OUR FACES

GALATIANS 5:22–26; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 “Only your face goes to heaven, not your body,” the girl told her grandfather when she was very little about what happens when you die. You keep your face, but you get a new body. Naturally, her conception of our everlasting state was childish, but she did recognise a fundamental reality. Our … [Read more…]

POOR JUDGEMENT

MATTHEW 7:1-5 I have been quick to pass judgement on everyone I see gazing at a phone while strolling along the street. How could they have been so blind to the cars that were going to crash into them? Are they not concerned about their own security? However, I was so focused on a text … [Read more…]

SYNCRETISM

ZEPHANIAH 1:1–6; 2:1–3; 3:17 I went to a wedding a few years ago where two people from different countries were married. While it can be lovely when cultures blend together, this ceremony combined Christian customs with some other worship rites. Zephaniah the prophet criticised syncretism, a practice where other religions are combined with faith in the one … [Read more…]

EVERY SECOND COUNTS

PHILIPPIANS 1:21 Grace, living in a nursing home, was a widow who had outlived her friends and family. When he first met her, he asked her about her time and what captivated her attention. Grace cited Paul’s quote in Philippians 1:21, stating that to her, living is Christ and to die is gain. She shared … [Read more…]

WORKING SIDE BY SIDE

NEHEMIAH 3:1–12; ECCLESIASTES 4:9 In the past, a city with fallen walls showed a defeated people, left vulnerable and humiliated. The Jews constructed Jerusalem’s walls for this reason. In what way? The phrase “by working side by side” perfectly captures Nehemiah 3. Nehemiah chapter 3 highlights the collaborative efforts of various individuals in the reconstruction process, including … [Read more…]

KNOWING TIME

EPHESIANS 5:15-16; PSALM 90 “Westerners have watches. The Africans have time. In his book Impossible People, Os Guinness made this statement, using an African adage. That made me think about the occasions when I said, “I don’t have time,” in response to a request. I considered how schedules and deadlines control my life and the tyranny … [Read more…]

A BLIND MAN’S REQUEST

LUKE 18:35–43 Many years back, a fellow traveller saw that I was straining to see distant objects. His next action was straightforward yet transformative. “Try these,” he said after removing his glasses. I was surprised to see that my blurry vision improved when I put on his spectacles. I eventually saw an optometrist, who gave … [Read more…]

COMFORT FROM A FRIEND

JOB 2:7–13 A mom found her daughter muddy after school. She said her friend had slipped and fallen into a mud puddle, hurting her leg. Feeling sorry for her friend, the daughter sat in the puddle with her friend until a teacher arrived. Job, devastated by the loss of his children and suffering from painful sores, … [Read more…]

LET ME SEE

JOHN 14:23–31 The first time Mark visited the Chora Church in Istanbul, he learnt some Bible stories from the Byzantine frescos and mosaics. However, he missed some details. A guide helped him understand these details, making everything clear. For instance, the first aisle depicts Jesus’ life as recorded in the gospel of Luke. Jesus’ followers were … [Read more…]

BE STILL

PSALM 46 My friend and I sat in the sand near the waters, watching waves curl and ripple. He expressed his love for the waters that keep moving without him changing position. Many people struggle to stop their efforts, fearing that halting them will lead to a loss of self or expose them to the constant … [Read more…]