Practising Confession
(Entry Date : April 18th, 2010)
Scripture
James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for
each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is
powerful and effective.
Observation
Confession calls for humility. The opposite of humility is pride. Many of our relationships are not resolved and healed because of this sin in each of us - pride. Years ago, I visited Ren Ci hospital and had a chance to speak to an elderly man. I asked him if any of his relatives has visited him. He replied no one has came and as we continue to chat he revealed that he has not spoken to his wife for 12 years. Oh, how desperately I need to put James 5:16 into practice, God is in the business of restoring relationships
Application
It is better to lose your pride because of your loved ones than lose your loved ones because of pride. That is a powerful reminder! Richard, put James 5:16 into practice and don't let pride ruin your life.
Prayer
Lord deal with my pride and help me to practice confession for it is your desire to see my relationship get healed, to grow and not strained. Thank you for teaching me this principle. In your Name, I pray, Amen!
The Spirit Of Revelation
(Entry Date : July 14th, 2009)
Scripture
Ephesians 1:17 - I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Observation
I think it is significant that Paul did not use the words like “information” or “knowledge” but “revelation”. It is not just merely a transmission of information or knowledge from the pages to the minds but an intimate connection between His Word and our hearts or spirits. This is where Bible reading becomes an exciting journey of discovery – the journey of knowing God better. Whilst knowledge leads to knowing God, revelation propels us to want to know God better. It is no longer a drudgery of merely turning the pages but having our heart engaged as we expect God to reveal Himself to us through His Word. It is likened to one reading a letter sent to him from a loved one. It is like a deer panting for stream of water.
Application
On several occasions, I have the joy of experiencing scriptures “jumping” at me when I pray them back to God. When that happens, I knew it wasn’t just information I have received but a certain text has taken a greater meaning because God has spoken to your spirit. You can imagine how exciting studying God's word can be for you and me if Ephesians 1:17 is a regular occurrence.
Richard, use Ephesians 1:17 to lead you as you read the Bible each day. Take the time to read, to reflect, and refresh yourself by committing them to memory and you will reap the reward of seeing Paul’s prayer coming to past in your life.
Prayer
Father, thank you that it is your will that we should know You better and it is your desire to reveal Yourself more to us. Give me a heart to know you. Help me to come to you regularly in prayer and reading of Your Word. I pray for a greater encounter with You and may Ephesians 1:17 be a constant reality for me. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!
A Good Conscience Is Not Enough
Scripture
1 Corinthians 4:4 - My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
Observation
A man came up to Jesus one day with a question about how he can have eternal life and he addresses him as “good teacher”. To which, Jesus replied, ”Why do you call me good, there is no one who is good, except God alone. “ Jesus knew very well that there is none righteous even though one may claim his conscience is clear. Our conscience is shaped by many imperfect experiences like relationships, books we read, the way we are brought up and the world we live in whose values are often oppose to what the Word of God teaches. The recent AWARE saga is a case in point. It is a debate about values. It is a debate about a conscience one that is shaped by God and the other by the world system. It is about Christianity versus the world religion, that is at the heart of the debate. Is my conscience subjected to the Lord’s illumination? If not my judgment of myself will be proven to be insufficient and lead us thinking that we are fine spiritually when we are not.
Application
Richard, coming to the Lord in worship, reading His Word and having a consistent time with Him in prayer will increase your sensitiveness to sin and sharpen your conscience. It is like the sun, you can’t see the sun but you know it is there because you can see everything else. On the contrary, living in sin is like walking in darkness, you can’t see where you are and you don’t know where you are heading. The more you are in it, the darker your heart will be. Paul is right, a clear conscience is not enough because it will never be good enough because only the Lord is good.
Prayer
Father, thank for your Word for it is the mirror of my soul, it always reveal clearly the condition of my heart. It needs to be subjected to your constant scrutiny so it can be renewed and transformed by the power of your Spirit. Give me the mind of Christ and a heart that mirror yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!