No Record Of Our Sins

Read Psalm 130

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." - Romans 8:1

Reflection of Tommy:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, are we forever trapped in endless and futile loops of earning God's approval and acceptance with our own strength? Are we hoping and wishing we'll be good enough to be able to eventually rest ourselves in a 'better' place when we die? There is neither certainty nor clarity. Neither hope nor assurance.

But, as Christian, we know that there will be no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Because God loves us so much, He offers us a way through our genuine faith in His Son, that we will be assured 100% to be redeemed from all our iniquities (Psalm 130:8) and to be reconciled with Him again even if we were to die tomorrow. No ambiguity. No uncertainty.

Dear loving Father, thank You for the certainty and confidence I have in You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy- to forgive me of all my iniquities and justified freely through the redemption that came by Christ (Romans 3:24).

Father, teach me to be an obedient follower of Christ, having Him not only as my Savior but also as the Lord of everything in my life. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Inner Peace

Read Isaiah 53:7-9

"Be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing." —1 Peter 3:8-9

Reflection of Tommy:

I used to be a very reactive and bad-tempered person. Small annoyance and irritation from people can drive me insane! But as I walk closer to God, the Spirit changes me from within to be more Christ-like, helping me to grow and bear more the good fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - Galatians 5:22-23).

As we read today's passage, we see and learn how Jesus responded to all the insult, accusations and mockery. Instead of retaliate and repaying evil with evil, our Lord display true inner peace by showing mercy and love for His enemies. Through our forgiving attitude, other may see the power and love of Christ in us. Like what the author in the Daily Bread said - "The worst criticism of you can bring out the best of you".

Dear Father, thank You for molding me to be more like Your Son each day. Help me to see Your plan for my life and how I can be used by You in the extension of Your kingdom. Teach me also always remember not to repay evil with evil (Isaiah 53:7-9), insult with insult but to display Jesus' kind, gentle and forgiving attitude to those who are unfair or unkind to me; that they may see Your love and grace in me. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.

My Heart Condemns Me

Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Reflection of Tommy:

There are many who feel so guilt-ridden by what they did in their past, that they find it so hard to fully accept God’s forgiveness, even after they have confessed them. Because of this, their memory continues to haunt and overwhelm them; bringing great pain, grief and regret into their lives.

In today’s passage, we see how Paul, who considered himself “the worst” of sinners, who has hunted down and murdered God’s people, know and understood fully God’s grace and mercy for him. Instead of feeling trapped and condemned by his past, Paul in true humility and gratitude, believe God has truly forgive him and allow himself to be used mightily for God’s works.

Dear Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy, to forgive a sinner like me. I humbly submit and offer my life as a living sacrifice to You. Mold and change me to be of better use for the extension of Your kingdom. I praise You O Lord, my only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

The Pain Of Falling

Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-12

Reflection of Tommy:

We do fall as Christian sometimes when we are not careful with the way we live. The constant pressures and stress we face may make us easy to ignore or forget lessons from our past or from the stories we learned from the Bible. As what cautioned by Paul in today’s passage, we should be prepared and take heed of those similar lessons the Israelites learned (idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, discontentment: v6-10) so we will not repeat their errors.

But, if we are struggling with sin and keep on falling, feeling discouraged and even disgusted by ourselves to face God again, don’t hide or run but to humbly turn and confess our sin to Him, asking Him to help us get up and keep us from falling again. God who loves us so much, He will forgive, upholds, lifts up and renews us (Psalm 145:14, Rom. 12:2) to follow more closely with Him.

Dear Father, thank You for being such a loving and forgiving God even though I have disappointed You so very often. Thank You for teaching me to correct my ways, to be more prepared in resisting temptations and to recognize people or situations that can give me trouble. Guide me to study Your Word more regularly so that those lessons can remind me always how You wants me to live and need not to repeat their mistakes. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Pain Machine

Acts 24:16

16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Reflection of Bee:

How can one forgive, be kind, and compassionate when one has been hurt over and over again by the same person? How can one not feel angry or bitter in such situation? Yet the above passage is asking us to do what seems impossible.

Yes, it is really impossible if we do it in our strength. The above passage says we can do it because God has first forgiven us (though we have hurt Him over and over again too). Because of Christ, we can forgive, we can do the impossible just like what the poem, Forgiveness, by Brenda Terrell says.

I do feel hurt and very sad each time I think of the past and present hurts. Yet when I think of Jesus, forgiveness is the word that rings in my heart. Forgive just as I have been forgiven. I can't forgive in my own strength, I have to rely on God's strength to do it.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for giving me strength to forgive too. Teach me to release all past and future hurts to You. Teach me to forgive and bless those who have hurt me, betrayed me, and made me miserable.
I raise my hands now to give You all of them. Please take over and do what is necessary that Your name may be praised.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

God gives each one of us conscience that alerts us of spiritual harm. But, often we find ourselves ignoring it and allow ourselves to be controlled by our sinful nature. We hide ourselves from God for a moment, foolishly thinking He can’t see us for deliberately avoiding His commands and sinning against Him.

Like what Paul mentioned in today’s passage, he always strives to keep his conscience clear before God and man (Acts 24:16). Likewise, we should do the same whenever the Holy Spirit alerts us of our wrongful ways. Ask God for strength and wisdom to obey and allow His reminder to train and produce in us godly character.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your constant reminder whenever I begin to swerve from Your way. Teach me also to confess and repent from any wrongdoing, keeping my conscience clear before You and others. Remind me also that as Your children I can always choose not to sin against You and others, as You have said that You who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). I thank You and pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.