Is it not the case that God the Father often seems to us like a distant person whom we address less intimately than the Lord Jesus? And yet it is the little children, i.e. the believers at the lowest level of spiritual maturity, to whom John writes that they have recognized the Father (1 John…
It is a sad thing to be ruled by people who are incapable (“lad/boys”) or unwilling to do what needs to be done, preferring instead to amuse themselves (“feast”). This will not remain without consequences. The beams of the house will sag, and the rain will find its way where it does not belong (Ecclesiastes…
The woman is a “no-name.” Obviously, her name is not important. We read the account of this woman in Proverbs 7:10-23. It is not a pleasant account, nor is it a pleasant topic. Nevertheless, it is addressed in the Bible because it is necessary. This sad story has been repeated frequently across generations. It is…
It is undisputed that a mother plays a different role in the family than a father. It is equally undisputed that “mothers in Christ” are not “fathers in Christ.” But both ‘roles’ and the associated “ministries” are important in the people of God. In the Book of Judges, Deborah calls herself a “mother in Israel”…
Question It is often said that praying to the Holy Spirit is not in accordance with Scripture. Why not? Isn’t the Holy Spirit just as much God as the Father and the Son? Answer Undoubtedly, the Holy Spirit is a person of the Godhead, is God. And when we address God as such in our…
A doctor told his children about his youth: “On the evening of a long, hot day, just as I was about to leave my work in the hay to go home, my father came to me and said, ‘Richard, can you take this package to the next village? I was a twelve-year-old boy and had…
God is light, and He is love. As soon as God’s love shines into my heart, it draws me to Him, and I cannot resist it. On the other hand, God’s light can instill fear in me because it appeals to my conscience. How could I walk with God if I don’t know whether He…
Christ is Lord and Teacher The Son of God washes the feet of one disciple after another. When He comes to Peter, his disciple is astonished that Jesus performs this lowly service (John 13:6). The Lord answers him: “What I am doing you do not know now, but you will understand later” (John 13:7). But…
The leaders of the people asked the Lord Jesus many rather subtle questions (payment of taxes, multiple marriages, size of legal commandments). Now that they no longer dare to question him, he asks them a question. And this question is about a central point: the glory of his own person. He relates his question to…
Hannah had a great need: she desperately wanted a son, but the Lord had closed her womb. In addition, she was repeatedly belittled and insulted by Pennina, her husband’s concubine. Pennina, her “adversary”, had children, but Hanna was childless until then. Although her husband sincerely loved her, he did not understand her. This ultimately led…
“Sidereus Nuncius” – “News from the Stars” – was the title Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) gave to his treatise, which he wrote in 1610. After the telescope was developed in 1608, he was now able to see over 30,000 stars – 10 times more stars than had previously been visible to the naked eye in one…
What Christ paid for us The leaders of the people gave Judas Iscariot 30 pieces of silver so that he would deliver Jesus without a crowd. This was the “glorious price” that the shepherd of Israel was worth for his faithful service, as the prophet Zechariah explains (chapter 11:12, 13). Only 30 pieces of silver…
When confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sins against Uriah and Bathsheba, David confessed and was assured that he had been forgiven. But although he was forgiven, the consequences of his sins would be very grave, not only for his life personally but also with regard to the honor and glory of God. His…
The turn of the year is a special moment for many of us. We look back on what has been and, at the same time, wonder what may come. The past does not repeat itself, and we do not know the future. God knows it. The turn of the year is often a time of…
Christ shed his blood once. That cannot be repeated. Christ does not suffer multiple times, and his work is perfect. Likewise, the effectiveness of the blood does not need to be applied to the sinner multiple times. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has cleansed us from all sin. The blood of…
Shortly after leaving Egypt—it was the third month (Exodus 19:1)—God reminded His people of what He had done for them. They had witnessed how He had shown His power against the Egyptians to free them from slavery in Egypt, and how He had carried them on eagles’ wings and brought them to Himself. They were…
Introductory thoughts The miracle that the Lord Jesus performed at the wedding in Cana—the transformation of water into wine—is the first of a total of eight signs of the Lord in the Gospel of John (John 2:11). It particularly presents to us the grace of the Lord, who had come to bless his people. When…
In the deepest pit, the poet of Lamentations, presumably Jeremiah, called out to God. And God drew near to him with a “Fear not!”[1]. Only then came the deliverance of his soul, the redemption of his life. This is often the case. First we receive comfort. And this comes on the very day we call…
We should forgive one another, as Christ has forgiven us (Col 3:13). How did Christ forgive us? Here are a few thoughts on this: He forgave us upon a simple confession. A simple “O God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” is enough, as the story of the tax collector and the Pharisee shows. He…
