns the water into wine to show us that he is the Bridegroom who will shed his blood to wash clean his bride, his church.

Philip follows Jesus and then invites Nathanael to come and see. May we be able to invite people to come and see Jesus. Nathanael understands who Jesus is as he hears words from Moses. Jesus is the LORD who goes up the hill of the LORD to bring back together heaven and earth. He will live with his people forever.

John the Baptist learns from Moses too in understanding what Jesus has come to do. He is the Lamb that the LORD has provided as a sacrifice for our sin. He urges us to get hold of who Jesus is and believe. As soon as Andrew hears, he tells his brother Peter. May we have the same enthusiasm to tell people about Jesus!

The Word became flesh - the 'in-meating' of God! The life to come is physical. The physical world is good. Being spiritual means doing physical things. We don't see God through anyone else other than Jesus who is the Word made flesh.

John wants us to know and believe who Jesus is. He is the Word - the One through whom God speaks and acts. The only way we can know God is through the Word. He is the Word who Moses wrote about in the beginning. He is the Word who said "let there be light". He speaks light and life now and we see it most clearly when we gaze upon Jesus crucified and risen.

Keep away from people who are looking to cause divisions and teach things that are wrong. That means we need to know the truth and stand firm on it. What we believe matters. We can look forward to the final defeat of Satan which God will bring about through his church living out the good news, making him known to the nations. And when we are raised, the last enemy, death, will be defeated! No wond...

What is it to be a Christian? It is to be 'in Christ'. May we get hold of that every day - that is who we are! And may we have a warmth and love to others. May we both those who work hard, risking even our lives, being mothers and brothers to others in church life.

May God excite us to see what a wonderful thing is to be part of his worldwide church building project! Jesus showed how the whole Bible taught he would be spoken to all the nations - having died and been raised from the dead. Let's join the struggle in prayer and be excited about mission. And remember, God answers prayer - but not always how we might think!

Paul shows us his heart for people. His big view of what God does as people hear the good news and are completely transformed. It's amazing that Paul who was a Pharisee has been changed to see his work with the non-Jewss (Gentiles) as a priestly duty! How Paul encourages us to have a vision for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

We are to bear with one another. We are to build one another up. That is how Jesus lived. He has accepted us - what a huge thing! How can we not accept someone that Jesus has accepted? We can't! Jesus unites us, so let us show it - and in doing so, we will show the hope that we have.

A key thing in deciding how to use our 'freedom' is how will me doing this impact other people? Will it be something that could cause younger Christians to sin? We are called to love one another. Remember Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing for us!

Our consciences matter - even if they are wrong - we should listen to them. Paul warns about judging others for either being too weak in their faith ("they have too many hang ups") or strong in their faith ("they can't do that if they're a Christian!"). God is ultimately the judge who we must all appear before. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...

Showing the love of Christ means paying your debts. If you borrow something or owe someone money, be quick to sort it. There is a debt we constantly owe and that is love. Commandments don't stifle love - they give it shape and direction. We are to love our neighbours. Especially as we get hold of the fact that the life to come - the new creation - will be a life of love. It will be a life with...

Paul restates Jesus' teaching about giving to God what is God's and given to Caesar what is Caesar's. We need to make sure we don't have blind spots here and lose sight of the fact that God works all things to the good of those who love him. Part of our serving God is to honour those who rule over us - that includes praying for them, speaking respectfully and paying our taxes.

Sincere love - that is what are called to show to one another. There is nothing insincere about God's love for us - it is a selfless love that gives and gives. By his Spirit, as our minds are renewed, our attitudes to one another are transformed - even to our enemies - as we become more like Jesus!

We have been transformed by God's work in our lives. So we are to be transformed in our thinking, understanding and desires. And that shows itself in church life where we are to use the gifts God has given us to serve others as part of his body. In doing so we are being like Jesus.

We have every reason to be hopeful because of God's great plan to save his worldwide people. The good times aren't all in the past. The best is yet to come. And may these truths lead us to worship God - to thank and praise him for who he is and all that he has done.

Unity is so important - there is one tree. Trusting Jesus is being part of the historic faith made up of Jews and Gentiles. There is no room for pride. We need to keep on humbly believing, filled with hope that God is still in the business of saving many people, both Jews and non-Jews and bringing them into the one church of Jesus Christ.

Let's keep praying for Israel that there will continue to be a remnant. Let's have a true view of the church and look beyond our immediate area to see the vastness of God's work throughout the world. We are not the only ones left, so we are encouraged to keep going and be hopeful.