Everlasting Light
(Entry Date : Nov 20th, 2011)
Scripture
Isaiah 60:19 - ‘The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.’
Observation
The sun gives us light which is necessary for our survival. For example, the
plant needs the sun for growth and man needs plants for food. The moon gives us light while we are in darkness. I see the sun as a symbol of our physical needs which we have become accustomed to and have depended on. However, sometimes, we don’t have the sun when it rains or that it loses significance when it is very cold. And for other countries, the sun doesn’t even shine so brightly. The moon is a symbol of our hope and help in times of ‘darkness’. This light doesn’t last through our lifetime. Now, God provides a much better alternative - the everlasting light for all of us. In fact, he has taken on the role of being an everlasting light, Himself. Even more amazing : He has become our glory.
Application
So what does this mean for me? It means....no longer will other things sustain me and keep me alive by themselves. No longer will I have temporary things for my survival and well-being. Now, I know that the Lord is offering Himself as my everlasting light. He is the one who sustains me and keeps me alive day and night. He is the one who provides my needs like my job for physical survival and my family and friends for my comfort in times of darkness. He is ALWAYS there.
Prayer
Oh Lord, thank You! You are my everlasting light. Knowing this alone is enough to give light to my life. Day or night, rain or shine, I know that you are there.
Labouring in vain
(Entry Date : July 24th, 2011)
Scripture
Psalm 127:1 -'Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.'
Observation
We will fail in our endeavours if we continue to build the house on our own.
We cannot continue in our own strength and might No success will follow our hard work. We need God to 'build the house'.
Application
It is important to allow God to 'build the house'
Easy to say, hard to do when we are in that situation
Feeling of failure in my work
MY STUDENTS = THE HOUSE
Need God to take control and be the labourer
Need to pray for my students and myself
Prayer
Forgive me Lord for forgetting you sometimes, my great Labourer. I forget that you are the great Labourer I can count on. I forget to include you in my vocation. I compartmentalise you away. Please make me a successful teacher, who will transform lives. I want to build up my girls in the knowledge and character. I need you to take control of all my endeavours. AMEN.
Blessing Not For Greed
(Entry Date : Sep 24th, 2010)
Scripture
I Kings 11:9a- The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord...'
Observation
Preceding this verse – accounts of Solomon's increasing wealth because of his wisdom. God blessed Solomon with SO MUCH ! A) 1400 chariots and 12000 horses imported from Egypt which were kept in chariot cities! B) Received extravagant gifts from guests and officials. C) Had so much silver and Cedar wood they became so common in Jerusalem.
However, King Solomon started to sin. He abused his wisdom and greed crept into King Solomon's heart. He began to acquire more than he needed and led astray by numerous wives and concubines.
Application
We should handle God's gifts with care. Regardless of the size, big or small. We must be even more careful when we receive much from God. When we receive blessings, we should guard our hearts lest we become greedy for more. This is how we sin against God when greed can creep into our hearts, mine included..
Sometimes, we don't even know it. Solomon's increasing wealth were God's blessings mishandled and unappreciated. I realized when I receive blessings from the Lord, I should endeavor to give back in return – not that He needs it. Giving to him is for my spiritual growth. Serving Him is giving back to Him. If I lose the balance, the blessings would work against me. We then become greedy. Without any thought of giving back.
Prayer
Oh Lord, thank you for speaking to me. You have revealed to me the desires of your heart. When you bless us, you also desire a response from us, in the same way that I desire someone to appreciate any gift I give to someone. Father, guard my heart so that I will not turn greedy when I receive blessings. Instead, I want to give back to you whatever I can give, in the best way I can. You are a God who feels. This is why you can love. I love you Lord. Amen.
Prayer that Leads to Action
(Entry Date : June 1st, 2009)
Scripture
1 Samuel 12:23 -‘As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against you by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.’
Observation
Samuel was addressing the Israelites after his disappointment on their asking for a king. He felt a great sense of responsibility over the Israelites as a leader would to his disciples and as a parent would to his children…
….It was clear that to him, pleasing the Lord, loving the Israelites and being responsible for them meant praying for them unfailingly.
Now, also, praying should lead to teaching, which means doing what is good and right….
Now, this is an example of prayer that leads to action. Without prayer and action, it is actually sinning against the Lord. For this is a negligence to look after those who have been placed under your responsibility.
Application
This reminds me of how many responsibilities I have now and in the future. As for now, my responsibility is to love and lead my students to do what is good and right by first praying for them and continually so. In the future, when I become a parent, I will also need to pray for my children and teach them what is good and right…
I am sure my leaders have prayed and have been praying for me. I am sure that my parents have also been praying for me and my siblings. That must be why, I have become someone with the heart to always do what is good and right.
Prayer
Lord, I am led to tears at a leader’s prayer can be so important. To us, it is powerful. To you, it is pleasing. I am more convinced, Lord, that you listen closely to the prayers of your leaders, not so much because you love them more, but because you love their disciples as much.
I pray for the strength and the patience to pray for my classes and in the future, for my children.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Being Responsible With Our Speech
(Entry Date : August 23rd, 2009)
Scripture
James 5:12 - Above all, my brothers, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth, or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ be a yes, and your ‘No’ be no, or you will be condemned.
Observation
Since James admonished a No-swear rule, it must be a command from God. Jesus preached in Matthew 5:34, that we should not swear by anything because everything is created by God. He ends the portion of scripture by saying that swearing comes from the evil one.
Application
As I contemplate on this, I discover that swearing by anything or anyone is ungodly, blasphemous and evil. God is the only one righteous to swear by anything. James endeavors that we, his brothers (sisters) do not sin by swearing. We should not include anything in his dominion as a surety of the fulfillment of that which was sworn. What we promise should be borne by us, ourselves, in all that we can do to fulfill that which was mentioned. Making our ‘Yes’ a yes and our ‘No’ a no, is NOT about UNCERTAINTY (which is what most interpret the scripture to be), it is about being responsible for what we say. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said ‘For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.’ The next time I claim something, I must be aware of the fact that my words are spoken responsibly, which means that they are well considered and followed through. When my heart is well, my words shall also be well.
Prayer
Oh Lord, purify my heart so that the words that come from my mouth are blessed by you. Teach me to be responsible for my words so that I may glorify you. Let me be a woman of her word.
To Be Influenced Is To Suffer
Scripture
Acts 24:9 - 'The Jews joined in the accusations, asserting that these things were true.'
Observation
There is such a stark similarity between Jesus' trial and Paul's accusation. Like Jesus, Paul was also accused of causing riots among the Jews. The same can be said about Paul's accusation at Caesaria. He too, like his Lord Jesus, was brought to a leader who was not convinced of the validity of the people's accusations. This Paul mimicked the boldness of Jesus as he defended himself by speaking about the Truth and boldly preaching God's kingdom, even to the person he was subjected to for mercy, Felix the governor of Caesaria. It was there where Felix learnt more about the Way, therefore being exposed to Christian teachings. Although he did not blatantly confess of his newfound faith, Felix had already been exposed to the Gospel.This led to the accusers being sent away, leaving Paul safe in prison. God turned Paul's trial and suffering for something awesome and inspiring. Paul had influenced Felix because the Lord Jesus had influenced him. In suffering!
Application
I can now gauge my dedication and love for the Lord and the extent of Jesus' influence on me through the 'quality' of suffering that I go through. Of course being like a Paul is a tall order. However, that was how much he had been training to suffer for. According to our own individual threshold, the Lord shall make us go through suffering. Our love for the Lord shall be tested by our perseverance and tenacity. The secret to success? Go through all of it out of love for the Lord. Just like what Paul did. The more we suffer and are willing to suffer, the greater He has influenced us. The more affirmed we are of our love for Him.
Prayer
Oh Lord, please influence me. Make me like Paul. Allow me to be a perseveringly loyal child of yours and to receive any suffering you allow me to go through. Make me a worthy disciple of yours. Amen.