September 4, 2011
“Christians are not perfect. Just forgiven.”
It may sound cliché but it is true.
Or consider another quotation, “No one is perfect… that’s why pencils have erasers”.
God has wiped away our sins as an eraser gets rid of mistakes. We are given a clean slate, a new beginning and second, third and even fourth chances.
Christians are indeed not perfect. Just forgiven.
This is why there is no such thing as a perfect church because imperfect forgiven people belong to it, leaders and pastors included. People shopping for a perfect church will inevitably be disappointed.
Instead of looking for a church that fits me, I much prefer to become a member that will contribute to the growth of my community of friends who gather with me weekly. To acknowledge our imperfection means accepting the possibility and potential of growth. Growth spells excitement because it means a sure return of my investment, though the form of progress may be unpredictable (which actually adds to the excitement)
It is my prayer that we as a church may focus more on seeking a perfect Lord and be less hung up on trying to create a perfect church. When our focus is on loving our perfect God wholeheartedly and passionately, the reality of God’s Presence will radiate in and through us.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Cry Freedom!
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
Freedom is a peculiar word – it means different things to different people.
To the people in Libya and many Middle-Eastern countries, it spells the overthrowing of a dictator and oppressive regimes. To the suffering populace in the horn of Africa, freedom means no more drought and famine. Yet to the oppressed Dalits in India or the many minority groups in Pakistan, it means the basic human right to make choices of their own.
What does Jesus means when he said we are set free? Free from what?
The answer is free from myself. Jesus came to set me free from my own sin, my self-centredness. The greatest enemy of ours is not from without but from within.
Some religious group wrap up their women from top to bottom thinking that the problem of lust is the women. But lust comes from the heart – something internal. Some people justify their lukewarmness toward God because the ‘Christians’ disappoint us. But our lack of faith in God is due to our obsession that God must act a certain way through a certain people. We still call the shots.
The freedom Jesus promises is the ability to ‘de-centralise’ ourselves so that we can love God and love others. This freedom is liberty from my dark malicious ego and it takes the selfless death of Christ to make this transaction possible. Galatians 2:20 must then be my conscious prayer everyday,
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
Freedom is a peculiar word – it means different things to different people.
To the people in Libya and many Middle-Eastern countries, it spells the overthrowing of a dictator and oppressive regimes. To the suffering populace in the horn of Africa, freedom means no more drought and famine. Yet to the oppressed Dalits in India or the many minority groups in Pakistan, it means the basic human right to make choices of their own.
What does Jesus means when he said we are set free? Free from what?
The answer is free from myself. Jesus came to set me free from my own sin, my self-centredness. The greatest enemy of ours is not from without but from within.
Some religious group wrap up their women from top to bottom thinking that the problem of lust is the women. But lust comes from the heart – something internal. Some people justify their lukewarmness toward God because the ‘Christians’ disappoint us. But our lack of faith in God is due to our obsession that God must act a certain way through a certain people. We still call the shots.
The freedom Jesus promises is the ability to ‘de-centralise’ ourselves so that we can love God and love others. This freedom is liberty from my dark malicious ego and it takes the selfless death of Christ to make this transaction possible. Galatians 2:20 must then be my conscious prayer everyday,
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Worries
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
These words of Philippians were penned by Paul. If there is one who has legitimate concerns, it would be Paul. He was in prison awaiting trial – his life was hanging on a thread – and here he urged the Philippian church not to be anxious! This passages shows that our state of mind need not be dictated by our circumstances.
To counter-attack worries, there are a few things that you can do beside prayer
1. Consciously examine your ‘want’ list – are they really what you need? If not, say ‘no’ to them and be done with them.
2. Cut down your time on technology – including emails, cell-phones, computers, television and radio. Too much information leads to indigestion of the souls.
3. Turn off your cell phone for a few hours a day – if the call is important, they will call back. Have an alone time with God and with yourself
4. Keep a notebook – write down the things you worry about – decide if they can be dealt with. If yes, then set a date to deal with the issues.
However, the replacement of worries by peace can only and ultimately be achieved through prayer. Talk to God. Peace is the result of prayer. The peace of God will ‘garrison and mount guard’ (amplified version) over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Worries are like invading armies that need defending against and God's peace wrought through prayers is that strong fortress that no invading worries can penetrate.
Part of being alive is the ability to plan ahead. However, if planning ahead leads to over-thinking, it becomes a worry. Remember Jesus’ words, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:24-26)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
These words of Philippians were penned by Paul. If there is one who has legitimate concerns, it would be Paul. He was in prison awaiting trial – his life was hanging on a thread – and here he urged the Philippian church not to be anxious! This passages shows that our state of mind need not be dictated by our circumstances.
To counter-attack worries, there are a few things that you can do beside prayer
1. Consciously examine your ‘want’ list – are they really what you need? If not, say ‘no’ to them and be done with them.
2. Cut down your time on technology – including emails, cell-phones, computers, television and radio. Too much information leads to indigestion of the souls.
3. Turn off your cell phone for a few hours a day – if the call is important, they will call back. Have an alone time with God and with yourself
4. Keep a notebook – write down the things you worry about – decide if they can be dealt with. If yes, then set a date to deal with the issues.
However, the replacement of worries by peace can only and ultimately be achieved through prayer. Talk to God. Peace is the result of prayer. The peace of God will ‘garrison and mount guard’ (amplified version) over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Worries are like invading armies that need defending against and God's peace wrought through prayers is that strong fortress that no invading worries can penetrate.
Part of being alive is the ability to plan ahead. However, if planning ahead leads to over-thinking, it becomes a worry. Remember Jesus’ words, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:24-26)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Seeing things in a new light
Ephesians 1:18-19a
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
What we see with our naked eyes is pseudo-reality, at best. It has the form of reality and truth but it is not. If we only evaluate things according to our naked eyes, we are missing out on the full picture of life.
A mole has eyes (little and covered) but it is virtually blind. It lives in darkness, moves in darkness and light has no consequential bearing on its livelihood, it seems. So a Christian who becomes numbed to the heavenly light sees only the earthly dimension of life. He interprets events and things according to his earthly mind, makes decisions based on his human needs and lives his life based on the values of this world.
However we are told that there is a spiritual dimension to all things. God is spirit. He operates the world based on spiritual principles. He does things for His great purpose. Miracles are everywhere for the Christian who has spiritual insight and heavenly intuition.
We need to pray that God will open our spiritual eyes so that we can see things in a new light.
We need to see things in a new light. We can only do so when we acquire the eyes of faith. This comes about when we take in the word of God for ‘faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Rom 10:17).
Commit yourself to know God’s power and our riches in Him by taking in the word of God.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
What we see with our naked eyes is pseudo-reality, at best. It has the form of reality and truth but it is not. If we only evaluate things according to our naked eyes, we are missing out on the full picture of life.
A mole has eyes (little and covered) but it is virtually blind. It lives in darkness, moves in darkness and light has no consequential bearing on its livelihood, it seems. So a Christian who becomes numbed to the heavenly light sees only the earthly dimension of life. He interprets events and things according to his earthly mind, makes decisions based on his human needs and lives his life based on the values of this world.
However we are told that there is a spiritual dimension to all things. God is spirit. He operates the world based on spiritual principles. He does things for His great purpose. Miracles are everywhere for the Christian who has spiritual insight and heavenly intuition.
We need to pray that God will open our spiritual eyes so that we can see things in a new light.
We need to see things in a new light. We can only do so when we acquire the eyes of faith. This comes about when we take in the word of God for ‘faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Rom 10:17).
Commit yourself to know God’s power and our riches in Him by taking in the word of God.
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