The Knowledge of God in Christ Jesus!

“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NIV

All of us have to thank the Lord for every missionary, evangelist, pastor who are preaching the Good News about Jesus Christ in this world (Matthew 28:18-20). This is because they are helping people to know the Lord and being their own shepherd to them (Jeremiah 3:15). However, many people tend to receive every kind of knowledge and maybe some counselling to walk with God, our heavenly Father from their church pastors, missionaries, or evangelists. These kinds of help are good to have for us at some stage (1 John 4:1-6), but they only there to influence and equip us to take the gospel of Christ and preach it to other people and nations. This is because the word of God states, “…this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Second of all, we have to know that it is the Spirit of God (Ezekiel 36:26-27), who is guiding and helping us to walk with God and know Him better (John 14:15-27). Therefore, if we want to truly know and worship Jesus Christ (John 4:23-24)—we ought to overcome the world (1 John 5:1-5) due to the fact that it is the sinful nature (2 Corinthians 4:4), and then we must abide in the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2). This is why the word of God declares, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:24-25) Furthermore, the word of God also proclaims, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)

His divine power [the Spirit of God] has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-11)

Even though I am not able to preach the Gospel of Christ with my mouth to others properly, I consider that devotional-writing is one of my ways to preach the Gospel (Colossians 3:16). This is because I am able to bring the word of God to others through writing, so I might have chances to influence others spiritually. One of the surprising fact is, through devotional-writing, I get more knowledge in the word of God as I tend to search the specific bible verses online. In addition to this, if I have used the specific verses a lot of times, my brain lets me to memorize the verses and their location in the Bible. Thus, this commission of mine can be a double-edged sword. Moreover, I can share my devotionals to other nations as well through e-mailing and by putting them up in social networks, such as Facebook, e-blogger, Tumblr and Wordpress. Nevertheless, devotional-writing is considered as  my best spiritual gift from the Lord, and thus for this reason, I thank so much for the grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, being poured into me as I write. This is because without the Spirit, I have absolutely no idea how to write devotionals. Furthermore, I am probably going to make my website as well. Nonetheless, I am going to try to speak the Gospel of Christ often, even though this is quite hard.

The Light of the World in Jesus Christ!

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

Jesus Christ calls us to be the light of Him to the world by doing good deeds. This is because darkness of this world has been overtaking by the power of Satan, the devil (1 John 5:19) who wants to lead us into death at the end of the age. Satan uses worldly materials to lead us astray from God, our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6) who was crucified on the Cross as the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-15) and has given us eternal life in Him (John 11:25-26). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) We know that not believing in Christ Jesus is sin by looking at John 16:8-11, which declares, “When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 4:4 declares, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Thus, for this reason, the word of God states,

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (1 John 2:15-17, Hebrews 11:6)

Second of all, we ought to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, in order to shine the light of Jesus properly (Matthew 5:14-16). This is because the word of God says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:11-12) In addition to this, the word of God also proclaims, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4:20-21) Loving each other may go easy for us if we are in close relationship of some kind. However, Jesus calls us to love our enemies as well, since God is love (1 John 4:7-8). This is because we are going to be truly blessed children of God if we love our enemies as well (Matthew 5:43-48), for the word of God states, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:8-9) The great example of love is God. This is because although we have sinned against God, He forgave us and sent Himself as Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-17) into the world (John 1:14) to crucify Himself for our sins. In addition, He is still willing to forgive our sins if we truly confess them to Him (1 John 1:8-9).

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

The Blameless Children of God!

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways.” – Psalm 119:1-3 NIV

God, our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6) has given us His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27) and His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This is because He wants us to become the righteousness of God by abiding these two, rather than abiding into sin that leads into death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This is why Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for us (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24) The main reason for these is that we are still part of God’s creation (Genesis 1:27), even though we have sinned against the Lord (Romans 3:23) due to the fact that He has His steadfast love towards us (Romans 5:8) and His kingdom (John 3:16).

Firstly, when Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected, God has poured His Spirit into us (John 16:7) to make us holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) and have right desires and passions for God (Psalm 37:4). “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) In other words, the Holy Spirit gives us a right mindset and the wisdom to do the will of God (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:15-18) However, we ought to crucify our worldly desires and passions first, in order to properly receive the Spirit of God from our heavenly Father, due to the fact that our own desires lead us into sinfulness (Galatians 5:24-25). In addition, the word of God points out that we are not able to and should not serve both of worldly and godly passions (Matthew 6:24). Otherwise, we are double-minded people that is unstable in everything that we do (James 1:5-8). This is why Apostle Peter declares, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:3-8)

However, God had probably predicted that being the followers of Jesus Christ with just the Spirit of God is quite hard for us. Thus, for this reason, He had anointed several apostles and prophets to create His Word for future generations. This means that we ought to follow the word of God in the Spirit to truly be the righteousness of God (Romans 1:17). This is because it is like a instruction manual that is clearly visible, and it also deepens our faith in Christ Jesus. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Furthermore, faith and deeds have to work together to do anything, especially to glorify God. Otherwise, it is dead (James 2:14-26). Thus, this is the reason why the word of God states, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-- whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

To be honest, Psalm 119:1-3 have penetrated my heart. This is because I thought I had faith of Christ Jesus and deeds together, but this morning, I realized that I was seeking people, not on God, and I was only focusing on finding other ways to lead others spiritually. This means that I am not truly blessed child of God. In addition, when I was proof-reading this devotional and putting hyperlinks in and when I saw Psalm 1:1-3, I thought to myself that I  have to read the word of God more, and try not to watch Korean programmes while eating meals since this is a distraction of seeking the Lord. Now, I fully realised the reason why Apostle Paul declared, “… whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:7-9) Because of this, I am going to listen the word of God while eating meals, or try to watch and listen to sermons from other pastors, even though I cannot complete in watching it.

The Race in Christ Jesus!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV

Even though being a follower of Jesus until the end of the age is hard (Matthew 16:24-27; Matthew 7:13-14)—we ought to persevere it until the end of the age, with faith in Christ Jesus. This is because if we hold on faith of Christ Jesus and do the works  of God in Him (Ephesians 2:8-10) until the end of the age (Matthew 7:21), then we can be certain that  we are going to enter glorious eternal kingdom of heaven, where we supposed to belong (Genesis 1-2). Furthermore, when we are in the kingdom of God in spiritual form (2 Corinthians 5:1-5), we are going to have everlasting satisfaction and joy (Isaiah 35:10) with our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6). This is because the word of God states, “‘He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Second of all, James 4:4 points out that friendship with the world makes us to be enemies of God. This is because 2 Corinthians 4:4 proclaims, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” To be specific, 1 John 5:19 says that the whole world is in the control the evil one (Revelation 12:7-9), due to the fact that Satan, the evil serpent entered the world from the time of Adam (Romans 5:12-14; Genesis 3), to deceive many that God has created in His image (Genesis 1:27). Thus, for this reason, we have to overcome the world (1 John 5:1-5). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (1 John 2:15-17, Hebrews 11:6)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Furthermore, God gave us His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27) and the Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) to follow. This is because He wants to give us a chance to be the righteousness of God, even though we have sinned (Romans 3:23); and this is why Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). To be more specific, the Holy Spirit has been given to us by our heavenly Father to do His will (John 14:15-27). Because this heart-to-heart transformation with the Spirit of God has been quite hard for us to be followers of Jesus—God has given us His Word as well, to show us how to be the righteousness of God properly (Romans 1:17). “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Thus, for these reasons, Apostle Paul declares:

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:27-29)

The Word of God!

“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” – Psalm 33:4-5 NIV

First of all, we have to know that due to this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), we eventually became sinners (Romans  5:12), so that we have been going the wrong way to live truthful lives. Because of this, God, our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6) who have created us in His image (Genesis 1:27), sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ as an image of Himself into the world (John 1:14), to be crucified for our sins (Colossians 2:13-15). Thus, we are able to become the righteousness of God if we are willing to confess our sins to our heavenly Father and live through Jesus Christ. This is because He proclaims to be the way of the truthful life (John 14:6). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). He was crucified and has given us eternal life through Him because He has been having His steadfast love toward us, even though we have disobeyed Him (Romans 3:23). This is why Matthew 3:2 declares, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)

Therefore, we ought to believe in Christ Jesus to receive eternal life (John 11:25-26). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) Thus, for this reason, we ought to change our lifestyle from worldliness into godliness (1 John 2:15-17, Hebrews 11:6) “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) This is also because James 4:4-5 states, “… don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” Because this kind of heart-to-heart transformation is hard (Matthew 16:24-27) for us to change, God has given us Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), which is like a instruction manual to follow, to become the righteousness of God (Romans 1:17). “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Hence, the word  of God is like our salvation (Romans 1:16). This is why Apostle Paul declares,

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:27-29)

The Spiritual Eyes of Children of God!

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.” – Psalm 16:8-9 NIV

First of all, we ought to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour to know and proclaim that we are fully saved (Ephesians 2:8-9) and before we commit ourselves that we are children of God (John 1:12-13). Hence, the word of God states, ‘If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.’ (Romans 10:9-10)

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Moreover, Jesus Christ provides the peace of God if we are willing to come to Him and abide in the Holy Spirit, whom God has poured into us to advocate us to follow Him until the end of the age (John 14:15-27) This is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross (John 16-7-13).

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Secondly, we ought to know that we are created for a purpose—to serve others and to glorify God (1 Peter 4:10-11). We should not be afraid of anyone and think that we are unworthy. Instead, we should be confident in everything. This is because the word of God declares, ‘The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.’ (Romans 8:15-17) “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans  8:29-30) This means that we are also created to be the light of Jesus Christ to the world (Matthew 5:14-16) Therefore, the word of God says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Furthermore, we have to keep our eyes on the Lord and seek His kingdom and righteousness firstly (Matthew 6:33), especially for those of us who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ and considered God as their heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6). The main reason for this is Jesus is the way of the truth and life (John 14:6). Otherwise, we would probably lose focus His kingdom and righteousness, and then we would likely to abide into the world. 1 John 2:15-17 points out clearly we must not abide into the world due to the fact that this worldly love comes not from our heavenly Father, but from Satan, the evil one (1 John 5:19). This is because the word of God states, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) In addition to this, the whole world is going to fade away and we are not able to take any worldly materials with us, whether we are heading to eternal kingdom of heaven or eternal place of punishment, condemnation and death. However, for those of us who please the Lord and the Spirit all the time would experience eternal life from the end of the age with Him (1 John 2:17; Galatians 6:8). Thus, for this reason, as Matthew 6:19-20 states, we must store our treasures in heaven by serving others in love (Galatians 5:13) and living for the glory of God (Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Corinthians 10:31) “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

… Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18)

The Children of God in Christ Jesus!

‘Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”’ – Matthew 19:14 NIV

All of us are ought to be like the little children that Jesus Christ has been talking about, especially for those of us who want to follow Christ obediently. This is because God is our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6) and Jesus is the perfect image of God, who has been creating everything (Colossians 1:15-17). This means that we have to depend everything on God, for Christ is the way of the truth and the life (John 14:6). Therefore, the word of God declares,

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Even though we have our own worries and anxieties, like Philippians 4:6 says—we must always be calm (Psalm 46:10) and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14) to work through our lives. This is because God’s timing is always right, for the word of God proclaims, “for still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3) This is means that He knows everything, since the word of God proclaims, “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”

For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” (Revelation 1:8)

Second of all, we must play our part as well—to do the will of God as the Holy Spirit tells us. This is because faith without deeds is useless (James 2:14-26). Therefore, we need to overcome the world (1 John 5:1-5) and abide in the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27), whom God has given us to do the will of God (John 14:15-27). Otherwise, all of us would fall away from the Lord, continue to sin even when we do not want to, and worst of all, all of us  would be condemned at the end of the age rather than going into the kingdom of heaven. This is because Jesus Christ states, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:7-13)

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. (1 Timothy 4:8-9)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:24-25)

                                                                                                                    

Furthermore, it is probably best to keep the hope of God (1 Peter 1:3-9) tightly if we want to follow Jesus Christ obediently, even though it is hard (Matthew 16:24-27). This is because it enables us to have desires to pursue God more by reading His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), to pray more by spending alone-time with Him (Philippians 4:6-7), and becoming holy in Him (1 Peter 1:13-16) This means that the hope of God establishes us and more dependent on Him.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans  15:13)  

God, the Alpha and the Omega!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” – Revelation 1:8 NLT

First of all, God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1) and our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6). For these reasons, all of us are created in His image (Genesis 1:27) However, Adam, the first man that He had created (Genesis 2:7), sinned by eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that God told him not to eat. This is because Satan, the demonic angel of God deceived the first women that the fruit is not going to make anyone die (Genesis 3:4-5), and then she and Adam eventually ate it (Genesis 3:6). Because of this issue, Satan has entered the world (Revelation 12:7-9) to deceive many more that God has created (Romans 5:12). Thus, for this reason, God sent His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ as an image of God (Colossians 1:15-17) into the world (John 1:14) to be crucified on the cross as an atonement of our sins (Colossians 2:13-15). This had been done, in order to make Him our Saviour (Philippians 2:5-11) and to set us from our sins that leads us to death at the end of the age (Hebrews 2:14-15). Thus, instead of sin and death, Jesus Christ has offered us eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). This is why the word of God states,

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Furthermore, our heavenly Father has given us two things to help us to walk with Jesus Christ until the end of the age—the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27) and His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Firstly, when Jesus was resurrected, God has poured His Spirit into us (John 16:7) to advocate us to do the will of God (John 14:15-27) until the end of the age (Matthew 7:21). Otherwise, it is quite hard to follow God, since the Spirit controls our passions and desires for Him. This is because the Bible declares,

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:24-25)

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. (Galatians 5:16-17)

Secondly, God has appointed specific prophets and apostles to create the word of God for future generations. This means that they had created it to help us to become righteousness of God by following and obeying His Word (Hebrews 4:12, Romans 1:17). This is also because faith without deeds is useless (James 2:14-26). “For it is by grace you [we] have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves [ourselves], it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) This is the reason Jesus proclaims,

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Therefore, Apostle Paul declares,

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:27-29)

However, we ought to overcome the world as well (1 John 5:1-5) if we want to get fully-accepted by our heavenly Father. This is because all of us are meant to belong at the kingdom of heaven that is also known as Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-2). In addition, the word of God declares, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) Thus, for this reason, the word of God also declares,

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (1 John 2:15-17, Hebrews 11:6)

Thus, overall, if we obey the word of God, follow the Holy Spirit, and continue to look at the kingdom of God rather than the world (Colossians 3:1-4) even though it is hard (Mark:8:34-38)—it is very possible that we are going to hear from our heavenly Father at the end of the age, such as “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!” This is because when we become true follower of Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:24-27), then our citizenship has been transferred over to the kingdom of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:1). Moreover, at the end of the age, we can confidently declare,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)  

The Contentment in Christ Jesus!

‘Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”’ – Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV

The world urges us to love money all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. For this reason, many people want to get rich, enough to buy anything they want, in order to satisfy their lives. However, God, the Creator (Genesis 1:1) and our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6) simply declares, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) This is because the word of God states, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (Matthew 6:24) Therefore, we should choose the love of God rather than the love of money even though sometimes it is quite tempting and hard (Matthew 16:24-27), especially for those who want to follow Jesus Christ and gain eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Thus, for this reason, the word of God declares,

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (1 John 2:15-17, Hebrews 11:6)

Hence, we should continue loving our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and then loving our neighbours as ourselves, which means loving everybody even our enemies (Luke 6:27-36). This is because love can be defined as God (1 John 4:7-8); thus, for this reason, love is the law of the Spirit (Romans 13:8-10). This means that without love, we are not able to do anything (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The main reason for this is Jesus Christ is the true vine and we are the branches (John 15:1-17). Furthermore, loving others should be happening to everybody, since each one of us are members of Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:27) and temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) If we are members of Christ Jesus and temples of the Holy Spirit—we are basically members of one another (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). This is why the word of God states,

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Last of all, we should be content with what we have rather than gaining all we want, like Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:11-13. This is because if we are gaining all we want, then we become the lovers of money. Thus, we should overcome the world (1 John 5:1-5), since the word of God states, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) In addition, we should only be the managers of God, since we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27) and everything is all of God’s creation (Psalm 24:1). “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29) Thus, for this reason, we should keep our eyes only to the Lord, even though it is hard (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). This is because the word of God says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps,” (Proverbs 16:9) through the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-27). Moreover, the word of God points out many times that He will never abandon or forsake us. However, we feel abandoned or forsaken by our heavenly Father, especially while He is disciplining us for our good (Hebrews 12:5-11). Nevertheless, we ought to trust the Lord with everything (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Hence, let’s be like Apostle Paul when he declares,

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:7-14)

While I was writing this devotional, I have been thinking about my New Zealand church, Windsor Park. This is because my church is doing series on Mark 12:30-31. In addition to this, I believe all of us need to remind what two greatest commandments of God are and learn to how to apply them throughout our lives. Therefore, I have created a public Facebook group this morning and want everyone to join in, especially for Windsor Park members. Thus, they are possible to study the church series daily as well in their ministry groups and home/life groups. Its URL is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/780466682052486/. I am creating the daily questions in every morning apart from New Zealand Sundays, so everybody are able to discuss what Mark 12:30-31 really means. 

The Light of God!

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. ” –  1 John 1:5-7 NLT

First of all, we need to know that Jesus Christ, as an image of God, the Creator (Colossians 1:15-17) came down from heaven into the world (John 1:14) to give us light (John 1:9). This is because all of us have been in spiritual darkness, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) To be more specific, we have been sinning that results death at the end of the age because of the world (Romans 5:12) The another reason why Jesus Christ came down into the world, was that to give us life through Him (John 1:4) as He has been the way of the life and the truth (John 14:6) In other words, Jesus Christ came into the world to conquer spiritual evil forces and death by crucifying Himself on the cross (Colossians 2:13-15), in order to give us freedom (Hebrews 2:14-15) through walking in the light and through Him.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Because Jesus Christ wants us to follow Him by becoming the children of light—not only He has given us His Word (Psalm 119:105), but He has also poured His Spirit into us as well (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Otherwise, becoming the children of light would be too hard. Furthermore, there are different characteristic attributes within the Spirit, which are “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23). In addition, they are combined together; thus it is known as the fruit of the Spirit. With the fruit of the Spirit, we can always rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4) and become the children of light (Ephesians 5:8-9). This is because at the end of Galatians 5:23, it says, “… against such things there is no law.” This is why Jesus Christ declares, “… whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 14:12,16:7)

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Moreover, it is very true that 1 John 1:7 states, “… if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. ” This is because John 4:23-24 declares, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” In other words, we are fellowshipping and going closer to the Lord, if we are walking in the light and following the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of God (John 14:15-27) is able to make us to become the righteousness of God (Romans 8:1-4).

The Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

“My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Proverbs 23:19, Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Because Jesus Christ was sent into the world as an image of God (John 1:14) to be crucified for our sins once for all (Colossians 2:13-15)—we ought to become the righteousness of God (1 Peter 2:24-25, 2 Corinthians 5:21), for this is the reason why Jesus was crucified (Hebrews 2:14-15) as He is the way of the life and the truth (John 14:6). This is because He wants us to live truthful lives to the full (John 10:10) so that we are able to enter the kingdom of heaven, where we are supposed to belong (Genesis 1-2) satisfyingly and successfully. However, ‘satisfyingly and successfully’ does not mean in worldly ways, such as we get very rich, enough to buy everything that we want. Nevertheless, ‘satisfyingly and successfully’ in this context means to follow Jesus Christ fully with no doubts. Thus, for this reason, Jesus declares,

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. (Matthew 16:24-27)

Because following Jesus Christ would be too hard for us, due to the fact that we have been sinners (Romans 3:23)—God, the Creator (Genesis 1:1) and our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6) has given us His Word, which is in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and the Holy Spirit, which is in our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Thus, they can be our guidance to walk with Him until the end of the age. In addition to this, we do not have to feel afraid to follow the Lord. This is because the word of God states, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Furthermore, we do not even have to be scared of the Lord when we have sinned against Him as well, even though we feel guilty about not becoming the righteousness of God. This is because God is the forgiving God as well. Otherwise, we could not have been saved, due to the fact that He already knew that we are going to sin even if we have committed to be followers of Jesus Christ. Thus, when we truly repent before the Lord in our humilties, then God is able to forgive us and forget about our sins (Hebrews 8:12). This is why the word of God proclaims,

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)