Permanent Address
Not long ago we moved to a new home just a short distance from our old one. Despite the close proximity, we still needed to load all of our belongings onto a moving truck because of the timing of the financial transactions. Between the sale and purchase, our furnishings stayed on the truck and our family found temporary lodging. During that time, I was surprised to discover how “at home” I felt despite the displacement from our physical home—simply because I was with those I love most: my family.
For part of his life, David lacked a physical home. He lived…
DAY 6 - THE TRIALS OF JESUS
DAY 6 - THE TRIALS OF JESUS
READ:
MARK 14:53-65
When others throw allegations at us, our natural human tendency is to be defensive. We want to prove our innocence. But Jesus refused to answer all the allegations during His trial. It was not until the high priest, Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57, 63–64), asked if He was the Messiah that He finally broke…
True Hope
We are living at a time of perpetual bad news, whether it is the ugliness of unrest around the world,…
DAY 5 - JESUS PRAYS AT GETHSEMANE
DAY 5 - JESUS PRAYS AT GETHSEMANE
READ:
MARK 14:32-42
In His final moments on earth, Jesus struggled in deep anguish in the garden of Gethsemane. As He looked west from the garden, He would see the temple in all its beauty. There, thousands of animals were sacrificed every year, their blood staining the altar. But the blood had no real power…
DAY 4 - JESUS INSTITUTES THE LORD'S SUPPER
DAY 4 - JESUS INSTITUTES THE LORD'S SUPPER
READ:
MARK 14:12-26
Passover was a major festival observed by the Jews to commemorate God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12–13). During New Testament times, the celebration of the Passover generally involved the practice of drinking four cups of wine in between meals, to recall the promises of God in…
DAY 3 - JESUS PREDICTS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE
DAY 3 - JESUS PREDICTS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE
READ:
MARK 13:1-37
In the Old Testament, the Mount of Olives (a hill lying east of Jerusalem) is associated with sad events. David fled from his son Absalom and wept as he climbed up that hill (2 Samuel 15:30). King Solomon built altars, shrines, and high places for the worship of Chemosh…
Real Hospitality
“Kumain ka na ba?” (Have you eaten?)
This is what you’ll always hear as a visitor in many homes in the Philippines, where I’m from. It’s the Filipino way of expressing care and kindness for our guests. And regardless of your reply, your host will always prepare something for you to eat. Filipinos believe that true kindness isn’t just saying the standard greeting, but also going beyond words to show real hospitality.
Rebekah, too, knew all about being kind. Her daily chores included drawing water from the well outside town and carrying the heavy jar of water home. When Abraham’s servant, who…
Frustrated but not hopeless
If I had to describe my feelings about the current situation of our country in one word, undoubtedly it would…
LK 3 Things Christians Can Do When Sri Lanka is in Pain
3 Things Christians Can Do When Sri Lanka is in Pain
Ask anyone in the street what’s wrong with our country and you’ll get a litany of…
A Better Burial
In this article, Bruce Pass unfolds the event of Jesus’ burial and uncovers what it means for us.
When we rejoice at Easter time, we celebrate the fact that Jesus died in our place for our sins and rose from the dead so that we might live forever with Him. But that’s not the whole story of Easter. Jesus didn’t just…
Parking Lot Quarrel
The scene in the parking lot might have been funny if it wasn’t so tragic. Two drivers were arguing loudly over one of their cars that was blocking the passage of the other, and harsh words were being exchanged.
What made it especially painful to watch was that this quarrel was taking place in the parking lot of a church. The two men had possibly just heard a sermon about love, patience, or forgiveness, but it was all forgotten in the heat of the moment.
Passing by, I shook my head—then quickly realized I was no better. How many times had I…
DAY 2 - JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE
DAY 2 - JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE
READ:
MARK 11:15-19
The Eiffel Tower of Paris, the Big Ben of London, and the Petronas Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur are examples of iconic symbols of cities today.
In the first century, the magnificent temple of Jerusalem was the icon of the city. Every pilgrim to Jerusalem was deeply impressed by it. However, Jesus was…
A Good Work
As a teenager, Charles Spurgeon wrestled with God. He’d grown up going to church, but what was preached seemed bland and meaningless. God was a struggle for him, and Charles, in his own words “rebelled and revolted.” One night a fierce snowstorm forced the sixteen-year-old Spurgeon to seek shelter in a tiny Methodist church. The pastor’s sermon seemed directed at him personally. In that moment, God won the wrestling match, and Charles gave his heart to Jesus.
Spurgeon later wrote, “long before I began with Christ, He began with me.” In fact, our life with God doesn’t begin with the moment…
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