JEREMIAH 17:5–8 Some friends planted a tree near their fence, anticipating it to blossom after five years. After two decades, it died—or so they thought—due to neighbours pouring weed killer, which seeped into its roots. To their amazement, the following year some shoots came through the ground. The prophet Jeremiah compares the image of trees flourishing … [Read more…]
PSALM 57 Mark recalls a childhood moment when his father called the family to pray for help after their car broke down and they were running out of money. Today, God’s help arrives in unexpected ways, such as a friend fixing his car, a cheque, and food. Psalm 57 is a powerful hymn that inspires worship. … [Read more…]
DEUTERONOMY 1:21–33 A couple considered divorce before surrendering to Christ. After committing to love and obeying God, they sought counsel and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Despite their twenty-fifth anniversary, they sometimes forget God’s grace and struggle with fear of the unknown. In Deuteronomy 1, Moses reassured the Israelites of the Lord’s reliability, but they questioned the … [Read more…]
ROMANS 8:31–34 Hearing a loved one pray for you with compassion and God-given insight is beautiful, resembling heaven touching earth. Jesus taught His followers to pray and not give up (Luke 18:1), as He is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). Jesus is always there for us, hearing our prayers and … [Read more…]
PSALM 119:97–104 A comic strip made an appearance in a book about youth ministry. “I think I have made one of the first steps towards unravelling the mysteries of the Old Testament,” the young man is shown saying on the phone to a friend while holding a Bible. Psalm 119 expresses the writer’s desire to understand … [Read more…]
EPHESIANS 4:11–16 On her first day of nursery school, Charlotte was instructed to sketch a portrait. The drawing had two round eyes, an oblong head, and a basic sphere for a body. She was able to sketch herself at the conclusion of her nursery education, wearing vibrant clothing and smiling, illustrating the progression of a … [Read more…]
EPHESIANS 4:15, 26–32 During dinner, a friend expressed frustration with a family member who ignored him. When confronted, he responded with sarcastic remarks, causing a rift within the family. I share similar anger handling issues and struggle with confronting people, often suppressing feelings until others’ mean actions trigger an explosion. Paul advises against letting anger fester (Ephesians 4:26), … [Read more…]
JOHN 8:39–47; JOHN 1:12 During a cell phone purchase in the Middle East, the clerk asked about the customer’s father’s name, which surprised the customer. This question was important for establishing identity and understanding ancestry, a concept not typically valued in some cultures. The Israelites valued their ancestry, particularly their patriarch Abraham, and believed being part of … [Read more…]
PHILEMON 1:8–16 I visited Jane, a former prisoner reintegrating into society. My life was different from hers. She was fresh out of jail, struggling with addictions, and separated from her son. Onesimus, like Jane, was aware of what it meant to be on the periphery of society. He was a slave who was incarcerated for wronging … [Read more…]
JUDGES 2:11–23; 21:25 He was feeding his obstinate pride after rejecting God’s word and the guidance of His Spirit. Was this worth the strain on his marriage? Not at all. However, he had left a trail of wounds because he had disregarded wise advice and had lived as though he had no one else to account … [Read more…]
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