"1 Kings 8:22-9:9
Your heart should be fully committed to the Lord
As Solomon dedicates the temple, he prays to the Lord, ‘There is no God like you … You who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way’ (8:23).
God’s own heart is for his people and he sees and knows the hearts of all people: ‘You alone know every human heart’ (v.39).
Solomon’s prayer recognises the fact that we fail. We sin. He does not say ‘if’ they sin. Rather he says, ‘When they sin against you – for there is no one who does not sin’ (v.46) (see also Romans 3:23).
Thankfully, there is still hope. It is possible to have ‘changed hearts’ (1 Kings 8:47, MSG). It is possible for our hearts to turn back to God (v.48). He prays that God will ‘turn our hearts to him’ (v.58). God is full of mercy and forgiveness (vv.28,30,34,36,39,50). He relentlessly loves and he keeps his word (v.23, MSG).
The better you get to know God – his heart, his character and his love for you – the easier it becomes to obey him with all your heart.
We must never settle for second best. As Solomon puts it, ‘Your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God’ (v.61). God wants you to walk before him with ‘integrity of heart and uprightness’ (9:4). The people determined to live like that and went home ‘joyful and glad in heart’ (8:66). Like the disciples, their hearts were full of joy.
Lord, you see my heart. May my heart be fully committed to you. You know how often I fail. Please forgive and have mercy on me. Thank you that you enable me to turn back to you each day. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness. Thank you that you fill my heart with joy. Help me to follow you wholeheartedly each day."
1. Thank You for helping me sustain a whole year of being grateful through short notes.
2. Thank You for the combination of lemon and milk tea. Sehr lecker!
3. Thank You for the strength, protection, energy, hope in every change and journey I undertake. Thank You, Lord!
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Always Look to the Heart
"Acts 14:8-28
Your heart can be full of joy in spite of outward circumstances
Joy comes from the heart and is not necessarily connected with your outward circumstances. Sometimes you face difficulties in life, not because you are doing something wrong, but because you are doing something right.
Paul faced huge difficulties but was filled with joy because he was doing something right and making a massive difference to the world.
He was conducting the first deliberate evangelistic campaign into the Gentile world. It was this that led to Christianity becoming not just a Jewish sect, but a world ‘religion’. God ‘used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in’ (v.27, MSG).
Paul speaks of ‘all that God had done through them’ (v.27). Yet outwardly the odds were stacked against him. He appeared very unimpressive (2 Corinthians 10:10). One description of Paul’s physical appearance at this time (in a second-century document called ‘The Acts of Paul and Thecla’) describes him as ‘a man little of stature, thin-haired upon the head, crooked in the legs, of good state of body, with eyebrows joining, and nose somewhat hooked, full of grace: for sometimes he appeared like a man, and sometimes he had the face of an angel.’
He not only looked unimpressive but he suffered from some physical illness (Galatians 4:13). In addition to all this, his body must have been battered and bruised by all the physical persecution he had suffered. On this occasion, the crowd beat him unconscious and left him for dead (Acts 14:19).
Like so many who have followed in Paul’s footsteps, in spite of all his physical suffering, his heart was full of joy, and God worked through him. God used Paul in his weakness. This encourages us to believe that God can also work through us in our weakness.
This heartfelt joy is one of a variety of different kinds of hearts we see in this passage:
Faith-filled hearts
Paul followed the Lord’s example and looked at the heart. He saw ‘a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked’ (v.8). As Paul looked at him he saw his heart and ‘saw that he had faith to be healed’ (v.9). Sometimes God enables us to see into people’s hearts – to see that they have the faith to be healed, to be filled with the Spirit or to receive some gift.
Later we read of how God ‘opened the door of faith to the Gentiles’ (v.27). Faith is the key to salvation.
Fickle hearts
When the crowd saw the man healed they began treating Paul and Barnabas as gods. They pointed out, ‘We’re not gods!’ and that they were only human beings, bringing good news of ‘the living God’ to whom the crowd needed to turn (v.15). However, the hearts of the crowd were fickle. They were soon won over by Paul’s opponents and almost in an instant they went from trying to offer sacrifices to Paul to stoning him (vv.18–19).
Full-of-joy hearts
This was just one of the many ‘hardships’ (v.22) that Paul and his companions went through. Yet Paul can speak of how God ‘fills your hearts with joy’ (v.17). Again, he is saying that the inside is so much more important than the outside.
Paul ‘strengthened’ and ‘encouraged’ the disciples in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (vv.21–22). The way he encouraged and strengthened them was not by saying that the Christian life was easy. Paul tells them that although their sins were behind them, their troubles were ahead of them. He says, ‘Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times’ (v.22, MSG). Jesus did not come to make life easy; he came to make people great.
Lord, thank you so much for the inspiring example of those like the apostle Paul and many who have followed in his footsteps. Whatever the outward appearance or circumstance, may my heart be full of joy. May I not judge people or situations by how they look from the outside, but like you, always look to the heart."
1. Thank You greatly Lord for real examples of heroes. May my heart be indeed full of joy.
2. Thank You Lord for a busy but good day with tackling variety of tasks.
3. Thank You for the sharing of good stories from the past.
Your heart can be full of joy in spite of outward circumstances
Joy comes from the heart and is not necessarily connected with your outward circumstances. Sometimes you face difficulties in life, not because you are doing something wrong, but because you are doing something right.
Paul faced huge difficulties but was filled with joy because he was doing something right and making a massive difference to the world.
He was conducting the first deliberate evangelistic campaign into the Gentile world. It was this that led to Christianity becoming not just a Jewish sect, but a world ‘religion’. God ‘used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in’ (v.27, MSG).
Paul speaks of ‘all that God had done through them’ (v.27). Yet outwardly the odds were stacked against him. He appeared very unimpressive (2 Corinthians 10:10). One description of Paul’s physical appearance at this time (in a second-century document called ‘The Acts of Paul and Thecla’) describes him as ‘a man little of stature, thin-haired upon the head, crooked in the legs, of good state of body, with eyebrows joining, and nose somewhat hooked, full of grace: for sometimes he appeared like a man, and sometimes he had the face of an angel.’
He not only looked unimpressive but he suffered from some physical illness (Galatians 4:13). In addition to all this, his body must have been battered and bruised by all the physical persecution he had suffered. On this occasion, the crowd beat him unconscious and left him for dead (Acts 14:19).
Like so many who have followed in Paul’s footsteps, in spite of all his physical suffering, his heart was full of joy, and God worked through him. God used Paul in his weakness. This encourages us to believe that God can also work through us in our weakness.
This heartfelt joy is one of a variety of different kinds of hearts we see in this passage:
Faith-filled hearts
Paul followed the Lord’s example and looked at the heart. He saw ‘a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked’ (v.8). As Paul looked at him he saw his heart and ‘saw that he had faith to be healed’ (v.9). Sometimes God enables us to see into people’s hearts – to see that they have the faith to be healed, to be filled with the Spirit or to receive some gift.
Later we read of how God ‘opened the door of faith to the Gentiles’ (v.27). Faith is the key to salvation.
Fickle hearts
When the crowd saw the man healed they began treating Paul and Barnabas as gods. They pointed out, ‘We’re not gods!’ and that they were only human beings, bringing good news of ‘the living God’ to whom the crowd needed to turn (v.15). However, the hearts of the crowd were fickle. They were soon won over by Paul’s opponents and almost in an instant they went from trying to offer sacrifices to Paul to stoning him (vv.18–19).
Full-of-joy hearts
This was just one of the many ‘hardships’ (v.22) that Paul and his companions went through. Yet Paul can speak of how God ‘fills your hearts with joy’ (v.17). Again, he is saying that the inside is so much more important than the outside.
Paul ‘strengthened’ and ‘encouraged’ the disciples in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (vv.21–22). The way he encouraged and strengthened them was not by saying that the Christian life was easy. Paul tells them that although their sins were behind them, their troubles were ahead of them. He says, ‘Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times’ (v.22, MSG). Jesus did not come to make life easy; he came to make people great.
Lord, thank you so much for the inspiring example of those like the apostle Paul and many who have followed in his footsteps. Whatever the outward appearance or circumstance, may my heart be full of joy. May I not judge people or situations by how they look from the outside, but like you, always look to the heart."
1. Thank You greatly Lord for real examples of heroes. May my heart be indeed full of joy.
2. Thank You Lord for a busy but good day with tackling variety of tasks.
3. Thank You for the sharing of good stories from the past.
Monday, October 26, 2015
God Sees Your Heart
"Paul Swala was in prison in Zambia. He was charged with treason. He was accused of being involved in a coup to overthrow the government. While in prison he did Alpha. He encountered Jesus and cried out for God to save him. Extraordinarily, he was the only one of the group of sixty accused who was acquitted. Three years ago, during Alpha International Week, his face radiated the joy of the Lord. He told us how, as Alpha Prisons’ Coordinator for Zambia, he has now been into every prison in Zambia sharing the good news about Jesus Christ and how, even in the direst of situations, Jesus can bring hope. God has filled his heart with joy.
The word ‘heart’ appears in all the passages for today. In fact, it is used seventeen times in total. It is used in these passages to mean everything that is going on inside of us. When we think of the heart we tend to associate it with emotions. The Hebrew understanding was wider than that. It included the emotions, but it also involved the mind, the conscience and the will.
Only God sees and knows the hearts of every human being (1 Kings 8:39). In the passages for today, we learn about how God sees our hearts, and fills them with joy – even in the most unlikely circumstances.
Proverbs 15:11-20
Your face reflects your heart
Some people’s faces radiate love and joy. Their smile puts us at ease and cheers us up. Others may have a rather more sour expression on their face and can make us feel very uncomfortable.
Our face often reflects our heart. ‘A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit’ (v.13). I remember a good friend of ours, Michael Coates (now in his eighties), saying that the life we have lived eventually shows on our face and, therefore, everybody over forty is responsible for their face!
Even where you manage to hide your heart from those around you, God can still see it. ‘Even hell holds no secrets from God – do you think he can’t read human hearts?’ (v.11, MSG).
God is interested in your heart. This passage gives some wise advice on how you can feed your heart. ‘The discerning heart seeks knowledge’ (v.14). ‘A cheerful heart fills the day with song’ (v.15b, MSG). The writer gives an example of how the inside is so much more important than the outside. ‘Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate’ (v.17, MSG). Love and friendship are what make an evening fun. The quality of the food is of lesser importance.
Thank you, Lord, that you see beyond the outward appearance into my heart. Through your Spirit within me, fill my heart with joy. May my face reflect the love and joy you put in my heart and bring encouragement and confidence to everyone I encounter."
1. Thank You for the joy You give even in the most unlikely circumstances.
2. Thank You that I can breathe my heart out. But Lord guard my heart and my words because I may go overboard.
3. Thank You for this emotional test that I may draw myself to You more.
The word ‘heart’ appears in all the passages for today. In fact, it is used seventeen times in total. It is used in these passages to mean everything that is going on inside of us. When we think of the heart we tend to associate it with emotions. The Hebrew understanding was wider than that. It included the emotions, but it also involved the mind, the conscience and the will.
Only God sees and knows the hearts of every human being (1 Kings 8:39). In the passages for today, we learn about how God sees our hearts, and fills them with joy – even in the most unlikely circumstances.
Proverbs 15:11-20
Your face reflects your heart
Some people’s faces radiate love and joy. Their smile puts us at ease and cheers us up. Others may have a rather more sour expression on their face and can make us feel very uncomfortable.
Our face often reflects our heart. ‘A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit’ (v.13). I remember a good friend of ours, Michael Coates (now in his eighties), saying that the life we have lived eventually shows on our face and, therefore, everybody over forty is responsible for their face!
Even where you manage to hide your heart from those around you, God can still see it. ‘Even hell holds no secrets from God – do you think he can’t read human hearts?’ (v.11, MSG).
God is interested in your heart. This passage gives some wise advice on how you can feed your heart. ‘The discerning heart seeks knowledge’ (v.14). ‘A cheerful heart fills the day with song’ (v.15b, MSG). The writer gives an example of how the inside is so much more important than the outside. ‘Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate’ (v.17, MSG). Love and friendship are what make an evening fun. The quality of the food is of lesser importance.
Thank you, Lord, that you see beyond the outward appearance into my heart. Through your Spirit within me, fill my heart with joy. May my face reflect the love and joy you put in my heart and bring encouragement and confidence to everyone I encounter."
1. Thank You for the joy You give even in the most unlikely circumstances.
2. Thank You that I can breathe my heart out. But Lord guard my heart and my words because I may go overboard.
3. Thank You for this emotional test that I may draw myself to You more.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Experience God's Presence
"1 Kings 7:23-8:21
Glory of God’s empowering presence
Why in the world would we not want to spend time with God? We spend hours on social media, watching TV or on the telephone. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘We seem to have no problem investing our time in those pursuits. The truth is this: The devil fights us more in the area of our spending time with God than he does in any other area of our Christian lives. In fact, Satan would much prefer that we get involved in all kinds of religious activity rather than spend time with the Lord.’
This passage helps us to understand how amazing it is to spend time in the presence of God – the extraordinary privilege that is available to every follower of Jesus.
This Old Testament passage – about the building of the physical temple in Jerusalem (a place for God to dwell forever, 8:13) – takes on a whole new meaning when we read it in the light of the New Testament. We see that the temple in Jerusalem prefigured God’s dwelling place in believers’ hearts in the New Testament.
In particular, the ark of the covenant represented the presence of the Lord. The climax of this temple, both in it being prepared for use (8:3–9) and in Solomon’s praise (vv.15–21), was the placing of the ark of the covenant in the temple. The ark had nothing in it ‘except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it’ (v.9) – in other words the Ten Commandments. When the people of God live under the Word of God we discover the Spirit of God increasing our experience of the presence of God.
We read, ‘When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are praying for a greatly increased sense of the presence of God to come among us. This is what we so often experience when we pray that prayer.
Although God is present everywhere, we do not always sense his presence. Surely, what is being described here is a greatly increased sense of the presence of God. This is what Solomon was describing when he said, ‘I’ve built this splendid Temple, O God, to mark your invisible presence forever’ (v.13, MSG).
There can be particular moments when we experience God’s presence when we are with others, but you can also experience God’s presence as you spend time with him by yourself.
You don’t need to be legalistic about it, but a regular time with God helps. As you read the Bible, as you talk to your Father in prayer, as sometimes you listen to Christian music or just sit in silence, you begin to experience God’s presence. Indeed, sometimes the prayer ‘Come Holy Spirit’ can be answered with total peace, calm and stillness.
Lord, how can we praise you enough for the way that you have fulfilled your promise in us? Praise you Lord that as your glory filled the temple of Solomon, so now your glory fills your people. Thank you that all your promises are fulfilled in us (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Come, Holy Spirit. Fulfil your promise among us again today. Thank you that every time we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ the Holy Spirit comes and we experience an increased sense of the presence of God among us. Help us to prioritise our time and enjoy your awesome presence with us."
1. Thank You for Your awesome presence, may I learn to bask in it everytime.
2. Thank You for the German Class reunion and a great buffet with it.
3. Thank You for Your grace that I may also show it to others.
Glory of God’s empowering presence
Why in the world would we not want to spend time with God? We spend hours on social media, watching TV or on the telephone. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘We seem to have no problem investing our time in those pursuits. The truth is this: The devil fights us more in the area of our spending time with God than he does in any other area of our Christian lives. In fact, Satan would much prefer that we get involved in all kinds of religious activity rather than spend time with the Lord.’
This passage helps us to understand how amazing it is to spend time in the presence of God – the extraordinary privilege that is available to every follower of Jesus.
This Old Testament passage – about the building of the physical temple in Jerusalem (a place for God to dwell forever, 8:13) – takes on a whole new meaning when we read it in the light of the New Testament. We see that the temple in Jerusalem prefigured God’s dwelling place in believers’ hearts in the New Testament.
In particular, the ark of the covenant represented the presence of the Lord. The climax of this temple, both in it being prepared for use (8:3–9) and in Solomon’s praise (vv.15–21), was the placing of the ark of the covenant in the temple. The ark had nothing in it ‘except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it’ (v.9) – in other words the Ten Commandments. When the people of God live under the Word of God we discover the Spirit of God increasing our experience of the presence of God.
We read, ‘When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are praying for a greatly increased sense of the presence of God to come among us. This is what we so often experience when we pray that prayer.
Although God is present everywhere, we do not always sense his presence. Surely, what is being described here is a greatly increased sense of the presence of God. This is what Solomon was describing when he said, ‘I’ve built this splendid Temple, O God, to mark your invisible presence forever’ (v.13, MSG).
There can be particular moments when we experience God’s presence when we are with others, but you can also experience God’s presence as you spend time with him by yourself.
You don’t need to be legalistic about it, but a regular time with God helps. As you read the Bible, as you talk to your Father in prayer, as sometimes you listen to Christian music or just sit in silence, you begin to experience God’s presence. Indeed, sometimes the prayer ‘Come Holy Spirit’ can be answered with total peace, calm and stillness.
Lord, how can we praise you enough for the way that you have fulfilled your promise in us? Praise you Lord that as your glory filled the temple of Solomon, so now your glory fills your people. Thank you that all your promises are fulfilled in us (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Come, Holy Spirit. Fulfil your promise among us again today. Thank you that every time we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ the Holy Spirit comes and we experience an increased sense of the presence of God among us. Help us to prioritise our time and enjoy your awesome presence with us."
1. Thank You for Your awesome presence, may I learn to bask in it everytime.
2. Thank You for the German Class reunion and a great buffet with it.
3. Thank You for Your grace that I may also show it to others.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
If God is with Us, Who can be Against Us?
"Acts 13:42-14:7
Filled with God’s empowering presence
From the day of Pentecost, God’s empowering presence came upon his people. In today’s passage we read that they were, once again, ‘filled … with the Holy Spirit’ (13:52). Every Christian now has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them (Romans 8:9).
In this passage, we the see the impact of God’s empowering presence when people are filled with the Holy Spirit:
Effectiveness
In Antioch, crowds gathered to hear the word of the Lord (Acts 13:44–45). In Iconium, ‘they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed’ (14:1).
The Lord confirmed his message by enabling them to do signs and wonders (v.3). This does not mean that everyone in the church will necessarily enjoy perfect health in this life. Rather, we see an in-breaking of the future kingdom of God so that the gospel may go forth and triumph.
Opposition
In Antioch, some people ‘went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene’ (13:45, MSG). ‘They stirred up persecution … and expelled them from their region’ (v.50).
In Iconium, those who refused to believe ‘worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street’ (14:2, MSG). They organised to ‘beat them up’ (v.5, MSG). We can often assume that if God is with us then we will not encounter any significant opposition. These incidents remind us that actually the opposite is often the case. Where God is at work the enemy tries to stir up opposition and difficulty.
Joy
Their happiness was not dependent on what was happening to them. They had a deep joy that came from God’s presence. As the psalmist writes, ‘Your presence is fullness of joy’ (Psalm 16:11, AMP). In the middle of all the opposition and after they had been forced to leave Antioch, they went on to the next town, Iconium, ‘brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples’ (Acts 13:52, MSG).
Boldness
The Holy Spirit gave them boldness in spite of opposition. In Antioch, ‘Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first” ’ (v.46). In Iconium, ‘Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord’ (14:3). In spite of opposition and ‘a plot afoot’ (v.5) they ‘continued to preach the good news’ (v.7).
Lord, fill me today with the Holy Spirit and with joy. Help me to speak so effectively that many will believe. Help me not to be put off by opposition, stirring or plots. Give me courage to speak boldly for the Lord. And Lord, I pray that you will confirm the message of your grace with miraculous signs and wonders."
1. Thank You that You are at work when the enemy tries to make it difficult for us. Thank You that we can source strength from You.
2. Thank You for the opportunities to travel. This is just an amazing channel to learn and enjoy this gift of life.
3. Thank You for new and fun friends we met from the trip.
Filled with God’s empowering presence
From the day of Pentecost, God’s empowering presence came upon his people. In today’s passage we read that they were, once again, ‘filled … with the Holy Spirit’ (13:52). Every Christian now has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them (Romans 8:9).
In this passage, we the see the impact of God’s empowering presence when people are filled with the Holy Spirit:
Effectiveness
In Antioch, crowds gathered to hear the word of the Lord (Acts 13:44–45). In Iconium, ‘they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed’ (14:1).
The Lord confirmed his message by enabling them to do signs and wonders (v.3). This does not mean that everyone in the church will necessarily enjoy perfect health in this life. Rather, we see an in-breaking of the future kingdom of God so that the gospel may go forth and triumph.
Opposition
In Antioch, some people ‘went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene’ (13:45, MSG). ‘They stirred up persecution … and expelled them from their region’ (v.50).
In Iconium, those who refused to believe ‘worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street’ (14:2, MSG). They organised to ‘beat them up’ (v.5, MSG). We can often assume that if God is with us then we will not encounter any significant opposition. These incidents remind us that actually the opposite is often the case. Where God is at work the enemy tries to stir up opposition and difficulty.
Joy
Their happiness was not dependent on what was happening to them. They had a deep joy that came from God’s presence. As the psalmist writes, ‘Your presence is fullness of joy’ (Psalm 16:11, AMP). In the middle of all the opposition and after they had been forced to leave Antioch, they went on to the next town, Iconium, ‘brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples’ (Acts 13:52, MSG).
Boldness
The Holy Spirit gave them boldness in spite of opposition. In Antioch, ‘Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first” ’ (v.46). In Iconium, ‘Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord’ (14:3). In spite of opposition and ‘a plot afoot’ (v.5) they ‘continued to preach the good news’ (v.7).
Lord, fill me today with the Holy Spirit and with joy. Help me to speak so effectively that many will believe. Help me not to be put off by opposition, stirring or plots. Give me courage to speak boldly for the Lord. And Lord, I pray that you will confirm the message of your grace with miraculous signs and wonders."
1. Thank You that You are at work when the enemy tries to make it difficult for us. Thank You that we can source strength from You.
2. Thank You for the opportunities to travel. This is just an amazing channel to learn and enjoy this gift of life.
3. Thank You for new and fun friends we met from the trip.
Friday, October 23, 2015
"Come, Holy Spirit"
"Spending time in the presence of God is the most important activity of our lives. We need God’s presence in our lives more than we need anything else. But where do we find the presence of God?
I remember so well the first time I heard someone pray one of the most ancient prayers of the church, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, with a real expectation that the Holy Spirit would come! It was on a Sunday night in 1982. We had a meeting in the crypt after our evening service at HTB. As we prayed, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ we saw remarkable events occur.
God is always present with his people today by his Holy Spirit. When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are asking for an increased sense of the presence of God. There are times in the New Testament when the Holy Spirit filled a gathering of people sovereignly and spontaneously (Acts 2:2; Acts 10:44). There are other times when the disciples prayed for the Holy Spirit: ‘After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 4:31).
In the Old Testament passage for today we read how ‘the glory of the Lord filled his temple’ (1 Kings 8:11). Each of the passages for today tells us something about how to enjoy God’s empowering presence that comes through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 76:1-12
Longing for God’s empowering presence
The temple in Jerusalem was not primarily a place of sacrifice, but the place of God’s presence. The psalmist writes, ‘In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling-place in Zion’ (vv.1–2). ‘Salem’ is the old Jebusite name for Jerusalem. ‘Zion’ is a word often used to refer to Jerusalem as the focal point of God’s presence (v.7, AMP), amongst his people in the Old Testament. This is the place of his tent (‘abode’, RSV). This is where God dwells.
This is why the people of God were so passionate about Jerusalem, and in particular the temple. They longed, as we all do deep inside, for the presence of God. The amazing truth is that, through Jesus, we can know the presence of God in and among us, his people, wherever we are. He dwells in us by his Spirit.
Lord, I long for your presence with me. Thank you that your dwelling place is with your people. Please fill us again today with your Holy Spirit and make your name great among us."
1. Thank You for Your presence even if at times I am stubborn or hard-headed. Thank You.
2. Thank You for the idea of discovery and adventure when it comes to food. It is one of those ways of understanding the culture.
3. Thank You for giving girl friends who give comfort and laughter.
I remember so well the first time I heard someone pray one of the most ancient prayers of the church, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, with a real expectation that the Holy Spirit would come! It was on a Sunday night in 1982. We had a meeting in the crypt after our evening service at HTB. As we prayed, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ we saw remarkable events occur.
God is always present with his people today by his Holy Spirit. When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are asking for an increased sense of the presence of God. There are times in the New Testament when the Holy Spirit filled a gathering of people sovereignly and spontaneously (Acts 2:2; Acts 10:44). There are other times when the disciples prayed for the Holy Spirit: ‘After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 4:31).
In the Old Testament passage for today we read how ‘the glory of the Lord filled his temple’ (1 Kings 8:11). Each of the passages for today tells us something about how to enjoy God’s empowering presence that comes through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 76:1-12
Longing for God’s empowering presence
The temple in Jerusalem was not primarily a place of sacrifice, but the place of God’s presence. The psalmist writes, ‘In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling-place in Zion’ (vv.1–2). ‘Salem’ is the old Jebusite name for Jerusalem. ‘Zion’ is a word often used to refer to Jerusalem as the focal point of God’s presence (v.7, AMP), amongst his people in the Old Testament. This is the place of his tent (‘abode’, RSV). This is where God dwells.
This is why the people of God were so passionate about Jerusalem, and in particular the temple. They longed, as we all do deep inside, for the presence of God. The amazing truth is that, through Jesus, we can know the presence of God in and among us, his people, wherever we are. He dwells in us by his Spirit.
Lord, I long for your presence with me. Thank you that your dwelling place is with your people. Please fill us again today with your Holy Spirit and make your name great among us."
1. Thank You for Your presence even if at times I am stubborn or hard-headed. Thank You.
2. Thank You for the idea of discovery and adventure when it comes to food. It is one of those ways of understanding the culture.
3. Thank You for giving girl friends who give comfort and laughter.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
We are God's House
"1 Kings 6:1-7:22
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit prefigured with symbolic typology
Have you ever wondered whether God is really interested in the details of your life? As we read the precise instructions for the building of the temple, we see how carefully God prepared, anticipated and prefigured the far greater temple that is unveiled in the New Testament. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘He is even more concerned about the particulars of your life. If something matters to you, it matters to Him!’
Typology is about symbolic representation. It is a key part of our understanding of the Old Testament as Christians. Some of the great New Testament truths are anticipated in the Old Testament history of salvation. For example, Adam is described as a type of Christ (Romans 5:14, NASB).
The temple in the Old Testament can be seen as ‘a type’ of the temple in the New Testament (the people of God). In this passage, we have a description of the temple, which Solomon spent seven years building (1 Kings 6:38). It was designed to be the dwelling place for the presence of God on earth: ‘I’ll personally take up my residence’ (v.13, MSG).
Hence, excellence was of the upmost importance because it was the place of God’s presence. God’s name was at stake. They did everything as well as they possibly could. It was ‘dazzling’ (v.22, MSG) and ‘no expense was spared’ (7:9, MSG). If excellence was a high value for them, it should be an even higher value for us now that God’s presence is in us.
The temple in the Old Testament points forward to the people of God. We are God’s house. God lives in us individually. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The church today is the holy temple of the Lord in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21–22). This is God’s ‘house’ today.
Lord, thank you for the inexhaustible treasures of the Bible. Help me to understand it better. Help me to interpret it faithfully. Open my eyes to see the wonderful things in your word. Help me to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the truth of the Bible expressed in all its different languages and images. Above all, help me to see Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead – the one whom the whole Bible is about."
1. Thank You for the Bible for it gives only what is true and good.
2. Thank You for giving me joy in teaching.
3. Thank You for surrounding me with great people.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit prefigured with symbolic typology
Have you ever wondered whether God is really interested in the details of your life? As we read the precise instructions for the building of the temple, we see how carefully God prepared, anticipated and prefigured the far greater temple that is unveiled in the New Testament. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘He is even more concerned about the particulars of your life. If something matters to you, it matters to Him!’
Typology is about symbolic representation. It is a key part of our understanding of the Old Testament as Christians. Some of the great New Testament truths are anticipated in the Old Testament history of salvation. For example, Adam is described as a type of Christ (Romans 5:14, NASB).
The temple in the Old Testament can be seen as ‘a type’ of the temple in the New Testament (the people of God). In this passage, we have a description of the temple, which Solomon spent seven years building (1 Kings 6:38). It was designed to be the dwelling place for the presence of God on earth: ‘I’ll personally take up my residence’ (v.13, MSG).
Hence, excellence was of the upmost importance because it was the place of God’s presence. God’s name was at stake. They did everything as well as they possibly could. It was ‘dazzling’ (v.22, MSG) and ‘no expense was spared’ (7:9, MSG). If excellence was a high value for them, it should be an even higher value for us now that God’s presence is in us.
The temple in the Old Testament points forward to the people of God. We are God’s house. God lives in us individually. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The church today is the holy temple of the Lord in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21–22). This is God’s ‘house’ today.
Lord, thank you for the inexhaustible treasures of the Bible. Help me to understand it better. Help me to interpret it faithfully. Open my eyes to see the wonderful things in your word. Help me to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the truth of the Bible expressed in all its different languages and images. Above all, help me to see Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead – the one whom the whole Bible is about."
1. Thank You for the Bible for it gives only what is true and good.
2. Thank You for giving me joy in teaching.
3. Thank You for surrounding me with great people.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
The Resurrection is Not a Metaphor
"Acts 13:13-41
The resurrection of Jesus attested with the language of history
How can you be sure that you have been forgiven? How can you know that death is not the end? How can you be assured that you will have eternal life?
You can be sure of all this because of the historical facts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Luke was writing history. Whereas the psalm for today is poetic, metaphorical, and non-literal, this passage is a different type of literature. At the beginning of his two-volume work (Luke and Acts), Luke says that the evidence of ‘eye-witness’ accounts have been handed down to them. He has carefully investigated everything and written an orderly account ‘so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught’ (Luke 1:3–4).
Today’s passage describes the history of Paul’s travels and reports his speech. Likewise, in his speech, Paul talks about historical facts. He speaks of the death and, in particular, the resurrection of Jesus. He makes four affirmations about the resurrection:
It was an act of God
‘They took him down from the cross and buried him. And then God raised him from death’ (Acts 13:29–30, MSG). What God had promised in the Old Testament, he fulfilled in the New Testament, by ‘raising up Jesus’ (v.33). It had been prophesied in the Old Testament (v.34). ‘He raised Jesus, exactly as described in the second Psalm’ (v.33, MSG).
It is a fact
‘The fact that God raised him from the dead …’ (v.34). The resurrection is not a metaphor. It is not something that is only experienced existentially within our hearts. It is, Paul says, a historical fact. The physical resurrection of Jesus actually happened. Jesus rose bodily from the dead.
‘There is no disputing that – he appeared over and over again many times and places to those who had known him well in the Galilean years, and these same people continue to give witness that he is alive’ (v.31, MSG).
It is unique
The resurrection of Jesus was a unique event in history. Paul contrasts Jesus with David, who ‘has been in the grave, dust and ashes, a long time now’ (v.36b, MSG). Others may have been resuscitated (and then later died), but Jesus was resurrected and his body never saw decay. ‘When he raised him from the dead, he did it for good – no going back to that rot and decay for him’ (v.34a, MSG).
It is good news (v.32)
This is the good news that Paul preached. The resurrection means that the cross was effective, and forgiveness of sins is possible (v.38). Everyone who believes is justified (v.39). Our past can be dealt with and we can live in a right relationship with God.
The historical fact of the resurrection has huge implications for our lives and for the future. If Jesus died, was buried and then raised by God, it means that one day, those who believe in him and have died, will be raised by God to eternal life (see 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
Thank you, Lord, for the amazing good news of the resurrection. Thank you that I need no longer fear death. Thank you that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he was seen by witnesses. Thank you that we have this message of the forgiveness of sins and that everyone who believes in Jesus is justified. Help me, like David, to serve your purpose in my generation by proclaiming this message to as many people as possible."
1. Thank You for the historical facts to affirm the resurrection! Halellujah!
2. The last exam is over! Praise God! Thank You for letting me pass my exam! :)
3. I am so relieved, thank You for giving rest to my mind and some time off.
The resurrection of Jesus attested with the language of history
How can you be sure that you have been forgiven? How can you know that death is not the end? How can you be assured that you will have eternal life?
You can be sure of all this because of the historical facts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Luke was writing history. Whereas the psalm for today is poetic, metaphorical, and non-literal, this passage is a different type of literature. At the beginning of his two-volume work (Luke and Acts), Luke says that the evidence of ‘eye-witness’ accounts have been handed down to them. He has carefully investigated everything and written an orderly account ‘so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught’ (Luke 1:3–4).
Today’s passage describes the history of Paul’s travels and reports his speech. Likewise, in his speech, Paul talks about historical facts. He speaks of the death and, in particular, the resurrection of Jesus. He makes four affirmations about the resurrection:
It was an act of God
‘They took him down from the cross and buried him. And then God raised him from death’ (Acts 13:29–30, MSG). What God had promised in the Old Testament, he fulfilled in the New Testament, by ‘raising up Jesus’ (v.33). It had been prophesied in the Old Testament (v.34). ‘He raised Jesus, exactly as described in the second Psalm’ (v.33, MSG).
It is a fact
‘The fact that God raised him from the dead …’ (v.34). The resurrection is not a metaphor. It is not something that is only experienced existentially within our hearts. It is, Paul says, a historical fact. The physical resurrection of Jesus actually happened. Jesus rose bodily from the dead.
‘There is no disputing that – he appeared over and over again many times and places to those who had known him well in the Galilean years, and these same people continue to give witness that he is alive’ (v.31, MSG).
It is unique
The resurrection of Jesus was a unique event in history. Paul contrasts Jesus with David, who ‘has been in the grave, dust and ashes, a long time now’ (v.36b, MSG). Others may have been resuscitated (and then later died), but Jesus was resurrected and his body never saw decay. ‘When he raised him from the dead, he did it for good – no going back to that rot and decay for him’ (v.34a, MSG).
It is good news (v.32)
This is the good news that Paul preached. The resurrection means that the cross was effective, and forgiveness of sins is possible (v.38). Everyone who believes is justified (v.39). Our past can be dealt with and we can live in a right relationship with God.
The historical fact of the resurrection has huge implications for our lives and for the future. If Jesus died, was buried and then raised by God, it means that one day, those who believe in him and have died, will be raised by God to eternal life (see 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
Thank you, Lord, for the amazing good news of the resurrection. Thank you that I need no longer fear death. Thank you that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he was seen by witnesses. Thank you that we have this message of the forgiveness of sins and that everyone who believes in Jesus is justified. Help me, like David, to serve your purpose in my generation by proclaiming this message to as many people as possible."
1. Thank You for the historical facts to affirm the resurrection! Halellujah!
2. The last exam is over! Praise God! Thank You for letting me pass my exam! :)
3. I am so relieved, thank You for giving rest to my mind and some time off.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Full of Treasure
"I first encountered Jesus through reading the Bible. Ever since, I have read it practically every day of my life. Even though I have read every passage in the Bible many times, I am constantly seeing and discovering new things. The treasures of the Bible are inexhaustible.
The Bible is full of treasure for you to read and digest, and through which you can encounter God. Yet it is not always an easy book to understand.
One key ingredient to understanding the Bible better is to recognise the language and genre that the writer is using. We need to ask such questions as: ‘What type of literature is this? and ‘What did the writer intend?’
In each of the passages for today we see examples of the different types of imagery and language used in the Bible.
Psalm 75:1-10
The justice of God described with powerful metaphors
Something can be ‘true’ without being ‘literal’. In this psalm we see examples of truth expressed in metaphor.
God’s justice is the foundation of our universe. In this psalm we see at least four metaphors about the justice of God.
Evil and its effects
The psalmist knew as well as we do that the earth is not held up literally by pillars. He is deliberately using metaphorical language that needs to be read as such. This is the language of poetry and it is every bit as true as ‘literal truth’.
The quaking of the earth (v.3a) and its peoples is a metaphor for the effects of evil. Immorality undermines the stability of earth and society. The Lord proclaims that he graciously upholds his creation: ‘It is I who hold its pillars firm’ (v.3b).
Power and its problems
‘Horns’ (v.4) symbolise power. Again the word is used metaphorically; this is poetic language. God exalts the horn (that is to say, power) of the righteous, and cuts off the horn (the power) of the wicked (v.10).
Ministry and its might
The ‘hand of the Lord’ (v.8) is used as a symbol of his might and power. This is anthropomorphic language: words that are used to ascribe human form or attributes to something that is not human.
When we ‘lay on hands’ in ministry – our hands themselves can do little, but they symbolise God’s mighty power working through us.
Judgment and Jesus
Likening God’s judgment to ‘a cup’ is another metaphor. ‘God has a cup in his hand, a bowl of wine, full to the brim. He draws from it and pours; it’s drained to the dregs. Earth’s wicked ones drink it all, drink it down to the last bitter drop!’ (v.8, MSG).
On the cross, Jesus bore in his own body the cup of God’s judgment. He spoke about it beforehand (Mark 10:38; Luke 22:42; John 18:11), and took the judgment that we deserve upon himself.
‘We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near’ (v.1). Thank you so much for your presence and your wonderful deeds. Thank you for your justice. Thank you that one day you will get rid of all evil from this world, and goodness and righteousness will prevail forever."
1. Thank You that though the Bible is difficult to grasp sometimes, it serves as the only source of truth and hope.
2. Thank You for how you have really woven our brains into a special machine that can take in a lot of information that no gadget can.
3. Thank You for a good rest and recreation that I still have hangover. :D
The Bible is full of treasure for you to read and digest, and through which you can encounter God. Yet it is not always an easy book to understand.
One key ingredient to understanding the Bible better is to recognise the language and genre that the writer is using. We need to ask such questions as: ‘What type of literature is this? and ‘What did the writer intend?’
In each of the passages for today we see examples of the different types of imagery and language used in the Bible.
Psalm 75:1-10
The justice of God described with powerful metaphors
Something can be ‘true’ without being ‘literal’. In this psalm we see examples of truth expressed in metaphor.
God’s justice is the foundation of our universe. In this psalm we see at least four metaphors about the justice of God.
Evil and its effects
The psalmist knew as well as we do that the earth is not held up literally by pillars. He is deliberately using metaphorical language that needs to be read as such. This is the language of poetry and it is every bit as true as ‘literal truth’.
The quaking of the earth (v.3a) and its peoples is a metaphor for the effects of evil. Immorality undermines the stability of earth and society. The Lord proclaims that he graciously upholds his creation: ‘It is I who hold its pillars firm’ (v.3b).
Power and its problems
‘Horns’ (v.4) symbolise power. Again the word is used metaphorically; this is poetic language. God exalts the horn (that is to say, power) of the righteous, and cuts off the horn (the power) of the wicked (v.10).
Ministry and its might
The ‘hand of the Lord’ (v.8) is used as a symbol of his might and power. This is anthropomorphic language: words that are used to ascribe human form or attributes to something that is not human.
When we ‘lay on hands’ in ministry – our hands themselves can do little, but they symbolise God’s mighty power working through us.
Judgment and Jesus
Likening God’s judgment to ‘a cup’ is another metaphor. ‘God has a cup in his hand, a bowl of wine, full to the brim. He draws from it and pours; it’s drained to the dregs. Earth’s wicked ones drink it all, drink it down to the last bitter drop!’ (v.8, MSG).
On the cross, Jesus bore in his own body the cup of God’s judgment. He spoke about it beforehand (Mark 10:38; Luke 22:42; John 18:11), and took the judgment that we deserve upon himself.
‘We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near’ (v.1). Thank you so much for your presence and your wonderful deeds. Thank you for your justice. Thank you that one day you will get rid of all evil from this world, and goodness and righteousness will prevail forever."
1. Thank You that though the Bible is difficult to grasp sometimes, it serves as the only source of truth and hope.
2. Thank You for how you have really woven our brains into a special machine that can take in a lot of information that no gadget can.
3. Thank You for a good rest and recreation that I still have hangover. :D
Monday, October 19, 2015
True Leadership
"1 Kings 3:16-5:18
Purpose in God’s cause
Solomon was called to serve the cause of God in a special way.
David had served God’s purpose in his own generation (Acts 13:36). However, he was not allowed to build the temple. God gave that calling to Solomon: ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name’ (1 Kings 5:5).
Solomon needed great wisdom in order to fulfil his calling. He had prayed for wisdom. God answered his prayer more than he could ever have asked or imagined. God promises to give you the same kind of wisdom if you ask for it (‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5)). You too can ask for wisdom in all these areas:
Wisdom in decision making
God gave him wisdom to administer ‘justice’ (3:28). We see an example of this in his dealing with the dispute over a baby. He is given the impossible task of deciding to which mother the baby belongs. In this desperate situation he comes up with an ingenious idea.
The threat of the death of the surviving baby is enough to reveal who the true mother really is. ‘When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice’ (v.28).
Wisdom in choosing a team
Solomon gathered around him a leadership team for his government. This included priests, managers, friends, secretaries, historians and the commander of his army. There were eleven in all, making a team of twelve. It is a similar size to Jesus’ core team (the twelve disciples). It seems to be about the right size for a leadership team.
Wisdom in delegation
In addition to this, Solomon had another team of twelve regional managers distributed through Israel. This included two of his own sons-in-law (vv.11,15). He knew that delegation was absolutely key to avoiding burnout and carrying out his leadership role.
Wisdom in peacemaking
Under his leadership there was so much growth that the people became ‘densely populated’ (v.20a, MSG). Nevertheless, ‘All their needs were met; they ate and drank and were happy’ (v.20b, MSG) and they ‘had peace on all sides ... [they] lived in safety’ (vv.24–25). As George Washington said, ‘Cultivate peace and harmony with all.’
Wisdom in insight and discernment
Then we are told, ‘God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore (v.29) … his fame spread (v.31) … He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five’ (v.32). Psalm 72 and 127, Proverbs 10:1–22:16; 25:1–29:27 are attributed to him. People from all nations came to listen to his wisdom (1 Kings 4:34).
Solomon had the wisdom to know when to accept help from those who were not part of the people of God (chapter 5). ‘The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him’ (5:12).
Wisdom in pursuing God’s cause
Solomon had the vision to build the temple in order to see God’s name honoured (vv.4–5). One of the ways in which you can pursue God’s cause today is by seeking to see the church (the new temple) built up in order to bring honour to God’s name.
Lord, please give us wisdom in order to fulfil our calling. Help us bring honour to your name and advance the cause of Jesus on earth."
1. Thank You God that we can be crazy and enjoy the moment and life that You have given.
2. Thank You for Your continuous protection for us from harm.
3. Thank You indeed for simple joys like playing fun card games.
4. Thank You for another great bonding times with my second family. :)
Purpose in God’s cause
Solomon was called to serve the cause of God in a special way.
David had served God’s purpose in his own generation (Acts 13:36). However, he was not allowed to build the temple. God gave that calling to Solomon: ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name’ (1 Kings 5:5).
Solomon needed great wisdom in order to fulfil his calling. He had prayed for wisdom. God answered his prayer more than he could ever have asked or imagined. God promises to give you the same kind of wisdom if you ask for it (‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5)). You too can ask for wisdom in all these areas:
Wisdom in decision making
God gave him wisdom to administer ‘justice’ (3:28). We see an example of this in his dealing with the dispute over a baby. He is given the impossible task of deciding to which mother the baby belongs. In this desperate situation he comes up with an ingenious idea.
The threat of the death of the surviving baby is enough to reveal who the true mother really is. ‘When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice’ (v.28).
Wisdom in choosing a team
Solomon gathered around him a leadership team for his government. This included priests, managers, friends, secretaries, historians and the commander of his army. There were eleven in all, making a team of twelve. It is a similar size to Jesus’ core team (the twelve disciples). It seems to be about the right size for a leadership team.
Wisdom in delegation
In addition to this, Solomon had another team of twelve regional managers distributed through Israel. This included two of his own sons-in-law (vv.11,15). He knew that delegation was absolutely key to avoiding burnout and carrying out his leadership role.
Wisdom in peacemaking
Under his leadership there was so much growth that the people became ‘densely populated’ (v.20a, MSG). Nevertheless, ‘All their needs were met; they ate and drank and were happy’ (v.20b, MSG) and they ‘had peace on all sides ... [they] lived in safety’ (vv.24–25). As George Washington said, ‘Cultivate peace and harmony with all.’
Wisdom in insight and discernment
Then we are told, ‘God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore (v.29) … his fame spread (v.31) … He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five’ (v.32). Psalm 72 and 127, Proverbs 10:1–22:16; 25:1–29:27 are attributed to him. People from all nations came to listen to his wisdom (1 Kings 4:34).
Solomon had the wisdom to know when to accept help from those who were not part of the people of God (chapter 5). ‘The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him’ (5:12).
Wisdom in pursuing God’s cause
Solomon had the vision to build the temple in order to see God’s name honoured (vv.4–5). One of the ways in which you can pursue God’s cause today is by seeking to see the church (the new temple) built up in order to bring honour to God’s name.
Lord, please give us wisdom in order to fulfil our calling. Help us bring honour to your name and advance the cause of Jesus on earth."
1. Thank You God that we can be crazy and enjoy the moment and life that You have given.
2. Thank You for Your continuous protection for us from harm.
3. Thank You indeed for simple joys like playing fun card games.
4. Thank You for another great bonding times with my second family. :)
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Not By My Own Strength
"Acts 12:19b-13:12
Pursuit of God’s cause
Ultimately, nothing can stop God’s cause.
Herod had success, popularity, power and great wealth. The people flattered him and shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a mere mortal’ (12:22). However, ‘That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod’s arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died’ (v.23, MSG).
This is contrasted with the word of God which, unlike Herod’s life, does not end: ‘But the word of God continued to increase and spread’ (v.24) – it grew in ‘leaps and bounds’ (v.24, MSG).
We see a similar situation in the final part of our passage, as God’s cause flourishes despite opposition once more. Saul (‘who was also called Paul’ (v.9)) and Barnabas were confronted by a charlatan called Bar-Jesus who was ‘as crooked as a corkscrew’ (v.7, MSG). He tried to stop the proconsul becoming a Christian.
Paul, ‘full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye’ (v.9, MSG), confronted him with his ‘schemes to cheat people out of God’ (v.10, MSG). Bar-Jesus was struck blind, and the Proconsul ‘became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master’ (v.12, MSG). Bar-Jesus’ attempts to thwart God actually achieve precisely the opposite to what he had hoped.
The early Christians were determined to find out what God was doing and join in. They gathered together to worship the Lord and fast (13:2). While they were doing this, the Holy Spirit spoke to them, ‘ “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off’ (vv.2–3).
Barnabas and Paul did not go off on their own initiative. Rather they were ‘sent on their way by the Holy Spirit’ (v.4). They were pursuing his cause. They ‘proclaimed the word of God’ (v.5). They were ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (v.9). Even the proconsul, an intelligent man (v.7), was amazed at Paul’s teaching ‘about the Lord’ (v.12). It is so important that you seek God’s guidance and help – in your ministry and in your life. With God on your side you can achieve so much more than you could ever dream of in your own strength.
Lord, I do not want to go off and do my own thing. I want to hear your voice. Please speak to me by your Holy Spirit. Help me to know what you are calling me to do. I want to proclaim the word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit and pursue your cause with passion."
1. Yes, Lord, I don't want to go off and do my own thing. Thank You for providing guidance and may I listen to You always.
2. Thank You for letting me be a part of an amazingly, unforgettable wedding event.
3. Thank You for the love that You give to all of us. Thank You for wonderful memories.
Pursuit of God’s cause
Ultimately, nothing can stop God’s cause.
Herod had success, popularity, power and great wealth. The people flattered him and shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a mere mortal’ (12:22). However, ‘That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod’s arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died’ (v.23, MSG).
This is contrasted with the word of God which, unlike Herod’s life, does not end: ‘But the word of God continued to increase and spread’ (v.24) – it grew in ‘leaps and bounds’ (v.24, MSG).
We see a similar situation in the final part of our passage, as God’s cause flourishes despite opposition once more. Saul (‘who was also called Paul’ (v.9)) and Barnabas were confronted by a charlatan called Bar-Jesus who was ‘as crooked as a corkscrew’ (v.7, MSG). He tried to stop the proconsul becoming a Christian.
Paul, ‘full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye’ (v.9, MSG), confronted him with his ‘schemes to cheat people out of God’ (v.10, MSG). Bar-Jesus was struck blind, and the Proconsul ‘became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master’ (v.12, MSG). Bar-Jesus’ attempts to thwart God actually achieve precisely the opposite to what he had hoped.
The early Christians were determined to find out what God was doing and join in. They gathered together to worship the Lord and fast (13:2). While they were doing this, the Holy Spirit spoke to them, ‘ “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off’ (vv.2–3).
Barnabas and Paul did not go off on their own initiative. Rather they were ‘sent on their way by the Holy Spirit’ (v.4). They were pursuing his cause. They ‘proclaimed the word of God’ (v.5). They were ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (v.9). Even the proconsul, an intelligent man (v.7), was amazed at Paul’s teaching ‘about the Lord’ (v.12). It is so important that you seek God’s guidance and help – in your ministry and in your life. With God on your side you can achieve so much more than you could ever dream of in your own strength.
Lord, I do not want to go off and do my own thing. I want to hear your voice. Please speak to me by your Holy Spirit. Help me to know what you are calling me to do. I want to proclaim the word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit and pursue your cause with passion."
1. Yes, Lord, I don't want to go off and do my own thing. Thank You for providing guidance and may I listen to You always.
2. Thank You for letting me be a part of an amazingly, unforgettable wedding event.
3. Thank You for the love that You give to all of us. Thank You for wonderful memories.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Defend Thy Cause
"At a recent Alpha Conference, someone handed me a scrap of paper with a note describing what had happened to her friend:
‘Sue (who was not a Christian) was attending a rehab clinic for people with severe respiratory problems. She had a chronic condition (COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) that was getting progressively worse. The clinic meets at our church building. She arrived for her clinic, but there was no one there (she had got the wrong date!). She waited around and had a look through flyers on our next Alpha.
‘Sue turned up for our course on Wednesday evening. She soaked it all up and was full of excitement and interest. She came to church on the Sunday and was back again on the Wednesday. It suddenly clicked for Sue that Jesus is God! A huge piece of the jigsaw for her. She gave her life to the Lord – dramatic. She called her sister to tell her she had become a Christian and her sister was in the middle of a meeting with a friend to pray for Sue! She had been praying for her for twenty-five years!
‘The following Sunday – Sue came to church, came forward for prayer for healing and was remarkably healed of her COPD. [She has been] running up and down stairs at home, off her medications, etc! She met with her physio at the medical clinic who was astonished at what had happened to her – remarkable difference. She has been healed and has since prayed for and seen others healed, including one of cancer!
‘On 30 April Sue was baptised and brought over 150 friends and family to celebrate with her. She is having a huge impact on people – evangelising to anyone that will stand still long enough to listen!’
John Wimber often used to say that we need three conversions: to be converted to Christ, converted to his church and converted to his cause. Sue was obviously not only converted to Christ, but also instantly converted to his cause!
Psalm 74:18-23
Passion for God’s cause
The psalmist is passionate about God’s cause. He sees, as we see today, people mocking (v.18a) and even reviling God (v.18b). He cries out to God, ‘Don’t forget us. Remember your promises’ (vv.19b–20a, MSG).
It can be easy to become down-hearted when we see people attacking God’s cause. The psalmist shows us the best way to respond – passionate prayer. He brings his frustrations to God; ‘Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. Do not ignore the clamour of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually’ (vv.22–23).
Lord, as we look around at our society today we see many who mock and revile your name. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause. Thank you that it is your cause we serve. May your name be glorified. May your kingdom come."
1. Thank You that I can come to you anytime through prayer.
2. Praise God for a safe flight to Da Nang and for Your protection.
3. Hallelujah for travel opportunities. Thank You for the chance to see the beauty and coolness of Da Nang and for the history depicted by Hoi An.
‘Sue (who was not a Christian) was attending a rehab clinic for people with severe respiratory problems. She had a chronic condition (COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) that was getting progressively worse. The clinic meets at our church building. She arrived for her clinic, but there was no one there (she had got the wrong date!). She waited around and had a look through flyers on our next Alpha.
‘Sue turned up for our course on Wednesday evening. She soaked it all up and was full of excitement and interest. She came to church on the Sunday and was back again on the Wednesday. It suddenly clicked for Sue that Jesus is God! A huge piece of the jigsaw for her. She gave her life to the Lord – dramatic. She called her sister to tell her she had become a Christian and her sister was in the middle of a meeting with a friend to pray for Sue! She had been praying for her for twenty-five years!
‘The following Sunday – Sue came to church, came forward for prayer for healing and was remarkably healed of her COPD. [She has been] running up and down stairs at home, off her medications, etc! She met with her physio at the medical clinic who was astonished at what had happened to her – remarkable difference. She has been healed and has since prayed for and seen others healed, including one of cancer!
‘On 30 April Sue was baptised and brought over 150 friends and family to celebrate with her. She is having a huge impact on people – evangelising to anyone that will stand still long enough to listen!’
John Wimber often used to say that we need three conversions: to be converted to Christ, converted to his church and converted to his cause. Sue was obviously not only converted to Christ, but also instantly converted to his cause!
Psalm 74:18-23
Passion for God’s cause
The psalmist is passionate about God’s cause. He sees, as we see today, people mocking (v.18a) and even reviling God (v.18b). He cries out to God, ‘Don’t forget us. Remember your promises’ (vv.19b–20a, MSG).
It can be easy to become down-hearted when we see people attacking God’s cause. The psalmist shows us the best way to respond – passionate prayer. He brings his frustrations to God; ‘Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. Do not ignore the clamour of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually’ (vv.22–23).
Lord, as we look around at our society today we see many who mock and revile your name. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause. Thank you that it is your cause we serve. May your name be glorified. May your kingdom come."
1. Thank You that I can come to you anytime through prayer.
2. Praise God for a safe flight to Da Nang and for Your protection.
3. Hallelujah for travel opportunities. Thank You for the chance to see the beauty and coolness of Da Nang and for the history depicted by Hoi An.
Friday, October 16, 2015
That Kind of Wisdom
"1 Kings 2:13-3:15
Pray for wisdom
Solomon ensured his long tenure by liquidating all his enemies early in his reign (chapter 2). How different was the action of this son of David compared to Jesus, ‘the Son of David’, who brought life to everyone and taught us to love our enemies. He is the one who reigns eternally.
However, there was at least one thing that Solomon definitely did do right. God said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you’ (3:5). His response demonstrated humility and a recognition of his need for God. Solomon prayed, ‘Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong’ (v.9).
God was delighted with Solomon's response. He said to him, ‘Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for – I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after. As a bonus, I’m giving you both the wealth and glory you didn’t ask for – I’ll also give you a long life’ (vv.10–14, MSG).
Jesus said, ‘Seek first his [your heavenly Father’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33). In effect, by praying for wisdom, Solomon was seeking first the kingdom of God. God said to him that as a result, all the other things would be his as well.
The offer of wisdom does not just apply to Solomon. James writes, ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5).
What will this wisdom be like? James gives the answer, ‘The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere’ (James 3:17).
Lord, I need your wisdom. Give me a wise and discerning heart in every situation I face. Lord, I pray for wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
1. Thank You that You know what is in our hearts, You know what is best for me.
2. Thank You for the reunion! Thank You that You have brought them safe here in Vietnam.
3. Thank You for a wonderfully patient sign language teacher. You have let me meet amazing people who change my life.
Pray for wisdom
Solomon ensured his long tenure by liquidating all his enemies early in his reign (chapter 2). How different was the action of this son of David compared to Jesus, ‘the Son of David’, who brought life to everyone and taught us to love our enemies. He is the one who reigns eternally.
However, there was at least one thing that Solomon definitely did do right. God said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you’ (3:5). His response demonstrated humility and a recognition of his need for God. Solomon prayed, ‘Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong’ (v.9).
God was delighted with Solomon's response. He said to him, ‘Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for – I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after. As a bonus, I’m giving you both the wealth and glory you didn’t ask for – I’ll also give you a long life’ (vv.10–14, MSG).
Jesus said, ‘Seek first his [your heavenly Father’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33). In effect, by praying for wisdom, Solomon was seeking first the kingdom of God. God said to him that as a result, all the other things would be his as well.
The offer of wisdom does not just apply to Solomon. James writes, ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5).
What will this wisdom be like? James gives the answer, ‘The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere’ (James 3:17).
Lord, I need your wisdom. Give me a wise and discerning heart in every situation I face. Lord, I pray for wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
1. Thank You that You know what is in our hearts, You know what is best for me.
2. Thank You for the reunion! Thank You that You have brought them safe here in Vietnam.
3. Thank You for a wonderfully patient sign language teacher. You have let me meet amazing people who change my life.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Pray, pray, pray!
"Acts 11:19-12:19a
Pray with passion
It was the equivalent of London, Paris or New York. Antioch was a wealthy, cosmopolitan capital of the East, renowned for its buildings and culture. It was also a city with a bad reputation – full of prostitutes, nightclubs and drinking dens. It was renowned for its lax moral standards.
This city was transformed, and it became a distinguished Christian city and the springboard for Christian mission to the entire Gentile world. The Lord’s hand was with them and ‘a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord’ (v.21).
God used Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of encouragement’. Encouragement is not flattery or empty praise; it is like verbal sunshine. It costs nothing and warms other people’s hearts and inspires them with hope and confidence in their faith. We need those around us who are like Barnabas. And we can all be like Barnabas to other people.
Barnabas ‘encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord’ (vv.23–24).
It was not a hit and run visit: ‘For a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch’ (v.26).
There was a release of finance. Each gave ‘according to his ability ... to provide help’ for those in need (v.29). This is an important principle of the Christian community – those who can afford help to pay for those who can’t.
This was a period of great blessing and massive church growth. However, they also faced a rising tide of opposition.
The Judean King Herod Agrippa I (c.10BC – 44AD) had a cruel streak, which he inherited from his grandfather, Herod the Great (c.74BC–4AD), and his uncle Herod Antipas (21BC–39AD) who had executed John the Baptist and tried Jesus. He took to persecuting Christians. He was an unscrupulous politician who wanted to gain popularity with the people (12:1–3). He had James executed. Peter was in prison and Herod planned a public lynching (v.4, MSG).
Peter was guarded by four squads of four soldiers each (v.4). He had double the usual guard and chains on both hands (v.6). Peter himself ‘slept like a baby’ (v.6, MSG). It has been said that there is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience!
The church faced a seemingly impossible situation. The very existence of the early church seemed to be at stake. What did they do? What are we to do in situations that are seemingly impossible? We see the answer in verse 5: ‘The church was earnestly praying to God for [Peter]’.
Pray together
‘The church’ (v.5) joined together in prayer. ‘Many people had gathered and were praying’ (v.12). The New Testament teaches a lot about private prayer, but there is even more about praying together.
Pray earnestly
There are two reasons why they might not have prayed at all. First, James had been executed (v.2). God had not answered their prayers for James. We don’t know why, but it did not stop them praying.
Second, Peter’s situation seemed impossible. Their choice was either to give up praying or to pray passionately. The Greek word ekten_s (translated here as ‘earnestly’) was used to describe a horse made to go at full gallop. It denotes the taut muscle of strenuous and sustained effort as of an athlete.
The imperfect tense suggests that they prayed not as a one-off, but for a considerable length of time. They persevered.
Pray to God
When we pray, we are not just talking to ourselves, or praying eloquent prayers to impress those who hear us. Prayer to God means having an audience with God. It means actually coming into the presence of God – asking and receiving.
Pray for others
They prayed for Peter (v.5). There are many types of prayer: worship, praise, thanksgiving, petition, and so on – but here we read of intercessory prayer. They prayed for him because they loved him. Intercessory prayer is an act of love.
This was an extraordinary prayer meeting, and the results are evident (vv.6–15). In answer to their prayers God acted supernaturally. Peter was freed the night before his trial. God’s answer involved visions, angels and chains falling off (vv.6–9). Obstacles were removed. The guards did not bar the prisoners’ escape, and the iron gate to the city opened in front of them (v.10).
Peter then turned up at the prayer meeting, but his release was so extraordinary that the girl who answered the door forgot to let him in, and no one else believed it was actually him (vv.12–15)!
John Stott writes of verse 15, ‘It is ironic that the group who were praying fervently and persistently for Peter’s deliverance should regard as mad the person who informed them that that their prayers had been answered.’
The word of God continued to increase and spread (v.24). As John Stott writes, ‘The chapter opens with James dead, Peter in prison and Herod triumphing; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free and the word of God triumphing.’
Lord, help us to pray like the early church who prayed together, praying to you and praying passionately for others. May your hand be with us and may we too see a great number of people believing and turning to the Lord."
1. Thank You Lord for always showing that nothing is impossible with You!
2. One more exam down. Hallelujah! =)
3. Thank You for having friends everywhere! Thank You that I have met their families.
Pray with passion
It was the equivalent of London, Paris or New York. Antioch was a wealthy, cosmopolitan capital of the East, renowned for its buildings and culture. It was also a city with a bad reputation – full of prostitutes, nightclubs and drinking dens. It was renowned for its lax moral standards.
This city was transformed, and it became a distinguished Christian city and the springboard for Christian mission to the entire Gentile world. The Lord’s hand was with them and ‘a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord’ (v.21).
God used Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of encouragement’. Encouragement is not flattery or empty praise; it is like verbal sunshine. It costs nothing and warms other people’s hearts and inspires them with hope and confidence in their faith. We need those around us who are like Barnabas. And we can all be like Barnabas to other people.
Barnabas ‘encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord’ (vv.23–24).
It was not a hit and run visit: ‘For a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch’ (v.26).
There was a release of finance. Each gave ‘according to his ability ... to provide help’ for those in need (v.29). This is an important principle of the Christian community – those who can afford help to pay for those who can’t.
This was a period of great blessing and massive church growth. However, they also faced a rising tide of opposition.
The Judean King Herod Agrippa I (c.10BC – 44AD) had a cruel streak, which he inherited from his grandfather, Herod the Great (c.74BC–4AD), and his uncle Herod Antipas (21BC–39AD) who had executed John the Baptist and tried Jesus. He took to persecuting Christians. He was an unscrupulous politician who wanted to gain popularity with the people (12:1–3). He had James executed. Peter was in prison and Herod planned a public lynching (v.4, MSG).
Peter was guarded by four squads of four soldiers each (v.4). He had double the usual guard and chains on both hands (v.6). Peter himself ‘slept like a baby’ (v.6, MSG). It has been said that there is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience!
The church faced a seemingly impossible situation. The very existence of the early church seemed to be at stake. What did they do? What are we to do in situations that are seemingly impossible? We see the answer in verse 5: ‘The church was earnestly praying to God for [Peter]’.
Pray together
‘The church’ (v.5) joined together in prayer. ‘Many people had gathered and were praying’ (v.12). The New Testament teaches a lot about private prayer, but there is even more about praying together.
Pray earnestly
There are two reasons why they might not have prayed at all. First, James had been executed (v.2). God had not answered their prayers for James. We don’t know why, but it did not stop them praying.
Second, Peter’s situation seemed impossible. Their choice was either to give up praying or to pray passionately. The Greek word ekten_s (translated here as ‘earnestly’) was used to describe a horse made to go at full gallop. It denotes the taut muscle of strenuous and sustained effort as of an athlete.
The imperfect tense suggests that they prayed not as a one-off, but for a considerable length of time. They persevered.
Pray to God
When we pray, we are not just talking to ourselves, or praying eloquent prayers to impress those who hear us. Prayer to God means having an audience with God. It means actually coming into the presence of God – asking and receiving.
Pray for others
They prayed for Peter (v.5). There are many types of prayer: worship, praise, thanksgiving, petition, and so on – but here we read of intercessory prayer. They prayed for him because they loved him. Intercessory prayer is an act of love.
This was an extraordinary prayer meeting, and the results are evident (vv.6–15). In answer to their prayers God acted supernaturally. Peter was freed the night before his trial. God’s answer involved visions, angels and chains falling off (vv.6–9). Obstacles were removed. The guards did not bar the prisoners’ escape, and the iron gate to the city opened in front of them (v.10).
Peter then turned up at the prayer meeting, but his release was so extraordinary that the girl who answered the door forgot to let him in, and no one else believed it was actually him (vv.12–15)!
John Stott writes of verse 15, ‘It is ironic that the group who were praying fervently and persistently for Peter’s deliverance should regard as mad the person who informed them that that their prayers had been answered.’
The word of God continued to increase and spread (v.24). As John Stott writes, ‘The chapter opens with James dead, Peter in prison and Herod triumphing; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free and the word of God triumphing.’
Lord, help us to pray like the early church who prayed together, praying to you and praying passionately for others. May your hand be with us and may we too see a great number of people believing and turning to the Lord."
1. Thank You Lord for always showing that nothing is impossible with You!
2. One more exam down. Hallelujah! =)
3. Thank You for having friends everywhere! Thank You that I have met their families.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Praying and Obeying
"In February 2009 we did an Alpha Conference at the largest church in the world. Eleven thousand people came to Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea. The church has seven services each Sunday and many satellite services. The huge venue and multiple services cannot accommodate the whole congregation, which now numbers over 800,000.
Dr Paul Yonggi Cho was converted from Buddhism as a young man. He started Yoido Church fifty years ago and it has seen phenomenal growth. He was once asked, ‘Dr Cho, how did you build such a great church?’ Without a moment’s hesitation, he replied: ‘I pray and I obey.’ In his book, The Fourth Dimension, Dr Cho describes a life of praying and obeying – the world of answered prayer, dynamic faith and true communion with God.
Proverbs 15:1-10
Pray and bless
The writer of Proverbs contrasts ‘the wicked’ with those who pray and obey: ‘The lives of God-loyal people flourish ... he delights in genuine prayers. A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line’ (vv.6a,8b,9, MSG). If we live like this we will bring great blessing to others.
One important aspect of this is what we say. Our words can transform lives. Whereas ‘cutting words wound and maim’, ‘kind words heal and help’ (v.4, MSG). Even when others are angry towards us we are reminded that ‘a gentle response defuses anger’ (v.1a, MSG). We are called to use our words to heal, help and encourage others.
Thank you, Lord, that the prayer of the upright pleases you and that you love those who pursue righteousness. Help me to pray and use my words to bring blessing to others."
1. Thank You that I can choose to give a gentle response even when others are angry.
2. Thank You for funny experiences in life.
3. Another exam done, thank You for the ability to retain information.
Dr Paul Yonggi Cho was converted from Buddhism as a young man. He started Yoido Church fifty years ago and it has seen phenomenal growth. He was once asked, ‘Dr Cho, how did you build such a great church?’ Without a moment’s hesitation, he replied: ‘I pray and I obey.’ In his book, The Fourth Dimension, Dr Cho describes a life of praying and obeying – the world of answered prayer, dynamic faith and true communion with God.
Proverbs 15:1-10
Pray and bless
The writer of Proverbs contrasts ‘the wicked’ with those who pray and obey: ‘The lives of God-loyal people flourish ... he delights in genuine prayers. A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line’ (vv.6a,8b,9, MSG). If we live like this we will bring great blessing to others.
One important aspect of this is what we say. Our words can transform lives. Whereas ‘cutting words wound and maim’, ‘kind words heal and help’ (v.4, MSG). Even when others are angry towards us we are reminded that ‘a gentle response defuses anger’ (v.1a, MSG). We are called to use our words to heal, help and encourage others.
Thank you, Lord, that the prayer of the upright pleases you and that you love those who pursue righteousness. Help me to pray and use my words to bring blessing to others."
1. Thank You that I can choose to give a gentle response even when others are angry.
2. Thank You for funny experiences in life.
3. Another exam done, thank You for the ability to retain information.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
His Sovereignty
"1 Kings 1-2:12
The anointing of God
Solomon was God’s anointed successor for David. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king over Israel (1:34).
Adonijah made the mistake of trying to set himself up as king without reference to God. ‘He put himself forward and said, “I will be king” ’ (v.5). It is a foolish thing to ignore God, and in this case it actually meant opposing God’s plans for Solomon. He did not succeed.
David gave this charge to his anointed successor: ‘I’m about to go the way of all the earth, but you – be strong; show what you’re made of! Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you’ll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go’ (2:2–3, MSG).
David’s words are a great reminder to us. God’s anointing of all believers with the Holy Spirit does not negate our need to obey God’s word. Obedience of God’s word (v.3a) must accompany God’s anointing (v.3b). We are given the Spirit of God to empower us to obey the Word of God.
Neither David, nor Solomon, nor any other king of Israel, was able to keep God’s decrees and commands perfectly. It is only Jesus, the final Davidic King, who is the fully obedient, eternal, anointed King. He is the one who does ‘walk faithfully before [God] ... with all [his] heart and soul’ (v.4).
The book of Kings is, as Eugene Peterson puts it, ‘a relentless exposition of failure’. Yet God continues to work out his sovereign purposes – often silently and hidden. God’s sovereignty is never cancelled out even by deeply sin-flawed leaders (‘kings’). This means that you can trust his sovereignty in your life, your church and your culture.
Lord, help me to follow Jesus, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. As I face ‘opposition and enemies’ I need the power and anointing of your Holy Spirit. Help me never to find myself in the position of opposing God. Help me to be strong and to walk in your ways and to walk faithfully before you with all my heart and soul (v.4)."
1. Thank You for giving Jesus to me. Thank You.
2. Thank You that You are the architect of my life.
3. Thank You for the energy to do my reviews.
The anointing of God
Solomon was God’s anointed successor for David. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king over Israel (1:34).
Adonijah made the mistake of trying to set himself up as king without reference to God. ‘He put himself forward and said, “I will be king” ’ (v.5). It is a foolish thing to ignore God, and in this case it actually meant opposing God’s plans for Solomon. He did not succeed.
David gave this charge to his anointed successor: ‘I’m about to go the way of all the earth, but you – be strong; show what you’re made of! Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you’ll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go’ (2:2–3, MSG).
David’s words are a great reminder to us. God’s anointing of all believers with the Holy Spirit does not negate our need to obey God’s word. Obedience of God’s word (v.3a) must accompany God’s anointing (v.3b). We are given the Spirit of God to empower us to obey the Word of God.
Neither David, nor Solomon, nor any other king of Israel, was able to keep God’s decrees and commands perfectly. It is only Jesus, the final Davidic King, who is the fully obedient, eternal, anointed King. He is the one who does ‘walk faithfully before [God] ... with all [his] heart and soul’ (v.4).
The book of Kings is, as Eugene Peterson puts it, ‘a relentless exposition of failure’. Yet God continues to work out his sovereign purposes – often silently and hidden. God’s sovereignty is never cancelled out even by deeply sin-flawed leaders (‘kings’). This means that you can trust his sovereignty in your life, your church and your culture.
Lord, help me to follow Jesus, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. As I face ‘opposition and enemies’ I need the power and anointing of your Holy Spirit. Help me never to find myself in the position of opposing God. Help me to be strong and to walk in your ways and to walk faithfully before you with all my heart and soul (v.4)."
1. Thank You for giving Jesus to me. Thank You.
2. Thank You that You are the architect of my life.
3. Thank You for the energy to do my reviews.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Shalom
"Acts 10:23b-11:18
The Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit led Peter through a vision to the house of Cornelius. When he got there he discovered that God had also spoken to Cornelius through another vision. When he heard this, Peter ‘fairly exploded with his good news’ (v.34, MSG) – the good news of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all (v.36).
The Greek word for ‘peace’ takes on the meaning of the Hebrew word ‘shalom’. It means far more than an absence of hostility. It means ‘completeness’, ‘soundness’, ‘well-being’, ‘every kind of blessing and good’. It means harmony and concord between people. It means spiritual well-being.
The good news is that you have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross reconciled you to God. He made peace and that peace may now be received as a gift.
You too should be a peacemaker as you seek to lead others to peace with God and as you bring peace into your home, place of work, community and nation.
Peter goes on to speak about ‘how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him’ (v.38). He told them about the cross and the resurrection, about faith and the forgiveness of sins (v.43).
While Peter was still proclaiming the good news about Jesus, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message (v.44). ‘The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on “outsider” non-Jews’ (v.45, MSG).
We recognise this to be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, because what had happened to the apostles on the day of Pentecost was now happening to this group – ‘for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God’ (v.46).
Peter’s response was, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptised with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have’ (v.47).
News travelled fast – the Jewish believers were worried that ‘rubbing shoulders’ with these ‘non-Jews’ would ruin their good name (11:3, MSG).
Those who had not been there at the time ‘criticised him’ (v.2). But Peter explains (v.4). He tells the story of how he was led by the Holy Spirit – ‘the Spirit told me …’ (v.12).
He goes on, ‘As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning … So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” ’ (vv.15–17).
‘Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. “It’s really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!” ’ (v.18, MSG). Peter’s explanation was the answer to the criticism. Sometimes, when we are criticised, the answer is simply to give an explanation.
Lord, thank you that we see this same gift of the Holy Spirit given to all who believe in you, regardless of what part of the church or denomination they come from. May we never be found opposing you but rather following the guidance of your Holy Spirit.
1. Thank You Lord for the gift that is for everyone, including me.
2. Thank You for having understanding English students.
3. Thank You for the strength as more exams are coming up.
The Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit led Peter through a vision to the house of Cornelius. When he got there he discovered that God had also spoken to Cornelius through another vision. When he heard this, Peter ‘fairly exploded with his good news’ (v.34, MSG) – the good news of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all (v.36).
The Greek word for ‘peace’ takes on the meaning of the Hebrew word ‘shalom’. It means far more than an absence of hostility. It means ‘completeness’, ‘soundness’, ‘well-being’, ‘every kind of blessing and good’. It means harmony and concord between people. It means spiritual well-being.
The good news is that you have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross reconciled you to God. He made peace and that peace may now be received as a gift.
You too should be a peacemaker as you seek to lead others to peace with God and as you bring peace into your home, place of work, community and nation.
Peter goes on to speak about ‘how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him’ (v.38). He told them about the cross and the resurrection, about faith and the forgiveness of sins (v.43).
While Peter was still proclaiming the good news about Jesus, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message (v.44). ‘The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on “outsider” non-Jews’ (v.45, MSG).
We recognise this to be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, because what had happened to the apostles on the day of Pentecost was now happening to this group – ‘for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God’ (v.46).
Peter’s response was, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptised with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have’ (v.47).
News travelled fast – the Jewish believers were worried that ‘rubbing shoulders’ with these ‘non-Jews’ would ruin their good name (11:3, MSG).
Those who had not been there at the time ‘criticised him’ (v.2). But Peter explains (v.4). He tells the story of how he was led by the Holy Spirit – ‘the Spirit told me …’ (v.12).
He goes on, ‘As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning … So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” ’ (vv.15–17).
‘Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. “It’s really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!” ’ (v.18, MSG). Peter’s explanation was the answer to the criticism. Sometimes, when we are criticised, the answer is simply to give an explanation.
Lord, thank you that we see this same gift of the Holy Spirit given to all who believe in you, regardless of what part of the church or denomination they come from. May we never be found opposing you but rather following the guidance of your Holy Spirit.
1. Thank You Lord for the gift that is for everyone, including me.
2. Thank You for having understanding English students.
3. Thank You for the strength as more exams are coming up.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Facing Opposition
"I remember so well the time when Alpha started in the Catholic Church. Bishop Ambrose of Newcastle and Hexham heard what was happening with Alpha in some of the Anglican churches. He became interested and wanted to find out more. However, he did not want to let us know he was interested. So, he sent two Roman Catholic priests to a London Alpha Conference in disguise! They went back to their parishes and started running the course, to great success.
As a result of that, Cardinal Hume invited us to hold a conference for Catholics at Westminster Cathedral. The place was packed out with 450 Catholic priests and laity. A few people were very critical of us doing a conference for Catholics. One or two churches even threatened to stop running Alpha if we went ahead with the conference. With hindsight it seems quite extraordinary that anybody could object, but at the time it was of some concern.
On the first night of the conference there was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and singing in tongues like we had never heard before. I went home that night and read the passage for today, ‘If God gave them the same gift as he gave us ... who was I to think that I could oppose God?’ (Acts 11:17). It was the same Holy Spirit who was poured out on them as on us. I realised that if we did not continue to work together I would be opposing God.
The most foolish thing that any human being can do is oppose God. Jesus was opposed. ‘They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen’ (Acts 10:39–40). Contrastingly, the most wonderful privilege any human being can have is to be a follower of Jesus of Nazareth whom ‘God anointed … with the Holy Spirit and power’ (Acts 10:38).
In our passages for today we find further insights into who the Holy Spirit is, what the Spirit’s ‘power’ and ‘anointing’ is like, and why it is foolish to oppose God.
Psalm 74:10-17
The power of God
When you are facing opposition it is good to remember the power of God. The psalmist is faced by enemies who are reviling God’s name (v.10). He recalls the power of God, first in his own life (v.12), and then over all of creation (vv.13–17).
These verses draw on the rich mythology of the ancient Near East. Creation was seen as a victory of the gods over the forces of chaos and destruction, often represented by the raging sea, and ‘the monster’ also called ‘Leviathan’ (as in vv,13–14). The sun and moon were worshipped as gods. Yet, in this psalm the writer sweeps aside those myths and declares that it was God who created and established the world, bringing order out of nothing and ‘establishing the sun and moon’ (v.16).
There is always a temptation to make ‘other things’ more important than our relationship with God. Devotion to ‘other gods’ was one of the key temptations and weaknesses of God’s people in the Old Testament. The words of the psalmist were meant to remind people who God was and why it would be foolish to oppose God by going after other gods.
Lord, thank you that you are the one true God who brings salvation upon the earth. Help me to resist the temptation to make anything else more important than you in my life."
1. Thank You for salvation!
2. Thank You for having the time to review for an exam.
3. Thank You for safe arrival of a friend.
As a result of that, Cardinal Hume invited us to hold a conference for Catholics at Westminster Cathedral. The place was packed out with 450 Catholic priests and laity. A few people were very critical of us doing a conference for Catholics. One or two churches even threatened to stop running Alpha if we went ahead with the conference. With hindsight it seems quite extraordinary that anybody could object, but at the time it was of some concern.
On the first night of the conference there was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and singing in tongues like we had never heard before. I went home that night and read the passage for today, ‘If God gave them the same gift as he gave us ... who was I to think that I could oppose God?’ (Acts 11:17). It was the same Holy Spirit who was poured out on them as on us. I realised that if we did not continue to work together I would be opposing God.
The most foolish thing that any human being can do is oppose God. Jesus was opposed. ‘They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen’ (Acts 10:39–40). Contrastingly, the most wonderful privilege any human being can have is to be a follower of Jesus of Nazareth whom ‘God anointed … with the Holy Spirit and power’ (Acts 10:38).
In our passages for today we find further insights into who the Holy Spirit is, what the Spirit’s ‘power’ and ‘anointing’ is like, and why it is foolish to oppose God.
Psalm 74:10-17
The power of God
When you are facing opposition it is good to remember the power of God. The psalmist is faced by enemies who are reviling God’s name (v.10). He recalls the power of God, first in his own life (v.12), and then over all of creation (vv.13–17).
These verses draw on the rich mythology of the ancient Near East. Creation was seen as a victory of the gods over the forces of chaos and destruction, often represented by the raging sea, and ‘the monster’ also called ‘Leviathan’ (as in vv,13–14). The sun and moon were worshipped as gods. Yet, in this psalm the writer sweeps aside those myths and declares that it was God who created and established the world, bringing order out of nothing and ‘establishing the sun and moon’ (v.16).
There is always a temptation to make ‘other things’ more important than our relationship with God. Devotion to ‘other gods’ was one of the key temptations and weaknesses of God’s people in the Old Testament. The words of the psalmist were meant to remind people who God was and why it would be foolish to oppose God by going after other gods.
Lord, thank you that you are the one true God who brings salvation upon the earth. Help me to resist the temptation to make anything else more important than you in my life."
1. Thank You for salvation!
2. Thank You for having the time to review for an exam.
3. Thank You for safe arrival of a friend.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
God is His Own Interpreter
"2 Samuel 23:8-24:25
Be mystified by God
This is one of the most mysterious passages in the whole Bible. All seemed to be going well. David had good people around him. He was greatly helped and supported by his three mighty men, as well as a wider inner circle of ‘the Thirty’.
Yet something terrible happened. Who incited David to count his fighting men? In this passage it appears to be God. Yet in the equivalent passage in Chronicles we are told, ‘Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel’ (1 Chronicles 21:1). This is one of only three times in which Satan is mentioned in the Old Testament.
David apparently knew that what he was doing was wrong (‘because he had counted the people, replacing trust with statistics’, (2 Samuel 24:10, MSG)). He was ‘conscience-stricken … and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing” ’ (v.10).
Given the various options, spoken by the prophet Gad, he chose to fall into the hands of the Lord, for ‘his mercy is great’ (v.14). He refused to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing (v.24). After his sacrifice, ‘the Lord answered prayer on behalf of the land’ (v.25).
The passage finishes on a note of hope and renewed relationship, but there is still much here that is difficult to understand.
I think the best commentary on passages like this are the words of William Cowper’s hymn which we can use as we pray:
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own Interpreter,
And He will make it plain."
1. Thank You for You own everything and You have the power over anything.
2. Thank You for placing people closer to me. :D
3. Thank You for another productive day of classes.
Be mystified by God
This is one of the most mysterious passages in the whole Bible. All seemed to be going well. David had good people around him. He was greatly helped and supported by his three mighty men, as well as a wider inner circle of ‘the Thirty’.
Yet something terrible happened. Who incited David to count his fighting men? In this passage it appears to be God. Yet in the equivalent passage in Chronicles we are told, ‘Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel’ (1 Chronicles 21:1). This is one of only three times in which Satan is mentioned in the Old Testament.
David apparently knew that what he was doing was wrong (‘because he had counted the people, replacing trust with statistics’, (2 Samuel 24:10, MSG)). He was ‘conscience-stricken … and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing” ’ (v.10).
Given the various options, spoken by the prophet Gad, he chose to fall into the hands of the Lord, for ‘his mercy is great’ (v.14). He refused to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing (v.24). After his sacrifice, ‘the Lord answered prayer on behalf of the land’ (v.25).
The passage finishes on a note of hope and renewed relationship, but there is still much here that is difficult to understand.
I think the best commentary on passages like this are the words of William Cowper’s hymn which we can use as we pray:
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own Interpreter,
And He will make it plain."
1. Thank You for You own everything and You have the power over anything.
2. Thank You for placing people closer to me. :D
3. Thank You for another productive day of classes.
Friday, October 09, 2015
I Can Trust In You
"Acts 9:32-10:23a
Be open to God
Jesus told his disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead and preach the gospel. The early church got on with doing exactly what Jesus told them to do. They must have been very surprised by what happened. Yet they were open to his leading.
The mystery of healing
They continued to see God’s extraordinary power at work. Peter said to a man who was bedridden for eight years, ‘Jesus Christ heals you’ (9:34). He immediately ‘jumped right out of bed’ (v.34, MSG). ‘Everybody ... woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them’ (v.35, MSG).
Yet not all are healed. Why doesn’t God heal everyone? We don’t know. It is a mystery.
The mystery of raising the dead
Next, Peter raised the dead! Accounts of the dead being raised are rare in the Bible. It happened twice in the Old Testament – once with Elijah and once with Elisha. Three times Jesus raised the dead, Paul once, and Peter, as we see today, raised Dorcas from the dead. The command to raise the dead occurs only once (Matthew 10:8).
In almost every case, it was a young person who was raised from the dead. None of them lived forever – but their lives were not cut off prematurely. Very occasionally God intervenes in this way. We don’t know why. It is a mystery.
Here God did intervene. Dorcas, ‘who was always doing good and helping the poor’ (Acts 9:36), became sick and died. Peter got down on his knees and prayed. She opened her eyes, sat up, and Peter took her by the hand and helped her to her feet! As a result, ‘many people believed in the Lord’ (v.42).
The mystery of the gospel
The apostle Paul was later to explain ‘This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 3:6).
Up until this point in the book of Acts, all the followers of Jesus had been Jewish. In fact, they did not think it was possible to become a Christian without being a Jew. But God surprised them. He prepared Peter with a vision. In a trance he saw heaven open, and he was told to kill and eat ‘impure’ and ‘unclean’ animals and birds. His response was, ‘Surely not, Lord!’ (Acts 10:14).
The vision, and God’s voice that accompanied it, challenged Peter not to make distinctions between clean and unclean food (vv.13–15). However, Peter also realised that this vision meant that he should not make distinctions between ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ people – that is, Jewish and non-Jewish people. In tomorrow’s reading, we discover that Peter says, ‘No race is better than any other’ (v.28, MSG).
At the time, it was a mystery. ‘Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant’ (v.17, MSG). He did not realise what God was doing. Only later did he understand. God had plans that were far bigger than theirs. The good news of Jesus was not to be confined to the Jewish people – it was for everyone in the world. Thankfully, Peter was open enough to respond to God’s guidance, whether through a vision or even when ‘the Spirit whispered to him’ (v.19, MSG).
Lord, thank you so much that you came for us all. Thank you that even if we do not understand some mysteries in this life, we can trust you and know that you always have a reason."
1. Thank You that I can trust You even if I could not understand a lot of things.
2. People come and go but thank You for the shared times.
3. Thank You that we have gathered together for a good dinner even on a rainy day.
Be open to God
Jesus told his disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead and preach the gospel. The early church got on with doing exactly what Jesus told them to do. They must have been very surprised by what happened. Yet they were open to his leading.
The mystery of healing
They continued to see God’s extraordinary power at work. Peter said to a man who was bedridden for eight years, ‘Jesus Christ heals you’ (9:34). He immediately ‘jumped right out of bed’ (v.34, MSG). ‘Everybody ... woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them’ (v.35, MSG).
Yet not all are healed. Why doesn’t God heal everyone? We don’t know. It is a mystery.
The mystery of raising the dead
Next, Peter raised the dead! Accounts of the dead being raised are rare in the Bible. It happened twice in the Old Testament – once with Elijah and once with Elisha. Three times Jesus raised the dead, Paul once, and Peter, as we see today, raised Dorcas from the dead. The command to raise the dead occurs only once (Matthew 10:8).
In almost every case, it was a young person who was raised from the dead. None of them lived forever – but their lives were not cut off prematurely. Very occasionally God intervenes in this way. We don’t know why. It is a mystery.
Here God did intervene. Dorcas, ‘who was always doing good and helping the poor’ (Acts 9:36), became sick and died. Peter got down on his knees and prayed. She opened her eyes, sat up, and Peter took her by the hand and helped her to her feet! As a result, ‘many people believed in the Lord’ (v.42).
The mystery of the gospel
The apostle Paul was later to explain ‘This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 3:6).
Up until this point in the book of Acts, all the followers of Jesus had been Jewish. In fact, they did not think it was possible to become a Christian without being a Jew. But God surprised them. He prepared Peter with a vision. In a trance he saw heaven open, and he was told to kill and eat ‘impure’ and ‘unclean’ animals and birds. His response was, ‘Surely not, Lord!’ (Acts 10:14).
The vision, and God’s voice that accompanied it, challenged Peter not to make distinctions between clean and unclean food (vv.13–15). However, Peter also realised that this vision meant that he should not make distinctions between ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ people – that is, Jewish and non-Jewish people. In tomorrow’s reading, we discover that Peter says, ‘No race is better than any other’ (v.28, MSG).
At the time, it was a mystery. ‘Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant’ (v.17, MSG). He did not realise what God was doing. Only later did he understand. God had plans that were far bigger than theirs. The good news of Jesus was not to be confined to the Jewish people – it was for everyone in the world. Thankfully, Peter was open enough to respond to God’s guidance, whether through a vision or even when ‘the Spirit whispered to him’ (v.19, MSG).
Lord, thank you so much that you came for us all. Thank you that even if we do not understand some mysteries in this life, we can trust you and know that you always have a reason."
1. Thank You that I can trust You even if I could not understand a lot of things.
2. People come and go but thank You for the shared times.
3. Thank You that we have gathered together for a good dinner even on a rainy day.
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