10 November 2007
'Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.' Dt 1:21
One of the paradoxes of the Christian life is that God's gifts often require labor on our part. God brought the Israelites to the Promised Land and told them He was going to “give” it to them (Nu 13:2). The gift of the Promised Land sounded great to the Israelites until they realized that, with the gift, came battles against giants and fortified cities! Perhaps they assumed God was going to obliterate the inhabitants of the land before they entered. Ideally for the Israelites, they could then have entered a vacant land with houses and cities already built and ready to inhabit.
Instead, God said they would have to fight for it. They would not have to fight in their own strength, however; God would be present to fight for them. God would bring down the walls of cities, give them strategies to defeat their enemies, and empower their warriors to fight. The Israelites would have a divine advantage over anyone they fought, but they would still have to fight.
It would be wonderful if, when we become Christians, God would fill our minds with a complete knowledge of the Bible and with Bible verses already memorized. It would be easy if God would instill in us a delight in spending hours in prayer each day and a fearless desire to share our faith with others. But God doesn't relate to us that way. Instead, He gives us the free gift of His salvation and then tells us to “work out” our salvation in fear and trembling (Phl 2:12b). Are you discouraged because the Christian life is more difficult and challenging than you expected? Don't be. God's gifts to you are perfect because, through them, God makes you perfect as well (Mt 5:48; Jas 1:17).
Praying in Faith
9 November 2007
'When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Ac 12:14-15
You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart. At times God will answer such prayers as He did when Peter was in prison, scheduled for execution. The believers in Jerusalem were powerless to free him, so they prayed. When God released Peter, their reaction revealed the doubt in their hearts. They argued that Peter could not possibly be free, even as he stood outside knocking on the door!
Is it possible to be a “person of prayer” and yet not have faith? Is it possible to fool yourself into believing that because you ask God for help, you have faith in His ability to meet your needs? Is your faith so weak that you are surprised when God answers your prayer? As a child of God, you ought to expect God to answer your prayers.
Do you ask God to do something without adjusting your life to what you are praying? If you are praying for revival, how are you preparing for its coming? If you are praying for forgiveness, are you still living with guilt? If you have asked God to provide for your needs, do you remain worried and anxious?
Ask God to increase your faith, and then begin living a life that reflects absolute trust in Him. Out of His grace, God may choose to respond to your requests despite your lack of faith, but you will miss the joy of praying in faith.
'When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Ac 12:14-15
You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart. At times God will answer such prayers as He did when Peter was in prison, scheduled for execution. The believers in Jerusalem were powerless to free him, so they prayed. When God released Peter, their reaction revealed the doubt in their hearts. They argued that Peter could not possibly be free, even as he stood outside knocking on the door!
Is it possible to be a “person of prayer” and yet not have faith? Is it possible to fool yourself into believing that because you ask God for help, you have faith in His ability to meet your needs? Is your faith so weak that you are surprised when God answers your prayer? As a child of God, you ought to expect God to answer your prayers.
Do you ask God to do something without adjusting your life to what you are praying? If you are praying for revival, how are you preparing for its coming? If you are praying for forgiveness, are you still living with guilt? If you have asked God to provide for your needs, do you remain worried and anxious?
Ask God to increase your faith, and then begin living a life that reflects absolute trust in Him. Out of His grace, God may choose to respond to your requests despite your lack of faith, but you will miss the joy of praying in faith.
Staying Spiritually Hungry
8 November 2007
' Come, all you who are thirsty..listen, listen to me, and eat what is good'
Isa 55:1-2
The person who is hungering and thirsting for righteuosness is someone who empties himself, draws back and avoids everything that has the appearance of unrighteousness - everything that is sinful. They follow Paul's instruction to 'avoid every kind of evil' (1Thess 5:22)
There are many things in life that can prevent us to have a hunger for God and lead us away from God and His righteousness. Those who hunger and thirst for God will avoid anything that will prevent them from coming to the fountain of life to taste of His goodness.
All of us know that in the physical realm, it is easy to spoil our appetites ie. by eating between meals and similarly, we need to be careful in the spiritual realm to indulge in anything that affects our hunger and thirst for God.
' Come, all you who are thirsty..listen, listen to me, and eat what is good'
Isa 55:1-2
The person who is hungering and thirsting for righteuosness is someone who empties himself, draws back and avoids everything that has the appearance of unrighteousness - everything that is sinful. They follow Paul's instruction to 'avoid every kind of evil' (1Thess 5:22)
There are many things in life that can prevent us to have a hunger for God and lead us away from God and His righteousness. Those who hunger and thirst for God will avoid anything that will prevent them from coming to the fountain of life to taste of His goodness.
All of us know that in the physical realm, it is easy to spoil our appetites ie. by eating between meals and similarly, we need to be careful in the spiritual realm to indulge in anything that affects our hunger and thirst for God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
