1 Peter 2

At the beginning of the passage, Peter urges the believers to have the kind of eager desire for spiritual food for the desirable growth, just like a baby craving for milk.
Q: How strong is our desire for God’s word?

In verse 3 it says that “now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. This suggests that an initial act of tasting has been experienced, thus, the believers are urged to long for more and additional spiritual food. To illustrate, once we were a wretch and we came to know God and he saved us, that is his Amazing Grace, since we know that God is Good, why not to have more of him?

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

Christ is the life-giving Stone. Peter portrays the church as a living, spiritual house with Christ as the foundation and cornerstone while each of us, the believers, we are the stones making up the church. There is a community. One stone cannot stand alone but it requires every stone to come together. We are one body. Looking at Daniel 1, God puts different ones of us together, coming with different strengths, quality, personality, and even weaknesses, there is a beautiful symphony when we identify each other and work as a body and to support each other. Remember, no man is an island.

Praise God! He actually sees each of us (the stone) as precious and important in building up his church. If God sees the values in us, why can’t we see the values in ourselves?

Recalling in Matthew 16, Jesus told Simon Peter that “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it”.

Q: So, what is the stone that really counts in the building of the church?
A: Christ ALONE!

Those who refuse to believe in Christ have made the greatest mistake of their lives. They have stumbled over the one person who could save them and give meaning to their lives, and they have fallen into God’s hands for judgment. He who says he is, yet many rejected him. Sometimes I wonder, what is the ultimate thing that can cause a non believer to believe? I personally think it is not as simple as just convincing the person.

Verse 9-10: We have worth because of what God does, not because of what we do!

As Christians, we are called to separate ourselves from sinful desires and live a life that is above reproach. Do not be discouraged, at the end of the day, the way we live our lives can actually win some of the unsaved critics to the Lord’s side. We gotta show them Christ by our life. I remembered once a pastor told me a story of salvation where this brother who was studying in US then came to Christ not because of hours of preaching or 10 eyes on him (pressure), but merely because of the genuine love that the bros and sis around gave him despite being a non believer. There is no double standard. It is easy to say we gotta love, sometimes circumstances or things happening in our life can pull us down, but are we going to let that overwhelm us for Christ’s sake? Lets learn together!

Submission to Rulers and Masters

We are called to freely submit to God and to earthly authorities (as long as such submission does not conflict with the law of God). Liberty is not the license to do as we please. Genuine freedom should be used to serve God to the max, it is a freedom exercised under the law.

However, sometimes I find it hard to fully abiding the law not as in I go against it, but I do question the legibility of the law. For example, in my country, there is this super powerful law (some of you may know) which has been greatly misused especially by the rulers in action to detain anyone they “think” poses a threat to the country, especially at times when there is no single Act or Law to halt or detain a person. We know that there are loopholes in the legislation especially due to the weakness of those who have authority exercising it. But yet I praise God that in my country, we have religion freedom. If we are to be persecuted, it should be for obeying God, and not for breaking moral or civil laws.

At the closing part of the passage, Peter encourages loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment. Again, let our life shines for Jesus, we should use our life to influence lives, by setting good examples.

I am amazed by verse 20-21 that we were called to follow Christ’s steps, that there will be sufferings. Again, many could not understand ain’t a life after accepting Christ should be smooth, no persecution, and honeyly sweet? We gotta remember that we are sinners but his grace found us. If we would question the little that we suffer for Christ’s sake, what more would Christ complain (if He would ever :P) of what He has undergone? He never sinned, yet he suffered the unbearable pain and even death for you and me! It may sound ridiculous, but I think our goal should be to face suffering as he did – with patience, calmness, and confidence that God is in control of the future.

“For we were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”.

Love came down and he came to rescue. He swallowed all the insults, accusations, pains and even death to free us from the eternal damnation. If he ever retaliated, that should end my sharing here. Praise the Lord He didn't!

1 Peter 1

1 Peter

1 Peter touches on various doctrines and Christian life and duties. It is a letter of separation, of suffering and persecution, of suffering and glory, of hope, of pilgrimage, of courage, and as a letter dealing with the true grace of God.

In chapter 1, though the letter is written to the Jewish Christians scattered throughout the world as a result of persecution against believers in and around Jerusalem, we are reminded of our status - strangers in the world – people temporarily residing on earth whose home is in heaven.

Verse 2 mentions all three members of Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All members of the Trinity work to bring about our salvation. The father chose us before we chose him. Jesus Christ the Son died for us while we were still sinners. The Holy Spirit brings us the benefits of salvation and sanctifies us for God’s service.

We, the believers of Christ who trust in Christ the Saviour have an inheritance that will never fade or decay, unstained by sin. We are called into a living hope of eternal life, a hope that is not only for the future, but eternal life. Peter reminds us that no matter what pain or trial we face in this life, we know that it is not our final experience. Eventually we will live with Christ forever.

Often, Christians are the target of persecution because of the different principles that we hold on to in comparison to the pagans. Ie, rejecting the horrible immorality of others’ culture, refuse to worship other “Gods” etc. Peter reminds us that we must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. Trials teach us patience, strengthen our faith and help us grow to be the kind of people God wants (v.7) Speaking of trials, I believe Peter is referring to the response of an unbelieving world to people of faith, and not natural disasters. :P

Be Holy

The imminent return of Christ should motivate us to live for him – mentally alert, disciplined and focused. Our God is a Holy God and he sets the standard of morality. At the same time, our God is a God of mercy and justice who cares personally for each of his followers. Often we are ignorant and weak, Peter encourages us to be obedient and live a life that is pleasing to God our Father. The fear that is mentioned in verse 17 is not terror, but wholesome reverence and respect for God, which is the basis for all godly living.

Personally, verse 18 is the highlight and a great reminder for me. God redeemed us from the tyranny of sin, not with money, gold or silver but with the precious blood of his own Son. The salvation that we receive, is bought with a price that you and I can never ever pay. We cannot escape from sin on our own, only the life of Jesus Christ can free us.

V22, sincere love involves selfless giving. Oh how he loves us, by sacrificing his life on the Cross so that we can and are able to love with the example that Jesus Christ has set. Our love for others should be constantly motivated by the unconditional and sacrificial love of Christ, not for fame, for self glory nor for personal benefits.

V24-25 are quoted from Isaiah 40:6-8. We are reminded that everything that we possess on this earth will fade away or disappear one day. Only God’s will, Word and work are permanent.

So friends, what are we pursuing after? It is always good, to take a halt and reflect and look back at the journey we are traveling on, with a mind that is fixed upon the unseen and eternal glory, it is never too late to amend or make a change when God has been nudging us to follow His GPS (His GPS never fails!).

Traveling on this life, who is your ultimate driver?

Brisbane-KL Part 1

So I officially left the land down under and made a beeline back to the soil I was born and grew up on. At times I regretted for returning home just at the beginning of summer holiday as there are voices calling me to stay back little longer, pressure of getting a part time job, etc. But I could never shrug off the home-calling, after spending a wonderful, impact-ful, eventful and epic year in the Sunshine State. I believe is time to take a breather, to refresh and be renewed, to say Hi and Bye again to my dears, to catch up and to re-ponder life, to roam around spotting the differences, to experience and recall the familiar faces and events of life, to patronize the shops and stops that I once passed by, to break free from the bondage of severe price attack for the sake of savouring the much missed local cuisine, and most importantly, just the feel and status of being home again.

I touched down on KLIA on the 7th morning, clocked 5.40am. Accessed the free wi-fi at the airport MCD and hailed a bus to my previous Inti International University College. Checked in as a visitor. As usual, I walked around the busy commercial district in Bukit Bintang. Pavillion - Farenheit 88 - Sungei Wang - Lot 10. Hunted for food and just for a sim card for my temporary contact during the short stay in Malaysia.

I experienced intense discomfort and somehow just lost the touch of peace with the absence of state of mind, mainly due to my preference of a place that can soothe me. KL is not for me. I dislike the unbalanced growth, mixed culture and people, the pace of life and traumatizing traffic, they are just too much to swallow into my empty stomach. I couldn't take it. Contemplating, presumably my reaction and response are the result of the days that I spent in Australia, where everything from culture to people to transport, just significantly different from Malaysia. There is a massive gap, and I wonder when I can witness the changes bridging the gap.

A decade? This is life, we come and we see. Again, it boils down to the preference of different individual. Aussie are laid back. Malaysians are gambling their lives for a living, or to strive for wealth and status and hoping to be better than others, if not, the best.

Even if a man gains the whole world and lose his soul, what good does he gain?

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Matthew 8:35-36

So, what are you after?

Colossians 3

After warning the Colossians to guard against false teachers and a deep analysis of the Colossian Heresy, Paul touches on the golden rules of holy living. First is about the old self and new self, followed by the rules for Christian households, then in chapter 4, further instructions for the believers.

Paul advises the Colossians to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things”. As I contemplate, I feel the fall of humankind. It is not just happening in our century but ages ago. Since sin came into this world, we see a diversity of our earthly nature. It is not surprising to see that often times, even though we heard and knew Paul’s teaching, we still find ourselves consciously or sub-consciously entangled in our worldly living, living up to what people might think of us and not God alone. In verse 5, Paul actually asks us to “Put to Death” all our earthly nature from sexual immorality to idolatry. The phrase “Put to death” should never be taken lightly. This is because the moment we accept Christ into the centre of our life, we are pronounced as a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. This implies that all the dirt has been wiped away, that now we are presented a new image to live a life to please and honour God, from scratch. God promises that we will also appear with Jesus in glory during the 2^nd coming of Jesus. Arriving to the checkpoint, we can evaluate ourselves how close we have been embracing Paul’s teaching in the early part of this chapter.

1. If God asks us to let go of our relationship that is so dearly to us, are we willing to?
2. If God asks us to forego our business that is blossoming and making huge profits to be a full time servant of God, are we willing to?
3. If we heard the voice of God condemning us that “hey don’t you realize that you are so materialistic and image-conscious?” and we know we need to change, how much struggle do you think you will face?
4. If God says “Live a prudent life even if you have all the richness of the rich”, will you obey or you will tell God, “No… This is how my life has been and I want to keep my status quo within my peers”.

What will Jesus do? It is never easy, but the core issue is, are we willing? Recalling what Pastor Wilson preached on Sunday about his consensus decision with Pastor Lai Ling that they will Not hold on tightly what they possess on this earth. The truth is that when we grab hold of something tightly, we would never want to let go. The process will be supremely difficult. It can be because of the long established relationship, feelings, investment, and even our heart and soul are given into it. The notion is that, why not we embrace the Truth and God’s teaching and never let it go? If we can hold on to our relationship with someone so dearly, don’t Jesus deserve more than that?

Paul continues on his teaching by talking about different aspects of Dos and Donts. One that I would like to highlight is the filthy language from our lips. I am particularly sensitive towards the language that people use. I do have friends who greet and say byebye with their “artistic” language. The Book of Proverbs has been repetitive in advising us that tongues are destructive, not just about filthy language. We as the ambassadors of Christ should be extraordinary careful in our speech, so that the fragrant of God can be passed on, rather than pass people out.

Paul also mentions in V11 that “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but CHRIST IS ALL, AND IS IN ALL.” Christ transcends all barriers and unifies people from all cultures, races and nations. Such distinctions are no longer significant. Christ alone matters and that’s why, His salvation is for all! Not just a particular group of people.

Verses 12-17 are one of my favourite bible passages. It is straight forward and easy to understand, teaching us to uphold the values of compassion, patience, kindness, humility, gentleness, forgiveness, peace, thanksgiving, grateful, and on top of all, Love.

I love verse 18, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Now I have a question to ask, does the phrase “fitting in the Lord” means “do so, submit fully to your husband, but not anything that goes against God’s commandment and will”? Godly men should not be harsh with their wives, but like me, tender hearted.

All in all, lets live a life all unto God, not for men, not for your boyfriend, not to win attention, not to win favour but due to the reverence for the Lord. The key is that we need to rely on God, and always keep ourselves in check. We are not serving men, but God. It is tedious to serve man, for our wants and desires change constantly, but God He doesn’t. He is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. He breathed everything in the Bible, and what He desires, is simply to see a life that is wholly given, consecrated, honouring, pleasing and praising God in everything that the life embarks on. I pray that all of us will be renewed and transformed daily by the power of His word and Spirit, knowing the eternal inheritance as a reward. Amen!

Colossians 2

I tried to put myself in Paul’s situation, holding on to that kind of urge and concern for the Colosse and Laodicea. It is like you wanted to see so much of the truth to be upholded, but apart from praying, there is a sense of helplessness. The burden for God’s people and His church.

In this chapter, Paul was counteracting the Colossian heresy, which, in part, taught that for salvation one needed to combine faith in Christ with secret knowledge and with human regulations concerning such physical and external practices as circumcision, eating and drinking, and observance of religious festivals (v8). We can see how Paul tries to preach the truth where in v9 he says that “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” We can see the declaration that the very essence of deity was present in TOTALITY in Jesus’ human body, which was a direct refutation of the Gnostic teaching. Christian is made complete in Christ, rather than being deficient and this completeness includes the putting off of the sinful nature, resurrection from spiritual death, forgiveness and deliverance from legalistic requirements and from evil spirit beings.

I am not going further on every single verse in this chapter, but as an overview, I believe the cornerstone of this chapter and what Paul tries to convey is the truth of our Faith itself. The issue back then in Colosse is similar to what some “churches” are facing in our vicinity, where the Truth is not preached according to the Bible. The issue can always be when man tries to outsmart God, preaching to their own knowledge. I believe God is not concerned about how many denominations existed in this world, but how may denominations actually uphold the Truth and His word. In short, Biblical churches. It is so true to see those shaky churches that fail to preach the fundamental truth are either closed down, turned into pubs, abandoned, or not experiencing growth but downfall. We need to build our churches on the solid Rock that can withstand all sorts of harsh weather, not on soft spoil. Christ is the centre and head of the church. In verse 19, it says that “He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” The central error of the Colossian heresy is a defective view of Christ, in which he is believed to be less than deity. Promoting self-imposed worship, false teachers attempted to parade their humility, it was a system created by the false teachers themselves and had created the regulations of their heretical system. They were not from God.

Therefore, as Christ follower, this passage teaches us the importance of searching and being part of a healthy bible-based church. The type of church will determine what kind of people being produced. The issue of faith and believing in what we believe is always a great challenge for many ones.

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9)

It is not so much about the law nor our own knowledge thinking of who God is, but the relationship with God and knowing God personally. It is doing our life with Christ, in Christ and for Christ!

Colossians 1

As we read through the book of Colossians, we would understand Paul’s purpose of writing this letter which is to refute the Colossian heresy. Chapter 1 sets a crucial path in accomplishing Paul’s goal as he stresses on the Supremacy of Christ by exalting Christ as the very image of God (v15), the Creator (v16), the preexistent sustainer of all things (v17), the head of the church (v18), the first to be resurrected (v.18), the fullness of deity in bodily form (v.19) and being the reconciler to redeem the sinners from the eternal damnation (v.20-22). Prior to further discussion on the supremacy of Christ, I would like to kick off my insights and discussion from the thanksgiving and prayer as I believe there are some important and practical points to take note of.

Reading through the letters from Paul, Paul begins most of his letters with thanks or praise. It is a great reminder, whether or not if it is just Paul’s mere pattern of writing. Being repetitive, we can truly see the importance and the value of being thankful and praising our Heavenly Father. In verse 5 Paul mentions the three Christian virtues of faith, love and hope. We most probably can recall the Faith Hope Love that Paul mentions in the book of 1 Corinthians 13 where on top of all, Love is the greatest virtue. These three virtues are also mentioned in the book of Romans 5 and Galatians 5 and Hebrew 10. These three virtues are definitely not coming from humans, but God. Personally, I think that these three virtues are essential in a Christian’s life, they should be assimilated into every facet of our life to demonstrate what God values in his created beings.

Another character that caught my eyes is Epaphras (v.7). Throughout the Bible, there are many famous characters that everyone can recall and remember while we tend to forget some characters who do not seem to be as outstanding but I believe as long as their names appear in the Bible, they are bunch of AWESOME people. There must be something we can learn as I believe there is a reason for their existence or appearance. Digging into this guy called Epaphras, Paul addressed him a Faithful minister and his dear fellow servant. My research tells that Epaphras is a native and probably founder of the Colossian church, and an evangelist in nearby Laodicea and Hierapolis (4:12-13). Paul loved and admired him and Epaphras was the one who told Paul at Rome about the Colossian church problem and thereby stimulated Paul to write this letter. Epaphras comes from the Greek word of “Aphrodite”, the Greek Goddess of Love, suggests that he was a convert from paganism.

Verse 8 tells us that the Holy Spirit is the source of all Christian love. From verse 9-14, we see the urge from Paul informing the Collosians that he has been praying for them and asking God to fill them with the knowledge of His will through Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding. Biblical knowledge shouldn’t be stored as head knowledge only, but it should be practically demonstrated through Godly living. Catch phrase: godly in EVERY WAY (v.10). Few other values that Paul mentions are endurance, patience and joy.

Verse 12 carries a descriptive phrase that opposes another in verse 13. Kingdom of Light vs Dominion of darkness. Interesting?

The Supremacy of Christ

Perhaps this is one of the strategies that Paul uses to counteract the false teaching at Colosse (at the later chapter). He stresses and explains on the truth of Christ Jesus so that the Collosians can be fundamentally right on the fundamental truth. Paul talks about Christ’s supremacy in creation and in redemption. Christ is called the image of God which speaks of the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. Thinking deeper, the image suggests that God is invisible (No one has ever seen God, even Moses in the book of Exodus only managed to see the back parts of God – refer to Exodus 33:20-23) and Christ is the eternal Son of God and who became the God-man, reflects and reveals God.

One interesting fact, “all creation”, “all things” and “everything” appear seven times from verse 15-20. This shows the supremacy of Christ.

Last but not least at the end of Chapter 1, Paul talks about the reconciliation brought by Jesus. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, not only was the harmony between God and human beings destroyed, but also disorder came into creation. So when Christ died on the cross, he made peace possible between God and humans, and he restored in principle the harmony in the physical world, though the full realization of the latter will come only when Christ returns. However, we have to be reminded that the death of Christ doesn’t mean all are saved, but only believers, those who believe and place their faith in God. If not, what is the purpose of hell?

Verse 28, is a great reminder for all preachers of truth and leaders and you and me, “we proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ”.

To pen, I am thinking of the mystery that God hid and kept for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to us!!!

What is it? CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY!!!

How valuable? THE GLORIOUS RICHES!!!

It is the revelation of divine truths – once hidden but now openly proclaimed, that you and I have received! Praise God =)

I Nailed Him on the Cross

In evil long I took delight

Unawed by shame or fear;

Till a new object struck my sight

And Stopped my wild career.

I saw one hanging on a tree

In agonies and blood;

Who fixed his languid eyes on me

As near his cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath

Can I forget that look;

It seemed to charge me with his death

Though not a word he spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt

And plunged me in despair;

I saw my sins his blood had split

And helped to nail him there.

Alas, I knew not what I did

But now my tears are vain;

Where shall my trembling soul be hid?

For I the Lord have slain.

A second look he gave which said

"I freely all forgive;

This blood is for thy ransom paid

I died that thou mayest live."

Thus while his death my sin displays

In all its blackest hue;

Such is the mystery of grace,

It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mourning joy

My spirit now is filled;

That I should such a life destroy

Yet live by him I killed.

John Newton

Father, may your word continue to convict, transform and empower me. That may the Gospel be the sound track of my day. I pray for a Cross-Centered life. Rooted in the Truth, more than merely seeking experiences with You. I pray for a conviction and commitment that will never falter, for I am saved only by Grace through Faith. Let Thine be the Glory, forever.

1.30am

It's 1.30am. My body is aching but my eyes are still roaming at people's blogs, from page to page and from people that I know to the anonymous.

I love reading blogs, especially individuals who amass and blog about their life, experiences, and journey with God. Many times, convictions, determination, encouragement and motivation are birthed just simply through picking the right pieces to read. At the same time, reading people's stories can actually help you to contemplate and ponder about life. However, every journey is unique and distinguished from one another.

So, what does your life sound like?