Sunday Mornings

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, I and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. (Acts 27:1) While sailing through the waters towards Italy, Julius always seemed to show interest in me at every port. He was shocked as to why I was smiling and happy on my way to trial. He once asked me one day while he brought my food to my cabin he said: "Paul, why do you do these things with so much joy? What pleases you to be a witness to all these things you say?" I was happy hearing that question, I sat him down intending to pour him through my story. "Julius I will start from the beginning." "Alright Paul, I have the time", Julius said, with glee. So, began I to tell my story, "As a member of the Sanhedrin, I hated the followers of Christ I even approved the tragic death of the first believer at the point of persecution. I watched over the coats of the men who stoned Steph...

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. (Matt 18:11) My name is Levi; well known as Matthew and I lived in the region of Galilee which was predominantly rural, consisting of small towns and villages. Galileans are not an elite class of people; they were common folks mostly farmers and fishermen. Unfortunately, I held one of the most despised positions in all of Israel, I was a tax collector also called a Publican. Tax collectors were hated by all Jewish society and were even more despised than the Roman Soldiers who occupied Israel at the time. Tax collectors were disdained by the Jews, and considered traitors because they worked for the despised Roman Rulers, they were despised social outcasts. In fact, a certain Jewish Talmud taught that it was righteous to lie and deceive a tax collector because that was what a professional extortioner deserved. Publicans were men who bought tax franchises from the Roman Emperor and then extorted money from the people of Israel, thi...

“It is sad to hear that Paul was apprehended in the temple by a mob”, James said to his young friend Nathan as they walked the dusty road to Jericho. He continued: “It was just last week I met him with the other elders. We expressed gratitude for all that the LORD had done through his hand among the Gentiles. We didn’t fail to give him advice on how to conduct himself among the Jews, a piece of advice which he kept to. Yet, he found himself in the hands of the mob (Acts 21:17-30). Ever since the LORD appointed him as an apostle to the Gentiles, he has faced trouble at the hands of the Jews. It is such a marvel how God could draw a man who was a threat to my own life and turn him over to himself in such a way that he willingly suffers and lays his life down for him. It is such a display of grace that can be found nowhere else. My own story is a bit similar, though not as spectacular. Being a half-brother of the LORD was an experience that had its mark on me. Rumour had it that Mary t...

"Mine has not been a hitch-free journey; but in the end, I believe my journey is summarised thus - kept by the power of God ", Peter said as he took his seat under the fig tree. The young Jews from the growing followers of Jesus had been looking forward to hearing Peter's story, but he was away to Samaria with a letter from the Apostles in Jerusalem to encourage the Church there. Andrew had promised them that Peter would be back in time for the Shevuot (Feast of Weeks). Today was the last day of the feast, and true to his promise, Andrew asked Peter to spare some time to talk to the youths. "How am I able to be used by God? What is so special about me? What is the secret of my success?" Peter continued, "I will tell you the story of my life to answer that question. My life began (though I had already lived over four decades) on this fateful morning. I remember it every day like it was yesterday. Why would I not? The place was already bustling with activity ...

  "...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ as I welcome you to another monthly theme on the blog. Amen. Over the course of October, we will be studying the theme: The Witnesses . Witnessing stands out as the core mission of every believer in Christ. We see it in the last words of our LORD to His disciples before He ascended. Today, this is known as the great commission (famously quoted from Matt 28:19-20). Since this is so important to our status as believers, by the grace of God this month will be used to equip us with victuals for this task. Amen. John, the cousin of Jesus was the first witness of the Messiah. This is how he was introduced in John 1: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not the Light but came to bear witnes...