Man shall not live by bread alone...

At a lunchtime Bible study at work, my friend touched on an important point. He said that yesterday’s revelation will not help us survive today. God reveals Himself to us anew each and every day of our lives, but in order to truly experience an adventure with Him, we need to reverence and hold sacred the time we spend in His presence.

In Exodus 16:18-20, we read of how the Lord provided the Israelites with manna from Heaven. You will notice that those who gathered more were not better off, and those who gathered less experienced no lack. God was trying to show them that He was their sufficiency in everything. Some of them kept the manna overnight, fearing that there would not be a fresh supply the following morning. To their dismay, it bred worms and had a foul stench. God was trying to show them that they could trust Him. In much the same way, we try to face today’s challenges with yesterday’s revelation.

Although there is nothing wrong with remembering what the Lord has brought you through in the past, it is essential that you do not remain stagnant. Every child of God needs to grow in the knowledge of his Father’s grace and experience His mercies that are new every morning. Oftentimes, we find ourselves trying to live a whole week on the blessings of last Sabbath! Just like an automobile needs fuel, we need the fuel of God’s Word to give us power during the week. We remember to replenish our physical bodies with food every day, but what about some “soul food”?

We somehow manage to get out of bed every morning and go to work because we know that we must work to survive. However, the truth of the matter is that without the breath of life that God gives you, and the power he gives you to earn wealth, you are nothing! (Deut 8:18)

When Jesus fed the five thousand with the loaves of bread, He was showing them not just His power to meet their physical needs, but also His body that would be broken for us so that He could establish the body of Christ. The bread symbolizes the Word of God of which Christ was the living representation. Though millions may eat of it everyday, there is always enough for everyone just as the baskets were not empty after feeding thousands of people. (Luke 9:12-17, Jn 1:1-14, Jn 6:58)

I have learned that there is no such thing as taking a Sabbatical from studying God’s Word. True rest is found only in the contemplative posture of discipleship. Satan will try to keep us as busy as possible because He knows that if he can distract us, he has won half the battle! The Apostle Paul writes that we should pray without ceasing; sometimes that’s easier said than done, but if we weigh our thoughts each day we will usually find that not much thought is given to the one who is sustaining us from one minute to the next.  There are those who long to be with the people of God but cannot, because of circumstances beyond their control. Those who can, must meet to pray for them like the church did for Paul in prison.

"And Jesus answered him saying: It is written that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."- Luke 4:4

Scripture refs: Luke 4:4, Ex 16:18-20, Is 43:18-19, Lam 3:22-23

Finding Glory in the Cross of Shame

As Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, the tears rolled down his face. The prophecies of Is 53 must have flashed through His mind and the frail garb of His humanity shuddered at the thought of the brutal death that soon awaited Him, but mostly the weight of sin that He would have to bear and the resulting separation from His Father. He faced the greatest trial of His life on earth and He faced it alone.

Every person on this earth faces trials on a daily basis. Jesus has not promised us a life of ease but He has promised to be with us “even unto the end of the world.”  In John 16:33, our Lord warned us that in this world we would have trouble, but in His mind as far He was concerned He had conquered the world even before the Cross! He did not say “I will overcome the world.” He said “I have [past tense] overcome the world”!

As followers of Christ, we are called to “take up our crosses” and follow Him (Matt 16:24). Sometimes it feels like we don’t choose our crosses, but rather they choose us. However, God has promised that He would not let any trial befall us that we are not able to bear (1 Cor 10:13). It stands to reason therefore, that the stronger in God you become, the greater your trials will be.

Even those who do not believe in God face trials! The difference is that we have our forerunner, Jesus Christ, who has shown us how to conduct ourselves in the face of looming trials with confidence, grace and strength. Living in the shadow of the cross of uncertainty is not easy, but Jesus Christ has given us the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter and “in all these things, we are more than conquerors because of Him who loved us and gave His life for us.”

Many of our trials are not as serious as that which Jesus faced. The uncertainty of tomorrow is not as serious as the knowing certainty that tomorrow brings only suffering and a cruel death. We sometimes struggle to sleep before a big exam, but can you imagine how Christ felt the night before His crucifixion! We think that working under conditions of looming retrenchment is cruel; what about living your whole life knowing that you were born to die for a race of humanity that would largely reject you? Christ still faces pain and anguish when people who know the truth about Him willingly backslide and fall back into sin because that basically means they think nothing of the cruel death He  suffered and the price He paid to save them (Heb 6:6). Tomorrow, in all likelihood, I will have the gift of freedom. My hands and feet will not be nailed to a cross. Therefore, I have much to thank God for! My trials at this moment are lighter than those of Christ and His persecuted church.

If we cannot deal with the light afflictions of today, how will we deal with facing death for the sake of our faith? Remember, Jesus Christ was “the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” but He is our victorious Saviour who found “joy in the cross”!

"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."-Heb 12:2

"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered."-Heb 5:7-8

 Scripture refs: Heb 5:7, Matt 26:37-45, Is 53, Heb 4:15, Heb 12:2

For such a time as this?

The day predicted as “Judgment day” passed like any other day. It was fairly unremarkable except for the erupting of a volcano which had been dormant for over 100 years. For some who had chosen to put their trust in man rather than in the Holy Scriptures, it was a day of bitter disappointment as many lost their livelihood as they gambled on a date for the end of the world and a secret rapture of the faithful.

It is clear that we are living in the time of the end. Crazy and doomed to failure though it may have been, the prediction of the end of the world revealed the state of our present world and its attitude to God. The jokes and hollow mockery on social networking sites revealed that God is least important in the minds of most people today. The words of 2 Pet 3:3-10 seem like a fitting description of the religious climate of our day. “Where is the promise of His Coming?” they taunt.  “If He were really coming back, don’t you think He should have returned by now? Perhaps He is not coming back and your belief is an empty fable.”

We are left to do damage control as many are swept into lies and delusions, choosing to silence the voice of the Spirit of God calling them to repentance. In a climate like this, it is extremely difficult to continue an active witness for Christ without facing discouragement. In these times, remember that the state of the world was predicted in the Holy Scriptures long before our world had reached its current “Postmodern” era.

The Bible tells the story of a young girl, Esther, who became queen. Her people faced the threat of genocide and she was spurred into action by her cousin who said: “If you hold your peace thinking you’re safe in the palace, God will still arise to deliver His people but maybe you were brought into the kingdom for such a time as this.” God saw it fit to give you the privilege of living and ministering to His people in the time of the end. Though it may be discouraging when the response to the message you deliver is negative, continue and persevere in the work of telling others about God’s love and the plan of salvation. Your job is to scatter the seed and leave the increase to God.

Evangelism is not an event; it is a lifestyle. Think about practical ways of ministering to others. Take it one day at a time. Resolve each day to do at least one thing in the service of the Master. Both the young and old have a place in His service. Blessed is the disciple who will be found working when His Master returns. Don’t worry about the date of His return for you have much work to do! His return is sure. (2 Tim 4:1-8, Heb 6:10-12, John 9:4, 1 Cor 3:5-15)

Scripture refs: Esther 4, 2 Pet 3:3-14, Mk 13:34-37

Surviving in an Era of Exponential Change

I recently read an article about “information overload” and was shocked to find that it described the classic symptoms that I often experience, thinking that I am the only one in this predicament.

Truth be told, we are living in an era of unprecedented change. Technology is changing so rapidly that even the tech-savvy youth of today are starting to battle to cope with the overwhelming rate of change. Have you experienced one of those days where you feel like information is being thrown at you from every conceivable angle until you’re totally overwhelmed with the sheer volume of things you have to remember, learn and practice? Whether it’s in the professional world or the classroom, we find the exponential rate of change disrupting the circadian rhythm of our linear lifestyles.

Many people often find themselves the hapless victims of the “overdose of change” they’re experiencing. It sometimes feels like it’s just too much to have to cope with in too short a space of time. The average person experiences far greater stress in this generation than was ever experienced before.  Besides having to cope with the stresses of keeping up with changes in one’s profession, people must contend with ever-changing legislation, together with the stress of maintaining a balanced family life, as well as finding time for extracurricular activities. There is often not much time left for relaxation or contemplation as everyone engages in the daily rat-race. In fact, it is not uncommon to find yourself so busy just working that you’re not able to even take time to gauge your productivity level or recall what exactly you’ve accomplished on any given day!

In the midst of the turmoil and stress of life, it’s most often our time with God that suffers the most. Most people just manage to get by on a few minutes of prayer whispered hurriedly before dashing off to work, or the odd and often incomplete, unintelligible prayer which precedes sleep. We are fighting a losing battle against constant change and we are paying the price in poor health, depression, increased instances of suicide, alcoholism, sleep deprivation and other unwholesome practices. When we need Him most, we seem to deny God.

We can learn an important lesson from the life of Christ as written in the gospels. He arose early and spent time in prayer, daily restoring the vital connection with His Father.  He understood that to neglect this duty would be akin to committing spiritual suicide. Remember, what happens to you spiritually soon dictates your physical state too. We are not coping.

In the midst of change that constantly pulls the foundation out from under us, we need God as our sure foundation and immovable Rock. He is the ONE constant in our lives! Jesus Christ is our anchor in the midst of turmoil and overwhelming change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased."- Dan 12:4 

"And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no  end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Eccles 12:12-13 

Scripture refs: Heb 13:8, Mal 3:6, Dan 12:4, Prov 3:5-6, Eccles 12:12-13

Light up the world for Jesus!

Life is a celebration of our creation, salvation and redemption which Christ has accomplished for us. Life is not supposed to be a meaningless existence. God has given each of us a mission and a purpose which is clearly spelt out for us in Matt 28:20.

We are to go into all the world and preach the good news to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we are given a task by our superiors at work, we hasten to complete it. Why is it that we cannot seem to employ the same principle in having some enthusiasm for doing the work of our ultimate Master, the Lord Jesus Christ?

God has poured out gifts upon every person in His Kingdom. These are to be employed in the earnest work of God that brings sinners to the Saviour. Some people have not yet discovered their gifts of service because they have chosen not to take a step of faith in trying new things. Every investment that yields a good return contains an inherent amount of risk therein. The best investment you can make in your lifetime is that of investing in the life of someone else. When we go all out for God, He multiplies our efforts. After all, it’s only our job to plant the seed. The Holy Spirit is the one who waters it, working conviction and repentance in the heart of the lost.

Some have gifts that seem greater than others; some people have the ability to preach eloquent sermons while many can only hope that others see the image of Christ in their daily conduct. God’s purpose is not to give you great wealth and riches but rather to impart the eternal riches of His grace and His Word in your life so that you may be a wellspring of life to a world that is thirsting after Him.

From every good relationship come life lessons. God tests us and brings us victorious through many trials to show us just how powerful He is and to give us a testimony. “Every person is born into the Kingdom of God to be a missionary”. You don’t have to go to a far-flung island to tell others about God’s saving grace. Your testimony can make a difference in your local community. No one on this earth has the exact same testimony as you, but someone may steal somebody else’s sermon or revelation.  Your testimony is like your fingerprint, as it stems from your unique relationship with God.

Your life is a living epistle to the world. We are called to be shining lights in a dark and perverse world, reflecting the glory of our eternal Father. I challenge you today: Don’t just exist. Live with meaning and purpose. Drink the cup of life to its dregs. And last but not least, remember that having fun is not a stereotype. Life is not about being part of the “in crowd” or partying away mindlessly as if there is no tomorrow. You can choose to have fun any way you choose, but the best way to have fun is to have fun God’s way-reaching out to the world one soul at a time and being part of Jesus’ plan to restore us to His image. Let’s leave a legacy that continues into eternity! Let’s go out there and light up the world for Jesus! 

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." -Matt 5:14

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."-Matt 5:16

Scripture refs: Matt 28:20; 2Cor 3:2-3; 2 Cor 3:18; Phil 2:15-16; John 4:14;  Prov 11:30; Matt 5:13-16

It might not seem like it right now, but Jesus IS coming back!

One day during a grade seven math lesson, my teacher caught me drawing a picture. I was drawing a cross with the words, “ JESUS SAVES,” on it. My teacher was clearly annoyed and told me that Jesus is strong enough to carry the cross so I should spend more time concentrating on my maths and stop wasting my time drawing pictures.

When Jesus was crucified, two thieves were crucified simultaneously on either side of His cross. One of them mocked Him, but the other chose to believe in Him even though the situation looked hopeless. It must have been difficult for the thief to put his trust and belief in a man, who it seemed, was suffering the same fate as him. The Bible does not give us the thief’s history or background and we are not sure if he was familiar with any of the prophecies concerning Jesus. He probably hadn’t had the benefit of hearing Jesus’ predictions regarding his death and resurrection, yet this man still chose to believe in him. As Jesus hung on the cross, blood dripping over His face and body, not looking the part of a powerful Saviour, this man chose to place his trust in Him. Jesus was so touched by his reverence that He assured him that he would one day be with Him in His kingdom.

How sweet those words must have been to the ears of the repentant thief! Indeed, those are the very words that all of us long to hear today. However, after hearing those words, can you imagine how the man must have felt when he saw Jesus die? Indeed, the Bible records for us that Jesus was the first of the three men to die. The soldiers did not need to break his legs to hasten His death because He was already dead. This means that the repentant thief had to go through the trauma of having His hopes dashed as He saw Jesus die next to him. He must have passed the time between Christ’s death and his own demise wondering if what He had said could possibly be true. He must have suffered immense emotional and spiritual trauma, besides the physical pain of the crucifixion.

Today, we are all sinners before God. Some of us may choose to mock God and live our own way, while others choose to believe in Jesus our Saviour and repent and live our lives His way. We make this decision at a moment in time that is usually a crossroads or turning point in our lives. However, what happens between the time of our repentance and acceptance of Christ as Saviour and His second coming? For many, it has been and still is, a long wait. We can hear the mocking taunts of those who refuse to believe. They say He is never coming back; if He was, He should have been back by now.

We can either choose to surrender to unbelief or we can believe in the one who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. God is not a man that He should lie. The signs preceding Christ’s return are becoming more and more marked. Soon we will be able to say with gladness: “This is our King; long have we waited for Him.” Don’t give up hope. Jesus IS coming back! Don’t surrender your eternal destiny by believing the lies of satan.

"There will come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying : "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Pet 3:3-4)

"The Lord is NOT slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet 3:9)

Scripture refs: Luke 23:39-46; John 19:31-34; 2 Pet 3:3-10 

Judgment Day-Are you Ready?

Jesus is coming soon. We can see the signs around us every day. Not a week goes by without some news of a natural disaster somewhere in the world. Creation is groaning under the weight of sin and waiting for the final day of reckoning when evil will forever be banished and the earth and heavens will be filled with the glory of the Lord like the waters cover the sea. (Is 11:9, Hab 2:14, Rom 8:22)

However, in our anticipation for the coming of Jesus Christ, we must not forget to best utilize the time given to us now. When He comes on the clouds of glory, there will be no time for character development and the putting away of sin. The Bible says in Rev 22:11 that the unjust will remain unjust, the filthy will remain filthy and the righteous will remain righteous. It will be too late then to improve your character. The wicked will pray that the rocks may fall on them to hide them from the consuming presence of a holy King (Rev 6:16).

Just as the Jews of old were given a timeline to put away sin and to accept the promised Messiah (Dan 9:24) , so we are given a timeline today for character development so that we can be ready to receive Him in joy at His second coming.

God does not regard sin by degrees of severity although we, in our human nature, are guilty of condemning others for their sins which  we deem more serious than the sins in our own lives which are too easily rationalized away. To God, lying is just as abominable as murder. There will be liars outside the gates of city of God together with the murderers and anyone who breaks God’s commandments and refuses to repent and receive the salvation freely provided by Christ’s atoning sacrifice (Rev 22:15). Lying is an expensive business. It costs time and causes undue stress as one lie normally leads to another until a complicated web of deceit is spun which eventually usually ends up trapping the liar!

On a hill called Calvary, Jesus settled the score once and for all. The playing fields were leveled and we, as Christian disciples, are called to know the seriousness of sin and that it’s not the size of the sin that matters (Luke 7:41-47). If there was only one liar in the world, the commandments would still have been broken and his careless lie would still have cost Jesus His life.

This life on earth is our training ground for the eternal life we will one day inherit. If we cannot learn how to renounce evil now, what makes us think that we will be able to renounce evil later so as to be part of God’s Kingdom? Although renouncing of sin does not earn you eternal life*, it is a sign that you have responded to God’s forgiveness in love and thankfulness and that you are in a right standing with Him. 

Just as a student burns the midnight oil to pass an examination, so we must spend time with God to refine our characters for the greatest test of all-Judgement Day. IT CAN BE A DAY OF FEAR OR EXCITEMENT; DEATH OR LIFE. YOU CHOOSE!

PS:Although some people have said that today would herald the end of the world, the Bible does not give any specific dates for Christ's return. Read Mark 13:28-37. Jesus said that no man knows the hour, not even the angels or Himself but only the Father. However, we can see by the signs around us that His Coming is drawing nearer.

Scripture refs: Matt 25:1-13;Rev 22:11,15; Luke 7:36-50

* eternal life CANNOT be earned, but it is a free gift to ALL who accept Christ as personal Saviour.

Go and sin no more!

One night in the week that has just flown by, I had some unusual dreams. I dreamed about snakes for two consecutive nights. I did not remember much of the details of the dream on the first night, and this left me quite uncomfortable as I hate snakes. It also reminded me of the times that I used to dream about them as a child. Fortunately for me, those dreams never plagued me once I learned the power of prayer.

However, when I had the dream for the second consecutive night I found that the details of the dream were very vivid in my mind. A summary of said details follows:

I was at home when suddenly some very venomous snakes were found in the house. I tried to capture them and managed to kill them all, but it wasn’t easy to do so. In fact, one of them bit my hand as I killed it but I did not suffer any ill effects. Eventually all the snakes were dead, or so I thought. Then I saw a black python. It was by far the biggest snake of all, but it had stealthily crept away and was hiding somewhere. I looked for it in vain. My family told me to stop looking for it, but I continued nevertheless. I searched every nook and cranny of the house in my search for the elusive reptile. The dream ended with me on the border of sleep and wakefulness, wanting to know what this dream meant.

In a split second, I was given an understanding regarding the meaning of the dream. I heard a voice in my mind say: “The snakes symbolize the sins in your life.” I then realized that the snakes I had killed represented sins that I had managed to conquer with much difficulty. However, there are still some big issues in my life that need to be dealt with. I may not even know they exist, but they are there. I need to search my heart and life just I had searched for the elusive python in the dream.  I knew that I needed to take this seriously because if I didn’t, it could ruin me. I could not rely on the fact that others had told me to stop searching; the sins in my life are a personal matter between me and my Saviour.

We all have sins in our lives. Sometimes, they take the form of destructive habits which are hard to escape but we should remember that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We must not hide from Him, but let His piercing gaze search the depths of our hearts and remove all the impurities. We must come before Him in contrition and ask His forgiveness, for He has promised to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. As He forgives our sins, He gives us the power to “go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

We should not harbour cherished sins in our lives as these separate us from God. Maintain a continual spirit of repentance and an ongoing desire to be in right standing with God.Unconfessed sins will not then be your downfall. Remember, He calls you to be perfect and His grace is not license to sin! Be covered by His robe of righteousness.

 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Scripture refs: John 1:29; 1 John 1:9; Ps 139:23-24; Is 59:2,20; Ps 51; Jude v 4 (Jude has only 1 chapter)

Your Task: Read the Scripture verses above and also read the story of the woman arrested for adultery and Jesus' response to her in John 8:1-11. What do you think of His response? Ask God to search your heart and reveal your sins to you. Confess them to Him and ask for a heart of repentance, seeking His forgiveness. Ask for His Holy Spirit to transform you into a better person. Thank Him for His grace and the victory. Then resolve to go and sin no more. When you feel tempted to sin, pray and ask God for strength and victory. Read your Bible daily, and remember God won't allow you to be tempted more than you can handle. (1 Cor 10:13)

Life and Death part 2-The Love of God and the Law of God

In Part 1, I discussed how the love of God is enough to keep a person alive by daily providing a reason to live.

Sometimes however, we also need the commands of a stern Father to keep us from doing the unthinkable. When a person feels like there is nothing left to live for, the commandments of God serve as a protective barrier against evil. The commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex 20:13) resonates down through the ages to us and in this day and age, is a lifesaver to a person who is so deep in depression that he cannot feel God’s love. Knowing God and His royal Law could mean the difference between life and death. The Christian has a distinct advantage over the average person when it comes to dealing with depression and the suicidal tendencies it sometimes creates in the heart and mind of man. While we may shut out God’s love, we cannot silence His commandments!

I believe that the commandment not to kill was not just intended to prevent us from murdering others, but also to protect ourselves. Sometimes, a person’s worst enemy is himself and this is especially true for those locked in the solitary deserts of depression.

When a Christian feels like giving up on life, he has not only God’s love but also His commandments to help him out of the icy grip of depression and death. Killing yourself will not solve any problems, but it will mean that you have disobeyed God and will face the consequences in judgement. Just the thought of not having a place in God’s kingdom is enough to bring stability to a troubled mind. Being separated from God is no joke; it was the one thing our Lord feared as evidenced by His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

However, in order for you to experience the protective, keeping power of God’s Law as well as His love, you must determine why you want to be in His eternal kingdom. This means asking a question which may prove difficult for some. Are you only following Jesus so that you can one day wear a crown or walk on streets of gold and a sea of glass? Would you still be a Christian if Jesus promised you nothing but atonement for your sins and the lowliest place in His kingdom? Would gazing into His face every day in worship be enough of a reward for you if there were no crowns or streets of gold promised?

If your answer to this question is in the negative, then your so- called devotion will never stand the test of time. Life is difficult and the desire for riches, whether it be now or in the new Heavens and Earth, will not be enough incentive to help you when you hit rock - bottom and have to make a choice whether life is worth living. At that point in time, it’s only a relationship with the Lifegiver that will save you. When you refuse to feel His continual love enveloping you, knowing His commands will save your life, because you cannot disobey as you will be risking your chance to spend eternity in His company and that’s an awful lot to lose!

Scripture refs: Deut 30:19; Job 6:11; Job 7:15; Ps 21:4; Ps 119:11,25,55; Prov 14:27; John 1:4

Life and Death (Part 1)

“Do not go gentle into that good night…but rage, rage against the dying of the light…” Those were the words of a poet a long time ago. He wrote that death is something to be fought with every ounce of strength we have. Although the fear of death is not a healthy approach to life, neither is living with a death wish.

Life is difficult, and somewhere in the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of living we have forgotten the sanctity and sacredness of life. Life is a gift given by God and not something that we are entitled to. Life is God’s breath in us from the time He stooped down and breathed it into the lifeless form of Adam in Eden.

We have lost the will to live and as a result, many people commit suicide in an effort to take the easy way out. Some do it because of the uncaring actions and hurtful words of kinsfolk, while others simply believe that their contribution to the world is insignificant at best.

The Bible teaches much about life and death. Deut 30:19 says life is a choice. Life is God’s gift, but we choose whether we want to live or not and to some extent, what type of life we have. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. It is therefore important to speak words of life into someone’s soul and not words that kill their self-esteem, erode their emotional worth and make them forget that they are a son or daughter of the Most High God.

The book of Job teaches us that although we face diverse challenges in life, God is still in control and He still holds our lives in His hand. He even controls the reach and power of satan so that we are not destroyed by him (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).

Sometimes it is not the final act of suicide that kills a person, but the process of worry and stress which gradually erodes a person’s life force. Jesus said that we should not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough has problems in itself to deal with (Matt 6:34).  Worrying will not make tomorrow any easier to deal with, neither will it add one day to your lifespan. This does not mean that one should not plan ahead and prepare for life; by all means be prudent and prepare, but don’t let worry kill you.  God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).  Rest assured that God is not constrained to time and He knows your tomorrow and He walks with you.

When Jesus died, He didn’t just take away my sins. He gave me a reason to live. I can face tomorrow because even if no one else cares, I know He cares and He loves me and that’s more than enough. Life is difficult, but life without God is even worse. The righteous man falls seven times, but he gets up in the strength of God every time! (Prov 24:16) We have Christ now and we will be with Him forever in His new Kingdom (1 Cor 15:19, Rev 21). That’s reason enough to want to live!

Religion or a saving relationship?

There are many different religions in the world today. Even Christendom has split into so many denominations that it has become difficult and confusing for a person seeking to find God’s true church.

The definition of religion according to the Oxford Dictionary is “belief in a superhuman power that controls the universe.” There are many different religions in the world today. Most, if not all of them, teach their followers very good moral values but often emphasize one aspect as being more important than others. Some are based on myths and fables, while others are grounded in the annals of historical fact. Some believe in a god, while others were created by man in order to elevate himself to the status of deity.

The very existence of these many religions means that the average person often finds himself on a lifelong quest in search of Truth and God. In most cases, it involves ritualistic practices designed to appease an angry, distant God who is aloof and out of touch with reality and the needs of his subjects. The lifelong quest goes on as man searches for the heart of God and seeks to understand Him.

The beauty of the Christian faith is that God is not distant. His hands are not too short, nor His ear deaf to the cries of His people (Is 59:1). As man searches and yearns to understand the heart of God, God seeks to understand man. How does He do this? Well, have you ever heard of the saying: “To understand someone, you must walk a mile in his shoes”? Jesus Christ, the gospel personified, represented God walking a LIFETIME in our shoes, seeking to understand us so that He could redeem us. To be a sympathetic High Priest who intercedes for us, He first had to understand us. Therefore, He took on our human frailties, frustrations, and infirmities and He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:14-15). Jesus showed us that a man can keep the commandments of God when he surrenders to God and receives the transforming Holy Spirit. Through His atoning sacrifice, we have forgiveness of sins and are brought near to the heart of God. The search then ends as we are adopted into the family of God with Christ as our High Priest, elder brother and best friend.

Other religions teach that a man must, through toil and pain, climb up the ladder to enlightenment. Christianity teaches that before man even thought to chase after God, God was already leaving His throne and running to meet him half way (Rom 5:8). Just as a man in quicksand cannot work himself out, but sinks deeper every time he tries, the religions of this world are laying heavier burdens on men every day. We need Jesus Christ. He is Jacob’s ladder- the contact point between Heaven and Earth. He is the one who holds onto the throne of God and reaches out to sinful man, saying: “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest…” In Jesus Christ, man’s chasing after God ends, because God has overtaken him and overwhelmed him with love and His salvation!

Who ARE you?

Who are you? This is the fundamental question that each of us has to face on a daily basis, because our identity determines our actions and not vice versa. Usually, when a person is asked this question, their answer usually goes something like this:”My name is _____, and I am [profession].”

 Has the person above answered the question? I would say he has not, because who you are as a person is not defined by what you do. Your profession is only ONE facet of who you really are. This is a common societal problem that is the causative factor underlying undesirable actions like depression and suicide. When someone believes that work or a career is the only yardstick of success, he will have a hard time believing he is of any worth if this is taken away from him even if it happens due to circumstances out of his control. The Bible teaches us that we have intrinsic worth. That means that before you even contributed anything meaningful to society, Christ died for you because He valued you so much that He could not risk losing you forever! (Romans 5:8)

Here are some other scriptures and promises which reveal who you are in Christ:

- God has given you dominion over the earth. (Ps 8:5-6)

-You are a chief sinner, but you are saved through Christ and He is doing a good work in transforming you daily into a saint. (1 Tim 1:15, Phil 1:6, Eph 2:11-20)

-We are all equal and no one can boast as we are saved by grace, through faith and not of ourselves. (Eph 2: 9)

-You are the apple of God’s eye, and whoever wrongs you, also wrongs Him. (Zech 2:8, Ps 17:8)

-You are a son/daughter of Almighty God because you have accepted Christ into your heart. (Jn 1:12, 1Jn 3:1-2, Heb 2:10, Phil 2:15, Gal 4:5-6, 2 Cor 6:18, Romans 8:14-16

-You are the seed of Abraham and joint heirs with Christ (Gal 3:29)

-You are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you, and nothing can separate you from His love. (Romans 8:37-39)

-You have been given authority by Christ because you believe in Him; through His Spirit you can do even greater works than the ones He did, but remember it’s not in your own strength that you do them. It is strength that God supplies for He does the works. (John 14:12, Phil 4:13)

-You will one day judge angels. (1 Cor 6:3)

-You live by the rules of a different and higher kingdom-the Kingdom of God (Col 1:13)

-You have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16)

-You are being made into a king and a priest of God (Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10), but you are a soldier of the cross. (2Tim2:3-4)

BUT JUST IN CASE YOUR HEAD IS STARTING TO SWELL A LITTLE:

-You have the privilege of denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Jesus. Following Him is not easy and may require great personal sacrifice. (Phil 1:29, 2Tim 3:12, Rom 8:17, Matt 16:24)

-God has a better plan for your life if you surrender to Him.

Jesus DIED so you could live!

Let’s just imagine that you did something wrong and the consequence for that action was to be beaten to within an inch of your life. Suddenly, a stranger (or a family member if it’s a stretch for you to believe a stranger would do this) stands up and randomly volunteers to take your punishment instead so that you would not have to suffer. How would you treat this person after it was all over? How careful would you be not to commit the same act again, knowing that it cost someone else needless pain? How much respect would you have for that person and how much would you pay him before you considered the debt repaid?

Well, while you’re pondering on these thoughts, here are the cold, hard facts. Barabbas, who deserved to die for his crimes, was released and Jesus took his place. What did he do with the second chance afforded him? The Bible is not clear on this, but we must remember that Barabbas represents us; what are we doing with the second chance at life that Jesus has afforded us by his atoning, redeeming death? We think of Barabbas as a vile man who was too easily pardoned because of Pilate’s cowardice and corruption, but who are we? Jesus died for the sins of the whole world! (1 John 2:2) We are not the heroes or the judges in this great conflict between Christ and satan! That title belongs to Christ alone.

If you could respect a person for life because they took some punishment for you that did not result in death, why then do we not respect Jesus Christ our Lord  who gave His sinless life and every last drop of blood in the quest for our redemption and salvation? Why do we trample underfoot and regard lightly the fact He carried a heavy cross up that hill after being scourged to within an inch of His life, had nails rammed through His hands and feet, a spear in His side and only vinegar to drink as He suffered and died in our stead? Why do we regard lightly the fact that He faced eternal separation from His Father so we could be adopted into the family of God?

The very thought of our Lord on the cross should be enough to keep us away from evil habits and practices. Heb 6:6 says that we crucify Jesus afresh and put Him to an open shame when we continue in our sins after having personally experienced knowing God and His grace. Every time we commit the same sin again, we basically say to Jesus,” I am sorry, but Your suffering and death was not enough, and still is not enough to save me. My instant gratification is more important at this point, than Your suffering.” Think about this the next time you are tempted to do something that is contrary to God’s Law. It is a strong motivator to live a life pleasing to God, because it’s the least we can do considering that He has done so much for us.

Scripture readings: Heb 6:6, John 15:13, 1 John 3:16

True Christianity, or Taking the Lord's Name in vain?

Imagine you are a great leader. You have gathered many followers and you have started a movement that epitomizes respect for God and man.  You have a good reputation in the community and you are well respected by all.

Suddenly, someone propagates false rumours about you that cause your once exemplary reputation to be tarnished forever. People no longer know whether they can trust you or not.

Imagine being a father who thinks that he has brought up his children with grace and in the knowledge of God. To his dismay, his sons do something so terrible or foolish that his reputation as a good father is forever destroyed. The very ones that bear his name have done evil and brought disgrace to his entire household!

We call ourselves “Christians”, but what or rather who is a Christian? I believe the word has lost much of its meaning and is used far too leniently today. People now practice a nominal Christianity that is not even close to the Christianity of Biblical times. There are as many different types of “Christians” as there are shades of grey between the spectrum of black and white. Some are more “liberal” than others, so liberal in fact that one wonders if they should be calling themselves Christians in the first place. They are basically atheists in Christian disguise. We have fallen into apostasy and the tragedy is that we don’t even realize it.

The Bible speaks of “false Christians” in 2 Cor 11:13-15. Satan is able to transform himself into an angel of light in order to lure us into believing in him as he masquerades as Christ! It is then no wonder that he also has disciples pretending to be sincere Christians too. He does this in order to take our attention away from God and he couches his lies in a coating of Truth so that they are more palatable to his unsuspecting victims.

How then can you know if someone is a true Christian? Matthew 7:16-20 says that you will know them by their fruits i.e. in the way they conduct their daily lives. Isaiah 8:20 says that God’s Law is our standard, and if anyone speaks or acts contrary to His Law, there is no light in that person. A professing Christian, if he is a true Christian, should not then be meddling in occult practices or anything that is forbidden by God.

To be a Christian means to follow Christ. The word “Christ” means “anointed or consecrated one.” We as Christians are called to be consecrated to God and to live in a Christ-like manner. We are called to perfection because our God is perfect (Matt 5:48). We are called to holiness because our God is holy. We cannot be lukewarm because God does not tolerate double-minded people (Rev 3:16).

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, but are we misrepresenting Him instead? If we are, we should know that we are taking the Lord’s name in vain!

"You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain. For Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain."- Ex 20:7

The Primary Mission of The Church-Seeking the Lost

As I was thinking about what to write this week, the verse in 1 John 2:6 suddenly popped into my head. It says: “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” The Holy Spirit brings to remembrance the things taught by Christ to His disciples while He traversed this earth with them. The Holy Spirit still has a relevant message for the church of Christ today. Are we walking like Christ did?

 I was listening to the radio on my commute to work when a song started to play. It posed a question that is extremely relevant to the church today. “If we are the body, why aren’t His arms reaching; why aren’t His hands healing; why aren’t His words teaching; …why is His love not showing?”

The book of 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 describes the church as the Body of Christ. The body of Christ is not made up of one member, but many members with diverse gifts and talents, all bestowed by the same Holy Spirit (v14). If this is so, why do some of us think that we can do everything ourselves and that nothing anyone else does is good enough?

Our primary aim as the church of Christ is to promote the gospel of Christ. Are we fulfilling this aim, or are we too busy fighting factional fires within the church? My college lecturer once told me that the greatest hindrance to any work is over-analyzing things. He called it “paralysis by analysis”. Are we as church members so busy analyzing each other’s performance that we are paralyzed when it comes to taking the message of the gospel of salvation to a dying world?

I am not saying there isn’t a place for correction in the church. The Bible speaks of correcting our brothers and sisters in the spirit of love, but we should also watch lest we ourselves fall into the same temptation as they have or worse still, end up trapped in the spirit of hypocrisy (Romans 2:1-3,21-24). The spirit of hypocrisy is the easiest spirit to fall into when we find ourselves continually judging others, instead of doing some soul-searching ourselves. Satan uses this as his best method of attacking believers as their attention is taken off themselves and focused on criticising others, giving him free reign to attack, divide the church and hinder the spread of the Gospel.

At the end of time, the masses will reject Christ (Rev 20:8). The only question is, will they be rejecting Him because we as the Church failed to fulfill our mission and became a stumbling block to the world? Will it be because we failed to show Christ’s love for them because we were too busy squabbling amongst ourselves and instead they saw this and then decided that if that’s what Christians do, then they don’t want to have anything to do with Christ? Will it be because we dreamed small, came to church to warm the pews and to get entertained? Proverbs 29:18 says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” It’s time for the church to arise with renewed vigour and passion for the lost and to seek them like Christ, the Good Shepherd seeks them!

Greater Love Hath No Man...

“Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends”. (John 15:13) These were some of the many words Jesus spoke as he instructed his disciples on the meaning of the kind of love he expected them to have for God and their fellowman.

The beauty of the Gospel is demonstrated in these words and we can clearly see that Jesus never asks us to travel a road that he has not travelled Himself. As the good shepherd (John 10), He does not drive us forward relentlessly, but rather he leads the way while calling our names and gently expects us to follow in His footsteps. Just as Jesus sacrificed all for us on the cross, so we are called to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him and consecrated for the service of mankind. (Rom 12:1)

Each of us has a place and a role to fulfill in this big tapestry that is life. We are all linked together by a common need-the need to love and to be loved and the need for a Saviour to rescue us from our sins. In Jesus, we find all this and more!

I only really began to understand the true import of Christ’s words while reading a book about the Underground Church in Russia. In countries like these, God’s people face terrible persecution and yet they still love God and their persecutors with all their hearts! Compared to the trials they face, which include being beaten, starved to death and tortured, we are privileged possessors of a religious liberty that we all too often take for granted.

We bicker and fight about church politics, office politics and things that could be easily resolved if we all worked as a team for God. While we cannot resolve the smallest matters among our brethren, others suffer gruesome trials for their faith that we cannot even begin to understand, and yet they face them with a dignity and grace that only Christ can impart!

We need to learn the true meaning of what it means to be a hero, because Jesus is calling us to be heroes in the midst of adversity, shining for Him like lights in this dark world. He is our ultimate hero, and we must daily become more like Him.

I often wonder how strong my faith in God is. Will I give up if I face terrible trials like these precious people of God, or will I be able to stand up for my faith and totally surrender my life to God? Our greatest fear should not be the trials and persecutions that may or may not await us, but rather the possibility that we will disappoint Christ because in the weakness of our flesh, we will fail to stand for Him.

Jesus asks a compelling question in Luke 18:8: “When the Son of Man cometh, will He find faith on the earth?” Will Jesus find His faithful bride or will we have lost ourselves in fighting, trivialities and “playing church” and in so doing, lose our salvation? We cannot let the wickedness of men take away the love of God from our hearts for them. It is only through God’s love in our hearts that we can conquer and change the world!

"For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His only-begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE." -John 3:16

 Other Scripture Refs:1 John 3:15, John 15:13

Unlocking the Meaning of Life through Jesus Christ

Jesus said in John 10:10 that He has come to give us life and life more abundantly. For centuries, the ancients have pondered the meaning of life without coming to a holistic answer. Yet, the Bible gives us the answer we so earnestly search for.

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon comes to the conclusion that all our strivings are often in vain and we run away from the main purpose of our lives. Fear God, and reverence Him- this is the whole duty of man. (Ecc 12:12-13)

In life we often put the cart before the horse. We long to make a name for ourselves, to be famous, to be rich and honoured, yet Jesus says: “Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto You.” (Matt 6:33)

Material possessions and great prestige without the peace of God mean nothing but leave us empty, and still pondering the meaning of life. The fairy tale stories we learned as children were not far from the truth. Good and evil DO exist. We DO have a choice. There are indeed two kingdoms- the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light. My Father is a noble King, which makes me a noble Prince/Princess and an ambassador of His Kingdom. However, my God has taught me that royalty holds greater responsibility, and in fact leads to servanthood. Jesus said: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work.” (John 4:33-35)

The saying: “Like father, like son” does not have to have a negative connotation. Our earthly fathers have done the best they can for us. For some, that means leaving us a legacy of pain and disappointment.  Let’s rather choose to follow in the footsteps of our Heavenly Father as shown through Jesus Christ, His Son who is the visible representation on this Earth of Him whom we worship but have not yet seen.

"The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I HAVE COME SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY."-John 10:10

The Dangerous Deception of Hypocrisy

It amazes me how much we, in modern society today, harbour a spirit of bitterness and resentment against each other. We are constantly judging each other, sizing each other up and competing against one another. Because of this, our world is in a state of chaos and disrepair.

The judgements we make of others do not usually come from a spirit of love either, but one of hypocrisy. We are often guilty of breaking the very same laws or standards that we so readily accuse others of breaking. We are a selfish and self-righteous people.

We don’t seem to realize that judging others in a hypocritical spirit breeds a cycle of rebellion and satan is the author of rebellion. No one wants to take the advice of a hypocrite. People expect us to not just “talk the talk”, but also to “walk the walk.” There is always a practical side to what we profess and we must hold fast to our profession. True authority comes from living out the Word of God, just as Jesus did. That’s the reason everyone marveled at His authority. What gives us the right to judge others when even Jesus Christ, who was and is truly the Judge of the Universe, did not judge us until He had walked our human experience!

Let us not let hypocrisy corrupt our hearts like leprosy corrupts the body. Let us correct others in a spirit of love only, and not to make ourselves look better in comparison to them for God hates the proud and He will make them low.  Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and double standards in Matt 23:23, yet we are in danger of the same sin today. We already have one “accuser of the brethren.” We need more defenders of the brethren i.e. those who lift up the downtrodden and the weak instead of trampling on their dreams and hopes! Remember, justice and mercy do mix-they come together in the form of Jesus Christ.

Scriptures: Matt 7:1-5, 1 Cor 6:1-5,  Matt 19:28, Ps 98:9, Ps 26:1,  Rev 12: 10,  Matt 23:23-28

True Leadership

After having completed reading a book on leadership, I was reflecting on the essence of what true leadership means when my focus was turned to John 13.

Here Jesus washes the feet of His disciples, and even after having done this, none of them offer to do the same for Him. He then contrasts the false concept the world has of leadership to what true leadership entails.

True leadership embodies taking initiative to serve and forgive others instead of waiting on others to serve or apologise to you. It is leadership by example and not in words only.

 True leadership is not about making others suffer the agony by doing all the work so that you can receive the glory i.e. all the credit. True leadership is about the leader sometimes having to bear the brunt of agony and responsibility now, in order to celebrate the glory and victories that come in the future with his followers.

True leadership precedes the title. You don’t become a leader by being given the title. Rather, you are given the title because you are already a good leader. Being a good leader means knowing your identity in Christ, and not regarding yourself as superior to your followers.

"The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them;and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so;but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." -Luke 22:25-26, read John 13

Creation testifies of God's Love

The love of God is seen in the wide expanse of the skies, and in the mysterious depths of the ocean. His unending mercy is seen in the vastness of the great plains and His majesty in the peaks of the towering mountains. His righteousness is mirrored in the crystal waters of the lakes and streams and His providence is reflected through all of His creation.

The brilliant rays of the dawning sun that awaken us every morning are only a reflection of His brilliant glory and the whispering wind speaks of His kindness to us.

His care and gentleness is seen the delicate petals of every flower and His grace in every bird that soars in the firmament above.

Nature testifies daily of the existence and sustaining power of an awesome Creator. Language barriers and geographical divides may slow down the message of hope to the world, but in the works of Creation are no such barriers as they are exposed for the entire world to see and marvel. There is therefore no excuse for a world that refuses to acknowledge the Creator of heaven and earth and instead chooses to worship the works of creation or man-made images that neither hear nor speak.

God will be with You

I recently watched a documentary on the ibex. This type of deer lives on the cliffs of Judea, often known as the Wall of Death due to its sheer cliff faces. At first glance, nobody would ever imagine that anything could survive in this arid and deadly place.

However, these deer have been created with suction cups on their feet, enabling them to prance across the cliff face like a horse would do on level ground. The cliff face that seems daunting to us is to them a wall of protection from which they escape their enemies.

In the same way that the Lord knows how to equip all of creation for the territory He has given them, so He does with us. He has promised that He would be with us in the fire and that the floods would not overwhelm us. Give praise to God each day for there is nothing that you and He together cannot handle!

"He maketh my feet like hind's feet, and setteth me upon high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms."-Psalm 18:33-34