Faithful Writing

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star .   Today I will discuss a topic that stirs my spirit, the distortion of doctrine which inverts and conflates Lucifer (which I believe to be Satan's name prior to the fall), with our Lord Jesus Christ as the "morning star". This is a terrible heresy and substitution that Christians need to be aware of and vigilant about when handling scripture to avoid falling into error and confusion, as Eve was when the serpent deceived her.   Isaiah 14:12 (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer , son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!   Until modern Bible versions, Isaiah always was understood as referring to the devil, but today confusion has been infused into the Word of God with almost every modern translation changing this (please contrast th...

Micah 6:8 (SKJV) He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Today, I would like to share with you a devotional on how to stroll hand in hand with our Heavenly Father, on the beautiful pathway of righteousness and eternal life. In the book of Micah 6:8, the Prophet tells us what the Lord requires of us. Walking with God, as we see in this passage, is not a solitary act; it is intertwined with our actions towards our fellow human beings and our attitude towards life.   Starting our journey, let us first understand what it means to walk with God. It is a metaphor that signifies an intimate, constant, and growing relationship with our Creator. It is about sharing our life's journey- the joy and sorrow, the triumphs, and trials- with Him, under His guidance and in His company. The Bible provides us with exemplary models of individuals who walked with God, such as Enoch, Noah, and...

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved by God, a worker that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.   The Bible, as we all know, is the inspired word of God and a fundamental cornerstone of the Christian faith. It serves as a guide, a beacon of light illuminating our path in the darkness. It is a source of hope, wisdom, and salvation. These realisations are crucial for young Christians as they navigate through their journey of faith. Hence, it becomes essential for the youth to comprehend and appreciate the Bible in its true essence, fostering a deeper connection with it. Today, I will explore a few effective methods of Bible study Christians can adopt.   To begin with, one of the simplest and most effective ways to study the Bible is the 'Observation, Interpretation, and Application' method. This three-step process begins with observing the text carefully. This requires reading the passage several times, noting essential details lik...

Today we will explore parables, our Lord Jesus often taught in parables, short allegorical stories with metaphorical meaning. This was a novel teaching device he explains in Matthew 13:10-16 was to fulfil prophecy and to be grasped by those with the Holy Spirit and understanding:   “ The disciples said to Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not given to them. For whosoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away. Therefore, I speak to them in parables: because though they see, they do not see; and though they hear, they do not hear, neither do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Esaias is fulfilled, which says: ‘By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed g...

John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.   In the book of Matthew, in chapter 24, verse 12, it says, " Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. " These words were spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ as he prophesied about the end times. It is a harsh reality, but it is an issue that we must open our hearts and minds to understand and address. It is a warning, a wake-up call, that as disciples of Christ we must heed.   The world today is brimming with uncertainty, chaos, and deceit. There is an increase in moral decay, discord, and division. It can at times seem as though darkness is overshadowing the light. And all too often, in the face of such wickedness, the love within us does indeed grow cold and harden like wax or ice. We become indifferent, desensitized, and even apathetic. It is a chillingly easy trap to fall into, but we must resist.   We are Christians. We a...

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.   Today, let us explore the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, whose footsteps we strive to follow. From humble beginnings in Bethlehem, Jesus' life was a testament to God's omnipotence and unfathomable love for mankind. Born in a humble manger, Jesus' life serves as a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. Despite His divine origin, Jesus grew up in a modest environment, showing us that material wealth is not a measure of God's favour or our worth.   Jesus began His ministry after being baptised by John the Baptist. He spent three years preaching, teaching, healing, and showing God's love to all who would listen. His teachings were revolutionary, challenging the religious and social norms of His time and laying the foundations of the Christian faith as we know it today.   One of the vital messages Jesus taught us about was love. In Matthew 22:39, he states, ...

Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I wish to share a message with you about writing. I know it might seem like an uncommon topic for a devotional, but I assure you that writing, like many other forms of creative expression, has roots reaching deep into our faith.   In the beginning was the Word. John 1:1 reminds us that the Word was with God, and the Word was God. God spoke, and the universe sprang into existence. Words have power, and writing, my dear friends, is an act of creating with words. When we write, we echo the creative power of our Heavenly Father, pouring a part of ourselves into our creations.   Take for a moment to think about the books of the Bible. They were inspired by God and written by men. God used writing as a vehicle to communicate His truths, promises, laws, and the hope of salvation. Writing allowed His words to transcend the ...

Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.   Today, I wish to write about two virtues that are fundamental yet profound: sincerity and faithfulness. As believers, our actions, words, and thoughts should reflect sincerity — genuine and without hypocrisy. It is through sincerity that our worship becomes pure and our relationship with God becomes intimate and personal.   Consider the example of our Saviour, Jesus Christ: he did not merely teach love, kindness, and forgiveness; He lived them sincerely. He was the embodiment of sincerity and truth, and He calls us to follow in His footsteps.   Now, let us consider faithfulness: written in Proverbs 28:20 we read, " A faithful man shall abound with blessings. " Faithfulness is remaining steadfast in our devotion to God, in our love for our neighbours, and in our commitment to righteousness, no matter the circumstances.   Think of th...

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.   What honestly is prayer? How does it work? Simply put, prayer is our direct line of communication with our Heavenly Father. It is not just us talking to God, but it is also creating space for God to speak to us.   Prayer is not a one-way street, but a dialogue, a relationship, a communion with the Creator of the universe who loves us more than we can comprehend. It is a sacred time to express our gratitude, confess our sins, express our needs, and intercede for others. But it is also a time to listen, to seek wisdom, guidance, comfort, and strength from the Almighty.   But how does it work? Can we change God’s mind with our prayers? Can our prayers heal? Do some prayers go unanswered? These are questions that have puzzled believers for centuries.   The first thing we need to understand is that prayer does not change God; it changes us. James 4:8 tells us, " Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. ...

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, living a Christ-centred life is a call to order our lives under the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. In doing so, we bring honour to God and cultivate a life that is fruitful, peaceful and marked by love, joy, and hope.   In the Gospel of John 15:4-5, Jesus tells us, " Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. " This statement by Jesus is a perfect depiction of what a Christ-centred life should look like.   To live a Christ-centred life means to remain connected to Jesus, drawing our strength, guidance, and nourishment from Him. Like a branch conn...