You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42 HCSB)
You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 HCSB)
God causes the sun to rise on the good and evil and the rain to fall on the just and unjust. But His blessings are not recognized and many attribute it to "nature" or other gods. This is slapping God on His right cheek.
But despite this, God sent His Son to die for our sins. God turned His other cheek for us. But we do not believe and mocked Him. So we slapped God on His left cheek.
God loved His enemies, that is, us, offered us His cheeks and go the extra mile to save some of us. He is a God who practises what He preached.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10 NASB)
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Handling Naughty Son
Yesterday evening at church, sister Geok Ling told me that my mother was very sad because my son was naughty. I asked her what Mrs Wong did when her son was naughty to turn him around. She said, "She couldn't do anything, except to pray with tears." That sounds exactly as what one brother told me about what he did for his daughter. But I thought Mrs Wong herself should be able to give me more details. So I approached her and as usual, she replied in mandarin, "放下身段". I cannot remember the rest of the words she spoke in mandarin, but basically this is what she said, "Humble yourself before God and seek a close relationship with God by obeying Him so that you can hear His Words. Speak to your son humbly, not speaking from the top like his father, again to maintain the channel of communications open."
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Patience
My son told me that he will go to church today. So from 7:00 a.m. I start trying to wake him up. We usually leave the house at 7:45 a.m., but he is still lying in bed at that time. By 8 a.m. my wife gave up and went down. I made a last attempt and finally he got up and went down with me at 8:10 a.m. We arrived in church just in time for the service.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)
God has been incredibly patient with me all these years. If He had been as impatient as me, I would be gone and lost forever. I almost gave up calling my son this morning, but I thought of the patience of my Lord, and I continue to call him.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)
God has been incredibly patient with me all these years. If He had been as impatient as me, I would be gone and lost forever. I almost gave up calling my son this morning, but I thought of the patience of my Lord, and I continue to call him.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
God Spoke Through Wicked Men
God also spoke through wicked men.
Balaam the prophet
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. (Numbers 24:2 NASB)
Pharaoh Neco of Egypt
But Josiah did not turn away from him; instead, in order to fight with him he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco's words from the mouth of God, but went to the Valley of Megiddo to fight. (2 Chronicles 35:22 HCSB)
Caiaphas the high priest
He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation (John 11:51 ESV)
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Work Of God Is For You To Believe
Extracted from the following webpage:
The Work Of God Is For You To Believe – No Effort To Exert? Yes, you do not need to do anything. Consider Abraham. Abraham had Isaac and Ishmael as sons. Look at what God said to Abraham.
Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac" (Genesis 22:2 NKJV)
Wait a second. Your only son? Lord, Abraham had two sons? The only fruit acceptable to God is the fruit resulting from believing, the fruit from self effort is not worthy of worship to God. Ishmael is a fruit of self effort. See what happens when you exert effort or try to help God.
When you perform long prayers, overnight prayer meetings, fasting, playing musical instruments … based on your effort, sadly this works resulting from your efforts are not worthy of God. But when God works in you, you produce effortless fruits. You will pray short yet powerful prayers, no overnights rather you sleep on it, you spend time with the Lord and you forget about your lunch, your heart sings and your musical instruments are just its extension.
The fruit of believing is rest. Why? e.g. because when you believe your someone paid for your credit card debts, you have rest in your soul.
The Work Of God Is For You To Believe – No Effort To Exert? Yes, you do not need to do anything. Consider Abraham. Abraham had Isaac and Ishmael as sons. Look at what God said to Abraham.
Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac" (Genesis 22:2 NKJV)
Wait a second. Your only son? Lord, Abraham had two sons? The only fruit acceptable to God is the fruit resulting from believing, the fruit from self effort is not worthy of worship to God. Ishmael is a fruit of self effort. See what happens when you exert effort or try to help God.
When you perform long prayers, overnight prayer meetings, fasting, playing musical instruments … based on your effort, sadly this works resulting from your efforts are not worthy of God. But when God works in you, you produce effortless fruits. You will pray short yet powerful prayers, no overnights rather you sleep on it, you spend time with the Lord and you forget about your lunch, your heart sings and your musical instruments are just its extension.
The fruit of believing is rest. Why? e.g. because when you believe your someone paid for your credit card debts, you have rest in your soul.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Someone Left the Company
Yesterday, I received an SMS from my boss, telling me that my colleague, after coming back from 5 days MC, had, by mutual understanding, decide to leave the company and yesterday was his last day.
This morning, my boss repeated to me again about him leaving based on mutual understanding about his medical condition. At first I thought that he was stressed out by the job, took 5 days MC, and came back and decide to go. It took me till noon time before I realize that my boss actually use the 5 days MC to persuade him to leave. Otherwise, why would anyone leave a job, especially when he has a one year old son and a wife?
This morning, my boss repeated to me again about him leaving based on mutual understanding about his medical condition. At first I thought that he was stressed out by the job, took 5 days MC, and came back and decide to go. It took me till noon time before I realize that my boss actually use the 5 days MC to persuade him to leave. Otherwise, why would anyone leave a job, especially when he has a one year old son and a wife?
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Look and Be Saved
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:40 ESV)
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22 KJV)
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:9 NASB)
This is extracted from Spurgeon's autobiography:
I sometimes think I might have been in darkness and despair until now had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snowstorm, one Sunday morning, while I was going to a certain place of worship. When I could go no further, I turned down a side street, and came to a little Primitive Methodist Chapel. In that chapel there may have been a dozen or fifteen people. I had heard of the Primitive Methodists, how they sang so loudly that they made people's heads ache; but that did not matter to me. I wanted to know how I might be saved, and if they could tell me that, I did not care how much they made my head ache. The minister did not come that morning; he was snowed up, I suppose. At last, a very thin-looking man,* a shoemaker, or tailor, or something of that sort, went up into the pulpit to preach. Now, it is well that preachers should be instructed; but this man was really stupid. He was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had little else to say. The text was,—
"LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (Isaiah 45:22)"
He did not even pronounce the words rightly, but that did not matter. There was, I thought, a glimpse of hope for me in that text. The preacher began thus—"My dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says, 'Look.' Now lookin' don't take a deal of pains. It ain't liftin' your foot or your finger; it is just, 'Look.' Well, a man needn't go to College to learn to look. You may be the biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man needn't be worth a thousand a year to be able to look. Anyone can look; even a child can look. But then the text says, 'Look unto Me.' Ay!" said he, in broad Essex, "many on ye are lookin' to yourselves, but it's no use lookin' there. You'll never find any comfort in yourselves. Some look to God the Father. No, look to Him by-and-by. Jesus Christ says, 'Look unto Me.' Some on ye say, 'We must wait for the Spirit's workin'.' You have no business with that just now. Look to Christ. The text says, 'Look unto Me.'"
Then the good man followed up his text in this way:—"Look unto Me; I am sweatin' great drops of blood. Look unto Me; I am hangin' on the cross. Look unto Me; I am dead and buried. Look unto Me; I rise again. Look unto Me; I ascend to Heaven. Look unto Me; I am sittin' at the Father's right hand. O poor sinner, look unto Me! look unto Me!
When he had gone to about that length, and managed to spin out ten minutes or so, he was at the end of his tether. Then he looked at me under the gallery, and I daresay, with so few present, he knew me to be a stranger. Just fixing his eyes on me, as if he knew all my heart, he said, "Young man, you look very miserable." Well, I did; but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made from the pulpit on my personal appearance before. However, it was a good blow, struck right home. He continued, "and you always will be miserable—miserable in life, and miserable in death,—if you don't obey my text; but if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved." Then, lifting up his hands, he shouted, as only a Primitive Methodist could do, "Young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look! Look! Look! You have nothin' to do but to look and live." I saw at once the way of salvation. I know not what else he said,—I did not take much notice of it,—I was so possessed with that one thought. Like as when the brazen serpent was lifted up, the people only looked and were healed, so it was with me. I had been waiting to do fifty things, but when I heard that word, "Look!" what a charming word it seemed to me! Oh! I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away. There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that instant, and sung with the most enthusiastic of them, of the precious blood of Christ, and the simple faith which looks alone to Him. Oh, that somebody had told me this before, "Trust Christ, and you shall be saved." Yet it was, no doubt, all wisely ordered, and now I can say,—
"Ever since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die."
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22 KJV)
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:9 NASB)
This is extracted from Spurgeon's autobiography:
I sometimes think I might have been in darkness and despair until now had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snowstorm, one Sunday morning, while I was going to a certain place of worship. When I could go no further, I turned down a side street, and came to a little Primitive Methodist Chapel. In that chapel there may have been a dozen or fifteen people. I had heard of the Primitive Methodists, how they sang so loudly that they made people's heads ache; but that did not matter to me. I wanted to know how I might be saved, and if they could tell me that, I did not care how much they made my head ache. The minister did not come that morning; he was snowed up, I suppose. At last, a very thin-looking man,* a shoemaker, or tailor, or something of that sort, went up into the pulpit to preach. Now, it is well that preachers should be instructed; but this man was really stupid. He was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had little else to say. The text was,—
"LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (Isaiah 45:22)"
He did not even pronounce the words rightly, but that did not matter. There was, I thought, a glimpse of hope for me in that text. The preacher began thus—"My dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says, 'Look.' Now lookin' don't take a deal of pains. It ain't liftin' your foot or your finger; it is just, 'Look.' Well, a man needn't go to College to learn to look. You may be the biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man needn't be worth a thousand a year to be able to look. Anyone can look; even a child can look. But then the text says, 'Look unto Me.' Ay!" said he, in broad Essex, "many on ye are lookin' to yourselves, but it's no use lookin' there. You'll never find any comfort in yourselves. Some look to God the Father. No, look to Him by-and-by. Jesus Christ says, 'Look unto Me.' Some on ye say, 'We must wait for the Spirit's workin'.' You have no business with that just now. Look to Christ. The text says, 'Look unto Me.'"
Then the good man followed up his text in this way:—"Look unto Me; I am sweatin' great drops of blood. Look unto Me; I am hangin' on the cross. Look unto Me; I am dead and buried. Look unto Me; I rise again. Look unto Me; I ascend to Heaven. Look unto Me; I am sittin' at the Father's right hand. O poor sinner, look unto Me! look unto Me!
When he had gone to about that length, and managed to spin out ten minutes or so, he was at the end of his tether. Then he looked at me under the gallery, and I daresay, with so few present, he knew me to be a stranger. Just fixing his eyes on me, as if he knew all my heart, he said, "Young man, you look very miserable." Well, I did; but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made from the pulpit on my personal appearance before. However, it was a good blow, struck right home. He continued, "and you always will be miserable—miserable in life, and miserable in death,—if you don't obey my text; but if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved." Then, lifting up his hands, he shouted, as only a Primitive Methodist could do, "Young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look! Look! Look! You have nothin' to do but to look and live." I saw at once the way of salvation. I know not what else he said,—I did not take much notice of it,—I was so possessed with that one thought. Like as when the brazen serpent was lifted up, the people only looked and were healed, so it was with me. I had been waiting to do fifty things, but when I heard that word, "Look!" what a charming word it seemed to me! Oh! I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away. There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that instant, and sung with the most enthusiastic of them, of the precious blood of Christ, and the simple faith which looks alone to Him. Oh, that somebody had told me this before, "Trust Christ, and you shall be saved." Yet it was, no doubt, all wisely ordered, and now I can say,—
"Ever since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die."
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Giving Up Our Rights
Let us look at the lives of two men, Moses and Paul.
Moses was a prince of Egypt. But he gave it all up to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Hebrews 11:26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Paul was a Roman citizen, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, a likely candidate for high position in the Sanhedrin.
Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Jesus is our the ultimate model.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Philippians 2:6-8
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Moses was a prince of Egypt. But he gave it all up to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Hebrews 11:26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Paul was a Roman citizen, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, a likely candidate for high position in the Sanhedrin.
Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Jesus is our the ultimate model.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Philippians 2:6-8
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Living the Christian Life
Unlike other religions, the objective of living the Christian life is not to earn merits for Heaven by good works. We are already assured of our place in Heaven. We live the Christian life to glorify God. We live it as a gratitude to our God.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 KJV)
Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV)
Living the Christian life is difficult. The main incentive to live a good life is to earn merit is gone. Thus we need the Holy Spirit to enpower us. We live by grace.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 KJV)
Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV)
Living the Christian life is difficult. The main incentive to live a good life is to earn merit is gone. Thus we need the Holy Spirit to enpower us. We live by grace.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Christians are Blessed to Bless
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. (Ezekiel 34:26 KJV)
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Taking Care of Your Soul First
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)
Last night, I came across this website "Soul Nourishment First by George Müller (9 May 1841)" on Bible study and prayer. George Müller recommends that we meditate on the Bible before we pray. Here is some of what he wrote:
QUOTE
I began therefore to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning, early in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon his precious Word, was, to begin to meditate on the Word of God, searching as it were into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon, but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer.
When thus I have been for a while making confession or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the Word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and then my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened, and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, either very soon after or at a later time, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I gave myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man.
UNQUOTE
Last night, I came across this website "Soul Nourishment First by George Müller (9 May 1841)" on Bible study and prayer. George Müller recommends that we meditate on the Bible before we pray. Here is some of what he wrote:
QUOTE
I began therefore to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning, early in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon his precious Word, was, to begin to meditate on the Word of God, searching as it were into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon, but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer.
When thus I have been for a while making confession or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the Word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and then my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened, and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, either very soon after or at a later time, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I gave myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man.
UNQUOTE
Friday, March 2, 2012
Jesus My only Salvation
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:2 KJV)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)
God is my only Rock and Salvation. I am such a great and horrible sinner, but God can save me. This is to the great Glory of God. I am a miracle of Grace.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)
God is my only Rock and Salvation. I am such a great and horrible sinner, but God can save me. This is to the great Glory of God. I am a miracle of Grace.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Goodness and Severity of God
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:22 KJV)
The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:15-16 NASB)
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4 HCSB)
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)
The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:15-16 NASB)
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4 HCSB)
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)
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