Ronnie's Thoughts

Praying for others

https://odb.org/2026/10/27/jesus-prays-for-you

Hebrews 7:23–28 (NIV): Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

I said a prayer for you today.” A friend sent me that text message during an especially difficult season. I read the words several times, letting them sink in. Someone was talking to God about me and my needs. Knowing I was prayed for gave me a renewed sense of courage and hope.

Scripture tells of someone who’s constantly praying for us—Jesus Himself. The author of Hebrews describes how in the old covenant between God and Israel, priests acted as the people’s representatives before God by offering sacrifices for their sins. First, however, they had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, “day after day” (Hebrews 7:27). But when Jesus came, He became the perfect high priest—the “one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners” (v. 26). He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin “once for all” (v. 27). And unlike the former priests, Jesus “lives forever” (v. 24). His priestly work continues eternally, which means “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (v. 25). (Karen Pimpo, Our Daily Bread, 27th October 2026)

It’s comforting to know when someone is praying for you. It means someone is communicating with the Almighty Father God on our behalf, pleading our case for us. Sometimes certain things or events didn’t turn out as bad because someone had said a prayer for us. God’s providence, provision and protection flowed as a result. The blessings of heavens were opened for us. The abundant grace and mercy of God overflowed.

We know from Scripture and Jesus’s character that He prays for us as He is the ultimate and perfect High Priest. He sacrificed Himself for us and constantly prays for us. He is our advocate. He is always reaching out to God on our behalf. We are His sheep and He is our shepherd. He loves us and will take care of us.

We need to take time to pray like Jesus does. A simple prayer. Pray for our children, our family, our cell group members, our Pastors and congregation. Intercede for those we know who are going through difficult times; making ends meet, undergoing cancer treatment, battling with illness and afflictions, facing family crisises. Be the bridge for God to move in His mighty and supernatural ways. May the LORD our God strengthen their knees and hearts to face those difficult situations. We may not be the perfect High Priest like Christ but we are nevertheless a royal priesthood, a chosen nation. We have the power to move the hand of God as we pray. The LORD will listen and heed our sincere and selfless prayer, in His wisdom and perfect timing and will. Be like Jesus, let’s pray constantly for those we love and those in need. Amen!

God knows our names

https://odb.org/2026/10/26/god-knows-your-name

Isaiah 43:1–7 (NIV): But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Many people enjoy seeing their names in print. It’s a way for them to be known or even “seen.” But rest assured, Someone much more important already knows your name and already sees you. When Isaiah reminded the Israelites about God’s love for them, he said, “[God has] summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). The prophet was reminding the people of God’s covenant agreement with them formed with their forefather Abraham many years before (see Genesis 12:1-3). And even though the people may have felt abandoned during the time these words were spoken, Isaiah’s reminder showed that God knew their needs and was with them (Isaiah 43:2-5). (Katara Patton, Our Daily Bread, 26th October 2026)

The the fact that God knows our names should come as no surprise since our relationship with God in Christ is a personal one; unlike the Israelites during the time of their exile in Babylon who knew God as a nation. Believers in Christ have a direct relationship with God. The veil at the Temple was torn in two after the death of Jesus. We now have direct access and communion with God at the personal level. Nevertheless as the universal church, we are still the bride of Christ as a family and will be reunited with Christ when He returns.

That brings us to the more important question this morning – are our names written in the Book of Life? Yes! Because we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. That’s the first part of our salvation – justification. It’s in the past tense and it is by the grace of God. It is not by our own works although once saved, we are to do good works; faith without works is dead. Saved from the penalty of sin, which is death and thus we have eternal life.

The second part to our salvation is sanctification and this is in the present tense. This is where we need to live our lives in accordance with the Word (Logos, who is Christ) and be transformed by the renewal of our minds so we test and approve His good, pleasing and perfect will. We are thus saved from the power of sin. We are able to break free from sin and our old self by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The final part of our salvation is glorification when Christ returns or we as believers in Christ depart this world of the living. We will be saved from the presence of sin. We will eventually be given a glorified body and will dwell in the presence of God at the end of age. It is in the future tense and is the hope of glory we look forward to.

Always remember that the first part – justification – is only the beginning. After our act of faith, it is this journey of faith of the second part sanctification that we need to mindful of and matters most – before we are glorified in Christ. This is where the concept of just saying the sinner’s prayer saves us for all eternity falls apart. We need to remain on the boat of salvation like the seed that fell on good soil. Having the right to enter and board is not good enough to carry us through to our final destination.

Sanctification is in the present tense. Is my name still written in the Book of Life? That is the question we need to ponder this morning. God knows our names and knows us inside out, even every hair we have. Yet He gave us the free will. Choose and decide wisely in everything that we do.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! May the LORD our God bless us with His wisdom and discernment as we deal with issues of life and at work while we do not conform to the pattern of this world while being transformed by the renewing of our minds! Amen! Hallelujah!

In step with the Spirit

https://odb.org/2026/10/22/in-step-with-god

Galatians 5:16–26 (NIV): So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Can you imagine sprinting as hard as you can possibly run . . . without being able to see? That’s what happens in Paralympic guide running. Blind runners compete with a guide, someone who runs alongside them step by step, connected by a short tether. American runner David Brown is among the world’s fastest blind Paralympian runners, having won a gold medal for running a 100-meter dash in under eleven seconds. Jerome Avery was Brown’s guide for much of his career. Brown described their connection this way: “We’re like one person.” Avery agreed, saying, “It should look like one person running.”

https://youtu.be/xACYoPAicHE?si=K-zgvSxia71uho_1

What a beautiful illustration of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Even when we’re running with all we’ve got, the Spirit stays perfectly in step with us—directing our every movement, guiding us this way and that. (Adam R. Holz, Our Daily Bread, 22nd October 2026)

The combination of visually impaired David Brown and the normal sighted Jerome Avery, the Paralympian 100m champion sprinter and his guide, is a perfect illustration of us with the Holy Spirit. For Jerome to be the guide in the 100m sprint, he needs to be able to sprint as fast as David, in fact they need to be in step with one another. That means Jerome must himself be a world class sprinter to keep up with David and he is actually a former US international sprinter.

As believers, as much as the Holy Spirit is our helper and guide, we must also keep up with Him. He will walk at our pace, that’s for sure and guide us along the way if we fall back. But for us to grow in Christ, we need to let Him lead. That we do the things He prompts us to do. Rather than He always needing to clear up the mess we make of our lives. Remember that we wouldn’t have believed if not for the conviction the Holy Spirit bestowed upon us by the grace of God. He opened up our spiritual eyes to see the truth and removed the scales of our spiritual blindness.

As Paul taught us in Galatians 5:25, since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let Him lead us so we may respond to God’s calling upon our lives and fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives for the season. Our lives need to be sanctified and our bodies a living sacrifice. Do not let our worldly affairs and the challenges of life distract us from pursuing the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Always set our priorities right.

Holy Spirit, guide us in the way of righteousness in the path of righteousness towards eternal life. Help us always to remain on the narrow path. Help us to overcome the temptation to give in to the attractions of the world and the rigours of life. Strengthen us, O Lord, O Holy Spirit, that we will be in Christ the person our Father God intends for us in this world and the next! Amen!

Life can change in a moment

https://odb.org/2026/10/21/grace-in-grief

Job 1:13–22 (NIV) – One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

The world watched the news in horror as the sightseeing helicopter flying over the river tore into pieces. As the main rotor and tail broke off, the cabin plunged into the waters below, with the pilot and a family of five trapped inside. Just days after the tragedy that had taken the lives of his sister, brother-in-law, niece, and two nephews, the brother was at the site honoring his loved ones. “They left together,” he said. Life can change in a moment, leaving us reeling from loss we can’t explain. (Nancy Gavilanes, Our Daily Bread 21st October 2026)

Amid Job’s extreme pain, his words reflected a worshipful understanding of the sovereignty of God (Job 1:21). The psalmist also recognized God’s power and authority and said, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). Believers in Jesus find the same comfort knowing that God controls all things, and nothing happens apart from His eternal gaze. The apostle Paul celebrated God’s sovereignty with these words: “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” (Romans 11:35). (Arthur Jackson, Insight, Our Daily Bread 21st October 2026)

I just attended the wake of my cousin last Sunday evening. He is my age. His passing was sudden and unexpected. My auntie, his mother, told us that he was working in his room last Thursday, and didn’t come down for dinner. His daughter then went up to call him and found that he was already cold and stiff. No outward signs but in the autopsy (a legal requirement as he died at home, not in a hospital undergoing treatment), the pathologist found that he had massive internal bleeding. His internal condition was so bad that he was cremated before the funeral. His mother said that he had never had a medical examination or health screening before and thus if he was afflicted with any medical condition, he was unaware. But she did mention that he was recently losing weight and didn’t have much appetite.

Indeed, life can change in a moment. Someone we interacted so intensely yesterday may be gone today. I’ve experienced the passing of both my parents and I know that once anyone has passed, we need to live life without them. They no longer partake in the affairs of the living. The time we had with them before remain as memories – that will fade with time. Life goes on as the living need to continue living; just without those who had departed. That’s a fact of life.

Treasure those who are still with us as life can change in a moment. I realise that as I grow older, I will see more and more people of my age depart. It’s a rigour of life that we don’t live forever. Although our modern life expectancy has increased over the years, people still succumb to illnesses and die younger than the average life span of around 80 nowadays. So spend time with our parents if they are still alive. Do things together. Go for trips. Create lasting memories while we still can.

As believers we know that with our two births, we will only die once. Jesus promised that even if we were to die, we will still live. John 11:25 NKJV – “I am the resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live“. We have the hope of glory in Christ Jesus, in the eternal life He promised that one day we will see our loved ones who died in Christ again. It will be in a very different context although we will eventually settle in the new heaven and new earth, here on this same earth in Eden Recreated.

Life may indeed change in a moment. Live fully for God and His purposes while we still can! Amen! Hallelujah!

You do it to Me

https://odb.org/2026/10/20/you-do-it-to-me

The stain glass made by Welsh artist, John Petts for the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama

Acts 9:1-6 (NIV): Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

In September 1963, Welsh artist John Petts heard the news that a racially motivated bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, had killed four African American girls. Wanting to help, he offered to replace the church’s shattered stained-glass window. The people of Wales soon raised the funds. Petts’ striking replacement window shows Jesus on the cross, His right hand pressing against the frame to signify His pushing out hatred, and His left hand open, offering forgiveness. Along the bottom of the window run the words, you do it to me. Before his conversion, Saul persecuted Jesus’ disciples (Acts 9:1-2). Yet, when Christ appeared to him, He said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (v. 4). Jesus identifies so closely with His people that to harm or bless them is to harm or bless the Lord Himself. (Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Bread 20th October 2026)

It is interesting to note that when we read Acts 9, we are usually focussed on the transformation and conversion of Paul, the Apostle (Paul being his name in Greek while Saul is in Hebrew). However today Sheridan’s focus is on the phrase, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”. Paul in persecuting the Jewish followers of the Way (early believers of Christ), was in fact persecuting Christ Himself. Paul, a powerful official of the Senhadrin in Jerusalem, believed that those Jews following the Way were deviant Jews who need to be retaught the faith.

When non-believers mock and persecute us for our faith, they are actually mocking Christ Himself as we the universal church is one body in Him, with Christ as Head. As the body of Christ, we are united as one in the name of Jesus although in reality we are a diverse mix of different race, cultures, upbringing and also differing walks of faith. The latter with each of us having our own path to walk, in accordance with His calling, and God’s plans and purposes, yet we are all one large global body in Christ.

Know that when we make a stand for God, we do not stand alone in our own strength and might. We have the whole body of Christ behind us and most importantly Christ is with us. Remember if people mock us or laugh at us, they are mocking and laughing at Christ. Not us alone, but Christ too. Thus the phrase, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay” – originally, in Deuteronomy 32:25 and requoted in Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 – takes a deeper and more significant meaning. The LORD Himself will deal with those who dealt harshly against us because of our faith. If we are marginalised or discriminated because of our belief and conviction, God will be our shelter, rock and stronghold. Our life is a living sacrifice, lived for Christ anyway. It is no longer I who liveth but Christ who liveth in me! But remember, He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world!

Have a good week ahead, everyone!

‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

(Numbers 6:24-26 – also known as the Aaronic blessings).

Are we ready for Christ’s return?

https://odb.org/2026/10/16/ready-for-christs-return

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.

It was late fall, and my wife and I were going to take a trip by car. The day before our planned departure, it began to snow, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t taken the car in to have snow tires put on. The snowy, deteriorating conditions led to a long line at the tire shop—something I could have avoided with better planning.

Much of life is about getting ready, isn’t it? It’s vital for us to think ahead, prepare for what eventualities might occur, and make sure we’ve planned well. This is true of our spiritual life as well. In Matthew 24, Jesus pointed out the necessity of being all set for His later return. He told His listeners that they “must be ready” because He will come again (v. 44). (Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread 16th October 2026)

Remember the Parable of the Ten Virgins? Five came prepared with extra oil for their lamps and made it to the wedding banquet while the other 5 ran out of oil and had to go away from the waiting place to buy oil. As a result when the bridegroom came, they missed the wedding banquet. It’s a clear cut illustration that we always need to be ready as Christ’s coming may be soon or long but no one except the Father knows exactly when.

Like Dave going for a trip putting on snow tyres for his car, there is planning and preparation involved even as we wait for Christ’s return. I think besides sanctifying our lives and serving God, we need to sort out our personal hurts and traumatic experiences. We need to genuinely forgive those who have hurt us in the past. Our unforgiveness doesn’t disqualify the person who had hurt us in the past because his or her salvation is by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

But if we allow unforgiveness to rule our lives we might end up with lots of bitterness and anger and hatred. Instead of love, peace and joy, instead of the Fruit of the Spirit. It is not for me to say whether we may miss the wedding banquet because of the condition of our hearts, but I believe this is all part of our preparation to get ready for His return. We don’t want to be disqualified because our hearts are not ready for eternity when He comes again. Always remember that part of our preparation for eternity is the moulding of our character on earth to be more and more like Christ.

As we enter the weekend and take a break from work, spend some time to evaluate our spiritual life and gauge ourselves whether we have good things to say to Christ at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ. What will we say as we give an account of our life to Christ? We could actually make it to the wedding banquet because we were prepared with extra oil (by the grace and blood of Christ) but we still need to give a good account of our lives. Did we respond to God’s calling for us? Did we fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives?

Have a good weekend ahead, everyone!

God of peace, beyond the chaos

https://odb.org/2026/10/15/searching-for-hope

Romans 15:5–13 (NIV): 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
         “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
         I will sing the praises of your name.”
10 Again, it says,
         “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
         “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
         let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again, Isaiah says,
         “The Root of Jesse will spring up,
         one who will arise to rule over the nations;
         in him the Gentiles will hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For many years, hope has been one of the most searched terms on the internet. Surprisingly, it surpasses searches for political crises and even making money online. People are seeking more profound meaning. Recent years haven’t fostered optimism; instead, they’ve felt like an ongoing, slow-motion crisis: Environmental fears, economic instability, and digital anxiety dominate our headlines and hearts. Yet, through all these struggles, millions type hope into their browsers, as if throwing a lifeline to something beyond the chaos. Paul understood that God is the Someone beyond the chaos. When the apostle wrote of “the God of hope” (Romans 15:13), he wanted Roman believers in Jesus to understand that God was both the source and object of their hope. (Marvin Williams, Our Daily Bread 15th October 2026)

It is not surprising I guess that one of the most searched term or word on the Internet is “hope” although I have never personally done that search. The reason is because I already have hope in Jesus Christ. He is my hope of glory. But millions of others may not know Him yet and that’s probably why they hoped that as they searched for hope that Google will somehow direct them to where to find hope.

The thing is God is both the source and object of hope. As the source of hope, God is where hope comes from. He provides us hope because of His nature as a compassionate and loving Almighty being, the creator of the universe and everything in it. His steadfast love never ceases, indeed His faithfulness endures forever.

Yet God is also the destination of hope, the object of our hope. Jesus is both the alpha as well as the omega of our faith. The beginning and the end. The author and the finisher of our faith. Thus, ultimately our goal is the eternal life that God promised through the death and resurrection of Christ.

The message this morning is that no matter how insurmountable our circumstances and situation may look, God is still our source and object of our hope. Do not lose hope in God. He has His reasons for the way things are and as we work at it, He will carry us through. We do our part and follow His leading and then we commit everything unto Him. All that we and our family are going through. We are His children. Surely, He will not forsake us. He will work all things for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider, and our shield and stronghold, the Rock of our salvation! Amen! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

The Potter and the Clay

https://odb.org/2026/10/14/lives-molded-by-god

Jeremiah 18:1–10 (NIV): 18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

When Asheton met Nick, she described herself as lost, lacking purpose, and behaving in ways she wasn’t proud of. Nick had recently experienced something similar and had reconnected with his faith in the process. He shared with Asheton how viewing God as a loving potter who had reshaped his life and given him hope in that difficult time. The two eventually married and took up pottery as a hobby.

God likened Himself to a potter when communicating with the prophet Jeremiah, instructing him to observe the way a potter reshaped marred pots into new pots “as seemed best to him” (Jeremiah 18:4). God revealed to the prophet His ability to shape and reshape the Israelites—either planting or uprooting them according to their response to His counsel. He endowed Jeremiah with a message of repentance and hope for them that He can “do with you, Israel, as this potter does” (v. 6). (Kristen Holmberg, Our Daily Bread 14th October 2026)

In Jeremiah 18, the image of a potter working and reworking a clay pot illustrates both God’s grace and power as well as the seriousness of sin. The statement that “the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands” (v. 4) suggests that imperfections in the clay prevented the potter from making the pot as originally intended. Similarly, if God’s people persisted in their rebellion against Him, they couldn’t expect to experience His full blessing. Like a potter forced by poor material to make an inferior clay vessel, God would respond to their rebellion with judgment (vv. 9-10). His grace remained unchanged, however, and was always available. If at any point the people repented, God would “relent” and not send judgment (vv. 7-8). (Monica La Rose, Insight, Our Daily Bread 14th October 2026)

The potter and the clay is a well-known illustration of the relationship between God and Israel, applicable to us modern-day believers in this era of post-Jesus resurrection. This is because our lives may indeed be transformed if we allow Christ to mould us into His image of us even as each and every one of us is special and unique in the eyes of God.

In Jeremiah 18:4, notwithstanding the pot was marred, God nevertheless shaped it to the best of His ability. It speaks of Israel as imperfect and thus we as believers are similarly “work-in-progress” clay and pot. Yet God will not abandon us and will work us to the best of His ability. Of course the best of God’s ability is extraordinary and supernatural. God is God. He is able to mould and shape us to the best person we could be despite our humanity, fulfilling His plans and purposes for our lives.

The journey to perfection as God moulds us takes a lifetime. Not days, weeks or months but years. Yet to ascend and climb any mountain, we need to take the first steps. I recall nearly 14 years ago embarking on a hike up Mount Sinai. The trail was not difficult as it was a well trodden path. It just required perseverance and determination to reach the summit, and time. It was certainly not a 10-minute hike! It took us nearly 4 hours to reach the top and 7 hours plus for the round trip. We were tired and exhausted – but we needed to push on.

The message this morning and it’s a basic and fundamental truth about our faith – perseverance is key. God’s plan for us is not to destroy but to prosper us and give us a future in Him (Jeremiah 29:11). In the New Testament, we know that the hope He spoke about in Jeremiah 29:11 is our hope of glory in eternity. Allow God to mould and shape us – it will stand us in good stead in this life and is the best preparation for us for our life in eternity!

Away from all the noise

https://odb.org/2026/10/13/jesus-prayer-priority

Mark 1:29–39 (NIV): 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

The Arctic lights of the aurora borealis (the northern lights) are well known for their shimmering green and violet light, but did you know they also emit low frequency electromagnetic (radio) waves? Special devices can convert these natural radio signals into audible whooshing and crackling noises. However, to record these otherwise inaudible vibrations of electric and magnetic energy, you must travel at least four miles away from human sources of sound or electricity that could interfere with the radio receivers.

It’s also sometimes necessary to leave the noise of our lives to hear God’s voice. Mark’s gospel describes Jesus waking up before dawn and finding a “solitary” place to pray (1:35). He’d stayed up late the night before, healing and freeing people from demons (vv. 21-32). The “whole town” had watched (v. 33). Can you imagine their joy and awe? But while Jesus willingly served them, the experience was likely also exhausting. So the next morning, Jesus took time to find quiet before God, despite the fact that the people were looking for him (v. 37). (Jennifer Benson Schuldt, Our Daily Bread 13th October 2026)

In photography, there’s a concept called noise which basically means a less than perfect shot of the scene in terms of light captured by the camera’s sensor. In layman’s terms we could simply call it some distortion because it was not as clear as we wanted it to be.

In life, noise can come in the form of the things we constantly hear. The surrounding background sound for example. The condo I live in Kelana Jaya has so much background noise because it is next to the entrance to the Subang toll plaza. In most mornings, we hear ambulance sirens and blaring of horns by either the police or immigration escorting prisoners/detainees. This is all so common on top of the usual cars and heavy vehicular low gear changes as they take off after clearing the toll booths. A sharp contrast to our home in Seremban which is so quiet and sometimes silent, except for the chirping of birds.

The real noise figuratively in life, I feel, is the near constant need for us to complete our daily tasks and responsibilities. From brushing our teeth to taking a bath, to preparing breakfast, making coffee, getting dressed, putting on shoes – in my case walking to the train station to catch the train to work and the moment we arrive at our desk, the matters we need to deal with. Even when standing in the train as it stops and commuting passengers disembark and embark, my mind is constantly thinking of work or my next sermon and once in a while, I will just daydream that I live a different life!

On top of our daily quiet time with the Lord, we need to get away from all these noise, whether the physical or the metaphorical. Away from all these tasks and just chill and be with God in prayer and worship. All alone in the spirit as our soul processes and forms the words in our mind to communicate and listen to God, the Holy Spirit. We should do this more often and perhaps do this during our quiet time too. Just chill and pray without a set time (as long as it takes), away from the rigours of life and our responsibilities. Sometimes it is necessary to hear the voice of God to give us direction or to recharge us again with a renewed sense of a mission.

Have a good day ahead, dealing with our various responsibilities and tasks. Just try to find some time in all this noise to speak to and listen to our Heavenly Father’s voice as He speaks to us in the spirit!

Remembering God’s faithfulness

https://odb.org/2026/10/12/what-god-has-done

Deuteronomy 8:10–18 (NIV): 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Dan Wallace teaches Greek and travels the world cataloguing ancient manuscripts. At the height of his career, he caught encephalitis, a disease that causes the brain to swell. He survived, though he lost most of his memory, including his knowledge of foreign languages. Yet he persisted and returned to the classroom. Dan says, “I had to relearn Greek, and I taught myself Greek using the textbook that I myself had published the year before!” It’s strange to learn Greek from yourself, but it’s not unusual to learn the same truths over again. This is why God gave us Deuteronomy. Its name means “second law,” a fitting title for a book that reviews the laws and commands given by God in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy gives the Ten Commandments again (ch. 5) and repeatedly urges God’s people to remember how He delivered them from Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and brought them to the promised land. (Mike Wittmer, Our Daily Bread 12th October 2026)

“Remembering” is a surprisingly central theme in Scripture. The Israelites were to remember God’s faithfulness in the past since it would serve as the basis for trusting His future faithfulness (Deuteronomy 8:10-18). More than simple recollection, biblical remembering involves active obedience. Our unfaithfulness is how we “forget” His faithfulness (vv. 11, 14). Thankfully, even when we do forget, God always “remembers” His promises to His loved ones. (Tim Laniak, Insight, Our Daily Bread 12th October 2026)

When we were struggling to make ends meet, we cried out to God to help us go through life, to face the challenges and struggles of our jobs and commitments. The day will come when our difficult times will be a thing of the past, perhaps even a distant memory. Thus it is important that we do not forget God in our success, after we have established ourselves, crafted a reputation for ourselves and accumulated some wealth.

That is the lesson in Deuteronomy 8:12-14, that when we have eaten and are satisfied, have settled down in our fine houses and our flocks have grown and our silver and gold have increased that we become proud and forget about God. The pride of life, of our success, makes us forget our origins, our struggles in the past, especially God’s grace, providence and provision throughout those difficult times. That is why Scripture always remind the Israelites that they were previously slaves in Egypt and how God raised Moses to deliver them from the Pharaoh, the most powerful on the known earth then. How the LORD led and fed them throughout the 40 years in the wilderness and finally through Joshua and Caleb brought them back to the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the Promised Land of Canaan.

For us believers, as we pass through the middle mark of our existence here on earth and inch towards eternal life, remember not only God but also the people that helped and encouraged us to grow in our spiritual walk. Our teachers, mentors and leaders of the past – it was through their efforts, direct and indirect, that we are who we are in the world today and in the faith.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! May we persevere in this journey of faith, fervently and faithfully, fulfilling God’s plans and purposes for our lives in Christ that we will reach the finish line with our faith intact and our fire burning strong in the Lord! Hallelujah! Amen!