Reformation

"Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!" Nehemiah 13:22

The word "Reformation" is one of the keywords that we hear often in our Adventist church these days. It's very important for us to stay faithful to God and if we seem to be straying away, then we need to learn to "reform" back to God. 

That is what we see in the last chapter of the book of Nehemiah (It'd be awesome if you'd take the time to read the chapter!), reformation. As the people of God were settling down when they returned home, Nehemiah felt the need of reformation and he executed. The chapter talks about the difficulties of executing the reformation but he did it. And each time a change is made, Nehemiah asks God to remember him for what He has done.

This is very powerful to me. God knows us what we do. He cares for us and He wants us to change and be more like Him. As we do so, He will "remember" us! 

Tentmakers

"For by occupation they were tentmakers." Acts 18:3

One of the many books in the Bible that I enjoy is the book of Acts. This book is fascinating. I get excited when I read how the gospel was spread and how the Holy Spirit was working with them and sometimes of how much these apostles went through sufferings and all that. But what excites me the most is just how more people were being changed by hearing the word of God.

Paul was a great leader, author, theologian, etc. But you know what? He was a tentmaker! That simple line tells me something. We all can be like Paul. It's not just pastors that should do all the preaching, praying, evangelizing. But it's all believers of Christ that should be doing this! Jesus tells us through the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 that we should change the world! We should change the world by telling of the good gospel of Jesus! Paul was just a tentmaker yet he changed the world. You can do it, too.

God tells us in the same chapter in verse 9, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent. For I am with you!"

Let’s think of something we can do for Jesus and for the community this week. It doesn’t have to be big. It can be small. But God will surely use you to make a change.

1 John 4:8

"... for God is love." 1 John 4:8

Of the many characteristics of God, the word “love” describes Him the best. There are many ways that God reveals Himself (and His love) to us. One way is called General Revelation. This is where He reveals Himself generally through the things around us. One great example is the nature. Nature reveals the love of God.

Another way is called Special Revelation. In Special Revelation, God reveals Himself through special ways such as visions and messages through prophets. Bible itself is a special revelation. And another great way was through Jesus Christ His Son. By sending Jesus down to this earth and having Him die for us on the cross for our sins, it shows us God's character of love. (You can read about this from ‘Steps to Christ’ chapter 1.)

The love of God is abundant around us yet at many times we forget to see it due to the busy-ness of our lives. Take a careful look around you. Look at the sky, the trees, the flowers, feel the air. Feel God's love. Read the Bible and learn of His love. Think about Jesus and pray to Him and be connected to His love. It's not that hard, just take one more step further. It's that simple.

Matthew 26:41

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41

We see numerous times where Jesus is praying in the Gospels and this text is one of them. Jesus is now moments away from His ultimate sacrifice on the cross for us. Jesus decides to go pray at a place called Gethsemane. He asks three of the disciples, Peter, James, and John to come with Him to pray as well.

It is certainly not an easy moment for Jesus as He is facing the cross and He is in need of encouragement and help. Jesus prays earnestly. It's not an easy task for Jesus to bear upon the cross for the entire world yet He finalizes His commitment for us.

But what were the disciples doing when Jesus needed their prayers the most? They fell asleep... not once, but twice. Jesus tells them the verse written above. “That we continue to watch and pray.” Friends it's not always easy to stay awake and pray. But it brings up the spiritual awareness in our lives today. Are we sleeping when Jesus is asking us to pray? Are we sleeping when we should be aware that Jesus’ second coming is right around the corner? If so, let us “watch and pray.” We need to pray, pray, pray. Let's remember what Jesus has done for each of us. He has given Himself to us! Let us not fall into our spiritual sleep and drift away from Jesus. Let us remember to stay awake and be faithful to Jesus!

King Solomon

I was reading through the story of King Solomon when he first became king. You can find the story in 1Kings chapter 3. Maybe some of you are familiar with the story. So the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and He asks, "What can I do for you, Solomon?" And we know that Solomon had asked not for wealth, fame, nor long life, but for 'wisdom.' Well, that's what I thought all this time: that he asked for ‘wisdom.’ But this is what Solomon really asks for. "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:9. Yes, you can read this text as asking for wisdom, but this phrase caught my eyes: ‘discernment between good and evil.’ It appeared to me that Solomon had hit the core of the central message of the Bible, the great controversy between good and evil. We need to learn to discern what good is, and what evil is. We need to understand what being godly and ungodly is. Above all, we need to know God, our Father and Creator, closely. I know that King Solomon was asking for wisdom to be a good ruler of a kingdom. But I believe that deep inside, the king also wanted to know God better and get to know Him more.

I believe we need this today in our lives as well: the discernment between good and evil. As Christians, we need to seek what is godly and practice to live that way, and learn to cut off your self from the ungodly ways of life.

Then God answers Solomon that he will receive what he asked for. But God does not stop there, but says: "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." 1 Kings 3:13,14.

It is interesting to see what God told Solomon. He told Solomon to keep God's commandments. It's very simple. The Bible says that God is love. And it also tells us that the love of God is embedded in His commandments. In other words, the commandments of God reveal the character of God, which is love. And as we keep the commandments of God, He will give us the wisdom for us to be prosperous, but also the wisdom to discern between good and evil, AND for us to get to know God better and get closer to Him!