Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Our God is not a terrorising God from whom we must cower in fear. Those who know God will not hesitate to testify that we are not emotionally blackmailed into following His commands.
What then does this verse mean? What does it mean to ‘fear’ God?
To fear God is to not take His Being, His Name for granted or lightly. It is to revere Him and to esteem Him as who He is. It is to take His word seriously and not to make light His being.
You see God is a being apart from all of us. He is not created but the creator. He is life Himself from whom all living creatures, including you and I, draw our breath. He is the being APART from this world. Though deeply concerned and involved in our world, He stands apart from us. He has no beginning and no end. You do not take such a being lightly. You should not and dare not.
The best way is to think about approaching a king in charge of the entire kingdom. By his command, he can bestow pardon or death on his subjects. If you are a subject before the king, you better fear him. However, that is not the full picture when it comes to our relationship with God.
What if this King is also your Father? Would you disobey him and dismiss his command because of the blood relationship? No. But what if this kingly father also loves and is endearing toward you, will you want to respect and honour him even more?
This is what it means to fear God. To see Him in a dual image – the High King in whom all authority rests and the loving father from whom we derive all our favours.
Hold those two images of God in our minds and that will enable us to fear him – to choose the wise ways of listening to His commands and truly liberate us to love Him wholeheartedly; thereby fulfilling the first Great Commandment.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Knowledge and wisdom
Proverbs 1:1-6
Wisdom is not to be mistaken as knowledge. While one can have great knowledge, knowledge may not have any effect on their lives. Not so for wisdom. Being wise has to do not so much with what you know as compared to how your life is lived and empowered by what you know.
There are all kinds of knowledge. My son could go into a torrent of speeches and debates and arguments on the Stanley Cup and Ice hockey. But how does this knowledge enlighten or empower him in his life? Not much.
Acquiring new knowledge stimulates our mind. As humans, we should be learning new things and we are programmed to do so – nothing beats the exhilaration of finally understanding something. Therein lays the purpose of education – to grow our minds. But if education is just for that, then we have missed the greater purpose of knowledge acquisition.
A learned mind must result in responsible living, responsible to us and others. An informed life must result in a transformed life.
That is what King Solomon, famous for his wisdom, sees the connection between knowing and seeing. Wisdom and discipline goes together. If someone has lived well, it is because he is wise. If someone is wise, his life will not be reckless but all he does will be right, just and fair.
The book of Proverbs has been used by many missionaries as a textbook to teach English in countries hostile to Christianity. It is a timeless book with gems and instructions on practical living.
Proverbs 1:5
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance— “
But it will require attentive listening. Jesus often says, “Let those who have ears listen” – it will starts with the first action on our part – to listen.
Wisdom is not to be mistaken as knowledge. While one can have great knowledge, knowledge may not have any effect on their lives. Not so for wisdom. Being wise has to do not so much with what you know as compared to how your life is lived and empowered by what you know.
There are all kinds of knowledge. My son could go into a torrent of speeches and debates and arguments on the Stanley Cup and Ice hockey. But how does this knowledge enlighten or empower him in his life? Not much.
Acquiring new knowledge stimulates our mind. As humans, we should be learning new things and we are programmed to do so – nothing beats the exhilaration of finally understanding something. Therein lays the purpose of education – to grow our minds. But if education is just for that, then we have missed the greater purpose of knowledge acquisition.
A learned mind must result in responsible living, responsible to us and others. An informed life must result in a transformed life.
That is what King Solomon, famous for his wisdom, sees the connection between knowing and seeing. Wisdom and discipline goes together. If someone has lived well, it is because he is wise. If someone is wise, his life will not be reckless but all he does will be right, just and fair.
The book of Proverbs has been used by many missionaries as a textbook to teach English in countries hostile to Christianity. It is a timeless book with gems and instructions on practical living.
Proverbs 1:5
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance— “
But it will require attentive listening. Jesus often says, “Let those who have ears listen” – it will starts with the first action on our part – to listen.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Be Patient
James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
Have you ever prayed for patience only to find it being tested again and again? Have you ever come to certain roadblocks in your lives where you have to cry out, “How long, O LORD? How long?” Well, the Psalmist experienced that. (see Psalm 6:3, and especially Psalm 13).
Patience is a game that not many of us fare well. Patience is not a virtue that we extol nowadays too.
We city folks, tend to frown at the idea of waiting. Slow is a sin – it seems. It is hard to fathom the logic and goodness of waiting when we are told that everything can be sped up and no one should be made to wait. There is a conspiracy of the economy to suck us into addictive consumers without the means to pay for those things that we all want but can ill afford and could possibly do without.
The farmer has to do everything before waiting – he has to prepare the soil, take out the seeds, put them in the ground, water the crops and chase away the crows. He has to be in tune with the seasons, the weather and then act accordingly. So, the first lesson to learn in patience is to learn to listen. Just as the farmer pays close attention to the weather, we must cultivate a listening ear to God. Learn to listen before you leap. Pay close attention to our Creator’s instructions before you embark on anything. Patience is an attitude and it does pay off.
The farmer has to fold his hands after everything and just wait it out – for the natural elements to come and bring about the produce. So, the next lesson to learn from the farmer is this: you can’t hurry growth. You got to be patient. Parents understand this principle super well. Children need time to grow up – so too, we need time to grow into a patient being.
Third, there will be a harvest in due time. With spring and autumn rains, the earth nourishes the crops and the farmer just needs to remember to reap his rewards for waiting.
There is an end to our trials – if you are waiting for God’s deliverance; just like James’ readers.
There is an answer to our patience in faith. How long before the answer to our cry? James says, “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.”
Meanwhile, be patient and hang on to the Lord.
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
Have you ever prayed for patience only to find it being tested again and again? Have you ever come to certain roadblocks in your lives where you have to cry out, “How long, O LORD? How long?” Well, the Psalmist experienced that. (see Psalm 6:3, and especially Psalm 13).
Patience is a game that not many of us fare well. Patience is not a virtue that we extol nowadays too.
We city folks, tend to frown at the idea of waiting. Slow is a sin – it seems. It is hard to fathom the logic and goodness of waiting when we are told that everything can be sped up and no one should be made to wait. There is a conspiracy of the economy to suck us into addictive consumers without the means to pay for those things that we all want but can ill afford and could possibly do without.
The farmer has to do everything before waiting – he has to prepare the soil, take out the seeds, put them in the ground, water the crops and chase away the crows. He has to be in tune with the seasons, the weather and then act accordingly. So, the first lesson to learn in patience is to learn to listen. Just as the farmer pays close attention to the weather, we must cultivate a listening ear to God. Learn to listen before you leap. Pay close attention to our Creator’s instructions before you embark on anything. Patience is an attitude and it does pay off.
The farmer has to fold his hands after everything and just wait it out – for the natural elements to come and bring about the produce. So, the next lesson to learn from the farmer is this: you can’t hurry growth. You got to be patient. Parents understand this principle super well. Children need time to grow up – so too, we need time to grow into a patient being.
Third, there will be a harvest in due time. With spring and autumn rains, the earth nourishes the crops and the farmer just needs to remember to reap his rewards for waiting.
There is an end to our trials – if you are waiting for God’s deliverance; just like James’ readers.
There is an answer to our patience in faith. How long before the answer to our cry? James says, “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.”
Meanwhile, be patient and hang on to the Lord.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Fix our Eyes on Jesus
Read Hebrews 12:1-3
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
“A dog is man’s best friend”. Touted for its loyalty, a dog exemplifies what it a Master-and-servant relationship should be like.
I used to have a dog when I was growing up. Lucky (for that was its name) followed me everywhere and was my best pal. Though it was a family dog, there was no doubt in its mind that I was the master. So devoted to me was Lucky that it would not take its eyes off me when I was around the house. If I was in the house and my family called out to it, it would not leave my side unless I gave the command. Even tempting it with dog treats would not do the trick to lure it away from my side.
My dog illustrates what it means to ‘fix our eyes’ on the Master. As disciples, we are to fix our eyes on our Master and King Jesus. He is the One from whom we get our commands, approvals and satisfaction from. He left us with the example of how we should follow Christ. He also embodies the journey of discipleship and points to the end result of faithful commitment to God.
This lesson of spiritual concentration – of keeping our eyes on Christ must be mastered by everyone who wants to finish the race well. In verse 2, it says “fix” and in verse 3, we are exhorted to ‘consider” Christ. It all speaks of the need to focus and be attentive or concentrate.
Hebrews 12:1-3 outlines 3 daily practices to develop this concentration on Christ:
1.Remember Christ’s excellence – our faith starts in Him and will be perfected in Him
2.Remember Christ’s exaltation – the rewards from God far outweighed the difficulties
3.Remember Christ’s example – He ‘endured’ great opposition and so did our spiritual forefathers and left us a model to emulate
In view of all these truths found in Christ, we are to throw off our every sin and fasten our eyes on Him.
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
“A dog is man’s best friend”. Touted for its loyalty, a dog exemplifies what it a Master-and-servant relationship should be like.
I used to have a dog when I was growing up. Lucky (for that was its name) followed me everywhere and was my best pal. Though it was a family dog, there was no doubt in its mind that I was the master. So devoted to me was Lucky that it would not take its eyes off me when I was around the house. If I was in the house and my family called out to it, it would not leave my side unless I gave the command. Even tempting it with dog treats would not do the trick to lure it away from my side.
My dog illustrates what it means to ‘fix our eyes’ on the Master. As disciples, we are to fix our eyes on our Master and King Jesus. He is the One from whom we get our commands, approvals and satisfaction from. He left us with the example of how we should follow Christ. He also embodies the journey of discipleship and points to the end result of faithful commitment to God.
This lesson of spiritual concentration – of keeping our eyes on Christ must be mastered by everyone who wants to finish the race well. In verse 2, it says “fix” and in verse 3, we are exhorted to ‘consider” Christ. It all speaks of the need to focus and be attentive or concentrate.
Hebrews 12:1-3 outlines 3 daily practices to develop this concentration on Christ:
1.Remember Christ’s excellence – our faith starts in Him and will be perfected in Him
2.Remember Christ’s exaltation – the rewards from God far outweighed the difficulties
3.Remember Christ’s example – He ‘endured’ great opposition and so did our spiritual forefathers and left us a model to emulate
In view of all these truths found in Christ, we are to throw off our every sin and fasten our eyes on Him.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Go tell them - an incredible relationship is waiting for them!
John 20:16
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Mary remained in despair and grief, without hope till Jesus called out her name, “Mary”. Just by uttering her name, Mary was awakened from her trance of sadness, from her slumber of grief to that of unexpected joy!
Miracles and surprises are part of the resurrection story – but the greatest miracle is that God knows you and me by name and we can recognise our Lord when He calls.
This is the eternal truth regarding the Resurrection of our Lord – the privilege of being in an incredible relationship with an awesome God!
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (john 10:14)
What is in a name? A name is an identity. The Jewish people are particular about naming their children for they believe that the child will live up to his/her name. Imagine in a big room you call out “Hercules’ and out came a scrawny, skinny undernourished kid! Yet many of us still fail to live up to our names – oh to have a name that truly befits us and reflects who we really are!
So in the new heaven and new earth, to all who overcomes, God says he “will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” On that final day, we will be given names that truly reflect who we really are.
What then do we do with the resurrection truth?
Jesus says to Mary, “Don’t hold on to me (v 17) go instead to my brothers and tell them”
Mary left and told the others, “I have seen the Lord!”
So we must not just hold on to the good news – we must now go and tell everyone who would hear that Christ is risen! He is alive! We have seen the Lord!
Go tell them - that there is an invisible world!
Go tell them – we serve an invincible God!
Go tell them – an incredible relationship is waiting for him who believes this good news!
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Mary remained in despair and grief, without hope till Jesus called out her name, “Mary”. Just by uttering her name, Mary was awakened from her trance of sadness, from her slumber of grief to that of unexpected joy!
Miracles and surprises are part of the resurrection story – but the greatest miracle is that God knows you and me by name and we can recognise our Lord when He calls.
This is the eternal truth regarding the Resurrection of our Lord – the privilege of being in an incredible relationship with an awesome God!
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (john 10:14)
What is in a name? A name is an identity. The Jewish people are particular about naming their children for they believe that the child will live up to his/her name. Imagine in a big room you call out “Hercules’ and out came a scrawny, skinny undernourished kid! Yet many of us still fail to live up to our names – oh to have a name that truly befits us and reflects who we really are!
So in the new heaven and new earth, to all who overcomes, God says he “will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” On that final day, we will be given names that truly reflect who we really are.
What then do we do with the resurrection truth?
Jesus says to Mary, “Don’t hold on to me (v 17) go instead to my brothers and tell them”
Mary left and told the others, “I have seen the Lord!”
So we must not just hold on to the good news – we must now go and tell everyone who would hear that Christ is risen! He is alive! We have seen the Lord!
Go tell them - that there is an invisible world!
Go tell them – we serve an invincible God!
Go tell them – an incredible relationship is waiting for him who believes this good news!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
An invincible God
John 20:15
“…Who is it you are looking for?”
What an absurd question! You don’t look for someone who is dead; only someone who is alive. Imagine how freaking it would sound if someone comes knocking on your door looking for your dead relatives or loved ones!
Who is it that you are looking for? Mary thought she was looking at a Gardener who would have news of the Lord’s body. Mary did not recognise the angels or Jesus.
Mary came not looking for the living Lord. She came looking for a corpse. She had followed Jesus from the time when he healed her from the demonic possession and she had seen where they laid her beloved Messiah. She came with her spices to anoint her dear teacher’s dead body. (Jews do not believe in embalming)
Expecting to find a dead body, she found the resurrected Lord instead.
The Resurrection of our Lord reminds us that we serve an invincible God.
Death couldn’t keep him, the grave couldn't hold him. He looked death in the eye, took all our sins on himself and by one decisive act of sacrifice, overcame the sting of death.
To Him belongs the final victory. In conquering death, he proves himself indestructible and invincible.
Therefore God “gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “ (Phil 2:9-11)
So in the new heaven and new earth, we were told that the one day the “kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
If this invincible God is for us, then indeed who can stand against us?
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
“…Who is it you are looking for?”
What an absurd question! You don’t look for someone who is dead; only someone who is alive. Imagine how freaking it would sound if someone comes knocking on your door looking for your dead relatives or loved ones!
Who is it that you are looking for? Mary thought she was looking at a Gardener who would have news of the Lord’s body. Mary did not recognise the angels or Jesus.
Mary came not looking for the living Lord. She came looking for a corpse. She had followed Jesus from the time when he healed her from the demonic possession and she had seen where they laid her beloved Messiah. She came with her spices to anoint her dear teacher’s dead body. (Jews do not believe in embalming)
Expecting to find a dead body, she found the resurrected Lord instead.
The Resurrection of our Lord reminds us that we serve an invincible God.
Death couldn’t keep him, the grave couldn't hold him. He looked death in the eye, took all our sins on himself and by one decisive act of sacrifice, overcame the sting of death.
To Him belongs the final victory. In conquering death, he proves himself indestructible and invincible.
Therefore God “gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “ (Phil 2:9-11)
So in the new heaven and new earth, we were told that the one day the “kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
If this invincible God is for us, then indeed who can stand against us?
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Invisible World
For the next 3 days, I will share the 3 parts of my Easter meditations which I later delivered during the Easter Sonrise Service with my congregation.
Read John 20:10-18
John 20:13, 15a
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?
It would seem a strange question to ask at a grave site. The Jews said of Mary, "she goeth unto his grave to weep there." Through her tears, Mary could not recognise the angels or the Lord. Through her tears and pains, Mary could not see her Lord. Her vision was tainted by her pains.
Sin and pain has marred our once perfect world and with our sinful nature, our vision is not 20/20. What we see may not be the whole truth. Mingled it with our own feelings, pains and thoughts (all tainted by the effect of sin) – it may further distort our understanding,
We were told not to judge a book by its cover and so we must not trust all that we see with our naked eyes. If Mary could see clearly, she would have no reason to cry. The angels were there. Jesus was there. She was on Holy ground but she knew not and detected it not. She was overcome with sadness.
She had followed Jesus from the time when He cast out seven demons from her, from his ministry to suffering to death on the cross. She saw with her own two eyes when the soldiers took the body down from that crucifix. She knew what she saw.
But faith requires confidence not in our senses – for to rely on our senses would ultimately means belief in ourselves. Our faith and confidence is and must be in Christ alone. There is the invisible world, a world where we but only hear rumours of and of which we are destined for.
The resurrection points to the reality of an invisible world.
It is the reality of an invisible world which Mary had yet to experience and understood. So the resurrection reminds us that “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see Him face to face. Now we know in part; then we shall know fully, even as we are fully known.”(I Cor 13:12)
Our present world of pains, struggles and sins will give way ONE DAY (THE FINAL EASTER – I call it) – when with the new heaven and new earth – God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev 21:4)
Hallelujah – praise the Lord!! Jesus is risen!
Read John 20:10-18
John 20:13, 15a
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?
It would seem a strange question to ask at a grave site. The Jews said of Mary, "she goeth unto his grave to weep there." Through her tears, Mary could not recognise the angels or the Lord. Through her tears and pains, Mary could not see her Lord. Her vision was tainted by her pains.
Sin and pain has marred our once perfect world and with our sinful nature, our vision is not 20/20. What we see may not be the whole truth. Mingled it with our own feelings, pains and thoughts (all tainted by the effect of sin) – it may further distort our understanding,
We were told not to judge a book by its cover and so we must not trust all that we see with our naked eyes. If Mary could see clearly, she would have no reason to cry. The angels were there. Jesus was there. She was on Holy ground but she knew not and detected it not. She was overcome with sadness.
She had followed Jesus from the time when He cast out seven demons from her, from his ministry to suffering to death on the cross. She saw with her own two eyes when the soldiers took the body down from that crucifix. She knew what she saw.
But faith requires confidence not in our senses – for to rely on our senses would ultimately means belief in ourselves. Our faith and confidence is and must be in Christ alone. There is the invisible world, a world where we but only hear rumours of and of which we are destined for.
The resurrection points to the reality of an invisible world.
It is the reality of an invisible world which Mary had yet to experience and understood. So the resurrection reminds us that “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see Him face to face. Now we know in part; then we shall know fully, even as we are fully known.”(I Cor 13:12)
Our present world of pains, struggles and sins will give way ONE DAY (THE FINAL EASTER – I call it) – when with the new heaven and new earth – God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev 21:4)
Hallelujah – praise the Lord!! Jesus is risen!
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