Wage or Gift

Romans 4:4-8 (Contemporary English Version)

4Money paid to workers isn't a gift. It is something they earn by working. 5But you cannot make God accept you because of something you do. God accepts sinners only because they have faith in him. 6In the Scriptures David talks about the blessings that come to people who are acceptable to God, even though they don't do anything to deserve these blessings. David says,

7"God blesses people
whose sins are forgiven
and whose evil deeds
are forgotten.

8The Lord blesses people
whose sins are erased
from his book."

Reflection of Bee:

If we are paid for what we did for a person, then he/she does not owe us anything. However, if we are not paid for it, then he/she owes us something. In the Chinese culture, it is not nice to owe anyone anything and the debtor will always tries his best to pay off his debt as soon as possible. This is quite scriptural as the the bible says,

"Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands." - Romans 13:8

Similarly, our faith in God is the only way for God to accept us, and no there is no other form of 'payment'. Therefore, the salvation we receive from God is a gift and not a wage. That means, we don't earn it... we can't work for it. We get it by faith.

" For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" - Ephesians 2:8

Dear Lord,
Thank You for the greatest gift in my life... Your love and salvation. Let me share them with those who cross my path.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Innocence

Mark 10:13-16

The Little Children and Jesus

13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Reflection of Bee:

One main reason I chose to study and work in the field of early childhood education was because I had been deprived of love in my childhood. As a child, and later as a teenager, I used to admire my peers who have got loving family. I told myself that I would like to do my best for young children and give them what they deserve... love and care. Thank God that my wish came true when I became a preschool teacher. Now I could train teachers and principals on how to nurture the little ones.

I had simple faith when I accepted Jesus into my heart at the age of 12. I thank God that He has kept my faith, kept me simple when it comes to the things of God, though I am a very complicated person in other areas of life. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16, "be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves". This is how we should behave, to be an adult in doing what's good but to be a child when it comes to doing what's bad... i.e. wise and innocent. Sadly, the reverse is true most time.


Dear Lord,
Please keep my heart pure and keep my thoughts innocent. May I do what is right in Your sight even if others think I am stupid. I need not fear for You will avenge for me if anyone tries to take advantage of me or harm me. Yes, You surely will, for I have seen that happened before.
I pray that I will have the chance to help Your little ones to know You at a young age.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Adventure

Esther 4:13-17

13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

Reflection of Bee:

When I accepted the challenge to help startup a particular organization I felt like Queen Esther felt. On the one hand I felt honored and was glad that I was highly esteemed, yet on the other hand, I was a little apprehensive if I could shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

Then what Mordecai said to Esther came to my mind, "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (v14). Yes, God has allowed me to learn so many things in my career to prepare me for this day, I felt. It's time to serve God by putting what I learnt to good use before my time runs out. So "if I perish, I perish" too. All I need is trust God's blessings will be upon the things I do for His purpose.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for encouraging me through the story of Esther. I want to commit my work, study, and life into Your hand. I pray that I can accomplish what You want me to do. May Your name be glorified in my life.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Bold Persistence

Matthew 15:21-28

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Reflection of Bee:

I like the way the woman answered Jesus in v27. It shows she knew her ground and the principle of how things work. That was the basis of her "great faith" (v28). Her faith wasn't based on nothing. She knew her right.

In order for us to have faith and boldness to ask from God we need to know the basis of our asking. That means we need to know what God has already said in the bible. We need to spend time to read God's word daily so that our faith is based on the foundation truth in God's word.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your reminder that I can come boldly before Your throne of grace to ask of You. Your word has promised me that ask and I shall receive. Right now I want to pray for Tommy, his mum and his brother, who are sick with cough. I pray for Your healing hand to be upon them now. I pray that they can experience Your healing power and give glory to You tomorrow.
Because I ask these in Jesus' name. Amen.

Lessons from Moses

Deuteronomy 34

The Death of Moses
1 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, [a] 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him [b] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit [c] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Reflection of Bee:

The story of Moses was the story that brought awe into my young life when I was attending the Sunday School then. Each Sunday I learned something new about the God of Moses. By the time the story ended, I told my Sunday School Teacher that I wanted the God of Moses to be mine too. Many years later when I watched the movie on the life of Moses, "The Prince of Egypt", awe still held my life. Yes, what a mighty God I have!

Who was this Moses that God could use so mightily and was able to talk to God face to face (v12)?

He was a man whom God raised from being a servant's son to someone of high position (as the prince of Egypt), to learn all about leadership, and then to humble him again in order to use him to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Moses made many mistakes but his heart was genuine towards God. Some of those mistakes may have consequences at the end of the day, such as Moses not being able to enter the promised land. Yet Moses was one of the great man of faith commended in Hebrews 11:23-29.

As I once again reflect on the life of Moses I could see something similar God had been doing in my life from my childhood days. He had been moulding my life, teaching me, exposing me to leadership roles and humbling me to prepare me for some special works He wants me to do in the near future. I could feel it coming but I need to obey. Like Moses, I may tend to give excuse and say like what he did in Exodus 4:10,

"O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

Dear Lord,
Thinking about Moses brings back many memories of how I came to know You. His life is also an encouragement for me to know that all I have gone through in my life have their special purposes. You have a special calling for my life which I need to obey. Give me strength and courage to accept what You have prepared for me to do. Let me not give excuses but to fully rely on You and not on my own abilities. May Your peace reigns in my heart tonight. Speak to me during the Sunday Worship tomorrow.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

An Age-Old Question

Job 2:1-10

Job's Second Test
1 On another day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."

4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish [b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Reflection of Bee:

Earlier on, I was watching a movie at home and a statement said by one of the characters made me ponder much....

"Your love for her is limited, for you love only if you can be with her. If you really love her, you will love even if you know you can't be with her."

Isn't it similar to what Job said to his wife, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (v10). If we really believe in God we will accept both good and trouble because we KNOW that He works all things (including the trouble) together for good to those who loved God.

So be it love or faith, they must be unconditional to be real.


My Lord,
Thank You for speaking to me tonight. Thank You for revealing to me what it means to be consistent in our love and faith and not let circumstances change them. Teach me to practice these truth in my life with You and people You have chosen for me. Let me be true and real.
In Your name I pray. Amen.

Celebrating Disappointment

Psalm 30

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. [a]
1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.

3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave [b] ;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.

5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

7 O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain [c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

9 "What gain is there in my destruction, [d]
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Reflection of Bee:


Dear Lord,
Thank You for turning my wailing into dancing too.
Thank You for removing my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
Thank You for opening so many doors for me when one is closed.
Thank You for leading my life and guiding my career path.
Thank You for preparing me for greater works ahead.
All the thanks I give to You will never be enough to thank You.
May all glory and praise be to You through the works You have done in me.
In Your wonderful name I give You thanks. Amen.