Steadfast in Christ

S: John 17:15-21

¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

O: This is Jesus’ prayer for His disciples — and for us. He says clearly, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” That’s us!

Notice what He prays for: not that we’d be taken out of this broken, hostile world, but that we’d be protected from the evil one while still remaining in it.

Earlier, Jesus had already told them, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

The Christian life is not an escape from trouble. Instead, it's a call to remain steadfast — rooted in Christ, sanctified by His truth, sent into the world with purpose, and protected by His power.

A: I've often heard this from persecuted Christians: “Don’t pray that persecution will stop. Pray that we will remain strong through it.”

Here in Malaysia, we may not face the same level of persecution — but we still face trials, challenges, and discouragements. Sometimes God removes the problem. But often, He strengthens us to endure it.

Whatever we face, we hold onto this truth: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13

To be steadfast in Christ is not about having a smooth life, but about having a strong faith.

P: Father, help me to see my struggles through your eternal perspective. Keep me from discouragement. Strengthen me to stand firm in Christ, whether or not my circumstances change. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Note: the ideas are mine, but I did get ChatGPT to improve the writing.

 

Calculus to Chimps

 

This is not a SOAP, but just some thoughts about theological mysteries.

Sometimes when people wrestle with deep theological questions—like free will vs. predestination, the Trinity, or how God is both just and merciful—they get frustrated because none of the answers seem to fully “fit.” I get that. I’ve been there too.

I call this the “Calculus to chimps” problem.

We know from science that chimpanzees can learn some basic sign language. They can understand simple arithmetic like 1+1=2. But there’s no way to teach a chimp calculus. It’s not that calculus isn’t real—it’s just completely beyond their capacity.

Now imagine the gap between us and God. The distance between human and chimp is tiny compared to the distance between finite humans and the infinite Creator of the universe. Some truths about God—especially how divine sovereignty, human freedom, and eternal realities work—are simply beyond what our minds can grasp fully.

That doesn’t mean these truths aren’t real. It just means that we see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). We are given enough light to walk in faith, to love and follow Christ, but not always enough to tie up every theological loose end.

For me, that’s a comfort. I don’t need to have calculus-level understanding to trust that God is good, just, loving, and true.

It’s okay to ask the deep questions. It’s also okay to admit that sometimes the answers are above our pay grade—and to worship anyway.

After all, is it really that surprising that there’ll be things about God and His creation that we don’t have the capacity to understand?

#FaithAndMystery #CalculusToChimps #Theology #Humility

Note: the ideas are mine, but I had ChatGPT help with the above text as well as to create the Calculus to Chimps illustration.

 

Pentecost, the Spirit, and the Call to Unity in an Imperfect Church

 

S: John 16:12-15

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

O: Some Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians claim this means that Spirit-filled believers will be guided into all truth—but that claim is difficult to accept at face value because even Spirit-filled Christians disagree, make mistakes, and sometimes give false prophecies.

Some Cessationists say this promise was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit guided the Church to produce the New Testament canon, after which miraculous gifts ceased. But miracles and spiritual gifts continue to be reported around the world, so this view also raises questions.

The Orthodox Church teaches that this promise is fulfilled when bishops gather in Ecumenical Councils, where the Spirit protects the Church from teaching doctrinal error. The Catholic Church agrees but adds that the Pope is protected from doctrinal error in his official ex cathedra teachings.

The key point is: Jesus’ promise of the Spirit at Pentecost did come true. So the real question is: what exactly did Jesus mean when He said the Spirit would guide them into all the truth?

Looking at the context, Jesus is speaking to His closest disciples, knowing that they cannot yet fully grasp the meaning of His death, resurrection, and the new Kingdom reality. Perhaps the “much more to say” refers to truths that would only be fully revealed through His death, resurrection, and the coming of the Spirit—truths they weren’t ready to bear at that moment.

Today, despite many doctrinal differences, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Cessationists, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians all agree on the central truths:

• That Jesus is the Son of God,
• That He died for our sins,
• That He rose from the dead,
• That He ascended to heaven,
• That the Holy Spirit has been given to guide and empower us,
• And that new life is found in Christ

A: While Christians disagree about secondary issues, we can agree on the core truth of the Gospel—Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our Saviour. So while it’s fine to discuss differences, let’s do it with humility, respect, and brotherly love, avoiding name-calling and harsh judgment.

P: Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to save us. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us. Help me to walk daily by the Spirit, to take up my cross, and to follow Jesus with faith and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Note: I used ChatGPT to help me rephrase my ideas better.

 

Whether respected or hated

S: John 15:18-25

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

O: Some people claim that this means if non-Christians think well of us, something must be wrong with our walk with Christ, since Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”

But that doesn’t take into account the whole counsel of Scripture. Jesus also taught in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Likewise, Titus 2:7–8, Proverbs 3:3–4, Romans 12:17–21, and 1 Peter 2:12 all urge us to live visibly good and upright lives, often resulting in respect or even admiration from non-believers.

Many biblical values—human dignity, justice, mercy—have shaped societies over time. Concepts like universal human rights, care for the poor, and equality before the law trace back to Scripture, even when secular societies forget their origin. Some values once radical (compassion, forgiveness, justice) are now admired by the wider world because of the long influence of Christ and His followers—the yeast working through the dough (Matthew 13:33).

At the same time, it is true that following Jesus can bring persecution. Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, who suffered in both Nazi and Communist Romania, are examples of believers who stood firm despite intense opposition. Many others have done likewise.

A: I need to live such a good life that people see my actions and glorify God. In my current situation, I am more likely to have opportunities to shine through kindness, integrity, and witness. But I also need to be spiritually prepared to stand firm if real opposition or persecution comes.

P: Father, help me to walk in the light as You are in the light, to have fellowship with other believers, and to receive the cleansing of Jesus’ blood. Help me to be salt and light—whether I am accepted or rejected—and not to compromise should persecution come. In Jesus’ name, amen.