03 5 / 2011
Focus on Him
Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.
- Matthew 6:22
Permalink 165 notes
09 3 / 2011
What Stuff Comes Out of You?
Matthew 12:35
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
»
Jesus made it very clear: stored good = brings good things; stored evil = brings evil things.
Therefore, we ought to be storing “good” inside [foremost, Christ our salvation and the ultimate good] and it is only then we can bring out good things [true good; not pseudo-good based on plain good works without the foundation of the ultimate good, Jesus Christ].
The more we store “evil” the more we bring evil out.
What causes people to bring out evil? Matthew 12:34b “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” – meaning, it’s been stored and built inside.
What good can we store up and build up inside? (1) Possess the ultimate good, Jesus Christ, and simple steps such as (2) “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” [Philippians 4:8]
02 3 / 2011
Worry-Free Life
Matthew 6:32-34
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
»
Pointers to remember:
.. Don’t be like the pagans who run after the temporary things of this world.
.. The Lord knows that we need things; therefore, He provides when He knows we are about to make use of those needs; He gives them when He sees it fit for us to have them since He knows all things.
.. Instead of thinking of those what we may “need”, seek FIRST His kingdom and righteousness; Amplified says:
33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
.. Just keep seeking God and His way of doing and being right and you’ll see how things will just fall into place knowing that God knows what we need.
.. If things aren’t yet in our temporary possession, perhaps, it is not yet time or it is not exactly what we need; trust that our heavenly Father KNOWS THAT WE NEED THEM! He will provide as He sees it necessary in our lives. Not having what we think we need is probably a statement that we may not really need it, or at least, not yet.
.. Do not worry – trust instead. Take care of today – it has enough trouble of its own. Worrying about what we do not have does not make things any better. TRUST! HE KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED! AND HE WILL PROVIDE!
22 2 / 2011
100%
1 Samuel 15:20-22
20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
22 But Samuel replied:
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
»
A very common story of Saul and his partial obedience to the Lord’s call to wipe out ALL the Amalekites.
.. There will be times when we sometimes say “But I did obey the Lord…” just as Saul said. However, did he really obey the Lord to it’s fullest? Obedience is 100% action towards what was called for you to do. Partial obedience does not count; better to not do it at all.
.. “The best of what was devoted to God” is not a qualifier for which ones we don’t destroy or even to keep for ourselves or “the ministry”. When God calls us to destroy all, He means ALL – even the ones we think can be used for “His ministry”. On the lighter side, we know that God is able to replenish was was seemingly lost by its destruction.
.. OBEDIENCE IS THE KEY. TOTAL SURRENDER REGARDLESS OF THE COST.
21 2 / 2011
Dry and Unknown
Numbers 14:1-4
1 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
This was the time when the Israelites were complaining, terrified, and bored out of their mind while they were in the desert waiting for finally get into the Promised Land. Too bad, none of them, except Caleb and Joshua, were able to make it there due to their disobedience and “grumblingness.” The Lord’s omniscience knew all about these things from the start. However, it was still their own choosing - to disobey, hence never made it to the land of milk and honey.
There will come a time that a temptation in grumbling and complaining will arise as we are on our way to the final destiny of God’s personal purpose in our lives. We must be prepared for this types of seasons - a dry, desert-like season where it seems like we’re going nowhere, or eating nothing but manna and quail, etc. The temptation is to grab in to it and allowing the flesh to creep in - to wanna go back to Egypt (slavery) instead.
Times of dryness and unknown will come in life. But we also know that as long as we remain in the living water of Christ’s presence, we will be continually watered with gladness and joy even at the seasons of life where it seems desert-like.
Never make it an option to ever go back to your Egypt. Survive, endure, and persevere! Enjoy every scenic route you take and let God be God!
Permalink 2 notes
09 2 / 2011
Just Because
Hi Weng! This post is for you because I know you will most likely see it.
:)
Permalink 1 note
27 4 / 2010
Obedience = Joy
Nehemiah 8:14, 17
14 They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month
17 The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.
// AMAZING STUFF:
.. How amazing to see what the outcome of obedience is - JOY. When the Israelites read the book of the Law through the priest, Ezra, they immediately obeyed what it was said there as commanded by Moses.
.. When they first started hearing the scriptures as Ezra and the Levites had explained it to them, they stood up (v. 5b). - That is reverence of God’s Word
.. “For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law” - this symbolizes reverence and so much conviction the Word of God. Why would Nehemiah include this in his book? Probably because it was that significant.
.. Then Nehemiah encouraged the people to be joyful for it was a sacred day. The people did ever since the Word has been made known to them and understood them as well. (v. 12)
// HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO MY LIFE?
.. Knowing and understanding the Word of God may sometimes cause me to be grievous to the fact that I am not worthy of God, His blessings and greatness; yet I must also celebrate and be joyful that Christ has already overcome my “underservingness”.
.. How much do I revere the Word of God? With my reverence with it, how eager am I to obey what it has instructed me? I must remember that obedience to God’s Word is my joy.
.. OBEY OBEY OBEY
.. Today, whatever I know God is instructing me to do, regardless of what I feel, I will just obey, trusting that God knows it will bring joy to my heart.
// LORD, how amazing is your word of truth. I cannot ask for more. You speak to me very clearly and reveal to me your ways. Help me to be obedient and trusting and in You in all that I will do today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
