Divine Encounters

Day 261 Reading: Luke 21:1 - Luke 24:53 We live a world today full of disparity. The biggest divide we have is between the rich and the poor. Jesus while on earth tackled the issue of wealth many times. Do you know Jesus spoke more about wealth than anything else while here on earth? I know money is a touchy issue, however, we need to deal with it. Jesus observed as people gave offerings in the Temple. Child of God why wouldn't He be watching today? If anything the statement Jesus made about the woman who gave her all reveals what God is looking at in our giving.  A young man approached Jesus asking what he needed to do to obtain eternal life. Jesus replied to the young man and advised that He needed to obey the commandments. The young man replied that He did obey them and at this point asked what more should he do. The young man was obviously hungry for God why else would he be so obedient. Jesus then replies that the young man should sell his belongings and follow Hi...

Day 253 Reading: Mark 10:1 - Mark 13:37 Words are powerful. Words are loaded with either life or death Proverbs 18:21 . Many today are suffering from a words-said problem. For example, some people have never become what God designed them to be because someone ridiculed them. Words by an authority carry weight. When a ruler or a person of authority speaks the spoken word it releases or binds the hearers. This is what the Centurion understood when he approached Jesus about his sick servant. He understood that Jesus only needed to speak the Word and his servant would be healed. The Centurion also understood that his part was to believe the word spoken carried authority. The Centurion honoured Jesus as he understood that Jesus operated with an authority that mere men didn't have Matthew 8:5-13 .  Creation reveals to us the power of the spoken word. Look up and see the sky, and remember that God spoke a word calling for a separation of the heavens and the earth. God before ...

Day 252 Reading: Mark 5:1 - Mark 9:50 What are you thinking right now? Do you know that your mind is always having conversations? Actually, science has enabled us to learn that we talk with ourselves mostly. We may not verbalise all the conversations we have internally, however, it's important to understand the implications of what is happening internally. Science has discovered that up to 90% of medical ailments are rooted in our thinking. Truly as Solomon said, as a person thinks so are they Proverbs 23:7 . It's not how you talk or walk but how you think that affects who you are. Our thoughts are important to God not just ourselves. Our thoughts have a big say in our lives. Jesus said that we speak out of the abundance of our hearts, that is we speak aloud from the inner conversations that condition our being Matthew 12:34-35 . Jeremiah declared that God gives us the fruit of our thoughts Jeremiah 6:19 . Your life is the fruit of your thoughts. Your life is not t...

Day 251 Reading: Mark 1:1 - Mark 4:41 The gospel of Mark is a short narrative that displays the power and principles of the Kingdom of God. As you read through the Book of Mark you will discover that Mark's desire was to provide the reader with faith building miracles that remove any doubt of the authenticity of Jesus. While reading today's passages I felt a need to dwell on one of the parables Jesus taught. The parable of the Sower reveals to us the relationship between the heart, the external and internal factors that affect us as we study the Word. I have read the parable many times however after reading the Word, this parable kept playing on my mind. I began to ask myself what is it that God desires I learn about this parable? What is God saying to me?  Jesus in the parable mentioned 4 types of ground that receives the Word. As I meditated on this I realised that many times I have always looked and seen them as four different grounds however God had something d...

Day 250 Reading: Matthew 25:1 - Matthew 28:20 Words are powerful. Ever been to a court of law? When the judge gives a ruling its given in verbatim and written format. When one is marrying vows consisting of words are made. Sign language is an expression of words using signs to convey the words being spoken. Science tells us that women speak more words than men.  Solomon declared that one is satisfied by the fruit of their mouth Proverbs 18:20.   Jesus understood the power of words. He understood that words have an impact. Words are what either make you or condemn you. Jesus  declared that by your words you will be justified or condemned Matthew 12:37 .  Thrice Jesus declared the process of His death and resurrection. I find it interesting that Matthew in writing this gospel noted this. Matthew wanted to convey to us the importance and power of words. He desired that we understood the power of words in shaping our lives. Here was the Messiah provoking th...

Day 249 Reading: Matthew 21:1 - Matthew Matthew 24:51 Hurricanes, storms, tsunamis, floods, droughts, rising sea water levels, heatwaves, forest fires, wars and rumours of wars are all examples of headlines we are seeing. Recently in the news, we saw Asia flooded, USA fighting a hurricane while Africa was also deluged with rainfall that exceeded what had been seen in years. Today no one likes this topic, the end of the world. We are living in the day and age that we need to be aware of the happenings of the last days.  Jesus whilst speaking gave indicators of the last days. Apart from climate change, disasters that we are experiencing, Jesus also mentioned that deception would be high. We are living in a world that is so deceived. Listening to the manner in which many believers relate with others of the faith and even those of the world will show you how much deception is in the world. We pick and choose what to obey of God and think we are walking in truth however God...

Day 248 Reading: Matthew 14:1 - Matthew 20:34 Followers of Christ are to model their lives like that of Jesus. We have a responsibility to not live life aimlessly but with the understanding that when we say we are followers people want to see if we exhibit the characteristics of the person we follow. Jesus while walking here on earth displayed the qualities that God desired we exemplify. One such trait that Jesus displayed was that He is generous. At the root of His life here was a generosity that defied logic. And those who came across Him also were struck by His generosity and sought to partake of it. You may wonder why I say Jesus was generous and this quality drove His ministry. Time and again we read of the compassion of Jesus. This compassion made Him generous to meet the needs of many. Let me share a few examples.  A leper cried to Jesus asking for healing. The response from Jesus was 'I am willing'. As I read the Book of Matthew I find that this was what ma...

Day 247 Reading: Matthew 10:1 - Matthew 14:36 Dear Charles, I sat down and looked at what you are doing for the Kingdom and decided to talk to you. As you read about me in the Book of Matthew I could see your questions about me: ministry, life, well-being and the end. I had the best life growing up. Can you imagine growing up playing with my cousin Jesus as He grew up? We would constantly hear the stories of our births which constantly reminded us of our prophetic destinies.  When the time came I began to preach. I was wholly given to God. I lived a hermits life secluded from society. My dressing really was to preach to all that God didn't use you because you wore the long expensive robes of the Pharisees or Sadducees. My food was a contradiction to everyone's diet. I just wanted to live for God and to fulfil the purpose. I was born to herald the coming of God's Son. I had the privilege of preparing the way before He came. It was my responsibility to announ...

Day 246 Reading: Matthew 5:1 - Matthew 9:38 Ever wondered what exactly the Kingdom of God is about? The children of God were expecting a Messiah who would bring God's Kingdom on earth. Jesus when He began preaching declared that the Kingdom was at hand or nearby. Matthew the writer doesn't waste time revealing to us aspects of the Kingdom. As I read and meditated God stirred my heart to pray for sensitivity and willingness to learn. As human beings we have our ways that we think are the way however while reading the teachings of Jesus one thing I am sure to learn is how much I need to learn to conform to the Kingdom of God. Kingdom Blessings Jesus is the best preacher who ever lived. Many say His best sermon was titled the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, called by many The Beatitudes, Jesus declared 9 blessings. Each blessing recorded in Matthew 5:3-12 is not just a blessing that is received by faith. Jesus was declaring blessings for demonstrating qualities...

Day 245 Reading: Matthew 1:1 - Matthew 4:25 A new beginning is here. A new day; the new season is upon us. As we begin this part of this journey may I encourage you to know that your heart will be refreshed as we study the Word. May hope come alive in you. The Book of Matthew was written primarily to the Jews who were expecting a Messiah. The Old Testament contained promises of a Messiah who would save the people from their enemies and set a Kingdom that would be without end. Matthew in writing this gospel sought to show the reader how some of those prophecies aligned with Jesus.  As I read the portion of scripture today a thought struck my mind about Jesus, the temptations and the tempter. Satan wasn't tempting Jesus just using His needs but the enemy was using the same tactic he used in Eden. The devil doesn't have new tricks. In the Garden of Eden, he made Eve to question the Word and thereby her identity. When she conversed with the serpent the question of ...