A Revelation of Love

Hello Friends.
Today's reading was an encouraging one for yours truly. The issue of suffering and the lasting nature of God's love has been one of the more difficult aspects of my faith that I have had a difficult time in getting my arms around. John Stott helped to really put it eloquently, however, when he said that we should cling to the cross in times of anguish because it is from that unique "vantage point" that we can reflect on the meaning of our vaporous existence.

In a twist on words, I've recently "suffered" if you will because of the fact that I can truly say that God has poured out His undying love for me. It pains me to think that His mercies are new every morning even when my sin is constantly abounding all around me. And as I wait for the bottom to fall out on me because of what I do, the exact opposite happens. God's love keeps on pouring down.

So my guilt overtakes me alot and with guilt comes more sin and with more sin comes more turmoil, anguish, and suffering. But then I remember the words of some spiritual mentors, i.e. Dulla Samonim and Pastor James. More like rebukes actually.

I feel guilty because in some way, I feel that I can make myself worthy of God's love. In this context, I am really saying " I can make myself worthy of God's love through my own will and goodness." It's my pride in the most classic sense that comes in the way of my spiritual growth.

In the end, it's my own self-centeredness and false modesty that stumbles me. I really am nothing except by which God has saved me. It's when I forget and think of myself as any better that I suffer alot.

Thus I close with the awesome and scandalous nature of God's love. I could never do it myself. But like I am reminded every day, I am not Him and His ways are higher than mine.

Thanks for listening homeboys.

An atonement for Sin

I apologize posting the blog very late. I don't feel good and so does Caleb today. We appreciate Il for spreading germ of love to his family.
Anyhow... I thank Dan and David for the DVD that we watched last Sunday. I can't stop thinking about it since. We always sing about how great and powerful God is yet what we watched on DVD last Sunday really opened my eyes to the magnitude of who God is. "....indescribable, uncontainable, you place the stars in the sky and you know it by name, you are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, all struck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, YOU ARE AMAZING GOD..."
More amazing thing is that the very God came to this earth as a human just like us to bear sins of people to die on the cross. This plan of salvation was already decided even in the beginning. God left all His glories and riches in Heaven for one purpose. Through his life on earth, Jesus touched many lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He brought healing to the sick, hope to the hopeless, and offered the living water to the thirst. Through his death and resurrection, he brought reconciliation between men and God, forgiveness to the sinners,and eternal life to the dead.
If we know this truth and understand deeply the meaning of cross, we don't hesitate to live for God alone. Like Pastor James' favorite words," Christ Alone..."
We do want and love nothing but Christ alone because he first loved us and gave himself up for us. Thank you, Jesus!!

The Example of Jesus

Re-reading the Gospel narrative with the goal of understanding how Jesus lived as an example for my life helps uncomplicate things a great deal, though it doesn't necessarily make it easier. The issues he faced were not unlike those we face today - knowing my identity, interacting with "sinners", interacting with the "religious", interacting with political agendas, etc. Its amazing to me how Jesus deftly handled all of these with such clarity that comes only from being grounded in the truth that undergirds everything - God is love. His whole life was an expression of God's love! This is our charge, to take up our cross daily out of sacrificial love for others, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us.

The Immortal Dies

Jesus said, "it is finished", and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:30).

something horrible happened between the Father and the Son hanging on the cross during those 3 terrible hours when darkness fell and "the sun refused to shine".

the Father poured out upon His own beloved Son the full extent of His wrath, judgment and righteous anger upon my sins, your sins and the sins of the whole world.

Jesus experienced the fullness of that punishment for our sake--the torment of eternal separation from God, the infernal lake of fire, the outer darkness, the burning unquenchable thirst of the rich man in the parable who longed for lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool His tongue, all of what the bible calls "hell".

in our text today, Jesus, right before He gives up His Spirit, said with His last dying breath, "it is finished".

what exactly was finished when Christ uttered these words and breathed His last?

the salvation of His people from first to last.

--the fulfillment of the old testament prophecy concerning His life and His death was accomplished; every old testament type of prophecy was completed, abolished and explained in the death of Christ--"it is finished".

--all obedience to the law of God was fully realized and summed up in Jesus's death--"it is finished".

--the power of satan and sin was defeated in Christ's death--"it is finished".

--all the divine justice of God was satisfied on behalf of God's people when Christ died--"it is finished".

when you trust in Jesus by faith, the justice and judgment of God no longer hang over you. you are no longer counted guilty in God’s sight when you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, for He said, “It is finished.”

all possible punishment for your sin is gone. it has been fully paid for by Christ on the Cross. "It is finished!”

everything needed for your salvation has already been done by Christ on the Cross.

as charles spurgeon once said: "poor sinner, wilt thou have Christ or [not]? “ah,” says one, “i am willing enough, but i am not worthy.” He does not want your worthiness

for the whole work of your salvation is complete.

How great is our God

I'm sorry for not writing the blog on today's reading, but I thought I share what I learned from our small group last night.
We watched a video of Pastor Louie Giglio's sermon about the universe and how every particle in the universe has been created by God's breath alone. He went into extensive detail on how small earth is compare to some of the stars that are out there. He went onto saying that the earth is only a very tiny particle compared to all the things that God created and we are only very tiny part of earth. In conclusion, he said that God cares deeply about every one of us and we are created in God's image, fearfully and wonderfully made. We are very special in God's eyes despite our lack of knowledge of God's scale or no matter how strongly we believe God doesn't care or how insurmountable our problem may seem God is holding us together and is helping us every second, every step of the way.

His Cry of Dereliction

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ..."My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:45-46

Most people know the last words spoken by Jesus on the cross but in today's reflection, Stott's emphasis on the silence of Jesus really stood out for me.

As I sit and try to imagine the silence of Jesus on the cross for the three LONG hours and the unexplainable darkness that fell over the land, I shudder at the magnitude of Christ's suffering, the abandonment he felt, the significance of the crime that had been committed and the sacrifice that had been made.

Words cannot properly express this incredible act of love and sacrifice as he undeservedly bore our sins in silence.

I think about how I claim to "love" my family, friends, church family, and neighbors but its so hard to sacrifice myself for someone that I claim to love...much less bear it in silence. But I suppose that is how we should be.

Jesus not only saved us from our sins that day on Calvary but in his death he teaches us not only to love (from P. James' reflection yesterday) but also how to sacrifice for one another as well.

The Third Words of Jesus on the Cross

Jesus said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son" and to his disciple (John), "here is your mother."

We are all familiar (or at least should be familiar) with the 7 words of Christ on the cross. Each of these words of Jesus indicates something very important about the nature of his death. Here, the third words of Christ is teaching us that his death now bring about a new relationship among believer in him. Jesus was more than just saying to John, 'take care of my mother since I won't be around.' Rather he was telling his mother and telling John (and we can include ourselves as well) that his death will change their relationship to each other. Isn't that wonderful! Believers in Christ, are brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters to one another. The blood that was shed by Jesus now binds us together as a spiritual family. It doesn't break the tie of relationship we have with our human physical family although sometimes we will be forced to do that. This Christ-centered family is now more important than any earthly family.

The implications for this is so staggering! We all value our earthly family. Most of us see that as our "real" family. But what does the life of Christ teach us? What does the lives of the apostles teach us? It teaches us that the relationship we have with one another in Christ is more important and even more primary. Why do I say that? Because, some people, in fact, many people in the world are forced to choose betwen following Christ and joining the church, or choosing to reject Christ for fear of family rejection. I remember, Steve Cohen, a Jewish believer in Christ. He lost his entire family, father, mother, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters. No one in his family would accept his conversion from Judaism to Christianity. He lost his earthly family but gain an eternal family in Christ. I hope that in our church, we can think more like this and experience a deeper spiritual bond with one another. Let's all pray for that!

Posted by Pastor James