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Biblical Roles: Men Are God's Leaders

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.   The Holy Bible places a significant emphasis on leadership, particularly strong, godly leadership. This is clear in the roles and responsibilities men are called to assume within the church. However, the concept of strong men leading the church goes beyond physical strength. It is about spiritual power, moral integrity, wisdom, humility, and servant leadership. This is not to take away from women, who have their own excellent roles and gifts, encouraging and making the man whole.   In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, the Apostle Paul details the qualities required of a 'bishop' or 'overseer' – a term often used to denote a church leader. " The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded,...

Prodigal Children: Return to Your Father

Genesis 31:3 Return to the land of your fathers, and to your family; and I will be with you. Our Heavenly Father is a God of second chances, a God of mercy and unconditional love; with a message of grace and redemption. Today, we are going to explore the beauty of returning to the Father, even when we have strayed far from His path.   In the book of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-32, we find the parable of the prodigal son. A story that, while familiar to many of us, holds an evergreen message of forgiveness and restoration. This parable tells the story of a young man who, after squandering his inheritance on wild living, finds himself in a state of destitution. He decides to return to his father, not as a son, but as a servant, believing he is no longer worthy to be called a son. But what does his father do? He runs to him, embraces him, and restores him to his rightful place as a son.   This story, dear friends, reflects our relationship with God. There are times in our...

Reaching Others: Call To the Wild

Isaiah 42:11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice..let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains .   Dear Beloved in Christ, I am writing to you today with a heart full of joy and enthusiasm, for we have been called to a task of great importance and eternal significance. We have been called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to reach out to those who do not yet know Him, to share His love and truth with them.   In the book of Matthew, Jesus gives us our mission: " Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you ." (Matthew 28:19-20). This is not a suggestion, but a command. It is not only for a select few, but for all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ.   So, how do we do this? How do we reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ? It may seem like a ...

Priorities: Do Not Over Focus on Evil

Romans 16:19 ...but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.   In a world that often seems filled with negativity and bombards us with bad news from every angle on the media, it is easy to become tunnel-visioned and lose sight of the goodness surrounding us. However, as followers of Jesus, we are called to focus on what is good, noble, and praiseworthy. Paul writes in Philippians 4:8 “ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This powerful passage puts life into perspective.   First, let us consider what it means to focus on what is good. It does not mean ignoring the problems and challenges we face or pretending that everything is perfect when it is not. Instead, focusing on the good means choosing to see God's hand at work in every situation, trusting that He is in control ...

Forgiveness: Not Easy, But Necessary

Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: I want to talk about a topic that is often difficult for many of us - forgiveness. More specifically, the struggle we sometimes face in forgiving others who have hurt us. We've all been wounded by others in some way or another - perhaps by harsh words, betrayal, or outright acts of harm. These experiences can leave deep scars in our hearts, causing us to hold onto bitterness and resentment.   The Bible, however, calls us to a higher standard. In Ephesians 4:31-32, we are instructed, " Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you ." This is a beautiful and challenging command, but how do we live it out, especially when the hurt runs deep?   Firstly, we need to understand what forgiveness is and what it is not. Forgive...

The Rock: God Never Changes

Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. In a world that is constantly shifting and changing, where even the most reliable things can fail us, isn't it comforting to know that we have a God who never changes? The Bible, in Malachi 3:6, assures us, " For I am the LORD, I change not ." In Hebrews 13:8, we read, " Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever ." These scriptures underline the immutable nature of God. The unchanging nature of God is known as His immutability. It is one of His divine attributes that sets Him apart from His creation. Everything in creation changes. We change. The world around us changes. But our God does not. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Consider the seasons. They change, moving from spring to summer, to autumn, to winter, and back again. Yet, regardless of the season, we can trust that the sun will rise each morning and set each evening. In a sim...

The Holy Bible: Preserved and Perfect Word of God

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. The Holy Bible, the Word of God, holds a revered position within Christianity. It is considered the ultimate source of divine revelation, providing guidance, wisdom, and instruction to believers. The words are Spirit and they are life (John 6:63).   We root the doctrine of the preservation of the Word of God in the belief that the Bible, as God's revelation, has been kept pure in all ages. Various biblical passages support this belief. In Psalm 12:6-7, it is written, " The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. " Similarly, Jesus declares in Matthew 24:35, " Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. "   These verses, among others, affirm the Christian belief that the Word of God remains inviolate...

Christian Soldiers: Peacemaking over Violence

Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Today, I would like us to reflect upon a crucial aspect of our Christian living, one that is sometimes overlooked in our interactions with others: the commandment to refrain from being a striker or engaging in fights. This teaching is deeply rooted in the Bible and is central to the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.   In the book of Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a list of qualities that a leader in the church should possess. Among these, he says, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous" (1 Timothy 3:2-3 KJV).   The term 'striker' here refers to someone who is quick to eng...

Obedience: Obeying the Law of the Land

Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do good, and you shall have their praise As Christians, we are advised to live a life of obedience, not just to the laws of God, but also to the laws of the land in which we reside. This principle is clearly stated in the Bible, particularly in the book of Romans. The apostle Paul writes: Romans 13:1-2 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.   This passage is unequivocal in its directive. As followers of Christ, we are to respect and obey the governing authorities, for they have been established by God. This does not mean that every law or every leader is perfect or righteous, far ...

Hold On: Do Not Give Up

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces patience. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.   Dear beloved, there are moments in our lives when we feel overwhelmed by the tide of challenges and adversities that seem to relentlessly surge against us. In these times, the temptation to give up can be overwhelming. But remember, we are followers of Christ, and our faith teaches us the power of perseverance.   The above passage might seem counterintuitive at first. Joy in trials? But that is the mystery and beauty of our faith. James is not asking us to be joyful for the trials themselves, but for what they produce in us - perseverance. Each trial is an opportunity to grow in faith, to deepen our relationship with God, and to become more like Christ, who himself endured the greatest of trials for our sake....