On Purpose

2 Corinthians 3:11-18

11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Reflection of Bee:

Being Christians, does not mean we have become like robots, without any feeling of pains. It does not make us high and mighty or floating in the cloud. If any 'Christian' tells you that he /she has no feeling of pains or frustrations, he/she is lying to you or to himself/herself.

I have been a Christian for many years, yet I still could feel much heartaches for things that happened in my life. Due to certain broken relationship, I had been tossed to and fro frequently as if someone is pulling my left arm, while another is pulling my right arm. It seems that whenever I looked at something that reminded me of certain past events in my life I felt very hurtful, depressed, and I just felt like crying. Yet as I did my devotions and read God's words I remembered the purpose of my existence on earth, the hope of glory I will will receive... and they encouraged me once again.

This struggle never ends though I may temporarily forget in my busyness. Sometimes I just feel that this "thorn in my flesh" is allowed by God to keep me humble and reliant on Him. It's like a 'drug addict' who needs regular doses to keep going for another day. In this case, my 'doses' are the daily word of God.

Today is no different, sadness filled my heart just a while ago. So I quickly turned to the word of God for comfort. Yes, I found my comfort in tonight's devotion. I can have "freedom" (v17), whenever I turn my eyes upon Jesus instead of on myself (v16). He is my 'painkiller'.... I can't live without Him.

"The purpose of our lives is to let others see what God is like as they watch and experience His love through us."
- Joe Stowell, Today's Daily Bread

Yes, Christians, even matured ones, do experienced much struggles like anyone else (including the Apostle Paul). The only difference is how they handle these struggles in life through the Lord Jesus Christ.


Dear Lord,
I need You to be my 'painkiller', my strength, my guide, one day at a time, to go on this journey till I see You face to face. Thank You for keeping me, for not letting me go, for staying with me, for loving me.
May Your love be spread to many who also need comfort and rest. May my life be a testimony of Your goodness.
In Jesus' name I thank You. Amen.

Seeking Immortality

2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Our Heavenly Dwelling 1Now 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. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For 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. 5Now 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.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Reflection of Bee:

Verse 2 speaks of something I have been looking forward to for many years. I don't feel at home in this world somehow... for it brings me much sorrows most times. The only thing that kept me going is my hope in Christ, knowing that I still have a mission to perform while on earth. I need to exercise daily faith to complete this journey here.

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's opened door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Yes my Lord,
I want to be with You immediately if possible. I can't wait to see You face to face. Let me be patient a little while more and complete the mission You want me to do here. Guide my life and path, that I may be in Your will and lead others to You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Jesus Cried

John 11:21-35

21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,[a] the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

28And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

35Jesus wept.

Reflection of Bee:

Jesus wept because of the living (v34), not because of the dead. For He knew that Lazarus will resurrect again if he is a believer of Christ (v25, 26).

I also have the tendency to weep when I see others weep. To Christians death is considered "asleep" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). When Jesus comes back again, "the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). This is comforting for those whose loved ones are dead, if they have believed in Christ before they die.

Dear Lord,
Thank You that You can feel our sorrows. When I was weeping, You wept too. Thank You for the hope that we will be with You when we die. I don't know exactly how heaven will be like, but I know that I will be with You and that's enough for me.
Come quickly, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Raised in Glory

1 Corinthians 15:42-49

42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"[a]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we[b] bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

Reflection of Bee:

I saw an advertisement on a lamp post last month, where it showed picture of a teenage girl which said: "Do you know that 1 in 5 girls your age has gone through plastic surgery?"
Yesterday I heard a radio commercial when I was in the taxi: A lady asked her friend, "Why is it called plastic surgery? Is it because after surgery your face will become plastic or because the surgery uses plastic?"

Hehehe... sounded comical isn't it? But the truth is many people, young and old, male and female are seeking for ways and means to stay good looking. Our again process is something most find it hard to accept. However, for Christians, we have the assurance that our old aging bodies will be transformed into new bodies that are "imperishable" (v42). Isn't that wonderful to know?


Dear Lord,

Thank You that I shall have that perfect body one day. May this hope of glory spurs me on remember that I should lay my treasures in heaven and not on earth. For all the things on earth will pass away and decay one day.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

A World In Labor

Romans 8:18-25

Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Bee's Thoughts:

Dear Father, thank you for reminding me to be patient while waiting for the hope of glory you have promised us. Sometimes I do wonder when you will be coming back, and don't you see the sufferings we have now.... yet I know, you will never break your promise of coming back for us... a promise is a promise to you. What a blessed assurance and hope. Amen

I Will Come Back For You

John 14:1-6

Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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.4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

Bee's Thoughts:

The title of Today's Daily Bread, "I Will Come Back For You", 'jumped' at me when I first opened its page. This statement has never mean so much to me as much as it is now. The reason is that someone dear has said that to me last week. I felt very troubled when he suddenly said he needed to be away for an indefinite time. The only assurance given to me was "I will be back for you".

Jesus knew very well how His disciples would feel when He leaves this world (John 13:1). They would feel very sad and troubled. So He comforted them in the following ways:
1. gave hopes for the future... many rooms in His Father's house
2. showed where He was going... prepare a place for them
3. showed the way to reach Him... Jesus is the away
4. promised to come back for them... will be permanent

Dear Lord, thank You for taking care of how we feel when You have to leave us on earth. You are so comforting, assuring, and You showed us how we still may reach You now while You are preparing the best for us. Thank You that You will be back for us soon.

In You is the Way, the Truth and Life. I know You are near me in my spirit. I love You, Lord. Amen

.......the devotion of Bee