I’ve been reflecting on the story of the wise men who visited Jesus [Matthew 2:1-12]. Matthew calls them magi, which could mean wise men, astrologers, teachers, physicians, seers or even sorcerers. It’s safe to presume they were erudite men. It’s also safe to assume they weren’t the only ones in their profession. So, what made …
In a recent conversation with my dad, I asked him about his experiences as a father and husband. I didn’t have a glamorous childhood, but I grew up in a loving home, never went hungry, and had a good education. My parents are in their 52nd year of marriage, and I rarely see them argue, …
I once read that wisdom is knowledge rightly applied. That definition takes wisdom out of the realm of abstraction. It makes wisdom practical and something we should covet. In truth, there’s much we don’t know about life. Yet, we make multiple decisions daily with wide-ranging implications. Often, our hubris prevents us from questioning how well …
Fear isn’t a positive emotion for me. I know some people are at their best when they’re afraid and achieve impressive feats as a result. I’m certainly not in that category. Furthermore, I find fear debilitating and prohibitive. So, I shuddered the first time I encountered the instruction to fear God. In my experience, most …
Several people gave up everything to follow Jesus during His earthly ministry. Some of them left behind their families, jobs, etc., to accompany a street preacher on evangelical missions across Israel for three years [Luke 18:28]. It was a risky, uncomfortable leap of faith [Luke 6:58]. John tells us that these men and women beheld …
I was listening to a sermon, and the preacher said: ”revelation is not what you know, but what has become a reality in your life”. He was challenging his congregation to realise that it’s not sufficient to know what God says. We must also be able to demonstrate the reality of His word with our …
Tucked into Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is this phrase: “…for we are not ignorant of the schemes of the devil” [2 Corinthians 2:11]. It’s a curious statement because it implies a foregone conclusion that these Christians knew the strategies the devil used to attack them. That’s profound to me because I’m not sure …
The first lie ever told in the Bible was by an entity who accused God of not telling the truth. That entity was the devil. He challenged what God had said to Adam and Eve, and then asserted that God was withholding information that would make their lives better. He tried to present God as …
I am celebrating a landmark birthday this week, and such occasions usually prompt some introspection. Moses once prayed: “So teach us to number our days, that we may develop a heart of wisdom” [Psalm 90:12]. What does it look like to have a heart of wisdom? I believe this verse is prompting us to consider …
“Lord, open his eyes that he may see”, Elisha, the prophet, prayed for his fearful servant as they were surrounded by troops sent by the Aramean king to capture Elisha. The prophet was a target because God had been revealing the military plans of the Arameans to him. Elisha, in turn, was communicating those plans …
