Month: May 2021

Be Ambassadors for Christ

Backgrounder: Paul opens his
second epistle to the Corinthians
the same way he began his first
one by establishing his authority
and documenting the source of
his revelation. He then praises
God for what He has done for
Timothy and him. In contrast to
the old covenant which condemned
the glorious new covenant sealed
in Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, thanks for Paul’s 2nd letter
to Corinthians which explains the
nature of Christian ministry and
teaches how we should handle it.
Help us to be blameless, sincere,
confident, caring, open & willing
to suffer for the sake of Christ.
Help us to Minister to Others;
Help us to Focus on Eternal &
Help us to be Yr Ambassadors.
In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.

Lord, You’ll Enable us to Minister:
You are an epistle of Christ…
written by the Spirit of God…
Such confidence we have through
Christ. Not that we are sufficient
of ourselves to think of anything
as being from ourselves but our
sufficiency is fr God (2Cor 3:3-5).
Lord, I realise the areas which
I feel inadequate or struggle,
draw me to You. And that I am
able to accomplish what You ask
of me only through Your power.
Thank you for your Word for in it
I learn that You are my adequacy
and my sufficiency. May my
confidence always be in You
through Christ Jesus; and then
You will receive all praise. Amen.

Lord, we will Focus on Eternal:
Our present troubles are quite
small and won’t last very long.
Yet they produce for us an
immeasurably great glory that will
last forever! So we don’t look at
the troubles we can see right now;
rather we look forward to what
we have not yet seen. For the
troubles we see will soon be over;
but the joys to come will
last forever (2 Cor 4:17-18).
Lord, focus my eyes clearly
on the eternal, for that will
put my present troubles into
a proper perspective. Help me
to see You as You are, to perceive
You with my spirit & not just with
my mind. And help me to realise
that U are in me & I am in U. Amen

Lord, we will be Your Ambassadors:
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed
away; all things have become new..
God was reconciling the world
to himself in Christ, not counting
people’s sins against them.
And He has committed to us
the message of reconciliation.
So we are Christ’s ambassadors,
as though God were making his
appeal thro us (2C5:17-20).
Lord, Thank you that through
Christ you forgive sins and bring
sinners back into relationship
with yourself. Thank U for drawing
me to yourself and saving me.
Lord, You have given the gospel
to me so that I might share it.
I’m sorry Lord for the times I’ve
been tight-lipped about my faith.
Make me bolder & more engaging
to those who don’t know U. Amen.

Be Comforting Minister of the Lord

Paul opens his second epistle
to the Corinthians the same way
he began his first one: by establishing
his authority and documenting
the source of his revelation.
Whereas his first letter expressed
thanksgiving for what God had
done among the Corinthians, Paul’s
second one praises God for what
He has done for Paul and Timothy.

Lord, we will Comfort Others:
All Praise to God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the
source of every mercy and the
God who comforts us. He comforts
us in all our troubles so that
we can comfort others. When
others are troubled, we will be able
to give them the same comfort
God has given us (2Cor 1:3-4).
For all of God’s promises have
been fulfilled in Him. That is why
we say “Amen” when we gave
glory to God thru Christ (v19-20)
Thanks be to God, who always
leads us as captives in Christ’s
triumphal procession & uses us to
spread the aroma of the knowledge
of Him everywhere (2Cor 2:14).

Lord, thank You for the times
You have comforted me. I know
that You have comforted me so
that I can do the same for others.
This world is full of people who
are hurting. Make me sensitive
to those I meet who need Your
touch of comfort. Keep me an
open vessel through which Your
life, love & comfort can flow. Amen

Lord, Thank You for Your great
and precious promises. Thank
You for reminding us that Jesus
is the “divine Yes” the affirmation
of all Your promises. Help me
experience Your love behind
every promise as I trust in You.
And help me pray with confidence
because I know that not one of
Your promises will ever fail. Amen.

Lord, You have captured my
heart with Your love and mercy.
Thank You Lord for changing
my life by giving me life.
You Lord are the victor in the
great spiritual conflict of the ages.
You deserve all praise, honour
and glory. Help me Lord to open
my mouth and speak powerfully
and effectively for You. Amen.

Knowing God thru His Names

The purpose of Jeremiah is
to urge God’s people to turn
from their sins and back to God.
This week we understand God better
thru His revelation of names, mostly
related to His ability to meet needs.
On Monday, we learn from Jer 10
about Eternal King & Maker of All.
On Tuesday, we learn from Jer 11
about God who Test Righteously.
On Wednesday, we learn from
Jer 16 about Lord My Fortress.
On Thursday, we learn from
Jer 17 about Hope of Israel.
On Friday, we learn from
Jer 18 about The Master Potter.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.

The Potter (May 7)

Jeremiah himself becomes an
object lesson to his nation, for
his very life models the reality
of what is soon to befall Judah.
The prophet is commanded to
remain celibate & avoid feast days
– a reminder to his countrymen
that they will soon experience
involuntarily what Jeremiah is
called to experience voluntarily.
For loss of comfort and joy await
God’s rebellious people. But then
God’s discipline is still redemptive.

Lord, Have Thine Own Way:
I found the potter working at his
wheel. But the jar he was making
did not turn out as he had hoped,
So he crushed it into a lump of
clay again and started over. Then
the Lord gave me this message:
O Israel, can I not do to you as
this potter has done to his clay?
As the clay is in the potter hand,
so are you in my hand (Jer 18:3-6).

O Lord and Sovereign God, we
acknowledge Your will is good.
Like a potter at the wheel You shape
us to the people You want us to be.
You Lord want to reshape us into
a beautiful creation, when we allow
ourselves to become mis-shapen
by the acts of our own self will.
O Holy Spirit help us to be soft
and receptive to Your hand on us.
As we yield to You God to shape us,
we ask for mercy and grace. Amen.

Lord, like clay in the potter’s hand,
we are imperfect but You can mold
us into something beautiful & useful.
Draw us, guide us and teach us Lord
to live all of our lives thro Your eyes.
We may be pressured; but You say:
Fear not, for I am with you. I will help
you, strengthen you and uphold you.
So, take us, mould us, fill us, lead us
and walk beside us as we give our
lives to You master potter. Amen.

Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and made me after Thy will
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only always living in me! Amen

Hope of Israel (May 6)

Jeremiah himself becomes object
lesson for what’s soon to befall
Judah. The prophet is commanded
to remain celibate and avoids feast
days; a reminder to his countrymen
that they will soon experience
involuntarily what Jeremiah is
called to experience voluntarily.
For loss of comfort and joy await
God’s rebellious people. But then
God’s discipline is still redemptive.

Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
They will be like a tree planted
by the water that sends out its
roots by the stream. It does not
fear when heat comes; its leaves
are always green. It has no worries
in a year of drought and never
fails to Bear Fruit (Jer 17:7-8).
O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who
forsake You shall be ashamed (v13).
Heal me O Lord & I will be Healed,
Save me and I shall be saved, for
You are the one I praise (v14) Amen

Lord, I put my complete Trust in You
for You are my hope & confidence.
Help me to never turn from You;
instead let my roots go deep into
You as I feed in Your Word each day.
Thank You Lord for Your promise
to bring forth fruit in my life.
And make my soul prosperous
even in the long dry spells.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, You are good & I trust in You
for You are my hope & confidence.
Draw me ever closer to You and
give me a passion to seek You.
Help me Lord to be fruitful even
during life’s long dry season.
Help me to put my roots deep
into You and Your Word that I be
able to endure hard times and wait
for Your sure deliverance. Amen.

Lord, how grateful I’m that You came
as our Healer besides our Saviour.
In Your mercy and compassion,
I ask for Your healing touch upon
my friends, their family members
and Covid patients who need it.
As I had experienced Your healing
a few times before, I know when
You heal, we can be healed fully.
At the same time, I ask for the
discipline to take proper precaution
in this Covid pandemic. Amen.

Lord My Fortress (May 5)

Jeremiah himself becomes object
lesson to his nation, for his very
life models the reality of what is
soon to befall the nation of Judah.
The prophet is commanded to
remain celibate and avoid funerals
and feast days – a reminder to his
countrymen they will experience
involuntarily what Jeremiah is
called to experience voluntarily.
Loss of family, comfort & joy await
God’s rebellious people – a message
that is finally heard; and results
on beatings and imprisonment
for the faithful prophet of God.

Lord, You are Our Fortress:
Lord (Jehovah), my strength
and my fortress (Mauzzi),
my refuge in time of distress,
to You the nations will come from
the ends of the earth and say:
Our ancestors possessed
nothing but false gods, worthless
idols that did them no good.
Therefore behold… I will cause
them to know My hand and My
might; and they shall know that
My name is the Lord (Jer 16:19-21)

Lord Jehovah Mauzzi, You are
my strength and my fortress,
my refuge in time of distress.
And on that day, all people will
come to You and bow their knees.
They will acknowledge You as
the one true God – the fortress
who stands higher & longer than
all man-made fortresses because
You are the great eternal God. Amen

Lord, I bless Your name for You are
my wall of defense and my fortress.
Forgive me for not praising You
as I should on occasions for
protecting me from dangers.
You have prevented situations
that would have harmed me.
You Lord kept them from reaching
me, yet I have not adored You
in gratitude for being my fortress,
as I really should have done then.

Lord, bring the nations to You
that they may know You and
see that the gods and idols they
trusted leads only to destruction.
Give us wisdom to know the best
way to glorify Your name & spread
the word of Your firm protection.
Give us boldness to make a
difference for Your kingdom so
that many people can experience
You as their fortress. In Jesus name.

God who Test Righteously (May 4)

God instructs Jeremiah to take
a linen girdle and bury it by the
Euphrates River. Later he is told
to dig it up again. The result is
predictable: one ruined girdle,
unfit to wear any longer. And
the parallel is painfully clear.
Selected by God for a place
of intimate fellowship (just like
the girdle), Judah would now be
away in judgment for her corruption.

Hear the words of this covenant
and speak to the men of Judah…
Obey My voice and do according
to all that I command you; so shall
you be My people and I will be your
God, that I may establish the oath
which I have sworn to your fathers,
to give them a land flowing
with milk and honey (Jer 11:2-5)
I was like a docile lamb brought to
the slaughter… But O Lord of hosts,
You who judge righteously, testing
the mind and the heart, let me see
Your vengeance on them for to You
I have revealed my cause (v19-20).

Dear covenant keeping God,
For all things beautiful
and good and true;
For all things that seemed
not good yet turned to good;
For all the sweet compulsions
of Thy Will that chased and tried,
and wrought us to Thy shape;
We thank Thee Lord. Amen.

Dear Lord Jesus You said:
If a man love me, he will keep
my words; and my Father will love
him and we will come unto him
and make our abode with him.
Let my fellowship with the Father
and with the Christ Jesus have
this one aim: a life of obedience.
May the Holy Spirit enlighten my
mind, heart and hands so that I will
have power to do God’s will. Amen.

Righteous God, thank You for
the power of Yourighteousness
for from You flow might & strength.
Pour out Your righteousness
into our hearts. Give us relief
especially from divisions and
strife that comes from self-
centredness and silo mentality.
Instead engulf us with Your spirit
of love, grace and mercy. Amen.

Eternal King & Maker of All Things

Idolatry and hypocrisy have permeated every fiber of Judah’s
national life. People, prophets and
priests alike practice worthless
worship in haughty indifference.
But through Jeremiah, God delivers
a ringing indictment. Their nation
with all its outward splendour –
will be reduced to a heap of ruins
because of the people’s arrogance
and idolatry. At the thought of Judah’s imminent divine surgery,
Jeremiah weeps unashamedly
for his hardhearted countrymen.

Praise Eternal King & Maker of all:
You are great; and Your name
is great in might, Who would
not fear You, O King… For this is
Your rightful due (Jer 10:6-7).
But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and
the everlasting King (v10).
He has made the earth by His
power, He establish the world
by His wisdom… For He is
the Maker of all things (v12-16).

Lord, You are great and greatly
to be praised. Great is Your power.
You have stirred our hearts so that
we take pleasure in praising You.
You have created us and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.
Lord, we affirm Your power over
the circumstances of our life. And since You are powerful & wise, we’ll
give You all praise and glory. Amen

Glory be to You O God the Father,
the Maker of the whole world.
Glory to You O God the Son,
the Redeemer of humankind.
Glory to You O God the Holy Spirit,
the sanctifier of Your people.
I am giving thee offering
with my whole thought.
I am giving thee praise
with my whole tongue.
I am giving thee love
with my whole devotion.
I am giving thee worship
with my whole life. Amen.

Lord, I contemplate Your great
power in creating the universe.
I know that You have power over
all the natural forces that U created.
I know that I could not take a breath
or be sustained upon this earth
except by Your sustaining grace.
So I join the psalmist to praise You.
Praise You for Your mighty deeds.
Praise You for excellent greatness.
Let every day of my life praise You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Kadosh The Holy One

The book of Isaiah has been
likened to the miniature Bible,
its 66 chapters paralleling the
66 books of the Bible. Beginning
Isaiah 40, the final 27 chapters of
Isaiah, like the 27 books of the
New Testament, proclaim a message
of comfort and hope. The Messiah
is coming to be the Saviour of sinful
people. Therefore, Comfort ye my
people, says your God (Isaiah 40:1).

All Praise be to Kadosh:
To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?
says the Holy One (Kadosh).
Lift up your eyes on high, and
see who has created these things…
He calls them all by name,
by the greatness of His might…
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
Creator of the ends of the earth.
He gives power to the weak. And
to those who have no might, He
increases strength (Isa 40:25-29)

Kadosh, in the year King Uzziah
died, Your prophet Isaiah saw You
seated on the throne (Isaiah 6).
Holy, holy, holy, are You; and the
whole earth is full of Your glory.
I am unclean, and I live among
a people who are unclean; yet
You have cleansed me and made
me holy. Thank U for Your merciful
love, which enables me to know
You and be accepted by You. Amen

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts,
the whole earth is full of Your glory.
Holy Lord Kadosh, forgive me
for failing to respond to Your
holiness at the level due You.
Forgive me Lord for dismissing
the purity of who You really are.
May I respond in total praise
and humility as You make me
aware of Your holiness. Amen.

Kadosh, let Your holiness manifest
itself in us; and may it transform
our thoughts, speech and actions.
You have purchased us our purity
at such a great cost; & we don’t
want it to be wasted in our life.
Help us honour You in all we do
& help us focus on Your holiness.
And empower us to live a life
that is set apart to you!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Resurrection Gives Confident Hope

False teachers had been confusing
the Corinthians by denying the
doctrine of physical resurrection.
Paul defends the Resurrection as
a historical truth fact confirmed
by more than 500 eyewitnesses.
The Resurrection provides hope
for the believer’s body as well
as his soul, and motivates the
believer to be steadfast, always
abounding in the work of the Lord
knowing your labour is not in vain.

Lord, thanks for Confident Hope:
For when the trumpet is blown,
those who have died will Be Raised
to Live Forever. And we who are
Living will also be transformed…
O death, where is your victory ?
O death, where is your sting ?
But thank God! He gives us Victory
over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ (1Cor 15:52-57). (So)…
be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labour is Not
In Vain in the Lord (1Cor 15:58).
Watch, stand fast in the faith,
be brave, be strong (1Cor 16:13).

Lord, in a world filled with gloomy
news, thank You that Your Word
holds Great Hope for the future.
Someday all believers of Christ
will be given new bodies. And
eternal life with God in heaven is far
better than what we experience here.
Thank You we can be confident for
Your good plan for us and that You
are in control of everything. Amen.

Lord, the sting of death is not dying
but rather what happens after.
Thank You for eliminating possibility
of hell; but giving eternal bliss in
heaven for all who believe in Christ.
Because Jesus had paid for our sin
and rose from the dead, death has
No Power over us. In gratitude and
realising importance of the gospel,
help us be worthy witnesses. Amen

Lord, we recognise that You
have given us talents and gifts.
They may not be something overt
like teaching and singing; but skills
like cooking or greeting people.
For all that matters is that we use
them for the Lord. God promises
that Nothing done for Him will
be useless. And You Will Honour
us for the faithful service. Amen.