Mutual Love

Beholding Christ

2014-07-20T05:49:00.001+08:00

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. —2 Corinthians 3:18

It is crucial for us to spend time in God’s Word so we can connect with the person of Christ.

Reading about the impact of Jesus’ unconditional love for us compels us to love without demand.

His mercy and His free distribution of grace to the most undeserving make us ashamed of our tendency to withhold forgiveness and seek revenge.

We find ourselves becoming a more thankful person when we realize that, despite our shameful fallenness, the Lord has clothed us in the beauty of His perfect righteousness.

His amazing ways and unsurpassed wisdom motivate and transform us.

It is hard to be content with our lives as it is when in His presence We are drawn to become more like Him.

The apostle Paul calls us to the joy of beholding Christ.

As we do so, we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.

Stay close to God and we will never be the same again.

A Willing Heart

2014-07-13T07:04:00.001+08:00

Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.

—Exodus 35:21

Here we see a spirit of generosity in the Israelites when they gave to build the tabernacle of the Lord.

When asked to provide materials for the sanctuary, everyone whose spirit was willing brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle.

The Israelites eagerly donated their gold jewelry, colored thread, fine linen, silver, bronze, gemstones, and spices. Some also gave their time and talents.

If we follow the Israelites’ example and willingly donate our resources, we please and honor God with our attitude and offerings.

The Lord, who sees and knows our thoughts and hearts, loves cheerful givers.

He Himself is the best example of generosity (John 3:16).

The Lord Jesus Christ gave everything He had for our sake.

Let us give with a willing heart so that our gifts will truly honor Him.

I Am Coming Quickly

2014-07-01T17:44:00.001+08:00

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

—Revelation 22:20

A “COMING SOON!” announcement often precedes an exciting event.

The goal is to create anticipation and excitement for what is going to happen.

The “COMING SOON” sense of immediacy permeates the entire book of Revelation.

Three times in the final chapter, the Lord says, “I am coming quickly” (Rev. 22:7,12,20).

How can this be?

2,000 years have elapsed since these words were written.

“Quickly” doesn’t seem appropriate for our experience of time.

Rather than focusing on a date for His return, the Lord is urging us to set our hearts on His promise that will be fulfilled.

We are called to live for Him in this present age “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Let us live as if the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back today.

Feasting on God's Word

2014-06-24T11:28:00.001+08:00

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. —Jeremiah 15:16

Prophet Jeremiah found the words of God, even the words of God’s judgment, and he ate them.

He ingested God’s Word eagerly, lovingly, and often.

Prophet Jeremiah read and savored the Word of God in his innermost being.

And that is exactly where God’s Word is intended to go.

The Word of God is heart food!

When we ingest it, the Holy Spirit provides the power to help us grow to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's Word transforms how we think about God, money, enemies, careers, and family.

It is really good for us.

Let us eat God’s Word to our heart’s content!

Like prophet Jeremiah, let us say: “Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (15:16).

The Bible is food for our soul.

Let us read it, savor it, ingest it, and know the strength that God's words can give to us often-failing heart.

The more we feast on God’s Word, the healthier we will become.

Shine for Jesus

2014-06-13T08:31:00.000+08:00

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1Peter 5:11-12)

We are to try to make the world a better place by displaying the love of Christ wherever God has placed us.

When apostle Peter wrote to persecuted Christian believers in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), he advised them to keep their conduct honorable among the Gentiles, by doing good deeds that will ultimately bring glory to God.

We can make our world a better place through our actions.

Think of the difference that Christlike deeds of love, mercy, forgiveness, justice, and peace would make in our world.

Let us make the world we live a better place.

We cannot change the entire world singlehandedly, but by God's grace we can let the difference Christ has made in us make a difference in the world around us.

Let us let Christ shine through us.

Prone to Wander, Lord, I Feel it

2014-06-06T12:12:00.001+08:00

"With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! (Psalm 119:10)

Sometimes, even when our hearts long to seek God, the distraction of life can draw us away from Him and His Word.

Too often we find ourselves distracted and drifting, instead of having our hearts and minds focused on the Savior who loves us and gave Himself for us.

In those seasons of wandering, our heart of hearts doesn't want to drift from God.

But, like Paul, we often do what we don't want to do (Romans 7:19).

We desperately need to turn back to the Shepherd of our heart who can draw us to Himself.

How grateful we can be for a patient, compassionate heavenly Father whose grace is always sufficient, even when we are prone to wander!

In Christ Alone

2014-04-15T21:06:00.001+08:00

And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. (Galatians 3:17)

God made a covenant with man.

No one is to invalidate or add anything to it.

God made the covenant with Abraham.

The promise was confirmed in his Seed, who is Christ.

The law was introduced 430 years later.

It could not abolish the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ.

The law can never make the promise of no effect.

God bless His people through His Son alone.

The promise of salvation still stands.

It is always by the grace of God the Father through His Son.

It is never through the works of the law.

God had made a covenant with Abraham.

Abraham would become a father of many nations.

God had promised to bless him and his Seed.

It is through Christ alone that all God's people will be blessed.

It is in Christ alone.

Defending the Truth

2014-04-08T14:02:00.001+08:00

Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. (Galatians 2:3)

It was after 14 years that Paul went up again to Jerusalem..

This time he went together with Barnabas and Titus.

He went up by revelation of God to communicate to the Jewish Christians the Gospel he preached among the Gentiles.

He spoke privately to their leaders to accomplish his mission.

It is good to communicate our faith with fellow Christians everywhere.

But we must plan and pray earnestly about it.

And we must seek the right people to speak to.

Our aim is to propagate our Christian fellowship, strengthen our common faith, and build up the Church.

Paul's meeting with the Jewish Christians was a complete success.

Not even Titus was compelled to be circumcised, though Titus was a Greek.

This occurred because false Jewish brethren infiltrated the Church.

They compelled the Gentile Christians to be circumcised.

The truth of the gospel is that we are free men in Christ.

We are free from the bondage of sin. Sin and guilt can no longer hold us. We are free from its dos and don'ts.

But we are not free from the laws of Christ. We submit to His teachings and we are committed to do His biddings. We do it all by the guidance and teaching of God the Holy Spirit.

Paul and the Gentile Christians did not surrender to the false teaching.

Salvation is by the grace of God through faith.

It needs no man-made customs and traditions, such as the Jewish circumcision!

We defend the gospel of grace.

We do not submit to man-made rules and practices.

We submit to the teaching of the Scriptures.

And we pray for the guidance of God the Holy Spirit.

It is necessary that we stand up for our faith.
Then the truth of the gospel can and will continue to be upheld by Christian people everywhere through the ages.

Glory in the Lord

2014-04-01T19:50:00.000+08:00

But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

Often, we desire to be left alone and have our own way.

We want to do our own things and make our own choices.

We don't want to be disturbed. We don't want to be controlled.

But more often than not, when we are left alone, we make the wrong choices, go the wrong directions, and do the wrong things.

Eventually we realize that we are not that wise or smart after all.

We discover that we do need help and support.

As Christians, we have spiritual warfare to deal with.

We need spiritual weapons against evil spiritual forces.

We depend on the Word of God and the Spirit of God, if we were to win our spiritual battles.

We pray to the Lord, we hope in our God, and we glory in the Almighty.

It is God Who employ us for His glory.

Let us be His good and faith servants, and do all His biddings.

Christians are new Creations

2014-03-26T16:49:00.000+08:00

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2)

The apostle Paul had the ministry of preaching to the Gentiles.

He admitted that he was not sufficient of himself for the task. His sufficiency came from God through His Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

The Christian life is from faith to faith. We all received mercy and grace from God from time to time.

Christians are fallible. But true Christians will always come back to the faith. They will be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

They will denounce their sins and turn to God in repentance and faith.

They will pursue purity, honesty, justice, righteousness, and truth.

They will lead others by good examples, and guide them by the truths of the Word of God.

They will live and love by the Spirit of God.

Christians are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

They will live in newness of life in the Spirit of God.

The LORD is my Refuge

2014-03-11T16:20:00.001+08:00

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

The righteous run to it and are safe.

—Proverbs 18:10

As Christians, we can take refuge in the presence of the living God.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

“The name of the Lord” refers to God’s character, abounding with faithfulness, power, and mercy.

The term "safe" means “set on high out of danger.”

We all face threats at times that make us want to run for cover.

Some seek security in material wealth or relationships.

But Christians has a more secure refuge.

Because of who God is and what He can do for us, our best protection ultimately rests in Him.

If we are facing a threat today, we go to the Lord, who is a strong tower.

We will find refuge in His care.

Body of Christ

2014-03-08T11:16:00.000+08:00

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. —Hebrews 10:24

The Church is the Body of Christ.

It is here that we are taught and brought near to God.

It is here that we help one another grow in Christlikeness.

Here we meet together as a corporate body to exhort and encourage one another.

The writer of Hebrews said, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

As believers in Christ, we have the privilege and responsibility of encouraging one another in our faith.

No believer can function alone.

To live as our Lord Jesus wants us to, we need the community of believers.

Shopping

2014-02-27T16:21:00.002+08:00

Shopping spree is fun.

We shop like crazy,

Often buying things we don't need.

In Genesis 3,

Our First Parents did the same,

They had shopped the thing they didn't need.

Satan persuaded Eve to doubt God's word.

He promised her that her eyes would be opened,

That she would be like God...

Eve made the wrong choice,

She ate,

So did her husband Adam,

And sin made its way into the world.

Our First Parents had their eyes opened,

They were wise... very much in their own eyes,

But they didn't become like God.

Our First Parents ran away ashamed,

Hiding themselves from God.

But God in His mercy and grace sought them,

And clothed them in garments made from animal skins,

Foreshadowing that Jesus Christ His Son would die for sins.

All through the years,

Men and women continued to make the wrong choices,

And went down the wrong path.

Men had tried,

And had continued to try,

But they could never be like God,

No matter how hard they tried...

Salvation is only by God's grace through His gift of faith alone.

God our Savior is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Seek Him now,

And don't shop simply.

Blessings and Troubles

2014-02-15T19:30:00.000+08:00

The Lord God prepared a plant [for] shade . . . [and] a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. —Jonah 4:6-7

The story of the rebellious prophet Jonah shows us how God desires to use both blessings and trials to challenge us and change us for the better.

5 times in the book of Jonah it says that the Lord prepared circumstances for him—both good and bad:
- The Lord sent a storm to prevent Jonah from fleeing. (1:4).
- The Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah to save him from drowning (1:17).
- The Lord prepared a plant to shade Jonah (4:6).
- The Lord prepared a worm to chew the plant so that it withered (4:7).
- The Lord provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint and wanted to die.(4:8-9).

These circumstances revealed Jonah’s rebellious attitude.

Then God directly confronted Jonah’s heart problem.

God is sovereign over both the blessings and the troubles that come our way.

God uses both good and bad to transform us and guide us on our journey.

Be A Better Man

2014-01-01T07:19:00.001+08:00

A New Year,

A new beginning...

A new look...

A new body...

A new workout...

A new journey...

A new obligation...

A new resolution...

A new quest...

A new lifestyle...

A new hope...

A new challenge...

A new rainbow...

........

A new You...

A new Me...

A new Man....

A New Creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

May the Year 2014 be a year of transformation into a better man.

May God Bless Us All.

The Gift of Life

2013-12-02T07:50:00.001+08:00

Each of us is unique and important in God's plan.

The Church, the body of Christ, is like the human body. None can claim independence from the body, nor can one part tell another that it is not required.

Some of us have gifts which are visible and spectacular; others always have to work behind the scene. It is easy to feel less important than others. But we mustn't forget each of us is uniquely created and highly valued by God. We are all an important part of the body of Christ to bring Him honor.

Never compare ourselves with others in God's family. Instead, always seek to know our gifts and how we may bless others today.

Our life is a gift from God; make it our gift to please God and bless men.

The Sacrifice of Christ

2013-11-25T09:57:00.001+08:00

Mother Teresa died in 1997.

We marveled at her example of humble service

To Christ and to people in great need.

Mother Teresa had spent 50 years ministering

To the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying

Through the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India.

Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me,

Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,

But whoever loses his life for My sake will save it”

— Luke 9:23-24

Our Savior came to give us life abundantly (John 10:10).

But to discover the fullness of life in Christ,

We are to lose our lives for Him.

Remember the sacrifice of Christ!

Create in me a clean heart, O God

2013-11-19T07:14:00.001+08:00

We cannot live a day without sinning. It would be foolish of us to claim we have not sinned in our thoughts or actions for a week. The apostle John said in 1 John : "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1:8). "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1:10).

God knows our hearts and whether we are sensitive to the convicting power of His Holy Spirit. Our best response to God's Love is to confess our sin and our need for forgiveness. The apostle John said in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

The Lord Jesus Christ had taken our sin problem upon Himself by dying in our place and rising again. Only Him can create in us a clean heart!

Create in me a clean heart, O God. (Psalm 51:10)

Christian is for Life

2013-11-05T08:32:00.000+08:00

Christians live by the Spirit of God; they do not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Christians walk in the Spirit of God; they keep in step with the Spirit and live holy lives.

Christians are led by the Spirit of God; they bear and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.

Christians are filled with the Spirit of God. God displays His Power through them.

Christians are sealed with the Spirit of God. They are eternally saved.

Christian is for life; a commitment and a blessing.

Working for Food

2013-10-26T10:30:00.001+08:00

Food is essential for survival.Without food we will all die.

Some of us live on bread; others on rice and beans. They are our basic needs and we can't live and progress without them.

For the rich and well off, they may not be a necessary part of the diet. But for the majority poor, they are the essential diet.

The crowd of poor in Jesus' time sought for more food after Jesus had performed the miracle of multiplying loaves of bread (John 6:11, 26).

Jesus told them that He was "the true bread from heaven." The people thought about literal daily bread. But Jesus was talking about daily spiritual needs that could bring them everlasting satisfaction.

Physical food satisfies the hunger of the body. Only spiritual bread can satisfy the hunger of the soul.

"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (John 6:27)

An Example to Follow

2013-10-18T17:16:00.000+08:00

King David was a good king who followed God with all his heart (1 Kings 14:8). He is an example to follow.

King Jeroboam, the first king to rule Israel after the kingdom was divided, was one of the worst kings. He sinned and made Israel sin (1 Kings 14:16). He was a bad example.

Each of us has our own sphere of influence.

We can use it for evil or for good.

May we be a shining light that bring glory to the Lord.

May others see God’s light shining through us and be drawn to His goodness.

Follow the Father

2013-10-05T07:56:00.001+08:00

Asa, king of Judah, modeled devotion to God for a season in his life (2 Chron. 14:2). He removed the idols from his kingdom, restored the altar of the Lord, and led the people into a covenant with God (15:8-12).

Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat carried on this legacy by seeking the God of his father and walking in His commandments (17:4). Jehoshaphat purged the land of idol worship (v.6) and sent out priests and Levites to teach God’s law in all of the cities of Judah (vv.7-9).

Jehoshaphat’s reign resembled that of his father; he faithfully honored Asa’s godly example. Yet even more important, Jehoshaphat’s “heart took delight in the ways of the Lord” (v.6).

Today, if you’re looking for a father to follow, remember your heavenly Father and take delight in His ways.

Remember your spiritual fathers too!

Wait on God

2013-09-20T20:01:00.000+08:00

Sometimes things don't go our way. We are thrown into difficult situation. It is easier to complain and grumble. But time and experience tell us not to.

We quietly continue our daily routines. Sometimes surprise ourselves with treat or favor. But inwardly we desire the trial to go away, and we are made to understand why.

Philip might have wondered why God pulled him off an assignment in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) and plopped him in the middle of the desert. But then he discovered that the Ethiopian needed help understanding the Scriptures, and his place made sense.

God promised never to leave us alone (Hebrews 13:5), whether in good times or in bad times. Let us continue to serve Him and wait for Him to accomplish His purpose in our life.

Let's Run Our Race

2013-09-03T17:44:00.000+08:00

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. Hebrews 11 outlined many people in the past who were faithful to God. Although they are now dead, their lives are an encouragement to us to be faithful too. Their lives encourage us to persevere in the faith.

Let us lay aside every weight. We must put away every burden and problem. They will slow us down. We must not let that happen. Instead, we are to narrow the margin and keep up the pace.

And the sin which so easily ensnares us. We must watch where we are going. We must avoid every trap and temptation. They will pull us away from the race.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. We must go on in the Lord for the rest of our life. We don’t know for how long, or how difficult is our journey. We just move forward. No turning back; no regrets.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We must fix our eyes on Jesus. We must stay focused, and stay on course. We are to look up to Him. Jesus is the beginning and the end of our faith. We are to run and finish our race in Him alone!

It is a race to Heaven. Jesus had finished His race. He had endured the cross for the joy of loving His Father and seeing us saved! He had endured the suffering and shame that is due to us. And He is sitting down at the right hand of the throne of God the Father waiting for us to finish our race!

But God Don't Forget

2013-08-27T16:18:00.000+08:00

Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. (Genesis 40:20-23)

Joseph was thrown into prison because of a false accusation. Like Joseph, we may be trapped and left alone to suffer, by fair or unfair circumstance.

Joseph walked with God in prison. Like Joseph, we should persevere in faith during difficult time.

Joseph helped fellow prisoners. Like Joseph, we should continue to help others in grim conditions.

Joseph’s kindness was forgotten. The cupbearer had been freed and returned to the king’s service, just as Joseph told him would happen. But Joseph remained in prison for some time. Memory is short; people tend to forget our good deeds after a period of time.

But God did not forget Joseph. He lifted him up to be the second in the kingdom of Pharaoh. At 30 years of age, Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt. Likewise, Jesus sits at the right hand of God, and our prayers reach the throne of the King without fail because our Savior is our Mediator.

God will not forget His children. He cares for all the things in our lives, big and small. When we feel alone, let’s remember to rest in the confidence of Jesus’ promise to be with us forever (Matt. 28:20).