Ambassadors for Christ

Read 2 Corinthians 5:12-21

Reflection of Tommy:

We are the ambassadors for Christ, to be a good witness, testifying and reconciling people to God. We are responsible to reflect the amazing love of God for everyone through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.

How can we be an effective ambassador for Christ? As we acknowledge that we are in Christ, we need to know that we are a new creation (v17). By taking the first step humbly submitting to God, we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, changing us to be a better witness for Christ.

Dear Father, thank You for Your amazing love for me that You sacrificed Your one and only Son to save and reconcile with a sinner like me. Father, I confess that I have not love You and my neighbors as You have commanded me. Forgive me I pray, lead me to true repentance and commit my life fully into Your mighty hands. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

The Lingo

Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

"I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." —1 Corinthians 9:22

Reflection of Tommy:

I was amazed by a friend’s enthusiasm to find various ways to show God’s love to her relatives and friends. She displays her selflessness and genuine compassion towards them by going the extra miles to serve and getting herself into their ‘worlds’ and speaking their ‘languages’. As I looked back at myself, I felt ashamed by my lack of eagerness and zeal to even look for opportunity to share the Good News with those around me.

Similarly, the apostle Paul in today’s passage was willing to be flexible in his ministry by adapting into the ‘languages’ of people he was reaching out to. With the use of simple and clear words, the Gospel was preached and many came to understand and transformed by Jesus’ love and forgiveness.

Dear Father, thank You for showing to me to be always ready and willing to be a good witness for Christ. Forgive me of my self-centeredness, not seeing the need in others to hear the love and gift of Christ. I pray You will make me more aware of opportunity for sharing and serving; reflecting the light of Christ to others in my words and action. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Special Delivery

Read Romans 16:1-16

Reflection of Tommy:

As I read and hear about stories of people who came to know Christ, I can see the gravity of sin in causing so much hurt and brokenness in this world. But, I can also see the amazing love and redeeming grace of God that make it possible for us all to once again have a new start in Christ; being inwardly transformed and renewed each day while experiencing the hope and healing from our broken past.

As we read in today’s passage how Phoebe had assisted others in delivering God’s Word, we know that as followers of Christ, we are also God’s “spiritual mail carriers”; Christ’s feet and hands. Look around us, and ask the Spirit to show us how and where we too can assist in delivering the Good News by word and deed to those who need its life-giving and changing message.

Dear Father, thank you for making me Your child and for giving me Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for changing me each day to be more like Christ and to surrender my all to Him. Guide me not to keep anything from Him and not to make an idol out of anything or anyone. Lead me to be filled by the Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Lord Jesus, make me Your feet and hands, Your spiritual mail carrier, that others may know You and come to accept You as their Lord and Savior. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.

Warning and Teaching

Read Colossians 1:24-29

Reflection of Tommy:

Christianity is not a private and exclusive club for those few privileged people that has reached spiritual perfection. God doesn’t play favoritism and His love and the Good News of salvation is available and open to all. Thus, we should never limit our sharing to only those few we like and of our ‘kind’.

In verse 28 to 29, Paul showed to us an effective way to present the gospel to others. Our sharing should include “admonishing” (warning) and “teaching”. The “warning” is that without Christ, people are doomed to eternal separation from God. While the “teaching” part is about there is still hope and that salvation is available through faith in Christ.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me that Your ‘secret plan’ was not hidden and is made open to all, that Jesus Christ is to live in the hearts of all those who believe in Him. Guide me through the Holy Spirit to tell others about Christ, warning and teaching them with tact and in love. Thank You and I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rescue And Response

Psalms 107-150

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south. [a]

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.

6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

Reflection of Bee:

Dear Lord,
Thank You that Your love for me never fail and Your kindness never cease. As I look back my life as a little child and now as an adult, I see Your faithfulness in my life. I commit my life to You again tonight... whether I live or die, may my life shows Your love story to others.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:
Some accepted Christ through dramatic and unexpected experiences while others through moments of quiet illumination revealed by God. But, either way, we should be thankful for God has come to us and deliver us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13). In return, we should, with a grateful heart, use every opportunity coming our ways to tell others about God’s Good News of salvation and redemption.

Dear Father, thank You for what Christ has done on the Cross for me. Thank You for blessing me with all the richness of a life hid with Christ in You. Lord, guide and remind me of every opportunity to encourage others to know You and Your wonderful gift for everyone. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Do Not Be Afraid

Luke 2:8-14

The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Bee's Thoughts:

I still feel down and sick today. So I simply used work and doing things to distract myself from thinking too much.

We had a Christmas Service this evening at my church and I invited one of my non-Christian colleague to join me. She agreed and said she knew how to get to my church. However, she lost her way and only managed to reach my church about one hour after the service had started. Thank God that she persisted in finding her way there. During the service the famous harpist & guitarist, Alvaro Sanchez, played a number of beautiful songs for us. I felt so peaceful as if I was in heaven when I listened to them. At that moment, all my burdens seemed rolled away and all my fear gone.

Yes, in heaven there will be no more tear or sorrow. Jesus was born that we may have peace and abundant life. I need not be afraid of anything or anyone when Jesus rules my heart.


Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for being born that we may have peace and abundant life. Thank You for the songs I heard tonight that brought me peace in my heart in spite of my troubled body and soul. I pray for my colleague that she may join me in church again tomorrow. I pray that You will touch her heart with Your love.
In Your name I pray. Amen.



Tommy's Thoughts:

We often see how wonderful and beautiful the nativity scene was depicted in our greeting cards; where all the animals stand quietly and attentively looking at Jesus birth in the manger. In reality, the surrounding and atmosphere in the stable were noisy, dark and dirty. It was the worst place to give birth to a child, and definitely not a place where most has expected the Son of God will be born.

A preacher once asked why our God chose such a place for Jesus, He could have easily picked royal and grand surroundings. But, instead of limiting God by our own expectation, we should see how Jesus humbly subjected himself to such a condition since His birth to associate and identify with those who are lowly, oppressed and deserted by the society. And it shows how He is at work wherever He is needed regardless of how dark and dirty these places may be.

Dear Father, thank You for Your great love for us by sending Your only Son to restore our relationship with You. Teach me Lord not to underestimate what Christ has accomplished and how He can works great things in my life if I humbly allow Him to. Teach me to trust You for all things and submit to Your leading and teaching. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Spiritual Eyes

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

3-4If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

Bee's Thoughts:

This Christmas season doesn't seem to be any different from other ordinary days. I couldn't feel much of its atmosphere. When I was in KL last weekend, though I saw Christmas trees displaying in shopping malls and hotels, yet I wondered if people know the true meaning of Christmas.

I was 'ambushed' by my 'bf' last Sunday while in KL and he 'hijacked' me from the rest of my church members. Gosh! I didn't know what to do or how to react but I could feel his persistency in wanting to be with me for that day. I finally relented. No Christmas present or any gift from him, but the gift of his time is more precious than any gift to me. Can people see this? Maybe not.

Likewise, non-believers can't see the true meaning of Christmas no matter how hard we try to share with them. At times, even Christians may be blinded by the devil or our own selfish desires to view Christmas as a time of indulgence. We need to pray and ask God to open our spiritual eyes to see the truth. Only the truth can set us free.

Christmas is all about God's love for mankind.
Christmas is all about peace to those who sigh.
Christmas is all about how we may do things nice.
Christmas is all about how to give of our time.

- Bee

Dear Lord,
Search my heart tonight and cleanse me from my hidden sins and things that obscure my sight from seeing what You want me to see.
I pray also that this Christmas will bring forth Your glory, that sinners may be set free from the bondage of the devil. May peace dwell in people's hearts as they let Christ reign.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Tommy's Thoughts:

When we share the Good News to others, are we bringing glory to God and what Christ has done or merely to make us appear godly or wise (v5)? Our pride to show off our abilities and accomplishments may not only hinder God’s true message to non-believers but also giving them a bad impression of Christian in general. We should focus on Jesus and what He has done on the Cross whenever we have the opportunity to witness for Christ.

Dear Father, forgive me of sometimes being a bad witness for Christ, focusing only on glorifying myself rather than on You in front of others. Teach me to change this attitude and to learn the right way to share to those who yet to know Christ, effectively.

Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness and the great hope and promises I have in You. Thank You that no matter what happens to me in this life, I have the clarity and assurance of an eternal destiny with You and my loved one, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away (Isaiah 35:10). Lord, I continue to pray for strength, peace and patience to love, trust and obey.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.