As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God...
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.
- Psalm 42:1-6, 11 (NIV)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
- Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
- Lamentations 3:19-27 (NIV)
Monday 31 August 2009
Wednesday 26 August 2009
of wills and ways
without going into too much any detail, i really regret not doing something today (or yesterday, to be precise, since i'm blogging about this at midnight). what is most frustrating about it is that it was so simple and - humanly speaking - completely within my control (leaving aside the whole question of divine sovereignty and human responsibility). i just didn't do it. why? i don't know.
in times like these, i can only trust that everything i have done (and not done) works for the glory of God and 'for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
when there's a will, there's a way. this is usually taken to mean that if i try hard enough, i can do it. but i think it can also be taken to mean (and probably should be taken to mean) that if it is God's will, God will make a way.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
in times like these, i can only trust that everything i have done (and not done) works for the glory of God and 'for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
when there's a will, there's a way. this is usually taken to mean that if i try hard enough, i can do it. but i think it can also be taken to mean (and probably should be taken to mean) that if it is God's will, God will make a way.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
Monday 24 August 2009
look at the world
Look at the world, everything all around us
Look at the world, and marvel everyday
Look at the world, so many joys and wonders
So many miracles along our way
Praise to Thee, O Lord, for all creation
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share and every blessing
All things come of Thee
Look at the earth, bringing forth fruit and flower
Look at the sky, the sunshine and the rain
Look at the hills, look at the trees and mountains
Valley and flowing river, field and plain
Praise to Thee, O Lord, for all creation
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share and every blessing
All things come of Thee
Think of the spring, think of the warmth of summer
Bringing the harvest before the winter's cold
Everything grows, everything has a season
Till it is gathered to the Father's fold
Praise to Thee, O Lord, for all creation
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share and every blessing
All things come of Thee
Every good gift, all that we need and cherish
Comes from the Lord in token of His love
We are His hands, stewards of all His bounty
His is the earth and His the heavens above
Praise to Thee, O Lord, for all creation
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share and every blessing
All things come of Thee
All things come of Thee
"He has made everything beautiful in its time." - Ecclesiastes 3:11a (NIV)
Sunday 23 August 2009
the LORD is my portion
"May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." - Psalm 20:4 (NIV)
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
*****
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
- Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
- Lamentations 3:19-27 (NIV)
link: in all things (13 sep 09)
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
*****
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
- Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
- Lamentations 3:19-27 (NIV)
link: in all things (13 sep 09)
Saturday 22 August 2009
more on the covenant of grace
In a covenant of works, the condition (works) is the legal ground for obtaining the blessings offered in the covenant.
In the covenant of grace, the condition (faith) is merely a means by which the blessings are received. Although faith is necessary, it is not the ground on which God bestows the blessings of the covenant of grace upon us. The legal ground for the bestowal of the blessings is the perfect obedience and merit of Christ - not our faith, which is nothing in itself. The condition of the covenant of grace functions merely as the means or instrument by which the blessings earned by Christ are received and appropriated.
- Lee Irons, Countering 10 Arguments Against the Law-Gospel Paradigm
in one sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved. in another sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved. Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we are justified by faith in Christ alone. Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we have to appropriate Christ's life, death and resurrection by the instrument of faith.
in other words, Christ's life, death and resurrection is legally but not instrumentally sufficient for all to be saved.
link: the covenant of grace (23 jul 09)
In the covenant of grace, the condition (faith) is merely a means by which the blessings are received. Although faith is necessary, it is not the ground on which God bestows the blessings of the covenant of grace upon us. The legal ground for the bestowal of the blessings is the perfect obedience and merit of Christ - not our faith, which is nothing in itself. The condition of the covenant of grace functions merely as the means or instrument by which the blessings earned by Christ are received and appropriated.
- Lee Irons, Countering 10 Arguments Against the Law-Gospel Paradigm
in one sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved. in another sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved. Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we are justified by faith in Christ alone. Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we have to appropriate Christ's life, death and resurrection by the instrument of faith.
in other words, Christ's life, death and resurrection is legally but not instrumentally sufficient for all to be saved.
link: the covenant of grace (23 jul 09)
Sunday 16 August 2009
because of whose i am
Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours
Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours
I am Yours
I am Yours
Saturday 15 August 2009
even more on open doors
in a previous post, i wrote that if God closes a door, no one can open it. if God opens a door, no one can close it. at the same time, an open door is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for taking a particular path. however, i agree that:
Just because a door is seemingly open doesn't mean we should walk through it, and just because a door is seemingly closed doesn't mean we shouldn't knock it down and walk through it.
- Burk Parsons, Interview with Tim Challies
to this end, i would like to make two distinctions regarding open and closed doors.
firstly, there is a difference between God holding open a door and God opening a door. if God holds open a door, no one can close it. however, if God opens a door,no one can close it we may or may not be able to close it.
secondly, there is a difference between God locking a door and God closing a door. if God locks a door, no one can open it. however, if God closes a door,no one can open it we may or may not be able to open it.
God ordains the ends (ie. His sovereign will of decree), but He also ordains the means (ie. our free choices) by which He accomplishes His sovereign will of decree.
the danger of waiting for God to close an open door for us is that sometimes God calls us to close it ourselves. equally, the danger of waiting for God to open a closed door for us is that sometimes God calls us to open it ourselves.
Just Do Something
God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.
We know God has a plan for our lives. That's wonderful. The problem is we think He's going to tell us the wonderful plan before it unfolds. We feel like we can know - and need to know - what God wants every step of the way. But such preoccupation with finding God's will, as well-intentioned as the desire may be, is more folly than freedom.
The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going.
- Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something
*****
the idea that an open door is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for taking a particular path is not open theism. just because we freely choose which doors we take does not mean that God does not ordain which doors we take. God does ordain which doors we take.
after all, it is God who - knowing which doors we would take under different circumstances - creates the best possible world in which all the doors we take (and not take) work for His glory and 'for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
the life, death and resurrection of Christ opens the door of the prison of sin for all men, who are then free to accept or reject Christ. of course, man is utterly responsible for sin and God is utterly responsible for salvation.
in one sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved. in another sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved. Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we are justified by faith in Christ alone. Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we have to appropriate Christ's life, death and resurrection by the instrument of faith.
links: open doors (18 apr 09), more on open doors (22 jul 09)
Just because a door is seemingly open doesn't mean we should walk through it, and just because a door is seemingly closed doesn't mean we shouldn't knock it down and walk through it.
- Burk Parsons, Interview with Tim Challies
to this end, i would like to make two distinctions regarding open and closed doors.
firstly, there is a difference between God holding open a door and God opening a door. if God holds open a door, no one can close it. however, if God opens a door,
secondly, there is a difference between God locking a door and God closing a door. if God locks a door, no one can open it. however, if God closes a door,
God ordains the ends (ie. His sovereign will of decree), but He also ordains the means (ie. our free choices) by which He accomplishes His sovereign will of decree.
the danger of waiting for God to close an open door for us is that sometimes God calls us to close it ourselves. equally, the danger of waiting for God to open a closed door for us is that sometimes God calls us to open it ourselves.
Just Do Something
God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.
We know God has a plan for our lives. That's wonderful. The problem is we think He's going to tell us the wonderful plan before it unfolds. We feel like we can know - and need to know - what God wants every step of the way. But such preoccupation with finding God's will, as well-intentioned as the desire may be, is more folly than freedom.
The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going.
- Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something
*****
the idea that an open door is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for taking a particular path is not open theism. just because we freely choose which doors we take does not mean that God does not ordain which doors we take. God does ordain which doors we take.
after all, it is God who - knowing which doors we would take under different circumstances - creates the best possible world in which all the doors we take (and not take) work for His glory and 'for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
the life, death and resurrection of Christ opens the door of the prison of sin for all men, who are then free to accept or reject Christ. of course, man is utterly responsible for sin and God is utterly responsible for salvation.
in one sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved. in another sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved. Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we are justified by faith in Christ alone. Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we have to appropriate Christ's life, death and resurrection by the instrument of faith.
links: open doors (18 apr 09), more on open doors (22 jul 09)
Wednesday 12 August 2009
more on living in the present
living in the past leads to regret.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." - Isaiah 43:18-21 (NIV)
living in the future leads to worry.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
living in the present leads to contentment.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." - 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV)
of course, contentment does not equate to passivity on our part. God ordains the ends (ie. His sovereign will of decree), but He also ordains the means (ie. our free choices) by which He accomplishes His sovereign will of decree.
[to be sure, God does not determine how we make our free choices. otherwise, our free choices would no longer be free! however, He determines the circumstances under which we make our free choices. in this sense, He ordains our free choices.]
ultimately, the primary means by which God accomplishes His sovereign will of decree is prayer.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" - Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)
link: living in the present (29 dec 08)
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." - Isaiah 43:18-21 (NIV)
living in the future leads to worry.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
living in the present leads to contentment.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." - 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV)
of course, contentment does not equate to passivity on our part. God ordains the ends (ie. His sovereign will of decree), but He also ordains the means (ie. our free choices) by which He accomplishes His sovereign will of decree.
[to be sure, God does not determine how we make our free choices. otherwise, our free choices would no longer be free! however, He determines the circumstances under which we make our free choices. in this sense, He ordains our free choices.]
ultimately, the primary means by which God accomplishes His sovereign will of decree is prayer.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" - Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)
link: living in the present (29 dec 08)
Sunday 9 August 2009
by Thy help we have come so far (and there's still a long, long way to go)
today i celebrated the 60th anniversary of kprbc in the morning and the 44th anniversary of singapore's independence in the evening (by watching ndp 2009 on tv).
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
as a christian and a singapore citizen, i believe in the separation of church and state. at the same time, i also believe that there are parallels between church and state. more precisely, there are parallels between how we live as members of the church and how we live as citizens of the state.
we live in a fallen world.
no church is perfect and no state is perfect. it's been said that if you find the perfect church, don't join it because you will only ruin it!
the question is not whether we should live with imperfection. we have to live with imperfection, most of which is our own. the question is how we should live with imperfection.
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)
there are primary and secondary issues.
given that we live in a fallen world, we will not be able to agree on every single issue. in fact, there is nothing wrong with holding our own theological or political convictions and we can agree to disagree on certain things. but we should not allow the secondary issues to become primary - or worse, allow the primary issues to become secondary.
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)
the road to reform is from within.
given that no church is perfect and no state is perfect, there will always be a need to resolve primary and secondary issues - within the proper channels. you might not be able to change the system if you stay, but you definitely won't be able to change the system if you leave - or worse, destroy the system.
of course, you might decide that the system is beyond repair (like the reformers) and give up or create a new system, but that's a different story. even then, the reformers first tried to reform the roman catholic church from within, before discovering that it was impossible to do so.
See the moon and the stars, look how far we have come
Look around at our faces, they shine brightly in the sun
With our hopes and dreams, imagine what tomorrow it may bring
What do you see? What do you see?
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
*****
on a side note, i found the second line of this year's ndp theme song rather intriguing:
Where the future is an open book, a land of destiny
in one sense, this affirms open theism. in another sense, this affirms predestination.
Saturday 8 August 2009
anniversaries in 2009
2009 marks the:
500th anniversary of john calvin's birth
400th anniversary of the baptist movement
60th anniversary of kay poh road baptist church (kprbc)
10th anniversary of kay poh road baptist kindergarten
i didn't choose to go to kprbc. growing up, i simply followed my parents to kprbc every sunday (sometimes against my will). when i decided to get baptised in 2006, i simply got baptised in kprbc because there was no particular reason for me to get baptised anywhere else.
[for that matter, my parents - who met each other in kprbc - simply started coming to kprbc because it was near where each of them was staying back then. ironically, they moved further away from kprbc (geographically speaking) when they got married.]
having said that, it just so happens that i tend to agree with most of what kprbc teaches - and most of baptist theology in general. incidentally, while i'm back in singapore this summer i'm attending a 7-week course on baptist distinctives in the 21st century, conducted by baptist theological seminary on tue nights.
again, that the first lesson was the week after i got back to singapore and the last lesson will be two weeks before i fly back to york is not coincidence, but providence.
i thank God for sustaining kprbc over the past 60 years and pray that He would continue to do so in the years to come. the best is yet to be!
"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." - Psalm 127:1 (NIV)
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:56-58 (NIV)
O God, our help in ages past
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure
Sufficient is Thine arm alone
And our defence is sure
Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received her frame
From everlasting Thou art God
To endless years the same
O God, our help in ages past
Our hope for years to come
Be Thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home
Sunday 2 August 2009
If I Were a Butterfly
Years ago, when a random thought came into my head, I decided to share it with my wife. "Have you ever wondered what caterpillars think about?" I asked.
Not surprisingly, she said, "No."
I then proceeded to tell her about the confusion I imagined a caterpillar must experience. For all its caterpillar life, it crawls around a small patch of dirt and up and down a few plants. Then one day it takes a nap. A long nap. And then, what in the world must go through its head when it wakes up to discover it can fly? What happened to its dirty, plump little worm body? What does it think when it sees its tiny new body and gorgeous wings?
As believers, we ought to experience this same kind of astonishment when the Holy Spirit enters our bodies. We should be stunned in disbelief over becoming a "new creation" with the Spirit living in us. As the caterpillar finds its new ability to fly, we should be thrilled over our Spirit-empowered ability to live differently and faithfully. Isn't this what the Scriptures speak of? Isn't this what we've all been longing for?
It really is an astounding truth that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. He lives in me. I do not know what the Spirit will do or where He'll lead me each time I invite Him to guide me. But I am tired of living in a way that looks exactly like people who do not have the Holy Spirit of God living in them. I want to consistently live with an awareness of His strength. I want to be different today from what I was yesterday as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more manifest in me.
I want to live so that I am truly submitted to the Spirit's leading on a daily basis. Christ said it is better for us that the Spirit came, and I want to live like I know that is true. I don't want to keep crawling when I have the ability to fly.
- Francis Chan, Forgotten God
Link: The Butterfly Effect (3 Sep 10)
Saturday 1 August 2009
prison break
for the first time this week, i don't have to leave the house at 7am in order to be in the office by 8.30am. not that i don't enjoy going to work at prison hq in changi - on the contrary, it's great to be back at the branch where i spent 8 months of my gap year between ns and york. but i'm out of the house for more than 12 hours on a working day and it's refreshing to be able to sleep in for a change.
anyway, i'm on attachment until fri 28 aug, which gives me about a month to meet up with people, read the books i've accumulated over the past year or so and start preparing for my exams before i head back to york on sat 3 oct.
anyway, i'm on attachment until fri 28 aug, which gives me about a month to meet up with people, read the books i've accumulated over the past year or so and start preparing for my exams before i head back to york on sat 3 oct.
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