Pride and destruction

https://odb.org/2024/02/08/brought-low

It is ancient wisdom written in Proverbs 29:23 that pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honour. We are proud of ourselves when we achieve something significant or reach a milestone in our lives like we bought a nice car or a new house or a good guitar or the latest camera. Or our first worship leading session in church. Or a promotion at our workplace. Or we achieved our first RM100,000 savings. There is nothing wrong with being proud of ourselves. I’m sure that the Lord is also proud of us and happy for us as we reach our life milestones, especially in spiritual maturity.

The human tendency is, however, to tell of our own achievements as sometimes achieving something without anyone knowing may not be sufficient for some of us. I think close friends and family knowing should be good enough. But some of us need to broadcast to the world to proclaim our various successes. With social media, this becomes easier nowadays. We don’t need someone else (like the press, radio, or TV) to trumpet our achievements. We could do it ourselves. Just take a picture and post it on Instagram and Facebook, and everyone knows about our promotion, our spanking new premium car, our expensive gourmet food experience, or our travels to exotic lands, especially so if we travelled business or first class. Sometimes, we take pride in the extravagance to show the world we could afford such luxuries.

I always remember the ring in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. The ring that possesses us and causes us to lose our heads and drown in our successes. It ultimately leads us to destruction. That’s the real amd present danger of pride. Did Jesus turn stone to bread as challenged by the Devil? Did He like Adam and Eve thought that He could be better than the Father?

I think the greatest danger of pride is that we may end up thinking that we are so good already that we don’t need God anymore. We are our own man. God is irrelevant and inconsequential. This can happen even to great ministers of God, although perhaps in more subtle ways. The bottom line is to give all glory and honour to the King as it is He who brought us out of the miry clay and place us on the rock of salvation, who is our Lord Jesus Christ. Be confident, be bold, and be courageous. Yes, because the Lord is with us. Not because of our wealth, position, status, or achievements in the world or ministry. Ancient wisdom is that the LORD hates the haughty. Do we want to be on His side, or do we want Him to be against us?

Prayer and practicality

https://odb.org/2024/02/07/angels-on-the-walls

Nehemiah is not only a book in the Old Testament but was well-known for being the one who spearheaded the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem with exiles who returned from Babylon to Judah. Nehemiah was born in exile and became the cupbearer to the Persian King, who allowed him time off to return to Jerusalem when he saw how sad Nehemiah was about the crumbling walls of Jerusalem. Eventually, Nehemiah became governor of Jerusalem for 12 years. Scholars believe Nehemiah was a eunuch in the courts of King Artaxerxes.

The verse in the book, which I remembered was Nehemiah 4:9, where because the other tribes around Jerusalem were unhappy with the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and were causing trouble, Nehemiah prayed to Yahweh and posted a watch every night. It speaks of the importance of prayer and committing things of importance to God but also being practical in the natural. A combination of both the spiritual and the natural to deal with issues of the day and life.

It’s like while you pray for God to help you with your exams, maybe give you inspiration on how to best approach a question, we need to still study hard and prepare ourselves. By now, we should know that using our service in church to compensate for our lack of preparation in facing exams or assignments, whether in school, college, or at work, is a recipe for disaster. The world doesn’t work that way, and we are living in the world amidst worldly systems. Yes, there is a spiritual dimension, and it will give us an edge but not in substitution of the work that we need to put in. So, if we are a good musician in God, God may use us to touch the hearts of the people but we cannot run away from putting in the practice to be who we are in music in God.

Always pray and commit our ways to God in all that we do. Don’t only go to God as our last resort. In the meantime, as we face the realities of life, be practical about things. Trust in God, yet do our part. Take the medication, go through the physiotherapy, and exercise while trusting in the healing power of God.

Sacrifice & obedience

https://odb.org/2024/02/06/true-surrender

We all know that our lives are to be lived as a living sacrifice to God. This is in view of God’s mercy in calling us to be His children while we were yet sinners through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross on account of our sins. Therefore, we are not to conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may test (experience) and approve the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. See Romans 12:1-2.

In response to His calling for our lives, there are bound to be sacrifices to be made. Perhaps there are things we may need to give up. Not only sinful or bad habits. Practically, in serving God, we usually need to keep our weekends free for Him. Thus, there are probably hobbies we may not be able to pursue as a consequence. For example, if we like to go camping or fishing or even travelling on weekends, this may need to be sacrificed. Not that we will not be able to pursue such hobbies anymore – just that we will not be able to do it regularly if we want to instead serve in church regularly. Instead of our hobbies and other pursuits, our lives will inevitably revolve around our service in church. When I was in university, I really wanted to join the reserve army but had to let it go as they only train during weekends and semester breaks. It was impossible to pursue both ministry and my interest at the same time.

But the rewards even on this earth may well be great when we sacrifice for God, although we must always bear in mind the spiritual principle that obedience is better than sacrifice. I think a simple way to avoid breaking that principle is not to sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. It’s not a question of choosing to give up the apple in our left hand for the orange in our right. We give up as God instructs and commands. We seek to serve and obey. Then, I believe the peace that transcends all understanding will be upon us. What’s the point of giving up our university education to pursue our dream of being a missionary? Is that our calling in God or our own dream for adventure? Of course, ultimately, God will make the best of our bad decisions.

Be obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to us. As God calls, we are bound to need to make sacrifices, one way or another. In the case of Abraham with Isaac, it was more a question of obedience than sacrifice. Sometimes, it is the same thing but not necessarily so all the time.

The Third Option

https://odb.org/2024/02/05/dignity

Although the story of Jesus encountering the woman who was caught in adultery mentioned that it was a trap laid by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees so that they may accuse Him, what constituted the trap was not crystal clear from the story. See John 8:2-11.

The trap was actually a horns of a dilemma situation, where both choices are difficult ones. If Jesus had excused the woman’s sin, He would be seen as having denied the law of Moses and is thus a false teacher. But if He had answered to stone her (as per Moses’s law), He would then be going against Roman law – for only Rome could issue a death sentence. Instead, Jesus chose the third option, which was to ask her accusers who didn’t have sin in their lives to throw the first stone. One by one, everyone walked away, leaving only Jesus, the one and only one without sin. Instead of condemning her, Jesus let her go but asked her to leave her life of sin. He showed her compassion and mercy, a second chance. But it always comes with repentance, a turning away from our sin.

Applying this to our lives, I think we should always try to seek the third option when there appears to be only two. It may not be the obvious ones. Nevertheless, it could be there if we seek out Jesus. There could be another way out of a situation if we have Godly wisdom. The third option is usually tapered with grace and compassion. Instead of my way or the highway, perhaps there is a heavenly way? Perhaps the third option needs more faith and trust in God. For example, instead of choosing between two job offers in this uncertain economic situation, we could wait for a better one? Sometimes, when the climate is not good, we say we will go for the lesser of two evils – but do we really need to? Is there a third option? Could we take the step of faith and start something of our own?

Pray and commit our path unto Jesus and let Him lead us to green pastures and still waters. Even if we need to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil for His staff and rod comfort us. See Psalm 23.

Have a good week ahead, dear friends, even as we prepare ourselves, to those celebrating, for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations and festivities! Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Gratitude to God

https://odb.org/2024/02/04/rewired-by-gratitude

I recall being taught in a non-Christian seminar on the importance of having gratitude towards the creator, the Almighty God. It is one of those things that could release some hormones in our bodies to make us happy and contented and satisfied.

That is why, as advocated by today’s ODB writer, we as believers may be rewired by having a genuine gratitude towards the LORD. Psalm 103 encapsulates this very well. The Psalmist blesses the LORD, his soul, and all that is within him. To not forget His blessings, who forgives us our sins and iniquities and who heals our diseases. He redeems our lives from destruction and crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies. He satisfies our mouths with good things that our youth may be renewed like an eagle. When I lead worship in church, I always like to start with the song, O Bless the Lord. Or start by proclaiming our great and awesome God, His goodness, and mercy.

When we face crossroads and crises in life, besides praying and committing the way forward to God, it is good to remember and appreciate His goodness and blessings upon our lives. Sure, there are others who live better than us. But there are numerous ones who are worse off. Wherever we are with life, remember that it was He who brought us to where we are today.

From a family who lived month to month and who only briefly owned a property, I now have savings and assets that hopefully will help me through my retirement one day, while still serving Him and helping others with their needs. God has been good, and He is good all the time, yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

He brings changes to families not only in terms of our spiritual life and eternal destination, but also in our present lives that if we had lived in poverty in the past, we would be living in abundance in our generations to come. But only if we heed and follow His commandments the same way He prospered, blessed, and protected the Israelites from the time of Abraham and Moses.

Having gratitude and thankfulness to God avoids us from falling into depression from the things we are going through. Maybe we had lost some of our dreams and aspirations or even someone we loved.

Let’s start this morning by thanking God for who He is and who He is to us as individuals and His beloved children. Have a great time worshipping God today in church! May His glory come down and be upon us as we meet Him face to face in the spirit in worship.

Deep friendship in Christ

https://odb.org/2024/02/02/deep-friendship

I can see in the lives of my sons that time needs to be invested to build friendships. They do take time off to just chill and hang out with different groups of friends, and while they may have more time and energy in their youth, it is inevitable that time needs to be invested. Because yesterday was a holiday, my younger son drove up with his friends in two cars to the highlands to just breathe in the cool air and have a meal.

But once our careers take off and we start to put in 50 to 60-hour work weeks, it gets increasingly difficult to spend time to build friendships. This will be compounded if we have settled down and have children at home. So friendships are then cultivated at work since we spend so much time in the office.

Experts recommend that we should instead cultivate friendships outside of work. I read this somewhere before, and it makes sense. This is because friendships at work are mostly lost once we or our friends leave the workplace for another job. Even lawyers who often meet in the corridors of courts will drift apart once they go in-house and become part of the corporate world.

For our spiritual lives and ministry, we should cultivate deep friendships with our brethren. To serve as a check and balance, an indirect spiritual accountability mechanism. I think we will likely behave better as believers if we have close friends in the faith. At least we will not readily compromise our faith and spiritual principles out of respect for our friends, or we try our best to grow in spiritual maturity together rather than be left behind.

But such friendships should be cultivated out of church. If not, we will be hanging out in church only, and that is at most a couple of hours a week among a sea of people. To develop genuine life-long friendships like that of David and Jonathan, we need to invest time. A time to share our lives and challenges and aspirations, to open up, even in our struggles in the faith. We should chill over a meal, a cup of coffee, or open up our homes. Or even indulge in some hobbies together. There is more to life than just work, family, and church. Friendships built in the faith will help us run the race in the long run.

This will not be easy if we are in the habit of withdrawing to our homes after work. But when I see the younger ones make such efforts, I think everyone should do likewise. Let’s invest time and effort to cultivate deep friendships in Christ.

John Sung

https://odb.org/2024/01/31/fully-surrendered

I read books on John Sung when I was young and I could see that although he lived a short life, he had a major impact on the lives of many people, especially in pre-independence Malaya that many families came into the faith because of his ministry. I had lived in Sitiawan before and noticed that many of the Foochows were Christians. Some like those in Sibu could have been Christians in China before migrating over, but I believe many were touched by God in the wave of revival in the early 1900s that swept across the major West Coast of Malaya towns. John Sung had a fully surrendered life in Christ.

When I read about John Sung, I was inspired to be like him, believing that God may call me in the same way and I may become like another John. While the edification of my faith was good, the notion of being another John Sung or another Hudson Taylor or Reinhard Bonnke was misconceived.

Now, much older, I realise that these famous and inspiring men and women of God were meant to inspire us to move forward in our faith and become the person God wants us to be, rather than be the men or women of God who inspired us. For John Sung, he gave up his career with his doctorate earned in the United States and fully dedicated his life to the ministry God gave him. It’s a life fully surrendered to God.

We will never be another John Sung. Pre-independence Malaya is long gone. 2020s Malaysia is like any developed country with its modern infrastructure and challenges, with spirituality facing off with materialism. It’s a globalised world now, and nearly everyone is impacted one way another by the big 5 – Google (Alphabet), Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon. Globalisation is also a sign that the end time is near.

Live a fully surrendered life in Christ and, in the process, become the man and woman God wants us to be. We can all be powerful and impactful, like John Sung, in our own sphere of influence at our corner of the world if we are fully surrendered to Christ. Have a wonderful and great day ahead, my dear friends!

River of Living Waters

https://odb.org/2024/01/30/a-refreshing-king

I think even without ever living in the desert, we may envisage the importance of having water. Like the air we breathe, we need water to live. Nearly 51% of our blood consists of water, and 60% of our bodies is H2O. You may say that water and air are the sources of life. While we may take air for granted as there is still air to breathe in polluted places, water is not so straightforward. Water needs to be fresh or treated to be drinkable by humans, whether as a direct source of hydration or for cooking or washing food. Thus, even though the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness, they actually spent most of their time at an oasis called Kadesh Barnea, where God provided them miraculously with a fresh water source from a rock.

Thus, Isaiah used the imagery of water to describe God. As kings and rulers reign in justice and righteousness, they will be like streams of water in the desert and a great rock in a thirsty land (Isaiah 32:2). In Psalm 42:1, the Psalmist sings that as the deer pants for water, my soul longs after you. Jesus described Himself as the source of living waters that whoever drinks of Him shall never thrist again John 4:14. Or if you believe in Jesus, you will have rivers of living water flow from within us John 7:37-39.

On the physical side, remember to drink lots of water to hydrate ourselves, especially in our tropical climate that is constantly hot. Our organs, especially our kidneys, need water. But look forward to the river of water of life where the tree of life will lie at each of its side, being accessible to us again in the new heaven and new earth Revelation 22:1. That is the source of eternal life, and we will only be able to partake of it if we believe in Jesus Christ that He died for our sins and was resurrected 3 days later. Follow Him and serve the LORD our God with all our heart, our soul, and our mind and love our neighbour as ourselves.

Led by the Spirit

https://odb.org/2024/01/29/sharing-by-caring

We just heard a message yesterday on loving your neighbour from the classic Good Samaritan story told by Jesus. Not so much finding out who is the neighbour to love but more becoming the person who loves, the person who intentionally responds to a need. Thus, our role is to be the Good Samaritan, although sometimes we behave like the person who was robbed and injured, just waiting for others to love us.

A good way to know when and how to respond to needs around us is to be led by the Holy Spirit. Our response will turn needs into grace as the Spirit leads. Christ promised that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and we will become witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8). This is particularly effective when we witness Christ as the Spirit knows the hearts of people. It is He who convicts as we share Christ. Of course, we need to know the basics of the salvation story. We can then add on with our life experiences in Christ of how Jesus has moulded and transformed us to be who we are today.

In this fallen world, especially in these end times, we need the Holy Spirit more and more. Not only His power for us to enter into the supernatural realm for the manifestation of signs and wonders but His wisdom that we are not led astray by false teachers and false teachings.

As we start our week today, let’s begin with a prayer that the Holy Spirit will grant us wisdom and lead us in all that we do that we will become effective witnesses for Christ. Pray that we will become like the Good Samaritan responding to the needs around us, perhaps in spite of prejudices against us and despite persecutions. If we suffer for Christ, may the Spirit turn our sufferings into perseverance, perseverance into character, and character into hope in our most precious Lord Jesus Christ. Have a great and blessed week ahead!

God looks at the heart

https://odb.org/2024/01/26/no-more-prejudice-2

1 Samuel 16:7 sets out the criteria God uses to choose a leader for Him. God looks at the heart rather than the appearance. In contrast to Saul, who was the most handsome man in Israel and head and shoulders taller than anyone else (1 Samuel 9:2), David was only a young boy when God chose him for Samuel to anoint as the next King of Israel. This is not to say that David did not later grow up to be as handsome and strong as Saul, but at that time when he was chosen, he was still a young boy. History later showed that David became the pinnacle of the Kingdom of Israel, its golden years. As a young boy, he later killed Goliath, the physical giant of the Philistines with a slingshot to his head.

But what about the heart of David that the LORD evaluated would be a better King than Saul. In 1 Samuel 13:4, the LORD described David as a man after His own heart. This means that David was always willing to obey and follow God’s instructions and fulfil His will. He always wants to do what God desires. This gave David the boldness and courage to face Goliath, a child against a near 8-foot giant because he believed that a man that defies the Lord of Hosts should not live.

David was not a person without sin and weakness, though, as he sinned against God when he committed adultery with Bethsheba. Sin was not without consequences, but David genuinely repented after he was rebuked by Samuel. One generation later, David was succeeded by his son with Bethsheba, and Solomon became the wisest and most successful King of Israel, although he did not follow God all the way. Nevertheless, it was from this line of Ruth and Boaz’s son, Obed (David’s grandfather), that Jesus came into this world to become the final King of the Jews and the saviour of mankind.

God looks at our hearts. If we want to serve Him, it is our heart that matters most. If we want to preach for God, our heart must be for Him first. Then, we can work on our delivery, research, and hearing. Not the other way round. It is the same if we are called to serve God in worship or as a musician or in other fields like missions. As Jesus so famously taught us – seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all this shall be added unto you. Get our hearts right first before God and everything else will fall into place, whether it is our ministry, our life, or our career.