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.

3rd February 2025

Wisdom to Understanding

For the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6

Today's Bible Reading: John 14:1-6.

When the Lord Jesus uttered His words of comfort in the first few verses of John's Gospel chapter 14, He concluded with, "And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:4), Thomas said unto Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Jesus answered him with a statement which has in it the ring of eternity. It was sublimely simple and yet profoundly deep. Its meaning was clear to all, and yet the great theologians have never completely sounded its mighty depths. This is that statement, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).

In one majestic statement, these words silenced Thomas’ questioning tongue and brought reassurance and peace to the hearts of the other disciples. Within the wonder of that authoritative sentence from the lips of the Son of God, there was enough comfort to pacify the sufferings of the tormented, enough wisdom to satisfy those who yearned for understanding, and enough power to set the great Christian movement in motion.

Prayer:  Father, Thank You that Your Son has made know the way to Heaven., I Praise and bless You 1n Jesus Mighty name. Amen.