Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

1 Timothy 5:17-18

   

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."

                 

Paul refers to the principle of taking good care of the preachers, he mentions two kinds of preachers, the first kind is good at directing church affairs and this kind of preacher is often neglected by the church. We care more for preachers who give good sermons while overlooking the need of the various gifts working together for the church. In fact, the church needs not only preaching elders, but it also needs preachers who direct the church affairs. Some preachers are well equipped with the gift to preach, but they have no idea how to deal with organization and administration. Many church conflicts, quarrels among the elders, deacons and pastors are about problems dealing with church affairs. A pastor who directs well can gather different opinions, resolve administrative bottlenecks, and address issues, such that everyone can serve with confidence. Therefore, the church should neither overlook nor mistreat this kind of preacher, just as Paul says, they are worthy of double honor.

                 

Next, the preaching and teaching elders, their work is mainly preaching and shepherding; it's quite common they work at irregular schedules, and one phone call will get them out to do visitation. On the other hand, they often intercede for the congregation, praying in the presence of God, and seeking directions. Paul says they are laboring preachers who may not toil physically but rather labor in their hearts with Christ for the sake of the church, this kind of people deserve more of the double honor.

                 

As a preacher, it is not proper for me to talk about "doubling". But the reality is the church's compensation to the preacher is often quite low when compared with the typical wage. The original intent may be good to let the preacher live by faith, but it also shows we do not value the work of the preacher. First-rate work deserves first-rate wage, how can we motivate believers to go into full-time ministries if we pay them mediocre wages? Ask God to give us an obedient heart to treat God's servants well.

    

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, please help us learn how to respect the preachers. We ask the Lord to provide the needs of the preachers, let there be no lack of things in their lives. And they can march diligently doing your given work, advancing the gospel. With thanks we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


 

 

 
       

  

                                                                                           

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

Monday, September 29, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

1Timothy 5:9-16

   

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.....If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

                 

Paul refers to the principle of charity, the church is indeed facing all sorts of social needs; the broken-hearted, the homeless, the alcoholic, the domestic abuse; there also are the impoverished, even famished. These needs exist not only in the Third World, they also are in the United States; we may exhaust our human and financial resources if we intervene every social problem, while caring for only a few would put us in danger of nepotism. Among the many widows of the church, who should receive priority in our help? Here it mentions several principles:

                 

First, they must be church members registered on the church list. These people are the priorities of our help because the Lord's commandment states, if we love one another, the world will recognize we are His disciples through our love. Second, they must have a good testimony in their daily lives. This is a very important criterion among the many selections, otherwise anyone can ask for help and the church will have a hard time fulfilling them. We should first care for those who in the past eagerly helped the others, because they sacrificed themselves for the Lord, and now they have needs, the church should take care of them. Third, there are age restrictions. At that time sixty was the retirement age; if under sixty, they can still be self-sufficient, or consider entering another marriage, or try other means to make a living, such that it will not deplete the church resources.

                 

The church must involve in charity work, otherwise the "false religions" will take away our rightful crown. On the other hand, charity must follow established principles; otherwise if you give these people but not the others, it will result in inequities in the church. Ask God for the wisdom to let us know how to do benevolent work in the church.

    

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, thank you, for you know our needs. Give love, wisdom enough for us to offer help according to the needs, let your love show in fullness, that the world will see Christ in our testimonies. With thanks we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

 
       

  

                                                                                           

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

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

I Timothy 5: 5-8

 

The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever

 

Referring to the widows, Paul indicated they truly rely on God praying unceasingly day and night. This is exactly the secret of trusting God. Why is it so difficult for us to put our trust in God? It is because we have too many alternatives we can rely on; too many choices making us feel less dependent on God. We may even pray, "Lord, I know you are awfully busy, perhaps you do not have time to attend to my needs, I have already made other arrangements."

 

Isn't that exactly our situation? We pay only lip service in saying we trust God, but in reality, we have already made arrangements with our own resources. We may often hear brothers or sisters saying if they have made enough money and never have to worry about their daily needs, they can take early retirements and serve the Lord whole heartedly. But when the times comes, are you relying on your retirement incomes? Or relying on God? Brothers and sisters, do you have a true calling from God? Are you willing to rely on Him solely? We do not need to wait for the right time, we can serve Him right now; otherwise we are still serving mammon (money), not God!

 

We only learn to return to God and rely on Him at our wits end. In healing services, many who do not believe in God's healing power previously, or when their relatives are in serious illness when doctors cannot do anymore, they would then return and pray to God as if this is their last resort. The Bible tells us to pray unceasingly under all circumstances. When a person is willing to pray in humility indicating he has total trust in God. On the contrary, when a person is too busy to pray, his reliance in this world surpasses that of God. Paul said a real widow is one who puts her trust totally in God praying day and night unceasingly. Perhaps you are not a widow, but are you relying on God? Let us learn to seek Him through our prayers.

    

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, we pray for a heart of meekness and humility relying not in our ways and means, but casting our eyes solely on you who is on the throne. We pray that we may seek for you, trust you and follow you in our daily livings. With thanks we pray, in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

 
      

  

                                                                                           

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

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

I Timothy 5: 1-4

   

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

    

Paul presented the principles of treating different people in the church. For older people, do not rebuke them; and this is a teaching of respect similar to that of Chinese teachings. Regardless, older people have experienced lives' ups and downs worthy of our respect. Correcting them with respect if needed as if they are our parents, they would naturally touched by our actions.

 

In addition, we should teach the young ones as if they are our brothers according to Paul. Treating our brothers and sisters as a member of our family is also a teaching in God's kingdom. If we can manage our church and families with the same attitude, many issues would be resolved easily.

 

Thirdly, our older sisters should be treated as if they are our mothers. As for the younger sisters, we need to have a heart of purity especially when serving together in the church, we need to be especially judicious so that this relationship would be pleasing in God's eyes.

 

Finally, to the widows and also those in need in the church, the same principle applies. The church has the responsibility to care for the needy, similar to that of any charitable organizations. Using the same guidelines, when somebody has a financial need, members in the church family should attend to their needs;   for those living alone and in need of help, the church should take an active role in helping them.

 

May the Lord grant us a heart of compassion and actively help those in need so that they may not be left out. It is only when we put this into practice, can we be recognized as the disciples of our Lord! May His spirit continue to guide us to live out this testimony of loving one another in our church.

    

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, may we be touched by your compassion so that we may grow spiritually together and help those in need with wisdom especially the elderly, the young and the widows. With thanks we pray, in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

 
 

 

  

                                                                                           

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

Friday, September 26, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

I Timothy 4:16

 

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

 

Paul listed two other principles for serving that one should have:

 

Thirdly, is to be watchful of one's life and doctrine closely. Ministry in tune with God's desire never rely on one's work and talent. God looks heavily upon whether there is a spirit of service inside us. As we come before the Lord, we should ask not only how we should serve, but also seriously examining our reason for serving. Many serve God to satisfy their own desires; others may feel uneasy if they do not serve; and many others are looking for more blessings in return.

 

What is your purpose in serving God? Is it for yourself or for God Himself? Too much emphasis has been placed in today's church on gifts of serving, but too little on the attitude of a servant. John 13 recorded on the day of Passover, the disciples squabbled about who was the Lord's most favorite disciple or who was most spiritual? Nobody wanted to be the second, but after travelling for a whole day with their feet covered with dust, nobody was willing to kneel down to wash other people's feet. It was at this time, Jesus took off his robe and prostrated and washed the disciples' feet, yet never did He say, "Look , I am setting up an examples for you all."

    

Fourthly, is perseverance. Regardless how difficult the task may be or how weary our spirits may be, we should never be prevented from being close to God or serving Him. Many may quit half-way not because of not knowing God's will, but because of not able to persevere or withstand criticisms. Many encounter failures and quit due to embarrassment even though they know they have this gift.

 

After prophet Elijah was victorious for God at Mount Carmel, he provoked Queen Jezebel and was pursued by her. When Elijah learnt of this news, he immediately fled to Beersheba and prayed for his own death.   He was later awakened by the angel who provided him food and told him, "Arise, for you still have a long way to go!" Brothers and sisters, there are a lot of work entrusted to us by God which has yet to be accomplished; we still have a long way to go, do not give up prematurely. The author of the book Hebrews encouraged us, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us". May the Lord encourage us once again with His spirit.

    

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, we thank you for you have, once again, lifted up our spirits. Help us watch our lives and doctrines closely until we have accomplished the work entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit. With thanks we pray, in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!   

 

  

  

                                                                                           

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