We have a bit of a dilemma when considering our relationship with God – how to establish and grow a connection with someone who is invisible to our eyes.  Because we can’t see Him It is easy to imagine that He is distant, in some far away part of space, and it seems ridiculous to imagine that the Creator of the universe would be interested in our little lives. 

It is a revelation to read in the Bible that God is not only near to us but part of the very fabric of our lives.  The apostle Paul gave a famous speech on Mars Hill in Athens in which he said

“. . . He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:27-28, NKJV)

This seems to say that God’s power keeps us alive and moving.  Other passages confirm this.  In Job we read that

“If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.” (Job 34:14-15, NKJV). 

Elsewhere we read that God knows our thoughts, He knows our hearts, even the “very hairs of your head are all numbered”, Jesus said.

It is one thing to be “physically” near to God in that way, and quite another to enter into a close relationship with Him. The parable of the Prodigal Son recorded in Luke 15 illustrates how we can begin to achieve this.  Having wasted all his inheritance on “riotous living” in a far country the son find himself penniless and starving.  He decides to go back home and offer his humble service to his father.  As he approaches the family home the father sees him a long way off and runs to meet him, welcoming him home with a kiss. 

The father in the parable represents God. The lesson from it is put into words by James in his letter.  He writes

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8, NKJV). 

God is waiting for us to make that first move to come to Him so He can in turn show us the love which He has for us.

It’s 2022… the beginning of another new year… another opportunity to set yourself a new goal. How about setting yourself a new kind of resolution for this year: to read God’s Word every day!

‘Seek the Lord while He may be found’ – Isaiah 55v6

You may have set yourself many different goals in the past and wondered why some of them were so hard to keep… the trick is to set out some realistic and achievable steps to follow.  If you do this, you will find it much easier to keep to your resolution.

‘Receive the word with all readiness of mind… search the scriptures daily’ – Acts 17v11

Here are 5 steps to help you achieve your new goal:

‘Delight in God’s Word and meditate upon it’ – Psalm 1v2

The FREE Bible Reading Planner suggests a chapter for each day and includes helpful notes 

To request your free copy email: info@bibleinfo.org.uk

This time of year, the birth of Jesus Christ is memorialized in school Nativity plays across the country by countless children.

It’s a hugely important event in the history of the earth, but it should be recognized in the context of God’s whole plan for it, and us.

Please join us for a very accessible evening to sing seasonal hymns and look at the birth of Jesus Christ in the context of the prophecies concerning him and the future.

Sunday, December 19th, 2021, 6.00 to 7.30 p.m. God willing

Light refreshments will be served afterwards

Please let us know if you would like to attend in person. All recommended covid regulations are being followed.

There are so many worrying things going on in the world at the moment, it is enough to make you wonder how long it can all go on for before society just collapses under the weight of big pile of insurmountable problems. Perhaps most troubling of all is climate change which has led to such an increase in the frequency of natural disasters.

Very often when describing these things reporters and activists reach for biblical expressions to describe the magnitude of such events. So we hear about a “climate apocalypse” and forest fires that are “akin to Armageddon”. There is enormous concern about where we will eventually end up given the direction that things are going.

This fear about the future is something which was spoken about by the Lord Jesus in a prophecy which he gave about the days immediately before his return from heaven. He said “there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth” Luke 21:25-26 (NKJV)

Other biblical prophets are equally dire in their predictions of this time, describing city-levelling earthquakes, people hiding in caves in terror and, yes, a great battle at a location symbolically named “Armageddon”.
But before we run for the hills we should continue reading, because the same prophets also speak of a future time beyond all this trouble—a time of peace and plenty and fairness for all; an end of war, corruption and all evil things which spoil this age. It is called the kingdom of God. The Bible contains an invitation to anyone who is prepared to listen, to be saved from this future time of trouble and be blessed with a permanent residence in the age to come.

It is easy to mock someone for believing in something which is different from our own beliefs—and everyone believes in something. It is also increasingly easy to be mocked for believing in God and His word, the Bible.

One of the most common accusations levelled at believers is around having a ‘blind faith’ i.e. nothing substantial to back up a very serious faith position.

In the latest video that we uploaded to our YouTube channel we have a personal perspective on this subject—one of our congregation talking about why they believe in the Bible and the impact it has on their life.

Far from being a ‘blind faith’, they derive their belief from a logical, reasoned position which comes from experience, observation and thoughtfulness— things we all possess.

If you’re willing to watch and listen for 30-40 minutes, you’ll discover some of the reasoned arguments which may also
resonate with you.

Creation—did everything come from nothing without an incredible designer behind it?

Morality—is there really no right and wrong except what we decide on the day?

Prophecy—the Bible makes some incredible predictions and gets them right; can this be chance?

To hear more on this, check out our presentation video ‘My faith—Why I believe in the Bible’ on our YouTube channel.

Photo 31791036 / Faith Doubt © Paul Looyen | Dreamstime.com