Do you love me more than these?

2009
Monday, January 5

Yesterday while I was in church, the senior pastor was talking about revival and what is needed for revival. Humility, hunger and holiness.

At the same time, I felt God ask me the very famous question Jesus asked to Peter after His resurrection, "Do you love me more than these?"

At first I thought the question was simple, which it was, but the answer is difficult. Do I really love God with everything? More than anything, more than my wife, my children. More than my work, and more than myself?

We know Peter had a difficulty answering that question, because the "love" demanding by Christ is so much more than the "love" Peter was willing to give.

In Matthew 16:24-27, Jesus said,"If any of you wants to be my follower you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

There will always be love and judgement. Jesus love me and He will judge me as well. Lord help me love You will everything this new year.

Guard my heart

2009
Friday, January 2

Matthew 15:18-20
But the words you speak come from the heart - thats what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all secual immorality, theft, lying and slander. There are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.

Many times I had said things I regret, and other times I had said things I should regret. But the point is not to try to stop saying those things. Things about my friends, my church, even my family. Things about my bosses, about my colleagues. The point Jesus is teaching is to stop thinking those things, stop feeling it. To chase them away when I start thinking about them. To bless and not curse. Most important of all is to pray.