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!

Considering Other's Right

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

– Philemon 14

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is unfortunately what we see in the world, but Apostle Paul has modelled for us in honesty, equity, and modesty in this verse. Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon encountered Paul in a prison, became a Christian, and ministered to him. Paul considered the whole episode to be the providence of God, and therefore, would like to keep Onesimus with him for the sake of ministry, especially seeing that he is fulfilling what his master Philemon would want to do for Paul.

Onesimus, like anyone, needed conversion. Paul needed somebody to minister to him in a prison. Apostle Paul considered Philemon, his convert, to be a brother and partner in the gospel. Onesimus being a Christian now must be considered a brother by Philemon also, even as a partner, since he served Paul on his behalf. Apostle Paul, with all his wisdom, authority, and the providence of God, could have kept Onesimus without consulting Philemon, or even commanded him what to do. Instead, Paul asked him to receive Onesimus like it was him. Paul didn't even tell Philemon what other good deeds he should be doing, although he gave him hints — to send Onesimus back to him. Paul did not annul the authority of Philemon, rather he entrusted him to do what seemed best, trusting his voluntary decision.

Are you a one-man leader or do you consult the consent (not to mention the wisdom) of other workers in a decision-making process? It's okay to expect others to do the right thing; it's better if they do it voluntarily; it's wonderful if they do it voluntarily and gladly. Would you practice considering the rights of others as well, and not being obsessed with your own rights?

My Bible Reading Plan (Rongmei Version/Translation)

Importance of Good Works

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

– Titus 3:8

Some people have accused Christians that we are so heavenly-minded that we have not done any earthly good. That is a lie. Indeed, Christians are the only people free from the power of sin to do all good works to the glory of God. Paul instructed Titus to remind believers that we are to be ready for and be diligent in every good work. It is not because we will be saved by good works, rather we are already saved from our evil and sinful deeds by the kindness of God. We are already made new and therefore our works must be good as evidence of our conversion.

We are to constantly remind ourselves that the wrath of God is upon the evil workers. We aren't supposed to be doing the things which God has saved us from. There is no neutral ground: either our work is good and pleasing to God or evil and grieves the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, good works are profitable for all people, both believers and unbelievers. Good works serve as a great testimony for evangelism, because our good works aren't done for our self-accolades, but because we know it is the will of God. They strike the conscience of people because unbelievers live for their own pleasures according to their own standard of righteousness.

On the negative side, those who aren't cultivating good works are mere professors. They profess to know God but deny Him in their works. They are to be warned, and even be rejected in accordance with their works. Faithful Christianity maintains good works; false Christianity oppresses others for its selfish gain. Are we growing weary in good works? Remember, we are made for them. Professor, is there a change of desire, a change of pursuit, a change of fruit, and a change of hope of eternal life after your profession of faith? Examine yourself whether you are a true believer or not!

How to and not to confront a brother

"Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

- 2 Thessalonians 3:15

Few things are more difficult than confronting a sinning brother; much more difficult to do lovingly. Every one of us wants to be confronted lovingly and respectfully if we are caught in a sin, but when we find someone in sin, we really do the opposite. We are harsh, quick to condemn, as if we fear others may criticize us for associating with that brother in the past even in good works. This verse tells us how to confront one another in a godly way. Paul gives two Commandments here:  how not to, and how to.

First, confrontation must be done without giving in to hatred. Oftentimes, we condemn a person; let only God condemn a person. Also, we are not to treat him like an enemy. Even if he is a real enemy, our Lord tells us to love our enemy. Furthermore, this verse is not about ex-communication. Even in ex-communication, we are not to treat him as an enemy, but as other sinners. We don't hate sinners; we love them to be saved and look out for every opportunity to share the gospel of repentance.

Second, we must confront him in love. Remember, he is your brother, a family member. (Even if he is not a Christian, he is still a brother in the sense, we all are created in the image of God). Sin must be confronted because sin is contagious. It not only kills the person, but infects others too. Both Old and New Testaments commanded us to love not only our neighbors but also our enemies. We don't and shouldn't participate in their sins, but we must open our arms wide enough for them to see that there is forgiveness, restoration, and friendship in God's love.

Have you ever said or thought "I hate him," "I am really angry," "I don't want to do anything with him," or "He is useless" when you talk about a sinning brother? Would you ask God to change your heart? Maybe you need the grace of God as much as he does!

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The Secret vs The Revealed Wisdom of God

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

– Deuteronomy 29:29

Exposition:

        Above all God's creations, we are given an amazing brain capable of imagining things that we would want without restriction. We are curious about new things, we like challenges, confusions, and even horror for some time if we can resolve and regain control over them. However, some things are beyond comprehension. Sometimes we used our imagination to understand God. Scriptures forbid us to imagine a different God other than the God revealed in the Scriptures. Rather, we are commanded (not a suggestion or an advice) to study the Scriptures diligently to know Him more and more. The word of God is an infinite treasure of wisdom, inexhaustible, timeless, sufficient and beneficial for all those who seek to know.

        With the Israelites, we may wonder why God would bring a terrible judgment upon the stiff-necked Israelites? Could He not give them a change of heart instantaneously? Or any question like, “Why did God put the tree in the garden if He knew they would eat its fruit?” Those questions aren’t bad per se, but if they lead us to doubt and deny God, we must remember this verse: we are to seek and obey what is revealed in the Scriptures, and not to try to fool ourselves by attempting to know the infinite wisdom of God. Instead of asking ‘why?’ in our mind, we are supposed to study the Scripture and confirm “So, it was.” God warned them of judgment for disobedience, they disobeyed, and so, it was (that they were judged).

        We must not reject God or question His wisdom just because we don’t understand what He is doing. Our puny brain cannot understand the infinite God. God is revealed in the Scripture to be good, just, loving, merciful, and gracious. Would you humble yourself before Him and trust His wisdom? As one Hymn says, “To be happy in Jesus is but to trust and obey!”

Personal Reflection:

·       How often have I got angry in trying to understand some circumstances of life when I should have exercised trust and rest in God who has allowed them for my own good?

Personal Commitment:

·       To take delight in His word to understand Him better, especially in trying times.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to say like David, “I have quieted my soul before You. I do not seek to understand which is too difficult for me.” I put my trust in You, Amen!

Not to be Popular

 “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.”

– John 6:15

John 6 is about bread offered by Jesus Christ. When He offered the physical bread, many wanted him to be a king; He refused and walked away. Then He offered the spiritual bread, which is Himself; they refused and walked away. In verse 15, they wanted Jesus to be king after seeing His miracle of feeding about five thousand people. In fact, the narrative says that they'd force Him to be a king. Jesus wasn’t interested and ran away.

The true King of the Universe refused to be a king! And how many of us want to be a king, president, CEO, officers, and any position of leadership? Or to ask more accurately, “How many of us want to be popular?” Well, position and popularity in themselves are neither bad nor to be rejected bluntly. It just means that the mission (job, work) is more important than any position, popularity, or reputation. A position is given to fulfill a specific role. Popularity comes from being good at what one does.

Jesus was focused on His mission. He came into the world to die like a criminal, not to be crowned as king. We are criminals before God, we have violated all His laws. Jesus died for us, that we the real criminals may live as princes and princesses in the kingdom to come. In fact, at His crucifixion, He was crowned king again, but not in admiration, but in mockery – a crown of thorn. Jesus is the true King and the only King. He reigns in the heart of Christians now. He sustains and rules the universe invisibly. He will come back to earth again, and the whole world will confess (and rightly so) that He is King; because on that day, He comes not to die for sinners, but to judge sinners (unbelievers).

Sometimes, we are tempted to wish God to raise up famous pastors who are popular as Justin Bieber or Cristiano Ronaldo. And we would like to volunteer if a call is made. We thought that if they were popular as them, wouldn’t they be influencing much for the cause of the Kingdom? Actually, God doesn’t call pastors to be popular. If it were so, I’m sure, pastors would be the most popular people in the world. As a pastor, I am glad that the sorts of Bieber and Ronaldo are very popular to remind pastors that our calling is not to be popular, and we will never be popular as them. 

Our calling as a pastor is not to build a name or a kingdom for ourselves. Let Alexander do that. Let Justin Bieber be the crush of everyone. Let Ronaldo have his CR7 brands. And let Obama have million Twitter followers. Our job and mission is similar to our Lord Jesus Christ – to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God, which is offensive to the world in that we can become so unpopular to the point of persecution. Having said that, I admit, "It's difficult!" Therefore, in God, seeking, both for mercy and obedience! Amen!

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Real Life from a Zombie Life

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

– John 10:10

Many have thought that Christian life is boring and bitter because it's so demanding and costly. Indeed, Christian life is demanding and costly, but it is the only life worth living. Actually, human race is a zombie race; we are spiritually dead people walking. We need a real death or a real life. This verse reveals us how both options are offered to us. 

The worldly lifestyle (its philosophy and temptations) and the false religions only deceive us and ultimately lead us to real death, which is the eternal separation from the love of God. They come like anyone but their intention is to fulfil their wicked desires. They burdened us with their man-made regulations, oppressed us for the benefit of the elites, threatened us with fear, and deceived us with false assurances. Jesus came to give true life. Wow! It's as if a zombie becomes a human being again through the antidote, as in a science fiction movie. Now, he stopped devouring one another, came back to his senses, and lives a life of deliverance– joyfully and meaningfully.

Only Jesus has such an anti-dote to give us real life. It is a life in its fullness. It is a life beyond anything we have ever dreamed of. The scripture promised this effectively. It says, “may have life.’’ Indeed, it says more than this. It says, “may have life abundantly.” It is a life of abundance. In fact, it says, again, more than this, for it says, “may have life more abundantly.” How could anyone say that Christian life is boring or bitter when we have not only true life but exceedingly abundant true life? 

A true Christian already died in Christ, the life that he now lives is the life given by Christ. Even this life is not lived on his own, but it is Jesus who lives in him (Gal 2:20). It is He who gives the will and the ability to live this abundant life. It is He who produces joy in his life. Would you receive this true life in Jesus Christ? Worldly life leads to death. Jesus gives eternal life, a life beyond physical death, a perfected life in the presence of the glorious God. “Nobody is perfect” will be “Everybody is perfected” there. 

Leaving Everything Behind To Follow God

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

– Ruth 1:16-17

This dialogue made Ruth the great grandmother of King David and an ancestress of Jesus Christ. I grew up in a culture where women followed their husbands in almost everything including their religious beliefs. But Ruth's husband's family was a disaster. Every male person died including her husband. Furthermore, they were strangers in Ruth's country. Now, her mother-in-law Naomi had to return to Bethlehem. She wisely counselled Ruth not to follow her because Ruth can be with her people (and her real mother) and their gods, and possibly marry again. Her sister-in-law Orpah had taken the counsel, but Ruth refused to go back to her people and their gods.

In other words, Ruth had forsaken the lifestyle of a heathen and false religion. She decided to worship Yahweh, the God of Israel, Naomi's God. No matter how hard the journey may be; how uncomfortable the place may be; how strange the people may be; how demanding God may be; how solitary life may be; how death may come; she chose to follow the life Naomi had modelled for her. She promised to follow even after the death of Naomi. What a role model she had in this woman Naomi! But what a greater model of conversion and decision-making we see in this young woman Ruth!

Ruth had literally given up her world for God and God's people, in particular for Naomi. Thus, God did not only bless her with a rich godly husband, but also chose her to be the ancestress of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit had recorded her story of faith in the Scripture. Is there anything we cannot leave behind to follow God? Are our careers and our comforts more important and grandeur than what God has promised to those who obey Him? Would you, like Naomi, choose to love not only God but His people (the church) too?

Devoted to Seemingly Uncaring God in Trying Times

“Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

– John 11:32 Legacy Standard Bible [2021, New Translation]

The story of Mary is one of the best illustrations of devotion to God. Her devotion to Christ (anointing Jesus’ feet) came as a rebuke to the disciples and even to her sister (sitting at Jesus’ feet). Even in this account of raising Lazarus from the tomb, we see Mary’s fervent devotion to seemingly indifferent Jesus. First, Jesus healed a lot of sick people, but He wasn’t there for them. Second, Jesus delayed 2 days in coming. Yet, when Mary knew of Christ’s arrival, she ran to Him. Mary was utterly right that Lazarus wouldn't have died, had Christ been there in Bethany when he was sick.

However, Mary was also absolutely wrong to have said in that manner. When she said those words, she was saying, in fact, “It's unfortunate! It's a mistake that You were not able to be here! If you had been here, this would not happen!” However, we now know that it wasn't a mistake. Jesus purposefully let it happen (v4-6). It was not to torture Mary or Lazarus, of course. It was to strengthen their faith when He restored life to Lazarus. A thousand years ago, Abraham was called upon to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham didn't think it to be a mistake. He was devoted to God and decided to sacrifice his son, believing that God could raise him again (Heb.12:19). God confirmed his faith.

Few months ago, I bought a new laptop. It often got hanged 2, 3 times a day. And I often got annoyed thinking, “This is a mistake. Why would the Lord cause me to choose this deceitful laptop among many?” We know, God commits no mistake. I still have not found the exact reason why, but I have learned a lot about the need for patience already! After all, pastors should be known for their gentleness and patience, right? [I wrote this devotional piece months ago. At the time of publishing this blog, my PC has been working very smoothly for more than a month already. I thank God!]

Has it been for you that the Lord seems indifferent, unkind, and uncaring to answer your prayers? Remember, God’s compassion for us is exceedingly abundant than we can ever imagine. God allows all circumstances in life to strengthen us in our faith in Him. Would you practice to trust and rest in Him who knows all things and works for our own good?