Devotional Thought - “Run by the Rules”

All game and sports have their rules. A player must know the rules and abide by them, or else he will be disqualified. A sportsman must also be discipline. I used to represent my primary school in softball. Beside our normal training period; during every recess break, we would practice our throwing, catching, pitching and batting, mustering the basic important skills.

Through sport, I learnt 2 very important virtues in life – (1) abide by the rules, (2) be discipline.

I believe these 2 virtues apply to all walks of life.

In today’s Our Daily Bread (1 Cor 9:19-27), The Apostle Paul also talk about these 2 rules – (1) Do as the “Jews” do, in other words, follow the rules; verses 19-23 (2) Be discipline or be disqualified; verses 24-27

Likewise, as a Christian, there are certain rules and discipline. Most Christians think that just by coming to worship service on Sunday is sufficient. There is more to it. Following God’s Will and His teachings found in the Bible is the rule for a Christian. Regularly or daily, I discipline myself to read, meditate on HIS Word and pray. Slowly, as one grows in his faith, he will find more rules and discipline to obey. Hence, the Christian faith is really a marathon, not a sprint.:)

Devotional Thought: Fulfilling Vision!?!?!? :)

I got very excited today as I read Our Daily Bread devotion on Ezekiel 12:21-28

Say to them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. (verse 23)

The LORD has laid on my heart a vision some many years ago about Bethany PCES …

26 The word of the LORD came to me: 27 "Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.'


As I wait and watch, watch and wait, wait & wait, watch & watch, then the waiting and watching just turn into wondering, as the years go by. But through all these watching, waiting and wondering, HE reminds me that GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK AROUND YOU. Who else is watching what GOD is at work on?

For the last 2 years (2008 and 2009), I see a clearer direction what HE wants to do. Unfortunately, I realize that the Pastor is not sensitive to Him. The pastor preaches his sermons, but did not realize that those messages are also for him to act on.

The question to me then is: “Should I speak up?”

What! You think you are a prophet, can see vision, meh?


"Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.' " (verse 28, see verse 25 also)

Devotional Thought: I Quit! :(

Sometimes, I feel like saying: “Enough is enough, I quit!! :(“

This happens when:
(1) Serious Failure - when my research project seems “no light at the end of the tunnel” and time is pressing hard for results.

(2) Fear – everything seem to cave-in and there is an impending disaster to my life, like a health problem, or disease going to occur (when you train so hard for a marathon and body tissues are tearing apart …)

(3) Threat – boss is jumping at me and customers are bursting out in anger. Time to throw in the towel and resignation letter: “I quit!”

(4) …

Well, I can find solace in the Bible. Look at Peter (he almost quit and gone back fishing) and Elijah as we read today’s from Our Daily Bread - http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2010/01/23/devotion.aspx - from 1 Kings 19: 1- 18

"I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." (verse 4)

But interestingly, the LORD came to him, not in a strong wind, an earthquake, a fire, but a gentle whisper. Gently, the LORD gave him some new assignments to keep him busy and prove his usefulness.

Principle: When we feel like quitting or things are caving in – look for new assignment. Shift to new focus.

http://www.thedontquitpoem.com/

(Not sure how to add the video here. Need some advice.)

Agape. :)

Devotion Thought: Helping Someone :)

When was the last time I help someone?

Usually the people I meet are my offices’ colleagues and family members. Yes, helping around in the family is normal. Helping colleagues getting things done is also normal.

OK, there is this neighbour who is an elderly woman leaving alone. She also has some sickness. Whenever she needs help, she would call my wife and she would go over to her flat to help her or talk to her. She is not a Christian and I think she is not easy to live with because she has dismissed her maid which she used to have. Her son and wife are staying and working in Melbourne who were once our neighbour before his mother came to stay in this flat.

Be a good neigbour. Not point clashing with people, especially we tend to see them often.

In today’s Our Daily Bread - http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2010/01/22/devotion.aspx (Luke 10:29-37)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is about helping someone (even a stranger) who is in need. Would I go all the way to help such a person?

The priest and Levite would likely be going down to Jerusalem to perform their duties. Hence they may rationalize that helping the needy would delay their travelling or make them unclean. Yeah! We all rationalize when we see someone in need and we are not helping. There’s always a reason not to help :)) or :(:( ??

So this parable is a good reminder and also a time to reflect about doing good or at least be kind to someone who cross our path daily.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Mat 5:16)

Devotion Thought: What is Christian Friendship?

What is true Christian friendship?

From Our Daily Bread on John 15:9-17:
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2010/01/21/devotion.aspx


The Lord Jesus Christ gave us a definition of Christian friendship:

You are my friends if you do what I command (verse 14).

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you (verse 12).

This is my command: Love each other (verse 17).


So, a Christian friend is someone who loves other exactly like how Jesus loves him.

King David has 3 kinds of friends which we also need:

1. Jonathon (1 Sam 18)
- someone who truly love you, encourage you and stand by you even when everyone is against you.

2. Nathan (2 Sam 12)
- someone who chastise and discipline you when you go wrong or fall into sin.

3. Mephibosheth (2Sam 9)
- someone who you can help and care for, knowing that he will never be able to repay your kindness.

Years ago, I have a “Jonathon” where we encourage one another in every aspect. I can consider my spiritual mentor during my younger days as a “Nathan”. Now I don’t have any.

In BPCES, we dare not chastise one another when we see something wrong. Even when I wrote about it, it is considered dangerous and highly critical. Our friendships are just “Sunday” friends, like someone once wrote in my blog. We don’t dare to intrude into others lives, even when they have problem, they try to remain anonymous. None of us want to be a “Mephibosheth” and let others be our “David”.

So, to all Bethanians, be these 3 kinds of friends. Will you?

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Prov 17:17)

Devotion Thought: PRESSING towards Heaven! :)

Like the proverb says: “Time and tide wait for no man”, Life can only move forward, not backward. PRESS ON!!

Each of us has our own success (and failure). For me, I have won many trophies in cross-country race, sword-winner for Officer Cadet Course, scholarships for undergraduate and graduate (oversea study),…

But as I read today’s Daily bread http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2010/01/19/devotion.aspx (Phi 3:7-14);

I couldn’t agree more with Apostle Paul that the greatest event in my life is knowing Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord (verse 8). While we may strive to achieve greatness is all our pursuit – like 9A1s for “O” Levels, gold medal for polytechnics studies, scholarship for undergraduate studies, trophies for sports and arts, sword-winners for Officer Cadet Course, CEO and Entrepreneur Excellence in business, etc, still all these achievements are temporal and “side-shows” (non-events & non-accreditation) when one day we stand before the LORD for accountability. After achieving success (or even failure), we don’t need to savor that sweet feeling (or hurt) but continue press on in life.

That doesn’t mean I can slack in all my duties and tasks. No, I still do my best in all things, and bring glory to God in all achievements. But worldly success or failure is just a passing of this sojourning on earth. So, Press on!!

My real goal is achievement for Christ Jesus. That is my life goal!! :)

(memory verse)
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phi 3:13b,14 NIV)