Acts of a Disciple

“[2] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. [3] And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. [4] Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. [5] Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. [6] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:2-6)

Align our hearts to the will of God through prayers. I think when we pray and read the Bible, our hearts are soften and allow us to receive the Word better, with greater gratitude.

Am I still aware of the sins which I commit? How apparent are my sins and what kind of impression am I giving to the non believers whom I am reaching out to?

As I read on in this scripture, I read that Paul reminded the disciples to be WISE in the way they act toward outsiders.

Then did I make every opportunity to talk to people and introduce God into their lives? How much do I reflect God's love in my life? Do I read the Bible deep enough to be able to explain why I do the things I do?

As I reflected on these verses, I am reminded that I need to be consistent in my walk with God and be deep in my understanding of the Bible. I am no longer a person who lives for myself, but a person who should reflect God's love and glory, bringing others to God so that they too may have a relationship with Him.

Let us decide to change and become a disciple who takes one step a day to be closer to God. Let our prayers and quiet time with God be deep, so that we can be in His love.

Amen.

Doing For God

“[23] Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, [24] since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. [25] Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” (Colossians 3:23-25)

At times I find it so much easier to do things for my own glory and benefit. But the the Bible says we should do it for God instead. Well, God gave us life, breath and everything we need to live. Without all those, we would not have lived at all. Sometimes when I put myself as the focus instead of God, I tend to get lazy and don't put in as much effort.

I think one of such examples will be doing quiet time, evangelism. Failing to recognize that God is my master caused me to slack in these commitments. The Bible says that the lord will reward us by giving us an inheritance if we work for Him and He will repay us for our wrong, showing no favoritism.

With that, I hope we can think of how we can give our best to God and give Him the glory instead of being self seeking.

Amen...

Giving Thanks to God in All Things

“[15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. [16] Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. [17] And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

Many people in the world are seeking to have a peaceful heart. So often, I also look for a peaceful and quiet heart in the busyness of my everyday life. I think when I forgot to be thankful to God, all the worldly desires will overtake my heart and make it focus on the worldly things. The Bible tells me that peace come from the surrenderedness of my heart to Christ. A surrendered heart is thankful because it knows that it is nothing without Christ. And knowing this helps me to be at peace because all other things are but temporary.

God created all things in the world and made it for all of us. It is just right for us to give thanks to Him everyday and fill our hearts with gratitude towards Him.

As it is, the verse that convicts me today is simply doing all things in the name of our Lord Jesus and giving thanks to God for everything.

Amen.

Put on Love

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Disciples are made up of sinners whose sins are forgiven by God, our Heavenly Father. We are not and never will be perfect until the day we make it to heaven. Sometimes there will be people who cross me the wrong way and trigger my anger. When that happens, it is really our choice to make whether we want to respond it in a godly manner our not.

God want us to bear with one another and forgive if we bear grievances against another party. I think out should be that way because their transgressions against us will never be as bad as our transgression against the Lord our God. The Lord has forgiven us of our sins through Jesus, so we should also forgive as our Lord has forgiven.

Ultimately, God wants us to love one another because our love is what that will draw others to Him.

Amen...

Putting Old Self to Death

“[5] Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. [7] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. [8] But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. [9] Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. [11] Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:5-11)

The Bible tells us to put to death our earthly nature which was with us for the longest times. Sin has a strong grip on me because I have been in the world for longer than I have been in the Kingdom. At times, it is easier for me to go into my sinful nature than it is for me to behave and think spiritually.

The Bible provided practicals which could help us become better disciples; to get rid of anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from my lips. Seemed easy until I really need to put them into practice. I understand that these are all difficult tasks, but it is possible if I go back to God frequently to find that motivation to be a better disciple for Him.

Thank God for the salvation! I can be very ungrateful at times, taking the salvation for granted. But I am praying hard that God will soften my heart everyday and help me put my old self to death, becoming more godly and Christlike by and by.

Amen.

Living A Life That Focuses Upwards

“[1] Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

The quiet time today reminds me of the fundament of being a disciple. That is to focus on God's Kingdom.

I think I could be quite worried about how life will turn out to be in future and what I could do to secure my future financially.

A conversation with a close brother in Christ convicted me that it is not about how much money I have ultimately that determines whether I am successful or not (Although to many people, it should be one of the deciding factor), but how close am I in the relationship with God.

Granted, everyone wants a better life in this world and wouldn't mind having a little extras financially. But let it not affect our walk with God and our commitment to His Kingdom.

I am constantly reminded that life here is but temporary. Therefore, let us focus on what's above, that we may lead a life that God has called us to live.

Amen.

Don't Follow Human Rules

“[16] Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. [17] These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [18] Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. [19] They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. [20] Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: [21] “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? [22] These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. [23] Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Colossians 2:16-23)

Isn't it awesome that we don't have so much rules and traditions to follow as it did in the past? I think sometimes we became too focused on the rules or way things are done, that we missed the bigger picture in totality. What I am thinking about here when reading this scripture is about us doing our prayers, quiet time, evangelism and other stuffs blindly, without considering the purpose of these meaningful activities.

The Bible says do not let anyone judge us by what we do, eat or drink. We are only able to stand firm before any accusation when we know what we are doing. Therefore we need to search our hearts about the things we are so used to doing. The reasons behind our works as a disciple ought to be love driven; driven by God's love and love for God.

I think of the many times when I just follow the motion of going out to evangelize without first considering the noble purpose behind it. Am I able to do it with an open heart? Am I proud to do God's work? No. In fact, I did a lousy job when my heart is not right with God.

The Bible reminds me to be careful not to become a religious zombie who lack love and purpose in the things I do.

I think that is why God came to abolish all these rituals and rules of the past, that we may focus on His love rather than lose ourselves in figuring out the perfect rituals...

Amen...

God Who Loved Us Lots

“[8] See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. [9] For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. [11] In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. [13] When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, [14] having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:8-15)


It is easy for us to be led on the wrong path if we do not anchor our faith on the teachings in the Bible. Paul wanted the church in Colossia to be careful of those stray teachings by “philosophers” or “religious people” about alternative philosophies which preaches everything apart from the Gospel.

I for one can sometimes be attracted to teachings or arguments about “aliens”, other “gods” and the like. In a way, it is an interesting topic to talk about but I need to constantly remind myself that I need to anchor my faith on Christ.

The scripture further talks about the nature of being “reborn” in Christ. One of the thing that struck me is that not only were we given a new life in Christ, we were also pardoned of all our sins and charges against us. I am really grateful that God is willing to stoop so low just to show me His love.

Having understood all these, I realized that I need to love God for He loved me first and continue to learn more about Him through the scriptures.

Amen...