1 PETER 2:9–12 A respected leader and statesman publicly criticised his country’s honourable MPs for their dishonourable lifestyles, corruption, pompous attitudes, and unsavoury language. He urged them to reform, but his comments were met with backlash, leading to counter-criticisms from the MPs. Following Christ is a privilege, not a duty. As a chosen people, a royal priesthood, … [Read more…]
GENESIS 16:1–13 Christopher Wright’s book (The God I Don’t Understand) highlights Hagar as one of the first people to name God. Hagar’s story is a disturbing portrayal of human history. After years since God told Abram and Sarai they would have a son, Sarai becomes older and impatient. She gives her slave, Hagar, to her husband, … [Read more…]
2 TIMOTHY 3:10–15; 2 TIMOTHY 4:7 Joop Zoetemelk, the Netherlands’ most successful cyclist, demonstrated perseverance by winning the 1980 Tour de France, starting and finishing 16 times, and placing second five times. Success often comes from a “never give up” mindset, but many people have lost opportunities due to giving up too soon in various aspects of … [Read more…]
JOHN 8:31–37 Olaudah Equiano, a young man kidnapped and sold into slavery at the age of 11, embarked on a gruelling journey from West Africa to the West Indies, Virginia, and England, eventually purchasing his freedom at the age of 20. Equiano, a former slave, actively participated in the movement to abolish slavery in England, writing … [Read more…]
DEUTERONOMY 34:1–12 Our outlook on life can change over time, with younger individuals looking forward to growth and older individuals yearning for the past. However, when we walk with God, the best days of our lives are yet to come, regardless of our age. Moses witnessed incredible things from God’s perspective throughout his life, including his … [Read more…]
ACTS 20:22–35 Biddy Mason, born into slavery, was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Los Angeles in 1891. After winning her freedom in 1856, she combined nursing skills with business decisions to make a small fortune. She invested in charity and helped immigrants and prisoners, leading to people lining up for help at … [Read more…]
PSALM 20 Growing up, I enjoyed watching birds. Recently, I observed crows in a city suburb. Despite the tree’s leaves being shed, the crows chose to rest on the dry, weak limbs instead of sturdy branches. They flapped their way out of danger, but their bird sense did not tell them that solid branches were more secure. … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 14:22–36 David Wilcox’s song composition process involves a quiet room, an empty page, and questioning “Is there something I should know?”—a valuable approach for followers of Jesus seeking God’s plan. Jesus took time to be alone in prayer during his public ministry. After feeding 5,000 people, he went alone to pray on a mountainside after … [Read more…]
PSALM 25:1–15 “Mark Time, March” is a military command that denotes a stationary march. It is a deliberate stop in forward motion while keeping one’s mind alert and waiting eagerly for the next order. Marking time now generally refers to “motion without progress, not getting anywhere, and not doing anything important while you wait.” It evokes … [Read more…]
EXODUS 13:17–22 Life’s path is often difficult, and expecting easy roads from God may lead to turning back on Him when the terrain becomes challenging. The Israelites, after gaining freedom from Egyptian bondage, embarked on a journey to the Promised Land. However, God chose to lead them through the desert, not through the Philistine country. This short-term … [Read more…]
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