Faith Sparks with Bro Roy

Photo by Shalev Cohen on Unsplash (Reflections from 1 Chronicles 22–29) I did not breeze through 1 Chronicles. I struggled. I slowed down. There were moments when reading felt heavy, when understanding felt distant, and moving from one chapter to the next required effort. But by God’s grace, I reached the final chapters. And there, something beautiful unfolded. From 1 Chronicles 22 until the very end, I found myself standing in awe. Not simply at events, not at leadership skill alone, but at the heart of David . A heart so deeply anchored in God that everything he did pointed upward. A heart that prepared faithfully, even for what he would never see completed. A King Who Prepared What He Would Never Build David knew the temple would not be built by his hands. God had made that clear. Yet instead of withdrawing, David leaned in. He prepared materials in abundance. He organized priests, Levites, musicians, and gatekeepers. He arranged order, worship, and resources. He prepared So...

Photo by Cristian Palmer on Unsplash There are moments when life feels too heavy to bear. Pain, loss, failure, or shame can push people to think that death is the only escape. But God does not call us to a death that ends life. He calls us to a death that gives life—a death to the old self so that a new life can begin. This is not about ending your days in despair. It is about letting the old self die so Christ can live in you. It is a death that transforms, heals, and renews. Dying With Christ Through the Cross When we place our faith in Jesus, we are united with Him in His death. Paul explains: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4) Water baptism is a powerful symbol of this truth. Going under the water represents dying with Christ —burying the old life ruled by sin, fear, and hopelessness. It is an outward step of obedience that sh...

Photo by Rohit Dey on Unsplash Sometimes in life, we feel like we’re outside the main story. Overlooked, forgotten, or “not chosen.” But the Bible reminds us that being outside does not mean being unseen. A perfect example is Ishmael , the son of Hagar. His story shows us that God’s grace often reaches those who feel outside the promise. Hagar: The God Who Sees Ishmael was born in a messy situation. Sarah, unable to conceive, gave her servant Hagar to Abraham in a desperate attempt to fulfill God’s promise (Genesis 16:1-4). In human terms, Ishmael’s birth was a result of impatience and a flawed plan—it wasn’t God’s original timing, but human effort . Even in this imperfection, God saw Hagar : “The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, ‘Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?’… And the angel of the Lord said to her, ‘I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be n...

Photo by Biegun Wschodni on Unsplash 1 Samuel 16:7 "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."    This is not just a story. This is the life of David —a life shaped by God, full of courage, experience, and surrender. When we say “the story of David and Goliath,” it can feel fictional, like a tale with a moral. But Scripture shows us a real man, called and empowered by God, acting in obedience and faith before the eyes of the world . The defeat of Goliath according to Scripture We often hear that Goliath was killed by a single stone. Yet careful reading shows a fuller picture. "David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground." 1 Samuel 17:49 The text does not say he died immediately. Later it is made clear: "Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and killed him, and cut off his head...

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash 1 Chronicles 11:15–19 unfolds during a tense period in Israel’s history. The Philistines occupy Bethlehem, while David and his men are hiding in the cave of Adullam. In this difficult moment, David expresses a simple longing: “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” This statement is not a command but a reflection of homesickness. Bethlehem is David’s hometown, a symbol of comfort and familiarity amid the stress of warfare and leadership. This brief expression reveals David’s humanity. Even as king, he carries memories and desires shaped by his past. The verse reminds readers that leaders are not immune to longing or weariness, especially during times of pressure. Extraordinary Loyalty: The Actions of the Mighty Men David’s longing does not go unnoticed. Three of his mighty warriors hear his words and take decisive action. They break through the Philistine camp, draw water from the well of Bethl...

Photo by Eilis Garvey on Unsplash Sometimes, while reading the Bible, I find myself laughing at my own confusion. 😄 You know that moment when you’ve read a verse, thought you understood it, and then—bam!—you realize you totally missed what it was saying? That happened to me with 1 Chronicles , especially the genealogies. But that’s the beauty of God’s Word—it challenges us to pay attention, think, and reflect. Today, let’s look at some of the questions I had while reading and the lessons God reminded me through them. 1️⃣ Do the Levites and priests have land? (1 Chronicles 6:54) Question: I always thought the priests, especially Aaron’s descendants, didn’t get land. But 1 Chronicles 6:54 mentions cities for the Levites. How does that work? Answer: Yes, the Levites did have cities to live in, along with pasturelands for their families and livestock, but they did not receive large territorial inheritance like the other tribes. Their inheritance was service to God , not land. Supporting...

Photo by Riven Moss on Unsplash Giving is more than money or ritual. From the Bible, we see that true offerings are measured not by amount, but by heart posture, intentionality, and surrender . Two stories in particular highlight this principle: King David’s offering in 2 Samuel 24 and the poor widow’s gift in Mark 12. 1. David’s intentional offering In 2 Samuel 24:24 (WEB), we read: “But the king said to Araunah, ‘No, I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” ( Bible Gateway ) Araunah, the owner, offered everything for free—the threshing floor, the oxen, even the wood. But David refused to accept the free gift , knowing exactly what was needed and choosing to give something that cost him . His offering mattered not for its monetary value, but because it came from a posture of intentional obedience, personal cost, and surrender . 2. The wi...

Photo by José M. Reyes on Unsplash If you haven’t read the first part of this series, start here: Listening to God’s Word in a World of Many Voices Introduction: Moving Beyond Obedience In our first discussion, we explored the story of the man of God in 1 Kings 13 , his mission, and the test from the older prophet. Today, we go deeper: looking at how God’s Word is fulfilled despite human failure , what that teaches us about discernment, and how it connects to the ultimate prophecy we are living in — the return of Jesus Christ . Even when humans falter, God’s Word is unstoppable, and His promises remain true. Partial Obedience vs. God’s Word The man of God obeyed God’s command at first but later ate and drank at the older prophet’s invitation. Judgment followed (1 Kings 13:24-25 WEB). Yet, the prophecy he delivered was still fulfilled — a truth that spans time itself. Consider the prophecy he declared: “…a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name… and human bones shall ...

Photo by Urban Vintage on Unsplash Sometimes, God speaks clearly, and sometimes the world—and even people around us—seem to shout louder. Reading the story of the man of God in 1 Kings 13 , I realized that discernment, trust, and grace are not just theological ideas; they are daily struggles and invitations. In this reflection, I want to explore what it means to listen to God’s Word in a world full of competing voices—and how grace transforms obedience from duty into life.

Photo by Filipe Lourenço Marques on Unsplash   "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27) This reflection is not about titles, positions, or recognition. It is a testimony of belonging—of being known by Jesus, the Great Shepherd. Whether you have been part of the flock for a long time, are quietly growing, or are only beginning to sense His call, this is an invitation to reflect on how God works through lives surrendered to Him. Always His Sheep No matter where life leads us, no matter what roles we may take on, one truth remains: we are always His sheep. Jesus does not stop being our Shepherd when we grow, serve, or are sent. Our identity is not replaced by function. Before anything else, we belong to Him. This truth keeps us grounded. Even David, a shepherd and a king, never stopped being a sheep of God’s pasture. Being His sheep means being led, corrected, protected, and loved by Him. Everything flows from this relationship. Growing Within...

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash I was reading Mark 10:18 the other day, and it really made me pause: “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18, ESV) At first, it might seem like Jesus is denying His own goodness. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how deep this moment really is. It’s about humility, divine guidance, and how we’re called to participate in pointing others to God . Let me walk you through what I noticed. 1. Jesus Exposes the Heart, Not Just the Words The rich young ruler called Jesus “Good Teacher,” likely as a polite compliment. But Jesus didn’t just accept it. He asked, “Why do you call Me good?” This wasn’t a rejection of His divinity. It was a heart check . Jesus wanted the man to reflect: do you really understand what “good” means? Only God is truly good in the absolute sense (Psalm 25:8; 34:8). Jesus was challenging the man’s understanding and pointing him to the truth: human morality and self-r...

Photo by Cristofer Maximilian on Unsplash A Reflection on Mark 6:22–28 Salome enters the biblical story not as a villain, nor as a mastermind, but as a young girl placed in the middle of adult sin. She does not come with a plan. She does not come with hatred. She comes with a question. “What shall I ask?” This story is often told as a warning about choosing wisely, but Scripture presents Salome not as a failed discerner, but as a young life dependent on counsel that had already turned away from God. Her tragedy is not that she failed to choose wisely, but that the voices guiding her were already hardened . Counsel only exists where righteous options are present. Salome had one place to turn, her mother, and that counsel did not come from God. It came from bitterness. Herodias did not guide her child toward truth, repentance, or restraint. She guided her toward vengeance. Herod, who had the authority to stop it, chose pride over righteousness. The adults in the room had power, knowledg...

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash In the beginning, God allowed humanity to live long lives. In the early chapters of Genesis, people lived for hundreds of years. This was not accidental. It reflected God’s original design for life and His glory as the Creator. However, there came a moment when God clearly set a boundary. “Yahweh said, ‘My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet his days will be one hundred twenty years.’” Genesis 6:3 (WEB) This was not just a number. It was a reminder that human life on earth is limited, and that we were never meant to live forever in this fallen world. Humanity Did Not Only Receive a Limit, We Shortened Life Further Even the 120-year limit is rarely reached today. Scripture itself acknowledges this reality. “The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years.” Psalm 90:10 (WEB) Why did life become even shorter? Not because God failed, but because humanity chose a way of living that brings ...

Photo by Nicolas Houdayer on Unsplash Inspired by Marcos 4:35–41 One of the most striking details in the story of Jesus calming the storm is not the wind, the waves, or even the fear of the disciples. It is the silence of Jesus. While the storm raged, Jesus was asleep. This silence is often interpreted as a picture of how God sometimes seems quiet in our lives. But silence does not mean absence. Jesus was in the boat. He never left. His silence did not mean He stopped caring. When Jesus slept, He was truly resting. This was not pretense. This was not symbolic. This was real humanity. Scripture tells us: “The Word became flesh, and lived among us.” (John 1:14, WEB) Jesus experienced physical exhaustion just as we do. His body needed rest. He lived the same human life we live now, though perfectly and without sin. In the middle of danger, He slept, fully trusting the Father. Yet the disciples struggled. They knew the sea. They knew storms. They knew boats. What terrified them most was n...