Category Archives: Kindness / Gentleness

I Am My Beloved’s (Song of Solomon 6)

When insecurity whispers doubt, whose voice do you choose to believe?

Key Verse:
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” —Song of Solomon 6:3 NASB

Background Context:
Song of Solomon 6 follows a season of distance and longing. After missed connection and deep desire in chapter 5, this chapter opens with reassurance. The beloved is not lost, and love has not withdrawn. Instead, the relationship moves toward restoration, affirmation, and renewed confidence. What was strained is now steadied—not through blame, but through assurance of belonging.

This chapter reflects both the healing of marital intimacy and the faithful, restoring love of God toward His people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Song of Solomon 6

Mutual Delight in Each Other

1“Where has your beloved gone,
O most beautiful among women?
Where has your beloved turned,
That we may seek him with you?”

      2“My beloved has gone down to his garden,
To the beds of balsam,
To pasture his flock in the gardens
And gather lilies.

      3“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine,
He who pastures his flock among the lilies.”

      4“You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling,
As lovely as Jerusalem,
As awesome as an army with banners.

      5“Turn your eyes away from me,
For they have confused me;
Your hair is like a flock of goats
That have descended from Gilead.

      6“Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
Which have come up from their washing,
All of which bear twins,
And not one among them has lost her young.

      7“Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate
Behind your veil.

      8“There are sixty queens and eighty concubines,
And maidens without number;

      9But my dove, my perfect one, is unique:
She is her mother’s only daughter;
She is the pure child of the one who bore her.
The maidens saw her and called her blessed,
The queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying,

      10‘Who is this that grows like the dawn,
As beautiful as the full moon,
As pure as the sun,
As awesome as an army with banners?’

      11“I went down to the orchard of nut trees
To see the blossoms of the valley,
To see whether the vine had budded
Or the pomegranates had bloomed.

      12“Before I was aware, my soul set me
Over the chariots of my noble people.”

      13“Come back, come back, O Shulammite;
Come back, come back, that we may gaze at you!”

“Why should you gaze at the Shulammite,
As at the dance of the two companies?

Reflection on Song of Solomon 6:
The chapter begins with a question from others: “Where has your beloved gone?” The answer is calm and confident. He has not disappeared. He is tending his garden. Love is present, active, and purposeful. The fear of abandonment that marked the previous chapter is replaced by clarity.

The beloved woman then makes a powerful declaration: “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” This is covenant language. It is settled, mutual, and secure. She does not say this because everything has been perfect, but because love has proven faithful.

The husband responds with affirmation rather than correction. He speaks beauty, value, and delight over his wife. Where insecurity once lingered, reassurance now flows freely. Love restores confidence instead of punishing vulnerability.

In marriage, this chapter teaches us that intimacy is strengthened not by perfection, but by reassurance. Love that heals does not rehearse past failures—it affirms present belonging. Confidence grows when love is spoken clearly and consistently.

Spiritually, this chapter reflects God’s heart toward His people. Seasons of distance do not negate covenant. God’s love remains secure even when our confidence wavers. He restores by reminding us who we are and to whom we belong. Our identity is not shaped by our failures, but by His faithfulness.

Song of Solomon 6 reminds us that love matures when it moves from anxiety to assurance—from fear of loss to confidence in belonging.

Application:

  • Rest in the security of covenant love rather than fear of rejection.

  • Speak reassurance intentionally in relationships that have felt strained.

  • Allow love to rebuild confidence instead of rehearsing insecurity.

  • Remember your identity is rooted in belonging, not performance.

  • Trust that God’s love restores rather than withdraws.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for love that reassures and restores. When insecurity rises or confidence falters, remind me that I belong to You and You have not withdrawn Your love. Teach me to speak reassurance, receive grace, and rest in the security of covenant love. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda


Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

We Are All One in Messiah (Reflecting on MLK Jr)

As we as a nation reflect on the life and contribution of Martin Luther King Jr, let us also put our focus on God’s word in the Bible and let it guide our path.

Many people have been misled to believe that we are significantly different based on the color of our skin. Our culture over emphasizes this and creates a point of division among us. When we look at God’s word, we see that there is one race of humans, not many based on color, and that we are all equal and all made in the image of God. There is not one that is better than the rest or should receive preferential treatment over the others.

Man is made in the image of God. We are made man and woman. There is no mention of skin color as a key differentiator. Differences in skin color are just part of the wonderful variety of God’s creative nature… like hair color or height or eye color.

Genesis 1:26-27

      26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Paul makes the point in Galatians that we are all one in Christ Jesus. If we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s descendants. We have been grafted into Israel (Romans 11:11-36). We can see in this context that the real division within man is not the color of our skin or our gender or social status, but rather whether or not we have accepted Christ as our Lord.

Galatians 3:28-29

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Martin Luther King Jr is well known and perhaps one of his best known speeches was in Washington DC in August 1963.

As a nation, we have made much progress since that time and I am sure God is pleased at that progress. Many will focus today on a never-ending list of grievances without even pausing to recognize the significant progress made. To the extent there is further to go, we should take care on how we address it. We should not emphasize division and conflict between the citizens of our great nation, but rather focus on how we come together peacefully. We should not make enemies of certain people groups in the name of helping others. That is not what God or leaders like Martin Luther King Jr would want. We are all made in God’s image. Let us focus on drawing closer to Him and we will draw closer to each other as well, no matter what color skin we have.

To help us reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr, I am going to highlight a few snippets of the speech here. The full content of the speech can be found at the following link, Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Speech – American Rhetoric.

He speaks highly of Abraham Lincoln, our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He was not trying to undermine our nation’s history or destroy it, but rather look to it as a righteous guide.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

He called for white and black to be considered equal, not to condemn those who are white in order to try to help those who are black.

This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

He did not want people to degrade to violence but rather to focus on peaceful protesting.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

He was positive on the potential for America based on its founding. He was positive on the American dream.  He did not see America through the eyes of despair as a place that needed to be burned down and remade. He led a hopeful message and not one of despair. He focused on the vision of what we want to achieve together and avoided a path of violence and anger and destruction. Once again he emphasized what God’s word tells us, what is reflected in the founding documents of our nation, that all men are created equal.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

He helped people visualize a world as it should be, where people are not judged based on skin color. He did not say treat black people better than white people to get even or make up for the past. He pointed towards the principle’s of God and our nation’s founding documents.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

He brought the focus to our Creator.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”2

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day — this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning:

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help our nation come together as one nation, under You. Open our eyes to the wonderful diversity you have made in how you have made man. Let us not create division based on physical differences. Let us not consider ourselves multiple races of man. Let us recognize that we are all one, all made in the image of God. None are to be considered better or worse than the rest based on the color of our skin… neither black, white, brown, or any other color. Help us come together by seeking You and help us to see one another as You do. Amen.

Shalom.

Devotion by John  Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

When Love Speaks Life (Song of Solomon 4:1-7)

What changes when love chooses to speak affirmation instead of criticism?

Key Verse:
“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.” —Song of Solomon 4:7 NASB

Background Context:
Song of Solomon 4:1–7 is a moment of intentional affirmation. The groom speaks to his bride with care, attention, and delight. His words are not rushed or shallow; they are thoughtful and specific. Each description reflects honor rather than objectification, admiration rather than possession.

This passage occurs within the safety of covenant love. There is no fear, manipulation, or exploitation — only affirmation spoken in trust and devotion.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Song Of Solomon 4:1-7

Solomon’s Love Expressed 

     1“How beautiful you are, my darling,
How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are like doves behind your veil;
Your hair is like a flock of goats
That have descended from Mount Gilead.

      2“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes
Which have come up from their washing,
All of which bear twins,
And not one among them has lost her young.

      3“Your lips are like a scarlet thread,
And your mouth is lovely.
Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate
Behind your veil.

      4“Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built with rows of stones
On which are hung a thousand shields,
All the round shields of the mighty men.

      5“Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle
Which feed among the lilies.

      6“Until the cool of the day
When the shadows flee away,
I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh
And to the hill of frankincense.

      7“You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
And there is no blemish in you.

Reflection on Song of Solomon 4:1–7:
The groom’s words reveal a powerful truth: love shapes how we see and how we speak. He looks upon his bride and chooses to describe her beauty with gentleness and delight. His focus is not on flaws, but on wholeness. He sees her as she truly is — precious, valued, and cherished.

This kind of affirmation is not flattery. It is grounded in commitment. Love that is secure does not tear down or withhold praise. It speaks life. It reassures rather than wounds.

The repeated emphasis on beauty speaks to the healing power of affirmation. Many people carry insecurity, shaped by neglect, criticism, or comparison. Here, love actively restores confidence. Words spoken in love have the ability to mend what fear and doubt have damaged.

Spiritually, this passage reflects how God speaks to His people. God does not define us by our weaknesses or past failures. He sees us through covenant love — redeemed, valued, and called His own. While God does call us to repentance and growth, He does not shame or demean. His love restores identity before it transforms behavior.

This passage also challenges how we speak to those entrusted to us. Love is not silent about goodness. Affirmation strengthens bonds and builds trust. Where love is present, words should reflect care, patience, and honor.

Song of Solomon 4 reminds us that love does not merely feel — it speaks. And what it speaks has the power to heal.

Application:

  • Speak life-giving words. Affirmation strengthens love and trust.

  • See through love, not criticism. Secure love focuses on wholeness, not flaws.

  • Honor those entrusted to you. Words shape identity and confidence.

  • Receive God’s affirmation. He sees you through covenant love.

  • Let love be intentional. Thoughtful words communicate value and care.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the way You see and love Your people. Teach me to speak words that bring life, encouragement, and healing. Guard my heart from careless speech and help me reflect Your love in how I view and treat others. May my words build up rather than tear down, and may love guide what I say. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda


Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Perfect Love, Properly Understood(1 John 4: 7-21)

When Scripture says “God is love,” do we pause to ask what that truly means — or do we allow culture to redefine it for us?

Key Verse:
“We love, because He first loved us.” —1 John 4:19 NASB

Background Context:
In 1 John 4:7–21, John makes one of the most profound statements in all of Scripture: God is love. But he does not leave that truth undefined. John roots love firmly in God’s actions, God’s holiness, and God’s purposes.

God’s love is revealed not in passive acceptance, but in sacrificial redemption. He sent His Son so that sin could be forgiven, not ignored. He gives His Spirit so that believers can be transformed, not left unchanged. John connects love to obedience, abiding, confidence before God, and genuine care for fellow believers.

This passage confronts shallow definitions of love and calls believers to understand and live out love God’s way.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

1 John 4: 7-21

God Is Love

      7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

      15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19We love, because He first loved us. 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

Reflection on 1 John 4:7–21:
“God is love” is one of the most quoted — and most misunderstood — statements in Scripture. John does not mean that God is love in the sense of unconditional acceptance of all behavior, lifestyles, or choices without repentance. God’s love is holy, purposeful, and redemptive.

God loved us first — while we were still sinners — but He loved us too much to leave us there. His love moved Him to send Yeshua to die for our sins so that forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation could be possible. His love also moved Yeshua to affirm the Torah and the Prophets as God’s standard for righteous living, both by His teaching and by His perfect example.

God’s love continues through the indwelling Holy Spirit, given to believers as Counselor and Guide — not to affirm the ways of the world, but to help us turn away from sin and walk in obedience to God.

John teaches that our love is perfected by abiding in God. This does not mean we become flawless, but that love reaches its intended purpose as we live in relationship with Him, walking in His ways. As love matures, fear diminishes. Those who abide in God’s love need not fear the day of judgment, because their confidence rests in Christ’s finished work and a life oriented toward obedience.

John also emphasizes love for our brother. This raises an important question: who is our brother? Yeshua answers this clearly. Our brother is not defined simply as “everyone who breathes,” but as those who do the will of the Father.

Yeshua said:
“Whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)

This does not mean we show hatred or cruelty toward unbelievers — Scripture calls us to kindness and truth for all — but it does clarify that biblical fellowship and family identity are rooted in submission to God.

Another critical question follows: how do we love God’s way?
Yeshua answers this as well. Love for God and love for others are inseparable from obedience to God’s commandments. According to Yeshua, the entire Torah and the Prophets hang on loving God and loving others — not as vague sentiment, but as lived obedience.

Yeshua said:
“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)

True love does not encourage people to remain in sin. That is man’s version of love, not God’s. God’s love tells the truth, calls for repentance, and invites transformation. Love that separates people from God is not love at all.

Biblical love shines light into darkness and points the way back to the Father through the Son. It calls us to be less like the world and more like Yeshua.

Application:

  • Define love biblically. Let Scripture, not culture, tell you what love truly is.

  • Remember God loved you first. Your obedience is a response, not a requirement to earn love.

  • Abide in God daily. Love matures as you live in relationship with Him.

  • Do not fear judgment. Perfect love casts out fear when your trust is in Christ.

  • Love your brother faithfully. Care for fellow believers with truth, humility, and action.

  • Speak truth in love. Do not use “love” as an excuse to affirm sin or silence truth.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving me with a love that saves, transforms, and leads me into truth. Help me understand Your love as You define it — holy, faithful, and redemptive. Guard my heart from adopting the world’s version of love, and teach me to love You and others through obedience and truth. Let my life reflect the love You first showed me through Your Son. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda


Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Love That Proves We Belong to God (1 John 3:11–24)

If someone examined your life closely, would they see love in action — or only words?

Key Verse:
“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.” —1 John 3:14 NASB

Background Context:
After establishing that believers are children of God who do not practice sin as a way of life, John now explains how that new identity is revealed outwardly — through love. He reminds the church that this message is not new; it has been proclaimed “from the beginning.”

John contrasts the love of God’s children with the hatred of Cain, whose jealousy and evil actions led him to murder his brother. This passage emphasizes that genuine faith produces visible love, practical obedience, and confidence before God, all empowered by the Holy Spirit who abides in believers.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

1 John 3:11–24

 11For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

      13Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

      23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Reflection on 1 John 3:11–24:
John begins by anchoring love as a foundational truth of the gospel. Loving one another is not an optional virtue or advanced spiritual discipline — it is evidence of spiritual life. Hatred, bitterness, or indifference toward others reveals spiritual death, just as Cain’s hatred exposed his allegiance to evil.

Cain’s example is sobering. He did not simply commit an isolated act of violence; his heart was already hardened. His works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Hatred grows when unrighteous hearts are confronted by godly lives.

John then shifts to assurance. “We know that we have passed out of death into life.” How? Not by perfect theology alone, but by love that flows outward. Love is not sentiment; it is sacrificial action modeled after Yeshua Himself, who laid down His life for us.

This love is meant to be practical. John asks a piercing question: if we see a brother in need and close our heart against him, how can God’s love abide in us? True love does not remain theoretical — it moves hands, feet, and resources.

Loving others does not mean approving of their sin or remaining silent when they walk toward harm; true love cares enough to speak truth with humility, calling one another away from sin and toward the life God offers.

Note the repeated emphasis on keeping his commandments as loving and abiding in him. Let us not fall prey to new and sadly increasingly accepted false teaching that says we can do whatever we want because we have “freedom in Christ”. He never made us free with the intent that we should sin more. We are free from the penalty of sin and forgiven. If we are truly in Christ, we will want to obey the instructions of the Father.

Grace is how YHWH shows love to us. Obeying and living according to his instructions is how we show love to him and each other. All the law and the prophets are based on this principle, according to Yeshua.

Matthew 22:34-40

    34But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

John’s teaching also addresses the believer’s conscience. There are moments when our hearts condemn us — when guilt, failure, or doubt whispers accusations. John reassures us that God is greater than our hearts. He knows the full truth of our lives, including our repentance and desire to obey.

Finally, John brings everything together: believe in the name of Yeshua, love one another, and abide in Him. The Spirit within us confirms that we belong to God. Our confidence does not rest in our performance, but in a life increasingly shaped by faith, love, and obedience.

Application:

  • Examine your love. Is it active and sacrificial, or distant and theoretical?

  • Reject bitterness and hatred. These belong to spiritual death, not to the children of God.

  • Love as Christ loved. True love costs something and reflects the cross.

  • Respond to needs. Open your heart and hands when God places someone in need before you.

  • Speak truth with love. Care enough to point others toward righteousness, not silence that allows harm.

  • Rest when your heart condemns you. God’s knowledge and mercy are greater than your feelings.

  • Abide daily. Walk closely with God through faith, obedience, and reliance on His Spirit.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for bringing me from death to life through Your Son. Teach me to love not just in words, but in action and truth. Guard my heart from bitterness and selfishness, and help me to reflect the sacrificial love of Yeshua. When my heart condemns me, remind me that You are greater, and that Your Spirit abides within me. Strengthen my confidence as I walk in faith, love, and obedience. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda


Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Love in the Midst of Suffering (John 19:17-27)

Even in His agony, Jesus’ love never stopped caring for others.

Have you ever noticed how love can shine brightest in moments of pain?

Key Verse:
“When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.” —John 19:26–27 NASB

Background Context:
After Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified, He carried His cross to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. There, soldiers nailed Him to the cross between two others and cast lots for His garments, unknowingly fulfilling Scripture (Psalm 22:18). Above Him hung a sign reading “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.” The chief priests objected, but Pilate refused to change it. Amid the crowd and the mocking voices, several faithful followers stood near the cross — among them, Jesus’ mother Mary, her sister, Mary Magdalene, and the disciple John.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 19:17-27

     17They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

      23Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEMAND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.” 25Therefore the soldiers did these things.
But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.

Reflection on John 19:17–27:
In His final hours, Jesus displayed a love that transcended suffering. Though enduring unbearable pain, He looked down from the cross and cared for His mother, entrusting her to John’s care. In doing so, He fulfilled not only His role as Savior but also as a loving Son.

This tender moment reveals the heart of God — personal, compassionate, and attentive even amid cosmic redemption. The One bearing the sins of the world still paused to meet the needs of an individual heart. The cross was not only the place where salvation was accomplished but also where love was expressed most personally.

At the foot of the cross, the ground is level. Whether we come in grief, guilt, or gratitude, we find the same love that embraced Mary and John — a love that sees us even in our pain and draws us into family with one another through Christ.

Application:
Spend time reflecting on Jesus’ compassion at the cross. Who around you needs that same selfless love today — someone hurting, lonely, or overlooked? Ask God to show you how to extend care even in your own moments of difficulty, remembering that when we love others sacrificially, we reflect the heart of our Savior.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing perfect love even in the midst of Your suffering. Help me to see others through Your eyes and to extend compassion even when life feels heavy. Teach me to care for those You’ve placed in my life and to reflect the same faithful love You showed from the cross. In Your holy name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda


Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

The Glory of Restraint (Proverbs 25)

True wisdom shows itself in how we speak, act, and wait on God’s timing. Have you ever regretted words you spoke too quickly?

Key Verse:
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken at the proper time.” —Proverbs 25:11 NASB

Background Context:
Proverbs 25 begins a new section of Solomon’s sayings, copied by the men of King Hezekiah. These proverbs emphasize self-control, humility, and the power of words. They use vivid images — like refined silver, stormy winds, or cool water — to show how wisdom should shape ordinary life. The focus here is practical: how to handle conflict, speak carefully, avoid pride, and honor God through daily choices.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Proverbs 25

Similitudes, Instructions

1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the smith;

5Take away the wicked before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.

6Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;

7For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

8Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?

9Argue your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,

10Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not pass away.

11Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.

12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14Like clouds and wind without rain
Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.

15By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

16Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.

17Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become weary of you and hate you.

18Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow
Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

19Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the LORD will reward you.

23The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

24It is better to live in a corner of the roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is good news from a distant land.

26Like a trampled spring and a polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.

28Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

Reflection on Proverbs 25:11:
Wisdom doesn’t just lie in what we say but when and how we say it. Solomon compares a timely word to “apples of gold in settings of silver” — an image of beauty, value, and craftsmanship. Just as fine art requires patience and precision, so does speaking wisely.

This chapter also urges restraint. Verse 28 warns that a person without self-control is like a city with broken walls — vulnerable and exposed. Wisdom calls us to humility before kings, gentleness in correction, and faithfulness in relationships. Together, these verses remind us that the small choices of our daily conduct reveal whether we walk in God’s wisdom or in folly.

Application:
Think of a situation where your words or actions carry weight — at work, at home, or in a friendship. Are you rushing to speak, or are you waiting for the right time to speak truth with love? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your tongue and strengthen your self-control so your life reflects wisdom rather than impulse.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the wisdom of Your Word that guides even the ordinary parts of my life. Help me to speak words that build up, not tear down, and to wait for the right time to speak truth in love. Teach me humility, patience, and self-control so that my life may reflect Your wisdom to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda


Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Honor in the Shadows (Genesis 9:20-29)

Character is revealed not only in how we act—but in how we respond to someone else’s failure.

Key Verse:
“But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it on both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.” —Genesis 9:23 NASB

Background Context:
After the flood, Noah began cultivating the land and planted a vineyard. But in this new beginning came a moment of weakness—Noah became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. His son Ham saw his father’s nakedness and told his brothers, but Shem and Japheth responded differently. They covered their father respectfully, choosing honor over exposure. When Noah awoke and learned what happened, he pronounced a prophetic blessing and curse that would shape the future of his sons’ descendants.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 9 (20-29)

      20Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. 21He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.

25So he said,
“Cursed be Canaan;
A servant of servants
He shall be to his brothers.”

26He also said,
“Blessed be the LORD,
The God of Shem;
And let Canaan be his servant.

      27“May God enlarge Japheth,
And let him dwell in the tents of Shem;
And let Canaan be his servant.”

      28Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood. 29So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.

Reflection on Genesis 9:20–29:
Noah, a man of great faith and obedience, faltered. Scripture doesn’t glorify this moment—it records it honestly. And in this moment of vulnerability, the real focus becomes the response of his sons.

Ham’s reaction exposed dishonor. He saw his father’s shame and spoke of it, possibly mocking or spreading it rather than covering it. But Shem and Japheth chose a higher path. They honored their father, walking backward with a garment and refusing even to look on his shame.

This moment draws a powerful line between dishonor and respect, between gossip and grace. It’s a reminder that righteousness isn’t just about what we avoid—but how we act when others fall.

Noah’s response is sobering: a curse on Canaan, Ham’s son, and a blessing on Shem and Japheth. The consequences of dishonor stretched beyond Ham himself. But so did the blessings of honor.

Application:
How do you respond when someone falls—especially someone close to you, or someone in leadership? Our culture often rushes to expose, ridicule, or broadcast others’ failures. But God calls us to something different: mercy, discretion, and honor.

This doesn’t mean covering sin to enable it—it means handling it with reverence and humility, especially when someone is vulnerable. Choose to be like Shem and Japheth. Walk backward. Cover in love. And be someone God can trust with the sacred task of grace.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to respond with honor when others fail. Teach me to walk in humility and cover others with grace—not gossip. Let my heart reflect Yours, full of mercy and truth. May my actions always bring blessing, not shame. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda


Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.