I think that it isn't good to have shelved John 3:16 aside, whether by not thinking on it often and thus being unable to recall the wording of this great verse, or to omit the implications of its great promise.
I am looking to study the Gospel of John again, in feebly small steps, conscious that I need to also be mindful of the person, life and sayings of Christ as recorded by the credible "eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).
Pretty words make it appear as it my spiritual life is in good order, but the truth is that I beset myself often, by petty sin in private thought, in attitudes and action. But thankfully there is a means to be cleansed, by the provision of the Lord, although when we sin against others, there is reparation and reconciliation to be made.
In looking at John 3, I find it strangely familiar that Nicodemus, while affirming the Lord Jesus as a "teacher come from God" and God was indeed with Him, did not ask crucial questions for his own salvation.
Like Nicodemus, we acknowledge Christ as a great teacher come from God, but often we do not believe the things He said and taught, and we do not care for doing them.
-What must I do to be saved?
-How do I enter into the Kingdom of God?
-What must I do to be pleasing and acceptable by God's Holy standards?
But the Lord answered these anyway, in first teaching that the spiritual life cannot be lived by the flesh, and that "ye must be born again" (John 3: 7).
At this point, the question to ask would be: How can we be born again?
We, in order to behold the Kingdom of God, must be born of the Spirit (John 3:5).
Luke 19:10 - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The ministry of Christ is a form of salvaging, to recover that which was precious, but had been prised from Him.
Salvation can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has come from the Father.
Can we not consider His message?
1. He descended from heaven - John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
2. He knows and hath witnessed heavenly things - John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
3. John the Baptist (another eyewitness who pointed Israel to Christ) testified in John 3:27 - A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Jesus is the one who had come from heaven, knowing things pertaining to the Father and salvation, and made it available through preaching to all Israel.
The pivot/hinge is this: to believe on the Person, Word and Testimony of Jesus Christ, that He is indeed come from God, God's Son, who has taught us a way to be saved and to live an earthly life pleasing to Him, in view of the Blessed Hope of eternal fellowship with Him and His Father.
Because He is trustworthy, and we are convinced of the need now to live a life closely in line with the character of Christ, we obey His commandments on how to live our life in relation to God and to men. This obedience is a consequence of our genuine belief.
We are now labourers for the Lord, because we belong to Him, and we desire like Him, that others come to abundant life in Him also, and not miss His salvation.
John 3:16 -
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Candidate: whosoever - anyone who would
"Believeth":take Him at His Word, are convinced that He is indeed who He claims to be, and then apply His teachings onto all our lives.
God's heart towards the world is seen in other Scriptures:
Ezekiel 18:32 - For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 2: 38 Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost:
"...Repent , and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the promise of the Holy Ghost"
God is not spiteful, but is broken-hearted and longsuffering usward.
God desires and provides for the salvation of all.
Perish: complete decay and ruin, irreversible
Death is defeated, and we have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, we do not stay dead, either physically or spiritually, but are raised up in power:
1 Corinthians 15: 42-58
raised in incorruption (v.42)
raised in power (v. 43)
raised a spiritual body (v.44)
bear the image of the heavenly (v. 49)
Death is liberation from the flesh; are we persuaded of better things?
God does not condemn people willingly, but that those persons who have rejected Him and His Son, and the clear way to be saved, He honours the decision that they do not want anything to do with His Son and what He offers. Eternal life is found only in Christ, and the two cannot be divorced from the other. We have life, because we have the love and the light of the Lord.
John 1:3 - All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing that was made.
Our life proceeded from Him.
John 1:4 - In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Why do we not want Christ and His great salvation? Christ Himself tells us:
John 3: 19 - And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
verse 20 - For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds be reproved.
Have we been doing good, or evil, and by whose standards? Our individual or societal perception, or the perfect justice and holiness of the God who made us. The Lord who made all things has the best and highest sense of what is truly good and what is evil.
But we have heard the words of life from the Lord Jesus, and He has told us how to be saved, and told us what is the abundant life, and the love of God for the souls of men. Why do we persist in unbelief?
And when we have believed, why do we not make good our profession of faith? This, is a daily struggle, of conformity, and of overcoming the flesh and putting off the old man.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
It has been start and stop, for me to give out a satisfactory piece of writing which will be preserved for posterity, and for me to see again the vainglory of the mental faculties I presently take pride in. It's been a quick year, and there weren't that many records of what I did and thought on this site.
So in case I forget, I may recall more acutely how I think and feel then(now).
In my walk with the Lord, I've grown in some ways, but regressed in some, and the Lord has seen fit in His chastening to bring my thoughts and my actions/ decisions back under submission.
I need to jettison unworthy thoughts that harm my spiritual life; thoughts that are selfish, malicious, rebellious against godly authorities, and slothful thoughts, and of course indecent thoughts.
I learnt again that winning over a person, and keeping the bonds of peace in a friendship is more important than pressing someone else to win an argument.
However, this is not a principle to skimp on truth and focus only on a tolerant "love" that can broadly permit error and sin. There are outstanding issues that we must all come under the submission of the Bible and deal with, because we love God and we love His Truth.
Paul is right in saying that charity (love) is the "most excellent way".
I should not always be so eager to bruise my fellows to show that I have the access to the best truth. If we be faithful students of the Word who abide in Christ, we may have this access to Him.
A few things I wanted to lay out here, so I may be assured that I have them on record/ archive at later times.
There are multiple enemies of the Word today, and anti-Biblical philosophies that many people and even some Christians have soaked up.
These "new perspectives" on the Word are really moves that undermine the authority of the Word of God. If the Bible is neither infallible, verbally and plenarily inspired, or inerrant, then we do not have to obey the Scriptures or the Words of Christ, which He did say, that our obedience was a response of our love and faith towards Him.
John 14:15 - "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Where we cast doubt on the scriptures, and relegate it to reader subjectivity, obedience becomes the least of concerns. And the authority is shifted from God's meaning to the reader's perusal and preferential selection.
How we see the Old Testament and the Law
There is a growing Christian group that believes that the law is no longer applicable to us, and that we are fully under grace, and that the law is neither applicable to us.
My question to this teaching is that how come the laws and requirements for Israel are not important, but you may claim to have inherited the material blessings and prosperity for Israel that came from obedience toward God with the very same laws and obedience dismissed here.
1. The Law and the Scriptures are important because they testify of God's righteousness and holiness.
God's purpose for creation, and His election of the Jewish people, and His love, longsuffering towards them, and His consecration and sanctification of those who bears His Name.
His just punishment of sin and the later atonement were made an example in the Law, to do with moral behaviour and ceremonial worship.
God's standards are not flushed away by grace, but rather, because of the Spirit that dwells in every believer, we have means to overcome the flesh and follow Him in obedience. Rather than despising the law, we keep the commandments that God hath given to us.
As students of the Word, we are able then to distinguish which laws are meant for the Old covenant, and for Israel, and also which principles and commandments are for our consideration and obedience!
2. The Law and the Scriptures point towards God's Messiah.
Moses, Isaiah, Zechariah, Daniel and so many other prophets and writers wrote of Christ, they foretold of His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), His place of birth (Micah 5:2), His tribal identity, His Kingship (Isaiah 9:6-7), His ministry (Isaiah 61:1), His triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9), His manner of death (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53) and His glorious resurrection (Psalm 16:10).
3. The Law and the Scriptures are the New Testament church's basis for teaching.
Jesus and His apostles used the Scriptures and Law as reference for teaching, and the New Testament had not been written yet.
When Christ had risen, He met with the disciples and explained to them about Himself with reference to the Scriptures.
Moses wrote about Jesus -
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Peter, in his Pentecostal sermon, preached from Joel, the Psalms of David (Acts 2).
Paul in his epistles cited the Genesis account as historical, that Christ was indeed the Messiah, and the atonement for sin once and for all.
There are many factions that seek to devalue the reliability and authority of the Word, to declassify sins and to have it endorse their lifestyle and teaching.
A careful study of the Scriptures is absolutely important! Is this or that what the Bible teaches?
The Christian is never made more godly or spiritual by the accumulation of knowledge of the Word, but rather by his response to it. Does he skim over the text, or does he take it as the Word of the Lord, and thus for his serious consideration and faithful obedience?
So in case I forget, I may recall more acutely how I think and feel then(now).
In my walk with the Lord, I've grown in some ways, but regressed in some, and the Lord has seen fit in His chastening to bring my thoughts and my actions/ decisions back under submission.
I need to jettison unworthy thoughts that harm my spiritual life; thoughts that are selfish, malicious, rebellious against godly authorities, and slothful thoughts, and of course indecent thoughts.
I learnt again that winning over a person, and keeping the bonds of peace in a friendship is more important than pressing someone else to win an argument.
However, this is not a principle to skimp on truth and focus only on a tolerant "love" that can broadly permit error and sin. There are outstanding issues that we must all come under the submission of the Bible and deal with, because we love God and we love His Truth.
Paul is right in saying that charity (love) is the "most excellent way".
I should not always be so eager to bruise my fellows to show that I have the access to the best truth. If we be faithful students of the Word who abide in Christ, we may have this access to Him.
A few things I wanted to lay out here, so I may be assured that I have them on record/ archive at later times.
There are multiple enemies of the Word today, and anti-Biblical philosophies that many people and even some Christians have soaked up.
These "new perspectives" on the Word are really moves that undermine the authority of the Word of God. If the Bible is neither infallible, verbally and plenarily inspired, or inerrant, then we do not have to obey the Scriptures or the Words of Christ, which He did say, that our obedience was a response of our love and faith towards Him.
John 14:15 - "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Where we cast doubt on the scriptures, and relegate it to reader subjectivity, obedience becomes the least of concerns. And the authority is shifted from God's meaning to the reader's perusal and preferential selection.
How we see the Old Testament and the Law
There is a growing Christian group that believes that the law is no longer applicable to us, and that we are fully under grace, and that the law is neither applicable to us.
My question to this teaching is that how come the laws and requirements for Israel are not important, but you may claim to have inherited the material blessings and prosperity for Israel that came from obedience toward God with the very same laws and obedience dismissed here.
1. The Law and the Scriptures are important because they testify of God's righteousness and holiness.
God's purpose for creation, and His election of the Jewish people, and His love, longsuffering towards them, and His consecration and sanctification of those who bears His Name.
His just punishment of sin and the later atonement were made an example in the Law, to do with moral behaviour and ceremonial worship.
God's standards are not flushed away by grace, but rather, because of the Spirit that dwells in every believer, we have means to overcome the flesh and follow Him in obedience. Rather than despising the law, we keep the commandments that God hath given to us.
As students of the Word, we are able then to distinguish which laws are meant for the Old covenant, and for Israel, and also which principles and commandments are for our consideration and obedience!
2. The Law and the Scriptures point towards God's Messiah.
Moses, Isaiah, Zechariah, Daniel and so many other prophets and writers wrote of Christ, they foretold of His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), His place of birth (Micah 5:2), His tribal identity, His Kingship (Isaiah 9:6-7), His ministry (Isaiah 61:1), His triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9), His manner of death (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53) and His glorious resurrection (Psalm 16:10).
3. The Law and the Scriptures are the New Testament church's basis for teaching.
Jesus and His apostles used the Scriptures and Law as reference for teaching, and the New Testament had not been written yet.
When Christ had risen, He met with the disciples and explained to them about Himself with reference to the Scriptures.
Moses wrote about Jesus -
John 5
King James Version (KJV)
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Luke 24
King James Version (KJV)
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Peter, in his Pentecostal sermon, preached from Joel, the Psalms of David (Acts 2).
Paul in his epistles cited the Genesis account as historical, that Christ was indeed the Messiah, and the atonement for sin once and for all.
There are many factions that seek to devalue the reliability and authority of the Word, to declassify sins and to have it endorse their lifestyle and teaching.
A careful study of the Scriptures is absolutely important! Is this or that what the Bible teaches?
The Christian is never made more godly or spiritual by the accumulation of knowledge of the Word, but rather by his response to it. Does he skim over the text, or does he take it as the Word of the Lord, and thus for his serious consideration and faithful obedience?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Immutability
I cannot put my love for you in simple tones,
No words may do justice to the permanence of
My heart, mind and full person’s
Tendency towards thee.
I have locked eyes on you and thrown away the key;
You are my best and most complete fit,
I think of you when the moon is lit.
And when light replaces dark,
Your fair face I hope to quickly see!
I love to take in your scent, your sound and your smile;
I’ll adore you for a very long while.
My words are not in vain,
Not like our country’s faulty trains.
Quite the contrary really—this poem is thy guarantee,
That Song’s stout heart dances for, and mostly on account of
thee.
I long for the day you and I will be,
The bestest picture of man and woman:
The one our Lord had in mind.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Stucking on this Plane, Waiting for the Next
As persons living in this material world with physical eyes and hears, we are surely engaged in this earthly plane. We have bodies and we feed and dress our bodies.
We are to engrossed in the present and love the things of this world too much; we have no appetite or concern for heavenly things.
The Word says in 1 Peter 2:11, that we are "strangers and pilgrims" in this world, and we would do well to "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."
We are not here on this earth for long; we are not native settlers who are immersed in this "culture". This is a culture that goads us to participate in a form of living which has no regard for a Holy God. There is another place we are heading to, and this is a place of permanent residence.
The author of Hebrews is right:
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Anything in between our passage from this place to the better place that becomes an unhelpful distraction must be put off. The things we dabbled in, and ensnared us should no longer have any hold on us, we who are bought by His Blood. We belong to Him and our lives are lived in devotion to Him and in view of His coming.
17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
I read the newspapers about the men who were involved with the teen prostitute these days, and pick out many things from these stories of sin. Sin is destructive and aims to ruin the person, and war against the person and his/her relationships with their beloved people.
These disgraced men gave in to the desires of the flesh and brief illicit pleasures, and now have lost their moral stature in society and surely in their families. They have been subjected to public shame and grieved their families-wives and children.
I look at these men, and I am aware that I may not judge them for their weakness, for the same impulses for wickedness are present in my body and if not for the Spirit of God, I have no resistance to any form of suggestion for sin. In the past, I only lacked the opportunity for sin; my desire was not any less.
Thank God for grace and cleansing in Christ Jesus. Now, if I pretend I no longer contend with sin in such forms, I am a hypocrite and a liar. Praise God that I am a recipient of His grace and mercies, that I have been pardoned and empowered to overcome sin in the flesh. My changed heart seeks to please the Lord and dissociate from wickedness.
Hopefully these men and the girl in question will come to the realization of the need for a Saviour and the love and grace in Christ, who can wash them of their uncleanness with His soul-cleansing Blood.
Let every one who nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)
*
This is a strange time for me, to make a decisive cross-over, choosing to leave the fellowship of dear people I have been with for about 2 years, and some more than that. I have left my previous Church and moved to another.
We ought to subject ourselves daily under the authority of the Word and not presume we are fully right all times. I cannot overlook the errors that others hope to tolerate for the sake of Christian unity. True unity is not forged by dimming down the lines of difference between diverse groups.
We are to engrossed in the present and love the things of this world too much; we have no appetite or concern for heavenly things.
However we Christians should see beyond the physical things that are temporary and passing away, and be always mindful of the things that are presently unseen, but are eternal.
Things of eternity must become clear concerns to us.The Word says in 1 Peter 2:11, that we are "strangers and pilgrims" in this world, and we would do well to "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."
We are not here on this earth for long; we are not native settlers who are immersed in this "culture". This is a culture that goads us to participate in a form of living which has no regard for a Holy God. There is another place we are heading to, and this is a place of permanent residence.
The author of Hebrews is right:
Hebrews 12
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Anything in between our passage from this place to the better place that becomes an unhelpful distraction must be put off. The things we dabbled in, and ensnared us should no longer have any hold on us, we who are bought by His Blood. We belong to Him and our lives are lived in devotion to Him and in view of His coming.
1 John 2
17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
I read the newspapers about the men who were involved with the teen prostitute these days, and pick out many things from these stories of sin. Sin is destructive and aims to ruin the person, and war against the person and his/her relationships with their beloved people.
These disgraced men gave in to the desires of the flesh and brief illicit pleasures, and now have lost their moral stature in society and surely in their families. They have been subjected to public shame and grieved their families-wives and children.
I look at these men, and I am aware that I may not judge them for their weakness, for the same impulses for wickedness are present in my body and if not for the Spirit of God, I have no resistance to any form of suggestion for sin. In the past, I only lacked the opportunity for sin; my desire was not any less.
Thank God for grace and cleansing in Christ Jesus. Now, if I pretend I no longer contend with sin in such forms, I am a hypocrite and a liar. Praise God that I am a recipient of His grace and mercies, that I have been pardoned and empowered to overcome sin in the flesh. My changed heart seeks to please the Lord and dissociate from wickedness.
Hopefully these men and the girl in question will come to the realization of the need for a Saviour and the love and grace in Christ, who can wash them of their uncleanness with His soul-cleansing Blood.
Let every one who nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)
*
This is a strange time for me, to make a decisive cross-over, choosing to leave the fellowship of dear people I have been with for about 2 years, and some more than that. I have left my previous Church and moved to another.
We ought to subject ourselves daily under the authority of the Word and not presume we are fully right all times. I cannot overlook the errors that others hope to tolerate for the sake of Christian unity. True unity is not forged by dimming down the lines of difference between diverse groups.
Rather than the maxim that strives to forge trans-denominational unity: "in essentials; unity, in non-essentials; liberty, in all things; charity", I believe that we must be united in sound biblical doctrine and in the Holy Spirit. Many groups today who profess to be Christian are in error.
We may be able to say that certain conduct and disciplines are not compatible with the Word, by close study. I do not look at disagreements between groups, but disagreements with Scripture.
We must be discerning, exercising care to look the Word and judge rightly what are the things that are commended and commanded by the Word.
I have committed to only doing what the Bible, the Word of God commands and commends. We who have the Word of God are accountable because of what we have understood.
May all Christians not be passive followers, but actively go through the Word to make sure of the things we believe in.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Good Friday
I'm really thankful and also very impressed by my God that He is able to weave the decisions I make in these circumstances into so good an outcome. I love to away, fully knowing, understanding and being able to say: this is the place I was meant to be in all of time. I am here by His intention and by my compliance.
This morning at ABC, I brought my reluctant bones to the North, and to Good Friday service. I was glad to hear the Word and a reminder of the cross; our holy God's saving work, fully completed, once for all. It is huge to meditate upon how huge is this: that Christ is an acceptable sacrifice, without blemish and fully meeting God's standards of perfection. And that His Blood made remission for all sins once for all. At this point, all the sins in all of time were laid upon the Lamb of God: God's Son. He tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9).
I was introduced to a new person who came for the service and I had the opportunity to share with him about the gospel of Christ, the Word of God and how Biblical church and worship should be. I thought to impress upon this truth seeker that the Word is authoritative and instructive, and our guide for all manners of living. I was able to bring him through the opening verses of the Book of Romans in close reading, to explain the rich information in each line.
I was very encouraged by his sincerity and his openness, and receptivity to the good community at ABC, so different from mainstream Christianity in Singapore. I had hoped to show him that all men are able to fully understand and study Scripture. It was edifying for my person also; that I could point to my own life as a testament to the Word's transforming power. It is not that I found a right drug, but rather I had taken hold of the truest truth early in my life.
Later, at Agnes' place, I got to look at my essay, eat beautiful scrambled eggs with toast, and speak with her father. This heightened the sense that I was in the place I was supposed to be.
Agnes and I are 5 months in, and by all considerations we are young, new and hasty.
But I'm glad we have entered into courtship with marriage as the goal, and we are increasing our certainty of this, deepening our commitment to one another, and receiving more evidences that this is the Lord's will for us.
Uncle shared with me his values on the things that a Biblical husband and wife, the breadwinner and the homemaker/housekeeper should be. He shared about long term considerations in family planning, where two different people come together as husband and wife, and the types of decision making involved. There is individual preparation before marriage; husband and wife must be able to come to terms and make a committed decision in the household affairs. Building a godly family is aim.
I think there are amazing blessings when we obey God's direction and order, where we submit and give ear to the counsel of our elders. It is fitting and right to do so.
While others may be aghast at what they perceive to be premature commitment, I am acting upon surety and increasing confidence that this is what the Lord has in store for me. That this is the woman that I am to love and care for in the Lord and that I do not take it lightly.
We will respect and involve and defer to her parents in the Lord, that we may be living on principles from the Word.
It is both comforting and blessed to have her father's oversight and also confidence and approval that we may one day be married in the Lord.
I was reminded of my responsibilities as a student and also heard of uncle's concerns about managing and raising a godly family. We should be able to raise children who may "intellectually and willingly" come to faith in Christ. He also reminded me of the need to pass values down to the next generation. I need some sober self-examination to see if I am able to live the Word, share the Word and make decisions based on my trust in the Lord to provide, and whether I have the skills/ knowledge to take care of a household.
I had to try not to smile to openly when he spoke of a day in time where we would be "walking down the aisle". Walking down the aisle - that's what we are working towards. Anything other than that is a waste of time, youth, money, a gross disobedience to the Lord, and a disegard for the Word.
When we obey, the blessings in store for us are sweet and wonderful.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
It is still Today.
What I read affects me and plagues my mind. If something is to linger in my mind and prompt any action, it had better be God's Holy Word. We know this from the Psalms and so many other scriptures:
"Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalms 1:1-2
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3: 16
"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they many be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 11:18-19
The Word is a good and important reference for daily living, and the scriptures are God-breathed and powerfully relevant. Who may say that the Old Testament offers no instruction to us under the New Covenant today? The history of Israel and God's relationship with them shows us the patterns for obedience and the faithfulness of God towards His chosen people. If He may un-choose Israel, how will He be faithful, and how may we say that His love endures forever?
Can any man hide his sin from the LORD? Can any man veil his mind and heart from the God's sight? I am to be mindful of my subjection to Him, and how my living is an aberration of His goodness, and my mind and heart are offensive to His Holiness.
My eyes and ears store up resources for sin, and my lips, hands and feet execute these meditated sins. But God did not withhold His Son, the only acceptable sacrifice for sins, from me, and let Him go to shameful and painful death on the cross to bear God's wrath that was to be mine, for my sake. I may be able to be clean by the Blood of the Lamb that was shed for me and for others.
Our strength is in the Word, to live redeemed lives in view of Christ and for Christ, who purchased us by His Blood, and made us partakers of the Heavenly Calling (Hebrews 3:1).
I managed to eat with a brother today, without planning for a meeting, and it was good that I was able to know how I may support him in prayer. This week I learned again the importance of encouraging our brethren, that we are to continue to exhort[ing] one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of us[you] be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13). In the present time, while we are still in the second advent, we are to live carefully and consistently in view of Christ, and in love for others.
I have observed this trend, that we men do not like to work much less labour; and we also have no delight in what we do. We do not want perspiration, we reserve our strength, and work only to feed our lusts and pleasures, and only sometimes our bellies. Other times we steal.
Our attitude for work and for life should be this. It is a tall order, but we have inward empowerment to live like this: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:17
We may live in newness of life, because Christ hath delivered us from sin. We have the means to overcome, and live holy, good lives for His sake. We belong to Him; our lives are made possible only by His grace, and we should live for His purpose and in His pattern - of obedience to the Father and to please and honour our Father.
We should not just settle for blind optimism, but a sure and defined hope. The hope that our God and Saviour Jesus Christ is coming for us soon.
"Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalms 1:1-2
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3: 16
"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they many be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 11:18-19
The Word is a good and important reference for daily living, and the scriptures are God-breathed and powerfully relevant. Who may say that the Old Testament offers no instruction to us under the New Covenant today? The history of Israel and God's relationship with them shows us the patterns for obedience and the faithfulness of God towards His chosen people. If He may un-choose Israel, how will He be faithful, and how may we say that His love endures forever?
Can any man hide his sin from the LORD? Can any man veil his mind and heart from the God's sight? I am to be mindful of my subjection to Him, and how my living is an aberration of His goodness, and my mind and heart are offensive to His Holiness.
My eyes and ears store up resources for sin, and my lips, hands and feet execute these meditated sins. But God did not withhold His Son, the only acceptable sacrifice for sins, from me, and let Him go to shameful and painful death on the cross to bear God's wrath that was to be mine, for my sake. I may be able to be clean by the Blood of the Lamb that was shed for me and for others.
Our strength is in the Word, to live redeemed lives in view of Christ and for Christ, who purchased us by His Blood, and made us partakers of the Heavenly Calling (Hebrews 3:1).
I managed to eat with a brother today, without planning for a meeting, and it was good that I was able to know how I may support him in prayer. This week I learned again the importance of encouraging our brethren, that we are to continue to exhort[ing] one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of us[you] be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13). In the present time, while we are still in the second advent, we are to live carefully and consistently in view of Christ, and in love for others.
I have observed this trend, that we men do not like to work much less labour; and we also have no delight in what we do. We do not want perspiration, we reserve our strength, and work only to feed our lusts and pleasures, and only sometimes our bellies. Other times we steal.
Our attitude for work and for life should be this. It is a tall order, but we have inward empowerment to live like this: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:17
We may live in newness of life, because Christ hath delivered us from sin. We have the means to overcome, and live holy, good lives for His sake. We belong to Him; our lives are made possible only by His grace, and we should live for His purpose and in His pattern - of obedience to the Father and to please and honour our Father.
We should not just settle for blind optimism, but a sure and defined hope. The hope that our God and Saviour Jesus Christ is coming for us soon.
Monday, March 19, 2012
I must not be too proud to admit that God's Word has had an effect on me. I have presumed often that I am doing well, and am standing firm and am in good relation to my God at all times. I have not examined the areas of my life, and minimized why, how and what I lived (for) according to my own good pleasure.
But it is so blessed that God is faithful and He continually leads, and chastens, restores and comforts. Discipline is not easy to swallow, but God's purpose and wisdom are higher and more lasting than our own time-bound perceptions.
My parents have provided for me all my life, and I was made to realize that I have very little expressed gratitude towards them. I have barely reassured them that I their son, think of them. And while I have presumed that I have made amends for the ways I was an inadequate and difficult boy prior to saving faith, I had never spoken to them and addressed these things. It will be difficult to pull out these old memories of sorrows I have inflicted on them, but absolutely necessary.
I think of the times I was rough, rude and put on hateful attitudes towards them, and I realize that these are outstanding issues I must apologize and put to rest. When we are a little older and know some current information, we begin to despise our parents, or dismiss them.
As the eldest son, I should by example in honouring them, caring for them and obeying them. I have not been consistent in this area, and my sisters are sharp to seize these failures and convict me. While not perfect, I must increase my desire and efforts to love and care for them while I am still under their cover.
I see my grandmother's deep love for my grandfather even though he dominated her in marriage and was hard on her and on his children. She had tender love and concern for him, even while he was not always easy to get along with, much less love. This strength of love, even in a non-Christian marriage is admirable especially because of the circumstances of the union.
I am not willing that these precious parents pass from this life without hearing about the grace of Christ. I do not know how many years they will have with me, but I know that my love for them has not matched their love me, even if I have known the love of Christ. And my small efforts to are feeble.
There is no one else but me to bear witness for Christ, and I must get ready to tell them in the way they may understand well of this 'foreign God' who first died for men, before any of them knew Him.
There are dear family members and friends that I am to love and care for, but I have neither been attentive or sensitive, but shuttled them to my peripheral view. I am to bringing each person, valuing them as my God values them, before Him and appeal to His great love and mercy to work powerfully in them, to lead them to salvation.
My confidence in God's love for me is challenged daily. There is a need to return to Romans 5, to remember how God commendeth His love for us, when Christ laid down His life for all men, while we were still sinners, comfortably godless and cruel. God is a perfect Father who loves perfectly. When we doubt His love for us, we will be robbed of our joy and trust in Him. Our powerful God who is intimately concerned with our well-being and the details of our life gives us great comfort and the strength to live this challenging life in this hostile times.
I must thank God for His deep and sure love for me, even that which I cannot fully grasp, but continually doubt.
I presume too much, that I will be somebody important or prominent. I am a redeemed person who is much less intelligent and qualified than many others. My pride prises me from the dependence and obedience I am to have on Christ. Whether He uses me as a vessel for noble or common use, I must still be prepared in prayer to wait on His deployment of me. I am not more worthy than anyone to know Christ.
It is now more than ever that I realize I have a huge burden; that I may have many spiritual dependents who have never heard of the love of Christ, and of His great triumph over sin that may be applied to us all. I cannot lie and enter into rest prematurely while there is work to be done.
My life has to be lived in reverence of Christ. If I live with a false high esteem of myself, I will seek only to please myself, and place others on a lower plane. But there are people that matter hugely to me that I am omitting now. There must be something done about this.
We are to esteem Christ, living life in conformity to His Person. To be like Christ: firm and gentle, strong and meek, confident and humble, compassionate and prayerful, zealous for His Father's work.
It is a high standard, but we may have His Spirit inside of us to help us to live the life of Christ, that the flesh is not willing to, and cannot live out.
But it is so blessed that God is faithful and He continually leads, and chastens, restores and comforts. Discipline is not easy to swallow, but God's purpose and wisdom are higher and more lasting than our own time-bound perceptions.
My parents have provided for me all my life, and I was made to realize that I have very little expressed gratitude towards them. I have barely reassured them that I their son, think of them. And while I have presumed that I have made amends for the ways I was an inadequate and difficult boy prior to saving faith, I had never spoken to them and addressed these things. It will be difficult to pull out these old memories of sorrows I have inflicted on them, but absolutely necessary.
I think of the times I was rough, rude and put on hateful attitudes towards them, and I realize that these are outstanding issues I must apologize and put to rest. When we are a little older and know some current information, we begin to despise our parents, or dismiss them.
As the eldest son, I should by example in honouring them, caring for them and obeying them. I have not been consistent in this area, and my sisters are sharp to seize these failures and convict me. While not perfect, I must increase my desire and efforts to love and care for them while I am still under their cover.
I see my grandmother's deep love for my grandfather even though he dominated her in marriage and was hard on her and on his children. She had tender love and concern for him, even while he was not always easy to get along with, much less love. This strength of love, even in a non-Christian marriage is admirable especially because of the circumstances of the union.
I am not willing that these precious parents pass from this life without hearing about the grace of Christ. I do not know how many years they will have with me, but I know that my love for them has not matched their love me, even if I have known the love of Christ. And my small efforts to are feeble.
There is no one else but me to bear witness for Christ, and I must get ready to tell them in the way they may understand well of this 'foreign God' who first died for men, before any of them knew Him.
There are dear family members and friends that I am to love and care for, but I have neither been attentive or sensitive, but shuttled them to my peripheral view. I am to bringing each person, valuing them as my God values them, before Him and appeal to His great love and mercy to work powerfully in them, to lead them to salvation.
My confidence in God's love for me is challenged daily. There is a need to return to Romans 5, to remember how God commendeth His love for us, when Christ laid down His life for all men, while we were still sinners, comfortably godless and cruel. God is a perfect Father who loves perfectly. When we doubt His love for us, we will be robbed of our joy and trust in Him. Our powerful God who is intimately concerned with our well-being and the details of our life gives us great comfort and the strength to live this challenging life in this hostile times.
I must thank God for His deep and sure love for me, even that which I cannot fully grasp, but continually doubt.
I presume too much, that I will be somebody important or prominent. I am a redeemed person who is much less intelligent and qualified than many others. My pride prises me from the dependence and obedience I am to have on Christ. Whether He uses me as a vessel for noble or common use, I must still be prepared in prayer to wait on His deployment of me. I am not more worthy than anyone to know Christ.
It is now more than ever that I realize I have a huge burden; that I may have many spiritual dependents who have never heard of the love of Christ, and of His great triumph over sin that may be applied to us all. I cannot lie and enter into rest prematurely while there is work to be done.
My life has to be lived in reverence of Christ. If I live with a false high esteem of myself, I will seek only to please myself, and place others on a lower plane. But there are people that matter hugely to me that I am omitting now. There must be something done about this.
We are to esteem Christ, living life in conformity to His Person. To be like Christ: firm and gentle, strong and meek, confident and humble, compassionate and prayerful, zealous for His Father's work.
It is a high standard, but we may have His Spirit inside of us to help us to live the life of Christ, that the flesh is not willing to, and cannot live out.
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