‘The Lord said to me, ‘You have been travelling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward.”’ Deuteronomy 2:2–3 ESV A biologist experimented with what he called ‘processional caterpillars’. He lined up caterpillars on the rim of a pot that held a plant...
Paul’s Thorn And Yours (3)
‘My power works best in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT Paul writes: ‘Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the...
Paul’s Thorn And Yours (2)
‘To keep me from becoming proud.’ 2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT The Bible doesn’t tell us what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but Paul tells us why God permitted it: ‘To keep me from becoming proud.’ Increased achievement and success can lead to increased pride and...
Paul’s Thorn And Yours (1)
‘I was given a thorn in my flesh.’ 2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT Bible scholars disagree as to what Paul’s ‘thorn’ was. Some think it may have been poor eyesight, others a speech impediment, and others a physical challenge. Why doesn’t the Bible tell us? Well, if his problem...
Developing Patient Endurance
‘Suffering produces endurance.’ Romans 5:3 ESV Isn’t it interesting how as we get older, we tend to become more patient, even though we have less time left? Why is that? Perspective! Our problems haven’t changed that much, but our perspective has. Things that once...
Trust God’s Timing (2)
‘What I have said, that I will bring about.’ Isaiah 46:11 NIV God has a plan for your life that requires certain things to happen at a particular time. And since He sees the big picture and you’re working with limited information, it’s wise to trust Him—even when you...
Trust God’s Timing (1)
‘When the right time came, God sent His Son.’ Galatians 4:4 NLT God doesn’t consult us to make sure His plans line up with our timetable. God sets the schedule. Sometimes we have to run to keep up, and other times we have to slow down in order to get in step with Him....
Christmas symbols
‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.’ Ephesians 1:7 NKJV Today, some people are trying to remove any public mention of Christ at Christmas, while others seem bent on secularising it completely. So...
Confessions of a Secret Sinner
‘The Lord looks at the heart.’ 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT Pastor and author John MacArthur says: ‘Jesus’ exposition of the law is a devastating blow against the lie that image is everything. Secret sin is especially abhorrent [detestable] because: (1) God sees the heart. In...
Undercover Boss
‘I sat among them for seven days.’ Ezekiel 3:15 NIV Ever seen the reality TV show Undercover Boss? In it, the company owner goes undercover disguised as a regular staff member, and works alongside the other employees. He or she gets to experience their daily pressures...
Most Recent Devotional Readings
Membangun kembali Pernikahan Anda (2)
‘Hai suami, kasihilah isterimu sebagaimana Kristus telah mengasihi jemaat.’ Efesus 5:25 Kedua, kalian harus mendengarkan satu sama lain. Ini membutuhkan waktu, kesabaran, dan perhatian yang terfokus. Terlalu banyak pasangan saling memberikan monolog [percakapan...
Rebuilding your marriage (2)
‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church.’ Ephesians 5:25 Second, you must listen to each other. This requires time, patience, and focused attention. Too many couples give each other a monologue [one sided conversation] without leaving room for genuine...
Membangun kembali Pernikahan Anda (1)
‘Angin melanda rumah itu, sehingga rubuhlah rumah itu dan hebatlah kerusakannya.’ Matius 7:27 Saat ini sekitar 50% dari semua pernikahan baru berakhir dengan perceraian. Sedihnya, itu terjadi baik pada orang Kristen atau bukan. Terkadang alasannya tidak langsung,...
Rebuilding your marriage (1)
‘The winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.’ Matthew 7:27 NKJV Today about 50% of all new marriages end in divorce. Sadly, that’s true whether you’re a Christian or not. Sometimes the reasons are circumstantial, such as a redundancy or money problems. Other...
Anda membutuhkan orang-orang lain
‘Dan bilamana seorang dapat dikalahkan, dua orang akan dapat bertahan.’ Pengkhotbah 4:12 Sebesar apapun anggapan kita bahwa kita mengetahui semuanya, jika kita jujur, masing-masing dari kita sangat menyadari bahwa kita memiliki kelemahan dan sisi kurangnya...
You need others
‘Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.’ Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV As much as we would like to think that we know it all, if we’re honest, each of us is painfully aware that we have blind spots and areas of inexperience. You have had...
Apa yang harus Anda serahkan
‘Satu hal telah kuminta kepada TUHAN, itulah yang kuingini.’ Mazmur 27:4 Untuk berhasil, ada hal-hal tertentu yang harus Anda serahkan. 1) Anda tidak bisa berteman dengan semua orang. Yesus mengasihi semua orang tetapi menghabiskan sebagian besar waktu-Nya dengan 12...
What you must give up
‘One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek.’ Psalm 2 7:4 NKJV In order to succeed, there are certain things you must give up. 1) You can’t be friends with everybody. Jesus loved everybody but spent most of His time with 12 people mentoring them. And He...
Pelajaran dari patah hati
‘Perbaharuilah batinku dengan roh yang teguh.’ Mazmur 51:12 Patah hati tidak dapat disembuhkan dengan bekerja 16 jam sehari, berkeringat di gym, atau menggunakan zat yang mengubah suasana hati seperti alkohol dan obat-obatan. Hal-hal itu mungkin membawa perbaikan...
Lessons from a broken heart
‘Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.’ Psalm 5 1:12 NKJV A broken heart can’t be healed by working 16 hours a day, sweating it out in a gym, or using mood-altering substances like alcohol and drugs. Those things may bring a temporary fix but don’t bring a lasting...