31 Mar 09
Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Lent
The Holy Spirit as Resurrection Power
Acts 2:14-24
Jews from many countries gathered annually at the feast of weeks fifty days (pente-) after the sabbath of the Passover, to present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord (Numbers 23:16). Little did they know that on this Pentecost two thousand years ago, they were to experience God offering them instead a gift ----- the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came upon those gathered so that they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. To their asking each other what this all meant, Peter proclaimed that this was the fulfilment of the prophecy given in Joel 2:28-32, that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, the same Holy Spirit who had raised Jesus from the dead. Today it is the same Spirit who gives utterance to those who preach the gospel, knowledge to those who translate the scriptures to many languages, courage to those who live out their faith in their homes and business, vision to the young who execute tasks, and dreams to the elderly to inspire others. Today many seek power, but if such power is not from God, it will perish with those who exercise it. Resurrection power is no respecter of persons for anyone can receive it.
Resurrection power is limitless for it is by the Holy Spirit, as Peter proclaimed, that Jesus was raised from the dead. Come Holy Spirit, come and give us the power to make all things new.
Resurrection power is from generation to generation, for it is from Jesus who is alive today, and seated on the right hand of God. Let us ask Jesus today for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Dr Lee Soo Ann,
Chairman, Impact Christian Community)
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender what power I may have: grant me the power which is in your resurrected body.
Prayer:
Risen Christ, help me to recognize how weak I always am, and in great need of your resurrection power. Amen.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
"God's Glory in Christ"
30 Mar 09
Monday of the Fifth Week in Lent
God’s Glory in Christ
2 Corinthians 3:4-11
What exactly do we mean when we say something is glorious or has its own glory? J.I. Packer, the famed theologian, calls God’s glory “His splendour on display.” I believe God’s glory means the fullness of who He is. Nothing we do or don’t do will ever add to or subtract from God’s glory. Thus when we say that God’s glory was in Christ, it means that the full expression of all that God is was found in Christ.
Moses, the one whom God chose to be the Lawgiver, had a glory that was reflected and temporal, unlike our Lord’s intrinsic glory. The old covenant given through Moses through the Law offered no inner transformation, but the new covenant administered by the holy Spirit brings about the total transformation of both the inner and outer man. The greatest privilege of a Christian is to be transformed into that glory day by day ---- a metamorphosis made possible by God’s indwelling Spirit and this glory, instead of fading away day by day, will glow brighter and greater with each passing day.
Today, we do not need to veil our faces as in Moses’ days. For God’s Spirit who fills our lives will reveal His glory in and through us for all men to see. We, however, need constantly to yield our lives to Him for cleansing and sanctification.
Rev Edwin Lam,
Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church;
Chairman, Singapore Baptist Convention;
Chairman, Fellowship of Missional Organisations in Singapore.
Commitment:
Lord, I want to repent of everything that does not reflect your true glory to the world around me.
Lord, I want to repent in the following areas of my life so that the fullness of your glory might be found in me: ________________.
Prayer:
Lord, may your glory shine through me as I conform more and more to the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Monday of the Fifth Week in Lent
God’s Glory in Christ
2 Corinthians 3:4-11
What exactly do we mean when we say something is glorious or has its own glory? J.I. Packer, the famed theologian, calls God’s glory “His splendour on display.” I believe God’s glory means the fullness of who He is. Nothing we do or don’t do will ever add to or subtract from God’s glory. Thus when we say that God’s glory was in Christ, it means that the full expression of all that God is was found in Christ.
Moses, the one whom God chose to be the Lawgiver, had a glory that was reflected and temporal, unlike our Lord’s intrinsic glory. The old covenant given through Moses through the Law offered no inner transformation, but the new covenant administered by the holy Spirit brings about the total transformation of both the inner and outer man. The greatest privilege of a Christian is to be transformed into that glory day by day ---- a metamorphosis made possible by God’s indwelling Spirit and this glory, instead of fading away day by day, will glow brighter and greater with each passing day.
Today, we do not need to veil our faces as in Moses’ days. For God’s Spirit who fills our lives will reveal His glory in and through us for all men to see. We, however, need constantly to yield our lives to Him for cleansing and sanctification.
Rev Edwin Lam,
Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church;
Chairman, Singapore Baptist Convention;
Chairman, Fellowship of Missional Organisations in Singapore.
Commitment:
Lord, I want to repent of everything that does not reflect your true glory to the world around me.
Lord, I want to repent in the following areas of my life so that the fullness of your glory might be found in me: ________________.
Prayer:
Lord, may your glory shine through me as I conform more and more to the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, March 27, 2009
"Through Suffering, Christ Saves"
27 Mar 09
Friday of the Fourth Week in Lent
Through Suffering, Christ Saves
Hebrews 5:5-10
To describe Jesus as the Great High Priest, a priest who lives forever, seems incongruous with the idea of suffering and tears. Ought not someone holding such a ‘high’ office be above normal human experience and emotions? Those in senior church leadership today would want to quickly respond with a resounding “no”. Not only do such people remain as ‘human’ as you and I, regardless of the office they hold, but sometimes the office itself can place upon them a burden of leadership and example which draws from them a greater level of suffering and human emotion.
Verse 7 is the pivotal verse in this 14-verse chapter and it is here that the writer takes us to the heart of the priesthood of Jesus. It says, “In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.” Clearly, the writer has in mind those agonizing moments in Gethsemane as Jesus wrestled in prayer with the Father, before going to the Cross. Charles Hutchison Gabriel, in his hymn, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene”, expresses in poetry that moment in the garden which led Jesus to the Cross:
For me it was in the garden
He prayed: Not my will, but Thine;
He had no tears for His own grief,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore my burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.
The sublime nature of the Priesthood of Jesus is found, not in a parade of His greatness, but in the actions of humility and submission to the will of the Father. And through such obedience, “He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (v9)
Commissioner David Bringans,
Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army,
Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory.
Commitment:
Praise God today that through the obedience of Jesus, the burden and suffering of sin has been lifted from us as He Went to the Cross.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, “What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend, For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine for ever! And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love to Thee.” Amen. (Paulus Gerhardt).
Friday of the Fourth Week in Lent
Through Suffering, Christ Saves
Hebrews 5:5-10
To describe Jesus as the Great High Priest, a priest who lives forever, seems incongruous with the idea of suffering and tears. Ought not someone holding such a ‘high’ office be above normal human experience and emotions? Those in senior church leadership today would want to quickly respond with a resounding “no”. Not only do such people remain as ‘human’ as you and I, regardless of the office they hold, but sometimes the office itself can place upon them a burden of leadership and example which draws from them a greater level of suffering and human emotion.
Verse 7 is the pivotal verse in this 14-verse chapter and it is here that the writer takes us to the heart of the priesthood of Jesus. It says, “In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.” Clearly, the writer has in mind those agonizing moments in Gethsemane as Jesus wrestled in prayer with the Father, before going to the Cross. Charles Hutchison Gabriel, in his hymn, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene”, expresses in poetry that moment in the garden which led Jesus to the Cross:
For me it was in the garden
He prayed: Not my will, but Thine;
He had no tears for His own grief,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore my burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.
The sublime nature of the Priesthood of Jesus is found, not in a parade of His greatness, but in the actions of humility and submission to the will of the Father. And through such obedience, “He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (v9)
Commissioner David Bringans,
Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army,
Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory.
Commitment:
Praise God today that through the obedience of Jesus, the burden and suffering of sin has been lifted from us as He Went to the Cross.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, “What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend, For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine for ever! And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love to Thee.” Amen. (Paulus Gerhardt).
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
"God is Our Light"
25 Mar 09
Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Lent
God is Our Light
Isaiah 60:15-22
The world is in a terrible mess: wars: indiscriminate terrorist bombings, religious tensions, ethnic conflicts, global warming, HIV/AIDS pandemic, starvation and widespread poverty. As I write this devotion, the worldwide financial crisis, fuelled by human greed and acquisitive spirit, has been described by Alan Greenspan, the former chairperson of the American Federal Reserve as a “once-in-a-century credit tsunami”. In the face of such calamities, it is easy to think that we are trapped in a quagmire which is so deep that we cannot extricate ourselves. The future seems so bleak.
Yet, in spite of the overwhelming problems sometimes caused by natural disasters but often brought about by human sinfulness (Is 59:2-15a), God in His grace has promised a bright future for those who know Him and seek to follow His way of righteousness. It is a future when a battered world of stubborn darkness will give way to a new world of God’s penetrating and transforming light. It is a new world with a future which is available to those who trust in Him and not those who put their trust in the false promises of a sin-inflicted world.
Commitment:
My foolish inclination to be attracted to and blinded by the distractive light of the world instead of following the true Light.
Prayer:
Help us, O Lord, not to contribute to, to be caught up with, the sinful ways of the world. Use us, instead, to be your light that will point people to your way of salvation. Amen.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Lent
God is Our Light
Isaiah 60:15-22
The world is in a terrible mess: wars: indiscriminate terrorist bombings, religious tensions, ethnic conflicts, global warming, HIV/AIDS pandemic, starvation and widespread poverty. As I write this devotion, the worldwide financial crisis, fuelled by human greed and acquisitive spirit, has been described by Alan Greenspan, the former chairperson of the American Federal Reserve as a “once-in-a-century credit tsunami”. In the face of such calamities, it is easy to think that we are trapped in a quagmire which is so deep that we cannot extricate ourselves. The future seems so bleak.
Yet, in spite of the overwhelming problems sometimes caused by natural disasters but often brought about by human sinfulness (Is 59:2-15a), God in His grace has promised a bright future for those who know Him and seek to follow His way of righteousness. It is a future when a battered world of stubborn darkness will give way to a new world of God’s penetrating and transforming light. It is a new world with a future which is available to those who trust in Him and not those who put their trust in the false promises of a sin-inflicted world.
Commitment:
My foolish inclination to be attracted to and blinded by the distractive light of the world instead of following the true Light.
Prayer:
Help us, O Lord, not to contribute to, to be caught up with, the sinful ways of the world. Use us, instead, to be your light that will point people to your way of salvation. Amen.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
"God is Faithful"
24 Mar 09
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent
God is Faithful
1 Corinthians 10:6-13
The lesson of history is that man doesn’t learn from history. The recent financial turmoil is a sad reminder of this. The world was drunk, so to speak, when impressive and easy gains were offered. People played the securities markets even though they are known to be of un-sustainable foundation. It is not unlike the self-created idolatrous belief in the power of the Golden Calf to lead and provide.
Millions of seemingly innocent people have suffered unimaginable loss. Were they innocently enticed by marketing schemes promising attractive and easy gains instead of contentment with stable returns in cautious saving? It is difficult to admit it was no less than greed succumbing to the temptation of financial promises.
The wilderness wanderings of the Israelites were written for our instruction. God’s people should listen and take heed. It is scary to witness the collapse of the most august institutions whose names were synonymous with the creation and growth of the modern financial systems.
Would people ever learn from history? While regulations may be necessary, they are not of more value if the underlying issue is not recognized and addressed. We must ask for grace to have the courage, humility and honesty to name the true underlying cause of the crisis.
We are exhorted to ask the Lord for wisdom. The Lord does not tempt but man tempts himself in his own weakness and greed (Jas 1:5, 12-15). Indeed, the Lord is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. He has kept faith by first sending His only Son to live on earth and walk resolutely against temptations. The “way of escape” is not the absence of temptations but confronting these temptations by the power of the Cross. Paul declares that we are more than conquerors because of God’s unconditional love (Rom 8:31-39). Our confidence and ability to endure surely comes from this wisdom and this alone!
(The Most Rev Dr John Chew,
Bishop of Singapore & Primate of the Province
Of South East Asia (Anglican))
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender my wisdom and human confidence in standing up to temptation through your faithful provision of “the way of escape”, the Cross of Christ.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me the peace, wisdom, humility and courage not only to name the real temptation in life but also to embrace the real “way of escape” in the power of the Cross Amen.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent
God is Faithful
1 Corinthians 10:6-13
The lesson of history is that man doesn’t learn from history. The recent financial turmoil is a sad reminder of this. The world was drunk, so to speak, when impressive and easy gains were offered. People played the securities markets even though they are known to be of un-sustainable foundation. It is not unlike the self-created idolatrous belief in the power of the Golden Calf to lead and provide.
Millions of seemingly innocent people have suffered unimaginable loss. Were they innocently enticed by marketing schemes promising attractive and easy gains instead of contentment with stable returns in cautious saving? It is difficult to admit it was no less than greed succumbing to the temptation of financial promises.
The wilderness wanderings of the Israelites were written for our instruction. God’s people should listen and take heed. It is scary to witness the collapse of the most august institutions whose names were synonymous with the creation and growth of the modern financial systems.
Would people ever learn from history? While regulations may be necessary, they are not of more value if the underlying issue is not recognized and addressed. We must ask for grace to have the courage, humility and honesty to name the true underlying cause of the crisis.
We are exhorted to ask the Lord for wisdom. The Lord does not tempt but man tempts himself in his own weakness and greed (Jas 1:5, 12-15). Indeed, the Lord is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. He has kept faith by first sending His only Son to live on earth and walk resolutely against temptations. The “way of escape” is not the absence of temptations but confronting these temptations by the power of the Cross. Paul declares that we are more than conquerors because of God’s unconditional love (Rom 8:31-39). Our confidence and ability to endure surely comes from this wisdom and this alone!
(The Most Rev Dr John Chew,
Bishop of Singapore & Primate of the Province
Of South East Asia (Anglican))
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender my wisdom and human confidence in standing up to temptation through your faithful provision of “the way of escape”, the Cross of Christ.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me the peace, wisdom, humility and courage not only to name the real temptation in life but also to embrace the real “way of escape” in the power of the Cross Amen.
Monday, March 23, 2009
"Christ is Faithful as Son"
23 Mar 09
Monday of the Fourth Week in Lent
Christ is Faithful as Son
Hebrews 3:1-6
One of the challenges of contemporary living is the fast pace of change. One has hardly the time to register the changes that take place, let alone think about them. In 2008, we were impacted by the ups and downs of many unprecedented global events. How should these events be perceived and understood?
In times like these, the exhortation to “consider Jesus” is crucial. To “consider” requires disciple and cost. Consideration takes time when “no time” is on the lips of many. It requires sacrifice when “opportunity lost” is to be avoided at all cost. It clamours for substance when the world is satisfied with “performative rhetoric”. It demands a cultivated nature and the mental ability to weigh things up and think things through. What does the church have to offer if it does not give due consideration to the issues that are common to all? The church should always ask “What would Jesus do?”
Jesus in His focused vocation is hardly in serious discourse or consideration among Christians today. It is not surprising because expectations of immediate and mega impact are expected and are pose d as deciding criteria of power. Faithfulness as a Son of God who appoints is very different from being faithful itself. The Son is called and sent to do the Father’s will and none other. This requires the ultimate sacrifice of the Son facing nothing less than death on the Cross! Only then is the Son worthy to be the centrality of our confession and the high priest of all creation.
We belong to Him (“we are His house”) only “if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope”. Let us learn to “consider Jesus” lest we become of no encouragement to others (Hebrews 12:3) and lest we fail to be thankful and humble (Hebrews 13:7).
(The Most Rev Dr John Chew,
Bishop of Singapore & Primate of the Province
Of South East Asia (Anglican))
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender my right to force-in worldly content and comfort to my own life but instead to “consider” the faithful cross-centred life of Jesus as the measure of my life.
Prayer:
Lord, open our blinded eyes, clear our confused minds, and soften our hearts to recapture “the vision of the Cross” and cause us to deeply consider “the breadth and length and height and depth” of His faithful love. Amen.
Monday of the Fourth Week in Lent
Christ is Faithful as Son
Hebrews 3:1-6
One of the challenges of contemporary living is the fast pace of change. One has hardly the time to register the changes that take place, let alone think about them. In 2008, we were impacted by the ups and downs of many unprecedented global events. How should these events be perceived and understood?
In times like these, the exhortation to “consider Jesus” is crucial. To “consider” requires disciple and cost. Consideration takes time when “no time” is on the lips of many. It requires sacrifice when “opportunity lost” is to be avoided at all cost. It clamours for substance when the world is satisfied with “performative rhetoric”. It demands a cultivated nature and the mental ability to weigh things up and think things through. What does the church have to offer if it does not give due consideration to the issues that are common to all? The church should always ask “What would Jesus do?”
Jesus in His focused vocation is hardly in serious discourse or consideration among Christians today. It is not surprising because expectations of immediate and mega impact are expected and are pose d as deciding criteria of power. Faithfulness as a Son of God who appoints is very different from being faithful itself. The Son is called and sent to do the Father’s will and none other. This requires the ultimate sacrifice of the Son facing nothing less than death on the Cross! Only then is the Son worthy to be the centrality of our confession and the high priest of all creation.
We belong to Him (“we are His house”) only “if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope”. Let us learn to “consider Jesus” lest we become of no encouragement to others (Hebrews 12:3) and lest we fail to be thankful and humble (Hebrews 13:7).
(The Most Rev Dr John Chew,
Bishop of Singapore & Primate of the Province
Of South East Asia (Anglican))
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender my right to force-in worldly content and comfort to my own life but instead to “consider” the faithful cross-centred life of Jesus as the measure of my life.
Prayer:
Lord, open our blinded eyes, clear our confused minds, and soften our hearts to recapture “the vision of the Cross” and cause us to deeply consider “the breadth and length and height and depth” of His faithful love. Amen.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
"The Lifting up the Son of Man"
22 Mar 09
Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Lifting up the Son of Man
John 3:14-21
There are those of us who experience life as a stern taskmaster exerting demands on us whenever we encounter obstacles and distractions from what we yearn for in life. Some of us may also encounter distressful experiences that cause us pain and guilt, leaving us wondering if the God we believe in is all but a punitive parent who delights in condemnation rather than affirmation.
Sometimes we wander about in darkness, searching for a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. SOmewhow, this eludes us as the tunnel seems so long and dark. There does not seem to be relief and each day just seems to bring about a sense of despair.
Depression often sets in, accompanied by feelings of anxiety and a sense of hopelessness. Life seems so meaningless and prevailing negative thoughts about oneself, people, the world and God obscure our perspective that life is worth living. It is comforting that in the midst of all, there is the assurance that our God, the Shepherd is with us, so that “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps 23:4).
That was the reason God sent His Son into this world, to offer salvation and bring us into the light. This should spell deliverance from our pain and guilt, despair and distress.
God will not leave us alone for His Son is here with us, to journey with us, transforming our journey of darkness into light.
(Anthony Yeo,
Consultant Therapist,
Counselling and Care Centre)
Commitment:
I surrender to you O Lord the darkness in my life, feat and anxieties so that I may catch the light which comes from you.
Prayer:
Thank you for your assurance that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Lead me to your light and love. Amen.
Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Lifting up the Son of Man
John 3:14-21
There are those of us who experience life as a stern taskmaster exerting demands on us whenever we encounter obstacles and distractions from what we yearn for in life. Some of us may also encounter distressful experiences that cause us pain and guilt, leaving us wondering if the God we believe in is all but a punitive parent who delights in condemnation rather than affirmation.
Sometimes we wander about in darkness, searching for a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. SOmewhow, this eludes us as the tunnel seems so long and dark. There does not seem to be relief and each day just seems to bring about a sense of despair.
Depression often sets in, accompanied by feelings of anxiety and a sense of hopelessness. Life seems so meaningless and prevailing negative thoughts about oneself, people, the world and God obscure our perspective that life is worth living. It is comforting that in the midst of all, there is the assurance that our God, the Shepherd is with us, so that “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps 23:4).
That was the reason God sent His Son into this world, to offer salvation and bring us into the light. This should spell deliverance from our pain and guilt, despair and distress.
God will not leave us alone for His Son is here with us, to journey with us, transforming our journey of darkness into light.
(Anthony Yeo,
Consultant Therapist,
Counselling and Care Centre)
Commitment:
I surrender to you O Lord the darkness in my life, feat and anxieties so that I may catch the light which comes from you.
Prayer:
Thank you for your assurance that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Lead me to your light and love. Amen.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
"The Lifting Up of the Serpent"
21 March 09
Saturday of the Third Week in Lent
The Lifting Up of the Serpent
Numbers 21:4-9
Sometimes when life’s journey becomes dreary, we tend to be impatient, given to exasperation and complaints. Life seems to be harsh with no clear relief in view.
Such moments can be a trying experience for us as we may begin to wonder if God really cares. Some may even question if He is anywhere at all since all we may be confronted with is the harsh reality of our struggles in life.
This calls for a reminder from God that He is there and not silent. He does speak if we would only listen. What He wants us to hear is that He is involved in our struggles and demands a response.
Oftentimes He would engage His servant to minister to us and direct us to look upwards when all else below tends to be overwhelming. This is what God is doing in sending people to be there for us, so that we need not journey alone nor struggle in isolation.
What we have to do is acknowledge our need for a helping hand, a willingness to receive whatever help we need to bolster our inner strength. We do need help to raise our heads to look beyond this earthly reality with its daunting demands. And if we would look up to see the bronze serpent foreshadowing our crucified Lord on Calvary we would be empowered to live despite whatever may befall us in life.
(Anthony Yeo,
Consultant Therapist,
Counselling and Care Centre)
Commitment:
I surrender my exasperations and confusions to you O Lord, for from you comes my hope and deliverance.
Prayer:
O Lord, in my heaviness of heart, lift up my spirit to see you and know you are there. Amen.
Saturday of the Third Week in Lent
The Lifting Up of the Serpent
Numbers 21:4-9
Sometimes when life’s journey becomes dreary, we tend to be impatient, given to exasperation and complaints. Life seems to be harsh with no clear relief in view.
Such moments can be a trying experience for us as we may begin to wonder if God really cares. Some may even question if He is anywhere at all since all we may be confronted with is the harsh reality of our struggles in life.
This calls for a reminder from God that He is there and not silent. He does speak if we would only listen. What He wants us to hear is that He is involved in our struggles and demands a response.
Oftentimes He would engage His servant to minister to us and direct us to look upwards when all else below tends to be overwhelming. This is what God is doing in sending people to be there for us, so that we need not journey alone nor struggle in isolation.
What we have to do is acknowledge our need for a helping hand, a willingness to receive whatever help we need to bolster our inner strength. We do need help to raise our heads to look beyond this earthly reality with its daunting demands. And if we would look up to see the bronze serpent foreshadowing our crucified Lord on Calvary we would be empowered to live despite whatever may befall us in life.
(Anthony Yeo,
Consultant Therapist,
Counselling and Care Centre)
Commitment:
I surrender my exasperations and confusions to you O Lord, for from you comes my hope and deliverance.
Prayer:
O Lord, in my heaviness of heart, lift up my spirit to see you and know you are there. Amen.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
"Covenant-----a One-sided Agreement"
19 Mar 09
Thursday of the Third Week in Lent
Covenant----a One-sided Agreement
Genesis 9:8-17
We often think of ‘covenant’ as a solemn agreement made between ‘contracting parties’, in particular between God and human beings with whom He interacted and dealt with such as the covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen 17:1-14) and with the nation of Israel (Ex 19:1-5). As Christians we always think of the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20 and related gospel passages as well as in Hebrews) as the ultimate covenant.
One characteristic of God’s covenants is the requirement that we keep our part of the bargain, notably the call to live in obedience to God as His covenantal people. Jesus summed up our covenantal relationship with Him with these words, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments’ (John 14:15).
God’s covenant with Noah was exceptional in this regard ---- there was absolutely nothing that Noah and his children (or even the animals! V10) were required to do. It was a totally one-sided agreement, with nothing for God to gain, so to speak.
We can actually argue that the same one-sidedness is found in all the other covenants of God as well, including the New Covenant of which you and I are bound by faith in action to love, obey and serve God. But like God’s covenant with Noah, the New Covenant is also one-sided because God gains nothing from our obedience and service!
Actually, all of God’s dealings with us are one-sided: He gains nothing, we gain everything! Such an understanding of our Heavenly Father’s boundless grace should lead us to true and acceptable worship, the presentation of our lives to serve His purpose (Romans 12:1 and Heb 12:28-29) to His eternal glory and praise.
(The Very Rev Kuan Kim Seng,
Dean & Vicar,
St Andrew’s Cathedral)
Commitment: God, Abba-Father, I surrender my will to you. I seek only to do your will.
Prayer: Dear God and Father, thank you for your gracious dealings with humanity. As I recall the love, mercy and kindness with which you dealt with Noah, I thank you for your unconditional love for us. As I recall the night that the New Covenant was instituted when your Son spoke of ‘the new covenant in My blood’, help me to be forever grateful for such a precious sacrifice. In response, I now offer my life as a sacrifice, that I may do your will and serve your purpose, to your eternal praise and glory. Amen.
Thursday of the Third Week in Lent
Covenant----a One-sided Agreement
Genesis 9:8-17
We often think of ‘covenant’ as a solemn agreement made between ‘contracting parties’, in particular between God and human beings with whom He interacted and dealt with such as the covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen 17:1-14) and with the nation of Israel (Ex 19:1-5). As Christians we always think of the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20 and related gospel passages as well as in Hebrews) as the ultimate covenant.
One characteristic of God’s covenants is the requirement that we keep our part of the bargain, notably the call to live in obedience to God as His covenantal people. Jesus summed up our covenantal relationship with Him with these words, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments’ (John 14:15).
God’s covenant with Noah was exceptional in this regard ---- there was absolutely nothing that Noah and his children (or even the animals! V10) were required to do. It was a totally one-sided agreement, with nothing for God to gain, so to speak.
We can actually argue that the same one-sidedness is found in all the other covenants of God as well, including the New Covenant of which you and I are bound by faith in action to love, obey and serve God. But like God’s covenant with Noah, the New Covenant is also one-sided because God gains nothing from our obedience and service!
Actually, all of God’s dealings with us are one-sided: He gains nothing, we gain everything! Such an understanding of our Heavenly Father’s boundless grace should lead us to true and acceptable worship, the presentation of our lives to serve His purpose (Romans 12:1 and Heb 12:28-29) to His eternal glory and praise.
(The Very Rev Kuan Kim Seng,
Dean & Vicar,
St Andrew’s Cathedral)
Commitment: God, Abba-Father, I surrender my will to you. I seek only to do your will.
Prayer: Dear God and Father, thank you for your gracious dealings with humanity. As I recall the love, mercy and kindness with which you dealt with Noah, I thank you for your unconditional love for us. As I recall the night that the New Covenant was instituted when your Son spoke of ‘the new covenant in My blood’, help me to be forever grateful for such a precious sacrifice. In response, I now offer my life as a sacrifice, that I may do your will and serve your purpose, to your eternal praise and glory. Amen.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"Rebuilding the Temple"
18 Mar 09
Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent
Rebuilding the Temple
Ezra 6:1-16
The Jerusalem temple was destroyed in 568 BC. For seventy years, it laid in ruins. When it was finally rebuilt in 516 BC, it was a milestone event.
Firstly, the rebuilding of the temple reminded Israel to place God at the centre of her national life. In 537 BC, Persian ruler King Cyrus had allowed thousands of exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem. Although they were now back in their homeland, these returnees realized that something was still amiss. Israel had always been taught to focus its national life around the worship of God. His commandments were to be obeyed. Festivals were to be observed. Prayers and sacrifices were to be offered. In all these undertakings, the temple was the focal point. Hence the urgent need to rebuild the temple.
Secondly, the rebuilding highlighted God’s overruling hand among Gentile nations. Beginning in 539 BC when Cyrus captured Babylon, Persia gradually extended its rule over much of the ancient world. No other nation could challenge her. But God moved in the hearts of Cyrus and Darius. They set out decrees which allowed returnee Jews to rebuild their temple. Persian governors were instructed to assist them in this task. Supplies required for the rebuilding were to be provided out of the king’s treasury. And temple vessels stolen by the Babylonians earlier were to be returned to the Jews.
Thirdly, the rebuilding necessitated God’s people to do their part. God did not will the temple into existence. The Jews had to do their part. At times, the builders faced opposition and for a period, the rebuilding work ceased. But God raised up prophets like Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people. Priests and Levites, elders and ordinary workers laboured alongside one another until the rebuilding was completed.
(Dr Bobby Sng,
President, Bible Society of Singapore)
Commitment:
I must always place God at the centre of my life.
Prayer:
Blessed Holy Spirit, grant me grace to co-work with you in rebuilding your temple in my life. Amen.
Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent
Rebuilding the Temple
Ezra 6:1-16
The Jerusalem temple was destroyed in 568 BC. For seventy years, it laid in ruins. When it was finally rebuilt in 516 BC, it was a milestone event.
Firstly, the rebuilding of the temple reminded Israel to place God at the centre of her national life. In 537 BC, Persian ruler King Cyrus had allowed thousands of exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem. Although they were now back in their homeland, these returnees realized that something was still amiss. Israel had always been taught to focus its national life around the worship of God. His commandments were to be obeyed. Festivals were to be observed. Prayers and sacrifices were to be offered. In all these undertakings, the temple was the focal point. Hence the urgent need to rebuild the temple.
Secondly, the rebuilding highlighted God’s overruling hand among Gentile nations. Beginning in 539 BC when Cyrus captured Babylon, Persia gradually extended its rule over much of the ancient world. No other nation could challenge her. But God moved in the hearts of Cyrus and Darius. They set out decrees which allowed returnee Jews to rebuild their temple. Persian governors were instructed to assist them in this task. Supplies required for the rebuilding were to be provided out of the king’s treasury. And temple vessels stolen by the Babylonians earlier were to be returned to the Jews.
Thirdly, the rebuilding necessitated God’s people to do their part. God did not will the temple into existence. The Jews had to do their part. At times, the builders faced opposition and for a period, the rebuilding work ceased. But God raised up prophets like Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people. Priests and Levites, elders and ordinary workers laboured alongside one another until the rebuilding was completed.
(Dr Bobby Sng,
President, Bible Society of Singapore)
Commitment:
I must always place God at the centre of my life.
Prayer:
Blessed Holy Spirit, grant me grace to co-work with you in rebuilding your temple in my life. Amen.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"Cleansing the Temple"
17 Mar 09
Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent
Cleansing the Temple
2 Chronicles 29: 1-11, 16-19
Hezekiah ruled over the Southern Kingdom of Judah for twenty-nine years (715-686 BC). Of the twenty kings Judah had, only eight were either good or passable. The rest were bad. Hezekiah was a good king. He “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (v2).
He was a good king despite the fact that circumstances did not favour a godly rule. His father, King Ahaz (731-715 BC), had been a bad king. He desecrated the temple, introduced foreign gods, established pagan worship throughout the land and even offered human sacrifices. Hezekiah refused to be a captive of bad circumstances. From the first year of his reign, he was determined to set right what had gone wrong. He chose to do “all that David his father had done” (v2).
Hezekiah was a good king because he recognized the hand of God in Judah’s hardships. During the period of Ahaz’s mis-rule, the land had suffered defeat at the hands of the Armeans (NE Syria) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Thousands of Jews had been killed and many others had been taken away as captives.
Hezekiah saw in these events God’s hand of judgement (v5-9). He was prepared to learn from the lessons of the past. Restoration only begins when we recognize where we have gone wrong.
Hezekiah was a good king as he was determined to renew the ancient Mosaic covenant with the Lord (v10). He repaired the temple doors, abolished idolatry throughout the land, instructed the priests and Levites to cleanse the temple and restored proper worship. Later, he instructed the people to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob became again the focal point of their national life.
(Dr Bobby Sng,
President, Bible Society of Singapore)
Commitment:
Like Hezekiah, I need to rise above bad circumstances.
Prayer:
Almighty God, help me to recognize that my “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit”. May I always glorify you in my body. Amen.
Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent
Cleansing the Temple
2 Chronicles 29: 1-11, 16-19
Hezekiah ruled over the Southern Kingdom of Judah for twenty-nine years (715-686 BC). Of the twenty kings Judah had, only eight were either good or passable. The rest were bad. Hezekiah was a good king. He “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (v2).
He was a good king despite the fact that circumstances did not favour a godly rule. His father, King Ahaz (731-715 BC), had been a bad king. He desecrated the temple, introduced foreign gods, established pagan worship throughout the land and even offered human sacrifices. Hezekiah refused to be a captive of bad circumstances. From the first year of his reign, he was determined to set right what had gone wrong. He chose to do “all that David his father had done” (v2).
Hezekiah was a good king because he recognized the hand of God in Judah’s hardships. During the period of Ahaz’s mis-rule, the land had suffered defeat at the hands of the Armeans (NE Syria) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Thousands of Jews had been killed and many others had been taken away as captives.
Hezekiah saw in these events God’s hand of judgement (v5-9). He was prepared to learn from the lessons of the past. Restoration only begins when we recognize where we have gone wrong.
Hezekiah was a good king as he was determined to renew the ancient Mosaic covenant with the Lord (v10). He repaired the temple doors, abolished idolatry throughout the land, instructed the priests and Levites to cleanse the temple and restored proper worship. Later, he instructed the people to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob became again the focal point of their national life.
(Dr Bobby Sng,
President, Bible Society of Singapore)
Commitment:
Like Hezekiah, I need to rise above bad circumstances.
Prayer:
Almighty God, help me to recognize that my “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit”. May I always glorify you in my body. Amen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
"You are God's Temple"
16 Mar 09
Monday of the Third Week in Lent
You are God’s Temple
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
The Lord Jesus had ascended into Heaven and dwells and reigns there in glory. If the Temple is where God dwells and reigns, then what about the earthly Temple? The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans, and there is no more temple there. Instead we have a new temple on earth---the church.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians describing the church in two key metaphor: “You are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9). The passage that follows then develops this idea of a building. He enriches the metaphor further by declaring “you are God’s temple” (v17). This can be more clearly translated from the original Greek as “you all, together, are God’s temple.” What Paul had in mind was that the church as a community, was one temple. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul refers to individual Christians when he wrote that each of our bodies is a temple of the Holy Spirit. But here in verse 17, the corporate church is the temple.
The implications are that as God’s temple, we are to be pure and holy, righteous and blameless. As we saw in yesterday’s meditation, God wants the temple to be cleared of all the worldly clutter and sinful rubbish. Both as individual Christians and as the corporate Body of Christ, we are to allow God’s presence to dwell in and among us, so that the world can see the glory of God in both our personal and communal lives.
There is no place for sin in and among us. If we tolerate it, we will become temples for idols, and not be the true temple of God. Are we, individually and corporately, the temple of the holy and living God? What would be the verdict ---- from heaven and on earth?
(Bishop Dr Robert Solomon,
Bishop, The Methodist Church in Singapore)
Commitment:
I surrender all the known sins within me that are incompatible with my identity as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
I surrender my sins of commission and omission that prevent the church from being the temple of church.
Prayer:
Holy God, you have chosen my heart and your church to be your temple on earth. Help us to repent of our sins so that your splendor may be displayed in and among us. Amen.
Monday of the Third Week in Lent
You are God’s Temple
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
The Lord Jesus had ascended into Heaven and dwells and reigns there in glory. If the Temple is where God dwells and reigns, then what about the earthly Temple? The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans, and there is no more temple there. Instead we have a new temple on earth---the church.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians describing the church in two key metaphor: “You are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9). The passage that follows then develops this idea of a building. He enriches the metaphor further by declaring “you are God’s temple” (v17). This can be more clearly translated from the original Greek as “you all, together, are God’s temple.” What Paul had in mind was that the church as a community, was one temple. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul refers to individual Christians when he wrote that each of our bodies is a temple of the Holy Spirit. But here in verse 17, the corporate church is the temple.
The implications are that as God’s temple, we are to be pure and holy, righteous and blameless. As we saw in yesterday’s meditation, God wants the temple to be cleared of all the worldly clutter and sinful rubbish. Both as individual Christians and as the corporate Body of Christ, we are to allow God’s presence to dwell in and among us, so that the world can see the glory of God in both our personal and communal lives.
There is no place for sin in and among us. If we tolerate it, we will become temples for idols, and not be the true temple of God. Are we, individually and corporately, the temple of the holy and living God? What would be the verdict ---- from heaven and on earth?
(Bishop Dr Robert Solomon,
Bishop, The Methodist Church in Singapore)
Commitment:
I surrender all the known sins within me that are incompatible with my identity as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
I surrender my sins of commission and omission that prevent the church from being the temple of church.
Prayer:
Holy God, you have chosen my heart and your church to be your temple on earth. Help us to repent of our sins so that your splendor may be displayed in and among us. Amen.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
"A New Temple"
15 Mar 09
Third Sunday in Lent
A New Temple
John 2:13-22
If we are not careful, the things of the world tend to find their way into our holiest moments and places. Even temples can become cluttered and corrupted.
The anger of Jesus in ridding the temple of all those who were turning it into one large shopping mall can be understood in what He said: “Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (v16). Elsewhere He admonished that they had turned God’s House of Prayer into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13). The temple authorities had allowed the Court of the Gentiles in the temple to become an “obstacle course” crowded with money-making ventures. They made lucrative profits from “religious business”, turning the worship of God into a highly profitable enterprise. Not only were they corrupting the temple with their greed and shady business practices, but they were also making it difficult for God-fearing Gentiles to visit the temple.
In so doing, the mafia that was running this business in the temple had totally distorted the sacred theological truths about worship and mission represented by God’s Temple. Hence, the anger of our Lord.
The corrupting influence of the world and the quest for wealth and power that is deeply embedded in the human heart continue to threaten our sanctuaries. If the Lord were to visit our churches, what or who would He throw out? The more we instituitionalise our churches, the more we have to be careful that we don’t turn them into obstacles to or substitutes for true worship and mission.
Jesus introduces us to a new Temple---- He Himself (v21). We can enter Him without being deceived or distracted for He is the heavenly Temple ---- fully God, and without corruption. Here we find true encouragement and hope.
(Bishop Dr Robert Solomon,
Bishop, The Methodist Church in Singapore)
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender the things of the world that I have been bringing into your holy Church.
Lord, I surrender all the corrupt and sinful things in the sanctuary of my heart that bring grief to your holy heart.
Prayer:
Lord of the Temple, cleanse, with your precious blood, our churches and our hearts of all that is deceived and deceiving, and make us holy sanctuaries, fit for your eternal purposes. Amen.
Third Sunday in Lent
A New Temple
John 2:13-22
If we are not careful, the things of the world tend to find their way into our holiest moments and places. Even temples can become cluttered and corrupted.
The anger of Jesus in ridding the temple of all those who were turning it into one large shopping mall can be understood in what He said: “Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (v16). Elsewhere He admonished that they had turned God’s House of Prayer into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13). The temple authorities had allowed the Court of the Gentiles in the temple to become an “obstacle course” crowded with money-making ventures. They made lucrative profits from “religious business”, turning the worship of God into a highly profitable enterprise. Not only were they corrupting the temple with their greed and shady business practices, but they were also making it difficult for God-fearing Gentiles to visit the temple.
In so doing, the mafia that was running this business in the temple had totally distorted the sacred theological truths about worship and mission represented by God’s Temple. Hence, the anger of our Lord.
The corrupting influence of the world and the quest for wealth and power that is deeply embedded in the human heart continue to threaten our sanctuaries. If the Lord were to visit our churches, what or who would He throw out? The more we instituitionalise our churches, the more we have to be careful that we don’t turn them into obstacles to or substitutes for true worship and mission.
Jesus introduces us to a new Temple---- He Himself (v21). We can enter Him without being deceived or distracted for He is the heavenly Temple ---- fully God, and without corruption. Here we find true encouragement and hope.
(Bishop Dr Robert Solomon,
Bishop, The Methodist Church in Singapore)
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender the things of the world that I have been bringing into your holy Church.
Lord, I surrender all the corrupt and sinful things in the sanctuary of my heart that bring grief to your holy heart.
Prayer:
Lord of the Temple, cleanse, with your precious blood, our churches and our hearts of all that is deceived and deceiving, and make us holy sanctuaries, fit for your eternal purposes. Amen.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
"A Dazzling Revelation"
14 Mar 09
Saturday of the Second Week in Lent
A Dazzling Revelation
Mark 9:2-8
Mountains in the Old Testament are often associated with special spiritual encounters. The awesome display of God’s power that accompanied the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai comes to mind, as well as the fiery triumph of Yahweh on Mount Carmel when Elijah vanquished the prophets of Baal. These were unforgettable episodes from Israel’s history.
Peter, James and John had an unforgettable mountain top experience too. Right after Jesus had spoken of His impending sufferings and the cost of discipleship (Mk 8:31-32a, 34f), He led them up a mountain. There they saw Jesus transformed before their very eyes, bathed in a blinding brilliance and conversing with Moses and Elijah in a cloud reminiscent of Yahweh’s revelation on Sinai.
It was a terrifying yet reassuring vision. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and they caught a glimpse of the true identity of Christ. Their soon-to-be crucified master was in truth the glorious Lord attested to by Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets (i.e. the entire Hebrew Scriptures).
Despite not knowing what to say, Peter said something anyway! His offer to build three tents was just about as silly as trying to catch smoke with a fishing net. In what amounted to putting Jesus on par with Moses and Elijah, he seemed to have missed the point of the dazzling revelation completely.
Beyond the visionary encounter, we hear the Father’s voice affirming Jesus as His beloved Son and summoning us to listen to Him. He is the Word of the Father. Listen to Him. In Him we come face to face with the truth about God, about ourselves and about all of reality. Through Him we have forgiveness of sins and access to new and eternal life. We do well to listen to Him. Will we?
(Rev Dr Mark Chan,
Coordinator, Faith and Society,
Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia,
And Lecturer in Theology,
Trinity Theological College,
Singapore.)
Commitment:
With God’s help, I seek to build my life upon the Word of the Father and to listen to the Son of God at all times.
Prayer:
Lord, fill my heart with the brilliance of your glorious presence, and may my ears be ever attentive to your voice. Amen.
Saturday of the Second Week in Lent
A Dazzling Revelation
Mark 9:2-8
Mountains in the Old Testament are often associated with special spiritual encounters. The awesome display of God’s power that accompanied the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai comes to mind, as well as the fiery triumph of Yahweh on Mount Carmel when Elijah vanquished the prophets of Baal. These were unforgettable episodes from Israel’s history.
Peter, James and John had an unforgettable mountain top experience too. Right after Jesus had spoken of His impending sufferings and the cost of discipleship (Mk 8:31-32a, 34f), He led them up a mountain. There they saw Jesus transformed before their very eyes, bathed in a blinding brilliance and conversing with Moses and Elijah in a cloud reminiscent of Yahweh’s revelation on Sinai.
It was a terrifying yet reassuring vision. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and they caught a glimpse of the true identity of Christ. Their soon-to-be crucified master was in truth the glorious Lord attested to by Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets (i.e. the entire Hebrew Scriptures).
Despite not knowing what to say, Peter said something anyway! His offer to build three tents was just about as silly as trying to catch smoke with a fishing net. In what amounted to putting Jesus on par with Moses and Elijah, he seemed to have missed the point of the dazzling revelation completely.
Beyond the visionary encounter, we hear the Father’s voice affirming Jesus as His beloved Son and summoning us to listen to Him. He is the Word of the Father. Listen to Him. In Him we come face to face with the truth about God, about ourselves and about all of reality. Through Him we have forgiveness of sins and access to new and eternal life. We do well to listen to Him. Will we?
(Rev Dr Mark Chan,
Coordinator, Faith and Society,
Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia,
And Lecturer in Theology,
Trinity Theological College,
Singapore.)
Commitment:
With God’s help, I seek to build my life upon the Word of the Father and to listen to the Son of God at all times.
Prayer:
Lord, fill my heart with the brilliance of your glorious presence, and may my ears be ever attentive to your voice. Amen.
Friday, March 13, 2009
"The Forgetfulness of Ingratitude"
13 Mar 09
Friday of the Second Week in Lent
The Forgetfulness of Ingratitude
Acts 7:30-40
Instead of welcoming his people with open arms after he struck down an Egyptian, Moses’ own people rejected him with a derisive question, “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” Things did not pan out as Moses had hoped. Instead of a saviour, he became an exile. For the next four decades, he was a forgotten man.
But God did not forget him. Nor did the Lord forget his afflicted people in Egypt. The world may forget. Our world may fade. And we may even have grown accustomed to our chains. But the Lord remembered. He hears our cries.
Through a flaming bush and a commanding word, the Lord summoned Moses to His service. With a punishing flurry of signs and wonders, Israel was rescued from Pharaoh’s grip. God delivered on His promises through Moses.
Yet, no sooner had the erstwhile slaves tasted freedom that they began to clamour for the gods of Egypt. Rejecting Moses, the people wanted gods on their own terms. And this from those who had just witnessed and experienced the Lord’s mighty deliverance.
Unfortunately, the tribe of forgetful ingrates lives on even today. The delivered are wont to forget the Deliverer despite enjoying the blessings of deliverance. When we name no effort to recall and celebrate God’s gracious acts on our behalf, we soon find ourselves hankering after the many glamour gods of this world.
The antidote to such forgetfulness is gratefulness. Calvary is God’s definitive act of deliverance. What happened in the Exodus is but an anticipation of the more profound deliverance from sin that God achieved through Christ on the cross. Remembering Calvary and being grateful for the gift of new life in Christ keeps us firmly in God’s love.
Friday of the Second Week in Lent
The Forgetfulness of Ingratitude
Acts 7:30-40
Instead of welcoming his people with open arms after he struck down an Egyptian, Moses’ own people rejected him with a derisive question, “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” Things did not pan out as Moses had hoped. Instead of a saviour, he became an exile. For the next four decades, he was a forgotten man.
But God did not forget him. Nor did the Lord forget his afflicted people in Egypt. The world may forget. Our world may fade. And we may even have grown accustomed to our chains. But the Lord remembered. He hears our cries.
Through a flaming bush and a commanding word, the Lord summoned Moses to His service. With a punishing flurry of signs and wonders, Israel was rescued from Pharaoh’s grip. God delivered on His promises through Moses.
Yet, no sooner had the erstwhile slaves tasted freedom that they began to clamour for the gods of Egypt. Rejecting Moses, the people wanted gods on their own terms. And this from those who had just witnessed and experienced the Lord’s mighty deliverance.
Unfortunately, the tribe of forgetful ingrates lives on even today. The delivered are wont to forget the Deliverer despite enjoying the blessings of deliverance. When we name no effort to recall and celebrate God’s gracious acts on our behalf, we soon find ourselves hankering after the many glamour gods of this world.
The antidote to such forgetfulness is gratefulness. Calvary is God’s definitive act of deliverance. What happened in the Exodus is but an anticipation of the more profound deliverance from sin that God achieved through Christ on the cross. Remembering Calvary and being grateful for the gift of new life in Christ keeps us firmly in God’s love.
(Rev Dr Mark Chan,
Coordinator, Faith and Society,
Centre for teh Study of Christianity in Asia,
and Lecturer in Theology,
Trinity Theological College, Singapore)
Commitment:
I resolve to keep Calvary fresh in my mind and be ever grateful to God for His wondrous deliverance in Christ.
Prayer:
Knowing how prone I am to forget you and your goodness, help me, dear Lord, to be always mindful of your presence and grace. Amen.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
"The Living Stone and a Chosen people"
12 Mar 09
Thursday of the Second Week in Lent
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
1 Peter 2:4-10
Pictures of ancient temples that have withstood the ravages of time often speak of the sturdiness and enduring quality of these structures. But they only stand as monuments of the past, without the life they once had. They are mere shells of what greatness they once were. The worshippers are dead and gone.
However, Peter tells us that the Church of Jesus Christ is like a living spiritual temple, made up of ‘living stones’ believers, a people redeemed by Christ. And the reason why the church is alive today is that its foundation stone is none other than Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages. Although many reject Christ, those who accept Him as the precious cornerstone of their lives, He has made them His ‘chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people belonging to God.’ He has filled their lives with praise and worship, because He has wrought for them an eternal redemption, which will not be raved by time and mortality.
Jesus had spoken of the house built upon a firm rock that withstood the onslaughts of wind and flood, whereas the one built upon sand collapsed (Mt 7:25ff). He was that rock. He told Peter, ‘Upon this rock I will build My church’. (Mt 16:18), and like the indispensable cornerstone of old which secured the stability and soundness of a building (Is 28:16-17), Jesus had Himself, in His costly death and sacrifice on the cross, paid a great price to become the sure and eternal chief cornerstone of our salvation.
The tiles accorded to His redeemed people (v9,10) speak not only of our privileged position in Christ, but of the inimitable grace of our God. He has made us so that we are able to continually draw near with confidence to His throne, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16) all the time.
(Elder Richard Chia E L,
Elder at Grace Bethesda Church and
Chairman of Care Channels International Ltd)
Commitment:
I surrender all my rights so that I may be truly yours.
Prayer:
Help me, Lord, to be constantly reminded of my calling: a living stone to continually declare your praises. Amen.
Thursday of the Second Week in Lent
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
1 Peter 2:4-10
Pictures of ancient temples that have withstood the ravages of time often speak of the sturdiness and enduring quality of these structures. But they only stand as monuments of the past, without the life they once had. They are mere shells of what greatness they once were. The worshippers are dead and gone.
However, Peter tells us that the Church of Jesus Christ is like a living spiritual temple, made up of ‘living stones’ believers, a people redeemed by Christ. And the reason why the church is alive today is that its foundation stone is none other than Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages. Although many reject Christ, those who accept Him as the precious cornerstone of their lives, He has made them His ‘chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people belonging to God.’ He has filled their lives with praise and worship, because He has wrought for them an eternal redemption, which will not be raved by time and mortality.
Jesus had spoken of the house built upon a firm rock that withstood the onslaughts of wind and flood, whereas the one built upon sand collapsed (Mt 7:25ff). He was that rock. He told Peter, ‘Upon this rock I will build My church’. (Mt 16:18), and like the indispensable cornerstone of old which secured the stability and soundness of a building (Is 28:16-17), Jesus had Himself, in His costly death and sacrifice on the cross, paid a great price to become the sure and eternal chief cornerstone of our salvation.
The tiles accorded to His redeemed people (v9,10) speak not only of our privileged position in Christ, but of the inimitable grace of our God. He has made us so that we are able to continually draw near with confidence to His throne, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16) all the time.
(Elder Richard Chia E L,
Elder at Grace Bethesda Church and
Chairman of Care Channels International Ltd)
Commitment:
I surrender all my rights so that I may be truly yours.
Prayer:
Help me, Lord, to be constantly reminded of my calling: a living stone to continually declare your praises. Amen.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
"I Will Restore and Heal"
11 Mar 09
Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent
I Will Restore and Heal
Jeremiah 30: 12-22
It is said that in life only two things are certain: change and death. The human body renews itself through a seven-year change. Change is vital to a person's growing years and changes in later years will also occur when our body wears down.
Through Jeremiah, God was telling His people that He is in control of change. From their captivity under foreign powers, to their release an restoration, God has been the agent of change---- 'I have done these things to you' ----- although 'He changes not'. Nothing happens without His knowledge and approval. In His sovereignty, God determines all things and everything is under His divine control.
Although His people were rejected and wounded, God in His gracious mercy had already planned to restore them (v3). Even their 'incurable wounds' which the Lord has allowed because of their sins (v 12,15).
God will cure them.
Our world has faced unprecedented changes and tragedies. We feel that we are living on the brink of hopelessness and helplessness, having no conrol of our circumstances. But the word of God in Jeremiah's day comes to us today: 'Though you are wounded and in pain, yet I will heal you' says the Lord. This promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who was 'wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities...by His stripes we are healed'.
How thanksful we are for the hope we have in Christ: 'Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day' (2 Cor 4:16).
Therefore we do not lose heart. Whilst all that is around us, including our mortal bodies, is "changing down", the Lord is changing our inner man 'from one level of glory to another'. And on that glorious day, He will transform us completely and give us the Resurrection body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Elder Richard Chia E.L.
Elder at Grace Bethesda Church and
Chairman of Care Channels International Ltd)
Commitment:
All my wounds to the Lord for His healing touch.
Prayer:
I know Lord that You have caused the changes in my life, and I can trust you completely for the good and the perfect plans you have for me. Amen.
Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent
I Will Restore and Heal
Jeremiah 30: 12-22
It is said that in life only two things are certain: change and death. The human body renews itself through a seven-year change. Change is vital to a person's growing years and changes in later years will also occur when our body wears down.
Through Jeremiah, God was telling His people that He is in control of change. From their captivity under foreign powers, to their release an restoration, God has been the agent of change---- 'I have done these things to you' ----- although 'He changes not'. Nothing happens without His knowledge and approval. In His sovereignty, God determines all things and everything is under His divine control.
Although His people were rejected and wounded, God in His gracious mercy had already planned to restore them (v3). Even their 'incurable wounds' which the Lord has allowed because of their sins (v 12,15).
God will cure them.
Our world has faced unprecedented changes and tragedies. We feel that we are living on the brink of hopelessness and helplessness, having no conrol of our circumstances. But the word of God in Jeremiah's day comes to us today: 'Though you are wounded and in pain, yet I will heal you' says the Lord. This promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who was 'wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities...by His stripes we are healed'.
How thanksful we are for the hope we have in Christ: 'Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day' (2 Cor 4:16).
Therefore we do not lose heart. Whilst all that is around us, including our mortal bodies, is "changing down", the Lord is changing our inner man 'from one level of glory to another'. And on that glorious day, He will transform us completely and give us the Resurrection body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Elder Richard Chia E.L.
Elder at Grace Bethesda Church and
Chairman of Care Channels International Ltd)
Commitment:
All my wounds to the Lord for His healing touch.
Prayer:
I know Lord that You have caused the changes in my life, and I can trust you completely for the good and the perfect plans you have for me. Amen.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
"God Asks Abraham to Sacrifice Issac"
10 Mar 09
Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent
God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
Genesis 22:1-9
God's command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac is puzzling for two reasons. First, it seems to contradict God's own righteousness. How can the God who curse Cain for murdering Abel now ask Abraham to kill his son? Has God whimsically suspended his oppostion to killing? Is Abraham's God really just like all the other gods who demanded child sacrifice?
Second, the commnad to scarifce Isaac seems to thwart God' covenant with Abraham. Previously, God has promised to make Abraham very fruitful, declaring that kings and nations would come from him (Gen 17:6). But now God proposes that Abraham's son the firstborn of this great family should die as a sacrifice! Has God cancelled the covenant?
No, of course not! The point is that when God establishes a covenant with us, the only proper response on our part is to trust and obey. By means of this srange, absurd request to sacrifice Isaac, God tested whether Abraham could be faithful and obedient. While Abraham "passed" the test, his later descendants, the people of Israel, would constantly fail it. Israel's lack of faith and obedience would place a consant strain on her relationship with God.
In the end, God really did "provide for Himself the lamb" ---- His only begotten Son, Jesus, who took on our human nautre, experienced temptation, and yet remained faithful unto death. Through His obedience and suffering, Jesus established a new convenant of grace and forgiveness between God and humanity. By the gift of te Holy Spirit, the Risen Lord enables us to grow in faith and obedience, so that we can become true children of Abraham.
During this holy season of Lent, we recall how God made us His covenantal people through baptism, and we pray for His help to remain ever faithful.
(Dr Jeffrey Truscott,
Chaplain and Lecturer in Liturgy and Worship,
Trinity Theological College)
Commitment:
I surrender my faithlessness and disobedience to you, Lord Jesus.
Prayer:
God of Abraham and Jesus, strengthen our faith so that we may obediently serve you all our days, rejecting neither your unfathomable will nor the cost of discipleship. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent
God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
Genesis 22:1-9
God's command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac is puzzling for two reasons. First, it seems to contradict God's own righteousness. How can the God who curse Cain for murdering Abel now ask Abraham to kill his son? Has God whimsically suspended his oppostion to killing? Is Abraham's God really just like all the other gods who demanded child sacrifice?
Second, the commnad to scarifce Isaac seems to thwart God' covenant with Abraham. Previously, God has promised to make Abraham very fruitful, declaring that kings and nations would come from him (Gen 17:6). But now God proposes that Abraham's son the firstborn of this great family should die as a sacrifice! Has God cancelled the covenant?
No, of course not! The point is that when God establishes a covenant with us, the only proper response on our part is to trust and obey. By means of this srange, absurd request to sacrifice Isaac, God tested whether Abraham could be faithful and obedient. While Abraham "passed" the test, his later descendants, the people of Israel, would constantly fail it. Israel's lack of faith and obedience would place a consant strain on her relationship with God.
In the end, God really did "provide for Himself the lamb" ---- His only begotten Son, Jesus, who took on our human nautre, experienced temptation, and yet remained faithful unto death. Through His obedience and suffering, Jesus established a new convenant of grace and forgiveness between God and humanity. By the gift of te Holy Spirit, the Risen Lord enables us to grow in faith and obedience, so that we can become true children of Abraham.
During this holy season of Lent, we recall how God made us His covenantal people through baptism, and we pray for His help to remain ever faithful.
(Dr Jeffrey Truscott,
Chaplain and Lecturer in Liturgy and Worship,
Trinity Theological College)
Commitment:
I surrender my faithlessness and disobedience to you, Lord Jesus.
Prayer:
God of Abraham and Jesus, strengthen our faith so that we may obediently serve you all our days, rejecting neither your unfathomable will nor the cost of discipleship. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monday, March 9, 2009
"The Son Whose Years Will Never End"
9 Mac 09
Monday of the Second Week in Lent
The Son Whose Years Will Never End
Hebrews 1:8-12
The plot of many a story, play, movie or opera involves a confusing or switching of identities. One thinks of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities or Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper.
With Jesus, however, there can be no confusion of identities. He is no angel or a mere page-boy in God's heavenly court. Rather, Jesus is the Son of God, who sits on the very throne of God, where He is served by the angels. His throne was established at the beginning and will last forever. Through Jesus' everlasing rule, God will carry out His loving plan for the world, and will defeat those who oppose Him. Through Jesus, God's righ way of being will be made known to all people. Such is not the work of angels!
But the story of Jesus does have a unique twist. Like Prince Edward in Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, Jesus leaves His throne and dwells among the people, experiencing the worst that they have to offer, including the Cross. But His death was also part of God's saving plan for humanity, established from the beginning. With eyes of faith, we recognise that the Cross is not merely an instrument of execution, but in reality a throne.
During Lent and Holy Week we contemplate ther wonder and mystery of the Cross, where a King becomes a servant for our sake. We recall that in baptism we are united with Him in His death so that we may also share in His resurrection.
(Dr Jeffery A Truscott,
Chaplain and Lecturer in Liturgy and Worship,
Trinity Theological College)
Commitment:
I surrender my identity to Jesus, that I may know myself in the light of His glory and grace.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, whose throne is forever and ever, establish your rule in our hearts, that we may serve You in righteousness all our days; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God. Amen.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
"Serving Jesus for Personal Gain"
8 March 09
Second Sunday in Lent
Serving Jesus for Personal Gain
Mark 9:31-38
The disciples knew Jesus was the Messiah, This was indeed commendable, since many in the Jewish nation didn’t. If Jesus was the Messiah, then serving Him would be the greatest vocation, or so the logic went. If Jesus was the Messiah, then they were destined for greatness. Such logic appear unassailable. But the disciples’ concept of greatness was warped even if it was common. Their eyes were on themselves. If it wasn’t corrected, they would be following Jesus only to serve their own agenda. Jesus would then become a tool instead of being the Lord.
Furthermore, such a concept did not factor in the most important consideration. God is love, and His love drives Him to humble Himself in order to serve. Jesus’ response to the disciples’ confession that He was the Christ was to teach that, as Messiah, He was destined for suffering and death. Being God’s Messiah wasn’t about fame and fortune but service, even to the point of death.
Following Jesus, then, isn’t about self-aggrandisement but self-denial for service. It means taking up the cross after Him. The disciples must be servant of all, including the little child who has no status or clout. Unfortunately, what afflicted them is still affecting us today. There are people who appear to follow the Lord, preach in His Name, welcome thousands into the Kingdom, but are actually following their own agenda. This is not serving; this is using. The new world that God will bring in will be a very strange place to them, if they are in it at all. Isaac Watt’s words are instructive here:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
(Dr Tan Kim Huat,
Dean of Studies, Trinity Theological College)
Commitment:
Before God, I consign my glory and pride to the rubbish heap of human ambition. Embracing Christ to be my all in all, I shall use whatever God has graciously given me to serve.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, teach me the way of the cross. Dispel the mists created by human hubris, so that I can see clearly the path that Christ wants me to take. Amen.
Second Sunday in Lent
Serving Jesus for Personal Gain
Mark 9:31-38
The disciples knew Jesus was the Messiah, This was indeed commendable, since many in the Jewish nation didn’t. If Jesus was the Messiah, then serving Him would be the greatest vocation, or so the logic went. If Jesus was the Messiah, then they were destined for greatness. Such logic appear unassailable. But the disciples’ concept of greatness was warped even if it was common. Their eyes were on themselves. If it wasn’t corrected, they would be following Jesus only to serve their own agenda. Jesus would then become a tool instead of being the Lord.
Furthermore, such a concept did not factor in the most important consideration. God is love, and His love drives Him to humble Himself in order to serve. Jesus’ response to the disciples’ confession that He was the Christ was to teach that, as Messiah, He was destined for suffering and death. Being God’s Messiah wasn’t about fame and fortune but service, even to the point of death.
Following Jesus, then, isn’t about self-aggrandisement but self-denial for service. It means taking up the cross after Him. The disciples must be servant of all, including the little child who has no status or clout. Unfortunately, what afflicted them is still affecting us today. There are people who appear to follow the Lord, preach in His Name, welcome thousands into the Kingdom, but are actually following their own agenda. This is not serving; this is using. The new world that God will bring in will be a very strange place to them, if they are in it at all. Isaac Watt’s words are instructive here:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
(Dr Tan Kim Huat,
Dean of Studies, Trinity Theological College)
Commitment:
Before God, I consign my glory and pride to the rubbish heap of human ambition. Embracing Christ to be my all in all, I shall use whatever God has graciously given me to serve.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, teach me the way of the cross. Dispel the mists created by human hubris, so that I can see clearly the path that Christ wants me to take. Amen.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
"Who is Jesus to Us?"
7th March 09
Saturday of the First week of Lent
Who is Jesus to Us?
Mark 8:27-30
In this passage Jesus asks two questions which centre on His identity. In the first question, Jesus’ disciples were asked who the Jewish crowd thought Him to be. These people had heard Jesus teach and seen Him perform wonders. Jesus wasn’t a street-entertainer, performing and speaking to amuse people. There were high stakes involved----what He did must lead to a decision about who He was. The disciples rehearsed the crowds’ answers. As respectful as these might be, they did not penetrate to the heart of the matter.
So the next question followed. Indeed, the earlier question was meant to prepare the ground for it. What did the disciples themselves think of Jesus? We know Peter gave the answer that showed true understanding of Jesus’ identity, i.e. Jesus was the Messiah (Christ).
We seldom consider that Jesus’ questions are the profoundest that we can ever encounter because the answers we give not only reveal what kind of people we really are, but also determine what kind of people we will be. To know Him, as John 17:3 puts it, is life eternal.
Many Singaporeans know what philosophers, pop-stars, scholars or intimate friends have said about Jesus. It is no use just knowing what others think of Jesus. We must make our own assessment and personalize out answer. We may hang around with the church-going crowd, and worship at the biggest and most exciting churches. All this means nothing I we cannot personalize out answer to the question of Jesus’ identity. Who is Jesus to us? The new heaven and new earth are populated by believers and disciples, not onlookers or those just tagging along.
Dr Tan Kim Huat,
Dean Of Studies, Trinity Theological College
Commitment:
Lord Jesus, lead me away from the noise of the world to the true voice that speaks from your Word. Instead of relying on what others think of you, let me know you personally.
Prayer:
Speak, Lord, for your servant hears. Amen.
Saturday of the First week of Lent
Who is Jesus to Us?
Mark 8:27-30
In this passage Jesus asks two questions which centre on His identity. In the first question, Jesus’ disciples were asked who the Jewish crowd thought Him to be. These people had heard Jesus teach and seen Him perform wonders. Jesus wasn’t a street-entertainer, performing and speaking to amuse people. There were high stakes involved----what He did must lead to a decision about who He was. The disciples rehearsed the crowds’ answers. As respectful as these might be, they did not penetrate to the heart of the matter.
So the next question followed. Indeed, the earlier question was meant to prepare the ground for it. What did the disciples themselves think of Jesus? We know Peter gave the answer that showed true understanding of Jesus’ identity, i.e. Jesus was the Messiah (Christ).
We seldom consider that Jesus’ questions are the profoundest that we can ever encounter because the answers we give not only reveal what kind of people we really are, but also determine what kind of people we will be. To know Him, as John 17:3 puts it, is life eternal.
Many Singaporeans know what philosophers, pop-stars, scholars or intimate friends have said about Jesus. It is no use just knowing what others think of Jesus. We must make our own assessment and personalize out answer. We may hang around with the church-going crowd, and worship at the biggest and most exciting churches. All this means nothing I we cannot personalize out answer to the question of Jesus’ identity. Who is Jesus to us? The new heaven and new earth are populated by believers and disciples, not onlookers or those just tagging along.
Dr Tan Kim Huat,
Dean Of Studies, Trinity Theological College
Commitment:
Lord Jesus, lead me away from the noise of the world to the true voice that speaks from your Word. Instead of relying on what others think of you, let me know you personally.
Prayer:
Speak, Lord, for your servant hears. Amen.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Devotional: Abraham Counted Righteous by God for His Faith
6 March 09
Friday of the First Week in Lent
"Abraham Counted Righteous by God for His Faith"
(Romans 4:1-12)
How can a sinner ever be accepted by a righteous and Holy God?
This was the question that exercised the mind and soul of the great Reformer, Martin Luther Luther was a monk who applied himself diligently, and sometimes even mercilessly, to the rigours of the monastery. But still he was unable to find peace. No matter how hard he tried, he felt that his efforts were not enough. He was still a wretched sinner who could not meet God's standard of holiness required of him.
But as Luther studied the Scriptures, he discovered in its pages the gracious God who invites him to simply put his trust in Him. This discovery was truly liberating for Luther. Salvation is based on our humble, trusting acceptance of the grace that God has made available in Jesus Christ. It is not attained by the works we do to merit God's love. Rather salvation comes to us when we put our faith in the God of love.
The profound truth that Luther discovered is clearly taught in this passage in Romans. Abraham was not justified because of his works. If that were the case, then Abraham would indeed have something to boast about. Abraham was made righteous because of his faith in God.
Like Luther, John Newton also came to understand this wonderful truth. And as he reflected on the grace of God, Newton wrote these famous words:
Amazing grace, how seet the sound
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
-Dr Roland Chia,
Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Trinity Theological College
Commitment:
Lord, I wish to surrender all my struggles and uncertainties to you.
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to always put my trust in you. Amen.
Friday of the First Week in Lent
"Abraham Counted Righteous by God for His Faith"
(Romans 4:1-12)
How can a sinner ever be accepted by a righteous and Holy God?
This was the question that exercised the mind and soul of the great Reformer, Martin Luther Luther was a monk who applied himself diligently, and sometimes even mercilessly, to the rigours of the monastery. But still he was unable to find peace. No matter how hard he tried, he felt that his efforts were not enough. He was still a wretched sinner who could not meet God's standard of holiness required of him.
But as Luther studied the Scriptures, he discovered in its pages the gracious God who invites him to simply put his trust in Him. This discovery was truly liberating for Luther. Salvation is based on our humble, trusting acceptance of the grace that God has made available in Jesus Christ. It is not attained by the works we do to merit God's love. Rather salvation comes to us when we put our faith in the God of love.
The profound truth that Luther discovered is clearly taught in this passage in Romans. Abraham was not justified because of his works. If that were the case, then Abraham would indeed have something to boast about. Abraham was made righteous because of his faith in God.
Like Luther, John Newton also came to understand this wonderful truth. And as he reflected on the grace of God, Newton wrote these famous words:
Amazing grace, how seet the sound
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
-Dr Roland Chia,
Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Trinity Theological College
Commitment:
Lord, I wish to surrender all my struggles and uncertainties to you.
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to always put my trust in you. Amen.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Lent Devotions
Since we are in the Lent season: the 40 days period before Good Friday, I'd like to put up devotional materials in my blog daily. These devotions will be taken from "Take up your Cross---Daily Devotions for Lent 2009", published by the Bible Society of Singapore, 2009.
Rev Dr Truscott said Lent is a time of self-examination, prayer and repentence. I,m sorry I wasn't able to put up the devotions for the past few days, but today, by God's Grace, I've managed to wake up earlier to do this.
I'm sure these daily devotions will be helpful to you during your Lent season.
Rev Dr Truscott said Lent is a time of self-examination, prayer and repentence. I,m sorry I wasn't able to put up the devotions for the past few days, but today, by God's Grace, I've managed to wake up earlier to do this.
I'm sure these daily devotions will be helpful to you during your Lent season.
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