ojaysjoel blog

Ephesians 4:14 – “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Devotion: When we were children, we needed to be fed regularly. We were taught the simplest things—how to wash our bodies, clean our clothes, and carry out basic chores. As we grew, we mastered those skills. We went to school, studied many subjects, and eventually specialized until we became competent in our chosen field.    In the Christian life it is the same. The day we surrender to Christ is our spiritual birthday. We begin as newborn babies in Him. Peter writes, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). At that stage we need patient teaching—Bible classes, the guidance of mature elders, and the steady diet of Scripture—so that we can grow into mature members of Christ’s body.    Yet some believers remai...

John 21:24   “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.” The final chapter of John’s Gospel closes with a quiet but weighty affirmation. After the miraculous catch of fish, the breakfast on the shore, and the threefold restoration of Peter, the writer steps forward and essentially says, “I was there. I saw it. And what I have written is true.” John 21 is not a polished theological treatise. It is an eyewitness account of ordinary men who had gone back to their boats, fishing through the night and catching nothing, until the risen Lord appeared on the shore and turned emptiness into abundance. It is the story of a charcoal fire, a probing question repeated three times—“Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?”—and a commission that both restored and redirected a broken disciple. It ends with Jesus speaking about the future of Peter and of “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” and then the simple claim: this tes...

Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. John 20:27 kjv Devotion: Doubt is something almost every believer faces. It can creep in quietly after disappointment, linger after unanswered prayers, or hit hard when circumstances feel overwhelming. Yet Scripture does not treat doubt as the end of the story. When Peter stepped out of the boat and began to sink, Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). The Lord did not abandon Peter in the waves. He held him. Thomas refused to believe the resurrection until he could see and touch. Jesus met him there too: “Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27). The risen Christ did not shame Thomas; He offered the evidence Thomas needed and still called him to faith. James reminds us that the one who doubts is “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the ...

Text: “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.” (Proverbs 16:33, KJV) Devotion: Life often feels like a series of uncertainties. We make plans, pursue opportunities, and make decisions, yet the final outcome frequently remains beyond our control. Proverbs 16:33 offers a comforting reminder that while we act, God ultimately directs the results. In biblical times, casting lots was a common way of settling matters when human wisdom could not determine the answer. To observers, the outcome appeared random, much like rolling dice or drawing straws today. Yet Scripture reveals that what seems accidental to man is never outside God's sovereign control. The lot may be cast by human hands, but the decision belongs to the Lord. This truth teaches us humility. We are responsible to pray, plan, work diligently, and act wisely, but we must never assume that our efforts alone determine success. God remains the final authority over every circumstance. ...

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  Proverbs 16:7 KJV  Many of us live near, work with, or share community spaces with people who are simply hard to get along with. No matter how carefully we try to please them, the tension remains. The harder we strive for their approval, the more elusive peace becomes. Scripture offers a different path. Peace with difficult people is not primarily won by managing their personalities; it is the fruit of a life that first pleases the Lord. When our ways align with His heart, God Himself can soften even those who once stood against us. How do we please God?   First, by surrendering our lives to Christ and walking in obedience to His Word. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Second, by allowing His love to flow through us toward others—including those we find difficult. The Bible declares, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Therefore, the children of God are ma...

Text: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” — Revelation 3:19 (NKJV) A loving parent corrects a child who is going astray. Rebuke, when given in love, is not meant to harm but to guide and restore. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). I once lived in a community where many parents rarely corrected their children and allowed them to do whatever they pleased. As time went on, school dropout rates increased, teenage pregnancy became widespread, alcoholism was common, and incidents of stealing and burglary occurred frequently. The perpetrators were often known, yet little was done to address the problem. Eventually, the government established a police station in the community, and offenders began to face the consequences of their actions. It was then that many parents realized the importance of discipline and started correcting their children more intentionally. This experien...