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.

Honor one another above yourselves

Romans 12:10

Monday, April 11, 2016

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves”

Recently, the leaders were discussing about the issues that working adults face at work and how they can be an influence in the market place. We hit the topic of “confidence” saying that without confidence in the work place, working adults face emotional stress, so much until they are not able to handle it. These can be from their supervisors, their colleagues and their subordinates. Not having the self-esteem on their part makes them face constant pressure that pushes them to frustration. When they come home from work, all they wish to do is chill and relax. In the end, they are fully focus on themselves and they start to neglect the other aspects of life such as house chores, family, church, God. They become selfish and do things to please themselves without a second thought about the people around them. This is the reality of a working adult’s life.

God says in His word here to “be devoted to one another” and to “honor one another above yourselves”. It takes God to be in the center of it all to do this. When we acknowledge that God is still in control of our lives, we unload our burden and load it unto our Lord Jesus Christ who is willing to lift your burden for you. When God is in the Center of your life, you will then have the confidence in your workplace to love another and honor them above yourselves. And when you come home, you will not only focus on yourself for it is selfish to do so.

God, I pray you will build in me the confidence I need to be the head and not the tail in my workplace. Help me to believe that You are always with me and You are always in control. Almighty God, thank you for being faithful. Amen.

Treating Unfairness in Life

Romans 12:11-12

Saturday, April 16, 2016

“Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”

Joyful in hope. Hope is when we have faith in something we cannot see, like hoping for a better day. As Christians, we hope for the day when we will see Jesus. Therefore we are joyful. Whether trials or pestilence, they cannot rob us of this - that in the end we will see Jesus. This is the greatest joy. Don’t let anyone nor anything bring you doubts about this. This is what you should fix your eyes on. The Lord Jesus Christ has done it all. All we have to do is endure this life and let God use us for His plans and purposes whatever it may be. In the end, we will still see Jesus. Don’t think of life as being unfair to you. God is not about fairness, He is just. And everything will happen in the end as it is supposed to. Take unfairness as a common thing. Expect it to come even in the quietest moments when least expected. Treat everyone equally and don’t let another disrupt you following Jesus.

Patience in affliction. Your endurance is being tested every single day. And it grows as it is being tested. Patience will bring you a long way in life. Why does God call us to be patient in affliction? Why does God put affliction on us in the first place? We know that it is for our benefit that we are afflicted, so that we may learn from it and grow. At the same time, we know that not all affliction is from God and we should not choose to stay in affliction but find a way out of it. Going through affliction will also help you to see the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life. So be patient until God provides you a way out of your affliction. Discern wisely and act on it. But in the process do not say that life is unfair to you. You do not know what others are going through.

Faithful in prayer. Prayer is what connects us to God. Prayer is what helps us tap into the unseen power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is what keeps us intact. Without prayer, we feel hopeless, impatient and hungry for the world. Prayer brings us back to our senses, brings us back to Jesus. Prayer brings new perspective for us. Prayer helps us fix our eyes on Jesus.

It hit me that all these three – being joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer – are ways of overcoming the world, especially the unfairness of the world. "I have overcome the world," says our Lord Jesus Christ. In the end, we will still see Jesus. Amen.