Reflections of a lost sheep

  31 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion God’s character revealed through men What did Jesus mean when he said "they bring me glory"? God's glory is the revelation of his character and presence. The lives of Jesus' disciples reveal his character, and he is present to the world through them. Does your life reveal Jesus' character and presence? “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.” ‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ——————- Reflections As we become disciples of Jesus, we began to understand more, especially from His Word and His wisdom. He reveals to us deep wisdom that not the world can offer and knowledge that was already said more than 2000 years ago. As we dwell in Him and His word, we began to have revelations. Those that can only come from Him and spoken to us lay people to help us understand. The understanding helps us to see things from Jesus’s perspectives and te...

  30 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Eternal life How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly here-by knowing God the Father himself through his Son, Jesus Christ . Eternal life requires entering into a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ. When we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ's love lives in us by the Holy Spirit . “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” ‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭ NIV ‬‬ ——————— Reflections  To know God is to know Jesus because the Father is in Him and He is in the Father and whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. But the knowing is not about whether we know we is Jesus. This is asking us to enter into a relationship with Him. It is the same as saying you know who is our prime minister but you don’t have any relationship with him.  When we are in a relationship, it is about two parti...

  29 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Statement of faith The disciples scattered after Jesus was arrested. Jesus accepted their statement of faith even though he knew their weakness. He knew they would have to grow into people whose words and lives matched even to the point of death. He takes us through the same process. How well are you living out what you say you believe about Jesus? ““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.”John‬ ‭16‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —————- Reflections  The challenge with humans I think it’s usually about our doubts and our unbelief. We don’t see and cannot understand and so makes it hard for us to say yes to something that seems so intangible, something that kind of seemed impossible even. Reminds me of the doubtful Thomas who said that he will only believe when he sees the hands of J...

  28 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Grief to Joy What a contrast between the disciples and the world! The world rejoiced as the disciples wept, but the disciples would see him again (in three days) and rejoice. The world's values are often the opposite of God's values. This can cause Christians to feel like misfits. But even if life is difficult now, one day we will rejoice. Keep your eye on the future and on God's promises! “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”John‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —————- Reflections Interestingly that was what I watched on Chosen two days ago, about Jesus telling His disciples that He will be going and none of them understands. Where the rest feels threatened about their power and position as the people wants to follow Jesus instead of the Pharisees and where they all started to plot to kill him. In this evil...

  27 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion True joy When things are going well, we feel elated. When hardships come, we sink into depression. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance. Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When our lives are intertwined with his, he will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”John‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————— Reflections A strong relationship with Christ helps us to weather the fiercest storms and it also calms the most exhilarating joys. Goes both ways. It felt like a patient being put on medication so our emotions are levelled and does not go out of control, which is to me a go...

  26 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Right relationship with God When a vine bears "much fruit," God is glorified, for daily he sent the sunshine and rain to make the crops grow, and constantly he nurtured each tiny plant and prepared it to blossom. What a moment of glory for the Lord of the harvest when the harvest is brought into the barns, mature and ready for use! He made it all happen! This farming analogy shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with him and begin to "produce much fruit" in their lives. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————— Reflections So that we know, *all* are meant to bear fruit, as He nurtures each and every plant, with sunshine and rain, our daily nutrients (our daily bread). Growth takes time and it definitely did not happen overnight. We need reminders, chan...

  25 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Jesus’s love To love others was not a new commandment, but to love others as much as Christ loved others was revolutionary. Now we are to love others based on Jesus' sacrificial love for us. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to Christ; it will also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. Jesus was a living example of God's love, as we are to be living examples of Jesus' love. ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ——————— Reflections We do not live as the world live. Romans 12:2 came to mind while I was reading this devotion. It says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Though the verse came from the book of Romans, b...

  24 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Love to the end Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of his disciples, disowned by another, and deserted by all of them for a time. Still, he "loved them to the very end." God knows us completely, as Jesus knew his disciples. He knows the sins we have committed and the ones we will yet commit. Still, he loves us. How do you respond to that kind of love? “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”John‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ——————— Reflections I’m just grateful, thankful and received so much grace, mercy and love from Christ. Whatever awful things we had done before, whatever things we did even after we knew Him and for whatever wrongs that we may be doing, He looks past all that. He still loves us, even though we are so undeserving, ...

  23 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Walk in His light Jesus said he would be with them in person for only a short time, and they should take advantage of his presence while they had it. Like a light shining in a dark place, he would point out the way they should walk. If they walked in his light, they would become "children of the light," revealing the truth and pointing people to God. As Christians, we are to be Christ's light bearers, letting his light shine through us. How brightly is your light shining? Can others see Christ in your actions? “Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.”John‬ ...

  22 Aug 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Follow Him always Many believed that Jesus came for the Jews only. But when Jesus said, "Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me," he was talking to these Greeks as well. No matter who the sincere seekers are, Jesus welcomes them. His message is for everyone. Don't allow social or racial differences to become barriers to the gospel. Take the Good News to all people. “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”John‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —————————- Reflections His doors are wide open. He welcomes everyone and anyone who wants to know Him-the truly open door policy! What I am learning is how to welcome people regardless of who they are, what they did, etc. It takes so much godly wisdom to accept the people whom most would shy away from. But then again, it is exactly these people that Jesus wants to ...