Thursday 1/3/12

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

This verse strikes me that the way of love is dealing with others humbly, gently, patiently, and bearing the wrong of others

Wednesday 29/2/12

Proverbs 10:22 ESV

The blessing of the Lord makes rich,

and he adds no sorrow with it.

This verse reminds me of Jesus's Word:

"I come that they may have life, and have it abundantly".

God created the world beautiful & human in his image. He wants to give us an abundant life, if we remain in Him. God gives us wise teachings & good commandments to help us live well & interact well with other people. He gives us skills to do our work & serve others. He makes all things work together for our good. These are some of His blessings.

Many things the world offer look good & pleasant at first. But they come with hidden cost, which harm us in ways we don't aware of. However, good things from God are pure. They have no hidden cost or side effect, only for our refinement & growth. Even trials from Him will work for pur good

Tuesday 28/2/12

Proverbs 10:19 ESV

When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

This verse teaches us being prudent in our interaction starts with monitoring our lips. More words, more errors. We need to think & watch the words from our mouth. Speak slowly, make our enunciate clear, stay silent when we are not ready to speak, monitor the listeners's reactions, ensure clear understanding... Cultivate our tongue & supervise is the first step to stay composed & prudent in our dealing.

Monday 27/2/12

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us"

This verse reminds me that God can do far more than all we can ask or think of, so we should not worry of unable to do. Instead, we should focus on what is good to do, and ask him for direction & help to do it. If it pleases Him, He will work in us and in our life to enable us & make our path straight.

Monday 27/2/12

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us"

This verse reminds me that God can do far more than all we can ask or think of, so we should not worry of unable to do. Instead, we should focus on what is good to do, and ask him for direction & help to do it. If it pleases Him, He will work in us and in our life to enable us & make our path straight.

Friday 24/2/12

Proverbs 9:12 ESV

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

This verse emphasizes the benefits of wisdom are for oneself. On the other hand, the dangers of rejecting wisdom are also to oneself. Wisdom is personal benefits & personal responsibility, just as knowing & loving God  is personal benefits & personal responsibility. They are for our own good

Thursday 23/2/12

Proverbs 9:8 ESV

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

I believe this verse gives us the 1st principle of manner, i.e. whom we can reprove & treating each person according to whom he is. This verse also gives us a benchmark to check if we are behaving like a wise person, so we can keep our walk in the path of growing wisdom, and enjoy friendship with all people.

Tuesday 21/2/12

Proverbs 8:12 ESV

"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

and I find knowledge and discretion."

God described 4 aspects of wisdom in a single verse. And God promises to give us all if we love & seek them diligently

Wisdom: ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight



Prudence : knowing how to avoid trouble, embarrassment or distress; "showed great tact and discretion"

Knowledge: the result of perception and learning and reasoning



Discretion: the trait of judging wisely and objectively what is right and wrong.

Friday 17/2/12

Proverbs 8:17 ESV

I love those who love me,

and those who seek me diligently find me.

This verse is good news to those who find themselves simple & naive, and want seek wisdom. God & Wisdom love such persons, and guarantee that they will obtain wisdom if they diligently seek & learn & listen to advices & instructions. They will have the wisdom of God, the supreme practical wisdom

Thursday 16/02/12

Proverbs 8:5-6 ESV

O simple ones, learn prudence;

O fools, learn sense.

Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

I wonder who will accept him/herself as simple one or fools. But in God's eyes, probably all human are such, compared to others & especially to our enemies the devils.

Here God offers us prudent & sense - the ability to discern right from wrong. As the creator & designer of this world, the almighty & all-knowing God, He know best what's ultimately good & bad, right & wrong, so His words are the ultimate wise words to give us understanding. The condition to receive his teaching is to understand our weakness & ask from Him & listen to Him & receive His teaching. That's a small efforts compared to what wisdom brings, isn't it?

Wednesday 15/2/12

Ephesians 1:16 ESV

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

I believe God wants me to remember other Christians in my prayers also, give thank for them, pray for them. That also requires me to keep in touch & up-to-date what are going on in their life, which a good friend / brother should do

Monday 13/02/11

Ephesians 1:17-18 ESV

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

This verse reminded me what we ought to pray for - a spirit of wisdom & of relevation for knowing God, the opening of the eyes of our heart. By the Spirit & the eyes of heart, we can know & see what God has given us - a blessed hope & a glorious inheritance.

Sunday 12/02/12

Ephesians 1:8-9 ESV

which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

This verse stroke me that knowing God, His will & His purpose require faith, wisdom & insight that God lavished upon us. Otherwise, with the wisdom of this world, we can never know Him.

This reminded me that God is working in us. And as He is faithful, He will complete His good work in us.

Sunday 12/2/12

Proverbs 6:27 ESV

Can a man carry fire next to his chest

and his clothes not be burned?

I believe God wants me to be alert of my own thoughts, what I am carrying next to my chest (or heart). If I have evil thoughts & don't immediately prune it, someday I will be burned & suffer disgrace. The evil thought will manifest in one way or another. Men ought to watch their own  thinking & align to God's commands from their thoughts.

Friday 10/2/12

Proverbs 6:15 ESV

therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

This verse reminded me of the difference of God's dealing with the righteous & the wicked. For the righteous, God upholds him so even if he falls he will raise up again. Therefore the righteous have peace in difficulties, his way is sure. However, to the wicked, his success is fleeting & once he falls he will be utterly destroyed.

Thursday 9/2/12

Proverbs 6:6 ESV

Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

This verse told us to learn from the small creature: the ant. As insignificant as they are, ants are model of diligent working & humble & cooperation. By asking us to learn from such insignificant creatute, God wants us to pay attention to everything & try to learn from them, even the ant, the bird, and the lilies in the field.

Monday 6/2/12

John 21:22 ESV

Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"

This verse strikes me how we tend to compare ourselves with others, especially on good things the other has while we don't. Peter compared himself with John for it seemed John would live long. But Peter forgot that he is given the head position among the apostles. They all have their blessings, just differently.

I believe God wants to tell us to not comparing our blessings. He gives us blessings differently, but He loves us all & provides to us all. We should just focus on making the best of what are given, and enjoying them with thankfulness.

Friday 3/2/12

John 20:21 ESV

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."

This verse reminded me that God's put us / sent us to the world to be like Jesus, to live under His care & guidance, and to do His will. The verse also prompted me to think how Jesus lived His life, and what I can learn from him

Thursday 2/2/12

John 20:9 ESV

for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

The verse struck me that  many things God allowed to happen we cannot understand why now. But later when looking back, the dots will connect & we will understand. But for now, we have to trust in His loving kindness that all things, even bad things, will work out together for good according to His sovereign plan

Wednesday 1/2/12

Proverbs 4:26 ESV

Ponder the path of your feet;

then all your ways will be sure.

When reading this verse, I think of the balance between letting God direct our feet, and directing our feet ourselves. Surely God is directing our very steps, and that's a comforting thought. However, we cannot anyhow step & hope that things will go well. We also need to ponder on our next step, to think of the good & the possible dangers, think how good it is in God's eyes and to pray for guidance. After many prayers & being open to his will, we can proceed. By inviting God in our decision making, we can be confident that our decision is not a mistake, and all things will workout for good eventually :)