Who is our neighbour?

https://odb.org/2026/06/26/whos-my-neighbor

Luke 10:30–37 (NIV): 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

When an expert in God’s law asked Jesus who his neighbor was (Luke 10:29)—that is, who he was obligated to show love to—Jesus told a story of a man badly beaten by robbers, lying near death by the side of the road (vv. 30-31). A priest and then a Levite approached, but both passed by on the other side. Finally, a Samaritan stopped to help. What made this so unusual was that Jews and Samaritans had a bitter history of scorn for each other. Yet it was the Samaritan who stopped and “took pity” on the man (v. 33). After telling this parable, Jesus asked which was a neighbor to the fallen man. The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him” (v. 37). Jesus told him, and us, “Go and do likewise.” (Alyson Kieda, Our Daily Bread 26th June 2026)

The question as to who is our neighbour is anchored on the all encompassing commandment of Jesus for us to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:31, Matthew 22:39). It is actually the embodiment of the second commandment in the Ten Commandments of Mosaic law (Exodus 20:6, Leviticus 19:18). It follows the first commandment – “You shall have no other gods besides Me” or it may be rephrased as “to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind”.

But the twist that Jesus introduced to Levitivus 19:18 – Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord – is to expand the notion of the neighbour, which Jesus also mentioned in Matthew 5:44 – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus illustrates the point that despite deep-seated past and present hostilities between the Jews and the Samaritans, it was a Samaritan who helped the badly injured Jew and paid for his recovery at an inn. It speaks of us as believers the need to treat every other human as another human being and not to be prejudiced by skin colour, race or creed. It is of course easier said than done in real life perhaps due to the racism and discriminatory injustice we ourselves face in life. I guess helping another person is easier but not to hold a grudge or have feelings of hatred is tougher and possibly as tough as to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us.

However, one way to overcome our own grudges, hatred and prejudices is to apply Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 6:12 – ” For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against.” It is the spiritual forces behind the enemies of our faith that we are fighting. Not the ones in flesh and blood. So we pray for their spiritual well-being although they may habour hatred towards us. We pray against the spiritual forces behind them.

Indeed the expectation by Jesus on us is sky high. The Old Testament was somewhat Jewish nation centric. The commandment is not to hate or hold a grudge against those in the nation or community. Jesus however expanded that to be all-inclusive covering everyone else. Translated it doesn’t mean we only love those in our family or church but everyone else including those power obsessed politicians saying all those terrible things!

The fatherless find compassion in God

https://odb.org/2026/06/25/the-fathers-open-arms

Hosea 14:1–3 (NIV): 14 Return, Israel, to the LORD your God.
Your sins have been your downfall!
2 Take words with you
and return to the LORD.
Say to him:
“Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
3 Assyria cannot save us;
we will not mount warhorses.
We will never again say ‘Our gods’
to what our own hands have made,
for in you the fatherless find compassion.”

Mary Slessor’s compassionate heart led her to open her arms to those in need. The Scottish missionary, born in 1848, served among the people of Okoyong in a distant land. Superstition led people of that region to believe that when twins were born, one was good and one was the child of a demon. This often led to both twins dying—being abandoned to starvation or other dangers. Reflecting the loving heart of God, in time Mary helped save hundreds of the at-risk children, adopting nine as her own!In his inspired words to the rebellious nation of Israel, the prophet Hosea offers a glimpse into God’s caring heart for children. The prophet said of Him, “In you the fatherless find compassion” (14:3). (Tom Felten, Our Daily Bread 25th June 2026)

If we were raised by a father and a mother, notwithstanding they may not be in our eyes perfect parents, remember that it’s a privilege because not everyone are raised by both parents. There are those amongst us who lost their fathers at a young age and grew up only with their mother as a single parent. Worse, there are those whose father abandoned them and they grew up never knowing a father, with their mum acting as both father and mother in the family. Either situation is tough as it is already difficult to raise children as a couple nowadays, what more as a single parent. In today’s world, most families need double incomes just to survive. That is why more couples are contemplating life without children.

The easiest mechanism to cope when there is less money in the household is to cut down on the luxuries. So we survive on the bare minimum. For example, we sleep on mattresses without bed frames and some even sleep on just mats if we live in elevated wooden houses.

During ancient times, it was even tougher to grow up without a father as mothers do not usually work and earn any income. That is why God made it a law for the Israelites to allow gleaning to enable widows and the fatherless a means to gather food for themselves so that no one in Israel goes hungry. Even if there is nothing else to go with it, there is at least bread on the table (or in the context of us in South East Asia, we could at least have a plate of plain rice mixed with soy sauce).

Besides the Mosaic law for the landed farmers to leave out the edges of their fields for the widows, orphans and foreigner to glean, God has compassion for the fatherless as seen in Scripture like today’s Hosea 14:3 – “Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” 

If we have ever been in a situation of the fatherless for whatever reason in the past or never even had a parent raise us at all, God is the person who has compassion for you. Like the children who were abandoned due to wrong beliefs in twins in Okoyong or children left behind due to parents executed under Chinese criminal laws in China or whose parents were killed by some road accident, a natural disaster or serious illnesses – the LORD God will be your father (and even your mother). He is your tower of strength, your stronghold! Cling on to Him, He will see you through life! Amen!

Nothing is impossible with God

https://odb.org/2026/06/24/faith-rooted-in-god

Matthew 19:23–26 (NIV): 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I was inspired while reading a historical fiction account of the life of Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman University. One account tells how in the early 1900s, she “described” the buildings at her school for young African American women to a wealthy businessman. But when he visited the “campus,” he found only one building. She’d described her dream to him, hoping that he would invest in the school. Bethune is credited with saying: “Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.” Her quote is similar to what Jesus told the astonished disciples who were asking questions about salvation. They were trying to figure out how people could “enter the kingdom of God,” or heaven (Matthew 19:24). They wanted to know “who then can be saved?” (v. 25). Jesus shared with His followers that faith in God was the only way, because “with God all things are possible” (v. 26). (Katara Patton, Our Daily Bread 24th June 2026)

The rich man was trusting in himself, his good works, and his wealth for eternal life rather than in God (Matthew 19:16-22). To highlight the impossibility that he could enter heaven based on his own merits, Jesus said it would be easier for a large camel to go through the small eye of a needle than for a rich man to save himself (v. 23). The Jewish belief at that time was that God bestowed wealth on the deserving. If a moral and rich person who had God’s favor couldn’t make it into heaven, then seemingly no one could (v. 25). Christ says it’s impossible for humans to save themselves but “with God all things are possible” (v. 26). God did the impossible and the unthinkable when “he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him” would “have eternal life” (John 3:16). As believers in Jesus, we can trust God—who can do the impossible—to help us. (K.T. Sim, Insight, Our Daily Bread 24th June 2026)

I think it is necessary that when we read and rely on Matthew 19:26 – “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” – we must remember that it was taught by Jesus in the context of the impossibility of man achieving salvation on his own. Salvation is by the grace of God and that’s when John 3:16 comes into play – “For God so loved the world that God gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting“. Thus, it should not be applied in every context of an impossible situation we face in life.

While it is true that there are things that man cannot do that God can, natural laws have been put in place by God Himself as the creator of all things. While God may heal us and the atonement of our sins by the death of Jesus enables healing, we will get sick if we do not take care of our bodies and until Christ returns, we are still living in our fallen earthly tents. We will age, get sick and pass on in due course.

However, Bethune’s quote is somewhat different – “Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.” Faith in God and the corresponding perseverance and pushing through will achieve much in terms of our dreams and vision. It basically means there are no limits as to what we may achieve if put our faith in God. Sometimes it involves breaking through as what medical science has achieved over the years. For example, a plague like small pox killed millions in the past have now been nearly fully eradicated through vaccination after birth.

As believers we put our faith in God and we trust that He will lead us through a meaningful life as we strive to achieve His plans and purposes for our lives. His Kingdom and its purposes come first as we seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. But if God has planted a seed of faith to see a bigger vision of what we see now through our physical eyes, follow that through and one day that dream and vision will come to pass as we continue to trust Jesus with our lives. That’s the story of Mary McLeod Bethune and that may become our own story in the context of our own dreams and vision.

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and surely we will achieve more than what we now see. May the LORD our God open our spiritual eyes to see what’s not only in the spiritual realm like Elisha did for Gehazi, but also what lies ahead in terms of His vision for us, His plans and purposes for our lives! My prayer is that all of us will enter into and live in the center of His will and indeed achieve more than what our physical eyes can see or mind can even imagine! Amen!

Leave the edges of your field

https://odb.org/2026/06/22/ready-to-be-generous

Leviticus 19:9-10 9 “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edgesq of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second times or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.

My great-uncle’s memorial service featured a meal of roast beef, corn, and beans to honor the hospitality that he and his wife had lived out for many years. Each Sunday morning, they would put a large roast and veggies in the Crock-Pot before going to church. After the service, they would look for someone to invite for lunch. Sometimes it was a good friend, sometimes a stranger. Either way, they made sure there was plenty of food at home and those afternoons were especially set aside for hospitality. Their Sunday habit required an intentional readiness for generosity.

The Israelites followed a similar pattern. Through Moses, God commanded them to leave a portion of their food “for the poor and the foreigner” (Leviticus 19:10). During harvest time, they were instructed not to reap to the edges of their field, leave what had fallen, and not re-harvest their vineyards (vv. 9-10). With these redeeming methods, those who didn’t own land could still work to gather food. For the people of God, this wasn’t a one-time, spontaneous act—although that can be a beautiful blessing too. It was how they lived year after year. (Karen Pimpo, Our Daily Bread 22nd June 2026)

God promised to abundantly provide food for His people (Leviticus 25:18-19), and so, in remembrance of their enslavement in Egypt, He commanded them to feed the poor and needy (19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22). The story of Ruth took place in the backdrop of this law of gleaning (Ruth 2). God also wants us to be open-handed with his material blessings (see Deuteronomy 15:7-11). The apostle Paul says that God gives us material blessings for our enjoyment and commands believers in Jesus “to use their money to do good. . . . Be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others” (1 Timothy 6:18 nlt). (KT Sim, Insight, Our Daily Bread 22nd June 2026)

I’m sure by now we already know that it was a law made by the LORD since the time of Moses that the Israelites when harvesting should not be too exact in gathering the wheat. This was to enable those without land and the poorer ones amongst society and the widows, the orphans and the foreigner the opportunity to work and gather the leftovers for themselves. It was in remembrance of their enslavement in Egypt and for them to be grateful for God having delivered them from slavery and gave them land at Canaan. Practically, it ensured that no one went hungry. In fact, that was how Naomi and Ruth survived after returning to Israel from Moab penniless. Of course, the story of Ruth, set against the backdrop of this law, led to her marrying Boaz whose great grandson was David and it was this glorious house of David that Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour traced his ancestry to.

If we research this point on “gleaning” in ancient Israel history, we will find that this was strictly adhered to as part of the landowners’ civil and religious obligations. There were three elements to allow gleaning – one, was to leave the edges unharvested; two, was to leave the gleanings behind (not permitted to return to pick them up) and three, was to leave behind fallen fruit (like grapes in their vineyards). It was part of their societal responsibility and it was practiced every single time there was a harvest (not once in a while) and this religiously imposed social welfare system helped the poor, the fatherless, widows and the foreigner to have access to food.

In the contemporary modern context, the law does not apply to us believers in Christ. However it is a law that speaks of God’s heart for the needy and underprivileged in society. In terms of our own hearts, it encourages us to use our money to do good and help those in need generously (1 Timothy 6:18), amongst those in the congregation and those we know. In this connection, there will always be those who may not have or were not able to prepare effectively for their old age, particularly, some of those in full-time ministry who gave themselves to the Kingdom service but may not have had much to contribute to any provident or pension schemes. I know small independent churches in the early days do not provide EPF or pension contributions for their workers and when those workers are retired, many are left to fend for themselves with no or little family support as many remained single in their old age.

Thus, if we know of avenues to contribute to the welfare of these older and retired warriors of God, we should do so while we ourselves are financially able. God did not ask us to give them our “fields” or sell our “fields” to feed them, but let them have the edges. In the modern context, it means a portion of what we have. The church should be involved in this but I don’t believe it is structured to do so as retired workers are not usually kept on the churches’ payroll until death. The church sadly in this sense is very much like the world, if you’re no longer staff, you’re effectively forgotten.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! As we work, we remember that God has given us this opportunity to earn not just to feed our families but also to feed those in need! Take care and have a blessed week!

Shalom – peace that transcends all understanding

https://odb.org/2026/06/19/the-path-of-life

Proverbs 3:1–6 (NIV): 3 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
      2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
      3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
      4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
      5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
  and lean not on your own understanding;
      6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

We sometimes feel overwhelmed by our circumstances. We experience setbacks. We find ourselves at a loss for where we should go. But Proverbs encourages us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (v. 5). This is the Bible’s way of saying, “Let go and let God” lead your life. George Washington Carver followed God’s path, persevering against all odds, teaching himself botany and geology and eventually becoming a renowned scientist. He famously developed hundreds of uses for the peanut plant but also developed methods of crop rotation that revolutionized agriculture in the United States. God has a way of making the best out of bad situations. Whatever you’re facing today, the key is to “acknowledge Him” and listen for His voice. Watch Him open up the paths of your life. (Kenneth Petersen, Our Daily Bread 19th June 2023)

Throughout Scripture, we also find that in this fallen world God’s people often experience great hardship. Instead, the chapter points to the principle that since the world was created by God’s wisdom, human beings are most likely to thrive when they live in alignment with that wisdom. Peace in verse 2 (of Proverbs 3) is the Hebrew word shalom, a rich word capturing not just absence of conflict but flourishing. It describes a rich and abundant life. Shalom points to the world as it’s meant to be. When there’s harmony between God and creation, everyone thrives. Whatever we face, seeking God’s wisdom and direction can bring new life and hope to our situation. (Monica La Rose, Insight, Our Daily Bread 17th June 2026)

Our Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is famous for arguing that we did not choose to be born as Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban. Thus it is not right to exclude any minority from the administration as everyone should be able to participate in governing the country. It is good point as Malaysia should celebrate our diversity, instead of focusing on the superiority of one ethno-religious community to the exclusion of others.

Therefore, as believers, we did not have a choice too – having been born in Malaysia as a minority or generally, having to go through a life of struggles or hardship. We wish we are surrounded by luxury, we can travel in style and comfort, and dine at the best Michelin restaurants but most of our realities are that life is not easy although we know that’s actually relative. Some of our lives are fraught with more challenges like we may be born with a congenital health condition or we face difficulty adapting at work or socialising in school or college.

However, because we know Christ, we have a tangible advantage in that we could live in harmony with God’s wisdom. Not having an easy life but nevertheless we live in the centre of God’s will, in His shalom. In Monica La Rose’s words – shalom a rich word capturing not just absence of conflict but flourishing. It describes a rich and abundant life. Shalom points to the world as it’s meant to be. When there’s harmony between God and creation, everyone thrives.

This is, in my view, always the balance we need to achieve in our walk of faith. We stay close to the ground to live out life and yet tap on the wisdom of heaven, that in the process, we experience the shalom of the LORD our God. A peace that transcends all understanding. Not only the spiritual matters (although it is true the eternal destiny of our souls matters the most), but the natural also. This is because we need to live in the natural. So since we have access to the spiritual and supernatural, why not align ourselves with God’s wisdom and abundant grace and mercy? Besides fulfilling God’s plans and purposes for our lives, we will live in the equilibrium, the perfect balance between the natural and the spiritual.

Have a good weekend, everyone! May we meet Him face to face in the spirit as we make the effort to go to church for worship this Sunday! Amen!

The LORD God our shelter

https://odb.org/2026/06/18/run-for-shelter

Psalm 91:9–16 (NIV): 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
      10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
      11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
      12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
      13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
      14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
      15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
      16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

As the rain began to come in torrents, we splashed through muddy puddles and rushed into a nearby school gym. Thoroughly soaked, we huddled with strangers for the next half hour, still hoping the storm would end. When we ventured back out, we saw that the band was packed up and ready to leave.

When the storms of life come, where can we run? Sorrow, worry, illness, and confusion can make us fearful and in need of refuge. We need a strong shelter that’ll protect us. Psalm 91 reminds us that God has promised to rescue us and to be with us in trouble. “Because he loves me . . . I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name” (v. 14). When we need help, we can call on His name and He “will answer” us (v. 15). (Cindy Hess Kasper, Our Daily Bread 18th June 2026)

When it comes to running to God for shelter in times of trouble or we need the LORD as our refuge because of the storms of life coming our way, it is important to note that there are conditions as we can see in Psalm 91. Because salvation is by the grace of God and not through our efforts in any way, we sometimes assume that everything else concerning God may be proceeded on that basis. Christ died for our sins while we were yet sinners. He didn’t die for only those who were living righteous lives. Yet in order to live in the glorious fellowship with Christ, we need to live a righteous life befitting His name. We are not required to be righteous to be saved but righteousness is key to living in the centre of God’s will where His abundant grace and mercy flows after we are saved. That is why salvation or faith without works is dead. We are called to do good works once we are saved although good works is not conditional to our salvation.

Even Psalm 91:14-16 emphasises this fundamental principle:

Psalm 91:14-16 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

God will rescue us and answer our call and be with us when we are in trouble because we love Him, because we acknowledged His name. Not totally conditional as He may still intervene regardless of the state of our relationship with Him, yet somewhat conditional. In other words, we cannot expect God to intervene if we live godless and unrighteous lives, if we are obstinate and do not treat Jesus as King. If we only play lip service to our confession that Jesus Christ is our Lord, it will be difficult for God the Father to be our refuge and shelter. We cannot be living recklessly and wickedly and yet expect God’s protection and providence and provision.

The message this morning is simply return to God today. Repent from our sins and our wayward ways today. Seek His forgiveness. He will forgive us for He is a just and compassionate God. Then we may live under the shadow of His wings and He will truly be our shelter and refuge in time of trouble and when storms of life come crashing into our lives! Amen!

Highway of Holiness

https://odb.org/2026/06/16/the-way-of-holiness

Isaiah 35:8–10 (NIV): 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

The prophet Isaiah shared God’s promises to His people, those exiled from their home. Away from the temple, where they would experience His presence, they must have felt bereft and forlorn. The promises, therefore, of the Way of Holiness, the path to God, would give them hope and strength. To think of entering “Zion with singing,” without fear or sorrow, would lead them to rejoice (v. 10).

Even as Jennifer holds on to these assurances from centuries ago, so too can we who believe in Jesus trust that as we journey with Him, we’ll know gladness and joy (v. 10). Whatever trials we face in this life—however taxing or life-altering—we know that God’s way leads us home to Him. (Amy Boucher Pye, Our Daily Bread 16th June 2026)

Isaiah prophesied that the Israelites would be disciplined and exiled to Babylon for their covenantal unfaithfulness (Isaiah 39:6-7; see Jeremiah 25:11). He also prophesied that once the seventy-year chastisement was completed, God would bring them back to the promised land and restore and prosper their land (29:10-11). Isaiah pictures them making their way back to Him on “the Highway of Holiness,” traversing “a great road . . . through that once deserted land . . . only for those who walk in God’s ways” (Isaiah 35:8 nlt). (K.T Sim, Insight, Our Daily Bread 16th June 2026)

In Isaiah 35:8, Isaiah prophesied that there will be a highway of holiness for the Israelites exiled to Babylon to return. They were disciplined for their disobedience to their covenantal obligations, in particular, their obstinance when it came to not bringing other idols into Israel (idolatry), for not keeping the Sabbath and for social injustice within their society. After their exile of 75 years, they were allowed by the Persian King Cyrus the Great to return (after Persia invaded and conquered the Babylonians).

But note that the path of return is the highway of holiness. It is a path of restoration and righteousness with a return to the way of godliness and forsaking of idolatry and ungodliness. The Israelites would have by then returned to God spiritually – in their hearts first before they were actually delivered and brought back to Israel (in the natural, the LORD supernaturally worked in the Persian King to engineer their return). Unlike the bunch enslaved to Egypt for 460 years which God raised Moses to deliver them from the Pharaoh, these Babylonian exiles were allowed to return by the Persian King himself. In their 75 years sojourn in Babylon, the remembered Israel and Jerusalem and missed their God, the LORD God, having repented from their sins.

In terms of application, two things are relevant for us to take note this morning. One is that wherever we are and no matter how far we have drifted away, there is always a path prepared by Jesus for us to return to Father God. It is not a path fraught with challenges but a path of righteousness and holiness. It is a path of joy and victory. Yet, secondly, it is path preceded by repentance and a genuine willingness to depart from our wayward ways. It is not a return to God if we still cling on tight to our old self, our old selfish nature. In Christ, we are a new a creation, the old has passed away. Then we will experience Isaiah 35:10 – “and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

Generosity as a Christian virtue

https://odb.org/2026/06/15/given-to-give

2 Corinthians 9:6–15 (NIV): 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Equally amazing was that even though Stanley wasn’t wealthy or savvy at investing, his small investment did impressively well, enabling him to keep giving. Whenever someone thanked him, he’d point upwards and smile, as if to say, “It came from God, not me.” God, he often said, helped him to help others.

This was what Paul alluded to in 2 Corinthians 9 as he wrote about giving. Proud of the Corinthians’ readiness to help fellow believers (v. 2), he hoped to pick up a collection they had started (v. 3). Imploring them to give generously and cheerfully, he noted that God would not only reward those who gave (vv. 6-7) but also bless people so they could give even more (v. 8). (Leslie Koh, Our Daily Bread 15th June 2023)

A fundamental spiritual principle we all know by now is that we reap what we sow. It was an easy principle to relate to the ancient Jews as most were farmers and toil the land. If we sow good seeds, we get a good harvest. Of course, a good soil toiled properly is an essential factor. Weather also plays an important role as ancient agriculture relies on rainwater or rivers. That is why the Old Testament stories often revolved around such themes and on how God intervened during famines like the story of Joseph saving the clan of Jacob, the ancient clan that led to the birth of Jesus Christ many, many years down the road. Or how Elijah was fed by the widow with little olive oil and flour for months during a great time of famine.

One consequential principle to “we reap what we sow” is “generosity breeds generosity”. If we are generous to people, God is likewise generous to us. In fact, Paul implies that the Lord will ensure that we will be able to continue blessing others, by blessing us. Not so much an exchange but more like a necessity in the sense if we have nothing, we will not be able to bless anyone with anything.

Some prosperity gospel ministers however preach that as we give into their ministries, God will open the gates of heaven and pour out abundant blessings upon us. Some believers unfortunately saw this as a quick get rich formula. Hence, the coining of the term, “prosperity gospel”. Meaning we could become prosperous or wealthy by giving to God.

Many years ago when I was a university student with little money, I attended a seminar and heard this preached. I was tempted by the 10 or even hundred fold blessings of my giving or pledge. The preacher even went to the extent to encourage us to swipe our credit cards (which I didn’t have then!) believing that God will bless us with the finance to pay off that credit when its due, and much more!

After many years as a believer of Christ, nowadays, I’ll give if prompted by the Holy Spirit but more to individuals in need or worthy causes like missions. It stems from God having blessed me with much from the little I used to have. As a way for me to repay Him via the body of Christ or society at large for His goodness and generosity, and grace and faithfulness in my life and my family. Perhaps 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (see below) will become a reality to me.

“10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.“

But even if not strictly in that fashion, I will still willingly give, as prompted by the Holy Spirit, to those in need, especially to our own brethren in Christ and it is my prayer that all of us will develop this habit of giving and make generosity a part of our spiritual character.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! May the LORD our God bless us with wisdom and discernment, and His grace even as we face various issues at work or in school or elsewhere, in all that we do! Amen!

Beauty in the dead of winter

https://odb.org/2026/06/12/seasons-of-love

Romans 5:6–8 (NIV): 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Flowers don’t have to be in bloom to be beautiful, says famed landscape designer Piet Oudolf. Even in the dead of winter, the Dutch gardener’s award-winning designs are known for their stunning appeal. “Beauty is in so many things you wouldn’t think of,” Oudolf says, although some may disagree. “The moment you say I love plants that are dead [dormant],” he said, “then you have a problem because people don’t like dead plants.” Oudolf’s appreciation of plants’ life cycles echoes a core spiritual principle: While we were dead in our sins, God still loved us. “You see,” explained the apostle Paul, “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly”. Paul continued, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (v. 8).

Jesus chose disciples with flaws. He ate meals with known sinners. He healed outcasts. Oudolf, likewise, is “interested in plants not only for their flowers, but also for their personality”—seeing beauty “in things that, on first sight, are not beautiful.” (Patricia Raybon, Our Daily Bread 12th June 2026)

An important principle in Christ we all know is that He came for the weak, the oppressed and the powerless. So we need not be well off and successful to be accepted into the Kingdom of God. Christ accepts us as we are, broken people who are sinners with flawed characters and personalities. It is practical as no one is perfect. So while we were powerless and sinners, Christ died for us and our sins and gave us hope.

A follow through to that principle is that we need not be perfect in God before we start serving Him. Yes, we need to equip ourselves with His Word and the knowledge of Christ. That can be done in parallel. In the meantime as Christ transforms us from inside out, we are already a new creation and we have the capacity and capability to serve Him in His church and in ministry. There is no need to wait until we get a theological degree or until we have removed all skeletons in our closet amd achieve a certain level of Christ likeness.

The Christian life is and will always be a journey of transformation. We will only achieve perfection when the new heaven and new earth appear in all its glory with God dwelling amongst His people at the end of time. In the meantime we serve God to the best of who we are in Him. We fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives at the various stages of our life transformation. We serve God despite we are WIP (work in progress).

Going back to Piet Oudolf, there is beauty in plants even in the dead of winter, away from the glorious spring and summer flower blooms! We will likely have lifecycles in our spiritual lives – but God nevertheless loves us. Perhaps we have not been as consistent as Christ would have wanted us to be, God is still faithful in His loving kindness as His loving kindness is steadfast and renewed like dew every morning. Wherever we are, pick ourselves up and march on Christian soldiers! “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus, going on before!” No looking back indeed!

Have a good weekend ahead! Go to church in person and worship Him in spirit and in truth, not in our pyjamas and with a cup of coffee. Dress up, drive to church. Worship as a community of believers, a congregation of God’s people. Give Him all glory and honour for He truly deserves all our worship and adoration! Remember, while we were yet powerless and sinners, Christ died for us…

Planting seeds of faith

https://odb.org/2026/06/11/be-prepared-3

1 Peter 3:13–17 (NIV): 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

The teenager stood her ground. While her high school group was visiting a home for people in rehab from addictions, Claire engaged in conversation with a twentysomething man who towered over her in size. They talked about faith. Claire clearly presented the gospel of Jesus. He countered with his spiritual views, which were very different. Though he didn’t put his faith in Jesus, a seed had been planted. And while Claire would have loved for the young man to have received Christ, her disappointment was balanced by the reality that she’d done what God had called her to do that day: “Be prepared to give an answer” (1 Peter 3:15). She had lovingly shared God’s plan of salvation. (Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread 11th June 2026)

The key idea in 1 Peter 3:13-17 is that a hope-filled life in Christ can trigger conversations about the gospel. Notice how the apostle puts it: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (v. 15). In a world filled with brokenness and despair, when people see someone living with hope that transcends this world, it gets their attention and can cause them to desire what that person has. (Bill Crowder, Insight, Our Daily Bread 11th June 2026)

If we have received training before, we’ll know that sharing the Gospel can start with questions like, “Do you know what happens after you die?” – talking about death and the afterlife will open us to speak about Jesus dying for our sins and expounding on John 3:16. We can go back to the beginning from the creation story of Genesis 1 and then move on to Genesis 3 on the fall of mankind. Then we may talk about what eternal life means by referring to Revelation 21 and 22. We can then show how God created man and how man fell into sin with John 3:16 being God’s plan to redeem and rescue us, culminating in the new heaven and new earth at the end of time. Not just heaven as a place in another dimension but heaven as the ultimate place on earth as per God’s original plan for mankind in the Garden of Eden.

However, if we are new to the faith, the easiest way to share the Gospel if we are not entirely sure of the points on salvation, is to share our faith and experience with Jesus and God. Actually, the reality of our faith will move hearts and touch the soul of a person.

But, in the end, it is the work of the Holy Spirit, not us that turn hearts to God. Our role is to share and proclaim the goodness of God, the reality of His power in our lives. How we have changed since we came to faith? We are to plant the seed of faith. The Holy Spirit will grow it and it will grow well if the heart of the hearer is good soil in the spiritual sense. That’s because the seed will grow strong roots to stand firm even when storms and strong winds were to come. The seed will overcome thorns of doubts that will try to overcome and overwhelm the seed of faith.

Have a good day ahead, everyone! Share our faith journey and the Gospel when we see the opportunity. Our job is planting seeds of faith and we’re done!