11/10/14
S: Matthew 6:5-9 5“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.7“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11Give us today the food we need,
12and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
O: I find it ironic that this very prayer which Jesus prefaced with “use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (as verse 7 is rendered in the King James Version) has been turned by so many people into a “vain repetition” itself.
The words Jesus showed us in the “Our Father” are wonderful, but if you just rote repeat them, they lose their meaning.
The same thing goes for the liturgy. Coming from a mostly non-liturgical background, I love listening to the liturgy when I find myself in a liturgical mass. It is so full of Biblical meaning. Yet most people seem to just rote repeat it without paying attention to the meaning.
But lest we from non-liturgical denominations become smug, we are also susceptible to just “going through the motions”. And “praying so that people can see us” is a temptation that faces people from non-liturgical traditions even more, perhaps.
A: Let us pray purposefully! Let us come before our heavenly Father in spirit and in truth.
P: Father, sometimes I find my own prayers are just “going through the motions”. Fill me with Your Spirit and keep my faith fresh. In Jesus’ name, amen.
P: Father, thank You that You give us meaning in life through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Is life meaningless?
5/10/14
S: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:1,7-8, 12-14 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless. Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” ... For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.” ... But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
O: Solomon showed such great promise. As a young king, God had offered him whatever he wanted, and he had chosen wisely: instead of asking for wealth and power, he asked for wisdom to be able to govern the country well. God commended him for that, and gave him wisdom and wealth and power. (1 Chronicles 1)
However, he let his wealth and power go to his head. While being wise in running the country, he wasn't so wise in running his own life: he ignored God's injunctions about kings not to multiply wives and for people to be faithful to God. So he married many wives, most of whom appeared not to be followers of God, and he followed them into idolatry. (1 Kings 11)
The book of Ecclesiastes is a chronicle of his attempts to find fulfillment in life without God. He had everything; he tried everything. He tried wine, women and song. He tried the satisfaction of a job well done. In the end, it was all meaningless. It goes through his changing thoughts as he thought through these things. That's why it is very dangerous to quote a verse from Ecclesiastes — it's as likely to be false as it is to be true, since Solomon went through many false thoughts as he thought through this matter.
Too bad for Solomon, in spite of his wisdom, he only realised this at the end of his life: there is no meaning in life if you just try to live for yourself! Only God gives ultimate meaning to one's life.
A: Let's not waste our lives and only realise this at the end of our lives. Let's live for Jesus while we are young, while we are middle-aged, and while we are old. Then we will hear the words of our Saviour, “Well done, good and faithful servant” welcoming us in the end. (Matthew 25:21)
“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” — Jim Elliott, martyr.
The people in this song all had meaning in the lives. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian were killed by Huaorani warriors due to internal Huaorani politics during their attempts to reach them for the Gospel. Yet “the blood of the martyrs are the seed of the church” — and today that Huaorani tribe has been transformed from bloodthirsty murderers that were going to wipe themselves out by their bloody lifestyle into peaceful Christians who love God and love their fellow human beings. Eric Liddell gave his life to bring the Gospel to China, eventually dying in a Japanese prison camp during the second world war. Yet his legacy lives on in the lives of many Chinese Christians today.
Their lives were full of meaning — because of Christ.
P: Father, thank You that You give us meaning in life through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:1,7-8, 12-14 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless. Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” ... For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.” ... But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
O: Solomon showed such great promise. As a young king, God had offered him whatever he wanted, and he had chosen wisely: instead of asking for wealth and power, he asked for wisdom to be able to govern the country well. God commended him for that, and gave him wisdom and wealth and power. (1 Chronicles 1)
However, he let his wealth and power go to his head. While being wise in running the country, he wasn't so wise in running his own life: he ignored God's injunctions about kings not to multiply wives and for people to be faithful to God. So he married many wives, most of whom appeared not to be followers of God, and he followed them into idolatry. (1 Kings 11)
The book of Ecclesiastes is a chronicle of his attempts to find fulfillment in life without God. He had everything; he tried everything. He tried wine, women and song. He tried the satisfaction of a job well done. In the end, it was all meaningless. It goes through his changing thoughts as he thought through these things. That's why it is very dangerous to quote a verse from Ecclesiastes — it's as likely to be false as it is to be true, since Solomon went through many false thoughts as he thought through this matter.
Too bad for Solomon, in spite of his wisdom, he only realised this at the end of his life: there is no meaning in life if you just try to live for yourself! Only God gives ultimate meaning to one's life.
A: Let's not waste our lives and only realise this at the end of our lives. Let's live for Jesus while we are young, while we are middle-aged, and while we are old. Then we will hear the words of our Saviour, “Well done, good and faithful servant” welcoming us in the end. (Matthew 25:21)
“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” — Jim Elliott, martyr.
The people in this song all had meaning in the lives. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian were killed by Huaorani warriors due to internal Huaorani politics during their attempts to reach them for the Gospel. Yet “the blood of the martyrs are the seed of the church” — and today that Huaorani tribe has been transformed from bloodthirsty murderers that were going to wipe themselves out by their bloody lifestyle into peaceful Christians who love God and love their fellow human beings. Eric Liddell gave his life to bring the Gospel to China, eventually dying in a Japanese prison camp during the second world war. Yet his legacy lives on in the lives of many Chinese Christians today.
Their lives were full of meaning — because of Christ.
P: Father, thank You that You give us meaning in life through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Being a friend to those who are down
27/9/14
S: Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
Proverbs 25:20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.
Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Proverbs 27:14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
O/A: It's not easy to know what to do sometimes when you have a friend or loved one who is feeling depressed. As two of the above proverbs point out, being cheery with them isn't always helpful. Yet, we have a responsibility to be a friend to them nonetheless, instead of letting them sink deeper and deeper into the slough of despond. There is a balance to be had between helping a depressed person and being dragged down yourself, but it's not easy to tell where the balance is.
Sometimes, just sitting silently and empathizing with them is already helpful.
Ultimately, the Friend who sticks closer than a brother, our taiko (big brother) Jesus is the only one who can live up to Carol King's song
When you're down and troubled
And you need some love and care,
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right —
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night.
You just call out my name,
And you know wherever I am,
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there — you've got a friend.
P: Father, please give us wisdom when we have a friend who is down, how to comfort them and cheer them up without adding to their sorrow. And to bring them to Jesus, the ultimate Friend. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
Proverbs 25:20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.
Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Proverbs 27:14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
O/A: It's not easy to know what to do sometimes when you have a friend or loved one who is feeling depressed. As two of the above proverbs point out, being cheery with them isn't always helpful. Yet, we have a responsibility to be a friend to them nonetheless, instead of letting them sink deeper and deeper into the slough of despond. There is a balance to be had between helping a depressed person and being dragged down yourself, but it's not easy to tell where the balance is.
Sometimes, just sitting silently and empathizing with them is already helpful.
Ultimately, the Friend who sticks closer than a brother, our taiko (big brother) Jesus is the only one who can live up to Carol King's song
And you need some love and care,
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right —
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night.
You just call out my name,
And you know wherever I am,
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there — you've got a friend.
P: Father, please give us wisdom when we have a friend who is down, how to comfort them and cheer them up without adding to their sorrow. And to bring them to Jesus, the ultimate Friend. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Accepting correction
13/9/14
S: Proverbs 13 1 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.
18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.
24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
O: We have often quoted verse 24, but as we can see from verses 1, 3 and 18, this principle actually applies to everyone.
A: Even as an adult, I make mistakes all the time and should be open to correction.
As a parent, I do need to pay heed to verse 24, but I also have to temper it with Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 and not exasperate my children.
P: Father, I continue to sin and make mistakes. Please keep me humble and help me to have the right attitude when criticized. Please help me have the right balance with correcting my children. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Proverbs 13 1 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.
18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.
24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
O: We have often quoted verse 24, but as we can see from verses 1, 3 and 18, this principle actually applies to everyone.
A: Even as an adult, I make mistakes all the time and should be open to correction.
As a parent, I do need to pay heed to verse 24, but I also have to temper it with Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 and not exasperate my children.
P: Father, I continue to sin and make mistakes. Please keep me humble and help me to have the right attitude when criticized. Please help me have the right balance with correcting my children. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Monday, September 1, 2014
Don't hide!
1/9/14
S: Psalm 32
O: When we do wrong, it's a very natural human reaction to hide our sin. However, as David said in verse 3-5, "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone."
Sin also hinders our prayers. As Psalm 66:18-19 points out, "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer."
A: I fail God time and time again. I must not hide from God like Adam and Eve after they ate the forbidden fruit, but instead run to Him, for as 1 John 1:9 points out, "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."
P: Father, I confess my sins to You. Thank You that You are so forgiving, and that You have provided Jesus as our Saviour. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Psalm 32
O: When we do wrong, it's a very natural human reaction to hide our sin. However, as David said in verse 3-5, "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone."
Sin also hinders our prayers. As Psalm 66:18-19 points out, "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer."
A: I fail God time and time again. I must not hide from God like Adam and Eve after they ate the forbidden fruit, but instead run to Him, for as 1 John 1:9 points out, "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."
P: Father, I confess my sins to You. Thank You that You are so forgiving, and that You have provided Jesus as our Saviour. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Run away! Run away!
2/8/14
S: Psalm 101
O: David starts out singing praise to the LORD but then goes on to say "I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me?" He then enumerates what he intends to do to live a blameless life:
A: Under grace, we don't live a blameless life in order to find favour with God. However, He does still call us to live a blameless life.
Some of the things David listed are appropriate for him as a king, but not so appropriate for us. But a lot of the stuff he listed is appropriate for us. I have been struggling with temptation myself and so I need to remind myself of this.
As 2 Timothy 2:22-24 says, I need to
P: Father, this is a tall order, the kind of life You have called us to live. But ultimately, it is how we can be blessed and have joy in life. So I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit again daily, so that I will have the power to do so. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Psalm 101
O: David starts out singing praise to the LORD but then goes on to say "I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me?" He then enumerates what he intends to do to live a blameless life:
- refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.
- have nothing to do with crooked dealings
- reject perverse ideas & stay away from every evil
- not tolerate slander, conceit & pride
- only allow people of integrity to serve in his house
- liars would not be allowed to stay in his presence
- ferret out the wicked and free the city of the LORD from their grip
A: Under grace, we don't live a blameless life in order to find favour with God. However, He does still call us to live a blameless life.
Some of the things David listed are appropriate for him as a king, but not so appropriate for us. But a lot of the stuff he listed is appropriate for us. I have been struggling with temptation myself and so I need to remind myself of this.
As 2 Timothy 2:22-24 says, I need to
- run away from temptations
- do the right thing
- be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with
- worship with people of pure hearts
- stay away from senseless arguments
- be kind to everyone
- be a good teacher and very patient.
P: Father, this is a tall order, the kind of life You have called us to live. But ultimately, it is how we can be blessed and have joy in life. So I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit again daily, so that I will have the power to do so. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
Saturday, July 26, 2014
When it seems like the wicked prosper
26/7/14
S: Psalm 73
O: Asaph observed something which we often see: the wicked seems to be prospering and getting away with their evil deeds. He said, "I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness."
But after bemoaning this for 14 verses, he said, "Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked."
A: In recent times, we've seen some terrible things happen around the world. Ukraine. Russia. Israel. Gaza. Burma. MH370. MH17. Hamas. And this morning, Betong, Southern Thailand.
Yet, as Asaph points out, ultimately, we are accountable to God. Continue to do good, in spite of all that. Go into His sanctuary and remind ourselves of what is ultimately true.
P: Father, I pray for the suffering people of Ukraine/Russia, Gaza/Israel, and Burma, and many other places in the world. I pray that in spite of wickedness in the world, I will stay true to You, and continue to encourage others to follow You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
S: Psalm 73
O: Asaph observed something which we often see: the wicked seems to be prospering and getting away with their evil deeds. He said, "I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness."
But after bemoaning this for 14 verses, he said, "Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked."
A: In recent times, we've seen some terrible things happen around the world. Ukraine. Russia. Israel. Gaza. Burma. MH370. MH17. Hamas. And this morning, Betong, Southern Thailand.
Yet, as Asaph points out, ultimately, we are accountable to God. Continue to do good, in spite of all that. Go into His sanctuary and remind ourselves of what is ultimately true.
P: Father, I pray for the suffering people of Ukraine/Russia, Gaza/Israel, and Burma, and many other places in the world. I pray that in spite of wickedness in the world, I will stay true to You, and continue to encourage others to follow You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
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