Exodus 10 The conflict between Jehovah and Pharaoh continues, as the King of Righteousness and the King of Sin confront each other. The plagues continue as Pharaoh’s Heart of Sin hardens each time. Pharaoh is warned that he should not tamper with the divine purpose, but Sin seeks to elevate the flesh for its own… Read More Thoughts on the readings for Thursday, 4th February 2024
Our Daily Bible Readings bring us today to look at the letter from Jesus’ and James’ brother Jude, who considers himself “a slave of Jesus Christ” who was writing to all who had been called by God the Father. (Jude 1:1) Using a very similar language as the second letter of Peter, which was written… Read More Today’s thought “Crisis among believers” (December 20)
When there is no walking in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings or drunkenness and drinking parties, revellings and excessive feastings, carousings, and abominable or disgusting idolatries, and there is a willingness to follow the Nazarene Jewish master teacher Jeshua or Jesus Christ, people can become partakers of Christ his community. (1 Peter 4:3) As partakers of Christ’s… Read More Today’s thought “Insomuch as we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice” (December 13)
In this episode, we look at the patriarch of the Israelites who should be an example to every godly person… Read More Kingdom of Christ vs. Kingdom of God – Chapter 1 #2 Provision of a People for God’s Kingdom
Jesus isn’t talking about the state of the eye when he talks about the evil eye.… Read More Evil Eye
In today’s second Bible reading we get the impression that God’s people looked on His laws as burdensome and felt that serving Him was difficult. The Elohim therefore asks them: “ O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.” (Mic 6:3 ASV) The God of… Read More Today’s thought “How have I burdened you?” (December 08)
“Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” When we take the lowest place and “seek not high things” we need have no fear of falling. Pride is the destroyer of men’s souls. We rise in the balloon of our own self-esteem, only to fall to… Read More Today’s Thought: The lowest place
Today’s thought “For my people who …” (July 9) Today and tomorrow we read the final two chapters of Isaiah. God expresses through the prophet his lament for those who turn away from him, those who “insulted me” – to whom he says, “do not come near me, for I am too holy for you”… Read More Today’s thought “For my people who …” (July 9)
By the beginning of the New Year we, in our third and fourth Daily Bible Readings, we look at Psalm 1 & 2 and think about the people we have, or do want to have, contact with. We should know that happy may be the one who manages to stay clear from the wrong friends;… Read More Today’s thought “Going with the right people” (January 01)
2Kgs 5:18: “May the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to worship, and he leans on my arm and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.”” Whether we can equate Naaman’s idol problem to correspond exactly… Read More Bowing down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.
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)
We are reading the letters of John. They are rather challenging, partly because he writes in quite a different way to Paul and Peter. It some ways he is simpler, he tries to make sure his readers grasp the basics of living for Jesus and for the Father. As we meditate – slowly and carefully… Read More Today’s thought “By this it is evident …” (December 17)
With our Belgian ecclesia we are like the ancient God’s elect, living as aliens scattered among the unbelievers like the ones who were living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia to whom the apostle Peter wrote. (1 Peter 1:1) We have not many real believers around us. That does… Read More Today’s thought “Elect exiles of the Dispersion” (December 11)
James 3 Preaching and teaching the Word of God is a serious “job”. Willing to be “servants of God” we are fully aware of the particularity but also of the seriousness and possible consequences of our task. Those who want to teach in the ecclesia should know or be aware of the strictness or strict… Read More Today’s thought “Teachers will be judged with greater strictness than others” (December 09)
How many can speak with confidence these days? Certainly politicians can’t, although they often try to sound that way! We read the last chapter of Hebrews today where Paul is emphasising to them the need to be positive in their attitude to the spiritual aspects of life. His first four words are, “Let brotherly love… Read More Today’s thought “So we can confidently say …” (December 6)
Today’s thought “Performing deeds in keeping with their repentance” (November 10) Every time we read Paul’s speeches in defending himself after his arrest, we are moved by his total conviction of mind and commitment. What a transformed man he was after his intensely dramatic encounter with the risen Christ outside Damascus. He has turned himself… Read More Today’s thought “Performing deeds in keeping with their repentance” (November 10)
What is love? As we read the aged disciple John’s final two short Epistles, his use of the word “love” jumps out at us. He writes how, “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth … and this is love, that we walk according to his commandments” (2 John:4,6). This… Read More Today’s thought June 19: This is love, that we walk …
Performing deeds in keeping with How inspiring are the words Paul addresses to King Agrippa! In Acts 26 we read his account of his life following his conversion, in effect Paul was turned right around, to become a follower of the true Messiah. What an example this is to the great majority today, who need… Read More Today’s Thought “Performing deeds in keeping with … ” (May 11)
Today’s thought “A house of prayer” (March 27) Our readings in the book of Numbers and the Gospel of Luke include references to cleansing. In Numbers we read yesterday how they consecrated the tabernacle now that it had been set up, offerings were made by each of the twelve tribes. It was about to be… Read More Today’s thought “A house of prayer” (March 27)
Today’s thought “Those who fear him” (February 27) Psalm 103, 1 Cor 12-13 The phrase “those who fear him”, meaning, who fear God, occurs three times in our Psalm reading today. The sense of ‘fear’ is – to be in heartfelt awe of what God must be. This is a Psalm that should reach deep into… Read More Today’s thought “Those who fear him” (February 27)
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 