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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
LUKE 15:1–9 John and his wife were frantic when his mother-in-law went missing while shopping with a relative. She was suffering from memory loss and confusion, and the situation was uncertain. Worst-case scenarios arose, and they prayed to God for help in finding her. She was found miles away. Jesus compares humans to lost sheep, comparing them … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 21:12–16 Italy’s government and museum officials protested after an advertiser changed a picture of Michelangelo’s well-known marble statue of the biblical figure David. According to a cultural official, it would be illegal to depict David with a military gun over his shoulder rather than his slingshot—”like taking a hammer to it or worse.” It was … [Read more…]
EPHESIANS 4:2–13 After 22 years, he still questions the functioning of his marriage to Mary. He is a writer, and she is a statistician. They come from different worlds. He works with words and his wife with numbers. She arrives early for appointments; he is usually late. They try new things and learn patience from … [Read more…]
EXODUS 33:18-19; 34:1-7 In Greek and Roman mythology, I noticed their moody and easily angered gods, who often destroyed lives when they were enraged. I initially scoff at this belief but later realised that my own view of God is similar, as I see Him as easily angered whenever I doubted or disobeyed Him. Moses’s request for … [Read more…]
JOHN 10:7–16 One of the most enduring melodies in Christian music, especially for young followers, is “Jesus loves me; this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” This song’s lyric, which was written by Anna B. Warner, gently reinforces our relationship with Him: we are loved. In ancient Israel, a true shepherd was distinguished by … [Read more…]
COLOSSIANS 3:9–17 He did not challenge racism and segregation in his city while growing up in the 1950s. People with different skin tones were kept apart in neighbourhoods, restaurants, schools, and public transportation. When he enrolled in US Army Basic Training in 1968, however, his viewpoint shifted when he discovered how crucial it was to … [Read more…]
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