Eager Efforts

An inspiring devotional that speaks to me about God's grace cannot be earned, and as long as we serve with a pure heart that seeks to glorify him in our life and bless others, he is well pleased and he accepts our service, a worship onto the Lord, wholeheartedly. It is not about how good or bad one fares, not just approval from others or even my own personal judgment that really matters, the thing is we can be totally free to serve God!

"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)

ONE spring my wife and I planted gardenias. "We'll help," said our two young sons. We gave them trowels, and they began digging. Before we knew it, they were off playing with their toys, leaving a few shallow holes in the dirt. Of course we didn't mind. Actually, we were pleased by their effort.

But if I'd hired a landscaping firm to plant those gardenias, I'd have been upset. "You won't get paid until it's done right," I might have said. That thought reminded me of the difference between serving as a response to God's grace and love and serving in an attempt to earn these gifts of God with our works. It's the difference between the eager offerings that children give their parents and the anxious toil that workers may do for their employer.

Our position in our Father's house is secure. Even if our good works are mixed with the remnants of sin and the best we can do is dig shallow holes for the Almighty, God is pleased with our effort. When we look for salvation in God's grace and not in our own good deeds, we are free to offer joyful service.

By Marvin Lindsay (Virginia, USA)

Prayer: Dear Father, help us to remember that we are not your employees but your children. As such, we long to be like you and to serve you. Amen.

Are You an Optismist or a Pessimist?

Sherlock Holmes and Watson were camping in the forest. They had gone to bed and were lying beneath the night sky. Holmes said, “Watson, look up. What do you see?”


Watson obliged and answered, “I see thousands of stars.”

“And what does that mean to you?” Holmes asked.

“I suppose it means that of all the planets in the universe, we are truly fortunate to be here on Earth. God is all-powerful and even though we may seem small and insignificant, we can live each day under God's power. In a meteorological sense, it means we’ll have a sunny day tomorrow. What does it mean to you, Holmes?”

“To me, it means someone has stolen our tent.”

"Are you a optimist or a pessimist?" Asks the facilitator this morning.

We are reminded, from scriptures and from our life experiences and also the life experiences of others, that as Christians, the difference is life is not that we have a trial-free life but we have a God-filled life; a life we know where the presence of God will help us weather through the storms whenever it comes.

We are reminded from Romans 8:28-39 that:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose... If God is for us, who can be against us?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

In the story of Daniel, we see how others had meant harm for him. As a result, he was thrown into a lion's den. Miraculously, he survived the ordeal and responded to the King the next day

Daniel 6:21-22 (NIV)
Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.

As a result, Daniel was saved and God was glorified as the King issued a decree:

Daniel 6:26-27 (NIV)
"I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
"For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.

He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."

What do you do when you face a difficult moment? Do you remember what He has done in your life and what He has done in the lives of many? Will you trust in the Lord and hold on to His hope? Do you fear and revere the Lord to be found "innocent in His sight"?

When the Lord reigns, all will be well.

Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Prayer for the Workplace

Hi everyone!

Got this nice prayer at our devotion today and it was interesting as the facilitator got us to take a line each and pray as we are ministered by it. A nice reminder that we enter our work with God and His presence is always with us.

My Heavenly father, as I enter this workplace
I bring your presence with me.

I speak your peace, Your grace, Your mercy,
and Your perfect order in this office.

I acknowledge You power over all that will be spoken,
thought, decided, and done within these walls.

Lord, I thank You for the gifts You have blessed me with.
I commit to using them responsibly in your honor.

Give me a fresh supply of strength to do my job.

Anoint my projects, ideas, and energy so that even my
smallest accomplishment may bring You glory.

Lord, when I am confused guide me.

When I am burned out infuse me with the light of the Holy Spirit.

May the work that I do and the way I do it bring faith, joy,
and a smile to all that I come in contact with today.

And Lord, when I leave this place, give me travelling mercy.

Bless my family and home to be in order as I left it.

Lord, I thank You for everything You've done,
everything You're doing, and everything Your're going to do.

In the Name of Jesus I pray, with much love and thanksgiving.

Amen.

Devotion: How Can I Forgive?

This morning in devotion, me and my colleagues read the story of Corrie Ten Boom and shared about forgiveness. Some of you might be familiar with Corrie's story, a powerful true story and reminder about forgiveness.

Just as I read the article from Our Daily Bread, three words caught my attention "Jesus, help me!". Right at that point in time, God placed on my heart something which He wants me to be reminded and also to share - we can forgive with help from God.

For me, I had long been affected by a failed friendship 4 years back, which has scarred me, and affected how I relate with people. I started to be wary of people and could not trust people, afraid that they would hurt me. It was also that time that God brought me back into His community and I remember that whenever I share about the matter, either in cell or in office devotion, I would not fail to tear. Yes, the hurt was so deep I told myself I could not bring myself to forgive my friend. I became more and more bitter and started to hate the fact how this has scarred me to the extent I feared social interactions with people. It's not my fault that this has happened and has scarred me so much. Yes, I hear about forgiveness and know I am to forgive, for my own sake and as commanded by God. But how?!

Of course, God began a work in me and over the span of a few years, I can see his rehabilitative programme taking place, as I am being ministered through sermons, new life encounter, cell discussions and even by people God has brought into my life. Then, one day, I suddenly realised that my hatred for this friend has subsided that I could even pray for him. And in the last few days, I have even met up with him face-to-face, first time in many years, and was even able to sustain a genuine conversation with him without a tinge of hatred at all. But, it did not become clear to me until this morning during devotion and God made me realise how I have been brought from "bitter" to better. It hasn't been an easy road but God has not only restored me but also has helped me to forgive this friend of mine. And now, I am relatively more a confident person having left my baggage behind.

Why do you forgive? Because God commanded so. Colossians 3:13b reminds us "Forgive as the Lord forgave you". And just in case you forgot how God forgave us, look at Luke 23:34 where Jesus uttered the words "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Jesus forgave the people who crucified Him and humiliated Him. And He also forgave you and me, long before we were even born and said that we repent. This is the power of His love.

How do we forgive? With God. Just as Corrie mentioned "Jesus, help me!" and just as I have come to realise how God has helped me to forgive. He has the power to help you deal with your unforgiveness and bitterness too. Will you entrust it to Him and say "Jesus, help me!"

How Can I Forgive?
READ: Matthew 18:21-35
If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. —Matthew 6:15

Some of life’s hurts are so deep and painful that to forgive the people who caused them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can’t experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit.

In World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were arrested for concealing Jews and were sent to a German concentration camp. Betsie died a slow and terrible death as a result of the cruel treatment.

Then, in 1947, Corrie spoke about God’s forgiveness to a church in Munich. Afterward, a man sought her out. She recognized him as one of the guards who had mistreated her and Betsie. He told her that he had become a Christian, and with extended hand he asked for her forgiveness. Corrie struggled with her feelings, but when she recalled the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:15, she knew she had to forgive. She silently prayed, “Jesus, help me!” and thrust her hand into the hand of her former tormentor.

Someone has said, “Forgiveness is not a case of ‘holy amnesia’ that wipes out the past. Instead, it is the experience of healing that drains the poison from the wound.”

God asks us to do for others what He has done for us through Jesus Christ. He’ll give us strength to forgive.

— Dennis J. De Haan

Lord Jesus, give us grace each day
That we may follow in Your way,
Especially when some unloved soul
Needs our forgiving to be whole. —DJD

Since we all need forgiveness, we should always be forgiving.