Sometimes when we look back on difficulties, the blessing of hindsight enables us to see just why it is that God took us on an unexpected journey that was more difficult and less obvious than the main road.

But sometimes it’s only when God’s word specifically explains a situation that it’s possible to know why God did what he did.

When God brought his people out of slavery in Egypt, the most obvious way for them to travel on their exit route was to take the main road that was easiest and shortest.

Yet, God had other plans for his people, and so instead he took them a more difficult route, which if they didn’t know better, might have been interpreted as being a sign of God’s lack of love or wisdom.

However the Bible tells us exactly what God was thinking, for we read in Exodus:

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17)

God didn’t take them the obvious way, but instead they went through the wilderness so that they might avoid a confrontation with another enemy which might then lead them to return back to where they were slaves in Egypt.

We might not know why it is that the Lord is taking us on a longer and harder journey than normal, but we do know that the Lord disciplines his children (Hebrews 12:7) and that everything works together for the good of God’s people (Romans 8:28).

The Lord might take us on the longer, harder path, but wherever he leads us, we know he’s good and that he loves us.

JODIE McNEILL

For many Christians, Good Friday is a day on which the death of Jesus is remembered and experienced as if it was his funeral.

It was certainly a tragic day when the creator was killed by the creation he came to save.

Plus, when we realise that our sin caused his sacrifice, then we feel remorse for our rebellion that led him to the cross.

Yet Jesus said something on the night before he died that should make us pause and reflect upon our emotions on Good Friday.

Jesus said to his disciples:

So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. (John 16:22)

When Jesus was to appear to those disciples in the days after his resurrection, they would rejoice, and nothing would stop their joy.

To make the point, Jesus likened their emotions to that of a brand new mother:

It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. (John 16:21)

After the birth, all that matters is the joy of the new baby.

Likewise, after the pain of Good Friday, all that matters is the joy of Easter Sunday.

We who live as people of the risen Lord are right to continue to remember the joy of the resurrection, even as we stop to reflect on the sacrifice of his death.

For though it was the darkest day, all we now see is the light of life, even as we rightly feel remorse for our sins that brought him to the cross.

JODIE McNEILL

The Holy Spirit has a message that he’s telling the world—and it’s all about the need for everyone to personally know Jesus.

On the night before he died, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will “convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” (John 16:8)

This is the clear message of the Spirit, and his word has three main points.

Firstly, The Spirit tells the world that it has a broken relationship with God, which is the ‘sin’ of refusing to believe in Jesus.

Secondly, The Spirit tells the world that it can become reconciled with God, because Jesus died and rose and then returned to be with his heavenly Father.

Thirdly, The Spirit tells the world that it needs to act upon this offer of forgiveness, because judgement is coming soon.

The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring a message of sin, righteousness and judgement to the world—and he uses the followers of Jesus to share it with the world.

Easter is such a wonderful occasion to share the message of the Holy Spirit with a world that needs to know the reconciliation of Jesus before it’s too late.

Because at Easter, we learn about why the world needs Jesus, what Jesus did on the cross, and why we need to ask for forgiveness with Jesus before he comes back soon.

This Easter we’re going to hear about the Spirit of fulfilment on Good Friday (from John 19:28-37) then on Easter Sunday we’ll hear about the Spirit of Peace (from John 20:19-23).

There’s no better time to come to Jesus than Easter.

Will you join us for church this Easter?

JODIE McNEILL

When I preach at church or make posts on social media, I don’t expect violent, physical attacks from those who disagree with me.

Sadly that is not the case in other parts of the world, where people risk their lives when they meet for church and when they say they worship Jesus.

Today more than 350 million Christians live under serious persecution for their faith, which makes Christianity the world’s most persecuted religion.

In the West, we usually don’t get physically attacked for saying we follow Jesus, but nonetheless the persecution of Christians is getting stronger and stronger.

Even though 44% of Aussies associated with Christianity in the last census, our faith is far from mainstream.

Yet, Jesus told his followers that this is what we should expect.

Speaking to his closest friends on the night before he died, he said:

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

Jesus’ words clash with society, now more than ever, which means that those who love his words should expect to be hated by the world.

So, if you want to follow Jesus, then it’s harder than ever to sit on the fence.

If you follow Jesus, you’ll be hated by the world… so make your choice.

But the good news is that after Jesus returned to heaven, he sent his Holy Spirit to be an advocate for his followers, and to help his followers speak powerfully about Jesus.

That’s why our church wants everyone to know about Jesus, even if it’s unpopular.

Because the reason the world wants to silence Jesus is because he’s got something very important to say.

JODIE McNEILL

Each year our Parish Council gives prayerful consideration to our needs and opportunities as it sets the budget for the coming year, setting the target for giving necessary for our expenses.

This year we decided to increase our target by only enough to cover increases in costs from inflation, but in January we realised that we were really struggling to meet this amount.

So, we prayed that God would supply our needs.

We know that the Lord is intimately involved with every aspect of life, so we asked him to provide for our church so we could keep telling each person in the village, valley and region how to follow Jesus and why it matters.

Then, after weeks of prayer, our Parish Council asked each of us to consider an increase in our regular giving, or even the possibility of a special, one-off gift that could pay back our hall renovation loan, and reduce the repayments by $325 a week.

We prayed… and the Lord answered!

Giving has increased by at least $350 a week… and we’ve received a gift of $25,000 to cancel the loan and its repayments!

I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was… because even though I knew that the Lord hears and answers our prayers, I was blown away by the wonderful way he has done this for us.

Yet, the greatest blessing has not been an increase in our giving, it’s been an increase in our faith!

I can personally vouch for how much this trial has lead me to depend more on God, and to delight in asking him boldly for the big things and the little things… so that he will receive the glory.

What a wonderful surprise to see afresh the kindness of God!

JODIE McNEILL