In the Leviticus 2:13, the people of Israel were commanded to always season their grain offerings with salt. more specifically, the salt of the covenant of their God. The salt was to remind them of the covenant with God.
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth. In the following verses, Jesus calls us the light of the world, a city on a hill, a candle on a candlestick. We are supposed to shine in this world so that men can see our good works and glorify God.
The Old Testament concealed, is in the New Testament revealed. Just as the salt was sprinkled on the grain offering to remind the Israelites of their covenant with God, we are the salt of the earth and our purpose is to remind the world of God's New Covenant. We have been sprinkled all over the world to season the world and remind the world of the sacrifice of the Cross of Calvary. We are to call everyone, compelling them to come and enter into this awesome New Covenant with God through the sacrifice of his body, Jesus. We are to shine as beacons of hope in a dark world.
So shine, people of God!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Follow the Cloud
Exodus 40:36-37
Decision making can be a tricky process. Tension builds as the decision looms closer and closer. The bigger the decision, the greater the tension. As the tension increases, so does blood pressure.
Where do I go next? What should I do? Is this job the right one for me? Is she the one? What is my calling? How should I discipline my children? Should I keep praying or should I go do the chores?
Life is full of questions and decisions of all shapes and sizes and it's easy to get overwhelmed sometimes. However, I think there is a great principle that we can learn from the way the Israelites did business in the wilderness. They followed the pillar of cloud and fire, without hestitation. If the cloud stayed, they stayed. If the pillar started lifting in the middle of the night, they started packing and got ready to move. The people of Israel didn't move an inch until God commanded it. The people Israel didn't stop moving until God commanded it.
We need to be mindful of the pillar of cloud and fire in our lives. If it's not visible, maybe the reason is that we're facing the wrong way and we need to do an about-face (repent). Perhaps the reason we don't see the cloud sometimes is that we aren't looking for it. Or maybe it's because we've wandered too far afield of God's purpose for our lives because we didn't stop when he said to; or maybe you stopped too early. If you have received direction for your life in the past but haven't heard anything for a while, it could be that God just wants to see how well you can follow his direction without prodding.
Keep the cloud in sight and don't lose track of the fire. Otherwise, you'll end up lost in the wasteland.
How do we keep track of the fire? Well, what did the Israelites do? They meticulously maintained their tabernacle every day. In the New Covenant (New Testament), the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine daily, and in fellowship. Continue reading the Word of God, praying, learning from your spiritual leaders and mentors, bearing one another's burdens, and the cloud will be much easier to track.
Decision making can be a tricky process. Tension builds as the decision looms closer and closer. The bigger the decision, the greater the tension. As the tension increases, so does blood pressure.
Where do I go next? What should I do? Is this job the right one for me? Is she the one? What is my calling? How should I discipline my children? Should I keep praying or should I go do the chores?
Life is full of questions and decisions of all shapes and sizes and it's easy to get overwhelmed sometimes. However, I think there is a great principle that we can learn from the way the Israelites did business in the wilderness. They followed the pillar of cloud and fire, without hestitation. If the cloud stayed, they stayed. If the pillar started lifting in the middle of the night, they started packing and got ready to move. The people of Israel didn't move an inch until God commanded it. The people Israel didn't stop moving until God commanded it.
We need to be mindful of the pillar of cloud and fire in our lives. If it's not visible, maybe the reason is that we're facing the wrong way and we need to do an about-face (repent). Perhaps the reason we don't see the cloud sometimes is that we aren't looking for it. Or maybe it's because we've wandered too far afield of God's purpose for our lives because we didn't stop when he said to; or maybe you stopped too early. If you have received direction for your life in the past but haven't heard anything for a while, it could be that God just wants to see how well you can follow his direction without prodding.
Keep the cloud in sight and don't lose track of the fire. Otherwise, you'll end up lost in the wasteland.
How do we keep track of the fire? Well, what did the Israelites do? They meticulously maintained their tabernacle every day. In the New Covenant (New Testament), the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine daily, and in fellowship. Continue reading the Word of God, praying, learning from your spiritual leaders and mentors, bearing one another's burdens, and the cloud will be much easier to track.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Who Is Your Successor?
Exodus 35:34 - And the Lord has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others.
Along with your gift comes the responsibility to teach others. This is known in the corporate world as "Succession Planning".
In the church of God, succession planning is just as important as in the corporate world. In fact, I dare say that succession planning is infinitely more important in the Church than in business. We all need a mentor, and we all need to mentor. How else will we pass along our learned wisdom to those of similar gifting?
Learning by osmosis is not an effective means of mentoring. It's not enough just to have a successor watch you. It's vital that you interact with your successor and actively impart your knowledge, skill and wisdom.
Take the time, it's worth it.
Along with your gift comes the responsibility to teach others. This is known in the corporate world as "Succession Planning".
In the church of God, succession planning is just as important as in the corporate world. In fact, I dare say that succession planning is infinitely more important in the Church than in business. We all need a mentor, and we all need to mentor. How else will we pass along our learned wisdom to those of similar gifting?
Learning by osmosis is not an effective means of mentoring. It's not enough just to have a successor watch you. It's vital that you interact with your successor and actively impart your knowledge, skill and wisdom.
Take the time, it's worth it.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Don't Say Anything
Matthew 26.64 (NLT)
All Jesus had to do was keep quiet and no one would have been able to condemn him. But he was so committed to going to the Cross for the sins of the World, that he expedited the process by speaking words he knew the High Priest would interpret as blasphemy. They were true words, but they were condemning words.
Jesus spoke up in order to fulfill prophecy and take the sins of the world upon himself. We should also be willing to speak up and be a bright light in a dark world. It may cost us some ridicule and mockery, but it cost Jesus far more than that. Christians in nations around the world are speaking up for the Gospel at risk of their lives. We in North America have no excuse.
Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right handt and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
All Jesus had to do was keep quiet and no one would have been able to condemn him. But he was so committed to going to the Cross for the sins of the World, that he expedited the process by speaking words he knew the High Priest would interpret as blasphemy. They were true words, but they were condemning words.
Jesus spoke up in order to fulfill prophecy and take the sins of the world upon himself. We should also be willing to speak up and be a bright light in a dark world. It may cost us some ridicule and mockery, but it cost Jesus far more than that. Christians in nations around the world are speaking up for the Gospel at risk of their lives. We in North America have no excuse.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Mature Wisdom
Prov 8:13 - All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.
We learn early in Proverbs that the fear (or reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.
Prov 8:13 says that all who fear the Lord hate evil (corruption). So those beginning their journey towards finding wisdom, evidenced by their reverence of God, are instinctively repulsed by evil.
However, wisdom says, according to Prov 8:13, "I not only hate evil, but I hate pride, arrogance and perverse speech". Newborn wisdom hates evil. Mature wisdom hates pride, arrogance, evil and perverse speech.
You can tell how mature someone is by the way they act. Do they have a potty-mouth? Are they always gossiping about someone? Are they self-absorbed? Arrogant and condescending? If so, they're still learning wisdom.
We learn early in Proverbs that the fear (or reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.
Prov 8:13 says that all who fear the Lord hate evil (corruption). So those beginning their journey towards finding wisdom, evidenced by their reverence of God, are instinctively repulsed by evil.
However, wisdom says, according to Prov 8:13, "I not only hate evil, but I hate pride, arrogance and perverse speech". Newborn wisdom hates evil. Mature wisdom hates pride, arrogance, evil and perverse speech.
You can tell how mature someone is by the way they act. Do they have a potty-mouth? Are they always gossiping about someone? Are they self-absorbed? Arrogant and condescending? If so, they're still learning wisdom.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Kingdom Work Versus Prayer Time
Matthew 14:10, Matthew 14:13-14 and Matthew 14:19-23
Jesus had just heard sad news that his cousin, John the Baptist, had just been beheaded. Jesus must have felt grief, and thus retreated to be alone with his disciples. However, his retreat was interrupted by throngs of people needing his ministry, so he had compassion on them, put his feelings aside and ministered to them. Great miracles were performed, including the famous "Feeding of the Five Thousand" miracle every mature Christian has heard about.
Afterward, he retreated to be alone and pray. This time, he sent away the disciples too. In fact, I believe this was the reason he retreated in the first place: to pray. This time, he made sure he wouldn't be interrupted.
Jesus didn't let work, even important Kingdom Work, get in the way of his prayer time. If Jesus, who provided us an example of how to live, didn't let anything keep him from alone time with God, then I need to be the same way.
I know how it feels when I miss my alone prayer time. It feels like I'm empty somehow, like I'm missing something important. When I do make time to pray, I wonder why I don't pray more often. God always meets with me when I give him time to meet with me.
Much like physical exercise, spiritual exercise (prayer, bible study) has a negative stigma. Before I start doing either type of exercise, I feel draggy and weary. It's like I'm expecting it to be a torture session. I think all of us are preconditioned by our human nature to feel that way. But when I start, and I'm in the middle of just doing it, I wonder why I don't do it more often.
Jesus had just heard sad news that his cousin, John the Baptist, had just been beheaded. Jesus must have felt grief, and thus retreated to be alone with his disciples. However, his retreat was interrupted by throngs of people needing his ministry, so he had compassion on them, put his feelings aside and ministered to them. Great miracles were performed, including the famous "Feeding of the Five Thousand" miracle every mature Christian has heard about.
Afterward, he retreated to be alone and pray. This time, he sent away the disciples too. In fact, I believe this was the reason he retreated in the first place: to pray. This time, he made sure he wouldn't be interrupted.
Jesus didn't let work, even important Kingdom Work, get in the way of his prayer time. If Jesus, who provided us an example of how to live, didn't let anything keep him from alone time with God, then I need to be the same way.
I know how it feels when I miss my alone prayer time. It feels like I'm empty somehow, like I'm missing something important. When I do make time to pray, I wonder why I don't pray more often. God always meets with me when I give him time to meet with me.
Much like physical exercise, spiritual exercise (prayer, bible study) has a negative stigma. Before I start doing either type of exercise, I feel draggy and weary. It's like I'm expecting it to be a torture session. I think all of us are preconditioned by our human nature to feel that way. But when I start, and I'm in the middle of just doing it, I wonder why I don't do it more often.
Monday, January 17, 2011
It Gets Better
Matthew 11:6 - And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’
The gospel is offensive to those who don't yet believe. It's not comfortable to hear that we are sinners and are lost in our sin, unable to help ourselves. We like to think we're in control of our own destiny and it's a blow to realize that our perceived self-control was just an illusion, a fantasy. In another verse, the Bible states that our righteousness is like filthy rags when compared to God's standard of righteousness. We don't have a hope in heaven of making it to heaven on our own.
But it gets better! Once we accept the Gospel and turn to Christ, He blesses us! He makes us righteous! He makes us worthy by his sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary.
Now, we can turn to Christ and discover true life; life more abundantly. Or as they say it in Singapore, "Excellent Life". All we have to do is not be offended by the convicting power of the message of the Cross, and turn to Christ. Simply acknowledge we are lost without Him and agree to obey His commands from now on.
I say that's a sweet deal. Get in on it while it's still on the table, because the best part is yet to come. That's right, it gets even better! One day soon, Jesus is coming back to catch his Church away. Then we will forever be with the Lord! (Believer: If that doesn't make you excited, you need to check yourself)
When that happens we'll be able to say truthfully: It doesn't get any better than this!
Maranatha!
The gospel is offensive to those who don't yet believe. It's not comfortable to hear that we are sinners and are lost in our sin, unable to help ourselves. We like to think we're in control of our own destiny and it's a blow to realize that our perceived self-control was just an illusion, a fantasy. In another verse, the Bible states that our righteousness is like filthy rags when compared to God's standard of righteousness. We don't have a hope in heaven of making it to heaven on our own.
But it gets better! Once we accept the Gospel and turn to Christ, He blesses us! He makes us righteous! He makes us worthy by his sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary.
Now, we can turn to Christ and discover true life; life more abundantly. Or as they say it in Singapore, "Excellent Life". All we have to do is not be offended by the convicting power of the message of the Cross, and turn to Christ. Simply acknowledge we are lost without Him and agree to obey His commands from now on.
I say that's a sweet deal. Get in on it while it's still on the table, because the best part is yet to come. That's right, it gets even better! One day soon, Jesus is coming back to catch his Church away. Then we will forever be with the Lord! (Believer: If that doesn't make you excited, you need to check yourself)
When that happens we'll be able to say truthfully: It doesn't get any better than this!
Maranatha!
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