ojaysjoel blog

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...

Scripture: "But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." — Matthew 5:37 (NKJV) "For with God nothing will be impossible." — Luke 1:37 (NKJV) Reflection In a world that constantly encourages compromise, standing for the truth is rarely comfortable. Saying a firm, uncompromised "No" to dishonesty, injustice, or pressure can sometimes bring immediate hardship. It might invite opposition, misunderstanding, or friction with those who prefer convenience over conviction. When your integrity is tested, the temptation to bend—to turn a "No" into a hesitant "Maybe"—can feel overwhelming. Yet, Jesus calls His followers to an unyielding standard of absolute honesty and dependability. Standing firm on divine truth may bring temporary troubles, but you do not stand alone. When you align your heart with God's righteousness, His presence becomes your anchor. The pressure to compromise...

“ Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit ” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). We often celebrate beginnings. A new season, a fresh opportunity, a long-awaited answer to prayer can fill our hearts with excitement and expectation. Yet Solomon reminds us that God places great value not merely on how something starts, but on how it ends. Many journeys begin with enthusiasm, but it takes patience, humility, and steadfast faith to reach the finish line well. Patience is the quiet strength that trusts God even when the path is long and the outcome is unseen. The patient spirit refuses to give up when progress seems slow. As James encourages believers, “ Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing ” (James 1:4). Through waiting, God shapes our character and deepens our dependence on Him. In contrast, pride often demands immediate results and seeks recognition. A proud heart relies on ...

Scripture focus: Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Ecclesiastes 7:7  KJV  Devotion: Life can test even the strongest believer. When we witness injustice or become victims of oppression, our hearts can become overwhelmed with anger, frustration, and discouragement. Ecclesiastes 7:7 reminds us, “Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart” (KJV). This verse reveals two dangers that can derail a person from walking in wisdom: the bitterness caused by oppression and the corruption caused by dishonest gain. Oppression has a way of stirring deep emotions. A wise person who repeatedly experiences unfair treatment or sees others suffer may become angry and tempted to question God's justice. Yet Scripture encourages us not to allow anger to control us. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). While God understands our pain, He calls us to trust Him as the righteous Judge...