02.26.09
Temptation
Have been thinking about temptations for the past few weeks- It’s interesting to see that Job was tempted even though he was doing all the things right in the eyes of God:
Job 1:8 (New King James Version)
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
Still, he has to go through temptations. Same thing happened with Lord Jesus. After fasting, he was led to a desert place to be tempted. The point is clear: temptations are for everyone, whether the person is upright with God or not. When one thing that he is strong in a way no temptation can harm him, that person better think twice and worry (verse 12):
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (New King James Version)
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
But God is faithful! He will show the way out. Hallelujah!
09.05.08
Wisdom from the Lord
My prayer is that I would be effective when I use my tounge. That practice include when I used it toward my wife, kids, extended families and friends. As I grown up, I have seen that spoken words can be effective on it’s time. The same spoken words, if spoken at different time/ocassions, will bring different results. The best thing is to say the right thing at the right time, while the worst one is to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. I was specifically astounded by v. 4 and 5 from Isaiah 50:
Isaiah 50:4-10 (NKJV)
4 “ The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 “ For the Lord GOD will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the Lord GOD will help Me;
Who is he who will condemn Me?
Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;
The moth will eat them up.
10 “ Who among you fears the LORD?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness
And has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD
And rely upon his God.
I want to be ‘the learned’ ones. To hear and learn on daily basis. To gain understanding. To be obedience and not rebelious. That’s maturity, and that’s where I want to be. Not only myself, but with my family. That’s my prayer.
05.02.08
Repentance & Miracle
Reading on Luke 5 for the past few weeks, I wondered what happen to Simon. Jesus use his boat to preach and teach from it. (This could be the coolest preaching platform). But at the end of the day, he obeyed what Jesus commanded; even though he did it with a failure before. What’s more interesting, is the fact, that after he received the miracle, he asked Jesus to go away!
I believe in miracle. Miracle is the thing that happened beyond our control or beyond our mind who think it’s impossible to happen. I can imagine, in a real world scenario, that when they throw the net after Jesus told them to do so, only few fish that they will catch. That might not have changed Peter’s heart to realize who Jesus is.
The only thing that I start to realize is when miracle happened, we ought to give thanks to the Lord since every good thing comes ONLY from Him. And if it indeed happened, I hope that we are clinging back (Repent) to Jesus who change live for good. God’s intention is for us to repent and come back to Him.
Luke 5 (NIV)
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
