Posts by Josh Moody

2 Kings 14-15, Psalm 119:153-160, Luke 6:1-16, Philippians 3:1-9 Psalm 119:153-160: The “affliction” of the author of Psalm 119 once more comes to the fore: “Look on my affliction and deliver me” (119:153). Do you sense that you have an “affliction”? That is, are you suffering, in pain, in trauma of some kind, whether emotional or physical? Sometimes…

2 Kings 12-13, Psalm 119:145-152, Luke 5:33-39, Philippians 2:19-30 Psalm 119:145-152: Prayer can sometimes seem as if it is a cold-blooded affair. We are told to “say our prayers” or “to say a prayer” or even “give an invocation” or “make intercession.” But prayer in the Bible is life and fire, heat and passion. The psalmist is praying;…

2 Kings 10-11, Psalm 119:137-144, Luke 5:27-32, Philippians 2:12-18 Psalm 119:137-144: It is almost a truism to say that what God does is right—but we nonetheless often question whether that truism is true in actual fact. Some of the parts of the Bible may seem to us harsh or difficult to understand. Some of what happens in this…

2 Kings 8-9, Psalm 119:129-136, Luke 5:17-26, Philippians 2:1-11 Psalm 119:129-136: Sometimes perhaps you ask yourself if it is really worth getting up early or staying up late to read the Bible. When there are so many other things going on in your life, so many pressures, and such business and demands, is it really worth using your…

2 Kings 6-7, Psalm 119:121-128, Luke 5:12-16, Philippians 1:21-30 Psalm 119:121-128: It is hard when you believe that you have done what is right to still be surrounded by opposition or difficulty. And yet that is the experience of many of us at least from time to time. Why do bad things happen to good people? Part of…

2 Kings 4-5, Psalm 119:113-120, Luke 5:1-11, Philippians 1:12-20   Psalm 119:113-120: One of the hardest things for people today to get their minds around is the negative side. We tend to appreciate the positive, the affirmation, the association with what is uplifting—and rightly so. We should emphasize hope and joy and peace and love. No doubt. But,…

2 Kings 1-3, Psalm 119:105-112, Luke 4:38-44, Philippians 1:1-11 Psalm 119:105-112: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (119:105). Perhaps the most important, and summary, verse in this whole psalm—and for your life too! Let its truth sink deep into your mind and bring integrity and integration to your life. Where do…

1 Kings 21-22, Psalm 119:97-104, Luke 4:31-37, Ephesians 6:10-24 Psalm 119:97-104: What is it that makes the Bible so special? Many different answers could be given to that. One of the clearest is found in the Coronation Oath sworn by the Queen of England in 1953: “We present you with this Book, the most valuable thing this world…

1 Kings 21-22, Psalm 119:89-96, Luke 4:31-37, Ephesians 4:13-30 Psalm 119:89-96: When the going gets tough, the tough get going—or so we are told. Certainly, extremity of situation does reveal character. This is one of the reasons why it is important to build character in the quiet lull of normal life so that you can be ready to…

1 Kings 19-20, Psalm 119:81-88, Luke 4:13-30, Ephesians 6:1-9 Psalm 119:81-88: Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you cannot take it anymore? You have been burdened by so many things, so much criticism, or such great calamity that you feel that you are at the end of your rope? The psalmist is somewhere…