This Week With Jesus

  The two major villains of Christianity are Lucifer and Judas. We imagine their sin and shudder, never imagining we could act like them.  But, within each of us, a complex and often contradictory landscape of loyalties and betrayals does exist. This internal conflict is what we might call "the Judas in you." This isn't about committing a grand, historical betrayal, but rather about the subtle, everyday moments where we turn against our own values, our truest selves, or those we claim to love. It's the part of us that whispers for the easy way out, even if it means compromising our integrity. A part that indulges in hate, criticism, gossip, slander, lies, compromising integrity at work or at home, backbiting, and the list goes on. The Judas in us manifests in various ways. It's the voice that convinces us to stay silent when we should speak up for what is right, prioritizing our comfort over justice. It's the impulse to gossip about a friend to feel more inc...

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) ​Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. "I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become." ​These words are a powerful reminder that our past does not define our future. Life throws curveballs—illness, injury, and misfortune—that can make us stray from the path we know we should be on. Our memories of the straight and narrow can become blurred, and the voices we listen to may lead us in directions we never intended to go. In these moments, we can begin to forget who we are in Christ. ​But God never forgets us. Even when our own memories fail or our sense of self is stolen by hardship, God's love remains. We may feel lost and disconnected, but we are always seen and known by our Creator. We may feel He has let us down, but He is still with us, working for our good.  ​Often, our own desire for control and our limited imagination hold u...

Psalm 125 ver 1 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Man by nature is associated with careful consideration, prudent planning, and a sensible approach. Recklessness is irresponsible. But when it comes to trusting God, we'll, a reckless faith is what God wants! Complete and total dependence on Him alone. That does not mean a person needing medicines should not take them. But what about "reckless faith"? It sounds almost irresponsible, doesn't it? Yet, when we look at the lives of many biblical heroes, we see a striking pattern of audacious, seemingly reckless trust in God. Consider Abraham, who left everything familiar to go to a land he'd never seen, simply because God told him to. Or Moses, confronting the most powerful ruler of his time with nothing but a staff and God's promise. Think of David, a young shepherd boy, facing a giant with just a sling and five smooth stones. These ...

Expanding further on the concept of a trouble filled world and Gods hedge of protection, A core tension in Christian faith is acknowledging a fallen, broken world while still believing in a God who is both powerful and loving. That is quite a dichotomy. ​The answer lies in understanding the difference between God guaranteeing a trouble-free life and Him providing a hedge of protection within a troubled world. ​Praying for a "hedge of protection" is a powerful act of faith that is rooted in several key theological concepts: ​1. Acknowledging God's Sovereignty and Power ​The phrase "hedge of protection" comes directly from the book of Job. In Job 1:10, Satan complains to God about Job, saying, "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?" ​This passage teaches us that God's protection is not a passive force; it is an active, deliberate, and sovereign act. When we pray for a hedge of protection, we are not demanding th...

                                           Many people, including Christians, often ask - "when God loves us why does He allow bad things to happen to us? Why is there so much suffering, death and disaster in the world, affecting mostly everyone?" The answer lies in the fall of Adam and Eve, a fact we gloss over as a story in Sunday school but is in fact the very foundation of our lives today. It highlights the seriousness of thier act of disobedience and rebellion. It all comes down to choices - what we choose to do as opposed to what God would like us to do. Christianity teaches that God created humanity with free will—the genuine ability to choose between good and evil. This freedom is considered a necessary component for true love and a meaningful relationship with God. However, with the gift of free will comes the possibility of choosing sin, which introduced evil, pain, an...

 

Words hold immense power. They can build up or tear down, comfort or hurt, heal or harm. In Mark 11:21, we see the power of Jesus's words when He cursed the fig tree and it withered away. Similarly in our daily lives, the words we speak to ourselves and others hold the power to shape our reality. We must be mindful of the words we use and the impact they have on others. Its easy to cover our "rude" words by terms like, "I call a spade a spade" or "I say it like it is"; by all means speak the truth but the truth can also be spoken gently, mindfully, empathetically. Its also easy to get caught up in negative self talk or gossip about others, but this brings only negativity into our lives. Instead, let us choose to speak words of encouragement, love and positivity. For example, instead of saying - "Don't lie" to someone, we can say - "it may be better to tell the truth". Small change, same meaning but positive words. Let us lift ot...