ojaysjoel blog

Scripture focus:   “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.” Luke 15:17–18 KJV  Devotion: This moment in the parable of the prodigal son is not just about a wayward child—it is about every sinner who finally awakens to the emptiness of life apart from God. The young man had squandered his inheritance, tasted the bitterness of sin, and found himself starving in a foreign land. Yet when he “came to himself,” he realized that the mercy of his father was greater than the misery of his rebellion. That realization is the beginning of repentance. The Call to Return:  God is portrayed as the loving Father who waits with open arms. The prodigal’s decision—“I will arise and go to my father”—is the same decision every sinner must make. No matter how far one has wandered, the...

"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Psalm 101:2" Devotion : The psalmist made a personal commitment to the Lord. What was this personal commitment? He said he would be wise in his behavior and conduct himself in a perfect way. He also went further to say that he would work on his heart and make sure that his heart was perfect. He was doing all these so that God would find him to be a useful vessel to fellowship with.   Dear beloved, make this month your month of personal commitment to the Lord. During this month and beyond, you are going to prepare your heart by ridding your heart and thoughts of all sins and wickedness. Think about the good of humanity and the welfare of your nation. When your heart and thoughts are good, your conduct will be good because what you think about is what you are compelled to do.   God hates sin, and you must also hate it so that God can fellowship with yo...

Scripture focus: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Room. 5:8 KJV. Devotion: Valentine’s Day often stirs questions among Christians: is it merely a secular celebration of romance, or can it be embraced as a reminder of God’s love? While its historical roots are debated—some link it to Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr, while others see it as a rebranded pagan festival—the essence of the day can be reframed through Scripture.     The Bible teaches that love is not limited to romantic affection but is the very foundation of Christian living. Paul writes: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). This verse reminds us that love is central to our faith, surpassing even hope and faith in importance.     Jesus Himself commanded: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Valentine’s Day, th...

Scripture focus: Ephesians 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: KJV  Criticism can wound, but when offered in love it becomes a gift. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Jesus showed this balance when He rebuked Peter for resisting God’s plan (Matthew 16:23), yet later restored him tenderly (John 21:15–17). Paul also corrected Peter’s hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11–14), but always reminded believers that his words came from a father’s heart (1 Corinthians 4:14).      Nathan’s confrontation of David (2 Samuel 12) shows how loving correction leads to repentance and restoration. Criticism without love tears down, but with love it builds up. As Ephesians 4:15 urges, we must “speak the truth in love.”     To criticize with love is to guard our tone, intent, and timing, seeking not condemnation but growth. Colossians 4:6 reminds us: “Let your speech always b...

Scripture focus: "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." — Joshua 1:9 Devotion: Joshua faced the daunting task of leading Israel after Moses’ death. Fear and discouragement weighed heavily on him, but God reminded him that His presence was enough.   "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." — Isaiah 41:10     Beloved, God has not given up on you. He is not tired of your struggles, your prayers, or your journey. Just as He strengthened Joshua, He will strengthen you.   "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." — Philippians 1:6     Joshua eventually embraced God’s encouragement, acted on His W...

Scripture focus:  .... the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41b KJV. Often, the heart desires to do what is noble and right, yet the body resists. Jesus Himself warned, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Many times, we resolve in our hearts to follow Christ, but temptation and distraction pull us away.   For example, someone may hear the gospel and decide to surrender to Christ. Yet before they can pray, sin presents itself—lust, pride, or worldly pleasure—and the moment passes. Paul described this inner conflict clearly: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). The Battle of the Flesh:  When I served as chapter president of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, I saw this struggle firsthand. Friends would attend outreach meetings, joyfully accept Christ, and even commit to fellowship. But after a few visits, they drifted away. Why? Because...