A life that is loveless is godless.
But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God live in them. 1 John 4:8, 16
Love is slowly diminishing in the world we live in. People are getting more selfish and self centered. No one truly understands the true meaning of love unless God who alone is love lives in them. And I know almost everyone will profess and claim they do understand the meaning of love; unfortunately most of us live in misconstrue love.
Love is an ability empowered by God to accept and forgive imperfections. When God’s love filled you, you are able to perform monumental task. When you administer in God’s love, no one can find fault in your accomplishments. When your accomplishments are fulfilled by love, then God is pleased.
Love is the ultimate authority from God to live our earthly life in perfection. To live in love is to live to please God, bringing Him honor and glory.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 elucidate the meaning of love unerringly, Love is patient and love is kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never losses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
You perceive the significance of love when love meets every criterion in your accomplishments. Without love, we live in vain. Without love we live in bitterness. Without love we cannot live to please God who is love.
When we live apart from love, we live apart from God.
Heavenly Father, fill my heart with Jesus Christ who is love that I may live in love because love live in me.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Mistakes Reforms Us
We all hate admitting to making mistakes. None of us wanted to accept, acknowledge and confess having made mistakes. We will try to blame someone for our mistakes. But mistakes are important. Mistakes are like a beacon of light that guide us out of wrongs. Without mistakes we may not know we are wrong. We must learn to accept mistakes because mistakes are healthy. Mistakes are like symptoms revealing a sickness. Without mistakes we cannot understand perfection. Without mistakes we cannot be perfect. Mistakes show us we are wrong so that we can trust the perfect God to guide us.
All of us make mistakes at some time of our life. Some make more than others. Then they are those who believe they are never wrong because they are confident they never make mistakes. The reason God ask us not to judge people is because we all make mistakes. When we make mistakes, we wanted people to understand us and forgive us of our wrong doings. Mistakes are God’s way to reveal our weakness and imperfections and our need for Him to help us.
Why do we deny making mistakes? I guess the reason we blame others for our mistakes is to impress upon others that we are never wrong. We wanted to defend our perfections which are in reality a deception.
Mistakes help us to learn to be better and wiser people. Concealing mistakes weakens us while exposing mistakes strengthens us. Sometimes we need to make many more mistakes to cover a conceal mistake. A conceal mistake not expose may derail and affect your everyday living for a long time. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Psalm 32:5). An exposed mistake receives forgiveness and is set free.
I admitted to my mistakes so that God can correct me. I could have make out a list of people I can blame to make myself look praiseworthy. I could have blamed everyone to wallow in the consolation that I was right all the time.
Did I lose everything in my mistakes? It looks that way. When I reminisce about what had happen, I realized how much I had benefitted from the lesson albeit all its sufferings. I did not lose anything in the entire process; on the contrary I gain an expanded wisdom on living life and develop a richer relationship with my Savior Jesus.
Admitting to having made mistakes humble us. Protecting and defending mistakes are prideful. Admitting mistakes reveal our imperfections and weakness, remembering that we were created out of dust and our need for God. Protecting and defending mistakes mask the true weakness in us making us liars because we claimed to be perfect. Pomposity induce us to decline our need for God to help us.
Accountability to mistakes reveals our weakness. Mistakes build us to be stronger people in facing tougher challenges that surrounds and confront us all the time. God allow us to make mistakes so that we can turn to trust him to guide us.
The first finger pointing episode dated all the way back to the Garden of Eden. The synopsis- at the Garden of Eden, God sternly warned Adam and Eve the deadly repercussions if they chose to eat from the tree of knowledge. The serpent cleverly convinced them that its okay to eat as the fruit of that tree will promote them to equality with God. And when God pursued to uncover who initiated disobedience to his earlier caution, the first ever account of finger pointing unfolded. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Each of us is presented with an opportunity to make a right decision prior to making a mistake. Eve could have prevented herself making a mistake if she chose correctly and wisely by heeding God’s warning. Sometimes a single mistake can involve numerous people.
We make mistakes simply because we rejected God’s Spirit to reign in our hearts to help us make the right honorable decisions which will bring glory to God who alone loves us in Christ Jesus our Saviour Lord.
We can either be very sore losers or jubilant victors. And we need to make wise decisions. We can make right wise decisions if we ask Jesus to help us. And He will.
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Holy Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to accomplish your good intentions. Galatians 5:16-17
All of us make mistakes at some time of our life. Some make more than others. Then they are those who believe they are never wrong because they are confident they never make mistakes. The reason God ask us not to judge people is because we all make mistakes. When we make mistakes, we wanted people to understand us and forgive us of our wrong doings. Mistakes are God’s way to reveal our weakness and imperfections and our need for Him to help us.
Why do we deny making mistakes? I guess the reason we blame others for our mistakes is to impress upon others that we are never wrong. We wanted to defend our perfections which are in reality a deception.
Mistakes help us to learn to be better and wiser people. Concealing mistakes weakens us while exposing mistakes strengthens us. Sometimes we need to make many more mistakes to cover a conceal mistake. A conceal mistake not expose may derail and affect your everyday living for a long time. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Psalm 32:5). An exposed mistake receives forgiveness and is set free.
I admitted to my mistakes so that God can correct me. I could have make out a list of people I can blame to make myself look praiseworthy. I could have blamed everyone to wallow in the consolation that I was right all the time.
Did I lose everything in my mistakes? It looks that way. When I reminisce about what had happen, I realized how much I had benefitted from the lesson albeit all its sufferings. I did not lose anything in the entire process; on the contrary I gain an expanded wisdom on living life and develop a richer relationship with my Savior Jesus.
Admitting to having made mistakes humble us. Protecting and defending mistakes are prideful. Admitting mistakes reveal our imperfections and weakness, remembering that we were created out of dust and our need for God. Protecting and defending mistakes mask the true weakness in us making us liars because we claimed to be perfect. Pomposity induce us to decline our need for God to help us.
Accountability to mistakes reveals our weakness. Mistakes build us to be stronger people in facing tougher challenges that surrounds and confront us all the time. God allow us to make mistakes so that we can turn to trust him to guide us.
The first finger pointing episode dated all the way back to the Garden of Eden. The synopsis- at the Garden of Eden, God sternly warned Adam and Eve the deadly repercussions if they chose to eat from the tree of knowledge. The serpent cleverly convinced them that its okay to eat as the fruit of that tree will promote them to equality with God. And when God pursued to uncover who initiated disobedience to his earlier caution, the first ever account of finger pointing unfolded. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Each of us is presented with an opportunity to make a right decision prior to making a mistake. Eve could have prevented herself making a mistake if she chose correctly and wisely by heeding God’s warning. Sometimes a single mistake can involve numerous people.
We make mistakes simply because we rejected God’s Spirit to reign in our hearts to help us make the right honorable decisions which will bring glory to God who alone loves us in Christ Jesus our Saviour Lord.
We can either be very sore losers or jubilant victors. And we need to make wise decisions. We can make right wise decisions if we ask Jesus to help us. And He will.
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Holy Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to accomplish your good intentions. Galatians 5:16-17
Thursday, August 14, 2008
I May Not Be A Crook, I Am No Better Anyway!
Prideful, I will always guard and defend my good name sake by rebutting that I am a crook, never been involved with anything nefarious. I was wrong! Upon an examination of my heart, performed by Dr Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, I was shock with my discovery. I was in total shock when God reveal in detail the deceitful contents in my heart.
I was clearly a good man, impressing many with my devout lifestyle. But behind this façade dwell hidden the truthful me; lies, darkness and every form of evil. I possessed a personality disapprove of God. Even though I am not a crook in the presence of man, I was evil in the presence of the Holy Almighty God. I was but a dirty rag (used sanitary napkin ref Isaiah 64:6)!
I may not be a crook but in my heart exist every form of evil composed of lies, anger, sexual immorality, selfish ambition, jealousy, envy, idolatry, and a variation of lustful pleasures. While my visible personality is approved of man, my invisible personality is renounced by God. I could not hide my deceitfulness from the Awesome Almighty God!
The Lord doesn’t see things the way men see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
I constantly lie and boast in my conversation, I am filled with anger and jealousy of my friends over their more successful lives, I hid in my room watching pornography, I harbor selfish ambitions by plotting against any achievement by my colleagues, I condemn the less fortunate when eyes are not looking at me, I not only like and love money; I am obsessed with it! All these are treacherous and threaten my pursuit to be reconciled with my heavenly Father, my Saviour Jesus. My inner secret nature must be right to project a true outer nature. Unless I am approved of God, my approval of men is inconsequential.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Lord Jesus, examine and probe the deepest of my heart and reveal any hidden sins against you that you may cleanse me and forgive me and help me with my repentance.
I was clearly a good man, impressing many with my devout lifestyle. But behind this façade dwell hidden the truthful me; lies, darkness and every form of evil. I possessed a personality disapprove of God. Even though I am not a crook in the presence of man, I was evil in the presence of the Holy Almighty God. I was but a dirty rag (used sanitary napkin ref Isaiah 64:6)!
I may not be a crook but in my heart exist every form of evil composed of lies, anger, sexual immorality, selfish ambition, jealousy, envy, idolatry, and a variation of lustful pleasures. While my visible personality is approved of man, my invisible personality is renounced by God. I could not hide my deceitfulness from the Awesome Almighty God!
The Lord doesn’t see things the way men see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
I constantly lie and boast in my conversation, I am filled with anger and jealousy of my friends over their more successful lives, I hid in my room watching pornography, I harbor selfish ambitions by plotting against any achievement by my colleagues, I condemn the less fortunate when eyes are not looking at me, I not only like and love money; I am obsessed with it! All these are treacherous and threaten my pursuit to be reconciled with my heavenly Father, my Saviour Jesus. My inner secret nature must be right to project a true outer nature. Unless I am approved of God, my approval of men is inconsequential.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Lord Jesus, examine and probe the deepest of my heart and reveal any hidden sins against you that you may cleanse me and forgive me and help me with my repentance.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
When A Tiny Deed Wins Thunderous Applause From Heaven
The smallest, most insignificant deed done with love away from the limelight of men may triumph over God’s heart. Every little deed done with love to mankind is a big step back to God’s heart. A deed done with love for an enemy is a giant leap back to God’s heart. A glass of water to someone you love or you hate win a big applause from God, Jesus and every angel in heaven.
When you learn to feed one need today, Jesus Christ will help you feed five thousand needs someday. All Jesus asks from you is start loving one person today and leave him to multiply your act of loving kindness.
A teeny weenie deed done with love translates to a giant leap back into God’s heart.
Perform your kind deeds in private and your heavenly Father who witnesses everything will be pleased and reward you. Matthew 6:4
When you learn to feed one need today, Jesus Christ will help you feed five thousand needs someday. All Jesus asks from you is start loving one person today and leave him to multiply your act of loving kindness.
A teeny weenie deed done with love translates to a giant leap back into God’s heart.
Perform your kind deeds in private and your heavenly Father who witnesses everything will be pleased and reward you. Matthew 6:4
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
My True Identity In God's Amazing Grace
Today’s behavioral culture of many is attempting to establish convincingly our character decency and innocence even though we are full of sh*t while condemning others who are truly flawless and squeaky-clean with their way of life. Usually the offenders are those who bear with them a mentality of guilty conscience of some past wrong doings. Perhaps by condemning others, they thought they could distract others from their own guilt.
It’s easy to censure someone’s imperfections but missed examining our own. It’s easy to condemn someone’s imperfections without realizing that we are imperfect ourselves. If not for the Almighty God’s mercies and grace in us through his son, our Saviour Jesus, we may be worse than those we disapprove. In another sense, we are the devil if not for Christ’s love in God’s mercies and grace.
We were caution never to judge a book by its cover.
The face and deeds of a person could never reveal the truth in a person’s heart. The actual truth of a person lies in the heart. That’s the marvelous masterpiece of God’s creation in us. Only God himself have access to the hidden truth and lies that lay deep in our hearts. That’s why only God himself could play the ultimate Sovereign Judge of us.
It’s also easy to condemn anyone when we possess an authoritative and influential status.
While many wrong doers celebrates their convincing escape from their earthly judgments, they easily forgets that it is not so on Judgment Day when God himself will reveal every deceit committed in our hearts.
It is easy to fabricate lies and plot for someone’s misfortunes and thought this malice is kept secretly in our heart never-to-be uncover but we will pay dearly someday because our Maker knows. We’ll be fortunate to get our comeuppance at the hands of man’s judgment and then repent from it, otherwise ‘it’ll be hell’ for us without mercy when God finally judge us!
If we learn not to judge and condemn others, then the seed of Christ's character slowly grow in us.
You may think you can condemn people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Since you judge others for doing wrong, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Romans 2:1,3
It’s easy to censure someone’s imperfections but missed examining our own. It’s easy to condemn someone’s imperfections without realizing that we are imperfect ourselves. If not for the Almighty God’s mercies and grace in us through his son, our Saviour Jesus, we may be worse than those we disapprove. In another sense, we are the devil if not for Christ’s love in God’s mercies and grace.
We were caution never to judge a book by its cover.
The face and deeds of a person could never reveal the truth in a person’s heart. The actual truth of a person lies in the heart. That’s the marvelous masterpiece of God’s creation in us. Only God himself have access to the hidden truth and lies that lay deep in our hearts. That’s why only God himself could play the ultimate Sovereign Judge of us.
It’s also easy to condemn anyone when we possess an authoritative and influential status.
While many wrong doers celebrates their convincing escape from their earthly judgments, they easily forgets that it is not so on Judgment Day when God himself will reveal every deceit committed in our hearts.
It is easy to fabricate lies and plot for someone’s misfortunes and thought this malice is kept secretly in our heart never-to-be uncover but we will pay dearly someday because our Maker knows. We’ll be fortunate to get our comeuppance at the hands of man’s judgment and then repent from it, otherwise ‘it’ll be hell’ for us without mercy when God finally judge us!
If we learn not to judge and condemn others, then the seed of Christ's character slowly grow in us.
You may think you can condemn people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Since you judge others for doing wrong, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Romans 2:1,3
Saturday, August 02, 2008
When A Servant Is More Honorable Than A Leader
The greatest among men may be the least before God.
Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called friends of the people.” But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? Tho one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:25-27
I prided myself about doing God’s will. But how much do I truly understand what God’s will is?
I aspired to be a leader in God’s plan to lead God’s people. But how can I be a leader of God’s people? Only the Almighty Lord God of Abraham can truly be the leader of His people. I am chosen for Christ’s glory to be God’s servant to serve God’s people, His church.
Leadership projects an arrogant image because when I am a leader or when I believe I am a leader, I will lord over people. On the contrary, if I am a servant, I am humble that I can serve God by serving His people. I dare not lord over God’s people because I remember that I am merely His servant. My Maker decides what and who I am.
Let’s examine and study the leadership icon of the Bible, Moses. Moses took 40 years of negotiating with the Egyptian Pharaoh before God’s people were granted freedom from Egypt. And let’s not forget the plight Moses suffered causing displeasure to God for complaining for the Israelites in the desert resulting him missing out setting foot in God’s Promised Land. Next, we have a look at Jesus, the son of the living God. Being a servant of God’s will may require us to die for our worst enemies, getting spat at, washing feet, and being accused of wrong doing albeit innocent; and that’s just to mention a few. Or are we only interested in selective responsibilities like teaching people (where we can show off our knowledge and intelligence), supervising and controlling people (where we can be pompous over our gifted influence), always forgetting that it’s the Holy Spirit equipping us with power and abilities to accomplish God’s will.
I pondered over a few points- To be a servant means observing total obedience to God’s instructions which are mostly insensible sacrificing any opportunity of displaying my talent, knowledge and intelligence which I often thought are wise. Do I only want to lead in comfortable surroundings or serve with constant endurance of misfortunes? Am I prepared to walk and work where the Holy Spirit assigned me? Am I prepared to serve if there is no recognition from men? And am I prepared to serve without any form of monetary gains?
I have, through my discreet observance that those who carry the title leaders always flaunt their talents but those who are true servants of the gospel hide modestly their obedience in offering to serve, remembering that they are dust and their potentials are the work of the Holy Spirit. A servant serves with the knowledge that it is God, himself who does His own work in the power of the Holy Spirit. A servant serves honoring God with his obedience. A servant serves remembering that he is only dust, and a vessel in God’s salvation plan for His glory.
A leader is an honorable rank among men whereas a servant bears resemblance of Christ’s humble stature.
So why do we aspire to be leaders when there is more honor to be a servant.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was god, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him a name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
If you aspired to serve for the honor and glory of God, the Father, serve with the humility and love that Christ has filled you in the power of the Holy Spirit. And please do remember this, whether you are serving as a leader or a servant, it is Christ at work in you in the power of the Holy Spirit who equipped you and gifted you with the abilities, lest you boasted and robbed God of His glory. Do not be critical of who and what you are in God’s service for God will reward you for your obedience and faithfulness.
May God who is in Christ Jesus help me to serve Him with the same attitude as Jesus Christ who alone loves me at the cross. Teach and help me each day to offer a glass of water to the people you placed in my midst with the love and humility you have filled my heart. Teach me and grant me an understanding servant’s heart that I am always serving under a Great Leader who has set an example as a Great Servant. May my Lord Jesus help me to draw faith from Him to live my earthly life for His honor and glory?
Bless the reader of this message with a passionate and humble heart to serve you my Saviour Lord.
Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called friends of the people.” But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? Tho one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:25-27
I prided myself about doing God’s will. But how much do I truly understand what God’s will is?
I aspired to be a leader in God’s plan to lead God’s people. But how can I be a leader of God’s people? Only the Almighty Lord God of Abraham can truly be the leader of His people. I am chosen for Christ’s glory to be God’s servant to serve God’s people, His church.
Leadership projects an arrogant image because when I am a leader or when I believe I am a leader, I will lord over people. On the contrary, if I am a servant, I am humble that I can serve God by serving His people. I dare not lord over God’s people because I remember that I am merely His servant. My Maker decides what and who I am.
Let’s examine and study the leadership icon of the Bible, Moses. Moses took 40 years of negotiating with the Egyptian Pharaoh before God’s people were granted freedom from Egypt. And let’s not forget the plight Moses suffered causing displeasure to God for complaining for the Israelites in the desert resulting him missing out setting foot in God’s Promised Land. Next, we have a look at Jesus, the son of the living God. Being a servant of God’s will may require us to die for our worst enemies, getting spat at, washing feet, and being accused of wrong doing albeit innocent; and that’s just to mention a few. Or are we only interested in selective responsibilities like teaching people (where we can show off our knowledge and intelligence), supervising and controlling people (where we can be pompous over our gifted influence), always forgetting that it’s the Holy Spirit equipping us with power and abilities to accomplish God’s will.
I pondered over a few points- To be a servant means observing total obedience to God’s instructions which are mostly insensible sacrificing any opportunity of displaying my talent, knowledge and intelligence which I often thought are wise. Do I only want to lead in comfortable surroundings or serve with constant endurance of misfortunes? Am I prepared to walk and work where the Holy Spirit assigned me? Am I prepared to serve if there is no recognition from men? And am I prepared to serve without any form of monetary gains?
I have, through my discreet observance that those who carry the title leaders always flaunt their talents but those who are true servants of the gospel hide modestly their obedience in offering to serve, remembering that they are dust and their potentials are the work of the Holy Spirit. A servant serves with the knowledge that it is God, himself who does His own work in the power of the Holy Spirit. A servant serves honoring God with his obedience. A servant serves remembering that he is only dust, and a vessel in God’s salvation plan for His glory.
A leader is an honorable rank among men whereas a servant bears resemblance of Christ’s humble stature.
So why do we aspire to be leaders when there is more honor to be a servant.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was god, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him a name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
If you aspired to serve for the honor and glory of God, the Father, serve with the humility and love that Christ has filled you in the power of the Holy Spirit. And please do remember this, whether you are serving as a leader or a servant, it is Christ at work in you in the power of the Holy Spirit who equipped you and gifted you with the abilities, lest you boasted and robbed God of His glory. Do not be critical of who and what you are in God’s service for God will reward you for your obedience and faithfulness.
May God who is in Christ Jesus help me to serve Him with the same attitude as Jesus Christ who alone loves me at the cross. Teach and help me each day to offer a glass of water to the people you placed in my midst with the love and humility you have filled my heart. Teach me and grant me an understanding servant’s heart that I am always serving under a Great Leader who has set an example as a Great Servant. May my Lord Jesus help me to draw faith from Him to live my earthly life for His honor and glory?
Bless the reader of this message with a passionate and humble heart to serve you my Saviour Lord.
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