STAND FIRM

DANIEL 3:4-30 These days, anarchy and lawlessness are the norm. Even the individuals who are supposed to enforce the law can violate it with their full chest. As lawlessness grows, God urges us to choose and stand firm for Him against compromise. Standing for righteousness creates noticeable impact, showing God’s faithfulness. In Daniel 3:4-30, three Hebrew friends, … [Read more…]

LOYALTY WITHOUT SHAME

PSALM 34:1-4  Sports fans proudly show their support by wearing logos, posting on Facebook, and discussing their teams with friends. They leave no doubt where their loyalty stands. Our sports loyalties can remind us that our greatest loyalty should be to our Lord. This unashamed loyalty is demonstrated in Psalm 34, which emphasises someone who is … [Read more…]

LETTERS TO THE PEOPLE AT HOME

NEHEMIAH 8:5–12 American recruits in basic training for World War II used humour and letters to deal with their challenges. One young man exaggerated the vaccination process in a letter, saying, “Two medical officers chased us with harpoons. . . ” One soldier discovered that humour has its limits. After receiving a Bible, he wrote, “I … [Read more…]

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

1 KINGS 13:11–24 Her second child, Jane, wanted to sleep in a “big-girl bed” in her sister’s room. Each night, she tucked her in and reminded her to stay in bed, warning her about the crib. However, she often found her in the hallway and had to take her back. Later, she discovered that her sister … [Read more…]

MORE MATURE WISDOM

1 KINGS 12:1–7, 12–17; JOB 12:12 In 2010, a newspaper published a report featuring life lessons from eight senior citizens. It highlighted how ageing can bring emotional and social knowledge, referred to as wisdom. Wise older people offer valuable life lessons, but a newly crowned king in the Bible overlooked this. King Solomon had just died, and in … [Read more…]

A GOOD SEASON

ECCLESIASTES 3:1 Today marks the beginning of a new day and season in various parts of the world (depending on people’s location). New seasons matter to many people. Some eagerly await the changes a new season will bring. You might be counting down, hoping for a change in season, or looking forward to a break from … [Read more…]

AN “APP” IS AVAILABLE FOR THAT

EPHESIANS 5:1-7; PROVERBS 23:12 Remember when phones were for making phone calls? With the smartphone, talking to someone has turned into a storehouse of data. With cell phone applications, you can read sports reports, play games, plan trips, find an apartment, or do any of over 100,000 other tasks available with an “app.” The “apps” for phones … [Read more…]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! KEEP WAITING!!

MICAH 5:2–4 My children used to ask me all the time when they were younger, “How much longer until it is Christmas?” Even though we used a daily Advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas, they still thought the wait was unbearable. Waiting can be hard for everyone, not just children. Micah spoke about … [Read more…]

THE POWER OF DEMONSTRATION

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 My attempts at fixing things at home often result in hiring someone to fix my mistakes. Recently, I successfully repaired a home appliance by watching a step-by-step YouTube video. Paul was a strong role model for his young protégé Timothy, who accompanied him and saw his work. From prison in Rome, Paul wrote about … [Read more…]

LIKE A CHILD

MARK 10:13–16 The little girl danced happily to the music, spinning and waving her arms, while her mother smiled. My heart lifted as I watched and wanted to join her, but I did not. I had lost the joy and wonder of childhood. Though we grow and mature, we should not lose our joy and wonder, … [Read more…]