Justification by Grace Alone through Faith Alone
If anyone asks you how can you be sure that you are saved, what will your answer be? What is the basis for a Christian’s justification? What’s the difference between justification and sanctification? How does knowing all these affect our relationship and walk with God?
What Achievements Are You Striving for This Year?
Have you ever felt a sense of loss and regret, as you feel you didn’t achieve much despite already being at certain age, and you don’t seem to be getting anywhere in life? At a certain point in life, people may start reflecting: “Have I achieved what I planned to attain by this age? Have my dreams been fulfilled? Is my career on track to success? Am I settled down in a good marriage or family?” Many people may feel lousy because they have a mistaken understanding of what “accomplishments” mean. Thus, we need to ask: What does God consider as “achievement”?
Face The Word Before The World
Do you usually meet God through His Word every morning, or are you first greeted and overwhelmed by the world? As we go about our day-to-day living, what shapes our priorities and perspectives? What critical factors drive our decision-making process of how we spend our time, money and gifts? Is it the Word or the world?
Pursuing The Right Knowledge And Power
How well do you think you know God? Do you know God for who He is or simply for what He can offer? Does your knowledge of God translate into real power in your practical living, such that you are able to lead a God-pleasing life? These are important questions to reflect at the beginning of a new year.
Remembering Christ’s Second Coming on His First
Christmas reminds us of how faithful God has been to truly send the promised Messiah to save His people from the penalty of sin. Before the First Advent of Christ, believers had longed for His coming. How about us who live between Christ’s first and second coming? Are we yearning for Christ’s second coming? Are we prepared for His return?
Growing Up Like Christ
As we draw close to Christmas, let’s ponder more about the birth and growing up of Jesus God Incarnate. For Jesus is the most perfect man who ever lived on earth. Thus, He is our model to imitate. We read that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Lk 2:52). What does that mean and how can we grow so blessedly like Jesus too?
Born To Bear The Cross
As we celebrate Christmas, we need to remember that what matters more is not the event of Christ’s birth itself, but the reason why Jesus was born. If Jesus was merely born as the glorious, holy and sinless baby, yet He did not come to redeem mankind from the penalty of sins, then His birth would not be meaningful to us. But we thank God that Christ was born precisely to save sinners and die for our sins. How then should we respond in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?
Tackling Resistance To God’s Calling
Have you ever said “No” to God before? When God presents us with a difficult mission, what is our response? Take it up by faith, or try to dodge it? What are our common excuses to God? How should we overcome our reluctance to serve God?
Finishing Well
As we draw close to the end of 2021, how do you hope you can end the year? We know that a good start is very important, yet to be able to finish well is also not so simple. Some people have a blessed start, but they may not finish in a blessed way. What are the things that hinder us from finishing well? How can we finish well?
Do Not Try To Outsmart God
Sometimes, we can be very persistent in sticking to our preferences and plans, even if we got indications from God that what we intend to do doesn’t quite fit His will. But can we really succeed in trying to outsmart God? What happens when we treat God’s will lightly?
