‘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
Build a relationship with your children
‘Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.’ Psalm 12 7:1 NIV How would you describe your relationship with your children? Strained? Exciting? Heart-breaking? Enjoyable? If you want a real eye-opener, ask them to describe their feelings about you...
Bangunlah hubungan dengan anak-anak Anda
‘Jikalau bukan TUHAN yang membangun rumah, sia-sialah usaha orang yang membangunnya.’ Mazmur 127:1 Bagaimana menggambarkan hubungan Anda dengan anak-anak Anda? Tegang? Menyakitkan hati? Menyenangkan? Jika Anda ingin benar-benar membuka mata, mintalah mereka untuk...
Today, choose the right attitude
‘Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ Romans 1 2:2 NASB Long before William James, the Father of American psychology, was attributed with saying, ‘The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes,’...
Hari ini, pilihlah sikap yang tepat
‘Tetapi berubahlah oleh pembaharuan budimu.’ Roma 12:2 Jauh sebelum William James, Bapak psikologi Amerika, mengatakan, 'Penemuan terbesar generasi saya adalah bahwa manusia dapat mengubah hidup mereka dengan mengubah sikap mereka,' kata Tuhan, 'Sebab...
Beware of self-pity
‘No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.’ 1 Corinthians 1 0:24 NIV Self-pity can be deadly. It tells the wife and mother who works hard, ‘You’re not appreciated.’ It says to the office worker, ‘Look how valuable you are, yet you’re never recognised...
Waspadalah saat mengasihi diri sendiri
‘Jangan seorangpun yang mencari keuntungannya sendiri, tetapi hendaklah tiap-tiap orang mencari keuntungan orang lain.’ 1 Korintus 10:24 Mengasihani diri sendiri bisa mematikan. Seperti memberitahu istri dan ibu yang bekerja keras, 'Kamu tidak dihargai.'...
He will do it again!
‘Jacob set up a memorial stone in the place where He had spoken with him,’ Genesis 3 5:14 NASB There are events in all our lives that, looking back, had to be the hand of God at work. Maybe you bumped into somebody who introduced you to your spouse, or a co-worker...
Ia akan melakukannya lagi!
‘Kemudian Yakub mendirikan tugu di tempat itu, yakni tugu batu; ia mempersembahkan korban curahan dan menuangkan minyak di atasnya,’ Kejadian 35:14 Ada peristiwa-peristiwa dalam hidup kita yang, jika dilihat ke belakang, pastilah tangan Tuhan yang bekerja. Mungkin...
Setting captives free (2)
‘He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.’ Psalm 10 7:14 NKJV When the Israelites cried to the Lord, he saved them. He brought them out of darkness and broke their chains. (see Psalm 107:13-14). And He can set you free...
Membebaskan tawanan (2)
‘Dibawa-Nya mereka keluar dari dalam gelap dan kelam, dan diputuskan-Nya belenggu-belenggu mereka.’ Mazmur 107:14 Ketika orang Israel berseru kepada Tuhan, Dia menyelamatkan mereka. Dia membawa mereka keluar dari kegelapan dan mematahkan rantai mereka. (Mazmur...