What is your Pursuit?

 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” – Philippians 3:8 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: What is your pursuit?

Key Principle: Christ surpasses everything!

Key Application: Pursue Christ

Main point of the Passage: Anything and everything apart from Christ is Rubbish.

Illustration: Paul’s worldly achievement as dung

Exhortation: Think about the riches, glories, and power of Christ for those who pursue Him.

All of us are in pursuit of something in life. We live on earth, we must work for our living; but we must be more concerned about our eternal living. There are many means to live on earth morally or immorally, poorly or richly; but there is only one means to live eternally – through Jesus Christ. Our life on earth looks pale in all measures in comparison to eternal life.

Image Scripture: Acts 4:12

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

For Audio in Greek click here
For Audio in English (ESV) click here

Waiting on the Lord

[I wrote this poem after meditations on Psalm 63, and John 21, and Matthew 20:1-16]

The field is ripe and yellow

Willing and desirous I am to go

The sun is high up in the sky

Scores of men ahead as I look with a sigh.

 The Master has been on the roll call

"Has He passed me by?" My joy grows cold

A still voice echoes, "Do you love Me?"

Yes, Lord! Do I love Thy work more than Thee?

Psalm Sixty-three three comes alive

“Thy Loving-kindness is better than life”

No gain, no loss, nothing will let me annoy

If God’s Love I recall, there I find my true joy.

Africa Needs Bible!!!

           Christianity is growing exponentially in Africa. Praise the Lord! However, only 1/10 has access to Bible. We who are more privileged have multiples of Bible Versions on our shelves. We even get confused what version to own it. We who are much more privileged have hundreds of Bibles in our fingertips through the internet. We have offline Bible Apps and Bible Softwares on our phone and computer. 9/10 Africans need Bible!!!

Africa according to the Bible League International:

“is the world’s poorest and youngest continent—struggling with daily troubles including drought and threat of starvation for millions, little opportunity and systemic poverty, tribal and civil wars, crime and political corruption. These challenges threaten the lives of the poorest and most neglected. In rural and remote areas, slums of larger cities, and isolated villages, there is confusion from ancestral religious traditions and threats of terror from religious radicals. Their best and only hope for new life is found in God’s Word, and you are able to help provide what is needed most.”

You may want to visit Joshua Project too for more info

Watch today’s video clip about the needs of Africans for Bible for them to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18). You will be rejoicing to hear the power of the word of God form those who have read the Bible!

Desiring the word of God.

“like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” – 1 Peter 2:2 (NASB)

Summarize in a Word: Desiring the word of God.

Key Principle: God’s word is necessary for our spiritual growth.

Key Application: Absorb the word of God

Main point of the Passage: God grants spiritual growth through His word.

Illustration: Newborn babies require milk for growth.

Exhortation: Would you just not taste, but would you eat the whole counsel God?

It is one thing to know the importance of reading Bible, but what really matters is reading the Bible actually. Apostle Peter in 1Peter 2:2 goes further: he commanded us to desire the undiluted word of God as a life source. Bible reading is not for self-satisfaction; neither for achievement nor to raise up hands when somebody asks, “How many of you read Bible this week?” Peter wants us to go beyond reading and even studying. It is to be craved, to be desperately in need of; to be ingested, to be digested. Do you hunger and thirst for God’s word?

We are born again through the word of God (1Pet 1:23). The word of God operated internally in our minds, hearts, and souls. We understand, affirm and response to the word of God. In the process, we have tasted the power of the word of God, which is the grace of God. Like every newborn babe needs a milk for growth, true Christian who is born again requires spiritual milk for his growth, which is the word of God. Would you just not taste, but would you eat the whole counsel of God, (like Psalm 1:2) meditating upon it day and night?

It is a pure word of God– unblended, unmixed, not compromised, nor adjusted. How often do we tone down the word of God? How often have we considered the commandment as a suggestion, obligation as optional to cope our sins? We must obey the word of God for as it is – all of it, the hard truth and the hard commandment! That includes repentance and delight in God!

Image Scripture: Psalm 73:25

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

For Audio in Hebrew click here

For Audio in English (ESV) click here

For Audio in Hindi click here

The Parable of the Good King

Part I:

There was a kingdom, where the king was just, merciful and wise. The king loved the people that he gave liberty for them to serve him willingly and voluntarily. He did not force his kingship over them because the people knew that they live in His kingdom, where the king’s law is the only law. However, the people of the kingdom were not as good as their king. They took the liberty as a license to do anything they wanted; instead of venturing out for the goodness of the kingdom and for the approval of the king. They wanted power, glory, and praise for themselves. So, it led them to rebel against the king. The king did not execute them for he wanted them to repent from their grievous sins. The king sent messengers and wise men telling them to appear him for reconciliation. They would not respond, so, the king warned that they would be executed sooner, or later if they continue to neglect the invitation.

Perhaps, the best of Mark Lowry’s comedy show!

I believe some of us are quite familiar with Mark Lowry. He was with the Gaither Vocal Band for many years. More so maybe because you have found yourself singing, “Mary, did you know?” on Christmas day. Mark Lowry is a Christian singer and a comedian.

Today, I guess we can have some time of laughter (😂😂😂). Here is a video clip where Mark Lowry narrates about his motorcycle accident in Houston (if you have never heard or seen before, though it has been available for a long long time.)

Perhaps, this is the best comedy show of him (at least for me). By the way, he mentions some theological and practical issues in a very humorous way. I guarantee you a hearty laughter from Mark Lowry.

Good Friday

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” – John 3:17 (NKJV)

Summarize in a Word: Message of the Cross

Key Principle: Today is the day of Salvation

Key Application: Proclaim the message of the Cross

Main point of the Passage: There are two inevitable effects of the message of the Cross – Judgment, and Salvation. Behold! Now is the time of Salvation.

Exhortation: Would you please proclaim the message of the Cross anyhow by print, voice, or pictures and most importantly by your lives?

Good Friday is about the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is not the Cross itself that matters, but the message of the Cross. Jesus was nailed to death bearing the wrath of God upon himself, that which is supposedly ours. It is true that God created each one of us in His image, but we (all) have become corrupted because of sin. Even our own personal sins reveal that we (all) have failed the standard of God. None can help us for all are in need of help. Nor can we help each other to overcome, for none can bear his own haplessness. We (all) need an able helper, the Savior who will take away our sins, and reconcile us to God.

God in his exceeding love sent Jesus Christ, the very God in human flesh, perfect and holy to save us from the wrath of God, and from our own slavery to sins. Jesus Christ completed His mission by bearing the wrath of God at the Cross. Moreover, He sent Holy Spirit to set us free from the penalty and power of sins.

John 3:17 reveals to us the two inevitable effects of the message of the Cross for everyone (no matter who, what, when, and where you are): Judgement or Salvation. Those (and only those) who keeps clinging to the message of the Cross will be saved from the Judgment of God and power of Sin. Those who neglect or reject the message of the Cross will fall into the Judgment of God when Jesus comes back as the Judge of the Universe (cf. John 5:27; Acts 17:31).

Good Friday is not to condemn sinners to hell; it is to save sinners. However, none of us has any ability to condemn nor to save any sinner. It is the prerogative of God. We are to proclaim the message of God – the coming Judgment, and the presently offered Salvation. For, there is no mercy and no salvation when the Day of Judgment comes. Behold! Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of Salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

Sinners, are you delivered from the wrath of God (to come) and the power of sins (presently enslaving you)? Would you please consider the message of the Cross and be saved? Redeemed-Saints, do you live worthy of Salvation (Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:1)? And would you please proclaim the message of the Cross that saved you? If and since it saves sinners like us, it can save anyone who believes. Don’t you think today is the best day for sinners to be saved? Would you proclaim today anyhow by print, voice, or pictures and most importantly by your lives?

Image Scripture: John 3:30

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

For Audio in Greek click here
For Audio in English (ESV) click here