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...

  The kingdom of God   Where is it? It is here. How? You might ask, I only see disaster, poverty, violence. How can this be the Kingdom of God? Yet, it is. Because it is not made by those people who cause violence or evil. But it is made by those who follow, truly follow Jesus. Jesus said so many times what the Kingdom of heaven is like and what it is made of.   The Kingdom of God is precious, so precious that it is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)   It is made of people who live like Jesus lived. It is made by the poor, the meek, by those who mourn, those who are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted by His name’s sake. We are being transformed (at least we should be) every day into a person more like Jesus, to be able to see His Kingdom in the age to come. We are in the proces...

  Today I heard a very sad testimony of a man who has been afflicted with a terrible disease or diseases, and although he has been through several surgeries and treatments, his faith still remains. Even knowing that God is not going to heal him because of His purposes, his hope for eternal life holds.   It made me think that I also have health issues, nothing like his; what made me feel a little ashamed because at the beginning of his testimony, I said that if it were me, I would have killed myself twice. I know how weak my faith is. But one thing I know, God’s plans are still better. I don’t understand them, but I have the same hope. His plans don’t depend on my faith to happen. He has the control.   I hear people confronting God, or questioning his existence based on the cruelty in this world. If there is no God, where does your “goodness” come from? Even if you admit that God exists and you have rejected him because of...

  He came to a broom bush, sat under it, and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough,  Lord ,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”   5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once, an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”   6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the  Lord  came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”   8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19: 4-8) How many times have you wished that this life were over? I have wished that many times. Sometimes it is just too painful, or sad, or hopeless, isn’t it? You know, Elijah...