Time of Reflection

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

The Second Test

5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

I remember once writing an essay called "The Test", which depicted the temptation of Jesus in a way that is graphical and real. It was English class and as of most centres of "circular" learning, I got a "yellow" light type of comment by classmates and teacher alike. I don't blame them but wouldn't change what I wrote if I do have a chance. After all, it was English Language class and language is the main medium in which something could be communicated, religion being the most important of them.

But that's beside the point. The second test in a series of 3 in the Devil's temptation to Jesus was quite unusual but really relevant. Here Jesus was literally ask to jump from a building. He refused, because to jump down from the apex of the temple would mean you need to be Man of Steel or God to survive. No man could leave unscratched. Jesus' Godship is again being tested. The Devil says "Prove to me that you are God!", and Jesus knows that He is. He has no mistake on His identity. But just to jump would certainly put God to test, and that's not the Father's Will for Him. So many times, we christians think that having the privileges of being called God's own and having "to do all things through His strength" gives us the ability and indeed the right to do things that would test God. Of course, that does not include giving a lot to the church (one thing that God does wants us to test Him). We think we could go 120 because we are protected by Him always. But hey, God's angels only has a speed of 110km/h! I think there are more of the big things that you could think of like going into sin etc., but the smaller things that we take for granted are a "test" to God as well. For exampla, God promises is that I may prosper in all that I do- and I take for granted that I can just have good health all the time by eating all sorts of junk. Or when I just feel that I can just get by with the exams without studying diligently. NO.That would be testing wouldn't it?

I guess this second test also gives us one very big error that most christians make: just choosing to focus on the scripture that suits us- not taking into consideration the entirity and the Bible as a whole. Well, yes, God will send His angels to catch you if you fall - the temptation; and no, He will not be catching you if you throw yourself in voluntarily - that's free will, and suicide.

My prayer today is that I be really careful in the "faith" that I profess to have when it comes to doing things "for God" and through God. Sometimes it may well be a trick that we play on ourselves because of our selfish ambitions and evil desire. Lest if I fail, I will blame God and others will see me "disglorifying" God.

Every Word that comes from the mouth of God

The Temptation of Jesus

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'(*Deut 8:3)"

The Temptation of Jesus (Part One)
Ahh, I needed to drag myself to blog today. It is not like I'm too tired or anything like that, is just laziness, in which I am bitterly fighting a battle with. I must win.

Anyway, I'm starting a series of (hopefully 3) on the Lord's temptation. Today I start with the one most confusing. It is quite straightforward here that I don't find the need to retell the story in my own words. But why it made me ponder and frankly a little confused was why Jesus, who is God, refused to turn the stone into bread. Was it because it was a challenge from the devil? Was it because it was a lesson he wanted us to learn? Or was He just conceding that after 40 days, He simply didn't have the energy to do a miracle? (The God-human debate?)

I struggled with it and came to a conclusion that the whole point is about God's Will. Jesus said in another occasion that He only does what the Father wants Him to do. This is one such occassion. Ok, no doubt that if He wanted, Jesus could have turn the stones into bread. He could turn the devil into a chicken and eat him. But that was just not within God's Will. I don't think Jesus would have broken any of Moses' law by turning the stones into bread (unlike the second and third temptation), but it just wasn't what His Father willed Him to do- He only does what His Father wants, nothing more nothing less. You see, even the smallest miracle by Jesus is appointed by God the Father in His time. So Jesus' answer was absolutely precise, man does not only do what he needs (bread), he does God's Will (God's spoken Word). Sometimes, we are like Abraham and Sarah, who thinks they can accomplish the ends by their own means (by sleeping with Hagar and giving birth to Ishmael), but God said in His time- He will provide the son that will bring forth a nation. So the lesson is to do what God thinks is proper and not what we think is necessary.

Another reason why Jesus cannot turn the stones into bread could be found in another book of the New Testament. In Hebrews 4:15, it is written For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man with the intention that we might know that He is fully human while He was walking on this earth. This is entirely crucial because God came as man to show man how to live a sinless life- not that we can live a sinless life, but Jesus who was fully human, showed that man can live a holy life. By living as a man, those who came later will not be able to say that Jesus overcame sin and temptation because He was God walking this earth. No, Jesus was facing the same kind of temptation and in the same weak "shell" (flesh) as we are- yet He did not sin. Consequently, it was crucial for him that during His fasting, He remain focussed and remained man and not try to turn stones into rock acting un-humanlike. Now, Jesus faithfulness to His calling as a man is something we ought to learn, ain't it?

Are you willing to give your "only son"? (Genesis 22)

I guess God works in strange ways, many times- or rather He works in ways that are unusual. I mean, why would He give Abraham a son (at 100 years old,and his wife, 90) and take away the son's life. Today we explore one of the most amazing story in the bible. Not to mentioned, the climax to my little study on Abraham, as I walk through the Bible.

Here you see one of the strangest command God could give to anyone- sacrifice one's only son (Genesis 22:2). If there's anything we know about God, is that He is absolutely good and perfect- morally superior- and He hates those other gods that men has created who have human sacrifices. The Bible even tells us that "...God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone." (James 1:13) But now, He is asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, whom was himself a God-given child of the barren Sarah. Extraordinarily absurd. Well, if you haven't read any commentary or heard sermon on this, you would even be angry. However, the beautiful and crucial part of this incident is not on the act of sacrificing, but the act of obedience. And I would even go as far as saying, this is not really a test from God, but a proof from God why Abraham deserves to be called "father of many nations" (and still is today).

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

This kind of faith is really fantastic! "God will provide the lamb", Abraham knew very clear that he would have to sacrifice his son that moment, although somehow he knew that the Yahweh he knew was going to provide - that God will bring Isaac back to life or somehow turn this whole absurd situation around for Abraham's good! He remembered the promised made to him by this same God that through Isaac will his offspring be reckoned! Now, of course is just too easy to say that without proof and I have doubts about it in the past as well but not anymore. The bible says that this whole sacrificial thing ended with God himself providing the ram to be sacrificed and Abraham (and Isaac obviously) would thought (that was close). Yet with reverence, Abraham did not hold grudges for some kind of joke that God played on him but instead had a new revelation over his life and over the God he serves - from thence Yahweh was Jehovah Jireh - God the provider. Abraham was indeed God's most fanatic friend.

So what's the fuss of all this that it would be so important to Abraham, to God and all of us? The answer is found in the angel's second call from heaven:

16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

If you are following through from the start of Abraham's first encounter with the LORD (from Gen 12), you will find this "declaration" rather familiar- God had promised Abraham these before (see Genesis 12:2 & 13:14-17). Was God therefore just making empty promises the first time round? I think not. I think God, the Alpha & Omega, who sees the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning knew what Abraham would do - and therefore would declare Abraham as blessed and made great promises to him even before this ultimate test of obedience. From the start, God had no doubt about Abraham's faith and obedience- Abraham would give up anything to please the Lord God.

So the lesson for us today is, would we give up our "only son" to obey the Lord God Almighty? That is of course figuratively speaking- what God wants us to do is to let go of the things we regard as most important in our lives - and follow Him. That is consistent throughout the Bible. These things are important and God knows that- but He assures you that if you fix your eyes upon Him and be faithful to Him, He will not disappoint us- He asks us for our "son" and gives us descendants, cities and blessings (verse 17 above). Commit everything to the Lord everything you do, and your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3). It is really difficult sometimes, but that is the only way to please God- the rewards however are bountiful.

And last but not least, Abraham sacrificed his son but God provided the ram to spare Isaac, but God sacrifice Jesus and Jesus was not spared. Ever so familiar but ever so important, For God so love the world, that he gave His ONLY SON... (John 3:16). What a great sacrifice- what a wonderful love story, what a stark contrast! It is reminded once again:

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

God gave His all to you, how would you respond with all that you are today?

God bless you.

Lessons from the Siege of Sodom (Genesis 14)

To tell you the truth, I'm really proud of myself for thinking the title up. Of course, the "Siege of Sodom (and Gomorrah) refers to Genesis 14 where four kings decided to go against five kings in one of the most epic and greatest wars of Abram's time. In this war, the four kings, with the help of the terrain (Valley of Siddim, which was full of tar pits in verse 10) manage to beat the 5 kings, among which were kings of the infamous Sodom and Gommorah. The army of Kedorlaomer and his allies, victors of the battle, however, did an error that cost them much- they kidnapped Abram's nephew Lot, taking his possession with them.

When Abram got to know of the news, he responded positively. Now, backtrack a little, we read that there was a rivalry between Lot and Abram when their herds became too big. Abram, being a wise person that he was, decided that he would choose peace and tolerance- allowing Lot to choose where he wants to go, while Abram would go the opposite direction. Lot chose to pitch his tents near Sodom- and trouble came to him because of that choice.

You see, Sodom was a wicked city- the whole city were really, seriously wicked. By choosing to stay near Sodom, Lot was heading harm's way. The bible says in Proverbs 13:20 " He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." It is really not that hard to perceive that bad company, leads to bad influence, which leads to bad character. Furthermore, being in a perverse environment would really lower our values, our morality- as you can see how popular culture like Hollywood had influenced today's generation. Confessing myself, I too were influenced by my group of friends long time ago- where my life were running out of the tracks. Only when I came out of the group, was I able to put my life into order again.

Back to our story, the amazing man we have been looking at these few days, decided to launch a rescue effort to save his nephew Lot- forgetting the past rivalry and remembering that "we are brothers" . (Genesis 13:8) Isn't it so important really to have good friends, and brothers/sisters in Christ. These people really take care of you, man! I mean I gotto pause here to thank God really for blessing me with different groups of christian brothers and sisters, who look out for me and love me so much! Hallelujah!

Of course, the hero always wins. Abram and his warriors were not just heroes that day, they were literally "super" heroes. God was with them and fought the battle for them because with only 318 men, they beat an army five nations failed to beat. Absolutely fantastic! Observe what was said about Abram, though. "During the night Abram divided his men to attack them, and he routed them..." (verse 15). Abram was a brilliant commander, and he divided his forces that God gave him well. Likewise, we should divide and utilize the "forces" so to speak, well- our time, our money, our education, our experiences, our all- God can use them to defeat an entire army- or four.

Finally, don't even touch anything that belongs to the wicked- no matter how much we think we deserve them. God detests the wicked and the corrupted- may we never receive any bribes and goods that is "impure" (eg pirated goods???).

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.'

The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep

I'm beginning to see and learn more and more why the Lord highly favours Abraham. In Genesis chapter 12 (yesterday's entry), we read of God calling Abram (before he was named Abraham) to leave his country, people and father's household. And of course, we know he was called into the land that his descendants would possess - the "land flowing with milk and honey" Canaan. However at the beginning of the chapter, God did not reveal where he was leading Abram, God simply said "go to the land that I will show you". Astonishing! Abram moved literally all his possession, and left the rest all behind to a destination he did not even know! Now that's great faith.

I believe today God is also calling us to go to this unseen land. Well, we do know a lot of our destinies, but quite often He leaves the locations of our destinations at just the right time- sometimes it means that we need to wait much more patiently (the hard part). Not like He like to torture us mentally, but rather He wants to give us maturity and prepare us for His blessings - in Abraham's case, it was more than 5 generations until Joshua finally brought his descendants into the promised land. To share of my life, I have completely no idea where I'll be and what I will be doing this day next year or for that matter, next 10 years. But I just have to put my head up above the water and continue to hope on the Lord and pray.

The reason why I use "head above the water" because if we are not careful, it is easy to get wash away and drowned in the worries and distractions that are guaranteed along the way. Just like the Israelites who were constantly complaining and worshipped the golden bull when they could not see Moses coming down, and Abram, as we shall see, bearing Ishmael with Hagar, when God had a better plan. So, to sum it up, God's promises is crucial when we are in the journey to the land we are destined for, whether it be where God wants us to be in our work and family, and eternally speaking- heaven. God's plan is to prosper us, to give us a future (Jeremiah 29:11), to let us rise up like eagles (Isaiah 40), to save and not to condemn us. Today, let us confess of the times when we worry of our future and when uncertainties crop into our minds. God sees the beginning from the end, our destination from His creation- and He is a good, loving, awesome God- He must have a good, loving, awesome future for us! Don't lose sight of that, and wait- He will lead the way.

Prayer

Lord, I give thanks that my future is in Your hands. I stand strong in Your Word. Protect my heart as I walk this journey of faith- and lead me to the blessing You have planned for me. Amen

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave ... " So Abram left

The Call of Abram

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."

4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

...

If God is a fair and just God, Abraham must have done something really, really wonderful for God to bear with his descendants and calling them His people. The book of Genesis, as I read it through in my bible-in-a-year program, tells of this man's "humble" beginnings. In fact, it doesn't really tells us much about Abram (as he was named) before He was called out of the place called Ur of the Chaldeans. Yes, I always think that is a weird name of a place. So we have to check out his character, personality and life post-Ur. I leave this "checking-out" to you, as I will have no time to do that in this entry.

The first hint/the beginning of a great and wonderful (sometimes Tragic) story of the Jews starts really from chapter 12. Here, the LORD (Yahweh) for the first of many times calls Abram (I shall find out exactly why He picked Abram and not me or you), and speaks a blessing into this man's life. This little one-way conversation apparently changed Abram's life forever. A great demand, yes, to "leave your country, people, and your father's household". Yet, this man of faith did not question God's intention but instead did just as he was commanded. The strangest thing is, Abram did not attend church, or know much about thid God. That IS faith. And he was 75 years old.

I guess, parallelly speaking, we are also called to leave our environment, circumstances and forsake all to take up the cross and follow Jesus- not so much of a different from Abram spiritually speaking. Although one might say he had blind faith, but we shall find out that it was not blind faith. Faith is indeed believing what is unseen, what has not happened- that it will take place in the future. Faith is being obedient to His Word, no matter how inconvenient it could be to us. Faith is being sure that the pain we have, will be nothing compared to the gain we will get. The only way for us to do so today, is to fix our eyes on Jesus- love Him more than anything, continue to endure our faith, and praise Him every moment.



Tomorrow: Abram called to nowhere?

Psalm 103 -Praise the Lord, O My Soul (Part 1)

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

I would have chosen Hebrews 12 to blog on but I'll leave that to a later date. The reason is, I've got this Psalm to share. This has to be one of my favourite Psalm and verses in the Bible and constantly strike me. Yet just this few weeks I've been pondering a lot about it and thought I'd have too write it down "by hook or by crook". And "at just the right time" (quoting Paul), it's new year, and we need to praise the Lord for what He had done for us in 2006 and start praising Him for what He is about to accomplish through us in 2007.

The first time I ever heard or know Psalm 103 (or at least part of it) goes way bac kwhere we had this cassete on Mr Donut Man. These were series of kids tapes (were yellow) that were biblical in nature. I can't remember exactly whether "Praise the Lord, O my Soul" was a catch phrase or song but it struck me and it got stuck in my brain ever since. Yet it was just recently I really get to know what it truly means.

Praise the Lord, O my Soul - this is simple and practical. In fact, it is great news for those of us who always travel alone or work alone or like to do something when they are in toilet or bathing. Talk to yourself. Rather tell yourself something. ACTUALLY tell yourself to praise the Lord! 1 Thesselonians 5:16 says "...give thanks in all circumstances..." and really in every moment of our lives whenever we are not concentrating in doing our work or something that requires attention, we should praise the Lord. Recently, there are several minor "issues" in my life that consistently bug me and disturbs me, I mean all of us have these things, but in particular this person who without any good reason is picking on me and hates me. That is not good because it makes me feel insecure- wondering what went wrong and all. Yet, at this juncture of my life, I am reminded and I "force" myself to focus on this "Praise the Lord, Oh My Soul". So when this person and the nasty things he say and do to me pops up in my mind, I "ask" myself to praise the Lord, and start to pray. Not just that, but praising the Lord from the soul necessary requires the remembering of all that He has done for us - the blessing, the parents, the partner, the friends, the life. Hence, remember to "forget not His benefits". But benefits are manifold and has many aspects. I will spend some time reflecting on my thoughts on the "benefits" in Part 2 of this series. But right now, I'm off to some praising.

I will praise you all the days of my life, Lord.
I will praise you for what you've done- and most of all- for who You are.

Praise the Lord

Predestined

One of the entries in the blog was entitled "Our Destinies to be Heroes" . In that entry, I expressed my view on discovering our destinies. Indeed our Father above, has in each of us, poured out what is necessary to bring out the best in us for making a difference. But more importantly, as I found out as I revisit Paul's letter to the Ephesians, He has poured out "every spiritual blessing in Christ". God has so abundantly and "over-the-boundarily" blessed us (the word here should be "lavish"), He blessed us physically as well as spiritually. This means that He has plans not just our present life, but plans for our life to come. He has predestined us to be sons and daughters of His. He has predestined us to be redeemed from our sins and transgressions. And (as if) almost to our surprise, He has predestined us to be unified and glorified with Christ.

It is a wonder how the Creator has not just created us and kept us, but saved us and actively seeks to have fellowship with us. And this He had done, of course, through our One and Only Saviour and Lord Christ Jesus. Thank You for Your love, my dear Jesus.

And there is more, Paul as he explains in his letter, tells us that he himself not just preach, but pratices what he preaches. He prays for the young disciples in Ephesus- that they might have the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, and that the eyes of ther hearts might be enlightened, in order that they may "know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparabily great power for us who believe". Rich indeed! How rich indeed we are in Christ Jesus! Of course sometimes, through our "blurness" or "blindness" we don't see this "glorious hope" that Paul talks about. Only through continuous seeking and studying and worshipping. (Leading me back to my previous entry.

And before I leave you pondering, the precise meaning of 'predestined' is "
Established or prearranged unalterably."

Happy discovering His spiritual blessings!