Friday, December 29, 2006

Clothes With Humility

CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, BECAUSE, "GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."1 Peter 5.5.

It is the proud and those with high self-esteem that wins the day in this world. Even today’s Church seems to have no place for the poor to whom the Son of God came leaving heaven’s wealth and glory to preach the gospel. The urban churches have become the temple of the rich, and the poor with only their two mites to give to God with nothing left to live, are out of place. We seem to have forgotten that we are the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ who unashamedly boasted in saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Lk 9.58).

One day I shook hands with an ordinary looking brother in a church and said, “God bless you!” He said, “Brother, you are the first person to shake my hand in this church which I have been attending for more than two years! The people seem to have time only for the rich!” God has prospered many urban churches and the members have become rich and even mega-rich. However, let us not forget the Bible has more negative things to say about the rich than the poor and warns us to be wary of riches! It is a pity that the Church has lost its bearing and we even have seminars for the millionaires and for the rich and those who want to be!

One of the tragedies of becoming rich is that wealth spawns pride. The church becomes the place to parade the world’s wealth. Who owns the costliest cars, who dresses in the most fashionable way and even who gives the most offerings, all become points of competition. Your boasting ceases to be in the Lord but in the abundance of your possessions. Your wealth dictates your behavior. Meekness, gentleness and politeness go out from your relationship and instead pride, arrogance and boasting take their place.

An old acquaintance of mine recently sent me a rude letter because he didn’t like something I wrote to him. He mentioned that he was running a very successful business and I believe that was the reason for his outburst. I re-read my letter but I couldn’t find anything purposely offending. But as a Christian, I decided to eat humble pie and do what the Lord taught us to do - "if you…your brother has something against you,… go and be reconciled to your brother” (Mt 5.23). I wrote him a note saying, “I’m sorry if my letter offended you.” Recently, a very gifted young man I cared for in many ways, including giving financial help for two years when he was down, was upset with me for demanding better integrity. Angrily he walked out on me! Of course he has now become successful in many ways. When I quoted to him the above verse, he sent me an SMS saying “I have forgiven you!” I wonder whether that was what the Lord meant when He said, "if your brother has something against you,… go and be reconciled to your brother”.

Pray with me: Dear Lord, help me to clothe myself with humility toward others because You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. Amen.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Blessed Is The Man

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO FEARS THE LORD, WHO FINDS GREAT DELIGHT IN HIS COMMANDS. Psalm 112.1.

‘Fear the LORD’ is not something we often hear in our churches today. Consequently ‘the fear of God’ is not apparent in our hearts and lives! That is the tragedy of today’s generation. We are taken up with the ‘love of God’ all the time that we have forgotten, no, we have not even heard so much about ‘the fear of God’. It is no wonder that you and I have greatly lost ‘our reverence of God’! It is apparent in every aspect of our lives. Because of the lack of the fear of God, we take no delight in His commandments. We do not bother to keep them. The wise King Solomon said long ago, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9.10).

You and I easily and thoughtlessly break the commandments of God because we have no fear of Him. Our hearty and exuberant singing and shouting before a God of love, though it is becoming the saints, have created in us the impression that ‘anything and everything goes with Him!’ We have accepted the attitude that it doesn’t matter ‘how we conduct ourselves’ in His sanctuary or in the homes or workplace, once we have ‘done our worshipping!’

The Scripture clearly teaches what our attitude should be before our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! We are taught, “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; For great is the LORD … he is to be feared above all gods. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth… for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth” (Psa 96.1-13).

What has happened today in our relationship with God is what we see in our family relationships too! Until a generation ago, children loved their parents and feared them. Today, in our eagerness to ‘befriend our children’ (taught by modern psychology), we have failed to inculcate in our youngsters the fear and respect for parents, teachers and elders. A child being a child, fails to understand the ‘double role’ his parents try to play, one of parenthood and the other of friendship.

But you are mature and intelligent and are taught by the Scriptures. You need to develop a healthy understanding and relationship with our ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN. You must learn to ‘love your God with all your heart’ and develop a loving relationship. You must also learn ‘to fear God’ and reverence Him.

You should fear the LORD not so much because you are afraid or terrified of Him, even though the Name of God and His presence should evoke awe in You! You should fear the LORD out of love for Him as Father God. Then, you will find great delight in His commands.

Look at the great blessings the LORD will have for you: Your children will be mighty in the land and they will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in your house. Your righteousness will endure forever.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to love and fear You. Teach me when to express my love and adoration. Let me not forget that You are to be feared and obeyed. Amen.

Friday, December 22, 2006

The Word Became Human Being

THE WORD BECAME A HUMAN BEING AND LIVED HERE WITH US. WE SAW HIS TRUE GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONLY SON OF THE FATHER John 1.14. CEV

The twelve disciples knew Jesus physically and personally. They also ‘experienced’ Him ‘spiritually’, though only gradually. John explained, “the ‘Word’ (the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only Son) became flesh and made his dwelling among them; ‘they saw His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth’”.

Listen to another touching description of the moving experience of the beloved disciple John, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete” (1 Jn 1.1-4).

The risen Lord appeared to ‘the doubting disciple, Thomas’, and told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20.29). There is no doubt that the Lord was thinking and talking about all of us, believers, who have never seen Him yet believe.

Dear believer, this Christmas season by faith, you also could have the same ‘personal and spiritual experience’ of the Lord Jesus Christ as the 12 disciples! Our problem is that we have reduced our religion to mere intellectual knowledge, through hearing and reading of the Word of God. Because of our worldly wisdom and education based on ‘ the reasoning of the mind’, we have developed a mental block, and even disbelief and antagonism about the possibility of ‘spiritual experiences’. Many intellectual Christians, good men they are, want to know God and the Lord Jesus Christ only by studying the Bible.

Often the Scripture tells us of the accounts of believers who were baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit receiving ‘power and great joy’. Listen to what the apostle Peter has to say about the experience that could be ours, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Pe 1.8). Has that been your experience?

In many of our old hymns that we used to sing regularly, there are abundant expressions of our desire for experiencing God and the hope for its fulfillment. We must be pitied of all people if our knowledge of the Lord is only intellectual and never ‘experiential’. “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3.6). Through Bible reading, prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit, this Christmas the experience of the disciples could be yours too!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, You came to reveal the Father to me. Help me not only to believe in You but to experience You in my daily life.’ Amen.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

When They Saw The Child

WHEN THEY SAW THE CHILD THEY KNELT DOWN AND WORSHIPED HIM. Matthew 2.11.

Where are you going to this Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? I know you will not be spending your time in pubs and cabarets, drinking, revelling and carousing. You may be having your own Christmas parties and dinners with family and friends.

We had a Christmas dinner the other day at a friend’s house. It was a wonderful time of gathering of family and friends, taped Christmas music and carols, blessing for the food and a sumptuous dinner and gifts for all to follow. It was past midnight when we knocked off! All in all it was a wonderful Christmas Dinner party. Pity though, there wasn’t any special time set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus!

I was reading about the Magi, the wise men from the East (some say three), from Matthew’s gospel, “The wise men from the East, went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him”.

That was the first Christmas celebration, apart from the shepherds from the Judean fields who went earlier to Bethlehem the very night Christ was born. Notice the sequence of events as their celebration unfolds. Let that be part of our regular, yearly Christmas festival and celebration. They went to Jesus; they saw the Child; they knelt and worshipped Him; they opened their precious gifts and presented them to Jesus!

Dear Christian friend, consider how you are planning to celebrate Christmas. Think of the immense value of incorporating in our Christmas parties ‘a cake-cutting for Jesus and the singing of the ‘happy birthday song to Him!’ It may be unconventional and even appear odd! But why should it be? Isn’t it a birthday celebration just like any other? Because our fathers didn’t do it, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start!

Most of all, by doing so, our own children who are growing up and our non-Christian neighbours and we ourselves would not miss the real reason for Christ-mas! Think of it. Break yourself loose from tradition! Let us set our focus on Jesus of Nazareth this Christmas season.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I know why I celebrate Christmas. It is Your birthday. Help me to make it centre on You so that all will know it is not just party time but Your birthday celebration. Amen.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

A Pregnant Virgin

A VIRGIN WILL BECOME PREGNANT AND HAVE A SON, AND HE WILL BE CALLED EMMANUEL WHICH MEANS, "GOD WITH US". Matthew 1.23

When we part with one another, we often say, “God be with you!” It gives us and those departing from us much comfort and hope. We say that not only when we embark on a distant and long journey but even on a short one, like going out for the day’s work. Our family prays this before we part with one another for our day’s commitments. When someone is in trouble and bearing it alone, we say to them also for encouragement, “May God be with you”.

It is the Christmas season and I was considering the implication of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ as a babe in Bethlehem. In the Old Testament times, the unseen God was present with His people, though often they did not perceive it. Even Moses, the great leader, when he approached the burning bush, did not know that God was there! Hence God had to warn him that he was standing on holy ground and that he needed to take off his shoes! In the wilderness, on the way to Canaan from Egypt, God let Himself be present with His people by the ‘pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night’. Every time they saw these, the people knew that God was with them. Even then, when problems arose, they were overcome with fear instead of turning to God in the cloud and fire! Their problem was that they still couldn’t see the form of God! Hence they couldn’t put their trust in Him.

It was then God condescended to send His only Son to come and dwell with men so that we could “see, touch and feel” Him for the first time! John the disciple and the others had that experience and hence he wrote, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1.14).

This could be the experience of all those who would care to have a relationship with Jesus. Not only did God send His son to be born of a virgin but He gave Him the name, “Emmanuel” which means “God with us!” Every time we call Jesus, ‘Emmanuel’, we assure ourselves that God Himself is with us in the person of Jesus Christ.

I was speaking to an old friend at a Christmas party at our home. When I asked how things are with him, he replied “Life has its problems!” With God’s Christmas gift in mind, I told him, “That’s why God gave us His Son Jesus whom He named, ‘Emmanuel’ meaning, “God with us!” What more do we need?

Dear believer, Jesus told us before He left us to go to the Father, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16.33). He will never leave us nor forsake us in our trouble. He is with us to deliver us out of trouble or He will help us to go through it! He is Emmanuel, God with us. If you are still not sure, just call out “Emmanuel!” Jesus is our ‘spiritual genie’, if I could say that most reverently, to a generation that is familiar with such idioms. Don’t be mistaken or be too naïve to use it as a magic word! Let your mind stay on Christ, your Emmanuel, God with you.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I thank You for You are my Emmanuel – God Himself with me! If God is with me, who or what can be against me? Lord, make that a present reality to me and not mere head knowledge. Amen.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Things You Have Heard Me Say

THE THINGS YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY, ENTRUST TO RELIABLE MEN WHO WILL ALSO BE QUALIFIED TO TEACH OTHERS. 2 Timothy 2.2.

One of my greatest concerns as parents, is to pass to the next generation, especially my children, all that has been entrusted to us by our parents, spiritually, socially, morally and even culturally. It is our hope that they will pass them on to their children and they to their children so that the great heritage we received from our forefathers would go from generation to generation until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again! It is for this same reason that I began writing these devotionals so that an up-and-coming generation of young believers all over the world may be benefitted through the spiritual things that I share with them.

My wife tries to gather our clan of four children, three in-laws and thirteen grandchildren as often as circumstances permit. I am very particular that all of us get occasions to sit together for a meal and thereafter talk things over. I try to make use of these times to pass on all the good things we learned from our godly parents and grandparents. So regular and boring those ‘talkathons’ might be that when their mother/grandmother invites them for a meal, they hesitate thinking that it is for another of dad’s/grandpa’s favourite talks!

I can imagine the great concern the aged apostle Paul had for his son Timothy and other young believers like Titus, Epaphras, Epaphrodites, Mark and many others. He was writing one of his last letters and he knew he was soon going to be with his Master and Lord. He was making sure that they would be faithful men who would teach others the precepts and practices which he passed on to them.

Dear believer, learn from the Lord diligently His teaching. Receive from your fathers and leaders what they have learned from their elders. It is the wisdom of the age handed down from generations which you cannot buy! Godly parents are a heritage from the Lord, just as good children are! What God has given us freely, let none belittle or lose!

God says in His Word, “Listen, my sons and daughters, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. .. Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them” (Pro 4.1-5).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I thank You for giving me parents and teachers, both spiritual and physical. Grant me wisdom to give heed to their words and pass them on to others. Amen.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

The Lord's Compassions

THE LORD’S COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. Lam 3.22,23.

Sometime ago, my wife and I had the privilege to visit a dear brother and sister from our church. He had been quite unwell off and on for several years. The past few months were very trying for him and his dear wife too because he was in and out of intensive care units of different hospitals with diabetes and a chronic leg ulcer which threatened amputation, kidney failure, heart failure, pneumonia, etc. In addition to all his physical ailments, they were going through serious business problems and losses.

What surprised us greatly was that while they took more than an hour to tell us their sad tale, especially explaining it to me a medical doctor, we never heard a word of complaint about their sufferings. All the while, both the husband and wife were telling of the great compassion and faithfulness of the Lord to them in their times of deep distress.

This made us say to ourselves, “We shouldn’t be complaining after all!” Not that we are chronic complainers! But God knows that every day there are problems and even trials that we have to undergo. If we don’t speak about them among ourselves, there will be no outlet for our pent up feelings! If we do not complain to the Lord and cry out like Jeremiah, we will have no relief!

Remember, it is the Lord who told His disciples, “Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mat 6.34). We can pray everyday as the Lord taught us, “lead us not into temptation/trials, but deliver us from the evil/one” (Mt 6.13). However, some times of trouble do come because it is part of our ‘fallen life’. The prophet Jeremiah lamented to the Lord about his trials and the distress of his people and they were enough to fill a small book in the Bible – Lamentations! But Jeremiah was not a grumbler without trust in the Lord or confidence in His compassion, faithfulness and mercies, like the children of Israel in the wilderness whom the Lord hated in His anger.

I love that wonderful hymn inspired by today’s verse and it is one of the first hymns I learned to play on the piano. I still play it regularly to remind me of the Lord’s faithfulness, love and mercy, to build up my faith to withstand trials and sorrows.

Praise God with me:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been Thou for ever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, -
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Amen

Go & Speak

THE LORD SAID TO ME, “SON OF MAN EAT WHAT IS BEFORE YOU, EAT THIS SCROLL; THEN GO AND SPEAK TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.” Ezekiel 3.1.

As usual, I was having my morning walk, meditating on the verse for the day, quoted above. Usually, I pray that the Lord will reveal to me what He wants me to teach others. But today my prayer was different. I prayed that the Lord may impress on my heart the importance of today’s text.

The message was clear and plain! In unmistakable words the Lord was talking to me. He was saying that ‘I should be eating (reading and meditating) the Word before He would entitle me to speak to the people of God!’ I was reminded of the absolute necessity of constantly reading and meditating on God’s Word, if I aspire to preach or teach people for their blessing and benefit.

It is quite a temptation to all the ‘professional’ teachers and preachers to trust in their past accomplishments to carry on their present ministry without the ‘blood or sweat’ any more. They begin to ‘rest on their laurels’. They pull out a lesson or a sermon from the file or from memory and dish it out to God’s people! No prayer, no reading of the Word, no careful study and no waiting on the Holy Spirit!

The Lord wouldn’t have anything to do with such preachers or prophets. He called them ‘false teachers and prophets!’ God’s complaint against many of Israel’s prophets was just that. Hear Him rebuke them, “I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds” (Jer 23.21,22).

From the beginning, my prayer was that what I write should not be mere teaching or preaching but practical guidance from the Word to the believers, especially the younger generation on daily living in the ‘market place’. I am gladly surprised at the numerous letters of appreciation that I receive from around the world. Here is a comment received from a sister: “I'm looking forward to reading your fresh insights and comments on the goodness of our Lord and also the challenges in our Christian walk today straight from your heart. You've been truly a blessing (like a sharp piece of iron) from the Lord. May you continue to sharpen us to the likeness of Christ with your revelations of the Word and the Spirit of God. Glory to God”. I cannot do this unless I stand in the council of the Almighty for your sake and mine. Help me by your prayers.

Dear believer, you too are called to be the Lord’s witness where He has placed you. But unless you begin to ‘eat the scroll’, the Bible, daily and hear God, you cannot live for Him or speak His Words!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, make me stand in Your council and read Your Word and hear You speak to me day by day that I may live like You before others and speak to them Your Words. Amen.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The Lord Is All I Have

THE LORD IS ALL I HAVE, AND SO IN HIM I WILL PUT MY HOPE. (GNB) Lam 3.24.

It is common human reaction that when we suffer, we either think that God is punishing us for our sins or that we are being afflicted unjustly. It is the same with those who believe in God and those who do not! But those who unflinchingly trust in God and His goodness will survive their afflictions and their hope in Him will ultimately be rewarded.

The prophet Jeremiah is a good example for us who suffer justly or unjustly. He suffered for speaking up for God and prophesying things that his people didn’t cherish to hear. Probably his words that we read today were uttered from the deep muddy well in the courtyard of the King of Judah, into which he was thrown for prophesying the truth. Listen to him carefully and learn how to withstand the test of trials or join with him if you are already in the heat of troubles.

When we think that we are suffering unjustly, or God is afflicting us without cause, then we should cry out to God like the prophet Jeremiah. He told a mouthful to God about his woes. He wasn’t like some pious people who wouldn’t open their mouths and express their distress to God fearing that it might upset Him. Jeremiah wasn’t a hypocrite either. He told God that He was unfair and unjust in causing him trouble and grief when he was bravely facing people and telling them the bad news that God had for them! Jeremiah told God that his soul was downcast because all he hoped from God did not materialise!

But there was one good thing that Jeremiah did. Like all saintly people who trusted in God but still had to suffer, he kept clinging to God. He assured himself saying, “The Lord is all I have, and so in him I will put my hope”.

The saintly suffering psalmist and temple musician, Asaph, once said, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds” (Psa 73.26-28).

Dear believer, in all your troubles, problems, difficulties, sickness, pain and even death, remember the Lord is with you. “The Lord is all that you have!” Nothing or no one else can help you! Trust in the Lord and wait for him. He will help you out or take you through!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I thank You for You are all I have to trust and to hold on to amidst my present trials. Therefore I will hope in you. Amen.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

You Are The Christ

YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. Matthew 16.16.

Once I was talking to a young Muslim boy, the son of a friend. I told him about Christ. But he asked me seriously, “How could Jesus be the Son of God when God did not have a wife?” Not only the Muslims but even Christians have a problem believing in the Trinity – The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Jews of Jesus’ days too had great difficulty in accepting His claim that He is the Son of God. They were waiting for generations for the promised Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed. Their prophets had foretold, “to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” (Isa 9.7).

Having preached the kingdom of God with multiplied miracles accompanying, Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." None of them could accept Jesus’ claim that He was the Son of God.

"But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven (vs 15-17).

Even today it is the same. If anyone is to know and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Father must reveal it to him. Whenever I witness to people about Jesus and tell them that Jesus is the Son of God, I see the unbelief on their faces! They want a revelation! And they need it!

But the mystery is that God wants you first to believe His Word and accept His Son. Only then does God give you the revelation through the Holy Spirit. Suddenly, you are convinced beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, Your Saviour and Lord. Thank God for the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Father, I pray that You may keep revealing Your dear Son to me more and more, both in knowledge and experience as I daily read Your Word. Amen.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Who Have Eternal Life?

JESUS SAID WHOEVER HEARS MY WORD AND BELIEVES HIM WHO SENT ME HAS ETERNAL LIFE. ……HE HAS CROSSED OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE”. John 5.24.

It is said that the only thing constant in this changing world is ‘change’! The greatest change that you and I will experience in life is ‘death!’ It transports you from this life to the next. But how terrified people are about death!

The Bible teaches that it is merely a “cross over from life to death and to life – eternal”. But only to those who hear, listen and obey the Words of Jesus and believe in God the Father who sent Him into this world to die for their sins. It is He who gives them eternal life.

I know of a sister in Christ who died of some rare immune disease for which there was no cure. She was only in her fifties. I spoke to her mother of 82! She told me in great confidence, “I know that my daughter is in heaven with the Lord. I too will soon go and meet up with her!” What a great confidence and assurance of crossing over from death into Life!

This confidence is something that is shared by all those who have believed in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. I may be afraid to die. I may not want to die. But when death comes, I am confident that it will not be the end! I know where I am going and am sure of it! Are you sure of your destination after death? Many people want to go to heaven after death. But they are not sure of going there. They only hope! But you can be sure!

Dear believer, Jesus Christ died and rose again on the third day. He conquered death for you and me. If you have believed in Jesus and if you live according to His Word, He assures you eternal life. He assures you that physical death is only a walk over, a mere crossing from this life to the next.

So much so the apostle Paul said, “to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1.21). If you are a child of God, death is then ‘Home-coming’. I may be sad to leave behind all my loved ones. But I am glad I am going to meet my Father God and my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ whom I have never seen but believed all my life and I eagerly long to see! It will be the same for you if you believe in the Father and in Jesus the Son whom He sent to give you eternal life after death.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I thank You for You have helped me listen to Your Word and believe in God the Father who sent You into this world as my Saviour and Lord. Thank You for the promise of eternal life. Amen.

Friday, December 8, 2006

Don't Give Up Meeting

LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER, AS SOME ARE IN THE HABIT OF DOING. Hebrews 10.25.

We all have habits that are different! Some are good, some are not so good and some are positively bad! Here the writer of Hebrews describes the habit of some Christians - “some are in the habit of giving up on meeting together!” They do not go to church for whatever reason they can find!

Why some people do not go to church is because ‘those who are in the habit of going to church regularly, do not show any sign of change in character or life!’ You have heard people comment, “Those who go to church are all hypocrites!” One can hardly recognise them as Christians in the homes or in the marketplace! I have heard people say, “If so and so goes to church, I don’t want to go to church!” Have you ever thought that your life may be hindering others from going to church and even to heaven? What a tragedy that would be?

It should not surprise any one that sinners and hypocrites go to church. They go there because they want to be changed! That is no reason for you not to go to church! If you are honest and live a good life, then you must go to church! The Church needs people like you. But if you are unworthy to go to church, take heart Jesus established the church not for the righteous but for the sinners!

It is in the church that you can hear the Word of God that convicts, converts and transforms. There you learn how to live your life according to the Word of God. There your thoughts, words, and actions are discerned by the Word and the Holy Spirit and you stand to be corrected. In the church, together with all the others like you who are not perfect but fallible, you must meet often. The Bible exhorts you to encourage and help one another to grow in grace and knowledge of the Word and the Lord!

Listen again to today’s text, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching”. If you are in the habit of not going to church, why not obey God’s voice today and begin to go to church. You will see your life transformed and enriched together with others like you.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I am sorry for neglecting to go to Your Church and meet with fellow believers to worship and to be taught by You to live lives that are pleasing to You. Amen.

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Watch Out

WATCH OUT THAT YOU ARE NOT DECEIVED. FOR MANY WILL COME IN MY NAME, CLAIMING, 'I AM HE,' AND, 'THE TIME IS NEAR.' DO NOT FOLLOW THEM. Luke 21.8.

Lately, I heard of a large healing crusade to be held by an African prophet. Another international prophetic conference is scheduled where hundreds of participants from around the world are supposed to attend. Thank God for everything that takes place that are biblical, authentic and spirit-led.

I attended a Bible seminar on the Book of Jude sometime ago. Jude cautioned believers of the danger of ‘false teachers’ coming in to the Church and deceiving believers. The Bible expositor took some time to teach and describe the character of the false teachers. I thought to myself that today we do not have many false teachers as opposed to the days of Jude and the early church!

As I was driving back home I had second thoughts! I scanned the Christian horizon of the past three decades. I suddenly realised that we need to exercise much caution for the Lord warned us about false teachers and prophets who would even do miracles in His name and mislead us in the last days. There will always be ‘false teachers’ but only ‘the false teachings of today may be different from that of the early church! The false teachers of yesteryears introduced ‘false doctrines about the fundamental issues of our faith – like questioning the uniqueness of Christ or salvation only by faith not works or worship of angels etc.!’

But, what do we see today? Undoubtedly, we have seen in the latter half of the last century a new move of the Holy Spirit in the church which brought a refreshing freedom in all the areas of spiritual worship and practice. But, many are using this liberty to establish their own ‘principles and practices within the church’. There is an increasing influx of teachers who spread ‘all kinds of human-founded and established practices of religion and worship!’

For example, we had a spate of ministers introducing their own but not Biblical ‘Super-techniques’ of ministry as in ‘anointing, prophesy, healing, laying of hands, slaying, laughing, dreams and visions, and even bringing the world into the church!’ Like immature believers of the early church, we too have become so gullible not only to accept without discernment these men but even venerate them!

I am positive and prophetic in my outlook and ministry and I embrace new things readily. But with one important proviso – all must be biblical to the core and spiritually sound to every detail! Dear believer, you and I must be like the Berean believers. We must endeavor to follow their trait in accepting all ‘new teachings and practices’. “They were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17.11).

Pray and practice with me: Dear Lord, teach me to prove all things and hold fast that which is good. Help me to be on my guard and distance myself from all teachings and practices which do not adhere to Your written Word. Amen.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

The Spirit Testifies

THE SPIRIT HIMSELF TESTIFIES WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN. Romans 8.16.

Have you ever felt that you have greatly sinned against God and that He is angry with you and will never forgive you? Perhaps you might have felt very guilty for doing something which you yourself consider so bad. You fear that you have lost God’s love and favour!

Often when you are struck by some misfortune or hit by some sickness, such feelings overtake you. You ask yourself, “Why has this terrible thing happened to me?” Satan, our soul’s enemy, is quick to suggest to you, “It is God’s punishment. You have done something wrong! God is angry with you. God does not consider you His child any more!” Already, you are feeling guilty of some misdeed. Sometimes, it may not even be any sinful deed. Perhaps, you were not able to give as much time to God as before in reading the Bible, taking time to pray or attending the Sunday church service! But still Satan tries to accuse you of something or the other. He deliberately tries to make you feel that God has forsaken you as His child!

The Bible tells us, “all who received Jesus, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God” (Jn 1.12). You know that. But now that you are going through some trouble, Satan takes the opportunity to begin questioning your relationship with God as His child. The greater your trouble, the greater you doubt God’s love.

That is the time the Holy Spirit comes to your help, if you have genuinely accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour. The Bible says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children”. Furthermore, God’s Word says, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father" (v.15). Thank God for His Holy Spirit.

I have mentioned about my encounter with cancer. I fasted for three weeks and prayed for a miracle. My family joined in earnest prayer. But there was no miracle and I had to have a major surgery! I confessed all the sins I ever committed, even those old ‘forgiven and forgotten ones too!’ I felt like my Lord in the garden of Gethsemane as I cried out like Him, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” (Mt 27.46). But, I knew and believed that I am God’s child and that He would never forsake me. My confidence came from the Scripture that says, “The Spirit himself was testifying with my spirit that I am God's child”.

Dear child of God, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble!” If you are going through any kind of trouble, don’t doubt your Father’s love. Don’t let Satan or even your own conscience accuse you of any wrong. Simply confess all sins and God will forgive and He will cleanse you of all unrighteousness. Trust the Holy Spirit to testify to your spirit that you are God’s child!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I thank You for Your Holy Spirit who helps me to call You “Abba Father”. Let Your Holy Spirit testify to me that I am Your child and remove my every doubt in times of distress. Amen.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

God's Love Unshaken

THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE SHAKEN AND THE HILLS BE REMOVED, YET MY UNFAILING LOVE FOR YOU WILL NOT BE SHAKEN NOR MY COVENANT OF PEACE BE REMOVED," SAYS THE LORD, WHO HAS COMPASSION ON YOU. Isaiah 54.10.

Some years ago when I was suddenly diagnosed with cancer colon, my world crumbled! Being a doctor, I knew what awaited me. During those traumatic days, I happened to find the chorus: “Though the mountains may depart and the hills may be removed, my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of love shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion for you”. I learned to play it on the piano and never ceased to sing until the terrors passed away!

It was a dream come true to be in Banff, Canada once! I had read about Banff as one of the most beautiful places on earth and I desired to visit it! Nestled in the lap of the surrounding high and lofty Rocky Mountains, this little ‘Alpine’ town was beautiful beyond description.

Early in the morning, before the sun was up, I was seated on the open terrace of a quite Japanese Inn, my head turned upwards and eyes glued to the pinnacles of three rocky mountains that overlooked us. It was the middle of summer and there was no snow on the mountain-tops. The barren rocks were piercing into the bright blue skies above.

Not only did they look immense but ‘eternal!’ God only knows how many eons ago these rocks erupted from the belly of the earth through volcanic explosions. There they stood before me, challenging all odds and determined to last forever! There I sat humbled by the majesty of these mighty mountains. Their ‘eternal’ nature engaged my attention, filled my mind and occupied my thoughts. I said to myself, “If these Rockies are eternal, how much more “Eternal” is their Creator?”

I cherished my lofty thoughts and remembered the words of the psalmist, “I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psa 121.1,2). The Lord God Almighty, the Maker of the very mountains before me is eternal in every way. The Lord’s might, wisdom and knowledge are eternal. His love is eternal – everlasting. His mercy is eternal – endures forever. His forgiveness is eternal – never-ending. His favour is eternal – lasts forever. His grace is eternal – ever-flowing down. His compassion is eternal – never ceases. His faithfulness is eternal – from generation to generation. His blessings are eternal – new every morning.

The sun was already high in the sky and it was time to go up those mountains by gondola! I do not think there ever was a moment when I failed to gaze upon those hills and think of our “Eternal God and Everlasting Father” during our time in beautiful Banff and drive through the Rocky mountain Parkway! How I wish I could re-visit Banff and the Rocky Mountains in the fall and early spring to behold their beauty and be overwhelmed by the greatness of our Creator!

Dear believer, why not make some time and visit one of your hill-sites to gaze leisurely at its beauty and praise the Creator?

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psa 90.2). I praise You and worship You. Amen.

Monday, December 4, 2006

Pray For Your Country

SEEK THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE CITY TO WHICH I HAVE CARRIED YOU INTO EXILE. PRAY TO THE LORD FOR IT, BECAUSE IF IT PROSPERS, YOU TOO WILL PROSPER. Jeremiah 29.7.

Malaysia celebrated its 50th Merdeka (Independence Day) on 31st August. The government encouraged the people to fly the national flag to show their patriotism. But as the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur bemoaned, the response was feeble!

I had some spare national flags with me and I passed them on to some friends so that they could fly them in their homes or stick them on their cars. But one said, “I am not going to fly any flag! Why should I, when I am discriminated at work, deprived of opportunities and promotions, and receive no privileges like some others. I am treated as a second class citizen in my own country!” He is not the only person who feels so and expresses his dissatisfaction towards his country and the government. Unfortunately, the two predominant ‘immigrant races’, though citizens, do feel the same way.

My thoughts went back to about 2,600 years ago when the Israelites, the people of God, were exiles and slaves in Babylon. Surely, they hated their fate. They disliked their masters who oppressed them. They had prophets (false) who prophesied and encouraged the people to hate the land of oppression.

Hear what God had to say to His people in those circumstances. His words through the prophet Jeremiah would come as a surprise and is a lesson to all those people of Malaysia who are so disappointed about the nation and its government - “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Notice that it is God who has placed you where you are. He knows all your circumstances and is aware of your disadvantages and disappointments. He sees from heaven everything that is happening to you. Believe me, what He did before to his Old Testament people long ago, He will do again for you, His child!

But you must obey God’s Word, for it is true and applicable to all generations. With all the limitations and deprivations that exist, God has still blessed you in your land and prospered you. Begin therefore to praise God and pray for the nation and its leaders. You are a citizen of the country and be proud of it. Celebrate all the good that you are enjoying. Nothing can always be good in any country. So tell God what is wrong and ask Him to put things right. He will do it in His time for He is still ‘the God of Israel and of all nations’’. You could and should voice your criticisms and complaints through the newspapers or write or e-mail to your parliamentarians. Some good will come. Let your children grow to be proud of their land and enjoy its peace and prosperity, as you pray with them for the country.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, You want me to pray for my country, seek its peace and prosperity. Help me to do it for the good of my family and myself and all the people. Amen.

Saturday, December 2, 2006

Woe To Me!

WOE TO ME! I CRIED. "I AM RUINED! FOR I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I LIVE AMONG A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD ALMIGHTY." Isaiah 6.5.

Have you ever been to St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City, Italy or St. John’s Cathedral in New York or Westminster Abbey in London? If you have, then you will know the awe that overwhelms the worshipers and even the visitors to these sanctuaries built for God! The sheer majesty, beauty and stateliness of these edifices of worship makes one feel and even fear the very presence of the Almighty God! When you are in these ornate sanctuaries, you are at once overcome by the ‘awareness’ of the Holy Presence of God, like Isaiah that day in the beautiful temple King Solomon built for the God of Israel. It is as if you are ushered into the very Presence of the Almighty God!

Don’t misunderstand me! The mighty God is present even in the humblest place of worship that we make for Him! But, you must admit that in an ordinary shop converted to a place of worship on a Sunday, one has to use quite a bit of imagination to get the same kind of appreciation and awareness of the presence of God, and to evoke a similar kind of awesomeness and fear! But blessed are those who desire and achieve it!

Now imagine the young prophet Isaiah going into that beautiful and awesome temple of God, maybe on a Sabbath day! In addition to all the usual worship and sacrifices, that day, he had ‘a vision of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!’ He describes it for us, “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs… calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke” (vs 1-4).

O! How I desire and pray that you and I too may have such ‘heavenly visions’ each Sunday in our churches, as we gather in the Presence of the Living Lord God Almighty and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Spirit and truth! Then, what happened that day to Isaiah will happen to you and I too!

Each new Sunday, you will see God as He really is – exalted and glorified and worthy of your whole-hearted worship! You will see yourself too as you really are – sinful and unclean and unworthy to be before His throne! You too will cry out like Isaiah, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

Each Lord’s Day, God will do a fresh cleansing and you will be clean. Isaiah said, “The LORD says, "Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool” (Isaiah 1.18. GNB). You will also hear God making a fresh call on your life and giving you a fresh mandate for the ensuing week! You will say like Isaiah, "Here am I. Send me!"

Pray and practise with me: Dear LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, each Sunday, help me to be conscious of Your awesome and holy presence as I enter my place of worship. Help me also to see myself as I am! Cleanse me afresh. Let me hear You and respond like Isaiah, ready to do Your will. Amen.