Month: August 2021

Reflecting Spirit of the living God

Paul opens his 2nd epistle to the
Corinthians by establishing his
authority & source of his revelation.
He then praises God for what
He has done. In contrast to the
old covenant which condemned,
the glorious new covenant sealed
by Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, You Will Make Us Able:
You are an epistle of Christ written
by the Spirit of the living 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).
Whenever someone turns to
the Lord, the veil is taken away…
So all of us who have had the veil
removed can see and reflect the
glory of the Lord. And the Lord…
makes us more and more like
Him as we are changed into His
glorious image (v16-18). Amen.

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, teach me the art of looking
to You instead of the problems.
Remind me that anything of
lasting value in my life is because
of You, not me. Power & success
come from You. Give me eyes
of faith so that I might press on
even when I feel the challenges
are too overwhelming. Amen.

Lord, thank you for loving me
enough to work in me. Make me
aware of your presence and make
me cooperative with Your Spirit.
Give me unveiled encounters;
for I know there are no limits in
knowing You & be known by You.
I want to reflect as much of Your
glory as You will allow. Although
I may not always see signs of
change but pray others can. Amen

God of All Comfort & Compassion

Paul opens his second epistle
to the Corinthians the same way
he began his first by establishing
his authority and documenting the
source of his revelation. He then
praises God for what He has done
for Timothy & 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, we will Comfort Others:
Praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of Compassion and the
God of All Comfort, who comforts
us in all our troubles, so that we
can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves
have received from God.
For just as the sufferings of
Christ flow over into our lives,
so also through Christ our
comfort overflows ( 2Cor 1:3-5).

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, suffering is painful and
confusing; and it is something
I avoid rather than embrace.
Teach me to respond in a godly
fashion to suffering for I know You
use difficulties to transform me.
And thank You for caring for me
& comforting me in all my troubles.
Bless me so that I can be creditable
and effective encourager of my
brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen

Lord, You don’t always give
us comfort in our suffering
the way we might ask or wish.
But Your comfort always come
and sometimes better than what
we might imagine. As we may
go through times of trouble
from time to time, help us O Lord
to look for Your comfort as
You promise in Your Word. Amen.

Lord of Resurrection Gives Victory

False teachers had been confusing
the Corinthians by denying the
doctrine of physical resurrection.
Paul defends the Resurrection
as a historical fact confirmed
by more than 500 eyewitnesses.
The Resurrection provides hope
for the believer’s body and soul
as well as motivates believers to
abound in the work of the Lord.

Lord, You Give us the Victory:
But now Christ is risen from
the dead and has become
the firstfruits of those who
have fallen asleep (1Cor 15:20).
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’s your victory?(52-54)
But thank God! He gives us Victory
over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ. (So) my beloved…
be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labour is Not In
Vain in the Lord (v57-58). Amen.

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. For You God promise Nothing done for You will
be useless. For You will honour
us for the faithful service. Amen.

Preparing for Christ’s Return

While Peter’s audience is the same
as in his first letter, his theme and
purpose are different. Persecution
from unbelievers can be hard
for Christians to bear (1 Peter),
but defection within the community
of believers can be even more
devastating (2 Peter). To counter-
act the effects of this “poison”,
Peter reminds his readers of the
timeless truths of the faith and
exhorts them to continue growing
toward Christian maturity.

One day Christ will create a new
heaven and earth where we
will live forever. As Christians,
our hope is in this promise. But
with Christ’s return comes His
judgment on all who will not believe.
To be ready, Christians must keep
on trusting and resist the pressure
to give up waiting for Christ’s return.
Lord, Help us be diligent in Christian
growth as well as faithful obedience.
Help us to Wait Upon You;
Help us to Share the Gospel;
Help us to Seek Things Eternal.
In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Lord, we will Wait Upon You:
And (God) delivered righteous Lot
who was oppressed by… the wicked…
(For) the Lord knows how to rescue
godly people from their trials,
even while keeping the wicked
under punishment until the day
of final judgment (2 Pet 2:7-9).
Lord, some of us may be struggling
with some sin or trial in our life.
But Your Word says that You
will help us escape temptation
and rescue us from trial that
arises if we would ask of You.
For You care about everything
in our life & that You will always
rise to the occasion for us. Amen.

Lord, we will Share the Gospel:
Christ Jesus display His immense
patience as an example for those
who would believe in Him and
receive eternal life (1Tim 1:16).
The Lord is not slack concerning
His promise… but is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should
come to repentance (2Pet 3:9).
Lord, thanks for showing mercy &
not treating me as my sins deserve.
You are patient towards sinners.
So, help me encourage others
to seek Your mercy and grace.
For what You have done in my life,
You will surely do it for others.
Help each of us bring You glory in
our lives & share the gospel. Amen.

Lord, we will Seek Things Eternal:
The day of the Lord will come
as a thief in the night, in which
the heavens will pass away…
both the earth and the works
that are in it will be burned up…
Therefore beloved looking
forward to these things, be diligent
to be found by Him in peace, without
spot and blameless (2Pet 3:10-14).
Lord, I know that this earth
as it is presently constituted is
not my future; for my future is
in the new heavens & new earth.
Remind me that the best thing
here are but mere shadows of
what will be there in eternal glory.
Since I can affirm this magnificent
future, I will make every effort
to be found spotless. And I will
endeavour to store up treasure
in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Growing In Grace of the Lord

Peter’s first letter taught his readers
to persevere through persecution
and other external trials with hope.
His second letter, written to the
same audience, teaches them to
oppose internal spiritual struggles
and attacks by Satan with the
knowledge of the truth. Peter warns
against apostasy within the church,
moral perversions that tempt
on every side, and the denial of
Christ’s return that false teachers
propagate. He exhorts his readers
to Grow In Grace and knowledge
that come through Jesus Christ,
thereby gaining strength to
resist error and avoid heresy.

Father, apostle Peter exhorts us
to be diligent in Christian Growth.
It begins with faith and culminates
in love for others. To keep growing,
we need to know God, keep on
following Him and remember
what Christ has taught us.
Lord in Your Grace help us be
diligent in faithful obedience.
And we claim Your promises:
that You Enable Godly Living;
that You Enable Self-Control;
that You Enable Knowing Truth.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Lord, You Enable Godly Living:
By His divine power, God has given
us everything we need for living
a godly life. We have received
all of this by coming to know Him,
the one who called us to Himself
by means of His marvellous glory
and excellence. He has given us
great & precious promises. These
are the promises that enable you to
share His divine nature (2Pet 1:3-4)
Lord Jesus, exercise Your divine
power within me. Teach me how
to tap into Your limitless supply
so that I will not find myself
lacking in anything that You offer.
Holy Spirit, fill me continually and
be present within me; for I want
to experience You more than I do.
Increase the evidence of Your
presence in my life; so that I can
become a clear demonstration of
Your goodness & who U are. Amen

Lord, You Enable Self-Control:
For this very reason, giving
all diligence, all to your faith,
virtue, to virtue knowledge,
to knowledge self-control,
to self-control perseverance,
to perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness,
to brotherly kindness love (v5-7).
Lord, Thank You for the fruit of
self-control that the Holy Spirit
grows in us. Help me Lord to respond
to life frustrations and challenges
with self-control that You give me.
And godly self-control will lead
to patient endurance, godliness,
brotherly kindness and love. Amen.

Lord, You Enable Knowing Truth:
We also have the prophetic message
as something completely reliable,
and you will do well to pay
attention to it (2 Peter 1:19).
No prophecy in Scripture ever
came from the prophet’s own
understanding, or from human
initiatives. No, those prophets
were moved by the Holy Spirit,
and they spoke from God (v20-21).
Lord, who can grasp Your thoughts
unless You enable, inspire and
interpret. For my intellect and
experiences are not enough.
Lord, I need the wisdom of Your
Spirit as I read and meditate.
Unveil Your truth Lord to me,
in me and through me. Amen.

Knowing God thru His Names

Apostle Paul’s purpose of writing
the letter of 1 Corinthians is to
teach the believers how to live
for Christ in a corrupt society.
This week we understand God better
thru knowing His attributes, mostly
related to His ability to meet needs.
On Monday, we learn from 1Cor 2
that God Gives Us Mind of Christ.
On Tues, we learn from 1Cor 5-6
to Live Worthy of Passover Lamb.
On Wed, we learn from 1Cor 10
that God Provides Way Out.
On Thurs, we learn from 1Cor 12/14
that Spirit Distributes Spiritual Gifts.
On Fri, we learn from 1Cor 15 that
Lord of Resurrection Gives Victory.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.

Lord of Resurrection Gives Victory

False teachers had been confusing
the Corinthians by denying the
doctrine of physical resurrection.
Paul defends the Resurrection
as a historical fact confirmed
by more than 500 eyewitnesses.
The Resurrection provides hope
for the believer’s body and soul
as well as motivates believers to
abound in the work of the Lord.

Lord, You Give us the Victory:
But now Christ is risen from
the dead and has become
the firstfruits of those who
have fallen asleep (1Cor 15:20).
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’s your victory?(52-54)
But thank God! He gives us Victory
over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ. (So) my beloved…
be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labour is Not In
Vain in the Lord (v57-58). Amen.

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. For You God promise Nothing done for You will
be useless. For You will honour
us for the faithful service. Amen.