1 Peter 3:8-17
Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. —1 Peter 3:15
As believers, we are promised blessings if we stick to doing what is good. This passage differentiates the "they" and "us". We should not fear the same things that they fear (ver 14). In the same way, we need to know who are God is. We need to understand Him so that we are able to separate/sancifty Him from everything else that is in our lives. Our hearts should contain God and everything; not everything. There needs to be a distinct separation between God and everything else that is important to us because He alone is worthy of this level of praise.
Amen.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Because God
If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord has need of it.”
Mark 11:3
Why am I doing this? Because the Lord has need of it. Do not be mistaken; God does not need me, or any of us. Our almighty God, all powerful and all knowing does not depend on any creature. It is because He so graciously wants us to.
It is astounding to me how God is using such lowly means to accomplish His purpose. This verse is from the passage titled, "The Triumphal Entry". Same passage Joe preached on today during service. Joe talked about how we need to understand obedience beyond words and actions. Our works are a reflection of our hearts. We need to know that these works mean nothing if we don't understand that it is because God allows us to worship Him.
I most definitely can bring a donkey from point A to point B! I bring this donkey because God has allowed me to worship Him. With all my soul, I will give Him the glory that He alone deserves and no one else.
God looked at me and took me in and used me for His glory.
Anyone else would have laughed and walked away.
- Why do I give myself to God? Because He has need of it. -
Amen!
Mark 11:3
Why am I doing this? Because the Lord has need of it. Do not be mistaken; God does not need me, or any of us. Our almighty God, all powerful and all knowing does not depend on any creature. It is because He so graciously wants us to.
It is astounding to me how God is using such lowly means to accomplish His purpose. This verse is from the passage titled, "The Triumphal Entry". Same passage Joe preached on today during service. Joe talked about how we need to understand obedience beyond words and actions. Our works are a reflection of our hearts. We need to know that these works mean nothing if we don't understand that it is because God allows us to worship Him.
I most definitely can bring a donkey from point A to point B! I bring this donkey because God has allowed me to worship Him. With all my soul, I will give Him the glory that He alone deserves and no one else.
God looked at me and took me in and used me for His glory.
Anyone else would have laughed and walked away.
- Why do I give myself to God? Because He has need of it. -
Amen!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Stepping Out
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
We live according to how we plan our own futures without knowing the uncertainties that may occur. We are so comfortable with our own plans and how amazing our lives could be without worrying about anything wrong that can happen. But anything can happen. God works in anyway He wants because in the end, He deserves the glory.
Stepping out of your comfort zone and take risks. There is no such thing as a life glorifying God without risks. If you are not taking risks, you do not bring in results.
Amennnnnnn =__=
We live according to how we plan our own futures without knowing the uncertainties that may occur. We are so comfortable with our own plans and how amazing our lives could be without worrying about anything wrong that can happen. But anything can happen. God works in anyway He wants because in the end, He deserves the glory.
Stepping out of your comfort zone and take risks. There is no such thing as a life glorifying God without risks. If you are not taking risks, you do not bring in results.
Amennnnnnn =__=
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Far Better
4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Revelation 21:4
When we claim the name of Jesus as our own, we are saved. This verse is the His promise to us that if we accept Christ on the cross, there will be no more suffering when we finally see Him in Heaven.
The life we have here isn’t all there is. There is a far, far better place that Jesus is preparing for those who love Him (John 14:2-3). — Cindy Hess Kasper
Amen.
Revelation 21:4
When we claim the name of Jesus as our own, we are saved. This verse is the His promise to us that if we accept Christ on the cross, there will be no more suffering when we finally see Him in Heaven.
The life we have here isn’t all there is. There is a far, far better place that Jesus is preparing for those who love Him (John 14:2-3). — Cindy Hess Kasper
Amen.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Worst Possible Senarios
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
Goodness. I caught a glimpse of Job's devotion when I read Job 23. In Job's case, he really did undergo the worst case scenario. In the midst of failure in academia, careers, family and friends, and everything that we hold close to us, can we stand like Job did? At the moment, I know that I will never denounce God in my life, but I know that I will not be able to take it like Job is. "...when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." An unwavering answer to suffering is what Job responds with.
Amen!
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
Goodness. I caught a glimpse of Job's devotion when I read Job 23. In Job's case, he really did undergo the worst case scenario. In the midst of failure in academia, careers, family and friends, and everything that we hold close to us, can we stand like Job did? At the moment, I know that I will never denounce God in my life, but I know that I will not be able to take it like Job is. "...when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." An unwavering answer to suffering is what Job responds with.
Amen!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Give Thanks
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
No matter what season in our lives, no matter what we are going through, no matter the degree of happiness or sadness in our lives, let my heart be one that gives thanks to God for all of it. Hardships and blessings and how we view God in them brings out the amount of faith we have in Christ.
If you see God's blessings in times of difficulty, you are not deceiving yourself, but realizing God's plans for you. If you see God's blessing in good times, which you often will, thats great! Never stop praising the Lord who is with us always.
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Amen.
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
No matter what season in our lives, no matter what we are going through, no matter the degree of happiness or sadness in our lives, let my heart be one that gives thanks to God for all of it. Hardships and blessings and how we view God in them brings out the amount of faith we have in Christ.
If you see God's blessings in times of difficulty, you are not deceiving yourself, but realizing God's plans for you. If you see God's blessing in good times, which you often will, thats great! Never stop praising the Lord who is with us always.
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Amen.
Do You Understand?
John 13
My CCUC Small Group went over this passage this week and it has been on my mind for the past few days. Verse 12 specifically:
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.
12耶稣洗完了他们的脚 ，就穿上衣服， 又坐下，对他们说 ：我向你们所做的 ，你们明白麽 ？
Chapter 13 takes place before the death of Christ. In this passage, Christ realizes to His disciples that His time was almost up. He washes their feet. Note that in this passage, He knew that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him (ver 11). By washing Judas' feet, Jesus is making a statement. I am washing the feet of my enemy; I am serving my enemy.
Jesus's attitude is most admirable in this situation and we often ask ourselves what Jesus would really do because it is ultimately the right answer. Being forgiving towards our enemies would be the right thing to do .But being human, we cannot find ourselves in the Christ-like end of the spectrum. It is easier said than done.
Then look at it this way and ask yourselves just as Jesus asks His disciples (YOU), "Do you understand what I have done for you?" Do you truly understand the reason of Jesus' servitude here on Earth? In other words, do you understand why WE should be servants for other people here on Earth?
I've been thinking of the answer to this question and what kind of answer I can give with how much God has been working in my life. Jesus came down from Heaven and made Himself nothing to serve ME because He wanted me to understand God's love. He made Himself the lowliest servant so that God the Father can be glorified.
My servitude in church can only be because of one thing: to glorify God. Christ was my example (ver 14) and showed me this love. I understand and accept this and in turn, reflect this back to "others" so that they may understand that Christ is my ultimate source of joy. "Others" is a broad category because it includes EVERYONE, just like how Jesus served.
I am continually searching for myself in Him and boy, I would love it if you would join me!
Amen!
My CCUC Small Group went over this passage this week and it has been on my mind for the past few days. Verse 12 specifically:
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.
12耶稣洗完了他们的脚 ，就穿上衣服， 又坐下，对他们说 ：我向你们所做的 ，你们明白麽 ？
Chapter 13 takes place before the death of Christ. In this passage, Christ realizes to His disciples that His time was almost up. He washes their feet. Note that in this passage, He knew that Judas Iscariot was going to betray Him (ver 11). By washing Judas' feet, Jesus is making a statement. I am washing the feet of my enemy; I am serving my enemy.
Jesus's attitude is most admirable in this situation and we often ask ourselves what Jesus would really do because it is ultimately the right answer. Being forgiving towards our enemies would be the right thing to do .But being human, we cannot find ourselves in the Christ-like end of the spectrum. It is easier said than done.
Then look at it this way and ask yourselves just as Jesus asks His disciples (YOU), "Do you understand what I have done for you?" Do you truly understand the reason of Jesus' servitude here on Earth? In other words, do you understand why WE should be servants for other people here on Earth?
I've been thinking of the answer to this question and what kind of answer I can give with how much God has been working in my life. Jesus came down from Heaven and made Himself nothing to serve ME because He wanted me to understand God's love. He made Himself the lowliest servant so that God the Father can be glorified.
My servitude in church can only be because of one thing: to glorify God. Christ was my example (ver 14) and showed me this love. I understand and accept this and in turn, reflect this back to "others" so that they may understand that Christ is my ultimate source of joy. "Others" is a broad category because it includes EVERYONE, just like how Jesus served.
I am continually searching for myself in Him and boy, I would love it if you would join me!
Amen!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Instructions to Timothy and Us
1 Timothy 4
This passage was Paul's set of instructions to Timothy. From loving the Lord with all your heart to abstaining from gossip, this passage has a whole lot to explain. Because this passage is from Paul to Timothy for him to become a better teacher of the Word, a lot of it has to do with making your reading of scripture known to others. In other words, I take it as knowing the Word, living out the Word, and preaching the Word through your actions (and of course through talking).
Verse 15 and 16 stuck out to me the most. "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
Because people will abandon the faith and God to follow other things, the instructions for verse 15 and 16 are a conscious prayer for these people as well as myself. Honestly, I have to tell you and all who read that I've wandered away for the past months. It's been tough. But daily, I continue to persevere so that I will save myself and my hearers through the love that is Jesus Christ.
I've been accountability-ing with a friend of mine for the past week and I've honestly forgotten about the blogs for the Spreak. God teaches us to persevere in His doctrine and even with this blog that is in the back of my mind, I trust that God will use this time that I take my time to type this blog, to really bless me (and those who read it). What a bad run on sentence :p
Amen!
This passage was Paul's set of instructions to Timothy. From loving the Lord with all your heart to abstaining from gossip, this passage has a whole lot to explain. Because this passage is from Paul to Timothy for him to become a better teacher of the Word, a lot of it has to do with making your reading of scripture known to others. In other words, I take it as knowing the Word, living out the Word, and preaching the Word through your actions (and of course through talking).
Verse 15 and 16 stuck out to me the most. "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
Because people will abandon the faith and God to follow other things, the instructions for verse 15 and 16 are a conscious prayer for these people as well as myself. Honestly, I have to tell you and all who read that I've wandered away for the past months. It's been tough. But daily, I continue to persevere so that I will save myself and my hearers through the love that is Jesus Christ.
I've been accountability-ing with a friend of mine for the past week and I've honestly forgotten about the blogs for the Spreak. God teaches us to persevere in His doctrine and even with this blog that is in the back of my mind, I trust that God will use this time that I take my time to type this blog, to really bless me (and those who read it). What a bad run on sentence :p
Amen!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Being Ashamed of Christ
26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." Luke 9:26-27
We are all familiar with the passage before this as Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Verse 23 to 25 is important and should never be overlooked, but as I continued reading, I couldn't recall verses 26 to 27.
Here Jesus flat out says that He will be ashamed of me when we are in heaven if I am ashamed of Him here on earth. If we take a look closer, the facts will appear. Christ was going to face death. He knows it; His disciples know it. But compared to every living being on this earth, no one is more willing to accept rejection and death unlike Jesus Christ.
In order for us to understand Christ, we must deny ourselves (ver23). We must not be ashamed of the Cross, but pick it up our own cross (.. and take up HIS cross) and follow Christ without any shame.
Amen.
We are all familiar with the passage before this as Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Verse 23 to 25 is important and should never be overlooked, but as I continued reading, I couldn't recall verses 26 to 27.
Here Jesus flat out says that He will be ashamed of me when we are in heaven if I am ashamed of Him here on earth. If we take a look closer, the facts will appear. Christ was going to face death. He knows it; His disciples know it. But compared to every living being on this earth, no one is more willing to accept rejection and death unlike Jesus Christ.
In order for us to understand Christ, we must deny ourselves (ver23). We must not be ashamed of the Cross, but pick it up our own cross (.. and take up HIS cross) and follow Christ without any shame.
Amen.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Law is Good
8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
When I read this, I thought back to the fact that Christ came down from heaven not to heal the healthy, but the sick. Even though this is in the context of preaching the truth verses false doctrine, Paul explains that the law is for us from God. Sinners need God's commands. Why? Because we are simply aimless without it. We will lead ourselves/each other to our demise without having any rules or limitations in our lives. God provides theses laws and commands us to follow them because He cares and loves us.
For whatever reason, verse 11 is confusing me. And for everything else that opposes God will and ultimately for those sinners who has been given to us by God to lead?
Amen.
When I read this, I thought back to the fact that Christ came down from heaven not to heal the healthy, but the sick. Even though this is in the context of preaching the truth verses false doctrine, Paul explains that the law is for us from God. Sinners need God's commands. Why? Because we are simply aimless without it. We will lead ourselves/each other to our demise without having any rules or limitations in our lives. God provides theses laws and commands us to follow them because He cares and loves us.
For whatever reason, verse 11 is confusing me. And for everything else that opposes God will and ultimately for those sinners who has been given to us by God to lead?
Amen.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Vine and the Branches
4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
It is through Jesus Christ and His unending love and care that allows us to become who we are today. Christ is the great pursuer of our souls. Whenever we feel like God has forsaken us and left us wandering in the desert, who is truly the one who has wandered? Jesus promises change in these passages; the type of reformation that is not possible through any other means but Christ alone.
2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.
It is God who cleanses our souls of all sin. He destroys those things in our lives that are not beneficial to us.
Amen.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
It is through Jesus Christ and His unending love and care that allows us to become who we are today. Christ is the great pursuer of our souls. Whenever we feel like God has forsaken us and left us wandering in the desert, who is truly the one who has wandered? Jesus promises change in these passages; the type of reformation that is not possible through any other means but Christ alone.
2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.
It is God who cleanses our souls of all sin. He destroys those things in our lives that are not beneficial to us.
Amen.
Monday, March 1, 2010
john 14:9-14
i accepted Christ when i was a kid during vacation bible club, but seriously started chasing after Him when i was in high school. life was different and my perspectives changed. as i went on to college, thats when i realized that my life was nothing without Christ and i realized His majesty.
"don't you know me... even after I have been among you such a long time?"
i find myself eating baby food still after all this time, but its a constant battle and i will be forever hungry. these words i can assure you and myself is truth because there is nothing without the Father.
amen.
i accepted Christ when i was a kid during vacation bible club, but seriously started chasing after Him when i was in high school. life was different and my perspectives changed. as i went on to college, thats when i realized that my life was nothing without Christ and i realized His majesty.
"don't you know me... even after I have been among you such a long time?"
i find myself eating baby food still after all this time, but its a constant battle and i will be forever hungry. these words i can assure you and myself is truth because there is nothing without the Father.
amen.
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