Romans 16:18
Sunday, December 12, 2010
“Be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil”
I learned today not to be wise concerning evil and simple concerning good. To be wise concerning evil means that we think we can be wiser than our sin, in that we can set the boundaries of sin. For example, the bible says, “do not lie”. We take it and say, “white lies are ok”, or, “lying sometimes is ok, God will forgive”. God says through Paul, “Be simple concerning evil”, meaning that don’t be smart, God has told you not to, so don’t put your own boundaries closer to the edge of the cliff than you should be.
Everything the bible tells us is in plain words. Don’t do this, and we say, “in circumstances such as this, God will forgive us”. He sure would forgive you, but you are living in a life of a double standard or plainly double mindedness. And the Lord says that He will spew you out of His mouth.
God is serious about sin. He hates it and so must we. Flee from immorality, scripture tells us.
Then come the good part. Be wise in what is good. Now here we can be smart. Some people just live life and say, “If I get the opportunity to give, I would,” or, “if someone comes knocking on my door for help, I would offer…” This I believe is what Paul warns about being simple in what is good.
Now to be wise in what is good, simply means that you are consistently looking for ways to do good. Buddhists and people believing in Karma are doing very well in this. But they are doing it so that they can be satisfied and hopefully find rest in heaven. We Christians ought to do it because our God has called us to do it, not that we will get anything in return but simply because we have already gotten what we do not deserve – the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be smart and creative. Out of the blue think of someone you can bless. Think of someone who needs something that he/she cannot get for himself/herself. Think of orphans and of old folks who need our support and encouragement. Think of the poor and the lonely. Think of the widow and the fatherless. Constantly think of ways to be a blessing, not in our own strength of course but by the grace of our Lord.
And God is pleased because we go out of our comfort zone to seek the needs of others.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Precioussss...
Romans 5:6-8
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Life is the most precious thing on earth for everyone of us. A life happens to each person only once, and we have that one to live it the way we desire. And this life is given to us by God. For a person to lay down his life for another, that is saying that the other is more precious than the most precious thing that he has.
How precious are Your thoughts of me O God. They are innumerable, I can’t even count them. They outnumber the grains of sand. My everyday is recorded in Your book. You have formed me in my mother’s womb. You saw me before I was even born. Every moment was laid out before a single day has passed. And when I wake up in the morning, You’re still with me.
To God, we are more precious than His own life. He chose to run in front of the train for us. He chose to rescue us even though He knew it would cost Him His Son’s life. Life as we know it has never been the same since that day. We now have a connection with God that the people of old did not have. We are now redeemed.
Who are we, that He is mindful of us? We are His creation. He treasures us and even keeps His promises to us. Even when we were still dirty and ugly and hard to be with, He gave His most precious to us. We can be rest assured that in His eyes, we are beautiful no matter where we are at, because He made us beautiful, everyone of us.
Thank you God for this reminder everyday.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Life is the most precious thing on earth for everyone of us. A life happens to each person only once, and we have that one to live it the way we desire. And this life is given to us by God. For a person to lay down his life for another, that is saying that the other is more precious than the most precious thing that he has.
How precious are Your thoughts of me O God. They are innumerable, I can’t even count them. They outnumber the grains of sand. My everyday is recorded in Your book. You have formed me in my mother’s womb. You saw me before I was even born. Every moment was laid out before a single day has passed. And when I wake up in the morning, You’re still with me.
To God, we are more precious than His own life. He chose to run in front of the train for us. He chose to rescue us even though He knew it would cost Him His Son’s life. Life as we know it has never been the same since that day. We now have a connection with God that the people of old did not have. We are now redeemed.
Who are we, that He is mindful of us? We are His creation. He treasures us and even keeps His promises to us. Even when we were still dirty and ugly and hard to be with, He gave His most precious to us. We can be rest assured that in His eyes, we are beautiful no matter where we are at, because He made us beautiful, everyone of us.
Thank you God for this reminder everyday.
The Living Dead
Romans 6:1-14
Thursday, November 11, 2010
We have died to sin and are now living to God. Like the living dead, haha.
“Sin shall have no dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
So grace is not license to sin because if you are under grace, then you have died to sin and sin should no longer be a problem for you to overcome. I remember the day I accepted Christ. Something changed in me that made me alive unto God and all the sins like speaking vulgar or causing trouble were all gone. That was when I was a kid.
I am sure you’ve heard stories of drug users coming to know the Lord and overnight, their habits just disappear. Smokers and alcoholics, when they received the Lord Jesus Christ, turned over a new leaf and stopped altogether their addictions.
Before this, sin had a grasp on us. But after we have been resurrected with Christ spiritually, our habits turn to dust. Now that we live for God, we are no longer in bondage and cannot get out - because God has given us the grace to come out of sin. Sin no longer has dominion over us.
So therefore, sin has no more dominion over us. The only problem we have is if we decide to go back to it. Christians who get disappointed with other Christians tend to turn back to habits to “satisfy themselves”. However, now that they are in God, they should know that the only thing that could satisfy them again would be to come into the presence of God.
God has given us the grace to overcome sin. It is like a gift given to us. If it remains unwrapped, then it remains unused. And we all know that an unused gift is like a gift not given at all. So use your gift, the gift of grace, to help you walk the life God has called you to live – that is the higher calling!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
We have died to sin and are now living to God. Like the living dead, haha.
“Sin shall have no dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
So grace is not license to sin because if you are under grace, then you have died to sin and sin should no longer be a problem for you to overcome. I remember the day I accepted Christ. Something changed in me that made me alive unto God and all the sins like speaking vulgar or causing trouble were all gone. That was when I was a kid.
I am sure you’ve heard stories of drug users coming to know the Lord and overnight, their habits just disappear. Smokers and alcoholics, when they received the Lord Jesus Christ, turned over a new leaf and stopped altogether their addictions.
Before this, sin had a grasp on us. But after we have been resurrected with Christ spiritually, our habits turn to dust. Now that we live for God, we are no longer in bondage and cannot get out - because God has given us the grace to come out of sin. Sin no longer has dominion over us.
So therefore, sin has no more dominion over us. The only problem we have is if we decide to go back to it. Christians who get disappointed with other Christians tend to turn back to habits to “satisfy themselves”. However, now that they are in God, they should know that the only thing that could satisfy them again would be to come into the presence of God.
God has given us the grace to overcome sin. It is like a gift given to us. If it remains unwrapped, then it remains unused. And we all know that an unused gift is like a gift not given at all. So use your gift, the gift of grace, to help you walk the life God has called you to live – that is the higher calling!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Second Chance
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Acts 16:25-34
We have heard of how Paul and Silas were singing in the prison and praying, and the prison gates were opened. Now let us not focus on them but on the prison guard, a minority among many, the one who was supposedly guarding the men of God from escaping.
The prison guard was obviously not doing his job well because he was sleeping. It was a job to him, nothing more. And the instructions were clear, “Guard the prison. If a prisoner escapes, you will be punished.” So when the prison doors were opened, he awoke from sleep and supposing that the prison doors opened a long time ago, he felt in himself a sense of failure.
In life, we do and we fail, and sometimes the failure becomes unbearable. Like the prison guard, there are times when we fall so hard that we would rather die. But if grace could come upon the prison guard, it could also come to you. Paul and Silas stopped him from killing himself and told him how to be saved. The second chance that was given to the prison guard would be given to each and everyone of us who has fallen and is being picked up by the Lord. This second chance is given to everyone, whether you are minority or you are despised or even the richest person, we all do not deserve it but were given that chance.
The prison guard took what was offered to him and it changed him and his family. The second chance at work is miraculous. It heals a person and changes them.
Ever wondered why Paul and Silas did not just flee the prison? Or why the other prisoners didn’t flee as well? Paul and Silas had a good reason – to preach the gospel. But what did the other prisoners have to stay in their cells?
Now this passage goes to speak about how important the soul of one prison guard is more important than the life of a minister or an apostle or a man of God. If we do and obey what God wills for us even if it goes against the most common logic, He will always provide a way out for us. Paul and Silas knew that, and they were not afraid to stay a little longer in prison to save the life and soul of this man.
The other prisoners, well all I can say is that they had their chance to escape but God was working so they had to stay as well.
Acts 16:25-34
We have heard of how Paul and Silas were singing in the prison and praying, and the prison gates were opened. Now let us not focus on them but on the prison guard, a minority among many, the one who was supposedly guarding the men of God from escaping.
The prison guard was obviously not doing his job well because he was sleeping. It was a job to him, nothing more. And the instructions were clear, “Guard the prison. If a prisoner escapes, you will be punished.” So when the prison doors were opened, he awoke from sleep and supposing that the prison doors opened a long time ago, he felt in himself a sense of failure.
In life, we do and we fail, and sometimes the failure becomes unbearable. Like the prison guard, there are times when we fall so hard that we would rather die. But if grace could come upon the prison guard, it could also come to you. Paul and Silas stopped him from killing himself and told him how to be saved. The second chance that was given to the prison guard would be given to each and everyone of us who has fallen and is being picked up by the Lord. This second chance is given to everyone, whether you are minority or you are despised or even the richest person, we all do not deserve it but were given that chance.
The prison guard took what was offered to him and it changed him and his family. The second chance at work is miraculous. It heals a person and changes them.
Ever wondered why Paul and Silas did not just flee the prison? Or why the other prisoners didn’t flee as well? Paul and Silas had a good reason – to preach the gospel. But what did the other prisoners have to stay in their cells?
Now this passage goes to speak about how important the soul of one prison guard is more important than the life of a minister or an apostle or a man of God. If we do and obey what God wills for us even if it goes against the most common logic, He will always provide a way out for us. Paul and Silas knew that, and they were not afraid to stay a little longer in prison to save the life and soul of this man.
The other prisoners, well all I can say is that they had their chance to escape but God was working so they had to stay as well.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Having all things in common
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Acts 4:32-37
V32 reminds me of the phrase, “what’s yours is mine, what’s mine is yours”. The early believers had all things in common. No one said that what they owned was theirs. Imagine how far we would go if everyone in this world had the same mentality.
The next verse starts like this, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” It doesn’t state clearly in scripture, but I think that they had great power simply because of the verse before it, that everyone’s common became a great force for the apostles to witness for Jesus. There were people supplying their needs while they preached, thus supporting them in the ministry. Even then they were of one heart and one soul. Even though some of them were the preachers and others were the suppliers, none complained.
And that is what makes the movement in that time amazing. The next verse goes on to let us know that nobody lacked, because all who had gave to those who lacked so that each may not have to worry but be focused on carrying the gospel further.
Scripture tells us that “all things under heaven and on earth are God’s”. Therefore, we are only stewards of the treasures we possess. We know sincerely well that none of us are going to bring with us what we have after death. So “do not make mammon your master”. Do not let the riches of this world enslave you from doing good. For Jesus did say, “Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Don’t get me wrong, saving is good, saving is wise. You don’t have to spend every cent to help others. If possible, I would even encourage you to invest your money to churn up more money. However, do not go to the extent that you keep every cent that you own because it is going to be hard to give it away when you encounter someone else in need, even a stranger. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
Acts 4:32-37
V32 reminds me of the phrase, “what’s yours is mine, what’s mine is yours”. The early believers had all things in common. No one said that what they owned was theirs. Imagine how far we would go if everyone in this world had the same mentality.
The next verse starts like this, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” It doesn’t state clearly in scripture, but I think that they had great power simply because of the verse before it, that everyone’s common became a great force for the apostles to witness for Jesus. There were people supplying their needs while they preached, thus supporting them in the ministry. Even then they were of one heart and one soul. Even though some of them were the preachers and others were the suppliers, none complained.
And that is what makes the movement in that time amazing. The next verse goes on to let us know that nobody lacked, because all who had gave to those who lacked so that each may not have to worry but be focused on carrying the gospel further.
Scripture tells us that “all things under heaven and on earth are God’s”. Therefore, we are only stewards of the treasures we possess. We know sincerely well that none of us are going to bring with us what we have after death. So “do not make mammon your master”. Do not let the riches of this world enslave you from doing good. For Jesus did say, “Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Don’t get me wrong, saving is good, saving is wise. You don’t have to spend every cent to help others. If possible, I would even encourage you to invest your money to churn up more money. However, do not go to the extent that you keep every cent that you own because it is going to be hard to give it away when you encounter someone else in need, even a stranger. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Glorify God
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Acts 4:13-22
V21, “So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people,” this is the good part, wait for it, “since they all glorified God for what had been done.”
The elders of the church could not find a way of punishing them simply because they glorified God in their acts. Let me say it again, “They glorified God.” When we go through life as a Christian, we tend to praise ourselves and our efforts when success comes our way. I tend to do that too. But whenever I look back and think about it, the best successes I had were when I prayed before or when I committed the task to God or when I cried out to Him. Think back and see that it is all true. None of my successes would be there if not for God. And sometimes I wonder why I shortchange God in His blessings. Why there are no testimonies in my life? It is because I don’t give enough credit to the one who prospered me.
God cares about every little detail of our lives. We need to acknowledge that in everything we do, God is with us and if we do not give unto the Lord the glory due to His name, He tends to draw back His hand from us simply because we have gotten proud of our own self efforts. Remember that God resists the proud. It is not us but the Lord who shows up.
From now on, I’m going to remember that in every accomplishment, when people praise me, I’m going to make a stand to say, “If it wasn’t for God/Jesus Christ showing up, I would never had done it the way I did it.”
Here comes the finale, v22 “For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.” No matter how old you are, you can still be a testimony. Do not let the devil blind you from that. Glorify God because in everything you do, He is the one who gives you power to prosper.
Acts 4:13-22
V21, “So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people,” this is the good part, wait for it, “since they all glorified God for what had been done.”
The elders of the church could not find a way of punishing them simply because they glorified God in their acts. Let me say it again, “They glorified God.” When we go through life as a Christian, we tend to praise ourselves and our efforts when success comes our way. I tend to do that too. But whenever I look back and think about it, the best successes I had were when I prayed before or when I committed the task to God or when I cried out to Him. Think back and see that it is all true. None of my successes would be there if not for God. And sometimes I wonder why I shortchange God in His blessings. Why there are no testimonies in my life? It is because I don’t give enough credit to the one who prospered me.
God cares about every little detail of our lives. We need to acknowledge that in everything we do, God is with us and if we do not give unto the Lord the glory due to His name, He tends to draw back His hand from us simply because we have gotten proud of our own self efforts. Remember that God resists the proud. It is not us but the Lord who shows up.
From now on, I’m going to remember that in every accomplishment, when people praise me, I’m going to make a stand to say, “If it wasn’t for God/Jesus Christ showing up, I would never had done it the way I did it.”
Here comes the finale, v22 “For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.” No matter how old you are, you can still be a testimony. Do not let the devil blind you from that. Glorify God because in everything you do, He is the one who gives you power to prosper.
Hold onto the Lord
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Acts 4:23-31
There comes a point in time where we have to choose between going against man or going against God. Persecutions come and we have to be ready when it does. If you’re being persecuted right now, hold strong, because even the disciples of the first movement were persecuted. If you’re free from persecution now, pray for those facing persecution, and be ready for it when it comes.
The elders of the church were respected and feared. Even then, the disciples of Jesus Christ did what was right in the sight of God. They had to choose between fearing man or fearing God. When we get the perspective that we are only temporarily here on earth, then it is only wise if we choose to fear God even if it means going against men. Whether it be elders of the church, family, friends, relatives, we need to make a stand that God will come first. Everything else will fade away but the Lord will still remain.
Hold onto the right thing and the rest will be easy.
Acts 4:23-31
There comes a point in time where we have to choose between going against man or going against God. Persecutions come and we have to be ready when it does. If you’re being persecuted right now, hold strong, because even the disciples of the first movement were persecuted. If you’re free from persecution now, pray for those facing persecution, and be ready for it when it comes.
The elders of the church were respected and feared. Even then, the disciples of Jesus Christ did what was right in the sight of God. They had to choose between fearing man or fearing God. When we get the perspective that we are only temporarily here on earth, then it is only wise if we choose to fear God even if it means going against men. Whether it be elders of the church, family, friends, relatives, we need to make a stand that God will come first. Everything else will fade away but the Lord will still remain.
Hold onto the right thing and the rest will be easy.
What we have seen and heard
Friday, April 16, 2010
Acts 4:13-22
There comes a point in our lives when God becomes personal to us. A miracle is unexplainable but it is undeniable. Even the Pharisees knew that, but their hearts were still closed. They were serving power instead of serving God who gave them the authority in the first place.
Sometimes we keep asking, “How do we share the gospel when we are afraid we would offend somebody else?” Do it the easy way. Simply share your personal experiences. Everybody wants to hear about your story first. Then direct it to the Word of God and how you believed it. Then tell about Jesus’ story. It says in verse 19-20, But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Your testimonies are enough to tell that God has been amazing in your life and to persuade others to want your life. Your testimonies prove that God is real, not your explanation. When something is undeniable, and it cannot be explained, it is God at work. Because God knows far more than us, he would tell us what we should know and what we should just leave it to Him. Don’t try to figure out everything because God is too big to figure out.
Acts 4:13-22
There comes a point in our lives when God becomes personal to us. A miracle is unexplainable but it is undeniable. Even the Pharisees knew that, but their hearts were still closed. They were serving power instead of serving God who gave them the authority in the first place.
Sometimes we keep asking, “How do we share the gospel when we are afraid we would offend somebody else?” Do it the easy way. Simply share your personal experiences. Everybody wants to hear about your story first. Then direct it to the Word of God and how you believed it. Then tell about Jesus’ story. It says in verse 19-20, But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Your testimonies are enough to tell that God has been amazing in your life and to persuade others to want your life. Your testimonies prove that God is real, not your explanation. When something is undeniable, and it cannot be explained, it is God at work. Because God knows far more than us, he would tell us what we should know and what we should just leave it to Him. Don’t try to figure out everything because God is too big to figure out.
Asking for the heart of God
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Acts 4:23-31
What is persecution that we should back away? I love the attitude that the early believers in Acts had. They see the threats (it’s not like that act as if there weren’t any threats) and acknowledge that God is above them. What I noticed was that they did not ask God that He would take away the persecution. Nor did they ask God to take away the elders and priests and put up righteous leaders. All I noticed was them asking God for boldness to speak and the ability to heal by the name of Jesus Christ.
And God gave it to them, the boldness to speak. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is important but the prayers pleasing to God are more important. I believe when we couple prayer with the bible, we are able to know what to pray for and how to pray. Because the Holy Spirit is the one that gives us utterance, allow Him to speak through our hearts and emotions that we may know God’s heart. So instead of looking to prayer meaningful prayers, seek instead to know God more and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:23-31
What is persecution that we should back away? I love the attitude that the early believers in Acts had. They see the threats (it’s not like that act as if there weren’t any threats) and acknowledge that God is above them. What I noticed was that they did not ask God that He would take away the persecution. Nor did they ask God to take away the elders and priests and put up righteous leaders. All I noticed was them asking God for boldness to speak and the ability to heal by the name of Jesus Christ.
And God gave it to them, the boldness to speak. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is important but the prayers pleasing to God are more important. I believe when we couple prayer with the bible, we are able to know what to pray for and how to pray. Because the Holy Spirit is the one that gives us utterance, allow Him to speak through our hearts and emotions that we may know God’s heart. So instead of looking to prayer meaningful prayers, seek instead to know God more and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Primary Christian Callings
Monday, March 01, 2010
John 17:1-10
How many of us can say this, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” The Lord Jesus Christ could say this. Of course, He is the Son of God. He should know what the Father has sent Him to do and finish it within 3 years of His ministry.
However, the next few verses explains what Jesus meant by finishing the work that the Father sent Him to do.
Evangelism and Discipleship:
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.” (discipleship). “they were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” Is it not true that God will provide for us the opportunities in our lives to witness to a couple of people and not just witness but disciple them as well? This should be one of our callings when we serve the Lord. But wait, there is more.
Preaching and Teaching the Word of God:
V8 “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me,” (teaching). Have we not been sent by God to proclaim the Word of God? We answer another one of our callings by preaching and teaching the Word of God that He gave to us. Even though we are not pastors, God has given us a Word in season that we can encourage one another with them.
Praying for one another:
V9 speaks of praying for those that God has given us. Everyone around us is His and we should pray for those that God has given in our care of. We should pray for one another and exhort them because that is when we activate God in their lives.
If we do not do missions, nor heal the sick or the blind, nor make the lame walk nor the deaf hear, nor prophecy over lives, nor become a full time pastor, these that Jesus has talked about should be everyone Christian’s calling. No matter where we come from, what we do or what we have, we can always do these and I believe this is our primary calling in life. This will determine that God will say on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Soon in life we will find our diversified calling but till then, know that you can still serve, worship and glorify the living God.
John 17:1-10
How many of us can say this, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” The Lord Jesus Christ could say this. Of course, He is the Son of God. He should know what the Father has sent Him to do and finish it within 3 years of His ministry.
However, the next few verses explains what Jesus meant by finishing the work that the Father sent Him to do.
Evangelism and Discipleship:
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.” (discipleship). “they were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” Is it not true that God will provide for us the opportunities in our lives to witness to a couple of people and not just witness but disciple them as well? This should be one of our callings when we serve the Lord. But wait, there is more.
Preaching and Teaching the Word of God:
V8 “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me,” (teaching). Have we not been sent by God to proclaim the Word of God? We answer another one of our callings by preaching and teaching the Word of God that He gave to us. Even though we are not pastors, God has given us a Word in season that we can encourage one another with them.
Praying for one another:
V9 speaks of praying for those that God has given us. Everyone around us is His and we should pray for those that God has given in our care of. We should pray for one another and exhort them because that is when we activate God in their lives.
If we do not do missions, nor heal the sick or the blind, nor make the lame walk nor the deaf hear, nor prophecy over lives, nor become a full time pastor, these that Jesus has talked about should be everyone Christian’s calling. No matter where we come from, what we do or what we have, we can always do these and I believe this is our primary calling in life. This will determine that God will say on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Soon in life we will find our diversified calling but till then, know that you can still serve, worship and glorify the living God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)