It is God’s inspired scriptures that are the only source in our Godless world for “building (y)ourselves up in (y)our most holy faith”, as Jude wrote so long ago. But first let us see how our chapters today in Job are very special. Job was inspired to write of God’s creation and describe how the… Read More Today’s thought “Building yourselves up in your most holy faith” (December 20)
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)
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’s thought “The manifestation of the spirit for …” (August 30) We have come to that part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians which is about the gifts of the Spirit which were possessed among the believers there. The Gospels were not yet in circulation, probably they had just been written. Now what was the… Read More Today’s thought “The manifestation of the spirit for …” (August 30)
Looking into the eyes of Jesus, the leper found his confidence once more; he fell forward on his face, his cry of faith rang out, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean”. He waited a breathless eternity. Suddenly he felt firm, gentle hands close on his scaly flesh, the first human touch he… Read More Thou canst make me clean
Exposition / Politics and Skepticism Conspiracy Thinking and Radical Skepticism There is a strong mistrust in society today, a spirit of suspicion and skepticism that is almost pathological. The COVID-19 experience has bred a lot of it, with debates about vaccination, wearing masks, etc. Conspiracy thinking is very much on the rise. Subject matter experts are… Read More Conspiracy Thinking and Radical Scepticism
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)
What is faith? We use this word in various contexts – in speaking and writing – are we thinking clearly as to what we have faith in? Faith is a word we cannot use in isolation; it has to be spoken or written in relation to something or someone in which – or in whom… Read More Today’s thought “Faith apart from works is useless” (December 8)
Today we completed reading Paul’s first letter to Timothy who was his “true child in the faith” (1:2). There are so many lessons for us for our days in these two letters; they reveal the wonder of a genuine spiritual relationship. In today’s final chapter Paul details warnings to Timothy – “if anyone teaches a… Read More Today’s thought “Flee these things. Pursue …” (November 23)
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)
“That is why it depends on faith” (July 29) How important it is to get into our minds a balanced picture of the reasoning Paul develops in his letter to the Romans. With his background training and practice from when he was a Pharisee he was more conscious than anyone else that, having a real… Read More That is why it depends on faith (July 29)
Today’s thought “According to your faith” (July 8) “Faith” is a key word in the New Testament, it does not occur in the Old Testament, although some modern versions seek to use it a little – but not really in the New Testament sense. Matthew’s Gospel has the most reports of the miracles of Jesus;… Read More Today’s thought “According to your faith” (July 8)
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)
God is calling people of faith. He’s calling people not to believe what they want to believe, but to believe what he’s revealed. God is not a God of confusion. Faith Foundations Podcast Series This series of First Principle or “Faith Foundation Podcasts” is a recreation of an original series of Radio Broadcasts created by… Read More God is calling people of faith
“5 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall they trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth… Read More Today’s Thought “God’s salvation shall be for ever, and His righteousness shall not be abolished” (June 26)
Today’s thought “Inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God” (May 20) My thoughts today arose largely from the challenging words of Paul in the first two chapters of his second letter to the Thessalonians. Let us appreciate that when the lessons in God’s word are particularly challenging to us and we struggle to… Read More Today’s thought “Inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God” (May 20)
Today’s thought “… God who tests our hearts” (May 17) Paul makes a very instructive point in his first letter to the Thessalonians that we started reading today. Paul was greatly encouraged by the believers there and had many positive things to say about them – rather a contrast to his letters to the Corinthians.… Read More Today’s thought “… God who tests our hearts” (May 17)
Today’s thought “The help that comes from God” (May 11) The more we live – doing our best to serve God – the more there are occasions and situations when we sense “the help that comes from God” through his Son. This inspiring statement was made by Paul of his experiences, as he gave his… Read More Today’s thought “The help that comes from God” (May 11)
It might have looked strange that we brought up so many points when talking about worshipping God. We hopefully could make it clear that to worship the Divine Creator there are some essential points to take into account. Today we come to the concluding article, bringing forwards the most essential part to come to the… Read More How should we worship God? #14 True worship
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 