“Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness” (Luke 3:2-3; KJV). John the Baptist lived in the desert until he was physically and spiritually mature (Luke 1:8) and only then did he start his ministry.

God has times and seasons for all of our lives (Eccl 3:1; Acts 1:7). He has a plan for all of our lives (Jer 29:11). We need to spend time with God to know his plan and discern the seasons he has for us.

We need to guard against trying to help God out by having our own timelines and ideas as to how things should be done. Abraham and Sarah got impatient waiting for a son and decided to get a son by Hagar, Sarah’s maid. This only created trouble and anxiety for them but God’s miracle planning gave them the son of his choice and allowed God to establish the lineage for our saviour, Jesus (Gen 16 and 21).

Jesus was in ministry for just 3 years, starting when he was about 30 (Luke 3:23). Paul was a highly trained Jewish Pharisee and persecuted the church of Jesus until God’s season for him (Acts 9). Paul’s entry into ministry was dramatic as he met with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Would anyone question the impact of Jesus and Paul? It seems almost inconceivable to us that either of these two men above could or would have tried to do things by their own calendar.

We are not all called to full time ministry but we are all minsters of the gospel and God has plans for all of our lives. We need to be sure we hear from God and don’t run ahead, lag behind or get distracted. Flowing in God’s plan, timing and seasons brings peace and fulfillment. We need to hear from God and walk in trust and patience.

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How often do we just sit back and contemplate God’s love for us? Do we ever even start to grasp the length and depth and breadth of it (Eph 3:18)? Paul said it passes Knowledge. (Eph 3:19).

God’s love is an unconditional love (Greek Agapao), a love that does not depend on any attribute you possess or anything you do. It is based solely on his grace and mercy to you. Our love is so often a love based on something attractive we see in another (Greek Phileo) but we are commanded to love with the God kind of love (John 13:34).

When we put God’s love into action in our lives it requires faith on our part; sometimes we are called to love what we see as unlovable.  The word says God’s love is placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5); the Holy Spirit enables us to love (Gal 5:22).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16; KJV). Meditate on that for a while; make it personal. God gave his one and only son for you that your sins could be forgiven and you could have eternal life. You are his child (John 1:12), his work of art (Eph 2:10), you are precious in his sight. Nothing will ever separate you from his love (Rom 8:35).

Next time you are feeling low, dejected and rejected, remember Christ is in you and you are in him (John15:5) and his love is in and surrounds you wherever you go, whatever you do. Look to share God’s today.

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Please watch the promotional video for our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, which you can find at our web site: www.onthewayinlove.com     

 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt 23:37; KJV)

This shows the compassionate heart cry of Jesus for the people God sent him to. Jesus longed to draw them into the kingdom of God but they resisted, stubborn in unbelief. He was moved with compassion when he saw the people lost and hurting, with no leader, no one to offer hope and solutions (Matt 9:36).

His ministry was marked by love and compassion as he forgave the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11), ministered to and fed the five thousand (Matt 14:13-21) and wept with the family of Lazarus over his death (John 11:35).

Jesus compassion for us was and is real, He came to earth as God the Son but he occupied a human body with the same flesh and blood we have. He is able to identify with all we go through in this life (Heb 2:14, 17, and 18). We are able to walk in the same compassion as Jesus did because the Holy Spirit dwells in us (John 14:17).

This compassion should drive us to reach out to those that are hurting and in need and in particular to the lost. Ask God to give you a divine appointment to show compassion today and as you obey, you will be blessed.

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Ever been frustrated about knowing what to do or which way to turn? Come on, be honest. God is interested in every detail of our lives and will guide and direct us if we let Him.

In Psalm 119:105 (KJV) it says: “thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. In Proverbs 3:5-6 it is written: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”.

God will speak to us as we prayerfully study His Word; He will make scripture jump of the page for us. He speaks to us in many other ways but mostly by that still small voice in our spirit that Elijah heard (1Kings 19:12).

James 3:17 says that Gods wisdom (guidance) is first of all pure and then peaceable, it has to be in line with His Word and leaves us with a sense of peace and assurance that God has spoken to us. James 1:5 directs us to ask of God if we need His wisdom (guidance). He will answer, it may not be in our prayer time, it could be in the shower, when our mind is not as busy.

His word of direction will come with that assurance, that sense of peace; it may not make sense to our mind but it will line up with His Word. Write it down; if it’s God, He will confirm it for you, mainly by the methods above or through a word of prophesy or Godly counsellors. God loves you and has good plans for you; He longs to hear from you and speak to you, we just need to still ourselves and listen.

Give God time today and listen.

Please watch the promotional video for our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, which you can find at our web site: www.onthewayinlove.com              

 I am always amazed by the comments of John the Baptist after Jesus started his ministry (John 3:27; 30). John said: “a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from above” (v27, KJV). John knew that without God he was nothing and could do nothing. He also said of Jesus: “He must increase but I must decrease” (v30).

John knew he was the forerunner to Jesus and in humility and obedience, accepted his role. Verse 30 of the third chapter of John’s gospel can be applied to us as Christians. We need more of God and less of us. When we were born again we died to our old sinful life and became alive in Christ (Rom 6:11).

However, putting off the old ways and putting on the new is a process (Eph 4:22-24). We cannot do this on our own, we need God, we need the direction and power of the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:3).

In the Bible we are told that the only work we have to do is to believe (John 6:29); believe what? We need to believe in Jesus, believe in the word (our Bible). As we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and as we develop faith in His word, this releases the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.

Paul said he wanted to know nothing but Christ (1 Cor 2:2). He acknowledged that he needed to reach the end of himself, of his abilities and to allow Christ to bring him through. In complete surrender to Jesus, Paul was mighty in Christ. God wants to change us from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18), so we become vessels fit for the master’s service (2 Tim 2:21).

“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13). Wow, imagine that kind of life in him; the impact we would have individually and corporately!

Please watch the promotional video for our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, which you can find at our web site: www.onthewayinlove.com