“Do What He Tells You To Do”
(Entry Date : December 18th, 2011)
Scripture
John 2:5 - His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you. “
Observation
- This one sentence alone will transform the way we view and carry out our ministry. “do whatever He tells you to do.” Do whatever he says to do is enough.
- Serving God in ministry is actually not complicated. Just do whatever he tells you to do. Then everything else will work.
- All the servants had to do was simply to fill the jars with water and they witnessed a miracle right before their eyes.
Application
I do not need to be clever or smart to serve God. All I need to do is to listen and do whatever He tells me to do.
Eg. Pray for someone, call someone, give to mission, start tithing, invite friends to church, share his love with a particular person.
Prayer
Lord, I ask for a discerning and yielded heart that will be quick to execute simple instruction given by you.
The Power Of the Gospel
(Entry Date : September 4th, 2011)
Scripture
1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Observation
The same message has different effects on different people. For those who cannot accept or appreciate it, it is foolishness to them. For those who have received or understood it, it is the power of God. The problem lies not on the message but the recipient.
Application
1. Do not be discouraged when people do not welcome your message.
2. Continue to share. There are many others who are waiting for someone to share with them.
3. Focus on its power to save and transform lives rather than how people will
respond to it.
Prayer
Lord, reignite my passion and love for the lost. Give me a clear conviction that people need the message of the cross. Use me to reach them.
This Is Love
(Entry Date : Apr 17th, 2011)
Scripture
1 John 5:3 -This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
Observation
In short, if I love God I will obey him. And it will be a joy and privilege.
If I had difficulty in obeying God or felt his commands burdensome, it is very likely that my love for God had been shifted, diluted or grown cold.
Therefore the foundation of obedience, is not simply the act of obedience but my love for God.
How much I love God will determine how much I will obey Him.
The degree and depth of my obedience is determined by degree and depth of my love for God.
Application
Do not try to work on obedience for obedience sake, but rather work on my love for God in order to obey him.
When I have the right love for God, obedience will comes naturally.
Prayer
Lord, teach me to rest and feed on your love each day such that the hard work and self-discipline of serving and obeying you is a joy and not a burden.
Just A Steward
(Entry Date : Jan 7th, 2011)
Scripture
Colossians 1:16 - For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or power or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Observation
In short, God created everything and owns everything. From time to time, through the loss of loved ones, finances, jobs, time and health, God reminded me who the true owner is. Our body, soul and spirit; our talents, gifting and abilities; our time, health, money and relationships belong to the Creator.
Application
Always remember that I am just a steward of God’s blessings and resources. Not to take for granted all the material and spiritual blessings that God has entrusted me. I need to frequently stop, reflect and remember that Scripture says the true owner of all I possess is God.
Prayer
Lord, reminds me daily that everything I have belongs to you. Help me to be a good steward and manager of all that you have entrusted to me now and in the future. Surrendering in obedience to you becomes easy when my perspective on ownership is clear.
Bond For God
(Entry Date : Oct 15th, 2010)
Scripture
2 Timothy 1:8 - "So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,"
Observation
It is natural for me to feel ashamed or shy about the gospel especially when majority of the people around me reject or shun it. By believing and proclaiming it makes me stood out even more when I become different from the rest. I don't really like the feeling to stand out as minority, but would prefer to blend in with the crowd. It maybe inconvenient to be a Christian in the world today because our practice and beliefs conflict with the world’s value system. Here Paul tells me to be bold and not be ashamed of God. This means I have to stand out and be different because God has given me the power and boldness. I am expected to join Him in the suffering for the gospel.
Application
I must remember that I will always belong to the minority as long as I want to follow God wholeheartedly. The moment I choose to be a believer, I became the minority. I need to live above reproach and be very bold in sharing the gospel. Suffering for the gospel is inevitable, but be sensitive, respectful, and be bold especially in our multi-cultural religious setting. Seek to please God rather than man.
Prayer
Grant me great boldness and courage to do your work, Lord.
Christ, Our Example
(Entry Date : June 29th, 2009)
Scripture
1 Corinthians 11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Observation
How many of us sitting here is confident to make such statement? Well, Paul did it! He not just wrote most of the letters in the N.T but lived them out.
The letters Paul wrote must have birth from his walk with Jesus at different journey in his life. The Scriptures we had today might very well have been part of his journal as the Holy Spirit directs.
What is the secret to Paul’s success? I believe the secret of Paul’s is very simple, he just followed the example of Christ and called us to do the same.
Application
”If Paul can follow Christ’s example, I can do it also. Challenges will certainly come when I set my heart and mind to fully follow Christ. But I must not allow them to side tract me as I fixed my eyes on the Lord.
Prayer
Lord give me the courage and strength to follow you. Help me fix my eyes on you and not be distracted by temporal things on earth.
How To Become Rich
(Entry Date : November 8th, 2009)
Scripture
Luke 12:15 - Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Observation
This warning was issued by Jesus to the crowd while he was addressing an
incident that took place between two brothers over the division of inheritance. Jesus used the parable of the rich fool as an illustration. He warned them to be on guard against ‘all kinds of greed’, but focus specifically on possessions. Out of the so many possible kinds of greed, why did Jesus singled out on wealth and possessions? Probably because nothing clogs our spiritual arteries more quickly than money, wealth or possessions; either working to have a lot of it or wishing that we had. This man had a wonderful opportunity to ask the spiritual guru a question or an opportunity to go deep in conversation with Jesus, but he wanted deep pockets instead.
Application
Jesus is not against the possession of wealth, riches or money. He warns us to be on guard against being possessed by them instead possessing them. Abraham, Job and King David were classic examples of men who were rich spiritually and at the same time possessing great wealth. Let us learn from them as we allow the Holy Spirit to clear our clogged spiritual arteries.
Prayer
Lord renew our mind daily with heavenly perspectives that we may learn
contentment in all circumstances. Remind us each day to live like aliens and strangers in this world and that our true home is when we meet you face to face.
Perfect Response
Scripture
Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Observation
We all knew very well what had happened to Paul and Silas before they were praying and singing hymns. Yes, they have just been attacked by the crowd, severely flogged, thrown in prison and being placed in the inner cell with their feet being chained in the stocks for casting out a spirit from a slave girl. About midnight, they were praying and singing hymns to God!
In the natural, their circumstance seems hopeless, depressing and bleak. Yet they choose to respond supernaturally with a different attitude by adopting prayer and praise. They did not pity themselves and put the blame on God for what had happened. On the contrary their faith and hope were anchored on God. They eventually witnessed a miracle leading to salvation of the jailer and his entire family!
Application
I may not fully understand God’s plan when trials, temptations, persecution, injustice and problems comes my way. However, my response should be that of Paul and Silas choosing to put our hope and trust in the almighty Creator God who certainly had everything in control. Be patient, the great trials with great prayer and praise will eventually experience great deliverance and miracle! The Lord will deliver.
Prayer
Father, help me learn the power of a perfect response: praying and praising You in the midst of trials. May you grant me the strength so I may respond in prayer and praise regardless of my circumstances, learning to worship and surrender my life to You because we know You love us.