The Future Starts Now - for US and THEM

1 Peter 4:12-19

Inspired thots:

1) For God's people
~ v17 Judgment begins with God's people ~> discipline; molding to be more like God
~ may not be pleasant but necessary
~ a preparation for the future
~ positive inclination

2) For those who dont know God
~ to pray for their salvation.
~ if not saved, worse judgment for them than for God's people
~ negative inclination

Hence, it is alright for God's people to undergo discipline for our betterment to prepare ourselves for the eternal future.
But, how sad for the suffering of those who dont know Jesus as Lord and Savior?
Pray for their salvation. Give them the chance I had.

Letting God Work THROUGH Me

John 3:1-21

Inspired thots:

1) It is an irony that Man thinks he does NOT know, or does NOT want to know, or THINKS he knows ~ but he doesnt.

Previously, the Jews questioned Jesus over His authority to perform miracles; they didnt know.
Now, Nicodemus thinks he knows just because Jesus performed miracles; but the bible did warn us that Christians can be deceived by the devil who can perform miracles too. (2 Thess 2:9) ~ albeit 'counterfeit miracles'.

So let me not be proud of what I can do but only allow God to do it through me...

2) Nicodemus was perplexed at Jesus' statement of being BORN AGAIN. 'How can...?' our common unbelief query; maybe an indication of our limited understanding of the things of God!
It is definitely a case of 2 very different worlds ~ earth and Heaven ~ although Jesus has taught and mentioned them. The things of the world must be kept on the earth while the things of God are heaven-bound; so the case of BORN AGAIN ~ Salvation. Thus, a 2nd birth!

3) Only those of that kind can 'speak of what they know', 'testify to what they have seen' (v11). 'Only the one FROM that place' can tell what it really is like. How true! For example, a Chinese will not really understand a European and vice-versa eventhough each may claim otherwise, unless they were raised up or lived with that culture for a long period. Thus, Christians need to start living with God to know more about Him than the earth which they had been living in. It's like being a migrant!

4) What strikes me MOST is that the man who does God's will, will step out into the light and he shall be seen for what he HAS DONE and that HAS BEEN DONE through God! Our deeds or works are recognizable by others when we allow God to work in us; and if it is God working in us, we shall not hide about it but stand up and out with it; compared to the devil's or self.
Amazing!

Little Ones (all kinds) are Precious

Matthew 18:5-6,10-14

Inspired thots

How timely! How appropriate! Today's memoir is slightly different as it is really personal.

I am in the midst of preparing for a children's camp this weekend, and with some slight self 'discontention', the Lord spoke through these words. The children whom I would be ministering to, are precious to my Lord; and having been in SS for umpteen years, they should be too, to me.

You see, these are the OA children, and very often, they are disregarded by 'society'. And I would be ministering... not in English..., hmm... it may not even be BM, if the OA are illiterate? So, it was a 'discontenting' thought as I was 'informed' of the responsibility quite late. It's gonna be a challenge (I think!) But yes, Lord. I release myself and all discontentions to You, so that I may be a cleansed and noble instrument to Your glory. Praise God for His inspiring lesson plans and getting together all the resources for this weekend.

The 3 verses to summarise are:

• v5 'And whoever welcomes a little child like this (OA) in my name, welcomes me (Jesus)'
• v10 'See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven'. (oops, 'a gentle rebuke' from the Lord as reminder)
• v14 ' ...Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost'

I shall claim Phil 4:13,19 together with the above 3 verses for this weekend to make it an impactful one.

This one is for YOU, Lord! Maranatha!

HE thought about us

Matthew 9:9-13


Inspired thots:

1) Jesus doesnt stop calling on people to be His disciples.

i) Though he started calling His FIRST disciples in Chp 4 (Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John), He is always looking for people who will be His disciples.

ii) Even after all the many people who come to Him for healing from chp 4-8, Jesus calls Matthew to 'follow Him' (v9). And Praise God, Matthew was quick to respond.

iii) Blessings follow those who follow Jesus (supping with Jesus) though persecution may also be close by (Pharisees sneering and criticising)

2) v12 "It is NOT the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" ~ so true.

i) Health is not just the 'physical' but the 'spiritual' too. The Pharisees did not realise they were 'spiritually' unhealthy. They did not want to acknowledge WHO Jesus was, yet they want to 'see' WHAT He was doing. And ... critic Jesus on the good He did! What spiritual rottenness of the soul.

3) v13 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'.

i) Jesus recalls the OT teaching to help the Pharisees and people understand His purpose on earth. Jesus uses familiar words and references to His hearers that they may understand and acknowledge Him.

ii) After all, To God (& Jesus), its all about MAN! (John 3:16)

4) v13 'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners'

i) Jesus knows MAN is a sinner; no one is righteous (Rom 3:10,11; Ps 14) except that which Man declares himself.

ii) Jesus came in the flesh because God knows no MAN can be righteous except through Jesus. Praise the LORD!

iii) Yet, man tends to think of himself... ~ self-righteous, conceited, foolish in God's eyes (Romans 1:21)