Author: nickjones2011
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Living in the light of Christ’s return (Proverbs 26-28; 1 Thess 3)
The return of Christ is in every chapter of Paul’s short letter to the Thessalonians (1v10, 2v19, 3v13, 4v16, 5v2). The return of Christ changes how we live in the present. Paul is so thankful that the Thessalonians turned from idols to the living God, trusting in Jesus’ death on their behalf (1:9-10). He had…
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Dare to share (Proverbs 24-25; Ps 41; 1 Thess 2)
It must have been hard for the apostle Paul to keep going. Can you imagine not just having rude things said about you, but stones thrown at you! Can you imagine the pain of being lashed with a stick until you bled, being thrown in prison and more. Each time Paul opened his mouth to…
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A church to give thanks for (Proverbs 22-23; Ps 117; 1 Thess 1)
Paul had only been with the Thessalonians for a few weeks (see Acts 17), before he was torn away but he was so thankful for the way they responded to the gospel. In 1 Thessalonians 1 we read of Paul’s delight in these believers who have proved to be the real deal. Three things mark…
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Love for the church means intolerance to false doctrine (Proverbs 19-21; Ps 40; Rom 16)
What does it mean to love your church? As Paul comes to the end of this great book of Romans his love for the church and desire to see it continue leads him to warn very strongly against those who would lead the church astray. Paul tells the church in Rome to “watch out for…
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Enduring suffering with joy (Proverbs 16-18; Romans 15)
John Flavel lost 3 wives, and at least one child. He knew a thing or two about suffering. Yet as you read his writing, he is full of joy. He exemplifies the truth of one of our Proverbs for today: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs…
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Life is messy (Proverbs 14-15; Rom 14)
Life is messy. We might wish it wasn’t, we might want everything clean and tidy and orderly, but the reality is, it won’t be long until it is messy again. There is wisdom in accepting that. I find this proverb from today’s reading helpful: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant…
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Where do you find your value? (Proverbs 11-13; Psalm 8; Rom 13)
As exam season and pride month continue it may be tempting to look to academic success or your sexuality for your identity. Psalm 8 helps us to look somewhere else. It’s a wonderful God focussed Psalm, beginning and ending with the majesty of God. It is in looking to the God of the Bible that…
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Do not be conformed to this world (Proverbs 8-10; Psalm 144; Rom 12)
June is pride month. There’s lots of pressure to conform, it’s much easier to just go with the flow. But in our reading today God says, “do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). If you follow Jesus, you’re not to just go with the flow, but to go God’s way. Sometimes our light…
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The justice of God (Proverbs 6-7; Psalm 7; Rom 11)
If you have ever been wronged, you will know that justice matters. In Psalm 7, David has been wronged. A man called Cush has falsely accused David of something and it’s ruining David. He feels like he’s being torn apart like the prey of a lion (v2). David does the best thing, he cries out…
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The heart of God (Proverbs 3-5; Romans 10)
We saw yesterday that if you love God, it’s because He chose to have mercy on you. In Romans 10 we see the heart of God for unbelieving people as God says “all day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (V21). God has been so patient, think of…
Milford RPC 