Comment on Morning December 31 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The story of Exodus is the story of God leading His people safely, through the wilderness and much temptations, to the Promised Land, "as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place." (Deu. 1:31) Such is the picture God paints for us concerning our pilgrimages - the wonderful story of redemption!

 

It is a story of God raising up His problematic, adopted kids to be more like His own Son. In nature, it is like the eagle training her young to fly. There up on top of a tall tree is the eagle's nest where a young is ready to be trained its living skill - to fly. There the mother eagle comes and "stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings." (Deu. 32:11, 12)  She fly her young to great height and simply drop them to teach them how to fly. Before the young could hit the floor to their instant death, the mother eagle flew down at such speed and accuracy to bear the young away to safety, or to another dropping session. So are believers trained under the watchful eyes of their Heavenly Father Who promises them that "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: .." (Deu. 33:27) If we do fall from great height, we fall into His loving arms. We learn to fly by flapping our wings, not by merely listening to a lecture on flying. Such training establishes the unspeakable bond of trust and confidence in the Almighty.

 

Our last enemy is death. But before death, we normally grow old first. "Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." (Isa. 46:4) "This God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." (Psa. 55:22)

 

Wherever you may be, can you feel His presence near you to guide, teach and protect?

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-december.html#Dec31M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Saints are people with whom the Lord is pleased to establish His covenant graciously. There is this need of such a covenant if any human being is to be saved from sin and its consequences. God sovereignly chooses His friends, even those who are received into His covenant. To them God promise to be their Sovereign Friend while they become His people. In His faithfulness, He keeps the covenant alive despite his people's oft unbelieving ways. In that covenant, He seeks the good and salvation of His people. That goodness and salvation comes in the way of His keeping "the feet of his saints." (1Sa. 2:9)

 

Divinely kept feet are those that "walk in the light, as he is in the light." (1Jo. 1:7) When believers walk in darkness, they "lie, and do not the truth." (1Jo. 1:6) Lying is not of the Heavenly Father, but of the devil, and has no place in the covenant friendship of God. Through cleansing and chastisement, their feet and washed and kept for further use.

 

In His covenant, Jehovah says to His servant-friend: "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil." (Prov. 4:11,12,14,15,25-27)

 

In Jesus Christ do you find a Sovereign Friend?

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-december.html#Dec31E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

"Enoch walked with God." (Gen. 5:24) What does that mean? Certainly we are not imagining a physical walking of two persons hand in hand down the street in Singapore. That cannot be because God is a spirit without any body parts for any to hold. To walk with someone means to have fellowship and communion with each other in the day to day life of the person. It presupposes a certain relation of friendship between those who walk with each other. There can always be the possibility of friends not walking with each other for a time for whatever reason. But they remain friends though they may not treat each other as such with much grief between them.

 

With God we must always seek to agree; for "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amo. 3:3) God being who He is expect that we agree with Him always and finally and not the other way round. This does not mean that God will always gives His final words immediately upfront when communicating with us. God does not communicate with us merely with commandments. He talks about things with us and often ask our opinions on a certain matters, not because He does not know, but because He wants us to be engaged in our exciting walk with Him. He does not tell us all the details of past, present and future things which only He Himself knows, but promise to go with us all the way eternally! "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer. 29:11-13)

 

With such a precious promise for God Almighty, it is foolishness not to walk with Him. It is not to every one that He makes such promises. It is our privilege and blessedness in Christ to receive such promises. We have nothing to envy those who are without hope in this world, but only pity. May God have mercy upon them.

 

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." (Jam. 4:8)

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-december.html#Dec29E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning December 29 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The Lord, our Mighty God, is the Ruler of the Universe. He controls everything according to His own wisdom, might and power. Being the only wise God, He cannot but act purposefully. He has a unified will concerning all things. We who are saved by Him has the calling to know and "understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:17)

 

"This is the will of God, even your sanctification." (1Th 4:3) Our sanctification speaks of our being made holy and fit for the Master's use. God does not just want to give us a good name: the name, "children of God." He wants to transform and conform us to the image of His Son. This process of disciple-making is a matter of knowing our Saviour in greater depth. "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1Jo. 5:20) To know is not just a matter of getting more information of a person. It means also to become more and more one with such a person whom we have come to know and love.

 

If this is God's will concerning all His children, then all believers should seek each other's sanctification, prayerfully.The Apostle Paul had this longing for the Colossian believers. He wrote:  "We ... do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Col. 1:9) The 'live and let live' attitude of believers to day is undermining the Ministry of the Messiah as King. There is a lack of knowledge and a lack of authority in the Churches to day.

 

Who sanction your sanctification, if any at all?

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-december.html#Dec01M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Never be at war with one who is infinitely more powerful than you are. You stand to lose. And to think that there is no one more powerful than you are is sheer foolishness. Not, nor be interested, to know how we are related to the greatest of them all is to live in uncertainty. What if we are at war with him while we live. Wouldn't that be terribly dangerous?

 

But on the other hand, if such a One is our Friend, yea, "our peace" (Eph. 2:14), then we can live confidently and thankfully all the days of our life. There is none greater than God Almighty. For God to be our peace, it means that we, who offend Him, must have been reconciled to Him. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." (2Co. 5:19) We must forsake our sins and trust in Christ as he alone can reconcile us to God.

 

In Christ alone, we, therefore, have peace. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (Joh. 14:27) The world gives a type of peace which is not the true peace nor will it deceptive quietness last. There shall simply be no peace to the wicked. There is no other way to peace except in the way of repentance of sins towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Are you at war with God or is He your peace in Jesus 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-december.html#Dec27E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning December 27 "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

"Look before you leap." - this is a good advice for all who would want to move from place to place. Leaping suggests getting into a place which one may find it more difficult to get out. Thus one should look carefully first before leaping. Otherwise, there may be regret and a waste of precious time trying to get back to the right place.

 

But, sometimes, we do not even know what to look out for before leaping. This is especially so with spiritual things. We are so used to the material things of this world that we do not know how to view spiritual things as we ought. Spiritual things has to do with God, the things of God. They are the eternal things which abide forever. They involve the eternal truth of God, and call for quiet meditation of God's Word prayerfully. As Christians we are called by God to inherit His Kingdom. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luk. 12:32) Therefore, we should know where to look before we leap.

 

If you look for the right thing, you will discover that "here we have no continuing city." (Heb. 13:14) This world is not our home and we are just a passing through. So "now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." (1Pe. 1:6) Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. This present world is like night time to us, and morning is the Second Coming of our blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. We "groan" now (2Co. 5:4), but the day will come when "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Rev. 21:4)

 

Beloved, where are you looking before you make your many moves in 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-december.html#Dec27M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The way to heaven is so full of temptations and trials that sometimes a child of God wonder how he or she is ever going to make it safely there.

 

Indeed, he or she can never make it safely there all by himself or herself. Our trip to heaven is ordained by God and He Himself is become our Guide and Comforter to accompany us all the way to Heaven. The more we spend time with God on the way, the more we will gain confidence that all is well and that we shall surely make it to Heaven safely.

 

The way we take is the way of the Almighty Who has control over all things, even over all the forces of evil in this world. He controls over all things like a good Shepherd Who is willing even to give His life for the sheep. All things must therefore serve our good and salvation.

 

If we are to live comfortably in this life we must learn to commit all things to "him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 24, 25)

 

Where are you looking for comfort and assurance?

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-december.html#Dec26E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

At Christmas we are reminded that we are saved to serve the Lord our God. This was God's oath to Abraham and the possibility of it is the Incarnation of the Son of God. In Luk. 1:73-75 we read "The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." Such a service is meant for "all the days of our life."

 

Our sinful nature tells us that we should always aspire to be served rather than to serve. We may have to become servants for a time in order to survive in this world. But our aim should always to improve so that one day we need not serve, but be served. We are always given the impression that success means dominion and control over others according to our  own purposes and wishes. So, to serve all the days of our life does not seem correct. Yet, this is the  only right and joyful thing to do for any human being.

 

As we  consider this matter we must immediately take note that we are not talking about serving anyone and everyone. We are talking about serving God Almighty, Creator and Ruler of the whole universe. Concerning Him, it is only proper that all things created by Him serve Him. They do serve Him whether they like it or not. Those refusing to do so also find themselves serving Him against their own will. But blessed are those who consciously and joyfully serve Him "all the days of our life."

 

Serving God is not something which we find it easy in a fallen world. The fallen world says, "We will not have this man to reign over us. " (Luk. 19:14) "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." (Psa. 2:2, 3) Those in power and authority would not submit to God and His Christ naturally. Yet, God insists that all things serve Him. So believers will find much opposition when they would do what God wants of them.

 

This is where we are exhorted to be "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." (1Co. 15:58) Living in this life there is much work and labour for us, and many of our labours are done in vain. But here is one work and labour which shall never be in vain. "Ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1Co. 15:58) Such labour are not in vain because God Almighty is pleased with it and would bless every such effort.

 

Many try to serve God, but pay very little attention to what He had to say in His Word. This is a grave error, which should be obvious to all. But the devil has blinded so many that they cannot even understand this simple truth. If your boss tell you something which you ignore in the course of serving him, what    would he think of you?

 

God has revealed Himself to us as the only One worthy of our absolute trust and confidence in that we obey Him to the details of every "jot and title" of His Word, without questions, all the days of our life. He is our Wisdom, our strength, our joy, our comfort, our all in all. In serving others, there is always the possibility of doing wrong and becoming partakers of other man's sins. But serving the God of our Salvation, there can only be good and happy end.

 

Are you happy serving God currently? Why so?

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-december.html#Dec26M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Christmas is a time of thanksgiving for the Gift of gifts. But because men are so superficial and carnal, they have no appreciation of this Gift. In fact, they become so engrossed with the little gifts that they fail to look to the Gift to which all the little gifts are meant to point us to. Can you imagine all the motorists being deeply engrossed with the road signs because they are all so interesting that they forget the realities to which these road signs point? Christmas through commercialization has become more and more a season of disaster for many confused worldlings.

 

May true Christians keep in mind the wonder of Christmas, the First Advent of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ. Without Him all other gifts are truly meaningless finally. The more we are grateful for the Gift of gifts the more we will know how to live in this world and relate to each other in love. Christians must learn how to "praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psa. 107:21) To praise is to exalt, to lift up high for all to see. Can you see God's goodness in Christmas? Are you glad for it and think that all the world should know this goodness of God? Do you have any plan to lift up His Holy Name? Are you upset if none join you to lift up His Holy Name in this world?

 

If we are truly thankful to God for so great a salvation in Jesus Christ, we need not wait for Christmas to praise and thank Him. In fact, all our days we are filled with gratitude and exalt Him with all that we have irrespective of whether others appreciate what we are doing. When Mary received the confirmation of God's plan through Elizabeth, she said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luk. 1:46, 47) To Mary, it did not matter that people would think evil of her - a virgin with child. She was simply overwhelmed by the love of God for the lost mankind. To be used of the Lord for the glory of  His Name was indeed a great honour to her. She was thankful and full of joy.

Are you and am I like Mary at Christmas 2007?

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-december.html#Dec25E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

No doubt it is love that this present world is found wanting. Not that there are no claims made that love is very much alive around us. Just listen to the songs sung by pop stars and you will discover in the lyrics of their songs all kinds of themes on love. Many humanitarian efforts to relieve the many suffering victims of natural disasters and of wars are deemed to be acts of love. So, it is claimed that love is very  much alive all around us.

 

But upon closer examination we also discover that in the midst of all these so called acts of love, there are many related activities which are totally acts of selfishness and lusts. We read of the abuse of funds  by aid workers, or what some called "professional beggars". Then there are the peace-keepers who victimize those whom they are suppose to protect. That our present world is still full of problems despite the many years of effort by the United Nations and other world organizations to resolve them show that love is still wanting.

 

To have the true love which will truly solves all our problems, the love of God must be acknowledged and appreciated. The birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, about 2000 years ago, is the appearance of the "kindness and love of God our Saviour." (Tit. 3:4) "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1Jo. 4:9, 10)

 

Look at how true Christians live in this world and you will see the love of God at work. If indeed every human being is a Christian, our world's problems would be solved. But, alas, not all who hear the Gospel of God's love believe, repent of sins and trust in Jesus Christ. They remain wicked and defiant against God. And God said that there shall be no peace to the wicked.

 

The birth of Jesus Christ is the coming of God in human flesh "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Heb. 2:14) In our flesh, Jesus took all the penalty of our sins and fulfill all righteousness on our behalf. Thus we experience the love of God and learn how to love God and man as we should.

 

Is your love-life with or without 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-december.html#Dec25M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

As Christians we must live for the Lord Jesus Christ is such a way that "not ... your good be evil spoken of" (Rom.14:16) We must learn to be conscientious in doing things according to the Word of God. Then we must ensure, as much as possible, that people around us know that that is exactly what we are doing and not according to our own whims and fancies.

 

We bear good testimony by not associating with evil that is around us. Often such association tarnishes our good testimonies and slowly corrupts our ways. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Ye are the temple of the living God. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." (2Co. 6:14, 16, 17)

 

With all our good works and intention, there will always be those who would reproach us still. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye: for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, ... or as a busybody in other men's matters." (1Pe. 4:14-15)

 

How are we shining for the Lord as Christmas dawn upon us?

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-december.html#Dec24E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Christians are people recreated by God in Christ Jesus to live and not to die. As such we are not to live after the flesh, but after the Spirit. "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Rom. 8:13) To live is to be in sweet fellowship and communion with God and His people. To die is to merrily joining the world in its "ungodliness and worldly lusts" (Tit. 2:12)

 

The latter is to live after the flesh. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these; adultery, fornication and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:19) We cannot rejoice in such works, but are constantly called to denounce them both in our own lives and in others as well. They have no place in man who was created after the image of God. Thus the command to repent and to look to Christ for salvation is issued to all men everywhere. More so must this be the calling of all who claimed to be saved. Regarding such works of the flesh, "let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints." (Eph. 5:3)

 

Then on the other hand, believers are to bear "the fruit of the Spirit". The "fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Gal. 5:21-25) Such virtues are useful for handling ourselves and others around us. Is it not due to the lack of such virtues that so much violent and confusion prevail among men? Christians must promote such virtues among themselves at all times even as the Spirit works in them to bring them forth.

 

Such conversion experiences are to accompany God's people so long as they are in this present evil world on their way to Heaven. "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity." (Tit. 2:11-14)

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-december.html#Dec24M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Eternal life is not something apart from Christ, the way leading thereto. The way to eternal life is eternal life Itself. To have communion with Christ is to have eternal life. "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life." (1Jo. 5:11, 12)

 

We do not have life in ourselves just like God and His Son have. "As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." (Joh. 5:26) So God can quicken whom He wills while we are not able to do that. Jesus also has absolute power over His own life. He said, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:18) Only such a One can guarantee our eternal life.

 

In Adam we are dead in trespasses and sins. In Christ we are raised to newness of life. His power over death is clearly seen in His own resurrection. In fact He said of Himself: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (Joh. 11:25, 26)

 

To live apart from such a One is death, indeed. If we should utterly forsake Christ or He us, at any time, we are lost eternally. Thanks be to God, "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:13)  This faithfulness of God is our hope and salvation. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6)

 

What kind of a Saviour is yours?

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-december.html#Dec23E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning December 23 of "Daily Light on Daily Pah"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Strength is what a man need  to have if he wants to accomplish something difficult. Overcoming the sins in our life is something not only difficult, but, in fact, impossible for us fallen human being. "They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul iis precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption." (Psa. 49:6-9)  With man, salvation is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible. To be saved is to be at peace with God. "Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me." (Isa. 27:5)

 

The strength of God for our salvation from sin and its curse is to be found in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God's own ransom paid for our sins. "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mar. 10:45) "Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins" (Col. 1:19)

 

To flee to the Cross of Christ is to "take hold of my [Jehovah's] strength." This is the only way for a sinful man to make peace with God. "Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." (Isa. 26:4)

 

Are you trying hard to get right with God in your own strength? Stand still and see the salvation 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-december.html#Dec23M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Daily Light 4 23rd Dec. Evening

Comment on Evening December 23

Eternal life is not something apart from Christ, the way leading thereto. The way to eternal life is eternal life Itself. To have communion with Christ is to have eternal life. "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life." (1Jo. 5:11, 12)

We do not have life in ourselves just like God and His Son have. "As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." (Joh. 5:26) So God can quicken whom He wills while we are not able to do that. Jesus also has absolute power over His own life. He said, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:18) Only such a One can guarantee our eternal life.

In Adam we are dead in trespasses and sins. In Christ we are raised to newness of life. His power over death is clearly seen in His own resurrection. In fact He said of Himself: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (Joh. 11:25, 26)

To live apart from such a One is death, indeed. If we should utterly forsake Christ or He us, at any time, we are lost eternally. Thanks be to God, "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:13) This faithfulness of God is our hope and salvation. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6)

What kind of a Saviour is yours?

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-december.html#Dec23E.
 
Yours in Christ's Service,
lck


Lau Chin Kwee

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

A promise is made, but are we satisfied and our heart at rest with that? It all depends on the issue which brings about the unrest, the relevance of the promise made and the one making the promise.

 

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ had done wondrously for us on the Cross of Calvary and when He rose again from the dead on the third day. But He left us to go to His Father in Heaven, leaving us without His physical presence. Read through the Four Gospels and discover how exciting those days were when He was physically with us! He spoke for us and defended us. He healed and restored us. He taught us so many things with divine authority. No one can gain say us with His presence. But He left us!

 

The truth is that He did not leave us completely. He told His disciples that He was with them "even unto the end of the world." (Mat. 28:20) He is still with us in the person of the Holy Spirit, Whom He received of the Father and sent to us at Pentecost. Such a presence is good and safe enough for us, but we still long for His physical presence. So He promise to come back again as we have seen Him taken up from us. (Act. 1:11)

 

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." (Rev. 1:7) "Every eye" shall see Him literally. He will come again to be seen of all men and to judge all men. Believers must know that a longing for His return is also a longing for the conclusion of this present age and the ushering in of the New Heavens and the New Earth. It speaks of a sense that this present evil world is not worthy of the continuing witnesses of the suffering saints of God. Are you suffering for Christ's sake and the Gospel's sake as to be in the position to feel that way about the world?

 

Let us take heed to what Paul wrote to Titus in 2:11-13 - "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Witnessing to the world will cease when once the Lord comes again. Let us live godly lives while we can. The night comes when no man can work.

 

"And the evening and the morning ..." (Gen. 1:31) - will be the Eternal Day.

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-december.html#Dec22E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning December 22 "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

"This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (Joh. 6:29) There is nothing more clear than this statement from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. To believe unto salvation is the work of God. "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) This belief is also one that works out itself in "good works". Christian believers are people full of good works. They work not in order to be saved, but because they are saved. Their good works are the different indications that they are saved by God's Sovereign Grace.

 

Such "good works" are inevitable because God had ordained that those saved "should walk in them." God will ensure that. While it is not a good work to walk in sin, it is good work to repent of one's sin and to fight the good fight of faith. So, we can expect saved people to be conscious of their sins and to desire always to get right with God. Those who rather that God does not reveal their sins to them than that He should convict them and call them to repentance, manifest themselves unconverted. Converted people deal with the putting off of the old man and the putting on the new man all the days of their lives on this side of the grave.

 

When we do see the above works manifesting in our brethren, we do indeed give thanks to God for them. We are thankful not only for the many mutual benefits of such communion of the saints where good works abound, but also for the eternal blessings of our brethren. "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power." (2Th. 1:3, 11)

 

Are you a believer? Where then are your good works?

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-december.html#Dec22M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

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

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Chosen, indeed, we believers are, and that even before the foundation of the world. And because it is the Almighty Who has chosen us, we can rest assured that it is very purposeful, even though such selection is not based upon what He sees in us, but according to His own mercy and kindness in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

It is important that we know this purpose of His, by and by, as we live with Him in sweet communion. Otherwise, He would not have spoken of it in His Word to us: "Chosen ... that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." (Eph. 1:4) So, as we mature, we know what He wants and learn to cooperate with Him in greater measure to our smooth experience of His grace.

 

To be holy means to be dedicated and consecrated to Him Who is the God of our salvation. Holiness speaks of an increasing knowledge and experience of God. It also mean that we trust in this God Who has spoken and obey Him absolutely. All these imply a life with God sitting on the throne of one's heart. There are much willing and doing of His good pleasure, with great delight and thankfulness.

 

Such a life of truth and sincerity is without blame before God. No one can point a finger at such a person and blame him before God. He does God's will humbly to the best of his knowledge and faith. God knows that. To his own Master he stands or falls.

 

Such a life is a life of "sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." (2Th. 2:13) Not that such a life is perfect without any need for teaching, rebuke, correction and instruction in righteousness. In fact, such a life, before it reaches its perfect glory in heaven, is full of these profits from the Word of God.

 

This cannot fail to be because salvation is God's own work and that cannot fail as God cannot fail in whatever He does Being Almighty. The "new heart ... and a new spirit" He gives to His chosen one cannot fail to operate to cleanse and to renew him. His outward man may perish, but his inward man is renewed day by day.

 

"God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (1Th. 4:7) Are we holy, for He is holy?

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-december.html#Dec20M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning December 19 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Can you imagine a  universe without light at all? Without light, the properties of object to reflect  the different colours of the rainbow would be meaningless, and every object in this universe would not appear at all in all their different glory as we know them to be in our present world. We would not know what we would be missing, but with the experience of our present world, we know this must be better than a world without light. Another analogy would be the experiences of a blind man in contrast with those of seeing people. What a world of difference! Thank God for creating light for us.

 

The existence of rational moral creatures without the Word of God is like the existence of the universe without the physical light. Something fundamentally important is missing rendering that world incomplete and not as glorious as it should be. Without the spiritual light of God's Word, rational moral creatures do not communicate properly and thus do not relate to each other well and in a wholesome manner, resulting in confusion and all manner of evils, the activities of darkness. The Fall of man plunged the human race into darkness, confusion and sin. But, thanks be to God, ...

 

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness." (Psa. 112:4) Jesus is the light of that world where men fear the Lord. As the light arises we must learn to "trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." (Isa. 50:10) The surrounding darkness cannot overwhelm us for "the Lord upholdeth him with his hand" (Psa. 37:24) and His "commmandment is a lamp, and the law is light." (Pro. 6:23) With the light we are safe as we keep to that path of light without turning to the left nor to the right.

 

Our body needs the light and this light is our eye. Our eye perceives and interprets the light reflected by the different objects around us. This gives meaning and tells us what to do next. If our eye sees a unified, consistent world, then our body is full of light and we are happy and confident in our walk. But if our eye sees a confused world that keeps changing every now and then, then we may be thrown to the surrounding darkness instead. If what we see is darkness, then our light is darkness. Then we are the children not of the light, but of darkness.

 

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," (1Th. 5:5-9)

 

Where are you going?

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-december.html#Dec19M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening December 19 of ''Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

Jesus is our Good Shepherd. As such He is full of compassion towards us. If we are young and tender, He would often "gathers the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom", if we are pregnant he would "gently lead" us. (Isa. 40:11) In other words, He is very mindful of our condition even as He tends to us.

 

At one time, a great multitude was with Him listening to His messages and He noticed that they had not eaten, so He told His disciples, "I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way." So, He fed them before sending them away! (Mat. 15:32) We have many infirmities and He notices them all even without our telling Him. Observe His way with you and you will notice that He goes ahead of you to prepare the way according to your needs.

 

He never reject the little ones who come to Him humbly to be blessed. To many others our weaknesses may be obstacles to what they want to accomplish and therefore our help not welcome. But the Lord says, "Bring them hither to me." (Mat. 14:18)

 

If we do go astray, He will be out there looking for us to try and bring us back to the fold again. So He came to this world to save us from our sins. "Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1Pe. 2:25)

 

When we become doubtful of our final safety, for one reason or another, He would assure us, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luk. 12:32)

 

Do you experience Him as your Good Shepherd?

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-december.html#Dec19E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening December 18 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

The Apostle Paul mentioned two laws or principles at work in the spiritual life of a child of God - the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" and the "law of sin and death." (Rom. 8:2) One tends to the Spirit and to life, while the other to sin and death. It is obvious that the children of God are called to maintain the former rather than the latter law. In fact, the engagement of the former is the freeing of the latter.

 

Sin has to do with the Law and Commandment of God in that it is either a commission against or an omission of It. Sin is a principle and therefore has a certain propensity or leaning or potential. In its inclination, "sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me." (Rom. 7:10) So, the Apostle Paul also wrote that "the strength of sin is the law." (1Co. 15:56) The deception by which sin operates is to assert that a man can be justified by the law in the sight of God. This is deception from the devil because God's Word says, "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." (Gal. 3:11) When a man is deceived to embrace this false doctrine, sin slays him finally.

 

The "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" free a man from the "law of sin and death." This is the truth that "shall make you free." (Joh. 8:32) The law or principle speaks of the embracing of Christ and His works on our behalf by faith. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Gal. 2:16) This law is called "the perfect law of liberty" in Jas. 1:25. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal. 5:1)

 

The true life of all is the life of freedom. The life of freedom is the life of the just for there is no more condemnation for him. "The just shall live by faith" - faith not in anything, but only in the Word of God.

 

By what are we living? Are we in the bondage of sin or are we in the liberty of 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-december.html#Dec18E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning December 18 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

I do covet your prayer for me as I prepare to preach this coming Lord's Day at CERC's afternoon service from, probably the most famous verse among Christians - Joh 3:16. Of late, I heard that there are some prominent Calvinistic Churches in Singapore that teach the doctrine of God's love for all men head for head, suggesting that He hates no one at all, not even Esau nor any worker of iniquity. God loves them all, period. Is that the teaching of Joh 3:16?

 

Please pray that God's Name alone may be glorified in this message.

 

======

 

In times of need, where can we go boldly and be assured that we will find help? "Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16)

 

We do have many needs in this life. We are most conscious of it in our frail body and it "perish" through time and we near the day to be unclothed of it. As that happens, we notice that a lot of things in our life are fast becoming matters of "no more" - no more this and no more that, unless help is rendered at the ever greater inconvenience of others. So, we try to make do on our own and look more often to the unfailing source of help which we still do have in Christ. That is the "new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh." (Heb. 10:19, 22)

 

The Second Person of the Godhead took upon Himself our human flesh and through it consecrate for us the living way to the very presence of God where we present our petition before Him Who is the Almighty! What an awesome privilege, unparalleled in this whole wide world! The lowly know and appreciate it better than anyone else. They called Him, "Abba, Father." (Rom. 8:15) And He called them, "My sons and daughters." (2Co. 6:18)

 

Ask, seek and knock, for He said "not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain." (Isa. 45:19) What are we waiting for? No time, we say. Try giving up a little of the time we spend complaining to your fellow-creature's ears, and spend that time saved at the throne of grace. God said that such time shall not be spent in vain. We can trust Him.

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-december.html#Dec18M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening December 16 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

That God should have His own "deep things" should not surprise us, His creatures. If we know all things like God knows them, then are we not become Gods, having arrived and become sufficient of ourselves like God Himself is? No, our perfection is the perfection of a creature and will always be dependent upon God. God will always have His "deep things" "passeth knowledge" and "unsearchable".

 

The deep things of God - secret things - He shares with none, but His beloved. He first make them able to receive such things. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Co. 2:14) But, "we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1Co. 2:12) "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." (Psa. 25:14) We know we are special when we have special access to special people. There is no one more special than God, and we have that hidden life with Him - what a great wonder of Grace - not always appreciate even by those who ought to know better.

 

So the Apostle Paul prayed for God's people thus: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Eph. 3:14-19)

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-december.html#Dec16E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Morning December 16 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

God is love. This means that all the three Persons of the Godhead is love. Love characterizes the being of God. In His eternal being God lives in perfect love which is the bond of perfectness. Eternal life is love. Eternal life is perfect communion and fellowship. Blessed are all who live in perfect love. God has taken up to Himself some wretched beings to enter into fellowship and communion with Him. Blessed, indeed, are these being for God is able to do abundantly above all that we can ask or do.

 

"Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." (Joh. 13:1) God's chosen people are His beloved. Though many of them are still in this world and still do not appear what they will be (perfect like the Son of God), yet He still loves them with the everlasting love, and His banner over them is "love". (Sol. 2:4)

 

So, He prays for them as they experience what it means to be rejected by your own - an experience He Himself has undergone. (Joh. 1:11) "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (Joh. 17:15, 16) Evil is what Adam had plunged the whole human race into, and it has no place for the beloved of God. We must be kept from evil and indeed we shall for He prays for us and the Father hears Him always.
We must continue in this love of God, in this eternal life of His. "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (Joh. 15:9) Love is always obedient to the truth. The truth is that Christ loves us with "greater love ... than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (Joh. 15:13, 14) He commands us to love one another. (Joh. 13:34) Are we, who are born of love?

 

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Php. 1:6)

 

We are the beloved of the Lord, the Faithful One. 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-december.html#Dec16M.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

"World Concord" by Spurgeon.

 

 

Dear friend,

 

In our present global financial crisis, the world leaders are coming together to forge some kind of world concord to prevent further deterioration of mutual trust and confidence without which discord is inevitable and peace impossible.

 

Read what Spurgeon wrote about world concord in his "Faith's Check Book" below:

 

The Fifteenth of December.

From Spurgeon's "Faith's Check Book"

350-World Concord

"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)

Oh, that these happy times were come! At present the nations are heavily armed and are inventing weapons more and more terrible, as if the chief end of man could only be answered by destroying myriads of his fellows. Yet peace will prevail one day; yes, and so prevail that the instruments of destruction shall be beaten into other shapes and used for better purposes.

How will this come about? By trade? By civilization? By arbitration? We do not believe it. Past experience forbids our trusting to means so feeble. Peace will be established only by the reign of the Prince of Peace. He must teach the people by His Spirit, renew their hearts by His grace, and reign over them by His supreme power, and then will they cease to wound and kill. Man is a monster when once his blood is up, and only the Lord Jesus can turn this lion into a lamb. By changing man's heart, his bloodthirsty passions are removed. Let every reader of this book of promises offer special prayer today to the Lord and Giver of Peace that He would speedily put an end to war and establish concord over the whole world."

 

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-december.html#Dec15E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck

Comment on Evening December 15 of "Daily Light on Daily Path"

 

 

Dear friend,

 

As Christian believers we should be most thrilled with the many precious teachings of Scriptures concerning us. In the Holy Scriptures we are told the truth that we are wretched sinners worthy of hell. Then we are told that God loved us and sent His Son to save us from our sins. Next, for the sake of His Son, our Lord Jesus, God justifies us and adopts us to be His children! Now, what do you expect God to do with His children, but to ensure that they are blessed forever. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11) Often in our ignorance and foolishness, we do not ask for things that are really "good" for us. But our Heavenly Father is not so ignorant and foolish like us, so, He continues to give us "good things" even when we ask wrongly.

 

But children of God are blessed also because they have blessed work to do - namely to "work ... in [His] vineyard." (Mat. 21:28) The vineyard of the Lord speaks of labour which will count for eternity. Beloved it is a privilege that God should call us to serve Him in His vineyard.

 

Labour in His vineyard calls for holy living as He Who calls us is holy. It is dishonouring to God, if we serve Him in sinful ways with impenitence. Yes, we do not serve Him perfectly and often even sin against Him while we serve. This should not stop us from continual service, because God continues to call us to service despite our may weaknesses and sins. All He wants is the humbly acknowledge our sins and weaknesses and serve Him in truth and thankfulness for Salvation by His Sovereign Grace. As we serve we try to avoid sins and be humble persevering in our service. "... ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1Co. 15:58)

 

Are you labouring for food that perishes or for those that count for eternal life? (Joh. 6:27)

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-december.html#Dec15E.

 

Yours in Christ's Service,
lck