"Father, Forgive them"

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34

While He was hanging on the Cross, Jesus spoke 7 times. Each time His words sketched a clear picture of His love for sinners and His intimate relationship with His heavenly Father. Even despite the excruciating pain, Jesus noticed other people and tried to help them.

In the period before His crucifixion, Jesus’ relationships had also suffered. The 12 friends who had accompanied Him for 3 years deserted Him, Peter denied Him and Judas betrayed Him. The Jewish people for whom He had come, rejected His offer of salvation and had Him crucified. Despite the agony He was suffering on the Cross. Jesus prayed for those that rejected Him and had Him crucified. He prayed that His Father should forgive them because they did not understand the impact of their actions.

The unconditional love and forgiveness of Jesus are still available to you. You can confess your sins with confidence because He is prepared to forgive them!

-         Derived from Living in God’s Love, Nina Smit

Deuteronomy Chapter 8 - 10

“Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord has promised on the oath to your ancestors.” – Deuteronomy 8:1

Deuteronomy Chapter 8 is basically a reminder to us that we should not forget the Lord our God, and all that He has done for us. God instructs us in Deuteronomy 10:12 “…to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.”

As Christians, living in the modern world today, it is so easy for us to forget what the Lord has done for us in our lives, when we are going through trials and tribulations. This chapter is a reminder to us that we should not forget the Lord. The Bible is instructing us to obey, love and serve the Lord with ALL of our heart and soul, in everything that we do. In Deuteronomy 11:26, the Bible states that this is both a blessing and a curse. If we obey the commands, laws and decrees of the Lord that He has given to us, He will bless us with all that we desire, if it is in His will. However, if we choose to disobey Him, then “the Lord’s anger will burn against you” (Deuteronomy 11:16). Therefore, as 10:20 says, “…fear the Lord your God, and serve Him”. He is the God of all gods and Lord of all lords, the great God, mighty and awesome!

The message that the Lord is bringing to you today is to not forget what God has done for you, no matter what it may be that you are facing. In times of anger, sadness, happiness, etc., we should remember what the Lord has done for us, and praise Him, for He is worthy of praise! Decide right now to honour God’s Name in everything that you do and to give HIM the glory for your success. For as He has sworn to keep His covenant with us, so we should our promises to Him, and obey what he requests and requires from us. That we honour him, do His will, love, serve and obey Him.

Love God with your whole heart and soul., and ask Him to enable you to love your neighbour like this as well. 

Who Is God Really?

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” – Ecclesiastes 11:5

We do not have to try to understand God with our limited human minds because we will never be able to understand Him. However, the central message of the Bible explains who God wants to be for us. Willem Nicol said:

 “God is the Infinite One, the Foundation of our existence. He has a burning desire for us. He paid the highest price to enable us to be part of Him forever. We see Him in Jesus. Basically life for us should consist of being different from others, of no longer living for ourselves, because we follow Jesus. Eternity makes this possible for us because He gives His Spirit to live in us and to lead us.”

This is exactly what God wants to be for you. The reason for your existence. He wants you to be part of Him forever. He sends his Son so that you can be His child, and He gives His Spirit to show you how to live. You no longer have to try to understand Him – you merely have to be still and cherish His love for you.

-         Derived from Living in God’s Love, Nina Smit

Though Jesus certainly is radically different than the people-pleasing Christians many of us find ourselves being at times, Jesus is not a hammer looking to nail every person in sight either. May God grant us discretion, wisdom and tact as we navigate through this life allowing His spirit to conform us to His image more and more each day.

John 3:16

I truly believe that the story of Jesus' crucifixion is the greatest love story ever told. In fact, it is not a story, but rather the living truth, and it is what inspired me to start this page.

I’m pretty sure most of you are aware of the scripture:

 John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

It’s safe to say that this is the “golden” text of the Bible, and also the most familiar. Personally, I find it to be the most magnificent love story ever told. It does not deal with human emotions, nor does it deal with a romantic relationship that men and women have. Rather, it speaks about a love that is unconditional, unchanging, unfailing and all-consuming. It is almost unbelievable that someone can love us to this extent! Do you realize what this means??? It means that no mater what we do, no matter what doubts we have, no matter how many times we walk away from Him, and defy Him, He STILL loves us, unconditionally.

How many times has someone done something to you, which you feel they were unworthy of your forgiveness, let alone, your love? Many times, we as humans have allowed anger and hurt to change the love we have for one another. God will not do that. He loves us regardless of what happens. He does not love us for what we have or have not done, but He loves us because of who HE is. HE is a forgiving God. HE is a compassionate God. HE is an understanding God. He sent His very own Son, Jesus Christ, to earth so that He could understand what it means to be human and the struggles that we face. So God understands your every predicament and circumstance. Regardless of what it may be, He will love us no matter what.

Ladies, imagine being captured by a man who loves you more than life itself; who is willing to take His life for you. Imagine belonging to a man who finds you beautiful in everyway, despite ALL of your flaws. Imagine a man drawing you closer everyday, and loving you in the way that you have always dreamed. Imagine a man that pursues your heart, above all things. Imagine a man that can satisfy the deepest desires of your heart. A love like this does not exist in our imaginations. . It is real and it exists with Jesus Christ, our Saviour. The Bible is a beautiful love story between Christ and His Bride. He tenderly pursues our hearts. Isn’t it beautiful?

Jesus loves us so much that he endured hatred, betrayal, lying, beating, spitting, whipping, crucifixion, the weight of sin, and the wrath of God all so that we could come to know His father. He sacrificed his life and perfect communion with God so that we do not have to spend an eternity in hell, but in heaven with God.

That is the ultimate sacrifice.