My Devotions

Watch out for Holy Christians!

2010-08-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

Watch out for Christians who act holy. They maybe like the scribes and Pharisees who demonstrate righteousness, so that others may respect and honor them (Matthew 23:5-7, Mark 12:38-39, Luke 20:46). They preach the Scriptures and turn them into numerous rules that are hard to bear; and they lay them on other people's shoulders (Matthew 23:4). Oh, do not go beyond what is written, or you might become conceited, as if you did not receive grace and mercy yourself! (1 Corinthians 4:6-7). Those who serve Christ are already freed from the old commandments and ordinances (Romans 7:4-6, Ephesians 2:14-16, Galatians 5:13)! Not to use this freedom as an opportunity to be enslaved again to one's own addictions, but to use this freedom to love one another (Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16)! One's credibility and good works do not count for anything, but only faith working through love (Philippians 3:3-9, Romans 4:13-16, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 5:6). Watch out when imposing so many rules and regulations, or you might become like the scribes and Pharisees who neglected the most important parts of the commandments: justice, mercy, and faithfulness! (Matthew 23:23-24; Isaiah 58). "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself", and the whole law is then fulfilled (Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22: 37-40,Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

I Have Never Loved

2010-07-25T01:36:00.000-07:00

I have always had this poem inside my head, and now I feel the need to write it out:

I see her from a distance;
I smile at her and she at me.
I hold my breath to muster a chance
To maybe ask her for just one dance.
She likes me not, though I like her true;
I gave her my heart, for that's all I got,
Perhaps she'll notice me then, yet still she likes me not.
But none of these matter to me anyway,
For I have never experienced love--
I have never felt love.

I admire her strengths and thoughts;
I safeguard her weaknesses;
I cherish her kindness to others;
I savor her passions and laughters.
The more I know her, the more I love her;
I see her beauty, easy to the eyes;
I see her character, comforting to the heart.
But none of these matter to me anyway,
For I have never experienced love--
I do not know love.

I've grown in thoughts, and she in character,
Acquaintances into friendship, and friendship into lovers.
Like honey and sweets are her lips to mine;
Like warm water is her body to mine.
While we bathe in each other's attributes,
Our minds and actions grew into one,
Yet still it seems our journey has just begun.
But none of these matter to me anyway,
For I have never experienced love--
I have never been loved.

Time passed and years went,
Spring and Summer to Fall and Winter,
Her skin shriveled, and her hair like snow,
Yet her youthful smile still remains to show.
Joy and grief, gain and loss held us tight.
Oh time merely aged our love to perfection!
Now we pass it on unto the next generation.
But none of these matter to me anyway,
For I have never experienced love--
I have not known love.

And now, as I lay beside her,
At her dying bed, I lay there.
I hold her arms while she lays at peace;
I hope, yearn, and wish that all would not cease.
Time indeed waits on no one!
Though I know I'll see her soon someday,
My heart shall still weep until that very day.
But none of these matter to me anyway,
For I have never experienced love--
I cannot love.

Oh, blessed is the man who has experienced true eros love, for he has fully satisfied his burning passions (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Let him enjoy his life with the one he loves, for this is his portion on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:9). And blessed also is the single man who has been gifted with self-control (1 Corinthians 7:6-9). Let him focus on the life that is assigned to him (1 Corinthians 7:17). Let him pursue with his whole heart the work that is set before him (Colossians 3:23-24).

Heartbreak

2010-07-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I had my devotions, because of several reasons. It just seems appropriate to start anew and begin with this topic. So, why do we get heartbroken anyway? Perhaps, it is because we lost something important: a possesion, a purpose, a hope... or someone. It has been a while now, but I still feel depressed once in a while. It is strange because I was the one who ended it. So, why do I feel heartbroken? Perhaps, it is because, with my own hands, I destroyed the very thing which I have put my whole heart into. Regret? No. I was already depressed in or out of it. I knew in my own heart that something was wrong, and carrying it was just too much for me to handle. And somehow, I grew tired to speak, to move, and maybe to even love. I felt so depressed that I separated myself from the church family, and I wanted to separate myself from God. The very thing I promised myself not to do! Surely giving in to self-indulgence can give such temporary pleasures, but never lasting satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). Oh, but indeed, God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)! Those He called, no one can snatch out of His hands (John 10:27-29). I made several mistakes, but I should not make the ultimate mistake of running away from Him who gave me salvation (Titus 2:11-14)! It is amazing how important church family is. Truly in God, I can find strength (Psalm 46:1), joy (James 1:2-4), hope (1 Timothy 4:10), and peace (John 16:33) to start anew.

Wives Submit to Their Husbands; What About the Husbands to Their Wives?

2008-11-17T23:37:00.000-08:00

Paul instructs, “Wives, submit to your own husband, as to the Lord (or 'as is fitting in the Lord'), for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church.” (Ephesians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:18). Isn't this such a strong word, 'submit'? Even more so, for wives to submit in EVERYTHING to their husbands (Ephesians 5:24)? Isn't it unfair for the bride to rely on her groom for final decisions? It sounds unfair, isn't it! Actually, I think what makes it unfair is that the role of the husband is not emphasized strong enough. True, the Bible describes husband as the head of the wife, but that's not the commandment! Paul instructs, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER!” (Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19). This is what husbands are called for! Not to simply lead the household, but even more so, to love their wives, even to the point of sacrificial love! Men, are we ready to die for our wife (or future wife) if needed be? Are we ready to endure pain to rescue our wife, as how Christ suffered in the cross to rescue us from our sins? Are we ready to defend our wife, as how Christ defended the truth for the church? Are we ready to be servants to our wife, as how Christ served the church? If not, why else do we marry?

Justifiable Sin

2008-05-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, how foolish are we to think that there is such a thing! Aren’t we all guilty of justifying our own faults, our own short comings, and even our own sins? We try to reason why we did what we did, but sin is still sin! Abraham reasoned with Abimelech why he lied about his relationship with Sarah (Genesis 20:11-13), but if God did not intervene, Abraham could have easily imposed a curse upon Abimelech (Genesis 2 0:1-9). Wasn’t Abraham supposed to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:1-3)! Indeed, “we are at our highest foolishness when we sin (Pastor Henry)”, so let us search our true intentions, or we may as well put a curse upon ourselves and the people around us. -- A response to Pastor Henry’s sermon (SFBC).

Exiled in San Francisco

2008-05-12T23:35:00.001-07:00

During King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Jerusalem, some of the people of Israel were exiled to Babylon (Daniel 1:1-7), a city filled with idolatry (Daniel 3:1-7). While God promised the exiles that they will return home (Jeremiah 29:10-14), He also instructed them to live in Babylon as though they were natives of that city (Jeremiah 29:4-8). My situation may not be the same as that of the exiles, but perhaps, like them, I ought to live (in San Francisco) as if I were a native of the city—for who am I to say “today or tomorrow I will go into such and such a town, and spend a year there…” Yet I do not know what tomorrow will bring! (see James 4:13-15) If the Lord wills, then I will move to a different place. But as of now, I ought to settle here—find accountability partners, fellowship with true Christians, commit to a church, and serve a local ministry. – A response to a message from Sonrise.

My Mission Statement

2008-04-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about my goals and priorities in life. What am I called for and what am I suppose to do in this short lifetime I have? I may not know the exact answer, but I can definitely pray about it. Nehemiah fervently prayed for his people (Nehemiah 1:4-11), and God turned this passion (Nehemiah 1:1-4) into his calling (Nehemiah 2:1-18). I, then, pray that God will also use my passions to reveal my mission statement. – A reflection from the Sonrise retreat at Pajaro Dunes.

“Men of God, if you want to serve God and cannot find the propitious occasion, wait awhile in prayer and your opportunity will break on your path like a sunbeam. There was never a true and valiant heart that failed to find a fitting sphere somewhere or other in His service. Every diligent laborer is needed in some part of His vineyard. You may have to linger, you may seem as if you stood in the market idle, because the Master would not engage you, but wait there in prayer, and with your heart boiling over with a warm purpose, and your chance will come. The hour will need its man, and if you are ready, you, as a man, shall not be without your hour.” – C. H. Spurgeon

San Francisco as God Sees It

2008-04-21T23:39:00.000-07:00

Before I moved to San Francisco, most of my friends warned me about how sinful San Francisco is. Perhaps they were right, but who are we to condemn the world… and San Francisco for that matter? Jonah refused to witness to Nineveh, because he knew God will show mercy to this wicked city (Jonah 4:1-3). There were 120,000 persons in Nineveh who do not know their right hand from their left, but God showed pity to this great and wicked city (Jonah 4:11). I may not know if God sees San Francisco as how He saw Sodom or Nineveh, but I pray that God uses Christians in San Francisco, including me, to share the gospel within the city. Indeed there are true believers here! Let us not wait for a great fish or a plant (Jonah) to teach us about compassion. Aren’t we sinful in His eyes as well, yet He showed compassion to us? – A response to Pastor Henry’s and Pastor Dale’s sermons (SFBC).

Unfaithful Giving versus Faithful Giving

2008-04-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

I’ve been attending a campus ministry in University of San Francisco California (UCSF), called Sonrise, and a Bible Study group from San Francisco Bible Church (SFBC), called ETC. Both groups are not connected with each other, but last week’s messages from the two ministries were closely related: Sonrise shared about the unfaithful giving of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), while ETC talked about the faithful stewardship of the Philippians to Paul (Philippians 4:14-18). These messages reminded me that the act of giving by itself is not enough to be pleasing to God. In fact, giving with a wrong heart and a bad intension may even be an insult to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:9). True gift must be given completely (without holding back anything) and faithfully (without delay). I pray that I myself will be true to my giving, pleasing and acceptable to God.

“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…” -- Malachi 3:8-10a

‘My Testimony’ or ‘My Devotions’

2008-04-06T23:51:00.001-07:00

I have been debating about a blog topic – “My testimony” or “My devotions”. I wish I know Greek or Hebrew to figure out the Biblical verses which uses these words, but I can only refer to the English translations of the Bible [ESV to be exact]. The word ‘testimony’ or ‘testify’ refers to the proclamation of the gospel that God has given eternal life through his Son Jesus Christ to those who believe in Him (Mat 24:14, II Tim 1:8, I John 4:14, I John 5:11), while the word ‘devotion’ or ‘devote’ describes the outcome of this testimony by committing onto prayer, Scripture reading, exhortation, teaching, good works, service, and fellowship (Acts 2:42, I Cor. 7:5, I Cor. 16:15, I Tim 4:13, Titus 3:14). As a Christian, I long for Christ to produce in me a life of a true believer, having both faith and works (James 2:14-26). With this in mind, I decided to choose “My Devotions” as a blog topic, since this can be a means for me to grow in Christ and this is a good reason to regularly update the blog. Please pray that I may be diligent in updating this blog, and that this blog will be a means of Spiritual growth to me and to the readers as well.