JESUS Rocks!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Saul's speech to his officials - it's all about ME! When I read Saul's speech to his officials in 1 Sam 22:7-8, the word 'ME' stood out to me =) from this passage. "Is that why you have all conspired against ME? No one tells ME when MY son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about ME or tells ME that MY son has incited MY servant to lie in wait for ME, so he does today." In one verse, Saul mentioned 'ME' 5 times, indirectly 3 times, making reference to himself 8 times! Saul has become concerned only about himself. Someone who looks at himself and thinks he is the only one important in the world. Someone who looks only to his needs, his desires and his commands no matter what it takes. Someone who has only himself before his eyes and consider everything his yet forgot everything is God's. But often when we are in a difficult time or when we are in fear as Saul feared for his kingdom being taken away and him removed as king, don't we become that 'someone' too? God, why is this happening to me? God, why is everyone against me? God why does no one understand me? God, why do I have to go through this? Why why why me??? =)

Four days ago, my eyesight start to become strange. My right eye started to see a black thing - looking a bit like a spider hanging from the celling - of about 1 cm long and it doesn't go away. It really irritates me as I try to work on my assignments and was unable to focus. I'm yet to find out as to what is happening to my eye, thinkint it'd just go away but on Sunday (the third day since it started), I stood before God with fear of not knowing what's wrong with my eye, I offered it to God. Instead of saying why is this happening to me, I said to God, let your will be done. I was in fear and not that I'm holy that I offered it to God but simply because I acknowledge there is nothing I can do but to pray and entrust it to God. I thought about going back to Australia straight away for medical checks but I chose not to until I know how serious the condition is. I'm still young, under 30 =p haha and if I have to stay this way for the rest of my life, I can only say God use what I have and do what you will through me for everything would be for your glory and to accomplish your purposes. Do pray for me for healing, I have not given up in believing God to take away this strange black thing blocking my vision & at the same time, trusting Him for whatever is to come!

penned at 11:41 PM

Friday, May 8, 2009

1 Sam 21-22 Ahimelech the priest did not know David was on the run as David misled Ahimelech to believe that he was under a 'secret mission' from Saul when asked. We were told that Doeg, Saul’s man, was there. We are not too sure how much he has heard, whether he has heard David’s explanation to Ahimelech or not. However, we knew he saw David there with Ahimelech and Doeg would know that David was on the run but he did not act against David even though David had no weapon, why? It is likely that Doeg, on his own accorrd, did not dare to touch the man who has God on his side. When blamed by Saul of how his officials (including Doeg) lack commitment and loyalty to the king, Doeg told Saul what he saw. This has led to the slaughtering of Ahimelech’s family. From this, we can learn:
1. Don’t push the blame to others. Doeg, when had the chance of capturing David and did not do so, was blamed by Saul and shifted the blame to Ahimelech. Often, we make mistakes, let us not brush it aside and blame on someone else. It will cause us to harden our hearts as we do not face the truth of our weaknesses in our lives. It is only when we realize we cannot do it on our own, we make mistakes, we sin, we are just human that we will learn to submit all things to God to let Him work in our lives. Hiding is never a good option just as Adam & Eve when they sinned against God. On the other hand, David took up the responsibility of Ahimelech’s death and sheltered Abiathar.
2. Never hear half of the story and act upon it. Doeg may have missed David misleading Ahimelech and shift the blame to him innocently. However, for sure Saul was one who has only heard half of the story. Ahimelech told Saul the truth of how he did not know that David was on the run but Saul, without finding out the whole truth, killed Ahimelech’s whole family – all the more, this is no ordinary family but a family appointed as priests of God.
3. Sins lead to unpleasant consequences. David lied to Ahimelech and though he did not seem to have suffered the consequence of his lie but Ahimelech’s family did. Remembering our sins are not just affecting us would lead us to be more careful in living our lives right before God.

penned at 10:34 PM

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Have you ever felt that it is truly a blessing that God has placed a particular person in your life? This could be what David felt in his times of trouble as Saul hunted him down in 1 Sam 20. Jonathan, a covenant friend, is one who protects, guides and looks after David's safety in his times of distress. He is also the one David was not afraid to share the deepest of his fear even though the 'enemy' he referred to was Jonathan's father.

Jonathan is really a friend that David can trust. Not only because of the covenant that they honoured but also because of Jonathan's selfless heart. Saul has already seen beyond what the future holds, he knew that David was the chosen one by God and he tried to stop what he knew about the future from happening. In verse 31, Saul says 'as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established.' Yet to Jonathan, it is not him nor his kingdom that is important to him. We hear stories and we may have even experienced such things in our lives that when there are conflict of interests between us and our friends, our friends seem to choose what would benefit themselves. In studies, they knew better of the course but because if they spend time helping you to study or answer your questions, they will lose time for themselves to study. At work, they knew that the manager doesn't like something about you but instead of defending you or helping you to improve, they'll keep quiet so that instead they'll have the favour of the manager as compared to you. These are just some of the selfish sinful nature in our lives yet as we can see, Jonathan values his friendship with David more than the kingdom and power that he could have as he is the heir to the throne.

In my journey here in Montreal, God has placed many Jonathans in my life. Apart from Beng & Mel who have cooked for me and cared for me when I'm not well, I have come to know sisters who have helped me along the way. One of the girls in the bible study group, helped me to print some documents for my studies when I don't have a printer (now I do as the place I rent was occupied by a student & he has left his printer for me to use, praise God!). I need to fax through documents to the university in Australia and the group leader has offered for me to use her fax machine though it's an international call. One of the girls in the bible study group have introduced me to another girl in another church to supervise my exams who has provided a venue in the university here and agreed to supervise me (two papers of 2 hours and 10 minutes which makes a total of 4 hours 20 minutes) for free! All these things I do not deserve as I paid nothiing for it but God is good in placing these people in my lives and be such a great blessing to my needs and my heart. Thank God!!!

penned at 11:57 PM

Often people talks about how difficult it is to grow spiritually because they were born into a Christian family. They do not have an obvious experience of stepping across the line, from darkness into light. They are so used to all the biblical truth and Christian 'rituals'. As they are yet to experience what it is like to be in a non-Christian family, brought up in a non-Christine way, living in a non-Christian way, temptations of what a person would do if in a non-Christian family is seen as great. Is that just an excuse for what our sinful nature is doing in our lives?!

This Sunday, we had a couple with us, missionaries spending more than 50 years in Africa, both are pastors' kids, grew up in a devoted Christian family, brought up in a sacrificial mission field (one in Africa & the other in South America), yet live to follow God wholeheartedly and running the race well. Their love for Christ is not dependent on their background. The fact that they were born & brought up by parents who are missionaries outside of their country of origin (they are Canadians) mean that they would be unlikely to devote themselves to God? Looking at themselves in comparison to others. They did not have as comfortable life as other Canadians who live in Canada due to the poor conditions in the mission field. Does this mean that they would not want to be a missionary like their parents? Does this mean that they would not be as fervant as those who have come to know the Lord from a non-Christian background?

The missionary said ' without vision, people will perish and without mission, vision will perish' - this is how much mission is embedded in their lives though this is the only life they've probably ever known. They still would have made mistakes along the way, arguing with God, disobeying God but it is NOT harder for them to rise up in God to take God's call and have the same devotion as many others who have a non-Christian background. Individuals who are born into a Christian family still have to make their own choices of receiving Christ, was the choice genuine as God moved in their hearts? Are the experiences with God deeply touching their hearts? Are their lives continue to be transform by God? These do not depend on whether they experienced a different life - a life in a non-Christian family. Even if they were brought up in a Christian family, they still need to make that decision of following God. For they are not Christians until the point of time that they accept Jesus as their Lord & Saviour rather than simply following a family tradition or expectations. It is our choice this day whether we'll walk with God wholeheartedly and be devoted to God for our lifetime.

penned at 11:47 PM

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Rom 8:31 says "If God is for us, who can be against us?" I don't know how you feel about this truth and I have no great experience on it - at least not that I can compare with David in 1 Sam 19 =) Saul set out to kill David but who is on Saul's side? His son, Jonathan, helped David and the evil spirit tried to kill David through Saul's hand was not successful either. Saul's daughter, Michal also helped David to escape from his hand and the spirit of God also came into play. What an amazing preservation of David's life through God's Almighty hand!

The journey in Montreal has been one that filled with amazement personally. God has preserved me since day one. I've been in countless situations where I think my mum would scream and tell me to go back straight away if she knows about it =D haha. The second night being in Montreal, I tripped over the lamp & the glass literally smashed in front of me with my foot still on the chord. Yet I have escaped without any cuts. A week after, I crossed the road at green signal not knowing that there is no pedestrian crossing for that intersection and almost got hit - unfortunately, the car didn't stop at all even thought it saw me trying to cross the road =p (at some traffic lights, you don't get the walking signal & neither do you have to press for change of light to cross & the beeping sound to tell you when to go - you simply cross when it's green light). The drivers here apparently do not have a good reputation though I don't think they are really bad. The student sub-leased the current apartment to me says the chance of dying from getting hit by a car in Montreal is the same as the chance of dying from swine flu. Of course, now the swine flu is here but I know that God offers his protection 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without ceasing. Great is our God & when he is on our side, who can be against us!

penned at 12:32 AM

I've moved to a new apartment with my own room & cheaper rent! Praise God! Now, I've got $60 to spare each month =D haha and got my own room to worship and pray as much as I like, as loud as I like!

1 Sam 18 mentioned about the favour of people on David - people like Joanthan who makes a covenant with him & love David as himself. Saul, giving him a high rank as he succeed in the tasks given and of all the people who are pleased to see him up on the stage.

However, though God is with David, it doesn't mean that there would be no trouble for him. What did Jesus say? John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world! Saul became jealous of him as people praised David more than him, who is the king. Despite being in the highest human position he can possibly be at, the matter of the heart is not something that will be satisfied by the position held. Not only Saul was jealous at heart but he turned it into action - his attempts to kill David. Jealousy leaves Saul with no peace & joy but only the thought of how to bring David down. It's sad that a life has turned out to be plotting everyday without the inner satisfaction that comes from God.

penned at 12:24 AM

Friday, April 17, 2009

David overcame the Philistine with a sling and a stone! You must be joking! A man with no armour but just a sling and a stone facing a giant (3m tall) with full armour & spear in hand?! David knows that it is not he who could do it but God. He killed a lion and a bear before and acknowledged that it was the Lord who has deliverd him. Not that David has extraordinary strength and undefeatable. If he is, I'm sure he would never have to flee from his enemies as he alone would be able to bring a whole army down! However, at God's chosen time, place and reason, David was able to gain the victory because God is with him. Something can be impossible for David but nothing is impossible for God!

The same in our lives, aren't there moments and situations in our lives in which we think was simply impossible yet God has made them possible? Let us remember that it is God who has made it possible & not us and all glory be unto Him.

penned at 12:13 PM