Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. The news is dominated by the funeral of Michael Jackson this morning. Many were so happy to win a lottery ticket to mourn the loss of their idol. This is another strange phenomenon of the American culture. People throughout the world will temporarily put away their concern for bad economy or international terrorism, and focus on the loss of a popular singer. The city is bankrupt but have to pay millions of taxpayer’s money for the sake of one person’s funeral. Imagine how big an impact one life could make to the lives of millions. So, don’t underestimate what your life can do to the people around you. Michael Jackson’s success did not come without a price tag. He sacrificed a lot (his own well being and his family) to build his fame and career. At the end, did he really enjoy the fruits of his labor? Is it worthy of the cost eternally? We may not have answer for these questions, but somthing for us to think about!
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all noble things are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in, it rouses us up to overcome. Do we so appreciate the marvelous salvation of Jesus Christ that we are our utmost for His highest?
God saves men by His sovereign grace through the Atonement of Jesus; He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; but we have to work out that salvation in practical living. If once we start on the basis of His Redemption to do what He commands, we find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not practiced. The crisis will reveal whether we have been practicing or not. If we obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has put in us by His Spirit, then when the crisis comes, we shall find that our own nature as well as the grace of God will stand by us.
Thank God He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a glad thing, but it is also a heroic, holy thing. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is bringing many "sons" unto glory, and God will not shield us from the requirements of a son. God's grace turns out men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not cowards. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the noble life of a disciple of Jesus in actual things. It is always necessary to make an effort to be noble.
As one politician lately said, “only dead fish follows the flow.” Salmons particularly are famous for their strength to swim against the flow of strong currents toward upstream. Their goal is to reach the place where they came from or the destiny of their life journey. To them, it is the call of nature to perform such impossible task. I don’t know why God choose to design Salmon with such a unique nature or characteristic. But the life of this little creature does challenge us to think about our own life in Christ. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” God has given the followers of Christ a new nature; this new nature is to become the ambassador of Christ. Our new destiny is to become like Christ – to fulfill the salvation plan of God. We no longer exist for our own comfort or our own ambition; we exist for the noble call of this new nature in Christ. Just like the Salmons endure suffering and brave all risk, not for the sake of their own interest, but for the purpose of fulfilling their life mission of giving birth to a new generation at the place where they came from. What is your life mission or divine calling of your new nature in Christ? God may not call you to be full time missionary or minister. But He definitely has a plan for you as He bestows this new nature of Christ into yours. Don’t be afraid of difficulties or dangers ahead of you as you contemplate on your life mission. It will turn out to be a roller-coaster ride that is full of fun and excitement by His grace.
Have a very blessed day in pursuit of His higher call for your life….
Love you as His new creation,
Lawrence
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Devotional 060709
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. What a gorgeous day that we have in the Lord! I enjoy my no pay day off to rest and meditate on God’s words. It is really refreshing each time when I meditate on His words. God’s promise for Joshua is real for us today too, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). If you are too busy to meditate on His words, you are too busy to miss the many blessings that God intended for you to enjoy…
"The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow" (Isaiah 35:7). We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in us, then is the time that Satan comes in with his temptations, and we are apt to say it is no use to go on. Instead of the vision becoming real, there has come the valley of humiliation.
God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to mold us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we will have patience. Think of the enormous leisure of God! He is never in a hurry. We are always in such a frantic hurry. In the light of the glory of the vision we go forth to do things, but the vision is not real in us yet; and God has to take us into the valley, and put us through fires and floods to mold us into shape, until we get to the place where He can trust us with the genuine reality. Ever since we had the vision God has been at work, getting us into the shape of the ideal, and over and over again we escape from His hand and try to mold ourselves into our own shape.
The vision is not a castle in the air, but a vision of what God wants you to be. Let Him put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don't lose heart in the process. If you have ever had the vision of God, you may try as you like to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never let you.
The vision represents your life purpose. God creates you for a purpose that He intended for you to fulfill. You may either hide or escape from His plan. But He will never let you go without molding you toward His vision for you. His vision for you is meant to be a joyous fulfillment in your life. Jonah, the run-away prophet, is our perfect example. He knew he could never escape from His Creator God, but it did not stop him to try. So as he faced the storm in his escape route, he knew he could not run anymore and hurt so many lives along the way, he asked to be thrown into the roaring seas. No matter how rebellious Jonah was, God would not let him go and found his replacement. God’s stubborn love for Jonah and the people of Nineveh did not give up. God wanted Jonah to accomplish the vision to be the channel of God’s blessing to the people Jonah hated. Jonah became the hero to the people of Nineveh that he never wanted. But for sure he was remembered to be the prophet that saved their lives.
God has a vision or purpose for your life. If you follow His plan, you may go through humiliation and many trials. Lift your face up and stay focus on the Lord. He will give you His joy to bear the unbearable and to reach the unreachable vision through your life. The author of Hebrews reminded us of our Lord’s example, “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” (Heb 12:2). God wants you to share His glory to be part of His salvation plan for mankind. Don’t forget to draw close to Him today for your strength.
Love you according to His purpose,
Lawrence
Good morning. What a gorgeous day that we have in the Lord! I enjoy my no pay day off to rest and meditate on God’s words. It is really refreshing each time when I meditate on His words. God’s promise for Joshua is real for us today too, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). If you are too busy to meditate on His words, you are too busy to miss the many blessings that God intended for you to enjoy…
"The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow" (Isaiah 35:7). We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in us, then is the time that Satan comes in with his temptations, and we are apt to say it is no use to go on. Instead of the vision becoming real, there has come the valley of humiliation.
God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to mold us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we will have patience. Think of the enormous leisure of God! He is never in a hurry. We are always in such a frantic hurry. In the light of the glory of the vision we go forth to do things, but the vision is not real in us yet; and God has to take us into the valley, and put us through fires and floods to mold us into shape, until we get to the place where He can trust us with the genuine reality. Ever since we had the vision God has been at work, getting us into the shape of the ideal, and over and over again we escape from His hand and try to mold ourselves into our own shape.
The vision is not a castle in the air, but a vision of what God wants you to be. Let Him put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don't lose heart in the process. If you have ever had the vision of God, you may try as you like to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never let you.
The vision represents your life purpose. God creates you for a purpose that He intended for you to fulfill. You may either hide or escape from His plan. But He will never let you go without molding you toward His vision for you. His vision for you is meant to be a joyous fulfillment in your life. Jonah, the run-away prophet, is our perfect example. He knew he could never escape from His Creator God, but it did not stop him to try. So as he faced the storm in his escape route, he knew he could not run anymore and hurt so many lives along the way, he asked to be thrown into the roaring seas. No matter how rebellious Jonah was, God would not let him go and found his replacement. God’s stubborn love for Jonah and the people of Nineveh did not give up. God wanted Jonah to accomplish the vision to be the channel of God’s blessing to the people Jonah hated. Jonah became the hero to the people of Nineveh that he never wanted. But for sure he was remembered to be the prophet that saved their lives.
God has a vision or purpose for your life. If you follow His plan, you may go through humiliation and many trials. Lift your face up and stay focus on the Lord. He will give you His joy to bear the unbearable and to reach the unreachable vision through your life. The author of Hebrews reminded us of our Lord’s example, “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” (Heb 12:2). God wants you to share His glory to be part of His salvation plan for mankind. Don’t forget to draw close to Him today for your strength.
Love you according to His purpose,
Lawrence
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Calvin and Tiffany's wedding
What a wonderful day to celebrate the wedding ceremony of Calvin and Tiffany at Daly City Campus of Cumberland Presbyterian Chinese Church. We praise God for this beautiful couple. May God bless them with His own presence, and make them a channel of God's blessings to many...Thursday, July 2, 2009
Devotional 020709
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. I enjoyed some quiet time at the dental office early this morning. I was thankful for all the good things that our loving Father has bestowed upon us. It is His grace that we have teeth to eat and taste buds to enjoyed food. No matter your diet is Eden buffet (fruits and vegetables) or Noah’s feast (all you can eat meat of different kinds), God equips us with the sensations and ability to enjoy them all. Of course, life is more than eating. We are thankful for the way He designs and creates our body so that we can enjoy the pleasures of life within His plan. Praise the Lord!
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple… any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27, 33). If the closest relationships of life clash with the claims of Jesus Christ, He says it must be instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person, Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not devoted to Jesus Christ. No man on earth has this passionate love to the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Spirit has imparted it to him. We may admire Him, we may respect Him and reverence Him, but we cannot love Him. The only Lover of the Lord Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and He sheds abroad the very love of God in our hearts. Whenever the Holy Spirit sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is stamped by 'moral spontaneous originality,' consequently the disciple is open to the same charge that Jesus Christ was – that He was not consistent to the religious law and practice of His time. But Jesus Christ was always consistent to God, and the Christian must be consistent to the life of the Son of God in him, not consistent to hard and binding doctrines. Men pour them selves into religious doctrines, and God has to blast them out of their prejudices before they can become devoted to Jesus Christ.
It is hard to differentiate our devotion to Christ but not to a set of laws or doctrines. We understand the concept but hard to put it to practice. We tend to operate within a system of principles. We learn the teaching of Christ from the Bible. We put His teaching into our lives as guiding principles. We follow His commands and obey His commissions as our purpose of life. We thought those commitments expressed our devotion to Christ. What else do we need to do in devoting ourselves passionately to Christ? I guess it is the motivation behind all these activities. We don’t follow His principles and pursue His cause for their own sake, or for the sake of showing off our devout life like the Pharisees. We do all these for the love of Christ. We really don’t know how to love Christ. It is the work of the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to love. This love for Christ is beyond those big principles or great missions for His Kingdom. It is expressed through the daily chores or little things that you do for the love of Christ. Brother Lawrence felt the presence of God in cleaning his kitchen for the love of Christ. There is definitely no law or principles in binding him to do so. It was a “natural” out flow of a “supernatural” experience from within a person’s inner sanctuary. It is for that love of Christ many Christians were willing to die for Christ. Indeed, martyrdom is an expression of a passionate love and devotion to a Person, and to us it is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Love you because our love for Christ,
Lawrence
Good morning. I enjoyed some quiet time at the dental office early this morning. I was thankful for all the good things that our loving Father has bestowed upon us. It is His grace that we have teeth to eat and taste buds to enjoyed food. No matter your diet is Eden buffet (fruits and vegetables) or Noah’s feast (all you can eat meat of different kinds), God equips us with the sensations and ability to enjoy them all. Of course, life is more than eating. We are thankful for the way He designs and creates our body so that we can enjoy the pleasures of life within His plan. Praise the Lord!
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple… any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27, 33). If the closest relationships of life clash with the claims of Jesus Christ, He says it must be instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person, Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not devoted to Jesus Christ. No man on earth has this passionate love to the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Spirit has imparted it to him. We may admire Him, we may respect Him and reverence Him, but we cannot love Him. The only Lover of the Lord Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and He sheds abroad the very love of God in our hearts. Whenever the Holy Spirit sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is stamped by 'moral spontaneous originality,' consequently the disciple is open to the same charge that Jesus Christ was – that He was not consistent to the religious law and practice of His time. But Jesus Christ was always consistent to God, and the Christian must be consistent to the life of the Son of God in him, not consistent to hard and binding doctrines. Men pour them selves into religious doctrines, and God has to blast them out of their prejudices before they can become devoted to Jesus Christ.
It is hard to differentiate our devotion to Christ but not to a set of laws or doctrines. We understand the concept but hard to put it to practice. We tend to operate within a system of principles. We learn the teaching of Christ from the Bible. We put His teaching into our lives as guiding principles. We follow His commands and obey His commissions as our purpose of life. We thought those commitments expressed our devotion to Christ. What else do we need to do in devoting ourselves passionately to Christ? I guess it is the motivation behind all these activities. We don’t follow His principles and pursue His cause for their own sake, or for the sake of showing off our devout life like the Pharisees. We do all these for the love of Christ. We really don’t know how to love Christ. It is the work of the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to love. This love for Christ is beyond those big principles or great missions for His Kingdom. It is expressed through the daily chores or little things that you do for the love of Christ. Brother Lawrence felt the presence of God in cleaning his kitchen for the love of Christ. There is definitely no law or principles in binding him to do so. It was a “natural” out flow of a “supernatural” experience from within a person’s inner sanctuary. It is for that love of Christ many Christians were willing to die for Christ. Indeed, martyrdom is an expression of a passionate love and devotion to a Person, and to us it is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Love you because our love for Christ,
Lawrence
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Devotional 010709
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. While I was driving to office, God prompted me to pray for some missionary candidates who are waiting for God’s provision either for financial support or for visa to enter the mission fields. We may be eager to send them to the needy fields. But our Lord of Harvest seemed to have another plan. Our Lord probably wants them to learn the lesson of waiting, which is not a pleasant experience for most people. Through waiting God nurtures our faith in Him. Apostle James said, “You know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). I guess God cares for our maturity in Him more than our completion of His work. Praise the Lord!
"I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:26). There is no heaven with a little corner of hell in it. God is determined to make you pure and holy and right; He will not allow you to escape for one moment from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit. He urged you to come to judgment right away when He convicted you, but you did not; the inevitable process began to work and now you are in prison, and you will only get out when you have paid the uttermost penalty. "Is this a God of mercy, and of love?" you say. Seen from God's side, it is a glorious ministry of love. God is going to bring you out pure and spotless and undefiled; but He wants you to recognize your true nature - the nature of seeking your right to yourself. The moment you are willing that God should alter your nature, His recreating forces will begin to work. The moment you realize God's purpose, which is to get you rightly related to Himself and then to your fellow men, He will utilize the last limit of the universe to help you take the right road. Decide it now - "Yes, Lord, I will write that email to-night"; "I will be reconciled to that person now."
These messages of Jesus Christ are for the will and the conscience, not for the head. If you dispute the Sermon on the Mount with your head, you will neglect the appeal to your heart.
"I wonder why I don't go on with God?" Are you paying your debts from God's standpoint? Do now what you will have to do some day. Every moral call has an "ought" behind it.
In another word, it is not an option or suggestion to live according to God’s standard. If you don’t, your life will be in jeopardy – you will be paying for your judgment. Your judgment may not be eternal condemnation. You will certainly pay for the consequence of your rebellion. Don’t hesitate to follow God’s purpose for your life and experience His saving grace on a daily basis. Just as Paul said in his letter to the Philippians, “My dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence (at church or fellowship), but now much more in my absence (at workplace or home)--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (2:12-13). As we “determine” to do His will and walk His way, the Holy Spirit will empower us to do accordingly. If we fail, we go back to God and confess our inadequacy to Him. Then, stand up and count on His grace to start all over again. This is how toddlers learn to walk; this is how Christians learn to live.
Love you with His joy,
Lawrence
Good morning. While I was driving to office, God prompted me to pray for some missionary candidates who are waiting for God’s provision either for financial support or for visa to enter the mission fields. We may be eager to send them to the needy fields. But our Lord of Harvest seemed to have another plan. Our Lord probably wants them to learn the lesson of waiting, which is not a pleasant experience for most people. Through waiting God nurtures our faith in Him. Apostle James said, “You know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). I guess God cares for our maturity in Him more than our completion of His work. Praise the Lord!
"I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:26). There is no heaven with a little corner of hell in it. God is determined to make you pure and holy and right; He will not allow you to escape for one moment from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit. He urged you to come to judgment right away when He convicted you, but you did not; the inevitable process began to work and now you are in prison, and you will only get out when you have paid the uttermost penalty. "Is this a God of mercy, and of love?" you say. Seen from God's side, it is a glorious ministry of love. God is going to bring you out pure and spotless and undefiled; but He wants you to recognize your true nature - the nature of seeking your right to yourself. The moment you are willing that God should alter your nature, His recreating forces will begin to work. The moment you realize God's purpose, which is to get you rightly related to Himself and then to your fellow men, He will utilize the last limit of the universe to help you take the right road. Decide it now - "Yes, Lord, I will write that email to-night"; "I will be reconciled to that person now."
These messages of Jesus Christ are for the will and the conscience, not for the head. If you dispute the Sermon on the Mount with your head, you will neglect the appeal to your heart.
"I wonder why I don't go on with God?" Are you paying your debts from God's standpoint? Do now what you will have to do some day. Every moral call has an "ought" behind it.
In another word, it is not an option or suggestion to live according to God’s standard. If you don’t, your life will be in jeopardy – you will be paying for your judgment. Your judgment may not be eternal condemnation. You will certainly pay for the consequence of your rebellion. Don’t hesitate to follow God’s purpose for your life and experience His saving grace on a daily basis. Just as Paul said in his letter to the Philippians, “My dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence (at church or fellowship), but now much more in my absence (at workplace or home)--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (2:12-13). As we “determine” to do His will and walk His way, the Holy Spirit will empower us to do accordingly. If we fail, we go back to God and confess our inadequacy to Him. Then, stand up and count on His grace to start all over again. This is how toddlers learn to walk; this is how Christians learn to live.
Love you with His joy,
Lawrence
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Devotional 300609
Dear brothers and sisters,Good morning. I am back to office today even though my stubborn cough still follows me.
My few days of Sabbath were very helpful and fruitful. I managed to read some book and do some study for a course I took at Western Seminary. It is a very interesting course called Communicating Christ in Culture. It talks about how different cultural factors may affect the way we communicate Christ to different people in the world. The materials are very inspiring, but the course involves a lot of homework. I need to put on my student cap again.
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison" (Matthew 5:25). Jesus Christ is laying down this principle - Do what you know you must do, now, and do it quickly; if you do not, the inevitable process will begin to work and you will have to pay for the consequence in pain and agony and distress. God's laws are unalterable; there is no escape from them. The teaching of Jesus goes straight to the way we are made up.
To see that my adversary gives me my rights is natural; but Jesus says that it is a matter of eternal and imperative importance to me that I pay my adversary what I owe him. From our Lord's standpoint it does not matter whether I am deceived or not; what does matter is that I do not deceive. Am I insisting on my rights, or am I paying what I owe from Jesus Christ's standpoint?
Do the thing quickly, and bring yourself to judgment now. In moral and spiritual matters, you must do it at once; if you do not, the inevitable process will begin to work. God is determined to have His child as pure and clean and white as driven snow, and as long as there is disobedience in any point of His teaching, He will prevent none of the working of His spirit. Our insistence in proving that we are right is nearly always an indication that there has been some point of disobedience. No wonder the Spirit so strongly urges us to walk steadfastly in the light!
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary." Have you suddenly turned a corner in any relationship and found that you had anger in your heart? Confess it quickly, quickly put it right before God, be reconciled to that one - do it now.
Nothing is more damaging than unforgiving spirit or bitterness. It does not only condemn oneself to the hell of burning anger and corrupting health, it also hurts one’s family members and drives people away. That’s why Paul urged us, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph 4:26-27). In most inter-personal relationship, anger was stirred by unfair incidence in life; you are absolutely innocent but people did evil to you or speak evil of you for no reason. But is it really true? Are we truly blameless and innocent? Have you ever pause and meditate on Paul’s words in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”? Does the word “all” include you or not? Before you consume all your energy to prove how other wrong you, confess your wrong before the Lord and let Him enable you to see your own disobedience on His Words.
The key strategy to deal with negative emotion is “don’t let it procrastinate or take root.” We tend to harbor it or subdue it. We thought negative emotion would not bother us if we busy ourselves we something else. But it will come back to haunt on you again from time to time, especially at your most unexpected moment of life. So deal with it quick. Settle the grief in the grace of our Lord Jesus. Jesus has paid your adversary the high price for you on the cross, you just need to confess your sins and claim His promise of forgiveness by faith. Moreover, you also exercise forgiveness as a response to His grace.
Love you because of this Grace,
Lawrence
Monday, June 29, 2009
Devotional 290609
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. Thanks for your prayer for my health. I am recovering quite well even though I still have some lingering coughs today. Praise God for giving me time to rest; my body was just craving for sleep in the last couples of days. I thought I was well enough to do some chores at home, but my body just shut down on me after a few hours. I guess sickness could be a blessing in disguise; God uses sickness to deal with the chronic problem of workaholics in this high-tech and Internet world .
"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell" (Matthew 5:30). Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off the right hand, but - If your right hand offends you in your walk with Me, cut it off. There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but, says Jesus, if it hinders you in following His principles, cut it off. This line of discipline is the sternest one that ever struck mankind.
When God alters a man by regeneration, the characteristic of the life to begin with is that it is “crippled.” There are a hundred and one things you dare not do, things that to you and in the eyes of the world that knows you are as your right hand and your eye, and the ungodly person says - What is wrong in that? How ridiculous you are! There never has been a saint yet who did not have to live a “crippled life” to start with. But it is better to enter into life crippled and lovely in God's sight than to be lovely in man's sight and lame in God's. In the beginning Jesus Christ by His Spirit has to check you from doing a great many things that may be perfectly right for everyone else but not right for you. See that you do not use your limitations to criticize someone else.
It is a “crippled life” to begin with, but in v.48 Jesus gives the picture of a perfectly satisfied and out of the world kind of life that you will eventually become - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
The story of "Jacob wrestling with God" came to my mind. He was a man with “street smart.” Jacob was more than a survivor and a successful businessman, who knew how to manipulate things and people for his own agenda. He moved up quickly to get what he wanted. If he were to live in our history today, he would easily make more money than Warren Buffet (the top three richest men in the world). But his success did not come without expenses or costs to his life - he had a lot of problems with his family and extended family. The most critical turning point of his life was when Jacob decided to reconcile with his past – his broken relationship with his brother Esau. He knew how much it might cost him and to his family. He had calculated his risks but he still did not have peace inside. God came to wrestle with Jacob one night and turned him into a crippled man (Gen 32:24). But God also blessed him with a new name called Israel, which means “he has wrestled with God” or “he has been saved by God.” Indeed his "disability" became his sign of regeneration or salvation.
Any sincere seekers of Truth would have “wrestled with God” in some points of their lives. They may wrestle with God mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally or in some kind of important issues in life. And the common result through this “spiritual struggle” is a crippled life or a life of humility – willfully laid down their personal rights, freedom, convenience or comfort for the sake of a godly life. I guess this is the quality of life that God separates mankind from other creatures on earth. And this is the kind of "life goal" that we are all called to attain. “Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins” (Heb 12:1 Message).
Love you as fellow runners of His race,
Lawrence
Good morning. Thanks for your prayer for my health. I am recovering quite well even though I still have some lingering coughs today. Praise God for giving me time to rest; my body was just craving for sleep in the last couples of days. I thought I was well enough to do some chores at home, but my body just shut down on me after a few hours. I guess sickness could be a blessing in disguise; God uses sickness to deal with the chronic problem of workaholics in this high-tech and Internet world .
"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell" (Matthew 5:30). Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off the right hand, but - If your right hand offends you in your walk with Me, cut it off. There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but, says Jesus, if it hinders you in following His principles, cut it off. This line of discipline is the sternest one that ever struck mankind.
When God alters a man by regeneration, the characteristic of the life to begin with is that it is “crippled.” There are a hundred and one things you dare not do, things that to you and in the eyes of the world that knows you are as your right hand and your eye, and the ungodly person says - What is wrong in that? How ridiculous you are! There never has been a saint yet who did not have to live a “crippled life” to start with. But it is better to enter into life crippled and lovely in God's sight than to be lovely in man's sight and lame in God's. In the beginning Jesus Christ by His Spirit has to check you from doing a great many things that may be perfectly right for everyone else but not right for you. See that you do not use your limitations to criticize someone else.
It is a “crippled life” to begin with, but in v.48 Jesus gives the picture of a perfectly satisfied and out of the world kind of life that you will eventually become - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
The story of "Jacob wrestling with God" came to my mind. He was a man with “street smart.” Jacob was more than a survivor and a successful businessman, who knew how to manipulate things and people for his own agenda. He moved up quickly to get what he wanted. If he were to live in our history today, he would easily make more money than Warren Buffet (the top three richest men in the world). But his success did not come without expenses or costs to his life - he had a lot of problems with his family and extended family. The most critical turning point of his life was when Jacob decided to reconcile with his past – his broken relationship with his brother Esau. He knew how much it might cost him and to his family. He had calculated his risks but he still did not have peace inside. God came to wrestle with Jacob one night and turned him into a crippled man (Gen 32:24). But God also blessed him with a new name called Israel, which means “he has wrestled with God” or “he has been saved by God.” Indeed his "disability" became his sign of regeneration or salvation.
Any sincere seekers of Truth would have “wrestled with God” in some points of their lives. They may wrestle with God mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally or in some kind of important issues in life. And the common result through this “spiritual struggle” is a crippled life or a life of humility – willfully laid down their personal rights, freedom, convenience or comfort for the sake of a godly life. I guess this is the quality of life that God separates mankind from other creatures on earth. And this is the kind of "life goal" that we are all called to attain. “Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins” (Heb 12:1 Message).
Love you as fellow runners of His race,
Lawrence
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