Bold Persistence

Matthew 15:21-28

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Reflection of Tommy:

We can sometimes become so occupied with our spiritual matters than we miss or ignore the needs of others around us. Like the disciples in today’s passage, we can miss the opportunity to show true compassion and sensitivity to those with real needs. We have prejudice against them and afraid of the hassle they might bring to us.

Be aware next time for any opportunity that God may be bringing to us through these needy people. Remember always that God’s message of love and grace is for all people, making every effort not to keep off those who are different from us.

Dear Father, thank You for the lesson today of be kind and generous to those around me. Forgive me of my ignorance and prejudice towards others; even looking down on those who are different from me. Teach me not to be like that anymore but instead be willing to reach out and to show true compassion and concern to those You bring before me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Morning

Lamentations 3:19-32

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.

20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.

29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.

30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.

31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.

32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.

Reflection of Bee:

Very often, my anger for someone never last. Before the morning comes, my anger would have been dissipated. For the Lord has taught me to forgive. Yes, though I may still wonder why that person hurt me, but I don't bear grudge against that person.

As follower of Christ we just reflect the image of God. It is God's work in our hearts, not our own doing. In the same way, God's anger upon us will not last forever. He is full of compassion and mercy towards His children. However, we should not take that for granted.

Dear Lord,
Thank Your for your Your compassion upon me all the days of my life. Thank You that You did not give up on me but continue to transform my life to be more like Yours. May I continue to show compassion and mercy to others as well.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

There are many sincere Christians out there who feel so disappointed with themselves for constantly falling into sin that they stop asking God for forgiveness altogether. They live with guilt and bitterness; thinking they are unworthy of anymore grace or mercy from God.

But from the Bible, we know that God’s great love and compassion for us never fail (v22). There are no sin he would not forgive if we are sincere, and no matter how many times we have fail Him, He still will offer us His forgiveness as they are new every morning (v23). So, before it’s too late, return to God for He is waiting to welcome us back into His loving arms.

Dear Father, thank You for Your love, grace and mercy to forgive an unworthy sinner like me. Thank You for what Christ has done that allow me to approach and reconcile with You again. Teach me with all Your loving lessons, always seeking You and Your kingdom first. Lord, guide me to reflect silently each day on what You wants and be patient to wait on You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Valuing Others

Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "

8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Reflection of Bee:

Most people tend to look at others' weaknesses rather than their strengths. I was no difference in the past till something that Tommy told me about a year ago changed the way I look at a person. Though he was referring to his own learning and doing the things that capitalize on his own strength and do well, I used it to apply on the way I should view my colleagues.

Example, my boss tends to write off certain staff he deems as not suitable for some positions, yet I beg to differ. I tend to see their potentials and strengths rather than their weaknesses. I feel I should give them a second chance and help them succeed in doing what they may be good at. I believe such attitude I have comes from the Lord. For my God is a God of compassion and mercy. He came for the 'sick' not the 'well', of whom I am one of them, a wretched soul saved by grace. I am where I am because of His unfailing love.

As I was talking to one of my colleagues, she remarked that God has put me in my present company and position so that I can reach out to others that need help. Yes, I feel I am just like Joseph the 'dreamer'. :P


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace and compassion for the 'sick' and the 'lost'.
Thank You for looking beyond my faults and see my needs.
Thank You for Your wonderful grace to me.
I will show grace to others that they may know You.
Thank You for placing me in my working place and in a position of influence.
Thank You for those whom I met and work with in my work place.
For those who do not know You, I pray that they may know You by and by.
For those who have back slided I pray You will restore them to Yourselves.

I pray all these in Jesus' name. Amen



Reflection of Tommy:

Sometimes, we avoid sharing the Good News to people we think that are too different from us; their behaviors, life-style and values. We only ‘pick’ certain group of people, consciously or unconsciously, to tell the Good News.

But in today’s passage, we see how Jesus loved and displayed compassion even to Zacchaeus, both a cheater and a turncoat. Likewise, whenever God gives us opportunities to spread His message, we should show similar kind of love to those who are lost (v10), regardless of their background.

Dear Father, thank You for using me to share Your amazing love to those around me. Forgive me O Lord that at times I displayed the same attitude as the crowd in today’s passage. Forgive me also for not using the opportunities of sharing to glorify You but myself. Lord, guide me next time to be a more effective witness for Christ. I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Dirty Jobs

Matthew 8:1-4

The Man With Leprosy
1When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured[b] of his leprosy. 4Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Bee's Thoughts:

The leper in the above passage rightly identified that if God is willing all things all possible. Jesus is ever willing to heal us of our 'leprosy' (uncleanness). We need to learn to pray in God's will so that what we pray and hope for are in line with God's will. Only then can we see things happening.

Dear Lord,
Teach me to always remember to pray in accordance to Your will instead of mine. May Your will be done in my life so that Your glory will shine through me.
In Jesus' I pray. Amen.


Tommy's Thoughts:

Today, who are the lepers? If we really care enough to look around us, we’ll find many of these marginalized and destitute people in need of our love, care, support and guidance. A good example is drug dependents. The number of addicts is surging every year, but voluntary workers are few. There are various Christian initiated rehabilitation centers out there that need our help and contribution.

We can help out in so many ways like recommending and awarding these centers with work projects, sponsoring their residents, employing those graduated from these centers, providing skills and training, or just taking time by doing ministering and praying for them. As Jesus has said in Matthews 25:40: “...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to go out and serve Your people instead of always focusing only on myself. Lead me to show compassion and care for those who are less fortunate and follow Your leading to help and contribute them. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

One in Christ

Galatians 3:26-4:7

Sons of God
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 4

1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[a] Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Bee's Thoughts:

It's so sad that though Christians are suppose to be one in Christ, yet there are so many divisions amongst them. Christians can be against Christians or even hurt each other knowingly or unknowingly.

Christians are no different from non-Christians as long as they do not live according to the word of God which says,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)


Dear Lord,
I know it pains Your heart to know that Your Children are not one as You and the Father is one. I pray that You will forgive us and help us to love You with all our heart, soul and strength and to love our neighbours as ourselves. Help us to be one in Christ, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.




Tommy's Thoughts:
We tend to gravitate towards people who are similar to us and feel uncomfortable when around those who are different from us. But, we learn from the Bible that faith in Christ makes every believer equal and one (v28) in Christ; no one is higher, more privileged or superior than others. Instead of making distinctions and separating our selves, we need to seek out and appreciate our fellow believers who are different from us.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching and guiding me to do what is right yesterday. It is You who has moved me to show warmth, care and concern for Your people. And thank You for showing me how faithful and obedient these brothers of mine. Their faith, gratefulness and love for You has greatly encouraged me to be a better follower of Christ. Lord, I pray that You will continue to guide me in everything I say or do. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen