Word in Five

That work colleague, fellow student, neighbour - if they call on the name of the Lord, they will be saved! But how can they call on someone they haven't heard about? Paul urges us to have beautiful feet as we bring Christ to people. He encourages us to pray for God to raise up workers for his harvest. He reminds us not to be hard hearted, but to believe while there is still opportunity.

Let's not overcomplicate the good news - confess and believe. Keep Jesus at the centre. It's possible to be sincere in religion - we see it all around us - but to be sincerely wrong. The only true religion confesses Jesus as Lord and believes he has been raised. And it is to be offered to everyone!

Who are you a human being to talk back to God? We need to be humble and not think we have a better idea of being God than God has! He knows all things and he is good. Our responsibility is to trust the Rock, Jesus and not think we don't need him so we trip over him. None of us will be able to out-argue God on the Day of Judgment. We will be silenced because we will realise he is right. Come to...

God's promises have not failed! The true children of Abraham have always been people who believe in Jesus. The only reason we have anything good is because of God's mercy! Today there is mercy available in Jesus so let's come to him, trusting in Jesus to rescue us.

Paul shows us that he has a heart like Jesus - so concerned that people would hear and believe the good news. Give us such hearts O Lord. Paul longs for the people of Israel to believe the good news. He challenges us to pray for the people of Israel and to use the privileges we have for God's glory.

This psalm reminds us that being a Christian is a personal relationship with God. We know him as our Father through Jesus his Son. That means when we talk to one another, perhaps especially in times of difficulty, we don't talk about things in theory, but truth that is real and experienced. A God who is close and near and known. Jesus went down into the realm of the dead for us! And he conquer...

Worship does us good because it makes sure we have the right perspective on everything. God's voice will never be drowned out. He will never be silenced. Not even by the worst crisis, like the flood. He rules. So we can be confident in his care - bringing peace through Jesus Christ. Let us hear his voice and pray that his voice would be heard.

Jesus was made to be sin for us. He was numbered with the wicked. He cried out to his heavenly Father and he heard him. He has shown this by raising him from the dead and welcoming him to sit at his right hand. One day he will show everyone Jesus is Lord. There will be a judgment. This psalm urges us to trust Jesus. It motivates us to share the good news. It encourages us to join in with Jesus and...

May we follow the example of Jesus in seeking God's face. May we want to know his face - his attention, care, presence. Suffering, pain, difficulties can all give the impression he has turned away. But he never does and we need to make sure we don't let our circumstances change how we view God. Jesus wanted to know his Father's presence at all times. May we want him!

What a psalm! It shows us Jesus - his perfect life, his willingness to die, his confidence that he would be raised. He was made to be sin for us. One day everyone will confess that Jesus is Lord. He is our great worship leader. In Jesus, we get to worship and we are standing on level ground.

God works our everything for good - O may we believe that and live as though we do just like Joseph. The greatest evil - the crucifixion of Jesus by wicked men - did not stop God's good plan. So we can be confident in our good God. Joseph's words give us a good motto for life - God will surely come to your aid!

We grieve when someone dies but we don't grieve without hope. Jacob gave clear instructions about where he was to be buried. Interestingly it wasn't with his beloved wife Rachel, but instead with his fathers in the promised land. He knew where his future was - with God in his restored creation. Jacob was honoured as a king by the nation of Egypt. From him would come King Jesus who will one...

Joseph is singled out for blessing which isn't a surprise. There's no conflict with Judah being the 'chosen one' because Jesus is so big, he needed lots of lives and stories to picture his massive life and work. He is the suffering servant, rejected by his own people who went down into the pit to lift us up. He is the king of the nations. God is relentless in bringing his blessing...

How kind God is in using Jacob as a great prophet. Thank God that justice will be done. That's why we need a Saviour. How kind he is to Judah, changing his life, making him more like Jesus. And Jesus will come in Judah's family. May we have a big view of Jesus as the King of all nations, just like Jacob did.

Jacob could see that the Angel of the LORD (Jesus) had shepherded him throughout his life. What a testimony - and it's true - even when it seems dark we seem lost. He will bring us safely through this life and into his everlasting kingdom. Jacob saw into the future and trusted the LORD who does as he pleases. That's a good thing because he is good. The future is bright in Jesus - the churc...

This chapter shows God's kindness in the most amazing way. We won't live trouble free lives following Jesus, but one day we will have a trouble free life when we see Jesus face to face. He was willing to face the most troubled life and death to rescue us and all of his creation from the curse. How kind God was to Rachel in honouring her name. He honours our names and will do so publicly. L...

These verses teach us how God is able to keep his people and provide for them even when it seems they will be crushed. We can trust him in church life to go on building whatever comes our way. Jacob was old and had lived a tough life, but God really used him in those last 17 years in Egypt. We might think we can't be used now - our useful days are in the past - but God can use us now in wonder...

The LORD keeps his promises. He kept his people, providing for them, building his church in the middle of a famine. Jacob blessed the Pharaoh - may our churches be a blessing throughout our communities as we lift up the name of Jesus. We can be confident of Jesus' victory and that he will do everything he has said.

We can only know God through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus the Lamb of God. Jacob knew that and showed it. How kind God is. He reassures us when he calls us to step out in faith. We can trust him to build his church. He brings his perfect purposes out of the mess of everyday life. Praise him!

Don't quarrel on the way! Joseph knew what they needed to here! Thank God that he knows us and is able to speak into our lives in such a relevant way. Jacob was down and defeated. Now he is full of hope because Joseph lives. May we remember Jesus Christ raised from that dead and have that living hope!

Joseph can contain himself no longer and he has this close reunion with his brothers. How can he forgive them? Because he sees their hearts and he sees that it was God's plan that he should be in Egypt. Joseph has been given great knowledge which he uses to bless others. May we not be hoarders of blessing, but use it to bless others. Jesus was put to death by wicked men, but they only did what...

In this episode we see one of the most Jesus-like actions in the Bible. Judah is willing to become a slave so that his brother can go free. The LORD used tragedy in Judah's life so that he could sympathise with his father potentially losing two sons. We have a Saviour who sympathises with us in all our weakness. We have a Saviour who became sin for us so that we can be free from guilt alive to...

We might be tempted to think that Joseph is being devious and harsh. But we need to remember how kind he has been to his brothers in feeding them, setting a meal before them and giving them back their silver. He continues to be kind to them in helping them to see their guilt so that they can be truly made right with God. Thank God that in Jesus he is committed to finishing the good work he has beg...

We need to beware of thinking the worst possible outcome - doomsday thinking - it's showing a lack of faith in God Almighty. In the case of the brothers, it was partly driven by guilty consciences. The chapter ends with the brothers all eating together freely. Jesus brings his people into the family of God - let's maintain the unity he gives.

In this episode we see Jacob committing his family into the hands of God Almighty. There is nothing better to do. It's what Jesus did throughout his life on earth and especially in his death. Let's walk like him as people of integrity who do what we say we are going to do.