Grietje Commelin 
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16 ESV) Yesterday we read that, according to Ecclesiastes, our life is in God’s … Lees meer
“So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:1 NIV) The book of Ecclesiastes is filled with wisdom. The author aims to investigate what truly makes life worthwhile. Does wealth … Lees meer
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who … Lees meer
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) Believers form a spiritual family. Within that family, we have the responsibility to look out for one another. Especially for those who miss the warmth and safety of a natural family, the church aims to be a home. Being a family also … Lees meer
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) The worldwide church has both unity and diversity. The same is true at the local level in the different congregations. Believers form a unity through “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). At the same time, the Holy … Lees meer
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Jesus points to love as the distinguishing mark of the … Lees meer
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) Yesterday we saw that our knowledge of God grows through contact with other believers. Today we look at a concrete example of what that can look like. After the Lord Jesus had returned to … Lees meer
“… that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:17-19) Earlier in this series of reflections, I argued that we are created for relationships—not only … Lees meer
Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35) When you become a child of God through faith, you also receive a whole family of spiritual brothers and sisters. Just as biological relatives are connected by blood, Christians around the world are united through the blood … Lees meer