"Acts 7:44-8:3
Changed through circumcision by the Holy Spirit
Do you ever look at someone who is very opposed to Christianity and wonder if they could ever change? In today’s passage we see that even the most hardened opponent of Christianity can have a change of heart.
To be a Jew meant physical circumcision. Every male was circumcised on the eighth day of his life. But physical circumcision was intended to be symbolic of circumcision of the heart.
As Stephen’s speech comes to an end, with great courage and boldness, he says to his accusers, ‘You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!’ (7:51). He then accuses them of having murdered Jesus (‘the Righteous One’, v.52).
One main theme runs through Stephen’s speech: God is not restricted to any one place. ‘The Most High does not live in houses made by human hands’ (v.48).
Neither the tabernacle (vv.44–45), nor the temple (vv.46–47) could ever have been viewed as God’s home in a literal sense: ‘The Most High does not live in houses made by human hands’ (v.48). For as God says through Isaiah, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool’ (v.49). Jesus came to replace the tabernacle and temple. Before Jesus, people would come to the temple to meet God. With Jesus’ coming, the meeting place with God would be Jesus himself.
Now, through the Holy Spirit, God is present with his people (Matthew 18:20). It is especially in the gathered community, the church, that God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). By his Spirit, he dwells within each of us. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). God’s dwelling is now in Stephen, who is ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 7:55).
Stephen is speaking to the priests of the very temple that has now been superseded by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. So it is not surprising that ‘they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him’ (v.54). They drag him out of the city and stone him (v.58).
One of the people with an ‘uncircumcised heart’ is a young man named Saul. ‘The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them’ (v.58, MSG). He ‘was right there, congratulating the killers’ (8:1, MSG). This young man, Saul, ‘began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison’ (v.3).
It would be hard to find anyone in human history who had a bigger change of heart than this young man. From being a murderer of Christians, he became a great apostle who preached all over the world that Jesus is the Son of God (9:20).
When did this change of heart begin? Perhaps a seed was planted when he saw Stephen’s death. ‘Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” ’ (7:55–56).
Then, ‘While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep’ (vv.59–60).
Later, this same Saul, also known as Paul, would write, ‘No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit’ (Romans 2:29).
To circumcise is to cut off. Part of every true Christian is circumcised by the Holy Spirit. If our hearts are circumcised, we should cut off every wrong attitude that comes in to our hearts and minds. Cut off and get rid of anger, hatred, envy, lust, greed and every other wrong attitude when it comes into your mind, saying ‘no’ to anything that will stop your heart being right before God.
Thank you, Lord, that Paul’s change of heart gives hope for every human being. Thank you that those convicted of the most terrible crimes can change. Thank you that those who are most antagonistic towards you can change. Thank you that we can all change. Thank you that my heart can be changed by your love."
1. Thank You for Hope.
2. Thank You that there is an option to recall a packaged mail.
3. Thank You for the generous servings that Lam Cafe provides. Yum!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
The Slippery Path of Doubt and Despair
"There was a woman who lived on the streets near our church. She would ask for money and react aggressively to those who refused. She walked the streets for years, accompanied by a mass of plastic bags. When she died, I took the funeral. Although I didn’t expect anyone to be there, there were in fact several well-dressed people at the service. I discovered afterwards that this woman had inherited a large fortune. She had acquired a luxurious flat and many valuable paintings, but she chose to live on the streets with her plastic bags full of rubbish. She could not bring herself to leave her lifestyle, and she never enjoyed her inheritance.
Some people are afraid of change, while others believe change is not possible. Yet the wonderful news is that with God’s help you can change. This change is key to spiritual growth and transformation. It is not just about changing your actions or appearance though, you need to change on the inside – you need a change of heart. How can this happen?
Psalm 73:1-14
1. Changed through seeing things from God’s perspective
Have you ever wondered whether your faith was really worthwhile? Have you ever looked around at very successful people who have no faith and wondered whether they are better off than you and even been tempted to be envious of them?
The psalmist has kept his heart pure (v.1), but he has found life extremely tough. He has had his struggles and been ‘plagued’ (v.5) by temptation, doubts, fears and anxiety of mind.
He looks around at an affluent society that seems to be doing very well without God. He begins to slip (v.2): ‘For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked’ (v.3).
You may see people around who are rich and successful. In spite of their ‘callous hearts’ (v.7), they seem not to have struggles (v.4). They seem perfectly healthy and free from burdens (vv.4–5). They are proud and arrogant, and appear to have no need of God (vv.6–11).
This psalm is the testimony of a person who finds himself on the slippery path of doubt and despair (v.2). He wonders whether he has kept his heart pure in vain (v.13).
That is until (as we shall see in a few days’ time), he ‘entered the sanctuary of God’ (v.17). Then he had a complete change of heart. He ‘understood their final destiny’. He realised the difference between their destiny and his (v.17).
The psalm starts, ‘Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart’ (v.1). And it ends, ‘But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds’ (v.28).
Lord, may I, like the psalmist, enter your sanctuary and see things from your perspective. Thank you that I can say with the psalmist that ‘you are good to those who are pure in heart ... it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.’"
1. Thank You that there is always a better perspective. May I learn to focus on Your perspective.
2. Thank You for energy to walk at least 7 kilometers.
3. Thank You for movies as entertainment.
Some people are afraid of change, while others believe change is not possible. Yet the wonderful news is that with God’s help you can change. This change is key to spiritual growth and transformation. It is not just about changing your actions or appearance though, you need to change on the inside – you need a change of heart. How can this happen?
Psalm 73:1-14
1. Changed through seeing things from God’s perspective
Have you ever wondered whether your faith was really worthwhile? Have you ever looked around at very successful people who have no faith and wondered whether they are better off than you and even been tempted to be envious of them?
The psalmist has kept his heart pure (v.1), but he has found life extremely tough. He has had his struggles and been ‘plagued’ (v.5) by temptation, doubts, fears and anxiety of mind.
He looks around at an affluent society that seems to be doing very well without God. He begins to slip (v.2): ‘For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked’ (v.3).
You may see people around who are rich and successful. In spite of their ‘callous hearts’ (v.7), they seem not to have struggles (v.4). They seem perfectly healthy and free from burdens (vv.4–5). They are proud and arrogant, and appear to have no need of God (vv.6–11).
This psalm is the testimony of a person who finds himself on the slippery path of doubt and despair (v.2). He wonders whether he has kept his heart pure in vain (v.13).
That is until (as we shall see in a few days’ time), he ‘entered the sanctuary of God’ (v.17). Then he had a complete change of heart. He ‘understood their final destiny’. He realised the difference between their destiny and his (v.17).
The psalm starts, ‘Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart’ (v.1). And it ends, ‘But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds’ (v.28).
Lord, may I, like the psalmist, enter your sanctuary and see things from your perspective. Thank you that I can say with the psalmist that ‘you are good to those who are pure in heart ... it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.’"
1. Thank You that there is always a better perspective. May I learn to focus on Your perspective.
2. Thank You for energy to walk at least 7 kilometers.
3. Thank You for movies as entertainment.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Enquire of the Lord
"2 Samuel 16:15-18:18
Providence and protection
You can trust God with your future, your family, your church and your nation. The whole universe is in his hands and he is working his purposes out.
Again, in this passage we see God’s providential hand in history. He is at work through all the human events that are described here.
The advice Ahithophel gave ‘was like that of one who enquires of God’ (16:23). If we are to give advice of any value we have to be people who enquire of the Lord, who enquire in advance what God is doing and what his will is.
If Absalom had followed Ahithophel’s advice, it would have been disastrous for David. Instead, Absalom chose to ignore Ahithophel’s wise advice and follow the bad advice of Hushai.
We see in the passage what God was doing in this situation. God’s providential care and protection was around David: ‘For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel’ (17:14). This was an answer to the spirit of David’s prayer.
Here we see that God is the hidden hand and ruler of history. David and all the other people involved in the drama have enormous power and freedom to act. But they are not free to act as though the Lord was not there.
Thank you, Lord, that you are in charge of human history. You reign and rule over this universe. Thank you that in all things you work for the good of those who love you and who have been called according to your purpose (Romans 8:28)."
1. Thank You that You have control over everything. You know what is best.
2. Thank you for the opportunity of training and for more technical knowledge to take in.
3. Thank you for continued networking from the class.
Providence and protection
You can trust God with your future, your family, your church and your nation. The whole universe is in his hands and he is working his purposes out.
Again, in this passage we see God’s providential hand in history. He is at work through all the human events that are described here.
The advice Ahithophel gave ‘was like that of one who enquires of God’ (16:23). If we are to give advice of any value we have to be people who enquire of the Lord, who enquire in advance what God is doing and what his will is.
If Absalom had followed Ahithophel’s advice, it would have been disastrous for David. Instead, Absalom chose to ignore Ahithophel’s wise advice and follow the bad advice of Hushai.
We see in the passage what God was doing in this situation. God’s providential care and protection was around David: ‘For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel’ (17:14). This was an answer to the spirit of David’s prayer.
Here we see that God is the hidden hand and ruler of history. David and all the other people involved in the drama have enormous power and freedom to act. But they are not free to act as though the Lord was not there.
Thank you, Lord, that you are in charge of human history. You reign and rule over this universe. Thank you that in all things you work for the good of those who love you and who have been called according to your purpose (Romans 8:28)."
1. Thank You that You have control over everything. You know what is best.
2. Thank you for the opportunity of training and for more technical knowledge to take in.
3. Thank you for continued networking from the class.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Like Moses, Like Jesus
"Acts 7:20-43
Providence and prophecy
We see in this passage the extraordinary way in which God planned and prepared for the coming of Jesus. God in his providence foresees the future, and so in a mysterious way anticipates, prepares for it and guides it.
Stephen’s speech rehearses the ways in which God had guided and watched over Israel’s history, and through it prepared for Jesus’ coming. In this section he focuses particularly on Moses.
Moses had said that God would raise up a prophet like him (Deuteronomy 18:15). Peter has already applied this to Jesus (Acts 3:22–23). Now Stephen does the same. He says, ‘This is that Moses who told the Israelites, “God will send you a prophet like me from your own people” ’ (7:37).
Moses was a ‘type’ of Christ. He foreshadowed and prepared the way. There are at least fifteen similarities between Moses and Jesus:
Like Jesus, Moses was ‘no ordinary child’ (v.20). The circumstances surrounding the births of both Moses and Jesus were appropriately extraordinary.
Like Jesus (Matthew 2:16–17), Moses was born at a time when newborn babies were being killed off (Acts 7:19–21).
Like Jesus (Luke 2:40), Moses was noted for his wisdom. ‘Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians’ (Acts 7:22).
Like Jesus (John 7:46), Moses was ‘powerful in speech and action’ (Acts 7:22).
Like Jesus, Moses had a season of preparation. We know little about the first thirty years of either of their lives. Both spent this time being trained for the task ahead (vv.22–23).
Like Jesus (John 2:16), Moses showed righteous anger at sin (Acts 7:24).
Like Jesus (John 1:11), Moses was sent by God to rescue his people, but was not recognised as such at the time. ‘Moses thought that his own people would realise that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not’ (Acts 7:25).
Like Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:19), Moses aimed at reconciliation. Moses ‘tried to reconcile them’ (Acts 7:26).
Like Jesus (John 5:22), Moses is described as ruler and judge. It was said to Moses, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?’ (Acts 7:27).
Like Jesus (Luke 3:22), Moses heard the Lord’s voice (Acts 7:31).
Like Jesus (John 1:14; 2:21), Moses recognised that the holy place was not in a specific religious location, but where God is present. For Moses this was at the burning bush for God said, ‘The place where you are standing is holy ground’ (Acts 7:33).
Like Jesus (John 8:36), Moses set the people free from oppression. The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free’ (Acts 7:34).
Like Jesus (4:11), Moses was misunderstood and rejected by his own people. ‘Moses whom they had rejected ... they rejected him’ (7:35,39).
Like Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:10), Moses succeeded in delivering his own people. Moses ‘led them out of Egypt’ (Acts 7:36).
Like Jesus (2:36), Moses’ rejection brought God’s judgment, but led to eventual victory (7:42). As the apostle Peter put it on the day of Pentecost, ‘God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ’ (2:36).
Lord, thank you for the astonishing way in which you work your purposes out through history and through your prophets like Moses. Thank you that I can trust in your providence over all the events and circumstances in my life."
1. What an amazing comparison. Thank You God for bringing these people in history.
2. Thank You for the life of my sister. :)
3. Thank You for new technical knowledge.
Providence and prophecy
We see in this passage the extraordinary way in which God planned and prepared for the coming of Jesus. God in his providence foresees the future, and so in a mysterious way anticipates, prepares for it and guides it.
Stephen’s speech rehearses the ways in which God had guided and watched over Israel’s history, and through it prepared for Jesus’ coming. In this section he focuses particularly on Moses.
Moses had said that God would raise up a prophet like him (Deuteronomy 18:15). Peter has already applied this to Jesus (Acts 3:22–23). Now Stephen does the same. He says, ‘This is that Moses who told the Israelites, “God will send you a prophet like me from your own people” ’ (7:37).
Moses was a ‘type’ of Christ. He foreshadowed and prepared the way. There are at least fifteen similarities between Moses and Jesus:
Like Jesus, Moses was ‘no ordinary child’ (v.20). The circumstances surrounding the births of both Moses and Jesus were appropriately extraordinary.
Like Jesus (Matthew 2:16–17), Moses was born at a time when newborn babies were being killed off (Acts 7:19–21).
Like Jesus (Luke 2:40), Moses was noted for his wisdom. ‘Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians’ (Acts 7:22).
Like Jesus (John 7:46), Moses was ‘powerful in speech and action’ (Acts 7:22).
Like Jesus, Moses had a season of preparation. We know little about the first thirty years of either of their lives. Both spent this time being trained for the task ahead (vv.22–23).
Like Jesus (John 2:16), Moses showed righteous anger at sin (Acts 7:24).
Like Jesus (John 1:11), Moses was sent by God to rescue his people, but was not recognised as such at the time. ‘Moses thought that his own people would realise that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not’ (Acts 7:25).
Like Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:19), Moses aimed at reconciliation. Moses ‘tried to reconcile them’ (Acts 7:26).
Like Jesus (John 5:22), Moses is described as ruler and judge. It was said to Moses, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?’ (Acts 7:27).
Like Jesus (Luke 3:22), Moses heard the Lord’s voice (Acts 7:31).
Like Jesus (John 1:14; 2:21), Moses recognised that the holy place was not in a specific religious location, but where God is present. For Moses this was at the burning bush for God said, ‘The place where you are standing is holy ground’ (Acts 7:33).
Like Jesus (John 8:36), Moses set the people free from oppression. The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free’ (Acts 7:34).
Like Jesus (4:11), Moses was misunderstood and rejected by his own people. ‘Moses whom they had rejected ... they rejected him’ (7:35,39).
Like Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:10), Moses succeeded in delivering his own people. Moses ‘led them out of Egypt’ (Acts 7:36).
Like Jesus (2:36), Moses’ rejection brought God’s judgment, but led to eventual victory (7:42). As the apostle Peter put it on the day of Pentecost, ‘God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ’ (2:36).
Lord, thank you for the astonishing way in which you work your purposes out through history and through your prophets like Moses. Thank you that I can trust in your providence over all the events and circumstances in my life."
1. What an amazing comparison. Thank You God for bringing these people in history.
2. Thank You for the life of my sister. :)
3. Thank You for new technical knowledge.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
The Mystery of Prayer
"Ravi Zacharias recalls a visit he made to a place known for making the best wedding saris in the world: ‘With such intricacy of detail, I expected to see some elaborate system of machines that would boggle the mind in production. But this image could not have been further from the real scene. Each sari was made individually by a father and son team. The father sat above the son on a platform, surrounded by several spools of thread that he would gather into his fingers. The son had only one task. At a nod from his father, he would move the shuttle from one side to the other and back again. This would then be repeated for hundreds of hours, until a magnificent pattern began to emerge.
‘The son certainly had the easier task. He was only to move at the father’s nod. But making use of these efforts, the father was working to an intricate end. All along, he had the design in his mind and was bringing the right threads together.’
Ravi Zacharias ends the story by saying, ‘God alone can weave a pattern from the disparate threads of our lives – whether suffering, success, joy, or heartache – and fashion a magnificent design. Perhaps today, if you will stop and reflect on it, you will see that the Father is seeking to weave a beautiful tapestry in your life.’
Everything that happens in this world is within the sphere of God’s working. Theologians call this ‘providence’. This word means God’s foresight: the way he anticipates and prepares for the future. Providence is the protective care and government of God. He is present and active in the world – sustaining it and ruling it. ‘Providence’ is the way God guides and steers human beings and human history.
God also sometimes intervenes in his world through miracles. But there is a difference between ‘providence’ and ‘miracles’. The most accurate definition of a miracle that I have come across is that given by Bishop David Atkinson who writes that a miracle is ‘best kept to refer to a non-repeatable counter-instance of an otherwise demonstrable law of nature.’
Job said, ‘You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit’ (Job 10:12). In each of our passages for today we see something about God’s providence
Psalm 72:1-20
Providence and prayer
Your prayers make a difference. Not only do they affect your own life but also they can affect the course of history.
How providence and prayer work together is a mystery. In some extraordinary way our prayers affect the outcome of events. God is sovereign and works out his purposes through history. Yet he involves us in this process.
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon. It was a strong reminder of his high calling. Yet it goes beyond what is humanly attainable. For example, ‘He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations’ (v.5). His reign is eternal and universal (v.8).
Ultimately, it was only fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. C.H. Spurgeon wrote, ‘Jesus is here, beyond all doubt, in the glory of His reign, both as He now is, and as He shall be revealed in the latter day glory.’
This psalm is a prayer for blessing on the king and through him that all the people will be blessed with ‘prosperity’ (v.3). The good leader will be concerned about poverty and justice: ‘Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants’ (v.4, MSG). It is also a prayer that in his foreign policy ‘all nations will be blessed through him’ (v.17).
David says, ‘May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long’ (v.15b). It is clear that God’s blessing on the leader will come as people pray for him. How this works we do not know. However, it shows that praying really does make a difference. In his providence, somehow God takes our prayers and uses them to bring blessing.
Lord, thank you that prayer makes a difference. Today, I pray especially for our leaders who you, in your providence, have set over us. Give them grace and wisdom to fulfil the duties of their calling. Enrich their lives that they may be a source of strength and inspiration to the people, and promote your honour and glory."
1. Thank You for revealing that prayer indeeds make a lot of difference.
2. Thank You that You have blessed us with extra hours for learning.
3. Hallelujah for scrumptious crabs!
‘The son certainly had the easier task. He was only to move at the father’s nod. But making use of these efforts, the father was working to an intricate end. All along, he had the design in his mind and was bringing the right threads together.’
Ravi Zacharias ends the story by saying, ‘God alone can weave a pattern from the disparate threads of our lives – whether suffering, success, joy, or heartache – and fashion a magnificent design. Perhaps today, if you will stop and reflect on it, you will see that the Father is seeking to weave a beautiful tapestry in your life.’
Everything that happens in this world is within the sphere of God’s working. Theologians call this ‘providence’. This word means God’s foresight: the way he anticipates and prepares for the future. Providence is the protective care and government of God. He is present and active in the world – sustaining it and ruling it. ‘Providence’ is the way God guides and steers human beings and human history.
God also sometimes intervenes in his world through miracles. But there is a difference between ‘providence’ and ‘miracles’. The most accurate definition of a miracle that I have come across is that given by Bishop David Atkinson who writes that a miracle is ‘best kept to refer to a non-repeatable counter-instance of an otherwise demonstrable law of nature.’
Job said, ‘You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit’ (Job 10:12). In each of our passages for today we see something about God’s providence
Psalm 72:1-20
Providence and prayer
Your prayers make a difference. Not only do they affect your own life but also they can affect the course of history.
How providence and prayer work together is a mystery. In some extraordinary way our prayers affect the outcome of events. God is sovereign and works out his purposes through history. Yet he involves us in this process.
This psalm is a prayer for King Solomon. It was a strong reminder of his high calling. Yet it goes beyond what is humanly attainable. For example, ‘He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations’ (v.5). His reign is eternal and universal (v.8).
Ultimately, it was only fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. C.H. Spurgeon wrote, ‘Jesus is here, beyond all doubt, in the glory of His reign, both as He now is, and as He shall be revealed in the latter day glory.’
This psalm is a prayer for blessing on the king and through him that all the people will be blessed with ‘prosperity’ (v.3). The good leader will be concerned about poverty and justice: ‘Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants’ (v.4, MSG). It is also a prayer that in his foreign policy ‘all nations will be blessed through him’ (v.17).
David says, ‘May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long’ (v.15b). It is clear that God’s blessing on the leader will come as people pray for him. How this works we do not know. However, it shows that praying really does make a difference. In his providence, somehow God takes our prayers and uses them to bring blessing.
Lord, thank you that prayer makes a difference. Today, I pray especially for our leaders who you, in your providence, have set over us. Give them grace and wisdom to fulfil the duties of their calling. Enrich their lives that they may be a source of strength and inspiration to the people, and promote your honour and glory."
1. Thank You for revealing that prayer indeeds make a lot of difference.
2. Thank You that You have blessed us with extra hours for learning.
3. Hallelujah for scrumptious crabs!
Friday, September 25, 2015
David's Exhaustion
"2 Samuel 15:13-16:14
Refreshed in the midst of troubles
David’s own son Absalom has turned against him, and David is told that the ‘hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom’ (15:13). This must have been devastating news. David, a great man of God, a king for God’s people and a ‘type’ of Christ (indeed, an ancestor of Christ), faced many troubles in his life.
Tears
We see just how upset David was. He ‘continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot’ (v.30). All the people were also ‘weeping as they went up’ (v.30). Indeed, ‘The whole countryside wept aloud’ (v.23).
Disappointment
Not only did David’s own son turn against him, but Mephibosheth was also disloyal to him even though David had gone out of his way to help him. He stayed in Jerusalem because he thought ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom’ (16:3). Disloyalty is always so disappointing.
Criticism
Shimei shouted insults, threw rocks and cursed David. David does not seek revenge. Rather, he chooses to leave the matter in God’s hands (vv.11–12).
Exhaustion
David ‘and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted’ (2 Samuel 16:14). We often say that we are ‘exhausted’. However, we probably don’t know the meaning of the word. When we read of what David went through it is not surprising that he was genuinely ‘exhausted’.
The Christian life is never without troubles, tears, sadness and disappointments. However, what distinguishes the people of God is their relationship with God.
In the midst of all his troubles, David prays, ‘O Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness’ (15:31). His prayer is answered – but not in the way he expects. Ahithophel gives good advice, but it is rejected. So God answered the spirit of the prayer (see 2 Samuel 17:14).
In the midst of his exhaustion, David ‘refreshed himself’ (16:14). As The Message puts it: ‘There they rested and were revived’ (v.14). Sometimes you just need to take a break and rest to be revived and refreshed physically, spiritually and emotionally. We are not told how David did this exactly. However, if the psalms are anything to go by, we know it was through his close relationship with God that he found refreshment.
No doubt David was emotionally refreshed by the loyalty of his friends Zadok (15:24 onwards), Hushai (v.37), Ziba (16:1–4) and Ittai, who said to him, ‘Wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be’ (15:21).
Lord, thank you that there is no trouble that this life can bring from which you do not rescue me, ultimately with eternal life in your presence. Thank you that, in the middle of my troubles, I can pray to you and be refreshed by the presence of God (Act 3:19)."
1. Thank You for the eternal life and Your promises. May I always look forward to this and not be discouraged while I am here.
2. You have indeed talked to me tonight, O God. Straight to the heart. Please work within me.
3. Thank You for the fellowship and for the church friends.
Refreshed in the midst of troubles
David’s own son Absalom has turned against him, and David is told that the ‘hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom’ (15:13). This must have been devastating news. David, a great man of God, a king for God’s people and a ‘type’ of Christ (indeed, an ancestor of Christ), faced many troubles in his life.
Tears
We see just how upset David was. He ‘continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot’ (v.30). All the people were also ‘weeping as they went up’ (v.30). Indeed, ‘The whole countryside wept aloud’ (v.23).
Disappointment
Not only did David’s own son turn against him, but Mephibosheth was also disloyal to him even though David had gone out of his way to help him. He stayed in Jerusalem because he thought ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom’ (16:3). Disloyalty is always so disappointing.
Criticism
Shimei shouted insults, threw rocks and cursed David. David does not seek revenge. Rather, he chooses to leave the matter in God’s hands (vv.11–12).
Exhaustion
David ‘and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted’ (2 Samuel 16:14). We often say that we are ‘exhausted’. However, we probably don’t know the meaning of the word. When we read of what David went through it is not surprising that he was genuinely ‘exhausted’.
The Christian life is never without troubles, tears, sadness and disappointments. However, what distinguishes the people of God is their relationship with God.
In the midst of all his troubles, David prays, ‘O Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness’ (15:31). His prayer is answered – but not in the way he expects. Ahithophel gives good advice, but it is rejected. So God answered the spirit of the prayer (see 2 Samuel 17:14).
In the midst of his exhaustion, David ‘refreshed himself’ (16:14). As The Message puts it: ‘There they rested and were revived’ (v.14). Sometimes you just need to take a break and rest to be revived and refreshed physically, spiritually and emotionally. We are not told how David did this exactly. However, if the psalms are anything to go by, we know it was through his close relationship with God that he found refreshment.
No doubt David was emotionally refreshed by the loyalty of his friends Zadok (15:24 onwards), Hushai (v.37), Ziba (16:1–4) and Ittai, who said to him, ‘Wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be’ (15:21).
Lord, thank you that there is no trouble that this life can bring from which you do not rescue me, ultimately with eternal life in your presence. Thank you that, in the middle of my troubles, I can pray to you and be refreshed by the presence of God (Act 3:19)."
1. Thank You for the eternal life and Your promises. May I always look forward to this and not be discouraged while I am here.
2. You have indeed talked to me tonight, O God. Straight to the heart. Please work within me.
3. Thank You for the fellowship and for the church friends.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Delegation is the Key
"Acts 6:1-7:19
Rescued from all his troubles
There is sometimes a temptation to idealise the life of the early church – as if they were the perfect church and had no problems at all. We need to read the idyllic picture of the church in Acts 2 alongside the events of Acts 6 and, of course, not forget all the troubles of Paul in his letters. In this passage we see that the early church had plenty of troubles:
Complaining within the church
Good leaders pick their battles carefully. They do not get involved in everything, but they do take responsibility for everything. The apostles faced a justified complaint that ‘widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food’ (v.1). Yet they needed to concentrate on their main task: ‘prayer and the ministry of the word’ (v.4). The solution lay (as it does so often) in effective delegation.
The apostles dealt with the issue by setting aside a group of people who would ‘wait on tables’ (v.2). They chose people ‘full of the Spirit and wisdom’ (v.3). As a result they kept their focus and ‘the word of God spread’ and the number of disciples increased dramatically (v.7). Good leaders delegate and release others into their God-given gifts and ministries.
Stirring among the people
A group of opponents of the church ‘stirred up the people’ (v.12) and ‘produced false witnesses’ (v.13). They twisted Stephen’s words and said, ‘This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law’ (vv.13).
Fear of change
Some of the opposition came from a fear of change. They said, ‘We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us’ (v.14).
They found they could not keep their eyes off Stephen, whose ‘face was like the face of an angel’ (v.15). He gave his defense. He recited the history of the people of God and cited the parts of history that were particularly relevant to his own situation. He said of Joseph, ‘God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom …’ (7:9–10), just as God was clearly giving Stephen wisdom (see 6:10).
Stephen’s own rescue came only in martyrdom. He ‘saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God’ (7:55), and Stephen was rescued for all eternity.
Thank you, Lord, for your word. Thank you that it warns us to expect complaining, opposition and fear of change. Help us not to be put off by the troubles but rather, like Stephen, to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit. May we see the word of God spread and the numbers of your followers increase more and more each day."
1. Thank You for the encouragement. May I have an open mind to changes.
2. Thank You that You still show balance in life.
3. Thank You for the inasal taste. Not bad.
Rescued from all his troubles
There is sometimes a temptation to idealise the life of the early church – as if they were the perfect church and had no problems at all. We need to read the idyllic picture of the church in Acts 2 alongside the events of Acts 6 and, of course, not forget all the troubles of Paul in his letters. In this passage we see that the early church had plenty of troubles:
Complaining within the church
Good leaders pick their battles carefully. They do not get involved in everything, but they do take responsibility for everything. The apostles faced a justified complaint that ‘widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food’ (v.1). Yet they needed to concentrate on their main task: ‘prayer and the ministry of the word’ (v.4). The solution lay (as it does so often) in effective delegation.
The apostles dealt with the issue by setting aside a group of people who would ‘wait on tables’ (v.2). They chose people ‘full of the Spirit and wisdom’ (v.3). As a result they kept their focus and ‘the word of God spread’ and the number of disciples increased dramatically (v.7). Good leaders delegate and release others into their God-given gifts and ministries.
Stirring among the people
A group of opponents of the church ‘stirred up the people’ (v.12) and ‘produced false witnesses’ (v.13). They twisted Stephen’s words and said, ‘This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law’ (vv.13).
Fear of change
Some of the opposition came from a fear of change. They said, ‘We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us’ (v.14).
They found they could not keep their eyes off Stephen, whose ‘face was like the face of an angel’ (v.15). He gave his defense. He recited the history of the people of God and cited the parts of history that were particularly relevant to his own situation. He said of Joseph, ‘God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom …’ (7:9–10), just as God was clearly giving Stephen wisdom (see 6:10).
Stephen’s own rescue came only in martyrdom. He ‘saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God’ (7:55), and Stephen was rescued for all eternity.
Thank you, Lord, for your word. Thank you that it warns us to expect complaining, opposition and fear of change. Help us not to be put off by the troubles but rather, like Stephen, to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit. May we see the word of God spread and the numbers of your followers increase more and more each day."
1. Thank You for the encouragement. May I have an open mind to changes.
2. Thank You that You still show balance in life.
3. Thank You for the inasal taste. Not bad.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Troubles Do Not Have the Last Word
"George Matheson was born in Glasgow, the eldest of eight children. He had only partial vision as a boy. By the age of twenty he was completely blind. When his fiancée learnt he was going blind and that there was nothing the doctors could do, she told him she could not go through life with a blind man. He never married.
He was helped by a devoted sister throughout his ministry. She learnt Greek, Latin and Hebrew in order to aid him in his studies. Despite his blindness, Matheson had a brilliant career at the Glasgow Academy, University of Glasgow and the Church of Scotland Seminary.
When he was forty years old, something bittersweet happened. His sister married. Not only did this mean that he lost her companionship – it also brought a fresh reminder of his own heartbreak. In the midst of this intense sadness, on the eve of his sister’s marriage, he wrote one of the most popular and best loved hymns of the Christian church – ‘O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go’. He completed the whole work in five minutes and never edited, corrected or retouched it. ‘This came,’ he wrote, ‘like a dayspring from on high.’
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
Troubles are part of life. Jesus faced trouble and so did the apostles, David and all the people of God. In each of the passages for today we read about lots of troubles. However, as Matheson’s hymn beautifully articulates, troubles do not have the last word.
Psalm 71:19-24
Restored after many troubles
God does not promise you an easy path. Life at times can be extremely hard. The psalmist has seen ‘troubles, many and bitter’ (v.20). His troubles, pressures and worries were not occasional or trivial. They were numerous and serious. He gives you a model of how to respond in these circumstances.
Keep trusting
It is easy to trust God when things are going well. The challenge is to keep trusting in the midst of troubles. The psalmist does not stop believing in the goodness of God: ‘Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?’ (v.19).
Keep hoping
Your troubles will not last forever. In the midst of his troubles, the psalmist has hope that at the end, ‘You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honour and comfort me once again’ (vv.20b–21).
Keep worshipping
Keep on praising God in spite of the troubles: ‘I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – I, whom you have redeemed’ (vv.22–23).
Lord, there is no one like you. Your righteousness reaches to the skies. You have done great things. Thank you that though I may see troubles many and bitter, you promise to restore my life again. I praise you for your faithfulness. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – ‘I, whom you have redeemed.’"
1. Thank You for life. Thank You. May I always praise You regardless of my situation.
2. Thank You for giving me a bigger responsibility at work. May You guide me as I take this task.
3. Thank You for simple joys, for simple meals, for just simple things.
He was helped by a devoted sister throughout his ministry. She learnt Greek, Latin and Hebrew in order to aid him in his studies. Despite his blindness, Matheson had a brilliant career at the Glasgow Academy, University of Glasgow and the Church of Scotland Seminary.
When he was forty years old, something bittersweet happened. His sister married. Not only did this mean that he lost her companionship – it also brought a fresh reminder of his own heartbreak. In the midst of this intense sadness, on the eve of his sister’s marriage, he wrote one of the most popular and best loved hymns of the Christian church – ‘O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go’. He completed the whole work in five minutes and never edited, corrected or retouched it. ‘This came,’ he wrote, ‘like a dayspring from on high.’
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
Troubles are part of life. Jesus faced trouble and so did the apostles, David and all the people of God. In each of the passages for today we read about lots of troubles. However, as Matheson’s hymn beautifully articulates, troubles do not have the last word.
Psalm 71:19-24
Restored after many troubles
God does not promise you an easy path. Life at times can be extremely hard. The psalmist has seen ‘troubles, many and bitter’ (v.20). His troubles, pressures and worries were not occasional or trivial. They were numerous and serious. He gives you a model of how to respond in these circumstances.
Keep trusting
It is easy to trust God when things are going well. The challenge is to keep trusting in the midst of troubles. The psalmist does not stop believing in the goodness of God: ‘Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?’ (v.19).
Keep hoping
Your troubles will not last forever. In the midst of his troubles, the psalmist has hope that at the end, ‘You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honour and comfort me once again’ (vv.20b–21).
Keep worshipping
Keep on praising God in spite of the troubles: ‘I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – I, whom you have redeemed’ (vv.22–23).
Lord, there is no one like you. Your righteousness reaches to the skies. You have done great things. Thank you that though I may see troubles many and bitter, you promise to restore my life again. I praise you for your faithfulness. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – ‘I, whom you have redeemed.’"
1. Thank You for life. Thank You. May I always praise You regardless of my situation.
2. Thank You for giving me a bigger responsibility at work. May You guide me as I take this task.
3. Thank You for simple joys, for simple meals, for just simple things.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
What It Means to be Disloyal
"Acts 5:12-42
Loyalty to each other in our hearts
Loyalty is such an attractive characteristic in a person. Disloyalty is subversive and betrays trust. Disloyalty can undermine the leadership in a church, business or even a nation.
In David’s case, disloyalty came from his own son. This must have been so painful for him. David loved Absalom; ‘the king’s heart longed for Absalom’ (14:1). God speaks to David through the wise woman from Tekoa. As a result David says, ‘Go, bring back the young man Absalom’ (v.21). When he returned ‘the king kissed Absalom’ (v.33). David gave him another opportunity to be a loyal son.
Tragically, David’s love and loyalty to Absalom were not returned. We see here a powerful description of how disloyalty works.
There are always opportunities for disloyalty. In any situation – whether for example in the government, workplace or the church – there are bound to be those who complain (15:2). If you are a loyal person you will help to deal with these complaints and attempt to diffuse them.
Absalom failed the loyalty test. He would say to the complainers,
‘ “Look, you’ve got a strong case; but the king isn’t going to listen to you.” Then he’d say, “Why doesn’t someone make me a judge for this country? Anybody with a case could bring it to me and I’d settle things fair and square.” ’ (vv.3–4, MSG).
Of course, this is absolute nonsense. But it is easy to make promises of this kind. The disloyal person says, ‘If only I were in charge everything would be so much better’. In this way Absalom ‘stole the hearts of the people of Israel’ (v.6). Disloyalty begins in our hearts and in our thinking. So does loyalty. Guard your heart and your thinking and do not allow your heart to be stolen.
Those who are feeling discontented in any situation always look for a rallying point. They look for someone among the leadership team whom they can rally around. If the entire leadership team remains faithful, the discontents will be unsuccessful. However, here they found a rallying point around Absalom and ‘the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing’ (v.12).
Lord, help us to stay loyal to our leaders – to our national leaders and governments, parents, church leaders and bosses. Lord, guard our hearts, keep us loyal to you and to one another. May loyalty, love and faithfulness always be characteristics of our community."
1. Thank You for Your corrections especially in the way we think and act. Thank You for Your unending grace.
2. Thank You likewise for continuous journey of food discovery and exploration.
3. Thank You for showering me with understanding and patience in everything. May You continue to bless me with these as I need them in my daily life.
Loyalty to each other in our hearts
Loyalty is such an attractive characteristic in a person. Disloyalty is subversive and betrays trust. Disloyalty can undermine the leadership in a church, business or even a nation.
In David’s case, disloyalty came from his own son. This must have been so painful for him. David loved Absalom; ‘the king’s heart longed for Absalom’ (14:1). God speaks to David through the wise woman from Tekoa. As a result David says, ‘Go, bring back the young man Absalom’ (v.21). When he returned ‘the king kissed Absalom’ (v.33). David gave him another opportunity to be a loyal son.
Tragically, David’s love and loyalty to Absalom were not returned. We see here a powerful description of how disloyalty works.
There are always opportunities for disloyalty. In any situation – whether for example in the government, workplace or the church – there are bound to be those who complain (15:2). If you are a loyal person you will help to deal with these complaints and attempt to diffuse them.
Absalom failed the loyalty test. He would say to the complainers,
‘ “Look, you’ve got a strong case; but the king isn’t going to listen to you.” Then he’d say, “Why doesn’t someone make me a judge for this country? Anybody with a case could bring it to me and I’d settle things fair and square.” ’ (vv.3–4, MSG).
Of course, this is absolute nonsense. But it is easy to make promises of this kind. The disloyal person says, ‘If only I were in charge everything would be so much better’. In this way Absalom ‘stole the hearts of the people of Israel’ (v.6). Disloyalty begins in our hearts and in our thinking. So does loyalty. Guard your heart and your thinking and do not allow your heart to be stolen.
Those who are feeling discontented in any situation always look for a rallying point. They look for someone among the leadership team whom they can rally around. If the entire leadership team remains faithful, the discontents will be unsuccessful. However, here they found a rallying point around Absalom and ‘the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing’ (v.12).
Lord, help us to stay loyal to our leaders – to our national leaders and governments, parents, church leaders and bosses. Lord, guard our hearts, keep us loyal to you and to one another. May loyalty, love and faithfulness always be characteristics of our community."
1. Thank You for Your corrections especially in the way we think and act. Thank You for Your unending grace.
2. Thank You likewise for continuous journey of food discovery and exploration.
3. Thank You for showering me with understanding and patience in everything. May You continue to bless me with these as I need them in my daily life.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Loyalty Regardless of Opposition
"Acts 5:12-42
Loyalty to Jesus in our words
In 2007, a group of twenty-three South Korean missionaries were captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. They were terrified. The Taliban separated the group, isolated them and confiscated their possessions. One of the Korean women managed to hold on to her Bible. She ripped it into twenty-three pieces and secretly gave each of them a portion so that wherever they were, each person could read a part of Scripture when no one was watching.
The group knew that the Taliban had decided to kill them, one at a time. One by one the missionaries surrendered their lives again to Jesus saying, ‘Lord, if you want me to die for your sake I’ll do it.’ Then the pastor said, ‘I’ve talked to [the Taliban] because they are going to start killing us and I’ve told their leaders that if anyone dies, I die first because I am your pastor.’ Another said, ‘No, because I also am a pastor and I am your elder. I die first.’
Then the pastor came back and said, ‘You are not ordained, I have been ordained, I die first.’ And sure enough, he died first. Two more were killed before the rest were eventually rescued. They had demonstrated extraordinary loyalty to God and to each other.
The South Korean missionaries were following in the footsteps of the apostles who showed extraordinary loyalty.
As the apostles went out and preached the good news they performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. ‘More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number’ (v.14). As a result, ‘Crowds gathered … bringing their sick … all of them were healed’ (vv.15–16).
Sadly, their success led to ‘jealousy’ from religious leaders (v.17). Once again we see how envy is such a temptation for those of us who are seen as religious. In their jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in jail (v.18). But once again God performed a miracle. He sent an angel of the Lord to open the doors of the jail and bring them out.
With huge courage they obeyed the command to ‘Go, stand in the temple courts … and tell the people the full message of this new life’ (v.20).
When they were caught doing exactly what they had been arrested for doing in the first place, they were re-arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest who said to them, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name … Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood’ (v.28).
Peter and the other apostles were loyal to God and to their calling. They replied, ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’ (v.29). They continued preaching the gospel – even when they were on trial.
The brief sermon (it takes only three verses – vv.30–32) is all about Jesus. They preach about the cross, resurrection and the exaltation of Jesus. They proclaimed Jesus as Prince and Saviour. The talk includes a description of the way of salvation: repentance and forgiveness of sins. In addition they managed to include the whole Trinity: ‘The God of our ancestors (v.30), ‘Jesus’ (v.30) and ‘the Holy Spirit’ (v.32). This sermon produces such fury that, like the South Korean missionaries, they faced the threat of death.
However, in the providence of God, there was a wise man on the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who pointed out to his fellow members (by giving examples from recent history) that ‘if [the apostles’] purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God’ (vv.38–39).
Although his speech persuaded them, nevertheless they were flogged and ‘ordered … not to speak in the name of Jesus’ (v.40).
Once again, with extraordinary courage and loyalty to God and their calling, ‘The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ’ (vv.41–42).
Lord, may we be inspired by the example of the apostles and those like the South Korean missionaries who followed in their footsteps. Help us to demonstrate loyalty to you regardless of the circumstances and opposition around us. May we never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."
1. Wow, thank You for stories like these that really show what it means to be loyal to You.
2. As some people leave, You bring back old friends. Thank You for this.
3. Thank You for giving me an outlet.
Loyalty to Jesus in our words
In 2007, a group of twenty-three South Korean missionaries were captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. They were terrified. The Taliban separated the group, isolated them and confiscated their possessions. One of the Korean women managed to hold on to her Bible. She ripped it into twenty-three pieces and secretly gave each of them a portion so that wherever they were, each person could read a part of Scripture when no one was watching.
The group knew that the Taliban had decided to kill them, one at a time. One by one the missionaries surrendered their lives again to Jesus saying, ‘Lord, if you want me to die for your sake I’ll do it.’ Then the pastor said, ‘I’ve talked to [the Taliban] because they are going to start killing us and I’ve told their leaders that if anyone dies, I die first because I am your pastor.’ Another said, ‘No, because I also am a pastor and I am your elder. I die first.’
Then the pastor came back and said, ‘You are not ordained, I have been ordained, I die first.’ And sure enough, he died first. Two more were killed before the rest were eventually rescued. They had demonstrated extraordinary loyalty to God and to each other.
The South Korean missionaries were following in the footsteps of the apostles who showed extraordinary loyalty.
As the apostles went out and preached the good news they performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. ‘More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number’ (v.14). As a result, ‘Crowds gathered … bringing their sick … all of them were healed’ (vv.15–16).
Sadly, their success led to ‘jealousy’ from religious leaders (v.17). Once again we see how envy is such a temptation for those of us who are seen as religious. In their jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in jail (v.18). But once again God performed a miracle. He sent an angel of the Lord to open the doors of the jail and bring them out.
With huge courage they obeyed the command to ‘Go, stand in the temple courts … and tell the people the full message of this new life’ (v.20).
When they were caught doing exactly what they had been arrested for doing in the first place, they were re-arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest who said to them, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name … Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood’ (v.28).
Peter and the other apostles were loyal to God and to their calling. They replied, ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’ (v.29). They continued preaching the gospel – even when they were on trial.
The brief sermon (it takes only three verses – vv.30–32) is all about Jesus. They preach about the cross, resurrection and the exaltation of Jesus. They proclaimed Jesus as Prince and Saviour. The talk includes a description of the way of salvation: repentance and forgiveness of sins. In addition they managed to include the whole Trinity: ‘The God of our ancestors (v.30), ‘Jesus’ (v.30) and ‘the Holy Spirit’ (v.32). This sermon produces such fury that, like the South Korean missionaries, they faced the threat of death.
However, in the providence of God, there was a wise man on the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who pointed out to his fellow members (by giving examples from recent history) that ‘if [the apostles’] purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God’ (vv.38–39).
Although his speech persuaded them, nevertheless they were flogged and ‘ordered … not to speak in the name of Jesus’ (v.40).
Once again, with extraordinary courage and loyalty to God and their calling, ‘The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ’ (vv.41–42).
Lord, may we be inspired by the example of the apostles and those like the South Korean missionaries who followed in their footsteps. Help us to demonstrate loyalty to you regardless of the circumstances and opposition around us. May we never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."
1. Wow, thank You for stories like these that really show what it means to be loyal to You.
2. As some people leave, You bring back old friends. Thank You for this.
3. Thank You for giving me an outlet.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Example of Loyalty
"About five weeks ago a twenty-seven year old pregnant woman was sentenced to death by a Sudanese court for refusing to recant her Christian faith. The court also convicted her of adultery and sentenced her to one hundred lashes because her marriage to a Christian man is considered void under sharia law. Meriam Yaha Ibrahim Ishag, who was brought up as a Christian by her mother after her Muslim father had left the home, told the court:
‘I am a Christian and I will remain a Christian.’
She has since given birth to a baby girl and is allowed to care for her for two years before the sentence is implemented. Meriam’s husband is in a wheelchair and is dependent on her. He says that all he can do is pray. Although there has been an international outcry over the situation, Meriam remains shackled in prison along with her new baby and her twenty-one month old son (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27646747).
This brave Christian couple are showing extraordinary loyalty to God and to one another in the face of the kind of threat that we read the early Christians faced for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Loyalty is a combination of love and faithfulness. It is a quality often lacking in our society today. Disloyalty destroys families, churches, businesses, political parties and even nations. Each of the passages today says something about this quality of loyalty.
Proverbs 14:15-24
Loyalty to God in our plans
The book of Proverbs is full of practical wisdom. It encourages us, for example, to be discerning about what we believe: ‘The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word’ (v.15, MSG). Ultimately wisdom is about how we relate to God: ‘The wise fear the Lord and shun evil’ (v.16).
‘Fear of the Lord’ is an attitude of healthy respect and loyalty. It means involving him in all our plans. We need to be very careful about the plans we make – that they are for good and not for evil. Eventually, even ‘the wicked will respect God-loyal people’ (v.19, MSG).
‘But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness’ (v.22b). The word for ‘find’ is sometimes translated ‘show’. Both are true. Those who plan what is good not only find love and faithfulness, they show love and faithfulness as well. This is at the heart of loyalty – to show love and faithfulness. This is contrasted with those who selfishly plot evil and go astray.
Lord, help me to be wise and God-loyal in my plans. Show me good plans and more ways to be kind to the needy. May we, as a community of God-loyal people, plan what is good and find love and faithfulness."
1. Thank You for this great example of loyalty. May I display the same kind when faced with trials.
2. Thank You for a patient, lovely, and appreciative sign language teacher.
3. New experiences arise daily. Thank You, Lord, for a very dynamic life. And a rainy, soaky night so I can finally wash my shoes after a really long time. :D
‘I am a Christian and I will remain a Christian.’
She has since given birth to a baby girl and is allowed to care for her for two years before the sentence is implemented. Meriam’s husband is in a wheelchair and is dependent on her. He says that all he can do is pray. Although there has been an international outcry over the situation, Meriam remains shackled in prison along with her new baby and her twenty-one month old son (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27646747).
This brave Christian couple are showing extraordinary loyalty to God and to one another in the face of the kind of threat that we read the early Christians faced for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Loyalty is a combination of love and faithfulness. It is a quality often lacking in our society today. Disloyalty destroys families, churches, businesses, political parties and even nations. Each of the passages today says something about this quality of loyalty.
Proverbs 14:15-24
Loyalty to God in our plans
The book of Proverbs is full of practical wisdom. It encourages us, for example, to be discerning about what we believe: ‘The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word’ (v.15, MSG). Ultimately wisdom is about how we relate to God: ‘The wise fear the Lord and shun evil’ (v.16).
‘Fear of the Lord’ is an attitude of healthy respect and loyalty. It means involving him in all our plans. We need to be very careful about the plans we make – that they are for good and not for evil. Eventually, even ‘the wicked will respect God-loyal people’ (v.19, MSG).
‘But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness’ (v.22b). The word for ‘find’ is sometimes translated ‘show’. Both are true. Those who plan what is good not only find love and faithfulness, they show love and faithfulness as well. This is at the heart of loyalty – to show love and faithfulness. This is contrasted with those who selfishly plot evil and go astray.
Lord, help me to be wise and God-loyal in my plans. Show me good plans and more ways to be kind to the needy. May we, as a community of God-loyal people, plan what is good and find love and faithfulness."
1. Thank You for this great example of loyalty. May I display the same kind when faced with trials.
2. Thank You for a patient, lovely, and appreciative sign language teacher.
3. New experiences arise daily. Thank You, Lord, for a very dynamic life. And a rainy, soaky night so I can finally wash my shoes after a really long time. :D
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Emotion of Love
"Acts 4:23-5:11
Emotion of love vs emotion of hate
In this passage we see strongly contrasting emotions. Amnon ‘fell in love with Tamar’ (v.1). He says, ‘I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister’ (v.4). David had many wives and many children. The boys would probably have been separated from the girls after the age of five or six; there would not have been a sense of belonging together that exists in a normal family today.
Amnon plots to rape Tamar, who pleads with him. She even offers to marry him (v.13). The law forbade marriage to a half-sister. Possibly, this was not being practised at the time. More likely, Tamar was clutching at straws. Amnon ‘refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her’ (v.14).
The Bible does not ignore the issue of sexual abuse. Rape has always been, and still is, a horrific crime. Tamar describes it as ‘wicked’ (v.12). It is an act of a ‘wicked fool’ (v.13). It leads to ‘desolation’ (v.20) and it is a ‘disgraceful’ (v.21) act.
We see a glimpse of the terrible damage sexual abuse does to the victim: ‘Tamar poured ashes on her head, then she ripped the long-sleeved gown, held her head in her hands, and walked away, sobbing as she went’ (v.19, MSG). She became ‘bitter and desolate’ (v.20, MSG).
Instantly, it appears, ‘Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her’ (v.15). This led to further tragedy for David and his household. The violence is perpetuated – Amnon is killed and Absalom flees, separating him from David (vv.23–39).
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Amnon was ‘infatuated’ with Tamar. He may have been ‘in love’ with her, but he certainly did not love her. It is extraordinary, though true to fallen human nature and experience, that infatuation can quickly turn to hatred. Amnon’s love was certainly not like the true love described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13.
Lord, deliver us from hatred. May we be filled, not by a superficial love, but by a love that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit."
1. Thank You for always showing how to truly love someone. I ask that You always have it in my heart to decide to love other people.
2. I think teaching could be Your gift to me. Thank You. Along with this is the patience I need to do it. Thank You so much.
3. Glory to You that somebody has been impacted with my words and my life. May You continue to use me as Your instrument. Amen.
Emotion of love vs emotion of hate
In this passage we see strongly contrasting emotions. Amnon ‘fell in love with Tamar’ (v.1). He says, ‘I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister’ (v.4). David had many wives and many children. The boys would probably have been separated from the girls after the age of five or six; there would not have been a sense of belonging together that exists in a normal family today.
Amnon plots to rape Tamar, who pleads with him. She even offers to marry him (v.13). The law forbade marriage to a half-sister. Possibly, this was not being practised at the time. More likely, Tamar was clutching at straws. Amnon ‘refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her’ (v.14).
The Bible does not ignore the issue of sexual abuse. Rape has always been, and still is, a horrific crime. Tamar describes it as ‘wicked’ (v.12). It is an act of a ‘wicked fool’ (v.13). It leads to ‘desolation’ (v.20) and it is a ‘disgraceful’ (v.21) act.
We see a glimpse of the terrible damage sexual abuse does to the victim: ‘Tamar poured ashes on her head, then she ripped the long-sleeved gown, held her head in her hands, and walked away, sobbing as she went’ (v.19, MSG). She became ‘bitter and desolate’ (v.20, MSG).
Instantly, it appears, ‘Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her’ (v.15). This led to further tragedy for David and his household. The violence is perpetuated – Amnon is killed and Absalom flees, separating him from David (vv.23–39).
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Amnon was ‘infatuated’ with Tamar. He may have been ‘in love’ with her, but he certainly did not love her. It is extraordinary, though true to fallen human nature and experience, that infatuation can quickly turn to hatred. Amnon’s love was certainly not like the true love described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13.
Lord, deliver us from hatred. May we be filled, not by a superficial love, but by a love that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit."
1. Thank You for always showing how to truly love someone. I ask that You always have it in my heart to decide to love other people.
2. I think teaching could be Your gift to me. Thank You. Along with this is the patience I need to do it. Thank You so much.
3. Glory to You that somebody has been impacted with my words and my life. May You continue to use me as Your instrument. Amen.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Results of Holy Spirit
"Acts 4:23-5:11
Filled with the Holy Spirit vs filled by Satan
Again, we see a stark contrast. Here, it is between the disciples who are ‘all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (4:31) and Ananias and Sapphira. Peter says to Ananias, ‘How is it that Satan has so filled your heart’ (5:3).
First, we see the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit:
Boldness
Peter and John are not put off by the threats made to them (4:17,21). Rather, ‘they raised their voices together in prayer to God’ (v.24). They prayed, ‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness’ (v.29). ‘After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly’ (v.31).
Unity
‘All the believers were one in heart and mind’ (v.32a). They were all filled with the same Holy Spirit. A mark of a Spirit-filled community is unity.
Generosity
They had a liberating attitude to their possessions: ‘They shared everything they had … There were no needy persons among them’ (vv.32,34). Those who could afford it helped support those who were in need (vv.34–35).
Power
They had prayed, ‘Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus’ (v.30). Their prayer was answered: ‘With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus’ (v.33a).
Grace
‘… much grace was upon them all’ (v.33b). Experience of God’s grace should lead to a community of grace and graciousness.
By stark contrast, in the second half of today’s passage we see the results of being filled by Satan. Peter uses very strong language when he says, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart’ (5:3).
There was no necessity for Ananias and Sapphira to give away their property or money. ‘Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?’ (v.4). They were not criticised for a lack of generosity.
Rather, the evidence that Satan had filled their hearts is not only that they lied (which could be a spontaneous act), but also that they conspired together to lie. Peter says to Ananias, ‘You have lied to the Holy Spirit’ (v.3) and he says to Sapphira, ‘How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?’ (v.9). This conspiracy was premeditated and prepared.
God gave Peter a ‘word of knowledge’ (vv.3–4). This exposed their sin. The fear of God came upon the people (vv.5,11). This type of fear was not fear of human beings or a slavish fear, but rather a holy fear. They ‘had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with’ (v.11, MSG).
This is not an easy story to read, and many of us struggle with the severity of God’s judgment in the passage. Ultimately, only God knows the secrets of our hearts, and we need to trust that his judgments are fair and just. It reminds us though of the seriousness of sin, and the awesomeness of God’s presence in our midst. The sense of God’s presence was so great that people feared that their sin might be exposed. But this presence of God and the Holy Spirit also brought about extraordinary conversions, healings, signs and wonders.
Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit. May we be a church known for its bold proclamation, unity, generosity, power and grace."
1. Thank You for exposing my sins and that it leads me to repent. Thank You, Lord, for Your guidance in everything. May I always have my ears open to You.
2. Thank You for blessing me with a chance to meet new people and learn more about myself.
3. I am always grateful of the life You give me here. May I always appreciate the little things that come my way.
Filled with the Holy Spirit vs filled by Satan
Again, we see a stark contrast. Here, it is between the disciples who are ‘all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (4:31) and Ananias and Sapphira. Peter says to Ananias, ‘How is it that Satan has so filled your heart’ (5:3).
First, we see the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit:
Boldness
Peter and John are not put off by the threats made to them (4:17,21). Rather, ‘they raised their voices together in prayer to God’ (v.24). They prayed, ‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness’ (v.29). ‘After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly’ (v.31).
Unity
‘All the believers were one in heart and mind’ (v.32a). They were all filled with the same Holy Spirit. A mark of a Spirit-filled community is unity.
Generosity
They had a liberating attitude to their possessions: ‘They shared everything they had … There were no needy persons among them’ (vv.32,34). Those who could afford it helped support those who were in need (vv.34–35).
Power
They had prayed, ‘Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus’ (v.30). Their prayer was answered: ‘With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus’ (v.33a).
Grace
‘… much grace was upon them all’ (v.33b). Experience of God’s grace should lead to a community of grace and graciousness.
By stark contrast, in the second half of today’s passage we see the results of being filled by Satan. Peter uses very strong language when he says, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart’ (5:3).
There was no necessity for Ananias and Sapphira to give away their property or money. ‘Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?’ (v.4). They were not criticised for a lack of generosity.
Rather, the evidence that Satan had filled their hearts is not only that they lied (which could be a spontaneous act), but also that they conspired together to lie. Peter says to Ananias, ‘You have lied to the Holy Spirit’ (v.3) and he says to Sapphira, ‘How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?’ (v.9). This conspiracy was premeditated and prepared.
God gave Peter a ‘word of knowledge’ (vv.3–4). This exposed their sin. The fear of God came upon the people (vv.5,11). This type of fear was not fear of human beings or a slavish fear, but rather a holy fear. They ‘had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with’ (v.11, MSG).
This is not an easy story to read, and many of us struggle with the severity of God’s judgment in the passage. Ultimately, only God knows the secrets of our hearts, and we need to trust that his judgments are fair and just. It reminds us though of the seriousness of sin, and the awesomeness of God’s presence in our midst. The sense of God’s presence was so great that people feared that their sin might be exposed. But this presence of God and the Holy Spirit also brought about extraordinary conversions, healings, signs and wonders.
Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit. May we be a church known for its bold proclamation, unity, generosity, power and grace."
1. Thank You for exposing my sins and that it leads me to repent. Thank You, Lord, for Your guidance in everything. May I always have my ears open to You.
2. Thank You for blessing me with a chance to meet new people and learn more about myself.
3. I am always grateful of the life You give me here. May I always appreciate the little things that come my way.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Finishing Well
"Back in the 1960s the band The Monkees sang about how no one seemed to believe in absolute morals anymore. In Shades of Grey they sang:
Many today no longer believe there is such a thing as absolute right or absolute wrong. Stark contrasts and black-and-white distinctions are not always easy to swallow in a society in which relativism is the order of the day. Everything is relative – a matter of degrees.
As followers of Jesus we cannot give in to these relativistic ideas. We must be open to the prophetic voice of Scripture, which often traces stark contrasts, urgent ethical choices and diverging paths in the midst of complex problems and situations.
In our Old Testament passage for today we read of extreme evil: sexual abuse, murder and conspiracy. On the other hand, in our New Testament reading, we read of extreme good – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit enabling people to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders. The reality of right and wrong are very clear in today’s passages, and there are stark contrasts between the two.
Psalm 71:9-18
Finishing well vs perishing in shame
The psalmist is determined to finish well. He writes, ‘Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone … Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come’ (vv.9,18).
This is in stark contrast to the fate of his enemies who he hopes will ‘perish in shame’ (v.13). From the New Testament perspective, this is probably not the right way to pray for one’s enemies! However, it is certainly true that some people seem to ‘perish in shame’. It is a tragic way for anyone’s life to end.
The psalmist contrasts himself with those who perish in shame. He writes ‘but as for me …’ (v.14). He wants to continue to be close to the Lord to the end of his life. In fact, he wants the end of his life to be even more fruitful than the beginning. He says, ‘I will praise you more and more’ (v.14). Every generation has the responsibility of passing the baton ‘to the next generation’ (v.18). Succession planning is a key part of finishing well.
Lord, help me to finish well and to declare your power to the next generation. Help me to praise you more and more. May my mouth tell of your righteousness and proclaim your mighty acts."
1. Thank You Lord that You provide only the truth. Help me to finish well.
2. Crabs! Ohh lala, thank You for a tasty and meaty plate.
3. Thank You for a batch of people whom You have put in my life, no matter how short their stay here is.
When the world and I were young,
Just yesterday.
Life was such a simple game …
It was easy then to tell right from wrong …
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of grey.
Many today no longer believe there is such a thing as absolute right or absolute wrong. Stark contrasts and black-and-white distinctions are not always easy to swallow in a society in which relativism is the order of the day. Everything is relative – a matter of degrees.
As followers of Jesus we cannot give in to these relativistic ideas. We must be open to the prophetic voice of Scripture, which often traces stark contrasts, urgent ethical choices and diverging paths in the midst of complex problems and situations.
In our Old Testament passage for today we read of extreme evil: sexual abuse, murder and conspiracy. On the other hand, in our New Testament reading, we read of extreme good – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit enabling people to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders. The reality of right and wrong are very clear in today’s passages, and there are stark contrasts between the two.
Psalm 71:9-18
Finishing well vs perishing in shame
The psalmist is determined to finish well. He writes, ‘Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone … Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come’ (vv.9,18).
This is in stark contrast to the fate of his enemies who he hopes will ‘perish in shame’ (v.13). From the New Testament perspective, this is probably not the right way to pray for one’s enemies! However, it is certainly true that some people seem to ‘perish in shame’. It is a tragic way for anyone’s life to end.
The psalmist contrasts himself with those who perish in shame. He writes ‘but as for me …’ (v.14). He wants to continue to be close to the Lord to the end of his life. In fact, he wants the end of his life to be even more fruitful than the beginning. He says, ‘I will praise you more and more’ (v.14). Every generation has the responsibility of passing the baton ‘to the next generation’ (v.18). Succession planning is a key part of finishing well.
Lord, help me to finish well and to declare your power to the next generation. Help me to praise you more and more. May my mouth tell of your righteousness and proclaim your mighty acts."
1. Thank You Lord that You provide only the truth. Help me to finish well.
2. Crabs! Ohh lala, thank You for a tasty and meaty plate.
3. Thank You for a batch of people whom You have put in my life, no matter how short their stay here is.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
God Can Forgive
"Acts 4:1-22
Take care to please God
In contemporary culture the words ‘You are the man!’ (12:7) might be words of admiration! But these are some of the most haunting words in the whole Bible. David had been found out. He had been tempted and had fallen into sin. He did it in secret and thought he had got away with it. But God saw everything. In one of the supreme understatements of the Bible we are told, ‘the thing David had done displeased the Lord’ (11:27).
Where did it all go wrong?
The point is often made that David’s first mistake was to remain in Jerusalem (v.1). If he had been out there fighting the battle with his people, he would have been less prone to temptation than sitting at home with rather too little to do. John Wimber often used to say, ‘It’s hard to sit still and be good’. We are much less likely to fall into temptation when we are fully occupied and in the right place.
David gradually slipped. He saw a ‘stunningly beautiful woman’ bathing (v.2, MSG). There was no sin yet, only temptation. However, he must have given in to lustful adulterous thoughts because he made a plan, sent for her to sleep with him and sinned greatly.
Although by the standards of his day it was nothing compared to what other kings would have done, he then planned a cover-up that did not work. Eventually, it ended in the murder of Uriah. As often happens, sin led to more sin – and the cover-up was even worse than the original sin.
David must have felt absolutely crushed at Nathan’s words: ‘You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I anointed you … I delivered you … I gave you … And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?” ’ (12:7–9). Not only had David messed up badly, but he was also someone who should have known better.
Amazingly, God forgave David even this enormous sin (v.13). There is no sin or failing that is too great for God to forgive, and no situation into which God’s grace cannot reach. No matter what you have done, God can forgive you.
The key to receiving that forgiveness is admitting our guilt and repenting of what we have done. This is the great difference between David (who God forgave when he sinned) and Saul (who God did not). Whereas Saul tried to justify himself (see 1 Samuel 15), David simply admitted everything. He said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ (v.13). In effect he just said ‘I’m sorry!’
Forgiveness does not take away the consequences of our actions though. For David the consequences were huge. His baby son died as a result (vv.13–14), and God warned him that because of his violent actions ‘the sword shall never depart from your house’ (v.10). The consequences of David’s sin were long lasting.
Nevertheless, this was not the end for David. God did not abandon him. Although his son died, there is hope that one day they will be reunited: ‘I will go to him, but he will not return to me’ (v.23). Not only that but God gave to David another son, Solomon, and ‘The Lord loved him’ (v.24).
This account is a warning and an encouragement. We all mess up from time to time. God forgives. He restores. He blesses us again. But let it also be a warning to us to take responsibility for our lives, to put in boundaries, get help early and to watch and pray that we do not fall into temptation.
If we have fallen, we need like David to admit our sin, confess, repent, grieve if necessary and then get on with our lives looking forward to what God has in store for us.
Lord, guard my heart and the hearts of all your people, that we may be faithful to you."
1. Thank You for Your forgiveness no matter what I have done. May I have the heart to come and repent to You.
2. Thank You for a night of good walks, hearty dinner, and fun discussions.
3. Thank You for sustaining me on my 10th day of PrayFit!
Take care to please God
In contemporary culture the words ‘You are the man!’ (12:7) might be words of admiration! But these are some of the most haunting words in the whole Bible. David had been found out. He had been tempted and had fallen into sin. He did it in secret and thought he had got away with it. But God saw everything. In one of the supreme understatements of the Bible we are told, ‘the thing David had done displeased the Lord’ (11:27).
Where did it all go wrong?
The point is often made that David’s first mistake was to remain in Jerusalem (v.1). If he had been out there fighting the battle with his people, he would have been less prone to temptation than sitting at home with rather too little to do. John Wimber often used to say, ‘It’s hard to sit still and be good’. We are much less likely to fall into temptation when we are fully occupied and in the right place.
David gradually slipped. He saw a ‘stunningly beautiful woman’ bathing (v.2, MSG). There was no sin yet, only temptation. However, he must have given in to lustful adulterous thoughts because he made a plan, sent for her to sleep with him and sinned greatly.
Although by the standards of his day it was nothing compared to what other kings would have done, he then planned a cover-up that did not work. Eventually, it ended in the murder of Uriah. As often happens, sin led to more sin – and the cover-up was even worse than the original sin.
David must have felt absolutely crushed at Nathan’s words: ‘You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I anointed you … I delivered you … I gave you … And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?” ’ (12:7–9). Not only had David messed up badly, but he was also someone who should have known better.
Amazingly, God forgave David even this enormous sin (v.13). There is no sin or failing that is too great for God to forgive, and no situation into which God’s grace cannot reach. No matter what you have done, God can forgive you.
The key to receiving that forgiveness is admitting our guilt and repenting of what we have done. This is the great difference between David (who God forgave when he sinned) and Saul (who God did not). Whereas Saul tried to justify himself (see 1 Samuel 15), David simply admitted everything. He said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ (v.13). In effect he just said ‘I’m sorry!’
Forgiveness does not take away the consequences of our actions though. For David the consequences were huge. His baby son died as a result (vv.13–14), and God warned him that because of his violent actions ‘the sword shall never depart from your house’ (v.10). The consequences of David’s sin were long lasting.
Nevertheless, this was not the end for David. God did not abandon him. Although his son died, there is hope that one day they will be reunited: ‘I will go to him, but he will not return to me’ (v.23). Not only that but God gave to David another son, Solomon, and ‘The Lord loved him’ (v.24).
This account is a warning and an encouragement. We all mess up from time to time. God forgives. He restores. He blesses us again. But let it also be a warning to us to take responsibility for our lives, to put in boundaries, get help early and to watch and pray that we do not fall into temptation.
If we have fallen, we need like David to admit our sin, confess, repent, grieve if necessary and then get on with our lives looking forward to what God has in store for us.
Lord, guard my heart and the hearts of all your people, that we may be faithful to you."
1. Thank You for Your forgiveness no matter what I have done. May I have the heart to come and repent to You.
2. Thank You for a night of good walks, hearty dinner, and fun discussions.
3. Thank You for sustaining me on my 10th day of PrayFit!
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
No Formal Education
"Acts 4:1-22
Take courage from being with Jesus
Authentic Christianity is bound to lead to opposition and trials of one sort or another. Here, the disciples have literally been put in jail and on trial. Effectively, they were charged with the crime of being Christians (though they didn’t go by that name at the time). There has not been a single period in church history when Christians have not been tried for this offence somewhere in the world.
It was not disputed that the man had been healed. In the gospels it is Jesus who does the miracles; in Acts ordinary people do miracles in his name. When asked, ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’ (v.7), filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter replied, ‘It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead’ (v.10). Today, all of us can pray in this same powerful way.
Peter had the audacity to tell his judges that they were guilty of crucifying the saviour of the world. They had rejected and crucified Jesus. Peter had been frightened to admit to a servant girl that he even knew Jesus. Now, he is a changed person. He proclaims Jesus and the resurrection in public, in the court where Jesus was tried and 500 yards from where he was crucified.
The key was that Peter had encountered the risen Jesus and was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (v.8). He now knew what Jesus had come to do and, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus was with him and helping him.
Peter says to his judges, ‘You crucified [Jesus] … whom God raised from the dead’ (v.10). And, ‘salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved’ (v.12).
It is not surprising that ‘They couldn’t take their eyes off them – Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus’ (v.13, MSG).
Peter and John may not have had much formal education, but they had been to ‘school with Jesus’. They were his disciples. They had been to the ‘College of God’s Word’. And now they were studying at the ‘University of the Holy Spirit’. Many of the people used greatly by God have had little formal education.
Peter and John were threatened and told not to speak about Jesus. But they replied, ‘We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (v.20).
As they faced their judges, they were hugely helped by the fact that everyone could see what an amazing miracle had taken place. The forty year old healed man was standing there as living testimony to the power of Jesus (vv.14–21).
Lord, fill me with your Spirit and give me the same courage that Peter and John had so that I can go on proclaiming Jesus, whatever the cost and whatever the opposition. May we see outstanding miracles like those that you performed through your first followers."
1. Thank You for using people having no formal education to preach the gospel. May You help and guide me in doing my part.
2. You always have a way of exposing what is in the heart of Your children. Thank You for helping me guard my heart and making the right choice in giving a reaction during unfortunate events.
3. Thank You for a cool weather even if it is resulting to floods. Thank You for making us safe.
Take courage from being with Jesus
Authentic Christianity is bound to lead to opposition and trials of one sort or another. Here, the disciples have literally been put in jail and on trial. Effectively, they were charged with the crime of being Christians (though they didn’t go by that name at the time). There has not been a single period in church history when Christians have not been tried for this offence somewhere in the world.
It was not disputed that the man had been healed. In the gospels it is Jesus who does the miracles; in Acts ordinary people do miracles in his name. When asked, ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’ (v.7), filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter replied, ‘It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead’ (v.10). Today, all of us can pray in this same powerful way.
Peter had the audacity to tell his judges that they were guilty of crucifying the saviour of the world. They had rejected and crucified Jesus. Peter had been frightened to admit to a servant girl that he even knew Jesus. Now, he is a changed person. He proclaims Jesus and the resurrection in public, in the court where Jesus was tried and 500 yards from where he was crucified.
The key was that Peter had encountered the risen Jesus and was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (v.8). He now knew what Jesus had come to do and, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus was with him and helping him.
Peter says to his judges, ‘You crucified [Jesus] … whom God raised from the dead’ (v.10). And, ‘salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved’ (v.12).
It is not surprising that ‘They couldn’t take their eyes off them – Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus’ (v.13, MSG).
Peter and John may not have had much formal education, but they had been to ‘school with Jesus’. They were his disciples. They had been to the ‘College of God’s Word’. And now they were studying at the ‘University of the Holy Spirit’. Many of the people used greatly by God have had little formal education.
Peter and John were threatened and told not to speak about Jesus. But they replied, ‘We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (v.20).
As they faced their judges, they were hugely helped by the fact that everyone could see what an amazing miracle had taken place. The forty year old healed man was standing there as living testimony to the power of Jesus (vv.14–21).
Lord, fill me with your Spirit and give me the same courage that Peter and John had so that I can go on proclaiming Jesus, whatever the cost and whatever the opposition. May we see outstanding miracles like those that you performed through your first followers."
1. Thank You for using people having no formal education to preach the gospel. May You help and guide me in doing my part.
2. You always have a way of exposing what is in the heart of Your children. Thank You for helping me guard my heart and making the right choice in giving a reaction during unfortunate events.
3. Thank You for a cool weather even if it is resulting to floods. Thank You for making us safe.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Prayer, Trust, and Praise
"John Wimber, the US pastor and pioneer of the Vineyard movement, had a huge influence on the church around the world.
He died at the age of sixty-three. Life had often been extremely difficult for him. He had many health problems and was broken-hearted that his eldest son, Chris, was dying at the same time as him.
He had been subject to an outrageous amount of criticism. I remember him once saying to me, ‘Notoriety is fun for a short time, but after that it is just hassle’. But perhaps what broke his heart more than anything was the fact that three of the men who were closest to him, whom he loved and treated as his sons, all fell into temptation and moral failure.
God used John Wimber in extraordinary ways, but he and his team faced many trials and temptations.
Perhaps it is not surprising that the passages today return to the subject of trials and temptations. This is how life is, and the Bible is not at all naïve about it. Usually, as we emerge from one battle, there is another one around the corner. This is the challenge of life.
Psalm 71:1-8
Take confidence in the Lord
This psalm is full of indications of difficulty and opposition. Yet through it all, the writer says, ‘From my birth I have relied on you’ (v.6). In the psalm we see three key aspects of what that reliance on God involves:
Prayer
Here is a prayer that you can pray: ‘I run for dear life to God … get me out of this mess’ (vv.1–2, MSG).
Trust
Once you have cried out for help and cast your burdens on the Lord, the next step is to hope in him with confidence (v.5). ‘You keep me going when times are tough ... I’ve hung on you’ (vv.5–6, MSG).
Praise
You can praise God before, during and after battles you face. ‘I’ll never run out of praise’ (v.8, MSG).
Lord, I praise you for your love, goodness and splendour. Thank you for the way you have rescued me and delivered me. Thank you that I can rely on you as I look to the future and the battles ahead."
1. Even with battles, You are there. Thank You for You are always available and ready to listen. May I always find hope in You to keep me going when times are tough.
2. It is another Bui Vien time for us. Leider the Pinoy friends are going home this coming weekend and it is yet again a season of goodbyes. But thank You, Lord, for the friendships made.
3. Thank You now for stronger legs due to a lot of walking. Thank You for keeping me safe this rainy season.
He died at the age of sixty-three. Life had often been extremely difficult for him. He had many health problems and was broken-hearted that his eldest son, Chris, was dying at the same time as him.
He had been subject to an outrageous amount of criticism. I remember him once saying to me, ‘Notoriety is fun for a short time, but after that it is just hassle’. But perhaps what broke his heart more than anything was the fact that three of the men who were closest to him, whom he loved and treated as his sons, all fell into temptation and moral failure.
God used John Wimber in extraordinary ways, but he and his team faced many trials and temptations.
Perhaps it is not surprising that the passages today return to the subject of trials and temptations. This is how life is, and the Bible is not at all naïve about it. Usually, as we emerge from one battle, there is another one around the corner. This is the challenge of life.
Psalm 71:1-8
Take confidence in the Lord
This psalm is full of indications of difficulty and opposition. Yet through it all, the writer says, ‘From my birth I have relied on you’ (v.6). In the psalm we see three key aspects of what that reliance on God involves:
Prayer
Here is a prayer that you can pray: ‘I run for dear life to God … get me out of this mess’ (vv.1–2, MSG).
Trust
Once you have cried out for help and cast your burdens on the Lord, the next step is to hope in him with confidence (v.5). ‘You keep me going when times are tough ... I’ve hung on you’ (vv.5–6, MSG).
Praise
You can praise God before, during and after battles you face. ‘I’ll never run out of praise’ (v.8, MSG).
Lord, I praise you for your love, goodness and splendour. Thank you for the way you have rescued me and delivered me. Thank you that I can rely on you as I look to the future and the battles ahead."
1. Even with battles, You are there. Thank You for You are always available and ready to listen. May I always find hope in You to keep me going when times are tough.
2. It is another Bui Vien time for us. Leider the Pinoy friends are going home this coming weekend and it is yet again a season of goodbyes. But thank You, Lord, for the friendships made.
3. Thank You now for stronger legs due to a lot of walking. Thank You for keeping me safe this rainy season.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Passing Kindness On
"Steve Sjogren wrote a book called Conspiracy of Kindness. He started a church in Cincinnati, Ohio, that has grown rapidly to an average attendance of 7,500 in just fifteen years. Their motto is, ‘Small things done with great love are changing the world’. They carry out random acts of kindness like paying for a stranger’s coffee, or writing a ‘thank you’ note to a shop assistant. They have discovered the power and impact of ‘showing God’s love in practical ways’.
As people tap into their own generous human spirit and share kindness with one another, they discover for themselves the power of kindness to effect positive change, both in their lives and in the lives of people around them. When kindness is expressed, healthy relationships are created, community connections are nourished, and people are inspired to pass kindness on.
Psalm 70:1-5
Trust in the kindness of God
God is kind. He loves you. Whatever your needs are today, you can cry out to him and he will be your help and deliverer.
David prays, ‘God! Please hurry to my rescue! God, come quickly to my side!’ (v.1, MSG). He goes on, ‘Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay’ (v.5). As he cries out, he remembers God’s kindness to him in the past.
As I look back at this passage in my Bible and see cries for help that I have written down beside it over several years, I pray:
Thank you, Lord, so much for your kindness and love. Thank you for the ways that you have heard my cries for help. Thank you for those prayers that you have already answered and for those for which I am still waiting, knowing that you hear my prayers. Today, I want to add the following prayers …"
1. Yes, Lord, thank You for preparing me for Your plan for me. Thank You for answered prayers.
2. I would say sign language was productive today. Thank You for creating a mind that can absorb a lot of information.
3. My English class was cancelled so I had a bit of a time to rest at home. Thank You for that. And thank You for a strong message today about fellowship. Guard and guide me heart. Amen.
As people tap into their own generous human spirit and share kindness with one another, they discover for themselves the power of kindness to effect positive change, both in their lives and in the lives of people around them. When kindness is expressed, healthy relationships are created, community connections are nourished, and people are inspired to pass kindness on.
Psalm 70:1-5
Trust in the kindness of God
God is kind. He loves you. Whatever your needs are today, you can cry out to him and he will be your help and deliverer.
David prays, ‘God! Please hurry to my rescue! God, come quickly to my side!’ (v.1, MSG). He goes on, ‘Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay’ (v.5). As he cries out, he remembers God’s kindness to him in the past.
As I look back at this passage in my Bible and see cries for help that I have written down beside it over several years, I pray:
Thank you, Lord, so much for your kindness and love. Thank you for the ways that you have heard my cries for help. Thank you for those prayers that you have already answered and for those for which I am still waiting, knowing that you hear my prayers. Today, I want to add the following prayers …"
1. Yes, Lord, thank You for preparing me for Your plan for me. Thank You for answered prayers.
2. I would say sign language was productive today. Thank You for creating a mind that can absorb a lot of information.
3. My English class was cancelled so I had a bit of a time to rest at home. Thank You for that. And thank You for a strong message today about fellowship. Guard and guide me heart. Amen.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Act in Love
"1 Chronicles 9:1b-10:14
Stop fighting
‘The Philistines fought against Israel … The fighting grew fierce around Saul’ (10:1,3). Saul was attacked by the Philistines and died as a result. We find this account in 1 Samuel 31. However, the writer of Chronicles adds an explanation: ‘Saul died in disobedience, disobedient to God. He didn’t obey God’s words’ (1 Chronicles 10:13, MSG).
As we look back at the book of Samuel we can see that the real problem was that Saul became jealous of David. David can pretty well be considered an innocent party in the matter. He did everything he could to submit to Saul and to be on good terms with him. Saul would have none of it. He was out to get David. This internal dispute weakened Saul and made him vulnerable to an attack from outside.
We see today how internal disputes among the people of God make us vulnerable to attacks from outside. Jesus prayed that we would be one in order that the world would believe (John 17:23).
Lord, we see what terrible damage arguments, disputes and in-fighting does to the church. Help us, as far as it depends on us, to live at peace with everyone. May we always welcome those with different views. Help us always to act in love.
Lord, pour out your Spirit on the church. Unite us around the person of Jesus. May we be one in order that the world will believe."
1. Help me, Lord, to act in love. Thank You for Your daily reminders, guidance, and scolding. Thank You.
2. Mooncake season it is! I am loving this a-bit-costly cake. Thank You for little blessings.
3. This is a chill Saturday for me. I had time to go for my groceries and walk around 6 kilometers in total to and fro my destination. Although some plans were not successful, thank You for the grace that I was able to let go and has forgiven the situation. No big deal. :)
Stop fighting
‘The Philistines fought against Israel … The fighting grew fierce around Saul’ (10:1,3). Saul was attacked by the Philistines and died as a result. We find this account in 1 Samuel 31. However, the writer of Chronicles adds an explanation: ‘Saul died in disobedience, disobedient to God. He didn’t obey God’s words’ (1 Chronicles 10:13, MSG).
As we look back at the book of Samuel we can see that the real problem was that Saul became jealous of David. David can pretty well be considered an innocent party in the matter. He did everything he could to submit to Saul and to be on good terms with him. Saul would have none of it. He was out to get David. This internal dispute weakened Saul and made him vulnerable to an attack from outside.
We see today how internal disputes among the people of God make us vulnerable to attacks from outside. Jesus prayed that we would be one in order that the world would believe (John 17:23).
Lord, we see what terrible damage arguments, disputes and in-fighting does to the church. Help us, as far as it depends on us, to live at peace with everyone. May we always welcome those with different views. Help us always to act in love.
Lord, pour out your Spirit on the church. Unite us around the person of Jesus. May we be one in order that the world will believe."
1. Help me, Lord, to act in love. Thank You for Your daily reminders, guidance, and scolding. Thank You.
2. Mooncake season it is! I am loving this a-bit-costly cake. Thank You for little blessings.
3. This is a chill Saturday for me. I had time to go for my groceries and walk around 6 kilometers in total to and fro my destination. Although some plans were not successful, thank You for the grace that I was able to let go and has forgiven the situation. No big deal. :)
Friday, September 11, 2015
We are Anointed Ones
"Do you ever feel too weak or inadequate to be used by God?
A teenager from Cumbria in Northern England felt God calling him. He was poorly educated and ineloquent, and faced significant opposition throughout his ministry from those who felt that he wasn’t up to the task. Even as an old man he still admitted that, ‘Today I still blush and fear more than anything to have my lack of learning brought out into the open.’
Yet despite all his disadvantages he remained convinced that God had called and anointed him as an evangelist. He wrote, ‘We are a letter of Christ for salvation even to the back of beyond – and what does it matter if it is not a learned letter? For it is still to be found valid and plain for all to read, written in your very hearts, not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God!’
Today his more eloquent contemporaries have long been forgotten, but the impact of Patrick’s ministry and mission to Ireland is recognised around the world.
St Patrick knew that God had called and anointed him, despite his weaknesses. As we read the history of David’s life we find a similar mix of weakness and anointing. As he takes up the throne of Israel, David says, ‘Though I am the anointed king, I am weak’ (2 Samuel 3:39). In spite of weakness, God used him in extraordinary ways. He was God’s anointed (5:3).
However weak you may feel, you too can be anointed by God.
Psalm 69:13-28
Anointed in times of trouble
Are you going through a time of trouble? David was in a time of deep trouble in his life. He felt like he was in a ‘swamp’, a ‘Black Hole’, a ‘deathtrap’. He says that he is ‘flat on my face, reduced to a nothing’ (vv.15–20, MSG).
David, the anointed leader of Israel (2 Samuel 5:3), was a man of prayer. Many of the psalms are attributed to him. In this psalm we see an example of his honest, raw and intimate prayers.
Even if you are in a position of great weakness:
Know God’s great love for you
He prays, ‘In your great love, O God, answer me’ (Psalm 69:13). ‘Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me’ (v.16).
Cry out to God in your heart
Be honest with God. Tell him what you are really feeling. ‘Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink’ (v.14). ‘Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble’ (v.17).
1. Truly, thank You that I can run to You no matter what. You are my backbone, my only reliable support that I can trust. Thank You.Lord, thank you that I can pray to you in times of trouble. Thank you for your great love and mercy. Thank you that as I look back I can see the many ways in which you have answered me when I have been in trouble. Lord, today I cry to you for help with …"
2. Only by grace that I have patience. Thank You, Lord, for never abandoning me. I always ask that You continue to be in my heart to guide me in every decision that I make.
3. Today is my company's 27th birthday. Thank You for being a part of this new culture in spite some challenges that I had faced when I started. Trotzdem, thank You for all Your blessings.
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