Ronnie's Thoughts

Slow and steady spiritual growth

https://odb.org/2026/10/09/slow-patient-growth-in-god

Luke 8:4–15 (NIV): 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘ though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand. ‘

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

A saguaro cactus is never in a hurry to grow. Flourishing amid some of the most barren desert climates in the world, the plant slowly takes root over a lifetime of steady, plodding growth. Over its first decade, a Saguaro may grow as little as 1.5 inches. It may take thirty-five years to flower, and its arms can take fifty years to form. The cactus, however, can live up to two hundred years, reach forty-five feet high, and weigh up to two tons. Over a lifetime, it yields a remarkable forty million seeds. A Saguaro’s growth is slow, but resilient. Jesus used agricultural imagery to describe how His believers grow in the kingdom of God. Telling a parable of seeds sowed among various types of soil, He concluded with a description of how the final seeds “fell on good soil . . . and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown” (Luke 8:8). Christ explained how those seeds “in the good soil” are ones who “[hear] the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (v. 15 esv). (Winn Collier, Our Daily Bread 9th October 2026)

When it comes to spiritual growth, we sometimes fail to consider how growth happens in other areas of life. Becoming more and more like Jesus takes time. The parable of the sower in Luke 8 includes the element of time. The word persevering (v. 15) is a translation of the Greek word hypomonē, which means “a patient, steadfast waiting.” Here’s a helpful way to remember the importance of time in spiritual growth: Good seed in good soil produces good fruit in good time. We can ask God to help us trust Him as the Holy Spirit produces growth in us. (Arthur Jackson, Insight, Our Daily Bread 9th October 2026)

A few years back we hired a young in-house lawyer for a basic package of RM10,000 as he was earning around RM8,000 then. He was not that experienced but had a likeable and charming personality. A few months later before confirmation, he had an offer from an offshore entity for RM15,000. It was a remote position based in Malaysia. I had no idea of the scope but told him that he was perhaps a little young to be holding a RM15,000 position. The demands will likely overwhelm him. But the lure of the high pay was irresistable and so he left us; we were unable to match. I am not sure how long he continued at his role but having worked with him I know that his knowledge and experience were limited.

The point is that even in the world, it is better to earn a steady but growing income as we get better at our work. Perhaps we could job hop to get slightly better pay but it is risky to jump at something with very high pay that may not last or that do not commensurate with our ability. Better to have two pigeons in hand (steady pay and good environment) than letting go to catch another bigger pigeon (higher pay but uncertain environment).

In spiritual growth, slow and steady, in my view, wins the race. Really no point in being the traditional hare, reaching high points in our spiritual life to fade away and become nominal later in life. Worse, some even left the faith disillusioned and defeated. Or we serve God fervently and faithfully in our youth, only to do nothing much as we age.

A slow and steady growth is biblical. Jesus Himself taught it in the Parable of the Good Soil. The seed that fell on the good soil, by preserving produce a good crop. Perseverance means time is involved. It means that we need to prevail despite challenges and struggles. Isn’t that life? Will we let the demands of life overcome our faith that we give up trusting God? When someone describes a good pastor or shepherd, we usually don’t credit him for his 5,000 strong congregation or the million Ringgit plus tithes and offerings his church collects each month. We usually say he was a fervent and faithful servant of God. That defines a pastor and should likewise define us as believers. Be a fervent and faithful servant of God, taking up His calling for us and fulfilling His plans and purposes for our lives! Amen!

Grow steadily in the Lord. It is alright to be slow as long as we reach the finish line with our faith intact and our hearts burning strong for Christ. I believe if we had lived such a life, our transition into eternal life will be smooth and effortless.

The work of the Holy Spirit

https://odb.org/2026/10/08/the-holy-spirits-work

John 16:5–15 (NIV): 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

When Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, ran a small Bible college, he learned that a couple who worked there was stealing supplies. Although at times it’s right to address wrongdoing, Oswald decided in this instance not to confront them, instead asking God to bring the matter to their hearts and minds. After several weeks, they came clean, expressing regret. “I’ve known about it all along,” Oswald said, “but we wanted to wait until God’s Spirit spoke to you.” Moved and astonished, the couple surrendered their lives to Jesus. God’s Spirit at work is what Jesus promised His friends before He died: “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). The disciples grieved at the thought of Jesus going away, but He reassured them that this was for their good. Then “the Advocate,” God’s Holy Spirit, would come to them (v. 7). Through the Spirit, God convicts people of their sin. (Amy Boucher Pye, Our Daily Bread 8th October 2026)

I guess for the disciples of Jesus it is better to have Jesus with them than He dying, being resurrected and then ascending to heaven. But in John 16:7 Jesus explained to them that unless He goes, the Holy Spirit cannot come – But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Jesus although He was God, He was also fully human. That means in His human form, He cannot live forever. He was also not omnipresent. He was geo-located in and around Jerusalem. He spoke only Aramiac. I read somewhere that in terms of timing, Jesus’s arrival on earth as per John 3:16 was because the Romans had already built proper roads across the Roman empire and had a common language in Greek across the empire. That is why the New Testament was written in Greek (about 20 to 70 years after the transpired events). Timed perfectly that the Gospel could travel from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and the rest of the world.

Of course we know with hindsight that Jesus couldn’t remain because He had the mission to die for the sins of mankind and bring salvation to the world. While Jesus was human, the Advocate or Helper is spirit and He works in the spirit/soul of human beings to convict us of our sins and to remove the scales from our spiritual eyes to see and accept the Gospel. Without Him, we would not have stepped out in faith and believed. Without Him, we will still be overcome by sin and will follow the desires of our flesh. We will do what pleases us without thinking of eternal consequences.

After Pentecost, believers not only had the conviction of sin but began to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. We became filled with supernatural power from the spiritual realm and could move in signs and wonders and, healing and deliverance of the body. We experienced the truth in “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world”. We became aware of the spiritual realm. That is why Jesus says it is for your own good that I am going away. Ultimately the Holy Spirit will guide us to all truth and most pertinently He will guide us so we will not fall away from the grace of our salvation in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit will guide us so that our names remain written in the Book of Life. Hallelujah! Amen!

Longing for Jesus’s return

https://odb.org/2026/10/07/longing-for-jesus-return

Philippians 3:17–21 (NIV): 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Longing. We all experience it. Sometimes we don’t actually need what we long for, such as a favorite restaurant. Other times, our longings reflect deeper, more desperate yearnings. Writing to the Philippian believers, Paul reminded them to live their lives in light of their deepest longing—Christ’s return and the full coming of His kingdom (Philippians 3:20). Jesus’ coming would make everything whole and transform believers to be like Him (v. 21). Rather than merely longing for what can’t bring lasting satisfaction, Paul says it’s this coming reality that believers “eagerly await” (v. 20)—the day when there will be no more suffering, when we’ll see Jesus face-to-face. (Lisa M. Samra, Our Daily Bread 7th October 2026)

“There is a longing
Only You can fill
A raging tempest
Only You can still
My soul is thirsty Lord
To know You as I’m known
Drink from the river
That flows before Your throne”

The above is the first stanza of the Don Moen song that we should be familiar with. It speaks of a longing in our soul and spirit that only Jesus can fulfil. That Jesus is the river of living waters, the bread of life that indeed we who drink and eat of Him shall not become thirsty and hungry again. It speaks of the spiritual in the present but more importantly the hope for the eternal in future. The hope of glory that generations before us lived and died for. Not a paradise of the metaphorical 72 virgins of Islamic traditions, but a place where there will no longer be pain and suffering or tears or sadness.

If possible we wish for Jesus’s return now, tomorrow or the earliest possible. So that the world as we know it, the injustices and our struggles with the issues of life will cease. Our health challenges, our fight against our bodily afflictions. That the process towards the emergence of the promised new heaven and new earth will commence sooner than later.

Two things will happen once Jesus returns. One is that the life we know now will cease, at least for us as believers. There will be the rapture and perhaps the worse of trials, tribulations and sufferings will come before Jesus returns or perhaps Jesus will rapture us to escape the coming intense trials and tribulations. The second thing is that it is likely that those who remain behind will find it increasingly difficult to accept Christ as the worldly conditions will be less and less favourable for those who want to believe. It would be poverty, pain and suffering for believers and comfortable living for those against Christ. So perhaps God in His infinite wisdom wishes to delay the second coming of Christ to give every non-believer better conditions and the opportunity to believe in the Messiah.

There is indeed a longing for Jesus in the present, in the spiritual realm but a deeper longing for all this to end and for the new world to be ushered in. The world of the eternal where the tree of life is available to us whose names are written in the book of life with the physical river of living waters. No longer in the spiritual as the new world is where the spiritual becomes natural and heaven is indeed a place on earth! In the meantime as we wait, we may only fulfil our longing in the spiritual realm.

Is deception lying?

https://odb.org/2026/10/06/davids-deliverance

1 Samuel 21:10–15 (NIV): 10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: ” ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’? ” 12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. 14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”

In the semifinals of his high school wrestling tournament, Dave cracked a rib on his right side. He won the match but wondered how he’d survive the championship with a damaged ribcage. In the finals, Dave limped out to the mat on his left, uninjured leg. So his opponent targeted Dave’s left leg throughout the match. Dave protected his right side and won.

Another “Dave” used deception to extract himself from a tough situation. David had been fleeing a murderous King Saul. He found refuge among Israel’s enemies, but word soon got to the enemy king that David was a Hebrew war hero (1 Samuel 21:11). Fearing for his life, David “pretended to be insane . . . making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard” (v. 13). The ploy worked (vv. 14-15). Good people can debate such tactics and arrive at different conclusions. But Psalm 34 sheds light on David’s experience. There, David credited not his deception but God for his deliverance. He sang, “I sought the Lord, and he . . . delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4).(Tim Gustafson, Our Daily Bread 6th October 2026)

The use of deception to escape life threatening situations is biblical as seen in David’s example fleeing from Saul who was looking to kill him out of jealousy and envy as the people adored David more than him. Basically, they were saying that although Saul killed thousands, David tens of thousands.

While we may debate the merits of deception as to whether it is ethical, David gave all glory to God for helping him out of his precarious situation. Deception is debatable as it perpetuates a lie and Christians are taught that lying is dishonesty and goes against the commandment not to bear false witness. However, we have to be aware of the context of that commandment. While bearing false witness is lying, lying is not necessarily bearing false witness. I have written a piece on this point before: https://ronnielim.com/2026/08/17/telling-a-lie-and-bearing-false-witness/

If deception is perpetuating a lie and if it is wrong, we should consider whether wealthy and successful people living a low profile life is also perpetuating a lie. Are they also living a lie when they refuse to flaunt their wealth to reveal their true status? But prudence dictates that the less attention we attract, the less likely we will be targeted by criminals and other bad characters. Thus, deception is a defence mechanism for security purposes and in David’s case for the protection of his life!

You will recall that Elisha by the power of God blinded the Syrian army and led them straight into Samaria where they could have been easily slaughtered by the army of Northern Israel. Was that ethical? The use of blindness to cause confusion and entrapment. But we know the saying – “All’s fair in love and war”.

Ultimately, if we attribute our deception or low profile to the glory of God, we are admitting that whoever we are, we are who we are because of the grace of God. Always remain humble before God and man as whatever we have will not last forever. What’s everlasting is the Word of God and the eternal and everlasting life that Christ and the Word of God promises. I pray that the LORD our God our beloved Heavenly Father will always grant us wisdom and discernment in all that we do and bless the work of our hands!

Goals aligned with Christ

https://odb.org/2026/10/02/goals-aligned-with-god

Philippians 3:10–16 (NIV): 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.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

After getting fired from his job without prior notice, Wil became so depressed that he admitted himself into an inpatient mental health facility. Then one day, after weeks with no progress, he was taking his daily walk when his therapist, seeing him, smiled and called out, “I bet I’ll beat you to the community room.” Wil recalls, “That small act triggered something inside of me.” Suddenly he felt he had a purpose. Walking fast, he raced his therapist to the room and won. To his surprise, having one inspiring goal and meeting it gave him hope—a key to his recovery.

The apostle Paul understood the power of a clear goal. “I want to know Christ,” he told church members (Philippians 3:10). He wanted to know the power of the resurrected Jesus, for that power would help the apostle become more like Him. To achieve that aim, Paul followed one strategy: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (vv. 13-14). Feel like you’re falling short? God helps us refocus our goals as we “live up to what we have already attained” in Christ (v. 16). (Patricia Raybon, Our Daily Bread 2nd October 2026)

Having a goal and purpose focusses us to the things that lie ahead and avoids us wandering around aimlessly. More accurately for the latter, we could just be existing day to day, trying to get over one day to the other and what appears to be a blink of an eye, 2026 is nearing the end. A purposeless life is also a life without hope and motivation. That is why when Rick Warren wrote his book, Purpose Driven Life, it was such a hit that when he reverse-tithe his earnings (taking 10% and tithing 90%), he was still quite wealthy.

Having a goal and purpose in life will definitely drive us forward. It gives us the motivation to work full steam ahead to achieve that goal and purpose. For example, if we want to be better at what we do, we work hard refining our craft and crave for exposure and more work. My second son is only 22 going on to 23, and in his first year as a working adult post graduation, he just works through the day until 5.00 am, wakes up at noon, goes to office for meetings and resumes the round the clock cycle, sometimes even on weekends. In the legal field, complex work is the best teacher. A good and complicated M&A transaction will teach us things that will last for our entire legal career.

This morning our focus is however on our goals and purpose that align with Christ. Paul’s goal was to know Christ, the power of the resurrected Christ. Thus he presses on ahead, forgetting what’s behind. I believe whether it is a spiritual or an earthly goal and purpose, God has specific plans and purposes for each and every one of us conceived even before the foundations of the world. Each of us are a unique peg in His the kingdom of grace. We all have our roles to play. Our job is thus to discover what that is and achieve that. A famous preacher once said – when we meet Christ at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ, one question He will surely ask us is – what did we do with the plans and purposes God had for us? Did we discover and achieve those plans and purposes? Did we do that for all the seasons of our lives? God may have different goals for us when we were young compared to when we are older. What did we do?

Aligning our goals with Christ ultimately may well be just achieving Christ’s spiritual goals for us or it could mean that our earthly goals are not inconsistent with His spiritual goals for us. Or it could be both one and same thing. It is for us to discover in Christ as each of us are unique and special to God!

Have a good weekend as we rest and rejuvenate for the coming week, as we worship Him and lay at His feet and meet Him face to face in the spirit this Sunday! Take Saturday to prepare our hearts and we will have an enriching time come Sunday!

Gentle answers with God’s help

https://odb.org/2026/10/01/gentle-answers-with-gods-help

Proverbs 15:1–6 (NIV): A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
      2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
      3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
      4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
      5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
      6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

“Close it up. I’ve seen enough.” Those were the words of an older, experienced beekeeper to me one afternoon when I was learning how to tend a hive. My movements had been quick and forceful. Even though I was trying to care for them, I was only making them angry. Today (years later), when I go into a hive, my motions are so much smoother that my wife tells me it almost looks like I’m dancing. Sometimes difficult conversations are like dancing with bees. When others are upset and emotions are tense, reacting angrily only makes matters worse. As King Solomon observed, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Responding kindly and peacefully to those who are irritated or unreasonable may take time to learn. But because gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit at work within us (see Galatians 5:22-23), with God’s help we can make progress in it. (James Banks, Our Daily Bread 1st October 2026)

I think we can all relate to Proverbs 15:1 that a gentle answer turns away wrath. Many great leaders are able to be calm and composed when faced with anger and loud words. In fact the mark of a leader is to be calm and composed when under pressure. In that sense I’m not a very good leader as I tend to get overly-excited speaking and sometimes when in a bad mood, I easily get agitated. So I can quickly get into a quarrel with my wife – she will blast me back when my tone is off. Fortunately, we reconcile quickly but it’s a personal weakness that has followed me throughout my life, from young till I’m an older man now.

James Banks’ piece in ODB this morning takes this point further. He postulates for gentleness in the caring of bees and then brings it into difficult conversations where the tendency is for both sides to get heated and overheated. An angry reaction solves nothing. In fact, in rare cases it may even lead to wars between nations.

First, meeting anger with gentleness takes time to learn. It’s actually a skill to be cultivated, meaning, we are naturally not made that way. Like learning to be gentle when handling bee hives, we can learn to be gentle with our words even when confronted by angry people. Perhaps having a pet may help as it is difficult to build a bond if we are rough and angry when dealing with our cat or dog.

Secondly, as gentleness is part of the fruit of the Spirit, we could seek God’s help to be gentle. That might be the most pertinent missing element. Have we ever asked the LORD to teach and help us to be gentle when dealing with people around us, our loved ones and colleagues? Gentleness will lead to kindness and compassion. It will make us a more wholesome and complete person although the day will come when we are able to see beyond our Calvary to be complete in Christ. In the meantime, let’s learn to be gentle in our words and deeds, asking the Holy Spirit to help us along!

Elemental spiritual forces of this world

https://odb.org/2026/09/30/not-ritual-but-christ

Example of the elemental forces of this world

Colossians 2:6–15 (NIV): 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, thousands gather each year to burn Zozobra—a fifty-foot towering effigy stuffed with their worries, bills, and regrets. They shout, “Burn him!” as they hope the flames will devour their anxieties and troubles and reset their lives. The apostle Paul wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). He reminded his readers that they shouldn’t trade Jesus for empty substitutes, and he explains why: Christ is the visible “image of the invisible God” (1:15), is supreme over creation (1:16), fully God in human flesh (2:9), and victorious over “every power and authority” (v. 10). Because of His death and resurrection, we’re “rooted and built up in him” (v. 7), and fully alive and forgiven by Him (v. 13). Human rituals and cultural ceremonies can mesmerize a crowd, but only Jesus can cancel sin’s debt and break its grip forever. (Marvin Williams, Our Daily Bread 30th September 2026)

Paul wrote, “[God] has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith . . . and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (1:22-23). The apostle is combatting false teaching here—probably Gnosticism. Among its claims were that Christ didn’t have a physical body. This isn’t a biblical teaching, as it denies the crucifixion and resurrection. Paul warned, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy” (2:8). As he said, “You were dead in your sins” but now “God made you alive with Christ” (v. 13). When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for our sin, we become free from sin’s burden. (Insight, Our Daily Bread, 30th September 2026)

Besides Ephesians 6:12 (our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers and authorities and powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies), Colossians 2:8 and 2:15 are the other verses (there are others as well) that Paul speaks about the spiritual world that co-exists with us in the natural realm. In Colossians 2:8, Paul uses the phrase “elemental spiritual forces of the world”, powerful forces that may continue to torment us even after we have come to faith whilst they continue to hold in captivity the rest of the world who have yet believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

As believers, being aware of the spiritual realm helps us recognise that there are parallel forces that may bind others when we witness and reach out with the Gospel. So before we reach out to any specific person, we should spend time praying against these elemental spiritual forces binding the person. We will find that such intercessory prayer helps us in our evangelism efforts although ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who will make the real conviction.

But, more importantly, we must not indulge or engage in or with any of such elemental spiritual forces of the world. That’s dangerous territory and has the potential of deceptively and inevitably drawing us away from our faith. This is particularly so as one day we may accept, for example, like in the West, propositions by the LBGTQ+ community that homosexuality is permitted in the bible or is a norm in society. The influences of these elemental forces is subtle and over time, we may be influenced and our faith compromised. Or dabbling with occultic practices out of curiosity or for some ulterior motive like getting rich (for example, fengshui practices to bring in wealth).

The message this morning is to pray against such elemental spiritual forces exerting themselves in our midst and to stay clear of them in our actions and the things we do. Do not engage or dabble in any form of occultic practices. We put our complete trust and faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit and Yahweh our Father God, the one and only true Almigthy God of the universe who sent His only begotten Son to the world so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting. Always remember the First Commandment – you shall have no other gods before Me!

Listening to the voice of the Father

https://odb.org/2026/09/29/listening-to-god-2026

Ecclesiastes 5:1–5 (NIV): 5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

In a TED Talk, Celeste Headlee outlines “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation.” One of those might appear to be counterintuitive: In order to have good conversation, we need to listen. Often when the other person is talking, we aren’t really listening to them but forming in our minds what we next want to say. Headlee quotes author Stephen Covey: “Most of us don’t listen with the intent to understand. We listen with the intent to reply.”

Scripture has much to say about listening, especially when it comes to God. Ecclesiastes is rather blunt: “Keep your ears open and your mouth shut” (Ecclesiastes 5:1 nlt). It reminds us that God knows a whole lot more than we do—“God is in heaven” (v. 2)—so it’s wise for us to listen to Him. A verse in Proverbs seems to resonate with the quotes from Headlee and Covey: “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions” (18:2). (Kenneth Petersen, Our Daily Bread 29th September 2026)

Having the posture of a listening and responsive heart is an important part of prayer. We often hear from God as His Spirit nudges us to the Scriptures (John 14:26), which challenge us to listen to and obey His words and enlighten us to wisdom for the challenges of life. This may explain why obey and listen are the same word (shema) in Hebrew. To hear God and not obey Him is the greatest of follies. In 1 Samuel 15:22, Saul is chastened by Samuel’s words: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.” (Bill Crowder, Insight, Our Daily Bread 29th September 2026)

It is interesting to note that Scripture actually teaches us to listen to God when we pray as I think most of us just want to shoot away our various requests and supplications, whether it is for ourselves, our loved ones or our friends and brethren. The tendency when we pray is to voice out our thoughts to God our Father. Because God is a spirit and unseen, it is difficult for us to have an ongoing conversation with Him like we do with another fellow human being.

However, we do know that in our quiet time, as we pray we also ask the Lord to speak to us. The easiest way for God to speak to us is through Scriptures and that is why in our quiet time, prayer should go hand in hand with bible reading and worship. As we pray, we read the Bible and also worship – worship ushers in the presence of God and prepares our heart and spirit to receive of Him, His Word for us.

Practically, to hear His voice speaking to our hearts needs practice. It is not something that will come naturally although a sheep will always recognise the voice of the Shepherd. We will not be sure at first but after some time and in faith, we will recognise His voice and will know as He speaks. This is because our spirit is already awakened (born-again) and thus we have the capacity and capability to hear the voice of God the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Just a final thought for the day – listening goes beyond just hearing. As Bill Crowder says in today’s Insight, listening is obeying. In fact in Hebrew, the same word – shema – is used for both. To listen to God is to obey Him and I can guarantee you that in every instance that we take heed of His voice, we will not be shortchanged or lose out. Banish the idea that obeying God limits our freedom or choices. Instead it is wisdom from the heaven from the One who is omniscient (all knowing). He sees the past, the present and the future and has seen human behaviour and psychology since ancient times. Most importantly, He is still guiding and nudging us to fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives that He had prepared for us before the foundations of the world. Listening to God leads us closer to His destiny for us in this world!

Rejection by others, acceptance by God

https://odb.org/2026/09/28/accepted-by-god

Judges 10:17–11:8 (NIV): 17 When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”
11 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him.
4 Some time later, when the Ammonites were fighting against Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.” 7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”
8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead.”

In spite of Harold’s outstanding record in his medical studies, no hospital in London hired him because of the color of his skin. So in 1913 he opened his own practice in his home, often treating the poor for free. Dr. Harold Moody spent his life helping those discriminated against, earning him the title “Britain’s Martin Luther King.”

Although a mighty warrior, Jephthah was rejected by his half brothers and driven away from their town. They told him, “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family . . . because you are the son of another woman” (Judges 11:2). “So Jephthah fled from his brothers” and settled in another area (v. 3). Although his family rejected him, God didn’t. When an enemy made war on Israel, it was Jephthah that the people turned to for help (vv. 4-6). They said, “Be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites” (v. 6). God used and helped Jephthah to subdue their enemy (vv. 29, 32-33) and to later lead Israel (Judges 12:7). (Karen Huang, Our Daily Bread 28th September 2026)

Jephthah the warrior was rejected by others, but God used him for His purpose (Judges 11:2-3, 29). Jesus also understood rejection. He was rejected by the people of His hometown of Nazareth, who doubted His authority (Mark 6:1-6). He was rejected by the Pharisees and other Jewish religious leaders who plotted to kill Him (3:6). Many of His followers deserted Him (John 6:60-66). For a time, His siblings failed to believe He was the Messiah (7:5). His disciple Judas Iscariot betrayed Him (18:2-3). At His trial, the people shouted for His crucifixion (Mark 15:13). When we face rejection, we can bring our pain to Him knowing He understands. He sees us, loves us, and accepts us. (Alyson Kieda, Insight, Our Daily Bread 28th September 2026)

We face rejection in the ordinary course of life because not everything will flow as we expected or wanted. If we have ever tried to win over a girl or a guy, most would have faced rejection or incompatibility before we find the right one. Unless, of course, we didn’t try in the first place! In fact, the fear of rejection is probably why some people have never been in a relationship. In life, if we dare not try, we will never get as trying always involves some chance that there will be rejection or disappointment. People who are successful will tell you that they never gave up trying despite failures, rejections and disappointments.

But what we like to focus on this morning is not to let the rejection of others shape us. This is because even though the world may reject us, God accepts us and He has His plans and purposes for our lives. His plans and purposes could be something in the Kingdom of God but it could also be something in the world for us to make a living and contribute to society. As much as Dr Harold Moody couldn’t find work in the hospitals of his time, he set up his own practice to treat others, often without charge. He didn’t sulk and withdrew into a world of his own. Instead he found another way to serve society by opening up his own home to treat people who faced discrimination and rejection.

Never let our past rejections define us. Instead look to our Saviour for the inspiration to do something else that He had prepared for us even before the foundations of the world. Each and everyone of us have our place in this big, wide world of 8 billion people. In a world where even fresh graduates find it increasingly difficult to find work, we need to look to God. He accepts us even if we may have not found acceptance after sending out 500 job applications. The world may reject us, but Yahweh accepts us and will guide us to our destined place in this world if we put our trust and hope in Him. As He takes care of the birds of the air, if we seek His Kingdom first and His righteousness, He will make sure we will continue to live! That’s the promise of His Word in Matthew 6:33.

P/s I only posted one post last week as I was away for my Legal Department’s off site team building event in Melaka. My apologies for those who were waiting for my posts.

The heart that matters

https://odb.org/2026/09/21/the-heart-of-the-matter

1 Samuel 16:6–12 (NIV): 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

When we make assumptions, we base them on external factors that may not have any bearing on the moment. It’s helpful to recall the story of David’s selection as future king of Israel. As the prophet Samuel considered Jesse’s eldest son, he thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord” (1 Samuel 16:6). But God told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7). Basing judgments on appearances will lead to wrong conclusions. We do well to let God do the judging. He sees the heart of the matter. (Bill Crowder, Our Daily Bread 21st September 2026)

We all should have heard about this before that God sees our heart. The story of David’s anointing by Samuel perfectly illustrates this principle that although he was the youngest and thus the weakest among Jesse’s sons, the LORD still chose him. Of course, the memo to Samuel was to anoint a particular person, not one of the sons of Jesse. It was target specific. It was in advance, well before David’s time as he was still a young shepherd boy then. Nevertheless, the fact God chose him and not the other sons of Jesse goes to show that the LORD looked beyond physical appearance and into his heart for the future.

Not so much the state of David’s heart at that point but the characteristic of his heart that puts God first – the bible uses the phrase “a man after His heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). It is a characteristic that Saul didn’t have when he offered the offering that only Samuel could because he didn’t want to wait anymore. So it’s from that incident that came the principle – obedience is better than sacrifice. You may read it in 1 Samuel 13 and how Samuel broke it to Saul that God had by then decided to choose someone else to be king).

We know from the narratives recorded in the bible that David had two clear opportunities to take Saul’s life but he didn’t even though Saul was after his life. David held on to the principle not to touch the LORD’s anointed (Psalm 105:15 and 1 Chronicles 16:22) and thus believed that if it’s God’s will that he would be king, then the LORD will make the way for him to ascend the throne. He need not do it himself although he had clear justification to do so – he was already anointed by Samuel as Saul’s successor and Saul was out to kill him. David had a heart that’s fully committed to God. He would never take things into his own hands. In fact when he eventually did with Bathsheba, he suffered immensely.

In our Christian walk, a heart that is always for God is a heart that, amongst others, fully trusts in God. Like in Psalm 147:11 – the LORD delights in those who fear Him and who put their hope in His unfailing love. David is the shining example. He fully trusted God that the day will come when he will replace Saul – it is not his place in the larger scheme of things to engineer that himselfa. God will make all things beautiful in His time.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! Commit our ways to Him, in all things give thanks and trust Him to make our paths straight! Amen! Hallelujah!