The Word For Today

One Step Closer to a New Home base for Vision

Dear friends, Absolutely stunned! That’s the best way to describe how we all feel about your generosity and God’s faithfulness, following our Visionathon Radio appeal. I must admit that I had questioned whether we would reach the million dollar goal within the allotted 4 days, but through the generosity of His people, God has just given …Read More

A Problem and an Opportunity

Dear friends, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the future. Or at least, what it might look like given the changes we see all around us. I’ve also been thinking about the responsibility we have to ensure future generations have the opportunity to hear the gospel, and how what we do now will lay …Read More

Taking Steps Closer to Jesus

Dear friends, Lately I’ve been dwelling on the words of Jesus in John 10:10 ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ (NIV) ‘Life abundantly.’ ‘Life to the full.’ ‘A rich and satisfying life.’ ‘In all its fullness.’ What …Read More

“Bringing Hope and Life into the Outback…”

Dear friends, Like many people, I’ve been thinking a lot about the drought. It is affecting so many, like Vision radio listeners Jeffrey and Tricia Agar—they’ve been in drought for six years: ‘We have a sheep, wool and cattle station in SW Queensland. We are waiting on a knife’s edge for the healing, drought-breaking, dam-filling, …Read More

Can you connect with us again soon?

Dear friends, Thanks for reading this letter—it’s simply to ask a small favour. As you know, Vision connects the true hope of God’s Word to Aussies each day through broadcast, print and digital media. We’re able to do it through the generous support of people like you. We’re really thankful for everyon’es support, but it’s …Read More

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Establish Your Core Convictions

‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.’ Daniel 1:8 NIV

What was Daniel’s problem? What was wrong with eating the best food in the country? Most people lived on a meagre diet. Daniel was going to have the opportunity to eat, literally, like a king. Why the hard line?

When you dig down into the cultural realities of the situation, more seems to be at stake. A Babylonian feast was always eaten in honour of the gods. So whenever you sat down to a meal, it wasn’t just dining that you participated in, but an act of worship. This food had previously been sacrificed to a pagan god. For a Jewish teenager who took his faith in God seriously, participation would mean compromising who he was called to be. By eating their meal, he would be worshipping their god.

And for Daniel, that was a bridge too far. It was about compromising his character, and that he would not do. You don’t discover your convictions when the pressure is on; you decide them in advance. It’s during the good times that you determine what you will or won’t do during the hard times. The psalmist said: ‘How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.’ (Psalm 119:9–11 NIV)

Victorious Christian living is encapsulated in these three statements:

(1) ‘By living according to Your word.’

(2) ‘I seek You with all my heart.’

(3) ‘I have hidden Your word in my heart.’

SoulFood: 1 Sam 8–10, Matt 26:47–68, Ps 54, Pro 21:18–21