Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: September 2021

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Today's Passage - Hebrews 11:8-10

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

Hebrews 11:8-10

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham was called to go, by his faith, "to a place he would later receive as his inheritance." He had sufficient faith to bring his family to leave their homeland, and to go to an unknown place. Why did he have so much faith? It wasn't because he's extraordinarily brave; rather, his faith was based on a foundation - He was waiting for a city whose architect and builder was God. Abraham could proceed with faith because he deeply believed that God's promises will be fulfilled. Whenever I come across this passage, I give thanks to God, because indeed our entire life is designed and built by God. When we take on the way of God, we will enjoy its peace and satisfaction.

Abraham seemed to have seen this city in the spirit even though he didn't know where he was going and what the place was like. He also didn't know that he was going to set up tent in a foreign land and become a guest in the Promised Land. When the Promised Land had nothing, however, he already saw the city built for him by God in the spirit. When he saw the city, faith came out from deep down inside him, and that's why Hebrews 11:1 says "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Abraham could see things he did not see by faith because he believed that God's promises will come true. He saw the city - a city with solid foundation and one that was built on God's promise. Therefore, in his daily life, this promise became his hope and strength.

Abraham's faith wasn't based on nothing, but rather it had a solid foundation. His faith was built on God's word and originated from God's promises. We also need to live by God's promises; when we read God's word, it will produce strength deep inside our hearts. Let us live by God's word daily so that we can fully experience His faithfulness. Are you willing to begin walking in the promises of God today?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, please grant us the faith of Abraham. Let us hear and see your promises in our daily life, and let us hold on to them as we go forward, so that your grace will come upon us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

River of Life Christian Church | office@rolcc.net | ROLCC Website

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Today's Passage - Hebrews 11:7

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

Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

In this passage, we see the example of Noah, who had the faith to see things that are yet to come, and then led a life with expectation and hope. Back in the day of Noah, the Bible described that the earth was filled with all kinds of sin. Only one person - Noah - received God's favor, because Noah was a righteous man who walked with God. God told him: I will judge the world with flood; but as for you and your household, you will build an ark so that your family will be saved in the day of judgment. Noah and his family started building the ark the day he heard God's voice. It's not hard to imagine how people looked at Noah back then; Noah, however, believed in God's Word, and in faith he could see a piece of cloud, and even rain drops. Even though no one could see any sign of rain, he persevered and waited, because he knew that God's promise will come true. Finally, God's day of judgment came, and suddenly flood covered the whole earth. Only the family of Noah was saved because they were in the ark. The Bible clearly says that the day of the Lords second coming will be like the day of Noah. As we live in a world filled with material abundance today, even though it's very difficult to imagine the Lords second coming and the judgment of the last days, the Lord's word will surely come true.

Actually, if we look at our world today, it's not too hard to conclude that the world is on the path of self-destruction. One news columnist once wrote that "the warning alarm of our time has been ringing, but unfortunately not too many people heard it." We don't even need to see the world to know this, because the Lord's word clearly laid out the future before us. Evangelist Billy Graham said that as he held the Bible on one hand and the newspaper on the other, he was amazed and joyful. He was amazed that the world's condition is deteriorating so quickly, yet he was joyful because the day of the Lord second coming is near. May the lord help us, not to be Christians who don't know what's going on, or those who are just doing the least to get by. Make us Christians who stand firm on our faith. May God open our eyes to see that the throne of the Lord has been established. The horn of the angels is sounding, and kingdom of God is coming. If you can see this in faith, then you will be like Noah, who diligently worked on the earth and prepared himself to feverishly welcome the Lord second coming. May the Lord put such faith inside us to walk with Him in our daily life, and help us to understand spiritual matters so that we can see what we cannot physically see. Let us be assured of what will happen in the future, and trust that our faith will become the source of strength for our daily life.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you for your abundant grace. Let us depend on you, look up on you, and let your word become the assurance for our life. Help us to overcome adversities in our daily life and live for you. I think you and I pray in victorious name of Jesus, amen!

River of Life Christian Church | office@rolcc.net | ROLCC Website

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Today's Passage - Hebrews 11:5-6

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

Hebrews 11:5-6

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The second person who can serve as a good example for us to follow is Enoch. Through faith, he saw what he could not physically see, and it brought out a life of walking with God. Enoch is the seventh generation child of Adam, and the Genesis said he was someone ordinary. He lived just like everyone else and had children. When he was 65, however, something extraordinary happened to him - He became intimate with God and really knew God, and started a life of walking with God. Even though he could not physically see God, in faith he saw God's presence every minute, and later God brought him up to heaven so that he could enjoy His presence forever.

I once heard a little girl telling the story of Enoch. She said that Enoch enjoyed walking with God, and one day they kept on walking until they were far from home, then God told Enoch: "Enoch, we've already gone this far, why don't you just come and stay with me?" Then, Enoch went to God's home. To every Christian, God has already promised us through the Bible that He will always be with us through the Holy Spirit. This promise is an ongoing fact, so we don't need to ask God to be with us, instead we just need to let God's word shine upon us, and help us to see, in faith, how God is with us and walking with us every minute of the day.

In the fast-paced society that we live in, even faith becomes fast-paced. We like to study the Bible and pray quickly, we like to attend retreats and revivals to listen to the most exciting sermons from famous preachers. We use all kinds of activities on the outside to fill the bankrupted spiritual life that we have deep inside. Everyone, however, overlooked the most basic thing, which is to spend time with God like Enoch did. Let God's word shine into us so that we may have true faith in God. Not only shall we recognize His presence, we shall also recognized that God will reward those who seek Him.

Do you believe in God's promises? Do you believe that God has already prepared everything for us? Many Christians will pray and ask for anything, but they do not pray in faith. Therefore, all the worries will rush back right after prayer. We keep on thinking that God might have forgotten about us! We need to come before God again, learn to build our faith on His word. The Lord has clearly told us in Gospel of Matthew that "seek ye first the Kingdom of God, then His righteousness, and all these things will be added onto you"!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, please open our eyes and let us see that you are indeed with us. Speak to us and walk with us in our daily life, and provide us with all our needs. Let us simply look upon you and trust in you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

River of Life Christian Church | office@rolcc.net | ROLCC Website

Monday, September 27, 2021

Today's Passage - Hebrews 11:1

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

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Kingdom of God requires people to enter by faith. Not only do we need faith in order to be saved, faith is also crucial in our walk with God daily. Paul in the book of Romans says, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last." Hence, someone once said, in the school of faith, there are never any graduates. Exercising faith is something that we need to learn for a lifetime.

Faith is the spiritual power that God has given us, just like he gave us our five senses to allow us to see, hear and feel the things of this world. In the same way, faith is a spiritual ability that God has given us to help us understand spiritual things, to see what cannot be seen with our eyes and to know what lies ahead of us. This seeing does not come by human imagination, nor by instinct, but by the light that God shines upon us. Just like our eyes, although it has the ability and structure to see, there needs to be light in order for it to see.

In the same way, faith requires the light that comes by the Word of God, so that we may see spiritual things. When we do not know the Lord, our faith is like eyes in the dark and has no ability. All we see are the things of this world, which are material and sensual things that arouse our five senses, to the point we do not know how to exercise our faith. People start drifting away from God until the light of God shines upon us and when His Word enlightens us, we finally start realizing the power of the faith within us. The Word of God tells us that since the creation of the world, God's eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Hence, through this physical world, we can see a Creator God.

Hebrews 11:3 says, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command." Our eyes can only see the things that God created, but faith allows us to see God in His creation. "Evidence" and "assurance" refer to things that God has told us regarding things that already exist. All we need is to receive by faith. Do you have an active faith in God? Ask God to help us to acknowledge by faith, that He is real, to acknowledge His work and His promises, so that we can live by faith each day and overcome attacks by Satan.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I pray that you will put real faith in our hearts so that we can acknowledge your grace, blessing and work in our lives, and by doing so we may have the power to be victorious in our daily lives. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

River of Life Christian Church | office@rolcc.net | ROLCC Website

Today's Passage - Hebrews 11:2-4

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Hebrews 11:2-4

This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

From this verse onwards, the author tells us about the testimony of many great men of faith. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was commended as a righteous man. Both Cain and Abel were children of Adam. When Adam sinned and had to leave the garden of Eden, God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. These garments represented the fulfillment of salvation that God would accomplish for man. In the Old Testament, God asked for blood sacrifice so that by faith, people can look forward to salvation that will come when Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins.

Genesis Chapter 4 tells us that Abel kept flocks, while Cain worked the soil. As God had called them to, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. In the Old Testament, God clearly instructed His people to offer blood sacrifices in order to receive salvation, because blood represented the salvation of Jesus. Only through Christ, can we come before a holy and righteous God. If men were to come before God they had to come with a blood sacrifice. Cain's mistake was that he worshiped God in his own manner and did not feel the need to present an animal sacrifice. Cain brought some fruits, and felt that God should also accept it. However the problem is not what we feel should be done, but what God actually wants us to do.

We are all like Cain sometimes. We love to worship God in our own manner, serve God and live our Christian lives in a way we like. The heart of faith is not "I feel, I think, I like..." We need to seriously think about this fundamental question in our faith, which is what kind of Christian does God want us to be? Abel is one who obeyed God. He understands God's will. Although the salvation of Jesus Christ has not been accomplished, he already saw what was to come and acted according to God's will. Because of his obedience, his offering was pleasing to God. May the Lord help us to live a Christian life like Abel did in our daily life!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you for giving us the example of Abel. May you take away the self-centeredness in us so that we may submit to you and please you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

River of Life Christian Church | office@rolcc.net | ROLCC Website