THOUGHT INSPECTION
God has nothing against you
A psychologist named Lawrence Kolberg developed a detailed test to measure maturity in the field of moral reasoning. He came to the conclusion that good behavior to avoid punishment is the lowest form of motivation to do what is right. Are we just changing our behavior to avoid punishment? Does Christian remorse look like this? Is Christianity just one of many ways to pursue moral development? Many Christians ...
The hunger deep inside us
"Everyone looks at you expectantly, and you give them food at the right time. You open your hand and saturate your creatures ... "(Psalm 145, 15-16 HFA). Sometimes I feel a crying hunger somewhere deep inside me. In my thoughts, I try to disrespect him and suppress him for a while. But all of a sudden he comes back to light. I'm talking about the desire, the desire in us to better understand the depth, the cry ...
Xmas - Christmas
"Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, look to the apostle and high priest whom we confess, Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 3: 1). Most people take it for granted that Christmas has become an exuberant, commercial festival - with Jesus mostly being completely forgotten. Value is placed on food, wine, gifts and celebrations; but what is celebrated? As Christians, we should think about why God is ...
Sin and not despair?
It is very surprising that in a letter to his friend Philip Melanchthon, Martin Luther admonishes him: "Be a sinner and let sin be mighty, but more powerful than sin be your trust in Christ and rejoice in Christ, that he is the sin, has overcome death and the world. At first glance, the call seems unbelievable. To understand Luther's reminder, we need to take a closer look at the context. Luther does not designate sinners ...
Pond or river?
As a child, I spent some time with my cousins on Grandma's farm. We went down to the pond and looked for something exciting. What did we have there for fun, we caught frogs, waded in the mud and discovered some slimy inhabitants. The adults were not surprised when we came home smeared with natural grime, unlike what we had left. Ponds are often places full of mud, algae, small critters and ...
Breathing the air
A few years ago, an improvisational comedian who was famous for his witty remarks turned 91. Date of birth. The event brought all of his friends and relatives together and was well attended by news reporters. During an interview at the party, the predictable and most important question for him was: "To whom or what do you attribute your long life to?" Without hesitation, the comedian replied: "Breathing!" Who can disagree? We could ...
It's not fair
It's not fair!" – If we paid a fee every time we heard someone say this or say it ourselves, we would probably get rich. Justice has been a rare commodity since the beginning of human history. As early as kindergarten, most of us had the painful experience that life is not always fair. So, no matter how much we resent it, we adapt, deceived, lied to, cheated on...
Christ our Passover lamb
"For our Passover lamb was slaughtered for us: Christ" (1. Cor. 5,7). We do not want to pass by nor overlook the great event that occurred in Egypt nearly 4000 years ago when God set Israel free from slavery. Ten plagues in 2. Moses, were necessary to shake Pharaoh in his stubbornness, arrogance and in his haughty resistance to God. The Passover was the final and definitive plague ...
History of Jeremy
Jeremy was born with a disfigured body, a slow mind, and a chronic, incurable disease that had slowly killed his entire young life. Nevertheless, his parents had tried to give him a normal life as far as possible and therefore sent him to a private school. At the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade. His teacher, Doris Miller, was often desperate with him. He slipped on his ...
Confession of an anonymous legalist
"Hello, my name is Tammy and I am a legalist. Ten minutes ago, I condemned someone in my mind. "I would probably think so in a meeting of the" Anonymous Legalists "(AL). I would go on and describe how I started with little things; thinking I was special because I held the Mosaic Law. How then I started to look down on people who did not believe the same as ...
God also loves atheists
Every time it comes to discussions about the question of faith, I wonder why it seems that believers feel at a disadvantage. The believers apparently assume that the atheists have somehow gained the proof, unless the faithful manage to refute it. The fact is, on the other hand, atheists are unable to prove that God does not exist. Just because believers do not convince atheists of the existence of God ...
A better way
My daughter recently asked me, "Mum, is there really more than a way to skin a cat"? I laughed. She knew what the saying meant, but she really had a real question about this poor cat. There is usually more than one way to do something. When it comes to doing difficult things, we Americans believe in "good old American genius." Then we have the stereotype: "Not is the mother of ...
Where does Jesus live?
We worship a resurrected Redeemer. That means that Jesus lives. But where does he live? Does he have a house? Maybe he lives down the street - as the volunteer in the homeless shelter. Maybe he lives in the big house on the corner with foster children. Maybe he also lives in your house - as the one who mowed the neighbor's lawn when he was sick. Jesus could even wear your clothes as you did when you ...
Gardens and deserts
“But there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and a new tomb in the garden, in which no one had ever been laid” John 19: 41. Many of the defining moments in Biblical history took place in locations that seem to reflect the nature of the events. The first such moment took place in a beautiful garden where God had placed Adam and Eve. Of course, the Garden of Eden was something special because it was God's ...
Who is Nicodemus?
During his earthly life, Jesus attracted the attention of many important people. One of the most remembered people was Nicodemus. He was a member of the High Council, a group of leading scholars who had Jesus crucified with the participation of the Romans. Nicodemus had a very different relationship with our Savior-a relationship that completely changed him. When he met Jesus for the first time, he insisted ...
God in a box
Did you ever think that you understood everything and realized later that you had no idea? How many try-it-yourself projects follow the old adage If everything else does not work, read the instructions? I even had trouble after reading the instructions. Sometimes I read each step carefully, execute it the way I understand it and start all over again because I'm not sure ...
Written on his hand
"I kept taking him in my arms. But the people of Israel did not realize that all the good things that happened to them came from me "(Hosea 11: 3 HFA). As I rummaged in my toolbox, I came across an old cigarette pack, probably from the 60 years. It had been cut open so that the largest possible area was created. On it were a drawing of a three-point plug and a manual how to wire it. Who…
I'll be back and stay forever!
“It is true that I am going and preparing a place for you, but it is also true that I will come again and take you to me so that you too may be where I am (John 14,3). Have you ever had a deep longing for something that was about to happen? All Christians, even those in the first century, longed for Christ to return, but in those days and ages they expressed it in a simple Aramaic prayer: "Maranatha," which means to ...
A lesson from the laundry
Washing clothes is one of the things that you know you need to do, unless you can get someone else to do it for you! The clothes have to be sorted - dark colors separated from the white and lighter ones. Some garments need to be washed with a gentle program and a special detergent. It is possible to learn this the hard way I experienced it in college. I put my new ...
Why does not God answer my prayer?
"Why does not God hear my prayer?", There must be a good reason for that, I always tell myself. Maybe I did not pray according to his will, which is a biblical requirement for answered prayers. Maybe I still have sins in my life that I have not regretted. I know that my prayers are likely to be answered sooner if I remain constantly in Christ and in His word. Maybe it's a doubt of faith. While praying happens ...
Does God still love you?
Do you know that many Christians live every day and are not sure that God still loves them? They are worried that God might reject them, and worse, that he has already rejected them. Maybe you are the same scared. Why do you think Christians are so worried? The answer is simply that they are honest with themselves. They know that they are sinners. They are aware of their failure, their ...
What God reveals affects us all
It is actually pure grace that you are saved. There is nothing you can do for yourself except to trust what God gives you. You did not deserve it by doing anything; for God does not want anyone to be able to refer to his own achievements before him (Ephesians 2,8–9GN). How wonderful when we Christians come to understand grace! This understanding takes away the pressure and stress we often put on ourselves. It makes us...
The descendants of Abraham
The church is his body, and he lives in it with all his fullness. He who fills everything and everyone with his presence (Ephesians 1: 23). Also in the last year, we have remembered those who paid the highest sacrifice in the war to ensure our survival as a nation. Remembering is good. In fact, it seems to be one of God's favorite words because it uses it more often. He constantly reminds us to be aware of our root and ...
Answering machine
When I started taking a cure for mild skin disease, I was told that three out of ten patients did not respond to the drug. I never thought that medication could be taken in vain and hoped to be one of the lucky seven. I would have preferred the doctor never to explain it to me because it bothered me that I could waste my time and money and I had unpleasant side effects ...
God's gift to us
For many people, the New Year is a time to leave old problems and fears behind and make a bold new start in life. We want to move forward in our lives, but mistakes, sins, and trials seem to have chained us to the past. It is my earnest hope and prayer that you will begin this year with the full assurance of faith that God has forgiven you and made you his beloved child.…
All people are included
Jesus has risen! We can well understand the excitement of the assembled disciples of Jesus and the believers. He is risen! Death could not hold him; the grave had to release him. More than 2000 years later, we still greet each other with these enthusiastic words on Easter morning. "Jesus is risen indeed!" Jesus' resurrection sparked a movement that continues to this day - it began with a few dozen Jewish men and women who…
Anticipation and anticipation
I will never forget the answer that my wife Susan gave when I told her that I love her very much and that she could imagine marrying me. She said yes, but she would have to ask her father's permission first. Fortunately, her father agreed with our decision. The anticipation is an emotion. She waits longingly for a future, positive event. We also waited with joy for our wedding day and for the time ...
Travel: unforgettable meals
Many people who travel usually remember famous landmarks as highlights of their trip. You take photos, make photo albums or have them made. They tell their friends and relatives stories about what they have seen and experienced. My son is different. For him, the high points of the trips are the meals. He can precisely describe every course of every dinner. He really enjoys every fine meal. You can…
Is there an eternal punishment?
Have you ever had reason to punish a disobedient kid? Have you ever stated that the punishment would never end? I have some questions for all of us who have children. Here comes the first question: Was your child disobedient to you? Well, take some time to think if you are not sure. Okay, if you answered yes like all other parents, we come to the second question: ...
Jesus was not alone
A disruptive teacher was murdered on a cross on a rotten hill outside Jerusalem. He wasn't alone. He wasn't the only troublemaker in Jerusalem that spring day. “I was crucified with Christ,” wrote the apostle Paul (Gal 2,20), but Paul wasn't the only one. “You died with Christ” he said to other Christians (Col. 2,20). “We are buried with him” he wrote to the Romans (Rom 6,4). What's going on here…
Think of Jesus with joy
Jesus said to remember Him every time we come to the Lord's table. In earlier years, the sacrament was a quiet, serious occasion for me. I had an uneasy feeling talking to other people before or after the ceremony because I was striving to maintain the solemnity. Although we remember Jesus, who died shortly after sharing a last supper with his friends, this occasion should not be treated like a…
He took care of her
Most of us have been reading the Bible for a long time, often for many years. It feels good to read the familiar verses and wrap themselves in them as if they were a warm blanket. It may happen that our familiarity causes us to overlook things. When we read them with alert eyes and from a new angle, the Holy Ghost can help us recognize more and possibly also remember things that we forget ...
With a new heart into the new year!
John Bell had the opportunity to do something that most of us would hopefully never be able to do: holding his own heart in his hands. Two years ago, he underwent a heart transplant that was successful. Thanks to the heart-to-heart program at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, he was now able to hold his heart in his hands that had kept him alive for 70 years before it had to be replaced.
Identity in Christ
Most who are over 50 years old will remember Nikita Khrushchev. He was a colorful, stormy character who, as a leader of the former Soviet Union, slammed his shoe on the lectern when speaking to the United Nations General Assembly. He was also known for his explanation that the first man in space, the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, "flew into space, but saw no god there." As for Gagarin himself, ...
Better than ants
Have you ever been in a huge crowd where you felt small and insignificant? Or did you sit in a plane and notice that the people on the ground were small like vermin? Sometimes I think that in God's eyes we look like locusts leaping around in the dirt. In Isaiah 40,22-24, God says: He sits enthroned above the earth's circle, and those who dwell on it are like locusts; he spans the sky like ...
God the potter
Recall when God brought Jeremiah's attention to the potter's disk (Jer. 1 Dec.8,2-6)? God used the image of the potter and the clay to teach us a powerful lesson. Similar messages using the image of the potter and the clay are found in Isaiah 45,9 and 64,7 as well as in Romans 9,20-21. One of my favorite cups, which I often use for tea in the office, has a picture of my family on it. While I'm watching her ...
Why pray, when God knows everything?
"When praying you should not string together empty words like the heathen who do not know God. They think they will be heard if they say many words. Do not do it like them, because your father knows what you need, and he does before you ask him "(Mt 6,7-8 NGÜ). Someone once asked: "Why should I pray to God when He knows everything?" Jesus made the above statement as an introduction to the Lord's Prayer. God knows everything. His spirit is everywhere. ...
Jesus said, I am the truth
Have you ever had to describe someone you know and had trouble finding the right words? It has already happened to me and I know that others did as well. We all have friends or acquaintances whose description is difficult to put into words. Jesus had no problems with that. He was always clear, even when it came to answering the question "Who are you?". I especially like a job, where he works in ...
Bear good fruit
Christ is the vine, we are the branches! Grapes have been harvested to make wine for thousands of years. This is an elaborate process because it requires an experienced cellar master, good soil and perfect timing. The vineyard pruners and cleans the vines and observes the ripening of the grapes to determine the exact time of harvest. There is hard work behind it, but if everything fits together, it was the ...
The difficult way
"Because he himself said:" I certainly do not want to pull my hand from you and certainly do not want to leave you "(Heb 13, 5 ZUB). What do we do if we cannot see our way? It is probably not possible to go through life without the worries and problems that life brings with it. Sometimes these are hard to bear. Life, it seems, is temporarily unjust. Why is that so? We would like to know that. Much unforeseeable ...
To fulfill the law
“It is actually pure grace that you are saved. There is nothing you can do for yourself except to trust what God gives you. You did not deserve it by doing anything; for God does not want anyone to be able to refer to his own achievements before him ”(Ephesians 2,8-9 GN). Paul wrote: «Love does no harm to one's neighbor; so love is the fulfillment of the law ”(Rom. 13,10 Zurich Bible). It is interesting that we from ...
Overcome: Nothing can hinder God's love
Have you felt the gentle pulsing of an obstacle in your life and have you therefore been restricted, held back or slowed down in your project? I have often recognized myself as a prisoner of the weather when unpredictable weather thwarts my departure for a new adventure. Urban journeys become mazes through the web of roadworks. Some may be put off by the presence of a spider in the bathroom from otherwise…