https://odb.org/2023/08/15/jesus-our-brother

Theologically, we know that we are children of the most high God, the Great I Am, the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Paul used the term “co-heirs” with Christ in Romans 8:17, and thus Jesus is our elder brother. While all that is true, Christ is also our Master and Saviour. He is also the true one and only Son of God. So it’s hard to imagine Jesus being like the elder brother who stepped in front of his sister and got his face mauled by the dog that required 90 stitches to his face with reconstructive surgery. You may catch the story here on Bridger Walker: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/good-news/mauled-boy-bridger-walker-unveils-incredible-transformation/news-story/c9885817fcfd5f4657a0308873ca2384

But the truth is as much as Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, He is also our friend and brother. As much as Bridger Walker was heroic and brave in sacrificing himself to save his sister, Jesus died a more horrific death on the cross for our sins 2,000 years ago. He was a totally innocent and sinless man, and He died for our sins to break the yoke of slavery and free us from the sting of sin, death. Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross for us so that we may have eternal life and one day live with God forever in our midst. He has gone before us to prepare a room for us in our Heavenly Father’s mansion of many rooms.

This morning, if we are going through something or if we are nervous about anything or fearful over a matter, know that Jesus is our elder brother and that He stands alongside with us. On this earth, I have lost my father and mother – they are now with God. I only have a younger sister who is far away in another continent. I never had an elder brother in real life. Yet I know Christ is that elder brother I never had. I can confide in Him and pour out all my fears and trepidation, all my anxieties and feelings on the things I’m going through. I know that Jesus will be with me all the remaining days of my life here and for eternity! Thank you, Lord Jesus, my Saviour, friend, and King, who is also my elder brother. Praise the Lord for His goodness and grace and mercy!

https://odb.org/2023/08/14/forgotten

Joseph in the Bible is the epitome of faithfulness. He is someone betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery and, as a slave was wrongly accused by his master’s wife of trying to take advantage of her. He ended up in jail for that and stayed there for quite a number of years (some believed, 13 years). Yet despite all that, he stayed true and faithful to God. As a result, God was with him throughout it all. God also gave him a special talent that originated from God Himself. It is the ability to interpret dreams. It is a prophetic gift, and Joseph is careful to always attribute his gift back to God.

In the story of the Pharaoh’s cupbearer that ended up in jail with Joseph, Joseph interpreted a dream for him that foresaw him being released and back to his job in 3 days. Although Joseph asked him to put in a good word for him to the Pharoah as he was incinerated based on a false accusation, the cupbearer forgot and only remembered two years later. See Genesis 40.

Ultimately, Joseph ended up in Pharaoh’s court and became the prime minister of Egypt, which led to the entire Jacob clan, the Hebrews, being rescued from the great famine and drought that came later. The Jews became slaves to the Egyptians after Joseph passed away, and the Pharoah changed. 436 years later, God raised Moses to bring them back to the land of the Hebrews in Canaan.

In our lives, we probably have helped others before, one way or another. There was a colleague of mine who had taken advice I gave like 23 years back, and he still remembers and appreciates that advice till today. But there could be many that may have simply forgotten us and our help. They are like the Pharaoh’s cupbearer.

I think when it comes to good deeds done in the past, it’s more important that God remembers. The person we helped may have long forgotten us and our help, but not God. The LORD will always remember. Even those anonymous instances of us being kind to the next driver by allowing him to pass or when we gave up our place in the queue for someone older or with much more groceries or when we gave up our seat in the bus or train for a pregnant lady. Jesus remembers everything, especially the good things we have done in our humanity, despite our fleshy nature.

Like the poor woman who gave her only two pennies to God, Jesus remembers all our good deeds, even our struggles to honour Him and our determination to remain faithful to Him by doing right. Don’t despair when our bosses, friends, and colleagues forget us and our contributions and kind gestures. Like in the case of Joseph, if we remain faithful to God and His causes, He is with us. We can, therefore, be like Joshua and Caleb going into the Promised Land – be strong and courageous, for I, the Great I Am, am with you!

https://odb.org/2023/08/13/a-different-approach

In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul speaks of becoming all things to all people so that by all possible means he might save some. So, to the Jew under the law, he became like a Jew under the law, although he was no longer under the law. To the Gentiles, he became like one not under the law, although he was nevertheless under the law of Christ. Even though he is free, he became slaves to everyone.

For missionaries, taking Paul’s approach sometimes led them to not only live among the people they are reaching out to, but to live like them – learn their language, eat their food like what Mary Sleesor did in Calabar (now Nigeria). This is akin to a Westerner abandoning sandwiches for rice and dishes or noodles in Malaysia, something most Westerners struggle. Or, we abandon rice and noodles to only eat bread all the time, which we struggle. Or a person leaving behind his nice and warm bed to live with and among the homeless, not showering for days and just living in and off the streets.

It is a different approach to witnessing and is certainly not for everyone. It is radical and real. It will surely be more effective. But the point is not to save all but some as there will be many who will still reject the Gospel despite the radical approach we took.

I think at the end of the day, we must all find our own unique way to witness and reach out. We must try our best to live out Christ in our lives, and that usually involves us being the best at what we do and yet compassionate and kind. Our lives must be true to the Gospel and reflect Christ in the things we do and the lives we live. At the same time, we must target a few to be saved. Salvation is, ultimately, by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, but we must do our part!

Blessed Sunday, everyone! Let’s dedicate today to worshipping God and the Lamb of God, for He is worthy of all our praises and worship! May He dwell in the praises of His people! Amen! Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!

https://odb.org/2023/08/11/who-am-i-5

Honestly, I don’t understand the fuss about having a famous father or mother. If your dad or mum is well-known, surely that will open doors and you get instant recognition as so and so’s son or daughter. How can that be a bad thing? Sure, you live in the shadow of your famous parent, but if you are really outstanding, you will eventually be your own man or woman – see, for example, Michael Douglas or Dakota Johnson. Even in our part of the world, we have our very own Shareen Mary Vallabouy, the currently famous daughter of Samson Vallabuoy and Josephine Mary. Or the infamous ex-PM Najib carrying on the legacy of his father, Tun Razak, another ex-PM. In fact, in politics, it is common for sons to emulate their parents like Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang or Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Kuan Yew. Or Mukhriz, not doing as well to follow after the gigantic footsteps of Tun Dr M.

Perhaps the frustration lies in people not seeing us but seeing our famous father in us. Or worse, they overlook our personal contributions or efforts and only see our father’s. Thus, we feel that we are not appreciated in our own right.

The good news is that God looks at us as who we are and not who our father or mother was. We are personally accountable for our own actions. Our salvation is in our own hands. Jesus died for our sins personally for us, not on the account of or because of our parents or grandparents. No matter who our ancestors are, what counts is our personal confession and conviction of accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, our repentance of our sins and our quest to live out God’s plans and purposes for our own lives. Everything in our faith is personal to us. Although our legacy may have a positive impact on our children and our children’s children, we can not carry any of their souls into eternity with us no matter how much we love them or how much we try. That’s their personal decision, choice, and quest. Salvation is by the grace of God, yet it is grace that is personal to them.

Corollary to that, the “famous father syndrome” doesn’t quite exist in the spiritual realm. Maybe as the son of King David, we will be expected to inherit some of his good traits. But God still looks and relates to us as who we are, whether we are who He meant us to be. Not who our father or grandfather were. The only shadow we should know is that of our Heavenly Father, and that is a shadow we want to remain within as He is the Almighty God, the creator of the world and the universe and everything in it, whether in earth or in heaven.

https://odb.org/MY/2023/08/10/the-god-of-all-our-days

I think when we are young and all on fire for God, we feel we can conquer the world. We are at the top of our game. God is with us all the way, whether we lead in worship, preach, or minister or pray for the sick or just witnessing. We are at the frontline. Conquering the world for Christ, taking on new “lands” for the Lord. We are like Joshua and Caleb, full of energy – motivated by God’s words that we be strong and courageous because He is with us.

But we will grow old. One day, we will struggle just to get up from bed. We can’t sing as well anymore. Our fingers can’t play the guitar or the piano like we used to. Although we may not be bedridden, we are not as strong as before. Unlike Moses at 120 years old (see Deuteronomy 34), our eyesight is bad, and our body is not ailment free. We may still want to go out there and conquer the world for God – it’s really a question of the heart may be willing, but the flesh is weak.

Will God still be with us? Will Jesus still carry us like when we were younger? We feel that since we are not much of use to Him, He may not stand with us or love us as much. We may feel that we are just counting the days as to when we will see Him in heaven. We are just waiting for our time to depart this world. More of our friends are no more. Our children themselves have entered middle age and have their own distinct lives to live.

The promise, however, is that God is with us till the end, even as we enter old age and our last days. See Isaiah 46:4 – “Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.” Unlike our human bosses and companies, He will not discard us when we are no longer useful. He appreciates and treasures us despite our usefulness, having passed its expiry date. We are still loved and cherished by Him, and He will still carry us and sustain us. Even as we grow old, God is still with us. We will still experience His personal touches and the small and big miracles in our lives. Those intervening moments from the heavens. The outpourings of blessings from the spiritual realm. We will still feel special in His presence, and as we worship, we will still see Him face to face. As we read and meditate upon His Word, we will still learn something new.

Don’t worry too much about our old age. God will still be with us. He will find a way when there is no way. We will have a roof over our heads, a bed to sleep on, and a warm meal at our table.

https://odb.org/MY/2023/08/09/good-trouble-2

Today’s ODB life story is an interesting one. A girl saw her classmate cutting his arm with a razor. She took it from him and threw it away. But as she had the razor with her for a moment, which was not allowed in that school, she was given a 10-day suspension. Although the suspension was subsequently lifted, it illustrates the point that sometimes, in doing good, we may risk a sanction or punishment. Will we do good if there is a risk?

Recently, I helped a colleague who was facing an internal domestic inquiry that was politically motivated and targeted his boss. He was implicated in the crossfire, and he asked me to be one of his two representatives at the domestic inquiry. My other colleagues told me to stay away since the company may be looking at getting rid of his boss, but I feel that I couldn’t abandon him since we worked at the project together. I was clearly trying to do a good deed at the workplace to demontrate Christ, but it comes with a risk. Will we stand with someone because it is the right thing to do, although it could be risky?

Missionaries of old brave crocodiles and wild beasts to enter deep into the interiors to preach, sometimes even to head-hunting tribes and most if not all, ended up as trophies for the warriors of those tribes. The Bataks of Sumatra knew Christ and are today proud Christians because of the risk and sacrifice taken by those early missionaries. A modern-day Batak is a close friend, and he is proud of his heritage and thankful that his people know God because of the risky good done by the early missionaries. There are still many today risking life and liberty reaching out to the unreached in closed countries.

Will we, as Christians, stand with someone because we believe in a cause. Will we do good, although there is a risk attributed to it? Do we believe that in doing so, we are demonstrating God’s love and compassion? Do we dare to be like Jesus, who showed God’s love and mercy by healing the man with a shrivelled hand on the Sabbath when no Jew was supposed to be doing any work? God’s intention for the Sabbath is for His people to take a rest one day of the week, but surely if someone is dying, we will attempt to save that person despite it being the Sabbath?

The message today is that we can not be risk adverse as believers. We can not always be taking the safe path as there will be trials and tribulations in the path of righteousness. Even obeying the Holy Spirit and moving out in faith requires us to take risks and throw caution to the wind. Do what is right, and trust God to do the rest.

https://odb.org/MY/2023/08/08/different-together

I think it is good that our Christian faith does not distinguish between Jew or Greek or free or slave or male or female as enumerated by Paul in the first century (see Galatians 3: 23-29 despite some initial disagreements between the Apostles). Paul, as the ambassador appointed by Christ to the Gentiles, stood his ground when some among the leadership were under the impression that to adhere to the faith, conformity to the Law (the Old Covenant) or even Jewish traditions was still required, like, for example, circumcision. However, although the Old Covenant was never abolished, Jesus Christ by His death fulfilled its requirements on our behalf and thus established the New Covenant. We are now living in the age where salvation is by grace, not obedience to the law.

However, the reality on the ground may well be quite different. The same way people stick together with their kind, churches are also formed the same way. In some instances, motivated by a common tongue, but in other instances by skin or creed. In Malaysia, established churches have English, Chinese, and Tamil congregations, whether protestant or Catholic with the English congregation usually comprised of the upper and middle class of professionals and those working in large corporates. It’s probably a legacy of the history of our society, previously ruled by the British but possibly sub-consciously congregating based on a common tongue or similar socio-economic backgrounds. Newer independent churches who are not large enough to have multiple congregations run bilingual worship services. Even in Sarawak, we can see distinct Iban/Dayak and Chinese churches. When I was in Bangkok last year, I attended a Cantonese church comprised mostly of settlers from Hong Kong and Cantonese-speaking Mainlanders.

The congregation of believers based on language is perhaps an unavoidable consequence of God having diversified our languages post Tower of Babel. It doesn’t change the fact that Christ died for all, and there is no distinction in our faith whether one is Chinese, Dayak, or Indian. But sadly, there are still prejudices, whether among or within congregations, based on race, upbringing, vocation, or socio-economic status. Sometimes, it’s somewhat hypocritical, we appear to accept, and yet we don’t really deep inside us.

The message this morning is to look at everyone through the lens of Christ. He died for all, Jew or Gentile, Greek or Roman, European or Asian or Latino, coloured or white, Japanese, Chinese or Korean or Thai or Indonesian or Filipino or Samoan. We are all the same in the Kingdom of God, whatever our ethnicity or ancestry or wealth (or lack thereof) or education or profession or station in life. Everyone has an equal chance to make it past the finish line once we have signed on to the race. Every race is an individual race catered to our specific needs and abilities, and yet all of us are in this together. Help one another to finish the race. There is no special prize for finishing first as once we finish, the game is over. In fact, there might be a crown of glory for those who help others who are struggling to finish their races. The more we lose our human prejudices and look at others like Christ, the more effective we will be as fellow servants in Christ!

https://odb.org/MY/2023/08/07/a-thousand-dots-of-light

As born-again believers, we are differentiated by our faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for our sins and was resurrected 3 days after, and thus defeated the sting of sin, which is death. We are now on the road to righteousness, a projectory that will ultimately bring us to life eternal. Our salvation is by the grace of God on the basis of our faith in Christ, not by our conformity to the Mosaic law or by our works. Nothing we can do will get us saved except our faith and belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

Of course, once we are saved by Christ, our life journey begins with Him transforming us to become like Him. We need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling as it is only right that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice for the redeeming sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross. We need to be transformed from inside out, and as we reflect God’s glory in our lives, we do the good works that God had prepared for us, as we work out God’s plans and purposes for our lives.

If we follow this path, we will never be afraid to meet Christ anytime that God calls us home since we are living in the centre of His will. We are thus a light in the sea of millions of lights that will illuminate the darkness in the world and give hope to millions of others that there is a real and genuine path to salvation as Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!

The message this morning is that our light may just be tiny, but we are not alone. There are millions more of us. We are thus a sea of lights like the millions of tiny plankton that whales and other marine creatures feed on. Some say nearly 80% of the earth’s oxygen supply is produced by oceanic phytoplankton. Like the plankton, our collective worship and prayers ushers the glory of God and enable the spiritual realm to penetrate more into the physical. When we pray and intercede, we are never alone. There are millions of others like us praying and interceding for the world and those who are lost.

Have a blessed week ahead! Know that we are not alone in our spiritual walk. God is with us. There are millions of others with us, too! If we could see the earth through spiritual eyes, I believe it is a shiny and bright star illuminated by millions of believers who are for Christ! A true manifestation of His glory throughout the vast universe!

https://odb.org/MY/2023/08/04/people-of-refuge

Naomi is a married Jewish woman who resettled in Moab from Judea due to famine. In Moab, her husband died, and so did her two sons who married Moabite women, leaving her with two Moabite daughters-in-law. It was a double tragedy. She asked them to return to their hometowns. But Ruth decided to follow Naomi back to Jerusalem and declared that Naomi’s God would be her God.

The two widows returned to Jerusalem practically penniless, but the Mosaic law allowing widows and orphans to glean from harvest fields helped them to live. In the process, Ruth met Boaz, the wealthy owner of the harvest who also happened to be the guardian-redeemer of the family. Boaz was impressed with Ruth’s dedication to Naomi and prayed a blessing that “may the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have sought refuge” (Ruth 2:12).

In the end, Boaz took Ruth as his wife although she was neither young or a virgin, and their great grandson was the great and mighty King David, whose line the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, was born. Ruth was among the five women mentioned in the geneology of Christ, and it is worth noting that she was originally a Moabite, a foreigner.

The love story of Ruth and Boaz is touching indeed. It speaks of how a foreigner seeking refuge in Israel from the God of Israel was not only blessed with a comfortable life but became part of the human family line that brought the Saviour of mankind into the world. Due recognition was given to Ruth, a Moabite, in the geneology of Christ with a whole book on her life story bearing her name in the Bible!

In the story of Ruth and Boaz, we see the real-life application of the Mosaic law of leaving a little harvest behind for widows to glean as well as the application of the concept of guardian-redeemer in ancient Jewish society. It demonstrates the love and compassion of God working through the law that as we seek refuge in Him, He blesses us with His love and protection. The LORD provided Ruth, and consequently, Naomi, a lifeline in Boaz even as Boaz was the one who prayed for God’s blessings upon Ruth. In the process, Boaz became a major character in the Book of Ruth and is now remembered for all eternity!

I think the lesson we can learn is that sometimes God may use us to answer our prayers for others. We may well become the channel for God’s blessings to flow. But like Boaz, our efforts may be remembered for generations to come. At work, sometimes when we volunteer a good idea, our bosses may ask us to execute it. It is the same with God. When we pray for someone, God may ask us to help that person!

https://odb.org/MY/2023/08/03/vulnerability

I think when it comes to cell group or house fellowship members opening up during meetings, the solution or answer is to lead in opening up as leaders. My wife and I led the young adults group in our local church. We have always set the tone by being open and frank when we share about our struggles and issues we face at our workplace or in raising our children or even the fights and quarrels we had. We knew that if we were superficial, then everyone else would likewise be superficial.

Of course, when we first started, we mainly had our age difference of more than 20 years compared to the others in the group who were mostly fresh out of university and who had just started working. We were both much more senior, both in terms of seniority at the workplace as well as work experience. So we could share how to live a balanced life at work, working hard and yet honouring God. How to stay above office politics and sometimes refraining from getting emotional or vengeful or even envious when dealing with others in the office. Most of our bible study materials were on effective Christian living. Thus, it was easy to talk about things like upholding our faith and Christian values at the workplace. About how we could make a stand but also at the right timing and forum. About how we could blend in, but at the same time be the salt and the light without standing out like a sore thumb. Issues like working late, corruption, and work/life balance.

But as time passed, we also grew older like our cell group members. Now, one by one, they are getting engaged or married. So, for the past few years, we have started to share more of our own family lives. Like what’s it like or means being married. The financial issues we faced when we first started out buying a house, for example, and what we had to do to pay off our first house like forgoing holidays in the initial years of our marriage. When the boys came, our lives were turned upside down. How we cope and dealt with child care and how as our boys grew up, we had to deal with their adolescent years and issues of schools and later universities.

The key to any cell group being authentic and vulnerable is, I believe, for the leaders to make the first move. If we as leaders are genuine and share from deep within us, we will find that everyone else will start to open up, and the Holy Spirit will move in a special way among us, strengthening the weak and comforting the broken hearted. People must see the real you – they will then shed their own masks and reveal their true selves. Sometimes, in sharing our life stories, we tear up. I guess it’s OK when we want to be authentic and vulnerable.