THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

MATTHEW 4:23–5:12 Dr. Rishi Manchanda asks patients where they live to understand their environmental conditions affecting their health. He advocates for Upstream doctors, healthcare workers addressing root causes of illness alongside urgent medical care. Jesus healed those who came to Him, offering more than just physical care. In His Sermon on the Mount, he described attitudes … [Read more…]

UNLIKELY COMPANIONS

ISAIAH 11:1–10 My Facebook friends frequently share sweet videos of unexpected animal friendships, like a dog and pig, deer and cat, and ape caring for tiger cubs. Heartwarming friendships remind me of Eden. Adam, Eve, and animals lived in harmony until sin disrupted peace. Now, conflict is evident in human relationships and creation, contrasting with the … [Read more…]

FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT!

HEBREWS 4:11–16 The captain turned on the seat belt sign due to turbulence. Passengers must return to their seats and fasten their seat belts for safety, as unbuckled passengers can get injured in rough air. Seat belts keep passengers safe during turbulent flights. Life often brings unexpected challenges, but God understands and cares for us. He … [Read more…]

THE ISSUE WITH PRIDE

PROVERBS 16:16–22 People are frequently referred to as “legends in their own time” when they attain an exceptionally high degree of recognition or acknowledgement while they are still living. According to a friend who was a professional football player, he encountered a lot of people in the sports industry who were merely “legends in their … [Read more…]

MERCY OVER JUDGEMENT

JAMES 2:1–13 When my children were arguing and told me about it, I talked to each of them individually to hear their side. Both were at fault, so I had each suggest a fair punishment for the other. They both wanted a strict punishment. Instead, I gave them the consequences they had suggested for their … [Read more…]

HEARING HIS VOICE

JOHN 10:25–30 He has partial hearing loss, wearing hearing aids to help. They usually work fine, but he struggles in noisy places where he cannot focus on specific voices. The same is true of our culture: God’s gentle voice can be drowned out by a clamour of noise. Poet T.S. Eliot poses the question, “Where shall … [Read more…]

BLOOMING IN THE PROPER PLACE

1 SAMUEL 20:30–34 “A weed is any plant that grows where you do not want it,” my father explained, passing me a hoe. Although I wanted to keep the corn plant that had sprouted among the potatoes, he insisted I remove it to prevent it from hindering their growth. Humans are not plants. They have minds and … [Read more…]

HOW TO CREATE A LIFE TRANSFORMATION

PROVERBS 15:4; 16:24; 18:21 Our lives can change suddenly because of others. Bruce Springsteen, a rock ’n’ roll icon, was influenced by music during a tough childhood and ongoing battle with depression. He confessed that he realised the right song can change someone’s life in just three minutes. Well-chosen words from others have the power to transform … [Read more…]

OUR TRUSTWORTHY FOUNDATION

ISAIAH 33:2–6 People in our city built and purchased homes in landslide-prone areas despite warnings from geologists and city regulations. The unstable land posed a risk, but some residents were unaware or chose to ignore the danger. Many people in ancient Israel did not listen to the Lord’s warnings to abandon idols and worship the true … [Read more…]

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES

COLOSSIANS 4:2–6 Jude struggles with insufficient exercise and recently acquired a pedometer to motivate himself. This simple gadget significantly changes his motivation. Instead of grumbling about mundane tasks, he views them as opportunities to increase his steps. Mundane tasks, like providing water for children, become tasks that help him work towards a larger goal. This … [Read more…]