Is it genuine?

Matthew 6:1
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

That verse is dead on when it comes to warning us not to be all braggy and showy in front of people.
That is exactly why you shouldn’t just view someone based on their actions and the way they are in public.
What you see is not necessarily what you get.

In the past couple of months I’ve been traveling around and staying for a little with friends here and there.
Seeing them at home in their natural habitat is different from seeing them out in the public, say at church being the prime example.
Seeing how they interact with people, how they react to this bad situation, how they are at ease at home and rather uptight out in the public.
Seeing them relax vs be close to melting point.
It’s all very different.

But what always used to make me think, and it still does, was what that bible passage says. Actually the following few verses in chapter 6 of Matthew. All the way up to verse 18. Everything we do in secret will be rewarded in heaven.

Which was why when I first became a Christian, and I thought to myself, I should start with the book of Genesis, then when I reached Leviticus, it got too hard, so then I decided I should read Matthew. Then I came across chapter 6. And it made me all the more shy about praying in public. Why should I pray out loud in public for all to hear? Why should I practice being a Christian in front of people if people will think I’m braggy?

I think it took me a while to understand the meaning of this passage.
And here’s what I learnt [and will always continue to learn about this]:

The passage tells us not to be showy offy. Like the Pharisees.
A “Sunday Christian”. Someone who is only a Christian on Sunday. And then gradually throughout the week, slips back into his/her old ways and habits. But when in front of people, gives off a persona of someone who is a Christian, all holy and righteous and look at me, and my big super holy nose.

Yes, we should practice what is being preached. And we should practice what we preach. And practice what we believe.

The difference is, behind closed doors, we need to still pray in secret, do righteous things in secret, fast in secret. And not to make a spectacle about it.
And so through time, this becomes a good discipline, so much so it becomes part of your daily life, pretty much ingrained... that it then goes out with you into the open. And it becomes part of your character, a righteous character trait.

And so when people do view you at home, or observe you when you’re not looking [or you're blatantly not on stage for all to see], you are genuine.
Your goodness is genuine. And that you’re not a hypocrite. But you’re the real deal.

But what happens behind closed doors is between you and God.

Is your faith for show? Or is it genuine?
In front of people, you’re in the light.
But when you’re alone, are you in the light with God? Or are you hidden in the dark? Not being the light??
Are you really genuine? Is what you believe and say you believe genuine?

I guess only God knows. And you too.

in waiting

Romans 12:12 
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.


As simple as the author wrote, it’s a simple matter of a fact statement. But there is an element of challenge to it.

How far, just how far, would YOU go for your friends?
So you’re going to meet up with a friend. Say, by the train station exit. You get there, about 2-5 minutes early. And you wait. You look at your watch, it’s now the time that you and friend agreed to meet. You look around, and see no sign of friend. Then 10 minutes pass, still no show. 15 minutes, 20, then 30. Sure in this day and age, there are things like mobile phones: a quick phone call to see where your friend is, or a text message just in case your friend is driving. But what if your friend doesn’t have a phone? Or forgot the phone? Or the mobile ran out of battery? Or nobody is picking up the phone?
Would you still wait? Would you still stand there waiting after 30 minutes? 45 minutes? And hour? Even still, no form of communication?
How far would you go, in terms of waiting?

I’ve asked this question to a few of my friends. Most would give it 30 minutes, some an hour. You also have to take into consideration how close of a friend this friend was.
Some say that if this friend is well-known for having issues with punctuality, they’d expect that from them.
Others say that if this has happened on many occasions, just to you... then that friend is just disrespecting you, disrespecting your time. Doesn’t respect this friendship. Expects you to keep waiting [with no communication, on their part, though they could communicate, they just don't....]
You would be unforgiving, wouldn’t you?
In theory, you say you’d be ok, but if this has actually happened to you, after an hour or maybe two hours of waiting... you certainly grow very annoyed.

What about waiting on God? How long can you wait for?

You asked God, in prayer, for something.
Maybe it was for God to heal someone’s mother--who has been in a coma for several years.
Maybe you asked God to bless you with a spouse.
Maybe you asked God to provide a way for you to go on to the mission field.
Maybe you asked God to save the family members and to receive salvation.
Maybe you asked God to bless you with a baby.
Maybe you just want the time to pass by quickly so you can hurry up and not wait around for this special day to happen etc.
Whatever it is, our patience is certainly tested.

Then you see someone else healed, yet that other person is not.
You attend someone’s wedding, perhaps that person getting married is in their 30s or 40s.
You learn about someone getting funding and being sent off within 6 months to the mission field, absolutely everything falling in to place.
Several thousand people believe, yet your family still don’t.
Suddenly there’s a baby boom and everyone around you is having babies.
etc.

Sure, our patience is tested even more, when you see that God is answering prayers for other people, but just not answering YOUR prayers.
How annoyed does that make you feel? Jealous much? sure!

Yet in the bible, we are STILL told to be joyful in hope. Not hope begrudgingly. Not “I hope so... but bleh” type of hope. It’s to be joyful IN hope. Have hope that is positive and joyful.

We are STILL told to be patient in affliction. Nobody likes waiting around. Affliction meaning times of distress, grief, bad times, misery, sickness etc. just generally negative times. And through this, be patient  because things can only get better.

And lastly. Faithful in prayer. Continue to be faithfully praying, in communication to God.
Like keep calling that friend up when you’re waiting for them.
Keep calling on God, keep talking.

He might be telling you that you need to wait, He’s coming. But if you don’t communicate with Him, you won’t know what He’s telling you.

Patience IS a virtue, yes. Virtue as a good thing, righteous thing.
But praying faithfully and joyful hope, is like the cream-of-the-crop icing on a righteous and delicious cake.

holy not impure

1 Thessalonians 4:7
“God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.”

A very short, to the point verse for today.
So short and to the point, all I’ll say is this.
We need to live holy lives, not impure lives.

If we believe in Him, we will walk the walk, not only talk the talk, but walk the walk.
And in walking this walk, we must do what He taught.

So it’s not all believe and thats all.
We do need to live holy lives, not impure lives.

Straight, to the point, and short post today.
But it makes us think, or so I hope.

Sober-minded

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

I think I’ve forgotten what people are like when they are not sober, by that I mean drunk. Drunk not on life, but intoxicated on alcohol. I recently came across some drunks, (not by choice of course! But God happened to place me there!)
And all I can say is, wow, what a life they have.
When drunk, or not sober, you really don’t have boundaries. Or a sense of good or bad. Really. Your mind is totally skewed, so much so that your thoughts are incredibly irrational.

[no wonder why people shouldn’t drink and drive!]

But that’s besides the point.

My point is, even in the bible it says we must be sober-minded. To not be drunk so much so we lose our senses. Be watchful, or in some other bible versions, it says to be vigilant. To stay awake and to never be caught off guard. How do you expect to be awake and to not be caught off guard if you’re fast asleep because your senses are switched off due to being drunk??

The next part, is a warning. I don’t know about you, but sure we never get in much contact with lions, as a normal person. But if you’re like me and you’re scared of dogs--it’s a scary thought. Fine, dogs don’t eat you up [but they do bite!] I’m thinking those that are trained to be dog-fighters can really attack!
Or how about snakes that do eat you alive. Or crocodiles. ok. imagination running wild. But we’re talking serious animals that will devour you. To sum, we need to be careful!

It says to resist him and to be firm in your faith and to know that we’re not the only ones suffering--as others are too. How encouraging is that thought! Because actually when we are suffering we seem to wallow in self-pity. But it all seems much better when you know you’re not the only one having a pity party. After all, misery loves company!

But yeh, all this can be done by being watchful, on your guard, being firm in faith [i.e. trusting in God, that He will help!] And being sober-minded-so you can at least walk in a straight line.

In times of suffering we don’t have to turn to drink to make it seem easier.
In times of suffering we need to know that others do understand.
And in times of suffering, we need to remember that it’s times like these that we need to be firm in our faith and know that God rules.
Easier said than done. But it’s a great reminder. Right?

Unchangeable

Malachi 3:6
"For I am the Lord, I do not change.”

Despite how over time by default, circumstances change and over time our thinking and just general attitudes change over time, maybe because of this bad experience with a guy or girl... Or you've been made unemployed suddenly... Or you for some crazy reason, experience financial loss, so much so that you must file for bankruptcy...

Over time, human beings change.
Friends and other relationships change too.
Someone you used to consider dear and closest to you will one day be very far from you physically or emotionally. Why? Too many changes and making it so hard to continue having that relationship. Because friendship is a two way street: Only works if both parties want the friendship to continue. But sometimes it just doesn't happen. And so it becomes a one way street. And then eventually nobody walks down that street, because there’s no point in trying to get through to the other person.

And that's what it's like with lots of people... And their relationship with God.

We say things have changed.
But really... God doesn't change. It's us that has changed. Not Him. God remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
And despite how much we change, either for better or worse (or richer or poorer, sickness and health!!) ... He will not move and change.
He will not be shaken or affected.
Simply put, that's stability for you.

And what's crazy is that the truth always remains the same. And that is, despite how much we change, how far we end up away from God, He will always be waiting for us. It's not really a temperamental relationship like how it is with so and so... It's different. It's not hot or cold. It will always be a fact that God loves us no matter how we mess up time and time again.

With an unchangeable God, with an unchangeable relationship-- who wants to follow the world where fashions change, people change, leaders change, money fluctuates...?
I know I don’t. Do you?

Go and make

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

This is the classic missions verse showcasing the ever so famous great commission. Sure it's overused among certain circles, but it has reason to be overused. And with great significance does this verse hold.

There is one thing that I particularly enjoying doing when studying or meditating on a verse... And that's to think about the verbs used in the verse. Let's do just that today...

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

With those verbs highlighted it really helps us understand the importance of this verse. And to put simply in a nutshell, this verse is telling us to: go, make disciples, baptize them, teach them to obey commands.

And just in case we get a little disheartened along this path of life of Christianhood, Jesus wants us to know that He is always always with us until the very end. That's sweet.

Let's all meditate on those verbs and then the verse as a whole...

Seeds in different ground

Mark 4:1-20 (NIV)

The Parable of the Sower

4 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outsideeverything is said in parables 12 so that,“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,    and ever hearing but never understanding;otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’[a]”13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

I know, I know. It's a massive chunk of text. But in all honesty it's such a great parable.

Jesus is so creative to be able to use a story like that to help people in those days AND people of today... To visualize something with a scene in order to explain something that has always been true and will always be true.

I never truly understood this parable, nor related much to it before. But it wasn't until I was the one sowing seeds (sowing as in putting out the seeds so they would grow)... I could relate to it because I was doing just that.
Even still, when I first started sowing seeds (by serving and planting seeds in lives by sharing the gospel)... I just assumed that God knows where all the seeds were falling, in good soil or in bad places with bad growing conditions. I just figured God knows. And it's ok.

But in actual fact, we should care about the seeds.

I want to be truthful here. After many years of sowing now... When I started I wasn't sure about the end results. I didn't know if these plants would grow. I wasnt sure if fruit would florish.
But now as the years have passed, I've learnt a lot about the different types of seeds grown in different conditions. And truth is, it's a sad sad outcome that some seeds will never grow, some will be eaten away by crows, some will be choked by thorns... It's sad but true.
I've seen that happen to some people through the years.

But while seeing the bad, I've also seen the good seeds grow into something amazing!
And well it's encouraging to see!

Yet one thing remains: although it's sad to see that some of the seeds don't end up in good growing conditions-- we shouldnt be discouraged. We should continue sowing seeds. Because the fruit is by far something worth celebrating over.
And at the end of the day, God might just save the bad seeds eventually...
But all in all--it's important to not forget this parable. It demonstrates that God determines where the seed falls. And we should continue to sow for Him.

I challenge you to read it again, slowly and to reflect upon it.

Alive and active

Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

I've come to notice a difference in certain public speakers. Or just someone speaking in a speech. I've come to love speakers that are biblically sound and concrete. Backing each statement they make with scripture that isn't just to prove the point of the point being made, but rather using the word as God's original intention, that is to speak to us. And for it to be applied to our lives.

"Alive and active" indeed.
It's as alive as Jesus was after He rose from the dead. 
It's active and moving people in all directions to face God.
It's alive even though it was written so so long ago.
It's active almost like it is so full of energy and is ready to explode in your face (but in a good way!)
It's alive as like God has breathed life into it so its so very alive.
And it's active like its so powerful and influencial so much so when one reads it you can't help but be swept away by it.

The next few parts of the verse are always mentioned as its very visual and descriptive.Yet I do want to say a few words about the bit before the end:
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. vs. 13
I get tremendous encouragement from this verse. Simply because it reminds us that God is watching, nothing is hidden from His sight. Like he has super vision. And I think about those that might be suffering at the hands of those that want to harm or are against God, causing people to suffer. I just think that those that cause the suffering will have to deal and give an account. And God will judge that.

It is not in secret, though hidden to the public, it is uncovered and laid out in the open before God--the judge.
The good, the bad, the ugly.
And God can see everything.God reveals our sins at the very end. All the bad. But I guess we have an opportunity to deal with it. And with God's word (the bible) being so alive and active, and through the Holy Spirit...
We can pray that you'd be convicted (owning up after feeling bad/guilty) and so will change.

Come near

James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you.

This is a verse that I didn’t know existed until I randomly found it, and figured it was appropriate to write it in someone’s birthday card. And then later on the friend tells me it was the second time they read that verse, within the same day. Someone else shared that same verse with them.

It’s a great reminder, is it not, to come near to God. In some versions it’s draw near... get close to...

I was struggling to find something applicable for today, or wasn't able to find inspiration for verses worth devo-reflecting upon. Even looking at other verses, nothing came.
Until I remembered this verse.

And I think in times when you’re absent minded. Or you feel like you don’t know what’s going on. Or just downright distracted, I think whatever happens, you need to do one thing, and that’s to draw near, come near, get close to God. And by default He’ll do the same.
It’s not like we can develop a relationship with someone, or anyone, even God, from a distance.
We have to physically, spiritually and mentally be closer in distance... in order to develop intimacy.
We need to approach Him daily, on a regular basis, in the name of Jesus, in faith and in prayer.

So when you’re stuck. Or if you’re clueless, or if you’re you’re feeling meh.... just come near to God.

I’ll end here and that’ll be my little contribution to this blog for the day. After feeling a bit meh. Time to go near to God.

Stained

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” 
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow; 
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool. 


I have a tendency to drop food down my front. Always. Without fail. And I won’t notice it until later on, when it’s really really far too late to wipe it clean. Or rinse it out quickly.
It’s come to the point whereby I don’t really care, because it happens too often now.
One time I met someone, we went to eat something. And she dropped a bit of the sauce on her top. She went berserk. It was a stain, it sure looked bad. But it was nothing in comparison to how bad I usually have it.
And it made me think, sins are like stains. We should care about it. Not just ignore it.
Because at the end of the day they ARE very difficult to get rid of. Stains. oh and sins.
I realised I should care when I stain a top.

It wasn’t when I dropped a stain on one of my favourite tops did I realise the importance or rather how bad my condition was.

Washing any stain is hard work. It only hits you when you must hand wash the stains.
Warm water, soap, fingers rubbing them, or rubbing the material with another bit of the material. And some tough and stubborn stains are nightmares.

I like the above verse.
Our sins are like scarlet. A deep deep red. So very stained. And a very stubborn thing to wash out.
Yet they will be as white as snow. It will become pure again...
Red as crimson -- another deep deep red.... it’ll be like wool--un-dyed wool, a pure and natural form.

That’s nice.

So should I be fussed when I stain something? If at the end of the day, God will wash my sins away so my top becomes as white as snow?

Hmmm...

Didn’t Spare Him

Romans 8:32 NIV
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?


In my own words, to sum up the above verse... simply put.
God gives us freebies. After all, He gave His Son for us, and didn’t spare Him.
Wow.

He didn’t spare his own Son. He didn’t hesitate to put his own Son’s neck on the line, for our sakes. In the dictionary, “to spare” can mean, refrain from harm or destroying, hurt or pain. So God didn’t spare his Son. He didn’t stop his own Son from harm, from feeling pain or hurt. For our sakes. So we don’t need to suffer the consequences of our sins.
God gave his Son for us.

And so the argument is, how then will he NOT give us things?
I’m not talking material things (although that’s usually the obvious assumption). God is more than the material giver.
I know people in Asia worship Santa Claus because they believe he’s the god of material gifts.
No, not God, the Creator. 
He’s not only the provider of material goods. He also blesses us with: 
- Redemption: delivering us from our wages of sin [which would have been death]
- Grace [a free gift, see the previous post!]
- Spiritual blessings [can’t summarize right now sorry... another post for another day!]
- Adoption into His family of believers so we are Heirs to His throne in Heaven. [yeh, we’re Royalty!]
- Eternal life
- And of course love 
I could go on. That’s just the tip of the iceberg!


It’s a crazy concept. How freely He gives. But it was at the cost to His own Son’s death. 
To a non-believer who can’t get their head around it, or a normal person... You’d think He was nuts.
No. I think that’s what we call UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
Love with NO limits. For the sake of so many more of His Sons and Daughters.
Sweet.