The Good Samaritan

https://odb.org/2025/03/03/unexpected-neighbors Luke 10:27–37 (NIV): 27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this, and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, soContinue reading “The Good Samaritan”

Let the peace of God rule

https://odb.org/2025/02/28/common-ground-2 Colossians 3:12–17 (NIV): 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which bindsContinue reading “Let the peace of God rule”

The righteous fall but rise again

https://odb.org/2025/02/21/getting-back-up Proverbs 24:15-16 NIV– 15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place; 16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. One of the wise sayings in Proverbs exalts the righteous for being able toContinue reading “The righteous fall but rise again”

The simple truth

https://odb.org/2025/02/20/the-simple-truth Romans 10:9–11 (NIV): 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.Continue reading “The simple truth”

Fake ratings

https://odb.org/2025/02/18/no-fake-ratings Ephesians 4:22–32 (NIV): 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness andContinue reading “Fake ratings”

Restraint in speech and action

https://odb.org/2025/02/17/never-sent Proverbs 29:20 (NIV): 20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?There is more hope for a fool than for them. One of the things we learned at work is never to write or reply to an email when angry. Calm yourself down first. Take a walk. Go get a cup of coffee. Or evenContinue reading “Restraint in speech and action”

The LORD will look for the lost

https://odb.org/2025/02/11/god-runs-after-us Ezekiel 34:11-13,15–16 (NIV): 11 “ ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scatteredContinue reading “The LORD will look for the lost”

The LORD looks at the heart

https://odb.org/2025/02/07/not-irrelevant 1 Samuel 16:6–13 (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 atContinue reading “The LORD looks at the heart”

Humility before God

https://odb.org/2025/02/03/we-are-lowly-and-loved I am sure we all know by now one secret to the heart of God, and that is to be humble before Him. God loves the humble but hates the proud. You can see this in Psalm 138:6 ESV – For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty heContinue reading “Humility before God”

The LORD, our sure foundation

https://odb.org/2025/01/28/foundations Isaiah 33: 5-6 NIV – The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. 6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. UnlessContinue reading “The LORD, our sure foundation”