All posts by Hanspeter

Prepared for Life (Ephesians 6:10-24)

Those who walk with Jesus can expect resistance. But children of God do not walk in their own strength (Ephesians 6:10). Her master equips them. Not to fight people, but to protect themselves and ward off cunning attacks. Evil must be overcome with good (Romans 12:21). Christians should not hide in fear but stand boldly for the truth (Ephesians 6:20).

Paul uses the image of a Roman soldier, which was well known to everyone at the time, as a reminder. Today we would perhaps speak of an antivirus program. Continue reading Prepared for Life (Ephesians 6:10-24)

Moses and his destiny

Moses was convinced in Exodus 2:11-15 that the hour had come for the Savior to intervene. But the pointer on God’s clock was not that far advanced.

We see Moses acting as a human redeemer. Moses experiences a blatant case of injustice. Shouldn’t justice be helped to triumph immediately?

Moses reacts emotionally. Seeing a need is one thing, but the big challenge is reacting calmly. Today people react before they really start to think about it.

Perhaps we too should learn to wait for the right time? If we want to make a difference, it is important to think before we act. But that’s not always easy for us.

Jesus waited over 30 years before appearing publicly. It is important that we see the need and care it, take it before God and than wait until God’s time has come.

Sometimes we try to react faster than God. But patience is a divine attribute. Psalm 86:15 says: “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

The second mistake Moses made was that he wanted to save his people on his own. Years passed before God stripped Moses of his own strength, his zeal, even his desire to be a deliverer, so that he could carry out God’s will. God is the doer. He even makes us weak so that his power can be seen in and through us.

Wherever we offer solutions for people who don’t want any, we won’t see any success.

Moses was wrong thinking that by doing this the people would recognize him as their Saviour. They did not yet see Moses as the divine saviour. They saw a zealous man. Moses had not yet become unselfish.

Moses experienced complete bankruptcy. He fails because of his cleverness, his own power and his supposed trust in God.

But whoever wants to become a tool in God’s hands must first reach their limits with their own strength and power.

Moses was not to appear as royal highness, but had to become a Midianite shepherd before God could use him. Not a title is decisive, but the inner maturity.

Moses had not yet learned three things in our story: to wait for the divine time, to let God’s power work in oneself and to become unselfish.

 

India is fighting over the Hijab

A protest by six young women escalates.

The conflict in southern Indian Karnataka, which is now causing tensions between Hindu and Muslim students, began when a state college banned Muslim women from wearing the so-called hijab in class. Six students at the school in the town of Udupi had refused to recognize the headscarf ban and, according to their own statements, had therefore been excluded from classes for weeks.  Continue reading India is fighting over the Hijab

Standing instead of instant

Everything is getting faster. In the past we could take some time to write a letter, but through constant availability of instant messaging and mobile phones we are requires to give immediate response.

But not everything that reaches us is important. We don’t have to part of everything. It often makes sense to slow down reactions and not express an opinion on everything. It’s not worth going into a “battle” for everything.

It is also important that we also talk to people face to face. In a personal conversation we also have time to reflect on things together and to let what has been said settle. But this also requires the courage to endure different views and to go on reconciled with the difference without breaking the friendship or accusing the other person of insincerity.

If you want to have a firm footing and not be driven by every opinion, you have to be anchored somewhere. It is important that we know what we are guided by and what the consequences of our decisions are. The Bible contains a lot of wisdom and shows how life can succeed or how to end up in chaos. The life plan of selfless love gives courage to stand up for something fearlessly and not just to be dependent on likes (or clicks).

The Regâib Night – The Muslim Night of Wishes

The Muslim Regâib Night begins with the evening prayer on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Muhammad pointed out that on this night the supplications (Duâ) will be answered (according to Imâm Shaafî, Al-Umm). The Regâib Night was celebrated for the first time in the middle of the 12th century. The alleged Regaib prayer was invented by a Sufi named Ali bin Abdullah bin Jahdam (in 1023).

Most Islamic scholars categorically reject renewal within the rituals. There is not a single authentic Hadith about any of the said Kandil Nights. The Qur’an says: Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed my mercy on you and have chosen Islam for your faith” [Al-Ma’ida 5:3]. But one difficulty is that the five pillars of Islam are not in the Koran either. The complete creed is also missing. Even the course of the ritual prayers is not there.

Christians, on the other hand, can always turn to Heavenly Father, who loves and cares for them. Ephesians 5:20: “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” And Ephesians 6:18: “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication”.

https://www.obrist-impulse.net/die-regaib-nacht-die-muslimische-nacht-der-wuensche

A life of love

Sin has made us unable to love anything or anyone without seeking our benefit. But God does not give up.

His love is a love that suffers because it endures the selfishness, the wretchedness, and all that is absurd in us until we repent, and God’s presence can be restored in our hearts.

Selfless love that suffers to save is the essence of God.

We are to be changed in his image (2 Corinthians 3:18) so that whoever meets us will see, know and love Jesus in us. When Jesus is revealed in us, that honours God the Father!

more https://www.obrist-impulse.net/ein-leben-in-der-liebe

The understanding of the Scriptures of the early Christians

Paul writes in the 2nd letter to Timothy in chapter 3:15-17: „From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.“

With the term “ the sacred writings ” Paul means the Jewish Bible – i.e. the Tanakh, consisting of the five books of Moses (Torah), the prophets (Nevi’im) and the Scriptures (Ketuvim). The Tanakh was the Bible of the first followers of Jesus. Continue reading The understanding of the Scriptures of the early Christians

Faith prove itself in family

The core of human coexistence is family and work. This is where faith has to prove itself.  Ephesians 5,21 to 6,9

Paul is often only quoted in part, which leads to a wrong perception.

Man and woman are created to complement each other. Paul writes in Ephesians 5,21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ”

Ephesians 5,31 says husband and wife become one. This is only possible in mutual appreciation.
Continue reading Faith prove itself in family

The Messiah – a king-priest like Melchizedek

David writes in Psalm 110 about the Messiah: “1 The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. … 4 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Melchizedek means “My king of righteousness of peace”. He is a picture of the reconciling ministry of Jesus who is at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19 / Luke 22:69).  Continue reading The Messiah – a king-priest like Melchizedek

Women let their fear of God shine

Mankind can be wicked or have a good heart. The midwives of Exodus 1:15-22 are faced with the question of which is more important to them: a good relationship with the government or a good relationship with God. They feared God more than the king. Instead of eliminating the boys, they chose life. They disobeyed the pharaoh’s inhuman command to kill all male children. They stood on the side of life and did not want to become the servants of death. Verse 20 says, “God made the midwives prosper.” God blesses those who stands to Him.

The resistance of the women thwarts the pharaoh’s plan. He had thought the midwives would kill the newborn boys immediately and then fool the family into believing it was a stillbirth so the plan could go ahead without fanfare. But now he has to realize that his idea that the midwives should lie to the Hebrews will come back with a boomerang lie and show him how powerless he is. Continue reading Women let their fear of God shine