WHAT MATTERS MOST

1 JOHN 4:7–19 John, Jesus’s disciple, emphasised God’s love in his three letters, a teaching he emphasised as he grew older. Peter Kreeft’s book, Knowing the Truth of God’s Love, references this. Jesus’ mission is centred on God’s love, as stated in John 3:16. Believers in Jesus will have eternal life, as God’s love for the world … [Read more…]

WATCHING WHAT WE CONSUME

PHILIPPIANS 4:4–9 Food monitoring involves counting calories, measuring every bite, estimating portions, monitoring macronutrients, and various “listen to your body” approaches. These methods help individuals track their food intake and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Watching food consumption is crucial, but media consumption is even more important. Research indicates that what we see can have a lasting impact … [Read more…]

LINKING THE DOTS

LUKE 24:13–32 In the 1880s, French artist Georges Seurat introduced pointillism, using small dots of colour instead of brush strokes. His work was like groupings of individual dots, but when observed from a distance, the human eye blends the dots into brightly coloured portraits or landscapes. The Bible’s complexity can leave us with a sense of dots … [Read more…]

HARSH TRIALS

JAMES 1:2–12 One of the biggest threats to trees is fire. It can, however, also be beneficial. The forest floor is cleared of dead leaves and branches by little, regular burns (that spare the trees) known as “cool” fires, according to experts. A wonderful environment for seeds to develop is the ashes they leave behind. … [Read more…]

A GRACE-BASED GRADE

ROMANS 5:6–15 Excitedly, my son showed me a paper he had brought home from school, and his blue eyes shone. It was a mathematics test, with a perfect score of 100. He said that when the teacher announced that the allotted time had expired, he still had three questions unanswered. I was perplexed as to … [Read more…]

THE GATES OF WORSHIP

PSALM 100 Famous gates in world-renowned cities, such as Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, and Downing Street gates in London, represent the distinction between being outside or inside specific areas of a city. Some are closed, while others are open to only a select few. Psalm 100 invites the Israelites to enter God’s presence … [Read more…]

WORDS FOR THE WEARY

ISAIAH 50:4–10 C. S. Lewis, as a 30-year-old man, received a letter from a woman who had cared for his mother over two decades ago, offering her sympathy for his father’s death and asking if he remembered her. “My dear Nurse Davison,” Lewis replied. “Remember you? I should think I do.” Lewis appreciated her comforting presence at … [Read more…]

PASS IT ON

PSALM 78:1–8 I like to watch relay races because it is exciting to watch the pivotal moment when a participant passing the baton to the next person can make all the difference in the outcome of the race. Impressive physical attributes of athletes include strength, speed, skill, and endurance. Carrying the faith and understanding of the … [Read more…]

DOING WHAT HE SAYS

DEUTERONOMY 5:28–33 He provided the builder with explicit specifications because he needed an underground water tank and understood exactly how he wanted it built. He was displeased to see that he had not followed his directions when he examined the project the following day. He had altered the strategy and, by extension, the outcome. His … [Read more…]

GOOD REPLICA

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 The children’s minister announced a game called imitation, where children named creatures or persons and had to act out their actions. Chicken was chosen, followed by an elephant, a football player, a ballerina, and finally Jesus. Despite initial hesitation, a six-year-old smiled and accepted acting like Jesus, causing the congregation to applaud. The … [Read more…]