Dear...
'...And new things I declare; Before they spring forth. I tell you of them.'
Isaiah 42:9
"Lost in translation," most of us are familiar with this reality. The composition and intent of a simple message is often distorted, wrongly conveyed and misinterpreted the moment it leaves the sender.
Satan when it tried to tempt Jesus in His moment of perceived vulnerability(at least physically) understood the power of appropriate choice of words. But it failed for much as Christ took on the form of man, He is God.
The Adamite man, which is all of us is an easier proposition for the cunning devil.
The fruit of knowledge, which governs our very being, ensures that all will fall, for we look at issues from our flawed and finite understanding. From the first bite of the forbidden fruit, we have move from following God to relying upon our own understanding. And this include the way we conduct our journey of faith. We approach the Spirit God from the realm of carnality.
'And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.'
Acts 13:52
The first Gentile Christians in Antioch were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit when they gladly accepted the salvation that Paul first offered to the Jews who rejected the things spoken by Paul. The simple faith of a child is what God looks for, not the cynical disbelieving self centered heart of a demi-god.
Fast forward today, many continue to reject the truth of the gospel. And this include professed believers who take more interest in doubting the Biblical truths but rarely read the Bible nor take time in communion with our Lord, be in in prayers, in worship or in His works. How well can one claim to know God when He is a stranger, to almost non existent in your life?
What about those who hunger and do take time to know more about God when their hearts are stirred?
Many questions about our faith, the Bible and even Who God is, do abound, which might not be satisfactorily answered nor fully comprehended by us. Man looks for conclusion, God seeks our obedience. Will you continue to mire yourself in dissecting the nuances of your present circumstance, continue to engage in theological discourse that satisfies no one except your pride, instead of walking the next clear step in faith, that the Spirit of God has already shown you? For God will indeed as the opening verse of today's sharing, Isaiah 42:9 boldly and correctly declare, show us the next step of faith.
'For the Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified....'
1 Corinthians 1:22-23
He will clarify for us at His timing. But He knows our limits and will not leave us wondering nor untethered. In remaining steadfast with Christ as our sole focus, much as our rational mind seems to point otherwise, God will affirm our faith with that indescribable joy and peace that is often beyond our understanding.
And in responding with a thankful heart, we will begin to not just wait with patience for the tapestry that God has already weaved to come forth at His timing, His way but we will have the veil of our finite understanding removed, enabling us to see from God's perspective.
'......We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'
Acts 14:22
A Christian is a follower of Christ. We are not co- drivers with Christ on the road to Heaven. Christ is already seated with God in Heaven. He has blessed us with the Holy Spirit in residence in our believing hearts to guide us, through the sin strewn fallen world, with our eyes and hearts focused upon Christ the author and finisher of our faith.
The journey ends only when Christ takes us home or when He returns.
But till then, it will be a blessed journey regardless of the circumstances, but only if we are willing to let go and let God.
'... when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.'
2 Corinthians 3:16
And this is the story of all our lives. Letting go and letting God means a return to the relationship that God had with Adam before he sinned. And our reliance on our flawed understanding often lessens in difficult circumstances where the frailty of the finite us are fully palpable. And at the lowest point of our lives, when we are thoroughly humbled, where the heart is contrite and repentant, that is the point when we, by God's grace, are willing to look unto God, and fully surrender our self will and intellect, for the Sovereignty of God.
' For we are not, as so many peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.'
2 Corinthians 2:17
In my moments of weakness, I do give harbor to the vessel of selfishness. Why not focus on growing my own personal faith, rather than spent time and resources on what seems an under appreciated and fruitless efforts on the unwilling to try to get them to seek God with their all?
' But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.'
2 Corinthians 3:18
Thanks be to God such ungodly thoughts are not allowed to lay anchor in my very psyche.
Some plant, some water but it is God Who brings about the increase. But in partaking in sharing the gospel of salvation, by living out the truth of God's Words, by looking to Christ always, I have come to fully avail myself of the joy and peace that God promises to all who seek Him, even as I find myself increasingly transform unto His likeness. And in so doing, may it encourage those who are watching me, to look to Christ our Savior and in doing so, receive the clarity of faith that only He can give.
'And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove from here to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.'
Matthew 17:20
This revelation of God's grace will indeed fall upon you if you are willing to look to Him always. Charles Spurgeon, the blessed preacher received his defining moment in a small church that God led him to. And it was no great sermon that led to his conversion. But rather, a simple biblical truth "Look to Jesus," delivered by an ill equipped stand in who was in all likelihood not even a trained preacher.
God blesses
Eng hieang
12th April 2012
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