A Little Concern

Read Psalm 91:9-16

Reflection of Tommy:

Many of us worry about others more than ourselves- our loved ones, family members, our children. That’s why in our prayers we often pour out to God to protect and bless them. Each time we hear any bad news about them, we are struck down with fear and worry. We think of the worst and panic fully occupied our mind.

In today’s comforting passage, we find the ‘cure’ to all our fear and worry in this life. No matter how intense our fears may be, we can trade them for faith in God, trusting Him as our shelter and refuge. We do this when we “dwell” and “rest” with Him (v9), entrusting ourselves and our loved ones to His protection and pledging our daily devotion to Him.

Dear Father, thank You for Your protection and Your love for me and my loved ones. Thank You that I can always trust in You and Your faithfulness; and that You are in control of all things. Thank You for being with me, hearing my prayers and deliver me from all my worry and fear. Teach me to fully rest and dwell with You, my Refuge and my Fortress (v2). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Matters of the Heart

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Reflection of Tommy:

There are so many gems found in today’s passage! In verse 12 and 13, Paul was talking about giving the respect to those leading our church: pastors and leaders. So very often we criticize them for not preaching what we would like to hear or even ridicule them for their idiosyncrasy. Here, Paul urges us instead to express our appreciation and hold them in the ‘highest regard’ for their effort to help us in our journey. We need to remember they need and deserve our support, cooperation and love.

In verse 14, Paul talked about having the sensitivity to know the condition of our brothers and sisters and finding effective ways to help the situation. We are to know the difference between those who are idling from those who are timid and use a unique approach (warn those idling; encourage those timid, help those weak) in each case.

Verse 16 to 18 give us 3 clear commands to obey always and in all circumstances – be joyful, pray continually and give thanks to God. This requires our conscious decision to do what God says and acknowledging our dependence on Him. This allows Him to change us to naturally want to obey Him and doing His will. And when we do His will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful to God in everything. Even when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God’s presence and His sustaining grace for us, and for the good that He will accomplish through the situation.

Dear Father, thank You for Your Word today. Thank You for reminding me how to obey You and how to live in peace with one another. Forgive me Lord of sometimes being so critical over those who work hard to lead the church. Teach me to be more respectful for what they have done and doing for your church and Your people.

Lord, give me the wisdom and the sensitivity to effectively help in the ministry when I am reaching out to them. I pray more of them may come and fully devote their lives to honor and glorify You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Thanksgiving All Year

Read 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, 23-34

Reflection of Tommy:

As I read today’s passage of thanksgiving to God, my eyes flowed with tears of joy knowing He knows and understands clearly the things I’m going through. Despite being hard-pressed on every side, I’m not crushed; although I’m perplexed, but not in total despair (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) because of His love that sustains me and the hope I have in Him that strengthen me.

He hears my every cry and makes me bold each time with strength in my soul (Psalm 138:3). My soul waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him (Psalm 62.5).

Dear Father, thank You for coming into my life and gave me the greatest Gift of all. Thank You so much for Your amazing love for a sinner like me, thank You for the hope and promises I have in You. I give You all praise and thanks! Although I do not know why certain things is so painful to me, but I trust You will reveal and heal me in Your time.

Lord Jesus, I thank You also that these trials are opportunities for You to demonstrate Your power and presence in and through me. Strengthen me to persevere and wisdom to discern. Lord, teach me to direct my thoughts and energy to serve and help others who are in needs. In Jesus’ 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.

Actions Speak Louder

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." - 1 John 3:18

It's easy to agree praying for a friend who requested our prayer for them. We should not stop there after a prayer, we can do more like following up with them and offering our help to them. Like what mentioned in 1 John 3:18 and today's passage, we should not merely love in word but in actions.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me this important lesson today. Guide me to be aware always of any oppurtunities to show love to others in action and sincere concern. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Safe Forever

Read Psalm 34:8-22

We know as Christian we still have to undergo all kinds of pain and suffering in this fallen world, but God has promised that He will look after us and hear all our cries (v15). He has also said to save, protect and deliver us from all our troubles (v17-20) if we were to take refuge in Him (v22).

But, how do we exactly do that? We take refuge in God when we seek Him (v10) and be willing to learn the fear of the Lord (v11) and keeping His commands (v13-14).

Dear Father, thank You for Your comforting promises for me when I take refuge in You. As I submit humbly to Your care, teach me to fear You and to obey Your commands. Show and reveal to me any of my ways that are wrong and against Your will for me and lead me back to Your way everlasting. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Something For The Soul

Read Psalm 119:9-16

Reflection of Tommy:
Today, we are constantly bombarded by impure influences and Medias around us. How do we as Christian be able to remain pure and true to God’s teachings in this environment? We will never be able to do it on our own without God’s strength and wisdom.

The psalmist in today’s passage gave a clear way to keep us from falling into sin and keeping our heart pure and blameless. It is through reading and memorizing God’s Word in our heart and putting them to work in our lives and making it the most important guide for everything we do.

Dear Father, thank You for giving me the right perspective that all Your commands are to free me to be all that You want me to be instead of restricting or burden my life. Thank You for teaching me to learn Your Word and apply them in my life, helping me to truly follow Your path and avoiding those that lead to destruction. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Sure Way!

Read John 14:1-6

Reflection of Tommy:

As our group was having a discussion the other day, a member raised the question of whether this well-known religious leader who is not a believer will enter heaven. But as we refer back to the Bible and particularly verse 6 in today’s passage, we know good work and being good on our own alone will never bring us to God the Father.

“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

This is why Christianity is different from all the religions of the world because we believe salvation is through faith and not through good works. And when we do good works, they are results of our faith in Jesus as we allow the Spirit to work in us.

Dear Father, thank You for providing me a sure and clear Way to get to You. Thank You for Your love and grace by offering this gift to me though I do not deserve it from You. Teach me to appropriate this gift by living my life serving You and others with true love like Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

He Would Not Go In

Read Luke 15:25-32

Reflection of Tommy:

If we happened to find ourselves easily burst out in anger towards minor mistake others has made and regretting it later, we may have allowed jealousy, discontentment and resentment to grow and thrive deep in our heart. If they are left unchecked, they can ruin our relationship with others and also our own self

So, we must guard our hearts against such destructive attitudes. Whenever they arise, we need to confess them, letting them go, and experience God’s forgiveness. We will experience true contentment and a sense of great gratitude and reverence for who and what He has done for us.

Dear Father in heaven, thank You for Your forgiveness for a sinner like me who doesn’t deserve any of Your love or grace. Lead me always to seek You and Your righteousness first before everything, that I may always walk blameless and pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Gospel Of Judas

Read 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Reflection of Tommy:

Every year we hear sensational discovery of theories to undermine the Bible and Jesus’ divinity - from the popular Da Vinci Code to the Gospel of Judas and recently James Cameron directed documentary “The Lost Tomb of Jesus”. This trend is nothing new and it has been written and warned by Paul like in today’s passage, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

As believers, we should view these controversies as good opportunities to share with others about the real Gospel we know. As what Paul wrote in verse 2, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction”. We need to be prepared and sensitive to any God-given opportunities to tell the Good News to those around us.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to be ready to any opportunities to share the Good News to others. Give me the strength, eagerness and love to serve You in any situation, whether or not it is convenient. And while I’m sharing, guide me through the Spirit to say and do what is right, to bring all glory and honor to You, and not myself. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

How long

Read Psalm 13

Reflection of Tommy:

It's easy to get impatient and frustrated when God seems slow to help us in our situation. But we shouldn't allow our unanswered prayers and trials make us turn away from God or doing things that we'll regret later.

Instead of focusing and being preoccupied with our problems all the times, we should look unto God and know who He really is. When we do, our perspective will change. Like David, our frustration and fears will turn into trust, peace, strength and hope when we know He is always faithful to those who love Him.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to wait upon You in all things. Teach me to be obedient and to trust You more when facing the challenges ahead. Lead me always to turn my eyes to Jesus with complete trust in prayers when I'm lost and troubled. Guard my ways that they will be pleasing to You in all times. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Searching for a rare jewel

Read Psalm 23

Reflection of Tommy:

The church pastor was talking about being wise when sharing our problems with others, even with church members. He advised us to have the discretion in choosing those that can be trusted, reliable and will never gossip away our stories. He added if we are not careful, we might get ourselves into a worst situation than before and also cause the other person to sin for gossiping!

That's why v11 in today's passage talks about discretion being able to protect us and understanding in guarding us. No doubt for some it is a gift in them to easily detect evil motives in others, but for most, it is developed by knowing and applying God's truth to make wise choices everyday. As emphasized in Hebrews 5:14, our capabilty to distinguish good from evil is through constant training and practicing what we've learned from God.

Dear Father, thank You for Your promise of wisdom (James 1:5) for me if I earnestly seek them from You. Guide me to seek You first, learning from Your Word daily. In Jesus's Name I pray, Amen.

Great hope and comfort

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Reflection of Tommy:

I was chatting with some friends that day on what will happen to believer who has passed away. We came out with all kinds of theories on how things will be for the dead after they die and exactly when they will be raised. Although we predicted many things but one thing is sure is that all of us will be reunited again in meeting the Lord in the air and will be with the Him forever (v17-18).

Paul’s message in today’s passage is not so much of how or when exactly we’ll be raised but instead it is to challenge us as believer to comfort and encourage one another when our loved ones die. Not only that, God will turn all our tragedies to triumphs, our poverty to riches, our suffering to glory and our defeat to victory!

Dear Father, thank You for such a comforting promise and hope I have in You. Teach me to make use of every opportunity to tell others about Your great gift of love for them. Guide me to comfort and reassure each other with this great hope we have in Christ. In His mighty Name 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.

Warning Sign

Read Proverbs 6:20-35

Reflection of Tommy:

Sometimes, in order to get what we want, we get ourselves into troubles through our unwise action, ignorance towards God’s teachings or running ahead of His timetable for us. Our impatience and preoccupation with fulfilling our selfish desires often blinds us from seeing God’s warning sign of danger that can easily drawn us into sin.

We should see God’s laws not as something that control us but as a way God warns and guides us from destroying ourselves and our future through our actions. We need to seek, remember and apply all these God’s teachings in our lives to help us stay away from unnecessary trouble and later regret in our lives.

Dear Father, thank You for making it clear the warning sign to things that I have neglect or ignore. Forgive me of so often avoiding and watering down the danger of those wrong desires I may have in me. Change my heart and desires if they are not aligned with Yours and keeping me away from ways that may lead me to sin against You. Thank You and I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Our supernatural Comforter

Read John 16:5-16

Reflection of Tommy:

Many Christians today going through their daily life without giving any thought or awareness of the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in them. Instead of seeking help and guidance from this great and supernatural Comforter God has given to them, they rely entirely on their own strength to deal with things in their lives.

In verse 13, Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit as a Comforter who would guide us into all truth. When we confess all known sin and then depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us (Gal. 5:16,18), we can be assured to be made known the truth about Christ and the purpose of our lives here on earth. We will also be led by the Spirit to a deeper relationship with God and to walk firmly down the path He has prepared for us.

Dear Father, thank You for sending a Comforter that guides me in all my ways. Thank You for teaching me to seek the Spirit’s direction and patience practice to discern all the rights from wrongs. May the Spirit continue to lead me in serving You and Your people with the right intention and way, glorifying Your Name always. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Looking Ahead

Read Proverbs 24:13-20

A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again. —Proverbs 24:16

Reflection of Tommy:

One of the greatest tragedy of man is to be trapped in their past. Over the years I get to know from my own experience and others, that past plays a major part in shaping the person and how they handle their current life. And a lot of the times, they are things that are not so good like guilt, hatred, unforgiveness and regret. Worst, these negative feelings not only immobilize their current life but also determine their future.

So, let us not live in the past in despair but to look ahead for the hope we have in God.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me again of the danger of allowing my thoughts of the past to negatively affecting my life now. Teach me to accept what has happened in the past as a good lesson to be learned instead of being stumbled by the fear, guilt and regret it creates.

Lord, lead me to live my life now fully according to Your will with the calm assurance of the hope I have in You. Guide me to also use my life fully to serve You and others, bringing glory and honor to You always. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Empty-Handed

Read Leviticus 23:16-22

Reflection of Tommy:
A friend recently shared with me of how guilty she felt of not doing enough for God in church and of quitting the ministry post in the church office. She thinks she can do so much more but at the same times she felt much burdened by all the things she have to handle in the church.

It’s easy to be troubled when we think we can do much more for God than what we are doing now. This guilt greatly burdens those who sincerely wanted to do the works of God and pleasing God. God has never intended His children to serve Him in such a weary and drained condition.

If we were to first seek Him to lead us and providing us the strength, zeal and joy to serve, we will WANT to serve Him and His people naturally. Through the empowering of the Spirit, we’ll be guided to serve in the ministry He has planned for us and we’ll do it effectively as God’s faithful servant.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me that I received my salvation not through my own work, but Your amazing love and grace for me. Teach me to always have the right perspective when serving You and Your people, be sensitive of the Spirit’s leading. Thank You and I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Worry immobilizes...

Read Matthew 6:25-34

Reflection of Tommy:

Recently, a church member in her late 20 shared about her struggle of undergoing dialysis treatment due to her kidney failure few years ago. Despite the hardship and pain of going through those treatments few times a week and losing her job, I was amazed by her cheerfulness and positive outlook in life. Her prayer to God was also so simple and sincere, like a child trusting everything on the father.

Life on earth can be very unfair sometimes, but as Christian we do not have to constantly wallow up in bitterness, self-pity, worries and even hatred. We know that God loves us so intimately that He cares and knows everything they we are going through (Matthew 10:30). If we were to seek His kingdom and righteousness first (v33), He will surely provides not only all our needs but also what most important and best for us.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the assurance and confidence to trust in You for all my needs. Forgive me at times for exhibiting all those ill effects of worry, being fully consumed by my problems and even allowing it to negatively affecting the way I treat others.

Lord, teach me not to worry but to seek first a close relationship with You and Your righteousness. Lead me to always look unto You for guidance in my planning for everything and leaving the rest into Your hand. Thank You and I pray all this in Your Name, Amen.

On Purpose

Read 2 Corinthians 3:11-18

Reflection of Tommy:

There are many sincere Christians out there who burn out and heavily burdened from doing the work of God. Some of them are working fulltime in the ministry and others are working outside the church but serving and helping out in various ministries of the church.

We will surely get ourselves trapped in similar situation if we were to do God’s works solely with our own strength and might. We feel guilty and condemned when we think we’ve failed Him with our shortcomings and failures.

But, we learn from today’s passage that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (v17). When we start right by first trusting Christ to save us, we are free from the burden of guilt and condemnation. With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, He will guides and provides us with the strength, passion and freedom to effectively serve and live for God and glorifying Him with everything we do.

Dear Father, thank You for Christ that my ‘veil’ was removed and I can now understand and learn about the true purpose of my life. Thank You also for giving me this privilege to be Your ‘mirror’; reflecting Your glory to the world around me. Lord, keep me safe and right in all my ways; always following the Spirit’s leading and guidance. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.