Nov 19 2015
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GENTLE GRACE

By Sodwana Bay

GENTLE GRACE “Rejoice in the Lord always…Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything…” (Philippians 4:4-6a) Not long ago I noticed something in today’s verse. Right between “Rejoice in the Lord always” and “Do not be anxious about anything” are two phrases that at first seem out of place: “Let your gentleness be evident to all” and “The Lord is near.” Almost immediately, I was convicted of a sinful tendency of mine. When I am anxious, I forget that the Lord is near, and the result in me is lack of joy – followed closely by lack of gentleness and grace. My family and close friends steer clear when they see my anxiety rise! Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit – including joy and gentleness. As a believer in Christ, I have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. But when I am anxious, I am lacking His fruit and am not walking by the Spirit. I’m walking by sight and fear. The antidote to anxiety is prayer (communing with God in faith with thanksgiving), exchanging those anxious thoughts with petition and praise to our gracious heavenly Father. When anxiety creeps in, will you join me praying with thanks to God?

Nov 18 2015
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How can a young person live a clean life?

By Sodwana Bay

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, GOD; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it. Psalm 119:11 MSG

Nov 17 2015
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He turned everything over to him

By Sodwana Bay

The One that God sent speaks God’s words. And don’t think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that.” John 3:36 MSG

Nov 16 2015
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GRACE TO FORGIVE

By Sodwana Bay

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) Criminals “repay their debt to society” with prison, community service, monetary compensation, or in severe cases, death. The judge attempts to give a sentence that will adequately recompense the victims of the crime. But it is not unusual for either the criminal or the victim to deem the sentence unjust, depending on how they view the weight of the offense. Jesus’ parable today depicts a servant whose debt was not to society, but to a king. The king was also the judge, so it was his choice alone to sentence payment in full or to forgive the debt. He chose the latter because the servant cried out for mercy. The first step in being forgiven a debt is to confess that it exists. The second step is to ask for grace. The third step is to admit you are unable to repay it – ever. We see that the servant did not understand forgiveness. He was forgiven so much by the king, yet later refused to forgive a fellow man even a small amount. Consequently, he was given a full sentence. To be forgiven means the King of kings calls us to forgive!