6th February 2025

Lacking Biblical Knowledage

You are in error, not knowing

the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Matthew 22:29

Today's Bible Reading: Matthew 22: 23-33.

It is a sobering reality that many Christians — including some highly trained church ministers — are in error in their understanding of the Bible. Their mistake is often not academic ability, but a failure to grasp basic biblical truth. Such thinking may be described as liberal, because it elevates human ideas above Scripture, and light, because it lacks theological depth and spiritual weight.

This problem is not new. When the Lord Jesus walked the earth, He repeatedly exposed error among the religious leaders of His day. In Matthew 22, He confronted the Sadducees, who attempted to trap Him with a hypothetical question about marriage and the resurrection. The Lord's response cut to the heart of the matter: they neither understood the Scriptures nor believed in the power of God.

Matthew 22:29 remains a timely warning for us today. It is not enough merely to possess biblical knowledge; we must understand what Scripture teaches and trust the divine power behind it. As we diligently study and meditate on God’s Word, we grow in our knowledge of who He is and how He works in our lives.

Equally, we must recognise and rely upon the power of God. Though His ways and timing may often be beyond our understanding, we can rest in the assurance that He is sovereign, purposeful, and fully in control.

Let us therefore commit ourselves to a deeper knowledge of the Scriptures, while living in confident trust in the power of God and His perfect plan for our daily lives.

Prayer:  My Eternal God, Help me to study and learn from Your Word every day, and protect me from error, and those who do not know the power of You Word. In Christ Jesus I pray. Amen.

5th February 2025

Greatest Love

Greater love has no one than this,

than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  

John 15:13

Today's Bible Reading: John 15:9-17.

Just days before Holy Week, when Christians around the world remember Jesus’ sacrifice and celebrate His resurrection, a terrorist stormed into a supermarket in southwest France opening fire and killing two. After negotiation, the terrorist released all but one hostage, whom he turned into a human shield. Knowing the danger, police officer Arnaud Beltrame did the unthinkable: he volunteered to take the woman’s place. The perpetrator released her, but in the ensuing scuffle Beltrame was injured and later died. 

A minister in the French Reformed Church, who knew the police officer attributed his heroism to his faith in Jesus Christ, pointing to His words in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Those were the words Christ spoke to His disciples after their last meal together. He told His friends to “Love one another as I have loved you” (v 12) and that the greatest love is to lay down one’s life for another (v 13). This is exactly what the Lord Jesus did the next day, when He went to the cross to save us from our sin—as only He could.

We may never be called to follow the heroism of Arnaud Beltrame. But as we remain in God’s love, we can serve others sacrificially, laying down our own plans and desires as we seek to share the story of His great love. 

Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus, You died to give me life everlasting. May I live with gratitude for this gift and share it with those you put in my path. In Your name I pray. Amen.

4th February 2025

The Comforter

The love of God has been poured out in our hearts

by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  

Romans 5:56

Today's Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-5.

Before He left His disciples, Christ promised that He would send a Comforter to help them in the trials, cares, and temptations of life. This word comforter means “one that helps alongside.” He is the Holy Spirit, the powerful Third Person of the Trinity. The moment you believe on the Lord Jesus, the moment you claim Christ as your Saviour, at that very moment, you are born again, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your heart. You may not emotionally feel Him there, but you must exercise faith. Believe it! Accept it as a fact of faith! He is in your heart to help you. We are told that He sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts. He produces the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). We cannot possibly manufacture this fruit in our own strength. It is supernaturally manufactured by the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts!

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, I praise You for Your Holy Spirit who guides and keeps me in all my ways. In Jesus name. Amen.