Ronnie's Thoughts

Genesis 1 – Creation

https://odb.org/2025/10/27/the-one-who-made-it-all

Genesis 1:1–8 (ESV): 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

I think most of us are acquainted with Genesis 1 as every attempt to read the bible page to page inevitably starts at Genesis 1! The fundamental truth is that God is the creator of all things as opposed to Darwin’s theory of evolution that things evolved over time and at the beginning things just started. While plausible, the details we see in creation like our own human body and that of animals and the way nature works all point to the improbability of the Big Bang Theory. The thing is nature works in an equilibrium. In fact, we know as humans (and for that matter, most other living creatures), we live at a certain blood pressure, oxygen levels with our nerve, respiratory, cardiac, digestive, muscular systems, and our 5 senses all working in tandem. Anything goes out of whack and we are sick. Now, is such a complex existence possible with just a bang?

As a believer, the advantage we carry is that this creator God is accessible by us. He made us all in His image and He enjoys fellowshipping with us. He wants to relate to us as His creation. In fact, He is our Shepherd and our Father in heaven. All made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary.

But how does Genesis 1 relate to us as believers? As much as it is the start of the bible and Revelation 22 is the end? The day will come when Eden will be recreated and we whose names are written in the Book of Life will live with God in eternity in the new heaven and new earth, in the new Jerusalem.

Be reminded this morning that He who created the heavens and the earth and all things in them is our Heavenly Father. As much as nature has its set systems, the spiritual realm can at times penetrate into the natural to achieve God’s will here on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus demonstrated that in His healing of the masses, His signs and wonders and authority over demonic forces. Yahweh demonstrated His power when He parted the Red Sea and brought the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Elijah called down fire to consume the sacrifice drenched in water, defeated the prophets of Baal and called on rain to end the severe drought. Lazarus who was dead for more than 3 days was raised from the dead. Jesus resurrected from the dead, in a glorified body that we as believers look forward to. A small movement of Jews reached out to the Gentiles is now the faith of millions from generations to generations, all over the world.

Don’t ever give up when trials and tribulations, problems and difficulties come our way. Call upon the name of Jesus. Pray to our Heavenly Father, the God of Genesis 1 for help if we ever want to give up or give in. Run the race appointed for us until the very end, until we breathe our last. Be steadfast, hold on to our faith, come what way. Always remember that the God of Genesis 1 is our God, our LORD and Saviour! Amen! Hallelujah, Praise the LORD!

P/S

I took a break last week after our Family Camp. It was a wonderful time of receiving the Word and fellowshipping. Although my last posting was on 17 Oct 25, I actually only missed 5 working days all in.

Have a great and wonderful week ahead, everyone!

Serving God – tragedies into opportunities and blessings

https://odb.org/2025/10/17/sit-down

Romans 12:9–16 (NIV): 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

With extra time on my hands, my plan for the coming months centred on serving people as much as I could. But while helping a new friend, I tripped and fell and broke my arm in three places. Suddenly, I was the one in need. God’s people cared for me with visits, gift cards, flowers, phone calls, texts, prayers, meals (and even a box of chocolates), and by running errands. I couldn’t believe how kind my family, friends, and fellow church members were! It was as if God were saying, “Sit down. You need help. You’ll see what caring looks like.” Because of them, I know more about serving from the heart and feeling grateful to God for others. (Anne Cetas, ODB 17th Oct 2025)

It is ironic that Anne Cetas, the writer of today’s ODB article, wanted to serve people with time on her side that she tripped and fell and broke her arm in 3 places. Due to her injury, she ended up being served. She wrote, “God’s people cared for me with visits, gift cards, flowers, phone calls, texts, prayers, meals (and even a box of chocolates), and by running errands”. In the process, she learnt what it meant to be cared for and served. Being the recipient changed her perspective and taught her how she could care for others more empathetically.

The lesson this morning is that whenever we go through tough situations or disappointments or even failed missions or dreams, know that our personal experience builds us up to be better equipped to serve others. If we came from a family who experienced a great tragedy, like the 16 year old student stabbed 200 times by a 14 year old fellow student, the hearts broken and tears shed will make us stronger to one day help others go through their own tragedies. I’m sure we have come across news reports of a family involved in a bad car accident where everyone except a young child was killed. What a dark future one will have if your parents and siblings were all killed, leaving you alone to grow up and face the world. Bleak as it may appear to be, the Lord is able to turn your tragedy into something of substance for you to be a pillar of strength for others.

This morning, as we approach the coming long weekend when our Hindu friends celebrate Diwali, be reminded that God in His almighty power and infinite grace will turn our past tragedies into opportunities for service and blessings! For those of us in my local church attending the upcoming family camp, be prepared for God to touch us and lead us into a spiritual breakthrough for our lives!

Have a good long weekend, everyone!

Lost sheep

https://odb.org/2025/10/16/feeling-lost

Psalm 119:169–176 (NIV): 169 May my cry come before you, LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.
170 May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.
171 May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.
172 May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.
173 May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, LORD,
and your law gives me delight.
175 Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.

In the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), Jesus painted a picture that a shepherd would leave behind his 99 sheep to look for the one that got lost. It reflects God’s heart as a loving shepherd where every single one of us is valuable to and treasured by Him. Not only in terms of sheep who strayed away but to those who have yet to become sheep and are lost in darkness. That’s the truth and hope that we hold on to in case one day we were to stray away and become lost in the world or amidst our pursuit of our own fleshy desires or for wealth, fame or pleasures of life.

Except that, in my view, we shouldn’t stray if we could help it. Don’t get distracted from our faith by the bright city lights. In fact, nowadays, with the proliferation of social media and user content, especially by the new profession called influencer, our minds could easily be discreetly persuaded or influenced not only by the influencers themselves but also spiritual forces behind not so much those persons, but those content. It’s the same danger posed by television or computer games if we over indulge, just that nowadays fewer people watch television.

It’s very dangerous for our faith if we think that it’s OK to stray because God will find a way to reach out to save us. Did Jesus jump when tempted by the devil to do so from the top of the Temple? There is an implied rule in our faith not to test God as chances are nature will run its course. The LORD allowed the Israelites to be exiled first by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians due to their insolence and unfaithfulness. He eventually delivered them as a nation, but not as individuals. Many did not make it home, and some died in captivity, while there were those who chose to stay behind in the prosperity of Babylon (which biblically represents the world).

See extract below from an AI overview:

AI Overview
No, not all exiled Israelites returned to Israel; most of the northern ten tribes taken by Assyria never returned. While many from the southern kingdom of Judah returned from Babylonian exile, a significant portion of the population chose to remain in Babylon, and the returnees only represented a remnant of the former kingdom. The tribes of Benjamin, Judah, and Levi were the main groups to return.

Straying is inherently dangerous for our faith. For sheep, the danger is being eaten by wolves. For us, we may enjoy the world so much that we end up preferring and choosing the world over God. What a tragedy that would be! Worst, we may already be lost without even realising it!

God is light

https://odb.org/2025/10/15/walking-in-the-dark

1 John 1:5–10 (NIV): 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him, there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us.

In his letter to the early believers in Jesus, the apostle John talked about choosing to walk in a different kind of darkness. First John 1:6 refers to sin as “darkness.” Walking in darkness isn’t a momentary lapse but a choice to keep engaging in wrongdoing. John reminds us that our holy God “is light” and “in him there is no darkness” (v. 5). So when we claim a relationship with Him yet willfully continue sinning, “we lie and do not live out the truth” (v. 6). Jesus, the light of the world, came so that “whoever follows [Him] will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). (Karen Huang, ODB 15 October 2025)

The point this morning is that since God is light, we can not remain in darkness after we have been in the light. We are part of the light already, and the light is in us. Darkness here is taken to mean continuing in intentional sin, which is incompatible with our nature and character of a bible believing Christian who has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Yet this is an issue we still struggle with as believers in Christ. We still sin due to the fallen nature of our body. Sometimes, we can not control ourselves. We fight the tendency, but we don’t always succeed.

1 John 1 has the solution. John advises that if we claim we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

We will not be able to overcome our sinful and carnal nature overnight. It will take a long time, probably a lifetime. In the meantime, be consistent is seeking out the LORD, confessing our sins before Him. Plead for the blood of Jesus to cover us and rest in the assurance that He is just and faithful. He will forgive us our sins. The point is if we fall, we confess our sins and rise again. God is light. We are light. Don’t continue to walk in darkness.

Two are better than one

https://odb.org/2025/10/14/it-takes-two-2

Ecclesiastes 4:8–10 (NIV): 8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—
a miserable business! 9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labour: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up

The book of Ecclesiastes—written from the perspective of “under the sun” (1:14) or the human experience on earth—seems to be one long lament. What’s it all about? Does anything ultimately matter? Why even try? That forlorn theme continues here, as the writer (called “the Teacher” in 1:1) observes “a man all alone” (4:8). Eventually, this solitary figure asks himself, “For whom am I toiling?” The Teacher observes, “This too is meaningless—a miserable business!” (v. 8). Yet Ecclesiastes also recognizes that there is a life worth living. The wise man declares, “Two are better than one” (v. 9) and points to a specific reason why doing life together is preferred: “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (v. 10). God lovingly equips us to help each other and, in turn, to accept help. Our necessary interdependence reminds us of our complete reliance on God and His goodness. (Tim Gustafson, ODB 14 Oct 2025)

Some of us are used to being solitary in the pursuit of our dreams, ambitions or even ministry goals. In a way, it is easier to go at it alone. You can do whatever you want without needing to think of the other’s life goals or dreams. For example, when travelling, you may want to see something, but your other may want to see something else. Or you may want to rough it out, and the other wants to sleep in comfort. You may want to splurge on business class while the more prudent and frugal other may just want to spend more on food or attractions than the flight. No matter how wealthy one may be, there are always limits.

But an interesting question Ecclesiastes asks is for whom am I toiling? Is it only for ourselves? Is our toil meaningful if such? Even if our goals are aligned with God’s plans and purposes for our lives and we have Jesus as our friend and Lord? If we are called to be single, like in the case of Paul, we’ll need to walk this journey alone and adapt accordingly. But given a choice, I’ll rather have someone by my side and the fruits of our union to share my joys and sadness with. To enjoy together as a family the fruits of our toil. That is why Ecclesiastes teaches two is better than one. If God allows, we should journey this life with someone to build a family. If one falls down, the other can help him or her up.

Two is surely better than one, but the greatest sacrifice one needs to make, in my view, is to learn to adapt and accept that in whatever we do, we must take into consideration the other’s needs, preferences and dreams. Thus, if our goal is to respond to God’s calling, then we should have someone who is aligned or agrees with our goal, or else we would need to forgo our calling in God. That is the drawback of two, although two is better than one. The challenge is to find that someone who will complement us as much as we need to accommodate him or her into our lives. If not, it might well be better to go at it alone, although two is better than one.

In short, there are no quick answers when it comes to issues of life and faith. The Word teaches two is better than one. That is the unwavering truth. Yet Paul never married and achieved so much for God. That’s the irony of our faith, and can I say life!

Thanksgiving

https://odb.org/2025/10/13/gratitude-gathering

1 Chronicles 16:8–14 (NIV): 8 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done. 9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts. 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, 13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. 14 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

We don’t have a national tradition of thanksgiving in our nation like a festival or holiday, but as believers, thanksgiving is usually present in our lives. For example, one of the things we learned in leading worship over the years is the element of thanksgiving. So, we are taught to follow a certain sequence for our selection of worship songs, and broadly, it is as follows:

Intro song
Praise
Thanksgiving
Corporate worship/adoration
Personal worship/self reflection
Closing song/benediction

In terms of keys, for guys, we usually prefer F, G, or A, but it is better to interpose another set of keys like C, D or E or even Bb or Eb in between our favourite song key so that there is a variety of tones for the 5 to 6 worship songs (number of songs depends on time allocated). Timing wise, it is usually faster at the start and moderate or slower throughout. The personal worship element is crucial to allow the congregation some personal “facetime” with the Lord as we worship in the spirit. But the part on thanksgiving is equally necessary, so we always remember and proclaim His goodness in our lives. Some worship leaders structure their songs thematically, but I usually don’t. For me, what’s more important is that the songs touch me or else I’ll have difficulty leading with them. Thus, my underlying theme is usually glorifying God or Christ.

Besides worship, whether corporately or in our own quiet time, we can have an attitude of thanksgiving such that whenever we receive something like a blessing or an answered prayer or we get to show grace or bless someone, we thank the Lord. Make thanking God and having a genuine gratefulness second nature. It keeps us humble and grounded as even our very existence is God-given. For instance, to live optimally, our body needs to beat at a certain heart rate, and our oxygen intake and blood pressure levels must be just right. Any one of our bodily systems goes out of whack, and we may potentially have a serious medical situation.

Have a good week ahead – be thankful as God preserves, protects and blesses us, and it is my prayer for everyone (myself included) that we will live in the centre of His will, in our spiritual life and at work! Amen!

Depression

https://odb.org/2025/10/10/prayer-of-the-desperate

Psalm 88:6–9 (NIV): 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. 7 Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. 8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; 9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day, I spread out my hands to you?

Charles had sunk into depression. Despite having a loving family, he felt all alone. “The overwhelming pressure of supporting them was continuing to build,” he said, “and I felt like taking my own life.” Surprisingly—or perhaps not—Charles Morris also led a Christian ministry. A wise friend told him that when faced with depression, “We should soak in the Psalms.” Charles got through his deep despondency by reading relatable Bible passages, accepting prudent medical care, and pouring his heart out to God. (Tim Gustafon, ODB 7th Oct 2025)

When used correctly in its proper context, the word “depression” is not just feeling depressed or beaten down or moody. It’s an illness and is medically accepted as such. It is persistent or chronic in medical speak. But it is treatable. If left untreated and allowed to deteoriate, it may lead to death by suicide.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes, you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. (Mayo Clinic)

I just heard two days ago in the office of someone who just went missing from work for 3 whole months (but remain fully paid) due to depression. My company finally issued him a show cause letter but did not summarily dismiss him as permitted under labour laws. So he has the opportunity to explain himself, but he will need strong medical evidence (like a psychiatrist’s report) to continue working. I have to admit that it is rare for employers to be so compassionate.

As believers, we are not immune from depression. While our spirit may be born again, our mind is still going through transformation. In the process, we may slip into depression due to events or circumstances in our lives. It could be something as basic as losing a pet that we are very attached to or a more complex situation of losing our job that we have been doing for a long time. The latter is more complex because our self-worth and confidence may have been affected, and coupled with no income and depleting savings (if any), we may even lose the will to live. In such situations, we may not be able to even pay rent. Some may have the option of returning to our hometowns to stay with our parents, but even with that, it is still bad. We will be cut off from our existing social circle and support system, and it reduces our chances of getting another job. In other words, one thing leads to another, and our world goes spiralling down, affecting our state of mind.

One of the ways to get out of depression (but if you are already in it, you may not listen) is to bury ourselves in His Word, particularly the Psalms. Some Psalms are raw and honest about what the Psalmists are going through, and we may relate to them. Most importantly, we have the opportunity to pour our grievances and grieve to God. Sometimes speaking to someone is necessary. So speaking to God, praying and immersing ourselves in His Word will surely help.

No one is immune. Something could just trigger a negative response. We must always be on guard. Keep our emotions in check. Keep active. Serve God. Immerse ourselves in the Word and pray.

Have a good weekend ahead, everyone!

God or wealth

https://odb.org/2025/10/09/cautionary-tale

Ecclesiastes 5:13, 14, 18–20 (NIV): 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

In the classic film Citizen Kane, Charles Foster Kane amasses wealth and power by building a newspaper empire. In a story reminiscent of Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, Kane spares himself no pleasure, building a castle with grand gardens full of artistic treasures. Citizen Kane ends with the revelation that Charlie’s pursuits have been driven to fill a void in his heart—the parental love he lost as a child. I can imagine the author of Ecclesiastes agreeing. Our Father God has “set eternity in the human heart” (3:11), and life can only be enjoyed with Him (2:25). Charlie Kane’s cautionary tale speaks to us all: Don’t seek spiritual fulfilment through wealth and power, but through the one who pours His love into our hearts (Romans 5:5) (Sheridan Voysey, ODB 9 October 2025)

The issue of pursuing wealth and spirituality had always been on my mind since I first accepted Christ in my teens. When I was younger, I used to think that they were mutually exclusive in the sense they were not compatible with one another. You either choose wealth (which then represents the world) or choose God. Solomon in Ecclesiastes teaches that the accumulation of wealth (wealth hoarded) is destructive and that is true to the extent that when we have a lot, we tend to worry more about how to grow it or how to avoid losing it and as a result may end up having sleepless nights. Solomon ends Ecclesiastes 5 beautifully by declaring first that man is entitled to enjoy the fruits of his labour. But most importantly, it is better if God gives us our wealth as He will give us the ability to enjoy it, to accept our lot, and be happy in our toil. We won’t think too much of our wealth because God distracts us by keeping us occupied with gladness of heart. In other words, we are so grateful and happy that we have no time to worry about our wealth.

For us who are more mature Christians, we know that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). We know that money or wealth itself is neutral. The love of money breeds covetousness and causes us to compromise our faith. We may end up doing unethical things to gain money and wealth. When we have wealth, we become worried that we may not grow it fast enough, thereby slowly losing its value with inflation and reducing purchasing power creeping in.

The lesson this morning is to always pursue God first (which Solomon always advocates), and then as we work hard in our secular jobs, God will bless us with wealth eventually. Since we put God first, He will bless us with the ability to enjoy our wealth, to be contented and grateful for His blessings. One of the things I learned in my early career days is to live below our means and have delayed gratification so that we always have more instead of not enough. Stretch the dollar, and you might not need many dollars!

Live a life worthy of your calling

https://odb.org/2025/10/08/jacks-story

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV): 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

God’s love poured out through the creation of a new community made up of believing Jews and gentiles—something Paul calls “the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4)—is the foundation for the apostle’s encouragement to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (4:1). Jews and gentiles—two groups long estranged from each other—were called to devote themselves to cultivating the unity created through Christ’s Spirit (v. 3). They needed to serve one another “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (v. 2 esv). Today, we’re also called to love and serve others with the gifts we’ve been given. (Monica La Rose, ODB 7 October 2025)

Christianity is not just about professing our faith but living out our lives that glorify Christ. In the early days when the early adopters were Jews, they accepted and worked together with the gentiles (non-Jews) and were united in love for Christ. The Jews have customarily excluded non-Jews in certain matters, in particular, their religious obligations. For example, gentiles were only permitted at the fringes of the Temple, the outer courts. With the veil broken by the victory of Jesus on the cross, believers in Christ have direct communion with God, and in the process, the distinction between Jews and gentiles was also broken. We are now all equal in Christ and are rightful beneficiaries of the Abrahamic Covenant and its blessings.

In parallel, we are to live lives that are worthy of our calling in Christ being co-heirs and sons and daughters of God. Always remember who we are whenever we do anything lest the name of our Saviour is put to shame. We may easily behave like others of the world, but we won’t because we have Christ in us. We are different. We have Christ in us. Because of the Holy Spirit in us, we are able to act differently. There is a saying, as Christians, we live right side up in an upside down world! Paul puts it another way in Romans 12:1 – we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, as our spiritual act of worship in view of God’s mercy (in saving us).

As I have always said in these pages, we all know where we are with God in our relationship with Him, in our faith, and the extent of our spiritual formation and character building in Christ. We still have personality flaws. We still sin. Sometimes, we still act or speak, in a manner unworthy of our calling. As long as we are aware and seek to change; do better next time, we will eventually think, speak, and act as if we were Christ! We can only get better if we work with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to transform us from within. I’m therefore confident that we will all be able to live a life worthy of our calling! If not right now, one day soon! Amen

All up in smoke

https://odb.org/2025/10/07/up-in-smoke

John 16:31–33 (NIV): 31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and, in fact, has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

During the Blitz on London on December 29, 1940, a bomb destroyed a warehouse near St. Paul’s Cathedral. When Biddy Chambers received the news that all 40,000 copies of Oswald Chambers’ books stored there were lost—which she had compiled and edited but not insured—she set down her teacup and remarked to her daughter, “Well, God has used the books for His glory, but now that is over. We’ll wait and see what God will do now.” (Amy Boucher Pye, ODB 7th Oct 2025)

The calmness of Biddy Chambers in dealing with the destruction of 40,000 copies of her husband’s books is an example of how we should react when certain mishaps or misfortunes occur in our lives. Even if those were events or things meant to glorify God. God may protect certain things like the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, that was untouched by the bombs dropped by Allied forces. But in most cases, He allows nature to take its course. Even a minister of God is susceptible to a heart attack or stroke if he doesn’t take his medication as much as God has a specific calling and purpose for His life.

Biddy Chambers’ 40,000 books were a great loss as so much could be done, and so many reached through those books. Notwithstanding that great loss, she picked up the pieces and started again. Eventually, the books were reprinted, and many lives were blessed by Oswald Chambers’ books and writings.

The lesson this morning is that sometimes we may not fully understand God’s work and how He works. But trust that He will eventually achieve His plans and purposes. We are just vessels for His glory. Just keep on going and don’t give up doing what God has placed in our hearts to do. We may not or can not see the fruits of our labour but persevere on nevertheless. Trust that God will use our labour for His glory. It will not be in vain. If nothing comes out in this present generation, perhaps something will be in the next! Don’t give up even if something unexpected has occurred. Push on for Christ!