Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
THERE'S MORE ON OUR SIDE!
One officer stood up and said it was the
prophet Elisha who heard every word that was discussed.
The furious king immediately called and
sent a strong army to where Elisha lived. By night, the whole area was surrounded
by a vast army with horses and chariots.
Next morning, Elisha’s servant came up
and great fear seized him. He ran back inside and told the man of God what was
happening. The great prophet calmed the servant down
and told him not to be afraid. Then he said these words, “Those who are with us
are more than those who are with them”. He prayed a simple prayer that God
would open his servant’s eyes so that he may see God’s mighty army.
God, in answering Elisha’s prayer, opened
the servant’s eyes to see something supernatural. He saw in the hills above,
full of horses and chariots of fire belonging to the army of God. They were
really more than those of the enemies.
As the enemy’s army marched towards them,
Elisha prayed again to God that they be blinded. True enough, God’s power had
them all blinded.
The enemies were confused when this
happened. The prophet then led them all to Israel ’s army in Samaria . While they were there, God opened
their eyes. They were shock to find themselves in Israel ’s capital. All of them were
captured alive by the king of Israel .
The delighted king asked Elisha if he could kill them all. Full of compassion,
Elisha denied that request. Instead, he asked the king to give them plenty of
food and water and later asked him to send them all back.
Because of the compassion of Elisha, the
king of Aram
stopped the war with the king of Israel .
Because of God’s power and His promise to
help His own people, the victory that day was a resounding one.
Elisha’s servant learned a great lesson that day. He didn’t want to depend on his own strength anymore. He will indeed
focus on God’s power. - PS BIBLE News
REFLECTION
This story above is taken from 2 Kings
6:8-23. Our eyes sometimes deceive us just like they deceive Elisha’s servant.
We must see through the eyes of faith believing that there are more that stand
on our side than those who are against us. Why? Because God is our source of
strength. He had more angels than all our enemies combined. Isn’t it good to be
on His side? Certainly. Whatever problems or shortcomings we may have can be
overcome because He is with us! He will fight on our behalf! Did Jesus Himself
promise us this? Yes! Jesus said, “In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33). He said, “I have given
your authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power
of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19 )
Thursday, August 6, 2015
EVIL FOR GOOD
Unidentified
place: A rich man went for a journey,
promised he will return after a long time. He owned a good fertile land and he
rented it to some farmers. He was a kind-hearted man who wanted to see that
these farmers that he loved got some benefits out of this land.
When the time
came for the harvest, he told his servant to go and get some fruits that the
farmers had planted so as to show their appreciation for him. They refused to
give him the fruits. Instead, his servant was beaten up and was told to go
back. The land owner was very surprised with the farmers for what they did.
Since he loved them so very much, he decided to try again with another servant.
The servant went.
The farmers gathered up again and beat him up as well. They mocked him and
laughed at him. They ridiculed him and threw insults at him.
The servant
managed to get back to his master and related everything to him. The owner was
grieved and deeply saddened with what had happened. “Is that what they paid me
for my kindness and love towards them?” he cried in utter despair.
He didn’t give
up loving them but sent another servant just to collect some of the fruits in
his own land.
The same thing
happened. The servant was wounded severely by them. His master heard about it
and started to become indignant, seeing all the injustices that were done. He began to reason within himself that if he sent his one and only son to them, perhaps
they would respect him. His son was not afraid at all to go and collect the
fruits. He was obedient to his father.
Still at a long
distance away, the farmers saw him coming. They then discussed among themselves
what to do with the owner’s one and only son. They came out with a wicked idea.
Since he was the heir of the land and if they could kill him, the land would be
theirs. They thought this would be the chance that they could forcefully wrest
control of the land and be very rich.
This time they
did the worse thing. Not only did they beat the son up, they murdered him. The
farmers were very glad for they thought they would possess the land. They
celebrated and went on taking in the good harvest that the land had produced.
While they were
in the fields, gathering in the fruits, there appeared few strong men. They
saw them looking like warriors, waiting to fight their enemies. They ran as fast
as they could and began to gather together in a village. The farmers were
asking each other about the huge men. At a distance away they saw the
terrifying men coming towards their direction. At the front of the men, they
then saw someone familiar, directing the men. The land owner. He was
angry and sad at the same at these bunch of unrepentant wicked farmers. With a
loud shout, he ordered the men to kill all those who murdered his son.
The owner then
rented his land to others who would listen to him and be blessed. – PSBIBLE News
REFLECTION
This parable is
taken from Luke 20:9-15. Many people today think that God will not come and
judge them for their wickedness. They could go on doing whatever seems good in
their own eyes, cheating, murdering, abusing people, thus neglecting the Word
of God. Judgement will come as promised by God Himself if they do not repent. Yet God is a Judge full of love who would still wait for people to repent and
be saved. He warned everyone in this world to repent and believe in Him through
Jesus so that their sins can be washed away.
….. He (God) is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance (2 Peter 3:9)
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
THE GIANT TUMBLES
Goliath hounded them again and again. The
Israelites on the other hand shivered with great fear even though they have
great experience in battles.
Meanwhile, David, a
shepherd boy who is very close with God, overheard the proud chant of Goliath,
asked the king that he be sent to fight him. King Saul was very surprised that
this boy could be so daring, David then told him how he killed a lion and a bear
before with bare hands because God was with him. He assured the king that God
will also help him kill this giant. King Saul hesitantly agreed to let him go
on the condition that he must put on the king’s armour. David put it on but it was too huge for him and caused him to walk with great difficulties. He
took them off immediately and asked the king to grant him that he used his own
weapons instead. The shepherd boy only took a pouch filled
with five stones and a sling shot.
So off he went
to fight the Goliath, the “giant”.
When he
confronted Goliath with only small stuffs, the “giant” laughed at him. He jeered the whole Israelites’ army for sending a boy to fight him. David, a boy
full of faith in his God, did not fear him at all. Everybody in the Israelites’
camp did not give a ghost of a chance to him to win this confrontation.
But then it
happened!
When Goliath was
about to draw his sword, David aimed his sling with a small rock he took from
his pouch. He released the rock with a powerful slingshot. It hit the giant
right on the forehead before he could charge towards David. Then the “giant” fell like
a timber. He was killed by just one slingshot. The whole Israelites’ camp
rejoiced greatly at the triumph of David.
It is a day that
David will never forget that God wrought this victorious feat through him. While
others look at their own puny strength, David looks to God who is the most powerful
One of them all. – PS BIBLE News
REFLECTION
This story is taken from 1 Samuel chapter
17 in the Bible. David was not like the rest of them who looked at their human
strength to achieve things. When the Israelites found no one who was taller and
stronger than Goliath, they became very afraid and ran. David was different. He
relied upon God even though the king offered him his armour, another man-made
weapon, he rejected it. Instead, David called upon the Name of the Lord and
used what he had to gain the victory over the enemy. Although he was not big
size in the sight of man, he was strong on the inside because he trusted in God.
Are you only strong outwardly? Do you have God inside of you like David?
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
GREEDY NO MORE
But deep inside
of Zacchaeus’ heart, he knew he had done wrong. Especially so when he heard of
Jesus doing so many marvellous things for the people. Being a greedy person,
Zacchaeus did some very bad things. He could not bear the guilt anymore but
didn’t know who to turn to so that he could change into a better person. He was
shattered and devastated.
Suddenly, Jesus
came into his mind. He heard of Jesus forgiving the sins of the people and of
the many who worshiped Him as the Son of God. He thought that if he could get
hold of Jesus, he would be set free from sins of greed. Furthermore, this will
stop people from grumbling and gossiping about him once and for all. So, he
resolved in his mind to find Jesus.
Zacchaeus was a
short man. When he knew Jesus was coming into the part of the town, he was
extremely delighted. But when he saw that Jesus was surrounded by a sea of
people, he could not see nor reach Him. He promised himself that no matter how
he had to see Jesus that day. Nothing stopped him from meeting Jesus. He found
a tree nearby and straight away climbed up just to get a glimpse of Him.
With so many
people clamouring over the Son of God, he was glad that he could at least see
Jesus’ face. Then something happened that day that changed Zacchaeus’ life
forever. Jesus noticed him up on that tree. He was stunned and couldn’t utter a
thing. “He’s seen me! He’s seen me!”, the thought kept ringing in his mind. But
then a marvellous thing happened which completely took the tax collector by
surprise.
Jesus spoke. He
not only spoke but He spoke to Zacchaeus. This was too good to be true. Jesus
asked him to come down from the tree for He wanted to stay in his house.
“The Son of God
wants to stay at this short, wicked, and greedy tax collector’s place,” he
thought to himself, completely surprised!
Yes! It was
true. Immediately, he reached out his hands towards Jesus and hugged Him,
oblivious of people who cursed him and gossiped about him. They were also
annoyed with Jesus for making friends with this sinner.
With tears in
his eyes, he told Jesus that he would be a better person. He promised the Son
of God that half of his possessions will be given to the poor. Furthermore, he
would give back four times as much as those whom he had cheated.
Jesus forgave
him because he genuinely repented of his sins. The greatest thrill of Zacchaeus ‘ life was when his sins were
forgiven and the second greatest must have been to have had Jesus staying in
his house. “WOW!” – PSBIBLE News
REFLECTION
This story is
found in Luke 19:1-10. Jesus said “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what
was lost” (Luke 19:10 ).
Are you lost in your sins of greediness, or grumbling or gossiping? Call on
Jesus and He will come into your heart and forgive all your sins. Your heart is
like Zacchaeus’ house which Jesus can come in and be a friend to you even
though you are a sinner. Hallelujah!
Monday, August 3, 2015
UNFORGIVEN
Middle East: Today, a king sentenced a man to prison to be
tortured for owing him millions of dollars. At first glance perhaps, many would
think that the king was harsh in his judgement. Actually the king was a
gracious king.
Initially he wanted the servant to pay
everything he owed. If he couldn’t pay, he had to sell off his wife and
children and everything that he owed. This punishment was in accordance with
the law in the country. After the servant pleaded earnestly with the king to
spare him, the king forgave him and cancelled his debt.
Relief and joy were apparent all over his
face as he hugged his wife and children tightly. He bowed low and thanked the
king for his mercy. The next day, he went about his usual work in the palace.
Then he saw a fellow servant who owed him a few hundred dollars. Quickly, he took hold
of his garments and demanded he pay every cent. The man was very afraid of him
because he had no money to pay him back. He pleaded for him to cancel the debt, but he refused to forgive his fellow servant and cancel his debt.
Instead he forcefully put him to jail and
kept him there until he paid his debt in full. This was only a few hundred dollars. He
had forgotten that the king, his master cancelled his debt for few million
dollars.
When all of this was happening, some fellow
servants of the king saw everything this ungrateful servant did. They quickly ran
to the king and told him everything he had done.
The king was furious. He sent his guards to
bring the wicked servant before him. He knelt before the king and pleaded once again for his
forgiveness.
“You wicked servant. I cancelled all that
debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your
fellow servant just as I had on you?” the king growled angrily. This is how the
king turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he could pay back all
he owed. – PSBIBLE News
REFLECTION
This story was
told by Jesus in Matthew chapter 18 verses 23 to 34. God wants to teach us that
we need to forgive others. Why? Simple. God gave His only Son to save us from
going to hell. Jesus died on our behalf. In other words, he cancelled our debt
which we could never pay at all like the few million dollars the servant owed
the king. What is a few million dollars compared to a few dollars people owed
you? Therefore, forgive them because God forgave you. Jesus sums up this lesson
on forgiveness when He said in verse 35, “This is how my Heavenly Father will
treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Thursday, July 30, 2015
BE BORN, AGAIN?
He was taken aback when Jesus uttered this
statement, “I tell you the truth, no one can see kingdom of God
unless he is born again.” The last two words, especially, created a great
curiosity in him. He had never heard of such a phrase before in his entire
life. Impossible! He knew in his own life he had done many bad things and if he
could go back to his mother’s womb and be born again, that would be great.
Probably, he would try to be a better person.
Jesus then began to teach him what “born
again” really meant. It was indeed impossible for Nicodemus to be born again
through the human help of his mother.
There was a greater meaning in those two
words awaiting him. It was more powerful than he could ever imagine.
God, the Creator was waiting to recreate
him and make him into a new person. He could now become a new creation or be
“born again”.
“Born again” here meant being born of God
and that was far better than being born by human descent. In other words, he
could be saved from going to hell and instead, would be on the way to Heaven
where he can live forever and ever with God.
Jesus led Nicodemus to focus on the
heavenly things when He said that he must be born again. That’s why Jesus told
him that He Himself came from Heaven and He could be trusted.
Then Jesus uttered the greatest statement
and the most beautiful one for the entire world to hear.
“For
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes
in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
From then on, Nicodemus knew that God
offered hope to every man who needed to come near to God. The hope of eternal
life. That hope was in Jesus.
Tears began to well up in his eyes as he
knew that God had finally revealed the truth to him and was giving him the chance to be born again.
He understood it all. He had to believe in the Son of God, who was just
standing right in front of him.
That night, Nicodemus thanked God over and
over again that he was able to meet Jesus. “What
if I hadn’t met him?” or “What if I had been so afraid of my friends that I missed the greatest appointment of my life?”
He didn’t dare to imagine the consequences. He went back home reiterating the
same words, “I need to be born again”
He was also committed to tell others too. “You
need to be born again,” he told others confidently.
– PS BIBLE News
REFLECTION
Everyone needs
to be born again! The good news is everyone can be born again. This story was
found in John chapter 3. God said in
His Word that whoever believes
in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life. The word ‘whoever’ includes
you and me. God is always waiting for us to call upon Him because He loves us
very much. “Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Have you called upon Jesus
to save you? If not, why don’t you do it today?
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