Footsteps to Zion

2 Timothy 1:1 - 9 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, a beloved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved u...

The Lord promised that He will come back. But He tells us in James 5:7 that we ought to wait in patience like a farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth. In Isaiah 51:1-3, we are called to look to the rock from which we were hewn. The rock referred to is Abraham - a man who was given a promise of countless descendants and yet had to endure much waiting before the promise came to pass. These two passages are a reminder to us of how before fruitfulness comes, we are called to patiently wait. Isaiah 51:3 is an excellent promise of how Zion will not be desolate forever because a time is coming that her waste places and deserts will be like the garden of the Lord. We can look forward to a time when barrenness will be transformed to fruitfulness, sorrow into joy, and mourning into singing! Promises Come with Instructions In Gen. 12:1-3, Abraham was given a promise by the Lord that He is going to bless him and make him a great nation. God’s keeping will be upon him si...

Adapted from the book True Christianity by Dr. Paul Caram In Mark 10:35-45, it details the conversation of Jesus, James, John and the rest of the apostles. They are asking the Lord who among them will sit beside Him when He goes to heaven. What does it mean to be great? Is a man great because of his works and legacy or is it because of something else? In the account mentioned in the book of Mark chapter 10, one gets to think of what James and John could have already accomplished for them to ask Jesus if they could sit beside Him when He is enthroned. As for the rest of the disciples, they were greatly displeased with what the two had asked. In this day and age, being great (or popular) is nothing new. In fact, a lot of people today are doing things so that they could be recognized. Politicians make projects ensuring that their names are written on each accomplishment. There is a tendency to look for one's name being listed or mentioned in some popular place or s...