Who am I, LORD God… that you have brought me this far?

https://odb.org/2026/04/20/humble-sacrifice

1 Chronicles 17:16–22 (NIV): 16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
“Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.
18 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.
20 “There is no one like you, LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.

King David sacrificed much for the people of Israel, including battling to save them from their enemies (1 Chronicles 14:8-17). Then he heard from the prophet Nathan that through his bloodline a throne would be “established forever,” as fulfilled in Christ (17:14; see Luke 1:30-33). He replied in humility, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (1 Chronicles 17:16). He knew that his life was established by God and His will (v. 19) and that He had ultimately done the work of rescue and redemption for David and his people (vv. 20-22). (Tom Felten, Our Daily Bread 20th April 2026)

Even King David, the most illustrious of Israel’s kings, admits in humility who is he that the LORD God would bring him and his family that far in his life. He was anointed by Prophet Samuel as a lad to be king. He defeated the giant champion of the Philistines, Goliath, while he was still in his youth. He led Israel to numerous victories at the battlefield. The surrounding nations were eager to take back what they had lost since the time of Joshua and Caleb, David and his mighty army stopped them and drove them away.

The main defining characteristic of the Israelites was that they had their God, Yahweh Elohim the Great I Am with them. He was with them ever since the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He raised up a descendant adopted as a prince into the royal household of the Egyptian Pharoah to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. The irony of Moses confronting his adoptive father to free his people from slavery. External writings tell of a little-known diety of a small band of people making a difference transforming them into a feared nation. They prosper when they obey His laws and falter when they become rebellious.

Are we as believers any different from the children of Israel? It is our LORD God who established us and brought us out of the miry clay into solid ground, able to stand on our own in this world we are passing through as pilgrims. We are in the world but not of this world. Our citizenship is in heaven. We will one day live with God as He dwells again amongst His people like at the beginning at the Garden of Eden and in a way when His presence was at the Tent of the Meeting with Moses.

This morning let us remember and acknowledge Jesus for who He is in our lives. Who are we that He brought us this far? Yet we live in the shadow of His mighty wings. It is Jehovah the Great I Am that established and made us who we are today. Our wealth, our reputation, our stature in society, our sphere of influence. We may be a billionaire or a CEO or a vice president or an associate, it is God who established and made us. Who are we and yet He loves us and is gracious towards us, blessing us though we don’t deserve His blessings, compassion and love!

Have a good week ahead, everyone! May we live in His abundant grace as we live out His will for our lives!

Life’s a marathon, not a sprint

https://odb.org/2026/04/17/strength-to-endure

2 Timothy 4:6–8 (NIV): 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Life’s more like a marathon than a sprint. At times we experience fatigue and we feel like giving up. Yet God’s grace and strength are unending for those who trust Him. As the imprisoned apostle Paul neared the finish line of life (2 Timothy 4:6), he encouraged his protégé Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (v. 7). Life’s paths take us to different places. But regardless of where we are on life’s journey, it’s always good to remember that faith-filled endurance is essential and rewarding (v. 8); that God is the source of our strength (v. 17); and that, by His grace, he “will bring [us] safely to his heavenly kingdom” (v. 18). (Arthur Jackson, Our Daily Bread 17th April 2026)

It’s remarkable to consider how much the apostle Paul suffered in his service for Christ and the gospel (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28), and yet he stayed true to his calling and “finished the race” that had been set before him (2 Timothy 4:6-8). How was he able to endure such hardship? He answered that question himself in 2 Corinthians 12:9 while discussing one particular season of suffering. He learned that God’s grace was sufficient, and his weakness wasn’t a liability: “[The Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ ” It was the opening through which God’s mighty power could flow. (Bill Crowder, Insight, Our Daily Bread 17th April 2026)

I recently went for a follow up blood test and it revealed that my glucose levels are now under control. But in these few months, I realised that as much as we who are diabetic (whether due to lifestyle or our genes or both) are targeting good HbA1c numbers (6.5 and below or at least below 7.0), it is the daily glucose spikes that we must really avoid, as much as we can. Thus, wearing a CGM (continuos glucose monitoring) device is a good practice to teach us in real time what food to avoid and what best to consume. For example, avoid industrial flour stuff, focus on fibres and proteins. Then, keep hydrated and physically active. I am very happy that my eGFR levels (a kidney function indicator) are now >90 and thus back to normal as I was on a downward trend towards the low 80s just 3 months ago. The point nevertheless is that this is a life-long thing, not so much a chase for quarterly HbA1c or even eGFR numbers.

Life is indeed a marathon. Our good health is a marathon. Our spiritual life is much more so. Bursts of spiritual brilliance or supernatural experiences will not do. What we need is long-term consistency. Our faithfulness to God is an hour by hour, minute by minute, daily thing. We must stay true to our calling every moment of our lives. Certainly not just on Sundays but every single day, every single moment!

Yes, there are ups and downs, trials and tribulations but we persevere on. We keep on fighting the good fight to finish the race in the faith. How? Paul said His grace is sufficient for me, His power is made perfect in me. When we live for God moment to moment, we experience His grace and power in our weaknesses, in our inadequacies and our lacks.

Have a good weekend ahead, everyone! Recharge ourselves for us to face life the week ahead! Pray that the Lord will grant us wisdom and discernment in all that we do as we walk in the power of His grace.

P/s: The HbA1c test measures the percentage of glucose clinging on to our blood haemoglobin as an indicator of the average glucose in our blood over the past 3 months.

Keeping secrets as a believer

https://odb.org/2026/04/16/hollow-willow

Proverbs 11:11–13 (NIV): 11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. 12 Whoever derides their neighbour has no sense, but he who has understanding holds their tongue. 13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

When explaining how valuable he found time with an older advisor who regularly listened to his concerns, Tomáš said, “He is my hollow willow.” Tomáš explained that the phrase is a Slovak expression signifying someone who keeps your secrets. In essence, the person is like a willow tree holding confidential information safely within its trunk.

It’s a treasure to have someone to whom we can confide our deepest fears and longings. Perhaps speaking from his own experience, in a section of Proverbs highlighting the power of our words, King King Solomon commended the individual who displays discretion or can “[hold] their tongue” (Proverbs 11:12). He also contrasted two people: “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (v. 13). The comparison is a helpful reminder to carefully steward private conversations, though we shouldn’t remain silent if we’re genuinely concerned for someone’s safety. (Lisa M. Samra, Our Daily Bread 16th April 2026)

This is one of the dilemmas faced by the contemporary believer these days. Do you trust another believer or your cell leader or pastor with your deepest secrets? Granted, most secrets need not be shared. Some secrets can even be taken to the grave. But there are some struggles like fears and anxieties or an illness or affliction or family issues that may need to be shared for prayer covering or supplication. The problem with the latter is  that some things once shared will somehow have legs of their own. News travel fast, rumours travel even faster!

A good brother or sister in Christ not only listens, understands, emphatises and counsels, but is one who doesn’t transmit things shared in confidence. In other words, they keep secrets and don’t become human broadcasters, for lack of a better expression. Human tendency is to share juicy stuff and that is why office extra-marital affairs are a big no-no as people will talk and speculate, and harmony will be impacted. That is why Solomon teaches in Proverbs 11:13 that a gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Surely as people carrying the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we don’t want to be branded as a betrayer but a trustworthy person? Are we someone who may be trusted not only with money but also confidential information? Sensational or intriguing news is perhaps like fine music to the ear but the person being talked about will surely not feel the same! That is possibly why some believers don’t open up on their lives in church or worse, even avoid church altogether.

I feel that sometimes when we inquire about someone’s well-being, we should question our own motives. Do we genuinely care or are we just making conversation to dig for juicy details? We may invariably be pulled into in a fishing expedition like a malicious phishing email. Perhaps, we harbour no ill intentions at the start, but there could be times when we unintentionally become vessels of gossip and malice. I think a prudent approach is always only share good stuff that make us beam with pride and leave out the sordid and less flattering details when talking about other people! 

Citizens of heaven

https://odb.org/2026/04/15/agents-of-a-higher-king

Philippians 3:4–11 (NIV): 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Anna and her husband lived in Argentina with their two children. They kept to themselves and spoke only fluent Spanish. But they weren’t Argentines. They were sleeper agents, spies who’d been born in another country. They’d mastered blending into their host culture, down to how to hold their forks. But a change in their civil registry aroused suspicion, and eventually the couple was caught. As the family was being flown to their true homeland, Anna looked at her eleven-year-old daughter. How would she break the news that they weren’t who her daughter thought?

Believers in Jesus have a citizenship even more vital. We’re agents of a higher king, for “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). The citizens of Philippi were proud of their Roman citizenship; they loyally served Rome as they lived in Philippi. Paul said their loyalty stretched even further. Their highest allegiance was to Jesus, who ruled Rome and Philippi from heaven. (Mike Wittmer, Our Daily Bread 15th April 2026)

We’re citizens of heaven through the blood of Jesus shed on Calvary. He hung on the tree for our sake and through His resurrection, we have victory over sin and death. The Kingdom of God is the ground that we stand on, where we live and work. We are the Kingdom of God as born-again believers of the Great I Am, the Almighty God Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Yet we are also citizens of the country we are born into, not by our own choice, but by birth. If our parents are not Malaysians, we will then follow the citizenship of our parents. Different countries have different citizenship laws but in Malaysia, we follow principally the citizenship of our father. If our father is not Malaysian although our mother is, we do not automatically become Malaysian even though we are born in this country. Steps are however being taken to rectify this situation.

What if our country of citizenship persecutes us because of our faith? Do we remain loyal to our country? The answer is a resounding yes! We are still citizens of this country in the natural as much as we are citizens of heaven in spiritually. We still live here and earn our living here. We still raise our family here on earth in this country. Unless we are called to emigrate to another country, this is where we were born, raised and will die and be buried. My parents were born and died here. If we are not loyal to our country of citizenship, which country will we be loyal to? There is none whatsoever. We only draw the line if we are called to deny Christ and for that, we are not afraid to die if we have to as Christ conquered death for us. That’s when our citizenship in heaven comes into play. When we depart this world, we have a place in our Father’s heavenly mansion. Jesus had gone ahead to prepare a place for us. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

It is highly unlikely anyone will make us a spy for their country. If it is for gratification, we must vehemently decline. Why? Because it amounts to a betrayal of our country. We must always remain loyal,  come what may despite the circumstances, the unfairness. The latter is not a justifiable excuse to be disloyal and neither is money. We are citizens of heaven, yet Malaysians by birth!

The blessings of God

https://odb.org/2026/04/14/harvest-his-blessing

Leviticus 26:3–12 (NIV): 3 “ ‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
6 “ ‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
9 “ ‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.

Alan is a fifth-generation fruit farmer who manages his family’s cherry, peach, and apple orchard. Over the years, his family has perfected growing trees with maximum yield. They’ve carefully planted saplings for the future, put up a deer fence, and invested in special fans that help keep the air warm when frost threatens their crops. Even so, they’re never assured of a good harvest. Factors like weather, pollinators, and disease are beyond their control.

Yet all of nature is under God’s control. He knows we need physical provision like healthy crops, but He encourages us to look even higher to the ultimate good—Himself. The book of Leviticus contains decrees that God gave the Israelites governing everything from sacrifice and worship to relationships and criminal justice. Obeying His direction would lead to blessing, including provision of a bountiful harvest (26:3-4), but disobedience would result in a curse, where their enemies would enjoy the fruit of their labor (v. 16). More than just plentiful crops (v. 10), God’s blessing included a promise to dwell with His people (v. 11) and look on them “with favor” (v. 9).(Karen Pimpo, Our Daily Bread 14th April 2026)

There is a significant difference between the approach taken by God with regards His chosen nation in the Old Testament compared to the New Testament. While the LORD emphasised obedience to His law and its reward of blessings and a bountiful harvest (as the Israelites were principally farmers), the New Testament cautions believers that Christian life may potentially be a life of suffering with the reward being eternal life. So Paul challenges us to persevere when faced with suffering as it produces character and from character we will have hope. Or we are to renew our mind and not conform to the pattern of this world so we may experience God’s will. Or that our suffering now pales in comparison to the glory that awaits us. Or that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities of the air and dark spiritual forces. In other words, the spiritual dimension and eternal life is emphasised more, rather than living a blessed life here on earth. 

Strangely, though, a believer’s life is actually never short of heavenly blessings and divine provision. There might be some suffering but our lives are more like that of the widow and Elijah where the flour and oil to make bread did not run out during the time of great famine. In other words, God will nevertheless take care of our needs as we commit our lives to Him and put our trust in Jesus. Jesus promised that if we seek first the Kingdom of God, all these things shall be added unto us.

The message this morning is that rather than seek the blessings, seek Jesus first. Seek the giver, not the gift. The blessings will follow as our heavenly Father will not allow us to go hungry. My belief is that so long as His plans and purposes for our lives remain unfulfilled, He will make sure that we live as to die is gain but to live is Christ. We will have our time in the sun so long as we keep our eyes focussed on Jesus. Peter walked on the water when he was focused on Jesus but begin to falter and sink when his attention turned to the cold and and the wind! Keep our eyes on Jesus! Remember life and death is in the hands of God. Until we are called home, we are to serve His will! Amen!

Grace and mercy

https://odb.org/2026/04/13/the-power-of-grace

Ephesians 2:1–9 (NIV): 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

When Mark was pulled over by an officer for driving while intoxicated, he was afraid his college football career was over. He was sure he was going to jail. But the policeman instead dropped him off at his college. When Mark asked why, he said, “I’m giving you grace.”

Still, the young man was certain his coach would find out, and he’d lose his scholarship. So when his coach asked to see Mark after practice the next day, he was very apprehensive. Surprisingly the coach said, “I know what happened last night, but I’m giving you grace.” He then suggested that Mark consider attending church the next Sunday.

He went. And guess what the pastor talked about? The grace of Jesus in offering us salvation when we don’t deserve it. Mark got the message. That day, he trusted Jesus as Savior, and he spent the rest of his life serving Him—starting a ranch for boys who need a second chance—who need grace. (Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread 13th April 2026)

The concept of grace and mercy may sometimes be used interchangeably although strictly “mercy” in the Bible means being spared a punishment we deserve and “grace” means being given a blessing we don’t deserve. Thus salvation is a combination of both since we are supposed to be condemned because of sin but instead we are not only spared (mercy) because Jesus died for our sins, but are also bestowed with the abundant and overflowing blessings of God which we don’t deserve (grace). Mercy relieves misery or punishment and speaks of God’s compassion, while grace provides enablement or blessings and speaks of God’s favour. God is therefore both merciful and gracious to us for inviting us to be His children and be part of His Kingdom.

But the real principle behind God’s grace and mercy is that we must likewise be gracious and merciful when dealing with others. It’s however difficult to execute in real life as certain actions or omissions will result in consequences whether it is the law of the land or the rules of our employer or school (including colleges and universities). If we go through a hearing and are found guilty of wrongdoing, we will face consequence management and as any court or tribunal will allow mitigation, there will still be punishment. It is at this stage that mercy may be exercised. Instead of a harsh punishment, we may be subject to a lighter consequence. In the human context, however, grace is rarely dispensed as it is almost impossible to justify rewarding bad behaviour.

In our day to day living, on the other hand, the reality is we rarely get to exercise mercy unless we are a judge or magistrate or we sit on a tribunal. We don’t usually get involved in dispensing justice or mercy, except perhaps in dealing with our children’s behaviour or if we are a teacher in a classroom. However, it is certainly within our power to reward people who do not deserve our blessings. So we could exercise grace by blessing someone with a tip although he may not have done us any service, like a beggar on the street or a homeless person or a busker. Or even those who provide us with a service like for a RM7 Grab ride, we pay RM10 instead.

I’m always reminded by Jesus’s teaching in the Parable of the Ungrateful Servant. If we are shown mercy and grace after being forgiven of a significant debt (we escaped punishment for compounded interest and are blessed with an undeserved capital gain), we should likewise do the same for others.

Have a great week ahead, everyone! May we all experience our Heavenly Father’s abundant mercy and grace, and likewise exercise grace and mercy, as we live out our faith in dealing with issues of life!

I am your God and will uphold you with my righteous right hand

https://odb.org/2026/04/10/safe-in-his-hands

Isaiah 41:8–10 (NIV): 8 “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Sometimes in life it can feel like we’re falling further and further with no one to catch us. But when life seems chaotic and out of control, we can find comfort in knowing that God is with us. As believers, we know that God dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. We can speak to Him and be guided by Scripture.

God wanted to assure the Israelites that He would “catch” them even in the midst of their “fall” of rebellion. He said through the prophet Isaiah, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). God wanted them to know He would help them through their trials (v. 13). How encouraging it must’ve been for the Israelites to know that God hadn’t abandoned them even while they were living as prisoners in a foreign land. (Nancy Gavilanes, Our Daily Bread 10th April 2026)

Israel as a nation in the Old Testament is usually seen as a picture of our spiritual life in this post-Jesus era of the church. That is why some will argue that modern-day Israel is not ancient Israel of the Bible. While that assertion may be valid, what happens to the contemporary state of Israel has a bearing on the coming to pass of the end-time prophesies in the book of Revelation. In other words, Israel in the context of Revelation is not the universal church of Christ. That is also why Christians in general watch with hawk eyes the events transpiring in Israel and the Middle East. The prophesy is that the risen Jesus Christ Himself will return to earth in His second coming at Mount Olives (the same place where He previously ascended to heaven after His crucifixion and resurrection) at the Eastern Gate in Jerusalem.

However, if we follow the assertion that ancient Israel is a picture of our spiritual life as a believer of Jesus Christ, then Isaiah 41 expounds an important spiritual principle. That is, while sin will run its consequences (in the context of ancient Israel, their rebellion against God), God’s love and compassion remain. In exile by the Assyrians, the LORD did not forget the Israelites although history will show that many did not return unlike in the case of the second exile by the Babylonians. The ten tribes of Northern Israel (the split kingdom with Judah at the south) were lost in the first exile (either died in captivity or assimilated into the Assyrians). The LORD God continually encouraged the exiled Israelites, promising their freedom and liberation in time to come.

The message this morning is that if we had sinned against God by disobeying His Word, we will suffer the consequences of our disobedience. But He still loves us like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son taught by Christ. Our heavenly Father waits and longs for our return. If we repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness, He will surely forgive and accept us back into His family and the Kingdom of God. If we had fallen off this boat to eternity due to our insolence, we will have the chance to hop right back on if we repent of our sins.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) –  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Be a Tabitha (Dorcas)

https://odb.org/2026/04/09/prompted-by-love

1 Thessalonians 1:2–7 (NIV): 2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Emily Kenward walked down Lavender Street in Brighton, England. Having recently become a believer in Jesus, she now saw the street differently. She noticed how many homes had their curtains drawn in the daytime, and how few older people were about, despite the area’s high elderly population. It spurred an idea.

Emily found out where Brighton’s elderly lived and invited them to an afternoon tea. Those who came told a similar story. Now living alone, they often went months without seeing anyone. What they longed for, they said, was a visitor.

Emily was so moved by what she heard at that afternoon tea that she started a charity linking Brighton’s elderly with volunteer visitors. She remembers one woman hugging her tightly, sobbing, grateful for finally feeling seen and heard. The work grew, inspiring others to do the same. It makes me wonder what labors prompted by love the Holy Spirit might inspire you and me to do today. (Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Bread 9th April 2026)

Acts 9 introduces us to a believer in Jesus who was prompted by love to serve others. “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha [Dorcas] . . . ; she was always doing good and helping the poor” (v. 36). The Greek word at the root of the word translated “helping the poor” means to “have mercy” or “pity.” In Joppa (modern day Tel Aviv), there was a specific group of people who benefited from Tabitha’s “acts of charity” (v. 36 esv). We read how “all the widows stood around [Peter], crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas (Tabitha’s Greek name) had made while she was still with them” (v. 39). (Arthur Jackson, Insight, Our Daily Bread 9th April 2026)

The examples of Emily Kenward, and Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek) in the bible point to women who looked at ministry for God as something beyond the church. Yes, we serve God primarily in church but our calling may extend beyond its corridors and beyond our congregation. There is a social element in ministry and reaching out may be more effective if we see ourselves as being a part of the community.

Specifically, there are vulnerable people within our communities. Older mothers who are widowed and whose children had moved to the big city for work or whose children have migrated overseas. If their spouses were still alive, they would still have company. Alas, nowadays women outlive men. Even if their children return during weekends, they are still alone the remaining days. We are not even talking about the single elderly who never married. Some had the privilege to live with their other single siblings but they may also outlive them.

I’m sure there are organisations that cater to visiting the seniors at their homes or at old folks homes. Or we could set up such a group within our own church and lead to reach out to these older people in the community. This could be our calling for this season of our lives. In my own local church, we have a group of golden age retired folks who meet every now and then for fellowship. Perhaps they could spearhead this initiative by visiting their friends around their age.

Is there a ministry that God is calling us to in order to fulfil a need in our society? Pray and seek the Lord. He may well lead us to another adventure with Him!

Nothing is impossible for God

https://odb.org/2026/04/08/an-unlikely-catch

Matthew 17:24–27 (NIV): 24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

In 2024, teenager Keegan happily reeled in a two-foot barramundi. But his happiness became elation when his little sister pointed out a tag on the fish. His catch was worth one million dollars as part of an Australian fishing competition. The annual event had been held since 2015; Keegan was the first to win the coveted top cash prize. However slim the odds of catching that fish, the odds were far lower that a fish caught at random would have a coin in its mouth. But in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus instructed His disciple Peter to “go to the lake and . . . take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin” (17:27). The context of this unlikely catch was a question of whether Jesus paid the temple tax (v. 24). The irony of insisting that Jesus—God’s Son—pay a tax to support God’s temple, wasn’t lost on Him. He pointed out that the king’s children don’t pay taxes to the king (vv. 25-26). (Monica La Rose, Our Daily Bread 8th April 2026)

I may have read about Matthew 17:27 before but honestly, I cannot recall knowing about this event of Jesus asking Peter to catch a fish at the lake and the first fish that he catches will have a four -drachma coin in its mouth. It is like a magic trick from the likes of David Copperfield and David Blaine fame, except that this is for real. It is not an illusion or trick. Either Jesus made the coin appear out of nothing or he made it such that Peter catches a fish that had somehow swallowed a coin for the exact denomination of 4 drachma! Both are impossible in the ordinary course of things.

The background to the event was that Jesus wanted to pay the Temple tax for Peter and Him although He had already stated that as the Son of God, He is exempt from paying any Temple tax to God, His Father. In terms of signs and wonders, Jesus needed to get two things right for Peter. One, for Peter to catch the first fish with a coin in its mouth, not the second or third fish. Secondly, the coin is a 4-drachma coin! Truly, it’s a needle in the haystack situation. As difficult as it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God – it is as difficult as a camel to enter the eye of a needle – while with man it is impossible, with God all things are possible!

The message this morning is that although there are things that appear to be impossible in the natural, it is still possible for God. It may be healing from cancer. Or a seemingly impossible trip to a far out place like Europe. Or reaching out to someone we love and care dearly – hearts may seemed closed but with God, nothing is impossible! Or a mission trip to China. Or a promotion or a better opportunity for growth. If the Lord calls us, He can make it come to pass. Just commit it to Him, work at it and we will one day see the 4-drachma coin in the mouth of a fish!

Be doers of the Word

https://odb.org/2026/04/07/doers-of-the-scriptures

James 1:22–25 (NIV): 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

James describes something similar in the attitude of many believers toward the Scriptures: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and . . . goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23-24). Many followers of Christ are aware of what the Bible says. However, we may “merely listen to the word” (v. 22), and the extent to which we submit to it ends there. In this way, we deceive ourselves about the power and authority of Scripture, failing to see it as providing the “perfect law that gives [us] freedom” (v. 25). (Karen Huang, Our Daily Bread 7th April 2026)

An interesting fact is that the cross reference to James 1:22 is Matthew 7:21 which reads “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Thus, when James says that we ought to not just listen but do what the Word says, it means ultimately that we do the will of the Father. This is because the will of God is embedded in the Word.

Let’s take a simple piece of Scripture. For example, faith is believing in things unseen. It’s a spiritual fact. That’s the definition of faith. But how do we do it? How do we action that Word? Well, when we face situations that seemed difficult, we exercise faith. We believe God will help us through it. That’s one way. But a better way will be when it is something that originates from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit prompts us to a certain action. For example, to give someone RM100. So we just give. That’s because we acted on faith is believing in things unseen. Can we physically hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit? No, but we believe in things unseen. In this whole process, we ended up doing the will of the Father.

Of course, the obvious “doing of the Word” is to obey the moral code in the Bible. From the Ten Commandments to the love your enemy as thyself to love your God the LORD with all your heart, soul and mind. But ultimately it always boils down to doing the will of the Father. That’s our aim and goal. In all things we do, we do the will of God as we always want to live at the center of His will. To be part of the things He is doing in our midst.

Another example – faith without works is dead. Effectively, we are to do good deeds as part of our faith as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Faith is not just belief. It is action. It’s not internalised only. It is acted out by the things we do for others. By our service in God, in the church or as we work. Our lives are not meant to be lived in isolation. It needs to be in fellowship with others around us, building up each other’s faith. Encouraging each other to run the race and fight the good fight.

Perhaps this morning, we could take a Scripture. Memorise it. Meditate upon it. Ask the Lord to speak to us. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will for us for the moment. Discover and explore the rhema of the Word. Then do it! Action it! Make the Word come alive and see the power of God flow through it, transforming lives, making a difference.