All Glory to You

"John 4:43-5:15

Desperate for leadership

Everything rises and falls on leadership. If a business is well led it tends to do well. If a church is well led it usually flourishes. If a nation is well led it will most often prosper.

After Sisera had ‘cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help’ (4:3). It is not surprising that their prayer was desperate. Sisera’s mother looked out of the window waiting for Sisera to return. She cried out, ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man’ (5:30). We get a hint here of how Sisera treated the people of God.

In answer to their desperate prayer God raised up an outstanding leader. Deborah was both a spiritual leader (a ‘prophetess’) and also a political leader. She was ‘leading Israel at that time’ (4:4). She was a charismatic leader whose presence was so valued that Barak says to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go’ (v.8).

Interestingly, it is another woman, Jael, who finally finishes off Israel’s oppressor (v.21).
Both men and women can make outstanding leaders. What matters is not gender but that leaders actively lead: ‘When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves – praise the Lord!’ (5:2,9).

Deborah and Barak gave God the glory (vv.1–5). Again, Joyce Meyer points out that God ‘chooses to use and promote those who know they are nothing without him and who give him the glory and the credit for all their accomplishments. Every time you have a success in your life, remember to give God the glory.’

The way in which God answered the desperate prayer of his people was to raise up wise and humble leadership. As a result, ‘the land had peace for forty years’ (v.31c).
Deborah prayed that those who loved the Lord would be ‘like the sun when it rises in its strength’ (v.31b).

Lord, I pray today that we would be ‘like the sun when it rises in its strength’ (v.31b). May we bring light in a dark world; may we show people the way. Help us to bring warmth and energy, and to be strong, bold and fearless as the sun."

1. Yes, Lord, just like the sun, may I bring light and warmth to those around me. Thank You for Your love.

2. Thank You for a relaxing and peaceful Sunday while hanging out in a new place.

3. Praise God for another great day with chilling, walking, and a movie.

Thank You for the Love

"John 4:43-5:15

Desperate for healing

There are times in our lives when we are desperate for healing – either for others, or for ourselves. In this life our prayers for healing will not always be answered. Unanswered prayer can be a difficult and painful thing to wrestle with (my friend Pete Greig has written an excellent book on this subject called God on Mute). As we saw in today’s introduction though, sometimes God does intervene miraculously to bring healing. We see here two examples of this, both coming about as a result of desperate prayer:

Healing for others

The royal official begged Jesus to heal his son (v.47), who was on the brink of death.
‘Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe” ’ (v.48, MSG). But the official would not be put off: ‘Come down! It’s life or death for my son’ (v.49, MSG).

Jesus responded to the man’s faith. The man believed that if Jesus came he could heal his son. Jesus asked him to go one step further and believe that his words from miles away could heal his son. The man did believe. And Jesus performed the miracle – he heard the man’s desperate prayer and healed his son. As a result, his whole household believed (v.53).

Healing for ourselves

Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years (5:5). He must have been desperate. He had been putting his hope in the healing powers of the waters of Bethesda, which would bubble up periodically, and it was thought that the first person in after the waters bubbled up would be healed. But this man had no one to help him get in first (v.7).

Joyce Meyer writes of this incident that, in effect, Jesus said to the man: ‘Don’t just lie there, do something!’ She continues: ‘Self-pity is a major problem. I know, because I have lived in self-pity for many years. It affected me, my family and the plan of God for my life. God finally told me that I could be pitiful or I could be powerful, but I could not be both. If I wanted to be powerful, I had to give up self-pity.

‘Being sexually abused for approximately fifteen years and growing up in a dysfunctional home left me lacking confidence and filled with shame. I wanted to have good things in my life, but I was stuck in emotional torment and despair.

‘Like the man in John 5, Jesus did not give me pity either. Jesus was actually very firm with me and He applied a lot of tough love, but His refusal to let me wallow in self-pity was a turning point in my life. I am not in the pit any longer. I now have a great life. If you will reject self-pity, actively look to God and do what He instructs you to do, you can have a great life too.’

Thank you, Lord, that you hear my prayers for healing. Thank you that you have miraculously healed me in the past. Lord, today I cry out to you for healing for …"

1. Hallelujah for the healing. My bitterness is gone. Thank You, Lord. You make everything new.

2. Today was fun, Lord. Thank You for keeping us safe and to be able to enjoy the gift of life that You have given. Amen!

3. My legs are probably super strong now. Thank You, Lord, for the physical strength. :D

4. Praise God for the year that has passed and I pray for You to bless this coming new year. Thank You for loved ones who remembered. Amen. =)

Respond to God’s Call

"Psalm 57:1-6

Desperate for mercy

Have you ever cried out to God for mercy? I certainly have, several times. David cried out ‘to God Most High’ (v.2). He prayed, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me’ (v.1a).

There is one type of prayer for mercy that God always answers. That is the prayer for forgiveness through Jesus. Through his death on the cross, Jesus has made it possible that ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (Romans 10:13).

The context for David’s prayer for mercy is probably when he had fled from Saul and into the cave (see 1 Samuel 22; 24). He cried out to God, and God heard and answered his prayer. David says, ‘I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me’ (Psalm 57:2).

God has a purpose for your life. David knew that God had a purpose for his life and that he would fulfill that purpose. Our task is to, like David, respond to God’s call and obey him.

‘Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings … I cry out to [you]’ (vv.1–2a). Thank you that you promise to fulfill your purpose for me (v.2b). Thank you for your love and your faithfulness (v.3)."

1. Indeed, thank You for your love, mercy, and faithfulness. Unending.

2. Thank You for small groups. Forgive me for I have not finished listening to Your Word.

3. Praise God for the fellowship with friends. It was enlightening.

Nothing is Impossible!

"There have been times in my life when I have cried out to God in desperation. 

I remember so well my desperate prayer for a baby called Craig. I had been asked to visit a woman in the Brompton Hospital. Vivienne was in her thirties, had three children and was pregnant with a fourth. Her third child, who was a child with Down’s syndrome, had a hole in his heart that had been operated on. The operation had not been a success and, not unnaturally, the medical staff wanted to turn the machines off. Three times they asked Vivienne if they could turn the machines off and let the baby die. She said no, as she wanted to try one last thing. She wanted someone to pray for him. So I went.

Craig had tubes all over him and his body was bruised and swollen. She said that the doctors had indicated that even if he recovered he would have brain damage because his heart had stopped for such a long time. She told me she didn’t believe in God but she said, ‘Will you pray?’

I prayed in the name of Jesus for God to heal him. Then I explained to her how she could give her life to Jesus Christ and she did that. I left, but returned two days later. Vivienne came running out the moment she saw me. She said, ‘I’ve been trying to get hold of you; something amazing has happened. The night after you prayed he completely turned the corner. He has recovered.’ Within a few days Craig had gone home.

About six months later I was in the lift in another hospital and saw a mother and child whom I did not immediately recognise. The woman said, ‘Are you Nicky?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘This is the little boy you prayed for. It is amazing. Not only has he recovered from the operation, but his hearing, which was bad beforehand, is better.’

Since then I have taken two funerals for other members of that family. At each of them people have come up to me, none of them churchgoers, saying, ‘You were the person who prayed for Craig to be healed and God healed him.’ They all believe that God healed him, because they knew that he was dying. The change in Vivienne had also made a deep impression on them. She went around all her relatives and friends saying, ‘I didn’t believe, but now I do believe.’"

1. Amen to this miracle of Yours, Lord. Amazing! May I always believe that with You, nothing is impossible. Thank You for the hope You bring.

2. Thank You, Lord, for provision. It may be trying times but this is nothing to You, Lord. You are with me always. Hallelujah!

3. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being always there. May You always speak through me. Amen.

You Live Within Me

"John 4:27-42

Thank God for leaders who deliver

There is a recurring pattern that runs throughout the book of Judges, that we first see in this passage:

Disobedience

‘Another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel … they forsook the Lord … they followed and worshipped various gods of the peoples around them’ (vv.10,12).

Disaster

God’s response was to allow disaster, so that they might turn back to him: ‘The Lord handed them over … He sold them to their enemies’ (v.14).

Distress

This understandably left the people ‘in great distress’ (v.15).

Deliverance

When they got into trouble they cried out to the Lord and he raised up judges ‘who saved them’ (v.16). The word translated ‘judge’ (shophet) has a wide meaning in Hebrew. It can also mean ‘governor’ or ‘deliverer’ – anyone who brings about justice, or sets things right. The first of these deliverers is Othniel. ‘The Spirit of the Lord came upon him’ (3:9–10). 

The Holy Spirit now lives within you (Romans 8:9). He gives you power and wisdom so that you too can make a difference with your life. Othniel was anointed by the Spirit of God, and it was this anointing that enabled him to deliver the people and establish forty years of peace (Judges 3:11).

Once again though, the people slipped into disobedience and disaster (vv.12–14), and cried out to God for a deliverer (v.15).

God delivered the people in a fascinating, if rather unpleasant, way (v.21). Ehud must have been an extremely courageous and brave man to walk right into enemy territory alone, with a sword hidden on him. It was a crazy thing to do – but for the fact that God was with him. And it was remarkably successful. Once again, the land had peace. This time for eighty years (v.30).

God sometimes uses people who are not part of the people of God to deliver his people. Shamgar may have been a Canaanite (see 5:6). He was a powerful man. He ‘struck down six hundred Philistines with an ox-goad. He too saved Israel’ (3:31).

These leaders only brought temporary peace, ‘as long as the judge lived’ (2:18).
All this only foreshadows, in rather a murky and inadequate way, the great work of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. Jesus is the great deliverer. Through his death and resurrection, he has delivered us from the penalty of sin. He delivers us now from the power of sin. One day he will deliver us from the presence of sin.

Lord, I praise and thank you for your great deliverance through my Saviour Jesus Christ. Today, I cry out to you for deliverance (you may like to list some of the troubles, difficulties and fears you are facing now)."

1. Thank You for always reminding me to just trust You. Surrender. Yes, Lord, thank You that You will deliver me.

2. Praise God for direction. May it keep on coming.

3. Thank You for the gift of knowledge and the ability to share and receive.

What Is Your Story?

"John 4:27-42

Testify about the Saviour

Every Christian has a testimony. The most powerful way of passing on the message of Jesus is to tell people your story. If they are interested then you can say, like the woman in this incident, ‘come, see ...’ (v.29a).

We read in this passage how the population of a whole town come to the conclusion that Jesus ‘really is the Saviour of the world’ (v.42). Jesus had saved the Samaritan woman from her life of sin. She immediately began to testify about the Saviour. She went back to her village and told the people, ‘Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?’ (v.29, MSG).

There really is great power in a testimony. What is fascinating to me is that this woman had no theological training or even understanding of Christian doctrine. She was not even totally convinced about Jesus herself. She does not say with great conviction, ‘Jesus is the Christ’. Rather, she has reached the position of saying, ‘Could this be the Christ?’ (v.29b). Yet she was powerfully used by God in evangelism.

‘Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony’ (v.39). Jesus had changed her life. They came and saw, and ‘because of [Jesus’] words many more became believers’ (v.41).

‘They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world” ’ (v.42). The teaching of Jesus and the testimony about Jesus both powerfully point to his identity as Saviour of the world.

Jesus saves us from our sins. In doing so he also delivers us from a life of emptiness and lack of purpose.

He said, ‘My food … is to do the will of him who sent me’ (v.34). Jesus shows by the example of his ministry that our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by doing God’s will. Nothing is more satisfying than doing God’s will – being where he wants us to be and doing what he wants us to do.

Jesus says, ‘I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest’ (v.35). This was fulfilled by the coming of Jesus. The disciples can see that the time is right because people everywhere need to know this message about Jesus.

Jesus said, ‘I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labour’ (v.38). This, of course, originally applied to the coming of Jesus. However, again it is fulfilled at a different level in many ways.

Thank you, Lord, for the amazing way in which you have delivered me and have enabled me to experience the water of life. I pray that you would use my testimony so that many others may believe in you."

1. Thank You, Lord, for this water. Please help me be an instrument in leading others to You. Amen.

2. Praise God for this English weapon, I was able to explain the process that I know. Thank You.

3. Thank You, Lord, for the new home. May this become a great home.

Trust God to Deliver You

"Pippa and I met Ah Yin when we visited Jackie Pullinger’s work in Hong Kong. He had become a drug addict as a teenager. His father was an addict. He was brought up in the notorious Walled City. He joined a gang at the age of eleven. They ate, stole and fought together. They took heroin together. At the age of fourteen he got caught doing a robbery and spent his first time in detention.

Over the years he tried everything to get off drugs. Nothing worked. Then he met Jackie and, through the power of Jesus, came off drugs with no pain at all. Since then he has become one of the leaders of Jackie’s work in Hong Kong. He has trained many people to pray for the sick and to work with the poor. He is one example of the millions of people who Jesus has delivered from addiction and set free.

The word used for ‘deliverance’ in the New Testament means ‘to be saved, to be rescued’. Jesus is the great ‘deliverer’ (Romans 11:26). He is ‘the Saviour of the world’ (John 4:42). 

Psalm 56:1-13

Trust God to deliver you

I have found that sometimes fear can be overwhelming. David feared for his life (v.6). He discovered that the answer to fear is trust in God. ‘I trust in God; I will not be afraid’ (vv.6,11).

David had been captured by the Philistines in Gath. It must have been a terrible experience. He was ‘kicked around’, ‘stomped on every day’ and beaten up (v.1, MSG). 

Yet in the midst of it all he trusted in God: ‘When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I’m proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God’ (vv.3–4, MSG).

There are times in life when we come under attack. It could be spiritual attack or attack from other people – at work, from neighbours, or from further afield. We too need to trust God.

Whatever the cause of the fear, like David, put your trust in God: ‘In God I have put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid’ (v.11a, AMP).

This psalm ends on a note of deliverance and triumph, as David thanks God for setting him free. ‘God, you did everything you promised, and I’m thanking you with all my heart. You pulled me from the brink of death, my feet from the cliff-edge of doom. Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life’ (v.13, MSG).

Lord, thank you for the many times in my life when I have been afraid and have called on you for help and you have delivered me. Today I bring before you … I call on you for help and trust in you to deliver me."

1. Hallelujah! Indeed praise You, Lord, for the deliverance. Little struggles may have come but I trust in You to deliver me. Thank You.

2. Thank You for the love, Lord. May I glorify You more at work by taking interest in others.

3. Thank you for the start of a good walk. Exploration. Bui Vien.

Gear Towards Transformation

"John 4:1-26

Cry out to God for good leadership

We live in a disordered and chaotic world – in some ways not very different to the world described in the book of Judges.

Eugene Peterson describes entering the book of Judges as ‘something of a shock’. In it we find a mix of ‘sex and violence, rape and massacre, brutality and deceit … nearly unrelieved mayhem.’ We see how the Israelites failed to get a grip on idolatry and sin when they settled in the Promised Land. Despite God’s warnings, they compromised with the religious and ethical practices of the Canaanites (2:1–2). As a result they become ‘thorns in [their] sides and ... a snare to [them]’ (v.3).

God calls us to be utterly ruthless about the bad stuff in our own lives. God does not want us to compromise with evil. He does not want us simply to cut down the areas of our lives that we know are wrong, but to cut them out completely and ruthlessly.

The people found themselves in a cycle of disobedience, being oppressed by their enemies, then crying out to God for help.

God answered by sending them leaders (judges) who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, delivered them in miraculous ways. He used all kinds of rather unlikely people as leaders – which gives great encouragement to us all.

Lord, forgive me for the times when I have not been ruthless in getting rid of the bad stuff and have compromised with sin.

We cry out to you to raise up good leaders in our city and in our nation. May your name be glorified. May we see the transformation of our society."

1. "Cut the areas of our lives that are wrong completely and ruthlessly." Thank You, Lord, for a strong reminder. This cannot be taken lightly. Thank You for Your mercy. 

2. Hallelujah for open doors to what I can do for You. Please bless this if this is according to Your will. Amen.

3. Praise God for fried chicken, pizza, and spaghetti. Most especially, praise God for fellowship! :)

Never Thirst

"John 4:1-26

Break down divisions of every kind

Every church should be an inclusive church because God’s love is radically inclusive. Jesus came to break down every barrier in our society.

Jesus’ fame was increasing. ‘The Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed ... They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals’ (vv.1–2, MSG).

Jesus was not interested in fame, rivalry or competition. ‘When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee’ (v.3). He was very interested in helping one individual Samaritan. He takes time to minister to her. Mother Teresa said, ‘Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.’

In this encounter Jesus demonstrated that one of the ways in which society will be transformed is by the breaking down of divisions.   

End the war between the sexes

Jesus had a prolonged conversation with a woman in public. This flew in the face of the conventions of the time. The strict rabbis forbade a rabbi even to greet a woman in public, let alone have a long conversation. When the disciples returned, they were ‘surprised to find him talking with a woman’ (v.27).

As John Stott writes, ‘Without any fuss or publicity Jesus terminated the curse of the Fall, reinvested woman with her partially lost nobility and reclaimed for his new kingdom community the original creation blessing of sexual equality.’

The sexes should not be at war. As Pope Benedict XVI put it, ‘In Christ the rivalry, enmity and violence which disfigured the relationship between men and women can be overcome and have been overcome.’

End racism, discrimination and apartheid

The division between Jews and Samaritans went back a long way. John explains that ‘Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans’ (v.9, MSG).

Jesus does not compromise on the truth: ‘Salvation is from the Jews’ (v.22). Nevertheless, he reaches out to this Samaritan woman. In doing so he breaks the curse of racial discrimination and apartheid. The transformation of society requires the breaking down of divisions of race and ethnicity.

End class war and social division

God loves you regardless of your previous life or present lifestyle. Thank God, he loves imperfect people.

This woman would have been a social outcast. Not only did Jesus speak to a woman who was a Samaritan, he spoke with a ‘sinner’. This woman had led an immoral life. ‘You have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband’ (v.18). She has been divorced several times and is now living with a man to whom she is not married. Jesus does not compromise on the truth, but he does not reject the Samaritan woman because of her lifestyle or social position (cf. Mark 2:17; John 8:10–11).

The religious did not mix with ‘sinners’. By his interaction with this sexually promiscuous woman, Jesus breaks down yet another barrier. His love reaches to all sections of society – across the barriers of class, lifestyle and social position.

Ultimately it is only the Holy Spirit who can bring about the transformation of society. It is the Holy Spirit who brings unity, breaking down the divisions of gender, race and social position. Those indwelt by the Holy Spirit should be at the forefront of the fight for sexual, racial and social equality.

Jesus’ conversation with this woman was all about the Holy Spirit. He says to her, ‘All who drink this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life’ (v.13–14).

The transformation of society starts with the Holy Spirit transforming our lives. It starts with drinking the water of life, which Jesus gives to everyone who believes in him. When the Holy Spirit comes to live within us he becomes a permanent spring of overflowing water throughout our lives and into eternity.

We are transformed by the Holy Spirit and by our personal relationship with God. The word used for ‘worship’ here means ‘to go down on our knees, to draw close in an intimate relationship of love’ – we ‘must worship in spirit and in truth’ (v.24).

Lord, today I come to you and drink. Please fill me with this spring of water welling up into eternal life. May this water flow out of my heart and transform all my relationships – in my family, with my neighbours and in my community."

1. "When the Holy Spirit comes to live within us he becomes a permanent spring of overflowing water throughout our lives and into eternity." Wow, very refreshing. Hallelujah! Please fill me...

2. Trials have made me change perspective and focus. Thank You for them.

3. Thank You for the energy to have walked almost 8 kilometers that included grocery-shopping.

The Influence

"Proverbs 11:9-18

Be a blessing to your nation

Your life can have an influence, not only on your own family and local community, but also on your city, and even on the whole nation.

The writer of Proverbs makes the point that how we live as individuals affects not only ourselves, but also the whole society around us – for good or for evil.

On the one hand, ‘when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices’ (v.10). And ‘by the blessing of the influence of the upright and God’s favour [because of them] the city is exalted’ (v.11a, AMP). On the other hand, ‘the mouth of the wicked’ can destroy a city (v.11b). And, ‘for lack of guidance a nation falls’ (v.14).

How then should we live? We are not to slander our neighbours, but rather we are to exercise restraint and hold our tongues (v.12). We are not to gossip but to be trustworthy in keeping secrets (v.13).

We all need wise, godly people around us to provide good advice: ‘Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety’ (v.14, AMP). If you have wise counselors consult them often. If you don’t have them, ask God to provide you with such advisers.

We are to be kind-hearted (v.16) and sow righteousness (v.18). If we live like this, the whole city and nation will be affected.

Lord, help me to be a good influence in my city and in my nation. May I be trustworthy, kind-hearted and righteous. May I see my city and nation transformed."

1. "Hold our tongues." Thank You, Lord, for this. May it become a habit within me to remember You before I say anything. Amen.

2. Room-hunting has started. Thank You for providing candidates and for making me safe as I walked around the neighborhood.

3. Thank You for likewise providing help from local friends. I praise You!

Transformation of Society

"Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) lived and died to see society transformed. In 1964 he became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end social segregation and discrimination.

In one of the greatest and most quoted speeches of all time he spoke of his dream of one day living in a nation where his children would ‘not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.’

He spoke of his ‘dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.’ He dreamt of a time when everyone would be able to join hands and say, ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’ 

Martin Luther King Jr. was a follower of Jesus. His agenda was the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not just about the conversion of individuals – important though that is – but about the transformation of society."

1. It was a difficult day today, Lord, but I am being polished. Being really tested, especially on forgiveness, Lord. Thank You for the gift of grace.

2. Thank You for enabling me to initiate. Lord, may things at work be in Your favor.

3. Praise God for the lovely auntie just outside my room. :)

Joshua 24:15 We Will Serve The Lord

"John 3:22-36

Choose to serve the Lord

Worshipping and serving God is the way to a fulfilling life. Don’t waste your life chasing after false ‘gods’. As Saint Cyprian wrote, ‘Whatever man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.’ There are numerous other gods around today – perhaps the most common could be summed up as ‘money, sex and power’.

Israel had enjoyed a long period of rest after all the battles (23:1). Joshua, ‘a venerable old man’ (v.1, MSG) at the end of his life, called all the people together and spoke to them. He told them that they had to choose how to spend the rest of their lives.

He reminds them of everything that God has done for them and all the ways in which he has blessed them (23:14; 24:10). Now, Joshua urges them to worship the Lord, their God ‘in total commitment’ (v.10b, MSG).

In response to all that the Lord has done for us we are also called ‘to love the Lord’ (23:11), to worship and to serve him. Joshua says, ‘choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve’ (24:15). He lays before the people of God three options that are open to them (vv.14–15).

The gods of their ancestors

The gods of the conquered people

The God of Israel who is the one true God.

The gods of the conquered people claimed to be modern and ‘scientific’ – with true control over agriculture, fertility and sex. The people of Canaan felt themselves intellectually and culturally miles ahead of the Israelites. But Joshua stresses the shortcomings of the ‘other gods’ as against the goodness and the power of God (vv.3–13).

You have to make a choice. You cannot just drift. Many people just drift through life, never making a conscious decision.

Joshua shows a great example of leadership. He makes a deliberate, personal choice to worship and serve the Lord. He says, ‘But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord’ (v.15).

The people answered, ‘We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God’ (vv.18,21,24). Joshua said, ‘You have chosen to serve the Lord’ (v.22). As a result, ‘Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua’ (v.31). Whilst Joshua and the elders – trained presumably by him – were leading Israel, Israel served the Lord. Leadership is key.

Joshua called the people to repentance and faith. This is always what God requires. 

First, repentance: ‘throw away the foreign gods’ (v.23a). Get rid of the bad stuff. 

Second, faith: ‘yield your hearts to the Lord’ (v.23b) – put your whole life into the hands of the Lord.

Lord, help me to make good choices in my life. Help me to say, ‘As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord’ (v.15). I choose to yield my heart to you."

1. Thank You, Lord for Your calmness, Your peace in my heart. I will serve You.

2. Thank You for the opportunity to meet a friend's friend. Amazing how networks work. :)

3. Hallelujah, Lord, for challenges. Help me face them. I pray for courage. Amen.

You Must Become Greater

"John 3:22-36

Choose Jesus

John the Baptist had become a celebrity. He had a remarkable ministry. People ‘were constantly coming [to him] to be baptised’ (v.23). John’s followers were very competitive. They became envious of Jesus’ success. They came to John and said about Jesus, ‘He’s now competing with us ... everyone’s going to him instead of us’ (v.26, MSG).

John had to choose how he responded. He began by pointing out to his disciples that ‘It’s not possible for a person to succeed – I’m talking about eternal success – without heaven’s help’ (v.27, MSG). He chose to point people to Jesus rather than to himself: ‘You yourselves can testify that I said, “I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.” ’ (v.28).

John likens his own position to ‘the friend who attends the bridegroom’ (whom we might call the ‘best man’). Far from being threatened by the arrival of the groom, it is the very thing he has been waiting for, and he is delighted by it. Likewise, John explains that he has been waiting for Jesus, and is ‘full of joy’ at Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was John the Baptist’s successor. John says of Jesus: ‘He must become greater; I must become less’ (v.30).

Many people in the world today are driven to become greater, more important, more highly promoted or better qualified. These are not all bad aims in themselves, but our daily choices will be swayed by these ambitions. You have to choose how you live your life. Are you focused on your promotion or on exalting Jesus? Is your ambition more for yourself, or for Jesus?

Sometimes, we even see different Christian ministries competing with each other. This should never happen.

Those of us who follow Jesus must echo this in our hearts, ‘He must become greater; I must become less’ (v.30). Ultimately, the focus is not on ourselves – it is always on Jesus. Our ambition must always be to point people to Jesus.

John highlights the real issue: ‘Whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that’ (v.36, MSG).

That is the most vital choice of all – do I choose Jesus or reject him?

Lord, help me to say in my heart, ‘He must become greater; I must become less’ (v.30). May I become more and more like Jesus, speaking the words of God, full of the Holy Spirit, loved by the Father, enabling others to believe in the Son."

1. Lord, this is straight to the heart, may I point people to You rather than to myself. Thank You for Your reminder. You must become greater; I must become less.

2. Praise God for today's workshop, it gave clarity for my project. Thank You, Lord.

3. Hallelujah for being able to spend time with You. I want that thirst that you quench.

Cast Your Cares...

"Psalm 55:12-23

Choose trust over worry

‘Worry,’ as Corrie ten Boom wrote, ‘does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.’ No one goes through life without facing problems, battles and causes for worry.

David faced many difficulties in his life. Here David speaks of one of the most painful battles of his life (v.18b). His ‘best friend’ (v.13b, MSG) has turned against him and joined the many who oppose him (v.18c). David, of course, found this more difficult than if ‘an enemy were insulting [him]’ (v.12a), as we all would.

As in any battle, we have a ‘choice’ about how we respond. David chose to turn to the Lord and cry out to him ‘evening, morning and noon’ (vv.16–17). Especially when we are involved in a confrontation with a close friend or family member, it is vital that we turn to God for comfort and strength. David did so and as a result he experienced God’s peace. He wrote, ‘he has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me’ (v.18, AMP).

From David’s own experience he is able to give this advice: ‘Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you’ (v.22a). As I look at my Bible in One Year, I see that each year I have written in the margins the ‘cares’ that I have ‘cast upon the Lord’ in response to this verse. Most of them (though not quite all) have been more than resolved.  

Once we have cast our burdens on the Lord, we can follow David’s example. He says, ‘as for me, I trust in you’ (v.23d).

This is the choice you have to make as you face the worries, battles and disappointments of life. Do you allow them to overwhelm you, or do you, like David, turn to the Lord, cast your burdens on him and then trust in him?

Lord, today I want to bring to you my cares ... I cast all these things on you and trust in you."

1. Truly, O Lord, You bring peace. David really was a good example in all these, thank You so much.

2. Watched an interesting, intense movie in one of HCM's majestic financial towers, with the cheapest price. Praise God!

3. Thank You for a relaxing night by the fountains and lights.

Life Is Really About Choices

"An American lawyer and evangelist, Charles Finney, was speaking in New York in the 1830s. At the end of each evening, he gave people the opportunity to come to the front of the room and commit their life to Jesus. A great many lawyers came to hear him. One night, the Chief Justice of New York was sitting way up in the gallery. As he listened to Finney proclaiming the gospel he became convinced it was true.

Then this question came into his mind: ‘Will you go forward like the other ordinary people?’ Something within him made him think that it would be inappropriate to do so, because of his prestigious social position (at the top of the legal hierarchy of New York State). He sat there pondering the choice he had to make. Then he thought, ‘Why not? I am convinced of the truth ... I know my duty; why should I not do it like any other person?’

He got up from his seat in the gallery, went down the staircase, and came up the stairs at the back to where Finney was preaching. Finney, in the middle of his sermon, felt someone tugging at his jacket. He turned around and saw the Chief Justice. He asked, ‘What is it?’ The Chief Justice replied, ‘Mr Finney, if you will call people forward I will come.’ Finney stopped his talk and said, ‘The Chief Justice says that if I call people forward he will come. I ask you to come forward now.’

The Chief Justice went forward. Almost every lawyer in Rochester, New York, followed him! It is said that 100,000 people were converted in the next twelve months in that area. One person’s choice affected the lives of numerous others.

Life is full of choices. We can make bad choices or we can make good choices. Our choices matter."

1. Amen to this! Whatever position I find myself, I can always make a choice. Thank You, Lord. May I never hesitate if it is about You.

2. Submit to Authority. This is the message today. They were ordained and instituted by God, thereby, I should obey. I have struggled with this but thank You, Lord for Your Word.

3. It was a great dinner with church mates. Good laughing time and really great food in an awesomely-designed Japanese place.

Prayers Make A Difference

"Luke 22:1-38

God was about to act in a miraculous way on behalf of his people. But the people themselves had a part to play. Joshua tells the people to prepare themselves: ‘Sanctify yourselves. Tomorrow God will work miracle-wonders among you’ (3:5, MSG).The Lord did ‘amazing things’ (3:5). One of these amazing things was the crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 3).

Predestination and free will

Are you sometimes tempted to compare yourself with other people?

It is encouraging to see that Jesus’ disciples struggled with many of the same things that we do. There is bickering among the disciples over which of them would end up the greatest (v.24). It is always a temptation to compare ourselves or our ministry with others. This either leads to pride (if we think we are doing better) or jealousy, envy and insecurity (if we think we are not doing as well).

Jesus points out that the values of the Kingdom are the polar opposite to the world. ‘Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It’s not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant ... I’ve taken my place among you as the one who serves’ (vv.25–27, MSG).

As we look at the parts played by each of the people in this drama, we see, once again, that the Bible teaches both predestination (that God has planned everything in advance), and free will. This is a mystery that the Scriptures hold in tension, and we are rightly suspicious when any human system attempts to explain it away one way or the other. In this passage we see three examples of how this tension operates in practice.

Judas

Jesus says that all this was foreknown and indeed predestined: ‘The Son of Man will go as has been decreed’ (v.22a). But the fact that it is foreknown and predestined does not absolve Judas of responsibility: ‘But woe to that man who betrays him’ (v.22b).

The paradox is that although ‘it has been decreed’, Judas is a free agent. We see in the account how Judas’ ‘will’ was involved. When he was offered money to betray Jesus, Judas ‘consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over’ (v.6).

Simon Peter

Peter was very confident that he would not let Jesus down, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death’ (v.33). Jesus knew that Peter would fail, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me’ (v.34).

But ultimately his faith did not fail. Jesus said, ‘But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail’ (v.32). This shows that in the midst of this extraordinary paradox of predestination and free will, prayer really does make a difference. Why and how it works we may never understand. However, the example of Jesus shows that it really does count. Your prayers do make a difference.

Jesus

We see the balance between God’s part and our part. We are reminded of it every time we take communion. Jesus said, ‘This is my body given for you ... This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’ (vv.19,20). That was the hard part – the sacrifice of his life voluntarily given for us. Our part is relatively simple: ‘do this is in remembrance of me’ (v.19).

Lord, thank you that you have done all this for me. Thank you that you pray for me that my faith will not fail. Thank you that you gave your body and shed your blood for me."

1. Forgive me, Lord, when I get to the point of comparing myself to others. Remove pride and jealousy from my heart, O, God. "Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant ... I’ve taken my place among you as the one who serves’ (vv.25–27, MSG)." Amen! Thank You for this!

2. Thank You that prayers do make a difference. May this encourage mo more to lead a prayerful life. Hallelujah!

3. It was an interesting weekend of great hotpot lunch, awesome KTV experience, and sightseeing with new friends. 

Driving Out Resistance

"John 1:29-51

The gift of your inheritance

Is there some area of your life where you are still not enjoying your inheritance in Christ? 
The land was the inheritance of the people of God (17:4,7; 18:7,20,27). ‘Joshua addressed the People of Israel: “How long are you going to sit around on your hands, putting off taking possession of the land that God, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” ’ (18:3, MSG).

Here, once again, we see the great difference between ownership and possession and enjoyment of the land. Israel was given the ownership of the land before they took possession and enjoyment.

In the Christian life, the moment you come to Christ you receive forgiveness, justification, the righteousness of God and the Holy Spirit. You are given the right to become children of God. You have power over sin and access to God. You have victory over demonic powers. You have peace with God. You have authority over evil in your life and the lives of others. All the promises of God belong to you. This is your inheritance in Christ.

But you may not always, necessarily, take possession and fully enjoy the blessing of all these things in your life. Here God says, in effect, to his people: ‘Don’t you realise I have given all of this to you? What are you waiting for?’

You may have given your life to Jesus, but have you allowed him to possess every aspect of how you live – your finances, work, prayer life, friends and family. In my experience this is a lifetime task.

St Paul writes that you need to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). In some areas the victory may be immediate. In others it may be more gradual. You have to drive out even the little pockets of resistance.

As Israel received the land as a gift from the Lord (Joshua 18:3), so you and I have received, in Jesus, every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). The question for us is, ‘How long will you wait before you begin to take possession’ of these gifts? (Joshua 18:3).

Lord, thank you that you have blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Thank you that you have given me the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you that you have removed my sins and given me the Holy Spirit. Thank you that I have everything that I need to take possession of the land."

1. I remember myself having all these blessings but not doing anything about then, not even bringing people to the Lord. Thank You, Lord, for events in my life that changed all of these. I have become bolder now than before through my testimony. Praise God.

2. Thank You, for a wonderful dinner at a place called Secret Garden. Secret indeed because it is located in a some alley that does not look like a business area and we had to climb 4 floors to see it. Very nice place, good food, too!

3. Praise God for the exchange of experiences. I have learnt a lot from our discussions on history, government, and lifestyle in Slovakia.
    

Point Others to Him

"John 1:29-51

The gift of the Holy Spirit

Are you enjoying everything Jesus has made possible for you? Or are you still feeling guilty and powerless? Jesus came to bring forgiveness, new life and the power of the Holy Spirit to you. Make sure you take possession of these gifts today.

In this passage we see a remarkable sequence of the titles given to Jesus. Jesus is the ‘Son of God’ (vv.34,49), ‘Rabbi’ (v.38), ‘Messiah (that is, the Christ)’ (v.41), ‘the one whom Moses ... and about whom the prophets also wrote’ (v.45), ‘King of Israel’ (v.49) and ‘Son of Man’ (v.51).

I want to focus particularly on two titles in this passage that describe the ministry of Jesus.

Lamb of God

John says of Jesus, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (v.29). As you come to Jesus, he takes away your sins. Claim, trust, believe in the forgiveness bought for you. Actively reject feelings of guilt or unworthiness. It is a proactive, practical, daily choice to take possession of the forgiveness that Jesus has made possible for you.

Spirit baptiser

John the Baptist describes Jesus as ‘the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit’ (v.33). Jesus fills you with his Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus has made possible for you. However, you have to take possession of the gift that God has made available for you.

Jesus also gives you the opportunity to do what John the Baptist did – to point others to him. Of course, God does not need a human agent. Jesus could continue his ministry without our help. However, we see in this passage how God uses people. Here it is not Jesus who calls others directly, but his disciples.

They bring the people to Jesus: John the Baptist introduces Andrew (vv.35–36); Andrew introduces Peter (v.41) and Philip introduces Nathanael (v.45). Nathanael was suspicious at first, but then he came and immediately found that Jesus really was the Son of God (v.49).

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, wrote a commentary on John’s gospel. When he came to the words ‘and he [Andrew] brought him [Simon Peter] to Jesus’ (v.42a), Temple wrote a short but momentous sentence: ‘The greatest service that one man can render another’.

Simon Peter went on to be one of the greatest influences in the history of Christianity. We cannot all be Simon Peters, but we can all do what his brother Andrew did – we can bring someone to Jesus.

Or, just like Philip, you can say ‘come and see’ (v.46) to your friends, family and work colleagues. You can be a part of God’s plan for people to hear about and respond to Jesus as you invite them to ‘come and see’.

I have found that there is nothing more exciting in life than being involved in the ministry of Jesus. It is so gracious of God to involve us, imperfect human beings, in his perfect plan.

Lord, help me today to enjoy this gift of forgiveness and the fullness of life in the Holy Spirit. Help me also to introduce others to you – to invite people to ‘come and see’ (v.46)."

1. You have given change in my life, Lord. Thank You for the gift of grace. May I bring people to You, no matter how imperfect I am.

2. Hallelujah for giving gifts and talents! Congratulations to El Gamma Penumbra!

3. Thank You for the Skype session with friends. :D

Living It Out

"Proverbs 10:31-11:8

The gift of righteousness

Do you realise that God has given to you the gift of righteousness? Have you taken possession of this gift?

The writer of Proverbs contrasts ‘the wicked’ with ‘the righteous’. His argument is that wickedness will lead to destruction – ‘the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity … the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness’ (11:3b,5b). Most significantly of all, wickedness is undone by death: ‘When  the wicked die, their hope perishes; all they expected from their power comes to nothing’ (v.7).

On the other hand, he writes, ‘righteousness delivers from death’ (v.4b). This is one of the arguments the apostle Peter uses about Jesus on the day of Pentecost – righteousness cannot rot: ‘It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him ... “you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay” ’ (Acts 2:24,27).

As we saw yesterday, no one is totally righteous except Jesus. He is the ‘righteous one’ (‘your Holy One’). But now we receive this ‘righteousness from God ... through faith in Jesus Christ’ (Romans 3:22). Righteousness means right relationships, both with God and with other people. We receive this as a gift but we have to take possession of it. We have to live it out.

Wisdom

‘A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp. The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it’ (Proverbs 10:31a,32a, MSG).

Humility

‘The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm’ (11:2, MSG).

Integrity

‘The integrity of the honest keeps them on track ... a principled life can stand up to the worst’ (v.3a,4b, MSG).

Character

‘Moral character makes for smooth travelling ... Good character is the best insurance’ (v.5a,6a, MSG).

Lord, thank you for the gift of righteousness, which is mine in Jesus Christ. Help me to take possession of this gift. Help me today to speak words of wisdom and to know what is fitting for every situation and every conversation. Help me to live a life of humility, integrity and faithfulness."

1. "Help me today to speak words of wisdom and to know what is fitting for every situation and every conversation. Help me to live a life of humility, integrity and faithfulness." Amen! Yes, Lord, may You rule over me.

2. Thank You, Lord, for being able to produce something that is working.

3. Praise God for company bus!

Ownership and Possession

"My maternal grandparents lived in a small fishing village in Pittenweem near Edinburgh in Scotland. They owned a house there. In 1939, at the start of World War II, they let their home to tenants. When the war ended, they wanted to return to their home but they were unable to. The law at the time allowed the tenants to remain in the house for as long as they lived, at approximately the same rent (with no adjustment for inflation!).

For fifty years my grandparents were unable to get possession of the house they owned. My uncle inherited the house from my grandparents. By the time he got possession, the condition of the house had deteriorated greatly. He sold it for a very small sum.

Although my family owned this house in Pittenweem, they never took possession of it. There is a big difference between ownership and possession.

The people of Israel had been given ownership of Canaan, the Promised Land. Now Joshua says to the Israelites, ‘How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land …?’ (Joshua 18:3). As we have seen, the New Testament presents the ‘land’ as a picture of the Christian life (Hebrews 4). We need to understand what we have been given in Christ and then take possession of it."

1. What a way of distinguishing between ownership and possession. It is so true. Thank You, Lord, for the push. Give me strength, O, God.

2. Thank You that I am gaining direction at work. Slowly but I will get there.

3. Hallelujah for the so-called Welcome Package! :)

Prayers And Your Will

"Proverbs 10:21-30

The book of Proverbs contrasts the life of the ‘fool’ with the life of the ‘wise’. It also contrasts the life of the ‘righteous’ with the life of the ‘wicked’. In this passage we see some of the blessings that are promised to ‘the righteous’.

Difference to others

‘The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous feed and guide many’ (v.21a, AMP). We cannot be righteous in isolation. Righteousness is about our relationships – it is about bringing blessing to others.

Delight in wisdom

‘Those who have insight delight in wisdom’(v.23b). One of the things that come from a relationship with God is a hunger for knowledge and wisdom.

Desires fulfilled

‘What the righteous desire will be granted’ (v.24b). This does not mean that God will answer every selfish prayer. However, God begins to change our wills to align them with his (Philippians 2:13) and, as they become aligned with his will, God promises to give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).

Destiny of joy

‘The prospect of the righteous is joy’ (Proverbs 10:28a). ‘The righteous stand firm forever’ (v.25b); ‘The fear of the Lord adds length to life’ (v.27a) and ‘The righteous will never be uprooted’ (v.30a). Although he was probably not thinking in terms of eternity, the fulfilment of these promises is found in Jesus’ promise of eternal joy.

Lord, I pray for wisdom today and that you would put a guard over my lips so that my words may be used to feed and guide others."

1. "‘What the righteous desire will be granted’ (v.24b). This does not mean that God will answer every selfish prayer. However, God begins to change our wills to align them with his (Philippians 2:13) and, as they become aligned with his will, God promises to give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4)." This is what struck me. Thank You Lord for telling me to remember to align my prayers with Your will.

2. Thank You, Lord, that I could talk to You and ask You to always put a guard over my heart and over my lips.

3. Today is my second week, thank You for Your provision.