Today's Passage - John 13:36-38

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13: 36-38   Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"                  Peter really loved Jesus, he liked to follow Him, even laid down his life for Him. Unfortunately Peter at that time followed and served with his flesh. He did not understand the nature of his life, thus he said, "Lord, I'd follow you wherever you go." Jesus then replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Here Jesus is in fact referring to Peter's martyrdom in the future.                  Peter, however, did not understand, and said, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I'm so eager to follow you, even willing to lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" Jesus knew very well it was the blood and flesh that Peter's heart was following, therefore Jesus was telling him, "Peter, you still don't quite understand about your life. Are you will to follow me? Of course your heart is willing, but your flesh is weak."                  Sure enough, Peter disowned Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. At the time of Jesus's capture, Peter followed him at a distance. When Jesus turned and looked upon Peter, he immediately remembered the words of Jesus, and then he went out and wept. He knew he could not follow Jesus relying on his flesh! He thought he could die for Jesus, but he found out that he was so weak. Thank God, the Lord Jesus did not rebuke Peter, because he knew his flesh was weak.                  After the Lord Jesus arose from the dead, he sent the Holy Spirit into the disciples' hearts; the Holy Spirit also came upon Peter. Then Peter gave his witness with power and authority at the Pentecost and three thousands came to Christ! Later the church was built, Peter became its cornerstone. At Peter's twilight years, the Roman government persecuted the Christians, so Peter began to flee. He met the Lord on his way to escape; he asked the Lord, "Where are you going?" The Lord said to Peter, "I'm going to the city, where are you going?" Peter was ashamed and he followed the Lord to the city, finally he willing to die crucified upside down. The church history tells us this story.                  "Lord, where are you going?" The Peter before and after are so different. Lord, please help us to accept God's dealing with us and our brokenness in our ways of serving, and let us willing to walk the road of serving God, because at the end that is the glorious way.              Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, please help us; make us willing to be touched by your love, willing to follow you in everyday life. Wherever you go, we'll follow you, offering ourselves, and letting you use us. We give thanks and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 13:31-35

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13: 31-35    "...... A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."                  Here the Lord told his disciples, "A new command I give you." In fact this is not a new command, because the Lord Jesus has said. "There is no other command greater than these two; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' then 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself." However, the Lord said here indeed this is a new command, why? For this love one another has new meanings. The old command is to love your neighbor as yourself, but the new command is to love one another, but how to love one another? We need to love one another just as how the Lord loves us.                  The love of God is self-giving love but the love of this world is often self-serving love. Some would say, "Oh, I love watermelon!" Does he really love watermelon? Once you give him watermelon, he'll cut it up in small pieces, promptly eating them all, and then throwing the rind away as trash. Think about it, he does not really love watermelon, what he loves is his own craving! Even when we hear someone say, "I really love this person!" Very often it is for self-interest and fulfillment, no wonder many people got hurt when they were in love.                  The lord Jesus tells us here that we need to love one another, he loves us with self-giving love, and it's deeper than love thy neighbor as thyself, as you have to lay down yourself! Jesus Christ came to this world, leaving behind the glory and riches in heaven, to seek and save the lost souls; when we receive this love, we need to love one another with self-giving love. The lord said if we love one another, everyone will know that we are his disciples, because people in this world need this kind of true love.                  If the people in this world see our example of loving one another, their hearts will follow and they'll come before God. But if we don't love one another, then everyone will fail to recognize that we are his disciples. We can do many big talks, but if we cannot live out the example of loving one another, people cannot get attracted to come before Jesus. May God help us in our daily lives, let us live out the testimony of loving one another, then this world can realize only Jesus Christ is the true savior.              Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, thank you, because you first love us with your self-giving love. May the Lord let us receive again your love, and love one another with this self-giving love, such that everyone can see our testimonies, give glory to you. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 13:21-30

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13: 21-30    After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."                  The Lord testified that one of the twelve disciples is going to betray him. It's hard for us to imagine - why would anyone betray the Lord? We would think betraying the Lord is a serious matter, but in fact in life we often deny and betray the Lord with some trivial things. Especially when we are with our friends at dinner gatherings, your hearts would begin to struggle when getting ready to eat: "Do I need to say grace?" The friends here are non-believers; everyone is getting ready to eat, will you bow your head to pray? We are weak in this struggle, with thought, "Well Lord, it doesn't matter as it's this one time only! I'll let it go this time and pray next time, since my friends are non-believers."                  Too often we failed in our testimonies and yet we are not that concerned. But in reality, once we almost deny the lord before the world, don't you know it is the same as betraying him? Once we realize how serious this matter is, we have to ask God to give us a sensitive heart, to see how many times we deny and betray our Lord. Not just giving grace, sometimes we feel embarrassed when we talk about the gospel, when we mention ourselves as Christians, even when we are preaching the gospel. Why this feeling of embarrassment? Because you do not want to stand before the people and let them know that you are a Christian.                  We have betrayed the Lord in many little things, virtually denying him. May the Lord have mercy on us as he said very clearly, "If we deny the Lord before men, He also will deny us before the Father." May God help us that we do not fall in such circumstances. May God let us see that we are all capable in Christ; the one in us is really greater than the one in the world, such that we are strong and courageous, that you testify for the glory of God in the midst of this crooked and twisted generation!             Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, if in the past we have denied, betrayed you, please give us the strong and courageous spirit, such that we know that the Christ in us is not meek, but strong, and we stand up to become your witness. Thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 13:18-20

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13:18-20   "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: 'He who shared my bread has turned against me.' ...Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."   The Lord says, "I know those I have chosen." Sometimes we don't quite understand this Bible passage. We think that the Lord chose Judas to betray him. Actually, this is not what this passage means. Rather, when Jesus choose the twelve disciples, he already knows beforehand that Judas will betray him. However, he still did not forsake or loathe Judas. Instead, he still chose Judas and loved him with an unforsaken love. Jesus Christ still longs for Judas to repent and turn back to God during the three and half years he is with him. The Lord's heart is filled with mercy and loving-kindness. Jesus knows whom he chose. He knows that Judas will betray him. His heart is sorrowful and hurts because of this, but he is still willing to grant him mercy.    Whenever I think about the grace and mercy of the Lord, I cannot help but to offer up thanksgiving and praise to my Lord. Think about this, why did the Lord choose people like us who are so lowly and unworthy? Brothers and sisters, my only answer is this: "O Lord, if you choose to use people like me who are so weak and you are willing to work together with me, what else can I say? I can only say, "O Lord, if you are willing to use me, then use me completely! I can only offer my whole self to you!" The more I think about God's love, the more I can't help but to offer myself wholly to him. May God help us, so that we will not refuse the Lord's calling and his love, but let us open our hearts to accept our Lord and to follow him!    The Lord says, "...whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." Because of Jesus Christ, we can come to the Heavenly Father. The Lord says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We need to come before God, to put our hope in him alone, to trust in him, and in our everyday lives to follow him and to serve him, so that our service will not be in vain, so that we will not run an empty race, and so that our life will receive the reward that the Lord desires for us.          Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I thank you because you chose me and showered grace upon me by your mercy and compassion. Help me to persevere in following you, serving you, and pleasing you and to receive the prize that you had prepare for me in Christ.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 13:12-17

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13:12-17   "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."    The Lord says, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." What kind of example is Jesus referring to? Is it the example to wash one another's feet? Or does it have some other spiritual meaning? I firmly believe that it has both meanings. Some people say, "foot-washing is a cultural practice of the past, we don't do this today." Indeed, I agree with this view. However, people have discovered that in the process of washing one another's feet, we can learn to have a more humble heart.    There are many examples of foot-washing among the churches. There have been different Christian denominations that had rivalry and criticisms toward each other in the past. But for the Lord's sake, they were willing to be united once again. Consequently, the leaders from the two denominations washed each other's feet, while weeping and repenting. Because of this kind of foot-washing ceremony, it brought unity and love among the believers. The foot-washing ceremony itself has certain fruitful effects because it helps us understand how to humble ourselves. However, on the other hand, foot-washing is after all just a type of ceremony. It is not because of the foot-washing ceremony that one should feel that he/she is more spiritual.    In reality, the example that the Lord is speaking of is not only about the foot-washing ceremony, but it is even more about the humility of the heart. Are we willing to humble ourselves to accept one another? Are we willing to see others as better than ourselves and not to exalt our own opinions or stubbornly hold on to our own thinking? Are we really willing to serve each other, just like a servant? Have you thought of how you can wash one another's feet in your service? It doesn't have to be a foot-washing ceremony. Maybe it can be small things like giving rides to brothers and sisters who are weak and unable to move freely. Or it can be helping a brother or sister do some things, or even to provide some food to brothers and sisters who are sick, etc... It is to not expect others to do things for you, but for you to be willing to offer the love of Christ and not expect anything in return, and also not think of yourself as more spiritual.    In today's world, many people do very good things to exalt themselves. They say, "Look! I'm so spiritual! I love the Lord so much!" However, when you do things this way, you have already received the full reward on earth, but it is not remembered in heaven! May the Lord help us to truly humble ourselves to learn the examples of Jesus Christ - being humble and loving one another. Let the things that we do for Christ be the same things that we do for our brothers and sisters, so that they can also enjoy the grace of Jesus Christ.           Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, please grant me a humble and tender heart. Help me to know what it means to wash one another's feet, so that I can do it for my brothers and sisters. May they experience your love through me. Lord, please grant me strength and wisdom to start taking action. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 13:4-11

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13:4-11   He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"  Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."  "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."  Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."   During the Last Supper, all the disciples gathered together.  Back then, people walked around in sandals, so when they entered into a house, their feet were rather dirty.  Also, when they ate they actually sat on the ground.  You can imagine that if no one washes their feet, it would be incredibly uncomfortable for every to eat with the stinky smell.  Therefore, everyone typically washed their feet before they came in to eat.  Who, however, would wash everyone's feet?  Typically a house servant would wash everyone's feet, but on that day when disciples entered the house, there was no servant around.  The disciples didn't submit to each other, so no one would humble themselves to wash the feet of others.  They all thought: "Why do I have to wash your feet?  Why don't you wash my feet first?"   Aren't we often like that when we serve others?  We like to compare with others, thinking: "I'll just do you my thing and you do yours, we have nothing to do with each other!  Why do I need to wash your feet?  You should be washing my feet!"  The Bible says that we must consider others better than us, but we often consider ourselves better than others.  So, no one wants to be humble first and wash each other's feet.  Since none of the disciples would humble themselves to serve others, Lord Jesus began to wash the feet of the disciples.   Peter didn't understand the spiritual meaning of the act of Jesus, and he only saw how Lord washed their feet.  Lord Jesus, however, wanted to teach the disciples once again through the lesson of washing each other's feet: When we follow God, we need to humble ourselves to serve people.  When we serve people, we are actually serving God.  That's why Jesus Christ said: "When you do this on the smallest one, you are doing it on me."  We very often are willing to serve God, but are we willing to serve people?  May God put the attitude of a servant of people in our hearts!        Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, please let us understand how to serve people around us, because that it your will.  You came to serve people, so we ask that you also make us your servant and let us follow your footsteps.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - John 13:1-3

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13:1-3   It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end...   "Having loved his own who were in the world" - How precious is this scripture passage!  Who are "his own"?  It's those who believe in Jesus and accept Him as personal savior; in other word, we are "his own".  This concept of ownership was particularly prevalent in the society of the past where slaves were traded.  When a master purchased a slave in the slave market, the slave no longer belonged to himself, but rather he's owned by his master.  In the same manner, we used to be under the authority of darkness and sin, but when Lord Jesus loves so much that He used his precious blood as the hefty price to redeem us, we no longer belong to ourselves, but are owned by Him.  As soon as we are owned by God, the Lord says that He will love us to the end, hallelujah!   Did you know that the Lord will love you to the end?  In this world, no one else can love to the end, because the love of this world is normally conditional, but love of the Lord for us is unconditional.  I often describe God's love as the love that doesn't give up; even when we are disobedient and we make the Holy Spirit worry, God will never give up on us, and He will use His complete love and merciful love to love us.   In my past, I've said to God so many times: "God, just leave me alone!  You go your way and I go mine!  Let's go our separate ways and don't care about me again!"  I thank God that He's never listened to this prayer of mine.  Instead, He brought me back with His grace and mercy again and again.  So often we are weak and fail, but not only does God give us a second chance, He will also give us third, fourth and fifth chance!  God is always patiently waiting for us to turn back to Him.   As soon as we are willing to turn back to God, we will find that God is still loving us deeply!  He never abandons us, and He's still willing to wait for us to turn back to Him, because His love for us is unconditional.  No matter what your current circumstance is, even if you feel that you are not worthy, God still loves you, hallelujah!  He will embrace you with His arms, and He will fill you with His love!    Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we thank you because your love is everlasting.  Lord, if there's anyone among us who need such love from you, please fill them with your love so that they may once again turn back from their circumstance of weakness and disobedience.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - John 12:44-50

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 12: 44-50   Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.  When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come to this world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him.  For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.  There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that every word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day....."     Jesus said, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but the one who sent me." He then continued, "When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me."  It is apparent that Jesus and God are in one. We believe in the God of Trinity; a God in three identities; all three are equal in honor and glory,   yet none more honor than the others.   This true God of Trinity, in fact, exhibits three different functions: God the father is the creator, designer and planner; God the son is the executor who came to this world to accomplish the salvation; the Holy Spirit is the accomplisher who tries to deliver this salvation to man; it is only through the work of the Holy Spirit we can enjoy what God has prepared for us in Christ:  His fullness and grace since the creation of the world.  This God of Trinity takes on three different forms and functions, but yet equal in honor and glory.   Therefore, Jesus said, "When you see me, you see God because the Father and the Son are in one." When the Lord came to this world, He brings God's grace into our lives.  So there is a choice when one faces Jesus the Lord:  is he willing to accept the word of Jesus?  If he does, he is accepting the command of God, and he enjoys this everlasting life in the Father; but if he rejects the word of Jesus, he actually rejects  the Father from whom Jesus was  sent,   and will not enjoy this everlasting life.   Jesus, therefore, said when the final days have come, the Lord will  not be judging us, but we will be judged, instead,  according to His own words.  Perhaps you may say, "I have not heard of what Jesus said, and never did I have opportunity to hear His word" But Romans 1:20 clearly tells us that the divine nature of this world created by God testified for Him - when this is clearly seen, there is no denial for the existence of the Creator.  We should, therefore, come and seek after Him.  May the Lord help us, so that our hearts would turn to Him.                                                     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we pray for your help so that we may humble ourselves, recognize this true God of Trinity, a Savior who created this universe and our lives.  May your grace be upon everyone who believes in you.  With thanks we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!