Certainty… January 23, 2010
Posted by Gabe in CG, Devotion.Tags: Thoughts
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My reading on the book of Hebrews continues… its author was considered by many to be Paul but ever since the Reformation, it was widely recognized that Paul could not have been the author. Apollos and Barnabas are those most often suggested.
The context of the “letter” was that the church was under much persecution. Although martyrdom has yet to happen but the persecution was severe. Some of the Jewish Christians who were thinking of abandoning their faith and lapsing back into Judaism. The author exhorts them to hold fast to their faith.
Well thats what the (NIV) introduction of the book of Hebrew writes. Reading started from Chpater 6:1 to the end of the chapter.
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessings of God. But the land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. ~ Hebrew 6:7-20.
My thoughts wander on the certainty of hope. The verses that caught me was the one that contained the word – diligence and hope. To carry out our due diligence as Christians to make our hope sure?.. that thought lingered. Then verses 13 – 20 speaks about the certainty of God’s promise and the exhortation for us to take hold of the hope offered to us so that we may be greatly encouraged. And that this hope is an anchor to our soul. Might be paraphasing or even just repeating her.. but it helps me think abit.
Our uncertainty in what we hope for is to be anchored to the promise of God, which will come to pass and our hope can be made sure if we continue to be faithful in the things we are entrusted with, to the very end. With much patience and faith, we will enherit the promise of God because God’s unchanging nature (His promise of inheritance) and that He is just.
My initial thoughts…. pondering still..
Maturity… January 21, 2010
Posted by Gabe in CG, Devotion.Tags: Whispers, Thoughts
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Today’s devotional reading continues in Hebrews… started from Chapter 1 again, was wondering if I’m missing the message. 
So I started again, in hope that God will speak or teach me something I’ve missed or forgotten.
He spoke about the hardening of hearts and for us to guard against it. By faith, by hearing, by obedience and most importantly by going to Jesus, our High Priest in heaven.
Then I came to this verse and wanted to meditate and reflect on it…
“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” ~ Hebrew 5:11-14.
Maturity requires personal effort!
*Bonk!……….Rubs head*………..Ouch.
Heart’s pilgrimage January 20, 2010
Posted by Gabe in CG, Devotion, Ponderings.Tags: Whispers, Thoughts
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I think its important for all of us to make frequent, if not daily, journey to the cross where blood and tears were shed for each one of us, for ourselves.
Being reminded of what Jesus did for all of us (for us) helps with our perspectives of ourselves and our God. Lest we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.
Being reminded as I sing to the Hillsong’s lyrics of “Lead me to the cross”.
(Warning – contains violent imagery and video from the Passion of Christ) … Verse 1: Savior I come quiet my soul Remember Redemption’s Hill Where you blood was spilled for my ransom Everything I once held dear I count it all as loss Chorus: Lead me to the cross where your love poured out Lead me to my knees lord I lay me down Rid me of myself I belong to You O lead me Lead me to the cross Verse 2: You were as I tempted and tried Human The Word became flesh bore my sin in death Now You’re risen Everything I once held dear I count it all as loss Bridge: To Your heart To Your heart Lead me to Your heart Lead me to You heartSlaves and Bondservants January 20, 2010
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“Huperatus” – the lowest of slave classes. Shared by one of the pastors long ago. These are men chained at the lowest level of the galley to be part of the ships machinery. They are not regarded as humans and is considered expendable. If the ship would sink, they would sink together with it. In the eyes of the ancients, they are of no value.
Stewards are men that can represent their masters in some arenas. They have the authority given by the master to conduct daily business. They are regarded as trustworthy and would have had close bond with their masters.
These words have been ringing in my head since last night. Jesus called us to be both. To forget ourselves and consider ourselves to be of no value to the world, able to forsake all our rights and desires. To be able to forsake even our lives for His name. Yet He shares with us His authority on earth, He offers us even the right to judge angels. He calls us friend. We are to find our self-worth, our value in Him alone.
We are nothing in the world yet, priceless in His eyes. He gave up His life for people such as us.
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” ~ Luke 9:23-25
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:31-39
Amen.
As one approved… January 19, 2010
Posted by Gabe in CG, Devotion.Tags: Whispers
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Same verse was repeated on my wall… paste on it as memory verses from long time ago. And in today’s devotion I read it again…
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ~ 2 Tim 2:15
…
Blazing fire… January 16, 2010
Posted by Gabe in CG, Devotion.Tags: Whispers, Thoughts
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Today’s devotion was vivid. I read about 2 Thessalonians. Paul’s letter to the people (church) of Thessalonians. There were thanksgiving, warnings and exhortations.
Thanksgiving remembering their increasing love for one another. Their endurance and perseverance in trials, persecutions and suffering. Their firm faith. Then there were warnings against idleness – some of the people were being deceived that Jesus had already come and they were being idle with their work and in their work. Exhortations to stand firm and to warn those who are idling.
What suprised me was the vivid image that came into my mind when I read…
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
All this is evidence that God’s judgement is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels… ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7
With blazing fire and His powerful angels… I imagined the skies alight with fire and glory…silhouettes of angels with 6 wings appearing from the glory. It is an awesome sight to behold even in the mind’s eye. For a moment, I felt my soul stirred in awe.
Photo from SUperDave!!'s flicker posting - Blazing Skies over Albuquerque 10-21-05
Always in awe.
The charge… January 15, 2010
Posted by Gabe in CG, Devotion, Ponderings.Tags: Thoughts, Whispers
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“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instructions. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” ~ 2 Tim 4:1-5
Words in red – God’s charge to us as His sons and daughters of God.
I can’t help but wonder if the time when men will only hear what they want to hear regardless of whether it is a lie or not. I fear the time is approaching or has come…
Dangerous grounds – Success January 14, 2010
Posted by Gabe in Devotion, Ponderings.Tags: Thoughts
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I read yesterday in Desiring God blog about how success can be perilous. How true it is reflecting upon my own life. Somewhat successful in my career, the seed of self-sufficiency grew in my heart although my daily prayers say otherwise. Have I forgotten You?
Like David, I prayed for a heart after Your heart. Seems like that prayer was said so long ago… and I still thank You for your faithfulness. I am encouraged that David, even after he stumbled, he humbled himself and drew close to You once again. I pray that I will have the wisdom and endurance to do the same till the day we meet face-to-face.
Conclusion excerpt of Desiring God blog on “Success can be perilous”
The greatest enemy of our souls is the pathologically selfish pride at the core of our fallen natures. If we look deep enough, this is what we will find feeding the strong, sinful cravings of our appetites.
And this is why prosperity can be so spiritually dangerous. We tend to see our need for God more clearly in adversity. But seasons of success can be our most perilous because we are so easily deceived into thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Self-exalting pride is what leads us to usurp God’s rightful rule. We must beware this danger that lurks in blessings.
And when we sin, we must run to and not avoid the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). On this side of the cross we now know fully what David didn’t: God put away our sin by placing them on himself. Only at the cross will we hear, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Ever.
Rediscovering.. January 10, 2010
Posted by Gabe in Books!, Everyday things, Randomness.1 comment so far
I started reading some of the old books/ novels my brother and I uesd to collect back in the old days. Most of the books are by the author, Raymond E. Feist. I must say, I enjoy his style of writing and the storylines.
Much like a series of movies, his books makes a connection from one to another. They allow the readers to follow the characters and even the child of the characters from one adventure to another.
One of the most enjoyable aspect of reading these novels is that it allows me to imagine the author’s world as I like it. However, his books (Feist) leaves just enough details guide the reader’s imagination. It is a very fascinating world indeed. The atmosphere, the sounds, the imagery, all in the mind’s eye.
I’m reading the Krondor – Tear of Gods. It is fun reading about Jimmy the Hand, King Arutha and new characters once more. And oh plots involving NightHawks, The Crawler and also lets not forget the Mockers… interesting read. Almost as good as a movie.
Please bear in mind, I read for the entertainment value, not for knowledge. And these readings have enriched my vocabulary and even my english. Some of us need to relax a little.
Quiet night… January 8, 2010
Posted by Gabe in Books!, Everyday things, Ponderings.Tags: Thoughts
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Its a plesant and quiet night… the first busy week of the year is over. Its rare to have nights such as these. To have time, not to (rather choosing not to) worry about tomorrow’s work, to waddle with our thoughts and silence.
Had instant noodle for dinner, as my appetite wasn’t there. You see, I just recovered from a sinus attack and for the past few days, my body seems to be exhausted. Perhaps just recovering from all the hustle and bustle. Had a TV dinner watching “My Dad is better than Your Dad” and I went up not knowing who won at the end of it.
Anyway I surfed the net a bit to catch up on my web-series and then I showered. The clock ticked 11pm. Picked up my book and put on Norah Jones on the radio. I continued my reading on “When I Don’t Desire God”… read about the difference between desire and delight… and came upon an interesting thought in the book. A piece from the book tickled my mind,
“God is glorified in his people by the way we experience him, not merely by the way we think about him. Indeed the devil thinks more true thoughts about God in one day than a saint does in a lifetime, and God is not honored by it. The problem with the devil is not his theology, but his desires.” ~ Excerpts from the book “When I Don’t Desire God.” by John Piper.
Not by how much we know Him (God) but by how much we experience Him. True indeed. So all these talks about theology is about as useful as a compass. Either we use it to find the true north or we can argue which way the compass it pointing.
Up to this day, I’m searching my heart for the desire for God. I remember the taste of it. To be in God’s presence… serenity, solace, peace, stillness and many more. I long for that desire and that delight once again. Hence my search continues…
There are those who are the same as I, seeking God. The true God. In the midst of our search, I pray that all of us will come to experience Him in His glory. Its the experience, not the knowledge that matters. Confusion disappears, debates will die down when we come to experience God in His fullness.
Its a quiet night.
