Not merely FYI

Let’s read Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:105; James 1:22; Acts 17:11 & Psalm 1: 1-3 in tandem

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Now the Berean Jews…………received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Blessed is the one……… who meditates on his law day and night.  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.

A book is nothing but a collection of thoughts, germinated from the author’s mind. Some books carry thoughts which are based on factual events while some carry fictional imaginations. Some are historical, some are metaphorical, while some are simply entertaining.

The Bible is also a book. While all other books originated from the mind of man, the Bible originated from the mind of God. The Bible is not merely a collection of historical events and facts but it reveals the very heart of God and that is why it is also referred to as the “Word-of-God”.  “…the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45) - The Bible is the only route to God’s heart….!

Imagine a father telling something to his son or daughter. It can be anything. No matter what he says, one would imagine that it all carries a meaning and purpose. They can be words of instruction, words of encouragement or words of correction, etc. Can you imagine a sane father giving irrelevant, aimless, purposeless information to his children? Impossible…! Then how can God our Heavenly Father aimlessly speak to us ONLY to make us better-informed individuals. He speaks to you “for your transformation” and not just “for your information”.

God spoke and continues to speak to TRANSFORM us – to make us wise, to give us better Spiritual visibility and to make us prosperous in whatever we do according to His will. How often do you hear God speak (read the Bible or listen to a Spirit-driven preacher) in a week? Once? Twice? Thrice? Well, the Word of God says that we are BLESSED if we meditate on God’s speech day & night (all the time)…!

Don’t be satisfied with Biblical INFORMATION, seek for Spiritual TRANSFORMATION…!

MORE SLUMBER = MORE POVERTY…!

Let’s read Ephesians 5:8-14, Proverbs 6:9-11 & Matthew 6:19-21 in tandem

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber,  a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Darkness” is simply the absence of “Light” but “Light” is not as simple as mere “absence of darkness”. There is no such thing as a “source of darkness” because darkness need not be produced. On the contrary, “Light” needs to be produced by a source and that source needs to be a constant spender of energy (for example think of a burning candle - clear illustration of a living sacrifice).

The reason for life to sustain on this earth is this – the Sun shines every day, equally and un-biased to bring light to our planet. And with light comes life. Without Sun the Earth would eventually die to become another lifeless planet suspended in dark space. With the coming of this life-dependent light, there are those who rise-up, be awake and begin their day of toil for a living. Yet, there are many who do not like the rising up of the sun every morning. They wish they have more time to sleep tight and snooze in darkness. This is what we call “laziness”. Man did nothing great to end up in Sin and darkness. But God had to sacrifice His only begotten Son, to unleash the Light of Life that drives out all Sin and darkness. Just as the Sun is impartially given for all, the Son (Christ) was also given for all “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life….” (John 3:16b - KJV).

Physical awakening (the body waking up from sleep) is mainly for the purpose of earning treasures on earth, to live and to eventually die, to try and have all bills & wills sorted. Spiritual awakening is similar to physical awakening but only within the limits of an illustration. Spiritual awakening is for the purpose of storing up treasures in heaven, which is to live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might….(Colossians 1:10-11a)

BE AWAKE - let CHRIST shine on you…!

Outstanding in the house of God or out standing from the house of God…?

Let’s read Luke 15:25-32 (NIV) & Psalm 27:4 (NIV) in tandem

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’  “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple”

When the younger son came to his senses and decided to return to the father, he did not expect the father to accept him back as his beloved son. He wanted to work for his father and remain as a servant. But, because the father loved his son unconditionally, he accepted him back as a “son” and not just as a “servant”. The father did not hesitate to give his son the “best”, even after his terrible past of arrogance and extravagant spending.  The father called for a huge celebration and wanted his repentant-son to look and be “outstanding” from all the rest within the household, because this son who was once dead is now alive, who was once lost is now found. The younger son humbly melted into his father’s priceless embrace and accepted the free gift of re-birth and the spirit of sonship.

On the other hand – the elder brother never understood his father’s love, though he was with him all this while. The father had his “best” instore for both his sons. But, the elder brother was not humble enough to align with his father’s line of thinking. So he (the elder brother) became angry and refused to go in….! What an irony that the elder brother was even ready to forego the fellowship with his father so easily succumbing to pride and selfishness.

Who do you identify yourself with today?

Are you like the younger son who had lost all hope? – come to your senses, choose the way of humility and true-repentance and be sure to be accepted by your loving Heavenly Father through Christ. Seek to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of your life…!

Are you like the elder son who failed to be in unison with his father’s mind & heart? – humble yourself and cry out for wisdom & understanding (Proverbs 2:3-5) and in your relationship with your fellow brother/sister have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5-11).

A YEARNING for LEARNING…!

Let’s read Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

How many of us really like to learn?

Learning involves humility and commitment. Humility to accept the fact that the teacher is placed higher than us in terms of knowledge. Commitment to spend our time and reasoning in understanding that which is being taught or imparted.

Jesus, the Son of God was an obedient student first and then a teacher. Firstly, a student of His heavenly Father, then of the teachers and His elders.

Child Jesus had the option of spending some playful time with His friends and relatives but He chose to spend time at the temple courts listening and asking questions. He amazed the teachers with His understanding and His answers.

It was a delight for Jesus to be in His Father’s house. The Psalmist expressed this yearning of a child of God without any exaggeration “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10a). There is joy in the Father’s house. There is peace in the Father’s house. There is learning and wisdom in the Father’s house…!

Jesus did not let His wisdom and understanding puff Him up with pride. He joyfully chose to be humble and obedient. He cheerfully chose not to settle down with what He already had but to grow in wisdom.

He grew in favour with God & man because of His humility and His readiness to listen, learn & obey.

Are you passionate about spending time in your Heavenly Father’s house just as Jesus was? Do you yearn to learn from the power-house of wisdom (the Word of God / Bible)?