1 PETER 4:9 After receiving news of his critical illness and deciding to be away from church, our friend Joel asked who would hug everyone. Joel, a man who makes everyone feel welcome, greets them with a friendly greeting, warm handshake, and even what he calls a “holy hug” based on Romans 16:16, which encourages greetings … [Read more…]
JOHN 20:16 The most attention-grabbing word that viewers react to, according to advertisers, is their own name. Thus, most companies now go for personalised advertisements. Even though we may like seeing or hearing our name, it is meaningless without the intimacy that comes from our name being spoken by someone we love. Mary Magdalene’s focus was captured … [Read more…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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