Getting Personal

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Reflection of Tommy:

What does it means to have a personal relationship with God? There are usually two extremes in where our relationship with God is, it is either we spend so much time accumulating knowledge and human wisdom that we have never truly know Him personally or we put Him second after other things or people in our lives.

But as we read today's passage, we learn that knowing Christ personally is the single greatest wisdom anyone could have. Are we ready and willing to wisely accept this offer from God today? Are we able to set aside all our other temporal pursuits and truly come to the crucified and risen Christ, receiving eternal life and joy of a personal relationship with Him.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding the unimaginable importance of having a close and personal relationship with Jesus. Thank You that You revealed to me that Christ is my Lord and Savior (Matthew 16:15-17). Father, lead me to live a life that fully reflects this reality, to be transformed by the renewing of my mind in Christ Jesus. In His mighty Name I pray, Amen.

Two Different Systems

Galatians 6:11-18

11-13Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ's suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!

14-16For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

17Quite frankly, I don't want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.

18May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

Reflection of Bee:

There are politics everywhere, not only in the government but also in our working places, and even in the churches, sad to say. However, Paul chose not to follow the world system but rather follow the cross of Jesus. All he wanted was to be serious in living out his faith in Christ.

Yes, through the cross of Jesus we are set free from the bondage of sin and the world when we practice our faith. Do you know why yesterday was called a Good Friday? Because Jesus died on the cross for us and was resurrected three days later. Isn't that good? :)

Dear Lord,
Thank You for your encouragement through tonight's devotion, using the Apostle Paul as an example. May I continue to be strong as I live in this world and not of this world. I pray also for the business decisions I have to make let me follow Your system, and not the system of the world. Let me have a good rest tonight so I may rise up fresh to worship You with the church tomorrow.
Thank You in Jesus' name. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Many Christians today do not realize they are living in the midst of a great spiritual battle in this world. As God’s final victory has yet to come, we are facing continually threat and attacks from Satan and his forces in all areas of our lives.

We are bombarded by all kinds of harmful and destructive worldly ideologies or subtle cultural pressures everyday that drag us away from God. We also easily give Satan foothold (Eph 4:27) and allowing Him to build strongholds in our lives through bitterness, lust, improper speech, greed and pride.

But God never intended us to fight this battle alone. He will fight with us and He has given us the authority to overcome the power of Satan in our lives and to win the battle. As we are fighting not against people but the principalities and powers of a dark world, God will equips us with the spiritual armor: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and His Word (putting on Christ!). Pray also to God to help us crucify any wrong desire and interest in our heart.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me what Christ has achieved on Calvary’s Tree. Protect my heart and mind that I will not be distracted by doubt, discouragement and confusion but to put on Your armor to fight this fierce battle. Lord, keep me awake and alert that I may not stumble or lead astray, but to be conqueror and victorious in Jesus. In His mighty Name I pray, Amen.

Choices

Ruth 1:11-18

11 But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!"

14 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her.

15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."

16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Reflection of Bee:

"I’ve come to realize that my life is not made by the dreams that I dream but by the choices that I make." - friend of Joe Stowell

Quite true. Dreams remain dreams when there is no action taken, The choices that we made are the actions that will let us know if our dreams are attainable.

We have to make choices since the day we are born. We do make many wrong choices in life but that's how we learn and grow. However, some choices have major impact to our life, e.g. career, marriage or business partner, and most importantly the God we believe in.

Ruth has made the right choice, though humanly speaking her choice was to her disadvantage. Yet her commitment to her mother-in-law had made her chose to stay with her till death. This shows that in making choices we have to look beyond our own current needs and see the needs of the people we loved.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for helping me to choose You. The best choice in my life. Teach me to make the right choices daily that will ultimately bring glory to You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

From today’s Daily Bread, the author said that life usually boil down to a choice between "What do I want?" and "What’s best for others?” Many today like Orpah, choose what they want almost all the times; serving only themselves instead of the needs of others.

But for Ruth, she saw the needs of others and put it first before her own, making the decision to serve the needs of Naomi and she went on to play a significant role in Jewish history and became an ancestor of Jesus.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me that everyday there are many opportunities to show true care for the needs of others. Teach me to make every choice by first putting the needs of others than always only my own. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.