Legalism vs Discipline

Underlying much of the conscious rejection of spiritual discipline is the fear of legalism. For many, spiritual discipline means putting oneself back under the law with a series of draconian rules that no one can live up to - and which spawn frustration and spiritual death.

But nothing could be further from the truth if you understand what discipline and legalism are. The difference is one of motivation: legalism is self-centred; discipline is God-centred. The legalistic heart says, "I will do this thing to gain merit with God." The disciplined heart says, "I will do this thing because I love God and want to please Him."

There is an infinite difference between the motivation of legalism and discipline! Paul knew this implicitly and fought the legalists bare-knuckled all the way across Asia Minor, never giving an inch. Now he shouts to us, "Train [discipline] yourself for godliness!" If we confuse legalism and discipline, we do so to our soul's peril.

- R Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man

Life Lessons from Bridge

1. You can only play the hand you are dealt.

2. Count the cost before bidding.

3. Partners must be on the same page.

4. Having a good fit is as important as having many points.

5. Know when to take control and when to transfer control or exit.

Best Practices

It is not just WHAT or HOW you do things that matters; what matters more is that WHAT and HOW you do things is consistent with your WHY. Only then will your practices indeed be best. There is nothing inherently wrong with looking to others to learn what they do, the challenge is knowing what practices or advice to follow.

- Simon Sinek, Start With Why

Start With Why

If the people inside a company are told to come to work and just do their job, that's all they will do. If they are constantly reminded WHY the company was founded and told to always look for ways to bring that cause to life while performing their job, however, then they will do more than their job.

- Simon Sinek, Start With Why

Prayer

"The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone." - David Platt

Christian Hope

My grandmother, Mdm Wee Gin Neo, died earlier this year in April. She was a member of Kay Poh Road Baptist Church and used to bake the bread for The Lord's Supper! By God's grace, she lived a long and full life, to the age of 92. As I helped out with funeral matters such as the obituary and eulogy, I thought about hope - the Christian hope of eternal life.

We sometimes use the word "hope" to describe things which we want to happen, but may not actually happen. For example, we "hope" that Singapore will qualify for the World Cup. The difference between worldly hope and Christian hope is that Christian hope is 100% certain. How can we be so sure?

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul establishes that Christ not only died for our sins, but was buried, and raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. It is because of this, because He lives, that we have hope.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." - 1 Corinthians 15:17-19

Saying that Jesus died for our sins, without going on to say that Jesus was raised back to life, is not the gospel. It is not good news. In fact, it is very bad news, because it means that Jesus has been defeated by death and we have no hope!

"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Because Jesus defeated death, we are no longer in our sins and have hope beyond this life. Because Jesus clothes us with His righteousness and immortality, we can inherit the kingdom of God, which is an eternal kingdom.

"I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"" - 1 Corinthians 15:50-55

Because Jesus defeated death, we have victory over death (i.e. eternal life), if we are in Christ.

"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." - Romans 8:34

Furthermore, because Jesus was raised back to life, He can intercede for us. We do not have a dead High Priest, but a great High Priest!

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

May we believe in Jesus and, even when faced with death, have the Christian hope of eternal life!

Serving in the Ministry

1. Being an ambassador

2. Living as you are called

3. Before You I Kneel

Random Thoughts

1. Don't worry about distinction, but commitment to the core.

2. Religious Exclusivism vs Political Exclusivism

3. Things may happen step by step, and may change along the way. The most important step is the next step.

God the Wedding Planner

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."" - Revelation 21:1-4

Blessed Easter

Jesus is alive and the body of Christ is the Church. We testify to His resurrection.

Blessed Easter!