James 2 - Grace without works is dead. Why?

 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

Walk the talk. This phrase is seen all over. If you believe something, then show it. If you believe in Jesus, then follow Him and His ways. If you believe in God, do everything in your power to please Him.

Let us compare the body without the spirit. It is an empty shell. There is no life in it. So faith without action has no life in it. It is not saying that we will be judged by the Law but rather that if we live by grace, then life in grace shows a different fruit. If the fruit does not show, then the tree is dead. It needs to be nourished. It needs to be attached to the vine.

We need to be attached to Jesus and the fruit automatically shows. It is not the fruit that is important but the attachment to the vine. However, if we show no fruit, then it means that we are not attached to the vine. You can believe all you want that you are attached to the vine but the results prove otherwise. Just as you can say you have worked your hardest, but the results prove otherwise.

So live not for the fruit but for the vine but use the fruit to monitor your growth. Because if you lack action, then it means you lack faith.

Luke 4:1-13 - The Temptations of Jesus (The Humbling Experience)

Luke 4

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Verses 1-13

Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. I was curious to see if this fulfilled any of the old prophecies since the author of the book is trying to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. I found this: Psalm 91:10-12 – “No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For He orders His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.”

40 days in the wilderness also signifies the 40 years in the wilderness that the Israelites had to endure. Ironically, this is also where Jesus quotes scripture from when he said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” During their time in the wilderness, the Israelites received mana from God and this is where the scripture came from Deuteronomy 8:3 – “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

The second temptation, Jesus used Deuteronomy 6:16 – “You must not test the LORD your God as you did when you complained at Massah.” Always do what is God’s will and not your own selfish reasoning. I went through a dry season and during that time, all I could think about was testing if God was real? I would go up during the altar call and for some reason not get prayed for. God did the exact opposite of what I wanted, and I think it was intentional, something he wanted me to learn – that it was not my will but his will. The more I wanted a sign, the more he delayed it. In a way, that was already proof that God did exist 😊. As soon as I stopped wanting my own way, God began to move. But it took me 5 years of humbling to get to that point, to say that whatever it is he wants to change in me, just do it.

The third temptation of course is very humbling. To know that all your objectives will be met if you simply bowed down to Satan. It was a shortcut but Jesus would have to violate Law number 1 of the old testament. Many times in life, it is integrity vs shortcut. This I would have to rely on the Holy Spirit because life is full of shortcuts. It is something I am still working on. Expect voices all around you especially your family who would push you to take the shortcut way and leave the integrity way. It is definitely a struggle when you could get your promotion in 1 year instead of waiting for 7 years as was what happened to me. But God is faithful. In the end, I am looking forward to what God has to say when I see Him face to face.

Jesus went through “the humbling experience”. And this is what everyone has to go through at some point in their life if they wish to serve God effectively. Thinking back, my dry season was from 2011 to 2016, 25-30 years old. That was a humbling experience for me. To know how to trust God even when you feel like he is not there.

Mark 13 - Understanding scripture and keeping watch

Mark 13

Monday, February 11, 2019

Verses 32-37

It is a serious thing here that Jesus is warning us – to keep watch. Basically, to stay in prayer or to be prayerful. Prayer is our super weapon. Jesus is always praying. He loves to go to isolated areas to pray. He loves spending time with the Father. He models this for us so that we also can have communion with the Father.

Lord, teach me how to keep watch in prayer. Teach me how to constantly communicate with you. Teach me how.

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Verses 1-11

Jesus may have sounded really arrogant and trying to change the rules here. But it was because the people misunderstood him, and because they did not understand the scriptures. The woman who did the deed understood the scriptures. It was revealed to her. She knew that Jesus was going to die.

I’m so amazed at how the average person in those days knew about the prophecies and could interpret them correctly when the teachers of the law and the chief religious people did not. How can one be so close to God that he will know each step that he is directed in? How cool will that be? Whatever my Father does, I do. Being led by the Holy Spirit every step of the way is the ultimate goal. And I wish to do so.

“I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world; what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Very few receive promises that they will be remembered forever. Very many wish to attain that.

Lord, guide me in my steps that whatever I do may be from you.

Mark 14 - Fulfilling your God-given story

Mark 14

Friday, February 15, 2019

Verses 53-72

Jesus knows that the time has come for him to give away his life. For he has read the scriptures or that he is God and knows the intent of the Father. Submitting Himself fully to us humans and to God, he showed us the example of what submitting actually meant. He did not defend himself as one should when accused nor did he fight back. He took the beating and all the torturing that followed. He suffered all these just to fulfill the scriptures, just for us.

Peter followed Jesus probably to honor his loyalty promise but, in the event,, he also had doubts that Jesus could be the Son of God. The turning point for him is when he remembered what Jesus said earlier – that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crows. Because of this, his doubts started to fade away because Jesus could know what was to happen and he already planned all this. So I believed that in this moment, Peter knew that Jesus still had everything under control. Still he did not believe that Jesus would rise from the dead after three days. I do believe though that through the denials and the remembering, faith was restored again in Peter.

Sometimes, things happen in our lives that may look to us like failures. We may have failed God multiple times, but he has never failed us. The hope is that through every failure, we learn to trust in God more. We learn to trust in his promises more. We learn to rest in him.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Verses 43-51

I should go and see how many scriptures that Jesus fulfilled in his lifetime. A lot. At least 55 old testament prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus. He knew that the scriptures will be fulfilled through him. What a burden to carry.

I’m kind of curious about verse 51 and 52. Why did the author leave that in there? Some commentaries say that it was Mark himself. Some say he was an angel which appears throughout the bible in linen. But there is no conclusion. Most of these are just suspicions. Am trying not to read too much into it.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Verses 27-42

I used to say that I would die for Jesus. Now I know that talk is cheap. When the moment comes, only God knows whether I will turn tail and run or follow him all the way. I have not experienced hardships yet, and that will be to my disadvantage at any moment.

In verse 34, Jesus uses the words “keep watch” again, which I assume means to pray. In verse 38, he says, “Watch and pray.” I’m starting to think that “watch” means to be aware of the happenings around us and to couple it with prayer.

Watch = looking at the world happenings (e.g. news) through the eyes of God and aligning ourselves to his will.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Verses 1—26

It’s amazing how God prepared someone to prepare Jesus for burial, and also provided a place for Jesus and his disciples to eat. When you do the will of God, little things such as a place to eat dinner will also be provided for you. I have heard of testimonies how people in missions trips have gotten their every need because God spoke to others to provide for them. When you do the will of God, keep watch (pray) consistently, so that you know which way to go, who to ask, and things you should be doing. Aligning yourself to His will assures you of everything you need.

There will be moments when you doubt, but take heart, God will always show Himself real to you in ways you can never imagine. Know that He can never send you out without first providing for you. He has already prepared every step of the way, just as how Jesus had his donkey and place to have the Passover meal.

Men who seem important

Galatians 2

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

“As for those who seemed important – whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance – those men added nothing to my message” v6

In our walk of life, we face many different people who make themselves seem important and everyone seems to want to please them. They are the ones who try and water down our message/testimony and our integrity. We may get caught up in life trying to follow their footsteps, just because they seem to work, even though it may go against our godly principles.

For us as godly believers, our walk with Jesus should not be influenced by the world, and this means not to be influenced by people who live according to the world. They gain a lot but compromise their integrity to do so. They may seem important to please but what Paul is saying here is they are no different than anyone else. God does not judge by external appearance and neither should we. Do not water down your life testimony just to make someone else feel good. Make yourselves a living sacrifice to God alone and surely He will take care of you till the end of the age.

There are also believers who try to water down the message by telling us that not all of the bible is true. Some may even use bible scripture for their own benefits. However, we are called to be rooted in scripture so that we may not be deceived when others quote scripture but teach out of context (a wrong message).

Lord, I ask and pray that you protect the message within me. Keep me rooted in your word so that I may live out a life worthy of Your name. Amen

Love Must Be Sincere

Romans 12:9 – Love must be sincere

Saturday, April 02, 2016

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good”

Memory verse of the day I guess. In this world, a majority of people only get to know you if you benefit them. Their love is not sincere. However, there are a minority of people who sincerely give love away without expecting any in return. These people are at a loss when it comes to the world but at a gain when it comes to spirituality. Sure they do not get fairness in life but God sees them and God is a rewarder of those who love Him.

I wish to break the notion that love cannot be sincere. A person who treats you well wants something in return. How can we break that mindset? “What’s in it for me?” is always the question on their minds. “Love must be sincere” becomes such a hard thing to follow. When you give away love, you usually expect love in return. Get ready for disappointments. Love that is sincere does not expect love in return. That is why Jesus taught us to love our enemies and to love those who cannot afford to pay us back.

Love must be sincere. What a profound statement. Society is not capable of this. Everyone knows it but almost no one is implementing it. If your love is sincere, society will jeer at you. You are too different, society does not accept you. How do we have love that is sincere but at the same time not have people reject us?

What is good is usually difficult. It is not easy to follow Christ.

Lord, I pray, help me to have love that is sincere. First, help to receive your love because your love is the most genuine of all. Only with your love can I love others sincerely and without expecting anything in return. Amen.

Set Apart

Galatians 1

Saturday, April 09, 2016

“God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace” – v15

Each of us has been set apart whether we know it or not. Through this chapter, Paul tells of his life. He was against the gospel and tried to destroy it. He did not know his calling yet. But behold God was still at work. The plan of God did not start when Jesus met Paul on the way to Damascus, but His plans for Paul started at his birth.

So it is with us as well – God has called us since birth. Whether we know of it yet or not, we can be rest assured that God is and will always be working in us. We serve such a faithful God. No matter our circumstances, when our eyes are fixed on Him, we know that He has our whole world in His hands.

And when Paul’s life took a turn and changed for the better, God could use all that was in his past and turn that into a testimony.

I look forward to the day that God has planned for me. In the meantime, God is still at work in me. What He started in use, He will finish. Amen.