Wisdom & Folly

 Proverbs 9

In verses 1-6, Wisdom invites:

1Wisdom has built her house.

She has carved out her seven pillars.

2She has prepared her meat.

She has mixed her wine.

She has also set her table.

3She has sent out her maidens.

She cries from the highest places of the city:

4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

5“Come, eat some of my bread,

Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

6Leave your simple ways, and live.

Walk in the way of understanding.”

Then, in verses 13-18, Folly also similarly invites:

13The foolish woman is loud,

undisciplined, and knows nothing.

14She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat in the high places of the city,

15To call to those who pass by,

who go straight on their ways,

16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”

as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

17“Stolen water is sweet.

Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

So both Wisdom and Folly are inviting you... which invitation will you accept?

Then in the middle, verses 7-9, suggests how you can tell which type of person you are:

7He who corrects a mocker invites insult.

He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

8Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.

Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser.

Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

So.... if we are open to correction, that suggests that we're with the wise. Ultimately,

10The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.

The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Father, help me to be wise and listen to correction. In Jesus' name, amen.

Be Strong In the Lord

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13 ESV

A New Hope

The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord  and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. But the sons of Korah did not die.

Numbers 26:9‭-‬11

In the middle of a census, we suddenly have this note.

Such a sad chapter in the history of this family, but then we hit the last line “But the sons of Korah did not die.”

In spite of Korah himself going down in history in such a negative  manner, the “sons of Korah” are listed as composers of 11 of the Psalms.

They didn't allow the sin of their father to stop them from serving YHWH. 

In a similar way, I must not let the sinful patterns of the past keep me from God. In repent of my sins and get up again to follow Him.

Thank you, YHWH, for You are the God of second chances and new beginnings!

In Jesus' name, amen.

You can't serve both God and money

Numbers 22

YHWH had told Balaam not to go with Balak's people. Balaam obeyed YHWH at first, but when they came the second time, with even greater offers of wealth, Balaam again asked YHWH for permission to go, in spite of knowing YHWH's clear command from before.

As a result, YHWH allowed him to go, but His anger burned against Balaam and only by His grace in allowing the donkey to see, Balaam wasn't killed by the angel.

A lesson for me here is that if we persistently pigheadedly go ahead with something YHWH doesn't want us to do, He may permit us to, but there'll be consequences.

As it turned out, Balaam only partially learned the lesson, for later he indeed blessed Israel instead of cursing Israel, but in the end, he told them how to compromise Israel - by tempting them to abandon YHWH.

Balaam knew that YHWH was the real God, yet he let his love of money to get in the way of that, and in the end Balaam lost his life when Israel attacked their enemies.

Balaam was a real prophet, and he really knew YHWH, yet he did this. This is a warning to all of us.

The Mystery Revealed

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Ephesians 3:4-6

We are so used to the idea that God has opened His doors to the Gentiles that we have forgotten how odd it was to the Jews of Jesus’ day.

Paul calls it a “mystery”! An ancient mystery at that!

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

I’m going through quite a tough time right now, and this benediction is a good reminder for me. Not only is Jesus able to take me through, He is able to do “far more abundantly than all we ask or think” — and it's through “the power at work within us”!

No room for racism

Galatians 3

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3:26‭-‬29

Everyone who is in Christ has been adopted as children of God. So there is no room for racism.

Blessing

‘Yahweh bless you, and keep you.  Yahweh make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you.  Yahweh lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.’

Numbers 6:24‭-‬26

This is the benediction that many churches still use to end their Sunday services. Here is an awesome song based on these words.

Messing up

But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

Galatians 2:11‭-‬14

Two lessons from this:

1. Even good leaders can mess up, so we must be careful not to put people on a pedestal, and evaluate everything in the light of scripture.
2. When we mess up ourselves, we need to have the humility to accept correction. (Remember the lesson from Saturday's LNG?)

Father, when I'm wrong, may I be open to receive correction, and also be discerning what others say. I'm Jesus' name, amen

Don't write them off

but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”

Galatians 1:23

Saul was one of the big persecutors of the early church, yet God reached down and saved him and he became one of the greatest evangelists.

Even today, people who used to persecute have been saved and now share the Gospel.

So we shouldn't write anyone off completely. God does not desire for the wicked to perish, but that they repent and be saved.

Father, help me to see our "enemies" in this light. In Jesus' name, amen.

Mourning into Dancing

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,  To the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalms 30:11‭-‬12

This happy song's first line is taken from the above verses.

Discrimination, redux

“‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you; you shall not make him to serve as a slave. As a hired servant, and as a temporary resident, he shall be with you; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee: then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers. For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God.

“‘As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have; of the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. Moreover of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property. You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them may you take your slaves forever; but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.

Leviticus 25:39‭-‬46

A few days ago I shared that I read in Leviticus that the Israelites were supposed to treat foreigners living in their land the same. But now the slavery law treats them differently.

Israelite slaves are to be let go in the year of the Jubilee but foreign slaves can be kept forever.

Hmm.

There are many other passages that speak of treating foreigners like you would locals. Other passages that distinguish Israelites from foreigners seem to be because of the faith issue - don't marry foreigners seem to be keyed off if the foreigner is not a Yahweh worshipper, so for example the Bible speaks of Obed marrying Ruth the Moabite in very positive light.

Even other slave passages do not discriminate against foreigners, e.g. Deuteronomy 23:15 says to protect runaway slaves, doesn't make a distinction between Israelite and foreign slaves.

So I've not figured this one out yet.

Women in ministry

I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self. 
...
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.

Romans 16:1‭-‬2‭, ‬7

The word "servant" in verse 1 is "deacon". The female name "Junia" was changed to the male name "Junias" in some old translations because the grammar in koine Greek is ambiguous and in sexist ideology apostles (people chosen by God to be sent, not necessarily the original 12 apostles) had to be male.

Controversy aside, the Bible does make it clear that God uses women to lead His work. Many women are listed, in spite of the sexist times they lived in: Deborah, Priscilla, Dorcas, etc.

And today, many women are used by God to lead His people.

Father, thank You that You do not discriminate and You can use anyone who is yielded to You for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

Discrimination

You shall have one kind of law for the foreigner as well as the native-born; for I am Yahweh your God.

Leviticus 24:22

All people are made in the image of God, and we should not discriminate against people because they're foreigners, or a different race from us.

The call to go beyond selfishness

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”  For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.

Romans 15:1‭-‬7 WEB

Selfishness is a natural position for us humans, but God calls us to go beyond that, to care for one another.

Agree to disagree agreeably

Romans 14

 One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.

Romans 14:2‭-‬3

I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.

Romans 14:14‭-‬15

There are things that are correct and things that are wrong in biblical interpretation, and it's OK for us to study scripture and come to certain conclusions, but we must not press our conclusions so much as to cause people to stumble. Too many Christians have labeled other Christians as wrong about various side issues until it causes division and enmity between churches.

Father, as we study the scriptures and seek to understand Your revelation, may we remember that the greatest commandments are to love You and to love others. In Jesus' name, amen

How do we treat foreigners?

Leviticus 19

If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.

Leviticus 19:33‭-‬34

https://bible.com/bible/206/lev.19.33-34.WEB

Here in Malaysia we so often victimize foreign workers. Even in the MCO, we see them especially victimized.

God loves all people and calls us to love the foreigner as ourselves.

In this chapter of Leviticus, we find some laws God gave to Israel that are not applicable to us, but there is much that is still applicable to us and the principles are repeated in the New Testament. This is one of them, Galatians 3:28 says "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Father, may we fight against injustice against the foreigners who come to our land honestly to earn a living. Help us stop their exploitation and treat them fairly. In Jesus' name, amen.

Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?

Psalm 27

Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?  When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.  Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.

Psalms 27:1‭-‬3

Even though our circumstances may be difficult, we can still trust in God.

Renewal vs Revenge

Romans 12

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
...
Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
...
Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”  Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Romans 12:2‭, ‬14‭, ‬17‭-‬20

Man, this is so hard to do, but it's what God calls us to. That's why we need our minds renewed, because our natural mind would want to pay back evil for evil in revenge.

Balance

Romans 11

I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.

Romans 11:1‭, ‬23‭-‬24‭, ‬28‭-‬31

Historically a lot of "Christian nations" have discriminated against or even persecuted the Jews, but it's biblically wrong.

That doesn't mean we blindly support the political state of Israel, but all nations need Christ.

Saviour born in poverty

Leviticus 12

If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Leviticus 12:8

This is what Joseph and Mary offered after Jesus's birth, which means that they were too poor to offer a lamb.

Jesus is God, yet he chose to come as a poor man.

No elegant robes
No glorious throne
No armies at His side
Could this be the One?
A carpenter's son?
A man condemned to die?
But a lion roared
Deep inside thie Lamb
Inside this Man

Lion of Judah
Lamb of God
Glorious Conqueror
Suffering Son
Lion of Judah
With nails in His hands
The Mighty Redeemer
Was meek as a lamb

Calling on the name of the Lord

Romans 10

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith, which we preach: that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”   For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:8‭-‬13

Even though we were not originally in the people of God, because we have called on the name of the Lord, we have become part of the people of God. Hallelujah!

The balance between planning and worrying

Proverbs 6

Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise; which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.  How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.

Proverbs 6:6-11

This is the other side from Matthew 6:34 "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

While we should not borrow worry from the future, we should also be prudent and  plan.

There is no guarantee for our plans, however. For example, many people invested in businesses that have been disrupted by COVID19. They couldn't have predicted that.

But likewise, if we laze around and don't work and invest, we will be like the grasshopper who starved in winter while the ants could eat what they had stored in summer.

So, there is a balance to be held.

Father, thank You that You have given us a mind to think and plan, but at the same time, we need to trust in You and don't borrow worry. In Jesus' name, amen.

Caught between the now and the not yet

Romans 7

So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Romans 7:4‭-‬6

We're no longer under the old testament law, but we're now to serve God in the Spirit.

 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Romans 7:21‭-‬25

However, we still struggle with our old nature even though we're already in Christ. We're in the process of becoming like Jesus, but we're not perfect yet.

Good works is a consequence of grace

Romans 6

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
...
Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered. Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.

Romans 6:1-2, 11-18

Last Sunday, we saw that faith is proven by works. In today's reading, we see that having received God's grace, we have died to sin. Therefore, sin no longer has dominion over us. If we continue to sin, we will be slaves to sin rather than being bondservants of righteousness.

Suffering

Romans 5

Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:3‭-‬5

Suffering produces perseverance, character and hope... but man, it's still hard to rejoice in our suffering! 😅

But we do have God's love, and we do have the Holy Spirit. So we can hang on.

Let the suffering make us better, not bitter.

For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6‭-‬8

The fact is, even as others may be causing us suffering now, we have sinned before ourselves and caused suffering of others. Yet God loves us and Christ died for us even while we were in rebellion to Him.

Hope after a messup

Exodus 36

They spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Yahweh commanded to make.”

Exodus 36:5

This was after the golden calf error that they did this for the Tabernacle. So even after such a bad sin, there's still possibility of repentance and doing good.

Missing the forest for the trees

Exodus 35

‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’”

Exodus 35:2‭-‬3

God gave humans the Sabbath to make sure that people rest one day a week, for, as Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for people, and not people for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)

However, they've been debates over the centuries, if you're cold or can't see, can you light a fire? Can you turn on a light switch? Can you start your car?

These days, making a fire is a simple matter of striking a match, or turning on our stove. But during Moses’ time, it was a labourus process of gathering wood and kindling, rubbing dry sticks together for a long time while blowing, etc.

These debates point out that people often lose sight of God’s principles when arguing about details - missing the forest for the trees.

Father, if I miss the forest for the trees, remind me of Your principles. In Jesus' name, amen.

Faith & Works: the balance

Romans 4

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”  Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Romans 4:3‭-‬5

Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 to point out that Abraham was justified by faith, which is very interesting because James quotes the same passage:

Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.

James 2:21‭-‬24

to point out that his faith didn't stand alone, but was backed up by works.

Here we see the balance: we are justified by faith, but our faith is evidenced by works.

Without faith in Jesus' sacrifice, we don't have anything. But if you claim to have faith in Jesus but your life is not affected, then is it real?

Father, thank You for saving us. May we work out our salvation in following You. In Jesus' name, amen

Lion of Judah, Lamb of God

Exodus 34

Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.”

Exodus 34:6‭-‬7

This passage seems like a contradiction: is God merciful or does He punish the guilty?

But in truth, He's both. He's both the Righteous Judge and the Merciful Father.

The fearsome Wrath of God, but also the loving Lamb of God.

As the song goes:

Lion of Judah
Lamb of God
glorious Conqueror
suffering Son.
Lion of Judah
with nails in His hands,
the mighty Redeemer
was meek as a lamb

Deadly honey

Proverbs 5

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,  but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.  Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.   She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

Proverbs 5:3‭-‬6

Temptation always seems like it drips honey, so attractive, but the end of it if you give in is death. For the wages of sin is death.

Father, remind me of this end when I'm tempted, so that I don't reach for that deadly honey! In Jesus' name, amen.

King David and Jesus' crucifixion

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

Psalms 22:1

Jesus quoted this verse on the cross and much of the rest of this psalm is also descriptive of what He went through in His passion suffering.

All this in spite of David writing it centuries before crucifixion was even invented!

Not so obvious

Exodus 32

He received what they handed him, and fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molten calf; and they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”  When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.”

Exodus 32:4‭-‬5

It's interesting that even though they had made and idol golden calf, they still called it Yahweh.

Sometimes we put other things in the place of God but still call it God. Sometimes we claim God told us to do something, or we are doing something for God, but it's really not for God, but our own idea.

Sometimes it's not so obvious. That's why we need to study the Bible and have a community of believers around us who also study the Bible and help keep each other on the right path.

Father, guide us in Your paths and alert us to when we stray from it. In Jesus' name, amen.

"Secular" calling

Exodus 31

“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

Exodus 31:2‭-‬6

Bezalel and Oholiab were not known for their ability to preach or lead worship. They were known for their ability to do crafts.

And yet, here they are, commended by God, and God filled them with His Spirit, and in wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

Our "normal jobs" can be means of God's workmanship and blessing. We don't all have to be preachers or worship leaders or write Christian books to have God's anointing and Spirit.

God calls different people to different things. Whatever we do,we should do to the glory of God.

Father, thank You for giving us different skills to do different things. May we do it all to Your glory, even if our skill is "secular". In Jesus' name, amen.

Justified by faith, evidenced by works

Romans 3

Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

Romans 3:8

When I was a new believer, I wondered this exact thing, and an older Christian showed me this verse.

We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 3:28

We are justified by faith,it is not of works, so nobody can boast.

However, other  parts of scripture make it clear that if we claim to have faith but continue without repentance, that is evidence that we have not come to Christ in the first  place.

God is the one who sanctifies

Exodus 29

I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar: Aaron also and his sons I will sanctify, to minister to me in the priest’s office. I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. They shall know that I am Yahweh their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Yahweh their God.

Exodus 29:44‭-‬46

God is the one who sanctifies. Praised be the Lord!

Genuine

Romans 2

Verses 1, 21-24 point out that God rejects hypocrisy. Because of hypocrisy, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Verse 11 shows that God is against racism.

Verses 26-29 points out that inwardly following God is more important than outward signs of piety.

Father, may we worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Help us to be good witnesses and not be hypocrites. In Jesus' name, amen.

A Meaty "Dear Romans"

Romans 1

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh, who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake; among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ; to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1‭-‬7

 What a meaty way to start a letter!

In Paul's greeting, we find out:

1. The Good News of God was promised earlier though the prophets in scripture
2. His Son Jesus Christ our Lord was born as a descendant if David
3. And declared to be the Son of God with power
4. According to the Spirit of Holiness
5. By the resurrection from the dead
6. We receive grace from Him
7. We receive apostleship though Him
8. We receive these for obedience of faith among all the nations
9. We're called to belong to Jesus Christ
10. We're beloved of God
11. We're called to be saints.

We're apostles - people who are sent!

We're ambassadors - representing another Kingdom!

We're saints - cleansed from our sins by the blood of Jesus!

So let us obey Him in faith!

Father, thank You for Your great calling on our lives. Let us obey You faithfully. In Jesus' name, amen

Our responsibility to others

Exodus 23

You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. You shall not testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice.

Exodus 23:1‭-‬2

Christians are just as susceptible to this as other people, especially when people you respect forward that meme that resonates with your beliefs, and you forward it to everyone without checking to see if it's true or not. We are all susceptible to confirmation bias.

 If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don’t leave him, you shall surely help him with it.

Exodus 23:4‭-‬5

Oh how hard this is to do! Yet Jesus tells us, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you."

You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, since you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9

People have been blaming the foreign workers for spreading COVID19, and now the foreigners in the areas under complete lockdown are not allowed to go out to buy food, yet are not given any food. This is inhumane and if it wasn't for NGOs, they would starve.

Even in non-emergency times, we have a tendency to stigmatise foreign workers, who are made in the image of God just like us.

Father, thank You for Your provision for us in these difficult times. Help us to be your salt and light and to show Your love to the world. In Jesus' name, amen.

Disciples, not just Believers

Matthew 28

Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.  Go,  and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:18‭-‬20

Jesus told us to "make disciples" - not "make converts". Saying the sinner's prayer is not the end of it - we need to go beyond, and follow Jesus.

We cannot be content with receiving Jesus as Saviour - we must proceed to follow Jesus as Lord.

We have been saved by grace through faith, but faith without works is dead.

Father, thank You for Jesus' great sacrifice for us. We commit to proceeding from that to becoming like Jesus, taking up our cross daily and following Him. In Jesus' name, amen.

Even when we're faithless, God is faithful

Exodus 19

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” 

All the people answered together, and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.

 Exodus 19:5‭-‬6‭, ‬8

Except that they didn't, and time after time they complained and  rebelled against Yahweh 😕

Yet Yahweh rescued them every time they repented. 

"If we are faithless, he remains faithful. He can't deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13

So if we have been faithless, we need to quickly repent and come back to God. We must not keep wallowing in our sin. We must keep short accounts with God.

Father, thank you that you're still faithful even when we're faithless. Thank you that you promised us that if we confess our sins, you're faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse is from all unrighteousness. In Jesus' name, amen.

Ten Thousand Angels

Matthew 26

Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.  Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?  How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”

Matthew 26:51‭-‬54

He could have called

10,000 angels

to destroy the world

and set him free

He could have called

10,000 angels

but he died alone

for you and me!

Thank you, Jesus, that you took that cup the Father gave you for our sake. You suffered and died to save us! May we respond to your love and live for you! In Jesus' name, amen

Supporting Role

Exodus 17

 

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset. Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Exodus 17:11‭-‬13

We are not all called to be in the front, but we all have a part to play in the body of Christ. Aaron and Hur were not the ones God used to empower Joshua to defeat the Amalekites, but they supported Moses - without them, Moses might not have been able to do it.

So likewise, our Christian leaders need our supporter they might not be able to do what God had called them to do.

Father, help me support my spiritual leaders and not be jealous of their position. In Jesus' name, amen.

Keep calm and carry on

Matthew 25

The Parable of the 10 virgins point out to us that we need to be always ready for God. This means that we daily take up our cross and follow Him. We must not weary of doing good. If we sin, we must quickly repent and receive His forgiveness.

The parable of the talents point out that we need to invest what God has given us for His kingdom. We should not waste the talents God has given us. It also reinforces the point of the Parable of the 10 Virgins that we need to always be ready for God.

Then the vision of Jesus separating the sheep from the goats tells us that we do have a reward waiting for us if we follow Him. Every good deed we do for our fellow humans, God actually takes it as us serving Him.

This Easter morning, let us be reminded to keep on following Jesus!

Father, thank You for Your wonderful salvation. When we get weary, remind us of Your great reward. May we fix our eyes on You, the author and perfecter of our faith, and wait on You, and have our strength renewed as eagles. May we never weary of doing good. May we endure to the end. In Jesus' name, amen.

Am I unrateful?

Exodus 16

 

The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by Yahweh’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Exodus 16:2‭-‬3

After seeing the amazing rescue from slavery, this is what the Israelites said.

It's not wrong to be concerned that food is running out, and to ask for help, but we need to guard our attitudes.

 

Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening, then you shall know that Yahweh has brought you out from the land of Egypt; and in the morning, then you shall see Yahweh’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?”

Exodus 16:6‭-‬7

So got scolded.

 

Moses said to them, “Let no one leave of it until the morning.” Notwithstanding they didn’t listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was angry with them.

Exodus 16:19‭-‬20

How often do I repeatedly not follow God's instructions?

 

Father, on this Saturday before Easter, I remember Your sacrifice for us. May I respond with obedience and not grumbling. In Jesus' name, amen.

Commemorating Good Friday during COVID-19 Lockdown

Exodus 15

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.  Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Exodus 15:1-2

The Israelites celebrated God saving them from the Egyptians with this song. 

 Then the very next thing, they got angry and complained because the water was bitter!

When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore its name was called Marah.  The people murmured against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” Then he cried to Yahweh. Yahweh showed him a tree, and he threw it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There he made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there he tested them; and he said, “If you will diligently listen to Yahweh your God’s voice, and will do that which is right in his eyes, and will pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you, which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am Yahweh who heals you.”  They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

 Exodus 15:23‭-‬27

Yet, God still came through for them in spite of their ungratefulness.

God has given us an even greater salvation though Jesus! As we face Good Friday cooped up in our homes, may we remember that and keep that in perspective.

Tonight, we will commemorate Good Friday with our Life Net Group (church small group) online. Each family will prepare holy communion and we plan to partake it together in the online meeting. This is a new experience for us as we had always celebrated holy communion physically together.

Father, may I remember Your goodness and faithfulness instead of focusing on the negatives, knowing You still care for us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Wise guy, eh?

Proverbs 4

Everyone values wisdom, but in Proverbs, wisdom isn't just being clever and smart - it's also tied up with righteousness and eschewing evil.

We've seen people who are clever in a worldly way, Machiavellian and crafty, accomplish much but do evil things.

Godly wisdom is not like that. Godly wisdom is good and righteous.

In fact, the Bible calls immoral people "fools", e.g. Psalm 14:1. They're not stupid, but in God's eyes, they're being foolish.

So let us be wise in God's eyes, rather than fools.

Father, fill me with godly wisdom, not the world's wisdom, that I may walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name, amen.

Reminders

Exodus 13

You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Yahweh’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Yahweh has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

Exodus 13:8‭-‬10

Many times we see God asking the Isrelites to do something to remind them of what He had done for them.

We humans can know something but not take it into account in our daily actions because it's not at the front of our minds. It's not just "Melayu mudah lupa" like Dr. M. says, but "Manusia mudah lupa". ("Malays forget  easily" / "Humans forget easily".)

That's why it's important to remin ourselves of God's truths regularly. For example, yesterday's sermon by Pastor Malcom didn't tell those of us who have been Christians for a while anything new, but it is good to be reminded that we're saved by grace through faith, not of works, and yet also faith without works is dead, so that every day our actions are guided by those principles.

Father, thank You for your salvation and Your truths. Remind us regularly that we may live inlight of them. In Jesus' name, amen.

Hypocricy

Matthew 23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,   and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.  You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.   You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 23:23‭-‬28

Jesus spoke out greatly against hypocricy.

We humans have a tendency towards hypocricy - we tend to think of ourselves as good people and are more able to see the faults of others than our own faults.

Father, open my eyes to my own faults and help me recognize and correct them. Help me to remove the hypocricy from my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

Draw me close to You

Exodus 6

God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am Yahweh; and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them. I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens. Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am Yahweh.’”

Exodus 6:2‭-‬8 WEB

Why does it say here that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob didn't know the  God by the  name Yahweh when  all through Genesis they had already been calling God Yahweh?

The 3 main theories are:

1. Since Moses wrote Genesis, he inserted the name Yahweh, like for example if when we write about Paul before his conversion, we still often call him "Paul" even though he was known as "Saul" until his first missionary journey.

2. The name "Yahweh" was known, but the meaning of "I am Who I am" was not yet known.

3. In Hebrew usage, knowing someone's "name" is a symbol of knowing someone deeply. Even today the Jews often refer to God as "HaShem" - "The Name".  So Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew Yahweh to a certain extent, but now Moses was going to know God in a deep and personal way that his ancestors didn't know.

I don't know which theory is correct (or even if there's yet another reason) but I was thinking about #3 for applicability:

Many people know about God, and even know God to a certain extent, but what God wants for us is to grow in our intimacy with Him.

As we become more and more conformed to the image of Christ daily, we are brought into His perfection.

So I am encouraged to spend time with Him daily, to grow in intimacy with Him, to renew my mind with His precepts, as it says in Romans 12:2, "Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God."

As the Don Moen song said, "Draw me close to You. Never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I'm Your friend. Help me find the way, bring me back to You."

This morning, someone WhatsApped me this video of Don Moen singing "God will make a way" in response to the COVID19 pandemic.

Father, indeed I pray, "Draw me close to You." As I spend time daily in Your Word, renew my mind. In Jesus' name, amen.

Truth telling

Exodus 5

Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”

Exodus 5:1

Were Moses and Aaron lying about going to hold a feast in the wilderness? If so, did God sanction their lie?

Or did they really plan to just go hold a feast and come back if Pharaoh had given permission? But God knowing Pharaoh's heart, could let them say to honestly, and knew Pharaoh would refuse, and thus eventually give them the opportunity to escape their slavery?

Different Christians have come to different conclusions about this kind of thing.

This is illustrated in how some Christians responded to the Nazis. When you're a Christian hiding Jews, and the Nazis come looking, do you lie? Most lied and saved the Jews. A few told the truth, and most of those and their Jews were killed. But a very few didn't lie but God saved them in some other way.

But the general principle is “let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' ” Matthew 5:37

In general, we should be a people of truth, eschewing lying.

Father, help me to stay truthful and not lie. Sometimes in the spur of the moment I'm tempted to lie, remind me of Your call to truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prejudice

Matthew 21

When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”  Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’  but you have made it a den of robbers!”

Matthew 21:10‭-‬13

Temple had an outer court, called the Court of the Gentiles, for Gentiles to come and find out about YHWH.

This is because YHWH doesn't only want the Israelites to know Him - He wants to save everyone.

However, most of the Jews of Jesus' day had totally forgotten this, and thought of YHWH only has their God. They had no interest to share the love of God with others.

Jews coming from far away needed a place to change their Roman money into Jewish money for their Temple offerings, and also they needed a place to buy sacrificial animals so that they wouldn't have to drag their lamb or other animal all the way from wherever they lived.

So the Temple authorities, having lost the missionary vision to reach out to the Gentiles,  saw this Court of the Gentiles as a "wasted" space and turned it into a marketplace for Jews to do this.

That was why Jesus was so angry with them. They had lost the vision YHWH had given to Abraham, that through the YHWH would bless the nations. They were only interested in getting other Jews closer to YHWH.

How about us? Are we only looking to reach people like us for Christ? Christ died for all people groups.  Including people who are not like us.

Do we look at people who are not like us with prejudice, thinking of them as less worthy of God's love because they are different from us? Do we spread racist ideas? Do we make remarks about how they are lazy, or dishonest, or dirty, etc.?

Father, open our eyes to our own prejudices, and help us to see everyone through Your eyes. In Jesus' name, amen.

God's mercy in the face of our unreasonable fears

Exodus 4

Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”  Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”  He said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.”  Yahweh’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

Exodus 4:10‭-‬14

God showed Moses some amazing miracles before He told himto go back to Egypt and speak for His  people before Pharoah. Yet Moses balked, until God's anger burned against him.

Yet, God didn't just swat him away in spite of Moses' equivocation. God dealt with Moses' fear about not being eloquent and sent him Aaron.

Father, thank You for Your mercy even in the face of our unreasonable fears after having seen Your power.

Father, may I trust in Your power and love when You call me to do hard things. In Jesus' name, amen.

"For many are called, but few are chosen" in the Parable of the Workers

Matthew 20

“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?  Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.  Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’  So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 20:13‭-‬16

I'm very familiar with the parable of the workers in the vineyard. I have usually thought of this parable as an encouragement to people who are old, like my parents, and have not yet come to Christ.

So this parable is to reassure them that they can still come to Christ, and Christ will still give them the same reward of salvation as those of us who came to Christ while children.

However, suddenly, he ends the parable with "For many are called, but few are chosen" which is surprising because of the context.

He says "For many are called, but few are chosen" at the end of the Parable of the Wedding Guests (Matthew 22:14) as well, and in that context, it makes total sense, but in this context it seemed very odd to me.

Why did Jesus say this in this context?

I mean, it is a true statement - "Many are called, but few are chosen" - God calls everyone to come to Christ, but not everyone does. And God foreknew those who would come, so He has chosen us from the beginning of time - even though He desires for all to come to Him.

This is the great Mystery which has caused parts of Christendom to split into Calvinist and Arminian camps arguing over predestination vs free will.

But why did Jesus say that here, at the end of a parable that is asking people to come to Him no matter what their age?

I found this explanation at https://redeeminggod.com/many-are-called-but-few-are-chosen-matthew-20_16/

But the parable of the workers in the vineyard does not speak only to the equality we all share before God in the afterlife. The parable also speaks to the way we participate with God in this life.

Yes, all are on equal footing before God. And yet, inexplicably, some seem to have a greater role and purpose than others in God’s plan for this world. If the unspoken objection to the parable was “But that’s not fair!” then the unspoken objection to this statement is, “But that’s not how God works!”

God isn’t equal to all, even in His own Kingdom. Some are given greater blessings and honors than others. To this second objection, Jesus says, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

He goes on to say:

But in God’s way of working, He often selects and chooses a few individuals for special purposes and tasks.

And what are these special purposes and tasks for which God chooses some? To serve, suffer, and die.

God’s “choosing” is not a choice to honor, position, and power, but to suffering and service. There is no teaching here about an election until eternal life of some. Instead, Jesus is teaching that God is generous to all, and while all are called to serve Him, true service to God is not an easy thing to bear, which is why most don’t want it. Yet God does choose some to serve Him in these difficult ways.

He also says that this idea in Matthew 20:16 is reinforced in the following passage where James and John jostle for position:

Though lots of people interpret Jesus’ words to mean that if someone wants to be great they must begin by serving others and then God will raise them up and make them great, this is not what Jesus is saying at all. That’s how “greatness” works in the human world. Those who are respected and revered started at the bottom and worked their way to the top. But in God’s economy, those who are great either go in the opposite direction, or simply stay at the bottom their entire lives.

He concludes:

1.  God values generosity more than fairness.
2.  Those who are chosen for “greatness” in God’s Kingdom are chosen for service, suffering, and death, which is why not all are chosen.

I'm not sure I agree fully with this guy, but what he has to say about this seems to make sense to me.

Father, You are trustworthy and You love me. I trust You to choose what Your plan is for my life. I commit to doing Your will for my life. When I stumble and fall, may I quickly repent and get back up and keep going. In Jesus' name, amen.

Rich?

Matthew 19

Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

Matthew 19:23‭-‬24

I don't think of myself as rich. In the last few years I've struggled with increasing cost of living while my salary stayed stagnant.

However, the fact that I have no worries about shelter and food means that I'm richer than most people who have ever lived in the history of the world!

Famine is almost completely not a possiblity at all. It has been a possiblity for most people who have ever lived.

So God has really blessed me. I must therefore beware of this and not let my prosperity keep me from God.

Father, thank You that I never had to worry about whether I get to eat every day. May I always stay true to You. In Jesus' name, amen. 

God can use evil situations for good

Genesis 50

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive.

Genesis 50:20

Indeed, we may must remember that "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

So as we see things go wrong around us, whether coup or COVID19, take heart! God's still in charge!

Father, we thank you that you have the whole world in your hands, and you love us. in Jesus' name, amen.

Follow God even in a difficult situtation

Psalm 13
Here David felt abandoned by God as he was in the midst of a difficult situation for a long time. Perhaps this was during the time Saul was chasing him. But in the end, he still trusts Yahweh and sings praise songs.

Psalm 14
Humans are all fallen, but we can still choose to follow God. There is none righteous, but God still calls us to his righteousness.

Psalm 15
Walk blamelessly and we will not be shaken.

Father, thank You for saving us. In response, I want to walk blamelessly and follow Your ways. In Jesus' name, amen.

For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.

Matthew 18

In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them, and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:1-4

It is natural for us humans to want to be proud, to show off ourselves, to boast of our abilities, possessions, etc. Yet, the way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven is to humble ourselves. As Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.  Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!

Matthew 18:5-7

We are Christ's ambassadors, so we are responsible for representing the Kingdom of God to the people around us. So we must be good ambassadors.

Why is it that so few people in Malaya came to Christ during the colonial period, and yet after the British left, there was an explosion in the Christian population? I suspect this is part of the reason. During the colonial period, the "Christians" were the oppressors. After they left, the Gospel was presented by our local Christians, who were not the oppressors, but showed the compassionate face of Christ.

See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.

“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:11-14

God's heart is for the lost. As He said in Ezekiel 18:23, "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?" So we, as Christ's ambassadors, also need to follow His heart in this.

Man proposes, but God disposes

Genesis 45

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.

Genesis 45:3

This was the first time the brothers heard the Prime Minister speak Hebrew, and they realized he could understand them without the interpreter the whole time!

So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, Lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 45:8

We don’t know what's going on behind the scenes. People plot evil, but God can use that evil for good.

As Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those to are called according to his purpose.”

So as we see the bad things happening around us, we can still trust God.

“With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm,” as the Sunday School song goes.

Father, when we go through the storm, remind us that you’re still in control. I’m Jesus’ name, amen.

Wisdom when to acquiesce

Matthew 17

When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”   Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt.  But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin.  Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”

Matthew 17:24‭-‬27

There are times when non-believers impose things on us that are not required by scripture, but so as not to offend them, we can go along with without violating our conscience.

Another passage which is relevant to this thought is the "render unto Caesar" passage (Matthew 22:21)

Sometimes, it's not so easy in specific circumstances to discern whether we should acquiesce to a particular demand the non-Christian society around us imposes on us or not, so we need God's wisdom and not be rigid.

Father, give us wisdom when we should acquiesce and when we should not. In Jesus' name, amen.