Be prepared!

30/9/11 Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13

S: Luke 12:42-48 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”

Luke 13:6-9 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertiliser. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

O: The Scout's motto, "Be Prepared!" seems to be the theme of both these passages.

There is a clear message in scripture that salvation is not earned, but rather, a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). But the other side of it is in passages like this -- that if we are truly saved, we will live in such a manner that our life shows it.

In Revelations, several times it says "He who overcomes shall" reap the rewards -- Revelation 2:11, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 21:7. Faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26)

P: Father, we seem to be on the same theme yesterday and today, so I repeat my prayer yesterday: keep me steadfast in Christ till the very end. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)

What's in a name?

29/9/11 Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

Zechariah 4:6-10 Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” Then another message came to me from the LORD: “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.)

O: The name "Zerubbabel" isn't very auspicious -- Wikipedia says

If the name Zerubbabel is Hebrew, it may be a contraction of Zərua‘ Bāvel (Hebrew: זְרוּעַ בָּבֶל‎), meaning "the one sown of Babylon", and referring to a child conceived and born in Babylon; or perhaps even, Zərûy Bāvel (Hebrew: זְרוּי בָּבֶל‎), meaning, "the winnowed of Babylon", in the sense of being exiled in Babylon. If the name is not Hebrew but Assyrian-Babylonian, it may contract, Zəru Bābel, meaning, "Seed of Babylon", the one conceived in Babylon. (Contrast the related Hebrew form for "Seed": Hebrew: זֶרַע‎, Zera‘.)

Yet, in spite of his name, here the LORD proclaims great things for Zerubbabel.

A: Even if one doesn't have an auspicious beginning, the LORD can use one for great things. As Zechariah 4:10 implies, do not despise the day of small beginnings.

Whether you started high or started low, the important thing is to finish strong!

P: Father, may I be steadfast in Christ to the end! In Jesus' name, amen.

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Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)

The Promised Messiah

28/9/11 Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11

S: Zechariah 3:8-9 “Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets.t I will engrave an inscription on it, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.

O: Indeed, God would send the Branch of Jesse, the Messiah, and He would indeed have the name Yeshua — Jesus. And He would indeed remove the sins of this land in a single day — indeed, not just the sins of the land of Israel, but of the whole world.

This is one of the many times that Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World, was predicted in the Old Testament.

A: Jesus is the way of salvation. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) It is therefore important for us as the hands and feet of Christ on earth to share the love of Christ with our friends and family.

I find it easy to talk about Jesus but I find it very hard to ask people to take that step to put their faith in Him. As a result, I have only done that very few times in my life. One of my greatest joys is when one of my old friends finds me online and contacts me saying that some time later, they became followers of Jesus, partly as a result of my influence.

P: Father, help me to be bolder to take the Gospel to my friends and family. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)

Enemy Mine

27/9/11 Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

S: Luke 10:27-29 The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”

Jesus then went on to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

O: To the Jews of Jesus' time, the Samaritans were like Islamic terrorists to the Jews of today's Israel, like the Liberal Democrats to the Tea Party Christians of today's USA, like corrupt Barisan Nasional crony politicians to pro-democracy Malaysians.

Yet, Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan in response to the Expert of Jewish Religious Law's question "Who is my neighbour?" when Jesus reminded him that he wasn't following the Biblical injunction to "Love your neighbour as yourself."

In fact, in Matthew 5:44, Jesus puts it even more forcefully: "Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"

A: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Yet, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

I have been frequently disgusted at the misdeeds of Barisan Nasional crony politicians, so it's actually quite hard for me to love them, but that's what Christ calls us to. And then there're the people one runs across in daily life who annoy us, or victimise us, etc. Sometimes they're even harder to love, and since we have personal contact with them, it's even more evident when we don't. But that's what Christ calls us to.

Easier said than done, yep. In fact, humanly speaking, it's impossible. But the fruit of the Spirit includes love, and as we walk with Christ, it grows.

P: Father, please keep growing Your love in me, so that I may be able to overflow with your love to my neighbours! In Jesus' name, amen.

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Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)

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By the way, the title of this post is taken from an excellent Science Fiction story by Barry Longyear.

The Best Way

26/9/11 Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Luke 9:23-26 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

O: The Psalms passage points out that if we strive against God's will then it'll be useless, but if you are on the LORD's side, you'll ultimately succeed. The Luke passage points out that if we strive to achieve our selfish ends, ultimately we'll lose it all. But if we lose our lives for Jesus, we'll actually save it.

God's way is really the best way. Often, it's the best way even here on earth, but even if things don't turn out that great from a worldly perspective, like for the martyrs, ultimately, it's the best. The myriad saints in heaven can testify to that.

I've never regretted any decision I have made in good faith following Christ. Some of my decisions resulted in events that turned out differently from what I expected, but even in those "bad" cases, God has blessed me with the privilege of seeing a glimpse of why He put me through it. So I have in my own personal life really seen this come true already.

A: When I am tempted to not do something God's way, I need to remind myself that both scripture and experience has shown that His way is the best way. Live with no regrets!

P: Thank You, Father, for blessing me with being able to see in this life the reasons behind why You have let me go through various trials. Help me to remember that whenever I'm tempted to do things the world's way when it seems that it would be to my advantage. Help me to remember that ultimately, Your way is the best way!

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Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)

Pay attention!

26/9/11 Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

S: Luke 8:18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

O: Jesus had just told the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Lamp before he said this.

A: How many times has my mind wandered off when I am listening to a sermon or the Bible? I need to pay attention! Then only will I get the benefit of God's Word.

P: Father, help me to be attentive to Your Word, and to apply it to my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)

Doubt ≠ Turning away

24/9/11 Ezra 1; Psalm 84 & 85; Luke 7

S: Luke 7:20-28 John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’” At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.” After John’s disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.

John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”

O: John the Baptist had been put in prison for speaking the truth of the Lord. He was feeling down and despondent. He had baptised Jesus, and proclaimed that Jesus would increase while he would decrease, but that he had the joy of the friend of the bridegroom. Yet, now he sat in prison. So it is not surprising that he was feeling down and doubt, so he sent his disciples to get reassurance from Jesus whether He was truly the promised Messiah or not.

Jesus said "God blesses those who do not turn away because of me." But then He went on to commend John, "I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John."

A: We all feel doubt at times. That is not the same as turning away from God. We all go through times of discouragement. Sometimes, we will not escape from the trouble we are in in this life -- John himself never got out of prison, but would eventually be beheaded. Yet, Jesus proclaimed that he was the greatest person who ever lived.

So when we feel doubt, it's not a sign that we have turned away. Run to Jesus for His reassurance, even in the midst of our doubt.

P: Father, when I doubt, help me to always run to Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)