Love and Be Loved

1 Corinthians 13

Love
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Reflection of Bee:

Is it wrong to seek to be loved by a human being, other than by God?

Frequently, over 'spiritual' Christians may make it seems that desiring to be loved is wrong and that they should always seek only to give love and never the other way round. Well, if God didn't create us with the inner longing to be loved we will never know what God's love is like, isn't it?

John 13:34-35 says that it is a commandment for Christians to love each other so that non-believers will know that they are the followers of Christ.

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

That's what I experienced. As a young child, before I came to know Christ, I sought for love but didn't find. At the age of 12 I found love in Christ through the love of some loving Christians in a church. They showed me that they cared for me and shared with me where that love and care came from. I accepted Christ after some time attending that Sunday School. If I didn't seek for love I wouldn't have found Christ.

However, when I grew older life became more complicated... love that is pure seems illusive. It's hard to find someone who truly love and care for me as an adult. Instead it's my turn to love and care for others, even when I am hurt by the people I cared for. Perhaps this is what it means in v11, that I have to grow up and not remain as a child. I am still not perfect yet, but will be one day when I see God face to face (v9,12).

Yes, God have made us such that we both need to be loved and to love so that a relationship can be formed, which is a representation of our love relationship with Christ.

How do we recognize love? It is summed up in v7 & v8:

7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails.

Dear Jesus,
Let me not feel condemned whenever I longed to be loved. It's You who have made me a human being to both receive and to give love.
Thank You for showing me what love is through some Christians who practiced love when I was young. Now it's my turn to show that love to others too. Let me not feel short-changed when my love is not reciprocated. For You didn't get Your love reciprocated too.
Help me to be more and more perfect just as You are perfect (Matt 5:48).
In Your loving name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Tonight devotion reminds me again of my uncaring attitude towards someone close to me this morning. Although I’ve said how much I love and care for this person, yet I treated her so badly over something not entirely her fault, in fact, it was mine! My impatience is indeed an ugly reflection of my own self-centeredness in response to life’s disappointments (Our Daily Bread).

Like what Paul said in today’s passage - love is patience toward others. It suffers long and is kind; it does not behave rudely, does not seek its own and is not provoked (1 Cor. 13:4-5). We should think of how incredibly patience and kind God has been to us before we lash out on others. When we say we love someone, we need to show true patience and kindness to them. We also need to ask God to provide us with this kind of love and patience towards others in our prayers.

Dear Father, thank You for Your forgiveness for what I’ve done wrong. Teach me to be truly repented of my action and not to repeat it anymore. Lead me to display the kind of love You have shown to me through Your Son. Give me the patience and kindness to put You and others first before myself. Thank You Father. I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Peace-Of-Mind Game

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Reflection of Bee:

Tonight's devotional passage is a very familiar one.... "The Lord is MY Shepherd". Yes, He is mine and I can feel secured in Him in all circumstances. He can restore all my brokenness, and give me victory over my physical and spiritual enemies.


Dear Shepherd,
Thank You for restoring my soul
and for making me whole;
For the table You spread for me
in the presence of my enemies;
For Your goodness and great love
that follow me till I leave this earth.
May Your peace reigns tonight
even though sometimes I may cry.

In Your wonderful name I thank You. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

We can get so worried over things that we forgot who our Shepherd is. We somehow are able to separate what God can do and what He can’t in our lives. We tend to seek our own ways to calm ourselves and to get back in control of the situation.

But as Christian, we don’t have to rely entirely on our own strength to carry all our burdens and worries. God is always there with us (v4) and He will give us His peace, guidance, comfort and sustaining grace to face the challenges in life.

All we need to do is to first seek Him, pray to Him and then to trust Him fully to do what is best. As what the Scripture says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”.

Dear Father, thank You again for reminding me to pray and to trust You to do what is right. Thank You also for reminding me that there’s nothing so complicated or difficult that You can’t handle it for me. Forgive me of my lack of faith and underestimating what You can do and what You’ve planned for me even before I was born.

Lord, I pray that You will continue to lead me to You, obeying Your commands and relying always on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all my ways. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Changing The World

Luke 6:41-45

41"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit
43"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Reflection of Bee:

How can we ever change the world or anyone when we find it so hard to even change ourselves? Even the great Apostle Paul acknowledged that he couldn't change himself when he said in Romans 7:15,24,25:

15For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Right, only God can change or transform us when we do according what Romans 12:1,2 says:

1 ...offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In fact the above were the main verses quoted by the speaker of the seminar I attended tonight on "Discerning God's Will". When our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit, we will learn to apply the 7 principles in discerning God's will for our life.

Yes, when we can "see clearly" we can then help others see clearly too (v42).

Dear Lord,
Thank You for tonight's devotion and the seminar I just attended. Thank You for speaking to me clearly tonight concerning the principles of discerning Your will for my life. Help me to be obedient and present myself as a living sacrifice to You. May Your peace reigns in my heart as I follow Your will.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:

There are many sincere Christian out there who are afraid and worried for being a hypocrite. This is the devil’s best device to discourage us from growing in our faith, standing still in our Christian life. We need to know that trying hard to do what is right but often fails is not a hypocrite. Neither are repeatedly asking for forgiveness from God but continually being weak in our faith. We are hypocrite when we put on religious behavior to gain attention, approval, acceptance or admiration from others.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me the true meaning of hypocrisy and not to condemn myself because of failures. Teach me also not to stand still, hiding my faith and stop growing altogether because of setbacks and discouragement. Lord, guide me through the Holy Spirit, that all my ways will be always right and pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Listen, Know and Follow

John 10:14-30

14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"

21But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

The Unbelief of the Jews
22Then came the Feast of Dedication[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ,[b] tell us plainly."

25Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."

Reflection of Bee:

As Christians, sometimes we get frustrated when we couldn't breakthrough to non-believers or even to some believers when we tried to witness or testify for Christ to them. We wonder why they just can't believe or understand what we are saying. Tonight's devotion reminds us that it's normal because they are not the "sheep" of Jesus, and therefore they can't hear His voice (v26,27).

Jesus did not say my lamb, but my SHEEP, hear my voice. That means, in order to hear God's voice we need to grow up spiritually instead of remaining as babes in spiritual things. To grow, we need to read the bible and pray daily just like new born babies need to drink milk and then progress to eating solid food in order to grow well.

The "sheep" of Jesus not only LISTEN to His voice, but also KNOW Him and FOLLOW Him (verse 27). For that no one can snatch the "sheep" from Jesus' hand.... the basis for eternal security (v28,29).


Dear Lord,
Thank You for revealing to me this truth again tonight that I can be secured in Your hands when I become Your sheep. Teach me to listen, know and follow You as I put my hands in Yours. I want to know Your will and follow Your leading. Give me grace to do be obedient.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

There are times we doubt whether we’ll be eternally secured in God’s hand. We are afraid of missing the mark and losing God’s gift of salvation due to our failure. We may be discouraged and quit growing in our walk with God. But from today’s passage, we learn that Jesus, like a shepherd that protects his sheep. We can be assured that He will give us firm, everlasting safety and protection from eternal harm when we sincerely choose to follow Him.

Dear Father, thank You for Your constant guidance and leading. Thank You for supplying me with both Your wisdom and peace to deal with all situation in my life. Lord, guard my heart and mind always from all forms of distraction and enticement that may lead me away from You. Teach me to follow my Shepherd wherever He led me to. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

This Is Better

Proverbs 16:16-32

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction. [a]

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction. [b]

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

26 The laborer's appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.

27 A scoundrel plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.

30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life.

32 Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

Reflection of Bee:

Verse 20 seems to summarize the rest of the verses above.

One who "gives heed to instruction" (i.e. not to feel proud about oneself) will "prosper".
One who "trusts in the LORD" (i.e. never think that one's way is right without God's guidance) will be "blessed".

Dear Lord,
Thank You for all the things You have taught me spiritually and in my career. All the knowledge I have comes from You giving me so many opportunities to learn. Let me not feel proud about them and always stay humble and trust in You, not in my own knowledge or ability. Guide me to the right place You have prepared for me.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

God’s Wisdom is a fountain of life (v22) for those who live by them. When we seek to understand God’s teaching and abide in Him, we’ll find true happiness, peace, and hope in our lives. We’ll be enlightened by the hope and assurance of an eternal life with God. It gives us a confident and joyful perspective in every situation in our present lives.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to seek to understand Your Word and to apply them into my daily life. Lord, guide me to keep close all Your teachings in my heart. Guard me from any distractions that may lead me away from spending time to meditate on Your Word. 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.

Seeking Immortality

2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Reflection of Bee:

Verse 2 speaks of something I have been looking forward to for many years. I don't feel at home in this world somehow... for it brings me much sorrows most times. The only thing that kept me going is my hope in Christ, knowing that I still have a mission to perform while on earth. I need to exercise daily faith to complete this journey here.

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's opened door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Yes my Lord,
I want to be with You immediately if possible. I can't wait to see You face to face. Let me be patient a little while more and complete the mission You want me to do here. Guide my life and path, that I may be in Your will and lead others to You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

It is true living in this fallen world, we are subject to be burdened and overwhelmed by the things and circumstances around us, result from sin (v4). We long in our heart for an escape from this ‘tent’ and to find rest in our true home. As Christian, we have the assurance of an eternal home with God when we leave this place. But as what Paul mentioned in verse 5, with the Holy Spirit resides within us, we’re in fact already have eternity in us now!

Dear Father, thank You for Your promise of my place for me in heaven with You. Thank You for teaching me Your patience and perseverance when facing the challenges in this life. Keep my feet on the right track, running towards the victory Jesus has won for me on Calvary. 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.

God, Answer Me!

Psalm 6

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

3 My soul is in anguish.
How long, O LORD, how long?

4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.

5 No one remembers you when he is dead.
Who praises you from the grave [b] ?

6 I am worn out from groaning;
all night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.

7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Reflection of Bee:

Whenever we want to go forward spiritually and serve God more, the devil will never leave us alone. He would tried to attacked us through people. It seems very effective when we forget about spiritual warfare. I experienced that yesterday and was feeling angry over some wrongful accusations. However, as I reflected on them, the Lord showed me that the enemy wanted to discourage me from bring people to Christ.

Knowing it is a spiritual battle somehow helps me turn to God instead of using my own strength to fight. Soon my anger for that person who wronged me turned into prayer for her instead. Yes, God will hear my prayers and not leave me alone.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that I need to be on guard against the spiritual enemy. Greater is You who is in me than he that is in the world. You have given me victory. Praise You!
In Your name I thank You. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

The most ineffective prayer is when we pray by scratching only the surface of things or being awfully general. We need to know that God is always there listening and talking to us when we pray to Him. It is never a one-way “monolog” form of communication.

We can learn from David, who pours out his heart in tears to God in prayer. Likewise, we can be totally honest and direct when we pray to God. Honesty is important for effective prayer because it helps us to begin praying in details with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We will also be able to discern and listen to what God wanted to say or reveal to us.

Dear Father, thank You that I can approach You through prayers 24/7. Thank You for giving me the peace when I can rest all my worries into Your hands. Thank You that I can always trust You, Almighty God, that I don’t have to be victim of any circumstances or be weighed down by the guilt of sin. Lord, draw me closer to You each day, helping me to turn my attention from myself to You and Your mercy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

What Comes After Death?

Hebrews 9:24-28

24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Reflection of Bee:

It was interesting reading the post of a friend and his readers' comments about organs donation when a person is certified "brain death". For me, I have the assurance of salvation and is not fearful of death. There is hope and glory awaiting for those who believe in Jesus Christ and accept His salvation (v28).

What comes after death is judgment (v27). Where we will be depends on what we choose now while we still have breath. We never know when would be our last breath... so we need to make the decision right now.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for the salvation You have given to me and that I can know where I am going. Thank You for the joy and hope in You. Let me not cling on to anything earthly. Let me be ever ready to depart from this world when You call me home. I give my all to You once again.
In Your most wonderful name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Have we ever thought about our lives when it nearing its end, when the light around us fades away and things start turning dark? It’s scary to think about exhaling our final breath and in a blink of a second we are gone from existence!

But, because of Christ, who has died for our sin, we would not have to die spiritually. As we believe in Him as our Lord and Savior, we’ll have the assurance and confidence that Jesus will return again and to raise us for eternal life. God has prepared a home for all believers where sin, sicknesses, and sorrow will be banished.

Dear Father, thank You for Your free gift of salvation and the promise of an eternal life with You. But, although my home is not here, guide me still to be a good, faithful and responsible servant to all Your creation, seeing my short stay here as a test for eternity. Thank You Lord, I pray this in Your Name, Amen.

Compete Or Converge

Ruth 4:13-22

The Genealogy of David

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."

16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 This, then, is the family line of Perez:
Perez was the father of Hezron,

19 Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab,

20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon, ^[a]

21 Salmon the father of Boaz,
Boaz the father of Obed,

22 Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David.

Reflection of Bee:

The recent devotions seem to have a central theme on love such as:

• Amazing Love
• Joy of True Friendship and Love
• Love in Action
• Love Goes Beyond Liking
• What is Love

Tonight again we read about Ruth's love for her mother-in-law, Noami. How did Ruth demonstrate her love?

Love is being faithful
Love is being courages
Love is being trusting
Love is being obedient
Love is doing, not just talking

When we obey God's command to love, God will see to it that our rewards will be great.

Dear Lord,
You are the author of love. Without you, all 'love' will become self-love instead. Teach me to love more and more in Your way each day.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:
The speaker in today’s home fellowship gave an amazing highly concise and informative history of Christianity within 2 hour! It was about how the early Christianity spread since the days of the apostles to what it is now. I can see how God has meticulously planned everything since the beginning, His sovereignty and amazing works in lives of believers throughout the centuries.

Like Ruth, we will never know the full purpose or importance of our lives until we are able to look back from the perspective of eternity. But, by living in faith, we can make daily decision to live in faithfulness and obedience to God, even though we may have to endure hard times or couldn’t see all the results. We should always remember to have God’s eternal values in mind, knowing the significance of our lives will extend beyond our lifetime.

Dear Father, thank You for the wonderful lesson tonight. And thank You for the speaker and those brothers and sisters who has spend time and effort to invite and did all the necessary preparation for the gathering. May Your blessings be upon them always and continually guiding their walk with You. Lord, I pray You will also continue to lead my path, changing me each day and reminding me to focus on things with eternal values. 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.

Amazing Love!

John 3:13-18

13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[a] 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.[b]

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[c] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[d]

Reflection of Bee:

"For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life."
- John 3:16

This is a very well known verse which precedes John 15:7-14 (devotion for 4 April 07, Joy of True Friendship and Love). Without the former there will be no latter. Because Jesus had demonstrated what true love is, He has the right to ask those who claimed to love Him and are His "friends" to do likewise, i.e. to love (and be willing to die for) those who also truly love Jesus (John 15:12-14).

"Blood is thicker than water", as the saying goes in our physical relationship with our siblings. Similarly, it is so (through the blood of Jesus) with our spiritual BORN-AGAIN 'siblings' in Christ, who also obey His command to love (John 15:12-14).

In the past, I always thought that John 15 was trying to tell us that we must be willing to lay down our lives for EVERYONE. Almost impossible, I feel, unless that person is extremely close to us. Now I understand that all these are possible ONLY IN CHRIST. That means it is only possible within the family of God (amongst those who not only accepted Christ's salvation but also obeyed Christ's command to love, thus become Christ's and ours friends) . This makes more sense, isn't it?

Jesus did not ask us to die for sinners, but rather to die for our friends (definition of friendship is in accordance with God's word in John 15, not by the world's definition).

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your revelation on what Your word says about love, friendship, and obedience. Now it seems not so difficult after all to love the way You do once we fulfill the criteria which will make Your way of love possible.
Now I pray for my special friend that You grant him peace in his heart and faith in Your providence for him. Let him understand why You allowed things to happen in his life, to make things for good, 'cos he loves You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Love is when God became man. And love is when God sacrificed His only Son for us. This is the model of love that should be the basis for all love relationships. When we say we truly love others, we should be like Jesus - willingly to give freely and sacrificially; that they may join us in receiving God’s love. Keep this passage close to my heart always:

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. – John 15:9-13

Dear Father, thank You for Your amazing love for me. Thank You Jesus for taking all the punishments for my sins though You never deserve them. Thank You for offering me a new life in You; filling me each day with Your righteousness and Your Words. Thank You and I praise You, my risen Lord! All honor and glory to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Two Different Systems

Galatians 6:11-18

11-13Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ's suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!

14-16For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

17Quite frankly, I don't want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.

18May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

Reflection of Bee:

There are politics everywhere, not only in the government but also in our working places, and even in the churches, sad to say. However, Paul chose not to follow the world system but rather follow the cross of Jesus. All he wanted was to be serious in living out his faith in Christ.

Yes, through the cross of Jesus we are set free from the bondage of sin and the world when we practice our faith. Do you know why yesterday was called a Good Friday? Because Jesus died on the cross for us and was resurrected three days later. Isn't that good? :)

Dear Lord,
Thank You for your encouragement through tonight's devotion, using the Apostle Paul as an example. May I continue to be strong as I live in this world and not of this world. I pray also for the business decisions I have to make let me follow Your system, and not the system of the world. Let me have a good rest tonight so I may rise up fresh to worship You with the church tomorrow.
Thank You in Jesus' name. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Many Christians today do not realize they are living in the midst of a great spiritual battle in this world. As God’s final victory has yet to come, we are facing continually threat and attacks from Satan and his forces in all areas of our lives.

We are bombarded by all kinds of harmful and destructive worldly ideologies or subtle cultural pressures everyday that drag us away from God. We also easily give Satan foothold (Eph 4:27) and allowing Him to build strongholds in our lives through bitterness, lust, improper speech, greed and pride.

But God never intended us to fight this battle alone. He will fight with us and He has given us the authority to overcome the power of Satan in our lives and to win the battle. As we are fighting not against people but the principalities and powers of a dark world, God will equips us with the spiritual armor: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and His Word (putting on Christ!). Pray also to God to help us crucify any wrong desire and interest in our heart.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me what Christ has achieved on Calvary’s Tree. Protect my heart and mind that I will not be distracted by doubt, discouragement and confusion but to put on Your armor to fight this fierce battle. Lord, keep me awake and alert that I may not stumble or lead astray, but to be conqueror and victorious in Jesus. In His mighty Name I pray, Amen.

The Great Divider

Luke 23:33-43

33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

38There was a written notice above him, which read:|sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]"

43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Reflection of Bee:

Tonight's devotion is a continuation from that of last night where the fickle followers who had a change of heart wished to crucify Jesus though they could not pin Him down on any crime.

However, one of the two criminals was able to see that Jesus had done nothing wrong (v41). In his faith and humility he asked Jesus to remember him when He comes back again (v42). Jesus confirmed that he would be in paradise with Him (v43).

In the modern day, it is still the same that the number of faithful believers are few. Though many may claimed to be Christians, yet their walk may prove otherwise. But these are the few that will enjoy everlasting life with Christ one day.

Dear Lord,
I pray for more to come to know your love as I share it with those I know. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of the 3 unbelieving friends I invited for the Good Friday drama tonight. May they come to believe in You soon and enjoy Your love in their life.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:
When Jesus asked God to forgive those putting Him to death (v34), it was not merely a normal response coming from a forgiving and humble person. But it was because Jesus truly loves them. He knew God will answer His prayer by opening up the way for salvation even for those who wanted to crucify Him.

Like the Jewish leaders, the soldiers and the crowds, we too are responsible to put Jesus on the Cross as we all have sinned. But because of God’s love and grace for us, He forgives us and gives us a new life through His Son. Be thankful and grateful for what Christ has done for us on Calvary’s Tree.

Dear Father, thank You for Your amazing love to save a sinner like me, for making me whole by exchanging my ruined self for Christ's righteousness. Guide me and use me that others may come to know Christ and accept Your gift of salvation. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Fickle Followers

Matthew 27:15-23

15Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

21"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.
"Barabbas," they answered.

22"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!"

23"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

Reflection of Bee:

What did Jesus do wrong?

To the crowd, there is no need to give a reason for crucifying Jesus (v23). To them, the right things that Jesus did were deemed 'wrong'. That means He had been crucified as an innocent man.

"What crime" have I committed?

That's the same question I asked myself when my once upon 'best friend' became so cold towards me and treated me as if I am in non-existence. I became 'just friend' or 'just acquaintance' suddenly. It's very hurting to be suddenly treated that way without a reason. What did I do wrong to deserve such treatment? I don't know. Self-doubts, self-condemnation, self-anger set in.... and I felt 'crucified'.... :(

The same fickle followers of Christ then, were no different from the fickle minded ones today. They choose to believe what they want to believe in their own fancies and benefits. However, in yesterday's devotion Joy of True Friendship and Love we learned what it meant to be true followers of Christ, to be true friends, to love and to experience Christ's joy.

Tonight's devotion reminded me that if Christ was treated that way (crucified) by the people who claimed to be His follower earlier, it shouldn't be a surprise to me when I am treated similarly by people whom I trusted and thought close to me. I can only pray that God will show them what it means to be true disciples of Christ.


Dear Lord,
Your servant (me) will never be greater than the Master(You). Let me take heart that whatever I had been through You had already gone through them. You understand how I feel. Thank You that all those bad experiences help me understand the betrayal You had experienced and how hurtful You must had been.
Let me not be another fickle follower myself but be steadfast in loving, in befriending, in experiencing Your joy no matter come what may. Teach me to die to self and live to Christ.
I pray that You will bless those who have hurt me. I pray that Your love in me will help them repent and follow Your command.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Like the crowds, we too at times like a fickle follower of Christ. Our commitment and obedience to Him easily waver and inconsistent with what we proclaimed. We can be shouting praise to Him on Sunday and reject His teachings and leading the rest of the week; ignoring His presence and His Word in our lives.

To be a true follower of Christ, we need to keep a close relationship with Him each day; obeying all His commands and giving Him all our thanks, praise, worship. Like what summarized in today’s Daily Bread – “Worshiping God should be a full-time experience for us”.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to walk my talk each day, consistently. Forgive me for the times I wandered and doubted. Teach me that I may learn to truly live out my faith as a follower of Christ and to walk closely with Him by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Joy of True Friendship and Love

John 15:7-14

7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.

Reflection of Bee:

The above passage is a very familiar one. However, the message seems much clearer to me tonight than before. It talks about how we may have joy by having true friendship and love with each other as true believers of Christ.

How can we have joy?
When we remain in Christ's love (v11)

How do we remain in Christ's love?
When we obey His command (v10)

What is His command?
Love each other (true believers) in the way Christ loves us (v12).

How does Christ love?
Willing to lay down His life for His friends (v13).

Who are Christ's friends?
Those who obey His command (v14).

Who are our friends?
Those who are Christ's friends (v14).


Clearly, to be a true FRIEND of Christ is to obey His COMMAND to LOVE our fellow Christians who also obey Him. To truly love is to be willing to lay down our lives for each other. In this way our JOY will be full/complete. Therefore, true joy, friendship, love and obedience are all interlinked and not stand alone. They are 'fruit' of true disciples of Christ (v8).

We can't expect true joy when we don't obey Christ's command to love those who love Him.
We can't have true friendship with Christ when we can't have true friendship with those who love Him.
We can't say we love Christ when we can't love with actions for those who love Him.

If someone says he loves Christ or is a friend of Christ but does not practice the command of Christ stated above, he is lying to himself.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for showing me clearly what it means to be Your friend, to love and to experience Your joy.
I want to be Your friend, to love and to experience Your joy the way You command. Help me to obey fully, Lord.
In Jesus' name I ask these.



Reflection of Tommy:
It is easy to be frustrated and even sink into depression when bad things keep happening to us. We may then seek out ways to temporarily make ourselves feel better or to run away from our problems. But, often as we depend on these earthly ‘horses’ for relief, it doesn’t takes long before we sink even lower in our misery or worst getting us into more problems (Amos 5:19). We will never find true lasting joy and peace when we are easily swept by the rolling waves of circumstance.

The solution to have a lasting and complete joy is by developing a consistent relationship with Jesus. When we walk closely with Him each day and obeying His commands, we will remain in His love (v10). He will supply us with true joy, peace, wisdom and courage to move forward, even as life's challenges trying to pull us down.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to remain in You and having Your Words remain in me (v7), bearing good fruits as a true disciple of Christ. Guard my heart and mind that I may not be constantly distracted and pulled down by my problems. Teach me to follow You, to obey Your commands and to spend more time listening to Your leading. Lord, I will give You praise and thanks in all things; good or bad..bringing all glory and honor to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

When Instructions Seem Stupid

2 Kings 5:1-14

Naaman Healed of Leprosy
1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. [a]

2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents [b] of silver, six thousand shekels [c] of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Reflection of Bee:

Just like Naaman, when we don't understand why we are told to do certain things that seem illogical, we become very defensive and even angry with those who said them. Pride also makes it hard to accept comments from others. Sometimes we also react the same way when God asks us to do certain things we don't wish to do. We tend to rationalize them to our likings.

However, God says He will use the foolish things to confound the wise and that His ways are higher than our ways. We need to humble ourselves and not rely on our intellects so as to receive healing from God.


Dear Lord,
I know that Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine. As I reflect on all the events that happened in my life and all the people I met along the way, I know You have a purpose for me through them. Though I may not fully comprehend them, I see Your hands guiding me, keeping me, protecting me from harms, and bringing me into something more meaningful each day. Help me not to cry for the past. Help me to stay close to You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Like Naaman, our pride and self-will sometimes rob us from receiving God’s healing. Although we may not be in a rage like Naaman, but we do quietly go our own ways ignoring God’s clear commands to us. We may even doubt His way is the best way for us when we do not understands how He works and when results are few.

But, in today passage we learn that obedience to God begins with humility. It is about acknowledging God’s way is always better than ours and knowing that God wants our obedience more than anything else. By humbly obeying, God in His time and way will bless and heal us from all our infirmities.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to always humble myself to You and Your way. Teach me to obey and abide in You, seeking each day to be more like Christ. Continue to guide me, setting aside my pride that I may see the better way to live for You and Your people. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

How God Shows His Love

John 13:5-17

5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Reflection of Bee:

Many times we don't know why God allows certain bad things happened to us, especially in the midst of the situations we go through. They may be very hurtful situations, e.g. someone accused us wrongly, or someone we loved deserted us, or someone we trusted very much betrayed us, etc. We might be left broken and wondering why us? What have we done wrong? We need an answers to all our questions.

Yes, we don't understand why. However, one God will disclose to us the reasons and make us understand (v7). A speaker shared recently that when God remove something/someone from us, He may be trying to protect us. Yes, it very painful... I still feel the pain whenever I think of it, even now. But by faith, I know God is doing it for my good. I shall understand fully one day.

Despites the hurt, we need to love in Jesus' way.... we are to be humble (washing of someone's feet) and loving. That is love.

Dear Lord,
As I remember the things that happened to me, the people who have hurt me, I felt the pains once again. :'( Thank You for reminding me that I will understand Your plans clearly one day. Teach me to love in spite of what others do to me. Teach me to know how to response correctly. Teach me humility and service.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.





Reflection of Tommy:

From this passage of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, we learn that as a follower of Christ, we are to serve others with a humble heart. To be a leader, we must be a servant, serving others in love and ways that glorifies God. Are there anyone around us that we can serve today? Are we willing to also follow through and serve like Christ do?

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to have a willing heart to serve You and Your people. Guide me to take time to listen to You, showing me opportunities to serve those in needs. Teach me to let go of any pride or self-will that hinders me from serving effectively for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Preeminent One

Matthew 21:1-11

The Triumphal Entry
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "[a]

6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[c]
"Hosanna[d] in the highest!"

10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Reflection of Bee:

In the same village there were those who knew Jesus and those who didn't. Similarly today, some know Jesus, some do not. For those of us who know who He is, we need to proclaim Him to those who don't.

Yes, my church will be having an evangelistic drama show this coming Good Friday to proclaim the One we believed in. I am inviting some non-believing friends to come along. I pray that they will know who the Preeminent One is.

Dear Lord,
May You bless this coming Good Friday as we take the opportunity to share Your love with others. I pray for the friends we have invited that You will remove all obstacles that may hinder their coming. May You touch their hearts as they watch the drama.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen





Reflection of Tommy:

Every Palm Sunday, we lift up glad hosannas of praise to Jesus, our King of kings and Lord of lords. We shout that He is truly the preeminent One, the greatest and most important person in our lives.

But, do we truly see Him as the almighty and sovereign Ruler for the rest of the days? Do we often feel helpless and easily crushed by circumstances around us? Has we been disillusioned by how God works or bad things that has happened to us? Do we sincerely trusting Him to be in control and to rest in His loving care?

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to mean everything I say. I thank and praise You for Your sovereignty and the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus for me. Teach me to always trust in You and see You working in every areas of my life, even when there’re no or lack of tangible or instant results.

Lord, remind me always not to anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presenting my requests to You (Philippians 4:6). And Your peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and mind always in Christ Jesus. Amen.