Monday, April 20, 2009

God is love

"16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16)

"God is love." (1 John 4:16)

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40)

20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)

Main Idea: God is love, therefore, we also are to love.

Jesus demonstrated the fullness of His love through washing His disciples feet. He loved us so much, that we was willing to humble himself, and serve the disciples, doing a task that not even slaves did. In the body, along with in the world, we are to love people. We are to be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers, and to treat others as we would desire them to treat us. Let us be the Body, let us be believers that love, for we know, that out of faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest(1 Corinthians 14).

Challenge: Love a brother today. Ask him how he is? See how his day is? Pray for him.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Waiting on God

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8)

4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Main Point: Waiting upon God is essential in your life.

Recently I(Richard) felt in my life a little rollarcoastery, where my spiritual life is up and down, up one week and down another, up one day, and down another. Yet, this verse just struck my heart, and I realized that it is when I wait on God, God will renew my strength. I prayed today to God is that I'll be like King David, that I one thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord, gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, seeking Him in his temple.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

What are you meditating on?

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
(Joshua 1:8 NIV)

15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.

16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
(Psalm 119:15-16)

Main Point: Meditating on God's Word is key to a successful Christian walk.

As said on previous posts, God's Word is absolutely vital in our Christian walks. It is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path(Psalm 119:105). Therefore, we should make every effort to be sure that we are walking according to His Word. That is where meditation comes in. Meditation may sound like a mystical weird word; nevertheless, it is very simple and practical. It is to simply engage in thought or reflection. It speaks in 1 Timothy 4:7 that we are to train ourselves to be godly. Pondering and thinking thoroughly on God's Word, seeking understanding and insight, is a great step in training oneself in godliness. We are to be doers of the Word, and not simply hearers, as it says in James 1:22. Let us fill our minds and hearts with God's Word, letting it overflow our in our lives. Let this be the prayer of our hearts.

25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.

26 I recounted my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.

27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
Psalm 119:25-27

Challenge: Meditate on a specific scripture passage this week, seeking God to mold you in becoming more like Him. Ask for understanding, ask for His ways, and He will answer.