2008
Monday, December 29
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. Matt 13:12
Even though we cannot hear Jesus teaching from a boat or on a mountain top today in person, we can still hear Him speak through His Word, His creation and most importantly through His Holy Spirit.
It is so difficult these days to have a quiet moment. There are just so many distractions around us - things vying for our attention, our family, our friends, our work, our entertainment. But still God calls us to have a quiet time with Him, to listen to Him.
Father God, give me the discipline to set aside time everyday to listen to You. In Christ name I pray, Amen.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Marathon
2008
Tuesday, December 23
Matthew 10:22
... but everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
10 days have gone by and I have not written a single entry. That's because I have not done my quiet time. Spent most of my time sick and coughing and worse of all, playing WOW. For those of you who don't know what WOW is that's good, stay that way.
I don't know about you but I really hate running. And that's mainly because I really suck at it. I can't run because I don't have the stamina and endurance to run. My legs start getting tired but the worse feeling is feeling out of breath. My lungs just can't seem to bring enough air to my muscles and body and it feels like its going to shut down.
That's why I seem to dislike the word "endure". Endure implies there will be suffering. Endure implies there will be pain.
Of course everyone knows if you train, these pains will go away. Some might even say that these pains enables our bodies to release endorphins: powerful hormones that act as pain-killers and also give you the "feel good" feeling.
But bottom line is the reason why I don't train is because I am lazy and don't really like to run.
The same can happen in our walk with God. If we are lazy and love other things around us (like WOW) more than God, then we will not endure.
Father God, remove other things around me that take away attention from you. Help me love You more and more each day so that enduring will be a delight to me.
Tuesday, December 23
Matthew 10:22
... but everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
10 days have gone by and I have not written a single entry. That's because I have not done my quiet time. Spent most of my time sick and coughing and worse of all, playing WOW. For those of you who don't know what WOW is that's good, stay that way.
I don't know about you but I really hate running. And that's mainly because I really suck at it. I can't run because I don't have the stamina and endurance to run. My legs start getting tired but the worse feeling is feeling out of breath. My lungs just can't seem to bring enough air to my muscles and body and it feels like its going to shut down.
That's why I seem to dislike the word "endure". Endure implies there will be suffering. Endure implies there will be pain.
Of course everyone knows if you train, these pains will go away. Some might even say that these pains enables our bodies to release endorphins: powerful hormones that act as pain-killers and also give you the "feel good" feeling.
But bottom line is the reason why I don't train is because I am lazy and don't really like to run.
The same can happen in our walk with God. If we are lazy and love other things around us (like WOW) more than God, then we will not endure.
Father God, remove other things around me that take away attention from you. Help me love You more and more each day so that enduring will be a delight to me.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Matthew 4 - Scripture
Jesus had a conversation with the devil in the desert. When Jesus was the most vulnerable. (Imagine not eating and sleeping well for 1 day, or even 2. Jesus did it for 40 days and nights.)
What was amazing was not because He survived 40 days without food. What was amazing was how Jesus answered the devil in every circumstance. He did it with Scripture.
How good are we with our scriptures? Do we memorize it? Can we quote it? We should because we wouldn't know when we need it. (especially when dealing with the devil)
Father God, please help me be passionate about reading and memorizing scripture, just like Your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ. In Christ name, Amen.
What was amazing was not because He survived 40 days without food. What was amazing was how Jesus answered the devil in every circumstance. He did it with Scripture.
How good are we with our scriptures? Do we memorize it? Can we quote it? We should because we wouldn't know when we need it. (especially when dealing with the devil)
Father God, please help me be passionate about reading and memorizing scripture, just like Your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ. In Christ name, Amen.
Matthew 4 - Temptations
2008
Saturday, December 13
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matt 4:1
It is good to know that Jesus was hungry. Many times we think because Jesus is God (which He is of course), He is above human weakness, like pain, hunger, thirst and so on and so forth. In actual fact, He feels it too. Jesus was not above human emotions and feelings. He knows what its like. That is why the passage in Hebrews says it so well
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Heb 4:15.
And so what if Jesus knows our feelings and failings? The next line says it so well
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Jesus knows whats it like to be in need. And because He knows, He knows what we need to get over it. He is not a big eye in the sky watching over us (even though that is how God is being described in the bible), but He is close to us because He shared our experiences.
Father I thank you for giving Your Son Jesus Christ to live on earth so that He can experience what being human is like. This means I know He knows what I feel and how wretched I am. This gives me more confidence in You in times of need. In Christ name I pray Amen.
Saturday, December 13
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matt 4:1
It is good to know that Jesus was hungry. Many times we think because Jesus is God (which He is of course), He is above human weakness, like pain, hunger, thirst and so on and so forth. In actual fact, He feels it too. Jesus was not above human emotions and feelings. He knows what its like. That is why the passage in Hebrews says it so well
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Heb 4:15.
And so what if Jesus knows our feelings and failings? The next line says it so well
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Jesus knows whats it like to be in need. And because He knows, He knows what we need to get over it. He is not a big eye in the sky watching over us (even though that is how God is being described in the bible), but He is close to us because He shared our experiences.
Father I thank you for giving Your Son Jesus Christ to live on earth so that He can experience what being human is like. This means I know He knows what I feel and how wretched I am. This gives me more confidence in You in times of need. In Christ name I pray Amen.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Matthew 3 - Judgement Day
2008
Friday, December 12
"Even now the ax of God's judgement is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." --- Matt 3:10
We don't like to talk about Judgement. It seems so cruel and "ungracious". But so much of Christ's message to us in the gospels and the epistles talked about judgement. We are required to call into account what we have done given our time here on earth. There was a quote in one of my favourite movies "Kingdom of Heaven". When the king of Jerusalem was talking to Orlando Bloom's character, he said something very insightful and I believe very true.
"Remember that howsoever that you are played, or by whom, your soul is in your keeping alone. Even though those who presume to play you be kings or men of power, when you stand before God you cannot say, `But I was told by others to do thus, or that virtue was not convenient at that time.' This will not suffice. Remember that." -- Kingdom of Heaven.
So what are we to do about it? Fear Him. Fear God who holds everything in balance. Fear God who can snuff out our lives in an instance. Fear God who stands for righteousness and truth. Fear God and do not sin. And yet when we do, run to Him and seek forgiveness for that is the only way we can live in peace.
"Father forgive me for being such a mediocre Christian and being lukewarm. Change my heart and give me a healthy fear of You. In Christ name I pray, Amen.
Friday, December 12
"Even now the ax of God's judgement is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." --- Matt 3:10
We don't like to talk about Judgement. It seems so cruel and "ungracious". But so much of Christ's message to us in the gospels and the epistles talked about judgement. We are required to call into account what we have done given our time here on earth. There was a quote in one of my favourite movies "Kingdom of Heaven". When the king of Jerusalem was talking to Orlando Bloom's character, he said something very insightful and I believe very true.
"Remember that howsoever that you are played, or by whom, your soul is in your keeping alone. Even though those who presume to play you be kings or men of power, when you stand before God you cannot say, `But I was told by others to do thus, or that virtue was not convenient at that time.' This will not suffice. Remember that." -- Kingdom of Heaven.
So what are we to do about it? Fear Him. Fear God who holds everything in balance. Fear God who can snuff out our lives in an instance. Fear God who stands for righteousness and truth. Fear God and do not sin. And yet when we do, run to Him and seek forgiveness for that is the only way we can live in peace.
"Father forgive me for being such a mediocre Christian and being lukewarm. Change my heart and give me a healthy fear of You. In Christ name I pray, Amen.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Matthew 1:3-5
2008
Thursday, December 11
Reading Matthew 1 gave new meaning to God's grace after refering to MacArthur's book 12 extraordinary women. Interestingly described in Matthew 1 is the geneology of Christ. And found within it are the names of 4 women - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba.
It must have been pure grace that brought these women's names into the bible to be preserved wherever the bible was read.
Tamar was actually Judah's daughter-in-law. She married Judah's eldest son Er. But because Er was wicked in God's sight, God killed him and Er's younger brother Onan had to continue Er's family line as was tradition. But unwilling to do so, God killed him as well. And Judah sent Tamar home promising her he will marry the youngest son Shelah when he is of age. But of course he had no intention of doing so. (Genesis 38)
In the end, Tamar became pregnant because of her father-in-law. Posing as a temple prostitute, Judah slept with her without knowing who she was and from that union came offsprings Perez who was part of the line of Christ.
The other women were just as facinating. Rahab was a prostitute or the prostitute that hid the spies from Israel in Jericho. An act so-to-speak that sealed the fate of the city, of course and she saved her whole family. (Joshua 2)
Ruth was a gentile (not a Jewess) who married a Jew but became a widow. She followed her mother-in-law (Naomi) back to her hometown despite Naomi's circumstance. And in the end Ruth's name was included in the Word of God as well.
Last but not least, Bathsheba, the famous lady who took a bath on the rooftop of her house (as was common in those days) and King David "happened" to see her and lusted for her. In the end committed adultary and had her husband, who was his own able general, murdered in the frontlines.
Amazing stories of intrigue, adultary, human failure. All these were included in Christ's family line.
God's greatness and soveriegnty surpasses even human weakness and sin. That is how great our God is...
Thursday, December 11
Reading Matthew 1 gave new meaning to God's grace after refering to MacArthur's book 12 extraordinary women. Interestingly described in Matthew 1 is the geneology of Christ. And found within it are the names of 4 women - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba.
It must have been pure grace that brought these women's names into the bible to be preserved wherever the bible was read.
Tamar was actually Judah's daughter-in-law. She married Judah's eldest son Er. But because Er was wicked in God's sight, God killed him and Er's younger brother Onan had to continue Er's family line as was tradition. But unwilling to do so, God killed him as well. And Judah sent Tamar home promising her he will marry the youngest son Shelah when he is of age. But of course he had no intention of doing so. (Genesis 38)
In the end, Tamar became pregnant because of her father-in-law. Posing as a temple prostitute, Judah slept with her without knowing who she was and from that union came offsprings Perez who was part of the line of Christ.
The other women were just as facinating. Rahab was a prostitute or the prostitute that hid the spies from Israel in Jericho. An act so-to-speak that sealed the fate of the city, of course and she saved her whole family. (Joshua 2)
Ruth was a gentile (not a Jewess) who married a Jew but became a widow. She followed her mother-in-law (Naomi) back to her hometown despite Naomi's circumstance. And in the end Ruth's name was included in the Word of God as well.
Last but not least, Bathsheba, the famous lady who took a bath on the rooftop of her house (as was common in those days) and King David "happened" to see her and lusted for her. In the end committed adultary and had her husband, who was his own able general, murdered in the frontlines.
Amazing stories of intrigue, adultary, human failure. All these were included in Christ's family line.
God's greatness and soveriegnty surpasses even human weakness and sin. That is how great our God is...
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