The day which I understood the lyrics of this song (composed by Lincoln Brewster) is forever immortalised in my mind as it was the Saturday which Jael and Audrey had just received their "A" level results. I recall myself witnessing the broken, teary form of the girls trying their best to acknowledge the truth of the lyrics that declared the everlasting nature of God inspite of their disappointment in their results. As so, everytime I hear this song on my podcast, I recall this significant moment because in light of our issues and life's disappointment, the Lord God will always reign forever and He alone is everlasting.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our Hope our strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting
May you too declare the everylasting nature of God in and out of season.
blessings,
M.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable." (Isaiah 40:28)
17 August 2007
14 August 2007
If not us, Who?
Romans 10:14
"But how are they to call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"
The power of God's Word doesn't come from the ingenuity of the messenger nor the cleverness of the presentation. John 8:32 declares that its the Truth of the Gospal that sets people free, not the wisdom of you or the brilliance of my speech. The power of proclamation is found in speaking God's truth.
Ask yourself: Am I committed to proclaiming God's truth? Do I live it? Trust it? Share it? Do I make it the message of my life? If you're not sure, answer these questions:
1. What priority does the Bible hold in my personal schedule?
2. Am I involved in church where I will learn truth on which to build my life?
3. If I stumble spiritually, are there people in my life who will hold me to what I say I believe?
4. If I'm overwhelmed with sorrow, will the people in my life comfort me with a godly perspective?
5. When I hear a conversation that contradicts the clear teaching of God's Word, how do I respond? Do I withdraw? Do I ignore it? Do I step up?
6. Am I committed to living the truth? If I'm in a situation that evolves in such a way that it is not pleasing to the Lord, am I committed enough to the truth to speak up for what is right?
7. Am I promoting the Book God wrote among the people I love? Do I talk about what I'm learning? Am I passing along the treasure?
8. Do those who know me agree that God's Word is the source of my wisdom for decisions and choices?
9. Do I have an immovable commitment to God's truth as the primary resource for my whole life? Do I evaluate all other sources of knowledge and wisdom through the grid of Scripture?
Specifically, I know that this coming Saturday, I will motivate myself to willingly participate in the evangelism programme rather than groan inwardly of the awkwardness of evangelism. Am I willing for the Spirit of God to show me what I need to change? I can only remind myself that if I don't start today, I'll never start doing it
May the Gospel of Christ advance through you and me today.
Blessings,
M.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)
"But how are they to call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"
The power of God's Word doesn't come from the ingenuity of the messenger nor the cleverness of the presentation. John 8:32 declares that its the Truth of the Gospal that sets people free, not the wisdom of you or the brilliance of my speech. The power of proclamation is found in speaking God's truth.
Ask yourself: Am I committed to proclaiming God's truth? Do I live it? Trust it? Share it? Do I make it the message of my life? If you're not sure, answer these questions:
1. What priority does the Bible hold in my personal schedule?
2. Am I involved in church where I will learn truth on which to build my life?
3. If I stumble spiritually, are there people in my life who will hold me to what I say I believe?
4. If I'm overwhelmed with sorrow, will the people in my life comfort me with a godly perspective?
5. When I hear a conversation that contradicts the clear teaching of God's Word, how do I respond? Do I withdraw? Do I ignore it? Do I step up?
6. Am I committed to living the truth? If I'm in a situation that evolves in such a way that it is not pleasing to the Lord, am I committed enough to the truth to speak up for what is right?
7. Am I promoting the Book God wrote among the people I love? Do I talk about what I'm learning? Am I passing along the treasure?
8. Do those who know me agree that God's Word is the source of my wisdom for decisions and choices?
9. Do I have an immovable commitment to God's truth as the primary resource for my whole life? Do I evaluate all other sources of knowledge and wisdom through the grid of Scripture?
Specifically, I know that this coming Saturday, I will motivate myself to willingly participate in the evangelism programme rather than groan inwardly of the awkwardness of evangelism. Am I willing for the Spirit of God to show me what I need to change? I can only remind myself that if I don't start today, I'll never start doing it
May the Gospel of Christ advance through you and me today.
Blessings,
M.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)
26 July 2007
Faith without Fire
Galatians 3:5
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
I'm not sure about you, but somehow the past weeks when I go to church, even with the 40-day fast period and many participating in this season of fast and prayer (I hope!), the atmosphere and spiritual mood seems very mundane and lull. It simply feels like a muggy, non progressive stage likened to that of stagnation - albeit of people's spiritual life or the overall condition of the church.
I'm not saying that I'm not immune to this spiritual muggy feeling now, especially since I'm so bogged down by tedious amounts of work that is resulting in me leaving office only after 8pm. Somehow it is a very irksome feeling to have especially when I'm trying to break out of it and how that the Saturday service would provide the lively break-through. Nothing really happens to the service though and I'm left to wonder where has the fire gone to?
Until I read a sentence made in the prayer of an anglican pastor which prayed for us to show forth Faith with fire. Apart from this nice quotable quote, it actually made a lot of sense of why many are just suffering from stagnation.
Romans 1:17 records that "THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Are you living by faith today? Importantly, are you placed in a situation where your faith would not rest on the wisdom and strength of yours, but on the power of God? That's when we allow the fire of God to move us to do what we should do, and not continue to live bogged down by our circumstances and emotions. Put simply, spiritually we need to start moving ahead and not staying static where our soul want to be.
You may be participating in the 40-days fast like me, but that doesn't mean that it is to spiritually charge you up. In fact, you may be just partaking in your own religious rituals without a real connection with God because you could be living a double-standard life. On one hand, you are walking through life, on the other you are trying to juggle christian "duties" like prayer and fasting because it's the season to do it. Ultimately, fellowship with God never seems to be the key thing you are doing and we loose track of the reason why the nation is partaking in this 40-Day fast, it's to refocus back our time and energies back to God.
One classic example to quantify what I'm saying: "There's heaps of never ending dreadful studying/work to be done and all I want to do is chill out or go shopping. Meanwhile, life just goes on and I'm moving unmotivatedly. Meanwhile, better read my 40 Day fast booklet to reflect and make my prayer/fasting moment. After reading, I do hope the days would just past quickly and I look forward to the weekend to escape from it all. I do hope this coming week's church service would be wonderful".
In all of these, where is God in our lives? Relegated to a nice encounter on the weekend worship that is to make us feel good again? Isn't God suppose to take centre-stage and consume our thoughts and waking moments for the entire time and more so as we partake of the prayer and fasting. Never mind the fact that you are partaking to a religious ritual, is this not showing a non-progressive life and sullen earthly mindset? How do we go about to break this because we need to see faith arise with fire.
The bible records that those who are called fathers of faith showed themselves as an example to others around in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. By faith, Abraham when he was tested, willingly offered up his only son, Isaac to God. By faith, Noah built the Ark for 120 years when instructed by God, inspite of 120 years of opposition and ridicule.
If today, you are yearing for something more that this state of mediocrity, you need to break off the shackles of current mindset of looking at your life through your own eyes. Instead, you need to cry out "Holy Spirit, I need new vision of how I was made for a greater purpose to advance the gospel of Christ! Break me from the bad habits and sullen world attitudes that have compromised my life that has been redeemed by the blood of Christ."
May we be people of faith, living lives that demonstrate the fire of God's Holiness in the everyday walk of life.
Blessings,
M.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
I'm not sure about you, but somehow the past weeks when I go to church, even with the 40-day fast period and many participating in this season of fast and prayer (I hope!), the atmosphere and spiritual mood seems very mundane and lull. It simply feels like a muggy, non progressive stage likened to that of stagnation - albeit of people's spiritual life or the overall condition of the church.
I'm not saying that I'm not immune to this spiritual muggy feeling now, especially since I'm so bogged down by tedious amounts of work that is resulting in me leaving office only after 8pm. Somehow it is a very irksome feeling to have especially when I'm trying to break out of it and how that the Saturday service would provide the lively break-through. Nothing really happens to the service though and I'm left to wonder where has the fire gone to?
Until I read a sentence made in the prayer of an anglican pastor which prayed for us to show forth Faith with fire. Apart from this nice quotable quote, it actually made a lot of sense of why many are just suffering from stagnation.
Romans 1:17 records that "THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Are you living by faith today? Importantly, are you placed in a situation where your faith would not rest on the wisdom and strength of yours, but on the power of God? That's when we allow the fire of God to move us to do what we should do, and not continue to live bogged down by our circumstances and emotions. Put simply, spiritually we need to start moving ahead and not staying static where our soul want to be.
You may be participating in the 40-days fast like me, but that doesn't mean that it is to spiritually charge you up. In fact, you may be just partaking in your own religious rituals without a real connection with God because you could be living a double-standard life. On one hand, you are walking through life, on the other you are trying to juggle christian "duties" like prayer and fasting because it's the season to do it. Ultimately, fellowship with God never seems to be the key thing you are doing and we loose track of the reason why the nation is partaking in this 40-Day fast, it's to refocus back our time and energies back to God.
One classic example to quantify what I'm saying: "There's heaps of never ending dreadful studying/work to be done and all I want to do is chill out or go shopping. Meanwhile, life just goes on and I'm moving unmotivatedly. Meanwhile, better read my 40 Day fast booklet to reflect and make my prayer/fasting moment. After reading, I do hope the days would just past quickly and I look forward to the weekend to escape from it all. I do hope this coming week's church service would be wonderful".
In all of these, where is God in our lives? Relegated to a nice encounter on the weekend worship that is to make us feel good again? Isn't God suppose to take centre-stage and consume our thoughts and waking moments for the entire time and more so as we partake of the prayer and fasting. Never mind the fact that you are partaking to a religious ritual, is this not showing a non-progressive life and sullen earthly mindset? How do we go about to break this because we need to see faith arise with fire.
The bible records that those who are called fathers of faith showed themselves as an example to others around in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. By faith, Abraham when he was tested, willingly offered up his only son, Isaac to God. By faith, Noah built the Ark for 120 years when instructed by God, inspite of 120 years of opposition and ridicule.
If today, you are yearing for something more that this state of mediocrity, you need to break off the shackles of current mindset of looking at your life through your own eyes. Instead, you need to cry out "Holy Spirit, I need new vision of how I was made for a greater purpose to advance the gospel of Christ! Break me from the bad habits and sullen world attitudes that have compromised my life that has been redeemed by the blood of Christ."
May we be people of faith, living lives that demonstrate the fire of God's Holiness in the everyday walk of life.
Blessings,
M.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
19 July 2007
The Lord tarrys
John 11:1, 5-6
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. . . Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
I read this passage today through an email and it brought out the bizarre truth of Jesus' action when he heard that Lazarus was sick. The NASB version records that 'He stayed away two days longer.' Jesus stayed away from Mary and Martha and Lazarus . . . longer?
If you hear that someone you love is in trouble, you get over to them fast. I know I would. Yet, three times in the surrounding verses we read how deeply Jesus loved these three friends. So why did He stay away?
From our perspective, the problems are growing, the prayers are rising, we fast and do whatever it takes and faith is arising, but then provision does not come the way we expected. We draw a dotted line from delay to deception and conclude that God doesn't love us and then spend many dark, we fall into disappointment with God's ways and how He seemed to not affirm our best efforts.
Here's an important truth gleaned from this situation: God doesn't love the way we love. What appears unloving may in fact be the greatest kindness of all. We expect God to work our solution on our timetable. Can you imagine the complexity of the tapestry God is weaving in the universe? We're over here in our limited little corner without a clue about what's going on in the bigger picture. Faith says that what God is doing is right-even when we don't understand.
I truely believe that someday we will understand God's will in our lives- even in the worst situations when He doesn't seem to rush towards our side to help us for the most valid reasons. But for now I have to believe in spite of what I see that He is after my good and His glory in every situation. I must trust that what appears unloving may in fact be His greatest kindness. Even if He decides to take a person home instead of healing the sickness.
In-spite of our reasoning of how God is to bless us for all the situations and circumstances that we are painfully going through we need to take hold of this fact with both hands: God is at work in your times of crisis. Whatever is challenging and stretching you right now in your family, your workplace, or in your personal walk with God-He is at work in that. He is building your faith in every circumstance. He knows all about that thing that is breaking your heart. Will you believe He is at work and admit His soverignity in your life?
blessings,
M.
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. . . Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
I read this passage today through an email and it brought out the bizarre truth of Jesus' action when he heard that Lazarus was sick. The NASB version records that 'He stayed away two days longer.' Jesus stayed away from Mary and Martha and Lazarus . . . longer?
If you hear that someone you love is in trouble, you get over to them fast. I know I would. Yet, three times in the surrounding verses we read how deeply Jesus loved these three friends. So why did He stay away?
From our perspective, the problems are growing, the prayers are rising, we fast and do whatever it takes and faith is arising, but then provision does not come the way we expected. We draw a dotted line from delay to deception and conclude that God doesn't love us and then spend many dark, we fall into disappointment with God's ways and how He seemed to not affirm our best efforts.
Here's an important truth gleaned from this situation: God doesn't love the way we love. What appears unloving may in fact be the greatest kindness of all. We expect God to work our solution on our timetable. Can you imagine the complexity of the tapestry God is weaving in the universe? We're over here in our limited little corner without a clue about what's going on in the bigger picture. Faith says that what God is doing is right-even when we don't understand.
I truely believe that someday we will understand God's will in our lives- even in the worst situations when He doesn't seem to rush towards our side to help us for the most valid reasons. But for now I have to believe in spite of what I see that He is after my good and His glory in every situation. I must trust that what appears unloving may in fact be His greatest kindness. Even if He decides to take a person home instead of healing the sickness.
In-spite of our reasoning of how God is to bless us for all the situations and circumstances that we are painfully going through we need to take hold of this fact with both hands: God is at work in your times of crisis. Whatever is challenging and stretching you right now in your family, your workplace, or in your personal walk with God-He is at work in that. He is building your faith in every circumstance. He knows all about that thing that is breaking your heart. Will you believe He is at work and admit His soverignity in your life?
blessings,
M.
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)
18 July 2007
The Simple Life
Proverbs 30:8-9
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
It's been a long long while. simply because I've been rather overwhelmed at work doing the nitty gritty works that never seem to end and ending work late and exhausted. But only when I finally decided to drag up whatever reserve energy to make this post that I realised how important it is to set aside some time to dwell into the word of God. (in spite of my current enraged mode because I've just had a major session scolding my agency for being such idiots)
On Sunday, we went out for our Architecture merit site visit and we visited a incomplete bunglow house at Jervois Hill. The scorching sun and dull looks of the slim house frontage made everyone initially very bored and demoralised. However, as we ventured into the house and started taking in the size of the space did everyone suddenly start going goo-goo, gaa-gaa.
As we each made our way around the tour of the entire 2+1 storey house with a swimming pool, our mouths were constantly kept opened, and the part that made everyone stunned was the discovery that it even had a lift and space for the owner's computer servers! Didn't help that it was only built for 2 adults and their daughter and every part of the uncompleted house screamed of 'obscene wealth' and a lifestyle of the rich and famous.
On our way out, we walked pass even larger and more luxurious houses and it was a hilarious moment when some of us kept desiring to be maids and drivers of these rich people because the rooms and lifestyle was likely to be better than our tiny houses and even tinier rooms.
But, when we analyse the folks who are enjoying such extravagent lifestyle, we often realise that these are people who don't have God in their lives and often don't see a need for God. Interestingly, Solomon's wise proverbs that says "feed me with food convenient for me:Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? ". For us who simply love food, the proverbs states a request to be fed with food convenient, or rather simple and uncomplicated. The clear use of convenient food here is to demonstrated that its not about an excessive lifestyle . Incidentally, Solomon himself became so rich that the bible states that he fell away from God and pursued all his other earthly desires.
Placed simply, its not that God doesn't want to prosper us, neither is it his will for us to not live life with the frills. I truely believe that money is never enough and houses can never be luxurious and huge enough for anyone. The grass is always greener somewhere else as long as we choose to compare. There's always something bigger, better, richer and more glamourous to pursue. So, the only way to end this is to be blessed with a simple life of contentment.
Not simple as a kampong house and no frills lifestyle, nor contentment as in static and unmotivated. But one which God would provide us with sufficient frills that the world would see that we are truely blessed and not over-flowing till excess and we find confidence in ourselves rather than God.
May you always be able to answer this litmus question: "Who is the Lord?" and give the answer "He is my Jehovah Jireh, the one who provides me with more than enough."
blessings,
M.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich. (Proverbs 28:6)
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
It's been a long long while. simply because I've been rather overwhelmed at work doing the nitty gritty works that never seem to end and ending work late and exhausted. But only when I finally decided to drag up whatever reserve energy to make this post that I realised how important it is to set aside some time to dwell into the word of God. (in spite of my current enraged mode because I've just had a major session scolding my agency for being such idiots)
On Sunday, we went out for our Architecture merit site visit and we visited a incomplete bunglow house at Jervois Hill. The scorching sun and dull looks of the slim house frontage made everyone initially very bored and demoralised. However, as we ventured into the house and started taking in the size of the space did everyone suddenly start going goo-goo, gaa-gaa.
As we each made our way around the tour of the entire 2+1 storey house with a swimming pool, our mouths were constantly kept opened, and the part that made everyone stunned was the discovery that it even had a lift and space for the owner's computer servers! Didn't help that it was only built for 2 adults and their daughter and every part of the uncompleted house screamed of 'obscene wealth' and a lifestyle of the rich and famous.
On our way out, we walked pass even larger and more luxurious houses and it was a hilarious moment when some of us kept desiring to be maids and drivers of these rich people because the rooms and lifestyle was likely to be better than our tiny houses and even tinier rooms.
But, when we analyse the folks who are enjoying such extravagent lifestyle, we often realise that these are people who don't have God in their lives and often don't see a need for God. Interestingly, Solomon's wise proverbs that says "feed me with food convenient for me:Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? ". For us who simply love food, the proverbs states a request to be fed with food convenient, or rather simple and uncomplicated. The clear use of convenient food here is to demonstrated that its not about an excessive lifestyle . Incidentally, Solomon himself became so rich that the bible states that he fell away from God and pursued all his other earthly desires.
Placed simply, its not that God doesn't want to prosper us, neither is it his will for us to not live life with the frills. I truely believe that money is never enough and houses can never be luxurious and huge enough for anyone. The grass is always greener somewhere else as long as we choose to compare. There's always something bigger, better, richer and more glamourous to pursue. So, the only way to end this is to be blessed with a simple life of contentment.
Not simple as a kampong house and no frills lifestyle, nor contentment as in static and unmotivated. But one which God would provide us with sufficient frills that the world would see that we are truely blessed and not over-flowing till excess and we find confidence in ourselves rather than God.
May you always be able to answer this litmus question: "Who is the Lord?" and give the answer "He is my Jehovah Jireh, the one who provides me with more than enough."
blessings,
M.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich. (Proverbs 28:6)
09 July 2007
Kept the Faith
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Yesterday, 8 July 2007, sometime after 12 noon, my friend Jessica Choo Seh Ching passed away. She leaves behind her hubby, Francis and her son (1+) and daughter (4-5). Apparently, she entered into the hospital some 2 days ago as her cancer condition turned worst, but none of the friends were informed until one of us went down on sunday to her empty house and realised she was hospitalised. I do know that her entire family was at the hospital when she passed away.
It's been very sobering and painful to see her battle with the pain and physical agony of cancer, and even more grieving to know of her passing. The last time I communicated with her was Monday 2 July and she had told me that a team of prayer warriors had fasted and prayed with her and the Holy Spirit had touched her and relieved her of the pain, without the need for morphine. It's at times like this that we all wonder why didn't God do the impossible and heal her, especially since she was positively clinging onto victory against her condition.
I've never seen such great faith and positive nature displayed in such a painful and impossible situation and though I really wished I could see her healed and restored because she examplied the verse Paul wrote of fighting a good fight and keeping the Faith. Yet I will choose to confess that the Lord has better plans for her as He took her home.
One things I'm reminded of even as I witness the passing on of a friend, that I need to keep the faith and protect my salvation because I want to reach Heaven and meet her someday. Until, that day I get to see you in Heaven, thanks for showing me how to keep the faith.
with all my love,
M.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Yesterday, 8 July 2007, sometime after 12 noon, my friend Jessica Choo Seh Ching passed away. She leaves behind her hubby, Francis and her son (1+) and daughter (4-5). Apparently, she entered into the hospital some 2 days ago as her cancer condition turned worst, but none of the friends were informed until one of us went down on sunday to her empty house and realised she was hospitalised. I do know that her entire family was at the hospital when she passed away.
It's been very sobering and painful to see her battle with the pain and physical agony of cancer, and even more grieving to know of her passing. The last time I communicated with her was Monday 2 July and she had told me that a team of prayer warriors had fasted and prayed with her and the Holy Spirit had touched her and relieved her of the pain, without the need for morphine. It's at times like this that we all wonder why didn't God do the impossible and heal her, especially since she was positively clinging onto victory against her condition.
I've never seen such great faith and positive nature displayed in such a painful and impossible situation and though I really wished I could see her healed and restored because she examplied the verse Paul wrote of fighting a good fight and keeping the Faith. Yet I will choose to confess that the Lord has better plans for her as He took her home.
One things I'm reminded of even as I witness the passing on of a friend, that I need to keep the faith and protect my salvation because I want to reach Heaven and meet her someday. Until, that day I get to see you in Heaven, thanks for showing me how to keep the faith.
with all my love,
M.
09 June 2007
Faithfulness
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)
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)