"He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." - Proverbs 14:29 REFERENCE Proverbs 14:29 One Chinese proverb says, “In the midst of great joy, do not promise anyone anything. In the midst of great anger, do not answer anyone’s letter.” In other words, it is very possible to do stuff, say things or make decisions one may regret in moments of emotional highs or lows. Your capacity for analytical reasoning is greatly impaired in times of emotional extremes. People who swing between sudden emotional bursts tend to live a roller-coaster kind of...
So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” Luke 23:47 REFERENCE Luke 23:27-47 Having risen through the ranks of the elite Roman army, Longinus (as church tradition names him) was a bit rough around the edges, one of those no-nonsense military leaders. He had seen it all, wars, insurrections, massacres, invasions, etc. He had jailed criminals, flogged and witnessed the flogging of many and had been forward in leading many to their deaths by crucifixion. On this Friday that forever changed his life, his brigade was on duty. It was execution...
One of the criminals hanging there began to shout insults at Jesus…But the other criminal stopped him. He said…You and I are guilty. We deserve to die because we did wrong. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you begin ruling as king!” Luke 23:39-42 (ERV) REFERENCE Luke 23:27-43 (ERV) Amidst overwhelming pain and agony, certain of his imminent death in a few minutes, his thoughts drifted; at least, something to distract him from the rivulets of pain coursing through his body. This ‘convict on the cross’ began to reflect on his life...
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. Mark 15:22 (NIV) REFERENCE Mark 15:16-22 (NIV It was just a day to Passover in Jerusalem. Jews from all over the world came in for the Feast. The buzz on the streets and in the markets was at fever pitch. Adding to the buzz was a procession to Mount Golgotha, on another side of the city. The Romans were leading criminals to be crucified. However, a certain ‘Convict’ made that...
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” Matthew 27:19 REFERENCE Matthew 27:15-22 She wakes up with a startle, sweating and her heart racing. It’s a dream; No, a nightmare. Still lying in bed, she tries to replay the ‘dream’ in her mind, it is foreboding and didn’t seem good at all, her husband is in a bad state…her husband? She quickly turns to the bedside lamp, switches it on and realizes her...
So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. ~ Mark 15:15 REFERENCE Mark 15:6-15 Around 33 AD in Jerusalem, a man was lying on the cold floor of a maximum prison. Being a notorious prisoner, his feet were kept in stocks and his wrists were chained to other convicts like him. He had led a bloody riot in an attempt to overthrow the ruling Roman government, in which he had killed some people. So, as a murderer, Barabbas was kept on death row, awaiting the day of his execution,...
Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. Luke 19:2-4 REFERENCE Luke 19:1-6 This short narration about Zacchaeus in today’s account proffers a simple, yet important and practical solution on handling the daily challenges we encounter in life. Like Zacchaeus, we all have desires and things we...
…He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. John 8:7&9 REFERENCE John 8:1-11 The people who brought this woman caught in adultery to Jesus were so vehement, yet they were as much sinners riddled with the guilt of a sinful life or unconfessed sins. They were quick to spot out...
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 REFERENCE Psalm 23:1-6 In Hebrew tongue, Jehovah Rohi means ‘The Lord our Shepherd.’ A shepherd typically is called to tend sheep. Metaphorically however, a shepherd guides and directs others in the direction they should go. Jesus in John 10:11 called Himself the ‘Good Shepherd’ who gives His life for the sheep (believers). For believers, our Jehovah Rohi seeks, leads and feeds us. David, being a shepherd himself, understood what it meant to take care of sheep; he used the shepherd/sheep illustration to explain God’s goodness to us in this...
“So then it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Romans 9:16 REFERENCE Romans 9:14-16 Without a proper understanding of today’s thought, life may seem an imbalanced game of luck. In fact, many have often exclaimed that life is not fair, or God Himself is not fair. (God may not appear to be fair but He is just). For such a declaration to be made there has to be someone more just than Him – and there is none. God will wrong no man and He equally will owe no man....