Where Was God?

Read Hebrews 13:5-8

Reflection of Tommy:

I read an interview of a famous writer awhile ago on why he's an atheist. He referred to the 9/11 incidence and the innocent lives that were lost in the tragedy, that he was convinced that day that God does not exists. But as we read Hebrews 13:5, God Himself has promised that He will never leave nor forsake us.

In times of tragedy, we can still experience God's invisible presence with the suffering and the dying in the compassionate individuals, volunteers, communities, hospital, churches and schools giving aids in the crisis. Despite all that may happen, we can know and trust that God is always near; working out all His plan and purposes.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me of Your presence with me all the time. Thank You that even the very hairs of my hairs are all numbered by You (Luke 12:7); that I do not have to be afraid but to trust in Your providence and protection and to obey in Your commands.

Loving Father, I pray that I'll be a good witness for Christ to those around me. Keep my ways blameless and pleasing to You always. In Jesus' Mighty Name I pray, Amen.

Faithful Till the End

Read Daniel 3:8-20

Reflection of Tommy:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were threatened to deny God, but they remain faithful to Him despite the terrible consequences they will face. Although they trusted God can deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful whether He intervenes or not.

We would not need faith if God always intervenes and rescued those who true to Him. Thus, we should be faithful to serve God no matters what’s the outcome of our situations. God will supply us with His sustaining grace and strength to persevere and to go through our trials. We’ll realize that our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may endure now.

Dear Father, guard my heart and mind to focus on being obedient and faithful to You till the end. Guide my every action and thoughts; lead me to Your way everlasting. May I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and trusting all these things shall be added unto me (Matthew 6:33). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Right Stuff

Read Galatians 1:6-12

Reflection of Tommy:

In today’s passage, Paul warned the Christians in Galatia of being in the wrong track; denying the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. Similarly, how do we as Christian actually know when a teaching is perverted? How do we identify where the truth of God’s Word is twisted and distorted?

We need to be aware that they will always be people who pervert the Good News by introducing other “ways” for us to be saved. We need to constantly remind ourselves that our salvation is a gift from God and there will be absolutely nothing other than our faith in Christ alone.

Dear Father, thank You for what Christ has done for me on the cross. Teach me to always emphasize on what He has done when sharing the gospel with others. Guide my lip and all my ways that they may bring glory and honor to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

A Deep Dependence

Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-11

Reflection of Tommy:

Recently, I was surprised to learn about the ritualistic and legalistic side of a religion that to me give so much stress and burden to its believer. As mentioned in verse 6 in today’s passage – “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”, we know that trying to be saved by keeping moral law will end in death.

It is only by believing in Jesus Christ that we receive eternal life through the Holy Spirit. The law makes us realize about our sins and showing us how to obey God, but our forgiveness comes only through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ (Rom. 7:10-8:2)

Daer Father, thank You for implanting the Holy Spirit in my heart, giving me new power to live for You. Teach me to always humble myself before You; acknowledging that all my sufficiency and capability is only with Your help and enabling of the Spirit. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Mistaken Confidence

Read Romans 4:4-8

Reflection of Tommy:

Recently, a church member shared about her grief over her unsaved brother who holds strongly to the wrong teachings of his religion. The teachings of Christ are distorted, and everything is focus on himself to produce goodness; exchanging outward sins for inward self-righteousness. I can see how pride and self-centeredness drive a person to seek this so-called personal enlightenment and fulfillments.

In stark contrast to the religions of the world, we know that our salvation comes not from our self-sufficient confidence or own good works but only through our faith in the One God has sent to save us. It is God’s love, mercy and grace that we receive this free gift of salvation.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

Dear Father, thank You for what Christ has done for all of us. Forgive me at times of taking this gift for granted, not following Christ with sincere commitment and trust. Lead me Lord to fully appropriate this gift by making daily decision to obey You and sharing this Good News to others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Right Answer

Read Matthew 16:13-17

Reflection of Tommy:

Who is Christ to us? Is He merely a teacher to us or someone that can grant all our wishes? Do we see and acknowledge His presence in wherever or whatever we do? Or do we call upon Him only during our times of distress? Are we thankful and grateful for what He has done for us on the Cross and continue His work to mold us each day? Are we obeying His commands as a response to His amazing love for us? Do we call Him our Lord and Savior?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me to clearly know who Christ really is in my life and how important He is to me. Teach me to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to put all my focus and priority right before Him. Lead me to be a bold and faithfull follower of Christ, proclaiming His love and the Good News to all. In His Name I pray, Amen.

Effective Prayers

James 5:13-18

The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Reflection of Bee:

Sometimes we wonder why our prayers are not answered. Tonight's devotion tells when and how we should pray so that our prayers are effective.

We pray when we or someone is
- in trouble (v13)
- sick (v14)

Our prayers must be
- in faith (v15)
- from a righteous heart, no unconfessed sins (v15,16)
- earnest (v17)

Dear Lord,
Thank You for teaching me how to pray. May I practice what I learn tonight and not just keep them as head knowledge. Let me pray in faith and earnestly with a clean heart. I commit myself to You once again.
In Your holy name I pray. Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

As Christian, we sometimes assume that since God knows and in control of all things- past, present and future, we stop altogether from truly praying. We treat it merely as something we do as a last resort or a formulaic and repetitive ritual that makes no difference whatsoever in our life and the lives of others.

But, why then God encourages and calls us to pray to Him in all things (Philippians 4:6)? Although our prayers are subject to His will but they are still an important part of God’s healing process. God often waits for our prayers of faith before He intervenes in a situation. So, treat our communion with God as our most powerful resource to bring the best result in everything we face.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me the importance of prayer, and how my prayer in faith will be a part in Your overall perfect plan. Guide me through the Holy Spirit to spend time daily to truly pray to You. May my prayers for others be sincere and out of love. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Lessons from Moses

Deuteronomy 34

The Death of Moses
1 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, [a] 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him [b] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit [c] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Reflection of Bee:

The story of Moses was the story that brought awe into my young life when I was attending the Sunday School then. Each Sunday I learned something new about the God of Moses. By the time the story ended, I told my Sunday School Teacher that I wanted the God of Moses to be mine too. Many years later when I watched the movie on the life of Moses, "The Prince of Egypt", awe still held my life. Yes, what a mighty God I have!

Who was this Moses that God could use so mightily and was able to talk to God face to face (v12)?

He was a man whom God raised from being a servant's son to someone of high position (as the prince of Egypt), to learn all about leadership, and then to humble him again in order to use him to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Moses made many mistakes but his heart was genuine towards God. Some of those mistakes may have consequences at the end of the day, such as Moses not being able to enter the promised land. Yet Moses was one of the great man of faith commended in Hebrews 11:23-29.

As I once again reflect on the life of Moses I could see something similar God had been doing in my life from my childhood days. He had been moulding my life, teaching me, exposing me to leadership roles and humbling me to prepare me for some special works He wants me to do in the near future. I could feel it coming but I need to obey. Like Moses, I may tend to give excuse and say like what he did in Exodus 4:10,

"O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

Dear Lord,
Thinking about Moses brings back many memories of how I came to know You. His life is also an encouragement for me to know that all I have gone through in my life have their special purposes. You have a special calling for my life which I need to obey. Give me strength and courage to accept what You have prepared for me to do. Let me not give excuses but to fully rely on You and not on my own abilities. May Your peace reigns in my heart tonight. Speak to me during the Sunday Worship tomorrow.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Although Moses is a great prophet and a great man, He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he has disobeyed God (Numbers 20:12). He never felt angry with God, in fact he still called Him his friend. Likewise, we too will be disciplined by God when we sometimes disobey Him. But instead of responding with resentment or embarrassment, we should turn towards Him with love, openness and the desire to do better.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to be responsible for my action. Thank You for teaching me not to turn away from You when I experience the sting of Your discipline, but to come to You humbly, seeking Your forgiveness and trusting You to change me and not giving up to do better next time. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

An Age-Old Question

Job 2:1-10

Job's Second Test
1 On another day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."

4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish [b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Reflection of Bee:

Earlier on, I was watching a movie at home and a statement said by one of the characters made me ponder much....

"Your love for her is limited, for you love only if you can be with her. If you really love her, you will love even if you know you can't be with her."

Isn't it similar to what Job said to his wife, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (v10). If we really believe in God we will accept both good and trouble because we KNOW that He works all things (including the trouble) together for good to those who loved God.

So be it love or faith, they must be unconditional to be real.

My Lord,
Thank You for speaking to me tonight. Thank You for revealing to me what it means to be consistent in our love and faith and not let circumstances change them. Teach me to practice these truth in my life with You and people You have chosen for me. Let me be true and real.
In Your name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Recently, a friend asked me why her 90 years old grandmother who is a very kind and generous person has to suffer at her old age now. Both her sons and daughters no longer care or concern for her well-being and never come to visit her. They even argued with one another over the very small amount of monthly payment for the nursing home. My friend’s family, who is the poorest among them all, was there all this while, taking care and support her and praying for her everyday.

So, why do good people suffers? Good Christian and everyone else in this fallen world are subject to suffering. Although God allow certain things to happen for reasons that we may not understand, we can still trust Him to do what is right and best. We can take comfort knowing that all our suffering will end when Jesus returns.

Dear Father, thank You for the assurance that all suffering and sorrow will end when Christ returns. Thank You that because of who You are, I can rely and trust You for things I do not understand. Thank You for Your constant guidance and protection, leading me to walk closer to Christ each day. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Celebrating Disappointment

Psalm 30

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. ^[a]

1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.

3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ^[b] ;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.

5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

7 O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain ^[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

9 "What gain is there in my destruction, ^[d]
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Reflection of Bee:


Dear Lord,
Thank You for turning my wailing into dancing too.
Thank You for removing my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
Thank You for opening so many doors for me when one is closed.
Thank You for leading my life and guiding my career path.
Thank You for preparing me for greater works ahead.
All the thanks I give to You will never be enough to thank You.
May all glory and praise be to You through the works You have done in me.
In Your wonderful name I give You thanks. Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

Sometimes God has to ‘punish’ us because of our stubbornness to change or deliberately ignoring His commands. He may use difficult, painful or uneasy situation to discipline or wake us up from our wrong ways. God also uses it to help us grow to be a more mature Christian. He does that because He loves us and wants to help us from getting into bigger trouble later.

As we read in verse 5, the discomfort of God’s anger towards us will lasts only a moment but the good effects will go on for a long time. Be thankful to our merciful God that at times His teaching maybe like a sharp painful shot given by a doctor, but it is always for our own good. It warns us to turn away from sin and helping us to grow to be a more obedient disciple of Christ.

Dear Father, thank You for Your lesson to change me when I’m disobedient. Forgive me of my ignorance to Your commands sometimes, doing the very thing You asked me not to. Forgive me and help me to always keep my ways right with You, to be a true follower of Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Natural Things to Do

Romans 1:8-17

Paul's Longing to Visit Rome
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

11I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.

16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Reflection of Bee:

Paul was so eager to share the gospel because he had personally experienced Christ and His power in so many ways (v16). He had suffered much persecutions after he became a follower of Christ. His mission was to share Christ with others and to ask the Roman Christians to be "mutually encouraged by each others' faith" (v11). Yes, Christian life is a life in the body of Christ (group), not a lonely individual life. This is a profound truth which we can only comprehend when the Holy Spirit reveals it to us.

Sharing the gospel to non-believers is a very normal and natural things to do once a person has experienced Jesus Christ. It's like a cup overflows with water.... it is one think 'knowing ABOUT God' and another 'knowing and EXPERIENCING God'. If one finds it not natural to share Christ, then one might be just knowing about Him and not really experiencing Him yet.

Sharing the gospel is also a demonstration of one's faith in Christ, as not everyone will accept what is shared. One might be afraid to be ridiculed or ostracized for sharing. That's why those who live by faith is considered "righteous"in the eyes of God.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your salvation. Thank You for letting me experience You so much that I am eager and ready to share the gospel in seasons and out of seasons. How can I be quiet for all that You have done for me? No, I can't. May many whom I come into contact with know You and accept Your salvation as well.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen,


Reflection of Tommy:

As Christian, we are obligated to Christ because He has died for our sin and offering us salvation. For Paul, his obligation was to Christ for being his Savior and he was consumed with and obligated in spreading the Good News to the entire world.

Likewise, once we come to truly understand God’s great love of sacrificing His Son for us, we can demonstrate our gratefulness and gratitude by following Him, obeying His commands and proclaiming Christ’s salvation to others.

Dear Father, Thank You again for Your amazing love, grace and mercy that enable me to be born again and be renewed each day. As I am often feel overwhelmed by problems, hurt and difficulties, teach me to rest them all in You, praying to You at all times and trusting You to make ways clear and right for me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Religion Or Christ?

Ephesians 2:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)

From Death to Life
1In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. 2You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. 3Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

4-5But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. 6God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 7God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. 8You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. [a] This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. 10God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

Reflection of Bee:

Before we accept Christ, we could not see how sinful we were. But after we have accepted the salvation of God through faith and read His words daily, we could see how sinful we once were. The things we once thought were harmless are actually things the devil used to control our thoughts and caused us to sin.

This salvation comes as the grace of God towards us and not because of our good works, and we have nothing to boast about. Someone has paid the price.... He is Jesus Christ... through His blood.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for giving me Your salvation freely. Let me also share it freely with others that they may also receive Your grace too. I pray that You will guide me in my dealing with people around me that I will use every opportunity to share Your love.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

From today’s passage, does it mean that as Christian, we have the option to do or not to do good works? Although no action or work can earn us our salvation, but when we accept Christ it will result in us wanting to do good as a respond of gratitude, praise and joy. And we will know then, revealed by the Holy Spirit, that we are saved not merely for our own benefit but to serve Him and others, building up the church.

Dear Father, thank You for revealing all these great truths to me. Thank You for Your unmerited grace that allow a sinner like me to be reconciled with You. Guide me to never stop learning and apply Your Word in my daily life, serving You and others with love for the extension of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

We belong to God

Job 41:1-11

10 No one is fierce enough to rouse him.
Who then is able to stand against me?

11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Reflection of Bee:

God has created the heaven and the earth, so all things under heaven belongs to Him. If so, we also belong to God and we need to submit ourselves to Him.

Dear Lord,
Since I belong to you, surely you will take care of me. Once again I want to commit my life, my future, my career ad relationship to You. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen



Reflection of Tommy:

One once said that it takes greater faith to believe all things happened by mere random chance than to believe in a creator God. That’s why it startled me whenever a person can says that they are marveled by the wonders of nature and creation yet denies the existence of God, and even ridicules Him in words. They also regard everything as irrelevant and that nothing matters, giving them excuse living recklessly and selfishly.

But as Christian, we know and acknowledge humbly that “God created every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded" (Gen. 1:21). The more we learn and realize the wonders around us, the more we recognize God’s eternal power and worship Him as Lord of creation (Rom. 1:20).

Dear Father, thank You that You have blessed us with so many great and wonderful things around us. Thank You for giving me the right perspective on who You are and the humility to acknowledge Your sovereignty over everything. Thank You also for revealing Your amazing love to me through Jesus who came to give me a new life with You. Teach me continue to submit to Your loving care and trusting You for all my needs. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."


26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Reflection of Bee:

Sometimes, as Christians, we may feel silly or look silly to others when we try to follow what God said in the Bible. God's teachings looks foolish by men's standard. We can see what the world says and what God says in Matthew 5:

Beatitudes
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Murder
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

Adultery
27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'
28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Divorce
31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'
32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths
33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;
37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

An Eye for an Eye
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

How can we love someone who hurts us so much and gives us so much pains? Isn't that very foolish? Yet God's word says in Romans 12:19-21:

19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Dear Lord,
Though Your cross and Your ways look foolish to men, yet they are wisdom and power. As Your child, certain things I do also look foolish, yet I know that You are pleased. I must admit it may be a struggle at times to follow Your ways, to love those who have hurt me over and over again. I pray for strength and love to love these just as You have loved them. I pray for Your peace and love to be with them.
In Jesus; lovely name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

The message of Chris’s death for our sins is so simple and clear that any person, either ordinary people or children, can understand it to receive salvation. But, it sounds foolish and unacceptable for those who don’t believe (v18), To them, eternal life is only obtainable through their own intellect and achievements, by being good, wise and finding the hidden secrets of enlightenments. Salvation to them is only for those who are intellectually gifted, well educated and knowledgeable.

But, for believers, we know that human’s skill and wisdom will never get us into God’s kingdom, simple faith does. Because of this, no one can boast that they secure their eternal life by their own strength and achievements (v29). As we believe what Christ has done for us and trusting Him as Lord and Saviour, we are assured for to receive the gift of eternal life from God.

Dear Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation and the clear promises to have an everlasting life with You. Teach me not to add up other things to want Jesus has already achieved on the Cross to earn this gift from You. Guard my heart and mind always that I will not be distracted by the wrong teachings from the world around me. I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Slow Down And Live

Psalm 1 (Amplified Bible)

1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

2But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

4Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.

5Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor [b]sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].

6For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God's will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).

Reflection of Bee:

We are living in such a rat race, so busy everyday, from the moment we open our eyes till the the wee hours of the night when we close our eyes, from sunrise till sunset. At the end of the day we may still find emptiness within. We may need to slow down and live, not just exist.

During the current long public holidays I have a chance to sit back and be away from my busy work schedules. I thought about the meaning of life, the purpose of my existence, the people who crossed my path, etc. I even thought about death just like what another blogger did. Why am I born? Who am I living for? What is my worth? Sometimes I feel I am just a nuisance, just occupying space, am good for nothing...

But despite my feelings I want to know what God has to say about me. God's words are always true while my thoughts and feelings may be the lies from the devil or due to my own low self esteem. The devil likes to sow doubts and create uncertainties. I need to fight the enemy by looking at what God has to say about me instead of what I or others say about me.

In tonight's devotion, God says that a man/woman is blessed when...
1. he/she does not get the counsel of the wicked/ungodly/non-believers (he/she will only seek godly advice);
2. he/she delights in God's words and meditates on them daily;
3. he/she has a firm spiritual foundation and will bear fruits for Christ;
4. God knows his/her ways very well.

Dear Lord,
As unworthy as I am, I want to come before You for Your words to purify my heart. Let my mind be filled with Your words and not the words of the enemy. I pray that I will bear forth fruits and that my fruits will remain because I want to abide in You, my vine. I pray You will encourage me through Your words and Your people whenever I feel down. I pray for love and unity, care and concern to be shown amongst Your children, that the world may know Your love.
In Jesus' name I pray.


Reflection of Tommy:

The verses in today’s Psalm clearly show the difference between a faithful and faithless person. A faithless life is meaningless; it is like dust or chaff that can be easily blown away by winds and storms in life. They drift along without direction and purpose, constantly seeking fulfillment from things that neither satisfies nor lasts, and all end with nothing but despair and regret when their time on earth is over.

But, for the faithful, life offers opportunities to achieve things that are worthwhile, significant and eternal. Instead of being blown away by circumstances, God will always watches over us, giving us strength and peace through difficult times. He nourishes and renews us each day so that we will bear good fruit that honor Him. He will guide and prepare us for eternity.

Dear Father, thank You for Your Word that teaches me each day to follow You more closely. Lord, lead me to meditate on them day and night, keeping them in my heart that I may be nourished to bear good fruit that are pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Impossible Covenant

Genesis 17:4-7; 15-19

4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram [a] ; your name will be Abraham, [b] for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 15 God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."

17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" 18 And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!"

19 Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. [a] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Bee's Thoughts:

God made a covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham. He promised Abraham that he will be fruitful and multiply through his barren wife Sarai (changed to Sarah). It's hard for him to understand how that can happen since he and his wife were so old. Yet God did a miracle.

In our lives, sometimes also we feel that our situations look impossible. Yet it's in these impossible situations that we could see God's power. He is the God of impossible.

My friend's sister may seems to be barren, but I pray that she will turn to my God who could do the impossible for her just like Sarah.

Dear Lord,
Thank You that You are a God who is not restricted by anything and with You all things are possible. I pray that I will fully trust You to do the impossible in my life... that Your glory and power may be shown to those who do not know You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Tommy's Thoughts:

Sometimes we may be thinking God will only works in ordinary ways in our lives. Not that we don’t trust in Him or His guidance, but we tend to doubt and have trouble to believe He will and can do the impossible.

Even Abraham, the man God considered righteous because of his great faith, had problem believing God’s promises to him. But, despite the doubts he had, Abraham continue to obey and follow God’s commands. We need to be like Abraham, to always keep our eyes on God’s commitment to fulfill His promises for us.

Dear Father, forgive me that at times I doubted You and Your promises for me. Instead of being like Abraham, holding on to You, I chose to ‘run’ away from You. Teach me and lead me to refocus back to Your commitment to fulfill Your promises for me and continue to obey You with a joyful and believing heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

A Heart For The Homeless

James 2:14-20

Faith and Deeds
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?

Bee's Thoughts:

Because faith without work is dead, my Church has been going to the villagers of 'forgotten people' for the last 4 years every month, as part of my Church Mission Outreach. We have been giving them food and clothings plus whatever help needed.

I just came back from that mission trip this evening. What I discovered about the villagers today and them 4 years ago are quite different. Then they were really very poor, both materially and spiritually... I wondered what future could they have. But today, they seem better off materially and spiritually as well. They have seen our works and faith. Many have accepted Christ and attending some Christian follow up classes. Soon we will be conducting academic classes for them to educate them.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for putting Your love in our hearts to reach out to these group of villagers. Thank You for Your perseverance in us to not stop in showing our love for them. I pray that they will all come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. For those who have already accepted You, I pray they will grow in their faith. Keep them in You arms.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen


Tommy's Thoughts:

A member of our church yesterday shared proudly about how her children know everything about Christianity even though they didn’t attend church. She added they even know those tough theological questions and issues. But does knowing and agreeing on a set of Christian teachings equal to having true faith?

In today’s passage, James gave a clear difference between merely having head knowledge and intellectual assent in Christianity to having a true and complete faith. True faith is when from what we believe in resulted in changed life and good deeds. Our deeds of loving and caring service to our brothers and sisters in church verified our faith in Christ.

Dear Father, thank You for renewing my faith and commitment to You; to serve Your people more effectively. Thank You for constantly speaking to me, showing me the right path in my walk with You. I pray for Your grace and strength to help and guide me to serve Your people better. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.