Obedience through Punishment

“And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.”

– Leviticus 26:18

Exposition:

        We love to hear that God is love, and we often hesitate to talk about the wrath of God. Sure, it looks good to attract people because of love than to drive them by fear. However, the Scripture says that God is also an angry God and He has often punished us to bring back to Him. In Leviticus 26, God assured the Israelites of prosperous blessings should they continue to obey Him. He also warned them of punishment should they choose to turn away from Him.

        Verse 18 reveals that God’s punishment is not merely a consequence of disobedience, but it is for us to obey God knowing that the way of disobedience is hard and painful. No matter how stubborn we may be, God is not backing off. If the Israelites would not turn away from their sins even after a season of punishment, God warned them that He will punish them seven times more. It is to make them realize that only the path of obedience pleases the Lord to bless them.

        The wrath of God is virtuous like the love of God or the justice of God. God’s wrath is unleashed upon the unjust that everyone may fear Him. However, God never punishes us to the degree that we deserve; for none can bear the full punishment of God, only Jesus can, and He bore the wrath of God in the cross. He satisfied the wrath of God which was to be upon the sinners who put their trust in Him for their Salvation. Whosoever repent for their sins and trust in the Lord will receive eternal life. God commands everyone to repent of their sins to be saved from the wrath to come.

Personal Reflection:

·       Is there any unrepentant sin in my life that I should deal with now before it is too late?

Personal Commitment:

·       I must consider the trials of life and the chastisement of God as joy knowing that God chastens whom He loves.

Prayer:

Lord, forbid me to be stubborn like the Israelites of the Wilderness. Show me my sin by the convicting work of Your Spirit, and then empower me to yield my life to His control, Amen!

Got A Prayer Request?

"Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains."

– Colossians 4:3

Exposition:

        Apostle Paul is a man of prayer, by this I mean he believes in prayer. In private, he prays unceasingly for himself, other Christians, Jews, and Gentiles. In public, he prays along with the other saints in a formal and informal context. Furthermore, he would not only pray solely by himself, but he would ask other saints to pray for him. He exhorts everyone to live a life of prayerfulness. Here, in this verse, we see Apostle Paul requesting prayers from the church at Colossae for his preaching ministry.

        Now, if Apostle Paul seeks prayer for himself and his team members, would we not seek the prayers of others for us? Paul is arguably the godliest person, yet he seeks prayer from ordinary church members. It does not matter how immature we may be, if we are Christians, our prayer is before the throne of God. We mustn't hesitate to pray even for such godly people, they need our prayers like the rest of us, and our prayers are effective as well, if not Paul wouldn't have asked for their prayers.

Sure, prayers must be according to God's will. We can't expect God to help us do the wrong things or for our sinful selfish interest. Even here, Paul is seeking a release from his imprisonment, not for the comfort of free life, but to continue the preaching ministry, and he wouldn't mind another imprisonment for preaching the gospel. Colossians could at least pray for the release of Apostle Paul, even if they aren't able to proclaim the gospel effectively like Paul does, or not bold enough to endure suffering as Paul does on account of the gospel.

Personal Reflection:

• Do I (as a minister of the gospel) have a list of prayer supporters who know my prayer points from time to time?
• Do I (as an ordinary Christian) have the habit of saying, "May I pray for you" or "Is there anything I can pray for you" or "Shall we pray together”?

Personal Commitment:

• To seek others’ prayers and also the prayer points from others from time to time.

Prayer:

Lord, humble my heart to fall before your throne of grace, Amen!

Thankfulness in Life

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

– Colossians 3:17

Exposition:

        It is far easier to control our actions than our attitude. Actually, actions are the precursors to our attitude (thinking, planning, or conceiving). One could avoid sinful actions but still sin in one’s heart. Likewise, we can do a lot of good work, but with a bad attitude. We can even say or do godly things with a sinful attitude of remonstrance, grumbling, or whispering. This verse exhorts us to do everything in speech and action with an attitude of thankfulness to God. Both action and attitude matter to God.

        When we are thankful, we do not grumble or whisper, we are joyful. God wants us to be joyous people. The root meaning of 'giving thanks' is gratefulness. Gratefulness is a response to the grace of God. Since we have received and built our life upon His grace, we are to be thankful people at all times, in all places, and in all works. Thankfulness is a recurring theme in this book of Colossians (1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2). O How God wants us to be thankful people!

        All our thankfulness is always primarily to God the Father. It's not the kind of thankfulness one has for somebody who helped him gain thing wrongfully. It is the thankfulness that comes when doing the right things according to the power of Jesus in our life. Would you recognise that the Sovereign God is your Father–who has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus–when you say and do all things for the edification of one another in the body of Christ? When we recognise that, we will not only be faithful people but also be thankful and joyful people.

Personal Reflection:

• I am commanded not only to do everything for the glory of God (1Cor.10:31) but also to do everything, giving thanks to God.

Personal Commitment:

• To delight in any work of ministry knowing that every work of ministry is a grace of God because even being called into the body of Christ is grace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me a Christian, and for giving us a church. Thank You for this family.

Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

"In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

– Colossians 2:3

Exposition:

        Nobody wants to be a fool. Everybody wants to know more, just that the process of learning is not easy, sometimes boring and frustrating. It's true if we want to learn more, we must make an effort as the saying goes: "No pain, no gain." In this verse, we see, Jesus is the embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge. The more we know Jesus, the more wisdom and knowledge we accumulate.

        Treasures of gold, diamonds, and other precious stones do not show up everywhere, they are hidden deep under the surface of the earth. Similarly, treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. The Holy Bible is given to us that we may know Jesus until we attain to His likeness. However, this doesn't mean all knowledge that we can ever have in the universe is in the Bible. Apostle Peter says everything pertaining to life and godliness is in Jesus, i.e., in the Bible.

        If and since all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Jesus, He is sufficient. We do not need any source apart from Christ. We do not need to travel anywhere to get them but only to walk in Christ diligently and joyously. We do not need any other philosophies, ideas, traditions, anything, but the teaching of Christ. Jesus is sufficient for our salvation. His word is sufficient for us to live a God-pleasing life. Would we only make an effort to know Him more, and in knowing Him more we make Him as our pattern to follow!

Personal Reflection:

·       Do I take pleasure and make an effort to know more about Jesus as I do to know other things in life?

Personal Commitment:

·       To be rooted and built up in Him because all other ground is sinking sand.

Prayer:

God, our Father, You have given Jesus, the treasures of all wisdom and knowledge, only to be received by faith and to follow Him. Thank You. I receive Him by faith. Would you please cause my heart to delight in following Him, Amen!

Gospel Relationship in Ministry

"So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us."

– 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Exposition:

        Relationship is an important word in the ministry of the gospel, vertically (with God) and horizontally (with one another). I fear that many have been more careful to please man than to please God. We must remember that the relationship with God is the first commandment, and the relationship with one another is the second commandment. Actually, if one has a healthy relationship with God, it will reflect on one's relationship with one another. We must never put the cart before the horse. The ministry of Paul described in 1Thessalonians is a fitting model for us.

        Paul didn't manipulate people to like his ministry nor did he develop a skin-deep relationship for his gain. He laboured for the approval of God. He recognised the centrality of the gospel and prioritised to preach it, no matter how offensive it was. He would preach nothing else but the gospel. However, Paul did so as a mother to her child, gently and affectionately. He preached because he cared for them, unlike the prophet Jonah who wanted his hearers to perish. Not only did he preach the gospel, but he demonstrated for them how to live a gospel-filled life. He sacrificed his rights, preferences, and comforts for his listener’s growth.

        In this verse, we see the priority of the gospel as well as the importance of gentle shepherding. Paul cared for them, neither to be liked by them in return, nor to be well spoken by them or others, he never lived to please man. He cared for them that they may live a life that glorifies God. He exhorted, comforted, and charged them as a father (not only as a gentle mother). Gospel ministry without an authentic relationship and a ministry without accurate teaching are fragile as houses upon the sand.

Personal Reflection:

• As much as I’ve made an effort for my hearers to understand the teachings of Scripture, have I made the same effort to show them in my life!? 

Personal Commitment:

• To implement not only servant leadership, but also parental shepherding in a pastoral ministry.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the exemplary ministry of Paul. Help me to love your people as family members, Amen!

Comfort in Ministry's Distress

“Therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.”

– 1 Thessalonians 3:7

Exposition:

        We have often been in distress because we live in a fallen world, we all need strength in affliction. Sometimes we have suffered because of our actions, other times because of others, and yet there are times because of the schemes of the devil. The affliction of Paul mentioned in the book of Thessalonians is caused by Satan; he stirred up false accusation and persecution and hindered him from coming back to Thessalonica. Paul was forced out from Thessalonica by the commotion of jealous Jews. He was slandered and the church was persecuted. Paul was in deep distress for Thessalonian Christians. 

        Students may be stressful before the exam, but they rejoice at the news of their successful exam. Employees find the joy of earning a salary in serving others. What is the joy of a pastor? As we see in this verse, for Paul (as for Apostle John also) it is news that his spiritual children are walking in the faith. Thessalonians were not shaken even amidst persecution. They did not doubt Paul, their spiritual father, notwithstanding the false accusation against him. They were loyal to him, clinging to the Gospel, and steadfastly to the faith. This news came to Paul as a great comfort when he could no longer endure his distress for them.

        Pastors find great comfort in seeing the members of the Church grow in faith, for it assures them that their work is not in vain. God gives church pastors for the establishing of the saints in the faith, so that all may mature and not be swayed by any wind of doctrine. Would we often share with our spiritual leaders about our growth in the Lord?

Personal Reflection:

• Am I more preoccupied with my suffering than the spiritual growth of my church members?
• Am I loyal to my spiritual leaders and my church when any false accusation comes up against us?

Personal Commitment:

• To be diligent to know the state of _____ (fellow Christians, church members, household of faith) and to attend to their needs.

Prayer:

        Lord, help me be diligent in looking after your people in delight. Cause me to let their trouble be my trouble to let their spiritual growth be my joy and crown in your presence, like Your Apostle Paul, Amen!

In the Family of God

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

– 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Exposition:

        In the family of God, some are mature and wise, others are young and energetic, yet many are children and so childish, nay, babes in Christ. We are not all of equal stature and strength. Some may need to be carried in arms, others may need to be led by their hand, yet many may need spoon-feeding until they can develop the conviction of their own. Paul mentioned four groups of people in this verse:

        The brethren, who are more mature and have the most responsibility. They are not to lord over the less mature ones, rather they must be a model for the edification of the body of Christ. The unruly ones who need confrontation and correction not only for their own good, but also to not let a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The fainthearted ones who are bogged down by trials and suffering (like the loss of loved ones in Thessalonica) might be tempted to doubt the goodness of God; they need help, comfort and encouragement. The weak ones who are naïve and easily swayed by every wind of doctrines need much support and instruction.

        Regardless of the group you belong to, you sometimes find yourself in every group. We all have strong and weak points. Nobody is perfect, everyone needs to exercise patience with one another. Besides, even the most mature ones were once babies, and they need to recall the patience others had on them. Remember the patience of Jesus Christ towards His disciples and the people of His days. Our God remains patient with us even to this day.

Personal Reflection:

·       Who are the most mature people that I may hang out with for my spiritual growth? Who are the discouraged ones who may need my encouragement? Have I been kind to my weaker brothers and sisters in Christ?

Personal Commitment:

·       To cultivate the virtue of patience.

Prayer:

Help me, Lord, to develop more patience towards all, Amen!

Be Known For Gentleness

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

– Philippians 4:5

Exposition:

        How would you like to be known for? We live in a time when people want you to care more about their feelings than their responsibility. It is not uncommon to see WhatsApp Status Update, "Feeling Angry," "Feeling Lazy," "Feeling so Tired," and so on. We often seek to be excused and be sympathized with our sins. Besides, vulgar expressions are considered more genuine and more convincing than gentle expressions. However, this verse instructs us to be known for gentleness.

        We are called to control our emotions and be gentle with one another, not just once or twice, not only to one or two individuals, not only in front of a camera or in a church but as our identity, for it says, “be known to all men.” Certainly, it is easier to shout at those who wronged us, but it is comely for a Christian to overlook in gentleness. It is easier to demand justice and be tough when we happened to be on the less-wrong side, it is comely for a Christian to forgive and avoid creating a scene.

        We (as individuals) have wronged God more than all the people in the world combined can ever wrong against us, yet God has forgiven us. He is gentle toward us evermore. We who love God, who fear God, and who wait for His appearing do well to clothe ourselves with gentleness as He is to us.

Personal Reflection:

·       How often have I chosen the path of humour, sarcasm, or satire at the expense of gentleness in my speech, writing, and conduct!!??

Personal Commitment:

·       I've got to look for an option of gentleness in all tough situations.

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, would You please make me more gentle in all my actions as the outworking of Your gentleness toward me! Amen!

Minding our Own Business

“That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you”

– 1Thessalonians 4:11

Exposition:

        It is far easier to talk about others than about ourselves. We can comfortably point out their misdeeds, wittily give them suggestions, and self-righteously condemn them. On the contrary, it is difficult for us to even admit our own mistake, to take our own advice, and often justify ourselves by saying, “Nobody’s perfect.” It was so even among the Thessalonian Christians. Some of them were idle busybodies. Apostle Paul instructed them how Christians ought to live particularly in anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ.

        There’s a play of word in this instruction. Those who were busy meddling in the business of others but idle in their own affairs should be idle in others’ affairs and be busy in their own works. The Greek culture which was in Thessalonica and elsewhere considered manual labor to be the work of slaves. Paul taught that Christian culture has a high view of vocation: everyone must work for a living. Paul demonstrated that even he, a full-time minister of the gospel, worked diligently not only for his living but to help others. Christians are not to steal or beg, rather they must work laboriously that they have enough not only for themselves but to help others too (Acts 20:35; Eph4:28).

        We aren’t supposed to sell everything we have, stay idle, and wait for the return of Christ. We must be productive in all good works, also accumulating treasures in heaven, and befriending more eternal friends through our transient wealth. Above all, would we work on our own sanctification first and far more than we desire to see the work of sanctification in the lives of others?

Personal Reflection:

·       Could some of the things I have said or done were actually meddling the affairs of others, and not really helping them?

Personal Commitment:

·       To be more concerned with my own personal sanctification than with the sanctification of others.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to remain quiet and calm in the areas where I ought to be and be busy in all good works. Help me to be forgiving, compassionate, and generous to others as you have been to me. Amen!

Hopeful Living in a Worsening World

 “And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2Thessalonians2:10-12

        Sometimes we feel that the world is getting better, other times we feel it is getting worse, which is truer between these two perceptions? God created a good world, but then, upon the entrance of sin, God cursed the world, and one day the world will be annihilated. Sin (depravity) is getting worse day by day. And the Scriptures prophesy that Satan will grow to be very powerful just before the end. Oh! Then, what hope do we have for the present and the future? This passage reveals how we can live in hope and be rich in good works even when the present world looks defeating (you may read v9-17 for the context).

        First, Satan has power only over the non-believers. He can only deceive the perishing ones. Sure, his schemes can trouble us physically and even emotionally; but our faith, our hope, and our salvation have been established by Jesus. Nobody can snatch us, nor separate us from the love of Christ. We will not be shaken.

        Second, the destruction of the wicked along with Satan is sure. Those claiming to be wise, ridiculing us to be fools, are actually the real fools, being deceived by Satan. And their deception will increase because God allowed them for their destruction. We will be vindicated by God’s righteous condemnation of the wicked.

        Third, the very persistent nature of Satan should challenge us to be not complacent in good works or in rescuing the perishing. Satan never slumbers, is never discouraged, and is never satisfied. He hunts for his prey prowling the earth to and fro. Satan and the anti-Christ come to deceive the non-believers that they may be condemned eternally. Jesus comes to save the believers that they may live before God forever.

        Is it not comforting to realize these truths that God is preserving us in all situations? Has not our Lord himself promised that His church will prevail no matter what? Let us then live not as the world without hope, but rejoice for the gift of faith and His salvation, and anticipate His return!

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Heavenly Citizens

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ"

– Philippians 3:20

Exposition:

        It is natural for us to be more comfortable at home and to be longing for home when we are in a distant land. I still remember even the food I ate when I was growing up and would like to have them again. Home is where we belong. Apostle Paul in this verse reminds Christians that this present earth is not our home. Those who set their minds on earthly things are not the citizens of heaven, they are the enemies of Christ, the King of Heaven.

        The Triune God created this world, continues to preserve it, but one day it will pass away (Rev.21:1). Our Lord Jesus came from heaven into our world to deliver us from the wrath to come, and He ascended to heaven to prepare for us a place to live with Him. Heaven is a place wherein God dwells. We are not only created by God for Him, but we are also bought by the blood of Jesus Christ again; twice we belong to God, and we must be where we belong.

        Every Christian is a citizen of heaven. A citizen of heaven is a heavenly minded person. A heavenly minded person is one who looks forward to being conformed to the likeness of Christ. Apostle John says that whoever has this hope purifies himself, which means that he endeavours to live a life of holiness and righteousness. A worldly person lives and works for money, praise, and pleasure; and would do anything to obtain them. A Christian, even though he might need them, would choose to obtain them in righteousness, because he ultimately lives and works for the glory of God.

Personal Reflection:

·       Do I cultivate personal holiness in anticipation of the return of my Saviour?

·       Do I always rejoice in Him who had justified me and sanctifies me now that He will surely glorify me at His appearing?

Personal Commitment:

·       I must live for the cause of Christ and be delighted even in all the trials of life because God is my dwelling place.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, King of my life, help me to delight in You more than in anything of this world, Amen!

I saw you!

 “Nathanael answered and said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.””

– John1:48

        “I saw you!” Jesus not only saw Nathaniel but knew him through and through because Jesus is God. There was nothing Nathaniel could hide from Jesus, either his thoughts or actions of past and present. Fortunately for Nathaniel, Jesus chose to declare him righteous. Indeed, God sees and knows everything. He knows us long before we were born, nay, before we were formed in our mother’s womb.  On the contrary, we don't know even who we are, particularly how sinful we are. The Lord searches the heart and understands who exactly we are. Bad news: our hearts are deceitful above all things, even our best deeds are like filthy rags; we are all depraved sinners.

        Yesterday I was so annoyed with my slow laptop, I hit my keyboard once, running out of patience. Then I realized a neighbour could be seeing me because my window and door were left open. I was so relieved that nobody saw it. Yet, I knew I should have exercised more patience publicly or privately. Sometimes, we, sinners, are okay with sins, and reluctant to repent if nobody sees our sins. When we do that, we are acting as if God does not see us.

        We love the praises of man and sometimes would do anything to get them. The greatest and sweetest praise of man achieves nothing if God does not approve of us. Even our conscience will torment us if we have a double-standard life: one in private and the other in public. God demands that we live for Him alone. We do not live for man’s approval. We do not live even for our self-approval. Remember, God is always watching us. If we are Christians, God sees us in Christ, and therefore He will declare us righteous no matter what. Yet if we sin, He will surely chasten us because God chastens whom He loves. Would you practice the presence of God at all times?

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Working for Christ

"because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me."

– Philippians 2:30

Exposition:

        According to what is revealed in the book of Philippians, one of the principal ways how Epaphroditus laboured for the work of Christ is his service toward Apostle Paul (Phil. 2:25, 30). He brought gifts from Philippi to Rome, where Paul was imprisoned (Phil.4:15, 18; 1:13). We may be tempted to think delivering a gift was not a big deal, well, there were no aeroplanes those days, the journey alone must have been a hard one. Furthermore, Apostle Paul wrote about him quite favourably contrary to what he thought of a man like Demas.

        Epaphroditus could have done a lot of things for the furtherance of the Gospel, but what we know for certain is his service to Paul, and in doing so, he even got sick almost unto death (Phil. 2:27). The work of Christ, we are called to do, is not only to proclaim the Gospel to those who are lost. In fact, God has given the church gifted people to proclaim His words to the unreached, and not many of us are called to do this. Each one of us is given a gift from Christ for His work. We have to use our gift diligently and joyfully. Any work we do in the ministry for the edification of the body of Christ is a legitimate work for Christ.

        Are you accompanying a fiery preacher in a revival? Are you attending the needs of a sick brother at home or in a hospital? Are you raising funds for the cause of ministry? Are you sweeping the floor of a church? Are those not for the work of Christ? We have seen it from Epaphroditus.

Personal Reflection:

·       Am I delighted with any work of the ministry as much as in preaching God's word to a lost sinner?

·       Am I treating every worker of the ministry as a specialist (masterpiece) of God?

Personal Commitment:

·       I must practice not only to appreciate all kind of works in a ministry but also to delight in any work I come across.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to do my work to please You, and not to please the eyes of man, Amen!