"For fear that I might be disqualified." 1cor9:26
Often, when we encounter challenges in our lives so that we are overcome by great anxiety, or fear, and we are facing an uncertain future, one of the most common encouragements we hear from others — or maybe we tell ourselves even — is that we should not be afraid, but instead we should just trust God. Right? Sige lang. Trust God.
[Read more…] about HOW MUCH FAITH DO YOU NEED?
There is nothing new about living a new normal. An earlier article I wrote showed instances during Old Testament times when the Israelites were forced into living under new conditions not of their choosing. We continue this series, and look at what new normal situations the early Christians faced and how God spoke to them about it.
[Read more…] about NEW NORMAL IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES
Ever since the entire world realized that this covid pandemic will not go away easily, people everywhere have adapted new norms and ways of living and working, in order to avoid cross-contamination and to deal with life-under-lockdown and mandated restrictions. Not only does everyone have to deal with the sudden changes in life- and work-style, so many have to deal with real and painful losses. This is what living in the new normal means. But this new normal situation that we face today is actually not the first time it has happened in human history.
[Read more…] about NEW NORMAL IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMESElsewhere I wrote an article entitled, “You Will Have Problems“, quoting what Jesus said in John 16:33 “In this world you will have troubles.” What was His point? Where is the good news in that? I invited my readers to go through a discerned inspiration and assemble the sentences found in 9 verses that I picked form the gospel of John, to come up with a coherent explanation for this verse.
Of course there is no “correct” answer. But let me share with you my personal re-composition of the nine verses mentioned in that article with an explanation of why I sequenced it this way.
In this world you will have trouble. Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. But take heart! Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.You believe in God; believe also in me. I am the way and the truth and the life. I came from the Father and entered the world; I have overcome the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
So there. The obvious and the not so obvious combined to reveal the good news.
For me I choose to highlight the reference of Jesus to the troubles in THIS world, versus THE PLACE that he has prepared for His followers. We are all doomed to a life that will not be without troubles … in THIS world. But for those who believe in Jesus, the good news is that Jesus has prepared a place for his followers … a place that is NOT IN THIS WORLD. It’s a place where there is no death nor mourning nor crying nor pain (Rev 21:4). “In my Father’s house”, Jesus says.
In the meantime that we are in this world, and while we await the return of Jesus, what shall we do, and how should we deal with our troubles? How do we live in this troubled world with peace, and with the joy that Jesus gives? I shall deal with that in a separate article, but for now leave with you the following encouragement:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 8:38-39 (NIV)
Jesus says, “In this world, you will have trouble” (john 16:33). No wonder. Yet again, Jesus shows us the way to navigate life in this troubled world without anxiety and fear, saying: “Do not be afraid. Believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:`1). The thing is, the pathway from belief to trust requires deep, personal knowledge of Him whom we would trust. Indeed, how can we ever trust someone whom we do not know?
[Read more…] about SEEK TO KNOW THE LORD