God, the Judge, and Jesus Christ, the Intercessor!

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” – Romans 8:31-34 NIV

If we answer the questions in Romans 8:31-34 truthfully and honestly, we tend to think the world is way stronger than God, even though Jesus Christ is interceding for us at the right hand of God. This is because the world may harm us, tempt us, and give everything that we want. Therefore, we forget God, Jesus Christ and all of the godly stuff, such as reading the Bible and praying according God’s will, and then we abide into the world intimately. We do not like to be abandoned. It is our own nature.

However, we must remember that our God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. First, He is omnipotent (1 Chronicles 29:11) because He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1). Secondly, He is omniscient (Romans 11:33-36) because if He is the Creator, then He must know that how everything works out so we can say, “… we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) with confidence. Lastly, He is omnipresent (Hebrews 4:13) because the word of God repeats that God will never leave nor forsake us. In addition to this, when God saw all that He has made, including us, He declared that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Because of this and His great love for us, God came down from heaven into the earth as Jesus Christ to crucify Himself on the cross for our sins (John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:9-10). God wants to restore everything back into proper place. Therefore, He simply invites us to come to Him and rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). This is also because He knows that the world is going to burden us so much that we cannot cope on living our lives anymore (John 16:33).

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:21-31)

The world may condemn us for believing in Jesus Christ and it may even tempt us to deny Him (John 15:18-25). However, Jesus Christ holds the words of eternal life (John 6:68). In fact, He is the main source of eternal life (John 17:3). Therefore, we have to persevere the world’s condemnation and temptation for the sake of Jesus (James 1:2-4). This does not mean that we have to go to places where the persecutions happen, but it means to keep ourselves fully to open to evangelise others into Jesus Christ, who do not know and believe in Him (1 Peter 3:8-17). The main reason for this is that it is God’s Great Commission—to make Jesus’ disciples of every nation by preaching the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). It is our work to preach the gospel (2 Timothy 4:1-4), but it is the Spirit’s work that actually can save them spiritually (John 6:63-65). Acts 4:12 declares, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

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)

Jesus Christ, the Lord and the Saviour!

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV

Do you understand the power of God’s love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness—especially to those of us who have sinned purposely? When we think about it, it does not make sense. I was kind of addicted to television because I know that I have disobeyed the Spirit of God few times. The most recent one that I remember quite well was that I started to have passion to play one of the Pokemon games. This is probably because I used to watch Pokemon cartoons while I was having meals often. After a while, I got extremely bored that I needed to download the Pokemon game, in order to play it. Thus, I downloaded that game and simply prayed about the burden of my theological mind-set that I was having. I felt that I was not disobeying the Spirit, even though I was playing the game. However, as soon as I heard one of my favourite worship songs, ‘Jesus At the Center’ by Darlene Zschech, I knew that my heart was not centred on Jesus Christ. Because of this, I had to deleted the Pokemon game, even though I know that I am going to regret this. The main reason for this is that I do not want to live according to my worldly passions and I do not want to create idols, instead of pursuing the gospel of Jesus Christ and living according to the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16-17). This does not mean that we should not play any games at all but it is better to get rid of every worldly passions that they may become idols to us and replace the passion of Jesus Christ.

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. (1 John 2:15-17)

Simon Peter, the one of the disciples of Jesus, went back to his natural passion, which was being fisherman, after Jesus’ crucifixion.  Jesus Christ told Simon Peter and Andrew that they are going to be fish for people, which meant they are going to be missionaries and evangelists on the behalf of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:18-20). Thus, Jesus reminded Peter to be an evangelist by asking how much did Peter loved Jesus. Jesus asked three times whether Peter loved Him or not because He probably wanted to get into Peter’s core of the heart and make Himself as centred on it, that Peter would not be able to deny Him ever again (John 21).

The world tempts us to deny Jesus Christ, especially when we are facing persecutions because of Him (John 15:18-25). 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.” However, how can we deny Jesus Christ again once we have committed and surrendered to Him (Mark 8:34-38) and became the children of God (John 1:12-13), since Jesus was crucified on the cross for our sins (Colossians 2:13-15) and God has given us eternal life through Him (Hebrews 2:14-15)? When Jesus was crucified on the cross, God tore the curtain that has separated Him and us so that we may live in the presence of the Lord forever. We do not have to sacrifice animals anymore to be our offerings as substitutes for our sins. We can now simply confess our sins and pray to God when we sin (1 John 1:5-2:2) and become the righteousness of God in Christ’s name forever (2 Corinthians 5:21).  The main reason for these is that God has loved all of us from the beginning of creation and adopted us as His own children (Ephesians 1:4-6). In addition, when God saw all things that He has made, including creating us to be His image He declared that it was very good (Genesis 1). Therefore, God is definitely waiting us to have relationship with Him by having faith in Jesus Christ, since Jesus is the perfect image and representation of God (Colossians 1:15-23; Hebrews 1:1-3). “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 of these reasons, I am beyond thankful. Do you?

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 Light of God!

“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. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” – John 3:16-21 NIV

John 3:16 is probably the most famous and popular Bible verse of all times. We think it is normal that God is full of the grace and mercy, due to the fact that God has created us. Because of this, we believe it is okay to live according to our desires, pleasures, passions, and will as long as we are believing in Jesus Christ at the same time. Therefore, we think that believing in Jesus Christ is the main part of the legalistic ways to enter the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age. Secondly, we assume that if we live In the light all the time, then the Spirit is literally guiding us to walk with the Lord until the end of our lives. Hence, if we do not have moments of inspirations all the time, then we forget about God and walk in our own ways to be fully satisfied.

 Indeed, God is full of the mercy and grace (Psalm 103:8) and He has created everything for our enjoyment. However, we need to surrender ourselves to God as well by repenting before Him in prayer (2 Peter 3:8-9). The main reason  for this is that everything actually belongs to God (Colossians 1:16-20). Colossians 1:21 states that we have been alienated from God and enemies in our minds, due to the fact that we have denied Jesus Christ (John 16:8-11), who is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15), and went into our selfish ways. This is the exact reason that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for us—to bring us back together to God, our heavenly Father (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:22). God has created us to be His image (Genesis 1:27) and His children (Ephesians 1:4-6). Furthermore, when God saw all that He had made, He declared that it was very good and He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 1:31-2:1-3). Hence, Jesus declares,

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, 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)

Believing in Jesus Christ is not only believing about Him, but also trusting in Him until the end of the age. “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) When Jesus was crucified and resurrected (Luke 24:4-7), God has poured His Spirit into us, in order to help and guide us in walking with Him (John 16:7-15). Otherwise, following Jesus Christ is just going to be hard. Furthermore, believing about Him in a legalistic way is going to bring condemnation to us, due to the fact that there will be no sense of having freedom in Jesus Christ. This is probably because the Spirit of God is not only the Spirit of the truth, but the Spirit is the Spirit of the freedom as well (2 Corinthians 3:17). In addition, ‘walking in the light’ does not really mean of having moments of inspiration all the time. They are just the empowerment of the Spirit, but the Spirit of God does more work than giving us the empowerment. The Spirit allows us to stay an intimate relationship with God like fellowshipping with Him on daily basis (1 John 1:5-7).

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 Holy Life in Jesus Christ!

“He [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” – 2 Timothy 1:9-10 NIV

Most of us think that the holy life, which is God has called us to live, is filled of the wisdom, the love, the mercy, the grace, the forgiveness, the peace, the justice, the truth of God, etc.. Thus, we do not have to repent before God. We also believe that repenting before God is just for immature followers of Jesus Christ. Because of this, we get embarrassed around our brothers and sisters in Christ. We might even believe that we are not worthy enough to follow Jesus Christ until the end of the age. Therefore, we quit of being the follower of Jesus, and start to live in our old-fashioned way, according to our desires, passions, pleasures, and will.

Indeed, God wants us to live a holy life that is filled with His characteristic attributes. However, the very specific meaning of living our holy lives is just following the Spirit of God until the end of our physical lives. If we just live according to the Spirit of God, the fruit of the Spirit is probably going to fill us with its attributes (Galatians 5:22-25) in God’s timing (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Because of this, we have to be patient and while we are being patient, we have to live our lives according to the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ through faith (Philippians 1:27-29). The main reason for this is that through faith in Jesus the gospel of Jesus Christ are the main sources of living righteously before God in the Spirit (Colossians 1:21-23). Furthermore, repenting before God is not unworthy apology before Him. Rather, it is joyful apology before the Lord (Luke 15:1-7). In addition, God is the forgiving God, so He is able to forgive any transgressions and sins that we have made in anytime, due to the fact that Jesus has already paid them and our death penalty in full by crucifying Himself on the cross (1 John 1:9-2:2; Hebrews 9:23-26). These does not mean that we should sin purposely and repent in humility but we should confess repent before God often or always to strive in becoming more holy and godly than the previous ones (1 Peter 1:13-17; 2 Peter 1:3-11). This is probably part of the reason that 2 Peter 3:8-9 declares, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  

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)

Because God has already paid our sin and death penalty in full through Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-15) to give us freedom and eternal life (Hebrews 2:14-15), we should owe our lives back to God by surrendering our lives before Him (Mark 8:34-38) and commit ourselves to follow Him until the end of the age through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). If we are able to become the righteousness of God without Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, then Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross would be useless, pointless, and obsolete (Galatians 2:19-22). In fact, 1 John 2:15-17 urges us not to love the world nor any things of the world because the love of God is not in them and they are fading away at the end of our physical lives, but whoever pleases God and do the will of God is going to live forever. James 4:4-5, even, states that if we are a friend of the world, then we automatically become an enemy of God. The main reason for this is that we are stopping the Spirit of God from working powerfully within us. 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.”

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)

The Discipline of God!

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11 NIV

Most of us believe that moments of inspiration is the way how God motivates us to do His will, to listen to Him, and to follow His ways. When we do not have it, we just turn from Him and do our natural desires and passions. Moments of inspiration is amazing to receive within us because we are able to literally feel the presence of the Lord. Because of my first moment of inspiration, I got saved spiritually through faith in Jesus Christ. I strongly sensed that God was speaking to me through His Spirit that I have to know Jesus Christ more, due to the fact I was kind of religious side. I used to do all the church rituals but I did not know God at all. For instance, I became the greeter since I had came to the church early to volunteer in helping out to set the church up. I think the main reason that I became the greeter is to get approval from others and because I am a people-person.

Nevertheless, the main purpose that we receive moments of inspiration is that God wants to empower us to follow His ways through the Spirit, or He wants us to have visions of God that are telling us to live our lives properly that God wants us to. This does not mean that we should follow God only when the moments of inspiration is upon us. If we believe in Jesus Christ and surrender our lives to God, the Spirit of God automatically comes within us  and guide us to follow His ways until the end of the age (John 14:15-27).  Although the best method to follow the Spirit of God through our lives is to live our lives according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:27-28), the Spirit prompts us from time to time, in order to show what the will of God is and to make us to do certain things for the glory and the kingdom of God. After I became a true Christian in New York, I volunteered to be the greeter and usher. When I was greeting others in my home church, I felt that I was doing the greeting for the glory of God. When I was doing specific things for the ushering team and helping out with the offering, I also felt that I was building the kingdom of God through serving the congregation of my home-church. Although I was very exhausted on Sundays especially after I had meals in the restaurants with various church members, I do not regret any of the volunteering jobs that I did in my New York Church. Furthermore, I began to write devotionals for others around late 2013 as the Spirit of God has empowered me to write. When I write devotionals, I feel like I am doing the Great Commission through writing (Matthew 28:18-20), even though I do not  know how to evangelize others into Jesus in person properly.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6)

Furthermore, the method that God uses to discipline us through the Spirit is through various kinds of suffering (Hebrews 12:4-13). He allows them to come within us, in order to teach and change us into the way that He has designed us to be. Most of us do not like suffering. I do not like to have suffering either, to be honest. However, if suffering is for Jesus Christ, I am willing to suffer. James 1:2-4 declares, “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.” Therefore, we have to persevere every kind of suffering for Jesus Christ, especially if we desperately want to have eternal life through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:36-39).  Although I may not be persecuted for writing devotionals, I suffer through fatigue and tiredness, especially after I wash my face or have eaten a meal. I once thought that I should not wash my face when I am writing devotionals but since my mum wants me to wash my face and shower before she comes home from work, I have to wash my face and persevere my tiredness. After I had a breakfast or brunch, I  used to go to bad and fall asleep when fatigue comes along, even though I have not finished writing devotionals. When I woke up from nap, I always felt guilty in not persevering. Hence, I have decided that I am willing to persevere my fatigue, especially when I am writing devotionals. At first, I was horrible in keeping my promises and I do not go to bed when it comes along nowadays, even though I may fall asleep for few minutes in the chair. Furthermore, I, sometimes, do not want to write devotionals at all so I have to endure in this as well, since writing devotionals is the will of God for me. Lastly, I felt completely boredom and felt that my head was going to explode, that I cannot concentrate at anything, because of the theological mind-set. I think God used these to discipline me to pray more. I love to pray for persecuted churches, even before God has disciplined me. Now, I think the Spirit is leading me to pray for my church more.

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)