FREE INDEED

JOHN 8:31–37 Olaudah Equiano, a young man kidnapped and sold into slavery at the age of 11, embarked on a gruelling journey from West Africa to the West Indies, Virginia, and England, eventually purchasing his freedom at the age of 20. Equiano, a former slave, actively participated in the movement to abolish slavery in England, writing … [Read more…]

IT ONLY GETS BETTER FROM HERE

DEUTERONOMY 34:1–12 Our outlook on life can change over time, with younger individuals looking forward to growth and older individuals yearning for the past. However, when we walk with God, the best days of our lives are yet to come, regardless of our age. Moses witnessed incredible things from God’s perspective throughout his life, including his … [Read more…]

AN EXTENDED HAND

ACTS 20:22–35 Biddy Mason, born into slavery, was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Los Angeles in 1891. After winning her freedom in 1856, she combined nursing skills with business decisions to make a small fortune. She invested in charity and helped immigrants and prisoners, leading to people lining up for help at … [Read more…]

MISPLACED TRUST

PSALM 20 Growing up, I enjoyed watching birds. Recently, I observed crows in a city suburb. Despite the tree’s leaves being shed, the crows chose to rest on the dry, weak limbs instead of sturdy branches. They flapped their way out of danger, but their bird sense did not tell them that solid branches were more secure. … [Read more…]

IS THERE ANYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW?

MATTHEW 14:22–36 David Wilcox’s song composition process involves a quiet room, an empty page, and questioning “Is there something I should know?”—a  valuable approach for followers of Jesus seeking God’s plan. Jesus took time to be alone in prayer during his public ministry. After feeding 5,000 people, he went alone to pray on a mountainside after … [Read more…]

MARKING TIME

PSALM 25:1–15 “Mark Time, March” is a military command that denotes a stationary march. It is a deliberate stop in forward motion while keeping one’s mind alert and waiting eagerly for the next order. Marking time now generally refers to “motion without progress, not getting anywhere, and not doing anything important while you wait.” It evokes … [Read more…]

NO EASY ROADS

EXODUS 13:17–22 Life’s path is often difficult, and expecting easy roads from God may lead to turning back on Him when the terrain becomes challenging. The Israelites, after gaining freedom from Egyptian bondage, embarked on a journey to the Promised Land. However, God chose to lead them through the desert, not through the Philistine country. This short-term … [Read more…]

LOVE’S LANGUAGE

JAMES 3:1–12 A man related how his grandmother struggled to learn Spanish after arriving in Mexico as a missionary. She visited the market one day. The girl who was assisting her saw her grocery list and commented, “It is in two tongues (lenguas).” On the other hand, she really meant to convey that she had … [Read more…]

NO LONGER AFRAID

PSALM 34:1–10 Fear sneaks into the heart, causing helplessness and hopelessness. It steals peace and concentration. It turns focus inward, revealing a heart that struggles to trust. David’s prayer in Psalm 34 encourages us to seek the Lord and trust in Him to deliver us from our fears. By focusing on Him, our fears fade, and … [Read more…]

EVERY NEED IS MET AND MORE

2 PETER 1:1–10 G. K. Chesterton erupted in a sudden and loud outburst of laughter, causing the cows in a field on the English countryside to stare at him in awe. Chesterton, a Christian writer and apologist was dissatisfied with his lack of white chalk, which he considered essential to his artwork. However, he soon realised that … [Read more…]