Monday, June 16, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
James 2: 1- 13 - Favouritism Hurts, Love Truimphs!
Part 1 verse 1- 4
"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favouritism.2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man,'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? "
James here is speaking to the believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, that favouritism is not the right attitude believers should display towards others.
Since God Himself does not show favouritism, we ought to also show the same consistencies and love to all people of status, class and positions.
Part 2 verse 5- 7
"5 Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who loved him? 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?"
James asked this 4 questions with affirmative answers. He explained the importance of not exploiting the poor and judge them unfairly. He said that the Lord uses the poor in the eyes of the world for the furtherance of His Kingdom.
Part 3 verse 8- 13
"8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbour as yourself', you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but no commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy truimphs over judgement! "
There are some of us who would trivalise the fact that being prejudice is a small thing and would not be considered as breaking the law like those who committed murder or adultery.
But the bible tells us that this is no small matter as the person who commits murder or adultery is equally guilty as the one who breaks just one point of the law. That one small sin can also send us to the pit of hell unless we are saved in Christ.
The way to please God is to live a life of constant check as though one is going to be judged by the Law. Because sin brings bondage but obedience brings about freedom.The law od God is not meant to constraint us, but it serves as a means to free us from the deception and the consequences of sin.
God will not show mercy on a person who has not been merciful. And just as love truimphed over prejudice, God's mercy truimph over judgement!
"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favouritism.2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man,'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? "
James here is speaking to the believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, that favouritism is not the right attitude believers should display towards others.
Since God Himself does not show favouritism, we ought to also show the same consistencies and love to all people of status, class and positions.
Part 2 verse 5- 7
"5 Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who loved him? 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?"
James asked this 4 questions with affirmative answers. He explained the importance of not exploiting the poor and judge them unfairly. He said that the Lord uses the poor in the eyes of the world for the furtherance of His Kingdom.
Part 3 verse 8- 13
"8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbour as yourself', you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but no commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy truimphs over judgement! "
There are some of us who would trivalise the fact that being prejudice is a small thing and would not be considered as breaking the law like those who committed murder or adultery.
But the bible tells us that this is no small matter as the person who commits murder or adultery is equally guilty as the one who breaks just one point of the law. That one small sin can also send us to the pit of hell unless we are saved in Christ.
The way to please God is to live a life of constant check as though one is going to be judged by the Law. Because sin brings bondage but obedience brings about freedom.The law od God is not meant to constraint us, but it serves as a means to free us from the deception and the consequences of sin.
God will not show mercy on a person who has not been merciful. And just as love truimphed over prejudice, God's mercy truimph over judgement!
Important Note :
I have chosen based on my study from 'The Bible Knowledge Commentary' by John F.Walvoord and Roy B.Zack and selectively re-typed some of the more important parts, together with some of my own additional explanation to make this study simpler to digest and understand. My re-phrasing does not show a different meaning to what was originally written.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Between Bosses and Leaders - Harry Gordon Selfridge
Harry Gordon Selfridge
American-born retail magnate, who founded the British department store Selfridges.
"The Boss drives people; the Leader coaches them.
The Boss depends on authority; the Leader on goodwill.
The Boss says "I"; the Leader says "We".
The Boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the Leader fixes the breakdown.
The Boss knows how it is done; the Leader shows how.
The Boss says "Go!"; the Leader says "Let's go!"
American-born retail magnate, who founded the British department store Selfridges.
"The Boss drives people; the Leader coaches them.
The Boss depends on authority; the Leader on goodwill.
The Boss says "I"; the Leader says "We".
The Boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the Leader fixes the breakdown.
The Boss knows how it is done; the Leader shows how.
The Boss says "Go!"; the Leader says "Let's go!"
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Run to God Anyway!!
I used to have this thinking in my head, that when I constantly want to pursue God's and gain insight and knowledge, to have God's word as a source of comfort and strength, the Devil will accuse me and say, "U-jin, come-on! Don't pursue God's word so that you can tell others what you have learnt. Don't be such a show-off!"
Sometimes when I heard that, I am not sure if it is the devil's voice as it sounds the same as my own convictions.
I began to doubt my intentions, to question myself why am I reading God's word so much? Why Am I buying sermon cds to listen and whats the purpose of me filling myself with knowledge of the word of God?
I struggled with this accusation for some time and at times, deliberately slowed down in my pursuit for God's word. It has been my interest over the many years to read more about God's word either through books, sermons, internet, commentaries etc, so I get discouraged when I buy into this accusation thinking that I should check myself before going ahead.
But the Holy Spirit spoke to me recently and freed me of this accusation when I realised that no matter what your intentions in pursing the word of God might be, the word of God has the power to change you and I.
It is better to run to God with your problems than to run away from God with it. God's word can change you, challenge your thinking, transform your heart, heal your soul.
The bible says in John 1:14 "The Word (Logos) became flesh and made His dwelling among us." God's word tells us about who Jesus is, and transforms us so that we can be like Him.
There are thinkers who studied to word of God with the intention of refuting it, proving it wrong, to destroy the work of God in the church. People like Lee Strobel who wrote "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith" started on the wrong footnote, and ending up totally saved!
CS Lewis who was once an aethiest and started out to study God's word to prove that God does not exist, became a staunch Christian writing many christian classics like "The Chronicles of Narnia", "Mere Christianity" etc.
Beloved, today don't let the devil accuse you anymore... Pursue God through His word and let it change you, challenge you and strengthen you. It has the power of God to change our lives!!
As you read more of God's word daily, the Lord will constantly remind you to obey His word, the Lord is patient and understands our weakness. Let's run to Him today!
Praise the Lord!
Sometimes when I heard that, I am not sure if it is the devil's voice as it sounds the same as my own convictions.
I began to doubt my intentions, to question myself why am I reading God's word so much? Why Am I buying sermon cds to listen and whats the purpose of me filling myself with knowledge of the word of God?
I struggled with this accusation for some time and at times, deliberately slowed down in my pursuit for God's word. It has been my interest over the many years to read more about God's word either through books, sermons, internet, commentaries etc, so I get discouraged when I buy into this accusation thinking that I should check myself before going ahead.
But the Holy Spirit spoke to me recently and freed me of this accusation when I realised that no matter what your intentions in pursing the word of God might be, the word of God has the power to change you and I.
It is better to run to God with your problems than to run away from God with it. God's word can change you, challenge your thinking, transform your heart, heal your soul.
The bible says in John 1:14 "The Word (Logos) became flesh and made His dwelling among us." God's word tells us about who Jesus is, and transforms us so that we can be like Him.
There are thinkers who studied to word of God with the intention of refuting it, proving it wrong, to destroy the work of God in the church. People like Lee Strobel who wrote "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith" started on the wrong footnote, and ending up totally saved!
CS Lewis who was once an aethiest and started out to study God's word to prove that God does not exist, became a staunch Christian writing many christian classics like "The Chronicles of Narnia", "Mere Christianity" etc.
Beloved, today don't let the devil accuse you anymore... Pursue God through His word and let it change you, challenge you and strengthen you. It has the power of God to change our lives!!
As you read more of God's word daily, the Lord will constantly remind you to obey His word, the Lord is patient and understands our weakness. Let's run to Him today!
Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
When My Love For Life is Running Dry........
"And when my love for life is running dry,You come and pour yourself on me." - "If" By Bread
The Holy Spirit Is God Himself.
He is the third Person of the Trinity, The Father, The Son , The Holy Spirit.
He Is a Person! He has feelings and a will.
He Loves us and is Mighty!
He Is the Creator of Heavens And Earth He was there before the beginning of the world!
Genesis 1:2"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT Of God was hovering over the face of the waters."
He is here with us forever!!
John 14:16-17 "And I will ask the father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever - 17the Spirit Of Truth."
He Is a Good God and He Speaks to us.
Let us FellowShip With Him today and invite Him into every area of our life today!!
We love you and Welcome You Into Every Area Of Our Life Holy Spirit!!
The Holy Spirit Is God Himself.
He is the third Person of the Trinity, The Father, The Son , The Holy Spirit.
He Is a Person! He has feelings and a will.
He Loves us and is Mighty!
He Is the Creator of Heavens And Earth He was there before the beginning of the world!
Genesis 1:2"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT Of God was hovering over the face of the waters."
He is here with us forever!!
John 14:16-17 "And I will ask the father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever - 17the Spirit Of Truth."
He Is a Good God and He Speaks to us.
Let us FellowShip With Him today and invite Him into every area of our life today!!
We love you and Welcome You Into Every Area Of Our Life Holy Spirit!!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
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