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)
Surely we all desire to experience goods days, to love and enjoy life. Well then, let us specially notice Peter’s advice that we read in his letter today – for his next words, to those above, are “let him (or her) keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn… Read More Today’s thought “Whoever desires to love life and see good days …” (December 13)
Today’s thought “Explain the parable to us” (July 14) But it did not seem like a parable! All Jesus had said when he “called the people to him” was, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what goes out of the mouth; this defiles a person”… Read More Today’s thought “Explain the parable to us” (July 14)
“Your prayers … ascended as a memorial” Today in reading Acts 10 we saw how Peter had his eyes opened to realise that non-Jews (Gentiles) had been called to repentance and belief in salvation through Christ. In verse 2 we read of a man named Cornelius – a Centurion who was “a devout man who… Read More Today’s thought “Your prayers … ascended as a memorial” (May 2)
As Peter completes his second letter he asks a question “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord …” (3:11,12). What is to be dissolved? He writes that… Read More Today’s thought “What sort of people ought you to be …” (December 15)
In his second letter the apostle Peter writes to those that have obtained a like precious faith with him and his fellow apostles in the righteousness of their God and the Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:1) He writes that in both of his letters he tried to inspire his brethren and sisters to a… Read More Today’s thought “Inspired to a sincere and pure way of thinking” (December 15)
Today’s thought “When Jesus saw their faith” (August 07) In Mark’s Gospel today we have the familiar and much loved account of the paralysed man who was carried by his four friends on a bed to Jesus and “when they could not get near him because of the crowd” they carried him up and “removed… Read More Today’s thought “When Jesus saw their faith” (August 07)
Today’s thought “Is it lawful to divorce … for any cause” (July 18) Our reading in Matthew’s Gospel tells us how the Pharisees came up to Jesus “and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” The religious groups were at odds between themselves in their efforts to impose… Read More Today’s thought “Is it lawful to divorce … for any cause” (July 18)
Today’s thought “Rise and have no fear” (July 16) What must it have been like to be one of the disciples of Jesus! The unexpected was always happening – and sometimes it was way beyond human experience. The end of yesterday’s chapter 16 in Matthew has a strange statement by Jesus, “Truly, I say unto… Read More Today’s thought “Rise and have no fear” (July 16)
Today’s thought “… in vain do they worship me” (July 14) The religious leaders in Israel in the time of Jesus were zealous in their rituals of worship: the same can be said of the main forms of Christianity down through the centuries. Today in Matthew 15 we see how Jesus confronted the “Pharisees and… Read More Today’s thought “… in vain do they worship me” (July 14)
“We are witnesses of all that he did” In Acts 10 today there is yet another dramatic account of how the message of Christ spread further afield. The Apostle Peter is caught up in a situation he never thought possible; it was that of witnessing to a Roman centurion and his relatives and close friends.… Read More Today’s thought “We are witnesses of all that he did” (May 02)
Today’s thought “Witnessing, empowered by the Holy Spirit” (April 26) Today we read about the disciples of Christ who were first hiding in a room when suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like… Read More Today’s thought “Witnessing, empowered by the Holy Spirit” (April 26)
“22 And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away. 23 And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there… Read More Today’s video at our service based on Matthew 14: Christ walking on the water
Today’s thought Jacob and Esau (January 15) There is a degree of contrast between the brothers we read of in the Old Testament compared to the New. We read today in Genesis 27 of the friction between the twin brothers Jacob and Esau. We read earlier that Esau had despised his birthright (25:34) and Jacob… Read More Today’s thought Jacob and Esau (January 15)
In completing our reading of Habakkuk we noticed the ‘footnote’ that concludes the last verse, “To the choirmaster …” this indicates that the last three verses are a hymn or song. It has always been in our hymn book, yet, for many years we have rarely heard it sung. It seems to us that we… Read More Today’s thought “Yet I will rejoice …” (December 14)
Today’s Thought “When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive …” (June 13) Today we read the concluding chapters of Peter’s first Epistle. What a challenging message Peter conveys to the “elect exiles of the Dispersion” (1:1). As Paul was the apostle “to the Gentiles” (see Galatians 2:8,9), so Peter is the Apostle to the… Read More Today’s Thought “When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive …” (June 13)
Let us meditate on what Peter is writing about in the second chapter of his first epistle. Peter penned these challenging words! “… if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (verse 20). How true this was in centuries past for those… Read More Today’s Thought “Leaving you an example” (June 12)
Today’s thought “Received the word with all eagerness” (May 6) Acts 16-17 How do we “receive” God’s word? It is ‘food’ to nourish and build up our minds. We continue to read about the ‘adventures’ of Paul – the challenges he faced as he went from place to place to spread the true message of… Read More Today’s thought “Received the word with all eagerness” (May 6)
Today’s thought “… and to the end of the earth” (April 30) We should be familiar with the words of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. “Thy will be done on earth.” Our readings today show us how God creates situations to see that his will is carried out – when men neglect… Read More Today’s thought “… and to the end of the earth” (April 30)
Today’s thought “They lifted up their voices … and said” (April 27) The disciples of Jesus, now called apostles, have been transformed! They are full and overflowing with faith, they have clearness of vision! We are reading of this today in Acts 3 and 4. The “rulers, elders and scribes” in Jerusalem are perplexed, their… Read More Today’s thought “They lifted up their voices … and said” (April 27)
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 