Two Kingdoms

Read Matt 22:15-22

Reflection of Tommy:

They say there are two things that are certain we can't run from in this life - death and taxes. We often have various reasons or excuses for not paying the amount of taxes we should be paying. Some even justified their action by thinking that they shouldn't cooperate with human authority but only to God.

But Jesus in today's passage clearly explained that each of us should fulfill both our duty as citizen of this world and at the same time giving God our full commitment and obedience. But among the two kingdoms, our greater responsibility was to God and His kingdom (Acts 5:28-29).

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that I should render to authority all that are theirs and to You what is yours. While I am still a citizen to this world, teach me to carry out all duty and responsibility honestly to those You have allowed to govern the country.

Dear Father, but above all, made my heart knows that You have the ultimate authority and that I should devote my life honoring You and doing Your will. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

You are not alone

Read Hebrews 4:9-16

Reflection of Tommy:

There are many sincere Christians who felt condemned because they experience temptation. Often, they also believe that they are the only one having this specific struggle; thinking no one will ever be able to understand or relate to them.

But, in today’s passage we can take comfort knowing that Jesus Himself, has experienced a full range of temptations throughout his life as a man. Jesus can truly sympathize with our struggle with temptations. We can be encouraged knowing that Jesus faced temptation without giving in to sin. With His strength and power, we too can choose not to sin when tempted.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching me not to take my salvation for granted but to appropriate this gift through making daily decision and commitment to trust and obey You. May Your living Word, like the incisiveness of a surgeon’s knife, penetrate deep to reveal all my ways, good or bad and leading me in Your way everlasting. In Jesus’ 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.

Plans And Realities

Proverbs 16:1-9 (Amplified Bible)

1THE PLANS of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.

2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

3Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

4The Lord has made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and His own purpose--even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil.

5Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished.

6By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man--not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.

7When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice.

9A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

Reflection of Bee:

We often heard the saying, "Failure to plan is planning to fail". Tonight we learn some important aspects about planning from the above passage:
1. If we give our works and plans to God, He will cause us to plan and work in the way He desires and thus we will succeed (v3).
2. If our lives are pleasing to God, He will make our enemies be at peace with us (v7).
3. God is the one who will guide us to walk in the right path towards our plans (v9).

These promises are very appropriate for our work and personal life situations. They explain why we often fail in our plans. If we have enemies, we need to ensure our life is pleasing to God to have none.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that I need to commit my works and plans to You and let You take charge.
I pray You will guide me in how I should reply to those below and above me at work so that I can get my works done without offending anyone.
I pray that even my enemies will make peace with me as I live my life to please You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Often we put our plans into action without asking ourselves whether they are in harmony with God’s truth and our attitude is pleasing to Him. We are very good at rationalizing almost everything we do and proving that we are right. Without truly committing what we do to God, things often don’t go as planned or will even fails badly.

We need to commit whatever we do to the Lord; asking Him for guidance as we make our plans and then act on our plan as we trust in Him. And all plans that are committed to the Lord, will succeed (v3).

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me on how to truly commit everything I do to You and learning to trust You more. Guide me to be aware always whether my plans are in harmony with Your truth before putting them into action. May my attitude and motive be pleasing to You and acted in Your way. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

God Fights Against Us

Joel 2:12-17

Rend Your Heart
12 "Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."

13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.

14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.

16 Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.

17 Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?' "

Bee's Thoughts:

"return to me with all your heart" (v13).

The Lord demands ALL our heart, not just a portion of it....

As I look into my heart,
I saw a number of things:
People I love so much
And all my heart's longings.

Where is my dear Lord?
Are You even here?
He is by the wall
Waiting for me to come near.

I am sorry my dear Lord,
Now take all my heart.
Take all I have got
Let me have a new start.

- Your child Bee

Tommy's Thoughts:

My church’s speaker told a story about a Christian who complained to God for not punishing those unbelieving bad people swiftly but allowing them to flourish and prosper. He argued how unfair for God to bring hardship and suffering to him instead.

Then, God answered him by saying the suffering he’s going through now is like God gently and delicately pruning all those twigs in him with a sharp scissor. And He does that while holding him lovingly in His caring arm.

But for those disobeying bad people that does not remain in Him, He will be chopping off them like a dying branch with a big axe and thrown into the fire and be burned! (John 15:6)

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to remain in You even as the going get tough. Teach me not to hold back from turning to You completely. Guide me to surrender all my needs, worries and concerns to You, trusting You to take care of all of them.

Thank You O Wonderful and Loving God,
In You, I find true rest, peace and love,
Because of You I discover truths,
And You alone, I desire more than everything.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.