Carol Purves

It’s so easy. We are doing it all the time. Speaking and talking, that is. But what we say is like dropping a pebble into a pond. The ripples go on and on. We need to be on our guard against gossip, unnecessary moaning and falsehoods.

‘Let your conversation be always full of grace and seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone.’ Col 4:6

There is no other way to come to God except through Jesus. Not good works, pilgrimages, fasting; all these things are very good but they are not the way. The way is only Jesus, not Jesus plus.

‘I am the way, an the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14:16

The earth is not spinning out of control as we might think when we read the world news. It is spinning in exactly the way that God wants it to. Probably we need to slow down and not out-run God.

‘He says, Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.’ Psalm 46:10

God has marked out for each one a race that we must run. It will be different from everyone else. The Bible has many examples of particular jobs for particular people.

‘Let us run with patience the race marked out for us.’ Hebrew 12:1

We are asked to be faithful in prayer but that’s not always easy. Life keeps getting in the way. There are good times and bad times. That’s where a routine helps. This means that we are daily praying, even if our prayers are weak and feeble. Being steadfast and thankful makes praying easier

‘Be faithful in prayer.’ Romans 12:12

Without the help of the Holy Spirit it so difficult to display all the Fruits of the Spirit. If I manage to show one more, I find two others have fallen off the list. Life is full of distractions to draw us away.

‘The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.’ Galatians 5:22

In these days of many false faiths and self-help groups, we need to be convinced of what we believe and Who we stand up for. God gives us small ways in which we can share our faith with others. Meanwhile we are called to persevere.

‘As for you continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of.’ 2 Timothy 3:14

When Christians do good deeds, it is because of their thanks to God for His many blessings and the gift of salvation. It is not to win favour with God.

‘Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.’ Matthew 5:16

When our grandchildren are running the world it will be a very different place, but God’s righteousness will still reach them. We know that God doesn’t have grandchildren; each person has to get to know God for themselves, but we can pray for them.

‘God’s righteousness reaches to the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant and remember to keep His commands.’ Psalm 103:17-18

I believe all of scripture (if one is going to disbelieve some bits, which bits would you disbelieve?) but I don’t understand it all. Nor do I remember it all.

But the Bible is there to comfort, guide, instruct and to teach. That’s enough for me.

‘All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuilding correcting and training in righteousness.’ 2 Timothy 3:16