Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:8-9

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

2 Corinthians 6:8-9

...through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed.

As God's co-workers, we often receive two types of reports: one is the good and glorious report and the other is the bad or dishonorable report. However, you and I who serve God, do not need to listen to men's reports, but the report from God, because reports from men are temporary and come from the people is a temporary and subject to frequent changes.

In the book of Acts, when the people saw the miracles performed by Paul, such as healing the crippled, they were ecstatic and wanted to worship Paul. They presented him with a garland and said that he was the Greek God, Zeus. However, when some Jews who later came from Antioch mentioned that Paul was preaching the gospel, the crowd started to throw stones at Paul. From presenting him with a garland to throwing stones at him, how unpredictable are the praises of men! Praise God, after Paul was stoned, he did not lose heart, but went back to the city and continued preaching the gospel. This is because the report he was listening to did not come from men, but from God. He knew that the devil, Satan, was choosing to attack him in areas where God wanted to use Paul to claim! Hence, no matter glory or dishonor, bad report and good report, Paul did not take them to heart. Paul knew that he had a clear conscience before God and men. He obeyed God's leading and committed the final result to God. That was the only thing he cared about.

Later Paul added, "Known, yet regarded as unknown." Oftentimes, from a man's perspective, God's co-workers get the least attention from the world. The television, newspapers and other media do not give them much coverage. The media do not think that spiritual things are newsworthy. However, the work that you and I are doing, are sowing good seeds into the hearts of men and can bear the fruit of love in people's lives. This work will endure forever. Gossips come and go in the news, but only the change to the hearts of people can endure forever. Your work done, however, planted in the mind of the good kinds, bear the fruit of love in people's lives, and last till eternity. The gossip in the news may come and go, but the changes brought about in people's hearts will endure forever.

Brothers and sisters, will the work you are doing last forever or is it temporal? The truth is that you do not need to be a pastor to do work that will endure forever. As long as you serve the Lord faithfully in your work and preach the gospel, God will use you to accomplish His work. Are you willing to start doing that today?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, help our hearts to only focus on the report from you and focus on what will last till eternity. Help us not to focus on temporal things, but help us to be pleasing in your sight and worthy to be used by you. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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

Friday, December 4, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:4-7

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

2 Corinthians 6:4-7

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left...

Paul mentioned here that we do not become co-workers of God overnight. Rather, we have to go through all kinds of trials or tests. We often only see the great success of godly people, but rarely see the tears and failures that were behind their success. Paul was no exception. If you see the trials and persecution he has endured in his life, you will understand why God used him so mightily. Of course, going through much suffering does not necessarily imply that a person can be used by God. However, we see that for those whom God had used, they must have gone through much suffering.

Some suffering comes from the environment, as verse 4 says, "in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots". These difficulties do not prevent God's servants from following Him because we can call upon this true God. When we experienced the distress that Christ did on the cross, we need to have the same hope as He did, and never give up. In addition, some suffering comes from our mind, such as the desires of our heart, depression and fear. We need to let God deal with all these. As Paul said in verse 5, we need to build our inner man by "hard work, sleepless nights and hunger, in purity, understanding, patience and kindness". On multiple occasions, Paul said "no" to his flesh, but "yes" to God. We are so desperate for such training. We often neglect the process of transformation as this society emphasizes on quick results. God is more concerned about the process.

In the process of training, God will give you and I sufficient strength. As such verse 6 to 7 describes several weapons. First is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit often moves within us to bring about transformation and revealing God's will to us. Second one is the sincere love which does not seek its own benefits and transforms our hearts. Third, there is truthful speech which is the Word of God that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Fourthly there is the power of God which will bring everything to fruition, far above what we can ask or imagine. Last, there are the weapons of righteousness which is like shield of faith, protecting us from the attacks of the enemy. God has poured out all kinds of gifts onto us. Let us rejoice and receive these gifts gladly and run towards God!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you for being our shepherd and for guiding us in our daily lives. I pray you will grant us a sensitive heart, so that in everything we do we will test to see if it is according to your will, so that we may live to glorify your name. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:3

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

2 Corinthians 6:3

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

As God's fellow workers, we need to be God's witness in everything. "Everything" does not only refer to church ministry, but also every big and small thing in our family life and work life. We need to be careful with our words and deeds, so that we do not bring shame to the name of God. Paul mentioned here that this is not so that we will be subject to slander, but that our ministry will be discredited. As God's fellow workers, we need to be cautious about this. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:23, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive." People often like a list of what is right or wrong, but this is the way of the Pharisees. At that time , there were lots of teaching and rules that were outside of the Bible. On the surface, it seems to be helping people not to offend God, but in reality, it causes people's hearts to turn away from God. The Bible teaches three principles with respect to how we live.

First is the principle of freedom. In the Lord, we shall be free from the bondage of legalism. The Lord has already taken away the curse of the law. Hence Paul said, "Everything is permissible." The basic assumption is that when we are living according to the will of God, we have freedom.

Second is the principle of loving others. Everything is permissible, but for the sale of weaker brothers and sisters and for the sake of the Lord, we may choose not to do certain things so that we do not become a stumbling block. Once, an older lady came from Taiwan to visit her children. When I went to visit her, I brought some old Chinese concert video tapes for her to watch. Unexpectedly, she was shocked that a pastor would watch such tapes. That day, the Holy Spirit rebuked me and since then I stopped watching these secular music videos.

Third is the principle of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is moving in our hearts. We do not live the Christian life according to the opinions of others, but according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit does not rebuke us, we can go ahead and do it, but if the Holy Spirit rebukes us, we need to obey. Brothers and sisters, do your words and deeds glorify the Lord? May the Lord help us to live according to His will!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you for being our shepherd, and for guiding us in our daily lives. I pray you will grant us a sensitive heart, so that in everything we do, we will test to see if it is according to your will, and live to glorify your name. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:2-3

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

2 Corinthians 6:2-3

For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

This passage can be explained as two separate sections. First, the Lord said: "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." This refers to the past. Our God is almighty and is happy to listen to our prayers. Recall before we were saved, God answered when we called on Him. When you and I sought salvation, God rescued us. The Bible says His eyes are fixed on us and His arms are not too short to save, for this we should give thanks and praise!

When I first came to the United States, I studied in Philadelphia and lived quite far away from school. During the winter when I had to walk for half an hour, the journey was especially lonely. During those times, I would feel lost about the future, and would ask God, "Where are you Lord?" God brought a song into my mind which goes like this: Although I am small compared to the heaven and earth, I am not alone, because I have a hand of mercy guiding me. Indeed, God listened to my cry. His hand of grace had guided me through many years for which I give thanks for. God indeed is our Savior.

Secondly, Paul said, "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." This means that now is the time when God's favor is upon us and today is the day of salvation. We need to declare this good news to the people in this world. There may be some people who are standing at the door of salvation and there are people who are seeking strength and help. Christians need to explain God's will to these people so that people will understand that they need to rely on this true and living God in order to receive God's promise. The door of salvation is open for all men. Today is the day of salvation and God's arms are wide open. Yet God has entrusted this mission to you. Hence Paul said in verse one, "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain." Brothers and sisters, are you willing to spread the blessings that you have already received from the Lord?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, thank you, because in the time of your favor you heard me, and in the day of salvation you helped me. May you help me, not to receive your grace in vain, but to rise up and work with you to be your channel of blessing. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:1

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

2 Corinthians 6:1

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

Browse through the scriptures and church history carefully, and you will find that this almighty and self-sufficient God has surprisingly chosen to work with weak people like us to accomplish his eternal plan. Not because He could not do it by Himself, but because He chose to use you and I to co-labor with Him. During the Old Testament time, God paved a way for Jesus Christ to come in the flesh. Although the Israelites have rebelled against God many times, God was patient in guiding them until Jesus Christ was born at the appointed time. Jesus prepared for his ministry, suffering and finally declared on the cross, "It is finished!"

Indeed, God's plan of salvation was accomplished. The power of Satan was destroyed, and now God's kingdom could expand. All angels rejoiced, rolled up their sleeves and was ready to fight the battle for God. Yet, after Jesus died and resurrected, God chose to use his eleven weak disciples. The Bible refers to one of the disciples who denied the Lord three times, one who refused to believe that Jesus has resurrected and many others who ran away while Jesus was suffering. However, Jesus chose to give the mission of expanding the kingdom of God to these people, and asked them to go make disciples of all nations.

Brothers and sisters, although we are very weak and may fail easily, we have been appointed as God's co-workers, to manifest His power, so that others may see his miraculous wonders. God saved us, not so that we may sit around and wait to go to heaven, but for us to co-labor with him. Today, Satan the devil uses all means and methods to prevent believers to co-labor with God. Some people may want to go into full time ministry, but they worry about supporting their families and making a living, hence they put their plans on hold. Some people want to preach the gospel, but hesitate because they are worried about what others will think. We need to come before God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, to open our spiritual eyes, so that we may see God's will and experience God's sorrow. Are you willing to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and use your life to do God's work?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Abba Father, I thank you for choosing me to be your child and also to be your co-worker. I pray you will give us perseverance to participate in your work and to pray for your kingdom. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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