ojaysjoel blog

Scripture focus:  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. ( Mark 16:6 KJV) Devotion: Jesus Christ came into the world, lived among men, and gave His life on the cross. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). But death could not hold Him, for “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). His resurrection became the turning point of history, for without it the gospel would have remained confined to Nazareth. Instead, after His ascension, the disciples were scattered, and “they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20).     Jesus Himself explained this mystery: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 1...

Scripture focus:    “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1) Devotion: On Good Friday, Christians all over the world remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He willingly endured suffering and death on the cross so that those who believe in Him might be saved from eternal damnation. His sacrifice was not partial, but total—an act of complete obedience to the will of God.     The Bible calls us to follow this example by becoming “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). This means living in total obedience to God’s Word, setting aside the desires of the flesh, and choosing to do only what pleases Him. Unfortunately, many Christians today are reluctant to embrace this call. Instead of surren...

Scripture focus:   “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” — Matthew 5:45 (NIV)   “He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside.” — Job 5:10 (NIV) Devotion: When the rains arrive, they remind us of the boundless love of God. Scripture tells us that “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Rain is not selective; it falls on all people, replenishing the earth, nourishing crops, refreshing animals, and bringing comfort to humanity. This is a picture of God’s unusual goodness — He blesses even those who do not acknowledge Him, because His mercy is greater than our failings.   The rain teaches us a lesson about how we should treat others. If God can extend kindness to both the good and the evil, then we too must learn to be considerate in our dealings with people, regardless of who they are. Judgment ...

In John 6:11, we see Jesus take the five loaves and two fish, and before distributing them, He gave thanks. This moment is powerful because it shows us that gratitude comes before the miracle. Jesus did not focus on the insufficiency of the food; instead, He acknowledged God as the source and trusted Him to provide. By giving thanks, He demonstrated faith that God could turn little into much. This example challenges us in our own lives. When faced with situations that seem impossible, do we grumble and complain, or do we pause to thank God? Often, our human instinct is to calculate, strategize, or even manipulate circumstances to make things work. But Jesus teaches us that thanksgiving is the key to unlocking divine provision. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Gratitude is not just a response to what God has already done; it is an act of faith in what ...

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Read verses 15-16 also.  The three verses read together is somehow difficult to understand, I am bringing it for your understanding because I watched a skit in which the character tried to say God was created by Egyptian god "Atum". Please read the explanation below - God was not created. The passage refers to Jesus (Amen) as the source of all creation. Jesus was not created. Revelation 3:14 is a solemn introduction to Christ’s message for the church in Laodicea. In this verse, He presents Himself with three powerful titles that frame the authority of His words. First, He is called the Amen, the one who embodies certainty and finality. What He declares is absolute truth, the ultimate confirmation of God’s promises. Second, He is the faithful and true witness, the one whose testimony about God and humanity ...

Scripture focus: Hebrews 13:5 .... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me”  People who were with you sometimes ago left without telling, no reason they just moved on but God is constant He never leaves. So attach your heart to Him. (Ayatollah Kameinei paraphrased) Devotion: When people walk away from our lives—sometimes without explanation, sometimes without warning—it can leave us feeling abandoned and uncertain. Yet Scripture reminds us that while human relationships may falter, God remains constant. He is the one presence that never shifts, never fades, and never leaves.     The writer of Hebrews assures us: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). This is not just a promise—it is the very character of God. He is faithful even when others are not. Deuteronomy 31:8 echoes this truth: “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he ...