Devotional for friends // Devocional para as amigas

  Sea of Galilee As usual, I was listening to the Bible Project podcast, a series of teachings about the gospel according to Matthew. Really good. I can’t recommend it enough. It has been incredibly enlightening for me. Today, he was talking about when Jesus said the woes against those three cities (Corazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum). I have to admit that this passage was a little confusing to me, now I know why. Geography and History. I am starting to understand that when we don’t understand something in the Bible it is for pure ignorance about geography, history, and culture. Well, those three cities were next to each other and kind of looking up to a mountain. That mount was a place where the Zealots had their headquarters. Zealots were known for their rebellious ways, very violent, or as Tim Mackie said, they were following their natural instinct which was violence when you are oppressed, and Israel was being oppressed by the Romans for a few d...

  In Mark 10:21 Jesus is talking with a rich guy who thought being righteous. He indeed obeyed the Law and its commandments. Why then Jesus told the guy that he needed to sell everything he had, give to the poor and follow him? You see, it isn’t enough to be obedient or morally right, pay your taxes and not kill anybody, or steal or be an adulterer. Yeah, neither of us should be doing that. Pretty much we can see ourselves through our own lenses that we are good people and “deserving” of heaven, isn’t that right?   There are people who will only think about that right before death. When they realize that whatever they believed or not believed during their lives, when death knocks on the door they will have “that flash of their lives passing through their eyes” and probably they will have a glimpse of what comes next. Many repent and they will be saved if they truly believe. Many more will not have that chance or want that chance. They’...

      Nao a minha vontade, mas a Sua. I don’t know about you but I have a hard time accepting a lot of things in my life. I see myself praying over and over again for the same things. Things that people make me believe that it is kind of my right, or I deserve or because it is written that whatever we ask in Jesus’ name He will give it to me. Yeah… not quite. Deep down I disagree with this attitude. It is not that I don’t ask anything from God, I do, believe me. He answers me according to His will. Right? Isn’t it how we should ask things to God? “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. We humans are interesting creatures. We want to do God’s will but we first want God to do our will. Am I right? God is Sovereign. He doesn’t obey anyone. He is above all. There is nothing higher, better, or more powerful than He. Everybody knows that I don’t have kids. Probably I won’t have any. I wanted them. But, once in a while I am r...