ojaysjoel blog

Scripture focus:   "Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 1:3 KJV  Reflection: Throughout history, God has never stopped reaching out to humanity. In the Old Testament, through the prophet Zechariah, God issued a tender yet urgent plea: "Turn ye unto me... and I will turn unto you." Centuries later, in the New Testament, we hear that exact same loving invitation echoing from the lips of our Savior. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus extends His arms wide to all of us: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This is the ultimate demonstration of God’s boundless love—not just for a select few, but for all of mankind. God knows that the heart of man can stray, and that we are easily weighed down by the trials and temptations of this world. Yet, because He does not want a single soul to perish, He continua...

Habakkuk 2:1  I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Reflection: ​ In the quiet solitude of a watchtower, a guard stands alert against the dark, scanning the horizon for the slightest movement. Habakkuk 2:1 captures this same posture of spiritual readiness: "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me..." The prophet was surrounded by turmoil, injustice, and unanswered questions, yet his response was not to retreat in despair or wander in confusion. Instead, he intentionally positioned himself in a place of focused stillness, waiting patiently for God to speak. ​Living in a fast-paced and noisy world, it is easy to let the clamor of life drown out the gentle voice of God. We often seek immediate answers, forgetting that hearing from the Lord requires an intentional heart. To "keep watch" means ste...

Scripture focus:  "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15 KJV. Reflection: While in secondary school, students were often assigned to different classes according to their performance in examinations. The brightest students were placed in Class A, others in Class B, while arts students might be placed in Classes C or D. Likewise, God has separated humanity into two eternal destinies. There are those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and live in obedience to His Word. Their names are written in the Book of Life , and they will inherit eternal life in Paradise. Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."   John 14:6, therefore come to Jesus today because tomorrow is not guaranteed. The Bible also tells us:  "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book o...

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14 (KJV) Reflection: A student is assessed throughout each semester based on class attendance, participation, assignments, and tests. According to the school's regulations, such a student may receive favourable evaluations for diligence and performance. However, at the end of the semester, final examinations are conducted, and every student must attain the required standard. The class tests, examination results, and attendance records are then considered together before a final judgment is made as to whether the student passes or fails. No student can pass solely on class tests or examinations; both are necessary for a successful outcome. In a similar way, we as human beings are like students in God's classroom. Our daily lives, conduct, words, thoughts, and actions constitute our coursework. Our faith, submission to Christ's authority, and...

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Ecclesiastes 12:1 Youth is a precious season of life, filled with strength, opportunities, and dreams. Sadly, many young people spend these valuable years pursuing their own desires while postponing their relationship with God. Yet the Scriptures remind us to remember our Creator while we are young and to dedicate our lives to Him before the challenges and limitations of old age arrive. I once met a teenager who confidently said that he planned to make ritual money while he was young. According to him, he would enjoy the pleasures and wealth of this world and then, at the age of sixty, give his life to Christ and ask for forgiveness. What a dangerous assumption! No one knows the length of his days. What if death should come before that age? What if he never gets the opportunity he is counting on? He would have wasted ...

Text: “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.” 2 Samuel 14:14 (KJV) Devotional Message: The wise woman of Tekoa used a powerful illustration when she said that human beings are “as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again.” Once water is poured onto the earth, it quickly disappears and cannot be recovered. In the same way, every human life on earth is temporary. Whether rich or poor, young or old, educated or uneducated, we all have an appointment with death. The Scriptures confirm this solemn truth:“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 No one knows the day or the hour of his departure from this world. Many make plans for tomorrow, next year, or even decades ahead, but life itself is a gift that can cease at any moment. The Psalmist prayed: “So teach us t...