Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. - Ezekiel 47:12 REFERENCE Ezekiel 47:7-12 Uniquely represented in this passage is a life that constantly receives it’s true life from Jesus the ‘River/Water of life.’ Here it describes some features that are commonplace for the tree (man), which grows “Along the bank of the...
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. - Genesis 40:23 REFERENCE Genesis 40:5-15, 23 Isn’t it typical of us (humans) to easily forget the kindness and goodness others have shown to us? In this passage, we saw how Joseph helped to interpret the butler’s dream who was then restored back to his position from prison. Although the butler made a promise to repay Joseph’s kindness by mentioning him to Pharaoh (who has power to release him from prison), he still forgot about him once he was out of the prison and Joseph remained in his...
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. - 1 Corinthians 12:20 REFERENCE 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 As believers God expects us to function as one body in Christ. We all occupy different offices and have different callings and gifts, but we need to work together as a single unit in order so we can arrive at our destination quicker. It is our duty to look out for each other in the body because If one part becomes weak or fails, it will definitely affect the rest of the body. Sometimes, people tend to envy those with the more...
Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing,… For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman… ~ Isaiah 54:1 REFERENCE Isaiah 54:1-10 It takes real faith and sacrifice to sing when things are not adding up and you are not seeing fruits from your labor. It seems almost unfair to tell someone who is experiencing a drought to rejoice, because the person doesn’t have any reason to be joyful. However, God who knows the end from the beginning gave the directive for the barren to rejoice in this...
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! ~ 1 John 3:1 REFERENCE 1 John 3:1-12 The world celebrates today (February 14th) as Valentine’s Day – a day of love, set aside for people to both receive and show love to others. Love connotes different things to different people, but in its pure form, it is the nature of God. God showed us His nature by giving us His unconditional love although we were undeserving of it. Because of this love, we are now called ‘Children of God.’...
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands… and they did not repent of their murders… or their thefts. - Revelation 9:20-21 REFERENCE Revelation 9:13-21 One wonders why, in spite of all the calamities that befall thousands around us daily; the famine, earthquakes, untold hardships, landslides & mudslides, etc, mankind never pauses to consider his Maker. Systems are failing, money is failing, otherwise strong nations are being shaken, uprising and protests everywhere, religious fanaticism and persecution…and so on. The times we are in and the events...
Then the Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?' - Judges 6:14 REFERENCE Judges 6:11-23 When the Angel of God met Gideon in this story, he was hiding in fear because of the enemy. Gideon had so much self doubt that the Angel had to introduce him to himself; i.e. the real Gideon, the way God made him and sees him – a mighty man of valor who can save a nation, but who was in confinement because...
For the LORD will restore the excellence of Jacob like the excellence of Israel for the emptiers have emptied them out and ruined their vine branches. - Nahum 2:2 REFERENCE Nahum 2:1-6 Restoration means putting something back to its original state, i.e. repair or return to how it was previously. God promised to restore His children in our text to their former state of excellence after they had suffered in the hands of their emptiers. The devil is the one who empties people of their worth and value; he ruins people’s character and personalities. He destroys homes and takes away...
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. - Proverbs 22:29 (KJV). DILIGENCE is one of the strongest forces on earth; it can make someone who has been labeled a failure excel and prosper exceedingly. Diligence, simply means doing something consistently until the purpose is accomplished. God requires us to be diligent in all we do but especially in seeking an intimate relationship with Him, so no matter where we are in life (mountain top or valley), we will be consistent in pursuing Him. If you must walk...
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. - Psalm 33:1 REFERENCE Psalm 33:1-3 According to our text today, God loves it when praises come to Him from us – the saints, and it makes a beautiful sight in heaven. We serve a very big God, the El-Shaddai – God who is sufficient for all our needs. When we praise Him in spite of our circumstances, we are simply telling Him that He is bigger than our circumstances and this gladdens His heart because it shows that we believe in His ability to help,...