Saturday, March 21, 2015

That the Excellency of the Power May Be of God – March 21, 2015

That the Excellency of the Power May Be of God – March 21, 2015

5:02 AM Devotional , 0 Comments

2 Corinthians 4:7-11
 
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

What is life all about? Why can’t God just give everything that we need? Why He really make things difficult? Is He a sadistic God who takes pleasure in our pain? Does He really care?

We often hear these complaints – and I can’t blame you if you do. For question of validity, these questions are valid in every count. Yet, these questions are not right for we don’t have the right to ask God on how He does things. He is… God.

But why am I suffering? Why the child I love most should suffer the terrible pain of cancer? Why my wife of ten years should suffer the loss of a baby? Why God? Why?

We all have our “Whys”, but God answers is a thundering: I am God. It should not be about how we feel or what we want, it is about the glory of God. I do not mean to say that God is a distant Father. He knows what I feel, but He knows the best.

I’ll take you to the hospital bed. The physician knows the pain of undergoing chemotherapy for cancer sufferers, but he has to command the patient to undergo such painful process. Why? Simple, the doctor knows that the process helps.

Yet, we should be reminded today that whatever we are suffering from or passing through, it is for the glory of the Lord. That the excellency of the power may of God, and not of us.
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Thursday, March 19, 2015

Without Malice Toward All Men – March 20, 2015

Without Malice Toward All Men – March 20, 2015

6:38 PM Devotional , 0 Comments
1 Corinthians 10:24-33
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Read this text reminded of an incident happened almost three years ago. I was visiting a newly-converted family with a young person from the church. When the two of us arrived there, it so happened that it was the birthday of her son. They cooked a simple meal, they killed chickens for the celebration.

Of course, out of hospitality, and I commend her for that Christian virtue, she invited us to eat some. I gladly obliged, but the young person who accompanied me did not eat. The host entreated her to try some, but to no avail.

I enjoyed the food. It’s seldom to eat native chickens, you know.

When we arrived at the church, I reprimanded that young person about her act of saying to the invitation. She reasoned that the innards with all the mess of the chicken were on the ground and it was really impossible to eat in that sight without vomiting.

Our passage this morning reminds me of how God works on whatever we eat to make us satisfied because the earth is His. Even if how lowly the meal is, we should glorify the Lord for that. We can’t choose when to thank the Lord for our meal. As long as it is not offered to idols, we should give God the utmost praise for that.

And of course, don’t forget to say thanks to your host.
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The Highway of Destruction – March 19, 2015

The Highway of Destruction – March 19, 2015

1:49 AM Devotional , 0 Comments
Proverbs 16: 17

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

When I was still away from the Lord, I had lot of drunkard and drug addict friends, for I was one myself. Right now, I realized the road I formerly trod. It was a road of destruction, a big highway. Not only for the destruction of soul who is hindered from believing the gospel, but also the highway of destruction of the body.

Too much beers and booze caused chirossis of the liver. In fact, right now I have friends who had been confined in the hospital due to some failure of the intestinal tract and the liver. It is a highway of destruction.

Too much cigarettes caused decay of the lungs. Little by little, cigarettes burned tissues of the lungs. If my friends won’t amend their ways, I will find them in hospital beds gasping for air. It was a painful process. It is the highway of destruction.

Illegal drugs caused disorder of the mental capacity and health. I was agitated and I didn’t have the mental uprightness to think straight. Some of my friends are still walking in the highway of destruction.

Week upon week I would tell them about Jesus and invite them to church. I don’t know when, but I know God answers prayers, that my friends will take the highway of salvation – and not of destruction.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The Promise of Rapture – March 18, 2015

The Promise of Rapture – March 18, 2015

7:54 PM Devotional , 0 Comments

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
 
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

If you have lived in a farm before, you know too well that a seed must die first before it will sprout to begin a new life. There’s no such seed that did not die and rot prior to springing fresh sprouts out of the ground. This is a requirement for us to see new hope in the farm.

And this is the same requirement concerning life ahead of us. Of course, when we die, we will go straightway to heaven when we die. But one day, Jesus will come to bring us up with in heaven. The Bible says Jesus will meet us up in the air and our corruptible body will be changed into an uncorruptible one.

This is a glorious promise of God. He does not just promise that our souls will be in heaven, but He also promised to bring our bodies to heaven. And it will be a victory for the people of the Lord.

In this exhortation Paul is reminding us not to sorrow much about death for Jesus had conquered it when He died on the cross and rose again after the third day. Without death, we will not be promoted to glory with God on heaven. Yet if Jesus comes today and we are still alive, He will bring us up with Him in heaven.

The entire picture of the rapture is a complete expression of God’s goodness on His children. It is a promise of hope sown in love. We should always be excited for that special day for even them that already sleep are excited to see their corruptible body changed into an uncorruptible one.
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When God’s Purpose Is Not Yet Done, You Will Stay – March 17, 2015

When God’s Purpose Is Not Yet Done, You Will Stay – March 17, 2015

2:05 AM Devotional , 0 Comments

1 Kings 17:2-9
2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 
 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 
8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 

Last day I watched Facing Giants (and again), and I remembered a scene in there. There was this man who went to the office of Grant (the main character of this film) and told him about the purpose of God. He said to this effect that even if people will do their best to hinder the purpose of God, God will do everything to make that purpose available and real.

Sometimes there are things that we just need to work on – and that is follow the will of God. It may seem impossible and strange, but God’s plan has been and can be trusted.

In the passage we read about Elijah and the plan of God. Of course, God gave clear instructions to Elijah on when to move and when to do something. The plan of God works perfectly without any mistake. It is just in perfect timing.

Let us always remember that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. As long as we keep close with God, we will be able to discern the plan of the Lord.
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