God, our First Priority!

‘You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,

“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”

And,

“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.’ – Hebrews 10:36-39 NIV

Hebrews 10:36-39 relates to everybody—not just for those who face various kinds of trials or persecutions, etc.. Most of us put God as our second or last priority in life. We tend to get all things sorted out, and then serve Him. This is because we believe that God always understands everything of what we are going through (Isaiah 40:28) and we think it is okay to serve Him last out of our priorities. The main reason for these is because of the steadfast love of God. Yes, God has His steadfast love over us and He completely understands of everything that we are going through at the moment, due to the fact that He knows everything (Romans 11:33-36), but God is more pleased when we serve Him and glorify His name first. This is because the main reason that we are in this world is to worship God and glorify His name out of all things in our lives (Colossians 1:16-20). Thus, when we think about putting our God as second or last priority in our lives, it is possible that we face every kind of trials when temptations come. However, when they come to us, we must win over them as temptations are of devil and God always provides the way to escape them (1 Corinthians 10:13). This is only possible when we obey the first commandment of God, which is loving Him with all of our souls, hearts, minds, and strength (Mark 12:30).

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:2-8)

Therefore, we have to overcome the world (1 John 5:1-5), for “we know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19) The main reason for this is that the desires of our worldly nature are contrary to the desires of the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17). This is true because if we serve the world with money, then we do not have any time to serve God unless we are intending to serve Him through money, such as creating orphanages, providing financially for missions of the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:19-24), etc.. Thus, for this reason, we have to have to focus on the will of God, and put Him as our first priority, if we are going to serve God and follow Jesus Christ until the end of the age (Colossians 3:1-4), as Jesus is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15).

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:28-33)

Living in Jesus Christ!

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6-7 ESV

Many of us would go to churches to serve Jesus Christ enthusiastically only Sundays by volunteering every kinds of church work, or we go to religious events—just to serve the Lord. We may even serve Him full devotedly, only when we feel empowerment from the Spirit of God. This is because we have not yet surrendered before Christ to follow Him until the end of the age. However, the truth is that all of us need to surrender our lives before Him (Galatians 2:19-21) because all of us actually have been created by God, to be His image (Genesis 1:27). “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) In addition to this, the actual reason why we are in this world is to worship God, the Almighty, in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-23). God wants to see us worshiping only Him throughout of our lives—until the end of the age (Romans 6:8-23), since He is also the Creator (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1) and our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Secondly, we have to know that the world is full of sin as the world urges us to know that we are our own savior and lord. It is not like we are not supposed to enjoy worldly things throughout our lives; we can enjoy them but we must not get addicted to them. This is because 1 John 2:15-17 calls us not to love the world since the love of God is not in them and all of worldly things are passing and fading away, even though God has created them. The main reason why that God has created them is to help us to do the will of God, such as blessing and serving God and others through them (Matthew 6:19-24). Since all of us have been created to be the image of God, we are called to be the salt and the light of Jesus Christ to the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

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)

Furthermore, if we want to truly be established in the faith of Jesus Christ, it is not only necessary to abide in the Spirit of God (John 14:15-27; Romans 8:1-17) but we also have to get in the Word of God as well. This is because the Word of God is full of Christ’s teachings (Psalm 119) and it is able to help us to become the righteousness of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 1:16-17). “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)

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)

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)

The Eternal and Unshakable Kingdom!

‘See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” – Hebrews 12:25-28 NIV

If we want to possess kingdoms, we have to fight for them against nations with all of our strength and might, and then when we have possessed them, we have to protect them with all kinds of security—just in case, if the other nations want to have them again as their ultimate possessions. Thus, for this reason, kingdoms are able to be only obtained by every kind of war. They even can be places and material items that we treasure. Nevertheless, these worldly kingdoms come and go. Yet, there is the eternal kingdom of heaven that is waiting for us, especially for those who follow Jesus Christ until the end of the age as their ultimate treasure (Philippians 3:18-21; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5). The kingdom of heaven is eternal because it is made by God (Genesis 1:1) and God is currently waiting for us to get in, due to the fact that He is our heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:6). Furthermore, this eternal kingdom of heaven cannot be shaken. In addition to this, when we enter this kingdom at the end of the age, our heavenly Father is going to wipe every tear from our eyes, and there is never going to be death, mourning, crying and pain (Revelation 21:4).

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46)

Therefore, since Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life to the eternal kingdom of heaven, we have to believe in Jesus Christ until the age. This is because He is the perfect image of God (John 14:1-11). “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) Because following Jesus Christ until the end of the age is too hard for us, God has poured His Spirit into us after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. This is because the Spirit of God (Ezekiel 36:26-27) also is—the Spirit of the truth (John 16:7-15), the Spirit of the life (John 6:63), the Spirit of the freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17) and the Spirit of the holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1). Therefore, when we believe in Jesus Christ, we have to obey the Spirit of God to do His will (John 14:15-27) until the end of the age (Matthew 7:21-23). In fact, the eternal life has already come to those of us who have repented all of their sins (Acts 2:38-39; Acts 3:19-20), including not believing in Jesus (John 16:8-11), and is going to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and follow Him until the end of the age, even though we have to go through the narrow road that God has provided for us (Matthew 7:13-14). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 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  8:1-17)

Furthermore, there is the Word of God available to us, to help us become the righteousness of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 1:16-17). God has created His Word through the apostles and prophets (2 Peter 1:20-21) for us to talk with us through it. “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)

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 Grateful Heart!

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” – Psalm 105:1-4 NIV

Most of us would give thanks to the Lord when moments of blessing happen and we may blame Him when terrible or bad moments happen. It is necessary to give thanks to the Lord when moments of blessing happen and it is necessary to give thanks to others, if they took parts in them. However, God wants us to feel gratitude over Him all the time that we begin to tell others of His wonderful and mighty acts, that He has done towards us. Out of all of God’s blessings in life, the main reason that we always should feel gratitude over Him for is that we may be able to get saved spiritually if we put our trust in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9) and truly repent for not believing in Jesus Christ and for all of the sins that we committed before Him (Acts 2:28-39; Acts 3:19-20). This is because God has loved us so much that He sent His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ as an image of Himself (Colossians 1:15), into the world (John 1:14) to crucify Himself on the cross as an atonement of our sins (Colossians 2:13-15). In addition to this, He has given us eternal life through Jesus Christ, instead of death since sin leads us into it (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57). The main reason for these is that we have been created by God to be His image (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29-30) and that He wants to restore everything back to the “normal” of how He has intended the Kingdom world to be (Genesis 1-2).

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. (John 3:16-17)

Furthermore, we should rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4) with the hope of God (1 Peter 1:3-9) for the fact that we are able to discern what the will of God is for our lives through the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:15-18), even though we are still on this world (Romans 12:1-2). In addition, there is the Word of God to keep us accountable and in the right track (Philippians 1:27-29), to be the righteousness of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). “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)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 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 8:1-17)

As for me, I have been wanting to tell everyone that there is more life to them than there already is by following Jesus Christ, and that there is eternal kingdom of heaven that God has been preparing for us, which will happen at the end of the age (John 14:1-7) Luckily, God has given me an amazing spiritual gift that I am able to influence and encourage others spiritually by writing devotionals. Therefore, my dream is to be a Christian Writer, so that I may be able to influence and encourage others all day long by writing devotionals, short books, novels, etc. I actually do not know that I am able to write spiritually other than devotionals but I trust the Holy Spirit is going to empower me to do so. Furthermore, I am beyond blessed for the fact that I now am able to build the bridge between the Bible and the culture world. This is because everybody other than Christians may be able to understand how Kingdom life really works and what it really is.

Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only one who has the authority to decide dates and times. They are not for you to know. But the Holy Spirit will come on you and give you power. You will be my witnesses. You will tell people everywhere about me—in Jerusalem, in the rest of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.” (Acts 1:7-8)

Living As God’s Chosen People, Holy and Dearly Loved!

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:12-15 NIV

The world urges us to love only the ones who has loved us, not to forgive our enemies, take revenge at our enemies and do whatever it is comfortable in our hearts, such as looking to our own interests before searching interests of others. If we feel completely comfortable and satisfied, then we can take time to make others feel comfortable and satisfied, the same way as we feel. However, the peace of Christ is completely opposite to the peace of the world (John 14:27). To experience and have the peace of Christ in our lives, we really have to unite with one another from our souls, hearts and minds (Philippians 2:1-2), and there must be no divisions between others and us (1 Corinthians 1:10). This is because each one of us are members of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27). This means we are like broken pieces of His body. Therefore, all of us ought to be one in Christ as God and Jesus are one, and as Christians are not meant to live and doing life alone. We need community. For instance, if we fall into sin without realizing it, then we may live our Christian lives wrong way according how God wants them to be and there would be nobody to bring us back to Jesus Christ if there is no community around us (Galatians 6:1-2). Overall, the peace of Christ means not only we are able to feel comfortable and satisfied but it also means having God, the first and foremost (Philippians 4:6-7), and having community to depend on while we are living Christian lives (Romans 12:4-5).

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

One of the best characteristic attributes and virtues that all of us need to have is love. This is because God is love (1 John 4:7-8) and love is able to cover a multitude of sins up (1 Peter 4:8). This is the reason why loving with one another is the law of the Spirit (Romans 13:8-10). When we think deeply about this, love really can cover over a multitude of sins because of Jesus Christ. Because of the love of God, Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for our sins to pay our death penalty on Himself (Hebrews 2:14-15). Romans 5:6-8 declares, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Hence, we have to show the same kind of the love, the mercy and the grace of God to our enemies as Jesus did, if we want to be the children of God, the Most High (Luke 6:27-36).

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)

The Spirit-filled Living!

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” – Ephesians 5:15-18 NIV

All of us have been created to be the image of God (Genesis 1:27) but since Satan, the enemy of God, has deceived us (Revelation 12:7-9), we fell into temptation to be sinners by falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). John 16:8-11 states that not believing in Jesus Christ is indeed sin since He is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15). This is because if we do not believe in Him, then we do not know where humans have been actually come from. This is the exact reason why Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross and resurrected to reveal the love of God to us (1 John 4:9-10; Romans 5:6-8). In addition to this, God has given us eternal life through Jesus Christ instead of the death, since sin leads us into it (Romans 6:23) Therefore, we have to repent for not believing in Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:2), and then believing in Jesus until the end of the age (John 3:16-18).

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)

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)

As we are believing in Jesus Christ, we ought to overcome the world as well (1 John 5:1-5). This is because the world urges us to think we are our own saviour. The world even think that everyone has to literally be perfect in everything by our deeds to enter the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age. In addition to this, the desires of the Spirit of God are not able to go with the worldly ones, due to the fact that they are contrary to each other (Galatians 5:17). Matthew 6:24 can be the best explanation for this. This is because the desires of the world is all about money due to the fact that money enables us to buy everything that we desire and want. If we focus on the world too much, then we do not have time to serve God because our natural desires never end.  Thus, for this reason, we have to crucify our desires from the flesh to serve God by keeping in step with the desires of the Spirit, and to really belong to Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:24-25) In other words, we should always be filled with the Spirit of God to serve Him until the end of the age. However, most of us easily be mistaken with “inspirational moments” and the filled in the Spirit of God. They seem to be similar, they are different. The “inspirational moments” are the empowerment of the Spirit of God to do everything for His purposes and for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). The “inspirational moments” even can be visions of God that tells us what the will of God is for our lives. Nevertheless, we always can be filled with the Spirit of God to do everything for His purposes and for His glory by changing our mind-sets from our own nature into the nature of God (Colossians 3:1-4).  

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel… (Colossians 1:15-23)

The True Salvation!

“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 NIV

The world urges us to get into highest place as possible through our careers or in everything that we do for our lives. Religion works kind of world’s way as well but in  order to please God. Nevertheless, we want something more, even though if we are in top-level of everything and want to get spiritual nourishment through our bodies to confirm that we have been saved by God. However, the truth is that we are going to never get satisfied physically and spiritually by doing every kind of work. Only way to be truly satisfied and to get saved spiritually and physically, it is by turning to Jesus Christ through faith and by doing the will of God in full devotion until the end of the age (Ephesians 2:8-10). This is because Jesus is the way of the truthful life (John 14:6), faith and deeds are working together (James 2:14-26) and the way to please God is by having faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6) Hence, Jesus Christ pronounces,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Earth is not our eternal home but the kingdom of heaven is (Philippians 3:18-21). The main reason for this is that God has created humans in His eternal kingdom (Genesis 1:26-Genesis 2). However, all of us have sinned by falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) because of Satan, the enemy of God (Revelation 12:7-9), who tries to put us into death at the end of the age (Romans 5:12-14). John 16:8-11 states that not believing Jesus Christ is indeed sin, because if we do not believe in Him, then we deny the fact that God has created us since Jesus is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15) Therefore, all of us have to repent our sins because the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2). In addition, we have to believe in Jesus Christ with all of our souls, hearts and minds to get eternally saved (John 3:16-18; 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) When we repent and start to accept and believe Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then the Spirit of God begins to work within us (Acts 2:38-39; Acts 3:19-20) for His purposes and His glory (John 14:15-27). In addition to this, we automatically become the children of God (John 1:12-13), due to the fact that all of us actually been created to be the image of God (Genesis 1:27). “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)

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 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 8:1-17)

The Prayer!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:4-8 NIV

The world is full of suffering emotionally, mentally and physically. Most of us come to church and pray real earnestly for sufferings to go away, and then we stay in intimate relationship with the Lord daily or we tend to live our lives originally like how it was before. This is because we think that God is some kind of a magical genie, who grants any wish that we prayed for. However, the truth is that God is not a magical genie and prayers do not work like that. Matthew 6:25-34 states that God tells us not to worry about anything because He knows everything (Romans 11:33-36) that we need, and He would be always willingly give them to us (Romans 8:32). Nevertheless, He does not want to give us anything that we may spend them on our own pleasures (James 4:3). He wants to give us everything that we currently need for His purpose and His glory and (Philippians 4:19). “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17)

Therefore, since everything is created through Jesus Christ and for Him (Psalm 24:1), we have to focus on Him rather than ourselves (Colossians 3:3-4) so that we may ask for His glory and His Kingdom to be magnified (Psalm 34:3). We should transform our mind-sets from this worldly nature into the nature of God (Romans 12:2), so that we would be willing to pray before Him according to the will of God. This is exactly what prayers are about  (1 John 4:14-15)—in order to do His will until the end of the age for His glory and His kingdom (Matthew 7:21). In addition, this is also the reason why Apostle Paul urges us to rejoice in everything that God has done and what is yet to come (Philippians 4:4-5) by having positive mind-sets (Philippians 4:8). “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) In fact, worry is sin as it can fall into anxiety and then depression. This is because if we are depressed about living our lives, then we are ignoring the power of God (1 Chronicles 29:11-12). In addition to this, there would be no point on living our lives anymore, due to the fact that all of us have been created to be the image of God (Genesis 1:27). “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)

                                                                                                                                 

Very truly I tell you, 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. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:12-14)

Christ-living!

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:20-21 NIV

The context of Philippians 1:20-21 is of Apostle Paul being in the chains for the Gospel of Jesus Christ but Philippians 1:20-21 is still the same kind of the hope of God (1 Peter 1:3-9) that Christians need to have in today’s culture. This is because many of them are falling away because of every kind of suffering they need to go through as followers of Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:24-27), or they choose Him to be some kind of a magical genie to live comfortable and satisfying lives. However, the truth is that He is not a magical genie, who makes our lives comfortable and satisfied, because He urges us to go through narrow and hard road if we want to have eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14). The main reason for this is that most of us think everything is about us and believe that God has spread His love throughout the world, to live our lives that we want and bring us back into eternal kingdom of heaven. I was kind of like that while I was in New York. This was because I feel that I want to be satisfied and happy by inviting my friends to my important events of celebration, such as my 21^st, 22^nd and Baptism. After a while, I realized that everything is actually for Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:15-18 points out that Jesus is the perfect image of God and he was crucified so that He has been able to be the firstborn among the dead and he might gain supremacy over everything, including us. This is because all of us have been created by God to be His image (Genesis 1:27). “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)

Secondly, Philippians 1:20-21 reminds us that we need to be so passionate for Jesus Christ, that we would be willing to sacrifice ourselves to do everything for Him and for His eternal kingdom. This is because Romans 12:11 states, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” However, these does not mean that we must keep our spiritual routines that we do everyday, even though we are very tired. It is good to read the word of God and pray daily as we can but we are not meant to do them legally or self-righteously. To be honest, I was like that few weeks ago or confused between self-righteousness and devotion. I was so passionate for Jesus Christ that I used to sleep very late around 1-2 am because of prayer and Bible-reading and reading other online devotionals. In addition, I try to wake up early as well like 7 am to write devotionals. Nonetheless, I realized that I was doing too much that I was not able to wake up around 7-8 am because of tiredness. Therefore, I decided to divide prayer requests that I need to pray for, so that I can wake up early to write devotionals. Nonetheless, I am still struggling at the moment but I feel that I am walking by the Spirit of God (John 14:15-27). Following Jesus Christ by obeying the Holy Spirit is the most important of all because the word of God declares, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatianns 5:24-26)

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:19-21)

Jesus Christ, the Way of the Truth and the Life!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” – John 14:1-4,6-7 NIV

The world is full of suffering.  Because of this, most of us come to Jesus and pray for our suffering to go away. After our suffering is gone, some of us stay of being connected to Jesus Christ because we feel that the Spirit of God is powerfully working and moving within us (Romans 8:28). However, some of us deny that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour and return how they were living in—right after suffering is gone. The truth is that we need to stay of being connected to Jesus Christ until the end of the age, even though sufferings can still happen. This is because He proclaims that He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). In addition to this, God wants to make our worldly citizenship into the heavenly one but He cannot do this unless we begin to accept and believe in Jesus Christ with all of our heart (Philippians 3:18-21). The main reason for this is that we are not the children of God if we do not accept believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour (John 1:12-13), and all of us actually have been sinning (Romans 5:12-14) by falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) John 16:8-11 states that not believing in Jesus Christ is indeed sin. If we do not believe in Him, then we basically deny the fact that all of us have been created by God. This is because Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God, and everything is created through Him and for Him. Jesus Christ was crucified in the flesh, so that He has been the firstborn who was raised from the dead, and therefore, He might gain supremacy (Colossians 1:15-18). “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)

In fact, when we enter the eternal kingdom of heaven from the end of the age, God is going to wipe every tear from our eyes, such as from our physical death, pain and mourning (Revelation 21:4). Therefore, since Jesus Christ is a mediator between God and human (1 Timothy 2:5), we need to believe in Jesus Christ until the end of the age, to enter the eternal kingdom of heaven (John 3:16-18).

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. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” (1 Peter 1:13-17)

The Plan of God!

‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”’ – Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

The context of Jeremiah 29:11-13 is for the Isarelites who were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. However these verses relate to us today, especially for those of us who are worried about future. This is because God knows everything (Romans 11:33-36)—the past, the present and the future—since God is Righteous Creator (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1) and the word of God states, ‘“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) Therefore, we have to put our trust in Him, as Proverbs 3:5-8 declares,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

This does not mean that we have to give up everything and become missionaries, since God has given us the Great Commission to do (Matthew 28:18-20) and all of us have actually been created to be His image (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29-30). What God really cares about is that whether we are going to spend our wages or salaries for His glory and His eternal kingdom. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17) In addition to this, all of us have to be Christians who evangelize people to Jesus Christ—wherever we are at (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:7-14)

Furthermore, worry is sin if concern fell into worry as worry leads us into anxiety and then depression. This is because if we fell into depression, we might think there is going to be no point in living our lives anymore. This is probably the reason why the word of God states, “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) Therefore, let us put our trust in Him and go with flow of the Spirit of God as Romans 8:28 proclaims, “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

As for me, I am concerned about my future—how to provide myself and others financially, even though I want to be a Christian Writer. This is because I know that being a Christian Writer is the will of God for me, due to the fact that the Holy Spirit is leading me in the knowledge of God as I start to write devotionals. I just want to hear that others are being encouraged spiritually everyday. I actually have no idea how to become a Christian Writer but I trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding me right now and forevermore. 

God, the Rescuer!

“For he [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14 NIV

The main reason why God sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as an image of Himself into the world (John 1:14) to crucify Himself on the cross as an atonement of our sins is that He wants to make us the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) and He wants to change our final destination from eternal place of death into the eternal kingdom of heaven. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This means that only by believing in Him, we have eternal life (John 3:16-18) because all of us have sinned (Romans 5:12-14) and fell short of glory of God (Romans 3:23). John 16:8-12 states that it is sin when we do not believe in Jesus Christ. When we think about this in Kingdom perspective, this makes sense, especially when we realize that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for us. This is because when we do not believe in Him even though we know the fact that He was crucified for us, we deny the fact that God has His steadfast love for us (Romans 5:6-8) and that He has created us to be His image (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29-30). Most of us think that if they keep doing good deeds until the end of the age, they are going to enter the kingdom of heaven. They might even think that in whatever they do—good or bad—God will understand every circumstance and situation, due to His steadfast love. However, the truth is that just doing good deeds until the end of the age is not good enough to enter the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age. The requirement to enter the kingdom of heaven at the end of age is that we must believe in Jesus Christ until the end of the age (John 11:25-26). This is the reason why Jesus proclaims, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (Colossians 1:15-22)

Therefore, since Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected for us so we can live eternally, let us live for Him and His eternal kingdom by accepting Christ and believing in Him, and becoming the children of God (John 1:12-13). This is because Christian-living is what pleases the Lord (Hebrews 11:6), even though this living gate may be difficult to go through sometimes (Matthew 7:13-14). “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:18-21)

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10)