Bible Reading Reflection from 2 John

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

2 JOHN 12

"Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made complete."

Lovers want to meet often. Where there is love, there is joy in fellowship. Like Apostle Paul, don't we want to meet at least once a week, for a Sunday fellowship? There is much joy, complete joy when we meet Face to Face.

Even Spiderman knows that. In one scene of Spiderman: Homecoming, Spiderman thought Ironman was talking to him with a computer suit. He dismissed him in deep disappointment, "If you care, you would actually be here!" And then, the suit opened, and Tony stark came out to meet face to face!

Bible Reading Reflection from 1 John 1-5

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

1 JOHN 1:3

"What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." [Legacy Standard Bible]

Wonderful! A poor, wretched, lost, underprivileged sinner like me is being called into the glorious family of God. That also to the same fellowship, to the level, standard, and dignity of John and the other Apostles.

No 2nd class citizen of heaven. Nor will I dwell in the corner of heaven's mansion.

I may not have JRF, may not be the Fellows of the Royal Society, London, may not be a teaching fellow of Ligonier (R.C. Sproul), but I am called to have fellowship with the Father and the Son.

What a fellowship! What a joy! What a calling! What a message! Blessed be God!

 

1 JOHN 2:15-17

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever."

Every sin committed under the sun falls under either of these 3 categories of sins: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

It's a daily struggle for a Christian. It's a daily battle. There's no holiday, as long as we live on this battlefield. Nobody goes to battle lightly. Soldiers might sing in chorus to encourage one another. Soldiers would be wounded, fallen, bruised, and even die, but they die fighting.

May we fight all known sins in our life! May we pray for deliverance! May we pray to overcome! May we pray to weep over our own sins and of others! May we be like Jeremiah, who weeps all day long! May we be like David, who pants for God as a deer for water, Amen!

 

1 JOHN 3:1

"See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we would be called children of God; and we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."

Is there a time you stand in front of the mirror and don't like that person's look, attitude, or action?

Is there a time you do something wrong and you smack your forehead?

Is there a time you say to yourself, "It's stupid of me"?

Well, we don't even like ourselves, right? And rightly so.

Is there a time when you live an undisciplined, insincere, irresponsible, or disrespectful lifestyle that will make your parents feel ashamed? Parents would want to disown such and rightly so.

For me: Yes, to all the above. Yet, what love is this that God would own me, accept me into His family, and call me His son, an heir to His riches!

Amazing love! What love is this! How can this be!

 

I JOHN 4:14

"By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." [LSB 2021, A New Translation]

The fact that the Holy Spirit dwells in a person is a testimony that he is a Christian. If you want to know whether someone is a Christian, we look for the fruits of the Spirit in his life. In fact, it is the Spirit that helps him to abide in God. It is the Spirit that helps him to continue to live a Christian life. Left to ourselves, everyone will be de-converted within a few seconds.

And if I could chase away the Spirit of God in me, and if I could lose my salvation, I would have lost it a long time ago. It's not my walk with God that makes the Holy Spirit dwell in me, rather, it's the Spirit that helps me walk with God! However, I have to yield to the instruction (leading) of the Spirit, and not yield to the instruction of the world, eyes, and flesh!

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your Spirit! Amen!

 

1 JOHN 5:21

"Little children, guard yourselves from idols."

Is it not interesting (surprising) that this book ends in this way with a very, very simple and very, very basic exhortation?

John has explained the lofty theology of God, Jesus, Salvation, Propitiation, Sanctification, Damnation, Glorification from chapters 1-5, and ended with this well-known exhortation from the 2nd commandment of Moses' Law.

To worship the Real God. To have the real Jesus. To live the real life. To possess the real faith

Btw, Ps119, the largest chapter, which reveals the power of God's word for sanctification also ends with a simple (unlikely) affirmation, confession, and prayer v176.

The greatest theologians aren't the ones who know the lofty things of God. They are the ones who cherish the base, the simplest, and the commonest teaching of God.

The holiest men of God (when they have lived long and have become most perfect in the eyes of all) do not confess that they are perfect or that they are holy. They confess the simplest thing, "a sinner" like the Apostle Paul of 1Tim1:15.

Let's cherish the old truth, the simple confession, the basic commandment, and live the ordinary life!

Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Peter 1-3

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

2 PETER 1:13

"Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you"

Every word of this verse is striking a point! As a preacher, one of my tasks is to keep reminding. But naturally speaking, to remind people, again and again, is a thing of boredom. People would even question, "Why do you always say this?"

What's that Peter wants to remind? v10. "Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure." In other words, make sure of your salvation.

And I think Peter is not calling Christian to doubt the efficacy of the cross, but to bear the fruits of Salvation which are, again, v5-9.

When a true Christian looks at his life and fails to see the fruits of Salvation, surely, he will doubt, and stumble (v10). Such Christian needs to grow more in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (v8). When he sees the need to develop (produce) more fruits, and when he strives, he shall be established (v12)

 

2 PETER 2

The whole chapter 2 is about false teachers. If you have NKJV Bible, the translators put up 4 headings, all alliterated with "D"

And I just love it. But it's sobering because they are: Destructive, Doom, Depravity, and Deception. Nobody wants these words to be hurled unto us. But this is the Destiny of the False Teachers.

If God chose to kill the world in the Noahic flood and save only 8 people, it's far easier to save a few million and damn 7 billion to hell!

 

2 PETER 3

This Earth will melt away not gradually, but when God decides to judge the world.

And the world wants to save planet Earth. They gathered for a summit. They talk about global warming, Antarctica's ice, climate change, and overpopulation!

The Chinese have realized their stupidity in the implementation of the one-child policy for over 35 years and lifted its own policy.

Guys, go kill the boar, deer, anything, eat, rejoice and praise God.

Go, cut the trees, build a home, and enjoy life.

God is preserving the world, someday, He will destroy the world, very soon, whenever Jesus comes back!

Bible Reading Reflection from 1 Peter 1-5

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

1 PETER 1:18-19

"Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

I am unworthy of God's grace. If God strikes me dead tonight, God is still good and merciful! But that Jesus died for me, I am worth more than any other created things of the universe.

Since I have already been bought by the blood of Christ, I will never be cast away, I will never be forsaken, and I will never be given up. Even if I fall, I will never be utterly cast down!

And I will be perfected and will love God perfectly someday!

 

1 PETER 2:20-21

"For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"

In suffering, Christians do not question (in rejection) the love, goodness, power, or the fairness of God. But we ask God for help and strength to go through!

A plain truth to be reminded of again and again!

 

I PETER 3:12

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

This is quoted from Ps.36:15-16. Since I am righteous in Jesus Christ, God's care, favor, and comfort are with me.

When unbelievers are prospering, and when we who believe in His name are struggling even for a living, it's not pleasant to swallow the fact, but the Lord's eyes are upon me. Life and Death, Fortune and Misfortune, Success and Failure, Wealth and Poverty, everything come from God.

The great one is not because of himself, nor the lowly one is because of himself.  God is Sovereign!

 

1 PETER 4:3

“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.”

—Enough is Enough—

I grow up hearing parents yelling to children, teachers to students, oldies to young, "Enough is enough!"

Well, Peter is telling us here again, "Enough is enough!" We have had enough of sin in our life. We all are Ph.D. in sin. We are genius in sin. Like a master serial killer, we can get away with it without being confronted or caught.

Peter wants us to give up, not waiting to be confronted, because no matter what "new" sin we may be enticed with, all sins are the same, enough is enough! Indeed, sin is wearisome.

Each time I woke up late, it was because I thought, I still needed a little bit more sleep. Yielding to sleepiness, when I should be up and practicing spiritual discipline, was easier, looked sweeter momentarily, but later on, the day was already spent, the guilt and tension kicked in because of the pending works.

"Enough is enough" is something I have been preaching and must continue to preach to myself!

 

I PETER 5:4

"and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

This promise in the context is for the pastors. But every Christian will receive a crown of glory. I think even a last-minute convert will receive a crown of glory because though God rewards us according to our works, He rewards believers exceedingly more abundantly than we can or have ever imagined.

But our attitude and the atmosphere of heaven are not like in the world. In this world, we would like to kiss the trophy, cherish our certificates, and treasure them as souvenirs. In heaven, we will not cherish the crown itself, but the giver. In fact, we will not keep the crown for ourselves even for a minute, we will lay down our crowns at the feet of Jesus and will proclaim Him Lord of all, and give Him all the glory! (Rev. 4:10-12)

What a joy to think about this! 😇

Bible Reading Reflection from James 1-5

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

JAMES 1:2-3

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

Patience does not come by saying, "Please come, Patience!" It is not something I can download or purchase. Patience is difficult to maintain, and it also comes bitterly. Patience comes through trials, according to this verse. If I want to develop patience, which God commanded us, and which is also the fruit of the Spirit, I must expect through trials. And therefore, I must count all trials to be blessings in disguise, to manifest patience in my life.

For a week, water was leaking from the knob of my cooler. I had been trying to fix it by turning gently, turning slowly, and this and that. I attempted to pull out the knob and try to tighten it. All my efforts were in vain. All kinds of thoughts were buzzing through my mind: to kick, to hammer, to smash it into pieces, etc. Well, that would be wrath, which James is forbidding us in v19. I just stare at it for a while, took cotton, plugged it, and it worked.

I thought, "Oh! I do not have a big (smart) brain, but even my puny brain seems to be bigger than my heart because I almost destroyed it before!"

It's good to have a big brain, but it's better to have a big heart. And a Christian must have a heart bigger than his brain!

Have I cultivated patience over the week? Well, judge for yourself! 😂👍

 

JAMES 2:19

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"

The demons know God more than I do! Satan had been to heaven oftentimes. Satan was a holy angel before his fall! He saw the mighty works and splendors of the Most High God. Yet he chose to rebel. God cast him out for damnation. God ordained that there will be no salvation for any angel who sinned against God. Salvation is granted only to humans. I've nothing to boast in life except to fear Him who is able to damn and save according to His pleasure, and serve Him in joy!

 

JAMES 3

Tongue: Who does not need to control his tongue!!? Part of my new year resolution is to tell some of my trusted Christian friends to notify me whenever they hear me speak rudely!

It has been my experience that it's easier to make fun of any situation and look witty than to be gentle! But God doesn't call us to be witty but to be gentle!

I am giving you all permission to confront me gently if you see me not speaking gently to anyone!

 

JAMES 4:7-10

I like the way how NKJV translators give a heading for this passage: "Humility Cures Worldliness"

 

JAMES 5:16

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

I am not old, both in age and my walk with our Lord, but by being in a pastoral ministry, many have asked me to pray for them because of this verse. It's terrifying and humbling to be a pastor. Mark my word, I am not saying "it is an honor." I am saying it's terrifying and humbling.

3 years ago I was traveling on a public bus. They asked me to pray for our safe journey. And actually, we had a terrible journey, but all reached home safely (not a hair was lost)! There was a terrible landslide just before us. Actually, it was and still is humbling when God answered it in a different way never imagined.

This Friday, somebody bought a bike. I was asked to invoke the Lord's blessing. I prayed earnestly. The next day he met an accident! 😬 It's terrifying and humbling to be praying for others. But, perhaps, God delivered him from a major accident, for which I am thankful to God! 👍

Bible Reading Reflection from Hebrews 1-13

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

HEBREWS 1

The message of Hebrews: Christianity is better than anything. So, don’t ever think of de-conversion. 😉

 

HEBREWS 2:1-3

"Therefore we must give the more EARNEST HEED to the things we have HEARD, lest we DRIFT AWAY. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we ESCAPE if we NEGLECT so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him"

I was listening to Jonathan Osteen, son of Joel Osteen this morning. I couldn't bear it. Osteen God is not the God of the Bible. I was so saddened to see thousands of professing Christians commenting, "It blesses my heart so much, I need to hear this, thank you pastor Osteen, may God continue to use you."

Salvation comes from hearing the Gospel. Gospel (good news) presumes that there has been bad news.

Our world today does not know the bad news, that we are under the wrath of God, so good news is not good news unless we are gripped by the bad news!

Let's stand firm and continue to profess that we were and are still wretched sinners always needing the grace of God lest we drift away.

 

HEBREWS 3:6

"but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose HOUSE we are IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm TO THE END."

Scripture has compared us [church] to many things, body, field, and here, house.

While some people are busy building the physical church building, let's be busy building the spiritual house of God too, which is helping one another grow in faith, truth, grace, love, and godliness!

And it includes if-clause, "if we hold fast . . . to the end." Not to give up! 🙏

 

HEBREWS 4

Rest (v1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11)

What's Rest? Contextually, it means Salvation — peace with God, acceptable before God, pleasing to God, no hard labor to please God (v10).

A true Christian is saved by God, and has entered the rest of God. God is pleased with Him, no matter what!

In Manipur, a primary school teacher (council Oja) is a legitimate teacher and draws a regular salary, but many of them never teach any student.

Legitimately (legally, positionally) we have entered the rest of God, and unlike the council Oja, practically, we must strive to enter that rest (to please God with fear and trembling) (v11).

What an assurance! What a motivation!

 

HEBREWS 5:8-9

"Though He was a Son, yet He LEARNED OBEDIENCE by the things which he suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM"

One single act of disobedience has plunged humanity into the damnation of God. How many times have I disobeyed God??

Thanks be to Jesus; His obedience was to substitute my disobedience! Now, God sees me as an obedient child of God in Christ.

However, practically, I must seek and strive to obey Him as affirmed in verse 9.

 

HEBREWS 6:19

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil"

We used to say ‘hope’ and ‘hopefully’ for things we aren't sure about. Like, "Hopefully, I get a job within 2 years!" Or "I hope you are doing well!"

The biblical hope is totally the opposite. It is a sure thing. It will never fail. Not only sure, but it is also steadfast. It never wavers. It is firm. It keeps hoping even when time goes by. Actually, it becomes more hopeful as time goes by.

That's true! I am more sure of my faith and love for Christ than before. I am more sure of my Savior’s love for me than before. I am more sure of the Sovereignty of God than before!

All because of God because He is a sure and unfailing God. Blessed be Your name, O my God! 🙏

 

HEBREWS 7

I love Hebrews 7

The writer of Hebrews did a wonderful, infallible, inspired exposition on Ps.110:4 to present Jesus as the perfect priest.

While a prophet is somebody telling us about God, a priest is somebody telling (pleading) God about us. Jesus is both a prophet and a priest. He tells us about God, and He also pleads with God on our behalf. If and since Jesus is my priest, I shall in all situations win the case against the accusations of the devil.

I remember a story about a police constable who went for Election Duty. He was a staunch supporter of former Deputy CM of Manipur, Gaikhangam. When he heard the news that Gaikhangam had won the election again, he fled from his duty and went home. His superior warned him of suspension for indiscipline. He replied, "You can take me out (suspend) hundred times, and my MLA will put me back hundred times. So, I am gona celebrate his victory" and went away.

While that guy's action is not commendable, his faith in his MLA is commendable. Jesus is powerful and better than Gaikhangam, and He will win all the cases the devil brought in the court of a holy God.

 

HEBREWS 8:4

"For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law"

Isn't it great that Jesus has left us behind and went to heaven? 😇🙏

Romans 8:34: "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."

 

HEBREWS 9

I always love v22, 27, 13-14.

I love how the writer of Hebrews describes the religiosity of non-believers, dead works.

Reading Hebrews 9 reminds me what a holy God we serve! Forget about heaven, even on earth, only one person [High Priest] was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. That is also only once a year. He must enter with fear and trembling, confessing his own sins and the sins of all. That’s why, it is said that the High Priest went in with a rope tight on his waist that in case he dropped dead in the presence of a holy God, the congregation can drag him out without entering that place.

And many professing Christians think God tolerates our sins! 🙏😰😰

 

HEBREWS 10:19-25

Assurance of Salvation is the birthright of every Christian.

I am assured because of what Christ has done (past) (1-18) and because of what He is doing now (present) (Romans 8:34).

 

HEBREWS 11

—Reflection—

Hmm! Faith is not only the power that saves us from the judgment to come. It is also the strength to go through all sufferings.

Faith is also well demonstrated in times of adversity, suffering, and persecution!

Also, Hebrews11's faith is not the thing of this world. In fact, we lose here and (to) gain in that prepared city!

Oh! Faithfulness! What a journey! What a battle! What a loss! But how beautiful in the sight of the God of that eternal city!

 

HEBREWS 12

God will discipline us when a Christian sins because He loves us.

Disciplining is hard and painful (v11). If we enjoy sin, and if we see no chastisement of God in our life, we must pray that God makes us fearful.

But all of us are sinners even as Christian. So, we must learn to discern what the chastening of God is. It might be unanswered prayer, inconveniences, troubles from inside and outside, etc.

And God has ordained confession, repentance, perseverance in faith, importune in prayer to be the means to go through chastisement, sins, and all the walks of our life.

God will discipline us but will never forsake us. God will discipline us but will never crush us. Because He disciplines us for holy living, He doesn't punish us, unleashing His wrath upon us. Jesus has borne that wrath already.

What a comfort! Lord, may I take joy in Your correction!

Btw, sin is not just murder, immorality. Even worrying is a sin.

 

HEBREWS 13

Reflection on Church Leaders:

Three times, the writer of Hebrews points his readers to the leaders of the church:

v7. Remember those who rule over you...., and imitate them

v17. Obey those who rule over you....,

v24. Greet all those who rule over you,

The book of Timothy, Titus, and even Peter have instructions on how a pastor should behave, but Hebrews 13 reminds us how church members should think of their pastors! Interesting balance!

Bible Reading Reflection from Philemon

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

PHILEMON 1:14

"But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary."

Paul, being an Apostle and many others else, did not need to consult anything with Philemon. He did not need to request anything, rather he could have commanded him what to do. Yet he did the opposite. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" was not true for him. He modelled our honesty, equity, and modesty.

Being a leader, it's tempting to do what I think is right without consulting others on the line of "What did he/she know? What right did they have?"

It's imperative to consider the right, consent, (and even the wisdom of others) in a decision-making process, as modelled by the Apostle Paul!

Bible Reading Reflection from Titus 1-3

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝕋𝕀𝕋𝕌𝕊 𝟙:𝟚

"In the hope of eternal life, which the God who cannot lie promised from all eternity"

God never tells lies. His promises, therefore, are sure. Equally, His warnings are sure too.

There's really a heaven and hell too. In doubt, let's make ourselves liars/incompetent/puny, and trust God!

Jesus claims to be the Truth. And He says the devil is the Liar!

 

𝕋𝕀𝕋𝕌𝕊 𝟚:𝟞

"Likewise urge the younger men to be sensible."

Sensible. Young people are stupid, of course. They have to be sensible.

How can we be sensible? Of course, we have to be thinking people.

How can we be thinking people? Of course, we need to have some resources to think about. Maybe books, especially the Bible, and we have to take things seriously. Not to be carefree.

 

𝕋𝕀𝕋𝕌𝕊 𝟛:𝟙

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, 𝕋𝕠 𝔹𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕪 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕜,"

Hmmm! Not some, but “every”. Can't afford to be choosy. And definitely, never to be lazy.

Let's not be slow to do good work. Let's volunteer to do good work!