A Devotional Reflection of Scripture through Picture
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Monday, May 21, 2018
The Message Bible (Version): Interesting Bookmarks
Recently,
I have read The Message Bible (Version). Like anyone’s testimony, I have found
few things that I don’t find in other Bible versions (sometimes good, but
other times a matter of concern). It is a paraphrase Bible, but I do
agree with the critics that it is also a rendering of what the translator
(Eugene Peterson) would like the Bible to say. I enjoy reading it and would
recommend anyone to read it, however not as a primary Bible for your Bible
study or to bring to church.
Here, I would
like to present top 28 interesting bookmarks I have created while I was reading
it. I have given NKJV rendering to each of them for comparison.
Psalms 19:2
(MSG) Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor
Night lectures each evening.
(NKJV) Day unto day utters
speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
Job 7:10
(MSG) They don't return to visit
their families; never again will friends drop in for coffee.
(NKJV) He shall never return to his house, Nor
shall his place know him anymore.
Psalm 100:4
(MSG) Enter with the password:
"Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank
him. Worship him.
(NKJV) Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless
His name.
Proverbs 10:5
(MSG) Make hay while the sun shines--that's
smart; go fishing during harvest--that's stupid.
(NKJV) He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
Proverbs 12:27
(MSG) A lazy life is an empty life, but "early
to rise" gets the job done.
(NKJV) The lazy man does not roast what he
took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.
Proverbs 19:7
(MSG) When you're down on your luck, even your
family avoids you-- yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost. If
they see you coming, they look the other way-- out of sight, out of mind.
(NKJV) All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words,
yet they abandon him.
Joel 3:4
(MSG) "As for you, Tyre and Sidon and
Philistia, why should I bother with you? Are you trying to get back at me for
something I did to you? If you are, forget it. I'll see to it that it boomerangs
on you.
(NKJV) “Indeed, what have you to
do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia? Will you
retaliate against Me? But if you retaliate against Me, Swiftly and speedily I
will return your retaliation upon your own head;
Zechariah 11:6
(MSG) GOD's Decree: "I'm washing my hands of
the people of this land. From now on they're all on their own. It's
dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest, and the devil take the hindmost.
Don't look for help from me."
(NKJV) For I will no longer pity
the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD. “But indeed I will give everyone
into his neighbor’s hand and into the hand of his king. They shall attack the
land, and I will not deliver them from their hand.”
2Corinthians 4:17
(MSG) These hard times are small
potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared
for us.
(NKJV) For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory,
Romans 3:15
(MSG) They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year,
(NKJV) “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Revelation 2:23
(MSG) The bastard offspring
of their idol-whoring I'll kill. Then every church will know that appearances
don't impress me. I x-ray every motive and make sure you get what's
coming to you.
(NKJV) I will kill her children with death,
and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Proverbs 14:5
(MSG) A true witness never lies; a false witness makes
a business of it.
(NKJV) A faithful witness does
not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.
Proverbs 21:31
(MSG) Do your best, prepare for the worst--
then trust GOD to bring victory.
(NKJV) The horse is prepared for
the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD.
Jeremiah 16:12
(MSG) And you're even worse! Take
a good look in the mirror--each of you doing whatever you want, whenever
you want, refusing to pay attention to me.
(NKJV) And you have done worse than your
fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so
that no one listens to Me.
Lamentations 3:30
(MSG) Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The
"worst" is never the worst.
(NKJV) Let him give his cheek to
the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach.
Luke 8:21
(MSG) He replied, "My mother and brothers are
the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."
(NKJV) But He answered and said
to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do
it.”
Matthew 10:9
(MSG) "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising
campaign before you start.
(NKJV) Provide neither gold nor
silver nor copper in your money belts,
Luke 19:26
(MSG) "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your
life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up
holding the bag.
(NKJV) ‘For I say to you, that to
everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he
has will be taken away from him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proverbs 14:5
(MSG) A true witness never lies; a false witness makes
a business of it.
(NKJV) A faithful witness does
not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.
Proverbs 21:31
(MSG) Do your best, prepare for the worst--
then trust GOD to bring victory.
(NKJV) The horse is prepared for
the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD.
Jeremiah 16:12
(MSG) And you're even worse! Take
a good look in the mirror--each of you doing whatever you want, whenever
you want, refusing to pay attention to me.
(NKJV) And you have done worse than your
fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so
that no one listens to Me.
Lamentations 3:30
(MSG) Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The
"worst" is never the worst.
(NKJV) Let him give his cheek to
the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach.
Luke 8:21
(MSG) He replied, "My mother and brothers are
the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."
(NKJV) But He answered and said
to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do
it.”
Matthew 10:9
(MSG) "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising
campaign before you start.
(NKJV) Provide neither gold nor
silver nor copper in your money belts,
Luke 19:26
(MSG) "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your
life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up
holding the bag.
(NKJV) ‘For I say to you, that to
everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he
has will be taken away from him.
To Read further about the Message
Bible Version:
Friday, May 18, 2018
Popularity
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30 (ESV)
Summarize in a Word: Popularity
Key Principle: We live for Christ, no longer for ourselves.
Key Application: Allow Christ to be known and seen in you!
Main point of the Passage: Popularity of Christ over our own popularity
Illustration: John’s Attitude
Exhortation: Dare to risk your own reputation for the
advancing of the name of Christ.
Everybody
wants to be popular for different reasons, especially for good cause. Who among
you does not want to have a hundred likes in a Facebook post? What Christian
ministry does not want thousands of email subscriber?
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
Should you care God exists or not?
[This is a repost of 2014 article, which was deleted by mistake]
For centuries,
humankind has been debating about the existence of God. Most people say God
exists; some say that God does not exist, and still, others say that nobody can
know whether God exists or not. Friedrich Nietzsche went on to say, “God is dead.” Should you care God exists or not? If it doesn’t matter, one need not
pay attention, but how does one know it matters or not? Let us define God
first. Defining God exactly is impossible, for He is beyond definition and
comprehension. But for this article God is the “maximally great being,” by
which I mean He is the greatest, perfect, infinite, invincible, omnipotent,
omniscient, and omnipresent Being. Moreover, He is the Creator of the Universe
and everything in it.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Enduring Adversities
“If your law had not been my delight, I
would have perished in my affliction.” Psalm 119: 92 (ESV)
Summarize in a Word: Enduring Adversities
Key Principle: God’s Majesty is inscribed in His words.
Key Application: Meditate on the words of God
Main point of the Passage: All adversities look pale when we discover the
Majesty of God in His words.
Illustration: If you can enjoy World Cup Football, you can
enjoy God’s goodness too.
Exhortation: Would you treasure
God’s word in your heart, in your blood; not on paper, not on phone, not on
internet, but in your being?
We often have False View of God. Our view of God is revealed unprecedentedly when we are
in adversities. We like to think of God as one who satisfies our desires, who
will excuse all our sins by His grace. This is dead wrong if we don’t
understand His Majesty – the Majesty, which should make us tremble before Him
(Ps. 119: 120). God does not exist to serve you; rather you are created to
serve Him 24 x 7 eternally (v.91).
Wednesday, May 09, 2018
Monday, May 07, 2018
Great Christian-YouTube Channels for Subscription
Is there
any internet user who has not spent hours and hours on YouTube Videos? Who has
not benefitted from YouTube? At the same time, who among us is not guilty of
excessive use? Like it or hate it, technology always comes with merit and
demerit. Unfortunately, the nature of human is on the slippery slope of
demerits. Moreover, there are YouTubers, who uploaded various versions of the
original, and sadly many to out dislikes. Also, there are countless titles
which are misleading. Today, I would like to mention some great Channels of
YouTube (solid Christian resources) you may want to subscribe if you have not
so far. And, do tell me your recommended channels too.
Saturday, May 05, 2018
Rongmei Theological Society (RTS) Conference, Khoupum
Recently
I have attended Rongmei Theological Society (RTS) Conference in Lubanglong
Baptist Church, Khoupum. RTS has been around for many years convening
conferences at least 18 times across Rongmei inhabited areas in North East
India – Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland. It is my first time to RTS Conference,
also to visit the Khoupum Valley. Like any first-timer, I do have few things to
say about each of them.
Friday, May 04, 2018
Overcoming Jealousy
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD
all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17-18 (NKJV)
Summarize in a Word: Overcoming Jealousy
Key Principle: God Rewards the Faithful
Key Application: Delight in God
Main point of the Passage: Nobody is immune to Jealousy but those whose
delight is in God shall overcome it.
Illustration: Successful Inmate in prison v/s Successful man
in a free land
Exhortation: Do not be troubled
by sinners, but be assured by God’s faithfulness.
Who is immune to Jealousy? It looks like we are hardwired
especially when we are in desperate want. Jealousy is never a pleasant emotion.
Unfortunately, I have seen many frustrations and anger in several families
because they were jealous of neighbor’s successes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)