Saturday, March 16, 2013

Daily Devotion

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

Matthew 13:47-52

 

"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 'Have you understood all these things?' Jesus asked. 'Yes,' they replied. He said to them, 'Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.'"

 

          At the end of a series of teaching, Jesus said that "therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasurers as well as old." Teacher of the law are people that understand the Old Testament commandments and live under that system. When they heard the kingdom of heaven that Jesus was preaching about, they received it and long for its realization. But at the same time they face a big struggle in the renewing of their live, which is applying the old concepts to the new things that they are learning. The teacher of the law hold on to the old stuffs while receiving the new stuffs, which cannot coexist.

 

          When we don't allow our past to pass, the new things from God cannot be manifested in our lives. This is particularly true in ministry, where many times new ministry cannot be done in church because of the old. Once a pastor felt that the position of piano and keyboard is not good and hence switch their position. A week later, an elderly member of the church came to him and told him that last week service was not so good, because he cannot focus on worship after he noted that piano and keyboard are not in their usual place.

 

          Old habits hinder us from entering new ministry, because we are more used to the old one, which make it difficult for us to accept the new one. Even in our lives, old habits always stop us from moving forward. When we allow the things from the past to influence us, it is difficult for us to experience the triumph in Him. Bible says that "if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here." The old can be gone only if we are willing to let go. The Lord has broken all bondages of darkness from us through His work on the cross, regardless the bondage is from our family or environment. We need to let go in order to experience the life of a new creation. May the Lord help us, that we could learn how to be a new creation in Christ, not letting the old things to entangle us. Dear brothers and sisters, are there things that entangle you? Are you willing to hand these things to the Lord today?

 
Pray with Pastor Tong
   

Dear Lord, may You soften our hearts. In the mighty name of Jesus, I break all the yokes that are upon us, may You come and free us so that we could enter the lifestyle of a new creation. I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!  

 

 

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River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

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