Recognising Jesus

https://odb.org/2025/09/22/unrecognized

John 14:8–14 (NIV): 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

It is interesting to learn that the two tourists couldn’t recognise the Queen of England when seeing her face to face and ended up asking her to take a photo with her bodyguard (security detail in American speak) because she said he regularly sees the Queen! This is most likely pure satire as I think it is highly improbable any random person could get so close to QE2 in public.

In the case of Philip in John 14, he was asking Jesus to show him the Father. He failed to see or understand that Jesus is the Father as much as the Father is Jesus. This was because Jesus was Immanuel, God with us as part of the Holy Trinity. God came in the form of flesh so that we could relate to Him better when we see Him as one of us. As we turn the pages of the Gospel, we get a glimpse of who God actually is. Always remember that besides His relating with Israel in the Old Testament, Jesus is the best depiction of who He is as a person in the persona of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But what’s the message this morning? I think that the message is that sometimes, when we go through tough situations, we might pray, and yet we feel God is far away. Both Jesus and the Father are seated in the heavenlies, while we are here on earth dealing with issues of life, at work, and our various relationships. We tend to forget that when Jesus left the earth as the resurrected Christ, He gave us the Holy Spirit, the Helper, and Comforter. In fact, Christ Himself and the Father are always with us since the Holy Spirit is part of the same Holy Trinity. In other words, if the Holy Spirit lives within us, Christ and the Father likewise live within us. Whatever we are going through, we are not alone as children of God redeemed by the blood of Christ. God is always with us, the same way He was with Joshua and Caleb as they led the Israelites into the Promised Land of Canaan. Be strong and courageous, for I am with you wherever you go!

Have a good week ahead! Be of good courage as we face issues of life, at work, and our various relationships.

We had a wonderful time in Cardiff, Wales, just chilling in the cool weather of between 12 to 18 degrees Celsius. It was only towards the end that we experienced rainy weather and strong winds. But the raining was more a constant 10-minute sprinkle here and there and not the tropical thunderstorms we have here. Nevertheless, because of the strong winds, a brolly was less useful. Our regret was that we forgot to bring our raincoats!

Dramatic change?

https://odb.org/2025/09/02/see-what-god-has-done

Acts 9:1–6 (NIV): 9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Below is an excerpt from today’s ODB on Samuel Morse, the  creator of the telegraph and later together with Alfred Vail, invented the Morse Code:

Morse was the son of a Protestant minister and a struggling painter of landscapes. In the 1820s, he made a meagre living as a limner—“an itinerant painter” of colonial America. But his was a life God led in another direction. Morse also had an interest in science. He learned about electromagnets, conceiving an idea that would change the world. In 1832, Samuel F. B. Morse conceived the idea of an electric telegraph and later went on to make the first working telegraph.

Referencing Saul of Tarsus (more known as Apostle Paul, his name in Greek), that was perhaps the most dramatic transformation and change of career recorded in the bible! From an active persecutor of the followers of the Way as a Pharisee, he became the intellectual pillar of the early church. While the other Apostles were simple peasants and fishermen, Paul was a learned man schooled by Gamaliel, a renowned and well-known Pharisee and Sanhedrin member. Much of the theology of the Christian faith was developed by Paul in a way understood by both Jewish and Greek audiences amidst the traditions of the day that indeed Jesus chose him to be the bearer of the Good News to the Gentiles. But all these only happened because Jesus intervened in Paul’s life in his famous journey to Damascus.

Is there a need to do a u-turn or a dramatic change in our lives as Jesus calls us to do something different, whether in our career or in ministry? It may not be as dramatic as Paul, yet it could be a radical departure from what we are currently doing. Whatever it may be, it is a change that allows us to earn a living while serving God. There will still be some form of living by faith, but broadly, our material needs will be taken care of. Will we respond to His calling for our lives? Samuel Morse was an itinerant painter, but his interest in science led him to invent the telegraph and later the method of communication that bears his name. In fact, the Morse code played a crucial part in WW1 and WW2 communications. In the current context, perhaps we are teachers, lawyers, or engineers by training and profession but dabble in photography and video or music or computer coding, and thus, there is a possibility of a parallel or an alternative career path as God leads.

Have a good week ahead, everyone, and have a belated joyous Merdeka Day as we rejoice in Malaysia’s 68th year of independence! Congratulations to the Malaysian XD world champions and WD silver medalists! Indeed, it was such a wonderful Merdeka gift to the nation!

P/s – I will be away abroad in a different time zone from tomorrow evening onwards for about two weeks and will mostly pause my blog postings, or, at most, may post intermittently. Take care, everyone!

God’s presence and the Ark of the Covenant

https://odb.org/2025/08/29/the-lost-ark

Ark of the Covenant

2 Samuel 6:1–2 (NIV): 6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.

Below is today’s Scripture insight writeup in ODB:

The Ark of the Covenant was the physical manifestation of God’s presence with the Israelites (2 Samuel 6:2; see Exodus 25:22; 30:6). In one of their battles, they brought the Ark to the battlefield. The Philistines captured it, holding it in Philistine territory for seven months before they returned it to Israel (1 Samuel 4-6). Because of the unfaithfulness of the Israelites, the Ark was neglected and remained in the Israelite town of Kiriath Jearim for another twenty years (7:1-2) before David brought it to Jerusalem and placed it in the tabernacle (2 Samuel 6). Today, God’s presence is with all who believe in Christ.

The key phrase from the above paragraph written by KT Sim is that today, God’s presence is with all who believe in Christ. While God’s presence resided in the Ark of the Covenant since ancient times at the tent of meeting and later at the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, His presence is now with us through the blood of the Lamb shed on Calvary. The Ark of the Covenant contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a golden jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, representing Yahweh’s covenant with the Israelites, the miraculous provision of manna in the desert, and the chosen priesthood of Aaron. It was lost during the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem and was never found again.

As much as the blood of Christ redeemed us and made us worthy to stand in God’s presence, we need to sanctify ourselves as the LORD is a holy God. Sanctify ourselves as we come into His presence. Confess our sins, seek His forgiveness, and repent from them. We will be strengthened and changed as we stand in His presence, whether in prayer or worship. He dwells in the praises of His people.

In other words, while God’s presence is now with us, we mustn’t take it for granted. Treat it with utmost respect and be grateful that He is now with and amongst His people in the Spirit. Not the same as in the new Jerusalem and new heaven and new earth at the end of time, but still a foretaste of our eternal glory.

Have a good weekend ahead, everyone! Take a break from work, have a good rest for our weekly time of Shabath, and be refreshed to worship Him in church again! Give Him all glory on Sunday as we celebrate His goodness and grace in our lives!

The LORD will redeem us from hands stronger than us

https://odb.org/2025/08/28/his-superior-strength

Jeremiah 31:10–12 (NIV): 10 “Hear the word of the LORD, you nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
11 For the LORD will deliver Jacob
and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—  the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.

The above prophesy in Jeremiah came when the Israelites were in captivity in Babylon. No doubt their exile was due to their insolence and continued unfaithfulness. God allowed the Babylonians to defeat and capture them. Yet God was still with them. To teach them a lesson, but He still cared and loved them. That’s why He promised to redeem them, even though the people holding them are much more powerful. It was impossible for them as captives to free themselves. They were like their forefathers in Egypt. Only Yahweh could deliver them.

Sometimes, we make decisions based on our limited knowledge of our situation. Perhaps we couldn’t have made any other decision as the situation has become somewhat unbearable. Rather than stay and suffer, we take calculated risks to do something on our own. Instead of a steady income from a full-time job, we opt for a venture of our own. There is probably some fear and trepidation.

The message this morning is that the LORD will deliver or redeem us from hands or forces stronger than us. In other words, we need not fight on our own. With our own strength, we will not stand a chance. But with God on our side, we will overcome our situation and emerge victorious! Remember David and Goliath? Remember Elisha and his servant and the army of angels?

2 Kings 6:17 – And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

There will always be forces and hands much stronger than us, whether in our workplace or society in general or in the spiritual realm. People who come from influential or powerful families or people who are powerful themselves. Territorial spirits and strongholds in the dark world. They may want to bully or control us. Only the Lord is able to deliver us. He is the most powerful being in the universe, and the great thing is that He is our Heavenly Father, and He loves us! Amen!

Happily ever after – a beautiful ending

https://odb.org/2025/08/27/a-beautiful-ending

Revelation 21:1–5 (NIV): Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

For many years in my Christian life, I thought that life everlasting or eternal life in John 3:16 is a life lived in heaven with God and Christ for all eternity. Thus, life on earth is temporal, and we are mere pilgrims passing through; although we are in the world, we are not of the world. The existence of heaven as a place of abode for those in the faith is not in doubt. It’s just that it is not our final permanent destination. Also, more notably, in heaven, we are in spirit form with God, who is spirit. We don’t have our earthen vessel (as Paul describes our body). That body had long perished and returned to the ground when we passed away from the land of the living.

The reason for my misconception was also compounded by the fear I had of reading the book of Revelation. It was perceived as mysterious and complex. But over the last 10 years, with more emphasis placed by preachers on endtimes, the LORD has somewhat opened up Revelation to me.

The truth is that our final permanent destination as believers of Christ is the new heaven and new earth, the new Holy City of Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21. It is a very special place because God dwells among His people, and there will no longer be tears and sadness as there will be sin no more. Satan and his hordes of evil spirits have been banished to the eternal lake of fire where there is gnashing of teeth. In addition, we will not exist in spirit form but in our glorified resurrected bodies. It will be Eden recreated, the place where humankind was originally intended to live before sin came into the picture. In this etermal place, we will have access to the streams of living water and the tree of life and thus immortality. The only condition is that our names are written in the Book of Life.

To live happily ever after was an illusion created by fairy tales when we were young. As we grow up, we realise that life is full of challenges and struggles. Yet, as believers, we know that there will actually be a beautiful ending for us – a happily ever after moment, similar to David’s Psalm 23 ending where surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The pertinent question this morning is our name written in the Book of Life? Will our names be written in the Book of Life on that day when we face Christ at the Bema Judgment Seat, or will we end up facing God at the Great White Throne Judgment? Are we responding to His calling for us? Are we living in the centre of His will, fulfilling His plans and purposes for our lives?

The LORD our Shepherd and King

https://odb.org/2025/08/26/sheep-crossing

Ezekiel 34:11–16 (NIV): 11 “ ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

The picture of God as our shepherd is often used in the bible because Israelites were mostly shepherds themselves, herding sheep to make a living. As a livestock, sheep provides fur, which the shepherds sell or use to make clothing, milk for self consumption, or sale, and ultimately meat for special occasions. Unlike poultry, which may be reared in situ, sheep need vast grazing land with grass. They also need water, and thus, the grazing land must have streams or rivers of water. Thus, when Psalm 23 speaks of God as our shepherd, David proclaimed that the LORD would do as follows: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2 NKJV)

Ezekial 34 above, in addition to showcasing God’s heart as a shepherd-king, is often also cited as the verse that God will bring the Jews scattered across the globe back to their homeland in Israel one day. And that prophesy in Ezekial in ancient times was fulfilled when Israel, the sovereign state, was established on May 14, 1948.

Besides taking care of His sheep, God as the shepherd-king will go all out to search for the lost. A theme repeated by Christ in the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son. In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd will leave behind his flock of 99 sheep to look for the one who got lost. This means that every single one of his flock is precious and valuable to him. They are not just a number in an Excel sheet like some of us are in our company books. Every single sheep is an air-breathing living organism that means a lot to the shepherd, so much so that he will not be satisfied until he finds the one who got lost. Not to be discarded and reported as lost, or just written off the books as a cost of shepherding (or in our modern context, the cost of doing business).

Ezekial 34 and Psalm 23 reflect the heart of our God. If we have strayed from the faith or got lost in the world or got scattered away from the flock because of our ambitions or even struggles in life, come back to the Father. Call upon the name of Jesus, our Lord, and Saviour. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts that our hearts may not be hardened against His Word and His calling. That we will start to attend church again and fellowship with other believers. That we will repent from our sins and serve God again in church. That we discard our own selfish ambitions and plans and be selfless again for God. Let Your will be done and not mine in my life, O Lord my God, the creator of heaven and earth! I pray this prayer for all of us in the most precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ ! Amen! Indeed, let Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven!

Always do what is good for everyone

https://odb.org/2025/08/25/being-a-blessing

1 Thessalonians 5:15–18 (NIV): 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

In a sporting game, it’s commendable to point out a goal when it’s scored against your team, although the referee did not see it as the ball went in but went out through a hole in the net! It is rare to do so, especially when your team ends up losing, but that’s the essence of sports – it’s more about participating than winning! At least, that’s the essence of sports originally. Nowadays, with sponsorship money and sports personalities making a living out of sports, winning has perhaps taken a life of its own!

In my line of negotiating contracts, while we may point out obvious errors and we draft fair contracts, we don’t act on behalf of the counter party. So, for example, more experienced parties may ask for certain compromises when negotiating against some tough clauses, but less experienced ones will miss them out. In being kind and fair, I can not tell them what to ask for as I always act in the best interests of my company. It is for you to ask and for me to evaluate and consider.

I guess the context of 1 Thessalonians 5:15 is more within the community of believers. That we strive to act in the best interests of everyone – always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. It speaks more of the interests of the community being above our own selfish interests. It highlights the Christian value of selfless dedication.

It reminds me of manna from heaven when the Israelites were in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Every household gets its fair share, sufficient for the day, but it may not be kept as it gets bad. But there’s no worry as a fresh supply will come tomorrow (except for the day before the Sabbath, where they will get a double portion that can last longer than a day). However, the manna is the same one for everyone in the community. There are no distinct flavours. There were no variations that they could order to their liking. Sometimes, being selfless is to cede to the needs of the community. We accept a flavour that’s neutral. Not salty, sweet, sour, or spicy, just plain and boring. Still, it’s better than not eating!

There’s a plain flavour to Christian life. Everyone gets something similar. It is for us to work with God and the Holy Spirit to make the best of what God has given us. Not for us to pick and choose but to go with the flow and allow Jesus to mould us and help us fulfil God’s calling, plans, and purposes for our lives. Then we will discover that His will is good, acceptable, and perfect! There is selflessness even in our relationship with God – we let God decide what’s best for us even if it may appear at first sight to be plain and boring!

Have a good week ahead, everyone! Accept the life God has given us and work with Jesus to turn it into the life God wants us to really have, living in His house and the beauty of His presence! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23:6)!

God’s heart

https://odb.org/2025/08/22/seeing-with-gods-heart

Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day, their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, 8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

It is sad to read about people displaced by war, like the case of Chantale Zuzi Leader highlighted in today’s ODB. See her personal account here: https://singjupost.com/dear-fellow-refugees-heres-how-i-found-resilience-chantale-zuzi-leader-transcript/

In the present Israel-Hamas conflict, many in Gaza have been killed and displaced. A war against Israel financed and supported by Iran but putting the 2 million plus Palestinians in jeopardy where the general population is powerless to act against the armed “freedom fighters” or militants, while the Israeli troops and bombs advance and destroy their homes and infrastructure.

The road to peace is fraught with difficulties as the most realistic way to peace is for Hamas to lay down their arms, but that would make them totally at the mercy of Israel. Similarly, most Ukrainians have fled the Donbass region, overrun by Russian troops. In the peace effort initiated by President Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is resisting attempts to cede territories Ukraine has lost to Russia, while Putin is determined to entrench a buffer zone against Nato in the west. In the process, many have perished from both sides.

We may be tempted to ask – where is God in all these human infractions? Many lives are lost. Yet we know human beings are not robots or animals driven purely by instinct. We have reasoning power and the will to do as we wished. The natural world must run its course.

All I can say is that God’s heart is always for the oppressed, as demonstrated by His Word and actions since ancient times. The widows, orphans, and foreigners always have a special place in Yahweh’s heart. As many have perished due to perils of men, I believe many have also been saved and rescued like Chantale Zuzi Leader.

What can we do? We can probably only pray that God will save and rescue more even as the bombs fall and the bullets fly, even as the machetes cut and maim or kill. Pray for those going through wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. Pray that more will be rescued and saved even as many are killed. At the same time, be thankful that we are enjoying peace where we may earn a living, raise families, and attend church to worship God! Thank the Lord that most of the world is living in peace while enjoying the glory of His creation, from the mountains to the sea, from the north pole to the south, from he rising of the sun to its rest. Amen! We praise You, O Lord my God, my Rock and my Salvation!

Feed the need

https://odb.org/2025/08/21/feed-the-need

Acts 4:32–37 (NIV): 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

It is very highly commendable and exemplary to open a restaurant to provide a full hot meal to the needy seniors who often had to go without meals and who rarely enjoy a restaurant experience. The couple had invested their savings to make a difference. A donation box receives contributions. Lisa McMillan says, “Sometimes we find nothing there. Sometimes, a thank-you note. Sometimes $1,000. Always, we have everything we need. Our goal is to feed the need, restore dignity, and develop community.”

A similar experience arose in the early church as recorded in the book of Acts of many who were convicted by the Holy Spirit selling their possessions and sharing the proceeds with those who were in need such that no one was in need. It became a form of community living where everyone’s needs were taken care of. Somewhat similar to the socialism practised by the communists in their early days except that the focus is on the latter and not so much social equality.

In fact, nowadays communist countries practice communism more as a method of government and not as an economic system. However, in analysing the difference between the economic system of the US versus China, commentators realise that in China, the economy does not serve the interests of capital but society. Thus, economic prosperity is enjoyed by all and not only a few billionaires.

If God calls us to do what Lisa and Freddie McMillan are doing, please go ahead. For most of us, I believe we need to be more generous in how we manage our wealth and savings. The human tendency is to hold on tightly. The bible also teaches that the labourer is worthy of his wages (see 1 Timothy 5:18). Yet when we have accumulated more than we need, it benefits us to share with the needy. Why? Because it pleases God that we are looking after the underprivileged – the widows, orphans, and foreigner of ancient times. There may come a time when the community living of the 1st century believers in the book of Acts may become relevant again. For example, if we are called to face the great tribulation of the end times.

Practice generosity. As we feed the need, we will always have everything we need! It is highly unlikely that we will be needy if we are generous! The LORD our God will surely provide! Amen!

Focus on Jesus

https://odb.org/2025/08/20/eyes-front

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV): Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Fixing our eyes on a stationary object like a pole definitely helps us focus, and thus, in learning how to ride a bicycle, it helps us keep our balance and pedal on. Similarly, in our Christian life, we will grow much in our faith if our focus is on Christ even as the world distracts us with its bright lights and various attractions.

Nowadays, with social media, we have windows into the world without needing to be present physically. We can see and hear things from all over the world from our living room on our TV and mobile phones. No doubt it is still 2-dimensional, and we miss out on the smell of the sea or the cold breeze blowing on our skin or the warm rays of the sun lightly skimming our faces.

At the personal level, we face temptations of the devil, chipping us away from the moral character Christ is moulding and building in us. Do we do the right thing, or will we compromise our standards and look the other way? Will we be a full-bodied believer facing Christ at the Bema Judgment Seat, or will we be a believer full of holes because of the various compromises we made while we were in the land of the living?

What does it really mean to focus on Christ? Look at Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Consider also John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

At the very core of our faith, practically, to focus or keep our eyes on Jesus is simply to apply His teachings in our lives. There are no two ways about it. Remember Psalm 119:105 His Word is the lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path. Or Psalm 1 as set out below:

1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

At the end of the day, we need to go back to the Word and make it our life’s daily mission to read His Word persistently and consistently, and apply it willfully and faithfully in our daily interactions with others, in our thoughts and the things we do. Then, like the child learning how to ride a bicycle, we will pedal on and not fall!