1 KINGS 19:1–12 In 1986, Levan Merritt fell into the Jersey Zoo’s gorilla enclosure. A full-grown male silverback named Jambo gently stroked his back, protecting him from other gorillas whom he later led away from the boy. Over thirty years later, Levan still talked about Jambo as his guardian angel. Elijah, expecting God to act in specific … [Read more…]
2 CORINTHIANS 2:14–17 Bright, tired from a long day of travel, dismounted from his bus. He had dinner with a group, feeling at home, comfortable, safe, and valued. He found peace in an unfamiliar place and remembered 2 Corinthians, where Paul describes people who follow God as well having the “pleasing aroma of Christ.” Bright felt … [Read more…]
ACTS 9:26–31 The King’s Speech, a 2010 movie, was about King George VI of England, who unexpectedly became monarch after his brother abandoned the throne. Despite struggling with a stuttering problem, his wife, Elizabeth, provided constant encouragement and support, helping him overcome his speech difficulties and rule well during World War II. The Bible highlights the … [Read more…]
PSALM 103:13–22 Driving to the tennis courts was one of his first activities last time he was in that city, expecting to see people play and briefly recollect the old times. But there was no sign of the ancient courts that he remembered so well. They were replaced by an empty field, populated only by … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 18:15–20; JAMES 5:20 An older brother in the neighbourhood urged a younger sibling to listen to him. Clearly, the older child was better equipped to make decisions. Many believers have resisted the advice of mature family members, but Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:15-20 provide guidance on how to handle offences within our spiritual family. This family, … [Read more…]
2 CHRONICLES 20:2–3, 14-22 Competitive bodybuilders undergo a rigorous training cycle, initially focusing on size and strength, then losing fat and consuming less water to expose muscle. Despite appearing powerful on the day of competition, the competitors are actually at their weakest due to the decreased consumption of food. In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat … [Read more…]
MARK 14:1–9 Lilias Trotter, a missionary and artist, got a vision of a celestial chariot just before she passed away. “Are you seeing many beautiful things?” a friend questioned, according to her biographer. “Yes, many, many beautiful things,” she replied. Throughout her life, Trotter, a gifted artist, reflected God’s beauty by choosing to serve Jesus as … [Read more…]
JOHN 4:7–14, 39–42 The neighbourhood has high concrete walls with electric barbed wires to ward off robbers. However, frequent power outages render the front gate bells useless, preventing visitors from entering during harsh weather conditions. The fence walls serve a purpose but can also become walls of discrimination, even when the visitors are not intruders. Jesus encountered … [Read more…]
JONAH 3:10–4:4 Migaloo, Australia’s first albino humpback whale, which was first spotted in 1991, is thought to be over forty feet long and so uncommon that Australia has enacted legislation to protect him. The Bible describes a rare “huge fish” that swallowed a runaway prophet, Jonah. God instructed Jonah to take a message of judgement to … [Read more…]
GALATIANS 6:1–10 It might be draining at times to attempt to do the right thing. We can question whether our well-meaning words and deeds actually have any impact. This was the kind of experience I recently had when I sent a well-considered email intended to uplift a friend and received an angry reply. I was … [Read more…]
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