MATTHEW 26:36-46 Today is Maundy Thursday in the traditional church calendar, the day of Holy Week that commemorates Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper on the night he was betrayed. The phrase mandatum novum (“a new commandment”) from the Latin version of John 13:34 inspired the name “Maundy Thursday.” Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane is … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 26:14-16 In Christianity, Holy Wednesday marks the Negotiations of Judas, a secret spy among the disciples. It is also known as Spy Wednesday, or Good Wednesday (in Western Christianity), and Great and Holy Wednesday (in Eastern Christianity). We may well not understand Judas until we pay careful attention to the small ways in which we betray … [Read more…]
JOHN 4:7-14 Visitors to hot areas often get dehydrated without noticing it. The dry climate and intense sunlight, particularly in the mountain regions, can quickly deplete the body’s fluids. That is why it is strongly advised that people drink a lot of water. Water is often used in the Bible as a symbol of Jesus as the … [Read more…]
ROMANS 16:1-7 Grace Darling, the daughter of an English lighthouse keeper, spotted a shipwreck and survivors offshore on September 7, 1838. She and her father rowed their boat for a mile through rough waters to save several people. Grace became a legend for her compassionate heart and light touch in putting her life in danger to … [Read more…]
2 CORINTHIANS 12:1-10; PSALM 22:14 Diamonds are lovely and precious gemstones, but they are made from common carbon, which is black, dirty, and combustible. They become pure and strong after years of intense heat and high pressure. As a result, they are a good metaphor for spiritual strength; God uses intense outside pressures to cleanse us … [Read more…]
PSALM 19 Perhaps you are conversant with the famous saying, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Some individuals disagree with this statement, which is widely credited to social activist and former United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. This statement, on the other hand, emphasises our terrible experiences. We are constantly … [Read more…]
REVELATION 21:1-7 I must admit that I occasionally read the end of a book before beginning it. This allows me to determine which characters are alive and which are not. I am able to relax and fully appreciate and enjoy the story and the characters when I know how it will end. Reading the final book … [Read more…]
MARK 10:35-45 I read in a self-help book that it is better to do only what we are great at since that is when we will be most fulfilled. The author was attempting to assist readers in creating the type of life they want. I am not sure about you, but if I only did what … [Read more…]
DEUTERONOMY 8:7-18 I disagree with people who decry material possessions and argue that owning things is necessarily bad. And I have to admit that I am a consumer who is frequently tempted to add to my treasure trove the things I believe I require. However, I am aware that having a lot of material has the potential … [Read more…]
HEBREWS 3:1-13 Giant concrete fingers partially buried in sand reach out toward the sky on a sandy beach in Uruguay. This is known as the Monument to the Drowned. La Mano, or “The Hand,” is how the locals refer to it. It was designed by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal in February 1982 as a caution to … [Read more…]
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