"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life." Lev 17:11 (NIV)
I donated blood yesterday since the mobile blood bank came over to the Community Club near my place; my 15th time since I started giving when I was in the university. This was also in response to an sms from the blood bank indicating that my blood type (O) was very low. Looking at the donorweb just now, the A type is also currently at a low level. You can donate blood if you're in relatively good health and have not contracted HIV or some other specified diseases.
It takes less than an hour to donate. There are basically 5 stations in all.
Station 1: Registration (identification card needed): need to fill in a health declaration form
Station 2: Screening by a doctor: checking of weight, blood pressure, temperature and social/medical history
Station 3: Blood test: finger is pricked to check blood haemoglobin level; once cleared, proceed to Station 4
Station 4: Blood donation: if you've been donating regularly, indicate the arm you'd like your blood to be extracted from as the vein can be seen clearly; after cleaning your arm, a painkiller would be given (that's about the only pain you'd have to endure - ant bite though) to ensure painless donation. You would be given iron supplements by the nurse and a card to indicate when you could next donate.
Station 5: Refreshments: light refreshment like beverages/packet drinks and snacks are usually provided; at the Blood Bank in HSA, you would be given a coupon to exchange for some refreshment at the cafeteria.
After donation, your arm would be bandaged (which can be removed after about 4 hours) and care must be taken not to exert the arm. Drink plenty of water and rest; take the iron supplement if needed. Only 450ml (a pint) of blood is extracted together with an additional amount which would be sent for various tests to ensure that it is safe to be used for transfusion or other purposes. A normal healthy adult would have his blood replenished in 3 days. Even as I gave blood, I remembered the great sacrifice of my Master for me - the pain and the agony He had to endure; the scourging, beating and the cross.
The Scriptures tell us that life is in the blood and the soul that sins, it must die (Eze 18:20). Clean animals were thus sacrificed at the altar to make atonement for sins. In this case, the life of the animals were exchanged for the life of the humans. Our Lord Jesus, who became the Lamb of God, was the ultimate sacrifice for human kind. By His shed blood on the cross, He redeemed mankind from the curse of the law and brought atonement between God and men. Just as the blood of man (in its various components) can be used to bring life to another human being who is injured and in need of blood, more so the holy blood of Jesus has power to bring spiritual wholeness to those under condemnation of sin. I often pray for the sick releasing the blood of Jesus into their blood veins to cleanse, purify and make whole the entire body system.
Hallelujah for the precious blood of the Lamb!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Strength to the Weary
As humans, we all grow tired and weary after we have expended energy doing some form of work, whether physical or mental. We could also grow tired after doing some spiritual work like prayer. The most common way in which our body recharges itself is through having proper nutrition and enough rest or sleep. Elijah the prophet was sleeping under a juniper tree when he was awoken by an angle to eat. He was provided a bread cake and a jar of water, that sustained him for 40 days and nights until he reached the mountain of God, Horeb (1 Kg 19:5-8). That must have been some amazing heavenly food. Talk about weariness, Elijah just concluded a successful campaigne against the prophets of Baal and Asherah (1 Kg 18:19) and became disillusioned just by the mere threat of Jezebel (1 Kg 19:2-3, 9-10). Certainly, servants of God can become weary and disllusioned when the enemy brings an all-out assault against us.
What is the antidote to such weariness? We are told in Is 40:29 that God gives strength to the weary and power to the weak. It goes on to say, "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Is 40:30-31). If young men who are supposed to glory in their strength can grow tired and weary, what more about us who are not so young anymore? Just as Elijah was strengthened by God through both physical and spiritual food, so likewise we ourselves. Elijah had to hear the rhema word of God that there were still 7000 people who had not bowed their knees to Baal (1 Kg 19:18). God honoured Elijah for his faith by taking him home without seeing death.
Are you weary of work/ministry, carrying a heavy burden or even waiting for an answer? Then you need to hear God's perspective on things. Prayerfully read His Word and ask Him for the strength to sustain you each day. Because our everlasting God does not grow weary or tired, He is able to supply strength to those in need (Is 40:28). The apostle Paul puts it, "I can do all things through Christ who strengths me." (Phil 4:13), reminding us that our true strength comes from God Himself. When God strengthens us, He does so through our inner man. The wise man says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Pr 17:22 (NIV). When our inner man is crushed, it would affect our physical frame causing us to be dried up (zapped of energy). May the good Lord be your strength, song and salvation (Ps 118:14).
What is the antidote to such weariness? We are told in Is 40:29 that God gives strength to the weary and power to the weak. It goes on to say, "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Is 40:30-31). If young men who are supposed to glory in their strength can grow tired and weary, what more about us who are not so young anymore? Just as Elijah was strengthened by God through both physical and spiritual food, so likewise we ourselves. Elijah had to hear the rhema word of God that there were still 7000 people who had not bowed their knees to Baal (1 Kg 19:18). God honoured Elijah for his faith by taking him home without seeing death.
Are you weary of work/ministry, carrying a heavy burden or even waiting for an answer? Then you need to hear God's perspective on things. Prayerfully read His Word and ask Him for the strength to sustain you each day. Because our everlasting God does not grow weary or tired, He is able to supply strength to those in need (Is 40:28). The apostle Paul puts it, "I can do all things through Christ who strengths me." (Phil 4:13), reminding us that our true strength comes from God Himself. When God strengthens us, He does so through our inner man. The wise man says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Pr 17:22 (NIV). When our inner man is crushed, it would affect our physical frame causing us to be dried up (zapped of energy). May the good Lord be your strength, song and salvation (Ps 118:14).
Monday, June 25, 2012
Becoming good or bad
I was reading the stories of the kings in the divided kingdom of Israel recently. After the death of King Solomon, Israel was divided into the northern kingdom (known as Israel), comprising of 10 tribes, ruled by Jeroboam and the southern kingdom (known as Judah), comprisinng of Judah and Benjamin, ruled by Rehoboam. All the kings in the northern kingdom were bad, meaning they did not seek after God but followed pagan gods. Of the 20 kings in the southern kingdom, only 8 were considered good kings, meaning they sought after God. But even then, not all of these 8 kings persevered in following God till the end. In my readings, two kings, in particular, stood out. One was King Asa, the third king of Judah and the other was King Manasseh, the fourteenth king of Judah.
Asa was considered a good king. The Bible mentioned that he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father (1 Kg 15:11). He started his reign well by removing idolatries as well as his mother because she had made a horrid image of the goddess Asherah (1 Kg 15:13). He instituted reforms in Judah and made a covenant to seek God with all their heart and soul (2 Chron 15:12-13). Asa depended on God in his battle against the Ethiopians who came with an army of one million and God routed this mighty army, defeating them sorely (2 Chron 14:9-13). In his latter years, Asa became proud and forgot about the Lord. He started to rely on the arm of flesh. In particular, he bought the favour of the king of Aram to fight against Israel. God sent Hanani the seer to chastise Asa but he imprisoned the prophet. The final commentary on Asa was this: "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians." (2 Chron 16:12).
Manasseh, in constrast, started off as a very wicked king. The Bible tells us that he did evil in the sight of the Lord leading the nation to a downward spiral towards destruction (2 Chron 33:2). He reversed all the reforms his father Hezekiah had instituted - rebuilding the high places for pagan worship and setting up pagan altars in the house of God. He practised all manner of witchcraft and soceries, provoking the Lord to anger (2 Chron 33:3-7). Because of the abominations he has committed, the Lord brought the king of Assyria to capture Manasseh with hooks and chains, bound toBabylon
Who would you rather be? King Asa or King Manasseh? The former started well but ended badly. The latter started on a wrong footing but ended up well. The key to becoming good or bad is our attitude - whether we are willing to humble ourselves when chastised by the Lord or we allow pride to rear its ugly head in our souls. May we all have the tender-heart of Asa when he sought God in his younger days and the humility of Manasseh to repent of our wickedness when we are confronted with our sins. Let's purpose in our hearts to seek and follow God to the very end.
Asa was considered a good king. The Bible mentioned that he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father (1 Kg 15:11). He started his reign well by removing idolatries as well as his mother because she had made a horrid image of the goddess Asherah (1 Kg 15:13). He instituted reforms in Judah and made a covenant to seek God with all their heart and soul (2 Chron 15:12-13). Asa depended on God in his battle against the Ethiopians who came with an army of one million and God routed this mighty army, defeating them sorely (2 Chron 14:9-13). In his latter years, Asa became proud and forgot about the Lord. He started to rely on the arm of flesh. In particular, he bought the favour of the king of Aram to fight against Israel. God sent Hanani the seer to chastise Asa but he imprisoned the prophet. The final commentary on Asa was this: "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians." (2 Chron 16:12).
Manasseh, in constrast, started off as a very wicked king. The Bible tells us that he did evil in the sight of the Lord leading the nation to a downward spiral towards destruction (2 Chron 33:2). He reversed all the reforms his father Hezekiah had instituted - rebuilding the high places for pagan worship and setting up pagan altars in the house of God. He practised all manner of witchcraft and soceries, provoking the Lord to anger (2 Chron 33:3-7). Because of the abominations he has committed, the Lord brought the king of Assyria to capture Manasseh with hooks and chains, bound to
Who would you rather be? King Asa or King Manasseh? The former started well but ended badly. The latter started on a wrong footing but ended up well. The key to becoming good or bad is our attitude - whether we are willing to humble ourselves when chastised by the Lord or we allow pride to rear its ugly head in our souls. May we all have the tender-heart of Asa when he sought God in his younger days and the humility of Manasseh to repent of our wickedness when we are confronted with our sins. Let's purpose in our hearts to seek and follow God to the very end.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Connectivity
In just over three weeks recently, family members were travelling separately outside Singapore, myself included. My wife was the first to travel to Thailand with some oikos members (for shopping). It was followed by me, accompanying students to Suzhou, China on an immersion trip and then my elder daughter to New York for a research-cum-exchange programme with her school peers. Travelling has never been made more convenient with the advent of modern air transportation. My younger daughter would also be travelling in the later half of the year, possibly to Denmark, yet on another school programme.
When I was a student, there was hardly any overseas learning journey, except maybe to Pulau Ubin for Outward Bound. Children nowadays are very fortunate with subsidies provided by MOE to encourage cross-cultural learning and exchanges. There is nothing like learning first hand what takes place in a certain country rather than reading them from books or over the net. For learning to be rich and beneficial, it entails a lot of planning by educators concerned. Paramount, of course, is the safety and security of all who goes on such trips.
During the time of the early apostles, travelling to distant places was done through sailing on ships. It may take days or weeks to reach a certain place, depending on the weather. Shipwrecks were not uncommon in those days. The apostle Paul mentioned that he suffered shipwreck three times (2 Cor 11:25). What a way to travel! But that was the price he had to pay to bring the gospel to distant lands in obedience to God's call. Missonary work nowadays is less costly to personal lives where travelling is concerned. My wife just returned from preaching at a church in Tg Balai, all within the span of a day.
The Bible alludes to this modern day connectivity in Daniel 12:4, "... many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase." What is common to birds and angels, is now common to mankind - flight - when the law of aerodynamics was discovered. Air travel has certainly spawn trade and tourism, with governments building bigger airports to cater for its growing demand. Connectivity has made the world more cosmopolitan, with people from different nationalities residing in most major cities. What this means is that cultural practices are also being transplanted across the globe. The gospel has to address both growing religious entities as well as secularism at the same time.
Beyond the physical connectivity, as believers in the Lord, we should relish in our spiritual connectivity with the Father. Prayer is the means to such connection and it goes beyond geographical boundaries. Daniel's prayer despatches the angel Gabriel (Dan 9:20-23) and the archangel Michael (Dan 10:12-13) into action. It is through prayers that we will see the people turning Godwards. We need to do the needful in presenting the gospel but the Holy Spirit does the converting. We must continue to affirm that salvation belongs to God (Rev 19:2) and that He alone can cause the coldest hearts to find His love and everlasting peace.
When I was a student, there was hardly any overseas learning journey, except maybe to Pulau Ubin for Outward Bound. Children nowadays are very fortunate with subsidies provided by MOE to encourage cross-cultural learning and exchanges. There is nothing like learning first hand what takes place in a certain country rather than reading them from books or over the net. For learning to be rich and beneficial, it entails a lot of planning by educators concerned. Paramount, of course, is the safety and security of all who goes on such trips.
During the time of the early apostles, travelling to distant places was done through sailing on ships. It may take days or weeks to reach a certain place, depending on the weather. Shipwrecks were not uncommon in those days. The apostle Paul mentioned that he suffered shipwreck three times (2 Cor 11:25). What a way to travel! But that was the price he had to pay to bring the gospel to distant lands in obedience to God's call. Missonary work nowadays is less costly to personal lives where travelling is concerned. My wife just returned from preaching at a church in Tg Balai, all within the span of a day.
The Bible alludes to this modern day connectivity in Daniel 12:4, "... many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase." What is common to birds and angels, is now common to mankind - flight - when the law of aerodynamics was discovered. Air travel has certainly spawn trade and tourism, with governments building bigger airports to cater for its growing demand. Connectivity has made the world more cosmopolitan, with people from different nationalities residing in most major cities. What this means is that cultural practices are also being transplanted across the globe. The gospel has to address both growing religious entities as well as secularism at the same time.
Beyond the physical connectivity, as believers in the Lord, we should relish in our spiritual connectivity with the Father. Prayer is the means to such connection and it goes beyond geographical boundaries. Daniel's prayer despatches the angel Gabriel (Dan 9:20-23) and the archangel Michael (Dan 10:12-13) into action. It is through prayers that we will see the people turning Godwards. We need to do the needful in presenting the gospel but the Holy Spirit does the converting. We must continue to affirm that salvation belongs to God (Rev 19:2) and that He alone can cause the coldest hearts to find His love and everlasting peace.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Psalm 68:19
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." (NIV)
"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!" (NKJV)
"Praise the Lord, God our Savior, who helps us every day." (NCV)
I was reading and meditating on Ps 68:19 recently especially constrasting the versions given by NIV and NKJV. This verse encourages us to praise God, our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. All of us have burdens that we face on a regular basis, some more regular than others. Burdens relating to the broad categories of health, finances, work/study and relationships. Where health is concerned, an adverse report from the doctor can often turn our world upside down. As for finances, we could be saddled with debts and find making ends meet difficult. Projects, assignments and examinations are common in work & study. And in almost all spheres of life, we have to interact with people, which often time poses a great challenge for many of us. For all these burdens and more, the psalmist David praised God for His daily carriage of our burdens. Indeed, Jesus has carried the weight of the world's sins on His body when He was crucified on the cross. We therefore have to learn how to transfer our burdens over to God.
The wonderful thing is that God not only takes away our burdens, He loads us with His benefits on a daily basis. The psalmist David tells us some of the benefits God has provided for us: sins forgiven, healed bodies, deliverance from the pit of hell, good gifts from heaven and renewed strength.
"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." Ps 103:1-5 (NIV)
The only way we can tap upon God's benefits for our lives is to begin to focus on Him. The praises of God certainly releases the power and blessings of heaven. God is ever ready to help us everyday if we're prepared to surrender ourselves to Him. If you have a burden right now, turn it over to God in prayer. Remember, He daily bears our burdens and loads us with benefits instead. Hallelujah!
"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!" (NKJV)
"Praise the Lord, God our Savior, who helps us every day." (NCV)
I was reading and meditating on Ps 68:19 recently especially constrasting the versions given by NIV and NKJV. This verse encourages us to praise God, our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. All of us have burdens that we face on a regular basis, some more regular than others. Burdens relating to the broad categories of health, finances, work/study and relationships. Where health is concerned, an adverse report from the doctor can often turn our world upside down. As for finances, we could be saddled with debts and find making ends meet difficult. Projects, assignments and examinations are common in work & study. And in almost all spheres of life, we have to interact with people, which often time poses a great challenge for many of us. For all these burdens and more, the psalmist David praised God for His daily carriage of our burdens. Indeed, Jesus has carried the weight of the world's sins on His body when He was crucified on the cross. We therefore have to learn how to transfer our burdens over to God.
The wonderful thing is that God not only takes away our burdens, He loads us with His benefits on a daily basis. The psalmist David tells us some of the benefits God has provided for us: sins forgiven, healed bodies, deliverance from the pit of hell, good gifts from heaven and renewed strength.
"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." Ps 103:1-5 (NIV)
The only way we can tap upon God's benefits for our lives is to begin to focus on Him. The praises of God certainly releases the power and blessings of heaven. God is ever ready to help us everyday if we're prepared to surrender ourselves to Him. If you have a burden right now, turn it over to God in prayer. Remember, He daily bears our burdens and loads us with benefits instead. Hallelujah!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Purpose and Calling
What's the purpose of our existence on earth? Do all of us have a special calling from God? These are questions we should ask ourselves at one point in our life's pilgrimage. Certainly, man is born to work by the sweat of his brow to earn a living to support, at the basic level, his family, whether immediate or extended. If there is more than enough, he could also help to support charities or organisations serving the needs of the wider community. Work, of course, takes on many forms. Some are tedious, menial and mundane; while others require the use of our intellect or having what is known as business acumen. Whatever it is, God has given to mankind "the ability to produce wealth" (Deut 8:18).
So we can say that the general purpose of man is to work for self sustenance and the sustenance of others. The apostle Paul instructed the Thessalonians, "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." (2 Thess 3:10) and the Ephesians, "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." (Eph 4:28). God wants us to be engaged in honest and decent work; He is against us obtaining wealth through unscrupulous means (Pr 11:1). However, assuming we are making an honest decent living, there comes a point in our life (mid-life or quarter-life crises) whereby we question the meaningfulness of our current work.
As to the specific type of work we should be doing, it would be a matter of one's calling or giftings God has endowed us. I want to say that most work requires time, energy and effort to get things accomplished and would not seem to be very pleasant. So if you're thinking of a comfortable cushy job that pays well, think again - it may be just a figment of your imagination. Look at Paul, who was appointed by God to be a herald, an apostle and a teacher to the Gentiles (1 Tim 2:7). He didn't have it so easy; in fact, God warned him that he would suffer much for His sake (Ac 9:15-16). Even though Paul travelled a lot to bring the gospel to many lands, he worked as a tent-maker to support himself (Ac 18:2-3). He also received financial support from others to help in his ministry (Phil 4:18).
This brings me to my next point; God may call some of us to be end-time financiers for the work of His kingdom. The wealth of the sinners will be stored up for them (Pr 13:22). Jesus was supported by the wealthy during his time on earth - with a colt (Lk 19:30-31), akin to a mode of transportation; with a place to hold the Passover (Lk 22:10-12) and a place for Him to refresh Himself (Jn 12:1-3). Whatever may be our specific calling where work is concerned, God has created us anew in Christ to do good works. This entails establishing right relationships in the office between employers and employees (Eph 6:5-9). Even in a situation where there is oppression and unreasonableness, Peter tells us that employees who are submissive to their employers find favours with God (1 Pet 2:18-19). This is one way we can impact and influence lives for God.
So looking beyond our current work/job, we ought to examine our attitude towards the relationships we have with the people in our home or place of work. There may not be a perfect job for us, though, many would contemplate a life that is carefree. There is, however, a perfect attitude that we ought to cultivate:
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Phil 2:5-8 (NASB)
"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." 1 Pet 2:21 (NASB)
So we can say that the general purpose of man is to work for self sustenance and the sustenance of others. The apostle Paul instructed the Thessalonians, "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." (2 Thess 3:10) and the Ephesians, "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." (Eph 4:28). God wants us to be engaged in honest and decent work; He is against us obtaining wealth through unscrupulous means (Pr 11:1). However, assuming we are making an honest decent living, there comes a point in our life (mid-life or quarter-life crises) whereby we question the meaningfulness of our current work.
As to the specific type of work we should be doing, it would be a matter of one's calling or giftings God has endowed us. I want to say that most work requires time, energy and effort to get things accomplished and would not seem to be very pleasant. So if you're thinking of a comfortable cushy job that pays well, think again - it may be just a figment of your imagination. Look at Paul, who was appointed by God to be a herald, an apostle and a teacher to the Gentiles (1 Tim 2:7). He didn't have it so easy; in fact, God warned him that he would suffer much for His sake (Ac 9:15-16). Even though Paul travelled a lot to bring the gospel to many lands, he worked as a tent-maker to support himself (Ac 18:2-3). He also received financial support from others to help in his ministry (Phil 4:18).
This brings me to my next point; God may call some of us to be end-time financiers for the work of His kingdom. The wealth of the sinners will be stored up for them (Pr 13:22). Jesus was supported by the wealthy during his time on earth - with a colt (Lk 19:30-31), akin to a mode of transportation; with a place to hold the Passover (Lk 22:10-12) and a place for Him to refresh Himself (Jn 12:1-3). Whatever may be our specific calling where work is concerned, God has created us anew in Christ to do good works. This entails establishing right relationships in the office between employers and employees (Eph 6:5-9). Even in a situation where there is oppression and unreasonableness, Peter tells us that employees who are submissive to their employers find favours with God (1 Pet 2:18-19). This is one way we can impact and influence lives for God.
So looking beyond our current work/job, we ought to examine our attitude towards the relationships we have with the people in our home or place of work. There may not be a perfect job for us, though, many would contemplate a life that is carefree. There is, however, a perfect attitude that we ought to cultivate:
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Phil 2:5-8 (NASB)
"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." 1 Pet 2:21 (NASB)
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Turning and Inflexion Points
Turning points and inflexion points are mathematical terms found in calculus. Turning point has to do with a curve changing direction (from positive gradient to zero and then to negative gradient or vice versa). You can think of a simple quadratic curve such as y = x^2 or y = -x^2. An inflexion point has to do with a curve moving in the same direction but experiencing a plateau at a certain period in the continuum. A simple curve to illustrate this is y = x^3, where the plateau here has zero gradient, although there could be inflexion points where the gradient is non-zero. Enough of mathematics, let's move on to talk about life's applications.
In life, we all experience turning points. When we are travelling in the wrong direction, having a Christless existence, an encounter with God can bring about a change in direction back to him. Paul the apostle put it this way to the Corinthian Christians, "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor 6:9-11 (NASB). We are not talking about an one-off sin that was committed but rather a habitual sin or permanent occupation of a person. When the Corinthians turned to Christ, they gave up their carnal pursuits to follow a higher pursuit.
The man with the legion of demons which we considered the other time is another good case in point. He was living in a hellish existence without hope, doomed to destruction. The turning point came when Jesus sought him out and graciously touched him. He was so grateful to Christ that he wanted to follow Him wherever He goes. But Christ told him to return to his own hometown to declare the great things God has done in his life (Mk 5:19). Let us examine our own life's direction. Have we lost our bearing in life in the pursuit of worldly things? It time to make a U-turn and seek God's face while He may be found.
In life, we may also experience inflexion points. In our Christian pilgrimage, we may come to a low point in life whereby we become discouraged or disillusioned or simply drifting aimlessly along. Unless something happens, we may be on the verge of backsliding. In such times, God may be gracious to allow us to experience His blessings, such as Pentecost, Azusa, Toronto and Pensacola, to renew and revive us. All of us like God to be our 'blesser'. However, more often than not, God speaks to us through pain and sorrow. It is His megaphone to get our attention. God allows sicknesses or calamities to afflict us to prove our devotion and loyalty to Him (like Job). Or sicknesses allow God's children to enforce Christ's victory on earth when they go and minister to those in need of healing. When the love of God is seen and felt by the sick who may be pre-believers, it may be their turning point in life. For the believers, it may be their inflexion point to trust God more.
The righteous of the Lord does not need turning or inflextion points. They keep on advancing and grow stronger each day. "The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." Pr 4:18 (NIV)
In life, we all experience turning points. When we are travelling in the wrong direction, having a Christless existence, an encounter with God can bring about a change in direction back to him. Paul the apostle put it this way to the Corinthian Christians, "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor 6:9-11 (NASB). We are not talking about an one-off sin that was committed but rather a habitual sin or permanent occupation of a person. When the Corinthians turned to Christ, they gave up their carnal pursuits to follow a higher pursuit.
The man with the legion of demons which we considered the other time is another good case in point. He was living in a hellish existence without hope, doomed to destruction. The turning point came when Jesus sought him out and graciously touched him. He was so grateful to Christ that he wanted to follow Him wherever He goes. But Christ told him to return to his own hometown to declare the great things God has done in his life (Mk 5:19). Let us examine our own life's direction. Have we lost our bearing in life in the pursuit of worldly things? It time to make a U-turn and seek God's face while He may be found.
In life, we may also experience inflexion points. In our Christian pilgrimage, we may come to a low point in life whereby we become discouraged or disillusioned or simply drifting aimlessly along. Unless something happens, we may be on the verge of backsliding. In such times, God may be gracious to allow us to experience His blessings, such as Pentecost, Azusa, Toronto and Pensacola, to renew and revive us. All of us like God to be our 'blesser'. However, more often than not, God speaks to us through pain and sorrow. It is His megaphone to get our attention. God allows sicknesses or calamities to afflict us to prove our devotion and loyalty to Him (like Job). Or sicknesses allow God's children to enforce Christ's victory on earth when they go and minister to those in need of healing. When the love of God is seen and felt by the sick who may be pre-believers, it may be their turning point in life. For the believers, it may be their inflexion point to trust God more.
The righteous of the Lord does not need turning or inflextion points. They keep on advancing and grow stronger each day. "The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." Pr 4:18 (NIV)
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