Fear Not, For I Am With You

Isaiah 41:10

‘Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’


What can we do when we're feeling overwhelmed by something; when we’re afraid, fearful, dismayed, anxious, discouraged or frustrated? When we're feeling like a helpless worm? Where can we find security, peace and comfort?

Sacrifice and Glory

Matthew 10:37-39
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."

Luke 14:33
“Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”


To belong to Christ and to be His disciple is not only a huge pleasure and privilege but also a huge duty and obligation. There are those who only desire the pleasure and not the duty. Jesus says those people are not worthy of either. They shall not receive either. Thus we must desire to forsake ourselves in order to accomplish the duty and obligation of being Christ's disciple. What does this involve for us?

Every Tree Good For Food

Genesis 2:8-9
The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
To read the full account of the fall into sin click here.


We often look back at the story of the fall into sin and marvel at the consequences that one sin had on all creation from then on. We wonder if we would have done the same if we were in a similar situation. We sometimes even despise Adam for what he did.
Well, every day we do the same thing as he did.

Article: Attacked From Within

(First published in Contender 20th October 2013)

We all know of those texts that speak about false apostles in the church—those "wolves in sheep's clothing"—people disguised as the faithful, but in fact drawing members of the church away from the truth. But have you ever stopped to think if you are one of those people? Or even if you personally are being unwittingly drawn away by someone?

Read more »

18 Years: Thankful and Prayerful

Psalm 90:10-12
The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
So teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

I’m thankful.

Thankful for 18 years of physical life. Thankful for 18 years of spiritual life.

A High Priest Forever

Hebrews 4:14 

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."


The Old Testament sacrificial laws are invalid now. They have been fulfilled by Christ’s death—an ultimate sacrifice to God (1 Corinthians 5:7). This means that Jesus now stands as our High Priest and intercedes before us, as the priests did in the Old Testament. But what does this actually mean for us? What did He do for us, and how should we respond?

The Solitude of God

Exodus 15:11:

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?

Who is like You, glorious in holiness,

Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

We, as humans, cannot survive on our own. We need others even for our conception, let alone our birth, survival, etc. God, however, is completely self-sufficient. He is also solitary in so many more ways. “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).

God Glorified Through The Fall

Romans 5:20-21

“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The fall of man was decreed and foreknown by God. He had known from all eternity that He would display His perfect attributes on an imperfect and defiled earth (Acts 15:18). But not only did He know but He also foreordained everything that was to happen (Ephesians 1:11). According to Peter, God decreed that Adam would fail the test of the fruit tree. He says in his first epistle that Christ’s death for sin was “foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:19-20).  It is obvious, therefore, that God ordained the fall into sin. It was His will. But why did He do so?

Elected and Saved!

1 Timothy 1:9

“[God] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

In my last meditation I said one of the reasons that we can be comforted by the doctrine of election is that we know that we are elect, and our election is sure. We will be saved! These are two key concepts, and call for further explanation. How do we know we are elect, and how do we know we will be saved because of that?

Chosen for Salvation

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The doctrine of election is all through Scripture. God chose to save Noah and his family out of all the people living at the time. God chose to make His covenant with Abraham and his descendants, even though he was no more righteous than others. God chose Israel above all other nations as His special people (Deuteronomy 7:7). Jesus chose twelve apostles out of the multitudes of disciples that followed Him. Paul started his epistle to the Ephesians with an exposition on God's election. It clearly fills many pages of the Old and New Testaments. 

Obey My Voice

Increasing Your Obedience

Exodus 19:5 

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”


In my last meditation, I gave many reasons for being motivated to obey God's revealed will. However, you can be as motivated as you want, but still not know how to obey His law. It is very difficult, and requires more than just setting your mind to doing it. The following directions will set out some ways for increasing your obedience to God. 

Submit to Him

Incentives for Obedience

Ephesians 4:20-24 
“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard of Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”


My last meditation was on God as our Owner, King and Lord. There comes many duties along with being His subject. We must sacrifice our whole life and all our possessions for Him and obey Him to the utmost of our power. This is incredibly difficult. However it is so rewarding and so necessary that we should not think it is too hard or not worth it. Where do we get the incentive so that we can change our mind to obedience and sacrifice?

King of Kings

Revelation 17:14
These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”


It is quite easy to say that God is our owner, our King and our Lord. However we are required to do more than just say it. We are to remember it always, firmly believe it, and completely resign ourselves to Him and the duties that come with it.

Filled With the Spirit

John 14:15-17 

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” 

Every Christian enters into a covenant with each Person in the Trinity. That involves accepting each Person's mercies, and performing duties to each Person. Yes duties are required. To take and believe God as our God we must do more than just believe. To take Christ as our Saviour involves more than just believing in Him as Saviour. To believe in the Holy Spirit requires more than to believe that He is the third person in the Trinity.

Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:17 

“And take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”


The only offensive weapon that Paul describes is the sword of the Spirit – the word of God. The other items of a Christian's armour can be both offensive and defensive but the most conspicuously offensive weapon, offensive both in physical and spiritual combat, is the sword.

Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17

“And take the helmet of salvation”


Satan can attack us by influencing those things around us, like he did to Job (Job 2:7). However he also influences our mind (John 13:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4), and thus Paul commands us to put on armour to guard against that. The armour we use to protect our thoughts is salvation.

The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:16

“...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”


Paul continues his comparison to the Roman soldier. He refers here to a shield they used, specifically one that covered the whole body and was covered in leather. When flaming darts collided with the shield their points didn't penetrate far, and the flames were extinguished.

Shoes: The Gospel of Peace

Ephesians 6:14-15

“Stand therefore… having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace”


Footwear is important for comfort, agility and protection. The Roman soldiers wore boots that were sturdy yet nimble, and studded for better grip. This was apparently one of the attributing factors to their success.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:14

“Stand therefore… having put on the breastplate of righteousness”


Arguably the Roman soldier’s most important piece of armour was his breastplate. Arguably the Christian’s most important piece of protection from Satan is our righteousness. 

Gird Your Waist With Truth

Ephesians 6:14
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth”

The belt is one of the first items of armour that a soldier puts on before battle. It held up the tunic so he was prepared for action. It is a basic need for battle. So too, is truth in our spiritual battle.

Be Strong in the Lord!

Ephesians 6:10-13

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We know Satan as the devil, a formerly angelic creature who, before the creation of the human race, rebelled against God and has since battled with human beings and God. He is called the prince of darkness (Colossians 1:13), the father of lies (John 8:44), the accuser (Revelation 12:10) and the deceitful serpent (2 Corinthians 11:3).

The Omniscience of God

Isaiah 46:9-10

⁹ Remember the former things of old,

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like Me,

¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning,

And from ancient times things that are not yet done,

Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

And I will do all My pleasure’

The omniscience of God is a controversial topic in Christian circles. It is an incredibly important topic. If God is not omniscient He cannot be God. One characteristic of a God is that they are able to know the future. God Himself even said so (Isaiah 41:22-23). So is He omniscient and therefore a deity? Is He then responsible for every event on this earth, including sin?

Seek the LORD!

Jeremiah 23:23, 24

“Am I a God near at hand,” says the LORD, “And not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the LORD; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16:11

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

Are these two passages contradicting each other? One seems to say that God is omnipresent, the other that we are to put effort into seeking Him. How do we justify God's omnipresence with commands to seek Him?

The Omnipotence of God

Genesis 18:14

“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

2 Chronicles 20:6

“O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?”

Daniel 4:35

“All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;

He does according to His will in the army of heaven

And among the inhabitants of the earth.”

My last meditation was on the incomprehensibility of God. I came to the conclusion that although there are some aspects of God that He has hidden from us, it would be greatly beneficial to find out about what He has revealed to us about His character. This time I would like to meditate on his omnipotence.

How Unsearchable Are His Ways!

Romans 11:33-36:

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

     ³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the LORD?

     Or who has become His counselor?”

     ³⁵ “Or who has first given to Him

     And it shall be repaid to him?”

³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

There are a lot of things that relate to God that are far beyond our knowledge and comprehension. God's character is so great that even learned theological men cannot comprehend His mysterious depths and riches.

A Bruised Reed

Isaiah 42:1-4:

¹ “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,

My Elect One in whom My soul delights!

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

² He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,

Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.

³ A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench;

He will bring forth justice for truth.

⁴ He will not fail nor be discouraged,

Till He has established justice in the earth;

And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

About a month ago I meditated on Romans 12:11 and came to the conclusion that a small spark of fervour for God is not enough. That spark must grow bigger into a roaring fire of zeal for Him. However Isaiah 42:3 (cf. Matthew 12:20) gives much encouragement for those who have only a small spark.

Glorifying God in Music and Singing

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31)

"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:17-21)


One of the reasons we sing is to glorify God. We are commanded to glorify God in everything we do, but singing especially has been given as a means to glorify Him (Exodus 15:2; 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 146:1-2; 150:1-6; Isaiah 43:21; Jeremiah 31:7; Hebrews 13:15). There is singing and music, however, that doesn't glorify God and please Him. "Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream" (Amos 5:23-24). How do we glorify God in our singing and making music? How do we ensure that it is pleasing in His sight? Ephesians 5:17-21 is very helpful in answering this question.

Sing to the LORD!

1 Chronicles 16:23,

Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Music and song is important for Christians. It is so important for the Christian to sing that there's a whole Bible book dedicated to songs. Two, if you include Song of Solomon. Music was even played while offerings were offered in the temple (2 Chronicles 29:27-28). David dedicated 288 people for providing music for the house of God (1 Chronicles 25:6-7). Why is singing and music so important for Christians?

The Power of Prayer

Colossians 4:2-4
² Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; ³ meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

God loves His children to pray to Him. He actually delights in being asked for things (Proverbs 15:8). He answers prayers before we pray them and hears us before we are even finished speaking (Isaiah 65:24). He encourages us to be like the watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem in Isaiah 62:6-7:

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent,
And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

That’s encouraging. That means that God, the giver of all things (Acts 17:25) likes to be asked for things. I find that it’s greatly beneficial to meditate on why this is so.

Be Fervent in Spirit

Romans 12:11:
“…Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”

Some zeal for God is better than no zeal for Him. If there is a spark of fervour for God it is better than no spark. But is just a spark enough? Should it grow to be a big fire of zeal or can it stay a small spark? Romans 12:11 addresses this.

Be Strong and of Good Courage!

1 Corinthians 16:13:
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”


What is Christian courage? An act takes courage if it is likely to be painful. Jesus promised that being a Christian and glorifying His name would be painful: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). Courage is necessary, then, for Christians. No matter what the earthly cost we must always be prepared to say and do the right thing. That’s Christian courage.

If courage is required for true teaching and evangelism where can we get this courage?

Exhort One Another Daily

Hebrews 3:12-14:

¹² Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

Every Christian today will face extreme hardship and persecution. It’s inevitable (John 15:18; 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:12). Being a Christian is hard. But in the end we will experience a reward that is worth far more than we experienced on this earth. If we persevere through the sufferings on this earth we will be rewarded. “He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Yes, this calls for endurance. Those who are born of God must endure to be saved. How can we do that? How has God commanded we endure to the end? What has He ordained so we continue persevering in the faith til the end?

Reminder of the Results of the Resurrection

The resurrection has such a powerful meaning for us that I think it would be beneficial to be reminded of the implications of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

Christ is Risen!

Romans 8:1, 11, 33-34:

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

It’s Easter. A time we remember and meditate on Christ’s death and resurrection. Not that we don’t at other times, but this weekend is dedicated to these glorious events. Romans 8 is a really comforting chapter for every Christian. I've taken the liberty to meditate on a few verses related to Christ’s resurrection.

Forgiveness (2)

Ephesians 4:32-5:2:

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Last meditation I focused on what forgiveness is and what it involves. I also mentioned how hard it is to put that all into practice. So this meditation will expand on how we find the strength, ability, power and incentive to forgive.

Forgiveness (1)

Matthew 6:12, 14, 15:

¹² “And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

¹⁴ For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

That's how important forgiveness is. Our entire salvation rests on whether we forgive our neighbour. Being unforgiving means not being forgiven by God and ultimately losing heaven. An unforgiving spirit is proof of never having been indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Aliens and Glory

1 Peter 2:11-12:

¹¹ Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, ¹² having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The primary goal of man on this earth is to glorify God (1 Cor 6:20; 10:31). In our words, thoughts and actions we are to magnify God's glory and cause others to glorify Him. That determines how successful our lives have been.