Issue 32 — Press On Journal

God aches to be close with us. He wants us to move from relating to Him as a master to be obeyed, to knowing Him as a Father who welcomes, forms, and frees us. Sometimes that means reading familiar passages with fresh eyes, and finding a Father we'd missed behind the words we thought we knew. The freedom He offers isn’t something we are waiting for, but a life to be lived now — a change of heart and soul and mind that comes from truly knowing His love and learning to love others well.

Articles

No Longer Slaves

- Keren Dando

Roman culture had a practice of using adoption to ensure a desirable heir, sometimes even freeing a trusted slave for this purpose. Paul uses slavery as a metaphor to show what God has done for us: bought us at a high price, clothed us with Christ, and adopted us as his children. We can call God ‘Abba, Father’ and live free as his cherished heirs.

The Eclipse of Christ by the Kingdom

- Karam Ram

Are our lives just a waiting room ‘in the region and shadow of death’, or has light dawned? The message Jesus preached was not a reminder of the Kingdom visions of the Old Testament but a radical invitation to experience the realm of God here and now. His miracles showed that the Kingdom had already broken through, and the Sermon on the Mount describes what it means to live under the sovereignty of God: the transformation of who we are, not a performance of piety. Jesus is already our King, and we can experience God’s Holy Spirit in our lives now.

Preconceptions About Passages

- John Launchbury

How much of what we think about a passage is actually coming from the text, and how much is coming from us? This article looks afresh at three familiar passages: the parable of the Prodigal Son, Paul’s letter to Philemon, and the Great Commission. It shows how titles, tradition, our social context and the understandings of others before us can colour, and even distort, what we hear. We will always bring preconceptions; the only protection is to bring humility too, and to recognise that discipleship is a path of learning and discovery.

Trial and Triumph

- Chris Peel

How can we ‘count it all joy’ when we meet trials? And if God tempts no one, why does Jesus teach us to pray that our Father does not lead us into temptation? This article explores the difference between being tested and being tempted, through the experiences of Abraham, Adam and Eve, and Jesus himself. Testing is how God shapes us, intending to do us good in the end, even when the same situation becomes a seedbed for temptation. Understanding how the two work can help us face them with our eyes on the joy set before us.

Vulnerability and a Wholehearted Faith

- Rose Hardy

Elijah’s interactions with the widow, the Shunammite woman, and Naaman illustrate vulnerability, empathy, and the courage to ask for help. These stories encourage us to be honest and vulnerable with each other and God.