RSS FeedCOMPLETING CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS
On the first page of Paul’s letter to the Colossians we find a surprising statement: ‘I rejoice in sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church’ (Col.1:24). What can these...
SUFFERING AS THE REFINER’S FIRE
Another way God uses suffering is to refine and purify his people. The messenger who came to prepare the way of the Lord (Malachi 3:1-4) was sent ‘to purify the Levites’ until they should present ‘offerings in righteousness…..acceptable to the Lord.’ God still refines...
PRAYING IN JESUS’ NAME
What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? In Old Testament times, prayer was offered only in the context of sacrifice. God’s people brought an offering when they came into his presence: it cost them something to draw near to God. As they called on his name, they...
SUFFERING AS A TRIAL OF FAITH
From earliest times, God has tested his children with suffering of one kind or another in order to try their faith and equip them to carry greater responsibilities in his work of bringing his eternal purposes to pass. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses and David were among...
MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING
In the first chapter of the book of Hebrews, the Spirit of God paints a vivid and majestic picture of the pre-incarnate Christ. He portrays him in all the glories of his eternal and coequal existence with the Father., ‘God of God, Light of Light, very God of very...
THE PAIN OF THE UNIVERSE
If we are to know any comfort in our suffering and find strength to bear it in a truly Christian manner, we must first set ourselves to understand it as well as is humanly possible. We must have a thorough grasp of what the Scriptures teach about evil, for evil is the...
A LIFETIME OF PAIN
Margaret Clarkson (1915-2008), prolific hymn writer, teacher and author was born with chronic headaches and juvenile arthritis which caused her much pain. A second arthritic attack when she was twelve settled in one arm, leaving her wrist and hand swollen and partly...
THE LURE OF THE GOLD
Whenever I looked out of my bedroom window in my childhood home I could see him. He was the silent sentinel, an ever-present reminder of the past. Exquisitely carved out of white marble, the Pioneer Memorial was a gold prospector, with a slouch hat on his head, his...
THE MEANING OF WORSHIP
On the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6), we remember the Magi, the wise men from Persia, who followed a star to Jerusalem, where they sought directions from King Herod and his religious advisors. They were pointed to Bethlehem. When they saw the baby Jesus, they...
GAINING A HEART OF WISDOM
At the end of a year we look back and see all the changes that have taken place in our lives and that of the world since twelve months ago. We have no guarantee that we shall see another year. But it is natural that we should wish to see our life fulfilled. We want to...
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