Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: February 2022

Monday, February 28, 2022

Today's Passage - Matthew 21:1-7

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

Matthew 21:1-7

...Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

In this scripture passage, we see the authority of Jesus as the king. When He sent two disciples to find the colt, they only had to say "the Lord needs them." When the Lord asked the disciples to say it, those words carry the authority of the Lord, and they manifest the fact that our Lord is the master of the universe and everything belongs to Him. Gospel of Matthew also recorded that no one has ever rode that colt before. Can you imagine the first time one rides on a colt that has never been used? It probably takes a few seconds for the rider to be thrown off the colt's back! Miraculous, the colt remained calm in the hands of Jesus and was then used by the Lord.

Aren't we Christians also like that? There was only one reason for the colt to be released - To be used by the Lord. Similarly, Christians are also delivered from sin by the Lord. In fact, only when the colt was used by the Lord was its value revealed. I recall an article about this colt, and the topic is "the day after Palm Sunday." The colt woke up the day after Palm Sunday, and he recalled the joyful memories of the day before. He quickly got up and proudly went out, thinking that he was going to the well and show off to the people again. It was, however, strange that no one noticed him this time. He said angrily to the people around him: "why don't you lay your clothes on the ground? Don't you recognize who I am?" They looked at him with awe, some even threw rocks at him. He was furious while trying to escape the rocks, and he thought: "I'm going to the market, there'll be people admiring me." To his surprise, people did the same thing to him in the market. He kept on screaming, "Where's the olive branch? Have you all forgotten about the olive branch?" The colt was really confused; he returned to mother donkey, and the donkey told him gently: "My child, you cannot do anything without Him!"

Similarly, Christians must understand that without the Lord, we cannot do anything. Let us depend on God in our daily lives, and let His Spirit guide us to serve Him.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you, because in your hands we're like the colt. Even though we might not look like much to other people, you are willing to use us to accomplish great things for you. May the Lord help us to have a soft and humble heart, so that we may be used by you in our daily life. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Sunday, February 27, 2022

Today's Passage - Matthew 20:29-34

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

Matthew 20:29-34

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Physically speaking, these two are just blind men sitting beside the road; however, from spiritual perspective they have great faith, because they know how to plead with the Lord. We can see some principles from their prayer. First, they recognize that Jesus is the Son of David, which is the Messiah that God has promised. When you plead with God, you must know God first. This is not just "knowing" as in knowledge, but it's conviction from deep down in the spirit. Not only did these two blind men cry out to the Son of David, they also know in their hearts that Messiah can save them. Many come before God to pray, but they don't have much faith in God whom they pray to or what they're praying for. It is no wonder that their prayers are often not answered.

Second, they know how to pray by holding on to God's mercy. For prayers to be effective, not only should we plead earnestly, we should also know how to hold on to God's promises. A long time ago, my daughter was learning how to cook with a recipe at home. I promised to cook with her one night, but it was busy in the office that day and some people came to talk to me at night. At around six my daughter called to remind me that I was supposed to cook with her that night, and I told her I was busy and it'd have to be some other day. Then she said "but daddy, you promised me!" So I ended up cancelling all appointments and went home to cook with her. If she only asked me to go home and cook with her, I might have just said we should just do it some other time, but when she said "you promised me", I had no choice to comply.

This is much like our prayer life - If we just casually ask, perhaps God will say "let's just wait." When we know how to hold on to his word and promises to plead with Him, He will have to answer our prayer in His wonderful will. Do you know how to pray and how to hold on to God's promises? In our life, we must bring all things before God, not only to pray to Him but also to hold on to His promises and plead with Him according to His mercy. Is there anything you need in your life? Just bravely bring everything before the Lord and plead with Him, because He loves to listen to and answer your prayers!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you because you are the God who's willing to listen to prayers. Let us bring all our needs before you in prayer, because we believe that you are the God who'll save us, and you will answer our prayers according to your will. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Today's Passage - Matthew 20:25-28

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

Matthew 20:25-28

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

The Lord reminded those who are following him that he's taking them on a path with a different value system than that of the world. This world is built on the foundation of authority and glory. The devil tempted Jesus by showing him all authorities and glories, and saying to Him, "All this I will give you, ... if you will bow down and worship me." But the Lord replied, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" This world can only give us authority and glory. But can those really satisfy us? After King Solomon obtained all the authorities and glories of this world, he clearly told us in Ecclesiastes that they are all "Meaningless! Meaningless! ... Everything is meaningless." What this world can offer is similar to a chewing gum. It's sweet at the beginning. But the longer one chews, the more it tastes like a piece of wax. In the end, one can't wait to spit it out. Those who follow the Lord must put down all worldly values. We don't control each other, but serve each other. Thus says the Lord, "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" Just like the Lord Himself. He came to this world not to receive service but to serve others. Jesus was the son of God, but He willingly lived a life of servant on earth. This is the great example for you and me.

When we live our lives on earth, we have the identity of being sons and daughters of God. But God also wants us to live a life of a servant. Have you ever thought of how to be a servant to serve others in your life? Is it possible to have no complain while doing house chores? Will you help others in your convenience? Or will you remember someone's birthday and give them a small surprise? At church, are you willing to serve unnoticed, nor requiring others' praises? Can you support brothers and sisters who are weak, but don't need appreciation from others? Being a servant will not be the life that everyone prefers, but it is the most practical one.

In our daily life, we need to follow the example of Jesus as a servant, so that people around us can enjoy the benefits of the Lord's incarnation. May the Lord help us; starting today let our faith never be merely theories, but rather very practical way of living. Just like the way Jesus became a servant for us on earth, let us follow His example and let His life be shown through us!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you, for you first became a servant for us so that we can enjoy the blessing of being your sons and daughters. May the Lord help us to live the life of servants, and let this world know your love and abundance. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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

Friday, February 25, 2022

Today's Passage - Matthew 20:17-24

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

Matthew 20:17-24

...Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

When we come to God to pray, quite often we don't know what we are asking for, because we are used to to follow the Lord with our own will. That day, the mother of Jacob and John came to the Lord, asking Jesus to make her sons sit beside Jesus, one of the left, and the other on the right, in the kingdom of God. In other words, after Jesus has the kingdom and authority, they will be Jesus' second and third in command. No wonder the other disciples were angry after hearing this.

Where was the mother of John and Jacob wrong? First, she did not understand the kingdom of the Lord. It is not only the kingdom on earth, but also the kingdom in heaven in the future. She was still judging the future with earthly values. What valued in this earthly world are power and glory, as well as the ability to control others; the value system in God's kingdom, however, is direct opposite of this worldly system, for we do not to control others, but to build others up, and not to satisfy ourselves, but to satisfy others. We often serve God following worldly views and morals such that even our prayers are based on our flesh. Not only is our prayer unable to bring up people, it may even bring others down.

Unless our value system is renewed by God of, we are unlikely to truly follow the Lord. Just like what the Lord has clearly told them: This path was not what you had thought of. This was a path of suffering and sacrifice. In fact, even you two would suffer for me, so much as to be put to death by others. This path is not what people have thought of - It is a path of sacrifice leading to glory. What kind of attitudes and value system do you have when following God? Do you really understand that this path of God is a path of suffering and sacrifice? If you have yet understand, may God's light shine upon you, so that you will come back to him again, to look at your life and service anew from the point of God. Let us not just satisfy ourselves in our daily lives, but to satisfy the needs of others around us with the strength from God!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, may you adjust our eyes to not just focus on earthly values, but on heavenly values and your will. Help us to remove our lust and enter into your glorious will, so that your will can be accomplished through us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Today's Passage - Matthew 20:1-16

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

Matthew 20:1-16

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard... When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' But he answered one of them, 'Friend,I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Before the Lord told this parable, Peter asked a question that everyone wanted to ask but was not comfortable asking: "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?". Then, the Lord told this parable. The Lord had said before in 19:28-30 that everyone who followed the Lord would receive reward, but many disciples didn't know what to do with this parable. The Lord said, 'There was a landowner. At different time of the day he invited men to work in his field, promising the same wage. When it was time to pay those men, while the men who came last was very happy after receiving their wages, the men who came first couldn't help but complained unfairness to the landowner after realizing that while they worked the whole day, but received the same wages as the men who worked one hour, The landowner said, "Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Are you envious because I am being a good person? So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Brothers and sisters, do not run the race for God because of rewards. On the one hand, the Lord promised us rewards, but on the other hand our eyes should not fixate on the rewards. If you only focus on the rewards, you will start to compare. You will feel unfair, despair and disappointed. If you focus your attention on God, God will be your reward. What is the motivation of your service, is it for rewards, or you simply want to follow the God that gives us rewards? May God help us to fixate on Him only!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, may you examine our hearts, and help us not to focus so much on earthly possessions and rewards. Lord, please draw us closer to you, so that we are running and serving only for the Lord. I thank you and I pray in the glorious name of Jesus, amen!

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