How do we make sense of the good things that happen in life which are beyond our control? Do we put them down to luck or is God involved somehow?

“When I pray, coincidences happen; when I don’t, they don’t.” William Temple pic.twitter.com/0XmpodIG3c

The small old testament book of Ruth is a beautiful story of God’s hand in the midst of an ordinary family. When tragedy strikes, we, like Naomi, may well ask: ‘where are you God?’

The story of the blind beggar reminds us that we are all spiritually blind until we see Jesus for who he really is. The question is, how much do you want to see him?

Paul ends his letter to the Galatian church with an encouragement to do good; particularly to carry one another’s burdens. We still need to hear that encouragement today.

We can believe the lie that everything depends on us and so we try to control situations, including other people.

Sometimes we need reminding to simply trust in the Father who holds all things in His hands.

The temptation to compare yourself with someone else has always been part of a diverse church community.

Thankfully Paul reminds us that God sees us all in the same way; simply as his children and that means we are free to be ourselves.

The past can be hard to shake off but God calls us to a bigger future in which our identity is in Christ alone.

Your identity is not defined by the past.

Your identity is in Christ.

Your identity opens up a new future.#freedom #elim pic.twitter.com/XQtPmgOgyR

We may be tempted to try hard to earn the approval of those we respect, including God. Paul reminds us of the true gospel which tells us we don’t need to.