Instead of starting with Luke 4, I start with
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
(Matthew 6:22-23 ESV)
The single eye of the body refer to our focus. What we see is what view life is. What we aim is what we pursue and laid the foundation of what we want to build.
In Luke 4, is about the temptation of Jesus in the desert. I used to hear sermon regarding the areas we have to guard - material, power and status.
But these are something new as I hear Mat 6:22-23. It is not the worldly Christian but the double-minded Christian. The later is one who compromised. How great is the darkness of deception?
Man shall not live by bread alone. The first temptation. Can we then have both? Compromises?
This test on our basic rights, the world ask for rights, especially the basic "human rights". What then are we surrendering to? It is the all not just the word "alone" to give an excuse for compromise to the temptation.
The second is the kingdom of the world offered if you bow down to me. Obvious no, no bow down. That is simple, but anyway that is too much, I just want some. Compromise again of this temptation with our life goal. This test on our resolutions, not to win the world, the treasures of the world, but what we just aim that is enough. To this compromise is not taking shortcuts, but focus on godly matters.
The last is commanding the angels to support Jesus. Not that we want that, but at least we have a portion of that ability. Compromise in our identity. Guard our relationship, not what we build with man to lord over them, but stay true.
To sum up - 3 compromises that we ought to stay of - our basic needs, our life goal and our self identity. It test us in the areas of our rights, our resolutions and our relationship.
What make us worldly is simple. What is more difficult is a double-minded in the things that we say it is ok in some and compromised. Therefore we surrender our rights to God, we stay on course in our Godly purposes and our stay true in our relationship with God.
Therefore, I pray for that single eye focus of God, for the double-minded Christian is one that is difficult to spot. We know well who we are in God or have we live in a life of compromises? If our focus is bad, then how great is that darkness.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
8 August 2012; Luke 3
8 August 2012; Luke 3
Listen up: God still speaks. How long have we not hear from God? That means we have distance from God. Since the last book in OT - 400 years of silence - why> the people of Israel has fallen away from God. But that does not means that God is dead. In the NT, the angel appears to Zechariah and Mary.
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
(Luke 3:2 ESV)
The word of God came to John.
Wake up: When John came, the first words from his mouth is
He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
(Luke 3:7-8 ESV)
Change, repent and get your lives in priority.
I pray for myself, that my life will be right before God. I need to lead - my family. I need to do the right things for God and in God.
Rise up: John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
(Luke 3:16-17 ESV)
Know that there is a God. The world does not operate alone. The world has a lot to offer but will pass away. Know what is to come. I have passed half life. This is the period of not to chase after the wind or the dreams of youth. But to build upon the next generation to come.
I pray that this last lap is godfully gain in the laying of foundation for the next generation. Amen.
Listen up: God still speaks. How long have we not hear from God? That means we have distance from God. Since the last book in OT - 400 years of silence - why> the people of Israel has fallen away from God. But that does not means that God is dead. In the NT, the angel appears to Zechariah and Mary.
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
(Luke 3:2 ESV)
The word of God came to John.
Wake up: When John came, the first words from his mouth is
He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
(Luke 3:7-8 ESV)
Change, repent and get your lives in priority.
I pray for myself, that my life will be right before God. I need to lead - my family. I need to do the right things for God and in God.
Rise up: John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
(Luke 3:16-17 ESV)
Know that there is a God. The world does not operate alone. The world has a lot to offer but will pass away. Know what is to come. I have passed half life. This is the period of not to chase after the wind or the dreams of youth. But to build upon the next generation to come.
I pray that this last lap is godfully gain in the laying of foundation for the next generation. Amen.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
7 August; Luke 2
7 August; Luke 2
One of my favourite verse Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and in statue and in favour with God and man.
How Jesus grew in spelled out in chapter 2 and summaries in verse 52.
From verse 1 - 21 is about God at work. How the birth place of Jesus is orchestrate to be at the city of David or Bethlehem.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
(Luke 2:1-4 ESV)
The birth of Jesus was foretold in the OT, Saviour would be a human (Gen 3:15, Heb 2:16), and a Jew, (Gen 12:1–3; Num 24:17), from the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), and the family of David (2 Sam 7:1–17), born of a virgin (Isa 7:14) in Bethlehem, the city of David (Mic 5:2).
so in the same way, our birth is for God purposes. Likewise the birth of Jo, Deb and Mat are from God. their name like Jesus was given by God. I pray for them that they will live up to the intend of God.
The second is man at work. Jesus was taken care of up 2 godly parents Joseph and Mary. Evidence from Luke 2 showed that Joseph and Mary knows the matter of God, the law and the traditions.
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
(Luke 2:22-24 ESV)
As parent, the birth of my children needs the godly direction from us. I pray that as parent, we will bring out the God fearing element in them. That we will teach them in the way of God and show them who God is.
Lastly, I pray for them to grow in God by the way of man - themselves.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
(Luke 2:46-47 ESV)
Like Jesus who sit among the teachers of the law and learn about God.
I shared with Jo, this morning the purposes of growing holistically in wisdom (academic, competent), in stature (health and physically), in favour with God (spiritual) and with man (relationship). The circle will grow in proportion.
One of my favourite verse Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and in statue and in favour with God and man.
How Jesus grew in spelled out in chapter 2 and summaries in verse 52.
From verse 1 - 21 is about God at work. How the birth place of Jesus is orchestrate to be at the city of David or Bethlehem.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
(Luke 2:1-4 ESV)
The birth of Jesus was foretold in the OT, Saviour would be a human (Gen 3:15, Heb 2:16), and a Jew, (Gen 12:1–3; Num 24:17), from the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), and the family of David (2 Sam 7:1–17), born of a virgin (Isa 7:14) in Bethlehem, the city of David (Mic 5:2).
so in the same way, our birth is for God purposes. Likewise the birth of Jo, Deb and Mat are from God. their name like Jesus was given by God. I pray for them that they will live up to the intend of God.
The second is man at work. Jesus was taken care of up 2 godly parents Joseph and Mary. Evidence from Luke 2 showed that Joseph and Mary knows the matter of God, the law and the traditions.
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
(Luke 2:22-24 ESV)
As parent, the birth of my children needs the godly direction from us. I pray that as parent, we will bring out the God fearing element in them. That we will teach them in the way of God and show them who God is.
Lastly, I pray for them to grow in God by the way of man - themselves.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
(Luke 2:46-47 ESV)
Like Jesus who sit among the teachers of the law and learn about God.
I shared with Jo, this morning the purposes of growing holistically in wisdom (academic, competent), in stature (health and physically), in favour with God (spiritual) and with man (relationship). The circle will grow in proportion.
Monday, August 06, 2012
6 Aug 2012; James 1
6 Aug; James 1
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
(James 1:12-15 ESV)
What differentiate a person who stood trial? One who is steadfast and one who fell to temptation.
In similarities, both began the trial in a similar amount of faith and in a similar purposes.
In contrast, one stand and stood the trial. The other gave up to temptation.
The one who stood till the end received the crown. The one who fail did not received the crown. BUT how the same similarities lead to a different ending?
IN the process, greed and fear crept in. The blame starts - I am doing this is because of God - a fear excuses? God ask me to do so - so that I am being a good steward? Greed crept in - it is our own desire.
We fear losing out - losing out to what the world can offer. We greed because what others have, I also want. IN the end, we lose track of the race. We started off well in faith but excuses came and finally lose the crown.
I pray for Jo, as he reach teens against the pressure of greed and far that his peers will put to him. I pray for myself, as the world tempts with money, lt greed and fear not grips me. Let me to focus on the things of God. Amen.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
(James 1:12-15 ESV)
What differentiate a person who stood trial? One who is steadfast and one who fell to temptation.
In similarities, both began the trial in a similar amount of faith and in a similar purposes.
In contrast, one stand and stood the trial. The other gave up to temptation.
The one who stood till the end received the crown. The one who fail did not received the crown. BUT how the same similarities lead to a different ending?
IN the process, greed and fear crept in. The blame starts - I am doing this is because of God - a fear excuses? God ask me to do so - so that I am being a good steward? Greed crept in - it is our own desire.
We fear losing out - losing out to what the world can offer. We greed because what others have, I also want. IN the end, we lose track of the race. We started off well in faith but excuses came and finally lose the crown.
I pray for Jo, as he reach teens against the pressure of greed and far that his peers will put to him. I pray for myself, as the world tempts with money, lt greed and fear not grips me. Let me to focus on the things of God. Amen.
Sunday, August 05, 2012
8 Aug 2012; Luke 1:39-80
8 Aug 2012; Luke 1:39-80
Mary and Zechariah both gave a songs each. The song speaks about joy and raise God.
In Mary's song, she mentioned about the proud and the humble. Mary knew how the Lord has blessed her.
In Zechariah's song, he parised God for the purposes. Zechariah was a priest and he knew what God was going to do.
Regardless, both allow God to fulfil His plan through them, both praise God and gave thanks.
I have not met an angel, nor was shown what plan God is going to do. But there is no excuse not to praise God or to give thanks. That ok with me, for it is the appreciation and the gratitude of the heart for the things and the blessings God has done for me.
But I am still very lost about next year plan that I am asking God about. Show me, in Jesus' name open the door for the plan and the family. Amen.
Mary and Zechariah both gave a songs each. The song speaks about joy and raise God.
In Mary's song, she mentioned about the proud and the humble. Mary knew how the Lord has blessed her.
In Zechariah's song, he parised God for the purposes. Zechariah was a priest and he knew what God was going to do.
Regardless, both allow God to fulfil His plan through them, both praise God and gave thanks.
I have not met an angel, nor was shown what plan God is going to do. But there is no excuse not to praise God or to give thanks. That ok with me, for it is the appreciation and the gratitude of the heart for the things and the blessings God has done for me.
But I am still very lost about next year plan that I am asking God about. Show me, in Jesus' name open the door for the plan and the family. Amen.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
1 Aug 2012; Prov 1
1 Aug 2012; Prov 1
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
(Proverbs 1:28 ESV)
Contrast this verse with
Mat 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Basically, I sense God is scolding me.
I sense His displeasure, his anger and his impatient.
Before v28 is verse 20-25 that talks about disoebient, turning away from God.
I pray for myself, my family for the forgiveness of our sins and our follishness. That we are not faithful in your ways, in keeping your words..
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
(Proverbs 1:28 ESV)
Contrast this verse with
Mat 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Basically, I sense God is scolding me.
I sense His displeasure, his anger and his impatient.
Before v28 is verse 20-25 that talks about disoebient, turning away from God.
I pray for myself, my family for the forgiveness of our sins and our follishness. That we are not faithful in your ways, in keeping your words..
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