Easter is the feast of the Resurrection. Although everything seemed to have come to a bitter end after Christ’s death on the cross and His subsequent entombment, Easter morning brought a great turn in the tide. The message: “The Lord is risen... more ...

Jesus once said that a kingdom divided against itself will fall apart (cf. Matthew 12: 25). History proves this. How many kingdoms and countries have not fallen apart already because no consensus could be reached on key issues? Marriages have fallen... more ...

Overcoming is a major theme in Revelation. In the letters to the seven churches, great promises are given to those who overcome. They are crowned by the assurance: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My... more ...

The year 2011 lies ahead of us. Let us have confidence in God throughout this New Year and continue to strive to be worthy for the return of His Son. I would like to issue a special motto for the New Year: “Let us do good works!” In this context I... more ...

Throughout the season of Advent and Christmas I often hear people say: “I can hardly believe that it is almost Christmas! I’m not even in a Christmas mood yet.” This has to do with the fact that we all have to go about our daily work and do not have... more ...

The Gospel of Matthew describes how the Lord Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him. The brothers James and John were at work. They were in a boat, mending nets with their father. Then Jesus came up to them and called upon them to follow Him... more ...

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord” – many psalms begin with these words (e.g. Psalms 106, 107). Giving thanks to the Lord is also the focus of our divine service celebrations during this time of year as we approach Thanksgiving. The psalmist in our... more ...

Already in the Old Testament the Lord promised to make a covenant through Jeremiah. He also described this covenant in greater detail, saying: “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts.” Then He gave the promise: “… and I will... more ...

Nearly every religious denomination has a creed. A creed has various functions. On the one hand it is an expression of the fellowship that has been created by a particular system of belief. Beyond that, it summar­ises fundamental tenets of a... more ...

Perfection. This word sounds a little frightening. And the term implies a high standard indeed: we are to come to perfection and worthiness (cf. Matthew 5: 48). We are to overcome and be prepared for the moment of Christ’s return. When we then think... more ...

In His farewell discourses Jesus spoke about the reason for His coming to earth. He had come so that those who believe in Him “may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (cf. John 10: 10). Already the prophet Jeremiah in His time... more ...

The Lord wanted to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt through Moses. The Hebrews suffered greatly there. Exploited by the Pharaoh, they were forced to work in the fields, manufacture clay bricks, and build cities and grain reserves for the... more ...