graham blog

by Graham MolIn Paul's first letter to the Church at Corinth he makes an interesting statement about how he uses his freedom in Christ. The following passage comes from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.Someone might say that Paul was being two-faced or hypocritical or inconsistent. They might say that he became a different person depending on who he was around. For example, Paul would be the guy "drinking tea" with the teetotallers one day and having a pint with the guys the next. Or eating kosher with the Rabbinovitz's last night and having a cheese and bacon burger for lunch with the Joneses today. At first glance it may seem that Paul is inconsistent, "I have become all things to all people..." but that would be to ignore his reason for doing so."...so that by all possible means I might save some." Paul was deeply committed to sharing the Gospel. He was one hundred percent devoted to winning souls for Christ. In this quest he was unwavering. Although he could act differently around different people, Paul always knew who he was, a child of God and a servant of Christ. And as Christ's servant he was always trying to reach the lost with the Gospel message.Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of Paul's words really captures that heart of what Paul was saying. "I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view." In this Paul was a pioneer of missionary work. Those who go as evangelists on missions…

by Graham MolToday I came across a beautiful, deep lyric from the song My Worth Is Not In What I Own (At The Cross) by Graham Kendrick and Keith and Kristyn Getty.Two wonders here that I confessMy worth and my unworthinessMy value fixed my ransom paid at the cross I love the depth of this verse from the song as it speaks of two incredible truths that we find in Scripture.Firstly, that we are of incredible worth. How much worth? Well, the Apostle Paul speaks about our lives being bought at a price. That price is made clear by the Apostle Peter who says the following:For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.(1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT)Jesus paid for us with His precious blood, His very life, that He gave on the cross. Nothing could speak more about our worth in God's eyes,  that He would give His own Son for our sake. We do not need to look at our wealth, or achievements, skill, wisdom or fame to find out our worth. Jesus died for us all. We are worth THAT MUCH to God. And nothing could ever take this truth away from us.If ever you feel worthless, remember that God considered you worth dying for.The second incredible truth is linked to the first. In that though we are of worth, precious in God's sight, we are at the same time unworthy. We were not deserving of Christ's loving sacrifice. We had not earned the right.6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:6-8 CSB)Though we were unworthy, God showed us just how much we are worth to Him in paying the ransom for our souls. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.The wonder of our worth and unworthiness is a humbling reminder of the lavish grace that God has poured out on us. Though undeserving, we have been saved by Jesus, and so we know that we are precious in His sight. God BlessGraham

by Graham MolAs I was reading through Psalm 116 there was a particular verse that stood out to me:The Lord guards the inexperienced;I was helpless, and he saved me,(Psalm 116:6 CSB) I was intrigued by the word "inexperienced" and took a look at a couple of different translations. This is a helpful practice since the Bible was not written in English but in Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testamet) and so the meaning of the words use do not always have a direct translation into English. This is why you find differences between the different translations that we have of the Bible. This is not to say that our English versions are not accurate, the core meaning is retain as each translation highlights a certain aspect of the original Hebrew or Greek word.Here is verse 6 in a few different translations:The Lord preserves the simple;    when I was brought low, he saved me. (ESV)The Lord protects those of childlike faith;    I was facing death, and he saved me. (NLT)The Lord protects the unwary;    when I was brought low, he saved me. (NIV)The Lord protects the simple (childlike);I was brought low [humbled and discouraged], and He saved me. (AMP)Ok so Bible lecture aside! What does this verse mean? Let's first consider the opposite of the person described here as inexperienced, childlike and simple. This would be someone who is experienced, who has seen the world and knows how complicated it can be, for them life is not simple. We could call this person world-wise or even street smart. They could be complex and crafty. Often this is the kind of person you must become to survive in this dog-eat-dog kind of world.Although such a person can survive or even thrive in a tough cut-throat world, it often leaves them worn, cynical and disillusioned. Their hands might be stained from some of the dirty things you just "have to do" to get by. In contrast, the simple, inexperience and child-like person would be considered like a lamb to the slaughter. Their innocence making them vulnerable.Sometimes we Christians are regarded as such lambs. Walking in love, placing the needs of others before our own, seeking to bring peace, we can sometimes come across as ideological or naïve. "That's great," others may say, "but in the real world it doesn't quite work like that..."What hope do we have? Is the only way to make it in a cold, cruel world is to become like it? The call of Scripture is clear, we are to be set apart as God's holy people. In the world but not behaving like it. So yes, our "inexperience", our simplicity, our childlike-faith may put us at risk, but we are not helpless and defenceless.The Lord guards the inexperienced, He preserves the simple, He protects those of childlike faith. When we are helpless, when we are brought low and even when face danger and death, He will save us. God BlessGraham

by Graham MolThe Heart of Worship by Matt Redman is one of those timeless classic worship songs that many of us love and sing today. The combination of sincere heartfelt words and the simple melody has spoken to so many believers, reminding them of what is actually important when it comes to worshipping the Lord. It is no wonder that such a song has a meaningful story behind it. Back in the 1990s, Matt Redman's home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England was experience a period of apathy. A musical worship revival was happening in the country and they were struggling to find meaning in their own music at the time.“There was a dynamic missing, so the pastor did a pretty brave thing,” [Redman] recalls. “He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”Reminding his church family to be producers in worship, not just consumers, the pastor, Mike Pilavachi, asked, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”(D. Schrader, Song Story: Matt Redman's "The Heart of Worship")In grappling with an answer to this challenging question people broke into a cappella songs and prayers. They experienced the Lord in new way. This began a new journey of worship as they added back the other elements, not losing sight of the fact that worship is all about Jesus. Worship is our response to Him, who He is and His incredible love for us.Matt Redman went to write a song about his experience of what had happened to their congregation. This song would become what we know today: The Heart of Worship.Although it was never the intention, the song went on to be sung in thousands of churches as people connected with the simple truth of the words. It voiced what we all long for - to bring something that is of worth, more than a song itself but true heartfelt worship.I have often found it helpful to sing The Heart of Worship reminding me of what is truly important when we come to worship the Lord. When all the extra stuff is stripped away, and we simply come before Jesus. It's all about Him, that is the heart of worship.God BlessGrahamThe Heart of WorshipWhen the music fadesAll is stripped awayAnd I simply comeLonging just to bringSomething that's of worthThat will bless Your heartI'll bring You more than a songFor a song in itselfIs not what You have requiredYou search much deeper withinThrough the way things appearYou're looking into my heartI'm coming back to the heart of worshipAnd it's all about You, it's all about You, JesusI'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made itWhen it's all about You, it's all about You, JesusKing of endless worthNo one could expressHow much you deserveThough I'm weak and…