Psalms 101:6
My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.
The one lesson that I've heard over and over again in the past 4 days of church camp is how the Lord is looking for the faithful.
The Mandarin speaker asked this question which some often ask of why does God seem to favour some over others? Why do some people's life seem so blessed and mine so lacking? Is God a God who practices favouritism?
The pastor proceeded to give this illustration of a human father of 4 children with different personalities and attitude:
Child 1 - nice child who would volunteer to do tasks, but somehow was absent minded and won't always complete what he set up to do.
Child 2 - Makes some noise when told to do work, and does it unwillingly.
Child 3 - Protests and makes a lot of noise and never wants to do anything.
Child 4 - Always arises to do whatever the father says and can be trusted to do it well everytime.
Even though each of them had different attitudes and results shown, the father still loves all 4 as they are all his offspring, but which child would the father been keen to ask to do work and can be trusted? Naturally, the fourth child which is always Faithful in his undertaking and would be seen as especially favoured because the father knows how child 4 always delivers.
This illustration also gives us the insights of how God the Father sees each of us. Psalms 101:6 clearly gives us that insight of God the Father's heartbeat - "My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me".
I smiled when the Pastor gave the illustration of the father because I could understand the analogy as I have rangers that I can also categorise. Some whom I would wholeheartedly place my life in and trust, and some which I would only trust them to handle low-valued items, and some of which I won't even trust with 1 cent because I don't see an iota of faithful and responsibility in their lives.
Faithfulness is truely an under-rated virtue in us today, but it holds a heavy expectation on every one of us who are called the servants of God. Jesus teaches in Luke 16:10 that "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much." Should it therefore surprise us that we never seem to gain greater responsibilities or achieve greater destinies?
But yet, faithfulness is not just trustworthy in doing our tasks and projects of school or work. We have to be responsible in school or work because if we don't, we get horrible grades or performance evaluation which results in loss of benefits/monetary rewards. Everyone in the world pursues after that and it is expected in the secular, you need to walk the talk. But if you are living well outside what about in church and at home?
What's important as a child of God is the need to be faithful in things of God! Do you come to church on time and can you be relied on your words at home? There are hundreds of questions we can ask ourselves but can you comfortably say that in everything of God, the church and at home, you are like the illustrated fourth child who always does everything faithfully and even God, church friends and your parents can testify about you?
We all know that someday we have to account to God for the talents given to us and the investments we have obtained for it. But today let's just do a simple test to see if you have been living a faithful life. Proverbs 28:20a says "A faithful man will abound with blessings." Therefore can you examine yourself before God and say, yes, I've been faithful as I could and I see God's abounding blessings in my life. Sadly, some of us seem to always see our results seep away from us as water runs though cupped fingers.
May the Holy Spirit teach you and empower you to live faithfully before God and man.
blessings,
M.
And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? (Luke 12:42)
09 June 2007
23 May 2007
While the sun still shines
Psalms 90:12 (KVJ)
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalms 90:12 (NASB)
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
First thing I read today in the newspaper was the nasty report of how a bright 8 year old boy was killed by a reversing lorry yesterday. This is but one of the many recent reports of people being killed in traffic accidents.
Some 40 minutes later, as I left the house and was about to cross the street, I made a concerted effort to cross at the zebra crossing and only after I saw all the cars come to a standstill. Somehow, I simply became a lot more cautious and didn't cross it on my own confidence and skill.
Call it paranoia or being overly cautious but it was a good reminder of the fraility of life and the fact that we don't know how long we have for our lifespan. Thus, the psalmist asked God to teach him the preciousness of the time given to him for his life, because it would provoke him to use the days to live wisely.
The human body is indeed fragile and while the sun still shines in these last of last days, may you be a good steward of the days given to you. That your heart would choose to be alert with the fear of God in your life that would guide you in pleasing God above self interests.
Jesus declares in Matthew 10:39, " He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Therefore, don't grieve the Holy Spirit and allow yourself to drift along with the never ending issues of life and be overcomed with stress, studies, programmes, relationships, money and career. The secular are already embroiled in life's issues, but why are you following likewise?
May you choose wisely and be a good steward of the time given to you in this life.
Blessings,
M.
"As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away." Psalms 90:10
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalms 90:12 (NASB)
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
First thing I read today in the newspaper was the nasty report of how a bright 8 year old boy was killed by a reversing lorry yesterday. This is but one of the many recent reports of people being killed in traffic accidents.
Some 40 minutes later, as I left the house and was about to cross the street, I made a concerted effort to cross at the zebra crossing and only after I saw all the cars come to a standstill. Somehow, I simply became a lot more cautious and didn't cross it on my own confidence and skill.
Call it paranoia or being overly cautious but it was a good reminder of the fraility of life and the fact that we don't know how long we have for our lifespan. Thus, the psalmist asked God to teach him the preciousness of the time given to him for his life, because it would provoke him to use the days to live wisely.
The human body is indeed fragile and while the sun still shines in these last of last days, may you be a good steward of the days given to you. That your heart would choose to be alert with the fear of God in your life that would guide you in pleasing God above self interests.
Jesus declares in Matthew 10:39, " He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Therefore, don't grieve the Holy Spirit and allow yourself to drift along with the never ending issues of life and be overcomed with stress, studies, programmes, relationships, money and career. The secular are already embroiled in life's issues, but why are you following likewise?
May you choose wisely and be a good steward of the time given to you in this life.
Blessings,
M.
"As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away." Psalms 90:10
22 May 2007
Add Salt to all your Offerings
Leviticus 2:13
Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
As earlier posted, salt is one of the most significant item talked about throughout the bible. In the grain offering which the people of God were instructed to perform, salt was to be used to season the grain. The grain offering was presented after the burnt-offering (done for the pardon of sin). The purpose of the bloodless, grain offering was an offering of tribute to God for His goodness and provisions. While the people were the one who laboured to reap the grains, it was God which blessed and provided them with the final harvest. Thus, the grain offering represents the consecretion to God of the fruit of one's labour.
But why add salt? Salt is used universally to preserve and maintain the purity of food. We see this in the first miracle which Elisha performed after Elijah had been taken up by God is captured in 2 Kings 2:19-22, below:
The men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive." "Bring me a new bowl," he said, "and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.' " And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
Salt was used by Elisha to make the water wholesome for farming and it gave the land a new lease of life. Similiarly, as much as the grain offering was given by the people as an offering of God's abundance, God were pointing to the people that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. The instructions of adding salt to the grain offering was to remind the people of the benefits of the covenant that God has made with His people - He would be their God and they His people. Likewise, as children of God, we need to know how this affects us. The bible says that by Grace we have been saved, not by works lest anyone of us should boast.
Do not forget that each week as you come into the sanctuary of the Lord, we should come ready to consecrete to God the fruit of our week's labour. Even as we are called to be salt of the world, we often come into the sanctuary defeated and/or exhausted. Why so?
Instead, every week we should come ready to be renewed by God. Don't rob God of the worship which He deserves, neither should you deprive yourself of the glorious destiny which He has promised to us who are children of God.
For by the Grace and through the blood of Christ, we need to understand that we have lived through the week with God's Grace. Thus, we must come with the right attitude and enter the sanctuary with our thanksgiving (grain) offerings of praise, worship and monetary giving that is a grateful tribute to God. Then, before we offer it, we will give thanks for by the work of Christ on the cross, our thanksgiving has been sanctified. We should also be reminded of the covenant of God's faithfulness to our lives and be renewed for the next week ahead. (not just sit in the pews and go through the motion.)
So even as you come into the sanctuary this week and every other week, God is saying, don't forget to offer me consecreted, pure tribute of offering and rememeber that you are more than conquerors because of Christ Jesus in you. Rejoice therefore and may you live victoriously!
blessings,
M.
"For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17
Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
As earlier posted, salt is one of the most significant item talked about throughout the bible. In the grain offering which the people of God were instructed to perform, salt was to be used to season the grain. The grain offering was presented after the burnt-offering (done for the pardon of sin). The purpose of the bloodless, grain offering was an offering of tribute to God for His goodness and provisions. While the people were the one who laboured to reap the grains, it was God which blessed and provided them with the final harvest. Thus, the grain offering represents the consecretion to God of the fruit of one's labour.
But why add salt? Salt is used universally to preserve and maintain the purity of food. We see this in the first miracle which Elisha performed after Elijah had been taken up by God is captured in 2 Kings 2:19-22, below:
The men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive." "Bring me a new bowl," he said, "and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.' " And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
Salt was used by Elisha to make the water wholesome for farming and it gave the land a new lease of life. Similiarly, as much as the grain offering was given by the people as an offering of God's abundance, God were pointing to the people that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. The instructions of adding salt to the grain offering was to remind the people of the benefits of the covenant that God has made with His people - He would be their God and they His people. Likewise, as children of God, we need to know how this affects us. The bible says that by Grace we have been saved, not by works lest anyone of us should boast.
Do not forget that each week as you come into the sanctuary of the Lord, we should come ready to consecrete to God the fruit of our week's labour. Even as we are called to be salt of the world, we often come into the sanctuary defeated and/or exhausted. Why so?
Instead, every week we should come ready to be renewed by God. Don't rob God of the worship which He deserves, neither should you deprive yourself of the glorious destiny which He has promised to us who are children of God.
For by the Grace and through the blood of Christ, we need to understand that we have lived through the week with God's Grace. Thus, we must come with the right attitude and enter the sanctuary with our thanksgiving (grain) offerings of praise, worship and monetary giving that is a grateful tribute to God. Then, before we offer it, we will give thanks for by the work of Christ on the cross, our thanksgiving has been sanctified. We should also be reminded of the covenant of God's faithfulness to our lives and be renewed for the next week ahead. (not just sit in the pews and go through the motion.)
So even as you come into the sanctuary this week and every other week, God is saying, don't forget to offer me consecreted, pure tribute of offering and rememeber that you are more than conquerors because of Christ Jesus in you. Rejoice therefore and may you live victoriously!
blessings,
M.
"For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17
04 May 2007
Don't Grumble
Exodus 15:22-26
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. ) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."
Immediately after the victorious and magnificant Red Sea crossing which the power of God was demonstrated, some 3 days later, the Israelites forget everything and become their good old sinful self .
We get a glimpse of the Israelite's human nature surfacing, something which you and I as Singaporeans are super at - grumbling (aka as complaining). Somehow, we grumble as long as things don't suit us or don't meet our expectations.
Note that the thirsty Israelites grumbled to Moses because after three days of travlling in the desert without water, and having found waters, were unhappy that the waters of Marah were bitter. It wasn't good enough that they found water to drink, the water had to be pleasant enough for them to drink. Somehow, I can imagine many of us, myself included, like that if we were placed in the situation, because like the Israelites we can't see to appreciate the provisions in perspective to our prior needy situation.
Today, I like to just share a simple reminder to you and myself who are going about the past while trying to find water for our lives - Don't grumble. Regardless of whatever the Lord provides. In everything, let's learn to give thanks.
Blessings.
M.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
P.S - Now the most interesting part of the scripture is found as we read on after God healed the waters. The Lord made a decree and a law for the people to test them. The test was for them to listen carefully to the voice of God, to do what is right in His eyes and keep all His decrees. Weirdly, the results promised for doing all of that was that there would be no diseases that would be levied upon the Israelites.
Disease? Why wasn't the rewards of being God-fearing more of God's blessing and provision? Especially since the people were already walking in the desert and suffering in the uncomfortable conditions.
Simply because the people were already promised that God was bringing them out of captivity into the promise land which would be full of abundance. The provisions were a given blessing that were already bestowed. The freedom from the diseases which God was talking about was the 10 plagues:
1.(Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
2.(Exodus 7:26-8:11) reptiles (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
3.(Exodus 8:12-15) lice ('Kinim')
4.(Exodus 8:16-28) Either flies, wild animals or beetles ('Arov')
5.(Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever')
6.(Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin')
7.(Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad')
8.(Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
9.(Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot')
In the next few postings, I hope to elaborate more about God's promises to the Israelites of complete protection from any of the 10 plagues curses of God and what each of them could mean for us. Meanwhile, I challenge you to spend some time digesting the latter part of the key verses and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to see how/what the 10 plagues link
Cheers,M.
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. ) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."
Immediately after the victorious and magnificant Red Sea crossing which the power of God was demonstrated, some 3 days later, the Israelites forget everything and become their good old sinful self .
We get a glimpse of the Israelite's human nature surfacing, something which you and I as Singaporeans are super at - grumbling (aka as complaining). Somehow, we grumble as long as things don't suit us or don't meet our expectations.
Note that the thirsty Israelites grumbled to Moses because after three days of travlling in the desert without water, and having found waters, were unhappy that the waters of Marah were bitter. It wasn't good enough that they found water to drink, the water had to be pleasant enough for them to drink. Somehow, I can imagine many of us, myself included, like that if we were placed in the situation, because like the Israelites we can't see to appreciate the provisions in perspective to our prior needy situation.
Today, I like to just share a simple reminder to you and myself who are going about the past while trying to find water for our lives - Don't grumble. Regardless of whatever the Lord provides. In everything, let's learn to give thanks.
Blessings.
M.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
P.S - Now the most interesting part of the scripture is found as we read on after God healed the waters. The Lord made a decree and a law for the people to test them. The test was for them to listen carefully to the voice of God, to do what is right in His eyes and keep all His decrees. Weirdly, the results promised for doing all of that was that there would be no diseases that would be levied upon the Israelites.
Disease? Why wasn't the rewards of being God-fearing more of God's blessing and provision? Especially since the people were already walking in the desert and suffering in the uncomfortable conditions.
Simply because the people were already promised that God was bringing them out of captivity into the promise land which would be full of abundance. The provisions were a given blessing that were already bestowed. The freedom from the diseases which God was talking about was the 10 plagues:
1.(Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
2.(Exodus 7:26-8:11) reptiles (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
3.(Exodus 8:12-15) lice ('Kinim')
4.(Exodus 8:16-28) Either flies, wild animals or beetles ('Arov')
5.(Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever')
6.(Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin')
7.(Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad')
8.(Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
9.(Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot')
In the next few postings, I hope to elaborate more about God's promises to the Israelites of complete protection from any of the 10 plagues curses of God and what each of them could mean for us. Meanwhile, I challenge you to spend some time digesting the latter part of the key verses and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to see how/what the 10 plagues link
Cheers,M.
23 April 2007
Salty Conversations
Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Today, I like to revisit one points which the bible talks about of salt : The need for us to be salty conversationalist.
Indeed we all know that life without salt would result in turmoil and every food we take would either be bland or limited in dimension because all we taste is sweet, sour and bitter. Sadly, many of us fail to be the essential salt of the world and all we are to others around us is sweet, sour and bitter.
What are the expectations required of us by Paul when he said our conversations needed to be full of grace and seasoned with salt? Salt's characteristics as a seasoning to food is to enhance the natural taste and complete the flavour and taste. In meats such as chicken wings or steak, it brings out the savoury,juicy taste of the meat. Salt also tends to enhance our perception of other flavors, particularly that of sweetness. When we add salt into freshly cut pineapples, it adds an additional salty, albeit tasty, dimension to the tart, sourish-sweet taste of the fruit.
Paul was instructing us that similiar to the use of salt to enhance food, we need to enhance our normal speech and bring out the added dimensions of Godly grace. It is a command to live in the world and be set apart. Thus instructions like this from Paul were given to aid us in our own christian walk that we will know how to respond to each person that crosses our path.
Why is it therefore that having been told to us that all we say, talk, and converse should be seasoned with the amazing grace of God, yet we still have so much whining and complaining. Especially in the last 3 years where the proliferation of technologies have resulted in so many taking it upon themselves to freely express themselves online with all their angsts and issues. Do I really care that you are being transparent to people and true to yourself? No! Neither did Paul. Paul advises us to "be wise in the way you act toward outsiders". It's not about you bottling up your emotions, but about you electing to be wise in all that you say, simply because that man may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
It just irks me to see many fail to succeed in their lives and live it fully according to the victorious destiny God has in-stored for us. From lousy results, lukewarm relationships, compromised health and a life full of lack, it is often a result of a life that has been compromised and one that has deviated from a christian's spiritual destiny of success in God. The word of God proclaims that plans of God are made to prosper His children, and to give us a future, but only if they live righteous lives! For it is written in 1 Peter 3:12 " For the eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayers"!
If today you are one of those who are living a crappy life crippled by you and your never ending issues, I pray you will reflect to see how much of your talk and expressions are about you, your issues and things around you that you simply don't like. The world and every other non-christian is like that also and you are living an undifferentiated life.
I truely believe that however we choose to say in our conversations to those around us, it will eventually also result in us behaving and doing what we say. As we make more conversations with others, may it literally influence everyone to see the God behind your being.
Blessings,
M.
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." (Mark 9:50)
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
The term "Salary" comes from ancient days where salt was so precious that wages were supposedly paid in Salt (from the Latin word salarium, a payment made in salt (sal) or for salt, from salarius meaning pertaining to salt.
It is one of the most significant item talked about throughout the bible and even Jesus points out to his disciples its essential nature. ("Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Mark 9:50)
It is one of the most significant item talked about throughout the bible and even Jesus points out to his disciples its essential nature. ("Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Mark 9:50)
Today, I like to revisit one points which the bible talks about of salt : The need for us to be salty conversationalist.
Indeed we all know that life without salt would result in turmoil and every food we take would either be bland or limited in dimension because all we taste is sweet, sour and bitter. Sadly, many of us fail to be the essential salt of the world and all we are to others around us is sweet, sour and bitter.
What are the expectations required of us by Paul when he said our conversations needed to be full of grace and seasoned with salt? Salt's characteristics as a seasoning to food is to enhance the natural taste and complete the flavour and taste. In meats such as chicken wings or steak, it brings out the savoury,juicy taste of the meat. Salt also tends to enhance our perception of other flavors, particularly that of sweetness. When we add salt into freshly cut pineapples, it adds an additional salty, albeit tasty, dimension to the tart, sourish-sweet taste of the fruit.
Paul was instructing us that similiar to the use of salt to enhance food, we need to enhance our normal speech and bring out the added dimensions of Godly grace. It is a command to live in the world and be set apart. Thus instructions like this from Paul were given to aid us in our own christian walk that we will know how to respond to each person that crosses our path.
Why is it therefore that having been told to us that all we say, talk, and converse should be seasoned with the amazing grace of God, yet we still have so much whining and complaining. Especially in the last 3 years where the proliferation of technologies have resulted in so many taking it upon themselves to freely express themselves online with all their angsts and issues. Do I really care that you are being transparent to people and true to yourself? No! Neither did Paul. Paul advises us to "be wise in the way you act toward outsiders". It's not about you bottling up your emotions, but about you electing to be wise in all that you say, simply because that man may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
It just irks me to see many fail to succeed in their lives and live it fully according to the victorious destiny God has in-stored for us. From lousy results, lukewarm relationships, compromised health and a life full of lack, it is often a result of a life that has been compromised and one that has deviated from a christian's spiritual destiny of success in God. The word of God proclaims that plans of God are made to prosper His children, and to give us a future, but only if they live righteous lives! For it is written in 1 Peter 3:12 " For the eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayers"!
If today you are one of those who are living a crappy life crippled by you and your never ending issues, I pray you will reflect to see how much of your talk and expressions are about you, your issues and things around you that you simply don't like. The world and every other non-christian is like that also and you are living an undifferentiated life.
I truely believe that however we choose to say in our conversations to those around us, it will eventually also result in us behaving and doing what we say. As we make more conversations with others, may it literally influence everyone to see the God behind your being.
Be wise today, and be opportunistic in all your conversations, writings and speech with all around you. May you learn to talk about the abundent grace that has been freely given to you through the cross. Just as a cook would always ensure that his dishes are always seasoned with salt before it is cooked, may every word that proceeds from you be thoughtfully processed with a fear of God before it is released.
Blessings,
M.
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." (Mark 9:50)
16 April 2007
God of the All
Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
I received a daily devotion which quoted this simple sentence of scripture and suddenly it made a lot of sense to me and I pray it will to you too.
I'm sure we don't really see sparrows everyday. but, if we open our eyes wide enough to observe, I'm sure we'll see a few of them around us. They are really tiny birds which would be lost amidst the other birds such as minahs, pigeons and ugly crows. Being so small and tiny, I've always wondered where to go and come from and I've never seen them roosting on trees, simply because I reckoned they are too tiny to observe.
Yet Jesus chosed to use these small, simple birds as examples of God's amazing attention to details. Insignicant as a sparrow, the bible states that God never forgets a single sparrow which he created.
Sometimes in life, we find ourselves consumed with our own circumstances and that's when we need to remember that God is the God of All. For all the big issues in life that we are desperate for God's answers in our lives, we always remember God. But in our everyday lives, it seems that God doesn't seem to be much in the picture.
As I travelled around japan for the past 10 days, I'm amazed at how easily forgotten God can be. Simply because I'm consumed by laziness on days which I don't click online to read my daily bread or even mutter my prayers. It's only on those certain travel situations (like airplane turbulence) that I make my paltry prayers. I know fully well that the Christian walk has nothing to do with having a powerful evangelistic service to remind me of a God's existence or an emotional worship to awaken my slumbering spirit man. Regardless whether I'm alone in Japan or in Singapore there is never a reasonable excuse for wandering away from God because like the sparrow, I'm responsible for finding my own food and protecting my own life.
Yet by the very essence of God as a God of grace, He declares that we are never forgotten even in times of personal unfaithfulness. May we not abuse the grace of God and walk in our own selfish, wanton ways because our eternal lives are valued richly by our creator - more so than the sparrows that He likewise created.
Blessings,
M.
"Awake, O north wind,
And come, wind of the south;
Make my garden breathe out fragrance,
Let its spices be wafted abroad.
May my beloved come into his garden
And eat its choice fruits!" (Song of Solomon 4:16)
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
I received a daily devotion which quoted this simple sentence of scripture and suddenly it made a lot of sense to me and I pray it will to you too.
I'm sure we don't really see sparrows everyday. but, if we open our eyes wide enough to observe, I'm sure we'll see a few of them around us. They are really tiny birds which would be lost amidst the other birds such as minahs, pigeons and ugly crows. Being so small and tiny, I've always wondered where to go and come from and I've never seen them roosting on trees, simply because I reckoned they are too tiny to observe.
Yet Jesus chosed to use these small, simple birds as examples of God's amazing attention to details. Insignicant as a sparrow, the bible states that God never forgets a single sparrow which he created.
Sometimes in life, we find ourselves consumed with our own circumstances and that's when we need to remember that God is the God of All. For all the big issues in life that we are desperate for God's answers in our lives, we always remember God. But in our everyday lives, it seems that God doesn't seem to be much in the picture.
As I travelled around japan for the past 10 days, I'm amazed at how easily forgotten God can be. Simply because I'm consumed by laziness on days which I don't click online to read my daily bread or even mutter my prayers. It's only on those certain travel situations (like airplane turbulence) that I make my paltry prayers. I know fully well that the Christian walk has nothing to do with having a powerful evangelistic service to remind me of a God's existence or an emotional worship to awaken my slumbering spirit man. Regardless whether I'm alone in Japan or in Singapore there is never a reasonable excuse for wandering away from God because like the sparrow, I'm responsible for finding my own food and protecting my own life.
Yet by the very essence of God as a God of grace, He declares that we are never forgotten even in times of personal unfaithfulness. May we not abuse the grace of God and walk in our own selfish, wanton ways because our eternal lives are valued richly by our creator - more so than the sparrows that He likewise created.
Blessings,
M.
"Awake, O north wind,
And come, wind of the south;
Make my garden breathe out fragrance,
Let its spices be wafted abroad.
May my beloved come into his garden
And eat its choice fruits!" (Song of Solomon 4:16)
03 April 2007
Let's go over to the other side
Mark 4:35, 37, 38 & 40
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side."
And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.
Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?"
I read Mark 4:35 today and this statament "Let us go over to the other side" jumped at me.
Jesus told it to his disciples after he preached the parable of the sower with the crowds. It's a seemingly simple directional instruction to give, but consider the tempest that occurred thereafter and how the disciples panicked about their impending doom because they chosed to follow Jesus' instructions.
Simple as our life is, it is often loaded with situations like this because like the disciples, we follow our lives direction without much consideration of God's Lordship in our lives.
Evidently, Jesus knew that the tempest would break out and the situation would seem scary. Many interprete the scriptures to say that because Jesus was in full control of the situation he could afford to sleep peacefully amidst the violent rocking of the boat. (If you have been in a sailboat or bumboat and it faces strong winds, you'll have a simplistic idea of how aweful it feels to have greater winds and waves rock the disciple boat)
Viewing the waves breaking over the boat and an imminent sinking of the boat, it may seem normal for the poor disciples to panic because death was imminent. Why then did Jesus rebuke the disciples when they woke him up?
They felt that Jesus had directed them but did not care about their current dire conditions! There was a panicky feeling that the situation was lost and everything was doomed. What's made worst was the fact that they couldn't comprehend why Jesus was still asleep and not doing anything. Thus the desperate situation resulted in the disciples complaining that Jesus was not helping out in their situation. They simply did not recognise the Lordship of Jesus, even though he dwelled in the midst of them!
I believe that we too have many such similiar situations as the disciples where we often lose sight of how God has instructed us to go over to another place and forgot that He would go with us. Then, some sudden tempest of life would strike (i.e physical sickness, emotional failures, life's many little problems, family problems, work stress...etc) and we start looking up at heaven in despair because we feel that "God called us to go this direction but does not care that we live or die!"
I'm not sure if everytime God directs us to "go over to the other side", it would come packaged with a tempest intended to test our faith, but I'm sure that the many times which we face uncertainties of life, it surely tests the mettle of our faith.
When I heard the news of the devestatingly poor "A" level results, my heart truely sank. It felt as if a terribly calamity had struck. Times like this sees the constant echoing questioning of "why? why? and more whys?". Yet, I know better than to querie the perfect plans of God amidst our imperfect lives. It's always simple to say, in the long term, this bump of life would smoothen out and would look more like a mole-hill of yesterday's disappointment instead of the mountain of despair today. But today, having read this passage, I know better now because I see a new revelation of God in the situation. Whenever we are asked by God to go somewhere else with Him, He goes with us!
Crisis may come as we go in the direction God has told us to take, but in the midst of the crisis, Jesus will be there by our side. Our life may be tossed, turned and sinking, but! we will never perish nor panic because He is with us and nothing can overcome us. More so, as we need to recognise that Jesus is with us and as He restfully stays by us, we need to look at His example and accept in faith that if God is not panicking, why should we?
Today, if God asks you to go over to the other side, may your eyes stay focused on the Lord as He goes all the way with you.
Blessings,
M.
"And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."(Mark 4:20)
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side."
And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.
Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?"
I read Mark 4:35 today and this statament "Let us go over to the other side" jumped at me.
Jesus told it to his disciples after he preached the parable of the sower with the crowds. It's a seemingly simple directional instruction to give, but consider the tempest that occurred thereafter and how the disciples panicked about their impending doom because they chosed to follow Jesus' instructions.
Simple as our life is, it is often loaded with situations like this because like the disciples, we follow our lives direction without much consideration of God's Lordship in our lives.
Evidently, Jesus knew that the tempest would break out and the situation would seem scary. Many interprete the scriptures to say that because Jesus was in full control of the situation he could afford to sleep peacefully amidst the violent rocking of the boat. (If you have been in a sailboat or bumboat and it faces strong winds, you'll have a simplistic idea of how aweful it feels to have greater winds and waves rock the disciple boat)
Viewing the waves breaking over the boat and an imminent sinking of the boat, it may seem normal for the poor disciples to panic because death was imminent. Why then did Jesus rebuke the disciples when they woke him up?
They felt that Jesus had directed them but did not care about their current dire conditions! There was a panicky feeling that the situation was lost and everything was doomed. What's made worst was the fact that they couldn't comprehend why Jesus was still asleep and not doing anything. Thus the desperate situation resulted in the disciples complaining that Jesus was not helping out in their situation. They simply did not recognise the Lordship of Jesus, even though he dwelled in the midst of them!
I believe that we too have many such similiar situations as the disciples where we often lose sight of how God has instructed us to go over to another place and forgot that He would go with us. Then, some sudden tempest of life would strike (i.e physical sickness, emotional failures, life's many little problems, family problems, work stress...etc) and we start looking up at heaven in despair because we feel that "God called us to go this direction but does not care that we live or die!"
I'm not sure if everytime God directs us to "go over to the other side", it would come packaged with a tempest intended to test our faith, but I'm sure that the many times which we face uncertainties of life, it surely tests the mettle of our faith.
When I heard the news of the devestatingly poor "A" level results, my heart truely sank. It felt as if a terribly calamity had struck. Times like this sees the constant echoing questioning of "why? why? and more whys?". Yet, I know better than to querie the perfect plans of God amidst our imperfect lives. It's always simple to say, in the long term, this bump of life would smoothen out and would look more like a mole-hill of yesterday's disappointment instead of the mountain of despair today. But today, having read this passage, I know better now because I see a new revelation of God in the situation. Whenever we are asked by God to go somewhere else with Him, He goes with us!
Crisis may come as we go in the direction God has told us to take, but in the midst of the crisis, Jesus will be there by our side. Our life may be tossed, turned and sinking, but! we will never perish nor panic because He is with us and nothing can overcome us. More so, as we need to recognise that Jesus is with us and as He restfully stays by us, we need to look at His example and accept in faith that if God is not panicking, why should we?
Today, if God asks you to go over to the other side, may your eyes stay focused on the Lord as He goes all the way with you.
Blessings,
M.
"And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."(Mark 4:20)