Bad Faith, Good Faith

" You gotta have faith," people say. But what does that mean? Is any faith good faith?
      " Believe in yourself an all that you are," wrote one positive thinker a century ago. " Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." As nice as that may sound, it falls to pieces when it crashes into reality. We need a faith in something bigger than ourselves.
     God promised Abram he would have a multitude of descendants, so he faced a huge obstacle-he was old and childless. When he and Sarah got tired of waiting for God to make good on His promise, they tried to overcome that obstacle on their own. As a result, they fractured their family and created a lot of unnecessary dissension.
     Nothing Abraham did in his own strength worked. But ultimately he became known as a man of tremendous faith. Paul wrote of him, " Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ' So shall your offspring be.' " This faith, said Paul, " was credited to him as righteousness."
      Abraham's faith was in something far bigger than himself-the one and only God. It's the object of our faith that makes all the difference.
     Lord, I want a strong faith in You, not just faith in myself or my abilities or in others. I am nothing without you.
     Our faith is good if it's in the right Person.
    Please read Isaiah 9-10 and Ephesians 3

Within a Stone's Throw

As a group of religious leaders herded an  adulterous woman toward Jesus, they couldn't know they were carrying her within a stone's throw of grace. Their hope was to discredit Him. If He told them to let the woman go, they could claim He was breaking Mosaic law. But if He condemned her to death, the crowds following Him would have dismissed His words of mercy and grace.
      But Jesus turned the tables on the accusers. Scripture says that rather than answering them directly, He started writing on the ground. When the leaders continued to question Him, He invited any of them who had never sinned to throw the first stone, and then He started writing on the ground again. The next time He looked up, all the accusers were gone.
     Now the only person who could have thrown a stone-the only sinless one-looked at the woman and gave her mercy. " Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. ' Go now and leave your life of sin.' "
      Whether today finds you needing forgiveness for judging others or desiring assurance that no sin is beyond His grace, be encouraged be this: No one throwing stones today; go and be changed by God's mercy.
      Father, cleanse me of my judging nature and free me from the bonds of sin. Let me taste Your mercy and then help me to live a changed life.
      We serve a Savior who is eager to forgive.
    Please read Isaiah 7-8 and Ephesians 2

Praying For You Today

When we face a perplexing situation or a tough problem, we often ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us. It's a great encouragement to know that others who care are holding us up to God in prayer. But what if you don't have close Christian friends? Perhaps you live where the gospel of Christ is opposed. Who will pray for you?
 Romans 8, one of the great, triumphant chapters of the Bible, declares, " we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans... The Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God". The Holy Spirit is praying for you today.
 In addition, " Christ Jesus who died more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us". The living Lord Jesus Christ is praying for you today.
 Think of it! The Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ mention your name and your needs to God the Father, who hears and acts on your behalf.
 No matter where you are or how confusing your situation, you do not face life alone. The spirit and the Son are praying for you today!
 Dear God, I bow in humble thanks for the prayers spoken by the Holy Spirit and by Your Son today-for me. What an amazing truth!
 The Holy Spirit and Jesus are always praying for you.

True Riches

At the memorial service for my friend's dad, someone said to her, " Until I met your father, I didn't know a person could have fun while helping others." Her dad contributed his part in helping to build the kingdom of God through serving people, laughing and loving, and meeting strangers who became friends. When he died, he left a legacy of love. In contrast, my friend's aunt--her father's older sister--viewed her possessions as her legacy, spending her latter years worrying about who would protect her heirlooms and rare books.
 In His teaching and by His example, Jesus warned His followers to avoid hoarding possessions, to give to the poor, and to value what will not rust or decay. " For where your treasure is," Jesus said, " there your heart will be also."
 We might think our things give meaning to our life. But when the latest gadget breaks or we misplace or lose something valuable, we begin to realize that it is our relationship with the Lord that satisfies and endures. It is our love and care for others that does not wither and fade away.
 Let's ask the Lord to help us see clearly what we value, to show us where our heart is, and to help us seek His kingdom above all.
 What do you value? Read the story about the manna in the wilderness in Exodus 16. Consider how this story relates to Jesus'swords to the crowds in Luke 12.
 What we value reveals the state of our heart.
Please read Isaiah 3-4 and Galatians 6

Calming Your Soul

While attending a concert, my mind detoured to a troublesome issue that insisted on my attention. Thankfully, the distraction was short-lived as the words of a beautiful hymn began to reach deep into my being. A men's a capella group was singing " Be still, My Soul". Tears welled up as I listened to the words and contemplated the restful peace that only God can give:
 Be still, My Soul: the Lord is on thy side! Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain.
 When Jesus was denouncing the unrepentant towns where He had done most of His miracles, He still had words of comfort for those who would come to Him. He said, " Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.... learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls".
 This statement is striking! Immediately following His strong words for those who were rejecting Him, Jesus extended an invitation to all to draw near to Him to find the peace we all yearn for. Jesus is the only one who can calm our restless, weary souls.
 I come to You now, Lord, in need of rest for my heart. Help me to trust You and be confident in Your love.
 When we keep our minds on Jesus, He keeps our minds at peace.

Pass It On

I enjoy relay races. The physical strength, speed, skill, and endurance required of the athletes amaze me. But one crucial point of the race always gets my special attention and makes me anxious. One moment the baton is passed to the next athlete. One moment of delay, one slip, and the race could be lost.
 In a sense, Christians are in a relay race, carrying the baton of faith and the knowledge of the Lord and His word. And the Bible tells us about our need to pass this baton from one generation to another. In Psalm 78, Asaph declares: " I will utter...things from of old-things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us...We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done".
 Moses said something similar to the Israelites: " Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them".
 For generations to come, we are called to lovingly and courageously do whatever we can to pass along " the praises of him who called us of darkness into his wonderful light".
 Father, help me to be faithful in passing my faith along to someone else.
 We influence future generations by living for Christ today.

Words for the Weary

A few days after his father died, 30 year old C.S Lewis received a letter from a woman who had cared for his mother during her illness and death more than two decades earlier. The woman offered her sympathy for his loss and wondered if he remembered her. " My dear nurse Davison, " Lewis replied. " Remember you? I should think I do."
 Lewis recalled how much her presence in their home had meant to him as well as his brother and father during a difficult time. He thanked her for her words of sympathy and said, " It is really comforting to be taken back to those old days. The time during which you were with my mother seemed very long to a child and you became part of home."
 When we struggle in the circumstances of life, an encouraging word from others can lift our spirits and our eyes to the Lord. The old testament prophet Isaiah wrote, " The sovereign Lord has given me a well instructed tounge, to know the word that sustains the weary". And when we look to the Lord, He offers words of hope and light in the darkness.
 Heavenly Father, help me to hear Your word of hope today. And help me to speak words of hope and encouragement to others, pointing them to You.
 Kind words can lift a heavy heart.

The Gates of Worship

When you enter some of the greatest cities in the world, you can encounter famous gates such as the Brandenburg Gate ( Berlin), the Jaffa Gate ( Jerusalem), and the gates at Downing Street ( London). Whether the gates were built for defensive or ceremonial purposes, they all represent the difference between being outside or inside certain areas of the city. Some are open; some are closed to all but few.
 The gates into the presence of God are always open. The familiar song of Psalm 100 is an invitation for the Israelites to enter into the presence of God through the temple gates. They were told to " shout for joy" and come before him with joyful songs".
 Shouting for joy was an appropriate expression when greeting a monarch in the ancient world. All the earth was to sing joyfully about God! The reason for this joyful noise was that God had given them their identity. They entered the gates with praise and thanksgiving because of God's goodness and His steadfast and enduring love which continues through all generations. Even when they forgot their identity and wandered away from Him, God remained faithful and still invited them to enter His presence.
 The gates into God's presence are still open, inviting us to come and worship.
 What should motivate us to worship God?
 What statement of praise could you give to God today?
 The gates into the presence of God are always open.

Fiery Trials

Fire can be one of the worst enemies of trees.But it can also be helpful. Experts say that small, frequent fires called " cool" fires clean the forest floor of dead leaves and branches but don't destroy the trees. They leave behind ashes, which are perfect for seeds to grow in. Surprisingly, low intensity fires are necessary for healthy growth of trees. Similarly, trials-pictured as fire in the Bible-are necessary for our spiritual health and growth. James wrote, " Consider it pure joy, my brothers ans sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
 It is in the season of trial that God's purposes are often realized, for there the conditions are right for us to grow into spiritual maturity. This growth not only equips us for living, but it also enables us to more accurately reflect Jesus to a world that desperately needs Him.
 In the hands of our Father, our trials can achieve His purposes for our good and for His honor. They can shape us into the likeness of His son.
Father, teach me to trust You for the strength to endure difficulties and the faith to wait for Your good purposes to be accomplished in me.
 Faith is seeing God in the dark and in the light.

Connecting the Dots

In the 1880s French artist Georges Seurat introduced an art form known as pointillism. As the same suggests, Seurat used small dots of's  color, rather than brush strokes of blended pigments, to create an artistic image. Up close, his work looks like groupings of individual dots. Yet as the observer steps back, the human eye blends the dots into brightly colored portraits or landscapes. The big picture of the Bible is similar. Up close, its complexity can leave us with the impression of dots on a canvas. As we read it, we might feel like Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus. They couldn't understand the tragic " dotlike" events of the Passover weekend. They had hoped Jesus " was the one who was going to redeem Israel", but they had just witnessed His death.
 Suddenly a man they did not recognize was walking alongside them. After showing an interest in their conversation, He helped them connect the dots of the suffering and death of their long awaited Messiah. Later, while eating a meal with them, Jesus let them recognize Him-and the He left as mysteriously as He came.
 Was it the scarred dots of the nail wounds in His hands that caught their attention? We don't know. What we do know is that when we connect the dots of Scripture and Jesus's suffering, we see a God who loves us more than we can imagine.
 Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us.
 Please read Ecclesiastes 4-6 and 2 Corinthians 12

Worth the Calories?

I love egg roti prata, a popular pancake in my country of Singapore. So I was intrigued to read that a 125-pound (57kg) person must run 5 miles (8km) per hour for 30 minutes to burn 240 calories. That's equivalent to only one egg roti prata. Ever since I started working out at the gym, those numbers have taken on a new significance for me. I find myself asking: Is this food worth the calories? While it is wise to watch our food consumption, it is even more important to watch our media consumption. Research shows that what we see can stay in our minds for a long time and influence our behavior. It has a clingy effect, sticking to us like that stubborn fat we find so hard to lose. With the wide variety of media content surrounding us today, we need to be discerning consumers. That doesn't mean we read only Christian literature or watch only faith related movies, but we are careful about what we allow our eyes to see. We might ask ourselves: Is this worth my time? In Philippians 4:8, the apostle Paul tells us in essence, " Feed your eyes and minds on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy." This is a " diet" worthy of what Christ has done and is doing in us.
Are my viewing habits enhancing my life or are they drawing me away from things that really matter? Help me, Lord, to make wise choices. The mind is formed by what it takes in.
Please read Ecclesiates 1-3 and 2 corinthians 11:16-33