The way the world usually calculates success – length of life, extent of wealth, number of degrees, height of position and the number of followers. Many believe that the closer one is to God, the more successful one is in this world – measured by the world’s instruments. This text in Genesis, along with other similar texts in the Bible, challenges this way of thinking which, unfortunately, has also crept into the church.

The way the world usually calculates success – length of life, extent of wealth, number of degrees, height of position and the number of followers. Many believe that the closer one is to God, the more successful one is in this world – measured by the world’s instruments. This text in Genesis, along with other similar texts in the Bible, challenges this way of thinking which, unfortunately, has also crept into the church.

A devoted mother who suffers sleepless nights nursing her very sick child into health, or a father who takes on two full-time jobs to make ends meet for his poor family, or a soldier who carries his wounded friend from the certain dangers of the frontline to relative safety. Such acts of being wearied for others are highly commendable and speak of sacrifice and self-giving love. The greatest and most perfect model of this is Jesus Himself.

A devoted mother who suffers sleepless nights nursing her very sick child into health, or a father who takes on two full-time jobs to make ends meet for his poor family, or a soldier who carries his wounded friend from the certain dangers of the frontline to relative safety. Such acts of being wearied for others are highly commendable and speak of sacrifice and self-giving love. The greatest and most perfect model of this is Jesus Himself.

Do our prayers have to be in a queue to get God’s attention? How does God handle all the millions of petitions that go toHim at any given moment? Answers to these questions depend on our view of God, and of time and eternity. They also depend on our experience of God and our observations of others around us.

Do our prayers have to be in a queue to get God’s attention? How does God handle all the millions of petitions that go to Him at any given moment? Answers to these questions depend on our view of God, and of time and eternity. They also depend on our experience of God and our observations of others around us.

Wesley offers a safe path that avoids an objectivism without personal experience and a floating subjectivism with no anchor on solid ground. It is a path that stays out of a religion without a living relationship and an imagined relationship without truth.

Romans 8:16 assures us that “the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God.” This is one of the important aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work in us.

Do you recognise Jesus’ nailed-pierced hands moving with grace, and His love-filled face in the daily moments of your life? If so, you will know the marvellous joy that comes with it, where the heart leaps and the soul rests.