Apprenticeship With God
Apprenticeship with God may be a lifetime programme, but as we come to be trained in our Master’s pattern of teaching, skills of discernment and understanding of His guidebook, we will come to see that it is one that may be tough at first, but is necessary and gets sweeter as years go by.
Good Intentions Are Not Enough
The devil loves “mere intentions”, which stay as just that, intention – a goal, but without any concrete steps or actions. It is like the delusional dreaming of a “more God-pleasing tomorrow”, when one is not even living in a God-pleasing way today. It is like agreeing with the goal of being Christlike, but just naively imagine that one can become more like Christ simply by valuing that goal. Are your good intentions in line with God’s word and will? Are you willing to pay a good (heavy) price for your good intentions too?
“I Lack No Good Thing In Him”
Psalm 34:10 tells us, “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” This promise is assured to those who pursue the Lord. However, it is hard to digest this because we may still be in a situation of lack. So how can we not be disheartened? How do I internalise this verse that I “lack no good thing” in the Lord?
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”?
Opportunity To Disobey
When presented with opportunities to disobey God in our lives, let us turn to the Word, challenge our thoughts, justify our emotions only with the Truth and remember Jesus’ last words to Satan when He was tempted, “ Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
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?
A Good Headstart With The “Right” Voice
As we are finishing the last lap of 2021, let us think back on whether the voices we have heeded have led us to a blessed living? Is this Holy Spirit-driven voice in us, such that we can love and have mercy to those around us, or are we filled with more complaints and judgements? Now, we are always receiving some form of voice within us, therefore, we have to be vigil and discerning enough to make blessed choices.
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?
Prey To Insinuations?
We are living in times where people hold more and more weightage on how they feel and think. Many easily let what their hearts feel become their truth and reality. However, a lot of times, the voices that come from our hearts can be emotional, baseless or may not be entirely objective. So in what circumstances do we become easy prey to insinuations? How can we keep our hearts from being easy prey to daily insinuations?
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?
