(REFLECTIONS ON Deuteronomy 1:19-46) As Moses retold the story of Israel as they left Mount Sinai towards the Promised Land, we are reminded that the Israelites could have avoided their 40-year journey by trusting in the Lord and going directly into the Promised Land as the Lord commanded. Physical distance wasn’t the issue, for it wasn’t […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Deuteronomy 1:1-18) As we enter into the Book of Deuteronomy, which is the last book of the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible), we see Moses speak of the past to a new generation in order to prepare them for their future in the Promised Land. After wandering in the wilderness for 40 […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 3 John 1) One of my fondest memories is when my family and I went to Hawaii for vacation in 2010. On a Sunday, we decided to find a local church and worship there. We not only felt greatly welcomed by the church, but even met a lovely Taiwanese couple that became good friends […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 2 John 1) One of the main themes in 1 John is that Jesus is the Christ, Son of God, but yet also flesh and blood. Jesus was not one or the other, but both. This is a theology that many at the time could not understand, accept, and perhaps continues to be difficult […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 John 5:13-21) Below are two different English translation of today’s Scripture, 1 John 5:16-17. Please read and meditate on both. New International Version (NIV) 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 John 5:1-12 ) Perhaps we have heard the saying, “Jesus is the reason for the season,” in reference to Christmas. However, the point of emphasis in 1 John is that “Jesus is the Christ is the reason for the season.” Jesus is the Christ, means that Jesus was not just a man that walked […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 John 4:7-21 ) 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Dear friends, let us love one another, not for our own reasons, not with […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 John 4:1-6 ) From the early church to today, there have always been competing philosophies, religious thought, theologies regarding God, how to reach God, and regarding the nature of Jesus. Was Jesus just a man that was adopted as the Son of God and given His abilities through the Holy Spirit from God, or […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 John 3:19-24 ) What is God’s command? No, it isn’t a list of hard to understand, hard to decipher rules and regulations, but His command is simple, although not simply done, that is “to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.” Simple, right? […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 John 3:11-18 ) What is love? How would we answer this question? When we think about love, do we immediately think about relationships? After relationships, do we think about things that we love, or things that we love to do? What is love, and what does it mean to love one another? In our […]