From the Heart by B.Demaere

Exploring the Bible by B.Demaere: Where is your First Love? (Matthew 13:18-23) :   The good soil represents the hearts of those who TRULY ACCEPT God's message and produce a huge harvest-thirty, sixty, or even a hundre...

  The good soil represents the hearts of those who TRULY ACCEPT God's message and produce a huge harvest-thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.   (Matthew 13:23) In the first place, seeing this verse would you agree that your life like mine doesn't produce a huge harvest.  By looking in the previous verses we can identify which camp we belong to.  Firstly, we could belong to those who have been robbed by the Devil  (v.19).  Secondly, to the 'rocky bunch whose roots don't go deep (v20-21).  Thirdly, we have the 'thorny, messed up group.  There is overgrowth in that one.  Moreover, distractions in their lives smother the ground like thorns.  Meeting they have to go to, TV they have to watch to keep up with the latest news.  Lastly, there is the good soil people.  They are tuned in the Vine and grow in the Word.  They let the Master cultivate their ground. The rocks and the thorns have to be cleared out.  It takes time to do all that and th

Exploring the Bible by B.Demaere: Jesus is the Son of God (John 10:34-38) :   34. Jesus replied, "It is written in your own law that God said to certain leaders of the people, 'I say, you are gods!'  35....

  34. Jesus replied, "It is written in your own law that God said to certain leaders of the people, 'I say, you are gods!'  35.And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered.  So if those people, who received God's message, were called 'god,'  36. why do you call it blasphemy when the Holy One who was sent into the world by the Father says, 'I am the Son of God'?  37. Don't believe me unless I carry out my Father's work.  38. But if I do his work, believe in what I have done, even if you don't believe in me.  Then you will realize that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father."                                                                                             (John 10:34-38) Clearly, Jesus referred to the practice of the Law.  The children of Israel presented different task and were in charge of major decisions.  Obviously, even in Psalm 82, God calls them gods.  In verse 6, "I say, 'You are gods and children of

Forgiveness is necessary (Proverbs 19:11) (CEV)

  (Contemporary English Version) It's wise to be patient and show what you are like by forgiving others. Now in my translation, which I hope doesn't confuse some...(Same language said different) it says in the same verse.. (Old, New Living Translation) People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.  In other words, being slow to anger is a quality that is rare.  When anger comes be slow with it, think about it and most of the time you can forgive by not letting it take root.  Additionally, you just never know what the other person is going through at the time, give them a break.  Maybe they are under a lot of stress.  Slow down and think first. Consequently, that is why you need forgiveness by the tons, loads of it.  For yourself and others.  Yes, forgiveness is unfair, but necessary.  Imagine all the dead people out there if there was none.  Forgiveness, you need it with your children and husband or wife, your friend and even on the road. 

  13. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people's bodies from ritual defilement.  14. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God.  For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. (Hebrews 9:13-14) We all know or as Christians we should know that the blood of animals or even our own blood and tears cannot redeem us.  Only the blood of Christ.  Even more,  Christ he didn't do it just for our salvation, but as a proof of his death, the will?  To show God the evidence of forgiveness by his own blood Hebrews 9:22 "...Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins." Also, Christ entered heaven once for all time and for all people on our behalf, as our Advocate, in our place.  The Most Holy Place, heaven could not be entered without blood and at his cr