Friday 27/4/12

2 Corinthians 2:7 ESV

so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

I believe in this verse, God wants us to actively forgive and comfort people who sin against us, not waiting until they apologize. This is to be done when they have shown signs of repent and sorrow of their sin, but not yet gather courage to apologize. Our initiative in forgiveness & comforting will help them acknowledge their faults and mend the friendship.

Thursday 26/4/12

2 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

This verse reminds us of hopeless situations where we basically give up, consider us die already, and leave everything to God. Those are times where we stop relying on ourselves but on God, who has the power to raise the death, and to save us from the worst.

With each time likes that, our faith grows and we start relying on God more, and more willing to take risks and be adventurous in doing good.

Tuesday 24/4/12

2 Corinthians 1:4 ESV

who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

This verse reminds us to remember all the comforts and helps God has given us. This builds up our faith & love to Him. Moreover, this enables us to help & comfort others. With this, we fulfill the two great commandments, love God & love others.

Monday 23/4/12

Proverbs 18:17 ESV

The one who states his case first seems right,

until the other comes and examines him.

In this verse, God instructs us to listen to both sides before we decide. More importantly, we always first listen to ourselves and think we are right. Refrain that tendency, we have to listen & examine what other people say before we decide.

Friday 20/4/12

1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

If God calls us, God will surely get it done through us. Moses was afraid when he was called (Exodus 3), but God assured Moses of His providence, sent help (Aaron), and did most important things Himself like sending the 10 plagues and leading the way. God is faithful, meaning He keeps faith, and we can trust Him.

Thursday 19/4/12

1 Thessalonians 5:11-12 ESV

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

As Christians, we should take every opportunity to encourage & build up each other in living out God's teaching. We should refrain from criticizing, discouraging or tearing down others. And we have to respect the authorities - those who God has put over us.

Wednesday 18/4/12

1 Thessalonians 5:8 ESV

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breashtplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Faith and love are Christian's amour to protect our heart and our wellbeing. The hope of salvation is the helmet to protect our mind and our will. These three give us victory in Jesus.

Tuesday 17/4/12

Proverbs 17:27 ESV

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,

and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

In this verse, God wants to remind us the two hallmarks of wisdom: a controlled tongue & a cool spirit. That is knowledge and understanding.

Monday 16/4/12

Proverbs 17:1 ESV

Better is a dry morsel with quiet

than a house full of feasting with strife.

I believe God wants us to value peace & quietness, and even love, in the house more than any material wealth. After all, God is the God of love, and material wealth is disposable. We come to this world naked, and will go out naked. Only our soul and our treasure in heaven we can keep.

Friday 13/4/12

1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV

and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

This verse gives us the basis of a good Christian life: to live humbly & quietly, to take a good care of oneself & one's family, and to work with one's hands, and live according to God's teaching. That's a good life.

Thursday 12/4/12

1 Thessalonians 4:9 ESV

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

This verse tells us that since love is so important to God, He Himself will teach us how to love one another. We just need to be sensitive to.His leading.

Wednesday 11/4/12

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

The Bible teaches us how to be wise, how to avoid troubles, how to best live our lived, and most importantly, how to please God.

Why do we want to please God? The benefits of pleasing the almighty King of kings are rather obvious. But even more so, because He loves us and we love Him.

Tuesday 10/4/12

Proverbs 16:32 ESV

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

In this verse, God stressed the value of self control - slow to anger and rule one's spirit - above power & success. We all want to act mightily, to show our power and our spirit, to show our passion. We all want to conquer & to success. But to God, they are all less than self-control. So beside imaging mighty acts & great success, we should imagine us exercising self control - slow to anger & rule our spirit.

Monday 9/4/12

Proverbs 16:3 ESV

Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

I believe God wants us to remember Him, pray to Him and commit our work to Him before we start working on it. Then He will establish our plans and take charge of the end result, whether it is success or failure or a change in plan.

Thursday 5/4/12

1 Thessalonians 3:4 ESV

For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

This verse reminds us that Christians suffer affliction and persecution from time to time. We need to keep this in mind, and warn new believers of this.

Wednesday 4/4/12

Proverbs 15:28 ESV

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

God wants us to think & ponder carefully before we answer, avoid reply in haste. We must refrain from pouring our thoughts out, that will lead to lots of trouble later.