Monthly Archives: August 2026

The right kind of invasive species!

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Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.

(Ps 1.1-3)

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means…  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

(Matt 13.18,22&23)

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

(Gal 5.16-26)

The bible is full of horticultural imagery and we are familiar with trees of many kinds, vines, crops of barley and wheat – and the whole range of activities that go with those things – being used to explain important things that God wants his people to know. But last week at church, I had a fresh insight into a particularly familiar picture – the fruit of the Spirit as Paul describes it in his letter to the church in Galatia.

As believers in Jesus, we want to become like him, to reflect his glory and be his people in this world, for the building of his kingdom and for our blessing. This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, whose delight it is to remake us from within, steadily eliminating all that is unbecoming to a child of God. And now, thanks to that sermon, I can picture the Spirit’s work as being like a plant which has arrived in an unattractive spot, full of weeds, only to steadily grow and spread, gradually starving the competition of light and air and water, so that finally there is nothing to else to see except that Spirit-infused, fruitful and beautiful tree!  A powerfully invasive plant, in the right place, is a marvellous thing, and I find it most helpful as an image of what is happening, by God’s grace, in my life.

It is God’s planting, the indwelling Spirit of Jesus, which is transforming us as we keep asking God to change us, and guide us; as we receive the means of grace; as we read the bible and expect to find God speaking of his love and purpose to us. This is the life of Christ, Holy Spirit-planted, sending up shoots and flourishing so vigorously that other things are starved of light and nourishment and die – only divine love is powerful enough to drive out the lesser things.

In his parable of the sower, Jesus warned that some people might receive the good news of salvation in his name and yet find their hope squeezed out by care. We are thus advised to take care that we focus our attention on the planting of the Spirit – the good news and all it means for us. If I focus on what remains – the weeds – then I neglect what has come, and it will not thrive. BUT, as I depend on God and focus on what has been given, he will be faithful and I will become a place where his goodness can be seen, and my life can be a window into his grace for others.

I want to be that kind of person! To live under the leadership of the Spirit of Jesus, by faith being intimately connected to my Lord, becoming so drawn and motivated by his love that I long and delight to do his will in every situation.

Almighty God and everlasting Father, I rejoice to be one in whom the likeness of your Son, Jesus, is growing under the guidance and life-giving power of the Spirit. I delight to be the craftsmanship of the Trinity, and to know that your power in me cannot be thwarted, as I depend upon you day by day.

Let your planting in me flourish, spread and bear fruit, so that as time goes by, all that is unbecoming is starved out, and all that is Christ-like grows more vigorous. For the sake of my Lord I pray, and in his name, Amen.

Remember and know

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Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up, plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. Hear, O mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.

“My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery, I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counselled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

(Mic 6.1-8)

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper he took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

(1Cor 11.23-26)

It is common to use the word “remember” in the sense of recalling events, people and information, either for the pleasure of recollection, or for some present purpose – like collecting shopping, or identifying a familiar face. But in the bible, the word is closely associated with the way that God works out his purposes in faithfulness to his own promises, his character and his love for his people. In this sense, remembering is a spur to action, it has obvious consequences, both for God in his actions, and for his people as they receive his care.

Many times, we are told in scripture that God remembers his covenant promises, and as a result he acts in certain ways. Over and over again, the psalmist will exhort himself and his listeners to remember God’s past faithfulness in order to renew current hope and future perseverance. The prophet Micah, in his words to a nation which was coming under judgement for its abandonment of God, its corruption and idolatry, appeals to the leaders to “remember your journey” (the long story of Israel’s formation as a nation, including Exodus). Why? Because an effective act of re-membering – of putting oneself into the heart of the story, applying it personally and identifying with the various parties – will inevitably result in some kind of response, even for fallen humanity. In Micah’s case, an effective remembrance would result in a renewed relationship of trust, profound repentance and national faithfulness to God.

When Jesus commanded us – through Paul’s beautiful instruction in the letter to Corinth – to “do this in remembrance of me” – he was not merely suggesting that we might like occasionally to recall the historical events of Passion week. It is a strong command – “do this” – and therefore something which is for our good under God’s sovereignty, no matter how peculiar it may seem. And having had to explain it to a young Sikh friend of our daughter, I can see just how peculiar it does seem to those who have not grown up with regular observance of communion or the Lord’s supper!

In the same way that the psalmist remembered God’s faithfulness, and took heart in the midst of trouble; in the same way that the people remembered God’s covenant, deliverance, establishing of the nation in the land, and repented of their idolatry in a renewal of loyal love – so today, believers in Jesus remember God’s great act of salvation, the foundation of our hope, life and every good thing which we receive, and respond in daily trust and ever deeper desire to glorify our Lord.

Remember… and know – not merely an academic exercise, but a personal identification with all that God has done, and a desire for a growing intimate relationship with him. These things are like our daily bread,  they are our spiritual food and give us what we need for each new day and situation. Their simplicity should encourage us – no matter what else is going on in life, we can ask God to help us remember in a way that makes a difference to our lives, restoring hope and bringing peace as we share life with him.

Heavenly Father, I rejoice today to remember what Jesus has done for me; to be delivered by him from death to life, to be part of your coming kingdom and to be on the victor’s side in the battle.

I praise again the grace which saved me, the mercy which delivered me, the love which so passionately pursues me and guards me through this life into the life of the age to come.

Let my acts of remembrance lead me into deeper knowing of you, so that I become more like my Saviour, and rest in your love and grace, bearing witness to you in all circumstances.

I pray this in the name of my Lord Jesus, whose eternal intercession for me I remember with such thankfulness, Amen.

Resting in grace

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Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

(Ps 32 1-7&11)

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it….. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

(Isa 30.15&18)

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

(Jer 6.16)

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children…. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matt 11.28-30)

Did you notice that little phrase, buried in the middle of the words from Isaiah? “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion” – there is the sense of a generous host, on the edge of their seat and longing for an opportunity to shower good things upon a welcome guest. But in our case, the host is beyond generous, and we are in many ways the most unlikely of guests! Nonetheless, the bible asserts time and again that the Lord Almighty, Creator of all things, and utterly beyond our imaginations to comprehend in his glory and greatness – THIS God – is so eager to be in a warm and loving relationship with his creatures (us!), that he will go to incredible lengths to remove every possible barrier that stands in the way. In sending Jesus to live, die and rise again for us, the ultimate price was paid and the world saw just what it meant that we should be loved by the Lord of heaven and earth.

As believers in Jesus, we are called to a life marked by repentance AND rest – the two should not be incompatible. David gives a graphic description of what happened when he failed to repent – his rest was destroyed, as he was not only at fault in relation to other people, but crucially, his relationship with God was deeply disturbed. Repentance then, was restoration of rest because it restored his relationship. To be in relationship with God as Father is to be at rest, and because Jesus has opened the way for us to enter in and call upon God as Father, we live at rest even now.

The grace of God – his generous loving forgiveness, transforming power, and his ‘parenting’ of us – is our security and the foundation of our lives. It is like the rock upon which our little habitations stand, and when the storms shake the walls, or even knock them down, yet still we find ourselves upon the rock. Grace will never fail us, because God keeps his promises and in Christ we are absolutely sure of receiving those promises. Therefore, I can say that I rest in grace, I cease to strive or be anxious about finding God’s favour, or earning my eternal home, or about my continued sins. I receive and rest in the goodness of God which has provided for all my needs, and will ensure my safe passage home to glory when the time comes.

Heavenly Father, what a glorious relief it is to know that I can live in the spacious freedom of grace – your abundant goodness to me in your son Jesus. What a joy to live as one who knows that her sin is covered, and her sins are forgiven; who receives daily gifts of love and the assurance that as she repents, there is provision and transformation continues. I thank and praise you today for this season of tranquility, and pray that it might bear fruit in deeper gratitude and trust in you for whatever lies ahead. How amazing is your grace to me in Jesus, in whose name I come, by whom I belong, in whom I rest – to him be all the praise, Amen!

Here’s looking at ….. my Father

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Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore them, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for the doing the creative best you have with your own life.

(Gal 6.1-5; Message)

One of the Pharisee scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show [Jesus] up: “Teacher, which command in God’s law is the most important?”

Jesus said, “’Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s law and the Prophets hangs from them”

(Matt 22.35-40; Message)

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what does God for you is the best thing you can do for him…..we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around… So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

(Rom 12.1,4-6; Message)

“Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others.”

I suspect that I may not be the only person on the planet for whom the latter of these two commands from Paul is much harder than the former! There is no reason why I should find myself continually falling into the comparison trap, yet it is my daily experience and a chronic problem. I see the self-possession of others who quietly accept themselves as God has made (and is making) them, and wonder at their peace and steadiness. If this is something which you enjoy, give thanks and rejoice greatly at the gift and pray for those around you for whom it is not the case! I think of the blinkers which horses often wear to keep them from distraction and focussed on the way ahead – what I want are spiritual blinkers, to keep me looking at my Father, and not at myself or those around me.

All of our lives as believers seems to consist of living as well as we can for our Father in the particular circumstances which He has appointed for us. For each one, it will be different, and no two people will share the same physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual journeys. Our responsibility is to our Father first and foremost, and it is from His faithful love, his adoption of us as his children, that we gain our security, purpose, identity and hope. We need to trust that what He plans and is working in us is enough; each one is uniquely precious, for their own sakes, as his child.

Perhaps this is something we can lovingly do for one another as believers, as members of one body – celebrate the uniqueness of our fellow pilgrims to help them rest in God’s plan and shaping of them, even when it is not looking very impressive! We need grace to accept that others may have gifts we admire and lack ourselves. We also need grace to accept that others may admire our own gifts, and to keep giving God the praise for the ways that he provides for and enables His church to flourish.

Jesus commanded us to love others as we love ourselves – to clothe, feed, honour, comfort and speak God’s love and truth to others, as we do to ourselves. I believe that helping one another to see and be glad of our uniqueness is a great way to love-in-action, to countering the comparison trap, and nurturing a proper pride in our God, who has loved each one and is transforming each one according to his good purposes.

Heavenly Father, help us, your children, to see with your eyes as we look at one another. Help us to take our worth from your love, your plans for us, your secure grasp of us. Help us to recognise the glory of your children which is being revealed as we grow in faith and Christ-likeness.

Deliver us from the comparison trap, that we might love without envy or pride in ourselves, and might serve you free from those bonds of dissatisfaction and arrogance. Let us love one another, as Christ loves us, in practical service and faithful presence, accepting one another in his name and for the building up of your kingdom in this world. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Graceful acceptance….

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Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

(Ps 16)

Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes – God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning, don’t skimp on colours and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!

(Ecc 9.7-9; Message)

One of the most endearing traits of childhood is the complete absorption of the individual in the moment – whatever is happening to them completely fills their minds and nothing else matters. I see this in my own grandson as he reacts to new experiences and sensations with a stillness and attentiveness which speak of soaking in everything that is happening.

I believe that this childhood characteristic is one which our heavenly Father desires us to know too – and it is possible because we are so securely loved and provided for by Him. Our identity, security, salvation, eternal future are all in His hands, and our daily lives are sustained by Him on the planet, in the universe, which all continue to exist by His will alone. He has promised that no matter what happens in life, we are never beyond his loving presence and care – and the fact that this may be hard to understand in situations of tragedy, horror and suffering doesn’t detract from its truth. And in addition to these things, we also have all the joys of life on earth, among the beauty of the natural world, with so many things to give us pleasure and satisfaction as we accept them as God’s gifts to us.

I don’t want to miss this goodness! I want to find and celebrate every good thing which my Father has lovingly placed in my way today, resting deeply in the abundance and letting the beauty soak into my spirit, informing my praise and my trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness. I cannot possibly carry in my memory everything that happens, but I can choose to recognise each jewel-like gift with humble delight, and let the brightness and glory colour my thinking and fix my mind in an attitude of thanksgiving.

Heavenly Father, I am full of a deep and sparkling joy – like a river running golden with sunlight over many-hued stones, and murmuring contentedly as it goes. My path in these days is free from so many sources of anxiety and pain, and is so hemmed in by beauty and contentment that I am filled to overflowing with thankfulness.

I know that these days may not last; I know that many suffer around me; I know that I will know trials of many kinds and once day will face death. And yet, I know too that it would be churlish and stupid to fail to recognise and rest in your goodness to me. I thank you for making me able to see and receive so many gifts – for the senses which connect me to creation, for the relationships which connect me to your image-bearers, my fellow human beings; above all I thank you for the gift of your life in me, through faith in Jesus. Because I am your beloved, adopted, Spirit-inhabited daughter, I KNOW to whom I come with this huge burden of gratitude! I come to my Father, whose arms are wide open in welcome, and whose delight in my delight is unbounded.

Thank you for all your goodness, may I continue to have grace to accept it without qualification, receiving every single part of what you want to give me with childlike openness and attention. I pray and ask this in the name of Jesus, your son my Saviour, for his glory, Amen.