25 Jul 2008

Isa 4:2 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. [1] 5 Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Theology must lead to doxlogy. Meaning that the knowlege in God must lead to worship. It is first about A-ha, to Hmm, to Oh, to Wow.

For a none believer of God, when you first tell them about God, in courtesy they will give you a A-ha. The words will just be words and reading them does not meanings anything special to them.

But when God come into their life, the words take root and from just words, they become meaning, a meaning that describe this God that they just knew.

With some pointers, reading the words, does not seek just the words, but the giver of the word, that is God Himself. The Lord our God speak to us through the word. Now it will be a Hmm.

Finally, when you dig into the words and realised the inmeasurable love of God that is reveal and awe at the wonder of God, the words suddenly become Wow.

Take a look at Isa 4.
So what is a shade to someone. At most in Singapore it is a good place to be away from the sun and heat. Now imagine that shade cover the entire assembly - million of peopl and imagine that this shade form not just a cover, but a shelter that protects us from all elements, not just the heat, but rain. Now further imagine - that shade is the glory of God.

You are now immerse in this glory of God - that covers the land, the land of Singapore- Wow. How much is His love that provides and protects! No wonder verse 1 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel AND that to me is God's promises to me and that I claim.

The Wow needs the discipline to continue to read and dwell in his words. The few disciplines are
1. Daily Reading
2. Daily Journalling (writing)
3. Daily praying

As you first read - boring, but continue. As you first write - nothing to pen, just scribble. When you first pray - tell God your fustration in reading and writing and ask Him to reveal to you the meaning of His words.

These disciplines build the form, they will become a habit and as you desire to seek the giver of the words, the words will become alive to you, the you will Wow and be awe at the wonders of God and His love for us.

I pray for Rachael, Josef, that they will continue to dig deep into your teasures and Lord, reveal to them your goodness and your love for them. As for me, help me to account for this discipline, at least for Rachael and Josef to encourage them to read your words.

I too pray for time to do bible study with them.