Sharing Christ

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  
(1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.  


In His trial before Pilate, Jesus said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  (John 18:37)

It is not by our merits but God in His great mercy and love has called us out of darkness that we may know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and the exceeding greatness of His power! 

It is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved. 

As we obey God, we do not walk in sin and find ourselves mired in the quicksand of death and destruction.  

We are set free to live an abundant life and thus able to thankfully, joyfully and victoriously proclaim “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1)

The cross of Calvary is meant for all that none should perish but have eternal life. 

Our Risen Savior commands us to go and make disciples of all nations.  

Let your life be an epistle of Christ by sharing "Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).

We have a Master to serve.


The Pouring of the Holy Spirit

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

 —Titus 3:4-7

God’s Holy Spirit gives us access to abundant spiritual life in Christ. 

When we accept Christ as Lord, God washes our sins away and renews us by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. 


Once we know Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us experience God’s love, understand God’s Word, pray, and abound in hope.

Today, as you think about your relationship with God, remember that the Spirit is your guide to life in Christ (Rom. 8:14). 

The Holy Spirit guides us into knowledge and spiritual growth.

In the Light of the Lamb

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. —Revelation 21:23

The sun and moon are to light the day and the night. 

Whether illuminating our path or providing the life-giving radiance for fruitful crops and the nutrients our bodies need, the sun and moon are part of God’s marvellous provision of light. 

Someday God will provide a different kind of illumination. 

The eternal heavenly city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

The Lord Jesus Christ in His glorified state will be the spiritual lamp that lights up that joyous new world.

In eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ will be the Lamp that lights our way. 

What a thrill it will be one day to live in the light of the Lamb!

In eternity, the redeemed will live in the presence of God Himself.

Use your Talents

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  —Matthew 25:23

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 reminds us to use the talents God has given us wisely. 

All of us have God-given skills and abilities at various levels.

And we must not bury, unused, what God has given us.

It is not only in our years of strength that God will use us, but also in our youth and age, as well as in our sickness and weakness. 

Let us continue to serve God. 

Let us honor our Savior by using our skills.

May our lives be a living sacrifice of love and action for God's honor.

God can use us at any age if we are willing.

Put on the New Man

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. —Colossians 3:9-11

Here, In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration of God’s people. 

There are two influences in our lives. 

One is the old man, that is, the person we were before trusting Christ. 

The other is the new man who is becoming more like Christ. 

We are to put off the behavior patterns of our old ways and put on the new character qualities of Christ.

The apostle described a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Our lives are in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be. 

No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. 

The Master Artist is alive and at work within us. 

Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (Romans 5:18)

Some struggle to accept that salvation is a gift.

They want to do something to earn it.

The problem is, no one can afford it.

The price of salvation is perfection (Matt. 19:21), and the Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who could pay the price.

To anyone who thirsts, the Lord Jesus Christ promises to "give of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Rev. 21:6).

Some people try to purchase the living water of salvation with good deeds and charitable donations.

Although these are forms of spiritual service valued by God, they are not what God requires for the forgiveness of our sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ already paid the price by dying in our place, and He offers to quench our spiritual thirst when we drink freely from God's fountain that will never run dry.

God's Protection and Care

"Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

God promises believers protection and care through life's threats and troubles.

Christ became a Curse

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." (Galatians 3:10)

The law brings a curse.

Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident.

All have failed to keep the law of the Lord.

The just shall live by faith.

The law is not of faith.

Those who does the works of the law shall live by them.

The Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

He has become a curse for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ has died for us.

He has bore the curse by His death on a tree.

It is all of grace.

Finally the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.

Finally we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

All of grace, and through faith alone!

Glory be to God for Paul

But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:23-24)

The apostle Paul did not confer with flesh and blood after he had received the revelation of Christ and his mission to preach among the Gentiles. Also, he did not go up to Jerusalam to meet with the 12 apostles. Instead, he went to Arabia. After some time there, he returned again to Damascus.

It was 3 years later that he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and James, the Lord's brother.

After that, he went into the region of Syria and Cilicia.

The apostle Paul insisted that he was telling the truth; he did not lie when he made all these statements.

The apostle Paul was unknown by face to the Christians in Judea. But they had heard of him:  “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in him.

The apostle Paul needed no introduction. He was in full view. His life was in the open.

We have here Paul's full submission to the lordship of Christ.

We have here Paul's total dependence on the sufficiency of God.

We have here Paul's continued faithfulness to God's mission that was revealed to him.

Paul was fully committed to the Gospel.

Even the Jewish Christians in Judea heard about him, though they had never seen him face to face.

They knew him once as an enemy of Christ, bent on destroying Christians.

Then, they heard about him again. This time as a fervent preacher of the faith, preaching Christ and planting churches everywhere he went.

God has done a great work in the life of Paul.

He had chosen him before the beginning of time.

He had called him and revealed His Son to him. 

He had saved him from His wrath and eternal death.

He had called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. 

He had called him to preach to kings and rulers. 

He had put a heavy burden on him for the salvation of his fellow Jews.

The apostle Paul was committed and faithful to God. 

He preached and labored more for Christ everywhere he went.

People everywhere were talking about him. 

He needed no introduction. He needed no publicity.

Once they looked down on him because he persecuted the Christian.

Then they looked up to him as hero of faith.

Glory be to God for Paul!

May God use us also for His Glory! Amen and Amen!

Spiritual Warfare

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (2 Corinthians 10:3)

As Christians, we have our spiritual walk with God on earth. We still have to walk through life and face its many happenings. We have both our earthly affairs and spiritual affairs.

But, because of our remaining sins, the lust of the world, and the evil forces around us, our pilgrimage on earth is made more difficult. We have to fight against sins and guilt. We have to bear trials and temptation, and there is the terrible fear of death. All these are very real, so are the spiritual forces behind them.

Christian warfare is never about against flesh and blood. Christian warfare is spiritual in essense. It is fighting against Satan's strongholds.

Since the Fall, Satan has a strong grip of the world. He had captivated the world and brought it into darkness, sufferings, and death. He is determined to bring the world down together with him!

The Lord Jesus Christ had come to give us the LIght. He had come to die and took the punishment for all our sins. He had turned the wrath of God away from us. He had brought us to His Father's Kingdom. And He had promised us eternal life, and rest from our labors.

But we still have our pilgrimage on earth. 

We are to war against Satan and his strongholds.

We still have to fight with our indwelling sins. 

We still have to fight against the temptation of the world around us.

We still have to  deal with the attacks of Satan and his evil forces.

Christian life is never at ease. It is always a spiritual warfare with spiritual weapons against spiritual forces.

We need the Word of God.

We need the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we are God's vessels against Satan's strongholds.

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to work in us and will us against Satan's strongholds.

Every high thought and argument will be brought down.

Every idol and demonic idea will be thrown down and burnt.

Every rebellion will be crashed.

Every disobedience will be punished before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Christ will have the supremacy, and God our Father will rule all.

Hope in the Spirit

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have receive mercy, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:1)

Paul had the ministry of preaching to the Gentiles.

Paul was not sufficient of himself to attain the knowledge of the gospel truths which he preached. His sufficiency came from God. It was the Spirit of God Who enabled him to preach the Word powerfully. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

Paul used great boldness of speech. He knew the Spirit of God was working in him and through him to free sinners. It is the Spirit of God who takes the veil away. It is the Spirit of God who gives liberty from the bondage of the sin Adam gave us. By the Spirit of God we hope and behold the glory of the Lord.

The whole Christian life is from faith to faith. All Christians need the mercy and grace of God from time to time. 

Christians are fallible. But as Christians, we do not lose heart. We have a living hope in the Spirit of God.

Silent Prayer

Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

—1 Samuel 1:13

Prayer can be silent.

Hannah, who longed for a child of her own, visited the temple and spoke in her heart as she prayed.

Her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.

Eli the priest saw, and misunderstood what was happening.

Hannah explained  to him that she was pouring out her heart before the LORD (1 Samuel 1:15).

God heard Hannah's silent prayer request, and gave her a son (1 Samuel 1:20).

God searches our hearts and minds (Jeremiah 17:10).

He sees and hears our every prayer.

We can pray with full confidence that He will hear and answer us.

We can continually praise Him, ask Him for help, and thank Him for blessings.

Remember: Our God hears us, answers us, and fills our hearts with peace, when we pour out our hearts to Him.

Confess our Sins

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. —Psalm 32:1


Hiding our sins is a terrible thing to do.

King David was an example of this.

The surface of his life looked fine.
But his interior life was really bad.
After his sins of adultery and murder, David thought he had successfully hidden his treacherous acts (2 Sam. 11–12).
But God’s intense conviction after Nathan’s confrontation caused him to realize that denying the presence of sin in his life weakened the foundation of his spiritual life.
To prevent his spiritual state from worsening, David acknowledged his sin to God in repentance (Psalm 32:5).
As a result, God covered David’s sin and gave him the joy of forgiveness.

We too will experience God’s grace when we confess our sins to Him.
God will completely forgive and cover our sin.
Let us confess our habitual sins, our secret addictions, and our hidden vulnerabilities before God.
It is when we uncover our sins in repentance that God will cover them.

 

Forgive me O God!  And cover all my sins.

 

 

The Virtue of Waiting

Waiting is hard.

We wait in traffic,

We wait in the queue,

We wait in the line...

We wait in the grocery store,

We wait in the gas station,

We wait in the clinic...

We wait in the cold and dark,

We wait in the heat and rain...

We twiddle our thumbs,

We stifle our yawns, 

We fret inwardly in frustration...

In Psalm 40:1-3, David says, 

“I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.” 

David waited and waited and waited for God to answer his prayer. 

Yet as he looks back at this time of delay, he praises God. 

Waiting is good, 

Here we develop the virtues of submission, humility, patience, joyful endurance, persistence in well-doing...

Virtues that take years to learn.

Have Thine own way, Lord! 

Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter, 

I am the clay;

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still. 

Waiting for God is never a waste of time.

Shine, Jesus Shine

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. —Matthew 4:16

The Gospel is the single Light so bright that it illuminates the whole world with truth, justice, and love.

Jesus is everything that the world is longing and looking for.

And He has told His followers to display His light so that others will see and glorify God.

As Christians we must work hard to display the light of God’s love.

Perhaps then the people living in darkness would make an effort to see this great Light.