GROWING UP

EPHESIANS 4:1-16 Watching young children make mistakes because of a lack of knowledge while playing football can be funny, which makes it entertaining to observe their actions. Young people face challenges and learn, but they are encouraged to try and grow. They can be coached and patiently guided towards maturity, so they can be celebrated for … [Read more…]

ALWAYS PRAY, AND NEVER GIVE UP

LUKE 18:1-8 Are you going through one of those phases where it appears that no matter what you do to tackle a problem, another one crops up? You praise the Lord at night that it has been resolved, but when you awaken, you discover that something else Has gone wrong and the issue still exists. In … [Read more…]

A GLIMMER OF HEAVEN

1 CORINTHIANS 14:6-12,26 A garden is a fragrant place that provides a favourable environment for plants by ensuring they receive water, sunlight, and protection from pests, ensuring a vibrant and healthy environment for people to enjoy. Like a garden, the church is a place where everyone collaborates for God’s glory and the good of all, thrives due … [Read more…]

WHAT IS IN THE BANK?

EPHESIANS 2:4-7; HEBREWS 4:16 In 2009, Chesley Sullenberger, a pilot on a passenger airliner, made an emergency landing on the Hudson River. He was subsequently questioned about his life-or-death choices. Citing his 42-year deposit of training and expertise, he said he had enough money in his account to make a sizable withdrawal on that day. Most of … [Read more…]

SAYING GOODBYE

LUKE 9:57-62 Saying goodbye to loved ones, favourite places, or jobs is challenging. Jesus explains the price of being His disciple in Luke 9:57–62. A potential follower wished to return home and bid his loved ones farewell. Jesus retorted that no one who puts his hands on the plough and looks back is fit to follow … [Read more…]

GATES OF PARADISE

JOHN 10:1-9 The bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery in Italy were expertly engraved with scenes from Jesus’ life over the course of several years by Italian artisan Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378–1455). Michelangelo called these bronze reliefs the Gates of Paradise because they were so captivating. The doors welcome guests with echoes of the gospel narrative as … [Read more…]

YOU FIRST!

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 On May 1, 1963, American Jim Whittaker and Sherpa Nawang Gombu of Tibetan descent ascended Mount Everest. Each person thought about the honour of being the first of the two to reach the summit as they got closer to the peak. Gombu smiled and refused Whittaker’s request to step forward, stating, “You first, … [Read more…]

YOU HAVE VALUE

ROMANS 5:6–11; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 Many individuals were going to lose their money when old naira notes were pulled out of circulation in Nigeria in early 2023 because they lost value, but after the court ruling, hope was restored because the money once again had worth! You can feel tarnished, worn out, aged, or out of the … [Read more…]

REAL SHELTER

JOSHUA 20:1-9; PROVERBS 18:10 I considered the cities of refuge described in Joshua 20:1–9 as I visited and spoke with the refugees. For people escaping those seeking revenge in the event of an unintentional killing, these cities were designated as refuges. They provided safety and tranquilly. Even now, people still look for safe havens for food, shelter, … [Read more…]

THE HAPPINESS THAT IS BEST

JOHN 8:31-38 Some people may consider the claim that “everyone is doing it” to be persuasive. The list of justifications and excuses we use to get our way grows as we get older, like “No one will get hurt” and “It is not prohibited.” Every argument is based on the idea that what we want is … [Read more…]