Posts from — January 2011

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” –Exodus 14:14 (ESV)

We love to give advice. Whether it is asked of us or not, we do not mind at all sharing our opinions on what to do in a certain situation or when tackling a specific problem. It makes us feel clever and useful to know that we have a voice and are able to use it for the benefit of others. Of course there is nothing wrong in giving advice. A timely piece of counsel said with genuine humility and love can do wonders for its hearers and set them on the right path. However, sometimes we may condescendingly give advice to others because we do not have faith in them. Though they may know what they are doing, we may feel that they do not. Thus we compel ourselves to enlighten them so that they would fulfil our expectations; even at the expense of their irritation.

Often times we do the same thing with God. While we may declare with our mouths that we surrender our circumstances to the perfect wisdom and will of Christ, we may not do the same with our hearts. When we see that things are not going our way, we mistakenly take it as a sign that God is not doing His job and decide that it is up to us to pick up the pace. We then make our suggestions to God; arrogantly thinking that the Creator of the universe needs the aid of our fallible human wisdom. How quickly do we forget the faithfulness and love of God! He has promised us that when we call upon His name and submit our situations to Him, He will fight for us on our behalf; overcoming them so as to fulfil the wonderful plan He has in store for our lives. Trying to work through our situations on our own faulty understanding will only serve to hinder the realization of the work that Christ is doing for each and every one of us. But when we allow ourselves to truly trust in our Saviour, giving our fears and apprehensions to Him, we can rest in calm and quiet peace knowing that we are in His hands and that He will always emerge victorious no matter the storms we may face.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good…show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” –Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)

First impressions are always important. How we are portrayed in the minds of others is often determined by the initial contact we make with them. Whether it is a job interview or meeting a new person for the first time, we are taught to put our best foot forward in an effort to present ourselves well. But as we become more familiar with others however, our true personalities begin to reveal themselves. We may take for granted that because the other person has achieved a certain level of friendship with us; we can take certain liberties around them without any consequences to our relationship with them. Yet so often we fall into this trap of unknowingly hurting others by our careless words and choices; even if we have not done so directly to them. By the time we realize the example we have been setting, the damage is done and we lament over our folly.

Living a blameless life never does harm. On the contrary it will ultimately serve to the benefit of ourselves and of others. Abiding in the righteousness of Christ leads not only to a restored relationship with God, but brings healing and life to human relationships as well. That is why it is imperative that in our interactions with others we do not use familiarity as a reason to justify our willingness to say or do that which is not in keeping with what is right and pure. Sin taints all that it touches and like a corrosive acid it will break the precious bonds which bind us to those we love. Wherever we are placed, in whatever context, we are to live in a manner that pleases Christ so that no one will have an excuse to condemn us of being unashamed hypocrites. But if we think we can do this on our own, we are mistaken and will find it to be an impossible task. It is only when we have allowed the Spirit of Christ to enter our lives and free us from our bondage to sin that we will be made righteous through Him. By submitting our thoughts and attitudes to His Spirit’s refining work we will rest securely in the fact that when we walk blamelessly in Him, we are participants in His restorative mission to the world; with none able to justly condemn us.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“For God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it.” –Job 33:14 (NIV)

When I was 12 years old I went to the gym with my cousin. Though I was not aware of this, there was an age limit and I was well under it. The moment I stepped into the room I heard a loud, booming voice. “Please step out of the gym!”. I was taken aback. Looking for the source of the voice, I saw no one except my cousin, and turning around there was no one behind me. Thoroughly surprised and baffled I complied and waited outside. It was only later did I realize that there was a speaker and a security camera near the entrance of the gym. Clearly the voice was that of a security guard wanting to enforce the age restriction so that I, in my childish folly, would not misuse the equipment or get myself hurt.

Sometimes, in the face of trial or uncertainty, we wish that God would speak to us in a tangible way. We may feel that ideally it would be nice if God directed us from a loudspeaker; telling us to “Go here!” “Go there!” “Do This!” and “Stay away from that!”. In most cases however, God does not do this. But that does not mean that He is not speaking to us. On the contrary He is always speaking to us; attempting to guide us according to His perfect wisdom and love so that we may find lasting security and joy in Him. The question is are we listening? Sin has corrupted our senses, and therefore our ears have been dulled to the voice of God. But when we allow the Spirit of Christ to reside in our hearts and seek to follow His will, He will tune our ears to His voice. We will begin to hear His voice through the Scriptures, and through the people and situations He brings along our path. As long as we remain close to Him, His voice will always remain audible, and will always seek to impart to us life as we allow His Spirit to lead and guide our steps.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,” –Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV)

Why do we do what we do? Our actions always have a purpose behind them. We cannot divorce ourselves from the fact that behind whatever we do there is a motive which drives us. Then what is the reason that compels us to do good? Why are we concerned about the needs of others and seeing to their restoration and welfare? One reason we may give is that it feels good to do what is right and noble. But basing our actions on feeling can be quite problematic; especially considering that human feelings are fickle. When we grow weary and frustrated of doing what is admirable and helping others, will not our attitudes change? Will we be as willing and enthusiastic to serve those around us in love and with joy?

Our acts of goodwill, if our feelings are our prime motivator, are self-centred and self-congratulatory at best. As long as it makes us feel good about ourselves, we will continue to act in a benevolent manner. However, once our feelings change, our actions or lack of action will reflect this shift in our hearts. If we truly desire to consistently and genuinely act toward the benefit of others, our reason must not be found in our fallible emotions. When we allow the Spirit of Christ to enter our lives and seek to conform ourselves to His likeness, our desire to act in righteousness will not be dependant on our feelings, but what God desires for us and the world. He commands us to comfort all who mourn, to bring hope, to proclaim freedom and good news to the poor, and to work towards the healing of those who have been hurt. But there is more to this than a simple duty to God. If we leave it at this then it becomes a chore; dependant on our own action and subject to our feelings. In order to truly serve with a cheerful and selfless heart, we must allow the Christ’s Spirit to work out His love through us; permitting Him to use us in His restorative mission to the world.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honour is not fitting for a fool.” –Proverbs 26:1 (NIV)

As a collective society, what do we value? What do we view as permissible, or at least tolerable? To answer this question, contemporary television shows and movies can give us important insight. For better or for worse, popular media often reflects or informs the shared worldview, beliefs, and morals of a culture. Next time we sit down to watch a series or a film, consider what is being portrayed through the dialogue and lifestyles of the characters. But more than simple observation consider how it is being portrayed. What are the reactions that these depictions want to elicit from us? Sympathy? Condemnation? Laughter? Admiration? Finally, what is our ultimate repose to what is being broadcast to us? Our answer to this question can often tell us what we subconsciously approve of and believe to be good.

Truth, however, is objective. God as the Creator of the universe has ordained certain laws and rules to remain in place over His creation. These remain true and binding regardless of the age and culture we live in. There is a specific reason as to the purpose of these laws. They exist so that the created order may be harmoniously maintained, and that we may be protected from the devastating consequences of disrupting that order. Imagine, for example, if snow arrived during the summer! The crops which we need to sustain us will not grow and there will be nothing to reap for the harvest. For this reason, winter and summer have their respective seasons so that we may survive. Likewise, God has set laws for human interaction that are founded upon His perfect wisdom and love. Those who deviate from His laws have succumbed to their own human folly and have exchanged His truth for a dangerous lie. When we give honour to their choices, either by our vocal or unsaid approval, we will find ourselves descending down with them a path that may seem initially harmless, but will eventually lead to our destruction. How can we avoid such a fate? Only when we have allowed Christ’s Spirit to work in our hearts and mould our attitudes will we know what is worth honouring according to His perfect standards. We will be able to rest in the security and life which comes from living under His righteousness being worked out in our lives and allowing Him to refine us into the people we are meant to be.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’” Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.” –John 1:46 (NIV)

Nazareth, in the days when it was under Roman rule, did not have a particularly good reputation. Not only was it a small town, but it was located in the region of Galilee. For centuries Israel had come under the influence of many powerful empires. These empires often attempted to forcibly assimilate the Jewish people into their own culture. But such polices had disastrous results and solidified in the Jews of the time resentment towards foreigners. Galilee lay between the major trade routes which connected Israel with the rest of the world. Through them foreign armies and cultures swept into Israel, and the people of the Galilee reflected this fact in their generally relaxed attitude towards those who were not Jewish. Viewed as a place of traitors and collaborators, Nathanael’s response to Philip was to be expected. But when he saw Jesus at Philip’s invitation, Nathanael recognized Him as the promised Messiah. The fact that Jesus was from Nazareth became irrelevant to him as he stood before the Saviour of Mankind.

Our past can sometimes make us feel inadequate. Haunted by the memories of destructive lifestyles and terrible decisions, we wonder if Christ can ever really love and forgive us; if He can truly use us for His restorative plan for the world. Sometimes we may be the ones who look down upon others because of their past, their heritage, or their status. But why do we define ourselves and others by these distinctions? Indeed we are fed with messages claiming that our worth is dependant on who we know, what we have, and where we come from. Those who lack in these areas are subsequently deemed as not having worth.

But God stands in clear opposition to this view. Each and every one of us is precious in His sight for we have all been created in His image. This gives us a worth that far out measures any earthly standard, and though we are tainted by sin, Christ in His love works to save us from our slavery to wickedness. None are beyond the redemptive work of Christ for there is nothing that Christ cannot forgive. It is not in His will for any to perish, but to have everlasting life through Him. When we allow the Spirit of Christ to work in our lives, we will find confidence and security knowing that despite our past failings God is and will work out His purpose for our lives. Likewise, when we have Christ within our hearts and are seeking to conform to His likeness, we will find ourselves drawing away from judging others because of their past. Instead, with praise and awe, we will be quick to acknowledge the work of Christ in their lives and minister to others with our love and service knowing that they bear His image.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.” –Psalm 47:7 (NIV)

Monarchs often have many grand titles to add to their name. Some examples which come to mind are “the Magnificent”, “the Defender”, “the Conqueror”, “the Thunderbolt”, or the most common one, “the Great.” I remember coming across letters from kings in which they included their name and their full title. Some of these titles would take up almost a quarter of page! Such titles describing the deeds, attributes, and greatness of a particular king have a specific purpose. They are meant to instil reverence and awe for the monarch in the minds of all who read and hear them. However, human fallibility has a tendency to render such titles to be superficial, and often the very same monarch who claims all these impressive attributes and qualities fails to live up to his name.

When we allow the Spirit of Christ to dwell within our hearts and seek to conform ourselves to His likeness, we are adopted into the royal family of God. As children of Christ, we have a King as our Heavenly Father. But God is no mere human king. Were we to put all the monarchs and leaders of the world together, even then they could not surpass the greatness that is God Himself. The dominion of God knows no end, for while a human king has restrictions over where he rules, God is the Creator of the entire universe. His Kingship spans the totality of the created order and into eternity. God is our true Defender, for while earthly leaders cannot be everywhere at once and fail in standing up for justice, He is omnipresent and will always defend those who stand for His truth and righteousness. God is our victorious Conqueror, for through Christ He overcame what no man could -sin and death- so that we may be redeemed from our depravity and have life through Him. What is beautiful is that unlike an earthly king He lives up to all His titles because He is not bound by human limitations. There is much to praise God about and when we allow Him to open our eyes to His work in our lives, we will be able to sing psalms of praise to Him with confidence knowing that He is worthy of every title attributed to Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.