This is the list of David’s mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:11)
What was the reason some of the finest men were attracted to David the king? We know that David came not from a royal line; he was simply a shepherd boy. But he had great confidence in his God.
This was seen when he … Read the rest
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was a mighty demonstration of God’s incomparably great power. It not only was his victory over death; but it also spells out this message: Jesus lives; therefore we who trust in him will also live with him, forever. This is the certainty of hope that Jesus gave … Read the rest
All of us are curious as how it all began. John’s answer is simple and direct. “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God.” The Word is how John describes the wisdom and power of God, who is none other than Jesus.
The Word is full of majesty … Read the rest
Success Is Staying True to Purpose
Christmas story is also about another baby who leaped for joy in his mother’s womb. John leaped for joy when Mary who had conceived Jesus in her womb came to greet his mother Elizabeth.
When this baby grew up, he said about his relationship to Jesus that it was … Read the rest
“Let there be light.” So God spoke and began his creative act at the beginning. Centuries passed and one night, when God’s chosen time came, the true light came to this world as a child born in a manger.
About this light a prophet had written, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great … Read the rest
“For God so loved the world that he gave!” Thus began the story of Christmas when God gave the gift of his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to the world.
This gift came as a child born in a manger-a living gift people could see and touch. This brought God near to us like … Read the rest
Often there is a mistaken thought that those who follow God are emotional people. Yet we find that some of the first people to recognize the birth of the Saviour were Wise Men from the land of Babylon or Persia. We can safely guess that those who came to see Jesus, born the King of … Read the rest
This man moved into the temple courts of Jerusalem as directed by the Spirit of God. He knew that he was about to see something greater than the Jewish temple.
At that moment the Joseph and Mary were bringing the child Jesus to the temple as the Jewish traditions required. They came with a sacrifice … Read the rest
There are roads each one of us has to travel alone. In those moments, someone walks along with us. Often we are unaware of his presence. But at some point in the journey our eyes are opened to see the stranger who accompanies us. There is something about him that is more than a mere … Read the rest
Christmas brings relief to those who feel inferior. For the town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born was a small town. Even God acknowledged that fact.
Yet God chose this small town to be the birthplace of the Saviour of the world. What if this town had a mind and voice? It would have protested … Read the rest
Christmas is the story of plans being upset. It is also more about people accepting God-sent change. The truth is that no one can experience Christmas and remain unchanged. So the question is whether you are ready to embrace change?
A young man getting ready to be married to a woman suddenly finds his would-be … Read the rest
Have you ever been tired of waiting? If waiting some years have been difficult what about waiting for centuries? This is what happened with the birth of the Saviour. God spoke through his prophets about a day when a child would be born to save all and rule over mankind. But the fulfilment of the … Read the rest
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
When such a light shines nothing escapes its searching and penetrating power. A man who tried to escape God’s searching eyes wrote: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide … Read the rest
Rejection is painful in whatever form it comes. Our lives, in a very real sense, are therefore a constant struggle to be loved, accepted and understood.
The challenge however is, “Who will accept me as I am?” Often there are “conditions apply” tags attached when it comes to acceptance. “You change and be like this, … Read the rest
Jesus came to save sinners. This is the simple story of Christmas.
Because he came . . .
No more does someone’s past however black it is stop him from achieving the best God has for his life. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross has the power to break every bad and evil in … Read the rest
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
A child can easily understand these words of Jesus Christ. Yet the depth of its meaning might take … Read the rest
Stop brooding over that lost opportunity; for it is time to move on. A closed door in life might be a symbol of rejection; but it should never become a chain that binds you to yesterday’s failures or triumphs. Leave them behind.
Often our strength is wasted in trying to knock at closed doors in … Read the rest
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.”
The Eagle as a Sign of Renewal
The eagle is a bird that undergoes a lot of change in its early years. Even as it matures its feathers change colour to indicate its growth.
This process … Read the rest
1. No failure is final if we can honestly say “Yes” to God’s probing question, “Do you truly love me?”
2. Wisdom and power belongs to God. All show of power on earth will ultimately bow before his Majesty.
3. God loves a cheerful giver. Those who give in plenty are those who live without … Read the rest
A list of names is uninteresting unless your name is in it; isn’t it? It has therefore always baffled me why God chose to start the good news account of Jesus Christ with a long list of names (refer Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 1, the first chapter in the New Testament).
Several insights came later; of … Read the rest
Have dreams come to you?
Were you troubled or made happy by them?
Whatever it is, the power of dreams to change life’s direction is well-known.
The foremost insight about dreams is that God shapes human history through individuals. It is of great encouragement to know that God’s eye which is ever alert to the … Read the rest
The star of Christmas is an eternal symbol of undying hope. Even today that blaze of light that illuminated the night sky at the time of the Saviour’s birth continues to shine a brilliant torch of hope in every human heart. It signals the end of a long wait, and the beginning of a difficult … Read the rest
If Christmas does not hold any hope for the broken-hearted; then its celebration becomes meaningless.
If Christmas is just exchange of gifts, lighting of candles, hanging Christmas stars and decorating Christmas trees; then it is all hollow.
If Christmas does not meet real human needs such as freedom from guilt and fear, forgiveness of sins, … Read the rest
A stone pillow seems unlikely to yield a dream. But a man who was journeying did have a dream while he rested his head on it when the sun had set. He saw a stairway resting on the earth with its top reaching to heaven. The angels of God were going up and down on … Read the rest
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
This is how Paul began his short and poetic sketch of true love.
Gongs remind us of our school days when it was used as a bell and cymbals remind … Read the rest
Just because someone close to you sinned against the Lord doesn’t mean that you should continue in that wrong path. The Scriptures give us the example of King Hezekiah. It is recorded that “He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him” (2 Kings 18:7b). But as we look at Chapter … Read the rest
Are you in darkness today? There is a word of encouragement from God for you: “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright.” (Psalm 112).
This a precious promise. One occasion you can recall is when God brought darkness in all the land of Egypt. During that time there was light in Goshen, the region … Read the rest
No one who reads the Bible will miss David. He has influenced Jewish and Christian world alike in a big way. Many times when evil kings ruled the land and rebelled against God, the one factor that kept God from destroying them completely was David. See for example,
What made David so special? He … Read the rest
There is a time and opportunity that will come in your life when you have got to stand for God. Phinehas was one such person. When the Israelites sinned against God by committing sexual immorality with Moabites, he stood up and killed a man and woman who were openly doing it.
It was a … Read the rest
A place of blessing is no reason why you should continue there for ever. God often signals to you through different means and methods to let you know that you should go to a new place or sphere of work. As you look at how God dealt with Jacob as he was with Laban, … Read the rest
