The Jews are religious people. They were taught to wait for the coming of the Messiah. Their Holy Book, had several prophesies that the Messiah was coming.
John the Baptist was a Jew. He knew that the Messiah was coming. He said "He who is coming after me...I am not fit to remove His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Subsequently, John baptised Jesus at the Jordan River and a voice out of heavens, said "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." So many people heard this voice from Heaven. John must had heard too!
Later John was in prison. He must had a lot of time to think and think, and then doubt set in. He sent a note to Jesus' disciples and the disciples conveyed John's question to Jesus. "Are You the Coming One (Messiah) or shall we look for someone else?"
Jesus answered "Go and report to John...the BLIND SEES, THE LAME WALKS, THE LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, THE DEAF HEARS, THE DEAD ARE RAISED UP..."
Are you like John the Baptist? Do you doubt sometimes?
I do. Yet I believe Him.
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Monday 26 July 2010
Some insist there's God. Some insist there's no God !?!?!
The truth is, both are correct. To some, there's God. And to some, there's no God.
When you seek God, you will read about it, talk about it and think about it. "Seek and ye shall find..." God promised. In seeking, you will find God, know Him, and experience Him.
If you harden your heart against God, God will not resist. God will simply depart from you. You will not feel Him and experience Him. More and more, God is not there.
The atheists say there is no God. If they don't change their attitude and start seeking, then God will never come near them.
The agnostics say "Not sure, maybe there is God, maybe no God, but either way, nothing can be learnt about all these spiritual mumbo-jumbo. -- And so it will be.
As we grow older, I urge you to seek knowledge about the other dimension. In seeking, you will find.
When you seek God, you will read about it, talk about it and think about it. "Seek and ye shall find..." God promised. In seeking, you will find God, know Him, and experience Him.
If you harden your heart against God, God will not resist. God will simply depart from you. You will not feel Him and experience Him. More and more, God is not there.
The atheists say there is no God. If they don't change their attitude and start seeking, then God will never come near them.
The agnostics say "Not sure, maybe there is God, maybe no God, but either way, nothing can be learnt about all these spiritual mumbo-jumbo. -- And so it will be.
As we grow older, I urge you to seek knowledge about the other dimension. In seeking, you will find.
Thursday 22 July 2010
By Grace and Grace Alone
"FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, THAT NO ONE SHOULD BOAST." Eph 2:8
I am very touched whenever I read this verse.
Why of all people, God chose me to bestow His grace? And because of His grace, I have faith to believe in Jesus Christ and everlasting life.
This generous gift of God encourages me to response by living life with gratitude, avoiding sin, and be thankful.
In other religions, salvation is never a 'gift'. Normally you have to "Do this and this, and then you will receive salvation." (Well, OK, their conception of salvation is not the same as the Bible's concept of salvation, but has the same idea of peace, contentment and bliss.)
Thank you Lord.
I am very touched whenever I read this verse.
Why of all people, God chose me to bestow His grace? And because of His grace, I have faith to believe in Jesus Christ and everlasting life.
This generous gift of God encourages me to response by living life with gratitude, avoiding sin, and be thankful.
In other religions, salvation is never a 'gift'. Normally you have to "Do this and this, and then you will receive salvation." (Well, OK, their conception of salvation is not the same as the Bible's concept of salvation, but has the same idea of peace, contentment and bliss.)
Thank you Lord.
Thursday 8 July 2010
Does Your Conscience Guide You?
Sometimes we do things that our conscience tells us "No, don't do it! It's not right!"
What is this small voice within us? Is our conscience God's way of telling us right or wrong?
Answer: NO, if you are a non-believer. Conscience is not the voice of God. When a man takes revenge and kills the murderer of his wife or children, the man feels perfectly justified. His conscience is clear, and he is at peace. When a man commits adultery, he may feel perfectly fine as "all my friends are doing it too"! If you are a non-believer, your conscience is shaped by the environment. Tribal cannibals feel perfect and not wrong eating the flesh of those whom they killed - it's part of their society's practice.
But once you believe in God, and the Holy Spirit comes into your life, the answer is different...
Answer: YES, because conscience bears witness of God's promptings. Through our conscience, the Holy Spirit convicts us what is right and what is wrong. So when you tell a lie, the Holy Spirit will prompt "Ah-hah, that is not being truthful!" And when you queue up to buy 4-D on Saturday, your conscience says "Are you gambling? Is gambling right?"
In short, because of man's sin, our conscience is darkened and defiled. But thanks to the Holy Spirit, our conscience is gradually cleansed and purified. Increasingly, the standard of our conscience will be perfected (Matt5:48)
What is this small voice within us? Is our conscience God's way of telling us right or wrong?
Answer: NO, if you are a non-believer. Conscience is not the voice of God. When a man takes revenge and kills the murderer of his wife or children, the man feels perfectly justified. His conscience is clear, and he is at peace. When a man commits adultery, he may feel perfectly fine as "all my friends are doing it too"! If you are a non-believer, your conscience is shaped by the environment. Tribal cannibals feel perfect and not wrong eating the flesh of those whom they killed - it's part of their society's practice.
But once you believe in God, and the Holy Spirit comes into your life, the answer is different...
Answer: YES, because conscience bears witness of God's promptings. Through our conscience, the Holy Spirit convicts us what is right and what is wrong. So when you tell a lie, the Holy Spirit will prompt "Ah-hah, that is not being truthful!" And when you queue up to buy 4-D on Saturday, your conscience says "Are you gambling? Is gambling right?"
In short, because of man's sin, our conscience is darkened and defiled. But thanks to the Holy Spirit, our conscience is gradually cleansed and purified. Increasingly, the standard of our conscience will be perfected (Matt5:48)
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