As I was reflecting on the today's passage, I was wondering why then Jesus called church as a body of Christ? Can His body contain with ones that belong to the Evil? According to Jesus' parable, do the weeds represent unbelievers who are destined to be separated eternally from God?
I don't know if I was analyzing too much from the content, but for what purpose God allowed the weeds to be grown in the same field as the wheat?
Can the weeds convert to the wheat and vice verse?
Are the weeds placed by the evil to interrupt the wheat from growing in faith and doing God's work?
I guess I was full of questions and rebellious attitude toward the interpretation of the parable because my ideal or unrealistic hope and dream that even the people who are in the church are truly believers. Perhaps they are facing some issues with sins and need to be corrected, but not to be thrown into the Fire at the end because they are counterfeit Christians. Of course the thought came into me because I was thinking about the people in our church as well as some of my family members and friends who go to church yet I do doubt their sincerity and genuineness when it comes to faith.
I guess, as Stott mentioned, it is God who will ultimately separate the wheat from the weeds at the end of time. But what do we do as the people surely belong to God with this regard? The author certainly told us not to do the work that belongs to God nor pass judgement on those who profess to be true believers.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Parable of the sower
I've always enjoyed this parable but to be honest, there were a couple points that I glossed over because they didn't quite make sense, but since I thought I got the gist of the story I never took the time to chew on it. Can't help repeating myself, but that's the great thing about this devotional - makes me meditate on what I've read.
After telling the parable, Jesus says, "but to others I speak in parables, so that,
'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'"
This always confused me. It almost seems to say that speaking in parables will make it even more difficult for some to understand. What's the point in that? So I turned to the ever-handy www.biblegateway.com (thanks Kris) for a couple different translations and what Jesus was actually saying was, "This parable is about some of those people!"
The additional reading includes the parable of the lamp in verses 16-18, another seemingly simple story at first glance. But verse 18 really hit me this last time around. Jesus encourages us to be generous with what we've heard as we'll be accountable for the seeds we've been given.
And finally, what grabbed me the most in this passage is the fact that the Sower spread the seed on all sorts of ground, even non-fertile soil. Its not up to us to discriminate or judge who should hear the Word any more than we can control the waves of light from a lamp once we turn it on.
Let's get sowin!
After telling the parable, Jesus says, "but to others I speak in parables, so that,
'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'"
This always confused me. It almost seems to say that speaking in parables will make it even more difficult for some to understand. What's the point in that? So I turned to the ever-handy www.biblegateway.com (thanks Kris) for a couple different translations and what Jesus was actually saying was, "This parable is about some of those people!"
The additional reading includes the parable of the lamp in verses 16-18, another seemingly simple story at first glance. But verse 18 really hit me this last time around. Jesus encourages us to be generous with what we've heard as we'll be accountable for the seeds we've been given.
And finally, what grabbed me the most in this passage is the fact that the Sower spread the seed on all sorts of ground, even non-fertile soil. Its not up to us to discriminate or judge who should hear the Word any more than we can control the waves of light from a lamp once we turn it on.
Let's get sowin!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
the healing ministry of Jesus (thursday, 1/17/08)
When I was eleven I use to watch all of the original Star Trek episodes. I carried a picture of William Shatner in my wallet, who was my hero. I finally grew out of it! Well, one of my favorite episode is the one where they run into a race of beings that had the power to cure almost any sickness. Accept that they did not use this skill because in order to make someone better, the disease or sickness would be "transferred" and manifested in themselves. Then they would miraculously heal. But for a brief time they endured all the pain and the hurt. As an act of self-protection, they became selfish and cold-hearted. Captain Kirk of course, taught them about compassion and they would go on to use their skills to make the universe a better place!
What would Jesus' ministry be without compassion? I am glad that healing was a part of the ministry of Jesus. It was an outward expression of the love and the heart of Christ. That compassion endures through out history and is very real. When we are hurting and suffering, we find all our hope in Him. And Jesus is the one in whom we can identify. There is nothing that we will go through that he has not suffered before and nothing so unjust than what he bore on the cross. He took upon himself all our pain and suffering and all our sin. So that when we ask in Jesus' name, all our debts are canceled. And when we ask He gladly bears our burdens. And this is not science-fiction!
What would Jesus' ministry be without compassion? I am glad that healing was a part of the ministry of Jesus. It was an outward expression of the love and the heart of Christ. That compassion endures through out history and is very real. When we are hurting and suffering, we find all our hope in Him. And Jesus is the one in whom we can identify. There is nothing that we will go through that he has not suffered before and nothing so unjust than what he bore on the cross. He took upon himself all our pain and suffering and all our sin. So that when we ask in Jesus' name, all our debts are canceled. And when we ask He gladly bears our burdens. And this is not science-fiction!
Friday, January 18, 2008
The Lord's Prayer Life
very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. mark 1:35
i think that the prayer life of Jesus is yet another example of His humiliation in taking on our human nature.
being fully divine, and having created the whole universe by the power of His Word, i suppose He had completely within Himself the power to heal and to cast out demons and to raise people from the dead.
but it is my guess that He completely emptied Himself of this power, and humbled Himself to depend utterly on His heavenly Father for that same power through prayer.
i think that Jesus deliberately chose to pursue His ministry in this way so that He would be unable to perform miracles and heal and cast out demons without the power given to Him by God
through prayer.
why would He do this deliberately? i think He did it to show us how we are supposed to conduct our own ministries, whatever they may be. (and everyone has at least one).
He is setting a pattern for us to follow, in other words.
all of us have been blessed with natural gifts. but we are not meant to depend solely on these talents in the doing of God's work, even if these gifts are tremendous. if we do, the glory goes to us.
whatever our capacities, we are meant to rely on our Heavenly Father, through prayer, in big tasks or small, so that the glory goes to Him.
we all know that, we might be saying to ourselves. it just goes to show that we rarely need new revelations to jumpstart our spiritual lives. we just need to really trust and act on the same old basic truths we've known all along.
truly, during His earthly life, Jesus came to live the perfect, Spirit-filled, God-centered, sinless life that we could never live.
He always lived in the presence of God and in perfect communion with Him. He set the pattern for us, and we are to emulate it.
when we humble ourselves in prayer, i suppose that the feelings of doubt and exhaustion and discouragement which so often beset us, would overcome us far less often.
i thank Jesus that He humbled Himself so much, becoming one of us and showing us by His example how completely we are to depend on God for everything through prayer.
a chorus of a certain song summarizes this so well:
i think that the prayer life of Jesus is yet another example of His humiliation in taking on our human nature.
being fully divine, and having created the whole universe by the power of His Word, i suppose He had completely within Himself the power to heal and to cast out demons and to raise people from the dead.
but it is my guess that He completely emptied Himself of this power, and humbled Himself to depend utterly on His heavenly Father for that same power through prayer.
i think that Jesus deliberately chose to pursue His ministry in this way so that He would be unable to perform miracles and heal and cast out demons without the power given to Him by God
through prayer.
why would He do this deliberately? i think He did it to show us how we are supposed to conduct our own ministries, whatever they may be. (and everyone has at least one).
He is setting a pattern for us to follow, in other words.
all of us have been blessed with natural gifts. but we are not meant to depend solely on these talents in the doing of God's work, even if these gifts are tremendous. if we do, the glory goes to us.
whatever our capacities, we are meant to rely on our Heavenly Father, through prayer, in big tasks or small, so that the glory goes to Him.
we all know that, we might be saying to ourselves. it just goes to show that we rarely need new revelations to jumpstart our spiritual lives. we just need to really trust and act on the same old basic truths we've known all along.
truly, during His earthly life, Jesus came to live the perfect, Spirit-filled, God-centered, sinless life that we could never live.
He always lived in the presence of God and in perfect communion with Him. He set the pattern for us, and we are to emulate it.
when we humble ourselves in prayer, i suppose that the feelings of doubt and exhaustion and discouragement which so often beset us, would overcome us far less often.
i thank Jesus that He humbled Himself so much, becoming one of us and showing us by His example how completely we are to depend on God for everything through prayer.
a chorus of a certain song summarizes this so well:
He came, He saw, He surrendered all
So that we might be born again
And the fact of His humanity
Was there for all to see
For He was unlike any other man
And yet so much like me.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Nazareth Manifesto
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
Jesus quoted this verse directly from Isiah 61 which happens to be His first public ministry. Referring to this quote, Dr. Stott mentioned about how spiritualizers and politicizers argue over for whom Jesus died. Spirtually poor or materially poor? Wait a minute... I thought all human without God are spiritually poor. Materially poor? who is rich in this world? Bill Gates? God owns Bill Gates. That's right. God owns Microsoft. God owns this world. Our wealth is really not "OUR" wealth. God is the master and the owner. Jesus died not just for selected people but for us all. In this sense, I thought today's study was pretty straight forward. But as I kept reading it over and over to get some insights. This quote of Jesus kept lingering in my head.
Luke 4:21 it reads
Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
This was literally Jesus's first public ministry. He let know the world know who He was and His purpose. I thought this was such a powerful statement. This was "the moment". World was never the same and never will be from this point on. This was the moment when Satan realized he was doomed and the moment that gave hopes for all mankind, though most don't realize that they do. Wow
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Temptations
I was a little puzzled with the first point of today's reading. First, how can the devil attempt to confuse the identity of Jesus? Jesus was fully man but at same time he was fully divine therefore he should have known his identity, right? It was strange to read that Jesus had to repeat to himself the words of his Father, "This is my Son". Jesus has seen His Father and was sent by Him, how can he be tempted to think otherwise? Second, I always thought that we should always examine ourselves if we are truly children of God by comparing our actions and thoughts to the desires of God since no one knows for sure who are elected. Isn't it dangerous to think that we are children of God without thoroughly examine ourselves? Please feel free to share your thoughts, thanks.
The good News
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come”, he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:14-15
Repent- To turn decisively away from all known sin
Believe- To turn in faith and commitment to Jesus as King
Good News- Christ came to be crucify, raise from dead, and reign for ever
Intimate kingdom… (I like this story very much because it shows me how much God wants intimacy with us.)
Story…there was couple, loving and caring so much that they knew everything about each other. One day there was horrible fire in the house, the women got out of the house quickly but the man wasn’t quick enough. So the man was badly injured on his face and the body. After the incident their relationship changed, he wouldn’t talk much to her because of his disfigure. So the women went to world best plastic surgeon, and ask the doctor, if there is way to fix his face and body. The doctor told her that he has to see the man how bad his injury was. Woman told the man that there are ways to fix his injury, if he is willing to go and see this doctor. But the man refuse listen to woman, because he didn’t want to show his horrible face and the body to no one. The woman visited doctor many times to find the way to convince the man with every source she can get. But the man was very angry and annoyed, because he thought that she would never understand what he was going through. One day the woman visited the doctor again, but this time she asked doctor to fix her and make her like the disfigure man. So that she would understand what was man going through and maybe convince him to go to doctor with her.
I believe still this day we Christian are to share the good news to every nation we can reach. And I know the fact that there are many Christian trying to reach out to every person possible. Because these Christian, they understood how close kingdom of God is, and how good news for them to know that what Jesus Christ done for our lives. When you repent and believe the Good News.
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come”, he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:14-15
Repent- To turn decisively away from all known sin
Believe- To turn in faith and commitment to Jesus as King
Good News- Christ came to be crucify, raise from dead, and reign for ever
Intimate kingdom… (I like this story very much because it shows me how much God wants intimacy with us.)
Story…there was couple, loving and caring so much that they knew everything about each other. One day there was horrible fire in the house, the women got out of the house quickly but the man wasn’t quick enough. So the man was badly injured on his face and the body. After the incident their relationship changed, he wouldn’t talk much to her because of his disfigure. So the women went to world best plastic surgeon, and ask the doctor, if there is way to fix his face and body. The doctor told her that he has to see the man how bad his injury was. Woman told the man that there are ways to fix his injury, if he is willing to go and see this doctor. But the man refuse listen to woman, because he didn’t want to show his horrible face and the body to no one. The woman visited doctor many times to find the way to convince the man with every source she can get. But the man was very angry and annoyed, because he thought that she would never understand what he was going through. One day the woman visited the doctor again, but this time she asked doctor to fix her and make her like the disfigure man. So that she would understand what was man going through and maybe convince him to go to doctor with her.
I believe still this day we Christian are to share the good news to every nation we can reach. And I know the fact that there are many Christian trying to reach out to every person possible. Because these Christian, they understood how close kingdom of God is, and how good news for them to know that what Jesus Christ done for our lives. When you repent and believe the Good News.
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