Silent Time

The law and the grace. What is “The Law”? What is “The Grace”?

The golden art. Wow. Hardly any material has been fascinating so many people over so many centuries. Even more if it is put into fine art. Even more amazing than the finest art created by skillful artists is to understand the good news of incarnation, to recognize the significance that on our behalf Jesus was tormented in order to redeem us. Us, who do not deserve his grace. The son of God suffere...

To whom or to what do you open the gates of your heart? Often we fill our lives with matters, that hinder real joy to come in. There are so many tasks and duties, worries and troubles, anger, pleasure and leisure, that often we are too busy to think on the important things in life. When we welcome the Holy Spirit of the eternal, sovereign God into our heart in faith, then the grace of the Lord wil...

Is your life at times dry like the sand in the desert? Drinking water in the desert – precious and valuable. How can we find it for our life? Flows of living water can be found in Jesus: the Holy Spirit.

Who is ready for the final day?

If we pray, then we easily pray for our own needs in life. But there are also other elements of prayer such as to give thanks to the Lord, to praise him in his glory, to ask God for his guidance, to listen to his word, to humbly request forgiveness, as well as to pray for others, to intercede for them, for their current specific needs in life as well as for their salvation.

Do you know such situations? You may have to correct someone who has been going on a wrong path. Especially parents might at times need to correct their children. Or good friends may – with the best intentions – if necessary correct their friend who has chosen an evil path. It is not easy, but important is to be aware of the good purpose. Also God in his caring love needs to correct us at times. I...

Is there peace in your place? In your place of living? In your family? In your place of work? Even nowadays in our modern world, we can learn from what God told via the prophet Haggai.

Who has the biggest influence? We might think of rulers, presidents, parliaments, political parties. Or we might think of the leaders of organisations and companies. Or we might think of the richest persons and their influence. It is amazing how much impact some have. Yet the final saying remains with the almighty eternal God, the sovereign Lord.

Do you seek to learn more about the good news of God? Same as for many other topics, it is good to continue to learn, as well as to share knowledge with others.

If you think of a typical day in your life – do you wish others more good or mainly bad? By our human nature we easily compare ourselves to others, often without noticing it, we want others to be worse off. But in the end everybody is better off, if we wish good rather than bad to others.

Nations may go to war, but what happens amongst the population? It may result in a lot of injustice, crime, suffering. God calls us to peace, not only on the level of nations and the absence of war, but the Lord also offers peace deep down in the heart.

What distinguishes a real living human from a humanoid looking robot? The shape and appearance may at first look similar. Yet the inside makes the difference. What distinguishes a real living Christian from one without a relationship with Jesus? They may look similar at first on the outside, both might attend church. Yet the inside makes the difference.

It is easy to criticise authorities. Both distant authorities in high politics, as well as those closer to us such as parents, teachers, superiors. Under which conditions shall we obey them? Are there conditions under which we shall oppose to the authorities?

The first love of a couple is a wonderful source of energy, it does not get insulted, does not get tired, does not demand things for oneself, instead doing things for the other person, being thankful to the other person. In the same way the first love to Jesus is a wonderful source of energy. It is based on the thankfulness for what the Saviour has done for us. Let’s remember the great deeds of th...

“Fellowship” may sound outdated and not so attractive. Yet the fire is burning best if there are several pieces of wood close to each other. One piece separated to be alone might soon extinguish.

What do you do to seek the truth? The Ethiopian official was really seeking for the truth and therefore he took upon himself the long journey. Amazing things happened as God prompted Philip to go exactly at the right time at the right place to explain the good news to the Ethiopian official on his way back. To those who seek God, the Lord gives insight and joy.

Do you focus on the worries, burdens and challenges? Or do you focus on the power of Jesus?

The public opinion often goes that those are most clever, who have the biggest successes, who have accomplished the most, e.g. those that have reached high leadership positions, or possessions or collected trophies and medals. But is that really what counts? What is true wisdom?

People are different and have conflicting opinions. But often those who have common goals and share the same vision, they get along well with each other.

In which areas of life would you like to grow and learn more? It is good to learn more things in life, to grow and advance, to increase in knowledge etc. And yet - in order to become authentic - compared to God it is required for us humans to decrease in a sense of getting the right humble attitude towards the almighty eternal Lord. We can learn that from John the baptist.

It is challenging at first and seems to be tough, yet it is a good thing: the Lord corrects those he loves as parents correct a child whom they love.

Many people have learned and grown in times of trouble. Among other things we can learn to look up and to focus on what really counts.

Did you ever have to go through a demotion? It is not nice. Supposed you have climbed up the career ladder, but suddenly you get replaced by someone else and need to accept a much lower ranking position.

Though he falls – he will not be overwhelmed. David himself had experienced that, he had fallen into various kinds of big trouble, yet he stayed close with the Lord and thus got up again.