When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17, NLT). God […]
“In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’S Passover” (Exodus 12:11). If you are planning an early morning trip with small children, sending them to bed in traveling clothes (except […]
“Love is a verb”, the bumper sticker on the car that sped past me said. That is true. Love is not just a noun, an abstract feeling that we hold, but love means action. But as the car vanished from my sight, the bumper sticker lingered on in my thoughts for a while. One part […]
What does Christ expect from his followers? The prayers of Christ drop enough clues about his hopes in us. Christ is looking for strong, sanctified lives who live fully surrendered to him.
Scarecrows are placed on farms to scare the birds away. Even though the scarecrows have only a skewed resemblance to human beings who can harm them, birds go nowhere near them. But some birds are smart enough to tell the scarecrow from a real human. They know that they are just hay for the body, a broken pot for the head and still. These birds also know that the scarecrow is placed where there is something to eat. No one puts a scarecrow where nothing is grown. Instead of being scared away, they dare to land on the scarecrows to enjoy the feast the ripe field offers. This is the difference between faith and fear. (Click the title to read further.)
Centurion’s faith was commended because his faith came from his experience and his recognition of Jesus’ authority. In Jesus he saw more than a Galilean tramp. In Jesus he saw a man who has authority over all sickness. That belief is what the Bible calls faith. Faith involves how we perceive the divine. Jesus Christ is not just a Galilean carpenter.
The journey with the risen Christ is exciting. “The longer I serve him the sweeter he grows.” But why?
God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect. We should surrender ourselves to his perfect will.
This is an allegory. Only what has life force in them will grow. The chickens lay eggs. Usually farm chicken lay unfertilized eggs that cannot be hatched. They can be boiled, fried and eaten raw. But free-ranger country chicken lay fertilized eggs that can be hatched to adorable chicks. Anyone who want to raise a chicken farm has to choose fertilized eggs for the incubator.
Paulson Pulikottil 