Devotion 1 of 2: Ps 97
V.1 says, “The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!” This psalm says there are a multitude of islands in the world! How many islands do you think can be found in oceans on this planet? On the internet, it says there are over 600,000! That’s certainly a multitude! But the number is constantly changing because new islands are being made and old islands are disappearing all the time!
But, surprisingly, only about 11,000 islands are inhabited! Most are too small and lack water, plants and animal life to support a human population.
Why should the multitude of islands be glad? One obvious reason is because islands are some of the most beautiful places on earth. Because islands are surrounded by ocean, many islands have gorgeous white or gold-colored beaches!
Many islands also have green, forested interiors with mountains that offer exciting hiking trails and an abundance of exotic birds and vibrant wildlife. Rivers, lakes, spectacular waterfalls, magnificent trees, and beautiful flowers are some other mesmerizing features of islands.
Finally, as you know, Japan is an island nation! And God has blessed this country with many beautiful mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, animals, trees, rich earth for planting crops, a long coastline to provide for fishing, hot spas, 4 distinct seasons, etc., etc.!
Let’s be glad for this precious country that God has given to us! Let’s love Japan! And let’s bring forth a revival in Japan so that many people can go to an even better place—heaven—after this life!
デボーション1/2：詩97篇
1節は、「主は、王だ。地は、こおどりし、多くの島々は喜べ。」と言います。 この詩には、世界には多くの島があると書かれています！この地球上の海に、いったいいくつの島があると思いますか？インターネットによれば、その数は60万を超えるといいます！確かに多数です！しかし、新しい島が作られ、古い島が消えていくので、その数は常に変化しているのです！
しかし、驚くべきことに、人が住んでいる島は約11,000しかありません！人々の生活を支えるためには、ほとんどの島は小さすぎて、水も植物も動物も不十分です。
なぜ多くの島は喜べとあるのでしょう？明白な理由のひとつは、島々が地球上で最も美しい場所のひとつだからです。島は海に囲まれているため、多くの島には白や金色の豪華な砂浜があるのです！
また、多くの島には緑豊かな森があり、山々にはエキサイティングなハイキングコースがあり、エキゾチックな鳥や生き生きとした野生動物がたくさんいます。川、湖、壮大な滝、壮大な木々、美しい花々は、島の他の魅惑的な特徴です。
最後に、ご存知のように日本は島国であります！そして、神はこの国に多くの美しい山々、森、川、湖、動物、木々、作物を植えるための豊かな大地、漁をするための長い海岸線、温泉、はっきりとした四季、等々を祝福として備えてくださいました！
神が私たちに与えてくださったこの貴重な国を喜びましょう！日本を愛しましょう！そして、多くの人々がこの世を去った後、天国というさらに素晴らしい場所に行けるよう、日本にリバイバルを起こしましょう！
この箇所の日本語訳はまだありません。英語の原文を表示しています。
Devotion 2 of 2: John 19
This chapter describes the crucifixion of Christ. It took place at a place called the Place of the Skull, or Golgotha in Hebrew (v.17). Today, there are 2 well-known sites in Jerusalem that are claimed to be Golgotha. Let’s examine the Bible to see if we can find clues to where Golgotha really was.
The Catholic and Orthodox site of Golgotha, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, was established in 326 AD by Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. According to legend, she also discovered the relic of Jesus’ cross! Helena established many places in Palestine as holy sites and built churches there.
The Protestant site of Golgotha is called Gordon’s Calvary because a British Major-General named Charles Gordon believed the skull-shaped cliff in Jerusalem was the true place of the crucifixion. A garden tomb was discovered close by that was ideal for prayer, so this site was preferred by Protestants to the very cluttered Catholic site. However, evidence does not support Gordon’s Calvary as the true Golgotha.
Actually, another site for Calvary has been suggested recently. It is the Mt. of Olives, outside of the eastern gate of the temple and the city. One reason for this alternative is because Heb 13:11-13 states that the crucifixion occurred “outside the camp” (outside Jerusalem) and “outside the gate” (outside the eastern gate).
Regardless of where the actual Golgotha was, the act of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind is the most important thing. To believe in that transforms us into children of God and gives us eternal life in heaven!
— Pastor Elmer Inafuku