A Devotional Life

Genesis 35:1-12. How can we find hope for a new beginning - whatever our season of life? In Christ is God's invitation to come! Genesis 34 records a series of sad events in Jacob's family (verses 1-4, 11-15, 24-25). And towards the end of the chapter, he is deeply troubled. At this point, to Jacob, there is no coming back - this is the end - for certain, “I and my family will be destroyed” (v30). It was at this tipping point that God rescued Jacob with an invitation. God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel” (35:1). Bethel was a place Jacob knew as the house of God (28:16-19). 34:30; 35:1. Amidst Jacob's troubles, God said come to me in Bethel . 35:2-5. Jacob responded to God by letting go of idols and setting out to Bethel . 35:6-7. When they got to Bethel, they built an altar - called on God . ...

Psalm 121. [ESV] What do you do when you need help? Psalm 121 is a song of ascent - these are psalms sung by worshippers on their way up to Jerusalem. (Historical context of the writing was during the time of Judean exile by Babylon. So, written to encourage pilgrims of a future of hope.) And the psalmist begins: I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? On this journey up to Jerusalem, the Psalmist looks to the distant hill of Jerusalem where the Temple was and perhaps gazes in hope from a distance. But ultimately, he comes to a conviction of God's present help: My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He affirms that God is as present in his journey as He is in the destination. My help comes from the LORD! I think of a recent testimony a friend shared about when he needed to decide about university. At first...

Ephesians 3:14-19. Praise God! Happy new year!!! One of our favourite eat-out places as a student was Cosmo. My friends and I loved Cosmo because it was a buffet restaurant that offered world cuisines. So we often went hungry and prepared. The downside was that no matter how hungry we came, we always left the building staring at the other varieties of food we hadn't tasted. We were filled but never satisfied. But there's a filling that satisfies - God's unending love. After an encouraging letter to the wondering Gentile Church at Ephesus to remind them that in Christ they are one with the Jews and share the same promise in Christ (v6), Paul prays for the church (and a prayer for us) that by the power of the Holy Spirit: Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith, v16-17. Dwell (not visit) speaks of the contin...

Colossians 1:15-20. It was in the middle of an artificial intelligence (AI) class when one of our professors presented that although the human brain may be slower than the slowest computer in computation, it remains the single most complex object in the universe. The way it adapts, learns, predicts, and makes decisions can never be replaceable by an AI. In similar and much greater grandeur, Paul writes on the supremacy of Christ: His supremacy in creation He is the firstborn of all creation (15). For by him all thing were created (16). His supremacy in the new creation - the Church He is the firstborn from the dead (18). For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (19). He encircles all things ...

Luke 17:11-19. A year 5 teacher begins: “Today, boys and girls, you're going to draw on your pieces of paper something or someone you're grateful for... it's a great way to remind ourselves how lucky we are for what we have or who we have in our lives. Afterwards, we will share what we have with the rest of the class”. After the drawing, the kids began to share: I'm thankful for trees because they give me oxygen. … for my parents because they help me with my homework. … for chocolate. A kid drew a hand. “It’s your hand Ms Sanders” recalling how the teacher cares for them. When it comes to Thanksgiving, it’s easy to miss the obvious. In the passage, Luke sandwiches a miracle among Jesus' teaching on His kingdom. Jesus heals ten lepers and asks them to show themselves to the priest, but only one (a Samaritan, foreigner) comes back to expre...

Psalm 139:7-12. Playing hide and seek with little kids is really fun. When I would play it with my friend's kids, they would hide next to a small plant in the garden and close their eyes tightly. And because the plant is too small, their shoes, arms and head remain visible, but they feel unseen because their eyes are tightly closed. Similarly, there are times in life when we feel "unseen" to others and perhaps God (Psalm 102:1-2). From the passage, the Psalmist recounts that God knows us intimately. He knows our words, thoughts, and ways (v1-4). He knows how often I get up to make a cup of tea. He is acquainted with all my ways (v3). But this is more than transcendent knowledge. He intimately journeys through life with us by His Holy Spirit - v7. Whether in heaven or even in the grave (Sheol) - v8 He is there in the unseen. ...

John 10:11,14-16. Have you ever had to make some changes at home in order to make someone feel welcome for a short stay? My parents hosted guests a lot while I was growing up. Although they were just being homely, as a kid I always felt like I was suffering. I had to move my room several times. Nicht gut! Sad time for a kid. Well, except when the uncle or aunty came bearing gifts. In the passage, Jesus introduces himself as the Good Shepherd. In the parable, He compares himself with others (the thief/robber - v1, the stranger - v5, and the hired hand - v12). And unlike the others, He has the best interest of the sheep at heart - to guide, speak to and care sacrificially for them. Then, in v14-16, He indicates that His shepherding care is not only to the sheep that know Him but also to the other sheep that do not know Him or have strayed from Him. Jesus would do this by living everyday life...