Initially this seems like a foolish question, after all no one likes to suffer. It is unpleasant, but that does not mean it is bad. It is possible for something to be unpleasant and yet useful at the same time. Remember that particularly nasty medicine you probably had at some time? It was unpleasant —… Read More Suffering and the God of Love #3 Is Suffering Necessarily Bad?
Good Written By Paul Zilmer “No one does good. Not even one!” In Romans 3:10-18 the apostle Paul quotes from a series of six Psalms, a Proverb, and Isaiah, all making this same point. There is no one who is righteous. All turn aside. Why say it so many times? Maybe so it will… Read More Today’s thought “No one does good” (January 28)
Nearly 2 millennia ago a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ wrote letters to his fellow brethren and sisters in Christ. He wrote to them, who were living further away, to share the same precious faith they had. He talked about a faith which was given to them because of the justice and fairness of… Read More Today’s thought “Qualities and feasts of people” (December 14)
How much patience do people have today? In most cases, very little, at least that is so in this country. Life is lived in a constant “hurry’ – you can perceive a sense of urgency in many – this life is all I have, let me enjoy it as much as possible as the future… Read More Today’s thought “Through faith and patience” (December 1)
The Bible gives many practical suggestions that can help your life now. One such advice is to work hard. Paul went around the world preaching about Jesus and God’s plan with the earth but stressed that he continued to work so that he did not burden other people with feeding him. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10… Read More Today’s thought “Bible Tip for Life: Work Hard!” (November 20)
(An excerpt from Beginning at Jerusalem, by Brother John M. Hellawell, page 317) “Paul now asks the key question which was the difficulty with which Festus struggled during the earlier hearing, when Paul affirmed that the Jesus of Nazareth whom the authorities had executed was alive again (25:19). “Why should any of you consider it… Read More Today’s thought: Paul’s defence before Agrippa (November 10)
Today’s thought “Be astounded and perish” (November 3) As we proceed in reading the book of Acts we see the challenges Paul and Barnabas faced in spreading the good news about the true God and His son Jesus; we see the kind of opposition they attracted. “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those… Read More Today’s thought “Be astounded and perish” (November 3)
The three chapters in 2 Corinthians today total 55 verses and are quite a challenge to grasp all the points Paul is making. He is concerned about “those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart” (5:12). He tells them, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation… Read More Today’s thought (September 05): “Bringing holiness to completion”
In 2 Corinthians Paul writes of his experiences of afflictions and the comfort God gives him to cope with them. Paul’s comfort is also founded on the comfort believers give to each other. “The father of mercies”, writes Paul, “comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who… Read More Today’s thought (September 03): “That was to make us rely … on God”
Today we read one of the most important chapters in the Bible – 1 Corinthians 15. Many verses jump out inviting our meditation. The one we have chosen to concentrate on is verse 10. Paul laments on his unworthiness, but then says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his… Read More Today’s Thought (September 01): His grace toward me was not in vain
Paul’s letter to the Romans is a most meaningful letter for its 16 chapters cover the things that those who desire to truly believe in and follow Christ should understand. Paul is writing to those “called to be saints” (verse 7). Do you feel – in your heart – that this includes you? Prophesies through… Read More Today’s thought “The LORD will roar …” (August 04)
Today’s thought “We rejoice in hope” (July 30) Romans 5 and 6 need to be read and digested slowly – like rich food! Paul proclaims that believers “having been justified by faith … have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ … have also obtained access by faith in to this grace in which… Read More Today’s thought “We rejoice in hope” (July 30)
Today we began reading the letter to the Hebrews. The author is not named, but was probably Paul who wrote it as a message to his fellow Jews. He didn’t name himself because a prejudice against him had developed and some would have ignored the letter if it had been obvious it came from him.… Read More Today’s Thought “He is able to help …” (May 30)
Those who call on the Lord from a pure heart 2 Timothy 2 today contains a powerful and pointed exhortation to Paul – it is one we should take to heart as equally a message for today. It is the last letter Paul wrote; he is now an old man. He tells Timothy to “pursue… Read More Today’s Thought “Those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (May 26)
From the Lampstand, Adelaide, Australia How easy it is for God to bring the world to its knees! The world is flummoxed because of a tiny virus. The world as we knew it will never be the same. But, COVID-19 hasn’t just affected the world; it’s also a trial for God’s ecclesia, and trials expose… Read More An Appeal in Troubled Times
In this world where more people are interested in worldly matters, mostly material matters, having not much fertile ground for spiritual matters, it is not always easy for a follower of Christ to stand firm in the faith. The apostle Jude felt he had to write to his fellow brethren to ask them to stand… Read More Today’s thought “Standing up for the faith” (December 20)
Yesterday we mentioned the difficulties that we, Christadelphians, but also the Jeshuaists and Jews may experience in Belgium and France, and how we must always respond positively to that resistance. We must, above all, avoid the negativeness towards us through our positive, loving attitude. As Christadelphians, like Jeshuaists, are real Christians, or followers of Christ… Read More Today’s thought “Darker days, presents and Love for others” (December 13)
Today’s thought “The deceitfulness of sin” (November 30) The word ‘sin’ is an obsolete word today, do we ever hear it used in personal conversations? It would only be in a Bible talk and occasionally in discussions between brethren and sisters. What challenges we face in our godless world – but I doubt we ever… Read More Today’s thought “The deceitfulness of sin” (November 30)
Today’s thought “The grace of God … training us” (November 27) When I was a child I remember the word Grace as being what was said before a meal, words of thanksgiving and that, up to a point, is what it means. It is a special word in the writings of Paul; have a careful… Read More Today’s thought “The grace of God … training us” (November 27)
Today we read the final chapters the Apostle Paul wrote, in which he said, “the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness …” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). His encouragement to… Read More Today’s thought “Equipped for every good work” (November 26)
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 