Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 5:8-10

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

2 Corinthians 5:6-7

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.

Paul said we walk by faith, and not by sight. Because seeing is temporary, and is sometimes deceiving, causing us to be disheartened. When we walk by sight, we only see the restrictions of the environment and our own helplessness. We lose hope and expectations, and no longer expect God's help. Many Christians today think that living by faith means believing that God exists, but they do not really trust that God would bless those who seek Him. This type of faith cannot bring about strength and help. God's Word tells us that when we come before God, we need to believe that God exist and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Does your heart seek after God? I am not referring to a superficial type of seeking, but a wholehearted seeking and longing for God. Do you trust that He is guiding your path today and that He is in control of everything that is going on, and He can even change the hearts of rulers and authorities? A sister once shared this testimony. When she received God's call to go to seminary, she wanted to sell all her furniture so that she could move down to Los Angeles. However, after advertising the sale for a long time, she could not find anyone interested. She kept praying for this matter, believing that since God had called her to seminary, God would take care of this matter. One day when she returned home, she discovered that the burglars have broken in and stole all her furniture. She was filled with complaints, not realizing that her insurance will cover the entire cost for the stolen furniture. Although she failed to sell the furniture, the insurance company paid for all of them. Isn't our God amazing?

Let us never lose the anticipation that God will do great things in our lives, and keep believing that He has sent the legion of angels to help us and protect us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us so that you can keep your eyes fixed upon Him. There are two types of Christians: One is the grasshopper type who live among the grass and all they see is dirt everywhere, and the other type is like the eagles, who fly high to the throne of God by faith and see the riches of God upon the land. Which type of Christian are you?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I pray you will elevate the spirit of every brother and sister. In the name of Jesus, I cast out the spirit that have kept their hearts in bondage for a long time and release them to believe that you reward those who seek you. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 5:6-7

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

2 Corinthians 5:6-7

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.

Pray with Pastor Tong

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

Monday, November 23, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 5:5

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

2 Corinthians 5:5

Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Paul said here that "God who has made us for this very purpose." God works in our life like a farmer working in the field; farmer patiently waits for the harvest in the field become ripe, similarly God also waits for you and I to grow. Many have the experience of planting vegetables; when you see little vegetables growing up bit by bit, like they're never going to ready for harvest, you are tempted to pull them taller; however, if you actually pull them, they'll wither and die!

Growth takes time, and God often patiently waits for us to grow. We might become impatient and complain to God: "God, why do you leave me fighting here all alone, but don't do anything? Where are you?" Actually, God never leaves us, but rather He's persevering beside us, waiting for our spiritual life to grow. Therefore, we ask that God open our hears and let us know that even though we think He's doing nothing, He actually still cares for us and He's supporting us. He works on you and I must like parents work on their children; God patiently waits for us to grow up much like how parents patiently wait for children to grow up, and He wants us to grow up to be children who honor and please Him.

We are often really worried about the teenagers in our house, but aren't we like teenagers in the eyes of God? We are spiritually rebellious, we want to be independent and rely on ourselves, and he might give God lots of headaches. We, however, thank God because He perseveres and waits for us to grow. He's not persevering passively though, because He has purpose for our lives. Paul said that God has made us for a specific purpose, and He will actively participate in shaping our lives. Paul also said that God has given us a "deposit" in our lives, which is the Holy Spirit that God has given us. It's like God has put a large seal in our lives to certify that we belong to the true God.

Paul 8:16 says that "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Whenever we have any doubt, Holy Spirit will remind us that the promises from God are true. We belong to God, and He will be cultivating our lives until we grow up.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you, because even though some of us are sowing and others are watering, you are the God who helps us to grow. May your Spirit help us to understand what you are doing in our lives, and we thank you for your patience and the way you shape us with your grace. May the Lord give us an obedient heart and help us to enjoy rest in your working hands. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 5:2-4

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

2 Corinthians 5:2-4

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Paul brought up his outlook on life, which I would characterize as living in tents. He might have been felt how life is temporary and short through his profession of tent-making. Life on earth is not the ultimate destiny for our lives, and we are only living here as guests and visitor.

Who's a guest? When you are away from home for business, everywhere you go and stay is pretty much the same once you draw the curtain, and as soon as you are done with your business you'd be heading home. To Christians, even though we are just guests on earth, we do have the mission to proclaim God's beauty. Once we complete the work that God entrusted us, we can return to our heavenly home and be with Him forever.

Who's a visitor? If we visit a rundown campsite for a retreat, even though we don't like it, we're only going to be there for a few days, so we'll just try to tolerate it. No one will buy a big screen TV or great stereo system for the campsite because of few days in a retreat. Similarly, Christians are only visitors on earth, and we don't need to make too much to enjoy life on earth. Hebrews 11:8-10 says "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."

Paul used many analogies to compare and contrast life on heaven and earth. First, it's the contrast between tent on earth and everlasting house in heaven; then it's the contrast between being naked and clothed. Both analogies point out the fact that the beauty and abundance of being with the Lord is far better than what the world can offer. Therefore, we shouldn't just passively live on earth, but we should eagerly wait for the Lord's coming with a proactive attitude. Do you have the hope that you and I will with be the Lord forever? Let us understand that we must live on earth by faith, not by sight.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, please open our eyes so that we may see once again that we're merely visitors on earth. May the Lord help us not to waste life by just living for our desires, but to race for the house in heaven. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 5:1

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

2 Corinthians 5:1

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."

So what was it that "now we know" according to Paul? It was the fact that our days on earth are short. He described our life on earth as "the earthly" tent," and he said that this tent will be destroyed. We, however, also know that after this tent is destroyed, our life does not end, but God will lead us to "an eternal house in heaven". It is a more beautiful home where God will be eternally present.

The contrast between a tent and an eternal house is a rather interesting one. Many people like to go camping because it's fun to occasionally stay in a tent, but we're going to think twice if we were asked to stay in a tent forever. On the contrary, the eternal house is a far more beautiful place where God will be with us forever. Therefore, to us death is not an end, but rather it's resting from all the hardship on earth, and having life enter into the arms of God to enjoy His presence. Paul said it's a place that is "better by far," which is hard for us to imagine. Many years ago I went to a conference in Atlanta, and several people came from Taiwan to attend. Prior to the meeting there was an accident involving an SUV, and four people died right on the spot, including some that I knew. Our hearts were heavy and we kept on asking God why it happened. One day, God suddenly asked me, "do you think it's better to be on earth than in heaven?" We were asking God why they left us because we're assuming that they were going to a place worse than ours! I understood the truth and felt released, then I repented before God that subconsciously I did feel that it's better to be on earth than to be in heaven, because I forgot that eternal house in heaven is far better than our tent on earth!

Similarly, the days we'll be spending with the Lord is far better than our days spent on earth with the constraint of our body. Paul that "now we know," but how exactly do we know and how can we be sure about this? We must believe that it will happen because that what God's word says. Hallelujah! May God give us real assurance and confirmation, so that we will clear know where we will be after we leave the world.

Pray with Pastor

Lord, please forgive us for often thinking that the earth is better than the heaven, and we mourn about death much like non-believers. In the name of the Lord I rebuke the spirit of deception and from the bottom of my heart I am eagerly waiting for your return. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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