7 February 2010
Discipleship is all about letting Christ live His life in and through us.
In a world of perfection, we will have no problems following the Lord. If we are a little more perfect than we are now, perhaps following Christ will not be as difficult as it is for us now?
So here we are a bunch of imperfect people living in an imperfect world trying to execute the perfect plan of God. IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?
Romans 12:1-2 reads,
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Imperfect instruments like us are given the honour of testing and approving what God’s perfect will is – however there is a catch. Our ability to discern God’s will is only possible if we allow our minds to be renewed and transformed by the perfect God.
Discipleship is then all about letting Christ live His thoughts in and through us. His thoughts are contained in the Bible, His perfect law (James 1:25).
So in a world of imperfection, being imperfect people, God can still shine His light through us:
“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Let Christ shape your thoughts and permeate your being therefore – let Christ live His life through yours.
Friday, March 5, 2010
The secret is out!
5th April, 2009
The secret is out!
That which has been spoken in parables is made clear.
He who once held a hammer is the One who holds the sun and the stars. We see it in the miracle when He stills the storm and walks on water.
He who owes no material possessions possesses the power to heal all our pains and ease all our sorrows.
He who holds no worldly titles and has not a company to His name provides food for 4,000 and 5,000 in the miracle of the feedings.
He who is to be broken and crucified on the cross touches and opens our eyes so that we may receive spiritual healing and insight.
In all His time with us, Jesus patiently shows us who He is and what we really need. He is the One and only One who can satisfy all our needs and how desperately do we need Him.
We need Him to calm us, touch us, feed us, heal us and He will do all these and more – but we must jump over the hurdle of self and ‘repent and believe the good news’.
The secret is out! He is the King, the Messiah whom we are waiting for.
The secret is out! It has been broadcast over the mountains and the hills – He is the Messiah, the Saviour.
Let us not keep the secret to ourselves. LET IT OUT - LOUD AND CLEAR.
LET THE SECRET OUT!!!
The secret is out!
That which has been spoken in parables is made clear.
He who once held a hammer is the One who holds the sun and the stars. We see it in the miracle when He stills the storm and walks on water.
He who owes no material possessions possesses the power to heal all our pains and ease all our sorrows.
He who holds no worldly titles and has not a company to His name provides food for 4,000 and 5,000 in the miracle of the feedings.
He who is to be broken and crucified on the cross touches and opens our eyes so that we may receive spiritual healing and insight.
In all His time with us, Jesus patiently shows us who He is and what we really need. He is the One and only One who can satisfy all our needs and how desperately do we need Him.
We need Him to calm us, touch us, feed us, heal us and He will do all these and more – but we must jump over the hurdle of self and ‘repent and believe the good news’.
The secret is out! He is the King, the Messiah whom we are waiting for.
The secret is out! It has been broadcast over the mountains and the hills – He is the Messiah, the Saviour.
Let us not keep the secret to ourselves. LET IT OUT - LOUD AND CLEAR.
LET THE SECRET OUT!!!
Take for granted
4 October 2009
There is an idiom that says, “Familiarity breeds contempt”. It means the more you know about something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or him/her.
While it may not hold true all the time, it is almost always true that familiarity breeds “taking for granted”.
We all have experiences of becoming familiar with a person that we fail to appreciate him/her. Or with an object – we encounter it so frequently that it no longer makes an impression on us; we take it for granted.
Repetitions and rituals are okay; but seriously – it would be nice to have a change, so every now and then.
Some of us are so familiar with Christianity that we take it for granted. We have been in church long enough to justify the usage of the phrase, “there is nothing new under the sun” – in this case, the church.
Some sermons sound like recycled stories from of old. Some pastors resemble nagging parents we would rather shut out at home. Some praise songs even sound like broken records after a while.
Let us not take the sacred and make it ordinary. Let us not take our religious freedom for granted. Let us not take our weekly church assembly for granted. And let us not take the cross for granted.
For in so doing, we have actually taken the Lord Jesus for granted.
There is an idiom that says, “Familiarity breeds contempt”. It means the more you know about something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or him/her.
While it may not hold true all the time, it is almost always true that familiarity breeds “taking for granted”.
We all have experiences of becoming familiar with a person that we fail to appreciate him/her. Or with an object – we encounter it so frequently that it no longer makes an impression on us; we take it for granted.
Repetitions and rituals are okay; but seriously – it would be nice to have a change, so every now and then.
Some of us are so familiar with Christianity that we take it for granted. We have been in church long enough to justify the usage of the phrase, “there is nothing new under the sun” – in this case, the church.
Some sermons sound like recycled stories from of old. Some pastors resemble nagging parents we would rather shut out at home. Some praise songs even sound like broken records after a while.
Let us not take the sacred and make it ordinary. Let us not take our religious freedom for granted. Let us not take our weekly church assembly for granted. And let us not take the cross for granted.
For in so doing, we have actually taken the Lord Jesus for granted.
24/7 discipleship
3rd May, 2009
How we choose to live depends on our worldview. Our philosophy on life and beliefs of truth determines our values and choices.
N.T. Wright puts it right when he says, “What you say about Jesus affects your entire worldview. If you see Jesus differently, everything changes.”
If Jesus is who He claims to be – the Messiah and King and if we confess this to be our faith, discipleship is no longer optional. It is the condition for anyone who claims to be a Christian.
Jesus says in Mark 8:34, “"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945)
Discipleship is difficult in that it has to be 24/7 for our whole lifetime and encompasses every aspect of our lives.
It is difficult because the world and her values are in our faces 24/7 throughout our whole lifetime and we have to deal with her whether we like it or not.
We need a compass – a strong, reliable tool to navigate us through life – a worldview that impacts and directs our living out our confession. A compass that is biblical, practical and dependable. An unchanging compass that stays steady and focused in all circumstances.
There is nothing and no one more stable than our Lord Jesus Christ – He must be our compass and He will be our guide if we only let Him.
How we choose to live depends on our worldview. Our philosophy on life and beliefs of truth determines our values and choices.
N.T. Wright puts it right when he says, “What you say about Jesus affects your entire worldview. If you see Jesus differently, everything changes.”
If Jesus is who He claims to be – the Messiah and King and if we confess this to be our faith, discipleship is no longer optional. It is the condition for anyone who claims to be a Christian.
Jesus says in Mark 8:34, “"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945)
Discipleship is difficult in that it has to be 24/7 for our whole lifetime and encompasses every aspect of our lives.
It is difficult because the world and her values are in our faces 24/7 throughout our whole lifetime and we have to deal with her whether we like it or not.
We need a compass – a strong, reliable tool to navigate us through life – a worldview that impacts and directs our living out our confession. A compass that is biblical, practical and dependable. An unchanging compass that stays steady and focused in all circumstances.
There is nothing and no one more stable than our Lord Jesus Christ – He must be our compass and He will be our guide if we only let Him.
a new year
3 January 2010
A new year spells a new start, a fresh page, a second chance to begin anew.
A new year also spells an ending of something old. However, life does not come in neat phases nor chapters. We are a product of our past – we cannot start off 2010 disconnected from 2009. Life is a journey that includes year 2009, year 2008 and year 2007 and many years before that.
There will be lingering episodes of 2009 that we cannot really shake off nor want to shake off as we enter into 2010. We will recount successes and failures.
Victories of 2009 can keep us from moving into new areas of growth and breed complacency and pride. Regrets and losses can haunt us from moving boldly into the new year with confidence.
God asks of us: “forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18)
Let us have a good closure for year 2009 and take all of its life lessons and translate it into spiritual growth for 2010 and beyond.
A new year spells a new start, a fresh page on a continuing drama to let God unfold His purpose in our lives. It is our yet another second chance to let God lead us in this journey with Him.
My prayer for you this year is that you may ‘remain in Him’ (John 15:4) and ‘know Him better’ (Eph 1:17).
A new year spells a new start, a fresh page, a second chance to begin anew.
A new year also spells an ending of something old. However, life does not come in neat phases nor chapters. We are a product of our past – we cannot start off 2010 disconnected from 2009. Life is a journey that includes year 2009, year 2008 and year 2007 and many years before that.
There will be lingering episodes of 2009 that we cannot really shake off nor want to shake off as we enter into 2010. We will recount successes and failures.
Victories of 2009 can keep us from moving into new areas of growth and breed complacency and pride. Regrets and losses can haunt us from moving boldly into the new year with confidence.
God asks of us: “forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18)
Let us have a good closure for year 2009 and take all of its life lessons and translate it into spiritual growth for 2010 and beyond.
A new year spells a new start, a fresh page on a continuing drama to let God unfold His purpose in our lives. It is our yet another second chance to let God lead us in this journey with Him.
My prayer for you this year is that you may ‘remain in Him’ (John 15:4) and ‘know Him better’ (Eph 1:17).
Storms
1st March 2009
It is a myth to think that life will be smooth sailing just because we are Christians.
As surely as there is life, there will be storms – frightening, unpredictable and totally unfathomable.
Marriage break down, a loved one suddenly dies or an unexpected diagnosis of crippling disease. Collapse of financial market, loss of job, political upheaval and unnecessary bloodshed – life deals a hard blow and our once orderly world is plunged into chaos, confusion and despair.
As surely as there is life, there will be storms – it discriminates against no one – Christians or non-Christians alike.
Storms are neutral.
When hardships and difficulties of life hit us, we suddenly find ourselves alone – and perhaps lonely. Those whom we trust may turn out to be just fair-weathered friends; those who offer comfort are impatient at us to ‘snap out of it’ and our heads punish our hearts by reprimanding us to quickly ‘move on’ – and yet we cannot, for all that we want – we just cannot. Then it dawns upon us how fragile, needy and un-understandable we are.
Storms are cruel.
When we are in despair and when everything seems lost, we realize our need for a Higher Power to calm and still the storms of life. It exposes the foundation of our lives and helps us to take stock and change course at times. It urges us to grow deep in our essentials and basics of living.
Storms bring fresh perspective to life.
George Herbert (1593-1633) said, “Storms make oaks take deeper root.”
Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” and “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
In the storms of life, the promises of Jesus are brought to life as we hold out our hands to Him and let Him walk through the trials and sufferings with us.
Storms are kind and have their purpose after all.
Question: Who do you have to weather through the storms of life?
It is a myth to think that life will be smooth sailing just because we are Christians.
As surely as there is life, there will be storms – frightening, unpredictable and totally unfathomable.
Marriage break down, a loved one suddenly dies or an unexpected diagnosis of crippling disease. Collapse of financial market, loss of job, political upheaval and unnecessary bloodshed – life deals a hard blow and our once orderly world is plunged into chaos, confusion and despair.
As surely as there is life, there will be storms – it discriminates against no one – Christians or non-Christians alike.
Storms are neutral.
When hardships and difficulties of life hit us, we suddenly find ourselves alone – and perhaps lonely. Those whom we trust may turn out to be just fair-weathered friends; those who offer comfort are impatient at us to ‘snap out of it’ and our heads punish our hearts by reprimanding us to quickly ‘move on’ – and yet we cannot, for all that we want – we just cannot. Then it dawns upon us how fragile, needy and un-understandable we are.
Storms are cruel.
When we are in despair and when everything seems lost, we realize our need for a Higher Power to calm and still the storms of life. It exposes the foundation of our lives and helps us to take stock and change course at times. It urges us to grow deep in our essentials and basics of living.
Storms bring fresh perspective to life.
George Herbert (1593-1633) said, “Storms make oaks take deeper root.”
Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” and “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
In the storms of life, the promises of Jesus are brought to life as we hold out our hands to Him and let Him walk through the trials and sufferings with us.
Storms are kind and have their purpose after all.
Question: Who do you have to weather through the storms of life?
Time
1st February, 2009
1st February 2009, Sunday, 12.30 p.m., BHLC sanctuary.
You have chosen to spend this day, this time at this place, doing this thing – setting aside time to meet Him.
This is how you have chosen to live this part of your eternity timeline.
You cannot relive this moment again. Once gone, it’s gone.
There will be no more 1st February 2009, Sunday, 12.30 p.m. for anyone of us here in this sanctuary.
Once used up, it cannot be changed. It is sealed with permanent ink.
We humans live under the illusion that we are in control of the future; - but the truth is we can only manage our present. The past is gone. The future is unknown. What we have is now – the present.
We cannot retrace our steps and try to love Him yesterday. We cannot love Him tomorrow – not yet.
However, we can love Him today. We can begin with Him today. We can identify ourselves as His children today. We can respond to His call today. We can spend time with Him today. He can be our priority today.
He is your priority - now, today.
Will He be your priority tomorrow? Or will it be someone or something else?
1st February 2009, Sunday, 12.30 p.m., BHLC sanctuary.
You have chosen to spend this day, this time at this place, doing this thing – setting aside time to meet Him.
This is how you have chosen to live this part of your eternity timeline.
You cannot relive this moment again. Once gone, it’s gone.
There will be no more 1st February 2009, Sunday, 12.30 p.m. for anyone of us here in this sanctuary.
Once used up, it cannot be changed. It is sealed with permanent ink.
We humans live under the illusion that we are in control of the future; - but the truth is we can only manage our present. The past is gone. The future is unknown. What we have is now – the present.
We cannot retrace our steps and try to love Him yesterday. We cannot love Him tomorrow – not yet.
However, we can love Him today. We can begin with Him today. We can identify ourselves as His children today. We can respond to His call today. We can spend time with Him today. He can be our priority today.
He is your priority - now, today.
Will He be your priority tomorrow? Or will it be someone or something else?
It takes guts
7 March 2010
What does it take to be a real disciple in an imperfect world?
My answer is that it takes guts – loads of it.
If we want to live authentic lives of integrity, the first hurdle to overcome is ourselves.
Don’t demonise the world. Don’t blame everything on the Devil. For many of us, it is our own heart that is the problem and it takes guts for us to face up to it.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9)
We cannot claim the renewal of our minds if our hearts are not changed.
It takes guts to face up to our own sinful desires that may run contrary to God’s will. It takes guts to NOT make excuses for our shortcomings and it takes guts to admit that we failed to love God first. Most of all, it takes guts to forsake all our idols and let God call the shots in our lives.
A rich young ruler with “respectable” credentials wanted to follow Jesus. He seemed like a nice, decent and God-fearing guy.
But the rich young ruler failed to make the cut. (Read Matt 19:16-22)
Why? Because though he recognised his heart was possessed by his possessions, he lacked the courage to let Jesus deal with it.
To follow Christ will take every ounce of our energy, every fibre of our determination and every molecule of our inner courage.
No wishy-washy attitude. No half-hearted efforts. No adulterated heart.
IT TAKES GUTS TO FOLLOW JESUS.
What does it take to be a real disciple in an imperfect world?
My answer is that it takes guts – loads of it.
If we want to live authentic lives of integrity, the first hurdle to overcome is ourselves.
Don’t demonise the world. Don’t blame everything on the Devil. For many of us, it is our own heart that is the problem and it takes guts for us to face up to it.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9)
We cannot claim the renewal of our minds if our hearts are not changed.
It takes guts to face up to our own sinful desires that may run contrary to God’s will. It takes guts to NOT make excuses for our shortcomings and it takes guts to admit that we failed to love God first. Most of all, it takes guts to forsake all our idols and let God call the shots in our lives.
A rich young ruler with “respectable” credentials wanted to follow Jesus. He seemed like a nice, decent and God-fearing guy.
But the rich young ruler failed to make the cut. (Read Matt 19:16-22)
Why? Because though he recognised his heart was possessed by his possessions, he lacked the courage to let Jesus deal with it.
To follow Christ will take every ounce of our energy, every fibre of our determination and every molecule of our inner courage.
No wishy-washy attitude. No half-hearted efforts. No adulterated heart.
IT TAKES GUTS TO FOLLOW JESUS.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)