Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 7:1-4

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

2 Corinthians 7:1-4

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

What is the promise that we have received? The promise is that we can become God's people and children, and also work together with Him. All of God's abundance in Christ is there at our disposal. Therefore, we must remove all the hindrance in our lives, and dash forward to receive the prize. The hindrance can be something physical, like our habits in life or temptation of lust; it can also be something in our soul, such as our thoughts or feelings. We can ask the Lord to cleanse these hindrances with His precious blood. The Lord's blood can not only cleanse our soul and wash away our sin, it can also cleanse the filthiness in our soul and renew our mind, so that we may please God.

The Corinthian church was unfriendly towards Paul in the beginning, and they even questioned his status as an apostle. They also didn't respect his teaching and they said that "he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." I believe that Paul must have been hurt to a certain extent, but he didn't let the wound rule his life, but instead he invited Jesus to rule the wounds in his life. The precious blood of Jesus washed Paul's thoughts, mind and feelings clean, and that's why he could reciprocate the Corinthian church with love. Paul said, in verse two of this passage, that "we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one." Paul could have rebuked them or defended himself with righteous and harsh words, but instead, in verse three he said "I do not say this to condemn you ", and also that "we would live or die with you ". This is such wonderful love! Only those who have been healed by God can unconditionally accept others.

In your life, have you been hurt by others? You may want to defend yourself or blame others and God, but the real problem is that you didn't bring your feelings before God, and let the Lord's precious blood remove all the filthy and vengeful thoughts from your heart and place the spirit of righteousness inside you. Are you willing to bring your feelings before God right now?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you because you are happy to heal us. May your precious blood cleanse our mind, thoughts, feelings and desires. Let us be filled with your love again and accept all those who have hurt us. May your healing love flow into our hearts. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:16-18

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

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

"We are the temple of the living God." To the Israelites of Old Testament time, this was an incredible claim, as sinners are not supposed to be able to stand before Holy God. Therefore, they had tremendous respect for the temple, because only the priests that God has chosen can come before God on behalf of the people. In the New Testament time, however, Jesus became our eternal high priest who represents you and I, and because He sacrificed Himself for us and become our eternal redemption. Paul explained here that, because of salvation, there are two new types of relationships between God and us:

First, relationship between the King and his people. Because of the salvation by Jesus, we are able to enter God's Kingdom. Kingdom of God doesn't allow double-nationality in the spiritual sense. Today, many Christians would not renounce their nationality in the authority of the world, thus there are many conflicts in their lives. In the Kingdom of God, we can only honor one king, and we cannot step on two boats at the same time.

Second, relationship between father and children. This is a more intimate relationship. God is like a father who will guide us all our life. Fatherhood represents three things. First, God provides us for all our needs. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us to ask God to "give us our daily bread." God is the Lord who is more than happy to provide us with all our needs, so we need to come seek Him and depend on Him. Second, it represents disciplining, because God will discipline those whom He loves. Sometimes God allows us to run into difficult circumstance in order to discipline our personality and life so that we can be more like Jesus. Therefore, don't turn down the hands of God easily, but allow Him to work in our life. Finally, it represents protections. God often uses His almighty arm to support us, just like what Psalm 121:2 says: "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." We thank the Lord, not only because He is our Almighty God, He's also a loving father, and the one we can always depend on!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I once again bring all brothers and sisters to you, and I ask that you lead them with your skillful hands and provide for their needs. When they go astray, I ask that you correct their path; when they encounter any danger, I ask that you become their protection. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

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

2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

This passage doesn't mean to say that we cannot be friends with unbelievers. In fact, Jesus never told us to leave the world to live our holy lives, but for you and I to be in the world to live out God's glory. This is also the example set by our Lord Jesus. Jesus came in the flesh so He could identify with our weakness and overcome the power of sin, to open up a victorious path for us.

In the same way, in the Old Testament, God called Abraham out into the Promised Land. If we understand the background, we will know that in fact the land of Canaan is not heaven on earth, but a place that is full of evil. But God called Abraham to enter the land, to live a different life. Hence, Paul was teaching believers to live on earth with a sense of mission. You and I are not living in the world just to make a living, to go through the motion. God rescued us not only for us to spend eternity with Him, but to live a different kind of life on earth because of Him. We are to be the light in the world and be His witness on earth.

Hence Paul said: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common." In other words, do not take part in the sin of unbelief, do not put your feet in two boats. Jesus also said no man can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money. We cannot worship God and worship idols at the same time. We cannot call ourselves Christian if we lie, cheat and take advantage of others. This world is full of self-centered people who are concerned only about their own benefit while disregarding others. However, as Christians, we need to live a God-centered life on earth. Love should compel us to be a witness of Christ.

Do the people around you know that you are a Christian? What is their reaction to that? Paul said, "What fellowship can light have with darkness?" Since we are the children of light, we should not walk in darkness, but allow the light of Christ to shine through us, so that darkness will disappear amongst us. Brothers and sisters, are you willing to live a life that is different for Christ from today onwards?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you for you have redeemed us with your precious blood. We no longer belong to this world, for we now belong to you. Grant us strength and courage Lord, to live in this wicked and perverse generation. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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

Monday, December 7, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

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

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange - I speak as to my children - open wide your hearts also.

Humans are very narrow-minded, and we often cannot see a way out. We also often see other people with very narrow view, and in our relationship with God, we fall into this trap as well. James 4:5 reminds us, "Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us'?" Humans either love something passionately or hate something to the core, it is unpredictable. The truth is as James said, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Because of the pride within us, we refuse to admit that we have viewed God with a narrow view.

I remember when I was little, I often look at the stars in the sky and say, "Look! Little stars!". In fact those stars are huge planets, but when from our human point of view, we see them as something little. In the same way, if we view God in such a narrow view, we will not be able to experience all the grace He has in store for us. God says, "My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts." When we humbly surrender before God, we will be amazed at how rich and wide He is.

We often view other people with a very narrow view, particularly people who have hurt us in the past, which creates some distrust in the relationship. Hence, Paul said, "We have spoken freely to you and opened wide our hearts to you... open wide your hearts also." Paul's heart towards the church was wide open. He treated the church like parents would treat their children. Even when children are rebellious, parents will not count it against their own children.

Have you ever been hurt by narrow-minded comments in your life? Pray that God help you open your heart wide and for you to have a father's heart, so that we can overcome any criticisms and not become bitter and sin. Romans 12:14 mentioned, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." Although it is difficult, but when we think of the Lord's love for us as demonstrated on the cross, we know that all things are possible through Him. May the love of God overflow from our lives!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you for your heart towards us is wide open! I pray you will also open wide our hearts so that we will be generous towards others, particularly those who have persecuted us. May you be our ever-present help. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 6:9-10

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

2 Corinthians 6:9-10

Known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Paul went on to say that God's co-workers need to face the views of men as well as from God. In his ministry, Paul faced multiple threats of death, and from a human's perspective, he could die anytime. However, Paul did not care about his physical life, but his eternal life. As such, he says in Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." From God's perspective, Paul will always live in His presence.

Then Paul added, "dying, and yet we live on." Many believers in mainland China have been imprisoned for the sake of Christ. From a human perspective, these men are being punished, but no one can take away the eternal life they have in Christ. Thereafter, Paul said, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." As God's co-workers, although there may be sorrow, the sorrow is for brothers and sisters in Christ. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:28, "And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches." The sorrow is short-lived because God is our shepherd, and I have come to realize this truth deeply over the past years. I have struggled multiple times alongside with my brothers and sisters and Christ and sometimes I feel helpless when I look at their circumstances. However, I have also seen how God has opened a way for them in the wilderness, rivers in the desert and my heart rejoices with them.

Paul also said, "Poor, yet making many rich." Poverty does not necessarily refer to the wallet, but also refers to "spiritual poverty". There are people with all sorts of wealth in this world, but are spiritually poor. For people who are serving the Lord, God himself has become our satisfaction. Whenever we preach the gospel, we are also sharing Christ's riches with those who are spiritually poor.

Finally, "having nothing, and yet possessing everything." This is the most difficult thing to understand based on our flesh. In reality, God is indeed the God who always supplies all our needs. Just like our fathers on earth who strive to provide for their children's needs, how much more so will our Almighty God? God not only can, but He also will bless us gladly.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you because from a human perspective, we are nothing, but from your point of view, we are alive, happy and prosperous. Because of you, we lack nothing, and we can rely on you daily to allow our spirit to be renewed. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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