Word in Five

We should expect opposition as Christians, but remember Jesus has won. Jesus came knowing exactly what it was cost him and yet he willingly finished the work he had been given to do. It is finished!

We are always teaching others what we believe by how we behave! Let's be careful not to fall, especially if we have been on a bit of a high. May people see Jesus in us and be drawn to him.

God makes this amazing promise to Isaac at a tough time. We can totally depend upon all that he promises - Jesus did, even in the darkness of the cross.

How willl God work out his plan? We're called to trust him even when it seems so difficult. Let's not be like Esau who lived for pleasure now and rejected Jesus. Jesus looked ahead to the joy set before him and kept going, finishing the work he was given to do.

Isaac had a big obstacle - Rebekah couldn't have children - so he prayed, in line with what God had promised and he heard his prayer. Sadly Isaac drifted a bit as time went on and he challenges us to keep going in the LORD and church is a vital part of that.

God always does what he says he will do. Let's be confident in what he promises. Jesus is the Saviour from the Jews for the nations.

The death of Abraham isn't the end - he was gathered to his people - his soul with the LORD and his people for ever, awaiting a wonderful reunion with his body when Jesus returns. God blessed Isaac after Abraham dies - hope lives because Jesus lives!

Isaac loved Rebekah. It's so important that we serve one another in love. Jesus the Bridegroom knows us and loves us, as he showed when he met the woman in the well of Samaria!

Rebekah had the faith of Abraham and it showed in her character - willing to go the extra mile and to up and leave and be part of the 'Jesus' story. Thank God for Jesus who has gone the extra mile to rescue and save us. May we have the faith of Rebekah to step out and be part of Jesus' story.

Let's be people like Abraham's servant who can be trusted to get a job done - being willing to use the abilities God has given us prayerfully. Thank the LORD for the Servant, Jesus who finished the work he was given to do so that we can have peace with God.

Even in old age, Abraham keeps looking forward trusting the LORD, confident that he will save the world through his Son Jesus. Oh may we have the faith of Abraham whatever stage of life we are in.

Death is sad and it's right to grieve and mourn, but it doesn't have the final word. In Jesus we can look forward, like Abraham did, even in death.

Like Abraham we can trust the LORD to provide for us - he hasn't spared his only Son - we can trust him to provide all that we need!

The LORD tests us to grow our trust in him. We need to be like Abraham and stick to the stuff we know to be true, rather than speculating about 'maybes'. God did not withhold his only Son Jesus from us. How he loves us!

Prayer can be hard work - be prepared to wrestle for others in prayer. Be a friend who comforts others. In church, we are part of something bigger than our local church - may we see that and show Jesus off to the watching world.

Let's love people like Jesus did, be devoted to prayer and make sure the way we speak has a 'Jesus' flavour to it!

This is what the life of Jesus looks like in us in our relationships with others. We put on the new 'kit' in Jesus' team and get rid of the old 'kit' that at one time defined us.

We need to think, day by day about Jesus - what he has done for us, where he is now, what he is making us like - so that we learn to depend upon more and more. Our relationship with Jesus impacts every other relationship we have.

It's so important that we stay connected to our head, Jesus Christ, otherwise we will be of no use and ultimately will not have life.

We need to be active in our faith - keeping going, being rooted, not being led into wrong ideas - that's a call for actively being plugged into church life. Thankfulness is part of this - may we have grateful hearts as we lift our eyes with Paul to the cross of Jesus and see all our debt nailed to the cross and paid in full.

Christ in you, the hope of glory! What a description of what it is to be a Christian. No wonder Paul is working hard, praying for harmony and full of hope.

From outsiders to insiders through Jesus' death for us! Keep going and tell others. We can be encouraged about what God is like as we look more and more at Jesus!

Jesus our Creator bled and died for us so that we can have peace and life that will never end! Our God dies for us - what a God he is!

Being in Christ gives us real hope that shows itself as we grow in faith and love. Let's pray for one another as we partner in his work and see it bearing fruit all over the world!

'In Christ' - what a way to describe what we are! And it shows itself in our love for one another.