Be Still and Know

Proverbs 22.3 NLT 'A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.' This proverb, like so many of them, is just sheer good sense. It’s the kind of statement that could easily...

Proverbs 21.26 NLT 'Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!' Longing for more money and possessions is a terrible disease, but our materialistic society is built on the assumption that that is how we should all liv...

1 Peter 5.8-9 NLT 'Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.' I have visited Africa on a number of occasion...

1 Peter 5.7 NLT 'Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.' Whether they are large or small, we all carry various cares and concerns. They may be focused on health issues for ourselves or those who are close to us. We ma...

1 Peter 5.5 NLT All of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Some years ago I was privileged to attend a conference at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. We were g...

1 Peter 5.1-2 NLT 'As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.' After Jesus’ resurr...

1 Peter 4.10-11 NLT 'God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the...

1 Peter 4.7-8 NLT 'The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other.' The idea of the world coming to an end is a challenging thought,...

1 Peter 3.15-16 NLT 'If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.' When Peter wrote his letter, Christianity was still quite new and so I am sure that many people we...

1 Peter 3.9 NLT 'Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.' If you have ever been insulte...

1 Peter 3.3-4 NLT 'Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewellery, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and qu...

1 Peter 2.21 NLT 'For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.' I’ve known some wonderful people, and I am sure you have as well. I have only...

1 Peter 2.18 NLT 'You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.' Everything about slavery is horrifying. The idea that someone coul...

1 Peter 1.16 NLT 'You are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.' On the face of it this verse doesn’t seem to make much sense. Surely freedom means that you can do whatever you like. All constraint...

1 Peter 2.12 NLT 'Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbours. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honourable behaviour, and they will give honour to God when he judges the world.' Socrates, the f...