The Life of Jesus

Today's Our Daily Bread talks about how we should remember Easter when we are celebrating Christmas. Jesus' life is marked by 2 events that are impossible in the eyes of man. I liked the way the author put it, that Jesus had entered this world through a "NO ENTRY" door, and left the world through a "NO EXIT" door... How so?

He came to the world in a virgin womb, and left from an empty tomb. KNowingly or unknowingly, the world celebrates His birth and death year after year...but how many really knows the real meaning of Christmas & Easter?

I think it's up to us who knows to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to others!

"If you ask anything in My name, I will do it"

John 14:14.

A simple and straightforward verse. But not so simple and straightforward to act on. Too often I'm too easily wavered and distracted. Everytime something does not go my way, I start to doubt if this is really true. "I asked it in Your name, but You didn't do it." I wouldn't say it outrightly, but God knows my heart.

God forgive me for doubting You!! Thank God for His everlasting love to keep me assured that despite doing this many time over, He still is gracious and loving towards me.

I believe that He will do it, but perhaps just not my way. Just trust that He will do it. Focus on the trophy at the end of the race, NOT on the distractions and onstacles that come along. And most importantly, don't give up!

When we are praying for something, don't ever give up believing and trusting that He has something perfect and wonderful in store for us. Cos He only wants to give us to best....just that sometimes we have to wait and keep believing the He will give it to us even when we face obstructions.

Learn to believe it simply: "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."

Learn to Wait

Today’s ODB talks about the example of Simeon who have waiting for the LORD for almost his whole lifetime. Haven’t done Bible Study in this manner for a long time….much like doing literature :)

The Passage: Luke 2:25-35

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

Simeon waited because of a revelation from the Holy Spirit. He also obeyed the Spirit and went to God’s temple. There he saw Jesus, the messiah he has been waiting for all his life. He got to hold Jesus in his arms and he didn’t forget to praise God.

I think when God gives you a sneak preview of something to come, and for that something you have been praying, hoping, expecting, then you keep praying, hope and expect again and again, when it really happens you probably wouldn’t forget praise God. Overflowing joy will just flow out from your whole being!

But the process is tough…it’s so tough to keep hoping and expecting and praying but not seeing results. The passage didn’t state how long Simeon waited, but from the tonality of the passage, it seems he had been waiting a long, long time. But he still never gave up waiting. Cos if he did, he wouldn’t have gotten the chance to see Jesus.

Once again, a reminder from the LORD to wait upon Him. And in His time, He will bring it to pass. Don’t get gan cheong or worried! Learn to trust in Him at all times.

Lord, help me to trust you always!

How do I look?

Today's ODB is titled "God's Work of Art". It talks about us being made in the image of God. Just as how we would want to physically look presentable to others, do we think of how presentable we are spiritually?

I love to wear matching clothings and accessories, bags and shoes. To me, how I dress myself up when I leave the home is important. Of course every girl loves to look pretty, myself included! But more than that, I feel that it is a gesture of basic etiquette to look presentable to other people. Even when in casual wear, it's important to still be presentable. For example, would you wear an old and tattered piece of t-shirt with a shorts that's almost falling off your bottoms, with shoes that the soles are almost coming off, to orchard road? I don't think so...Most people would know what's appropriate to wear for whatever occassions.

But how often do we think about how we "dress up" the way we talk, think and behave towards others? Do we "wear" the right attitudes and actions when we deal with other people? Especially us Christians, do we "put on love" in our daily interactions with other people? Do we put on Jesus so that others can see Jesus in us? In the passage below, the bible gives us clear instructions on what to and what not to "wear"...

Colossians 3:8-17

What we shouldn't be "wearing":
8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

What we should "wear":
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

How to make sure we always "wear" what is right:
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Thank God for this lesson! Now, whenever I dress up, I'll try to remember that dressing up does not merely pertain to physical, but spiritual as well.

Lord may You always help me to also "dress up" appropriately and put on love. May each time I look at the mirror be a time of reminder to always "put on" the likeness of Christ in my life. Amen!

An unchanging God in an ever-changing world

Today's ODB talks about fairness. It mentioned that many situations in our lives seems to be unfair...life isn't fair at all. I like the phrase that was at the end of the passage:

Life is not always fair, but God is always faithful.

What a comfort to know that God is always faithful no matter what we go through. At the end of the day, it's really not about the situations in our life, but rather how we deal with them and how we look at them. Ever noticed how 2 people in almost similar situations but handling the matter very differently? That's because they perceive the situation very differently.

Psalm 19 says:

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Everything about our lives in this world is not constant, only God and God's Word is unchanging through the ages. I think if we learn to keep our focus on God instead of our situations, we'll learn a whole new perspetive on looking at whatever challenging situations that come our way. No matter how tough life is, we can depend on an everlasting Father who is unchanging and ever-ready to help us through.

People look for peace...and it's no wonder in this day and age of advancing technology where things are moving so quickly, world peace is hanging by a thread, we're flooded with a sea of informing ready at our finger tips through the world wide web....in a nutshell, people on this day and age live an accelerated life. Living in over-drive all the time takes a toll on us in every aspect, be it physical, emotional or spiritual wellness.

But yet it's so sad that people find ways and means to get peace...but only to find that the peace they found is transcient...when a new challenge come their way, they are wavered all over again.

The only peace that is perfect comes from God. Simply because He created us and He created the world. When trouble comes our way, we not only come face to face with life's mountains and storms, we can boldly face them and proclaim that "our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!". We can focus on the CREATOR instead of on His creations.

What an honour and priviledge to know that we have a God that is always faithful and dependable no matter how diverse the problems we face in life might be, we can always depend on Him. It's like sailing through life's storms in a ship which you know will never sink.

I think this is the way to real peace. But still, the choice is up to us...do we choose to depend on ourselves to solve our problems? Or do we want to come the ever-faithful and unchanging God and allow Him to work our problems through?

Oh Lord, may you remind me daily that no matter what problems I face, big or small, You are always faithful to listen to my cry for help. Teach me Lord to always choose to look to You first instead of wanting to depend on my own abilities to solve them. Give me the humility to admit that I can't, but You can! Thank You Lord for being an unchanging and faithful God in an ever-changing world! Amen.

Humility

Philippians 2:1-11
What is humility or 'being humble'? I think it's not merely being 'not proud'. The bible tells us what true humility is:

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death--

even death on a cross!

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

From this short passage, I think humility is being willing to forsake your status, class, power, abilities, rights, priviledges for the sake of someone else's welfare. Simple definition, but it's a tall order. Humility is not a gift, it's a choice.

Humility is when a young and beautiful woman, who is the wife of a rich man, and a leader in church, cleaned up an old lady who is incontinent and has soiled her pants as well as the beautiful woman's car seat.

Humility is when a man who loves a woman so much that he was willing to hold on to the relationship despite countless obstacles he faced. Humility is when instead of giving up, he learned to forgive and love, and build up a good relationship with those who have hurt him.

Humility is when someone chooses to not do something he/she enjoys because he/she knows that it will cause unhappiness to someone he/she loves.

Humility is coming before the Father and telling Him that you are willing to give up the rights to your own life over to him.

These are real life accounts of acts of humility I have seen with my own eyes. But yet, they pale in comparison to what Jesus has done for us...

Jesus displayed the ultimate act of humility...he gave up His position and right as a King and suffered the most cruel form of torture and death. Every stripe he bore and every humiliation he suffered was a choice. He was not like any human who is powerless when bound in chains...He is also God who could have at any moment, struck those soldiers who tortured to him death. BUT he didn't. Instead He gave up his right to destroy them to go through the tortures, just so that they may have a chance to live.

Considering what He has given up so that we may have life, isn't it ironic that while living the life that He has redeemed for us, we can't even give up an hour of TV, an hour of shopping, a weekend of partying, just to spend time with him?

Yet, humility is when God still chooses to love us despite our ungratefulness.

Oh Lord, teach me to be humble before You. Teach me to value You over this life that You have given to me. Teach me to live in humility. Amen.

A time for everything...

Ecclesiastes 3:
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Indeed there's a season for everything. Doing the right things in the right season brings the best results. But often, we are so impatient to get things done that we can't take "wait" for an answer. The result is getting something which is not as good as what we would have gotten if we were to wait for the right timing.

But yet, in this very competitive society, we fear "missing the moment" when we wait too long. That's when we choose to take a risk, or what we would call a "calculated risk". I often think if it has to be that way? Is it God's calling for us to be making decisions based on "calculated risks?" Or does He mean for us to listen to His voice and instructions before we proceed? But yet, how do we listen to His voice?

Many matured and respected spirituals leaders have taught me to be still before the Lord and learn to listen to Him. It's really a challenge...a challenge to be still amidst the busyness of life, approaching deadlines, the voices of people around you who are genuinely concerned about you giving advices and opinions....It is a challenge to be still in such a busy and noisy world!

But I too believe that in order to do the right things at the right season, being still before God is a major key. Keeping focus on Jesus despite all circumstances which doesn't seem to be going your way...going against the common sense of doing things.

It's a challenge, but I still want to try to be still before Him and await His leading to do the things I have to do in the right season.

As I'm preparing for my wedding, please help me O Lord to be patient and wait upon You for guidance and leading to do the right things in the right season.