Pentecost • 21

reading for: Tuesday Night, 8 october

mark 10:17-31

  • ReAD

    Scripture Reference: Mark 10:17-31

    “20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”– Mark 10:20-22

  • Commentary

    Jesus was setting out on his journey when a man approached him and knelt before him. The man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. This question was good, for the man recognised that he lacked something and wanted to know what he lacked.

    Jesus did not evade the question but directly answered him that only God was good and that he knew the commandments. Jesus was telling him that to inherit eternal life is to obey all the commandments. The man responded that he had kept all these commandments. Jesus looked at him with love and told him to go sell all his possessions and give to the poor, for then he will have treasure in heaven and follow Me. What the man did not recognise was that the most important commandment was to love God and put God first. The man put his possessions first, and they were his Lord. By pointing him to the commandments, Jesus’s intention was to tell him what he lacked. When he didn’t get it, Jesus, with love, made it more explicit that he needed to get rid of all his possessions in order to follow Jesus and make God the centre. The man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

    Jesus then looked at his disciples and remarked how difficult it would be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples were amazed, but then he doubled down again and said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. They were astonished and asked Him who could be saved if this was the case. Jesus then told them that with man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. Jesus said that with God, all peoples, including the rich, can enter the kingdom of God. Jesus offered this to that man: to put God first and follow Christ to gain eternal life.

  • Reflect

    Who is the Lord of our life? For this man, it was his possessions that prevented him from entering the kingdom of God and gaining life. How about us, what are the things that are preventing us from gaining life?

    Prayer

    Our Father in Heaven, you desire for us to gain eternal life and enter the kingdom of God. You love us and constantly point out what is lacking in our lives. Help us respond with obedience to your correction and guidance, learn to put you first, and make Jesus the Lord of our lives. Amen.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 9 october

Job 23:1-17

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    Scripture Reference: Job 23:1-17

    Key Verse:
    “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”

    (Job 23:10, ESV)

  • Commentary

    In Job 23, we encounter a man searching for answers in the depths of suffering. Job feels isolated from God, unable to perceive Him, and yet he holds onto a deep conviction that God knows his path and is testing him for a purpose. This passage reveals a powerful theme we’ve journeyed through as a church—guided by the Holy Spirit, understanding that God is our Strength, Enabler, and Sustainer even when we cannot see His hand.

    Much like Job, we too find ourselves in seasons where God seems distant, and life’s challenges feel overwhelming. Job’s experience reminds us that these trials are not in vain; they serve as refining moments. His faith, though strained, does not waver. He trusts that on the other side of testing, he will emerge stronger—like gold purified by fire.

    We’ve learned as a church that “Listening is Loving” and that God often speaks in the silence. Our journey has taught us to cling to His vision, even when we don’t fully understand it. Job’s perseverance mirrors this truth. Though he cannot find God, he trusts that God’s presence and purpose are still active. This kind of trust resonates deeply with what we’ve been practicing: learning to live out God’s truth together, sustaining each other in faith as we await His deliverance.

    As we consider Job’s lament and faith, let us remember that God’s testing leads to transformation. He knows the way we take. Like Job, we are His missionaries on Earth, reflecting His glory even when we feel hidden from His Presence​. God’s refining work in our lives shapes us to become living testimonies of His grace.

  • Reflect

    When you face seasons of hardship, how do you respond to the feeling that God is distant? How can you trust, like Job, that God knows your way and is refining you through every trial?

  • Prayer

    "O Lord, we are hard pressed by the trials of life, but You are the refiner of our souls. As You test us, grant us the grace to endure with unwavering faith, knowing that we will come forth as gold. In our suffering, let us feel Your sustaining presence and power. Amen."
    — St. Augustine

reading for: THURSDAY Night, 10 october

Hebrews 4:12-16

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    Scripture Reference: Hebrews 4:12-16

    12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

    14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

  • commentary

  • Reflect

  • Prayer

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 4 october

Psalms 22:1-15

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    Scripture reference: Psalm 22:1-15

    Psalms 22:4-5

    In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

  • COMMENTARY

    Who do you turn to when you go through difficult times? Who are people you look up to that has come out from difficult times stronger?

    The context of Psalm 22 is one of intense pain and suffering. Its nothing short of excruciating pain to the point of death as we see from Jesus Himself (Matt 27:46). Through David and Jesus however, we can learn and look up to them in how they gained strength and found victory in difficult times.

    We must first always learn to turn to God our Father. And thats what we see them do so clearly in verses 1-2. Their feeling of abandonment, their feeling of being forsaken, is not towards any human being first, but to God Himself. To Him we first cry out for help, to Him we seek help.

    Because its ultimately founded on the reality that our God is a Strong Tower. Our God is our Deliverer. Our God is our Redeemer. All through history, every child of God who has placed their trust in God and sought help from God our Father has found help. They have always been answered.

    The only question is when will God help. For God’s timing and our timing is vastly different. He allowed Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years while Jesus waited 4 days after Lazarus’ died. Yet as Joseph could look back at all of his pain and suffering and say “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”. We learn that we ultimately can trust in God just as our ancestors did.   

  • Reflect

    Who do you turn to when you go through difficult times? Who are people you look up to that has come out from difficult times stronger?

  • Prayer

    Father in Heaven, teach me to turn to You in painful and difficult times. For where does my help from from? Only You. Teach me to share my pain and allow You to meet with me. That I might find strength and deliverance.

    In Jesus name i pray, Amen.

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