What is a “SCRIPTOGRAM” ?

by abeExtracts of truth, Illustration, What's newPosted on Comments are Disabled

Well, no defined usage or synonym exists and does not appear in any major dictionaries, so I will take the initiative to assign at least one usage of the term. It is a blend or fusion of “scripture” (the Bible) and “diagram”. It is a visual or diagrammatic presentation of Biblical scripture – a verse or verses, passage or passages or a theme rooted in the WORD of God. You will find many examples of this, here on this website. Some have been included below.

To clarify the concept, take for example the first scriptogram below connecting John 15 and Philippians 4:13. Jesus relates to us in John 15 that to bear fruit we have to be in Him, obeying Him and following Him, without which we cannot do anything of value in His Kingdom. It contrasts with Paul’s writing and confidence in Jesus that he can do all things in the midst of life’s challenges. The illustration draws forth both truths together to remind us about the “whole counsel of God”.

Simply put:

A scriptogram is a visual or diagrammatic presentation of Biblical scripture.

A scriptogram is a visual diagram that brings Biblical verses or themes to life

Scriptograms connect scripture so one can see and remember God’s truth more clearly.

Scriptogram= Scripture + Diagram.

Most readings of the Bible are linear but scriptograms make it relational.

Not just a verse but a scriptogram for the day.

Close Encounters at the Cross

by abeDevotionalPosted on Comments are Disabled
Luke 23:39-43 (NASB 2020)One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Three men hung on crosses in agony, shame, and death’s shadow. Yet amid their suffering, a conversation took place that reveals the eternal difference between knowing about Christ and truly receiving Him as Saviour.

The First Thief: Knowledge Without Repentance. The first criminal mocked Jesus: “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” He recognised Jesus as the Messiah with power to save, but he showed no remorse for his own sins. His only desire was escape from present pain. He addressed Jesus impersonally as “the Christ,” never turning to Him as Saviour. He wanted temporary relief, not eternal salvation. Knowledge alone was not enough.

The Second Thief: Repentance That Saves. The other thief responded very differently. He rebuked his companion and confessed his guilt: “We are suffering justly… but this Man has done nothing wrong.” He accepted his punishment as deserved, acknowledged Jesus’ innocence, and showed reverent fear of God. Then he turned personally to the Lord:“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” He called Him “Jesus”-the personal name meaning “the Lord saves.” He asked for nothing in this life; only to be remembered in the world to come. In simple faith and repentance, he placed his eternity in Jesus’ hands. Jesus answered with grace: “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Lessons from the Cross. Both thieves knew the Man in the center was the Christ. Only one repented and trusted Him as Saviour.

  • One feared only death.
  • The other feared God.
  • One sought relief from the cross.
  • The other sought salvation from eternal judgment.

The second thief had no time for church, baptism, or good works — yet he was saved instantly because he repented and believed.

A Daily Walk of Repentance. For believers today, repentance does not end at conversion. The Greek word metanoia means a change of mind – a continual turning from sin toward God. Every day we must deal with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life as God sanctifies us and conforms us to the image of His Son.

God desires truth in the innermost being. Daily repentance keeps our hearts tender and our walk close to Jesus.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the mercy You showed the thief on the cross. Create in me a heart that truly fears You, confesses sin honestly, and turns to You daily in repentance. Help me to know You not just as Christ, but as my personal Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Giving God the First Fruits of Your Day

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Like the first morning, fresh and full of promise. Just as the hymn celebrates God’s re-creation of each new day, we are invited to begin ours in worship and surrender. In a way we are His re-creation (new creation) in Christ Jesus too.

In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 (BSB)

This verse feels almost like a divine promise, a covenant of attentiveness. The Lord hears our voice first thing in the morning. When we put Him first, making Him our waking thought, everything changes.

The transformative power of morning priority

I can testify that making this a daily norm reshaped my life. Waking under His sovereignty brings peace and joy that become strength for the day ahead. “The joy of the LORD is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Starting with Him sets the tone; His presence infuses the hours that follow.

The morning sacrifice

The psalmist speaks of laying a “plea” (“prepare a sacrifice for you”, ESV) before God at daybreak. This isn’t a guilt offering but a thank offering, a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving from our lips.

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:15–16 (NIV).

Begin with gratitude and praise. Let your first words honour Him. Then carry that spirit into the day through acts of goodness and generosity.

Practical ways to cultivate this habit

  • Prioritise your quiet time: the morning mind is fresh, rested, and alert, no competing distractions yet. Set apart, intentional, quiet moments before the world rushes in. Get God in before the world gets to you.
  • Discipline your evening and be intentional: go to bed early, exercise self-control, and practice perseverance. A well-rested body supports a disciplined mind.
  • Prepare through prayer: start by offering praise, confessing dependence, and seeking His guidance. Lay your day before Him, your plans, meetings, and moments.
  • Put on the full armour of God; every day holds spiritual battles. “Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11, NIV). Morning is the time to arm yourself with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word.

Living expectantly

Approach the day with watchful expectation. Stay aware of His presence. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, divine appointments, opportunities to help, to share the gospel, or gently turn conversations toward Him.

A fruitful day isn’t random; it’s purposeful. We live ready, “for we do not know when [He] comes” (Matthew 24:42–44). Intentionality turns ordinary moments into eternal significance.

The promise of starting well

Anything that begins well has a greater chance of ending well. What better foundation than communion with God? Once you grasp the weight and wonder of this morning priority, it reshapes your routine, your priorities, and ultimately, you.

Prayer

Lord, in the morning You hear my voice. May I rise to meet You first, offering praise, waiting expectantly, and walking through this day in Your strength and leading. Thank You for new mercies every morning. Amen.

Quote: Morning has broken; and God is already there, ready to meet you!

Food for thought:

  1. What are some of the competing priorities in our life?
  2. What are the things that keeps us from our time with God?
  3. Could we change our routine to make time for God first thing?

The 3D’s: Desire, Diligence & Delight

by abeDevotional, ScripturalPosted on Comments are Disabled
Proverbs 13:4 (ESV): “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

The Bible contrasts two paths: the sluggard’s empty craving versus the diligent person’s rich satisfaction. Mere desire without action leads to frustration. The lazy soul “craves and gets nothing.” But diligence that is steady and faithful brings fulfilment, supplying the soul abundantly.

This connects deeply to delight in the Lord. When we delight in God finding our greatest joy, pleasure, and contentment in Him, our desires align with His will. Psalm 37:4 promises that as we prioritise enjoying God above all, He shapes and grants the longings of our hearts. True delight transforms desire from selfish craving into God-honoring pursuit.

Diligence bridges these: it is the active response to delight. When we delight in the Lord, we diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6), pursue His ways, and labour faithfully in His service. This diligence isn’t burdensome duty but joyful expression of love; cultivating godliness, bearing fruit, and experiencing deeper satisfaction in God and His gifts.

The sluggard’s desire remains unfulfilled because it lacks action rooted in delight. But the diligent heart, anchored in delighting in God, finds its desires richly satisfied, often in ways far better than imagined, as they conform to His perfect purposes.

Dear brother or sister, nothing happens without true desire. Surprisingly it does not originate in us. Of our own will, we have no capacity to seek Him. Desire originates in Him as in Philippians 2:13. “ For it is God who works in you both to desire and work for His good pleasure.” Desire changes perceptions and perceptions transform our lives. What if…. we ask Him for desire, for Him. Now that would certainly be in His will and He will most definitely grant us desire if only we ask. Ask Him and you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 

Prayer: God give me desire, for You. Let it be my heart’s desire.

The longing!

by abeDevotional, ScripturalPosted on Comments are Disabled

God has placed a profound void within every human heart—a deep, innate longing for something infinitely greater than anything this world can offer. As Scripture affirms, He “has set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), designing us with an eternal capacity that only He can fulfill. This built-in desire draws us toward Him, yet in our fallen state, it often pulls us in the opposite direction. We chase after pleasures, achievements, relationships, and possessions—anything we believe might finally satisfy or complete us. Our sinful nature drowns out this true longing beneath layers of competing fleshly cravings and distractions.

But the ache remains. It is God Himself who works in us, giving us both the desire and the power to pursue what truly pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). Only when we turn from lesser things and rest in Christ does the restlessness find its true home.

Prayer

Lord, grant me to delight in You alone—undividedly, exclusively, and eternally. Let my heart find its sole and supreme joy in You forever. Amen.

The Sunrise from on High!

by abeIllustration, Scriptural, TheologyPosted on Comments are Disabled

In Luke 1:78, part of Zechariah’s prophetic song (the Benedictus) captures the essence of divine visitation: after centuries of spiritual darkness—sin, oppression, and the shadow of death—the promised Savior arrives like the first light of dawn breaking over the horizon. Not a harsh glare, but a gentle, warming, life-giving radiance from heaven itself that illuminates those sitting in gloom, scatters the night, and guides feet into the path of peace (v. 79).

The “Sunrise from on high” is Jesus, the Light of the world (John 1:4–9), descending in mercy to visit and redeem. Zechariah’s words blend Old Testament hopes (like Malachi 4:2’s “Sun of Righteousness”) with the wonder of incarnation: God Himself draws near, dawn personified, to end the long night and usher in eternal day.

My Hiding Place

by abePoems, Prayer, ScripturalPosted on Comments are Disabled

I will not be afraid
For You are my hiding place-
A secure refuge, the safest space,
A shelter free from all condemnation,
A haven of unshaken confidence.

I will not fear,
For You are my hiding place.
No danger can draw near enough to harm;
I am safe, encircled by Your arms
Secure in You as in an impregnable fortress

I will not be found by the enemy,
For you are my hiding place.
I am hidden with Christ in You;
None who intend harm can see me through,
For I am concealed, O Lord, in You.

I will not be anxious,
For You are my hiding place.
None can disturb this perfect peace;
My confidence is in You-and You are my confidence;
My trust is in You-and You are my trust.

And more than this: 
You cover me with songs,
Songs of deliverance.
The Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

A new one – inspired by Psalm 32:7, Colossians 3:3, Jeremiah 17:7, and echoing the timeless hymn, the “Rock of Ages” by Agustus Toplady in 1776. May these words lift your heart and turn your soul to the praise of His glory!

To download a pdf copy with a decorative sepia tone click here

He satisfies me. Psalm103: 1-5

by abeIllustration, ScripturalPosted on Comments are Disabled
1 Bless the Lord, my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, my soul,
And do not forget any of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your guilt [iniquities],
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with favour [steadfast love] and compassion [mercy];
5 Who satisfies your [desires] years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
  • He pardons
  • He heals
  • He redeems
  • He crowns
  • He loves
  • He satisfies
  • He renews

He satisfies and renews us as we recount every single benefit; big and small.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him – John Piper