Hopeless or hopeful view of this world?

The devil is a defeated enemy, he has no more power. I often hear Christians say that. Then I look around and I can only conclude that reality is just slightly different.

Yes, Jesus has defeated the enemy, that's for sure. But the devil is still trying to exercise power in this world, you have to be blind not to see that all around us every day. There is murder, abuse, violence, and misery... everywhere.

He has power because people give it to him. Satan is always looking for people through whom to do his destructive work. That doesn't sound very encouraging, of course.

And frankly, it would be very depressing if we didn't understand (or know) that God is also always looking for people through whom He can do His redemptive work! We need to understand those two things. In 1 John 5:19 it says: We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

This was written some 2,000 years ago! The whole world is under the power of the devil. That may sound very frightening, but it is exactly why it is so important to know whether you are a child of God. We are all part of God's creation, but not automatically His child.

In John 1:12 it says that we have been given the right to become children of God. 👉How? By accepting Jesus and believing in His name, it says. That's not very complicated. With that in mind, it is very good to continue our read in 1 John 5:20,

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

From such a perspective, we can look at this world full of hope!

New video devotions on Proverbs 3

Earlier this year I did a video series on the Psalms which I called #apsalmaday. I taped daily devotions, just two minutes each, on the psalms.

I also did a separate series on Psalms 119 consisting of 22 videos that included the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

This way of staying connected with readers, bloggers, and viewers works quite well. Especially in a time where we need all the encouragement we can get! Oh my goodness, we must help each other to stay filled with hope and faith.

So, I decided to do a new series, and well on Proverbs chapter 3. We'll be reading one verse a day and I connect it with another verse in the Bible, preferably from the New Testament. You might have a verse of your own that pops up in your mind. 👉 Let the Spirit lead you on this wisdom journey!

You can follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my YouTube channel! I hope you will.

The presence of God (3)

I ended my previous blog with the sentence: 'God's glorious presence zoomed in from a universe level, from the heavens to our inmost being.'

It is a great miracle that God came to dwell among men two thousand years ago. Perhaps, it is an even greater miracle that He now wants to dwell in all people with His Spirit. 👉He is always near and we no longer have to travel to a certain place to meet Him.

That was exactly what Jesus promised when He was about to return to His Heavenly Father: And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20). Always, everywhere. A comforting promise, no matter how we feel or wherever we are.

God with us and in us, on an individual basis so to speak. The Bible makes it clear, however, that the presence of God is also something we can (and should) experience when we are together in groups. During a prayer meeting, a Bible study, or a church service, for example.

This does not necessarily require a stadium full of people. Jesus said: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).

If there is ever one good reason to keep meeting together, it certainly is this one!