Saturday, June 30, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 9:1-5

 

There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow... So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

 

Paul reminded the Corinthian church that although eagerness to help is good, it needs to be translated into real actions, in order to bear fruit. We often stop at the "sitting and talking" phase, but fail to "get up and act" accordingly. We can all sit down and discuss how to love one another. However, without any action, it is just like clanging cymbals or resounding gongs. This brings no help. The church often talks about caring for our society, but if we do not step out of our doors, caring becomes just talking. The church often emphasizes unity, but if all we do is criticize others, how can we be united?

 

Many Christians often stop at being eager to help, but fail to really give of themselves. How many times have God called you to draw close to Him and serve Him? When you were young, you said, "Although I'm willing, I need to study. It is not convenient!" When you graduated, you said, "I need to establish my career and family now. It's not convenient!" When you are settled and have a family, you say, "Lord, I am eager, but I have 3 kids to take care of. It's not convenient!". When you reach middle age, you are busy with starting a business and investing in the stock market, it becomes even more inconvenient. When you grow old, you say, "Lord! I am willing, but my body really can't take it anymore! It's really not convenient!" Do all these excuses sound familiar? We allow too many inconveniences to stop us from serving. In fact, God never said, "Follow me when it is convenient!" God's command is always for the present time. His presence is the same way. He has given us the willingness in our heart and we need to respond immediately.

 

Brothers and sisters, are you willing to have faith and depend on God, to rise up and accomplish His will in your life? Perhaps the Holy Spirit is moving in your heart now to serve in a particular area? No matter how unqualified you may feel, are you willing to have faith to respond to his calling and offer yourself?

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because you are the Lord who touches us. Our eagerness to serve comes from you. May the Holy Spirit touch us once again, so we may act on it today to finish the work you have given us, and we can give the glory back to you. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 

 

 
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Friday, June 29, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 8:22-24

 

In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

 

Paul said here that zeal for ministry must be proven. The Bible teaches us that only the zeal of Jehovah can accomplish great things; therefore, the test for our zeal is to see whether we have died from our human zeal, but are living with God's zeal.

 

Paul has experienced many tests for his zeal. When he first accepted the Lord, he had great zeal and he went around Damascus to preach about Christ. The Jews talked about killing him, but according to Paul's zeal and his personality he wouldn't have been afraid of no one because he thought truth was on his side. God, however, didn't work that way, but instead wanted him to sneak out through the wall of Damascus using a rope. To the young and energetic Paul, that was a real blow to his esteem. That's why in 2 Corinthian 11:30-33 he mentioned about 'things that show my weakness," which was referring to his escape from Damascus. Later on, he went to Jerusalem and he wanted to work for the Lord, but the Jerusalem church didn't accept him because Paul persecuted them before; when Paul wanted to serve with them, however, the Jerusalem church didn't know what to make of it, so they kept distance from Paul.

 

Also, Paul didn't really understand the principle of serving with others, so he encountered many failures and setbacks. Shortly after Paul went to Jerusalem, some local non-believer Jews saw that he could refute all the people, so they wanted to kill him. Paul then had to escape to Tarsus for over ten years. The Bible didn't say what he did during all those years, and it seemed like everyone, including God, forgot about him. Why did he have to encounter all these things? Hudson Taylor said in his diary that if it wasn't for the years of trial, the dreams and passion of Paul the young man wouldn't have matured. It was in essence a test of his zeal.

 

If you are encountering the same kind of tests in your path of serving the Lord, you need to accept them with joy. 1 Peter 5:9 says that "standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." God will ultimately restore us and make us strong, and empower us to serve Him.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I ask that your Spirit touch the brothers and sisters who were relying on their own zeal but became discouraged and disillusioned. May your Spirit pour down and fill them, encourage them again so that they will turn back to you. Let them have the zeal from you once again. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 
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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 8:16-21

 

I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

 

Titus is a man with a caring and merciful heart. Not only did he care about Paul's needs, he also conveyed to Paul concern from the Corinthian church. Also, he went to the Corinthian church on behalf of Paul and encouraged them. Considering the constraints in transportation, he had to pay a hefty price to fulfill his mission, which showed that Titus was willing to go the extra mile. We should follow the example of Titus. When we are helping others we often think that we are doing too much, and sometimes we might even feel that we're just doing a thankless job. In verse twenty, Paul said that "We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift." Actually, Paul did not collect the offerings for himself, but some people criticized them for the gift. Both Titus and Paul understood that they were serving God, thus they could overlook the criticism and judgment from others. They solely focused on God, so they could continue to work on what God entrusted them with.

 

Are there people in need around you? Sometimes a quick phone call can bring help and comfort to others, and practical assistance can go even further. Many years ago, when church building was been remodeled, the license of our contractor, who's a good brother in the Lord, was suspended by the government because they had owed money. When the building committee heard what happened, one brothers immediately wrote a check to the contractor for paying off his debt so that his license could be reinstated. Because of this experience, the contractor's spiritual life was renewed, he continue to come to church and kept a positive relationship with the church.

 

Brothers and sisters, may the Lord help us so that our love is not just lip service, but in practical action. Are you willing to be such a channel of love? May the Lord help you to do it starting today!

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, we ask that you make us learn from Titus so we may help others often. May the love of the Lord flow through us, make us a channel of love so that people around us may receive practical help. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 8:10-15

 

...or if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

 

Paul repeatedly explained the importance of benevolent work to the Corinthian church. This church has really been blessed, not only in spiritual gifts, but also in material needs. Therefore, Paul taught them that they must supply for what others need, which is a principle of equality. This principle doesn't need to be dictated by any organization or system, but it's simply based on the Holy Spirit's prompting in the hearts of the disciples and their own willingness.

 

Not only does the Holy Spirit know everyone's needs, He also prompts brothers and sisters to fulfill the needs of others through prayer, emotional or material support. In fact, if there's anyone in the church who's needs are not met, it's only because someone did not follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit and thus created a gap. The gap might be caused by our lack of sensitivity towards to Holy Spirit, or lack of teaching on this area which resulted in brothers and sisters not fully familiar with the principles for living in God's family.

 

In his book "Daring to Live on the Edge," Loren Cunningham talked about how the students at YWAM training center always brought their needs for tuition before God and waited upon Him before a semester begins. God's Spirit will always work among the students to meet each other's needs. One time, God's Spirit prompted one teacher to give another teacher a hundred dollars, but he was puzzled because he'd usually give money to the students; the teacher who received the money was excited and said: "Praise the Lord! God prompted me to give a hundred dollars to a student, but I don't have money and don't know what to do, so God actually provided for the student through prompting me and you!" This kind of testimony can also happen in our lives! When you are willing to exercise your faith, you'd find that Christian life is no longer borings, but it's full of surprises, because you'll discover that God's really working among us!

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, please give you brothers and sisters the conviction to live by faith. When they ask you by faith, you will provide them for all their needs. When they give by faith, your love will flow through the hearts of brothers and sisters. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 8:6-9

 

So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

 

John 3:16 says that "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son." This means that God's love is not just a statement or a gift to provide for our needs; God loved the world to the point of being willing to give up His beloved son. Love is a sweet thing, but it also causes trouble, because in order for us to truly love someone we must give up ourselves, but even that would not guarantee the outcome. God loved us so much that He sent His beloved son Jesus to take on the form of man, so that He can replace the human beings in accepting God's punishment for our sins. God and human beings are once again reconciled, and we can enjoy all of God's grace.

 

Jesus Christ is willing to become poor so that you and I can become rich. He became the most meager one so that He could taste all the sufferings of the world. When He ministered on earth He was filled with authority and power, and many have followed Him, because the hungry wanted to be fed, sick wanted to be healed, and broken-hearted wanted to be comforted. Many have followed Him just so that their needs can be fulfilled, but Jesus didn't rebuke them, but rather treated them with mercy. He knew that He came to the world in order for human beings to be delivered from self-centeredness and sin. He was willing to take on the way of the cross and God's punishment for the sins of the world in order to restore the broken relationship between God and human beings.

 

Today, we can go directly before God and receive His life. With His life insides us we can overcome sin and self-centeredness, and it can become our source of joy. To the believers, we need to ask ourselves whether others can see God's sacrificial love from us. May God help us not to just speak about love, but to follow the sample of the sacrificial love of Jesus, and take all opportunities to serve God, brothers and sisters and those around you.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because you loved us first. You led us out of poverty so that we may become rich in you. May the Lord once again fill us with sacrificial love, let us step out of our comfort zone to help those who are in need. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 
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Monday, June 25, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

 

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

 

The Macedonian church is not a rich church, and it was constantly under all kinds of persecution and hardship. When Paul started to preach the gospel in Macedonia and Philippi, he was even imprisoned. Thank God, however, because this church had the joy of satisfaction. Why were they so blessed? One of the major reasons is their generosity.

 

Our offerings also create opportunities for us to receive grace. The Bible says our land is filled with God's abundance, so God actually doesn't need us to offer our money to Him; however, He wants us to learn to lesson of giving. Those who are not willing to give are selfish and not happy, and only when they start to make offerings will they step out of selfishness. They will no longer live for themselves, but to live for God and those around them. Our lives will be filled with joy, and we'll receive more of God's grace.

 

We also need to face a serious question: Who's the lord of our life? Jesus said that one cannot serve God and mammon at the same time. So which one is your lord today - Money or God? We thank God because the Macedonian church chose to let Jesus be their Lord. They chose to offer themselves to bless others even in the midst of all persecutions and hardship, and that's why God was pleased by them. Are you willing to take on the same path by faith?

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you for the love and faith of the Macedonian church. I ask that you help us to have an obedient and trusting heart, so that we'll make offerings according to your will. We trust that if we do not save anything for ourselves, then you, Lord, will also not save anything from us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 
This email was sent to devotion1.riveroflifedevotion@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054
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