CELEBRATE FREEDOM

ROMANS 6:15–23; ROMANS 8:2 Olaf Wiig, a New Zealand news cameraman, declared, beaming broadly, that he felt more alive than he had in his entire life after being abducted, held captive for thirteen days, and then freed. Olaf’s joy serves as a reminder of the easy forgetfulness of our spiritual blessings. Christians often forget the pain of … [Read more…]

PRIVILEGED ACCESS

HEBREWS 12:18–24 The replica of the tabernacle in southern Israel, built to exact specifications from Exodus 25–27, stands tall in the Negev desert. During a tour, some participants were hesitant to enter the “Holy Place” and “Most Holy Place” to see the “ark,” feeling it was too holy to enter casually. The Israelites must have experienced … [Read more…]

DESTROYING THE DIVIDES

JOSHUA 7:1–12 I was battling with a writing deadline and a disagreement with my wife. I realised she was wrong. As my computer screen went black, I noticed that the unacknowledged wrongs were not only hindering my work but also causing me distress. All I needed to do was work towards reconciling our differences. Like Achan, we do … [Read more…]

ALL GENERATIONS

PSALM 145:1–13 Opinions differ among generations on a wide range of topics! Life experiences and ideals vary greatly between generations. Among Jesus’ followers, this is also true. Still, our spiritual bond transcends all material differences, including how we dress and the music we listen to. Psalm 145, a powerful praise song, symbolises our shared faith. It encourages … [Read more…]

USING SHORTCUTS

LUKE 9:23, 57–62 Some shortcuts are beneficial, but others can harm our spirits and lives. We desire romance without the challenges, greatness without the risks, and pleasing God without inconvenience. Jesus talked of the importance of surrendering our lives to Him, warning that no one can serve in the kingdom of God if they look back (Luke … [Read more…]

A “NEW MAN”

COLOSSIANS 1:3–14, 23 A group of teenagers visited an elderly home and noticed a lonely man on a bed, which he could not move from due to his disability. A teen shared God’s love story and read Bible passages, causing the man’s eagerness to learn more. She explained Jesus’s sacrificial death, which was difficult for him to … [Read more…]

CLEANING HOUSE

1 PETER 1:22-2:5 With the intention of starting over, I rearranged my room. Bags of goods waiting to be recycled, distributed, or thrown away were waiting outside the front door after hours of cleaning and sorting. However, the result of this tiresome effort was a stunning space that I could not wait to use. The housecleaning project … [Read more…]

THE BOND OF PEACE

EPHESIANS 4:1–6 One morning, while walking along the street, I met a friend I had a disagreement with, and we talked openly, resolving the issue. I thanked God for allowing me to talk to him, and we were able to resolve the situation. Paul’s New Testament letter to followers of Christ in Ephesus reflects his personal … [Read more…]

BROUGHT TO LIFE

EPHESIANS 2:1–10 Ken was driving with friends to a sporting event when their car had an accident. One friend was paralysed, and another died. Ken was declared dead, but he revived from what turned out to be a deep coma, turning his parents mourning into joy. In Ephesians 2, Paul reminds us that we were dead … [Read more…]

DRIVEN BY GOD

1 KINGS 8:54–63 A few months ago, I was invited to join a community of “driven people,” who are highly motivated and committed to achieving their goals through hard work. Are driven people inherently good? Doing it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) is an unfailing test. We frequently act in ways that magnify … [Read more…]