Monday 31/12/12

James 2:1-4 ESV

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Here God teaches us to treat everyone, rich or poor, high or low, equally with no partiality and no distinction. In God's eyes, all men are equal. But our worldly and sinful tendency naturally want to appease a rich and powerful person, while treating poor people with contempt. Here the Bible rebukes such thoughts, because the rich and powerful tend to be poor and distant toward God, while the poor are usually close and full of faith to Him. To balance things out, we should treat everyone equally gracious because in God's eyes, all men are equal. Whoever go to church are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and are our equal.

Friday 28/12/12

James 1:22-25 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

The law of God is like a mirror for us to see and evaluate ourselves, where we do well and where we do badly. If we only listen to the law and then walk away, it is like we just take a look at the mirror and then forget. Instead, we must check our image, then we work on sharpening our strengths and improving our weaknesses. So we must be hearers who act, and God will bless us in our doings.

Thursday 28/12/12

James 1:19-20 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger - Too often we speak, and even get angry, before we actually hear and understand. That causes many strifes and misunderstandings.  Thus the Bible advises us to refrain and be slow, hear and clarify our understanding first, before we make our respond and state our opinions.

Also, our human anger just gratifies our fleshly desire and leads us to sin, it produces no righteousness of God. It's better to be err in meekness, forgiveness and mercy than in anger and judgement. Thus we should refrain our anger respond as slow as we can

Wednesday 19/12/12

James 1:13-15 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

God never tempts us, although He may test us by allowing trials and temptations to come to us. We are tempted by Satan as he lures and entices us using our own desires. An evil desire, if not mortified, gives birth to sin. If we do not confess & repent from sin, but continue to abide in it, it will grow and bring forth death.

Therefore, we must continually guard and check our heart. If we start having evil desires, we must shun it and seek strength via prayers to keep our thoughts and our heart pure. If our evil desires materialized to sinful actions, we must turn away from it and repent, confess and seek forgiveness from God.

Abiding in sin leads to dead and isolation from God. Continually guarding and checking our heart prevent this and keep our life and our rightstanding with God.

Tuesday 18/12/12

ames 1:12 NET

Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.

God does not tempt (to destroy), He tests to prove. Without testing, we won't be able to recognize our weaknesses, or see our achievements. While enduring the test, we see our weaknesses and learn how to overcome it with the help of God. The test will strengthen our faith and reliance on God, help us grows in skills and maturity. Ultimately it leads us toward the promised crown of life from God.

Monday 17/12/12

James 1:9-11 ESV

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Poverty will fade away one day, if the poor is hard and diligent in his work. Being poor, he is humiliated by the world. Rather than accepting and humbling in his poverty, it's good for a poor person to boast of his ambition, to exalt himself in God.

On the other hand, it's better for the rich to boast in his humiliation because his richest will fade away. Being rich, he will receive all kinds of praised and honors from the world, and is tempted to be proud. By boasting in his humiliation, he avoid all those temptations and mingle well with his poorer brothers in Christ.

Ultimately, in Christ we are one. In God's  eyes, we are the same, no richer, no poorer, no master, no slave. We all contribute our part in His Kingdom, and receive His providence. Everything is from Him and is given by Him, the masters must not think they are better or higher than the slaves, or the rich than the poor. They just have different lot in life.

Thursday 13/12/12

James 1:6-8 ESV

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

When we start asking in prayer, God will work in us and in our life to help us obtain them. He will send trials and difficulties to give us opportunities to learn and practice. He will give us the necessary knowledge from His Word, people around us, or other sources. Through applying the knowledge and overcoming the trials, we obtain what we asked in prayer.

But overcoming trials and applying new knowledge require a lot of hard work and perseverance. To do so we must have faith in God in the good outcome, and keep that faith amidst of difficulties and setbacks. Without faith and continual effort, we are like a ship toss back and forth by the wind, getting no where and never obtain what we ask for.

Wednesday 12/12/12

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

God gives wisdom, and the Bible - his Word - is full of wise instructions and insightful cautions. The wisdom books - Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, Song of songs - are entirely wise saying. Thus, if we wish to be wiser, the best way is to ask from God in prayer, and learn from His Word. Overtime (not immediately), the Holy Spirit will work in our soul and His Word will fill our mind with wisdom.

Additionally, God will arrange trials, temptations and difficulties for us to exercise His wise instructions, remove our weaknesses and practice discerning and make careful judgements. Yes, trials and temptations cause us hardship and pain, but from them we learn to be wiser. So count in all joy.

Tuesday 11/12/12

James 1:2-4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

As Christians, like the rest of humanity, we have to go through all kinds of trials, temptations and difficulties. But whenever we face them, we can rejoice as they are arranged by God to help us grow. They are opportunities for us to exercise our faith in God, to practice being patient & steadfast, to  remove our weaknesses and to learn new skills. After we endure them all, we will become complete and perfect, lacking in nothing, able to be a contributing and pleasant member in God Kingdom, able to enjoy the light of life in God.

Thursday 5/12/12

Galatians 6:3 ESV

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Pride is having an exaggerated view of oneself combined with diminishing the importance of others. In other word, to think he is something when he is nothing. This is a deadly sin in God's view, because it causes strife & contention which destroys the peace & unity in the group.

Also it is a delusion. One can play a critical role, but it's God who placed him there and gave him ability to do that. In God's eyes, he is nothing and can be replaced by another. Being prideful means he has forgotten God's grace and forgotten the contributions of others. We are in the same church body. The eyed are important, but the arms and legs are equally important. So are the tongue, the teeth, the fingers ... Each plays a critical role, but that's not a reason to be prideful. That's the reason to be thankful and helpful to one another.

So don't be deceived, remember God and his grace, and remember the help of others.

Wednesday 4/12/12

Galatians 6:4-5 ESV

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

The previous verse teaches us to bear each other's burdens, but this verse teaches us to be responsible for our own work. We must make sure the work is done well, of high quality, ensure satisfaction for those who use it. We must test our work such that we have reasons to fell happy and proud (boast) of the job well done.

Tuesday 3/12/12

Galatians 6:2 ESV

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Each of us has our burden, the hardship that taxes our strength and mental. These burdens are from God to help us learn to lean on Him, build our moral and good habits for right living, as well as avoid staying idle and tempted by sin.

However, God doesn't mean for us to bear alone, but we need to help each other in love. That makes our burden lighter as we each can contribute our strengths and get help in our weakness, give our surplus and receive in our lack. With that we learn to live out the law of God, which is love our neighbors.

Monday 2/12/12

Galatians 6:1 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

If we find a person, especially another Christian, does wrong things, what should we do? Should we criticize them and keep a distance from them? Here the Bible commands us to restore them in the spirit of gentleness. It means we should gently help them recognize their error and the consequences, and point to them the Godly way to deal with the problem, in words and in illustrative stories, especially from personal experience. In that way we build each other up, correct our errors and align ourselves with the way of God.

Thursday 29/11/12

Galatians 5:25-26 ESV

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

As believers, we live by the Holy Spirit of God, under His guidance, His protection, His providence. It means we also must walk by Him, following His leading, obeying His commandments, studying His Word.

The most important commandments to obey is 

_ do not be conceited: do not be prideful, thinking yourself better than others but be humble and respectful.

_ do not provoke one another, causing hurt and angry, but be considerate and gentle.

_ do not envy one another, comparing yourself with others - what they have but we don't, but rejoice with what we have and rejoice with others what they have.

Wednesday 28/11/12

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Walking with God, following His leading, and obeying His commands have great rewards. Moreover,God's rewards are thoroughly enjoyable and have no hidden cost. They are the fruit of the Spirit listed above

_ love, joy, peace: the spiritual happiness that comes not from following the carnal flesh, but from following God and His way. The true happiness

_ patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness: the inner strength that seeks nurture and growth, not escape or oppression. The true strength

_ gentleness, self control: the self mastery that regulate one's mood and reaction in moderation and in love. The true mastery

So the fruit of the Spirit will give us the true happiness, the true strength, and the true mastery. Aren't they what we all desire? The good gift from God, thoroughly enjoyable and contains no hidden harm

Tuesday 27/11/12

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is a long list of the works of the flesh. It gratifies the flesh's desires in a cheap,  immoral, and harmful manner:

_ sexual immorality, impurity and sensuality: wrong gratification of sexual desires

_ idolatry and sorcery: wrong worship, worshipping wrong gods, wrong mysticism.

_ enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy: not loving our neighbors and not contented with what we have

_ drunkenness and orgies: wrong gratification of eat & drink & socializing needs.

Those are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vanities of life. They are the wrong & cheap ways to gratify the needs & enjoyments God has placed in our bodies. We must gratify them in a right, safe, loving and peaceful ways of God.

Monday 26/11/12

Galatians 5:16-17 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

There are two opposing forces within our heart and generate our desires: the Spirit and the flesh.

The Spirit of God generates in us Godly desires for our good, which creates in us the good fruit as in Galatians 5: 22-23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

The flesh generates in us fleshy desires which cause our ruin as in Galatians 5:19-21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Therefore, we must walk by the Spirit and tune ourselves to His leading. We must refrain from following the flesh. We cannot win alone, we must seek help from God by praying for strength to overcome and for forgiveness when we fail. At the same time, we must walk by the Spirit and do what He want us to do. So overtime, we develop habits of doing what are right in the Spirit and resisting the flesh. This will become easier and more natural, and bring us closer to God overtime.

Friday 23/11/12

Galatians 5:13 ESV

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

God gives us freedom, but God's freedom demands responsibilities and limitations. It means we are free to serve others and to do good. It doesn't mean we are free to follow the flesh.

So we do not need to fear the law of this world as we do what is good, for there is the higher law of God which gives us freedom. But even when the worldly law permits us to do what's wrong to God, we are free to not do.

Wednesday 21/11/12

Galatians 4:1-3 ESV

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

When we accept Christ as our Lord & Savior, and receive the salvation of God, we are adopted as God's children. However, we are no different from a slave because we are still a child, still enslaved to the elementary principles of this world. Thus we do not have much difference.

However, as adopted children of God, we do have privileges. We are ministered by God's servants - the angels. We also receive teaching from God's Word - the Bible - and from the Holy Spirit - the counselor God has given us. They are to guide us and help us grow and mature to be a full pledge children of God. Thus we need to grow & mature to receive more power & privilege from God.

Tuesday 20/11/12

Galatians 3:28 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

As Christian, we are all one and equal in Christ. There is no differentiation. Christ does not care where we are from (Jew nor Greek), whether we are rich or poor (slave nor free), or even male or female. We are the same and equal in Christ. More than that, we are as one, a united group with same value, same spirit, and the same Lord.

So we should not treat other Christian differently. We should neither think ourselves higher or lower than others. We are one, and the same, in Christ.

Monday 19/11/12

Galatians 3:10-11 ESV

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."

The law requires us to keep everything written in them. If we violate even a small law, we become a trangressor and cannot be justified before God. Therefore, none is justified by the law. We can only be justified by faith in God and in the blood of Jesus Christ.

Then the righteous shall live by faith. We do good because we are already justified, because we love God and what is good, and because the Holy Spirit prompts us to. We don't do good to be righteous or to be justified.

Sunday 18/11/12

Galatians 3:4 ESV

Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

An interesting question from Paul, what have we suffered for doing God's work? Are they too much to bear? Are they long, or just a while? Are they vain, or in the end produce good result?

Personally, I think while we do face many difficulties in life, they are for our own good, to correct our weaknesses, to help us learn and grow, and experience more things in life. Generally our difficulties are caused by our lack of wisdom & skills, not by God.

We do suffer some for God. People may persecute us in His name. That's because we live in the world, and it is evil. But as we suffer and pray, God gives us joy in suffering, and strengthen our faith. We love the world less, as we saw its unreasonableness, and love God more. That's good for us.

God may want us to do some things for Him, and they are difficult to us, like going from Egypt to the Promised Land. Like with the Israelites, it is a difficult journey, but it's good for us. God provides us all the way, and helps us overcome the difficulties. Eventually, it helps us build up our faith, know God more, and get better things in life. So it's not in vain.

So eventually, as the Bible says, all things will work together for our good. We only need to brave the difficulties, pray fervently, obey God's commands and do our best under God instructions.

Friday 16/11/12

Galatians 3:2 ESV

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

God gives those who believe in Him the Holy Spirit, who acts as our counselor, teaches us and reminds us of God's Word, prompt us to pray, and help us to follow God's way. We receive the Holy Spirit not by the law, but by hearing the Gospel with faith. The Holy Spirit is our guide in understanding and following the law of God, not the other way.

Thursday 15/11/12

Galatians 2:10 ESV

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

The Bible wants us to remember the poor, what does it mean?

I think it means to help and provide the poor around us their daily bread, to meet their need for this day in God's name, as in Matthew 25

Matthew 25:34-36, 40 ESV

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

The Bible says whoever give to the poor lend it to God, He will repay. And even our wealth and ability to make wealth comes from God, anyway.

Tuesday 13/11/12

Galatians 2:16 ESV

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

We cannot be saved by works of the law, because none of us can keep to the law consistently from the heart. The Pharisee aspires to keep the law, but they just keep the visible part and ignore the inner part - justice, mercy, and the love of God. They all become hypocrites, make a show of follow the law, but are not.

We are justified before God by our faith in Jesus Christ. And as we study God's Word and mature in the faith, we bear more fruit of the Holy Spirit - love, patience, joy, peace, meekness, gentleness, self control. The fruit will enable us to do good work, not for our salvation, but because we enjoy doing.

Friday 09/11/12

Galatians 2:5 ESV

to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

Truth is more important than conformity. We must not submit ourselves to falsehood for the sake of peace, security and uniformity in conformity. Here Paul was describing his fight against those who want to introduce Judaism custom into the Gospel of Christ, where we are saved by faith, not by following Judaism custom. He did not submit to their pressure, even when some other apostles, even Peter, were scared. Similarly, we must stand up for the truth, if we know that it's plainly wrong. God will vindicate us.

But we need to be sure that it's wrong. And fight politely and honorably. And be confident of our understanding and our conviction before God. Otherwise we are the troublemaker. Fight well so that if we are wrong, we lose well.

Thursday 08/11/12

Galatians 1:3-4 ESV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

The Bible said our current human world is evil and corrupted by sins. Human do not live as God has designed us to live. In general, people do not live in love, of God and neighbors. People do not walk in the way of love, patience, kind, not envy, not boast, not consider ourselves better than others. People do not seek righteousness and rejoice in the truth, but they enjoy wicked deeds and falsehood. Is there anyone of us can claim to have never sin, to keep God's way consistently? No, none can. The world we live in, the present age, is evil. And we contribute our part in that. Thus all of us have fall short the glory of God.

By right, we cannot live in God's presence and must go to hell with the evils. However, God has sent Jesus Christ to come and die for our sin, so in Him we gain acceptance and righteousness with God. With that we can know God as our Heavenly Father, able to pray to Him, receive His guidance and blessings, and live eternally in His presence.

Delivery from sin, knowing God and living in His presence,ldeparting from worldly life and learning the better way to live, gaining eternal life with Him and other brothers and sisters in Christ forever. That's the free grace of God in Jesus Christ, purchased by His blood and sacrifice on the cross

Tuesday 6/11/12

Galatians 1:10 ESV

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

The Bible always warns us the danger in seeking the approval of worldly men (and women) to gain their favors. To get their approval, we must be like them, follow them, do what they do, participate in their activities. This means we must excel in their way, such as in gaining wealth and power, in drinking and partying, and in other worldly deeds. Seeking their approvals will lead us out of Godly way to sin.

In contrast, we should seek the approval of God and rejoice in His blessings. The Bible says God's rewards give us joy and peace, and unlike worldly favors, they have no side effects or hidden dangers. With His infinite richest, God can give us many things. He gives in the right time and in right measure, to help us mature and avoid spoiling us. In His way is safety and providence, stability and peace, love and joy, and no hidden cost.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Monday 5/11/12

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Faith, hope, love are the three highest Christian virtues. All things, including visions, tongues and knowledge, have limited use and they will pass away for a new one. But faith, hope, love will abide forever. Among them, the greatest thing is love.

Love is also the greatest commandments of God.

Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Thus love is the greatest virtue, the greatest commandment, and the greatest thing to have and to cultivate.

Saturday 03/11/12

1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Who will we then see face to face, then know fully? Who are we now seeing in a mirror dimly and knowing in part? Who has fully known us?

I think the Bible is talking about God here. We now know God dimly and in part, so there are many things we don't understand. Many mysteries, failures, confusions and sufferings we don't know why God let it happen, so we have to take it by faith. We must trust in God's goodness that all things happen for our good.

Later, when we go to God's kingdom, we will see God face to face and know Him fully as He has always fully known us. Then our faith will become knowledge. We can know for sure and clearly the truth of God.

Friday 02/11/12

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Here Paul describes the process of maturity. From a child lacking manner (childish in word), lacking knowledge (childish in thought), or lacking wisdom (childish in reason), we gradually and mature. As we learn manner, knowledge and wisdom, we give up our childish selves and become adult.

We do not born with a disposition to love. Human are born with sinful nature, selfish, impulsive, ... Human sinful nature is the completely opposite of love. It can be said as follow:

Human nature is impulsive. It is selfish. Human nature is envious and boastful. It is arrogant and rude.

Human nature is irritable and resentful. It does not rejoice in the truth, but rejoice in wrong doing.

Human nature cannot bear much, easily lose hope, and easily quit.

So we need to grow and mature in love. That's the way and the glory of God, in which we are called to follow as those who are created in His image and His children.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Thursday 1/11/12

1 Corinthians 13:9-10 ESV

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

Knowledge and vision from God in this world are partial things, they are only good until the perfect world comes with the return of Jesus Christ. After that they are no longer needed, i.e. pass away. However, love is even more important in the world to come. So love is more important than knowledge, faith, vision or any others. We must always cultivate and practice it, now AMD forever.

Tuesday 30/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:8 ESV

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Once again, the Bible contrasted love and prophecies (visions), tongues and knowledge. Visions will come and pass away. Tongues will cease when the song ends. Knowledge is useful sometime, but may become useless later. They are temporal things, at times useful and at times useless. But love is always applicable and eternally important, from now till eternal. Thus above vision, tongue and knowledge, we must always cultivate love.

Monday 29/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love accepts long suffering and is kind. It does not concern much of its wellbeing or its right, but the wellbeing of others. Thus it can bear all difficulties, can keep its beliefs in all circumstances, can keep its hopes against multiple setbacks, and can endures all pains and sufferings.

Love derives joy & happiness not in its wellbeing and success, but in the wellbeing and success of others, its loved ones. That's the key of its strength and energy.

So the way of love is:

Love is patient, love is kind.

Love does not envy or boast.

Love is not arrogant or rude.

Love does not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Friday 26/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:6 ESV

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Another manifestation of love is that it does not rejoice at wrongdoing. It does not rejoice at lying, cheating, cursing, condemning, deceiving... or anything that's not right. Love does not enjoy doing what benefit itself. Instead, love rejoices at knowing the truth, and enjoy doing what is right.

Love is patience, love is kind. Love does not envy or boast; love is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist its own way; love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth

Wednesday 24/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Love is not rude, it knows how to say, how to behave, how to treat others in a pleasing, considerate and constructive manner.

Love does not insist its its own way. It is considerate to others and is mindful of other's interest and wellbeing. It takes care to avoid hurting others.

Love is not irritable or resentful. It does not bear grudge, or memorize past wounds, or recount other's previous transgressions whenever opportunities arise. It forgives and does not bring up the past.

Friday 19/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

The Bible exhorts love above tongues & voices, above vision, wisdom, even above giving and self sacrificing. Without love, they are nothing. But what is love? Is it the magical, romantic feeling that makes a person fly high and forget the world  when he or she is with the beloved?

No, that's charm & romance, not love as defined in the Bible. You cannot love the Lord your God or love you neighbors that way. So what is love?

Love is when you care for other people (e.g. their wellbeing, their work, and their future) more than you care for yourself. Thus you are willing to deny yourself for their good.

Here Paul listed the manifestations of love:

_ Love is patient (long suffering): love can suffer long without resenting or retaliating. It is selfless & doesn't concern much of its right.

_ Love is kind: love cares for others and wants them to have good things.

_ Love does not envy or boast: love does not compare itself with others. It does not resent when others do better, neither does it boast when others do worse.

_ Love is not arrogant: love does not put itself above others, or put others below it. Love treats others with respect and as equal.

These are the way and the manifestations of love: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.

Thursday 18/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Giving and self sacrificing are very noble deeds. However, even those noble deeds gain us nothing if we do not act in love.

If we give away what we have, not because we love and care, but because of other motives like fame and praise, or later gains, will it gain us respect & honor from people who see our heart, especially God?

Similarly, if we sacrifice our body to be burned not because we love and care, but to gain fame & praise, then will our sacrifice benefit us or anyone?

Therefore, giving & self sacrificing are nothing without love. Vision, wisdom and faith are nothing without love. Voices and tongues are nothing without love. Above them all, we must first cultivate our love, for God and for people around.

Wednesday 17/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Besides angelic voices & gracious tongues, prophetic vision, knowledge and faith are highly valued gifts. With vision, we can see the future to plan our life and avoid troubles. With knowledge, we can understand all things and discern good from evil. With faith, we can move mountains. But these valuable gifts won't do us any good if we have not love.

Without love, we will use our gifted abilities for only our gain, usually at other's expenses.  We use our vision, our knowledge, our faith not to do good, but evil, not to build up, but tear down. We do no good to anyone, and ultimately cause harm to ourselves.

So our vision, our knowledge, and our faith are only good if we use them in love. Love God, and love our neighbors.

Tuesday 16/10/12

1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Gong & cymbal are musical instruments. Their sound is a delight to everyone. But they must be used in the right way, as designed by the composer and in hamorny with others. Otherwise, they are useless and annoying, interfering other music and ruin the song.

Similarly, we highly value gracious tongues and angelic voices. They are the delight & comfort to everyone. But without love, they are as useless and annoying as noisy gong & clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13 is the chapter about love. Paul started by emphasizing love is above everything. We must do everything in love. Without love, even the sweet & gracious tongues turn sour and useless. 

Monday 15/10/12

Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Listening & practicing the Word of God is like building our house on a rock foundation. It will stand strong against the storm, the flood and other disasters in life. Those who ignore God's Word and follow worldly things are like building their houses on the sand. The house looks nice, but when the storms & the floods of life come, it will fall crashing down. Having a strong foundation and an enduring house which give lasting peace and safety in life, that's the advantage of following God's Word.

Many people ignore His Word and chase after worldly things: wealth, fame, and pleasure. Some have their wealth all vanished in a misfortune. Some lost their fame in a misstep. Some suffer the bad consequences of indulging in pleasure.  While pursuing these things, they do many wicked deeds and bring much harm to those around. In the end, their house which they built at the cost of others collapse in a storm & flood of life. And they suffer the eternal wrath of God in hell when He judges their life. That's the fate of those who ignore His Word.

Thursday 11/10/12

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Here Jesus made it clear that calling Him as Lord doesn't help us enter into heaven. We must do God's will, e.g. love God and love our neighbors, seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord our God.

The workers of lawless and wicked deeds will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, even though they call Jesus as Lord and claim to do many great things in His name. Jesus will banish them out of His sight to hell, because their deeds are lawless and they bring forth evil fruit. They just deceive themselves, not God.

Wednesday 10/10/12

Matthew 7:16-18, 20 ESV

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit... Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

How can we differentiate a true sheep and a wolf in sheep clothing? They all appear pure, harmless and good. How can we see through all the clever deceptions and rationalizations? They all look good and sound reasonable.

By checking the fruit they bring forth - the effect & the result of their work, we will recognize them. If they bring forth fruit of the Holy Spirit in themselves & inspire others - love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, kindness, faithfulness, self control - they are of God. If they bring forth evil fruit (contention, strife, hedonistic, quarreling...), they are wolves in sheep clothing. By their fruit we shall see if they are of God, or wolves in sheep clothing.

Tuesday 09/10/12

Matthew 7:15 ESV

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Here Jesus warned us of false prophets, those who claim to be the men of God and speak in God name, but are not. They appear pure & good outside (in sheep clothing), but inside they are full of evil intentions (like ravenous wolves).

God calls His people as His sheep. Wolves are enemies of sheep. They hurt, kill, and eat sheep. In the same way false prophets hurt, destroy and profit (financially) from believers instead of building them up like true prophets.

False prophets appear in sheep clothing, outward just like believers. We need to discern them by checking their inward, not by their appearance.

Monday 08/10/12

Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

When it comes to the following God, we need to actively seek God, learn from His Word and personally responsible for our progress. We need to learn from others, but we must not blindly following them & let them let us astray. The popular way, easy, wide and crowded may feel safe & right, but it maybe deceiving and lead to death. The small and hard way may seem strange and unnecessarily troublesome, but it leads to life.

Thus we need to personally responsible for our walk with God, learn from others, but discern the right from wrong and do not let them lead us astray. The right way may be small and hard and lonely, but it is the way to life.

Thursday 04/10/12

Matthew 7:12 ESV

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

This rule is the golden rule, the summary of all moral rules, the Law - how God wants mankind to live, and the Prophets - what God wants to achieve.  That people care not so much about themselves or how others treat them, but about how they treat others.

Human tend to tone down this law as "do NOT do to others what you do NOT want them to do to you". But not doing bad does not make you good, and what will happen if people do bad to you? Retaliate? The two laws are not equivalent. Jesus' law is proactive & demand initiative actions even in unfavourable circumstances. Human's law is passive, defensive & easily broken in hostile scenarios.

God wants us to take actions & make things happen.

Tuesday 02/10/12

Matthew 7:9-11 ESV

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Christians are to profess God as their Heavenly Father. If you believe so, you need to think and plan your actions based on this.

The first application of this belief is in prayer - talking with God, seeking help and asking good things from God. Here Jesus said earthly fathers, even though they are not prefect & have many wrong, still know how to keep their children from harm & give them good things. How much more the almighty God can do for his children?

However, a child needs to honor, listen and obey his father's teaching. In the same way, as Christians we must honor God, listen to Him, and study from His Word. In that way, we can live a life pleasing to Him, ask good & agreeable things to Him which He's happy to give.

Monday 01/10/12

Matthew 7:7-8 ESV

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Here God encouraged his believers to be proactive, just as He has repeatedly encouraged Joshua: be strong, do not fear, take actions. They are to pray & ask from Him what they need. They are to take actions, seek & knock. God promises that those who ask will receive good things (although not necessary what have been asked). Those who seek will find, those who knock will find an open door.

As with Joshua (Joshua 1), Christians need to study God's Word to learn what's good and acceptable according to God. That helps us live a right life and ask what is good & right, not according to our sinful selfish desires. As a Heavenly Father, God loves to give us good things, but will refuse us what are harmful to us & to others, even though we ask for them in our ignorance. So the more we study God's Word and follow them, the more we live according to how God wants us to, the more our prayers are granted.

Saturday 20/09/12

Matthew 7:6 ESV

Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Not everyone will appreciate right & holy & precious things. The dogs do not know what is holy. They are habitual minded. They follow their habits and their master's order whether it's right or wrong. The pigs do not know what is precious. They are carnal minded. They follow their fleshly desires - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vanity of life. These people do not care about the spiritual truth that leads to life. If we try to press it on them, they will get angry and turn to attack us.

Of course, it is wrong to label someone as dog or pig. But there is a dog & pig in everyone, just whether they are big or small. We should be discerning to see if these dog & pig minds are awake or asleep. If they are controlling a person, we best avoid making that person angry. If they are open & sober minded, we can talk.

Tuesday 25/09/12

Matthew 7:3-5 ESV

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

This command of Jesus instructs us to examine ourselves before we correct others. It follows and explains more the previous command: "do not judge...".  Otherwise, we may judge wrongly, harshly, causing strife, flare up anger, or be a hypocrite - do the very thing we condemn, or even worse.

So we need to regularly examine ourselves before we judge others. 

Monday 24/09/12

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV

Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Judge here means rash, hasty, opinionated condemning others. Christ didn't talk about legal judgement of the magistrate here, for it is right and necessary. Christ also didn't discourage evaluating & forming opinion on the good & evil of other people's conduct, it's impossible and dangerous not to do so. But rash, harsh, opinionated judgement causes strife and break peace within the community.

A rule of thumb Jesus gave to distinguish between right judgement and wrong judgement is whether we find it fair and comfortable if we are under the same judgement. Even then, we need to have grace and mercy to ready to forgive others as God has forgiven us in our other sins.

So we need to be merciful, graceful and self evaluating before we evaluate others. The goal is not to condemn, but to help them understand the bad consequences and sin no more.

Thursday 20/09/12

Matthew 6:34 ESV

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus pointed us to the natural world which demonstrates the faithful providence of God. The birds in the sky and the flowers in the field all live under His care day by day, trusting in God to provide them through out their alloted life. So we should learn from them and trust in God. He is our Heavenly Father, we are much more valuable to Him than those birds and flowers.

And we gain nothing from being anxious about tomorrow. It takes away our physical & mental energy to do what we can today. As Jesus said, we should let God take care of our tomorrow, let tomorrow worry for itself, and do the best we can today.

Wednesday 19/09/12

Matthew 6:31-33 ESV

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We all need food, drink and clothes, God knows that. However, there are things more important for us to pursuit. They are God's Kingdom and His righteousness. Here Jesus taught us to set them our highest priority, and God will add to us food, drink and clothing as we need.

As believers in the living & working God, we must trust in His providence, and pursue the higher things of His. The Gentiles who don't know God pursue food, drink & clothing, but we should not be like them because we know Him. God want us to persue His Kingdom & His righteousness.

Tuesday 18/09/12

Matthew 6:28-30 ESV

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

How many of our clothes can rival the beauty of the wild flowers in the field? Take a close look at a flower & its petals, Such elegance and softness, such fine and detailed texture, such variety of shape and size that God dressed them. Not even Solomon the richest and wisest king ever lived was dressed like these.

As Jesus said, we are much more valuable than these wild flowers. We are His children, He is our Heavenly Father. Thus He cares for us much more than these flowers. If He cares for their food, drink, or clothing, He cares for ours also. And much more, He cares for our life & our body, for our maturing & learning, so we can see the light of life, and become like Christ, become His image as He originally designed (Genesis 1-2).

So we ought not to worry, God cares for us. Being anxious is lacking faith.

Friday 14/09/12

Matthew 6:27 ESV

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

What good we get by being anxious? Nothing. What we can do, we do. What we cannot control, pray and leave it to God. If God is willing, He will open the door. If God refuses, it is for our own good. So in any case, if we are anxious about something, do what we can, pray and trust in God for an outcome ultimately best for us.

Thursday 13/09/13

Matthew 6:26 ESV

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

God is the Creator and Sustainer of this world. He reigned in Heaven, but in the Bible, He also takes pride that He waters the grass in the wilderness and feeds the sparrows. He cares for billions of creatures He created, from the least of the grasses and the sparrows, to the greatest elephant and whale, and every humans.

Compare to the grass, the sparrows, the elephants, the whales, are we much more valuable? Does God call us His children and tell us to call Him as Heavenly Father? Then how much does He care for us? He cannot give us a smooth & soft life, lest it spoil us. However, He assures us as we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, we will see the light of Life and will not lack of food, drink, or clothing.

Wednesday 12/09/12

Matthew 6:25 ESV

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

As human in an uncertain & sinful world, we have many things to be anxious of, about our life, about our security, about our work, our family, our society...Jesus summarized them as eventually bow to "what will  we eat? what will we drink? how will we cloth?" Those anxious thoughts ruin our life and our body, because they prevent us from living as how God designed us to live, drive us to toil and tempt us to sin to get wealth to keep us safe now and in the future.

Nevertheless, that's the way people who don't know God think. As believers in God is the Creator and Administrator of the universe, we trust in His loving kindness and sovereign. Even more, He is our Heavenly Father. The father is the provider & mentor & defender to his children, so with Him what do we have to be anxious about if nothing can happen without His approval?

Trusting in God's power to provide and to guard, we, as His children, can live a more carefree life, seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness, trusting in God to provide all we need. We work hard, not toiling for food & security, but to tend the our home and our garden - the Earth, and making use the talents God gives us. We work hard, then rest and enjoy and do good, that's the life God has designed for human. That life is only possible because we trust in Him.

Monday 12/09/12

Matthew 6:23-24 ESV

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Whoever we rely on to give us our income, food, drink, and clothing are our lord and master, whom we fear and obey. God promises to give us these, but money can also give us these. Thus every man must choose between serving God as the ultimate provider, and serving money - the work, the company, whatever giving him money.

Serving money while ignoring God lead to evil, because money does not distinguish between good and evil. More often, it encourages evil and unjust gain, rich people need to pay heavy price for getting money. Sometimes even their soul. Thus people having lots of money are prone to be proud, not fearing God and tempted to sin. They think their great wealth and power can protect them from harm & retribution, but the Bible says that's only in their imagination. God can destroy them anytime when their sin is full.

On the other hand, people serving God are protected from harms. Even if they fall God will help them stand up. God demands nothing toil some, while his reward has no hidden cost. God gives them love and favor from all men. And He forgives them their sin, saves them by the blood of Jesus, and let them live with Him forever.

Monday 3/9/12

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

In our life, we can work toward two kinds of treasure

_ Our treasure on earth, which is our money, our clothes, our housing & other belongings. They give us comfort & enjoyment. But they require constant care & keep. Otherwise thieves will steal, rust will destroy or we will use them up. They also have no eternal value. We are born naked and will leave this world naked. Our treasure on earth will eventually perish. How many of us can enjoy stuffs / money once belong to our great grand parents?

_ Our treasure in Heaven before God: our spirit & wisdom we learnt & receive from Him, our relationship with Him, the good work we do in His name.  They are the treasure brings us blessing in this life, and will continue to the next.

So we should focus on both 2 kinds of our treasure, with emphasize on the eternal treasure in Heaven.

Friday 31/8/12

Matthew 6:16-18 ESV

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,  that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Fast represents activities which we are taking losses and uncomforts in God's name. Fast is refrain from taking food to concentrate on spiritual matter. Similar to turning the other cheek or forgiving others who sin against us, fast goes against our sinful nature & worldly wisdom, indicating one's spiritual maturity and obeying to God.

But again, motive - why we do it & for what - is important. If we do this to receive praises from men, then we won't get any from God. Spiritual matters must be from the heart. We must be consistent, in public and more so in private. God knows what we do when no one sees, and He rewards us accordingly.

Thursday 30/08/12

Matthew 6:5-8 ESV

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  "

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

These verses are about how we should not pray, and how we ought to pray. Pray is like talking with God. Not just about seeking help and protection, we can pray to talk with Him about many things, like with a Father.

Nevertheless, we need to check our motive. Praying is not to show off our spiritual & religiousness to other people. If we pray with that in mind, we will get nothing from God, praises from others will be our reward. When our motive is wrong, God will not hear us.

Also, we need to pray to communicate with our Heavenly Father, not to beg repeatedly. God always care for us and know what we need most and what is best for us, more than ourselves. So we need to trust in His goodness, ask what we wish, know that He hears, and continue the conversation to other things.

Tuesday 28/08/12

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We all have sinned, trespass the law of God and offend / hurt other people from time to time. The book of James says whatever we know good to do, and not do, is sim. We get angry with other people because they offend us, cause us harm & hurt, or simply not helping us in our difficulty. Nevertheless, we also do the same to many people. So we all sin against each other and against God.

Instead of bearing grudge against each other, God commands us to forgive each other, let bygone be bygone, and be caring & patient & kind toward each other.  That's the way we ought to live as children of God, created in His image.

Friday 24/08/12

Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

Pray then like this:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

This is the Lord's prayer. It's actually the Disciple's prayer - the model prayer which Jesus teaches us how to pray. It encompasses the essential points in a Christian life:

_ remind us that God is our Father in heaven.

_ acknowledge God's control and sovereign in our life, as a Father is sovereign in his children's life.

_ seek God's daily help and providence.

_ confess our sins and seek His forgiveness. Forgive all people we are unhappy or bearing grudge against.

_ seek His help, protection and deliverance from trials and temptations.

These five points encompass a Christian relationship with God

Tuesday 21/8/12

Matthew 6:2-4 ESV

"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

These verse give an example of not practicing righteousness to be seen by men. Worldly people give, not because of their compassion or their love for God, but because they want to be praised and perceived as good & righteous by men. God can see their heart & their motives, which lacking love & mercy but full of pride & hypocrisy, and He won't reward them. The praise of worldly men, which they want, is their reward.

But a Christian should give, not to get praise, but because of his love for God & mercy and the genuine desire to share & obey God's commandments. God will reward him/her for the right motives.

Sunday 19/08/12

Matthew 6:1 ESV

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Our practicing righteousness, doing good work will count as nothing if our goal is to be seen and praise by other people. God knows our heart, and he won't praise us or reward us for that show. Will we still practice righteousness & obey God commands when no one see? When godless people deride us? When it may cost us money, our job, or even our life to do so?

We should practice righteousness because we love God & righteousness, and because it's human duty to do so. Not for praise or reward, even at our own cost and loss, we have to act uprightly and obey God's commands. God will love us, uphold us, provide us and reward us with joy, contentment, and other spiritual gifts as He sees fit.

Thursday 16/08/12

Matthew 5:48 ESV

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Perfect means complete and consistent, no fault and no change (because of circumstances). God is complete and total in all His way. He never fails to uphold His principles, or miss any of His promises. God is also always consistent in His doing. He is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. He doesn't change because of circumstances or difficulties. God is perfect.

As disciple & children of God, we must follow Him and be like Him, in thinking and doing. We also must be prefect.

Wednesday 15/08/12

Matthew 5:46-47 ESV

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

Christians tend think loving & greeting good & friendly people are fulfilling the law of love, but God said that's not enough. Even evil people and those who don't know God do so, no difference. Those who know God and His law of love & mercy need to care & do good for those who are bad and hostile. In that way, our belief & faith in God can make a difference in our life & the way we act. People will see that difference and praise God.

Tuesday 14/08/12

Matthew 5:43-45 ESV

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

God commands us to love our neighbors, but he never told us to hate our enemies. In the previous verses above, Jesus - God - commanded us to accept the hurt, not retaliate, to be giving & sharing our possession, not holding tight, in servicing others whole heartedly, not minimizing unpaid work.

In the same way, we ought to love to our enemies, not hate, pray for their good, not wishing harm, do good to them when we can, not do harm & get back, . They won't pay us for that, but God will.

By doing so, we are following God who take care of both the good & the bad in this earth. Like He told the sun & the rain to bring good things to all, we should do good to all.

Sunday 12/08/12

Matthew 5:42 ESV

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

This verse is another hard verse, similar to the non-retaliating, giving & serving commands before. It goes against worldly wisdom, and our worldly mind automatically says "but people will take advantage of us if we do so".

I think like the command to take out the eye or cut off the hand before (Matthew 5:29-30), we need not to follow blindly. We can refuse the blatantly wrong demand. However, we should cultivate the strong tendency to give and to share, even when they cannot give back to us. The Bible says those who give to the needy are lending to God, He will pay back on their behalf.

So we need not be mindful of our right, our properties, or our fairness. God will take care of them for us, if we obey His command to not-retaliate, to give, and to serve selflessly.

Saturday 11/08/12

Matthew 5:39-41 ESV

But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

These three commands go directly against human (sinful) nature and worldly thought. According to the wisdom of this world, we need to resist evil, to retaliate when being hurt, keep hold of our properties, and minimize our unpaid work which mainly benefits others.

But God wants us to live differently. He wants us to be patience and forgiving instead of retaliate, giving and sharing instead of keep tight hold of our things, helping and serving instead of minimizing & avoiding unpaired work. It's hard to understand why, and we fear of being exploited. But they are God's commandments, and they are good for us as well as others, and that's how human ought to live. May He gives us the spirit, the strength & the understanding to obey, amen.

Tuesday 3/07/12

Matthew 5:31-32 ESV

"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

God has designed marriage to be one flesh, and separation in marriage is as horror as tearing off one's flesh. Thus He abhors and forbids divorce, except on the ground of sexual immorality because human heart is sinful and stubborn. Also, adultery is a sin worthy of dead in God's law. Thus divorce is an gravely abhorrent matter which one must never think of. As grave as dead.

Monday 30/07/12

Matthew 5:29-30 ESV

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

In the Bible, God instructs us to stay away, even flee from tempting circumstances, lest we fall. Avoiding tempting scenarios do hurt us. Resigning from an office because it is full of corruption may hurt us financially. Joseph running away from an approaching adulterous woman gets him blamed and threw into prison. Refusing following bad activities may isolates us from our social friends. Sometimes, it costs and hurts us to do good, and it costs and hurts us to stay away from evil.

Nevertheless, we ought to do it. Jesus says it is better to lose our eye  or our hand than to go to hell, so we should be willing to suffer lost and pay the price to flee from sin or stay away from tempting circumstances. God will be pleased when we seek His Kingdom & His righteousness, and will take care of us. Joseph was thrown to prison, but he eventually became ruler of Egypt. While not always, God usually rewards righteousness much more than what we lose.

Tuesday 24/7/12

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

In this verse, God values reconcilation, peace and fellowship more than worship and offering. Thus we cannot worship & offering while having sth against the other. And reconcilation, forgiving and fellowship in God's name are more pleasing to God than offering.

Thursday 19/7/12

Matthew 5:22 ESV

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

God is love, therefore, those who follow His teaching must act in love - being patience, kind, bearing and forgiving.



Anger is the opposite of love.  While human think anger is acceptable, God disapproves it. Anger causes strife and hatred, and destroys the fellowship. God warns of judgement, disciple, and hellfire for those who cannot control their temper.

Monday 16/7/12

Matthew 5:20 ESV

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The scribes are the Bible experts in Jesus' time. They copy and study the Bible with great care. The Pharisees are the religious leaders. They lead the community and resolve disputes. While many are fallen to greed, pride and hypocrisy, at their best they are respected scholars and honored leaders.

Nevertheless, even at their best, they cannot go to heaven. We human simply cannot earn the right to go to heaven by our own effort. Moral living and doing good work are not the way to heaven. Our heart has sinful tendencies, we can only restrain, but cannot change this. All have sinned, and fall short on the glory of God. No matter how good by human standard, we cannot meet God's standard.

Because of this, God has taken on flesh to live among us, and to die on the cross as an atonement for our sin. By Christ's work, salvation from sin and eternal life in heaven are available to us as free gift of God. By and only by believing God exists, believing Christ's word, and receiving the gift of forgiveness and salvation from God, we can become children of God and destined for eternal life in heaven.

Friday 13/7/12

Matthew 5:17-19 ESV

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus seemed to know people will think the Law & the Prophet (the Old Testament) are completedly abolished by His work, and flatly denied it. He came to fulfill them, as a permanent atonement offering for our sins so we can receive forgiveness, be considered righteous and gain the right to become children of God in His Name, and many other blessings. However, it doesn't mean we can ignore the commandments and statues of God.

Jesus told us to work out our righteousness, do things pleasing to God and encourage others to follow. Those who do so will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

On the other hand, those do not exercise the teachings of God, and encourage others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, even if they are saved.

Thursday 12/7/12

Matthew 5:14-16 ESV

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Light shines and enlightens the world. It gives every creatures warm and guidance. Jesus is calling all Christians to be a light in this fallen world, to show Godly love that gives warm, and to preach God's Word that gives guidance. Hiding  a lamp under a basket makes it useless, which may even put out the light. Similarly, hiding & not practicing God's Word anh Godly spirit makes a Christians useless and keeps us from growing.

Also, as we show Godly spirit and practice God's Word, people who don't know Him will see His glory in us and glorify Him. And from that, they may come to Him and to His Kingdom.

Wednesday 11/7/12

Matthew 5:13 ESV

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

The Bible uses extensive metaphors to vividly and succinctly portrait images God wants us to think about. Here Jesus uses the salt image. Salt is critical to enhance the taste of food, while keeping it from rotten. Salt that doesn't serve these purposes is good for nothing (it is said that salt is expensive and sometime be faked  in ancient time). Christians are called to enhance the world with Godly values, while keeping it from rotten by sin. Christians who don't contribute much to these tasks, at least in their neighborhood, are of no use to God. Admittedly, none of us is doing a good job on this, but at least we should do what we can with God's help.

Friday 6/7/12

Matthew 5:8-9 ESV

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

In this verse, God says those who are pure in heart and making peace will become very close to Him, see Him and be called His sons.

In worldly wisdom, the pure in heart may be considered naive and silly, not self serving and self defending enough. Similarly, the peacemakers are perceived as not strong and aggressive enough. They lack the important traits to success according to worldly wisdom.

However, God values them & be close to them. The pure in heart easily follow the path of honesty and righteousness. Being pure, they don't lie or do evil. The peacemakers are patient, merciful and humble. They easily exercise Godly love (1 Corinthians 13) and are caring for others. These people have the important traits for heaven, they love God & God loves them.

Wednesday 4/7/12

Matthew 5:4-5 ESV

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

These verses contrast God's values with the world's values. The world looks down on those who mourn and are meek, because they lack of strength & aggressiveness to fight for themselves and seize a good life. Nevertheless, Jesus called them blessed, or favoured by God.

Those who mourn are not satisfied with this life, thus they seek for something more, the things above. When receiving God's comfort, they are likely to come to Him and seek His loving care. Thus they are blessed and are people of God.

The meek are those who are humble and gentle. They are like sheep whom God like to shepherd because they will hear Him and follow Him. They are likely to obey His commands and keep to His way, and not become wayward by worldly temptations. They are cared & blessed by God.

In the end, God offers what the world doesn't offer, holiness, righteousness, loving care, grace and mercy... Blessed are the people who cone to him, the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek ...

Tuesday 3/7/12

Matthew 5:3 ESV

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is the first verse on the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5,6,7, the heart and soul of Jesus' teaching and the tenets of Christian'd living.

In this verse, Jesus praised the poor in spirit, and asserted that God loves them and heaven belongs to them. The poor in spirit, as opposed to the proud & head strong mighty, are those who are humble and know that they need God, and are willing to listen. They are peaceful & avoid violence or exploiting. They are like the sheep who God is happy to be their shepherd, not the wayward goat or the violent wolf.

The poor in spirit - the world looks down on them, but God blesses them and gives them heaven.

Saturday 30/6/12

1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

In 1 Corinthians 13, God teaches us the way of Godly love. Not the romantic passionate feeling, but love as in "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'". Godly love is the highest ethic of Christians, above faith & hope. Love is the chief virtue which all believers have to cultivate, for exercising love (love God, love people around) is the sum of all God's commandments.

1 Corinthians 13 defines Godly love as what it is, and what it is not. Love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude.

Think how we treat a small kid, I find small kids draw out  Godly love in people, which usually clouded by sin. We are very patient with kids, willing to tolerate & forgive their crying & silliness. We are also very kind to them, willing to help and to care. And while kids enjoy an easy life (playing & sleeping), we never envy them. We are a lot stronger & more successful, but we never boast to them "our better", or think we are better & they are loser, or act rude to them.

Overall, we love children with a Godly love. They are good objects to exercise Godly love. Why can't we treat people like wise?

Friday 29/6/12

Proverbs 28:26 ESV

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

In this verse, God contrasts our own mind with wisdom, and the consequence thereof.

Our own knowledge, understanding and reasoning are limited. We can only know a part, understand some aspects, and reason some scenarios (often too optimistic). Trusting our own mind means trusting our limited thinking, which set us up for troubles and make us a fool.

On the other hand, walk in wisdom means following the best common knowledge available. Wisdom can come from God and His Words, the Bible. Wisdom can also come from more experienced & mature (wiser) people around us. We distill their advices and make use the best plan / instruction / insight given to us. Doing so will deliver us from many troubles and give us success.

Wednesday 27/6/12

Proverbs 28:19 ESV

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

In this verse, God taught us to work hard in our land (our job, our home, our society...) and pursuit only worthy things. That will give us a plentiful and meaningful life.

In contrast, pursuing worthless things and neglecting our land will lead us to poverty and a meaningless life. We are essentially wasting our time on worthless activities.

But what are meaningful and meaningless activities? That we have to use our wisdom and prudence to decide. However, this verse does give us hint. Whatever benefit to our land (i.e. our domain, our job, our home, our society) are meaningful, more or less. Whatever waste our time and money without any benefits to anyone, except for short term pleasure, are meaningless and to be avoided.

So in whatever we do and pursue, make sure they're meaningful and beneficial. That will give us a plentiful and meaningful life.

Monday 25/6/12

Proverbs 28:14 ESV

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

In this verse, God gives us two choice with the corresponding consequence: fear Him and be blessed, or harden our heart and fall into calamity. What's fearing God? It means love and do what are good, while shuning what are evil. It also means we follow God's words and His advices, while rejecting the world's advices.

God's advices and good things are aimed for slow but enduring gain, for a safe and peaceful life. That's a blessed life.

On the other hand. The world's advices and evil things aim for quick but fleeting gain, a risky and evil life with many enemies. Whoever choose this way will eventually fall into calamity.

Friday 22/6/12

Proverbs 28:13 ESV

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Our human sinful nature likes to hide and deny our transgressions. In this verse, God warns us that thus sinful tendency will ruin us. We cannot prosper by hiding our failures and transgression. Doing so, we leave holes & weaknesses in our foundation which will cause our downfall somedays.

Instead, we need to confess our sins and forsake them, repent and avoid making the same mistake again. That will give us a solid foundation to prosper.

Moreover, God promises whoever confess and repent will obtain mercy, and will be given help and strength to overcome the weakness that cause them to err.

Thursday 21/6/12

Proverbs 28:9 ESV

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

In this verse, God asserts the importance of learning and following His law. If one refuses to learn or follow the law, even his prayer is abhor to God.

But often we learn & follow human teaching on God's laws and commandments. While the teachers have good intention, to err is human, and they tend to add new laws, omit some commandments, focus on the visible practices, while neglecting the important yet invisible parts... So we need to read, learn, meditate, and read commentaries on God's word regularly ourselves to decide for us what important to follow.

.... Take responsibility and think for ourselves.

Wednesday 20/6/12

Proverbs 28:4-5 ESV

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

In these two verses, God contrast the lawful who know God with the lawless who don't know Him. The lawless who don't know God do not understand what is just and right, thus they do evil and praise the wicked. On the other hand, the lawful who know God understand justice and righteousness, so they strive against evil things and keep to what's good.

Again, the Bible evaluates a person according to his/her deeds and tendency, not according to what he/she profess.

Tuesday 19/6/12

Proverbs 27:23-24 ESV

Know well the condition of your flocks,

and give attention to your herds,

for riches do not last forever;

and does a crown endure to all generations?

In this verse, God teaches us to be mindful and watchful of our rice bowl: our flocks, our herds, our company, our career... Because present riches and status do not last: Hard time will come, technology will change, social order will be upheaved. Only by being diligent in our business, our career and our wealth that we can guarantee a good life. We will fall and we will lose a lot, but a diligent man will stand up and recover from any lost, every time he falls.

Monday 18/6/12

Proverbs 27:18 ESV

Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honored.

In this verse, God advices us to take a whole-hearted care to our master. The master is the one who gives us job, salary, and many other things. He is our fig tree that gives us fruit. Thus we should respect and honor him, "guard" and care for him, even if he may be stern. And we will be rewarded.

God is our ultimate master. He provides us with good things and plan the best for us. Thus we need to care deeply for Him and His work - the church, and His people - other Christians. God assures us that even if we only give a cup of cold water, we will not lose our reward. He knows and He will reward.

Thursday 14/6/12

Proverbs 27:12 ESV

The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it

In this verse, God teaches us the benefit of prudence - able to see the consequence of things: able to avoid danger.  The simple will unnecessarily suffer many things, while those who listen to God's words and good instructions will avoid them.

Friday 8/6/12

3 John 1:5 ESV

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church.

This verse reminds us that our good deeds are known by other people, and surely by God who knows even secret things in the heart. Therefore, we can be assured that God notices, and other people notice our work, good or bad.

Thursday 7/6/12

2 John 1:9 ESV

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Actions speak louder than words. I believe in this verse, God wants us to check if a Christian by the way he acts. If he abides, respects and practices the teaching of Christ, he has God in his heart. If he does the contrary, he is not.

We can also evaluate ourselves the same. If we align and correct our own behavior according to the teaching of Christ, we have God in our heart. If we do the contrary, we better check ourselves.

Wednesday 6/6/12

2 John 1:5 ESV

And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

I guess when God brought Eve to Adam, He commanded them to love each other (although this is not recorded in Genesis). Thus love is a commandment humankind received from the beginning. And we have never practiced it well.

Nevertheless, in Jesus, Christians are commanded to forgive the wrongdoings and practice loving each other. Biblical love is described in 1 Corinthians 13, love is patience, love is kind, it does not puff up or easily provoked or returns evil with evil, but with grace & mercy... While we all fail from time to time, we should seek strength from God to practice this commandment, gradually overriding our tendency to retialiate wrongs with wrongs, hurts with hurts.

Love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to them that hurt you...

Tuesday 5/6/12

Proverbs 24:30, 33-34 ESV

I passed by the field of a sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

I find the Bible understands men more than they understand themselves. We are tempted to think: a little sleep, just a little more... Those littles add up and the day is gone. Not working means the lazy person will be in poverty and want.

A lazy person lacks sense and wastes time. Every moment is precious, every minute counts. As time is the building block of time, the one who makes the best of his minute makes the best of his life.

Monday 4/6/12

Proverbs 24:10 ESV

If you faint in the day of adversity,

your strength is small.

In this verse, God encourages us to be strong in hard time, for this is the real test of strength.  In good time, all is smooth and well. In hard time, trial follows trial, then we can see who can persevere, who can keep hanging on and progress slowly day by day. Bearing failures and disappointments, keeping hope and confidence to continue, that's true strength which we can only see in hard time.

Friday 1/6/12

1 John 5:11-13 ESV

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

These verses remind us that we have eternal life in Jesus Christ, that we do not have to fear death, and this current life in this sinful world is not all there is. This current life is temporary, for a season. We will have eternal life in God, in the new heaven and earth He will create.

With temporal life vs eternal life in mind, we can live this temporal life more meaningful and avoid the vanities of life. We can focus more on building up our treasure in Heaven, rather than earthly wealth (which we will lose) and enjoy earthly (sometime sinful) pleasure.

Wednesday 30/5/12

1 John 5:3 ESV

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

The best way to show our love of God is to keep His commandments and to follow His way. As we love Him, we think more of Him, study & meditate on His Word, involve in church activities, pray to Him often. As we do them, we understand His way more and enjoy the fruit of it. This motivates us to keep His way & do His commandments.

God does not give commandments to burden us. They are the principles to guide our life. They keep us safe from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the vanities of life, which exhaust and destroy our life. They help us focus on the good things which give us love, joy and peace. God's commandments are light, and to help us see the light of life.

Tuesday 29/5/12

Proverbs 23:26 ESV

My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe my ways.

In this verse, God asks us to give Him our heart. Our heart is the center of our being, it encompasses our mind, our soul, our strength, and our spirit.

_ Giving our mind to God is to learn from His Word & apply His teaching.

_ Giving our soul to God is to learn to love what He loves, e.g. peace, humility, patience, righteousness, fellowship... and hate what He hates, e.g. sinful gain, temperament, lie, lust...

_ Giving our strength to God is to do what pleases Him, like helping others, go the second mile, do our work with all our strength & diligence, serve the church...

_  Giving our spirit to God is to be emotionally / spiritually connected to Him, aware of His presence in our life, pray & talk to Him & seek His counsel for our decisions.

By giving our heart (mind, soul, strength, spirit) to God, observing and keeping to His way, we will grow closer & more mature in Him, enjoy His guidance & blessing, and be a channel of blessing to other.

Friday 25/5/12

1 John 4:21 ESV

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

In this verse, God shows us that a sincere Christian love (love as described in 1 Corinthians 13)  is the clearest sign of a God-fearing and living person. As believers, we should strive to show Christian love to other people, and practice this until it becomes our second nature. This shows our love to God, and our life in Him.

Thursday 24/5/12

1 John 4:7-8 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

This verse gives us a command and a sign to recognize if a person is of God:  if he /she shows love to other people. Love, as in the Bible, is the way a person treat other people, not a feeling. Christians can act that way, with the help of God

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Wednesday 23/5/12

1 John 4:5-6 ESV

They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

This verse teaches us that the way people respond to us is from the side they take.

_ If they are from the world, they think according to the reasoning of this world. If we say in God's logic, what we say make no sense to them and they won't listen to us. But that's ok.

_ If they of God, they know the truth of God and understand the reasoning of God. Therefore, they listen to Godly reasons.

Also, by the way one thinks and reasons, we can know they are of the world or of God, following the spirit of falsehood or of  truth.

Tuesday 22/5/12

Proverbs 22:4 ESV

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord

is riches and honor and life.

The (sinful) world esteems those who act mighty and prideful, those who show their strength and achivements. However, God esteems those who are humble - gentle, meek and think lowly of themselves.

Also the world praises those who are wise in their own eyes and walk their own ways, but God esteems those who fear Him, keep to His way and seek His counsel in their decisions - rather than trusting their own judgement.

The rewards of seeking God's esteem are enduring wealth, honor, and life - an abundant life under God's love and providence.

Friday 18/5/12

1 John 2:15-17 ESV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

This world is beautiful and it has many loveable things. It's because it has been designed and created by God to be good and beautiful, with the blue sky, the colorful flowers, the cute animals... and kindness, goodness, and love.... They are in this world, but they are of God.

This world also has things God didn't put in the beginning: sin and evil - the.love of the flesh, the love of the eyes, and the vanity of life. They are not of God, but of this world. They are wrong use of the good things God created. If we love them, we love to do things He hate, violate His commandments, and harm His creation with our sinful deeds.

As actions speak louder than words, we can evaluate ourselves and others by checking actions. If we love & do what're of God, we love Him.

Thursday 17/5/12

1 John 3:3 ESV

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Hope keeps us focused and gives us strength to persevere in the face of adversary & disappointment. In this fallen world, everything are tainted by sin. People who lose their hope in God & heaven will also lose their heart, their mind,  their spirit & their soul, in sin. On the other hand, the hope in God and heaven will give His believers strength to purify themselves from sin and keep to the way of righteousness.

It's good to be alive, and it's good to keep the hope of heaven.

Wednesday 16/5/12

Proverbs 21:6 ESV

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.



People often lie, cheat and do evil things for some gains. However, in this verse, God warns us those treasures gained by wickedness are all fleeting vapor - they easily vanish to thin air. Even worse, they are the snare of death which can trap & destroy us. Think of all the wicked governors, lawless robbers, or cheaters, they are blinded by temporal gains and are trapped and ruined, only to find their wealth vanish.

On the other hand, righteousness and kindness bring life and lasting honors. Wealth rightly and slowly accumulated are enduring. Those who know God should strive for these.

Tuesday 15/5/12

Proverbs 21:21 ESV

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness

will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Kindness & righteousness, not wealth & achivements, are the source of life and honor. People think having wealth, a good career with many achievements will bring life & honor. But God, the designer of this world, correct us in this verse. Wealth & achivements, without kindness & righteousness, just bring curses from God and from other people. They will not endure & will soon vanish. On the other hand, kindness & righteousness grant us goodwill and help and friendship from God and men. They give us life and honor.