Monday, August 6, 2012

Daily Devotion

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

1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

 

Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

 

As shepherds, not only should we lead brothers and sisters with a mother's heart, but we also need to have a father's heart. Mother's heart expresses love, and father's heart expresses truth. As our faith grows, we not only need love, but also need to balance it with truth. We often talk about love without truth, and it produces indulgence in love; on the other hand, when we talk about truth without love, truth becomes a tool that binds people. A shepherd must take care of both sides by expressing both love and truth to the brothers and sisters. A father needs to set a good example, as Paul described "holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed." Not only can people be witnesses for him, even God can be his witness.

 

A father's words and behavior can greatly impact his own children. In the same way, a spiritual father can also impact those whom he's leading. Jesus set the best example for us; during the last supper, no disciple was willing to wash other people's feet, because no one wants to behave like servants of others. Without rebuking the disciples, Jesus humbly bent down and washed every disciple's feet. Jesus always simply guided and led His disciples by example. In 1 Timothy 4:12, we are encouraged to "set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." When we lead others, we must lead by example.

 

Next, a father must also encourage his spiritual children, Verse 11 says that "for you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." Our lives must be worthy of God's calling, which is a concept often mentioned in Paul's letters. I often remind myself the same - Is my life worthy of God's calling? We often behave our best in front of people, but when we are alone, are our thoughts and mind worthy of the Lord? This is a good reminder - When we are teaching brothers and sisters, let us remind them that no matter what they do, we must live worthy of God who loves us and called us into His glorious kingdom.

    

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because you have expressed a father's love to us. Help us to set good example in our daily life for brothers and sisters whom we are leading, and encourage us to live worthy of the Lord. Teach us and help us to reflect on our lives so that we'll glorify you and benefit people. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Sunday, August 5, 2012

Daily Devotion

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

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

 

...But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

 

Shepherds treat their flock of sheep much like how mothers treat their children. There are examples of several manifestations of love. First, it's a sacrificial love. Mothers will give up their own right for their children and they always want to give the best to their children, and shepherds would do the same. When we face the people of God, we are always eager to give them the best and to provide them with the best spiritual food. We may even lay down our own right, like well-deserved vacation, in order to provide for the congregation. When we are serving, we always think of how Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself, and how such sacrificial love drew us to Him. Similarly, God wants to use our sacrificial love to draw the hearts of people to turn back to Jesus Christ.

 

Second, it's from a gentle heart. The children make mistakes, mothers always try to restore them with a gentle heart. The Bible says that those who are meek will "inherit the earth." When we win a weak person back with gentleness, we will win their hearts. When someone becomes weak and makes a mistake, we easily blame more than tolerate; however, if someone with a shepherd's heart tried to save the weak the person with gentleness, he can be turned back to God and once again be used by God. God restored David with a gentle heart, so in the same way we ask God to help us to treat brothers and sisters with a gentle heart.

 

Third, striving to feed the children we love. Throughout a child's life, a mother will use all means to try to feed the child according to his needs, until he's grown in to an adult. We also need to remember those who've guided us before. Throughout our Christian life, there must have been many brothers, sisters and shepherds who've made much effort to guide us, take care of us unselfishly, and feed us with sacrificial love and gentle heart. We have so many people to thank because of God's tremendous grace! May God help us not to just see the shortcomings of others, but to realize how much effort were made on us by these shepherds in order for us to enjoy the abundant grace of God, so we must give thanks for them. On the other hand, they have encouraged us to minister to the brothers and sisters around with the same kind of sacrificial love and gentle heart. May the Lord help us, let God's love flow out from our lives, so that we would minister to others like how mothers treat their children.

  

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, please pour your love inside us and remind us how you loved us like a mother loves the child. Let us know how to love those around us with motherly love, so that their hearts will be touched and they will be drawn to turn back to you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!


 

 

 
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Saturday, August 4, 2012

Daily Devotion

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

1 Thessalonians 2:5-6

 

You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness.  We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you...

 

Paul mentioned several things that those who serve God must learn. First, we must not be greedy. We often have many expectations for God. Peter has asked Jesus: Lord, we've laid down all these things for you, so what can we gain from you?   Even though we may not dare to ask, the same expectations exist in our hearts, as if we are running in order to gain rewards. May God help us, let us simply run for our beloved Lord. The rewards in the heaven will be our relationship with God. The more we love God now, the more satisfied we will be in heaven. I trust that everyone in heaven will be satisfied, because we'll be satisfied once we encounter the Lord who loves us.

 

Next, we cannot seek glory from people, which is "praise from men". We like to hear praises from others, please they please our ears. They make us feel good about ourselves and satisfy our ego. Everyone likes to hear compliments, not criticism. Praises from people, however, must be treated like perfume, which we simply smell, but must not drink. Very often when we hear praises from others, we feel more valuable than we really are and we become proud, so much that our hearts end up departing from God. The Lord, however, has clearly said that "apart from me you can do nothing." Sometimes we don't really agree with it, but the truth is that we can do a lot of things on earth without being recognized by God, because we can end up doing a lot of things that are not in His will.

 

May God help us to seek His glory but not people's glory. Let us thirst for a closer relationship with God and not to become greedy for worldly possessions, so that we may live before God and please Him all our life.

  

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, help us to please you with our ministry. May the Lord examine our hearts and remove any self-centeredness and sin of pride from inside, so that we may serve you with clean hands and pure heart. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 

 

 
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Friday, August 3, 2012

Daily Devotion

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

1 Thessalonians 2:3-4

 

For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

 

Here Paul mentioned a few motivations for him to preach the gospel: Firstly, He knew for certain that this is the truth. If you do not know that what you believe in is true, you will not have the motivation to share the gospel. When I preach the gospel, I truly know that what I am preaching is not only the truth, but is something that can help people improve their lives and change the society as well as the country. The more I have this conviction, the more I can preach the gospel.

 

When a country can act according to the truth of God, this country will be blessed. When a country is willing to act according to God's Word, this country will also be blessed. In the same way, when a person is willing to act according to God's Word, he will find true wisdom from God. Many people only seek after the wealth of this world, but that will not prosper you. What you really need is the wisdom that truth brings, to help you in your daily life. This will help you discover new resources and how to use them. These new resources can bring you new wealth and a change in your living environment.

 

Secondly, Paul knew his identity, and that he was "approved by God". In other words, he was chosen by God to be an ambassador of the gospel. We need to understand that we are all chosen by God. He chose us to be His children and also to serve Him as His servants. As such, Paul said, when he understood his identity, he was compelled to preach the gospel. He said, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me." Paul clearly knew his identity, so it gave him much motivation to preach the gospel.

 

Thirdly, Paul knew the gospel is for pleasing God, not men. If it were to please men, he could preach what people like to hear, but that is not God's will, and there will be no salvation of souls. When we preach the gospel and serve God, we need to know clearly that we are not trying to please men, but solely pleasing God. We do not judge by the outward results, but focus on how God sees our ministry. When we stand before God's judgment seat and God says, "Good and faithful servant", that is worth everything that we are seeking! May God help us to be like Paul, to be able to recognize our identity and have the right motivation in serving God.

  

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I pray you will bless every brother and sister, so that they may know what they are sharing is the truth that brings about change to lives of individuals, to societies and nations. May we seek to please you and not men. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


 

 

 
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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Daily Devotion

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

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

 

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.

 

Here Paul referred to the persecution he suffered in Philippi. There was a girl who was demon-possessed and her masters made a fortune from her using witchcraft. Later on Paul drove the demon out of her and her masters discovered that hope of making money was gone. Hence they brought Paul and Silas to the authorities to have them flogged, thrown into prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Even in gospel in spite of strong opposition, Paul was preaching the gospel. The secret to this breakthrough was they were praying and singing hymns to God in the prison cell.

 

Acts Chapter 16 specifically refers to this incident. At midnight, the Holy Spirit promoted Paul and Silas to start praising God out loud. The sound of praise must be beautiful, otherwise the other prisoners would not have been listening. When they were praising God, a miracle happened. There was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose. The Bible says Heaven is God's throne and earth is His footstool. Because God was delighted by the beautiful singing from Paul and Silas, He started tapping His feet and created a violent earthquake. However, the real miracle is not in this.

 

If you were a prisoner in this prison, when your chains came loose and the prison gates flew open that night, your first reaction would be to run and escape! As such, the jailer was devastated and thought everyone would have escaped. He was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" No one prisoner had run away. I believe this is because when Paul and Silas were praising God, God's presence filled the entire prison and everyone could sense His presence. The hearts of the prisoners were filled with awe and were touched by the Spirit of God, so they did not want to run away. They were surrendering to the authority of God and believing that Jesus is Lord. The jailer's first response to this was, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." The jailer and his household were saved that night. I believe that this incident shook the entire region of Philippiand brought many people to believe in Jesus, and hence built up the church of Philippi.

 

In the midst of trials, God brought about breakthrough because Paul and Silias were singing praises to God. Brothers and sisters, we really need to learn this lesson of praise because when we praise God in the midst of difficult times, God can bring about breakthrough in our environment and we can bear much fruit for the Lord. May the Lord help us to learn the lesson of praise and worship today.

  

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because nothing is impossible for you. You are the God who can rescue us in the midst of the battle. May God open our mouths and hearts to learn to praise and worship you each day, knowing that you will open up a path for us so that our lives will bear much fruit. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

 
 

 

 
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Daily Devotion

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

1 Thessalonians 1:10

 

...And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

 

God called us not just for us to be saved so that we can go to Heaven, but also for us to serve Him. When God brought the Israelites out of Eygpt, He sent Moses to the Pharaoh to say "Let my people go" so that they can serve God. God's heart is for us to serve the true and living God.

 

How can we serve? We need to spend time to draw close to Him. What things do you typically spent your time on? Who do you spend your time with? No wonder these people have such an influence in your life. If you spend time with God, God's glory will naturally overflow out of your life. When we draw near to God, God will draw near to us. Secondly, we need to serve God with our money. We need to give generously to the kingdom of God. God teaches us to tithe and to give 10% of what we earn. Have you experienced the benefits of tithing? Sometimes we find it difficult to give because we feel that the 10% is exactly what we are lacking. The truth is tithing is not only God's command, but a lesson of faith. God says if we seek His kingdom first and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto us. When you give into God's kingdom, you will experience God's faithfulness and have no lack.

 

Not only so, but we have a glorious hope, which is the Lord is coming for us. The Bible tells us that we are travelers on earth. If you are a traveler, you are merely staying here temporarily. You will not care too much about what you gain or lose on earth. No one who is going for a retreat will move all his furniture to the retreat center because you know that you are only there for a few days. In the same way, when you understand that your time on earth is temporary and for a time being only, you will not care too much about the gains or losses on earth.

 

Pray that God will help us not to be caught up in the material things of this earth, but to focus on doing good works. We need to live out the Word of God and be like Jesus. No matter what we do, we need to do it unto the Lord and not for men. When our attitude towards life is changed, it is a great testimony to God's glory.

  

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I pray you will help us adjust our attitude to understand that we are merely temporal visitors in this land, and we are here mainly to serve the true and living God. May you help us to get out of the trap of this world so we can live for you each day. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 

 

 

 
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