Survivors on the lifeboat to eternal life

https://odb.org/2026/01/23/survivor

Romans 9:22–29 (NIV): 22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:  “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” 26 and, “In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

Charles Joughin was a sailor from the young age of eleven. He served as a baker on a number of ships and, in 1912, got hired on to a cruise ship sailing out of Southampton, England. That ship, the Titanic, hit an iceberg in the Northern Atlantic. As the ship went down, Joughin helped people into lifeboats. He himself stood atop the end of the Titanic as it sunk vertically into the water. Miraculously, he survived. Thirty years later, during World War II, Charles was on another ship, the RMS Oregon. It was rammed by another vessel, and it also sank. Remarkably, Joughin survived again.

We who believe in Jesus might need to be reminded of the remarkable truth that we are, by God’s mercy, survivors. Those who haven’t yet found Jesus in the troubled waters of life might do well to climb in the lifeboat. (Kenneth Petersen, Our Daily Bread 23rd January 2026)

It is interesting to paint a picture that as believers we are actually survivors. We are survivors, for example, of a shipwreck. The ship we were travelling on has sunk. We are clinging on to the wreckage. Then a lifeboat comes and Jesus pulls us out of the sea to save us.

This picture is true as our past life in the natural was headed to destruction. We were condemned to hell. Our spirit was dead. In a way, we were just drifting at sea with nowhere safe in sight. This is because we were essentially on the broad path that leads to destruction. We may appear to be surviving and successful, but in the spiritual realm we were dead and had remained dead.

Then Jesus comes along with a lifeboat in the form of the salvation message. We hear the message and respond to it by faith and thus we are now on the lifeboat. We are now going to a safe place. We will see land one day. We are on the narrow path headed to eternal life. The new heaven and new earth we spoke about yesterday.

My exaltation to all of us is that even though there may be times when life on the lifeboat may be hard or suffocating, we must remain seated. Don’t jump out of the lifeboat. Remain under the cover and protection of Jesus Christ. Jumping out may be tempting as the devil creates illusions of beauty and splendour, riches and pleasure, comfort and peace. They are all just make-believe illusions only. The reality is that outside of the lifeboat is the ocean and we will perish. Stay in the lifeboat until we land. Don’t jump out! We are survivors, not quitters!

Have a good weekend ahead, everyone! May we all find our peace and comfort in Jesus as we worship Him in songs, in celebration of His goodness upon our lives!

New Heaven and New Earth

https://odb.org/2026/01/22/longing-fulfilled

Revelation 21:1–4 (NIV): 21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Blaise Pascal famously said there’s an “infinite abyss” inside us that only an infinite God can fill. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord,” Augustine prayed, “and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” As David put it, like thirsty people in the desert, our whole being “longs” for God (Psalm 63:1). For thousands of years this longing has fueled God’s missionary endeavors: sending prophets to win back His straying people and ultimately sending His Son to find His lost sheep (Isaiah 30:18; Luke 19:10). The good news is that in the end, this longing will be fulfilled. “They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God,” and God and human beings will dwell together (Revelation 21:2-3). (Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Bread 22nd January 2026)

After God created the heavens and the earth, He placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. But then they sinned, and pain, strife, and death were the result (Genesis 1-3). In Isaiah, the prophet declares that God will one day create “new heavens and a new earth” where “the former things will not be remembered” (65:17; see also 66:22). Later, Peter wrote of “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). In Revelation 21, John has a vision of this new heaven and new earth, where they’ll be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (v. 4). In this vision, Jesus—“he who was seated on the throne” (v. 5)—declares, “those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children” (v. 7). God rejoices when we repent of our sin and seek forgiveness. Those who do will enjoy this new earth with Christ for all eternity. (Alyson Kieda, Insights, Our Daily Bread 22nd January 2026)

It was only not too long back, perhaps ten years ago, that I became acquainted with Revelation 21. The reason was that I previously avoided the book of Revelation when I was growing up as a believer, believing that it’s allegory-like writing to be too difficult for a young Christian to understand. But the fact remains that it is a truthful representation of what Apostle John (the one loved by Jesus as he described himself in the gospel of John) saw in a vision at Patmos Island. He described to the best of his ability, limited by his own vocabulary as well as the things he himself had seen in his life as it then existed (his world and his world view).

However, when it comes to Revelation 21, it is a world that should have existed if sin had not come into the picture. Thus the Bible starts with creation and Eden and ends up with Eden Recreated and as Sheridan writes in today’s ODB article, for thousands of years this longing of God has fueled God’s missionary endeavours and the good news is that in the end, this longing will be fulfilled in Revelation 21 when God Himself will dwell amongst His people.

This brings us to a pertinent point we should all be aware of, that is, heaven is actually a place on earth. Although there could be periods of time when believers who are raptured may dwell in a spiritual heaven, the eternal life of John 3:16 is back on earth. We will live with God as He dwells amongst His people and we will likely live among the animals, trees and plants that Eden originally had, except that there will no more be tears and sorrow since sin is no more and the sea will also no longer be there (Revelation 21:1). Why is that so? We will find out when we are there.

The other pertinent point is that only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will have a place in this new heaven and new earth. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book (Revelation 21:27 NIV). Unlike Eden that was opened to all descendants of Adam and Eve had the Serpent not tempted them into committing the first original sin, this Eden Recreated is only for those who had been justified by their faith, who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and who had run the race until the very end as per Paul’s exhortation in 2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

My exaltation and encouragement this morning for all of us is to continue to fight the good fight and finish the race so that our names remain in the Lamb’s Book of Life and we get to enjoy and live in the new heaven and new earth at the end of time for all eternity! Amen!

Elisha and the Shunammite woman

https://odb.org/2026/01/21/let-my-people-go-2

Elisha and the Shunammite woman

2 Kings 4:8–10, 14-17 (NIV): 8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”  14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” 17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Up early, Sara wrote her to-do list for the day. But she was interrupted with a request from a young, struggling family. They desperately needed a gas card from church to be delivered to them. Sara was busy but knew God wanted her to do this. So she agreed to drop it off at the hotel where the church was having them stay for a few weeks. She got the card and checked the address—the drive was farther than she’d anticipated, so she complained to God, It’s going to take too much gas to get this to them! Sara sensed these words in her spirit: Haven’t I provided for you? She replied, Yes, God, You have. Forgive my attitude. When she arrived, she found the couple, gave them the card, and held their baby. Sara thanked God on her drive home for blessing her with this simple, yet joyful opportunity. (Anne Cetas, Our Daily Bread 21st January 2026)

Hospitality is one of those ministries that is powerful but often unseen. Mainly, I guess, because its proponents practice it in the background, away from public eyes unlike the pulpit or worship ministries. Like EJAE or Kim Eun-jae who composed and co-wrote the explosive song Golden. After spending more than 10 years as a K-pop trainee, she was cut and in her rejection (she called it redirection), she went into music creation and production and now after more than another 10 years has found fame not only as a music producer but a singer as well! Golden is currently trending as it secured 5 Grammy nominations and is known for its 3-octave range melody, at the bottom, D3 and at the highest, A5, sung in the key of G.

Do not therefore despise working at the backroom or in background ministries like hospitality, hospital or maintenance. No one may see but God always sees our hearts. 2 Kings 4 is special as the narrative zooms in on the wealthy Shunammite woman. She is unnamed but is the star of the story. She made a room specially for Elisha in her home for his frequent journeys between Jerusalem to Mount Carmel as he passes through Shunem. It was ancient Airbnb, except that it was free board and lodging! In this story, the LORD repaid the Shunammite woman’s kindness with a meaningful blessing of a child in an environment where the reigning diety was Baal, the Cannanite diety of fertility, rain and harvest. That is why ancient bible stories always speak about famine, rain, harvest and barren wombs.

The message this morning is to listen to the Holy Spirit and respond in hospitality, care and love to those around us, particularly, servants of God who had laid down their lives for Kingdom purposes. We may work in the background where no one may see or notice, but in all that we do, we do it for the glory of God! Amen!

Suffering and Christians

https://odb.org/2026/01/20/the-gift-of-trials-2

1 Peter 4:12–19 (NIV): 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Just as the radio host’s name is his birthright, early believers in Jesus took on the name “Christian” as their spiritual birthright. Barnabas and Saul ministered a year in Antioch, and through the preaching of the good news, the church grew. The early believers in Antioch lived so much like Christ that people who didn’t believe in Jesus—called them “Christians” (Acts 11:26). So “Christians” were those who belonged to Christ. Bearing that name ultimately became a source of persecution. But Peter encouraged believers to “not be ashamed” of their birthright and of suffering for bearing that name (1 Peter 4:16). (Marvin Williams, Our Daily Bread 20th January 2026)

For gentile converts, the experience of being persecuted would’ve been a new and likely shocking experience. The Jewish people had experienced generations of suffering as a minority culture group and had therefore developed ways of understanding suffering and even dying for their faith. But the gentiles had been completely at ease with and accepted in their culture before their conversion to belief in Jesus. Experiencing suffering might have even caused them to doubt the truth of the gospel if they thought God’s favor should lead to their prosperity. To address this, the apostle Peter emphasizes that there’s nothing “strange” (1 Peter 4:12) about suffering for Christ. Instead, those who bear His name could view suffering for Him as a way of participating in His own suffering and could eagerly wait for the day they’d share in His glory too (vv. 13-14). (Monica La Rose, Our Daily Bread Insights 20th January 2026)

Although as modern day gentile Christians many generations down the road, we do not suffer the same persecution the first generation Christians did, we do suffer indirect or even direct discrimination because of our faith. It could be subtle or even explicit because, for example, we are not of the majority race in this country.

But hypothetically, if somehow given the choice, would we want to be born as part of the majority race? I used to think about this a lot when growing up as I lived in an environment where nearly 99% were Malays. They have their birthright and privileges as sons of the soil in this country but since discovering Jesus Christ and accepting Him as my Lord and Saviour, Christianity is now my birthright. And as Marvin wrote this morning, no amount of money, suffering, or abuse should cause us to compromise that name. We will not want to give away our birthright like Esau did with Jacob, not for a bowl of soup or for fame or fortune or for any of the perceived advantages if we were to become a part of the majority race. The Kingdom of God is too precious to give up for anything as things that are intangible and can’t be seen are eternal. Fame and riches and privileges are a poor match compared to the glory that awaits us in eternity. Likewise no suffering on earth can compare to the glory that we will receive from Christ, our King, for having ran and finished the race that He had prepared for our earthly lives!

Diversity in the church

https://odb.org/2026/01/19/from-every-nation

Acts 10:30–35 (NIV): 30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

London is a cosmopolitan city, with people from many nations living side by side. This coming together of people from around the world can bring richness—including amazing food—but also challenges. For instance, I was saddened that friends from one European country felt they were the least respected in London because their country had been admitted to the European Union more recently. They felt overlooked, blamed for problems, and resented for the jobs they secured. Since God doesn’t show favoritism, neither should we. He breaks down barriers between people. We see His Spirit at work in Peter’s vision while praying on the rooftop, and how Peter was called to Cornelius, a God-fearing gentile. (Amy Boucher Pye, Our Daily Bread 19th January 2026)

The experience of the first generation Christians, in particular, the Apostles, in dealing with non-Jewish believers is testament to God’s acceptance of diversity in His family. In fact, God raised Paul, the brightest amongst the early Christians, to preach and reach out to the Greek-speaking world as Greek was the dominant language beyond Jerusalem and Samaria. In fact, John wrote about logos as the Word of God at the beginning in John 1 which, in a way, connected Greek philosophy with Jewish thought.

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It is part of God’s plan that Peter accepted that the Way (as the faith was then known) should extend beyond the Jews because in the end, most Jews rejected Christ then and still do. If Christianity had remained a sect within Judaism, it would have died a natural death. The Old Covenant would remain in force and the era of grace through justification by faith in Christ would not have materialised. Instead the faith broke free from the clutches of the old and ancient ways and reached nearly every nation on earth that millions throughout the generations since the first century believed in and worshipped the name that is above all names!

Diversity in the church doesn’t extend to same-sex relationships and marriages. We accept the LBGT community if they repent and accept Christ but not their unnatural ways. We hold on to the bible standards that intimacy is between man and woman as God had intended for procreation and the building of the family unit. It is fortunate that although the West has largely given in to same-sex rights, the East remains conservative and traditional. Our disagreement to homosexuality doesn’t extend to the souls of those in the community. We still love everyone regardless of their background and sexual orientation but we draw the line when it comes to same-sex relationships no matter how unpopular we may be to Western eyes.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! May the wisdom and patience of God be upon us as we deal with the many issues at work! Amen!

Spiritual warfare in the heavenlies

https://odb.org/2026/01/15/kindness-unseen

2 Kings 6:13–17 (NIV): 13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The Bible tells of a spiritual reality around us that the eye can’t see, where God reigns supreme. When Elisha was surrounded by a “strong force” of enemy soldiers and chariots, his servant was frightened and asked, “What shall we do?” Elisha told him that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” and “prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ ” Suddenly the servant “saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:14-17).

The horses and chariots of fire indicate angelic beings there for Elisha’s protection. This is one of many places where Scripture underscores the comforting truth that in a world where danger lurks and spiritual warfare rages, God still watches over us. (James Banks, Our Daily Bread, 15th January 2026)

As much as 2 Kings 6 tells us a spiritual reality of spiritual forces in the heavenlies ready to step into the natural world to wage war on earth, Ephesians 6:12 remains our principal guiding principle. During ancient times, God may intervene from the spiritual realm into the natural world as we have read accounts of wars being won by the Israelites when they were clearly outnumbered. In fact, there are even present-day witness accounts of angelic beings helping Israeli forces when in war.

The transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament with the first coming of Jesus Christ (also known as the Second Adam) as the Messiah somewhat changed the focus from the natural to the spiritual world. It is a move from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant where the law is now written in our hearts. It is now the era of grace where Jesus have fulfilled the requirements of the law and defeated sin and the sting of sin which is death. We as believers in Christ are no longer afraid of death as we know an eternal world awaits us after death.

In Ephesians 6:12, Paul speaks of our battles are not against flesh and blood but against principalities of the air, the forces of the dark world – 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

In Revelation 12:7-9, a time will come when the Archangel Michael will wage war against the dragon (Satan) and defeat them in the heavenlies.

There is a spiritual battle being waged in the spiritual realm between angelic and demonic forces for the souls of mankind. That’s the real battle and it is believed that these wars in the heavenlies (but not visible to our human eyes) have bearing on the affairs of humankind on earth. Thus our responsibility as believers is to pray and intercede for these angelic forces to push back the power and influence of the dark forces over the visible world. We pray for the spirit of salvation to engulf the world that more may see the truth and embrace Christ and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. We pray that more will walk in the narrow path that leads to eternal life!

Comfort in the LORD

https://odb.org/2026/01/14/comfort-food-2

2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (NIV): 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Then I checked the receipt. No donuts. Frustrated, I cried out, “All I wanted from the store was a donut!” Fifteen minutes later, my husband handed me a bag of donuts. He’d braved the snow again and snuck out to buy them. After squeezing him tightly, I sheepishly said, “I’m glad you didn’t get into an accident just to appease my craving!” The kind of comfort we may get from satisfying our cravings is always short-lived. As the apostle Paul shared with the Corinthians, true—and lasting—comfort comes from the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). (Alyson Kieda, Our Daily Bread 14th January 2026)

Second Corinthians 1:3-7 includes a cluster of “comfort” words. The word translated “comfort” (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6 [2x]) is paraklēsis, a compound word meaning “to call alongside to assist.” Before His departure, Jesus used the related word paraklētos, translated “advocate” to speak of the Holy Spirit: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever” (John 14:16; see also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7). Other English versions render it “helper,” “comforter,” “counselor.” Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, believers in Christ experience God’s comfort and in turn can extend it to others. (Arthur Jackson, Insight, Our Daily Bread 14th January 2026)

Satisfying our cravings is one of the simple pleasures in life, provided we don’t over indulge and we keep it genuinely simple. There are cravings that are more sinister like that of a seriel killer. Or we may have cravings of a sexual nature, potentially creating social havoc if pursued recklessly. Even truly simple pleasures like having a bowl of cendol (a sweet Malaysian dessert) may have health implications if we over indulged, for example, like having it two or three times a day!

I think we all have our comfort food, things we indulge in to make us happy for the moment. I recalled when I quit smoking around 30 years ago, I used to munch on peanuts to overcome the craving for nicotine. But over time I put on a lot of weight – nearly 30 kgs over 20 years although in the past few years, I’ve shed more than 12 kgs. I’m still a long way away from my weight when I was a scrawny thin young adult!

As much as we should allow for simple pleasures in life including comfort food or some favourite past time like going fishing, we cannot avoid or run away from the fact that our ultimate comfort is with God. It is good discipline to go to the LORD God, our Lord Jesus Christ for the comfort that is everlasting and have no adverse consequences. He has provided us with His Holy Spirit. We should learn to rest in Him so that we may dwell and be engulfed in the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Jacob and his persistence

https://odb.org/2026/01/13/hold-on-to-god

Genesis 32:22–28 (NIV): 22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Jacob used tricky moves to get the best of his twin brother Esau, “wrestling” Esau out of his birthright to their father’s inheritance (Genesis 25:33) and life blessing (27:27-40). But stealing the blessing kept Jacob on the run, forcing him to flee his father’s household, depend on his cunning father-in-law, and live in fear of his brother’s wrath.

Later, he found himself alone, wrestling all night with a man who was God Himself. “Let me go,” the man told Jacob, “for it is daybreak” (32:26). But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (v. 26). Finally Jacob was seeking a blessing of his own, holding tight to God even until his name was changed to reflect his changed heart. (Patricia Raybon, Our Daily Bread 13th January 2026)

If you’re familiar with our Old Testament personalities, you would know that Jacob was a cunning man who used deception to get his way. The Jews pray to the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob is the grandson of Abraham, the founder and originator of the Hebrew faith and people, whose covenant relationship with the LORD God formed the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah who fulfilled the Law and restored Man’s relationship with God.

As the story goes, Jacob cheated his elder twin brother (they were fraternal twins) of his birthright by exchanging it with a bowl of soup and later pretended to be Esau (by wearing goatskins so he appeared to be hairy like Esau) and tricked his father, Isaac who was by then of very poor eyesight, to give him his blessings (which was akin to a will for material possessions but coupled with a spiritual heritage and legacy).

However, Jacob ran away from home after that as he feared for his life. Fortunately in the later years, he was reconciled back to Esau. But not before he had the encounter with an angel of the LORD (believed to be God Himself) known as Jacob wrestling with God (see Genesis 32:24-28). That was the turning point in Jacob’s life as he emerged from the encounter injured at the hip and with a new name “Israel” which the tribe of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Hebrews, took to become their name and the name of their nation.

There are probably many spiritual lessons we can deliver from this encounter of Jacob with God. One lesson that stands out is Jacob’s persistence in not letting go despite the being he was wrestling with was far superior to him, a mere mortal. The LORD Himself as the angel was also very understanding and pleaded for Jacob to let him go before daybreak, knowing that if the day breaks and Jacob sees His face, Jacob will perish. So the LORD accommodated Jacob’s persistence and blessed Him, bestowing upon Jacob the spiritual legacy and inheritance that carried on across generations until our Lord Jesus Christ. In the end, Jacob obtained Isaac’s blessings through trickery but God’s blessings through persistence.

For our own application, the spiritual lesson this morning is that if we are persistent and faithful to seek Him and His Kingdom and not let go, He will surely bless us richly with His heavenly blessings. Reminds me of Jesus’s exaltation that we seek first His Kingdom and its righteousness. It’s a blessing that’s much, much more valuable than material wealth because if we are obedient and not rebellious, our name in the Book of Life is assured and our place in the mansion of many rooms is assured. Seek the spiritual blessings of God like Jacob did as His blessings are eternal and everlasting!

Eye movements of the LORD

https://odb.org/2026/01/12/a-knowing-eye

Psalm 32:8–11 (NIV): 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous, sing, all who are upright in heart.

Jason and Pierre had worked together for a decade putting siding on houses. They were good friends, but neither was talkative. As they worked, they said hardly a word. Yet they knew each other so well that this was seldom a problem. The two could rely on the mere nod of a head or glance of the eyes to communicate. Small gestures spoke volumes.

Psalm 32 evokes this level of familiarity between God and the psalmist. One version renders verse 8 this way: “I will guide you with my eye” (nkjv). God isn’t looking from afar; He’s a loving Father working in partnership with His child. While the psalm begins with confession of sin (vv. 1-5), the focus is not on punishment but on loving redirection as God teaches His child the right path (vv. 6-7). (Matt Lucas, Our Daily Bread 12th January 2025)

There is a sense that we may be close to God like Jason and Piere in today’s ODB life example. Of course it is figuratively an eye movement from God as proclaimed by the Psalmist in Psalm 32:8. Figuratively because we can’t even physically see God, what more His eye. At this stage of our earthly life, God is a spirit and we are flesh and blood. There will come a time, at the end of time, when God will dwell amongst His people in Eden Recreated.

Yet, as much as we can’t see Him and we relate to Him in faith, we could sense His presence and guidance. That’s because we are born-again, redeemed by the blood of Christ. We are also spirit although we dwell in our earthly tent. Our revived born-again spirit is able to sense both God, His angels and spiritual forces as well as the evil forces in the spiritual realm. In addition, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to further guide our conscience and our spirit. It is through the Holy Spirit that we may hear the voice of the LORD speaking to us and sense His guidance and anointing upon us.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! Make it a point this week to sense the presence of God and His guidance. Over time, we will know what we should do or react even without Him telling us. We will become more sensitive to Him as we learn to sense Him more and more. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and help us hear, listen and obey His “eye movements”! Amen!

The past and our future in God

https://odb.org/2026/01/09/the-future-gods-preparing

Isaiah 43:16–21 (NIV): 16 This is what the LORD says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.

This idea of “scrubbing” the past echoes the prophet’s words in Isaiah 43:18-19. God said, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.” These verses were spoken to Israel during their exile in Babylon—a period of deep despair and longing for restoration. God commanded His people to not fixate on their past failures or the pain of captivity but to look forward to the new work He was about to do—a new and more significant exodus—their deliverance from Babylon and return to their homeland. He wasn’t just erasing the past but “making a way” (v. 19) to a future filled with hope and purpose. (Marvin Williams, Our Daily Bread 9th January 2026)

The past holds different connotations for different people. Some of us may be basking in the glory of our past achievements. A few of us may have been top students in our respective schools and colleges but soon realised that the real world is a vastly different kettle of fish. We could have found romance and love but sadly things did not work out and our dream of growing old together were shattered and broken into pieces. In retrospect, we wished we would have approached certain things differently or related to some people with more vigour or showed compassion and love instead of anger or hatred. Our past may be filled with regret and disappointment, but also coupled with joy and happiness.

Whatever the past may be, I take the view that it’s a fallacy that it may be erased. It is what it is. It cannot be scrubbed. If we had failed, we had failed. If we had fallen short, we had fallen short. We can’t sugar-coat our past. God however forgives us our past sins and transgressions. He knows it as He knows all things. But He doesn’t bring it up or reminds us of it. To our Lord Jesus Christ, our past remains in the past. He has redeemed us of our sins. As proclaimed in Isaiah, He is doing a new thing! God is giving us a future in Him. A new beginning, not to compensate or substitute our past, but a fresh start. A new road to walk on as the Chinese say.

As we close the week and enter the weekend to celebrate God’s goodness and worship Him with the congregation, let’s just let our past remain there and let us look to the future we have in Him whatever may be our age. Forget our past and dwell in the present and the future the LORD our God has for us in Christ Jesus! Israel returned from exile after Babylon was overrun by the Persians. Jerusalem was rebuilt and over the ages, Israel is now a thriving nation although it is always at war. Look at our future in Christ, He will restore to us what the locusts have devoured! His plans for us are to prosper us, to give us a new beginning, a fresh start in Him. Have a good weekend, everyone!