Comment on Morning October 31 "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

"God is still on the throne. And He will remember His own." In times of trials and temptations when the enemies seem so strong we may wonder if God is still aware of what is happening to us and to this world. This is especially so when the devil tempt us to think that God has forsaken His throne - abdicated for one reason or another.

 

But the ways of God is so mysterious that, though unseen, He is still around controlling over all and determining everything that comes to pass. Such wondrous ways are not the work of any created power or might. They are the works of His own Spirit.

 

As the Third Person of the Godhead, the Spirit is not subject to anyone. He is the absolutely free being working all things according to His divine nature. He does whatsoever He pleases. He is never foolish in all His acts. They are all done in perfect wisdom. He is never negligent failing to take into consideration important factors in His decision. He is thorough and complete in all His ways and judgments. He is able to execute whatever He decided should come to pass.

 

God reveals to us that all things should serve our good and well-being in Jesus Christ. We who are in Christ are His and He remembers His own in all His works. The battle is His, even though He graciously allow our involvement for our own edification and preparation for Heaven. Our involvement cannot interferes with what He will bring to pass. This is because He "saveth not with sword and spear." We use our swords and spears, to be sure, but He doesn't save us with them. The battle is the Lord's and He saves by His Spirit.

 

Are you paying attention to the work of the Spirit Who wields His Sword - the very Word of God? 

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct31M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 31 "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The important thing in this world is not what you and I have said, nor whether or not we have done what we have said. This is obvious, for such things come and go, and yet the world carries on as it has been.

 

What is really important is what God has said and whether He is doing what He is saying. "Do as thou hast said." He said so, and it was so. Thus was how the heaven and the earth were created in the first place. And everything continues as it has been because He does what He said.

 

He said many more other things revealed to us in His Holy Word, the drama of redemption. He is doing what He has said, and we constantly want to be assured of that. What if God really stop doing what He has said? What would become of this world? And how shall we live, if God's Word cannot be trusted, like man's word often cannot be? If there is nothing stable, how shall we measure and relate meaningfully and confidently? May God "establish thy word unto thy servant." To establish is to make something firm and steady. If God's Word is firm and steady in our life, we can start to relate all things to that which cannot be moved. Then there would be consistency and meaning in all our actions and aspirations. It is a disservice to us when we are made to doubt the Word of God.

 

How can God's promises be "exceeding great and precious" if His Word is not certain with us? "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" (1 Corinthians 14:8) Why do you think some churches are suffering from lack of soldiers prepared for battle?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct31E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 30 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

For creatures limited by time and space, any mass movement requires waiting. This is inevitable as simply each one has to take his or her turn. So, the question is not whether one has to wait in life, but how we should wait.

 

If one is not interested in the thing people are waiting for, then he needs not wait in the first place. So, obviously there is something attractive causes a person to start waiting. The degree of attraction would determine how one wait. If you can read the minds of all the people waiting in a queue, you will discover some people grumbling others waiting patiently and gladly, yet others about to leave the queue. All these speak of how they are waiting and they are related to the attractiveness of the thing they are waiting for.

 

To "wait for the salvation of the Lord" is the most important thing in life. Without this salvation, the possession of the rest of the world is nothing and vain. Jesus asked, "What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and loseth his soul?" This salvation is talking about being delivered from sin, hell and destruction because of rebellion against the Mighty Creator of all things. Into this enmity with God, mankind had plunged itself when Adam and Eve disobeyed God to eat the forbidden fruit. Man was created after the image of God and given the high office of being vice-regent of God to subdue all the creatures of God for His glorious praise. Such rebellion if allowed to go unpunished would mean the cessation of God's government in His Creation. This salvation is absolutely crucial, not to be taken lightly by any man.

 

This salvation must come from the Lord God alone. There is none to help. Man himself has become corrupt and can daily only increase his debt towards God. This salvation is for God to plan, make possible and apply at His own time. We can only wait for His mercy and grace. If one knows the preciousness of It, one "should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."
With this Salvation also come many other little deliverance in life, all pointing to that One and Great Deliverance from sin. Any deliverance from the Lord is worth waiting for patiently. God always has His reason to make us wait and we will soon discover the reason and know how wise and power He is in all His ways. Every deliverance help us to let go and to trust Him in greater measure. It is a training and moulding session to prepare us for heaven.

 

In deliverance we are often more interested in getting out of our present difficulties. But God see beyond that to what would become of us after the experience. So waiting for His timing to deliver is great wisdom on our part. But it requires faith and trust in Him.

 

While waiting we remain steadfast in that which is unshakable, even in the Word of God. Never be ashamed to suffer for the Word's sake. God will come to deliver us so are to vindicate His own Word. In all these you must search prayerfully to know His Word.

 

It is the battle of His Word!!! Are you in this battle? Is your deliverance related to it or to something else?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct30M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 30 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

There are always those who fought great battles and won, but are fallen by small little things which they did not pay attention. There is a Chinese board game involving different kinds of animals. Stronger animals can "eat" weaker ones as they move and hide around. The strongest is the elephant and the weakest the mouse. And the rule has it that the elephant is defeated by the little mouse. I was told this is because the little mouse can run into the elephant's trunk and suffocates it. God wants us to handle the "little foxes" in a vineyard as well.

 

Song of Solomon 2:15 speaks of such little foxes destroying the "tender grapes" of one's vineyard. A farmer can at times neglect to protect its crops from the little things and learn the hard lessons. Scriptures speaks of our tongue being "a little member, and boasteth great things." Through the little tongue great thoughts and ideas come out from human mind to change, at times, even the whole course of history!!! The tongue can do good as well as great evil, depending on how we use it. God certainly hold us responsible for owning such a powerful weapon.

 

We must constantly observe the effect the use of our tongues has upon the people around us. Does it minister grace to the hearers or it causes them to stumble and fall? While it is not always the fully the fault of the speaker that some people stumble at your word, you must be careful all the same with what and how you say thing. We must also learn how to hear and evaluate things heard in order not to stumble easily. Words and thoughts come to our head so quickly and easily, but we must be very careful how these are released through our tongue, lest we grievously sin against the Lord and one another.

 

If we can master the control of our tongue, we can be of great use to the Lord. For some we need to speak more, for others less, in the process of mastering our tongue. May the Lord teach and mould us for His glory and good of His people. Amen.

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct30E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 29 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

If you know the thought that God has towards you who are in Christ, you would often resort to Him in your pilgrimage.

 

Our pilgrimage is full of temptations, as the evil one with all his cohorts constantly wage war against us. Like the Apostle Paul, we may, at times, be tempted to become discouraged because the enemies seem so strong and we subject to their powers. To be among criminals, time and again, according to the judgment of those who have God's authority over us, must have often caused the Apostle Paul to wonder if he was indeed like one of them. He must have often "encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

 

For what reason are we suffering and called "criminals"? Is it for the cause of Christ, His Kingdom and Righteousness? If so, then we are doing the will of God, as He has revealed to us in His Word. We need not be discouraged, but pressed on in well-doing. "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."

 

When all our ways are blocked, we discover that the way upwards is always open. We dial '999' when we are at the lost of what else to do. May we dial heaven at 'Jer 33:3' when we are at our wit's end: "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

 

How are we know that the Lord is good if we pray so little in life? "Pray without ceasing."

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct29E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 29 of "Daily Light on Daly Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

To those who know what is loveliness in the sight of God, Jesus Christ is "altogether lovely." (Song 5:16) "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased", so He testified of Him publicly.

 

As believers we cannot go on without Him. He makes us lovely in the sight of God. Without Christ, we are most ugly and hell-deserving. With Him we not only have hope of eternal life, but we are become joint-heir with Him. We are called of God, "the children of God" - what wonder of Grace. There is not another, besides Him. "It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell".

 

I doubt any of us have physically seen the Lord, but I do believe that those in Him truly love Him and "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." This relationship with Christ is so unique and essential that our eternal destiny is totally dependent upon it. Destroy it and all hell break loosed.

 

Treasure this relationship and, more and  more, nothing is not worth sacrificing "for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Jesus Christ is God's very own way of redeeming us from destruction and drawing us closer to Himself. He is our righteousness given of God through faith. He is the only righteousness acceptable to God. We are eternally lost, if we present anything else other than Him on that Great Day of Judgment.

 

Is He not altogether lovely in  your sight?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct29M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 28 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

To overkill an enemy is to do more than necessary to destroy and eliminate him. It speaks of unwise using of resources. It is a wasteful, imperfect, passionate acts of men. To be ill-equipped before an enemy is to underestimate him so as to become unprepared. It is foolish pride and indifference in battle.

 

As soldiers of the Cross we are called to be "sober, be vigilant." Among other things, we are to be prepared for battle to meet the wiles of our enemies. The devil, our enemy, should never be underestimated by God's people, when combating him. To fight him is to "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." This is not easy task as the word "wrestling" also suggests. There is contact, there is resistance and there is attempt to overpower. It is also difficult because the enemy has a cohort of allies with him. These are no ordinary combatants. They are "principalities", "powers" and "rulers" of long standing. Foolish, are soldiers of the Cross going into battle against such enemies, ill-equipped.

 

Our Captain provides "the whole armour of God", which we must humbly put on as we enter into the fray. Each piece of the armour mentioned in Eph 6:11-16 speaks of the life and work of our Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf. We must put all of them on with prayer as we face the enemies. For our enemies to see our Lord Jesus Christ before them means hopelessness as they had already been vanquished by Him at the Cross of Calvary. Surely one of his major tactics is to get us to put off the Armour of God even for a very brief moment.

 

The armour of God is not like that of King Saul, which he offered to David in the battle against Goliath. Saul's was "the arm of flesh" which will surely fail all who put it on. God's armour in Christ are David's "sling and five stones". They speak of the well-used equipment for the day to day activities. Every day is a day of battle, so long as we are in this world. We must live with our armour on! Don't think of Saul's armour, but of David's. Make Jesus your Protector and Strength all through your life.

 

With Jesus on, are you willing and ready to go anywhere now?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct28E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 28 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

A man that is poor and deprived is indeed very pitiful. He has very little resources and often feeds himself and his from hand to mouth. This means that he can hardly have any savings for rainy days. He is always ready to get help from others. Seldom would he be asked to help as he himself is already finding it hard to make ends meet. So it is out of the question that a poor man can make you rich.

 

Yet the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is such "that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." In what sense is Jesus rich and poor? In what sense do we become rich? He was rich in that He was the Lord of Heaven even before He came to this world to be born as a man. Now, there is no richer place in the whole creation than Heaven, and He owns it. All the hosts of Heaven kowtow to Him. He became poor in His incarnation. As a man, He had nowhere to be born and to lay down His head. In His death, the authorities declared Him unworthy to live. In His burial, he used a borrowed tomb. We are made rich when we are translated from the kingdom of darkness to His Kingdom of Light. We were by nature children of wrath, destined for hell. Becoming joint-heirs with Christ, we become rich because Christ is become the Prince of the kings of the earth.

 

It is through His poverty that we become rich. Never, despise the poverty of Christ, by which we are made rich. In fact, we are to join Him to "go forth .. unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." (Heb 13:13) Are we willing to forsake all and follow Him in His poverty? This was the only way He stepped in to help us, when He "saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him."

 

"For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Luk 18:25) It is all by the Grace of God that a self-reliant man should be humbled to acknowledge self-helplessness and embrace Christ's poverty.

 

So, do you know the pathway to Heaven? Are you on it?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct28M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 27 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Who are the blessed people in the world? If all men, head for head, are blessed then whether one is blessed or not makes no difference as there won't be any comparison to begin with. Similarly, this reasoning holds true if all men, head for head, are cursed without any being blessed. Obviously, whenever Scriptures say that a person is blessed, there is a difference between him and those who are not blessed. There must be some people who are not blessed while other blessed. Who are the blessed?

 

"He whom thou blessest is blessed." (Num 22:6) The "thou" here is immediately not referring to God, although related, in a very special way, to Him. Balaam, a prophet of God, was asked by the Moabites to curse Israel. The Moabites believed that those cursed by Balaam are indeed cursed, but they did not know the source of such great power and authority. Balaam knew and turn to God to see if such a curse may be pronounced. God forbad Balaam, suggesting that no one can bless or curse successfully without God. There is no authority except that which be given of God. But through proper channels such blessings and cursings do come upon people. We must learn to respect those to whom God has given authority to rule over us. Anyway, those whom God blesses are indeed blessed.

 

Can we know who these blessed people are? Yes, indeed we can and must not only know for ourselves, but also for others who must be gathered, as well, to form the community of God's people in this world. Thus the Head of the Church gave us the signs of the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven in the Beatitudes in His sermon on the Mount. (Mat 5:3-12) They are "... they that mourn: .. comforted .. meek .. inherit the earth .. do hunger and thirst after righteousness ... filled ... merciful ... obtain mercy ... pure in heart ... see God ... peacemakers ... called the children of God ... persecuted for righteousness' sake ... their's is the kingdom of heaven  .. when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake ... Rejoice, and be exceeding glad  .. great is your reward in heaven" "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luk 11:28)

 

Are you and am I blessed? It is all of grace.

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct27E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 27 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

A leper in the days of our Lord Jesus Christ, can be nothing else but a beggar, totally dependent upon the mercies of others. This is because such a disease was incurable and believed to be highly contagious. Even for a simple movement from one place to another would require the leper to shout out audibly, "Unclean, unclean!", just like a waiter shouting, "Hot, hot!" as he  moves a hot dish around in a busy hawker-centre. Failure to do so may end up the leper being stoned to death by the public. How can such a man work for a living in society? Begging was his only means of getting some food to eat.

 

Spiritually speaking, there is no meaningful life for one whose sins are not forgiven by God. He is like a leper, totally dependent upon others to show mercies for his day to day survival. But God would have a people dynamic and happy witnessing for Him in this world. They must be cleansed of all their sins to be able to live such lives. So, He "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."

 

In the O.T. era, the atonement of Christ for His people was portrayed (in one of a number of sacrifices) by two birds being brought to the priest to be sacrificed on behalf of an offerer. The first bird was killed and its blood collected under running water, symbolizing the death of Christ on the Cross. The second bird received the blood of the first bird and was set free to fly, symbolizing Christ's cleansing setting His people free to serve dynamically and joyfully.

 

Why do you want to be cleansed from your sins? What do you want to be free from? Why do you want to be free from such things?

 

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct27M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Essential Class 2008

for October 2008

by Pastor Lau Chin Kwee

Dear Students,

It is good for me to teach you, young people, again in this Essential Class. I consider it a privilege and great blessing to me personally and to the Church for the future, in which you are called to uphold the same truth in this dark and sinful world.

Our coming lessons begin with our confession on the last things to us personally. And at the end of this module we would have completed even the end of all things in this present age and be introduced to the New Heaven and the New Earth.

You can read ahead in all of these from Lessons 28-30 of the Essentials. Do click this link and go through the questions and answers carefully in preparation.

For the three Millennium views you can consider the chart above.

God bless.

lck

Comment on Evening October 26 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The spirit of Christ's servants is always to promote His Kingdom. So those who are not against us and are effectively using the Name of Christ, are actually for us though not in our same grouping, while those not being with Christ are actually against Him, even though they may be right in our midst. (Luk 9:50; Mat 12:30) It is of the wrong spirit when we insist that all God's servants must be of the same grouping. This is the sectarian spirit which Jesus warns against in Luk 9:49-50.

 

Preaching of the Word of God is the official declaration of Christ's Word. It is the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ in this world. Any attempt to shut that voice is an obvious act of not being with Him. As such, that act is against Christ. And such method of gathering actually scatters according to Mat. 12:30.

 

When all Christ's servants take heed to their spirits, surely His Kingdom will be promoted with fruit of the Spirit which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Christ's Kingdom will come to perfection when He comes again to gather His Body to Himself. At that time His Church shall come to the full awareness of their unity of the Faith. Meanwhile that unity is maintaining itself in all faithful local churches which humbly declare and practice consistently what they confess. "Humble" declaration and practice suggest that there may be room yet for corrections and improvements through proper channels. The spirit of compromise, resulting in conflict between faith and practice, within a local church, is a wrong spirit. Such spirit undermine the growth of true unity of the faith.

 

Of what spirit are we as we serve Christ?

 

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct26E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 26 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Many things may frighten us. And God tells us in His Word not to fear. "The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." We fear when we see the overwhelming powers that are around us, which we are not able to control and they are so destructive. They bring about, in a permanent way, what we least expect - so suddenly, in a short time, what we have done for years to build up! And there is nothing we can do about it. Are we not frightened?

 

Yet, God says "fear not" for "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." While the forces around us don't seem to care a bit what happen to us and ours, here is God taking an interest in our every hair so as give each a number. He cares for us more than we can ever do for ourselves! But what God says is no comfort to us if He is of lesser powerful than all these forces. Is this not the truth? If God, like the things we see, can be simply swept away helplessly by these forces, what He said to comfort and assure us are empty and vain words.

 

All of Scriptures reveal that "The Lord reigneth." All these are forces may reign powerfully in their own respective situations, but when come into conflict with God, the Lord reigns. In fact, Scriptures reveal that there is now power except that which be given of God. These powers cannot even exist without Him. He creates and upholds them for them to have their respective places in this world and to do their works. When Jesus was on earth, He commanded and even the wind and the waves obeyed Him.

 

But there is no comfort for those who have no fear of God in their heart. They may be vainly and foolishly thinking in their heart that they are very great because they fear not even the Only Powerful Being, upon Whom all other beigns depend in this Universe. Such people will soon learn that "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31) "Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?"

 

Who and what do you fear?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct26M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 25 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

A pragmatic world is a world of "whatever works". For this world there is no such things as absolute right or wrong, true or false. All things are relative to each other, and their relationship with each other keep changing. We are to understand these temporary relationships and learn to exert forces upon them according to their nature so as to create a new, acceptable relationships "that works" as we want them to. So, for example, homosexuality is not a matter of right and wrong in Singapore, but just that it is now at this time  not acceptable according to our tradition. Homosexual can continue to practice quietly until such time when it becomes accepted and then legislation can be change and made for their interest as well. So, all things can change through time, so long as they prove to work well.

 

So, what constitute "working well"? Well, if there is peace and prosperity in material gain, and people have their freedom to do as they like without hindering others of theirs, then we should just maintain that equilibrium carefully. That would be the right things to do. So, the standard can and should change progressively through time. There is no such things as absolute in this world. So, go the pragmatists of this world, many of  whom are Singaporeans.

 

All philosophers have failed and so will the pragmatists. This is because God's Word prophesied: "The end of all things is at hand." What will become of Singapore as it continues to handle the homosexual situation as planned? Sodom and Gomorrah were the two cities that had gone down that path and reach the point of no return to reach "the end of all things."

 

As believers we do know that "The heavens and the earth, which are now, ... are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment." So, as we are exposed to the different philosophies of this world, we must keep in mind what we know and be prepared and preparing our children for that Great and Glorious Day of the Lord. In recent years there is no lack of signs indicating and reminding us of the end of all things.

 

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." If you have been having war with God, be wise to stop immediately and get right with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. God means business to bring this present world to an end with the Final Judgment and to usher in the New Heavens and the New Earth, wherein dwells righteousness.

 

Are you still sleeping like the children of darkness?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct25M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 25 "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

How can a true Christian survive in this hostile world? A true Christian is one like his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. He derives his life from Him and live to love and serve Him. So, he is one who truly know what is means to love God and man. By God's grace he does that like His Master.

 

In this hostile world, such a man has a hard time. This is because this world is at enmity with God. There is no true love in this world. So, true love has difficulty manifesting itself because it exposes the false loves, which and many and all around us. No one who loves insincerely or mistakenly would not like to be exposed as such, unless God's grace is upon them. So, how can a true Christian survive in this hostile world?

 

The survive well because of the fulfillment of Christ's promise that "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." If Jesus goes with me, I will go anywhere. He has overcome the world and is now on the right hand of God, victoriously enthroned above. So, while the world is in darkness, God's people enjoy the light of Christ, like the pillar of cloud and fire during the wilderness journey of the Children of Israel.

 

Besides our Lord Jesus Christ, is there another one who can assure you that he "is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy"?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct25M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 24 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Water is symbolic of cleansing as well as of the quenching of dire thirst in Holy Scriptures. Of cleansing it is used in connection with the Sacramet of Baptism. Of the quenching of thirst, it is used to demonstrate man's need of God alone to be wholesome.

 

God created man after His own image and likeness. Among other important things, this also means that man needs God to operate properly like a motor vehicle needs fuel to move and operate meaningfully. It is in the nature of the case by design.

 

Man tries to use all kinds of "fuel" (apart from God) to operate only to discover finally the damage done to himself and others around him because of such abuse and misuse. Men who are saved by God's mercy are all those who have come to know and acknowledge that they are "poor and needy". This means that they are in need of that only "fuel" (God) Which is totally out of reach to them. They are like men dying of thirst in a "dry and thirsty land, where no water is." God brings a man to his wit's end to save him. "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them."

 

Are you thirsty to that extent? If so, then there is hope. Cry to God thus: "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is."

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct24E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 24 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

To say that a true child of God in this world will never sometimes wonder if the Lord has forsaken him is not true. One only need to read the Word of God carefully to note the cries of the Psalmist: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance." "shall yet praise him" suggests that the present situation is such that praise finds it hard to come forth. A child of God is often perplexed by his situation in life. He longs to praise His God, but does find that there are moments when praises flow more freely than other. And why does God not simply make his life made up of such moments only? Why all the difficult moments in life?

 

There are depth of the love of God that we can never reach except through the ways of the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. Going through difficult moments does help us to praise Him in more glorious ways. It is therefore a privilege that God should choose us, and not others, to go through such times. For example, through such times we that our God will never forget His beloved, although a woman  may forget her sucking child and has no compassion on the son of her womb. A woman of such character has gravely sinned against God, not showing natural affection at all. Thus, it is more than unthinkable that God should forsake His people. To suggest that God would do something like that is to think Him worse than such an unworthy mother. Who would think that way of His God?

 

"In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." We have no hope if His mercy does not endure forever. He makes all the difference in our lives, and not we ourselves. When we feel that He has forsaken us, we must realize that it is a matter only for a moment. But as far as His mercy is concerned, it is from everlasting to everlasting.

 

What kind of a husband is yours in Jehovah God?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct24M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 23 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Can a living be said to be dead? And can a dead person be said to be living? No, they are referring to the same thing, just like: A remarriage cannot be a sin of adultery and yet at the same time, to the same person, be not a sin of adultery. But, it is possible for living person to be dead at the same time if they are referring to different things. In 1Ti 5:6 we read: "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." Here Scripture is talking about a woman physically living in pleasure and is dead spiritually.

 

Conversely it is also possible to talk about a person who is spiritually living, but physically no different from a spiritually dead man. Such may be those who are saved by the skin of their teeth. May there be few among us who live such shameful lives. The Church in Sardis was said to be "thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." (Rev 3:1)

 

"It is the spirit that quickeneth." ".. the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." As one lives in righteousness, he discovers that the Spirit is life. That Spirit "that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies" since He also "dwelleth in you." The mortal body may get weaker through the years (perishes), but the inward man is renewed day by day. This renewal can energize even the physical body and causes its activities to be a great blessing to oneself and others around him.

 

This gift of eternal life is through Jesus Christ our Lord. We need not wait for Heaven to experience this eternal life. We can already have it already right here on earth. To live apart from God is death. To live with God through His Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit is life everlasting.

 

Are you waiting for Heaven to enjoy your eternal life?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct23E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 23 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

As we live in this world we try to figure out what is life all about. Therefore, we observe how people around us consider life to be. We soon realize that majority of people life to get different kinds of things for themselves to use and to consume. Some have more, others have less, but all seem to be very keen to get more and more. Then we also notice for majority of people they seem happy and proud that they have  more than others. So, we also more and more to think that a man's life consists "in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." But, our Lord says, "No!"

 

Our Lord did not say it is wrong to get things and to possess them and be responsible for them. He said life does not consist in the abundance of things which one possesses. In other words, the blessedness of life is not to be measured by how much things one owns and has control over. We have come across people who own most abundantly and ended up by committing suicide. If one's life is blessed, one would not end it that way. And, again, we can see poor people having contentment and are happy. So, Jesus is right. We must seek elsewhere for true blessedness of life.

 

The writer of Hebrews wrote: "Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." In life we must take note of what "he hath said". God speaks and we must take note of what He is saying. Then, we must pay particular attention to His promises, especially when we are in dire needs. He said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." These are precious words most meaningful for those who have faith in Him.

 

Of, course, in this world there are many who have no faith in God. Some even think that God does not exist. These are people to be pitied and not envied over. How blessed are those who have faith in God. To hear from the Almighty that He will never leave us nor forsake us is good enough to give us peace and quietness in the midst of the storms He sends us.

 

Are you contented with "with food convenient for" you? "Inconvenient food" are things we own, use and consume which bring inconveniences in life. Only God knows what food is convenient for us. "Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me." Amen.

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct23M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 22 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The One Who creates and set in motion all things is also Himself in midst of all things interacting with them all the time! He interact with them in such a way that He "hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."

 

His interaction with all things is so remarkable that the so-called chance events are all at His disposal. In other words, nothing happens by chance, but everything falls out according to His determination. Even the "evil in a city" is the Lord Who has done it! Indeed, He is ".. the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things."

 

He is answerable to no one. No one is in the position to ask Him, "What doest thou?" He is the Sovereign Lord and does whatsover He pleases! Since He is pleased to set His Kingdom in the midst of His creation, then His Kingdom must reign, or His reputation is at stake. His enemies must all be subdued according His own planning and timing. None can stay His hand.

 

We who are with Him need not fear for it is our "Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

 

Are you afraid when things do not turn out as you expect? Who is in control of your life?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct22E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

FW: Spurgeon's Body of Divinity.

From: Lau Chin Kwee [mailto:lckferc@singnet.com.sg]
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 9:08 AM
To: Dear Friends
Subject: Spurgeon's Body of Divinity.

Dear brethren,

Watson has his famous "Body of Divinity". In this morning's devotion, Spurgeon presents his miniature one.

Do read below and pay attention to his understanding of 'freely' and 'conditionality'.

Lau Chin Kwee 

 

========

October 22 - Morning

"I will love them freely." — Hosea 14:4

This sentence is a body of divinity in miniature. He who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fulness is a true master in Israel. It is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word "freely." This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine way by which love streams from heaven to earth, a spontaneous love flowing forth to those who neither deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is, indeed, the only way in which God can love such as we are.

The text is a death-blow to all sorts of fitness: "I will love them freely." Now, if there were any fitness necessary in us, then He would not love us freely, at least, this would be a mitigation and a drawback to the freeness of it. But it stands, "I will love you freely."We complain, "Lord, my heart is so hard." "I will love you freely." "But I do not feel my need of Christ as I could wish." "I will not love you because you feel your need; I will love you freely."

"But I do not feel that softening of spirit which I could desire." Remember, the softening of spirit is not a condition, for there are no conditions; the covenant of grace has no conditionality whatever; so that we without any fitness may venture upon the promise of God which was made to us in Christ Jesus, when He said, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned." It is blessed to know that the grace of God is free to us at all times, without preparation, without fitness, without money, and without price! "I will love them freely." These words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text was specially written for such — "I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely." Backslider! surely the generosity of the promise will at once break your heart, and you will return, and seek your injured Father's face.

===========

Comment on Morning October 22 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The spiritual and ethical value of all our thoughts, words and actions lie in the condition of our heart, their very sourse. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." If our heart is not fixed, but wavering all the time then all our thoughts, words and actions are also uncertain and cannot be relied upon.

 

One who has found peace with God can say, "O God, my heart is fixed." There is no more wandering for these people. They go their Jehovah God and discover that He speaks to them in His Word. They are comforted and know how they should live. All these do not mean that they are not challenged by the enemies of God while they lived in this world. In fact, they are often challenged and do find life difficult at times, just like the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ended up on the Cross. So, there were many tmes when we are afraid in this world.

 

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." "In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." Our God, the God of grace, is fully aware of all our struggles and will come to our rescue at the appointed time. We can trust and obey. We can watch and pray. We can persevere in well-doing. We can count on Him who "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all," that he shall "freely give us all things." No good things will He withhold from those who fear Him.

 

Are we fixed in our heart?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct22M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 21 of "Daily Llight on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Do you want to be like our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, you must also appear like a servant in this world because He said He was "as he that doth serve" and "I am among you as he that serveth." He behaved that way fully aware that normally, most people would regard greatness as associated to people who are being served. But was our Master the greatest of all? Shouldn't He be the one sitting down while we standing to serve Him? He actually behave like a humble servant just before they had the "last supper" together - He washed His disciples' feet! Why?

 

He wants us to be happy. That is why He led us to behave that way. "The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." Do what? "Do as I have done to you", He said. Wouldn't you and I feel uneasy sitting down while our Lord and Master goes about serving? What if He comes to our feet and started to wash them? Would you behave differently than the Apostle Peter? If we naturally refused to let Him wash us, then He declares that we do not belong to Him. Is belonging to Him all that important? If we know these things we are happy to let Him wash us and we follow His good example.

 

When was the last time you and I wash our brother's and sister's feet? Oh, yes, I'm not talking about "feet" in the literal sense. "feet" speaks of any need that our brothers and sisters may find themselves and we have to give them. Are we taking steps to help them, like our Lord Jesus would?

 

When the world watch us behave the same way like our Lord and Master, would they not consider the Gospel message that He gave His life a ransome for us in order to save us from our sins? To give up one's life for another speaks of the highest service one can render. Are we for real in the Gospel we preach?

 

May God make us happy people.

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct21E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 21 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

On what basis can God call us His children? Is it on the basis that we are little more like Him than those who are not call as such? This cannot be as we can easily notice that there are some unbelievers who are morally more upright than us. So, if they are unacceptable to God, certainly we cannot be accepted of Him on that basis. To answer that question, we must ask if God has ever express Himself as to whom He was most pleased with.

 

In Mat 17:5 we read what He Himself said publicly, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." So, only the Lord Jesus Christ lived a life well-pleasing to God. He even called Him His beloved Son. If we can connect to this Son of His in such a way that we are His to belong and use and He is ours to care and protect, then we too, for His sake, can be called by God, "the children of God."

 

He did just that in 1Joh 3:1 where we read: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." In Christ, we become "joint-heirs" of all things! All things belong to us as they are to Christ according to God's appointment. (Heb 1:2)

 

So we should not be surprised that the Church is called the Body of Christ and Christ its head - like the human body to its head, literally. They are one (body and head) and therein lies our acceptability to God. Then too we should not be surprise that we suffer with Christ in this world, even as He suffered and are suffering now, in and through us. If we are indeed Christ's, "be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

 

With this promise of blessedness from God, we should perfect "holiness in the fear of God" while we live in this world. We should purify ourselves as He is pure. We should fight the good fight of faith in preparation for glory.

 

Are you and am I?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct21M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 20 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

We seek acceptance of those who can speak with authority. That they can speak with authority means that people recognize the authenticity of what they say. When we are accepted by such people or institutions, we know that we shall also be regarded as authentic. The highest authority is the authority of God. In fact, there is no authority except that which be given of God.

 

To be accepted of God is all that we really need to be truly authentic.

 

What can unworthy sinners like us ever offer anything to God so as to become accpeted of Him? None, because all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. So deep in our heart we never feel that we are truly authentic. Of ourselves we are truly hypocrites and pretenders.

 

In Jesus Christ we need not say that we have not sinned. We can freely acknowledge our sins and find in Him our justification, sanctification and glorification. Christ is our Beloved Groom. We are "accepted in the Beloved." We are complete in Him.

 

If we have a place with God, we are most blessed because we come under His Almighty care and tutoring. We are being trained and fashioned by Him, the Mighty Potter. We can confidently submit to Him and be what He wants us to be without fear. The more we study the wonders of His creation and work of redemption, the more we can safely trust Him in quietness.

 

God would not accept graduates from any other schools than from the School of Jesus. Are you studying there right now?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct20E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning October 20 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Are you delighting in the law of God? If not, you may want to consider if you are more walking after the outward man than the inward man.

 

The Apostle Paul in 2Co 4:16 spoke of the outward man perishing and the inward man being renewed day by day. A child of God can detect these two men in himself. The outward man speaks of the physical man while the inward man of the spiritual man. While it is not wrong to show some concern for the outward man, it is harmful when such concern overshadow the concern for the inward man. The delight in the law of God is a matter after the inward man.

 

If you care for yourself spiritually, you will soon begin to delight in the law of God. The law of God addresses the spiritual and ethcal values of all our outward actions and words. God judges the heart and not the outward appearances of things. We often do the latter to the total neglect of the former. It is not what other people think of us, but what God think of us that truly matters. That is something after the inward man.

 

The more one delights in God's law and word the more he or she discovers that "his fruit was sweet to my taste." This is like a man getting more and more excited as he sees his zigsaw puzzle taking shape more and more as each piece is placed in the right place. As we grow in knowledge of God's Word we find the things around us really fit well with each other when God in in each of them.

 

Like the Lord Jesus, we want more and more to do His will as it is revealed to us in His Word. There is nothing more safe and delightful than that. We would be deceiving ourselves when we think that hearing God's Word alone is good enough. We must hear and do His Word in order to live in the truth, in the light.

 

Are we named among those who behold ourselve in His Word, but go away doing nothing about what we see? Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. It is the doers that matter.

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct20M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening October 19 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

A human baby cannot survive by itself without some kind of outside care given. When that care is somehow taken away, the baby has lost its comfort. Such is our experience when a loved one is taken away from us, whether or not we realize it. A loved one is someone related to us in such a way that there are some exchanges of love to a certain degree at one time or another. The death of a loved one is a taking away of such exchanges of love in real time. Of course, we can constantly try to refresh our memories of such events of love, but there is no comparison between memories and the real thing.

 

For us Christians, our Comfort at such a time of loss, lies in our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him we have hope of everlasting life. In Him we have the comfort of love as we live in the communion of the saints. The fellowship of the Spirit is the fellowship of the Comforter. Jesus went to the Father to receive this Comforter for us. The Spirit of the Glorified Christ now dwells in the midst of His people, comforting and empowering them for the work of the Messianic Ministry. Experiencing this Messianic Ministry in the Church we are assured of our own resurrection, even as we believe He died and rose again.

 

In the face of death we can comfort one another with these words of hope. Death for us believers is but a temporary separation of loved ones. They shall be united again at Christ's Coming to receive them to Himself.

 

Wherein do we find our comfort in the midst of death?

Do read the Holy Scriptures for yourselves in the free Daily Light on Daily Path for this day at http://soshine.blogspot.com/2007/09/daily-light-on-daily-path-october.html#Oct19E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck