Friday, December 30, 2011
The Yearly Cycle
In a couple of days, we will say goodbye to 2011 and usher in 2012. The yearly cycle will continue until the Lord returns and this earth is destroyed. The Scriptures affirm this truth in Gen 8:22, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." (NIV) Because of the earth's rotation around the sun and revolution on its own axis, human beings on earth will experience the changing seasons and the 24-hr day time spans. Nowadays, due to global warming and movements within the earth's crusts, we are also experiencing erratic weather patterns and natural calamities. With the passing of 365 days (one year), we can certainly expect life and death to take place for all living things.
For life to flourish, there's a need for food and water. Scientists are still trying to find evidence of water in other planets. (The Bible is silent on this matter.) Where food is concerned, the farming or food industries are constantly in production, subject the vicissitudes of life. Some places have plenty but others are in want. This calls for wise management on the part of governments, not to hoard food or sell at exorbitant prices, but to ensure equitable distribution to places that are in need of them. The principle of sharing our abundance is seen in the management of grains by Joseph in Egypt during the time of famine. Joseph traded food for money or other collaterals in order that the people may survive. The apostle Paul also shared this principle in 2 Cor 8:13-14, "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality..."
Plants, animals (including insects, birds and marine creatures) and humans reproduce each day. There is great dependency on one another to ensure the sustainablity of our ecological system. Of course, where there's life there's also death. Death can be attributed to the following reasons: old age, sickness, calamity or man-made. By man-made, I would include suicides, wars, pre-meditated and unmeditated killings. A number of personalities have passed on this year - Steve Jobs, Osama, Gaddafi, Jong Il - they may be considered good or evil depending on whom you're talking to. Countless others have lost their lives through earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and various disasters. Notwithstanding the many death occurrences, the earth's population is nearly 7 billion today. Many would be born into a meaningless existence unless the good news of the gospel can be transmitted to them.
The Bible encourages us not to grow weary in doing good - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Gal 6:9 (NIV) - because at the proper time (in God's timing) we shall see our labour bearing fruit. Doing good can be as simple as offering a cup of water, giving an encouraging word or providing directions to those who are lost. We can also provide food, clothing or shelter to those in need. The greatest good we can do to mankind is not just providing for their physical needs but for their spiritual needs as well. This is where we can provide them with the direction of life, pointing them the way to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have to continually do this even though we may not see immediate results. Let this be your goal and objective for the new year.
Have a blessed and fruitful New Year in the Lord!
Monday, December 26, 2011
There is no anxiety in the spirit
Fear and anxiety comes from the soulish part of man. This is the part that consists of the mind, will and emotions. When we see or hear bad news, our natural tendency is to feel sad, anger, fear, anxiety or a mixture of them. Our minds will process the information and come to a logical conclusion which will inevitably affect our emotions. The spirit part of man consists of our ability to commune with God, hear what He has to say and quicken our conscience to obey Him. If we fail to 'feed' our spirit man through regular reading/hearing of God's Word and prayer-cum-worship, we would operate more on the soulish level using our minds to reason and rationalise things, and finally act on what we have carefully thought through. However, what we see or hear may not be the actual reality because there's a spiritual dimension beyond the physical.
The story of the prophet Elisha illustrates what I am trying to say very well. Reading 2 Kings 6:1-23, we are first introduced to a missing axe head that fell into a river. The cry of one of the prophets, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed." revealed fear and anxiety because it was borrowed. Many prophets in those days were poor and had to rely on the generosity of others. Elisha's response was to enquire where it fell for he knew what to do recover it. He was in communion with God and displayed no anxiety at all. What he did was even more amazing (as it has no logical explanation), he threw a stick and made the axe head float. This is equivalent to the miracle of Jesus walking on water, defying the law of gravity.
The other incident which followed concerns the attendant of Elisha, which was probably Gehazi. The king of Aram had sent his soldiers to capture Elisha in Dothan. They surrounded the city with horses and chariots. Elisha's servant cried out in fear, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" Again, Elisha's response was one of calm, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." This reminds us that the Holy Spirit in us is greater than he (the devil) that is in the world (1 Jn 4:4). Elisha was able to see beyond the natural to the immense spiritual army of God surrounding them. He prayed for Gehazi's eyes to be opened to see this vast army protecting them.
When we are in close communion with God, our prayers become effective and powerful. Look at what Elisha prayed and how the Lord acted on his requests. Firstly, the eyes of his servant was opened and secondly, the eyes of his enemies were closed (blinded). And later on he prayed for their eyes to be opened when they were in Samaria. God humbled the Syrian army through Elisha without any of them being killed.
We live in a world where we have to contend between the spirit and the flesh (Rom 7:14-25). Praise God He has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ by empowering us with His Spirit to overcome the deeds of the flesh in this world. The more we feed the flesh, the more we would rely on the carnal part of us but the more we feed on the spirit, the more we would rely on God's Spirit to lead and direct our lives. Let us follow the example of Elisha by learning to commune with God and listening to His voice. When we learn to subject our soulish man to the spirit man, then and then only can all fears and anxiety be banished.
The story of the prophet Elisha illustrates what I am trying to say very well. Reading 2 Kings 6:1-23, we are first introduced to a missing axe head that fell into a river. The cry of one of the prophets, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed." revealed fear and anxiety because it was borrowed. Many prophets in those days were poor and had to rely on the generosity of others. Elisha's response was to enquire where it fell for he knew what to do recover it. He was in communion with God and displayed no anxiety at all. What he did was even more amazing (as it has no logical explanation), he threw a stick and made the axe head float. This is equivalent to the miracle of Jesus walking on water, defying the law of gravity.
The other incident which followed concerns the attendant of Elisha, which was probably Gehazi. The king of Aram had sent his soldiers to capture Elisha in Dothan. They surrounded the city with horses and chariots. Elisha's servant cried out in fear, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" Again, Elisha's response was one of calm, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." This reminds us that the Holy Spirit in us is greater than he (the devil) that is in the world (1 Jn 4:4). Elisha was able to see beyond the natural to the immense spiritual army of God surrounding them. He prayed for Gehazi's eyes to be opened to see this vast army protecting them.
When we are in close communion with God, our prayers become effective and powerful. Look at what Elisha prayed and how the Lord acted on his requests. Firstly, the eyes of his servant was opened and secondly, the eyes of his enemies were closed (blinded). And later on he prayed for their eyes to be opened when they were in Samaria. God humbled the Syrian army through Elisha without any of them being killed.
We live in a world where we have to contend between the spirit and the flesh (Rom 7:14-25). Praise God He has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ by empowering us with His Spirit to overcome the deeds of the flesh in this world. The more we feed the flesh, the more we would rely on the carnal part of us but the more we feed on the spirit, the more we would rely on God's Spirit to lead and direct our lives. Let us follow the example of Elisha by learning to commune with God and listening to His voice. When we learn to subject our soulish man to the spirit man, then and then only can all fears and anxiety be banished.
Monday, December 19, 2011
God's perfect timing
"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Gal 4:4-5 (NASB).
As we celebrate Christmas, let us be reminded that God sent His Son Jesus Christ into this world about 2000 years ago at a perfect time. That was the period where death by crucifixion was used commonly by the Romans. It was a cruel and painful way of executing criminals, which God's Son was subjected to. The prophet Isaiah foretold of the Messiah's crucifixion when he said, "He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed." (Is 53:5). In this way, blood was spilled for the atonement of sins. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there's no forgiveness of sin (Heb 9:22).
During the Feast of Booths, Jesus told his disbelieving (half) brothers, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." (Jn 7:6-8). Jesus operated on God's timing when He was on earth in order to fulfill Scriptures or to reveal God's glory. When He heard that Lazarus was sick, He delayed in going to visit his dear friend until he has died (Jn 11:6,14). This was in order that He might manifest God's glory through rasing Lazarus from the grave (Jn 11:40-44).
Many times we are impatient and cannot wait for God's timing. Abram and Sarai couldn't wait for the promised son and as a result Ishmael was brought forth. The Arab-Israeli conflict can be traced back to this event (Gen 16). King Saul couldn't wait for the prophet Samuel to arrive and started offering sacrifices on his own. This resulted in the kingdom being taken away from him (1 Sam 13:11-14). Joseph provided us with a positive role model of someone who waited patiently for God's timing (apart from Christ) although initially he displayed arrogance. He did not deviate from following God even when he was in prison. We are told that until the time God's word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested Joseph (Ps 105:19).
Are you waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise(s) to you? Then learn from Jesus and Joseph what it means to subject oneself to God's will. It won't be an easy road when your faith is tested many times and you feel like giving up. The devil is also hard at work to torpedo God's plan for your life. If you have a genuine word from the LORD, you have to pray diligently for it to come to pass. In the meantime, live in obedience to God's word found in the Bible. Remember God's timing is perfect and He's no rush to bring His promise(s) to pass until He sees Christ formed in you.
My family and I have been praying for my dad's salvation for over 30 years. Why did it have to take so long for God to soften his heart? I don't know. But one thing we try to do is to show God's love and to provide for his needs. It takes a process of time for the Father's love to be revealed to him, I guess. The pain in his body could also play a part in him seeking for the Healer, and eventually the Saviour. We continue to pray that Jesus would be the only One residing within his heart and that eventually the altar in the home would be removed.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us be reminded that God sent His Son Jesus Christ into this world about 2000 years ago at a perfect time. That was the period where death by crucifixion was used commonly by the Romans. It was a cruel and painful way of executing criminals, which God's Son was subjected to. The prophet Isaiah foretold of the Messiah's crucifixion when he said, "He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed." (Is 53:5). In this way, blood was spilled for the atonement of sins. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there's no forgiveness of sin (Heb 9:22).
During the Feast of Booths, Jesus told his disbelieving (half) brothers, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." (Jn 7:6-8). Jesus operated on God's timing when He was on earth in order to fulfill Scriptures or to reveal God's glory. When He heard that Lazarus was sick, He delayed in going to visit his dear friend until he has died (Jn 11:6,14). This was in order that He might manifest God's glory through rasing Lazarus from the grave (Jn 11:40-44).
Many times we are impatient and cannot wait for God's timing. Abram and Sarai couldn't wait for the promised son and as a result Ishmael was brought forth. The Arab-Israeli conflict can be traced back to this event (Gen 16). King Saul couldn't wait for the prophet Samuel to arrive and started offering sacrifices on his own. This resulted in the kingdom being taken away from him (1 Sam 13:11-14). Joseph provided us with a positive role model of someone who waited patiently for God's timing (apart from Christ) although initially he displayed arrogance. He did not deviate from following God even when he was in prison. We are told that until the time God's word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested Joseph (Ps 105:19).
Are you waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise(s) to you? Then learn from Jesus and Joseph what it means to subject oneself to God's will. It won't be an easy road when your faith is tested many times and you feel like giving up. The devil is also hard at work to torpedo God's plan for your life. If you have a genuine word from the LORD, you have to pray diligently for it to come to pass. In the meantime, live in obedience to God's word found in the Bible. Remember God's timing is perfect and He's no rush to bring His promise(s) to pass until He sees Christ formed in you.
My family and I have been praying for my dad's salvation for over 30 years. Why did it have to take so long for God to soften his heart? I don't know. But one thing we try to do is to show God's love and to provide for his needs. It takes a process of time for the Father's love to be revealed to him, I guess. The pain in his body could also play a part in him seeking for the Healer, and eventually the Saviour. We continue to pray that Jesus would be the only One residing within his heart and that eventually the altar in the home would be removed.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Weddings
The year end vacation is usually a time for couples to get married especially those working in the education sector. I have no less than 5 wedding invitations during this year end period. Weddings are usually joyous occasions celebrating the union of a man and a woman in holy matrimony. I would like to share three thoughts concerning weddings and marriages.
1. Whereas wedding is the ceremony that celebrates the union, marriage is living out the union through thick and thin (for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or health) till the death of one party does the union dissolve. That is the sacred covenant that a Christian couple pledge to one another before God and the invited guests. And what God had put together, let no one put asunder (Mt 19:6). However, many Christian marriages are dissolved today for reasons apart from death. When the reality of living together sets in (responsibilities abounding) and love's euphoria evaporates, what it is required of each couple is the commitment to stay true to one other and learn to communicate with each other.
2. Marriage is a great mystery according to Paul (Eph 5:31-32) because it typifies the living union between Christ and the church. When a man and woman joins together in holy wedlock, they become one flesh. But when a man joins himself with God, he becomes one spirit with Him (1 Cor 6:16-17). The church is the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom Christ is sanctifying through His blood and His word (Eph 6:25-27). This union between Christ and His bride will take place in the near future at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-9). When a Christian dies, his spirit is liberated and he is no longer bound to his wife. This makes it possible for him to be united with Christ in heaven. Jesus mentioned that there is no marriage in heaven as we know it on earth (Lk 20:34-36). The permanency of earthly Christian marriages foreshadow what God intended our union with Him to be like in heaven.
3. When we think of marriages (apart from those marriage of convenience), we think of love. If there's no love between two people, they wouldn't think of walking down the aisle. Likewise, when we think about the marriage supper of the Lamb, we see God's love drawing us back to Himself. Many times, it is a one-sided love where God reaches down to lost humanity. But once we've experienced and tasted the love of God, we wouldn't want any other. The love of God is such a powerful force that nothing can separate us from that love. The apostle Paul puts it this way: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39 (NIV)
Let us cherish our spouses (and children) and live out the kind of marriage that God intends us to have in heaven with Him. In a few days time, we would be celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. By God's grace, we have come so far.
1. Whereas wedding is the ceremony that celebrates the union, marriage is living out the union through thick and thin (for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or health) till the death of one party does the union dissolve. That is the sacred covenant that a Christian couple pledge to one another before God and the invited guests. And what God had put together, let no one put asunder (Mt 19:6). However, many Christian marriages are dissolved today for reasons apart from death. When the reality of living together sets in (responsibilities abounding) and love's euphoria evaporates, what it is required of each couple is the commitment to stay true to one other and learn to communicate with each other.
2. Marriage is a great mystery according to Paul (Eph 5:31-32) because it typifies the living union between Christ and the church. When a man and woman joins together in holy wedlock, they become one flesh. But when a man joins himself with God, he becomes one spirit with Him (1 Cor 6:16-17). The church is the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom Christ is sanctifying through His blood and His word (Eph 6:25-27). This union between Christ and His bride will take place in the near future at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-9). When a Christian dies, his spirit is liberated and he is no longer bound to his wife. This makes it possible for him to be united with Christ in heaven. Jesus mentioned that there is no marriage in heaven as we know it on earth (Lk 20:34-36). The permanency of earthly Christian marriages foreshadow what God intended our union with Him to be like in heaven.
3. When we think of marriages (apart from those marriage of convenience), we think of love. If there's no love between two people, they wouldn't think of walking down the aisle. Likewise, when we think about the marriage supper of the Lamb, we see God's love drawing us back to Himself. Many times, it is a one-sided love where God reaches down to lost humanity. But once we've experienced and tasted the love of God, we wouldn't want any other. The love of God is such a powerful force that nothing can separate us from that love. The apostle Paul puts it this way: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39 (NIV)
Let us cherish our spouses (and children) and live out the kind of marriage that God intends us to have in heaven with Him. In a few days time, we would be celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. By God's grace, we have come so far.
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